'She is different from the others," Sesshomaru thought to himself.

He was watching the demoness on the other side of the fire with his usual blank mask but he couldn't help but think about what he had seen today. He had never seen another quite like her. She was unlike any demoness he had ever met. Demonesses usually were smug, proud, and solemn; his mother was such an example of a fine demoness. The aura's surrounding them was usually powerful and regal. Most quietly followed their mates or alpha's in silence or remained naturally quiet or solemn. Demons always ruled over them. However, Hoshiko radiated none of these traits. Her aura was unlike any demoness he had come across; more powerful than any other but at the same time, solemn and warm. How could it be she was more powerful than any demoness he had met? She obviously did not boast over her power though. Her aura's nature was also far from normal; it was calming and pleasant. It interested him. She was kind and caring from what he'd watched throughout the day. Never had he seen demonesses act this way in public. Most remained solemn and proud. She expressed herself with an openness he had never seen. It made him curious about her background. How had she become this way? Was she not taught the proper demoness way? She was respectful and had proper manners but still, she had wildness about her he did not understand. She was far from quiet and obviously did not have an alpha or mate. He could smell it on her; she was a virgin and unmated. She was on her own. But for how long?

She didn't even look like the others. Demonesses usually wore fancy kimono's and fancy jewelry to show off the power and royalty they held. She wore a simple lavender kimono with a black sash. No jewelry at all except the silver earring in her left ear. It confused him a bit. Demonesses usually had their hair in fancy hairstyles of this age much like his mother with expensive hair clasps or hairpins. Her hair was in a simple braid with a flower tucked behind her ear. Her hair was an odd color to him, though. It was a light green, not like the other colors he had seen. Her eyes were different too. Most demonesses eyes were proud and quiet. Her eyes sparkled with pride, hai, but with kindness and with an inner challenge within their sky blue depths. Yet despite all of this, her casualness of her looks, she was beautiful with her own natural beauty. She did not try to enhance her appearance at all. It bothered him he considered her far beautiful than the others he had met. Most females he had met had a feminine side to them with all their gossip, beauty, and their lack of battle. Hoshiko was far from that. What he had seen resembled more a male demon. She had beauty but she did not speak of it nor did she try to enhance it. She was a warrior, he could see it. She had fought in countless battles and spilled blood, unlike some demonesses who had never set foot on a battlefield, and held herself with a strong stance before her enemies. It impressed him. She even had the scars on her arms to prove it.

He observed her across the fire for another moment. She was unique, he knew that now. She remained unobservant to his gaze as she allowed Rin to sit in her lap. She was brushing Rin's silky black locks of hair with a kind gentleness that made him wonder who she truly was. She was a warrior, but a kind soul. Unlike him. He could see the expression her eyes as she gazed upon the child.

'She cares deeply for Rin,' he thought to himself. 'I see the love in her eyes.'

'She will be able to be with Rin for the rest of Rin's life,' his inner demon suddenly purred. 'She is our future mate. Bear strong pups and good mother, as we see. Good mate too.'

'She is NOT my future mate,' he hissed to his demon.

But his inner demon wasn't listening, instead just continuing his earlier chant of 'future mate.' Sesshomaru cursed to himself. Why wouldn't his demon just shut up? He had considered the thought of her as his mate, though, despite how he barely knew her. He had thought of her deeply. His inner demon wouldn't have started this whole thing without a good reason. Could it be possible, though? He tried to pay attention to what his two companions were saying.

"Rin would like to braid Hoshi's hair again, would that be okay?"

Hoshi smiled softly at the little girl.

"I'd like that, Rin. But not now, I think you're tired."

"No I'm not s-," Rin began before a huge yawn overcame her.

"Yeah, right," Hoshi laughed. "Time to go to bed, Rin."

Rin sighed, seeing no point to argue with Hoshi.

"Alright Hoshi."

Sesshomaru watched as she hugged Hoshi tight before wandering over to him, hugging him as well.

