A/N: There are only two more parts to this story after this one, and this one is a long one! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Please let me know what you think of this one as well!

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My Only Hope
Chapter Twenty-Eight

"I can't think straight…" Kagome frowned, shaking with worry. "Is there any way to get Taka and Toku out of here without them seeing them leave?" she wondered out loud. "If they could get out safely, we could fight our way back home…"

"Fight our way back? You're in your human form. We don't know anything about these guys. We can't even be sure how many of them there are…" Inuyasha reminded her.

"I know." Kagome whispered. "But I still have my bow, and if Taka and Toku getting out of here means that someone I don't like is going to have to see me like this, then so be it. We can't just sit here for days until they get tired. If they come into this village, they might end up hurting one of the humans here. They aren't going to wait too much longer for us to come out…"

"That's true," frowned Inuyasha, "but there is more than one of them. You're only human right now. If you get hurt, you won't heal like you normally would. If anything happened to you…" Inuyasha trailed off.

Kagome shook her head. "I know what would happen. I guess that means I'll just have to take care and not get myself killed, eh?" she smiled, but Inuyasha found nothing about their situation funny.

"I'm serious, Kagome." He nearly snapped at her.

"It's nearly dawn now, if that helps…" whispered the hut owner's wife, pointing to a small window on the side of the hut where Inuyasha was leaned against a wall.

Kagome took a deep breath. "Yes, it helps me. However, we still need to figure out a way to get Toku and Taka out of here…"

"I'll distract them." Inuyasha nodded decisively.

Kagome's jaw dropped to the ground. "What? You can't go out there all alone! We don't even know who's there! You'd get yourself killed!"

"It might give you a chance to escape with the twins." He answered rationally.

Kagome sighed. "Yes, maybe…but what good would that do any of us if you went and got yourself killed?" she repeated, a little slower this time. "We work better as a team. We can figure this out. I know we can. We just need some time to think it over…"

"Time is not a luxury that we have right now," Inuyasha frowned.

"That is exactly the problem…" Kagome worried.

"Excuse me?" the hut owner's wife whispered.

"I still say our best bet is a distraction." Inuyasha sighed.

Kagome groaned. "I don't like that idea at all, Inuyasha."

"Excuse me?" the hut owner's wife cleared her throat rather loudly.

"What?" Kagome and Inuyasha chorused.

The woman smiled. "My husband and I will watch your children." She told them. "We will watch them if you desire to go outside…however, we aren't exactly the most skilled fighters in the world, so…"

Inuyasha and Kagome nodded. Inuyasha was first to speak. "I have a new plan, then." He whispered.

"Are we going to be playing a game of keep away?" Kagome whispered, slowly rising to a standing position.

Inuyasha let out a deep breath. "Exactly. Toku and Taka will place a barrier around themselves when we leave right? So all we need to be worried about is keeping whoever is out there out of this hut."

Kagome frowned. "Easier said than done, probably," she commented under her breath.

Kagome took a nervous step forward, and handed Taka to the woman. The man took Toku from Inuyasha. Each child looked at its parents expectantly, frowned, began to cry, and put up a barrier around themselves. Kagome was surprised to see that the barrier around them did not repel the people who were holding them. It was as if the twins knew what mommy and daddy were about to do, and that these people who were going to be watching them were not bad people.

Kagome smiled. "Don't cry. We'll be back. We have to go outside…" she told her children, although she wasn't sure how much they could understand. "Be safe…" she kissed each child on its forehead and turned towards Inuyasha. "Are we ready to go?" she whispered.

Inuyasha nodded. "About as ready as we're ever going to be." He answered.

"Well, I guess we can't help that much," Kagome grumbled.

Inuyasha reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. The two of them slowly began to make their way out of the hut, and back into the new day.

Inuyasha cleared his throat a little louder than necessary. "If you want us, show yourselves. We want to know who you are!" he called into the trees.

Seconds later, a demon jumped down. He was several yards away from Kagome and Inuyasha. Kagome blinked. She could not tell what kind of demon he was. He smelled of many different things. She knew, however, that she had seen him before…although she could not place her finger on exactly where she had seen him before.

Inuyasha growled. He, apparently, had no recollection whatsoever of the demon that was standing before them. He squeezed Kagome's hand tighter, and stared at the demon. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded.

