Disclaimer: I don't own anyone.

Notes: Sorry for the late update! And thank you for reviewing.

'So could that be considered a weakness?' Teenage Sesshoumaru asked himself, pondering what his father had said to him the other day while training.

--

Sesshoumaru charged forward at full speed and expended his hand, forming the light-whip at the tip of his claws. Upon seeing his father brace himself, he hesitated and dropped his guard, giving his father a clear shot and falling to the ground in pain. Sighing, Touga walked up to him and helped him sit up. "Sesshoumaru, while training with me, you can't let your feelings get in the way. Never hesitate, never hold back, and give it your all."

"I just don't want to hurt you, Father."

Touga chuckled. "Trust me, you won't," he poked his son gently and nudged him with his elbow. "You're too puny, for one thing."

Sesshoumaru growled at this insult and forced his aching body to stand, steadying himself and gathering his demonic aura at his finger tips. 'Too puny, eh?'

--

"Does that mean that if I have any sort of emotion while fighting, I'll be defeated? Disgraced? I refuse to take such a blow to my pride," Sesshoumaru decided, slashing at a passing insect and watching it fall after it was mutilated. Looking at it in disgust, he left to join his father in the dojo. 'I won't hold back this time, Father.'

He opened the sliding door and stepped in, his practice sword at his hip. Touga was already there, waiting for him. "Ready, son?"

"Ready as I'll ever be," answered the young taiyoukai.

Touga smirked and unsheathed his sword, taking a swing at Sesshoumaru, who evaded it and had his own sword out in a flash of silver. To his father's mild surprise, no emotion showed on his face; in fact he looked quite bored. "Remember not to get to full of yourself, Sesshoumaru," Touga said as he attacked once more. He saw a weak spot spot and took his chance. Blood dripped down Sesshoumaru's side and he fell to one knee. "And always be on your guard."

Touga was going to help his son up, but there was no need; Sesshoumaru was soon back on his feet and once more in a fighting stance. This time it was to attack, not defend as before. Sesshoumaru moved quickly and relentlessly, first attacking from on side, then moving to the other before Touga could defend.

Finally, his father managed to hit him and he fell once more, grimacing in pain, but not making a sound. "I see you took my words to heart, Sesshoumaru?" Touga asked with a chuckle, "You're certainly not holding back, but you also need to learn to control your movements. Be sure that there is no flaw in your strategy, and do all of this very quickly. Can you manage?"

"Yes," Sesshoumaru said indignantly, trying to pull himself off of the ground.

"Come," Touga said, putting his son's arm around his shoulder to help him walk. "Let's get your mother to help clean you up."

Sesshoumaru tried to pull away, he tried to tell his father that he could walk himself, but Touga would hear none of it. "You need to be well for tomorrow's lesson, and I don't want you anymore hurt right now."

Sesshoumaru groaned inwardly and sighed exasperatedly. "Don't worry, Sesshoumaru, we're not sword fighting tomorrow," Touga said.

"It's not that; you're pulling my hair."

Touga started slightly at this and noticed that Sesshoumaru's long, silver hair was indeed caught in his fingers. He laughed slightly and untangled them before continuing to help him walk.

All was quiet for a few minutes before they arrived at the castle's main entrance. "Can you walk from here, son?"

Sesshoumaru pressed a hand to his bleeding side to slow the blood flow and nodded. He was about to open the sliding door when his father halted him. "By the way, you did really well today, Sesshoumaru. Keep practicing, and keep in mind what I said today." Touga praised.

Sesshoumaru managed a small smile. "Thank you, Father."

Okay, I'm so sorry I haven't updated in forever! I had writer's block so I started to get more into drawing 'cause I though that a drawing I see might spark an idea.

A/N: The 'castle' I speak of in this chapter and any others in the future is not like a fortress in Medieval times, but more of a sort of palace in Feudal Japan style. It's not more than one story high, but it is fairly huge. It's like in Inuyasha episodes where they find a wealthy village where the Lord is kept. It is like that but bigger since Sesshoumaru's family is powerful.

I hope that made sense, lol. Once again, I apologize for the late update!