AN: Whee... Chapter nine. ..I'm thoroughly surprised I've made it this far with this fic, but even more surprising is that until I'm done with it, it won't be abandoned. ^^ No long authors note today, and all your questions will be answered at the end of the chapter. ....Hop to it!
By the way... I'm eating a Whatchamacallit. ...I didn't even know they still made these.
Hanyou on the High Sea- Chapter 9
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was dinnertime on the happy ship once more. Row after row of pirates lined themselves against the wooden bar, eagerly awaiting their home-cooked meal. Amidst the jumble of voices, a surly one-eyed pirate, not used to order and patience, yelled out angrily. "Why the hell ain't 'dis line moving?!" He punched the pirate in front of him on the back of the head. "Get 'de hell out of my way!"
Kagome leaned over from her serving post behind the bar and gave the speaker a disapproving look.
"...Moku-kun ..." She said. "...Do you remember what I told you about what we do in line?"
The pirate stopped, taking off his hat and fiddling with it. he looked silly with embarrassment. "Um... We... wait?"
"...And?" the young girl prodded.
"...We're quiet? An' we respect others..."
Kagome smiled sweetly. "That's right, Moku. I'm very proud of you. Remember that an impatient pirate is a bad pirate. Now, please take off your hat. We're indoors."
"Yes ma'am." The pirate nodded.
Sango, who was beside her in a handmade apron with spatula in her hand, turned to Kagome and whispered. "I think we scare them."
Kagome gave a scoop of potatoes au' gratin to a bowing pirate. "There you go, Hitan. A full serving, all for you." The pirate bowed again. "...It's Hiten, Kagome-sama. But thank you for the food."
"You are most welcome." She smiled until her lips were frozen in place. She leaned over and returned Sango's whisper. "No way. ...They're just sucking up."
At the end of the bustling food line, Kirara dropped an orange on each pirate's tray. ...Kagome glanced the demon-cat's way, remembering an announcement and called out. "Now, remember boys! You can never have too much vitamin C! We don't want to get scurvy, do we?"
"No, Kagome-sama!" they all chorused in a singsong voice.
The sound of child-like pirates made Sango shiver. "Okay. Now, I'm creeped. ...What did you put into the roast to make them all first-graders?" Kagome smiled widely, half singing, half talking. "Why... Just a little scoop of loooove! Just a little pinch of I-need-youuu... It's got a dash of-"
Sango sweatdropped. "Shut up."
The dark-haired girl realized where she was and promptly did so, then feeling no weight on her spatula with the scoop, looked down. "Dammit. Look at that... already. Hey, Sango... would you go back to the kitchen and wait for the next tin of potatoes to be done? It'll be like... five minutes."
Sango blinked at a three-toothed pirate who, standing in front of her, grinned suggestively. She leaned over to Kagome one more time. "Next... we teach them the propers of dental hygiene."
Kagome, impatient, whispered back in sarcastic excitement. "And then potty training too? Sango. Hurry. We need potatoes."
The taijiiya raised her brow. "Now... what did we learn, Kagome? An impatient pirate cook... is a bad pirate cook."
"Sango!"
The woman relented. "Fine, fine. Give them all salads until I get back." One of the men groaned loudly. A few cursed. She turned to exit the mess hall.
"Now, boys... What did I say about profanity...?" She heard Kagome lecture on the way out.
~*~
Sango got to the kitchen a few moments later, and wasted no time in heading straight for the oven. She checked it with a brief opening and closing of the oven door. ...The taijiiya gave herself a satisfied smile. ...These were HER potatoes au gratin, and she practically drank up the sight of the men devouring them with utter contentment. ...Why, soon, she dreamt to herself, she'd be making white wine cake. And... if she was daring enough, soufflé'. ...French food-flavored visions danced in her head.
The door swung open behind her, and Sango gave a backward glance as the familiar purple-robed monk walked in. Automatically, the brown-haired woman's lips hardened into a thin line. Miroku walked... or rather, limped to the high counter in the middle of the galley. He pulled out a chair and, gripping his stomach, took a seat.
Sango turned around, tone icy. "Houshi-dono, the food is out there... You're not allowed to barge into the galley whenever you want."
