Author's Notes: I don't own anyone from Lord of the Rings. If I did Frodo wouldn't have gone on to the Grey Havens. Legolas would be teaching me how to use a bow and arrow. Aragorn and Arwen would have been married long before the Ring was found. I don't own any of the Inu-Yasha characters. If I did, Sesshomaru would be joining Legolas in teaching me how to use a sword. Enjoy.
Recently I got copies of the show and saw that the spelling of Sesshomaru is indeed spelled wrong. Forgive me but I was going by what I saw in the magnas. I did correct the spelling in all the chapters.
Chapter 1
The Baggins Party
Tori looked around the small room that Frodo's uncle had given her. She knew that Rin and Shippo were in rooms across the hall. Bilbo Baggins had been very kind to allow them to stay here with him and Frodo even though they knew nothing about the group. Kirara was curled upon her bed when Tori decided that it was time to speak with their host. She left the room as a loud knocking sounded on the door. She heard Bilbo's gasp as she moved toward the kitchen.
"Sackville-Bagginses. They've never forgiven me for living this long." Bilbo sank into one of the chairs near the kitchen fireplace.
"I know the feeling." Tori ducked her head as she stepped into the kitchen. "You know they're still out there."
"They'll never take the hint, Bilbo." Gandalf lifted the lid to the teapot on the table.
"I think I can handle that." Tori waggled her eyebrows as she hurried back to the door.
Bilbo watched as Tori disappeared around the wall near the front door. "What do you think she'll do?"
"We'll have to see." Gandalf had risen and moved toward the door with Bilbo right behind him.
Tori had pulled the door open and stared down at the two Hobbits standing on the front step. "Can I help you?"
"We want to see Bilbo." The female Hobbit glared up at Tori.
"Oh really?" Tori watched them nod for a moment. "If you don't leave him alone, I'll take my sword and chop you up into pieces so small that Kirara won't even be able to find them." She leaned down close to the two Hobbits. "And that is a promise." She watched as the offending Hobbits hurried away from the house. She closed the door with a snap of her wrist and turned around to face her audience. "And that is how you take care of annoyances." Tori moved past Gandalf as Bilbo grabbed her hand.
"I thank you, dear lady." Bilbo kissed the back of her hand. "I've been trying for years to keep them away from myself."
"It's nothing. I do the same thing to Sesshomaru's vassal, Jaken, whenever he bothers me or Rin." Tori whirled around when she heard the front door open slightly.
Gandalf and Bilbo noticed that her sword had been drawn as she spun around. Frodo came through the door and held up his hands.
"It's only me." Frodo slowly made his way to the kitchen.
"Sorry. Force of habit." Tori slid her sword back into her sheath. "You never know when Naraku will attack."
"I understand." Gandalf picked up his cup of tea as Tori sat in a chair and Frodo went to find Shippo and Rin. "Where did you get the sword?"
"Sesshomaru had it commissioned for me. He took one of his fangs and had Toto-Sai forge it." Tori spun her cup slightly. She had gotten used to the handle-less teacups of Japan.
"His fang?" Bilbo placed a plate with slices of cake onto the table.
"He's an inu-akuma, a dog demon. Inu-Yasha is his half-brother." Tori pushed the cup away from her as a sadness crept over her features. She fingered the hilt of the sword. "The sapphire is a symbol of our region. He put the garnet in it to symbolize our love."
"You miss him." It wasn't a question. Gandalf could see the sorrow in the lady's crystal blue eyes.
Tori nodded slightly as she swiped at the tears forming in her eyes. "This is the first time we've been separated since we mated."
"You will find him." Gandalf's gaze drifted to behind her. He watched as Shippo and Rin tried to sneak up on Tori.
"Don't even think about it, you two." Tori never turned around but she knew that the two children had frozen in their tracks.
Gandalf watched the children come into the kitchen slowly and take seats at the table. "How did you know they were there?"
"I used to be a cop and Sesshomaru has taught me a few things." Tori glanced at the children. "Those two are always trying to get the drop on me."
Shippo looked up from the cake Bilbo had placed before him. "Do you blame us? We've got to keep up the training that the Jedi gave us."
Tori just shook her head slightly. "So what is going on around here tonight?"
Bilbo nearly spilled his tea. "Today's my birthday. I'd forgotten that I wanted to invite you and your friends."
Tori looked over at the anxious children before looking down at the meowing Kirara. Cheers accompanied her grin. "We'd be honored, Bilbo." She rose to her feet and gave him a deep bow.
