Chapter summary:
It is not love. She closes her eyes and whispers under her breath.
"Little demon, I have asked for Rin-chan. I don't see you bringing her." Sweat rolls down Jaken's forehead continuously as he desperately searches for the right words. It has been many years since his master's mother has taken Rin in under her care, the "little girl" that she was from many years ago is no longer around as she is replaced by a 'little woman'. Being left behind here on several occasions, Jaken knows that this great demon is like his master – she has the habit of punishing him when the job is not done.
"Go… Gobodou-sama, Ri… Rin is… is…" Nothing seems to sound like the right words. "Ah… Rin is taking a bath in the hot spring, she said that she will come immediately after she is done with bathing!" Seeing the little demon trembling and sweating profusely, how is she to trust a word that he had just said? "Little demon, don't make me come down from here to teach you a lesson. Speak the truth – why is Rin-chan not here with you?"
Jaken's already tensed face takes on an even tenser note, but this time with a somewhat tinge of somberness. "Rin… Rin is still in her room… sleeping." His voice trails off, as if he does not know how to carry on. He lowers his head and stares blankly at the ground. "Oh? Sleeping? And you just let her sleep on while you keep me waiting?" Jaken twitches in alarm. "Eh… Go… Gobodou-sama, that is not the meaning of this Jaken. Eh… Rin is… Rin is…" He feels as if the words are choked up in his throat and would not come out. He coughs a few times and gathers all that he has. "Rin is sleeping and Sesshomaru-sama is also sleeping – in her room. Sesshomaru-sama had asked me to leave, so I had to leave without her…" He is still trying to recover from his shock of seeing (and hearing) what he saw (and heard).
She closes her eyes in immense displeasure – this is what she is afraid of hearing and did not want to hear. To pick out from the leftover materials to make some new kimonos has been an excuse. She has smelled something in the air last night that did not please her and summoning for the human girl early the next morning has been her way to check if her senses has been playing tricks on her.
It is not love. It is lust. Purely lust and curiosity. It will soon pass, she tells herself.