Chapter Three: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Deadly

Saiko watched as little Rin ran about, bopping poor Jaken on the head every so often as she passed, laughing as she ran away, hiding along-side Sesshomaru as he walked, Walking as if there was no war going about around him. Saiko, who was almost amused at this Demon Lord. Why was a 'human girl' traveling with him...? He certainly didn't seem as though he had a kind enough spirit to keep her alive, but that is persiescly what he was doing. She looked to the small toad demon, and shook her head. He was an exception, she thought. For he was easy to take advantage of, and it was obvious he had fear of him. And would do whatever Sesshomaru so desired. And this two headed dragon. She did not know it's name, but saw its beauty. And of course, what a prize it is to own such a beast. And her gaze fell back onto the girl, who was still a mystery. She saw a use in each of his companions, except for the girl. She could certainly not protect him, nor provide him with anything. He seemed as a solitary being. Not needing the company of anyone...but perhaps that is why he kept her near him. As Saiko walked, and pondered on her loose thoughts, they suddenly raced back to why she was here in the first place. Because she was running. Running from the one demon she despised with hate, and incubated a strong fear of him at the same time. It was an endless tug-of-war of which emotion ran stronger.

"Rin..." Came Sesshomaru's hard, but smooth voice. She froze from her torturous taunts on the toad, and twirled around with a beaming smile., turning away from a grumbling Jaken.

" Yes. Lord Sesshomaru." She chirped, skipping at his side. He simply said nothing.

A simple word and she stopped. Saiko shook her head. If she were that obedient...she would kill herself. '

" Jaken, Get Ah-Un. We are going home." He said firmly. Jacke's face lit up, and he ran over to Ah-Un, grabbing the beast's reigns, and pulling him twards the west.

" Ay...Ay Milord!" He said exietedly, Saiko narrowed her eyes at all of this, looking up at Sesshomaru. Home? She wasn't going 'any' further with this creature, and his gang of animals. She stopped, glaring up at him.

" I will take no part in this!" She said, most upset at all of this. Rin paused, glancing over her shoulder...uh oh...

Sesshomaru stopped as well, half turning to face her with his eyes narrowed.

"..." He turned to face her fully. Looking at her with a most displeased expression...knowing that of course..she was going to be an annoyance once again.

Sesshomaru watched her, taking a step forward and effortlessly scooping up the demoness.

" Get your bloody hands off me!",She yelled, twisting and squirming in his arms.. A small growl was all that was heard as he glared down at her with an intense glare, promising an instant death if she persisted as so. Saiko suddenly stilled, letting out shaky breaths from her recent struggle. Every breath that escaped her pale lips lighter than the last. She closed her eyes momentarily, one arm looped around the Lord's neck, her for head resting against his shoulder. And she remained as she was. Embarrassed and weak, she lay there in his arms, and he was silent .not speaking a word until she calmed herself. She couldn't believe she was already worn out from this simple struggle...she was getting weaker...and all faults warped to the being of the jewel. And her weakness, Sesshomaru had no pity on. He had pity on nothing as this. He simply took it to his advantage.. Seeing he had the upper hand to the vexing situation. Once she was quiet, and her breathing returned to it's fairly normal pattern. Be spoke.

"Now..." He stared, voice low and threatening. He glanced back, seeing Rin was watching the whole thing intently. And Jaken as well, his bug eyes bulging at the sight The Demon Lord forced himself to take upon the situation lightly, for the sake of small Rin.

" Since you seem to be weakened so easily..." Saiko slid her arm down, moving her head, still on his shoulder. She didn't care who's arms she was in at the moment. That was different about two seconds later, as she tried to slide out of his arms in sudden realization all over again. Sesshomaru held her closer in warning.

" I suggest you do not fight back." he finished, literally dropping her. Ignoring her curses as she stumbled back. She narrowed her eyes, standing slowly as she looked up towards him. She followed silently, having nothing to say. Rin smiled finally, noticing the tension was partially gone, and she trotted alongside Saiko, stopping in front of her.

" Rin picked flowers for you.." She beamed, raising her fist full of wilting flowers up to Saiko. She looked down upon them...never having been offered such a thing in her life. Saiko reached out slowly, gently taking them from the child's hands, and the young child was satisfied Saiko looked up from her white, wilting flowers to the young girl as she skipped alongside Sesshomaru, What an interesting creature...

Her thoughts were rudely cut short as a smooth, yet...to this point. Annoying and powerful voice cut through them.

