Disclaimer: I do not 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.
The meal had been taken in blissful silence. Though one couldn't tell from the scene in the small hut right now. Lucy closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She realized that she didn't need to be with her teammates for things to degenerate quickly. A simple comment by the strange little boy named Shippo had elicited a rather blunt statement from the tall, silver-haired man, that the girl Rin had called Lord Sesshomaru. Which, in return, now had Loke up and ready to fight, of course, for her honor.
Narrowing her eyes, Lucy spoke, "Loke, calm down."
When she got no response other than a small, quick shake of her head, Lucy couldn't help it. Her emotions began to bubble over. Everything was coming to crash and bury her in that instant. From shopping with her teammates to finding the shop and acquiring the small pink jewel that brought her through a well to another world. Yeah, she was not in the best of states of mind. And the slight pulsing from her keys in worry of what their leader, on top of her feelings.
"Leo! You will stand down and return to the celestial realm this instant. Or I will force you back,``she said, her voice cracking like the whip at her side.
Unaware of what she looked like as she watched her spirit, friend, and family member stiffen and turn to look at her. Even with his sunglasses on, Lucy could tell he was in shock. Not just at what she said, but the tone of voice she used. The small frown on his face let her know he was not happy, but in the next second, a little poof was heard as the room filled with sparkling orange smoke.
Waiting until it cleared, Lucy placed her hands before her and bowed and already having figured out that this culture was similar to one of her father's old business partners. Women were of a subservient stature. The dress was more conservative. And those with a social standing expected to be given respect instantly due to the traditions. So, leaning forward, placing her forehead in her hands, she apologized.
"I am sorry for my spirit's reaction. They are very loyal to me and extremely protective," Lucy said softly, not lifting her head as she waited to be told to raise.
It was a soft Hn that made her lift her head, making sure that it was the response she was waiting for. When her brown eyes made contact with expressionless gold-amber eyes, she righted herself — keeping her back completely straight as she let her mask fall over her face — not giving anything to him or the others in the room. There was no mistaking the looks that everyone else was giving each other and her, as they watched the way she interacted with the silver-haired man.
"Rin is confused... Miss Kagome wore clothes like Miss Lucy's... So, why did she get called... a..." Rin spoke up, her voice quiet and showing the depth of her confusion.
Feeling her eyebrows jumping up on her forehead, Lucy tilted her head just enough to ask to be the one to explain silently. When she got a slow blink, Lucy turned to look at Rin, who was sitting close to Shippo. The latter was holding her small hand in his own as his large leaf green eyes watched her warily.
"Rin, sweetie, I believe I saw this... Miss Kagome when I came through the well. While we are wearing something similar in clothes, my clothes are a lot shorter and tighter fitting. And apparently in this culture... that means that I am a woman who is loose with her... favors." Lucy explained, feeling heat rush to her cheeks. It was a somewhat awkward trying to explain clothing and life choices of whores to a child.
After a brief pause seeing a slight understanding in both kids' eyes, Lucy continued, "But let me make this very clear. I am not such a lady. My culture in my world... is vastly different. And some women walk around in a lot less than me. Also, I am untouched. Which is why my spirit reacted the way he did to your...Lord's... words. They are, at times, way overprotective of my person."
At her words, she felt the shift in the atmosphere in the small space. She didn't have to look to tell that everyone was taken aback by her omission.
"Miss Lucy, you are saying that you dress like that and are...pure?" came the casual response from Miroku. Yet that response made her skin crawl as she picked up on the undertone of perverseness to it.
"Feh, as if the wench is untouched," came the rude reply from the one called InuYasha.
She let her face remained blank as she tilted her head just enough to look at the two males, who had a rather angry looking Sango between them.
"Inuyasha has your senses dulled to the point you cannot even smell whether she speaks the truth or not... Let alone it is clear that she is, as she says, a virgin," came the succinct, deep timbre of Sesshomaru.
