Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha! I do own all of the OC's referenced, and the plot, and story line... There. I said it. (sighs)

Chapter 3:

An hour before sunrise:

Kitra woke up to a baby nuzzling her chest and clawing at her haori, crying. Sleepily she freed her heavy, milk filled tit from the confines of her top and the baby latched onto the nipple expertly, and began feeding.

The second baby started crying, trying to get to her mother to feed as well. Kitra smiled assuring, "Soon little one, soon," as she smiled fondly at her fussing daughter.

Bankotsu chuckled, picking up his daughter and cooed at her, entertaining her until her brother finished eating.

Lissa had woken up the minute the babies started crying, and moved to place the blanket over Kitra, who was still feeding the babes; before getting up to dole out breakfast to the waking adults.

Smiling as her son finished, she handed her son to Bankotsu to be burped, and began feeding her daughter.

After burping his son, Bankotsu handed him to Suikotsu, who changed the baby's diaper and handed him a teething strip.

Kitra sat up burping her daughter, and changed her diaper, before passing her to Jumal and handing him a teething strip for the baby; so she could help Lissa.

Jakotsu was up and flittering about the minute the babies started crying. He caught some fish to start smoking over the fire.

Lissa divided the nuts and berries equally between the adult's bowls and Kitra added a few pieces of banana to the kid's hands, smiling as the children smashed the banana pieces into their tiny mouths, grinning up at her with mushy covered fists being sucked on.

After the fish had smoked, Jakotsu added a single fish to all the adult's bowls and the adults ate. Suikotsu and Jakotsu cleaned the kid's sticky faces and hands before the girls strapped on the slings, and the guys placed the babies into the slings.

Bankotsu again strapped Kitra's sword to her waist, away from his daughter's kicking feet, before kissing his wife's cheek and the top of each of his children's heads affectionately and ordering everyone else to prepare to leave.

Kitra smiled kissing Bankotsu's cheek, before tying Lissa's hair back and getting hers braided into a fresh braid to keep her daughter's prying hands from yanking it, while the men gathered the bags, and their weapons, and refilled the water canteen's. Once everyone was ready, they set off in the same formation as they had yesterday; this time searching for rumors or signs of what had happened back at the gravesite.

Bankotsu and Jumal stood guard over the women and kids, whenever they went into a village to ask if anyone had seen or heard of any suspicious activities, or people in the area. All the villagers were torn between intimidation at Bankotsu's large weapon, and going gaga over the cute babies. Eventually the villagers decided he couldn't be that bad if he had such adorably sweet babies traveling with him, and began to open up.

Kitra inwardly smiled as she saw the reactions of the villagers. It was much the same at each village. Unfortunately no one had seen or heard of anything unusual in the area. Kitra would nod thanking them, and the small group would rejoin the rest of their team, and they would continue on.

Halfway through the second day:

Bankotsu and Kitra were walking up front together. The kids were in the middle with Jakotsu and Lissa. Bankotsu sighed informing his wife, "That dumb mutt and his group are battling just ahead."

Kitra nodded and they decided to go investigate who they were battling. As they drew closer, Miroku's voice called out warily, "Wait Inuyasha, isn't that the guy from Kitra's village?"

Inuyasha snorted, "It can't be, she said he was dead remember?" as he moved to draw his sword.

Overhearing this, Kitra and Bankotsu ran over, as Kitra yelled out, "Inuyasha, stop!" startling the Inutachi and the armed man before them.

Kitra said sadly, "That is Darius, look at the hair," and started moving slowly towards her brother, while Bankotsu moved up behind her.

Kitra soothed, "Darius, it's me, Kitra," staring into her brother's clouded green eyes, as he tried to make sense of what was happening.

She continued towards him slowly, trying to reach him, with Bankotsu right behind her, watching for any sign of Darius's intentions.

Darius's sword arm began to tremble as he listened to her calming voice, trying to figure out what to do, staring at the strange woman who was approaching him.

Kitra tried again, "Dar it's Kit, don't you know me?" giving him the face she'd show him as a child the few times she did let her worries show. She pleaded with her eyes for him to remember her.

