Menial
The dull expanse of wasteland wasn't much for scenery. A rock here, a lizard there, and lots and lots of dry, hot gravel. But Sesshomaru's energy rode high on the air, crackling like a thunderstorm in a desert. Kohaku tensed. It was no stretch of the imagination to read the daiyokai's mind this time.
We're wide open for attack.
And the assault, when it came, was from nowhere in plain sight. Kohaku's first impression was of teeth followed by immense size. Towering over them, a ribbed column of flesh roared loud enough to shake the surrounding canyons.
Jaken felt his vision go blurry and his future dim. "It's a tunnel worm!"
Ah-Un soared into the sky, narrowly missing gnashing fangs. Don't panic, don't panic…Kohaku repeated over Rin's whimpers. His mind whirled, trying to focus on what must be done.
Lord Sesshomaru is down there somewhere. I have to help!
"Rin! Jaken! Get down!" Releasing at a practiced angle, Kohaku let the kusarigama fly. His aim true, the slayer's sickle found purchase. Kohaku tightened his grip on the chain, refusing to let go. Gotta make a better cut than this! Far from defeat, the worm only snarled irritation. Like an embedded pebble, the beast shook its whole form, attempting to dislodge the nuisance. Even as his swung him around, Kohaku hung on, allowing himself to be hauled from the safety of Ah-Un's back and into another line of fire.
Claws hesitated over the Heaven Fang. Damn! "You're in the way!" Sesshomaru barked, roughly collecting Kohaku and the chain in the crook of his arm. A sudden impact smacked them out of smooth flight. Head still spinning as he hit the dirt, Kohaku heard something shatter and the dog-demon hiss. In the distraction, the worm-beast burrowed underground, escaping the late Meido Zangetsuha. Sesshomaru swore softly under his breath.
Wincing at the soreness in his side, Kohaku sat up on his knees. Eyes widened as he took in the absence of a stony shoulder guard. "I'm so sorry, Lord Se—"
"Shut up." The daiyokai practically spat his command.
Kohaku did. Even if his thoughts wouldn't.
Oh God, what am I doing out here?
His throat tightening, Kohaku choked back tears. He was supposed to help Sesshomaru and all he'd managed to accomplish was to screw everything up. One more stunt like that and he'd get someone in the group irretrievably killed. He was better off dead.
Sesshomaru made a single, swift motion to the sky and Ah-Un obediently flew down. The dog-demon turned to Kohaku. "Get on."
The taijiya mounted without a word, his head hung in shame. Not that Jaken noticed.
"You idiot, you'll be the death of all of us if keep up –"
"Jaken!" Sesshomaru bellowed. Pointed ears flexed in an effort to hear every tremor. Futile pains over the thunder of heartbeats.
Suddenly the ground split open again. Ah-Un flew back, barely dodging the gaping maw lined with its serrated rows of teeth. The tunnel worm resurfaced and plunged back down for another go at its prey. Sesshomaru was ready this time.
Striking with claws, the dog-demon drove the creature away, knocking it off course from making a clean dive back under the earth. While the monster still reeled from Sesshomaru's blow, Tenseiga slashed open the Meido, still imperfect but much greater than before. A moment later, only the demon's scattered remains twitched over the dirt.
"Way to go, Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin called from above on Ah-Un's back. Kohaku wished he felt half as enthusiastic as they descended for a landing. Instead, the taijiya tucked his chin into his shoulders, hunching into himself, hoping that maybe he could shrink to Jaken's size. He certainly felt small enough.
Sesshomaru tossed his mane, the epitome of nonchalance. "There probably exist more of these pests beneath the surface," he snorted. "We're heading back into the forest." Pivoting gracefully, the daiyokai didn't so much as glance over his shoulder to see if they would follow.
Of Ah-Un's two remaining passengers, Rin kept up her steady stream of chatter and Jaken added his half-grumbled two cents once in a while, but, now walking at their side, Kohaku held his silence.
The Meido has grown wider and its wielder stronger. What good am I to Lord Sesshomaru now?
The unnecessarily broken armor that crunched under Kohaku's feet was answer enough.
Very little.
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A/N: Inspired by LJ's iy_no_kakera prompt #45: Inferiority Complex