"Something's wrong."

"Rin, I just want to eat my fish."

"But Sesshomaru should be back by now. He said he would only be gone for a day or two—it's been four days." Rin stared into the fire, her brows drawn together in worry. Her trout overcooked and she didn't care. She lost her appetite. "Something's happened to him," she said in a small voice, "I just know it."

"Now who can do that?"

Rin thought for a moment, then gasped. "You don't think… That other Lord—"

"No, I do not." Jaken would hear none of this. "And you should know your lack of faith in him would cut him deeper than any sword. You trouble yourself for no good reason."

"How can you say that when there are other dog demons? How do you know?"

Jaken stopped eating and sighed. Rin figured out the only thing in this world that could threaten their Lord's life was another Inuyoukai. But he couldn't let her go on like this, waxing in worry.

"All I know is our Lord has been in better spirits since you've rejoined us. Hardly any rocks." Rin smiled despite herself. It was true. Sesshomaru was definitely more tolerant of the little demon. "I'm sure he will come flying back to you when he is finished. Now, please," Jaken begged her, taking her trout from the fire, "eat your fish."


The longest chapter so far is Jaken trying to cheer up Rin. Imagine that.