A/N: Do not worry, I am not giving up on this story! I am being very careful in what a write and where I want this story to go, so please, the patience will be worth it! Ah at last, the long awaited, NEXT CHAPTER! Please Review my darlings! I am already working on the next chapter, so no worries!
Chapter 4: I Found You
Sesshomaru was kneeling as his crew members began the hefty row back to his Kirena, the taken woman sitting beside him while she clung to the malnourished child. He would question her and release them back to their lives once she gave him what he wanted. Unless of course, she was one of Traders. The sleek curve of her face and bright-sky blue eyes were uncommon in this area of the world, raven hair tousling and caressing her creamy white skin. She was well fed and lithe with a blossoming bosom peeking from under her dress. Nice-looking for a human, even the Pirate Lord could see that. Two demons that he'd picked up in port some months ago were clearly giving notice of her. This stirred his protectiveness and he would observe these demons closely.
Sesshomaru would allow no harm to females who were not a threat. It was beneath him to hurt innocents of any kind. No, they would remain untouched while in his charge.
It set him on edge that his beast prowled restlessly inside him, somehow reacting to the very aura of her. Once he was rid of her snaring presence, his inner demon would settle, and he could torture the trade locations out of his captured prey. Sullivan's body lay chained in the boat rowing next to theirs, his face and arms scolded with bubbling wounds. His claws had burned the man, oh they'd burned him thoroughly. What Sesshomaru had in mind for this human creature would make those tiny whelps mere child's play. The sickening pleasure lurking in all demons racked throughout his body. His claws flexed, the hunt successful, they were one step closer.
The Kirena came into clear view, the torches a glowing beacon in the otherwise pitch dark ocean. This ship had been his home of the last fifty years, the salvation of his kind and symbol of hope. The rest of his crew, including the two agitated females, were eagerly waiting aboard deck to witness the successful hunt. He was the most renowned Demon of the seven seas, his strength matched by none. There was always success.
"Pull steady!" He commanded, and the rowers fell into more gentle movements as they angled the smaller boats parallel to the ship.
Sesshomaru, the Captain of the Kirena and Son of The Great Dog Demon, would destroy all who stood in his wake. He would free his kind and send the rotting bodies of the Traders to the bottom of the sea.
When Kagome stepped onto the deck of the foreign ship, she immediately swept Rin into her arms and glared at anyone whose unwanted eyes lingered on them. She forced control over herself, the tears drying up as protective instincts overtook her. The little girl could not gain control of her young emotions and she quietly wept into Kagome's shoulder. A comforting hand rested on the back of Rin's black hair and Kagome softly whispered, "I'll protect you." Her tiny hands balled into Kagome's sleeves and remained the child's sole response.
It was enough.
Thoughts began whirling through her mind of what could save them. She began to plot the most useful strategies. She could tell them Rin was her daughter, and she'd been searching for her and just wound up there. Maybe that would satisfy them enough to let them go? Her mind began racing, different ideas coming and going in a whirlwind. How would she get them out of this safely? What could she say? Many ideas floundered to the surface, but not single thread promised a perfect escape.
"Move, wench." The gruff voice of the dog-eared pirate huffed, stepping ahead of her. He motioned with his clawed hand to follow him. Without words she trudged along behind him, scowling hotly at his back, her chin up high. She would be strong. Kagome swore to herself she would find a way to keep Rin alive and get her free. Her courage grew, soft features hardened, and she sauntered forward with unmoveable determination.
He led them across the deck, rounding one of the smaller masts and brought them in front of two intricately carved wooden doors. Two long haired dogs, with mouths hung open and fangs bared, were carved out of each side. The details were meticulous, down to the the individual strands of fur. The handles had a polished silver, a dark blue paint surrounding the outer edges of the trim. Unrecognizable designs lined all around the dogs, furthering the mastery of the entrance. The work of a fine craftsmen. This was the Captain Quarters. Dog-ears pulled open the entry, stepping back and prompting them inside.
Kagome had been expecting a little more, but once inside the room, the plain surroundings seemed out of place given the grandeur of the wood dogs. A large bed sporting nothing but white sheets was against the wall on the back side of the cabin, a navy trunk at the foot of it. In th middle of the cabin sat an ordinary round table with six chairs. Papers and a few peculiar objects were littered across it, but it was otherwise unremarkable. The last piece of furniture was a modest desk next to the enchanting wrap around window. In the chair, examining his spiked claws, lounged the striped demon. Kagome gripped Rin a fraction tighter at the resounding slam of dog-ears exit.
