Chapter Six: Threats Set In Motion

Sesshoumaru quickly entered the driveway and slammed the car into park. Within seconds he was at the front door, seething with fury. Not only for his ridiculous breakdown, but also for not having enough confidence in his brother's abilities to protect himself. It was only a few hours, what could happen? Cursing, he shoved open the door, and entered the dark house, sniffing the air tentively. Narrowing his eyes, he scanned the darkness and smelt an unfamiliar scent wafting in from the kitchen.

Wrinkling his nose at the unpleasant scent, which held a damp and dark odor, Sesshoumaru followed his nose and entered the kitchen, leaving all the lights off. Searching the shadows with his eyes, he saw nothing out of place, and bent over slightly, sniffing out the scent.

He past the garbage where he first thought it was, and past the fridge. Frowning, he followed the scent to the stove, and he leaned far over it and choked on the stench. It was coming from behind it.

Releasing a soft growl of annoyance and a slight tinge of fear, Sesshoumaru worked the stove out from the wall and leaned over to peer behind it. Recoiling backwards as he got a face full of fumes, Sesshoumaru almost lost his footing and gagged. Gripping the counter, he gasped in his breath, and his eyes watered.

Stumbling from the room, he quickly entered the living room and practically shoved his brother off the couch.

"Hey bastard!" Inuyasha yelled as he fell off the couch in a heap. Glaring at his brother, Inuyasha froze instantly, seeing the stunned and rather unsteady youkai. Blinking, Inuyasha pushed himself off the ground and stood in front of Sesshoumaru, peering at the blanched face, and startled expression. "What? What's wrong?"

Sesshoumaru's hand clamped over his, and quickly guided him out the living room shoji and through the front door into fresh air.

Inuyasha took a deep breath and gasped at the freshness of it. "What the hell?" He asked, turning around to stare at the house, horrified.

Sesshoumaru frowned and glared into the darkness, and snarled softly.

Inuyasha wiped his head around at the familiar sound and gawked. "What's going on?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head, trying to clear it from the woozy feeling and sniffed. "Gas leak." He muttered absently, his eyes still searching the darkness.

"Gas leak?" Inuyasha snapped. "What the hell? How'd that happen?"

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Not by accident, otouto."

"Huh?" Inuyasha stared at his older brother long and hard before he made the connection. "What? You mean…?" Blinking in horror, Inuyasha swallowed the lump that formed in his throat.

Sesshoumaru turned his head towards the neighbors and quickly made his way over to their place.

"Hey! Wait, where are you going?" Inuyasha called, watching his brother walk down the driveway and down the sidewalk. Then it dawned on him. 'Is my mind going?' Inuyasha blinked stupidly for a minute. Obviously Sesshoumaru was going to call in for back up. "Wait for me!" He cried, hobbling after his brother as quickly as his cast would allow.

Sesshoumaru knocked on the door and gave a small smile at the woman who answered it. She was human and stared at him curiously for a moment. "Hi." She nodded.

Sesshoumaru nodded and sighed. "Forgive my intrusion." He began. "I was wondering if we could use your phone?"

The woman frowned for a moment, pondering his words, somewhat fearfully.

"We," He waved indicating Inuyasha and himself. "Live next door, over there."

The woman's eyes followed his waving and she nodded. "You're the new family that moved in last week." She finally said.

"Hai. I came home and discovered a gas leak, and I would like to call for assistance. Or if you prefer, perhaps you could make the call for us?" Sesshoumaru took a small step back so he was not invading her space. She appeared to be really nervous, and she shook her head.

"No it's fine." She vanished and quickly returned with a cordless phone. "Here."

Sesshoumaru smiled and nodded his thanks. "Thank you." He dialed the number for fire control and waited impatiently on hold.

"Fire and rescue." A man's voice said.

"Hai, Konbanwa, my name is Sesshoumaru Sou…uhh Chidori." He began and amended. Giving the address of the house and street name, Sesshoumaru finally nodded and hung up. "Would you mind if I make one more?" He asked lifting his head to the woman who was now accompanied by her husband.

