Iku awoke with her eye lids sticking together. Bringing up a hand to wipe at them she felt a cool cloth do it for her. Sniffing at the hand that held the wet rag she sighed relief.
"Sana." Her voice came out groggy and thick.
"Yes. I'm here." Opening her eyes she met the young womans. "Welcome back."
"Thank you." Blinking a few times the events began to come to the surface and she attempted to sit up.
"Don't get up. Your wounds have not healed properly yet and your son is on your chest." Sana said having put a hand on her shoulder. Glancing down Iku saw the small pup curled up under her breasts.
"Oh." Bringing her hand down she gathered her son to her placing his snout to her nose. Growling softly she breathed in his scent licking at his face as he began to whine.
"He is just perfect." Sana sat back watching the exchange between mother and son for the first time.
"They always are when they are whelped." Iku whispered settling him beside her. "Would you assist me to lay on my side and explain what happened. There are gaps in my memory."
"What do you remember?" Sana asked helping her onto her side.
"I was here with Kiyoshi. I began to shake and feel ill. He got you, you came in…I remember Izumi and Rin being in here. I smelled Riku but that was it." Iku explained.
"You were in a bad state when I got here and only got worse by the time Rin and Izu arrived." Sana said.
"Rin used her knowledge and skill to take your son from you after I made you an infusion to sleep. Izumi was very emotional but assisted us with the delivery."
Iku let out a sigh closing her eyes. Running her claws down her sons back she propped herself up on her elbow to be more comfortable.
"It must have been a nightmare revisited for her, to be put in that situation again." She said softly.
"What do you mean Iku?"
"Misuki died birthing her son. Izumi was present with myself and two other healers when she died. It was sudden and struck her quickly. One moment she was responding in the middle of whelping and the next she was unresponsive."
"Oh." Sana responded quietly.
"We tried to save her son but he had already begun to come out, whatever had taken her claimed his life as well. It was horrible."
"No wonder Izu was so upset."
"When I am able I will go to her." Glancing down at her stomach she lifted the sheet running a hand over the still tender stitching that closed her skin. "Rin did an excellent job."
"It was different to have her giving us commands. I had gotten used to seeing Rin as my friend that I had nearly forgotten she is a lady." Sana smirked to herself.
"Rin is different. She is intelligent but also extremely empathetic. In a tense situation she works well under pressure using her intellect and worries over it after." Iku smiled softly.
"Once Riku returns I will let them know in the main house that you are awake. He went to hunt for you."
"He has his uses." Lowering herself down onto her pillow she pulled her son back towards her nuzzling his scruff.
After the events settled and Kohaku had been brought to his mate he and Sesshomaru escorted Rin and Izumi to the hot spring bringing along two yukatas respectively for them to change in to as their clothing had been bloodied.
Izumi had remained silent as she sat next to Rin while Kohaku laid himself on the ground by the waters edge to wrap his arm around her shoulders and rest his head against hers.
Sesshomaru sat on Rins side close to them as he kept alert to their surroundings allowing them a moment of calm after such a chaotic situation.
There were many things that Rin wanted to say to her friend but opted to stay silent as well. If Izumi wanted to talk she would and Rin would listen.
Once back in the main house Emi brought Hisashi and Hotaru to them while Izu excused herself taking both of the pups with her to her room.
Kohaku had followed her staying up through out the night lying beside her as she stared up at the sky lights in their room only moving to care for the children when they needed it.
As daylight encroached she moved to the sitting room opening the doors to stare out of them. She went from sitting upright to leaning against Kohaku to laying on the floor in his lap curled up in on herself.
Rin offered her physical support when she leaned close to her wrapping her arms around her close friend allowing her to rest her head on her shoulder.
Sesshomaru watched Hotaru and Hisashi as the little girl crawled around on the floor with her brother happily running around stopping every once in a while to allow her to catch him before he would bound off again.
Hearing a soft rapping at the door he glanced up to see Sana standing on the deck.
"Come in." He beckoned. Bowing to them with respect she straightened herself out.
"Lord Sesshomaru, Rin. Izu, Kohaku; Iku is awake and well." Sana reported happily. In an instant Izumi was up on her feet and walking out of the house.
Rin made a move to follow her only to be stopped by Sesshomaru.
"Let her be Rin." He said catching Hisashi as he tried to run after his mother.
"Right." She sighed out turning her attention to Sana. "How are her wounds?"
"Healing well. She is drinking and eating now, nursing well, and in minimal pain." Sana replied.
"Thank you Sana. Tell Iku I will be by later on to check on her." Rin said with a small smile.
"I will. Rin, you did wonderfully. Your skill is amazing. Iku has been teaching me skills as a healer and I was wondering if maybe you would as well, teach me." Sana requested.
"Absolutely." Rin piped happily. "I would love to teach you what I know. I learned under Lady Kaede in the village what are the traditional ways but also from Kagome who has new world knowledge, as we came to call it."
"New world knowledge?" Sana asked curiously.
"Yes. Kagome is from another time in the future and has a better understanding of medicine and human physiology."
"She taught me a lot, especially about womens health. It made sense to me but not a lot of people really understand her letting religion or superstition cloud their rational thinking."
"The…future?" Sana questioned wondering if she had heard right. Rin nodded looking to Kohaku who gave a nod as well.
"It's true. Kagome is from the future." He added. Furrowing her brow Sana thought they were teasing her.
"Sana, lets take advantage of the milder day and go for a walk. Lord Sesshomaru, would you mind accompanying us?" Rin asked.
"Yes." He said simply.
"Thank you my lord." Standing slowly she placed one hand to her back and the other to her stomach. "That's getting harder."
"I will stay with Hisashi and Hotaru." Kohaku offered.
"Thank you Kohaku." Rin smiled down at her friend. "Sana can you grab my carrying basket. I can't seem to manage it well right now."
"Of course." Going to the wall where they placed their footwear and heavier cloaks she lifted the basket placing it on her back.
"Great. Is the ground cold?" She asked looking to Sanas bare feet.
"No. It is still manageable." Sana said.
"Good. I really don't like having to wear sandals or boots of any kind. It feels so much better to just have the ground underfoot."
Putting on her lighter cloak she looked to the other woman. "I'll show you where we can find some mushrooms that help with pain management."
"Alright Rin." Following her out of the house with Sesshomaru behind them they made their way to the forest that surrounded their compound.