Lying beside Kohaku Izumi watched him sleep.

She took in his relaxed features; the way his eyes twitched under their lids, the light splattering of small freckles across his nose and cheeks, the starburst scar that sat between his eyes and across the bridge of his nose…everything about him.

Lately she had taken to wearing his cloak similar to how she had used Sesshomarus moko-moko when she was pregnant with Hisashi being driven by her instincts to always have her mates scent surrounding her as she neared her time to whelp to their pup.

The few days since Iku and Riku had explained how their lives had been in the east under Akios rule had been a struggle for her. Thinking back she never could recall any type of tenderness between her parents that she had come to know from her mate or others.

Closing her eyes she could see herself sitting in her mothers lap in the garden surrounded by sakura and cherry blossoms as they fell from the trees. Sometimes her father would come out to join them.

Her parents talked amicably, he regarded her as his daughter and would smile at her offering her a small sweet or some other type of present.

Riku and Ikus words came to mind of how they all tried to give her some sense of normalcy and protect her from her father.

Her mother had always been poised and polite, properly addressing him as was his title and position. They never touched from what Izumi could remember, he never held any type of fondness or hint of love for her mother.

In her minds eye she turned to her mother feeling her tears fall from behind her closed lids.

"I'm sorry mother." She whispered softly. "If I had known I would have tried to protect you. You deserved so much better."

"Izu?" She heard Kohaku ask sleepily. "What's wrong beautiful girl?" Reopening her eyes she met his brown orbs as he blinked at her.

"Sorry sweet boy. I didn't mean to wake you." She apologized.

"Why are you crying? Is everything okay?" Propping himself up concerned he swiped his thumb down her cheek to wipe her tears away.

"Iku and Riku told me about the past, my parents. My father forced my mother to mate, then to breed over and over even though she lost many pregnancies. I am the only she was able to have. Akio used her and when she was gone made plans to use me in the same way."

"I feel…guilty for everything I have knowing my mother suffered."

"Any mother who cares for her children simply wants what is best for them, and in cases better than what they had." Kohaku said. "I think that your mother would be happy for you, knowing that you are loved and taken care of."

Moving closer to him she settled against his chest taking a deep breath.

"What were your parents like Kohaku?" She asked.

"My mother died when I was very small from sickness, I don't remember her but everyone always told me when I was a boy that I looked like her. How kind she was and strong, she was a warrior and loved us tremendously." He sighed out.

"My father was stern and strong, disciplined, but loving in his way. Supportive, he was a good father and a good leader as well." Rubbing his nose against Izumis hair and ears he closed his eyes. "I miss him."

Wrapping her arm around his middle she pressed her face closer to him. Hearing the small pattering of four paws he glanced at the door to the room seeing Hisashi coming back in from Rin and Sesshomarus.

Smiling Kohaku held out his hand to the pup as he sleepily made his way to the platform whining and sitting on his rump when he couldn't climb up.

Glancing down he saw that Izumi had fallen asleep. Shifting her slightly he reached down to pick Hisashi up by his scruff to lay him between them both.

Sniffing and licking at him Hisashi yawned cuddling against them.

"Sleep well son. Papa is here to keep you all safe." Kohaku ran his fingers through his fur wondering what his father would think about his family.