Rin sat with Hotaru, Izumi, and Chiase as they showed the little girl how to make flower chains. Hotaru was more interested in the ripping the stalks from the ground bringing them not only flowers but weeds and grass by the handfuls.
"Thank you little bug. You are so helpful." Izumi said as she threw some onto her lap before toddling off to find more. Hisashi had learned to move around Chiases son and they had taken to, slowly, chasing after one another.
"I wonder how Sana and Jiro are faring." Rin said aloud in thought.
"If they are getting along as well as they were in the garden in the east then, quite fine I am sure." Izumi replied smiling to herself. Rin let out a small laugh and hummed somewhat to herself.
"Lady Chiase, can you show me how you wove your stalks together? It is absolutely beautiful the way you have done that." Rin asked looking at the work she had done.
"Of course my lady." Chiase nodded. "You take four at a time and merely braid them together while incorporating the leaves that grow along the stem and placing in smaller flowers along the way."
"It seems so intricate. Where did you learn to do that?" Rin asked.
"Myself." Chiase said with a shrug. "I made it up."
"Lady Chiase has always been able to make stunning, intricate weavings be it floral arrangements, thread, or hairstyles." Izumi chimed in.
"You flatter me Lady Izumi." Chiase replied quietly.
"It is true and you know it. Ladies would come to you from all over for your work, other households tried to employ her but she remained with us." Izumi continued on.
"Before…" Chiase whispered out. Placing her work down she stood taking her son from the ground walking towards the back as if she were in a hurry. Frustrated Izumi threw hers down.
Rin stopped her own laying it in her lap. Hisashi stood barking at them seeming confused. Looking back at them he whimpered softly.
"You did nothing wrong Hisashi. Go play with Hotaru." Rin said watching as he joined his sister in her quest to unearth the entire front yard. "She will come around Izu. It just may take her time. I have noticed with demons that change is not easy and adjusting can be difficult. I cannot even imagine how it would to deal with a trauma."
"You are not wrong. My life has moved faster since I met you then I ever thought possible. Humans learn so quickly, adapt to difficult situations…how do you do it?" Izumi asked settling her gaze on Rin.
"We have to. Time doesn't stand still for us, we don't have centuries to learn new things. We understand our mortality, knowing that we do not have forever is what drives humans to do whatever it is they do." Rin said.
"At least Chiase has her own space now to be more comfortable." Izumi stated.
"To hide." Rin said softly. Sighing Izumi stood looking around.
"Kino!" Getting her sisters attention as she came from the wooded area she motioned for her.
"Lady Izumi." She greeted. "Flower." Smirking as she flicked her eyes to Rin before settling back on Izu.
"Please go to Chiase. She's upset. I said the wrong thing to her, which is difficult because it seems everything anyone says is wrong." Izumi said.
"Where is she?" Kino questioned.
"Her quarters I am assuming." Izumi replied. Kino gave a nod before moving off towards the back. Stopping at Chiases door she tapped on it with her claws gently.
"Lady Chiase, it is Kino. Are you alright?" Kino called out. The door opened a crack so she could make out an eye peering at her.
"Yes." Chiase said.
"May I enter?" Kino requested gently. Hearing the hesitation in Chiases breathing she was certain she would close the door in her face. When it was opened to allow her in Kino was quite surprised.
Looking around Kino took in the polished wood of the floors and the tatami mats that took up some of the room. A hearth was inlaid into the middle of the floor but seemed bare.
"Forgive the appearance. I have not furnished it yet aside from the futon." Chiase said.
"I sleep in trees." Kino turned to her with a small smirk. "The indoors hold no appeal to me."
"Why?" Chiase questioned.
"It is easier to get away in an open space." Kino replied seriously.
"From what?" Kino remained silent walking further into the hut. The small pup came closer to her sniffing her out. Crouching down she offered him her hand as he set about becoming familiar with her.
"Will you let me help you to make this a home for you?" Kino asked. "I can trade with the humans and bring you whatever you may need or fancy."
"You do not have to do that Kino." Chiase said. "You are not duty bound to us."
"I know." Standing she turned to Chiase. "I understand how you feel about Akio, all of it, and I want to help."
"There is no way you can understand Kino, what it was like." Chiase whispered out tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes…I…do." She replied slowly. "The only difference is I was made to be an inadequate female."
"What…?" Chiase furrowed her brow confused. Tensing somewhat Kino sighed and removed her armor placing it on the ground. Removing her tie for her kimono she let that drop as well before lifting the shift off.
Standing nude she pointed at the long scar that ran down her stomach to her pelvic area. It was deep and seemed to have been done in a rush with jagged edges and stitched together by an unskilled hand.
Chiases eyes widened as her breath hitched. Staring at it she had never seen anything like it. "Did that…happen in a fight?"
"Sort of." Kino said. "You know who I am, right? One of the bastard daughters of Akio, born to a concubine."
"I do." Chiase nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"He would come and pick us out. At first it was only for our mothers until my sisters and I grew older. They tried to protect us but he…did as he pleased."
Swallowing hard Chiase steadied her breathing but knew she was staring, unblinking, attempting to comprehend what Kino was telling her.
"Pick you out…for….for…?"
"Fucking." Kino affirmed. "It took more to make me cry, he had to hit me harder or…do other things before I would. It gave him a great thrill to have a challenge."
"When Lady Mizuki found out what was occurring she was appalled. Lady Iku decided something had to be done. They couldn't stop him but they could prevent us from ever whelping."
"They sterilized you….all of you?" Chiase took a step back bringing a hand to her chest.
"We did not understand what they did to us until we were older. I am not upset at Lady Mizuki, Lady Iku, or any of our mothers…they did what they felt was right." Kino said.
"Did he leave you alone afterwards?" Chiases tone held hope in it. Closing her eyes Kino growled low in her chest. Snapping her eyes open she let out a bark as she spoke.
"I don't care if she is a walking corpse! Bring Kino to me…now!" Shaking and panting she stared at Chiase as she stared at her fearfully.
Taking a stance Chiase growled herself baring her fangs.
"This is your own damn fault! If you had brought Izumi back then you would not be the bitch being bred!" Chiase fired back feeling as if a knot had come undone in her chest.
Heaving air into her chest she collapsed to the floor. Their angry shouting had scared her son and he hesitantly ran to her side. Kino knelt down in front of them.
"A half brother is almost like a son." She said softly taking them in. "All I want is to help, to take care of you both, nothing else."
"Thank you Kino. I'm sorry I wouldn't listen or accept or…I don't know…" Sniffling Chiase gathered her pup to her nuzzling the fur on the top of his head.
"No one knows aside from a very select few and I would like to keep it that way." Kino said.
"I will take it to my grave." Chiase replied. Reaching her hand out to the small male Kino smiled when he licked her palm.