"How dare you touch my flawless lord you unworthy dirty demon!"

THWACK!

Hoshi yelped in surprise when a rather hard blow landed above her ear with a loud thwack, immediately waking her upon impact. Her eyes shot open to find a rather small looking toad creature in front of her wearing a brown robe of some sort, his yellow eyes glaring at her in rage. She was rather confused for a split second when she remembered the night before, and looked up to see she was indeed sleeping by the dog demon's side. But to her surprise, his eyes were open and were tinged with red, stating he was furious. Sesshomaru ripped the staff out of the creatures hands and hit him harshly on the head with all his strength.

THWACK!

"Don't hit or even touch her again, or your head is on my sword," Sesshomaru hissed.

Hoshi was surprised by his reaction. Though he hadn't said it, he was clearly stating she was his property. The creature groaned and rubbed his head, missing the unsaid sentence.

"But milord, she was all over you!"

"Enough, Jaken!"

Jaken? That was the creature's name? She looked up from the creature to see a two- headed dragon watching them almost with an amused expression. Who were these two, and why was the imp creature who was apparently called Jaken calling Sesshomaru his lord? Sesshomaru caught her expression and just sighed lightly, but enough for her to hear.

"This is Jaken and An-Un, my two servants."

Hoshi nodded in understanding slowly, before rubbing her head. That staff was rather hard to be hit with, even if you were a demon, so it certainly might leave a bruise. Oh, of all the luck. The dog demon noticed and immediately began searching through her hair about the area where Jaken had hit the demoness, to the imp's shock. Why did his lord care so much for this demoness? Sesshomaru growled when he found a bruise forming. Jaken was going to pay for this. Hoshi noticed his reaction.

"Its okay, Sesshomaru. It doesn't hurt much."

"How dare you disrespect my lord-"

Jaken never finished his sentence.

THWACK!

Jaken squealed with pain as Sesshomaru's fist hit him right where he had hit him earlier with the staff of two heads. The imp fell to the ground upon impact, groaning with pain. Sesshomaru had given him a nastier bruise than what he had given the demoness. This was the most Jaken had been hit within a few minutes, go figure. Hoshi wanted to laugh, but knew better. Sesshomaru could see the amusement in her eyes though and gently rubbed the place where Jaken had hit her.

"Are you alright, Hoshi?"

"I'm fine, Sesshomaru. Nothing that won't heal in time."

He nodded but sent his servant a death glare upon rising to his feet. Jaken gulped. His master was more angry than what he was showing. Why did his lord care so much and seem so protective of this demoness? He wasn't able to ponder much longer on it, because to his surprise Sesshomaru offered his hand to the demoness. Hoshi smiled and accepted it, letting the dog demon pull her to her feet. Sesshomaru didn't let go, however. He examined her claws, or talons she had called them before, and wondered about how she battled. Hoshi flushed when he didn't let go of her hand. Jaken sputtered in the background, but both ignored him.

"Hoshi," Sesshomaru murmured.

"Yes?"

"I require to know your battle strengths."

'What?'

'I think,' her inner demon suddenly spoke. 'He means about how we battle.'

'Oh,' Hoshi muttered suddenly understanding.

"What do you wish to know, Sesshomaru?"

"You still dare to call him that, pathetic demon? You should call my lord by his rightful name and speak it with respect, Lord Sesshomaru!"

Sesshomaru growled with frustration, remembering his servant was still watching them. He turned his eyes to him, making Jaken squirm lightly under that intense gaze. Hoshi noted he was still holding her hand, but made no comment or anyway to get away from him. She liked the warmth, comfort, and security his hand gave her when it was wrapped around hers.

"What do you require of me, Jaken?"

"I-I just decided to c-come back. I-I-I wished t-to see R-Rin," Jaken stuttered.

"Go."

Jaken didn't even dare question his lords command. He took off, grabbing An-Un on the way, and disappeared into the trees almost within a few seconds. Hoshi laughed lightly once the imp was gone. Sesshomaru found he adored her laughter, but didn't dare say anything about it. He had a reputation to uphold. He didn't compliment anyone, nor did he say what he thought either. He would like it secretly, however.

"You seem to keep him in line," Hoshi chuckled.

Sesshomaru didn't comment, but instead gave her one of his tiny smiles in response before continuing his earlier conversation with her.

"How do you battle, Hoshi?"

"I would assume quite like you. With my poison talons, my speed, and my weapons, that I lost during the storm, sadly enough."

"Show this Sesshomaru."

"Huh?"

"Show me."

He let go of her hand and backed off from her until he was about a good 20 feet away, seemingly waiting for someone. Suddenly, Hoshi got it. He wanted her to fight him! She glared at him, though she knew better. Was he crazy or something? He noted it.

"You will not harm this Sesshomaru."

