Title: Tides Against Time
Rating: M (Language, Violence, and Adult Content)
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or the Little Mermaid. All rights should go to Inuyasha Inc. and Disney.
Music: The song I have selected for this chapter is: "A Siren's lure song..." I love to listen to music on YouTube while I read to add to the atmosphere. You are welcome to listen along with my music selection if you want. It is not required. When you see these marks (***) that means to begin to play the selected song. When you see (xxx) this means to stop playing the music. It is important to pay attention to these marking as there is more than one song for this chapter. I do not have credit for these recordings or channels but I think it adds to the story.
Tides Against Time: Father Knows Best
Kagome slipped into the lagoon and up to the brick wall near the patio. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had yet to arrive so she pulled herself out of the water to sit on the bricks to wait. She took off her seaweed bag from her shoulder and set it next to her. She then began running her hands through her hair so that way it was tangle free and she looked her best for the brothers, especially Sesshomaru. Since watching the mock battle earlier she could not get him out of her mind. She began to lightly sing to herself as she continued to brush her thick wavy hair. As she did this, a little red-soft shell crab climbed out of the drain and hid behind some rocks. Myōga had seen her leave the safety of the cave and had originally gone after her to make sure she was ok but when she kept swimming away he went after her to see what she was up to. Pulling himself up higher on the rock to get a better look he sees that the princess was sitting on some bricks and had her back towards the stairs.
"What in the world are you up to Princess?" he thought to himself.
Just then he saw movement on the balcony above them and was about to flee when he remembered the safety of the princess. He was about to shout to her about the danger but the demons coming down the stairs called down to her and she answered them back with a smile on her face. The demons then came to sit on either side of her and began conversing together familiarly. He decided he would stay put and watch the princess and see what would happen.
(***A Siren's lure song… ***)
Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had just finished a very long day and were walking into his bedchambers when the sound of a woman singing drifted to their ears. Slipping off their shoes they walk over to the balcony and see Kagome sitting on the bricks, running her fingers through her hair and lightly singing to herself. It was a beautiful sound and it called to them. She had her back to them and did not see them coming until she turned her head slightly. Seeing they caught her attention Sesshomaru says,
"Sorry we are late, we couldn't get away from our duties fast enough."
"No problemz Sessomaru" said Kagome as the brothers sat on either side of her.
"Where is Kikyo?" asked Inuyasha as he looked about the lagoon.
"Kikyo no good, um… sleepyz. Work hard." Kagome said then pointing to his hands.
Inuyasha looked at his hands and thought about what Kagome had said. Kikyo had worked to hard? Staring at his hands he realized Kagome was talking about her healing abilities. Someone must have been sick or injured.
"Is she going to be ok? Does she need anything?" asked Inuyasha concerned.
"No… Merfolk fight many shark. Mermaid hurt, Kikyo work. Kikyo sleepz, Kikyo ok." Kagome said while acting it out with her arms.
"Sharks?" asked both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru in concerned.
"Jah, many sharks come, Mermaid no good. Kikyo" she then pointed to herself "Kagome work. Kikyo sleepyz. No come." Kagome finished.
"What kind of sharks? How many were there?" asked Sesshomaru.
Kagome cocked her head to the slide and slumped her shoulders in defeat.
"Sorryz… no understand." said Kagome sadly.
"Shark" Sesshomaru then brought up his hands to help show the sizes and said, "Big or small?"
"Jah, big shark." Kagome said shaking her head yes happily and making her hands like his.
"How many sharks? 2,3,4,5?" asked Sesshomaru using his fingers to count.
"Ah! Many sharks! 10, 10, 10, 10, many, many sharks." Kagome said holding up her hands to emphases the swarm.
"Damn…" whispered Inuyasha. "What did they look like?"
"Sorryz?" Kagome said not understanding again.
"Uh… hold on a sec." Inuyasha said as he went and grabbed a stick for her to use to draw.
Inuyasha then handed her the stick and they watched Kagome draw the silhouette of a hammerhead shark.
"Hammerheads…" said Sesshomaru while clenching his fists sitting in his lap.
"Fuck! And a whole swarm too!"
"Ham..her.. headz?" repeated Kagome.
