Hotaru stayed in Rin's hut, where she did as much renovations as she could manage with her limited ability while taking care of all sick and elderly people in the village. The chief even let other men help them repair the caved in roof. It wasn't perfect, but it protected them from rain.

In those few days, Hotaru became respected in the village. Even Mizuki who didn't like her pretended to give in under the opinion of the majority, while keeping a close eye on the woman she considered an intruder in her territory.

Hotaru noticed the old woman was watching her, so she kept extra careful about all her moves and actions. But it was close to the full moon, her spiritual energy was becoming harder to control and it was harder to maintain the perception spell all the time. She sighed and brushed a strand of loose hair from her eyes, then she leaned over the mortar and herbs again.

Rin patted her elbow to get her attention.

"What is it?" She glanced at her.

The girl only smiled and patted her again. The gesture was so simple, yet it carried so much care and love, that Hotaru almost started crying. There was something about Rin she couldn't quite grasp. She felt familiar and it warmed Hotaru's heart to the core.

"I'm all right, just a little tired. The full moon is tomorrow. Thank you for worrying." Couldn't this be enough? Why can't this be enough? Staying with her here?

"I see you've found someone you can leech on." Mizuki spat when Hotaru and Rin passed her by, heading towards the chief's house.

"Well, I'm glad it's me." Hotaru smiled. "A miko can always use another pair of helping hands. And she learns quickly."

"Hmph, she can't talk."

Rin leaned closer to Hotaru's side and stared back at the old lady.

"We can," she glanced east and focused, "hm, communicate." What was that? A shiver ran down her spine and the world spun momentarily. She inhaled sharply and drew her fingers through her hair. The perception spell wavered. Dammit! With a quick smile, she bowed to Mizuki and pushed Rin towards the house, praying the woman didn't notice.

The old woman's eyes narrowed and followed them all the way towards the chief's house. Was it just her imagination, or did Hotaru's hair change colour for a second?

######

Sesshomaru's world went black when he caught a full blow from Inuyasha. It was his mistake. He blinded his half-breed brother with his poisonous claws, forcing Inuyasha to follow his other senses. But he hadn't expected the weakling to discover the Wind scar, Tetsusaiga's ultimate technique that could kill hundred demons in one sweep, with that timing.

Certain by his victory, Sesshomaru didn't notice the change in the scent and the wind and it almost cost him his life.

The Wind scar that could exterminate hundred demons, could exterminate him too. It shattered his armour and bit into his skin, destroying his body and his youki, cutting through his markings. His demonic nature tried to take over, but he couldn't transform. He couldn't move. The hit paralysed him.

And then he felt Tenseiga, the useless sword he hated so much, pulse at his hip as a warm bubble wrapped around him, protecting his life, his heart, and transporting him to safety.

He didn't care where it was taking him; he was already unconscious.

He learnt one important thing in that fight: Tenseiga had saved him regardless of his wishes, the sword had its own will.

######

Hotaru and Rin were searching for herbs, especially for comfrey in the forest and its numerous sun-filled meadows. With this full moon and a spell, Hotaru could fasten the process of making a very potent comfrey salve, which was appreciated by all hard working people and especially elders. It served for healing bruises, pulled muscles, sprains and strains, osteoarthritis and even helped with healing fractures. Coming to this village, she used up all her reserves. She could process it while travelling, but it was more convenient to stay and give it proper time, proper moon phase and proper spell.

Together with Rin, she was rummaging through leaves of comfrey, choosing the best ones. She was twirling a leaf between her thumb and forefinger, judging its quality, when a shiver ran down her spine. Her body tensed. She could already decipher her, sometimes scarily accurate, intuition. This was a warning.

Glancing at the sky she got up. Something was coming. The air got heavier, shadows around them darkened.

Powerful youki burst in their vicinity. Hotaru braced herself and shielded her face as a gust of wind filled with energy, broken twigs and sharp leaves blasted past them.

Rin, who was oblivious to the warning signs, rolled backwards. She sat up, blinking in surprise. 'What was that?'

