A/N: Hello dear readers. Thank you to Irivel who left me a wonderful review. Your English is just fine my friend, Sorrelllkaren for multiple reviews and binge reading this story, Reaper007...always nice to hear from you, and CursedCardinal who has swore fidelity to me and reads everything I write...lol.

I hope everyone had a good holiday and is ready for the next month of craziness. For now lets just relax and let the world melt away with some fan fiction.

Enjoy!

Half of the sitting room had a folding screen partition placed close to the hearth for Kagome and Inuyasha to have their own space. While Kagome helped Rin to be more comfortable and manage her symptoms Izumi found herself busy with maintaining the household.

Two of the wests soldiers had been ordered to stay by Sesshomarus mother to protect Hisashi and the rest of the pack leaving Kohaku busy as well in charge of the makeshift barracks.

Lady Emi proved to be not any such threat as Izumi had expected her to be. She was a young dove demon with grey hair and big black eyes. She was quiet, shy, but worked diligently with Iku and assisted Kagome with Rin to the best of her abilities.

Inuyasha had taken to watching Hisashi during the day as everyone else busied them selves with tasks. He enjoyed bouncing the small pup around and bonding with him.

Sesshomaru watched the way he coddled his son wondering if it was a human proclivity as he had seen Rin and Kohaku acting similarly with Hisashi. That wasn't to say that neither he nor Izumi neglected any of their sons needs they just showed their affection in a different way.

"Funny that I'm the only one with pointed ears and the rest of you have floppy ones." He commented to engage Sesshomaru in conversation. He didn't expect much in a response knowing how his brother was.

"Our father had much smaller ears. Still elongated but they came to more of a point." Sesshomaru said.

"What your mom said, about me looking like him…is that true?" Inuyasha asked glancing at Sesshomaru from across the sitting table.

Staring at his younger brother he had always seen his father in him. Not simply by appearance but also his fury and passion especially engaged in battle, while Sesshomaru may have been the legitimate heir Inuyasha was much more alike to their sire than he would ever be.

"Yes." He replied. Inuyasha looked down at his nephew who had began to whine and whimper. Scratching his head with a claw gently he visibly sighed.

"It's funny ya' know. This whole situation that you're in. I mean, I don't know the details but it just makes me wonder how different maybe things could have been if father hadn't died." Inuyasha said.

"He would have died regardless." Sesshomaru stated. "The battle with Ryokoutsei had left him mortally wounded. I sought him out to usurp him, challenging him to a fight to the death. Father declined choosing to go to your mothers side instead which still ended in his demise."

"I guess regardless you got what you wanted." Attempting to hide the scoff in his tone it was still present.

"My mindset was if I defeated him then I would be as powerful as he was. It hasn't been until recent years that I understand how foolish I was." What struck Inuyasha was the amount of emotion Sesshomaru was displaying.

He appeared humbled as he kept Inuyashas gaze. "Damn. Having a kid changed you that much?"

"No." Sesshomaru became impassive once again and unreadable. Looking back down at the pup Inuyasha hoped that Hisashi would be more accepting and tolerant of Rins children than Sesshomaru had been towards him.

No doubt with how high on a pedestal Sesshomaru put his wife he would not tolerate any less. Kagome had explained the situation to him and knew that Hisashi was an arranged coupling. For once in his life he had been grateful that no one cared about what he did.

He couldn't imagine being told he had to be with another woman to get her pregnant then have to parade around with the baby showing it off to be inspected and legitimized.

"Sesshomaru." Kagome came down the hall with Iku and Emi behind her. "Rin wants to see you."

Standing he heard the soft sound that Kagome emitted upon seeing Inuyasha with Hisashi. He watched as she sat beside her mate and rested her head against his shoulder. "What a good boy." Scratching the top of Hisashis head Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the tone she used. "Yes you are a good puppy."

"Do not speak to my son as if he is a common mongrel." Sesshomaru reprimanded. Kagome looked up at him sheepishly as Iku and Emi both stood to the sides of the doorframe bowing their heads respectfully.

Walking into his own room Izumi sat behind Rin rubbing at her shoulders through her yukata. On the lower platform of the futon her feet were in a basin of steaming water that smelt of the rose oil she bathed in.

Her color had returned as she leaned back against Izu her eyes shut and a small relaxed smirk played across her lips.

"Izumi. Take Hisashi from Inuyasha and his mate. I do not appreciate the way that Kagome speaks to him." Sesshomaru said deciding to leave it up to his pups mother.

Sighing and setting her jaw she bristled slightly. Rin opened her eyes and smiled at him sleepily.

"No matter how many times I tell her not to that woman just does not seem to be able to either understand that Hisashi is not a dog or doesn't care." Izumi complained.

