"Uh, hi momma," came a soft voice from the doorway.

Hoshi nearly had a heart attack as her pup slowly wandered into their hut that afternoon during her daily meeting with Kagome and Sango, with a torn up kimino and several cuts on her arms and legs. To her surprise, Rin wasn't even crying but looking quite embarrassed instead. That baffled Hoshi a bit, but she nevertheless rushed to Rin's side.

"What on earth happened," Hoshi questioned as she led her pup into the hut examining her already.

"Rin was chasing Hikaru when she tripped and fell into a rose bush."

The demoness wanted to sigh. From the state of her pup, it appeared like some animal had attacked her out of hunger or something. Sango and Kagome lightly laughed making Rin blush lightly but quickly stopped when Hoshi sent them a death glare. She didn't like it when people laughed at others when they were hurt.

"And why were you chasing Hikaru?"

"He took Shippo's top so we chased him."

Hoshi smiled lightly. That little wolf demon loved to play with the children and if they didn't pay much attention to him, he'd certainly find a way to play with them. Like for example, his stunt earlier apparently taking Shippo's top.

"I see."

"That reminds me, Hoshi, how are your wounds?"

The demoness in answer lifted up the sleeve of her yellow kimino to let them examine the almost completely healed wound on her arm. She healed fast, apparently. It had only been a few days ago that she had battled the tiger demon and yet already appeared not to have ever gone into battle. Inuyasha took at least twice as long to heal, but that was expected as he was half human..

"Wow," Kagome breathed.

Hoshi lightly shrugged in answer before she lifted up Rin's kimono above her knees to examine the damage done. The skin was only rubbed raw from obviously sliding on the ground but that was about it to Hoshi's relief. She was about to attend to the wounded area when a soft knocking sound sounded from the doorway before a young lady stuck her head in looking quite frightened.

"Excuse me, Lady Hoshi?"

"Hai," Hoshi responded as she tilted her head in question.

"May I speak to you, please. It's urgent."

"Of course, come on in."

The girl glanced at Sango and Kagome for a second before returning her gaze to the demoness.

"Privately, if you don't mind, Lady Hoshi."

"As you wish."

"I'll take over for you," Kagome cut in.

"Thank you."

Hoshi rose and followed the young girl out of the hut immediately, sensing the girls urgency. Rin watched her mother leave quietly and returned her gaze to the miko. But before she had, she had completely missed the look between Kagome and Sango. What did the young girl want to say to Hoshi that didn't want to be heard by them?

"Thank you for accompanying me, Lady Hoshi."

"You are welcome. Now, what is it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Someone came by the village to look for you?"

Hoshi froze in surprise. That was the last thing she had expected to hear. If it had been Sesshomaru he would have just come to her hut and everyone in the village knew where she lived of course. Her enemies thought she was dead. So who in the heck was looking for her?

"Who?"

"I don't know," the girl replied nervously. "He had a dark raspy voice and he was really tall, but I couldn't see his face because he wore a hood. He showed me a picture of you and asked me if I had ever seen you, but I said no and he said if I saw you at any point to let him know immediately."

"Did he give you a name?"

"No, but he called himself Kai."

Hoshi's eyes closed. So he had finally come to seek her out once again. But how did he know she was alive? The rumors were she was dead and yet he had guessed she was secretly alive, to her amazement because he never seemed to bright. She glanced at the girl.

"Thank you for telling me."

"You're welcome, Lady Hoshi."

Rin winced lightly as she walked around the hut feeling the pull and pain of her raw burn. There wasn't much to do about it but wait for it to heal. Until then, she wouldn't be running around much. The cloth in the doorway of the hut was swept aside and a very pale Hoshi walked in, her eyes appearing dead.

"Hoshi," Kagome questioned at the sight of her demoness friend.

"Momma?"

Hoshi tilted her head to look at her pup for a moment before turning to the miko.

"Kagome, would you watch Rin for me?"

"Of course, but why-"

"Just watch Rin, I'll be back shortly."

Hoshi ran out of the hut before anyone could answer her. Rin was completely confused by her mother's behavior missing the concerned glance between the two women in the hut. What was going on? One minute Hoshi is acting normal then she comes back all strange. Maybe something was happening she didn't want them to know about or see? Whatever the case, they would remain here until her return.

'Why did he have to come now?'

The demoness ran through the trees appearing as a blur to anyone who saw her zip by. He just had to come by now? It had been fifty years since she had last seen him and she had hoped he'd leave her alone for longer, but it appeared it wasn't going to be that way. She finally caught onto his scent after a good mile run heading southwest. It was fresh, so she hadn't missed him by a long shot. She just wanted to get this over with and done. She slowed when she detected his breathing not far away from her.

"I know you're here, don't hide from me," she murmured.

There was a slight stirring of the air around her before a figure wrapped in a cloak appeared before her. His hood was tilted forward so he could look at her properly. He was not much taller than her, but he seemed to always mock her by trying to appear more taller.

"Is that the way you greet someone," he murmured.

"Well, then," she glared at him. "Greetings, Uncle Kaito."

Oh my goodness what is this? Hoshi has an UNCLE? Sorry for the short chapter, but let's see what happens shall we?