xxxxx
Demons of the Caribbean: Chapter 3xxxxx
Disclaimer: Neither M.W. Roach or medlii owns Inuyasha or POTC.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! We really appreciate your feedback!
This chapter by: medlii
xxxxx
Miroku looked around in wonder at the busy, noisy, bustling nightlife on the island known as Tortuga. Never in his life had he seen so many drunks or women with such revealing clothes. Inuyasha tried to talk over noise of gunshots and screams.
"I know, it looks like a grimy rat-hole, but in a place like Tortuga, no man can ever feel alone."
A woman with red hair stormed over to Inuyasha, who grinned at her in welcoming.
"Ayame!" He called enthusiastically.
The girl said nothing, but cracked Inuyasha in the face with the palm of her hand. Inuyasha's head snapped back with impressive force. The deed done, Ayame walked away, pleased.
"Not sure I deserved that." Inuyasha groaned.
Another woman stomped over to Inuyasha.
"Koharu." He said in a gentler voice.
"Who was she?" Koharu asked angrily.
"What?"
SLAP!Inuyasha found his spine snapping back again.
"I may have deserved that."
xxxxxMiroku and Inuyasha entered a large barn. Before the blacksmith could ask, Inuyasha shoved a bucket of water at him.
The pirate dumped his own bucket over a man sleeping on the manure pile surrounded by smelly, mangy, flea bitten dogs. Sputtering, the man opened his eyes and rubbed them.
"CURSE YA FOR BREATHIN', YA SLACK-JAWED IDIOT!" the man shouted. After his vision cleared, Koga was surprised to see Inuyasha standing in front of him.
"Sparrow? 'Tis you?"
"Aye, Koga. It is."
Miroku thought the man's name and face were familiar but he just couldn't place them.
"'Tis bad luck waking a man when he's sleeping," Koga grumbled.
"A drink- ale, not water, of course- could fix that," Inuyasha said cheerily, helping Koga to his feet. Miroku doused Koga with his own bucket.
"Blast it, I'm already awake!" Koga roared, wiping the water from his face.
"That was for the smell." Miroku advised. Koga nodded in understanding.
xxxxx
In the noisy bar, Inuyasha and Koga discussed at a table while Miroku waited just out of earshot.
"I know you wouldn't be here if you didn't have a reason. Something gleams in your eye, Sparrow." Koga stopped to take a drink.
"I'm going after the Pearl." Inuyasha said quietly.
Koga nearly choked on his ale. Inuyasha continued.
"I know where it is, and I'm going after it. I need you to get me a crew."
"What's in your head, Captain? How could you pull it off without Naraku killing you first?"
Inuyasha smiled slightly.
"I have leverage." He then motioned his head towards Miroku.
"The boy?" Koga asked.
"That is the child of Rancid Roku Turner. His only child. Savvy?" Inuyasha whispered.
Koga nodded, eyes wide.
"Ah. Aye, then. I'll get you a crew, Captain."
Bored, Miroku looked around at the women. Most were comely, drunk, and chasing men. One stumbled into the blacksmith just as he heard Inuyasha say "Turner." He shoved the woman away to listen better but the men had lowered their voices. Now they were making odd gestures at each other-raising eyebrows, motioning with their heads, 'drawing' in the air with their fingers…
Miroku sighed, hoping the night would be over soon.
xxxxx
Kagome glumly stared at the Shikon Shard around her neck. For her entire life, she'd wanted to meet a pirate or two and have an adventure, but this was certainly not what she'd had in mind.
"The Cap'n wants you to join him for dinner. And he says you have to wear this," Kagura jeered, suddenly looming into Kagome's sight.
Kagome looked at the dress Kagura was holding out. Its style rivaled the ones Miroku was looking at in Tortuga. Kanna and Kagura smiled eerily at her.
"Tell Captain Naraku…" Kagome struggled to remember what she'd heard earlier "…Uninclined to ache-we-us to his… request.
