Rin held on tightly to Hoshi's shoulders, shuddering slightly when another splash of cold water splashed onto her face. They'd traveled throughout the rest of the night, all of the morning, and were now venturing into have traveled the whole afternoon too. It was a cold day, to their luck, so a chilly wind blew through Rin's hair and rose goose bumps on her skin. She was surprised Hoshi hadn't even raised her head once from the water since they'd started out, but she knew it was because she could breathe underwater. Hoshi didn't even appear cold. When Rin pressed her gloved hands against Hoshi to her shock Hoshi was as warm as ever despite the cold water. Rin wanted nothing more to be as warm as she was. She let out a shudder and she felt Hoshi tense up a bit under her. Rin noted they were headed toward the bank of the river.

"H-Hoshi?"

No reply. A silver hand shot out of the water to grab the edge of the bank so Rin could climb off. Once the little girl was sitting on the bank, Hoshi heaved herself out of the water. A shadow fell over Rin, before a finger tilted her face up to look into concerned blue eyes. The little girl could only return the gaze.

"Rin, are you okay?"

"I-I'm just cold, H-Hoshi. D-Don't worry a-about me, I'm fine."

Hoshi gave her a look that clearly said "liar." Rin weakly smiled. Hoshi pulled out a purple fruit from a bag hanging from her belt and handed it to Rin. The little girl gently got a feel of the offering by rubbings its silky thin skin and feeling the juiciness of the fruit inside. It looked delicious, but she'd never seen anything like this fruit before. Was it okay to eat? Hoshi must have noted the weariness in her eyes or something because she spoke up.

"Eat this."

Rin bit into the juicy fruit but she shuddered at the coldness of the fruit. Hoshi noticed it and after a moment of thought, wrapped her arms around the child to pull her against her warm body. Rin stiffened in surprise for a moment, but she didn't protest. Hoshi was so warm. Rin curled up against that warm body and ate the fruit, finding it not to be so cold anymore. After she ate her fill and was finally warm, she felt a bit drowsy. Hoshi smiled at the girl.

"Ready?"

Rin nodded and got up so when Hoshi got back in the river she could get back on her back. But to her shock and surprise, Hoshi instead knelt down slightly and picked her up bridal style and began to run. Rin squeaked in her surprise. She watched the trees whip by and she thought of how Hoshi was just as fast as Sesshomaru. She felt a pang go through her at the thought of her father. He'd be so angry and probably was despairing out at her disappearance. But she had to save Sango! It would be worth it all. Hoshi was a graceful runner, Rin noted, because she barely was jostled around at all.

"Rin, go to sleep. Your tired, go ahead and sleep."

Rin looked up at her friend gratefully and closed her tired eyes, letting herself fade into her dreams. She dreamt of returning to the village and everyone's happiness at her return and the joy of saving Sango. Then everyone met Hoshi and everyone was happy and thanking her for everything. The demoness had finally been accepted. Rin smiled in her sleep in her own happiness and Hoshi looked down at the girl in her arms.

'What makes her smile so," Hoshi thought quietly as she continued on.

Hours later, when Rin finally woke up from her pleasant dream, to her surprise she was laying in front of a fire. The warmth of the fire sent pleasures of fire through her skin and the dark red of the flames danced in her brown eyes. She looked up to find the demoness roasting a rabbit over the fire. It was dark, but it was still cold. Rin yawned and sat up, pushing off the thin blanket that covered her little body. The demoness didn't glance over to her but she spoke quietly toward her, startling her from her stretching.

"So your finally awake. I thought you died," Hoshi teased.

"That looks so good!"

Hoshi laughed when Rin ignored her teasing and just handed her a piece of the juicy rabbit meat. Rin eagerly bit into the meat, finding it to be just delicious. The meat was tender and perfectly cooked. She had to grin at the demoness with her mouth full of her food which made Hoshiko smirk lightly at her in response.

"Wow, it tastes good too! Thanks, Hoshi!"

"Your welcome, Rin."

The two ate their dinner just enjoying each other's company. Hoshi told Rin a story about when she was attacked once by a sea serpent demon and how it had nearly taken off her tail during their battle. Rin was amazed. It seemed like Hoshi had just been attacked by numerous dragon and sea serpent demons in her lifetime. Rin again felt badly for her friend, knowing how it was not be accepted by your own kind. She wondered how much a like they were.

"Hoshi?"

"Hai, Rin?"

"Are the dragons and sea serpent demons still at war?"

There was a silence as Hoshi stared at the little girl for a moment, surprised. Rin really was interested about things about her life and other things that related to her. Mainly her past but the most painful part was still hidden behind the shadows of her eyes; she shuddered internally. The pain began to tear at her again. Rin watched as Hoshiko withdrew a small vile out of her lavender kimono and drank heavily for a moment. She wondered what it was. Hoshiko's eyes hazed over for a moment before she sighed heavily as she slipped the vile back into the depths of her kimono.

"Hai," Hoshi sighed. "I'm afraid so. But both sides are my enemy. Not one will accept me, neither has anyone else in this world either."

"I accept you. You're my friend, even like a sister!"

Hoshi sent the girl a tender look. Rin was just a little sun, just so full of love and kindness. Just like another human in her past. She shuddered lightly for a moment but it missed the girl's attention to her relief. Sometimes she wished some demons could be the same as this little girl.

"You're sweet Rin, but you're the only one who has."

"Hoshi, I do understand how you feel. I wasn't accepted by my own kind either. They beat me and tormented me while I was with them. When daddy came, though, things changed. I was accepted and then I made new friends. I bet the same thing will happen to you!"