"It's a demon."

The girl raised her palms to her shoulders and with fingers curled like claws she bared her teeth imitating a roaring beast. Then she pointed in the direction where the blast came from. Hotaru could understand the question fairly well. 'Is it dangerous?'

"Depends… His name is Sesshomaru."

Rin blinked in surprise.

"Yes, intelligent, high-ranking demons do have personal names."

Her lips made an 'oh' shape and she thoughtfully looked in Sesshomaru's direction.

"I have met Sesshomaru before." She faced the direction too. With her eyes closed she focused her own energy to try to figure out what happened. "Hmmm… He's wounded. That outburst was a warning, proof of his strength to any other demons in vicinity." Just like the last time.

Rin tilted her head. Then made a circling motion with her hand and towards the demon.

"Yes, I want to check out the situation. He shouldn't kill us if we go investigate…" She scratched her head, thinking, deciding. Her eyes were focused on the trail leading to Sesshomaru. If the wound was fatal, she could miss her chance to save him, but if it was bad but not fatal, he could lash out at them and kill them like any injured animal would. "We need to give him a few hours to calm down."

Curiosity was shining in Rin's eyes. She wanted to know, but didn't know how to express the more complex questions without her voice.

Hotaru's attention turned back to Rin, the child's curiosity fully hit her. "Hai, hai. I will tell you what I know. All in due time." She smiled. "But first, let's pick up a few more."

Rin smiled widely and with a nod she started picking up all the leaves she'd scattered in her rollback.

While she did so, Hotaru started talking. Explaining things about demons, about spirits, about priestesses and nature and magic. And how it was all connected. She was trying her best to put it all into words a child could easily comprehend. Slowly, she would teach Rin all she knew, but she didn't want to overwhelm the child and rob her of a carefree childhood - as carefree as an orphan could have. But Rin didn't seem to be bothered. All the time and all the way to their hut she was hanging on Hotaru's every word.

When the sun started setting and its orange rays filled the hut with warmth, Hotaru decided Sesshomaru had had enough time to settle. She finished the first phase of making the salve and closed the jar. She gathered three filled water containers, her case and staff.

"Let's go find him."

Rin nodded and followed after the priestess.

They rustled in the bushes to warn him about their approach. Yet, as they walked onto a tiny clearing filled with rays of setting sun, the dog demon sprang up from his resting position and snarled at them, his eyes red.

His blood curdling snarl and absent look in his eyes made her stop. She needed to be careful. "Sesshomaru." She called out to him, softly, calmly. "I am not here to harm you."

His brows furrowed. He vaguely remembered the scent.

In this surreal image of natural beauty and raging violence, Hotaru and Rin instinctively remained still, observing him, assessing his state.

Through his torn kimono and shattered armour his wounds were clearly visible even from their respectful distance. A V shaped gashing wound was starting below his sternum and expanding towards his shoulders. It was bleeding. The edges of the slash were black and dark, almost black blood was slowly trickling down his chest soaking his white kimono and dripping on the ground from the remnants of his armour. His chest bones were cut through, even the tissue beneath it was visible, trying to regenerate, but the anti-demon energy from the weapon, Tetsusaiga, if she read the energy correctly, was inhibiting it.

Through that wound, his heart is almost exposed… I doubt his demon side will be subdued. Not until the bone heals. Hotaru was thinking how to safely approach him.

Minutes which felt like a lifetime passed.

No one was attacking. Slowly, consciously, he reverted back: his facial marking smoothed, his eyes turned back to normal. He forced his consciousness.

Mind over matter. "Impressive." She smiled. "You're lucky to have survived. But you can't move right now, can you?"

"Mind your own business..." His voice was hoarse, tone harsh. She was correct, he couldn't move his body, which only made him angrier. "I don't need your help."

"I know. But that wound will take until the new moon to heal enough for you to leave and until the next full moon for all the effects to be completely gone. If you stay this close to the village, sooner or later you will have to deal with other humans. I don't want villagers to die by your hand because of their fear of the unknown." She sighed, crossing her arms. She dismissed the perception spell, which was tricky to keep with the full moon rising. She didn't need it around the demon.

