AfterShock

Itachi sat at the table in Kariya's home. Leaning back in his chair, Itachi lay his chin against his hand. So this was the leader of the demon slayers. Itachi smirked. He had never meet Ryukotsusei in person, now he knew why. "It is interesting that the leader of the slayers is a demon himself."

Ryukotsusei's face never changed but it was obvious he too found humor in Itachi's words. "Who better?"

Kariya eyed the strange looking demon. He had felt something strange about him, but never expected him to be a demon, "Why the secrecy?"

Those dark eyes turned to him with a reddish glint to them. Kariya fought back a shiver. So this was fear. It had been a long time since he had felt it. "Better to rule them as a human than fight thousands daily as a demon."

"Since you are here, i assume you are on board with my plans." Itachi's voice filled the silent tension of the room.

Ryukotsusei gave the raven haired man a toothy sinister smile, "Anything to humiliate the Great Dog General."

"Good to hear." Itachi answered with his own terrifying smile.

Kariya looked between the two evil beings sitting at his table and regretted getting involved with Itachi.

*****

Shikamaru stood on the back patio of Inutaicho's home smoking. He was shaking very slightly; almost unnoticeable, but Inutaicho saw it. Shikamaru had spent the last few of days looking for Itachi, but the man remained illusive. Just over a week and nothing.

"Shikamaru, you will find him. Of that I have no doubt. You should not doubt yourself."

Shikamaru hissed, "I should have at the very least gotten a clue by now. Something. Anything."

The shadows created by the rising sun quivered under Shikamaru's rage. Inutaicho placed his hand on Shikamaru's shoulder. The shadow ninja turned to him, "Less doubt human."

Shikamaru's lip twitched at the corner. It wasn't often that the demon lord called him that. This may be the fourth time in their long history together. Taking a long drag from his cigarette, Shikamaru slowly blew it out. "You're right. It is so irritating the way he disappeared. I have never felt this incompetent."

Inutaicho chuckled, "There is always a first time for everything."

"True as that statement is, being blind can get us killed with this man."

"We have guards on everyone and word to stay alert has spread. If Itachi is a smart man, he would remain in hiding." Inutaicho said.

"There in lies the problem. He is a smart man. Maybe smarter than me."

"Forget trying to figure him out. What would you do?"

Shikamaru sighed, "If I were in his place I would act now. Because a smart man would stay in hiding. I wouldn't come at you from the shadows. After the attack on Zaraki anyone would expect an opponent to go into hiding, then send out someone secret. He has to be aware we know of Kariya."

"I see." Inutaicho hummed, watching as Shikamaru rubbed out his cigarette on the sole of his shoe. "He's coming soon and with his full force."

Shikamaru nodded, "I would." Then he crossed his arms with a frown, "I just wish he was easier to find. I would know for sure."

Inutaicho nodded. Shikamaru liked to have as much input as possible before he predicted anyone's plan. It was understandable the man was a bundle of nervous tension. "We will wait for his first move without dropping our vigilant watch."

Shikamaru made a noise of agreement. That was their only real option at this point. He would keep searching for the weasel and when he raised his head, Shikamaru would personally cut it off.

*****

Coyote Stark lay on the beaten down sofa in the warehouse the Akatsuki were hiding in. He was trying to relax but the loud members of the group were roughhousing. They were all exited about the upcoming war with the Yokai and were having a hard time containing themselves. Stark did not share their excitement, nothing good would come from taking on the demons.

"Stark!"

Opening a lazy eye Stark saw Itachi at the doorway. Sighing, he rose from the sofa and went with Itachi. For a while now Stark had noticed a change in the raven-haired man. It was a change a man goes through as the madness that has taken root begins to spiral out of control. Once away from the wild antics of the other members of the gang, Itachi turned to him. "I need you to go to the Yokai den and destroy it along with anyone inside."

Stark met Itachi's obsidian gaze, "If that is your wish."

"It is." Itachi answered before he walked away dismissing him. Stark turned to go round up his men. It would seem things were about to escalate. Finding the first of his group of followers, Stark ordered him to get everyone together.

