Otherworld 3: Tala
Chapter 11 - A Chance for Love
When the group left, Kamui asked Tala to stay behind. "Is that why you say you are scarred like me? Because the duplicates were created by you?"
"That is some of it, but there is more." She bent her head and spoke in a whisper that Kamui had to strain to hear. "I could not take the chance of producing more of them, so I had Kaiba stop all future pregnancies. I can never have children."
Kamui looked at her and reached out a hand to lift up her chin, "You are the bravest person I have ever met."
Tala looked at him, a crooked smile touching her lips. "I was thinking the same about you."
For long moments, they sat there, saying nothing, and needing no words. They were two lost people that had found each other. After a while, Tala said goodnight and went to her room. Her heart was pounding! She had never felt like this before and wanted to spent as much time as possible with Kamui. Just being with him was enough. Was it possible that he could feel the same? A week passed and Kaiba allowed the young Bat Demon to go for short walks in the garden. Tala always accompanied him, often walking next to him in silence, just enjoying being near him. With each day's passing, Kamui grew stronger. But he wondered what would become of him when he was healed. One day he passed the Princess in the hallway and begged for a moment of her time, and told her of his concern.
"I have no skills. I was a scout for the Bats, but without my wings, I do not even have that to offer. I am useless." Kamui said softly.
"No one is useless! And never say that again. You have much to offer; you just need to find your strengths. I have given you a home here in the Castle for as long as you want. I'm sure you can help Kurama. Not everyone has powers. In the Village where Kouga and Miroku live, there are humans who have no powers at all, yet they are Protectors also and in the Three Worlds War, fought to save the Village." She smiled at the young demon, "You are valuable, Kamui, even without your wings."
For days, he pondered Princess Aara's words, wondering if he had the right to ask a certain question. A question that had haunted him ever since he arrived in the Castle. Finally, he made his decision, trusting in the Princess' words. The next day, during his walk with Tala, Kamui turned to her and took her hands in his. "Tala, I wanted to ask you something." Kamui began. She looked at him with those incredible deep blue eyes and his heart soared. "I have nothing to offer you. I am here at the charity of the Princess, but I cannot stop what is in my heart. I love you. I think I loved you from the moment I saw you."
In answer, Tala leaned toward him and brought her lips to his, kissing him so gently that he trembled under the emotion in that feather of a kiss. "I love you also, Kamui. And we are both here because of the Princess and her kind heart. I do not know what future holds for either of us, but I would be very happy to share it with you."
Kamui took her in his arms and kissed her, a kiss that she felt through her body, from head down to her toes. "I don't know the customs of Otherworld. Is there someone I should ask permission from?"
Tala smiled at him, "Only me, and I have already given you my heart."
That night, Tala went to his room and became Kamui's mate. Two incomplete people became complete in each other's arms.
She kissed the terrible scars on his back, and brushed away the tears of gratitude that slid down his cheek.
That night, as she lay there next to him, listening to her new mate sleep, Tala realized that she never believed she could find happiness and love like this. By sheer accident, her duplicates had brought them together.
The Castle was very happy for the new couple and the Princess threw a grand party. Mirago and Shippo came from the Village as did Tala's grandparents, Miroku and Sango. Otherworld's time conundrum was very interesting. Here were three generations of people, a mix of humans and demons, and they all seemed to be in their early twenties. Kamui got to meet his in-laws and they liked him immediately. When Tala was allowed to return to the Village, they would make them a little house to live in. Kamui never expected to be welcomed so openly and was a bit overwhelmed by it all. But everyone made him feel like he belonged and soon he was laughing with the rest of them. For one happy night, the thought of duplicates and death was put aside. As the months passed with no sign of the duplicates, it became apparent that they had gone into hiding. Kouga made sure that every patrol went in pairs and had nets, but the patrols reported nothing except for the usual minor demons.
Ayala was now over eight months pregnant and soon would have to return to the Castle. Kome had devoted these months to taking care of his mate, bringing her flowers from the fields, sitting on the porch with her watching the sun set, and doing a hundred other little mundane things. Kagome and her mother, Mikoumi, also spent time with the she-wolf, teaching her how to knit, just as Kagome had been taught by Serafin so many years ago. After the incident with Jodah, Mikoumi decided to live in Otherworld, to Kagome's great joy. She had a little house of her own next door to Kome and Ayala's house and soon made many friends. Her house was always filled with the scent of something baking and children (and wolves) were always on her doorstep waiting to sample her latest culinary masterpiece.
Kagome always brought her daughter, Kamara, with her. The little girl did not look wolf-like at all; more human than wolf just as Kome was more wolf than human. She had her parent's dark hair, but it was straight like her father's instead of wavy like her mother's. Her large eyes were blue like her father's, but human shaped, not strange ovals. Kamara was a sweet little girl and adored by her parents. At three, she already had her father wrapped around her finger and he would do anything for her. She had given him joy once more; something he never thought possible after the nightmare that Jodah forced on him. Hearing Kouga laughing with his daughter filled Kagome's heart with joy and she gave thanks for her little girl every day.
But these would be the last days spent together as a family. Next week, Kome would take Ayala back to the Castle when her daughter would be born. And no one knew when, or even if, they would be allowed to return.
Too quickly did the days pass, and Kagome stood on her son's porch, trying not to cry. In minutes he would be leaving with Ayala. It wasn't fair! Ayala should be at home, giving birth with loving parents around her, not with suspicious mages. Tears began to form and she brushed them away, not wanting to make their parting even harder.
"We will come to the Castle after the baby is born." Kouga promised his son.
"Please take care of the flowers." Ayala asked Kagome. Kagome nodded and then hugged the girl tightly. Ayala was like a daughter to her and she wanted to be there for the birth of her first grandchild. Then Kagome hugged Kome, standing up on tiptoes to reach her tall son, "Take care of Ayala and yourself."
With that, Kome picked up Ayala and sped away. Kagome finally gave into the tears she had been holding back and Kouga embraced his mate. "They will be alright. The Princess will not let any harm befall them."
It was late afternoon when Kome and Ayala arrived at the Castle. The Princess was there to greet them and personally took them to their rooms. Ayala gasped when the door was opened. The room was filled with flowers and a beautiful pink and white bassinette stood by their bed. Curved slats had been put on the legs so that it could be rocked. A sitting room filled with deep comfortable chairs in front of a large fireplace was all theirs. On the balcony, overlooking the gardens, a large rocker stood ready for mother and daughter.
Ayala thanked the Princess profusely, but Aara refused her thanks, and instead apologized for putting them through this ordeal.
The next morning, Kaiba came for her first checkup and told the pair that the pregnancy was going well and that the baby should arrive in a few days. A birthing tub had already been set up in his tower and Rin would be there to help Ayala with the birth. Kome asked if he could be there also and Kaiba told him he was more than welcome.
What Kaiba did not tell the wolf was that Bakura would also be there and that a force field would be set up before the child's birth to contain her, if it was deemed necessary. Tala would also be there, to let them know if she sensed anything odd about the baby.
Three days after her arrival, Ayala felt the first twinges of pain, then the first contraction; the baby was on her way.
[Read the companion piece to the Tala/Kamui story, "With Eyes of Love"]