AN: Ohayo, minna! ...How's it been? Good? Great. ...I finally grabbed a few friends and went to see what all the pirate fuss was about. ...I finally saw Pirates of the Caribbean. I had one of the front seats, where the screen was ginormous and you could see the little beads of sweat on Johnny Depp's strong, greasy, chiseled face. ...*orgasms* ...Oh... pardon me.
I had no idea what I was missing. ...I now feel complete. Inuyasha came along for the ride. He carried my drinks and paid for my popcorn, like a good little lap dog.
Inuyasha: (Comes over and knocks Lady Donut over the head with a sankon tessou) I... beg your pardon? ...I was certainly NOT a lap dog! What a load of tosh!
Me: (rubbing head) ...Ah... bit of a refined chap, aren't you?
Inuyasha: (growls)
Me: ...Go off somewhere and glomp Kagome.
Inuyasha: I would if you fuckin' LET ME, you baka otaku wench! (growls and pounces on me again)
Me: (dodges) ...In time, Inu-poo... in time...
Hanyou on the High Sea- Chapter 6
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
'Gamyou! What's wrong, miss? You look like you're about to get eaten!" The shrimpy doctor tilted a head at wide-eyed Kagome. She shuddered a little. ....It's just one picnic after another, isn't it? ...Wait.... She peered at the doctor who looked back at her with kind, somewhat curious eyes. ....This one... didn't seem like the rest....
"You mean..." she spoke timidly. "...I'm NOT going to get eaten?" The flea-man's big eyes got even bigger. "EATEN? Why.... whatever gave you that idea?"
"But you just said...."
"Yes, yes... Captain Inuyasha has been hungry for the past week... ever since he threw our old chef off the side of the boat." He bent over and tore open the box on the floor. ...Kagome felt a mild wince go through her. ...That didn't seem like a very fun way to go.
"So..." she put it together. "...I'm supposed to... cook for this... Inuyasha... is that what you're saying...?" Myouga dug a syringe out of the box along with a bottle of clear liquid. "Gamyou! This is the one! Hold out your arm, young lady..."
He paused as Kagome gave a comical expression of sheer terror. "Erm... what IS your name..?"
"I'm...um... I'm Kagome...." she said shakily, eyeing the long, sparkling needle. ...She hated them back when she was five... and she hated them now. ...Besides... could she REALLY trust this... this pirate, even if he wasn't another Manten?
"Gamyou..." he nodded and took her arm. "I am Myouga, the ship's doctor... I'm the one they all come to when they've had too much to drink or weren't careful with their swords..." He shook his head sadly, muttering to himself. "...And what a waste of my talent it is..."
Kagome yanked her arm away and hugged it to her chest. "Wait just a minute... you're not giving me a shot just like that, without telling me what it is! ...And... and..." She took another glance around. "...Just where am I, anyway...? I have yet to figure that one out...." Myouga chuckled a bit, shooting some of the fluid out from the needle. "You have nothing to worry about, Kagome-sama. This..." He held up the container. "...is simply a liquid antibiotic to make sure the last of the poison in you has gone and will not return. You have already had one week's worth of them!"
Kagome bent down on her knees, getting closer to the doctor. "...I was... poisoned? ...Is that why I woke up here...?" She didn't know this man... but oddly, she was surprised at herself for her lack of fear. ...He just seemed rather trustworthy. ...As far as a pirate could get, anyway. ...She hesitantly held her arm out to the doctor, looking away from the evil needle. ...If he wanted to kill me, she thought with reason. ...He's wasted a week...
"Hai, you were poisoned to the brink of death, you were. ...The skin of that scurvy Manten was quite the toxin. I assure you, madam... Had you been brought in not half an hour later, you would have died..." he busily wiped her arm with a cloth. "...You were not the only victim, as well... gamyou...." Kagome's attention was cut when the needle pinched her skin. She bit her lip at the tiny stab.
"...There... all done, Kagome-sama!"
The doctor's words reached her then, and Kagome blinked and she replayed them in her mind. "...Did you say... I was brought in... by a pirate?"
She rubbed her arm in the sore spot as the doctor tossed the needle.
