A/N: Hello everyone. Longer chapter that I have been working on. I went into detail in this one as to what our characters are wearing and their appearance because this is a very important event that will span a few chapters on different points of view going forward.
A guest asked me how long this story is going to go on for and I have no idea. Right now tbis the is newest story arc and I have some others in mind that come up. I have to get forward a couple of years for when I want Sana and Jiro to have their own child which will open up another arc...lots of ideas.
Thank you everyone for your support with this story. I never would gone on this long or be so inspired to write to it if it weren't for the positive feedback.
Enjoy!
Preparations were made and within two weeks time the eastern house was made ready to receive guests and host the presentation ceremony.
Nearly all of the invitations that had been sent had come back with a response to reserve a spot for several other houses.
"They are curious about us." Sesshomaru said as they sat together to talk about the upcoming event.
"At least it will make for a good turnout." Izumi replied.
"I for one am looking forward to it." Rin said with a smirk.
"It will be interesting to say the least." Kohaku agreed.
"That is because neither of you have had to attend such an event before." Sesshomaru replied. "It is for appearances and proprietary, nothing more."
"Also to announce the pups, all of them, so there is no dispute whom they belong to and where their place is." Izumi chimed.
"While I understand and appreciate the gesture Izumi I am in protest of having to go." Sesshomaru retorted.
"Noted." She replied. "Don't worry Sesshomaru, I am quite certain that Rin can do all of the talking for us and then some." Kohaku let out a small chuckle as Rin pursed her lips slightly.
"I don't talk that much." Receiving looks from all three of them she sighed. "Alright, I do. At least that way you may not have to."
"What do you say about giving Sana and Jiro the night off, that way they can spend time together. I know this has been difficult for her to not see her mate." Izumi said to Rin.
"Absolutely. Iku and Riku as well too. They need some time away from their duties." Rin nodded.
"Yes, I agree." Izumi said.
"Two days afterwards I will send Jaken to the south to accompany Kiyosho and the Lady Chiase west. We will convene with them at our compound." Sesshomaru informed.
"It will be good to return." Kohaku said. "Back to our own routines." Both Rin and Izumi nodded in agreement.
The day of Izumi and Rin were washed by ladies in waiting before their hair was done ornately. Rin wore hers up with jeweled clips along one side to keep in place.
Izumi kept hers down having an ornate headdress that had the insignia of the east to lay on her forehead.
The kimono that was presented to Rin was stark white with Sesshomarus six petaled flowers on the sleeves of the robe she wore over it. Her obi was yellow with white on it to appear as clouds.
Izumis kimono was long and flowing a sky blue color with the blazing sunflowers adorning her skirt seeming to cascade down to the hem. Her robe was gold matching the flowers.
She instructed Sana to wear a kosode as did the other ladies whom were mated as opposed to a kimono signifying that they were spoken for.
Hers was gold with cherry blossoms that looked as if they could be plucked off they were so well embroidered. Naturally her hair held her sunflower clip into a bun with strands hanging down.
"There will be lords and others attending to seek a mate and we do not want to give them the impression that you are available." Izumi explained to her.
"I am wearing a kimono and I am certainly not available." Rin said.
"You will be front and center with myself, your mate and mine. There will be no mistake whom you are mated to." Izumi replied. Iku came in wearing a different kosode than she normally wore.
It was a midnight black with a silver moon adorning the left of her chest. Smaller silver markings appeared to be stars that went from her top to her waist. The robe she wore was silver to match wearing a small chain around her head with a full moon to lay on her forehead.
"Lady Iku, I cannot remember the last time I saw you dressed so beautifully." Izumi said. Iku crossed the room looking Izumi up and down.
"I was thinking the same of you my lady. Your mother is very proud of you." Iku whispered. "Now; the lords and ladies have been announced in the great hall. Your mates are waiting for you both. Lady Sana, you will assist me with carrying the pups in once Lady Izumi and Lady Rin are announced."
"Yes my lady." Sana bowed her head slightly in understanding.
"Riku and Jiro will accompany you both to the hall, from there Captain Tadao and his guards will take over." Iku continued. "Your attending ladies will follow behind you both."
"Yes Lady Iku." Rin said with a nod. Taking a breath she felt both excited and nervous. She had never been in such a position before and while she was anticipating what was to come she really had no idea what to expect.
The doors to the dressing room they were in opened with Riku and Jiro wearing identical green kimonos with brown hakamas along with their usual armor and weapons.
"Lady Izumi, Lady Rin." Riku bowed his head to them as Jiro did the same.
"Riku, Jiro." Izumi acknowledged as they both stepped off to opposite sides of the door to allow them to exit. Rin watched Izumi beside her to follow her lead holding her head high as they were escorted down the halls to where everyone else waited for them.
The doors to the great hall were already opened and the voices of many people carried towards them. Izumi paused looking to Rin for a moment straightening out her back.
"Ready to meet your subjects?" She asked. Rin gave a nod smoothing down her skirt.
Both turning to face forward Riku and Jiro stood outside the door to block them from view as they could hear the sound of people turning in their direction.
"All show reverence to the Lady Izumi of the eastern house of the sun and the Lady Rin of the western house of the moon." Rikus voice boomed put announcing them.
Following them in Rin found Sesshomaru and Kohaku standing at the front. Sesshomaru was dressed as he normally was while Kohaku wore the same colors that Izumi had on; a blue kimono with the sunflower emblem on his right shoulder and a golden, sleeveless robe over it along with black hakamas.
