Pirate Pash

Chapter 9 – Confusion

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He had to get rid of the girl. He was well aware - probably even more so than his crew - that keeping the woman around was only useful if you wanted to hear her constantly whining and screaming about everything.

And he was sure nobody wanted to hear that every second of their life.

Inuyasha sighed as his large foot snapped another stick on the ground. Surprisingly, he didn't find the weather that cold....maybe just a bit nippy....his mind was completely focused on the topic of Kagome. The old him would have killed her without a whim, if not worse, so what was keeping him from doing so?

He sure would have never embraced her like he just did, but it was more of a life saving technique then a hug. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice in his head. 'You're lying again......' he convinced himself silently, 'you wanted to hug her, and touch her silky hair, and her soft arms......'

"Fuck no!" He yelled to no one in particular, the only response he received came from the crickets in the darkness. 'I've never talked to myself like this before....this cannot be healthy.'

'Maybe you can't bear the fact that you find yourself attached to this girl, and you ran away from her just now because you were worried of doing something- else –to her? Pathetic.' If this conscience were a person, Inuyasha would have beaten the crap out of him already.

"I don't like Kagome." He snapped again. "She's a pig-headed cow who doesn't understand anything."

The voice stopped for a moment before resuming. 'Is that so? Well, then maybe it's because she stunningly resembles your old girlfriend? Why else would you be keeping her around like this? You know better than all your crew that women are bad luck.'

"I don't like her...." He repeated. "But she's so different from any other girl I've ever met. Stubborn woman." He snorted at his idiocy. If anyone heard him talking to himself like this he'd sooner be strung by the neck.

Inuyasha's breath hitched suddenly and he stopped dead in his tracks when a soft voice called out. He froze. 'Am I hearing things?' He snapped his head around to await a second call, but it never came.

'I AM hearing things. My hearing's too good to miss something like that...' The pirate flattered himself, continuing to pick up the pace he slowed down seconds ago. That girl was strong enough to hold it out if anything happened to her, and she seemed feisty enough a few minutes ago when he asked about the weird blood on her fingers.

Just thinking about that was enough to trigger his anger again. Now why didn't she just - ?

"Inuyasha......? Are you still there?"

There it was.

A sound so pathetically desperate it brought a silly grin to his face. He remained silent to see if she would continue.

"Can you...hear me? I know you can." Her voice was a little raspy, but not enough to move Inuyasha from his position. He was enjoying her sad attempt to call him back too much. "I'm not going to....apologize but I'm going to please ask you to stay....with me...."

Something was beating rapidly at his chest, and it took him a while to figure out it was his heart. The way Kagome begged him made his blood boil in a good way...

"Inuyas.....are you there? Don't leave yet......." Her voice whimpered a little, and he was straining to pick up the last of her words. What he did manage to pick up were the quiet sniffling sounds she was making. Oh no.... shit.

"Oi, Kagome! Did I say you could cry?" He found himself kneeling before the sitting girl almost immediately. God he hated that sound! The cries, the whimpers, the sniffles....how could anyone make such a feeble sound?

"You....you're....you didn't leave?" She watched him behind watery eyes, but she quickly wiped it away with the back of her sleeve in embarrassment. There was no way she'd let him know just how frightened she was after he left. It had been sparked by a rustling in the leaves to her right. "But you said...."

"I know. I was going to leave. But I can't have my prisoner running away from me now, can I?" He smirked, but she didn't return it. "Keh! What's wrong with your face?"

She was frowning again. "Inuyasha....I...." She lowered her gaze to her feet. "I can't...." All of a sudden she had an urge to tell him about her run-in Kenji, but she worried more about her own safety then the truth of the situation.

At first Kagome had planned to keep it a secret from him, but seeing as he did come back for her....well, the least she could do was let him know.

The goose bumps on her arms disagreed with her.

'But would he hurt me if he knew?' She gulped silently. Would he get so angry he would strangle her until she inhaled her last breath? He definitely had the strength to do so, not to mention he HAD done it before.....she was confused....

"You look kinda sick." He stared at her seriously. Her face had turned a ghastly shade of white. "What can't you do?"

