© Salome Wilde, 2008

Author's Note: Written for the prompt "God does not love those who have not suffered" at the LJ mf-sanctuary community. Didn't win no prizes, dang it, though it's one of my best wicked oneshots ever. pouts winks

Warning: Questionable taste.

The Missionary

The rhododendron was in full bloom, and Rin's sweet, upturned face perfectly reflected its pale pink glory. What marred the moment was having no one to share it with. Jaken was bathing and Lord Sesshomaru had scented his brother on the wind and pursued. Ah-un was nearby, but its appreciation of nature was primarily in its taste.

Soon, however, she found she was no longer alone. A man approached, saying "Hello, little girl" in badly accented Japanese. His bright red hair and pale, freckled skin were strange but not scary. Ah-un looked up from his resting position behind a stand of trees but did not attack, so Rin concluded she was safe and skipped happily to him. "Come see my flower-bush," she pronounced, blithely.

In broken Japanese, the man said something about "dangerous wilderness" and asked about her parents. Rin shook her head and backed away. But the man caught her and, in an alien tongue, muttered "God does not love those who have not suffered" as he shoved a hand beneath her kimono and up between her little legs. Rin screamed.

Before Ah-un had the man in his jaws, Lord Sesshomaru appeared. "Release the child," he said calmly. The stranger looked up and all blood drained from his already pale face. He dropped his hands and stepped back. Rin scampered behind her savior. The human bowed deeply and opened his mouth to speak.

The unfortunate man of God's final words were left unuttered as Sesshomaru's claws rent him, slicing through his mortal frame in five neat stripes. Before he fell, the talons returned in a backhand strike and left a pile of neatly sliced flesh, blood, and bone at his feet.

Jaken scurried over, dripping wet and holding his robes before him in modesty. "Sesshomaru-sama is indeed mighty," he murmured, licking his lips in awe.

"Come, Rin," said Sesshomaru, and the child scampered after him.

That night, all agreed their evening meal was unsurpassed.