Chapter 21:

Above the city of Tokyo, dark clouds churned, turning black as the day turned into night. The eye of the storm had passed, as hard winds came in ushering in a fresh onslaught of rain. Thunder cracked in the distance, giving the storm a voice. Away from the small shrine with a big tree outside, on the other side of the city in a skyscraper in the business district, a single light was lit an office window high above the streets.

The lavish office inside the building was linked with a small private gym, complete with punching bag and exercise equipment. Sesshoumaru, alone with his private secretary Jaken looking on, grunted as he sent another gloved fist into the punching bag as he thought about earlier that day.

Sesshoumaru's perspective:

I felt myself grunt as I sent another right hook into the punching bag. I wasn't really sure how long at had been at this. Ever since I had worked my way into this office a few years ago, I had spent the last part of every night exercising as a way to relieve my stress and reflect on my day. I huffed as I sent another one-two combination into the bag; enjoying the feeling of power I felt when the bag shook with the impact.

My encounter with the young detective Sango had been most interesting. She had come in without appointment, claiming she represented Inuyasha. Damn it! Why did that little snot have to re-appear after all this time? If it got out that my little half brother was a freak of nature, or how I had treated him, I would never be able to get into politics, where the real power was. He was still a minor, demon or no demon; anything he said about me would have great weight. The day he had run away had been the best day of my life; people didn't listen to street kids.

I still remember the rage I used to feel whenever I looked into that piece of shits golden eyes. Eyes so obviously not human, let alone related to me in any way. I had controlled myself for the first month or so after mom had died. I had barely even spoken to him. That had been before I had seen him fall out of the top branch of a tree he had been climbing when he was very young, and instead of crying, he had gotten up with a little bruise and a smile. The bruise had disappeared by the next day.

He had completely recovered after a day from something that should have killed him. That was when I realized it was okay to vent my frustration on him. He could take it. Slapping him around a little was nothing compared to falling from such a great height. And best of all, there would be no record of it by the next day. He was my own little punching bag, perfect for relieving the stress and anger I felt whenever I looked at the legacy of my mother screwing around on my dad. I didn't blame dad for leaving us; I blamed her, and Inuyasha.

Luckily, mother had left us quite a bit of money when she had passed away. I was a millionaire by the time I was twenty. Not content with that, I had decided I wanted power as well. What was money without the means to use it properly? Now in my late twenties, I had become vice president of this giant corporation, dealing in weapons research for foreign markets, like America. My next step was political office of course. Naturally.

But now had come the news my shitty little brother was back! Ms. Sango hadn't told me where she was keeping Inuyasha, she was only interested in his personality, claiming she and her organization were keeping tabs on him, and it was her duty to make sure he was not a threat to those around him, because of his demon blood. Thus her visit to me, his brother, to get my opinion on his personality, and to question why he had run away from home.

It was obvious from her questions that my brother hadn't told her about his daily beatings, or 'practice sessions' as I had liked to call them. I had never felt any guilt over treating my brother that way. Hell, it was probably how all brothers acted. Besides, I had given him food and shelter, and the brat had repaid me by running away! God I hated him. Sango's visit had given me a perfect opportunity to make him disappear once and for all. I got the feeling that if she didn't like my answers, her organization would take care of my problem for me.

With great joy I had told her all about how he liked to con people into liking him, then stealing or taking advantage when their guard was down. I told her how he used to lie to get what he wanted, patiently building up trust. Then I told her about his real temper, and the way he had used to keep it bottled up until he exploded on those around him. It had been one of his outbursts that had resulted in our mothers' death, I had explained.

All of this was a lie of course. Mother had died of cancer, and no matter what I had done to him, he had never lost control, and he had never lied to the best of my knowledge. Of course, the last time I had seen him was when he was only ten years old, but I doubted he had changed that much in only six years.

Telling her that wouldn't help me though, so I had continued by explaining I had no idea why he had run away. Other than the fact he hated to be disciplined by his older brother. He had always been headstrong, I had sighed. Sango had taken all of this in with a professional, detached air, writing various things down in a notepad in her lap as I spoke.

"Would you take Inuyasha back in, if I convinced him to return?" She had asked at last. Knowing that question would be coming, I had cringed inside, while keeping a composed face.

"I would take him back in a second, of course!" I had exclaimed, "I had given up hope." Hours spent with public speaking tutors had allowed me to put just the right mixture of worry and regret into my voice. It could be a good thing if Inu Yasha came back. It would mean I could get rid of him at my leisure.

It was a miracle he had lasted all of these years without drawing attention.

"Sir, are you alright? I never knew you even had a brother." Jaken asked, breaking me out of my thoughts and bringing me back to the present.

Jaken was a very small man in his mid sixties. He had come highly recommended, and was known for his dependability. He wasn't the smartest, but he was good at the things I told him to do. So I kept him around. After Sango left I had ordered some people to follow her for a while. I would have to contact her superiors as well. I needed to find out where Inuyasha was, fast.

"I'm fine. I am going home now, Jaken. I expect information about Ms. Sango's organization on my desk by the time I get to my office tomorrow." I said, enjoying the respect Jaken always showed me.

