Whoo hoo! Updating! Yeah baby! Sorry it took so long! I had mid terms
and papers due (technically I still am in mid-term land) and Emily had
work. (Yes, the PoF is lazy and has no job.) Glad to see you all liked
the last chapter! ^_^ Thanks for all the fuzzy reviews!
Bloodbunny: You don't like a mean Sesshomaru? Um. well, at least he's still sexy in this story, right?
Real-Rosie: How could we make anything bad happen to them? Although there are on a pirate ship. so whips and chains might come up a few times.. Just kidding! Just kidding!
Chibi-Kerochan: He did, and he might again. Sesshomaru have respect for Yasha? Well. maybe somewhere deep down inside. Really deep. And all the other pirates are horrid. For now, anyway. But, then, Kouga's developing more and where's Miroku and Sango, hm? Maybe I said too much...
Storymind: I'm notorious for my cliffhangers. Wait till you see some of the others. ^_^
DemonKitty: When doesn't Inuyasha get into trouble?
Silentslayer: I could tell you what happens to Kagome, but this is what the chapter is for. *winks*
Hope you guys all enjoy the next chapter just as much! And yes, we still don't own Inuyasha, or Kagome, or Sesshy, or anybody else in this fic. I don't even own so much as Inuyasha's pillow, although Emmie's working on the legal rights to his pants.
He walked into his elder brother's rooms, and shut the door before Jaken could come up. 'Damn brown-nosing demon,' he thought, as he proceeded to stand in front of his brother's desk. He clasped his hands behind his back. "So, what it is you wanted to talk to me about now?"
In one swift angry movement, Sesshomaru was around the desk, his hand clasped around Inuyasha's throat and his sibling pinned against the wall. "Show respect!" Sesshomaru growled into his face. Though his temper flaring, not showing it in the least physically. "Are you actually trying to bluff me about what was going on in there?"
Wincing, Inuyasha still managed to give his captain an infuriating smile. "Well, that depends. Tell me what you think was going on in there, and I'll tell you whether or not it's true."
Sesshomaru snickered. "Don't play tough with me." He warned and dropped Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, you stink of rut. That room smells of blood." Sesshomaru stated all the obvious things. "I do not ask my crew to answer me when they pillage, or when they rape. But when they perform ceremonies? Oh yes. You know the rules about them too." Sesshomaru said in deadly calm, looking disgusted with this creature he called kin. "You keep bringing in the strays."
"All right," he admitted. "I bit her. So what? Jakotsu says it's sign of dominion. He said it increased pleasure. And I figured: 'What the fuck? I might as well try it. After all, I like pleasure, and I'm the dominant one.' So I don't see what the big deal is."
Sesshomaru almost felt a pitying condensation for Inuyasha. Sitting in his plush seat behind his desk, Sesshomaru toyed with a dagger in his hand. "Just how dense are you?" He asked contemptuously. "You are a miserable half demon. Inuyasha, HALF. By law you are not allowed to perform full demon right rituals unless allowed." Sesshomaru reminded, the edge of the knife tracing over his facial markings. "To be on a demon ship and know nothing of your other side." Sesshomaru glanced at his brother with a look that was like a blow. "And to think that father sired you as well as me." He muttered, cracking his knuckles releasing a deadly vapor from them. He looked as calm as marble and as cold as stone. For a long while he didn't speak, simply sufficed with looking bored and sleepy. But then he spoke. "To bite another, in the position and situation you had, is to show dominion over a mate." Sesshomaru explained, as though talking to an idiot. "She is food. Game. Not a mate. And had she bitten you back, or shared your blood the way you did hers, that is marriage under demon law." Sesshomaru said then waved the dagger daintily about his desk. "Since you like exampling Manten, let me use him as demonstration here: When he bites his women, he takes chunks out of them to digest. Not for the pleasure of it."
His hands clenched. It was Kagome who had suggested the whole thing! But there was no way she would have known what it truly meant. And to think that Jakotsu had wanted.... ugh! He glared at his brother, looking miserable under Sesshomaru's calm gaze. "I wonder why I don't know any of our laws, when my education was cut short and my own flesh and blood won't teach me anything." He knew his words were dangerous, but he didn't really care anymore. "And if Father was really as much as a bastard as you, then I don't have a problem taking after Mother. After my Mother."
"Yes. It seems that way with the flesh you chose to mate with." Sesshomaru pointed out then stood up slowly and calmly. "How much longer will you continue being a thorn in my side?" He demanded to know. "We will be back home soon... Then, then when under your own roof away from me, you can fuck whatever you want. But not on my ship." Sesshomaru warned then leaned over. "You stink of her." He said matter-of-factly. Sesshomaru was a cold hearted bastard and every once in a while he felt he had to remind people of that. "Kill her."
"Is that everything?" he rudely demanded. His brother flung the dagger at him in response. Inuyasha was one of the few people could tell when Sesshomaru was getting pissed off, and boy was he ever getting mad now that Inuysha was being insolent! Inuyasha, on the other hand, was used to the barbs about him smelling human or acting weak.