Miroku gave a confused and pained look. "Really? Since when?"
"Since... now."
Sango watched as the monk's face fell. His hands then gripped his stomach, and with a look of pain, he doubled over on the table. Sango's eyes widened, but her voice remained hard. "Gods, monk... What the hell is wrong with you now?"
Miroku glanced up. There was sweat on his face. "Water..." he gasped. "Get me water."
Sango was utterly clueless as to what was going on, but Miroku's desperate plea set off an alarm within, and before thinking she went for a clay pitcher sitting a little ways away on the smooth countertop and grabbed the closest available cup.
The next thing Miroku saw when he looked up was a soft white hand gripping a cup of water. He reached out and took it. ...The monk didn't notice Sango flinching at his touch.
A few minutes later, the taijiiya was seated in front of Miroku on the center counter, and he himself sat staring at the table, panting slowly, his hand still gripping his stomach. Sango gave him a wide eyed blink. "So, that was all about what, exactly?" she asked, staring at the monk.
He raised his head and looked at her, pain evident in his bright blue eyes. "...Jalapeños..." he said with another drop of sweat running down the side of his face. "...I lost... a bet..."
Sango's eyebrow rose and her voice was incredulous. "...Oh?"
"...Had to eat... forty... jalapeños..." His look changed to one of desperation and he doubled over in pain again.
Sango sat very still, not knowing whether to rush to the poor man's side or start bitching. ...So, that's where the missing food can had gone. The taijiiya had recounted the food stores three times to ensure she hadn't lost it. It was a frustrating experience. ...She was silent, seething with partial anger... and partial pity.
Then, Miroku looked up at her. His look was getting desperate, and Sango saw that his eyes were turning a bit red. "Please, Sango... please help me..."
The taijiiya felt the pitiful blue eyes bore into her, and though she didn't want to, she couldn't help but feel her anger waning away. He was suddenly so childlike and pitiful. She stood, going to Miroku's side as he doubled over in pain again. "Just... stay still for a little while. I'm... going to prepare you an antacid, alright...?"
The monk didn't seem to hear.
Sango busied herself in the kitchen, going from counter to counter and once to the storeroom quickly gathering supplies and dumping them the closest wooden surface. Her worry for the monk's well-being started to mount. ...I never mastered this recipe... she thought worriedly. What if I poison him...? Sango closed her eyes in concentration and tried to remember what the small medicine handbook from Myouga had said...
"Two spoons of whey...? Or one?" she chopped and measured ingredients and tossed them into a bowl, stirring fervently every now and then. Behind her, she could hear Miroku moaning in pain. Though she didn't notice it, a drop of sweat had appeared on her forehead as well.
"Sango...?" the monk said weakly. The bounty hunter's hand trembled a little as she stirred the bowl, now filled with a thick, sour-smelling liquid. ...It's nothing, she thought. ...I'm shaking out of concern, that's all...
Miroku raised his head, and watched as Sango finally made her way toward him, carrying a tall glass of something white... and bubbly. Despite himself, he became a bit nervous.
Sango was at his side and bent over, putting the glass in his hand. ...From where she stood, the smell of the concoction almost made her hair curl. Miroku, with one hand still on his stomach and one hand wrapped around the glass, looked back at her.
"...Is it... safe..?"
Instinctively, Sango's fist went for the houshi's head. She hid her uncertainty as her temper flared and she half-shouted in offense, "Of course it's safe!" Miroku winced at the pain at the back of his skull. Nevertheless... he brought the glass closer to his lips...
I put a piece of blowfish in there... Worried thoughts drifted into the taijiiya's head as she watched Miroku go for the glass. ...She had never made a folk remedy before, and wasn't at all sure how the medicine handbook had said to make the antacid. ..Miroku would either now recover, with nothing to sting but the taste... or he would fall over, poisoned. ...At her side, her fist tightened.
Miroku, meanwhile, held his breath as his lips touched the liquid. Even without breathing he could smell it, but tried not to think of it. ...If Sango had made this medicine, he'd have to drink it. ...Besides, nothing compared to the war going on in his gut right now...