"Yes, hammerhead shark." said Sesshomaru pointed to the beast.
"Jah, hamherheadz shark. Big ones, small ones, many come." Kagome said happy to be able to get them to understand her story.
"Well we're glad you both are ok." said Inuyasha as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"Indeed." replied Sesshomaru.
"Hnn" answered Kagome as she nodded her head in agreement.
Kagome then reached into her bag and pulled out four seashells. All of them had twine strung through a hole on their bottoms so that way they could be worn as necklaces. Taking a small strand of her hair she cuts a sliver off making the brothers gasp at her action. She then reaches up and does the same to their hair.
"Kagome! What the hell are you doing?" asked Inuyasha as he watched her separate the sliver of hairs into four separate piles.
She then reaches into her bag and pulls out another sliver of black hair from her sister that she had cut off before leaving for the castle. She set in each pile a sliver of each of their hair. She then braids the four slivers of hair together around the twine creating a woven band of black and silver to hold the shells. Taking the now covered twine with black and white hair around it and ties it off at the top securing the strand from coming apart. She then reaches up and slips a lace murex seashell necklace with their now braided hair around Inuyasha's neck. Inuyasha still not understand what she was doing just stares down at his gift and fingers the shell in his hand. She does the same to Sesshomaru with a King's Crown seashell. Once she is satisfied with the shells around their necks she ties a Moon snail shell around her neck. Pulling the necklace to make sure it doesn't come off she then dives into the water and swims to the other side of the lagoon. The brother's not understanding what's going on just sit there on the rocks with confused expressions on their faces.
Kagome now on the other side of the lagoon begins talking into the shells while still underwater. The brothers begin hearing whispering and look around them to try and find the voice but seeing no one. Once again a whisper reaches their ears and they stand up to try and find its source. When the voice comes again they look at each other and down at the seashells around their necks to discover the voice to be coming from them. Lifting the shells to their ears they hear Kagome's voice saying their names.
"Kagome?" asked Sesshomaru.
Kagome then pops out of the water to where only her eyes are poking out.
"Hallo, Sessomaru." Kagome says while her mouth was still underwater.
"Sesshomaru I heard your voice in my shell!" shouted Inuyasha, causing both Sesshomaru and Kagome to flinch and grab their ears in pain.
"Sorry ha..ha! Didn't realize it was volume sensitive!" Inuyasha apologized nervously.
"How is this possible?" Sesshomaru asked Kagome into the shell.
"MamiWati Merfolk magicz." Kagome said then pointed to the necklace and picked up some of her hair floating in the water. "Sessomaru, Enuyashu, Kikyo, Kagome, One."
"So are you saying I can talk to Kikyo? Even during the day time?" asked Inuyasha excitedly.
"Jah, Kikyo, Kagome, Sessomaru." Kagome said pointing to the other shell still sitting on the rock, showing Inuyasha and Sesshomaru that Kikyo didn't have hers on yet.
"This is awesome! Thank you Kagome!" Inuyasha said while fingering the shell once again in his hands.
"Yes, this is truly a great gift. Thank you Kagome." said Sesshomaru as he sat back down onto the brick wall as Kagome swam up to rest between his legs.
She rested her hands on his chest as his hands held her waist. Her lower body was still sitting in the water. Kagome yawned on accident causing Inuyasha to chuckle and Sesshomaru to smirk.
"I think maybe we should call it a night." suggested Inuyahsa.
"No Enuyashu. No… (Yawn) sleepyz." Kagome tried to argue.
"Uh huh. Goodnight Kagome, thanks again for the gift. See you tomorrow." Inuyasha said as he waved goodbye making his way back up the stairs, leaving them alone.
"Kagome… (yawn) no go." Kagome argued before once again yawning despite her efforts.
"I think my brother is right, we should call it a night." Sesshomaru said with a light chuckle as Kagome once again yawned.
Sesshomaru then brought Kagome into his chest and held her close like he did every morning before saying goodbye. He then buried his nose into her hair, inhaling her coconut and tropical flower smell before relaxing his embrace. Kagome leaned up and stroked his cheek before kissing under his chin like she always did before leaving. She slipped into the water disappearing from his view once more.
