Disclaimer: Inuyasha=I do not own, not now, not ever.
The Horizon Between Lost and Dreaming
Chapter Four
Silence
The shadows barely held a veil over his face in the waning moonlight. The ship creaked and groaned as wind whipped the sail, and still she was silent from the weavings of his tale. Kagome swallowed several times.
"Did you say the name of that ship was the Latrement?" She asked curiously. Inuyasha glanced at her warily.
"Yes." He answered viciously. "I know of nothing more evil. That vessel pulls men in and shapes them to her will, more of a monster than a ship if you ask me." Kagome sighed and leaned her head back.
"I thought as much." She whispered. The boy rested on his elbows and quietly studied her face.
"What's wrong?" He asked somberly. She smiled lightly.
"It's not a trouble, just a disappointment. Ever since I was young, I always wanted that ship, that particular one." Inuyasha seemed surprised.
"So the Latrement finally drew in a lady into is entangled web." He smirked. "Pay no heed to the Latrement. It brings nothing but trouble and misfortune." She carefully pulled at the material of her shirt with her forefinger and thumb, mindlessly rubbing them together. For no justified reason or no reason at all, the news of the Latrement and its less than moral crew pierced her heart. Kagome clutched at her breast and attempted to swallow her shallow breathing.
"I know." She whispered, gulping for air. "I know." Kagome drew in a shaky breath and shook her head at her own absurdity. "What of now? Do you search the earth and sea for this lady, Kikyô, for vengeance?"
"Kikyô" Inuyasha murmured darkly. "Is no lady." His voice chilled her in its deathly calm.
"Right." She said slowly.
"But not quite." Inuyasha answered her previous question. "We follow a lead if news comes up of Kikyô, but we are still pirates, and there is still treasure. Besides," He pointed out carefully. "The crew of this ship is different than that of the first Riene. We do not all share the goal of revenge." Kagome sighed in reply to his musings. She longed for her brother and her friends. She was not prepared to sacrifice so much for so little. 'At least Souta is safe.' The girl thought faintly to herself. "Kagome?" Inuyasha asked. He received no answer. "Kagome, are you awake?" The boy peered over to find the weary girl with her eyes closed in peaceful sleep. "Lady, you've overworked yourself for one day." Sighing, the young man gazed thoughtfully at Kagome before kneeling down to pick her up effortlessly into his arms. He walked down to his quarters below the deck and laid her carefully on his mattress, pulling the sheets up to her chin. "I'm sorry for your troubles." He whispered to the sleeping girl before walking off in the darkness of the ship.
A figure crept quietly behind him, trailing concealed in the shadows. Inuyasha never faltered a step, but in the course of several seconds he whipped around and grabbed the figure by the neck forcing him against the crude wooden wall.
"Miroku." He breathed in agitation, eyes narrowing. Inuyasha released his friend. "You know you can't sneak up on me. I pin you every time." Miroku smirked.
"Yes, but I'm getting better, and you're getting slower." He argued. Inuyasha just rolled his eyes.
"You'll never get me Miroku. It's a waste of your time." He sighed exasperated.
"We'll see." Miroku stated plainly. Inuyasha just shook his head. "So," Miroku began. "I hear we have a new 'ward.'" Inuyasha grunted noncommittally. "Captain says she's pretty too." Inuyasha's face twitched slightly. "Said she looked like a certain person from our past."
"She's not." Inuyasha stated firmly.
"I said she looked like a certain person from her past, not that she is Kikyô."
"And your point?" Inuyasha asked his companion.
"So don't treat her like Kikyô." Miroku said with hidden meaning.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Inuyasha said angrily. Miroku turned to face his friend.
"I think you know exactly what I mean, Inuyasha." Inuyasha turned his head to the side. "Be careful around this girl. We can't trust her yet, with anything." Miroku said carefully.
"I know."
"Remember. Be on guard around her. She may try to run at anytime. This girl does still have another life and a family." With those words, Miroku turned and walked leisurely towards his quarters. Inuyasha slammed a fist into the wall.
"Damn you, Miroku."
She flung herself from the mattress and looked wildly around the room. This was not her room. The swaying motion of the ground interrupted her frantic thoughts. Kagome fell back on the simple bed as she suddenly remembered everything. She was trapped on a ship, with absolutely no companions, save a rather rude man named Inuyasha, although, he did open up to her momentarily. Nothing seemed to explain her current surroundings though. Last Kagome remembered she was on deck speaking with said rude man. She drew her vision up to the ceiling. There was a singular lamp, swinging and flickering in the damp chamber. In the corner sat a rather lonely desk scattered with random papers and maps. There was nothing.
