A/N: Ok, yet another chapter out of my documents and onto fanfiction! Sorry this one took a tad longer to get out, but I just haven't had time to post it because my school just started back up again. I know, it sucks, but that's life. So, the chapters might be a bit slower then I usually put them out, and I'm sorry for that. -- Please keep reading and enjoy!

Oh, I almost forgot. A reviewer by the name of lonerchick981 left me an anonomys (sp?) review, telling me to send her/him the picture of Kin and Gin. I gladly will do so, but in order to do that I need to know the email address. So, if you are lonerchick981 then please leave a review that tells me your address, and I will get the picture to you asap. Thanks!

Dude, Where're My Kids?

Chapter 4

"Miroku, how much farther?" Inuyasha grunted.

"I say we reach Mount Falaku just a bit after lunch." Miroku decided after observing his surroundings.

"Good."

"Just like old times, huh?" Sango grinned and stroked Kilala.

"Quite so." Miroku agreed. "Except this time we're looking for children, not the Sacred Jewel Shards."

"Those were the days." Sango smiled in remembrance.

"Feh. Except this time there is a lot more on the line then some shards of the Shikon Jewel!" Inuyasha reminded them.

"Indeed." Miroku sighed. "And Inuyasha was just as stubborn then than he is now."

"Hey!" Inuyasha shouted.

"Shhh!" Both Sango and Miroku said at once.

"You'll wake up Kagome!" Sango hissed. Inuyasha looked at the sleeping form on his back. Kagome shifted, nothing more. Everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

"You have to remember that Lady Kagome has been awake for most of the night, worrying. Now she just needs sleep, and we all need to keep quiet so she can get that." Miroku ordered.

"I know that!" Inuyasha muttered.

"Aren't you tired, Inuyasha?" Sango asked.

"Nope. My demon blood can keep me going comfortably for days." Inuyasha said proudly.

"Of course. How could I forget?" Sango looked down at Kilala. "You could let Kilala carry her. It might be easier for you."

"That's ok. I'm mated with her now, this is my duty." Inuyasha reminded the demon slayer. Sango stayed quiet for a moment, then glared at Miroku.

"You never do that kind of thing for me!"

"Forgive me, my dear Sango. Would you like me to start carrying you?"

Sango thought for a moment, then blinked in realization. "There's no way I'd let you hold me when I'm asleep." She decided, eyeing his hands. Miroku put on a sad face and held his heart.

"I'm hurt, Sango. To your husband, no less!"

"Don't take it personally, it's just that you're a perverted letch." Sango said sweetly. Inuyasha shook his head.

Just like old times.

"This looks like as good a place as any for lunch." Inuyasha looked at the large tree that he had picked to dine under. Miroku and Sango came over and began to set up for lunch. Inuyasha nudged Kagome as best he could to get her to wake up.

"Kagome… time to wake up for lunch." He whispered. Kagome groaned and shifted, but didn't open her eyes. "Come on, Kagome. It's time to wake up."

"Don' wanna…." She mumbled. Inuyasha's ear twitched at her voice.

"Well, you have to. We're eating, and I need ramen." He gently set her down on the blanket they had spread out.

"Can't Sango make it?" Kagome slowly opened her eyes, blinking a few times to clear them.

"You make it the best." He kissed her on her forehead, and she smiled.

"Fine, fine…" She stood up and stretched. "Where are we?"

"About an hours walk from the foot of Mount Falaku." Miroku supplied. (A/N: I don't know if they have hours or anything back then, but in my story, they do.)

"Oh." Kagome began to boil some water atop her portable fire. "No trouble along the way?"

"None." Sango smirked. "It's almost as if all the demons know that they'll be killed if they come across us."

"Smart for them." Kagome fingered the Shikon Jewel strung around her neck.

"Indeed." Miroku nodded. "But I doubt our whole journey will be like this. Kikyo will most certainly send demons to stop us, or at least slow us."

Kagome scowled. "I don't care what she does to us. As long as she doesn't hurt Kin or Gin..."

"Spoken like a true mother." Miroku said.

"Well, I am a mother, aren't I?" Kagome eyed the monk as she cooked the ramen.

"Indeed you are."

Sango began to set out plates that Kagome had given her as a wedding gift. "Miroku, Inuyasha, you two need to go and get firewood."

