Curled in the corner of his sleeping quarters, Sesshomaru couldn't stop staring at his claws. The same claws that played tag, dug up roots, and embraced kin had murdered. Nor was it out of defense or noble cause, it had been accidently killing his best friend.

Was this the price of discovering the special technique I waited so long for?

For months Sesshomaru refused to budge from his personal exile. What if he lost control again?

More than once – though, less than thrice – Sesshomaru's mother had mumbled that he should go out and play with demons his own age.

The problem was Sesshomaru couldn't find any yokai that wanted anything to do with him since Kai's death. They shied away, whispering how the Dog General's son had it in for all of them. After all, he had become so reclusive what else was there for him to plot?

Then there was Keiken.

The rat-demon didn't give his own tail about his little brother's passing, but all the same he used it as an excuse to bully Sesshomaru.

In all, he'd done quite a job of convincing the other young demons he'd be their "protector" against the "future tyrant."

"What's the matter, lapdog?" Keiken's eyes gleamed, his smile cruel.

Sesshomaru gasped for air, still winded after the last kick. He'd made the painful mistake of going for a walk alone.

"Ain't 'cha gonna answer?" Bones popped as claws lengthened. "I thought it was a leader's duty to speak for himself!"

The rat's claw struck viciously over Sesshomaru's skull. Speculating yokai children drew nearer at the display of gore.

I don't have to tolerate this, Sesshomaru thought. Yet here he was, all but eating up every ounce of abuse Keiken hurled. It didn't quite register that guilt still nested and felt justified with each blow.

This over-sentiment is ridiculous, it's what's going to get me killed right now.

"Enough." Sesshomaru spat out blood, anchoring his glare on Keiken.

"Or what?" the rat smirked. "You'll go yelping home to Mommy an' sic her on us?"

Sesshomaru kept his mouth shut that she wouldn't have cared anyway. Instead he stood his ground.

"Standin' up? On your knees, dog!"

Keiken's swiped only air as his target rolled away.

The daiyokai didn't waste time trying to orientate himself on two legs. He scampered off on all fours.

"Hey, get back here, coward!" Keiken's increasingly distant voice hollered.

Sesshomaru mirthlessly smiled; the knave couldn't hope to match his speed.

There was a deep forest up ahead, it offered a sweet refuge from the harsh world of brutality and blood.