CHAPTER 14: A DEMON FREED

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, yadda yadda yadda, Rumiko Takahashi does, yadda yadda yadda, get the fuck away from me you blood thirsty leeches known as lawyers…etc.

OOoOoOoOo

Kagome felt tear globs form in her eyes.

"SILVERCLAW!!!!!!!" she cried, her hand reaching out to him, which almost made her fall.

Raisu tried to soothe her, but when he saw his own ship beginning to sink, he took Kagome in his arms & ran across the beast with youkai speed, to the presumably dead Pirate Lord's ship.

Kagome's eyes were covered in tear streaks. "He's gone,…" she muttered. With an angry groan, she pushed herself out of Raisu's hold and ran into InuYasha's room. She searched the room until she found the one weapon she knew she could use very well.

"Ryukotsusei!" she yelled.

The dragon growled in reply to her call; it was heading for her now, leaving it's first target, the Kitsu alone.

Kagome then shot her arrow flying once the dragon had turned to her, a glow coating it as it headed for the youkai.

"ROARRRRR!" Ryukotsusei hissed as the arrow pierced his left eye. Kagome's arrow began to slowly purify him, burning the area around his eye. The dragon daiyoukai lashed out angrily at the miko and uttered vile curses at her in demon language. But the arrow was not enough to kill him yet.

With his bleeding eye trailing blood, Ryukotsusei snapped his jaws at Kagome.

"Look out!" Raisu then grabbed her and pulled Kagome out of the way as she uttered a short squeak of terror.

"ACURSED MIKO!" the dragon bellowed. And in an instant, he was headed for the young priestess again, directing all his fury to her. When Raisu stepped in front of her, he was hit instead of her and knocked unconscious.

Seeing the kitsune captain fall unconscious, Kagome's eyes widened in horror. Using her arrows would have been just a waste. The first one didn't seem to affect him very much.

Kagome ran as fast as she could from the dragon, as people ran out the way. Sango, from another side of the ship, called out to Kagome when she saw she was headed for a dead end on the ship.

Ryukotsusei came centimeters away from snapping Kagome in two, his teeth making a snap! sound. Kagome continued to run, until the dragon was stopped by a loud, growl.

"Oi! Ugly!" the growl came again.

Ryukotsusei turned to where the arrogant voice came from, and in an instant, InuYasha came jumping into the air, slashing at the dragon's face. Ryukotsusei hissed when his claws came in contact with his muzzle.

"Leave my bitch alone! Yer fight's with me!"

Kagome smiled as she recognized that voice. "Silverclaw!" she thought happily, and ran out to see him; she gasped the minute she saw him.

'Silverclaw' looked different. There he stood, on a large piece of floating wood that had come from the now destroyed Kitsu, glaring icily at the dragon and drenched in water. His eyes were a sea of red, along with a cold blue in the middle, filled with malice, and magenta streaked on the sides of his face, along with pointed fangs fixed into a snarl.

Ryukotsusei growled back at him. "So the half-breed lives…"

"That's fucking right, you bastard."

Without a word, the youkai charged at InuYasha, but in less than a second, InuYasha had come up to his face again and ripped his claws into the dragon's already bleeding eye.

"That was a cheap shot!" Ryukotsusei accused.

"Too bad!" InuYasha cackled. "Hurt my wench and that's what ya get!"

Kagome, hearing this, began to grow red. What did he mean exactly by his bitch? His wench? What, was she some kind of toy for him now?! If that's what he meant, then how dare he!

Yet again, InuYasha lashed out at the dragon, his claws raking with power at the youkai's skin. And very soon, Ryukotsusei was bleeding everywhere.

This "new" Silverclaw that Kagome was witnessing, frightened her a bit. This 'Silverclaw' seemed to be attacking non-stop, no matter how many wounds he got, which was a lot.

"S-sango…what's happened to him?" Kagome asked.

