This is the edited version of this chapter. (From my edit of chapters 1-11)

As always, Inuyasha does not belong to me but to Takahashi Rumiko and all other companies/people who own the rights to it. I'm just writing a fanfic...zero profit, I guarantee!

The Next Best Thing
Chapter Seven: False Hopes and the Unexpected
by Laura Hoak-Kagey

Miroku was fixing some tea for himself and the children when Shinhaku and Yumemi burst into the room. Since all three children had been playing in front of the house, it made Miroku suspicious of something having happened.

"Shinhaku, Yumemi, what's wrong? What's happened? Where is Sakura?"

Yumemi was the first to catch her breath. "Papa...a lady...took Sakura."

Her twin brother reported the rest of the event's happenings. "She had...black hair...to one side...we tried to help her...but Sakura is gone!"

Miroku dropped the cup of tea he had been holding, and crouched down to the level of his children. "Sakura is gone? Somebody kidnapped her?"

Both children nodded their heads.

Miroku steadied himself by sitting on the floor, and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "I'm going to ask you some questions, and I want you to answer them for me..."

Sango was going to kill him when she got back, but for the time being all Miroku could do was gather information about the kidnapper who had taken Sakura.

*~*~*

While Kagome had her bow aimed at Inuyasha, Sesshoumaru telepathically received word from Rin.

[I got that girl. I've brought her back to the castle, Lord Sesshoumaru.]

[Good work, Rin. I will be back shortly. Until then, keep that brat near you at all times.]

[Yes, Lord Sesshoumaru.]

Sesshoumaru turned his attention back to the episode in front of him. "Kagome, why haven't you released the bow yet? You don't wish to hurt him?"

He had a plan now, a cruel plan. He would give these enemies a false bit of hope, only to have it be taken away a little bit later. "I give you control to move your head in either a nod or shake."

Kagome felt a weight leave her head before she frantically shook her head no. She would never want to hurt Inuyasha. After being separated from him for so long, she had a million other things she wished to do.

Sesshoumaru snapped his fingers, and gave Kagome control of her body again. "So be it. But remember, those bands are still around your arms..."

After saying that, Sesshoumaru stepped through the barrier to his domain. He now had that partially demon brat, and was still able to control that human woman if the need arised to use her again. Things looked to be going his way.

Kagome collapsed to her knees. The poison still had an effect on her, and at the same time Kagome couldn't figure out why Sesshoumaru had let her go.

What had just happened finally sunk into Inuyasha and Sango's minds, and the pair rushed forward. It was Inuyasha who reached Kagome first, and cupped her face in his hands. He gazed into her eyes as he said, "Kagome...it's really you. I've been lookin' for you for so long..."

Even though there were still tears in her eyes, Kagome felt her heart swell. She placed her hands on top of Inuyasha's. "Inuyasha...I tried to find a way back to you, but nothing I did worked! Especially...Sakura...she's our daughter. I wanted to show her to you so many times!"

He smiled at her. "She's beautiful, just like her mother is."

Inuyasha moved his lips towards Kagome's, and kissed her. Something he had wanted to do for a long time. As soon as their lips touched, Inuyasha dropped his hands in order to wrap Kagome in a hug. Kagome put her arms around his neck, trying not to cry from happiness as she kissed him.

Sango smiled at the pair, and looked to the side so they could have a little privacy. It had been a long time, and Sango had never realized how much she had taken Miroku for granted before. She had been fortunate, and Sango hoped that from now on Kagome and Inuyasha's luck would change for the best as well.

Inuyasha and Kagome ended their kiss, and even though they wished to do so much more, they realized Sango was standing right there. Sango cleared her throat before she spoke. "I think I'll go home ahead of you two. Inuyasha, I trust you can take care of Kagome. And you both know the way home to Kaede's village."

Sango saw Kagome about ready to open her mouth, but she cut her off before she spoke. "Don't worry about Sakura. A little bit of time won't matter, especially knowing that you're safe now. It's been six years...if Miroku weren't around for six years, well..."

Kagome gave a weak smile. "I really wanna see Sakura, but...I still have to think of a way to tell her I found her Daddy." Kagome gave Inuyasha a squeeze. "But we won't be long, I promise. Thanks, Sango, for everything."

"No problem. We can catch up later, and you can meet my twins." Sango gave Kagome a wink, before rushing out of sight.

"Twins...? Who would have thought..."

Inuyasha interrupted Kagome. "You'll love Shinhaku and Yumemi when you see 'em, just like I do."

