As a few weeks passed by Rin and Izumi became more companionable with one another. Izumi still stayed close by but ventured a bit more on her own, especially when Kohaku would seem to seek her out.
Rin became curious about the situation and decided get some information about it. Walking down to the stream and small pool of water to bathe she figured starting casual was the best way to go about it.
"I'm surprised that Kohaku has stayed for as long as he has. Normally he only visits for a few days time." Rin said.
"Is that so?" Izumi kept her gaze straight ahead.
"There must be a reason. I wonder what it could be?"
"Does that work on others?" Izumi questioned back. "The innocence and the questions to get a person to tell you what you want to know?"
"Usually." Rin replied. "I'm sorry. Lord Sesshomaru always sees through it too." Stopping in front of her Izumi crossed her arms. "Alright I'll just ask; are you and Kohaku courting?"
"No." She stared with a brief shake of her head. "Kohaku is interesting. A demon slayer whom was trained by a demon lord. He is strange to me."
"It was a strange situation we were all in." Rin said. "The incidents that brought us all together seem like someone else's life at this point but the connections are there."
"Through my observations it seems that many humans develop those connections with others." As the pair began to walk again Rin nodded.
"Oh yes. Humans are very sociable creatures. We like to have family and friends around us. It helps to make our lives complete." She explained. "We need those connections in order to feel like we have a purpose."
"By nature, dog demons are also sociable creatures."
"Really? Yes, that does make sense. Once I got to know Lord Sesshomaru and we became friends I could tell how he was feeling. Over time he has opened up to me more."
"We have a tendency to attach deeply to one individual. That one that we choose becomes everything to us." Izumi explained.
"So it's a deliberate choice?" Stopping again as they were at the water Rin turned to face Izumi.
She was of an average height, about the same as Kagome, but Rin was shorter than most and had to tilt her head to look up at her.
"Not always. From how it was explained to me there are times where it just happens."
"Oh." Rin wondered which category Sesshomaru fell in when it came to her. Filing it away for later she reached into a pocket in her robe and brought out a small bottle filled with clear liquid. "Smell this."
Thrusting the open bottle under Izumis nose she took a quick step back and brought the back of her hand to her face.
"I could smell it as soon as you opened it. That is awful."
"You think so?" Sniffing at it brought a small smile to her face. "It's a bathing oil that Lord Sesshomaru gifted me. I use them when I bathe to smell better."
"That will only cover up your scent. Why would you want to do that?"
"Why would I want to smell like sweat, dirt, and body odor?" Rin crinkled her nose and stuck out her tongue as if disgusted.
"Your natural scent is how others can better understand you."
"Not for humans it doesn't. If you just smell bad then you won't have any of those connections we discussed earlier." Corking the bottle Rin began to undress and stopped. "You won't be offended will you Izu?"
"By the smell, yes. By your bathing and nudity, no."
"Join me." Rin said shedding her clothing and folding it to lay against a rock.
"Just water. Not the oil." Izumi pointed to the bottle. Watching as Rin placed it down on top of her robe she tugged at her obi folding it before unwrapping the layers of her kimono.
Rin left her to it wading into the pool at the head of the stream and submerged herself. Coming up for air and raking her hair from her eyes she caught a glimpse of Izumi.
Rin was accustomed to seeing people in various stages of undress while caring for them, especially women, but Izumi physically looked different from her from to the waist down.
The skin from her pelvis and down seemed smooth. There were no folds like human women had. From the way she stood it didn't appear as if she had a vagina at all but Rin knew she must have one.
Catching her eyes Izumi tossed her a questioning look. "You look different then I do."
"We are different. Regardless of how I appear to you it is not how I am." Thinking on it she looked down at herself. "How so?"
Standing Rin decided the easiest way was to show her. "Your genitalia. See, human women's look like this with folds on the outside," Propping her leg on a rock she spread her self for the other to see. "And sort of everything else on the inside. You don't have, any of that."
