A/N: *sigh* this is so confusing. . . I'm still trying to figure out how to use Italics and what not but I'm already done with this Ch. And I didn't want you waiting long so heres the key: "*" are used for thoughts like *I wonder if we have any doughnuts left. . .* and "-" are used for italics such as -stupid-, -anoying- brother. . .

Well! I don't know how long it usually takes people to write a fic so I don't know if I should apologize for taking to long or rejoicing for finishing fast! ^__^. . . I know some of you wanted me to continue.and me being generous and all. . .*cough*. . . yes well! Enough of my chatter! On to the fic! Oh.. . and BTW- Thanks for the reviews! And the help! *Confidence +25, Happiness +20* Oh! And one more thing before you start! I don't really how long I'm going to make each chapter. The first one was pretty long, mostly because I didn't know whether I was going to continue or not! But seeing as I am I might make the ensuing chapters shorter. *shrugs* So basically, what ever comes out in the end is what I have. Sorry for talking so much! ~.~'

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-

Protecting Rin- Part II

The sun had just risen over the horizon when Sesshoumaru awoke. He noticed the small weight and warmth coming from his side verifying that Rin was still there. After looking over the field he stood up and left his boa for Rin to stay warm. Hearing Jaken's obscure snoring he walked over and nudged the toad youkai with his foot. "Jaken, wake up. Go and find Rin and yourself a meal for the morning and then we will leave". Jaken jerked up to stand stiff and responded with his usually squeaky voice "Hai m'lord!" and started off in the direction of the forest mumbling about how the 'stupid human' should go and find her own food.

At that, Sesshoumaru hurled a pebble at Jaken making the lesser youkai rub his head and scurry off even faster.

Going over to one of the various trees in the field Sesshoumaru sat and contemplated their next move. He decided it would be best to search for the youkai after Rin. *More than likely, while we search for him, he will send more youkai after Rin and myself. What could he want with a* -human-. He was brought from his questioning by a small tug on his kimono sleeve. Peering down at the girl, with tired half closed eyes, he said "Rin, go back to sleep". Rin responded with a pout and answered his command with "but Rin is not tired. Rin will go pick flowers for Sesshoumaru-sama!". She turned and with a new 'energy' ran off towards the small patch of flowers he had found her in last night, with hopes of pleasing her guardian.

He watched her run towards the flowers and examining them to make sure only the best were to be given to her Sesshoumaru. Pulling a couple from the ground she made sure there was no dirt, then started to weave them together to make a ring.

Only a few minutes had passed before the youkai known as Jaken returned with 2 fish and some herbs. Sesshoumaru gave an order after taking his eyes from Rin and moving them to Jaken ."Jaken. You are to cook Rin's food.". "hai lord Sesshoumaru!" said Jaken, reluctantly starting up the fire again to cook the food for the young child, still not understanding why humans couldn't just eat the food raw.

When the food was nearly finished cooking, Rin ran over to Sesshoumaru and showed him her creation. "look Sesshoumaru-sama! Rin made it for you!". Looking down at her, he simply nodded his head slightly and knelt down next to her. She gave him one of her most precious smiles and placed the ring of flowers around his neck. When he stood up he was given a huge hug from the little girl, which surprised him but he didn't let it show. He let her cling to him for about a minute, then putting his hands on her shoulder he held her in arms length to speak to her. "Go eat Rin, then we are leaving" Rin replied "Hai!" and wandered over to where Jaken-sama was eating his -raw- fish.

After they had eaten, they were found standing in the middle of a dirt path still in the woods. Lifting his head Sesshoumaru breathed in the air, smelling for any strong youkai in the area. Making sure they were going to be left alone for quit a while, not smelling any powerful youkai within ten or so miles, Sesshoumaru began walking south. Scurrying up to the side of his master, Jaken found enough courage to ask his master a question. "A-ano. . .m'lord, mighten you tells us where we are headed. . .?" Sesshoumaru's response was to keep walking and not even giving the toad recognition.

Within an hour, Rin, sitting atop Ah and Un, started to talk to the toad, with lack of a better thing to do. "Jaken-sama, where do you think Sesshoumaru-sama is taking us?". Looking slightly irritated that this *human* would even think of questioning his master he answered in a bitter tone "don't question lord Sesshoumaru -child-!". In response to that Rin stuck her tongue out at him.

Rin was making him so angry, angry enough to whack the girl over the head with his staff. Rubbing her head she whined " Ses-Sesshoumaru-sama! Jaken- sama hit me!!". Sesshoumaru simply glanced over at them and said in his cold voice "Jaken, leave Rin alone". Jaken did as he was told, but continued muttering about how annoying this stupid child was.

It had been a while since they had last rested and Sesshoumaru could tell that Jaken was getting tired as well as Rin who had been walking next to him for quit some time. " We will stop here, for a rest. Jaken, Rin, go refresh yourselves. I will wait here.". He made himself comfortable while he waited after hearing two simultaneous "Hai's!" and the padding of feet on the ground. It was around one-thirty when his companions returned. They were carrying something that he supposed was their 'food'.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, Rin and Jaken-sama found a lot of food! Do you want some?" asked the little girl, smiling happily at him. "I do not need such things" he said plainly, not even bothering to look to were Jaken and she was. The little girl gave a small pout then shrugged it off and began eating. After about and hour, Sesshoumaru waited patiently while his 'companions' finished up their business. When they were done they started out traveling to the south.

Two days had passed on their journey to where Sesshoumaru was taking them. Rin kept asking where they were going, Jaken kept telling her to stop questioning the great Sesshoumaru and hitting her with his staff every time she did, and Sesshoumaru was constantly telling him to shut up and stop.

