The next few days passed uneventfully. Morning to night the same schedule was followed through. Rin attended school daily with Hoshiko and Sakura as her teachers; she learned how to write and read several words each day. They always had their meals together in the dining hall and sometimes even invited Sakura and Jaken to join them, to their surprise. But usually it was only Rin, Hoshiko, and Sesshomaru. Hoshiko and Rin often took strolls in the garden and did artistic activities like painting, sewing, or designing kimino's for Hoshiko to make for her pup. Rin and Hoshiko even made up a dance and preformed it to Sakura and Sesshomaru when there was nothing else to do that day. Sesshomaru found this quite a bit amusing and entertaining to watch them dance together. They even found out that Hoshiko could play the flute and drums, a talent she claimed she didn't find a reason to tell them about. However, Rin loved to listen to her mother play the flute the best; it was so soft and beautiful. She and Hoshiko even played tag in the castle hallways, to the castle servants' amusement. It was amusing to hear their laughter and their batter back and forth. Now, it was midnight at the castle, and everyone was retiring for the night.

"It's time for bed, Rin," Hoshiko said. "It's very late."

"But I'm not tired! I feel as awake as an owl."

"You should still get some rest. You need to grow up big and strong. Plus you have schooling in the morning."

"I know Mommy, but I want to stay up. Please?"

"It's time for bed, little one."

"Aww," Rin pouted.

Hoshiko laughed as she scooped up the child and walked her toward her bed. Rin pouted a bit more but didn't put up a fuss. She knew better. The demoness laid her pup into bed and pulled up the blankets to her chin. Rin looked at her with a tired look that had finally appeared. She'd been lying about she hadn't been tired. Hoshiko smiled sweetly at the child before bending over to plant a tender kiss on her pup's forehead. The little girl giggled.

"I will see you in the morning, pup. Sleep well."

"Okay, mommy," Rin yawned a bit as she hugged her mom. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie," she replied as she hugged her back. "See you in the morning."

"Okay, mommy. Can we go for a stroll in the gardens tomorrow after lunch?"

"Of course, pup. Goodnight."

"Night," Rin yawned as she rolled over.

Hoshiko got to her feet and blew out the candle sending the room into darkness. She crept toward the door quietly as to not disturb her pup. After quietly closing the door she stretched widely and looked around quietly. Thing was, her pup was tired, but she wasn't. She glanced out a window and got a thought.

"Why don't I go train for a bit," she thought quietly. "I haven't been working out for the past few days."

With that in mind, she headed toward the training room, but not after retrieving Taiyo. After a few slow minutes of scurrying through the castle quietly she stared in amazement as she entered the large training room. It was huge! Walking down toward the range, she admired the bows for a moment. Well, why not?

Sesshomaru glided through the hallway toward his quarters. He'd just got done discussing some matters with his servants for the castle and was now going to go read some scrolls before he went to sleep for the night. He hadn't slept in 4 days already. Suddenly he noticed a glow down the hall to his left. Did someone leave the training room light on? He turned down that hallway and as he approached, he heard sounds. Was someone training at this time of night? He opened the door and gazed at the culprit. To his surprise, it was Hoshi. He watched as she loaded her bow and pulled back the string with a powerful and strong arm before releasing, hitting a direct bulls eye. He was impressed a bit. She knew how to shoot a bow. Even he had never learned such a thing. It was more of a feminine thing. He approached her from behind.

"It is quite late to be training, do you think not?"

She whirled around in surprise raising her hand with the glow of poison. For a moment she stared at him before the poison faded away. She sighed heavily.

"It's only you."

He could hear the relief in her voice. He raised an eyebrow in question.

"Who else would be up at this time of night?"

"A servant, perhaps," she replied smiling faintly.

"You never said a word about you being an archer. You are quite talented."

She blushed a bit as he nodded toward her bull's eye. She rubbed the back of her neck in embarrassment but she held his gaze without wavering. Her smile widened.

"Thank you. I've been an archer since my young years."

"I can tell. You are skilled."

She put the bow back on its rack. He tilted his head slightly at her as he quietly observed her. Hoshiko returned his gaze calmly.

