As if by magic Rins symptoms disappeared after giving birth to her daughter. Kagome and Inuyasha waited out the last storm of the winter returning home as it began to melt quickly afterwards.
Izumi sent off with them a letter in response to Sango whom had informed them that she had had a healthy pregnancy and delivered their second son whom they named, Sadao.
Once again it made Rin begin to think over what to name their newest edition. Able to sit with Sesshomaru, Izumi, and Kohaku again she held onto the small bundle as Izumi held Hisashi.
Rin was over the moon with excitement not able to take her eyes off of either baby forcing her to look back and forth between the two.
"I want to name our daughter." Rin announced. "I have not come up with a list this time but I have do have some ideas."
"What did you have in mind?" Izumi asked.
"Tomoni, then Chitose. Eiko and Hisa. Lastly I had thought of Suki." She thought out.
"I like Hisa." Izumi said. "Kameko."
"Oh, that's a good one too." Rin agreed.
"Mieko." Sesshomaru offered glancing down at his daughter. All eyes soon turned to Kohaku as he had remained silent.
"Rin, may I hold her?" He asked.
"Of course Kohaku, she is just as much yours as she is mine." Rin replied smiling at her friend. Taking the infant from her he took in her features for a moment looking up at Rin and smiling in a fond way.
"If she is anything like you then Hotaru." He said. Rin laughed softly into her hand.
"A little lightening bug, hm? Is that what you think of me Kohaku?" She wondered.
"Yes." Handing the baby back to her mother he sat back.
"This may be harder this time around than last." Izumi stated.
"I can narrow it down." Rin said. "Out of the names I offered I like Hisa best."
"Long lasting." Sesshomaru said softly.
"Yes."
"Kameko has a similar meaning." Kohaku said. Izumi nodded in answer.
"Mieko would suit her as well. She is the greatest blessing we could ever have hoped for. I also agree that any daughter of Rins will be like a little lightening bug flitting about our lives." She said.
"Hisashi and Hisa." Sesshomaru mulled over. "Hisashi and Kameko. Hisashi and Hotaru."
"Putting them together in that way, I like Hotaru." Rin said.
"I agree." Izumi said looking to Kohaku who nodded. Sesshomaru similarly nodded.
"Then our daughters name is Hotaru." He stated. "Kohaku, how are the western soldiers coming along?"
"Quite well my lord." Kohaku replied. "They take command well, are disciplined, and have pledged allegiance to our pack going forward. I have put Riku in place as their captain."
"Very good. Izumi, what of the female attendants? How is the western lady acclimating?" Sesshomaru queried.
"Lady Emi is exceptional. She also takes commands easily and accomplishes her tasks without question or guidance. Lady Ikus knowledge and expertise are invaluable."
"After witnessing and assisting Kagome with Rins labor and Hotarus birth, she is confident that going forward she will be able to take care of you if you have another child in the future." Izumi responded.
"Good. Jaken has already been dispatched to bring in contractors to expand the quarters in the back and build a small barracks." Sesshomaru said. "Is there anything else?"
"No Lord Sesshomaru." Kohaku said looking to his wife who shook her head once.
"Not anything I can think of at this moment." Rin replied smiling happily.
"Good. Kohaku, come." Sesshomaru stood as did Kohaku.
"Yes my lord." Following him out left Rin and Izumi alone with their children. Going into Izumis quarters they made themselves comfortable placing the siblings next to one another.
Hisashi rolled onto his back whining slightly as he did before rolling back onto his stomach repeating the process. Hotaru slept soundly swaddled in her blanket.
"I love her name." Rin said. "Won't it be nice Izu when the real lightening bugs are out again? We can sit with our children in the field and make flower chains, like we did last year."
"Oh yes. This winter felt as if it lasted a very long time." She agreed. "It will be nice once the warmer weather arrives."
"The day I had Hotaru, where did you and Kohaku go? Inuyasha said you were both getting exercise." Rin questioned with a small smirk causing Izumi to blush.
"The best kind." She said giggling softly.
"Details." Rin practically whined edging closer to her friend.
"Alright, alright." Izu laughed out. "It was the first time we have mated successfully since Hisashi was born. It was very gratifying."
"Gratifying?" Her voice lowered at the formal word. "Come on Izu." Leaning into her gently she pushed her somewhat.
"We played a game."
"A game? A…sex game?"
"Yes."
"Okay…"
"Well he is a demon slayer and I am a demon."
"Oh!" Rin laughed out covering her face with her hands unable to control herself. "Did he…slay…you?"
"Yes." Izumi said softly with a wide smile across her face.
"Did playing a game make it more fun?"
"Yes, it did actually."
"Hmmm." Rin thought out. "I wonder if Lord Sesshomaru would want to play a game like that?"
"For you, yes. He would."
"He likes it when I am dominant. When I talk dirty to him." Rin said.
"You? Talk dirty?" Izumi asked to be sure she heard her right.
"Yes. What? You don't believe me?"
"I can't imagine it. You're always so sweet and innocent. What type of things do you say?"
"Ummm, I'm not certain exactly since it is just in the moment. Next time we are intimate again I'll remember to tell you."
"Do not rush it. Believe me. You'll enjoy it more if you wait." Izumi suggested.
"I am in no hurry." Rin replied. Hotaru began to make a small snuffling sound before wailing to let Rin know she was hungry.
Opening her yukata Izumi handed the small girl to her mother to nurse. Not a moment sooner Hisashi whined before outright howling with his small whimpers.
"Jealous?" Izumi asked him grasping him by his scruff to settle him in her lap. Lowering the shoulders of her kimono she laid on her side on the futon allowing Hisashi to be more comfortable laying on his stomach as he suckled.
"This…this is what I've wanted." Rin said. "Do you remember when I told you?"
"Yes, of course I do." Izumi replied. "You were right, you were right about all of this."
"Don't misunderstand but I had a lot of apprehension about the situation at first." Rin stated. "I only agreed to it because of what you and Sesshomarus mother told me. Then we became friends and you became betrothed to Kohaku…it hasn't even been a year since we met yet here we are."
"So much has happened in such a short time. Just…so much." Izumi said softly. Rin heard the waver in her voice and reached beside her to grasp her hand. Looking to Izu she smiled softly. Taking a deep breath Izumi returned the expression. "You smell like flowers and sunshine again."
Blushing somewhat and giggling Rin looked down at their daughter feeling a warmth unlike any other bloom in her chest.