AfterShock

A/N: I am so very sorry with the length of time between my updates. And I beg for your forgiveness. I may have a lengthy list of reasons for my absence, but I feel they are not sufficient enough to excuse my lack of attention to my stories. I truly love doing this, and I enjoy those of you who spend time in your own lives to read my visions. All I can promise you all is that I have not lost interest in my stories, or characters. They are all dear to my heart. All I ask for is for you all to bare with me, and my crazy life. Thank you so very much for your time, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Now , on with the story!

**********

Yazoo sat in the backseat of Sesshomaru's car flanked by his brothers. He was trying to hide his emotions, trying to hide the fact he was terrified. This was the first real outing since the rescue. Although, what scared him more than being outside the safety of his home, outside the watchful eyes of the Yokai? The thing that scared him most was going to their saviors home, Byakuya Kuchiki's home.

What would possess such a powerful man to ask for their presence at dinner? Would he break his promise? Would he tell Sephiroth everything they had begged him to keep secret? Would he sneer as he told their older brother about the night he had purchased their deeds?

The closer they got to their destination, the more he trembled. Clasping his hands tight, he fought the fear griping him. Feeling warm hands surrounding his, Yazoo glanced down. His siblings wrapped their hands around his lending him their strength. Looking up, he let a quiet sigh escape his lips as Kadaj and Loz leaned against him. Feeling their warmth, their love, and above all, their support. Yazoo knew that he could do this. No matter what horrors awaited him in the future, they would never abandon him.

His eyes turned to rest on Sephiroth's form in the front seat as he looked out the window. In his stressed fear riddled mind, he had failed to see something completely obvious. Though their brother did not know about the year before they were brought together, Sephiroth's body radiated tension. He was clearly reacting to Yazoo's near panicked state. Turning to look at the rear view mirror, Yazoo saw Sesshomaru's eyes dart to them then back to the road.

He felt a peaceful calm wash over him. He wasn't alone. Everyone in the car was feeling nervousness for different reasons, but all their reasons were centered on the three of them in the back seat of the car. Leaning his head on Kadaj's shoulder, Yazoo realized he had nothing to worry over. His brothers, all of his brothers, were there for him along with the Yokai heir. No matter what, they would be fine.

**********

Inutaicho leaned back in his chair as Shikamaru came into his office. The look on the young man's face caused Inutaicho a moment of pause. "Has something happened to..."

"No." Shikamaru interrupted. "Everyone in your family is well. I've come with other news."

Shikamaru sat on the chair in front of Inutaicho's desk.

"Itachi." Inutaicho said with a frown as Shikamaru nodded.

"The general from the meeting the other day had something troubling to report. It seems Itachi has disappeared with a large number of the Akatsuki. Since then there has been six attempts on Zaraki's life."

"Six?"

"Yes, four never made if past his guards, but the other two were low level assassins from the guild."

Inutaicho couldn't help the snort that escaped his mouth, "Zaraki couldn't stop a guild assassin, the boy must be mistaken."

"I thought so as well. So I investigated. They were tier six assassins." Shikamaru said as he pulled a cigarette from the pack in his pocket and placed it between his lips, "I also found out Zaraki didn't kill them. He has a guard with him at all times, but I couldn't get any information on this person. I don't even know what the guard looks like."

"Nobody can stay invisible, the guard has to be hiding in the open."

"The only ones close to Zaraki at the time were his secretary, Kagura, the one who told me about the boys and a Gozee carrying a shamisen."

Inutaicho smiled from Shikamaru's last statement. "Tell me Shikamaru, does this Gozee go by the name Sara?"

Shikamaru paused in his search for a lighter, "You know her," he stated.

"Yes. She is a tier one assassin who retired years ago. I wonder how he got her out of retirement."

Shikamaru frowned, "Why do I not know her?"

"She went by a different name then." Shikamaru gave him a questioning look but Inutaicho did not answer. If she had shed the name she had built her reputation under, he would respect her wish. Tilting his head back onto the back of his chair, he smiled. He was grateful he had never had the pleasure of her attention. If she lived up to her title, even he would have had a serious fight on his hands. His eyes were drawn back to Shikamaru when the young man sighed.