"Hasta... luego, Sessomaru." Kagome lightly spoke into the seashell.
"Hasta luego... Kagome." Sesshomaru returned while retreating back into his bedchamber for the night.
Kagome began making her way back home, unknowingly followed by Myōga. She then slips into their cave and pulls herself up to lye next to her sleeping sister. Pulling her necklace out of her bag she then carefully lifts her sisters head up and slips the necklace with a wentletrap seashell around her neck. With the last necklace in place a light blue glow shown around the necklaces. The hair braided around the twine fused together and sank into the twine and cast its spell to where they could never come off unless the wearer willingly took it off or one of the members of the spell had died. With her task fulfilled Kagome soon fell fast asleep and dreamed of her silver haired, amber-eyed demon.
(Later that day)
Myōga was helping organize the food storage cove when one of the King's messengers swam through the entrance.
"Retainer Myōga are you in here?" the messenger shouted into the cove. "Retainer Myōga?"
"Yes! Yes! I'm in the back!" shouted Myōga a he crawled out of a hole in the back of the cove wall were they stored the kelp seeds. "What is it?"
"I've been looking everywhere for you, I've got an urgent message from the King!" he said nervously.
"An urgent message? Must be serious. What is the message boy?" Myōga asked.
"Yes, Yes, He wants to see you right away. He didn't elaborate but said something about his daughters and responsibilities or something like that." the messenger said before swimming back out of the cave.
"AH! HE KNOWS!" cried Myōga nervously as he quickly made his way to find the King.
King Poseidon was sitting on some rocks on the beach just outside the cove. He had not seen Myōga all morning so he had sent one of his messengers to go and find him for him. He was relaxing and soaking up the sun's rays when a little red crab popped out of the water a few feet away from him.
"Ah! Myōga, come join me if you would. I have some things of great importance to discuss with you." said Poseidon as he looked back out to the waves hitting the beach.
"I must remain calm… it could be anything, think… positive!" Myōga said to himself.
Myōga then scurried his way up the beach rocks until he appeared in front of the King. Compared to Poseidon Myōga was little bigger than a sand dollar and could have easily been crushed in his hands. Taking a deep breath Myōga gathered all the courage he could muster and said, "Yes, (squeak)(clears throat) Yes, my King? You summoned me?"
"Yes, Myōga I wish to speak to you about my daughters." said Poseidon as he fingered his conch shell on the top of his trident.
"Your… daughters?" Myōga asked nervously.
"Yes, I'm concerned. Have you noticed anything… peculiar the past couple of days?"
"Ppp..peculiar?" Myōga asked playing it off while rubbing his claw behind his head questioningly.
"Oh you know, day dreaming, mopping about, singing to themselves. You… haven't noticed," Poseidon asked turning his questioning gaze to Myōga making him swallow hard.
"Well… uh… you see…. uh…" Myōga said nervously trying to come up with an answer.
"Myōga…" Poseidon said drawing the crab's attention to his face.
"Yes… mmmm… my King?" Myōga asked.
"I know you've been watching my daughters. I know what it is you saw and I'd like your opinion." Poseidon challenged making Myōga tremble slightly in fear.
"Opinion? Opinion in what?" Myoga asked on the brink of a nervous meltdown.
"My daughters…. in love?" Poseidon asked while pushing his trident towards the crab making him back up against a rock. That was the last of Myōga ability to think straight and he snapped.
"I tried to stop her my King but she swam to quickly! I told her to stay away from the ship but she wouldn't listen. I thought that was the end of it but when I followed her again I found her to be with that same land dwelling demon from 50 years ago! I remember what you told her, they are bad, they are trouble, they are"
"Demons? WHAT ABOUT DEMONS?" Poseidon shouted grabbing hold of Myōga in his hand making his eyes bulge.
"Dddddd Demons? Who said anything about ddddd demons?" Myōga tried to cover his tracks but with the glare on the King's face he decided for the better.
