Disclaimer Part I: The characters of Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me. Aster and Dayandhi also belong to me. As unlikely as it would seem at first glance, this is a continuation story, not AU. Also, there is a slight spoiler for Magic Knight Rayearth II in here.

Inuyasha: A Fugitive Fairytale

Chapter Ten

Magic Knight Kagome

"Who's a good doggie?"

"MMMmmm.. a little lower, please."

"Such soft little ears!"

"Ah yes, scratch the ears, Kagome."

"Such a cute puppy!"

"Oooh! That feels good. Keep scratching."

"I will gut you and strangle you with your own entrails," snarled Inuyasha.

Pakkun simply laughed. He was rather enjoying messing with the dog demon controlled (albeit loosely) by the little miko. It was one of the few joys he got after being pulled from his home to be held hostage with these losers. It was strange being out all of the time. Usually he was summoned, did his business, then went back into his own dimension. Hanging out with mortals so long was worse than fleas. It was difficult to find something to do to pass the time. He was lucky enough to hit the goldmine of entertainment when Kagome absently patted his head the day before, making Inuyasha seethe.

"My legs are tired, Kagome," Pakkun said pitifully, cocking his head to the side and bringing out the puppydog eyes, "Can you carry me?"

Sure enough, he was scooped up and the girl crooned at him. She hadn't seemed to grasp the fact yet that he was a ninja and not a pet, but seeing the dog demon about to explode was worth any embarrassment he might suffer.

It was odd that he had not once felt the call of being summoned. With as often as Kakashi summoned him, it was a little worrisome. What if he was stuck like this forever? He felt... useless. The dog demon could smell as well as he could. The Pokemon scouted, plus they had some pretty amazing abilities. The few times they had been attacked by monsters on this world, they had been dispatched so quickly by the red-head and the dog demon that he barely had time to blink. He wasn't used to being out and not having a job to do. It was like a vacation.

A very boring vacation.

"Are you sure you and Bakura aren't a couple, Kagome? You two sure seem made for each other."

Ah. Another fine way to spend the afternoon. While Inuyasha was already prickly about the petting, it was time to rub salt in his wounds. At the last village someone had assumed that Kagome was Bakura's wife. Apparently some barrier kept all with demon blood out. Strange that it kept Kurama out. Guess everyone has a secret or two. So Kagome, Bakura, and himself went into the village in search of soap. The Pokemon stayed helped Kurama and the fairies make a campsite as Inuyasha waited just outside of the village. Telling the story of the misunderstanding had been amusing at the time.

It was even funnier now.

Inuyasha snarled at Bakura, who smirked in return.

Kagome ignored the question, probably hoping if she ignored it it would go away, and instead turned back to the topic of discussion before Pakkun had started demanding pettings.

"So, apparently there are three girls running around here in strange clothes. Clothes a lot like mine." She looked down at her short skirt and odd top. The ninja clothes she wore before suited her better, but what did he know? He was a summoned ninja dog, not a fashion critic.

"They said they were girls from another world," Bakura said, catching up to Kagome then matching speed. "Maybe they know the way back."

The dog demon cracked his knuckles and a vein started throbbing in his forehead. Pakkun had the unusual urge to wag his tail. He shook his head. They better find a way back quick before he turns into some sort of pet.

"Do you think we are from the same world?" Bakura wondered aloud, looked down at Kagome.

"Well, we won't know until we find them."

He shook his head. "I meant us. You and me."

"There is NO you and her! There is you and there is her. No us!"

Kagome and Bakura both ignored the dog demon and continued on with their discussion as if he hadn't started yelling.

"I don't see how," the young miko answered. "I mean, I've never heard of Battle City or Kaiba Corp or fighting using card games." Suddenly the girl stopped in her tracks and blinked rapidly.

Bakura had coninued walking on, trying to ignore Kurama as he asked questions about battling. Salt and Peppa were darting between the two. The red head pulled a rose from out of nowhere! He gave it to the fairies to keep them occupied so Bakura would stop swatting at them. Pakkun would have been happy to chase them a bit if it wasn't for the fact that Kagome was still holding him.

"What's wrong?" asked Inuyasa.

"What... what if we aren't from the same world?

"Huh?"

