A/N: Hi! Ok, life's been pretty hectic, but I managed to get another chapter in before you all died of impaitent-ness. (Is that even a word? Oh well.) So, here's the next chapter! Enjoy! And this was 10 pages on word. It's not much, but I believe it's longer then the last chapter...

By the way, one of my reviewers pointed out that Inuyasha wouldn't be 28 as I had said at the beginning of this story. Rather, when you add it all up, he'd end up being 278. There was a lot of logic involved in figuring that out, and if you want more details, you can read the review. I believe it's under chapter 1 (Wow, that's a no-brainer.). I talked it over with her, and explained that while her logic makes sense, it would be stupid to change his age now. So, if you want to think of Inuyasha as 278, be my guest, but in this story he's 28. I'm sorry, but it's easiest that way. Thanks, and lets get on with the story!

Dude, Where're My Kids?

Chapter 8

Inuyasha bristled and stopped moving. Kagome nearly collapsed on top of him at the sudden lack of movement.

"Inuyasha! What's wrong?" She demanded, regaining her balance.

"I sense a demonic aura, coming in fast from the west." He stated, hand on Tetsusaiga.

"Oh." Miroku concentrated for a moment. "I sense it too."

Inuyasha sneezed suddenly. "Great. More distractions!" He hissed, covering his nose. "Only a wolf has this bad a scent!"

"Wolf? Oh no, not Koga…" Kagome sighed. "Please, Inuyasha, try not to fight with him, just this once?"

Inuyasha's reply was cut short by a cloud of dust rising in the air. While Koga no longer had the jewel shards in his legs, he was still quite fast. Everyone coughed, while Inuyasha glared at the source of the flying dust.

"Koga!" He growled. The wolf ignored him and ran up to Kagome, holding her hands in his.

"Kagome. How I've waited to see you!" He stated quite frankly. Immediately a loud slap was heard, and for once, it wasn't from Sango. Another wolf demon in white clothing came out. She had fiery red hair and vibrant green eyes.

"Koga! Stop hitting on poor Kagome!" She ordered. Koga rubbed the back of his head and sighed.

"Why do you still hit on Kagome anyway, Koga? You're already mated with Ayame here." Sango pointed out, nodding to the female wolf demon. Ayame nodded in agreement. (A/N: Please give me a break. The only things I've seen of Ayame are pictures and bits of information off the Internet. I have no clue what her personality is like, or how she acts. So please bear with me!)

"Well, while I am happily mated with Ayame, it's still very fun to make dog-breath over here angry." Koga confessed. It was true, too. Inuyasha was silently fuming behind Kagome, ready to unsheathe the Tetsusaiga if needed. Kagome sighed.

"You never change, Koga."

"Indeed. Koga, what brings you to this part of the valley, hmm?" Miroku asked.

"Well, my lovely mate and I were simply in the area and decided to –"

"—drop by for a visit?" Shippo finished. Koga blinked.

"Well, yeah."

"Well, it's very nice to see both of you again, but we're kind of in a rush…" Kagome stated.

"Really? Why?" Ayame peered at Kagome curiously.

"Um…" Kagome looked down sadly, unable to continue. Sango filled in graciously.

"Kikyo, you know, the dead priestess? Well, she kidnapped Kin and Gin."

Ayame gasped. "That's horrible!" She stated angrily. "We need to find them!"

"Which is why we're on our way to her castle to confront her." Inuyasha said, a bit calmed down by now.

"They've been gone for about two days now!" Shippo informed the wolf demons.

Koga stood there, stunned. He recovered himself and chuckled. "Well, if they're half Inuyasha, they're probably all right. It'll be hard to hurt anything that stubborn."

Ayame hit him on the head again. "Their kids are gone, you inconsiderate wolf, and all you can do is crack jokes!"

"It was meant as a compliment!" Koga insisted. Ayame rolled her eyes.

"Sure it was." She turned towards the group again. "Is there any way we can help?"

"You could help us look. Sesshoumaru is already helping, and—"

"Wait, wait. Sesshoumaru? Like, dog-breath's brother?" Koga blinked.

"Half-brother." Inuyasha corrected bitterly.

"Whatever. How'd you get him to help?"

