"There you are, Rin!"

The little girl looked over at Shippo who was racing toward her with all possible speed. She smiled and met him halfway.

"Hi Shippo."

"Where were you? Kagome and I have been looking for you everywhere!"

"Oh, sorry. I was just out by the river."

He gave her a strange look before shrugging it off. Rin was relieved that he didn't push it. She couldn't already break her promise to Hoshi! She wanted to badly to tell her friends about the demoness but she couldn't. Not yet. They went to Kagome's cottage who had dinner all ready for them.

"I missed lunch?"

"Yeah. We couldn't find you so we figured you weren't hungry."

"It's okay, I wasn't!"

'When the truth was,' she thought 'I actually forgot. I was too busy helping Hoshi.'

In the small silence that followed, Inuyasha appeared in the doorway. He didn't even seem to notice her and Shippo and wordlessly grabbed Kagome around the waist and kissed her. Shippo's face immediately scrunched up in disgust almost.

"Ewww," Shippo complained.

Rin just smiled. She thought they were one of the cutest couples she had ever seen. Shippo just looked away after a moment in embarrassment and continued eating his noodles. Rin just started eating again, watching the moon rise in the sky from the window.

"I smell demon," Inuyasha suddenly said.

'Oh no!' Rin thought

"A demon? Where?"

Inuyasha followed his nose and stopped right above Rin, who was trembling now.

"Rin, you smell like a demon. One I've never smelled before."

"I'm sorry" she quickly lied. "I felt bad about that horse that was killed by the demon, so I went and buried it earlier. I guess the demon's scent rubbed on me when I had cleaned the horses' body."

"Rin," Kagome scolded. "You told me you went to the village."

"I said that because I didn't want to get in trouble for burying the dead horse!"

Kagome sighed.

"Don't do that again, okay?"

"Yes ma'am."

Inuyasha looked satisfied with her answer. He quickly went to get himself dinner.

'I hope she's okay.'

"Oh, and Rin?"

"Yea?"

"How on earth did you manage to bury a grown horse by yourself?"

Hoshi was in fact not okay.

She hissed as the large deer demon, of all things, rammed his horns into her chest. The pain was blinding and despite being a demoness, she shrieked. She clawed at him in a panic, tearing out his left eye. The deer demon screamed and launched forward, wounding her again.

'I'm losing to a deer demon? Really?' She thought angrily. 'I can't even fight him off in my state! I'm too weak! If I was at full strength his hide would be tanned.'

She shoved her leg under his body and used it to kick upward slamming him hard against the ceiling of the cave, clawing at his face again. She couldn't believe she couldn't stand, so she fought on her back, which was kinda sad to admit. He screamed and she with all her strength tore her hand into his chest. Blood dripped down her hand and splattered on her face and she ripped out his heart with a quick motion. His body flailed for a moment before falling limp. In disgust, she threw the body outside the cave. She touched her chest and winced at the throbbing of pain. She collapsed fully on the ground. Now she had two sets of wounds to heal from, both within a 48 hour period! But this wasn't the worst..

'How I wish Rin was here to help me now. Let morning come..'

Hoshi waited until the sun came up and was high in the sky. Rin still didn't come. Hoshi worried something had happened and even had decided to leave the cave to search for the child when she appeared.

"Hoshi! What on earth?"

She raced to her friend, who smiled weakly.

"You came," she whispered before she fainted.

Rin panicked the minute her friend's eyes shut. She set to work immediately, taking off the old bandages and cleaned the yet new wounds her friend had received. She rewrapped all the wounds and boiled some more herbs in water to give to Hoshi when she woke, which wasn't long. Hoshi woke about 4 hours later, groaning in pain. Her body was throbbing in time with her heart, which at the moment she wished would stop beating. A cup was raised to her lips and she drank without a thought. Rin brought her water after she drank the medication. Hoshi felt the pain fade away until it was so faint she barely felt it.

"Rin, you were late."

"I'm sorry Hoshi. I had to avoid my friends."

"Ah. I see. It's okay."

She couldn't believe it was only a day since she had met this girl. Already, she trusted her. She felt like she had known Rin all her life. She figured it might be because she was injured, but she doubted that in way. It may be because she was alone for so long, she was desperate for a friend. Despite her reasons, she had come to adore her already.