He looked up at her with surprise, then with a prick of disappointment. "...My lady... is it really so hard to believe that your life could have been saved by one of our own?" He stood up tall with exaggerated dignity, puffing out his chest. "...Not all of us are common sea ruffians! We DO at times show human emotion and human civility! ....Because... we are all humans as well!" he paused, thinking it over. "...Well... most of us, anyway... We are gentlemen of the sea..." he trailed off.
Kagome blinked. So she was brought in by a pirate... after all that trauma, it turned out she owed her life to one. ...But.... she wasn't exactly prepared to show gratitude...
Kagome stood and the doctor returned to earth. "...Are you feeling better, Kagome-sama?"
...She stretched a bit, feeling herself for any memory of pain. "...As a matter of fact... yes, I really am..." ...The shot she'd just been given seemed to fill her body with a surge of energy. She was feeling more normal, now, like she had before her whole ordeal.
"I feel wonderful..." She looked at the doctor who grinned happily. Kagome smiled appreciatively in return. "Thank you, Myouga-ji."
Myouga nodded. He walked over to the desk and pulled out a small bottle, then handing them to Kagome. "Here... take these every hour or whenever you're feeling tired. I had to take a lot of blood from you to take the poison out, so get plenty of rest as well. ...And come back to see me when you return from your shift in the kitchen."
....What...? ...She'd temporarily forgotten that detail. "...Shift... in the kitchen?"
"Yes, m'lady."
"...So... this Inuyasha guy really wants me to COOK for him?"
Myouga folding his arms across his chest, and nodded sagely. "...If you ask me, Lady, eating our last cook's food was worse than starving... I take it the captain is requiring you to 'earn your keep', so to say, and your help in the kitchen would be greatly appreciated..."
....Working on a pirate ship... Kagome clenched her jaw. ...I never saw that one coming... She turned her gaze to the porthole and it's shifting sea outside. Her thoughts drifted and she felt herself involuntarily relax.. ....Though... at least... this means I won't...
"Of course... you needn't be lonely..." Kagome looked down at the doctor. "...From what I hear, we have recently acquired another chef... She could probably use your help as well..."
Kagome tilted her head, puzzled. "...She...?"
~*~
...Once, when she was ten, Kagome's mom and grandpa had gone out for an afternoon, leaving her to sit after Souta. ...The servants had retired to their quarters for the evening, and Kagome had gone to her room, proud in her brother management skills. ...The brat had fallen sound asleep in bed, and all it took was a long reading from Grandpa's 101 Ways to Make Medicine on a Desert Island. Though.... now that she thought about it.... That book had been pretty pointless. ...Kagome had lain down on her bed, letting herself drift slowly as she waited for the sound of Mama's feet to come through the door. ...It seemed like her eyes had been closed for a minute... when the terrible crash had shaken her out of it from downstairs.
...It sounded like... a hailstorm of falling cans. ...And barrels. ...and glass. Terrified of bandits, Kagome had grabbed the closest 'dangerous' thing at hand, a pink umbrella, and had crept downstairs to make the thief meet its maker.
....Only, when she'd gotten to the large kitchen, the light was already on and upon peeking in...
The umbrella had dropped to her feet.
That was no 'thief'. That was Souta. ...And the walls were suddenly painted to his liking. Sitting gleefully in mound of flour and covered head to foot in... food, the demon brat tossed a container of preserves at an uncolored wall. Pots were littered like fallen armor on a battlefield. The icebox had fallen over and was now leaking a beautiful, rainbow liquid. Every inch of the kitchen was covered in a fine layer of flour. Souta just giggled in mischief, then looked up at his wide-eyed sister with an angelic grin.
...Kagome's jaw had dropped then...
...
....Much like her jaw dropped now.
...This... was no kitchen. This was worse than Souta's mischief . ....This... this... This was chaos.
A reeking, foul stench rose up from everywhere in the pirate galley, almost... almost taking the attention from everything else wrong with the picture. ...Kagome felt a knot of nausea tie in her stomach as she looked at the mess, reminded of the unhappy memory. A pile of stinking dishes with rotting food was mounded in a corner. Years of grease was caked over and around a cluttered stove. Crates and cartons of who-knows-what, some spilling and some with rotted wood littered the floor, making for an obstacle course to the other side.
