Title: Sesshoumaru's little helper

Author: Hairann

Prompt: Quote prompt one (A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself - Josh Billings)

Rating: T

Genre: Drama

Word count: 974

Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.

Summary: Part 10 of Jaken's Ballad.

Jaken was waiting patiently where Sesshoumaru had left him when the demon lord finally returned from wherever he had gone. Much to the smaller demon's surprise, when he arrived back at the clearing, he didn't look quite the same as when he had left. In fact, he was so different, that at first Jaken had thought he was about to be attacked by another, much larger, demon again, until he noticed the crescent moon adorning his forehead.

"My lord?" Jaken questioned, still not entirely sure that it was who he believed it to be, but a slight huff of air through his nose in his direction, quickly confirmed his identity. "Well I supposed it is not too surprising, I have heard talk of some of the more powerful demons being able to do this, but may I ask my lord, why are you still in this form?" Jaken continued, sitting down in front of the massive form of his master.

His answer came in the form of multiple ranges of barks and growls, followed by a long whine that would have had him raising his eyebrows in question, if he in fact had eyebrows. "Forgive me, my lord, but I am not adept in the language of dog demons. Perhaps if you would revert to your smaller form, I could understand you," Jaken informed him only to be met by another series of barks. "You can't revert to your other form?" he inquired unsure, only to be met with a massive head nodding up and down, blowing a large blast of wind on him that almost knocked Jaken off balance.

"Alright, one nod if it is normal, two if something is wrong," he suggested and after a moment, Sesshoumaru replied with one nod. "I'm guessing it takes a while to turn back each time, power issues?" he inquired only to be met with an annoyed whine. "Oh right, one nod for yes, two for no." One nod was given. "I see, is it going to take a while?" This time two nods. "So you want to make camp here for the night and start again in the morning?" Back to one nod.

"Very well, is there anything you need before I settle in for the night?" Again a single nod. "This might be a bit harder so I'm going to guess two things at a time, one nod for the first, two for the second and if it's neither, no nods," he decided and received a nod of agreement from his master. "Are you hungry or hurt?" No nods came. "Need me to take care of something outside of camp or inside?" Two nods this time. "Inside camp, alright," Jaken mumbled as he glanced around and realized that other than the two of them, the only thing in camp was the fire.

"Does it have to do with the campfire or one of us?" Again two nods. "You or me?" One nod this time. "Need me to get you something or do something for you?" Back to two nods. "Are you in some kind of discomfort or..." Jaken began only to be interrupted by a single nod. "Does it related to dogs or..." he began again, the interruption repeating itself. "So a dog problem huh? What do dogs need?" Jaken questioned out loud to himself, startled when Sesshoumaru rose one of his hind legs and began scratching away at his side.

"An itch?" he just about shouted when he realized that Sesshoumaru was showing him what he needed himself and after a moment, the demon lord confirmed it by nodding his head once. "You have an itch you can't reach and want me to scratch it?" Again he was answered by a single nod. "Alright," Jaken agreed as he stood and began closing the distance between them. "Can you tilt the part that itches toward me?" he requested and watched as the massive dog laid on its side, exposing his belly to him.

"Top half or bottom?" he questioned and received a single nod in response. Making his way to the massive torso, he began scratching all of the places he figured his paws couldn't reach and soon found a spot that had one of the gigantic hind legs thumping in appreciation. "That's the spot?" he confirmed with a single nod of his master's head and continued to scratch away while the demon lord panted above him.

"Feel better?" Jaken inquired once he had finished and Sesshoumaru responded with another nod before rising back to his full height. "Glad I could be of service, my lord." As Jaken began to turn in for the night, he was rewarded with a long, rough tongue gliding up the length of his body as Sesshoumaru, careful not to open the poison sac in his mouth, thanked him in the only way he could at that moment.

"You are very welcome, my lord, I am happy just knowing I have finally be able to do something for you," Jaken assured him with a respectful bow before biding him a goodnight and making his way over to the fire to lay down. Behind him, the massive dog demon looked upon his charge with pride before lying back down with his head on his paws, ready to get a good night's sleep. Though he wouldn't usually sleep while out doors, needing to be ready in case anyone attacked, he knew no one would be idiotic enough to attack him in this form. And even if they were, his hearing and sense of smell was currently heightened, he would be awoken by their presence long before they even knew he was there.