Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this long-awaited update... especially for the rivalrous one. A nod of recognition is bent towards Rumiko Takahashi for her creative prowess.

Shackled

Same Day...

Inuyasha found a parking place on campus and took a deep breath, tasting the air. He hadn't been here in a while. A long while. But confronting Sesshoumaru meant strolling into his territory, because Shippo said the bastard practically lived here.

Getting at his brother in the usual way was impossible. No doubt, Sesshoumaru had a secretary and a schedule. Obstacles.

But Inuyasha had a plan.

Letting himself in a side entrance, he strolled confidently along the halls, noting small changes as he went. He'd been a runt back when the campus was being renovated, and the building had felt like one big playground. Once the human craftsmen cleared out for the day, his dad had given him the run of the place. He knew every nook, cranny, and gable.

He took the nearest stairwell up a floor and walked another hall, this one lined with ostentatious portraits of past presidents. Inuyasha picked out three that were definitely Sesshoumaru. But he was more interested in the one at the far end of Acclamation Hall. The founder's portrait. Dad.

"Long time, no see," he whispered to the oil painting.

Inuyasha hadn't known his father for long, but he'd loved him with a ferocity that bit deep when the guy went and died, leaving one bastard at the mercy of the other. Although … Inuyasha didn't think he was actually, technically illegitimate. Dad hadn't gotten around to marrying his mom, or whatever the youkai equivalent was called, but only because he hadn't known how to find her. Or that he had a damned good reason he should.

Facts were hard to come by, especially since Sesshoumaru had been thorough in quieting the matter. But Inuyasha had been old enough to pick up on a few things.

He was almost positive Dad had been a widower when he and Mom met. And things had to have gotten pretty serious pretty fast. Their fling left her pregnant, and then she left. Nobody had ever been able to give Inuyasha a good reason why, but … given the difference in species and all the secrecy involved, it wasn't hard to guess that things were complicated.

Mom had gone into seclusion.

Had a puppy-eared baby and kept him.

They'd managed just fine, off by themselves, living off the land, wandering from place to place. But sometimes they'd be spotted, and Inuyasha had been five or so when word got back to Dad, who'd run them down so fast and scooped them close, sniffing and sniffling and brimming with so much gladness.

Those were good days. The best.

Full of plans and promises and ridiculous amounts of pampering.

Within the year, Dad had secured this property and planned for this school, sure it would be a lasting legacy, someplace where humans and youkai would eventually mingle freely. Kind of optimistic, given how things turned out.

Some kind of accident … maybe? Sesshoumaru refused to say.

Inuyasha had no idea why Sesshoumaru stuck with this place so stubbornly. He didn't care about the students, and he was rabidly opposed to parting with the secret of youkai society. The school felt more like a shrine to the old man. A stagnated legacy. A shackle that kept Sesshoumaru at his pissy best.

Moving to a different stairwell, Inuyasha jogged up to the third floor. There weren't many students up here, since the rooms on this level had almost all been converted to faculty offices. Here he lucked out, since nobody questioned his presence. Either that, or Shippo had done something. Either way, he made it to the chancellor's suite without incident.

It was unmarked.

And locked.

And warded.

All very off-limits.

Exactly what he needed to drag the bastard's butt up here. Because once Inuyasha instigated this small security breech, Sesshoumaru would be on his way. At least … that was the plan.

Two minutes passed.

Then five.

Inuyasha's attention drifted around the room, automatically looking for things that needed doing. The carpet showed signs of vacuuming, which mystified him. Until he found the little automated unit on its dock in the corner. So Sesshoumaru probably didn't trust campus services in here. Which left him with a bizarre mental picture of the bastard doing light housekeeping. No way.

Curious now, he poked his nose into corners and tested surfaces.

Someone kept the room dusted. And there was a live plant.

But the windows were overdue for a proper washing.

And it'd been way too long since the wood paneling was oiled.

He sniffed out the cupboard where cleaning supplies were kept. Yeah, he was distracting himself from the oncoming conversation, but … hells. Couldn't he do this much for Dad? So he hauled out the supplies, then rummaged deeper, coming up with a neglected bottle of oil soap, barely a dribble left, but no oil. Maybe he should bring some …?

"What are you doing?"

Inuyasha whirled guiltily.

Sesshoumaru stood just inside the doorway, looking human and professional and pissed.

"Looking for lemon oil."

His brother's eyebrows lifted.

"For the paneling. It'd be good for the wood. Bring out its shine."

A flat stare. "Spoken like a janitor."

Inuyasha's face heated.

"Why are you here?"

"To talk."

Sesshoumaru's expression soured. "No."

"I found someone," he blurted. "And she deserves to know the truth."

Eyes narrowed. "No."

"Yes!" He started forward, stalled. "I've kept my promise. All these years. But it's like I'm lying to her. I want her to know."

"No."

"Why not?" Inuyasha exclaimed. "Can't you see how important this is? How rare? I think she … she'll accept me."

"No." Sesshoumaru's voice was softer now. More dangerous. "If you break your oath, there will be consequences."

Inuyasha was getting angry now. "What'll you do? You can't expose me without exposing yourself. And that's what this is about, isn't it? Your reputation. Or … Dad's?"

His brother was suddenly, ominously, directly in front of him. Knuckles cracking, Sesshoumaru asked, "Shall I come to you on your next night of weakness? When no trace of Father's blood remains in your veins?"

That hadn't ever occurred to Inuyasha. Was Dad's blood the only thing that kept Sesshoumaru from ending him?

But Inuyasha wasn't a little kid anymore, and he wasn't without support. "Oi. Just listen! Shippo says there's a way for us to be rid of each other. Amicably. Then you'll never have to see me again."

"That fox," Sesshoumaru growled. Like it was an insult.

"Shippo's part of my pack."

"No."

"Just listen, damn it! All I need is some kind of old-fashioned, traditional youkai sanction. Admit I'm your brother. You don't have to keep me, just explain where I came from. Then I can go my way. End of story."

Something sizzled, and the scent of Sesshoumaru's poison claws made Inuyasha's eyes water.

He heard droplets hit the floor, and he winced. "Take it easy. It's a beautiful old rug. Dad loved it."

"There are far better things at the family home. Father loved it longer. Loved it first."

Inuyasha wasn't prepared for the sudden build-up of youki nor the dropping of Sesshoumaru's illusion. Now, he could see the red bleeding into his eyes and the shredding of his stripes. The bastard was all about control—having it and keeping it. He wasn't supposed to lose it.

"Enough of this crap. Let's have it over and done!" Without giving the matter much thought, Inuyasha slapped the bastard, sharp enough to sting. "Let me go, you overbearing idiot! Let me be … h-happy?"

The hiss of burning.

The stink of blood.

The bastard looked almost as surprised as Inuyasha was to see his hand buried up to the knuckles in his gut.

"Sess– …?"

The hand snatched back.

The sight of blood.

The mess was almost as bad as the pain. Inuyasha scrabbled at his brother's suit, trying to find support as the world tilted. But the bastard stepped back, and Inuyasha's shoulder hit something hard. The floor. And in the distance, he heard his brother shouting.

End Note: Posted on June 26, 2021. 1,337 words. Thanks to everyone who dropped by my KO – FI account. See you next month!