Still not convinced that the village was finished with those pesky wolf demons, Hoshiko continued to stay and continued to try and befriend the young orphaned girl named Rin. She doesn't know why, but she felt compelled to befriend her. It really was hard to say why. Maybe it was some kind of long dormant maternal instinct Hoshiko never knew she had or maybe it was simply because she reminded her of the Kaede from her memories.

Almost a week had passed and still nothing from the demons. Hoshiko was starting to think she was wrong in her assumptions. So with leaving on her mind, she went to Rin to tell her she was leaving the next morning. When she told her, the girl's eyes got big and watery and she ran and hugged Hoshiko's knees, shaking her head back and fourth very hard.

When Hoshiko explained that she had no more real reason to stay, Rin looked up at her with tear-laden eyes and suddenly started pulling Hoshiko's hakama and pointing. It took Hoshiko a minute to realize Rin wanted to show her something. Not seeing any harm, she shrugged and followed, something that made Rin quite happy for some reason. Hoshiko didn't question the child's logic though.

After about five or ten minutes of walking, and just as Hoshiko was starting to silently question how much further they had to go, Rin veered off and went through some bushes. Hoping they were almost there, she followed after and very shortly came across something she never expected to see. There, lying against a tree was what had to be some type of celestial being but no…..Looking closer she realized it was a demon! She had never seen a demon as beautiful as this one. Hoshiko promptly mentally smacked herself for thinking such ridiculous things. At first she thought he was unconscious but then as she approached the bloody demon snapped his eyes opened and glared viciously at her.

Stopping short she glared right back at him.

"You're not exactly in the position to try to be intimidating," she stated bluntly.

The demon's glare did not waver. It was only then did Hoshiko realize that Rin was seated quite comfortably next to him.

"Rin," Hoshiko trailed off. "How long have you known about this demon? Have you been treating his wounds?" Hoshiko asked after realizing some of his wounds looked like they were healing. Of course she was sure most of that was the demon's own healing abilities. Rin looked back at her and smiled proudly, her missing tooth making her quite adorable. Although Hoshiko was not happy about this turn of events, what disturbed her even more was this demon has been here quite a while and she never sensed him ionce/i!

The next four days consisted of Hoshiko coming with Rin when she went to visit the demon. Whether it be to futilely bring him human food and water or herbs. She did this because she doesn't trust him, knowing as soon as he was strong enough, he would kill her. Probably go after the village after that. Hoshiko wanted to be there should this ever happen though she could tell he was incredibly strong even as injured as he is.

Something else that amazed Hoshiko is their interaction. He seems….almost tolerable to her, despite his words. Hell, Rin even started talking recently. Something that really caught Hoshiko off guard. It was through Rin that Hoshiko learned the demon's name. It was Lord Sesshoumaru.

Finally, the wolf demons made their move. It was pure chaos. Between the wolf demons and their wolves, there had to be at least twenty of them, if not more in numbers. Hoshiko did the best she could, but she couldn't save all of the villagers. More than half of them were dead and she had hardly made a dent. But she continued to fight, knowing Rin was safe in her little shack, as Hoshiko literally shoved her into it when the wolves and their demon comrades invaded.

Unfortunately, during the progress of the battle, Hoshiko had gotten led away from Rin's shack. She could only hope the girl wasn't found. The battle was still waging on and Hoshiko was battered, bleeding and exhausted. She didn't know how much longer she could go on. She even idly wondered if those soul collectors would show up in the back of her mind. The thought was quickly pushed aside. She could inot/i become distracted. Finally killing off the last of the demons and their wolves, Hoshiko limped back to Rin's shack as fast as she could only to have her dead heart drop. It was empty and dead villagers littered the front of it. Fearing the worst, Hoshiko looked around and for some reason, Sesshoumaru crossed her mind.

Hoping she was right, Hoshiko started limping towards the forest he was currently resting in completely unaware that she hadn't completely killed off all the wolves and that she was too late to save Rin. Hoshiko was barely into the forest when she heard vicious growls behind her. Turning, she saw two wolves glaring, growling and showing their teeth. Swallowing hard and clenching her teeth, she turned completely around and feebly raised her bloody, scratched, and teeth mark ridden naginata against them. They charged immediately. Hoshiko only managed to get in a few hits before they overwhelmed her.

Biting, scratching, ripping, pulling, they did it all. Blood flying everywhere, they dislocated her shoulder, repeatedly bit her torso and legs before one finally went for her throat and shook its head with a vice like grip. Hoshiko went limp. Satisfied, the wolves left.

Meanwhile a little earlier in the same forest, Rin was being chased by a group of wolves in her pursuit to find Lord Sesshoumaru for protection when the wolves caught up and got her. It was a while later when Lord Sesshoumaru came across her and simply stared down at his unwanted caregiver. After a few minutes of staring he suddenly reached up and unsheathed a sword. However, he then did something strange. He did not strike the body, he sliced the air just above the body at seemingly nothing. Only he could see the minion of Hell covering the girl with chains. But with the sword, Tenseiga, he was able to banish the little devil.

Putting the sword back in its sheath, he knelt down and cradled the girl to his chest with his only arm and demanded she open her eyes. Sure enough, she did! He had just revived a human child. He, Lord Sesshoumaru. Rin looked up and smiled widely at him. She stood on her own and he followed suit before continuing the way he was headed as if nothing unusual had happened. Elated, Rin followed. After about a half hour more of walking, Sesshoumaru stopped and finally saw the source of the blood he had been smelling. Wondering why he stopped, Rin peeked out from behind him and saw Hoshiko sprawled out on her back with blank eyes facing the sky, her body and clothes torn and bloody. Rin let out a horrified gasp and ran to her.

"Lady Hoshiko?" Rin asked in a small voice and shook her a little. However, she knew Hoshiko was dead. Rin began to cry. Sesshoumaru began walking again and ignored Hoshiko's body. He told Rin they were leaving when he realized she was still crying by the priestess's body.

"Please Lord Sesshoumaru, please save her! Just like you did me and I'll never ask for anything ever again," Rin pleaded through her tears.

"She saved me from the villagers so I want to save her now."

Sesshoumaru stopped and glanced over his shoulder with a slight glare forming on his normally stoic face. He eventually turned back and approached Rin and Hoshiko. Realizing what he was doing, Rin grinned and wiped her tears while moving out of the way.

Sesshoumaru once more unsheathed Tenseiga and waited to see the Hell minions. Sure enough, they were there, at least three of them and they were just about ready to drag Hoshiko to Hell. Killing them with a single swipe, he sheathed Tenseiga and waiting rather impatiently. Something unexpected happened though. Soul collectors suddenly appeared and started dropping the souls from the village's women and daughters into Hoshiko. Rin watched on confused while Sesshoumaru watched in concealed disgust.

After more than half a dozen souls were dropped into her, Hoshiko took a breath and blinked. She then groaned in pain.

"So that is what you were woman. You have been resurrected before."

Hoshiko paid no mind to the demeaning voice above her, she was too busy trying to get her bearings. The next she knew, a blur rammed into her, causing her to shout in pain.

"Oh I'm so happy you're all right Lady Hoshiko!" She blacked out after that.