Rin squealed the second she saw their village come into view. They were home! It had been a long journey but so worth it! Sango would be saved!

"We're home!"

Sesshomaru and Hoshi had been gazing at each other with an emotion no one would really figure out. He was still carrying her, seeing as she couldn't walk yet. No one could read the look in their eyes, but Rin could guess it was curiosity or thoughtfulness. She wondered why, though. Hoshi jumped at her pup's voice and turned to look at her, a light blush on her cheeks. Sesshomaru on the other hand just looked ahead, looking just like his blank self.

'What are they thinking,' Rin thought with a curious expression.

It had been about a day since the field of flowers and Rin had caught them yet again this morning in the same position as before. She'd also noticed they'd been gazing at each other a bit more often and Sesshomaru had kept taking care of Hoshi's leg, though Rin would offer to do it. Rin was curious to what was going on between then, but she knew in her innocence she did not understand. She began to skip down to the village after watching her adoptive parents for another moment when she stopped dead when a thought ran through her head. She was horrified.

'No one else knows about Hoshi. I lied to them.'

Rin suddenly felt frightened. They would be so mad! She had lied to them! She began to shake a bit in fear. She had always been honest with them and now here she was in this position she had always hoped she'd never have to face.

"Rin?"

She turned around at her mother's voice and to Hoshi's shock she saw tears in her pups eyes. She felt Sesshomaru stiffen at the sight as well. No one liked to see their child cry.

"Rin, are you okay honey?"

"I LIED!"

Hoshi felt very confused until she got it. No one else knew about her.

"Rin, it isn't your fault."

"Yes it is! I lied to them and I never told them about you! They'll be so mad!"

"Rin, it's MY fault. I made you promise me never to tell them about me. If they are mad, they should be mad at me."

"No blame falls upon your shoulders," Sesshomaru growled.

"But papa, I lied."

He crouched down, keeping his grip on Hoshi to ensure he didn't drop her and cupped her chin in his hand. He tilted her face up till she was looking him in the eye. Hoshiko stroked her pup's hair.

"What you did was to protect Hoshiko," the demon lord neutrally said. "Do not concern yourself over it."

"Papa," Rin whined quietly. "I know I did, but they will be mad."

"She isn't ready."

Both looked at Hoshi, who had a determined look on her face now.

"Sesshomaru, Rin isn't ready to tell them. Let's instead go to my cave and I'll make the antidote there. Rin can just take it to Kaede and Kagome so they can give it to Sango. We can tell them later after all this drama is solved?"

Sesshomaru thought about it as he gazed at his pup. Hoshi's idea seemed a good plan for now. If Rin was not ready, it was best not to push her. Her big eyes gazed at him with a sorrowful expression.

"Let us go with Hoshiko for now."

Rin gazed at her parents and just sighed before nodding her consent. Sesshomaru picked up Rin in his other arm and ducked into the woods.

"Where is her cave, Rin?"

"That way."

Sesshomaru followed Rin's directions, pondering how the others would react to Hoshi. They would not judge her upon her bloodline as it was they had accepted the hanyou. He knew he did not care about the opinions of the others but knew he had accepted her. He would not hesitate to destroy any harm towards her.

'We will protect mate if they attack,' his inner demon snarled.

'She is not our mate, but still agreed.'

'Not yet. She will be.'

Sesshomaru groaned in his head. Would the inner demon ever just quit it? The trees whipped by them at a fast rate but he did not care, he would not crash into them. It did not take much longer to locate the demonesses residence. He found himself a few minutes later in front of a small cave.

"Home," Hoshi murmured.

'She has been living in poor conditions,' he thought.

He thought it a rather poor looking hiding place, but he did have to agree it was a good place to hide. No one would ever look here. He dropped to his knees and carefully put down Hoshi, not jolting her broken leg. She smiled and nodded her thanks. She rested herself against a large rock with a heavenly sigh.

"Rin, retrieve the metal pot."

His pup nodded and hurried into the cave for a second before returning with the object and firewood. Hoshi got two metal sticks and hammered them into the ground before starting a fire between them. She got a stick and hung the pot from it. Rin brought water and put it into the pot and they waited for it to begin boiling. Sesshomaru just watched, keeping a close eye on Hoshi, not even sitting a foot away from her. He watched as she pulled at least 4 different plants from her bags hanging from her belt. He wondered how much she knew about healing.

"Now, the berry," he heard her mutter to herself.

Hoshiko withdrew a small bag and plucked several berries out. She dropped them into the water and a sweet smell filled the air around them. Rin smiled. It smelled like a newborn flower on a spring day.

"It smells pretty!"

Hoshi had to laugh before dropping two different herbs in there, confusing Rin. Wasn't the berry enough? Hoshi caught her pup's expression. She almost immediately went into teaching mode.

"One of these herbs takes away pain and the other one kills infections and viruses. Just because she gets the antidote doesn't mean she wouldn't be in pain for a while or her body is carrying other illnesses because of her weak immune system."

