Their daughter laid between them on the shared futon sleeping soundly. Both Jin and Nen watched as she had her mouth slightly agape as she took small breaths of air in the hearths glow.

Nens eyes roved to Jin who was laying on his side with dark circles forming under his eyes as he struggled to stay awake.

"You can go to sleep Jin. I'm not going anywhere if that is what you are worried about." Nen commented.

"I'm not." Jin replied tiredly. "You're hurt and I don't know how to fix it. It's bothering me."

Nen sat up gathering Nozumi to him resting his nose to her head inhaling her scent. He had tried so hard to rid himself of it when they had first found her but now so many months later he couldn't get enough of her.

Grabbing the basket she was nearly outgrowing he placed her in it beside the futon and tucked her in securely before turning back to his mate.

Cuddling against him Nen wrapped his arm around Jins waist pulling him closer to him. Settling his head against Nens chest Jin let out a soft sigh.

Wrapping his arm across his husband Jin glanced up at him to see him looking at him. Kissing him gently on the lips made his heart flutter at the warmth Nen exuded and the emotions he conveyed in the contact.

Settling back against him Jins mind began to drift to if Nen did decide to leave, since he had mentioned it. Was he thinking it?

"You would tell me, right? If you did decide you wanted to go?" Jin asked biting on his lower lip gently.

"If I did, yes. Go to sleep Jin." He responded.

"Okay." Jin yawned out closing his eyes. Nen watched as he succumbed to sleep and hoped that he would be able to find the information he needed to hear so he wouldn't have to leave.

Jiro had made it clear he was staying which Nen more than understood but he would go if he had to. Nen felt torn; on one side he wanted to find out who he once was and where he was from. On the other he didn't want to leave his mate and pup.

If they didn't have Nozumi he would take Jin with him but it would be far to dangerous for her to travel. Hopefully he could find the answers he was looking for within the compound.

The next morning Jin left for patrol leaving Nen to see to their daughters needs; bathing, changing, dressing, feeding.

Sitting her up to relieve the gas in her stomach he straightened out her little bit of hair with his claws combing through.

Holding her up to him she smiled and coo'd kicking her legs excitedly. He loved it, everyday she woke up with a smile and was happy to see them.

It was unlike any feeling he had ever experienced, her love for them was tremendous as was theirs for her.

"We have to go for a walk today little girl." Nen told her softly. Lying her back down he went through her assortment of warmer wraps deciding on the rabbit skin that he had made into a small sack for her.

Placing her inside and tying the straps he had sewn in securely he smirked widely. Staring at him widely as if in question he bent down to nuzzle her cheek with his nose before sitting back up to grasp the sling they put her in.

He preferred to wear it across his front so that way he could keep an eye on her instead of over his shoulder and felt if there were a threat he could better protect her.

Pulling on a pair of brown hakamas, that were Jin's and knew he'd give him hell if he saw him wearing his clothes, along with a white kimono top, different from the one he wore on patrol and without any insignia.

The sling came next tied into place and pushed on several times to make sure it was secure. Placing Nozumi into it he grasped his naginata from the wall making sure the edges of the wrap she was in covered her head and face well enough.

The air felt damp and considerably more chilled than just the day before. A mist had crept in and had yet to burn off with the suns light leaving the grounds blanketed in white.

Closing the door to his hut he glanced to Sana and Jiros detecting both of them still inside asleep. Seeing Emi further down she waved but didn't smile as she normally did. She looked concerned.

Nodding his head in acknowledgment he wondered if she knew but decided not to press the matter as he doubted she had any knowledge other than what she had heard.

Looking around he closed his eyes deciding what to do. He could go directly to the hut that Riku and Iku shared but he only sensed Iku with their pup, Riku was out, and he wasn't about to go accost a female no matter how badly he wanted answers.

Walking in the direction he knew Riku to frequent he was glad he had worn his boots over sandals. The ground was wet and squelched underfoot as he used the pole to walk testing the ground as he went.

Taking a deep inhale of air he soon found the captain and made his way over to him meeting him on face to face.

"Nen." Riku greeted.

"Captain." Nen nodded respectfully. "Izumi summoned Jiro and our mates giving us some possible insight to our past that Rin had been informed of. Neither said where the information came from but there are only two whom I can think of that would know."

"If you are asking if it were Iku and I, yes. Inadvertently Iku revealed information to Rin that she pieced together, clever girl that she is." Riku said.

"How do you know that we are the two pups from the south?" Nen asked. "That it is not just a coincidence?"

"Last year when we were all laid up thanks to Jin we saw you in your natural form. Your markings are identical to what Lord Yamis were." Riku replied. "There is no mistaking whose son you are."

"Yami." Nen repeated.

"Yes. He was the lord over the southern star house. The Lady Ai was his mate. She was Lady Mizukis younger sister." Riku said. "You said you can remember them somewhat. What do you remember?"

"Not much. They were always in their natural forms from what I can recall. I remember being next to Jiro with our mother and father tending to us but it may just be the same memory that I have replayed over." Nen thought out.

"You were both less than a century old when your parents were taken from you, too young to be separated from your mother." Shaking his head Riku adjusted his stance. "It was a terrible tragedy that befell the southern house leading to its collapse."

"Akio." Nen said.

"Yes. He allowed Lady Mizuki to visit with Izumi. Naturally Iku went as well, Akio let her go along with some of the guards from the east to present Izumi to her pack in the south. I am not sure of the details but after some time Lord Yami sent a decree that they would be staying in the south. Akio left with his more brutish soldiers not informing any of us who would have prevented him from causing harm."

"Akio and the males he took attacked the southern house, killing nearly everyone, the lord and lady included."

"Why were the two pups spared?" Nen questioned.

"Originally Akio wanted to take the two of you to the east to raise as his own, in his own image as he did not have any sons. By the time Tadao and I arrived with my son Haruki we were instructed to return you both to the east. Mizuki wanted to claim you both as hers, since you were her sisters pups, but we dissuaded her fearing what Akio would turn you both in to."

"Haru took the two of you and we told Akio that neither of you had survived the journey back." Riku finished.

"Your son…did that to us? You decided that it would be best for us to be starved, beaten, and sold?" Nen grit his teeth feeling the growl threaten to rise in his throat.

"Akio would have turned you both in to monsters. The damage it would have caused would have been catastrophic if you were raised in the east." Riku retorted.

"Alongside our cousin, with a mother figure…as lords." Nen snapped back.

"My decision was not easy!" Riku erupted his voice stern and powerful. "You have no idea what we had to do to protect so many that we never have even laid eyes on!"

"Then why did you let him go on as you did? Why allow him to continue?" Nen shook his head clenching his hands into fists.

"It was a different time then. Constant power struggles meant if Akio were expelled someone else worse may have taken his place." Riku took a breath before continuing.

"There is nothing I can say or do to change your past and how we affected it but know that we never meant you any harm and knew your parents would have wanted you sent off to live in obscurity as opposed to being raised in the east."

Nens angry growl became louder as he felt his energy begin to slip releasing more. The sudden shift caused his daughter to begin to whine and then cry as she felt it.

Tethering himself he quickly glanced down to her and began to soothe her.

"Regardless of the past this is a good place we have all found ourselves at and I hope we can continue to work together to ensure it." Riku said watching him.

Glancing at him from the side of his eye Nen grit his teeth hard.

"This weather is not good for her. I am heading back." He said finally walking past Riku. As he came to his side he was stopped by the elder.

"Whatever anger you have or questions concerning this…direct them at me. My mate has suffered enough in her lifetime and I will not tolerate her being interrogated or abused." Riku warned.

Silently Nen moved past him to head back towards the compound.