"Fine, keep your secret." He said as he stood. The phone on the desk began ringing. Looking at it Inutaicho sighed. Shikamaru smirked at his lord. "You can only avoid your wife for so long."

Inutaicho sent a venomous look to his subordinate, "And what would make you believe I am avoiding my wife?"

"Genius, remember?"

Inutaicho chuckled, then allowed his eyes to drift to the phone as it stopped ringing, "I was hoping to put it off a little longer."

Shikamaru snorted as he found his lighter and lit his cigarette. "Is it because of your sons or..," the dark haired ninja paused, "is it because of Kimimaro?"

"Kimimaro." Inutaicho answered.

"Do you think your wife will cause a problem?"

"No." Inutaicho said as he watched the cloud of smoke from Shikamaru's cigarette drift through the room, "She will accept it."

Shikamaru could see by his lord's posture that there was more to the secret than Inutaicho was letting on. "You should break it to her quickly. You wouldn't want her to find out from an outsider."

Inutaicho's mouth thinned, "Is that a threat?"

Shikamaru smiled brightly, "No, just friendly advice. You know how quickly rumors spread."

With that said Shikamaru turned to the door as it opened and Kimimaro stepped in. Shikamaru nodded then left, a thin trail of smoke the only thing left behind in his wake.

Kimimaro watched Shikamaru leave and frowned, what was that about? He thought to himself as the door shut quietly. The next moment he grunted as he was slammed into the wall with Lord Inutaicho tight against his back. His breathing sped up in both excitement and fear. Ever since the night he became one with his lord, Inutaicho had been unpredictable. One moment he was calm and content, the next he was ripping Kimimaro's cloths from his body.

Hands slid up his body under his shirt drawing a gasp from him when clawed fingers found his nipples. It would seem Inutaicho was acting on the later of his moods.

Inutaicho growled low in his throat as he grabbed one of Kimimaro's wrists and pinned it to the wall above his mates head. Drawing Kimimaro's intoxicating smell deep within his lungs, Inutaicho ran his hands down his mates body, his every intent to take Kimimaro again, but Shikamaru's words echoed through his mind, stalling his hands. Wrapping his arm around his mates waist, he laid his forehead against Kimimaro's shoulder as he breathed deeply, trying to calm his lust.

"Kimimaro," Inutaicho began. When his mate turned his head to look over his shoulder, Inutaicho leaned back, "I have to tell my wife about us."

"I understand." Kimimaro said quietly. He knew there may be an issue but he trusted his alpha, "Do you wish for me to stay here?"

"No. You should to be present." Inutaicho whispered, "Just be prepared. She has been known to throw some rather large fits."

Kimimaro smiled lightly at his mate as he reached back and gently caressed Inutaicho's cheek. "I will be careful. When will you need to speak with your wife?"

"Tonight." Inutaicho said as he closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of his mate against him and the delicious smells floating up to his nose. The slightly musky scent of lust infiltrated his mind while his blood settled low in his body, "What am I going to do with you?"

"Whatever you want, my mate." Kimimaro said in a low lust thickened voice.

"You will regret those words," Inutaicho snarled as he plunged his hand into Kimimaro's pants, wrapping his hand around his mates aroused member.

"I doubt it," Kimimaro hissed as his mate stroked him.

**********

"Wow. Your friend lives here?" Kadaj asked as he looked out the window at the large mansion.

"Yes he does." Sesshomaru answered, turning the engine off and getting out of the car.

Sephiroth knew the Kuchiki's had been a powerful family once, but he was under the assumption that they were a fraction of what they had once been. Standing before the home, he realized many had seriously underestimated them. The new lord not only rebuilt his family holdings, he had also aligned himself with one of the most powerful groups in the country, possibly the world.

A man with a monocle opened the door as they approached. Bowing lightly, he motioned for them to enter, "Mr. Kuchiki will be happy you have arrived. Would you like to sit in the parlor or would you like to sit by the pool?"

