Hello dear readers. I hope that everyone who celebrates Easter had a nice holiday.
The husband and I did a lot of cooking and baking in our nice new kitchen which was a treat, mainly not tripping over each other in a small space and having plenty of counter top space for the first time in almost ten years.
Going forward with the story we have a lot of babies to name. It was fun to have my reader and friend Mai name one so I am going to open up the naming to all of you.
We have Emi and Mitsuos son. Iku and Rikus as well and Rin and Sesshomarus twins. Two boys and two girls.
Anyone who comes up with a name will be named as the honorary god parent of that child.
Enjoy!
The first snowfall brought a heavy storm leaving the world blanketed in a crystalline wonderland. Rin sat with her feet dangling in the cold snow sighing at the relief it brought her swollen ankles.
Kozumi lay in the basket that was once Hotarus swaddled and bundled to keep out the cold. Even still Rin kept a hand on his body to make sure he was alright.
Izumi sat with Sana who was helping her tend to Hisashi and Hotaru as they crawled around on the steps playing.
Hotaru grabbed handfuls of snow aggressively putting them in her mouth to eat while her brother nosed the drift that had creeped up licking at it but going no further down.
Jiro stood guard glancing at them every so often watching as his wife mined the small pups. Looking away he wished she would let him give her their own.
Izumi caught him with his gaze on Sana and decided to tease them a bit.
"Jiro, it is so good to see you back here posted at the main house." She began.
"I am glad to be able to resume this post Izu." Jiro replied with a small nod.
"Are you here to watch over us or your mate?" She questioned.
"All of you, I suppose." He answered slowly wondering what she was getting at. Turning to Sana Izumi eyed her up and down as she crouched on the deck giving her her own questioning look.
"Is there a reason as to why you want your mate so close?" She smirked her gaze lingering on Sanas midsection.
"No." Sana replied somewhat sternly returning the coy smirk she was being given. Jiro sighed and looked away.
"Izumi, you shouldn't tease them in such a way." Rin piped up. "They will when it is right for them."
"At any rate with all of these pups Rin and I are going to need help in caring for them. Jiro, would you object if I requested Sana be an acting nurse maid?" Izumi said in all seriousness.
"No Izu." He shook his head slowly with his own small smirk.
"Sana, would you care to take on that role within the household?"
"Of course I will Izumi. It will be my pleasure to watch over all of the little ones." She replied. "With so many now still nursing what will you both do?"
"Iku had offered to assist us as a wet nurse." Rin said. "And Emi will support us as well in whatever way she can."
"And maybe, being around so many small pups will make you want some of your own." Izumi smiled not yet wanting to drop her little game.
"Maybe." Sana answered relenting. Seeing the other seemingly pleased she turned her attention to Kozumi who had begun to squirm as he awoke from his nap.
Some time later Sana assisted Rin and Izu into the house helping them get settled for the evening. Walking out onto the deck she came alongside her mate.
"Will you be out here all night?" She asked turning her head to him.
"No. Nen is going to relieve me soon. Afterwards I do have to accompany Jin around the perimeter."
"Alright. I'll wait up for you." Sana placed her hand against his arm rubbing it gently. Glancing at her he gave a small smile.
"I'll try not to keep you waiting to long sunflower." He replied. Smiling back at him he watched as she adjusted her cloak before trudging down the steps towards the back.
In the dimming light he could see the sunflower clip she always wore. It made him happy to see her wearing it, that something he had given her brought her so much joy.
He had never thought anyone would ever accept him as a potential mate let alone to be marked. Jiro had always been looked over due to his unassertiveness in favor of other males who were louder and more boisterous.
Jiro had been told he was a nice male but not what other females were looking for. Demon females wanted a personality type similar to Nens and he just did not have it in him be so course and domineering.
Granted since Sana had come into his life and with the events that had taken place over the summer he felt a new type of boldness that he had never felt before.
