Some days passed with Emi taking on more of Sanas duties caring for the children in the main house and bringing along her own. The hatchlings were speaking and while the girls still talked in their own language to one another with chirps and other noises they were getting quite good at communicating with others.
Rin took it upon herself to begin teaching them, along with Hotaru and Kozumi, colors, shapes and counting. Tadashi was not much interested in it other than stacking wooden blocks and knocking them over but Kozu listened intently along with the girls seemingly intrigued and wanting to learn more.
Taking the opportunity Izumi decided to begin instructing the girls on proper etiquette to learn how to be proper ladies of standing. In that regard Hotaru was not very much interested but Ko and Saki enjoyed having their hair done and playing with hand fans, copying Izumi on how to display them and the proper techniques for holding them.
The snow had piled up outside as Emi made tea for all of them to warm their bones when a light rap came to the front door panel. Moving to open it Riku stood, as he was standing guard at the front, blocked the front steps.
"Yes captain?" Emi greeted wondering what he had notified them of.
"Lady Izumi has received a messenger from the East." He informed. Rin looked to Izumi who thinned her lips some before standing.
"Thank you." She replied smoothing down her kimono and robe. Putting her sandals on before exiting she passed a glance as well to Emi who seemed just as curious.
Riku closed the door behind her as she stood on the deck above the steps.
"Lady Izumi, captain Tadao has sent correspondence and this one has been informed to await your response to return to him." The guard stated. Nodding her head Riku went down the steps taking the sealed envelope from him.
Handing it to Izumi she took the letter out reading it silently to herself. Looking up at Riku she relayed that the news was not good.
"Lady Emi." Izumi called out softly. Opening the door Emi came out bundled up in her cloak to keep out the chill as if she had expected to be summoned. "Please escort this one to the back to the proper accommodations."
"Yes, my lady." Emi said dutifully bowing her head slightly. "Please, follow me." Leading him around the main house Izumi looked over the letter again.
"What has Tadao said?" Riku questioned.
"Zero, the beast princess of the east. There are rumors that she is planning to move against us. According to intelligence reports she is amassing other houses support from the far east along with what she already has." Izumi stated.
"And what of Kirinmaru?" Riku asked.
"He has gone into hibernation prematurely due to a great battle that he endured, leaving Zero in charge of his affairs." Izumi shook her head. "I need to consult with my mate, Rin, and Sesshomaru on this matter."
"If it does come to that we are ready, all of us, to protect and serve Lady Izumi." Riku responded his voice calm, soothing her apprehension.
"I know you are Riku. I only wish it didn't have to happen at all. None of us bother anyone here, our pack is happy and healthy…" Sighing she closed her eyes setting her jaw tightly.
"And we will remain to be so." He assured. Reopening her eyes she locked eyes with him seeing his honesty and sincerity towards her.
"Yes." She said softly. "Please call Kohaku and Sesshomaru back to the main house as well as Emi and Iku to assist in taking the little ones. We need to deliberate on this matter sooner than later."
"Yes, my lady." Walking back inside Izumi handed the letter to Rin who held her breath as she read.
"Oh." She sighed out finally. "I see." Looking to all of the children she appeared deflated.
"Riku is recalling our mates home to talk about this. The messenger is in the back awaiting our reply." Izumi informed.
"Right." Rin nodded her head slowly once. Kneeling beside her Izumi took her hands in hers.
"They may just be rumors but we need to begin thinking about and putting our plans in action to prepare ourselves for an invasion." She said.
"I know." Rin agreed. "I have known that this was a possibility since we were in the east but this is what we were trying to avoid from the start. Before though it was un named people and unknown children, now it's our family. They want to attack our family."
"Yes." Izumi nodded her head. Emi and Iku came in gathering up the pups and hatchlings, most of them born from human and demon relations, to take them out.
They remained silent knowing that they would be informed later on. Kohaku and Sesshomaru returned and the four sat at their places at the table they shared while the letter was first given to Sesshomaru before he passed it to Kohaku.
