I disclaim ownership of InuYasha and all associated characters. Credit goes to Rumiko Takahashi, respectively.

I'm trying something a little different this time around. All chapters will be short, preferably under 600 words. I have a tendency to cram too much detail, so this is a more minimalistic approach to writing. You have been warned!

Another Morning After

He woke up with a familiar taste on his tongue and a haze clouding his mind. He ran a hand down his face as he turned onto his back, sliding his tongue over fuzzy teeth in mild dismay.

"What a headache..." he grumbled. Mornings like this always sucked, because the pain he felt indicated a bad hangover again. He'd gone out drinking last night, and came back to the apartment in a drunken stupor. 'Probably forgot to buy any more...'

Sitting up slowly, he finally opened his eyes. He was still in yesterday's clothes, and he could tell from the pull of odd strands that his hair had been mussed overnight. But before he fixed his appearance, he rolled off the bed and reached under the mattress, pulling out a small silver flask. He propped himself against the bed and started to drink.

Not much time had went by, and just when he could feel the liquor kick in, the door to his room was opened and there stood his brother, scowling down at him.

"Suikotsu...what's shakin'?"

Suikotsu leaned against the doorframe with arms folded. "I heard you come in late last night. Or should I say four this morning?"

"Oh." Bankotsu tapped the flask against his lips a couple times before taking another sip. "Guess I woke you guys up. I tried to be quiet...I think."

Suikotsu shook his head. "Are you being serious right now? And what's in that bottle?"

From the floor, the young man held up the bottle and slightly shook the remaining contents. He grimaced and said, "The cure to my awful headache...and it's almost gone. Damn."

"Bankotsu, this has got to stop!" Suikotsu snapped. He crossed the floor and snatched the flask from his brother's hand, earning himself a cold glare as Bankotsu reached for the flask without enough speed.

"What the fuck? Give it back already, I told you I have a headache!" While Bankotsu struggled to get up, his brother had already left. By the time Bankotsu caught up with him, Suikotsu had poured the last drops of liquid out of the flask and down the kitchen sink. The sight set a fire under Bankotsu and he yelled out, "Hey! That was all I had left!"

All Suikotsu did in the face of his brother's wrath was scowl even more. All he wanted was his brother's happiness, but if alcohol was the answer, he wouldn't stand for it any longer. The drinking had gone on long enough, and it was time to finally put a foot down.

"No brother, no more of this," Suikotsu said sternly. "You have got to stop drinking! Why do you continue to do this to yourself when you know how much it hurts your family and friends to see you this way?" He screwed the cap onto the flask and promptly threw it away. When Bankotsu tried to get to the trash can, Suikotsu stood his ground in front of it.

Bankotsu growled. Anger flashed in his eyes as he spat out, "It's my prerogative, and mine alone! Now give it to me!"

"It doesn't matter Bankotsu, the alcohol inside is gone!" Suikotsu replied, raising his voice to help get the message across. A moment after he spoke, Bankotsu stopped grabbing at his brother, and stood very still. Then he slowly sunk to the floor and proceeded to brood. Mornings like this always sucked, but this one was exceptionally irritating.

A/N: This chapter was written using prompt #21; Never Again from The Original List of Themes, created by #100ThemeWriters on DeviantArt.