"I need to get to Rin." Izumi said once she had come to enough to understand some of what had happened. "She is going to be beside herself with worry."
"Izumi, I am going to bring Rin back." Sesshomaru insisted only to have her shake her head.
"No, I need to see her. You kept her away long enough. I need her now." Izumi tensed staring him down. "You left her in the village by herself…"
"Rin is my mate. Not yours Izumi, mine." Sesshomaru said firmly. "She will be brought back soon."
"Izumi, you need to rest." Kohaku said. Looking between the two of them she stood up and walked out.
"I am taking Hisashi with me." She shouted back at them.
"Okay then." Kohaku said standing. Catching the unimpressed expression on Sesshomarus face he gave him one of his own. "I've seen Rin have you at her beck and call for years, do not judge me for mine."
Growling as he stood Sesshomaru followed Kohaku out.
Rin sat up to care for Hotaru. She was trying but it was difficult to maintain her composure. Inadvertently she would begin to tear up which would set her off on another crying jag.
Pursing her lips together she finished changing Hotaru and brought a hand to her head.
"Papa will be back for us soon. Lord Sesshomaru fixes everything, always. Everyone will be alright."
"Rin, Sesshomaru is back." Kagome said poking her head in to the hut. Scrambling to her feet she picked up Hotaru and walked out. Feeling her breath catch in her throat as she saw Izumi barreling towards her.
"Izu?" Trembling with a new bout of tears falling she fell into her friends embrace. Hisashi was secured in a sling across her front and began to excitedly yelp as he sniffed Rin and Hotaru out.
Hotaru grabbed her brothers ear taking it in her mouth as he licked her face. "You're both okay."
"Yes little Cho. Everyone is just fine. We are all alright now." Izumi soothed. Sobbing on to her friends shoulder Rin put her hand to Hisashis head stroking his fur and tracing his little moon.
"I want to go home." Rin whispered.
"Then we will go." Izumi replied. Breaking their embrace she wiped at Rins face taking her in. "You have been ill as well."
"The stress…it's made me sick, yes." She admitted.
"Izu, Rin needs to rest and you should too after everything that happened." Kagome said. "You should both stay here for at least a few days to get your strength back. Your energy is very low."
"Can you wait a few more days Rin?" Izumi asked softly. Nodding Rin smiled a bit at her.
"Yes. Now that I know everyone is alright again, will you come in Kaedes hut with me?"
"Of course." As Rin led her in she turned to where Sesshomaru and Kohaku stood making a face at both of them as if she had won.
"I will let it slide this time but next time Izumi decides to act so out of line, I'm going to hit her." Sesshomaru said to Kohaku.
"Don't worry Lord Sesshomaru, lately she has become a very troublesome demon. I'll take care of her." He said with a smirk.
"Hm." Sesshomaru mused shaking his head. "We will leave the females to themselves for now then." Walking towards the sacred tree Kohaku decided to sit outside of Kaedes hut.
Mitsuo and Jiro had dug out a fire pit in the back that was far enough away from the huts and buildings earlier in the season. It had mostly gone unused until then.
Riku had summoned the members of the household present to discuss with Jin what had happened. Nagi stood beside Jin as he faced the others from where they sat around the fire.
He looked at them all head on, he was many things but a coward was not one of them. Finding Nens stare he took a shaky breath and closed his eyes for moment.
"There is nothing I can say that will make this better, I'm sorry. It was never my intention to hurt any of you." Jin said reopening his eyes.
"Except for me." Nen said low. "You wanted to hurt me."
"I thought I did but I really didn't Nen." Jin fought back his tears. "I didn't realize how much of the mahi leaf I used. All I wanted was to make you a little uncomfortable, the way you made me feel."
Shaking her head and lowering her gaze Iku wiped at her face as tears fell down her cheeks.
"I thought that I was going to die. I couldn't move or breathe…then there was nothing." She whispered out overcome by emotion.
Pulling his mate to him Riku stared at Jin.
"Why didn't you help Kohaku and I get the others to safety?" Mitsuo more demanded than asked.
"You sat in the barracks and heard us trying to get everyone. Kohaku broke down a door to save Lady Iku. Nen was in front of you being overwhelmed by the smoke and you did nothing…why?"
"I was in shock. I didn't understand what was going on when Nen collapsed…I couldn't move." Jin replied.