"I will show you where the party is going to be." Frodo climbed to his feet as Rin hurried over to grab his hand. "Come on, Shippo."
"I'm coming." Shippo grabbed Rin's other hand and walked with Frodo out the front door.
Tori sighed softly as she followed after Rin and Shippo. "Stay here with Bilbo and Gandalf, Kirara. You know, just in case you're needed." She was rewarded by a small meow.
She had learned a lot in the small amount of time that she had been in Middle Earth. Frodo was in his thirties and therefore not a child even though he looked like one. All the Hobbits barely reached four foot in height, which was why she had mistaken him for a child. Tori's crystal blue eyes wandered around Hobbiton and took in everything. She saw the Sackville-Bagginses but they ran the other way, which made Tori smile slightly. She knew that Bilbo would be happy that his relatives wouldn't be bothering him all the time. A few minutes down the road stood a tree. Frodo looked back at Tori, who had stopped and stared at the tree. Shippo glanced between the tree and Tori before dropping Rin's hand. He hurried over the soon to be crying woman.
"What's wrong, Lady Tori?" Shippo hopped up onto her shoulder as Frodo and Rin hurried back to them.
"I was just thinking about the day that Sesshomaru and I got married in Inu-Yasha's Forest." Tori fished around her pocket for her ever-present handkerchief.
Shippo hugged Tori's neck while Rin wrapped her arms around her legs. "We're here with you and we'll find everyone else soon."
Tori gave Shippo a watery grin. "I hope you're right, Shippo." She gave Frodo a bright smile as she nodded toward the tree. "Is that where the party's going to be tonight?"
"Yes. It's called the Party Tree. We have had a party every year since Uncle Bilbo came back from his adventures." Frodo took Tori's hand in his and led her toward the tree.
"How many people will be here tonight?" Tori looked around at all the tables set and ready for that evening.
"Half the Shire's been invited." Frodo looked around at the mingling Hobbits. "Come on. I want you to meet one of my friends."
Tori followed Frodo and saw a young Hobbit that had blonde hair. He was digging in the dirt outside one of the round doors that were used for the Hobbit Homes. He waved to Frodo and watched as the strangers with him came closer. He dusted his hands on the legs of his pants and rose to his full height.
"Morning, Mr. Frodo." The Hobbit watched as Shippo jumped from his perch on Tori's shoulder.
"Morning, Sam. I want you to meet my houseguests. This is Lady Tori." Frodo pulled Tori forward slightly. "Her nephew, Shippo, and her daughter Rin." Frodo looked up at Tori. "Lady Tori, Shippo, Rin, this is my uncle's gardener and my best friend, Samwise Gamgee. We call him Sam for short."
Tori held out her hand and Sam grasped it firmly. "A pleasure to meet you, Samwise."
"The pleasure is all mine, my lady." Sam bowed slightly.
Tori laughed, making all the Hobbits passing nearby look at her. "Please don't call me 'my lady'. I get enough of that from the worthless toad, Jaken. Though when you say it, it feels much nicer."
Sam blushed slightly as Rin tugged on his arm. "Yes, little one?"
"Can I pick some of your pretty flowers?" Rin's eyes started to resemble a puppy dog's eyes.
Sam knelt so that he could look into Rin's eyes and smiled. "Of course you can. Come on. I'll show you where I've planted the prettiest ones to make a little girl happy."
Rin squealed before looking back at Tori, who just smiled and nodded. Rin gripped Sam's hand and he led her around the small hill that was his home.
Tori looked down at Shippo. "Go on, Shippo. Help Rin pick some flowers." Shippo bounced out of sight leaving Tori standing with Frodo. "Perhaps I'd better go back to the house and help out a bit. After all we are going to be here for a while."
"I'll take you back." Frodo walked beside the woman and wondered what they were going to do about their missing friends.
Tori thought about the same thing. How far apart were we dropped? Has Sesshomaru tried to kill anyone yet? Tori was jerked back to reality by two younger Hobbits talking to Frodo.
"Where are the others? I thought you said that there were four strangers." The younger of the two kept looking behind Tori and Frodo.
Tori rolled her eyes as she pulled out her sword and popped the Hobbit's head with the hilt of it. "I'm standing right here, young man."
The Hobbit looked up at Tori. "Sorry."
The other Hobbit smiled slightly, trying to get Tori to put her sword away. "Forgive Pippin, Miss. He didn't mean anything by it."
"Yeah right." Tori slid her sword back into its sheath. "I've heard that excuse before."
