"Gently grind the herb so it doesn't mix too fast or it won't work correctly," Kagome instructed softly.
Sango quietly nodded her understanding before obeying her friends command, trying to gently grind the herb into a powder. Kagome sighed lightly when she noticed her friend's struggle, obviously not understanding she was using too much force. The young miko reached out and took the bowl from her friend, before instructioning her how to grind the herb and even showing her how to do it. Sango was completely baffled. She hadn't thought making medicines could be this difficult! But once the demon slayer got used to the careful motion of her hand, Kagome smiled in satisfaction before returning her attention to her own medicine making. But she completely missed the amused blue eyed gaze she was getting from the demoness across from her.
"You are a very good teacher, Kagome," Hoshi laughed in amusment.
Kagome didn't know what to say. Hoshi rarely gave compliments to anyone but when she did, she obviously meant it. The miko felt a light blush coat her cheeks in her embarrassment but yet still felt flattered at the compliment. The demoness grinned before raising an eyebrow. Kagome wondered what the demoness was thinking, but she didn't have to wonder for long.
"Or just very strict and a perfectionist."
The miko's eyes widened before sputtering lightly. She grabbed the first herb she saw and playfully chucked it at the unsuspecting demoness who ducked under the flying object. Everyone began to laugh at Hoshi's expression but sobered up when she began to growl. She didn't like to be made fun of.
"Sorry Hoshi," Sango giggled.
"Your expression was too funny," the miko countered.
Hoshi finally had to smile. She hadn't ever been able to stay mad or irritated for long despite any situation. This one, however, was amusing despite it all. The demoness finally joined in on their laughter and relieved how nice it was to laugh, being as it was she rarely laughed in the past. It was.. enjoyable.
"Momma? What's so funny?"
Hoshi looked in the doorway to find her pup standing there with a confused expression on her little heart shaped face with a equally confused Shippo beside her.
"Ah, your Aunt Kagome here thought it would be funny to throw herbs at a certain someone."
Rin gasped in mock horror and playfully glared at Kagome who pretended to look ashamed. Hoshi wanted to groan lightly but held her tongue, instead just rolling her eyes in response. Finally, Rin skipped to her side and threw herself almost literally into her mother's lap, almost making the other two adult women go 'aww' in response. Hoshi smiled when Rin nuzzled her gently and immediately returned the gesture and wrapped her arms around the child. Kagome couldn't help it.
"Awww," she cooed. "That's so cute!"
The mother and pup just stared at her before smiling in response. That wasn't the first time they'd heard that one, but would never be the last either.
"Lady Kagome," a dark voice boomed outside.
The miko heard urgency in the man's voice and hurried outside to find two men helping a wounded villager up to the hut. Blood dripped down the man's thigh in small rivers.
"What happened?"
Hoshi flinched lightly at the smell of blood approaching the hut. She could tell it was not a small wound by the amount and powerful stench of the human's blood but she kept her face quite blank despite the disgusting smell. Kagome helped the three men into her hut quickly speaking to the men of the accident. Apparently, the man had tripped on a rock in the fields and had fallen onto his shovel tearing a deep gash into his thigh, how that was even possible. Rin buried her face into her neck at the gruesome sight shuddering lightly. But Hoshi was not even disgusted or even made sick by the sight being as it was she had received greater and fatal wounds.
"Where is lady Kaede where I need her," Kagome fretted.
"I will help you."
The miko and her patient looked at the demoness in surprise. She just returned the gazes until Kagome smiled happily.
"Oh, thank you Hoshi!"
"I wish to take over, however."
Kagome's eyes widened in surprise. She was aware Hoshi had been helping her and Kaede with the healing for the past several weeks but had never seen it for herself. This might be a good opportunity to see what the demoness could do and how she healed. She glanced at the man who nodded his consent, not even bothered about this fact. Kagome nodded softly before moving out of the way taking Rin from Hoshi's arms as she passed the demoness. Hoshi crouched in front of the man, taking Kagome's earlier position.
"Please stay still sir," Hoshi commanded.
The man nodded slowly his understanding before gritting his teeth tightly waiting for any pain. Hoshi gently ran a talon down the side of the wound staring at the damage for a long moment. Rin was surprised. She hadn't seen her mother heal before and the calm expression on her face despite the gruesome wound was surprising. Hoshi didn't even appear disturbed or disgusted. Hoshi finally came to a conclusion and returned her attention to the man before her.
"The wound is not as serious as it appears. Kagome, my medicines please and one bowl of boiling water?"
The miko fetched the medicines and the water without a word, but continued watching with interest. Hoshi gently cleaned the wound carefully ensuring nothing was in the wound either from the fields before looking through her herbs for a moment and pulling out two bottles of medicines and a herb. She dropped the herb into the water before mixing the two medicines into another bottle completely silent and unreadable. Kagome was a bit baffled. The herbs and medicines she was using she had never seen before.
"I will be applying this to your wound," Hoshi said to the man quietly. "It will only be cleaning the wound and it will prevent any infections from getting in."
The man just nodded in response and awaited a stinging pain with gritted teeth. But to his surprise, it didn't even sting at all. It was instead cool and soothing to the wound. Kagome stared in shock at the man's expression. She had expected a groan of pain or even a pained expression, but it instead was one of wonder. She was going to question Hoshi once she was done.
"What is that?"
Hoshi smiled lightly at the man who had asked the question.