Looking confused for a second, Kagura eventually realized what Kagome had meant to say. The pirate smirked. "Captain Naraku said you might say that. He also said if that be the case, you have ta wear this." Kagura smirked again and held up a corset. With a groan, Kagome put on the dress and followed Kanna and Kagura to the captain's quarters…
xxxxx
"Ah, Miss Turner! I hoped you'd come dine with me." Naraku cackled.
Kagome glowered at him from across the table. "Here, try some bread." Although she was hungry, Kagome remembered her manners and politely nibbled on the slice Naraku had passed her. The evil captain roared with laughter. "There's no need to impress anyone here. You must be hungry." Blushing, Kagome gulped down the rest of the bread. She reached out and grabbed a turkey leg. She ferociously gnawed at it.
"Drink some wine." Greedily, Kagome gulped down the cool liquid.
Naraku watched excitedly as the starving girl ravished her meal.
"And the apple is next." Naraku offered.
When the ripe green fruit was nearly to her lips, Kagome froze. "Are you trying to poison me?" she choked.
Naraku cackled again. "Nope, just tryin' to fatten you up."
"What kind of sick people are you?"
Naraku's lips parted in a cruel smile, revealing his yellowish and slightly pointed teeth. "I was just teasin', Miss Turner. I think you need to hear a story first."
Kagome's angry glare was quickly replaced by a smile. "I like stories! Does this one have a happy ending?"
"That's for you to decide," Naraku replied cryptically. Kagome munched on her apple as she listened.
"Ages ago, an Aztec priestess created a treasure of enormous power and called it the Shikon Jewel. 'Twas said to fulfill anyone's wishes. Knowing what harm evil men could use it for, it was hidden. My former captain and I searched everywhere for this gem. And we found its location at an island that does not exist unless you know where it already is. Now my former captain believed in 60/40 shares, information included. So the rest of the crew and I marooned him on a deserted island to die. The jewel was a beautiful sight. As the new captain, my greatest desire was to have the most fearsome and deadly crew of all the seas. As soon as I touched the jewel, it shattered. But the spell worked. Each man took a piece. And now we are the deadliest pirates, for we are cursed men, Miss Turner. At first, the curse was wonderful but after years and years, we realized how awful it truly was. Food turned to ash in our mouths. Nothing could quench our thirsts, and all the pleasurable company in the world could not slake our lust. Only by finding all the little shards of the sacred jewel, reuniting them and bathing the jewel in blood money shall the curse be broken. Thanks to you, we have the final shard."
"And the blood money?" Kagome asked.
Naraku smiled.
"Well, that's why we haven't killed you…yet."
While Captain Naraku was talking, Kagome had carefully slid a knife from the table and set it on her lap. When the story was finished, she remarked "I don't believe in fairy tales. What silly nonsense."
Cackling, Naraku rose and pulled Kagome's chair out in a very gentlemanly fashion. As soon as she stood up, Kagome whirled around and plunged the knife into Naraku's chest. Naraku laughed his cruel laugh and yanked it out.
A few drops of blood dripped to the floor and Kagome screamed.
"I'm curious, Miss Turner. After killing me, what is it you plan on doing next?"
Kagome pushed past the evil man and onto the moonlit deck of the ship where an even more terrifying sight greeted her. Every sailor was now a skeleton! Tatters of clothes clung to their grimy bones and they leered at the young girl as she shrieked in terror. After a moment, Kagome returned to the safety of the captain's quarters.
"The moonlight shows us for what we truly are. Neither dead nor alive, and we've lived too long," Naraku said eerily. "I feel nothing. Not the spray of the sea…"
Kagome edged away from the mysterious captain. "Nor the warmth of a woman's flesh…" Kagome's retreat put her in the moonlight. As Naraku's hand followed her, it transformed into a skeleton of its former self. As the moonlight spread over the Captain's body, his skin and muscles melted off, reveling his undead face and bony exterior.
"You best start believing in fairy tales, Miss Turner! You're in one!"
Horrified, Kagome rushed inside.
xxxxx
Inuyasha strutted across the dock, inspecting the new crew Koga had gathered for him. He seemed satisfied until he stopped in front of a woman with a white cat sitting on one shoulder.
Koga hurried up to Inuyasha. "'Tis bad luck having a woman on board sir, but this was the best that I could do," he whispered.
