That Summer by Tal

Jobs and Summer Should Not Mix

Chapter 1: Jobs and Summer Should Not Mix

“Gah! ‘You need a summer job,’ he says… ‘She’s an old family friend and helping her out would be a good way to spend your summer,’ he says…  Well Dad, did you even ask me if I wanted to spend my summer wasting away on some kami-forsaken farm helping an old bat?”  The silver-haired youth grumbled as he loaded up his baggage into the train compartment.  He pointedly ignored the small group that were hovering in the background, come to see him off.

When the cart previously loaded with baggage was empty, the tall man who shared his son’s features stepped forward, laying a hand on the teen’s shoulders. “Look, Sesshoumaru, I know you’re not happy with me…” The older man chose to ignore the “Oh, really, you figured that out?” from his son.  “But the Higurashi family has been very kind to us over the years.  Please, Sesshoumaru, just spend this one summer on the Higurashi farm and help Higurashi-san out.”

“Why couldn’t Inuyasha be the one to get exiled for the summer?”  Sesshoumaru pouted.  He certainly did not want to go to some backwoods farm for the summer and milk cows… or something.  Sesshoumaru was 200 years old (19 in human years), darn it, and after FINALLY graduating from school (because society measured in terms of human years, so therefore it was a really, really long school term), he wanted to be able to spend his time freely.

The older demon raised an eyebrow.  “First, it is not exile.  It is a matter of honor that you help Higurashi-san out after the kindness her family has shown ours.  Second, Inuyasha has yet to pass the tenth grade, and this summer, must attend extra schooling.  Last, you are behaving as a child.  It is merely three months that Higurashi-san needs help while the rest of her family is away attending to other matters of great importance.  You will be on your best behavior, and if I hear one word of you acting childish and not helping Higurashi-san, I will arrange it so that you spend all of winter in your full youkai form and invite ALL of the neighborhood children to give you a makeover EVERY day.”

Sesshoumaru almost whimpered at the thought.  “Fine… I’ll go, but there had better be some damn good reward waiting for me when I return.”

“Depending on your behavior, we shall see.  It is almost time for you train to leave, so board it quickly.  Remember to write a letter home every so often.  And also remember…  Winter.  Big Fluffy Dog.  Makeover.”

“… I will remember, father.”

Sesshoumaru didn’t bother to say anything else, and chose to ignore his father’s cheerful farewells, as well as his younger half-brother’s or stepmother’s waves.  Instead, as the train pulled away from the station, he directed his eyes towards the horizon, gazing blankly into the distance.  Mood quite bleak, Sesshoumaru sulked as the miles passed between his home and his unwanted destination.

A/N: Yes, Sesshy is OOC.  This is a songfic based on Garth Brooks' "That Summer," and I'm trying to put Sesshy in the role the song has them in.  If you are curious as to where the lyrics are, please see my profile for my stance on lyrics in fics.  If you know how the song ends... well, please don't ruin it for anyone else.  While I will follow the general flow of the song, I still reserve the right to throw curveballs at you that AREN'T mentioned in the song :3