"Why us? It's not that cold out!" Inuyasha protested. Kagome glared at him.

"Not for you, but to us, this is cold weather. Just go and get the stupid firewood, Inu!" She ordered.

"Us males, always being neglected..." Miroku sighed and stood up.

"You males? What about us females? Always cooking, cleaning, and following your every need!" Kagome cried. Miroku looked stunned. He turned to Inuyasha.

"Does Kagome really do that stuff about following your every need?"

"No, does Sango?"

"No."

"Arg! Just shut up and go get firewood; you could have been back already!" Sango gave Miroku a threatening glare. Kagome did the same for Inuyasha.

"Ok, ok, we're going..." Both men wandered out of their wives sight, talking quietly to each other under their breath.

"Men."

"Oh yeah."

"And now we're back on the road again..." Kagome sighed. "I'd forgotten how boring this was."

"Well, that was a spectacular lunch, Kagome." Inuyasha put his arm around her shoulders. She smiled and walked a bit closer to her husband.

"Thanks."

"So, now how long until we reach Mount Falaku?" Sango was growing impatient.

"Well, the mountain's in view now, so I'd say not too much longer." Miroku eyed Kagome and Inuyasha, and edged closer to Sango, finally putting her arm around her. Sango squinted at her husband.

"What are you doing?"

"Enjoying the fruits of life." Miroku braced himself for the impact to come, but nothing happened. He looked at Sango, and she seemed to be enjoying herself. This is why I married her…

This is why I married him…

"Ah, you two are so cute!" Kagome squealed.

Instead of breaking apart like they would have twelve years ago, Sango and Miroku smiled and continued to walk. Kilala, feeling very much out of place, jumped from Sango's arm and began to walk ahead of the group. Suddenly a voice came from the bushes.

"Just don't start kissing in the middle of the road!" It roared. Both couples sprang apart. Kagome got her arrows ready, Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga, Sango pulled out her Hiraikotsu, Miroku took out some spells and steadied his staff, and Kilala turned into her larger form. (A/N: Miroku doesn't have the Wind Tunnel because Naraku was defeated. Just to remind you all.) A large demon emerged from the trees, and chuckled.

"You guys never change. Always so gullible." There was a pop, and a fox demon appeared where the demon had been standing.

"Shippo!" Kagome cried, putting her arrow back. "It's been way too long!"

"You guys were ready to kill me!" Shippo gleefully reminded them.

"Well, we see a demon emerge and shout at us, what're we supposed to do?" Inuyasha demanded. Everyone else nodded, putting away their weapons. Kilala transformed again.

"I know I should have told you, but it's so much fun to do that." Shippo said.

"Stand back and let me get a good look at you!" Sango ordered. Shippo obeyed.

The fox demon had grown a lot since Naraku's demise. He was 20, if truth be told, and he was now able to take on the appearance of a fox, just like his father. He was still able to change into any other shape at will, however. He looked like he had twelve years ago, except he was taller and he had lost the ribbon.

"You look great, Shippo!" Kagome said finally. The fox demon swelled with pride. "How's . . . . . Kit? That's her name, right?"

"Yeah. Kit's great. In fact, we'd better be getting back to my house, she'll be waiting for us." Shippo motioned for the group to follow him, and he led them to the foot of the mountain. A small hole opened, and everyone crouched down to get inside. They followed the kitsune for a ways before he led them into a cavern deep beneath Mount Falaku.

"KIT!" Shippo called. "I'm back, and I brought some old friends!" A moment passed, and then another fox demon emerged from one of the smaller holes that littered the cavern.

"Oh, my. If I had known that Shippo was going to bring people back, I would have made refreshments." She said. "Hello, I'm Kit."

"Hi, Kit. Shippo has told us so much about you. I'm Kagome, this is Inuyasha, that's Sango, and that's Miroku." Kagome pointed to each person in turn. "Oh, and that's Kilala."

"So nice to meet you. Shippo has told me about the adventures he used to have with you guys." Kit smiled. "Please, make yourselves at home." She went back into another hole, and Kagome could tell she was getting drinks made up.

Shippo beamed, "Isn't she wonderful?" Everyone nodded enthusiastically as Kit came back out with small wooden cups. She passed them out to everyone, kissed Shippo on the cheek, and took a seat beside him.

