InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Want To Be Your Slave ❯ The Toad Who Wouldn't Be Prince ( Chapter 21 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lord Youko 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 03.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 1.5K | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 03.05.2011 | Pages: 3 | Words: 6.2K | Visits: 1.5K | Status: Work In Progress
A/N: Thank you all for the reviews ^_^ You guys make my day :D
The name Hideyori is a figment of my imagination since I couldn’t find any obscure Japanese village names. If it means anything weird, please do tell and I’ll try to change it.
Chapter 21 – Toad Who Wouldn’t Be Prince
The Land of Hideyori, ruled by the toad demon king Jaken, lay deep inside the Western Lands, far away from the ocean. The Land was rocky and harsh, flanked by bare mountains on one side and a desert on the other. The climate was dry and hot, prone to strong winds and wind storms which brought in tons of sand from the adjoining desert. As such, the land remained uninhibited for a long time, till the toad demon tribe came and settle there.
The toad demons were a tough people, used to hardships and harsh living conditions. Originally, they were peace loving demons, used to living near water bodies. But wars and natural disasters drew them away from their habitat, leaving them to wander Japan in search for a home. In terms of youki, they were not very powerful, so it was to their disadvantage to fight higher level demons for land. But the toad demons were survivors and they travelled far and wide in search of land. Many generations of travelling made them into hardy people, knowledgeable of the ways of the world.
When they chanced upon this abandoned strip of land, they made the small land into their kingdom. The toad demons were a curious mixture of cunning and pride, defending their place staunchly against offenders but using any means necessary to do so. Thus, they had the reputation of being unfriendly and hostile and had few allies. The people in the nearby kingdom left them alone. Even the ruler before Inu no Taisho had decided to turn a blind eye to the barbaric practices of the land; everyone knew that toad demons understood force and nothing else. To prevent their people from falling into anarchy, it was necessary to be strong and unbending. The governance of the kingdom was left to their own people and the overlord of the land was content to have the rest of his kingdom free of trouble from the toad demons.
The kingship of the land was earned by merit, not by birth. The one who would rule would be the one who could eliminate the current ruler and seize power; after all, a king who could not safeguard his own throne was worthless as a ruler. The king’s palace, hewn roughly out of a small hill, stood in the centre of the kingdom. As with most of the land, the palace was made out of reddish rock. It was imposing in structure, built at a height providing a militarily strategic location. The attackers of the land were mostly land demons – water demons were nowhere around for there were no bodies of water for miles and demons with wings avoided this land because the strong winds made it almost impossible to fly on course.
Today, outside one of the rooms of the palace, Iku, a servant, stood trembling with a letter in his hand. Lord Jaken had locked himself in his room again and he was the unfortunate soul who had to get the letter of Lord Inu no Taisho to him.
Lord Jaken was a strong ruler and a ruthless man, well versed in all the devious techniques of winning. The previous ruler had died through mysterious means when Lord Jaken had appeared and seized the throne. The people obeyed and respected him because he ruled with an iron hand and having travelled far and wide, beyond the boundaries of the kingdom of Hideyori, Lord Jaken had made brought many changes in the land for the welfare of his people.
But rumour had it that seeing places so far away had done something to him; there was a part of Lord Jaken that was not satisfied with the power and wealth he had. Jaken-sama was susceptible to strange moods, where he would lock himself in with orders for no one to disturb him and when he came out, there was a strange, almost melancholy look in his eyes. Of course, no one dared to comment on it since an underling who had dared to do so had lost his head.
Iku swallowed nervously and then knocked hesitantly on the door.
There was no reply.
Praying to god that he would remain alive after this, Iku knocked again, this time more insistently.
Still no reply.
“Jaken-sama?” he called out hesitantly.
For a moment, there was again no reply. He raised his hand to knock again when the door flew open and Jaken stood in front of him, eyes livid.
“What is the meaning of this-?”
Iku shut his eyes in fear and dropped to his knees, holding the sealed letter above his head, offering it to his Lord.
“My lord, a letter from Lord Inu no Taisho has just come in.”
Seeing how frightened the servant was, Jaken relented. He himself had given orders that any news concerning Lord Inu no Taisho was to be brought to him immediately, no matter what. He took the letter from the servant’s hands and unfurled it, scanning it quickly. His eyes narrowed more and more as he reached the end of the letter. It was from Lord Inu no Taisho informing him of the arrival of the prince, requesting hospitality. The letter was couched in the most amicable terms possible but at its core, it was a command, not a request.
Iku trembled at the scowl on Lord Jaken’s face. Oh god, this was the end of him…should he run for it? No, no then Jaken-sama would only have him hunted down and killed painfully. Should he just be a sitting duck them, waiting for the blow that would sever his head from his neck…?
Jaken, however was oblivious to Iku’s predicament. The Lord of the West was becoming a serious pain in the neck. The allegedly kind ruler disapproved of the so called ‘barbaric practices’ of the land and wished for them to become more just and peaceable. He had even sent an ambassador – a simpering fool of a demon who had tried to make them “all get along with each other”. The curt response of the toad demons had not gone over well with him; he had hastened back to his lord, informing him of how hostile and inhospitable they were.
Jaken had thought that would be the end of that; the previous ruler of the land, after all, had not bothered too much with the practices of that particular piece of land; the cost of laying siege to that far out, harsh area was much too high. But Inu no Taisho was a persistent bastard, it seemed. Jaken had heard rumours of the great warrior who had brought the entire Western Japan under his thumb. He didn’t want to get on his bad side but what he was asking for was ridiculous. It was all very well for an indolent Lord on the other side of the country to insist on ‘kindness’ and ‘compassion’ but this land was different. The Western Lands were a far cry from the Kingdom of Hideyori. What was the Western Lord thinking, sending his only prince and heir in such a place?
Jaken crushed the letter in his hand, face hard. The Western Lord was getting too brazen. Something would have to be done.
His eyes were drawn down towards the kneeling servant who was shivering and whimpering. Jaken glanced at him exasperatedly. Honestly, these people were a bunch of cowards, always fearful of their lives. Didn’t they understand that he wasn’t an idiot? That punishment would only be given out when deserved?
But that was the problem with this land, Jaken decided. The people understood nothing except an iron rod. It was exhausting, being implacable all the time, taking great pains to show no weakness at all.
With Iku’s eyes trained on the floor, Jaken allowed a little bit of his tiredness to creep onto his face. He had fought tooth and nail for this power, for the position that he now held. But after so many years of ruling, he sometimes wondered if this was all there was. Day after day of eliminating weaknesses, of making sure none of these sycophants who licked his boots stabbed him in the back like he had done for the previous ruler… and he could not even voice his real thoughts aloud for any weakness could be fatal. The last time one of the servants had seen him in a pensive mood, he had been forced to have him killed because it wouldn’t do to have him spreading rumours that the king was mad.
“Iku.”
When the servant looked up hesitantly at the king, Jaken’s face was once again free of all emotions except anger.
“Prepare the guestroom. The prince of the Western Lands is going to pay us a visit.”
The kneeling demon did not bother to hide his relief. After all, the venom in their Lord’s voice was unmistakable but it was not directed towards him.
