Hoshiko had kept her word just as she promised.

Not a few days after their private meeting, Inuyasha had hunted her down. He had seemed slightly embarrassed when he sheepishly asked if she could tell him a story about her past with his Father and Mother. She had been surprised it had taken him not very long to decide to take her up on her offer. When she had offered it to the half demon he had reacted almost with an uninterested gesture but now, she knew she must have misread the reaction. She knew he had a deep desire to know about his Father, too. He hadn't even been held by his sire. In a way, she was glad he was so interested to listen to her stories; it was as though a burden was lifted from both of their shoulders. She was able to get used to speaking about her past, opening up herself to her closest friends, and actually had the burden of secrecy and pain removed; he was able to learn about his Father and his parent's relationship. It had rewards for the both of them so they enjoyed the time they spent together talking about it. Not only that, it relieved Inuyasha someone understood his inner pain. She didn't tell him just stories about his parents; she told him stories about her time in isolation and rejection. She knew how it was to be alone and survive without aid, just like him. She understood him on levels no one else could. They were more alike than either cared to admit. He tilted his head at the demoness who was currently washing her clothing in the river.

"There was one time that I really upset your Father," she said to him, in story mode. "I had gone to restock on some food for myself. Truly I hadn't been gone long and not been too far away from his location. When I finally returned he was beside himself with concern and looked about ready to tear the forest down in pursuit to find me. I got scolded for not telling him where'd I'd gone and why. He also ensured I was aware he was very upset over my sudden 'disappearance.' I wasn't punished, but he surely made me feel guilty by throwing me accusing glares and not speaking to me much for almost a week. It drove me nuts."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes lightly.

"I cannot see my Father like that."

"Like what?"

"Hmph, you know what I mean. Like the fact he was fatherly. One moment I'm told he's a powerful demon that has defeated many enemies and led his lands wisely and the next he's an overprotective and loving Father."

"Inuyasha," Hoshiko giggled. "You act like he doesn't have any feelings!"

"Keh."

"Sometimes, humans do accuse demons of not having any feelings. But that really isn't correct. Demons have feelings; they just learn to keep the emotions under better control. For instance, your older brother is such an example. You should know better than to know demons have the same emotions as humans do. Inu No Taisho was no different."

"I wonder if Sesshomaru really does have any feelings," he muttered lowly.

"Oh, he does. He just doesn't like to show them. Sesshomaru, like many others, think that emotions make you weak."

"You act like you know him better than anyone else," Inuyasha remarked darkly, sounding like he didn't believe her.

"Truly I don't. I've simply spent time with our Father and have learned to read 'emotionless' demons. Sometimes, Inu No Taisho and I did discuss Sesshomaru being his heir and his only son at the time. So I know quite a bit about him in his younger years. Plus, I've been with Lord Sesshomaru for some time as well and I've had to learn to read him, too. It's not hard once you get used to someone."

Inuyasha suddenly smirked and she knew what his thoughts were. Again. He opened his mouth to voice his thought but she beat him to it.

"No," she quickly said with a giggle. "I won't tell you anything embarrassing about your brother so you can tease or pester him about it."

There was a momentary silence.

"Knock that off," he snapped suddenly. "It's like you can read my thoughts."

She smirked at him.

"Tis not hard," she teased lightly. "You are the easiest person in the world to read."

"I doubt that," he growled at her.

"Oh really? Let me see. You act like you don't care about others but you will do anything you can to protect them. You say things quite rudely toward people sometimes but with a reason and with a whole other meaning in mind. You are willing to be there to help someone out no matter the situation. You say you don't need anyone nor do you need help, but the truth is it's a big fat lie. You just don't like appearing weak. Yet, I'm not the only one who notices!"

He glowered at her. What could he say? She was lying? He knew deep down he was kind hearted and compassionate toward his friends.

Hoshi had to smile sweetly at him before scrubbing furiously at a grass stain on her pup's kimono. She heard Inuyasha's snort of annoyance behind her. A few giggles erupted from her at that. He was so easy and fun to tease, despite the fact he usually did insult the person who did so. But one thing about was different about it was he never did get after her like he did the others when she teased him; she didn't know why. Perhaps the fact she was an elder sister to him in a way? She let out another giggle earning another annoyed growl from her adoptive brother.