Pippin looked down at the ground as his companion slapped him across the back of his head. "What was that for, Merry?"
"You insulted the lady." Merry glared at his cousin. "I'm Meriadoc Brandybuck and this is Peregrin Took. We're cousins of dear Frodo here."
"I'm Lady Tori of the Western Lands." Tori's eyes narrowed slightly. "If you dare call me my lady, I'll pound you into dust."
Merry smiled as Pippin started to ask why. Merry took the hint and stepped on Pippin's foot. "Sorry again."
"That's okay. I'm used to it." Tori ignored Pippin, who was still in extreme pain from being hit on the head. TWICE! "I'm going to head back to Bag End, Frodo."
"See you at the party tonight." Frodo waved as Tori disappeared around the bend of the road. He turned back to Merry and Pippin. "What brings you this way hours before the party?"
"Just wanting to check on the newcomers." Merry shrugged slightly. "Lady Tori is very pretty."
"And very taken. She is married to a very powerful being." Frodo rolled his eyes slightly.
Merry shook his head as Shippo, Rin, and Sam came around the house. "Hello there."
Frodo pushed Merry away from the children, knowing by instinct that Tori would kill anyone that hurt them. Since he had heard her story, he knew that she was very protective of the children, especially Rin. Rin and Shippo giggled at the wrestling Hobbits, which only encouraged them all the more. Sam shook his head as he took the children's hands and led them back to Bag End.
"Those three are always doing that." Sam watched Rin and Shippo smile at everyone Hobbit they passed. "You two are certainly well mannered."
"That comes from traveling with me and Kagome." None of them had realized that they had about overtaken Tori since she was moving at a leisurely pace. "If they only traveled with Inu-Yasha and Sesshomaru they would rude or cruel."
"Otokooya isn't cruel." Rin looked up at her mother.
Tori smiled down at her daughter. "Not since we mated." She laughed as Rin blushed slightly. "Come on. Let's go help Bilbo."
"I got him some flowers for his birthday." Rin held up a small bouquet of various flowers.
"I'm sure he'll love them." Tori ruffled Rin's hair as Bag End came into view. "Let's go show Bilbo the flowers you picked."
Rin ran to the circular door and pushed it open. Tori heard Sam moving away from her and Shippo but Shippo scampered over to him. "I'm going to go and help Sam."
Tori nodded as she turned back to the door and disappeared into the depths of the house. Bilbo assured her that there wasn't anything for her and Rin to do so she took Rin and gave her a bath and dressed her in one of the kimonos in her pack. Tori bathed after she had Rin ready for the party. She pulled out the kimono that was designed just for her by a team of weavers that Sesshomaru had hired. It was a pale blue kimono, just a shade or so deeper than her eyes. There were dark blue crescent moons scattered across the right side of the kimono while pure white full moons decorated the left side. She dressed quickly and tied the white obi around her waist. Usually she had Kagome or Sango to do it but they had shown her the way to do it herself. Tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of her friends and family. I hope the two of you are safe wherever you are. Tori left her hair loose around her shoulders. It had grown in the last month of traveling and now hung closer to the middle of her back. She left her makeup off so that she didn't scare any of the Hobbits. A knock sounded on her door just as she tied her sword at her waist.
"Just a moment." Tori dug through her pack for a moment before pulling out a jade comb with several sapphires embedded in the edge. She pulled her hair back and moved to the door. She opened it to reveal Gandalf.
"You look lovely, Lady Tori." Gandalf held out a hand. "Bilbo and I are heading down to the party now. May we escort you?"
"I would be honored." She laid her hand on Gandalf's arm and allowed him to lead her outside. She smelled the slight scent of tobacco smoke. It reminded her of her father and his pipe. "Were the two of you out here smoking?"
"Why yes." Bilbo tapped his pipe free of any ashes. "Old Toby, the best pipe weed of the South Farthing."
Tori smiled as she shook her head slightly. "Let's go to your party." She looked around for a moment. "Where's Rin?"
"Frodo came and took her to the party already." Gandalf patted her arm reassuringly.
The party was in full swing by the time they arrived. Tori laughed as several Hobbit children grabbed her free hand and dragged her toward the dancing area. She saw Shippo and Rin running with several of the hobbit children. Gandalf joined the Hobbits on the dance floor and Tori laughed as the kids took her hands and tried to dance with her.
Gandalf laughed at the sight of Tori dancing with such tiny children. He bowed to Tori. "May I have this dance, my lady?"
"Certainly, sir." Tori laughed as Gandalf spun her around the dance floor.