While the man rushed off, Stark wondered if it would be a wise idea to take on the Yokai. Looking back to where Itachi had disappeared, Stark began to think out the best course of action. Turning away, Stark walked to the meeting place his men would arrive at.

*****

Sesshomaru practically radiated a cold fury as he walked into his office. It would seem that DDM wanted to fall apart without his presence. They were about to loose their leverage in one of the easy deals. Hitting his office door he saw the two men within jump from the loud crack the doors made when they hit the walls.

"S-S-Sir." One of the men stuttered.

Stepping around his desk, Sesshomaru glared at the men. "Which one of you plans on telling me why Tenaka is about to slip away from us?"

He could tell one of them was about to piss his trousers, but he didn't care. Rate now, there were more important things going on than babysitting his employees.

"H-He only wishes to deal with you."

"And where is that finely honed talent of negotiation you were taught?"

The man was stuttering so badly he couldn't even speak.

"Lord Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru looked at the door where Rin stood arms crossed, "Speak."

So used to her adoptive fathers short intense bursts of fury, Rin continued unaffected, "This idiot was having an affair with Tenaka's wife and this one was too busy chasing his secretary."

A distinct smell of urine filled the office as Sesshomaru growled, "You both are fired. Get out."

Sesshomaru dropped into his chair and pulled up all the information could find on Tenaka's company. "Rin. Set up a meeting..."

"Tenaka would only agree to a meeting just after lunch and at his company." She answered as she held the door open for the idiots who thought they were too valuable to be held accountable for their unprofessional behavior. "He is still angry over the affair."

Sesshomaru hated dealing with people on their home turf. It made them cocky, but with the incredibly stupid way his employee messed this up, Sesshomaru had no choice. "Very well. Get everything set up."

A file was placed before him. "I have everything planned out. I even sent a complimentary basket with our deepest apologies and a confirmation of the dismissal of the guilty party."

Sesshomaru sat back, feeling a bit of the rage drain away form him. "What would I do without you?"

Rin smiled, "Completely fail."

Sesshomaru laughed lightly, "And why are you not running this company yet?"

She waved her hand in front of her, "High stress, low pay, and little time off. No thanks. I prefer being a secretary."

"And a more amazing one, there is not." He said with a genuine smile.

Her answering smile warmed his heart. As Rin left the room, Sesshomaru picked up the file and called Sephiroth. He had been in the middle of a very delightful phone call with his mate when Rin had called with the current emergency. That had fueled about three quarters of his rage when he arrived at the one place he didn't need to be. There were far more important things for him to be doing, things that could affect the lives of everyone he loved.

"You barely left. What are you doing there already?"

Sesshomaru chuckled at Sephiroth's greeting. "I may have been a bit more angry than I thought."

Sephiroth hummed over the phone connection, sending a familiar and welcome sensation along his nerves. Just hearing Sephiroth's voice was enough to dissolve the rest of his anger.

"I must apologize. Lunch will not be possible today. My incompetent, previous employees have made some mistakes."

"That bad." Sephiroth's voice said softly over the receiver. "Than I will wish for your success in straightening out their idiocy."

"I appreciate it. I missed you this morning."

Sephiroth's light laugh tickled his nerves. "And who decided we needed to stay apart until things calmed down."

Sesshomaru rubbed his hand over his face, "I can't control myself around you rate now."

He had told Sephiroth on their last parting he would only be able to wait four days, but with the bastard Itachi hiding in the shadows, he didn't want to take the risk that mating with Sephiroth could bring about. The last thing he needed was an injured mate during an attack. That said, his demon was growing tired of waiting. It would slip his shackles soon.

"Then finish this as soon as you can." Sephiroth's husky voice went straight to his groin, "I'm tired of waiting."

Sesshomaru growled low in his throat, "Understood." was the only word he could muster in his current state. The phone line went dead and Sesshomaru fought his every desire to hunt down his mate. Picking up the folder Sesshomaru tried to focus on the job at hand.

