'It is just so hot,' Hoshi groaned lightly in her thoughts.
The sun rose higher into the morning sky making the heat grow intensely on any traveling group journeying to an unknown location, but especially on little Rin and the imp. Her pup was waving her hand in front of her face trying to create some sort of small breeze, Jaken was walking in An-Un's shadow, and Hikaru simply sprawled on the dragon demon's saddle panting and looking quite tortured. Hoshi glanced up at the sky for a moment. Her companions were going to suffer from heatstroke or something if they didn't get water any time soon, being as it was everyone was dehydrated (except Hoshi and Sesshomaru it appeared). The dog demon didn't appear even fazed in the slightest by the heat, but the demoness knew better. He was probably so stinking hot in that armor. His face stared blankly ahead but if you looked quite closely and hadn't accompanied him for awhile you would have never noticed the small sweat surrounding his hairline. Plus, Hoshi could smell it, on all her companions.
'Never have I seen a group so stubborn,' she thought annoyed.
Didn't they know the consequences of getting heat stroke? Everyone in the group may be demons, except Rin, but that didn't mean they were immune to sickness or weariness! They weren't immortals either. They could still get dehydrated and such, it was just much harder and their bodies were stronger than humans, though. She sighed. She'd have to do something quickly. They needed water, especially her poor pup. Finally, after a long moment of thought, she thought of a solution but her companions wouldn't be really happy.. hopefully afterward they would.
"Momma, what are you doing?"
Rin noticed her mother walking to the side of the road and crouching down, raising a hand before the ground. She saw Hoshi's face pinch up slightly in concentration before to her shock even though she'd seen her mother do this before, a snake like thing of water rose from the ground. Hoshi raised her hand and it almost flew to Rin and her small group. The water dropped onto her face and Rin grinned in relief. That felt so good! Hoshi repeated the process with Jaken, An-Un (who appeared pleased), and Hikaru. They felt so relieved and were even happy when Hoshi withdrew water from the ground to fill up their canteens and began to fill their stomach's full of the water. The demoness glanced at Sesshomaru, who'd stopped, and wondered how much trouble she'd get in if she got him with water. As far as she knew, dogs hated baths. But would Sesshomaru? Time to find out, and she didn't want him collapsing or having troubles later on.
Sesshomaru stilled when he felt water drop down onto him, soaking his hair and his outfit, and immediately looked back at the nervous demoness. His companions were staring at him. Jaken looked like he expected Sesshomaru to kill Hoshi for her foolishness, but he wouldn't do that. His golden gaze lingered on the demoness for a moment before turning away.
"Let's go," he commanded but if you listened closely you could swear you heard relief in his voice past the usual coldness.
Hoshi grinned in response. He had liked that! So he hadn't minded it, and even appeared grateful. At least she knew now she wouldn't be punished in any way if she pulled such a stunt again. The demoness and her companions quickly followed the demon. For another hour this continued until they were all hot and sweaty again. Wouldn't it end? Hoshi didn't want to be pulling up water from the earth the whole day, because it honestly did take energy. She strained to listen and found to her utter relief and happiness the roar of a river nearby.
"Lord Sesshomaru?"
The dog demon glanced back at the demoness. For some reason, when Jaken and An-un were around she'd call him Lord Sesshomaru, but when they were alone just Sesshomaru. He figured she meant it to show she respected him in company and honestly he liked that, but he really preferred it when she called him just Sesshomaru.
"There is a river nearby," she said slowly. "May I, Rin, and Hikaru go get some more water and maybe even take a dip?"
Sesshomaru lightly sighed, but no one heard. Might as well. Besides, though he wasn't showing it, the heat was getting a bit too much for him with his armor and layers of clothing on. He nodded lightly in response. Hoshi grinned happily. It would be so nice to take a quick dip! Rin leaped down from the saddle and ran to her mother, who scooped her up and ran for the river as fast as she could. The dog demon blinked once. She was fast, and apparently desperate. Heh. Slowly the dog demon and his two servants followed the two into the woods to find a good place to rest in the shade but close enough they could hear their two female companions.
"No, Momma, NO!"
"Yes yes yes, pup!"
Hoshi leaped into the river without even bothering with her clothes, taking Rin with her. Both squealed with laughter before they disappeared under the surface and suddenly Hoshi was so glad they had suggested to go swimming. The cool water felt so good. Hoshi swam back to the surface and found her pup waiting for her, splashing her in the face.
"Hey," Hoshi protested playfully.