"What if I don't travel in time? What if I'm traveling across into a whole other world? I mean, demons aren't exactly a part of every day life back home."

Inuyasha was uncharacteristically quiet for a moment. When he finally looked at Kagome, his eyes looked strange. For one thing, they weren't all squished up in anger and irritation. For the first time since Pakkun was yanked from his own world, he saw vulnerablility in the dog demon.

"Would it matter?"

"Matter?"

"Would it matter... to you... if we were from different worlds?"

Was he really so insecure? It seemed so out of odds with the rest of his personailty. Wow. Now he felt almost bad for picking on him about Kagome. Almost.

"Of course not!" she said. "It's just strange thinking about it."

"Keh. It don't matter. Stop thinkin' and lets get going."

In a split second irritating bully Inuyasha was back and Pakkun was back to looking for ways to get under his skin.

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Kagome wondered if they were intentionally trying to drive her insane. Bakura and Pakkun seemed to be conspiring to turn Inuyasha purple with rage. The Pokemon were restless and running around like they were on some pokenip. The fairies decided they liked Kurama's rose so much that started zipping from flower to flower talking about how wonderful things smelled. Kagome wondered if they were drunk. And Kurama! He just stood around being annoyingly calm.

Just as she was about to scream at them to shut up, everyone ... well... shut up. She blinked for a moment, wondering if they had (correctly) read her mood, or if she had actually screamed. As it turned out, neither was correct. Instead, they had all grown quiet when they reached what looked like a pile of rubble. It was Kurama who spoke first.

"There has been a great battle here."

"Oh? What was your first clue? The caved in lair or the broken weapons and the smell of blood and death?"

A tic started throbbing in Kagome's forehead.

"Perhaps we can find something of use in there."

Inuyasha turned his nose away from the site. "Nah. Let's just go."

"Bet there's at least one decent weapon in there," Bakura added.

"I said, let's go."

Kurama shrugged good naturedly, but Bakura's eyes narrowed in anger.

"You DARE tell me what to do?"

Kagome watched as Bakura's aura flared, his eyes on fire. Then the fire dimmed as he realized that he no longer how powers to draw on. Whatever his original for was before he joined their little group, he was just a normal guy now. And it seemed to bother him more each time he realized it. Most of the times. Occasionally the young miko would find him staring at his hand as it touched something. Or how he would close his eyes to feel the breeze or smell baking bread the few times they passed it. Her own anger died as Bakura turned from the group.

Inuyasha led the group to the north, following their last lead on the three girls. An odd feeling pulled Kagome to a stop. It was familar in an odd sort of way. It reminded her of the pull of the Shikon Jewel. Instinct led her away from her group to a spot several yard into the middle of the rubble. Before she could reach down and move one of the rocks, a clawed hand covered her.

"What are you doing, wench?"

"There's something here."

He pulled her hand away from the rock.

"Death is here, Kagome." He sighed. "Human death. Come on, you don't need to see it."

"No," she didn't tug on her hand to get it back from the hanyou, but she also refused to follow. "There is something there that is... well... calling to me."

Inuyasha looked at her for a moment. Then he nodded and started moving the rocks. What he uncovered was a stone. It wasn't exactly pink like the Shikon Jewel. It was almost white, with other colors running throught it. Transluscent and shimmering. It was breathtaking. An opal perhaps?

Kagome reached down to pick it up. It was cool and smooth. And oh so beautiful.

Then she started screaming.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Inuyasha looked panicked at the unexpected scream.

"Get it off me! Get it off!!!"

The jewel had attached itself to the top of her hand. She tried to shake it off, but that didn't work. Then she tried to tear it off. That didn't work either. Kagome began to panic. It wasn't coming off! IT WASN'T COMING OFF!!! Tears streamed down her face as she fought to get the jewel off of her. Then she started to smash her hand against a rock. She braced herself for the pain... but it didn't come.

"Don't."

Sniffling, Kagome looked at the hands that were once again holding her own. She let her breath out in a half laugh. Was this the only way to get the hanyou to hold her hand?

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Inuyasha asked worriedly.

"No... it... no, it doesn't hurt."

"Interesting," said Kurama.

"Maybe magic will help!" Pepper swooped down onto Kagome's hand and began playing her harp. Salt soon joined her with his trumpet. But sun and wind magic did not disturb the jewel at all.

