A/N: Hello dear readers. This is the last chapter I have written out from my week of no family around and I have real plans for my weekend off from work so it may be a few days before I update.

Last chapter I was hesitant to post but wanted to address what some of you have been saying all along, the relationship between Rin and Izumi is weird. It is odd with how open they are and willing to share nearly everything with one another is.

I figured Kagome was the best candidate to bring it up but I didn't want her to come across as too OOC for this story. I wasn't entirely sure how to broach the subject but it had to be addressed at some point.

Let me know what you think.

Enjoy! Have a happy weekend.

Coming halfway to the human village Jiro halted in his tracks as he scented Jin coming towards him. Crossing his arms he waited until he could see him and then waited some more until the human saw him.

His breath seemed to catch for a moment before he released it.

"Think I was Nen?" Jiro questioned somewhat tersely.

"For a moment, yes." Jin admitted stopping a few feet from him. "Where are you going Jiro?"

"To get you seeing as how you abandoned my brother." He replied.

"No. I told Nen I needed time to think, space. I never said I wasn't coming back." Jin stated. "Besides, I think I have something that may help him. It really is a good trading post down there."

"Nen may be dying." Jiro said bluntly. Watching as Jin's eyes went wide he swallowed hard.

"Then we have to hurry." Jin appealed.

"What exactly is it that you have?"

"Anti-para berries. I have only ever heard of them but allegedly they can cure paralysis in demons." Jin explained. "We need to boil them and then skin them to get to the insides to make an infusion."

"I really do not trust anything you have to give us." Jiro stated.

"Then we'll give them to Lady Iku and she can take it from there. Listen, I know it is a long shot but I am trying to help, to fix what I have done." Jin appealed.

"I don't understand it but Nen wants you by his side. So, lets go." Jiro walked back towards the compound with Jin on his heels nearly breathing down his neck.

"Wouldn't this go faster if you carried me and ran?" Jin asked.

"I am not carrying you." Jiro replied.

"But you said Nen is dying."

"May be."

"Good. Well, not good but…I'll shut up now." Jin sighed out getting glared at. Clutching his satchel to him more tightly he was relieved when they finally saw the compound come in to view.

Going around the back they saw Sana with Iku both carrying bloodied sheets and cloths. Jiro worried when he caught Sanas eye and she smiled at him.

"Oh mate. You came back so soon." She said dropping her things and running to him. "Emi had a baby, a live one. Not an egg."

"How is she and her newborn?" Jiro questioned.

"Wonderful." She exclaimed. "Jin, welcome back. You should go see Nen. He was very upset that you left so suddenly."

Nodding he handed her the satchel.

"Tell Lady Iku what these are Jiro and how to prepare them. The other ingredients for the infusion are at her discretion. Whatever she feels would help Nen." Jin said as Sana took the bag from him.

Turning he went to the quarters where he had left Nen. It was dark in the building save for the one brazier that was lit casting his shadow on the wall.

Walking in he slipped off his boots and went to Nen who laid on his futon on his back. He had watched Jin come in and followed him with his eyes as he sat next to him.

"I brought something back with me that may help." Jin said softly. "Nen, I'm sorry I left. I had time to think and this is where I want to be, I do want to be with you in whatever way I can be."

"I was an idiot for reacting the way I did but it just hurt so much to be rejected by you when you accepted me and showed me that it was alright to be me."

"Jin." Nen managed out moving his hand towards him. Grasping it Jin held on to him tightly. "I can't feel you."

Adjusting himself to lie beside Nen he wrapped his arm around his own shoulders resting his head on his chest."

"Now?" Jin whispered out wrapping his arm around Nen.

"Hm." Nen answered closing his eyes.

Outside Sana handed Iku the satchel who opened it to look inside.

"What are these?" She questioned looking up at Jiro.

"Jin said they are called anti-para berries. They may be able to help Nen once they are boiled down, skinned, and put in to an infusion of whatever it may be you believe would help him my lady." Jiro explained.

Taking one out to examine it Iku sniffed at before tossing it back in the bag.

"Sana, put the linens to soak and start the fire in the pit out here. Jiro bring out my large cauldron from my hut along with the half barrel of water."

As the two went to do as she bid her mind began to run to think over Nens current state and what else could help him.

He certainly would need something for strength and a sleep aid wouldn't hurt either.

Not knowing how the infusion would work with the new ingredients that had been brought to her she walked over to the fire pit kneeling down to sort through the berries.

Once she felt she had enough for at least two doses and Jiro had brought out the cauldron he set it over the flame to boil.

Tossing in the berries she decided to keep an eye on them since she had no idea how long they would take.

"Did Jin give you a hard time?" Sana asked Jiro as they sat beside one another.

