Chapter III

Distraction

"The stars are undeniably dancing…"

The days quickly became weeks, and it would seem that Sesshomaru was growing somewhat fond of little Rin. Her childish antics were almost amusing to him. The way her and Jaken bickered behind him, the little tunes she hummed from her head even the way she picked flowers and presented them to him as a gift: they all made him smile. On the inside of course. Sesshomaru wasn't one who'd go about smiling all the time. Rin was filling the deep void that was growing within him. And she was human. That singular phrase appeared to swim around in his head relatively often.

Jaken, on the other hand, absolutely couldn't stand it! Rin was nothing but a waste of a soul to him. What he didn't understand was why Sesshomaru put up with her so. Her weakness was a distraction. She slowed their progress with her constant need to rest and eat. And her crown of flowers she perpetually made were infantile. Yet alone embarrassing when Sesshomaru-sama made him WEAR them just to shut Rin's whining up.

"Dance, Jaken! You're a pretty princess!"

Rin's laughter cut into Jaken's thoughts. Back in reality, he was yet again wearing a crown of flower arrangements. They itched like hell.

"Dance?! Do I look like a princess?!" He snatched the flowers off the top of his bald green head and flung them to the ground, stomping them like a rabid animal. Rin whimpered and pulled out another she had made. "You keep that hellish object away from me!" Using his staff of human heads, he set the crown on fire in her hand. She dropped them and stepped back. Tears of sorrow developed in her big brown eyes.

Sesshomaru sat on a stone, a few feet away from the two. He'd grown bored of walking and really needed to spill some blood. He decided the next demon they cross paths with would be laid to waste.

"Sesshomaru-sama! I'm telling on you Jaken, you creep." She hiccupped while fighting back tears.

"Go ahead, you brat!" He waved the staff at her, bout ready to set her aflame as well. Rin ran past him and straight to the other, wiping her eyes. Jaken only Hmphed! And turned his back on her. He was so going to get rid of her…

"Lord Sesshomaru…" She sniffled quietly, walking up to the man with great caution. He turned his head from the bright blue sky and faced her, awaiting her complaint or request. "Jaken ruined my flower crowns. And refused to play with me…" She sniffled again, wiping her nose with the sleeve of her kimono.

He studied her face and then her limbs, dirt and grass stains covered her. She needed a bath, big time.

"Jaken." He looked over the smaller one to the imp in the distance. "Take Rin somewhere to bathe."

Rin made a gagging noise in disgust. The thought of Jaken watching her take a bath left a nasty taste in her mouth. Obviously, Jaken felt the same as he raced to them, falling on his face.

"B-but, mi' lord, it would be improper to do so. I mean she's a girl!" A bit of sweat dripped down his brow.

"Jaken would peek at me!" Rin added in, sticking her tongue out at him. He returned the gesture.

Sesshomaru stood to his feet and both of them quieted down immediately. They didn't wish to anger him, he was quite daunting when he was mad.

"Do you expect her to go off on her own?" Sesshomaru spoke calmly. He knew Rin was tough, but she wouldn't be able to hold her own against another youkai. A light tugging at his sleeve adverted his attention downward. Rin pouted slightly at him.

"Stop that." He commanded her, the pout was one of the things he couldn't stand seeing her do. She straighten her face and replaced the pout with threatening tears.

"Please don't make Jaken take me to bathe, mi' lord. I don't trust him." Jaken grunted. As if he would watch a human child bathe herself! Sesshomaru was growing tired of this discussion. Rin WAS going to take a bath, no getting out of it.

"Surely, you don't expect me to let you wonder off on your own?" He arched a slender brow as the conclusion hit him. Rin smiled, crossing her arms behind her back. This was going to be an uncomfortable situation.

"I trust mi' lord! And I feel protected better!" She cheered and headed towards the forest. Jaken's jaw fell opened. Never did he think he'd ever see the day Lord Sesshomaru would have to escort a human child to bathe.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Sesshie moved some hair behind his ear and followed after her. "I shall return shortly." He didn't bother listening for a reply, he just wanted to get this over with.

Rin poked her head over some rocks and found a hot spring. It was pretty big, for one person at least. The demon lord sat behind a few rocks some space away. His back towards her and his eyes closed. He didn't want to be seen convoying with a nude child.

"Ok! I'm getting in, no peeking!" She called out to him, untying her robes.

"Just be quick about it."

She stepped in and sat down, moving the water around with her arms. "Mi' lord, can you make Jaken wear my crowns and dance like I asked him?" She asked loudly, wiggling her toes under the nice warm water.

"We'll see…" Sesshomaru grinned, the thought of that sounded funny.

(elsewhere)

Thunder clouds slowly developed, while Jaken paced back and forth. "Where is that damn demon badger?!" He thought of the most perfect way to get rid of the little distraction, as he often called her. For free, and hopefully Sesshomaru wouldn't be able to link him to it.

"Ah, you summoned me?" Jaken spun around, nearly having a heart attack. The badger youkai was pretty large, large and power hungry.

"Yes! Yes! Do you remember out last meeting? About the abduction of the human girl?" The evil toad hopped up and down.

The badger nodded. "You promised me Shikon shards if I were to do so.." He scratched his chin in thought. Jaken nodded.

"I need you to carry out the plan now! While she bathes!" He pointed towards the forest. "You and your tribe will be greatly rewarded if all goes well." The badger howled a teeth-grinding sound. They were soon joined by at least 50 other badger demons. All foaming at the mouths and waiting for battle. Jaken chuckled and stepped out their way as they headed in the direction of the spring.

'Fools! After bombarding Lord Sesshomaru and hopefully absorbing Rin's soul then tossing her over a cliff, they'll all be massacred mindlessly! I won't have to pay anything!' Jaken chuckled hoarsely, sitting on the ground. 'I'd only have to cheer mi' lord up, most likely. But he'll get over it. She is a weakness to him.' He laughed full heartedly and then struck by lightening.

(at the spring)

Sesshomaru sat quietly, tossing a few pebbles against a tree trunk. Rin splashed happily around humming one of her usual songs.

"Rin, hurry and finish. It's about to rain….-" Something interrupted his words. Something big.

"What's wrong mi' lord?" She peeked over a rock. Sesshomaru quickly stood to his feet. They were being rushed.

"20..30..." He counted softly, getting ready for battle. "Rin leave here." He said without looking to her. Rin nodded and hurried to the edge of the hot spring.

As she climbed out, what looked like a claw grabbed her wrist and flung her from the water. She screamed and Sesshomaru literately flew across the spring clawing the creature's arm off. The badger demon screeched as the rest finally arrived and all attacked Sesshomaru. Rin hit the ground with a thud.

"Isn't this Lord Sesshomaru!?" One badger came to a halt in fear. "We don't stand a chance!" Instead of being one of the attackers, he decided he would take Rin instead. Picking her up from the ground where she was trying to hide, he leaped away.

"Lord Sesshomaru!! Help!!! Help!! Help!!" Her cry echoed throughout the forest.

The badgers encircled Sesshomaru, cracking their knuckles and baring drool drenched fangs. He stood in the middle, showing no fear what so ever. These were petty demons. Having no threat to someone like him at all. "Why you all are so eager to die, I do not care. But where is the girl?" Sesshomaru spoke calm and slowly.

"Never mind her! You should worry about your own self!" One random badger spoke before they all attacked at once, diving towards him.