"Go ahead." She said, now more relaxing knowing that it wasn't a farce.

"Thanks." Sesshoumaru dialed a number he had memorized.

Inuyasha stood behind Sesshoumaru his eyes trailing to the house worriedly. Had he been sleeping and someone had come into the house without his knowing? If not, why hadn't they smelt it before? More importantly, why had Inuyasha not smelt anything once his brother had woken him? Where had his brother been through all this? Had he not been able to smell a stranger in the house?

"Ah Bokusenou. We have a problem." Sesshoumaru explained the situation and after a sharp nod, he hung up the phone and handed it back to the lady.

Sirens filled the night air with their piercing sound and Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru both winced.

"Gah! Those are loud!" Inuyasha exclaimed, his hands flying to cover his little dog-ears.

The woman and her husband descended the stairs and glanced in the direction of where the brother's were looking in and frowned. "What's loud?" The man asked.

Sesshoumaru winced again as the sirens grew louder. "The sirens." He stated.

They stood there for several minutes before the darkened sky lit up with flashes of red, and the woman and man glanced at each other surprised. The two brother's were both standing with their hands over their ears, cringing from the loud wailing noises and they shook their heads in amazement.

Sesshoumaru walked down the driveway, his eyes narrowed in concentration to keep from wincing at the loud sirens, and he greeted the first man who jumped out of the fire truck.

"Are you the guy who called?" The man asked.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I think there is a gas leak inside."

"You think?" The man stopped and turned to stare at him.

"Indeed. If a face full of fumes from the back of the stove is any indication of any sort of leak, then I believe this is what it is. However, I do not have a degree in fumes or gases, so therefore I cannot be sure." Sesshoumaru sneered.

The man frowned, but nodded in understanding. "Let's check it out." He shouted.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru stood next to one another, while the fire rescue squad vanished into their house quickly. Masks covered their faces, and this caused Inuyasha to chuckle. Leaning over to whisper in Sesshoumaru's ear, he stated.

"They look like youkai gone bad."

Sesshoumaru snorted in response, and wrinkled his nose as the stench of gas or what he believed to be gas flooded out of their house. Something flashed inside the windows, and a loud crackling, causing both brother's to freeze.

"Wh…what was that?" Inuyasha whispered, moving closer to Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru cocked his head to the side, listening intently. Another sound filled the air, which sounded like a whomph. It was faint, and barely detectible to his ears, let alone a mere mortal. Furrowing his brows, he tried to place where he had heard that sound before.

"Sess?" Inuyasha whispered harshly, also having heard the sound.

"Quiet!" Sesshoumaru snapped, irritation filling his nerves. Concentrating intently on the sounds that either the house was making, or from something else, Sesshoumaru ground his teeth together. Again the sound entered his hearing, soft and not detectable to the men inside. He felt his brows lift slightly and then draw down once again in more intent concentration. "It's the sound of a flint!" He gasped. Racing forward, he shouted. "Get out, out of the house!"

In the next instant, the sound filled his ears again followed by a loud deafening rushing. The next sound that filled the night was a loud boom, and then glass shattering. Sesshoumaru dropped down and shielded his face with his arm, and turned his back as the house practically flew into flames instantly. Cries sounded from inside, and Inuyasha gaped, dropping to the ground covering his face.

Screams filled the night as the men inside were sheathed in flames, and Sesshoumaru snarled furiously. "Shit!" Gaining his footing, he raced towards the house, despite the cries for him to stop and he shoved into the door, the wooden frame cracking from the impact.

Inuyasha lifted his head and his heart froze in terror. "Sess!" He cried. "Sesshoumaru!" Scrambling to his feet, Inuyasha made to move towards the house horrified.

A heavy hand fell on his shoulder and he growled loudly. "Let me go!"

"No, you can't go in there." The man commanded.

Inuyasha whirled around to glare at the man, but froze when he saw Bokusenou. Blinking, he shook his head. "But Sessho, Sesshoumaru's in there!" He cried out desperately.

