Chapter 27

Disclaimer: I just want to apologize to everyone about taking so long to write up this chapter. I know I left off at a decent spot, no cliffy or anything, but I still feel bad about how long it's been. I've just been crazy busy at school!

Anyway, here's the chapter!

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Sesshoumaru answered the phone with a frown. "Yes?"

"He's here again. He says he won't leave until he gets a chance to talk to you. He says its important."

"I'll be there in half an hour." He hung up the phone glared at it for a moment. He had just tried to take a vacation, just a couple of days away from work, give Kagome a break from watching the kids, and what happens? Someone goes looking for him. Every day. And never leaves.

He got the kids all set to go and shipped them off to Inuyasha's apartment. Kagome looked surprised to see them, but her smile was real. Shippou ran over and pounced on Miroku, who was taking a nap on the couch. "I thought he moved in with Sango," Sesshoumaru said quietly.

Kagome laughed. "It's actually the first time I've seen him in about a week. He doesn't come over as much, especially now that he's working." She shrugged. "I like the company. But I shouldn't hold you up if you have to go to work. Just give me a call later if you want me to make them dinner."

Sesshoumaru left with a nod and drove quickly to the station. Someone met him at the door. "He's in your office. He said he'd wait until you got back, and when I told him you were on vacation he said he'd wait anyway." The officer shook his head. "It's must be important."

Sesshoumaru walked to his office without replying. He went in and sat down behind his desk without even looking to see who was there. When he finally looked up, he froze. "Can I help you?"

"I need you to tell me where my sister is," Souta Higurashi said simply.

"If I recall correctly, your sister has been missing for some time now, and it's been a while since I've had any new leads on her whereabouts."

Souta nodded. "Yes, of course. But you know where she is, and I need you to either tell me or take me to her." Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to speak, but Souta cut him off. "When Kagome came home, you took her away again. She knew you. She called you by your first name. You knew which coat was hers in the closet without having to ask. You had to tell her that you had gotten a new car because she wouldn't have recognized it. You know my sister very well, I think. And I need to know where you brought her once you took her away."

Sesshoumaru looked up to see the officer standing in the doorway, gaping. He gave him a look and he backed out quickly, shutting the door behind him. "Even if what you are saying is true, and I did know the whereabouts of your sister, why should I take you to her?"

Suddenly Souta smiled. "I have news."

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They were playing Chutes and Ladders when the doorbell rang. Miroku finished moving his piece, standing up even as he counted. "…four, five … I'll go get it. It's your turn, Kitten."

He headed out and Kagome grabbed the die. "Three!" She started moving her piece. "One … two … three! Oh no!" She landed at the top of the highest ladder. Shippou and Rin laughed at her as she slid her piece back to the bottom of the board. She had been winning for a while.

"It's Sesshoumaru!" Miroku said, walking back into the room.

"I didn't expect you to be back so soon," Kagome called out to him. She turned to Rin. "I'll just slide this out of the way and then we can finish playing next time you're here."

Rin nodded. "Hi, Daddy! I'm winning now! Who's that?"

Kagome looked up and her jaw dropped. Sesshoumaru was standing in the living room, Souta at his side. "Souta? What … what are you doing … why are you here?" Her eyes flickered back and forth between Sesshoumaru and her brother. She stood up slowly and walked towards him.

"Mom is dead." Everyone in the room froze.

"What? What do you mean, she's dead?"

"She was driving drunk again a few days ago and crashed her car into a tree. They put her in the hospital, but she died this morning." Kagome crossed the room and stood next to him, in shock. Sesshoumaru discretely backed away, signaling for Rin and Shippou to come.

"What are you going to do," Kagome asked.

Souta shrugged. "They called Grandpa. He's coming up to get me."

"Grandpa's dead."

He shook his head. "No, he's not. She just … she lied to us."