"We could always cut it out."

Inuyasha drew his sword on Bakura and growled.

Bakura simply grinned. "If it is malignant, we may have no choice. Better to lose a hand than to risk death. Or worse."

"Just SHUT UP!"

"He does make a good point," Kagome said. She smiled at Inuyasha's horrified look. Then his ears pinned back and his stance tensed as he began to crouch. She had no idea what he planned on attacking. Her bet was on Bakura though. When was he going to stop teasing Inuyasha? When did he develop a sense of humor? "But we'll just hold off a bit on that idea for awhile."

She had hoped to relax Inuyasha with a teasing statement of her own, but he was furious.

"No."

"Inuy..."

"No."

"Look, be reasona..."

"NO."

There simply was no reasoning with a stubborn dog demon. Kagome was relieved. She didn't particularly want anyone cutting her. Ouch.

For the rest of the day, Inuyasha kept Kagome within arms reach, and always had his body between her and Bakura. It was sweet, really. But Bakura didn't help matters by goading Inuyasha. He may have forgotten that Kagome was still there with the jewel stuck to her hand as he talked about all the different possiblities that could happen to her. Each one more gruesome than the last. Even though she knew that he was teasing Inuyasha, Kagome couldn't help but become more and more frightened. Maybe cutting off her hand wasn't such a bad idea after all.

The jewel was magic, that much was for certain. But she couldn't really tell if it was dark magic or not. It certainly seemed innocent enough. Then again, evil sometimes comes wrapped in pretty packages. If she had her purifying arrows she would know. Her arrows would probably be able to solve this whole mess. After all, she had been able to dig out those corrupted false jewels that Kouga once had in his arm. He was no worse for wear. If only...

Closing her eyes, Kagome pictured her familiar arrows. When she clenched her fist, she could almost feel them.

"What the...?" Kagome opened her eyes to look at Inuyasha. His golden eyes were wide with shock. "How did you do that?"

Before she could ask what in the world he was talking about, Kagome realized that there really was something in her hand. It was an arrow. Not just any arrow either! It was HER arrow! But how? How was that possible? Her weapons were back in the Feudal Era. Or was she finally able to produce a weapon of energy like Kuwabara? No, that couldn't be. His weapon was made out of energy. This arrow was real! It had a physical form.

Could it be... the jewel?

Did it grant wishes?

Quickly she closed her eyes and began to chant silently. Chocolate. Chocolate. Chocolate. Peeking into her hand she saw... nothing. No pocky. No chocolate bar. Okay, so maybe no food products. Shampoo. Shampoo. Shampoo. Please! Nope. Not a thing. Then she thought about an arrow.

And an arrow appeared in her hand.

"Oh well.... Chocolate would have been nice...."

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing, Inuyasha."

But what could were arrows without a... A bow appeared in her hand. It was very similar to bows she had used before, though this one seemed much more ornate. It was quite lovely actually.

"Wow."

"Neat trick!" Pepper cried as she fluttered onto the miko's shoulder. "Can you get it to make you waffles?"

Kagome smiled gently. "I think it only summons up a weapon. Sorry, Pepper."

Not only did it give arrows, but apparently there was an endless supply of arrows. And when the bow was released to disappear again, so did all the arrows. It was worth having the jewel stuck to her hand so she didn't have to lug around a quiver and bow. Inuyasha, of course, didn't trust the jewel on her hand OR the arrows it produced.

"You wear a jewel!"

Kagome spun around, surprised by the unfamiliar female voice. Inuyasha already had his sword drawn and was standing between her and the stranger.

"Who are you?" he demanded.

The woman was beautiful, with the longest hair Kagome had ever seen. And sad blue eyes.

"Young girl from another world, how is it that you wear one of my sister's jewels upon your hand?" The statement was accusatory, it was merely curious.

"Well... it just kind of appeared." Kagome showed her the stone on her hand. "Can you get it off for me please?"

"The stone has chosen you," the woman said. "I would not presume to take away a gift from my sister. You must have a warrior's heart." The woman studied Kagome intensely, making the girl a little uncomfortable. Then she nodded. "Yes. You have a good heart young girl from another world. I know you will use her gift well."

