The steel cut through the air, hitting the thin raindrops in its path. Ichimaru weighed the perfectly balanced long sword in his hand, and smiled, satisfied. It had been his last birthday present, certainly the best gift ever, and he wondered how Sazume could be happy with a mere trip to Kumari’s lands on her birthday. He waited too long for a weapon like that, and he was sure that the blue-hilted sword was a sign that his father recognized him as a man.
It was then he heard he footsteps behind him, and turned back rapidly.
“Dad!” Sesshomaru faced him. “Heh, I was, huh, practicing.”
“You call that a practice? You were playing with it, that’s what you were doing! Have you at least learned its powers?”
“Well, it would be of great help if you told me about them.”
Suddenly, the demon lord drew Tokigin and attacked. Ichimaru parried the strike, but was thrown away by his father’s strength, and hit a nearby tree.
“No, it wouldn’t. You don’t listen to me! Why did you step out in the middle of the meeting last night?
“What was the point of me staying there? I know nothing about the patrols. You never let me into any meeting with your troops’ commanders!”
“And why do you think I wanted you there yesterday? I ask you to stand by my side, maybe learn something, and what do you do? You embarrass me just because you were tired of a trip you didn’t want to take.” Sesshomaru sighed. “I thought you were mature enough to start learning to be a noble. I guess I was wrong.”
Ichimaru gulped as his father walked away.
“Great. First Sazume, now dad. I’m screwed.”