She sighed and slipped back into a light crouch. He wanted a fight, eh? He'd sure get one, even if it wasn't a real fight. She focused on her poison and watched for a second as her talons turned purple before she charged at the dog demon. Sesshomaru's eyes widened for a moment. She was fast, maybe even a bit faster than him. He quickly evaded her attack and used his own poison claws to slash at her. She whirled with a speed he didn't know she possessed and caught his hand in her own, holding it tightly. Sesshomaru and Hoshi battled for a moment with their own strength, trying to knock the other off balance with their clenched hands, but to no avail.

'She's as strong as me,' Sesshomaru thought with some amusement. 'She's been holding out on her enemies.'

Sesshomaru got tired of this and used his other hand to slash at her, forcing her to jump back away from him. He charged at her but to his surprise, she evaded his attack and was able to frontflip over him, cutting his cheek lightly with her talons. He turned and glared at her with a half-hearted annoyed glare before charging again. She was toying with him, and he didn't like it. His cheek stung lightly, but it wasn't anything damaging, and he wasn't about to back down from this. She was a challenge. Hoshi grinned and rolled to the side away from his attack, before to her surprise he whirled and cut small cuts into her upper right arm. Hoshi jumped away again and he followed, both slashing at each other and dodging before coming back together. Hoshi watched in amazement as he formed a poison whip from his claws and slashed at her, but she was able to dash out of the way of each swipe. Sesshomaru just raised a eyebrow lightly. Hoshi was definitely more than what she appeared. The dog demon began to slash even more wildly and faster at the hybrid demoness. She just continued to dash out of the way or even was a bit daring and used her arm to block the whip. Finally, Sesshomaru decided to test her speed and darted at her, ending his whip and just resorting to his claws again. She understood and ran into the trees with him right on her heels, both seeming to dance as they raced and slashed at each other. Sesshomaru waited for the right moment and finally saw but a lesser demon than himself wouldn't have ever seem, a opening through her defenses. He immediately took it and zoomed forward, grabbing her by the throat and holding her tightly there. Her eyes widened in shook. Sesshomaru dropped her only a second afterward, so she wouldn't choke or freak out at the fact she was being held by the throat.

"You are more than you appear, Hoshi. You were quite the challenge however."

The demoness glared at him for a moment before rubbing the back of her neck.

"Yeah, but I lost. If you were an enemy, I'd be dead.

Sesshomaru looked at her, surprise flickering in his eyes before his usual blank mask appeared again. It appeared she was hard on herself about her fighting skills, and her pride was a bit wounded about the fact she had lost.

"But you fight well."

Both were lightly breathing hard, seeing as they were a close match. Hoshi just shrugged lightly before turning away and walking off. Ouch, her pride must be hurt more than he could think.

'Nice job,' his inner demon snarled.

Sesshomaru couldn't even think of an answer. He didn't mean to wound her like that, honestly, but as he thought about it she had never lost a fight. If she had, she'd be dead. Great.

'You hurt future mates feelings! Go heal what you broke, stupid!'

'She is not my future mate!'

'Is too. You know it, so shut up and just put down your pride for a moment to comfort her!'

Sesshomaru sighed and walked after the demoness. No one had better see this. He found her sitting on a rock watching the sun rise up from the horizon. Dawn. He hadn't realized it was that early in the morning.

"Hoshi?"

She just turned around and looked at him, smiling weakly.

"Sesshomaru? Do you need to say something?"

"Hn."

She assumed that meant yes, but when she continued to stare him down he just blankly stared at her back. Never mind. She turned away from the demon lord and just stared up at the brightening colors of the dawn.

'Do something,' his inner demon hissed.

'What do you want me to do, get on my knees and plead for her forgiveness,' Sesshomaru growled angrily.

'That would do.'

'NO!'

Sesshomaru thought about it for a moment and remembered what he did with Rin when she was upset to comfort her. He didn't know if Hoshi would like it, but he might as well try, seeing as he had no other ideas. His inner demon approved.

'Of course he wouldn't say sorry,' Hoshi thought sadly and it honestly felt like her pride had been crushed a bit.

Suddenly, to Hoshi's utter shock, two hands gently dropped on her shoulders and turned her around to face the body they belonged to. She stared up at Sesshomaru in shock and amazement when she was suddenly pulled up against his body and his arms circled around her. She blankly stared over his shoulder. Was this happening? Was Sesshomaru, lord of the western lands and a powerful dog demon, hugging her? Hugging her, of all people? She'd seen him hug Rin, but her, seriously? Before she knew what she was doing, her arms had returned the unexpected hug and they stood there for a who knows how long, just holding each other.

'I'm sorry,' Sesshomaru's hug said to her, she knew that.

'I know, I forgive you,' her body gently sent back.

