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"Grr…"

The toad let out a low snort as he eyed the girl. A deep anger quickly overcoming him as she continued to ignore his glare. Going on and on with her sweet but irritating humming, not so much as a thought to who might be annoyed by it.

"That's enough! Your damn singing is giving me headache!" He bickered.

"Huh? Oh I'm sorry Master Jaken but it helps me pass the time." She ceased her tune and hesitated to continue tying her many flowers together. Though her whole purpose of gathering them was to make a big necklace, bigger than she had ever made before. But as she always did with a routine was to hum as she worked. Without it was kind of boring.

"Why would you want to pass time? As a human your time is already limited." He smirked.

She frowned, "That's not what I meant Master Jaken. I meant I was passing time until Lord Sesshomaru returns."

The imp crossed his arms, "Well for your information our lord went out for a nightly hunt. He won't return until the early hours of the morning. So you might as well go to sleep!"

Rin sighed as she placed the unfinished flower jewelry beside her. It seemed like her lord never went out to hunt…not that she remembered anyway. He just seemed to never hunger…Unless he went out whilst she slept.

"But I'm not tired Master Jaken and if I go to sleep who will keep you company?" She pulled her knees to her chest.

"I don't need company you wretch! I'd be better off if you slept! Your humming and irritating voice haunts me as is!" He growled.

The human stared coldly at the toad. He had been so upset all day but why? Maybe because he had ranted earlier about how the lord wouldn't let him rest until she had been returned home. Or he was just angry about some other problem.

She only glared for a second more before breaking the mean look. Averting her eyes to the nighttime sky to see the stars. Watching, wondering and trying to find out why such odd things had been happening lately. It seemed like everyone had changed in some way or was it just her? The new feelings about certain friends, the anxiety's, the time passing so slowly as to keep her back from knowing answers. So bizarre…

Her glance upward stopped a light breeze past through, making her shut her brown gems tightly. An instant memory of the previous night when the tree had nearly killed her. The worries, the fear which disabled her and suddenly the hero that swooped down to rescue her. That cold feeling that was replaced with a demonic warmth….his warmth.

She smiled as her eyes reopened, her hands reaching down beside her to reveal a dried kimono. She unfolded it quickly and wrapped it around herself, tying the loose black ribbon which accented it. A faint smell that even she could sense was still present in the garment. A familiar scent that she had detected when being so close to the half human. A fragrance that made her feel…safe.

"Gah! What is that thing doing here?!" Jaken scowled as he jumped up.

"Ah! What are you talking about Master Ja…"

"Don't act like a fool! That half breed's shirt is still in our lord's precious territory! I thought you were instructed to rid of it!"

"No! Lord Sesshomaru only said to wash it. Please calm down Master Jaken." She waved her hands in front of her.

"You disobedient wretch. How could you not know that Lord Sesshomaru hates that damn beast? He would never accept even a shred of his existence especially in his domain."

"But Master Jaken, Lord Sesshomaru knows I'm friends with him. I'll give the kimono back when I see him, okay?"

The imp growled at the human as he backed away from her. Returning to lean against a tree as he would probably be up a long time to debate with the girl. Her nerve and disobedience would be the death of her. Hell he would do the job if it meant pleasing his dog lord. Anything to show full loyalty unlike an ungrateful human that couldn't even keep InuYasha's existence away from him.

"Why would you even have that mutt's wear?" He scowled once more.

Rin let out a sigh of relief, at least he had lowered his tone.

"Last night we were caught in the storm so our clothes were wet. I got cold so he let me borrow his top. I just forgot to give it back…that's all."

Jaken huffed, "Why would he be so kind to a weak thing like you?"

She smiled slightly, "He's very kind to me…to all people. He doesn't shun me for being a human because he's half and he won't be hostile towards another demon because he is also partly one. I don't think strength in others really counts to him so he doesn't see me as weak."

The toad slowly began rubbing his chin as his eyes narrowed. Rin's whole position had changed more as she spoke of the mutt. Her face was a pink shade, her legs continued to change positions and she kept flicking her hair back. This was even more irritating then the kimono being there.

"You seem fond of him…" The toad said casually as a smirk stained his lips.

"Yes I am…Lord InuYasha is really…," her eyes widened when realizing her own words, "Did I say that?! I didn't mean it Master Jaken! I meant to say…"

"Oh Rin..," he began as an almost evil tone was heard from him, "it is normal to feel a loyalty to many people but only so much faith can be given to a 'lord'. I mean I respect Lord Sesshomaru so much that no one else could be my leader. But if you feel that InuYasha is a more suitable god then perhaps you should join his group."

Her eyes watched the ever growing fire of their campsite, "I uh…well…Lord Sesshomaru is my savior…But…"

InuYasha is really nice to me…He doesn't even like to be mean. Lord Sesshomaru kind of ignores me…Would it matter if I was gone?

Her eyes shifted around the fire pit as thoughts and concepts of Jaken's words were taken in. Maybe he was right…If Rin was loosing faith in Sesshomaru should she stay? To follow a leader she didn't respect? Or to go and be with a man she just recently began to idolize?

"Master Jaken I…"

"Think about girl," he hissed, "and as you do I shall sleep….well."

He gave a final smirk as he rolled over. His little mischievous plan was falling in to place. Rin would leave and it would be back to a normal trio. Sesshomaru had no liking or found the human to be useful anyway. Her absence would actually benefit him since the burden of watching her would be off his shoulders.

Oh milord soon it will be just us again.

Rin could only glance at the imp as he fell asleep, her mind quickly debating about the questions at hand. She laid down and snuggled the top tighter, her thoughts racing as she watched the fire. It seemed like an endless battle until she gradually tired and fell asleep along with the demon toad.

The crackling flames died out soon after. Leaving rubble, burnt woodchips and a few red hot coals. And along with the last crackles of heat another sound was heard. The sound of a sword being drawn from just behind a nearby tree.

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