Phase Four: Rocky Success

Author's Rant: Finally! Two updates for two different stories. Pleasssse let this inspiration stick around. Enjoy the update and please excuse any mistakes guys. I won't have time to proofread this before work.

Hiten sinks low in his chair, profoundly shocked silent. Never, ever, in the history of the years he and his father have attended this gym/dojo has anyone ever managed to keep stride with him. His father has kept up with the best and while there were times where the situation seemed so dire, Inuyasha would manage to come out on top and prove that species means nothing.

But here, right here, right now, Hiten isn't as confident as he'd once been. Tsukuyomaru's father has matched Inuyasha punch per punch, kick for kick and his techniques are weird. He doesn't dodge and strike in the traditional sense of a martial artist. There's a sharp swiftness, unmatched elegance and a chilling calculative pitch to his movements. For every chance Mr. Shawl gets to lay out Inuyasha, he noticeably pulls his punch, but just in the instant to let Inuyasha realize how narrowly he comes close to having been reduced to a heap of dead weight.

Tsukuyomaru loudly yawns next to Hiten and exaggerates being unentertained. "This is 'bout as fun as watching paint dry. I thought you said your old man could hang."

Hiten's head would be whipping around to snap, but Mr. Shawl has worked Inuyasha to the ropes. "We're barely into the match, jerk. My dad is gonna show yours exactly what fightin' is all about!"

"When? Before or after mine uses that head for mopping up his blood? Face facts, Hit. Your ole man is all washed up."

"Bet?"

Tsukuyomaru's entire demeanor springs up, all smiles and devious intent. "I was waiting for you to offer. Check it, if my dad wins, you gotta do my homework and cook for me for a solid month."

"Cool, and if my dad wins, you gotta hook me up with Ryura, drive me to school and bring lunch for a whole thirty days."

"Whoa, why do you get three conditions?"

"Dude, you have me working twice as much for school. I barely like going there now!"

"Fine, fine. We got a deal?" Tsukuyomaru holds out his hand.

Hiten snaps it up in a firm handshake. "Bet."

With the deal solidified, the two teens return to putting their focus into the fight with renewed vigor and an agenda hidden within an agenda. Hiten keeps his fingers crossed that his father comes out on top because there'll be no way he can keep up with the demands of his chores, homework, Tsukuyomaru's homework and cooking for the idiot.

"C'mon Dad. Don't let me down. . ."

Far from it be for Sesshomaru to admit he's mildly impressed.

Here he's sustained blows from many humans who thought themselves equal to a demon's strength and none came close to wringing a sting. But with Inuyasha's attacks, there are lingering pulses of pain per strike.

Dare he believe he may have to actually try? Inuyasha's hits aren't as rendering as say, one of Sesshomaru's weakest punches, but if developed correctly, Inuyasha could easily cause a cramp or summon some other bodily annoyance Sesshomaru hardly feels like dealing with.

He decides for a different approach. Allow Inuyasha to set the pace, see where his rhythm lies and shift into the flow from there. Then Sesshomaru can properly analyze how best to end this farce of a match.

Sesshomaru stretches his stance, locks his arms midway between his chest and face and smirks around the block. It's an obvious taunt to lure the human inside for close combat. Inuyasha's eyes harden like holy blue agates as he steps forward and kicks off into a fast charge forward. He lowers his head, keeps his posture slightly bent and meets Sesshomaru's block with a series of open palm barrages.

Blow for blow, each seemed to increase in applied force. Sesshomaru digs his back heel into the ground to keep from being repulsed. Then came two palm assaults where one was severely weak and the one following up contained enough of an impact to rattle Sesshomaru's stance. Just as he thinks he's figured out how much endurance Inuyasha has left, the human quickly dips low and sweeps out his foot.

Sesshomaru leaves his foot firm and lets it collide with his ankle. He leans forward with an outstretched hand aiming for Inuyasha's shoulder and latches on tight. He keeps the momentum going and rests the other hand dead into Inuyasha's chest, fully prepared to shove the human on his back and knock the wind from his lungs.

