The two fang's arc [IY Insomnia's 'less' Challenge]
This is an eight part arc in the Jaken's Ballad story for a challenge over on Inuyasha Insomnia. You can find the rest of the story at the link provided in the prompts, but this can be read and followed without it.
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 1
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Speechless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 100
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 13 of Jaken's Ballad.
The conversation apparently over, the two fell into silence as they once again began trekking their way across the land. As always, Jaken had no idea where they were headed, but knew better than to ask his lord. Eventually he would know and that was good enough for him.
Hour after hour they walked in silence until finally arriving where Sesshoumaru was leading them. And confused, Jaken could do little more than stand there glancing around, unable to understand why they had stopped in such a common, rather clichéd little clearing.
When he noticed the reason, Jaken found himself speechless.
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 2
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Hairless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 250
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 14 of Jaken's Ballad.
Standing before them had to be the strangest demon Jaken had ever laid his large, yellow eyes upon. He had no claws, no fangs, no elven ears and was even hairless. He was not of the dog clan or the fox clan. Not of the toad or wolf clans. Nor the panther or two-tailed.
He was simply a tree. A rather large and obviously old tree. So natural looking, that at first glance, Jaken had simply thought he was merely another tree, but after a few moments of silence, the tree had opened his mouth and spoken to Sesshoumaru.
“It has been a while, pup. What brings you all the way out to my forest?” His words had startled Jaken, but Sesshoumaru seemed to either be completely used to them or able to perfectly hide his surprise. Whatever the case may have been, the demon lord simply stood there staring at the demon tree in silence for a long moment, until he finally opened his eyes and turned his full attention to him.
“You already know the reason this Sesshoumaru is here, Bokusenou. Do not bother pretending that is not so,” Sesshoumaru warned, or in his own way suggested, as he stared impassively at the much taller demon before him.
“If that is so, pup, then you already know the answer. Your sword awaits you where it has been since that day.” Bokusenou reminded him as he glanced down at the sheathed sword laying beside his trunk.
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 3
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Careless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 200
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 15 of Jaken's Ballad.
Without bothering to glance down at the sword or open his mouth, Sesshoumaru completely dismissed the aforementioned sword and glared at the tree demon for even suggesting such a thing. Confused and as curious as ever, Jaken covertly made his way around the statue-like demon lord and gave it a closer look.
After a moment, Jaken was sure he had discovered the reason his lord was unhappy about the sword, it seemed far too plain and unimportant for a demon of his standing. To Jaken, it seemed more fitting of a demon like himself rather than a demon lord. But as the tree began to speak again, he soon learned that it's outward appearance was, at least, not the only reason Sesshoumaru was unhappy.
“It is not the sword I want nor deserve. This Sesshoumaru is the oldest, the heir of the great general. It is only right that I receive the better fang,” he insisted, paying little attention to his follower who was now glancing between him, the sword and the tree.
“Perhaps, pup, your sire believes you would be too careless with the fang and that is why he has had it placed where he did.”
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 4
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Aimless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 100
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 16 of Jaken's Ballad.
“Your desire is aimless. The sword is not for you and you will never possess it. Only the one your sire believed worthy of it shall have it. If that was you, it would have been here with me waiting for you the first time you came into my forest.
“This, the Tenseiga, is the fang meant for you. It is the only one of your father's swords you shall ever possess. Forget about the other, it'll never be yours,” Bokusenou repeated as he glanced down at the sword, hoping his friend's eldest son would follow his advice.
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 5
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Fearless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 300
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 17 of Jaken's Ballad.
“This Sesshoumaru is the ruling lord of the Western land, the heir of the great dog general, his own pure blood son. I am strong, powerful and fearless. I am a warrior of strength and grace. I am meant to concur, not to heal. The Tenseiga is useless to me. I neither need nor want a sword that can heal the dead. I want the sword that can strike down countless enemies in one swing.”
“If you are the warrior you claim to be, pup, then you need not the sword. A true warrior is strong not because of the weapon sheathed at his side, but because of the power he holds unarmed. If you are so strong and powerful, Lord Sesshoumaru, then you will only make yourself weak by relying on an outside force.”
