'Where is Momma,' Rin thought repeatingly to herself.
The little girl was gazing out the window with a sad but longing look on her little heart shaped face, completely lost in her thoughts. Her mother had yet to return from wherever she had gone earlier that day and it was getting late in the evening growing darker with each passing minute of time. The sky was a rippling swirl of dark orange, red, and pink but the beautiful sunset did little to distract Rin. Where was her momma? Why hadn't she returned, had she gotten attacked and was greatly wounded in the woods without any help? But Rin knew deep down Hoshi was okay. She just hoped she would return soon.
'Please hurry home, momma.'
Rin jumped down from the stool she'd been standing on to stare out the window before putting it back in place by the fireplace. She heard the soft murmurs of the demon slayer, miko, and the hanyou in the farther part of the hut probably speaking of some adult topic she wouldn't even understand about. She sighed and went to join their circle. It would probably take her mind off the fact Hoshi hadn't returned and besides, they were her friends. Kagome looked up at the child with a tender look.
"Are you alright, Rin?"
"I'm okay, Kagome," the little girl responded softly. "I'm just worried about momma."
"We are too," the miko replied after glancing at the other two for a moment.
"Don't worry about Hoshi," Sango soothed. "She will return without a doubt. She may have just had to attend to a duty in the village."
Inuyasha just lightly snorted at that but the two women quickly glared in response but luckily Rin didn't pick it up. They didn't want poor Rin to worry herself even farther. The little girl sat down between the two women and accepted the small bowl of soup from the pregnant demon slayer with a soft smile.
"Thanks."
"Eat up," Sango playfully responded, ruffling the little girl's hair softly.
Rin smiled and slowly began to sip at the warm broth watching the three older people talk of old times when they were on the journey to defeat Naraku. The name sent chills up the little girl's spine. She did miss old times though, when she was able to travel with Lord Sesshomaru and the others journeying around Japan before Naraku was defeated. It had been dangerous and scary, but at the same time a whole exciting and fun adventure. She wouldn't give it up for the world.
"Naraku really was a pest," Inuyasha was saying. "Good thing the bastard finally died."
"I know," Kagome laughed lightly. "But it was my fault the sacred jewel got shattered and the whole adventure started."
Inuyasha immediately began rubbing his mate's back in comfort when a sad expression came over her face. Kagome obviously still blamed herself for the damage and death's Naraku caused because of the jewel she had shattered by pure accident. Rin would feel a bit bad if she were in the miko's place, but if she hadn't all the adventure she had wouldn't have happened nor would she have possibly met the monk and demon slayer. Kagome laid her head against her husband's shoulder and sighed lightly.
"It's not your fault," Inuyasha growled. "It was a accident."
"Yea," Kagome slowly agreed.
Rin glanced out the window and saw to her shock it was completely dark and obviously later than she had expected. How had she lost so much track of time? She realized her mother hadn't returned yet and she began to panic a bit. Hoshi wouldn't have taken this long to attend to a duty in the village! The little girl got to her feet with a rush and the others looked at her in surprise before noticing the upset look on her face.
"Momma hasn't returned yet," Rin cried.
"I know, but she'll be here soon," Kagome answered, grabbing her hand lightly.
"But what if she's hurt! Or if she is in big trouble!"
"Rin," Sango spoke up. "Hoshi is a strong demoness warrior. She can protect herself and I know she will return, and I'll bet she's fine but she is just taking her time to attend to things."
"What if she doesn't return?"
"I will always return," a sad voice spoke up from behind them.
The four others whipped around to see the young demoness slip into the hut carrying two large daggers in her hands with a weary expression on her face. Rin squealed with delight and leaped at her mother, forcing Hoshi to quickly put the weapons on the table next to her to catch the little girl so she wouldn't fall to the floor. Hoshi picked up the child and hugged her.
"Momma!"
Hoshi smiled gently and ran her hand through her pup's hair gently, ruffling it out a bit. She suddenly glanced behind her at something outside before moving out of the doorway quickly and to everyone's surprise Sesshomaru walked in. Rin gasped and almost jumped out of her mother's arms trying to get to Sesshomaru, but the demoness quickly handed over the eager child to her father before something bad happened. The dog demon accepted her and held her in his arms, letting Rin hug him tightly.
