"It has been a long time, Hoshi."
"Not long enough I'm afraid," the demoness hissed coldly in response.
"Now now, dearest," he crooned softly. "No need to get hostile with me."
Hoshi couldn't help but glare at him, disbelief radiating throughout her being. He was kidding, right? Why shouldn't she be hostile with him? He may be her uncle, but he wasn't close to her at all and he never came to see her except only when he was bored, probably. He barely even knew her! But her question was why did he even bother after all this time?
"Come, sit with me."
He slowly walked over to a broken tree and sat down, smoothing out his cloak before patting the spot beside him gently. The demoness glowered at him for a full minute, not liking this turn of events. What exactly was he up to? He hadn't done this before in the past, but he usually just spoke to her for a few moments before finally disappearing yet again from her life for who knows how long. So why now? She approached watching his every movement carefully before taking a seat herself, but as far from him as possible without him making a fuss. He sighed lightly.
"Do you really think I'm a threat, Hoshi?"
"You learn to be very careful and defensive around strangers," she growled.
"Stranger? I am no stranger to you," he gently replied.
"Actually you are. You barely know me and I barely know you so that makes us strangers."
"That may be true, but we are still family, Hoshi."
"How I'd like to believe that," she muttered.
He let out a long sigh, probably in exasperation, before lowering his hood so she could finally look him in the eye. Shoulder length light green hair was pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck, pale skin glowed lightly in the sun, and dark green eyes stared her down almost with regret. She glared at him in return, not liking the look he was giving her.
"You may think we aren't family, Hoshi, but we are linked by blood."
She was silent for a long moment obviously pondering this.
"True enough," she finally muttered.
He sighed lightly, running a hand through his hair shaking it out. He didn't really like how things were turning out.
"So how do you fare," he questioned gently.
"I fare well, uncle."
"That is good. I am glad things worked out for you after all."
She turned to look at him a eyebrow raised. What did he mean? He smiled gently at her when he saw the wondering look about her.
"I am aware you have taken in a human girl as your pup, correct?"
"How did you know about that," she growled furiously.
"I heard some of the villagers speaking of it in the village you reside. I was only passing through when I heard your name mentioned and figured out you must have faked your death, hmm?"
"I almost did die," she admitted. "But my pup saved me."
Kaito raised an eyebrow in response. His young powerful niece was saved by nothing but a mortal girl, a human no less? Hoshi didn't like the look he was getting in his eyes.
"You touch her, you will die," she threatened with a furious growl.
"I will not touch your human girl, Hoshi. I have no need to meddle in others affairs. That is your choice and I will not get in the way, but I would like to meet her one day perhaps."
Hoshi was a bit surprised by his answer, but didn't respond. It would be better if she remained silent for now. He glanced at the woods around him for a moment before returning his gaze to her.
"I am sorry, dearest," he softly said.
"Sorry?"
Hoshi was baffled. What on earth was he going on about?
"I would usually visit you every month to ensure you were well and safe, as you are aware, but since over 100 years have passed since our last meeting I-"
"Wait," she said overriding him. "Did you say 100 years?"
"Yes?"
"But I thought it was only 50 years ago, not 100! How did the time go?"
"Yes, I know," he crooned softly. "I tried to come to you like usual, every month, but my leaders must have sensed I was up to something because I suppose they saw me sneaking away for long periods of time. They began to have others track me to see what I was up to. I couldn't lead them to you, so I wandered senselessly around until only 6 months ago they gave up. I proved I was 'innocent' and immediately began to search for you when I was finally not being spied on!"
Hoshi was stunned. So that is where he was after all these years? He had been trying to protect her! She glanced away feeling quite ashamed of her quick judgment the moment she had seen him again. She heard him sigh before he gently grabbed her chin and gently forced her to look at him.
"I am sorry. I wanted to contact you, but I didn't out of fear for your safety. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."
"That's where you have been, all these years," she whispered softly to him.
"Yes."
She wiped her eyes, feeling tears begin to swell up. She wouldn't break down now! The last time she had completely broken down was when her adopted demon father had died in battle after she learned of his death. Kaito watched his niece gently waiting for her to recoup. When she did, he stared up at the sky for a long moment.
