A/N: Hello dear readers. Here is my next great idea that was such a relief to finally be able to get out of my head.

Enjoy!

Kino arrived to relieve Nen the next day with a small list Chiase had given her of some things she would like to have. Jin had stayed the night keeping watch with Nen in the trading post leaving him exhausted as they made their way back to the compound.

Yawning loudly he trudged along some space behind the other wanting to get home to take a nap. Suddenly stopping abruptly Jin walked into his back.

"Nen? What is it?" He asked taking in his mates full attention to their surrounding area.

"I smell blood." He said scenting the air more. "Human blood, on our perimeter. This way." Running off in the direction he indicated Jin did well to keep up with him as they pounded the ground towards the scent.

"Is it one of our people?" Jin questioned more than a little concerned.

"No." Nen replied. Coming to a skidding halt both looked around not finding anyone or anything immediately visible. Following his nose Nen walked over to a small bush with some underbrush pushed up underneath.

Swiping the dead grass and leaves away he audibly gasped. Jin went to his side kneeling down and did the same.

"A baby." Jin whispered pulling the infant out. Letting out a hoarse cry was all it could seem to muster before it was quiet again. "A newborn."

Quickly Nen stabbed his naginata in to the ground and removed his armor. Taking off his kimono they carefully wrapped it around the baby swiping away dirt and debris that was stuck to the dried blood.

Holding the infant to him as Jin stood carefully he glanced around.

"Can you scent the mother? Did something happen to her?" Looking to Nen before returning his concern to the little one.

"It is faded. As if she left." He replied. "The mother abandoned it."

"I wonder if it was one of the women from the post." Jin said.

"We can speculate later. Right now we need to get it to the females. They will know how to care for it." Nen responded.

"Right. Here." Making a move to hand the baby over to Nen he took a step back.

"I'm not carrying it." Shaking his head sternly Jin squared his gaze at him.

"You are constantly saying how clumsy I am, do you really want to take a chance I drop it or trip with it?" Jin fired back. Making a face of disgust Nen tensed.

Mimicking Jin he cradled his arms to allow his mate to hand over the newborn. "Make sure to support its neck. Human babies have no muscle there to hold their own heads up."

"How do you know that?" Nen asked curiously.

"Well, I am a human. My eldest sister had children. I remember watching her with them." He said. Grabbing Nens armor and weapon they began to make their way back to the main house.

Every so often Nen would glance down at the bundle he was carrying amazed at how small it was and how light it seemed. He had seen Rin and Emis children from the time they were small but he had never held one of them or realized how tiny they were.

Breathing in he could smell past the mothers blood and took in the baby's scent. Shaking his head quickly as if to rid it from his nostrils they approached the main house.

"Chief." Jin called out as Kohaku stood guard at the front. Furrowing his brow he called back.

"What do you have there?"

"A baby was left on our perimeter. Nen sniffed it out. It's still alive. It's a newborn." Jin said as they neared. Kohaku turned into the house and in an instant Rin and Izumi beat him outside.

Rin skipped steps to run to them taking the baby from Nen.

"Oh my…" She said worriedly. "Thank you both for bringing this child to us. I have to check it out and make sure it is alright." Hurrying back inside Izumi stood on the deck visibly upset.

"You both found this child on our property?" She questioned.

"Yes Lady Izumi." They both replied respectfully.

"And the mother?"

"There was no sign of her aside from a faded scent, at least a day and half old." Nen replied.

"A day and half? And no one found this child during patrol?!" She fumed.

"It is not an area that is regularly checked upon my lady. Especially now when we have been two men short." Jin said.

"One of you is going to bring me Kiyosho, now!" She barked out. Nen nodded his head making his way to the back.

Coming back around with Kiyoshi leading he seemed worried glancing back at Nen whom he had never seen in a state of dishevelment.

"Lady Izumi." He greeted dutifully.

"Kiyoshi, as fast as you can, go to the trading post and bring back the woman Mui. I request an audience with her immediately." Izumi commanded.

"Yes my lady." Taking off she turned her attention to Nen.

"Find Lord Sesshomaru. Tell him we have an urgent matter that needs attending to."

"Yes my lady." He said glancing at Jin as he too made his way off.

"Lady Izumi, Chief; is there anything I can do?" Jin asked his nerves shot as the severity of their situation began to sink in.

"Fetch Iku." Izumi said. Nodding Jin ran to the back.

"You think it was one of the prostitutes then, hm?" Kohaku asked.

"Where else would it have come from? We cannot have abandoned young on our property. This will not stand and very well could break this agreement." She nearly shouted.

"Lover, I know you are upset over this, I am as well. You are absolutely right but, calm down." Kohaku said.

"I am calm!" She snapped back.

"Go inside and help Rin with the baby. I am sure she needs it." He stated. "I will tell Lord Sesshomaru what has happened. I will send in Iku and I will tell you when Kiyoshi returns."

"Fine." She breathed out after a few moments. Walking into the house she walked down the short hallway to Rins room. Coming up alongside her she saw the concern on her friends face.

"It's a girl." Rin simply said as she washed her down with a damp cloth. "Another day outside and she probably wouldn't have survived."

"She has been bit by, insects?" Izumi looked to Rin as she nodded.

"Her cord was not even cut properly. At least it was tied off otherwise she would have bled to death." Wrapping the little girl in a clean blanket she handed her to Izumi so she could loosen her kimono top.

Taking the baby back she coaxed her to nurse relieved when she latched on. "We have to keep her."

"I agree." Izumi replied resting her head against Rins shoulder. "How could anyone do this to their pup?"

"I don't know." Shaking her head Rin rested against Izu as they cared for their newest pack member.