A/N: Hello dear readers. Shorter chapter but it is one I have had in mind for some time now. I cannot remember if I mention this on here or not but I have a twitter account now that anyone can follow if they like.

@tellmea49320955.

Enjoy!

Iku sat watching Mizuchi play with Chiases son. She didn't mind keeping an eye on the pup for a period of time to allow Chiase some freedom but she couldn't help the feelings that his appearance stirred up in her.

Examining him he was the spitting image of his sire, granted many of the dog demons of the east shared similar features but this one had the same markings, traits, and coloring of Akio.

Staring at him she felt the old sensation of anger grip her as if she were looking at the male who had tormented her so over the centuries.

Growling low despite herself caused both of the little ones to look to her and sit quietly as if they thought they had upset her. Sighing she steadied herself.

"You have to understand, I am not upset with you." She said. "You look so much like him, it brings up a lot of emotions."

Knowing that neither of them really understood what she was saying in the human language she was using she supposed it was for the best.

"What he did to your mother and so many other females is…disgusting. I wish I had been there when they executed him. I wish he had seen me and known that in the end, in some way, that I had won. No matter what he did it did not break me, even though I don't suppose he really cared at all about me personally…I was just always in the way to try and stop him or negate the damage he did."

Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. "It is not your fault. You didn't ask for him to be your father, I know that."

Feeling Mizuchi climb into her lap she reopened her eyes and looked down at her youngest. Timidly Chiases son took a step forward to follow him.

Reaching out Iku brought him to her as well. "You will be a much more honorable male then your sire ever was. He must have thought in some way he had won this battle since you are what he always wanted, the son he raped and killed for to get."

Running her claws against his ears he settled against her. "Akio must be fuming to know that you are here with me right now, in my care with my son. He never did like the idea much of my pups being raised along his own."

Setting them both back down she smiled at them both which signaled all was well and they began to scuffle again. "We will all make sure that you are a good person and you never know who your father was."

Settling back Iku felt in some small way that through Chiases son she could make some peace with not just the past but with herself as well.