“Why, Master Jaken? What does he want with us?”
Jaken’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “To get us to submit to his father’s commands, I presume. Well, he will certainly get a welcome he won’t forget in a hurry.”
The servant cackled delightedly.
Most demons did not consider it worthwhile to challenge them over the supremacy of the wasted, desolate land, especially the pleasure loving subjects of the Western Lands who, under Inu no Taisho’s rule, had grown used to an easy life. Because of this, the small kingdom had developed in isolation, unaffected by the changes in the surrounding areas. The people had grown as unforgiving and ruthless as the surrounding landscape; here, weakness meant death, a fact that the young prince of the Western Land was about to find out.
Jaken dismissed the servant and called some of his trusted advisors and gave them their orders.
Killing the prince would obviously send the message across most clearly but then Inu no Taisho would not spare them, and Jaken knew they were not equipped to face the wrath of the great Lord. There was no point in fighting a battle they would definitely lose. But there were other, more insidious ways of achieving their means.
In order to reach the palace, the prince’s carriage would have to pass through a forest. There would be a welcoming party ready for them there. Granted, the prince’s guards were probably at an advantage when it came to a real battle but no one was more skilled at fighting dirty than the toad demons. The prince would be roughed up a bit before he came and the blame would fall on bandits. The pompous, indignant heir would see the ‘dangers’ of the land and would have to agree that their current method of functioning was for the best, the boy would run to his papa and tell him how it was best to leave the small, harsh kingdom to its own devices and everything would go back to normal.
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On the day of his arrival, Jaken waited patiently at the border of the kingdom, along with a few high ranking officers. As Lord of the Land, it was his duty to greet the Western prince on arrival. He was looking forward to seeing the beaten up prince and his harried entourage. He had informed the so called “bandits” that to make their act more convincing, they were allowed to rob the prince of his belongings, although no life must be taken, except perhaps a slave or two if unavoidable.
Jaken peered into the distance, out at the open flat land. Any minute now, they would see a stumbling, traumatized prince making his way here.
A few minutes passed and Jaken grew restless. Had those idiotic bandits killed him against orders? If so, there would be hell to pay.
Then he turned around quickly as he heard cries among his people and his advisors fell back, staring in horror at the sky. Jaken followed their gaze, squinting his large bulbous eyes to see against the blazing midday sun.
It was looked like a ghost, all in white. Jaken looked more carefully. Whoever had heard of a ghost in the middle of the day?
The figure descended and Jaken’s eyes widened. It was a tall man, dressed in white silk with hair like spun moonlight. He touched down gently on the ground with inimitable grace, not a hair out of place despite the dusty, dirty surroundings. Golden eyes like the sun roved over the people staring up at him and finally settled on Jaken. With a careless gesture, he threw a bundle he was holding in his hand at Jaken’s feet. It was the bandits, hogtied together attempting to scream and protest through their bound and gagged mouths, casting horrified glances up at the demon Lord.
The toad demon stared at the bandits and then back up at the prince with his beak-like mouth hanging wide open. There was not a scratch on the young man. Jaken could not take his eyes off him; the only thing that came to mind was beautiful. The people of Hideyori had long since forgotten all ideas of beauty and grace, striving as they did for strength and survival. This man standing here, staring down at them impassively with mesmerizing, powerful eyes was the paragon of beauty.
“Jaken-san, I am Sesshoumaru, prince of the Western Lands,” he spoke and the deep mellifluous voice sent shivers down Jaken’s spine. “It seems these vermin had planned an attack on my people. I trust they will be suitably punished.”
“Sesshoumaru-sama,” Jaken whispered, adding the honorific without thought. “Wh-why did you leave them alive?”
There was no doubt in his mind that this demon could have killed them without a second thought; power radiated from his very being and his golden eyes were cold.
“I am curious to see how traitors are punished in this land.”
Jaken bowed his head and looked away, correctly understanding the jibe. Dammit! His scheme had backfired. Now he would have to allow the demon Lord to be present when the ‘bandits’ were punished because he couldn’t very well say he had ordered the attack.
The sound of a carriage arriving followed by carts made Jaken turn towards the road once more. The royal carriage driver drew up in front of them, then got down and opened the carriage door. On the floor of the carriage sat a leashed and collared boy, head bowed. When the carriage door opened, he got up and climbed out of the carriage. Walking towards Sesshoumaru with his head bowed, he knelt on the ground at his feet.
Jaken glanced at the boy dispassionately. It was no doubt a slave of the prince, but judging by the ears on top of his head, he was hanyou. What did the Western Prince want with a hanyou slave? Was he really so hard up to have to play with a hanyou child?
He turned his attention back to the demon Prince.
“This way please, Sesshoumaru-sama,” he gestured. “You will wish to rest for a while I am sure, after your journey. I hope you find our hospitality acceptable.”
Sesshoumaru said nothing, only followed the demon leading the way. The hanyou child scrambled to his feet and followed at the Lord’s heels.
Jaken stared after him thoughtfully. He had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach that the prince of the West brought with him, the winds of change that their people had avoided for so long.
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As soon as the servant who had showed him to his room closed the door after leaving, Sesshoumaru sat down on the bed, sweeping his gaze over the room. These toads were not to be trusted; doubtless, the room had eyes and ears. He had seen the cunning and the hostility in their eyes.
Inuyasha was kneeling quietly at his feet. The hanyou’s face showed how tired he was, though he hadn’t complained once during the journey.
There was a knock on the door and servants entered with trays of foods and drinks, placing them on a table in the center of the room. After the servants had left, Sesshoumaru sat down at the low, traditional Japanese style table. Inuyasha sat a little away, with his plate of food on the ground.
The food was simple but good. There were no fancy dishes or expensive wines and the dishes in which it was served were also simple but Sesshoumaru could see that an effort had been made make sure the quality was good.
The room was also simply furnished with a bed, a desk and chair, and this table. There was a curtained window with a view of the cast desert.
Sesshoumaru noticed there were no gardens or flowers in the palace courtyard. The decorations were simple and austere. Even the garb of the king, Jaken was made out of some rough, coarse cloth though it was far better than the loincloths that everyone else seemed to wear.
It seemed the people of hideyori believed in living a severe life, of hard work and toil. But he suspected things were not as clean and neatly set as they seemed. He would find out tomorrow, when the ‘bandits’ were given their punishment. Sesshoumaru would not put it past the cunning little toad Lord to have ordered the attack himself, but at any rate, things had worked out to his advantage. Now, he had a legitimate reason to observe the justice process of the kingdom, which is what his father had sent him to see.
Once he and Inuyasha had finished eating, servants came in to clear the dishes out.
Once they were gone, Sesshoumaru went to the window, staring out at the vast land, relishing the dry, scorching sun and wind; it reminded him of other times, when he and Kouga had fought a war in similar harsh conditions – only then, there had been no comfortable bed and cool room to return to.
He glanced down when he felt Inuyasha’s head against his leg. The puppy was sitting at his feet, silently begging for attention and comfort in this strange faraway land. Sesshoumaru reached down and scratched his ears and Inuyasha smiled happily, feeling the tension leave his body. To be completely honest, he felt uneasy in this strange land with all those toad demons’ eyes on him but as long as Sesshoumaru-sama was with him, he was fine.