"You, sailor! What's your name?" Inuyasha asked the female pirate.
"Sango."
"Do you have the courage to stay true to this ship and its captain in the face of danger and otherwise certain death?"
"Aye, sir," she responded simply.
Nodding, Inuyasha continued down the line. He recognized a few of the pirates but most were new faces. He grinned when he noticed one with a large hat… When the captain yanked it off, a mass of black hair fell down the woman's back. Inuyasha smiled warmly.
"Kikyo."
Without warning, Kikyo smacked Inuyasha in the face with incredible force. Miroku tilted his head.
"I suppose you didn't deserve that one?"
"No, that one I deserved."
Kikyo nodded in agreement.
"You took my boat!" She sneered.
"Actually…"
SMACK!Inuyasha remained in pain for a moment, then turned back, this time more cautiously.
"Borrowed. Borrowed your boat without permission, but with every intention of bringing it back."
"But you didn't!"
Miroku smiled. When he first saw Kikyo, he'd been reminded of Miss Swann. After all, they looked somewhat alike.
"You'll get her another one, right Inuyasha?" Miroku quipped, elbowing the captain.
"I'll get you another one." Inuyasha told Kikyo.
"A better boat," Miroku said.
"A better boat," Inuyasha agreed.
Kikyo sighed.
"That one," Miroku continued, pointing at the Interceptor, which was anchored nearby.
"That one!" Inuyasha asked, annoyed that the blacksmith offered the boat they'd fairly stolen. "Aye, that one. What say you?"
"Aye," Kikyo shouted.
"Aye," the rest of the pirates agreed.
Miroku grinned as the crew eagerly boarded the ship. Kikyo walked passed Inuyasha and snatched her hat from him. Inuyasha flinched, fearing another painful strike.
xxxxx
Although she was afraid, Kagome sat calmly in the rowboat as Naraku's crew paddled their precious cargo from the Black Pearl to Isla de Muerta.
xxxxx
Miroku and the rest of Inuyasha's crew watched over the rails of the Interceptor as they slowly made their way through the rocky passages leading to Isla de Muerta. Everything was silent as the pirates looked upon the smashed remains of the ships who hadn't been quite so lucky. Koga stood with Miroku.
"This place hasn't changed much." Koga mumbled.
"You've been here before?" Miroku wondered.
"Aye, long ago. Around the time Inuyasha was Captain of the Black Pearl."
Miroku gasped a little. Koga, realizing what he had just said, turned away.
"He failed to mention that." Miroku said quietly.
"Yeah." Koga spoke awkwardly. "His first mate was Naraku. Naraku demanded that Inuyasha split their plunder 50/50. Inuyasha wouldn't hear of it. 'Twas 60/40; the normal share. That night, there was a mutiny. His first mate and the crew marooned him on a tiny island and left him to die. You know that big sword Inuyasha carries?"
"Yes."
"Well, it's a magic sword, given to him by Naraku. Can kill a hundred beings with one swipe. Of course, that's all the sword has is one last attack. Well, that won't do much good for hunting nor to be rescued. But after 5 days of starvin', that sword starts to look real friendly, if you catch me drift."
Miroku winced at the thought.
"But, Inuyasha escaped that island, and still has that one attack. He's saving it for his mutinous first mate."
"Naraku." Miroku whispered.
"Aye."
"How'd Inuyasha get off the island?"
"Well…there's rumors, but no one really knows."
Inuyasha broke the conversation. "Ready a longboat. Mr. Turner and I are going ashore," he commanded.
"But what if the worst should happen?" Koga asked.
Inuyasha thought for a moment, then answered, "Stick to the code."
xxxxx
Kagome glanced around the large cave, her eyes wide with terror. The pirates shoved her into the large 'room' filled with gold, artifacts and other treasures they'd acquired over the years. In the center sat a large pedestal with a round pink gem no larger than a gold coin on top. As she got closer, Kagome could see that a small fragment was missing. And the one on her necklace would fill the gap perfectly.
xxxxx
Uneasily, Miroku looked at Inuyasha. The waters all around the island were littered with skeletons and gold. "What do you mean by 'stick to the code?'"
