CLAIMING KIN by Salome and Talon

Author's Note: Even as Kin receives his harness, we received our first commissioned artwork for CLAIMING KIN by the amazingly talented Jojo-kun! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do: < http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn196/salomewilde/OniiKinJojo.jpg >.

Servant Talk

Kini sits in the big comfortable feeding chair in the nursery, arms folded around herself, rocking slowly. She is barely aware she is moving, her body comforting the invisible child—Kin, Lord Sesshoumaru's prized little brother and her dear little pup. She does not presume a claim on him greater than her status as the wetnurse for these two most precious of Lord Tai's children, but it is a claim of love, nonetheless. These past weeks have been difficult for her because of that love, but she would have it no other way, and she has labored to keep any trace in sight or scent of her dismay to herself when she has been summoned to feed the injured little one. How happy she was to offer herself and have him able to nurse again! Let her milk strengthen him and lend what little aid possible to his recovery. Lord Sesshoumaru would see to the rest. He must. They must have the happy, bouncy, loving little pup back. Life will not be the same otherwise…for any of them, any who love Kin. A few tears leak from her eyes against her wishes and best efforts. She startles at the unexpected knock at the door.

Jaken knocks quietly at the door, then opens it. He is not Sesshoumaru's retainer for nothing, and his yellow bulbous eyes miss very little. "Kini-san...might I join you?" It is hard to smile with his beak, but his voice is kind and understanding. "Kin-san is with our Lord now...I thought perhaps you would like to hear what happened? You seem like you could use some happy news..." He crosses the room to settle himself on a foot stool.

"Happy news?" Kini replies, a burr in her voice, wiping her eyes quickly and as unobtrusively as possible. She clears her throat and smiles as Jaken sits before her. "Please, yes. I most certainly could use some happy news."

Politely, Jaken pretends he does not notice the tears and the roughness of her voice. Poor Kini...she did so much for her Lord and the pup..."Today, my Lord has presented Kin with a harness. It is beautiful and soft and bears his seal. It shows clearly that our puppy is no slave...and is not to be misused or mistreated. It is exquisite, Kini-san, truly. Dark tanned leather, solid gold buckles...the artisan has no equal."

"A…a…harness?" The word does not make sense to Kini at first. She has heard rumor that Lord Sesshoumaru had commissioned something for Kin, and she had not been able to discern what that might mean. She pictured something between a suit of armor and a chastity belt, something to lock him in and thereby keep him safe. But she doubted such would suit her Lord and his relationship with his precocious little pup. But a harness? She had not considered such a thing at all. That it is beautiful as well as functional makes perfect sense and brings a genuine smile to her face in place of the forced one she offered Jaken in hopes that his good news truly would cheer her. What truly brightens her is that Lord Sesshoumaru has acted so purposefully, so determinedly, to show his commitment to Kin to the entire kingdom. More than anything else, that will keep Kin safe. Little worries about chafing his soft skin or restricting his movement are easily pushed away: Lord Sesshoumaru would not permit such. No, it will be perfect and Kin will be safe. "Have you seen it on him, Jaken?"

Jaken shakes his head. "No, not as yet, but I have seen it, completed, and as Akemi worked on it. My Lord sent Kin-san to be bathed in the middle of the day, and dressed in new clothes. Yumi brought him to his brother...and the rest happened behind closed doors. But soon I shall...soon we both shall. I am told that there were sounds of extreme happiness that leaked through the door. And then other sounds."

Kini smiles, blushes, laughs lightly. Oh, her boys. How good it is to know all is well between them. She could, perhaps, wish she served more as Jaken does, seeing more of their world beyond their chambers, but then she would not have the…intimate relationship with which she is blessed. She would not trade that for the world. "You are so kind to bring me this news, Jaken. So generous. I am grateful. And anxious to see the harness that I know little Kin-san will want to show us at first opportunity, and then a thousand times after!"

