A/N: Many thanks to everyone who has been reviewing this story! I'm bored, so here's another chapter! I hope you like it!

Becca: Awesome suggestion! I think I'm going to use it…maybe not in this chapter, but soon enough! Thanks!

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My Only Hope
Chapter Twenty-Three

Sesshoumaru growled threateningly.

"Lord Sesshoumaru…" the demon bowed.

"No amount of groveling will save you," Sesshoumaru warned, pulling his poison laced whip out and cracking it threateningly. "Which one of you wants to go first? All of you will die, so it won't matter either way…"

The demon frowned. "But, Lord Sesshoumaru…" he stammered.

"No negotiations," he frowned, slashing the whip at the demon. It wrapped around him, and Sesshoumaru pulled him close. "Which one of you is the ring leader? I'm guessing it's either you or Yamada, since you two would be the only two stupid enough to try to run such an operation from my home." He growled, tightening his grip. The demon yowled in pain. "How dare you bring these demons into my castle and sit here and plot against my family!" He screamed, slashing the demon with his sword and pulling his whip away. He fell to the ground.

Sesshoumaru glanced at him before eyeballing the group. Rin had said there was a bear demon in the cave with her, but Sesshoumaru did not see one here. "Would one of you like to talk now? Or would you prefer I kill you all before I find out? Either way, it gets rid of my problem…" he shrugged.

"No matter what you do, Lord Sesshoumaru," the snake demon amongst them hissed, "your brother and his family will die."

"Not if you die first…" Sesshoumaru aimed his sword, and a wave of deadly energy erupted through the room. When the light cleared away, the only demon remaining standing was a panther demon.

"Sesshoumaru…don't be hasty. Don't you want some information?" she whispered to him.

Sesshoumaru brought his sword up, pointing it straight at her head. "It depends on the information you have, but either way, you are going to die."

The panther demon pulled out her sword. "Oh, I have some information all right. You sure you want to hear it? All right…" she smirked. "It won't matter if you kill me or not. There are people watching your brother, his family, and that annoying miko child of yours. Truth? We didn't see her coming at all…but either way, when those pups are born, they will attack, and your brother's family and that meddlesome miko will be killed before they have the chance to cause us any problems." She said defiantly.

"Wring answer." With a quick flick of his wrist, the panther demon fell to the ground and did not move. "Guards!" Sesshoumaru called. "Make sure that this is cleaned up before I return. I do not want it to disturb Rin," he told them.

"Yes, milord." They bowed, and hurried off.

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"So, what happened? Did you find anything out?" asked Inuyasha.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "Nothing anyone is going to like too much, but it's something," he sighed.

"Well, what is it?" asked Izayoi, cocking her head to the side in confusion.

"Is it good news, or bad?" asked Yuka.

"Well, it isn't good…" Sesshoumaru admitted.

Inuyasha reddened. "Would you just tell us what you found out please!" he whined.

"I killed them. They were standing around in my own castle plotting against my family. However, from what I understand, there are more of them. The group is bigger than only those who were gathered at my castle, and some of the members have been watching you, Kagome, and now, Rin. Rin being a miko took them by surprise. When Kagome's pups are born, they are going to attack and kill Rin and you and your family…at least, that's what the panther demon told me before she died. If I have anything to do with it, they'll all be dead before they have the chance to hurt any of you."

Kagome nodded. "I see."

"I could check the area around the village for anything strange?" Jin suggested.

Akira laughed. "Sweetie, I grew up here. There are a lot of strange things that roam around that forest…"

"Well, then I'll be gone for a little bit, but I'll be back." He smiled, kissing Akira on her forehead and turning to hug his daughter. "We'll figure this out." He whispered.

"Thanks, dad." Kagome nodded.

"None needed." He assured her. "I don't want my grandchildren to have to deal with all this, so I'll deal with it myself."

"Dad!" Kagome blushed.

"Kagome, you're blushing." Inuyasha whispered.

"I know that, Inuyasha." She frowned.

Sesshoumaru cleared his throat. "Tonight is your human night, is it not, Inuyasha? I would suggest that whatever you and Kagome decide to do tonight that it be done indoors." He advised.

Inuyasha sighed. "I think I know that. Like I'd want those jerks to know when I was like that…"

"It's not so bad, is it Inuyasha?" smiled Miroku. "Remember, Kagome used to be human, right?"

"No. Not really," Inuyasha shrugged.

"True…" Sango nodded.

"You know what I mean!" Miroku whined.

Sango laughed. "Yes, we do. Come on." She turned to look at Kagome and the others. "We'll keep watch while your father is gone, Kagome.

"Ahem," Sesshoumaru coughed loudly. "Kagome, are you planning to start teaching Rin tomorrow? Do you think it would be safe enough to leave her here tonight? I have to go back to the castle and make sure Jacken hasn't burned it down. While I'm gone I'll try to do some investigating of my own…"

"Is it possible that the demon was bluffing? Maybe you really did get rid of the problem?" Inuyasha suggested in an annoyed voice as his hair turned to black and his claws receded.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "I doubt it. They went down so easily…like they didn't care to fight back. If they were so convicted about killing you and Kagome, I would think they would have wanted to fight back a hell of a lot more than they did…"

Kagome nodded, and sighed. "Go ahead and leave Rin here, Sesshoumaru. She'll be all right. I'll start her training tomorrow," Kagome promised.