"This is concerning." Kohaku said once he was finished reading.
"Beyond concerning." Izumi stated. "The question is; what do we do?"
"We can request assistance from the east and the west…" Rin began.
"Not the west." Sesshomaru interrupted.
"Lord Sesshomaru; we all have our own reservations when it comes to Lady Nishi however we could use the support." Rin appealed.
"The beasts are nothing, the other houses are weak compared to my power alone. There is no reason to concern the celestial house in any of this." Sesshomaru affirmed.
Closing her eyes Rin let out a small frustrated sigh prompting Sesshomaru to glance at her. He hated when she was displeased, even more so when he was the cause of it, but he would not go to his mother for help again. Her way of helping seemed to do far more harm than good.
"And of the east?" Izumi queried.
"More bodies would be useful." Kohaku replied staring at Sesshomaru reading his body language as he had taught himself to do over the years of knowing the demon lord. "Wouldn't you agree, Lord Sesshomaru?"
"Fine." He acquiesced hoping it would ease some of Rins concerns.
"Request guards and soldiers that captain Tadao trusts implicitly and ones that captain Riku knows; people who are loyal to you." Kohaku said turning to Izumi.
"Alright." Izumi nodded her head. "Our own men are well versed and on the ready to defend as well as the females. The plan is to gather here with the children if we are able to. With the trap door installed in our chambers we can escape if need be. Kino will stand guard here in the main house in case the front is breached."
"We will take the battle to them." Sesshomaru said quickly.
"That is not wise, considering that if this is not true it could cause a very serious problem." Izumi replied. " Besides, we need everyone here to defend the compound."
"Then I will go alone." Sesdhomaru retorted confidently. "As I stated, I am more than capable of handling this matter."
"Lord Sesshomaru, none of us are questioning that fact." Kohaku said. "However, you are the strongest out of all of us. We need you here."
Letting out his own frustrated exhalation Kohaku knew he was going into fight mode, he felt it himself. He had seen Sesshomaru go into a fight for the sake of doing so and while he did always win sometimes the reasoning was questionable.
"We need to let the other clans and packs know about this, to make certain they still support us and will rally with us." Rin said. "Sending out correspondence could be dangerous though, if it fell into the wrong hands. Lord Sesshomaru, that is what you should do."
"No." He replied flatly.
"Why not?" Rin turned to him somewhat in shock. "You will leave to fight but you won't to gain support?"
"This Sesshomaru will not grovel or beg." He explained.
"It is not!" Rin nearly shouted her eyes going wide. "There were many in the east from all over the land and others who pledged their loyalty to Hisashi and their fidelity to our house. That was not for nothing. We may need them as one day they may need us, and we will be there."
Never hearing Rin so forceful Izumi resisted the urge to lean forward and smirk but knew it was not the time or place. "I have never asked you for anything. I am telling you now, as the lady of the west, you will do this for our pack."
"It does make sense. The other lords and ladies will listen to you." Kohaku offered. Scoffing Sesshomaru stood.
"To be clear, I never wanted any of this." He nearly hissed out through his fangs. "To be a lord, to have a pack, others…depending on me. I was better off on my own."
"Is that how you feel? Truthfully?" Kohaku narrowed his eyes as he spoke his voice lowering. "Because from what you have told me in the past your existence was empty and meaningless compared to after you began to form relationships."
"With Rin." Sesshomaru snapped.
"Right, and what about me? Hm? Am I meaningless to you?" Kohaku pressed. "Are you simply keeping your eye on me because you're still worried that I could snap and harm Rin?"
"You sound ridiculous." Sesshomaru quipped back with a growl.
"As do you, Lord Sesshomaru." Kohaku stared him down, unblinking and unmoving.
"Please, my love, do this for all of us." Rin whispered placing her hand against his.
"Very well." He managed out promoting Kohaku to break their eye contact. "Izumi, make a list of the others. I will take Jaken with me."
"Yes." Nodding her head as the tension dissipated somewhat she was reminded how scary Sesshomaru could be.