"Daddy, your back!"
"Hn."
Sesshomaru rubbed soothing circles into Rin's back waiting for her to release her grip on him, but aware that might not be for awhile. Kagome suddenly grinned. Was this why the demoness had sneaked out, to see Sesshomaru? Hoshi must have seen or sensed where her thoughts were going, because she glared at the miko but shook her head lightly. Darn. But hopefully one of these days that might be the case. Kagome chuckled lightly. Inuyasha didn't even seem to notice because his golden gaze were on the daggers.
"What are those?"
"Oh," Hoshi responded almost sadly. "Those are my mother's weapons forged from her own fang."
There was a small silence as everyone took that in. Sesshomaru didn't seem a bit surprised, but Rin looked completely amazed with a wondering look on her face.
"Those are your momma's?"
"Yes. My uncle came by today and gave them to me," Hoshi answered before shooting Kagome a look.
So that is where Hoshi had gone off to? To see her uncle? But didn't she say she didn't have a single friend before Rin?
"Hoshi, that doesn't make sense. I thought you said you had no friends or family in the world before Rin."
Hoshi looked a bit panicked and strained at Sango's words. The others watched her face carefully. Was she keeping a secret? The demoness finally sighed lightly. Might as well tell them a little more of her past or they'd probably pester her a bit later. She looked away as she began to speak.
"Rin isn't the first friend I've ever had," Hoshi softly said. "I've had three besides her, but two of them are dead now and my uncle I don't see often so I don't really count him. My Uncle Kaito is the only family member that doesn't try to kill me but I figure he does that to respect my mother's wishes. She wanted me to live."
"So you lied to us," Kagome asked hurt.
"Miko, my past isn't something I like to talk about. It's too painful for me to remember a lot of the time. We all have secrets, even you. So don't accuse me of things that you do as well. I cannot tell you everything and you have no reason to know these things."
"I knew," Rin whispered to the two human women but she was ignored.
Kagome stared at the sudden cold tone of the demoness's voice. Hoshi must really hate her past and it truly must be too painful for her to talk about even to the closest to her. She noticed the strange look in Sesshomaru's eyes but didn't say anything to the demon lord. It might be better if they left. Sesshomaru looked a bit protective all a sudden and Hoshi looked like she might cry, but Rin didn't really notice as her attention was on her father.
"We should be going."
Inuyasha and Sango both picked up on the command and stood up, heading for the door with soft murmured goodbye's. Hoshi looked a bit sad suddenly and grabbed Kagome's upper arm as she passed. The other two looked back for a moment before slipping out of the hut quickly, seeing the look on the demoness's face.
"I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to tell you everything," she whispered softly, looking pained.
"It's okay. I will be waiting until you are ready. Goodnight, Hoshi, Rin, Sesshomaru."
Hoshi nodded lightly before releasing the miko, watching as she slipped out of the hut with the others. There was a momentarily silence as she turned to Sesshomaru and Rin, both watching her with expressions she couldn't exactly figure out.
"Momma?"
"Yes, Rin?"
"Your momma gave that to you," Rin questioned pointing at the daggers.
"Hai."
"Momma, what was your mommy like?"
Hoshi stilled and hesitated for a moment before slipping out the picture she had been given earlier, handing it over to her pup. Rin opened it up and stared at it. Sesshomaru even looked at it and at the sight of a younger Hoshi in her mother's arms, had to smile lightly. So these were her parents? He looked up to see a sad heartbroken gaze on the demoness's face as she stared at nothing, obviously lost in her own thoughts.
"This is your momma?"
"Indeed it is," Hoshi softly whispered.
"What is her name?"
Hoshi hesitated for a moment.
"Kasumi."
"Your daddy?"
"Daiki."
"Your parents are beautiful."
Hoshi strainfully laughed in response. Sesshomaru glanced at the demoness for a moment before looking back at the picture, immediately seeing the resemblance between the parents and daughter. There was no doubting Hoshi wasn't their pup. She was truly a mix between the two, but himself and his hanyou brother looked like their father. He felt a small stab of pain for the demoness. She never really knew her parents, while he had known his father during the time he was alive and his mother was still alive today.