Meanwhile, Inuyasha and Kagome were having a problem of their own. Rin had woken up to find Hoshi gone and she alone in her bed, and she was clearly upset.

"W-Why did she leave me?"

"Rin, she left last night after you fell asleep to find a place to sleep for the night! She didn't feel comfortable last night!"

The little girl couldn't stand it anymore. She shot to her feet as though she'd been bitten and ran out of the hut as fast as her little legs could carry her. She heard the couple in the hut let out a curse or two before following her. She knew what was on their minds. If she got hurt or did something stupid or reckless, Sesshomaru would kill them.

"Momma!"

Hoshi's ears perked up and she turned away from Sesshomaru's hug to look in the direction of the village.

"Hoshi," Sesshomaru questioned softly.

"MOMMA!"

Rin's distressed scent washed over them and they could sense it in the very air.

'RIN!'

Hoshi tore herself out of Sesshomaru's arms and took off for the village, the dog demon right on her heels. She was so intent on getting to her pup, she didn't even notice she was a blur to those who saw her zoom past or she was even a bit faster than the demon lord! She raced down to Kagome's and Inuyasha's hut to see her pup at the bottom of their path to the village, beginning to run to the village. She saw the miko and hanyou right behind her, but that didn't matter.

"PUP!"

Rin whirled around just in time to see Hoshi scoop her up in her arms and Sesshomaru right behind her. The girl clung to the demoness with all her strength, weeping lightly into Hoshi's shoulder. Sesshomaru looked down at his pup and even placed a hand on the little girl's head for his comfort. Kagome and Inuyasha rushed up to them and sent them a "I'm sorry" look, but Hoshi didn't fall for it.

"What did you do," Hoshi hissed.

"We did nothing! She freaked out when she saw you were gone, wench," Inuyasha spat back.

Hoshi looked down at Rin, her features softening. Rin was worried about her leaving her alone? Rin looked up to and Hoshi saw her suspicions confirmed in those teary eyes.

"Rin," Hoshi murmured. "I will never leave you. Never."

Rin gave a weak smile and buried her face into Hoshi's throat. Sesshomaru gently ran his fingers through his pup's hair before looking at his brother and sister-in-law. He nodded at them before moving his hand to Hoshi's shoulder, gaining her attention. They shared a knowing gaze and Hoshi turned to look back at the couple one last time.

"Thank you for watching Rin. I'm sorry for accusing you."

The couple nodded as they watched Sesshomaru and Hoshi race off with their pup. Kagome smiled. Sesshomaru and Hoshi were acting like a couple and when they had looked at each other, she had sworn she had seen love and affection in their eyes. Even in Sesshomaru's, though his eyes were usually blank. There was definitely something between them, she wasn't even unsure or hesitant anymore about that fact. Inuyasha saw the expression on his mates face and wondered what she might be thinking about. He, being his somewhat usual oblivious self, had missed the whole thing.

'They were meant to be,' Kagome thought as the watched the two disappear into the woods.

"I'm sorry Rin that I worried you."

Rin looked up at her mom with a smile.

"It's okay mommy, I forgive you!"

Hoshi returned the smile with one of her own, before pulling her pup into a tight hug. Sesshomaru watched the two with a soft expression on his face. How he enjoyed the presence of his pup and Hoshi, his pup's mother and his friend.

'You mean future mate,' his inner demon mused.

Sesshomaru just mentally sighed and didn't even try to even yell at his inner demon, for once. His inner demon was pleased.

'Maybe he has accepted her as his mate after all,' his inner demon muttered to himself as he gently went back to slumber in Sesshomaru's mind.

Sesshomaru ignored his inner demon and thought about the battle with Hoshi earlier. He looked in her cave and noted, there were no weapons.

"Hoshi?"

She just looked at him with a questioning gaze as Rin silently just watched and observed what was going on.

"Your weapons?"

"Ah. I use daggers, ninja stars, and spears. But my main weapon is a staff with foot long crystal like blades on each end."

Sesshomaru noted she didn't mention a sword, but her main weapon was interesting to him.

"I see. Where are your weapons?"

"I lost them the night the dragons attacked me, the night of the storm. I went to find them about a good three weeks afterward and I did find where they landed, but they weren't there, to my regret."

"Hn. You don't use a sword?"

"No. I have tried to use them, but I never got the hang of them. I never was taught by my father before he died to show me how to use swords."

"I will teach you."

Hoshi stared at him for a long moment as if not knowing what to make of him and his offer before she smiled a stunning smile he immediately adored.

"I'd like that."

As she turned to head off for her cave and he watched her retreating figure, Sesshomaru decided he wanted her to smile like that again.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and hey, Jaken finally made a appearance except not in a really nice way . Hmm, Sesshomaru and Hoshi's feelings are growing :D Review please!