In Time, Death

By Alesyira

Summary: the adorable fish sparkle in the sunlight, but the soft sounds of a woman singing draw in the unwary

AN: I am so sorry this one took so long to post. Writer's block, more writer's block, mild depression, computer busted, etc. It never let up, until it did, and now here we are.

Koi

- 1660 -

Kagome cast her arms out wide and high as she arched her back in a luxurious stretch. They'd had a rough start to the day, but a brief detour to clean up and exchange their ruined outfits for fresh clothing had left her feeling a hundred times better. She had high hopes that this new location would be much less messy and a bit easier to handle.

Wind chimes tinkled brightly in the distance as a gentle breeze filtered through her unbound hair. She pushed the dark strands from her face as she marveled at a beautifully maintained walkway that wound through the quiet garden where they had stepped from the portal.

"Wow," she murmured, "it looks like we're in the courtyard of a very expensive residence." She paused with sudden realization and then ducked with immediate alarm, yanking on Koenma's sleeve. She lowered her voice as she glanced around with trepidation. "Some of these homes don't like unexpected guests, and this place might be well-guarded."

He pressed his lips together, and Kagome felt a surge of irritation at his barely contained amusement. "Let's not get caught, then," he whispered with a grin.

She rolled her eyes. "I'm so glad you are an expert of stealth," she said, focusing to weave a barrier about the two of them.

"Another sneaky hiding barrier?" he asked as she tugged his sleeve to stand.

She nodded absently and took a closer look at their surroundings. The stones lining the walkway had been expertly carved, leaving only the thinnest of gaps and a perfectly smooth surface. Everything looked so clean. She picked up her foot to check her soles, suddenly worried that she might accidentally track mud along the pristine path.

She shook free from the distraction and refocused her attention to search for the telltale sign of the breach that was somewhere up ahead. The path wound through sculpted platforms supporting carefully pruned dwarf trees interspersed with colorful sprays of flowering bushes. "This place doesn't seem very busy, and I doubt travelers would just be passing by at random and falling through to the other side," she said, brushing her fingertips along the soft petals of a flower they passed.

"This one doesn't have a lot of deaths and disappearances, but the frequency has been increasing, which makes it more concerning," he said, clasping his hands behind his back as they walked through the picturesque gardens.

They passed a few shaded alcoves with polished benches, one of which was occupied by a pair of whispering young ladies.

"Those girls might have some information," Koenma said, craning his neck to glance back in their direction.

She hummed absently in reply with most of her attention riveted to a bright red bridge spanning a long, curved pond in the center of the garden. Both ends of the bridge were blocked off with wide ropes draped with dozens of seals. Kagome frowned at the sight, looking past the roped section to the tingle of power she could sense somewhere along the bridge.

As they drew closer, she realized the seals were just decorations that served no purpose other than a visual deterrent. They wouldn't be able to stop a curious human, let alone an evil spirit wanting to escape into this realm.

Sunlight glistened along the pond's gently rippling surface. A bright blue dragonfly flitted between the thin leaves of pale green grasses waving in the breeze. Shimmering golden koi danced slowly beneath the surface of the water, drawing her gaze as she crossed her arms in concern. Such a picturesque spot would easily draw in anyone enjoying the gardens. But what would cause someone to trespass against warning signs into a place that might be sacred or dangerous?

"Wow, this spot is something else," Koenma commented, taking a single step past her toward the bridge. "Do you hear music?" he asked.

She tilted her head to listen for a moment before she caught a hint of the sound. It was too far away to tell if it was a voice or an instrument.

The whole setup seemed too tranquil, especially knowing that the breach was right there. Long before she'd understood the dangers that could be lurking, hidden in plain sight, how many times had she or her brother ignorantly swept past a warning sign to snoop around where they shouldn't?

There was no one around to enforce the clear warning in front of them, and she had concerns about how often someone came out for a nice stroll through the grounds and just didn't come back.

"Deaths have been increasing from here?" she said with a little frown. "I wonder if anyone has noticed that people have gone missing," she murmured, biting her lip as she glanced at him. Koenma didn't look at her or say anything as he stared thoughtfully at the bridge, but she knew he must be considering the same thing. "Let's go back and ask those girls you pointed out," she suggested.

When he turned toward her, she spun to backtrack quickly and find the alcove they'd passed. Kagome relaxed her barrier as they came into sight, and she withheld a smile of amusement as they jerked apart in surprise. One of them gasped at her unexpected appearance and fumbled for her fan to hide her face.

"Hi, I'm sorry to intrude," she said, noticing the bright pink blush that had swept over their faces. What had they been doing? "We are here to look into some recent disappearances. Have you heard anything about missing people?"

The first girl peeked shyly over the top of her fan and shook her head in quick denial, but the second elbowed her roughly with a vague look of unease. "Yes," the second girl answered slowly. "Some noble men and their guards have vanished during their visits." The two girls exchanged a short glance before she continued, her voice dropping to a whisper that Kagome could barely hear. "The lord wishes to not speak of it, in case others decide the keep is no longer safe."

