Hoshiko's footsteps were like a delicate mouse creeping upon the floor. The sunlight shined through the tall windows filling the dark western castle with golden rays of light. She gazed ahead at the endless hall full of doors she'd never had the chance to see. It was interesting to tour more of the castle. She hadn't had much of a change with all her duties with Rin. To think of her pup put a smile on her face. Sesshomaru had taken Rin to his study with him for her to spend some time with him and see what he does while Sakura was busy tending to castle affairs, leaving her alone. But that was okay. She was pleased when Sesshomaru had come to get Rin after her schooling. Sesshomaru and Rin hadn't had much time together recently.

"Flower," he had whispered lowly as he passed taking Rin with him.

She had blushed in embarrassment. Remembering last night brought a flash of heat up her cheeks. They hadn't done anything except kiss and gently hug each other as she had sat in his lap. No words had really been said. Words hadn't been needed. The bond between them had grown so that they could communicate with just their actions and eyes. Her demon had been teasing her all about it all day. It was a cruel torment you couldn't escape from.

'You said he wouldn't have feelings for you,' her demon spoke up teasingly. 'Yet last night proves otherwise.'

'Will you please just give it a rest? It was just kissing and some hugs.'

'Hmm. Still, it was romantic. He is our mate.'

Hoshiko groaned in exasperation. Her demon wasn't going to give her a break anytime soon. Fading out her demons words she noticed the dark hallway she hadn't ever noticed before. Dark curtains covered the windows shrouding it in darkness. She wondered what was down this hallway. Wondering how she had never noticed this eerie place, it seemed a good idea to explore. She began down that way.

'What are you doing?'

'We have never really been able to tour the castle. So why not?'

'Why not,' her demon agreed.

It was like there was nothing else to do. She opened the doors she came across and looked inside. These rooms hadn't been used in some time by the amount of dust on things. Hoshi found old guest rooms, another dining hall, studies and libraries, and even found another training room although not as big and fine as the other. She could tell this part of the castle wasn't usually used. Odd. Hoshi found the pictures interesting that lined the dark walls. Most were of the crescent moon, the western lands symbol.

'I think we should perhaps find a way to use this part of the castle again.'

'Hai.'

She crept along the dark hall. Wandering down farther she came to a dead end when she tried to turn to the right. Shrugging it off, she went to leave when a blue gleam caught her attention. It was a large dark blue door with the crescent moon symbol on the front. Curiosity peaked, she wondered what lay inside.

'What's this?'

Interested, she opened the door slowly and it creaked from age. It hadn't been opened in some time, she could tell by the dust on the handle. She slipped inside. She stared in disappointment. It was just an empty hallway with dark blue tinted glass shining light blue rays onto the walls. She went to leave when she noticed the dark wood frame. A picture? Why would it be put in a hallway no one would really come into? She slowly closed the door behind her and looked at the painting. It was a portrait of a demon. Her eyes drifted to the bottom of the frame to where the nameplate was.

Lord Tsuyoshi, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Hatsumomo

She gaped. This was the first lord of the west? She looked up at his portrait for a moment. He had the same silver white hair and golden eyes, just like Lord Sesshomaru. Slowly moving on to the next one she read the nameplates and examined each Lord carefully. All were dog demons, she could tell. They had been Lord's over the west for a long time, she knew that. Sesshomaru had a long pure bloodline. It impressed her they had held on to the West for so long.

Lord Masahiro, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Amaya

Lord Isamu, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Mami

Lord Hirotu, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Chiyoko

Lord Yuuta, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Tomoko

Down the row she went staring at each picture of the former lords of the West. She gazed into the smaller pictures of their mates beside them. All the ladies were stunningly beautiful. She hadn't realized she had gone down almost the entire row until she hit the name she had dread to find if she ever did. To see this name was like a punch in the face. She was horrified for a moment as she stared at the nameplate. She swallowed hard. Slowly her eyes drifted upward into the face she hadn't seen for over 200 years.

