A/N: Thank you to my two faithful reviewers, Kira and CursedCardinal.
Kira said that they wanted a happy story and CursedCardinal chose option 'B' which aligns together.
Option 'A' was for the story to progress with Rin not being pregnant while option 'B' was for her to be pregnant so good news, we're gonna lots of babies.
Enjoy!
Sitting at the drawing table Izumi wrote out the letter she intended to be delivered to Sango. Dipping the small pointed brush into the ink she paused glancing over shoulder.
"Can I help you?" Rin hovered over her watching as she wrote in the delicate script.
"Your handwriting is exceptional Izu." Rin complimented. "I never had the talent or the attention span for such things."
"It took many years of intense training and dedication to be able to write at an acceptable level." Izumi replied. Going back to her task at hand she finished by signing with her title and name, out of force of habit. "Hand me the candle Rin."
Taking it in hand she dripped the melted wax onto the the paper underneath her signature. Reaching into her robe she took out an insignia baring the blazing sunflower of her house.
Rin watched intently as she pressed the etched metal into the wax creating a seal. "Oh, how pretty. Izumi may I see that?"
Handing it over to her Rin held it up to inspect it. "Does Lord Sesshomaru own such a thing? I've never seen him use one. Actually, I have never seen Lord Sesshomaru write either. I know that he enjoys reading but, do you think he knows how?"
"Yes and yes." Izumi said fanning the wax with her hand fan to harden it. "Has Lord Sesshomaru told you that we knew of one another? That we have met before when we were younger?"
"No." Rin said placing the insignia back down. "What was he like when he was younger?"
"Still very much the same he is now, just younger." Izumi smirked to herself. "Lord Togas western shiro was considered to be the most desired out of all the other territories. It was not the most opulent or ostentatious but he drew everyone else towards him. Lord Toga was charming, charismatic, and very powerful."
"My father would bring me there to show me off to them, as did the other lords with daughters. In our generation there were many more females born than males. The fact that one of the strongest demon generals had had a male heir, his first born, made Sesshomaru very much sought after."
Rin smiled and giggled at the idea of him being swamped by young demon girls. "Did the girls fancy him?"
"Oh yes."
"Did he show any interest in any of you?"
"No. Myself and a small handful of others couldn't have cared less so we let him be however there were some who were quite persistent." Izumi laughed gently at the memory. "When we would all get together for these awful presentation ceremonies a few of us would hang back and watch the silly things try to impress him. We placed bets trading fans and hair combs as to how long he could stand them."
Rin laughed at that imagining it. "All of those others who were trying to get his attention and here you are."
"Yes, lucky me." She said sincerely. Turning back towards her task Rin stood causing Izumi to look back towards her. "You smell…different."
"I haven't been using my bathing oils. For some odd reason the smell has been giving me a headache." Rin placed a hand to her forehead for emphasis.
"No. It isn't that. Your scent has completely changed. It is smoky. Normally you smell like the earth."
"Lord Sesshomaru told me once that I smell like flowers and sunshine." Blushing slightly as she recalled their first night together she watched as Izumi stood sniffing at her.
"He is not wrong. Pine, burnt pine needles and wood ash. That is what you smell like now." Taking a step back from her Izumi stared her up and down before settling on her eyes. "May I place my hand on your stomach?"
"Sure Izu." Standing still she watched as her friend put her hand palm flat against her lower abdomen. Closing her eyes Rin saw her skin take on more of a glow. "What are you doing?"
"Shh." Reopening her eyes they shone a bright green, where as normally they were of a grey color. Lowering her hand with her eyes and skin returning to how Rin knew her to be she rested her hands against her shoulders.
Placing her forehead to Rins she smiled at her sweetly. "You're pregnant."
"I am?" Rins eyes went wide and her breaths came in short gasps.
"Mhmm." Izumi confirmed. Rin let out a shriek of delight throwing her arms around Izu tightly.
"Oh Izumi! It's so wonderful! We're both having Lord Sesshomarus babies."
"It is something alright." She replied.
"We can help each other throughout our pregnancies. Then we can assist one another giving birth and we can take turns nursing them and…I should tell Lord Sesshomaru!" Excitedly Rin let go of her and ran out the front of the house.
She knew that he was on patrol. Sesshomaru and Kohaku went in separate directions around the perimeter of the land around their homestead to meet back up again once they were finished.
Rushing through the field of long grass and wildflowers Rin barely paid mind to the heated ground under her bare feet. Shielding her eyes she saw him coming back towards her direction.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" She called out happily running towards him. Closing the distance quickly between them he was in front of her in a moment. Flinging herself at him he caught her easily as she wrapped her arms around his middle.