Rin grinned, and the splash war began. Hikaru, who had been sitting on the riverbank, was now leaping to dodge the rapid flying water. What on earth were they doing! When Rin finally gave up Hoshi swam to her pups side and playfully picked her up and threw her deeper into the water. Her pup giggled rapidly. This was so much fun! Both were utterly soaked to the bone and their clothes just drenched, but honestly they didn't care. It felt amazing in this heat. Hoshi smirked happily before diving underneath the water, swimming under her pup and letting her pup sit on her back as she swam in the deepest end. She heard her pup's happy squeals. Hoshi loved making her pup happy.
"Momma, faster," she yelled.
The demoness complied with a burst of speed, diving under the surface with her pup clinging to her. Rin held her breath and loved the feeling of the cool water rushing past her face as she held on tight to Hoshi who swam underneath her. Once she felt the need to breathe, Hoshi quickly resurfaced. It was almost if the demoness had sensed her need. Rin grinned and shook out her hair.
"Having fun?"
"Hai!"
Hoshi disappeared under the surface and swam underneath her pup, who placed her feet on her shoulders. She launched upward and Rin with a squeal of joy front flipped into the water, making the demoness laugh as she wiped water from her eyes. Her pup resurfaced with a huge grin and immediately hugged her mother tightly. Hoshi swam slowly backward as her pup clung to her once again and they gazed at each other with grins and pulling funny faces as they drifted with the current. The demoness flipped onto her back and let her pup sit on her belly. Rin raised an eyebrow. How was Hoshi doing that, without even swimming?
"How do you do that?"
Hoshi grinned as she placed her feet back down.
"Lemme show you."
"Okay!"
Rin allowed Hoshi to place a hand on her lower back before letting her lay almost flat on the surface of the water with the demoness's support. But she didn't notice as the support slowly left until Hoshi raised both her bands. Rin's eyes widened in surprise. She was doing it! Hoshi laughed lightly at her expression before her pup leaped at her catching her a bit off guard and knocked them under the surface of the water. Hoshi laughed. Opening her eyes under the water she gazed at her pup for a moment before resurfacing with Rin in her arms walking toward the shore.
"We should get back to Sesshomaru now."
"Awww," Rin whined lightly.
Just as they reached the shore, the two girls began to wring their clothing and hair dry when Hoshi stilled. Her gaze slid over the trees suspiciously. They weren't alone. She detected a scent she had never encountered before but it did resemble another scent of a demon she had met before so it wasn't a complete stranger you could say.
"Momma?"
"Ssh.."
Rin quieted and hid behind her mother, peeking at the surrounding wood around the demoness's hip. Something was out there? To her surprise, almost on cue, a female demoness crept slowly from the trees to approach them slowly, glaring at them with hatred Rin that had her cringing back lightly. It was immediately obvious it was a tiger demoness, just like the one Hoshi had killed a few weeks back. Cheek length orange hair, piercing yellow eyes, and two red streaks on her cheeks. Hoshi growled lightly in warning, making the other demoness freeze.
"So you are the pathetic hybrid," the tiger demoness hissed after a moment.
"And what of it," Hoshi returned coldly, reminding Rin of Sesshomaru a bit.
"So it was you that destroyed my mate, Yun."
Hoshi raised an eyebrow lightly. So the demon she'd defeated a few weeks back had a mate? That wasn't good. She was completely aware demons and demoness's alike were protective of their mates and if they were killed, they'd go on a rampage to kill the one responsible. The demoness lightly cursed. Rin was in danger, again!
"He threatened my pup."
"Oh, I'm completely aware of the human child you raise. I'm even aware she is your weakness."
Rin stared up at her mother. Her weakness? Hoshi began to growl darkly in response to that not liking the idea of Rin being harmed making the other demoness return the sediment with her own angry yowls. So she was the demoness's only weakness? That couldn't be true. Hoshi must have other weakness, but had obviously kept them under lock and key until now. This wasn't good! Where was Sesshomaru?
"Stay away from her."
"You think you can keep me away along with my friends?"
Hoshi immediately grew weary and a bit frightened when three male tiger demons joined the demoness with cruel smiles on their faces, as though thinking she'd be an easy kill. Over her dead body! She'd faced far more than four and had survived them all! But the problem was now.. she had Rin. How could she fight four demons and keep Rin safe at the same time? The second they came in battle the others would go for Rin! This was quickly getting out of hand and her chances of winning were declining almost rapidly. She was in trouble.
'Where is Sesshomaru when you need him,' she cursed.
Suddenly her eyes slid to the side to where she'd dropped her mother's weapon by the trees. If only she could get the weapon! But the second she went for it, Rin would be placed in danger even if she carried her and exposing her to the enemies. She would never put her pup in harm's way, even for a second. There must be a way to get the weapon without moving away from Rin or exposing her to danger!