"He isn't stupid, Inuyasha." Bokusenou shook his head staring at the burning house.

Sesshoumaru gritted his teeth, and felt the heat from the fire against his face. Cursing his stupidity, he launched himself at a man who was twirling around in a circle frantically trying to put out the flames. Knocking the man down, Sesshoumaru reached over for the blanket that was on the back of the couch and flung it over the man.

Soon the flames were out, and Sesshoumaru snorted and spun around, flying up the stairs towards his bedroom. Slamming the door open, he flew to his closet and yanked open the door, pulling out the two most treasured possessions that he and his brother would ever have. Tessaiga and Tenseiga. Tucking them under his arm, he pulled out a haori, and covered his mouth with it, and flew out of his room quickly.

Slamming into his brother's room, he searched for the one thing that meant so much to his brother and found the little blue fluffy bear sitting on the nightstand, looking all the world like it was smiling and waiting for death. Grinding his teeth, he gripped it tightly, and exited the room without another glance.

Even though there were pictures of the Inu Taisho and Izayoi all over the place, Sesshoumaru found that their memories were more important, and his life was not worth loosing over mere pictures. Cracking filled his hearing, and his head shot up instantly as the heavy wooden beam above him groaned and finally gave way. Cursing, he jumped forward, and it missed him by mere inches.

Shaking his head, Sesshoumaru raced down the stairs, and snarled furiously. The door was covered with flames. Cursing, Sesshoumaru lifted his arm and ran straight for it, and flew out of the house angrily. Rolling forward to break his fall, Sesshoumaru felt flames lick at his clothes and he cursed his ill luck at having only one arm.

"Sesshoumaru!" He heard a familiar voice cried out.

Hands patted him, and then he felt two arms wrap around his neck holding on for dear life. Coughing out the smoke that had filled his lungs, Sesshoumaru heaved in gulps of air frantically.

Inuyasha buried his face into his brother's neck and Sesshoumaru started when he felt wet tears fall onto his skin. "You scared the daylights out of me, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha sobbed.

Sesshoumaru nodded, and nudged is nose into his brother's hair. "I suppose it is a good thing then, that it is night." He attempted humor.

Inuyasha pulled back and glared at Sesshoumaru. His eyes fell onto the small bear under Sesshoumaru's arm, and his mouth fell open in surprise. "You…?"

"Tessaiga and Tenseiga also." Sesshoumaru nodded.

Inuyasha's hands shook as he reached out for all three treasured possessions and he broke down into fresh tears. "Myoga and Jaken?"

"They were not here, Otouto." Sesshoumaru said hoarsely.

Inuyasha quickly wiped his tears away, and he hung his head ashamed. "Gomennasai, Sesshoumaru."

"Iie. This was not your doing. There is nothing to be sorry for." Sesshoumaru shook his head. Inuyasha took the bear from his brother and clutched it close.

"Arigato, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha whispered.

Sesshoumaru nodded once and then groaned, standing up. Bokusenou walked over and inclined his head for Sesshoumaru to follow.

Curiously, Sesshoumaru walked with Bokusenou until they were far enough from anyone to be overheard.

"Nanda?" Sesshoumaru frowned.

"Toutousai and myself did a bit of digging around today after we left Chidori's. It appears that there was a file your father was working on, regarding this new threat." Bokusenou began. "However, we are unable to gain access to this file."

Sesshoumaru felt his frown deepen. "You know for certain that these two threats are connected? Without a doubt, this threat is the same as the one in that file?"

Bokusenou shook his head. "Without the password to this file, and folder, Sesshoumaru, nothing is for certain. Your father mentioned to both of us before his death that there had been death threats to him and the family."

"So you are assuming that this folder contains the information you seek?" Sesshoumaru felt his blood boil. "Where is this file?"

"It is in a secured computer at your father's business."

"Where?" Sesshoumaru snapped.

