I do not own Inuyasha.

I'm sick but reviews might make me feel better.

Melissa had a hard time falling asleep knowing Sesshomaru was gone. His presence had meant safety. Sure Inuyasha and Kagome were his family and she'd been left in their care. And they were friendly to her. But they weren't her guardian elf... Her guardian Youkai.

She awoke the next morning to the sound of Inuyasha and Kagome bickering. They either really loved each other or hated each other. She stretched and yawned then joined Shippo beside the fire for breakfast.

As they stepped out into the bright sun Shippo changed into a pink ball and began floating away while Inuyasha went to Miroku to see if they had been summoned to another village for an exorcism. Melissa tagged along with Kagome as they checked on the ill people in the village and delivered medicinal teas for the mothers to brew. It seemed as if every family had a child or two with strep throat.

"It's a beautiful day again." Melissa remarked as they finished their rounds.

Kagome frown. "Yes. But to much beautiful day. No rain in many weeks."

Melissa stopped and looked around. She had been focusing on the bright blue sky and the sunlight. Now she noticed some of the fields looked withered. The rice paddies were irrigated so did well, but not all the fields were close enough to the river.

"What have you and Keade done to try to break the drought?" Melissa asked looking around thoughtfully.

"Done?"

"The two of you are the village witches, right? Have you cast any spells, made charms, done a rain dance?"

"No. We miko. We um, clean negative ki, make medicine, fight away youkai. We no control weather."

"Well no, no one can control the weather. But you can give Mother Nature a little nudge. Tweak the circumstances in your favor." She caressed Raven as she turned to face Kagome fully, "Would it be possible to get me a chalice?"

It turned out that a little rural town in Japan didn't really have chalices. But they did have tea cups. It was a drinking vessel, the energy and intent behind the spell would be the same. She carried it full of water to the fields, Kagome lingering nearby to see what she would do and to make sure no curious villagers interfered.

Melissa stared at the cup of water in her hands, it was a good spell. She'd written it when a drought had threatened her father's farm. She had waited to cast until everyone had gone to bed. Unfortunately her father had gotten up to use the restroom and seen her through a window. He'd accused her of worshipping Satan...

She shook her head. It was a good spell. The drought had ended a few days later. And that was how she'd gone to live with her grandparents full time instead of just enjoying summer road trips. Nothing in life is free and a few bruises had been a small price to pay for the freedom she gained.

She cast her circle then sat down and meditated, raising the energy in her circle then she opened the circle and carried her cup from field to field. As she walked she dipped her dagger into the cup and when she withdrew it she gave it a flick so that the beads of water that clung to the blade sprinkled down on the parched ground like rain and recited the incantation she'd written years ago.

"What you do now?" Kagome asked once she'd concluded her spell.

"Wait. It'll take a few days for the spell to work."

"I done with chores. Maybe help plant rice?" Kagome asked the American.

"Sure." So they began walking down hill toward the paddies by the river. "So only the women plant rice?" Melissa asked spotting the paddies with all the young women standing in the water tucking rice into the soil.

"Yes, is tradition. Is believed that young women make big crop like make babies."

Melissa stopped "Kagome, is there other work I could help with?"

Kagome stopped and looked questioningly at her new friend. "I wouldn't want to be blamed if the crop fails. I am 22 and I don't have any children." Melissa explained.

Kagome nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, be difficult explain birth control. And weather been dry."

"I grew up on a farm with a bunch of brothers, I can buck hay and split wood with the best of them. I imagine some of the men are already cutting wood so it can cure before winter, right?"

Kagome thought for a moment. "We could try see if men need help. But Kojo give Inuyasha hard time because is hanyou. But maybe let you help."

They soon found the men at the edge of the forest splitting wood and loading it on a cart. Kagome spoke to one of the men who seemed skeptical of her request but then shrugged. He spoke to the other men and a few of them chuckled but nodded.

"I tell them American not eat much rice. You unsure how work paddies but can split wood." Melissa nodded. One of the men asked a question.

"What you family make?" Kagome asked.

"What did we grow? Mostly corn and taters."

"Taters?"

"Potatos. We also had a family plot where we grew a bit of everything for the dinner table. Peppers, tomatoes, okra..."

"All vegetable we not have." She smiled, it would be understandable that Melissa had no idea how to work a rice paddy. She turned and told the men what Melissa's family grew and watched looks of confusion cross their faces.

The men shrugged and nodded, but as soone as Kagome turned away started handing Melissa small bundles of tiny sticks to load. She pointed to the larger logs, trying to communicate that she wanted to share equally in the work. They laughed and continued to hand her small bundles of kindling.

Getting frustrated she pushed by one and started to pick up large pieces but one of the men snatched the wood from her hands and petted her on the head. When Sesshomaru petted her it was a kind, sympathetic gesture. A caring gesture. This petting was condescending and infantilizing.

She smacked his hand away and snatched her wood back. "Sesshomaru alone is allowed to pet me you pompous ass! And I am just as capable of lifting a few logs as any testosterone fueled ape with an ego!"

The men didn't understand her words, but they could hardly mistake her tone. Inuyasha also heard her yell and turned just in time to see one of them hit her. By the time he got there she'd gotten back to her feet and punched him back, hard. Two others joined in. He broke up the fight and one of their noses in the process.

Melissa glared at the men while Inuyasha exchanged a few choice words with them. She wasn't sure what he said as he took her elbow, but he said something about Keade. Then he turned to some children playing nearby and said something about Kagome and led her to Keade who was in one of the fields with a few farmers and Rin.

Spotting Melissa Keade said something to Rin who nodded and sprinted off toward Keade's house just as Kagome arrived. Melissa told Kagome what had happened and she'd just finished translating when Rin returned with a damp cloth full of herbs. Keade squeezed it to release the juices of the herbs and pressed it against Melissa's face as Kagome explained why Melissa worried about working in the rice paddy.

In the end it was decided that she would work with Keade and Rin. Rin would no doubt help her learn the language. She could learn about being a miko through watching Keade when Kagome wasn't there to translate. Three days later the rain finally came.