Chapter Twelve

Arrival and departure

"Uncle Yasha, I thought you weren't coming to get me." Shippou smiled as he got into the car.

"I wouldn't forget you, how was Kaeda's?" Inuyasha asked.

"It was fun; we colored and played video games." Shippou smiled as they drove away from his babysitter, Kaeda's home.

"How was school, runt?" Inuyasha smiled.

"It's going okay." Shippou shrugged.

Inuyasha nodded and kept driving back home. Shippou glanced up and noticed a small frown on his uncle's lips, "Uncle Yasha?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong? You look sad." Shippou asked.

"Nothing's wrong, just tired from work; your father pushed me to my limits." Inuyasha forced a small laugh.

"You shouldn't work for father if it doesn't make you happy." Shippou sighed.

"It's okay, I'm okay." Inuyasha sighed, "I'm just tired, didn't get enough sleep."

"If you say so." Shippou smiled sadly.

They both remained silent, driving back home, following routine as Inuyasha pulled up to Sesshoumaru's place to drop his nephew off from another day of school.

Shippou opened the door, but noticed a small piece of paper, grabbing it out of curiosity he hopped out of the vehicle, "Thanks again Uncle Yasha, see you tomorrow."

"You too." Inuyasha smiled then drove off for his home.

Shippou looked down at the paper in his hands and gently opened it and found a bunch of writing, quickly skimming through it, he gasped.

"Uncle Yasha…he's going to go back." He whispered to himself. Shippou felt an overwhelming sadness hit him as he read the words that were meant for happiness, to bring love into the hanyou's life. "That's why he was so…sad."

Shippou tucked the paper in his pant pocket and ran inside; he needed to tell someone.

"I'm home." Inuyasha yelled as he closed the front door behind him.

"Uncle Inu?" Rei came poking around the corner.

"Yeah, what have you been up to?" Inuyasha smiled as Rei came crawling up to him as fast as her folded limbs could carry her.

"Inuyasha how was work?" Sango smiled.

"Okay, just stress filled as usual." Inuyasha sighed and piggybacked Rei into the kitchen.

"Miroku had to work overtime," Inuyasha smirked when he heard a defeated sigh come from the woman, "I'm sick and tired of them treating him like this."

"I know, but Miroku always liked to work hard." Inuyasha sighed.

"No, he never gets enough sleep, that boss of his has got to go." Sango hissed as she started washing the dishes that piled over the sink and counter tops.

"Why don't you do something about it?" Inuyasha smiled.

"I'm a mother of a one year old, a plain old house wife, what could I do?" Sango grumbled, "I need to sleep."

Inuyasha chuckled as he watched his friend sigh and head for her room upstairs, "I guess it's just you and me, Rei."

The little girl giggled as they headed for the living room to watch television. Inuyasha sat the kid down and sat down beside her as thy flicked through the channels, surfing for something interesting to watch.

Inuyasha spotted some children cartoons and smiled when Rei squealed at her favorite animated character.

The phone rang, dragging Inuyasha out of his thoughts as he stood to answer it, "Hello, Inuyasha here."

"Inuyasha? We need to talk." He sighed.

"What is it this time Sesshoumaru?"

"I've heard that you want to go back to America." Inuyasha stifled a gasp.

"What the hell, how'd you get that information?"

"I have my sources; now tell me…what would pull you back to America?" Sesshoumaru stated.

"Nothing that involves you, bastard." Inuyasha growled, "If I wanted to go to America, it wouldn't matter to you, or anyone."

"It would, if you are the future heir to our father's company, then you are to be present to work each and everyday." Sesshoumaru hissed.

"What if I don't care about that?" Inuyasha sighed, "I wanted my freedom, one of the main reasons for leaving to America in the first place."

"Yes, you've told me."

"Yeah, and now I'm slowly losing that freedom." Inuyasha growled, "I can go where I want without anyone hackling me, now if you don't mind, I've got some packing to do."

Inuyasha sighed as he hung the phone up. Scratching his head, he wandered to his room and opened his closet. He smiled when his eyes got a glimpse of the old, but familiar, duffle bag. Pulling it out, he threw it on his bed and tossed a few pair of clothes and other essentials.

Deja vu hit him as he stared at his door and expected the six-year-old Shippou to be standing there, trying with all his might to stop him from leaving.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Miroku asked slowly as he saw Inuyasha zip up his bag.

"I have to Miroku, I just…"

Miroku nodded in understanding, "You just better leave before Sango or Sesshoumaru know about this."

"The bastard already knows." Inuyasha whispered. "I better get going."

"You get her."

Inuyasha's eyes snapped open, "How'd you…I never told you…"

"I know these things Inuyasha, love is very easy to read." Miroku smiled knowingly, "Bring her back."

"Thanks man." Inuyasha gave Rei a hug and kiss and hugged Miroku as he was out the door, "I'll be back sooner then before…"

Closing the door behind him, he sighed, "…I hope."

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters, anime of manga. Rumiko Takahashi does and I'm glad she had the imagination to create such amazing characters to play with.