While the others left Iku and Sana tended to the pups. Sana knew there must be an urgent matter for both Rin and Izumi to leave in such a hurry.
Female demons that she likened to wet nurses were called in to assist Iku in keeping all of the little ones fed. Once they were alone and Hisashi was the only one awake she decided to question Iku about it.
"I cannot tell you. Anything I may know at this point is only speculation." Iku said.
"And if you find out will you tell me?" Sana asked with a small smirk.
"No unless I am given permission otherwise."
"By Lady Izumi?" Sana pressed receiving a nod. "It must be something not pleasant. I can tell by how everyone is acting."
"No, it is not. It makes me want to dig up a dead dog to mutilate its corpse." Iku whispered the words even still they came out sharp. Sana believed she would.
"Izumis father." Sana said under her breath knowing full well he would be the only person Iku would fully wish to harm. Receiving silence she decided not to press the matter any further.
A light knock came to the door before opening as Riku stepped in.
"If you wake any of these pups…" Iku began only to stop when Riku held up his hand.
"Apologies mate however Hikari wishes to see you as she has not yet, as well as meet Mizuchi." He said.
"Does she now?" Iku replied with nothing short of malice in her tone.
"Our sons mate wishes to pay her respects." Riku said somewhat clipped. Iku took a breath straightening herself out.
"Well what are you waiting for? Lets get this over with already and you tell the fool female to be soft footed and quiet when she enters." Iku quipped back.
"Of course." Closing the door for a moment Sana knelt properly holding her breath to meet the female that Iku didn't like very much.
Upon entering she took note of her soft red hair and brilliant green eyes that were incredibly striking. She was very fair skinned and seemed foreign even though Sana knew she had lived in the east for centuries.
"Lady Iku, it is good to see you again." She said sounding almost nervous. Kneeling down she bowed to them both somewhat. "The east is not the same since you left it."
"Since Riku left I suppose as well." Iku said staring down the other female.
"Of course not. I miss both of you as does Kiyoshi even though he will not say it." Hikari replied. "I wanted to give you this, for your youngest son."
Taking out a parcel that she had tucked in her kimono Iku begrudgingly took it. Placing it off to the side Hikari only gave a small nod of appreciation.
Turning her attention to Sana she opened her mouth to speak only to be halted mid breath.
"There is nothing you have to say to my daughter." Iku said. "Now go. We are done here." Sana felt badly for the other demon as she gave a small bow stood and left.
"Iku…"
"Don't." She said standing to leave the parcel on the floor. Walking to the large window she stood beside the drawn back curtain and sighed. "I really do hate the east. It has always brought out the worst in me."
"Only if you allow it to." Sana retorted.
"It was me and Mizuki against all of them…we tried to protect one another but that wasn't always enough."
"You let Riku in and you seem to trust Captain Tadao."
"Sana, if I tell you something would you be able to swear an oath of silence and secrecy?" Iku questioned turning her attention to the other. "Something that only myself and Mizuki knew, no one else."
"Yes. I will and I can." Sana agreed to it somberly.
"If you did ever tell anyone the price you would pay is…forget it." Iku turned her head away from the other. Sana stood walking to her. Standing in front of her she took Ikus hand squeezing it.
"Tell me." Sana encouraged.
"I lied when I said I was interested in Riku back then. I took him to protect us." Iku whispered. "At the time I didn't care about him only what he could do for me. The only person I cared about was Mizuki. She did not like the plan but I did it anyways."
"I can understand in a way where you are coming from." Sana said. "I'll never tell. It will go with me to my grave."
"Thank you Sana." Iku squeezed her hand back sounding more like the person Sana had gotten to know.