Hustler by Little Sheriff

Cake

Hustler

Chapter 5 - Cake

417 Words

"I don't need to be here. I don't want to be here. Father, you know how big this is, how can you try and tell me that I have to stay here?" Sesshoumaru stared at his father in frustration, willing him to understand.

"I'm not trying to tell you. I am telling you. This is your brother's 4th birthday and you will be there for it." Inutashio replied, already tired of this argument.

"But father! It's the qualifying tournament today! If I don't make this one, then I can't play in the other tournaments. They don't invite just anyone in the area, you know that. You've been to these tournaments before, but this is the first one I've ever been invited to. I might not get another chance if you take this away!" Sesshoumaru was agitated, unable to hold still as he argued with his father, his usual mask cracking.

"There's always next year. It's important to Izayoi-"

"Oh? That's it is it?" Sesshoumaru cut his father off upon hearing his step-mother's name, "She doesn't want me to go? Of course she doesn't, she hasn't ever supported me playing pool, Why are you letting her take this opportunity away from me? She's not my mother, she shouldn't have a say in ruining my life!"

"She's not trying to ruin your life!" Inutashio was close to yelling at his oldest son, his eyes glaring back at Sesshoumaru, "Izayoi loves the both of you, and the both of us think it's best that you're here for Inuyasha's birthday. And the only reason she doesn't like you playing pool is because she worries about someone as young as you alone in those pool halls."

"I didn't use to be alone there. You used to go with me." Sesshomaru said in an almost whisper, his head down, hair covering his face from his father's view.

"Yes well... times change." Inutashio responded, looking away guiltily. He knew he hadn't been paying Sesshoumaru as much attention since he had met Izayoi, but surely that was normal? "You're still going to be here tonight for Inuyasha's party tonight." With that said, Inutashio walked off, leaving his Sesshoumaru standing alone in the kitchen. Sesshoumaru stood frozen for a minute, staring down at the island counter. Inuyasha's cake sat on the counter, it's bright colors and "Happy 4th Inu!" mocking him. Sesshoumaru glared at the cake for another moment before pushing it off the counter so it fell off and walking back up to his room.

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A/N: You know, eventually I'm going to get around to writing stuff that doesn't make me feel like simultaneously hugging and hitting Sesshoumaru. We're almost to the real story part, I swear. But this chappy is important. Remember, no tourny for Sesshoumaru. It affects his life there.