Author's Note: I've never been very good at the simply complex workings of this site, but I'll give it a try. It's also been a while since I've posted anything online, so it will be nice to see how things go. Special thanks to Rumiko Takahashi for creating such lovely characters for me to utilize, and for you to enjoy.

"Are you keeping watch?"

Jaken let out a heavy sigh, leaning onto the Staff of Two Heads. "For the last time, yes, now hurry so that we may join Lord Sesshomaru once more!"

The young girl kneeled down, picking up fruits and vegetables in the darkness as she hid from the owner of the garden she was stealing from. She crawled forward and looked up, only to let out a cry as she bumped heads with another person. She fell back, but quickly sat up, rubbing her head. Her gaze met with wide lilac eyes staring back from behind messy black hair.

"Um, excuse me," she said nervously, "Is this your garden?"

"No," the older girl whispered back, "That means it's not yours either?"

"Rin!" Jaken exclaimed, stumbling forward, "Don't you talk to strangers! I will save you from this... Why it's just a hanyou girl!"

The girl scowled, "I am a woman!"

Jaken ignored the outburst and motioned for the human to follow him, "Come, Rin, Lord Sesshomaru will not be pleased if he learns that you have been associating with a lowly hanyou."

Rin turned to do as she was told when she noticed the look in the other girl's eyes. Turning back, she asked, "What's wrong, miss?"

She flashed a smile that didn't reach her eyes, "Oh, I'm fine. Go on; I'm sure your lord is waiting."

Rin slowly turned back to Jaken, looking over her shoulder as they walked back to camp. She held the few items she had managed to gather from the garden, and Jaken cooked them with a bit of meat that he caught. By the end of the meal, the little girl had forgotten the encounter.

After the meal, Rin grew tired and leaned against Ah-Un, the two-headed dragon demon that protected her when she was alone. Jaken assumed that she would be safe without him for a few moments, so he wandered off to find Lord Sesshomaru. Rin slept quietly for a few moments until a soft sound woke her up.

Looking around, she saw something silver flash deep in the forest. A soft chime caused her to stand, straining her eyes to see. She turned to Ah-Un and told him to stay quiet before sneaking off toward the sound.

"Are those bells?" she whispered excitedly, running when she saw the little silver things hanging from a tree. They hung low by a red ribbon, just the right height for her to snatch them away.

They moved in the breeze, their soft noise making the little human smile. She wanted to keep them for herself, perhaps play with them when Lord Sesshomaru was busy and left her alone. It would give her something fun to do!

She reached out and grabbed the bells, but the moment she did so, she felt something moving beneath her. She let out a cry, caught in a net and hanging from the tree. She struggled, but couldn't manage to get out. Her heart sunk as a low laugh emanated from the tree itself.

She watched as a face appeared in the bark and the tree slowly began to transform into a demon. He howled with laughter, his sharp teeth sending shivers through the little girl's body. She wanted to call for help, but couldn't find her voice.

"It's been a while since a child has wandered these woods," he exclaimed. "You'll make for a delicious treat!"

"No," she whimpered, "Rin tastes awful, I swear!"

She heard a hiss off to the side and tears came to her eyes. Another demon? One was bad enough, but now two were there to gobble her up and she would never see her Lord Sesshomaru or Jaken again. She felt awful for leaving camp, and began crying.

The second demon was running toward her now, and she clenched her eyes shut. She felt a sudden pain in her bottom as she dropped to the ground, and the demon who had caught her let out a furious howl. She opened her eyes and gasped. The girl she had seen in the garden stood before her, hissing at the demon.

"Damn you, hanyou," he growled, "Find your own meal!"

"Children are not meant to be meals," she shouted, and Rin thought that she seemed very human to her.

"Then I will settle for a half-demon dinner!"

Rin shrieked, crawling back as a large branch-like arm swung out, knocking her savior to the ground. He turned and laughed at the human girl, pulling his arm back and slamming his hand down. She felt herself being pushed out of the way, and tried to get to her feet. The shadow from the demon's hand covered her body as his claws reached out for her. She closed her eyes tightly, finding her back against a tree. When the blow didn't come, she opened her eyes to see the woman standing again, her body shielding Rin.

The demon suddenly cried out, and Rin peeked around the girl to find Jakken standing before her, flames shooting out from the staff of two heads. The demon's bark-like skin burned quickly, and he turned only to fall to the ground, his body rapidly turning to nothing more than ash.

"Never wander off, girl!" Jaken exclaimed. "Lord Sesshomaru will be so angry when he finds out that you ran off."

Rin ignored him, looking down at the girl who had protected her. Jaken called for her to follow him back to camp, but Rin crossed her arms stubbornly and shook her head, remaining by the hanyou.

"Oh, no," he said, shaking his head, "No way! Lord Sesshomaru will not allow a lowly hanyou to come back with us. I am not going to nurse that thing back to health!"

"She saved me!" Rin protested. "Unlike you, she wasn't late. Hmph!"

Jaken threw his hands up in frustration, "Fine, you stupid girl, we will take the hanyou, but you get to explain to Lord Sesshomaru why it is with us."

Rin smiled happily, ordering Jaken to bring Ah-Un while she waited there. He stormed off to camp and returned shortly, helping to push the injured half-demon onto the beast's back. They took her back to camp and Rin immediately began cleaning out the wounds, playing nurse as she bossed Jaken around.

"She's going to need food when she wakes up," Rin sang, "So you can make her something to eat!"

"I just cooked a little while ago," he protested.

Rin gave him a dirty look, and he let out an exasperated sigh, preparing a meal as he muttered under his breath about the humiliation of being bossed around by a human child. They worked into the night until Rin finally fell asleep beside the girl.