"Nice try!" Somehow, in a bizarre body twist, Inuyasha manages to lift himself and Sesshomaru completely off the floor. Inuyasha clutches his hands around Sesshomaru's right wrist and twists it hard. Inuyasha propels himself on his side and takes Sesshomaru's entire body with him.

The tussling ends with Inuyasha having fastened Sesshomaru in a flawless armlock. Sesshomaru lays on his back, a little stunned, and smirks. "You better not tell me this is your best."

"Like what you've done so far is worth braggin' about?" Inuyasha tightens his grip and reclines with his hips rising. "You either submit or have your arm broken."

"Ah, it's that easy, huh?"

Inuyasha chuckles saucily. "I've got you on your back, big guy, so you tell me."

"You think you got something goin' with this? That's cute."

Sesshomaru's arm started to curl inward. Despite Inuyasha's death grip, his hold was being broken right before his eyes as the demon easily brought him up right and straight into a fist. Inuyasha sailed across the floor and hurriedly rolled up to his feet. He rubs his face, feeling a knot swell just beneath his eye.

In the next second, Sesshomaru charges forward, arms crossed in an X and slams into Inuyasha's chest, grabbing the front of his karategi. "What will you do now?"

Inuyasha smirks before rearing his head back and throwing it straight into Sesshomaru's nose. That'd been unexpected, and it did sting quite a bit. Sesshomaru doesn't loose his grip though. He lifts with minimum effort, swings Inuyasha overhead and brings him down on his stomach, stunning him from head to toe.

Sesshomaru notes Inuyasha's son surging to his feet in a panic and Tsukuyomaru having to snatch him back down in his seat.

"Son—son of a bitch," Inuyasha hoarsely coughs from the floor. "Just you wait until I get off this floor."

Sesshomaru rolls his eyes and lightly places his foot in the middle of Inuyasha's back and presses down. "I'm above embarrassing a father in front of his son, but if you insist on continuing this one-sided fight, I'm more than willing to go on too."

"You're gonna have to knock me out before I submit."

Sesshomaru watches with a hidden smirk as Inuyasha helplessly struggles against the weight baring unfairly down on him. "I'd almost call your act admirable if you didn't look so pathetic underfoot—"

Inuyasha collapses to the floor. Sesshomaru's smirk comes to fruition, victorious. That'd been easier than anticipated. Disappointingly so. He'd wanted more.

"Hey!"

Sesshomaru glances over his shoulder. The half breed boy, Hiten, is grabbing at the ropes. "Can I help you?"

Tsukuyomaru struggles to keep a bear hug on his thrashing friend. "C'mon, Hiten, chill out!"

"Get. The. Hell. Off. My father!" Hiten punches and kicks and shoves at Tsukuyomaru's face to be free. "You already won. This is overkill. What exactly are you tryin' to prove?"

Sesshomaru folds his arms. "He chose to take me on knowing full well he didn't stand a chance. If anyone's at fault, blame him."

"Dad, he's right, you've done enough." Tsukuyomaru calmly drags Hiten back against his chest. "Just throw him outta the ring already."

Sesshomaru sucks his teeth, shaking his head. "Fine." He boringly reaches down and grabs Inuyasha by the scruff of his karategi and holds him aloof. "Just to be clear, you would rather I toss him out and not allow him the opportunity to decide for himself?"

Hiten shoves away from Tsukuyomaru's hold and climbs into the ring. "He can't decide on anything you jerk!" Hiten rushes to carefully extract his father from Sesshomaru's grasp and lowers him to the floor. "See? He's comatose."

Sesshomaru lifts an eyebrow. "That can't be from our match."

"No, he's been at it for hours prior to you and Tsukuyomaru comin' here."

"How many matches? Five, ten?"

Hiten shoots him an unfriendly look. "Try fifty. You make fifty-one."

Tsukuyomaru works his way onto the ring, eyes wide at the information. "Dang, fifty?" he looks at his father, then back at the worn-down human. "What was he thinkin', takin' on a full-blooded demon? No way he would have won!"

"Hmm," Sesshomaru hadn't known that fun fact.

"Your dad's not normal!" Hiten bites off.

"Neither is yours for lasting as long as he did!" Tsukuyomaru shoots back.

