Rin gasped for air as she raced in between the trees surrounding the lake. Her heart was beating a mile a minute, pumping so hard it almost hurt. Her legs were burning so much she just wanted to stop and rest. Exhaustion was beginning to takes its toll on the child but still, she did not stop running. Not now. Not when her friend was suffering so much more pain than she was, and she was dying! If Hoshi could stay strong even when she was in that much pain, Rin knew she could too!

'Hoshi is going to die if I don't get help! I'll stay strong, Hoshi, I will!'

Rin jumped over a log but her legs didn't find the right footing in time. She landed on her side with a grunt of pain. She just laid there for a few moments, panting for breath.

'Move,' she commanded herself despite the new pain in her hip after some time.

She rose to her feet and bolted, running with all her strength now. Hoshi was depending on her! Rin wanted to cry, but Hoshi wouldn't want that. It was her fault Hoshi was hurt, but the demoness didn't even blame her. Instead, she had still believed in her and had even saved her, despite it all. Rin had known the demoness had a kind heart, but now as Rin thought about it, Hoshi was the same as her. Forgiving, kind, and loving. Playful too. They might be ages apart and different species, but they were the same. Rin couldn't lose Hoshi! Not now.

'She is just like a mother to me,' Rin thought before she jerked in surprise.

Did I just think of her as my mother? She's just a sister to me! As Rin thought about it more, though, she realized she'd thought of Hoshi as her mother all along. She hadn't been treating her as a sister, but a mom. It was just now, in this situation, that she had realized it. Hoshi was her mom now, despite it all. Sesshomaru was her dad. Though they weren't mates, they were still her adoptive parents.

'Though,' her inner voice whispered. 'Wouldn't it be great if Hoshi and Daddy got together?'

Rin just shook her head. Hoshi and Sesshomaru, together? She knew it wouldn't happen, ever, but still she knew deep inside her there was a hope there may be a chance. Rin had been so deep in her thoughts; she hadn't realized the village in the distance.

'Rin, pay attention! The village!'

Rin slammed on the brakes, sending her into a face plant after tripping over a small branch. She heard some chuckles in amusement come from behind her.

"Hey, little girl, be careful."

She looked up to find a young woman staring down at her carrying a basket of veggies accompanied by three adult men just looking at her with raised eyebrows. Wasn't it rude to stare like that?

"Sorry," Rin apologized before getting up and running into the village.

'No one will help a demoness,' Rin thought. 'I must find some bandages or something!'

The little girl ran past stalls, looking for medical things but she found none. Rin began to panic. Suddenly, she swore she saw something fluffy and white in the corner of her vision. Rin stopped and looked before gasping. It was Sesshomaru. He was talking to the headman of the village, who appeared nervous, but the dog demon was obviously ignoring that. The nearby villagers either retreated quickly at the sight of Sesshomaru or even just stared in shock. He looked as blank as ever, though, but Rin could see the deep sadness in his eyes. Rin panicked for a split second before realizing something.

'He found me! He must of have been searching for me! But how did he know I came in this direction?'

But almost immediately, the panic returned. What would happen to her? She would be in so much trouble the minute he saw her. But her thoughts returned to the injured dying demoness in the woods. Hoshi needed her, still. But maybe Sesshomaru could help! He was a demon too, so he wouldn't have any negative feelings toward Hoshi. But he might kill her. She was a half breed. Maybe Rin could explain things. But this was her only option. Otherwise, Hoshi might die. Sesshomaru was the only one that could help her now. Hoshi might be mad too, but she would be saved! Rin decided almost immediately and charged at Sesshomaru.

"PAPA," Rin screamed running at him.

Sesshomaru looked up and his eyes widened ever so slightly to see his little girl running at him. Suddenly, nothing else mattered. Not caring about the watching eyes, he bolted and picked up his little girl and immediately hugged her tightly to him. He had never felt so relieved in his life. His little girl was safe and sound, she was with him now.

"Rin."

