Later in the night Izumi stood up from her chair suddenly seeming to scan the crowd. Glancing down at Rin she looked to both Kohaku and Sesshomaru.
"We will be back." She said simply as they stood. Leading Rin out of the hall they met Kino who leaned against the wall with her arms crossed.
"About time." She stated.
"Easier for you to escape." Izumi countered. "Come on." Walking briskly down the hall that ended at the door leading to the garden gate Izumi glanced around then beckoned them both to go ahead of her.
Walking into the garden Kino took a deep breath of air in the open outside area.
"Ah, love is in the air." She smiled widely looking to Izumi. Cocking a brow she sniffed the breeze and let out a soft laugh.
"Wait here." She ordered Rin and Kino as she went ahead on the path.
"Is something wrong?" Rin asked Kino.
"No, nothing wrong." She mused. Izumi went to the large cherry tree rounding the base. Stopping she crossed her arms and looked down.
"Well I suppose this is only fair since you were privy to Kohaku and I." Izumi smirked at Sana as she at first hid her face before turning fully to her with a bright red complexion.
"Yes, yes it is." She almost laughed out with embarrassment. Jiro who was behind her had his eyes closed, his lips pursed tightly and looked as it he were going to die on the spot.
"Jiro, go rut somewhere else." Izumi said.
"As soon as I can I will." He replied his voice coming out shaky from nervousness. Kino let out a laugh as she and Rin had drawn closer to the tree.
"What's wrong boy? Got yourself knotted?" She jested.
"Something like that." He mumbled out. Rin smiled feeling badly for her friends hearing them struggling to break apart and clearly mortified at being caught.
"So sorry Lady Izumi." Sana said as Jiro was able to remove himself from her and she stood fixing her kosode.
"It is alright Sana. Just, find somewhere else." Izumi retorted with a small smirk.
"Of course." Nearly skipping away with Jiro hanging his head down as he went behind her Rin called out to them.
"There is nothing to be ashamed of. We all do it." Seeing the couple somewhat slow in their steps with Sana bringing a hand to her face they left the garden.
Kino burst out laughing leaning against the tree trunk taking out two good sized flasks from her pocket. Handing one to Rin she opened the other.
"What is this?" Rin questioned opening it and sniffing the sweet liquid that smelled of alcohol.
"Raspberry wine. This one, I have here, is made up of toxins that humans can't ingest but works fine for us demons to get drunk." Offering it to Izumi first Rin watched as she took a swig from it before Kino took some herself.
Rin followed suit taking a sip from hers.
"This is good. Did you make it yourself?" She asked.
"No. Something I picked up when I heard that Izu was bringing along her human companions." Kino stated. The three sat to face one another and took turns drinking.
"I am surprised to see you here Kino." Izumi said after some time had passed. "Last I had heard you were far north."
"I was until I heard about the mutiny in the house and I just had to come see it for myself. About damn time." She replied.
"Were you present when he was executed?" Izumi queried solemnly.
"I was." Kino nodded her head. "My mother was too, front and center. It was quick. He didn't say anything, did not look at anyone just across the crowd. Probably the bravest thing he ever did in his cowardly existence."
"And you are sisters, by blood?" Rin asked. Kino nodded as Izumi remained silent. "I had thought Izumi was an only child."
"Legitimately, yes. Akio had concubines, that is where I came from. He forced females to have his pups hoping he would have a male only to end up with daughters, well up until his death that is. I like to think the universe has some form of justice in that."
"You know then." Izumi said.
"After he was executed I went east and found Chiase. She was very near to whelping but would not let me help her. She was in a terrible state and I figured it out. Even still over the winter I left things for her to survive, feeling some responsibility for what had occurred."
"Thank you for helping her. Chiase is going west with us." Izumi said taking more drink.
"Good. Get her as far away from here as possible and take care of our little brother." Kino sighed out.
"I will."
"So, what a sweet little female you have acquired." Kino said changing the subject. Making eyes at Rin she felt herself blush and laugh it off already feeling the effects of the wine.
"Thank you, I think." She giggled out.
"Our relationship is not of that caliber." Izumi answered.
"Shame. Here I was hoping you would share this sweet little flower with me."
"Ha! If Rin and I were physical with one another I certainly wouldn't let you get your dirty paws on my bonded female." Izumi said in good humor.
"Good point. Who knows where they've been." Kino agreed laughing.
"Question." Rin said after a moment had passed. "Did you both grow up together? Were your mothers friendly? How many other sisters do you have? Do they all live in the east or elsewhere? And why Izumi didn't you ever tell me?"
"Whoa." Kino clutched her head in a mock headache. "Slow down flower."
"She does that." Izumi smirked. "Well, I didn't tell you Rin about Kino or any of my sisters because I don't know any of them very well. Kino is the only one I know by name and we only met some three hundred or so years ago."
"Oh yes. That was a grand time wasn't it Izumi?" Kino took a large gulp of their shared drink sighing contentment and wiping her mouth.
"She stowed away when we went west, somehow, in my luggage. When I opened the chest she popped out. Scared me since I had no idea whom she was." Izumi recalled. "Once she explained it to me and the reason she was there was because Kiyoshi had been unable to accompany me and she was not exactly welcome, she hid."
"So then, did you know Lord Sesshomaru then? Did you meet him? What was he like? Izumi says he is much the same now as he was then but he had to have been a bit different." Rin fired out.
"Yes. I did meet Lord Sesshomaru on that trip and he was very much the same as he was tonight. Quiet, solemn, and looked at me as if I were beneath him, which I am." Kino replied.
"That isn't true Kino. You are not below anyone and, maybe at one point in time Lord Sesshomaru thought that way but he doesn't anymore." Rin retorted. "He is very kind hearted."
"Sesshomaru enjoys teasing me." Izumi said finishing off the flask.
"He cares for you in his way, for all of us. He is very happy with our pack and our pups." Rin said.
"So, Chiase is going." Kino thought out. "Do you suppose you have room for one more?"
"You want to come with us Kino?" Izumi asked. Rin smiled widely and nodded happily before Kino could reply.
"Yes. I do. I want to see this place that I have heard so much about." Kino nodded her head once.
"You'll like it there at our compound. Iku and Riku live there with their new pup and Sana and Jiro, you just met them, do as well. Nen is Jiros twin and he lives there with his mate Jin. Oh and I miss Emi and the hatchlings too. I hope she and Mitsuo are doing alright." Rin spoke quickly as she thought it out.
"Quite the group you have." Kino said. "Let me know when you intend to leave, if you would be so kind my ladies." Kino stood helping up Rin first then Izumi.
"We will Kino. Would you mind escorting us to Rins chambers." Izumi requested.
"But of course." Bowing to them she took the lead exiting the garden. Rin leaned on Izumi feeling the effects of the wine but was happily buzzed as they walked down the gilded halls.
Coming to the door Kino opened it for them and started a fire in the room and lit some braziers. Izumi set Rin down on the futon beginning to take out the ornamental hair pieces she wore.
"Thank you Kino." Izumi said to dismiss her.
"My pleasure, really. Until tomorrow." She said turning on her heel and exiting the door leaving Izumi to assist Rin.