And here, Kagome stood. Queen of her new territory.
...They didn't need a new cook, Kagome thought, trying to get over the slightly worse déjà vu'...They needed an army.
Kagome took a few steps back to the galley door. She let her head out. ...Partially for a break from the putrid air.... and partially for some... any... help.
A pirate was making his way down the passage. ...A wolf youkai, to Kagome's observance. He had white spikes for hair and wore a rather clueless look. Barely had he passed the galley door when he felt something rough grab and hold his arm.
"Agghhh!!" A yelp in surprise and fright erupted from the pirate as he nearly jumped out of his skin. Kagome pushed open the door and made herself known. "Hey, hey... wait... relax! It's just me... the... the cook!" The pirate looked at her, then turned to grasp his pounding chest.
"I'm sorry I scared you..." Kagome said sheepishly.... "But I kinda need a favor..."
He blinked at her some, then calmed down and breathed. "I... I thought you were the captain... You... scared the crap outta me..."
Kagome gave him an apologetic smile, and let go of his arm. Well, as if THAT move wasn't bold enough... she thought. And on her first day free! ...But, Kagome reminded herself that she was now a part of the crew. ...She wasn't going to let these pirates intimidate her. Besides... she repeated for the tenth time in her mind. They weren't supposed to harm her. ....At least... not If they wanted to eat. Or from what Myouga told her, stay in the captain's good graces.
...Whoever he was.
"Um, do you think you have some.... um... cleaner on the ship? ...Anywhere? Like the lemon kind?"
The pirate's wide eyes looked up and he scratched his head in thought. "Hmm.... Well, I think we might... but... I don't think anybody's ever used it..."
...Kagome snorted internally.
"...What do you need it for?"
She turned to the side and swung the galley door wide open. "...This."
...The wolfy pirates wide eyes got even wider as the breeze from the door motion delivered a hair-curling stench to his nose. He clamped his hand to his nose and mouth, trying hard not to lose it. Kagome caught the door as it returned.
"...I'llgetchasomerightaway!" The pirate turned heel from the kitchen door and ran.
Kagome walked back into the foul room. "There has to be a broom here, or something I can use..." Stepping lightly over the cartons and trying to avoid a line of ants, she slowly made her way to the back of the room. ...To her right there seemed to be a room of stores. The door to it was partially open, and there was... a noise inside. ..A rustling.
Kagome crept up to the door slowly, opening the crack just a little further to that she could look inside.
....There was... a woman in there. ...Standing on a ladder and reaching for the high shelf. Though... Kagome could hardly tell through the baggy, dirty clothes. But though her back was turned, Kagome could see a cascade of long, dark hair from a tied-up ponytail down her back. ...Was this... the 'she' Myouga-ji had just mentioned...?
Before Kagome could open the door all the way, the woman suddenly lost her footing. She fell to the storeroom floor with a yelp and a thud, the ladder following suit and collapsing after. ...A basket landed on her head, pummeling her with some rotten peaches. Gods! Kagome, thought.... That must've hurt!
She wasted no time in running over to give her assistance. "...Are you alright...?" Kagome helped her sit up, basket still on her head.
"Ow.... my head...." The voice beneath didn't sound very thrilled, and a bit tired. Two dirty hands reached up and removed the wicker obstruction.
...Kagome was at once struck with familiarity. She'd seen this person somewhere before, right?
Sango rubbed her head. "...Thank you..." She looked at Kagome for a few seconds. ...Another woman? ...On the ship? ...She... looked familiar.
"Are you alright...?" Kagome asked again and helped her up to her feet. "...That was... one pretty nasty fall." Sango dusted off her already soiled clothes.
...She had gotten them from the monk pirate... having no others and not wanting to ruin her taijiiya outfit. She looked down at the floor covered in fruit. "...Yes, I'm fine. ...but I feel sorrier for the peaches..."
Kagome felt a small smile on her face. Her first, it seemed, in awhile. ...Now she was sure this wasn't just a female pirate. "yes, but.... I doubt they felt it. ...I'm Kagome. ...You must be the other cook they tossed in here."