"That is not good enough." Mitsuo said standing. Emi grasped his hand pulling on him to sit back down. "You nearly killed my wife…my children…you don't belong here."
"Mitsuo, sit." Riku said.
"Captain…"
"Sit." He ordered. Taking a breath Mitsuo obliged unwillingly. "We share the same anger and pain my friend but I did not call everyone here to have this turn in to a stoning. Our ladies and our lords have decided that with in this pack everyone will receive a second chance if need be."
"I nearly got Izumi, Rin, and their pups killed." Jiro said. "I made a mistake that caused a lot of harm but everyone forgave me. You made a mistake Jin. You almost got everyone killed, my brother…but I forgive you, for what it is worth."
"Thank you Jiro." Jin whispered out.
"As upset as I am I do not believe you meant any of us serious harm. I don't forgive you and I do not trust you but maybe in time." Riku said.
"Thank you captain. Really."
"You are a good person Jin. You made a terrible mistake but we all make mistakes. I have." Sana sighed out. "It may not be my place since I am not a demon but I love everyone here, they are my family. So, I forgive you as well."
"Thank you Sana." Jin gave a small nod of appreciation.
"Stay away from my family Jin." Mitsuo warned. "I do not want you anywhere near them unless it is in passing."
"I understand." He replied. Nens stare hadn't faltered as he stared at Jin. Taking a breath he turned to Jiro.
"Give me a hand." Nen requested.
"Yeah." Standing Jiro grasped onto Nens hand pulling him up. He was still weak and needed some assistance. Sana stood as well to stand beside him as they helped him to the quarters where Jaken stayed.
The smoke had permeated the barracks making it toxic to the others. Mitsuo had begun the task of dismantling it but it would take time with just Nagi and Jin to help.
Even with the masks that Sango had left with them it was too much for the demons and were overwhelmed by it as Riku and Jiro had tried to assist.
"We need to talk." Nen said to Jin as they passed by he and Nagi. Lowering his head Jin decided to wait until Jiro and Sana situated him before entering the building.
Mitsuo took Emi home and closed up their hut. Iku settled against Riku and watched the flames dance as small sparks flew off into the night.
"I am sorry Riku, for how I reacted when I realized this pup is a male." She said softly. "It was childish and stupid especially for a female of my age and standing."
Smirking he nuzzled the top of her head with his nose.
"Don't be. That is something I have always loved about you. Those small moments of unpredictably that make my life more exciting."
"Am I boring then?" She nearly snorted out.
"Anything but. Why someone as intelligent as you ever chose to be with me I will never know." He said holding her more tightly.
"You are my opposite and that has always appealed to me. It's why I love you, even the aspects of your personality that annoy me. It makes you who you are." Moving her head to look at him she placed her forehead to his. "I wouldn't trade our lives for anything."
"Our sons, you, are what made my life what it is. Thank you. Without you I would have nothing." He whispered as she settled back in his embrace.
Jin watched them intently before turning away. Nagi had motioned to him when he saw Jiro and Sana leave the building to head to their cave.
Taking a deep breath Jin walked over to the quarters and stepped inside closing the door behind him. Nen was sitting on a futon with his back to the wall.
Standing still Jin waited for him to speak knowing that might take a while. Nen stared off in another direction before opening his mouth to speak.
"I hurt you. As soon as I said what I did I regretted it." He said. "I am not as friendly or as trusting as Jiro is, I just…I have tried but I can't be. After what we went through I don't understand how he is the way is."
Shaking his head Nen stopped turning his gaze on Jin. "The day we went to your former village and you told me that you were like me my mind went haywire."
"It just went in so many different directions that came to knowing you are a human, humans do not live for very long. If we were to become involved eventually you die and I will be alone. What's the point in making a life with someone only to leave you behind?"
"You are not wrong about my mortality. Someday I'll die and you will probably still be the same physically as you are now but it's what happens in between that matters." Jin said as he thought it out. "That's what makes our lives, what we did while we here and how we lived."
"Alright." Nen said. "Second chance, for both us." Lying down he sighed. "Just don't try to kill us all again."
"I promise I will not." Jin said moving closer to him but sitting a good distance away still. Tiredly Nen closed his eyes to fall asleep. Jin leaned against the wall and breathed a steady stream of air out.
A/N: Next chapter you will all get what you have so desperately wanted. Until then have a great day.
Happy reading.