Rin decided she would confront Iku about the information Kino had given her and Riku as well. She had to know why Akio was able to do as he pleased and torment so many people he was supposed to protect.

As they came upon the back of the compound Kino paused by the row of huts settling her eye on Chiases.

"Go ahead. She will be happy to see you." Rin encouraged. Glancing at Rin she simply nodded before going towards it. Rin beelined for Ikus rapping on the panel.

"Lady Rin." Iku greeted.

"Lady Iku." She replied formally. "I need to speak with you and your mate."

"Of course." Stepping aside she led Rin to sit at the small table they had. "Riku will be back shortly."

"Good." Rin said holding onto her own hands tightly fighting her tears.

"What has you so distressed?" Iku queried.

"We will discuss it once the captain arrives." Rin countered. Nodding her head once respectfully they waited in silence until some time later Riku came in with Mizuchi asleep in his arms.

"All of the fresh air knocked him out cold." He said his eyes falling on Rin. "My lady. To what do we owe the pleasure?" Sitting beside Iku as she took their son from him Rin took a deep breath.

"Kino told me some very disturbing things today about her life in the eastern house." She said. "Is it true? Is it true that Kino and her sister Kai and the others were raped and beaten by Akio only to then be sterilized by you, Lady Iku, under the Lady Mizukis order?"

"Yes." Iku replied curtly. "It is true." Searching them both they didn't flinch or show any sign of emotion but Rin knew it was the masks they wore and had learned to fix into place.

"I don't understand why Akio was allowed to do as he did for so long. I saw you, Captain, take him down with Kiyosho and Tadao, swiftly and efficiently. Why wasn't it done sooner?" Rin questioned needing an answer.

"Being in a position of power is akin to a game of strategy. If the wrong move is made it can have consequences and affect others in ways you cannot even imagine." Riku explained. "We contained him the best we could within the east minimizing the damage he would have done otherwise."

"Minimize?" Rin whispered out feeling her tears fall. "At Kinos expense. At Lady Mizukis."

Closing her eyes Iku took a deep breath.

"We escaped once. Shortly after Izumi was born. We went back to the south under the guise of staying with her younger sister and her mate. He was a lesser lord, very young but…he was a good male." Iku struggled to stay composed as she spoke.

"They had pups. Two young males, Izus cousins, and do you know what Akio did?" Shaking her head slowly Rin wiped at her face.

"He brought down the full force of the east on them in the middle of the night. He slaughtered them and forced Mizuki to watch. Their pups were there, crying and hiding under their mothers body."

"Did he kill them too?" Rin asked her voice sticking in her throat.

"No." Riku said. "Our son, Haru took them and never told us what became of them for their own protection."

"We returned after that and lived with the consequences. After the brutality that fell on the house of the southern star no one opposed him and we became very much isolated." Iku said staring at Rin with a flurry of emotions conveyed in her eyes.

"To contain him." Rin whispered out.

"Yes." Iku confirmed.

"Please understand, that I did not come here to accuse anyone of anything I just…I had to…" Finding herself at a loss for words she shook her head.

"There is no need to apologize my lady. It wasn't right what we did but at the time it was all we knew what to do." Riku said.

"What were their names? The lord and lady of the southern house?" Rin asked.

"Lord Yami and Lady Ai." Iku said softly.

"And their pups? Were they named?"

"Yes. The eldest was Nit and the younger was Jiren." Iku sighed out.

"Nit and Jiren?" Rin questioned furrowing her brow. "That kind of sounds like, Nen and Jiro….the two pups were littermates, I'm assuming?"

"Yes." Iku stated at her her eyes widening.

"And they watched their parents be killed to be taken by a soldier and taught how to survive, hiding their identities." Rin said slowly. "It cannot be a coincidence."

"No." Riku said softly. Rin looked between them both as realization dawned on her.

"You both know."

"It will do no one any good to bring this up." Iku responded. "All it will do is drudge up trouble."

"They should know. I am bringing this to Lord Sesshomaru, Izumi, and Kohaku. This needs to be discussed. They have a right to know who they are." Rin said. "And why it happened to them."

Standing Rin took a breath wiping at her face again. "Thank you, both of you. Regarding Kino that matter will not be discussed unless she wishes to."

"Yes my lady." Iku bowed her head respectfully as did Riku. Watching as she saw herself out Iku held Mizuchi closer to her as Riku wrapped his arm around her and she cried.