*Not owning Inuyasha. Though I do love Sessho! ^_^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------

Torpid Souls -Sesshomaru of the Dark Blade

Sessho: Jaken? Jaken: Yes, Lord Sesshomaru? Sessho: Why do you stay with me, after all the abuse? Jaken: I am your retainer m'lord, I cannot leave. Sessho:.Thank you, Jaken.

As the early morning rays filtered through the castle, Jaken, the first one that always was up, scuttled down the corridors. 'Lord Sesshomaru is always angry when he wakes up,' Jaken thought, 'It would be wise to wake Rin up. She's always in a good mood.' Jaken continued to walk the seemingly endless corridors to the sleeping quarters of the black-haired girl.

Jaken sung happily about his lord, clicking in rhythm his staff. The frog of a man continued until reaching Rin's bedroom. Carefully sliding open the rice paper door with the designs of demons and dragons, Jaken waddled over and tried to wake the little girl. When he got to poking distance, he noticed the teddy bear she had slept with. 'How cute,' he thought, smiling. He was jealous of Sesshomaru; he had such a beautiful female, 'And, if I might add, close to my size.' Jaken decided it was best to leave her alone. Jaken started to walk down to the kitchen for some coffee. After Sesshomaru stole some from the miko from the future, Jaken had been hooked. Jaken had tried to buy some at the store, but he couldn't get any, Sesshomaru decided that it must be from the future. Irish cream, yum, with a bit of sugar. He liked Irish cream for the reference to green. "A little bit of green goes a long way!" Jaken exclaimed, rather loudly, right outside Rin's door. In fact, he exclaimed so loudly that he didn't hear the little voice saying, "I love you.Sesshomaru."

Jaken's hat dragged along the floor, staining brown as he scooped some of the coffee beans out with it, they had stolen these energy beans from Kagome last night. He had to. Sesshomaru had taken a few scoops for himself with the previous bag. After a while, Jaken was out of the brown beans. That night Jaken had snuck out with the other coffee bag to Kaede's hut, where the miko sleeps and heals her wounds. He found a one "pound" bag, next to a brightly colored package that said "Maruchan" right above "Roast Beef Flavor" and there was a sign, next to a picture of very succulent roast beef, which said, "Rich Flavor!" Ditching the 5 "pound" bag and taking the one that seemed to be lighter, he sprinted off, almost. Instead he fell flat on his face as the bag refused to move. "Kuso!" Jaken screeched. "Who is there?" a voice followed. A man's voice. 'Eep!' Jaken thought as he dumped half of the bag out and vaulted into the forest, taking the package for further inspection, beans following like an obedient canine. Before he left, he heard faintly, "Ack! My coffee!" Followed by, "Ack! MY RAMEN!" in a deeper voice.

Jaken was relieved that was over, then proceeded to grind the beans, as Sesshomaru told him to. Footsteps were heard lightly as a silver-haired demon stepped into the room, his boots clacking as he stepped on the freshly cleaned floor. "Jaken, why did you not wake me?" said the white- clad demon. "Ack! Lord Sesshomaru!" exclaimed Jaken, "I did not know you were up!" "Just get me some of the coffee," replied Sesshomaru snappily as he got reached past various stolen trinkets to get a mug that had, "World's Best Demon," on it. It had originally said, "World's Best Mom," but Sesshomaru had inscribed something else on top of it with his claws. "Right away, m'lord," Jaken stated. He started to heat some water, and pour the ground coffee in. He had only begun stirring when Sesshomaru begun to cough. "Is something the mat- OH GOD!" screamed Jaken. At that very moment, as stream of blood sprayed from Sesshomaru's mouth throughout the room, leaving droplets of crimson on the counter and floor. He collapsed and continued to spit blood. "LORD SESSHOMARU! KUSO!" The diminutive lime green man exploded into a horrified tremble as the spray turned into a violent vomit.

'Darkness,' Sesshomaru thought silently, cringing as he heaved even more blood, 'Is how I am to die?" The pain was excruciating. Like nothing he had felt before. In his half conscious state, he could only listen to Jaken, and a small voice that said weeping bitterly, "Please, Sesshomaru..don't die!" Sesshomaru then lifted his hand to embrace the child, but was stopped mid-way by the overtaking darkness.