It was there on the beach he told the King everything. He told him the story of Kagome saving two land dwelling demons from drowning and how last night he followed her to a castle up the beach and found her in the arms of one of the demons from 50 years ago. He also told him about a younger demon talking about Kikyo and guested that she had been there too. He also told the King how familiar Kagome was with the demons and how the one demon from 50 years ago was very affectionate with her. He apologized for not telling about the incident 50 years ago and for not coming to him right away from his spying last night. He also said that he had over heard both Kikyo and Kagome sharing with their cousins that they did not want to mate with any of the suitors. It was his opinion that the demons might be a distraction from them finding a mate. Poseidon was burning with inconsolable rage. Nothing Myōga said or did helped to calm him down. Before he could do anything to stop him Poseidon dove into the water still clenching Myōga in his fist and went in search of his daughters.
(Kikyo/Kagome)
Kagome and Kikyo were exploring through a pile of junk that had washed up near a sandbar. The tide got caught on this corner of the beach causing anything it carried to get snagged. There were bottles, shipping rope, nets, anchors, shells, furniture, barrels and chests full of junk all piled up, making the perfect treasure hunting spot for the sisters. Shippo had joined them for the day and Koga, Hojo, Ryura, and Bankotsu were relaxing further up the sandbar talking about weapons and the up coming mating games.
"Kagome! Come and look at this!" shouted Shippo as he pointed with his pectoral fin at a shiny piece of glass and metal in an open chest.
"Oh wow! Great find Shippo! I wonder what it is?" asked Kagome as she held it out in front of her for better inspection.
It had a long metal handle that turned into a circle on the top. In the metal circle was a two-way glass. The glass was bubbled causing one side of the glass to make things look bigger and the other side smaller. Swimming over to her bag laying on the sand behind them she puts it inside and they begin searching the chest once more. Kikyo digging through a chest a few feet away from them pulls out a metal circle with strange lines on it. It had a spinning red and black stick in the middle and when she moved, the red stick always-pointed in one direction. Deciding to keep it she swims over to the bag as well and slips the strange object inside. Getting tired of exploring and hearing her stomach rumble Kikyo swims over to her sister's side.
"Are you about finished exploring for the day? I'm getting hungry." asked Kikyo.
"Yes, I think I've got all the good stuff out of this tide. We'll have to come back again in a couple of days to see if anything else is brought in. Did you find anything Enuyasu would like?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah I found a couple of things. What about you? Did you find anything for Sessomaru?" asked Kikyo.
"Yeah, one. It's so hard finding gifts for demons. Everything I've given him he has accepted but it's so hard to tell if he genuinely likes them or not." said Kagome.
Just as she finished speaking their father appeared from behind the sandbar with Myōga still clenched tighly in his fist. Seeing the King arrive the mermen down the beach got up from their spot and swam over to see what was up.
"Father! What are you doing out here?" asked Kikyo surprised and nervous from her father's sudden appearance and angry expression.
"So its true then... You rescued a land dwelling demon from drowning?" Poseidon accused while staring down at Kagome, causing the mermen and Shippo to gasp and look at her.
"Father, I had to do something! He would have drowned!" Kagome defended.
"One less land dweller to worry about! Also, now I hear you are sneaking out at night to go see him and have influenced your sister to join you? Contact with the land dwelling race is forbidden, you both know this!" Poseidon yelled getting angrier by the minuet.
"By Father you don't even know him!" Kagome argued.
She couldn't believe this was happening. Kikyo was off to the side with her head hanging down in shame. She was just waiting for her turn to be scolded and she wished desperately for Kagome to just shut her mouth. The more she argued the angrier their father got. The mermen and Shippo were frozen in their spot with their mouths hanging open in disbelief of what they were hearing.
"Know him? I don't have to know him. All land dwellers are the same! They are heartless, savage, brainless, harpooning fish eaters. They are incapable of any emotion or feeling they are"
"But Father I love him!" Kagome blurted out before covering her mouth. Everyone but Kikyo made a startling gasp at her statement.
"No… have you lost your mind? How can you say that? Kagome, you're a mermaid he's a demon! It can never happen!" Poseidon shouted.
"I don't care." Kagome said with tears running down her face.
"So help me Kagome, I am going to get through that thick skull of yours. Kikyo get over here." Demanded Poseidon. Kikyo swam over next to her sister. Her eyes were hidden behind her bangs but he could tell she was on the brink of tears with her quivering chin.
