Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 1
Inu Yasha watched his brother pace back and forth. He was finding it hard not to laugh at his once stoic brother in an almost panic. Hours ago, Sango and a very angry midwife had pushed him out of the room his mate lay in. Miroku had long ago given up the wait and found rooms to sleep in. Shippo and Rin put to bed with promises of meeting their new brother in the morning. Another scream from the room echoed. Moving quickly he stepped between his brother and the door. "Sesshomaru, they told you not to go in there."
When her scream split the air again, Sesshomaru began to move toward the door. His brother stopped him. He growled at Inu Yasha. "Move, brother." He had to see if Akisame was all right. He didn’t want to lose her now.
Inu Yasha just smiled at the taiyoukai. "Nope. Your mate is fine. Use your nose. She's giving birth." He thought back on all the women in the village that had given birth. He quessed all expectant fathers were the same. "It's painful, but Akisame is strong and will be fine. Now if you go in there you are going to make the midwife and Sango furious. They will have to concentrate on keeping you calm instead of helping your mate." He heard the door slide open behind him and glanced quickly over his shoulder. The midwife stood there.
The withered old woman had heard the growl and remembered the night the hanyou was born. Looking at the Taiyoukai she smiled gently. "Your mate is fine. She is stronger than this ones mother. Do you not remember the night he was born?" Her tone changed quickly, "And mind this one. He is right, I have no time to calm you and aid your mate in delivering your child."
The screen closed quickly, shutting off any comments the Taiyoukai might have made.
From inside the room Inu Yasha heard Sango's voice comforting Akisame.
Sesshomaru growl faded from his throat. Inu Yasha's birth night? He knew they were right but he still wanted to see with his eyes that she was all right. He wanted to be there her hand in his. The taiyoukai settled for kneeling close to the door and tried to take his mind off of what was going on in the other room. "Inu Yasha....I am glad you are here."
nu Yasha's eyes widened at his brothers simple declaration. "You...You... You're glad I'm here? Me? Your pathetic half-breed little brother?" he shook himself slightly and knelt beside his brother. "Never thought I'd hear you say that."
Inside the room Akisame watched as the midwife and Sango moved about the room. She was close, her son would be born soon. As another of the birthing pains gripped her she bit her lip to silence her screams. Soon enough the midwife knelt between her legs.
"Aye, this little one is anxious to meet the world. Barely giving his poor mother enough time to prepare." The old midwife had been slightly angry when the younger girl had insisted that before she touched the woman or the child her hands be clean. But seeing the determination on the girls face she had complied. "Push my lady, it is time for your son to join the world."
With a few strong pushes, Akisame felt the pressure relieve and heard the first cry of her son. As the midwife placed him on her stomach she looked down to see his ears twitching and the small birth mark of a crescent moon on his forehead. She stroked him softly and whispered. "Keikan."
Sesshomaru nodded. "Hai, brother. I was merely jealous of you. I thought I hated you…I didn’t really. I just wanted you to know that," he paused, "You know now that I think about it I can remember the night you were born. Your mother had a very difficult time…father was going insane with worry—"
He heard his son’s cry and jumped to his feet. "Damn it woman can I come in now!"
The midwife motioned for the girl to allow him to enter when her patient gave another low moan. Quickly she moved the child to its mother's side and began to examine the mother. Her eyes widened at the discovery her hands made. "Girl, get back here. Take the boy to his sire, then return our work is not yet complete."
Sango grew concerned for her friend but obeyed the midwife. Wrapping the boy in a blanket she quickly moved to the door and thrust the child at his sire. As soon as Sesshomaru had grasped the child she slammed the door shut and returned to the midwife's side. "What's wrong?" Her own mother had died giving birth to Kohaku and she feared what would happen to Sesshomaru if Akisame died.
"Nothing, just we have another child that wishes to see the world."
The door opened and his son was thrust into his arms, then the door was slammed shut again. He stared at the door, completely dumbfounded. Cold dread knotted his guts. Then he heard the midwife's words. Another child? His mate was having more than one? He felt the squirm in his arms and looked down at his first born. The pup was looking up at him with wide emerald eyes. A smile touched his lips, "Hello Keikan," he whispered, bending his neck to kiss the pup's forehead. He turned to his brother, "Keikan, this is your Uncle."
Inu Yasha looked at the pup his brother held. The tender expression on his brother's face held him more than the child. He didn't know what to say. He finally settled on "Hi." He heard the motion and soft encouragements coming from the other room and finally another baby's cry was heard. Silence and the door opened showing a very tired midwife and Sango.
"Go in my lord, your mate is well as is your second born son."