Kagome took a few deep breaths, and then she started to cry, her hands over her face. Souta looked frightened, unsure what to do, and when he turned to Sesshoumaru for help, Sesshoumaru just shook his head firmly. After a quick hesitation, Miroku stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her awkwardly, patting her back. "It's ok, Kitten, it's ok." Her crying didn't slow, and Miroku appealed to Sesshoumaru silently. Then he saw the door open and relief filled his face.

Inuyasha walked in, took one look at everyone, and pulled Kagome away from Miroku, holding her tightly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest. "When did you get home?" she murmured, still crying.

He rubbed her back soothingly. "Just now." He looked at Miroku with a question in his eyes.

Miroku mouthed the words 'her mom' and then ran one finger across his neck, sticking out his tongue. Sesshoumaru scowled at him, but Inuyasha just smiled slightly. He pointed at Souta and Miroku shrugged. Sesshoumaru pointed at Kagome, and Inuyasha's eyes widened.

Miroku looked between and Souta a few times. "Oh my god! It is you! Your picture's on the fridge!"

"How?"

Kagome suddenly started to laugh. "We stole the picture from the police file," Inuyasha said.

"You didn't steal it," Sesshoumaru corrected, "I just happened to lose it from the folder somehow." He sighed. "His grandfather will be coming to pick him up."

"Give him my address," Inuyasha said.

He nodded. "Rin, Shippou, come on." They started to gather their stuff and head towards the door. Suddenly, Rin dropped everything and ran over and wrapped her arms around Kagome.

"It's ok, Aunt Kagome. It's ok to cry." She squeezed her tightly. "I still miss my mom."

Kagome pulled away from Inuyasha and knelt down to give Rin a hug. "Thank you, Rin." They left and Kagome sat there for a moment, then ran off into the bathroom.

"Are you alright?" Inuyasha shouted to her.

"I'll be out in a minute."

He turned back to Souta and Miroku. "What just happened?"

Miroku shrugged. "We were playing Chutes and Ladders and then the doorbell rang and it was Sesshoumaru so I let him in, and then this kid was here, too, and he said that their mom was in an accident and died and then she started crying and I was trying to calm her down and it wasn't working and Sesshoumaru was laughing at me and then you came home and saved the day, as usual."

"Sesshoumaru never laughs."

"Well, he was laughing on the inside!"

Kagome came back out then, walking slowly, her face red from crying. She sniffled once and then pointed at Souta. "This is my brother. Souta, this is Inuyasha and Miroku."

"She called you Aunt Kagome." He looked back and forth between Inuyasha and Miroku, finally settling on Inuyasha and giving him an odd look. "Are you married?" Kagome sat down on the couch, shaking her head. Souta sat down next to her, looking around. "This is a nice place. I'm glad you're living in a nice place."

"I can't believe Grandpa is alive! I can't believe she lied to us about that!"

Inuyasha leaned closer to Miroku and whispered, "I'm just glad she's dead." Miroku nodded emphatically, then looked up to see Kagome and Souta glaring at him. He pointed at Inuyasha.

He shrugged. "I'll never forgive her for hurting you."

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They spent the evening together, just talking, not about their mother, but about anything that came to mind. Miroku and Inuyasha just sat back, not really joining in on the conversation. When their grandfather arrived, he immediately seemed to sense that Inuyasha and Kagome were a couple, and started sizing him up. He passed.

He left after a while, taking Souta with him, and Miroku left as well, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha home alone. They curled up on the couch, not talking, just sitting together in silence.

"I'm sorry," Inuyasha said finally.

She shook her head. "No, it's fine. I'm … I feel awful about it, but I'm really not that sad that she's gone. Not right now. I'm glad that Souta is safe now. And I won't have to see her again. I'm just upset. I can't believe she lied to us." She curled up tighter against his side.

"Thank you for being here."

Inuyasha leaned his chin on top of her head. "You're welcome."

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AN: Ok, end of the chapter!! It's a kinda depressing one, sorta, and sorta not … but hopefully the next one will be more cheerful. I wouldn't expect it too soon, though, because I don't know when I'll get another chance to update. Busy, busy, busy!!! Thanks to everyone who reviewed!!