"I'm inclined to agree," Sesshomaru quietly speaks up and kneels next to Hiten's side. He reaches out and cups Inuyasha's arms and legs in his palms and eases his weight into his arms and stands. He shifts until Inuyasha's nestled against his chest and starts for the stairs leading out of the ring.

"Uh, you don't have to do that," Hiten dumbly informs. He stands and follows. "I can take him home."

Sesshomaru cuts his eyes at the younger Saotome. "If you recollect, your father and I had an agreement and I fully intend to be compensated."

"Today? How? Where?"

"Do you live far?"

Hiten blanches. "Look, Mr. Shawl, I know you're a cop and all, but my dad's a private man. He wouldn't let Jesus in without proper ID and a full background check."

"Fine, we'll do this at my home then."

"What?!"

Tsukuyomaru pumps his fist in the air. "Yes! Free lunch!"

Sesshomaru looks at his son. "You're still expected to finish your chores."

"I can do that, but don't expect me to be rude, Dad. I gotta maintain my reputable gentleman-like disposition after all."

"Ha, reputable my butt," taunts Hiten. "You're as roguish as they come!"

The pair of teens argue throughout the short trip through the gym. Sesshomaru's thankful they're distracted from the many onlookers. Last thing he needs is to continue babysit Inuyasha's son's fragile attitude. "Young Saotome."

Hiten looks at Sesshomaru hard. "My name's Hiten, Mr. Shawl."

Sesshomaru looks the kid over with a glint likely resembling his father's judging from the way he cowers. "Are you old enough to drive?"

"Y-yes sir."

"Follow behind me." They reach Sesshomaru's car. He situates Inuyasha in the passenger's side and clicks on the seatbelt. "Tsukuyomaru ride with 'im."

"Will do!" Tsukuyomaru hurries around to join Hiten in Inuyasha's car.

Sesshomaru hops in his impala and turns on the engine. He checks his rearview to make sure the younger Saotome is behind him before pulling out of the parking lot. Without the bustle of the two teens, Sesshomaru's mind is less crowded and able to gauge just what in the Hell is processing. So, he engaged in a wager fight with a human who went through fifty solid fights and still attempted to take on Sesshomaru.

So, if this wasn't him at his max, just what in the Hell had Sesshomaru been dealing with then?

Sesshomaru spies the slight discoloring on his wrist where Inuyasha's palm connected and frowns.

He's bruising. Interesting. He hasn't bruised in months. Last time had been a raid in a house full of drug dealing lizard demons and a couple of them were able to slap his ribs with their tails. But that's neither here nor there. Inuyasha was able to bruises him at a quarter or less of his strength.

Color Sesshomaru fully impressed then. Here he'd thought the human was all bluster and here is able to bruise him.

But still, a bet is a bet and when the fool wakes up, he expects to be rewarded for his victory.

"Dude, I seriously hate your dad!"

"Oh, lighten up, damn, he wasn't gonna hurt Mr. Saotome."

"He's a real deal case. Nobody should be that sadistic. He preys on the helpless and devours the weak!"

Tsukuyomaru covers his mouth to quell a snicker and clears his throat. "Yeah, well, your dad shouldn't have tried to pass himself off as some kind of Mega Man. Now he knows his place."

Hiten's grip squeezes the steering wheel just as his jaw steels. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Humans are inferior to demons, duh." Tsukuyomaru shrugs and reclines in his chair. "It's the way of nature dude. They're nothing like us."

The anger builds like geyser. Hiten gnaws so hard on his bottom lip it colors red and threatens to bleed. "That's how you feel, huh?"

"No, that's fact. And—Oh shit, Hiten?" Tsukuyomaru cranks his chair upright and reaches out to touch Hiten's shoulder. "Hey, dude, are you cryin'?"

Hiten jerks the hand off him and jerkily wipes at his face. Fuck, he hadn't meant to start tearing up, especially in front of his best friend. "Fuck you."

"What do you mean, fuck me? What'd I say?"

Hiten snaps his head over and growls, "I'm half human, dumb ass. And for your information, my dad is more of a man than most full-blooded demons. He's bent over backwards to get to where he is today despite being ridiculed the entire way just for being a damn human!"