"Don't be such a wuss."

"Excuse me?"

"You not happy I outwitted you again," she innocently said.

"Wench."

She had to laugh again. She inhaled deeply of the sweet scents around her but immediately, she detected another scent that hadn't been there a few moments before. It was the scent of light sweat mixed with herbal mixes and lilies. Inuyasha smelled like a musky pine tree, so it certainly wasn't him. She eyed out of the corner of her eye to immediately notice a new shadow hiding in the bushes. It hadn't been there for very long other than a few moments, perhaps seconds.

'Someone is trying to be sneaky,' she thought, amused. Didn't they know she and Inuyasha would very quickly pick up on their scent? Well, not the hanyou; he was oblivious to the new presence.

Before Inuyasha could blink, Hoshiko was gone in a streak of green and white. Kagome let out a shriek of surprise as her wrist was suddenly snatched and she was pulled from her hiding spot. She'd been caught! Hoshiko eyed her for a moment with a thoughtful yet amused expression. Her wrist was firmly grasped so she couldn't escape even if she struggled. She just stared at her friend.

"Spying, are we," the demoness asked lightly.

Kagome blushed in response.

"N-No, I was coming to find my husband."

"What do you need me for, Kags?"

She looked at her husband, who was currently leaning up against a rock eyeing her with interest now. He seemed surprised yet amused at her current predicament.

"I was actually just wondering what you two were doing," she huffed, flustered.

"We're just talking," Hoshiko replied lightly.

"Feh, wench, what else would we be doing?"

Hoshiko scowled at her 'younger' brother for a moment. That put a bad image into everyone's head. Kagome winced lightly. Everyone quickly shook away that thought before it truly registered and Inuyasha tried to ignore he'd stated it first.

"Would you like to join us?"

"I don't want to intrude," Kagome quickly interjected.

"You seemed fine with spying a minute ago," Hoshiko retorted. "Not only that, I find no reason why you can't hear stories about my past too."

Kagome gaped. Was that why Inuyasha was spending time with Hoshiko so much? It suddenly made sense; he was learning about his parents through Hoshi's past! He must enjoy listening to the stories the demoness could tell and not only that, she'd known his Father and Mother quite well. She felt bad that's she seriously thought it was other reasons leading him to spend quite some time with the demoness other than those.

"So that's why you and Inuyasha have been spending so much time together. You're telling him about his parents!"

"Hai," Hoshi replied softly. "Why else would he follow me like a lost dog?"

"Keh!"

The two girls laughed softly.

"Please come and listen as well. Besides, you would like to know something about your Father-in-law, right?"

Kagome nodded eagerly. She would like to know about the Inu No Taisho other than from his old retainers. She placed herself in her mates lap making a light blush coat his cheeks but he wrapped his arms around her. Hoshiko smiled sweetly at them. They were so precious together and yet, she wondered if they even knew that it was almost as though they had been made for each other. Like Yin and Yang. Two sides of the same coin. The demoness knelt back at the river bed and began to scrub furiously at the kimono as she began again.

"You two suddenly reminded me fondly of a time when Inuyasha, though much younger, used to sit in my lap and demand me to tell him stories. He extremely liked hero or warrior stories. He also never minded when I braided flowers into his hair despite his playful retorts of how he was a man and didn't need to smell like flowers."

Inuyasha growled at Hoshiko in embarrassment as Kagome giggled in response. To imagine a young Inuyasha with flowers in his hair was too adorable!

"I bet Inuyasha was the cutest kid in the world," the miko squealed happily.

"He was," Hoshiko replied, all game for teasing. "In fact, he was so chubby when he was a baby his Mother cooed for almost an hour about it. He was utterly darling."

Inuyasha glowered as the two females giggled cheekily. He was slightly amused though. It was though Hoshiko was probably the only one who remembered his baby years. Kagome was beside herself thinking of her husband's cuteness. She wondered slightly about his younger years now and immediately knew a good source of where to get that information.

