Miss Kagome…
MISS KAGOME!
Kagome jumped to her feet, inadvertently spraying water everywhere, including her.
Spitting out the filthy water that seems to have gotten into her mouth, Kagome desperately tried to get rid of the taste of bile water. Grimacing, she noticed something strange. The water that only yesterday was up to her ankles, was know up to her knees and slowly rising.
"GAH!" Kagome ran to the latched door and pounded furiously on it. "Let me out of here! The water's rising! I'm going to drown! Do you hear me?! Let me out!" She pounded on the splintered door until her hands were red, but no one came.
Frustrated, Kagome sunk to her knees by the door and stayed there with her head bowed until Rin came over. The small girl gently brushed some hair away from Kagome's face and tried to pull her up.
"Miss Kagome, please don't do this. The bilge water is rising and we must pump it. There's nothing wrong, it always happens, it's totally natural!" Rin tried her best to reassure the girl, but she only seemed to make it worse and Kagome slumped further to the ground.
Kagome snuck a glance to the other children. Shippo was helping other boys pump a valve that Kagome hadn't seem to have noticed before. There was a rushing noise that indicated that water was slowly draining from the cell. The children were taking turns pumping the valve and they were calm the whole time.
Kagome rested against the door and closed her eyes. Faintly, she heard Rin walk away slowly to help the others. She hadn't gotten any sleep at all last night, the pirates had been laughing and shouting. Rin explained that splicing the mainbrace was having a drinking party.
It's been so…rushed, these past few days. She didn't understand, the Black Pearl? There was no way that she was on board the legendary ghost ship. It just wasn't possible! Of all the bloody pirates ships that had to kidnap her, it just had to be this one!
"Daddy, I want to know about the Bwack Pearwrl! All the odar kids said that it was reawy scawy. Is it daddy?" A small 5-year-old girl with pigtails asked her father.
Her father laughed and put his daughter in his lap, "Kagome, the Black Pearl is a legendary ship. It has magical powers, and it depends all on the Captain whether it's scary or not."
Kagome wrinkled her nose, "But why the captain, daddy?"
"That's the way the ship is built. The Ship reacts to the Captain's emotions and feelings. If the man is bad, then the ship will give him a horrible curse. If the man is good, then the ship will be peaceful and you might just find the treasure on that ship."
"What tweasure daddy? What's a tweasure look like?" Kagome asked, enchanted.
Her father smiled and picked her up and twirled her about. Kagome squealed in glee.
"Like this! A treasure is something dear and something you love. It's something that you would never leave behind or walk away from. It's something that is precious to you." Her father gave her a kiss and set her down.
Water splashed against her face, waking Kagome from her daydream. She sputtered and looked at Shippo who was holding a bucket. She glared at Shippo and he glared back.
"Don't just sit there! Help us!" He dropped the bucket and went to rest against the prison wall with his group. Sighing, Kagome got to her feet and gripped the slippery handle on the valve and began pumping the water from the ship.
♪♪
"MIROKU! WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU ARE GOING STRAIGHT TO THE GALLOWS! YOU HEAR ME!?!" A female voice screeched, leaving every man on ship trembling. Inuyasha frowned, it was Sango and boy was she angry.
He was in his office as usual, signing away papers and mail.
Actually, he was just doodling. There wasn't much to do on this ship when there weren't any fights or they weren't dropping port.
Ok, so there was A LOT to finish, but hey, he's a pirate. Being lazy was his specialty. Other than stealing, cheating, fighting, spitting…the usual. Leaning back on his chair, Inuyasha closed his eyes.
That girl, Kagome, by Miroku's offer, who was she? Only later did he realize that she was strikingly similar to Kikyo. He scowled. Even the thought of the bitch made him angry. They had the same hair, figure, skin, facial feature, but definitely not the eyes. Kikyo's was gray and her personality reflected as so. She was cold and indifferent, much like Inuyasha. She wouldn't let anyone get close to her, like Inuyasha.
She was like him in every way. So what made them split?
Rubbing his eyes, Inuyasha thought of the new girl on his ship.
Kagome…her eyes told a whole different story. They could fill with so much hatred when provoked, it made her eyes darken a shade. He wondered what they would look like when she was happy or sad...or fearful. Inuyasha's frown deepened, for some odd reason, he didn't want her to be sad or fear anything.
"Why not?" He growled. "I'm Captain Inuyasha, everyone should fear me and cower beneath me!" Inuyahsa muttered.
"INUYASHA!"
Annoyed and startled, he fell from his chair. A loud crash followed soon afterwards, then a shout and curse.
