'I wonder what he would say now,' Hoshi thought softly to herself.
The demoness had been thinking about her past hard since her battle with the tiger demon she had defeated not an hour ago. Before her time with the demon who had taken her in as his own, she had been an inexperienced fighter barely able to win half the battles she had been forced into but yet she still managed to win with her claws and daggers, the only things her true father had ever been able to teach her before his death. Yes, her true father had taught her how to survive in the wilderness and how to forge weapons, but how did those things help her in battle? She had received countless fatal wounds and numerous scars in her younger years, but she survived them all. Then he had come. He saved her, though he hadn't even known her, and taken her in as his own into his protection. Never had she thought another would care for her fate, but he did. He had taught her everything she knew now. How to properly fight with her daggers and claws, how to use her elements though he didn't even know them himself except poison which he helped her master, how to faster than enemies and find weaknesses, how to be fearless and strong during hard times in battle or elsewhere, and taught her to fight with new weapons and techniques sharing his own battle secrets with her! Hoshi was an experienced powerful warrior now! The only times she had been horribly injured in battle were when the two asian demon dragons attacked her in the sky and when the frog demon got hold of her at Tiger Lake. But there were times when even he, the powerful demon he was, got horribly injured. Because of his training and his fatherly feelings toward her, she was still alive knowing he wanted her to move on and live her life though he was gone from this world. She wouldn't ever see him again in this life, but she would honor his memory by using what he taught her and how he had forever changed her until they met again in the next life.
"Momma, are you going to be okay?"
Hoshi looked up from wrapping her wounded arm to find her pup gazing at her with an upset expression on her face, her eyes sparkling with unshed tears. The demoness immediately felt concern radiate through her being.
"I'm fine, pup. Nothing that won't heal within a few days."
She pulled Rin into her lap and hugged her tightly to her chest, trying to comfort the upset child. Rin sniffed softly and buried her face into Hoshi's neck letting the warmth and comfort Hoshi's embrace gave her take away her concern and pain. She never wanted to see her mother be hurt like that again. But Hoshi hadn't been nearly as injured as the tiger demon had been and the wounds where nowhere near serious, she knew that now. She would be fine.
"Don't fret, little one," Hoshi crooned softly to her, petting her hair softly.
How couldn't she? It was all her fault Hoshi had been hurt! She had run into the woods leaving her mother behind but if she hadn't gone this wouldn't have happened at all! Hoshi must have sensed the way her thoughts were going because she began to rock her pup back and forth comfortingly.
"It is not your fault, Rin. You were only playing and nothing more, so do not blame yourself. Things like this happen."
Rin's eyes closed before she leaned her head against Hoshi's shoulder. She hated to admit it to herself, but Hoshi was right. She couldn't blame herself, it truly wasn't her fault. It was the tiger demon's, for being so close to the village and daring to attack her. She was glad the battle was over and done with, and her mother was alright. But one thing bothered her. Where the heck was Inuyasha during the battle? Usually he would have showed up yelling "Wind Scar" and ignoring Hoshi's protest to let her take care of this herself.
'I wish daddy was here,' Rin thought softly. 'He could of have helped Hoshi!'
Hoshi gently brushed her pup's hair away from her eyes before her elfin looking ears perked up catching angry and panicked voices approaching the hut. Apparently they had guests. But as she continued listening in, she was able to pick up who it was. She stood up carrying her pup before walking outside to meet their visitors. Rin quietly remained in her arms but completely alert to what was going on. The group of people approached them and Rin could see Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo approaching them.
"Hoshi, Rin," Kagome gasped. "Are you alright?"
"Of course we are. Why do you ask, miko?"
"We saw a dragon demon fighting a tiger demon above the trees due west and we were worried about you because you didn't show up in the village!"
'Crap they noticed.'
"I see," Hoshi replied softly, not knowing what else to say.
"Didn't you see it?"
"No, I didn't."
"But may I ask where you were when we were at the village protecting the villagers? I thought you would have shown up though!"
"I was protecting Rin," Hoshi stated. It was the truth, after all.
'So that is where Inuyasha was.'
"I found the tiger demons body in the woods," Inuyasha spoke up before his mate could reply. "I couldn't find the scent of the dragon demon as it only appeared in the sky and I couldn't get up high enough to get a whiff of it."
"Yes, but that concerns me," Miroku replied before Hoshi could.
"You guys we can speak of this later," Kagome scolded lightly. "Hoshi and Rin are okay as well! No one was hurt and we should be grateful the dragon demon didn't target us."
Hoshi winced lightly at the last statement. Why would she ever attack the village when she lived here? But her friends didn't know who the 'dragon demon' was however so she couldn't blame them. She would actually prefer not to tell them it was her, but things were starting to work their way to forcing herself to do so. She didn't want them attacking her if she ever was in her true form.
This matter is too big a concern, Kagome. The dragon demon might still be in the area and may attack a nearby village or even us later on! We should eliminate the demon to ensure everyone's safety."
"I agree with Miroku," Inuyasha stated. "We should kill it while we have the chance!"
Hoshi lowered her head forward until her bangs covered her eyes. She didn't like the direction this conversation was taking. But thank the stars she rarely transformed to her true form so she shouldn't be concerned but.. why did it bother her so? Rin stared almost in disbelief at her friends. Didn't they realize the pain they were causing her mother?
"That dragon demon was scary," Shippo whined lightly.
"I agree with you, Shippo," Miroku answered. "It carried a powerful aura and I could feel its power from a mile away."
