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.
The trek was long, almost a week and a half from the small village. But it was not anything Lucy hadn't done before. And it was nice having the small group with her. Though she felt on the outside with some of the banter being tossed around. Their funny and sometimes outright horrifying stories of this Kagome girl, made her feel like she was her mirror image in this world. Always getting kidnapped, learning, and adjusting while on the go. Yeah, Lucy was glad for her old teammates and her spirits.
When they had reached where they were supposed to be, Lucy had felt a bit closer to the small group. Well, except for one person. She could get a decent read on him... sort of. But she was sure there was a stick so far up Lord I-am-better-than-thou's ass. Often he reminded her of the Noble society and why she fucking left it. And had to bite her tongue to keep from speaking rudely and aloud. Especially after witnessing how many times he'd put InuYasha into the ground. Though the man-dog deserved it.
Hell, Virgo had done it a few times herself when he called her wench or undeserving bitch — complaining that she wasn't Lucy. Like that was a no-brainer. The damn guy had some issues. Abandonment, trust, abuse, neglect, PTSD. Yeah, she got that. But it didn't mean that she wore a damn sign that said, I am okay with you talking smack to me! So, she smiled when her pink-haired maid would just 'pop' out right on top of his head, and face plants him. Of course, this had the others laughing hysterically and recalling stories about how Kagome would 'sit' him. She had muttered once that she would love to 'sit' him.
The way he tensed, went wide-eyed and fearful was humorous. When nothing happened, he relaxed and made a snarky comment. Only to have not just Virgo plant his face, but Aquarius pop out as well. He got a bath as the blue-haired spirit ripped into him. Essentially saying she was the only one to insult Lucy like that. This had Lucy deadpanning a comment as she waved her hand in front of her face.
"Miss Lucy?"
Looking around until she saw Miroku giving her a slightly concerned look, Lucy smiled. She had spaced out again. Lucy was going into her headspace. Something she had mastered when walking miles with her team, because she didn't want to deal with Natsu's and Gray's bickering. That subconscious ability to walk and avoid obstacles had been handy. Now, well, it made the group concerned. Getting her lectured. Though she knew they meant well, genuinely cared.
"Ah, I am fine. But thank you for the concern, Miroku... Everybody," she said and gave a polite bow.
The looks she was getting didn't help, but it was put on the side. There was an understanding to a point. When she looked up at the Mountain, Lucy was in awe of the raw power it radiated. And it was so pure. She had a feeling both Wendy and Chelia would flourish here. The air was clean, unpolluted. Their magic would probably ascend them. With a deep breath and sad smile at missing her younger mage friends, Lucy looked back at the group.
"It is beautiful. So... pure... this is where the Holy Men rest?" she asked.
The small nod she got from everyone was all the answer she needed. Reaching down to her key ring, she picked out the key she needed, Pixus. Holding it up as she spread her legs apart, Lucy focused her magic and directed it to flow to her arm and to feel the warm hum as it tingles throughout her body, just like when she bathed in a hot spring.
"I am the road that connects this world and the next. I ask that you open the gate of the compass, Pixus," she said.
The magic circle that appeared under her feet was almost triple the size, but the magic was not increased as she held back considerably on it. The look of wonderment from the group gathered was virtually pleasant in an odd manner. When a soft chime was heard, followed by a puff as Pixus appeared, Lucy knelt to the odd-looking spirit and rubbed its head.
"Hello Pixus, I am sure you know why I called you. But can you point me in the direction I am going for the missing key?" She asked.
Pixus tilted from one side to the other as if thinking. She knew he was locating the direction, before pointed. Smiling, Lucy went to send him back when Pixus poofed again. When the smoke disappeared, he was so much smaller and was flying around. It had her shocked. Not once had she heard of her spirits having a second form. Hell, there was a theory that she could tap their powers, and her appearance could change. But that took years of training, tough training.
"Pixus?" she asked.
