A/N: I know I said that I wouldn't update for about two weeks, but there was a change of plans. Between the gay hurricane, my grandfather's heart attack, getting two flat tires in the approximately ten minutes, and having half of my family miss the reunion because of the hurricane, therefore making me bored out of my mind, we just decided it wasn't worth it. And, I had to go to some tiny town to get away from the hurricane because it happened to be heading right for me! You know, I've always hated living in Florida. It's a freakin' hurricane magnet! Anyways, on with the story.

The next few days had been uneventful. Kiana had managed to find her way back to the hut before anyone could get a chance to search for her, though she had resolved not to mention her earlier encounter with this 'Takara' person. Nothing more was ventured into the visit that Kyo had in the future, nor was anything remotely related to his disappearance that day. In fact, their father was often reluctant to talk to them at all, however, the reason was still uncertain at this point.

InuYasha sat up, thinking late into the night while his two children silently slept beside him. Ironically, this had been the exact situation when Kagome's voice had first made its entrance. He looked timidly around the hut, half expecting to hear Kagome once more, but it never came. The suavity and extravagant comfort never once approached him during the course of the night. In truth, he felt empty without it. InuYasha let out a forlorn sigh. This constant isolation needed to stop.

'I need to find a way to bring Kagome back!' he thought desperately. 'I don't want to move on! I want Kagome!' He stifled a mournful cry. He couldn't live like this anymore. Not only was it unbearably lonely, but the feeling of incompleteness also never ceased to overcome him. He gave a longing glance toward Kyo and Kiana, knowing that this was one of the last times he would get to see them. 'I'll go,' his mind stated firmly. 'I'll go see Kikyo.' InuYasha eased himself up, standing over his twins.

"Come on, you two," he said soothingly. "I need you to wake up. You'll be staying with Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango for awhile, ok?"

Kyo sat up slowly, gazing at his father questionably. "What?" he asked quietly, rubbing one of his amber eyes.

Kiana still lay stubbornly sleeping. InuYasha nodded towards Kyo, signaling a wake up call.

Kyo instantly responded, pushing Kiana rather violently. "Wake up, stupid! Daddy said so!"

Kiana grumbled, seeming more than annoyed at the intrusion. "Don't call me stupid, stupid!" she hissed, giving him the violent push he had given her with much more intensity. "It's too early!" She glared at her father.

InuYasha sighed inadvertently. "Listen to me. You'll be staying in Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango's hut for awhile," he repeated. "I promise I'll be back for you soon, ok?" he said, noting their protestant expressions. "Daddy has somewhere he needs to go."

"Where're you going?" Kyo asked, his face screwed up as if he were holding back tears. He sniffled slightly, but did not cry.

InuYasha gave a halfhearted grin, trying to reassure the child. "I'm goin' to get someone back that I lost a long time ago, someone that you lost a long time ago. I'll be back as soon as I can." He ruffled their hair, motioning for them to follow him outside. He led them to the clearing where Sango and Miroku had built their hut, right next to Kaede's. The early morning sun peaked over the fields giving them a certain incandescent glow. Trees surrounded the area, as if a wall of protection from outside intruders.

InuYasha lifted the mat that was used as a door, peeking inside. Sango and Miroku were sitting on the floor chatting happily, while the young fox-child, Shippo, rested in the corner of the hut. InuYasha cleared his throat, acknowledging his own presence.

"Hello InuYasha," Sango said, smiling brightly. "What brings you here this morning?"

He stared at the couple seriously. "Sango, I want you to wait outside with Kyo and Kiana. I need to talk to Miroku about something." He looked toward the corner where Shippo lay, now awake. "Bring him with you."

Shippo glared at him, his turquoise eyes shining maliciously. "If you ask me," he sneered. "You and Miroku have been spending way too much time together." He snickered, soon enduring a well-deserved whack on the head by InuYasha.

"Why don't we just go on outside, Shippo," Sango suggested quickly, giving a questioning look to Miroku and InuYasha. She dragged the kitsune by the arm, leading him out of the hut.

InuYasha's gaze immediately averted toward Miroku. "I'm leaving," he stated bluntly.

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, InuYasha?"

"I'm going to get Kagome back. To do that, I have to see Kikyo, so I need you and Sango to watch Kiana and Kyo while I'm gone."

"Kagome is dead!" Miroku said firmly. "You can't get her back, InuYasha! What you're doing is irrational! You're abandoning your own children to try to find someone who is never coming back!"

InuYasha glowered at his friend, his fist connecting with Miroku's face. The monk was sent hurtling backwards, slamming against the wall. "I would never abandon them for anything!" InuYasha shouted, his fists clenched and body quivering. "Don't ever say that! Kagome is not dead, Miroku! I already told you! She still talks to me, asking me to remember something that will help bring her back! I know she's still alive out there! The only reason that you can't understand what I'm talking about is because you've never lost the woman you love right in front of your eyes! You don't know what that feels like! And, if you're lucky, you never…will." He fought to keep his strong.

Miroku stared up at his friend in bewilderment. Never once had he seen InuYasha so emotional, and so determined at the same time. He stood up brushing off his robes. "Then, I wish you luck, my friend." He smiled, nodding at the door. "You wouldn't want to keep Kagome waiting."

InuYasha muttered a quick thank you before hurrying out of the hut. "Hey, Sango," he said, pushing the mat away, leading him outside. "Miroku has something that he needs to talk to you about, and I need to talk to these two." InuYasha knelt down, wrapping an arm around each twin. He glanced at Shippo. "Go with Sango, runt."

Shippo was about to protest, but decided against it, knowing that this must be an important matter.

"Are you leaving now, Daddy?" Kyo asked innocently.

Kiana was crossing her arms, looking at the ground.

"Afraid so, kid."

Kiana jerked her head to face him, her eyes filled with tears. "You won't be gone too long will you?" She stared at him pleadingly.

"I'll be back before you know it," InuYasha said, pulling the two closer to him. "Promise me that you'll be good for Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango, ok?" He chuckled slightly at the names. 'Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango.' Kagome had decided long before the twins were born that that was what the monk and the demon slayer were to be referred as.

Kyo and Kiana nodded, hugging their father one last time.

InuYasha reluctantly released himself from their clutches, giving the two a short wave before heading off to the forest. He began to wonder aimlessly through it, searching for any sign of Kikyo. However, it was not Kikyo's face that he met when he finally caught a glimpse of her soul-stealers. It was none other than Sesshoumaru's.

A/N: There ya go! That was chapter twenty-one. I apologize for its lack in length, but I have piano lessons today. And, you know what that means…PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Well, once again I am most penitent to tell you that all plans for cancellation have been uplifted. I'll be leaving on Sunday, but I'll come back by Thursday. I might be able to fit in another chapter by Sunday. We'll see.

Don't forget to REVIEW! (Honestly, I'm not obsessed about getting reviews, but I have this little bet with my friend. I need to reach 300 reviews by the end of the summer. It's almost over, and I really want to win. Please, help me out.)