The young woman swallowed and calmed herself down. "Nothing. It's....nothing. I can't stay out in the cold for this long." She managed a weak smile, but ended up making a pained expression. She really was freezing, and if she stayed out here for much longer she wasn't sure what would happen to her.

He looked around. "There aren't any caves around here for us to hide in, but if we dig deeper into the bushes we should block out some wind." Saying this, he pushed past some bushes behind the tree she was leaning up against.

Kagome could feel the bushes brush along her back. She painfully turned her head to see a small clearing surrounded by leaves. Inuyasha seemed pleased enough. "This is good."

She groaned when she felt his hands drag her by her underarms into the bushes. Not only was it extremely uncomfortable, but it spiked a pain in her back when he dragged her over some loose pebbles and snapped branches.

The captain obviously hadn't learned how to make a girl feel like a queen.

He plopped down into a cross-legged position once he set her down. "See? It's not so cold in here."

It felt exactly the same, to say the least. Kagome crawled weakly to lean against some branches, not caring what bugs could have been infesting in it. "It's still pretty cold....in here. There's just a bit less wind."

He swore to himself at her last comment. 'Bitch! What am I? A servant that makes sure you aren't the least bit cold?' He stopped in his tracks when he caught sight of her sneezing and shuddering.

He sighed. 'What the hell am I supposed to do when she acts like that?'

Inuyasha felt a bead of sweat drop down his forehead even in the cold weather. Kikyou never got sick, so he never had to learn how to take care of a female. Sure, he knew they were weaker then men, but he had no idea how much weaker. Were their bodies functioned differently?

He'd noticed girls tended to scream more even when he used little force.... His touches weren't always that painful...

Sighing at his weakness, he pulled the outer layer of his clothing off and slipped it off his arms before draping it over her shoulders. He may have been a mean, annoying hardass most of the time, but he still had some chivalry left in him.

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'This is still the same, why did I bother making myself sound pathetic by calling him back?' Kagome kicked herself mentally for her stupidity before she felt something slip onto her shoulders.

It instantly brought some warmth back into her tingling nerves. She gazed down at the large extra layer wrapped around her smaller body. 'What is this.....? His clothing?'

She turned back around to see he was wearing a thin white layer underneath, and the fabric was so thin she could practically make out every line of his chest. He caught her stare and shot her a 'just try to keep staring' look before she turned away with her face hot.

Great, now she was making this situation even more awkward than it already was. 'Stuck in the bushes with this jerk acting like a nice guy.....what a nightmare.'

She tore the new fabric off her despite the difference in warmth and threw it back at him a little harsher then she intended. "I'm fine. Keep it."

He raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms. "I thought you were freezing to death."

"I was....but you keep your clothes. I don't want to have your crew beating me up for getting their captain sick." She mumbled absently and smiled despite the gust of wind that sent her shuddering all over again. 'What is the matter with me? I should have kept the jacket.'

His face curled in disgust. "Listen, girl. You either put on the clothes or I'll force them on you. And that is a threat." He stared her down and threw his clothing back in her face. After all he had gone through to give it to her she turns it down?

She felt an uncomfortable squirm inside at the thought of Inuyasha forcing her down to dress her. The image was scaring her more than the captain's angry glare. "I'm really okay Inuyasha....."

He scoffed and turned away. "Then why did you want me to stay?"

She spun away slowly. She really didn't know what forced her to call out those embarrassing words to him. It had been a last second decision when she realised she was scared to be left in the dark alone for the rest of the night. "I....I didn't want to be alone right now...." She stopped to think over her words. "But - but that's not implying anything!"

"Uh huh." He already looked bored with the topic. "Just shut up and put on the shirt. I can see your perked nipples all the way over here."

She squealed and looked down to find he was right. Her face returned some of its heat as she wrapped her arms tightly around her chest. "You....you...DISGUSTING PIRATE!!! Your language towards a woman couldn't be more vulgar!" How dare he just point out some thing like that!

"I was just telling you what I saw." He smirked at the thought of her getting so embarrassed over something like that.

"Even if you saw it you didn't have to say anything about it!" She snapped angrily, still terribly embarrassed to have a man see something so private for a woman.

"Keh! Get over it and put on the shirt."

She was about to snarl something back at him, but stopped when she realised it would help to cover what he saw. Kagome grabbed the fabric between her fingers and wrapped herself tightly inside the warmer shell.

