stardust in your eyes, love [birth]

It wasn’t too long after the birth of little Kuroki that the Empress began having more contractions, burying her head in Hattori’s pelt and muttering curses toward him that made the former Iga matriarch bite her lip to stifle a grin of amusement. Her ghostly gaze looked to her son, watching him marvel at his first born and she felt a tenderness growing in her chest the likes of which she hadn’t felt since his birth. She’d heard that being a grandparent was even more rewarding than being a parent and she thought she was already beginning to understand why.

She wasn’t left to reminisce long before Venom let out another groan and bore down, two more little bundles of joy coming from her. They were treated as quickly and efficiently as the first, cleaned and dried and placed at their mother’s breast to begin their seemingly never-ending eating. Venom pleaded with her that it would be the end and Kiyo offered her a sympathetic smile. “I wish I could say for sure, my dear, but we won’t know for some time yet,” she offered, getting a clean rag, dipping it in the cool water and gently dabbing at the Empress’ head and body to rid her of her sweat and hopefully help her cool down a little. She offered her more motherwort and trillium as some time had passed between her first dose, then she waited as they all did.