Next Few Day...
Ise's mother has been sick these past few days, Rachel stayed to nurse her, in her heart as much as she wanted revenge for Ise she could not hurt the innocent. The baby is innocent.
It was a bright day when Ise's mother's color came and she could walk around again.
"Our daughter is an excellent little nurse, isn't she, my dear" Jimbe said as he patted Rachel lightly on the head. He continued to say things like how pretty she was and how good a husband she would get. Trying to make her believe that he cared for her like a father.
"You must look after me, too, Ise, if ever I am ill" he added suddenly.
"Is my care not enough for you, Jimbe" Ise's mother said her voice grave as he eyes avoided Rachels'.
A memory not hers popped up in Rachels head about when Ise' father praised her. Rachel wanted to grit her teeth and….
'Oh no, what am I thinking.' Rachel realized that she had felt herself wanting to kill someone and not figuratively but literally. She may hate these people but she doesn't want to kill them.
"I will be Ill now, if you promise to nurse me" he said after going to Ise's mother and taking her hand. She smiled but didn't look at her daughter. Who was turning to leave the room very quietly, Ise's mother didn't even make a single notion to stop her.
-Capital of Brightened Lands, City of the Moon-
The City of the Moon was a place where all the important people worked, all the greatest Artist and poets worked, where the Moon Prince's palace was located at. It had been the center of civilization in this world for thousands of years or more, ever since the faraway empire that had granted the prince's family their title had fallen.
The city was embraced by the headland's curved arms, so that the horseshoe-shaped bay was nearly its heart. Countless docks and piers jutted out into the water, and ships milled into it. The many rivers through it had enough it had also become part of the city, crisscrossed by dozens of bridges made of wood, rope, and intricately carved stone.
-Sakamoto Household, Far East of Moon City-
A baby wailed, its tiny voice lifting in a piercing shriek that shattered the unnatural stillness of the winter evening.
Rachel taps her fingers in impatient, after more then twelve hours had passed, waiting, alone except for the servants. Jimbe had long left because of Ise mother's shrieks of pain, claiming that he couldn't 'bare' it anymore. Which was a load of Bull to Rachel.
'What Kind of man goes hunting while his child is being born.' Rachel thought.
Rachels maidservant rushed in cheerfully "Twins , both boys" she said like a child who still believed saint was bringing presents.
"Okay, I will visit them. Please send word of my leaving "
As she reached the room her siblings that had been sobbing their eyes out stop. She heard the hiccups and whimpers. The inner screen to the sleeping area was pushed shut.
"Mother may I come in?"
The screen slid open; her mother's maid bowed as she entered. Ise's mother frail lay softly in the center of her futon, propped up on a mountain of pillows, with a sheet carefully smoothed over her. She wore a clean robe in a flattering shade of pink. But her hair was damp and frizzy around her forehead, with her eyes closed.
Rachel looked to the two lumps of swaddling cloth, not even as long as her forearm lay next to Ise's mother, one on each side.
All that could be seen of them was a scrunched-up oval that held eyes, nose, and mouth.
"What do you think?" Ise's Mothers said in a tired whisper.
"They are very….purple" Rachel said, this too was the first time she had seen a newly born baby and two of them at that. Ise's mothers laughed weak with relief. Despite her exhaustion, she was not in her angry mood, then again, Jimbe was not here.
"Come sit by me, and you shall hold them." Rachel quickly sat down as she watched her mother gently lifted one of the babies. "This is the younger one. His brother has just gone to sleep." She leaned toward me, and before she knew it, the bundle was tucked into her arms.
Rachel paused as a strange image invaded her thoughts. She watched as the strange women touch something in a crib with a solemn expression that soon turned into a gentle and loving smile. Rachel felt her heart grow unsettled as she watched the ethereal beauty, who eyes constantly changed color.
Her body trembled somewhat; she knew this person but at the same time couldn't recognize her. The ethereal women looked up at Rachel her expression turning back into a solemn one. As she mouthed something.
"Ise?" Ise's mother called her bringing Rachel back, her heartbeat was unsettled.
'What was that?' she thought.
"Ise? Are you Alright"?
"I'm alright. Just a moment I was afraid I might drop him" Rachel handed the baby back to Ise's mother. Shaken for some reason, she heaved a have breath.
"They spoke truth…." Jimbe said appearing out of nowhere. Rachel stood up abruptly and backed away from Ise's mother, who had on an aborting smile.
Something flashed through her mind it was a horrifying image, worst of all it felt like a few moments in the future. It was of Jimbe stabbing her and laughing manically.
"Two, and both boys. The moon herself blesses my house. Leave Us" Jimbe said.
Rachel happily obligated and followed the maidservant out. But, with suspicion in her heart she looked back on Ise memories to that one conversation.
Two Years Ago....
"Don't say any more" Ise's mother said her voice choked with tears "How do you expect me to react, Jimbe? How am I supposed to feel? Oh, can't look at you!"
"Why not? Both our fondest wishes have come true. Don't hurt me by feigning ignorance now, my love. You knew. You knew when you took my hand that day, with Keijo 's blood not yet dry."
Ise clenched her fist as she listens using her powers to make her invisible, but she dared to yet to make a sound.
"Your wrong" Ise's mother sobbed "I…I didn't. I told myself it was obscene to even think it. I though it was a nightmare, nothing more than a sick fancy brought on by grief. I never really believed-"
'Your lying to yourself as well as me. You did not grieve for him. Does a grieving wife share the bed of her husbands' friend just days after she is widowed? You loved me, not him. You wanted me."
"Of course, I did" Ise's mother said fiercely "I loved you for years, hopelessly, faithfully But, that does not mean I did not care for 'him' . I would never betray him."
"I know that. I know, my love. You could never have hurt him. That was why it fell to me. I could not see you suffer anymore. I could not suffer myself. We would both have been miserable all our live."
"Rather that than…..than what you did. And what of Ise? She nearly died. My child, Jimbe!"
"I never meant to put her in danger. I swear to you. I had no idea that my information to the moon prince would warrant such an extreme response. I only thought to arrest him, and when he was gone, you could obtain a divorce. You know they give the wives of traitors that option-if the wives themselves are not implicated. I took care to stress your innocence and that of the rest of the household. I never meant 'death' "
Present Day...
Rachel looked out at the garden her gaze sharp as she stood by the door where Jimbe and Ise's mother is currently having another selective conversation. It didn't matter if their daughter her listening, Jimbe had killing intent for her.
He wasn't going to let her live the night.