Disclaimer: I own what I own, and it's definitely not any manga/anime

AN: Heh, thanks for all the comments on the fight scene, appreciate it lots! And there will probably be more, depending on what happens… I'm going to try and stretch this story until the end of the month, though I'm not quite sure how to do that, and get it done by Jan. 31. Action segment should be done in about, two or three more chapters, then I could do a bit on the aftermath, and then I could do a chapter or two on what the talismans are for… Yeah… Icari is starting to come to an end people, after three… no, four months of writing. I've already got an idea for my next two stories (one original, and one Gundam Wing) then after those, I'll start another Inuyasha story. Yep, that's my plan… But no frets, there are plenty of other good stories out there while I'm gone… and there's still a while of this! Lastly, to end off my regular rant, I wanted to thank everyone who's been sticking with me through thick and thin! I couldn't of had done it without you, you're the best! *salute* heh, yes… I happen to be a bit insane…

Icari
Chapter 28

 'Ever since being thrown into the jail cell a few hours back, (even though it felt like years ago) Icari had become a bit of… our guardian.' That was what was going through Kagome's head as she watched the said youkai's claws thrust through another guard's stomach from around the corner. Seeing this, Kagome was slightly surprised as a thought flickered through her head, 'way back when, I would've been sick.'

 A lot has changed. A voice inside her head whispered. She noted it with regret.

 A small whimper was heard to her right, and Kagome turned to see Rin in another guard's arms, dangling in the air. The guard smirked with yellow rotten teeth, daring Icari to try and fight him. The idiot was using Rin as a shield. Unbeknownst to him, Sango was behind him, holding a sword dropped by someone they had killed earlier.

 "Oh no you don't!" The flat of the sword connected with the thing's head, and efficiently knocked him out. He fell to the ground, but not before Icari took Rin out of his arms. They stopped, looked at each other, then at Sango.

 "Nice arm." Icari commented, looking surprised. Sango shrugged with a smile.

 "Do you even look at what I have to throw at demons? It's not exactly small. So, how much farther?" With a laugh, Icari sniffed the air and turned about, trying to figure out where they were, and where their weapons were.

 "Well, at least we now have makeshift weapons." Sango threw a sword at Icari, and tucked one at her side. Kagome found some bow and arrows on the unconscious demon, and Rin a tough looking sheath. They all tried out their weapons for a second.

 "It'll work, but I still want my staff back." Rin sighed. The others murmured in agreement. They were about to walk off, until Sango cleared her throat. They turned to see her pointing down at the unconscious guard.

 "What to do with him?" Icari cocked her head from side to side, hesitant on killing the guy.

 "I'm usually against killing someone when they're defenseless… but I doubt he'll be that defenseless when he wakes up. So, I won't kill him… the window will do the trick." She grabbed him by one claw and jumped until she was nearly level with the window in this certain section of the hall and threw the unconscious guy upward. The ominous, black aura reached out to him as he hit the window, and seemed to fill him. The youkai gave a bit of a disgusted look, and fell down beside her friends.

 With a faint thud, probably softened by his layers of fat, he fell down near them, his eyes dark and lifeless. "Hate to be him." And they left.

*~*~*~*~*

 Miroku woke with the wind slapping tendrils of hair against his face, and he sat up to find he was on Kirara, and was heading… somewhere. Quick references to the stars told him that he was heading towards Keade's hut, and he frowned when no one else was on Kirara with him, save for the kitsune.

 "Ugh, what's going on?" His head swam as he struggled to stay stable. Kirara turned her head to acknowledge him and landed. Miroku climbed off, kitsune in hand, and the large fire cat turned back into her normal, tiny state. "Great, I'm in the middle of nowhere, and the only one who can tell me what's going on is unconscious."

 With a sigh, the monk sat down and concentrated on remembering what had happened prior, and why his throat felt odd. Bits and pieces of Rin running into camp, crying flashed through his head, then Kagura and Kanna floating down from the sky. He remembered the fight, and then being knocked unconscious as they flew off.

 "How come I'm so calm about this?" He muttered as the memories hit him full force. Kirara mewed and rubbed up against his knee. For a minute, he simply sat there, wondering what to do.

