Of Claws and Fangs
Episode 56

The brush of air across her ear awoke her, Akisame's eyes opened slowly. For a moment she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Are you really here? This isn't another dream?"

He brushed her cheek again with the back of his hand. "I'm here love and a fool for staying away so long."

She pulled back to look at him, "You want me? No more wanting revenge for her?"

He shook his head. "No more revenge and I don't want you...I need you, I told you that before. I am nothing without you."

She smiled at him. "And I without you." She scooted over on the futon. "Lay down, I want to sleep curled up next to you. If the dream comes again, I will know that you are here and protecting me" Her smile grew. "That was what I said the first time I slept curled up in your arms."

Sesshomaru lay down beside her, nestling her as close to him as he could get. Her head was on his shoulder and he rested his against it. Sighing in happiness, as he stroked her hair. He remembered the night she spoke of well. "I remember that well. Sleep love," he whispered, "We will talk more in the morning."

Keishou snuck up behind Mika, the girl looked up at him with a grin and nodded. He had awaken and scented his father in the village. Relief flooded through him as he heard his parents whispered words. He gestured to Mika and she followed him away from the hut. Keishou ruffled her hair. "Go back to bed, Trouble," he told her and she for once obeyed him, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. After making certain his sister was in her bed, he returned to his own.

She moved through the village in her borrowed form, dealing death to many but not too many, she thought to herself. She made certain that those who saw her got a good long look of her. She left the village, the sound of wailing widows, crying children, and frantic animals echoing in the air behind her, along with cries for demon slayers.

Akisame nuzzled her mate's shoulder until a familiar tightening of the muscles around her abdomen started. "Sesshomaru? I think you need to go get Sango. I think we are going to meet this little one very soon." She said as the pain passed. "Why don't you go gather our other children. They will want to know I won't be moving to Kyoto."

Sesshomaru's eyes popped wide open. After kissing his mate's cheek quickly he went to get Sango. He then went to where his eldest slept and knocked on the door frame.

Sango came calmly into the hut moments after Sesshomaru had left. She knelt beside her friend. "I take it you're going home?"

Keikan pushed back the curtain, "Chichioya? Does this mean?" He asked shocked at seeing his father before him. Keikan's dark hair was lifted lightly by the breeze.

Akisame smiled at her friend, "Hai, but first a little one is anxious to meet her Chichioya. Sango, I want Sesshomaru with me this time."

Sesshomaru nodded, "Hai Keikan. Come, you're Hahaoya is birthing your sibling," he paused, remembering all the responsibility he had ignored the last few months, all the work he had left his eldest to do. "Keikan, arigatou and gomen."

Sango smiled, "I suppose so. I'll be back. Need to gather a few things." The taijiya got up and hurried out of the hut. After Sango was gone, Mika slipped quietly into the room.

"Hahaoya?"

"It's all right Chichioya, Shakaku helped a lot. I want to keep doing it for a few months. You and Hahaoya deserve some time with out the pressures of the Western Lands." Stepping out of the hut "Guess I should go get Haya and Keikan."

"Hai Mika?"

Sesshomaru smiled. His son certainly had grown into a fine adult. "Hai, I'll be with you're Hahaoya."

Mika stepped forward, crouching beside her mother. "Everything is ok now right? You're not going away anymore are you?"

Wrapping an arm around Mika's waist, Akisame gently pulled the girl to her. "Well, I am going home, but no I'm not moving to Kyoto." A new pain circle her and she gasped. Seeing the child's worry, "It's ok Mika, your little brother or sister is just telling me they are ready to meet everyone."

Keikan returned his father's smile, happy to see the light had returned to his eyes. "Well, let me go get Keishou and Haya, if I know Mika she has all ready slipped in to see Hahaoya." With a soft chuckle he looked at his hands, "Well I guess Haya and Shakaku are about to find out my time of weakness."

Mika smiled brilliantly, "Can I help?"

Sango entered the hut as the girl asked her question. "Hai, Mika, go occupy your brothers so they don't get worried." Fortunately the girl took her seriously and left the hut after giving her mother a quick hug. "I'm glad to see you happy again my friend."

"It's good for the people you care about to know you're weaknesses." Sesshomaru replied, then turned and hurried back to Akisame.

"Not as happy as I am." Akisame smiled, "This little one is almost as impatient as Keikan and Keishou."

Keikan made his way to his brother's hut. Knocking he called, "Anyone awake? Our families newest member is about to make an appearance."

Keishou sat up immediately, shaking Haya awake he looked to see that Shakaku was up and already moving toward the door. Keishou bit his lip. Well she had to find out sometime.

Shakaku pushed aside the curtain and looked at Keikan in confusion. The man before her sounded like her Keikan. He even looked like him except for the dark hair. "Keikan?"

Keikan nodded, "I guess you aren't familiar with hanyous... we have a period of weakness each month. Tonight is my night." Running a hand through his dark hair he tried to give her a cocky smile, "I'll be back to normal come sun up."

Haya grabbed Keishou's hand and pushed her way past the two in the door. "Okaasan most likely needs my help. Come on Keishou."

Keishou shrugged and allowed himself to be dragged along. Shakaku watched them go and turned back to Keikan. She reached out and put her hand on his cheek. "Did you think this would bother me?"

Leaning into her palm he answered, "I was hoping it wouldn't."

Akisame looked to the door, she wanted Sesshomaru with her now. After five months apart she wanted him at her side. "How long does it take to get the kids?" She asked.

She chuckled. "Silly puppy," Shakaku whispered before kissing him gently.

Sesshomaru walked through the door as she finished her sentence. "Too long," he said, kneeling beside her.

Seeing the look Sango gave Sesshomaru, "I want him here. I know it's not traditional, but I don't care." She moved till she was resting her back against him.

Breaking the kiss, Keikan chuckled, "What is it with women calling all of us males Silly Puppy?"

"Well," Shakaku giggled, "If you are...you are." She took his hand, "Come one. I am certain you're sister is trying to get underfoot."

Just then Mika came up behind her, wrapping her arms around the tora's waist. "Gotcha!"

Sesshomaru put his hands on Akisame's shoulders, bending his head to nip at her neck, lightly. "I have a surprise for you when we get home."

"That's nice" She murmured, "Umm.. Sango I think someone is ready to meet her Chichioya."

Sango nodded, concentrating on the task before her. "All right...Go ahead and push, here it comes." Moments later Sesshomaru heard small noises and the taijiya looked up and smiled. "It's a girl."

The Taiyoukai swelled with pride as Sango cleaned up the pup and then handed her to her mother. A pair of golden eyes gazed up at him. "She's beautiful," he breathed.

Smiling at the golden eyed, white haired girl in her arms, "I had two names picked out, Takara (treasure) or Kaiya (forgiveness). Looking up at Sesshomaru, "We had agreed to name her after your Okufuro, but I didn't know her name." She would never tell him the name she had chosen for this girl had he not come.

Sesshomaru considered his options and then said, "I think I would like to name her Kaiya for her mother's seemingly endless supply."

"Then her name is Kaiya. Why don't you bring her brothers and sisters in to meet her?"

Sesshomaru rose and moved to the door of the hut. His children were all gathered outside. Shakaku was playing a game with Mika, while Keikan looked on fondly at the both of them. Keishou and Haya rose as he came onto the porch. All eyes turned to him and he smiled at them. "Come meet your sister, Kaiya."

He chuckled as Mika practically knocked him over darting around him into the room. The others followed him in a little more calmly.

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