Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, that right belongs to Hiro Mashima; nor do I own InuYasha, that right belongs to the talented Rumiko Takahashi.

He stood outside the older woman's hut. Eyes focused on the horizon to the west. Already the wolf had come to investigate, though he was merely curious. And of course, his brother had taken exception to Kouga's presence. So, now the two were off fighting. It was childish, in his opinion, especially since Kouga was slated to take Ayame as a mate and become the lord of the North.

From inside the hut, he heard a soft feminine groan. It had been almost three days since the girl had passed out. The answers he'd gotten from her spirits both satisfied him and left him wanting more. But the oddity of all this was the girl. At dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight she'd speak a riddle. One that gave the location, but not what she was to find.

The sky darkened as the sun finally sank beneath the tops of the trees. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as he lifted his chin in silent greeting as a small pale green ball of light floated before him.

"Mother," was all he said as the ball changed into a tall, pale woman who looks just like him down to the magenta crescent moon on his brow.

"Three days, almost four, I have waited for you, my son. Yet you did not come to me," She snipped at him.

Keeping silent because he knew she was not done.

"I am greatly curious pup as to what you did. My castle in the sky, I felt your Youki, mixed with the power of the Shinkon... and something very otherworldly," She growled lowly at him. "Now, please explain to me what happened with that blasted Miko."

Already his mind was rapidly organizing what he would choose to tell his mother. Only to be brought to a standstill as the girl groaned and began to speak.

"At the base of the place where holy men rest. You shall find the key to the gate of a Lord who was a second too late."

As Lucy spoke, he watched his mother. Whose pale skin became almost translucent as the light of the moon, while her golden eyes widened in apparent shock. Before she moved past him into the hut. Of course, he followed only to see his mother stop no more than a few feet inside. She was staring down at the girl who was now on her side, sleeping peacefully — a small smile on her full pink lips.

"This is not the Miko. She smells odd as if she does not belong here," his mother whispered.

Sesshomaru knew his mom was stunned. A feat that was not easily achieved. So he took pity on her.

"She is not from here, or the future the Miko came from. She is from another world altogether. But she has the Shikon, Mother," he stated in a calm voice.

Though subtle, he saw his mother's shoulders sag. Almost as if in defeat. His proud mother was withdrawing into herself. It had his nerves suddenly on edge.

"When she wakes, I want you to never leave her side, Sesshomaru. Help her in whatever tasks she does," was all he got before she shifted to that small pale ball of green light and flew off.

Lucy opened her eyes and yawned. She was feeling rested. Checking her containers to find her magic was at full capacity, Lucy sat up. Her mind was instantly pulling up everything that had happened before she had passed out. It made her cheeks heat as Lucy recalled being in the one called Sesshomaru's arms and being openly defiant to him. She was giving a low groan as her mind conjured up images of the retribution he'd exact on her person. Because she had gotten a distinct impression, his Lordship didn't tolerate slights. Real or perceived.

"Ah child, ye have finally awoken. Come, let's get ye fed."

At the sound of Kaede's voice, Lucy looked up at the aging woman and smiled. She was earning a smile in return. Though her brain was trying to tell her what was said to her was out of place. But she was more interested in food. And for some reason, she was starving.

She was halfway done with her third helping of the stew. The stomach feeling much better when the others entered the small confines of the hut. Each was taking their little bowl of stew and sitting and eating. And Lucy noted, looking at her with a lot of curiosity.

"Uh... is something the matter? Did I get food on my face?" She asked after swallowing her current mouthful.

Watching as they all shared a quick look before Miroku spoke up. "I think I speak for most of us, Lady Lucy. But whatever happened three days ago, knocking you out, is of great interest. Because you not only harnessed quite a lot of the Shikon power but fused it with your magic. Than Lord Sesshomaru's youki, or demonic energy. As if it had no natural conflicting side effects."

Shock coursed through her mind and body. He left her unable to pick apart what he just said. No, it was stuck on the fact that she had been unconscious for three full days.

"Keh, I think you broke Blondie," Inuyasha chuckled.

Slowly she turned her head to look at him. Narrowing her eyes, Lucy felt for her link to her spirits. Silently she willed Virgo to appear. And Lucy did, feet on Inuyasha's head, force planting it into his bowl he just brought to his mouth, and into the ground. Smiling at the sight, she looked at her pink-haired friend who smiled before returning to the spirit doubt to inform the others she looked okay. Meaning both Leo and Capricorn would be visiting her soon.

"You said three days? And I did something... unheard of? Is there anything else I need to know? She asked in a calm, polite voice. Though internally, she felt anything but.

"Actually, yes," Sango spoke up. "You would at dawn, noon, dusk, and midnight speak a riddle."

At this, Lucy lifted an eyebrow., STaying silent so that Sango would elaborate a bit more. Because that sounded utterly absurd, she was out cold, not in a trance.

After a few seconds ticked on by Miroku spoke up, "Lady Lucy, you kept repeating this, 'At the base of the place where holy men rest. You shall find the key to the gate of a Lord who was a second too late.' And we know the place the first line indicates."

Pursing her lips as she tilted her head to the side. Her mind was turning the riddle over and over. Mentally thankful, they at least knew where it was talking about in this strange world. And the other part had her going through idea after idea. Though she had a few ideas, there was no way one or two would be correct.

"Woman, we leave at dawn. You may use the time traveling to figure it out," Sesshomaru commanded.

Narrowing her eyes as she sat up straighter, back stiff, and looked at him. Noting he just stared back at her impassively. She was not giving an inch, meaning that she was stuck with being up before sun up and traveling. Only like she'd done with her team due to Natsu's motion sickness.

TBC!