Izumi sent the messenger with their reply informing Tadao of their plans as well as the request for more man power in the event it would be needed. Kohaku informed the other men while Rin and Izumi told the women what they had found.

Once they had left Hikaris hut she sat back against the wall resting her hands against her stomach. Rubbing at it gently she felt her pup respond to her distress. Calming herself down to settle her unborn child she heard the door open.

As Kiyoshi entered she swallowed hard knowing he must know as well. Going over to her he sat beside her.

"We need to talk." Kiyoshi began.

"I already know." She replied glancing at him as he stared ahead.

"This is bad timing, if the rumors are true." He said in thought.

"Is it ever a good time for such things?" She countered. Looking at her his face broke into a small smirk.

"No, I suppose not."

"Lady Izumi and Rin told me that Lord Sesshomaru is traveling to ensure the support from the other houses." Hikari said.

"Yes."

"You should go with him. To aid him."

"What?" Furrowing his brow he shook his head. "No."

"Kiyoshi, he is our lord and could use support from someone that many of these lords know." Hikari insisted.

"Hikari, I am not leaving you." He retorted. "Not now, not again."

"It is different this time." Keeping her voice even and calm only seemed to put him in distress.

"How is being sent away different as you are nearing the time to whelp? No, I will not go anywhere."

"This time would not be on some terrible errand of Akios but to protect our pack."

"I don't care." Sitting back he huffed slightly to himself.

"Is that it then? You are going to sit and be unruly and ignore my instruction."

"I have a right to be with my mate. I have a right to hold our daughter when she is born and to make certain you are both well." Kiyoshi nearly growled out. "He doesn't want anyone to go with him anyways."

"Go with him. You know it is right."

"Damn it Hikari." Standing he began to pace. "Fine I will accompany Sesshomaru part way and then I am returning to you, where I should be."

"Alright."

"Right." Angrily he left the hut knowing his mate was correct but hated having to put duty before his own. He had spent more time away from his mate and eldest daughter than he had with them.

When he had returned from a horrific battle with another territory his heart had sank when he found out that not only had Hikari birthed their pup but she had done it alone, afraid to ask for help of any kind.

Walking towards his parents he knocked on the door to have Haruki open it.

"Some news, huh brother?" He commented opening the door wider for him to enter.

"Yes." Kiyoshi agreed. "Where is mother?"

"With Sana."

"I need to speak with her."

"I gathered." Haru answered in an obvious tone.

"I need to make sure she will be here for Hikari." Kiyoshi said. "The last thing I need is to have her turn on her when I leave."

"Leave? Where?" Haru questioned.

"With Lord Sesshomaru."

"Your idea?"

"No. Hikari is insisting and she makes sense in her reasons."

"Ah. You know Kiyo, I could go in your place."

"What do you want Haru?"

"Do I have to want something to offer?"

"In the past you were always looking for some advantage to better your situation."

"The distant past. I am not exactly welcome here and my mate would rip the head from my shoulders if I returned to her. You can stay on with your mate and someone will go to keep an eye on pup of the west." Haru said.

Taking in his brother Kiyoshi weighed his options wanting to agree to it but had some reservations. "Have I ever let you down?"

"Aside from disappearing for years with barely any correspondence or thought of us?" Kiyoshi quipped back.

"That was under fathers instruction. Now you know why." Haru defended.

"There had to have been a better way than the one you chose for those boys."

"Probably but at the time it was the best I could come up with. I took no satisfaction or pleasure from ensuring their survival, lying to them and then selling them off as if they meant nothing." Looking away from Kiyoshi he crossed his arms. "Those were dark years."

"Why didn't you return, afterwards?" Kiyoshi questioned.

"To the east? After all of that? No. I hated myself, mother and father…Akio; I never will set foot or paw in the east again."

"Instead you went south and mated with the surviving daughter of that house. I cannot even begin to comprehend what your thinking was other than to torture poor Yoake."

"You know nothing." Glaring at his elder brother from the corner of his eye he huffed.

"Then enlighten me Haru."

"No. I do not owe you or anyone an explanation. Now, go to your mate so I can prepare to leave to accompany Sesshomaru." Haru stated turning his back to him.

"Right." Kiyoshi replied deciding to wait outside for his mother to return.