"You remind me so much of your mother," he murmured.
"Huh?"
"You are so much like her, your mother. You are kind and gentle, but I can see some of your father traits in you of course. My younger sister loved you like no other, Hoshi."
She glanced away. It was still hard to talk about her parents, even after all these years. How she had loved them.
"Hoshi, dearest?"
"Hai?"
"I know you barely can remember your mother. You were so young when she died that night so long ago protecting you so you might live. You probably cannot even remember your father very well."
His niece remained silent, but he knew she was listening. What he said was true, after all. She barely knew either of her parents, and they were probably nothing but a blur in her mind. He continued.
"But let me tell you this. Your mother and father loved you dearly and considered you their little angel from the heavens. They may be dead now, but they live in you, Hoshi. They are apart of you, flesh and blood, and always will be. They live in you. You are your parents continuing legacy. They were both powerful beings in their race and they fused their power in you. So don't hate them for dying. They died to protect you, so you might survive and live long in this world."
Hoshi felt tears swell up in her eyes at her uncles words. She was her parents continuing legacy? Her parents lived in her? Never had she heard those words spoken to her and it filled her with a deep pride and joy. Her uncle was right though. Her parents created her out of their love and she would forever cherish what they had done for her so she could live on. She wouldn't fail them! She only hoped they would be proud of her in the end, when she finally returned to them in the heavens.
"Hoshi?"
"Uncle Kaito?"
He reached inside his dark blue kimino and pulled out a long white box, offering it to her. She stared at it wearily. What was he giving her? He sighed when he saw her hesitation.
"Your mother wanted me to give this to you when you came of age. I believe now is that time."
"My mother?"
"Yes.. Before she died she told me to give this to you as her last gift to you. Please, accept what your mother wanted you to have."
Hoshi took the box from her uncle's hands and slowly took a deep breath. Never had she thought she was receive something from her deceased mother and yet now she was holding a gift her mother wanted her to have. She hadn't expected this at all when she had tracked down her uncle.
"Uncle Kaito?"
"Yes?"
"I know my mother had light green hair like me and sparkling dark green eyes. She was always smiling and had the most beautiful voice I had ever heard. But I..But.. I.."
Uncle Kaito's eyes got sad at the mention of his younger sister. He was a bit surprised Hoshi remembered her even at all. She had only been about the age of a 7 year old at the time of her mother's death and over 400 years had passed since that time. He thought it was quite amazing she even remembered those things.
"What is it," he questioned.
Hoshi took a deep breath before trying again.
"But I don't remember her name. What was my mother's name?"
"Your mother's name was Kasumi," Kaito whispered sadly.
"Kasumi…"
Hoshi closed her eyes for a long moment thinking hard of her mother's face but it wouldn't come to her. She couldn't remember, but she remembered what her hair color was and everything else. Why? How she wished she could remember. Her mother's face was just a blur. When she opened her eyes, she gazed at the box for a moment. She would accept this gift from her mother. Kasumi had wanted her to have it. Slowly she opened it and a piece of brown leather met her eyes, folded over something. She began to unfold the leather when two pieces of yellow parchment fell to the ground when the breeze blew them from the box.
"What's that," her uncle questioned.
Hoshi couldn't answer. Slowly the demoness bent over and picked up the two folded yellowed parchments before raising them to her eyes, finding her name on the back of one of them. She slowly placed the other paper in the box and slowly unfolded the paper, shaking. Once it was completely opened, her eyes widened. It was a letter from her mother! She slowly began to read.
My dearest Hoshi,
You will probably not remember me, maybe some or not at all. But I cannot blame you, Hoshi. You were so young at the time of my death that fateful day, the day that tore you and I apart. I am so sorry I left you before you were ready my little one. You will never know me, your mother, but let me tell you something. I will never regret the day I died to protect you so you might live, but I hope you will understand my sacrifice. I wanted you to live. I wanted you to be happy. You will never know how much I longed to be able to watch you grow up into the beautiful demoness you are now and how I wished to be there for you through it all. But I will never be able to do so. Hoshi, I love you beyond anything. You were my sweet pup, full of love and joy, my endless little sunshine. You were my pride and joy. I will understand if you hate me for leaving you but I hope one day I can gain your forgiveness. Hoshi, I may be dead and everyone thinks my legacy is over but it far from over. I forever live in you and my legacy lives in you, my daughter. My legacy is carried on by you. Never forget who you are, Hoshi. You are my daughter. My legacy. Never forget.
