CHAPTER TWO: THE PORTS

Inuyasha had made ready, and was waiting by the carriage for his mother. As he stared at the ground, one horse shied, and he unconsciously stroked its neck to calm it. it snorted once, but succumbed to his smoothly hand.

"You were always good with the horses."

Inuyasha looked up, and then down in distaste. He hated that look. That snotty, I-know-everything look. Only his cousin can pull it off. "I suppose. So come for another visit Sesshomaru?"

His cousin quirked a brow, the only emotion he would show at all. The cold stoic façade of Sesshomaru was famous. Some said it made him a man, some a heartless cold beast. But Inuyasha really knew why he was that way. It was because of the death of his parents, Inuyasha's demon aunt and uncle. He had liked them. His aunt had often brought candy with her, and his uncle told him battle tales that involved him or his father, or his grandfather. They were kind and warm people, something that would have been passed to their son, if it had not been for their murder. They had been found dismembered and mutilated, blood spraying the walls and frozen masks of horror planted upon them forever. Sesshomaru had raged revenge, but the culprit had never been found, not a scent nor sign of him.

So his parents had taken him in, a boy of fifteen, so saying in demon years, with a cold vengeful heart and lodged hatred for the world. Though it had taken time, and much of Inuyasha's childish charm, Sesshomaru had warmed a bit, but still remained distant. True to his hateful side, Sesshomaru trained hard in the art of war, weapons and combat his favorite. And as a gift to please him, Inuyasha's father had given him a sword made by the master of masters, Toutousai, when he came of the age of eighteen. It was only one of the ways his father could comfort the boy, besides taking care of his inherited land till he came of age. And when he did, his land came to an order not known of. Sesshomaru was a fair leader, just a ruthless one when it came to it. And he too was searching for a mate.

Not much trouble with his fair features. Pale skin, molten gold eyes, more than six feet, broad of shoulder and strong of arm. His snow white hair flowed about his thighs, a hassle he had said once, but he let no blade come to it. Him being a pure dog demon, he was given a fluffy white tail to drape about him, and the markings of his father and crescent moon of his mother he wore proudly. And this day, he dressed finely, his armor bright in the sun, and his ego over shadowing his little cousin.

"Actually, cousin, I came to discuss business with Uncle. And where are you off to?"

Inuyasha scoffed the dirt with a boot, one of the things he hated. His folded his red clad arms, the top a red haroi, tucked in and matching with foreign tan chaps that he insisted he get. "Off with mother to the ports. I suppose there's something coming today. Besides her fluttering over me to pick a random girl from the crowd."

Sesshomaru let a smile slip, "and how do you fare in that area? It won't be long before they get serious about a wife."

Inuyasha scowled at the offending boots. "I'd rather dip myself in Oni's acid than have them pick me a wife. How bout you? Any luck with the ladies?"

Sesshomaru snorted, "I don't need a mate, I'm fine. What good would she do me? All the females I see are fluttery and weak minded."

"Ah, I see. You want one with spite and fire. Good luck, my friend, I have yet to meet one myself. May the gods help us."

Sesshomaru lifted his head, and jerked it towards the palace. "Your mother's coming, so I guess I'll see Uncle now. Fare well, Inuyasha, I heard those port girls were hard as old leather and as sour as old milk."

Inuyasha heard a chuckle as he cringed. After a quick greeting with Sesshomaru, his mother, the Lady Nailah, came and was escorted by her son into the carriage and off to the ports.

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On the Old Mermaid¸ a maiden of fair face and bright mood stepped to the deck and breathed the sea air. The bell rang, signaling the sight of land and soon landing. Men started hustling on the deck, preparing for arrival, and the maiden went to the deck rim and looked upon the blurry coast that was her home land. Thought it didn't feel like it. Resting her head in her palm, making her thick black braid that ran to her bum shift, she thought.

She'd need to wake her sisters, if the bell hadn't already. This trip had been a sad one, but needed nonetheless. Well, she shouldn't call it a trip, but a move. If only they could have held on for one more night. She sighed and rested her eyes sadly on the churning waters beneath. Ma and Papa, oh how she missed them. That illness had been going on for months, and they thought they had escaped it. But sadly, her Papa had come home from the garden coughing blood. And soon her Ma fell to it too, tending her love as she did. Their girls had been strictly warned to stay away from their parents, but the warning was ignored. It was by grace of the gods they had not been taken as well. But it was unfair that their loved parents had been taken from them. It was a deadly illness, one that clogged the lungs with fluids and choked the victim to death. A medicine had been made, but not in time to save them. And the girls mourned greatly. They had held each other night and day, weeping for their loss. The youngest of seventeen, Rin, had cried till her nose bled from sniffing and voice raw from sobbing. The middle, one year younger of her, being that of eighteen, Sango, had been the strongest of them, giving comfort when need be. And the oldest of nineteen, Kagome, had depressed for weeks. But she counted her blessings now.

