Kain was not at the Castle for his uncle's birth.  He had requested months earlier to be sent to Suzaku and was there now helping Vara with her pregnancy. He asked the moment he heard that his grandparents were going to come to the Castle for their baby's birth.  Rin was sure that his request was made in order to avoid the whole situation, but it was for the best. Kaiba and Kain were the best healer mages in Otherworld and one of them needed to be with Vara.

When the contractions were a minute apart, Miroku lifted his mate into the tub and Sango began to push in earnest. The birth was easy and swift and in mere minutes, their first son was born and given over to Kaiba and Rin.

Miroku carried his blanket wrapped Sango to her clean, warm bed and sat next to her while the tub was removed and the baby was cleaned and examined. After a few minutes, Rin brought the baby to them, wrapped in a clean pale blue blanket.

Miroku uncovered their son and Sango gave a little gasp. He had bright red hair!

Miroku laughed and told her that his mother had auburn hair and that was, no doubt, where their son was getting his coloring.

Soon everyone was gathered around the happy family, admiring the baby and congratulating the new parents.

"We were thinking of Saku, but now I think we should call him Niiro for his red hair."

After a while everyone began to disperse, leaving Sango to feed her son and get some much needed rest. Guards were placed at the door as a precaution.

“Sango and Miroku's baby is here.  Everyone is doing fine." Hiya reported.  "Guess what."

"What?" Akina asked.

"The baby has red hair!  Can you believe it?  Miroku said his mother had red hair so I guess that explains it but what a surprise!  They've named him Niiro."

"That's so wonderful!  Miroku now has the son he always wanted and a reminder of his mother at the same time," Akina said.

Hiya watched Akina playing with her sister, blowing on her belly to make her laugh.

"Can I hold her?”  Hiya asked.

Akina turned and smiled at Hiya. They have gotten quite close during her stay at the Castle. Akina handed her sister to the Ice maiden.

“You’re so good with your sister. Have you ever had children of your own?”

“No. And I was the youngest of the family. Some of my brothers and sisters had babies, but I was in training and rarely got to see them. Lukana is my first 'hands on' experience.” Akina confessed.

Hiya has been wanting to quiz Akina like this for a long time. She was attracted to the mage woman from the moment she first laid eyes on her. In a castle dominated by men and mated women, Hiya didn’t have many romantic prospects. She tried not to be too obvious about her preferences but people were beginning to notice that she kept turning away offers from the available men.

Hiya realized early in her life that she was not attracted to men. The only men she had ever loved were related to her and that was a family type love. It was her attraction to Kamara that made her realize she was different, but while becoming friends with her, she found that Kamara was already in love with Tekku. Hiya never got the chance to tell Kamara that her interest was more than friendship. Instead, she played matchmaker and helped Kamara catch the boy. Of course that turned into a royal mess when the Demon Wolves showed up, but it all worked out in the end for Kamara. But not for Hiya, for she was left in a Castle filled with men and mated women.

It wasn’t until Isabo showed up that she had any new prospects. She knew Isabo was only attracted to males so she didn't even consider her.  It was the first time Hiya saw Akina that her heart skipped with hope. She was standing on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. She had heard some of the panic caused by Isabo’s disappearance so she just thought she’d check the courtyard. What she saw took her breath away. A beautiful woman dressed in blue ran into the courtyard followed by Sesshomaru’s son. Hiya’s heart was stolen at first sight. Her new goal was to win Akina’s heart. But that goal had not turned out to be easy.

Five months Akina has been here at the castle. Hiya managed to become close friends with her but she just couldn’t seem to get the message across that she wanted more.

“Well?”

“Huh?” Akina said, forgetting the question because she was looking at her sister.

“How come you’ve never found a mate?” Hiya repeated.

“Oh, I don’t know.  I haven’t really looked.  I lived so long with my brother, that I find myself always comparing any prospects to him.  I want a mate and children someday but I guess I’m either not ready yet, or I’m waiting for someone special.”

“What?” Akina said, looking away from the baby and into her friend’s eyes. She looked serious.

“I love you, Akina. I have since the first day I saw you.”

“Hiya, I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure I feel the same way...” Hiya’s kiss interrupted Akina’s talking. Hiya was holding the baby so she couldn’t force the kiss but Akina didn’t move away. It started out gentle but both girls felt passion flare and Akina spontaneously deepened the kiss.