"Kasumi and Daiki," Rin suddenly said happily as she gazed at the picture. "Thanks for creating Hoshi and letting me meet her, she's the best momma I could ever have!"
Hoshi felt tears stab the back of her eyes at her pup's words. Rin was grateful to her parents for bringing her into the world? During the beginning of her life she had thought her life was a curse but now, it seemed a true blessing. But she didn't see the flash of agreement in Sesshomaru's eyes. Rin noticed her mother's expression and gave the picture to her father.
"Momma, are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Hoshi whispered.
Rin reached out to her mom, seeing the tears growing in those eyes and the demoness took her pup into her arms. The two girls hugged each other tightly. Hoshi tried hard not to cry, but it was hard because it had been awhile since she had last cried. Sesshomaru watched the two with affection glowing in his eyes and watched as his pup released a long yawn before blinking repeatingly. Hoshi also noticed it.
"It's time for bed, pup."
"Okay, momma."
Hoshi walked into the back part of the hut with their pup, leaving Sesshomaru alone. He looked at the picture of Hoshi's parents Rin had given him and could see the love between the trio easily. Her parents must have truly loved her, because they died to let her live. Was that what his own father, Inutaisho, had been doing when he had gone after Izayoi and his newborn pup, Inuyasha? Died to protect her? Sesshomaru didn't know what to think of his father now. He had been angry at him for dying such a pathetic death and leaving him and his other worthless son alone without their dad, but what had been his last thoughts before he died? He gazed at her mother, thinking he had seen her somewhere from before when a soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"Sesshomaru?"
He glanced up to see Hoshi slowly approaching, her eyes on him. Sesshomaru nodded lightly at the picture and her gaze followed his but he didn't miss the pained look in her eyes. She must really miss them, like he did his own father.
"You miss them?"
"Hai," she murmured. "I may have never really knew them, but I wish I had. I just wish both of them were still here now."
"Hn."
"At first, I really hated my parents with everything inside me. I blamed them for all my misery and pain my life was and cursed them for it but wondering why they had brought me into the world when they knew what my life would be like. But now, I realize they brought me into the world because of their love. And they died because they loved me and wanted me to live my life to the fullest I could. They wanted me to be happy. I understand now. And I forgive them for what they did."
Sesshomaru glanced at the demoness in small surprise. She had forgiven her parents at last for leaving her at such a young age alone in the world without them? He pondered this. Would he be able to forgive his own father for leaving him? He didn't show it to his dad during their last moments together, but he did love his father and had wanted him to do what he thought was right. And he died because of it. Would he someday forgive Inutaisho? But as he gazed at the demoness, he hoped he would be able to do the same as she had.
"My mother seemed to know she would die, because she gave me this."
Hoshi pulled out another piece of paper from her yellow kimino and gazed at it sadly. Sesshomaru wondered what she meant but was a bit surprised when the demoness offered it to him. She smiled softly.
"You can read it."
Sesshomaru accepted the folded up parchment and opened it slowly, waiting to see if the demoness changed her mind. She didn't it seemed, so when it was fully opened he read the letter briefly before feeling a bit sad inside. What would his own father have said to him if he knew he was going to die? But the last words Inutaisho had said to him were 'Do you have someone to protect?' At the time, he had been a bit baffled by his words but now he understood what his father had meant, because of Rin and Hoshi, who was slowly beginning to help him understand it farther.
"Sesshomaru?"
"I am sorry for your loss, Hoshi."
She shrugged lightly.
"It's what my parents wanted to ensure I would live. It pains me but I understand their sacrifice now."
'Sacrifice,' Sesshomaru thought softly to himself, a bit moved by what she had said.
"Kasumi and Daiki were legends," she slowly spoke up again. "Now since their dead, their people say their legend is gone and destroyed, but spoiled because of their last stands. But I know something now. I am their continuing legacy and they both live on in me. I am their daughter, through and through."
Sesshomaru looked at the picture of her parents again for a moment.
"You know," Hoshi whispered. "If they were here now, I just wonder if they would be proud of me."
The demon lord gently grabbed Hoshi's chin and raised her head up until she was looking him in the eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears and he gently wiped one away with the pad of his thumb, making her lip tremble.
"They would be proud of you," he declared softly.
Awwww Sesshomaru comfort ^^ I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review, love hearing feedback! :D