'I will protect her,' she vowed to herself. 'Even if it costs me my life. I will protect this human girl.'

Rin had no idea what her friend was thinking, but she figured she was lost in the past a bit. She couldn't believe it when she found out Hoshi had never had a friend in her life. She really liked Hoshi, though it was only a day since they had met. She didn't know, but the fates had seemed to bring them together for a reason. Not romantically or anything, but maybe to help Hoshi from her past.

"Hoshi?"

The demoness turned her head to look at her with a questioning gaze.

"Why did you have no friends? Why do you have so many enemies?"

It took a full minute for Hoshi to process what the little girl had said. When it seemed to register, her eyes widened. This little girl wanted to know? When she stared into Rin's trusting eyes, she decided.

"I have so many enemies because of my parents. You see, I'm a demon, but a hybrid demon."

"A hybrid demon? Isn't that a hanyou?"

"Well, sort of. A hanyou is the child of a human and a demon. A hybrid demon is a demon born of two different demon species."

Rin looked fascinated and nodded. Hoshi continued.

"I'm a hybrid demon, part Chinese dragon demon and the other half is demon sea serpent. My mother was a powerful earth and wind Chinese dragon demon. My father was a water and ice sea serpent. They fell in love, which was forbidden because their species were at war with each other."

"Oh," Rin murmured.

"Yes. When I was born, they did everything they could to hide my existence. But I was found later on despite all their efforts and my mother died protecting my father and me."

Rin watched as tears filled her friends eyes, but Hoshi continued on.

"My father escaped with me. We were together for a good 10 years in hiding. He caught me all he could about fighting and how to protect myself. He taught me how to forge weapons and use all different sorts. But one day while we were fishing, a pair of sea serpents found us. He told me to run. I never saw him again, I couldn't even find his body to bury him!"

Hoshi began to cry silently. Rin felt awful for her friend. She suddenly understood her friend's situation. Only having her parents but they were killed by their own kinds for a betrayal. She had lost her family. Rin scooted closer and hugged Hoshi. Hoshi buried her face into Rin's shoulder and just cried quietly as she gazed at the rocky wall. Never had Rin seen a demon show weakness. Hoshi was different that much was certain. She let her emotions show and let Rin see her weakness. Sesshomaru was the only other demon she knew that had shown her his weakness but otherwise, no weakness. Rin was happy Hoshi was so open with her. She felt she could also be so open with Hoshi. Hoshi understood her on levels that others couldn't. Like the death of her family, how it was to be alone.

"Shh Hoshi. It's okay. You're not alone anymore, you have me."

"Thank you," Hoshi whispered in response with a smile.

Rin smiled in return before noting Hoshi's long hair. She wondered if Hoshi would let her play with it and style it.

"Hoshi?"

"Yes Rin?"

Hoshi had recouped by this point.

"May I braid your hair?"

"Mmhmm," came the answer after a small hesitation.

Rin moved behind Hoshi, gently brushing her hair with her fingers carefully. Hoshi was pleased by the small contact and stayed still while Rin braided her hair into a single long braid. Rin even complimented it by putting a single blue flower at the end.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome Hoshi!"

Suddenly Rin remembered the night before.

"Hoshi?"

"Hm?"

"Inuyasha smelled you on me."

Hoshi stiffened under her hands and turned to look at her in horror.

"But I told them a different story. I said a demon had attacked a horse and killed it, leaving its scent on it. I said the demon was long gone."

Hoshi looked a bit panicked still and stared at her.

"We can't have him smelling me on you. He might be a friend of yours, Rin, but he may still kill me. Find me a threat. I know you say he is a good person and wouldn't now unless a reason, but I don't want to risk it. I can't have word getting out I'm alive."

Hoshi looked down, deep in thought. Rin stared at her friend. Her hair was now braided back, showing off her flawless face with those gorgeous sky blue eyes with silver swirls at the corners. She wore a black kimino with a single silver chain belt around her waist. (Just so you all know what she's wearing, she ain't naked lol)

"I've got it."

"Huh?"