She took in a deep breath."....thanks."

He snorted. "Don't pass out on me again. The next time I might not bother saving you. And then I'll leave you out in the cold to rot".

"Of course that's assuming it doesn't happen to you first." She whispered to let less air enter her mouth. "Aren't you cold?"

"What the hell are you whispering for? It's not like anyone's listening in on us."

"I don't know." She continued to whisper. "I don't like the feeling of this island. Completely short of food and water, and the weather is too strange. Did we ever figure out why everyone scattered out overnight?"

"Who knows?" She was right. That was weird. Why the hell had everyone disappeared to another part of the island overnight? "What about to play it safe we hold onto each other and see if we separate in the morning?" He grinned as he awaited her screams and wails.

It came as quite the shock to Inuyasha when she slowly lowered her head.

"Yeah....I think you're right. It wouldn't help to lose each other in the morning." The way she said it seemed like hugging a guy to sleep was perfectly normal for a girl like her.

Kagome smiled at the shocked expression on his face. The way he had touched her back at the tree...it felt like he really wanted to revive her...bring her back. And she realised right away that he didn't despise her. She felt all that in one touch.

But she couldn't say she hated him. She had thought earlier when he had left that she was getting attached to him...but maybe....just maybe...that was a good thing.

All she had to do was crawl her way into Inuyasha's fragile heart. He had lost a girlfriend that looked just like her before, right? That would explain the threatening, the nails, and the strangling when he first saw her. So if she could manage a way for him to fall for her emotionally, it might be possible that she could convince him to let her visit her home again.

But the problem was, how was a girl like her, who blushed like a cherry every time she saw a man's bare chest, supposed to make some obnoxious idiot fall for her? She never really had a mom, or any girl friends, so no one ever taught her how to be a woman to begin with. And seducing a man?

She cringed. Her freedom was all in her hands now.

"Kagome, did you just say...?"

"Yes. We should hold each other to sleep. It's also a good way to preserve the little body heat that we have." She smiled when he flinched noticeably.

"Body heat?" He asked, dumbfounded. Maybe his little joke had gone too far....

Kagome stared in amazement as even the great pirate got all squeamish in his seat. She had never realised how much power a woman had over a man when she put her heart into it. Maybe she should share the advice with Sango.

"Here. Let me do it." She made sure to keep her bloodied hand out of his view, glad he didn't bring it up again when he returned. She breathed warmly. "Just think of it as a way to stay alive.... Captain."

Suddenly it didn't feel so cold for Inuyasha. What was wrong with Kagome? Was she trying to seduce him in some sexy as hell way, or was she simply trying to gain body heat? He didn't like some of the feelings she was evoking....mostly in his lower region.

He growled when he remembered Kikyou never acted like this....it was always him pressuring her. So nervousness was an understatement for the pirate.

The smaller woman reached over and wrapped her long arms around his chest, making sure to take her sweet time. She was probably even more frightened then he was....what if he saw right through her game? Was she acting womanly enough for him?

He couldn't hold back the primal groan that emerged when her entire upper body rested against his chest, Kagome on her knees because she didn't know where to place her outstretched legs.

Both of them were trembling from the heat of the situation. They had been alone for a short while and already they had hugged twice....what was next? Inuyasha really wanted to know.

Kagome, on the other hand, was almost sweating from everything. Inuyasha had stilled completely in her arms, and all she could hear was his deep breathing next to her ear. She really didn't know what she was doing anymore....she didn't want to do this with him, even if she knew this plan had a chance of working.

She was tempting the pirate.... And acting like a completely different Kagome. Every nerve in her body tingled with a mix of excite and guilt.

Before she could find herself relaxing into the hug, something interrupted her.

'Kagome, stop this! You're siding with our enemy!' She heard the tiny buzz in her head when she felt Inuyasha slide his arms around her waist to hold her still. 'Don't forget who you hate most in life! You're on the first step to shaming us all. Your family. Myouga. Your island. The only thing you did right was kill Kenji.'

Who was this voice in her head? 'Forget Kenji....this is all a plan to get the captain to fall for me....and then I'll – I'll make him bring me home....and then I'll get the navy after them.'

