Adventure in Paradise
Everyone watched as the Firebird annihilated the spider. Also, Yugi, Joey, and Kaiba were back in their original forms. "The transformation has lifted," Kaiba observed. "I guess that means it's over."
"But the girls," Yugi was saying.
"I can't sense the Shikon Jewel anymore," said Kagome. "I stopped sensing its presence before we escaped. What Naraku said was true. Max and Emily were able to destroy it."
Miroku unveiled his right hand again. Looking at his palm, he saw that there was no hole. Now that Naraku was dead, the curse in Miroku's right hand was gone.
"Hey, up there," Shippo cried. Everyone looked up and saw the Firebird splitting into two lights. One was white and another was black. The lights began making their way towards the group. The white light landed in front of Inuyasha and the black light landed in front of Sesshomaru. The lights dimmed down, revealing Max and Emily. The girls opened their eyes and looked around.
"Inuyasha?" Emily asked, finding herself in his arms.
"Sesshomaru?" Max asked. For her, it was a little awkward for her to be held in his arms, but at the same time, it felt nice. Mixed feelings of nervousness and happiness filled up and made her heart beat fast.
"Lady Max!" Rin cried cheerfully. "You're okay!" She jumped and hugged her.
Max gasped and chuckled. "Easy, Rin."
"How about you, warrior princess," Inuyasha asked Emily. "How are you doing?"
She supported herself and stepped away. "A little out of it, but I'm okay."
"You girls were amazing," said Kagome. "You defeated Naraku."
"We all did," said Joey. "We did it together."
"Actually, I think Max was the real hero," Emily said, looking at her. "Defeating Naraku and destroying the Sacred Jewel was only possible because of her."
Before Max can say anything, a Cobalt Star shard appears in her hands. "Naraku's Cobalt Star shard. We really did do it."
"No, Max, you did it," said Emily.
"Humilty, such a disguisting thing even from humans," Sesshomaru jeered. "Yet with you, Princess, I find it admirable."
"I guess that means Lord Sesshomaru likes you, Princess Emily," said Rin. Emily softly gasped. She didn't think so, but didn't say anything.
"What!?" Max and Jaken shouted.
Jaken continued to shoot his mouth off. "Just because Lord Sesshomaru said something nice to the princess, doesn't mean she likes her! He could never like a filthy human; even if she is a princess!"
Sesshomaru silenced him by hitting him on the head. This was why Emily didn't react to Rin's words. She didn't want him to do the same thing to her. Instead, she said something a little more humbly. "You needn't address me that way, Lord Sesshomaru. I'm not a princess of this world. Even if I was, I still would have no power over you."
"At least she certainly has more dignity than Max," Jaken commented. This time, Max hit him for his commentary.
"Why do you humble yourself, young princess," Sesshomaru asked. "Lady Max did not defeat Naraku on her own. As the Knight of Darkness, Max would have never been able to unleash her ultimate power without the Light Knight and that was you."
"He's right," Inuyasha said in agreement. "You girls both deserve the same amount of credit." He looks at Max and tells her, "I really misjudged you, Max. I thought you were trouble because…"
"Because I was so different," Max wondered. "Or because of my power?"
"I guess it was a little bit of both," he replied. "But you turned out to be okay. And you really helped us out a lot."
"Max may be a warrior to the Dark Lord, but she's also a valuable friend and ally," said Joey. "She's helped us out many times in the past. And the truth is, we need her. She's important to us."
Max was used to hearing Joey talk about her like that, but it wasn't just an opinion. She knew he was telling the truth. Max was important to her friends and it wasn't because her destiny was linked to her friends', but because they really did love her and were always looking out for her. So really, Max did have a place among Yugi and his friends. She had a place where she was accepted and belonged.
Yugi spoke up. "We're all friends, no matter what our differences. And we were able to accept and embrace our differences and work together."
Inuyasha and his friends agreed. "Now that you have the Cobalt Star shard, what are you going to do?"
"Now it's time for us to return to our world," Kaiba answered. "The way back should open for us."
"You should come with us," Emily suggested. "You can see where we come from and how we came to this world."
Her friends agreed. "Rin, Kohaku, you should come too," Max offered.