"Night papa."

"Hn, goodnight."

He saw Hoshi watching the whole thing with a small smile on her face. She seemed again unobservant to his gaze. He looked away from her to Rin as she patted his cheek.

"Papa, can Rin sleep next to you?"

Why not? He nodded and let her curl up against his side before he wrapped his mokomoko around her. She smiled and buried herself into the warmth of the soft fur. He heard a soft sigh and turned toward the demoness, who was looking at his pup with a tender expression before finally noticing his gaze. She quickly averted her gaze, to his amusement, to stare into the flames.

'Once Rin is asleep, I will question her,' he thought softly.

He didn't have to wait long however. He heard his pup's breathing deepen, signaling she was asleep. He almost immediately turned to look at the demoness's face. He felt a small jolt go through him when he noticed the flames turned her eyes a lovely shade of violet. His inner demon even stopped his ramble of 'future mate' to awe over the sudden change in her eyes. She looked up at him with those beautiful eyes and he remembered what his plan was after a long moment. He jolted himself out of it with an inner curse to himself.

"How did you befall yourself upon Rin?"

She didn't seem surprised at his question. She licked her lips before looking at the sky, obviously considering if to tell him. He waited for a moment.

"I mean you no harm, Hoshiko."

"I know. Otherwise, I'd be dead by now."

He raised his eyebrow. She didn't seem even affected by that.

"You do not fear death."

It was a statement, but she decided to treat it like a question.

"I don't. There is no reason to fear something you don't know the nature of. Death can be painful, hai, but it also can be quick and painless. I've faced death the painful way so many times I've lost count. If I die, that is the way of life."

He was a bit surprised by her answer. It was a wise one. He wondered a bit about her knowledge; she was rapidly intelligent.

"What of life?"

"It depends on how you think of it. It can be easy and fun, but hard and harsh at other times. My life has been full of death, Sesshomaru. I have faced death so many times I lost count, as I said before. I have also killed. I have spilt so much blood I feel like my hands are coated in the red warmth of my victims. My life hasn't been the greatest by far, but I try to live it to the fullest before I'm killed. Sooner or later, I will die, either by old age or murder. I likely though think it will be by murder. I just don't know when. So I live my life all I can before that time happens."

'She won't ever be murdered,' his inner demon suddenly hissed. 'We will protect our mate.'

'Shut up.'

Sesshomaru threw his inner demon back into its cage before ignoring its howls of rage. His inner demon was getting pretty annoying, with the entire future mate talk.

"Indeed," he continued as if nothing had happened. "So why have you befallen so many enemies?"

"It is not by my doing. My parents are the ones at fault. Are you aware of the war between the sea serpents and Chinese dragon demons?"

He nodded, just staying silent so she'd continue.

"As Rin probably told you earlier, I'm a hybrid demon. Part sea serpent and Chinese dragon demon. My parents so said had a forbidden love, and I was conceived from it. They tried to hide my existence but both died protecting me in the end. Ever since their deaths, I've been alone to wander. I have had companions but all have fallen to their deaths. Until Rin came along, I was alone. You have one special pup, Sesshomaru."

He looked at her before nodding. Oh, how he knew how special Rin was. He thought it was a bit of a wonder she was alive, as he stared at the small or large scars on her arms.

"Then why fight for life without a reason?"

"I wanted to live my life to the fullest before my death. I wanted to do things that no one else really did and enjoy what time I had. But if I was to die before or when I was ready, I would of have accepted it and let go. Death or life, the path I go is the fates decision."

He was silent for a moment before finally wondering something.

"Do you not have a companion?"

"No."

"Indeed," he answered lowly.

She did not answer. He watched her expression carefully as her gaze went to the sky and she remained still.

"Hoshiko," he finally said after some time. "Why did you protect Rin?"

Hoshi hesitated at his question, wondering if he would kill her at her answer. Oh well, might as well see. He might not.