"Papa," Rin cried.

Sesshomaru just hugged her tightly, but Rin could feel him shaking slightly in relief. He must have been so worried and Rin suddenly felt so bad for the panic she had caused her father. He pulled back, staring with cold warmth in his eyes into her own. Rin smiled softly. She saw some villagers looked disgusted but others looked amazed or shocked.

"Where have you been," Sesshomaru questioned with a sudden anger appearing in his eyes.

'Uh oh,' Rin thought.

"I've been at Tiger Lake, papa."

Sesshomaru looked around, noticing everyone was listening on their conversation. He growled threateningly, making everyone back away, before he looked at the headman.

"I found my pup," he stated coldly. "I no longer require any help you had."

He flew up into the air, holding his pup tightly to him so she couldn't fall out of his arms. He looked down at her with confused and angry eyes. She knew she had disappointed him greatly by running away.

"Why were you at Tiger Lake, Rin?"

"I was getting the antidote for Sango! I got it, too!"

She saw the surprise flicker in his eyes but it was so quick she wondered if she had imagined it. He eyed her for a moment. She decided she had better tell him now. She looked away.

"Papa, if I tell you how I got it will you please not jump to any conclusions?"

Sesshomaru tilted his head slightly, but nodded all the same. He wanted to know. But he had never been more angry to find his pup gone the morning she had disappeared. He didn't like the fact she'd left without telling him. No warning, at all.

"Papa, do you remember how everyone told you that I snuck away for hours or the whole day to do my own thing, like swim or hike? Papa, I lied."

She looked down at her father's burning gaze, taking his silence hopefully as a good thing and she continued, watching the scenery below them.

"I found an injured demoness in the forest. I was sneaking away to help her and spend time with her, but she made this Rin promise never to tell anyone that she was around because she thought you or Inuyasha might kill her. I came here with her to get the antidote for Sango and the baby so they could live! I'm sorry."

There was a long silence after Rin's confession. Rin was nervous but when Sesshomaru finally spoke, she was surprised. His voice was cold but she could quickly detect the curiosity in it.

"Where is your friend now?"

Rin suddenly remembered and gasped in fear, making Sesshomaru look at her with concern although his face remained in its icy perfection.

"Papa, we have to go to her! She's injured and she is dying because of her wounds! She was protecting me from the frog demon when she was hurt! Papa, please help her! She hasn't hurt me ever and she is dying right now because of me!"

"Where is she, Rin?"

Rin pointed and to her shock, Sesshomaru began flying in that direction. He was going to help her! Rin was so excited, but she was still afraid for her friend. She jumped slightly when her father spoke again. His voice had been close to her ear.

"Rin, how did she get the antidote?"

"She is a hybrid demon, Papa. She is part sea serpent and Chinese dragon demon, so she could breathe underwater. She gave me a nasty berry that would allow me to breathe underwater. We went down to the underwater garden and stole the berries from the demon. He saw us, and he attacked us. She pushed me out of the way when I was going to be hurt. She saved my life."

Sesshomaru pondered this for a moment. A hybrid demoness. Those were more common than most knew. The only thing that disturbed him was the fact she was sea serpent and dragon demon; weren't those two species at war at the moment for the past 6 centuries?

"Rin, what is the demoness's name?"

Rin was quiet for a moment before finally whispering, "Hoshiko."

Sesshomaru gave a small nod. She had protected his pup and was trying to save his pup's friend. She mustn't be bad at all, also seeing as she never harmed his Rin. She was only trying to help, and apparently she was dying for her aid now. Rin was upset and would be heartbroken, that must was certain, if the demoness died. He would help her, for the sake of his pup and for payment for protecting his pup. That was all.

"Papa, down there!"

He descended and landed by the shore. Rin leaped out of his arms and took off down the beach and he followed with his usual graceful and casual stride. Suddenly, he noticed a body just laying in the sand. Rin crouched by it and began to cry.

"HOSHI!"