Love,
Your mother, Kasumi
Hoshi felt the hot tears swell up in her eyes before they spilled onto her cheeks. Her hands tightened lightly on the letter shaking lightly. Never had she imagined her mother had cared so deeply for her, enough to die to ensure she might live. She felt her uncle's worried gaze on her face, but she ignored that and reached for the other paper.
"Are you okay," he murmured.
"I'm fine," she shakingly replied.
She unfolded the parchment and stared, crying even harder. It was a picture of their family! Her mother stood in the left of the picture her light green hair pulled back into a ponytail with a leather headband around her forehead. Her dark green eyes were full of love and laughter. She wore a pink kimino with a brown sash around her middle. Next to her, stood her father. His sky blue hair was pulled back into a ponytail just like her mother and his sky blue eyes were crinkled at the sides full of laughter. Silver surrounded his eyes just like her! And in the center stood herself, full of smiles and happiness. They'd pulled her hair back as well to match her parents and her blue eyes twinkled happily as they all stared at her. Hoshi closed her eyes, feeling the tears drop from her cheeks.
"Hoshi?"
She wordlessly handed her uncle the picture and he inhaled softly.
"Oh, Hoshi," he whispered.
"It's okay. I finally understand."
He gave her a confused look but she ignored him. Hoshi slowly opened up the gift fully before staring at the gift itself, what her mother had wanted her to have. It was a pair of daggers, but not any pair. They were her mothers. The handles were a dark brown with green swirl decorations and to her surprise, small emeralds in certain places and large ones at the ends. The blade itself was a silver with a green sliver running through it to the sharp point. They were beautiful, but deathly. She heard her uncle gasp.
"She gave you her special daggers?"
"Special?"
"They aren't just any daggers, Hoshi. They appear as such, but they were made from one of your mother's fangs! They also hold this special power to when you click them together in a certain way they turn into large swords or if you pull the emeralds off here at the end they will link together and form a double sided blade!"
Hoshi gaped. No way! Her mother wouldn't give her something so valuable… but she did. She pulled out the daggers and immediately felt the power they held. She held a weapon that was forged from her mother's fang! She stood up and felt an urge to click the blades together to form a triangle like shape and gasped in shock as the blades grew in length to form the two swords at least 2 and a half feet long each. Her uncle stared.
"You have the power to wield them," he gasped.
"What do you mean?"
"Others used to try picking up the daggers to see if they could use Kasumi's sacred weapon, but when they touched it they electrocuted them or if they did manage to pick them up, would be very heavy and wouldn't let the user tap into the magic they had. You must be able to use them, because its your mothers fang and you are her daughter."
Hoshi stared at her new weapons and clicked them the way she had before, watching as they strunk back into their dagger forms. Her mother had given her this gift and she would never misuse them. She would honor her mother's last gift to her! Uncle Kaito came up behind her and turned her around, placing his hands on her shoulders staring firmly at her.
"Your mother believed in you, Hoshi. Don't fail her or make her regret giving you her most precious possession."
"I won't. I never will."
To her shock, Uncle Kaito yanked her into a hug and hugged her roughly. She didn't know what to do, especially since she held two daggers in her hands.
"I'm so sorry for leaving you, Hoshi. I hope you can forgive me."
"I do forgive you, uncle, but you aren't the only one I forgive. I forgive mother. I hated her at first for leaving me alone in the world without her, but now I understand. She did it to protect me. She did it because she loved me."
"Yes."
Suddenly there was a long angry growl behind Uncle Kaito and the two demons froze. Uh oh. Kaito slowly turned around to meet the outraged gaze of a certain dog demon lord behind him. Hoshi's eyes widened.
"Sesshomaru!"
Woah, so much has happened to Hoshi in this chapter! And uh oh, Sesshomaru is NOT happy XD let's see what happens in the next chapter! Enjoy and review please!