I know it has been far too long, I apologize for it. Life and getting ready to transfer to a 4 year college has kept me busy. I am hopeful that those who like this story had not given up on it and continue to read. As always I thank my wonderful beta who has helped me edit throughout the story. Merry Christmas all!

Chapter 10-Honor

Golden eyes stared unblinkingly at their double. One pair held centuries endless power and wisdom in their wake. The other pair sparkled with the untold promise of redemption and a crackle of hidden power, waiting to be unleashed from behind gates of gold.

"You realize what you're asking, Inuyasha?" His father pressed, leaning towards his youngest son from across his mahogany desk.

Inuyasha crossed his arms across his charcoal colored suit, suppressing the urge to growl. He wasn't some belligerent pup! His knowledge was sufficiently up to standard, especially when it came to Shippou.

"I want to be able to protect him." Inuyasha's voice was hushed. He studied the flawless wood of the desk, tracing it with a long, curved claw. If his father insisted on questioning him on such affairs, then the least he could do was place faith in him that he wouldn't screw it up.

He's placed trust within you in the past. Look where that got him. Can you really blame him for not trusting you now? Inuyasha's thoughts betrayed his outward feelings. This was different. Shippou was different.

Lord Takao watched his son fidget, fighting the bubble of warmth that swelled in his chest. He would give no indication of his feelings on the matter at hand. This was something that Inuyasha had to do on his own. Still, the demon lord felt the flickering of fatherly pride flare up once more and couldn't help but embrace it, if only internally. The pup that stood before him wore a neutral expression...but his eyes gave him away.

It's always the eyes. We Inuyoukai keep our emotions buried deep within, the eyes being the only key to our conflicting thoughts. Lord Takao mused to himself, thinking fondly of his human mate. Inuyasha took after his mother in many ways, but this particular trait he shared by the youkai blood that ran through him.

He shares the desire to protect as well. Takao nodded briskly, reading his son's expressions through practiced eyes.

"I will make the call then."

He picked up the phone and began dialing, his long ivory fingers gliding smoothly over the buttons. It had been a long time since he had thought about contacting this number.

Inuyasha singled out the sound of a wheezy cough on the other end.

His father seemed to steel himself for something as he pressed the phone tighter to his pointed ear.

"It's time." The daiyoukai replied, his mouth set into a firm line. He paused a moment to listen before he continued. Inuyasha could hear a slight murmur, but couldn't make out the words.

"Yes, make the preparations as soon as possible."

A few more words were exchanged. Inuyasha couldn't make out any of it. The person on the other line felt compelled to speak in raspy, hushed tones. Takao placed the phone back into its cradle.

"You want to tell me what that was all about?" Inuyasha jerked his head towards the sleek looking corporate phone.

His father ignored him, scribbling something onto a piece of stationary.

Personalized no doubt, Inuyasha thought with a bristle. His father always was one to keep up with appearances.

"Go to this address, you will find what you seek there." Takao dismissed his son with a wave, eyes already returning back to his computer.

Inuyasha stiffened, a familiar fire creeping into his veins. So, he was to be dismissed like some low level secretary? Just like that? His father owed him more of an explanation, and Inuyasha wasn't leaving until he was satisfied.

He ambled over to the desk, trailing needle point claws over the glossy finish of his father's computer.

Takao looked up from the glowing screen, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. "I was under the impression that we were finished here. Was there something else?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact there is", Inuyasha replied coolly, allowing his claws to penetrate the computers fine hardware, running deep gashes through the monitor.

He stepped back to admire his handiwork, eyeing the colorful array of wires as they sparked and flashed from within the computer.

Takao stood abruptly, curling his claws into his palms. Although Inuyasha was tall, his forehead only came to his father's nose. He realized at that moment how effective height could be as his father towered over him.

Inuyasha could detect the shift in his father's scent, the unbridled youkai simmering just below the surface. He knew, because he shared half his blood with the demon before him. Such raw and untamed power was not to be underestimated.