"I will make a shielding charm. It will hide my scent from others so no one can smell me on you. Plus, I will also add in the charms of tracking and force field. The tracking one will be connected to my mind so I am aware of where you are at all times. The force field one will protect you from when things are thrown at you, but I'm afraid it won't block actual physical attacks such as a sword swinging at you. Is this quite alright with you, Rin?"

"Yes, it's okay, but I don't know about the tracking charm."

"Rin," Hoshi pleaded. "Please. I want to be able to protect you."

Rin stared. It was only a day, and yet Hoshi was acting like she was like a little sister or something! Suddenly it dawned on Rin.

'She's afraid of losing me. I'm her only friend now. She wants to protect me from her enemies.'

Rin stared into her friend's desperate face.

"Okay."

Hoshi smiled in relief and nodded. She pulled over one of her bags and pulled out a brick sized lump of metal. Rin watched for hours in amazement as Hoshi melted down the metal and built some charm she couldn't really see. Rin asked questions throughout the whole time and Hoshi was always willing to answer. They also spoke of their pasts, and Rin was horrified to find out Hoshi had been attacked and almost killed many times. Hoshi showed her many scars, little and big, all around her arms, legs, and back. It was a wonder to Rin Hoshi wasn't dead.

"Rin," Hoshi muttered. "I won't finish this charm until tomorrow. You must bathe before returning to the others, so my scent is gone. Tonight is the only night you must do this."

"Okay, Hoshi."

Rin left shortly afterward so she could bathe during the day so she could return before dark. She did as Hoshi asked, bathing and washing even her clothes, before returning. Kagome, Inuyasha, and Shippo questioned where she saw and she only said that she'd been in the village. They believed her, to her surprise, and they ate dinner together that night. Inuyasha didn't even comment on any demon smell.

"Rin, Lady Kaede has returned. She wishes to see you," Kagome finally said once dinner was finished.

Rin got up and hugged them all and said her goodbyes. She hurried to the village to find indeed Lady Kaede was back. She was so pleased to see the old priestess again, she hugged her tightly. Kaede had laughed and hugged her in return, asking her many questions. Rin spoke of all, except her meeting of Hoshi and their new friendship. Rin was eager for morning and went to bed early so she could see Hoshi again quicker enough.

The sun was high in sky when Rin woke up. Kaede was gone, leaving a small note saying she would be back later as she was with Kagome collecting herbs and some woman's talk. Rin raced out of the village shortly after her breakfast and straight to Hoshi's cave.

"Hoshi," she panted as she entered the cave.

"Good morning, bed head," Hoshi teased.

Rin looked up to indeed find her hair a mess. She just laughed it off, loving the sound of Hoshi's laughter. This demoness was even prettier than Sesshomaru's mother in her opinion. She seemed like a demon goddess, being so kind and seemingly innocent despite even though she was aware she had killed before. Who would want to hurt someone so sweet and gentle?

"Is it done?"

Hoshi wordlessly held up a thin leather necklace. Rin came closer and found the charm to be a silver Chinese dragon is such great detail it was stunning with a small red gem as its eye. It immediately dawned on her that her friend was a skilled forger.

"It's so pretty, Hoshi!"

"Remember Rin, you must never take it off. It will hide my scent, let me find you whenever I need to, and protect you from objects thrown at you. Also, I added a calling spell. If you say "Hoshi, help me," I will hear you and I will come as soon as I can. Okay?"

Rin leaped at Hoshi, hugging her tightly. Hoshi gaped for a full minute in total shock before nervously wrapping her arm around the child.

"Thank you, Hoshi!"

"You're welcome, Rin."

After that day, they spent nearly every day together. They spoke of many things, getting to know each other more and more by the day. Hoshi taught Rin about charm spells and more about healing herbs while Rin taught her how to play certain games such as tag. Soon enough, they were best friends and understood each other on levels no one else could, no matter how close those other were. Hoshi began to heal under Rin's and her own care. Everyone who knew Rin in the village questioned where she went for hours on end in the beginning but she would claim that she was hiking, gathering flowers, or swimming in the river. Soon enough, everyone believed her, and no one even thought about following her up into the woods one day. But little did they know, things would change rapidly when a certain demon lord returned to see his adopted daughter.