"But I didn't feel any evil aura," Kagome snapped. "The dragon demon didn't have a single ounce of an evil aura in its body! I sensed a pure power, quite like mine."
Hoshi could barely listen to her friends talk anymore. She truly was grateful to Kagome for standing up for her, though unknowingly on her part. She could feel her pup shaking lightly, out of rage or fear she didn't know but she didn't want to find out, honestly.
"We should still kill it," Inuyasha snapped back.
"If that is all the business you had with me," Hoshi stated coldly. "I will be going now."
The others stared at her to see a pained expression on her face but a dead look flickered in the demoness's eyes, almost looking sad. What had gotten into her? Hoshi put down Rin before turning away, intending to walk into her hut and hopefully ignore what the others were saying but hoping they'd leave. She couldn't bear to listen anymore. Rin finally lost it. How could they say such things!
"How could you," the little girl shrieked angrily.
Silence was her answer as the others stared her down completely baffled by her reaction. Hoshi even had stopped in her tracks to listen in to what her pup had to say. She could smell the fury on her pup's scent but she also detected.. pain and hurt? Was her pup affected by what the others had said, just like her?
"What is with you," Inuyasha growled. "We are trying to exterminate a demon here to ensure the safety of others, so whats your problem?"
"You still don't get it do you," Rin growled.
"Rin, what are you talking about," Kagome gently asked.
"That dragon demon you all were talking about killing! You don't understand do you!"
Kagome was completely confused. What was Rin going on about? The others stared down the little girl trying to get what she was going at. Hoshi stared at the ground in front of her, waiting for the moment her pup would spill.
"Are you telling us to not kill that demon," Miroku asked kindly.
"Yes!"
"Why," Shippo asked his best friend. "That dragon demon is scary! Didn't you see how big it was and how powerful it was?"
"YOU STILL DON'T GET IT! DON'T YOU GET THAT THAT DRAGON DEMON WAS HOSHI!"
Stunned silence met Rin's statement as the others gazes shot to the demoness who had gone very stiff in her back. The little girl could see amazement flicker in their eyes for a moment before understanding filled their expressions.
"Hoshi, we didn't know.."
"It's fine," the demoness spit out.
"No, it's not. We're sorry we didn't know."
"It's truly fine, Kagome."
"We're really sor-"
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT," Hoshi shrieked.
Hoshi whipped around to face them with a graceful turn on her part, but no one else noticed that part. All they could see was Hoshi's red eyes glowing in utter fury. Rin immediately could feel the strong demonic aura that surrounded the demoness but quickly could see it glowing a bright blue around her. Her mother had lost control of herself and her inner demon was taking over! Hoshi had once told her in the past her inner demon didn't take hearing or being almost killed over and over well at all and whenever that happened, her inner demon went into a rage. She couldn't take it anymore!
"NO MOMMA!"
Rin leaped forward dodging the people who no longer even registered in Rin's mind as they tried to grab her. No one would get in her way of getting to Hoshi! The little girl ran straight to the shaking demoness and threw her arms around her waist tightly, closing her eyes.
"DON'T TRANSFORM MOMMA!"
Hoshi stilled at the sound of her pup's voice before registering what was happening. Her inner demon was shrieking angrily in her head and trying to force her to shift to her true form to cut down those who dared threaten her. Hoshi froze in horror. NO!
'How dare they threaten us,' her inner demon screamed.
'NO!'
'No one lives who dares threaten us!'
'They are our friends!'
'Not anymore,' her inner demon spit angrily.
'STOP!'
Hoshi immediately began to fight against her inner demon against the control she had over her. Her inner demon growled angrily but didn't put up much of a fight.
'Why do you do this,' her inner demon whispered. 'They try to kill us.'
'Because we'd be a monster if we killed the few who finally accepted us for who we are.'
Her inner demon quieted for a long moment but didn't release the hold she had over her. The demonic power still flowed through her veins and her body called for her to shift to her true form. They would see their true power! No one would stand in their way! Hoshi fought hard to gain control over herself.
'This cannot happen!'
Rin clung to her mother tightly, not releasing the hold on her waist she had. Hoshi couldn't transform! Hoshi shook her head side to side growling lightly but she made no move to pull Rin away or even try to move her feet forward. Rin could see her mother was fighting for control once again! She had seen Sesshomaru fighting for control over himself a few times during the times she accompanied him and even Inuyasha had battles with himself. Hoshi wouldn't harm her!
"Don't transform," Rin sobbed. "Stay with me!"
"I will."
The little girl gasped in surprise and her eyes shot up to gaze into Hoshi's eyes that were slowly fading back to normal. The demoness crouched onto the ground and let her pup hug her tightly who was sobbing lightly in relief before turning the hug. The others slowly approached her once again but stopped when her eyes snapped to them.
"Hoshi.."
"I'm sorry," the demoness softly replied.
They knew what she was apologizing for. Kagome lightly smiled and placed a hand on the demoness's shoulder, not afraid any longer.
"It's okay."
Hoshi gave a weak smile in return. She felt awful for almost transforming and losing herself to her inner demon, who would have killed them given the chance. But they forgave her and even understood. Never would she let her control slip away again. But as she gazed down at her pup, she would be eternally grateful to her.
'Thank you, Rin. If you hadn't been here, I would have done the unthinkable. Thank you.'
Wowness! Poor Hoshi, almost at the point of killing her friends D: Hmmm, I wonder who that mysterious demon is who saved Hoshi in her past.. XD I hope you enjoyed this chapter and review please, love to hear feedback!