Author's Note: I'm going to jump forward a few years again in this chapter, sorry if it seems to be moving a little slower in these recent/upcoming chapters. Thanks to all those who reviewed and gave suggestions! As always, all suggestions are welcome and please read n' review. Thanks!

Disclaimer: still don't own Inuyasha

"Is there something you want Shintaro?" Sesshoumaru asked the young warrior behind him. He had sensed him staring at him for some time now and wondered why he did not speak. For the better part of five years now he had been with his father patrolling the borders of their domain. He had much experience now in dealing with any demons that caused trouble or wished to overthrow the lord of the western lands. He had become an excellent and precise warrior. His father often left the smaller tribes of power-hungry demons for him to deal with alone.

"Your father wishes to speak with you milord." the young demon answered. "Were you able to sense me standing behind you, even in the dark?" he asked Sesshoumaru in wonder.

Sesshoumaru sighed mentally. He knew the boy looked up to him but he was growing impatient with his constant presence. He would have told him so if his father hadn't instructed him to teach the boy by his example. He was younger than Sesshoumaru, small and awkward for his age. He was the grandson of Makura, the man that was second in command to his father. Finally, he answered Shintaro's question. "Of course." "I could smell you, you must know that." he told him.

"Yes, but could you even tell my exact location and distance?" he asked, still astonished.

"Yes, you should try to do the same." "Concentrate, and do not be so uncertain of your abilities." "Keep watch while I am away." Sesshoumaru said as he left.

"How are things coming with Shintaro?" his father asked as he approached. He could hear the smile in his father's voice.

"I can only assume you assigned him to me as a test of my patience." Sesshoumaru answered. "He follows me everywhere, and seems more in awe at the things I try to teach him than actually bothering to learn them." he said.

His father laughed openly then. "Yes, you must be patient with him my son." He is a few years younger than you, and less experienced in training than you were at his age." "His father died when he was still an infant, and it was left to Makura to try and train him when he had the time." "We both thought it best that he be trained by someone closer to his own age if he had to learn in the field." he explained. "You know how he wishes to emulate you."

"I want no one emulating me." he said with frustration. "I could be of much more use to you than merely being a teacher to a inexperienced boy." "Is he the only reason you asked to speak with me?" he asked Inutaisho.

His father became serious. "No, we have a growing problem to deal with." "The dragon clan that lives in the mountains here in the west are making plans to attack us again." "Our spies have told us that they are even gathering allies from the east that go against their leader's will." "We must form a strategy soon to strike them before any of these plans come to fruition, and we will need every warrior we have to quell them." he told Sesshoumaru gravely.

"You do not think we can defeat them?" Sesshoumaru asked him. The shock was evident in his voice, though he tried to hide it.

Inutaisho smiled to himself. There was a little bit of child left in his son after all. "They are very strong, my son." "Their strength and cunning is the reason they have managed to keep such a strong foothold here in the west for so long." "I have fought them many times that ended in a draw over the past several years, even before you were born, and there have been times that I narrowly escaped with my life." he said. He looked up again at his son and smiled faintly. "Surely, you can not think that I am invincible." he commented in regard to his son's face.

"Of course not." "That would be ridiculous." Sesshoumaru said, trying to sound unemotional. But his father had seen his son's eyes widen a bit in the firelight when he had told him of his near misses with the dragon clan.

"I will call a meeting of all our officers at my fortress not far from here in two days, and we will strike soon after." "I will need you there as well, Sesshoumaru." Inutaisho told him. He heard his son's heart quicken its pace. This would be the first major military campaign for Sesshoumaru.

"I will be there father." "I will fight them with every ounce of my knowledge and strength." he said with conviction.

"Thank you, Sesshoumaru." Inutaisho told him. "You will be a great help to us, you have become an exceptional warrior."

Sesshoumaru turned to walk back to where Shintaro was waiting for him. He found it hard to speak for some reason, and he couldn't even thank his father.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, is that you?" Shintaro asked as footsteps approached. There was no answer. He jumped a little when Sesshoumaru appeared.

"What would you have done if it was not I?" Sesshoumaru asked him. "You must train and concentrate harder, and stop being so awestruck at my actions." "You have much the same capacity for learning these things as anyone else." "We go to battle soon, and you had better steel yourself and clear your mind before then." he told the boy.

"Battle?" Shintaro said. It was obvious he was frightened. "Against whom?" he stammered.

"The dragon clan here in the west." Sesshoumaru told him. "Stay close to me but try to stay out of my way when the time comes." Shintaro only nodded.

Two days later, as planned, all the officers of the northern and western armies gathered in the great dog general's fortress. It was planned to set word among the spies of the dragon clan that there would be a great meeting of both of the entire armies from the north and west at the fortress in three weeks, and attack the dragon clan while they traveled there, away from the mountains that gave them cover.

With the plan set in motion, preparations began to be made for the upcoming battle. Supplies were gathered and plans drawn up. Sesshoumaru trained with Shintaro, as well as by himself. As he left the dojo one evening, he saw Shintaro staring at the commotion in the courtyard. The boy spoke but did not turn to face him. He had become a little better, Sesshoumaru decided.

"Do you think we can defeat the dragon clan my lord?" Shintaro asked. He still didn't turn around.

"Of course, why do you think my father is lord of the western lands?" Sesshoumaru asked sharply.

"There seems to be a lot of speculation among the officers." "Even my grandfather doesn't seem certain that we can win." Shintaro said.

"Nonsense." Sesshoumaru said. "You must go into battle knowing that you will win." "You must not allow yourself to think of the possibility of defeat."

Shintaro turned and smiled at Sesshoumaru this time. "You are right my lord." he said "I will go into this battle expecting nothing but triumph." His face beamed at his mentor.

Sesshoumaru turned to leave. "Go to bed early, we leave at daybreak." he told him as he walked away.