Sesshomaru woke up fully to the sound of his pup giggling. He turned his head to look at her and found her staring at him and Hoshi with bright sparkling eyes and a huge grin on her face. It made him wonder why she was looking at him like that. He looked down and found Hoshi had wrapped an arm around him during the night and was resting her head against his shoulder. Her body was pressed against his comfortably. A soft smile resided on her cheeks.

'She trusts me,' he thought.

"Morning, papa," Rin giggled.

He just nodded quickly. He hated the fact Rin had woke up to find him and Hoshi curled up against each other. He shifted lightly, shaking Hoshi in the process, which woke her up. She blinked for a moment before sitting up and looking at Sesshomaru for a moment before remembering the night before. She blushed lightly and looked away.

'She's quite lovely when she just wakes up,' his inner demon purred at the sight.

'Can you not be silent? Silence!'

'NO! She's future mate. . .'

Sesshomaru sighed mentally. Sometimes, he wondered how immature his inner demon was. The inner demon inside him often was a fierce warrior and yet had been reduced to sap upon this demoness's arrival. The dog demon just stood up and Hoshi didn't say a word as Sesshomaru bent over and picked her up again.

"Come, Rin."

"Coming Papa!"

Rin skipped after her father. He just looked ahead and avoided the gaze of Hoshi, as she was also avoiding his gaze. It would be better if they didn't speak of last night. Besides, nothing had happened that needed discussing.

'I wonder what happened after I fell asleep,' Rin thought.

Rin gazed at her father as he carried the demoness she now considered her mother. She had been most surprised to wake up to find them sleeping side by side against the tree with their arms around each other. She smiled at the thought. Maybe they'd end up together after all. It was a bit obvious they liked each other, but neither would admit it. She could see the bond that had immediately sprung up between them after their eyes had met. She wondered a bit about it though; Was it a love story, like her mother had told her about so long ago? They were strangers, but they were acting like they already knew each other. This was the perfect opportunity though for them to get to know each other on the way back. Rin began to imagine what would happen if they became mates. They'd love each other and her too! They'd be her adopted parents and soon enough she'd have little siblings too! She grinned at the thought.

'I think there is a chance for them,' Rin thought excited.

Rin didn't notice the time slipping away. Her gaze was on the two demons in front of her but her thoughts were elsewhere. Rin was so into her thoughts she didn't see the field of flowers until the bright colors caught her attention.

"Oh," Rin exclaimed. "Pretty!"

"Rin."

"Can we stay for a few minutes, please!"

Sesshomaru sighed lightly. Rin had this HUGE thing for flowers, though he didn't know why. Must be a human girl's thing. He looked into those bright pleading brown eyes. How could he resist? But what about the demoness he was carrying? She needed help still. He turned his gaze to her face and didn't look away until she slowly looked at him. She could tell what he was asking her.

"It's fine if we stay for a moment," Hoshi muttered. "A few more minutes won't kill me."

"YAY!"

Rin took off into the field and began to pick the flowers that caught her eye. Sesshomaru wandered over to a small tree and sat down in its shade with the demoness in his lap. He felt her shudder and just simply tried to ignore it, but he could not. She was nervous; he could smell it on her scent. He thought she had an intoxicating scent. She smelled like cherry blossoms mixed in with the scent of the ocean. It was lovely, he had to admit.

'She is lovely, through and through,' his inner demon growled happily.

He ignored his demon for now. For some reason, it suddenly didn't bother him. He found no need to react to something that was worthless to trifle with. He looked into Hoshi's face, who was currently watching his pup with a huge smile though he could see the pain in her eyes.

"Hoshi?"

She jumped in surprise at hearing his voice. She looked at him with a curious gaze but he could easily see the surprise in them.

"How does your leg ail you? Do not lie."

"It does hurt," she admitted. "But I like to see Rin happy. I've had worse wounds than this, so it doesn't bug me as much as it should."

"Indeed," he muttered lowly.

She nodded and immediately averted her gaze she second she realized he was done talking to her. This demoness is quite the mystery. So much pain in her past, he could see that. He could tell she was not as nervous as before now. He heard the rustles of flowers approaching them. He looked up to see Rin sprinting at him carrying a huge banquet of flowers. He wanted to groan. She just gathered as many as she could, didn't she? She was smiling.

"Rin?"

She stopped before tilting her head.

"Have you thought Hoshiko as your mother?"

Rin watched as Hoshi's gaze snapped to Sesshomaru's face. Those sky blue eyes were huge. She wondered what was going on. She could not lie, though. Her eyes wandered to the flowers in her arms.

"I do think of Hoshi as my mom," she murmured.

"Then she will be your Mother."

Rin gasped in excitement. Hoshiko was going to be her mother? She had never felt so happy. A thought suddenly registered in her head. She turned to Hoshi before feeling very shy suddenly. What if she said no?

"Uh, Hoshi?"

"Hai, Rin?"

Hoshi sent the girl a tender but wondering look. What did the little girl want to ask?

"Can I… Call you… Momma?"

Hoshi grinned before nodding. How she would love that! Rin grinned in return, not feeling so shy anymore.

"Okay, momma!"

Hoshi grinned even more until her cheeks hurt. Sesshomaru found himself adoring that smile. Once he realized he did, though, he tried to despise those thoughts. He decided it was better to move now.

"Let us go."

Sesshomaru stood up and carried Hoshi off, with his pup following. He heard Rin happily humming behind them. Hoshiko's gaze was locked on the path they were heading down and just let her eyes drift closed. She felt so tired suddenly. Hoshi felt herself slip into her dream world and she had to smile, even in her sleep. Sesshomaru looked down to find Hoshi asleep in his arms once again and had wonder what made her smile so peaceful in her slumber as they continued on. Who was she?

I know, this is a tiny chapter, but I thought this was a rather cute moment. And it seems Hoshi and Sesshomaru are getting more comfortable with each other already ;) Enjoy!