"In his office, sir. The password is encrypted; there is no access to it. We would need your father for the password." Bokusenou muttered softly.

Sesshoumaru snarled. "I will gain access to it." He wrinkled his nose and turned away.

"How do you propose to do this?"

"By any means necessary, Bokusenou. Trust me, I will find a way." Sesshoumaru turned his head to where his brother sat, shaking his head at the questions being directed to him. Behind the man questioning his brother, stood another man, clothed in black, and his head was shrouded with a cowl.

Squinting his eyes, Sesshoumaru tried to pierce the blackness of the cowl with his eyes and saw only blackness. However a set of black set eyes flashed for a moment and met his, and held them for only a second, before the head dropped and the figure vanished into the crowd.

Quickly lifting his nose to the air, Sesshoumaru tried to pick out the strangers scent, and he found one faint and unnerving.

Growling, Sesshoumaru bolted in the direction of the mysterious figure and he shoved his way through the people who had gathered around. Glancing around, Sesshoumaru clenched his fist and cursed loudly. "Dammit."

Scowling, Sesshoumaru turned to face his brother who had lifted his head curiously. Mouthing the words, Sesshoumaru said. "Smell the air."

Inuyasha furrowed his brows and tentively sniffed the area. Shaking his head, he met his brother's eyes.

"Sulfur, youkai, and death." Sesshoumaru mouthed. Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise and he nodded in understanding.

Inuyasha's eyes followed his brother's in the direction that Sesshoumaru had seen the suspicious person and frowned. He had seen someone dressed all in black there only moments ago, however, there was no one there now. Shrugging off the fire rescues employee off, Inuyasha struggled to his feet. The man reached out a hand to stop him, and Inuyasha snapped.

"I'm fine! I wasn't hurt." Turning away from the brown questioning eyes, Inuyasha made his way over to Sesshoumaru's side, and waited.

"Are you alright? You were not hurt?" Sesshoumaru asked, his back to Inuyasha.

"Iie. Terrified, but I'm alright." Inuyasha muttered. His brother's back was stiff and held in anger. "Sessho? Now what are we going to do?"

Before Sesshoumaru could answer, Bokusenou walked over and handed them an envelope. Curiously, both brother's opened it, and pulled out several papers. Sesshoumaru frowned and pushed them back into the brown envelope and turned his head towards the lawyer.

Bokusenou shook his head, and then inclined his head to a man walking over.

"Mr. Chidori?" The man asked, approaching Sesshoumaru.

"Hai?"

"We must secure the house, and do an investigation. I trust you had fire insurance?" The man asked.

"Hai. My brother and I will be staying at a hotel for the night." Sesshoumaru nodded slowly.

"Your insurance company should cover this and any damages, however you will need to give them this report and once the investigation is concluded, only then will you receive money for the damages." The dark haired man handed Sesshoumaru a piece of paper. Without another word the man turned away and began shouting out commands for his men to retrieve the dead from inside the house and begin their search for the cause of the blast.

Sesshoumaru wrinkled his nose and turned his head to stare at his little brother, who stood there clutching the bear for dear life. Lifting his head, he stared at the moon and growled low. "Come, Inuyasha. We must head to Chidori's and lock it up."

Inuyasha swallowed and nodded. "Sess?"

"Hmm?"

"Were they aiming at both of us, or just me? Where were you?" Inuyasha lifted his eyes and stared into his brother's golden orbs.

"I was on my way to the restaurant to close it. There was no scent of gas when I left. I believe this was aimed at you, otouto."

Inuyasha nodded and whispered. "So someone entered the house while I was asleep?"

Sesshoumaru sighed. "I am uncertain. Come. Bokusenou, tomorrow I will be heading to my father's place of business, tell Saya to be expecting me."

The lawyer nodded and was scribbling stuff down into a spiral bound book and he turned away without a word. Calling over his shoulder, he asked the Inuyoukai. "Would you like for me to drop you off anywhere?"

Sesshoumaru pondered the question and frowned. "Iie. I think it best if Inuyasha and myself are the only ones who know where we will be staying at."

