The drive certainly wasn't a short one, an hour or so normally at 80 mph, and the entire way was filled to the brim, close to overflowing, with traffic jams. The roadways heavily pregnant with cars and the calm afternoon was soon ringing with honking horns. Sesshoumaru liked clear or at least moving pathways so that he could enjoy the drive. The long horizon of pavement grey worn, down from its original glorious black. No yellow lines like in the city where there were only one or two lanes of traffic one way. Instead white dotted lines bordered each side of his car and spanned two lanes on one side and one on the other. Sesshoumaru could change lanes as he pleased moving swiftly weaving in and around slower moving vehicles. He was a master at highway driving only because when he was younger, still living at his father's estate, he had acquired a job in the inner heart of the city. He was required to drive rush hour nearly every night going home. This was where he was currently traveling too- his father's country estate, one of four around the world.
Inutaisho had at least six penthouse apartments of the highest quality in popular cities around the globe so that he may visit whenever he pleased without having to make too many arrangements. New York, Beijing, London, Dublin, Rome, and a newly acquired one somewhere in Denmark all contained a piece of Takarashi Inutaisho's heart and in his retirement he traveled to each periodically. Why his father had gotten one in Denmark was still unknown to him, but it was probably because the country was known for its delicious, if not rich tasting foods. The cheese, chocolate, cakes, and other such things were always luxuriously scrumptious apparently. Inutaisho had a villa in the south of France, a ski lodge in the Swiss Alps, a rather quaint estate in New Zealand, and his own childhood home in Japan.
Sesshoumaru shook his head. It was a ridiculous waste of his father's wealth. Just the thought of how much it would cost to uphold so many residences, that the man may not even visit three times a year, was unbelievably astounding. Sesshoumaru released a breath slowly focusing on the exhale and how his lungs contracted the air from within their cavities. His father was one for grandeur simplicity. It could be confusing at times. The man decorated his homes with only the highest taste in furniture and brand names, but his own personal quarters were simple, nearly sparse of all signs of the obvious wealth Inutaisho had. It was all appearances, Sesshoumaru knew, but why his father, normally sensible, would even think to partake in such foolishness was beyond him once again. Sesshoumaru prided himself on being able to interpret a person by their habits, expressions, etc., but his father did not follow the rules. His face was an open book, but his reasons were guarded with locked gates that even the sleuth that Sesshoumaru was couldn't slip through.
As of now though, he was seated on the porch sitting outside his father's study. This estate was based off the traditional design of dwellings from somewhere around the Edo period. The light framed shoji screens shifted in their sliding tracks when the wind blew particularly strong and the floors often creaked. This had once been considered a place of refuge for Sesshoumaru. He could escape the prejudices of the world, the horrors of it in his childhood, and all the staring faces that regarded his strange appearance. His hair and eye color was not exactly normal, but his mother was of European descent. She was Norwegian mainly with some German and Irish as well. She died when he was sixteen and when his father remarried no more than half a year later the realities of the world closed in very tightly on him. Imagine his disgust when the woman, his knew and supposedly better step-mother, introduced him to his fourteen year old half-brother. Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth. The anger and shock from that day forever engrained in his heart like a razor's cut on the wrist, only his scar wasn't so easily bared.
Inuyasha had been fourteen. There was no doubt that Inutaisho had been the father because of his shocking white hair and golden eyes, though more diluted in color. He'd noticed this with pride at the time. Inuyasha's mother was the traditional Japanese beauty and held none of the fire his mother contained. Izayoi was docile and respectful. His mother had manners naturally, impeccable ones, but you had to fight her at every turn and earn her respect. Once you had it though, her trust in you was unbreakable and that respect grudgingly remained no matter what. Someone would have to do the most dishonorable things to lose such faith and unfortunately his father did just that. Their marriage may have been an arranged business deal, but his father was a cheater and despite all of his other positive traits Inutaisho could never alter his image in his eldest son's eyes. He had furtively kept, or perhaps not so surreptitiously at least from Sesshoumaru's mother, the secret for twelve years from his family. That was something that could never be forgiven; it wasn't in his mother's loving heart and would not be by Sesshoumaru either considering his sterner nature.
The door to his back opened. Sesshoumaru didn't even bother swiveling his head merely keeping his eyes out on the garden in front of him. A few paces away, one step that lead down into the garden. The porch was no more than a foot up from the ground. Granite stones formed a walkway roving around the garden which was for the most part a Tsukiyama garden, but there was also a Karesansui garden contained within what appeared from the outside to be a dojo. Its original intention had been that, but after Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha moved out for college the dojo was rarely, if ever, in use. Inutaisho had wanted a rock garden for some time and decided to turn the training area into something he would use. Inutaisho did utilize it too, every day if not twice per you'd could find him in meditation seeking inner peace and enlightenment. At one time, the great Takarashi would never participate in an activity where you had to sit still for such long periods of time, but perhaps his age was catching up with him.
"Greetings my son, it has been quite a long time since you have come home."
Sesshoumaru didn't respond, only nodding with a coldness shielding his features in a close-knit mask of reserve. Inutaisho sighed. His son didn't need to say that this estate hadn't been his home for a long time out loud for his expression spoke it all too clearly, or at least the emptiness of his face did. His son never allowed much expression to show, but what little he did immediately retreated at his ill-worded sentence. Inutaisho took a seat beside his eldest on the second floor cushion no doubt brought out by his maid. No other furniture was out on the porch and this alcove was separated from all of the other wooden planked walkways that were interconnected throughout the house. Any of the paths that weren't directly inside the house were covered by the sloping roof that extended over them, but if the wind was blowing during a rainstorm anyone walking would be soaked.
"You have come for business I would assume?"
