The messenger that arrived was a neutral one delivering the sealed letter to Izumi that bared the mark of the east and one to Sesshomaru with the seal of the west.
Both reading at the same time Sesshomaru scoffed crumpling it into a ball while Izumi held hers at her side.
"What say you Lady Izumi?" He asked properly knowing her letter had been similar if not identical to his.
"It is not my place to say my lord." She smirked at him playfully. "It would seem the lady of the west and the lord of the east are planning a trip. This is your territory Lord Sesshomaru, it is your decision."
"To visit with you." He said.
"Visit? Is that what we are calling it?" Izumi replied bringing out her fan in a display of astuteness. "It would be Lady Rins decision. She is your mate and lady of this house."
Giving her a look that should have melted her on the spot Sesshomaru turned to the messenger. "Inform both the west and the east the heir will be presented by years end. Their presence is not necessary. We will go to them."
The messenger bowed to them both before making his leave. "I tolerate you." Sesshomaru remarked once he was out of earshot.
"And here I thought you didn't care." Izumi teased giggling.
"Shut up Izu." He said before leaning against the house. "Which house do you believe will come first? The west or the east?"
"Oh it will certainly be your mother. Of that I have no doubt."
"Care to wager?" Turning her attention to him he was smirking at her. "How you and all of your nitwit friends used to bet on my patience?"
"Rin told you about that?"
"It was hardly a secret the way you all carried on back then."
"Very well, what would you like to bet then? My fan?" Izumi laughed out.
"The naming." Sesshomaru replied.
"Oh. How interesting. Hm." Pondering it for a moment she nodded her head. "Alright. I accept."
"Do you still wish to bet the west will come first?" He asked.
"I would stake my life on it." She said seriously.
"You had said your father is chomping at the bit for a male. I believe the east will be the first to arrive."
"Then all there is to do is wait." Izumi said.
"We should prepare our mates for their arrival." Sesshomaru said. "I will apprise Jaken as well."
"Yes." Izumi agreed. Closing her fan she pointed it at him. "If you win this wager, do not name our pup something stupid."
Receiving nothing more than a sideways glance from him Izumi went into the house making her way into her room.
Perusing the letter again quickly she closed her eyes and sighed. Dropping it into the hearth to use it later as a fire starter she removed the robe she wore over her kimono hanging it up.
Removing the obi and the kimono as well she stood in her undergarment robe to get comfortable. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable to stay in the humanoid form she assumed.
Normally she would have had simply given it up to be in her canine form but she was worried about how Kohaku and Rin would see her.
She didn't know if either of them had ever seen Sesshomaru in his natural state and wasn't sure how it would go over to appear that way to them as a dog.
Looking to the closed door she relented that that it wouldn't hurt to transform and relax. Kohaku was on patrol and wouldn't be back for some time, Rin was sleeping in her own room…she could relax.
With a sigh she released her tension and the tight hold she had kept on her power came undone allowing her to have relief. Stretching out her front legs become padding over to the futon she curled up between the pillows wrapping her tail around herself and fell asleep.
When Kohaku returned Sesshomaru left for his own patrolling but really he figured the nomadic demon was more bored than anything else.
He understood all too well favoring traveling himself but it was nice to have a home to go too with someone who was happy to greet him. There had been some relationships with women in the last few years but none had ever gone anywhere.
Some had been scared off by his lifestyle while others didn't like the fact that he wouldn't be working in the fields consistently and coming back home every night. His life at times didn't allow that.
It had worried him when he had contemplated taking a human wife how dangerous his life could be and what that would mean for a family.
There was also the issue that he didn't always relate very well with humans. He had been with demons since he was a young boy, first taken and possessed by Naraku then mentored by Sesshomaru, that they made more sense to him.
It had made him feel like an outsider even among his own people, the demon slayer village that he had helped to re-establish was no exception. He had felt as if he was torn between two worlds.
Walking into the sitting room he felt as if he had found his home. This is where he belonged. Going down the hall he slid open the door to Izumis bedroom and closed it gently behind him.
Turning around to the futon he saw a ball of fur curled up tightly in the middle of the futon breathing steadily. Letting out a small amused laugh as quietly as he could he couldn't give up the chance to get closer to his wife in her real form.
Moving stealthily across the floor with bare feet Kohaku slowly stepped up onto the platform lowering himself down gently to the futon to sit beside her.
Golden fur covered her slender form that was short. She had her face covered by one paw as she slept leaving one of her ears hanging out that had managed to flip the wrong way on top of her head.
She looked more peaceful than he had ever seen her since they had met. Matching his breathing to hers so as not to disturb her he simply watched her rest admiring her natural beauty.
Cracking open a lid then the other Izumi felt more rested than she had in a long while. Yawning before shaking her head to fix her ears she paused with her eyes going wide.
"Have a good sleep mate?" Kohaku asked smiling at her. He saw her, the real her. She was stunned as he just sat there watching her. "You were so peaceful that I didn't want to disturb you. I didn't wake you up did I?"
Sitting upright she shook her head once. He was talking to her as he normally did. There was no hesitation in his voice as he spoke calmly to her as was his way.
Edging close to her he placed his forehead to hers. "I have missed you all day Izu. All I've wanted was to be here with you. I still have to keep watch outside until Lord Sesshomaru comes back. When he does I want to show you how much I missed you. However way you would like."
Closing her eyes she let out a sigh of deep relief. He saw her, the real her, and he still wanted to be by her side. He still wanted to be in her bed, her mate.
Dragging her tongue up his cheek in approval Kohaku let out a soft chuckle. "I'll be back as soon as I can love." Placing a soft kiss to the bridge of her snout he begrudgingly left the room.
Transforming back quickly Izumi felt anxious. Waiting a few moments until she knew that he was outside she went to Rins door and tapped at it gently.
"It's open." Rin said softly her voice somewhat sleepy. Entering the room Izumi stood with her back to the closed door. "Izu? Why are you nervous?"
"Kohaku saw me." She replied. "The real me."
"In your demon form?" Rin asked receiving a nod. "That isn't fair. I have known you longer than he has."
"It was not intentional. I was resting and with this pup using so much of my energy it's getting harder to look like this. I changed and fell asleep, Kohaku came in and he just was sitting there when I awoke." She explained.
Propping herself up on her arm Rin patted the futon for Izumi to sit next to her. "Nothing changed. He was still speaking to me the same, he wants to share my bed later."
"So what is the problem?" Rin questioned.
"I didn't know how either of you would react to that appearance. It was a surprise that Kohaku was so normal."
"It doesn't matter what you look like, you're still Izu. We always see you, just like I hope you see us."
"I do." Glancing to Rin she let out a sigh. Lying down beside her so her head rested against her stomach Izumi rubbed at her still flat abdomen. "When will you start to show?"
"It's different for everyone. I don't know. You are more everyday." Rin said placing her hands against her friends head and scratching her nails lightly against skull.
"Please, do not remind me." Wrapping her arms around Rins waist she pressed her face into her gently. She was warm and soft, comforting.
Since the conversation they had all had the two had begun to share a physical closeness that included embracing and holding one another. There was a comfort they both took in being together that until recently neither had known.
There had been no sexual contact and aside from the one kiss they had shared there had been none since. Now as Rin ran her fingers through her hair and against her ears she wrapped her other arm around Izumis shoulders.
Looking down at her friend she saw her sound asleep. "Poor Izu. It's exhausting making babies." Rin yawned feeling her own eyes drift as she was soon sleeping.