A/N: PLEASE READ THIS FIRST!!

Okay, first of all, let me make this clear: this is a collection of oneshots that I will update when I feel like it. This is something I do because I like to test my ability to use English (yes, it is still my third language) and it's something that allows me to test different ways of comedy and how to play with the characters. The last chapter showed me what not to do, I think they were, well Sesshy was, too much out of character, so I tried something else in this one. I would also like to add that I have extremely fun writing these, which means that I'm not sure if anyone else understands, my sense of humor leaves much to be desired in the eyes of others. Now, because these drabbles are experimental in a way, I need your feedback so I know what works and what not. I am planning on few bigger projects and because of the language I haven't got enought confidence to put them here untill I know what I can pull off, this includes Closed up heart, which I am having difficulties with. So help me, pretty please? (It does seem like I am unable to say anyhting shortly...)

~Val

Careless Daddy

Sesshoumaru was a person who liked to keep to himself, everybody knew that. Even so, he traveled with two companions, three if the two headed creature was counted in as well. Those who knew the great Lord of the Western Lands were very surprised when they learned this. They were even more surprised when they actually saw the companions.

Considering that the two of them could be, at least in some way, considered as slightly annoying, it was not a surprise that sometimes Lord Sesshoumaru wished to be alone. When it became unbearable for him to stay in the presence of the others he left the little pack and went on his own way for some time, who knows where. At those times he left the camp for Jaken to look after.

That is also the reason why it was impossible for him to completely relax when left them out of sight. Rin was a quite nice girl for a human, but she did posses a difficult power of getting into trouble even in situations where it was very unlikely, and unfortunately Jaken was not the most reliable person to look after her.

For this reason Sesshoumaru found himself to be unusually – no, happy is not the right word – rather pleased when he noticed that his idiotic sorry excuse of a brother and his a bit more sane companions had a camp quite near to where he was walking by.

He reasoned that even though he would rather rip his right hand off that ask the idiot to babysit, it would not be harmful if he were to leave Jaken, Rin and Ah-Un near them. Even someone as stupid as Inuyasha would react if there were to be any danger nearby, and most likely the danger would be targeting Inuyasha and his companions than a girl and a useless little toad. He could have some time for himself and actually be at ease. Perhaps.

Because his reasoning seemed to be quite, uh, reasonable, he decided to do just as he had thought. Rin and Jaken began to put up a camp and Sesshoumaru left to…wherever he went when he was feeling blue or something like that.

But unfortunately Sesshoumaru had not taken into consideration one tiny little detail, and that was Rin's personality. A little careless of him. You see, as most of the children under ten, Rin was a very curious sort of kid. Of course she had to go and see if there was something interesting in the forest around the camp, perhaps some flowers, bugs, mushrooms or a funny looking stump of a tree or, well, you get the point.

As she did her careful examination around the forest causing poor Jaken to lose his temper again, she happened to hear some voices. And unlike Sesshoumaru who did not care to remember his dealings with his brother, Rin could not forget the people who had been so nice to her once. Especially if she would be able to get some new friends to talk with, Jaken was not the best possible companion in that sense. He mostly told her to be quiet, which was something very hard for Rin to accomplish.

Filled with childish excitement, it did not take her more than a second to decide that it would be extremely impolite to not to say hello when she was so close, so, she ran toward the other camp ignoring completely Jaken's disagreeing shouting.

She was welcomed warmly. Kagome, the nice lady with funny (but very pretty) clothes hugged her. That felt nice, she did not get hugs very often. Lord Sesshoumaru was too cool, he would never hug. The other lady, Sango was her name (she was even prettier than Kagome,) greeted her nicely too, but for some reason she was holding back the monk. She said he might be dangerous, which made the monk, Miroku, look a bit uncomfortable and then they began to argue about something, Rin did not care to listen what it was about, she had a feeling she would not understand anyways. Shippoo was as cute as ever, Rin really liked his tail, but Inuyasha (who looked a tiny bit like Sesshoumaru) looked a little scary and said that she should not be there. Then Kagome told him to sit and he was suddenly lying in the ground. How did that happen, she did not know, but it sure looked funny.

They were just about to start their meal and asked her to join them. She was very happy that they invited her. Their food smelled delicious, and it had been awhile since she had eaten properly, not that she complained since traveling with Lord Sesshoumaru was definitely worth it.

The food they had was very strange, but it tasted good. Rin was so very happy that she had so many people she could talk to. And Kagome had so many interesting things in her yellow bag that it would have truly been a great pity if she had missed seeing them all. Besides, Kagome explained to her what the things were. That was so much fun! (she did not really understand though)

What she did not know was that there were also hot springs nearby and they were planning to go and bath there. It had also been awhile since Rin had taken a bath, and that had been when she had falle into a river while trying to catch a fish. Once again she ignored Jaken's loud protests (that were soon cut off by Inuyasha and his fist) and left with Kagome and Sango to the hot spring, they said it was nice to bath together.

They also asked her to stay and sleep with them, but Rin felt like she should say no to that one. Lord Sesshoumaru might come during the night and find their own camp empty. That would make him very worried, and Rin did not want that. Or worse, he might continue his journey without her, which would be sooo bad, so that is why she most definitely should be sleeping in their own camp.

