Lucy felt as if her body was floating in nothing. All around her, she could only see small dots flicker tauntingly. With care, Lucy reached out a hand to touch the nearest as it seemingly traveled past her. Only to stop when soft, amused laughter filled her ears. With a slow, cat-like blink, Lucy turned her head away from the glowing dot to try and spot who laughed.

"It has been a little while, Lucy Heartfilia."

Lucy felt her jaw drop open as she stared into a pair of vivid sapphire-hued eyes. Eyes that sparkled with unrestrained mirth as they watched her.

"Kagome, right?" Lucy asked. "Or should I say the Mistress of that little shop who sold me the Shikon no Tama?"

The slight bob the petite, teenage-looking girl gave of her head had raven locks swishing to and fro. It was definitely a thing to see as Lucy got her confirmation.

"You are not mad, are you?" Kagome asked.

"No, not really," Lucy replied. "Though I have been on a hell of an adventure thanks to this. Though, I do miss my friends and family."

"Ah," Kagome said. Her eyes darkened a little in understanding.

Silence hung around them as Lucy waited. Her mind suddenly realized what was going on. This place was and was not a dream. It had only been a day since she had woken up after beating Chokyukai. When everyone banded behind her when Lucy announced she had won the challenge, he had entered a contract with her. And boy, Lucy had been shocked when she had learned what abilities the Key of the Pig, which was a rich blue lapis lazuli, were.

It was why she was here now while sleeping. The key didn't grant strength or fighting ability. Nope, Chokyukai came from another continent, and it granted a special type of travel if the conditions were met. So, now in a realm between all realms (That wasn't purgatory), Lucy was able to converse with the Shikon no Tama's original owner. Chokyukai had warned her against touching the little flecks of light, though it was very tempting, as they were gateways to other worlds.

"Kagome, what have you been doing in Earthland since I left? How much time has passed? Did my teammates cause you problems?" Lucy finally blurted out everything she wanted to know in a rush.

The soft laugh that came before Kagome responded to her questions, "What I have always been doing, though now my time has reset to what it was when I first arrived in Earthland in front of the Eclipse Gate and met your mother who had yet to meet your father. As for the time, the same amount you have been in my world has passed here. They run along the same time path, actually as for your team, uh, yeah a little bit. But after compressing my Horiki and smacking the two boys down, I had a long chat with Erza. Who had tied and gagged them. However, I want to skin a blue flying cat. I. Am. Not. Fat!"

Lucy felt her eyebrows try to climb to the roots of her hair. She felt relieved to hear what Kagome had to say. However, Lucy laughed at Kagome mostly because she sympathized with her about Happy's constant need to insult. He was often a little blue troll that could fly out of one's reach.

"So they are taking care of you then? And how did your time get reset if you met my mom before she met my father?" Lucy asked. Her inner sleuth was perking up and feeling very inquisitive at the moment.

"Ah, yeah, they are. Fairy Tail is always rambunctious! Never a dull moment, and everyone is pretty easy to get along with," Kagome said as her lips twitched at the corners. "And to answer that doozy of a question. Well, simply put, it is the Shikon no Tama, Midoriko, and the Gods giving me a second chance to live my life for myself. Though I am sure the Church in Magnolia doesn't believe I am a Mage who can heal. And if they keep sniffing around, Laxus might end up making an enemy of the whole Church community to keep me from being forced to priestess or sainthood.

Lucy groaned openly at that as she rolled her eyes. She had never been a religious person, to begin with. Most Nobles were since they didn't care for Magic and Mages, to start with, except to use and abuse them. And the Church was a stick in the mud that held back society in being more open-minded.

"Yeah, the Churches are old and stodgy like that," Lucy quipped. "But Laxus isn't a bad guy once you get to know him."

"Oh, I agree with you about Laxus. He is all gruff and burly and angsty on the outside," Lucy said. "But he cares so much about those in the Guild it is all kinds of sweet and mushy on the inside. But heavens forbid you to call that giant of a man on it. ZAP! BAM! And you are on the ground twitching from an electrical overload."

Lucy watched as Kagome hugged her waist and laughed uncontrollably. There was no denying her words; they were true. Once Kagome regained her senses, Lucy could tell she wanted to speak. Giving a small nod, Lucy waited.

"Can you pass on a message or two for me? I mean, I'm sure most have adapted and adjusted like you said," Kagome said slowly. "But I don't doubt they'd be more relieved to hear from me about my wellbeing."

Lucy smiled. She understood completely and had intended to ask Kagome the same thing.

The smiles on everyone (sans Sesshomaru) had Lucy smiling widely. Though internally, Lucy was sweating. She knew it wouldn't take long for someone to ask her to use her new key to communicate with Kagome often. But Choyukai had been clear about his terms while they had worked out the conditions of their contract.

"Hey, if you can contact the wench now, then I want to talk to her daily," InuYasha outright demanded as if he knew her thoughts.

Lucy wasn't surprised he had been the first to ask (demand) this of her. She had figured it would either be him or Shippo.

"InuYasha, don't be rude," Sango snapped before Lucy could even reply.

"Sango's right," Miroku said softly. "Lucy's Spirit Crux gave us all a lesson on her magic. Each Spirit creates a unique contract with her. And it depends entirely upon what Choyukai has requested of Lucy. So, I doubt she can use it every day."

Feeling stunned, Lucy looked at both Sango and Miroku. Her eyes were conveying her thanks silently. Earning a knowing and understanding look from them.

"Feh," InuYasha grumped. "Then I want to talk to Kagome as often as she is permitted to use the Keys damn ability. No, if and or buts!"

Narrowing her eyes, Lucy let her breath hiss between her lips.

"No," She said as she stood up and glared at InuYasha.

"You don't get to say no," InuYasha growled back at her, clearly trying to intimidate her.

Arching an eyebrow as she smiled, Lucy flipped a double bird at InuYasha. She enjoyed the shock and rage that warred across his face. At the same time, doing her best to ignore the gasp from the others in the group.

"Actually, I do, you selfish, egotistical, spoiled pup!" Lucy said in a honey-sweet voice. "It's my magic. My body. My time. And my Spirits are not tools to be used and abused. They are thinking and feeling individuals like you. So go fuck yourself!"

Her anger had reached the boiling point. Lucy turned and marched away from the camp and group. Lucy couldn't be near the idiot any longer. Letting her hand drop, she sent a silent request to Toga to deal with his son. At the same time, she took time to herself to calm down.

He felt irritation at his brother's words and actions. It was a seemingly never-ending struggle. But as Sesshomaru followed the woman, he felt his father's presence before a yelp of pain echoed in the night air. Sesshomaru felt his lips twist into a dark smirk. He knew how painful those thumps and hits could be.

His ears pricked at the sound of inventive cursing, followed by the sound of wood breaking. Sesshomaru felt his interest piqued as he came to a halt. There in the clearing before him was the woman, times two? And the two versions were sparring without any reservations. It had him staring with rapt interest and fascination at how quick, decisive, and brutal the sparring match was.

TBC!