Rin was always an inquisitve child. Or perhaps she had become so after her Lord had revived her. She always knew she could come to no harm because, both Lord Seshoumaru and Master Jaken were there to protect her. However, despite the fact that she was smiling most of the time, she did tend to get lonely. She often wished she had someone to play with. Master Jaken would yell at her if she asked him to play with her and Lord Seshoumaru's version of playing was sitting down and letting her adorn his beautiful hair with flowers. But then again, perhaps he just did that to spite Jaken and make him moan and groan so that he could kick the otad youkai. Lord Seshoumaru enjoyed kicking Master Jaken.

Perhaps this was why Rin loved running into Inuyasha-sama's group. Kagome was always there. And then the miko would force Seshoumaru to stop and let Rin play with Shippou and would join in the fun and games herself. Rin often wondered why Lord Seshoumaru never denied Kagome's requests. But whenever Kagome asked him to let her play with Shippou, he would stare at her with his unwavering gaze and she would stare back. After a few moments of silence, he turn on his heels and find a tree and settle down in it's shade to keep guard.

Inuyasha-sama was scary, so Rin stayed away from him. Miroku and Sango were nice to her, but they were adults, and she had not had the best experience with adults, so she stuck to Kagome and Shippu. Kagome was a strange adult. She would play with her, never yell and didn't mind getting dirty. And she always had strange gifts for her. The first time, Kagome had given her a gift, thiose magic crayons as Shippu had called them, Lord Seshoumaru ad immediately snatched them away and sniffed at them. Kagome had gotten so angry then and had started yelling at him. Of course that had not ended well. Her Lord had immediately pinned Kagome to the nearest tree, by her neck. Kagome had been frightened for one minute and had then growled and started using her purification energy on his hand, making him snarl. This had gone on for quite a few moments and Inuyasha and the rest could not intervene because of the barrier her Lord had placed around the miko and himself.

Somehow, Rin had not been bothered. She had known that Lord Seshoumaru would never hurt Kagome. But Shippou hadn't and he had been very upset. So she had to tell him that. He had been doubtful, but had his tears had subsided. Finally a blast of purification power had erupted and both her Lord and the miko and stood, feet apart, glaring at e4ach other. Rin had noticed that despite the glare, Lord Seshoumaru's face had held another strange emotion. Curiousity.

Rin had taken her gift and they had departed. But after that, it seemed that Lord Seshoumaru often arranged their routes so as to run into Kagome and her group. It didn't bother Rin, it just made her more happy. She loved Kagome.

This was why when Lord Seshoumaru had emerged from the trees and Kagome and Shippou had folloed her, along with another strange youkai boy, she had first been baffled and then thrilled. Lord Seshoumaru had explained that Kagome would be travelling with them for a while. As soon as Shippu had seen her, he too had gotten excited, but Rin had noticed that he had seemed more subdued than usual. He had kept glancing back at the silver haired youkai, who was always with Kagome.

On Rin's persistance, Shippu had divulged the whole story, or what he knew of it. Rin kept looking at the young inuyoukai, amazed. This was her Lord Seshoumaru when he was young!

"So do I call him Lord Seshoumaru, too?"

Shippu had looked slightly uncomfortable while replying, "Kagome calls him Maru, because everytime, she called him Seshoumaru, Lord Seshoumaru would look up as well."

Rin found that strange, "Why Maru?"

Shippu shrugged, "I don't know. She just came up with it out of the blue. He seems to like it. But then again, "He frowned slightly, "He likes everything she says."

Rin's eyes had widened, "Shippou, are you jealous?"

Shippou had refused to meet her gaze, "Maybe, a little bit." He had looked up at her, looking upset, "He's always with her! Always! She doesn't even have time for me. All she does is stick with him. He only talks to her, and she only loves him."

Rin had patted him on the back, and consoled him, "That's not true. Kagome loves you. I know she does. She loves me, and you and now she loves him as well. Kagome had a big heart, " She pushed her hands apart, trying to emphasize, "She can love everyone if she wants."

Shippou had just looked miserable, still feeling unloved, "She's mad at me for not being nice to Maru. She said she wasn't anymore, but she still is. I can tell."

They had been travelling on Ah-Un and the road was a little bumpy, "Perhaps we should ask him to play with us. That way, Kagome will see that you're bing nice to him and she won't be so mad anymore."

Shippu turned his head slightly to look at Maru. His hand was clutching Kagome's and she was talking to him. Everyone in a while he would smile, a small hesitant smile.

Turning back to Rin, he shrugged, "We could. If he wants to, that is."

When Lord Seshoumaru had stopped, The two children had run off to fill water in hteir small water contatiners. Kagome had given those as gifts.

"What should we ask him to play?"

Rin had thought carefully, pondering, Maybe, we'll ask Kagome to play hide and seek or that new game she played last time, the water and ice one."

Shippou's eyes gleamed with excitement, "Yeah, that was fun. Think he'll play with us?"

Rin smiled, "We'll make him."

Once they got back, an odd scenario was taking place. Kagome was scowling at Seshoumaru, and Maru was standing in front of her, growling. Lord Seshoumaru was snarling. As soon as he saw Rin, he regained his composure, and stalked to some random tree and sat down in the shade, his eyes still angry.

Wondering what that had been about, Rin and Shippu approached Kagome. By now, Kagome had retreated to her tree and Maru sat by her side, his knees drawn up and his chin resting on them. He studied them warily, as if expecting them to attack at any moment. Rin offered her water cintainer to him, "Would you like some water?"

Maru looked startled at her offer and stared at her, before turning to look at Kagome. She looked happy for some reason and nudged him, whispering, "Go ahead."

He looked at the brown eyed girl, with the lopsided ponytail and two missing teeth. She seemed harmless, but he had learnt not to judge anybody by how they looked. Casting a quick glance towards Shippu who seemed to be watching him with the world's weight of cautiousness, he accepted the offer with a quiet thanks.

As soon as the water hit his throat, he realized he had been really thirsty. Howver, not wanting to finish the water, he drank a tiny amount and held out the container. Rin put her hands behind her back, grinning cheerfully, "You can finish it, you know. Then all three of us can go get some more. There's a stream nearby, you know."

Maru looked at the container in his hand, and then took a deep breath and finished the water. Finally, his thirst was quenched and he felt marginally better. His cheeks turning red with embarassment, he returned the container to the girl, who smiled again, "I'm Rin."

"Seshoumaru."

Now it was Shippou who spoke uncomfortable, "Would you like to play with us?"

Maru looked uncertain, "Are you sure? You do not have to play with me."

Now Shippou looked disgruntled, 'What's that supposed to mean? If we didn't want to play with you, we wouldn't have asked you. Now come on!"

Looking startled, and feeling oddly pleased, Maru got to his feet. Kagome stood up too, "Can I play too, you guys?"

Rin and Shippou beamed.

A.N: Please review.