"Hoshiko, you got any stories about my husband?"

"Many," the demoness replied with a smirk.

"Oi," Inuyasha retorted with embarrassment.

"Like the time Inuyasha chased a cat up a tree? Or would you like to hear about the time he got himself tangled up in his blanket screaming that the monster had come to eat his little ears off?"

Kagome giggled so hard she shook from her amusement while her mate now looked sheepish.

"I'd love to hear about the one about the ear-eating monster!"

"Oh, it was not long after I'd returned when –"

"Momma!"

Hoshiko glanced over to see little Rin skipping toward her with a bounding Hikaru at her heels. She smiled sweetly at her pup. She opened her arms and Rin immediately walked into her embrace. She had done this so many times they basically had it memorized now. Hoshiko ignored Kagome's 'aww.'

"What have you been doing," Hoshi asked dropping a kiss onto her head.

"Hikaru and me have been hunting for bugs," she declared with a giggle.

"Oh, did those evil bugs get you?"

"No!"

"Hm, I think they did, right here."

Hoshiko playfully pinched Rin's hip.

"No Momma no!"

"Hai! Oh, and right here!"

Hoshiko pinched her belly gently.

"NO MOMMA!"

"HAI!"

Rin shrieked with laughter as the demoness lunged at her tickling her sides wildly. Inuyasha and Kagome laughed at the two. Sometimes, Kagome believed Hoshiko was Rin's birth mother simply by how she treated the human girl; it was hard to believe they weren't related with all their similarities. Yet, they were different too. Inuyasha eyed the demoness he now considered a sister. Both of them could see if Hoshiko ever had offspring of her own she'd be an amazing mother.

"NO MOMMA NO!"

Hoshiko just laughed and continued to tickle the helpless pup until she was panting so hard her face was red. The demoness smirked at her little baby.

"Give?"

"I GIVE," Rin cried as she laughed. "I GIVE MOMMA!"

The demoness ceased tickling her and Rin slumped to the side, giggling and panting hard. The two watching them rolled their eyes. Finally, Hoshi picked up her pup and placed her in her lap before giving her a few affectionate nuzzles. Rin hugged her around the neck. Hoshiko kissed the top of her head again. Rin turned to the other two as though finally acknowledging them.

"Hi Aunt Kagome, Uncle Inuyasha," she giggled.

"Hi Rin," Kagome laughed. "Those bugs got you good!"

Rin giggled harder.

"They were big bugs!"

Kagome laughed cheerily. Inuyasha nuzzled his wife gently but ignored the suddenly observant but amused gazes he was getting. Rin immediately struck up a conversation about her bug hunt and Hikaru was happy enough to prance around the four of them, batting at the grass and swaying hair.

"Hoshiko," Kagome whispered lowly so Rin couldn't hear after a few moments.

She tilted her head toward the miko to let her know she was listening as Rin babbled to Inuyasha about the bugs she had caught and Hikaru, unfortunately, had eaten.

"Do you think you could join me and Sango later for some girl time?"

"Hai."

Kagome smiled happily at the demoness and was about to say more when a panicked voice broke through their peaceful moment, breaking the mood. Everyone looked up in alarm toward the monk racing toward them.

"Kagome, Hoshiko," Miroku panted. "Sango is delivering!"

The four stared at him for a moment before Kagome lunged to her feet. She eyed the monk completely serious now.

"Now?"

"Hai! Kaede is over there already preparing for the birth, she requested you and Hoshiko to come!"

"Me," Hoshiko gawked. She'd never helped anyone deliver a baby before!

"Hai! Sango wants you to be there."

"Come on Hoshi," Kagome called as she took off.

