Disclaimer: I Do not own the song Starlight by Muse. That right belongs to the Artist Muse and their recording company.

Humming happily, Lucy followed along the beaten path. It had been about a week since she acquired the Amethyst Key of the Monkey. Hiyoshimaru was a pervy little bastard, though when he took his human form, it had taken all she had not to burst out laughing. Then hearing him state his true name was Son Goku, Lucy had been shocked when those around her had shown him some respect. And after a quick history lesson about Son Goku, Lucy felt rather impressed and immediately thought he and Natsu would go well together.

"Miss Lucy?"

Smiling as she continued to hum, Lucy spun around and looked at Miroku and Shippo, the latter who called her name. Seeing their eyes grow wide was rather amusing. Lucy had decided to start wearing pants and button-up shirts with an over vest. It was a bit more decent than her booty shorts, tube-top, and knee-high combat boots. She figured it was for the best to be a bit more modest, so the situation with Lord Oda Nobunaga didn't repeat, or Amari Nobunaga.

"Yes, Shippou?" Lucy asked as she felt her eyes crease at the corners of her smile.

"What are you humming?" Shippou asked, his reddened cheeks partially hidden when he lowered his head.

"Oh, this song, it is called Starlight by a band in my world called Muse," Lucy said. "It is one of my favorite songs. A bit sad, a bit romantic, a bit quirky."

"Oh, can you sing some lyrics then?" Miroku asked.

Giving a small nod of her head, Lucy thought of which verse to sing aloud for them. After playing the song in her head a few times, she chose the second and third verses:

'Starlight

I will be chasing starlight.

Until the end of my life.

I don't know if it's worth it anymore.

Hold you in my arms.

I just wanted to hold,

You in my arms.'

When she finished, she looked at each member of their little group and saw them all staring at her. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Lucy looked down and spun and continued to walk forward. She didn't sing very often or in public since it was partially a guilty pleasure. And she had been told her voice was horrible.

"Nah, your voice is really nice. Maybe I should play my Shanshin as you sing?"

Lucy felt stunned at Hiyoshimaru's offer, and it caused her to stumble a little bit. She could tell that the pervy monkey was being genuine in his offer. And there was no trace of mischief in it. Though she had no idea what a Shanshin was.

"I think that would be nice," Lucy thought back at him.

"Deal, my busty cohort!"

Lucy felt her eye twitch as she forced her smile to stay on her face. Lucy knew she had to get used to this Spirit's particular personality and their quirks. He was a new friend and family member. But for now, Lucy decided to let it slide off her.

'To you who comes to seek. Do you dare to cross? Do you dare to climb? The void is the voice. The voice is in the void. I do not think you can. I dare thee to show me if you're capable.'

Lucy felt her body go stiff at the new voice echoing in her mind. It was a clear challenge and in riddle form. Narrowing her eyes, Lucy let her head turn side to side.

"Woman, what is it now?"

Lucy chose to ignore Sesshoumaru's question. She had repeatedly told him that she would no longer answer him if he referred to her as gender and object. That included his tone. So rolling her shoulders, Lucy tried to feel where the presence of the voice came from. It had to be another key because she had yet to encounter a human or demon in this world that could directly talk into her mind. Not with the shields she had built naturally and metaphysically.

"Miss Lucy, is something wrong? Do you sense something that we don't? Sango asked, her voice soft and right behind Lucy.

"Feh, that wench can't sense nothing before my and my brother," InuYasha growled, showing his clear annoyance.

At her neck, Lucy felt a gentle pulse. It seemed the Shikon no Tama was annoyed by the irregularity of the pulses. Then again, she would be too if some arrogant jackass kept trying to steal her and wanted to make an asinine wish to bring the dead back to life. He wasn't faithful to his former partner and friend, Kagome.

"InuYasha, did you forget that she can? I mean, she can sense the Spirits that reside in the keys," Shippou chirped, his voice showing his amusement.

Counting down in her head, Lucy heard the chime and poof before InuYasha grunted as he was face-planted. Then Virgo was chiding that he shouldn't hit a child.

"Shippou is correct; I heard the voice of a Spirit just now," Lucy said softly. "And it gave me a challenge in the form of another riddle."

Turning to look at the group, Lucy pursed her lips and huffed softly. Her mind was already dissecting the riddle and trying to make heads and tails of what was said. They had been traveling west for a week now and had left the lands under Nobunaga a few days ago.

"Then, Miss Lucy, how about you share with us so we may try to help you," Miroku said. "It can't hurt to have multiple minds trying to solve it, right?"

Lucy couldn't help it as she laughed and nodded her head. Giving a questioning look at Sesshomaru, who took a few seconds before nodding his approval. But the group decided to make camp in the hilly plains. It was nearing dusk, and the light of the sun would quickly fade away.

TBC!

It is November, thus National Novelist Writers Month (NaNoWriMo), and like the previous years, I will be solely focusing on writing nothing but Fairy Tail (FT) stories. And I am doing this because I want to finish them and get the hell out of a fandom that has become toxic. More so with the new insurgent group of fans that promote unhealthy and toxic behaviors and relationships.