Author's Note: Continuing on. . .gets a little dark later on in the chapter. I had to come up with some reason why Sesshoumaru is so disgusted with humans, and vicious battle was all I could come up with. Please read and review, any suggestions are welcome as always. Please let me know if I suck or not. Pretty please? With sugar on top? Thanks to all who read!

Disclaimer: The party who has written the contents herein claims no ownership, whole or in part, to the franchise known as Inuyasha, or any other franchise of any kind.

Sesshoumaru awoke to the sound of thunder in the distance. He was surprised to realize that he had been asleep at all. After five years of training with his father, he was finally going to witness a real battle. He was confused, however, at the subjects his father chose for him to observe. They were humans, creatures Sesshoumaru had only been told of briefly by his mother, and even less by his father. His mother said they were petty creatures, lower than even the weakest demon. She didn't seem to hold any real contempt for them; she merely compared to them to a colony of ants. They were something one may see one day in their endless toil, but were worth no more than a passing observance. Sesshoumaru thought on these things as they settled into the place on the mountain from which they would watch the events unfolding on the plain below.

"It is too dangerous to observe a battle among great demons." his father had told him. Besides, we have no business in matters that don't belong to us among our own kind, and there is a good chance our presence may be perceived if we are too close to the ranks." Sesshoumaru thought a moment. "Do humans fight as we do father?""Do they hold the same rules and etiquette of combat just as we demons; is their honor just as great?"

"The fundamentals are essentially the same." came the reply. His father turned to him, and their eyes locked. "What I really wanted you to learn by observing actual conflict is that much of the etiquette and structure that is learned during training is out of place on the battlefield.""Honor and pride often become meaningless and one's survival is the only important thing much of the time.""This is true with both humans and demons." Thunder sounded as the clouds broke above them, and sheets of rain began to fall.

"Then all the rigid structure was for the training of the mind.""All that remains is to neutralize the threat as quickly as possible." Sesshoumaru stated cooly. His father nodded an affirmation. Sesshoumaru turned his gaze back to the field below them. Inutaisho watched him for a moment. He had changed much since their first months of training together. He hadn't displayed the childish temper that his father had scolded him for in years now. In a few more years, and after some experience in battle, he would be every bit his father's equal. In truth, he would likely be his superior shortly after he was fully grown.

One thing worried Inutaisho slightly however. Over time his son had seemed to take on a demeanor of indifference to most things, caring neither one way nor the other about most matters. It wasn't a trait he himself possessed. He knew well his wife's cool demeanor, but how much of it had his son acquired? His thoughts were interrupted by drums from below.

They watched silently as the two armies clashed. Screams of the injured and dying reached their ears. Father and son watched as enemies tore through one another, slashing, kicking, bludgeoning. Many of the higher-ranking officers took pleasure in toying with the injured among the enemy ranks, forcing them to beg for death, only to be answered by their enemies laughter. "Why father?" Inutaisho heard his son ask. He turned to look at him, and the boy's eyes were wide with shock. "Why would they do this, why not just rid themselves of the enemy and be done? It makes no sense."

"To feed their petty need for dominance I suppose." his father sighed. "There are demons who act this way as well my son, it is not exclusive to these creatures."

Sesshoumaru frowned. "Perhaps not, but that is why they are lower class demons, mindless brutes that live in caves.""These creatures are acting no different than petty demons.""Perhaps mother was correct in her assessment of them." he said as he turned to walk away, the battle over.

"Correct?" his father asked. He was surprised that the subject had even come up between them.

"She said they were no different than insects, and were worth as much notice." Sesshoumaru answered over his shoulder. Silence passed between them.

"Let us return to the castle." his father finally said. "I need to speak with your mother." Sesshoumaru nodded and fell in behind his father toward home.