Disclaimer: I don't own Kenshin or Inuyasha.  This should be obvious.

Authors Note: This story takes place in an alternate universe, one where Kenshin and Inuyasha belong to the same time period.  Do not bother me about this.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I have replaced the original first three chapters and fixed a ton of spelling errors and added accents n' stuff like that. Exact same plot, but no more bloody annoying spelling mistakes.

Chapter 1: Shikon at Sea

"Kagome, I feel seasick…"

            "Here, Shippo, take some of this medicine.  It'll make you feel better."

            "Here's an idea for a game.  Let's guess how long this boat will float."

            "Inuyasha…osuwari." *wham*

            The situation was thus: Inuyasha, Kagome, and Shippo had borrowed a rundown old rowboat from this random crazy old guy on account of Kagome sensing a Shikon shard out at sea.  Miroku and Sango had declined to go with them, and had gone to wait at the village.  Kagome had repaired the boat somewhat and added a sail to it.  Now they were out on the open sea, but the shard was moving.

            "Kagome, how can the shard be moving around?"

            "Maybe it's a huge sea monster with big teeth that likes to eat little fox youkai!"

            "Yeep!  Kagome, Inuyasha is scaring me!" Shippo clung to Kagome's arm.

            "Inuyasha, if you don't quit it, I'll say the word again."

            "Feh, I didn't do anything."

            Kagome sighed, and looked around at the endless expanse of water surrounding them.  Wait, there was something there!  A ship on the horizon; it must be where the shard was!  "Inuyasha!  Get rowing, I see a ship!"

            Inuyasha grumbled about this, but rowed towards the ship anyway.  The closer they got, however, the less he liked the look of it.  But Kagome said that she definitely saw a shard on board, so he figured that whatever was on there could be beaten.  How wrong he was.

            As they pulled alongside the ship, Kagome yelled up to the crew, "Hey!  Permission to board?"

            After a short while there came an answer, "Permission granted!"

            The three climbed the rope ladder that was lowered down to them.  Once they were all at the top, they took a look at the crew surrounding them.  It was a motley bunch; most of them had scars and they didn't look too nice.  They were looking at Inuyasha's ears with some fear.

            "A youkai?"

            They huddled together a little ways away, talking in furtive voices.  Inuyasha could hear some of what they said, and it did not make him feel very safe on the ship.

            "If'n we 'ad a youkai…"

            "No use fer…"

            "We'd be th' stronges'…"

            "Kagome," Inuyasha whispered, "We should get out of here.  Now."

            "What about the Shikon shard?"

            "Damn, I forgot.  Still, I don't like them."

            "Don' like us?  Why wouldn't ye?" said the captain mockingly as he pinned Kagome's arms to her side and held a dagger to her throat.

            "KAGOME!" Inuyasha was about to kill the man, but he laughed and pressed the dagger harder.

            "Inu…ya…sha…"

            "LET HER GO!"

            "On'y if yew do wha' we say, youkai," the captain laughed again, "Get inside tha' room thar, 'r th' girl dies."

            Inuyasha snarled, but allowed himself to be locked inside an empty cabin.  One of the crew slapped a sealing scroll on the door, preventing him from escaping.  The captain pushed Kagome over to the mast and tied her to it securely.  Shippo was thrown into an empty packing crate (which was also sealed with a scroll). 

            "Arharr, I bet yer sorry yew e'er boarded th' ship o' these pirates!" said the captain.

***

            The ship had been sailing for hours, but near sunset the sails were furled but the anchor was not dropped.  Kagome leaned so that she could see over the sides of the ship and saw a fairly large island.  Then she found herself being dragged over to the side of the ship by two pirates.  Shippo was taken out of his crate and carried over as well.  Kagome looked back and saw Inuyasha's face peering out of a dingy window.  Then the captain spoke to her.

            "See tha' thur island?"

            "Yes."

            "Good," then he took Shippo and threw him over the side, "Let's 'ope yew an' yer friend c'n swim, girl."

            Kagome shrieked as the two pirates holding her lifted her up and threw her over the side as well.  Inuyasha banged on the window helplessly.

            "KAGOME!!!"