I Fell for Myself by Stella Mira

What Have They Done to You!?

They made camp for lunch while Kagome shared the news with the rest of the pack.

Sango shook her head once the miko finished her recital of all events, spoke with a sigh. "I guess that means we're back to square one."

Inuyasha shrugged, more interested in his ramen bowl than the unaccounted hindrance. "We just have to make that bastard spill where he's hiding that scroll before we take his head off. It's nothing much."

A squawk sundered the skies then, worry-filled cacophony, ended all further discussions. They all turned toward the ear-splitting sound.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!"

Jaken and Rin, astride Ah-Un, were descending into the midst of their camp.

"Jaken." Sesshōmaru's monotone was his sole acknowledgement to his retainer when the twin-headed dragon landed.

A screech came from the shōyōkai, haughty and indignant. "How dare you address me with such familiarity, filthy ningen?" Disregarding the daiyōkai without a second glance, he rushed towards the former body of his lord.

Kagome arched a brow in true Sesshōmaru fashion, but didn't cease her cooking.

"Sesshōmaru-sama!" Jaken bawled with disbelief, the ochre of his eyes muddled with tears. "What have they done to you!?"

"Silence, Jaken," was all Kagome said, and Jaken complied promptly.

She heaved a sigh then shed some light into the imp's confusion. Jaken listened, nodded, made loud sounds, pompous gestures – and, finally, he mulled over Kagome's words. Conflicted, not knowing which being he should address, he spoke to both.

"Is this true, my Lord?"

"Cease your incessant whining, Jaken." Despite the feminine hues, the command was reminiscent in tone and presence of the daiyōkai. It took a mere fragment of a second for Jaken to accept reality and bow deeply. Rin had no such qualms, seemed to have recognized Sesshōmaru from the start – if that was even possible.

"Here, Rin-chan. I'm sure you're hungry." Kagome smiled at the human girl sitting quietly all this time, offered her a ramen bowl – but her smile faltered once she took note of the hesitation in Rin's features, the nervousness in her posture. "What's wrong, Rin-chan?"

A hush of words, mumbled, came out of Rin's mouth. It was uttered so terribly low, teeming with shyness, that Kagome couldn't make out what the question was at first, had to ask Rin for reiteration.

"C-can Rin hug Kagome-sama?"

"Of course, Rin-chan!" Laughing softly, Kagome swept her up, relished the girl's giggles of delight, and winked at Sesshōmaru – but he didn't seem to mind either way.