Later, Sesshoumaru headed back to the bed, preparing to rest. Tomorrow would be a long day, after all. He drew the sheets over himself, then glanced down at Inuyasha who was kneeling on the ground, quietly waiting for his orders.
“You will sleep here, Inuyasha,” the demon Lord said, glancing at the foot of the bed.
Inuyasha nodded and scrambled onto the bed, curling up under the sheets near his Master’s feet. He closed his eyes; he could feel the demon Lord’s warmth and his comforting aura. Sleep came quickly.
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Next day, at dawn, when Jaken sent a servant to wake the prince, he expected a disgruntled prince to complain about the earliness of the hour and how his sleep had been disturbed. Jaken was prepared to explain – courteously, of course – how in Hideyori, the day began early and if he wished to witness the bandits’ punishment, they would have to leave within the hour. Perhaps the prince would be too lazy and would give up on the idea.
However, when the servant returned, Sesshoumaru was with him, along with the hanyou slave. Apparently, the prince had already been awake and dressed when the servant had come to call. Jaken looked at him carefully. He looked completely awake and alert; there were no signs that he had forced himself to awaken before his usual time. Did that mean Lord Sesshoumaru was accustomed to waking so early? If so, then perhaps the Western Lord’s heir wasn’t as spoilt as he had first thought.
“Sesshoumaru-sama,” he greeted, craning his neck to look up at the tall prince. “The bandits who attacked the royal carriage yesterday will receive justice now.”
Sesshoumaru inclined his head. “I would like to watch.”
Jaken frowned. “Their punishment will not be a pleasant sight. If I may say so, it is not appropriate for your Majesty’s eyes-“
“Allow me to be the judge of that, Jaken-san,” Sesshoumaru interrupted sharply, recognizing the hedging technique for what it was.
Jaken swallowed nervously, looking up at his impassive face. Instinctively, he decided not to voice any more protests; there was something in Lord Sesshoumaru’s bearing that commanded obedience, without making any overt threats.
He led Sesshoumaru out of the palace, glancing back occasionally to make sure he was being followed. The demon Lord’s face was expressionless as ever; the only time he had seen his eyes soften slightly was when he looked at the slave. Jaken glanced at the boy, eyes narrowed; there didn’t seem to be anything special about him. He acted like any slave would, except perhaps even acting a bit more unruly, enthusiastically following his master about like a dog. He glanced at the demon Lord, then at the slave, feeling a spike of irritation at the mutt’s proximity to the flawless prince.
Jaken turned his attention back to the path. Flawless…yes, Sesshoumaru-sama was perfect, nothing like he had imagined him to be. He wasn’t full of false smiles or fake praise and flattery. His cold golden eyes looked down at the world as if everyone, including he, King Jaken, were dirt beneath his feet. No, the demon Prince was far from the simpering wimp he had imagined the heir of lord Inu no Taisho to be and Jaken suddenly felt himself wishing he could see a smile on Lord Sesshoumaru’s face.
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Jaken led the way into the big, circular arena where wrongdoers received their punishment. The wide area was surrounded by raised stands from where people could watch the punishment. Rumours had circulated that these bandits had dared attach the prince of the Western Lands who had come to visit and that the prince had single-handedly defeated them. The stands were packed today; everyone was keen to see this prince and to witness the fate of the bandits, which would no doubt be quite gruesome.
Jaken led the prince in the box reserved for the king and the highest officials. It was the place with the best view; the place from where the king would hear the charges and declare the punishment. Sesshoumaru sat down next to Jaken and Inuyasha knelt at his feet.
The crowds cheered as the bandits with their arms bound were brought into the arena. Disgruntled though they were, they kept their heads bowed. It would not bode well for them that the prince was so powerful. They wished Sesshoumaru-sama had killed them then and there; it would surely be easier than whatever punishment they were about to receive here.
“The culprits are here, accused of the crime of attempting to rob and harm Prince Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands.”
Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to sweep over the audience. The people were leaning forward in their seats, women, men and children alike. The excitement in their eyes was almost indecent considering what was about to take place.
“Do you deny the accusation?”
The ‘bandits’ glanced subtly at Lord Jaken. They could say they’d been ordered to do it by the king but no one would believe them. Plus, their punishment would be that much more brutal.
One by one they slowly shook their heads. The crowd cheered.
The bailiff turned towards the crowd.
“The accused have accepted their crimes. King Jaken, what will be their punishment?”
The audience fell silent, the noise in the arena reduced to whispers. Jaken stood up. He glanced at the side towards the prince. He could see the disgust in his eyes for the crowd and the way they were behaving. His fists tightened. There was no way out; justice would have to be given.
“The accused have accepted their crimes,” Jaken spoke in a carrying voice, “The perpetrators will receive the usual punishment for stealing and for the crime against the royal guest-“
Jaken glanced at the Lord next to him, aware that his next sentence was going to damn him. But it had to be done or the people would take it for a weakness.
“-for the crime against a royal guest, let them be punished so they can never hurt anyone again.”
The crowd went wild, cheering and whooping. Through the din, Sesshoumaru could make out stray words like ‘Kill!” and “Traitors!” His eyes narrowed. He could feel the bloodlust in the air. Inuyasha’s ears lay flat against his head. The hanyou could also feel the aggression and it frightened him. He allowed the puppy to stick close to his leg, seeking reassurance. His hand went to Inuyasha’s head, smoothing back his ears.
The four criminals, in the meantime, had been brought to their knees on the stone floor facing the crowd. Four comparatively large, burly demons came forward with axes in their hands.
“Hold your arms out for your punishment!”
The criminals trembled at the order. Their eyes were shut tightly and they brought their shaking arms out.
“For the crime of stealing,” roared the bailiff, “let kami make you incapable of taking from others ever again!”
Inuyasha shrunk closer to his Master and shut his eyes. There were four sickening thuds and then the victims’ agonized screams. The crowd cheered, heartily approving of what was taking place. Jaken glanced at the blood stained arena and the victims’ severed hands and then at Sesshoumaru. The demon Lord had not even flinched when their arms had been hacked off, but his eyes grew colder. The demon Lord was displeased.
But that was their usual crime for stealing; for stealing from a royal guest, the criminals would most likely lose their lives, slowly and painfully. That is what the crowd was expecting. It was time to give his verdict.
“For the crime of attacking a royal guest,” Jaken stared at the sobbing prisoners. “They are condemned to a lifetime of imprisonment.”
Sesshoumaru glanced sharply at the king. Jaken turned to look at him, meeting his eyes, willing him to understand that he was doing this for him. “Is this punishment acceptable to Sesshoumaru-sama?"
The demon Lord stared back at him. Jaken was showing them mercy. He could set them free but then they would be condemned to a fate worse than that – items of attraction at a circus- the demons without hands forced to perform cheap tricks with their feet and mouth. Despite knowing the bloodthirsty crowd would be displeased, he was showing them mercy by not condemning them to death. Why?
“It is,” the demon lord said finally, aware that there was something not quite right here.