"..." His brows furrowed when he took in her scent. It carried respect, confidence, but no fear. And she was bleeding despite no visible wounds. "You change your looks."

"I do what I can to survive." She didn't change her defensive posture. "And the simple perception spell can't fool demons or more spiritually sensitive humans."

Rin pulled at her sleeve to get her attention.

"What is it Rin?" She turned to the girl, letting her arms slip down to her hips.

Rin pointed her finger towards the village, made a wavy motion with her hand and pointed at Sesshomaru. 'I will catch him a fish.' Then she swiftly turned and ran before Hotaru could stop her.

Hotaru grabbed an empty space. She's fast. "He doesn't eat human food." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. And if they see you steal fish from the preserve… She glanced at Sesshomaru. "A-ah, she means well."

"Pointless effort." He scoffed and made a mistake of leaning forward to sit more upright. The wound pulsed and more blood trickled down his chest. He growled as nausea washed over him. His consciousness was slipping away and his body was getting heavier with each breath. He felt he was falling to a side, but his body gave in, he had no strength to resist the gravity.

"Hey, hey, hey." Without thinking she grabbed his shoulder before he could topple down on his sword. "Stay awake."

He jerked away from her, his eyes flashing red before reverting back to its usual gold. "I don't-"

"Yes. I heard you for the first time. And I've decided to ignore your unreasonable stubbornness." She declared, not letting go of him. Her voice was firm, but it softened with her next words: "It's not a good time for massive wounds. Full moon. Your kind might strive tonight, but so does the weapon that harmed you and the residue it left."

"What do you know about Tetsusaiga?" He couldn't control his hoarse, snarling voice.

Scary, but not enough to make her back away. "Not much, but I've seen it and I know the one who wields it." She smiled softly and strategically omitted mentioning Inuyasha's name. She could tell they were related by their youki and their likeness. Even their stubbornness. Given the wounds, their relationship or a lack of one was also quite clear, yet it made her wonder how Inuyasha managed to survive every encounter…

He clenched his teeth as the image of Inuyasha appeared in his mind and a wave of hatred rolled over him.

Her clear blue eyes were set on him as she sat on her heels, keeping her hand on his shoulder. "Let me treat your wound, Sesshomaru. I owe you. I truly don't have the power, or intention to cause you harm. I can feel your powers; even if you can hardly move or talk, you could still easily kill me."

His eyes narrowed. Is she not aware of her own powers? "What is your name, priestess who wants to treat a demon?"

She laughed.

"What are you laughing at?"

She raised an eyebrow amusedly. "Now you ask my name?"

"Tsk, forget it."

"Hotaru. My name's Hotaru." She was still chuckling when she positioned Sesshomaru against the tree. "And that child's name is Rin. She will be staying with me." She added and opened her case to look for the best cure she could use tonight.

He was observing her by the corner of his eye. Her unusual hair was tightly tied back to keep her vision clear, but several strands disobediently escaped the tie. She was fully focused on his wound. Precisely moving her hands and applying slight pressures to move him if she so needed. No words were necessary. She only touched him as much as was inevitable and she avoided the demon markings snaking around his torso and arm. He appreciated the respect for boundaries she displayed. But a question rose in the back of his mind: How much does she know?

She showed him a small vial. "It will hurt. But it will help. It is a cure. Do not try to kill me." She warned him.

Before he could raise a question or a protest, she poured the contents of the vial into his gashing wound.

What she called a cure was not a cure at all. It was a potion. It burned and simmered in the wound, eliciting a deep, pain-filled snarl. He almost lashed out on her, but quickly he realised the potion was decomposing and purifying Tetsusaiga's energy, not his youki. It restarted the bleeding and turned his blood completely black, he frowned.

Her smile was encouraging and she nodded in appreciation, wiping the black discharge with a clean cloth. "You can feel it, right? It's cleansing. The bleeding will soon stop and you will be able to use your youki to close the slash."

