Cold Winter's Depth Chapter 3, an inuyasha fanfic

Cold Winter's Depth - Chapter 3: Silence Worth A Thousand Words

-As a warning, I updated chapter 2 because I found that there was a chunk of the story missing. You'll find that the meeting has been filled in and that it'll make a bit more sense now. Sorry for my mistake!-

The door opened and closed. The maid created a big commotion about one of the young masters being home so late. The family slowly flooded into the living room.

"Evening family," he greeted with a smile.

"Son, I trust your destination was fruitful."

Miroku looked to his father's weary expression. He knew the pain of not knowing where one of his own was had slowly taken some life out of him. He'd been at the receiving end of some of the worries his father had poured out late at night. Was his brother even alive?

"Somewhat. I've got the corporate head flying out with a team to present for you."

"Guests?" Rin asked excitedly.

"And?"

"And I may have run into a lost sheep from our rather disheveled herd," he said slowly, looking carefully at his father.

His father anxiously looked around, "Did you bring him to where he belongs? Surely he knows that he must make up for lost time-."

Sesshomaru stood up and left. They stared after him until he disappeared at the doorway.

"Dad, InuYasha is one of the financial heads for the advertising corporations that you'll be meeting with. He is also in charge of some of the project."

Touga stood up, easily towering over his youngest son, "Make sure that our city home is properly cleaned before we go back next week. Also, make sure that these people stay in that house with us. If you have to properly warn hotels, then do so. Rin."

"Yes daddy?"

He looked at his youngest and only daughter, "You are to give me all available information on these foreign people your brother has associated himself with."

"Dad…"

"Miroku, our family is supposed to stay together. I forgave you for your transgressions and so I will do the same for your brother. Do not get me wrong, there will be a form of punishment."

Miroku glared straight at a nearby wall. He didn't believe in his brother's forgiveness. He'd readily left and saddled him with the family business, a task that would've been his.

"Son," his father looked at him, laying a heavy hand upon his shoulder, "we cannot keep grudges or resentment in this family. Your mother's dying wish was for me to keep this family together. I am sure that you will want your own sense of revenge, but keep your family ties in mind."

"There is no such thing as a family in my life."

In an instant, Touga knew he was speaking of his arranged marriage. His wife lived in a different home and they never spoke. Miroku left the room and Rin sighed loudly.

"You keep talking about how we can't keep resentment and how you've forgiven him for transgressions. The only transgression I see is the punishment he has to bear for this bloody company: To never know happiness with another. Hell, I've never even met the woman. The entire marriage was ridiculous. He needs a divorce."

Courtesy of a flight attendant, Kagome held a strong drink in her hands. InuYasha had soon found out his sister-in-law wasn't one for flights. She sat far away from the windows and prayed all the way to Japan, and proceeded to kiss the airport ground when they landed.

"Kagome, stand up," Kikyou urged, fervently looking around at the passing travelers.

She stood up and adjusted her suit jacket, "Have any of you made arrangements for our extended stay?"

Her traveling companions looked at each other expectantly. Kagome almost turned back. Instead she raised her arms over her head with an annoyed expression.

"We'll figure something out. The cars, at least, have been arranged for already."

She tugged at her carry-on and began the arduous task of searching for her luggage. A crowd of people had already formed. Spotting a small opening, Kagome squeezed through the crowd and so their quest became a free for all. An hour later, Kagome held one of the receptionists by the throat with InuYasha trying to pry her off.

"What do you mean our reservations were canceled?"

"Like I said, they were canceled yesterday morning. Insufficient funds?"

Before Kagome could fully register the clerk's contempt, and obvious stupidity, InuYasha managed to pull her away.

"Let's leave this for later. We should find a taxi or two and get situated in a hotel."

The group of five reluctantly agreed, Sango already on the phone with nearby hotels. As Kagome expected, InuYasha's unusual hair color drew attention to them. A group of men holding up signs caught Kagome's attention. She giggled and almost choked when she read her and her company's name on one of them. InuYasha had followed her line of vision and stiffened.

"I guess it may be too much of a coincidence that our transportation was canceled mysteriously and that they were sent for us, right?"

InuYasha glared at Hojo, whom had refused to be left behind in New York. Despite his great fear of heights, Hojo would not let Kagome leave for such an extended amount of time without him.

"My father is a part of a chain of companies that control almost all of Nihon. If he wanted us in a certain place tonight, he would give us no other choice."

"Are we to assume we're leaving with the driver then?"

Sango snapped her phone shut, "Yep. All hotels refuse us service after they hear any of our names, even with offers of cash."

"And so it shall be, " Kagome grunted, pulling her luggage toward the signs.