The crowd erupted in murmurs once more and the prisoners were taken away. Inuyasha was hiding his face in his Master’s leg, shaking. Sesshoumaru raised his chin up and grabbed his leash, leading him away from the bloody scene.
Jaken saw the small display of affection and glared at the hanyou. He was beginning to really hate the brat.
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When they returned to the palace, the sun was already high in the sky. Jaken invited the demon Lord to have an early lunch with him, an offer which Sesshoumaru accepted. During the lunch, they talked of trivial matters, making small talk. Jaken found out that Sesshoumaru talked little, unlike the blabbermouth ambassador who couldn’t stop waxing eloquent about the Kingdom of Hideyori, its beauty and Jaken-sama’s hospitality. It turned out, Sesshoumaru was more experienced than would be expected by his apparent age; Jaken’s opinion of the Lord of the West, Inu no Taisho, grudgingly improved.
After the lunch, they retired to a conference room, also furnished simply with comfortable sofas and a few armchairs. Servants brought in drinks and retreated. Once they were settled, Jaken broached the topic of main importance.
“So, Sesshoumaru-sama,” he began. “What brings you here?”
Sesshoumaru took a small sip of the drink in his hand and turned his eyes on the toad king.
“I am sure you are aware of the purpose of my visit,” he replied. “Lord Inu no Taisho asks that the laws of the Western Lands be applied here as well, since the king pays tribute to the Lord of the West.”
Jaken inclined his head. “All the kings in the Western Land are Lord Inu no Taisho’s vassals,” he reiterated. “But I am afraid what you ask is impossible here.”
“Why?” Sesshoumaru asked quietly.
Jaken made an expansive gesture with his hands. “As you probably saw, Sesshoumaru-sama, the people of this land believe in…a harsher form of discipline than what I am sure you are used to in the rest of your lands. In order to maintain some semblance of order here, it is necessary to make laws acceptable to the people of the land.”
“The people obey the king,” Sesshoumaru reminded him.
Jaken chuckled, staring at the liquid in his glass. “If only it were that simple,” he said, rather wistfully. “But alas, here, the king is ruled by the people, just as much as the people are ruled by the king. The subjects will not accept a king that they deem to be weak.”
“Is the king of Hideyori a slave of his subjects?” Sesshoumaru asked. Jaken looked up in surprise. He had never met any diplomat who was quite so forthright.
“Of course not,” Jaken said rather sharply. “But the people’s will-“
“Sometimes, the people need a strong ruler to point them in the right direction,” Sesshoumaru said, meeting the toad demon’s eyes. “I believe you agree with me on that, Jaken-san.”
The toad prince understood he was referring to the reprieve he had granted the prisoners. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure himself why he had done it. All his life, he had taken decisions that would cement his position as a strong leader. But in that moment, with Lord Sesshoumaru’s eyes upon him, he just had to do what the demon Lord expected of him, not the blood-thirsty mob.
“Yes, but it is easier said than done,” he protested.
Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and Jaken’s heart spread up.
“So you agree that it can be done?”
Jaken looked away.
“I will have to think about it. I will give you my answer tomorrow, Sesshoumaru-sama.”
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That night, Sesshoumaru lay back on his pillows, frowning up at the ceiling. Jaken was up to something. That wily toad was not to be trusted. He had agreed too easily.
There was a small weight on his leg and he looked down to see that the puppy had latched onto his leg, whimpering slightly. The day’s events had frightened him.
“Inuyasha?” he whispered.
“Master,” Inuyasha whimpered and moved closer to him. His eyes snapped open as he was suddenly airborne; Sesshoumaru had lifted him up by the back of his haori and then he was snuggled in the demon Lord’s arms.
Inuyasha sighed. The bloody scene from earlier had been weighing on his mind the whole day. He just couldn’t forget the demons’ screams from earlier. How could they be so cruel?
Sesshoumaru’s arms around him tightened and he relaxed, feeling safe now that he was surrounded by his Master’s aura and warmth. Not long after, he fell asleep.
But Sesshoumaru was awake long after. This wasn’t just a matter of a test; it was a blemish on the House of the Moon that such practices continued till today under Inu no Taisho’s reign. Jaken would not give in so easily and he would not leave until he had these matters sorted out…one way or another.
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Late in the night, Jaken still lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Powerful golden eyes and moonlight silver hair danced before his eyes. The young Lord of the West called up emotions in him that he had thought he had stamped out when he took up the post of the leader of this kingdom – the desire to follow.
He had spent his whole life securing his power, destroying his enemies and right now, in the semi-darkness of his luxurious room, he could see the dull, grey future mapped out before his eyes –years and years of doing the same thing over and over again, and then an ignominious end at the hands of some young buck.
Jaken sat up restlessly in his bed, staring out at the window at the sleeping town. Suddenly, he felt confined, trapped in this small, self-sufficient town, in his settled monotonous life. His days of travel swam before his eyes, when each day had been an adventure, when getting up in the morning had set his heart racing, eager for a new day. How long had it been since he had felt that? How long since he had stepped out into the sun without an entourage of body guards? How long since he had allowed himself to show or even feel real emotions like sadness or hurt or happiness?
Jaken stared listlessly at the crescent moon in the sky, half-hidden behind clouds. How long had it been since he had had a peaceful night’s sleep?
A terrified scream tore through the night sky and Jaken snapped to attention. It had come from the guest room.
Jaken quickly summoned a guard and ordered him to check on the prince. The guard bowed and hurried away.
He reached the guest room and knocked hesitantly.
“Enter,” ordered a deep voice and he swallowed and stepped in.
“My Lord, we heard a scream…”
Sesshoumaru had a sobbing hanyou clinging to his chest. “It is nothing,” Sesshoumaru said. My slave was frightened.”
The guard bowed and withdrew, smiling to himself. He would never dare voice it to anyone but the child was adorable. And it seemed his master took good care of him.
He went back into Jaken’s chambers.
“Well?” the toad demon demanded.
The guard bowed. “He is fine. It seems the slave had a nightmare.”
Jaken sighed with relief. “So it was the slave who screamed.”
A sly smile crept onto his lips. “He must have been punished by Sesshoumaru-sama for disturbing his sleep.”
The guard shook his head. “The prince had him in his arms and was comforting him.”
Jaken’s eyes widened with hurt. The slave disturbed his master’s rest and instead of punishment, he got coddled?
He dismissed the servant and lay back down in bed, a plan forming in his head. Now he knew what reply he was going to give the Prince of the West.
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Next morning, after breakfast, Sesshoumaru and Jaken once again gathered in the conference room. Jaken’s face showed signs of a restless sleep.
“I hope you have reached a decision?” Sesshoumaru asked, watching him carefully.
Jaken nodded.
“As I said, it is impossible for me to rule these lands by any different means. Therefore, I am willing to accept Lord Inu no Taisho’s offer of having the Western Lord’s representative…assisting….me in ruling these lands. In fact, I am willing to abdicate the throne entirely. But I have two conditions.”
Sesshoumaru waited.
“Firstly,” continued Jaken, “That you allow me to travel to the Western Lands with you and I work with you and secondly…”
Jaken met his eyes steadily.