Lord Toga, Lord of the West

Mated to Lady Kimiko

"Inutaisho," she whispered hoarsely.

It was him. The demon who had raised her as his own, adopting her as his own pup. Her best friend, companion, and guardian, her protector. Inutaisho. She gripped the edge of the frame as she felt her breast heaving from the pain of seeing his face again and tears stung her eyes. For so long she hadn't seen his handsome face. She lowered her head for a moment. She felt the wetness of tears on her cheeks. Hoshiko hit herself over the head mentally; of course his picture would be in the hall of the former lords. He had been the Lord of the West before Sesshomaru. She bit her lip for a moment to avoid crying but to her surprise she didn't feel the pain she had felt before. She was learning to cope, to be strong. Accept it. He was gone. But she didn't feel the agony take her away. The pain still throbbed. Hoshiko looked back at the picture gazing into those golden eyes she missed so much, that had been filled with so much kindness, understanding, and love.

"Why did you have to leave me?"

She knew it was foolish to be talking to a picture but that wasn't what she was doing. She was asking herself. Why did he leave her? Izayoi? She frowned at the thought of the human woman. Tears ran down her cheeks. Oh, the love they had. She sank to her knees. Her eyes remained locked on the golden ones.

"I miss you," she whispered to the picture.

Suddenly she froze when she felt the coolness of breath on her cheek. She swore she felt his sudden presence behind her. It was like being in the past, when he would sneak up behind her, to speak into her ear quietly.

'I miss you too. I'm sorry,' whispered a voice.

She whipped around to find she was alone. She touched her cheek to find it was indeed cool and looked back at the painting. She felt like she wasn't alone here anymore. The pain resided lightly but still it beat in her breast like a drum but she found herself getting lost in the past. Tears fell heavily from her cheeks. She knew now why she didn't fall to the floor writhing in agony like before. She had found newfound strength from her pup, Sesshomaru, and her friends. She touched the picture again gently as tears ran down her cheeks like rain. Sobs raked her chest.

"Father.."

"Milady?"

Hoshiko turned to look at her attendant who was looking at her in horror. When she saw the tears and the blood trailing down her mistress's lips from biting her lip so hard she ran for it.

"LORD SESSHOMARU!"

The demoness didn't care. She scooted away from the picture and pressed her knees to her forehead, crying. She didn't want to be like this. She felt like a wreck of a person because of a great loss. To lose father, to lose mother, to lose everything was like tearing her own heart from her chest. When would the agony end? She heard the rush of air as someone raced up to her.

"Hoshiko."

Sesshomaru's hands touched her cheeks. She looked up to see the demon lord crouched before her looking at her with an unreadable expression but concern in his eyes. With a wail, she lunged forward to wrap her arms around Sesshomaru. He didn't freeze up, he just hugged her tightly. They were alone. For that she was grateful.

"When will the pain end," she whispered. "When will the memory of father go away?"

He understood immediately. She had been getting lost in the past again. He wondered why she was in the hall of the former lords though. Why cry here? Maybe she had found someone who resembled him in here? The demon lord picked her up in his arms to take her back to his study with him. He didn't want her here alone and besides, Rin was the best medicine for her.

"Be strong," he replied softly.

She faintly smiled past the heavy tears.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Nothing more could be said. He exited and without a glance behind him closed the door behind him. Her eyes remained locked on Toga's painting until the door shut. She placed a hand on her chest to feel her heartbeat. Sesshomaru faded away from her attention until it was her locked into her own mind. She was alive; she'd kept her promise. But how she missed him. She loved him so. Her father, Inutaisho. Sesshomaru took her away as he pressed a gentle kiss on her head. He'd never hurt her like the demon before him.

Hope you liked this chapter, enjoy and review!

I just thought about this and was like, what if Hoshiko found a picture of Inutaisho (Toga)? This is her response and of course, Sesshomaru comes to her rescue. Cute :3 LOL