Rin nodded in understanding. They waited until the antidote turned a bright pink before Hoshi dumped it into a black 5 inch bottle. She shook it for a moment.

"Tell Kagome or Kaede to give her ALL of it. Don't just give it to her in one dose, either. Get her to drink some, wait a few minutes, then give her some more. Understand?"

"Hai!"

Rin reached out and took the bottle from Hoshi. The demoness smiled and nodded.

"Let's go Papa."

"Go, Rin. I must attend to Hoshiko. Go give the antidote to the demon slayer."

His pup nodded at his quiet urgency and took off, leaving the two demons alone. Sesshomaru turned to her the second his pup was gone and carefully touched Hoshi's leg, ignoring the pain filled groan. He felt the leg and just looked at the demoness carefully, watching her face. He did not wish to bring her too much discomfort. Hoshi didn't scream, but she was groaning in pain when he touched a sensitive spot.

"Hoshi," he stated. "Your leg is no longer broken. Be wise when you must walk on it."

She nodded.

"Thank you, Sesshomaru."

He didn't say anything, just heaved himself to his feet.

"You will be well?"

"Hai. Go make sure Rin makes it to the village and protect her from the angry mob. Just because they won't know about me, doesn't mean they won't be angry at her for disappearing."

Sesshomaru's eyed her for a moment. Hoshi was right. He nodded and to Hoshi's utter shock and embarrassment, he touched her cheek with the tips of his claws giving her a warmly icy look before taking off. Hoshi touched her cheek and blushed a dark pink before letting off a few embarrassed chuckles. Who knew he could act like that? Was the great Lord Sesshomaru she had heard of actually soft deep down?

Rin sprinted down the hill, careful not to drop the bottle. She had no idea what had just occurred between her parents, but that didn't matter as long as she didn't know. She had to get to Sango! She ran into the village, ignoring the looks she got. Suddenly, she saw Shippo and Kagome walking down the main street of the village. She saw their jaws drop at the sight of her.

"RIN!"

She ignored them and ran past, forcing them to chase after her. She ignored their cries too. She'd explain later, get to Sango! She raced to their hut and found Miroku slumped in front of the door, holding his head in his hands.

"MIROKU!"

He looked up with red eyes, looking startled at the sight of her.

"Rin?"

She slammed to a stop in front of him.

"I GOT THE ANTIDOTE!"

"What?"

She watched Kaede walk out of the hut, looking quite grave. She immediately turned toward the old priestess in a hurry.

"I got the antidote, Kaede! Let me get to Sango!"

"That's impossible!"

"It is! Now give it to Sango before she dies!"

"Rin, we don't know what you have there! No!"

Miroku got angry.

"LET HER THROUGH, KAEDE!"

The priestess was so startled it gave Rin enough time to run into the hut.

"No, Rin!"

She uncapped the bottle and knelt by Sango's side, opening her mouth. She heard Kaede coming after her, so she had just a few seconds! She opened the demon slayers mouth and dumped just enough in to fill her mouth before closing her mouth. She stroked Sango's throat and just as two hands came down on her shoulders the demon slayer drank. Rin felt herself being pulled back.

"NO, I HAVE TO SAVE SANGO!"

She got dragged out of the hut and was forced to look into Kaede's angry eyes.

"What have you done," she hissed at her.

"I gave her the antidote!"

"LET HER GO!"

There came a angry growl and they turned to see a very angry Sesshomaru, surrounded by the others.

"She speaks the truth," he growled. "I helped her get it. Now let her give it to the demon slayer or she'll die."

Miroku came running out of his hut, gasping.

"Lady Kaede! Sango is looking better!"

"What is that ye say?"

Kaede disappeared into the hut with Miroku before coming back with a shocked expression.

"She is getting better already! Rin, give me the rest of that!"

Rin surrendered the bottle.

"Don't give it to her all at once! Let her drink some, wait a few minutes, and give it to her again until it's all gone!"

Kaede just nodded before disappearing into the hut again. Everyone stared at her.

"How did you get the antidote, Rin?"

She turned to look at Kagome, who was staring at her with shock and anger.

"Uh.."

"Rin!"

"Sesshomaru helped me," she lied again.

She saw the dog demon look annoyed a bit at her lie. She sent him a pleading look and he just nodded in turn. He would keep the secret too!

"Is this true, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru just growled, making the others except Inuyasha back off. That was enough answer for the others. Rin just sighed in relief.

'Wait till they hear the real story,' Rin thought grimly as she waited for Kaede and Miroku to reappear.

I hope you guys are enjoying this so far. When will Hoshi meet the others? We'll just have to wait and see ;) Oooh and look, the feelings between Hoshi and Sesshomaru are still growing! This is a very fast relationship.. blame the inner demons! Enjoy! If anyone has any ideas for my story I'd love to hear them.. Thank you to sangoscourage for all the help yet again! I'd really like if you would review please! :D