"I protected Rin because I think of her as my own pup. I love her as my own daughter, though I am not her birth mother. I could not just save myself and burden myself with the knowledge I did not save her from a monster I could have."

Sesshomaru pondered her answer, seeing he was right in his earlier observations. She did think of Rin as her pup. He wondered if Rin thought Hoshi as her mother. He decided that didn't matter right now.

"Have you desired to be a mother?"

Hoshi looked up at him in surprise before responding.

"Hai, indeed."

"Be a good mother to Rin."

She just stared at him, gaping. Did he just allow her to do a mother's duty for Rin? He must have seen the question in her eyes as he gave a single curt nod. She smiled at him happily as her eyes glowed in joy. He was pleased with this reaction. In response, he lowered his left eye in a half wink, something he rarely did. He could see her expression of shock for a moment before she smiled again with a weaker look in her eyes. They weren't enemies, that much was certain. Hoshiko's gaze went back to the fire.

'He's handsome,' her inner demon purred to Hoshiko.

'Hey! I shouldn't be thinking that!'

'Why? He is our future mate. You know what you felt back at the lake.'

Hoshi trembled. She had felt a pang go through her, but she knew he would never love her. Wait, what? She shook her head. Lord Sesshomaru had a high reputation. He was well as the coldest demon in this age with no weaknesses. Even she had heard of him somewhat during her pointless travels. But she had paid no mind. She had never imagined Rin had meant the Lord Sesshomaru of the West, not any other Sesshomaru. It still made her wonder. His neutral voice broke through her thoughts.

"Hoshiko," he rumbled. "Does something disturb you?"

"No."

He made a low amused sound. He felt so comfortable, in Hoshi's presence, though he didn't know her at all really yet! Usually, he remained on guard constantly. But with her, he had no sense of raising his usual cold walls toward. He looked at her expression and found it was quite cute the way she bit her lip when she was deep in thought. Uh oh, he did not just have that thought. He just turned his eyes to the stars, angry at himself. He shouldn't be thinking that! He was the great Lord Sesshomaru!

'This is going to grow troublesome,' he thought.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Hoshi close her eyes and slowly drift off to sleep. But he could sense her high guard was up. Her aura flared out momentarily to sense for danger but nothing seemed to catch her attention so it weakened till he barely felt it. Perhaps that is how she survived? He decided to do the same and shut his eyes, letting a light doze come over him. But he didn't stay that way for long. Suddenly, he woke. He glanced toward the sky and measured he hadn't even slept for even half the night. He immediately flared out his aura to find no threat. Then why? It didn't take long for him to gather why he had woken when he heard a low sob. His eyes fell on a crying demoness.

'What?'

He observed Hoshi shivering against her tree, her arms folded and her only good leg folded into her chest. Tears dripped down her pale cheeks. She was trying to stifle her cries by burying her face into her knees.

"Hn?"

She gasped.

"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to disturb you."

"What ails you?"

"…"

She turned away for a long moment, sniffling. He just watched her, waiting. Finally, still avoiding eye contact, she whispered her answer.

"I'm just in pain and I'm cold. Don't concern yourself over me."

He looked at her and the need to help her consumed him. He despised it. His inner demon rushed to the surface with a cry.

'Help her,' his inner demon pleaded.

'Silence! Who inquired your opinion?'

'But future mate need us!'

'For the third time to inform you, she is NOT our future mate.'

'You know she is. . .'

Sesshomaru couldn't deny it. He could feel the bond between them the second their eyes met. Why did it have to happen now? He didn't even know her for a day, and already he was being all protective and wanting to help her. Is this what his inner demon meant many years ago, with 'we will know future mate the second we see her and we will immediately begin acting as she is already ours.' But Hoshi? A hybrid demon, who wasn't even part dog demon?

'She doesn't need to be part or whole dog demon. She still our mate, and bear full blood demon pups though they be hybrids. Help her!'