When did one cross the line between adolescence and adulthood? In some ways he still felt like a child, servants constantly checking in, family keeping tabs on his whereabouts. His inability – no, his lack of want – to speak led the world to believe him incapacitated. They could not understand that he was not fit to emit another sound for the rest of his existence, they were a form of expression that he gave up in honor of his mother.

"Maru?"

His had turned slightly, watching his brother out of his peripheral vision.

"I'm guessing you don't like that Inu's coming back," Miroku started, closing the door behind him. "But I've been thinking and we both understand why he left, that girl was his life and he wasn't made for the job."

Miroku walked casually to a chair and made himself comfortable.

"I know it doesn't quite excuse him in your eyes, but I would give anything to have the life he has now. If I had been in his shoes, I'm sure I would've done the same."

He looked up and almost laughed at his brother's soft honey eyes.

"This isn't your fault Maru. I blame Nihon society."

Sesshomaru shook his head with a smirk. His brother may not blame him directly, but they both knew that if Sesshomaru would open his mouth and talk, take over the company, then Miroku would be free to divorce his current wife and find one more worthy of his devotion.

"Master?"

Touga looked up over the rim of his reading glasses.

"There are a group of people with the young master at the gates."

"Then open them."

She turned and fled. Perhaps he'd been too harsh on the young girl, she was fairly new. It had been that imminent visit that had put him on edge in the first place, however. She'd unwittingly brought up the very subject that plagued his thoughts. His second son, the one he'd been relying on, was returning half-heartedly. He took in a deep breath and slowly released it with a smile – there were once days in which his second wife used to require that of him.

"Inu!"

He sighed; at least one of his own was easily willing to forget past transgressions. With that in mind, he left his chair and made his way out of his study, pausing only to lock the door. He passed by the staircase on his way to the living room and caught sight of his oldest walking back into his room. It had been that way the past few weeks since he'd learned of his brother's return. His oldest wasn't one to easily forget the past. However, in this case InuYasha wasn't seeking forgiveness – he hadn't been wrong in many ways. When he'd started the business he thought it would be a pride for any of his sons to take the reigns. Instead, it had become a burden – a constant quest for profit. No, Touga couldn't blame his son for leaving to pursue his own goals. As he walked forward his breath caught. His son had matured into a man away from his family. Even his voice had deepened into a likeness of his father's.

"Family," he greeted.

InuYasha's eyes caught his father's steady ones.

"Otou-sama," he greeted formally. "My wife, Kikyou."

Kikyou bowed quickly, keeping close to InuYasha. Miroky shifted his weight from leg to leg in discomfort.

"Otou-san, these are Kagome Higurashi, Sango Himura, and Hojo Asuka, respectively."

He nodded at each in silent acknowledgement, "I am pleased to be your host during your stay."

Kagome stepped forward, "I'm afraid I must ask why it is our reservations were cancelled and other arrangements were made without prior consent."

"I'm deeply apologetic if my actions seemed inappropriate or rude to you Higurashi-sama. It was merely my wish to make sure you were well attended to while in my country. Have I inconvenienced you in any way?"

"Our transportation was disposed of as well. I appreciate your taking us in as guests. If I may, however, I'd like to request that no such arrangements ever be made on my behalf, I find it insulting that you would think I could not provide for myself."

Touga smiled at the young woman. She looked incredibly young and had a smart mouth on her. In his mind, he found her personality not unlike Sesshomaru's.

'Girl, you've no idea the burden you've set upon your shoulders.'

"On a more personal note, I guess we are to consider each other family. I do not hold open hostility towards you and I expect the same."

Touga had the sudden urge to laugh. Kagome's character was comically straight forward and determined. Even the weeks he'd spent going through the information Rin had provided him with could've prepared him for the spit fire owner of Xaiden Image. Miroku, at his side, chuckled.

"I'm sure you must be tired from your trip. If you follow me I'll lead you to your respective rooms."

Kagome nodded, "If our host requires nothing more of us."

Touga nodded and the group followed after Miroku. Kagome made no move and halted InuYasha's progress. Soon, only the three were left.

"Perhaps my intrusion is out of bounds, but fir any progress to be made between us, professionally or not, with this arrangement…"

"Kagome," InuYasha warned.

"Inu, I'm sure your father would love to hear about your whereabouts. Takahashi-sama," she turned her gaze, "I'm sure you would agree with me that there is no time better than the present."

She patted his chest with a smile and walked away, leaving both males paralyzed. Miroku returned and laughed at their confused looks.

"Truly lost in thought?"

"You would be too if you'd just been convinced that another knows your thoughts better than yourself."

Miroku laughed, "She runs a successful business, doesn't she?"

-InuYasha & Co. are respectively property of Rumiko Takahashi and the company names I've made up, I'm not sure that they exist.