The Highwayman
Disclaimer: Don't own The Highwayman, or Inuyasha. So lemme alone to sulk in my little cloud of not-owningness.
The first chapter was in different format than the rest will be, just so you know. The rest will be a few stanzas at the beginning, and then the story.
And thanks for all yer reviews! Now, because I am feeling annoying, I will answer/comment on them. Skip ahead if you are a normal person and that is boring to you.
KougaijiKaziya wrote: duuuude.... ^_^ I like. Great idea, using that song/poem. Question: are you doing an AU thing here? 'cause otherwise calling the demon-exterminators the "Rifles" is a bit anachronistic. ::shrug:: I like! Write more! Onegai? ::puppy eyes::
Glad you like it, and yeah, I suppose it is a little AU, but not too much. But if you hadn't pointed that out to me (and made me look ' anachronistic' up in the dictionary!) then it would be much more. But as it is, you made me think about that a bit, and this is my conclusion. Hope it works for Ye of the Big Words.
IsleofSolitude said: ooooooh, very nice! update soon! who was watching them? And what are the Rifles? Must...read..more!
BWAHAHA!! YE SHALL NEVER KNOW!!! Until this chapter anyway.
And most of the rest were from people who know the poem, and if I copied them here it would likely give it away. So, now onto the story!
He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road is a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching-
Marching- marching-
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn door.
They spoke not a word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
Two of them knelt at her casement with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window, and Hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
They bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now keep good watch!" and they kissed her. She heard the dead man say-
Look for me by the moonlight;
Watch for me by the moonlight;
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!
#####
Kagome awoke early the next morning and peered hopefully out the window into the West. There was no sign of Inuyasha. She sighed with disappointment, and turned away from the view. Her little "surprise" would just have to wait a little longer. He would be back soon enough.
Yawning, she turned over in her bed and tried to fall back asleep, but it wouldn't come. Now that she had woken, it seemed fruitless to try and reverse the process. Besides, sleeping was for the nighttime. Now it was day and there was much to be done. ((A/N: this sentence just makes me shudder. It is the complete opposite of how I think. Sleeping is for the weak! If you have to do it at all, do it in the day. Night is when you're supposed to be active!))
Climbing out of bed, the raven haired girl stretched, yawned again, and left the room, looking for Shippo. Maybe he could entertain her while she waited for Inuyasha's return.
***
All throughout the day Kagome would glance hopefully towards the West, and when no one appeared out of the forest, sigh and go back to her business. Those around her could not help but notice her distraction, and smiled secretly to themselves.
Finally, as the sun sank below the horizon, Kagome sent one last glance towards its dying rays and went inside. She had to curb her impatience for now. Inuyasha would be back, sooner or later. She paused on the steps however, when a faint rustling in the nearby brush caught her attention.
"Hello? Inuyasha?"
There was no response.
She waited for a minute, thinking that the half demon was toying with her, but no further sounds came from the area. With a shrug, she turned and went inside.
As soon as the girl disappeared, eight dark forms slunk from their various hiding spots around the quiet village. With a silent signal, the shadows crept towards Kagome's hut, and distinct a distinct metallic click echoed around them. Inside her dwelling, Kagome looked up at the sound.
"Inuyasha!" she called, "I know you're out there!"
There were footsteps approaching the door and she smiled. So it was him! Finally!
She stood with a smile and looked at the door, waiting for Inuyasha to throw it open moodily and wander over to the fireside.
When the door was thrown open however, it was not Inuyasha.
***
Kagome stared fearfully at the men surrounding her. They had over-powered her almost instantly, quickly and efficiently tied her to her bed post, and even stuck a gag in her mouth! And everything had been done completely silently. None in the surrounding huts had heard. She wiggled her hands behind her, but it was no use. The knots were done by an expert.
As the apparent leader stepped up to her, she studied him. He was dressed in crisp red, from head to toe. There was a flowing crimson scarf covering his features, but Kagome could still see his hard, emotionless eyes.
He held a long stick under his right arm, and she couldn't help but notice the similarities between it and a modern-day gun. She shivered slightly. How she hated guns.
He leaned on it and leered at her, a horrible, emotionless sneer just visible through the claret gauze. She stared up at him defiantly, though inside she was quivering. What was he going to do to her? Why was he here? And when would Inuyasha be back? He could easily get rid of these men.
"Who are you?" she tried to say, but only a muffled squeak emerged from the gag.
He smiled again, seeming to understand her question.
"I'm sure you are wondering, young lady, why we have entered your dwelling. Is that so?"
She only glared at him in response, but he shrugged and continued.
"Kaishi here," he gestured to one of the men standing behind him, "Has been watching your demon friend for quite some time."
Kagome looked at the man the leader had pointed out. He had a mad, crazed look about him, insanity shining in his dark eyes. Oily, listless long hair protruded in odd angles from the crimson scarf over his face, and his skin was as pale as any corpse's. He grinned at her too, but his was even more unnerving than the leader's. She shuddered and turned back to the first man.
"Well, when my dear scout Kaishi saw the demon's feelings for you, he realized that you would make an excellent hostage. He needed only to wait for the right moment. And when your friend left without you, he found it," the man grinned a third time, looking this time like a cat playing with a cornered mouse.
"And so, when your demon comes back from his… quest, we will be ready."
Kagome's eyes must have reflected her confusion, for the man explained further.
"Forgive my lack of manners in not introducing myself. I am Chuutou, and this is my group: the Rifles. We travel the land, killing demons and all those in league with them. Unfortunately, that puts you and your friend on our list of those who must die. No hard feelings, right?"
Kagome's eyes widened at this, then narrowed. Who did these people think they were? There was nothing she hated more than vigilantes with weapons.
"Right. And I'm sure you're wondering about this little contraptions," he hefted the gunnish looking thing in his hands proudly. "These were given to us by a wise and powerful alchemist. Very strong magic. I simply pull this little lever here, and it emits a blast and a ball of led at speeds so fast they can pass through a demon's body, leaving only a bloody hole to tell of its presence. Impressive, ne? The mighty alchemist gave us these tools on one condition: we become the Rifles, and kill all demons. And that is why we are here."
Kagome blinked in surprise at him, for a number of reasons. He had just described a modern gun, give or take a few details. Who exactly was the alchemist that had made these? And why would he want all demons dead?
She was shaken from her thoughts when Chuutou knelt beside her. He swiftly bound the gun to her, its barrel just below her heart. She started. What was he doing now?
"Ah, my dear, no worries. I shall simply leave this with you to make sure you don't try to escape. Now just sit here like a good girl until the demon comes. Then we will have no further use for you, and we can release you into death. Now come, men, into hiding until the demon arrives!"
As the Rifles retreated, Kagome closed her eyes. In her mind, she replayed her last conversation with Inuyasha.
"I'll see you tomorrow night," he had said, bold tones ringing with confidence, "No matter what they think they can do, I'll be back by at least tomorrow night. Watch for me."
A worried frown crossed her normally unlined face and her skin visibly paled. But it was not herself she was worried about. What was going to happen to Inuyasha?
***
Oh-h-h-h… I am so full of raisins. I can't eat another bite.
Yea… my step-mom gave me raisins for Christmas. Six boxes of them. She loves me!
Anyway, sorry it took so incredibly long to finish this. I was stuck on the sentence ' As the Rifles retreated, Kagome closed her eyes' I had no idea what to do after that! I knew I was close to the end, I just couldn't finish it! GAAHH!! But it's done now. Praise Rah.
Please review! Cause then I shall-ith be happy and not come to kill ye with bloody sporks and koalas!