The first girl looked away and brushed a hand along her pretty outfit. The fan dropped low enough for Kagome to easily spot her lips thinning with a distressed frown. That sight paired with the worry creasing her forehead made Kagome's heart clench. This poor girl, she thought, recognizing signs of suppressed grief.

The second girl glanced again at her friend before she shrugged and said, "The men that have disappeared were unkind. We do not lose sleep that they have gone away." The first girl flinched and squeezed her eyes shut.

Kagome furrowed her brow. "Only men have vanished?"

The first girl shook her head again, but this time chose to speak. "No, a few servant girls have gone, too, but no one speaks of them at all." She swallowed harshly and looked up with glimmering tears in the corners of her eyes. "One was my friend, but everyone pretends she never existed."

The second girl looked away from her friend and briefly scowled in irritation.

The was a moment of uncomfortable silence before the second girl blinked in sudden realization and leaned to the side to peer around Kagome. "We?" she asked.

"Yes, we are-" Kagome paused, glancing back to where she though Koenma should have been standing. She turned around and looked down the path, but he wasn't anywhere in sight. What the heck?

"Er," she began, turning back to the girls. "I seem to have lost my companion. We'll see what we can do," she promised with a little wave of farewell, pulling her barrier around her once more so that she might slip unseen from the shaded alcove in search of her missing friend.

As she turned, Kagome nearly missed the sudden movement as the first girl stood and reached out. She paused, hidden from sight, wondering what she might want to say, but the second girl took hold of her sleeve with a cautionary shake of her head.

Strange. Frowning with concern, she watched the two for a moment longer. The second girl pulled her friend into a hug and patted her gently, watching the entrance to the alcove with an unsettling expression. One girl was clearly upset about whatever was wrong in their keep, but the other seemed almost… excited?

She slipped away from the pair and quietly hurried back down the path. Where had Koenma gone? There was no sign of him as she neared the bridge spanning the pond, but two of the seals adorning the rope bridge had been pushed askew, and she was pretty sure that they'd all been straight when they'd been looking over the area just a few minutes ago.

She bit her lip and released a long sigh, closing her eyes to search for any trace of Koenma's magic which had only recently begun to feel familiar. Neither here nor there, his grey void of neutrality was something in between the sparkling shine of her power and the vast rainbow of magics she'd experienced with youkai.

But there was nothing to be found. She couldn't spot a single trace of him anywhere nearby.

She pushed aside the seals and ducked beneath the rope, determinedly marching toward the tingle she could feel at the top of the little bridge. She stopped just short of the entrance, steeled herself for the unexpected and bolstered her barrier. Whatever might be found on the other side had been killing humans, and she'd seen enough random violence and scary things in the last day to keep her nightmares fueled for a while. She refused to be caught unaware by something just because she was in a hurry to find (and rescue? Kami, she hoped he didn't need to be rescued) her missing friend.

She stepped through the breach, shivering briefly against the sudden splash of cold that drenched her senses. As she emerged on the other side, she sucked in a quick breath in surprise at the mesmerizing sight. The bridge and pond sparkled in the dazzling light, and it snagged her attention with unnaturally vivid slashes of color.

The courtyard echoed with the breeze rustling through foliage, little splashes of water along the pond's surface, and the strange sound of tiny bell-like voices. She turned at a reflection of light and caught sight of a little winged being flitting through the air, its gossamer wings shimmering with opalescence.

It paused, hovering in the air a few feet away, staring at her through her barrier with a little humming sound of curiosity. It flashed toward her face with a chuckle of mischief, diving into a section of her hair to leave it in wild disarray. Each of the tiny creatures nearby felt like sparkles of sunshine against her skin, and she smiled at the joyful feeling as it flew laps around her head. Pink light shimmered in little bursts as the being passed harmlessly through her protections.

It laughed with renewed delight before abandoning her to crash into a flowering bush. Kagome watched in confusion as the leaves trembled with a sudden storm of movement and several other tiny fairy-like creatures erupted from their hiding spots.

They flew away in a rush, their tinkling laughter trailing away as they rushed deeper into the grounds along lush and shadowy pathways. Others like them tended to dozens of trees, the branches hanging low under the heavy weight of ripe fruit. The sweet scent within easy reach made her mouth water, but she swallowed and pressed her lips together with mounting irritation. She needed to find her wayward companion.

Kagome turned in a small circle, searching for any sign of her missing friend. The rising towers of the home on this side of the barrier seemed even more impressive than what she'd just seen in the mortal realm, and she was fascinated with the wide variety of changes she'd found on either side of the breach at each of their stops. Some places had stayed roughly the same, some had fallen into ruin, but this place had thrived. (Kagome remembered little of the glowing cave.)

A tingle of Koenma's presence led her toward the elegant home. She held tight to her little barrier and slipped quietly along empty pathways in his direction. She took the wide stairway up to a polished, well-worn landing, then peered through the entryway doors that had been left open as though in welcome of visitors. A gentle breeze flush with the scent of flowers and ripe fruit rippled through her hair as she stepped inside and cautiously looked around.

