"Demon child! Leave me alone! I don't want any flowers on me," Jaken was running around the field being chased by Hiraku who was brandishing a wreath of wildflowers Rin had taught him how to make.

"Come on Jaken! They'll make you look prettier," Rin encouraged to the fleeing toad demon. He continued to run around the field with both youths in hot pursuit. He tripped over a stray rock and the children dog piled on him as the floral necklace was forcefully applied to his stubby neck. They continued to wrestle with him, their play in fun; his in defense but there was a tiny spark of happiness in his eyes as they scampered around him. He was eventually left on the limb of a large and branchy tree while the kids climbed and played on one of its arms with the two fire cats. It was going to be a long day; that much was certain. Jaken leaned back with a sigh as his eyes drooped in quiet thought, his staff of two heads held firmly in his folded arms.

Back in the clearing where Sesshomaru sat, Seiko was finally finished with her bath and was stretching. Sesshomaru watched her in wonder as her muscles shook gently underneath her ebony fur. She had much grace in her movements and it was no wonder how she managed to stay so fast. Sesshomaru caught himself staring and re-located his gaze to the branch, a stray ladybug walking along it. He watched the insect as it walked to the edge of the bough, spread its crystalline wings and flew off into the dim forest. He looked back at the clearing and saw Seiko sitting on her haunches watching him. Her emotions couldn't easily be conveyed through this form but Sesshomaru suspected she was smirking at him. He glowered at her dubiously and jumped from his perch. He landed and was walking out when he heard a slight whine from behind him. Seiko had slid to a laying position and was looking at him with doe eyes. He sighed and turned back to her.

"What, wench?"

She ignored his comment and inched forward until her slightly cool nose was nuzzling his fur. He was about to strike her when her tongue began cleaning it. He was surprised by her actions, and even more by his own but soon released the pelt that sat on his shoulder. With more access to the fluffiness, she continued her grooming. It was perfectly clean in his eyes but cat's always did have obsessive-compulsive disorders when it came to cleanliness so he let her finish washing. For some strange reason she was vocal about her actions.

"You're purring," he stated blankly. The trembling grew louder and he felt it rumbling through his lower chest by his stomach. The earth was shaking from it and Sesshomaru felt himself pacified by the sound and feel she was giving off. Seiko opened her eyes and felt his tail was finished. Sesshomaru managed to choke back a whimper when Seiko ceased her actions and transformed back to her "human" state. He had to admit she knew how to use her tongue, in the most innocent way of course.

"You give into pleasure way too easily, it'll be your downfall Lord Sesshomaru," Seiko said with a not so innocent wink. She waved her hips as she stepped out the clearing. Sesshomaru stared at her as she walked away. For some reason he hadn't just killed her for such a smart-assed comment. Usually if someone were to throw anything back in his face, he made sure they'd never live to make the same mistake again. With a slight shake of himself, he jumped through the trees, past Seiko, to the field that the children were playing in. He had to get away and stay away. Jaken was still in the tree when Sesshomaru landed on its occupied branch, startling the small toad and causing his descent to the ground. Sesshomaru grabbed a stubby leg before Jaken was out of reach and placed the little toad back on his perch.

"Jaken collect Rin, we're leaving."

"Yes Master."

Sesshomaru leaped from the tree and walked back to the camp, coming up behind Seiko.

"You're lucky to still be alive and why you are is a mystery. Just know, if you're ever caught trespassing in the Western Lands again, I won't hesitate to take your life," he spoke stoically as she scratched at a nearby tree, sharpening her claws.

"That's funny, you kill me? Well if you're so confident in your skills, remind me not to go easy on you again. Goodbye Lord Sesshomaru." With that said she withdrew her claws and jumped towards the clearing where he had been. Once there, she scooped up Rin and gave her a quick hug before placing the little human back on the ground.

"Goodbye Rin, I'll see ya 'round kid." She'd picked up a bit of present slang with the time she spent in Kagome's presence.

"Rin will miss Seiko and Hiraku," she replied, clinging to the woman's leg. With a pat on her head Seiko dislodged the small child who had tears on the brim of her eyes but a wide smile on her face.

"We'll come to visit you, ok?"

"Ok, Rin will wait for you to come back!"

Hiraku finally came out of the tree and hugged Rin from behind, both arms wrapped around her neck. He was over a head taller than her and looked down at her while she stared up at him with a cheerful grin.

"Yeah, don't worry Rin, we'll be back soon, we promise," he said, unsure of how true his words were, but a promise was a promise so they couldn't be false.

"Come on Hiraku, we have to leave now."

"Okay ma',' Hiraku replied. With a final squeeze to Rin and a smile to Jaken, Hiraku hopped on Seiko's back and she jumped up a nearby tree. With a last wave and smile to Rin and Jaken she leaned back at the top of the larch and was rocketed into the air from the whiplash of the topmost branches. Sesshomaru watched her depart, unsure if he ever wanted to smell her intoxicating scent or see her buoyant face again.

'Definitely not,' he thought in an unconvincing mental tone.