"You will pay for what you did," the demoness hissed gaining Hoshi's attention again. "You will pay for it in blood."
Rin whimpered in response. The demoness's yellow eyes darted for the little girl and she grinned coldly, making Hoshi feel sick.
"And the little girl should make for a good snack."
'Over my dead body!'
"You touch her, you will lose your eyes," Hoshi snarled.
"Oh, big words for a worthless creature."
Hoshi lowered her head lightly, but kept her eyes on her oncoming enemies. She'd heard a lot worse insults from others, but that didn't mean it didn't affect her in any way. Rin began to back up lightly forcing Hoshi to follow slowly after her, but the others kept up with them with nasty looks on their faces. They were dead serious about making her pay. Hoshi wanted nothing more than to tell Rin to run to Sesshomaru but they'd go after her and if she ran away with Rin, they'd chase her down! She couldn't keep Rin safe. Suddenly, she swore she felt a presence in her mind from the.. weapon of her mother's?
'Call us and we will come,' it whispered.
She couldn't call the weapon to her if she didn't know the name was the problem! Rin was forced to stop at the edge of the riverbank and Hoshi took a protective stance in front of the human child, snarling in warning. But the tigers weren't heeding the warning. They continued walking toward her slowly as though mocking her. They were preparing to attack, Hoshi knew that, by the flexing of their muscles and fingers as though preparing beforehand. Suddenly, she knew the name.
"TAIYO," Hoshi yelled holding out her hand.
The two daggers flew at her immediately at their name and Hoshi snatched them from the air as one of the tiger demons leaped at her. She stabbed upward and sliced the demon in the chest before throwing him backward sending him almost into the woods with the blow. She clicked them together to form the large swords and awaited the next attack. Rin watched in horror as two leaped at the demoness and screamed.
"DADDY!"
Sesshomaru shot to his feet the second he heard his pup's panicked scream and ran for the river with all his speed, leaving a confused Jaken and An-Un behind. What on earth had just happened? One second the dog demon had been simply sitting under the tree and the next gone like the wind. Had something gone wrong?
Little did they know how much things had gone wrong. Hoshi refused to move from her stance in front of her pup, instead almost dancing over the little girl. She kicked one of the tiger demons away just as she blocked the blade of another swinging down at her little pup before twirling around using her swords to force the others to back off. The tiger demons were amazed. They couldn't even get close enough to get a single swipe at her! And what was worse, they were losing to just one demoness which was a bit hard on their pride. A demon snuck around to the side and leaped at Rin with a roar, forcing Hoshi to turn around enough to give an opening to one of his companions. Just as she cut at the demon's thigh tearing it almost in half a pair of claws tore into the right side of her face. Hoshi yelped lightly and whirled, kicking at the demoness who'd injured her away. Rin stared at the sight of the Hoshi's face in horror. She'd been hurt! Both demoness and pup felt disgust when the tigeress licked the blood from her claws with a smirk.
"Tasty," she purred. "But I can't wait to see the sight of all your blood painting the ground red."
Hoshi cut the lower arm off a demon off with a blow of her sword quickly. The demon clamped onto his now gone arm and wailed in pain, backing away with rapid movements. Rin lay at her feet crying in fear and trying to avoid Hoshi's dancing feet and any attacks aimed at her. How much longer would this go on? The demoness used her ice element and sent ice shards flying into her enemies bodies making them yelp with pain but that didn't stop them from leaping at her. One yanked his sword from his shelth and rose it above his head to slash downward. Hoshi raised her sword to block the attack and the second the two swords should have impacted, another sword came into view and blocked it for her. Hoshi turned to stare.
"Sesshomaru," she breathed.
The dog demon snarled angrily at his opponent before beheading him with a flourish of his sword. How dare they attack the two people who meant most to him? The demoness and her two remaining companions stared at the new arrival for a moment before the two males charged him with yells and swings of their swords. Sesshomaru leaped forward to take care of them and Hoshi was left with the outraged demoness, but this gave a perfect opportunity.
"HIKARU!"
The little wolf demon leaped from the small reeds by the river and transformed to his larger form with a loud roar. Rin leaped onto his back without a thought before they went soaring into the sky. The tiger demoness grinned in response and leaped for the two claws outstretched to tear the little girl apart but her hand was grabbed by a silver one. She turned to stare at the hybrid demoness just as a kick landed in her gut knocking her back into the ground with a bang with Hoshi right after her. The tigeress just had time to raise her own sword to block twin blades aimed for her chest. She stared at the demoness for a moment.
"I told you," Hoshi hissed outraged. "You try to harm my pup and I tear your eyes out."