Where were the guards?

Where was anyone?

She could sense others here, but nothing nearby felt dangerously strong. She paused for a moment to figure out which direction she should go to find Koenma and to more carefully determine what might be lying in wait.

She blinked in surprise when she realized there were several humans in the residence. There were a few subtle sparkles of youki scattered throughout the home, and then her attention settled on a bright red-gold presence. They were not quite as strong as some of the other lords and ladies she'd met on her travels, but they were the strongest being she could detect anywhere nearby and would be no small obstacle if it turned out they didn't like unexpected visitors.

She glanced again at the open doors, wondering if it was an invitation or a trap.

Why had he gone on without her? How had he gotten so far away?

Kagome sighed and cautiously entered, determined to get her friend out of there so they could complete their tasks. A haunting voice echoed through long, empty hallways, singing soft notes of lonely despair. She frowned, only half-listening to the heart-wrenching tune. The home itself was well maintained with shining floors and immaculate paper walls. Colorful tapestries and intricate calligraphy decorated lit nooks, but the growing concern for a missing friend kept her feet moving past the interesting sights that begged for her undivided attention.

A young male stood on his tiptoes along one wall, dusting a shelf just above his head with a pale grey cloth. Kagome glanced once in his direction, noted the subtle sparkle of his youki as he steadfastly ignored her, then continued toward the smudge of grey she could sense deeper in the household.

On her right, a larger room laid out with a veritable feast of snacks and crystal clear pitchers of colorful drinks drew her gaze a few moments later. A pair of richly dressed girls —human, Kagome noted with mounting confusion— leaned over the table and helped themselves to fragrant morsels as they quietly conversed. The barrier dissolved as she waved to catch their attention. "Excuse me," she interrupted.

One girl paused with a bit of fruit halfway to her lips and looked up with curiosity, then widened her eyes with mild alarm, nudging her friend with hurried movements. "Are you lost?" the first asked as they both looked her over.

She had to admit that her traveling clothes looked horrendous in comparison to the finery they wore, but she wasn't sure if the alarm in their expressions was because of her appearance or some still-unknown danger.

"I'm looking for someone that came through just a little bit ago, but I'm more worried about why you two are here." Before the realms had split, she would have assumed the girls were visitors or residents, but now that mortals should no longer be in the magical realm, it felt very out of place.

The girls exchanged a brief glance as Kagome took a cautious step toward them. "Are you…" she trailed off, thinking quickly. They were clean and well-dressed and didn't seem to be harmed, afraid, or in danger. "Do you need any help?"

One of the girls shifted slightly, her eyes darting quickly down and away. Guilt? The other tilted her head, missing her friend's response. "We are the Lady's Treasures. We do not want or need for anything."

The other one frowned a little and twisted her fingers together as she peeked up at Kagome again. "Unless you'd like to join us, you might want to leave this place."

The Lady's Treasures? That's suspicious, Kagome thought, glancing at the still-empty hallway in Koenma's direction. "Do you mean permanently, like I'd be trapped here, too?"

The first girl's lips curled in vague amusement. "There is no finer place to be." She made a small sound of pleasure as her hand slid down the expensive fabric draped over her slight form.

"Forever," the second one clarified. "If your someone that you seek is male, forget about him."

Kagome's eyebrows shot up in surprise and alarm. "Why?"

"The Lady allows female visitors certain liberties to come and go, but the men…" she trailed off and picked up a small cup to take a long drink. She closed her eyes with a sigh of contentment, then turned her long-lashed gaze back to Kagome's with unspoken warning. "They never want to leave."

She edged back toward the way she'd come, intent on fetching her missing friend before something bad could happen. "You two are alright, though?" she asked, still worried enough about them to double-check. She'd never forgive herself if she neglected or left behind people that needed her help.

They shrugged and waved her away, turning back to the refreshments lining the table. Kagome shook her head in confusion, returning to the hallway that lead to Koenma. She rushed more quickly along the empty passageway, her fingers clutching the handle of her bow with growing alarm.

Kagome could easily admit that this place was very nice and she'd probably enjoy lounging in luxury, but… Never want to leave? She wondered at that, her feet briefly skidding along the polished floor as she hurried to turn down a hallway heading right. Koenma was just ahead amongst a cluster of humans and the brighter red-gold of the youkai she assumed was in charge.

A spicy aroma caught her attention as she neared a wide, gilded doorway, and she slowed to a walk, cautiously approaching the entrance. It was obvious from the colorful embroidered pennants lining the sides of the open doors that this was a central room of some importance.

She peeked around the corner and jerked back just as quickly, stifling a gasp as she tried to process what she thought she'd seen. She couldn't believe her own eyes and her currently melting brain. She peered around the corner again, pressing a hand to her mouth just in case.

Brain. Broken.

At least a dozen males in various states of undress were scattered around the opulent room. They gathered in small clusters, some standing while others lounged on cushions around one that plucked shimmering notes on a lyre. She swallowed back her nerves and took a step into the room. She could do this. She'd seen naked males before. No big deal.