The drink went down thickly, leaving a sharp, sour trail down Miroku's tongue. He clanged the finished glass on the wood next to him and felt his head go down to the tabletop.
"Houshi?" Sango asked. "..Houshi...?"
Miroku doubled over again... and slid to the floor.
Sango, stronger concern taking over, knelt down and turned him over. "Houshi, are you alright?"
Miroku had his eyes closed. ...He was focusing on the digestion within. [AN...Digestion within... sounds like a proverb.^^] His stomach moaned loudly, not used to the level of such abuse. Pain struck his stomach once more, and he winced, curling up.
Suddenly, Miroku felt a passing cool in his stomach... The pain seemed to subside, and the cool feeling spread from his stomach, to his chest, and all regions following. The monk opened his eyes, and Sango helped him slowly, and shakily sit up.
"...Are you alright...?" she asked again, this time softer.
Miroku was silent for a moment... his hand went to his gut, and he felt it.... no pain... no rumbling. ...The devil pepper's acid had been neutralized. Sango felt herself relax with relief...
"I... am..." he said, somewhat surprised. His eyes trailed to Sango's face. "...What did you give me?"
She tried to ignore his searching gaze. Her face was turning pink, she knew it.. but why? "...It was just... a mixture of a few basic ingredients..."
"Basic... as in PH-level...?"
"Yes..."
Miroku swallowed a few more times, trying to rid himself of the aftertaste. Sango handed him the cup of water from the tabletop. He looked up at her... thankfully. Sango looked away.
"Thank you, Sango-sama..." he tried to get to his feet.
"Don't mention it." She muttered curtly. Sango stood as well, turning away from him. The silence became thick in the room. ...She was suddenly unsure of what to say or do.
"...Now that you're feeling fine, go back outside with the others." She said with a touch of annoyance. ...It was the only thing she could think of saying.
"But..." the monk said slowly and paused. "...I'd rather be in here. ...With you."
Sango's body froze. ...With her...?
Her jaw clenched. ...And she said the next thing that instinctively came to mind. "You're such an annoying monk! Did you not hear me say to go back outside? I'm busy and have things to do and DON'T need you near me!" She turned around, intent on giving him even more of her mind.
...Miroku wasn't looking at her, making her stop short. ...He gazed at the floor, face not visible, silent.
....The monk's mouth opened, speaking in a soft voice... "Do I... do I really disgust you that much, Sango-sama...?"
Sango's tongue was tied. ...What could she say? ...So long she had thought she hated him. He was a just perverted, stupid monk, right? And a pirate to boot! But... watching him staring at the ground... Her heart began to beat faster.
He turned around, still avoiding her eye... "I... don't pretend to think I'm the best man... I belittle you, touching you so and I know you must hate me for it, but..." he looked at her... and dropped the small bombshell.
"...But I think... I think that I have liked you, ever since you first made an appearance on the ship."
Sango's heart began to pound... Miroku looked to the floor.
"Don't laugh at me, I know I must sound ridiculous, but ...but... I think you are very... special... special and strong. And just... an amazing woman..." Miroku trailed off. Sango's head was lowered and her face was away from sight... She said nothing. ...Inside the apron pockets, her hands trembled. Miroku was silent... pink and embarrassed, waiting for a sign from the bounty hunter...
There came none. ...He took a deep breath. "...But... I'll do as you wish, Sango-sama..." he said and turned from her. "I'll leave you be... Forgive me for my outburst."
Miroku, dejected, began to walk toward the galley door.
"...Wait..." he heard the voice behind him.
Miroku turned around, and Sango was looking at him, soft-eyed and sorrowful. Tell him... she thought. Tell him the truth, Sango...
"I..." She began softly, coming closer to him.
"...I am the one who should ask for your forgiveness..." She looked into his blue eyes, trying desperately to keep her hands from shaking. "...I have... treated you so badly, worse than even you, a pirate, should have. And I suppose..." She looked down, away from the monk's steady gaze. ...Do it! Her heart shouted to her.
"...I suppose it's because I like you too..."