After the first day on the path, they had left the forest for a much more hilly region. Sesshoumaru knew this path was the quickest way to get to the south but was unsure at first. That being because they had left the forest which provided more protection than this open field area.

Here, things were easier to see, smell, and attack. He was constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure Jaken and Rin were keeping up their pace behind him. If they trailed behind to far they could be attacked more easily.

It was growing dark on the second day and Sesshoumaru had already started to search for a protective place to rest for the night. Spying a small gathering of trees a little ways of the path they were taking he started to head towards it when a sound from his right stopped him. He saw Rin looking up at him expectantly. "Ano. . . where are we going now. Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked, knowing that he probably wouldn't answer, because he didn't have to. But when he did she was profusely happy. "We are going to stay here tonight.". She was glad that he was talking to her, on their way here she thought he didn't want to talk to her any more. He hadn't said any thing except the usual 'Jaken' followed by a frosty glare. Rin was so happy she ran up next to him and grasped his fore finger (her hands being to small to hold his). He was slightly shocked at the unfamiliar 'touching'. His face was placid, like a mask, but inside he was feeling a warmth in his heart that he couldn't understand why it was there.

*Rin. How is it this little human has edged her way into my life when I despise humans above everything else. Even that hanyou brother of mine.* With that thought in mind he looked down to her and seeing she was smiling so largely her eyes were squeezed closed. It was then that he found out the answer to the question he'd been thinking.

Jaken, slightly jealous of the 'waff' going on between his master and the human child he coughed and asked "are we staying here m'lord?". Slightly angry by Jaken's intrusion Sesshoumaru said in a slightly irritated voice "Ai. Yes we are Jaken. Go look for Food for Rin and yourself." Jaken, fuming about how he thought that the *human* should learn to get her own food, quickly shut his mouth; remembering what happened the last time he brought up that subject. Rubbing his head in memory he scuttled away from his master and Rin. Sesshoumaru, now looking down at Rin, who still held possession of his finger, said "Rin, go find some wood and build a fire". She let go of his finger and stood like a soldier with her hand sideways to her forehead saying "hai!" then running off in search of wood.

When he was sure no one was around Sesshoumaru let a faint smile play across his face. It disappeared as soon as it came, and he decided to relax under a tree (like usual) and ponder of the things that will come. When he was about to go into thinking of the route to take to get to the south quickest, a sudden gust of wind caught his attention. It might have appeared like any regular wind to any mortal but it carried with it the faint scent of youkai, ascertainable to any other youkai who was downwind.

It had only been a few minutes and he was sure that Rin and Jaken wouldn't be back for a few more when he decided to investigate the matter further. As he saw it, get rid of the problem before it becomes one. Following the odor to a nearby forest, he ceased running to inhale the air to tell where the fragrance was strongest. After about two minutes of running he came upon a clearing in the trees.

*Odd. There is no plant life growing in this area. . .* He inspected his surroundings. Then his gaze fell upon something hunched over in the shadows at the far end of the clearing. When he got closer to identify this 'thing' it stood up full length and was surprisingly tall, even compared to Sesshoumaru. It seemed like its skin was melting away leaving gobs of it on the ground as it moved. *It seems to have sensed me*. The creature turned slowly around revealing that it had no face. It was like a blob of some glowing puce colored goo shaped into a human outline. Its 'skin' gave of a reeking smell so disgusting Sesshoumaru had to cover his sensitive youkai nose using his kimono sleeve. *What is this fowl thing. . . ?*

Suddenly a huge chunk of the creature's goo fell upon the ground leaving a small hole where it fell; answering Sesshoumaru's earlier question on why nothing seemed to be growing here. Its skin seemed to be made out of some kind of acid. "wha-who are you. . . ?" Sesshoumaru said. The creature titled its head slightly to the side and made a queer noise. Then when it spoke it seemed to have taken the same vocal sound as Sesshoumaru's voice. "My name, my name is Yudoku. I come from the south. Master Sen has sent me for the girl. Out of my way." Said Yudoku using Sesshoumaru's cold tone.

*He mustn't have a voice of his own if he had to steal mine . . .* It was strange hearing himself threaten, himself. . . But he had found out the name of the person who wanted Rin. . .This 'Master' is known as Sen. "You are mistaken. I will not allow you or any one to touch Rin. She is my possession. Leave now and you wont have to die." Yudoku just stood there, immobile.

Then he charged at Sesshoumaru without even showing he was going to attack.. Sesshoumaru not completely prepared for this just, narrowly stepped out of the way of the attack in time only to have some of the goo drip on him. It burnt almost right through his armor and nearly made it onto his kimono. So he wasn't able to attack with out getting acid on him, *wonderful.*

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-

Words:

"Ano"- Um/Uh/Er/etc.

"Youkai" - Full Demon

"Hanyou" - Half Demon

"-Sama" - Formal way when speaking to someone.

"Hai" - Yes

"Nai or Iie" - No

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- _-

A/N: Soooo.How was it??? R&R please! I did this one in a kind of adrenaline rush so I don't know if its as good as the other chapter! *shrugs* could just be me! I hope you enjoyed it! I will have the next chapter as soon as I write it! And after proofing it a little! Wow! I actually have something to do this summer! And thanx, for the umpteenth time, for the reviews! ^__^ Very Much Appreciated!

Animyth: For someone who's supposed to know every thing, Sesshoumaru sure does ask a lot of questions.

Sesshoumaru: . . .