Hoshi stiffened in surprise. Rin had never told her that before. She hadn't been accepted either? Hoshi frowned lightly, not liking the idea of people hurting Rin.

"Hoshi?"

"Hmm?"

"You will be accepted one day. I know you will."

Hoshi looked at the stars high in the sky, noting how bright they were.

'I hope so too, Rin,' Hoshi thought.

Rin took Hoshi's silence as a good thing and just looked up too. It was so pretty tonight.

"Hoshi, look," Rin exclaimed. "It's a shooting star! Make a wish!"

Hoshi smiled softly and looked at the little girl, who was beaming at her.

'I wish,' Hoshi thought. 'That Rin will have a happy life full of laughs and smiles.'

"Have you wished yet? Have you, have you?"

"Yes," Hoshi laughed. "I have. Now, let's go to sleep, Rin. We have a long day in front of us."

"Okay!"

Rin skipped to Hoshi's side and hugged her. Hoshi slowly responded and hugged her back slowly with a smile.

"Goodnight, Hoshi."

"Night, Rin."

Hoshi watched the girl wander over to her blanket again and curl up on the ground. She waited until the little girl fell asleep before she let herself slip into a doze, remaining on alert.

A few hours later, Morning Time.

"WAKE UP HOSHI!"

Hoshi let off a "oof" as Rin collided with her, and as Hoshi was sitting up against a tree sleeping, the impact knocked them to the ground. Rin sat on her belly, grinning.

"Time to get up! Let's go!"

Hoshi looked at the sky and groaned. It was daybreak. Rin was a very early riser, apparently. She looked into those sparkling chocolate brown eyes. It was probably better they got moving quicker so she supposed it wasn't a bad thing. But she hated to get up early sometimes, especially times like now. She hadn't slept well for the past few weeks.

"Okay okay, I'm up."

Rin leapt off her, leaving Hoshi to groan slightly in pain as Rin accidently kicked her side with the wound, and the little girl ran to the fire not noticing. Hoshi just had to smile. Rin came back with some fruit and shoved them into Hoshi's hands as the demoness sat up.

"Eat," the girl commanded with a giggle.

Hoshi had to laugh. She was too darn cute. She began to eat the fruit while Rin packed up her blanket and put out the fire. She must have experience with this stuff because honestly she knew what it took to take down a campsite and hide it as though no one was there in the first place. Once they were done, Rin climbed onto Hoshi's back and she began to run alongside the river instead. It was colder today and it was sprinkling lightly. Rin talked about her travels with Lord Sesshomaru and Hoshi enjoyed listening to her stories. It was nice to hear about the little girl's past. It meant that Rin trusted her.

"This Rin once got captured by a demon. A couple of priests saved her and tried to take her to a human village, but Rin didn't want to go. She called out for her Lord Sesshomaru and he came to save his Rin! Then, it was amazing, he. . ."

Hoshi listened with interest. Sesshomaru had come for Rin. That she found sweet, though she wondered what was going on in that dog demon's mind during that occurrence. She might ask him someday, if she ever met him. As they ran around the bend in the river, far off in the distance about 5 miles away she estimated, she saw the lake.

"Rin," she murmured. "We're here."

"It's so pretty, Hoshi! Hurry!"

Hoshi complied and sped up, making the trees appear to be a bit of a blur. Rin giggled and held on. Hoshi was surprised the little girl wasn't sick, but then again, she might have experience with this speed. After all, she was the adopted daughter of a demon. Within a good hour or so, they arrived. Rin gasped.

"It's even prettier up close!"

The lake was completely clear and sparkled in the sun. Beautiful trees and flowers ran along the banks of the lake and there was a small island in the center. It was a pretty place. To Rin's surprise, there was no villages nearby she could see.

"Hoshi, what now?"

"I will go get the berries, you must stay here and hide. You cannot go with me, since of that frog demon. I don't want you to be in danger. I will find you a hiding place and-"

Hoshi never got to finish before Rin overrode her.

"WHAT? No! I'm going with you, Hoshi!"

"You can't, Rin. You can't breathe underwater."

"I know you have a way I can breathe underwater! Please take me with you! I don't want to be alone! What if I'm attacked, Hoshi? No one will be around to protect me! If I go with you, yes there is a frog demon, but you'll be there to protect me! Please!"

Hoshi thought about it, knowing Rin had pulled a point. What if she was attacked and she wasn't there?

'I made a vow to protect her,' Hoshi thought. 'I won't break it now.'

"Okay, you win."

Hoshi pulled out a white cloth from the depths of her kimino and pulled out a orange cherry sized berry. Rin took it and stared at it.

"Eat it. It will allow you to breathe underwater for a period of time. Okay?"

Rin nodded and ate it. It was bitter and Rin wanted to spit it out, but she forced herself to swallow it. She wanted to go with Hoshi, no matter what!

"Gross," Rin shuddered.

Hoshi had to laugh at the expression on Rin's face.

"I know. Let's go."

Hoshi jumped into the lake and let Rin climb onto her back, before diving beneath the surface. Rin held her breathe, frightened. What if the berry didn't work? She held it as long as she could before she began to panic. She couldn't breathe! She was ready to die and let the air escape her lungs when she found.. She could breathe! She was startled and just had to laugh but it just sounded like a gurgle.

"You okay up there?"

Rin gasped, hearing Hoshi's voice. She can talk underwater too? This was new. Rin opened her mouth to answer but it came out in bubbles and weird gurgling noises.

She heard Hoshi's body shake in amusement under her.

"Aught Fruny," Rin said angrily but it didn't sound like what she said.

"Okay okay, I get it," Hoshi laughed.

Rin sighed. This was going to be difficult as she and Hoshi descended deeper into the darkness.