"I think he did it because he knew Rin would be angry at him if he didn't." Miroku stated.

"Rin? That little girl that always used to travel with him?"

"Yeah. They're apparently still quite close, and he knew Rin wouldn't like it if he didn't help. She's really close to Kagome, Kin, and Gin, you know." Miroku fiddled with the prayer beads on his arm. While they served no purpose sitting there, he couldn't bring himself to part with them after they defeated Naraku.

"Ah. Well, that's good, right?" Ayame looked curiously from Kagome to Miroku.

"We're still trying to figure that out…" Sango admitted. Ayame shrugged.

"Either way, Koga and I'll help you look for them. I'm sure Kikyo will make you fight to get them back, and extra arms might be needed." She latched arms with Koga.

"We're in! Right, Koga?"

"Huh? You mean we have to spend time with Inuyasha?" He demanded. Ayame glared at him.

"Yes, we have to spend time with Inuyasha, and Yes we're traveling with him! Got a problem?" Ayame deepened her glare, and Koga backed away.

"Uh, heh, no, dear." He said nervously. Could all women be this scary, or was it just the ones he knew?

"Good." Ayame smiled sweetly at Kagome and Inuyasha, both of whom were shocked that Ayame could have such an electric behavior. "Well, shall we head out?"

"Yeah…" Kagome nodded and they all began walking again.

"Are we almost there?" Kin asked. Hoshi smiled.

"Just a bit more to go. Don't worry, we'll be able to stop soon." He looked at the half-demon and smiled. They had been walking all night, and Gin had finally stopped. Hoshi put her on his shoulders and carried her ever since. Kin was tiring as well, but Hoshi had run out of shoulders. They would be forced to stop soon, whether or not Hoshi liked it.

"Good." Gin yawned.

"You haven't even been walking!" Kin argued.

"I'm still tired!" Gin cried back.

"Stop arguing, kids! Miss Kikyo might be following us, and we don't want to give our position away." Hoshi whispered.

"Oh, ok." Kin whispered, winking.

"Good, let's make it a game."

"Yay!" Gin loved games.

"Yes, the game is, who can be the quietest? The winner will. . . . get to ride on my shoulders!"

"Yes!" Both Kin and Gin shut their mouths and didn't say another word. Hoshi sighed. Good thing these kids like to play 'games'. He looked around and noticed the brush around them. They had been traveling just aside the road in the trees in hopes of leading Kikyo off the trail. It was working so far.

Mount Falaku wasn't far away now; they were about halfway there. Maybe if I can find a village, I can purchase a horse. Then the twins can ride… He decided that was a good idea and looked around. But who knows where the next village is?

"Kin, Gin, can you climb trees?" He asked the twins. Both nodded, still not talking. "Would you mind climbing a tree to see if you can spot a village?"

Again they nodded. Kin ran up to one tree and began to jump from branch to branch. Finally he stopped and looked around.

"See anything?" No answer. "You can talk now!"

"Yeah, there's a village over there!" Kin's voice was heard high above the trees. Suddenly there was silence, then, "Mommy! Daddy! I see them!"

Hoshi was taken aback. "You see them! Call them! Maybe they'll hear you!"

Upon hearing this, Gin jumped off Hoshi's shoulders and climbed in the tree beside her brother.

"He's right! I see them too! And Aunt Sango, Uncle Miroku, and even Uncle Shippo!" She called.

"Call them!" Hoshi repeated.

"Mommy! Daddy!" Both twins screeched at the top of their lungs.

Inuyasha paused. It couldn't be… Could it?

"Did you guys hear that?" He asked. Koga looked up and nodded.

"I thought it was my imagination, but I defiantly heard someone yell, 'mommy, daddy'." The wolf blinked.

"Mommy?" Kagome searched the trees. "Maybe it's Kin and Gin!"

Inuyasha nodded and took off towards the sound. Koga and Ayame followed. Kagome ran after her husband and was picked up by Kilala, who flew off after the demons. Miroku, Sango, and Shippo followed behind them all.

"Oh, they left…" Gin stated sadly.

"Yeah..." Kin sniffed.

"What's happening?" Hoshi called from below.

"They left…" Kin called down.

"What? Where?"