Kagome continued to sniff the air. The scent was so familiar…but she hadn't smelt anything like it in months…since before her twins were born. She scrunched her nose up in an almost painful expression, and blinked. Who was this?

"Kagome, take a step back…" Inuyasha tugged worriedly on her arm.

"What? Why? I thought…" Kagome stammered. She gasped. The scent. She knew what it was. Even before she was a hanyou, she could have recognized the scent. She had almost forgotten…but how could she forget such a putrid odor?

She took enough steps back to collide with Inuyasha. He wrapped her in a protective hug.

Kagome could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. They stung her eyelids, and eventually, there was nothing she could do to keep the hot liquid from pouring down her cheeks. "Inuyasha, how? I thought we killed him! We did it more than once! I…we…" she stuttered.

Inuyasha took a deep breath. He already knew what Kagome was going to say. They didn't have a chance of beating him on their own. They had always had help before…and this time, they were trapped.

The realization of everything in the past several months hit Inuyasha like a ton of bricks. "You…this whole time, it has been you behind all this! When Kagome killed Hojo, that was…"

"Yes. I was there." He smirked. "Why do you look so surprised? I thought I told you a long time ago: no one can kill me. What does it take for you to understand that?" he smiled.

"You are the one who wants my children?" Kagome nearly yelled. "Are they stronger than you? Is that it?" she demanded. "Tell me, you low-life son-of-a…" she growled.

He laughed. "Are you threatening me? You just had your children…you are weak. Far too weak to be challenging me, I'd say…"

Kagome frowned. "That doesn't mean I'm going to hand over my children to you." Kagome spat. "Everything we did…sealing the well, destroying it," Kagome took a deep breath. Suddenly, she had realized something. "Hojo. Did Hojo know about you when he came here?"

The man laughed again. "That idiot boy was clueless. He thought Naraku was long dead when he came down that well. I just gave him some of my power. It does not mean that he needed to know who I was to accept it. He was blinded by his anger."

"I killed him…" Kagome whispered. "I killed him, and he didn't even know what all was going on…damn it…" she growled. "I killed him, and you still managed to come back!" she screamed at him.

"I told you. No one can kill me," he repeated.

Inuyasha couldn't help it. He nearly laughed. "If no one can kill you, then why do you have this village surrounded by demons?" he smirked. "Not feeling very secure about yourself, are you?"

Naraku chuckled. "They're just insurance." He waved.

"Insurance?" Kagome repeated. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Inuyasha looked around. There was a thick fog-like substance coming into the village. He brought his haori up to cover his nose, and Kagome quickly did the same.

"Inuyasha, he's going to take the twins! He's going to put…" Kagome collapsed. Even her haori covering her nose and mouth could not keep the poisonous fumes from getting to her system.

Inuyasha's eyes widened. "What…is this stuff?" he gasped before collapsing beside Kagome.

Naraku laughed. "Two of you gather them up." He pointed to Kagome and Inuyasha. "I want two of you to go in and get those kids. If there is any resistance, you know what to do…" he instructed, and promptly disappeared inside his own cloud of poisonous gas.

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"They've been gone too long," Inutaisho paced the room. "What if something has happened to them? Inuyasha promised me that they would return here quickly!" he worried.

Jin frowned. "There is always the possibility that something did happen to them. I think we should head in the direction of the market and see if we can find them…"

Jin jumped back. Kirara, Sango's pet cat demon, had jumped up, growled, hissed, and transformed to the larger version of herself. She stood in front of the group and growled.

Kouga's eyes widened in realization. "There is no way…" he whispered to himself.

Just as he said this, Yuka, Sesshoumaru, Sango, and Miroku came running out of the forest.

Sesshoumaru looked pale. "In which direction did Kagome and Inuyasha head?" he demanded of the group. "Where is this market that they said they were going to?"

Kohaku pointed. "It's that way. Why?" he asked.

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened, and he blinked. "They're right there where the scent is coming from!" he yelped.

"What scent?" Shippo sniffed the air worriedly. "Come on, guys! My nose isn't as good as yours!" he whined.

Sesshoumaru frowned. "It's getting farther away," he whispered. "Oh, no…"

Miroku gulped. "You think he has them?"

"There's no way they could have fought him off on their own…" Sesshoumaru replied.

"Who?" growled Inutaisho and Jin at the same time. "What happened?"

Sango picked up Shippo.