Sango looked confusedly at the raven-haired girl in the green sailor suit. "I am... how did you know...? ...No, wait..." Sango thought for a second. Pirates don't usually have women with them... And during the raid, she wasn't among the crew. ...This girl... there's only one place she could have come from.
"...Are you, by any chance... from The Survivor...?" Kagome's eyes widened a bit with surprise. "Yeah..." she returned the studying look. "...Then... that means you are too, aren't you?" It was Kagome's turn to pause. Suddenly, her memory returned.
"...You... took my ticket on board! Your name is... is... 'Sngo', right?"
Sngo gave a bigger smile. "Well... Close enough. ...I'm Sango... But my ticket-taking job aboard the ship was short-lived." She looked Kagome over for a few seconds. "Hmm... Yes, I remember you, now. ... You had a little boy with you at the dock... right?"
Kagome felt a pang of pain on her chest. ...That moment... it seemed so far away now. She looked at the other woman, whose eyes were now looking into space, faraway and wistful.
She gave a nod. "Un... That was my little brother, Souta. He was there to see me off... Pretty unusual of him... for being my nemesis, as well as my brother..."
"...He reminded me of my brother..." She looked up. Sango's gaze hadn't shifted from space. Kagome queried, "Oh? ...You have a little brother too...?"
"Yeah..." Sango nodded slowly. "...His name is Kohaku... He must be around your brother's age now..."
There was an almost unnoticable tinge of sadness in her voice. ...A hidden, faraway longing behind her words. ...Kagome suddenly felt compelled to not ask further questions. ...Evidently this was not her new kitchen-mate's happiest topic. Kagome nodded and looked away.
Suddenly, Sango broke into a soft smile and changed the subject. "In any case... I'm glad you're here, now.... Perhaps I can actually accomplish something with another set of hands."
Kagome looked back to the kitchen of terror. "...It's a jungle out there... I'm not sure it's safe."
"Here..." an object suddenly weighted Kagome's hands. She turned to see that Sango had placed a broom in it. She herself bent over to pick up a bucket and rag.
"...Shall we begin..?" The taijiiya looked at Kagome. "I think... that this is going to take awhile..."
Sango's grateful expression lifted Kagome's heart some. ...I think I thought wrong.... The thought passed her mind as Sango headed back outside. This situation isn't going to be as hopeless as I thought... Kagome took a step into the kitchen. No sooner had she, than she felt her foot sink.
....Aghh! Gross! ...Just the sensation was disgusting enough. ...Don't look down... Don't look down...
Kagome looked down. ...She'd just disturbed SOMETHING that looked like it might have once been alive. Something... with a long, skinny tail...
"Oh, EWWWW!!"
~*~
...
Hours had passed. ....Hours, upon hours... upon hours...
Kagome slowly looked up to see the sky turning orange from outside the small window. She slumped against the wall.
"Sango-chan...?" She croaked tiredly.
"Yeah...?" The other woman looked up achingly from HER position on the shiny floor.
"Was... that the last of them...?"
Sango sighed. "...Dear gods... I hope so..."
"...All the final dishes washed...?"
"...Check."
"...All of the new stores put away...?"
"...Check."
"All of the..." Kagome shuddered. "...rat traps put up...?"
Sango stared into the sky for a moment, then reached into her pocket and pulled out the last of the wooden rodent death squares. She leaned over and set it up in a niche underneath the stove.
"....And.... check."
Kagome let out a deep sigh. ....Her head was aching. ..If it wasn't first from the smell of rot and garbage, the hours of intense smell from the lemon cleaner left to soak on the floor had made her dizzy. ....How she longed for fresh air. ...But... she was just too tired to even bend to rest on her knees..
"Kagome-chan...?"
She forced her head over to respond to her friend. "...Ehh...?"
...Sango gave a tired smile. "I think... that's it for us today... But..." She tried lifting her arm, to no avail. "...Can you move...?"
The girl with the now soiled green skirt shook her head. "...Not an inch."
"...That makes two of us then." The taijiiya moaned.
The following second, two things happened simultaneously. One was a sudden, loud *ding* going off in the oven. ...The second was the galley door swinging open with a loud whoosh then banging into the wall next to it. ...Both women jumped out of their skin, and onto their feet.
