Really sorry folks, I have a lot on my plate right now, and there's no guarantee of a break, even with spring break coming up, and I know this is a lame chapter…..arrgh! No please no pitchforks! *runs from various flying squishy things*


Rin looks up from the floor at Minora's face, not knowing what to expect from this woman whose job is to eradicate youkai. She is afraid of what Minora might think.

Minora stands up and walks out of the room without a word. Rin isn't sure what to make of the other woman's reaction; she is praying that their friendship is enough—that Minora's background won't lead her to the wrong conclusion. Rin lets go of the dagger that she had unconsciously grasped as though it is burning her. That is entirely the kind of thing that she is hoping to avoid.

Minora walks back into the room carrying a staff in one hand.

Rin tenses but remains where she is, though her hand twitches toward her dagger again.

"Um…" She fiddles with the staff she is carrying. But strangely, instead of looking hostile, the woman looks almost...embarrassed. "Could I meet him?"

This statement takes Rin by surprise, to say the least. She looks at Minora stupidly. "Meet who?"

"Sesshomaru-sama of course!"

Rin's face falls. "That wouldn't be the best idea."

"Why not?"

"Sesshomaru-sama isn't exactly, fond of humans." Rin does not want to explain this; it brings up questions that are best never thought about. What was so special about her, that he let her stay, or why had he saved her in the first place?

"Oh. I had hoped that that was just another rumor as well…" The woman sags, obviously saddened by the news.

Rin wants to cheer her up, but introducing them is not an option.

Rin has an epiphany. "How would you like to meet Ah-Un?" She is grinning from ear to ear, thinking that she just might have a way to cheer her friend up.

Seconds later the two women depart the miko's hut.

It takes them only a quarter of an hour to reach the place where she left Ah-Un.

When they reach the clearing and Minora sees Ah-Un she steps forward to greet him. Rin roughly grabs her arm. "What are you thinking? Those claws of his aren't for decoration you know. If you approach him like that you'll be ripped to shreds." Rin's voice is harsh, but so is the warning she is giving.

Minora looks at her feet, embarrassed by her enthusiasm.

Rin steps forward and greets Ah-Un. He nuzzles her happily, then looks at the new person that she brought.

Minora stands back, but it is obvious that she wants to run over and pet the two-headed dragon.

Then something happens that surprises both women. Ah-Un gets up from his bed of grass and walks over to Minora. She squeaks when both heads start sniffing at her, but she reaches into a pocket and pulls out—lemongrass.

Rin rolls her eyes. Ah-Un, you pig. It figures, the one other human that you meet just happens to have your favourite treat in her pocket.­

Minora pulls the grass out of the dragon's reach. "I'll let you have it if you let me get a closer look at you."

The dragon takes a step back and looks at the woman as though considering her offer, then both heads lunge forward to claim their prize, or at least, they try to claim it, because Minora pulls it away and divides the bundle evenly in two, keeping the odd stalk out for herself. They happily crunch into the treat.

Minora also seems happy as she finally gets a close look at something that she has never seen before.


A/N: I have been rewatching the anime, and I just realized what a cold hearted SOB Sesshomaru was in the early days, ha! Makes you appreciate how far he's come