"Rin?" Izumi asked. It had been a few days since Sesshomaru had put his hands on her and she had found herself thinking over the look of worry she saw Rin had held on her face.

"Yes Izu?" Looking up from the flower stalks she was weaving together she had been delighted when Izumi agreed to make flower chains with her to adorn their front door.

"My lady, forgive me for overstepping my bounds with your mate." Izumi said suddenly.

"Izumi?"

"The other night, I asked Lord Sesshomaru if he wanted to feel where his pup is growing, that was not proper. Forgive me."

"It's alright Izu. I don't mind." Placing her work down Rin took a breath. "You're having his child. It is only natural that you would both want to share this experience together. I'm glad."

"You did not appear glad."

"It was only a moment of concern. My entire life that I have known Lord Sesshomaru I had always thought that he would find a beautiful female demon to strengthen his empire with but he chose me." Rin closed her eyes surprised at the tears that fell. "I am not as beautiful as you or educated or poised…I'm not special.."

Gasping as she found herself in Izumis tight embrace she didn't have time to react. "That isn't true. You mean everything to him, to me. Kohaku and everyone in the human village, you are so special. Rin, you are the brightest most beautiful light I have ever seen."

Tilting her head up Izumi pressed her forehead to hers and rubbed her nose against hers similarly to how Sesshomaru did. It was comforting and Rin found her arms wrapping around Izumis shoulders.

Taking a deep steadying breath Rin sighed out as Izumi backed off from her slightly. "I'm sorry Izu. I don't know where any of that came from."

"There is nothing to apologize for." Izumi said. "We all have insecurities. Are you alright?"

"Yes." Rin said resting her head back against Izumi. "I feel…confused though."

"About what?"

"When you held me, Lord Sesshomaru, he does that too."

"It's a comfort gesture, it can mean many different things depending on whom you are with."

"I see." Rin said moving to look back at Izumi. Her brows were furrowed and she looked utterly perplexed.

"What is going through your head?" Izumi asked curiously.

"I…am not certain." She said slowly. Tightening her grip on Izumis kimono she placed her forehead back to hers staring into her eyes.

"Rin?" The intense gaze made Izumi feel uncomfortable as she watched Rin shift before placing her lips to Izumis.

Freezing in place Izumi didn't respond she simply stared at Rin as she had closed her eyes. It was quick and chaste.

Backing away slightly Rin reopened her eyes and looked thoroughly embarrassed. "Izu, I am…I don't know…"

"You surprised me that's all." Izumi said clearing her head. "I didn't think you, as a human, would engage me in such a way."

"Izumi, just can we forget it?" Quickly untangling herself from her she moved away putting some distance between them. "What I did was wrong."

"Why?" Izumi questioned. Rin glanced at her trying to grab her flower chain only to have her hands tremble.

"Those acts should be between a man and a woman. Not two women, not two men…it brings bad spirits."

"Who told you that?"

"Lady Kaede." She replied quickly. "The elderly priestess that raised me."

"Rin listen to me; in a pack there is nothing wrong with any member engaging in comfort or intimacy regardless if they are male or female as long as it is between adults and consensual." Izumi explained slowly. "You did nothing wrong."

"It's a perversion."

"Rin, you are mated to a demon lord. You are carrying his offspring alongside a female of his kind who is also carrying his offspring."

"Now, while we are fairly liberal with certain things this could be seen by your people and mine as such. So, what does it matter at this point if you and I were to decide to lay together?"

"That would, be being unfaithful to our partners." Rin said.

"Well we wouldn't do it behind their backs. It would be discussed together as a pack, you and I with Kohaku and Lord Sesshomaru."

"Then if it is a normal thing for you why did you and Lord Sesshomaru have such a hard time coming to terms with having to breed?"

"We were not pack. I only remembered him from years ago. Besides, I still don't want too. Sesshomaru is not my type of male." Izumi said. "I have never been in a female relationship but I know of others who have. Especially those who cannot take e a male mate after they are bred."

"That makes sense." Closing her eyes again and sighing Rin swallowed hard. "Did you like it just now when I kissed you?"

"I was in shock honestly. It was such a surprise my thoughts stopped." Izumi said. "Did you like it Rin?"

Thinking for a moment Rin furrowed her brow again. "I don't know. I think we need to talk about it like you said, with Lord Sesshomaru and Kohaku."

"Agreed." Standing Izumi stretched extending her arms upwards before placing them to her back. Reaching her hand down to Rin she smiled softly at her. "Come on. We can finish this later."

"You mean, now?" Rin asked looking up at her with big brown eyes.

"Yes. I want you to hear what I just told you from your mate. I don't doubt that you understand what I said however I know his words hold more sway over you than mine." Taking her hand Rin stood as well gripping it tightly.

"Lord Sesshomaru won't be mad at me?" Rin asked worriedly.

"No." Izumi shook her head squeezing her hand gently. "It will do you no good to worry over such things."

"Alright Izu." She said uncertainly as they walked back towards the estate.

Sitting next to Sesshomaru Rin fidgeted unable to speak. She felt mute as she had been years before as a child. Her eyes were trained to the table as Izumi recounted to them what had occurred.

As she sat next to Kohaku Rin was amazed at how calm all of them were over this. Sesshomaru and Kohaku listened intently as Izumi finished.

"Sesshomaru, assure your mate that what she did is not wrong. That it will not bring misfortune to this household and it is not a perversion." Izu pled. Rin felt her heart pound in her ears as she wanted to run away to her room and hide.

"Everything that Izumi has said is correct Rin." Sesshomaru said. "You have done nothing wrong. If your nature tells you that you wish to lie with another female you may. There is one detail that Izu failed to explain but for that I blame poor upbringing…" Ignoring the irritated look thrown at him across the table he continued, "Females rule the pack. The males offer their protection, provide, and produce offspring but the females are the leaders."

"Like your mother?" Rin asked bringing her attention to him.

"Yes." Sesshomaru said somewhat briskly. "Whatever you decide along with Izumi is what we will do. I personally do not take issue with you becoming intimate with one another if it is what you both want. It will strengthen your bond and ensure a stronger pack."

Looking to Kohaku he smirked at Rin kindly. "You are my dear friend and Izumi is the love of my life, I want you both to be happy Rin. If becoming lovers makes you happy then go for it. There's nothing to lose and so much to gain."

"I…thank you. It was so confusing and…" Beginning to cry she wiped at her eyes. "This baby is making me emotional."

Smirking Izumi stood walking over to the side of the table kneeling next to Rin. "Whatever we decide we will do it together." Placing her hands over Rins as she sniffled she gave a nod. "As much or as little as you want. I told you that I am bound to you, for me it will be easy to broaden our relationship but I will not do it at the cost of our friendship."

"Maybe we can take this slowly and see where it goes." Rin thought out.

"Well I wasn't going to force you into my bed Rin. Although it may be fun." She said coyly. Catching Rin somewhat off guard she cleared her throat.

Kohaku bit his tongue knowing well how easy it was to give into Izumi once she set her eyes on you.