Chapter Two

"Get your lazy asses up and lower the sails! Hurry it up! We ain't got all day, we need to get as far away from port as quick as we can! The Navy'll be on their way by now! And hoist that fuckin mainsail ya dumb asses!"

"Uh, captain, might I inquire as to where we are to go from here?" Without looking at his first mate he replied,

"Anywhere but here." He steered the ship out of the port. It had been a good day's plunder and the captain was about to retire to his quarters when. . .

"Man overboard! Captain! Come quick!" He ran with his heightened speed to the side of the vessel where he peered over the rail into the crystal waters below. A raven mop of hair was floating in the water. He sighed heavily.

"I'm tellin ya right now, if it's Miroku claiming he saw another mermaid I'm NOT goin in after him. Last time was the last time."

"Well it's nice to see that you care about your best friend and first mate so very much." Said Miroku causing him to turn.

"Wha? If you're here. . . Then who the hell is that?"

"It's a woman, captain!" A wide smirk appeared on the captain's face.

"A woman you say? Well, haven't had one of those for a while." When the fact was that most of the men had brought whores from the village back with them. (Some against their will)

"You gonna go get her?" Asked Miroku.

"Hell yeah." He dived in and swam over to the young woman who was thrashing around in the water.

"Help! Help me!"

"Hey!"

"Somebody help!"

"Hey woman!"

"I can't swim!"

"Will you shut the hell up and listen?" He slapped her across her pale face.

"W- who are you? What do you want?"

"If you would stop thrashing around and listen I'm trying to save your life!"

"Are you a p-pirate?" Asked Kagome quietly.

"Yeah, I am. Does it really matter?" She fainted. Before she could sink below the surface the pirate slung her over his shoulder and proceeded to climb the rope his men had lowered for him. When he was on the deck he removed her from his shoulder and carried her bridal style to his cabin. Miroku followed him. He watched as the captain placed her on his bed before saying,

"Captain, can't you see?"

"See what?"

"She's obviously swallowed too much water! Let me breathe air into her-" The captain put his arm out in front of his first mate.

"You'll do no such thing."

"But captain! Surely if there is a chance to save her you won't let her die?"

"She's just fainted you moron! And if I let her go so what? What use is she to me? We got a cook and the crew does all the cleaning."

"My dear captain, I assure you, women are good for more than just cooking and cleaning. If you get my drift."

"You pervert." He said smiling all the same. They heard a small gasp and turned to where Kagome was laying. She'd heard their little conversation just now and it wasn't the most pleasant thing to wake up to.

"Where am I? What do want with me?"

"Miroku, leave us."

"But, captain, I-"

"I said LEAVE!" He ran out as quickly as his legs would carry him slamming the door behind him. He sat on the bed next to the girl who flinched and moved away.

"What do you want with me?"

"Not what you're probably thinking. I just saw you in the water and you looked like you needed saving. How did you get out there anyway?"

"I. . .I ran away from home."

"Why would you do a dumb thing like that? You look rich." Kagome turned away in contempt.

"Money isn't everything." She said bitterly.

"Tell that to someone who never had any." She turned to the pirate.

"What's your name?"

"Why do you wanna know?"

"Well, since you rescued me and are obviously gonna hold me captive I should like to know your name." He eyed her suspiciously before saying,

"Inuyasha."

"Well then, Inuyasha, I thank you for rescuing me. I owe you my life." And though it scared her to ask she added,

"How may I repay that debt?" He stood and walked to the door.

"Keep quiet, stay here, and don't get in my way. I'll drop you off the next time we reach land."

"And how long will that be? A few hours?"

"Not likely. More like a few weeks or even months. And we have to lose the navy before we can do much of anything. Now, I have a ship to captain. I recommend that you stay here. I can't be held responsible for what might happen should you come across one of my men." He left out closing the door behind him. Kagome sat and thought for a minute. This couldn't be Inuyasha. Not THE Inuyasha. The demon she'd heard so many horror stories about. The most evil, black hearted pirate ever to sail the seas. Who would slit a person's throat, man or woman, as soon as look at them. So why was he acting so soft and lenient towards her? She sat on the large four poster bed before she began to feel chilly. (after all her clothes WERE soaked.) She decided to go up on the deck to get some sun.