The dagger flew by him, nicking his cheek the same way Kagome had hit Kouga. The half-demon didn't even wince. It didn't hurt at all. If anything, it just made him all the more determined to show Sesshomaru that he could be just as brave and determined as his big brother. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll kill her," he promised, letting himself out the door, and purposely stepping on the eaves-dropping Jaken while doing so. He smirked at his brother. "I mean, I'd hate to give you the pleasure of seeing her death."
Shutting the door, he ground Jaken into the floor a bit more before starting to whistle as he walked down the hallway, ready to start his shift for the night.
'I think I got it now,' he thought to himself, balancing the long bow and the arrows. The long bow was three times his size, and the arrows were three feet each, embedded in the wall and floor. He'd heard from passing pirates that a girl had done this, but he couldn't believe it. Shippo wondered if a human girl could even have drawn the bow! The arrows toppled over again, and he swore, like any good pirate.
Tirelessly working to collect them all again, he was suddenly struck by an idea that would have saved him two hours of work. He collected his magic, there was the sound of a popping bubble, and green smoke loitered in the otherwise still hallway.
He'd changed himself in a Shippo that was six feet tall. Now he could carry the bow and arrows! Proudly smiling, he walked down the hallway and knocked on Inuyasha's door. He liked Inuyasha. Sure, the second-in- command was only half demon, but even when Inuyasha picked on Shippo, he was always careful not to hurt him. Not like some of the other people. In fact, Shippo actually had a nasty scar from Jakotsu on his. . . .
There was no answer. "Lord Inuyasha? Are you here? Hello?"
Kagome was pacing back and forth through the entire room. In her frenzy and nerves tidying it up as well. When she heard the knock, Kagome stopped in her tracks and looked at the door suspiciously. Rushing over the bed, Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows and strung them. "Who's there?" Kagome demanded.
Jumping back from the door, Shippo 'popped' back into his normal form and once again scattered the arrows. He picked them up in scoops this time, is tail rolling with excitement. There was a girl in there!
"I'm Shippo!" he said, once the arrows were off the floor. "Inuyasha asked me to collect his things for him. Please unlock the door! I don't know how long I can hold them!"
Kagome hesitated. He had told her to open the door for Shippo... But still. Shaking her head, Kagome cursed herself. "I'm being foolish," She whispered and lowered her weapons. Walking over to the door, Kagome steadied herself for the beast she was sure to face. Unlocking the door, Kagome opened it just a crack and looked out. No one was there... Looking down, Kagome's eyes grew wide and bright. 'How cute!' Kagome thought then opened the door wider and bent down to help the young boy with the arrows. "Thank you for collecting them."
"No problem!" he chirped. He couldn't remember when he last saw a pretty human girl this close before. Shippo stared at her. "You don't look like you could've sent those arrows into wall," he doubted out loud.
Kagome giggled and looked down the hall. This was her chance to escape, she had a full quiver a bow handy, her capture missing and just a kid to deal with.. But Kagome couldn't bring herself too. Not yet. "Come in, would you? I was asked to keep the door closed." Kagome explained as she put the arrows down on the table. "You don't look like you fit in here." Kagome returned the same spoken out loud doubts at Shippo, he was a kid, young and cute. Looking utterly harmless. And cute!
"We're demons," the kid pointed out. He hopped up on Inuyasha's bed, swinging his legs as his feet didn't touch the ground. "We're not supposed to even be here, so of course we don't fit... oh! You meant on the ship!" Shippo laughed. "Why wouldn't I fit in on a ship full of demons? I'm one of them, after all."
"You don't seem as cruel as them." Kagome explained as she locked the door and straightened out her kimono. "What did you mean that you aren't suppose to even be here?" Kagome inquired innocently enough as she settled on the bed beside the little demon. For a second wondering if he knew what had gone on a while ago just at the spot he sat. Kagome's face flushed at the memories and she lightly touched her neck. She could heal other bruises but it was as if this one had a barrier around it not allowing her to heal it.
Shippo gave her a puzzled look. "The rumors said you have magic, but I guess you can't be a very good priestess if you don't know about demons!" he huffed, but began to explain. "See, demons belong in another world, the demon world. Every once in awhile, we cross over and have a bit of fun, but generally, we don't like being here. It'd be like eating candy all the time. It's good at first, but eventually you'd get a tummy ache. Most of us would gladly return home, but we can't. The bridge between our worlds was broken."
Kagome found this fascinating and leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. "How did it break?" She asked like a child enthralled in a tale.
"Well," he drew out the word, debating telling her, but Shippo wasn't old enough yet to learn when to stop talking. "We're not really sure about that. It was a pretty strong bridge, after all. Not a physical one, though. Some demons say it was an ancient spell that broke it, others say it was the will of the Gods, so that we could have fun here. They're the ones who don't care if they stay here or not. But people like Lord Inuyasha and me, we don't worry about how it broke, so much as why it broke. The bridge broke to strand us here, but nobody can figure out why Naraku would want to strand us in a place like this."
Kagome arched a brow. "Tell me more about Naraku and Inuyasha?"
