A/N. It's a quick update for Pale Moonlight? Is the world ending or is she actually sticking to her resolution? Only time will tell. This chapter you'll met Uedo, and once again tell me if I need to describe him better. All thanks to Anti Fluffy, my first reviewer! Here's my review response:
Anti Fluffy: Hooray! My first reviewer for this story! And you liked it! I'm glad I got the accents down, that's always something that bugged me with other stories. As for the Courter Master thing, yes I did mean quartermaster. Sorry, but I wasn't sure how to spell that so I kinda had to guess and, um…Look! Shiny!
Once again thanks to Anti Fluffy. But your probably skipping over my A/N's so shame on you and on with the next chapter!
Disclaimer: So ye still think I be in ownership of Inuyasha, aye? Looks like they'll be another for the keelhauling! Or ye could always walk the plank. Into the Atlantic Ocean!
Deep Blue
By Pale Moonlight
Chapter 2: First Blood
The sun burned Uedo's dark, midnight blue eyes as he stepped outside. He supposed that his pupils would grow larger, or smaller; whatever pupils did, for the change in the light, had he had pupils and not slits. The tan cat ears upon his head told all those who hadn't guessed after the six years he'd been aboard this ship he was in fact a neko youkai. Uedo quickly placed his long sliverish hair in a loose, low set ponytail, bangs out and messy as always, before venturing out onto the deck.
Miroku already stood out there, a smirk covering his face. The wind was unkind to his baggy black pants and brown leather vest, and Miroku would very likely been shivering had it not been for his pride and the white shirt beneath the vest. Uedo looked to his attire, ratty brown pants, long sleeve tan shirt, belt in shreds, black boots scratched to disgrace; yes it had indeed been a while since their last raid. His cutlass would still shimmer though; Uedo had faced cuts in his profits far to many times to not keep his sword clean.
Inuyasha was still no where to be seen, and Uedo gave a skeptical look towards Miroku. Looking out over the sea, Uedo confirmed the ship was indeed the one he thought it to be. The captain wasn't going to like this.
A few more seconds, then captain burst out of his room, apparently having made some last minute plans. After seeing everyone of any importance was there, Miroku the first mate, Kouga the second mate, and Uedo the quartermaster, Inuyasha gave his sign and walked over to the railing, preparing to yell his signal to the cannons.
" Um, captain," stated Uedo.
" What is it?" Inuyasha barked back, " It better be important. If ye hadn't noticed we were getting ready to fire."
" It's about the ship, sir."
Sir. Uedo had called him sir. Something had to be wrong.
" Well, say what you have to say so we can be on with it."
" The ship's owned by H.J. Higurashi so…"
" I've been with the sea long enough not to be frighten by the new big bad Commodore, Uedo."
" That's not it captain'."
" Never mind. Any more of this idly chatter and we'll be spotted." Inuyasha cleared his voice and yelled, "Cannons! Ready at my mark…"
" But captain," said Uedo.
" Hold your tongue Uedo! Cannons ready, FIRE!"
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Black: adj. a shade that is void of color
Sail: n. material used to propel a ship by catching the wind
Kagome could define both words, and think why each word might be frightening, but together the two words seemed rather unworthy of the setup that Sayuir was putting around them. She racked her brain for an answer, but all this gave Kagome was a headache and the though of if one could actually rack their own brain.
" So the ship has black sails," said Kagome, "What is that supposed to mean?"
A shock at side gave Kagome her answer. The ocean seemed to shake the ship for a mere second, throwing its riders back to the left side. As Kagome hit the floor and stood up, legs rather shell shocked, she was rather happy for the first time to be on the right side of the boat.
" Commodore Higurashi! We've been fired on!" yelled a voice somewhere above Kagome's throbbing head.
Someone took out a telescope and looked across the ocean, and brought all hell loose as he uttered one word, "Pirates."
One lady screamed, and then the air was filled with the sound of shrieking, shuffling, and "Get the hell out of my way, man!" as people raced below deck. All order was lost, and not even Commodore Higurashi's voice could restore it.
" All ladies below deck. Ladies! Joseph! Come back this instant! Men, grab whatever arms you can and…MEN! Get back here! They're merely pirates while you the cherished members of the Royal…MEN!"
The next seconds were blurred to Kagome, see merely remembered another shock that brought down whatever was carrying her, and her father's voice yelling at her to go below deck.
At her first moment that was not hazy, Kagome was in a hallway filled with people, all pushing past her and running, running down deep into wherever they were.
" Kagome!" someone yelled, "What are you doing? This way, we must go this way!"
" Sayuir?" Kagome thought aloud.
" Aye, Sayuir, now come on! Down this hallway!"
The hallway proved to be a very narrow space with about three doorways. Sayuir had already opened up one door, and Sango was pushing her into the room. The door slammed and clicked locked without Sayuir entering, leaving Sango and Kagome alone in the dark.