Miroku's eyes momentarily widened. ...Sango continued to babble. "...All those times I was so rude and mean and just downright nasty. I'm sorry I don't know what would come over me... You were probably just trying to be nice and all and-"
...She felt Miroku's arms wrap around her.
The houshi was silent, and Sango, wide eyed, was wrapped in his embrace.
"I... I...." She stuttered softly, looking up. She was pressed against his chest... His arms were firm and he smelled... well, good.
"...Sango, why don't we just... start over...?" he said quietly.
The taijiiya was silent. She felt her arms rise... and wrap around him as well. "Will you forgive me?" Her gaze tilted upwards again.
Miroku was silent again. This is it... Miroku told himself. Though he didn't realize it, his heart was pounding just as fervently. Either you do it now... or never...
...Before he could stop himself, he bent down and placed a kiss on Sango's quivering lips.
...She felt herself grow warm... Her mind raced and screamed at her to stop, shouting at her the predetermined opinions she once had about the monk that suddenly... seemed so petty and childish. His lips pressed a bit more against hers and her mind screamed again, but this time, she ignored it, and pressed back. ...This is how you felt the whole time... she told herself... Will you just let yourself fall for him...?
"There is nothing to forgive."
From the end of the room, the galley door cracked open a peek. ...Kagome looked in, blinking. Sango and Miroku.
...Kissing.
...She quietly shut the door, and leaned against the outer frame. On her face, a small smile appeared.
...Screw the potatoes... This was much more juicy.
~*~
The moonlight streamed through the porthole, and candlelight flickered as Kagome dipped her feather pen into the inkwell, scribbling something onto the paper. She shivered, the cold wind coming in through the window she hadn't been able to close.
Dear Journal... she wrote.
Haha! ...I knew the spark was there between the two, but they were just too shy and childish to admit it... Wouldn't you know it that the bounty hunter and the pirate finally realized their sweet, sweet amour in the kitchen? ...I'd just come in to get the potatoes. The pirates outside were starting to get antsy, and I saw it all. ...Completely off topic, Sango'd be proud that her cuisine was such a hit.
Anyways, I don't plan to tell her I saw anytime soon... With her pride, she'd probably knock me unconscious. Or sic Kirara on me. Or something.
Kagome paused, looking at the paper, deep in thought. She adjusted herself on the bed, and bent to write again.
On a few deeper thoughts... I don't know how much longer I am to stay here. I wonder when it is what Mama and Souta and Grandpa will realize I'm gone, if they haven't already... And what of my groom-to-be, Lord Kouga? What of my 30,000 yen wedding dress? It was back on board the Survivor... Grandpa practically sold his left kidney for it, and I hate to think of what Paulina would do if she found out it was gone.
...I... honestly can't say that I hate being here on a pirate ship... and, the farther away I am from being married... the happier I'll be...
She paused again. ..The candlelight was beginning to die.
...By the way... I've just finished the last page of Ella Enchanted... It was better than the first time I read it! I can understand why Inu is so protective of his book, because I'm sure I'd be just the sa-
Kagome, frozen for a second, suddenly abandoned the journal reached under her pillow, and pulled out a familiar brown and golden book. She flipped through the pages once, and tilted her head back, groaning. "...Today is the day after yesterday! And that means that..." She sat up in bed shutting the journal and sliding it quickly underneath her pillow. "I completely forgot! Kagome, you blonde!" she berated herself harshly. From the cot in the corner, Sango gave a sleepy toss. The brown-haired girl shushed herself, and tossed the feather pen back in the inkwell. She climbed off her bed, and pulled on her sailor suit.
There's no way Inu's still going to be there. ...You just left him hanging like a tie on a clothesline! Kagome slipped on her shoes and hugged the book to her chest. She blew out the candle by her bedside and slipped toward the door, with a last look at a sleep-giggling Sango before she closed the door shut behind her.
~*~
He was just where she thought he'd be... and looking exactly the same. Inu sat on his haunches, his mouth in a scowling pout and his haori was soaked from the sea spray. Tonight's sea was a bit more active than usual, and large waves rocked the ship on its watery bed. Kagome was a few yards behind Inu when she saw his ear twitch in her direction. His head turned slowly, face never moving from the same pouty scowl.