She was alone with a demon. Not just any demon, the Demon Pirate Captain.
"What were you doing in Sullivans shop?" He ground out, amber orbs boring down into her with a brazen malice.
"He kidnapped her." Kagome blurted, her heart speeding up and the fear trickling back into her. He could kill them, end them as if they meant nothing. That's what demons were like weren't they?
He folded his long claws together, resting his chin a top his hands, his cold stare frozen on her ashen face. He could see that she was terrified and the stark-sour stench wafted all around him mixing with the salt of the human child, who was silent. Normally the scent of fear elated him, it meant his enemies were falling to their better. From this creature it stirred inside him an obscure disgust that was as unexpected as it was uncomfortable. Though Sesshomaru could clearly detect the fear from her, there was no lie in her words. His nose could not be fooled and this pleased him.
"You knew he had kidnapped her?"
All of the thoughts Kagome had flying around her mind vanished as she blurted, "I just found her."
"Explain, human." He growled, his voice sultry and sharp.
"I fell asleep outside of town. When I woke up, it had already been dark for sometime. I saw the fire in the distance and tried to hurry back to town, I was afraid of how close it was. Mr. Sullivan stopped me on the way, I fell on my way in and cut my cheek and he offered to help me clean it. I...I heard a sound coming from the floor and I noticed a door. It was a child and I knew something...something was wrong. He… Mr. Sullivan looked at me and I just, somehow I felt it. You came and I was afraid and I couldn't leave a child. I went down and she told me he kidnapped her. She said he thought she was a demon."
The humming quietly sang once more beneath her skin, her instincts clamouring in a way she couldn't explain. It had appeared for only a moment back in Sullivan's shop, but now it was louder and more forceful. Her hands began trembling ever so slightly as she plundered straight on.
"How do you know Sullivan?"
"He's the only blacksmith, my family just moved there not that long ago. He talks with me when I'm out and about. Please, please don't kill us. I don't know what he's done but it has nothing to do with me and this girl."
She was honest and honorable and he was satisfied to know she was not a Trader. Some obnoxious nagging feeling demanded he not kill her. Now he would not have to. Just as he was about to open his mouth to reply, the doors to his cabin swung open and in marched two very enraged females. Sesshomaru pressed his palm to his temple, a certain headache itching on the surface at the heavy aroma now surrounding his cabin. These females may yet be the death of him.
"Sesshomaru!" Kagome gazed in disbelief as two women in long pants, with young smooth faces, stomped noisy into the room. The woman had short cropped hair but very slim features and to Kagome's utter amazement, she slammed her hand down on the Captain's desk, glaring him down with icy daggers. "You can't just drag a woman into your cabin alone! You've gone and terrified her! That is no way to treat a girl, especially a shore one!" She shouted.
He's going to kill her! Kagome thought in horror.
"Nonsense." He grumbled, "I was simply making sure she was no threat. Which I have deemed she is not."
"Honestly." The other woman piped up, her turned down mouth and deep brown eyes reflecting the irate expression of the short haired woman. Though the second woman was clearly upset, she held about her a poise and grace that radiated self-control.
"There are better ways to go about this, Sesshomaru! When Inuyasha and Miroku told me you brought a shore woman and a little girl alone with a DEMON PIRATE, I could have skinned them both! And you! You should have come and gotten one of us instead of scaring the hell out of her!" The short haired woman continued her rant, slamming her hand once again on his desk. "You are having someone take her back right now!"
Kagome's mouth dropped, and Rin suddenly peaked up from Kagome's shoulder, her tears barely simmering on the surface.
Sesshomaru sighed deeply, running a clawed hand across the ordinary desk, and gazing tiredly at the women. "Females." He grumped, turning to the window.
"I'm sorry for his Royal Assness." The short haired woman snapped, Sesshomaru snarling at the name, which she openly ignored. "I'm Songo, this is Kikyou." Kagome only stared blankly at the women, the whole situation molding into something her mind was failing to process.
"I need to sit down." Kagome whispered, her stomach turning, the humming still dancing around below the surface.
