The Highwayman

Disclaimer: Alfred Noyes owns the poem. He DID write it, I just that gives him rights, doesn't it? And Loreena McKennitt owns the song, which I am currently listening to. And *sigh* whoever owns Inuyasha owns Inuyasha. And it sure ain't me. Do I own anything??? Well, I guess I own my Canadian Bacon of Holiness...

I tried this once about to year ago, making the poem into a story, that is, and failed miserably. But I have better ideas this time, so I hope it is more successful.

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The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,

The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,

The road was a ribbon of moonlight, over the purple moor,

And the highwayman came riding-

Riding-riding-

The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,

A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doeskin;

They fitted with never a wrinkle, his boots were up to the thigh!

And he rode with a jeweled twinkle,

His pistol butts a-twinkle,

His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jeweled sky.

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A flash of crimson and white flitted through the moonlit forest as the half demon sprinted silently through the dark woods, intent on his destination. He wanted to reach Kagome before he left to look for another shard of the Shirkon jewel. She had wanted to know when he was going to be back. Apparently, she had some surprise for him. He grinned briefly. Although he would never let on, he liked her surprises.

He shook his head, letting the long white locks fall freely in the rushing wind. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he would be back.

As he ran, the only sound of the night was the rattle of the battered old sword in its sheath and the quiet jingle of his necklace. Amber eyes glinted with fierce joy in a pool of starlight, and then he was gone through the woods.

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Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,

And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;

He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there

But the landlord's black eyed daughter,

Bess, the landlord's daughter,

Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

And in the dark old inn yard a stable-wicket creaked

Where Tim the 'ostler listened; his face was white and peaked.

His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like moldy hair,

But he loved the landlord's daughter,

The landlord's red-lipped daughter.

Dumb as a dog he listened, he heard the robber say-

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Finally Inuyasha reached the village. He made his way quietly to Kagome's house, careful not to disturb anyone.

Especially not Shippo. The last thing he needed right now was some annoying little fox cub underfoot.

He knocked gently on the window frame and waited. There was no answer.

"Kagome!" he hissed, "Are you awake?"

Her pale face appeared at the window. She smiled kindly at him and leaned on her elbows out the window. It was then that he noticed the red ribbons she had tied into her hair. They fluttered in the breeze like miniature flags; a stream of blood mixed in with the midnight of her hair.

He pointed up at her hair and the ribbons plaited into it. "What's that for?"

"For you, I guess." She shrugged, still smiling, "As a sign of my gratitude."

He cocked his head, not understanding, but she waved a hand. "Nevermind. So when will you be back?"

The two of them were unaware of a dark presence lurking in the bushes not five feet away. Its burning eyes seemed angry pits into the Abyss as they stared at the figures. Long bony fingers clenched and unclenched at the sight of a demon so close by, but it waited patiently. It would need the rest of its troop to bring down this one.

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"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,

But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;

Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,

Then look for me by the moonlight, Watch for me by the moonlight,

I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though Hell should bar the way."

He rose upright in his stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,

But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand

As the black cascade of her perfume came tumbling over his breast;

And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,

(Oh sweet waves in the moonlight!)

And he tugged at his reign in the moonlight, and galloped away to the West.

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"It should only take the day to kill whatever creature thinks it can keep the shard, so I'll be back by tomorrow morning."

Kagome nodded, then frowned. "But, Inuyasha, what about the Rifles?"

He sneered with contempt, "What, those idiots? They can try to kill me, but you know they'll never succeed. They're so lame, I doubt they could kill a dead cat."

Kagome wasn't convinced, "I don't know, you might speak of them that way, but they HAVE killed a few other demons. Fairly powerful ones, I might add." He shrugged, "Well, if they give me any trouble, then I'll see you tomorrow night. No matter what they think they can do, I'll be back by at least tomorrow night. Watch for me."

"Ok Inuyasha," she smiled, "Hurry back!"

Grinning mischievously, he reached up with a quick hand and tugged loose a ribbon. Clutching it, he rushed into the dark forest, laughing at her cry of anger.

"Inuyasha!" she wailed, "Give me that back!"

He winked over his shoulder, "You might get it tomorrow–if you're lucky!"

As she watched his form disappearing to the west, she shook her head and drew back into the house. A small smile flitted over her features when she was safely back in the shadows. "Sure, Inuyasha."

Ok, I shall add more to this sooner or later. Sooner than later depending on how many reviews I get. Please review!