"I don't know." She replied. "I've never seen him like this."

"I have," Miroku stepped in. "You see…he's…" the former monk stopped and checked to see if all the crewmembers were too distracted by the fight to hear, and then continued. "He has gone full-demon. If near death, Inu…uh, 'Silverclaw' transforms…his demon takes over his half-demon and human self, causing him to be in this state," he explained. "He'll hurt anything, and anyone, not knowing friend from foe, though I think he can determine which is his mate. If he had one."

Kouga nodded. "That's right. I'd be careful if I were you, around mutt-face."

Kagome only gulped. On the other hand, Ryukotsusei had began to admit defeat.

"Enough! Please!" the dragon pleaded.

"Feh! You're nothing! And you're not getting out that easy!" InuYasha spat, ignoring all his pleas whatsoever. He jumped up to deliver one final strike to end the youkai, until…

"STOP!!!" Kagome screamed. "Just stop it all! Can't you see he's begging for his life already?!" she cried.

InuYasha's demon looked strangely at the woman who had cried out. "Stay the hell out of this, wench!" he growled.

"No! This isn't you, dammit!" she yelled back. Uh-oh…Kagome swore…

Sango gripped onto her shoulders to keep Kagome from being hurt, or falling off the edge.

InuYasha's demon then ignored the injured dragon youkai and headed for the miko.

Kagome's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates when she saw the hanyou coming at her.

"Child!" Kaede's voice suddenly said. Kagome took the bottle out from her pocket. In Kaede's hands, she began to form a necklace. It had violet beads, with teeth at every 10 beads.

"Open the bottle quickly!" Kaede instructed.

Doing as she was told, Kagome removed the cork that sealed the bottle, releasing the old miko.

Kaede, now freed, stoop up and threw the newly formed necklace at the demon-InuYasha as he came after them. The necklace widened around his neck and glowed purple, falling upon his neck. He stopped on the ship and tugged at the necklace.

"W-what? What is this?" he hissed, still trying to get it off. Growling in annoyance, he went straight for Kagome again.

"Quickly! Say it! Say the subduing word!" Kaede warned.

"Ah!" Kagome squeaked. "What word?!"

"It matter not! Anything will do!"

Kagome had to think, and think fast, cause damn, 'Silverclaw' was heading straight for her, like a bullet.

"Um…uh…" she fumbled. At the last minute when his claws were 3 inches away from her face, she yelled, "SIT BOY!" and closed her eyes.

Instantly, the transformed half-demon fell forward, face-first, and contacting the floor. Kagome opened her eyes and saw her now fallen captain. Gasping, her hands flew to her face, covering her mouth.

"Ack! I didn't kill him did I?!" she panicked. Kaede stepped forward and set a calming hand on her shoulder.

"No child, no," the old hag-I mean…woman laughed. "Ye have just subdued him. He is merely unconscious."

Kaede motioned 2 random crewmemebers surrounding them. "You two, take yer captain to his room."

Kagome, Shippo, Miroku, Sango, Kouga, and Raisu followed Kagome into InuYasha's room. Raisu had regained conciousness a few minutes after, and was told what had happened. Crewless and shipless, Raisu had to leave the Tetsusaiga once they made port.

"So…what exactly did I do to him?" Kagome asked as the elder miko put a wet towel on the hanyou's forehead.

"That be the subjubication necklace. Keeps demons like him under control." The old woman replied. "With just a word or two, one can have even the most powerful demon, fall to his knees. Or rather…his face…"

"So…Silverclaw's word is-"

"DON'T! Not in his condition!" Kaede warned.

"Sorry!" Kagome quickly apologized. "His word is…S-I-T?"

Kaede nodded; she continued to clean InuYasha's wounds.

"Depending on how much anger ye have, determines how hard he will fall. Use that word constantly and he might fall right through the ground."

Kaede finished wrapping the bandages over the wounds.