The Hobbits moved to the edges and watched as the wizard and Lady dance together. The cheered as Gandalf spun to a stop with the music. Tori was panting slightly as she fanned herself with her hands.
"You dance divinely, Lady Tori." Gandalf bowed to Tori, making her blush slightly.
Rin hurried over to Tori and Gandalf. "Reidou, you forgot this at the house." She held up Tori's CD player and the plug in speakers that Tori always carried.
"Thank you, Rin. Did you remember the CDs?" Tori took the machine from Rin and proceed to set it up on one of the many tables.
Shippo bounced over to them. "I've got them." He handed her a small box of shiny discs.
"Now I'm really going to show you how to dance." Tori shuffled the discs slightly before finding one with traditional Japanese music. She slid it into the CD player before reaching into the right sleeve of her kimono. "This is a dance that my mate taught me."
She snapped open her fan as Rin pressed the play button on the CD player. Slowly, Tori began to move in one of the Katas that Sesshomaru insisted that she learn. Usually she did this with her sword but she didn't want to scare the children. As she did each move the Hobbits were amazed at her grace and balance. Gandalf watched her and knew that this would have been more dangerous if she had held her sword instead of a fan. This woman is a power onto herself. She will be of great help if we need her. I wonder if the children also know this dance. Tori's shout made several of the Hobbits jump but they realized that this was part of the dance. One last turn and she was finished. Slowly she bowed to the crowd. The Hobbits realized that she was finished about brought the Party Tree down with all their cheers. Shippo and Rin were hopping in place as Tori moved over to the CD player and turned it off. Rin was reaching into the box of CDs and pulled out one of Tori's favorites. It had an old picture of Toby Keith on it. Tori knew that it was his very first album.
"Can we put this one in, reidou?" Rin smiled up at her mother.
Tori nodded. "We'll only play the first song." The first strains of Should have been a Cowboy filled the air. Tori's voice blended with Toby's beautifully. "Bet you never heard ol' Marshall Dillon say, Miss Kitty, have you ever thought of running away." She looked up as the Hobbits cheered for her voice. "Sorry about that. It's a habit I have."
"You have a lovely voice, my lady." One of the young female Hobbits stepped forward. "If you're going to be here for a while, perhaps you would like to work at the Green Dragon with my daughter Rosie. I believe the two of you would get along just fine."
"But Rin and Shippo…" Tori watched as another woman stepped forward.
"I can watch your little ones. I have plenty of my own so they'll fit right in." Tori recognized Mrs. Bracegirdle that Bilbo had spoken to only an hour earlier.
"Thank you, Mrs. Bracegirdle. I'd be grateful for any help you can offer." Tori bowed out of respect for this woman.
Some of the Hobbit children grabbed Gandalf's hands, breaking the silent happiness that had come over Tori. "Come do more fireworks, Gandalf!"
Tori laughed as Gandalf made his way to his wagon and lit one his many fireworks. After a few moments the firework went off to reveal a cloud of butterflies. Tori made her way over to Frodo and Sam. Frodo looked exhausted and Sam was embarrassed. She sank onto the bench next to Frodo.
"What's wrong, guys?" Tori took a sip of the distilled water that she had told Bilbo she preferred for herself and the children.
"Sam won't go and ask Rosie to dance." Frodo laughed as the blush on Sam's cheeks deepened.
"Then, we're going to have to remedy that." Tori climbed to her feet and grabbed Sam's right arm. "Get his other arm, Frodo."
Frodo laughed as he grabbed a hold of Sam's left arm. Together he and Tori shoved Sam into Rosie's arms. Rosie laughed as she grabbed Sam and began to dance with him. Frodo smiled knowingly at Tori. She was great fun but could be very serious if she needed to be.
"That was great." Frodo watched Tori sit back on the bench. "I'm going to find Uncle Bilbo."
Tori nodded as she began to eat from the plate that had been set before her. She looked around the party until she spotted Rin. Several children were seated around her and she was telling them of some of their travels. She looked around the crowds but couldn't find Shippo. She shook her head as she hurried over to Gandalf who was setting up some more fireworks.
"Gandalf, have you seen Shippo?" Tori was starting to get worried. It wasn't like Shippo to run off without telling anyone.
Gandalf looked around the party. "Not recently. You go look around the Party Tree. I'll check all the tents."
Neither of them noticed the movements behind Gandalf's wagon. Merry and Pippin had filched one of the largest fireworks and took into one of the tents. Shippo had followed them.
