Chapter summary:
In search for a reason.
She is seated comfortably high up on the platform so that she could "look down" on anyone before her. Her eyes rest on the human girl, trying to figure out what is so special about her. "So, little girl – tell me, are you afraid?" The girl looks at her wide-eyed in incomprehension. "Afraid of what?" "Rin, this is Gobodou (honorable mother)-sama that you are talking to! She's not Kohaku or some other lowly beings that you are used to mingling around with, show some respect with your words!" As much as Jaken loathes being left behind by his master with the foolish girl, he has to do what has to be done – keep the girl out of trouble (or else who knows how is his master going to punish him).
"Little demon, be quiet. The little girl can talk in anyway she pleases. She is after all just human, my standards are not the same for everyone. So tell me little girl, are you afraid to come here and live among demons? You must know that we are not just some demons but we are powerful demons, and sometimes some of us even feed on humans!" The girl gasps in horror. She lets out a false laugh. "Don't worry little girl, Sesshomaru has entrusted you with me, so you can have my word that no part of you will be missing while you are under my care."
The girl looks at the ground as if contemplating if she should ask what is on her mind. "You have something to ask me little girl?" "Gobodou-sama, when will Sesshomaru-sama be coming back?" She looks at the little human girl with intrigued interest. There is something uncannily affectionate about the way her son's name comes out of her mouth, just like the lingering way she looks the back of her son leaving, even long after he was out of sight.
"Already asking for Sesshomaru when he hasn't even left for half a day? Enlighten me little girl, what is your business with my son?" "I have no business with Sesshomaru-sama." "Huh?" Raising her eyebrows displaying her displeasure, she prompts, "Explain yourself little girl." The girl's expressive face takes on a bewildered note. "I follow Sesshomaru-sama. He saves me from wolves and demons, and I… sometimes pick flowers for him." A frown marred her timeless features. She did not ask the question for such a bizarre answer.
Jaken cuts in, "Gobodou-sama, please pardon this stupid girl's unschooled mouth. Sesshomaru-sama has taken in this pathetic human purely because this foolish human had tried to help Sesshomaru-sama when he was badly wounded by Tessaiga. This silly girl has to tag along and weigh down Sesshomaru-sama's footsteps has got to do with the fact that she no longer has anyone she could depend on among her own kind, and Sesshomaru-sama's heart of gold prevents him from leaving a helpless human girl alone to fend for herself. Such magnanimous compassion that Sesshomaru-sama possesses he has inevitably acquired it from you Gobodou-sama."
She looks at the little demon in disinterest and disbelief – while it might have been easier for her to believe that her son has taken in the human girl as an act of gratitude or even kindness, she knows better that it is something else, whatever it may be.
It is not love. She murmurs to herself under her breath.
