A/N: Just a little idea that came to me. Hope you guys enjoy!

Quick note: Take everything Karasu-Tengu says about his children with a grain of salt. Like a lot of parents, he's making things out to be worse than they are.

Disclaimer: I don't own Nurarihyon no Mago.

"I'm telling you, Gyuuki, I just can't take it anymore!"

Karasu-Tengu gave a heavy sigh, taking a sip from the cup of tea in his lap. Beside him, the head of the Gyuuki Clan sat in silence, his own cup of tea held loosely in his hands. The two youkai were seated on the porch of the main house, Gyuuki having arrived yesterday with the other leaders and representatives of the Nura Clan to celebrate the birth of the Second Heir's son.

The small tengu continued on, oblivious to his companion's silence. "Have you seen the way Tosakamaru disgraced himself in front of the Second Heir at the celebration last night? I swear I've never seen such a complete lack of manners! You'd think he had been raised clanless in a cave! And did you see what the boy did to his hair? His hair! It shouldn't be any business of mine what they do to their human-like forms, but no matter what appearance he takes, he is still a crow! It's as if I fathered a peacock!"

"And Kuromaru—that insolent upstart! Barely more than a nestling, and he thinks he's ready to issue orders and muster the crows without my permission? Last night—oh, last night—he had the brazenness—the gall—to ask the Second Heir to make him part of his Hyakki Yakou. I have never been so embarrassed in my life! It's one thing to swear loyalty on bended knee, but to stride in uninvited without a care in the world and ask to be invited into the inner circle…I don't know where he gets it from!"

Gyuuki raised his cup to his lips and said nothing, calmly taking a sip of tea. He lowered the cup to his lap as Karasu-Tengu tried to collect himself, taking deep breaths.

"Finally, Sasami!" exclaimed Karasu-Tengu. "I thought she had a better head on her shoulders than her brothers, but no! All last night, preening in front of the mirror to impress some vassal's son! What does she see in him anyway? And when I looked around to ask her why she had not prevented her brother from drinking too much at the party, what do I find? My daughter—my only daughter—intoxicated and shamelessly flirting with some little whelp. It's as if the world's gone mad!"

He threw his wings up into the air dramatically, scattering black feathers everywhere. "Honestly! Sometimes I feel like heirs are not worth this kind of aggravation! Do you know how I feel, Gyuuki?"

The head of the Gyuuki Clan opened his eyes, staring at the pathway to the gates. Silence fell for a moment.

"But Gooozzzuuuu! Why do I always have to be the girl?"

Karasu-Tengu looked up, watching as Gozumaru appeared, dragging a whining and struggling Mezumaru by the hand as the two of them walked towards the main gate, no doubt out to play some mischief on the unsuspecting denizens of Ukiyoe Town. The source of Mezumaru's distress was immediately clear. While his brother was dressed in his normal outfit, Mezumaru was dressed in a bright yellow kimono that looked like it had been stolen from the Second Heir's wife, his mask off and his blue hair tied up in pigtails.

"Shut up, Mezu!" said Gozumaru. "I'm in disguise too!"

"But you look just like you always do!" whined Mezumaru as the two of them disappeared down the gate.

Karasu-Tengu turned towards Gyuuki, wide-eyed. The other youkai was silent, his face expressionless as Mezumaru's protests faded into the distance. He closed his eyes and took a slow sip of tea, his shoulders rising as he took a slow breath through his nose. When Gyuuki finally spoke, his voice was slow and almost unnaturally calm, as if he kept his tone neutral only through great force of will.

"Indeed."