"You're belligerence goes too far, pup." His father's voice was low, like gravel rumbling in Inuyasha's chest. The hanyou fought back the urge to submit. Inuyasha knew his father's tone well, and he also knew from experience the consequences that subsequently followed such a voice.

Inuyasha felt the sting at the word pup. Though it was undoubtedly true, it still bothered him that his father considered him no more than an impudent child. Hadn't he proven himself thus far? Hadn't he proven that he was ready to take on responsibility by accepting everything his father threw at him? All the burdens that were supposed to weigh him down. All the projects no matter how miniscule or demeaning. At every turn it seemed that people were watching him, waiting for one tiny misstep. He proved them all wrong by conquering all trials that were sent his way.

Hadn't he proven that he was ready to be an adult? He definitely thought so...Shippou was proof of that. Although they had only just begun this shaky arrangement, he felt a bond with the boy. He knew it wasn't going to be easy. That there was still so much more he would need to learn. The least his father could do was show him some damn support, if he was ever going to survive this.

"Tell me what I need to know." Inuyasha hissed trying not to let his emotion get the best of him.

Golden eyes flashed. Takao managed to hold his anger in check. He hadn't lived thousands of years, honing his skills, only to let himself be undone by his own son. Still, this pup needed to know who was the alpha.

As quick as lightning, Inuyasha found himself sprawled on his back. His father crouched gracefully above him, one hand effortlessly pinning him to the ground.

Just as easily, Takao reached towards him, slicing away the expensive collar to expose the pale, smooth column of his son's throat.

"You would do well to remember your place." His father reminded him, his claws dancing across Inuyasha's neck.

Inuyasha could do nothing but seethe. Struggling was useless, he knew, but that didn't mean he was going to just roll over and submit like some lowly dog!

"If I am interrupting, I can always return later at your convenience." A smooth, cool voice cut through Inuyasha's heated flesh. To be found in such a position, it was degrading!

Silent Italian shoes made their way gracefully across the office to stop directly in front of the quivering hanyou. At last, when Inuyasha thought his youkai blood would explode from within, his father let him up.

Slowly, so as to quiet the raging beast, Inuyasha stood up. Taking a deep breath, he prepared himself to look into another pair of identical eyes. These were framed by long, thick eyelashes. Lustrous bangs the color of moonlight fell across flawless skin. Magenta stripes donned the perfectly sculpted cheekbones of the demon before him. A violet crescent moon flared proudly on the illustrious forehead of none other than Sesshomaru Takahashi, his bastard of an older brother. Half brother if you wanted to get technical. Technicality was all that kept Inuyasha from lunging at Sesshomaru.

Their blood may have tied them together, but that was where the family ties ended. Being related to Sesshomaru didn't mean shit as far as Inuyasha was concerned. His older brother was still the cold hearted, merciless, conniving, self centered, arrogant bastard he was when Inuyasha first met him years ago. Nothing had changed.

They were the heirs of one of the greatest daiyouikai's in Japan's history. It was blood that bound them together and that same blood distanced them. Sesshomaru despised Inuyasha for corrupting their father and tainting their bloodline with his half human heritage. Inuyasha hated Sesshomaru for rejecting him and holding constant prejudice over him and his mother. Unfortunately for them, family was family, and there was a sense of honor to uphold. You didn't refuse a call from family. Both brothers knew this, though they were reluctant to admit it.

"Glad you could join us Sesshomaru." Takao stood up, brushing his shirt off as if nothing had happened.

"I do what is required to keep our bloodline strong and prosperous. Honor is of the utmost importance to our pack. You of all people should know that little brother." Sesshomaru turned a haughty glance towards Inuyasha, relishing in the red stain that flushed the younger demon's cheeks.

"You're one to talk. As if honor holds such a place, given your history. You're mother would know all about honor wouldn't she, Sesshomaru?" The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.