Up on the deck . . . . .

"Captain, don't you think you should do something about the woman's clothes?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Said Miroku.

"Her clothes were soaked. She'll catch her death of a cold."

"So?" Why should he care about some wench he pulled out of the water?

"She might die and you didn't even let me meet her."

"Hmph. Well, here's your chance."

"Hm?" Miroku turned and saw Kagome walking towards them.

"Whadda YOU want wench?" Said Inuyasha harshly as he steered the ship. Kagome looked flustered at being addressed in such a manner.

"Now, now, Inuyasha, that's no way to speak to a lady." He bowed slightly to her and said,

"My name is Miroku. I'm the first mate of this vessel and would like to welcome you aboard the 'Cursed Jewel'. Fastest ship to ever sail the seas."

"Pleasure to meet you, Miroku. My name is Kagome."

"May I inquire something of you, Kagome?"

"Name it." He took both her hands in his.

"Would you do me the honor of bearing my children?"

"Excuse me?"

"Oh! Are you still a virgin? Well then, there is much to show you- ow!" Miroku fell to the deck having been knocked out cold by Inuyasha who then called for someone to take him away.

"You'll have to excuse me my friend. He just a no good lecher. So, why aren't you below the deck? I thought I told you to stay there."

"Well, I just thought that if I stood out in the sun for a while I might dry off quicker. But I guess not." She looked up at the sky. At the moment the sun was behind a thick cloud which cast the entire boat in a light shadow. An awkward silence passed between the two before Inuyasha said,

"Hey, wench. . .."

"What?"

"You cold?" She could hear a small hint of laughter in his voice and saw the way he was struggling to keep a straight face. She looked around as if she would find some form of answer. All she saw was the crew. Some were staring at her, others were snickering to themselves as they went about their daily duties. She looked back to Inuyasha who had a wide smirk on his face. He was looking down at her, but not at her face. She followed his gaze to her own chest where she found that her nipples had hardened. No doubt from wearing a wet dress and standing out in the wind. It really didn't help that it was a thin dress to begin with.

She gasped and covered her chest with her arms and ran back to Inuyasha's cabin. As she ran she was followed by a torrent of laughter. Inuyasha's being the loudest. She sat on the bed and muttered something about,

"Damn filthy, perverted, no good, idiot pirates!"

"You talkin about me?" Came a voice from the door. Kagome looked up and said,

"Go away, you vulgar pirate!"

"Hey, don't blame me! You're the one who pranced up on deck in a wet dress. I TOLD you to stay here."

She looked away and they said nothing for a time.

"Get undressed."

"What? No!" Kagome clutched her torso as if that would stop him. He merely rolled his eyes.

"Look, if I wanted THAT I'd just take it. I'm tryin ta get you outta those wet clothes."

"Find me some dry ones and I will." He left. Kagome began to get restless and decided to chance another walk around the ship. No sooner had she stepped outside the door was she being roughly pushed back in by Inuyasha.

"Hey! What's the big idea?" She shrieked.

"Stay in here! And for the love of Kami be quiet! I mean NOT-- A--PEEP! Got it?"

"Okay, but- but why?"

"We're under attack. I'm locking this door. Not that it'll do you much good." He muttered the last sentence so that Kagome couldn't hear.

"What? What did you say? Inuyasha! You unlock this door and let me out right now!"

"No!"

"I wanna fight! I feel so useless locked in here!"

"You ARE useless! That's the reason you're locked in there!"

"Let me out!" She banged her fists on the locked door. Inuyasha slammed his own on the door before saying,

"Quiet down in there, wench!" Kagome turned and went over to the small porthole where she peered out. Sure enough there was another ship alongside the one she was currently imprisoned on. Above her the ceiling creaked and groaned with the weight of the new comers boarding the ship. It was soon followed by shouting and the sounds of battle. Soon she heard the intruders making their way below the deck. She heard the sounds of screams and the other crew rummaging through the rooms.