The one called Kikyou pulled a chair from the round table and guided Kagome and Rin into a sitting position. Kagome shifted Rin around where they were both comfortable, the child couldn't have been older than four or five winters. She needed a moment to absorb and calm her quivering nerves. Questions filled her mind as the entire nights events flooded around her. She was mortified to speak or ask questions of the newcomers while that demon was there. Sesshomaru, they had called him. Tears sprang to her eyes as she took deep, hard breaths. Her emotions ran chaotic and she was left exhausted and overwhelmed.
The door once again burst open, causing Kagome to jump and clutch the child in her arms.
Dog-ear and the violet eyed man rushed into the room hard-faced and angry.
"Captain, three ships crested the bay. Trader flags."
Sesshomaru was exiting the cabin with his men before Kagome could blink and commanded over his shoulder, "Remain here until I call."
Songo nodded, her face tense, and shut the door as the males disappeared onto the deck.
"It's going to be alright." Kikyou whispered, patting Kagome lightly on the shoulder.
"I don't understand how I wound up here." Kagome choked, stroking Rin's hair in an effort to distract and relax herself.
"I know he seems brutish, but Sesshomaru would never harm an innocent." Songo said confidently, pulling out a chair and plopping down. Kikyou settled herself in a chair on the adjacent side of Kagome. Both women were beyond heated at Sesshomaru for his lack of emotional common sense.
"That is hard to believe." Kagome quipped. "Are we really allowed to leave?" She asked anxiously.
"Yes, of course." Songo muttered. "We'd never keep you against your will."
Kagome's face contorted into a frown, clearly skeptical.
"I promise," Kikyou began, meeting the shore woman's eyes, "We will return you, safely."
Something about her voice, be it the tenderness or sympathetic compassion, calmed Kagome's nerves. That soft humming that had been slightly strumming under her skin, silenced almost immediately. The anxiety seeped away and left in its place a trusting peacefulness. Kagome did not understand once again why she knew, but she could trust this woman, Kikyou. By extension, with her heart mollified, she could trust Songo. Her instincts stopped yowling and she slumped in the chair, breathing relaxed. They were alive, safe, and going home soon.
"By Traders flags, he didn't mean the Demonic Slave Traders did he?"
Songo and Kikyou averted their gazes, the rage in them completely changed from the childish scolding they had given their Captain.
"Yes." Kikyou confirmed.
"I haven't heard much about them," Kagome admitted. "Only that they kidnap demons and sell them off. They are completely ignored by the larger governments and they're ruthless."
"It's much more than that." Songo breathed, hands grasped harshly together. "They're repulsive monsters, every one of them. They believe humans should be the only existing race. They want to wipe demons from the earth."
"I'm hungry." Rin interrupted, gaining the attention of all three women and halting the disturbing conversation.
Kagome straightened her back and Rin sat up, cautiously looking over the new people. Songo smiled sweetly, all tension cleared away at the reminder of the youngest at the table. Rin leaned back against Kagome's chest where she could see the women easily. Kagome's arms wrapped around Rin's small frame and absently played with the strands of her rich black hair. Before they had a chance to start the topic change, they were all roughly jerked sideways. Kagome fumbled awkwardly to keep Rin from tumbling out of her lap. Songo's expression went grim as her eyes glued to the door. Rin turned and snuggled into the crook of Kagome's neck, the older woman rubbing the child's back to comfort her.
"We'll get food very soon. When did you eat last?" Songo asked, angling to distract from the undesired development.
"Long time ago."
"We'll don't worry, when we get back on land, we'll get something to eat and find your parents." Kagome tried to soothe.
"I don't have parents. I was at an Orphanage far away from here when he took me away."
The three women shared a pained look, their eyes never leaving the face of the angelic girl. If Kagome had not found her, would any one have found her? Kagome gathered her a bit closer, smiling softly down at Rin. That monster could have killed such a precious treasure. It was luck and a beautiful blunder of chance that Kagome had been at the exact right place in that moment of time. She was grateful to have been there, despite winding up on this merry go round of chaos.
"Its okay, because I found you."
Kagome kissed Rin softly on her forehead, holding tightly, and nothing more was said as the women listened intently to the commotion above deck.
THANK YOU, MORE SOON!