“…that the hanyou slave stays here.”
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Converting /tmp/phpXHyzra to /dev/stdout
The name Hideyori is a figment of my imagination since I couldn’t find any obscure Japanese village names. If it means anything weird, please do tell and I’ll try to change it.
Chapter 21 – Toad Who Wouldn’t Be Prince
The Land of Hideyori, ruled by the toad demon king Jaken, lay deep inside the Western Lands, far away from the ocean. The Land was rocky and harsh, flanked by bare mountains on one side and a desert on the other. The climate was dry and hot, prone to strong winds and wind storms which brought in tons of sand from the adjoining desert. As such, the land remained uninhibited for a long time, till the toad demon tribe came and settle there.
The toad demons were a tough people, used to hardships and harsh living conditions. Originally, they were peace loving demons, used to living near water bodies. But wars and natural disasters drew them away from their habitat, leaving them to wander Japan in search for a home. In terms of youki, they were not very powerful, so it was to their disadvantage to fight higher level demons for land. But the toad demons were survivors and they travelled far and wide in search of land. Many generations of travelling made them into hardy people, knowledgeable of the ways of the world.
When they chanced upon this abandoned strip of land, they made the small land into their kingdom. The toad demons were a curious mixture of cunning and pride, defending their place staunchly against offenders but using any means necessary to do so. Thus, they had the reputation of being unfriendly and hostile and had few allies. The people in the nearby kingdom left them alone. Even the ruler before Inu no Taisho had decided to turn a blind eye to the barbaric practices of the land; everyone knew that toad demons understood force and nothing else. To prevent their people from falling into anarchy, it was necessary to be strong and unbending. The governance of the kingdom was left to their own people and the overlord of the land was content to have the rest of his kingdom free of trouble from the toad demons.
The kingship of the land was earned by merit, not by birth. The one who would rule would be the one who could eliminate the current ruler and seize power; after all, a king who could not safeguard his own throne was worthless as a ruler. The king’s palace, hewn roughly out of a small hill, stood in the centre of the kingdom. As with most of the land, the palace was made out of reddish rock. It was imposing in structure, built at a height providing a militarily strategic location. The attackers of the land were mostly land demons – water demons were nowhere around for there were no bodies of water for miles and demons with wings avoided this land because the strong winds made it almost impossible to fly on course.
Today, outside one of the rooms of the palace, Iku, a servant, stood trembling with a letter in his hand. Lord Jaken had locked himself in his room again and he was the unfortunate soul who had to get the letter of Lord Inu no Taisho to him.
Lord Jaken was a strong ruler and a ruthless man, well versed in all the devious techniques of winning. The previous ruler had died through mysterious means when Lord Jaken had appeared and seized the throne. The people obeyed and respected him because he ruled with an iron hand and having travelled far and wide, beyond the boundaries of the kingdom of Hideyori, Lord Jaken had made brought many changes in the land for the welfare of his people.
But rumour had it that seeing places so far away had done something to him; there was a part of Lord Jaken that was not satisfied with the power and wealth he had. Jaken-sama was susceptible to strange moods, where he would lock himself in with orders for no one to disturb him and when he came out, there was a strange, almost melancholy look in his eyes. Of course, no one dared to comment on it since an underling who had dared to do so had lost his head.
Iku swallowed nervously and then knocked hesitantly on the door.
There was no reply.
Praying to god that he would remain alive after this, Iku knocked again, this time more insistently.
Still no reply.
“Jaken-sama?” he called out hesitantly.
For a moment, there was again no reply. He raised his hand to knock again when the door flew open and Jaken stood in front of him, eyes livid.
“What is the meaning of this-?”
Iku shut his eyes in fear and dropped to his knees, holding the sealed letter above his head, offering it to his Lord.
“My lord, a letter from Lord Inu no Taisho has just come in.”
Seeing how frightened the servant was, Jaken relented. He himself had given orders that any news concerning Lord Inu no Taisho was to be brought to him immediately, no matter what. He took the letter from the servant’s hands and unfurled it, scanning it quickly. His eyes narrowed more and more as he reached the end of the letter. It was from Lord Inu no Taisho informing him of the arrival of the prince, requesting hospitality. The letter was couched in the most amicable terms possible but at its core, it was a command, not a request.
Iku trembled at the scowl on Lord Jaken’s face. Oh god, this was the end of him…should he run for it? No, no then Jaken-sama would only have him hunted down and killed painfully. Should he just be a sitting duck them, waiting for the blow that would sever his head from his neck…?
Jaken, however was oblivious to Iku’s predicament. The Lord of the West was becoming a serious pain in the neck. The allegedly kind ruler disapproved of the so called ‘barbaric practices’ of the land and wished for them to become more just and peaceable. He had even sent an ambassador – a simpering fool of a demon who had tried to make them “all get along with each other”. The curt response of the toad demons had not gone over well with him; he had hastened back to his lord, informing him of how hostile and inhospitable they were.
Jaken had thought that would be the end of that; the previous ruler of the land, after all, had not bothered too much with the practices of that particular piece of land; the cost of laying siege to that far out, harsh area was much too high. But Inu no Taisho was a persistent bastard, it seemed. Jaken had heard rumours of the great warrior who had brought the entire Western Japan under his thumb. He didn’t want to get on his bad side but what he was asking for was ridiculous. It was all very well for an indolent Lord on the other side of the country to insist on ‘kindness’ and ‘compassion’ but this land was different. The Western Lands were a far cry from the Kingdom of Hideyori. What was the Western Lord thinking, sending his only prince and heir in such a place?
Jaken crushed the letter in his hand, face hard. The Western Lord was getting too brazen. Something would have to be done.
His eyes were drawn down towards the kneeling servant who was shivering and whimpering. Jaken glanced at him exasperatedly. Honestly, these people were a bunch of cowards, always fearful of their lives. Didn’t they understand that he wasn’t an idiot? That punishment would only be given out when deserved?
But that was the problem with this land, Jaken decided. The people understood nothing except an iron rod. It was exhausting, being implacable all the time, taking great pains to show no weakness at all.
With Iku’s eyes trained on the floor, Jaken allowed a little bit of his tiredness to creep onto his face. He had fought tooth and nail for this power, for the position that he now held. But after so many years of ruling, he sometimes wondered if this was all there was. Day after day of eliminating weaknesses, of making sure none of these sycophants who licked his boots stabbed him in the back like he had done for the previous ruler… and he could not even voice his real thoughts aloud for any weakness could be fatal. The last time one of the servants had seen him in a pensive mood, he had been forced to have him killed because it wouldn’t do to have him spreading rumours that the king was mad.
“Iku.”
When the servant looked up hesitantly at the king, Jaken’s face was once again free of all emotions except anger.
“Prepare the guestroom. The prince of the Western Lands is going to pay us a visit.”
The kneeling demon did not bother to hide his relief. After all, the venom in their Lord’s voice was unmistakable but it was not directed towards him.
“Why, Master Jaken? What does he want with us?”
Jaken’s eyes narrowed shrewdly. “To get us to submit to his father’s commands, I presume. Well, he will certainly get a welcome he won’t forget in a hurry.”
