Happy Mother's Day to all who celebrate it. Here is somewhat of a sad chapter.
Enjoy!
Jaken was sent with Kiyoshi as he knew the land better to gather intelligence and possibly a better understanding of Chiases whereabouts.
Upon their return some days later Izumi met with them along with Kohaku, Rin, Sesshomaru, Tadao, Riku, and Iku.
"Mi'lady we have located your former lady in waiting in the southern hills in seclusion." Jaken informed.
"Did you approach her?" Izumi asked.
"No neither one of us did." Jaken said.
"Lady Izumi, Chiase had a young pup with her." Kiyoshi spoke in a somewhat hushed tone. "The markings on the pup were identical to your fathers, to Akios."
Rin turned her head to look to her friend. She appeared outwardly calm but knew she was similar to Sesshomaru in certain manners, Rin felt her sudden shock as if she had been jolted.
"You will take me to her. This matter will be dealt with." Izumi stated. "You are both dismissed."
Both bowed and left closing the door behind them. Izumi turned to Tadao. "I want to know when this happened."
"My lady, I do not know." He replied. Izumi turned to Iku receiving a shake of her head and silence from Riku.
"I need to speak with her. Riku, Lady Iku; you will stay here with Jiro. I want the three of you by Sana and the pups sides, do not let them out of your sight." Izumi commanded.
"Yes my lady." They said in unison bowing to her.
"Lord Kohaku, Lord Sesshomaru; I request you escort Rin and I alongside Kiyoshi and Jaken to the southern hills."
"Yes Lady Izumi." Sesshomaru said respectfully while Kohaku nodded his head at her in acceptance.
"We are leaving." Standing the others followed suit. Rin walked beside Izumi down the halls.
"Izu, lets talk." Rin said.
"Not now Rin." Izumi replied curtly. Taking a step in front of her she stopped her.
"Yes now." She affirmed. "In your chambers alone." Izumi closed her eyes tightly for a moment with her mouth drawn in a thin line.
"Alright." Turning down another hallway they went to Izumis room. Rin had been in awe when she first saw it.
The floors were gilded in gold, a large futon platform had a canopy made of silk with wooden chests along the walls of the room while an entire side was mirrored making the space appear larger than what it was.
"You're upset, understandably, but I have to ask how you plan to deal with this if Chiases pup is your fathers." Rin said.
"I have no idea. Right now, I don't feel a thing. I am just numb. None of this feels real."
"You have been dealt a great shock, whatever happens I will be there by your side to help you in any way that I can."
"Thank you sister." Izumi said gratefully. Rin wrapped her arms around Izumi hugging her tightly. "Rin gives the best embraces."
"Always for you Izumi." She said softly. After a few minutes there was a knock on the door.
"Lady Izumi," Kohaku said from the other side, "We are ready to leave when you are."
Breaking their hold on one another Rin took Izumis hand squeezing it as they walked out going outside of the compound.
Kiyoshi led them south to the sprawling lands that flourished in the warmer weather for the season. Rolling hills that were lush green and littered with wildflowers passed down below them as they all had taken to the skies.
"There." Kiyoshi pointed out ready to land. Izumi saw the small shelter that was not even a hut. It appeared to be at first sight just a natural part of the land made out of rocks, branches, moss and grass.
Taking a steadying breath as An-Un landed she wasted no time in walking over to the abode. As she approached Chiase came out more than likely having sensed their arrival.
Izumi stopped in her tracks taking in her former lady's delicate appearance. Her once long golden hair had been cut short to sit against her head, she was thin and pale lacking her bronze coloring as if she had been washed out.
"Lady Izumi." Chiase greeted.
"Lady Chiase. We need to speak." Izumi said as Rin came next to her. Chiase moved aside opening the makeshift door for them to enter.
Scanning the inside Izumi felt cramped in the small space that barely had room for a hearth. A small futon was rolled against the wall with a bundle of blankets seemingly laying on the dirt floor.
Going over to it Izumi moved one aside finding the small pup asleep. By its mouth extending down to its chin in a almost triangle shape were two identical blue lines.
Turning to Chiase she breathed in deeply. She looked frightened.
"Chiase, this is Rin, she is Lord Sesshomarus mate and my bonded female. Anything that we discuss in here will be told to the appropriate people and sworn to silence." Izumi said. "What happened?"
Shaking her head Chiase began to wring her hands as they trembled.
"Take your time. There is no rush." Rin assured calmly. Looking to her then back to Izumi her tears began to fall.
"Izu, when you left for the west I had to report it to…him." She hesitated as she spoke but continued. "He was…enraged and began accosting me, blaming me for not going with you. When I explained in the great hall that Kiyoshi and I had been following your order he dismissed me."
"When I went to turn I felt a great force strike me in the back of my. He ordered the guards out. They shut the doors. I was on the ground barely aware of what was happening when he…dragged me by my hair to the front of the hall and began to just beat me."
Stopping to close her eyes she swallowed hard. "When he was done with that he forced himself on me several times. It went on for a long time, I lost track and I thought I was going to die…wished that I would."
"He would not let me seek help. He had me dragged back to my quarters and held there for some weeks. He knew that I had been bred and kept me away from everyone else. I wanted to go see you, to tell you what had happened but he wouldn't allow it."
Chiase stopped again opening her eyes. "I hate him but I love my son. When they brought…him, back in chains and ready to execute for harming you, I escaped. I was fearful of what they would do to me…to my son, so I came here before I whelped and have been here since."
"You have been all alone?" Rin asked concern in her voice.
"Yes, aside from my son. My lady, Izumi; please allow me to stay here. I swear I will never tell anyone, I will never tell my son who he is…your status and your household will never be threatened by him." Chiase appealed.
In a sudden movement Izumi had advanced towards Chiase pulling her to her tightly in an embrace.
"Can you forgive me my friend?" Izumi asked resting her forehead against hers.
"Forgive…you?" Chiase questioned back uncertainly.
"I should have brought you with me." She replied. "I am so sorry for making you go back there, for leaving you to be tormented."
"Izu, I don't blame you. You are not at fault."
"Come with us, to the west…to our compound. You and your son will be happy there. He will be raised with the other little ones and you will be surrounded by friends and others who care for you." Izumi offered. "You will both be safe and your son will be acknowledged as my younger brother."
"Thank you. I have been so afraid and lonely…Izumi…thank you my friend." Chiase said sobbing.
Tightening her grip on her Izumi rubbed her nose against her friends as she cried in relief.