"You've got to stick it in the ground." Merry shoved the unlit firework at Pippin.
Pippin pushed it back at Merry. "It is in the ground."
Shippo shook his head as he jumped onto the top of the firework, effectively shoving it deeper into the hard earth. "I'm going to light it, guys." Shippo hopped off the firework and carefully took aim. "Fox Fire!"
A blue flame engulfed the small fuse for the firework. None of them knew what happened next. Tori was walking near the Party Tree when the huge firework exploded in the sky and turned into a dragon. She saw Rin starting to gather the Hobbit children and rushed over to them.
"Dragon, Uncle Bilbo!" Frodo tried to hurry his uncle along.
"Nonsense! There hasn't been a dragon in these parts in nearly a hundred years." Bilbo tripped over a root and Frodo landed on top of his uncle.
Tori picked up the pace to get to the children. "Rin! Get them down!" Tori pulled her sword from its sheath as she moved through the Hobbits.
Rin shoved the children to the ground and covered them with her body as Tori slid to a stop less than a foot from the group. She spun around ready to attack the dragon as it flew low over the Hobbits. The dragon flew past her and the children and exploded into a gorgeous display over the lake.
"Reidou, what was that?" Rin scrambled to her feet. Her kimono was smudged with dirt from where she had tried to get the children down.
Tori sheathed her sword as Rin helped the children to their feet. "I'm not sure. I think it was a firework. I'm going to find Gandalf." Tori lifted the hem of her kimono and rushed back to where she had last seen Gandalf.
"Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took. I should have known that it was you." He turned to stare at the small kitsune trying to hide under a singed piece of canvas. "And you, Shippo. I would have thought you would know better."
Tori slid to a stop. "Shippo was in on it." She glared down at the kitsune. "What am I to tell Kagome when we find her? I know she taught you better than that. You guys could've seriously hurt someone." She never noticed Gandalf taking several steps back. "I ought to take each one of you over my knee and tan your hides."
Gandalf laid a hand on her shoulder. "I have a better punishment."
"And what would that be?" Tori's eyes were still narrowed at the three troublemakers.
Gandalf just smiled and motioned for them to follow him. Tori grabbed Merry and Shippo while Gandalf had a hold of Pippin. They led them over to the tent that held several tubs of water and three Hobbit women scrubbing the pots that the food had been cooked in.
"The two of you will wash all the dishes." Gandalf waved the women away as Merry and Pippin were pushed toward the tubs of water.
Tori put Shippo back on the ground. "And you will go and get the dirty dishes for them."
Gandalf sat on a stool to oversee their work. Tori leaned against one of the tent posts as Bilbo scrambled onto the stage. Frodo was standing halfway between the stage and the washing tent.
"My dear Baggines and Boffins! Tooks and Brandybucks! Grubbs! Chubbs! Bracegirdles! And Proudfoots!" As Bilbo spoke each group tried to cheer louder than the one before.
"Proudfeet!" An old Hobbit shook a fist at Bilbo.
Bilbo simply waved him away. "And I must not forget my dear friend Gandalf as well as my company, Lady Tori, Shippo and Rin. Unfortunately Kirara …" He looked down at Kirara pawing his leg. "And Kirara!" He held her up before letting her down to run over to Tori. "Today is my 111th birthday!" Bilbo smiled at everyone yelling 'Happy Birthday'. "Alas, 111 years is hardly enough time to live among such excellent and admirable Hobbits. I don't know half of you as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you as well as you deserve."
Tori straightened slightly as she watched Bilbo reach into his pocket. She leaned closer to Gandalf. "Something's up."
Bilbo put his hands behind him as he played with his ring. "I…I have things to do. I regret to announce that this is the end. I bed you all a fond farewell. Goodbye." Suddenly he disappeared.
Tori surged forward while reaching for her sword. "What the hell happened?" She turned around to find Gandalf. "Gandalf?"
"Reidou? Where did Bilbo-sama go?' Rin looked up at her mother.
"I don't know, Rin, but I plan on finding out." Tori tried to push her way through the Hobbits.
Most of the Hobbits were starting to yell at Tori and Frodo, as if they knew what had happened. Frodo grabbed Tori's hand and started to try and lead her back to Bag End.
"Uncle Bilbo often said that he wanted to go see the elves again." Frodo tried to sneak past the Sackville-Bagginses but they had him cornered.
Tori growled as she looked around the crowds. Something's going on but what? Why do I have the feeling that I've gotten into the middle of another war. I wish Sesshomaru was here. He'd know what to do.