"Oh, Hojou." She whispered. "Where are you now?" The silence of the small chamber was the only answer Kagome received. She sighed in frustration and hopped lightly off the bed. There was no use in waiting around. Kagome was not a patient individual. She stepped towards the door and clutched the handle, swinging the door open. The girl nearly screamed when she came face to face with a complete stranger. He was startled momentarily but walked past her into the room and took a seat in the chair by the desk, obviously waiting for her to return to the room.
"So," The man began as Kagome went to sit on the bed. "You're the new girl I presume, Kagome?" She looked at him suspiciously.
"How do you know my name?"
"Honey, everyone aboard this vessel knows your name by this point. You're the double of the woman who betrayed us." He explained.
"I'm not Kikyô." She said determinedly.
"So I've been told." He murmured thoughtfully. "I know you are not Kikyô, but the people on this ship will be wary of you none the less for the present time. I hope you understand." The man offered. She nodded in comprehension. "Sorry if I have offended you, lady, but I can't help it. You resemble her so. By the way, my name's Miroku."
"Miroku?" She asked.
"Right, that's my name." 'Where have I heard that name before?' She wondered. 'Oh, right.'
"You're Inuyasha's friend aren't you?" Kagome asked.
"Ah, so he's mentioned me."
"Yes, well, he spoke of you when telling me of Kikyô." She explained.
"He told you about Kikyô?" He asked incredulously. She nodded in confirmation. "That is surprising." Miroku said quietly.
"I hope you don't mind me asking something, Miroku?" He shook his head.
"Not at all." He said smiling.
"What exactly am I to do?"
"What do you mean?" His brow drew together perplexed.
"Am I doomed to play hostage for the rest of my life? What am I supposed to do?" She asked. Miroku paused momentarily, then leaned back in the chair thoughtfully.
"Well," He replied. "In answer to your question, no, you are not doomed. We're not monsters, you know." The girl just rolled her eyes. "But, Kagome, your future depends solely on you. Let me ask you a question. Can we trust you?" He asked intensely. "Can I trust you with my life, with the life of this crew? Can I trust you not to run away?" Kagome remained speechless. It was as if he read her mind. "I didn't think so. Until that changes Kagome, yes, you are just a prisoner on the Riene. And mark my words, girl, even if you run, we will find you." She didn't say a word. "If you can stay, if we can trust you, Kagome, you could be so much more than this." She nodded numbly. "Think about it." He said while rising from the chair. Kagome cleared her throat.
"I won't run." She said truthfully. 'I'm sorry, Souta.' Kagome thought. 'Sorry, Hojou.' Miroku smiled.
"That's nice to hear." He spoke kindly. Miroku walked to the door, but before leaving, turned to face her. "And Kagome?" She lifted her head to his inquisitive voice. "I know where your father is." Shock spread across her lovely features, but before she could speak or run after him, Miroku had closed the door and left Inuyasha's quarters.
Broad lamplight spread indifferently across the damp hall, the rug squishing uselessly beneath their feet. Souta tapped his foot impatiently
"Where are they?" He vented in frustration. "They're late by almost an hour." Hojou shrugged his shoulders.
"Souta, you can't honestly expect bandits to be the most courteous of beings."
"But this is boring." He slumped down at a table in the dank tavern, the wood dark at wet at the edges. Deep grooves were carved into the side of the table and circular stains from glass mugs littered the withered wood. The chair creaked and wobbled. Souta felt as if he was sitting at the bottom of a well. He would never get out. They would never find her. It had been nearly three days since the disappearance of Kagome, but the two men had nothing, no clues, no leads, nothing.
The distant tinkling of bells interrupted the impatient atmosphere, and several men swiveled their heads to the door as an ominous clack hit the pavement. The silence was lead that had sunk to the floor of a dark lake. Souta gripped the table as his eyebrows drew up in fear.
"What was that?" He whispered.
"A gypsy." Hojou answered noncommittally. Souta stared blankly at his sister's fiancé for several seconds.
"A gypsy." He stated. "You hired," The boy gulped. "A gypsy?"
"Well, how else would we find Kagome?"
"Another way. Gypsies are fickle and unpredictable. How can we possibly trust one?" The door creaked open, standing out in the din of the tavern.
"This is no time to argue, Souta."
"But." A cloaked figure stood stock still in the doorway, face obscured by a porcelain mask lined in fine gold, the face of a goblin. More than a thief, the figure possessed a darkness, hidden and secret, kept well behind the black pupils, which peered about callously.