There was a small silence. All Inuyasha and Kagome did was stare into each other's eyes. Kagome moved first, and placed her hand on his face, brushing his cheek with her thumb. "My Inuyasha has become a man. I wish I could have seen you change into one."
Inuyasha saw that Kagome had tears forming in her eyes. "We can't change the past, so don't dwell on it. I found ya, and that's all that matters. I don't plan on losin' ya again, ever."

"I know, but..."

Inuyasha shut her up with a kiss. This time he didn't plan on ending it abruptly like before. In between kisses he whispered, "Kagome...I love ya more than before..."

This time Kagome had tears of joy running down her cheeks. "I love you too. And I'm only crying because I'm so happy..."

"I've just begun, Kagome."

Inuyasha kissed Kagome again, but this time he managed to ease her to the floor to begin showing her his physical love for her, to match his words.

~*~*~*

Sango couldn't help but smile the whole way home. Only when she realized that Kirara had stopped did she put aside her romantic thoughts about what Inuyasha and Kagome were probably doing about now. Miroku kept her romantic and passionate life quite active, and she had no worries when it came to her own husband.

After dismounting Kirara, Sango shouted out, "Miroku, everyone, I'm home!"

Noticing that no one was rushing out to greet her, Sango wondered what was going on. It was only after she had nearly reached the door herself before Miroku opened the door. She saw his face, and instantly knew something had happened.

"Miroku, what happened? You look worried."

Miroku sighed. He did not want to tell Sango what had happened. "Sango dear, things are not good. While you and Inuyasha were away...someone kidnapped Sakura."

"What?! Kidnapped her? What are you talking about?"

Sango was about ready to start pacing as she spoke, but Miroku took ahold of her shoulders to keep her from doing so. "Sango, it's the truth. But before we go any farther, where is Inuyasha? Did you find Kagome?"

"Yeah, yeah, we found her." Sango managed to break free of Miroku's hold on her, and start pacing as she told him what happened.

"We found her, but we all thought everything was going to be alright from here on out. Why? Poor Kagome...and to think I told them Sakura was fine and not to worry for a little while! Who would...wait a minute."
Miroku looked puzzled. "What? Do you know who did it? The children said a young woman took her, with black hair to one side..."

"Of course! It was Sesshoumaru who took Kagome, and that's why he let her go so easily! He had gotten Sakura and didn't need Kagome anymore! That girl...he used to keep that little girl, Rin, with him. She would nearly be a teenager by now..."

"Sesshoumaru? I thought Inuyasha took care of him a long time ago..."

"He said he only sealed his powers. He was around the whole time, but just never choose to come out and make trouble for us these last five or six years." Sango stopped pacing and put on a determined looking face. "Miroku, I'm gonna go look for her. I-I just can't tell Kagome and Inuyasha..."

"No." Miroku said to his wife in a stern voice.

Sango gave a look of surprise. Miroku rarely used a tone like that when he spoke to her.

"I don't want you to get into trouble. We will wait for Inuyasha and Kagome to come back first. The news is not good news, but we shouldn't hide it from them. Besides, I think they could help us out quite a bit."

Sango sighed in defeat. She knew he was right. "I know, I know. We'll wait. But..."

She crossed the distance between her and her husband before laying her forehead on his chest. "Why do these things always happen to us and our friends?"

"If I knew the answer to that...but we can only defeat Sesshoumaru and get Sakura back. You know Kagome and Inuyasha would do the same for us if anything ever happened to Yumemi and Shinhaku." Miroku gently rubbed Sango's back, more for his own comfort than for Sango's.

*~*~*

Kagome smiled as she watched Inuyasha get dressed. Even simple things like putting on his clothes interested Kagome. There was so much she wanted to know about him and ask him, but Kagome knew that she couldn't do everything at once.

Inuyasha noticed Kagome watching him, and then finished tying his pants, returned the Tessaiga to its rightful place, and gave

Kagome a grin. "So, whatcha think? Do I look okay for ya?"

"Of course, as always."

He walked over to her and offered his hands in order to pull her to his feet. Kagome placed her hands in his, and rose to her feet.

She gave him one more quick kiss before she said, "We should head back. I wanna see Sakura AND introduce her to her father."

"Well, me and her did have a 'pretend dad' thing goin' on before...hopefully she'll take it well."

"Of course she will. It sounds like she already loves you, which she should, and so it should be alright." Kagome paused a second, took a calming, deep breath, and spoke once again. "I think we should be heading back now...are you ready, Daddy?"

"Only if you are, Mom."

Kagome gave a small giggle before Inuyasha offered her his back. She climbed on before he started back towards Sango and Miroku's home. Inuyasha's memories had been correct. Having Kagome on his back felt like it had before, and it did remind him a lot of the time when Sakura had been riding his back instead.
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August 2001
http://animeforever.com/inuyasha