"Hey! This one's locked. Guess there's nothin' in there."

Kagome held in a gasp as she listened to the men outside the door. Their shadows were thrown across the floor through a crack under the door. After a moment of silence the same man said,

"Wait, if the door's locked there must be something important in here." Kagome backed into a corner as quietly as she could.

"Wait a minute. . ."

"What's wrong, sir?"

"I smell. . . A female."

"Well, we did find a few whores down here-"

"No, you fool! A PURE female."

Kagome instantly knew they were speaking of her. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Damn demons and their sense of smell!

"What are you gonna do?"

"I'm takin her with me!"

"But what about Inuyasha, sir?"

"You're right. I'll deal with him now. You bring the girl. And make sure no harm comes to her."

"Aye." The man left kicked in the thick door with incredible ease. He was definitely a demon. Kagome went as far back into the corner as she could though it didn't do much to distance her from the advancing demon. As he got closer she noticed that he had short gray hair with a navy blue tuft on top. He approached slowly most likely not to startle Kagome.

"S-stay back, demon! What do want?"

"Easy now. . . Boss says to bring you with us. As long as you come quietly I won't have to harm you." He said softly. The strange demon held a clawed hand out to Kagome.

"Now, you can come peacefully and walk out of here or do I have to knock you out?"

"Why do you even care?"

"I don't."

"Well I'm NOT coming with you!" His temper flared as he jumped at the young girl. She just barely dodged him but in her bulky (and still wet) dress it didn't do her much good and she tripped on her own hem. The strange demon took her wrists and held them behind her as he straddled her back.

"Now then, what should I do with you?"

"Please don't." Kagome managed to say. She was nearly breathless from the weight of the demon on top of her. The demon stood bringing her up with him.

"Consider yourself lucky. The boss wants you pure." He tied her wrists with rope and gagged her mouth before flinging her over his shoulder and leaving the room.

"So, you've finally decided to show yourself, ya scrawny wolf."

"I had to grace you and your pitiful crew with my presence once again, mutt. You KNOW I'm the greater demon, half-breed. You should be bowing down before me." They drew their swords.

"The day I bow to you will be the day I die!" He charged at the opposing demon.

"That can be easily arranged!"

They fought for a time. Exchanging blows, their swords emitting sparks each time they clashed. Each matched the other for both speed and power until the intruding pirate heard his mate call,

"We got her, sir!" He turned to the Inu hanyou he was currently fighting.

"I don't have time for you right now, puppy. We'll finish this another day." With that he sprinted off and jumped onto his own ship just as it was pulling off.

"You runnin away again, ya scrawny wolf! Why not get your ass back over here and fight me like a man!"

"I'm not running! It's a tactical retreat!" He called from the deck.

"But I always come back don't I!" His ship sped off toward the sun which was sinking below the horizon.

"What now, Inuyasha?" Said Miroku.

"Let 'em go. Good riddance to him."

"Where are you going?"

"To get some sleep." He walked below and noticed how the other crew had rummaged through most of the rooms. He didn't really care though. Nor did he care that most of the whores were gone. When he came to his room however he started to care. He searched the room for the young girl he'd supposedly locked in and found no trace of her. He did however catch a whiff of the wolves scent and he knew exactly where she was. Inuyasha sprinted back up to the deck and to the wheel.

"Where to?" Asked his first mate.

"Follow that scrawny wolf! He took the girl!"

"Uh, captain, that's not gonna happen anytime soon." Said one of his crew mates.

"And why the hell not?"

"They slashed the sails and damaged the rudder. We won't be going anywhere for at least two or three days."

"Arrrg! Dammit!"

I know. Long. But if you guys can find the time could you review? Thanx. Remember, the quicker you review the quicker I update. I have five chapters written now, so if you wanna see em you'll review.