The girls parted. Both of them said, “Wow!” and then giggled at each other.

“Maybe it is time to try something new,” Akina said.

“Tonight at my room?” Hiya said hopefully.

“I don’t know. I don't think now is the appropriate time.  Now that Sango and Miroku’s son is here, we need to keep watch for that kidnapper.”

“But your sister has been here for a month and nothing has happened!”

“But she doesn’t come from a Village where three other children were kidnapped. We’ll have to play it by ear.”

Hiya handed Lukana gently back to her sister. “I’ll leave it to you then,” this time Hiya sealed the unspoken promise with a proper kiss of passion. When they were both breathless, she walked away.

Akina watched the Ice Demon leave, still feeling the flush of that kiss. She wanted a family, something she knew she couldn’t have with Hiya, but she couldn’t deny these feelings. She discovered she wanted a relationship with Hiya too.

“But will she be able to share me when the time comes? And will my mate understand? I will have to be very clear with her before continuing. The last thing I want to do is to lose her friendship." she said to her little sister.

Lukana looked up at her sister uncomprehending.  Then she started to fuss. It was time for her feeding and nap. Akina rose and carried her to their rooms.

When he first arrived at the Palace, he found that, even though Tekken and Kyo would never fight in front of Vara, they would still argue, often loud enough to be overheard by her. One time it got so bad that they were physically attacking each other in the dining room. That's when Kain finally sent for the Princess. Kain watched as Aara stormed into the destroyed room.  The two feuding demons immediately forgot what they were fighting about and fell to the ground groveling in fear.  Kain found out that day just how strong their Princess had become. After that day all he had to do was give them a threatening look.  That look would make them back off and either drop the issue or go off on their own. Lately he only had to give the look on rare occasions. They were finally learning how to get along.

It was Vara who was now taking it out on them. She had heard how she was 'born' and was hoping for that solution for herself.  Unfortunately, that was not her fate. Labor hurt more than anything she had ever felt in her life and it was THEIR FAULT! Her language wasn't pretty and it wasn't helping that it was taking her a long time to dilate. All Tekken and Kyo could do was murmur words of encouragement and try to ignore her angry remarks.

By the time she was open enough to continue, she was almost too tired. Kain was just about ready to send for his father when Vara dug down into some final reserve of strength.  She pushed the head within Kain's reach. Suddenly it was very clear why she was having such a difficult time. The baby's umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck. He couldn't come out until the placenta finally started detaching. Kain slipped the cord off from his neck and the newborn prince slipped out right into his hands. He quickly cut the cord and stepped out of the birthing tank. He was giving the baby mouth to mouth in an effort to revive him. The tiny boy coughed once and then started crying, loudly!  Kain was startled for a moment because Demon babies rarely cry when their born.  Then when he heard both men sigh with relief, he was glad this baby was so loud. Vara expressed her relief by weeping as Tekken carried her to her bed.  The two men sat down on either side of her, lending her their comfort as they waited for Kain to do his examination.

Kain cleaned up the complaining infant, looking him over carefully for any lingering effects from his harrowing entrance. Kain found him to be healthy.  He wrapped the boy in a blanket and carried him to the waiting parents. He had placed the edge of the blanket over the baby's head so they couldn't see him,

"Is he alright?" Vara asked.

"He perfect and healthy. He's probably in better shape than you are right now." he said with a smile.

Kain handed the baby to Vara and stood back waiting for their reaction. He knew with all the redheads involved, everyone was expecting the baby to be a redhead too. Vara slipped the blanket off her son's head and looked at him for the first time. She gasped and then broke into a wide grin.  The baby immediately quieted as his bright blue eyes stared up at Vara. Snow white hair crowned his head like a halo.

"White hair?" Kyo gasped.  He looked at Tekken as if asking why.  Tekken shrugged.

"I'm sure it comes from Vara.  After all, her aunt, Arista, had white hair and her father is blond.  It is probably in her genes."  Kain quickly gave the first explanation that came to mind.  He didn't have any real reason for the baby's white hair when the three people in question (mother and either father) all had red hair.

Soon though, his white hair was accepted and both males looked on proudly as their Queen gave her son his first meal.