"Inu..." She breathed. ...Man, oh man... what an embarrassing situation. ...He looked like he'd been here for over an hour. Yet, she was relieved to see him again... The hanyou looked terrible. His hair was wet and stringy from the sea spray and his outfit was soggy.
"I've been waiting for a fucking hour." He growled.
"Gomen ne..." Kagome smiled sheepishly, not quite knowing what to say. ...She forgot, maybe? ...She was tied up?
Inuyasha stood and extended his arm. With one twist of his clawed hands, a bucketful of water was wrung from the folds of his fire-rat kimono. "Let me guess... You forgot." He said wryly. He scowled, growling. "...You're just like all women. ...Forgetful and damn inconsiderate. Thanks to you, I'll probably catch pneumonia!" ...It was a lie, as youkai don't get sick, but he thought it added nicely to the guilt.
"I...I..." Kagome felt herself turning pink. "...You're right... I forgot. Inu, I'm so, so sorry! It was... pretty air-headed of me, but I swear, I'm not usually such a ditz. I just had..." Thoughts traveled back to Sango and Miroku. "I just had something occupying on my mind..." Hugging the book to her chest, she went up to the hanyou, who looked at her with hard yellow eyes. "I don't suppose you'd want to hold this now, huh?" She clutched it tighter to protect it from a bit of spray. The hanyou scowled and turned from her. His dripping hair made small pool on the floor. "Keep it. A lot of good I'll do to it, now."
"I'm sorry..." she apologized again.
"Forget it."
There was a stack of barrels parallel to the ship wall, and Inuyasha plopped down against it. The large objects prevented him from the sea waves. The hanyou, arms crossed, glanced at Kagome who was standing in the same place, watching him. "Well?" he said he said with a touch of sarcasm. "I don't suppose you enjoy sitting down."
Kagome blinked. ...Huh? He's inviting me to take a seat? "...Uh, sure, okay. ...Thanks."
The pirate said nothing as she helped herself to a dry seat next to him. Kagome wondered why he hadn't just sat there in the first place. She looked over at the hanyou, who sat with arms crossed, but head leaned against the barrels. ...His eyes were momentarily closed. Except for the softly crashing waves, there was silence. Kagome felt the sudden urge to speak...
"...You know," she began, pulling it out of nowhere. "...I might sound a little weird saying this but, I think... I'm actually... starting to like it here. ...You know... on this ship." ...Where had that come from? She looked over to Inuyasha, who had opened and stared at her with those same yellow eyes. ...Kagome had almost laughed at his expression... He really did look just like a wet dog.
"What do you mean, you're starting to 'like' it here?" Inuyasha said dubiously with raised brow. "This is a pirate ship... not a one week cruise. In fact, in a month, you'll probably be begging to be dropped overboard..." He heard Kagome snort. The conversation suddenly seemed to pick up.
"You're underestimating me a lot, Inu. Did you forget that I've already been here for three weeks? If I was the delicate type, I would have dropped myself overboard after the first day."
"Yeah, well..." That was very true, Inuyasha thought unwittingly. She was, afterall... some kind of girl...
Kagome gave a large, silent sigh. She tucked the book inside her sailor suit and looked at Inu. Right then and there, as the brown-haired girl gazed at him, there was an inherent need in her to talk to him. ..She felt that she could.
"Inu... I... don't know what it is about you that I feel I can trust, but..."
Inuyasha heard her words and swallowed deeply. ...Trust? What kind of mead does she drink?
"But if I had to choose between staying here and being homeward bound on the Survivor... I'd... much rather be here."
Needless to say, the pirate captain's interest was peaked. "...Yeah...? Then, by the sound of it... I don't suppose you were looking forward to your destination very much, now were you?" ...By the time the sound of his voice made Inuyasha realize that he was having a casual, non-pirating related conversation with the first person in a long time, she was already laughing sardonically. "Ha... Yeah. ...That's an understatement."
She fiddled with the fabric on her skirt. "Inu... I don't suppose you've ever been forced to have to do something you really hated... but had to do it anyway for the sake of someone else..?" Whoa, what a mouthful. ....But it didn't matter much now... Kagome needed somebody to talk to like this... and, the opportunity had never arrived with Sango.