Cocking his head to the side, he stared at the red haired woman and asked softly, "Who are you?" unsure.

Kitra fought back her tears as she said, "Dar it's me, Kitra." she took a deep breath, never taking her eyes from his.

Darius frowned. He knew that face, but he couldn't remember who she was. As he tried to remember, he felt a piercing pain in his head and cried out holding his head, as the pain intensified, the more he tried to recall her identity.

Kitra sobbed as she watched her brother and was about to run the last few feet to him, but Bankotsu snagged her waist ordering, "Stay still Kitra." She wanted to fight lose and go to her brother, but something in Bankotsu's voice stopped her, as his strong arm, firmly held her in place.

She watched in horror as gigantic looking wasps, buzzed over to her brother and stared at her and Bankotsu. Bankotsu's spine stiffened, but he never released her waist, or removed his eyes from Darius and the bugs.

Kitra sobbed as she watched her brother's eyes turn a stormy green and then pure grey before he vanished into the trees. Inuyasha was about to chase him, when Bankotsu yelled, "Let him go for now," slamming Banryu down to block his path.

Inuyasha barked, "Those were Naraku's bugs- they'll lead us to him," glaring angrily at the mercenary leader.

Kitra fought back her tears and stared at Inuyasha informing him, "If you chase him now, Darius will kill you. He's an expert tactician Inuyasha, and you don't stand a chance against him." her shoulders slumped and she turned into Bankotsu's chest sobbing.

Kagome informed them sadly, "He had a shard of the shikon jewel in his neck," eyes filling with sadness as she noticed the sad woman in his arms. Bankotsu scowled heavily, as his wife's worst fears were confirmed and she broke down crying.

He explained, "We went to his grave, so she and the others could make peace with his death, only to find the grave had been desecrated." In an aggravated tone, as he continued rubbing his wife's back soothingly.

Miroku asked, "Tell me Bankotsu, why would Naraku have brought Darius back?" curious about Naraku's latest dirty little trick.

Bankotsu led his wife back over to their children and explained, "Because he was one of the best warriors I've ever known. Before the kids were born, he'd come to us offering to bring Darius back- if I worked for him. I turned him down and he wasn't thrilled about it," remembering the dark look in the demon's eyes and what he'd said.

Jumal stepped up adding, "Darius and Bankotsu were the best fighters in our village, and he would make a deadly opponent. Kitra wasn't kidding when she said you wouldn't stand a chance against him," staring at the Hanyou he'd only met one time long ago.

Inuyasha scoffed, "I doubt that, he's just a human and I've gone against Bankotsu several times." insulted that they though he couldn't handle a mere human.

Bankotsu informed him, "That's because I had no reason to kill you mutt, if I wanted you dead, you'd have died long ago," matter of factly.

Kitra sighed adding, seriously, "Bankotsu is the only one who knows Darius's fighting tactics well enough to be able to predict how he's gonna act, and even then it's still chancy- he's the only person who can stand in a fight against Darius and save my brother." finality in ringing her voice.

Noticing the deep scowl on Inuyasha's stubborn face, she added, "I don't doubt your skills Inuyasha, but I know my brother. And when it comes to fighting, Ban knows him better than any of us- Darius is a deadly warrior, Inuyasha."

Miroku suggested, "Perhaps then, we should join our groups and work together to free your brother. If he's as dangerous an opponent as they say, we could be in trouble Inuyasha." He finished turning to his pack leader.

Sango pointed, "Naraku must be controlling him, just like he is Kohaku," bruneous eyes dulling as she remember her own brother's state.

Kitra warned, "When Dar does get his memories back, he's gonna be furious with the idiot Naraku!" snorting as she spat her enemy's name out venomously.

Bankotsu nodded agreeing, "That's for damn sure," not wanting to be in Naraku's place when that happened. Smirking as he thought of what his friend would do to the treacherous demon.

Sango added, "Remember Inuyasha, we know hardly anything about Darius as a fighter, only that he was extremely protective of his sister," glaring at the monk, who nodded vigorously.

