Lullaby

I do not own InuYasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi


Lullaby


Kagome reached out, and patted the bed next to her, and found it empty. Rolling over, she looked across the room, and next to the fire pit, glowing only faintly in the darkness, she made out the shape of her husband, the firelight casting reddish light on his silver hair. He sat cross-legged in front of the fire, dressed only in his white kosode, his knees sticking out uncovered past  the hem of his robe, catching the light.  He was hunched over a little, cradling a small bundle in his arms, wrapped a red cloth.

Very softly he was singing:

“The forest owl sings,
and you can go to sleep now,
she watches from her tree,
she won’t let the wolves come near,
and she keeps the fox away.

“The forest owl sings,
and you can go to sleep now,
you can hear her call
from her tree within the wood,
so sleep, so sleep little one.”

Kagome, fascinated by the scene in front of her, propped herself up on one elbow and watched her two men by the fire.   She tried to be quiet, but it was loud enough to catch InuYasha’s attention, He turned around and looked at her, a soft, wry  smile on his face.

“He woke up, and was wet, so I thought I’d let you get a little more sleep and took care of it,” he said.  “He’s getting hungry, though, I think.”

“Thanks,” she said, sitting up.  “I liked your lullaby.”

“Keh,” he said, moving back to their bed.  “Don’t start fussing, little man.  Mama’s going to take care of you right away,” he said to the child in his arms.

He handed Atae back to his wife, who had already loosened her robe, and watched as the baby latched on and began to nurse.  Moving closer, he wrapped an arm around her, and rested it lightly on her shoulder.

She looked up at him.  “Teach me,” she said.

“Teach you what?” he replied.

“Teach me that lullaby.”  She adjusted Atae’s weight in her arms.

“Only if you promise,” he said, pulling her a little closer.  “Don’t tell Miroku where you learned it.”

She laughed a little, reached up, and kissed his cheek.  “I promise.  And thanks for letting me sleep a little longer.”

“He’s my child, too,” InuYasha said.

“Ow!” she said, scruffing the back of Atae’s neck for biting while he nursed.  “Yes he is.  Definitely yours.”