A/N: People often remark on my fanfics, "It's not daiyokai, it's taiyoukai!" And I bang my drum loud and hard going how a "d" and "t" can be interchanged on occasion in Japanese and the Romanization of youkai or hanyou as yokai and hanyo is legit since the "u" (pronounced as "oo") is swallowed up in the sound of the rest of the syllables and the "o" is more predominant. Otherwise, we'd be saying "Tai-yo-oo-kai" instead of the fast, natural "Tai-yo-kai." But for this one story I'll make some readers happy and spell it their way…seeing as I also need an alliteration. Sorry for the rant, on with the show.
--
A True Taiyoukai
In this vast and fleeting world of warlords, brigands, and farmers who kept their heads down just to stay out of it all, Jaken knew there was one constant, one infallible race of beings who would outlive all the others – a taiyoukai.
Infinitely more intimidating than any human, taiyoukai were fierce, ruthless beings as Jaken was all too well aware having spent what now felt like ages in the constant company of one. Indeed, the toad-imp was that familiar of their habits. Although they could come off as benign even attractive creatures, taiyoukai soon showed their true intent. They waited for nothing and no one; worse yet, they were persistent. Relentless in every aspect it was enough to drive anyone utterly insane.
And a taiyoukai's sadism knew no bounds. Their victims suffered to very end until either the torturer or the tortured ceased to exist.
Sesshomaru brushed past his daydreaming subservient, a growl in his throat.
Jaken beamed at his perfect master in awe since, for all of Sesshomaru's superior pedigree, he was not a true taiyoukai. No, the Western Lord, who dealt with prey quickly and efficiently, was a veritable puppy in comparison to…
"Master Jaken!" Rin sprang from nowhere, tackling the unwitting imp. "I've found you! And look, I've made you a new flower necklace! Wear it! Wear it! Doesn't smell wonderful?"
The petals' pollen sent Jaken's nose roiling in turmoil, but Rin wouldn't relinquish him. He squirmed for freedom to no avail.
His eyes darted in vain for his liege, but Sesshomaru had (wisely) long since departed. It was only Jaken and Rin now.
"Ah, don't you just love flowers? So bright and happy! I wish I could dress you and everyone else up in them! Did I ever tell you about the first blossom of spring I saw? Okay, so I walking through a meadow when…"
Rin's rambling drilled into the diminutive youkai's brain. She wouldn't stop, she wouldn't shut up, she would surely see him to his grave and even then probably talk to the marker at least twice a day for good measure, the insufferable brat!
Well, that was a true taiyoukai for you!
