A/N: The perfume recipes mentioned belong to their respective owners. Also, no attempt has been made to malign the reputation of David Blaine.
"Danger," said Sesshoumaru.
Centuries had passed since the downfall of Naraku. With the decline in warfare, many of the youkai had to give up their favourite occupation (fighting) and adopt alternative professions in order to earn a living. They generally opted for a job commensurate with their abilities – the wolves had set up a courier service, the foxes started going by the name of David Blaine and the sons of the great dog general decided to utilize their nasal powers in order to open a perfume shop.
Business was difficult without showmanship, so the brothers were trying to come up with a range called "Many Moods" – perfumes representing (surprise!) the many moods of humans. The exercise was this: Sesshoumaru would name a mood, Inuyasha would describe it (since the former had the emotional range of a hairbrush) then both would decide which extracts would combine to produce that effect. The opening mood had Inuyasha scrunch up his face in concentration. It had been so long since he felt something akin to danger.
Red dyeing his vision, fangs and claws extended, poised, ready to kill…
"Heady, intoxicating, wild, ecstatic."
"Hmm," said the taiyoukai. "How about grapefruit, mint and blood orange for top notes; rose, cinnamon and blond leather as the middle; and…let me see…white woods, sandal and patchouli for base?"
"Naah…not sandal. Amber would be good."
"So be it," he made a note of the recipe. "Nostalgia?"
His mother smiling, flowers swaying in her hair, her long, flowing gown, the scent of the palace…
"Rich, vibrant, luxurious, emotional."
"Top notes of magnolia, mandarin and ivy," Sesshoumaru noted. "Middle notes of orchids, violet and rose. Base notes of Damascus plum, amaranth wood and blackberry musk."
"Yeah, that should be good," Inuyasha nodded in agreement.
"Melancholy."
Kikyou…the sorrow in her eyes, her cold, hard lips, the black despair in her voice…
"Subdued, introspective, moody, isolated."
"Let's see…how about aniseed, hesperidic notes and rose for the top?"
"Not bad. You can add violet and hawthorn in the middle."
"Iris root at the base," he noted. "Vibrancy?"
Lying in the warm sun, playing with Shippou, Miroku's antics, Sango's mock-irritation…
"Outdoors, green grass, ocean, energy."
"In that case mandarin orange, orange and petit grain for tops; lavender, cotton flower, seaweed and posidonia for the middle…"
"Patchouli, cedar, woody notes and amber for base," concluded Inuyasha.
"Hm…you are getting better at this. Alright, love?"
Kagome…
Inuyasha frowned. How would he describe Kagome's scent? It was mingled with his breath – etched in every cell of his body. But how to describe it?
"Love?" Sesshoumaru asked again, a hint of irritation in his voice.
Kagome…
Inuyasha gulped. This was awkward – he was getting tongue-tied.
"Inuyasha, we don't have all day. We still have jealousy, seduction and sophistication to cover, so make it quick. Describe love."
Kagome…
A faint smile appeared on Inuyasha's lips.
"Kagura." He said with finality.
It was Sesshoumaru's turn to get tongue-tied.
*Originally posted on Inuyasha Fanfiction for their prompt Scent. Was placed second.