A/N: Hello dear readers. Here we are, getting in to the fight with Zero and her allies. Thank you everyone who has supported, favorited, and reviewed.
I can't believe I have been writing this story for almost two years and we have come so far. I am determined to keep going with this until I feel it is done, there's still a very long way to go.
Enjoy!
With the events happening Rin fell ill. Her stress and anxiety made her lose her appetite, her color drained, and she developed a fatigue she couldn't seem to shake.
The house was empty; void of children who ran, tussled around with one another, and laughed making being inside nearly unbearable for Rin, Kohaku, and Izumi.
For hours every day Rin would sit or stand on the deck staring at the sky waiting for Sesshomaru to return as everyone prepared for the arrival of Zeros troops and allies.
'Lord Sesshomaru, please hurry back…please…' She projected her pleas out into the greater universe hoping they reached him.
Within a few short days Tadao arrived from the east with his best soldiers of fifty men. Rin stood alongside Izumi to receive them and felt a small bit of relief unknot the pain in her stomach.
"We have also brought four of our best healers the east has to offer, my ladies. They have worked alongside or under Lady Iku and will follow her instruction well." Tadao said.
"Thank you Captain. My hope is we can avoid such a fight or at least one with little to no casualties that would require their assistance." Izumi replied.
"More females…to be put in danger." Rin whispered shaking her head slightly.
"Everyone has come on their own volition, Lady Rin." Tadao explained. "The males and females are all well aware of the risks and have chosen to take it on to protect Lady Izumi and you as well."
"Thank you captain. This Rin does greatly appreciate all of you coming to our aid. Please forgive me as I have not been myself lately." Rin apologized closing her eyes to fight back tears. "Please excuse me."
Going inside she shut the sliding door and went to her room. Closing that door as well she climbed onto her futon taking the blankets and pillows to make a heap on Sesshomarus side.
Cuddling against it she cried unable to bring herself out of the depression she had fallen in to. "Please hurry back Lord Sesshomaru, please make this all go away…make it all better again." Whining into the linens she felt herself begin to drift off into a fitful sleep.
Rin felt her feet were firmly planted on the ground yet she hovered above it. She was aware of her surroundings but also of everything else, as if she were reading a story.
She knew all that was going on around her at once and it made her shout out only to find her voice muted. When she attempted to run her feet stuck to the ground that she struggled to free herself from.
She stood in front of the compound with every detail of the area sharper, more defined, and brighter than it was in real life. Rin knew she was dreaming but understood the significance of it.
The screams and cries of her friends, her family, could be heard. She could see Iku, Emi and Hikari in a cave hiding with their little ones. Their fear was palpable, it froze Rins blood and laid heavy in her chest. It was the feeling of impending death, one she had experienced as a young child at the great maws of wolves.
They were all going to die.
Screaming and tearing at the ground Rin felt their deaths in the depths of her soul, shattering her. As she continued to struggle she felt hands grasp her gently by the shoulders. Looking up she saw a woman standing beside her, helping her straighten out.
Taking her in Rin noted her long dark hair and eyes similar to Iku in color. Her kimono was a silver color with a black cloak around her shoulders.
"Lady Mizuki." Rin whispered out.
"Rin, it is not too late. You can save them, all of them. Please, save them." Mizuki pleaded.
"I can't…I can't without Lord Sesshomaru…" Rin wept falling against her, balling her hands into the womans kimono.
"Warn them, Zero is here."
Sitting bolt upright Rin was covered in sweat, soaked through and through. Her yukata clung to her body as she gasped.
"Rin, lie down." Iku said from beside her. "You have a great fever that has taken hold of you. You must rest."
Her heart pounded as she saw Izumi concerned sitting on the step beside Iku.
"Your mother, I saw…I saw Lady Mizuki. I saw…no, I felt…oh Iku." Rin cried trying to convey her message. Her mind was clouded and hazy from the fever making it difficult to concentrate.
"You saw my mother?" Izumi asked her jaw going slightly slack.
"Rin, what did Mizuki tell you?" Iku questioned squaring her gaze at her.
"Zero is here." Rin coughed out.
"I-Iku." Izumi stammered out, fear slamming into her heart.
"Stay here." Iku ordered running from the room and shutting the door. Making her way to the front she went outside onto the deck.
"Lady Iku." Riku greeted his mate formally as there were many others around them. Kohaku and Riku had positioned the men around main ways that the compound could be breached as well as more remote locations that they may be attacked from.
Kiyoshi, Jin, Jiro, Kino, and Mitsuo were ordered to stay in the compound and protect their pack. Riku felt the wild turmoil his mate was in and feared Rin had taken a bad turn.
"Riku, Mizuki appeared to Rin in a vision. She said Zero is here." Iku informed.
"We haven't heard anything, no scent or sound of anyone." Riku attempted to soothe.
