Brazen Wisdom
"Well, that was foolish."
The Dog General's grin lost a couple of molars as he cocked a brow at Sesshomaru. The boy had acquired a cynical streak these past decades.
"What was so foolish?" he challenged.
"Your anecdote about that bird. Ryukotsusei threatened, 'Little bird, if you do not sing, I'll make you.' Menomaru admonished, 'If you don't sing, I shall make you.' And you, Father, only offered, 'If you don't sing, little bird, I shall wait for you'! What sort of decision is that?"
At the crashing drama in his son's voice, Inu no Taisho simply smiled. "It sang."
"A fluke," Sesshomaru scoffed.
"Should everything be gained by force?" The sparkling amusement in amber eyes was blotched by darkness.
The younger dog-demon looked at his feet. His lips still held a pittance of defiance. "Most."
A large hand shoved Sesshomaru's bangs back and he could see his father's eyes glow like a sunrise again.
"And that's why you're not Western Lord yet."
--
"Insolent girl! Lord Sesshomaru just asked you a question!" Jaken brandished the Head Staff high in hopes the newly-arrived waif would get the message.
Her smile dimmed, but she only shook her head and shrugged.
Not the response the imp anticipated.
"M'lord requested your name, urchin! What takes it to – "
"Jaken." Sesshomaru's retainer froze. "It's inconsequential now. The child will speak when ready." Matters settled, the daiyokai spun on heel to go until an old memory smacked him in the face. Smugness distilled to mortification then brewed to a sulk.
His gait stiffening with every stride, Sesshomaru mentally cursed. Embers of smoldering memory fanned by the rhythmic flapping of his empty left sleeve on a sword he'd sworn would never be drawn.
--
A/N: This story was prompted by forthright's contest themed "Force" at the Live Journal online community – though now that I think about it, this fic kind of goes against the topic. XD I played upon the fable told about the sixteenth-century warlords Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu and their respective reactions to "sing little bird" story. Can anyone offer a better title? I don't personally care for it.