"May I ask what you are doing up at this time of night?"

"Attending to some matters. However, I am interested to know why you are training at this point of night?"

"Oh," she murmured quietly before answering. "I have been quite busy attending to Rin. I simply am taking my chance at some training before I retire."

"Would you like an opponent?"

She raised an eyebrow as she slowly drew one of the daggers from her belt and within a flash of fire transformed to its full sword form. He recognized the sword has Taiyo. Apparently she had learned only to transform one at a time without having to click the swords together. She must of have been training at other points of time he wasn't aware of. She gave a slow teasing smile.

"Are you challenging me to a fight, Sesshomaru?"

"I am."

"I accept."

He drew Bakusaiga from its sheath and gestured for her to join him in the large ring in the center of the training room. She smiled and followed him, swinging her sword arm side to side to warm it up for battle. Sesshomaru was amused by her eagerness to fight him; she had lost last time. She must feel more confident then. They stood on opposite sides of the ring.

"Good luck," she purred as she slipped into a crouch.

"Hn."

Without a single motion of warning Sesshomaru ran toward her rising up his sword to strike. She patiently waited until he reached her and flipped her sword up to block the downward swinging blow. The dull clang of sword meeting sword echoed throughout the room. She pushed forward with her body weight to throw Sesshomaru off before lunging at him. The battle had begun. Again and again their swords struck as they danced around each other like graceful doves. It almost appeared they were dancing together except with the blows of swords and no contact. Hoshiko spun on her heel around as she knocked his sword away. Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. She'd gotten a lot better. She smirked.

"I've learned a sword is not too much different than when I was wielding my katana," she mused to him as they dealt a fury of blows.

Sesshomaru merely raised an eyebrow in response before raising to block her sword as she lunged at him. He threw her to the side and she slid backward on her toes but not before darting at him again. The swords clanging filled the room with dull ringing sounds. Finally, they ended up hilt to hilt leaning all their weight into each other trying to throw the other off balance. Neither were prevailing. However, Hoshiko was having a harder time holding Sesshomaru back. She was female, after all. Demon's were naturally more stronger than demonesses. Still, she was powerful. She heaved her weight into her sword holding him off. They were locked hilt to hilt still. He gazed at her with a neutral expression. He couldn't help but realize how beautiful her eyes were, sparkling in the fire's light in frustration. She returned his gaze with a scowl.

She didn't understand. Why was Sesshomaru gazing at her with no expression but at the same time his gaze was so intent on her? She heaved again and she felt him falter for a split second before he returned the sediment. No matter what either appeared to do they remained locked at the hilt. Both of them were shaking lightly from the effort. She felt her leg muscles giving out on her. No! She wanted this to be at least a tie! She didn't want to lose again like she had with their forest brawl. She heaved again.

Sesshomaru put more of his strength into it when he felt her give more of herself into it. The swords seemed to whine lightly with the force of being locked together in a battle both of them were straining to win. He was a bit surprised though. Someone else would have faltered by this point; she was strong. She had enough strength to hold him off and remain locked at the hilt with him instead of leaning away. He was certainly impressed. Especially since she had only been injured a few days ago and lost a lot of blood. She healed fast, both in spirit and physical body quickly. Finally, he found the upper key. Hoshiko's eyes widened as he lifted up the swords up a bit and pressed downward, forcing her to lean back. She snarled and heaved against him hard. She wasn't going down easily! Sesshomaru felt a deep amusement. She wasn't going to let him win without a fight. Interesting. She finally leapt back and stood there holding the swords hilt level with her shoulder in both hands panting heavily, her breast heaving from the effort. Sesshomaru lunged for her and again, the pounding of swords filled the training room.

'Keep moving and don't let him get behind you,' Hoshiko thought.

