Chapter four: Secret

Lord Sesshomaru turned over his shoulder like for the fifteenth time, carefully looking around. It was a peaceful afternoon, nothing suspicious. But yet... if anyone were about to come... No, he told his guards to not let anyone into the gardens. And he told them in the most dangerous voice he was capable of, so the possibility of someone coming was equal zero.

He relaxed a little bit. Nobody would dare to disobey his direct orders.

"Lord Sesshomaru, wait, you'll love it!"

Sesshomaru sighed. He wished he would. He was sitting in the alcone on the ground, arms crossed on his chest. When he stopped worrying somebody could see them, he actually enjoyed Rin's devoted attention to him. He smirked. When he saw her face after she suggested to visit the garden "when it's so nice outside and master Jaken is sleeping right now," he should have guessed something was behind it.

"It's almost done..." she muttered, absorbed with her mission.

"Satoshi stole the whole bag of Monaka you brought me last week," Rin continued with her voice casual. "I told him to eat it if he wants it so badly but I'm sure he'll bring it back. He only does it to tease me."

Sesshomaru woke up from his contemplation, his yellow eyes narrowing slightly.

"Satoshi? Who is that?"

"A boy from the village. He lives next door," Rin explained.

"Does he treat you poorly?" Sesshomaru asked. Oh yes, he had a clear idea of such a boy. Dull face with pimples and crooked teeth, matted hair and the voice of a donkey.

"No, he's just a big snoot. He loves playing the husband and wife. Sometimes it's quite tiring."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed even more. The husband and wife? Just what kind of a stupid game could that be?

"I think I'll pay him a visit too," he said silently.

"Oh, that's great!" Rin exclaimed. "He keeps saying how he's definitely stronger than you and that he could defeat you any time. Every time he comes he asks where you are and when I tell him you've just left he says you're lucky he didn't meet you."

Sesshomaru's eyes were only thin slits. So a small donkey boy keeps blathering about how he's stronger than him? And he's telling that to Rin?

"But come and see him, lord Sesshomaru. He'll be delighted!"

Sesshomaru's lips twisted in an evil grimace.

"I doubt that..." he said.

Suddenly he heard a sound from behind, turning after it immediately. He'd almost forgotten... But that was just a bird. The demon lord easied, hoping Rin would be finished soon. The danger somebody would see them was still too high for him. He asked himself why he'd allowed it in the first place... It was too dangerous, too risky...

"It's done!" Rin shouted, jumping up and clapping her hands. He wanted to remind her to be quiet but he didn't want to spoil her happiness.

"Here," she said, handing him a mirror. Sesshomaru took it, looking at himself. His long silver hair was in a very neatly done long braid.

"I know it took some time," Rin said, playing with the end of the braid, "but your hair is so long... And I wanted it to be really pretty. That's why I put the flowers there."

Flowers? Fine, that will do it...

"Do you like it?"

Sesshomaru lowered his glare to the little girl. He let her do that to him? How was that possible? What was he thinking?

"Yes," he said, aware he couldn't leave the gardens like that under any circumstances. He imagined it only for a brief moment, stepping in front of all his followers with a long braid full of pink and red flowers. His guts twisted painfully.

"Good! Now can I -"

"Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru, where are you?!"

Rin turned, noticing Jaken's hat in the grass, moving in their direction.

"Look, Lord Sesshomaru, it's master Jaken," she said, turning back. Her eyes widened.

"Lord Sesshomaru?"

But Sesshomaru had already been quite far in the garden, leaning against a tree. That was close... He knew Jaken wouldn't be able to keep his mouth shut about that and he wasn't in the mood to kill him that day. He rather took the longer path to the palace, undoing the braid while walking, the flowers falling into the grass.

"I'll show him... Stupid dog... Thinks he can just fly everytime he likes... One day I'll show him his place..."

A small boy was strutting through the pine grove near the village. He planned visiting Rin again, since he heard she'd already returned from the demon's palace.

"Sesshomaru..." he muttered. "You'll see..."

He swung his arms in the air. Suddenly he stopped. He saw a ball of white light falling from the sky just a few feet in front of him. The light formed into a tall figure. And as the glow died out, he saw it was the demon. Lord Sesshomaru.

"Satoshi..." the demon said silently. Satoshi couldn't make a sound and he felt his heart hitting his rib cage frantically.

"You know who I am?"

Satoshi only nodded, shivering.

"So you must know it was me who gave Rin the sweets. You will give it back to her."

Satoshi kept on nodding. The demon observed him, his eyes piercing through him. A horrible looking smile appeared on his lips and Satoshi would swear he was a goner.

"I heard you'd like to fight me. Now you have a chance."

The demon's hand moved, resting on the hilt of his sword.

"Show me your power," the demon added. Satoshi couldn't make himself think. Sweat was running down his face that was full of pimples.

"Take the sweets!" he brayed. "Take the sweets, I don't want it! Just let me live!"

The demon took his hand off the hilt.

"Give it back to Rin, it's hers," he said. "Now go. Before I change my mind."

If Sesshomaru were able to transport himself in the speed of light, Satoshi also had the ability, at least at the moment. He also kept stuttering the following month, yelping with horror every time somebody said the word "sweets."

OK, done. More fluffy than usual, I know, but I had the fluffy mood today, I guess:-) Hope you liked.

Monaka - a type of Japanese confectionery made of sweet rice crackers.