Shippo laughed pleasantly. "Oh, Lady, I can tell you anything you want about Naraku, but anything I know about Inuyasha's totally top-secret! Naraku's one of the noble demons, er, the demons of the royal court. He got a little too big for breeches and over threw the King. By doing so, he gained control of all the portals and threw the King, and all those loyal to the real monarch into this world, then shattered each doorway back home to ensure the safety of his rule." His cheeks went a little pink. "So now we're trying to figure out a way back home, which I'm sure you must be glad to hear, since it means we won't be abducting girls anymore."
Kagome snickered at the boy. "You pick up quick." She muttered then thought about it. "So everyone on this ship were loyal to the old king? Who was the old king?" Kagome asked then smiled at the boy. "Inuyasha must be a good friend if you don't want to share his secrets or talk about Kikyo." Kagome said, looking away innocently.
He blinked. Shippo's green eyes then stared at her, glowing with their own demonic light. "How do you know about Kikyo?" he asked in an awed voice. Then he shook his head. "Yeah, we're all old to... to the true King, because, I mean, he's not that old. Who do you think it is?" he then queried, peering and smiling at her in a way that was more childish than demonic.
Kagome crossed her legs on the bed and balanced her elbows on her knees. This was a game of wits, this is all it as. Just a game of wits. A game of wits with a little demonic boy. A demonic boy, that maybe if she managed to outwit could give her some sort of clue as to how to get out of her, or free those girls. Maybe this old king was just and then she could reason with him- Kagome paused her thoughts and looked around. They were on a ship. If the last king had been killed, there would be no need for banishing anyone because their loyalties would be buried along with the king. But if the king was exiled... Kagome felt an odd fear creep up her spine. "T-The captain?" Kagome ventured, her head suddenly reeling. If it really was Sesshomaru... Well shit. She'd just been making out with a demon prince. And enjoying it too. Double shit.
"I know a lot of things." Kagome said playing around with her fingers, intertwining them in her lap. "I'm magical after all, remember?" Kagome asked hiding the fact that her powers weren't working that well since demon boy bit her. "The question is, how do you know about Kikyo?" Kagome ventured and smiled to herself. Yep! That was the way! Confuse him. That was the way to outwit him. Kagome groaned inwardly. She was playing games with a demon boy. There had to be some way to get off of this ship!
The demon boy nodded. "Yup. King Sesshomaru. Except because he doesn't hold the throne, it's Captain Sesshomaru." He stopped swinging his legs and did a headstand on Inuyasha's bed. Although it almost appeared he was bored of the situation, he was actually quite enjoying their conversation. "Well.... everybody on the ships knows about Kikyo. Her screams. . . ." He shuddered and fell over, crossing his tiny arms over his chest. "Talking about Kikyo only brings up bad memories! Don't you have something happy to talk about?"
Kagome's heart came to a sudden halt. 'Her screams?' Kagome thought and wondered if she really looked the way she felt, as though the blood had just been drained out of her. Not by Inuyasha's bite this time. "Well, you're a demon. This is suppose to be happy talk for you, isn't it?" Kagome tried. Picking up one of her arrows, Kagome sleeked her fingers over it. "I'll make you a deal. Why don't you tell me a little more about Kikyo- I forgot all the details already, you know. And I'll show you a trick."
"Really?" His eyes began to look happy. "Okay, but don't tell Lord Inuyasha, promise?"
This time, Kagome's smile was genuine and quite sneaky. "Upon this bite mark." Kagome said with a wink then nodded. "Go on!"
Being still young himself, Shippo didn't quite latch on to anything regarding the bite mark. Although he really wanted to be taught a trick, he knew he was breaking a rule. But... as long as no one found out! "Kikyo had magic, like you. She looked a lot like you, too, with the dark hair and stuff. Inuyasha captured her on one of the raids. But then Captain Sesshomaru began to think that maybe they were spending a bit too much time together. He didn't make anything about Inuyasha keeping her in his rooms, because the laws about girls weren't quite so strict then. Sesshomaru made it that way so another Kikyo incident would never happen. He caught Inuyasha trying to set her free as we passed by a small port in the middle of the night."
Shippo stopped, swallowing, as he came to the darkest part of the story. "The Captain beat my Lord Inuyasha so badly he couldn't walk for a week, but he didn't think that a beating would make him remember. So instead of just killing Kikyo, he.... tortured her first. He did it himself, just to make Lord Inuyasha hate him even more. Her screams could be heard from one end of the ship, all the way to the other. Captain Sesshomaru wanted to make sure that Inuyasha would never try and set a girl free again. And he changed the rules too, telling us that anybody who tried to set a girl free again would forfeit our own lives in the process." He sniffled again, remembering it as he had tended to his Lord's wound as the priestess's voice cut through the air. "She lasted five days."
Kagome felt the vile rise up in her throat. So that was why... Oh gods. Kagome stared wild eyed at the young demon who couldn't possibly understand what his story just meant to her. Their bargain was... A sham then. How... In... Kagome felt dizzy. The rocking of the boat didn't help either. Placing her palm to her forehead, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut. "The poor woman..." Kagome whispered then thought about Inuyasha, the bite suddenly pulsing at her side causing her to swat it like a mosquito and then cringe at the pain. 'Poor Inuyasha...' She thought, trying to picture it in her mind.