Hoshiko groaned but she consented, shifting Rin to her back and racing after the miko. Kagome wasn't fast enough. Hoshiko scooped up the miko mid-run and made the girl squeak in surprise but before she could retort she was silenced by a glare from the demoness. It was faster this way. It amazed Kagome in a way their demoness friend picked up Rin and herself within seconds and was flying like the wind but as graceful as water over a smooth stone. She could hear the pounding footsteps of her husband and her friend behind them but quickly softening. Hoshiko was obviously faster than the both of them. She was suddenly deposited and Kagome noticed they were before Sango's hut. She rushed in without another word.

Sango lay on a mat on the floor panting lightly. Her knees were bent before her great mountain of a belly like two towers guarding a large castle. The brown eyes immediately found her longtime friends. She smiled happily. But this time, to see the demoness behind the miko, pleased her. She wanted all her best friends to be here with her. She shifted to ignore her discomfort with the small labor pains that lingered in her body like some snake weaving its way through a dense jungle.

"Kagome," she groaned past another wave of pain. "Hoshiko, Rin. I'm so glad."

"Of course we'd come," Kagome scoffed.

"Hai," Rin happily replied.

The sudden absence of the demoness by the two human women made her seek out her friend and she immediately found her within seconds. Who wouldn't notice a yellow kimono against dark brown wood? Sango noticed Hoshiko looked unsure as she remained by the door. But before she could say anything about it the old miko beat her to it.

"Hoshi, have you not delivered a baby before?"

"No," the demoness sheepishly admitted. "I've done any other wound but a birth? No."

"What about with Inuyasha's birth?"

Hoshiko frowned. That was answer enough.

"Come here, child, and learn."

Everyone knew Hoshiko was beyond older than all of them combined but yet, she didn't protest being called a 'child.' She approached the women nervously and knelt at the demon slayer's side as instructed by Kaede. Kagome had taken up the position between Sango's legs and Kaede hovered beyond her right shoulder. The old miko eyed Sango for a moment watching her body carefully. Hoshiko suddenly knew she was about the see this miracle that brought life into the world.

"Are you ready, Sango?"

"Hai," the demon slayer said with a nod.

"When the next pain comes, you know what to do."

Sango nodded again.

The next contraction came only seconds later. Sango moaned as she pushed hard in response to the pain. Hoshi gawked as the woman snatched up her hand and squeezed so tightly her hand turned completely red. Hoshi winced in pain, but she made no move to get away nor did she protest it. Sango breathed for a moment as she felt the cooling breeze drift in from an open window that soothed the small sheen of sweat on her brow. She braced herself for the next wave of pain and again.

"Push!"

Sango squeezed Hoshiko's hand again as she pushed.

For some time this continued with Sango pushing and Hoshiko straining not to yank her hand away from the demon slayer. She needed this comfort or way to relieve the pain she was feeling. By now her hand was turning purple but it didn't matter. She would suffer the pain if it relieved her friends. She flinched again as her hand was squeezed so hard she expected her wrist to snap right from the utter strain it was getting. She eyed the miko's as they peered below and Kagome glanced up at her friend.

"Your almost there, Sango!"

Sango nodded vigorously, panting. She gave another push when commanded and Hoshiko gritted her teeth.

"I swear," Hoshiko growled at her friend as she took a small break. "You are going to break my hand."

Sango had to laugh weakly despite the situation. For a few more minutes this continued until Kagome began to squeal in delight.

"The babe is crowning! One more push! One big push!"

Sango growled lightly for a moment before she pushed to the next great wave of pain. Hoshiko hissed. Her hand was going to be black by the time this was over! Then Sango gave one last groan of pain that faded away with heavy breathing. Seconds later, it was answered by a thin, small cry of a baby. Hoshiko glanced up peer at the newborn child and watched as they cut the cord and moved to attend to clean both the mother and newborn. The miracle was amazing to her in a way; this was the way life was brought into the world. The baby was crying in earnest now earning a small laugh from Kaede as she bathed the babe clean. Kagome attended to the rest. Hoshiko's hand was finally released and she immediately rubbed it trying to ignore the pain and put back feeling into it. Sango placed a hand on her knee regaining her attention.

"Arigato, Hoshiko," she whispered to the demoness.