The voice was mocking her. 'The Navy? Don't kid yourself, Kagome. You would never call on them because you've already attached yourself to Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippo....'

Kagome stopped. 'Who is this in my head?'

'Stop before you go too far, Kagome. Don't make the mistake of attaching yourself to a pirate. You'll soil yourself forever....'

'Who - ?' She was cut off when the voice faded away.

"Kagome? Are you okay? You seem kind of nervous." Inuyasha asked, having already warmed himself against the timid girl. He was surprised when she pushed herself away slightly and stared at his face.

Kagome looked carefully at his eyes, his nose, his mouth, every single feature on his face. He really was quite handsome. Nothing like the tales of pirates you heard of in villages. "Inuyasha...."

"What's wrong?" He said a little too abruptly.

She breathed a puff of hot air. "I.... I have to tell you something." She couldn't believe she was doing this. But the guilt was eating her alive.... "But you have to promise me you won't get mad."

He stared at her for a while before nodding.

"Promise?" She asked him again.

"Yeah. Now tell me."

She squirmed from his grasp and sighed when she felt the loss of heat. 'Better to stay further away from him before I tell him.....' Kagome squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out.

"I killed Kenji."

A moment of silence passed between them.

"Inuyasha? I - " She slowly looked up at him to see a blank expression on his usually stern face. Kagome frowned. "I know you're angry with me but I didn't mean to do it... I thought he was an animal and I attacked but I accidentally hit him in the head but it was all an accident. I would never kill him on purpose!"

He backed up quickly and stared her down. "What?"

"Inuyasha, I didn't mean to do it, I swear! But the guilt was killing me so I wanted to tell you the truth." She calmed herself down by plopping into a useless heap on the ground. "I thought you would want to know the truth...."

He snarled. "So the blood.....the hair....it was all you?! His killer was before my eyes the entire fucking time? I can't believe this!"

"You promised not to get angry! I told you I didn't mean to do it!"

The captain stomped forward and stopped inches from her face. "How can I not get angry? I just found out of all the idiots aboard, YOU killed my friend. How the hell do you expect me to react? Do you want me to laugh about it?"

She whispered. "That would be better than this...."

"Oh, just shut your mouth, Kagome! Look what you've done now!" He lowered his face into his hand.

"Weren't you the one that told me people died all the time and crying about it would never do a thing? Well, look at you now!"

"It's different with Kenji! He was my friend! My comrade! He was like a brother to me! And you killed him because you thought he was an animal? Anyone would deserve a better death than that!" He screamed at her, unable to hold in his anger towards her. "Sometimes I don't know what to do with you, bitch!"

She stood up suddenly. "You know what? I'm not a bit sorry for what I did! Kenji and his asshole friend Jio can both go to hell – they threatened to kill me earlier because I overheard them putting you down! They said if I told you they would drag me down with them....but I don't give a rat's ass anymore what happens to me! You know why? Because nothing could be worse then being yelled at by you ALL THE TIME!"

She breathed heavily, falling back down on the cold ground. Her brilliant plan to seduce the captain was not going well... it was just too hard to keep from getting angry with him.

"Wha – ? What did they say about me?"

Kagome folded her hands together. "They said you weren't going to share the treasure with them once you found it....and that you would give them nothing in exchange for their loyalty."

He blinked. "Is that all?"

She blushed and turned away. She whispered. "And that....you were whoring it up with a human bitch." She spat like venom on her tongue. "...me..."

Inuyasha glared at the embarassed girl for a moment before sitting back down. He surprised her suddenly by reaching over and wrapping his stronger arms around her body. She quivered when she felt his chin rest on her unsteady shoulder.

"Inuyasha? Wha-?"

He closed his eyes. "Shut up and go to sleep. We'll fight in the morning."

She was surprised...but not completely unpleased. She was tired....and now she was warm....if she saw him in the morning, she would have to remember to scream at him some more and then maybe....just maybe....

She would continue with her plan.

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AN: Hope you guys liked the chapter. I know it may seem like their relationship is moving too fast, but in that life and death situation where they're stuck and have to depend on each other...they're likely to get along just a bit better. And Kagome still doesn't really like him, she might not ever like him because of the way he acts. But for now, she's going to try and make him fall for her to let her go home.

Please review and let me know what you think!