Sorry for the long wait everyone. I hope this chapter makes it up to you!

Enjoy.

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'Snuffle.'

'Snuffle.'

The light snorting continued from the large beast. It's irritated manner becoming even more restless as it dunked it's heads in and out of the pond. A snort, a dunk, snort, dunk. It had been doing this embarrassing routine for at least an hour already yet the awful scent would not leave it's scaly skin. Probably due to the fact that it couldn't scrub itself being as it had no way to. Unless…Unless of course Rin wanted to offer her services to give the friendly beast a bath. But then again she was busy trying to wash herself off and the kimono that caused all the trouble.

Ah-Un slammed it's heads once again into the rippling pond, returning to the surface and averting it's eyes towards the half-clothed girl. Her own eyes were turned away from the dragon as she kept scrubbing the red kimono top she wore.

"Mh. Hmgh?"

"Huh?" She looked back to the dragon.

A warm smile crept across her face as she walked closer to it. Her eyes shining brightly as always even though she may be a little upset with the way that Sesshomaru had treated her.

"Getting the smell off to?"

"Ugh."

"I suppose that's my fault…If I hadn't hugged you then you wouldn't have to…."

"Hmf?"

One of the massive heads lowered to gently nudge the girl's shoulder. Softly tugging at the half breed's top.

"Oh! See I thought since Lord Sesshomaru said to clean myself and the shirt that I could get it done faster by wearing it while washing myself off." She smiled.

"Uh." It snorted as it lightly shook itself off.

"Ah-Un?" She placed her hands on the rough-skinned creature, lightly rubbing it's leg.

It only looked down at her as it made a sort of "dragon purring" noise. The gentle hands felt good on it's tired body.

"Why is it that Lord Sesshomaru doesn't like InuYasha? Why can't they be friends? Or at least visit each other?"

The dragon's eyes enlarged as it curiously looked down upon her. Though Ah-Un was seen as a mere pet and transportation it had a very intelligent mind…or rather two. It was able to have opinions and a personality even though the world seemed to only see it as a beast. And even if Sesshomaru saw the creature as a servant, Ah-Un could see much more about the dog lord. It knew that the dog had a lot of pride and potential to do great things. It was the dragon's master.

But more then knowing Sesshomaru, Ah-Un was closer to it's fellow servants. Particularly the human. She paid attention to it, cared for it, loved it and treasured it. They had a special bond together. And yet Ah-Un knew that Rin's closest attachment was to Sesshomaru. It was obvious that she respected him, not out of fear, but for a much more admirable reason. She obeyed him and cared for him ever since they had become a team. And in the three years the odd group had been together she had showed more and more obedience to him. But in a simple conversation with the dragon it seemed like she was asking questions that defied her lord. Speaking of the brother he so hated and questioning as to why he had such feelings. Shaming and untrusting of her master's decision and rule. It made the beast want to silence her before the dog overheard.

"Before…when my parents were alive I had brothers. They were older then me but they still liked me. They loved me and protected me the best they could…Shouldn't Lord Sesshomaru love InuYasha? Shouldn't he protect his little brother?"

Her eyes watered slightly as the sadness of it all. It had been so long since she really thought about siblings. Being a younger sister to brothers and being teased but knowing all along that they loved her. Following and playing with them even if they acted like she was a pest. But for her savior it was different…He didn't even want to pretend like InuYasha was his sibling. He hated him and was always hostile towards anything he had ever done. Every time they met there was a battle. Never once had they teamed up, right? They had amazing fear and dislike of each other for what reasons? It didn't make sense to the human girl.

"I guess I'm like InuYasha, right Ah-Un?"

It grunted in confusion.

"I'm seen as a younger sibling…InuYasha is seen a younger sibling in some form. Lord Sesshomaru is his big brother that will always shun him so it's like shunning me…"

It grunted once more before gently nudging her. She was acting so strangely ever since she arrived home. Defying Sesshomaru, never once taking off InuYasha now clean kimono and talking of such odd things. What had happened the night before that made her think these things?

"I think InuYasha sees Lord Sesshomaru like a big brother….Maybe it's because InuYasha is more sensitive..," she looked up to the sunny sky as her hands stopped massaging the dragon, "He's also caring, kind, handsome, he talks really nicely to me, he listens to me, he protects me, and he even suffered through a storm just to bring me home."

The pet blinked a few times before shaking the dripping water off. All this talk of the half demon was making the dragon feel very odd. It hadn't tried to stop Rin from saying such silly things because well…she seemed happy to talk about the demon. Happier then usual and she almost glowed as kept talking. Her face was a light shade of red and she kept looking towards the clear water the two stood in. She acted nervous like speaking of the half breed would make her giggle at any moment. It confused the pet more and more.

"InuYasha's great, huh Ah-Un?" She pet the demon once more.

It only huffed before stepping out of the pond. Shaking off a few times to further dry itself. Then grabbed the warm, dry kimono that awaited Rin, she would only wear InuYasha's into the pond…maybe she'd take it off if she got back into her own.

"Thank you Ah-Un." She pulled the sticking wet red top from her skin, folding it neatly and placing it to dry on a large rock. Then pulling her own kimono around herself, securely tying it.

"Uh." It snorted while pointing it's nose towards camp.

"You go ahead. I'm going to sit here and wait for this to dry." She waved as the dragon simply began heading back.

Rin watched until the dragon's figure had vanished from sight, heading off into the dark forest once more. She hoped Sesshomaru wouldn't punish the innocent dragon for leaving her by herself. No. He'd just yell to go back and fetch her.

She sat down next to the drying shirt, occasionally wringing it. Waiting almost impatiently for it to dry.

"Mhh." She laid it out flat in many different ways to pass the slow moving time.

It sure does take a long time. I hope it's at least done before dark so I can go get flowers.

She smiled down at the shirt, entwining her finger in the black tie that laced around it. Pulling lightly and releasing.

"But at least I'm spending the time with something of his." She traced her hands along the cloth.

A larger smile crossed her mouth, "I like you a lot InuYasha…a lot."

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Wow this is the first thing I've written in a while that I actually like! It came out soooo much better then a lot of my stuff. I hope you liked it.

Please review.