Again she felt heat rush to her cheeks as she looked back at the man. She was letting a frown grace her lips to tell him that she didn't appreciate how he just spoke. Only to get him to stare impassively back, obviously not caring at all.
A cough broke the tension that was once more building — drawing everyone's attention to the only other person in the room — the old lady named Kaede.
"Child, ye are like Kagome, a traveler. While she came from another time, five hundred years in our future, you are from another world. And apparently, ye have a similar culture in your world to ours from the way you speak, react, and defer. Would I be wrong in assuming that you are a noble's daughter?" her aged voice carried in the silence.
A small twinge ran through Lucy at being labeled for what she used to be. But still, she let out a slow breath and gave a slight, single nod of her head to tell Kaede that she was correct.
"Then is that how Nobles in your world dress?" was Kaede's next question.
Sucking her bottom lip in and chewing on it, Lucy closed her eyes to center herself and feeling all present's eyes on her person. "No. I am no longer affiliated with my family. In fact... my family only consists of me now," she said, unable to keep the pain and sadness from her voice.
When Lucy opened her eyes, she saw the understanding in most of their gazes, though one had pity mixed with contempt in theirs. Choosing to ignore that person as they had yet to leave a good impression, Lucy let her eyes find Kaede's as stay there.
"I understand that my state of dress is unacceptable. May I inquire as to borrowing some suitable clothes temporarily? And as the evening has gone and night is here, where may I bathe myself? Coldwater is fine," Lucy asked, making sure to be polite and respectful to the elderly lady.
The way her brown eyes widened at her, Lucy wondered if the woman was not used to having this level of respect shown her. A small nod, Kaede looked to Sango and asked her to fetch a clean Kimono and to take her to a hot spring. Inside, a knot in the pit of her stomach loosened. She was allowing Lucy to relax just that bit more as she slowly stood up. Feeling her muscles protest from how she had been sitting for the better part of what she deemed to be two hours. Telling her, she was out of practice.
"This way, Lucy," Sango said as she reappeared from the other room of the hut with a small dark blue bundle of cloth.
Smiling at Sango, Lucy started to follow when she heard Rin speak up, asking if she too could bathe. Again the only thing said in the silence was a soft Hn before Rin gave a small squeal of delight. Turning, Lucy looked at the girl and held out her hand on pure instinct. Once Rin had latched onto it, chattering away, Lucy looked back at Sango, who continued out of the hut.
It was not a long walk from the villages to a small outcropping of rocks that revealed a small stream that led to a quaint hot spring off to the side. The strong mineral smell had Lucy smiling at the thought of how good it would be for her skin. Letting go of Rin's hand, Lucy walked to its edge and sat down and started to remove her boots.
Peeking up through her bangs, she saw that Rin was divesting her clothes with a speed that only a child could, while Sango was doing it at a more sedate pace, though Lucy noted that Sango was watching her out of the corner of her eye.
"If you have questions, Sango, please feel free to ask them. I will do my best to answer them," Lucy said, not bothering to hide her amusement.
The small widening of the girl's eyes, as well as the faint blush on her cheeks, told Lucy everything she needed to know. Once she finished removing the last of her clothes, Lucy stepped forward only to pause for a brief second and scan the area. Her senses were picking up the faint traces that seemed magical, yet were not. Deciding to ignore it, she slipped into the hot water with a hiss of delight. Soon a splash had her squeaking as Rin dove into the water.
"Rin, you know you're not supposed to do that," came Sango's soft admonishment, though it was evident that she didn't care.
"Rin's sorry, Miss Sango, but she couldn't help it," was the simple, innocent reply before the girl burst out giggling.
Shaking her head, Lucy leaned back and looked up at the sky, taking note of the stars. The constellations were placed the same, but the other stars were different. It made her furrowed her brow a bit as she tried to orientate herself. Eventually, she was able to place things to her liking.
"What are you doing, Miss Lucy?" Rin asked her.