Then it dawned on her. She really, really was trapped here. Unless, what if she tried to escape without Inuyasha's knowing? Then his life wouldn't be in danger, though she doubted as much because of Sesshomaru's wrath. If he could beat his own brother up that badly... "Would you say he is a good man?" Kagome whispered under her breath. "Inuyasha."
He was strangely quiet for a second. "Yes," he calmly replied, thinking of how the silver-haired demon treated him. "He's not a good demon, and he's not a good human, but he's still Lord Inuyasha. He's loyal, and he's a great fighter, for being a scholar. He's never let anybody beat me when I did something wrong, but he's still half-demon."
Kagome sat there quietly for a moment. Feeling the walls close in on her. He was a good man, then going by what Shippo said. And following her own senses, Kagome too could tell that he was good. Well, somewhat. Touching the bite wound, Kagome flinched and lowered her hand back into her lap. But he was a demon. And he was a pirate. And his brother was a full demon letting off evil energy without a soul. And she was a Priestess buying time. There had to be some way to escape and free those girls... Otherwise... Kagome blinked back tears. "Well, that's good." Kagome whispered then held the arrow up before her. Touching its tip and concentrating more than usually needed, Kagome after two attempts managed to pour purifying power into the arrowhead causing it to glow a bright pink. "If I throw it, it will light up like a firecracker." Kagome explained, wondering why it felt so draining using her own energy.
Shippo leaned over, his tail flickering back and forth. "Nifty!" he squeaked. His hands itched to try and take it, but he had more common sense than that. Getting a better look at it, he leaned a bit on Kagome's shoulder, and then what he'd said finally clicked in. Shippo's cheeks began to turn as pink as the arrowhead. "You know, I didn't mean to say that I was never beaten because Lord Inuyasha scared them away! I meant that I scared them away! Because I may look small, but I. . . ." Shippo leaned in closer to Kagome, smelling the air around her. "You smell like Lord Inuyasha."
"Of course, I understand that you are a powerful demon. One of the strongest, no?" Kagome turned a bright pink and looked away from Shippo. "Do I?" She asked with a nervous giggle.
Nodding, he thought of something else. "I have to start my shift now. I start an hour after Lord Inuyasha. He'll be back at midnight. Did you need anything before I go, like food or something?"
Kagome didn't think about it before. This was a pirate ship, meaning they did have to work... She was alone until midnight? Looking around, Kagome noted the porthole and figured that if she managed to loosen it enough she could crawl through... But to what? The sea? No. She would have to give her escape a little more thought. "Oh, um," Kagome thought about it for a moment remembering what the demons on this boat called food. "No, I'm fine, thank you." Kagome said smiling warmly, she depleted the power from the arrow and offered it to Shippo. "Could be fun to play with- If you are careful not to poke yourself with it." Kagome said and looked around. "Um, do you know where Inuyasha keeps his clothes?"
"Thanks!" Shippo chirped. The arrow was a bit big for him, so he used his magic on it, wrapping the arrow up into a little ball that he could put into the pouch at his waist. Then, when he wanted it, all he had to do was to unfold it, and boom! Portable spelled arrow! He pointed at the closet closest to the door, and then sauntered off. "Well, if that's everything, I'll be see you later." He walked halfway out the door, before turning back, a little wave in his foxtail. "I will see you, right, Lady?"
Kagome stared for a moment, feeling despair lighten off of her somewhat as she smiled softly. Nodding, Kagome got off of the bed. "Call me Kagome." She offered. Watching him close the door, Kagome swallowed hard and ran over to the wall. The porthole was rusted shut and would take some work on, Kagome figured but she would be able to open it. Looking at it's size, Kagome knew she could squeeze through, but she had to plan it out better. She had to release those girls, she couldn't just leave them. What if she held on to the side of the ship and made her way about? Kagome shook her head. She'd have to release the girls first, then plan her own escape. Leaving the window alone, Kagome's fingers ran over the wall around it and she turned to look at the rest of the room. She had tidied it earlier, so it looked actually livable now. But... This was a cage and she didn't want to get use to her cage and accept dying in it.
'You smell like Lord Inuyasha.' Kagome remembered the words and shuddered. Shrugging out of her kimono, she fixed it on a hanger over the closet and searched within it for some clothes. They all seemed to be made out of the same cloth. Feeling the martial between her fingers, Kagome bit her lower lip. Fire rat fur. "Well, I can't do everything I want to if I'm clad in a kimono the whole time." Kagome muttered to herself and then remembered what Inuyasha told Sesshomaru. 'I like knowing that I'm the only one who an look at her'. Kagome swallowed and felt suddenly sick, with butterflies in her stomach. Thinking about what Shippo told her with Kikyo... She'd wear the kimono for him. Otherwise, she should be comfortable. Shrugging into a pair of pants and loose shirt, Kagome didn't think for a second at how ridiculous she was. If she took the kimono off because she smelt like him, what was wearing his clothes making her smell like?