"Dunno. They just walked away in a hurry…" Kin perked up as he heard someone call his name. "Mommy? Daddy?" He called. Gin joined in. Within minutes, Kagome was level with them, flying on Kilala.

"Kin! Gin!" She cried. The twins jumped onto Kilala's back and into their mother's arms.

"Mommy!" Gin burrowed into her mother's shirt.

Kagome smiled and hugged her children tight. "Where were you? Mommy and Daddy were worried sick!"

"Sorry, mommy." Kin said.

"Oh, it's ok, sweetie. Let's go find Daddy, shall we?" Kagome gave each of her kids one last hug before telling Kilala to descend.

The spectacle on the ground wasn't as pleasant as the one in the air. Kagome realized that Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Koga, and Ayame were all gathered around one man, each of them looking equally threatening.

"Uh, heh heh…" Hoshi paled as Inuyasha advanced, hand on Tetsusaiga.

"Tell me what you were doing with our kids!" He growled.

"It wasn't me! I took them from Kikyo, and I was trying to get to Mount Falaku—"

"Oh, so you were taking them to a completely different spot so we wouldn't find them, huh?" Koga stepped up next to Inuyasha.

"No!" Poor Hoshi couldn't get a word in edgewise until Kagome landed on the ground.

"Inuyasha, Koga, back off! Something tells me that he was helping us, not hurting!" She cried. The two demons growled, but obeyed. Kagome walked up to the man and smiled reassuringly.

"Sorry about that. Did you really get my twins away from Kikyo?"

Hoshi nodded meekly.

"Thank you so much. We are internally in your debt." Kagome bowed shortly and set the twins down on the ground. Gin and Kin smiled at Hoshi before being scooped up by Inuyasha.

"Well, uh, your welcome?" Hoshi stuttered, still in shock from being threatened.

"Well, if it's all the same to you, we might as well start to head back. There's no point in hanging around here anymore." Miroku stated.

"Right." Inuyasha put Gin on one shoulder and Kin on the other and led the group out of the trees and into the road.

"Wait a minute." Koga stopped.

"What?" Ayame blinked.

"I heard something. It sounded like horses."

"So? Lot's of people use this road." Shippo reminded him.

Koga shook his head. "No. Like, lots of people. Almost like a small army. Coming from that direction." He pointed behind them.

"That's where we just came from!" Hoshi said. "It's where Kikyo's village is!"

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha scowled. "Good. Let her come. I have a bone to pick with her anyway."

"Inuyasha, Kin and Gin are too young to see fighting like this!" Kagome pointed out. Inuyasha nodded.

"Kilala!" Sango looked at the demon cat, who transformed into her larger self. "Take Kin, Gin, and Hoshi back to Kaede's village."

Kilala yowled and waited patiently until Hoshi had climbed on; Kin and Gin in front of him.

"Hoshi, is it?" Hoshi nodded. "Take care of them for just a little bit longer, all right? We'll be along shortly." Miroku stated.

"Yeah. And Hoshi? If anything happens to them, I'll personally kill you." Inuyasha grinned, showing fangs. Kagome glared at him.

"He's kidding." She stated to the man, who looked a bit pale.

"Uh, right…" Hoshi clung to the twins as Kilala took off.

"Good, he's gone." Koga stated simply. Ayame hit him on the head.

"Ow!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing?" Koga asked meekly. Suddenly a rustling sound was heard from the bushes. Everyone tensed up until they saw Sesshoumaru and Rin walk into the road.

"Sorry we're so late finding you guys!" Rin cried before turning to Sesshoumaru. "I told you we had to take a left! But noooo. You had to take a shortcut!"

Despite the situation Kagome chuckled. Rin argued with Sesshoumaru for a moment before the dog demon froze.

"They're coming." He stated.

As soon as he said that a small army appeared over the horizon. Every one of the participants was on a horse; several had banners with the same symbol as the one Kikyo had left with the soul collector. Kikyo was in the front on a black horse. When she stopped the army, a couple soldiers began to mutter in confusion. Kikyo silenced them with a look before turning back to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha. How nice to see you again." She stated.

"Kikyo!" Inuyasha yelled the name like it was poison on his tongue. "What do you want with us?"

