Disclaimer: Author's own Fairy Tail or its characters; that right belongs to Hiro Mashima. Nor do I own Inuyasha or its characters; that right belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

Lucy felt strange as they kept on falling as if her body was progressively getting colder. The arms of the Spirit around her were gradually getting tighter, making it hard to breathe.

"Fight. Show me your strength. I am not weak."

All while the words it said were constantly being repeated. It was hard to focus on what they were saying. Lucy had figured out that this Spirit was a rabbit in nature based on how it ran, and now she was falling down a long hole. At the thought of being in a hole, Lucy shifted her gaze up and saw that the opening was a circle of light about the size of a beach ball now. However, it was still getting smaller by the second.

"You fight. I will prove I am stronger, not weak. Show me."

Opening her mouth to speak, Lucy found it hard to do. Shifting her gaze back to the Spirit, she saw that it wasn't so ethereal in appearance. Nope, it looked almost as solid as it felt squeezing her. That pale lavender hair was very long down his back, for it was most definitely a guy. Those clear, pale blue eyes were glinting dangerously at her, showing patience that was a bit frightening. All as that pale, porcelain colored skin seemed to glow, highlighting long fangs that seem to protrude from thin lips.

Lucy closed her eyes and tried her best to focus on what was being said, why the Spirit wanted to fight her, to prove his strength. Her mind shifted through all that she had seen, experienced. Then jumped to the knowledge she had on rabbits in general. Lucy had always thought that rabbits were small, cute, gentle, and timid creatures that could bring a person joy as a pet or provide food for those who hunted them for their meat.

Yet, in researching so many things while working on her novel back in Earthland, Lucy had come to have a deeper understanding of them. Rabbits were, by nature, social creatures in their own circles. That their dens, or warrens, were a large set of interconnecting tunnels that protected the families and could confuse the predators that hunted them and could fit into said tunnels. Yet, Lucy knew that rabbits would run at the first sign of trouble, using trails and hidden paths in the underbrush that made it hard for not just humans but other animal predators to track them back to their homes. Then again, she knew from Natsu that when he and happy tracked rabbits, they could go very still, slow their heartbeats and hide in plain sight. But when caught, they were vicious things that kicked out with their strong back legs and long nails to rip apart whatever was holding them.

Smiling, Lucy tightened her arms around the Spirit, holding it more firmly against her body. What was the right solution? What did it mean to fight? There were many different ways to fight, to show one's strength. But, somehow, Lucy knew that physically fighting back would be bad. There was no denying this Spirit was way stronger than her physically.

"Fight me. Show me strength. I am not weak. I will prove it."

Opening her eyes, Lucy looked directly into the eyes of the Spirit, who was now almost all the way solid. If it weren't for her situation, she would think he was cute in a childish innocent way. There was no denying that those eyes showed an innocence as they glared openly at her, daring her to act. Then it hit her, and hard as Lucy realized that she already had the solution. There were many different kinds of strength; not all of them were physical. Same with fighting, people didn't need to fight using raw, brute strength.

Having her answer, Lucy looked at the Spirit, hoping that the gaze she was giving him was stern. Then Lucy hoped it would hear what she thought since speaking wasn't an option. Not with her ribs being crushed.

"No. I will not fight you."

The way those blue eyes went wide before their arms began to tighten even more.

"Weak. You are weak. Pathetic. I am stronger."

Not breaking eye contact at the jubilation that echoed in the Spirits voice. Lucy just arched an eyebrow.

"No, I am not weak. I am strong, but it is how I use my strength, for there are many different kinds of strength."

At this, the Spirit blinked and drew his upper lip back, making the fangs more pronounced.

"No, I am the strongest. I want proof there is more than one strength."

She saw the intelligence shine again in the depths of his eyes as they narrowed. But now, with him being fully physically formed and his arms like a vice making it hard for her breath and focus, Lucy knew her time was growing short.