"ARGH! BLIMEY, SANGO! WHAT BE YE TRYING TO DO!? KILL ME?!" Inuyasha roared. Sango stood before him in his office, fuming.
"Inuyasha, I demand that you do somethi—"
"THAT'S CAPTAIN INUYASHA TO YE, SECOND IN COMMAND! AND YE DON'T GIVE DEMANDS, YE TAKE THEM!" Inuyasha yelled at her, slamming his fist on the table, nearly breaking it. Sango noticed and winced, lowering her head.
"Captain Inuyasha, I would like to ask permission to be the Jack Ketch and…dance…with Sir Miroku." Sango gritted out. Her fists were clenched and Inuyasha could tell that she was trying her best not to swing out.
Straightening himself, he gestured to the seat in front of him. She sat.
"We're alone, Sango." He offered.
She visibly relaxed, "That god, I was beginning to think that I would lose my head over all this pirate nonsense." They dropped formalities there.
Inuyasha smirked, "I have a reputation to keep as a pirate, you know. So, tell me, what's this about wanting to execute Miroku…again?"
Sango returned to her anger stage, "He's been groping other women! He's out of control Inuyasha! He's even resorted to touching the prisoners! I want him mauled, Inuyasha." She spoke with complete seriousness and for not the glint in her eyes, Inuyasha would've thought that she was serious.
"You can't Sango. Miroku is my first mate. You're second; you can't eliminate those higher ranks than you without a good reason Sango. Reason being that it has to be that he killed a crewmember for fun and other things like that." He corrected himself quickly when he saw her protest. She fell quiet.
There was an almost bored atmosphere in the room as Inuyasha groaned and made up his decision. "Alright. You can maul him, but I want him fit to fight before 3 days."
Sango's eyes shined with joy and she opened her mouth to ask.
"And no, you can't castrate him. He won't ever get over that."
Her eyes dimmed slightly, but she jumped up and saluted, "Aye Cap'n!" She skipped out with a smile on her face.
Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair, "Sango! Belay!"
She stopped and turned, "Aye?"
"I want ye to feed those landlubbers down there. I also give ye permission to speak to one and only one."
Sango raised an eyebrow.
"Kagome of the Higurashi Village. The new lass."
Both of her eyes shot up and she gaped at him. "Is she Going On The Account?!" She was excited to have another female companion on board. Someone she can talk to that would understand her problems and not tell her to stop whining!
"No. She's a captive. Ye be taking her and the others food and water for until I say belay."
Sango jumped and squealed, causing Inuyasha to wince slightly.
Ironic how people always seem to go against his thoughts whenever he's thinking. He just made Sango's day, giving her permission to both beat and talk to the girl. Inuyasha sat back and covered his eyes, what had he done?
♪♪
She panted hard and braced against the wall, the water to her ankles once more. Great, my feet will be pruned by the end of the day. Kagome scowled. Her arms were burning with pain from hauling the same movements all day. She now held a new respect for the children for having to do this all day.
A small hand rested on her shoulder, she looked up and saw Rin's smiling cobalts staring back. Kagome smiled and scooted over for Rin. The two sat in comfortable silence and watched the other group use the bilge pump. Kagome was slowly getting adjusted with the bilge, though she argued for days on end for someone to let her out, she was getting used to it. But her stomach had different ideas as it made itself known.
Kagome blushed and Rin laughed. "Don't worry Miss Kagome, someone always brings food around this hour. You aren't forgotten." Rin smiled.
A few more minutes and it turns out that Rin was right. The trapdoor opened and light filled the bilge. Kagome had to shield her eyes and Rin did the same. A figure made it's way down the stairs, holding a tray with a delicious aroma.
"Well, ye must all be starving now, eh? I have something that be feeding your stomachs with!" Kagome squinted against the figure as the door closed and they were surrounded by the familiar darkness once more. It was a girl, she realized with shock.
She had dark hair that was in a low ponytail and eyes with magenta eye shadow that sparkled like her bright smile. Her complexion was smooth, but her hands were rough from handling a weapon all the time. She was dressed in black shorts that fitted her well and a dark pink tank top. She had a green bandana tied to her arm and a pink one covering her head. She had a short katana sword on her waist and another sword strapped to her back.
Kagome stared open mouthed, too astonished to speak.
But the girl wasn't.
"Blimey! You all don't be looking to well, when's the last time you've been fed?!" She questioned skeptically.
"2 days and 1 night ago Miss Sango." Shippo answered politely.
Kagome snapped her gaze to him. Since when did he start being so polite? He always referred to her as 'girl', or 'you'. Kagome glared at Shippo, but he ignored her.