Tsukuyomaru holds up his hands. "Hey, chillax, bro, it's not like we can change what society thinks."

"Yeah, but I didn't expect my own best friend to be just as ignorant and misinformed!"

"Hiten. . ."

"Just leave me alone." Hiten sags in his seat and feels every muscle in his body deflate. "I dunno why I figured you'd be different. You sound as bad as your dad."

"Oh yeah? Is that what you think?"

"Yeah, yeah it is."

They pull up to a red light. Tsukuyomaru takes the chance to force Hiten to look at him by snatching him by the shoulder and leaning into his face. "Lemme give you a quick play by play on what life's like being the minority in a human dominated world. Because we're 'unnaturally gifted'" he air quotes "we are looked down on and mistreated left and right. You know how much heat I catch on the team all because they accuse me of using my demon speed and strength to get by? My dad was fired three different times before he finally landed a job at the police station because the lousy humans in the past thought he was misusing his demon powers to unjustly surpass his human counterparts!" Tsukuyomaru huffs and sits back in his chair, arms folded tight. "So, excuse me if I can't exactly see where you're comin' from when you're part minority and part majority. You stand a chance in fitting in no matter what."

Hiten scoffs. "Right because demons are suddenly welcoming half-breeds into society. Stop trying to pass my situation off as any less tragic then yours."

"I didn't know this was a contest for who has the more fucked up existence."

"Whatever, dumbass."

"Go to Hell, bitch."

Hiten seethes. "Ya mama, skank."

Tsukuyomaru narrows his eyes, claws digging into his arms. "Kiss my ass, Hiten."

"Tsk, like I'd give you the satisfaction."

"Can't expect much from a virgin anyway."

"Better that then a train wreck hoe."

Tsukuyomaru flinches but doesn't add more to the argument. He tucks into his side of the car and neither say anything else the rest of the way. It's better than way. Hiten isn't sure he can stomach saying anything else to his best friend without risking their friendship.

Besides, once his dad wakes up, all Hell might break loose.

Inuyasha is rocked out of his dreams by a sharp head pain and a bad taste in his mouth.

He gags and presses the heel of his palm into his forehead. The rush of sitting up causes his brain to toss and his mind to sway so severely, he just knows his breakfast will redesign the walls.

Sunlight spills directly in his eyes and he turns to ease the burning.

Almost immediately, something doesn't feel right. He doesn't recognize the feel of whatever he's laying on, nor the smell. It isn't of jasmine or lavender, the harmonic smells he keeps religiously scented in his home for a tranquil environment. Being of sound mind keeps him in good form. All he smells is a distinctive earthy odor relative to demons and a faint lemony Pine Sol.

Inuyasha lifts himself off his stomach, and keeps his hand pressed into—what is this? Oh, a leather couch. He wipes at his mouth, lips wrinkling when he felt crusted saliva and sighs. The events from before drift in and out like a mist, but he's gathered enough of the details to gather that he got his ass handed to him on a silver platter.

That much he can deduce, but where is he? This doesn't look like his den. The layout's unfamiliar. Where is Hiten?

"Hit—" Inuyasha clears his throat after a soft cough and tries again. "Hiten!"

Footsteps can be heard approaching from one end of the semi-dark room. A head of bright white hair pops up and then a dark tan face comes with it. "What's up, Mr. Saotome. How ya feelin'?"

Inuyasha blinks stupidly at, what's this kid's name? Tsuku-Tsukimiko—Tsukuyo-some shit. "Where's my son?"

"Oh, he and my dad left to pick up some groceries." Tsukuyomaru walks into the bedroom with a cup of water and a napkin. He flicks a light switch with his elbow and comes further in. "They'll be back in a minute. Here, in case you have a headache."

Inuyasha eyeballs the water and napkin carefully. "What's in the napkin?"

Tsukuyomaru smiles. "Aspirin and Advil. I didn't know which you'd prefer."

Inuyasha waves it away. "Nah, I don't take over-the-counter junk."

"Oh, only the name brand stuff, huh? I think my dad might have—"

"No, kid, I'm—never mind. Where am I?"

"We're at my house, Mr. Saotome."