Being in their home with no Ma and Papa had been too much for them, so they fled to their home land. Though not much was remembered of it. Kagome and Sango knew it, the language and simple formality, but Rin knew not. For she had been born of their father's home land of Ireland, only learning the language because their mother had found it essential for her to know it. And it was only spoken within the house, for their neighbors could not make head or tail of the Japanese language. So knowing only so much of their homeland, they bought tickets for the month journey on the sail boat, and left neighbors and childhood friends for a practically unknown world. Though they had made sure to let Mary and Lillie know of their whereabouts, the two girls being like sisters to them.

She shook her head. Best not to think of those times. They still had to find and run the business their father left behind, being still run poorly by their grandfather of their mother's side. But there was one thing she didn't regret. And that was burying their parents in Ireland. Her mother had loved the land on first sight, rolling grass hills, wide blue sky, cliffs that challenge the gods. And Kagome loved it too, that's why she regretted leaving, but she needed to. The reminder was too painful.

Plastering a smile, she skipped down the decks of the ships, coming across the small cabin her and her sisters shared. She opened the door and saw they were still sleeping.

"All right you worthless bags!" her rich voice rang out, its musical Irish accent acquired over long time, "now out of bed with you and get your sorry asses up! The ship be landing soon."

Sango groaned and Rin rolled over. Sango lifted her head to glower at her sibling. "By everything that's holy, Kagome, do you have to be so loud?"

Kagome smirked, proud of their common voices. "Only when I know that there's biscuits waiting to be devoured by you."

Ignoring Sango's grumbling as she got up, Kagome went over to Rin and shook her hard. And she knew what was coming.

Rin exploded, heat flushing her cheeks in anger, "BY THE LOVING MOTHER KAGOME! LET A BODY SLEEP!"

Kagome cocked her head and crossed her arms as Rin flopped back down and covered herself the best she could. "Now why would I be wanting to do that? You forget dear sister, that with a new port, there's fresh meat."

Rin's head popped up and gave her a sleepy considering look. "Why do love you? I should hate you for everything you know."

"You love me because I'm your sister, and you know that I'd run my tongue about unnecessary things if you didn't."

This time, she ignored Rin's grumbling and went to help Sango with her corset. The dress she wore was simple, dark magenta with blue corset and white lace. Kagome her self wore a forest green peasant dress, black corset showing her slim waist. She then tied Sango's dark tan hair high, and moved to help Rin with her corset. Rin thanked her with her deep green eyes, the only one of the sisters blessed with their father's eyes. They finished, and put away the few things they had taken from their luggage for tidiness, and went above deck for fresh air and a meal. Thankfully, today was not their day to cook, and they ate good round biscuits made by the courtesy of James, a hand of the ship. He gave it to them with a flirty grin and a wink of his blue eyes, which they only laughed at. The man was old enough to be their father and yet he flirted. When all was done, and luggage brought to the deck, the sisters stood waiting as the port of Japan welcomed them to their new home.

Rin shifted her feet, "I'm really nervous, you know? What if grandfather didn't get our letter?"

Sango rolled her honey brown eyes, "of course he did Rin, or else he wouldn't be sending his response now would he?"

"Oh stop your cat fighting hags, we're almost there," Kagome said, and fingered the tiny vial at her neck, as it held a small bunch of dried purple petals. Despite herself, she was nervous too. It's been twelve years since she's been here, since she had been moved away to Ireland with her family because her grandfather of her father's side had died and given the family tradition to her father. Though Kagome didn't mind, she had liked it there, all the girls had. But this was new, and she never responded well to new things.

She felt a hand squeeze hers, and she squeezed back. "Do you remember much Sango?"

"Only what I can." Kagome turned and smiled at her sister, and Sango completed the bond by taking Rin's hand. Rin was practically bouncing, excited that she was going to see one of her homes for the first time. The ship groaned and tipped to one side, making the girls grasp the side for support. With one last protest, the ship settled into the port soundly, and men were dispatched to tie it down. The small door on the side opened, and a wide step plank was lowered to the port deck. They grabbed their trunks and heaved them over.

"Have a safe journey girls, and god bless your souls," the captain, a fiery man of fifty with red hair lined with silver, said to them and tipped his hat to them. They nodded.

"You be looking after yourself captain McKenna, and use that oil I gave you." Kagome smiled, her white teeth flashing with her sisters.

"I will, and to be sure to ask me wife about some later! Hope you live long and happy!"

They waved goodbye to the good natured man, and they hopped off the plank, lugging trucks. Kagome started out first. "Now, in his letter, grandfather said he'd be on the deck. If we look—"

But she was cut short as she hit a solid wall of warmth and fell to her backside. Sango gasped and Rin giggled, but both went to help her. Kagome fumed. She hated being pushed. She hissed and rubbed her tail bone before looking up. "By the blazing fires of hell, who do you thin—!"

But again she was cut off. But by gold this time.