Kouga was the one to answer. "It's Naraku. He's found a way to come back from the dead again…" he told the group.

"What? You mean…that same one who…" Jin stammered.

He did not need to finish his sentence for Kouga to understand. "Yes. He was the one who possessed the monk and me and tried to kill your daughter and Inuyasha…" he answered.

"I see." Jin nodded. "Which way was he headed?"

Sesshoumaru sighed. "I can't detect the scent anymore…" He paused for a moment. "Rin!" he called. The small girl came running out of Kaede's hut, where Yuka and Eri were staying. "Stay in there with Yuka and do not come out until I have returned. It is too dangerous for you." He told her.

Rin bowed, but looked questioningly at Sesshoumaru, and did not move.

Finally, Sesshoumaru gave up. "What is it, Rin?" he asked.

Rin cleared her throat. "Lord Sesshoumaru, I'm just as old as Kohaku was when he began to fight…" Sesshoumaru paled, and Rin inwardly decided that her opening statement was probably not the best line to use. She looked down at the ground, shuffled her feet around in the dirt, and continued timidly. "I'm old enough to fight, and Lady Kagome has taught me a lot since we came to stay here. I can help. I can take care of myself. I want to help you find Inuyasha and Lady Kagome and the babies."

Sesshoumaru gulped. "But Rin, I…"

"My miko powers can help." Rin added before he could finish his sentence.

"But he'll be looking for you as well, Rin…" Sesshoumaru whispered.

Rin did not blink. "I want to help fight. Kohaku got to fight when he was my age…"

"Kohaku was raised to fight demons, Rin…" Sesshoumaru countered.

"So?"

"You weren't."

"That's because you were always there to protect me. I never needed to learn." Rin replied. "But that doesn't mean that I haven't learned now, and that I don't want to help. I do. Why can't I? You'll be there."

Sesshoumaru reddened. "I want you here where you'll be safe, damn it!" he yelled in an uncharacteristic outburst.

"I will be safer if I go along than if I stay here unprotected." Rin answered, a tone of finality in her voice.

"Sesshoumaru…" it was Yuka. "I want to go as well. I want to help Kagome." She whispered.

Sesshoumaru was at his wit's end. "Why in the hell is everyone I care about suddenly so damn willing to ride off into battle?" he growled.

Yuka blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Sesshoumaru, they'll be fine." Inutaisho whispered, urgency in his tone. "Right now, we need to be worrying about whether or not Inuyasha and his family are okay. You have the tenseiga. There is nothing more to argue about. We have to leave."

Grumbling unhappily, Sesshoumaru picked up Yuka and mounted his cloud. Rin climbed aboard Kirara with Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku. A very upset Shippo was left behind with Izayoi and Akira. Kouga carried Ayame and kept pace with Kirara as she tracked down Naraku's scent.

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Kagome groaned as she opened her eyes. Gradually, everything began to come more and more into focus. They were inside a room with no windows. It was hot, and smelt strongly of death and blood, although Kagome could tell that it was an old scent. She had a splitting headache, but surprisingly enough to her, she had all her limbs, and wasn't bleeding from anywhere that she could see.

Next to her on the floor lay Inuyasha. Kagome shook him rather violently out of his forced slumber. "Inuyasha! Wake up!" she yelled. "Where are the twins?"

Inuyasha jumped up in shock. "Wha…" he yelped. "Kagome? What is this? Where are we?" he wondered out loud.

"Naraku gassed us, and now we're here." Kagome was taking deep breaths to avoid inevitable panic. She wasn't usually one to panic about issues involving Naraku…but this situation was entirely different. This time, Naraku truly did have the upper hand. He had separated her from her children…children she knew he wanted dead. The mere thought of it made her weak in the knees.

"Where are the twins?" Inuyasha yelled.

He had to ask. Kagome's eyes began to well up with tears. "I don't know, Inuyasha. I hope Naraku wasn't able to get past their barrier…"

"Wrong." Came a voice from the shadows.

Kagome's heart fell into her stomach. "Where are they?" she whispered, trying to hide the fact that her voice had begun to shake.

"Not dead yet, if that's the answer you're looking for," replied Naraku. "You see, I want them dead…but I've wanted the two of you dead for much longer. You even went and made life easier for me…now that the two of you are mated, all I have to do is decide which one of you is higher up on my list…"

"You don't have to do that." Inuyasha said quickly. "I'll go."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelped. "Don't you dare volunteer yourself! Do you realize what…" Kagome couldn't finish the sentence.

