Shippou was in a tree, hiding from that Inu-baka.

"That idiot! Why's he always gotta hit me! It'd probly be better with Sesshoumaru!" Even as he said it, Shippou knew he didn't mean it. Inuyasha had helped him avenge his papa. And something told him that Sesshoumaru never would have done such a thing. Plus he was terrifying. Inuyasha hits, but Sesshomaru was a cold-blooded killer.

He ran a small hand through his red hair and winced at the lump on his head. Stupid Inuyasha.

"Oi, Shippou!!" Said kitsune stiffened as the familiar voice rang out right beneath him. Inuyasha was probly back for revenge because of the sit!

"I know you're up there, so ya might as well come down!" Inuyasha frowned as no answer came from the branches above him. If that fox wasn't gonna come down, he'd come up.

It sent and unpleasant felling up the hanyou's spine when he saw how Shippou cringed and scrunched his small body against the tree as much as he could, once he'd seen the hanyou on his branch.

Shippou waited a minute for a blow to come, but none ever did. Instead, he slowly uncurled to turn and see Inuyasha sitting cross-legged on the branch, staring down at the village tensely.

"D'you really think my b-half-brother's better'n me." The words were fired out so rapidly that Shippou almost didn't make them out, and Inuyasha still wasn't looking at him.

"Well he'd never hit Rin-chan for wanting to be something when she grew up!" Shippou couldn't help replying the way his smarting head wanted him to and once again prepared for a blow that never came. What was up with Inuyasha? He had a funny look on his face and was staring at his toes in a very un-Inuyashalike manner.

"Oh…" Inuyasha got to his feet and turned to leave as suddenly as he came.

"Ah! Wait, Inuyasha!" The hanyou paused and half-turned to regard the red-faced kitsune. It was Shippou's turn to avoid Inuyasha's eyes now.

"Um… I lied. I wouldn't wanna be like Sesshoumaru when I grow up." Shippou crossed his arms and stared down at the village as he listened to Inuyasha jump back down to the ground. Before muttering, "I wanna be like you…" quietly under his breath so he was sure the hanyou couldn't hear.

-

Inuyasha halted mid-step at the words washed over him.

"I wanna be like you…" And grinned, he'd half to work on his role-model skills then.

Everyone in the village noticed the hanyou's lighter step and some actually fled to their homes at the happy look on his face.

He finally had one-upped his brother.