A/N: Hello dear readers. Here you go Mai, it's the 'other woman's' side of things. I feel like with these chapters I'm going in some sort of circle so hopefully they turn out well.

This arc will conclude with something that I have been debating on for a very long time but I'm gonna go for it since I wanted to a long time ago and didn't.

For now, enjoy!

Being led to a large room with a sitting area Sana knelt down properly on the tatami mats at a small table. Hikari set about to stoke the fire to life and set some water to boil for tea.

Sitting across from her she smiled widely.

"You really have no idea how pleased I am that you want to speak with me." She began. "I was so glad when I had heard that Lady Iku and Riku had taken you in, I had hoped we would one day have some time together."

"Does Lady Iku always treat you so poorly?" Sana asked. "She told me that once you and Riku were to be mates but it still doesn't seem as if you did anything wrong by being mated to their son."

Letting out a sigh Hikari closed her eyes. "Let me start from the beginning, if you allow me to that is."

"Of course." Sana encouraged. Reopening her eyes Hikari met hers.

"My name is Kari. I am a dog demon from another land. When I was young my clan went to war and lost. The males were executed, the females and pups were sold. That is how I came here."

"I was very frightened and didn't understand the language or the people but Riku….he has always been my friend. Never my mate."

"He helped me to learn how to act, how to communicate and named me Hikari to fit in better. Iku came with Mizuki and we were friends. We were good friends." Closing her eyes Hikari sniffled.

"One day Iku and myself were tending to Mizuki. She had suffered a loss and was in bad condition. Akio came in, forced us out quite violently and slammed the door."

"I was dumbstruck. I wasn't able to move or breath. Iku screamed and pounded on that door, ripped her claws out trying to break through and I just was there…standing by, useless."

"When he left and we were able to go to her he had beaten her so badly and had his way with her after she was still healing."

"Iku went to her and just wailed…when I approached them she turned on me and I thought she was going to attack me. She ordered me out and a few days later she was mated to Riku."

"That was when the rumors began, that Riku and I had been nearly mated and Iku had taken him from me. I chose to distance myself from them even though they were always very important to me."

"Why would Iku do that?" Sana questioned feeling a knot form in her stomach.

"Because she was hurting. She could not hurt the aggressor so she directed it at me. That day where I did nothing to help I became part of her problem and removed myself from their lives." Hikari replied. "Until Kiyoshi and I ended up together that is."

"Did you mate with him to get back at her?" Sana couldn't help the accusatory tone her voice took on.

"No. I had no idea who he was since I had no contact with either. It wasn't until he presented me to them that I realized it." Shaking her head she sighed. "Riku welcomed me with open arms and Iku all but spit on the ground at my feet."

"So, she thinks that this is some sort of conspiracy against her?" Sana asked.

"No. Iku is very intelligent but that seems to make her think we are all inferior to her. She thinks she has everyone where she wants them when we all just cared for her…very much and played our parts to keep her sane. As long Iku has a plan, some idea, she manages to get by in trying times."

"I don't even know what to say." Sana said. "How sad."

"Yes. I keep telling myself that one day she will come around and be herself again and I can have my friends back. I love them both so very much. I love their son and the daughter that we have together. I want all of us to be cordial at the least."

"Is your daughter grown?"

"Nearly. She is a couple of centuries younger than Lady Izumi. She was sent to a household in the north some time ago to serve there."

"What is her name?"

"Orlaith but we call her Orla."

"That is a beautiful name, I have never heard anything like it."

"It is from my home land, my own mothers name."

Standing to get the water she filled two cups before beginning to steep the tea and strain some water through a small sieve that sat atop the cup.

"I stole someones name." Sana said softly. Glancing up at her Hikari furrowed her brow.

"How does one steal a name?" She asked.

"Sana is not mine. It was my friends. We were taken by ogres and held there for, I don't know how long. At first we thought they were just going to eat us but they had other ideas in mind."

"Ogres are brutish, insatiable beasts. It is a small miracle you survived." Hikari said. "What became of your friend, the 'real' Sana?"

"I don't know. I cannot remember. Even how I came to be found by Lord Sesshomaru is hazy, as if I am forgetting." Sana said.

"Well, there is nothing wrong with taking on her name to honor your friend…whatever may have happened to her."

"That is what is worse; I don't know my own name I just know it is not Sana. It is the only one I could think of."

"I take it you have not told anyone else this."

"No. The pack knows me as Sana, my mate…Iku, I fear at this point if I said anything they would feel betrayed."

"Do they know what you went through?"

"Yes. They do."

"Well, I do not know your mate but I do know Iku. The way she was with you was extremely protective, it reminded me of how she was with Mizuki, you can essentially do no wrong as far as she is concerned." Hikari smirked sipping her tea.

"That cannot be true." Receiving a shrug from Hikari she took her own cup sipping at the liquid.

"Regardless, your secret is safe with me and I hope that one day you remember who you were little sister."

"Thank you." Sana said gratefully.

"We should head back to the hall." Hikari cleaned off the table and led Sana back out. As they rounded a corner she saw Jiro come down the hall as if he were on a mission.

"There you are. I became concerned when you weren't with the pups." He said.

"Oh, sorry. Jiro this is Kiyoshis mate, Hikari. This is my mate Jiro." Sana introduced. Both bowed their heads to one another in acknowledgement and Hikari excused herself. "Ready to go back to the great hall?"

"Actually I was hoping we could have some alone time. I miss you sunflower." Jiro said with a small smirk.

"Every day has been near torture that I have not spent by you." Sana agreed. "I do know of a place. Come on darling. I'm sure Lady Izumi won't mind if we spend some time in her garden together."

"That sounds wonderful." Jiro took her hand allowing her to lead him away.