"You have a pool?" Yazoo asked in excitement, then blushed as he looked at his elder brother.

Sephiroth smiled, "The pool will be fine."

The light in Yazoo's eyes were more of a reward than the young man's hug could be.

**********

Itachi rose as Kagetoki Kariya walked into the sitting room of his hideout. Extending his hand he motioned for the guild leader to sit in the stuffed chair. "Thank you for coming."

"So the great Itachi has finally summoned me. I can hardly wait to hear the reason for this." Kariya said with a smile that bordered sinister.

"You know who the mark is." Itachi barely refrained from hissing the words at the man as he sat across from him.

"Of course I know. I'm just having fun at your expense, please calm yourself." Kariya said as he took his hat off and set it on the arm of the chair. "Now onto business. The men that have failed to eliminate the mark were on the lowest tier. I was curious if you know who has been dispatching them before they could complete their job."

Itachi threw a photo on the coffee table that sat between them, "She is the one. All I know of her is her name is Sara and she is blind."

"That would explain why you are of no use against her." Kariya said as he picked up the photo, not acknowledging Itachi's irate face. Smiling he took in the familiar face on the shiny surface of the photo. It had been a long time since he had laid eyes on her. "I now understand why there has been so much trouble. She is a most formidable enemy, but I have someone in mind who may be her equal. His payment will be very expensive."

"Money is no problem," Itachi said as Kisame laid a briefcase in front of Kariya, "That is a down payment. I will pay three times that amount when Zaraki is dead."

Kariya leaned in to look at the contents of the briefcase, "That would be more than sufficient. I will use the rest to add additional forces to the job."

Itachi nodded his head as a satisfied smile crossed his face, "And Kariya, I want it very messy this time."

The mans laugh echoed through the room, the tones just as maddening as Itachi's light chuckle. Itachi stood as Kariya rose and walked with him to the door. Soon the blind bitch and the bastard Zaraki would be out of his way, then he can move on the last phases of his vengeful plan.

Once Kariya was in his car Itachi felt Kisame's arms circle his waist from behind, "Have you gotten all the documents together?" Itachi asked of his lover.

Kisame's wide, toothy smile graced the man's blue face. "Have I ever failed in a task you gave me?"

"Never."

Itachi felt an envelope tap his chest, looking down he placed his hand on it. "You are now the soul guardian of Zaraki's only daughter and all of her assets until she turns twenty five. Congratulations, Interim President Itachi."

Itachi chuckled lightly as he pulled Kisame down to his mouth. Everything was back on track now and Itachi couldn't be more ecstatic.

As the guild assassin leader's car turned down the street and disappeared around the corner, the shadows across from the innocent looking home shifted. A man dressed in dark cloths turned down the street, walking lazily and leaving a trail of smoke from his cigarette.

**********

Byakuya entered the pool as everyone either lounged around its edges or played in the gardens with Reno and his weapons. Loz and Kadaj had been curious over the targets set up in the back of the garden and Reno was more than happy to show the boys his hidden guns. Loz had been the most interested and now they were using the targets with the suppressed weapons.

Byakuya looked around to be sure Sephiroth was still in the house as he sunk into the deep water. Slowly swimming to his destination, Byakuya couldn't take his eyes off Yazoo as the young man lay on the inflatable bed, his long arms crossed under his cheek, his eyes closed, and a slight smile gracing his lips. He looked like a content silver cat soaking up the warmth generated from the sun.

Yazoo could feel eyes on him while he enjoyed a peaceful moment. Opening an eye he saw Byakuya in the pool, swimming up to him. "I hope you are wearing sunblock."

Yazoo felt a nervous butterfly sensation in his belly, but he smiled to hide how this man made him feel, "With my pale skin, it would be suicide to not."

Byakuya's eyes lit up with laughter, as he threaded water before him, "That I can understand."