*~*~*~*~*

 "Not another one." A new army of demons ran towards the three men, and they all got their weapons ready. Yasuo hesitated, before backing up. He was no use to them until they shed blood. Inuyasha stepped up first, and cut his hand. Using that blood, he killed off a few with his Deadly Claw attack. He turned and gave Yasuo and thumbs up.

 As Sesshomaru continued to kill, the water demon began his chant, although he felt uneasy about it. Earlier on, he had noted that there was no water for him to control, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to fight. Sesshomaru had simply said that there was water in blood…

 'Don't let this taint my power…' Yasuo's eyes opened and the blood of the dead demons flew to him. With his magic, the blood was made into strong rope, then laced together to make a scarlet net. All four corners wrapped themselves around the huge group of demons, and then opened up to reveal everyone stuck to it like flies in a spider's own web. Inuyasha and Sesshomaru, who had dodged the stuff long ago, pulled out Tetsusaiga and Toukijin and nodded curtly to the water demon.

 Within seconds, all of their opponents sunk to the ground along with the net holding them captive. Inuyasha smirked.

 "I guess there's no real difference between blood and water to your magic… great show." Sheathing his massive sword, the hanyou patted Yasuo on the back. The water demon, though, was staring only at his hands, transfixed by the power running through them. It hadn't taken much, but his magic was tainted now. Who knew the consequences?

 "Come on, we have some girls to save." Yasuo responded quickly, and began to walk towards the looming castle. Inuyasha gave him a look and huffed.

 "Jeez, what's with him?" The hanyou eyed the water demon carefully, and then Sesshomaru hit him on the head.

 "I finally understand. He's been hiding his youkai blood until now. The use of demon blood with his magic has reawakened it, and he's afraid that he'll become a monster. Today… is the day Naraku dies." Inuyasha looked at his brother nervously, then at the demon practically running towards the castle.

 "Did I ever mention I hate it when people speak in tongue?"

*~*~*~*~*

 Miroku, for the second time that day, stepped off of Kirara with Shippo in his hands. They were finally at Keade's hut.

 "Shippo, you have to stay here. I'm going after Sesshomaru and Inuyasha." The kitsune looked as if he was about to say something, but saw the seriousness in Miroku's face.

 "I wish I could come with you. Momma's going to be worried." He dropped his head and kicked at the ground, trying to guilt the monk into letting him go. The monk, though, simply climbed on Kirara.

 "No. Kagome's going to worry about you more if you're in the middle of the battle. Besides, if she knows you're with Keade's, she'll be alright." The kitsune nodded solemnly and ran off to join the priestess. Miroku went to leave, but a small yell caught his attention.

 "Miroku!! Something's wrong with Kaede!" Shippo hopped from one foot to the other while frantically pointing at the hut. "She's sick, and mumbling. Miroku!! I think she's possessed!"

 Miroku looked at the kit to make sure he wasn't lying before running off to check on the priestess. As Shippo had said, she was lying on her back and mumbling under her breath. She looked feverish.

 "Lady Kaede!" The monk was knelt down beside her and checking her over when her eyes shot open, but they were dull and lifeless. Her words became clearer as she continued to speak.

 "Those fated have gone and are going still. Demons and humans together to fight those fallen. Clashes of power withstand those told. From life to death will they fight, while spirits gone shall hold the light." Frowning, Miroku tried to make sense of what the old woman said but when she began to glow, he focused his attention on her again.

 Kaede's eyes closed while her white aura grew. When they opened again, they held life in them, but somehow, Miroku could tell it wasn't Kaede's. She looked at him, and spoke, but her voice wasn't hers. It was Kikyo's.

 "Monk? What are you still doing here? Quickly go and help the others? The fire cat you have outside will find them."

 "Kikyo?" Kaede… Or Kikyo scowled at him.

 "Yes, of course it's Kikyo! Just get going!" Miroku gulped and scurried off, leaving Kikyo alone. When he left, she looked down at Shippo. "At least I stopped her before she revealed too much to him… What are you looking at, demon?"

 "I… uh… nothing!" Shippo gulped and ran off. Kikyo sighed. Children.

*~*~*~*~*

 Shorter than usual… though… Kikyo got sassy in there ^^ Oh yet… Sorry Silverclaws, I couldn't make a less gory fight scene. I hope you liked!! I gotta go now, since I have to go kill my little brother. See ya in two days!