The servant cackled delightedly.
Most demons did not consider it worthwhile to challenge them over the supremacy of the wasted, desolate land, especially the pleasure loving subjects of the Western Lands who, under Inu no Taisho’s rule, had grown used to an easy life. Because of this, the small kingdom had developed in isolation, unaffected by the changes in the surrounding areas. The people had grown as unforgiving and ruthless as the surrounding landscape; here, weakness meant death, a fact that the young prince of the Western Land was about to find out.
Jaken dismissed the servant and called some of his trusted advisors and gave them their orders.
Killing the prince would obviously send the message across most clearly but then Inu no Taisho would not spare them, and Jaken knew they were not equipped to face the wrath of the great Lord. There was no point in fighting a battle they would definitely lose. But there were other, more insidious ways of achieving their means.
In order to reach the palace, the prince’s carriage would have to pass through a forest. There would be a welcoming party ready for them there. Granted, the prince’s guards were probably at an advantage when it came to a real battle but no one was more skilled at fighting dirty than the toad demons. The prince would be roughed up a bit before he came and the blame would fall on bandits. The pompous, indignant heir would see the ‘dangers’ of the land and would have to agree that their current method of functioning was for the best, the boy would run to his papa and tell him how it was best to leave the small, harsh kingdom to its own devices and everything would go back to normal.
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On the day of his arrival, Jaken waited patiently at the border of the kingdom, along with a few high ranking officers. As Lord of the Land, it was his duty to greet the Western prince on arrival. He was looking forward to seeing the beaten up prince and his harried entourage. He had informed the so called “bandits” that to make their act more convincing, they were allowed to rob the prince of his belongings, although no life must be taken, except perhaps a slave or two if unavoidable.
Jaken peered into the distance, out at the open flat land. Any minute now, they would see a stumbling, traumatized prince making his way here.
A few minutes passed and Jaken grew restless. Had those idiotic bandits killed him against orders? If so, there would be hell to pay.
Then he turned around quickly as he heard cries among his people and his advisors fell back, staring in horror at the sky. Jaken followed their gaze, squinting his large bulbous eyes to see against the blazing midday sun.
It was looked like a ghost, all in white. Jaken looked more carefully. Whoever had heard of a ghost in the middle of the day?
The figure descended and Jaken’s eyes widened. It was a tall man, dressed in white silk with hair like spun moonlight. He touched down gently on the ground with inimitable grace, not a hair out of place despite the dusty, dirty surroundings. Golden eyes like the sun roved over the people staring up at him and finally settled on Jaken. With a careless gesture, he threw a bundle he was holding in his hand at Jaken’s feet. It was the bandits, hogtied together attempting to scream and protest through their bound and gagged mouths, casting horrified glances up at the demon Lord.
The toad demon stared at the bandits and then back up at the prince with his beak-like mouth hanging wide open. There was not a scratch on the young man. Jaken could not take his eyes off him; the only thing that came to mind was beautiful. The people of Hideyori had long since forgotten all ideas of beauty and grace, striving as they did for strength and survival. This man standing here, staring down at them impassively with mesmerizing, powerful eyes was the paragon of beauty.
“Jaken-san, I am Sesshoumaru, prince of the Western Lands,” he spoke and the deep mellifluous voice sent shivers down Jaken’s spine. “It seems these vermin had planned an attack on my people. I trust they will be suitably punished.”
“Sesshoumaru-sama,” Jaken whispered, adding the honorific without thought. “Wh-why did you leave them alive?”
There was no doubt in his mind that this demon could have killed them without a second thought; power radiated from his very being and his golden eyes were cold.
“I am curious to see how traitors are punished in this land.”
Jaken bowed his head and looked away, correctly understanding the jibe. Dammit! His scheme had backfired. Now he would have to allow the demon Lord to be present when the ‘bandits’ were punished because he couldn’t very well say he had ordered the attack.
The sound of a carriage arriving followed by carts made Jaken turn towards the road once more. The royal carriage driver drew up in front of them, then got down and opened the carriage door. On the floor of the carriage sat a leashed and collared boy, head bowed. When the carriage door opened, he got up and climbed out of the carriage. Walking towards Sesshoumaru with his head bowed, he knelt on the ground at his feet.
Jaken glanced at the boy dispassionately. It was no doubt a slave of the prince, but judging by the ears on top of his head, he was hanyou. What did the Western Prince want with a hanyou slave? Was he really so hard up to have to play with a hanyou child?
He turned his attention back to the demon Prince.
“This way please, Sesshoumaru-sama,” he gestured. “You will wish to rest for a while I am sure, after your journey. I hope you find our hospitality acceptable.”
Sesshoumaru said nothing, only followed the demon leading the way. The hanyou child scrambled to his feet and followed at the Lord’s heels.
Jaken stared after him thoughtfully. He had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach that the prince of the West brought with him, the winds of change that their people had avoided for so long.
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As soon as the servant who had showed him to his room closed the door after leaving, Sesshoumaru sat down on the bed, sweeping his gaze over the room. These toads were not to be trusted; doubtless, the room had eyes and ears. He had seen the cunning and the hostility in their eyes.
Inuyasha was kneeling quietly at his feet. The hanyou’s face showed how tired he was, though he hadn’t complained once during the journey.
There was a knock on the door and servants entered with trays of foods and drinks, placing them on a table in the center of the room. After the servants had left, Sesshoumaru sat down at the low, traditional Japanese style table. Inuyasha sat a little away, with his plate of food on the ground.
The food was simple but good. There were no fancy dishes or expensive wines and the dishes in which it was served were also simple but Sesshoumaru could see that an effort had been made make sure the quality was good.
The room was also simply furnished with a bed, a desk and chair, and this table. There was a curtained window with a view of the cast desert.
Sesshoumaru noticed there were no gardens or flowers in the palace courtyard. The decorations were simple and austere. Even the garb of the king, Jaken was made out of some rough, coarse cloth though it was far better than the loincloths that everyone else seemed to wear.
It seemed the people of hideyori believed in living a severe life, of hard work and toil. But he suspected things were not as clean and neatly set as they seemed. He would find out tomorrow, when the ‘bandits’ were given their punishment. Sesshoumaru would not put it past the cunning little toad Lord to have ordered the attack himself, but at any rate, things had worked out to his advantage. Now, he had a legitimate reason to observe the justice process of the kingdom, which is what his father had sent him to see.
Once he and Inuyasha had finished eating, servants came in to clear the dishes out.
Once they were gone, Sesshoumaru went to the window, staring out at the vast land, relishing the dry, scorching sun and wind; it reminded him of other times, when he and Kouga had fought a war in similar harsh conditions – only then, there had been no comfortable bed and cool room to return to.
He glanced down when he felt Inuyasha’s head against his leg. The puppy was sitting at his feet, silently begging for attention and comfort in this strange faraway land. Sesshoumaru reached down and scratched his ears and Inuyasha smiled happily, feeling the tension leave his body. To be completely honest, he felt uneasy in this strange land with all those toad demons’ eyes on him but as long as Sesshoumaru-sama was with him, he was fine.