Bokusenou nodded in agreement. Reaching into his pocket, he drew out a rectangle object that was almost flat. "Take this. If you have need of anything, call us." The lawyer handed him another object and winked. "This should cover your expenses."

Sesshoumaru regarded the small phone wordlessly and then glanced at the card that had been handed to him as an after thought. Turning to his flustered brother, Sesshoumaru inclined his head.

Inuyasha looked whimsically at the garage. "Do you suppose that fancy car is still intact?" He questioned, tucking the bear into his shirt causing it to bulge out in the middle making the hanyou look utterly ridiculous.

Sesshoumaru snorted and rolled his eyes. "No Inuyasha, I am certain the car is charred. Be thankful we still have that one." He pointed to the car he had been driving; however it had hardly escaped the falling debris. The hook had scorch marks on it from burning wood, and it was dented in several places.

Inuyasha nodded and made his way over to it, but before he could reach it, someone turned around and stopped his progress. Glaring at the man who held his arm firmly, Inuyasha released a soft growl.

The man quickly released his arm, but stood in front of him, preventing his progress to the car.

Glaring even more annoyed, Inuyasha snapped. "Get out of my way."

"You can't go near here. If you haven't noticed, the house blew up and the car could have been rigged as well.

Sesshoumaru tilted his head slightly, and scoffed. Obviously, the man was right, using his nose, he sniffed in the direction of the car, trying to pinpoint any sign of tampering and found none. "The car is fine." He muttered, strolling by the man who held back his brother, casually.

The man frowned and mad to grip Sesshoumaru's arm, but his fingers snatched only material. "What the…" He whispered under his breath.

"Remove your hand from my person." Sesshoumaru warned softly.

Hesitantly, the man released Sesshoumaru's shirt and watched as the two youkai piled into the car and pulled out of the driveway. Allowing a small smile to cross his lips, he watched them drive down the street, before turning back towards the charred remains of their house.

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Before he could bellow out a command to the fire squad, his cell phone rang and he scrambled nervously for it. Something told him it was his boss asking for an update on the situation, and his heart picked up in fear.
"H…hello?"

All he heard was breathing on the other end and he gulped.
"Uhh…sir, things didn't go quite as planned. Th…the house is in ruins, but…well you see, they are still alive." He whispered, as his eyes trailed a person walking nearby.
"I suggest you fix this dilemma, before the elder is able to get to his father's business." The voice hissed quietly, before an audible click signaled the end of the call.
Swallowing, the man closed his phone and nervously glanced around him.

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Inuyasha slammed the car door and glared at his brother as he fastened his seatbelt. "I can't believe this. The sign says 'No youkai welcome'." Slouching in his seat, he saw Sesshoumaru smirk out of the corner of his eye. "What the hell are you grinning at?"
"I keep telling you, Inuyasha, we aren't going to find accommodations at any of the ritzy joints. We have to settle for the lower class hotels."
Inuyasha scoffed and crossed his arms. "Probably with roaches and mice all over the place."

Sesshoumaru really did grin then. "Well, you can always think of it as something to occupy your time. At least you won't get bored."

Inuyasha scowled and glanced at his brother. "Huh?"

"You will have something to chase." Sesshoumaru ducked a swipe to his head and chuckled.

Sesshoumaru turned his head to glance at the hotel across the street, and he snorted. "There's one we can stay at."

Inuyasha frowned and rolled his eyes. "What makes you so sure that they allow youkai?"

"I saw a cat youkai enter." Sesshoumaru smiled and pulled up to the doors. Placing the car in park, he exited the vehicle just as a young man ran around the front and paused at seeing the tall silver haired Inu standing there. "I trust you will find a suitable place to park the car?"

The man nodded with his eyes wide. "Hai! How long will you be staying?"

"Uncertain." Sesshoumaru muttered following his brother into the hotel and he stopped stunned.