The small commentary she got in her mind had her giggling. Nodding her head as she just started in the direction he'd indicated. She wanted to find that key. She had a functional theory on which key it was. Not wanting to spoil it for the others, Lucy kept mum, saying that the key had vanished from her world. That the story went, it was sacrificed, destroyed. A fate equal to death for the spirit as it could never be possessed or owned again.
He was not amused with how the woman kept spacing out, even if she was able not to trip, fall, or walk into anything. She needed to be situationally aware. And he had banned her from using her magic because he didn't want to draw more attention than she already had to the party. Which had incensed the woman to no end; she refused to be a damsel in distress and be protected. Instead, the damn girl pulled out that whip of hers and put it to effective use the three times they were attacked.
He had never seen or heard of a whip that could expand and contract as the user's will. Let alone glow and sparkly like a river at sunrise. It was impressive, and she never let her guard drop. And then to see the last demon that attacked, a giant Bear Demon was kicked through a few trees, Sesshomaru made a note not to be in the path of her kick... ever. He felt the raw power behind it. A feat normal humans could never hope to master, even the slayer.
When she pulled the key from the ring in her pouch, he watched as she took up a stance he'd not seen before. The air around her changed as she spoke an incantation, before a strange spirit, she called a compass, appeared. The flow of the magic he could tell was significantly muted. Meaning she had more control than he thought previously. More stuff to learn since he was bound to her side due to his mother's interference.
So, the moment another poof happened, he thought she had dismissed the spirit. After the smoke cleared, his senses highly offended by its smell, Sesshomaru was shocked to see it still. More so when it seemed to have changed shape. And while observing the woman, he noted she was shocked as well. Telling him, she was not aware that they could do that. But he was attributing it to the Shikon no Tama, which was still hanging innocently around her neck and resting in her cleavage.
Ready to find this key and return to Rin, Sesshomaru paused when Lucy just started walking in the direction the spirit had indicated. Biting back a scathing retort, he decided to follow at a sedated pace and keeping her in sight at all times. He was impressed as she navigated the forest with ease. She was avoiding all the hazards that could potentially harm her until they came out in a clearing near the base of the Mountain.
He could hear the whining from his brother about how the place was making him feel weak and ill. Sesshomaru was not affected as severely, but the purity of the Holy Mountain was irritating his skin. He watched as Lucy seemed to walk to the base and stare at the wall. Her head cocked to the side as she mumbled the riddle over and over.
It was fascinating to watch as her face went from one expression to another. She had that in common with Miko. But unlike the Miko, this woman, she was somewhat guarded. As if she was always holding something back. Though at times while she slept, he could smell it on her. Loneliness, fear, sadness, pain. But even then, it was significantly muted, and he knew that InuYasha was unable to smell it. Plus, on occasion, while she slept, he heard her say some names. Those he was sure belonged to her friends she had left behind.
"Oh!"
At the sound of Lucy exclaiming, Sesshomaru lifted an eyebrow and looked at her. She started giggling as she dismissed the small spirit that had been sitting on her shoulder. Next, he watched as she pulled out another silver key. She was once more taking up that odd stance, before her magic, again muted, filled the air. The strange circle at her feet appeared, crawling up the side of the Mountain, as she called out for a spirit named Lyra. It took only a second before there was a poof, and he could feel another of those strange beings appear.
"Yes, Hime!"
"Oh, Lyra, can you play a hymn?" Lucy asked.
He thought quickly about what she meant by hymn as the first strains of the Harp the spirit carried echoed on the air. The spirit's voice sweet, melancholic as she sang in a strange language. There was no doubt what she was singing about. Clever girl. A holy place, a holy song. Soon a rumbling was heard before the ground shook as the side of the Mountain parted, revealing a hidden passage.
"Thank you, Lyra, You may... " Lucy was saying only to trail off.
"Hime, this spirit... it is old, powerful... please be careful."
As soon as the spirit finished speaking, it was gone, leaving Sesshomaru to witness a very perplexed faced Lucy, which was rather intriguing. When she looked at them all, he just nodded his head and moved towards her. Glad that she took the silent signal for what it was.