No big deal.

No big— Her coherency screeched to a halt as she glanced to her right. Her youthful naïveté ran laps in her brain while screaming obscenities as she realized what she was seeing: one of the men danced to the music wearing nothing more than shimmering body oils.

She blinked and couldn't help peeking downwards. Yeah, that's kind of a big… deal.

She stiffly forced her face forwards, staring pointedly away from the obscene display of flesh, using anything else to distract her attention.

Bright sprays of translucent color adorned the room, draped between hooks on the ceiling to bars extending from support beams. It was like she'd stepped into a painfully fragrant rainbow. She discreetly pressed the edge of her sleeve to her face to shield against the nearly overwhelming aroma of incense that curled through the still air.

Someone needs to open a window, she groused, thoroughly distracted from the displays of flesh. Maybe the excess in scents worked as a deterrent to those that depended on their sense of smell. She took another sniff, wondering if the heavily perfumed air was meant to disguise another odor that was less pleasant.

One of the humans approached a dais at the far end of the room with a shining platter of refreshments and held it out to the shimmering vision of beauty reclined upon a wide wooden bench piled high with luxurious fabrics and cushions.

Long, delicate fingers reached out to the tray's contents, and Kagome followed the pale line of her arm up to the flash of golden orange scales that skimmed her shoulders and neck. She glimmered in the mix of illumination of firelight flickering from sconces around the room and the sunlight filtering through hazy crystalline windows. It took Kagome a moment to realize the lady reclined fully nude, but soon her attention was grabbed by the brilliant gleam of golden fins draped over her scalp like a voluminous mane. It flowed and floated around her face like she lounged deep underwater and not in a perfumed hall of …entertainment.

Kagome felt her face turn pink. This woman was breathtaking, and she couldn't remember ever feeling so moved by the simple existence of another creature. She released a soft sigh, the overwhelming scent long forgotten as she desired to know if the subtly glowing skin smelled like sunshine, because it certainly looked like it might.

The lady hummed with a soft voice and plucked a tidbit of something from the tray. She brought it to her glossy lips and Kagome's mouth fell open as she watched the sensual play of her tongue dipping out to sample the flesh of the plump fruit. She swallowed, feeling like she was watching something far less innocent than someone sampling a food as she sank sparkling, sharp teeth into its edge.

A droplet of burgundy juice trickled over her lip and trailed down her petite chin, and she tilted her head back invitingly, eyeing the male with the tray. He leaned forward with a little sigh (Exasperation? Delight? Kagome was leaning toward the latter) and licked away the pale pink line, his tongue dragging with deliberate slowness up her chin to the very edge of her lip.

Kagome pressed a fist to her mouth to muffle the tiny sound threatening to escape her throat. Oh, hot.

She glanced away with absolute mortification. She needed to get out of there. This was not something she'd meant to walk in on. She took a single step back before the woman moved again, lowering her slender hand to offer the other half of the fruit to the male that knelt at her feet.

Koenma.

She blinked in surprise. Koenma?! She'd completely missed (forgotten) his presence with everything else that had demanded her attention in the room.

Her eyebrows disappeared into her bangs as she watched him take the morsel of food from her fingertips with his teeth. The youkai reached out and brushed sharp claws through his hair with an indulgent smile as he laid his cheek on her bare knee.

Kagome stood there in mild alarm and growing confusion, staring across the wide space at the strange sight before her. Her brain went into overdrive, forcing the warm fuzzy feelings pulling low in her gut way behind the more pressing thoughts of 'What the heck? Is he ok? Is he in danger?'

Her overwhelming concern was followed quickly by the realization, 'Oh geez, this is a harem. I've stepped into a harem and he's the newest member.'

She really wasn't sure what to think! She didn't know Koenma well enough to be able to tell if this was normal behavior for him or if he'd been somehow enthralled by a spell or magical creature. With that particular woman lounging in the midst of these men, though, she wasn't terribly surprised that any warm-blooded creature would jump right in to participate, with or without being enchanted first.

She didn't think he was in immediate danger, and those girls had said something about men not wanting to leave… but if everyone was safe, then how were people dying?

The female lounging on her cushioned throne seemed relaxed and pleased as Koenma brushed his cheek over the back of her hand. She sighed and licked her lips, watching him with warm fondness as she began singing. The musician shifted his song in response and plucked notes to accompany the melody spilling from the woman's throat. Her head tilted and she opened her mouth to add foreign lyrics to her song.

An unsettling sensation brushed Kagome's thoughts like the fleeting hint of a question. Do you care? The woman's wide, golden-red gaze flicked up to meet hers.

Kagome blinked in surprise, belatedly realizing that she'd forgotten to restore her barrier after speaking to those girls. She'd walked into a potentially dangerous situation, dazed by the view, and had left herself completely open to attack. And… ah, she realized what she'd missed earlier. The female had magic in her voice, and she could sense it winding its way through the room as the song continued.