Sesshoumaru nodded. He would remain blunt as he always had. Nothing had changed between them when he had moved out at eighteen to leave for college in Tokyo. Sesshoumaru knew his father had wanted him to stay close and go to the local university, which was in no shape or form shabby. The school was an American college sited in Japan and considered ivy-league, but Inutaisho could do many things, but one was not to limit his children's potential. Sesshoumaru wanted and deserved the best. For him, life began in Tokyo and Inutaisho had resigned himself to study his eldest son with hidden pride from afar.
"I would like you to repossess the company from under my name back to yours."
Inutaisho gawked for a moment. His eyes widening slightly, but he composed himself and considered Sesshoumaru's words.
"And why should I do this, what has happened Sesshoumaru? Are you in any trouble?"
Sesshoumaru held back the urge to snort at his father's intonation. He was concerned and it irked Sesshoumaru. He despised having to resort to this, asking for assistance was not his first nature, but it was the easiest solution available to him as of now. He considered selling the company to Hamasaki Hisoro and then buying it back, but that was a lot of paperwork and wouldn't solve his problem. Hamasaki would readily agree with their hovering merger on the horizon and Sesshoumaru could trust the honorable man to act accordingly. In this way, the stocks of the holders would have to be updated and redistributed. However, the same stocks would be returned to their original owners only revamped.
If Inutaisho legally repossessed the company, the stocks sold to the holders would become useless because the corporation would no longer be under Sesshoumaru's name. These particular stocks had been distributed with Takarashi Sesshoumaru as the president, if the owner changed, new stocks would have to be dealt out again anew. Normally the same stockholders returned to purchase their previous assets and provide their support, but not this time. The only loss would be that the holders no longer received profit from the company, but Sesshoumaru would give a settlement to quell any possible arising debacles of legality. Sesshoumaru would purchase the company from his father, not inherit it once again. Then he would have full control and bearings on Taka Tech. The stocks belonging only to him that is if his father would allow him that control. Inutaisho had originally wanted the brothers to work together and therefore split the stock with most going to Sesshoumaru and a small, but healthy portion to Inuyasha. The rest had been given to high standing share holders that would help in protecting the assets in the company ever fell into a lull in business activity.
"It's Naraku, isn't it."
Sesshoumaru showed none of his surprise. He should have known his father would notice Naraku's growing status in the society of Japan.
"It is." His pause was barely present.
"His is an annoying pest to be sure. A spider of deceit, that one, that weaves his webs of entanglement strangling his victims into doing his bidding." Inutaisho spoke evenly.
The man's insight was unambiguous. Inutaisho was well aware of Naraku's connections and their potential, perhaps more than Sesshoumaru. Inutaisho was also highly connected in the police department, but only because Inutaisho's father had been a revered officer and then the chief in the department for a decade before he retired. Of course, his ties were clean where as Naraku's resembled that of chimney ash that dirtied, corrupted everything it touched.
"He'll buy out stock until he has a verifiable voice in the dealings with the company. He'll use that as leverage, but for what purpose is what eludes me."
"So you knew."
"Of course," Inutaisho gave a wolfish grin, "it was my company once. Did you think Naraku had only shown interest once you inherited it?"
Sesshoumaru nodded his head in understanding. No words were necessary. Inutaisho studied his son closely, meticulously engrossed himself in the task taking in every twitch, every niche that was Sesshoumaru's countenance. His eyes were thoughtful as the elder man considerably weighed his options with the consequences. Another reason for seeking out his father was also the fact that he may have overlooked something. Inutaisho would not hesitate to point it out in suggestion. After a minute, Inutaisho looked away and out into the water of the large koi pond at the center of his garden off to the left.
"Very well, all stock shall be repossessed and placed under your control."
Sesshoumaru started, the words repeating at least twice in his head. His father had agreed so readily that Sesshoumaru knew there was a catch.
"And…" He wanted to sigh.
"I still want Inuyasha involved."
"What do you propose?"
Now it was Inutaisho's turn to be startled. Sesshoumaru was asking his opinion straight out? Normally Inutaisho would just throw in his two cents without having been asked to the growing irritation of his eldest. This was certainly different, comforting even in a strange way.
"Offer him a job as a CEO, put him to work."
Sesshoumaru was silently counting all of the future headaches agreeing to this term would cause, but with the idea that Naraku was worse, he cashed in his lot with fate. Inuyasha was at least predictable and therefore could be handled. Sesshoumaru nodded once again. Father and son shook hands retiring to Inutaisho's study for tea and discussing the specifics of the whole ordeal. At least this way, there was less paperwork and all Sesshoumaru had to sacrifice was future energy arguing with Inuyasha. This wasn't too bad a deal to be saddled with. More importantly, the company would be entirely his and should he ever need or wish to sell stock he would have the precise choice of to whom. His father had chosen the first time with respectable, stable holders.
Sesshoumaru sat back in his car on the way home. This time the drive was freely moving and he could finally relax the tension in his shoulders. The papers for repossession would be signed over to Inutaisho on Monday morning and by the end of the day on Tuesday, Takarashi Technologies was officially the property of Takarashi Sesshoumaru with few setbacks in view.
…I love my reviewers. It's because of you I updated so soon. So, what do you think- has Naraku been foiled? Did you like how the whole 'deal' shook down? I'm not exactly sure this could actually be possible, but let me know.
Just so you know:
Tsukiyama Garden: trees, ponds, rocks, like the kind of garden you'd normally expect to see
Karesansui: a rock garden so common in Zen Buddhism
Chaniwa Garden: created especially for the tea ceremony
Next chapter: The annual spring festival and…oh wow- what the hell is Shippou doing in those funky clothes?...