Rin smiled gleefully. "Can we, Lord Sesshomaru?" The dog demon gave her his permission with a small nod. So it was decided that Inuyasha, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Rin, and Kohaku would follow Yugi and the others.
It was the Bone-Eaters Well that brought Yugi and is friends to this world. Maybe it would bring them back to the Secret Garden. They asked Inuyasha and the others to trust them and follow them. To their surprise, the power of the well was working. The demonic energy didn't bring them to Kagome's era. The power of the Stars brought them to the Secret Garden.
Inuyasha and his friends looked around. "Where are we," the half-demon asked.
"This is the Secret Garden," Yugi answered. "It's the heart of the Pure Valley, a paradise created by the Great Goddess herself. It's also a gateway to the other worlds we've been to."
"It's beautiful," said Sango. Her brother agreed.
"And the best part is time stands still in this place, so you don't have to worry about being gone for too long," Joey added. "And you can do anything you want to here. You can eat the food here, swim in the ponds, play in the meadows, climb trees-,"
Kaiba interrupted him and said, "Guys, look, over by Angel Peak." Everyone followed his gaze towards the rock shaped like an angel with hands clasped together. "Looks like the Secret Garden built itself a hot spring."
His friends looked and saw that he was right. "Did I mention this place is always changing every time we go to a new world?" Joey asked.
Inuyasha smiled. "I think I'm going to like this place."
Yugi got an idea. "Why don't we show you around? We can also introduce you to our friends." He knew that Téa and Tristan would still be in the Garden and he also figured that maybe some of the frends they made in the other worlds would also be in the Valley.
"That'd be great," Kagome answered. The others agreed and followed Joey, Kaiba, and Yugi to different locations.
As Emily watched, it made her so happy to see everyone getting along and becoming friends; especially in this wonderful place. That was when she began singing.
The more I learn, the more I see
The less these worlds impassion me
The hungry heart, the roving eye
Have come to rest 'do not apply'
The frantic chase, the crazy ride
The thrill has gone, I step aside
I'd believe in anything, were it not for you
Showing me but just existing
Only this is true: I love you
I love you, without question, I love you
In another part, Max was also watching everyone explore and make new friends. She also began singing.
The more I want, the more I steal
The more I hold, the less is real
All worldly things, I follow blind
In hope, not faith was paid in kind
The line is drawn, the change is made
I come to you, I'm not afraid
She approached Emily and the girls repeated the chorus as they continued to watch their friends.
After showing everyone around, Yugi and the others brought Inuyasha and his friends back to the Bone-Eaters Well. Before they left, Emily took out her camera and asked if she could take pictures for her journey. Kagome eagerly nodded, but Inuyasha and the others weren't sure what it was about. Not very surprising since photography didn't exist in the feudal era. Emily started by taking Kagome's picture first. The picture developed nicely. Emily taped it on a blank page in her photo album and took out a marker and wrote Kagome's name. After that, she did the same with Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippo, Kirara, Rin, and Kohaku.
"Thanks again for all your help," Sango said gratefully.
"I hope we get to see all of you again," said Rin.
"You will," Max promised.
"It was nice having you guys around," said Inuyasha.
"Maybe we can see your world someday too," said Kagome.
"We'd like that, but for now, we should all return home and rest after a rough battle," Kaiba suggested. Everyone agreed. One by one, Inuyasha and his friends went down the Bone-Eaters Well and returned to their world. "I wonder what'll become of them now," Kaiba said, looking down.
"They'll figure it out," said Yugi.
Max looked at the Cobalt Star shards around her neck. Five shards remained, meaning everyone was halfway there in completing the Cobalt Star.
Joey spoke up. "Max, I never knew you had that kind of power."
She knew he was talking about the Firebird. "I was never able to use it before. There may even come a time when I may have to use it again." She looks at Emily and tells her, "But I won't be able to without you, Emily. That means I'll need your help again just like you'll need mine."
The blonde girl understood. This meant that Emily didn't need to worry about relying on her own strength after all. She and the rest of her friends would continue to rely on each other's strength. Looking at the Cobalt Star shards, then looking at Max again, she says, "Let's get through this together; all of us." The others liked the sound of that.
