With everyone back together at the compound and welcoming new members Rin decided they deserved to have a small get together with their pack.
Organizing it with Izumi and the other women they put together a small feast of human and demon food alike. Kohaku went to the trading post to see if Nagi, Rina and her parents would care to join to discuss future relations.
Coming back with positive news that they would attend only made the effort drive further to make quite an event of it.
The day of everyone brought out their tables from their huts to place on the ground in the back to create enough space for everyone to sit together comfortably.
Kiyoshi and Hikaris hut was nearly complete, as they had been staying with Riku and Iku, with Chiases in the works as well.
Seeing everyone come together and the pups along with the hatchlings running around Rin stood watching everyone as they busied themselves for a moment.
Intense pride bloomed in her chest at what they had all accomplished in such a short period of time. She had never thought she would ever be a lady let alone have so many others want to join any type of compound she may be apart of.
Thinking back she recalled when she had told Sesshomaru that she wanted a place for Jaken and An-Un, with that she would have been content for their small family to be together.
Likewise she couldn't imagine any of the others not being there, not knowing them, and felt her life enriched by each person who chose to join with them.
"Hello Rin." She heard Nagis voice travel to her. Turning she saw him walking alongside Rina and an older couple.
"Hello Nagi. Rina, it is so good to see you again." Rin greeted walking closer to them to meet. "I am Rin. It is very nice to make both of your acquaintances." Bowing slightly to the couple they bowed to her as well.
"Mother, father; this is Lady Rin of the western lands. My lady, these are my parents; my father is Goro and my mothers name is Mui." Rina introduced.
"Lady Rin, thank you for meeting with us." Mui said. "Please accept this gift as a token of our appreciation." Taking the back sack from her husband she reached in taking out a rather large decanter.
"Thank you very much." Rin smiled widely. "And you may just call me Rin. Come and meet the rest of our pack." Turning she flagged down Izumi who met her halfway. "Izu, you remember Rina. These are her parents; Goro and Mui."
"Pleasure." Izumi greeted them both. "Nagi, Rina; you both appear well."
"Quite." Nagi replied. Taking them both in for a moment she turned her attention to the elder couple. "Thank you both for coming. We all look forward to arranging future relations between our two groups."
"The pleasure is ours my lady. It was fair to say what a surprise it was when Rina told us of your compound. We have been out here on our own for so long, it is good to know we may have support close by." Goro said.
"Agreed. Come, make yourselves comfortable." Leading them closer to the tables Rin placed the decanter on the table. "What is that?"
"I am assuming alcohol." Rin replied examining the bottle further.
"We can try some later, perhaps…alone." Izumi leaned a bit closer to her suggestively. Rin laughed and leaned against her holding her arm tightly.
"Perhaps." She said cheerfully.
"You need to be careful flower. You know dog demons are notorious for taking advantage of smaller prey."
"Back off bitch." Izumi warned with a half smirk pulling Rin even closer to her. Kino sighed and placed her hands on her hips.
"Such a shame. You really don't know what you are missing." Leveling her gaze with Rins she gave her own smirk.
"Maybe you can show Chiase." Rin suggested smiling innocently. At her words Kino immediately widened her eyes and her mouth dropped open slightly.
Visibly sputtering she blushed deeply. Looking away for a moment to compose herself she gave a small nervous laugh.
"Well, that was unexpected." She finally said.
"Is she wrong?" Izumi queried watching her intently. Kino seemed to search who was outside as if looking for Chiase before dropping her arms to her sides.
"I am not sure." She admitted.
"You could try." Rin pressed on.
"Maybe." Kino relented looking back to the two of them.
"Where is Chiase?" Izumi looked for her not finding her anywhere.
"In the main house. She refuses to come out." Kino said sounding defeated. As soon as the words left her mouth they heard the distressed yelps of a pup.
Looking towards the front Sesshomaru came around holding Chiases son with her trailing behind avoiding eye contact with everyone.
Walking over to Sana he handed the little one to her.
"Watch over him. Make sure he socializes with the others." He said. Taking him from her she nodded.
"Yes my lord." She replied dutifully. Turning to Chiase, whom also seemed distressed, he pointed her in another direction.
"Find something else to do. Sana will look after him." He said before going to where Kohaku and Riku were speaking with Goro.
"I will take that as my sign." Kino said. "My ladies." Bowing to them slightly she walked over to Chiase as she watched Sana take her son to where the children were playing.
"Oh." Rin sighed out.
"They need it. Sesshomaru is doing what is right." Izumi said.
"I know but still…" Rin watched as Kino led Chiase away from their larger group but still close by to not be completely apart.
