Rin observed the weak demoness as she slowly spooned broth into her mouth. Part of her was pleased that her mother was eating but concerned at the weak appearance of Hoshi's body; slumped shoulders, slow hand gestures, slower but alert responses, and shaking hands. It almost frightened her. But Hoshiko was still a demon. She could handle things like this better than a human, like herself. She still however had lost a lot of blood. She had all but panicked when Sakura came to her room to report Hoshiko was found in a large pool of blood but was well. She had shuddered as she passed the dull red stain in a rug in Hoshi's room when she went to visit. Hoshi returned the gaze quietly with her dim and quiet eyes wanting to laugh at the almost protective look over her pup's face. Ever since the young girl had come to get her from her chambers she hadn't trusted her to even walk too far away from her. She was still weak.

"I'm not going to drop dead, Rin," Hoshi murmured softly.

The little girl blushed a bit and dropped her eyes for a moment, but quickly returned her gaze. She was bashfully embarrassed. But she had a reason to be concerned, right?

"You might," she giggled quietly. "You lost a lot of blood, Momma."

Hoshiko raised an eyebrow at her pup before playfully pulling a face. Rin giggled. Despite the loss of blood, she was still the same, and that was a good sign.

"Do you think we might go in the gardens after breakfast?"

"We shall see how I feel."

"I hope so! I want to show you my favorite spot in the garden. It has a lot of pretty flowers."

Hoshi tried not to laugh. Just like when she had been younger, her pup was also obsessed with flowers. She frowned lightly as a thought passed through her head and shuddered at the pain, but it wasn't as bad as before. Rin noticed.

"You okay, Momma?"

"Hai. I am well, pup."

But Rin could see the awareness in her mother's eyes fade until she could tell her mother was lost in her thoughts. She wondered what she was thinking about. She had no idea how much her mother had lost.

'Why do I keep thinking of him,' Hoshi whispered to herself.

'Maybe,' her inner demon murmured. 'To get us to accept it and no longer run from it? We've been running from the past for so long, it hurts more than it needs to.'

'You wise old bugger.'

'Look who's talking. You lectured me all the time on kindness, loyalty, and acceptance!'

'For a good reason. You were always wanting to kill.'

Her inner demon didn't respond. For a moment she wondered why her mind had gone blank when she realized her demon was thinking about the subject before, flowers. She was pulled into the past again, despite her weak struggle to avoid the thought. . .

Hoshi bent over to add another flower to her banquet of flowers. She was in heaven. The sweet smell of the aroma of the flowers, the bright petal colors contrasting with the green grass and stems, and the bright sun high in the sky filled her morning with peace. Standing up to her full height she added the red flower to her group. It was perfect now. She smiled into the sky relishing in the light breeze. Her peace quickly ended, however, for a moment. Hoshi froze a bit when a large breeze swept through the clearing sending leaves into the sky into the twinkling blue sky. She didn't see the beauty; she smelt demon. An unknown demon. She cowered a bit but a flash of gold caught her attention. She chanced a look.

'He's here,' she whispered to herself.

His golden eyes rested on her as she gazed at him almost in wonder. His silver hair swayed in the breeze sending flashes of white against the dark green landscape behind him. She smiled at him. To her joy, he smiled back and shyly winked at her teasingly, making her giggle. She was okay. She wasn't alone anymore. She had her protector.

"Momma!"

Hoshiko jolted back into reality looking at her pup quickly with a startled expression. Rin gazed back at her with a worried but curious expression. She almost blushed; she'd been lost in her own thoughts again.

"I'm sorry, pup. Lost in my thoughts."

Rin frowned lightly and opened her mouth to respond when the door at the end of the chamber swung open. Both girls looked down to see Sesshomaru striding toward them with his slow precise movements looking at them with a softer expression than normal. He sat at the head of the table.

"Good morning, daddy!"

Rin lunged off her cushion to his right and hugged him tightly, giggling loudly. Hoshi smiled softly as the demon returned the hug. Such love and affection between the two; but only when they were alone or in her presence, honestly. Hoshi jumped a bit when her demon suddenly almost spoke, or the right term, yelled.

'Hey!'

'What,' Hoshi demanded sharply.

'Do you realize something?'

'..'

'Rin is like us.. Sesshomaru is like him.'

Hoshi shuddered at that. She hadn't even thought of that before.

'I miss him,' her demon whispered in agony.

'I do too. . .'

'I'm sorry for pushing that memory on you. . . I just wanted us to face the past again. Remember.'

'I know.'

"Hoshiko?"

She quickly glanced at the dog demon who was watching her with a normal blank expression. She'd blacked out everything again, so intent on the memory and her demon. She smiled softly.

"Sesshomaru?"

"You appear distracted."

"Hai. . ."

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. She had no clear intention to tell him, none at all. She truly was one of the most secretive demons, or in her case a demoness, he'd ever met. Rin was gazing at Hoshi was a sad expression, as if hoping to be let into the demoness's thoughts. Hoshi slowly picked at her food with her chopsticks avoiding their gazes after realizing what they both wanted; a clue to her thoughts. Not yet.

"Momma, do you want some of this?"

"If you want me too," Hoshi replied looking at her pup again.

The rest of the meal was uneventful. The slow talk of the castle, lessons, and food was the rest of their conversation but Sesshomaru knew one day, he'd have to push her for information. It was time for her to come out of her shell and trust again. If only if would be that easy.

Hey everyone! Hope you enjoyed this chapter although it was pretty uneventful. Just wanted everyone to see some more normal life of Hoshi, Rin, and Sesshomaru. Enjoy!

P.S. Everyone I've come up with an idea. How would you like it if I did a story based on Hoshi's past, during her time with Inutaisho and Izayoi? How she and Intaisho met, their good times/memories, how Inutaisho met Izayoi, and other stuff? What do you think? I'll do it if 10 or more people want me to! Tell me what you think! Because honestly, I would LOVE to do that! Please tell me your ideas and opinions on this! :D