Her mind was running in several directions as she tried to figure out what Lyra had meant. Of course, Canis Major would be old and powerful. There was plenty of legends revolving around the Constellation. But she wouldn't believe a darn thing until she met the spirit herself. Lucy was no fool; she had a gut feeling that this was just the start of a quest that held a reward that she couldn't even guess at.
The tunnel was not long, nor was it dark. Its walls were covered in glowing moss. A faint bioluminescent light casting a green glow across the walls was like out of a horror flick. At the thought, Lucy smiled as she made her way around the bend. Only to stop right before her was a pedestal with a key on it, a jade key.
"Okay... that is not what I expected," she muttered to herself.
"What is not, woman?"
Jumping straight up and choking (literally) on her scream, Lucy spun and glared daggers at the Demon Lord. Forcing a tight, polite smile, she just looked at him and breathing deeply through her nose. Knowing if she opened her mouth, she'd be screaming at the arrogant, stealthy like a ninja bastard. Once she felt she had herself under control, she took on last breath.
"I expected the key to be silver like Canis Minor, or my plue's key. Yet, this is jade," she explained.
Already she could hear the thrum from the key. It was calling to her, as it sensed her presence, or rather her magic. The pull was strong. It called to not just her magic, but her herself. Something Lucy had never expected to begin with. And it sort of scared her.
Slowly she turned and walked towards the pedestal. She was pausing for a few seconds trying to sense if there was a magical trap or not. She was feeling for something. Then carefully, she tested to see if there was a physical trap. When nothing presented itself, she stood up and looked down at the key. From how it was pulsating, she knew that the spirit was laughing at her. Quirking an eyebrow as she reached out and ran her fingers over the keys, she let her mouth drop open. The raw power of the spirit had her amazed.
With great reverence, she picked up the key and held it in her hand. Jade was a delicate stone. And while it was imbued with magic, she was not about to break the damn thing, even accidentally. Closing her hands around the key, she faced the group and nodded for them to leave, as she walked between them all towards the exit.
Once outside, the day had shifted to full-on night. She was making her blink. They were not in the cave for very long. Her internal clock and Hologram told her that. So, there had been spatial magic in there. Not many beings could do that type of magic. Narrowing her eyes as she made her way back to the clearing because she would summon this spirit in a wide space, just to be safe.
"I suggest that you all be prepared. I can tell you from the amount of magic in this key that when I summon it to make the contract, there will be a huge burst," she stated simply as she walked to the dead center.
Glancing at the others, she smiled and met each of their eyes. Seeing the serious look in their eyes as they accepted what she was saying. Of course, they had no clue what magic was, just that it attracted demons... just like the Shikon no Tama did.
"We will be ready, Lady Lucy, do as you must," Miroku said.
Giving a small nod of her head, Lucy spread her legs apart, lifted her arm in an arc until it was level with the front of her body. Closing her eyes, she channeled all her magic into the damn key, feeling it pull like a leech did blood. Once she felt it connect, Lucy opened her eyes.
"I am the road that connects this world and the next. I open the gate of the Jade Key, Canis Major," she intoned.
Her voice felt like it was booming in her ears as a magic circle appeared above her, contracting and expanding as it sucked upon not just her magic, but the power of the Shikon nestled in her chest. It was causing her to feel light-headed and dizzy. Just as she heard shouting and clanging of weapons, on top of the smell of melting flesh, Lucy gasped as her lungs constricted. A brilliant flash lit up the clearing just as her body started to fall backward.
"Now, now. You should not faint, dear lady, before we form a contract." A deep male voice resonated.
Lucy did her best to force her eyes open, just to see a flash of white and a smile that had her heart rate picking up at an alarming pace. There was no way in hell she'd survive this spirit, he was on par with Loke, or better in the looks department.
"Thank you for the compliment, but you need to stay awake, Hime," the voice spoke again as she was righted before she watched through hazy vision as the spirit walked away. Hands are cracking as they joined the fray.
TBC!