She pulled herself together and stepped closer. She couldn't afford to back down now, not with this woman who seemed to have this entire room under her thumb staring her down like she was a bit of dust sullying her shining collection.

She did care, but it felt like the wrong question and she didn't have the right kind of answer. She decided to ignore the lady's question. "Koenma, can you hear me?" she asked quietly, keeping an eye on the room's occupants. She wanted to maintain a clear exit path to the door.

The lady's soft singing cut off like someone had hit the pause button, and the room collectively held its breath. The magic faded in the echo of silence, and Kagome waited a moment for the stillness to settle before repeating his name, "Koenma?"

His response was a low rumble of sound she'd never heard him make before. She couldn't help the renewed blush that crept over her cheeks. She bit her lip with indecision, feeling even more like she'd intruded on a moment. She gathered what little shreds of audacity she could summon and barreled forward. "Are you going to be very long?" she asked, her hand drifting to her face to cool the burning pink. She did not want to sit around for hours waiting for him to finish up his detour.

He sighed dramatically and turned slightly in her direction so that she could see his mussed hair and crimson cheeks. "A little longer," he replied. His heavy-lidded gaze finally found her and a widening smile crept over his lips. "Ah, 'Gome," he managed to say in greeting. He blinked slowly, rubbing his face on the lady's leg like a lazy cat.

She grit her teeth and did her best to stem the mounting irritation, propping her hand on her hip. She couldn't do his spells for him, and she wasn't about to abandon their mission so he could pursue this dalliance for however long it ended up taking. They still had one final location to visit after this one.

One more task before she could go home.

Even from this distance, she could see the flutter of ridiculously long eyelashes as the lady blinked placidly, another string of unrecognizable words laced with her magic spilling from her glistening lips. You should leave. He wishes to stay.

Kagome watched as Koenma's attention sharpened as he stared at where she stood, his relaxed countenance fading as he became more alert.

"I really can't do that," she said, looking around at the humans with concern. If push came to shove, she'd probably be able to handle the beautiful lady oozing creepy magic at the other end of the room, but all of the humans would be a different story.

She might even need to resort to breaking time to have a chance to safely get both herself and Koenma out of trouble. She sighed, tracing her fingertips across her abdomen to fumble for the edge of her paper seal. It took her a moment to find it, and she regretted that she hadn't begun wearing it in an easy-to-peel location.

Her mind briefly flicked back to the one time she'd kept it readily accessible. Warm breath had ghosted over the skin of her throat as sharp teeth and an agile tongue swept the seal away like the smallest of obstacles. Why had Seth wanted to remove her seal just to kiss? And do other things, her brain helpfully added.

Kagome shivered and forced her attention back to the present.

The lady of the castle watched Koenma with a cool gaze as he sighed and stood, brushing off his knees with a little grin. "What-Where are you going?" she asked with a trembling, melodious accent, her magic in full-force. She sounded like she was on the verge of tears, and Kagome found herself unintentionally stepping forward to comfort someone in pain.

Kagome blinked in surprise at her reaction and stared at the lady with renewed suspicion. Everything about her appearance had noticeably softened, drawing in Kagome's empathy and attention like it broke some rule to look away from the female, to ignore her pleas for affection and love. Her skin glowed in the flickering light, and her lips sparkled invitingly, easily drawing the gaze of anyone paying attention. Kagome grimaced as Koenma leaned toward her and…

Did he just kiss her? She leaned to the side to try and get a better view.

She heard his voice rumble quietly through the dead silence that had stolen over those in attendance. "My sweet lady," he murmured, "if every beautiful face could convince me to willingly stay in captivity, what kind of leader would I be for my people?"

Kagome heard the sharp snap of teeth as Koenma jerked away from her with a short laugh. The lady looked incensed for a moment, then gathered herself to smooth pale fingers over the soft skin of her thighs.

"I am not just a beautiful face," she whispered, "And I am very disappointed." One of the half-clothed men standing behind her curled his huge hands into fists.

Koenma hummed and folded his arms behind his back. "If you're truly that lonely, I can come visit later when my duties are not quite so pressing, hm?" he said as he turned back to Kagome, giving her a little wink once the lady could no longer see his face.

Kagome frowned and crossed her arms. "You were pretending?" She asked, sparing him a short glance before returning her attention to the small crowd of the lady's enthralled attendants.

He rolled a shoulder halfheartedly. "I could feel her call, but I admit I was more curious what you'd do to rescue me." He sighed with mock despair. "I see now that you aren't in a hurry to interrupt my activities with another woman."

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't seem to be in very much danger." She spared him a brief look to assess his thinly veiled disappointment. "Look, Koenma, I like you, but we haven't know each other long enough for me to get jealous over someone else."

He put his hands on his hips and pouted down at her.

The lady on her throne flicked open a delicate fan and hid her face as she yawned. "You are wearing far too much clothing to be entertaining. Disrobe to continue your disagreement or begone from my sight."

Koenma waggled his eyebrows at Kagome and slowly pulled apart the top of his outfit. She snapped a hand up with instant mortification and turned her face away. "If you wish to disrobe for the nice lady, feel free. I'll just go wait outside."