" Woman..I suggest you walk...or I will carry you over my shoulder as I have done in recent past." He stated, half glancing over his shoulder. Saiko sighed, tucking the flowers in her waist sash, looking up as she began to walk slowly.

" you will do no such thing..." She said in lazy attempt of defense. Sesshomaru ignored it, walking forward again.

They had at least a days worth of walking ahead of them.

The sun was barely seen, as night blue skies washed over the once sun-kissed skies. Saiko had grown weary over their travels, but not dare to show it. She was exposed to enough weakness as it already was. She looked over, seeing little Rin walking behind Sesshomaru, the once, little ball of energy, now tired to the extent she was, herself. Jaken, with no complaint led the two headed dragon, for once since Saikp had been traveling with them, he was quiet. The dragons screechedead bickered with the other as it walked, it's large feet causing small tremors to anything within range of it. Saiko looked down once again. Her eyes half closing in mild contempt.

Sesshomaru finally brought his attention back to his companions. Seeing they needed rest. He gave no sign of noticing their weary steps, but continued his stride, looking for a suitable place for camp. It would be early afternoon, tomorrow before they reached the true heart of the western lands.

" Jaken..." Came Sesshomaru's voice, and the Toad looked up, nearly falling over from his fear of him, and hearing his sudden order.

" Y-yes milord?" He questioned, dropping the Dragon's reigns, and scrummaging over towards him.

" We will make camp...prepare a fire..." He said, casting a glance over twards Saiko, as he walked off in an unknown direction. Rin gave a small sigh of relief, plopping down beside the two headed beast, flopping over.

" Rin is so happy we stopped.." She said, giggling as she turned on her side in the grass. Saiko watched as the toad demon scurried off towards the woods in search of firewood. Seeing there didn't seem of much she could do...or want to at that, she backed up, pressing herself against a tree, as she slowly slid down it's coarse trunk. Once she was sitting, she set her head back, closing her eyes, drawing her knees to her chest. Her arms delicately wrapped around her knees, as if enclosing herself in her own being. Turning out the world around her, She placed her for-head on her knees, the faint sound of Rin's excessive singing and laughing heard in the back of her mind. She took everything in, the sounds, the sight,the smell...where she was headed from here...why this Demon cared of her situation...he was most likely going to be used, yet once again. She frowned as the thought crossed her mind. Running over it's meaning, linking it to her. She was a means to an end to almost every creature's path she has crossed. Always something they could use. As if she were an object. That of an artist's pen, or a Miko's spell. Never worn out to their eyes, but inwardly it only wore down on her. She slowly looked up, hearing Rin' scream, as it died down into a laugh, hearing a gleeful ' Sesshomaru!" as the Demon returned from the child. She was so happy...her pride too young to be dented, and her soul too innocent to be scarred. Saiko watched for a moment longer, before slowly turning her head away. Her thoughts drowning themselves, as she looked on over the tree line. Sesshomaru stopped. Watching her. He could almost sense the jewel that was withing her. Its pulsing running through her, as he concentrated as to pinpointing its exact location. He narrowed his eyes, seeing it was in her left lower shoulder, it's aura giving off a gently yellow glow. He let all senses go, losing the aura as he looked away. Watching as Rin pranced around Jaken, tapping the top of his bald little head with a stick. She giggled, as he screeched, flailing his arms as he ran behind Sesshomaru, who passively walked over him, silencing Rin with a simple command. She let her small giggles die down, as she stopped, looking over at Saiko, who still had her gaze on the forest. Engrossed in her far away surroundings. Rin beamed, racing over and skidding to a stop, and suddenly plopping down. Indian style, holding her angles with a large smile.

Saiko bat one of her chi like ears once, Looking over with a startled look, watching the grinning child. She rose a brow. The two not saying anything. What a peculiar encounter...the poor demoness simply didn't know how to react to this pistol of energy.

Rin giggled, seeing the young woman's slightly delayed reaction.

Saiko rose an eyebrow, half smiling as she looked back to the forest. Rin followed her gaze. She squirmed for a moment, before snapping her head over, spotting a lizard, and launching herself after it into the towering grass. Saiko bat her ear gently, watching the girl again. Though no words were spoken, it was as if this woman, and this young child, had made a moral connection. Sesshomaru noted it as well, watching the two for a moment. He would not kill this woman. Not yet .he would find what mystery he sensed within her, And he would unravel it as he would his own thoughts. He would simply do it on his own, unknown to his companions, including the woman.

Rin, who was running around with a petrified lizard in her hands, stopped before Jaken, dropping the creature on his head. Jaken squawked in protest, screaming and muttering at the child.