Inuyasha nodded. "Yes, I do." He whispered. "At least this way, he can't hurt you, and I'll have a chance to fight back…."

"Fight back with what?" smirked Naraku. "Your swords are gone. I took the liberty of making sure that both of your weapons were removed…just in case you wanted to 'fight back'…" He paused. "Besides, Inuyasha, I wasn't going to pick you. Your wench has gotten on my nerves far more than you have…it'll be much more fun to watch her die…"

Kagome paled. Inuyasha stood in front of her. "No, Naraku." He said sternly. "Kagome has done nothing to you."

"She's done plenty…or have you forgotten this?" Naraku pulled Kagome's bow from behind his back. He twirled an arrow around in his hand for a minute. "Now, let me see…you're half demon…last time I tried this, that annoying Sesshoumaru got in my way…but now you don't have him or that pesky sword of yours to bring you back. How well do you think it will work?" he smirked, laughter on his lips.

Kagome took a step backwards, summoning what energy she had to form a barrier around herself and Inuyasha.

Naraku laughed. "These arrows have pierced through my barriers before! What makes you think your barrier will keep you from feeling its effects?"

Kagome smiled. "Because you don't have a holy bone in your body with which to give it any strength…" she answered.

"Wrong again…." Naraku whispered. He waved his hand to the side, and Inuyasha flew out of the way and into a nearby wall…hard. He hit the wall with a sickening crack noise, yelped, and struggled to stand back up. Meanwhile, Naraku had already sent the arrow towards Kagome.

Kagome groaned, falling to her knees, and began to fall backwards when Inuyasha caught her. Naraku wore a smug look on his face. "Have a nice day…" he waved.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha screamed. He looked at the arrow. It had hit her directly in her stomach. "You'll be all right…" he whispered. "You're going to be fine…"

Kagome opened her mouth to speak. She was gasping for breath, and even with his keen hearing, Inuyasha could barely hear her words. "Inuyasha…I…" she began, but quickly closed her mouth and groaned in pain.

Inuyasha swallowed the lump in his throat. Kagome's fangs began to shorten, and her claws became her regular hands. Soon afterwards, her ears disappeared, and Inuyasha could no longer hear her labored breathing. He hugged her to his chest. He too, began to feel weak. Breathing became harder and harder. Finally, he began to feel an extreme pain in his head, as if it would explode if the pressure was not relieved. Soon, he passed out.

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"This is it…" whispered Miroku.

"I smell Kagome's blood!" Jin ran in, alarmed.

Sesshoumaru looked worriedly to his father, and then quickly followed Jin into the castle. Jin followed the scent until he found the right room. What he saw inside made his blood begin to boil. He screamed.

"They're dead!" he yelped. "I will kill Naraku myself for what he has done! Oh, god…where are my grandchildren?" he wondered out loud.

"Jin, calm yourself. Stand aside. I will use the tenseiga. They are still warm, so they can't have been gone long. Inuyasha did us the favor of removing the arrow that he shot Kagome with…it'll only take a second…"

Slowly, Jin moved aside. Sometimes, in his angry state, he would forget about the technology that the tenseiga and Kagome's sword could offer the group. Sesshoumaru swung his sword several times.

"There." He whispered. It took a few seconds, but finally, Kagome and Inuyasha blinked. "Get up..." Sesshoumaru warned. "We've got to find Naraku and the twins quickly…"

"The twins!" Kagome nearly screamed. "Sesshoumaru! He's going to kill them!"

Inutaisho ran into the room. "I found them! On the opposite side of the castle!" he pointed.

"They're all right?" demanded Inuyasha.

His father nodded. "They are still protected by their barriers…"

"That's good." Kagome sighed with relief.

"Kagome…I don't think he's trying to kill them…" Miroku whispered. "I think he is going to try and absorb them…"

Kagome's jaw fell. "Absorb them?" she repeated.

"I have a plan." Sango announced.

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A/N: Heh heh heh. Now, you know I couldn't resist that one, right? Well, I will update soon, as I already know how this will end. Please review. The next couple chapters are long ones…so I am not sure if I will finish it in two chapters, or go ahead and finish it in three. I'll let you guys know as soon as I know! Let me know what you thought of this chapter, please!