Consequences

‘Jaken.’

‘Sesshomaru-sama?’ Jaken eagerly ran to his side, ‘What is it?’

Without removing his gaze from Rin, he said in his usual flat, emotionless voice, ‘I want you to disappear for the night.’

Jaken’s chin dropped even as his big yellow eyes began to grow wet with tears, ‘Is Sesshomaru-sama exiling me?  Have I done something to offend thee--?

‘Go.  You may return tomorrow evening.  And stay away, no matter what you may hear.’

Jaken followed his lord’s gaze, and in a moment everything made sense.

‘B-but my lord, she is, she is—‘ Jaken could not express his thoughts out loud because his lord would surely cut him two.

He wanted to say:

She is a lowly mortal, not worthy of your attention!

But because Rin was also someone he cared for, he wanted to say:

She is a child, an infant my lord!  She is not ready for these things!

However, Jaken’s loyalty was to his lord first.  Nervously, he nodded his head, and made to leave in the opposite direction.

He firmly believed that Rin would perish tonight, and if by some miracle she did not, she would never be the same.