Hoshiko blushed faintly. She looked around and immediately the heavy scent of blood filled her nose before she saw it. She flinched lightly. There was blood almost everywhere but no one seemed it unusual. She hadn't noticed really past Sango's sweat scent and her hands poor pain. She had to smile faintly. For the first time, she had witnessed a birth, and one of her best friend's babies at that! Suddenly, a pair of hands extended into her vision holding the baby out to Sango, now wrapped in a blanket.

"It's a little girl," Kaede said gently.

Sango immediately cradled the babe to her. She watched as the baby girl rooted around Sango's upper chest and found her fist, sucking lightly but greedily. Hoshiko could see that the demon slayer was conquered by this infant that had caused her so much pain before. The love shone in her tired but sparkling eyes. A desire built up in her own chest. She yearned suddenly for her own child. She wanted to be pregnant, even go through this, to hold her own offspring in her arms. But who would ever mate her? She was a half breed demoness. She would never forget her deepest desire to have her own children and play with them; let them know she loved them always. Just like her own parents had with her. She had always wanted to be a mother but alas, it was not to be other than with Rin.

"Do you want to hold her?"

Hoshiko gaped at her friend for a moment as she was brought back from her thoughts.

"Are you sure? Don't you want to hold her?"

Sango sighed with a smile before extending her arms to the demoness. All the women watched. Hoshiko shakingly reached out and took the little newborn girl from her mother, making a cradle with her arms. The babe scrunched up her face for a moment but suddenly relaxed, drifting off to sleep slightly. Hoshiko stared at the baby. Her skin was a very light tan. A tuft of dark brown hair covered her little head and her eyes, when opening slightly, were found to be a dark blue like her Father. She was so beautiful. Hoshiko rocked the baby and everyone smiled at the demonesses' awestruck expression. Kagome suddenly knew this was only the second baby she'd ever held, besides Inuyasha, but she did it so naturally. So easily. No one noticed when Miroku entered the hut but they did when he knelt by his wife's side.

"Sango, are you well," he asked gently.

"I'm fine," she whispered. "We have a little girl."

Miroku kissed his wife's forehead before observing the demoness holding his child. He smiled faintly. He whispered in his wife's ear.

"I think this is the right idea."

She knew what he was talking about.

"Hai."

Miroku looked at the green haired beauty.

"Hoshiko."

The demoness didn't respond immediately but after a moment or two she looked up to see the smiles of all her friends. Inuyasha had even entered the hut now. The miko's had already removed the afterbirth and Rin had crawled over to look at the baby by now as well. She heard Rin whisper 'she's cute' but what kept her attention were the expressions the new parents were giving her.

"Hai," she asked quietly in question.

"Hoshiko, I was never able to thank you fully for saving my life so many months ago. Not only that, but you saved my child. You didn't even know us and yet were willing to sacrifice what you had to go retrieve the antidote. You suffered a broken leg and poisoning for me and my daughter. I can never repay you for that."

Hoshiko frowned but said nothing, waiting.

"Because of this, we can never thank you enough," Miroku continued for his wife. "So this is why, we've decided to repay you with what little we can."

Everyone stared now. Hoshiko's head tilted in curiosity and wonder. They knew the monk had done that for the dramatic effect, but it worked.

"You saved our daughter's life. Because of that we have decided to name the baby after you. We thought of many names that were similar in meaning and we decided to name her Seina. It means 'Star.' After you. You are her namesake."

Hoshiko just stared emotionlessly for a long moment before tears filled her eyes. Never had she thought she'd be the namesake of a child. It was so overwhelming and shocking that the tears building up in her eyes spilled down her cheeks. But she was smiling so widely her cheeks hurt. Sango and Miroku smiled pleased by her reaction. It honored and pleased her beyond anything they could imagine. The demoness looked back at the child in her arms with a huge smile.

"Seina," she whispered.

Inuyasha and Hoshiko have bonded and not only that, Sango's baby was born and was even named after Hoshiko in kindness for saving her life! What better gift to have than to become a namesake in Hoshiko's own mind? I apologize for the birth scene and I did the best I could ^^;

Enjoy and please review *puppy eyes*