Bowing his wrinkled head as I passed him on my way out, his white hair carefully combed over to hide his balding spot on top, I heard him say, "Of course, sir."

Smiling to myself, I pushed the matter out of my mind, knowing it would be done.

Inuyasha would disappear, one way or another. I should have gotten rid of him years ago, but I had never been able to make myself do it. I had loved my mother, despite what she had done, and her memory had stopped me from doing anything permanent to Inuyasha. After all of these years, I had finally been able to divorce myself from those emotions.

Nothing would save my brother now.

Meanwhile across town, in the small shrine, Sango's news came as a great shock to Inuyasha and Kagome.

Inuyasha's perspective:

I felt a cold hand grip my spine at Sango's news. How could she?! All she new was his first name! I felt anger build in me, a growl forming in my throat. "What do you mean, you 'found him'?" I asked tightly.

"I mean, my organization found him, and I went to visit him today." She said calmly.

The sky is blue. I have an itch. That was how she said it. Across from me, teacups still in her hands, Kagome was just as surprised.

"Why did you meet his brother?" She asked curiously.

"Inuyasha is a minor, Kagome." Sango said patiently, no emotion in her voice. "Until Inuyasha turns eighteen, Sesshoumaru is technically his guardian." She explained calmly.

'Guardian, she says.' I thought to myself with a bitter chuckle. Sango wasn't finished.

"We both know he can't stay here forever. I went to his brother, because I needed to do a background check on Inuyasha. And to see from someone who knows him what he is really like." She said, accepting a cup of tea from Kagome.

"What I am really like?!" I asked incredulously. "So you didn't trust me, and felt you needed to invade my past to solve your curiosity?" I grated.

Sango didn't answer, and she didn't look at me, focusing on the cup in her hands. I felt cold rage start to build in me.

"You had NO RIGHT!!" I shouted furiously, fire in my veins.

Turning to look at me at last, I was shocked to see hate in Sango's eyes as she jumped up to confront me, her silver knife suddenly appearing in her hand.

"I HAD EVERY RIGHT!!" She yelled back. "And it's a good thing I did! Your brother told me all about your con games!" She sneered.

My anger was momentarily forgotten in the face of my confusion. Huh?

"Huh?" I said, stunned.

"Oh drop the act! I can't BELIEVE I fell for your bull! How many girls have you conned into giving you whatever you wanted before moving on Inuyasha?! How many people have you ripped off before now?" She said contemptuously.

My mind went blank. How could this be happening?! What could I say? If she already thought I was a liar, she wouldn't believe anything I said!

Desperately I looked over to Kagome, dreading what I would see. My nightmare came true when I saw the shock and doubt on her face. "It's not true, is it? Inuyasha, is it true?! Tell me it isn't, and I will believe you!" Kagome said, tears forming in her eyes.

I felt my heart breaking inside of me, knowing there was no way I could protect her this time.

"No! None of it is true." I said hoarsely, trying to memorize her face, knowing then that my time with Kagome was now going to turn into just a pleasant dream.

I would always remember the kiss we shared, but it looked like it would all end here. Even then I still felt the ghost of her lips against mine. I had never kissed someone like that before. I knew it had been too good to be true!

"Save it! The deal was we would leave you alone if it turned out you weren't a danger. If you weren't a danger!" She said fiercely.

Suddenly I laughed, the bitterness I felt coming through strong and clear.

"Kagome, you've never judged me. You're one of the only people I've ever trusted. Thank you." I said, feeling my resolve start to crack at the tears that spilled down her face. She started towards me around the table, but I backed away, shaking my head sadly.

"Wait!" Kagome said around a sob "I believe you Inuyasha! Don't...!" I didn't let her finish. It didn't matter if she believed me or not. Sango was the one with the knife, and friends with more knives. As long as I stayed, she was in danger.

Speaking quickly over her words, I continued. "Not inside her house Sango! Catch me if you can!" I shouted over my shoulder, already running for the door.

I tried to ignore the sudden pain in my chest as I turned the knob. Opening it, I was blasted by a cold draft of howling wind. The storm had really picked up, rain poured almost horizontal as it came driven by the wind. Hardly pausing, I took a few steps outside, stopping in my tracks in surprise. Across the courtyard, blocking the steps out, the shadowy forms of eight men in trench coats waited silently in the dark, standing as though the rain didn't affect them. Maybe it didn't.

Laughing out my defiance, I leaped into the god tree, as Kagome liked to call it, landing on a branch before launching myself further into the air, out and away from pursuit. Behind me, the shouts of the men faded in the distance. With the rain stinging my face with my speed, I laughed. It was either that or cry, and I had sworn never to do that again. I had let go a little in the church, and that was enough. Still, even I couldn't be sure if some of the wetness on my face was just from the rain.

Landing near an alley, I looked around, not seeing anyone nearby. Suddenly a silver dagger appeared out of nowhere, whizzing past my head and imbedding itself into the concrete of the building like the structure was made from cheese. Damn that was sharp! Taking off in a new direction, I ran as hard as I could, glad at least that Kagome was going to be okay.

Let the games begin!

To be continued...