"Mother, sit still-" Hikari began, but softened her tone, "please..."
Nanashi had been sitting on the couch in the front parlor, waiting impatiently for Hiei, Izo, and the others to arrive. Hikari and Airi were with her as well. Takashi had been with them, but over the baby monitor, they heard Kaze had awaken from his afternoon nap earlier than usual, so he went to fetch him after Hikari persuasively asked him too. Hikari had her way with him, and what was more interesting was he seemed to enjoy pleasing her. When she asked him to go get Kaze, he went without argument, much to Nanashi's surprise.
Nanashi looked down, seeing her right leg was shaking and bouncing without her noticing, until that moment.
"Sorry," Nanashi said, standing up rather than sitting still she paced the room. Hiei had told her only 10 minutes ago that they were coming up on the castle and that it would take some coaxing to get this young woman Kotone to come to the castle. She had never left the ice maiden's floating island before and was rather shy and untrusting, given her circumstances. Nanashi could imagine both Hiei and Izo trying to convince her to come with them.
Izo... Nanashi's mind wandered as she paced, thinking about what Hiei had told him since he had been close to contact her telepathically. Izo's rescue of Kotone, the rescue of the two of them, the bond between them. Izo was protective of her and Kotone seemed reliant on him. She stuck close to him, sleeping next to him when they made camp at night on her own accord.
Nanashi was not sure what to think of this second hand information. She really just wanted to see it for herself to see what she could make of Kotone. Plus dealing with Touya telling Izo about Jin...
'We're here,' Hiei told Nanashi telepathically.
She gasped quietly, and went back to the couch to sit down next to Hikari. "They're coming," she said. She smoothed her hands over the things of her pants, smoothing what was already smooth. "Remember to be calm so not to frighten Kotone."
"Haru is with them yet, right?" Airi asked.
"Yes and Touya," Nanashi answered. Her ears perked up at the sound of the front door's latch clicking. She breathed deeply, trying to keep herself calm as he fist came to rest in front of her mouth. She just wanted to see Izo again, to rush over to him and hug without letting go, but also knew if she frightened Kotone...
The three of them jumped, seeing Haru come into the room first with Touya not far behind him. Airi bounded up, excited to see her master. She at least kept her mouth shut, bar a breathy sound of excitement.
"Aye, there, little one. All safe and under protection now?" Haru asked her, a little cheekily. Nanashi blinked over at him, frowning slightly. She also caught Touya shake his head just slightly. The three of them stepped together out of the room and into the hallway, allowing themselves to have their own reunion while Nanashi and her family have their own.
After the three shinobu left the room, Nanashi caught a glimpse of Hiei in the hallway. He stepped into the room, moving off to the right of it. He had his head band off. Nanashi and Hikari stood up, almost in time with each other. Hiei held his hand up to them, stopping them from stepping towards him. Nanashi did not dare to breathe as she watched on.
Hiei turned back to look out the door to the hallway. "Come on," he called to the softly.
Izo stepped sideways in through the door, bringing Kotone in with him under his arm. Izo was so thin, thinner than he had ever been. Nanashi felt a sharp, cutting desire to starve the person who starved her son. Starve them to death if it were possible. Kotone was skin and bones as well next to him. Except for her noticeable belly protruding from her torso. Nanashi recalled being that pregnant once and figured how much longer she had to go.
Izo was able to lead Kotone far enough into the room that Hiei could shut the door softly behind them. Kotone hid her face in Izo's chest with Izo's left arm wrapped protectively around her.
"Mother," Izo whispered, reaching his right hand towards Nanashi, but when Kotone squirmed in his other arm, he brought down to her hair. "Shh," he breathed down to her. "It's safe here, just like we promised you."
Kotone had frozen, not moving in Izo's grasp. Izo glanced up at Nanashi, nodding his head to her, but then shaking his head at Hikari. Nanashi stepped over to the pair of them, biting her lip. Hiei had promised this skinny, little ice maiden that Nanashi would keep her safe, even though Nanashi had no idea how she could be expected to that if any issues arose. She was still irked at him for that, even if it was a promise done to get Kotone to escape with them when she realized what Hiei was.
Nanashi reached them, bringing a gentle hand to Izo's right shoulder when she would rather throw his arms around him. She kept her distance, for now, for Kotone's sake. She saw Kotone glance up at her, turning her face just enough to do so.
"You were starved? And frozen?" Nanashi said, trying to keep her tone from having a bite.
Izo opened his mouth and nodded. "Father and the shinobu masters got us out as fast as they could. Before any of that could adversely affect us."
Nanashi did not speak, but she thought, 'I'll kill them all.'
'No you won't,' Hiei told her looking over at her, but not speaking. 'Leave them be. They won't leave their island.'
Nanashi frowned at him, trying not to glare at him. She softened her face intentionally, stepping closer to Kotone. She gently put a hand on Kotone's shoulder. She felt Kotone jump through her bony shoulder, but she did not pull away. "Kotone, I'm Nanashi. Izo's mother," she told her softly. She hummed under her breath, not sure what else to say. "Your about six months along?"
Kotone looked up at her, wide eye. She shook her head. "She says eight," Hiei relayed. "The healer in the ice village we stopped at says the child is smaller than he should be though."
"Mute, right," Nanashi mumbled. To Kotone, she asked, "would you like to go somewhere to rest before dinner? Maybe wash up?"
Nanashi held her hand out to Kotone, meaning to carefully lead her along with her to the room next to Izo's room that they had set up. Kotone stared at her wide eyed. She looked up at Izo, who nodded supportively down to her. Kotone stepped away from him, her cold, bird-like hand reaching out and clasping Nanashi's.
And then Takashi thundered in with his heavy feet, carrying a loud and joyful Kaze. Kotone flinched, jumping closer to Nanashi. Nanashi pulled her against her, holding her close in case she tried to flee. She shook like a leaf.
Takashi stopped in the doorway, looking perplexed. Kaze ceased laughing and went quiet in an instant. "What's wrong?" Takashi asked, his voice sounding so loud in the room.
"Shut up, you fool. You're too loud," Hiei scolded him.
He stepped over to Takashi, taking the silent, cautious Kaze in his arms. Kaze had been watching Nanashi with Kotone curiously. He did break his gaze on her long enough to excited jump into Hiei's arms.
"Hey," Takashi snapped irritably at Hiei. "I forgot, I was kind of distracted when I came in."
Hikari stepped over to them, intervening. "Takashi, let's go see... hmm... if the kitchen knows to cook something Izo and Kotone can eat."
Hikari had already taken his hand and was tugging him out the door while he was complaining balefully, "it's not my fault."
"I know," Hikari said in an understanding, but sighing tone.
The sight of that did make Izo smirk as he watched them leave for together. He stepped over to Nanashi with Kotone. "My sister and her mate," he told Kotone softly. "He's loud and boisterous and Father still doesn't like him, but he's a paper tiger. Go with Mother. She'll you're safe with her."
Kotone nodded, not looking up at anyone.