Crawling onto the bed, Kagome peered over it's side. "I wonder what he's hiding in that compartment..."
Bloodbunny: You don't like a mean Sesshomaru? Um. well, at least he's still sexy in this story, right?
Real-Rosie: How could we make anything bad happen to them? Although there are on a pirate ship. so whips and chains might come up a few times.. Just kidding! Just kidding!
Chibi-Kerochan: He did, and he might again. Sesshomaru have respect for Yasha? Well. maybe somewhere deep down inside. Really deep. And all the other pirates are horrid. For now, anyway. But, then, Kouga's developing more and where's Miroku and Sango, hm? Maybe I said too much...
Storymind: I'm notorious for my cliffhangers. Wait till you see some of the others. ^_^
DemonKitty: When doesn't Inuyasha get into trouble?
Silentslayer: I could tell you what happens to Kagome, but this is what the chapter is for. *winks*
Hope you guys all enjoy the next chapter just as much! And yes, we still don't own Inuyasha, or Kagome, or Sesshy, or anybody else in this fic. I don't even own so much as Inuyasha's pillow, although Emmie's working on the legal rights to his pants.
He walked into his elder brother's rooms, and shut the door before Jaken could come up. 'Damn brown-nosing demon,' he thought, as he proceeded to stand in front of his brother's desk. He clasped his hands behind his back. "So, what it is you wanted to talk to me about now?"
In one swift angry movement, Sesshomaru was around the desk, his hand clasped around Inuyasha's throat and his sibling pinned against the wall. "Show respect!" Sesshomaru growled into his face. Though his temper flaring, not showing it in the least physically. "Are you actually trying to bluff me about what was going on in there?"
Wincing, Inuyasha still managed to give his captain an infuriating smile. "Well, that depends. Tell me what you think was going on in there, and I'll tell you whether or not it's true."
Sesshomaru snickered. "Don't play tough with me." He warned and dropped Inuyasha. "Inuyasha, you stink of rut. That room smells of blood." Sesshomaru stated all the obvious things. "I do not ask my crew to answer me when they pillage, or when they rape. But when they perform ceremonies? Oh yes. You know the rules about them too." Sesshomaru said in deadly calm, looking disgusted with this creature he called kin. "You keep bringing in the strays."
"All right," he admitted. "I bit her. So what? Jakotsu says it's sign of dominion. He said it increased pleasure. And I figured: 'What the fuck? I might as well try it. After all, I like pleasure, and I'm the dominant one.' So I don't see what the big deal is."
Sesshomaru almost felt a pitying condensation for Inuyasha. Sitting in his plush seat behind his desk, Sesshomaru toyed with a dagger in his hand. "Just how dense are you?" He asked contemptuously. "You are a miserable half demon. Inuyasha, HALF. By law you are not allowed to perform full demon right rituals unless allowed." Sesshomaru reminded, the edge of the knife tracing over his facial markings. "To be on a demon ship and know nothing of your other side." Sesshomaru glanced at his brother with a look that was like a blow. "And to think that father sired you as well as me." He muttered, cracking his knuckles releasing a deadly vapor from them. He looked as calm as marble and as cold as stone. For a long while he didn't speak, simply sufficed with looking bored and sleepy. But then he spoke. "To bite another, in the position and situation you had, is to show dominion over a mate." Sesshomaru explained, as though talking to an idiot. "She is food. Game. Not a mate. And had she bitten you back, or shared your blood the way you did hers, that is marriage under demon law." Sesshomaru said then waved the dagger daintily about his desk. "Since you like exampling Manten, let me use him as demonstration here: When he bites his women, he takes chunks out of them to digest. Not for the pleasure of it."
His hands clenched. It was Kagome who had suggested the whole thing! But there was no way she would have known what it truly meant. And to think that Jakotsu had wanted.... ugh! He glared at his brother, looking miserable under Sesshomaru's calm gaze. "I wonder why I don't know any of our laws, when my education was cut short and my own flesh and blood won't teach me anything." He knew his words were dangerous, but he didn't really care anymore. "And if Father was really as much as a bastard as you, then I don't have a problem taking after Mother. After my Mother."
"Yes. It seems that way with the flesh you chose to mate with." Sesshomaru pointed out then stood up slowly and calmly. "How much longer will you continue being a thorn in my side?" He demanded to know. "We will be back home soon... Then, then when under your own roof away from me, you can fuck whatever you want. But not on my ship." Sesshomaru warned then leaned over. "You stink of her." He said matter-of-factly. Sesshomaru was a cold hearted bastard and every once in a while he felt he had to remind people of that. "Kill her."
"Is that everything?" he rudely demanded. His brother flung the dagger at him in response. Inuyasha was one of the few people could tell when Sesshomaru was getting pissed off, and boy was he ever getting mad now that Inuysha was being insolent! Inuyasha, on the other hand, was used to the barbs about him smelling human or acting weak.