Later, Sesshoumaru headed back to the bed, preparing to rest. Tomorrow would be a long day, after all. He drew the sheets over himself, then glanced down at Inuyasha who was kneeling on the ground, quietly waiting for his orders.
“You will sleep here, Inuyasha,” the demon Lord said, glancing at the foot of the bed.
Inuyasha nodded and scrambled onto the bed, curling up under the sheets near his Master’s feet. He closed his eyes; he could feel the demon Lord’s warmth and his comforting aura. Sleep came quickly.
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Next day, at dawn, when Jaken sent a servant to wake the prince, he expected a disgruntled prince to complain about the earliness of the hour and how his sleep had been disturbed. Jaken was prepared to explain – courteously, of course – how in Hideyori, the day began early and if he wished to witness the bandits’ punishment, they would have to leave within the hour. Perhaps the prince would be too lazy and would give up on the idea.
However, when the servant returned, Sesshoumaru was with him, along with the hanyou slave. Apparently, the prince had already been awake and dressed when the servant had come to call. Jaken looked at him carefully. He looked completely awake and alert; there were no signs that he had forced himself to awaken before his usual time. Did that mean Lord Sesshoumaru was accustomed to waking so early? If so, then perhaps the Western Lord’s heir wasn’t as spoilt as he had first thought.
“Sesshoumaru-sama,” he greeted, craning his neck to look up at the tall prince. “The bandits who attacked the royal carriage yesterday will receive justice now.”
Sesshoumaru inclined his head. “I would like to watch.”
Jaken frowned. “Their punishment will not be a pleasant sight. If I may say so, it is not appropriate for your Majesty’s eyes-“
“Allow me to be the judge of that, Jaken-san,” Sesshoumaru interrupted sharply, recognizing the hedging technique for what it was.
Jaken swallowed nervously, looking up at his impassive face. Instinctively, he decided not to voice any more protests; there was something in Lord Sesshoumaru’s bearing that commanded obedience, without making any overt threats.
He led Sesshoumaru out of the palace, glancing back occasionally to make sure he was being followed. The demon Lord’s face was expressionless as ever; the only time he had seen his eyes soften slightly was when he looked at the slave. Jaken glanced at the boy, eyes narrowed; there didn’t seem to be anything special about him. He acted like any slave would, except perhaps even acting a bit more unruly, enthusiastically following his master about like a dog. He glanced at the demon Lord, then at the slave, feeling a spike of irritation at the mutt’s proximity to the flawless prince.
Jaken turned his attention back to the path. Flawless…yes, Sesshoumaru-sama was perfect, nothing like he had imagined him to be. He wasn’t full of false smiles or fake praise and flattery. His cold golden eyes looked down at the world as if everyone, including he, King Jaken, were dirt beneath his feet. No, the demon Prince was far from the simpering wimp he had imagined the heir of lord Inu no Taisho to be and Jaken suddenly felt himself wishing he could see a smile on Lord Sesshoumaru’s face.
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Jaken led the way into the big, circular arena where wrongdoers received their punishment. The wide area was surrounded by raised stands from where people could watch the punishment. Rumours had circulated that these bandits had dared attach the prince of the Western Lands who had come to visit and that the prince had single-handedly defeated them. The stands were packed today; everyone was keen to see this prince and to witness the fate of the bandits, which would no doubt be quite gruesome.
Jaken led the prince in the box reserved for the king and the highest officials. It was the place with the best view; the place from where the king would hear the charges and declare the punishment. Sesshoumaru sat down next to Jaken and Inuyasha knelt at his feet.
The crowds cheered as the bandits with their arms bound were brought into the arena. Disgruntled though they were, they kept their heads bowed. It would not bode well for them that the prince was so powerful. They wished Sesshoumaru-sama had killed them then and there; it would surely be easier than whatever punishment they were about to receive here.
“The culprits are here, accused of the crime of attempting to rob and harm Prince Sesshoumaru of the Western Lands.”
Sesshoumaru allowed his eyes to sweep over the audience. The people were leaning forward in their seats, women, men and children alike. The excitement in their eyes was almost indecent considering what was about to take place.
“Do you deny the accusation?”
The ‘bandits’ glanced subtly at Lord Jaken. They could say they’d been ordered to do it by the king but no one would believe them. Plus, their punishment would be that much more brutal.
One by one they slowly shook their heads. The crowd cheered.
The bailiff turned towards the crowd.
“The accused have accepted their crimes. King Jaken, what will be their punishment?”
The audience fell silent, the noise in the arena reduced to whispers. Jaken stood up. He glanced at the side towards the prince. He could see the disgust in his eyes for the crowd and the way they were behaving. His fists tightened. There was no way out; justice would have to be given.
“The accused have accepted their crimes,” Jaken spoke in a carrying voice, “The perpetrators will receive the usual punishment for stealing and for the crime against the royal guest-“
Jaken glanced at the Lord next to him, aware that his next sentence was going to damn him. But it had to be done or the people would take it for a weakness.
“-for the crime against a royal guest, let them be punished so they can never hurt anyone again.”
The crowd went wild, cheering and whooping. Through the din, Sesshoumaru could make out stray words like ‘Kill!” and “Traitors!” His eyes narrowed. He could feel the bloodlust in the air. Inuyasha’s ears lay flat against his head. The hanyou could also feel the aggression and it frightened him. He allowed the puppy to stick close to his leg, seeking reassurance. His hand went to Inuyasha’s head, smoothing back his ears.
The four criminals, in the meantime, had been brought to their knees on the stone floor facing the crowd. Four comparatively large, burly demons came forward with axes in their hands.
“Hold your arms out for your punishment!”
The criminals trembled at the order. Their eyes were shut tightly and they brought their shaking arms out.
“For the crime of stealing,” roared the bailiff, “let kami make you incapable of taking from others ever again!”
Inuyasha shrunk closer to his Master and shut his eyes. There were four sickening thuds and then the victims’ agonized screams. The crowd cheered, heartily approving of what was taking place. Jaken glanced at the blood stained arena and the victims’ severed hands and then at Sesshoumaru. The demon Lord had not even flinched when their arms had been hacked off, but his eyes grew colder. The demon Lord was displeased.
But that was their usual crime for stealing; for stealing from a royal guest, the criminals would most likely lose their lives, slowly and painfully. That is what the crowd was expecting. It was time to give his verdict.
“For the crime of attacking a royal guest,” Jaken stared at the sobbing prisoners. “They are condemned to a lifetime of imprisonment.”
Sesshoumaru glanced sharply at the king. Jaken turned to look at him, meeting his eyes, willing him to understand that he was doing this for him. “Is this punishment acceptable to Sesshoumaru-sama?"
The demon Lord stared back at him. Jaken was showing them mercy. He could set them free but then they would be condemned to a fate worse than that – items of attraction at a circus- the demons without hands forced to perform cheap tricks with their feet and mouth. Despite knowing the bloodthirsty crowd would be displeased, he was showing them mercy by not condemning them to death. Why?
“It is,” the demon lord said finally, aware that there was something not quite right here.
The crowd erupted in murmurs once more and the prisoners were taken away. Inuyasha was hiding his face in his Master’s leg, shaking. Sesshoumaru raised his chin up and grabbed his leash, leading him away from the bloody scene.