"The pirates code. Any man who falls behind is left behind," Inuyasha replied.
"No heroes amongst thieves, then?" Miroku asked rhetorically.
Inuyasha laughed quietly.
"What?" Miroku asked shortly.
"For someone who has such a bleak outlook on pirates, you're fast on your way to becoming one. You sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the fleet, joined a pirate's crew… and you're completely obsessed with treasure."
"I'm not obsessed with treasure," Miroku huffed as the two pulled the boat onto shore. Inuyasha led him to an opening so they could see what was going on. Miroku's eyes went wide at the site of Kagome. Inuyasha nodded.
"Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."
xxxxx
Inside, Naraku stood next to the nearly completed Shikon Jewel, his crew watching him eagerly. "Yaar. Long have we suffered. Each man here has proven himself time and again." The pirates cheered. "Now, we shall end this suffering." The pirates cheered. "We have collected all the cursed treasure. All are here. Save for this!" Naraku pointed to Kagome. And the pirates cheered again.
Miroku lunged forward but Inuyasha held him back. "Shh. We must wait for the opportune moment."
With a sigh, Miroku followed the pirate. "And when is that? When you'll receive the most profit from it?"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He was losing his patience for the whiny blacksmith. He pulled Miroku close.
"I know it's difficult for you," Inuyasha said. "But, please stay here and try not to do anything stupid."
xxxxx
In the cave, Naraku lowered Kagome's neck over the jewel. He held up a knife and the cursed pirates began to chant.
Hearing footsteps, Inuyasha turned around. Miroku emerged from the gloom, carrying an oar. With a whap, he knocked the pirate unconscious.
"Sorry, Inuyasha. I refuse to be your leverage."
Naraku yanked the shard from Kagome's neck and placed it in her palm. With a quick slice of the knife, a thin line of blood oozed from her hand. Naraku squeezed Kagome's hand around the shard, then let the bloody piece of the jewel fall to join the others.
"That's it?" Kagome asked.
Naraku leaned to Kagome's ear.
"Waste not."
The cursed pirates leaned forward eagerly.
And nothing happened.
After a moment, Kohaku shouted, "Did it work?"
"I don't feel any different," Kagura called.
"How do we find out?" Kanna asked.
Naraku rolled his eyes. Taking his pistol out of his belt, he aimed it at Kagura and shot her in the chest.
"You're still alive!" Kanna cheered.
"Yeah! He shot me!"
"Why didn't it work?" Confused and angry shouts echoed around the cave. Naraku silenced them all with a wave of his hand and turned to Kagome.
"Was your father Roku Turner?"
"No."
The pirates gasped.
"Then, where's his child?"
Kagome didn't speak. Angry and frustrated, Naraku slapped Kagome, knocking her backwards, toward the water. In her hand, Kagome held the completed jewel…
Immediately, the still-cursed pirates began shouting and blaming one another for what had happened. Kagome opened her eyes and saw Miroku treading water in front of her! Quietly, the two swam away while Naraku and his crew argued.
"Let's spill all her blood, just in case!" Onigumo cried.
Naraku nodded in agreement, then turned around to grab the wench who'd caused him so much trouble. But she was gone.
The pirates rushed out of the cave to find Kagome. Instead, they found Captain Inuyasha stumbling around the cave.
"You! You're supposed to be dead!" Kagura shouted.
Inuyasha looked down at his body. "Am I not?"
He turned around to go the other direction but more pirates surrounded him.
"Parlili," Inuyasha stuttered. The pirates looked at him, wondering just how mad this man had become. "Parlulalu…parsley…parsnip…partner…par…par-"
"Parley?" Kanna asked, figuring out what the deranged captain meant.
"Yes!" Inuyasha exclaimed. "That's the one! Parley! Parley!"
Kagura growled and glared at her smaller sister.
"Parley? Damn to the depths whatever mutton-head thought up 'parley'!"
Inuyasha leaned forward.
"That would be the French."
xxxxx
Don't forget to review! Your comments, whether they're good or bad are appreciated!