"And yet you decided to try again," Hotaru pointed out. "Even without knowing how this one would treat you."

"We wanted a daughter," Aura replied with a slight shrug. "And this one has been alright so far, and we're more than halfway there."

"A daughter." Hotaru eyed her for a moment. "Hmm. I can see the appeal there." Her lips twitched in what might have been a smile.

Aura grinned a bit.

"Personally, I think he was a little jealous," she said. "My kitsune housemate has daughters now, and I think that prompted Sess to want one of his own to dote on."

"Probably. I'm not surprised he decided he wanted a girl of his own." Hotaru shook her head a little. "Especially if the cat had girls to dote on."

"Pretty much," Aura said, nodding. She rubbed her stomach a little. "I don't even know if this one is a girl or not, but if it's not, we'll try again in a few years."

"Three in less than ten years? That seems rather close together." Hotaru shrugged, though, making it clear that she was not passing judgment.

"I suppose it does seem that way, to someone born long-lived," Aura admitted, nodding. "But we'll see what happens. We might space them out more, after all, or not, it really depends on what's going on at the time."

"Indeed." Hotaru looked faintly amused now. She kind of liked this girl, for her candor if nothing else.

Aura relaxed in the hot water for a while longer, letting it soothe all of the aches and pains that had accumulated because of the pup.

"Hot springs are wonderful," she murmured.

"Indeed," Hotaru agreed mildly. "They do not have any at the house live in?" Her eyebrows rose a little.

"Not in the house, no," Aura replied. "There's one not too far from the house, near the edge of the immediate property, and a lot of times I just don't feel like making the trek to it."

"I see." Hotaru shrugged a little, because that was something she actually didn't understand. But she had expected there to be some things she wouldn't understand.

Aura lapsed into silence with a small sigh, just enjoying the hot water. The pup shifted around a few times, but didn't kick her any more.

Hotaru took her time enjoying the hot spring, and emerged a little while later.

"Stay as long as you like," she told Aura. "Sesshomaru knows where you are."

Aura gave a small sigh and got out of the pool as well.

"I shouldn't stay too long," she said. "Too much heat isn't good for me or the pup. But I really appreciate you letting me use the hot spring."

"You may use it as you like," Hotaru said with a careless little shrug. "You will be here almost a week, will you not?"

"Thereabouts," Aura said, nodding.She reached for one of the big, fluffy towels. "As long as the festival, at least. Still, it's very kind of you to let me use it, thank you."

Hotaru nodded and swept back inside to get properly dressed again, leaving one attendant to help Aura while a servant scuttled off to get Sesshomaru.

Aura let the attendant help her back into her clothes. It was easier than trying to wave the servant off, which would probably have been more trouble than it was worth. Once she was dressed, she left the hot spring and headed back towards the main room.

Sesshomaru was waiting for her there, and he relaxed just a smidgen when he saw she was indeed fine.

Aura grinned when she saw him.

"Hey," she greeted, going over. "How was your morning?"

"Uneventful," Sesshomaru said with a little shrug. "I did a bit of work. And you?"

"Your mother and I talked," Aura replied, going and tucking herself against his side. "She invited me to use her hot spring for as long as we're here."

Sesshomaru blinked. "That was... uncommonly kind," he said cautiously.