"Why, nothing."

"Then why did you take Kin and Gin?" Miroku spoke up.

"The children? Well, I took them as a reminder of the promise their father made to me so many years ago." Kikyo frowned. "Unfortunately they had a mind of their own, and they escaped. I imagine they found you already, correct?"

Sango answered that question with one of her own. "What was the point of taking them? They're just kids!"

"Well, I knew that Inuyasha would follow them; right to me." Kikyo stated. "He promised to come to Hell with me, and I hold that to him. Whether he wants to or not, he will come."

"Over my dead and lifeless body!" Kagome cried, releasing an arrow straight at Kikyo. The blue aura around it shattered when it hit Kikyo's shield. The dead priestess smiled.

"Your pathetic arrows won't work, girl. You are merely a copy of me, and have only a sliver of my power." Kikyo motioned for the army to advance. Inuyasha drew the Tetsusaiga and ran to the men.

"Kagome is much more powerful then you'll ever be, Kikyo!" Inuyasha grunted as he cut down two horses and killed the men on them. "You know why? Because she's had twelve years to perfect her skills, whereas you died sixty-two years ago!"

Kikyo looked shocked. Inuyasha's group continued to slaughter the men to get to the priestess. Finally she managed to respond.

"That doesn't matter!"

"Actually, Kikyo, it does!" Kagome called. A bright light surrounded her and for a moment everyone was blinded. When Inuyasha had cleared the light from his eyes, he saw Kikyo on the ground, with Kagome holding an arrow right to her heart. He rushed over instantly.

"How… How?" Kikyo was stuttering.

"It's easy, Kikyo. I've had a lot of time to perfect my skills, and my friends have been there for it all. Your sister has instructed me, and there hasn't been a day since I came to live in this era when I haven't picked up my bow and arrow. Add all that and the support of my husband and I've passed your power up tenfold!" Kagome growled.

"Husband…" Kikyo's voice broke off as Inuyasha put his arm around Kagome's shoulders.

"Yes. Inuyasha and I have been married for quite a while; or didn't you hear it?" Kagome tightened the arrow, ready to release. "And you've interfered with our lives for too long. It's time for you to go back to Hell where you belong!"

Kagome was about to release the arrow when Kikyo spoke.

"You two are happy together, aren't you? Really truly happy?"

Kagome was taken aback. "Yes… We are very happy."

"Kin and Gin are proof of that." Inuyasha put in.

Kikyo was silent for a moment before responding. "All my life I've been burning with hatred to Kagome and what I thought was love for Inuyasha. Now I see that my love was merely an illusion… I was killed loving Inuyasha, but when I was resurrected that love turned to hate without me realizing." Kikyo sighed sadly. "There's no need to draw that arrow, Kagome."

"Why?" Kagome asked suspiciously.

Anyone could tell it pained Kikyo –who had harnessed her love of Inuyasha for so long– to say what she was about to say. "I'm going to Hell… alone."

"What?" Inuyasha demanded.

"I…. I can see that you two really love each other. All along I thought that my love for you was greater then hers, but now I see differently. I've been in this world for much to long, and…" Kikyo paused and took as deep a breath as she could without puncturing her neck on Kagome's arrow. "And it's time for me to go."

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha breathed. Kikyo smiled and closed her eyes.

"Good bye, Inuyasha. Please live happily with your wife, children, and friends. Know that your children are growing up splendidly, and that your life is taking a great road. And Inuyasha? Hold onto Kagome for as long as you can. She's a splendid woman and a great fighter. I'm sure she makes your life living." Kikyo finished.

"Kikyo, I don't know what to say…." Inuyasha stuttered.

"Good bye would work."

"Good bye, Kikyo. May you find peace in the afterlife. Finally." Inuyasha hugged Kagome's shoulders as a dull pink light began to form around the clay body. Kikyo gave one last look into Inuyasha's golden orbs before vanishing completely. Not even her clothes remained.

A/N: Ok, that's it for now. Hopefully I'll be able to get another chapter in before December... Heh heh... Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I suck at them. It made much more sense in my mind. Really! Ok, please R & R (That's Read and Review, for all you slow people out there) and thanks so much for reading! Bye!