Luckily the others understood when she explained how things were. Only Inuyasha mumbled something she could not properly hear, but apparently he did not understand why she wanted to be with Lord Sesshoumaru.

That was something Rin did not want to explain to anyone. She did feel a bit bad for being so selfish, but the reason she did not want to explain was because she feared that if she did, everybody would want to be with Lord Sesshoumaru (of course they would) and then she would have to share him. She did not really want to.

Besides, it had already been so interesting evening even if it was impossible for her to stay with them the whole night. However, there had happened something she did not quite understand. She would have to ask about it from Lord Sesshoumaru when came back.

--

--

"Lord Sesshoumaru, could I ask you a question?" Rin asked as they were walking through the forest.

He did not answer, as usual, but he did give her an almost unnoticeable sideways glance, which told her that she could continue.

"Do you like bathing?"

If he was surprised by her question, he certainly did not show it. After some time he answered with his quiet manner. "Yes."

"So you take baths?"

Sesshoumaru did not answer to that but Rin thought the silence was telling her that yes he did.

"Then how come we never take baths together?"

Sesshoumaru stopped and slowly turned to look at Rin. He gave her a steady glare and then continued to walk.

As soon as Sesshoumaru had turned his back at them, Jaken jumped up and began to preach to the girl. "You insolent child! Of course Lord Sesshoumaru will not take baths with you!"

"But why not?"

Jaken was confused. "Well, that is to say, it is not something Lord Sesshoumaru would do…"

"He does not like to have fun?"

"What are you babbling about silly girl?"

"Aren't you supposed to go take a bath together with someone and have fun in there?"

Jaken blushed a little and seemed to be too angry to get the words out of his mouth. That gave Rin the opportunity to continue. "So how come we never go and take a bath together and do fun stuff?"

Sesshoumaru, who had listened very closely what they were talking about stopped once again and turned around. "Rin."

"Yes Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"What is this all about?"

"Well, yesterday I was with lady Kagome and Sango and we had a bath together. They said it would be more fun when we do it together, and it really, really was. Miroku and Inuyasha stayed to watch the camp, but they were planning to go and take a bath together as well, when we come back."

Sesshoumaru waited for her to continue.

She took a deep breath. "Then we came back and Inuyasha and Miroku were leaving. I heard when Miroku said to Sango that he would have much more fun if she would accompany him and they could do lots of fun stuff in there. That made me thinking that if we all went to have a bath together we would have so much fun!" she explained exited. "And we would be very clean", she added quickly just to show that she had, in fact, thought about it very carefully.

After she finished she noticed that Jaken was acting very strangely. He was sort of shivering and his grip around his staff looked painfully tight. He was also very, very red. Lord Sesshoumaru on the other hand did not look much different, but he gave Jaken a very ugly look that made him jump.

"Jaken", he began, "what is this?"

"I am so very sorry Milord! Inuyasha's camp was near ours and Rin found out and insisted on staying with them for awhile so we did and they ate and had a bath and may I add that I did not because of my loyalty to you Milord and I must say that the humans are very extremely unpleasant and said things apparently not at all suitable for someone like Rin whose intelligence leaves much to be desired and the monk was absolutely hideous and suggested the most outrageous things to the other woman and Inuyasha was mostly quiet but even so he was rude and – "

"Shut up."

"Yes Milord." Jaken stopped his rambling.

"Rin."

Rin was now almost certain that she had said something wrong, she was not sure what it was but it was definitely something. She just hoped Lord Sesshoumaru would not be too mad at her. She nodded shortly to him to show she was listening very, extremely carefully.

"We will not take a bath together."

That was a little disappointing but she had already seen it coming. She could only wonder why Sesshoumaru did not like to have fun. Did he take baths even though he did not like to do so or did he do fun stuff rather by himself?

"And you will not be with those people alone again."

That was a bit unfair. They were so nice to her and they were already friends, but if that was something Lord Sesshoumaru wished she could only nod in agreement. Besides, she would not be alone if Jaken was with her…

"Lord Sesshoumaru?"

"Yes Rin."

"Is it even possible to do fun stuff alone in the bath?" Rin asked eyes shining with pure innocence. For a moment she thought that Sesshoumaru looked uncomfortable but that was over so soon she was certain she had made a mistake.

"Bath is for bathing so one can clean oneself. That is all."

Rin thought about this for a second, but little children are always full of questions. "So does doing fun stuff mean you will get dirty?"

At this point Jaen fainted.

"Rin", Sesshoumaru said sternly. "That is enough of questions."

After that Sesshoumaru turned around and continued their journey. Rin followed soon after and poor Jaken was left lying there until he would wake up and follow.

During this quite confusing conversation Sesshoumaru had realized that he might have been a bit too careless leaving Rin and that useless green thing so close to that good for nothing and his pack. His reasoning had been good, of course it had, but he had to admit that there might have been some openings. From now on he would make sure they would not be anywhere near Rin unless he was present. Dealing with this aftermath was…not something he was ready to do.

The subject of having fun in the bath rose never again, but it did still bother Rin. She decided she would ask about it from Miroku next time she would meet him. She was quite sure he would be able to tell her all about it.

Let us pray that Sesshoumaru will stay alert.