" Where are we?" asked Kagome, rubbing her head.
" We're on a ship." answered Sango.
" I know that," hastily responded Kagome, "But what room are we in?"
" I think some sort of storage area. Look."
With the light slipping in from the doorways, Kagome was able to make elongated figures ending in a wide circle hanging up above their heads, swaying with the ship and hitting each other every once in a while with a soft clang.
" Frying pans?" said Kagome.
" Yes, frying pans."
" Well, where's Sayuir? She's obviously not in here," cried Kagome.
" She went to look for a rat."
" A rat?"
" Sayuir said if she could find a rat its blood would cover up our scent pretty well."
Another shake overcame the ship, and random frying pans fell off their hooks. Kagome grabbed on to Sango to steady herself.
" I hope she can find one," whispered Kagome, "We're going to need all the help we can get."
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" Alright men, hold your fire! We won't be wanting to many holes in that ship. Kouga, go steer us up along side her. Let's see if the redcoats can compromise."
" Aye aye, captain," responded Kouga jumping up to the steering wheel.
" I won't have you talking to me like that, Kouga," barked Inuyasha, "Now bring us right along side her and I'll determine if your still useful to me."
Kouga mumbled a few choice words to that but did what Inuyasha said nevertheless. He was no fool; Inuyasha would take away his share just as quick as looking at him. This was his element, the wood felt right beneath his hands, he felt every turn and creak beneath his feet, and for once as though he should be in charge, not Inuyasha. The Tainted Shikon rode up right along side their prey, barely five feet away. Kouga smiled, that was his new record. The ten-foot planks used for boarding would be proved fairly useless. Only Inuyasha's glare was able to break Kouga's pride at that moment.
The lobsterbacks had a petty line of men with guns and swords to meet the pirates, and Inuyasha could not hold back a smirk. If any of them had brains, they'd be bargin' for their lives.
" Rouges of the sea!" yelled one of the more heavily ornamented men, " Give me your Captain so I may give him my deal."
" Aye," called out Inuyasha, leaning over the railing, "I be right here. State your deal, though it will likely fall on deaf ears."
A few pirates snickered at that, and the man turned pinkish.
" Now see here! I am about to make you a deal you'd be a fool to refuse. This is my ship, not some Navy ship you're used to capturing. This ship is loaded with the highest-ranking members of the Royal Navy of England. If you leave now, we will not take chase."
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" What are they saying?" whispered Kagome.
Sango was standing on some box of some sort listening to the events taking place above them on deck.
" Can't be sure, but it sounds like your father is trying to compromise with the them."
" Compromise? They're bloody pirates!"
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" Your terms be inviting," yelled back Inuyasha, smirking at the stupidity of the man, " But it fails to equally fulfill both sides of the apparent compromise we have made, so I feel I must disapprove of ye's bargain and decline to ye's offer."
Silence.
" I thought they were pirates," whispered one of the men in line.
" If ye are so thick," said Inuyasha, " I means you must be out of your bloody minds to offer such a proposal. But here, I'll offer ye better one. If ye lay down on ye bloody stomachs till we take everything we want out of your ship, we won't kill you…all."
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" So, what now?" asked Kagome.
" They aren't exactly seeing eye to eye, your father and the pirates."
" Sango, I'm not a child. Tell me what's going on."
" Basically that this isn't going to end well."
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" You insult me with such an offer, sir," grunted the man.
An uproar overtook the pirate ship. Even Inuyasha, in his whole sense of trying to seem professional couldn't hold back a laugh that brought tears to his eyes.
" Stop that ridiculous noise this instant!" yelled the man.
" Aye, captain, quit your laughing or you might no longer be a sir!" yelled one of the pirates.
" You'll all go to hell for laughing at this poor gent, sirs!" screamed another.
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" They're laughing!" exclaimed Sango,
" Well, whatever for!" said Kagome.
" I can't hear with your unusually loud breathing, Kagome."
" I can't help I'm nervous!"
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" Is that some sort of joke? Captain, a sir? He couldn't be a gentleman even with a peruke as overstuffed and ratty as yours!" shouted a voice from the crowded pirate deck.
The man fumed. " Look, you scoundrels…"
" No, ye look," interrupted Inuyasha, " I don't know how much time ye rich can buy, but my mine is short. Surrender to my command or my cutlass will make home in ye throat."
" I will not surrender to the likes of you!" screamed the man, scarlet in the face.
" Fool, then you'll die to the likes of me. Kill em' boys!"
Hooray! Another chapter done! The fighting will come next chapter, promise. I think that's pretty much it. A lot will come together next chapter and chapters four so pay attention. I hope you enjoyed chapter two. No preview today. Please, please, please review! Please! Till next time,
Your Faithful Authoress,
Pale Moonlight