"Come on, Master Jaken." Rin groaned as she tried to pull the small demon off the rock he so desperately held onto.

"I said no, you silly inept child! Release me!" He demanded as he hugged the stone desperately.

Rin tugged a little harder before thinking better of it and letting him go, sending him flying into the stone.

"Fine," Rin huffed before smirking mischievously, "I'll just go on my own and when I die or fail to return, you'll answer to Sesshomaru yourself."

"That's Lord Sesshomaru to you girl and you will do no such thing." He said getting up sorely.

Rin cocked a brow at him and turned on her heel. "Fine, stay, when Sesshomaru comes; I am sure you can tell him where I've gone. Considering I go where I say I am going."

Jaken's draw dropped as he let go of a low gasp. She had to be mad.

"Has time made you dull? Have you forgotten his wrath? He'll kill us both!"

Without looking back, Rin waved over shoulder. "Goodbye Jaken, I'll see you later. Maybe."

With that she disappeared as she walked down the hill towards the bridge while Jaken paced the floor of the woods in turmoil.

The little demon paced so fast, he'd created a small storm of dust around himself before throwing his hand into the air and following after the woman.

"I don't want to die alone!" he shouted in pursuit.


He caught up to the woman in no time as he sprinted over the bridge and found her sitting on a stone and collecting the flowers that gathered around it.

Jaken threw her a withering look and prepared to scold her when she looked up and smiled at him in earnest; her cheeks warm and eyes bright, stunning him with her unprecedented beauty.

"Good, you made the right choice." She beamed. "I knew you would, let's go, the human village is just a little while away and I can get my supplies from there."

She placed the flowers she'd picked into the thick waves of hair that curtained her back and curtailed into a soft curl gently at its end. She took off in the direction of the village and Jaken shook his head to clear his mind before following her and mumbling incoherently to himself.


They reached the village shortly after the break of dawn and Rin sat down before an unopened merchant's booth and massaged her ankle.

Jaken looked up at the brightening sky and turned to his human companion.

"Rin…" he started.

Rin looked up at him eagerly, "Yes, Jaken?"

"What could you possibly be thinking?" he asked. "Lord Sesshomaru said we were to leave at dawn and now it is pass dawn and we are no longer at the meet up location, certainly he will find us and put us to death for deserting him. Even a child as naïve as you, must know this. So why and why condemn me with you? Have you forgotten it was I, that looked after you in your youth?"

Rin laughed as shook her head and then patted his own in assurance, "Oh Jaken, you haven't changed at all, have you? We'll be fine. For starters we aren't deserting him, I am just getting supplies. I cant fly off at a whim with nothing at my disposal as I used to, I've grown and I've become accustomed to the human life which means I cannot live without somethings. It's just silly to think otherwise, besides I sent Misuri ahead last night to tell my friend to ready my supplies for this morning. He'll only be another minute or two."

Jaken shook his head in disbelief as two young men approached the bench.

"Hime," they greeted her.

Rin smiled and laughed as they all embraced one another.

"Banri," she greeted the tall, dark hair muscular one first. "Haruto." she said as she greeted the small but just as muscularly built one. "How are you? How is your mother?"

The men blushed before her in subtle embarrassment.

"She's been well and so has the family since you took care of the plague of demons here. We can't thank you enough." Banri gushed as he walked over to the shop and unlocked the door.

"Yes," the one named Haruto readily agreed. "The entire town is indebted to you."

Rin smiled, "I am just glad to hear you are all doing so well." She replied. "It's more than enough payment for me."

"Misuri stopped by last night and told us to prepare a few rations for you. Are you leaving so soon?" he asked.

The disappoint in his voice was unconcealed and for the first time throughout the conversation Jaken's head moved back and forth before the blushing companion, Rin and this young man…..both young men, in suspicion.

Rin smiled meekly. "Yes, my presence is needed elsewhere."

"But won't you return to the village once your mission is done? You would most certainly have a home here." Banri reminded her from inside the small store.

"Thank you," Rin replied humbly, "But I can't promise much in the way of anything, I do hope our paths will continue to cross again. We've become such great friends."

Haruto blushed even deeper and narrowly avoiding meeting her eyes. "If Banri and I weren't needed here, I would follow you anywhere."

Rin opened her mouth to reply but Jaken was faster.

"Well it's a good thing you are needed here boy because you certainly aren't needed where we're going." He spat.

The young man flinched at the harsh tone of Jaken's voice before finally noticing him and glancing at him in wonder.

"Oh hello there," he said politely, "You're a small little guy, aren't you?"

"Why you!" Jaken started but Rin nudged him with her leg harder than she'd realized and knocked him over.

"Right," she smiled, "Where are my manners? Haruto this is Jaken, Jaken is Haruto."

"Hello Jaken." The young man said reaching his index finger out to the imp demon.

"Hmph!" Jaken stuck his nose in the air and turned in defiance.

"Please ignore him, he's very grumpy today."

"Ahhhh okay." Haruto easily complied.

Banri returned from inside of the small shop with a delicately prepared sack and confusion flitted across Rin's face.

"What's all of this?" she asked as he handed it to her. "I only asked for a week's worth of rations, I couldn't possibly afford any more."

"It's a gift from the entire village. These rations should last you at least a month. There are even a few treats we brought from passing merchants. Things to remind you of Kaede's village, things to remind you of us, and more. Please accept it."

The brothers bowed in respect and Rin blushed furiously as a shy smile came across her face.

"Of course. Thank you so much." She replied softly, her voice choked with unshed tears.


"Stop humming girl! At least have the decency to act repentant before Lord Sesshomaru. Perhaps then he'll spare us." Jaken snapped at her as they walked across the field and towards the waterfall where they had met up last night.

Rin laughed, "Oh Jaken, relax, we're going to be fine. You're overreacting and it's such a beautiful day, smile."

Jaken's frowned deepened. "How can I smile when I know I am going to die?"

Rin rolled her eyes, "Sesshomaru will understand Jaken."

A gentle breeze blew between them and carried his voice on the wind.

"You should hope so."

Jaken flinched and jumped at the sound of his voice and even Rin cringed at the tone. They turned around to find Sesshomaru behind them.

"My Lord!" Jaken shouted.