Sango turned to the door, while Kagome rushed to the oven. The taijiiya's eyes widened at the visitor. ...The surprise was short-lived, however and replaced with a groan.
...It was just the stupid houshi...
From the doorway, Miroku stood frozen in awe and bliss. Had there EVER been so much SHINE in one room?? ...His attention for once, was taken away from the two creatures with long legs in the room and he took a look around.
...No longer was the stench of rot infiltrated into every pore of the wooden floor. ...No longer was there a mound of dishes in the corner left to rival Mt. Fuji. ...No longer was the stove... Wait... WAS that the stove...?
Pots hung neatly from the ceiling from hooks, gleaming with new life. A stack of clean platters and glasses were organized perfectly in a clear cabinet. ....A warm fire burned in the hearth. ...The stove, once caked in grease and dirt, had been scoured an almost blinding silver. There was not one speck of dust, dirt, or grime visible ANYWHERE to Miroku's blue eye, and the fresh scent of lemons rose from the room.
Kagome had pulled a large cooking tray of full of steaming and freshly made donuts from the oven and set it on the countertop. She wiped her hands clean, then turning to look at the intruder.
Her eyes narrowed with brief puzzlement. ...Was that... a monk?
Miroku moved only when Sango's sharp voice reached his ear.
"Houshi! ...I said, what do you want?!"
Miroku cleared his throat, smiling sheepishly and giving Sango a grin. "Forgive my intrusion, fair lady... I was just seeking to speak with you..." Sango crossed her arms over her chest. What else was new? "...Then speak, monk."
Miroku looked pained. "...My dear Sango-sama... how often must I tell you to call me 'Miroku'...?" The taijiiya hmmph'ed.
He stepped into the room, breathing deeply. ...This was the first time even a section of the ship had smelled that good. ...It was so vastly different from the odor of sweat and well... men... that he just couldn't get enough of it. And now... there was the sweet, moist smell of pastries in the air. Had he gone to heaven...? Miroku turned toward the scent. ...Oh my. ...His eyes caught a glimpse of something better than candy. ...Those were bare legs... and a rather... short skirt... The monk's gaze drifted up towards the second female presence he had ever encountered on the ship. ...A girl stared at him with wide, brown eyes.
Kagome had only a second to breathe before she found herself face to face with the blue-eyes of the monk and hand in hand to boot. A huge sweatdrop appeared on her forehead.
"Fair tannyou...." The monk breathed, "...I must confess... The scent of your cooking is rivaled only by your beauty..."
"Um..." Kagome stumbled to find words. The monk's eyes bore deeply into her, and his expression was serious. ...Behind her, a vein popped out on Sango's forehead.
"Will you please..." The monk bent on knee. ..."Do me the honor.... will you bear my-"
...A pot sailed through the air and clanged Miroku smack on the side of the head. Kagome stepped back with a gasp. ...He fell to the floor, twitching.
Kagome looked behind her, wide eyed.
"...Was he... was he about to propose to me?" she stammered. ...Sango walked over and picked up the pot, placing it neatly back on the hook. "...Worse... I think it's best you not know."
"...I'll take your word for it..."
Miroku stopped twitching long enough to reach up and rub his head. He sat up, giving Sango a pitiful look. "...You break my heart, Sango-sama...."
"...I'll promise to break more than that if you ever pull that one again." ...The monk groaned in pain.
"...Now, what the hell do you WANT?"
Miroku stood and dusted off this robes. ...Not that there was anything to dust. He arranged a rosary of beads on his right arm and bowed down to Sango.
"I have come... to deliver the news that your furry companion has awakened. ...And seems to be rather lost without you."
Sango's frown changed to a sudden expression of happiness and relief. "She... she has? ....Kirara...?"
Kagome glanced over. "...Kirara..?" ...Wasn't that the two-tailed...? ...No wait... the world wasn't that small...
"Please, would it be alright if I saw her now?" Sango asked. ...The monk bowed again. "....I shall take you to her immediately... As you wish, Sango."
