I don't own Inuyasha. Please read and reveiw.
Sesshomaru contemplated the woman sitting in the corner of Inuyasha's little house with the children. She had attempted to return to her world but the well remained closed, she was stranded. She was faring well with that fact. Kagome had refused to give them any details of the conversation they'd shared at the well, but she did say Melissa didn't have much of a life to return to.
She was definitely a miko, a healer. She'd assisted Kagome in her chores of gathering and sorting herbs and made a medicinal potion for Rin. Much to Rin's displeasure.
She had explained, with Kagome's help, that Rin was sick because of tiny, invisible spirits called germs that had invaded her throat. She was hot and tired because her body was fighting the germs. And her nose was running and she was coughing because her body was trying to force them out.
Melissa had then made a potion of salt and vinegar that she said would weaken the germs so Rin's body could defeat them sooner. It was similar to the brine used to preserve vegetables and Kagome said the name literally translated as Pickle Juice. Unfortunately with Rin's throat being raw and inflamed the potion had burned as she drank it. However it was important that his little Rin get well so Sesshomaru made sure she finished it.
Rin was asleep now so that her body could heal and they had all gathered in Inuyasha's house instead of Keade's so that she was not disturbed. Inuyasha, the monk, and their wives were visiting. Talking some about Melissa, but about other, unimportant things as well. Sesshomaru sat apart from the group but close enough to join in should the conversation return to his newest ward. Melissa, not able to participate in the conversation, was keeping the children entertained instead.
She had done some simple slight of hand tricks, and a few illusions, including making her eyes appear to change from blue to green for a few seconds. Then she'd taught them a few simple song games. They could not sing along but attempted to mimic her hand gestures and movements. According to Inuyasha's wife one of the songs was about ducklings disobeying their mother, and another was about a small spider. Now the woman was showing them a new game which involved folding a piece of paper.
He realized her was staring and forced himself to look away. In doing so he caught his sister in law watching him. Why was she grinning like that? Then everyone was distracted as a paper contraption glided gracefully across the room.
The children laughed in delight as they ran to retrieve the paper 'bird' and took turns tossing it back and forth. When Miroku and Sango decided it was time to get home an argument broke out as to whether the bird would stay at Inuyasha's house with Shippo or go with the girls. Melissa ended the fight by showing the girls how to make more paper birds.
"What you teach tomorrow?" Kagome asked Melissa once the young family had left. "Hokey Pokey? Ring around Rosie?" She smiled, the children really seemed to enjoy the American games.
Melissa turned to her feigning shock. "I would never teach children such a horrifying song!"
"What?" Kagome asked in confusion.
"Ring Around The Rosie, don't you know what that song is about?" She suppressed a smile at the confused look on Kagome's face, this was going to be fun...
"Is about flowers?"
Melissa smiled mischievously. "Shall I enlighten you?" She asked, crouching down in front of Kagome. She didn't hear Inuyasha's low growl. Nor did she hear Sesshomaru growl a soft warning to his brother in return.
Melissa's voice rose in a lilt as she sang "Ring around the rosie... Rosie refers not to flowers, but to the rosy red color of the bubos, sores that appeared at the lymph nodes of those afflicted with the Bubonic Plague." She used a matter of fact voice that a teacher might use to instruct a small child. Somehow that tone of voice made what she'd said sound even creepier than it might have otherwise.
"A pocket full of posies... It was believed at the time that disease was caused by foul air. People would carry posies or nosegays to protect themselves from the infectious stench of death and filth that pervaded the towns of the time.
"Ashes, Ashes... In an attempt to control the spread of the disease they would burn bodies, dwellings, and those who weren't quite dead yet.
"We all fall down..." She left the last line hanging, it didn't require explanation.
She stood and backed away from Kagome, then skipped in a circle, arms out as though holding hands with others and sang the song. She'd timed it carefully, so that she was once again facing Kagome, looking her in the eye when she sang the last line. She fell gracefully to the floor as though dead. Then Melissa sat up and grinned around the room and ducked out the door to go for a walk.
Sesshomaru didn't know what Melissa was telling Kagome, but it was interesting to watch. As they spoke She'd feigned shock and Kagome became confused. Then he'd seen that wicked, mischievous look in her eyes, what ever she was up to it was sure to be amusing.
She crouched in front of Kagome, leaning slightly forward so that she'd had to place a hand on the floor for balance. He could hardly blame Inuyasha for growling softly, it was a predatory pose. He honestly would not have been surprised if she'd pounced on the young miko. He growled at his brother in response, she was still under his protection as far as he was concerned.
Melissa alternated between singing and speaking. Kagome's face became shocked and appalled as Melissa spoke. Her tone of voice was sweet and motherly, and yet some how creepy, even to Sesshomaru.
She stood and backed away from his sister-in-law, she danced a strange dance with her arms splayed wide.
Then Melissa swooned gracefully. It was a beautiful thing to watch as she went to her knees, then to a hip, her spine curving gracefully the straightening as she fell like an autumn leaf to the floor. Her arms were above her head and her eyes and moth partially open like those of the dead as her hair fluttered down around her.
She sat up and flashed him a wicked grin, the woman was devious. Then she grinned at his brother and Kagome before ducking out the door into the night. He could hear her song fade into the distance as she walked away.
"What the hell was that about?" Inuyasha demanded, waking Shippo who'd fallen asleep in Kagome's lap. Kagome lulled Shippo back to sleep before explaining Melissa's explanation of the classic children's rhyme. The more Sesshomaru heard the more amusing what he had witnessed became.
"And what the hell are you smiling about, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha demanded, looking from his wife to his brother.
Sesshomaru hadn't been aware he was smiling, but he felt the corners of his mouth lower as his smile slipped from his face. He rarely smiled, and usually it meant death. When was the last time he'd smiled in pure amusement?
Kagome smiled at him. "So you do have a sense of humor. A sightly twisted one, like Melissa, but it's still a sense of humor."
Sesshomaru frowned and left the house, wanting to get some air. He didn't realize he was walking the same direction as Melissa until just past the tree line he heard a snap. He turned to face a large tree. Then his gaze slid down the trunk, to Melissa sitting at the base smiling up at him. She had an impish grin and held a broken twig in her hands.
He hadn't even known she was there. She was breathing a bit heavily, she must have heard him coming and held her breath so he wouldn't hear her. Then she'd snapped the twig to let him know she was there.
She stood, taking a step forward as she did so that there was just a few inches between them, she leaned forward, grinning up at him. Then she turned and walked away. She swayed side to side and sand Ring Around The Rosie as she walked. As her song ended she turned and smiled at him again, then blinked in surprise. He didn't realize he'd returned her smile. She continued walking, singing her song again.
Authors note: Pickle Juice is indeed an old mountain remedy for a sore throat. if you drink pickle juice at the first tickle in your throat you may avoid even getting sick, and if you do pickle juice will shave a couple days off recovery time.
Authors note 2: Most historians do not believe Ring Around The Rosie to be about the plague, it is considered and urban legend, but you can see why it would appeal to us sick fucks.