It had taken some time to explain what a warlord was, but even Shippou understood that Sesshoumaru had never had the urge to conquer as his father had.
"The humans go through waves of bloodlust," he explained, Shippou having begged him for a history lesson, "spurred on by delusions of grandeur and fear."
"So your papa was just defending himself?"
Fangs flashed as he smirked. "Father fancied himself a teacher. He wanted them to understand what it meant to cross a daiyoukai."
"Sounds like lots of people got hurt."
Sesshoumaru lay a hand on the boy's head, the touch subtle and fleeting but comforting nonetheless. "No one is safe during times of war."