The dagger flew by him, nicking his cheek the same way Kagome had hit Kouga. The half-demon didn't even wince. It didn't hurt at all. If anything, it just made him all the more determined to show Sesshomaru that he could be just as brave and determined as his big brother. "Don't worry, Captain. I'll kill her," he promised, letting himself out the door, and purposely stepping on the eaves-dropping Jaken while doing so. He smirked at his brother. "I mean, I'd hate to give you the pleasure of seeing her death."
Shutting the door, he ground Jaken into the floor a bit more before starting to whistle as he walked down the hallway, ready to start his shift for the night.
'I think I got it now,' he thought to himself, balancing the long bow and the arrows. The long bow was three times his size, and the arrows were three feet each, embedded in the wall and floor. He'd heard from passing pirates that a girl had done this, but he couldn't believe it. Shippo wondered if a human girl could even have drawn the bow! The arrows toppled over again, and he swore, like any good pirate.
Tirelessly working to collect them all again, he was suddenly struck by an idea that would have saved him two hours of work. He collected his magic, there was the sound of a popping bubble, and green smoke loitered in the otherwise still hallway.
He'd changed himself in a Shippo that was six feet tall. Now he could carry the bow and arrows! Proudly smiling, he walked down the hallway and knocked on Inuyasha's door. He liked Inuyasha. Sure, the second-in- command was only half demon, but even when Inuyasha picked on Shippo, he was always careful not to hurt him. Not like some of the other people. In fact, Shippo actually had a nasty scar from Jakotsu on his. . . .
There was no answer. "Lord Inuyasha? Are you here? Hello?"
Kagome was pacing back and forth through the entire room. In her frenzy and nerves tidying it up as well. When she heard the knock, Kagome stopped in her tracks and looked at the door suspiciously. Rushing over the bed, Kagome grabbed her bow and arrows and strung them. "Who's there?" Kagome demanded.
Jumping back from the door, Shippo 'popped' back into his normal form and once again scattered the arrows. He picked them up in scoops this time, is tail rolling with excitement. There was a girl in there!
"I'm Shippo!" he said, once the arrows were off the floor. "Inuyasha asked me to collect his things for him. Please unlock the door! I don't know how long I can hold them!"
Kagome hesitated. He had told her to open the door for Shippo... But still. Shaking her head, Kagome cursed herself. "I'm being foolish," She whispered and lowered her weapons. Walking over to the door, Kagome steadied herself for the beast she was sure to face. Unlocking the door, Kagome opened it just a crack and looked out. No one was there... Looking down, Kagome's eyes grew wide and bright. 'How cute!' Kagome thought then opened the door wider and bent down to help the young boy with the arrows. "Thank you for collecting them."
"No problem!" he chirped. He couldn't remember when he last saw a pretty human girl this close before. Shippo stared at her. "You don't look like you could've sent those arrows into wall," he doubted out loud.
Kagome giggled and looked down the hall. This was her chance to escape, she had a full quiver a bow handy, her capture missing and just a kid to deal with.. But Kagome couldn't bring herself too. Not yet. "Come in, would you? I was asked to keep the door closed." Kagome explained as she put the arrows down on the table. "You don't look like you fit in here." Kagome returned the same spoken out loud doubts at Shippo, he was a kid, young and cute. Looking utterly harmless. And cute!
"We're demons," the kid pointed out. He hopped up on Inuyasha's bed, swinging his legs as his feet didn't touch the ground. "We're not supposed to even be here, so of course we don't fit... oh! You meant on the ship!" Shippo laughed. "Why wouldn't I fit in on a ship full of demons? I'm one of them, after all."
"You don't seem as cruel as them." Kagome explained as she locked the door and straightened out her kimono. "What did you mean that you aren't suppose to even be here?" Kagome inquired innocently enough as she settled on the bed beside the little demon. For a second wondering if he knew what had gone on a while ago just at the spot he sat. Kagome's face flushed at the memories and she lightly touched her neck. She could heal other bruises but it was as if this one had a barrier around it not allowing her to heal it.
Shippo gave her a puzzled look. "The rumors said you have magic, but I guess you can't be a very good priestess if you don't know about demons!" he huffed, but began to explain. "See, demons belong in another world, the demon world. Every once in awhile, we cross over and have a bit of fun, but generally, we don't like being here. It'd be like eating candy all the time. It's good at first, but eventually you'd get a tummy ache. Most of us would gladly return home, but we can't. The bridge between our worlds was broken."
Kagome found this fascinating and leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with interest. "How did it break?" She asked like a child enthralled in a tale.
"Well," he drew out the word, debating telling her, but Shippo wasn't old enough yet to learn when to stop talking. "We're not really sure about that. It was a pretty strong bridge, after all. Not a physical one, though. Some demons say it was an ancient spell that broke it, others say it was the will of the Gods, so that we could have fun here. They're the ones who don't care if they stay here or not. But people like Lord Inuyasha and me, we don't worry about how it broke, so much as why it broke. The bridge broke to strand us here, but nobody can figure out why Naraku would want to strand us in a place like this."
Kagome arched a brow. "Tell me more about Naraku and Inuyasha?"