Sesshomaru sighed out loud. Hoshiko with her enhanced hearing glanced up in confusion at the demon lord but was surprised by what she saw. His face was in its usual icy perfection but his eyes revealed different. He looked conflicted.

"Hoshi," he growled softly.

'Uh oh,' she thought.

"H-Hai?"

"Did you feel something at the lake?"

"Feel something, Sesshomaru?"

"A feeling besides pain," he hissed after a moment.

"I felt joy at seeing Rin okay and regret for not being more careful with Rin, and-"

She cut herself off, realizing with horror she had almost said something about the feeling she'd felt at the sight of Sesshomaru. The statement her inner demon had said.

"Finish what you were about to say."

Hoshi looked down as she felt a light blush cover her cheeks. It had been years since she had last blushed. Oh, why now? She avoided his gaze.

"I felt a pang the second I saw you. My inner demon said something about you being 'future mate' to me," she whispered as her cheeks went bright red.

Why was she admitting it? She'd only known him for a few hours! Oh lord, great way this was going. He was silent, though. That probably wasn't good. The only thing she heard was the leaves in the trees for a long time.

"Future mate?"

"Hai," she whispered again.

"So I wasn't the only one," he finally responded after a few minutes.

"Wait, what?"

"I was not the only one."

"You felt it?"

He didn't answer, but his silence was enough. Both looked away and the air around them felt awkward. Oh, not a day had passed, and already this was happening? Curses to their inner demons for putting them into this situation. Less than a day and already, this was happening. Hoshiko knew this was bad.

"Hoshi, come here."

She started in surprise.

"What?"

"Just come here."

"I.. can't."

She heard him growl for a moment before she saw him getting up.

'Uh oh, what is he doing? Crap crap crap!'

He moved around the ashes of the fire, being careful not to jolt Rin in his mokomoko before to her utter shock, he sat down next to her. He slowly wrapped his arm about her and pulled her into his side, lending his warmth. Both froze the minute their bodies touched and they both flinched. The inner demons got excited.

'Good show,' Sesshomaru's demon crowed happily.

'He likes us already,' Hoshi's demon squealed.

'Silence,' Sesshomaru and Hoshi thought to their demons before shutting them into their cages again.

"T-Thank you, S-Sesshomaru."

He just nodded in response.

'This is so weird,' Hoshi thought. 'Why am I not trying to run? I would if it was anyone else besides Rin, so why do I accept him?"

'He is your future mate,' her inner demon yelled at her suddenly.

'B-But we barely know each other!'

'True love knows no boundaries,' her demon shot back.

Hoshi couldn't respond to that. She had heard about true love stories, but it happening to her? Oh heck, how did this happen? To feel Sesshomaru at her side holding her gently and lending his warmth to her was shocking. What about his cold and cruel reputation? Her head slipped unknowingly to his shoulder to rest there.

'Rin brought him to us,' her inner demon softly said. 'We owe her with our very blood. She brought mate to us.'

'SHUT UP!'

Her inner demon just grumbled and faded away into the depths of her mind, leaving her alone for now. She was surprised her inner demon had listened. She looked at Sesshomaru, who she found to her relief not looking at her. He wasn't aware of the battle that was going on in her head. Good. His eyes instead rested on the stars.

Sesshomaru looked down at Hoshi just as she thought that, who was gazing at him, and she immediately looked away. She was quiet for a moment as she stared at the ashes of the fire.

"Why help me," she suddenly asked softly.

He just looked away and muttered "Go to sleep. We have a long day."

Hoshi sighed and just curled up more against him. No point to push him for answers she wouldn't get. Her eyes drifted closed before falling asleep against him, but she missed the golden eyes that stared at her as she slept, wondering what was to come between them.

That was fast, don't ya guys think? But as Hoshi's inner demon said, "True love has no boundaries." They already can't resist the bond between them. And I think the inner demons are quite troublesome. Oh well, I hope you guys are enjoying this and I hope you all agree with the Hoshi and Sesshomaru pair!