Inuyasha was silent for a moment. "...And this would be pertaining to what?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, nothing... just a hypothetical question..." She was looking upwards, into the sky.
"Oh, really? Are you sure?"
Kagome gave him a look. ...It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize she was referring to herself, but she was wasn't yet ready to open the entire can of worms.
"Yeah, I'm... sure."
Inuyasha leaned back against the barrels staring straight ahead of him. "I've had to do a lot of shit I didn't want to do in my lifetime... And, it was never really for anyone else but myself. ...I never had anybody to sacrifice for. I don't have a mother or father. So, maybe you should consider yourself lucky that you... or this person, has that."
Suddenly, Kagome felt a little petty. "I'm sorry..."
"For what?"
"Well, you know. ...Your parents... It must have been hard for you."
"Keh." Inuyasha spat. "What do you think I am, a fucking daisy? ...I'm used to being alone. And I like it that way."
Kagome was silent. She heard Inuyasha speak again. "...But, if whatever you- this person is being forced to do in turn crushes their spirit, then... maybe it's not worth following afterall."
Kagome nodded slowly. "Sage advice..." she said. Both the hanyou and the hostage sat in silence for a few minutes more.
"So..." Kagome turned. She looked at Inu once more, eager to take the silence out of the atmosphere. "Why don't you tell me about yourself? I doubt you're always so quiet and secretive..."
"Keh. So what if I am? What if I like my privacy?"
"There's a difference between privacy and being antisocial. Come on. Something... anything. Do you have any brothers or sisters?"
Inuyasha turned his head away and rolled his eyes. "Phhft. Bad topic."
"So... that would mean..."
"A brother. Older. We're not close. Just drop it."
Both were silent again. ....Then Inuyasha ventured. "...And you?"
"Me what?"
Any brothers or sisters, stupid."
She looked at him darkly. "Hey. Don't call me stupid."
"Moron, then. Just answer the question."
Kagome changed to a wry look. "You're not too bright on noble etiquette, are you?"
"Keh! Do I look like a fucking noble?"
Inuyasha's ears twitched a bit when he said that. Kagome, who had already developed a fascination for his ears, felt like laughing, as he looked more and more like just a wet dog as the time passed. "A brother. Younger. ...His name's Souta."
Inuyasha looked over at her and scowled. "...What the hell are you smiling for?"
"Nothing." Kagome tried to suppress a giggle. The wind had blown thick lock of Inu's hair over, giving him an odd looking hairdo. That, combined with his wide bright yellow eyes and puppy ears made for a funny Kodak moment.
"Are you laughing at me?!" His eyes narrowed. If there was one thing he hated with a passion, it was ridicule. The wind blew again, giving him an even more lopsided look.
Kagome, never being one to contain herself, gave up and burst in giggles. "I'm... I'm sorry..." she said between laughs. "You... you just look... like... such a puppy!" More laughter. An anime-esque sweat drop appeared on Inuyasha's forehead.
".A... puppy?" What the hell?!
Kagome tried to control her laughter while Inuyasha sat there, looking ridiculously sullied. After about a minute, the hilarity died down, and Kagome turned to Inu, with just a few last giggles escaping her lips. "Here..." she reached out and put the lock of hair back in place, patting it down with her hand. "...Now you look proper."
Her touch had been very, very soft. Inuyasha tried to push it out of his head... "Proper?" he said the word with disgust. "What means this... proper?"
Kagome smiled. "...It means... not like a pirate."
Inuyasha crossed his arms. "...Then I guess it isn't the best term to use, now is it?"
"...You never know. You just might fit the mold one day."
"Of a noble?! ...Baka. I'd rather make out with a shark."
The dark-eyed girl smirked slightly. "With that attitude, it might be the only action you'll ever get."
Inuyasha angrily turned once more. To this reaction, Kagome responded with another bout of laughter. Her laughter was so happy and genuine, that the presently peeved captain felt the anger slowly drain... What was it about Kagome that made him so... so... docile? He felt the corners of his lips curve into a small smile. ..Not much, but enough to be called a smirk...