'So this is Hoshi,' he thought staring down at the limp and weak demoness.

She was tall and very slender, from what he could tell. Long light green hair, pale peach and silver skin, and opening sky blue eyes. She was covered in blood.

"Rin," Hoshi whispered before wincing.

"Hoshi, it's okay. Papa is here to help you!"

Her eyes went up and found his golden ones, before they both froze, maybe for different reasons. The second her eyes met his, he felt a pang go through him. His inner demon began to purr at the sight of her.

'Future mate,' it purred into his mind.

'What?'

'Our future mate. Beautiful and powerful. Bear strong pups.'

Sesshomaru cursed within his mind and caged up his inner demon within the depths of his mind quickly. He felt the demon growl in frustration but it didn't fight him, but instead just kept silently repeating 'future mate' to itself. Sesshomaru was internally shocked. His inner demon hadn't spoken to him in years. As the dog demon stared at the hybrid demoness, he wondered about what his inner demon had said. Future mate. Eh, whatever, she was a hybrid demon and she would never win his heart. He was Lord Sesshomaru, the loveless cold demon of the West.

"So you are Sesshomaru."

He blinked at her for a moment. Her voice was weak, but it was quite lovely and soft. He didn't answer, but instead knelt by her side and examined her. He winced internally at the sight of her leg. This was one of the worst wounds he'd ever seen. But why hadn't she healed much? Was it the poison or the fact she had other numerous wounds her body hadn't even really responded to the new flesh wound? He ran a claw softly down the wound, watching a shudder ripple through Hoshi's body and hearing her whimper in pain. He kept his perfect cold mask in place.

"Papa?"

"This wound is deathly, Rin," he answered coldly.

He could sense Hoshi's grimness radiate from her being. She was accepting it? She must have known she was along the line of death. Rin immediately began to cry lightly again.

"Please try, Papa!"

He sighed ever so lightly and pulled out a two vials from the depths of his outfit. The things he would do for Rin. He looked into those blue eyes filled with fear and pain.

"Stay still," he commanded neutrally before opening a vile.

She nodded and looked at his little pup. He noticed she looked at her with love and worry for her.

'No ounce of concern for herself; only for her, for Rin.'

Sesshomaru slowly began to pour the medication into her wound and watched as the poison began to go down to his satisfaction, but Hoshi flinched violently. He ignored that and carefully cleaned the wound. Once he was satisfied with the results, he pulled out some bandages and began to wrap the wound making sure to put the leg muscles correctly back together. He noticed Rin was holding Hoshi's hand tightly, lightly brushing her hair with her fingers. He opened the other vile and held it up to those light pink lips.

"Drink."

Hoshi was so weak she didn't protest and just drank what he offered. She shuddered at the vile taste but didn't complain and drank until he took it away from her. He put away the vials. He gazed at the two females for a moment or two before speaking.

"That's all I can do,' he stated.

"Papa, how are we going to get her back to the village with her unable to walk?"

Sesshomaru pondered it for a moment before bending over and picking her up. Hoshi looked frightened. Rin just smiled and held on to Hoshi's hand, so she wouldn't panic. She was demoness looked ready to throw herself out of his arms but he tightened his grip on her hip so that became a hard move to pull.

"I won't harm you, Hoshi."

Hoshi just looked at him and nodded slowly, looking unsure still. He crouched so he could pick up Rin as well, who climbed into his arms too. Sesshomaru kicked off lightly, flying into the sky carrying his two passengers, pondering over how much he had missed on. He stared down into Hoshi's weary face. Her eyes had closed now and her lips moved wordlessly. He wondered about what his inner demon had said and Rin's obvious love for this demoness. His mate? Rin stared at her father's expression and smiled. Maybe they would end up together after all.

Did anyone expect that? Hoshi being Sesshomaru's "future mate?" I hope you guys are enjoying this and if anyone has any suggestions for this story I'd love to hear them! I'd like to thank sangoscourage for the ideas they've given me so far, thank you for the help! ;)