"All right…then if no one else needs anything, I'll be back in a couple days." He waved, running off into the forest.

Kagome's mother cleared her throat loudly. "Kagome, look…" She pointed.

Kagome smiled. Shippo was curled up on Souta's sleeping bag. Souta had one arm wrapped protectively around the kitsune, and was snoring loudly. Kohaku was snuggled comfortably on Kirara, who was purring in her sleep. "I talked to the kit about something…well, interesting while you guys were gone."

Kagome's eyes widened in curiosity. "What was it, mommy? Is something wrong? I bet he feels left out lately…but Inuyasha and I don't want him to get hurt. He's so young. He doesn't need to be confronted by all these problems just yet, and I…" Kagome rambled.

"Kagome, would you calm down and let me finish!" Akira smirked. She took a deep breath. "You know that his parents died, right?" She waited, and Kagome nodded. "Well, he told me that he has considered you and Inuyasha his parents for a long time now…just something I thought you might like to know. In a way, you and Inuyasha already have a pup, I guess…"

Inuyasha turned his head, one eyebrow heightened in curiosity, and glanced thoughtfully at Shippo. "Really?"

Akira nodded. "That's why he worries about you guys. He thinks you'll get hurt like his parents…"

"Hmm…" Kagome answered thoughtfully.

"What is it, Kagome?" asked Inuyasha.

"Inutaisho, Izayoi?" Kagome whispered.

"Yes?" they chorused.

"You went through similar issues before Izayoi had Inuyasha, right?"

Inutaisho nodded. "Takemaru actually killed Izayoi while she was giving birth to Inuyasha. Because of her status in life, many of the humans at her village were strongly opposed to our union. I had to use Tenseiga to bring her back, and…"

Kagome paled.

"Dad, you're scaring her…" Inuyasha worried.

"I asked…" Kagome whispered. "It's okay, Inuyasha." She paused, and glanced at him with a look of playful warning on her face. "You wouldn't let that happen to me, would you? I mean, because I think I might be just a little bit mad if it did…"

"It won't," promised Inuyasha, kissing her forehead. He wrapped her in a hug, and she yawned.

"You two are tired?" asked Inutaisho.

Kagome shrugged. "This has all been very exhausting lately. I don't know why everyone is so damn worried about me and Inuyasha having pups…we won't ever have any time for pups if we are constantly defending ourselves and this village from attack…"

Inutaisho nodded. "I'm sure that everything will work out fine in the end," he assured them. "Besides, Sesshoumaru is on the case. He's not stupid. I bet he'll have it figured out by the end of the week…and if he doesn't, I'm sure Jin will find at least one demon out there who's willing to spill the beans. Not everyone is so ready for death, you know…"

Kagome nodded. "Oh, I don't doubt that they'll figure it out. It's just taking a while, and that worries me…"

"You don't have to worry about anything with me around," Inuyasha whispered.

"Where is Lord Sesshoumaru?" Rin groaned, rubbing the sleepiness out of her eyes.

Kagome smiled. "Rin, he'll be back in about a week or so. He had to go check on Jacken and do a couple things. He'll be fine. He's coming back for you."

Kagome picked the small girl up and cradled her in her arms. Rin yawned. Kagome sighed, rocking Rin slowly back to sleep, and laying her down next to Kohaku.

"Aw, Kagome…" Akira smiled.

"Your human friends have fallen asleep out there. I shall keep watch tonight. Shall I wake them up?"

Kagome walked to the hut's door, and nearly laughed. "Inuyasha! Look at this!" she called him over.

Sango was snuggled into Miroku's chest, and sleeping quite soundly. Miroku, for perhaps the first time any of them could remember, was not trying to grope her in any form or fashion. He had his head rested on her shoulder, and his other hand wrapped around her waist.

"We ought to leave them like that." Inuyasha smirked. "It'll be pretty funny to see what they look like when they wake up…" He paused. "Besides, they fell asleep on watch…they must've been really tired to fall asleep on watch," he added thoughtfully.

"We're going to bed, aren't we?" Kagome yawned.

"You're keeping watch by yourself?" Inuyasha asked his father, who promptly nodded. Inuyasha smiled, nodded, and headed back inside the hut. "Call if you need any help…" he said under his breath.

"Get some sleep, Inuyasha…" his father replied.

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"This just isn't right," frowned Jin. "Normally this forest is swarming with demon activity…I don't get it."

He continued to walk cautiously down the forest path, sniffing for any trace of demons or humans that he might have missed. Oddly enough, so far he had only ran into one demon, and three humans…all of whom had ran away from him the moment he made eye contact. Other than that, the forest was quiet…too quiet.

