A/N: Hello dear readers. Thank you all so much for the reviews over the last few chapters. To answer one of you, RAW, the humans are not tied to any of the demons at this time. They are planning to live out a normal lifespan with their demon mates fully knowing one day their partner will die and still choose to live their lives with them.
It is one of my themes in this story; choosing to love someone knowing that one day you will lose them but enjoying the time you have together and then cherishing that going forward.
Another question was why not have Kohaku and Rin have a child together and have that child take over as the leader of the demon slayers? I kind of had something along those lines in mind with one of the kids already born.
Rin and Kohaku will not have a child together in this story, yes they may engage in some friends with benefits type deal perhaps going forward but they are committed to their mates and will only have children with them.
I am going to explain this in better detail in a few chapters as Sesshomaru and Kohaku tell their side of how they came to be in the room watching.
Anyways, enjoy!
After hearing about Zeros threats along with some of the other lords Iku felt it impertinent to bury the hatchet with Hikari and request she go with them.
She knew logically she was in the wrong but she had built up Hikari in her mind for so long to be the one at fault for things out of any of their control she doubted she would accept.
Still she wanted to try and make amends. The package that Hikari had gifted for Mizuchi was a carrier for him that she could use in either form, she recalled her wearing one when Orla was small, and had thought how practical it was but had never voiced it.
Now as she secured her youngest into it she sighed feeling anxious. It was going to take a lot for her to control how she had come accustomed to treating Hikari but she was determined to do better.
Besides, at the end of the day she had been a good mate to Kiyoshi and a great mother to Orla, that certainly counted greatly in Ikus book.
Having one of the ladies summon Hikari to her she found herself pacing the floor of her former chamber. When the knock came on the panel beside the door she all but froze.
"Enter." She breathed out. Hikari came in respectful as always with her hands folded over her front. Bowing her head slightly to Iku she closed the door behind her.
"You wished to see me, my lady." She said softly.
"Yes. Thank you for the very thoughtful gift." She said with her hand on the underside of the carrier.
"You are most welcome." Hikari said gratefully.
"Hikari, saying that I am sorry will not fix the way I have treated you." Iku began. "However, I am. You were never at fault for…anything and I have been horrible to you."
"Lady Iku, if I may speak." She requested.
"Please." Iku encouraged.
"You were put into an awful situation that I only saw a portion of. I myself have never bonded with a female but I cannot imagine what the two of you experienced together." Hikari said. "I am sorry that I was not a better friend to either you or the Lady Mizuki to have done something…anything…"
"No. There was nothing you could have done. I should never have been cruel to you. I allowed Akios influence to turn me into someone that I did not like very much but I felt had to be." Iku interjected. "I just hope that you can accept my apology and we can move on."
"I do." Hikari whispered out wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "I never blamed you. Not ever. All I have wanted was to have my friends back, you and Riku."
Iku walked to her closing the gap and taking her hands in both of hers.
"Then come with us to the compound in the west. Kiyoshi will be there, I want both of you to stay with us and if possible to bring Orla was well." Watching as Hikaris eyes went wide she sighed. "There may be a war, I need you where I know you are safe."
"Alright." Hikari agreed. "I will."
"We will be leaving tomorrow. Sana and I can help you pack." She offered.
"Thank you my lady." Hikari said appreciatively.
The meeting did not sit well with either Sesshomaru and Izumi nor Rin and Kohaku once they were informed of what had occurred. Izumi requested to speak with Kirinmaru in the conference room with Tadao and Riku present as well as Iku.
Rin sat beside her in the usual fashion with Sesshomaru on Rins side and Kohaku by hers. Kirinmaru was led in and stood bowing to them all slightly.
"Lord Kirinmaru, your sister requested court and made serious threats against our offspring." Izumi said cutting straight to the chase. "You swore allegiance to master Hisashi but we are seriously doubting that word now."
"Lady Izumi, if I may speak freely." Kirinmaru requested. Izumi nodded her head to him in approval. "I do not agree with your choices, either of you. It is such a shame to see two young, intelligent, strong nobility sully their blood by humans."
"With that said; my word is my honor. I pledge my power to the rightful heir born between your two houses and I intend to keep that word. Furthermore, there is no honor in going after any child still suckling their mothers tit. You will have no opposition from me."
"As far as my sister is concerned she is all talk and no action. An empty headed, frivolous lady who feels jilted by the former lord of the western house. I will see to it that none raise a hand against your compound."
"While your words are assuring, tell me, when is your next cycle of hibernation?" Sesshomaru inquired. "What good is your intent if you will be predisposed and of no help."
"It will still be two centuries before I need to rejuvenate. My sisters is much sooner than that. She will awaken before I do. By that time I trust you will have ensured all of your young are able to defend themselves if the need were to arise." Kirinmaru replied.
"Thank you my lord. This one does want to state that any action taken against us by anyone affiliated by you, you will be held just as liable as the one who struck first." Izumi said.
"Understood my lady." He acknowledged. "If there is nothing else.."
"You are free to go Lord Kirinmaru." She said. With another bow he left. Sitting back more Izumi took a breath.
"Do you believe him?" Rin asked turning to Izu.
"Kirinmaru is a demon of his word and holds his honor in high regards." Tadao said. "He will not go against that."
"How long does he sleep for? Granted he said he still had at least two more centuries before he did…but I'm curious." Kohaku wondered.
"The beast kings sleep cycles can last anywhere from a century to more. It depends on how much energy he expels while he is awake." Sesshomaru explained. "Still, I do not trust him."
"With good reason, I am guessing." Izumi said.
"Yes." Sesshomaru replied glancing at her.
"When we get back we will let everyone know what has happened and begin preparing everyone for a worse case situation." Kohaku said.
"Agreed." Sesshomaru said.
"I suppose that is it then." Izumi said standing. "Jaken has been dispatched and is assisting to escort Chiase with Kiyoshi to the west as we speak. Tomorrow the rest of us will dispatch with whomever wishes to go with us."
"Very good my lady. We will stay in close contact. Apprise one another of our situations." Tadao said.
"Yes. I know that I have been asking a great deal of you Captain but there is no one else here I know to trust and who I believe is the only one that can do any type of progress here." Izumi complimented sincerely.
"You should know that you were bred for this. The way you have conducted yourself, your compassion, intellect…Lady Izumi you are doing a fine job. I am merely holding the spot until your return." He replied.
"Thank you." She nodded her head in respect. "Now, lets get our people and our things together and get out of here."
Rin nodded eagerly as Iku gave a small smirk.