Audra-sama, what is bittersweet?" A fourteen year old Rin looked up at her, perplexed. Audra stared at her for a moment.
"Bitter sweet, I suppose, is something that is sweet but at the same time bitter." Rin pondered it for a moment before a confused look settled on her face.
"Is that possible, for bitter and sweet to be present at the same time?" Audra smiled at the little girl. She was still so young, even in her human years. Quietly, they slowed their pace and decided to find shelter under a tree. Ah-un, snorted once before wandering off within the trees.
"It is quite a predicament, is it not?" Audra smiled before she reached into her sling pack and pulled out a hardened honey out her bag. She gently handed it to Rin.
"Try it, maybe it will clarify things better. Cautiously, Rin stuck it in her mouth and Audra watched as her eyes glowed in excitement.
"It's sweet! Like honey!" Audra nodded and continued to wait. She watched as the little girls face began to scrunch up slowly. Rin coughed once, before she looked at Audra with narrowed eyes.
"That was not pleasant, Audra-sama, what was that?" The older youkai chuckled lightly. "My dear, what you tasted was bitter." Rin pouted slightly. "Why would anyone make a confection such as that." Audra shrugged. "Many of my people like the bitter, although," she glanced at the girl with humorous eyes "maybe not in the order you tasted."
Rin looked with apprehension. "Why then, do you carry such confection, Audra-sama?" Audra stared at her for a bit, then looked up at the darkening sky.
"Come Rin, we have to settle for the night." Audra gathered wood while Rin fetched ah-un. Audra opened her lips and breathed fire out unto the wood, igniting it immediately. Once everything was set Audra rose a barrier around them and carefully settled against ah-un. Rin laid her head on Audra's legs. Everything was quiet for the moment. The sun had finally settled and the only light they had now was the small fire and the momentary red whisps of the barrier. Ah-uh twitched slightly then let out another snort before breathing deeply.
"It's a reminder, Rin." Said girl looked up and waited silently.
"Not everything that is sweet, remains that way. When you live as long as I have, you see deceit and betrayal far too many times." She looked down at her innocent eyes. "Perhaps if you learn the lesson this way, you will save yourself from disappointment." The crickets chirped at the silence afterwards and Rin spoke once more. "So the hard honey is sweet bitter?" Audra nodded before her gaze shifted immediately in front of her.
"Rin." Rin's eyes widened and a grin spread across her face as she rushed toward the new comer.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Behind them a squacking was heard. "Insolent child, how dare you get lost and waste Lord Sesshomaru's time!"
The little girls gaze shifted to him and she screamed happily. "Lord Jaken!" The frog youkai yelped and started running from the girls happy embrace.
Sesshomaru's gaze never left Audra. "Feline." The simple words echoing disdain.
Audra growled at the name. "Dog" she retorted. There was a pause before Sesshomaru spoke again. "Need I remind you that you are in this one's lands and such insolence will not be tolerated."
Audra glared. "Need I remind you Sesshomaru, that I am a noble from Rome and have been granted entry to discuss the treaty. Do well to hold your tongue, oh great Lord of the West."
Sesshomaru glared and his hand skimmed bakusaiga. Audra smirked. "Please do Sesshomaru, I welcome the challenge."
They had a momentary stare off when Sesshomaru spoke once more. "Jaken, Rin. We leave." Audra sighed and stood up glancing down and lightly tapping the dragon awake.
Sesshomaru observed with narrowed eyes the comfort his dragon had with the Lion youkai. The dragon nudged Audra before heading to Sesshomaru's side. Rin ran up next to Sesshomaru pouting.
"Audra-sama never told Rin what bittersweet is." A small smile appeared on Audra's face before once more going into her sling bag and pulling out a different confection. "Here." She gently walked to Rin and placed the hard candies in her hand and she lightly ruffled her hair.
"It is the same concept I taught you before, but reversed. Perhaps you could say it is a better outlook to things." With that she turned around and started walking away as Rin ate one of her confection.
"Bittersweet." Rin spoke in afterthought. "Is Lord Sesshomaru and Audra-sama bitter and sweet?" She looked at the lioness with a toothy grin.
Audra paused for a moment before glaring at the inuyukai. "Something like that." She offered hesitantly, and walked once more away from the headache.
"Thank you for helping this Rin!" Rin looked at the trailed that Audra went through to see nothing but dissipating flames. Sesshomaru glared at the remaining flame and glanced down at his ward, whom looked up at him expectantly and offered him the honey confection.
Reluctantly, he took it and gracefully ate it. Immediately he was greeted by the wonderful taste of bitterness that he found quite addicting before it slowly turned soothingly sweet. Rin waited patiently for his approval and he reluctantly nodded.
"This Sesshomaru finds this satisfactory." Inwardly though he thought that the combination, though intricate, was rather addicting. He glanced at the trail once more before turning around and heading the opposite direction.