"I am gathering the females to me in the main house. Kino will protect us inside. Tighten the perimeter." Iku commanded him as she stepped down.
"Iku, there is no one here." Riku grasped her wrist to stop her. Looking down at where he grabbed her she brought her attention up to his.
"Mizuki was correct about Chiase. She is correct now." Iku retorted snatching her wrist away from him and walking briskly to the back.
"You are right." Riku sighed out. Kino helped Emi to bring her children inside and to Rins room. Izumi had helped her get dressed in layers, stockings and foot wear in case they had to leave in a hurry.
When the idea of a possible threat had been possible Rin and Izumi had a trap door constructed in both of their rooms as well as the sitting room under the table. It had seemed like a reasonable precaution but realistically neither had entertained the fact that they may actually need it.
Now with Sana and Hikari beside them both, Emi and Iku with their children and Kino making sure they were all settled Mira came in and closed the door.
"Any word?" Izumi asked her.
"None yet however captain Riku instructed me to remain in here, by your sides." She replied. "Kino, please stand guard outside of the chambers. If anything you will be the last defense to protect Lady Rin and Lady Izumi."
"Yes." Kino nodded her head, her face mirroring how seriously she took this responsibility.
"Kino." Izumi called to her softly. Looking to Izumi Kino gave a small reassuring smirk.
"Don't worry little sister, I will protect all of you." She assured before leaving the room and sliding the doors shut. Iku administered the sleeping aid to the children ensuring they would remain asleep.
Sana swallowed hard having wrapped her arms around Rins shoulders as she trembled against her, lying her head against Sanas chest. Hikari held her hands together with her eyes closed as if in prayer. Emi held Yoshi close to her while Tadashi, Saki, and Ko laid by her blissfully unaware of the danger around them.
Iku had her eyes trained on the door with her hand cradling Mizuchi in the sling Hikari had gifted her in the east. Izumi held her breath as the silence and tension around them grew.
She wanted Rin to be wrong, that she had had a fever dream brought on by the panic and fear of their situation but understood the power of seeing her mother appear in a vision, she had experienced one herself and it had been true.
She didn't doubt this one was as well.
"I just want to have my baby." Sana said suddenly breaking the quiet. "That's all I want."
"You will my friend." Izumi soothed. "This will pass and everything and everyone will be fine." Nodding she continued to soothe Rin.
"I felt it." Rin stated bringing her hand to Sanas stomach. "He's strong."
"He?" Sana questioned.
"Yes, I feel him. Your son." Rubbing at her where the little one moved Rin sat up straighter. "I'm sorry for not being present for all of you in the last couple of weeks. I need to be here, for all of you."
"We are here for one another." Hikari answered opening her eyes. Grasping Rin's hands she squeezed softly. "No matter what may come."
"Yes." Rin nodded drawing her lips into a thin line. Suddenly hearing a great commotion some ways off they all turned towards the sound.
"What is that?" Emi asked worriedly.
"It's begun." Iku replied standing. "We have to be on the ready to fight or run but neither prematurely." Taking out her knife she held the hilt tightly while securing her other arm around her son.
Emi placed Yoshi down next to his siblings and did the same as Iku, standing and arming herself. Mira stood by the door with her own knife waiting to give a signal to them if Kino instructed or she detected anything.
The sound of fighting erupted closer with growls and shouts, undeterminable as to what side they were coming from.
"I hate knowing our mates are out there." Izumi said. "I hate hiding like this."
"It is your responsibility to survive." Iku stated. "With both of you safe it ensures, in some way, if the compound falls then the pack will survive."
"I understand." Izumi nodded with a small sigh. A loud crashing sound hit the front of the house causing all of them to jump and stare at the door. "Kino!"
"Stay there!" Kino barked back.
"What's happening?!" Izumi yelled.
"I'm not certain exactly but they are close to the deck."
"It sounded like the house was hit." Rin chimed in.
"It was. They may have catapults and are trying to overtake the defenses." Kino said. "Please, be quiet my ladies."
More pounding could be heard as well as crashing sounds. Hearing Kino let out a low growl made the hair on Rins neck stand on end and she held her breath.
The smell of smoke wafted suddenly through the room. Kino ripped the door off of its hinges and rushed into the room. "The house is on fire!"
Mira helped her open the trap door that would lead them under the house and to the back, hopefully to safety. Iku went first followed by Mira helping Hikari down. Bundling Emis children to carry two Sana took Saki while Mira held Tadashi.
Rin lowered herself down followed by Izumi. Kino helped Sana and dropped to the space below.
"Take them!" Emi requested frantically handing Kino Ko and Yoshi.
"What are you doing?!" Kino demanded.
"Distracting anyone coming in!" Emi replied. "Please Kino, lead them to safety."
"Emi!" Rin yelled trying to turn herself around in the small space unable to with so many bodies.
With a bang Emi closed the door behind them locking it as the smoke began to overtake the room.