Before the demoness could do anything, she watched in shock as the demoness put both swords in one hand maintaining the same power as her other hand slashed downward at her face. The tiger demoness howled with agonizing pain as her left eyes was torn from her eye socket before leaping away in agony, holding her face. How could this happen? Hoshi, in digust, flickered the eyeball off her talon before charging after her opponent. Now since Rin was out of the way, she could fight freely.
"Hybrid," the tiger demoness bit out past the pain. Apparently she hadn't learned a lesson.
"Pure blood!"
"Worthless!"
Hoshi narrowed her eyes. She was far from worthless.
"Worthless am I?"
The tiger demon felt a hard impact with her chest and flew into a nearby tree landing in a heap at its base, staring in horror at Hoshi who was slowly approaching her swords dripping with blood and eyes the same color.
"I am far from worthless, pathetic pure blood."
"I am a pure blood by the name Hora," the tiger demoness snarled. "At least I am not a hybrid like you!"
"For your information, Hora, I am proud to be a hybrid demoness and always will be."
Hora stared in amazement at the demoness for a short moment before struggling to her feet, fire appearing in her palm and setting her own blade on fire.
"Well then, Hoshi, what makes you so special, a hybrid nothing better than a hanyou?"
Hoshi stopped midstep for a moment, her red eyes narrowing almost in thought. What made her special? She was a hybrid, that was true enough, but she knew she wasn't worthless. She was the mother of her sweet pup, Rin! She was a friend to the miko and the others in the village! She was a companion of Lord Sesshomaru and maybe even be something more in the future, she would even admit that! That was far from worthless. The tiger demoness cringed away at the cold smile that made its way across the hybrid demoness's face, more afraid of that than a battle of shouting at each other.
"Take a good look at me and what I've done, and if you still think me the same call me worthless," Hoshi answered coldly.
Hora was silent. That was true enough. This hybrid had killed her beloved mate and left him in the forest to rot like some animal and let the lesser creatures feed on his flesh! She had taken the one thing that had meant most to her in her life! She could feel her life slipping away from her, but she wouldn't go alone. She'd take this demoness with her. She leaped at Hoshi with a scream waving her fiery sword before her. Hoshi would die! She would pay for what she did with her own life!
Hoshi didn't even feel the smallest ounce of panic at the leaping demoness. She just simply watched as the distance between them was getting smaller and smaller before she felt the throb of power radiating from her swords. It was obvious they were calling her to use their power. The power ran through her swords into her very veins and she stared at the danger swiftly approaching. She made her choice swiftly. She knew the name of the power in one swift moment.
"Sun's fire!"
The hybrid demoness swung her swords and watched as two bright red rays of energy burst from the tips of the swords racing toward the tigeress and winced lightly as Hora screamed in pain before she was torn into pieces, hating the sound of the demoness's last yell of pain. She stared at the large path of destruction as the "Sun's fire" disappeared. The swords were that powerful?
"Momma!"
Rin leaped down from Hikaru's back the second he landed and ran to her mother with all her little speed. She'd won! She was okay! Hoshi let off a small "oofing" sound when her pup collided with her wrapping her arms around the demoness's waist with a cry of relief. Never had she been so happy to see Hoshi okay! But when a warm liquid dripped onto the top of her head Rin looked up. The right side of Hoshi's face had 3 deep scratches with blood dripping from the wound onto the ground below her and her eye was closed to ensure no blood entered her vision.
"You're hurt!"
Hoshi weakly smiled and wrapped her arm around her pup, putting the swords back into the double shelth's on her back. Her pup was okay, and that was all that mattered.
"I've received far worse than this."
"But that does not mean it shouldn't be attended to," Sesshomaru coldly said.
The demoness winced lightly as so said demon lord grabbed her face gently in his claws and examined the wound carefully without even asking her permission. Stubborn apparently. And maybe even worried, by the look in his golden eyes she couldn't exactly figure out. He looked as blank as ever though. He pulled out a medication from his kimino before wiping the blood away with his own sleeve. Hoshi was a bit surprised. Why did he suddenly care? Usually he expressed no concern but this.. showed he did have a kind heart past the cold barrier. He wiped the medication onto the wound that stopped the bleeding quickly and pulled away from the demoness, walking away.
"Let us go now," he stated.
"Hai, daddy!"
"Hai, Lord Sesshomaru."
Woah a lot occurred during this chapter and I kinda hate the ending here but oh well. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I will be reposting soon. I swear Sesshomaru is a bit OCC in this story and I'm really sorry, I'm trying. But I'm trying to bring out the side Sesshomaru hides, his more caring (aka emotional) side and bring out his thoughts he doesn't show, but I don't know how I do so you might as well tell me. I hope I am keeping him in character as much as I can. But, enjoy and review!