Sango went for the door with a renewed energy. She stopped suddenly, remembering the other cook. "...Forgive me, Kagome-chan... I'll be right back to help you finish up." With a wave she disappeared out the door. Miroku backed out slowly, giving Kagome one final bow, and a solemn declaration. "...I shall return to taste your hard-made delicacies, Lady Kagome. ...It is a great pleasure to have met you..."
"Um.... yeah... sure." she nodded until the monk was up out and gone from the kitchen. ...The door swung back and forth, and Kagome looked around to realize that she was alone. ...She sighed and walked back over to the hot donuts on the tray, picking them up and putting them in a small bag. ....They were going to be the first thing she'd eat all day.
...The dull ache in her head had just begun to throb.
This lemon smell is really getting to me... I think... some fresh air would really do me some good... Kagome reached up and rubbed her temple absently. ...She happened to look down at her green skirt, as well. ...A garment now covered in stains and dirt. ...Yikes... And this is the only outfit I have, too...
She let out another sigh, picking the hot bag up tiredly. ...Sorry, Sango... I don't think I'll be here when you get back. She picked up her now-dried shoes from beside the hearth and headed to the galley door.
...Now, which way was the main deck again..?
~*~
Finally. ...Peace and quiet. ...Inuyasha was stretched out against a bench on the quietest part of the stern. ...Dark had just set in and all of the pirates were below decks, just where he had sent them. ...If there was anything that could clear his head now, a mob of surly, dimwitted pirates was not it.
A loud growl sounded from his stomach. He punched it lightly with his fist. "...Shut up!" ...A star above shot overhead.
...Damn that bounty hunter... He thought. ...Keh. ...and, while I'm at it, damn my drunken mercy... Inuyasha berated himself. If only he hadn't been so desperate for a quick meal... If only he hadn't allowed Miroku to set this "Sango' up in the kitchen with the promise of good ramen, and sent her little pet to Myouga's... Maybe...
Inuyasha purposely ignored the fact that had he tossed the taijiiya in the water, they'd all be starving. ...Well... Starving more. ...Who'd have thought that a WOMAN wouldn't even be able to make cereal?
Another thought struck the hanyou. ...None of the OTHER crewmates seemed to have been complaining... Were they..? ...What if she was just doing it to...?
His stomach gave a second violent churn. Inuyasha gave it another punch. ...Not that that helped.
"Man..." he sighed. "I'm fucking hungry." ...When was that other girl going to wake up?
A pair of feet stumbled nearby and made Inuyasha's ear twitch. The sea breeze carried a familiar smell... along with one that made his mouth water. ...Who the heck...?
...How had the sky darkened so fast...? She couldn't even see the moon, with the cloud cover. Kagome stood at the stern, staring off into the distant stars, her bag of donuts in hand. ...Well... it was quiet, at least... A good place to eat her breakfast/lunch/ and dinner, without threat of disturbance from the other savages.
Inuyasha turned his head. ...I thought I told those idiots to all go downstairs... He grumbled internally. This one is looking to get a beating. ...Inuyasha didn't waste time in yelling out.
"...Hey, YOU! What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Kagome, startled at hearing the rough voice, turned around quickly, squinting her eyes. ...That rough, crude voice. It sounded familiar. ...She saw a pair of feet, connected to red-clothed legs sticking out from the shadows.
"...Who's... who's there?"
Inuyasha's eye's widened at the voice. ...A chick?! ...Then, wait... that could only be...
The moon chose that time to peek out from beneath the clouds. It illuminated the deck with a soft glow, and Kagome finally saw the pair of shining yellow eyes staring at her figure. Wait a minute... this was....
"...It's you!"
Both voices said it together. Inuyasha blinked. ...Speak of the devil.
~*~
AN: *evil snicker* Cliffie... cliffie... cliffie.... This chapter was fun to write. ...It was the only one so far where Kagome wasn't assaulted in any way, shape or form. ....Unless... you count Miroku, really. ...Again, I'm sorry for the UN-speedy post, but unfortunately, school's starting in a few days again, and I'm not going to be able to be all Speedy Gonzolez about the updates... Don't worry, though...^^ I'm not going to keep you guys hanging for two weeks at a time, or anything.
Psst.... Don't forget to review. :P