"Okay. I am strong in strength in the heart and mind. Physical strength is using your body to fight. Like you are doing right now, crushing my ribs, making me unable to breathe. But you know that your intelligence or strength of mind shows in your eyes," Lucy thought at the Spirit. "The way you ran from me after the group I was with found you shows that you were trying to lose me; shake me off, Mr. Rabbit. I know that my strength isn't what you probably want, but if I fought you physically, you'd kill me with a blow or two. I couldn't compare. But, I offer my other strength of mind and heart to you if you'll accept it."

The last of her words felt faint in her mind as her vision began to blur. It was not what she wanted as her mind registered that her life was slipping from her. The lack of oxygen was now showing its signs. But there was one last thing Lucy wanted to do, hoping it would reach to Spirit. Slowly she began to run her fingers through the silken strands of the Spirits hair, marveling at how soft they were.

"I accept. You are smart. I am the Opal Key of the Rabbit; my name is Juromaru. Wake up and heal, then we shall make our pact."

A slight rumble, akin to when Happy purred while being pet, came from the chest of the Spirit. All Lucy could feel was warmth filling her heart as she let her eyes close, and her body began to feel light even as it hurt. She had a new family member to love and care for.

Sesshomaru watched as those ghost-like hands began to solidify, showing the outline of the person or Spirit they belonged to. For some reason, the vibe coming off of it felt familiar. Familiar in a manner that had him narrowing his eyes.

"Hey, you guys see that? Something is strangling the dumb bitch."

At Inuyasha's comment, Sesshomaru curled his fingers into fists, making sure that they cracked loudly. He didn't like what his brother liked to call Lucy. She had proven herself to be capable in more than one way; even if it was her fault, they were all traveling the whole of Japan to find these damnable keys.

"It would seem that the Spirit is challenging. Miss Lucy," Miroku spoke up. "I had wondered after receiving Sir Toga's key if there would be more trials."

"What do you mean?"

At the idiocy his brother was showing, Sesshomaru shifted, so his back was to the others. His eyes taking in that Lucy's lips were a pale blue, and her skin was almost the same shade of white as his kimono. But what had him peering closer was the smile on her face as her eyes moved rapidly under her eyelids. It was curious how she could look happy and be thinking while being choked to death.

"Think about it. Lucy was given a riddle to solve, leading us to Mt. Hakurai," Miroku explained, his voice showing an edge of annoyance. "But when we got to where the Key was supposed to be was just the side of the mountain. Lucy had to think and then used a Spirit to play a hymn to open the hidden door to get the Key. That is what is called a trial. It forced Lucy to think."

"Feh. So, this is a trial of life and death?"

"Hey, guys... shut up. Doesn't that Spirit look familiar?" Sango snapped.

Sesshomaru was happy with Miroku's explanation. Indeed Lucy had to think, using basic reasoning skills to solve a riddle, then find a solution to gain access to the exact hiding spot. But with each passing minute, the Spirit became clearer, gaining a physical body sitting on Lucy's torso and squeezing her throat so she couldn't breathe. At Sango's statement of the Spirit looking familiar, it brought Sesshomaru back to why it would feel familiar to him.

"Shit. That is Juromaru one of Naraku's incarnations," Inuyasha stated, before the sound of Tessaiga being released from its sheath. "How is this possible? Naraku is dead."

Feeling shocked for a few seconds, Sesshomaru turned and glared at his brother, who was readying his sword.

"You attack that Spirit and harm it; then Lucy is dead. We can get the details later, now put your sword away," he commanded his brother.

The dark, baleful glare he got didn't phase him in the least. After a few seconds, Sesshomaru felt relieved when Inuyasha had put his sword back in its sheath. Turning back to Lucy and the Spirit, who was now fully manifested, Sesshomaru felt more shock flood his system. The Spirit had shifted off Lucy and was now holding her in his arms like a precious toy. And though she was still unconscious, she was smiling as the color returned slowly to her body; her hands were running through the Spirits long, lavender hair as it gave a deep rumbling purr-like sound.

At some point, after he had looked away, Lucy had done something that had won the Spirit over to her side. Though Sesshomaru wanted to know what it was, he'd have to wait until she woke up.

"We shall make camp for the night here. Lucy is in no shape to be traveling after her ordeal," he stated, as his eyes honed in on the strange markings that seemed to appear under the bruising on her neck.

TBC!

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