Closing his eyes, Yazoo pretended to ignore the raven haired man while his belly kept fluttering. He wasn't sure if it was fear or something else, but Byakuya had been a complete gentleman the entire afternoon. He never once made Yazoo or his brothers feel like they were less than friends. His fears in the car ride had been wiped out completely when Byakuya had entered the room with a genuine smile and welcomed them into his home.

"You look much better." Yazoo's eyes snapped open at the barely audible words Byakuya spoke, "I mean... you don't look so.... ugh." Byakuya hissed as he dove beneath the surface of the water.

Yazoo's eyes widened as he lifted his head to watch the man slowly re-emerge from the water, "Please forgive me. I am normally more eloquent than this. You unnerve me."

Yazoo felt a frown pull at his face, "Why?"

"Because for the first time since I was a helpless child I have a crush."

Byakuya watched as Yazoo's eyes shifted from confusion to surprise and his already rosy cheeks reddened. Yazoo reached up to push a stray strand of hair behind his ear causing the inflatable bed to shift in the water. Byakuya couldn't say what had come over him, but he watched the air filled plastic rock on the surface of the water while a wicked thought crossed his mind.

Yazoo didn't have time to process the mischievous look on Byakuya's face before the inflatable bed was overturned by a well placed kick.

Sephiroth came out of the house in time to hear his brother's startled scream as his brother fell off the inflatable bed where a smiling Byakuya was quickly diving below the water. Sephiroth turned to a laughing Sesshomaru, "I hardly think such childish antics are funny."

Sesshomaru turned to him with his own wicked smile. "Really?"

"Don't." Sephiroth said sharply as Sesshomaru slowly stood. Backing away, Sephiroth's voice raised, "Don't you dare do that again."

He tried to turn to escape but Sesshomaru was quicker. The demon's arms wrapped around his struggling body as he flung insult after insult at Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru was only joking as he carried a flailing Sephiroth towards the pool. He had no intention of actually dunking the man, however, he had not expected the war cry from behind him, followed by Kadaj slamming into the both of them. The slight man's weight should not have been enough to topple Sesshomaru, but with a struggling Sephiroth in his arms, it was enough to tip the balance. He let go of his lover as he fell into the pool with a very pissed off Sephiroth.

Yazoo broke the surface of the pool with Byakuya's arms around him just in time to hear Kadaj's battle cry and the hysterical scene that followed. He was laughing hard as his older brother came up swinging, giving the perfect impression of a drowned cat while Sesshomaru jerked out of the way of his brothers fists.

Sephiroth had every intention of killing everyone in his arms reach when he heard laughter from behind him. Turning in the water he saw Yazoo holding onto Byakuya as he laughed hard. All his anger flowed out of him as he smiled. Perhaps it was worth it to see such an unguarded look on his brother's face. Maybe he wouldn't kill his brother and lover, today. But, they would be punished, starting with Kadaj. Quick as lightning he surged from the pool and grabbed a surprised Kadaj by his wrist, yanking him in with a panicked cry as Sephiroth pulled himself onto the edge of the pool.

**********

"Sir," One of Itachi's men said quietly as he entered the room.

Itachi raised irritated black eyes to the man as he laid the legal papers Kisame had given him on the desk. "What?"

"Sir, we may have a breech in our security at this location." The man was trembling, clearly terrified of being the one to come tell him.

Itachi just leaned back in his chair, "Do we know who?"

"Yes sir. It was Shikamaru Nara, one of the Yokai."

"I see." Itachi looked down at his desk, "Did he see Mr. Kagetoki here?"

"The camera's caught a brief moment of him as he entered the compound, but it appears he entered after Mr. Kagetoki was in his vehicle leaving the grounds."

Itachi brought his hand up to rub his temple as a headache began to form, "At the very least he knows our location." He said quietly, jerking his head up, he took delight in the way the man jumped. "Tell the men to pack up. We are changing locations."

"Yes sir." The man barked in response as he all but ran from the room.

Leaning back in his chair, Itachi started going over all of the possible scenarios for the future in his head. He couldn't underestimate the Nara boy. The boys genius was nearly on level with his own.