It was a calm day during the spring season. Butterflies were fluttering about, the birds were chirping, rabbits were foraging in the fields, and the flowers were their most fragrant. Sesshomaru was idly looking at the clouds, silently contemplating as he often does. Jaken, his loyal attendant, felt something amiss. There was danger nearby - large danger, to be exact. A lizard demon with seven rows of teeth leapt out of the shadows behind trees and went straight for the western lord. Surprised by the attack, Sesshomaru was unusually slow in retaliation. Jaken, having sensed the threat, leapt into action with his Nintojo and summoned a huge blast of fire to incinerate the creature. Remaining in place as the ashes fluttered around him like an orb of power, Jaken waited until he sensed no further danger. When he rose from his kneeled position, he took a deep breath and turned around. He was startled by the expression on Sesshomaru's face. It was one of worry, but it was mixed with many other things that simply didn't register for the imp. The western lord's face may as well have been a child's doodle. He simply didn't understand this mixture of emotions.
"You had this much power all along, Jaken?"
"I wanted to reserve it for my lord until true danger arose," Jaken responded without the cowardice in his voice. "I am me lord's knight. It is my duty to serve and protect you. This task had to be mine and mine alone."
"What have I done to deserve such a thing?" Sesshomaru asked softly.
"Nothing." WHACK! Before he knew it, Jaken was on the ground with a tiered lump on his head and watching Sesshomaru walk away with anger. "I shouldn't have said nothing. Perhaps, me lord would accept a gift of apology?"
"Unnecessary."
"B-b-but I've chosen a servant of fine quality and everything! Won't you reconsider this gift, Lord Sesshomaru?" Jaken tried, holding a claw up with plea.
"No."
"But I found a woman!"
SKIRT! Sesshomaru stopped at that but didn't turn around to see Jaken's erratic movements behind him. He was waiting for Jaken to explain himself because he was quite certain that the imp knew that Sesshomaru was not a lecher or flirtatious around women. He respected them for the most part. When the imp said no more, Sesshomaru turned very slightly to probe the servant to explain.
"She made us a camp just beyond Lord Okakura's tower. She's quite good at it," Jaken said. "Her soups are also quite delicious. You will be very well-rested."
"This gift is unnecessary, Jaken. Why are you troubling yourself?" Sesshomaru asked.
"It's something I've always wanted to do for all these years we've spent together," Jaken said, looking down bashfully.
A silence passed and Jaken was pleasantly surprised when his lord finally said, "Produce her."
"Right away, me lord!" Jaken cheered.
As promised, Jaken led Sesshomaru to a beautiful camping site. A low flame firepit filled with pebbles was already lit up, the bedding was perfect, food was out on tables, and drink was prepared expertly. Sesshomaru wasted no time in sitting down at his bedding. Jaken cleared his throat, clapped his hands, and placed his arms behind him as the servant appeared. She hustled from behind a curtain before kneeling down and bowing elegantly. Her sleeves were long and flowing and practically blanketed her arms. The dress of choice was quite lovely: red and black like his forest home of Manjushuge lilies but green and orange accent pieces like her obi, kazanshi hair pieces, and obijime. Her hair was brushed into a high bun but looped in the back like it was designed to be a zipper or dangling pin.
"This is Jigoku Meioshi, me lord," Jaken introduced, earning a flinch from the woman. "I caught her trying to steal your scaly horse with food. I felt a proper punishment would be to serve your lordship for the night. She is a crafty, little witch."
"She made this camp with magic?"
"No, me lord. With her own hands. She has other uses as you can see. She is good in combat," Jaken informed, earning Sesshomaru's attention. "Isn't that right, witch?"
"Y-yes, Lord Jaken!" Meioshi replied, trembling a bit.
"Show your face," Sesshomaru ordered, quietly. The woman flinched at his lord's voice before she slowly picked her head up and put a hand to her necklace, fearful of what the man would say next. Jaken was not surprised by this. She should be fearful of his lord. What he did not expect was for his lord to rise from his seat to walk over to the woman. He kneeled in front of her to stare into her eyes and simply remained in place for a while. The woman parted her lips with surprise but looked down quickly and shivered under his lord's gaze. He then said coldly, "She will do. What are those bottles near your bedding, Jaken?"
"Massage oils. She is very good at this service," Jaken said with a hiss, challenging her to say otherwise. "Is this not so, witch? Remember! Anything that vexes me lord is a fire blast to you and your home."
"Yes, my lord," Meioshi replied, stopping herself from shivering to simply accept her fate. "I am at your command."
"Now then... which oil do you think will ease my lord's mind?" Jaken asked, smiling smugly.
"Verbena and lavender works quite well, my lord," Meioshi replied, holding up her other hand to caress her necklace.
Sesshomaru surprised them both with his next actions, however. He used two fingers to pinch Meioshi's jaw and pulled her forward to mesh their lips together. Both of their eyes remained locked on each other as he did this to assert dominance over the woman. Meioshi blushed and melted into this before stuttering incoherently. He then repeated, "She will do. I prefer magnolia scents."
"I shall leave her to it then," Jaken said, bowing proudly. "Shall I leave you, Lord Sesshomaru?"
"If you wish," Sesshomaru said, taking Meioshi's elbow to hold her in his arms. "Such delicate skin."
"Ah, this oil is better for your 'feet'," Jaken said, placing two bottles of oil next to Meioshi.
The imp walked away victoriously. He not only was able to protect his lord from harm, but he even tamed that wild child of a witch into being a respectable servant. His lord seemed quite pleased with his finding. Perhaps his lord will -
"My lord, I - !"
"You are quite the beauty, witch."
Mission accomplished. He proved his lord's manhood was just fine. Eat it, Yuko! If only things were so simple, though. Little would Jaken know that Sesshomaru was making plans to return him and Meioshi to their respective homelands for unknown reasons...