"No. He was half way back when I found him." He said. "I hope this works."

"Have faith darling. Nen is strong and he will get through this with some help." She replied.

"After everything we have been through I can't imagine him not but this is the worst I have ever seen him."

"When you were younger?" She asked receiving a slow nod.

"When our parents were killed and we were taken we didn't look like this. Our parents didn't either. Nen and I we were forced to take on a more human appearance to be more profitable. I had a hard time to learn how, Nen didn't but he still protected me."

"I have no idea what I would do with out my brother. He has just always been there and the thought that he may not be…" Setting his jaw Jiro closed his eyes.

Feeling Sana wrap her arms around him from behind he grasped both of her hands with one of his.

Sitting in silence for some time with Iku monitoring the berries she took one out with a large wooden ladle to inspect it. The skin had shrunk away leaving it cracked in some places.

Peeling it away she was immediately hit with the smell of it. It made her recoil almost immediately with how pungent it was. Gagging she covered her face with her hand trying to control herself from retching.

Sana jumped up taking it from her.

"I don't smell anything from it." She said holding it under her nose. Jiro stood beside her and had screwed his face up to show it did have an odor.

"Then consider yourself lucky mate." Swiping at his nose with a finger and shaking his head trying to rid it from his nostrils.

"Sana, I need you to peel the berries. If I were not pupped I would but I simply cannot control my stomach right now." Iku said.

"Of course Iku." Sana answered immediately setting to work to fish out the rest of the berries with the ladle. "I will go to the front of the house in the grass to take care of these. Once I have them prepared I will let you know."

"Thank you." Iku nodded gratefully. Watching as she went she looked to the still boiling water. "I will use this for the infusion."

Moving her gaze to Jiro she decided to broach the subject of his recent coupling with Sana. "You two have mated."

"Yes Lady Iku. Sana and I have." Jiro said respectfully.

"You did not mark her."

"No. I was careful not to frighten her, I wanted to but we have never talked about it and I doubt that is something humans do from what I have learned from Sana."

"It isn't. I will talk with her about it if you like." Iku offered.

"Perhaps that would be best to hear it from you." He agreed.

"Thank you. I have s feeling Sana will be the only female I ever have that I can call my own. There are some things that I would like to tell her."

"Then I certainly will not get in your way my lady." Jiro replied with a small smirk.

"What is that terrible smell?" Jiro turned to see Riku walking towards them clearly concerned.

"Some berries Jin brought back to help Nen." Iku said.

"I see."

"Sana took them to the front to prep."

"You are not going to test it on yourself." Riku stated clearly. "Not with our pup, not after what just happened."

"How else am I supposed to know if it is safe then?" She retorted staring up at him.

"Test it on me." His tone implied it were the obvious choice.

"No. I will not risk you."

"And now you know how I feel every time you subject yourself to a trial."

"You know what Riku?" Narrowing her eyes at him she cocked her head slightly to the side and pursed her lips. "I will have you test it."

"The berries are…huh?" Sana wondered as she ran up to them. "Did something happen?"

"Just watch." Jiro said clearly amused.

"Thank you for including me for once Iku." Clearly he was enjoying pressing all of her buttons and was waiting for her to explode at him.

"Sana, bring me tsuyo-sa weed and some konsui seed." Iku instructed.

"Okay." She was hesitant but did as she was told bringing her basket from the hut. Being told to bring back the berries after being mashed she added them to Ikus cauldron.

Once the infusion was made she ladled it in to a wooden cup handing it to Riku.

"Drink up mate." She said.

"Uh, Iku." Sana piped up.

"Quiet Sana." Riku looked between the two women feeling a little leery.

"Trying to poison me finally?" He joked.

"Do you have so little faith in my abilities Riku?" Iku responded her face unreadable.

"I can't…" Sana said looking away as Riku suddenly downed the cup and gagged on the liquid. Jiro contemplated that maybe Iku had poisoned him when he stumbled forward.

Jiro caught him and lowered him to the ground as he was suddenly sound asleep. Looking up at her he was afraid of the smug satisfaction that was clear across her features.

"Take the old fool home so he can sleep that off." Iku said turning back to her infusion.

"What just happened?"

"The seeds. Iku put in enough seeds to take down several horses." Sana stated. "I was trying to warn him to sit down at least."

"Right. Well, I will take the captain home then." Jiro stood slinging Rikus arm over his shoulder to drag him at least with some dignity.

"Why did you drug him like that Iku?" Sana asked innocently.

"When you have been with Jiro for some time Sana you will understand." She said forcing Jiro to nearly stumble as he walked.

"Scary." He mumbled to himself as he hauled Riku the short distance to his hut.