A/N: Hello dear readers. So apologies for a few chapters back with the awful amount of grammatical errors and typos. I usually catch those things when I reread my chapters but I was so tired the other day and did not.
Such is the plight of writing everything on your phone and autocorrect being a menace.
I was rereading the earlier chapters as well as in between and we have come quite a ways haven't we?
It's nice to see that 1) the story is coherent and makes sense because I worry about that with it being so long 2) the relationships have developed naturally it feels and 3) it is so much fun to read.
You have all been so awesome reviewing and letting me know what you would like to see and how you feel about this story. It helps out tremendously. Thank you everyone.
Enjoy!
Opting to enjoy the nice weather while it lasted the females of the pack sat around the fire pit in the back to enjoy the tea that Kagome had put together as well as each other's company.
Hisashi ran around with Emis son crawling after him while Hotaru sat up on her own with the two girls. They coo'd and babbled to one another while the newborn was passed around and admired.
"This blend won't disrupt the ginger root, will it?" Sana asked turning to Rin and Iku.
"No." Rin replied. "This infusion is made up of apples and cherry blossoms. There is nothing in it that would cancel out the properties of your infusion."
"Good." Sana smiled happily sipping at her saucer.
"Aw, you do not want to join us all in motherhood Sana?" Emi teased. Laughing nervously the young woman placed down the saucer.
"As much fun as you have all made it out to be, I will pass for now." She said.
"Nothing wrong with that." Izumi stated. "I do want to ask though, how does Jiro feel about it?"
"Most of the time he has fine with it. Some of the time he is more persistent that we begin to try." Blushing she hid her face with the tea saucer.
"I told you." Iku said in a knowing way. "The males are cool and calm until it is time to rut. Then they lose their minds."
Smiling and nodding Rin couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
"How is it with having a human mate?" Sana asked Izu and Emi.
"About the same." Emi replied. "Mitsuo is always very happy when I have been bred. It is a big accomplishment for them you know."
"Oh yes." Izu laughed out. "They do a lot of the work after all." All of the women laughed at her comment.
"My mate promised me daughters and I am having another son." Iku practically sighed out.
"I told Lord Sesshomaru that I would have his son to become pregnant with twin daughters." Rin shrugged. "Oh, Iku, maybe sometimes we can switch. You watch over my daughters and I will care for your son."
"Hm, that is not a bad idea." She smiled back at Rin. "Maybe."
"I wonder how much longer the weather will hold out for." Sana said glancing around them.
"Not for long." Emi shook her head. "I can feel it in the wind. This year will be an early winter."
"Really? What a shame." Sana visibly slumped.
"What is the matter Sana?" Rin asked.
"For the colder months I can't stay in the cave. Jiro and I will have to come back here at night. Not that I am complaining about being close to everyone but we do not have anywhere to stay, we do not have a marital home."
"So we will have one built for you." Izumi said as if it were obvious. "We can have it built where the barracks were. There is plenty of space there for two quarters if not three."
"Is it safe to build on that land for Jiro?" Sana worried.
"The land is fine. The wood was what held the smoke from the mahi leaf." Iku said. "It will not cause him or any of us any ill effects to build on."
Glancing over at the barren spot Sana bit at her lower lip for a moment. "I don't want to be any trouble."
"Sana it is our responsibility as your ladies to make certain you have suitable quarters for you and your mate." Rin motioned between her and Izu. "We appreciate you both and love having you as part of our family. The least we can do is contract a home for you."
"Thank you Rin, Izu. I do appreciate it." Sana said finally relenting. "I will let Jiro know later on when I see him."
"Sana, if the cave is too cold for you already you are more than welcome to stay with us." Emi chirped out.
"For now it is alright but I will let you know if anything."
"Or, you could simply stay with us again." Iku stated sipping at her tea.
"I don't want to be in your way. Your family is expanding and I…"
"You are our daughter. Never think that you would be, 'in our way'." Iku said sharply but kindly.
"Yes ma'am." Sana replied obediently with a small smirk.
"I wonder what Nen and Jin are going to do for quarters now that Jaken has returned." Emi said. "He is not an easy one to get along with. Iku remembers, when we first stayed here last year. We tried to get along with him and be respectful but he makes it so difficult."
"I can not understand why Sesshomaru keeps him around." Izumi stated. "Other than as an errand demon."
"Master Jaken can be difficult but he is not a bad person." Rin sighed out. "He has devoted his entire life to serving Lord Sesshomaru and sometimes takes that notion a bit far."
"He is obsessed." Izumi stated. "It's one thing to serve under a lord or a household but Jaken gets jealous when, forbid, anyone else pledges loyalty or performs a task better than him. Besides I hate how he speaks to you." Rin simply shrugged and gave a small smile.
"Jin has been quiet lately." Emi said softly.
"Your husband told him to stay away from you so he is." Sana replied with a shrug of her own.
"I have told Mitsuo that that is not realistic. We are all here together and it will not benefit anyone to create such a divide." She retorted. "I love my mate but he makes my head hurt at times."
"Oh, you cannot even begin to understand the half of that statement." Iku shook her head. "Being with someone is equal parts loving your mate and tolerating them."
"No one is perfect." Rin said. " I am sure that Mitsuo will come around Emi. It seems like Jin isn't going anywhere."
"He and Nen are mates now so I doubt it." Sana sighed out. "It was touch and go for a while. I am just glad that everyone is here, happy and healthy."
"We all are." Emi agreed with a nod. Taking her son back from Iku she held him close to her. "So much has happened in such a short time."
"It has been extremely eventful for only two seasons." Iku said. "I for one certainly hope the cooler months bring about a break for all of us to prepare for when the three of us whelp."
All nodding in agreement they fell in to a companionable silence.