Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi. However, the story concept is entirely mine.
Jaken limped solemnly behind Sesshoumaru and the skipping Rin, his many injuries impeding his progress. He was now unhappily sporting many teeth markings, a swollen nose, and a bruised and battered body. He was quite sure Sesshoumaru had cracked, if not broken, quite a few of his ribs.
Several days had passed since Sesshoumaru's vengeance, and Jaken could still taste the dirt in his mouth. Well, he had learned his lesson. He would never ever entertain any silly notions of killing or harming Rin ever again. No, no. Such thoughts only resulted in pain. He was turning over a new leaf! From now on, he was to be the nice and courteous retainer. Perhaps this would please his Lord Sesshoumaru, and put him back on his good side. If Sesshoumaru even had a good side.
No! Think only good thoughts!
This whole being nice thing was turning out to be harder than it seemed. If he couldn't even keep his thoughts in check, how the hell was he supposed to control his actions? What if Lord Sesshoumaru had telepathic powers, and he didn't know. What if Sesshoumaru could hear every single dirty thought that crossed his wicked little mind?!
My Mother would be ashamed of me if she ever found out that someone with a huge, fluffy tail thrown over their shoulder as a fashion statement stamped me into the ground.
Jaken's eyes widened, staring in fright at Sesshoumaru's back. He wasn't showing any reaction to that thought. He was just being paranoid. Lord Sesshoumaru couldn't read minds. He let free a sigh of relief.
He must not even realize that tail of his makes him look rather... Well, certainly not interested in the opposite sex, that's for sure! Maybe that's why he doesn't have an heir yet!
Jaken giggled madly. And then yelped in pain as a rock struck him in the head. He frantically pin wheeled his arms for a moment, trying to regain his thrown off balance.
"Jaken, cease your giggling. It annoys me," stated the cool voice of the rock-thrower. "And stop falling behind. Rin is keeping pace with me better than you."
Jaken rubbed his head, and winced slightly as he felt a new bruise to add to the inventory of wounds. "Yes, Lord. I'm sorry," he replied timidly.
Maybe he can read my mind.
He suppressed a shudder, and hurriedly ran after Sesshoumaru and his wretched pet human. "Wait for me, Lord Sesshoumaru," cried Jaken. "Do not leave your loyal retainer behind!"
"I wait for no one, Jaken. You should know that by now."
Jaken ran up beside Sesshoumaru, the effort of the short run taking its toll. He continued to limp while walking, but he was also breathing heavily now. From a distance, one would easily be able to mistake the little demon for an old, hobbling, asthmatic beggar.
Sesshoumaru glanced down at his loyal servant, a silver eyebrow arcing upwards. "Jaken, you have become out of shape and weak. Perhaps I should acquire the services of a more young and strong servant," he teased. He knew this would rile Jaken up even more than he already was.
True to Sesshoumaru's knowledge, Jaken stumbled in his walk and stared wide-eyed up at his Master, mouth gaping open. "Lord Sesshoumaru!" He cried hysterically. "Surely you jest! I've served you for many a year! You will be able to find no more loyal a servant than I!"
Sesshoumaru pretended to ignore his retainer's pleadings, thoughtfully staring ahead. He took secret pleasure in torturing Jaken this way. He would never trade the little toad demon in for another servant. That didn't mean he wouldn't threaten to though.
Jaken slowed his pace somewhat, falling back behind Sesshoumaru once more. There was no use in begging the Great Sesshoumaru to not be rid of him. Frankly, he couldn't really blame him. He had been annoying his Lord an awful lot of late. Still, he would simply have to try harder to please his Master.
"We'll rest here," stated Sesshoumaru, eyeing Jaken out of the corner of his eye. He had taken note of the pathetic limping and decided he would allow Jaken to get a little rest. "Rin is tired, and needs a bath. I can smell a stream over to the right. Jaken, escort Rin over to the stream and watch over her." With that, Sesshoumaru turned and walked off, no doubt going to make sure the area was clear of any possible threats.
Jaken eyed Rin with disgust. Rin simply smiled back.
"Come on, you filthy brat," grunted Jaken. So much for being a nicer demon. Oh well, he still had the No-Trying-To-Kill-Rin thing to go for.
He led the way to the stream, which was more like a river. Rin squealed in delight, running ahead and immediately jumping into the cool water, clothes and all. Jaken rolled his eyes. Stupid humans. Didn't even know how to properly bathe. No wonder demons were the superior beings.
"Why doesn't Jaken bathe to?" Rin giggled out, continuing to splash around in the water. "Jaken is beginning to smell." She wrinkled her nose at him to better make her point. A child's innocence could sometimes be the most Evil thing in the world.
Jaken wildly waved his staff in the air, completely outraged. "I do not stink, human! It is you who--"
With all that staff waving going on, Jaken had managed to catch a small whiff of himself. If it were at all possible for a green toad demon to blush, then Jaken did so. He simply set his staff down, ignoring Rin's giggles, and waded into the fairly deep water. Actually, the water felt quite nice. It soothed his many wounds. Jaken was in his natural element almost. He took long strokes, mimicking the way a frog might swim exactly.
Rin watched Jaken swim around, and waited patiently. A plot had arisen within her playful mind. When Jaken had finally gotten close enough to her, she let out a mad laugh and splashed a mighty gout of water at the unsuspecting swimmer, before diving underwater to reappear some feet away. She giggled at the sputtering retainer.
Outraged that the child actually thought she could get away with something like that, he began to swim directly towards her, intent on drowning the little brat, all thoughts of turning a new leaf over and not trying to kill her forgotten. He grinned madly, planning on knocking her unconscious and simply allowing her to sink to the bottom once he reached her, or perhaps take more pleasure in the kill and hold her little head underwater until she expired.
It would only take a few seconds to reach her now. He was an excellent swimmer.
Unfortunately, so was the large snake demon that just so happened to have built up a mighty appetite with all its swimming about. Jaken never knew what hit him.
Author's Note: Thank you for all the reviews, and especially for a few suggestions. I didn't follow them exactly, but instead put my own spin on them. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as the last.