With the wound free of the sword's power, he could will his tissues to heal. Once his youki recovered enough. He glanced at the full moon above their heads, calculating. He knew he would be fine by dawn. "How can you be so certain? You are a human."

She raised her head and in his eyes, facing her directly, she detected a hint of amusement. That caught her by surprise. "Ah… Well… Would it sound stupid if I say I can just sense it? That the moon is your ally?"

"Hn." He turned his eyes to the moon. My ally, huh? Then he glanced back at her. To evaluate Hotaru's strength he would have to look past his prejudice and consider a human's power. He wasn't willing to do that. Not yet. Not tonight.

"It might leave a scar. The wound was too deep and I took too long to come." She interrupted his thoughts and traced the edge of the wound with her warm fingers.

He glared at the treeline. He would have a scar. A reminder how Inuyasha bested him and how his useless sword saved his life. Just a deep wound would not leave a scar on him, but this one, inflicted with killing intent and by his kin, damaged his demon markings greatly. Whenever that happened a faint scar would form.

"Well," she gently patted his left shoulder, "some scars can add to a man's value."

"I don't need to add to my value." He huffed.

Kou's scarred, smiling face flashed through her mind. Regret and sadness filled her heart and she snorted: "Don't you think too highly of yourself?"

A low rumble shook his ribcage. A warning.

She turned to her case to occupy her hands and shoo away her sudden anger by putting away her stuff. He is dead. She reminded herself, taking a deep breath. "I think it's in the imperfections where we find comfort and room to grow. If one is already perfect, then there is no possibility to improve." She glanced at him shortly.

"Hn. I do not find comfort in imperfections. In my world if you are imperfect you are dead."

"Yet your brother, who is considered an abomination by both kinds, is still very much alive." She shot back.

He snarled at the audacity. His eyes flashing red for a second.

Hotaru raised her hands in a defensive gesture. "I didn't mean to offend. I simply sense that you yourself do not know how far you can go and how much stronger you can become." She sighed. Maybe it's for the best. "And I have to find out who I am… or was. I owe them that." She slapped her hands against her thighs and got up. "Which brings a question. Do you happen to know where Bokusen-Oh-sama… resides? … Grows?"

Leaves rustled as Rin dashed into the clearing, carrying a huge leaf. She kneeled at Sesshomaru's side and with a huge smile presented the leaf filled with 2 baked fish and mushrooms to him.

"I don't eat human food, child." He responded promptly, leaning away from the dirty child that smelled from smoke.

Rin pushed her hands closer to the demon, intensifying her offer. Everybody loved baked fish, right?

"No, thank you."

She sighed and her shoulders slumped in sadness.

Hotaru walked to her and patted her head. "You did a good job Rin. He might not like it, but he needs to eat something. Leave it here."

Rin looked up, verifying she heard correct.

"Yes, leave it here." She nodded. "Did anyone see you, stealing those fish?"

She shook her head vehemently, but she wouldn't swear it.

A chill ran down Hotaru's spine. "I really hope so. Let's go back. I have a salve to finish while the moon is still out." She took Rin's hand and they turned to take their leave.

"Pass the gorge and continue southwest. There you will find his forest. Once you decide to visit, he will be expecting you."

Hotaru looked over her shoulder with a smile: "Thank you. Until our paths cross again. Hopefully, under different circumstances."

######

"I told you she was a demon." Mizuki whispered to the chief. They were hiding opposite Rin's hut, waiting for their return. The girl was seen stealing fish and Hotaru was not trusted anymore.

No one could say who threw that first rock that hit Hotaru's shoulder. But once she turned to face them, they were all trying to hit her, trying to protect themselves from being cursed. She had a hard time dealing with so many people attacking all at once without killing anyone, and they used it to their advantage. The furious crowd was impossible to persuade. All Hotaru could do was cover her vitals and shield Rin. Their kicks and punches were raining down on the two young women, until they were not moving anymore.

Beaten and unconscious they were left in the dirt.

A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.

S.