He laughed and followed her from the room.

"I'm surprised she'd just let you leave," Kagome said, glancing over her shoulder at him.

He shrugged. "She already has many to entertain her."

"Do you think she might be what's killing the humans, here?" She couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Well, something besides the lady's harem of collected human men.

Koenma caught up with her quickly, tucking his shirt back into place. "I can't be certain, but it's a strong possibility. There isn't anyone else here that seems to be dangerous."

"I can't believe you were just…" she trailed off, glancing at him askance.

He shrugged with a widening grin. "I'm not as easy to kill as the average human, especially when it comes to what she's probably capable of."

Kagome didn't think she wanted to know what he meant by that. They walked quickly, on guard in case they were followed. Koenma turned slightly and said in a low voice, "When she spoke, you were't there anymore. Like a dream, it was so strange. I actually wasn't sure I'd seen you there to begin with."

Kagome frowned and gripped his sleeve in case whatever madness the lady's voice brought on should catch him again. "Her voice… she uses magic. I wonder if it primarily affects men."

He shrugged in response, not looking nearly enough concerned for Kagome's current level of wariness.

"The others seemed to have been under some kind of thrall, even when she wasn't singing," she observed.

He nodded at that. "Everyone else I've seen seem to be infatuated with that woman. I'm not sure I see the appeal," he trailed off, rolling one shoulder helplessly.

"Are you sure? You seemed pretty interested just a minute ago. She oozed sex appeal," Kagome said, her face turning pink as she thought back to what she'd seen. "Even I was wondering a few things about my own interests…" she muttered, her voice barely audible.

Koenma chuckled as they rounded a bend in the hall toward the exit. The bright shine of daylight up ahead made Kagome feel a bit better. "We should set up the spells and get out of here. You can send people later to try and figure out how to extract those idiots that want to play house with a youkai."

He laughed out loud as he rubbed his hand through his hair, the red of his blush still sharp on his cheeks. "I think they wanted to play something else," he said with a smirk.

She rolled her eyes again.

"HALT."

Kagome startled at the sudden shout.

Before them stood a girl Kagome had spoken with in the other realm, the one that had behaved strangely once she'd thought Kagome had left.

She stood awkwardly in the hall, a long bow gripped with shaky hands as she struggled to draw. Kagome was concerned that she'd injure herself as she trembled from the effort.

Koenma raised his empty hands to show he meant no harm and tilted his head with confusion. "We aren't your enemies here," he said, laying on his charm full-force with a heartbreaking smile. "How can we help you?"

"You can help," the girl said with an angry grimace that clashed with her soft fabrics and elegant hairstyle, "by going back to the Lady and staying like a good boy."

"I don't really want to stay, though," he replied. "Why do you think that would help anything?"

"You must! She needs— sh-she promised…" the girl broke off with a sudden sob as tears rolled down her cheeks. "She gets new people, and in return, I'm supposed to get…"

The singing echoed again through the halls and the three of them stilled warily, the armed girl choking back her tears to firm her stance and her glare. She shifted her gaze between them, watching closely.

Koenma turned to his left to ask Kagome what they'd do next, then blinked in surprise. He glanced down to where he could feel something still gripping his sleeve and cautiously called out her name.

Kagome frowned and watched the girl with narrowed eyes, unwilling to pull her focus away from the potential threat. "Yeah?"

He didn't say anything for a moment. "…Are you still standing there?" His hesitant question made Kagome spare him the shortest peek.

"The lady makes them forget their loves," the girl whispered in a mix of despair and rage. "Mine is so close but he is gone. He doesn't see me and won't listen to my pleas to escape."

Kagome tried to not let the incredulity show on her face. (The last thing they needed was to offend the only person brandishing a weapon.) Koenma couldn't possibly love me, Kagome thought. We have barely known each other long enough to become friends.

She narrowed her eyes at the impasse before them. The girl's unsteady draw left her with a wobbling arm as she aimed in Kagome's direction. She was not nearly skilled enough with that weapon to be a worrisome opponent, but she was close enough to easily hit either of them if she loosed the arrow.

Her barrier could hide her from sight and sound, or protect against magical creatures and their attacks, but this was a determined human girl without a lick of magic.

She began sliding her grip down Koenma's sleeve toward his hand. "We really can help you retrieve your loved one," she said, her heart in her throat.

The girl hissed in barely restrained rage, "it is impossible! Can't you see? Even your beau can no longer tell you are present! He cannot hear your words!"

Koenma frowned at the girl standing across from them as she glared between the two. When Kagome's hand finally found his, she carefully brushed him with her magic, hoping it would burn off the lady's influence without causing a light show to startle the upset girl. "Can you hear me now?" She asked him quietly. The lady's song continued to ring through the halls with the sweet, lonesome melody.

"Loud and clear," he replied easily, and the girl lowered her weapon in utter disbelief.

"We can help," Kagome insisted again, pleading with her eyes and voice.

