Disclaimer: I've done this at least 32 times in this story alone, get the point yet??

AN: Hi guys! Sorry about not updating before! It was busy… and I know what you all are going to say, "Don't worry about it!" Honestly, I can't, it's my nature to apologize when I did something I was supposed to do. ^^ Well, this chapter's a bit late too… Oh well. Enjoy!

Icari
Chapter 33

The entire poison lake was moved a couple hundred yards into the distance. The shards and talismans were recovered then, and the entire group (Jaken included) all packed and headed for Keade's home. Rested and full, even Inuyasha was willing to go slowly.

 "So… what are we going to do about the jewel, now that it's done?" Kagome said with a small smile. She half walked, half skipped in delight; no more traveling all over Japan! And, she could go back to her time whenever she wanted.

 "More importantly, how are we going to figure out what these things are for?" Icari held up the talismans in between her fingers with both hands. Sesshomaru looked at her and Yasuo a bit warily. Pretty funny, actually, if you think about it.

 "And what to do now that the entire quest is over." Miroku spoke up, making Inuyasha stiffen. An arm went around Kagome possessively, pulled her close. With a big huff, he spoke too.

 "Well, Kagome's staying here to live with me, possibly Shippo, and the rest of you are welcome in my forest." Quite a few rolled their eyes at his macho words, some laughing. He looked down at Kagome, who was half buried in his haori. "You, are living in this time, right?"

 "Actually," she slipped out from under his arm, eyeing him as she said this to see his reaction, "I was thinking of living in my time," his ears drooped, "but only until I'm done school."

  "Feh! And how long will that be? I don't see why you would need this sk-oo-l anyways, if you're staying here." Arms crossed and posture rigid, Inuyasha 'feh'd' and refused to move.

 "Only another year, Inuyasha. And I'll need it in case things don't work out, and then I'll be prepared for life back on the other side." Kagome walked over and tapped him lightly on the head. "Now come on you big baby, let's get going home!"

 Icari laughed at the young couple, watching them bicker. Though, there was something wrong with Inuyasha, he didn't seem to want whatever it was that was happening. She'd have to talk to him later on tonight.

 "Yeah, baby brother, let's go! We still don't know anything about the talismans, why they're tied to the swords, our family, and the jewel. So, we can worry about the future later on. Come on!" She ran up in front of Sesshomaru, who still didn't seem to be taking her choice of mates very well. "Wet blanket."

 "Pervert!!" Slap. Of course, we all know where that one came from. Miroku teetered, a bit dazed as Kirara transformed and slipped under him to make sure he didn't fall into the ditch.

 "Well, this looks like life from now on." Rin watched Shippo pinching at Miroku's face, trying to wake him up and complimenting Sango on her strength. Jaken, who was waddling beside her with the biggest bruise on his head, grumbled.

 "So, about the talismans, who has any idea?" Yasuo shrugged at the young girl, completely ignoring the murderous, in Sesshomaru's special, subtle way, targeted right at him. Rin giggled and nudged him with her elbow. "She'll be alright, and he'll take good care of her."  And when he didn't seem to take any notice of her words, "Jeez, looks like somebody doesn't feel like sharing…"


 The day had gone along normally, with things falling right back into their usual way of. Shippo had taken to calling Kagome and Inuyasha Mama and Papa, much to the hanyou's annoyance, and Jaken and Myouga were fighting lots. Something about brains and brawn…

 That night was quiet, with everyone fast asleep in camp except for the demons, who were keeping watch. Icari approached her little brother quietly, taking this as a chance to test him out. Before she got into strike range for any demons, she saw his ears twitch, though he never moved. Icari sighed; he knew it was her.

 "So," She sat beside him, crossed legged on the branch.

 "So what?" He grounded out under his breath as a finger twirled the string with a jewel on it. Kagome had let him take it off from around her neck earlier on, so sure that he was going to become full demon, or something.

 "So what's bothering you?" he huffed, clearly thinking. Icari wasn't up to playing this particular game today, so, she poked him. And again, and again.

 "Would you quit that?" A clawed hand moved to flick at hers, but she didn't stop.

 "Not until you tell me."

 "Oh my god…" Icari laughed out loud, her hand never stopping their quick motion towards and away from her brother's arm. Inuyasha looked over at her, annoyed, but she simply shot him a smug grin. "alright, alright, I'll talk."

 With a huge grin, Icari settled into the branch and waited for her brother's explanation. He grumbled for a while, but looked at her fearfully as she propped he poking finger back up to start her torture again.