The place would not be cheap. The floors were tiled with deep green and gold elegantly etched into images of bamboo plants. The walls were a soft gold color holding hundreds of plants, and the wood furnishings were made out of mahogany. Sesshoumaru glanced at Inuyasha and snorted softly at the bulge that was still apparent in his shirt, and he shook his head.

"Wow." Inuyasha whispered, looking almost as though he were afraid to move.

Sesshoumaru smirked and shoved his brother forward towards the counter. "No rodents or insects here, otouto." Once at the counter, the woman glanced in their direction once and then lowered her head back down to her computer.

The two brothers stood there and waited for roughly ten minutes, before Sesshoumaru frowned and cleared his throat. "I trust that you are employed at this hotel?"

The woman ignored him and continued to type on her computer. Her head rose to glance at another couple that approached, and she stood instantly to assist them.

Inuyasha gaped, and glanced at his brother, whose face had darkened slightly. "Perhaps they are not friendly towards youkai." Sesshoumaru whispered.

Inuyasha nodded, and watched as the woman handed over a set of keys and them proceeded towards her computer. "Are you going to do something?"

Sesshoumaru smirked and raised his hand, extending his claws. A slight green tinge surrounded the long claws and he cleared his throat again. "I would suggest that you assist us, human, before I melt your counters and you are held responsible for a youkai destroying your place of employment." The woman lifted her head and glared at him. "Human, lesser youkai have a tendency to leave the place where they had been treated poorly, however Inuyoukai take it as a sign of disrespect and therefore tend to destroy what is in their wake."

That got the woman's attention and she stood stiffly. "How can I help you?" She asked her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You can give us a room." Sesshoumaru turned his mouth downward into a frown.

"We don't cater to your kind here." The woman sniffed, lifting her nose in the air.

"I think you are mistaken, woman. I saw a cat youkai enter and not exit the hotel. If your hotel does not cater to our kind, perhaps you should post a sign on the door. Until then, you will give me and my brother a room, before I decide to destroy not only the counters, but you as well."

Inuyasha felt his eyes widen, and he placed his hand on his brother's arm. "Uhh, Sess, I really don't think that will get us a room." Turning to the woman, he attempted a smile. "We have had a really bad night. Could you please give us a room? There wasn't a sign, and I can smell other youkai here, so please?"

A well-dressed man exited a door from behind the counter and he glanced at the youkai and woman curiously. Blinking for a moment, he walked up to them and placed his hand on the counter. "What seems to be the problem here?" He asked lifting a brow to the woman.

"These youkai wish to have a room." The woman wrinkled her nose.

The man nodded. "And…? What is the problem with that?"

"Nothing." The woman quickly took down Sesshoumaru's information and then handed him a key.

The man nodded in Sesshoumaru's direction and attempted a smile. Inuyasha returned the smile and sneered at the woman. Without a word, Sesshoumaru walked towards the elevator and pushed the button for the car and they waited.

Once inside the elevator, Inuyasha turned to his brother curiously. "What's wrong with you? You know you can't threaten the mortal kind."

Sesshoumaru snorted. "She was being disrespectful."

"Doesn't matter, baka. At least we got a room." The bell dinged signaling their floor and they walked down the hall once again in silence.

Sesshoumaru used the card key and opened the door to a large two-bedroom antique Japanese style room. Inuyasha gaped and gawked at all the ancient artifacts and he grinned. "This looks like father's shop."

Sesshoumaru nodded and grinned.

Inuyasha walked over to a large vase that sat in the corner and he tilted it to the side. "Hey Sess, look!" The hanyou turned and through a grin at his elder brother. "It has father's trademark!"

Sesshoumaru walked over and leaned over to glance at the symbol. 'Souske wa Kódài no Ibútsu.' 'Souske's Ancient Relics' "Indeed." Standing upright, Sesshoumaru walked away from his brother and sighed. "Does this room suit you, otouto?"

Inuyasha grinned still on the floor holding the vase. "Of course. Hey Sess?"

"Hnn?"

"What are we going to do for fun?"