The bow slipped from her fingers to clatter to the hallway floor with a terrible sound that echoed through the otherwise silent space. The soft sound of the lady lulled once before beginning again in earnest. The girl's lips trembled as she stared between the two offering her what she wanted the most. "How?"

The tear-stained girl slipped into the Lady's receiving room, ignored as usual. The Lady didn't consider the desperate little human to be much of a threat, as she'd already failed to fetch her loved one half a dozen times without success. She merely smirked at the girl as she crossed the room, her limbs trembling with renewed determination.

The girl wasn't sure the stranger's plan would work, but either way she'd have a few moments to touch her love, even if he couldn't see or hear her.

She drew close to him and searched his face with hopeful eyes, but he still looked through her as though she didn't exist. She cut off a shuddering breath and brushed fingertips along his jaw.

He didn't react. She had guessed it would be like this, but that didn't make it hurt any less.

Kagome and Koenma stood at the doorway, a barrier in use (this time) to stay hidden. They watched as the girl wrapped her hands around her love's wrist and tugged gently toward the door. The Lady laughed lightly and waved a hand, allowing the male to follow the gentle pulls.

Kagome scowled in irritation at the malicious intent behind the superficially generous action.

"You saw the other leave with her love," the Lady's voice rang out across the room. "Do not assume you will be so lucky," she purred, waving for another male to come tend to her.

Kagome sighed, her fingers firmly gripping Koenma's arm. Her love, she rolled her eyes. Why did that lady assume such a thing? She wanted to ask, but she also wanted to wash her hands of this mess and get away before something awful could happen. She had no doubt that they'd lucked out with Koenma's peaceful exit.

The girl tugged the befuddled male closer to the door as he stared over his shoulder at the lady watching him leave. It was obvious on his crestfallen face that he couldn't understand why he was walking away from the only thing that mattered in his life, and all he wanted to do was go back.

The farther she pulled him, the more he resisted, until she was dragging him along with both hands. Her feet began to lose traction, sliding along the floor as she struggled against his growing refusal.

Kagome didn't think they'd make it to the doorway where she could reach them. The male firmed his stance and pulled back against the girl's grip, and she cried out in dismay. Koenma took Kagome's hand and stepped forward as far as he could reach, snagging the front of the girl's outfit, and the three of them tugged him out of the Lady's sight.

The lady scoffed with amusement before she broke into a fresh song to lure him back, but it was too late for her magic now that Kagome had them in reach. She wrapped her fingers around the girl's hand and her love's wrist and brushed them both with her magic. The trio pulled him further down the hallway as his eyes cleared and he looked around wildly in confusion.

"Sakura?" He asked, his hands rising to cup the girl's face with reverence. "You're here!" He paused, looking around. "Where have you… wait, where are we?"

She shook her head, marveling at the return of his attention. They stared into each other's eyes, rediscovering small details and cherishing the moment between the two of them. Kagome wasn't sure how long they'd been kept separate while still so agonizingly close and she didn't want to interrupt their reunion, but they needed to get the hell out of there before the Lady sent someone to go find out why one of her toys had managed to wander so far away.

When he dipped down with a helpless sigh to press his lips to hers, she realized they'd need an external nudge to get moving. "Let's go," she whispered, tugging them back toward the exit. "Get to safety and then find something to put on," she said, politely averting her gaze as they broke apart. He looked down at what he was wearing (or more accurately, what he wasn't wearing) and gasped with mortification.

"It's fine," Koenma muttered, pushing them from behind. "The sooner you get out of here, the sooner you can frolic nude together in the gardens."

Kagome cut off an embarrassed snicker and tugged the girl along, throwing glances over her shoulder at the empty hallway behind them and to make sure she didn't lose any of her three charges.

The song suddenly broke off.

A shrill shriek rent the air.

Kagome's heart leapt into her throat. Oh, shoot.

The shimmering vision of beauty slid unnaturally through the corridor perpendicular to theirs, a writhing flash of pale flesh as the lady of the keep sought them out.

Kagome dumped more magic into her barrier and hissed, "Keep going, let's go," at the other three, pulling them with her. "Don't look back," she whispered hurriedly.

The lady's power swelled around her, vibrating in the base of her skull as a violently angry tune ripped through the air. Koenma uttered a curse and Kagome dared to peek. The glimmer of golden scales flashed with near-blinding brilliance in the hall right behind them, the white of the Lady's eyes glowing red with unrestrained malice. Her beautiful mouth had opened wide, rows of serrated teeth exposed and shining with gossamer strands of saliva.

She can't see us, she can't see us! Kagome muttered to herself as she pulled them through the open doorway and out into the sunlight of the courtyard.

She grimaced at the distance between them and the breach leading back to the mortal realm. She couldn't let them run ahead of her, because once she let them go, the lady's magic would likely ensnare both of the men and bring them right back under her spell.

The girl, Sakura, ripped her hand free from Koenma's and darted to the side, racing off into the gardens, but it was only when Koenma shouted in denial that Kagome realized what she'd done. As soon as she left Kagome's sphere of protection, the lady spotted her and shrieked as she made chase, flowing through the air like an eel in water.