Shippo laughed pleasantly. "Oh, Lady, I can tell you anything you want about Naraku, but anything I know about Inuyasha's totally top-secret! Naraku's one of the noble demons, er, the demons of the royal court. He got a little too big for breeches and over threw the King. By doing so, he gained control of all the portals and threw the King, and all those loyal to the real monarch into this world, then shattered each doorway back home to ensure the safety of his rule." His cheeks went a little pink. "So now we're trying to figure out a way back home, which I'm sure you must be glad to hear, since it means we won't be abducting girls anymore."
Kagome snickered at the boy. "You pick up quick." She muttered then thought about it. "So everyone on this ship were loyal to the old king? Who was the old king?" Kagome asked then smiled at the boy. "Inuyasha must be a good friend if you don't want to share his secrets or talk about Kikyo." Kagome said, looking away innocently.
He blinked. Shippo's green eyes then stared at her, glowing with their own demonic light. "How do you know about Kikyo?" he asked in an awed voice. Then he shook his head. "Yeah, we're all old to... to the true King, because, I mean, he's not that old. Who do you think it is?" he then queried, peering and smiling at her in a way that was more childish than demonic.
Kagome crossed her legs on the bed and balanced her elbows on her knees. This was a game of wits, this is all it as. Just a game of wits. A game of wits with a little demonic boy. A demonic boy, that maybe if she managed to outwit could give her some sort of clue as to how to get out of her, or free those girls. Maybe this old king was just and then she could reason with him- Kagome paused her thoughts and looked around. They were on a ship. If the last king had been killed, there would be no need for banishing anyone because their loyalties would be buried along with the king. But if the king was exiled... Kagome felt an odd fear creep up her spine. "T-The captain?" Kagome ventured, her head suddenly reeling. If it really was Sesshomaru... Well shit. She'd just been making out with a demon prince. And enjoying it too. Double shit.
"I know a lot of things." Kagome said playing around with her fingers, intertwining them in her lap. "I'm magical after all, remember?" Kagome asked hiding the fact that her powers weren't working that well since demon boy bit her. "The question is, how do you know about Kikyo?" Kagome ventured and smiled to herself. Yep! That was the way! Confuse him. That was the way to outwit him. Kagome groaned inwardly. She was playing games with a demon boy. There had to be some way to get off of this ship!
The demon boy nodded. "Yup. King Sesshomaru. Except because he doesn't hold the throne, it's Captain Sesshomaru." He stopped swinging his legs and did a headstand on Inuyasha's bed. Although it almost appeared he was bored of the situation, he was actually quite enjoying their conversation. "Well.... everybody on the ships knows about Kikyo. Her screams. . . ." He shuddered and fell over, crossing his tiny arms over his chest. "Talking about Kikyo only brings up bad memories! Don't you have something happy to talk about?"
Kagome's heart came to a sudden halt. 'Her screams?' Kagome thought and wondered if she really looked the way she felt, as though the blood had just been drained out of her. Not by Inuyasha's bite this time. "Well, you're a demon. This is suppose to be happy talk for you, isn't it?" Kagome tried. Picking up one of her arrows, Kagome sleeked her fingers over it. "I'll make you a deal. Why don't you tell me a little more about Kikyo- I forgot all the details already, you know. And I'll show you a trick."
"Really?" His eyes began to look happy. "Okay, but don't tell Lord Inuyasha, promise?"
This time, Kagome's smile was genuine and quite sneaky. "Upon this bite mark." Kagome said with a wink then nodded. "Go on!"
Being still young himself, Shippo didn't quite latch on to anything regarding the bite mark. Although he really wanted to be taught a trick, he knew he was breaking a rule. But... as long as no one found out! "Kikyo had magic, like you. She looked a lot like you, too, with the dark hair and stuff. Inuyasha captured her on one of the raids. But then Captain Sesshomaru began to think that maybe they were spending a bit too much time together. He didn't make anything about Inuyasha keeping her in his rooms, because the laws about girls weren't quite so strict then. Sesshomaru made it that way so another Kikyo incident would never happen. He caught Inuyasha trying to set her free as we passed by a small port in the middle of the night."
Shippo stopped, swallowing, as he came to the darkest part of the story. "The Captain beat my Lord Inuyasha so badly he couldn't walk for a week, but he didn't think that a beating would make him remember. So instead of just killing Kikyo, he.... tortured her first. He did it himself, just to make Lord Inuyasha hate him even more. Her screams could be heard from one end of the ship, all the way to the other. Captain Sesshomaru wanted to make sure that Inuyasha would never try and set a girl free again. And he changed the rules too, telling us that anybody who tried to set a girl free again would forfeit our own lives in the process." He sniffled again, remembering it as he had tended to his Lord's wound as the priestess's voice cut through the air. "She lasted five days."
Kagome felt the vile rise up in her throat. So that was why... Oh gods. Kagome stared wild eyed at the young demon who couldn't possibly understand what his story just meant to her. Their bargain was... A sham then. How... In... Kagome felt dizzy. The rocking of the boat didn't help either. Placing her palm to her forehead, Kagome squeezed her eyes shut. "The poor woman..." Kagome whispered then thought about Inuyasha, the bite suddenly pulsing at her side causing her to swat it like a mosquito and then cringe at the pain. 'Poor Inuyasha...' She thought, trying to picture it in her mind.