"Touché." He said.
Kagome stopped laughing, then looked up at him and smiled. Her voice was "...You know, Inu... for a sea dog, you're... pretty enjoyable company..."
His eyes widened slightly, but not enough for her to notice. I... am...? The damp-haired hanyou keh'd again... "And just what makes you think so? ...In case you haven't noticed, I'm nothing but a 'dirty pirate'... A scalawag. A menace to decent society."
Kagome tilted her head. "Menace...? No... No, you're different. I can... feel it." She uncrossed her legs and gazed upward once more, to the star-dotted sky.
"...And, with you... I don't think I feel quite so lonely."
...Inuyasha was silent. ...Does she really mean what she says? ...Does she even know who she's talking to? The captain was gruff with his response. "...You have that other cook with you. ...Sango, her name is. And the monk. ...You have no reason to feel lonely."
The girl sighed absently. "True, but..." she paused, looking down. "...With you, It feels that I can... I don't know, temporarily forget my worries. ...About home. ..,About the we- about things... I..." She stopped, turning to look at the dog-eared pirate once more. "...Sorry, I'm not laying it on too thick, am I?"
He just keh'd. Kagome took that to signify a no. ...Another moment of silence.
"You know... I just remembered," she started again. "You never did tell me about yourself..."
Inuyasha turned away. "I told you. I'm not good at that crap."
Kagome was still for a moment, then reached into her pocket. In it was a small piece of torn paper from a cookbook and a tidbit of coal from the stove, as well as quite a bit of pocket lint. "I have an idea..." she said.
As the hanyou watched, Kagome huddled over her leg, and with the makeshift crayon, wrote something on the paper. She looked up. "...Have you ever heard of the game 'question exchange'?"
Inuyasha just blinked.
"Uh... NO?"
Kagome smiled her trademark smirk. "...Good. Because, I just made it up." She folded the small sheet in half and reached out to grab Inu's clawed hand. She placed the sheet in the middle and closed his fist around it. There it was again... her soft touch. ...He could feel his heart beating just a bit faster...
"Here's how it goes..." she explained. "I write down a question, and you answer it. ...Take it with you, to your room... let's meet here, everyday, perhaps, and you can answer it then... Then, you return a question on a small piece of paper just like that one... I'll take it with me and do the same thing... And so on and so forth, until all of our curiosity is appeased."
Inuyasha blinked, then gave her a narrow look. "...Any question...?"
Kagome, for a second, thinking. "...I suppose, for the most part. Just don't get too personal, like the hentai monk." She reached into the folds of her sailor suit, and brought out the small, brown book, handing that to Inuyasha as well. "Here... I think your hands are dry enough..." Inuyasha took it wordlessly...
A cold wind blew once more and enveloped Kagome's body. She hugged her arms to her chest, suddenly shivering... Inuyasha looked at her. The cold spray had coated her skin, making her feel it even more. In the wind, he caught the faint smell of vanilla.
"Wow... it's gotten so cold for this time of year..." She heard the shuffling of clothing next to her, but didn't pay attention. "Much colder than should have been... perhaps we've drifted north-?" She was cut off by the feeling of heavy clothing on her shoulder. ...Inuyasha had taken off his fire-rat fur jacket and draped it around Kagome's shoulders.
...Much to her comfort, the inside was bone dry, and warm. She looked up at him in surprise. "..Inu-?"
"You're cold and wet... Do you want to get sick?"
Those words of chivalry were the last the young noble had expected... "No, but," she protested, beginning to remove it. "You probably need it more than I do..."
"Don't." he said, looking away with crossed arms. "...I'm a hanyou, in case you missed the ears. I never get sick! So, just shut up and keep it on." He stood. ...Kagome hid a secret smile.
"I'm going to go, now. ...Get up so I can walk you inside."
Kagome did so and slipped the jacket around her once again. "Thanks... this is quite generous of you..."
"Keh."
"So... will you meet me here tomorrow too?"
"Yeah, yeah, fine... whatever. Just don't be late."
"Of course not..." Kagome smiled again. "Wouldn't think of it."