"Damn that Cap'n Inuyasha. That's alright. I've brought you all some food!" Sango opened the door, stepped in, then firmly closed the door behind her. So much for hopes of escaping, thought Kagome.
The tray had rice cakes, bread, milk, water, fruit, and meat on it. The children immediately began to feast, they didn't push each other for the food, rather, they allowed the youngest to eat first and went in that order.
Kagome awed at the manners that these children possessed until a tap on her shoulder distracted her. Sango smiled at her and handed her a misshapen rice cake. Kagome ate it as if it were the most delectable thing on the planet.
Sango took a seat next to her offered her hand.
"Hi, I'm Sango from the Taiji Village."
Kagome gladly took it.
"Kagome, from the Higurashi Village. Nice to meet you Sango!" and she meant it. It was nice to see another female who was her own age to stand next to.
"Why does everybody talk differently at times? You're talking normally now. Why though? Couldn't you just stick to one language instead of switching back and forth?" Kagome immediately questioned her.
Sango laughed, she thought that Kagome would be curious, but this was ridiculous! "It's a rule, Kagome. Captain's orders. You must talk the way of the pirate on the Black Pearl or face the consequences. I think it's because of tradition and whatnot. To keep the pirate race going, I guess."
"Oh? That's stupid!"
"Well, we don't have to talk formally or piratey when we are alone with either the pirate or close friends." Sango shrugged "Probably so that we won't forget our own traditions or something."
The girls talked for hours about the ship and crew and screwed men in general until the dimming in light above on the deck showed that it was night "I should probably get going now, huh Kagome? It was really nice meeting you! I haven't talked to another girl in ages." Sango smiled, a genuine one.
Kagome returned it "You too Sango. Will I be seeing you again tomorrow?" Kagome asked hopefully. She jumped with joy when Sango nodded.
"I'll be serving your food from now until the Captain says. So, I'll talk to you some more tomorrow?"
Kagome nodded enthusiastically and waved at Sango as she left the bilge. Looking back, she saw that the other kids, Shippo and Rin included, had already fallen asleep. She took off her outer dress coat and draped it around them all as a makeshift blanket. It was torn beyond repair, but it'll do.
Kagome looked at herself and realized that her inner dress was wet and torn at the hem and collar. She was barefoot and her hair was in desperate need of a wash. Thank god that the dress was blue though. It was faded, but it was better than white.
She smiled, having a new found friend aboard a pirate ship somehow made everything seem worthwhile. Kagome tilted her head back against the wall as she thought of all the things Sango told her about.
Sango was around her age of 15 and she also had a little brother that was onboard this ship too. Both girls seemed a little uncomfortable talking about their siblings so they moved onto more cheerful topics. Sango was a skilled swordswoman; she was stronger than all men on the crew, excluding Inuyasha and Miroku. But when Kagome asked about the Curse of the Ship, Sango shied away from her. Her mood darkened a bit and Kagome backed off the subject.
Rubbing her arms for warmth, Kagome tried her best to sleep.
Little did she know, a long day awaited her tomorrow.
♪♪
"She was so sad about leaving her family, Miroku. I feel sorry for her."
Sango and Miroku were out on the deck, feet dangling off the rails. Sango had Miroku's outer robe draped over her and his arm around her with her lying on his shoulder. Miroku rubbed her back comfortingly.
"Nothing can be done about that Sango. She has to do what the Captain orders, and you know we can't make him angry or pressure him. You've had your fair share of pain as well…we all have."
Sango's hand clenched and Miroku's large one covered her own. She relaxed and sighed exasperated.
"What can we do? She doesn't deserve to live through it all. No one does. Not even us." Sango felt tears pushing against her eyes and she valiantly tried to hold them back. A small sob escaped her when Miroku pulled her tight into his warm arms. She wrapped her arms around his back and buried her face in his shirt.
Miroku stroked the top of her head, "…Now, what's this about you wanting to maul me?" He asked softly.
Sango looked up into his amused eyes and laughed. "You won't get away without punishment this time, houshi. You will pay for all you deeds." She said teasingly.
The pirate smiled serenely, "But dear Sango, I only have eyes for you."
Sango's right eye twitched as she felt a familiar hand rubbing in a familiar place.
SMACK!
"Oh Sango, you have quite the strength. I'm sure that you'll put that into good use, right?" Miroku teased. Sango glared at him with a gleam in her eye.
Then she laughed.
It was a cold, hopeless laugh, but it was also heartwarming all the same. It made Miroku smile and chuckle a bit himself. Sango leaned against his chest and slowly closed her eyes, the image of Miroku's smile
Thank you…