I'm having way too much fun researching this.

[bloodsong1]

Sarah knocked on the Tsukino's front door, feeling absurdly nervous. She was about to take her kiddos to a very fancy ice cream shop courtesy of a hanyou and a kitsune. Usagi-imoto opened the door.

"SARAH-NEESAN!" She shrieked and glomped the older woman. Sarah choked back a sudden rush of tears and squeezed. Seeing Usagi alive and well and happy meant so much! "When did you get back?"

"A little while ago. I know it's late, but I wanted to take my kiddos out. Have they eaten?"

"We just finished dinner! Markl-kun! Becca-chan! Your mother's here!" Usagi hollered over her shoulder before spinning Sarah around. "Wow, Neesan! You look really good! Hey! Who's that?"
Sarah braced herself on the door frame and waved to Shippo, waiting by the Maybach.

"That's an old customer of mine. I used to sell him car parts for his cousin's old Mercedes. We were sitting in the same row on the train back to Tokyo and he recognized my voice. We chatted and he offered to take me and the kids out."

"Mommy!"

"Mom!" Sarah was knocked back a few steps by her son and daughter crashing into her. Usagi braced them, giving Shippo suspicious looks.

"Hey, kiddo torpedos. Want to go out for some ice cream?"

"Yeah!" Becca threw her arms around her mother's neck. "I missed you Mommy!"

"I've missed you too, Cuteness."

"Hey, Mom. Who's the guy?" Marc asked, joining Usagi's glaring.

"I'll tell you in a minute. Get your coats." Sarah put Becca down and the two scrambled for coats and shoes. Usagi-imoto poked the pearls.

"Sarah-neesan, where did you get this necklace?"

"It was a gift."

"From your customer?" Usagi leered and put her hand next to her mouth. "Is he cute? Is he rich?"

"The necklace is from a hot spring kami, so put those ideas out of your head, Miss Matchmaker!" Sarah shoved Usagi-imoto back with a finger to her forehead.

"We're ready Mom!" Marc said, bouncing out the door with Becca on his heels.

"I'll have them back in a few hours. Please thank your mother for me," Sarah said, winking.

"Oh, Sarah-neesan, you must be very careful with cute older guys!" Usagi called after her. Marc and Becca stopped in front of Shippo, staring up at him. Sarah hurried to catch up, blushing from the comment.

"Becca, Marcus, this is Shippo."

"Shippo?" Becca stepped closer and cocked her head. "Do you have a tail?"

"I have three tails," Shippo said, winking. Becca clapped her hands.

"Three tails? Wow! Mommy! Shippo has three tails!"

"I know, sweetie."

"Wait a minute," Marc said, folding one arm and pointing with his free hand. "Do you mean...Inuyasha Shippo? The fox?"

"Yes."

"NO WAY!" Marcus' jaw hit the ground.

"Yes way," Shippo countered, opening the car door. "Now get inside, everyone!"

"Okay!" Becca scrambled in and promptly introduced herself to the last passenger. Marcus' mouth worked as he pointed back and forth.

"Get in!" Sarah shoved him and he staggered into the frame. Shippo helped push the teenager in. Both demons flinched when he screamed "INUYASHA!"

"After you, Reiki," Shippo said, bowing. Sarah shook her head and climbed in just in time to rescue Inuyasha from her daughter.

-------

Shippo couldn't suppress a grin at Inuyasha's expression of dying patience. Reiki's children may have stopped the high octave screeching, but they were still peppering him with questions. Well, Marcus was peppering him with questions about the war with Naraku and the Tetsusaiga. Becca kept asking if she could pet him. Reiki held Becca on her lap, the seat belt wrapped around both of them to keep the little girl contained.

"Donatello's," The driver announced.

"Thanks, Fenn. Okay you brats, listen up!" Inuyasha barked. Marc and Becca shut up. "Shippo and I have to be in disguise while we're here, understand?" They nodded. "Okay. You can call me Yash and the fox Po. Got it?"

"Oh, like Kung Fu Panda!" Marc said, nodding. The demons gave Reiki a puzzled look.

"Animated movie about a panda named Po who turns out to be a kung fu master," She explained. "Now, kiddo torpedoes! Yash and Po are being very nice and treating us tonight. I want good manners and no whining. Got it?"

"Got it!"

"Ready when you are, gentlemen," Sarah said. Inuyasha hopped out, his illusion spell hiding his ears and shading his hair black. He helped Becca and Marc out while Shippo, also sporting black locks and no tails, helped Reiki.

"Your children are adorable," Shippo said softly as they walked into the upscale gelato shop.

"Thanks," Reiki said absently, gazing at the selections in undisguised awe. Inuyasha easily corralled the children, helping them choose their cones. Reiki wandered over to the "Health and Beauty" gelatos, reading the notes carefully.

"Dessert first?" Shippo asked in her ear. She blushed and pulled back, checking on her kids. Becca was happily, and messily, eating a white cream cone while Marcus worked diligently on a chocolate. Inuyasha had a double scoop of black sesame and giving Shippo "What?" looks. The kitsune snickered.

"Oh, they have crepes!" Reiki moved down the counter. Shippo caught her elbow.

"Sesshomaru is insistent on you having dinner with him tonight. Might I suggest a drink instead?"

"Really?" Reiki asked, her scent turning acidic with worry. Shippo nodded and she sighed. "A peach tea, please."

"I'll have a soya au lait." After they received their drinks, they joined the gelato munching trio at the window counters. Reiki sat down between her children and asked them about their weekend. Shippo sat behind Inuyasha.

"She's exhausted."

"She'll be okay for a while longer," Inuyasha said, crunching into his cone. "Sess is adamant about keeping her out of the hands of the Senshi until this...thing...is over. Do you think she'd come willingly?"

"I think it would depend on her kids. She's been staying at the Hikawa Shrine while Marc and Becca are staying with the Tsukinos. She told me on the yacht it was safest for them there and less boring as the Tsukinos have a son near Marc's age and they're hosting a cousin that Becca plays with," Shippo took a long drink and lowered his voice. "She's already been attacked once by the Senshi's enemy. She doesn't think it will happen again, but I don't trust the situation. She's a wild card."

"Did she tell you anything about the enemy?"

"Only that things were coming to a head and she had to finish her quest in less then two weeks. I know a good Earth shrine to take her to and we'll have to go to Amaterasu's temple to finish the blessings."

"We?"

"Those Stone Generals of the Earth Prince are draining her spiritual energy, even when they're not manifested. She needs to get rid of them."

"And take you?" Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder, a faint leer on his lips. Shippo shrugged.

"I'm the best choice. YOU certainly can't follow her into the women's bath and she doesn't know Kagome."

"Yes she does! Didn't you hear her in the car?"

"She doesn't know OUR Kagome, the one who's put up with your sorry ass for the last 400 years, dogbreath. Besides, you wouldn't let your mate go running off with another woman."

"Damn straight." Inuyasha said proudly, only to flinch back when Reiki shot him a dirty look. "Talk to her, Shippo. See if you can get her to agree. She'd be able to stay with her kids in safety and I'm sure Sess can find something for her to do."



Demons and gelato and plotting, oh my!