She hadn't been able to see them until Sakura popped back into view. The lady had probably been racing to the closest exit they would have tried.

Kagome cursed aloud. Thinking quickly, she handed Koenma a charged arrow and shifted their barrier to center around him. "Both of you hold on to this, hold it close and tight. Take Romeo here to the breach. I'll fetch Sakura. Go, go go!" She pushed him in the direction of the bridge, praying that between her arrow and the lady's incensed chase of Sakura through the flowering trees, the song would be delayed and the two would have a chance to escape.

"Romeo?" She heard both males echo in confusion as Koenma dragged his charge toward safety.

She ripped her bow from her shoulder and sprinted after the other two females. The tiny fairy-like creatures giggled and shrieked in delight, chasing after the lady and dive-bombing her with sparkling splashes of color. It was probably the only reason the lady's agile swim through the air hadn't allowed her to catch the panicked human girl.

Kagome could see flashes of the lady ahead as she wound through the trees trying to gain on the girl while avoiding the mischievous creatures. Sakura angrily shouted back at the youkai through her tears, hurling curses and insults that further incensed her pursuer.

Kagome wasn't sure if the lady was going in for the kill or just trying to figure out where her escaped male had gone, but it didn't matter.

They managed to get turned around in the gardens and miraculously ended up back at the courtyard. The tiny creatures that had been pestering the lady grew bored with the chase and scattered to dance around the nearby pond, startling Sakura so badly that she stumbled mere feet from the bridge as the Lady reared up with a shiver of glee. She'd cornered her prey, and she floated high to peer down at the fallen girl.

Kagome slowed and drew an arrow, pointing it at the pale expanse of the youkai's back. She called out a warning, "I don't like to shoot people in the back." The lady whirled with a flare of magic, clearly not expecting to have a second opponent. Kagome was ready for her threatening display and held her aim true.

Her luscious mouth opened wide to scream a fresh song into the air.

"Stop, or I'll shoot you where you float and that'll be it. No more boys. No more singing. No more anything." Kagome hoped she'd heed her warning. It wouldn't be the first time she'd had to kill to save others. It wouldn't be the last, either.

The song slowly faded as the rage in her face fell lax. Maybe she could see Kagome's resolve in her cool stance, or maybe she could taste it in the air.

The scales lining her shoulders glistened in the sunlight as they drooped with resignation. "Leave this place. Be gone from my sight." She glared over her shoulder at Sakura with disgust. "I will eat you the next time we meet."

Sakura edged backward toward the bridge and safety.

The Lady scowled down at Kagome. "I should have known that your kind would manage to find a way to meddle in my affairs."

"Please stop killing so many humans, so I don't have to come back." The Lady didn't need to know that Kagome had no intention of coming back, ever.

The Lady glared in response before she turned toward her home with a toss of her hair-like fins. (And yikes, now she understood why there was so much perfume in the fish-lady's harem hall.)

Kagome waited until she was sure the Lady wasn't coming back before she left to get Koenma. They still had spells to place.

"I can't believe Sakura was bringing her men to eat," Kagome muttered as they dropped the last of Koenma's spell stones. "She really thought that once she met those ridiculous demands that the lady would just fulfill her end of the bargain?"

"She'd do anything to get back her man," he said. "Some people just care about each other that much."

"Yeah, I might have to draw the line at sacrificing fifty other people, though," she said with a grimace.

Koenma glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "You know," he said, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked away. "I don't think her song only affects people in love. We barely know each other." He cleared his throat awkwardly, his cheeks pinking slightly as he glanced in her direction again.

Kagome wouldn't look at him, and he hoped it was more from mutual embarrassment rather than disgust or irritation. "I think it's just men in general," he said, pointedly ignoring the fact that he had been able to see Sakura as she had threatened both of them. He didn't think he loved the time-hopping girl from the future, but he definitely liked her enough to pursue something more. (If only he could get her to agree to it…)

"Plus, I'm not even human," he hedged. "That love spell was clearly for mortals."

"Are you trying to prove something to me, or to yourself?" She asked, glancing at him from the corner of one eye.

He shrugged with a little smile. "We're still on for that date one day, right?"

She rolled her eyes. She'd been there, done that, but she may as well let him have his little dream of maybes. She might be dipping her fingers into all sorts of past, present, and future events, but that didn't mean she could know their future. "Ready to get out of here?" She asked, holding out a hand.

"With you? Anytime," he grinned.

AN: Next chapter is already drafted and just needing a revision! I wanted quite badly to expand on some of the visuals presented here, but held back for reasons. Also, the little fairy guys keep coming up in my thoughts, and I wonder if they'll play a bigger role elsewhere. They have potential as a major plot point for my rewrite, but tabling it for now as I push focus into wrapping up the endgame that I've been kind of leading toward for a while.

also, friendly reminder that reviews, thumbs-ups, and kudos on AO3 help fuel my muse when it's feeling down. I enjoy my story offline but it really helps to know other people are reading and enjoying it too