*****

Mugen sat in the park across from Inuyasha's place. Not in a hidden place; no, he sat in the open where anyone could see him. He wasn't too worried anyone would recognize him as a Yokai member, he had been on such an extended leave that most people would think he was either dead or had left the country. Hell, he doubted anyone who really knew who he was would even register it was him on the bench.

Popping another candy into his mouth, Mugen surveyed the scene. In about another thirty minutes he was going to go into the building, to the apartment beside Inuyasha. An apartment the Yokai leader had procured so Mugen could stay close to his son while still giving Inuyasha his privacy.

"So?" Looking up Mugen watched Jin as the man walked past him and sat next to him.

"Nothing stands out." Mugen said popping another candy into his mouth, "Got a text."

Jin took the phone from Mugen and read the message from Shikamaru. All it said was : Noting found yet. Keep your eyes open.

Jin handed it back with a frown. He was only a child when Kariya had visited the dojo he trained at and he had only seen him from his hidden location. Looking around, he couldn't see anything abnormal, but he felt on edge. "Someone's watching."

Mugen kept relaxed at his side, popping candy into his mouth, but Jin could tell he was more alert. Leaning into Mugen in a action of love, Jin whispered, "And their not watching us."

Mugen put his arm around Jin as he scanned the area for anything. Nothing stood out, "Assassins?"

"I'm sure of it."

Mugen pulled out his phone and laughed as he sent a message to Shikamaru, "Shall we go home?"

"Not yet." Jin said as he snuggled closer. There were a couple of people he kept looking at, but he was sure there were more. A curtain moved in a window in the adjacent building to Inuyasha's. He felt Mugen tense and knew the wild man had seen it too. "They're coming from the roof."

Jin stood with Mugen and walked towards their apartment building with their arms around each other. Mugen fought down a malicious smile. Nope, being employed by Inuyasha would never be boring.

*****

Shikamaru was sitting in Inutaicho's home office when his phone chirped. Looking down his heart thudded in his chest. "Inuyasha."

"Get your men there." Inutaicho ordered as he surged to his feet. Shikamaru was out the door before his lord could finish the sentence, Kimimaro hot on his heals. The mansion was closer to the den so on his way out of the house he took some of the men guarding the home with him.

*****

Sephiroth sat on the oversized sofa in one of the many rooms in Byakuya Kuchiki's home. His brothers sat beside him watching the large television. Byakuya had left the mansion hours ago to take care of a personal matter. Sephiroth's eyes went to his brother as Yazoo sat, eyes riveted to the television. Sephiroth was grateful Byakuya was trying to keep his illegal affairs separate from the boys. Somewhere deep inside he didn't like it that Yazoo was becoming attached to the man. He wanted to believe he was against their relationship because Byakuya was in with the underworld. But the truth was that he didn't want to loose his brother. It felt like he wasn't doing his job. The job of a father protecting his children, but they were not his sons. They were his precious brothers. Brothers he would be sending into the world. Turning his gaze to the television, Sephiroth tried to get his mind off it but horror movies were not his thing.

On the screen a busty actress was walking through the dark house holding a fire poker as she gasped for breath from fear. His brothers eyes were glued to the TV as she reached for the door handle for a spare bedroom. Yazoo jumped when a cat ran from the room with a screech. The music became more sinister, then the killer appeared at the end of the dark hallway. The woman screamed and ran for the front door.

"Not that way you stupid bitch!" Kadaj yelled.

The scene flashed to outside as the woman opened the door and made her attempt to escape. Then the killer grabbed her, pulling her back into the house and slamming the door. The woman's screams stopped as blood flowed from under the door.

"Dumb-ass." Came a trio of voices as popcorn flew at the TV.

"Seriously she had that damned poker. It's longer than the fucking knife the killer had." Kadaj growled as he stuffed more popcorn into his mouth.

Smiling to himself, Sephiroth checked his watch. It was already two in the afternoon and he was hoping to hear from his demon soon.

"What's the matter?" Yazoo asked noticing the movement.

"Got a hot date with Sessy?" Loz asked.

"Or a booty call?" Kadaj finished with a knowing smile.