"Thank ye for freeing me, Kagome." The old woman thanked.

"Uh, you're welcome, I guess…"

Standing up from her seat, Kaede went for the door.

"I'll be outside if ye be needing anything," she replied before leaving.

Kagome sighed and turned back to her unconscious captain. It was like that morning all over again.

FLasHbaCk!

She gasped being pulled tighter and noticed how close they were, their faces only mere centimeters apart.

Kagome felt the heat come to her face, a blush forming. But then she looked at 'Silverclaw's face and thought to herself.

Wow…he's…really cute when he's not trying to kill me… she laughed inside at what she just said.

Then she thought, she should really thank him for being caring last night when she had hurt herself. To her, she had been fine, but he cared anyways. But what would be a proper reward? A hug wasn't enough, besides, they were hugging already anyways! Ha! Could she possibly obey his every order from now on? Nah, it was much too fun for her to see his angry face whenever she acted like the mischievous wench he thought her to be.

OOoOoOoOo

But what if….?

Maybe…maybe I'll just give him one. A small one. Right now, he doesn't have to know… she thought. At first she thought against it, but a small one wouldn't hurt would it? No, she thought. It wouldn't.

Mustering up all her courage, she slowly leaned her head forward. Gingerly closing the space between them. Her lips were almost there…so close to his……almost…! Almost there……and then…

Amber orbs shot open, shooting a glare to whoever disturbed him.

Kagome gasped at his sudden action and slowly backed her head up a bit. Inuyasha's scowl turned into a chesire cat small. (A/N: Irony is, he's a dog lol)

"Like what you see, wench?" He said.

ENd fLashBack!

Kagome sighed. She was still shaken up from what she saw. 'Silverclaw' becoming some blood thirsty beast. She knew pirates were ruthless as they ere, but this was different. Out of all the books she had read back home about pirates, and all the legends of fierce pirates that she had heard about when she was young, none of them scared her as much as the red-eyed demon that she had seen not too long ago.

Then the door knocked.

"Come in," Kagome called.

Raisu came in with a bandage at his head.

"Umm, so…you okay?" he asked.

Kagome nodded happily. "Question is, are you okay? You blacked out when you got hit." She replied, concern lacing her words.

"Heh!" Raisu smirked arrogantly. "I'm fine!"

Kagome gave a half-hearted laugh.

Another one of those awkward silences set in. Boy, they were getting a lot of that, ne?

"Um…" the kitsune began. "I've..I've lost my ship and crew so, once we make port, I guess I'll be off…" he mumbled.

Kagome's eyes darted to her friend. "Oh…oh….well…I guess this is goodbye huh?"

"Mhm…" Raisu nodded.

Standing up, she ran up to Raisu and gave him a warm friendly hug. Mind you perverts! Not friendly like that!

Though to a pair of half-lidded amber eyes, it was not a friend-to-friend hug. Frozen in his thoughts, InuYasha was confused.

W-what?! He gasped mentally.

…he is fucking touching her…THAT'S IT. LET ME OUT! I OUGTA TEACH THAT FOX A FUCKIN' LESSON! HOW DARE HE TOUC-

Shut up. I'll deal with it.

But-

InuYasha growled back at his demon. I said…I'll handle it myself…

The demon grew quiet.

Turning to his side as he saw Raisu leave, he pulled the covers of his bed up to his shoulder, practically hiding his face, even if the movement caused his still sore body, pain. Kagome didn't even notice he had turned to his side and resumed her seat where she had been watching InuYasha.

If only he knew how much she cared…

OOoOoOo

The sun's rays fell upon the hanyou's face. He had spent the night thinking, and only thinking Brooding maybe. Point was, he didn't get much sleep. Getting up from bed, he stumbled and held onto the side of the bed for support.

Turning his head, he saw a sleeping Kagome. She had spent the entire night watching over him? Did she really care that much?

Sure, watching someone sleep is something only a creeper would do, but he was injured and she probably stayed just because she worried.

