A/N: Hello dear readers. Happy new year, nearly a month later. Hope everyone is doing well as we get, almost, through the first month of this year. I just want to thank everyone in their continued support of this story as we get near two hundred chapters. I never would have continued this without your interest in it so thank you all so much.
I have a big, big even planned for this that I have had in my head for since last year. We just have to get there and we are getting closer to it now. It will take up quite a few chapters and it will be an emotional challenge for me to write but I believe we will all get through it. We still have quite a ways to go before we there though so, enjoy.
Sitting across from his aunt Nen took a moment to steady his thoughts. Now that he had found the person he had decided to seek out he felt his mind blank as he stared at her smoking her pipe and sitting cross legged on the ground. Aware that her pups were more than likely listening he didn't want to come off as being course or upset, he did want to make a good first impression on them after all.
Now that Yoake had sent off Haru he felt more at ease without the elder male making him feel uncomfortable given their past together. Mulling it over for a few moments he realized he was staring at her, taking in her appearance. Her hair was dark as onyx which made her eyes even more striking set into average but not unpleasing features. As many demons who took on human form her ears were pointed but still small with small golden clips attached to chains where they were pierced that hung down. On the end of the chains were small shiny gems that resembled stars.
"My brother Yami was always inward. He thought too much and had trouble organizing his thoughts in order to speak." Yoake said suddenly bringing him out of his reverie. "He would have the same blank look on his face." Shaking her head she placed her pipe down on a rock beside her to rest it. "The house of the northern star was not as grand as the celestial palace is or the eastern sun but we were proud. My grandsire was the lord for many generations before my own father, a general in his army, became a strong demon in battle and he was offered the chance to breed with the only daughter of his house. That breeding produced Yami."
"My father was never a lord, he stayed a strong warrior and solider. My mother never mated with him but she did choose to breed with him again and had me. Yami was everything to our house as our grandsire never had any sons. He became lord once our grandsire became starlight. He was young and our mother counseled him with our father standing by his side to protect him." Yoake explained.
Waiting a few moments for Nen to process the information she continued.
"The moon house here in the south called upon us for a breeding to their second daughter, Lady Ai. She came to us and never left. She took Yami as her mate and soon after she whelped two sons, Nit and Jiren." Glancing away Yoake shook her head slightly. "They were so in love with one another and with you and your brother. I loved seeing them together and dreamed about one day finding someone. They inspired me to find love."
"Lady Ai had not seen her sister the Lady Mizuki for some centuries and it was well known she had trouble breeding and whelping. When she had her pup, your cousin Izumi, there was no debate that she would come back to the south for a presentation in her parents house. I was much younger than Yami so I didn't quite understand what was going on, I was left out of many things but I remember her sadness and Iku…she was ferocious in protecting her and Izumi, frightening actually. I suppose that was what alerted your mother and father that something was wrong. When they finally admitted to how much of a horrible bastard that dog Akio was Yami reclaimed the three of them under his protection and dismissed the eastern soldiers that had accompanied them."
"My mother sent me away. I was not there when our house was attacked. It was surreal, I had a hard time believing it. My father and the lord of the moon house along with several other southern houses planned an attack to get all of you back. When word came that you had perished on the journey to the east it killed my mother." Yoake leveled her gaze back at Nen. "She died of a broken heart believing that my brother and his sons were gone. Nen, I need you to tell me what you remember. What did Haruki have to do with this?"
"Jiro, my brother, and I grew up in a slave traders encampment. He was there, always there, but he was not kind to us. He was the one who beat us and forced us to take these forms. We would go through long stretches with nothing to eat and when we found something we would have to hide it or eat it quickly or else he would take it away from us." Sighing Nen shook his head. "When we were old enough he trained us to be soldiers, guards, before selling us to the celestial palace."
"I see." Yoake said sofly. "How long were you in the wests employment for?"
"I am honestly not certain, a few centuries that I know of." Nen replied. "We have no idea how old we are, just a rough estimate."
"One thousand years old. It was a thousand years ago that your mother had you." She said.
"Oh. I had thought we were younger than that." Nen thought out. Shaking her head Yoake picked her pipe back up to smoke.
"You are now at the compound that Sesshomaru has built with Izumi. I suppose that means you were gifted to it then?"
"No. Jiro and I were among some other guards who accompanied Lady Nishi to see the young master Hisashi shortly after he was whelped. All of us, including the ladies in waiting, were given the option to stay on for Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Rin. My brother and I stayed along with Emi, she is a mourning dove that served in the palace. We were acquainted with her there and are now friends."
"I am intrigued…you were given a choice?" Yoake stared at him intently as if she had heard wrong.
"Yes. While Lady Nishi didn't seem to care who stayed or went looking back on it I can't help but wonder if she knew who were really were." Nen replied.
"Nishi knows everything. It is her job to see into the past, the present, and the future as well as the path to the underworld. My mother appealed to her and was told that neither of you had survived. That was when my mother gave up hope." Yoake spat out. Shaking her head she seemed to reel in her anger. "The place that you found yourselves in, tell me about it."
"Our compound in the west is unlike any other. Lord Sesshomaru resides over it, but it is run by Rin, his human mate. She is…it's as if Rin is a heavenly being walking on earth. She's beautiful, inside and out. Understanding, empathetic and compassionate. She loves everyone and helps anyone that may need it with no judgment and only wanting everyone to be happy and to be true to themselves."
"It sounds as if Sesshomaru has acquired quite the naïve little pet." Yoake mused.
"No. Her intelligence is beyond compare and so very impressive considering she is not more than two centuries old. We are equals at the compound, no one is treated any better or differently than the other." Nen explained further.
"Then if it is so perfect there, why are you here?" Yoake chewed on the stem of her pipe with her eyes taking on a coldness that he knew he could match but chose not to.
"I feel wrong, on the inside. The person I am, I don't like it. I need to know where I came from and who I was meant to be." Nen said finally being able to express himself to her.
"Do you feel as if you should have been born a female, Nen?" Yoake asked catching him somewhat off guard. Thinking on, as he was not sure what to say, he watched the small smirk that crossed her lips. "When Lady Ai was pregnant it was determined she would have littermates, one male and one female. It was quite a shock when she had two sons, the first born having feminine energy. As such you would be treated as a daughter, not as a son, with Jiren one day taking over as lord and an acceptable male being found for you."
"Oh." Nen whispered out. "Okay."
"It is not an uncommon occurrence among some species of demons. Sometimes our bodies do not reflect our true identity." Yoake said. "With dog demons we embrace it, others are not so kind."
"My mates name is Jin. He is a human and humans are not understanding of such things. Jin was referred to as being sick, as 'other', and outcasted." Nen said.
"Be thankful you were born a dog and able to be you."
"I haven't though, that is my dilemma. I had to be the strong one, for my brother. I had to take on that role. He never would survived if I hadn't." Feeling overcome with emotion suddenly, he looked away.
"Do not fight it. Just let it come." Yoake coaxed placing her pipe down once again and moving closer to him. Taking deep breaths Nen closed his eyes tightly feeling the tears begin to form. "You can be whatever you need to be with me. You are safe Nen, you were mourned and missed, and so very loved." Placing her hand to his shoulder he turned to her placing his forehead to hers sniffling. "It is alright pup. I am here. You're home."