Author's Note: I promise nothing.

Word Count: 420


Chapter 74: Pebble


"Fuck!" Inuyasha growled in annoyance after he swung his sword at Sesshoumaru and missed. "Bastard's not even paying attention and I'm still losing?!" He fumed even more when he noticed his brother absentmindedly looked up at the afternoon sky, clearly having no interest in the brotherly spar. His ears twitched irritably upon hearing amused chuckles and giggling off to the sideline. "Don't encourage them, Yori!"

The past Commanding Captain of the former Western Land bowed apologetically at his previous master. "My apologies, Inuyasha," said the dog demon with a gentle smile, "But it has been a while since we've all gotten to witness the two lords engage in a friendly spar."

"Yeah!" piped up a young boy's voice. "Inu-Pappy and Uncle Sesshou looked so amazing out there!"

"Did you see the way Uncle Sesshou just blocked Inu-Pappy's swing earlier? So cool!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Kouji, Itsuo, enough out of you two brats," he scolded two of his many grandchildren. "This is not a spar when only one person is participating!"

"Perhaps then we should call it a draw?" Yori suggested.

"Might as well," Inuyasha grunted, bending down to pick up a pebble off the ground. He promptly hurled it at the back of Sesshoumaru's head, gawking in annoyance when Sesshoumaru caught the object midair without even looking, earning several impressed cries from the two young children. Sesshoumaru looked down at the object in his hand, his apathetic expression having not wavered in the slightest, much to Inuyasha's annoyance. "Fuck! Why the hell did you even come to my house if you were only going to space out like that?!"

"Your form is lacking, Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru said instead, effortlessly crushing the pebble in his hand to pieces. "Perhaps you should have spent less time eating at Yori's restaurant and focused more on training."

Inuyasha yelped in surprise when Sesshoumaru moved across the field in a flash, appearing right in front of his face in just mere seconds. He quickly somersaulted away, barely missing the sudden quick swing of Sesshoumaru's sword.

"Children," Sesshoumaru called for the two young demon boys watching the match, "Learn from your grandfather's mistakes."

The two boys aww'd and obediently nodded their heads.

"Stop making me look bad in front of my grandchildren, you bastard!" Inuyasha charged at his brother, his temper renewed.

As the match went on, the two children laughed and cheered on their older relatives. Yori smiled along, clapping in encouragement, but deep down, he couldn't help but feel troubled by Sesshoumaru's peculiar demeanor.