An Education by UnknownRandomness

The Natural Order of Things

A/N: I hope you enjoy and review!

Prompt: Doula - A woman who assists in childbirth.

Word Count: 460

It had been a long struggle, but Inuyasha's child was eventually brought screaming into their world. A beautiful daughter, with her father's expressive golden eyes and wisps of her mother's raven hair. Her small fists reached out towards this new environment, dog ears swivelling as she heard the sounds that she had heard in her mother's womb clearly for the first time. Voices suddenly had faces to match and her large eyes blinked at everyone and everything surrounding her. 

"What should we call her?" Inuyasha's usually crass speech was hushed in what could only be described as reverence and the others all looked at one another, lost for words. They had been expecting a boy, the hanyou had been so sure that he would have a son that none of them had even considered a female name. 

"Hikaru. Her name should be Hikaru." All turned to the bloodied miko, her eyes shining in triumph. 

Miroku nodded sagely. "Yes, that name would be perfect. She is her parents' light and her eyes are wonderfully radiant. Good choice Kagome!"

She smiled at Inuyasha as his eyes filled with grateful tears. After everything they had been through together, the love and misunderstandings, it was only appropriate that she be the one to name Inuyasha and Kikyo's first child- she had helped the brown-eyed woman when she had first gone into labour and then assisted Kaede and another woman with the birth. Although she had considered Kikyo her enemy for a long time, Kagome was glad that everything had turned out this way.

"What do you think, Kikyo? I think it's perfect."

They all turned to the reclining woman, waiting for her response, but when none was forthcoming, Inuyasha handed the newborn babe to Sango and knelt by his mate's side. Her eyes were blank as she stared at her child.

"Kikyo, you have to decide if you want our daughter's name to be Hikaru."

Reaching for her hand, Kagome blinked when Inuyasha suddenly stopped stroking her arm, his ears snapping up and a low keening sound came from his clenched jaw. He pressed his face to Kikyo's chest and roared, the sound causing all of them to jump in alarm. All of them except for Kikyo, her brown eyes glazed over in death.

She had never been quite the same after being brought back to life, her body weak and prone to exhaustion. Nevertheless, she had done her best to repay her love for all the pain she had caused him and provided Inuyasha with a beautiful child. Unfortunately, she had not survived the experience and her first child would be her last.

But she went happily, a smile on her face. Her spirit would live on in Hikaru; her light, her radiance.