Sighing, he took his shirt lying on the floor and put it on. (A/N: yep, that's right you fangirls. He had been shirtless the whole time he was hurt. Hehehe.) Confused as he was, he decided not to ponder on it for too long. God knows what that'd lead to…insanity maybe?

On the left of him, he saw a half-empty bottle of rum. Yeah…rum. He could use that. Taking the bottle, he left the room, with a limping leg, and went out on deck. The first person he saw was Raisu. Hrm, where were the other crew members? He couldn't help it, but as he passed the fox captain, he sent him an icy glare as he made his way to the wheel of the ship. (A/N: talk about drinking and "driving".)

Now it was the fox's turn to be confused. What exactly did he do to upset the dog-hanyou?

Raisu's thoughts were cut off when he heard a commotion in the back. Turning his head, he saw Miroku and Sango being crowded by the "missing" crew members.

"We are not to discuss this until Captain Silverclaw wakes up!" Miroku yelled to the crowd of curious crew members.

"Oi. I'm awake. What'yda want?" InuYasha stepped in.

"Captain! Captain!" Shiro chirped. "Are you really a youkai?"

"No! I bet you he's a half-demon!"

"SHUT UP! HE'S A HUMAN AND WE KNOW IT! Probably got possessed!"

"So are you?"

"Yeah? Are you a demon?"

InuYasha was bombarded with questions. Questions here, questions there. Popping a vein, he pulled out his pistol and shot into the air, quieting everyone.

"Stow it! All of ya!" he growled. Everyone instantly backed away from him, the pitter patter of their feet scuttling away in fear.

"Geez…" InuYasha groaned, rubbing his temples. "You," he pointed to one crewmember, Yoishi.

"M-me?" Yoishi pointed to himself.

"What's your question?" InuYasha asked as he put his pistol back on his belt.

Mustering confidence, Yoishi started, "I-is it true sir that…that you're a half demon?"

Sighing, InuYasha threw his black tri-corne hat at Miroku, and was now showing the red bandana on his head.

"You really wanna know?" He replied.

Yoishi hesitated, but nodded.

"Silverclaw, wait-" Miroku started.

But he didn't wait.

With a flick of his wrist, he had pulled the bandana off his head, and flaunted the two dog ears that rested upon his head.

The crew gasped in unison. One crew member, Hiroshi, yelled out, "I KNEW! HE WAS A HANYOU!"

Grunting in annoyance, InuYasha replied to him. "Keh, yeah, I am. Are you all ashamed now? That you've had a lowly half-breed for a captain and not even known about it? Are you gonna maroon me now, like some of you did years ago?" he spat, his voice lined with venom.

The crew members stood there, frozen to the floor. They dare not anger their captain. For one thing, they feared they'd be marooned, another thing, they were too scared about InuYasha's demon side coming out.

One brave sailor stood up and said, "No. We're not ashamed," he began. InuYasha's white ears perked up to listen to what he had to say. "You are a good captain to us, Captain Silverclaw. Not once have ye done any injustice to us. Ye were brash, yet fair among us."

The sailer, named Sairo, stood next to InuYasha. "And I am proud to be one of yer' crew members." He stated.

Silence fell upon them. InuYasha was kinda impressed with Sairo. Sairo was one of his quieter members and would always shy away. Well…not until now.

The silence was broken by another crew member.

"Aye!" Manten cried. "I'm proud to be a crewmember, Cap'n!"

"Aye," Hiten followed.

"So am I!"

"Aye! Me too!"

Very soon, all the crew members had declared loyalty to InuYasha and promised never to betray him or maroon him. InuYasha took his hat from Miroku and put back his bandana in place. Smirking, he headed downstairs to the kitchen with a bottle of rum in his hand; walking with a limp, however.

"I like you guys," InuYasha smiled, before completely leaving them be. "Yer' not bad for a couple o' scalawags." The crew members beamed at him.