Jaken saw the small display of affection and glared at the hanyou. He was beginning to really hate the brat.
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When they returned to the palace, the sun was already high in the sky. Jaken invited the demon Lord to have an early lunch with him, an offer which Sesshoumaru accepted. During the lunch, they talked of trivial matters, making small talk. Jaken found out that Sesshoumaru talked little, unlike the blabbermouth ambassador who couldn’t stop waxing eloquent about the Kingdom of Hideyori, its beauty and Jaken-sama’s hospitality. It turned out, Sesshoumaru was more experienced than would be expected by his apparent age; Jaken’s opinion of the Lord of the West, Inu no Taisho, grudgingly improved.
After the lunch, they retired to a conference room, also furnished simply with comfortable sofas and a few armchairs. Servants brought in drinks and retreated. Once they were settled, Jaken broached the topic of main importance.
“So, Sesshoumaru-sama,” he began. “What brings you here?”
Sesshoumaru took a small sip of the drink in his hand and turned his eyes on the toad king.
“I am sure you are aware of the purpose of my visit,” he replied. “Lord Inu no Taisho asks that the laws of the Western Lands be applied here as well, since the king pays tribute to the Lord of the West.”
Jaken inclined his head. “All the kings in the Western Land are Lord Inu no Taisho’s vassals,” he reiterated. “But I am afraid what you ask is impossible here.”
“Why?” Sesshoumaru asked quietly.
Jaken made an expansive gesture with his hands. “As you probably saw, Sesshoumaru-sama, the people of this land believe in…a harsher form of discipline than what I am sure you are used to in the rest of your lands. In order to maintain some semblance of order here, it is necessary to make laws acceptable to the people of the land.”
“The people obey the king,” Sesshoumaru reminded him.
Jaken chuckled, staring at the liquid in his glass. “If only it were that simple,” he said, rather wistfully. “But alas, here, the king is ruled by the people, just as much as the people are ruled by the king. The subjects will not accept a king that they deem to be weak.”
“Is the king of Hideyori a slave of his subjects?” Sesshoumaru asked. Jaken looked up in surprise. He had never met any diplomat who was quite so forthright.
“Of course not,” Jaken said rather sharply. “But the people’s will-“
“Sometimes, the people need a strong ruler to point them in the right direction,” Sesshoumaru said, meeting the toad demon’s eyes. “I believe you agree with me on that, Jaken-san.”
The toad prince understood he was referring to the reprieve he had granted the prisoners. Truth be told, he wasn’t sure himself why he had done it. All his life, he had taken decisions that would cement his position as a strong leader. But in that moment, with Lord Sesshoumaru’s eyes upon him, he just had to do what the demon Lord expected of him, not the blood-thirsty mob.
“Yes, but it is easier said than done,” he protested.
Sesshoumaru smiled slightly and Jaken’s heart spread up.
“So you agree that it can be done?”
Jaken looked away.
“I will have to think about it. I will give you my answer tomorrow, Sesshoumaru-sama.”
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That night, Sesshoumaru lay back on his pillows, frowning up at the ceiling. Jaken was up to something. That wily toad was not to be trusted. He had agreed too easily.
There was a small weight on his leg and he looked down to see that the puppy had latched onto his leg, whimpering slightly. The day’s events had frightened him.
“Inuyasha?” he whispered.
“Master,” Inuyasha whimpered and moved closer to him. His eyes snapped open as he was suddenly airborne; Sesshoumaru had lifted him up by the back of his haori and then he was snuggled in the demon Lord’s arms.
Inuyasha sighed. The bloody scene from earlier had been weighing on his mind the whole day. He just couldn’t forget the demons’ screams from earlier. How could they be so cruel?
Sesshoumaru’s arms around him tightened and he relaxed, feeling safe now that he was surrounded by his Master’s aura and warmth. Not long after, he fell asleep.
But Sesshoumaru was awake long after. This wasn’t just a matter of a test; it was a blemish on the House of the Moon that such practices continued till today under Inu no Taisho’s reign. Jaken would not give in so easily and he would not leave until he had these matters sorted out…one way or another.
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Late in the night, Jaken still lay awake in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. Powerful golden eyes and moonlight silver hair danced before his eyes. The young Lord of the West called up emotions in him that he had thought he had stamped out when he took up the post of the leader of this kingdom – the desire to follow.
He had spent his whole life securing his power, destroying his enemies and right now, in the semi-darkness of his luxurious room, he could see the dull, grey future mapped out before his eyes –years and years of doing the same thing over and over again, and then an ignominious end at the hands of some young buck.
Jaken sat up restlessly in his bed, staring out at the window at the sleeping town. Suddenly, he felt confined, trapped in this small, self-sufficient town, in his settled monotonous life. His days of travel swam before his eyes, when each day had been an adventure, when getting up in the morning had set his heart racing, eager for a new day. How long had it been since he had felt that? How long since he had stepped out into the sun without an entourage of body guards? How long since he had allowed himself to show or even feel real emotions like sadness or hurt or happiness?
Jaken stared listlessly at the crescent moon in the sky, half-hidden behind clouds. How long had it been since he had had a peaceful night’s sleep?
A terrified scream tore through the night sky and Jaken snapped to attention. It had come from the guest room.
Jaken quickly summoned a guard and ordered him to check on the prince. The guard bowed and hurried away.
He reached the guest room and knocked hesitantly.
“Enter,” ordered a deep voice and he swallowed and stepped in.
“My Lord, we heard a scream…”
Sesshoumaru had a sobbing hanyou clinging to his chest. “It is nothing,” Sesshoumaru said. My slave was frightened.”
The guard bowed and withdrew, smiling to himself. He would never dare voice it to anyone but the child was adorable. And it seemed his master took good care of him.
He went back into Jaken’s chambers.
“Well?” the toad demon demanded.
The guard bowed. “He is fine. It seems the slave had a nightmare.”
Jaken sighed with relief. “So it was the slave who screamed.”
A sly smile crept onto his lips. “He must have been punished by Sesshoumaru-sama for disturbing his sleep.”
The guard shook his head. “The prince had him in his arms and was comforting him.”
Jaken’s eyes widened with hurt. The slave disturbed his master’s rest and instead of punishment, he got coddled?
He dismissed the servant and lay back down in bed, a plan forming in his head. Now he knew what reply he was going to give the Prince of the West.
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Next morning, after breakfast, Sesshoumaru and Jaken once again gathered in the conference room. Jaken’s face showed signs of a restless sleep.
“I hope you have reached a decision?” Sesshoumaru asked, watching him carefully.
Jaken nodded.
“As I said, it is impossible for me to rule these lands by any different means. Therefore, I am willing to accept Lord Inu no Taisho’s offer of having the Western Lord’s representative…assisting….me in ruling these lands. In fact, I am willing to abdicate the throne entirely. But I have two conditions.”
Sesshoumaru waited.
“Firstly,” continued Jaken, “That you allow me to travel to the Western Lands with you and I work with you and secondly…”
Jaken met his eyes steadily.
“…that the hanyou slave stays here.”
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