Inuyasha blinks, shakes his head and pats his head. "We're where now?"

"Our house." Tsukuyomaru settles alongside Inuyasha. "My dad wasn't comfortable with you headin' home alone with Hiten. He said ya'll can stay here until your pains wears off."

"How gracious of him," Inuyasha sarcastically grumbles, rolling his eyes and instantly regrets it. Even that hurt something wicked. He sighs and leans into the seat's back cushion.

How much of a let down must it have been for Hiten to watch his father get annulated like that? Inuyasha can't help feeling disappointed in himself. He'd thought Shawl would be another trash-talking-run-of-the-mill demon. How wrong he really was. That guy toyed around with Inuyasha like a rag doll and served him up pretty good. Inuyasha can't remember the last time his face got popped like this.

He touches at the swelling developing and sighs. This'll be a fun story to relay to the others when he gets back to work.

"So . . . um."

Inuyasha looks out the corner of his eye to see the Shawl kid drumming his fingers against his thigh, shifting awkwardly and scratching behind his head.

"Do you, uh, need anything?"

Inuyasha decides to be merciful. "You have any essential oils? Peppermint, basil, lavender?"

Tsukuyomaru tilts his head. "I dunno. I don't think my ole man keeps stuff like that around here. Why?"

"Oils help reduce swelling, fixes headaches, all that."

"Oh. Cool." Tsukuyomaru suddenly perks up. "We can look in our kitchen. He's always buying spices and stuff. You might find something in there."

A kitchen. That sounds much better. "Yeah. Guide the way." Inuyasha tries to stand and wobbles.

"Careful, sir." Tsukuyomaru grabs him by the bicep and steadies him. He chuckles. "Baby steps, Mr. Saotome."

"Tsk, what are you, a therapist?"

"It's on my career's list in case football doesn't work out."

"Good choice." Inuyasha closes his eyes, takes several deep breathes and straightens. "I think I'm good." He smirks and adds, "Baby steps, right?"

"Says the therapist," Tsukuyomaru laughs as he leads the way down the hall and around the counter isle where the kitchen lies.

It doesn't look like a total disaster. Inuyasha twists his mouth to the side as he inspects the kitchen's model design. It has all the essential equipment: electric stove, overhead fan, sink, dishwasher, refrigerator and four stools to a slightly stained island.

Inuyasha's nose wrinkles disdainfully as he spots more and more discerptions. Some dirty plates in the sink, the sealing along the refrigerator door needs to be replaced and Jesus, are those juice spots on the floor. He wonders. . .

Inuyasha walks in and pulls open the stove's oven portion, bends over to look it over and blanches. He steps back and shakes his head. "Blah, kid, when's the last time ya'll cleaned this thing?"

Tsukuyomaru hops on one of the stools and folds his arms over the counter. "You mean we're supposed to?"

"Oh God." Inuyasha shuts it and goes to inspect the refrigerator. Its state isn't as bad, but he's seen much better quality. The inner chef in him is weeping. "Ya know the cleanliness of your kitchen determines the quality taste of your food, yeah?"

"No sir, we rarely cook 'round here. Dad's works a lot and I usually just fix a sandwich or ramen noodles."

"You better not mean that sodium shit in a cup?"

Tsukuyomaru sheepishly ducks his head between his shoulders. "The very same."

"Good grief, you poor thing. I assume your father lives off a similar diet?"

Tsukuyomaru goes quiet.

Inuyasha looks up from where he was wiping a finger down the refrigerator door's shelf. "Well?" he prompts.

Tsukuyomaru shrugs. "Dad forgets to eat or will have an energy drink or energy bar to get going. He doesn't have time to fix a full course meal."

"I see." Inuyasha vaguely wonders if the jackass made the wager strictly to have him take up the bulk of that responsibility. If that is the case, he'll give the fool a proper cussing out later. "When's the last time you've eaten?"

"I had boiled eggs and toast this morning."

"That's it?'

Tsukuyomaru nods.

That's. . . that's just sad. Inuyasha decides a change in pace will have to be arranged. It's a wonder the kid's as muscular as he is with the improper eating habits he has. Inuyasha explores the refrigerator again and pulls out a few items to whip something quick together: taco wraps, cold chicken cutlets, cubed watermelon, cucumbers, a couple of apples, spinach leaves, shredded cheese and Greek yogurt.