In this small compound his presence mattered unlike in the vast celestial palace of the west where he was just another guard. Here he was needed and wanted by the others.
Even if Izumi were more teasing than complimenting his return to post at the main house it made him glad that he was being acknowledged and appreciated.
"Jiro." Nen greeted as he approached.
"Nen." Jiro returned. Stretching he stepped aside as his brother took his place. "Izu and Rin are inside with their pups. Lord Sesshomaru and Kohaku will be here shortly. They don't seem to stay out to late anymore."
"Jin and I secured the perimeter. The captain is waiting for you to assist him with the other side." Nen said.
"Alright." Taking a step down he turned in the direction Sana had gone. Lingering for a moment he knew that Riku would want to get home just as badly as he did to be with Iku and their pup.
Going in the direction of where Riku was waiting he nodded in greeting.
"Captain."
"Jiro. Let's make this quick. We both have our mates to return to for the night." Riku smirked at him.
"Yes captain." Jiro returned the gesture. As they began their rounds Jiro kept up with the elder male. "Have you and Lady Iku given your newest son a name?"
"No. Not yet." Riku said. "We cannot seem to agree on one."
"Did you have this type of disagreement with your other sons, naming them?"
"No. Kiyoshi was named by Lady Mizuki, Lady Izumis mother; as my mates bonded female it was her right to do so. Haruki, we had agreed on the name knowing that I would not be around when he was whelped." Riku explained.
"What kept you away, if you do not mind my asking Captain?" Jiro questioned curiously.
"One of Akios pointless feuds that turned into an all out war. That isn't exactly correct…more like a massacre."
Shaking his head Riku cleared his thoughts. "The lord of the east went after those weaker than he was to stake claim and intimidate others. He himself never dirtied his own hands while the rest of us…well…you get the idea."
"What type of a Lord is that if he isn't willing to take his own soldiers into his own fights?"
"Why put yourself in harms way when you can have others do it for you?" Riku countered. "Akio was not stupid, cowardly, but never stupid. His rise to power was partially mine and Captain Tadaos fault. We supported him when we were younger and followed him. Once we realized what he was about it was to late."
"Then why did you stay?" Jiro stopped when Riku did as he seemed to ponder the question.
"At first it was because I knew of no other way. Once Lady Mizuki and Iku came from the south I wanted to protect them from him, Iku and I became mates. She would never leave her females side and the poor Lady was trapped by Akio."
"Then it was to ensure that Lady Izumi would be safe but the truth is anyone of us could have overthrown him at any time; we became complacent and the things he did were routine. The East simply became accustomed to his tyranny with a handful of us able to stop him but we did not."
"He was executed though, recently. I recall hearing about it in the celestial palace."
"Oh yes. He brought Iku, myself, Tadao and a few others to check in on Izumi. That encounter did not go well. He threatened her to intimidate her to go back East, her mate was not having that and got between the two of them. When he went to strike Kohaku Izumi then interfered to save his life and Akio impaled her."
Jiros eyes became as big as saucers as he listened to Riku.
"Lord Sesshomaru then subdued him. This was all after mind you that Rin had claimed Izumi and Hisashi for the West in light of Akios threats."
"Wow." Jiro said shaking his head.
"Yeah." Riku replied with a sigh. "But, all is well now. Tell me Jiro, was there a reason you asked about naming pups?"
"No. At least not at this time." Jiro shook his head a few times. "Sana wants to wait. She says she is to young, not ready, we have not known one another for very long and she wants us to just be together…"
"Valid points."
"They are and I will respect them as well as her, as frustrating as it may be."
"You both have time, when she is ready you won't be able to get her off of you."
"To be fair that isn't an issue right now either." Jiro smirked. Riku let out a laugh hitting him hard on his back.
"That a boy. I'm glad that my daughter found you for her mate Jiro. You are a perfect match for one another."
"Thank you Captain." He said gratefully before they resumed their patrol.