"Because both of you could not make a decent decision on your own I am going to make this one for you." Poseidon said while turning his gaze to the mermen to his right.
"Because you could not decide between these suitors to be your mate I will choose for you." Poseidon said making the mermen snap to attention.
"But Father!" Kagome pleaded.
"Not another word young lady!" Poseidon commanded making Kagome lower her head like her sister in shame and heartbreak. "You newts will fight at the annual mating games in the coming weeks. Whomever is the victor with have my daughters hand. Do NOT disappoint me."
"Yes, your Majesty." The mermen said as they bowed and Poseidon swam away before his daughters could argue anymore.
Kikyo who hadn't said anything snapped her angry gaze to her sister and said, "You just couldn't shut up could you." She then grabbed the bag lying on the sand and quickly swam off to the cove to wallow in her grief.
Kagome after hearing her sister's hateful statement finally snapped. She pulls her crown off of her head and throws it onto the sea floor angrily before swimming off into the opposite direction. The mermen swam after her calling for her to stop but she disappeared before they could reach her. Kagome continued to swim as fast as she could until she reached a hidden cover further down the beach. It was a place only she and the royal family knew about. They used to play there when they were little with their mother but now it was a place they went to when they needed to escape to safe. Its walls and cubby holes were filled with land dweller treasures they had found over the years. It was their hidden treasure trove and every item was unique and of great quality. Laying down on a rock in the middle of the cove, Kagome stayed there and cried for hours. It wasn't until the sun was going down that she decided she would stay there for the night. She didn't want to risk swimming in open water in the dark and now that she had her necklace she could communicate with her sister to let her family know she was ok. She could also explain to the demon brothers about their new predicament.
Slipping out of the cove she grabbed some kelp weeds and slumped back onto the hidden cove and reclined back into her rock she had been lying on. She then cried once more as she stuffed her face. The cove grew dark and soon she sat in complete darkness. She was safe inside the cove but there was no moon this night and with no one there with her, Kagome grew frightened. She could hear things swimming by outside and it made her heart pound in her chest.
"Kagome? Are you alright?" asked he sister through the seashell startling her half to death.
"Gosh Kikyo you started me! But yes… (Sniff) I'm fine. I wasn't going to make it back in time before the sun set so I'm hiding in the family cove." Kagame said while whipping her snot from her nose and tear from her cheeks.
"Ok good and I'm sorry for scaring you. I'll let Father and everyone know." Kagome replied.
"Tell them whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me." Kagome said bitterly.
"Come on Kagome, you don't mean that. You know father is only doing this for our Kingdom." Kikyo defended. Sure she was still upset but she understood where he was coming from too.
"I don't care! He should be thinking about our needs and feelings too!" Kagome said with fresh tears running down her face.
"Stop kidding yourself Kagome, you know nothing could have come of this. It's just like father said, we are mermaids and they are demons. It was only a dream." Kikyo said sadly.
"I refuse to think that way! This has only been a month for you Kikyo but this has been 50 years to me! I know the gods have fated Sessomaru and I together for some reason and I will never give up hope!" Kagome screamed.
"Kagome? Kikyo? Is everything ok?" asked Sesshomaru through his shell.
"Yeah what's going on? Why all the yelling? Did something happen?" asked Inuyasha.
"Sorry… Sessomaru. Sorry… Enuyasa. Kagome…. um… trouble. No come." Kikyo said.
"Trouble? What's going on? Where are you?" asked Sesshomaru.
"Kagome no home. Kagame… um... hide. Kagome… no problemz." Kagome replied making Sesshomaru and Inuyasha sigh with relief.
"You sure you are safe? If you need me I can get a boat and come find you." Sesshomaru said.
"Yeah just let us know what to do." said Inuyasha.
"No, no, Kagome ok. No come." Kagome said.
"You are sure?" asked Sesshomaru
"Jah… no come." said Kagome sadly.
"Ok good. So… what was all the yelling for?" asked Inuyasha.
"Kagome, Kikyo… trouble. Father... um... make fight. Kagome, Kikyo no come… (Sniff) no more." Kagome said with fresh tears.
"What do you mean? Fight? No come, no more?" asked Inuyasha as he looked at his brother with concern and confusion reflecting in both their eyes.