Looking away, Lucy looked at the other two, both who were staring at her curiously. Smiling as she spoke, "I am looking at the constellations in the sky. They are the same, but they are placed a bit differently here. And there are many other stars I am not familiar with."
She heard it herself in her voice, so she didn't have to see the looks the two gave her — the wistfulness and sadness. Letting her eyes go back up, Lucy pointed out the constellation Canis Minor first, then the others, and giving a small synapse of the story behind each. Unsure if they had the same legends or any at all here. It helped ease her a lot as the water let her body continue to relax slowly.
"You are very knowledgeable about the stars. Kagome... she once explained a bit about how people navigate by them at night. She gave... a few explanations on the constellations, but nothing like that. I can tell you are passionate about the stars," Sango said, her voice soft.
Lucy knew right then and there that Sango was very close to Kagome. It made her feel guilty for being there, even if she didn't have a choice in the matter. Even though she didn't have all the facts, Lucy was pretty sure that this group of people and this girl, Kagome, were very close. Just like herself and her teammates, through a bunch of trials and tribulations.
"My...Mother Layla taught me about the stars, Sango. My spirits are those that inhabit the constellations above us in my world. I do not see them as tools or extensions of myself. But rather, Loke and earlier Virgo, are my friends and family. I would never let them just fight for me while I stay safe. No, I trained to fight beside them, breaking the normal rules for my type of magic," Lucy said, smiling fondly at all the memories she had in and out of battle with her spirits.
"You love them, Miss Lucy!" Rin said, her words cutting through her thoughts, making her look at the little girl, who was giving a toothy grin.
"Yes. Yes, I do. Would you like to meet one of my favorites?" Lucy asked both of them.
The way they looked at her had Lucy laughing. Reaching behind her for her belt, there was a small poof before she even touched her keys. Shocking her as she turned to see Plue standing there looking at her.
"Oh... how did you..." She said in surprise as he wobbled towards her speaking to her. "Oh... that... is... okay, okay."
Picking him up, she brought him around to sit on her chest as she pets his head. The slight tilts to Sango and Rin's head let her know they were at a loss and unsure of what to make of Plue.
"This is the spirit for the Constellation of Canis Minor. I named him Plue; he is a dog... though he doesn't look like it. And yes, I can understand him," she said by way of explanation. "He just told me that another of my spirits, Crux is looking into everything."
The small, twin nods she got from the two was almost exasperating in its way. But Lucy was used to it since her magic was rare even in her world.
Careful as she sat up, Lucy motioned for both Sango and Rin to come closer as she held out Plue. "You can pet him. He doesn't bite. He does have a bit of a sweet tooth, though," she said in an attempt to make things less awkward.
When first Rin then Sango came closer and touched him. She saw the instant reaction on Rin's face as it lit up, and she cooed. Sango was a bit more reserved but soon warmed up. They are drawing a small Mew from off to the side, where a little cream and black marked cat with two tails and ruby-colored eyes stared at Sango.
"That is Kilala; she is my friend. She is a demon-like Shippo and Lord Sesshomaru," Sango explained as she waded over to the small cat and petted her.
Sighing, Lucy turned and placed Plue on the edge of the hot spring and watched as he made his way to the small demon cat. Who hissed briefly, making him stop and tilted his head. It was comical as he 'punished' at her, before bending and pick a small blade of grass and offering to Kilala. Who leaned in and sniffed it and then him before laying down and curling her tails over her nose and observing him.
"Awww! Kilala is making a new friend," Rin said, causing not just Lucy to laugh, but Sango as well.
In short order, they all finished bathing and got out and dressed. But only after Virgo popped into existence with towels to dry off. Claiming that it would not do for Lucy to get sick being damp and walking in the chill air. Nor her friends. She was making Lucy rolled her eyes and smile at her spirit. On the way back, Sango asked many questions about her spirits, her world. To which Lucy said she would tell her story tomorrow after resting. That way, she didn't have to repeat herself, all while holding a mostly asleep Rin on her hip.
TBC!