InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Inuyasha Theories ❯ Theory #3: Jaken ( Chapter 3 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Theory Three: Jaken

Just exactly why does Jaken follow Sesshomaru-sama about, despite the abuse he gets?

Because if he left, Sesshomaru-sama would kill him for the following reasons:

Abandoning his duties.

Breaking his vow to be his servant.

Jaken knows too much, and must not be free to wander about with said knowledge (vague as it may be).

Why does Sesshomaru allow him to follow him about?

If Jaken left, there would be no one to carry the Staff of Two Heads, and Sesshomaru would just succeed in looking ridiculous if he carried it with him (it is his, after all, not Jaken's). So, Sesshomaru-sama would be angry. You do not want to provoke him.

Sesshomaru needs a baby-sitter (pet-sitter) for Rin.

Jaken acts as a living stress ball/provides comic relief in the form of physical pain.

Misery loves company. When Sesshomaru is feeling miserable, he can take it out on Jaken and feel better, as he knows that there is now someone just as miserable/more miserable than he is.

Sesshomaru-sama, being a threat to the main characters, is a villain. No true villain is ever complete without an incompetent, ridiculous lackey.

Story:

Rin bounced around playfully in the field of flowers, enjoying the brief time it was taking them to cross through it. Sesshomaru had sent Jaken to go do something or other, so the toad was not about. Rin didn't really care, though. The flowers were pretty, the sun was shining, and she was with her lord. She glanced at him, then looked around for a moment. She ran up to him, a bouquet of flowers in hand.

“Sesshomaru-sama, Jaken is really annoying,” she commented. He gave a slight nod of agreement. “So, why does he follow you around?”

It didn't seem like Sesshomaru was going to answer her for a moment, but, to her surprise and delight, he finally did. “Several reasons.”

She didn't bother concealing her disappointment with his characteristically brief answer. She frowned. “Sesshomaru-sama…” she whined. “What are your reasons?”

“This Sesshomaru need him.”

This surprised her. “What?”

“He carries the Staff of Two Heads for me.”

She blinked. “I thought it was Jaken's.”

“It's mine.”

She laughed at the image of Sesshomaru carrying it and accepted that reason. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes.”

She waited for a moment before realizing that he was not going to say anything more unless she asked. “What are the other reasons?”

Sesshomaru blinked. The other reasons were rather cruel. “Comic relief.”

“What's that?”

“Sometimes this Sesshomaru's life becomes stressful or unpleasant. Jaken provides a diversion from such things.”

She blinked very slowly, trying to process this. “So… When Sesshomaru-sama steps or kicks Jaken, you are unhappy with something… And instead of dealing with it yourself, you throw a tantrum and take it out on Jaken?”

Sesshomaru looked down at her disdainfully, but otherwise said nothing. He did not approve of her interpretation. Right on timing, Jaken came running out of the forest, helter-skelter, falling in front of Sesshomaru, holding up whatever it was he had been sent to fetch in a triumphant manner. Sesshomaru stepped on him, totally ignoring his existence, and at the same time, not ignoring him at all—his living stress ball.