This is a light hearted drabble.

It is rated M for mature content that may be found in future chapters.

Disclaimer: I claim to own nothing. Do with that information what you will.

Freedom Fries - Chapter 11

"Inu-chan… Stay still…" Rin groaned out. The little hanyou had been shifty ever since Rin had decided to wash his hair. The two were in the public bath. Being that it was a bit later than normal only a handful of women were there. Most were giggling as Rin tried to capture Inuyasha to give his mane a good washing.

After Ayame had decided to throw all of Rin's secrets into Sesshomaru's face, Rin decided she needed a nice soak. Of course, she was not going to leave Inuyasha in the group home's day care until Sesshomaru got off, so she picked up the boy and some supplies and the two headed off. A four minute walk and two blocks later they were at the bath.

Of course Inuyasha thought the bath was a great idea. Until he realized that before 'swimming' in the hot springs he would actually have to bathe. His want to cannon ball did not override his fear of taking too many baths. Apparently one of the children in day care told him that if he washed too much he would be erased, forever.

"No Rin-nee-chan! I don't want to be erased!" The hanyou cried his silver ears falling flat on his head before big juicy tears began to well up in his eyes.

"Oh no Inu-chan, don't cry…" Rin cooed wondering how she ever fathomed that this idea would be relaxing. She scooped the small child up and bounced him against her toweled form, trying her best to soothe him. But the three year old wasn't having it and he began to cry loudly.

Rin was just about to hastily wash her hair out so they could leave when a young woman in her late twenties walked towards them. She was in a robe rather than a towel and she had seemingly just left the springs. A small girl in a matching robe clung to her leg as she approached.

"There there little man, why are you crying? Your onee-chan is doing a good job trying to calm you down." The woman cooed as she gently ruffled Inuyasha's hair.

The little boy sniffled and let out a hiccup before replying softly. "Rin-onee-chan wants me to wash so I can be erased…" He let out another hiccup before wiping his nose on the back of his arm.

"What are you talking about Inu-chan?" Rin asked still confused as to how she got from relaxing bath to crying toddler.

"Miroku said if you wash too much you'll be erased! Maru-chan tricked you and now you want to erase me!" Inuyasha replied before he got ready to cry again. Rin was in shock, her mouth literally dropped as she stared at the toddler in her arms.

"Oh no…" The woman said covering her mouth to hold back a giggle. "Do you really think your one-chan would try to erase you?" She looked into Inuyasha's eyes and the little boy truthfully shook his head. "She loves you; see how she tries to soothe you while you cry. And she brought you to the bath house to enjoy it with her. Why she is as good to you as any okaa-san would be."

Rin's cheeks burned a bit at the praise she received. She just did what came naturally. Inuyasha was her charge, she supposed. Much like Sesshomaru, she had begun to plan around the small child. She tried to keep him on a schedule and come home around the same time. She would work with him on anything he learned that day. They would 'read' together and then she would let him lose for about half an hour before tucking him in.

She did love him like she would a little brother. But to be compared to a mother, that was a set of skills she did not think she possessed. And yet it was an honor to be called such by one who was. Rin bowed her head gratefully before muttering a quick, "Thank you", to the stranger.

Inuyasha looked at the woman and then at Rin. After completing this action a few times over he hugged Rin around the neck quickly before wiggling out of her grasp. He stopped in front of her and bowed awkwardly, "I am sorry, Rin-nee-chan. I will be more good and not be erased."

Rin's mind finally caught up to the situation and she smiled at him. "Thank you Inu-chan, but you are very good to begin with. I would never ever erase you…"She patted him on the head before turning her full attention to the smiling woman in front of her. "Tsukino Rin… I apologize if we caused a ruckus. This is my first time taking him to the bath…" She said with another bow.

"Higurashi Midori… It's quite alright dear. My daughter wasn't thrilled the first time she came here either. Isn't that right Kagome?" The two women looked down just in time to see Inuyasha trying to run away from a young Kagome.

During this whole ordeal, all the little three year old girl could think about were the silver ears. They moved with his expressions and looked even softer than his hair. And so when her mother and the other girl had begun a real conversation she snuck up behind the boy and grabbed the object of her affection. Of course he was unappreciative of this gesture but she was too young to care.

"He has the ears of the puppy!" The little girl squealed as she gave chase.

"No not my ears!" Inuyasha yelled as he clambered to the top of a stool and watched as Kagome tried to no avail to follow him.

Mrs. Higurashi sighed as she scooped up her daughter. "Ah Kagome, it's getting late you can play with your friend another time yes?" Kagome pouted but nodded as Inuyasha stayed put his hair bristling upwards like he was a feline. "We normally come on Wednesday's around this time, would love to have you join us. But I have to get home soon before my poor husband and his father die from hunger."

"Of course…" Rin said with a smile before watching the two depart. She turned on her heel to find Inuyasha's attention on a bottle of shampoo she had brought. He sniffed at it suspiciously before pouring some in his hand and attempting to taste it.

Rin playfully swatted his hand away from his mouth. She picked up the bottle a smiled, so much for relaxing. "Come on Inu-chan, let's get you clean before Sesshomaru-sama gets home, ne?"