 "Alright already! It's… just that I'm not sure how it's going to work with us…" Inuyasha gesture a hand over towards Kagome, who was sleeping peacefully in her futon. "I love her, but I don't know if I can make her happy... and I want her to stay… I'm just… confused…" Dumb people speech, the curse of her family. No one knew how to express emotions with words with the Inu family, so their mates were very patient.

 "Is that all?" He looked over at her skeptically, getting nervous at her oh-so-cheerful grin. "Lord knows we aren't the exact best at words, but, like they say, actions speak louder than words!"

 "Your point being…?" She tugged at a long tress of hair and whispered into his ear, grins spreading wider on both faces as he listened.

 *~*~*~*~*

 "Four, four, four four! What is with the number four? It's everywhere!" Shippo exploded, jumping around, as he was quite sick of listening to the adults talk about the talismans, swords, and a bunch of other stuff. Now, all eyes were on him, watching as he jumped around in front of them.

 "I mean, four talismans, four swords, there is even four of you guys!!" Icari, Inuyasha, Kagome, and Rin snickered as Sango and Miroku looked at everyone, confused. It was a moment before they all knew what was going on in the kitsune's head.

 "Oh no!"

 "There's nothing going on like that!"

 "Of course not." Shippo retorted curtly. "Honestly, everyone can see it Sango, Miroku, even Inuyasha here and it took him two years to figure out his feelings for Kagome." My, the little guy was rather blunt today, wasn't he? "And what is with the number four? There are four elements of earth, that I know of, anyway, and… and…" The boy looked around, his eyes falling on the Bone Eater's Well. "There are four corners, and sides, of the well!"

 To further express his point, he took the four talismans right out of their hands and placed them on top of each corner of the well. "See? One, two, three, four! And even if I go down here…" Shippo jumped into the well, but not before there was a quick mutter of "He's officially cracked" from Inuyasha.

 They waited for the rest of the rant, and waited. And waited some more, but it never came. What did come, though, was the strong smell of sake, and a soaked, screaming Shippo.

 "Kagome! Kagome! There's a crazy old man on the other side of the well! Thank god I found this side again! He's scary!!!"  He buried himself into Kagome's school uniform, soaking it with sake. "If this is the curse that follows going on the rant, I'm never doing that again…"

 "Crazy old man? Kagome, did he mean your grandpa?" Kagome tried, and I really do mean tried, to defend her Jii-chan, but she found no good points to say. Besides, the yell of an oh-so-dreaded voice interrupted her.

 "DEMONS!!! HUNDREDS OF THEM!! DEMONS EVERYWHERE!!" Kagome's grandpa ran towards the bunch with a large, clay pot and attempted to throw more sake on them, but it turned out to be empty. So, instead, Grandpa stood there, eyes closed and in a very interesting pose with Kagome and Inuyasha watching him warily.

 "Old man, you really should remember to refill before emptying again." Inuyasha pushed the pot away with a clawed finger while Kagome turned to the others, laughing nervously.

 "Ah… Everyone, meet my grandpa, and grandpa, don't scare everyone." The old man muttered, crossing his hands and muttering in a very Inuyasha-like way, which was pretty ironic.

 "Hey cool! I knew this is where Kagome went! Hurry up mom!" Almost simultaneously, everyone twisted and turned until they could see behind Kagome, where a young boy and an older woman climbed out of the well, both in as equally interesting clothes as Kagome and the old man.

 "Kagome… who are all these people?" With a nervous laugh, Kagome turned around to see her mother and Sota both watching her. Sota stepped forward and lunged himself at Inuyasha, asking a bunch of questions about the past.

 "M- Mum? I… err… explanations, anyone?"

 Yasuo stepped forward and bowed deeply at Kagome's mother. "Hello, I'm Yasuo, a water demon. Very nice to meet you." They shook hands, Kagome's mother seeming to be very interested in the new young boy.

 "Well now, Kagome, I never knew people around here were so polite!" *cough* *hack* Inuyasha *cough* *hack*

 "Err… Mom?"

 "Wow, is that a full demon? Do you know how we got here? This is feudal Japan? Where are all the monsters? Did you kill Naraku yet? Are you my bro-" Kagome yanked her kid brother back by his collar, smiling helplessly at Inuyasha, who was still on the ground.

 "Umm… Mom, Sota, this is Sango, Miroku… Kirara, Shippo… Icari, Yasuo, Rin, Sesshomaru and Jaken. You guys already know Inuyasha. Everyone, this is my mom and my little brother, Sota."

 "Alright, now for and explanation." Icari looked over at her mate and Myoga…

*~*~*~*~*

 Lol, I hope you liked it! Umm, not really chatty right now, but I hope you enjoyed!!