Emi and Hikari began to set the tables as Iku instructed them to do so and before long they were filled with many different types of food.
Everyone took their place kneeling on the grass with Jaken situating himself beside Sesshomaru daring anyone to challenge him and his spot.
Rin sat on his other side with Izumi and Kohaku across from them. Going down the table Nagi and Rina were across from her parents.
Riku and Iku sat across from Kiyoshi and Hikari. Nen and Jin sat beside their respective mates with Emi and Mitsuo across from one another to tend to their children and any of the others who wandered over.
Sana still held Chiases son whom had curled up in her arms whimpering as Hisashi and Hotaru ran around up and down the tables. The younger half-breeds were dispersed between Iku and Hikari.
Smiling widely Rin looked down the table happily. Deciding she should say something she stood at the head of the table and took a breath. Immediately everyone came to attention.
"I am so pleased to see everyone gathered together; happy and healthy. It really is amazing to me to look around at all of you and see what we have done together in such a short amount of time." Rin paused before continuing.
"We have been there for one another through the good; welcoming new members and seeing couples come together, having children and raising them all as a family. Unfortunately we have known bad as well; injury and sickness has not spared us but we have come out stronger at the end of each challenge."
"Now we welcome Nagi and Rina alongside Goro and Mui to open up relations with their trading post and people. This is such a wonderful sign that we will succeed hopefully for generations to come. Now, we have plenty of food for everyone so please…eat."
Clapping and shouting words of approval as well as some cups slammed on the table vigorously caused Rin to blush and laugh before sitting back down.
"That was beautiful Rin." Kohaku said to her. "Very well said."
"Thank you Kohaku." Grabbing a plate she made a heap of fruit taking more than enough melon slices to fill several grown men.
"Goro, tell us about your people and what you would hope to gain from an arrangement between all of us." Kohaku said turning his attention to the older man.
"We are not many down at the post. Most come and go. There are a few of us who are established there, raised families." Goro said. "We are interested in trading whatever goods your people may need, what we can procure of course my lords, in exchange for protection from bandits and the occasional demon."
"That doesn't seem to unreasonable. What say you, Lord Sesshomaru?" Kohaku questioned bringing his attention to across the table.
"It appears to be a good arrangement. You have this one's word we will uphold our end. Protection granted." Sesshomaru said. "We will spare a guard in turns to assist Nagi in ensuring your group is safe in exchange for whatever wares you can provide us with."
"Thank you Lord Sesshomaru. I personally ensure that this will be a good bargain and we will all benefit from it." Mui said bowing her head.
"Question is, who is going down there first?" Kohaku smirked to himself as he looked down the table. "Jiro."
Pointing at him he saw Jiro glance up oblivious to the conversation they were having at their end as it was in hushed tones.
"Chief?" He asked wondering why he had been singled out.
"You will accompany Nagi to the post to be the first to take guard down there for a few days." Kohaku ordered.
Seeing Sana visibly slump down and her happy smile turn down peaked everyone's interest.
"What is wrong Sana?" Iku asked in a no nonsense tone. Glancing somewhat nervously at Jiro as she held the little pup to her she caught his soft smile and she returned it.
"Jiro and I have decided to have our own child by spring of next year." Sana said loud enough for everyone to hear.
Riku was the first to burst out with a cheer exuberantly congratulating Jiro as Iku attempted to tone him down a bit.
"I knew watching all the pups would push her along." Izumi said to Rin behind her hand.
Rin clapped her hands together happily before standing and walking over to the two of them.
Hugging them both from behind she rested her head on top of Sanas.
"I am so happy for you both. It has been so sweet to see the two of you come together and now…I cannot wait to meet your little one." Moving away from Sana she looked at her. "Are you?"
"Not yet." Sana said shaking her head. "But we hope to be soon."
"Jiro cannot leave then." Rin said smiling.
"I will go." Nen offered taking in the two of them across from him.
"Thank you Nen." Jiro replied gratefully.
"You need to stop crying over everything." Iku chided. Looking over Rin saw Hikari wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her kosode.
"Are you alright leannan?" Kiyoshi asked using her pet name in her own tongue.
"Yes, I am. This pack is very much like the one I came from, before I was brought to this land. I never t I would be a part of one again and it makes me very happy." Hikari sniffled out.
"We are very happy you came here to join us Hikari." Rin said walking around the table to her. Kneeling behind her she hugged her resting her head on her shoulder.
"What do I do?" Hikari asked uncertain of the gesture.
"Enjoy it. Rin gives the best hugs." Emi chirped from down the table. Relaxing against her Hikari did just that.