Disclaimer: Inuyasha is the property of the brilliant Rumiko Takahashi and this story is a continuation of the fic Froth by the incredibly talented author Forthright. Check out her story at www dot fanfiction dot net/s/4943051/1/Froth

Chapter 2

The bell on Founder's door gave a cheery tinkle as Sesshoumaru walked in. At this time of day, the place was full to bursting with bleary-eyed university students needing their morning dose of caffeine to wake them up before their first class. However, the packed crowd parted itself immediately and without command before the great DaiYoukai as he made his way to his office. The sounds and smells of quality coffee being made and poured, calmed his agitation some and his swirling Youki settled quickly upon entering the shop.

Unfortunately, one of the downsides to having employees sensitive to such energies meant that his momentary lapse of control did not go unnoticed. A pair of white dog ears swiveled in his direction and the distinct sound of a discreet sniff informed Sesshoumaru that his brother's attention had turned to him.

Silently entering his office sanctuary, he carefully placed the cup from Sunset Teas down on the precise center of his desk. He then removed his jacket, taking care to hang it up properly in its place on the coat rack, before sitting directly in front of the inoffensive beverage and staring at it, waiting.

Outside his door he could clearly hear his employees speculating on his unexpected arrival. His superior sense of hearing making it as if there wasn't a solid oak door and a busy café full of people between them.

"How the hell would I know what's bothering him?" Inuyasha's brash voice demanded

"Well it has to be something big to have visibly disturbed our stoic Employer," Miroku insisted, "Maybe you should go talk to him?"

Sesshoumaru's lips threatened to pull into a small grin at that. His brother would have done so without the man's invitation, but it seemed his welfare was of concern to everyone. He felt oddly touched by that.

The solid door opened to admit his brother before said male plopped unceremoniously in the chair across from him.

"Ok, I'm here. The door's closed and Shippo's shift don't start for another 30 minutes. Start talkin'"

The Hanyou's gruff tone and demeanor didn't fool his elder brother for a moment.

"Nothing is wrong Inuyasha" Sesshoumaru stated calmly as he reached for the papers in front of him "go back to work."

"Yeah I'm not buying it. What happened?" Inuyasha suddenly smirked, "Got your tail in a twist again?"

The instant retaliatory glare and heightened aura did nothing to wipe the grin from his brother's face.

"You swore never to speak of that," he growled lowly

"No, you informed me we wouldn't speak of it. I never agreed to keep my trap shut" Sesshoumaru's dog-eared Beta pushed further by leaning back in his seat and putting his feet up on the sturdy mahogany desk.

A subsonic growl accompanied Sesshoumaru's glare this time and Inuyasha's ears instinctively flattened in submission. The Hanyou's smirk fell into a frown.

"I hate it when you do that" he grumbled and dropped his feet to the floor. The sound stopped and Sesshoumaru saw the instant his brother clocked the cup on his desk. The dog eared male picked it up and examined it.

"They've opened their doors huh?" he asked without taking his eyes from the bright logo.

Sesshoumaru's attention immediately snapped to his brother.

"You knew about this?" he demanded

Inuyasha shrugged and put the cup back

"Well yeah, 'course I did. They couldn't have gotten a license from the city without council approval and with you gone, I had to go vote on it in your place." He glared at the Elder Inu, "Thanks for that by the way. You know how much I hate those things"

"Did you vote in their favor?" Sesshoumaru ignored the commonly heard complaint to focus on the more important issue. His Beta yawned and stretched in boredom

"Didn't see any reason not to. It's not like they're competition or anything."

"They sell tea."

"So what?"

"We sell tea"

Inuyasha snorted

"If you're referring to that weak-assed, green colored powder we mix in hot water before charging people a buck and a half for it then, sure, we sell tea." The younger male straightened in his seat and really looked at his brother, "What's your problem with them? I mean, I know it's run by Miko's and you don't exactly have a great history with those, but it was Kaede-baaba. I didn't think you'd care if it was her."

Sesshoumaru's expression actually looked slightly pinched. He didn't have a problem with the Elder Priestess per say but the idea of an entire building filled with beings that had a history of systematically killing his kind within half a mile of his territory made him uneasy.

"Did you even look at their business plan before voting?" He asked somewhat perturbed by the idea that he might be acting on old prejudices.

"No, I just sign anything they put in front of me" Inuyasha sarcastically growled, "Of course I looked it over! It met every single one of your ridiculously anal requirements and then some. I even brought your damn list with me to make sure!"

"Hn"

"Sess what is this really about? I mean you can't be worried about the competition. So what if they sell tea? It's more of a community healing clinic with all the herbal remedies those Mikos hand out. I figured you'd be all for that. 'Specially considering the 'interspecies cooperation and integration' crap you're constantly spouting about at those fancy dinner parties you go to. So, what's up?"

Sesshoumaru leaned forward and placed his elbows on his desk before steepling his fingers under his nose.

"I felt…uneasy when I stood before the Miko's establishment." He hesitantly confessed

"Well you would, wouldn't you? I mean that's a lot of reiki…"

Sesshoumaru shook his head.

"My beast reacted to something there." Or someone he thought silently

Inuyasha's causal manner dropped instantly and he sat up fully in his chair, his eyes and ears both fixed toward his brother.

"You think they're going to be trouble?"

Sesshoumaru hesitated. He did not want to bring trouble where there was none, but he had never before ignored his instincts and they were screaming at him now.

"I do not know." He finally said, "but the situation bears further scrutiny"

Inuyasha nodded once but before he could reply, a polite knock on the door caused them both to fall silent. The door opened to reveal the apologetic face of Miroku.

"I'm terribly sorry to interrupt, but a large group of first year students just came in," he said bowing slightly to his employer, "We're packed to the rafters out there and could use some help."

Inuyasha looked at his brother just long enough to see him nod his dismissal. Turning to Miroku he got up and followed his best friend to go take care of the crowd.

"You'd think after being here for years you'd know how to deal with a few extra customers…"

Inuyasha's light jeering faded into the cacophony that was only now making itself known to his senses. He shook his head. Only a century ago he would never have been caught so unaware of his surroundings. Now…his mind turned back to the problem of the Miko tea shop. Trying to figure out what exactly had riled his beast so, he never heard his brother quietly slip out after the rush.

If only he had been paying attention.