This'll do for a decent lunch. Inuyasha taps his chin in thought, conjuring different kinds of preps from the limited supply before him. "Since you had a hot meal, we'll go cold this time. You good with that?"

Tsukuyomaru perks up tall, his smile as big as a melon slice. "I'll eat whatever you put in front of me. Call me the demon garbage disposal!"

Inuyasha smirks and nods. "Alright, cold lunch it is." He pulls the sleeves back on his. . . Inuyasha's nose twitches. He looks at his sleeve and the rest of his body and can't believe he didn't smell himself sooner. He looks over at Tsukuyomaru and asks, "Mind if I use your shower?"

The tension between the boy was massively thick to the say the least. When they arrived at his home, Sesshomaru felt the pulsating sparks from their auras the moment they walked through. The smallest word or wrong gesture could easily trigger a fight. He'd hate to kill Inuyasha's son for breaking his favorite lamp. His own boy knows the consequences of roughhousing indoors.

So, after getting Inuyasha settled in, Sesshomaru thought it best to separate the two by taking Hiten with him to find items for the meal they'll be eating. Tsukuyomaru barely knows his way around the kitchen. It stands to reason that Inuyasha would likely pass some of his skills down to his kid.

That's how they ended up in the supermarket, silently scouring the shelves in each aisle. Sesshomaru thought himself a true master of brooding. He's got nothing on this kid. He may as well pass the title to him. But it's understandable that he isn't comfortable being around him. Most half-breed children would prefer demons around their age or their parents opposed to being in the present of someone who likely thinks you're inferior. And he whooped his father's ass too, so there's that.

But he can tell there's more to Hiten's silence then those things. God, Sesshomaru hates making small conversation. He's so bad at it.

He angles his head to try speaking and discreetly straightens when he finds Hiten looking directly at him.

Sesshomaru lifts an eyebrow. "Yes?"

Hiten lifts his own. "You're not real friendly, are you?"

"I never saw a point in trying."

"You should consider it. Having a friend or two won't kill you. You're about as much of a conversationalist as my ole man and that's sayin' something."

It's a start. "I take it Inu-Ya-Sha hates having company too?"

"Why do you say his name like that?"

"He has a demon name. I can't resist."

Hiten stills, then a small smile creeps on his face. "You're an awful tease." He walks ahead to continue finger reading over the ingredients found in a can of beans and shakes his head. "My dad will flip if he finds out we're buying processed foods."

"Why's that?" Sesshomaru asks before realizing.

Hiten looks at him curiously. "Well, he's insanely health-conscious. Nothing goes in his body unless me or him choose it. And he figures if he can't see the food in its container, there's no chance in making a purchase."

Sesshomaru shifts the grocery basket to his other arm to take the can of beans out of Hiten's hand and reads through the ingredients on the label. He glances down at Hiten. "How do you feel about it?"

Hiten shrugs. "I agree with him for the most part. He's part of the reason behind why I wanna learn more about molecular gastronomy."

"You're his opposite then. I assume Saotome prefers to read the ingredients and strategically go with what likely compliments them all."

"It isn't just that. Dad's able to change the taste of an entire dish just from careful measurements, punctual time of production, freshness, and spice selection, just to name a few. He's a stickler for impeccability. I seen him shut down a whole shift just for serving fish that'd lost its firmness."

Sesshomaru's mouth twists to the side. "That's a bit, what ya'll sayin' now? Extra as hell."

Hiten chuckles heartily. "You sound weird stayin' hip. Good try though." He takes the can from Sesshomaru and places it back on the shelf. "We'll have better luck in the produce section."

"You're not much for traditional cooking," Sesshomaru continues when they'd found all the things they needed. Color him intrigued. He never knew there was so much to know from cooking. "You want to cook, but not like your father."

"Nah, I like to know how each ingredient is broken down to the most basic molecular and what capabilities it holds that makes it enhance the flavor on a dish. Dad's able to eyeball it most of the time, but I want a broader perspective. Once I have it mastered, I'll challenge him to see where I stand. I doubt I'll win though."