He gasped. What about the village? Could someone within the village community be a mole for the demons who wish for Inuyasha and Kagome's death? No. They wouldn't. Kaede presided over that village for so long…they would know better. Wouldn't they?

Nevertheless, Jin turned himself around, and began to head slowly back in the opposite direction. As he turned, he nearly smacked heads with none other than Kouga of the wolf demon tribe.

"Kouga…how have you been?" Jin asked.

"Jin." Kouga bowed. "I've been as good as can be expected after that last incident…but there have been some odd things going on around here, and I've been trying to figure out what's happened…"

Jin's eyebrow rose. "Hmm…maybe you could help me out? I've been looking for the same answers."

"What happened?" Kouga practically demanded.

"Kagome and Inuyasha have been targeted by many in the demon world. Demons fear that their pups would be…well, really strong, to put it lightly…and they don't want to have problems from two young hanyous. They think of Kagome and Inuyasha as lower than them…so their children, well…."

"I understand." Kouga nodded. "I have noticed a lot of demonic activity around my cave. That's why I came out here. They left, and I wanted to find them and find out what they were up to. It isn't usual for many demons to associate with many that aren't their kind, and this didn't look like any pack I've ever seen…"

Jin sighed. "Yes, well, I think Sesshoumaru may have killed them. They took Rin from his castle. They were there when he got there. He said that the group was varied…but he killed them all with practically no resistance…"

"Odd…" Kouga agreed. "But Kagome and Inuyasha are all right, aren't they?"

Jin nodded again. "They're fine. They're being guarded at all times." Jin glanced over Kouga's shoulder. "Did you find anything off in that direction?"

"Would I be talking to you if I had?" Kouga smirked.

Jin shrugged, and started to walk again. "I'm heading back to the village. I can't figure this out. There isn't anyone out here, and I don't think anyone at the village would do such a thing…Kagome's miko powers are the only thing that protects the village from demonic attacks right now. They would not forsake her for her assistance…"

"True." Kouga agreed.

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"Someone get them out of here!" screamed Inuyasha. He pulled his sword from its sheath, and the Tesseiga glistened threateningly in the sunlight. "Hurry up, damn it! Run Shippo!"

"Inuyasha, you don't have to stay! Go!" Inutaisho commanded. "We'll hold them off!"

"It's my family, damn it!" Inuyasha growled his response.

"But Inuyasha!" Kagome sobbed.

"Kagome!" Above her, Sango was riding Kirara, and waiting for her to jump on. Shippo joined the demon slayer after a fearful look at his father. "Come on, Kagome…" Sango whispered. "We've got to get you out of here!"

Kagome shook her head. She had a baby in each arm. Inuyasha stood protectively in front of her and his pups. "Inuyasha, please, don't…" Kagome pleaded. "Come with me!"

"They'll be killed, Kagome! I have to help protect you and the pups!" Inuyasha retaliated.

"You'll be killed too, damn it!" Kagome screamed.

"Kagome, just go! I'll catch up with you later! I…"

Inuyasha yelped, and Kagome screamed. She saw the sharp edge of the sword sticking out of Inuyasha's midsection. Its wielder pulled it back, and Inuyasha coughed and dropped to his knees, looking very surprised.

"Kagome!" Sango screamed.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. "Get up…I've seen you take more than this! You'll be all right! Get up, damn it!" she screamed at him.

He coughed, smiling at her and slowly beginning to get to his feet when he yelped again and fell back to the floor. Kagome didn't see the arrows until it was too late. Again, she screamed.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried.

Inuyasha could sense Kagome's panic. He bolted awake. She was crying in her sleep, and shaking so badly that she was beginning to hyperventilate.

"Kagome? Kagome!" Inuyasha tried to shake her awake. "Come on, Kagome! Wake up!" he yelled at her.

Souta, startled from his sleep, jumped up and noticed Inuyasha and Kagome. He gasped. "Inuyasha, she's hysterical! What happened?"

"I don't know, damn it! Something's wrong with her! I woke up and she was like this!"

Souta thought about it for a split second before he slapped his sister squarely across her face. Kagome yelped, blinked several times, and then glanced at Souta and Inuyasha.

"What happened Kagome? You were freaking out." Souta told her.

"It was a nightmare." Kagome hugged Inuyasha close to her.

Inuyasha frowned. "A nightmare from hell, I'd guess, by the way you were carrying on. Are you sure you're all right? What was it about? Do you want to talk about it?" he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her even closer.

Kagome shivered. "I don't want to talk about it. It scared me," she whispered.

"We could tell," Souta nodded with enthusiasm.

"It was…so real…" She took a deep breath.

"But it wasn't…" Inuyasha whispered. "Everything is going to be all right."

"Yes…it wasn't real," Kagome repeated. "It couldn't have been. None of that has happened yet…"

"What do you mean by that?" Inuyasha asked.

"It's…nothing…" Kagome replied.

Inuyasha frowned. "I think it is."

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A/N: Methinks I shall leave it here for now…:D Please review and let me know what you think! I will try to update when I can…or the next time that I get bored! Hope you liked it!