That was her one weak point of battle. She struggled to fight when she couldn't see her opponent. Even if he was behind her for a moment it might be enough to undue her! She whirled to keep him in her sight. He was fast, but not as fast as the demon who had trained her. However, father had gone easier on her at first. Sesshomaru wasn't. He didn't even hesitate or allow a moment of weakness or allowance. It impressed her. She was glad he didn't consider her weak or fragile. Unlike her father had at first. He had treated her like glass at first until he realized she could be fast and agile, a powerful warrior. She smirked at those thoughts. She wouldn't lose. Not again. She jumped back as she blocked another blow aimed for her shoulder.

'She doesn't seem to like the fact I try to get behind her,' Sesshomaru noticed.

'Agreed,' his inner demon noted in return.

Sesshomaru pondered that. Whenever he aimed to jump behind her or attack her from that angle she would whirl so he couldn't get behind her. The farthest she allowed was her shoulder. Maybe because she preferred to see her enemy or maybe.. Her undoing was battle from behind. He decided to try that. He lunged for her shoulder but at the last second, jumped away to spin around her. Right behind her. He felt her panic spike in her scent as she wildly turned to get him back in her view. No. He tried to remain behind her but to his surprise she dropped to her belly and rolled away from him. Rolled away. She leaped to her feet facing him and she scowled at him, her sword hovering in front of her. She didn't like him behind her. Interesting.

"You appear to be fazed when I am behind you," he stated as they circled, waiting for the other to strike.

She hesitated for a moment.

"Wouldn't anyone," she snapped.

"I wouldn't be included in that number."

She didn't answer him. She lunged at him and the swords met together in a fury of blows that left both the swords ringing lightly. Again, they ended up locked at the hilt. They heaved against each other determined to undo the other. Neither were winning. They were shaking more from the effort than before. Sesshomaru gazed at her face that was scrunched up in concentration that gazed back at him with a deep blue gaze. He hadn't noticed. Her eyes changed. Hoshiko's eyes were sky blue when happy but they darkened when angry or sad. Fascinating.

Hoshi gave another heave of strength. She wasn't going to falter in this hilt battle! The swords again seemed in squeal in protest at the strength they were forming together from both forces. The demon lord stared into her eyes. She couldn't help but stare back. Then she realized how close their faces were; they weren't even a foot from each other. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw the softness appear in his eyes when he saw her expression. The force between their swords slackened. She breathed heavily not in exhaustion but from the intensity of his gaze. They stared at each other for another long moment before she blushed.

"I think we should call this a draw," she whispered.

"Indeed," he answered quietly, blinking.

They drew back from each other. She stared at him for a moment as he sheathed his sword, Bakusaiga, and she also slid Taiyo back into its sheath hanging from her belt. They were silent for a moment. She knew what would have happened had she not spoken; it would have perhaps been a kiss.

"Sesshomaru."

He looked at her quietly, tilting his head in question. She had to know, honestly. Did he learn from the same?

"Where did you learn to battle like that?"

"Several demons who trained me; Kenta, Nobu, and Sadako. They were some of the finest demon warriors under my father's command. However, my father Inutaisho taught me the most of my sword skills."

She winced lightly. She was right after all. They had learned from the same demon so perhaps that was why they were so equally matched. Or why they were so different. She smiled at him quietly.

"Thank you for that battle, Sesshomaru."

"Hn. Why are you so weary of me being behind you?"

She sighed heavily.

"It frightens me not to see my enemy. I would rather remain eye contact and besides, it is always bad when they get behind you. Don't you agree?"

"Indeed so. However, would you like me to help you learn to defend yourself without turning around if an enemy gets around you?"

"I would like that," she murmured. "Thank you."

He could only nod in response.

Sorry, lame ending but, Awwww cute moment although a brutal battle between the two :3 Hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please review!

P.s. If you guys are interesting to know how Hoshiko looks like, go to DA (D e v i a n t a r t . c o m) and look up Hoshiko, Lady of the West or you can look up my user, Junothebronzedragon :) Also, I have drawn a picture of Sesshomaru and Hoshiko together so check that out too on my DA page! If you would like a link to my DA page it's in my bio!

Also, does anyone want me to do the story of Hoshiko's past? With Inutaishio and Izayoi? Please tell me, I want at least 5 or more people to review or send me a personal message to let me know if they want me too! Please! Otherwise, I won't :/