"So, I don't think you all just stopped by to say hi. What's the deal?" Shippo asked.

"Well, Kikyo took Kin and Gin." Inuyasha said somberly. Kit choked in her water, and Shippo stood up suddenly.

"Kikyo!" He demanded.

"Yes. She managed to convince them to come with her, and she left us this crest." Kagome once again took out the paper and unfurled it. "Kaede said that the castle lies north of this mountain, so all of us are going to the castle to get Kin and Gin back."

Shippo studied the paper. "I know where that castle is! I used to live close to there."

"We were wondering if you wanted to join us? Of course your lady friend would be invited as well." Miroku stated. Shippo hesitated.

"I'm not sure if I should leave quite yet…"

"Why not?" Inuyasha demanded. "What could possibly be more important then our kids?"

"Ours." Shippo said quietly, hugging Kit. Everyone was stunned.

"Shippo, you never told us…" Sango's voice wavered. Kagome was the first to recover.

"Congratulations!" She cried. "I'm so happy for you!" She went over and hugged the fox demon. Shippo blushed.

"Uh, thanks…" Once everyone was done congratulating him and shaking Kit's hand, Kit whispered something in his ear. Inuyasha's ear twitched. He could hear every word.

"Sweetie, you should go…"

"Why, Kit?"

"Well, you're always talking about how you missed the old days, this might be your last chance before the babies are born…"

"But what about you? You can't go, and you need protection!"

"I'll be fine. I can put a spell up to conceal our house from view, and it's their kids, Shippo! How would you feel if our kids were the ones taken, hmm? You'd want everyone to help look for them."

"But—"

"Go."

The two foxes turned back around and faced the group anxiously awaiting their decision.

"Ok, I'm in." Shippo said. Kit nodded in agreement.

"Well, you shouldn't be in, you should stay here with Kit!" Kagome said. "We'll find Kin and Gin."

Shippo glanced at Kit, who shook her head. "I'm fine. Besides, your children are the ones who matter right now. You need all the help you can get, and now Shippo can finally do what he's been complaining about." She put on a mimicking voice. "I want to go on an adventure! When I was young, I something new happened every day, and it was the best years of my life!"

"I don't sound like that!" Shippo protested.

"Yes, you do." Kit grinned. "Go, and live one more adventure."

Shippo sighed. "Yeah, yeah." He stood up, kissed Kit, and turned towards the group. "Ok, let's go!"

"Thanks, Shippo." Sango said as she followed him outside.

"Yeah, you don't know how much this means to us." Kagome said. Kilala mewed.

"No problem. Kit's right; I have been complaining for an adventure." Shippo turned around and waited patiently for everyone to emerge from the hole. Once everyone was out, Shippo set a scroll on it. Instantly the hole disappeared.

"Here. Just in case someone does find it, this will stop anyone but Kit from entering." Miroku set another scroll beside where Shippo had set his.

"Thanks, Miroku." And the bunch once again started out, this time going north. They could hear Kit climbing out of the hole, and they turned around.

"Good bye, everyone! Good luck! Bring my husband home safe!"

"Husband?" Kagome peered at Shippo.

"Well, when we found out about the kids, what were we supposed to do?" Shippo demanded.

"You could have told us." Inuyasha said.

"Must have slipped my mind. Good bye, Kit!" He called. She waved, and turned to go back inside the house.

"So, you finally scored with someone, huh?" Miroku muttered to the fox demon. Shippo hit him on the head.

"You're disgusting, Miroku." Kagome said.

"Well, I was wondering when he would!" Miroku protested. Sango hit him on the head as well, forming another bump next to the one Shippo had made.

"Pervert." She muttered.

A/n: Wow, it seems a lot of chapters end with that line. Oh well. Well! I hope you liked it, and I hope you'll stay tuned for the next chapter, and I also hope that you all have a splendid day/night. I promise promise promise that the next chapter will focus on Kin, Gin, and Kikyo. Promise! So, that's it. Oh yeah. REVIEW! Thanks all! Hugs, not drugs!

fornwalt

By the way, I still have that picture of Kin and Gin if anyone else wants to see it. Just making sure! (Please leave email address and a note that says "I want to see the picture of Kin and Gin" Or something along those lines in the review. Thanks!)