"Father… no like Sessomaru, no Enuyasa." said Kikyo with a quivering jaw. "Father fight. No come… (sniff) no... (sniff) more." she began to cry with heavy hiccups.
"Hey… hey its ok, no need to cry" said Inuyasha gently but what was said next made his stomach twist in a knot.
"Mermen fight… (sniff, sniff). One mermen… (sniff) Kikyo, Kagome one. Father... (sniff) say so." Kikyo said through tears.
The brothers just looked at each other as they held their shells to their ears. They both reflected the same defeated expressions with clenched jaws, slumped shoulders, and clenched fists. They knew this day was coming where they would have to say goodbye but they hadn't expected it to be so soon. Having the sisters crying on the other end of the line and them not being able to do anything about was also very frustrating. With Kagome somewhere out in the ocean away from the safety of her family it made them extremely nervous, especially Sesshomaru. They wished to be able to hold and comfort them in their arms but that too was taken from them. It was true the brothers had grown quite attached to the sisters but fate was cruel and joined them together only to be torn apart. They were to be forever separated by land and sea. This was not the way they wished to have said goodbye.
"We... understand." said Sesshomaru "Please... let us know if there is anything you need in the future. You are always welcome."
"Muchas… gracias, Sesso…(sniff) maru." Kikyo said. "Adios… Sesshomaru. (Sniff) Adi (sniff) os.. Enu.. (Sniff) ya.. su."
"Aaa… adios…Kk Kikyo" Inuyasha stuttered quietly. He was devastated. His ears were laying back on his head and his bangs covered his eyes.
"Adios Kikyo. Adios… Kagome." Sesshomaru said.
"Aaaa… adios (Sniff Sniff) … Sess..so (Sniff) mmm ma..ru." Kagome said through a shaky whisper. He could hear the emotion in her voice.
After that the line went silent and the brothers lowered their now dormant shells to their chests. They stood there in the courtyard in silence, neither moving. The only sounds around them were the chirping of crickets and the gentle breeze blowing through the palm trees. After a few minuets Inuyasha erupted in built up emotion and trembled with anger he had never experienced before. Grabbing a nearby vase he chucks it as hard as he can into the wall by the stairs, smashing it to pieces.
"DAMN IT!" yelled Inuyasha as he ran his hands through his hair.
"Calm yourself brother. You knew this day was coming." Sesshomaru said stiffly.
"I KNOW THAT! ITS JUST… NOT how… I wanted it to end." He finished quietly before turning away from his brother and going up the stairs to his room.
Sesshomaru looked up into the moon before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. Feeling the weight of the shell around his neck he lift his hand up to rub his finger along its face. He decided then that it would be his most precious possession and would keep it with him always. Behind his closed eyes he could still see her smiling face, her beautiful body. He could imagine her touch and hear her laughter. His inner beast whimpered at the lost and was calling him to chase after her. But they both knew that they couldn't. Sesshomaru would truly miss his little mermaid and he prayed to the gods that whoever became her mate would treat her for the truly amazing goddess she was. Slipping his shell inside of his shirt he makes his way back up the stairs to retire for the rest of the night.
Tomorrow would be a busy day. There was only a few more days left before guest would begin appearing at his castle for Inuyasha's birthday celebration. He had to make special preparations for the Duke and his two daughters as well. It was time to put his life back in order and play out what fate had planned for him. Happy or not he would do his duty and honor his father and marry the Duke's daughter. It would only be in his dreams were he could be free to be whatever he wanted and be with his little mermaid once more. Closing the balcony door behind him he washed his face in his washbasin, changed into his sleeping pants and climbed into bed. As he laid on the bed he reclined one arm under his head and played with the shell with his other hand. He closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep dreaming of his little mermaid. Her blue eyes forever warming his breaking heart.
(End of Chapter 7)
(What will happen to Kagome throughout the rest of the night? Will Kikyo and Kagome ever make up? What about with their father? What will happen with the mating games? Who will be the winner? Will Sesshomaru have everything done in time for his guest and Inuyasha's birthday? Only time will tell! Please be sure to follow along to find out and please write a review to let me know how you think the story is going. Likes, dislikes etc. Thanks again for reading!)