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Inuvember 2020

November 6th

Sess & Co.

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Wrinkling his nose, Jakken looked down at his messily little pile of roasted mushrooms before narrowing his eyes and looking over at Rin turning her two frogs over the spit accented by the same mushrooms Which their lord expected the kappa to survive upon. If anything, Jakken knew he did more work than that little human brat could ever dream but when he came back with two frogs - one for each of them - Sesshomaru declared that Rin would have more than her fair share. As usual that girl got the preferential treatment for literally no reason.

"My Lord, may I leave to gather more frogs?" Jakken huffed as he got to his feet and brushed off his small kimono, "I shall not take..."

"No."

Jakken set his jaw and very seriously considered arguing but to do so would be suicide.

"It is not This Sesshomaru's concern that you failed to supply enough for yourself and for Rin," the daiyoukai continued in a bored tone. Jakken furrowed his brow at this. That was a more open statement than was typical. Odd. Suspicious even. Was the great Lord Sesshomaru ill? A head injury or...

He never used so many words or expressed himself so thoroughly. Something was wrong with this situation. Terribly, terribly wrong. Whatever was the matter?

"My Lord, Rin can give Master Jakken one of the frogs," the little girl offered kindly as she poked one of the little things, "Rin does not..."

"No," the daiyoukai replied firmly before giving the kappa a disapproving glance. It was then and only then that Jakken realized he may have done something to upset the daiyoukai. More than simply failing to bring back four frogs. Lord Sesshomaru never ate in front of them but perhaps he never did so because he expected food to be provided for him. Or something. He'd never demanded such a thing so...

"But my Lord, Master Jakken is hungry," Rin protested despite the order and the kappa balked when Sesshomaru didn't so much as chide or even glare.

"As you wish," the daiyoukai finally replied and Rin nodded happily as she turned the frogs once more.

"Rin how dare you question the Lord!" Jakken blurted before he could stop himself, "The Lord gave you an..."

"Then starve," Sesshomaru replied as his amber eyes flashed dangerously. Jakken paled in response. What on earth was this reaction? It was so unlike the stoic cruel master he'd come to know and love.

"My Lord..."

And then it hit the little green man. Barely two days ago Rin had died for a second time. Perhaps the Lord was anxious to ensure there was no lasting damage. And she had gotten a bruise earlier that day from an otherwise benign fall. Still such things were not cause for such a dramatic change in behavior. There were just...so many words being used.

At this rate, the Lord may very well throw his title away if it meant ensuring Rin's continued existence. Such a thing was not to be born. Highly irregular. Insulting even. All of this over a stupid human girl. If he didn't fear for his life, Jakken would have struck her down just to knock some sense into the greatest leader the world had ever known.

Amber eyes suddenly whipped in his direction. Anger bordering on rage filling those usually emotionless eyes.

Sesshomaru wasn't a mind reader was he?! God rest his soul if so.

Rin made a small sound of happiness before removing the spit and quickly moving to offer it to the tiny kappa.

"Here you go Master Jakken," Rin cooed and the vassal slowly accepted one of the frogs despite the fact it burned his hands.

"Thank you Rin," the kappa mumbled nervously as he continued to watch the bristling daiyoukai. This was it. This was the day he met his maker.

In that moment, the kappa was never more motivated to protect Rin than he had been since he'd met the insolent child. One more bruise and he'd be a dead man.

And then, of course, Rin tripped and Jakken scrambled to catch her.

"Clumsy girl," Jakken huffed as sweat bloomed on his brow once he was sure she was safe.

"Thank you Master Jakken," Rin hummed as she patted him on the head, "Rin would have fallen for sure if you had not caught her."

Jakken chuckled nervously as he wrung his hands and gauged his Lord's reaction. At least Sesshomaru wasn't glaring at him anymore. That was hopefully a good sign.

As the old little toad watched as Rin offered the Lord a mushroom and shockingly the daiyoukai accepted, Jakken almost delcared he was too old for this nonsense and went on his merry way.

Almost.

He wasn't ready to die just yet.