"Fun?" Sesshoumaru asked turning around to face his brother.

"Yeah, I mean we could always prank that front desk girl. That would be fun."

Sesshoumaru snorted. "Why would you think that a prank would be fun?"

"Have you never pulled a prank on someone before?" Inuyasha asked, placing the vase back down onto its base carefully.

Sesshoumaru frowned and shook his head.

Inuyasha stood up and gawked at his brother, and then his face fell. "Oh shit!" He exclaimed.

"Nanda?"

"The restaurant. We need to go lock it up for the night."

"Ah, yes. We still have an hour before we have to leave." Sesshoumaru opened the mini fridge and checked out the many drinks lined in a row. With a slow smile, Sesshoumaru took out one and held it in his hand. "I think perhaps a drink will calm my raging nerves."

Inuyasha pursed his lips. "Alcohol doesn't affect youkai."

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "Indeed. But a drink does sound rather good."

"Can I have one?"

"Are you insane? Why would I allow a minor like you to drink?" Sesshoumaru hid his smile, but barely.

"You are considered a minor too." Inuyasha protested.

"I'll make you a deal. We will go to the restaurant, close it, and then return and have one." Sesshoumaru tilted his head, waiting for his brother's answer.

Inuyasha nodded and then grinned. "Then we can prank miss prissy ass at the front counter."

Sesshoumaru sighed and rolled his eyes. "Agreed." With a nod, Sesshoumaru grabbed the room key and they exited with as much silence as they had entered it with.

Wordlessly, they exited the hotel and once again found themselves at the entrance to Chidori's Restaurant, and saw the cars lined up. Inuyasha hobbled out of the passenger side and made his way to the doors and entered. Most of the staff knew his brother, however they had not had a chance to see him, and he wanted to see how they were working.

He was flabbergasted however when he saw Kirara and Sango still in work attire and seated at the bar stools, both talking and overlooking the place. Hobbling over to them, he gaped. "How come you are still here?" He asked.

Sango grinned. "Early practice?"

Kirara giggled. "Yes, that's it. Of course."

Sango's grin faded however when she saw the bulge in Inuyasha's shirt. "Uhh, what is that?" She asked pointing.

Inuyasha glanced down and flushed a bright red. "Oh Kami! Chikusho, I forgot all about it." He reached into his shirt and pulled his blue bear out from under his shirt. Holding it in his hand, he showed the girls his bear and his blush deepened.

Sango and Kirara both giggled. "Where did you get that?" Kirara asked curiously, taking it from him.

"My mother gave it to me." Inuyasha said looking at his feet, well his one foot and his toes hanging out from the cast.

"It's really cute. Why does it smell like smoke?" She asked, handing it back to him.

"Fire at the house. Sess and I are staying at a hotel." Inuyasha sniffed and glanced around at the several girls working through their last customers and cleanups. "Is everything ready to be closed down?" He asked, without glancing at the girls.

"You bet. Your brother hired some really good waitresses."

"He has an eye for that sort of thing." Inuyasha muttered. Sesshoumaru walked through the doors and walked over to the bar.

Sesshoumaru walked over with a tray and set it down on the table, several minutes later and took a seat. He placed the drinks around the table and watched as the servers finally said their farewells to the patrons and locked the doors to finish the remainder of their cleaning.

Sesshoumaru lifted his drink and took a slow sip, and watched as his brother sniffed his drink curiously.

"Do you honestly think I would poison you, otouto?"

"No." Inuyasha shook his head. "I was wondering what it was."

Kirara smiled and tilted her head. "It's a vodka and seven."

Inuyasha snorted and nodded in response, taking a little sip. "This is terrible." He grumbled, wrinkling his nose.

Sesshoumaru chuckled. "Vodka is practically tasteless, Inuyasha."

Sango smiled and also sipped at her drink, watching as the servers finally finished their cleanups and waved goodbye to them. Once they were gone, Sesshoumaru turned to the two girls.

"Now that we are alone, there are a few things I would like to discuss with you."