Jaken watched in silence as the two went back and forth, following the conversation as best as he could, with as little details as he had. While it wasn't hard to understand the gist of it, how Sesshoumaru had wanted a different sword than the one his father had left him, no doubt when he had passed from this life, how the sword he had received was a healer's sword and not a warrior's, as apparently the other one was, he still couldn't help but find himself confused.
Sesshoumaru had referred to himself as being the only 'pure blood son' and that was what had Jaken so lost. What made him a pure blood when his brother was not? What was a pure blood? It was not an expression the much smaller demon had ever heard of. No doubt due to the sheltered life that him and his clan had lead. It obviously was not something the demon lord approved of, but why?
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 6
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Powerless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 175
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 18 of Jaken's Ballad.
“Its power would not define mine, but accent it. It would be a warning to any who looked upon me that I would be far more than they could handle. It would tell of my power, my strength, my ability to rule my land without fear of any moving against me. The Tetsusaiga is the fang I desire. The Tenseiga would be powerless in my hand. As I have no desire to ever save a single human life.”
“And that, pup, is why you did not receive the offensive fang. There is more in this world than demons and humans. More than the strong and the weak. More than immortal and mortal. There are lessons you must learn, that your sire tried to teach you, before you are ever truly ready to be lord. Had your father another male relative that was still alive, he would have made him his heir in your stead.
“You are not the lord because it was your father's wish, but because there was no other choice.”
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 7
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Timeless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 250
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 19 of Jaken's Ballad.
Sesshoumaru stood in silence at the tree demon's words and Jaken knew instantly that the thought had never crossed his lord's mind before. He had, as anyone would have having met him, believed that he was the rightful heir. Chosen by his father for his strength and power, his wisdom and skill. But it was not so, he was not chosen because he was the best heir. Because he was the first son and only pure blood, whatever that was.
He was chosen because there was no one else. Jaken could not even fathom what he could possibly say at that moment that would make him feel any better at all. He could not imagine what it would be like, feel like to discover this truth about yourself. As it was, Jaken had been made the ruler of his own clan after he had defeated the other families' champions in battle.
He was the prince of his people because he was the strongest, the greatest fighter. His name would be remembered until the end of time within his clan. His victory, as was all the others before him, and perhaps even more so with him leaving, is timeless. He was a legend, but not Sesshoumaru. His lord was practically called worthless.
As Jaken watched in continued silence, Sesshoumaru turned and walked away without a word to either of them. Unsure of what else to do, Jaken bowed quickly to the tree demon and hurried to catch up to his lord.
***
Title: The two fang's arc part 8
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Breathless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 100
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 20 of Jaken's Ballad.
As Jaken struggled to catch up to his lord, he found himself falling further and further behind, unable to keep up with the extreme pace he was going. Exhausted and breathless, Jaken finally gave up as he leaned against a toppled tree trunk as he tried to catch his breath.
As angry and annoyed as his lord no doubt was, he knew he would return for him in time, as he always did. He knew he had not meant to leave him behind, truthfully he had probably forgotten all about him. It didn't matter to him, he would be back.
Title: The two fang's arc Extra
Author: Hairann
Prompt: Ageless
Rating: T
Genre: Drama
Word count: 256
Characters: Jaken/Sesshoumaru, Lord and servant relationship, not a BL story.
Link: http://hairann.livejournal.com/7531.html
Summary: Part 22 of Jaken's Ballad.
The clearing returned to silence not long after the two visitors had left, leaving the seemingly ageless tree to follow the sounds of their retreating steps until they could no longer be heard. Glancing down at the untouched and still sheathed sword, Bokusenou's wooden eyes soften as he heaved a sigh of regret. He had not wanted to be the one to say such things to the young heir, but it had been the great dog general's last request of him.
He had wanted his son to learn to be the kind of leader he had been, someone he could have been proud of, even if he could not be there to witness it. And while Bokusenou knew his old friend was right, that the pup needed some tough guidance in order to learn, he did not completely agree with the method. Telling the young man he had only been chosen due to lack of other candidates was not only heartless, but untrue.
He was the West's new lord because he was the most powerful demon in the clan after his father. He was fearless and strong. He would protect the land, allowing it to prosper. Sesshoumaru was the true heir, but he did not understand what it truly meant to be a lord. He needed to learn how to have compassion as well as power, sympathy as well as strength and love as well as hate. He needed to understand that his responsibility was to protect not just the demons that lived on his land.