"It's only a different medication from the one your miko's use here. It does the exact same thing as the other, just as I said before, but it doesn't sting at all. Quite useful, actually, especially on more serious wounds."
Finally, the demoness offered the man bowl of medicine gently who took it with a confused expression on his face.
"This will only subdue the pain for now, but if you need of any more you may come to me for another cup."
The man nodded and drank slowly finding it wasn't bitter but slightly sweet and he watched as Hoshi wrapped the wound with practiced movements, ignoring the looks she was getting. Once done, she leaned back lightly and smiled at her patient.
"You are set to go. But do not work in the fields for at least two weeks and stay off that leg as much as possible. The longer you rest, the quicker it will heal. Understood?"
"Hai. Thank you, Hoshi."
"You are very welcome, my friend."
Hoshi helped the man to his feet before letting his friends gently lead him from the hut. The demoness watched them go quietly before looking down at her kimino, almost groaning a loud. It was covered in the mans blood and the stench lingered on the soft dark green fabric.
"How did you do that, Hoshi," Kagome questioned once they were gone.
"Just by using simple medicines and the usual healing," Hoshi snickered.
Kagome smacked Hoshi's shoulder playfully with a glare.
"You know what I mean!"
"Alright, alright. I use the exact same herbs as you do for healing, but I don't add the hugi herb which does make the medication sting."
"What? That's what prevents infection!"
"Yes, I am aware of that. Instead of using the hugi herb however I use the kenjin herb, that has the same properties but doesn't sting but instead sooths the wound."
Kagome's eyes lit up at the new piece of information. That would have been useful to know! Hoshi saw the look in the miko's eyes and quickly understood her path of thoughts. She wanted to use that recipe for that medication instead. Hoshi nodded lightly and the miko understood she was giving permission. Kagome hugged the demoness happily.
"Thank you, Hoshi!"
"Hn."
Kagome breathed in deeply and winced at the strong scent of blood coming from.. Hoshi's kimino? She felt the fabric careful not to touch the demoness herself and found it was damp with blood. Oh dear.
"You ruined your kimino."
Hoshi just raised a eyebrow lightly before finding a response.
"Eh, it doesn't matter. It's just a kimino."
"I think you need a bath," Kagome teased.
"I think I might take you up on that. Would you watch Rin while I-"
Hoshi never finished before Kagome overrode her with a protest.
"Oh, I was thinking since me and Sango haven't bathed since two days ago we might join you as well! Plus Rin is completely welcome to join us!"
Hoshi felt her face go dead white. Bathe with.. her friends. Yes, she was aware women and men bathed together but she.. didn't like that idea. She didn't want them to see.. No! Kagome noticed the panicked look in Hoshi's eyes.
"Hoshi?"
"I would prefer to bathe alone," she bit out.
Kagome was a bit surprised at Hoshi's answer. She thought she wouldn't mind, but she was far from right. But Hoshi didn't seem happy with that idea. Rin didn't seem to notice however and leaped at her mother.
"Come on momma!"
"But I.."
"Please?"
Hoshi bit her lip once she saw her pup's puppy eyes. She knew she was completely helpless under that gaze and quickly looked away before she surrendered. She couldn't do this one.
"No, Rin."
Rin stared at her mother in shock. Never had her mother said no to her. What she usually requested was easy and she had thought this wasn't too big a request! But why did she look so.. panicked? Kagome decided to take over.
"May I ask why, Hoshi?"
"I.. don't feel comfortable with it."
Suddenly, Kagome understood. Hoshi had never bathed with anyone before and probably had never revealed her body to others before. She was afraid of what they would think if she had anything to hide.
"That is quite alright, Hoshi. You can take a bath privately and we will go after you."
Hoshi sent her friend almost a thankful look before looking at her pup, who looked quite sad.
"But Momma, why?"
"I just said, I don't feel very comfortable with it."
"May I come with you?"
"No, Rin. I.. prefer to bathe alone. Stay here with Kagome."
Before her pup could protest, Hoshi was gone. Rin stared almost in shock at the door, knowing where her mother had gone but why didn't she take her? She had never seen her mother act this way before! Usually she was playful, kind, and very unafraid but Rin swore she had seemed.. frightened. Kagome noticed Rin's gaze and began to wonder as well. She had a feeling Hoshi was hiding something.. but what did her body have to do with it?
'What was I thinking?'
Hoshi dropped her things by the hot spring with slow movements before staring at the bubbling water. She hadn't meant to act the way she had with her friends and pup. Sooner or later they'd see her body, but that wasn't what she was so nervous about. She was completely aware women and men bathed usually with their own sexes but she.. had never bathed with another except for one time but that had been before – she stopped that thought. She'd been alone almost her whole life so that had never been a concern of hers. She was afraid of what they would think of the scars on her flesh. She couldn't let them see the truth, either! They couldn't know, she wasn't ready. She stripped of her clothes and dropped into the water, washing the vile smell of blood from her body. She stared up at the moon for a long moment, wondering when it would be time to tell her friends as she ran her talons down the gruesome scar on her chest.
Uugh, I kinda hate this chapter but eh, it got what I wanted out of it sooo I hope you all enjoy this anyways. Ooooh Hoshi's hiding a secret and what does that scar got to do with it? Whats the story she isn't ready to share? Hmmm we'll find out later on :D Enjoy and review!