"Is everything alright Rin?" He asked taking in her sweaty brow and how out of breath she was.
"Yes, oh yes it is! I'm pregnant!" She exclaimed. Taking a deep breath he smiled softly.
"I know. I sensed it this morning but I thought you would want to find out on your own." He replied. "So tell me, did you find out on your own."
"Izu told me." She said smiling. Gripping her more tightly in his arms his chest began to rumble the way that soothed her so. Wrapping her arms around him more tightly she felt as if her heart would burst.
Kohaku entered into the sitting room as Izumi sealed the letter with more wax as it was neatly folded.
"Where Rin run off too? I saw her moving faster than a bullet." He commented.
"She's excited." Izumi said with a small laugh. Glancing up at her mate she smiled. "Rin is with child."
"Oh. That's…going to be a lot of infants." Kohakus eyes were wide as her smiled crookedly. "It won't cause any problems will it?"
"It shouldn't." Izumi furrowed her brow. "This one that I am carrying is the eldest therefore first born, rightful heir, all of that."
"Speaking of," Sitting beside her Kohaku placed his hand against her feeling the small hard bump. "How is our little one?"
"Just fine." Her voice coming out as a whisper she leaned closer to him to rub her nose against his before moving to his cheek.
"Izumi, what does all of that mean?"
"This," Bumping her nose against his again, "Is a common greeting when you are familiar with someone. Moving to your face means we are very well acquainted and intimate."
"And the licking?"
"Well that depends on where."
"My face."
"That just means I like you." Shrugging her shoulders slightly she reached out a hand to stroke his hair back that had come loose. "What does it mean when you kiss me?"
"That I am very fond of you." He replied taking it as an invitation. Settling his lips against hers Izumi reciprocated moaning softly as her heart fluttered in her chest.
Late at night Izumi wandered out to the deck to try to get some reprieve from the heat in her room. Lately it felt as if she were consistently overheated.
Sesshomaru was already sitting outside staring up at the night sky.
"May I join you, my lord?" Izumi asked.
"Do as you please." He stated. Sitting beside him but still some distance away she sighed at the cooler air finding some comfort. "We can drop the formalities if you wish. You are after all baring the first born to the west."
"Thank you. I would." Letting out a sigh. "It is all so very exhausting."
"Agreed. Rin informed me of her condition. That you were the one who told her."
"I did." Moving her gaze to him she took a moment to gather her thoughts. "You know that they'll come back, from my fathers household, and probably from your mothers in a short amount of time."
"I am aware. Undoubtedly to check the validity of our union." Scoffing at the words he shook his head slightly.
"I had thought to hide the fact that I have chosen Kohaku as my mate. I have been covering his scent in my room so that way it may not be as noticeable."
"I had wondered why you brought so many dried flowers to your room."
"Yes. He gave up his entire life as a demon slayer just to come be with me. I'm not going to lie when they come, Kohaku is my mate and everyone will know." Izumi said.
"It was never my intent Izu for you to become so attached to either of them. Kohaku just happened to be there at the same time you were." Sesshomaru explained. "You have accepted my pack mates and they accepted you. That makes you worth protecting. Izumi, this Sesshomaru accepts you and our pup."
"Thank you." Bowing slightly to him she remembered they had said to be less formal with one another and straightened herself out. "There is no where else I want to be."
Deciding to turn in for the night Izumi stood straightening out her robe. Sesshomaru watched her his eyes settling on her midsection. Catching his gaze she smiled at him gently. "Do you want to put your hands to me where your pup is growing?"
Hesitantly Sesshomaru took a breath before nodding his head. Moving closer to him Izumi reached for his hand placing her it against the rounding part of her stomach.
Pressing his palm against her slightly he inhaled her scent deeply feeling a calm wash over him at whatever effect her carrying his child had over him.
Pressing his nose to her abdomen he reached out with his energy to feel it be met with the pups. Rumbling low in his chest he nuzzled against her.
Izumi placed her hand against his head closing her eyes and began to emit the same sound as well.
Rin had woken to find Sesshomaru gone. Getting up she moved quietly throughout the household making her way to the sitting room.
Standing frozen in place she watched with the sliding doors to the outside open as Sesshomaru held his face to Izumis stomach. Her hand rested against his head as they both seemed to be in another world together.
Placing a hand to her own stomach where she carried her own she bit at her lip. She wasn't upset, not even jealous, but she worried for a moment that if things changed in their relationship then Rin would be pushed aside.
"Rin." Sesshomaru said. Coming back to reality she took a breath and walked over to them. Pulling her down to him she sat in his lap as he wrapped his arms around her securely.
Quietly Izumi went back inside and Rin leaned back against him.
"My mate." He whispered making her worry vanish at the sound of his voice.