Crouching down Izumi furrowed her brow examining her anatomy. "There's so much there. What is that?" Pointing to her Rin glanced down at herself.
"This is just for pleasure. Touching it and stimulating that part feels good, really good." She explained. "Then below that is a small hole where I make water from and below that is a bigger hole. That is how I mate and one day will give birth from."
Standing Izumi moved closer to Rin.
"The only part that is not similar is the pleasure spot. That I don't believe I have."
"You have never explored your body?" Rin asked placing her leg down.
"No."
"No male has ever pleasured you?"
"There has never been a male. This one has never mated. That is to be done when I am to produce an heir."
"You're a virgin?" Rin gaped at her. "And your first time you are expected to get pregnant?"
"What is a virgin?"
"You have never had sex, uh, mated with anyone."
"No."
"You poor thing. That is not acceptable. How awful."
"Rin, I do not understand why you are upset by this."
"Sex, as we call it, is something many of us see as being special. It forms a bond with the person we love and the shared pleasure strengthens it."
"Oh." Izumi said. Sitting on the grassy edge she dipped her feet in. "By being with Lord Sesshomaru and whelping it will mean that he will be the only male that I will ever be able to trust for the survival of my pup."
"Others may try to take me as a mate in order usurp the combined households once the lands and titles are passed down to our heir."
"Izu." Rin waded to her and sat beside her closely.
Smirking at Rin she sighed. "It is not a terrible situation, not counting the fact that Lord Sesshomaru seems to hate me."
"He doesn't. When we see him next he will be better. He was angry and hurt, we both were. Lord Sesshomaru took it out on you." Rin said taking one of Izumis hands in hers.
Glancing down at their hands together in Rins lap she squeezed her hand experimenting with how it felt. "Hasn't anyone ever held your hand?"
Slowly shaking her head Izumi allowed Rin to slip her fingers between hers. Following suit Izumi did the same. "I am here and I will be there when the time comes for both of you."
Looking up to Rin the two females stared at one another for a moment before Izumi gave a small nod. "Thank you Rin."
"You're welcome." She said with her own small smile.
After the day at the stream Izumi, from time to time, sought out Rins hand to hold. Rin of course didn't mind. She was happy to offer the small comfort and enjoyed it as well.
Strolling together through the woods surrounding the village to look for mushrooms and collect berries Izumi suddenly stilled dropping Rins hand quickly.
"Izu, what's wrong?" Rin turned to her concerned and watched as she dropped her gaze to the ground.
"Rin." Whipping her head around she laid eyes on Sesshomaru. Beaming a bright smile she ran to him.
"Lord Sesshomaru! I've missed you." Rin gushed taking his hand in hers. "Have you fared well?"
"Yes. Have you been well Rin?" He asked.
"Oh yes my lord. Lady Izumi and I have been getting acquainted quite well in your absence." Not lost on her was how his eyes flicked quickly to Izumi who stood behind her before settling back on her again. "Tell me, what news do you bring?"
"Our household is complete. All it requires is your presence within it." He stated. Rin clapped her hands together once before wrapping her arms around his middle.
"I am so happy my lord! Thank you!" She enthused.
"Do you still wish to be married before we settle Rin?" Bringing a hand to her hair he rested it against the back of her head.
"Perhaps we should settle first before we wed." Rin said.
"Very well. Gather what you need and we will be off." He said as she broke her embrace from him.
"Yes my lord." She said taking his hand and leading him closer to Izumi. "Lady Izumi, lets collect some things to take and bid our farewells for now."
"Yes Lady Rin." She gave a curt nod gasping slightly as Rin took her hand as well leading her beside Sesshomaru back towards the village.
Not wanting to possibly experience the other demons ire she kept her gaze far away from his but still felt his eyes on her.
Sesshomaru stared down at the female, not unkindly, before he looked to Rin who held her hand and then his as well. Curiously he narrowed his eyes wondering what exactly had occurred between the two in his absence.