Z is for Zabernism
The sun was shining brightly in the midday sky. The wind was blowing gently through the forest's trees. The group had stopped to take a break alongside a small stream that wound through the forest. All in all, it seemed like just another day in the Feudal Era.
Kagome, Sango, Kilala and Miroku were all resting along the bank when suddenly a cry sounded from the forest.
"Waaaah! Kagome, Inuyasha is being mean again!" Shippo ran crying out of the underbrush to where Kagome sat at the stream's edge. Inuyasha walked slightly behind Shippo, scowl apparent on his face.
"Oh quit your whining you little brat! It's your own fault. I—"
"Inuyasha!" Kagome stood up and faced Inuyasha with her hands on her hips and prepared her lecture for the day. "Shippo is just a little kid. You shouldn't be mean to him."
"He's not a little kid. He happens to be a young fox demon. And he is not as innocent and helpless as you think he is." Inuyasha arrogantly crossed his arms in front of his chest in a show of defiance.
"I doubt that there is very much that he could actually do to harm you that would warrant you hurting him."
"Why are you always taking his side? You don't even know what he did to me! He..." Inuyasha fumed.
Kagome tuned him out as he continued his rant. It was the same every day. Inuyasha picked on Shippo. Then when Shippo got back at Inuyasha, Inuyasha got mad and hit Shippo. Then she had to referee between them and scold Inuyasha for hitting Shippo.
Kagome growled loudly. She had had it. "Shut up! Inuyasha, I have had it with your misplaced belief in the appropriateness of zabernism!" Kagome screamed loudly.
Inuyasha immediately shut up and looked at Kagome with a confused expression. "My misplaced belief in the appropriateness of what? What the hell are you talking about Kagome?"
"Zabernism. It is word that means the misuse of military power or bullying. And that is exactly what you do to Shippo all the time: you bully him!" Kagome explained.
"Oh. So then that means that could be called zabernism too." Inuyasha said, mostly to himself.
Now it was Kagome's turn to display a confused expression. "What could also be called zabernism?"
"The way you always use this necklace against me even when it's not necessary. Especially if Kouga started some crap with me."
Kagome stood shocked with her mouth hanging open at Inuyasha's claim.
Sango and Miroku shared a glance at Inuyasha's declaration and waited for the inevitable fallout.
"INUYASHA, SIT!" Kagome yelled. A loud thud was heard as the spell took effect. Birds quickly took to the sky to escape the Shikon Miko's wrath.