"None of the above." Sephiroth said with a light smile. "I'm just expecting a call."

"Yep. Booty call." The boys said giggling.

Sephiroth was about to say something when his phone beeped, announcing a text message. Picking it up he recognized the number of an old friend. Sephiroth opened the message as the boys began making smooching sounds. His blood ran cold at the words displayed on the screen. Quickly, Sephiroth hit the speed dial for Sesshomaru.

"What's wrong?" Kadaj asked.

"He is after Inutaicho."

Yazoo paled as he realized who his brother was talking about. Loz was on his feet and opening the door to call for Reno and Rude. Sephiroth cursed when Sesshomaru's voicemail filled the connection.

Reno came into the room his eyes scanning it for threats while Rude held his phone to his ear, "What's going on?"

"I just received a message that Itachi has sent demon slayers after Inutaicho." Sephiroth answered as he walked to the door, "Get Byakuya back here and call Shikamaru."

Reno grabbed his arm. Looking down at the red head, Sephiroth said, "Protect my brothers."

Reno gave a curt nod while letting go of Sephiroth's arm. Leaving the room Sephiroth dialed Sesshomaru's direct line at DDM. He was disappointed when Rin picked up the line.

"Rin. I need to speak with Sesshomaru."

"I'm sorry Sephiroth, he is out of the building at that meeting." Sephiroth cursed as he got into his car. "I need you to get ahold of him quickly. It's regarding Inutaicho."

"What happened to grandpa?"

"Hopefully nothing yet, but I got word something bad is going to happen. Do you have his number so I can call him."

She quickly rattled off Inutaicho's number as Sephiroth entered it into his phone. "Please, please make sure he is okay."

Sephiroth could hear the worry in Rin's voice as he started the car, "I will, I promise."

Rin assured him she would get in contact with Sesshomaru before she ended the call. Starting his car, Sephiroth dialed Inutaicho's number, but he received a error message. Ending the call, he tossed his phone into the passengers seat and raced down Byakuya's driveway.

*****

Mugen and Jin stood in Inuyasha's apartment with Shikamaru. Inuyasha was pissed off that the bastards had attacked him. While he bandaged Miroku's arm, his foul language echoed through the apartment. Mugen frowned as he took in the scene. "These men were weak."

Jin nodded in agreement, "These men were low level assassins. No where near the level that Zaraki's men fought off. This was a diversion."

Mugen turned to Shikamaru seeing the man had already came to the same conclusion. Pulling out his phone he ordered Mugen to stay put and watch Inuyasha.

"What's going on?" Inuyasha barked.

"This may not have been the only attack." Jin answered. Inuyasha's eyes widened as he grabbed his phone and dialed his brother.

When he didn't pick up he called DDM and received the reception desk, "I'm sorry Lord Sesshomaru is out of the office at a meeting and his secretary just left."

Inuyasha immediately ended the call and dialed Rin, when she didn't pick up, he called his brother again only to receive Sesshomaru's voicemail again.

Miroku could see Inuyasha shaking as he put his phone on the counter of their kitchen, "They are not answering?"

Inuyasha couldn't speak from the fear gripping his chest so he settled on shaking his head. What should he do?

Jin stepped close to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. Inuyasha looked up at his bartender. "We need to get you someplace more defensible."

"We need to get you to the den." Mugen said.

Inuyasha felt the fear slowly fade as he shook his head, "No. We will go to the Aftershock."

"Wait, the club is the last place we should go." Mugen said in exasperation.

"No." Miroku said as he picked up his keys and handed Inuyasha his phone, "It is the perfect place to go."

Inuyasha smiled as he nodded, "I have a bit of a secret I've been keeping for a while now."

Mugen watched the hanyo as he walked towards the door to his apartment while stepping over the bodies of the fallen assassins. "And what is the secret?"

Inuyasha smirked over his shoulder, "You'll have to wait until we get there." Pressing a button on his phone he turned from Mugen while placing it to his ear, "Sakura. Itachi attacked. Can you get to the aftershock?" After a pause, Inuyasha ended the call. "Let's go."