"So, you're a lab rat and he's a kitchen nut."

Hiten laughs again. "Yeah, you can say that."

They finish bagging their belongings and head to the parking lot to store the food in the trunk. Hiten's energy isn't as constricted as before. He's loosened up and more talkative. Most of the chatter is from his end during their trip back. Sesshomaru replies in the spots he needs to hold his weight in the talk. Funnily, he can't understand why he's able to speak to teenagers better than adults. His son and now Hiten.

When they arrive, Hiten hops out first to grab what he can and heads into the house. Sesshomaru gets what's left and shuts the door behind him. What he'd expected to find is his son mowing the lawn and since that wasn't the first thing he saw, assumed Tsukuyomaru was doing some other chore.

Instead, he finds him halfway into their stove, carrying on a talk with Inuyasha like they're best friends. Meanwhile, Inuyasha's taken it upon himself to clean the kitchen. And it smells heavily of vanilla extract.

"Dad!" Hiten drops the groceries on the dining room table and rushes in to hug his father. "About time you woke up. You really like givin' me a heart attack huh?"

Inuyasha ruffles his head. "I'm fine, brat. No need to get worked up over it."

"Sheesh, your face is jacked!"

Inuyasha promptly pops Hiten on the back on the head. "Get outta here. You could've tried to act like you didn't see it."

"A knot that size is pretty hard to miss."

Inuyasha visibly freezes from head to toe before casting a diabolical glare over his shoulder. Sesshomaru meets it head on with a bored stare.

Sesshomaru blinks. "Is that my shirt?"

Inuyasha pinches the oversized blue and black plaid long sleeve and shrugs. "Yeah, I don't cook in dirty clothes. You got a problem with that?"

"Not if you're down with cookin' with one eye."

Inuyasha bristles. "You'd do well to keep all personal opinions to yourself. Unless you don't mind eating charred food?"

Tsukuyomaru crawls from inside the stove with a desperate expression and a brush in hand. "Please don't make 'im mad, Dad. He's gonna cook for us!"

Sesshomaru gestures towards his son. "Just what in the Hell are you doin'?"

"Cleaning out the stove." Tsukuyomaru proudly holds up the metal brush. "Mr. Saotome says it'll help improve our food's taste."

"Of course he did," Sesshomaru snorts. "That's task he should have committed himself to. It isn't like he has much of a choice anyway."

A plate crashes violently in the sink. Inuyasha whips around so fast his hair takes seconds to catch up. "Listen here you disrespectful hound." Inuyasha stomps directly up to the demon, jabbing a finger in his chest. "I may have agreed to this dumbass bet, but I'll be damned if I take bein' insulted and/or humiliated. You had your damn fun in the ring. Lay the Hell off me, got it?!"

Tsukuyomaru hisses sympathically before diving back into the stove with his brush. "I-I'll just be in here."

"Yeah, I'll get to puttin' away the groceries," Hiten uneasily chimes in and grabs some bags. He tries to squeeze his way around the standoff currently taking place between his father and Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru none too gently slaps the hand away and leans forward until a half inch is left between him and Inuyasha. "If memory serves, you had ample opportunity to call it quits. But since you wanted to try goin' into some beast mode nonsense, you ended up being served your comeuppance. So bypass me with your complaints."

Sesshomaru reaches out to grab whatever's bag is in range without taking his eyes away and thrusts it in Inuyasha's chest, nearly making the human stumble back a step. "Here, make yourself useful and start your job."

Inuyasha stares blankly at the bag, from the feel of it, an onion and a slice of steak, in his arms for a moment, before he realizes what he'd just been ordered to do. He shoves it back into Sesshomaru's chest. "There's a magic word you use first."

Sesshomaru returns it just as roughly, dark eyes lit with anger. "I believe," he says, voice deadly cold, "that I told you to do something and since this is my house—you are expected to listen like a good cook should." The bags shoved back into Inuyasha's chest, barely padding a well-aimed punch from the hand giving it.

