Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, or any nursery rhymes.

The Mother Goose Escapades

No. 18

Luna, every woman's friend

To my thy goodness condescend

Let me this night in visions see

Emblems of my destiny.

The forest was bathed in the soft silver glow of the full moon, illuminating the soft green soul stealer, glistening in the night. It slid through the air, silent as a sigh, almost fading into the background. Within moments it was joined by its sisters, and the five of them made their way towards the call.

She was in their sights, surrounded by more of their sisters, weaving through the trees and around her fragile clay body. Her tragic face was turned towards the moon, aglow under the silver light. Her lips moved soundlessly, and the six soul stealers joined her midnight prayers.

The original soul stealer crept under her hand, it's silver colored head setting it apart from the others. It had a limited perception, but it sensed her distraught. She ceased whispering and looked down in surprise. Then her eyes softened.

"Hello," she said quietly. It wound around her hand and up her arm, twisting itself in her hair. She sighed, and looked up at the moon again. Her lip turned down in an unconscious pout, and she reached her hand up to stroke the soul stealer.

"I saw him again with my reincarnation," the soft voice continued. "Almost every way possible, it seems he insults me. It's as though he's trying to rid himself of the memory of me. I don't...understand..." As her voice trailed off, the soul stealer untangled itself and curled up in her lap.

"He promised me he would always remain loyal to me. I intend to hold him to that promise. Promises are not made to be broken." The soul stealer looked up at her and the determined expression on her face. It was confused, and sent waves to her. She lifted her hand absently and began to stroke its head, a sigh escaping her.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand. If he doesn't understand it, I know you wouldn't." She sent back waves of calm to the agitated soul stealer and it relaxed. She looked down and smiled at it. It blinked at her, trying to calm her as she had to it.

"Thank you," she said. Returning her gaze to the moon, she spoke again. "I wish I knew what could have happened had none of this betrayal come about. Would we have been happy? I'd like to think so. We could be happy even yet, if he would just comply to my call." Her gaze hardened and she ceased petting the soul stealer. It looked up questioningly.

"I wish I knew what would happen yet. What will Naraku do next? When will Inuyasha-" she shivered involuntarily as she said his name, "-return to me? When will I get the happy ending I deserve?" She squeezed her eyes shut as unbidden tears came. The soul stealer lay quietly in her lap, waiting for her to regain her composure. Soon enough she blinked, her eyes still glistening.

"If wishes were horses, than beggars would ride," she finally said. A cloud passed over the moon, casting dark shadows in the night. Her face was stark enough to stand out, and twin tears coasted down the ivory cheeks. Tragic perfection in the very essence of the phrase. It was dark a moment longer, and then the cloud passed on. The moon cast its radiant silver light on the world again, and she wiped her face.

"That's enough," she reprimanded. She shifted and the soul stealer glided into the air. As she stood, it's sisters surrounded her, the ethereal nature akin to beauty in the silver glow.

"I am better than that girl. I am me, she is a copy." There was no one around to note the irony of that phrase. As it was, the soul stealer merely slid around her neck. Her hand reached up to caress its head one final time before she pointed to her left.

"Go now. Bring him to me. Let me prove once again that I am in control. Perhaps this will be the time he accepts his fate, as promised to me long ago. The girl is merely a fool, who will suffer the consequences of loving a puppy that wasn't her to begin with." The soul stealer looked at her, then slid out from under her hair. It flew off without a second glance, several of its sisters accompanying it. She silently watched it leave. Then,

"Perhaps tonight will be the night when my destiny is revealed." She looked at the moon once more before wandering behind a tree, waiting for her lost puppy to return, tail tucked between his legs. Maybe this time he would stay. Maybe this time she wouldn't be lonely when he left. Maybe this time she could get her long awaited revenge. It was their shared destiny, after all.

Author's Notes: I always sort of assumed the soul stealers had to be something like pets to Kikyou...