Bankotsu swung his intense gaze to the monk and said, "Speaking of that, if you ever try something like that with my wife again, I'll cut that hand of yours off monk," he warned as he took an intimidating step towards the man, cracking one of his fists.

Kitra grinned as the frightened monk nodded again, whispering a plea of, "Help me Sango."

Sango laughed amused, "Oh no Miroku, you're on your own. I warned you one of these days a jealous husband was gonna get a hold of you."

She smirked, watching Bankotsu snatch the monk up by the collar, hissing, "Don't ever touch my wife again," before shoving the pale monk and staring at him with a hard gaze.

Inuyasha grinned adding, "Serves you right Miroku," as he watched his friend, stand to his feet and dust off his robes, with trembling hands.

Kitra had gone to retrieve her daughter and check on her son. Bankotsu nodded once in satisfaction, before spinning on his heel and also checking on his kids.

Kagome gasped, "Aw they're so adorable," as she watched the red haired little girl grab for her mother's braid.

Sango agreed, "That they are Kagome," as she watched the little boy reach for his father's finger. Bankotsu had sat on the ground, placing Banryu at his side, and began entertaining his son.

Miroku smiled asking, "And the children, are they going with us?" slight concern at the thought.

Bankotsu looked up answering seriously, "Yes they are," before turning his attention back to his son.

Lissa smiled and started making a fire to make a quick soup. Jakotsu said proudly, "Inuyasha sweetie, your ears are adorable, but not as much as my niece and nephew," winking flirtily at him.

Inuyasha blinked and barked, "Don't call me sweetie, you weirdo," as he sat beside Kagome pouting.

Kitra warned sternly, "Behave mutt, I won't have you insulting my children's uncles in front of them," hands planted firmly on her wide hips.

Turning to Jakotsu, Bankotsu added, "Be nice Ja," making it an order. Jakotsu sighed and busied himself playing with his niece.

Kagome asked, "Can I hold him?" staring at Bankotsu. After eyeing her warily for a moment, he nodded, passing his son to the eager teenager. Who cradled the adorable little tyke in her arms happily.

Noticing the longing look on Sango's face, Kitra picked up her daughter, passing her to the pleasantly surprised demon slayer, who quickly began laughing and freeing her hair from the eager little redhead's hand.

Bankotsu chuckled explaining sheepishly, "She has a thing for grabbing hair," as he patted his daughter's head affectionately, earning her endearing little smirk, as her indigo eyes lit up.

Bankotsu's proud smirk crossed his own tanned face, as Sango laughed, "I see she has her father's smirk."

Kitra smiled fondly, answering proudly, "That she does," as she helped Lissa with the soup.

Shippo perched on Inuyasha's shoulder, leaning over to gaze at the infants in wonder. Inuyasha felt a tiny smile begin to tilt at the corner of his mouth, as he watched Kagome playing with the babbling little boy.

Bankotsu kept a watchful eye on both his children, as the Inutachi women happily held and entertained them. Kitra sat beside her husband leaning her head on his chest, as the adults of their group began passing out the food.

Jumal finished his food and took Hyokotsu into his care, while Kitra and Bankotsu ate. Lissa had eaten with her brother, and was busily distracting Leikokotsu.

Bankotsu watched on in pride as his kids won everyone, even the hardened mutt, over to their adorable little antics. He'd never have believed becoming a father would fill him with such a sense of pride and accomplishment, before Kitra came back into his life.

Lissa and Jumal changed the little ones diapers and handed them to their proud parents. Kitra smiled as she began singing her son to sleep and her daughter climbed into her father's lap, snuggling into him and closing her eyes sleepily; earning a proud smile from her adoring father.

Once the kids were asleep, Kitra and Lissa donned the slings and Bankotsu and Jakotsu placed the sleepy darlings carefully into the slings. The others packed up the camp and everyone set off together, with Inuyasha and Kagome leading their group, and Bankotsu and Jakotsu leading their group.

A/N There's the third chapter. Aren't the kids simply enchanting? They sure are to me :D