Inuyasha grunts from the solid hit, doubling over briefly and shooting Sesshomaru a foul look. The bag nearly falls from his hands. "And you should be kinder in asking your guests to do something for you. Learn some damn manners! Now," the bag is slammed into Sesshomaru's chest and Inuyasha steps up with it, nose to nose with the demon and says through clenched teeth, "try it again with less bark and bite."

Something crackles and snaps in the distance. Sesshomaru's eyes briefly morph from hazel gold to crimson—

"Dad, nononononono!" Tsukuyomaru quickly pushes his way in between the men and grabs the bag. "I'll take this, thank you. Hiten, please help."

Hiten takes Inuyasha's hand and leads him into the living room. The whole time Inuyasha keeps his eyes trained on the demon, hardly fazed by the coming threat. Meanwhile, Tsukuyomaru reminds his father that they live in a decently sized finite area and if he decides to transform, they don't have the funds to fix the damages.

The teenagers take around twenty minutes to calm their fathers down. Hiten volunteers to start prepping the food. Tsukuyomaru decides to help wherever he's able. Inuyasha eventually comes out of the living room, ignoring Sesshomaru where he sits at the dining room table, cutting ugly looks in his direction. Inuyasha discreetly flips him off. Sesshomaru rolls his eyes and mumbles a low, "Fuck you."

The rest of the time the dinner is cooked, there's no words exchanged. The silence is minutely penetrated with metallic clanks and clicks, loud whipping and boiling water. The whole time, Sesshomaru stays rooted to his chair, sulking.

Inuyasha is the first to break the silence and sighs aloud. "You have any cilantro?"

"Lower shelf, next to the microwave," Sesshomaru grunts.

"Gee, thanks." Inuyasha finds it. He grabs an onion and a cutting board and brings it to the table. He lays the stuff before Sesshomaru who looks at him like he's lost his mind. "Here, do you mind making yourself useful and chopping these? Finely chopped, not all blocky and uneven."

The teens freeze where they are. Hiten's knife pauses midway through chopping potatoes and Tsukuyomaru doesn't budge from the soap suds leak from his arms.

Sesshomaru looks from the onion, to Inuyasha, back to the human, then rolls his eyes and grabs the knife and starts snapping it down on the vegetable.

Inuyasha smiles triumphantly and proudly says, "Thank you," before returning to his place in the kitchen.

Hiten and Tsukuyomaru nearly melt into the floor.

By the time the meal is complete, Inuyasha lays out the dishes for Tsukuyomaru and Sesshomaru.

"Where's yours?" asks Tsukuyomaru.

Hiten's cheeks color. "Dad says we're gonna eat at home."

"Oh." Tsukuyomaru dampens a bit. "Thanks for the food, Mr. Saotome."

"No problem, kid." Inuyasha shoots Sesshomaru a dirty look and sucks his teeth. "We'll arrange a way to have food sent here."

Sesshomaru rests his chin on the back of his knuckles and narrows his eyes. "That isn't what we agreed to."

"Your terms weren't quite clear," Inuyasha says. "You said I'd cook for you, not provide a show. I'll do things my way." With that said, he stalks out the household with Hiten in tote.

Sesshomaru stares after the pair until they disappear out the house and shut the door. He reaches up to massage the space between his eyes, unable to fathom how in the actual fuck he'll be able to deal with a firecracker like Inuyasha.

"Oh Jesus, God!"

Sesshomaru looks up, frowning.

Tsukuyomaru sinks all the way to the floor. "Dad this steak melts in your mouth like butter!"

Sesshomaru looks down at the plate without having paid much attention to the smell or presentation. He hadn't expected the steak he bought to be glazed over. He doesn't remember buying anything that could do that. There's smashed potatoes, steamed broccoli—where did he get that? —and fresh baked rolls. He sniffs it and the smell alone nearly curls his toes.

He cuts into it the steak and wraps his tongue and lips around it. Sesshomaru's fingers seize up, his foot taps and his eyes shut against his will. "Shit," he mumbles around the morsel. The meat practically breaks away like liquid and flavors explode all over.

All of this from his modest kitchen?

"Oh Dad, I'm so glad you made this bet. We're gonna eat like kings!"

Sesshomaru can't help smiling at that. "Yes. Yes, we will."