drabble #2: A Single Soul
Dedication: for ash_grey_sky, because she has a fondness for schmoopy fic featuring the pale lord and his cheerful human barnacle.
Rating: PG for a bit of death. It is Sesshoumaru, after all...
Pairing: Jaken/Ah-Un (no, not really. no pairing at all)
Word count: 536
A Single Soul
Sesshoumaru had, contrary to popular opinion, never been one to slay children. This rogue streak of compassion had been to his downfall, all those years ago; had he killed Inuyasha as a youth, various inconveniences of his life would be thusly eliminated.
This child, however, was pushing him to his limits, and once again he was ruing his moment of weakness. What insane urge had he indulged, what madness had gripped him, when he had used Tenseiga to restore the girl to life? Had he been a less composed youkai, Sesshoumaru would surely had grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled it out in frustration.
She never ceased speaking. She adorned Ah-Un and Jaken with as many flowers as she could hold in her stubby human arms. She was as filthy as a beggar, ate a stupendous amount of food, and most disconcertingly of all, seemed determined to stay as close to his own person as possible. It was insupportable.
Even now, as he kept watch over their tiny camp and she slept, she kept inching closer to him. For companionship or warmth, he knew not, but he was sure she’d keep squirming in his direction until she- he shuddered- made physical contact. Hoping to avoid such an occurrence, he unwound moko-moko-sama from his shoulder and placed it over and around her until all that was visible was the tip of her nose.
Sesshoumaru entertained a moment of fancy- how easy it would be to smother her with the moko-moko, fur stealing into her nose and mouth until there was no air to be had. He lifted his hand to effect just that, but something had him lowering it again. Grumpily, he frowned.
A wolf howled in the distance, and the girl whimpered in her sleep. Yes, Sesshoumaru recalled, it was wolves that had killed her. He could rouse Jaken and the dragonet and be gone before the wolves arrived, before she knew anything was amiss.
Another howl, closer. Sesshoumaru stood, and the girl let out a cry of alarm. He glanced down to find her staring up at him, terror plain on her small, dirty face. Jaken woke, as did Ah-Un, and both looked to him for direction.
He could smell the wolves now, the rain-mildewed fur and human blood staining long, sharp teeth rank in his sensitive nose. She reached up to him, arms out in supplication, and her eyes were so big that for a moment he thought he’d fall into them.
The wolves were upon them. A mere undulation of his arm sent Sesshoumaru’s lash of chi arcing their way, and in seconds the last body had fallen, the last agonized howl had faded away. The girl gazed up, shining at him, a small, untidy star.
Sesshoumaru had killed many- many- in his long life. Scores had fled from him, both human and demon alike. He was the most feared being in their land.
In all that time, no one- not a single soul- had ever looked to him for love as well as protection. He found he liked it.
“Come,” he said, looking her in the eye so she knew he meant her, as well.
Carefully, she lifted his moko-moko up to him and watched with adoring eyes as he replaced in on his shoulder.
“Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama,” she said.