"But I don't want it."

The woman smiled. "Yes. Yes you do." Then she closed her eyes and held her hand over the stone. "I shall add a gift of my own. The weapon you call to your hand will now evolve as your skills evolve. The more powerful you become, the more powerful your weapon becomes. Use this gift wisely. And become strong."

Kagome cocked her head to one side, then held her hand to her chest and repeated Inuyasha's question. "Who are you?"

"I was Sierra once... now I am Presea."

The woman turned her back and began moving rocks. Kagome opened her mouth to ask more questions, but Inuyasha shook his head. He motioned for the others to leave. Kagome stood with the hanyou at a distance and watched the woman work. She wanted to ask what was going on. Then she realized that the woman was burying her sister.

"Should we offer to help?" she whispered.

"I don't think so. I get the feeling this is something she needs to do on her own."

Kagome's hand bumped Inuyasha's, she kept it there. Slowly he wrapped his fingers around hers. They stood there keeping watch over the woman as she worked in silence. They watched as the woman entered what was left of the place that was once a home and a workshop. They watched as she exited dressed much differently. Then they watched as she burned the clothing that she had been wearing.

"She's saying goodbye," Inuyasha told Kagome. "To her sister... to herself."

"Becoming her sister? But Inuyasha... What about her? What happens to Sierra? She's just going to give up being Sierra and become her sister? Why? It makes no sense!"

Inuyasha shrugged. "Must make sense to her. Maybe she thinks her sister's work or life or whatever is more important. Maybe she thinks that living the rest of her life out being Presea is more worthwhile than being Sierra." He shrugged again. "Who knows, maybe she's trying do dodge debtors."

A change of clothing certainly changed Sierra. Just like the miko robes seemed to turn Kagome into a carbon copy of Kikyo. Would she be doing the world a favor is she..."

"Don't even think it, Kagome." Inuyasha snarled.

"What?"

"Just don't."

"How did you know what I was thinking?"

Inuyasha looked at her with glowing golden eyes. For a moment he simply looked at her. Then the corner of his mouth quirked to the side. "Just the way you are, Kagome." His hand squeezed hers. "Remember that."

"KAGOME!" squealed Peppa, "The machine is taking us on another trip! Hurry!"

Kagome's head whirled as she let Inuyasha drag her back to their group. She remembered that phrase. It was one she once told to Inuyasha. I like you just the way you are. She grinned. The funny feeling in her tummy had nothing to do with the teleporting this time.

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"We missed them!"

Dayan surveyed the area. "Yeah. Sure looks like it. And only by seconds I would bet."

"We can't miss again."

"Yeah...I know."

The journey had been fun. He liked following Aster around and teasing her. But the journey was beginning to take its toll. She was wearing down fast. He considered suggesting they not even bother with erasing people's memories this time. He was worried about Aster frying. He had heard stories about people like her burning out, until there was nothing left. Now it was his greatest fear.

He was angry, too. Angry that they would never let her go. They would use her up until her brain was fried. Or until she had gone insane.

"Well... let's get started."

Reluctantly, Dayan followed Aster as she waved to get a woman's attention away from the fire she was building.

He thought Kagome was a good kid. Her impact on the worlds she visited were mostly positive. Wiping her memory would probably do more harm for the universe than good in the long run. But, as much as he liked the girl, he had to take her down.

Fast.

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Disclaimer Part II: Magic Knight Rayearth was created by Clamp, Naruto was written by Masashi Kishimoto, Pokemon was originally a video game owned by Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri (then turned into anime and manga and all Pokemon representation outside of Asia is by Pokemon USA), A Little Snow Fairy Sugar characters belong to Kadokawa Shoten, Yu-Gi-Oh characters (Bakura) belong to Kazuki Takahashi, and Yu Yu Hakusho characters belong to Yoshihiro Togashi.

Author's Notes:

This version of Magic Knight Rayearth is from the anime, and not the manga. There was no Sierra in the manga, only the anime. But I liked the idea so that's what I went with.

Sorry it's been so long for updates. Been having computer issues. And now my computer has had a total meltdown (literally burned so hot it melted things), so now I have to get a replacement. I have not given up on any of my stories. If I started it, I will finish it! I promise.