-Lucy-

I hang onto A-Un's reins so tightly, my knuckles turn white. After an hour of walking Sesshōmaru had told me to ride her. I was tired and hadn't complained, but now I regret it. A-Un's bulky body made it impossible to be comfortable and her weight caused her to sway unsteadily from side to side, and I was convinced I was going to fall off at any given moment. I would be much more comfortable if I were flying with Happy. Jaken walked with quick little steps behind Sesshōmaru and Rin sat happily behind me, her hands curled into fists, grasping my shirt.

"Girl."

"What?"

Jaken jumps up in front of me, face contorted with fury. "How dare you speak to him that way? You insolent little girl! Lord Sesshōmaru is your superior, learn some respect!"

I hiss at him and push him off A-Un. Rin giggles as A-Un makes no effort to step over him, instead stepping on him.

"Is that one of your keys?" Sesshōmaru asks coolly.

"What? Where?" In my excitement, I fall sideways and end up hanging out of A-Un's saddle upside-down. Rin laughs and falls off, knocking both of us to the ground. I set her on her feet and rush to Sesshōmaru's side. I look down and groan. Of course it's in a tree on the side of a cliff that's about a bajillion feet up and a gushing river at the bottom of the chasm. Fucking cliches.

"How did you see it all the way down there?"

Jaken smacks the back of my head with his staff. "Don't question the ways of Lord Sesshōmaru!"

"Shut up you stupid Imp." I kick him and he flies a few feet away.

Rin wanders over and leans over the edge.

"Ooh! I see it!" She leans over more.

"Be careful Rin." Sesshōmaru picks her up by the back of her dress and moves her back a few feet.

"Are you going to get it?" Rin asks.

"Yeah." I take off my sandals and turn to her. I take her hand and put Virgo's key in her hand and curl her fingers over it. "Take care of this for me will you?"

She nods and I climb over the ledge. My feet find holds and I look up to see Sesshōmaru watching me with tense eyes. And something else, worry? I almost laugh. As if. I use my foot to feel for another foot hold and go further down. What I wasn't expecting, was for the rock to crumble and collapse completely. I fall, and a scream forces its way out of my mouth, but before I could fall properly, a large hand grabs my wrist and hoists me back up with such force that I thud into a chest. Sesshōmaru's to be exact.

"Lucy! Are you okay?" Rin hurries over patting my waist to get my attention. "You're bleeding! Oh no! Jaken do something! She's going to die! Jaken!"

"Relax Rin." Sesshōmaru's voice had somewhat of a calming effect on Rin and she stops gibbering and looks at him, eyes wide.

"That was irresponsible."

I poke my tongue out at him and he catches it between two fingers.

"And that is childish."

I stomp on his foot and he releases my tongue and steps forward, disappearing over the side of the cliff.

"Hey!" I get down on all fours, in a panic. I jerk back as he reappears, holding not one, but two of my keys. He drops them beside me. And turns on his heel.

"Jaken, Rin we're leaving. Girl, collect A-Un."

I turn the keys over in my hand, Taurus and Plue. 3 down 29 to go.

"Girl."

I look up and see Sesshōmaru waiting for me. I jump up and dust myself off, slipping Plue and Taurus in my key pouch. I gather A-Un's reins and hike one leg up and over her back, settling back into the saddle. I flick the reins and follow behind Sesshōmaru leading me off to who knows where.

-Inuyasha-

"LUCY! WHERE ARE YOU?"

I clamp my hands over my ears. That fire-daemon is loud. I watch him run ahead, looking behind trees, shoving his face into burrows, all the while his nose sniffing.

"You've got to admire his persistence." Shippo says.

Kagome is silent, I look over at her. She's not falling for him is she? She's watching him with a mixture of curiosity and something else.

"Hey Kagome."

She looks over. "Yes, Inuyasha?"

"He can't stay."

"We can help him find his friend though."

"I don't want to."

"If you couldn't find me, you'd want help right?"

I scoff. "I wouldn't be stupid enough to lose you in the first place."

She looks ahead thoughtfully. "I don't know about that, but it's obvious he's desperate to find her."

"What do you mean 'I don't know about that?'"

"Well, you have lost her before."

"Shut up Shippo!" I whack him on the head.

"Wah! Kagome! Inuyasha's picking on me!"

"Inuyasha!"

"What?"

"I FOUND IT!" We all look up to see the fire-daemon racing towards us. "These are her keys."

"What are keys?"

"Things you use to unlock doors." Kagome says.

"No, these are her magic. She summons daemons."

"Oh I get it!" Shippo calls. "She's a witch who summons daemons!"

"Uh, I guess." Says the fire-daemon. He scratches the back of his head. "But she's really nice and pretty."

"Like all witches." I say.

"No, she's beautiful."

"Like all witches."

"Witches are ugly."
"Not here, they're not." Kagome tells him. "This is good though, your Lucy friend can't be too far away if her keys are here, right?"

"I hope not."

"Hey Inuyasha."

"What is it Shippo?"

"It's the new moon tonight. And it's almost dark."

I look up and see he's right, the sun is setting and we were out in the open. I glance at Kagome, she's worry about me more than herself. I had to put her first.

"Let's set up camp for the night then."