"What do you mean Izu?" Rin asked having been half asleep and not catching what Sesshomaru had said.

"Nothing sister." She assured. "I'll leave you to your husband."

"Thank you Izu." Removing her hands from Rin she made her way off of the platform exiting the room. Sesshomaru walked to her sitting beside her. Rin practically melted into him as he wrapped his arm around her tightly. "I miss you."

"I know mate." He rumbled softly. "There is much to be done that unfortunately requires my attention. Our pack is growing."

"Isn't it wonderful?" Sighing out she placed her hand to her extended stomach. "Lady Emi is nice. I like her a lot."

"Good."

"And having Kagome here has been a comfort. Not that I have not been but I've known her since I was so young. We've been friends for a very long time."

"Hm."

"Then of course Iku. She's enjoying learning about humans."

"And what of Izumi?" Sesshomaru questioned wondering why she had left her out.

"Izumi is like how you are to my lord and even Kohaku; she has become everything to me. There are no words to describe the relationship the four of us share." Rin stated. "We need to all pick a name for our daughter. I haven't had any time to think about any lately, even though I have not been doing much of anything."

"There is no need to rush. It is not uncommon for the name to be chosen after a pup is whelped." Glancing down at his very pregnant wife he smirked. "We have time."

Taking one of her feet from the water she sighed as she looked at the swelling. "I look awful."

"You look very pregnant." Sesshomaru stated.

"Yeah." Sitting up straighter she took her other foot out and placed them next to the basin. "Now I understand why Izumi became so crazy towards the end. This is not fun anymore."

"I am still convinced that you are." He teased. Giggling Rin turned her attention to him.

"I know that you are very busy but will you just stay with me for a bit longer husband?"

"You only need but to ask." He said. "If you so wish it I will not leave your side."

"I couldn't ask that of you." Rin replied meekly.

"Rin, you are my mate. My wife. You are everything to me. The only place I have ever wanted to be since meeting you has been by your side." Running his hand across her cheek he smiled softly at her. "What can I do for you?"

Blushing furiously Rin smiled nervously. "Would you…rub my feet?"

"Absolutely. Lie back dearest." Leaning against the pillows she had up against the wall Sesshomaru propped her feet up on his lap taking one in his hands and gently massaging it.

"Oh yes." Rin let her head fall to the side and closed her eyes. "Thank you."

Izumi made her way to the sitting room where Inuyasha and Kagome still sat with Hisashi.

"I'll take him." Izumi told them taking her son from Inuyasha. "I do not mind either of you spending time with him. In fact I would very much like to encourage a bond with both of you and Hisashi but he is not a dog. Kagome, this is last time I am telling you to stop treating him as such."

"I am sorry Izumi. I've been trying it's just…different to me. I'm not used to seeing a baby like him." Kagome replied sounding remorseful.

"Just be more mindful of how you speak to him." She relented not holding any serious animosity towards the young female. After all, she was the one who had summoned her and she had helped Rin tremendously in the last two weeks she had been with them.

"Oh." Kagome said standing. "I forgot, Sango wanted me to give you a letter. It's for both you and Kohaku." Moving to where she and Inuyasha had set up their futon she emerged with the folded paper in hand. "Sorry, I've been so busy with Rin that it totally slipped my mind."

"Thank you Kagome. How has Sango and her mate been?" Taking the letter from her Izumi tucked it into her kimono.

"Very well. I'm sure that she explains everything in her letter." Smiling at her Kagome looked to the door. "I'm going to go and help out Iku and Emi. I'll see you later."

"I know she's a brat." Inuyasha said when Kagome had gathered her cloak and left. "But she's a good person."

"I know." Izumi replied with a soft smirk. Making her way to her own room she sat on the futon getting comfortable. Placing the letter down she decided to wait for Kohaku so they could read it together later on.

Unwrapping Hisashi from his blanket Izumi laid him down watching as he sniffed and attempted to move about only succeeding in rolling onto his back. He began to whine as he was unable to turn back around.

"You are a lazy thing." She commented assisting him back onto his stomach. He began to howl and edge closer to his mother as he scented her close to him. "Alright, I know, you're hungry."

It was easier to change into her natural form to nurse Hisashi. While he didn't do poorly while she appeared more human it was more comfortable for both of them.

Transforming she lifted Hisashi into her mouth by the scruff of his neck to carry him to the head of the futon. Laying him down she laid on her side allowing him access to her milk.

He quickly found her and wasted no time in suckling. Lifting her head slightly she watched him as he made small grunting and mewling sounds. Licking the top of his head she stilled staring at the barely there crescent moon on his forehead.

That was new. Settling her head back onto her pillows she knew it would make Rin happy to see her mates marking on their son.