Inuyasha knew he had struck a chord deep within his older brother. Everyone knew the disgrace the great Lady had felt having found her mate with a human lover. It had been a slap in the face to her faithfulness. Her honorable reputation was tainted, her reign a joke, having been upstaged by a lowly human.

Inuyasha watched as the arrogant smirk faded from Sesshomaru's face, replaced by an ugly snarl. Golden orbs flashed crimson as the daiyoukai fought to control the rippling aura that simmered from behind eyes of steel.

"If you insist on acting in such a manner, I suggest you take your quarrels elsewhere." Takao commanded, his voice betraying the last word. No one defied him after father had given his orders.

With great effort, Sesshomaru managed to reel his youkai in. The air crackled with barely contained energy, the temperature noticeably rising. He closed his eyes, forcing the youkai that longed to spill Inuyasha's blood deep beneath his many barriers. His fangs retracted, and he tasted pennies in his mouth.

Whirling on the spot, the great demon strode out of the office with an air of superiority shrouding his aura. Inuyasha watched him go, repressing his own heated blood. He knew it was utterly useless to try and bait Sesshomaru. He, who was a thousand times stronger than Inuyasha. The hanyou knew that one day, it could very well end with his own demise, but that didn't stop him from aggravating the icy demon from time to time.

Still….what Sesshomaru had said got under Inuyasha's skin. Attacking his mother like that, it was low. Honor, it was such a ludicrous word. To the humans of today's society, honor meant next to nothing. To demons however, honor was all there was. It was everything. Izayoi had broken all ties with her own rigid society when she had mated with Inuyasha's father. Human society's feeble definition of honor shattered under her decision to bed a demon. Takao's own honor had crumbled dangerously as well, having taken a human lover while still tied to his youkai mate, it was unthinkable. Inuyasha hadn't known any of this. His birth didn't come until after the whispers and gossip had died to a dull roar.

Yet Sesshomaru still held Inuyasha accountable for his own mother's failed marriage with their father. Inuyasha's birth seemed only to enrage the daiyoukai even more, until he isolated himself, becoming almost inactive within the company until very recently.

"Weren't you in need of Sesshomaru's help?" His father said breaking through Inuyasha's thoughts.

Damn.

His father was right. Inuyasha turned golden orbs to face him.

Lord Takao was inspecting his slashed monitor with a critical eye, as if critiquing the damage his son had inflicted on it.

"This will need replacing." His father indicated, as he gingerly touched one of the protruding wires.

Inuyasha caught the expectant look. He smirked, reveling in the irrational stunt he had pulled against his father. It took a lot to get the old man riled up, and Inuyasha hadn't pulled something like this in quite a while. Of course, actions like that didn't come without consequences, and Inuyasha would kick himself later for the money it would cost him to replace his father's pricey computer. But for now, it had been worth it.

"Expect a package from me soon." He replied vaguely, already strolling towards the door.

"There's still the matter of your apartment we need to discuss."

That sentence held Inuyasha at the doorway. There really was no way of getting out of this one he realized with a cringe. His father was insistent on seeing Inuyasha pay his dues.

"Very well", he relented. "I'll expect my suite ready at the estate by the end of the week. Good enough?"

Takao nodded.

"Tell the staff to prepare the extra room for Shippou." He added as he walked toward the door of his father's office.

Takao looked up, but his son was already gone.

The silver haired demon felt a chuckle bubbling deep within his chest. His son, so brash and reckless, and yet, Takao saw the change, subtle as it was. The Takahashi fire burned brightly within his youngest son.

Takao's claws hovered over the phone, ready to make a call to the estate. His wife would be thrilled with the prospect of having her youngest son home. Plus the thought of a potential grandchild was bound to make Izayoi ecstatic.

Takao shook his head fondly at the thought of his mate and her abundance of excitement over children. Poor Shippou, the pup didn't know what he'd gotten himself into.