Rin slowly woke up to the sun shining on her face. She smiled brightly in joy. It was going to be a beautiful day, she could tell. She could hear the birds chirping in the trees and upon looking outside saw the garden below. Rin could see a squirrel scamper among the leaves of the oak tree. She quickly pulled on a pink kimono with white swirls along the neck and sleeves with a light purple sash before she tore out of her room to her momma's. She wanted to go into the garden before breakfast! She opened the door.

Hoshiko woke up just as the squealing girl landed on her pad and couldn't help but laugh. The girl gave her a big hug. The demoness immediately returned the gesture.

"Good morning, Momma!"

"Indeed so, sweet pup."

Rin giggled as she felt a gentle kiss on the top of her head. She truly felt like Hoshi was her real mom. She looked up just as the demoness snuggled her close for a few cuddles. She ran her fingers through the silky light green hair.

"Momma, can we go into the garden before breakfast! Please?"

"Of course."

"I want to make flower necklaces!"

"Well then, let's go before they call us for breakfast."

"Hey," Rin gasped. "We should make one for daddy!"

Hoshiko couldn't help but snort in amusement. Sesshomaru, cold lord of the west, wearing a flower necklace? She would swear the world was ending as she knew it. Rin tilted her head at her mother's sudden expression change.

"What is it, Momma?"

"Nothing, sweet pup. Just a thought I just had."

"Okay, let's go!"

Rin eagerly tugged on her momma's hand to get her out of bed. Hoshiko laughed in amusement. The little girl continued to pull on her arm.

"Woah, slow your horses!"

"Giddi-up!"

"Woah," the demoness laughed.

Hoshiko shot out of bed to sweep the child up into her arms for a hug. Rin giggled harder before returning the hug. For a long moment they simply clung to each other before Rin pointed at her closet.

"Let's get you all prettied up," she giggled.

Hoshiko allowed the child to jump out of her arms to run to her closet. Rin rummaged for a moment for a kimono while she sat down on the mat to wait patiently. The little girl withdrew one of the kimono's. That wasn't too long to decide.

"Wear this one, Momma!"

The demoness chuckled before wandering over to her pup. The kimono she'd chosen was similar to hers. It was a light pink except with light blue sleeves, neckline, and flowers. The sash that went with it was a baby blue. Hoshiko nodded at her pup in approval. Rin eagerly rummaged through her hair pins while she pulled on the kimono and tied the sash around her hips. All about fashion. She felt a light tap on her arm.

"Wear this pin!"

Rin watched her eagerly as the demoness took the blue sapphire flower pin from her hand and examined it for a moment. She pushed it into her hair. She looked through her hair pins for a moment before pulling out a white stone butterfly pin and pushing it into her pup's hair.

"There."

Rin giggled. She took her mother's hand and all but dragged her out of her quarters to the garden. Hoshiko held on tightly to her hand.

"We should make daddy a white and red flower necklace," Rin said eagerly. "Then we should make pink flower necklaces for ourselves!"

"That sounds like a fine idea."

"Did you make flower necklaces when you were young, Momma?"

Hoshiko was silent for a moment. Rin felt bad. Did she overpass a boundary? Finally the demoness responded.

"Yes I did. I loved to make flower necklaces all the time and wear them."

"You loved flowers too?"

"I did. That is why I often wear them in my hair or I love to gather them for a bouquet for myself."

"What is your favorite flower?"

"That is a hard question. Let me think about that for a few moments."

"Okay!"

By now they'd reached the garden. The flowers again gleamed in the morning with fresh dew. The fresh smell of rain and flowers overwhelmed Hoshiko's senses for a moment before sighing in joy. It smelled like heaven. Rin tore away from her for a moment to gather a few flowers into her hands and smell them. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who loved the smell of flowers after the rain.

"It smells so pretty," Rin happily exclaimed.

"It does. This is why I often prefer nature to company. It is so beautiful and peaceful. The one place I could always go to when I hurt."

Rin turned to look at her for a moment before slowly venturing on a sore subject.

"Was nature the only place you could escape to during the time you were alone?"

She guessed right. Hoshiko winced lightly before her gaze met her pup's with a quiet but pained look. She waited for her reply. It was silent for a long few moments as the breeze slowly blew the flowers around them sending several petals into the air. The whistle echoed through the trees.

"Indeed," Hoshi finally said. "When I was in pain I could simply sit down and relish in the smell of the Earth, the life around me in the trees and animals, and enjoy the breeze blowing through my hair and over my skin. Sometimes I'd even sit in the rain to listen to the rain falling and the drops of water slip down my skin. With the Earth, I could be at peace."

Rin smiled happily. The demoness hadn't avoided the question. Hoshi smiled back at her pup's overjoyed expression; she was happy she had answered the question. But her smile quickly vanished as her pup again ventured on a sore subject.

"How was it like, Momma, to be alone?"

Hoshi looked away to the sky for a moment. Rin saw a single tear slip down her cheek. That was an even more sore subject.

"It was the worst pain I'd ever experienced. I'd spent so many years in the company of my father that I'd forgotten how it was to be alone again. I'd lost the closest person I had ever had; he was my best friend, companion, and teacher. He was my father. Even more so than my biological father. He had raised me and taught me what he could. When he was gone, I felt like a huge part of me had been ripped away from my heart. I felt at a loss. I didn't know what to do, how I could go on without him. The pain was worse to me than having my body torn to pieces when I was still breathing. To lose him was like losing myself. I loved him more than anyone. To have him ripped away from me was like being crushed to nothing. My reason to exist was gone."

Rin stared for a moment. That sounded… horrible.

"How did you go on, Momma?"

"I forced myself to go on," Hoshi whispered to her as her gaze met her pup's. "I promised him I would live on. I kept my promise. I would have done anything to please him and that was the only thing he ever asked me to do before he died."

"I'm glad you did, Momma."

Hoshiko faintly smiled.

"Momma, let's go gather some flowers for Daddy's necklace!"

She felt relieved her pup wasn't asking any more painful questions. The demoness followed her pup to the flower garden completely oblivious to Sakura who slipped away to tell her master what she'd heard.

Just a scene with Hoshiko and Rin with talk of the demonesses past! Hrm, Sakura is being a spy again. LOL Sesshomaru is having everyone keep a close eye on her. Enjoy and review!