Hoshi gazed up at the cloudy but darkening sky with a smile on her face letting the light drizzle fall upon her gently. Never could another thing compare with the beauty of the rain. It was a time that the demoness found beautiful, peaceful, and enjoyable all at the same time, especially in her past. When she was lonely and pained the rain seemed to always come at the right time and Hoshi had loved it, letting it erase the past and letting her start anew. Not only did it clean the earth, but it also cleaned Hoshi's soul for her though others would never understand how and why. The demoness forever would treasure the rain. To others it just brought rain to water their crops or was even an annoyance that made humans and demons alike cower in their huts or shelters until it passed. But to Hoshi, it held a whole different meaning. She would simply stand in it enjoying the chill and the beauty it brought, watching as it filled the world with life and cleaned her scarred soul. Rain wasn't something that was taken lightly.

"Momma!"

The demoness stopped midstep and turned around to look at her pup, who was skipping to her side with a huge grin on her little face. Hoshi grinned in response. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who loved the rain.

"Rin likes the rain."

Hoshi glanced up at the sky for a moment pondering that before returning her gaze to her eager pup with a gentle smile. Rin was too young to completely understand Hoshi's love for the rain, but yet she could still tell her pup about her feelings and hopefully one day the little girl would understand her words. The demoness crouched down so she was at eye level with Rin. But little did they know, a certain dog demon was listening in.

"I do too, pup."

"It's so pretty!"

"Yes it is. I've always thought the rain was lovely."

"Momma, what is the rain?"

Hoshi blinked for a moment before finding a good response. Her pup waited patiently.

"Rain is simply water falling from the clouds and many find it only as a way to water their crops or to have water in their rivers during the warmer seasons," Hoshi gently replied. "But to me, rain is much more than that. One day, I hope you will understand. And I will give you a hint to what I mean. Without the rain, the world couldn't be clean nor would it may even be alive."

Rin looked around her for a moment before smiling at her mother. She wouldn't push the demoness for more information because she didn't fully understand what she had meant, but one day she hopefully would. But Rin could see Hoshi deeply loved the rain and for her, its meaning was very deep for her.

"Hai, Momma!"

Hoshi's gaze returned to the sky. The little girl withdrew a blue flower she had found earlier on the path from her kimino and offered it to the demoness, who raised an eyebrow lightly with a smile. Rin grinned back.

"This is for you, Momma."

The demoness gently ran her talons through her pup's hair before taking the flower, smiling.

"Thank you."

Rin squealed happily and launched herself at Hoshi, hugging her fiercely and the demoness immediately returned the gesture. Never would she ever stop loving this little girl. Her sweet little pup. Sesshomaru watched the two girls with a gentler expression than his usual, making Jaken a bit uneasy. His lord rarely showed emotion, but whenever Rin or even Hoshi was around he seemed to be a bit more.. open. It kinda freaked him out, honestly. The dog demon sniffed the air lightly and noted the rain was becoming more of a storm than a light drizzle. That meant he'd have to find a shelter for his companions and immediately knew he had to do so when he saw lightning in the distance.

"Come," Sesshomaru stated.

Hoshi picked up the little girl and placed her on her hip, following the dog demon lord into the woods. Hikaru leaped from the dragon demon's back as they passed, landing neatly on the demoness's shoulder with a soft bark. The two girls smiled in response. Rin reached over and snatched the little wolf demon from his perch before hugging him to her chest, petting his fur lightly making him growl happily at the attention.

"We will stay here for the night."

"Hai, milord!"

The demoness looked up to see the dog demon had found quite a large cave, big enough for the whole group to fit and still have room. Rin squealed happily before almost leaping from Hoshi's arms, chasing Hikaru into the cave. The others followed the two into the cave and Sesshomaru went and settled against one of the walls.

"Jaken, go get some wood," he commanded.

"But milord, the wood will be all wet and we can't start a fire!"

"Go get the wood," Hoshi suddenly snarled. "I'll take care of that."