Hojou smiled and gestured towards the small table with three chairs and the figure nodded, gliding as if a ghost in-between tables and chairs, the bells in its hand resonating eerily.
"Creature of the night..." Souta muttered as he watched the glowing embers of a dying fire.
"I thank you for this meeting." Hojou said quietly. The hood drooped into what could have been a nod. "Not four days ago, a woman was taken from our hometown by a band of pirates. We have no lucky it seems, for no one knows of a man with golden eyes and platinum hair."
The wooden table splintered under the iron fist of the figure across the table. And suddenly, the stranger seemed to find their voice. "Gold eyes. Blond hair?" The sexless voice spoke calmly. "Don't worry." The voice spat. "I'll bring back your precious lady. Free of charge." And just as the cloaked being came, it left, floating away, as if nothing had visited the two men in the first place. Souta shook his head, as Hojou's grin grew wider.
Metal sliced through the open air. A woman stepped lightly on her feet, dancing back and forth, lithe and graceful. As the sword came down, she sidestepped and turned quickly. She waved her blade mockingly.
"Come now, Inuyasha. You can certainly do better than this." He lunged forward and she blocked, laughing all the way. "Why are you distracted, so? Surely, not because of a woman." Inuyasha's sword swiped through the air furiously and she knocked it from his hand. "Fool. You haven't fenced this poorly for several months. What troubles you?" Inuyasha said nothing and paced towards the side of the ship. "What a bizarre man."
"Not bizarre, Sango, just frustrated." A voice answered from below the deck.
"Miroku, what could you possibly want at this hour. It is not yet time to torture me." The woman quickly pushed the stray locks of ebony hair back behind her ear. He glared at her. Her lips moved to take in a breath of fresh air. "I've worried about him," Sango looked thoughtfully towards Inuyasha. "Ever since that day. I pray he will not do anything drastic." Miroku stepped forward. "I would leave him be, Miroku. Inuyasha's mood is not a pleasant one." The man's shoulders sagged slightly.
"Then it is my fault."
"What do you mean, my dearest nemesis?" Miroku shook his head slowly.
"Because of the things I said, because of the girl who bears such a resemblance to Kikyô, his old wounds are being cut open."
"Ah," Was her eloquent reply. "Then perhaps you should speak with him, but later. Allow him to become calm."
"You are probably right, Sango." The man turned to leave, but a hand on his shoulder made him pause.
"I'm sure he'll be fine, Miroku." He smiled slightly before walking away. Sango fingered the pistol beneath her vest carefully. Her eyes grew darker in depth, in anger.
"This woman," She whispered. "I will not allow it." She stepped carefully, crossing the length of the massive vessel, ducking under the shrouds; she flung down the steps beneath the main deck. Shadows fell over the dark hallway. "We will see, girl, what deceptions you hold." Sango ripped opened the door to Inuyasha's room. "You will not harm him, not again!" She pointed an accusing finger at Kagome. The girl sat, pensively on the bed.
"I believe you have taken me for another. I am not Kikyô."
"Fuck, Kikyô. Put a stop to this façade." Sango swiftly drew her blade its surface reflecting her face in the candlelight. "Perhaps this will make things easier?" The woman stepped closer, with each step, Kagome pressed closer to the wall. Suddenly, her eyebrows shot up in vast surprise.
"You're a woman?" Sango stepped back.
"Don't look so struck. So what if I am a woman?" Kagome shook her head.
"I just never realized that women. . ."
"This is normal for women. We must dress as men, or we would have no share of plunder, you understand?"
"But. . ."
"Enough!" Sango flipped the knife callously. She made a warning step with her foot and plunged the sword heartlessly towards the girl. Kagome fumbled for an object in the folds of her dress. Before cold steel pierced her breast, she drew up a small dagger in defense. Her hands shook under the pressure of Sango's machete. Sweat dripped helplessly down her arms, and Kagome's palms began to slip from the handle.
"No." She whispered. There was a fierce will to live as Sango's knife gained more air. She had to live for Souta or for her father or for Hojou or for herself or just to see the morning again, but she did not want to die. "Please."
"Do you beg, you heartless bitch, do you beg to remain in the pitiful life you own?" Kagome held the handle of her dagger tightly, and she did not flinch under the punishing gaze of the strange woman.
"Yes, I beg." And there he stood in the doorway, like a God, like a saviour, Kagome took in a breath of air. He ran and knocked the blade from Sango, grabbing her while she kicked and screamed, pointing and yelling 'murderer.' He apologized with his eyes for the woman. Again she escaped death's fingers of an early grave. Before he left with the crazy woman, she closed her eyes and slid to the floor. Inuyasha had saved her.