"You will not be disappointed, I am certain. Also, before Kin-san was brought to him, I got a strange request from my Lord. He is...altering his seal."

Kini raises a delicately arched brow. "Truly?" She suspects it must have something to do with Kin, but she happily lets Jaken tell the story as he wishes. The kappa gets far too little respect from others, in her opinion, though she accepts him, as do most servants in the castle, for the shrewd and dedicated little masochist he is.

"Truly. The change is subtle, and I had a hard time finding it at first, but here..." He takes the scroll out and hands it to Kini. "See if you can spot the difference."

Kini takes the scroll and unrolls it. She bites her lip as she concentrates, looking for some change in brushstroke or overall shape. There is none. Her eyes move to the border. Something is different here…yes… Her hand covers her mouth in shock. It can't be. She moves her fingers to point as she speaks. "Oh, Jaken. Is that…is that the symbol for gold—for Kin's name—woven into the border design?"

"Yes." Jaken smiles. "The artisan did it on her own...stepping outside the bounds, but Lord Sesshoumaru loves it. Isn't it amazing? Is it not beautiful? And...he will show it to Kin...and Kin will know how much he means to our Lord."

"The artisan? She?" Kini truly is aghast now. She does not know this Akemi, but at this moment she applauds her with all her womanly soul. She will definitely need to meet this amazingly bold creature. "It is remarkable. In so many ways." She shakes her head softly as she fingers the scroll. Suddenly she pauses, eyes widening. "Heavens, Jaken, what Lord Tai will say when he learns of this?"

"I am not certain, but I do not think he will strongly object. He was..." Jaken pauses. "Our Lord Tai was distraught not only over our Lord Sesshoumaru...but also Kin-san. He gave Kin-san to Lord Sesshoumaru for such a result such as this. I believe. I do not know for certain, however."

Kini smiles. "I imagine he will make a fuss. It is in his nature to bluster, so strong an Alpha is he. But he loves his sons, I am certain of that—just as you are." She hands back the scroll and kisses his green cheek. "Thank you for sharing this with me, Jaken. Your generosity means a great deal to me."

"You are most welcome Kini-san." Jaken reaches out and pats her knee. "Your distress these past weeks and months has not gone unnoticed. You are so dedicated to our Lord and Kin-san."

Kini blushes furiously. "No more than you, Jaken-san. And how good that you were able to help rescue our Kin. When I heard about the…incident…I knew I would have been little use had I been there, but I longed to be, nonetheless. Not to see the violence—" she shudders "—but to take some small part in punishing that damned, lunatic bull. May he rot for eternity." Her curse makes her blush the more, and her eyes turn down as she tries to slow her breathing back to normal.

Jaken bows his head. "Oh Kini...you have already helped so very much...you do not wish to have seen what...what happened."

Kini sighs. Indeed not. "My job is to soothe and comfort. I am glad both you and Lord Sesshoumaru arrived in time. And that our Kin has his youkai self. That is more than enough."

"Indeed." The small kappa lowers his eyes. "It was my failing to not notice he was gone at all. If the child had...had...not..." He cannot finish the thought. He shakes his head. "My Lord is very happy with the results after all. The harness. Kin will wear it all the time. There can be no excuse for anyone to misuse him or cause him harm or fail to give him the respect he is due as Our Lord's precious child-pet."

Kini comes to her knees before Jaken and holds him. "It is not your fault, Jaken. No more than it is mine or Lord Sesshoumaru's or Lord Tai's or even Kin's himself. All did their best to protect our precious boy, and he is alive and safer now. Please never blame yourself, Jaken. No one ever doubts your loyalty or dedication. They would not dare."

Jaken hugs Kini back briefly, as is his way, then murmurs in her ear, "Shall we go see if perhaps they are done enough that we may see the harness on Kin-san?" There is definitely a smile on his beak when he says, "Perhaps they require...refreshment."

~