Jaken immediately heard the threat behind the words because without another word he ran out of the cave before Sesshomaru could hit him for his disobedience. Oh well. The dog demon watched Hoshi interact with his pup and felt a deep contentment. His pup.. and his.. what exactly? He didn't think her as a friend, but he didn't think of her as a.. what was it called?

'Lover,' his inner demon prodded lightly.

'No.'

'Then what do you suggest we call her then, dog breath?'

'…'

Once his beast realized he wasn't going to get an answer just decided to quickly go back to sleep instead of anger his master. He knew Sesshomaru was completely aware of what to call Hoshi, but wouldn't admit it.. not yet. He'd just wait patiently. Sesshomaru was a bit surprised when his inner demon left him without a fight, but that did make him wonder about that. He was so lost in his thoughts, he missed when the imp wandered back into the cave with wood.

"Your loyal servant returns, milord!"

"Oh, save it for the fish," Hoshi grumbled.

Ignoring Jaken's whiny protests, she took the wood from his little arms and sat on a rock on the far wall. Rin watched with interest. What was her mother doing? Hoshi selected one of the logs and raised her hand above it before to her pup's amazement she saw the water being absorbed from the wood and into a small sphere in Hoshi's other hand. Sesshomaru even watched but his emotions were unclear to the others. Typical. Once all the water was withdrawn from the now dry log, the sphere turned into a snake like shape and Hoshi waved her hand, sending the water flying outside into the pouring rain. Rin clapped. Never had she seen her mother do that before!

"Here, Jaken. Start a fire."

The imp grumbled lightly but took the wood back from the demoness. He didn't want a bruise from being hit from her or Lord Sesshomaru, so he decided to play it nice.. for now. Hoshi kept repeating the process with the rest of the wood until all the firewood was at last dry and they were well stocked for the night. Rin was completely amazed by her mother's powers.

"Momma, that was so cool!"

"Hmm, glad you think so."

"Can you do it again?"

Hoshi laughed.

"Maybe another time."

Rin didn't protest. When her mother left a few minutes later to go fishing for their dinner that night, she approached her daddy with a curious expression. Sesshomaru wondered what was on her mind.

"Daddy?"

"Hn."

"Can you do what mommy just did?"

".. No."

"Oh, okay."

Rin looked a bit disappointed.

"This Sesshomaru wields poison, not water."

"Is it because you are a dog and she's a sea serpent and dragon demon?"

".. Hai," Sesshomaru muttered, not liking being called just a dog.

"Okay!"

Rin happily skipped to Hikaru's side and began to play with him, leaving Sesshomaru to himself again. Just a dog? Hmph, he wasn't just a dog like the ones the humans kept for pets.

"What a foolish girl," he heard Jaken mutter, probably who had heard the conversation.

WHACK!

Rin and Hikaru looked behind them to see poor Jaken laying on the floor rubbing his left temple gently. Sesshomaru looked no different but the little girl swore she saw a bit of amusement in his eyes at his servant's foolishness. She grinned lightly. Suddenly, a dripping wet Hoshi wandered into the cave holding two fish for herself and Rin plus a large lizard.

"Momma got a bath," Rin giggled.

The demoness grinned before wringing out her hair.

"Hai, I guess I did," Hoshi mused.

The demoness tossed the lizard to Jaken, who caught it with a hungry look on his face. How had she known he loved lizard meat? He looked up gratefully to the demoness for a moment before going to roast his lizard over the fire. He was starting to like her, though he'd never admit it. He even liked the annoying little girl! Hoshi grinned at the imp. She was beginning to earn his favor.

"Come help me clean up the fish," the demoness told her pup.

Within minutes they had the fish roasting on the fire alongside the lizard, and the aroma soon had their stomach's growling. Sesshomaru just simply watched the group and enjoyed listening to their laughter as they talked and ate almost like a family. Even Jaken was included on the fun. But soon enough, his pup was yawning.

"It's time for bed."

"But Momma, I'm not tired!"

"Mmhmm."