Rin felt many eyes on her as they watched their every move into the room. Keeping her hands folded into her kimono sleeves she entwined her fingers together to stop them from shaking.
Riku and Jiro stood off to the sides of the raised platform in the front of the hall as Sesshomaru assisted Rin up and Kohaku took Izumis hand. Turning she saw the great hall near to packed with all different types of demons in regal kimonos of all colors and design.
"Welcome to the eastern house. This one entrusts that your journeys here was uneventful." Izumi began. "It is this Izumis great honor to have so many venerable lords and ladies attend this presentation."
At her words Iku led Sana towards the front with Hisashi, Hotaru, Kozumi, Yue, and Yuki being assisted by another lady of the house to hold the twins. Bringing them to the front Iku stood at the bottom of the platform holding up Hisashi for the crowd to see him.
"Master Hisashi; born from the eastern house of the sun and the western house of the moon." She announced. Handing him off after a moment she did the same with Hotaru. "Lady Hotaru born from the western house of the moon and recognized by the eastern house of the sun."
"Master Kozumi, born from the eastern house of the sun and recognized by the western house of the moon. The ladies Yue and Yuki, littermates, born from the western house of the moon and recognized by the eastern house of the sun."
Iku, Sana, and the other female held the children for all to see. Words of acceptance were heard from members of the crowd both male and female.
"The bond between the western house of the moon and the eastern house of the sun is strong ensured by the births of this generation." Iku stated. "To go against the east or the west will mean to go against the other. All attendees here will pledge fidelity to both houses as one entity."
Exiting the hall with the pups Izumi motioned for Rin, Sesshomaru, and Kohaku to sit on the high back chairs that they all stood in front of.
Lords and ladies formed a line from the left to stand before them all bowing and pledging their allegiances to both houses. Rin was astounded that they had the backing of so many others.
Recalling back to when all of it began, when she had been taken to the celestial palace and made the decision with Sesshomaru for him to breed Izumi, she had no idea in such a short amount of time they would have made so many strides to not only gain allies but also to begin to unite demons and humans.
After all, that was what was happening. Demons were accepting her and Kohaku as two powerful figures spouses and acknowledging their children as legitimate heirs.
Fighting back some tears of overwhelming happiness she saw the next two come up.
"Lord Kirinmaru and Lady Zero." Izumi acknowledged. Noting that Sesshomarus boredom had suddenly gone to full alert Rin wondered why.
"Lady Izumi, Lord Sesshomaru." The lord said standing straight. "Imagine my surprise when I had heard you both had taken on human mates. Especially you Lord Sesshomaru given your distaste for them."
"None more surprised than us, this one assures." Izumi replied.
"Such a shame." The lady zero sneered. "Two houses with such promise and strength would dilute their bloodline with weak human progeny."
"You clearly have never witnessed the raw power or strength of one born between a human and a demon." Kohaku said.
"Nor do I care to." Zero retorted. "Whatever ridiculous game this is my brother and I will have no part in it."
Kirinmaru held up his hand to quiet her.
"I can appreciate the fact that you have produced a legitimate heir. I will support Master Hisashi in anyway he may need in the future. The half-breeds however will have to learn to survive on their own, as that is their lot in life."
"Thank you Lord Kirinmaru." Rin said. "Rest assured that all of our young ones will not only survive but thrive." Seeming amused by her words he ushered his sister off back into the crowd.
Rin took her hand fan from her obi opening it to hide her face turning to Izumi. Similarly she did the same.
"I don't like them Izu." Rin whispered low.
"They are beast demons, tactless and uncouth. Zero is jealous because she wished to join your mates house long ago and Kirin is upset still that Lord Toga met such an end. They are of no consequence to us." She replied.
Folding their fans back up to put them away Izumi stopped for a moment as a female came forward. Rin nearly felt her jaw drop as this woman looked like Izumi.
Her hair was done up in many braids and pinned wildly to her head. She wore armor and weapons dressing more like a soldier than a lady. Her clothing was a proper green kimono with pink and white designs.
Izumi turned to Sesshomaru at her approach.
"Did you invite this one?" She questioned receiving a blank, irritated stare. Turning back to the female whom smirked as she bowed dramatically Izumi smirked back. "Bitch, no one invited you."
"Yet here I am, Lady Izumi." She said in a teasing tone. "It would have been rude of me not to attend."
"Mutt that you are." Izumi replied standing going down the platform to embrace her. "It is good to see you sister."
"See. I knew you missed me." The other replied with a laugh.
"Sister?" Rin questioned aloud looking to Sesshomaru whom remained silent.
"Lord Sesshomaru, charismatic as always." The woman remarked. "Lady Rin, Lord Kohaku; I am Kino. One of many bastards produced by the former lord but the only one with no shame in saying it."
"It is good to make your acquaintance Kino." Rin said. "Thank you for coming."
"The honor is mine my lady. Perhaps once the two of you tire of the formalities I can persuade you away for some mild debauchery." Kino replied.
"Perhaps." Izumi said. "Until then we have many others to greet."
"But of course, don't let me keep you." Smiling widely she moved away back into the crowd. Izumi sat back in her seat with an air of happiness around her.
"What exactly did she mean by debauchery?" Rin asked Izumi.
"Come with us later and find out." Turning to her she smiled peaking Rins curiosity.