Then it dawned on her. She really, really was trapped here. Unless, what if she tried to escape without Inuyasha's knowing? Then his life wouldn't be in danger, though she doubted as much because of Sesshomaru's wrath. If he could beat his own brother up that badly... "Would you say he is a good man?" Kagome whispered under her breath. "Inuyasha."
He was strangely quiet for a second. "Yes," he calmly replied, thinking of how the silver-haired demon treated him. "He's not a good demon, and he's not a good human, but he's still Lord Inuyasha. He's loyal, and he's a great fighter, for being a scholar. He's never let anybody beat me when I did something wrong, but he's still half-demon."
Kagome sat there quietly for a moment. Feeling the walls close in on her. He was a good man, then going by what Shippo said. And following her own senses, Kagome too could tell that he was good. Well, somewhat. Touching the bite wound, Kagome flinched and lowered her hand back into her lap. But he was a demon. And he was a pirate. And his brother was a full demon letting off evil energy without a soul. And she was a Priestess buying time. There had to be some way to escape and free those girls... Otherwise... Kagome blinked back tears. "Well, that's good." Kagome whispered then held the arrow up before her. Touching its tip and concentrating more than usually needed, Kagome after two attempts managed to pour purifying power into the arrowhead causing it to glow a bright pink. "If I throw it, it will light up like a firecracker." Kagome explained, wondering why it felt so draining using her own energy.
Shippo leaned over, his tail flickering back and forth. "Nifty!" he squeaked. His hands itched to try and take it, but he had more common sense than that. Getting a better look at it, he leaned a bit on Kagome's shoulder, and then what he'd said finally clicked in. Shippo's cheeks began to turn as pink as the arrowhead. "You know, I didn't mean to say that I was never beaten because Lord Inuyasha scared them away! I meant that I scared them away! Because I may look small, but I. . . ." Shippo leaned in closer to Kagome, smelling the air around her. "You smell like Lord Inuyasha."
"Of course, I understand that you are a powerful demon. One of the strongest, no?" Kagome turned a bright pink and looked away from Shippo. "Do I?" She asked with a nervous giggle.
Nodding, he thought of something else. "I have to start my shift now. I start an hour after Lord Inuyasha. He'll be back at midnight. Did you need anything before I go, like food or something?"
Kagome didn't think about it before. This was a pirate ship, meaning they did have to work... She was alone until midnight? Looking around, Kagome noted the porthole and figured that if she managed to loosen it enough she could crawl through... But to what? The sea? No. She would have to give her escape a little more thought. "Oh, um," Kagome thought about it for a moment remembering what the demons on this boat called food. "No, I'm fine, thank you." Kagome said smiling warmly, she depleted the power from the arrow and offered it to Shippo. "Could be fun to play with- If you are careful not to poke yourself with it." Kagome said and looked around. "Um, do you know where Inuyasha keeps his clothes?"
"Thanks!" Shippo chirped. The arrow was a bit big for him, so he used his magic on it, wrapping the arrow up into a little ball that he could put into the pouch at his waist. Then, when he wanted it, all he had to do was to unfold it, and boom! Portable spelled arrow! He pointed at the closet closest to the door, and then sauntered off. "Well, if that's everything, I'll be see you later." He walked halfway out the door, before turning back, a little wave in his foxtail. "I will see you, right, Lady?"
Kagome stared for a moment, feeling despair lighten off of her somewhat as she smiled softly. Nodding, Kagome got off of the bed. "Call me Kagome." She offered. Watching him close the door, Kagome swallowed hard and ran over to the wall. The porthole was rusted shut and would take some work on, Kagome figured but she would be able to open it. Looking at it's size, Kagome knew she could squeeze through, but she had to plan it out better. She had to release those girls, she couldn't just leave them. What if she held on to the side of the ship and made her way about? Kagome shook her head. She'd have to release the girls first, then plan her own escape. Leaving the window alone, Kagome's fingers ran over the wall around it and she turned to look at the rest of the room. She had tidied it earlier, so it looked actually livable now. But... This was a cage and she didn't want to get use to her cage and accept dying in it.
'You smell like Lord Inuyasha.' Kagome remembered the words and shuddered. Shrugging out of her kimono, she fixed it on a hanger over the closet and searched within it for some clothes. They all seemed to be made out of the same cloth. Feeling the martial between her fingers, Kagome bit her lower lip. Fire rat fur. "Well, I can't do everything I want to if I'm clad in a kimono the whole time." Kagome muttered to herself and then remembered what Inuyasha told Sesshomaru. 'I like knowing that I'm the only one who an look at her'. Kagome swallowed and felt suddenly sick, with butterflies in her stomach. Thinking about what Shippo told her with Kikyo... She'd wear the kimono for him. Otherwise, she should be comfortable. Shrugging into a pair of pants and loose shirt, Kagome didn't think for a second at how ridiculous she was. If she took the kimono off because she smelt like him, what was wearing his clothes making her smell like?
Crawling onto the bed, Kagome peered over it's side. "I wonder what he's hiding in that compartment..."