The demoness carried her pup into the darkest part of the cave despite her pup's low protests and rocked her lightly to sleep. Sesshomaru thought Rin was a bit too old for that, but at the look of contentment and happiness on his pup's face he didn't say a word anyway. Slowly the little girl drifted to sleep in her mother's arms. Jaken soon retired after his own supper, going to sleep by An-Un's side who has already fast asleep from almost 2 hours ago. Soon, only it was him and Hoshi awake.

'Speak to her,' his inner demon hissed lightly.

Sesshomaru sighed mentally for roughly agreeing, but the demoness beat him to it.

"Sesshomaru, may I ask you something?"

He felt the demoness settle by his side letting Rin sleep in her lap, watching him carefully.

"Hn."

"I have heard the story from Rin before, but when you met Rin what happened beforehand that got you injured?"

Sesshomaru stilled for a moment.

"My hanyou brother used the wind scar on me," he bit out softly.

"Oh. So you two didn't get along well I assume?"

"Hai."

"Well, if I had a single sibling I would have treasured them like no other. You two may only be half brothers, but you are family and I would have loved to have another besides my uncle."

Sesshomaru glanced at the demoness for a moment.

"So Kaito is your only family remaining?"

"No. I have a grandfather, another uncle and his mate, and a niece on my mother's side but they all hate me besides Uncle Kaito and his mate I'm unsure of. My father's side I only have an aunt, but I am fully aware she hates me too. But may I ask, what of you?"

"It is only Inuyasha and my mother."

"So your mother is still alive?"

"Hai."

"Your father is dead I assume."

"Hai, he died protecting his human mate."

Something flickered in Hoshi's eyes for a moment, but long enough for the demon lord to catch it. Horror, recognition, pain, and sorrow. What was she thinking and why did she seem so suddenly broken? Hoshi caught his gaze and looked away. Something was bothering her.

"Why do you ask," he prodded carefully.

"Oh, do not worry yourself over it."

Sesshomaru mentally sighed. He wanted to know about her past but she was so closed up about it, never seeming to tell anyone. He would just have to wait and let her tell him in time. Hoshi leaned up lightly against him and shut her eyes but he could sense the pained emotions surrounding her now. Sesshomaru didn't mind the contact, but just silently gazed into the flames. This was now a usual from her.

"Goodnight, Sesshomaru."

He felt her slip into a light sleep, probably on guard for an unknown danger if need be, and decided to rest himself for the upcoming next few days.

'HOSHI'S GONE,' his inner demon suddenly yelped at him.

Sesshomaru woke up with a jolt before cursing at his inner demon. What the blazes was he doing waking him up way before dawn without a good reason? Suddenly he noticed the absence of the warmth of another body pressed up against him and found indeed the demoness was gone, but Rin was now laying in his lap. Where on earth had she gone? Now that was a good reason to wake him up. The demon glanced outside to see it was still raining hard and it wasn't even dawn yet, probably about 3 am in the morning he would guess. He was about to move Rin and investigate before he heard.. a soft singing voice? His golden gaze drifted to the mouth of the cave and could see the outline of a female person sitting on the rock out in the rain, singing softly to herself. Immediately he could tell who it was. Why was Hoshi sitting in the cold rain singing? He began to listen and felt a light pang when he heard her singing of her past.

"You left me alone like the drifting wind without anywhere to go," Hoshi sang softly. "You abandoned me when I needed you most, but now I realize you made a sacrifice for those you loved most."

What on earth was she talking about? Did someone leave her in the past? Suddenly he felt like tearing that person apart to make them pay for hurting his young Hoshi. Was this what her uncle had meant when he had spoken to him last?

"I don't want her heart broken again," Kaito had said.

But as Sesshomaru gazed at the demoness singing in the rain, he hoped he could heal the scars the demon who had left her behind so she could be healed and he could make her understand he wouldn't do the same.

Hmmm more mystery of Hoshi's past oooooooo XD I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and please review, I love hearing feedback!