Sesshomaru was increasingly grateful that Izumi had the foresight to send a letter requesting Kagome as the days went on. Rin could not keep down anything while she was awake.
Sleep was her only reprieve from nausea, headaches, and now swelling in her hands and feet. For all of Lady Ikus knowledge and Rins guidance she was at a loss.
Izumi kept Rin company assisting her with drinking light broths and water, holding a basin for her when she was ill and soothing her as tears fell from her eyes due to her exhaustion.
Naturally it was during the turmoltous time that his mother decided to pay her visit. She arrived with several soldiers and hand maidens glancing around their property before her eyes fell upon Sesshomaru standing beside Izumi. Bundled in her arms was Hisashi.
Kohaku stood to her left while Sesshomarus right side was void of Rin.
"Lady Izumi. I see you have adjusted to my sons more wild ways." She remarked.
"My lady." Izumi bowed her head respectfully wanting nothing more than to be by her friends side. Rin needed her.
The faster the pleasantries were done the quicker she could get back to her. "May we present to you future lord of the eastern house of the sun and western house of the moon, young Master Hisashi."
Snapping her fingers one of her ladies moved quickly holding out her arms to Izu to take Hisashi from her. Rigidly she relinquished her son and watched carefully, as did both Kohaku and Sesshomaru, as the small boy was shown to his grandmother.
Placing two fingers to his snout she turned his face left, right, up and down to inspect him.
"Such a pretty coat he has. No markings yet. Oh, I do hope he has the markings of the west and not the garish ones of the east." She stated as if his parents were not standing in front of her.
As Hisashi began to whimper Kohakus breath stilled wanting to grab his son from her rough handling but remained still fighting his muscles making them construct painfully.
Shooing the maid away as if she were done with the pup he was handed back to his mother. "Where is your human Sesshomaru?"
"Lady Rin is resting." Izumi replied. "If my lady so wishes we may take tea in the sitting room. Lord Kohaku will show the soldiers to the back and go over what is expected of them as well as escort the ladies to their quarters."
"How quaint. Thank you Lady Izumi." As the males went to the back with Kohaku and two of her servants two more followed them into the house. "Miyu, take the pup so that we may have tea in peace."
Without question the other took Hisashi from Izumis arms much to her chagrin. Still she kept her composure. Sesshomaru on the other hand was not having it.
Taking his pup from the female he walked wordlessly to his own chambers, most likely to leave Hisashi with Rin for the time being. Iku made their tea as they sat, Izumi waiting for the elder to speak.
"Congratulations are in order I suppose, on your acquisition of the eastern house." His mother stated. "The rumors of the circumstances surrounding it are quite interesting."
"This one is curious as to how it came about exactly." She inquired.
"With all due respect my lady, it is not a topic this Izumi wishes to discuss." Izu replied.
"It was about time. The brute had it coming." The other went on. "It is high time our kind have more females in positions of power. The males have held it for far too long."
Gripping her kimono in her lap tightly Izumi gave a curt nod. "And what is this about the human man, 'Lord' Kohaku? Last I saw that human he was nothing more than a small bean pole, are you taken with the human?"
"Lord Kohaku is my husband and mate." Izumi said slowly.
"Ah. No disrespect then my lady. No wonder Lord Akio acted out in such a way, if of course the rumors are to be believed." Laughing into her fan Izumi wanted nothing more than to chase her from their home but knew it was a necessary evil to maintain peace.
She was just grateful that Rin was not present to witness this type of behavior knowing full well that she would be confronted and possibly ridiculed.
Thankfully Sesshomaru appeared from the room and came to sit beside her. "I have to say Sesshomaru, how jealous your father would be. Having two females at your leisure, hm. A human and a beautiful demoness, the best of both worlds."
"This meeting is over." Sesshomaru stated.
"Oh come now, we have not even had our tea." His mother appealed. "Forgive this one for trying to poke some fun. Personally I never thought this day would come and I for one am happy for it."
"And it is over. Now if there is anything else…"
"Hello?!" Kagomes voice was heard from outside. The doors slid open to the front of the house as Iku opened them. "Is this a bad time?"
Inuyasha was close behind her poking his head in and sniffing around. Izumi sighed relief at the interruption while Sesshomaru wanted to stab something, repeatedly.
Standing Izumi went to greet them and let them inside. "Lady Kagome, Master Inuyasha; your timing is impeccable."
"So, you are Inuyasha?" The lady stood smirking widely. "If you aren't the image of Toga himself, well aside from the ears."
"Do I know you?" He questioned his nose twitching as he sniffed her out.
"No." She said with a softness to her voice that caught Sesshomaru off guard. "Well, many thanks to you both for allowing this one to meet the young heir. Miyu, come."
As she exited both Kagome and Inuyasha watched her leave.
"Who is that?" Inuyasha asked looking to his brother. "Is she family of yours?"
"Yes." Standing as well he went to see her off. Kagome gave a shrug as Inuyasha stood in the door frame watching.
"I received your letter Izu." Kagome said with a smirk.
"I was beginning to worry. Rins condition has worsened." Izumi explained taking her to the room. Rapping on the panel before entering Rin laid on her side with Hisashi curled up next to her.
"A puppy?" Kagome questioned curiously.
"Our son, Hisashi." Izumi said.
"Oh! The child you had with Sesshomaru, yeah that makes sense." Kagome said as if she had had an epiphany. Izumi watched her wondering if she were as intelligent as Rin had claimed her to be.
"Yes." Moving close to Rin Kagome took her hand.
"Rin? Hey kiddo." She said softly stirring her from sleep.
"Kagome? What are you doing here?" She croaked out her throat dry.
"Izumi sent for me. She's worried about you. She wants me here with you to look after you." Kagome said.
"That is not necessary." Rin whispered already falling back to sleep.
"She's dehydrated. Haven't you been giving her water?" Kagome had an accusing tone to her voice.
"Of course. Whatever she takes in comes back out. Lady Iku, our healer, has done everything that Rin has told her to do and nothing has helped." Izumi shot back. How dare she insinuate that she hadn't been taking care of Rin?
"We should elevate her feet. That will help with the swelling in her legs and ankles. I need to speak with your healer to see what exactly it is she's been doing so I know not to do what isn't working." Kagome spoke in thought.
"Alright." Izumi agreed. "Rin was doing fine until one day we had tea and it did not agree with her."
"What tea was it?" Kagome asked.
"Oolong tea." Izumi replied.
"I don't think that would have anything to do with it. It has caffeine but as long as she wasn't drinking it excessively then it isn't about the tea." Turning to Izumi Kagome smirked at her. "She's showing signs of a pregnant woman in a later stage of pregnancy. Regardless I'm glad I'm here."
Handing Hisashi to Izumi Kagome placed her hands on her hips. "Don't worry. I'll take care of her."
"Just tell me what to do and I will." Izumi stated not willing to give up caring for Rin regardless of who it was stepping in.
"Lady Izumi, your presence is requested in the sitting room." Iku said from behind the closed door.
"There seems to be a lot going on." Kagome commented. "Take care of whatever that is and then come back, we'll both take care of Rin."
"Alright." Izumi relented. Cradling Hisashi to her she went to the door slipping out to find Kohaku standing with one of the ladies from the west.
"Lady Izumi." Kohaku greeted. "The lady Emi wishes to stay in Lady Rins service."
"Very well. This one will inform Lady Rin." She said keeping her level squared on the other. Izumi decided she would be keeping an eye on her uncertain if she were told to stay by the lady of the west to spy on them.