Sesshomaru walked into the room, slowly as most of his concentration for the moment was on Keikan. He knelt beside his mate, tearing his eyes away from the first born to look at the second child. Both looked exactly alike. Sesshomaru looked at his mate. She looked tired but happy. He bent over carefully to kiss her gently on the lips, then kissed his other son. "Hello little one...you certainly are a suprise...what should we name you?"
Akisame smiled weakly at her mate. "I never suspected two. Leena gave us such a lovely name with Keikan. I just don't know what we should name this boy. The only thing that comes to mind is Keishou." She looked at her youngest who had firmly attached himself and was nursing. "Your son has a healthy appitite." Noticing Inu Yasha standing at the door she called to him. "Join us brother, meet your second nephew."
Blushing beet red Inu Yasha entered the room. His eyes went from Sesshomaru to the floor to the ceiling, anywhere but at his youngest nephew who nursed contently at his mother's breast.
"Keishou...it is just as lovely," he responded kissing her again. He looked at a very embarrased Inu Yasha and chuckled. As he looked at his family and with the mention of Leena he suddenly realized something. "My love...do you realize who our children resemble?"
Akisame looked at both her sons and then it struck her. "Leena." she groaned softly "Let us hope that she got her temper from her mother and not you. Otherwise...."
Sesshomaru chuckled again. "I think she got some of it from her uncle," he gave the confused hanyou a sidelong glance. Keikan began stirring in his arms, making small noises of hunger. "I think this one wants some dinner too."
Arranging her kimono to prevent embarrasing Inu Yasha anymore than necessary, she handed Keishou to his father and took Keikan. Placing her son to her other breast she smiled down at him. "Have you asked him?" she asked her mate. "To be their Kyoufu (godfather)? I thought we might ask Sango to act as Daibo (godmother). If that is all right with you, unless you have an Inu Youkai female you would prefer to name."
Inu Yasha's jaw dropped as he heard the question. He looked to his brother for conformation. "You wanted me to be the Kyoufu, to your pups?"
Sesshomaru nodded at her choice of daibo for their sons. Sesshomaru smiled at his hanyou half brother. "I do. Would you like to hold him, Inu Yasha?"
"I... I ... it would be my honor to be their Kyoufu." Inu Yasha finally stammered out. Then he nervously chewed his lower lip. "Aren't you afraid I might hurt him? I've never... I mean no one ever let me..."
Sesshomaru stepped up to his brother. "It's allright Inu Yasha...I was the same way when Father handed you to me....I only dropped you once."
Inu Yasha growled softly at his brother. "I ... I ...."
"Oh for Kami's sake," Akisame knew her mate was teasing his very unsure brother. Keikan having filled his belly was falling asleep quickly. She glared at her mate, even though she knew the action held no anger. "Inu Yasha, here." She held out Keikan to him. Natural reflexes caused him to reach for the child. He held the boy awkwardly a hand under his shoulders and holding the small legs. "No, like this." She leaned forward and corrected the hold until her son was held securely in his uncle's arms.
A redish brown blur rushed in to the room freezing at the site of the two brothers holding a baby. "Akisame-mama?" Shippo asked.
"Twins." She explained A quick glance around the room told her that Sango had long left with the mid-wife. "Shippo-chan, would you go find Sango and ask her to come here? Then go get Rin and Houshi-sama."
"Ok." Shippo dashed out of the room.
Sesshomaru knelt beside his mate, kissing her cheek and smiling at Inu Yasha. "I'm sorry Inu Yasha...I could not resist."
Sango returned to the room, looking as tired as Akisame. Sesshomaru gestured for the taijiya to come closer. "Sango...we would like you to be our pups daibou." Sango couldnt hide her suprise. "Me? I..." she bowed, "I would be honored Sesshomaru-sama."
Miroku then entered, lead by one hand by a bouncing Shippo and leading a sleepy eyed Rin with the other. When she saw the babies the little girl's eyes popped wide open.
"Come see your brothers Rin...Shippo," Sesshomaru said to the children softly.
As they neared she pulled her eldest children to her. "Rin, Shippo, I'd like you to meet, Keikan," She pointed to the baby Inu Yasha held, "and Keishou." She pointed to the other baby. "You are their niisan and neesan. That is such a big job. You have to help Sesshomaru and I raise and protect them. Think you can do that?" Rin and Shippo nodded their heads solemly. "Houshi-sama, youkai tradition has a naming ceremony on the pups fifth day of life. But, I am ningen. Would you bless my sons and their Kyoufu and Daibo now?"
Sesshomaru watched as the houshi blessed his pups in the ningen way. He looked at the humans who had become his friends. If anyone had come to him four or even three years ago and told him that he would have ningen for friends, a ningen for a mate and hanyou children, he probably would have had that being killed. Yet here he was and he was exceedingly happy.
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