"Have you thought of a name?" Kain asked.

"Jin-Kensi." Vara whispered.  The baby looked up at her and smiled.

"He likes it!" Tekken exclaimed.

Neither Tekken nor Kyo could clearly claim the boy as their own.  They looked at each other and made an unspoken truce.  They would cooperate with each other to make the baby's life happy and their Queen's life content.

Shinashi came in the dark hours of the night.  The inhabitants of the Castle were all asleep except for the night guard. It moved to the Castle like a dark wind, felling the guards at the gate and then just passing through the heavy front door. The indoor guards cried out and fell to the floor as it passed, unseen but not unfelt. The sleeping males tossed restlessly in their beds and muttered unintelligible words.

Both Isabo and Akina sat bolt upright in their beds. Lukana started crying loudly.  Recognizing the danger Isabo flew from her bed to her baby’s side and grabbed her from the crib.  She put the baby in Akina’s arms.

“Make a portal and get her out of here,” Isabo yelled over the baby’s screaming.  After seeing them go, she ran out the door toward Sango and Miroku’s rooms.

“Oh why did their rooms have to be on the opposite side of the Castle?"

Both Aara and Vash sat bolt upright in their bed, feeling the terrible need to protect their sleeping demons. They ran towards Kurama's room but then realized that the danger was not coming for the males -- it had come for Sango and Miroku's baby!!!

Aara ran to Miroku's side and opened her power.  She poured courage and willpower into him. Miroku got to one knee and fingered the prayer beads on his hand, but he could not use his air void. Both the baby and Sango were in its path and would be sucked up along with the black fog. He threw prayer mantras, but they shriveled and blackened. It was too powerful for his small spells.

Suddenly the black mist yanked the crying baby out of Sango's arms.  He disappeared into its black form.

"NO!!!!" Sango and Miroku screamed.

Both Vash and Miroku moved through the fog, hoping to snatch the baby from its ethereal grasp, but their hands encountered nothing.

Isabo had finally reached the door.  So had Taiki, who was bravely moving forward.  Isabo stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Leave this to me Taiki, its my job.” 

The woman moved around the man and entered the room.

The creature moved past the desperate men toward the door.  Then it stopped.

"You will not take this child!" Isabo said with venom.  Her forehead was starting to glow brightly.  She held up her hands and light flooded the room. The outline of the baby could be seen through the illuminated black form. 

"My son!” Miroku cried. 

Isabo moved her hands and suddenly the light focused on the infant and the cloud around him dissipated.  The entity screamed in pain as Isabo mentally snatched the boy from the cloud and moved him into her hands.  She clutched the baby to her breast preparing to hold on to him for dear life.  She waited for the entity’s next attack.

The fog seemed to be gathering itself together, becoming thicker and blacker. Without warning it flew at Isabo, enveloping her completely.

Like a black wind, the fog rushed out the door and through the hall. The front door was torn from its hinges and the fog went through the gates, twisting and defiling them.  Miroku and Vash sprinted after it, followed by Taiki..

Vash, Miroku and Taiki ran to the still figure. Isabo laid on the ground with wisps of smoke coming from her unconscious body. Miroku put fingers to her throat to feel for a pulse -- it was faint but at least she was alive.

Vash rolled her over and there was the baby still clutched in her arms. Miroku scooped up his son and the baby smiled at him, completely unharmed. Tears of joy slipped down Miroku's face. "Thank you, Isabo," he whispered.  He carried his son back to the Castle were his mate anxiously awaited.

Taiki stepped up to Isabo’s unconscious body.  He looked around to be sure there were only allies present and then transformed into his unicorn shape.  He gently touched his horn to the mark on Isabo’s forehead.  It glowed and she awoke.  She sat up and looked around.  Taiki returned to his human form and knelt beside the woman.

"The baby?" she asked.

"He's fine.  You saved him.  He's with his father," Taiki said.

"The Entity?" Isabo asked.

"Gone.  It got away,"  Vash said.

“Why did you stop me?” Taiki asked.

“To protect you.  That Entity was pure evil.  If you had fought it you would have been hurt, possibly even killed.  You were not meant for fighting like that.  As a Protector Unicorn, it’s up to me to protect you and the rest of the Unicorns as well as the inhabitants of Otherworld.