~*~
The next morning, the sun shone brightly in the sky, as a tall, black-ponytailed noble stood at his vast balcony, overlooking the ocean. He wore fine brown robes of the softest silk, a matching headband and had striking blue eyes. On his feet were matching leather brown boots. His hands were clasped behind his back, and he looked out to the sea, longing evident only in his eyes.
...Kagome... he thought. I... don't want to believe you're dead. You're out there, somewhere. I... can just smell it.
A cool female voice interrupted his thoughts from behind, making him jump and turn, making him return to earth in his in-charge noble mask.
The speaker was a slim eyed woman with long, dark hair and pale features, dressed in a flowy red and white kimono. She was strikingly beautiful in a haunting, placid way. "...Forgive me," she bowed. "Did I interrupt anything, Kouga-sama?"
The wolf youkai waved it off. "No, no... I was just... prospecting. Tell me, what was it you said, Kikyou?"
Kikyou gazed at him with a searching, cool eye, but pointed out no observations. Instead, she just repeated herself with a narrow expression. "...I said, that Ginta has reported to have seen a pirate ship sailing off the coast a few miles down shore. ...It seems, that it is heading this way."
Kouga took in her words. A pirate ship, ey? "I see. Did he make any observations on what it looked like?"
The woman's expression did not change. "Very large ship, five white sails with a black dog skull on one, and a mermaid adorning the stern."
Kouga smiled to himself. ...Dog-crap, huh...? He almost laughed. So, he wants the Shikon map for itself... how very predictable...
"...Sir Kouga."
The youkai wolf turned to Kikyou and nodded. "Thank you for the information, Kikyou. I'll be taking care of this myself."
The woman turned to leave, with no more than a raised eyebrow to indicate she'd heard him. "As you wish..."
She was gone, and Kouga once again turned to the ocean. ...But this time, the evil-looking grin was plastered on his face.
"This'll be fun, old buddy..."
~*~
AN: WHOO! Another week, another chapter. I realize the updates are a little spaced and I make you want to chuck tomatoes with my cliffhangers, but please, bear with me. ...I need to brainstorm and on top of it, juggle schoolwork, art, and beating my new Inuyasha game. *grins* ...That I just happened to have bought this weekend.
Reviewers, reviewers! Thank you, one, thank you all! Let me answer some of your questions...
Gatogirl1- Kirara hasn't completely disappeared yet. She just took a vacation from the previous chapters, but she's still very much glued to Sango's side.
Lilacks- I hope you're satisfied.^,~
Wackoramaco87- Hrm... I was thinking about it... Fluffy's definitely going to be mentioned in the fic, and I'll probably integrate him into the plot somehow. But, as of RIGHT NOW, he's not anywhere in sight. Keep checking, though.
Linggoddess- Sugoi! Isn't E.E just the best book ever? I stole it from my public library after I read, by switching labels with another book. ...I still don't regret it and am proud to have it in my collection.
Lilemmy- Mm... donuts. *goes up to get some*
Reinaqueen- He does, in fact... Though, what exactly, you shall find out soon. *secretive grin*
Goldenlover90- Hi again. ^^. I'm getting used to seeing your face! No worries though... If there's one person who sticks to character, it's me. But, of course, we all hate Kikyou.
Menchie-Pie- *squeals and glomps* I shall think of the most gruesome death/demise I can.
Simply Turquoise- Ella Enchanted is a twisted Cinderella story, written by Gail Carson Levine. In it, Ella is the hapless recipient of a foolish fairy's gift of obedience. ...There's a sexy young prince in the background, as well as stepsisters. One evil and bossy, one bossy and stupid. Ella must break the curse before it kills her. ...It's excellently written. ^.~ You must see for yourself.
SakuraSpring- thanks for the review, but I'm afraid I can't clamp Inu's potty mouth. That's why I rated it Pg-13... but again, thanks for the review.^^
BabayBunny- Dunno... just bake/deep fry some sugary dough, I guess.^^
Ace of Spades1- *bows* You're too, too kind. And great pun.
Whew! That's pretty much it. Please stay tuned... annnnd...
*holds a pendulum up to your eyes* Review... review... review...