InuYasha gave them a look. Smiles do get creepy after a while. Groaning, InuYasha yelled, "What's with the smiles! Get back to work!"

A chorus of "Aye, aye captain!" rung throughout the ship as the men ran back to their stations, ready for work.

"Oi! Wolf-boy!" he yelled, turning to the now-awoken wolf-youkai.

"Hn?" Kouga asked, lifting his head drowsily.

"You're steering…" InuYasha mumbled.

Kouga simply waved a hand in response, signaling a "yes" to his command.

OOoOoOoOo

"Hmm?" Kagome mumbled as she woke up wearily. She found herself sitting in the same chair she had been in last night and sleeping on the side of the bed. She checked the room, her blurry eyes regaining vision. Everything seemed fine, everything was okay, but it felt like something was missing. Or someone?

Silverclaw! She gasped and shot upright. "W-where'd he go!" she asked no one in particular.

"Lookin' for me, wench?" an arrogant, gruff voice replied to her.

Turning her head, she saw 'Silverclaw' leaning against the door frame, arms crossed.

"Oh, thank God. I thought…" she replied, sweatdropping from the awkwardness, and sat on the bed.

"Right…" InuYasha sauntered over to the bed, and sat next to Kagome.

A few minutes ticked by. InuYasha watched Kagome's every movement.

"W-why are you staring at me like that?" Kagome asked, feeling shy under his amber gaze.

He didn't answer. Instead, he took her wrists in his hands and pinned her to the bed. He got up close to her face, his own having absolutely no readable emotion at all. She felt his breath fall down her neck, her own hitched in her throat. Being this close, I think you'd kinda get breathless too, haha.

"I hope you're happy with him." Was his only response. Oh how much he wanted to kiss her right now. He very well could. He was close enough. Dammit, their faces were so close, they were practically touching. But no…he had to stop his emotions. Besides, God knows what the kiss could lead up to. Especially when his demon was getting restless.

Quickly, he got off of her, releasing her wrists and sitting up right before any second thoughts floated into his mind. He had left her with a blush on her face. Kagome thought back to his statement.

I hope you're happy with him.

"Happy? Happy with who?" she questioned him.

"You know who," InuYasha replied, his voice getting angry/

"No, Silverclaw, I don't." she protested.

"Well you should know! It's pretty fucking obvious!" InuYasha growled, turning away from her.

"Excuse me? Don't you yell at me like that! I'm telling the truth! Hell, I don't even know what you're talking about!"

InuYasha ran a clawed hand through his hair in annoyance. "Figure it out! It should be easy for you!" he growled at her. He left whilst slamming the door of his room.

Kagome sat there, shocked at what just happened. Wait, what did just happen? All of a sudden, Silverclaw had snapped at her angrily.

What exactly was he talking about?

Why can't he just open up? Kagome sighed and laid down on the bed. She buried her face in a pillow and inhaled. Smelt just like her captain, of sea-salt and….wet-dog?

Sighing, she just laid there. Thinking and trying to figure out what she had done, or who Silverclaw was talking about, that had irritated him deeply so.

A/N: Hrm? Is this chapter as long as it is on Microsoft Word? Eh, it's got enough information.

WARNING!!! THERE WILL BE A LEMON IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. I REPEAT. A LEMON. Please please please, do not criticize me harshly for the lemon! For one thing, it's not gonna be very explicit or very descriptive. I'm using a lot of adjectives in place of well…graphic words…hehe.

And also, know that I am only 13 and have never…experienced THAT yet. So don't yell at me. I write lemons based off the lemons I've read (which is a lot LOL).

Don't worry, I'll put a warning in the chapter when the lemon begins, so that way you can skip over it.

Oh and also in the next chapter Raisu's leaving.

Well, that's for now.

TTYL – M0NSTER. OH! AND HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE + CHRISTMAS DAY =D