A/N: Hello dear readers. So a bit of a warning, these next few chapters are a bit dark as Kino explains what happened to her and it leads to revelations of other members of the pack.
Enjoy!
As Sesshomaru escorted Rin back to the compound they came across Kino whom was patrolling.
"Oh Kino!" Rin called out happily. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you around in some time."
"Hiding from Chiases hot towels and hair combs." She replied somewhat flatly. "My lady."
Rin noted how her demeanor was very different when Sesshomaru was around. She didn't joke around or flirt with her the way she did and wore a serious expression on her face.
"Chiase did mention that to us." Rin giggled out. "She was a bit put out that you have not returned so she could finish your hair."
"Will you lend her my apologies Lady Rin? My actions were uncalled for and disrespectful for one of Lady Chiases standing." Kino requested.
"When you are finished you can come back and say so yourself. Chiase isn't upset, it is quite the opposite actually. She is worried about you but will not say so out right." Rin assured.
Lowering her gaze and shaking her head somewhat Rin felt there was more than what Kino was saying. Opening her mouth she was surprised when Sesshomaru beat her to it.
"Kino. Escort the Lady Rin back to the main house. There is business this one must attend to." He said with authority but softly.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru. It would be my honor." Kino replied coming to full alert and nodding her head respectfully.
"Very well." Walking off Rin waited until he was out of her sight before coaxing Kino to sit on a fallen log beside her.
"Why have you stayed away Kino?" She asked concerned. Watching as she stared off somewhat Rin waited patiently for her to speak.
"The way Chiase was pulling on me and attending to me reminded me of when my mother would make me presentable." She said finally.
"That is not a good memory?" Rin questioned.
"My lady….I…" Closing her eyes she sighed.
"Kino, you can talk to me if you wish. I will not tell anyone if you don't want me to. No one." Rin pressed. Taking her hand in one of hers Kino looked down at it and stiffened.
"No one." Kino repeated.
"Not a single soul for the rest of my days." Seeing Kino struggle clearly she squeezed her hand for reassurance.
"When our mothers knew Akio was coming to visit to take them they would fix our hair and make us presentable. My mother would comb out my hair and put things in it to make it shine and practically glow."
"He would come and do as he pleased with them and leave. We knew he was the lord and what our mothers positions in the house were but we never knew what a father was or that he was ours for some time." Pausing she took a breath before continuing.
"Then one day he ordered my sisters and I to form a line when we were maturing but still young. He decided that we would serve the same purpose that our mothers did. They protested and tried to vie for his attention but they were powerless. When he grabbed my sister Kai they went after him and he beat them all brutally and still had his way with her."
Rin remained still holding Kinos hand tightly as she stared at nothing as if she were looking into her past.
"He would come more often after that and began carrying a switch with him. When we lined up he would whip us across our fronts, our backs, and the first one to cry out he would hit her so hard in the head…so I stopped crying and that…that was a mistake."
Swallowing hard she let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes.
"He would beat me until I couldn't see straight. Fuck me every which way and choke me until I blacked out while he was doing it but I saw it as protecting the others. If he chose me more often then the others didn't have to endure it."
Reopening her eyes she looked to Rin whom wore a serious but impassive look on her face.
"Eventually word got to Lady Mizuki and Lady Iku. They came down and caught him with us. Lady Mizuki was furious and embarrassed and heartbroken."
"They couldn't stop him. No one would stop him that could so with our mothers they decided to have some control over the situation. I was the first one that Lady Iku summoned. I didn't understand at the time what was happening. Lady Mizuki said she needed to perform a procedure on me and apologized before I was put to sleep."
"What did they do to you?" Rin asked softly her stomach in knots as she tried to keep her composure.
"I can never whelp or have pups. I will never be able to. They took out my womb." Kino replied in a whisper.
"All of you?" Rin questioned in horror and sorrow.
"Yes flower. If any of us were to become pregnant it would be a great shame to Lady Mizuki. I understood when Lady Iku told us quite some years later, after Lady Mizuki became moonlight with her own pup."
"The others were upset and accused them not realizing the repercussions of what could have happened. That was when Lady Iku told me to accompany Izumi to the west to look after her. She told me that Akio was our father and Izu was my sister. To that date she was unharmed and untouched and I…"
Sobbing out Kino brought her free hand to her face. "I couldn't protect the rest of them but I could…I could…"
Standing Rin held Kino to her as she cried wetting her kimono with her tears.
"Oh Kino. My poor, sweet girl." She soothed placing her head to lie against hers. Wracked with sobs Kino shook and whined, whimpering out her anguish. "You are amazing, do you know that? Izumi and the others are so fortunate to have you as their sister."
"Rin…I'm not…I'm not…I ran away. I left them behind. I couldn't anymore…after Kai…" She moaned out.
"What happened to your sister Kai?" Rin asked in a mothering tone.
"She killed herself. She went mad and hung herself. I found her and I…I left."
"That is nothing to be ashamed of Kino." Rin soothed. "You had to protect yourself and leaving was the only way to do it. I am so glad that you did."
"Izumi doesn't know." Kino said quickly looking up at Rin. "None of it. I don't want her to know."
"No one." Rin said moving her hand to Kinos face wiping at her tears. "This is just between us my friend. Thank you for sharing with me." Leaning down she kissed Kinos forehead feeling her settle somewhat.
"You are so sweet flower." Kino sniffled out. "I should be getting you back."
"There is no rush. We can take our time." Rin smiled softly at her pulling her back to her in a hug. Kino let out a long sigh settling against her to be comforted.