Jin had taken over at the post bringing Nozumi with him stating he couldn't stand his hut anymore and had to get away. A short time after his departure Sesshomaru returned.
Riku had personally gone down to the post prematurely to inform him of what had occurred with the ogre attack assuring him that their pack was safe.
As Sesshomaru neared the compound he saw Rin standing eagerly on the deck despite the cold weather in not much more than a kimono with Kiyoshi guarding the front.
Once she laid eyes on him as he emerged from the tree line she was running towards him smiling widely with her bare feet pounding in to the ground.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She shouted out happily waving at him as he stopped catching her as she flung herself at him. Wrapping his arms around her tightly as she did the same she buried her head against him below his sharp armor.
"Rin." He said softly allowing himself to feel the warmth she wrapped around him and his relief that she was in fact alright. Looking up at him and smiling she sighed out her breath taking form in the cool air.
"I have missed you so much my lord." She said taking his hand leading him home.
"I missed you as well Rin." He replied allowing her to lead him up the steps and in to the house. Closing the door behind them he smirked as he saw Hotaru, Hisashi, and Kozumi playing in the hallway with all of them coming to full alert as he entered.
"Papa!" Hotaru called out happily getting to her feet with Hisashi rushing past her to greet him first. Barking and yapping he pawed at his fathers legs as Hotaru came running towards them. "Papa!"
Extending her hands to him she was soon next to her brother as Kozumi crawled as fast as he could giggling and making his small barking sounds.
"My pups." Sesshomaru greeted kneeling down to allow them to clamor onto his lap.
"Yue and Yuki are asleep but I know that they will be just as happy to see you my lord when they wake." Rin said smiling widely as he removed his armor to gather his children to him. "Izu and Kohaku are in their chambers, they invited me but I declined."
"Did they?" Sesshomaru asked.
"Well, it was Izumi who asked and Kohaku said he would wait for you out here but I wanted to be the one to so Kohaku took it upon himself to take care of Izumi." Rin exhaled in one breath attempting to control her excitement.
"I see." Sesshomaru replied. Nodding Rin glanced back towards the hallway. "They have been in there for some time so I am glad I didn't take Izu up on her offer. I didn't want to miss greeting you."
Smirking as he placed the little ones down and they went off to play again he closed his eyes grateful to be home. The post was boring and he only did it out of duty to their agreement with them.
He necessarily didn't have to since he was the lord of the compound but he would not force the others under him to do something he was not willing to do himself.
Opening his eyes as he heard the chamber doors open down the hall he saw Kohaku and Izumi emerge.
"Lord Sesshomaru." Kohaku greeted warmly. "Welcome back."
"Kohaku; what is this Rin has told me that you propositioned her to mate without me present?" Sesshomaru questioned deciding to tease the other.
"No. No, that is not what happened Lord Sesshomaru." Kohaku cleared. "Izumi was the one who approached Rin and I was fine with waiting until you returned to join them."
"That is not what I said!" Rin said her eyes going wide. Catching on Kohaku smirked as he sat down beside Rin.
"After everything we have been through Rin you would lie to our lord about me? I am hurt by your accusations." Kohaku stated feigning distress.
"Rin, please do not say such things and get my mate maimed or possibly killed." Izumi said keeping her face as serious as she could.
"That isn't what I said!" Rin defended shaking her head quickly. "You're all teasing Rin! Stop it!"
Laughing softly Izumi brought her hand to her mouth to hide her mirth while Kohaku chuckled.
"On a more serious matter; Kohaku, explain to me the events of the ogres encroaching on our territory." Sesshomaru requested.
Straightening himself out Kohaku become more serious.
"It was a small group of male ogres my lord. Riku, Kino, Jin, and myself detected them quickly and eradicated them with little incident." He informed.
"Aside from poor Sanas trauma they left little to no damage."
"Yes. Riku did tell me she and Chiase came across one. How is she faring?" He asked concerned.
"She is well." Rin said. "Hikari helped her to come out of her altered state. Hikari can go in to a persons mind and soothe them or offer assistance."
"Interesting." Sesshomaru replied very much intrigued.
"It was." Izumi agreed. "Unfortunately Hikai was not feeling well afterwards. She is pupped so it may have taken too much of her energy in doing so."
"I visited with her yesterday and she is just fine now. Sana as well however Jiro is most protective of her as well as Iku and it is driving her near mad." Rin said with a small smile.
"Other than that though, everything went well?" Sesshomaru questioned to make certain.
"Yes my lord, there has been no incident since." Kohaku nodded his head once in affirmation.
"It is quite a coincidence that once you were not here Lord Sesshomaru that some other demons tried to encroach on our territory." Rin said thoughtfully.
"It was no coincidence Rin." Kohaku responded. "I am sure that Lord Sesshomarus power and presence is what has kept most away. Whether they knew this is Lord Sesshomarus territory or not is unknown but he wasn't here, so they didn't see any of us as a threat."
"Then that was their folly." Izumi retorted. "I am not saying that Sesshomaru does not deserve praise for his status as a daiyoukai however you and the others are just as capable of defending us."
Smirking at her for the praise Rin brought her attention back to her mate.
"Well, I am glad you are back my lord to sway any other demons who may think they can challenge our people." She said.
"Agreed." Sesshomaru replied more at ease that Kohaku and the others were fully prepared and capable to handle threats while he may be away.