Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha or Potc, would I be broke? No. Therefore, I own nothing but debt. (Does anyone want the debt? lol)

Chapter 14: Accord of the Pearl

The powder ignited in an explosion of sound, and Inuyasha clutched his ears, holding his hands over top of the bandana. His head was being crushed!

It felt like there was a metal ring around his skull, tightening, squeezing harshly. Inuyasha blinked in surprise after an eternity, realizing he was crouching, that the ship was sinking, and Kagome was shaking his uninjured shoulder, trying to bring him back to reality.

"Inuyasha! Come on, please, I know you're hurting, but we have to free Sango, Miroku and Will!" Kagome looked at the ocean coming up to meet them. They had to get them out of the hold, or they'd suffocate!

That couldn't happen. She wouldn't let it happen. They'd survived worse than this before, and it wouldn't happen.

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Will, Sango and Miroku wondered what had happened after the explosion. The water was over their heads now, and they had to get out, or die.

Miroku forced his head down, away from the air. The wave that had rocked the hold might have opened up the side of the ship. It was worth a try, and anything beat drowning. Sango, and Will noticed what he was doing, and followed his lead.

Will looked down, and spotted a hole. He got the others attention, and waved them in the direction of freedom.

Sango and Miroku kicked hard against the water, following Will's murky silhouette.

All three got out, and raced for the surface, gasping in as their heads broke the water.

Sango turned around as soon as she could. "Kagome! We're out! There was a hole!"

Kagome's head appeared over the railing, before the Interceptor sank enough that she and Inuyasha were in the water.

She sighed in relief. Short lived, since the ship was sinking under them and they were being forced to swim, but still, it was a relief to hear their voices. Inuyasha revived enough in the water that Kagome could tow him behind her.

Kagome swam over, pulling Inuyasha behind her.

"What happened?" asked Miroku, surprised. It wasn't like Inuyasha to let Kagome do anything for him, or to hold onto his head like that... He seemed rather confused, and he didn't want to let go of his head for some reason.

Miroku looked out over where the Interceptor had been, and frowned.

There was something scraggly looking holding onto a barrel and splashing. It had been behind the Interceptor, but when the ship had disappeared it had come into view.

"Sesshoumaru?" called the monk, surprised. The last he'd known, the arrogant western lord had been left behind with Jack in the cave. He must have come with the Pearl.

Sango looked over, and saw Sesshoumaru. It didn't look like he knew they were here. His back was to them.

Sango paddled a little closer, and winced as she saw the ragged, roundish holes in his clothing weakly oozing blood into the ocean.

Sesshoumaru floated around, eyes staring out blankly. Sango frowned as he apparently ignored her.

"Where are you? I can tell you're here, exterminator."

Sango blinked. She hadn't expected that from Sesshoumaru....She was right in front of him! He must be blind not to see her!

Blind...his eyes looked blind. They were not longer moving, no longer focusing on the world. They were the stationary glass of a blind man's eyes.

"I'm right here, in front of you...are you blind?" whispered Sango

"Where are you? I want an answer."

"Right here!" said Sango, louder. Couldn't he hear her either?

Sesshoumaru grimaced. He absolutely hated having to ask that question. His pride resented having to ask for help, needing to ask for any aid at all. But he had no choice at this point. He was in no shape to do much of anything.

He was going to get the pirates who'd set off that cannon, and kill them. He'd know who it was. He'd remembered their scent, and he would not forget.

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After he'd been shot, Sesshoumaru had dropped like a stone. A bullet had gone through his arm, surprising him enough that he'd let go. He wouldn't have stayed in the open anyways, not after being shot, but regardless of that he'd not been able to keep hold of the slippery rope.

He'd fallen into the ocean, and had taken a few minutes after twisting madly to remember to stop struggling. Instead he had just let himself float, allowing himself to float back upwards. All his struggles might just have been in the wrong direction. He couldn't tell, blinded as he was, and with his sense of balance gone.

He'd managed to get to the surface, and had bumped into something solid and round. He'd guessed it was a barrel, and held on, assessing the damage.

Not good at all. His arm had been shot in the biceps, and it was throbbing. Sesshoumaru cursed himself for leaving his armor on the Interceptor. Because of that lack of protection, they had managed to hit his upper body, while the rest of the bullets had scored on his legs.

And....damn it....he was wet again!

It would take ages to get all the salt water out of his clothing and tail....more, since he didn't know when he'd have time to get cleaned up in the middle of the ocean.

Sesshoumaru was more worried about his eyes than the bullets, and his ears. He couldn't hear or see to get back to the ship, although he could probably manage with nose alone. Even though a nose wouldn't do much for his lack of coordination...

Really, it was a good thing Sango had found him...he told himself...unconvincingly.

"How far to the Interceptor?" he asked shortly. He was already practically helpless, and she knew it. Might as well ask now.

"It...sank. Here." Sango grabbed his barrel, and pulled him along behind her to where Kagome was helping Inuyasha. She marveled at her audacity, and wondered how badly Sesshoumaru was hurt, given that he was putting up with her aid.

She didn't have to pull him, just give a direction, since Sesshoumaru had started kicking along with her. He obviously refused to accept any more help that necessary. Miroku and Will were treading water, looking anxiously at the Pearl. It wasn't moving, but it might in a few minutes.

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It had been only seconds since the Interceptor had exploded, but it seemed like hours to Kagome. She paused in helping Inuyasha float, and stared as Sango towed in Sesshoumaru like a tugboat.

Why was he allowing her to do that? It wasn't like Sesshoumaru at all. Kagome turned back to Inuyasha. He'd managed to tell her that it was his ears that were the problem, and that he couldn't hear much. She touched his shoulder. Inuyasha looked up, questioning, and Kagome pointed to Sesshoumaru. Inuyasha scowled, and then started moving towards the Pearl.

He wasn't going to let Sesshoumaru see him like this! Inuyasha gritted his teeth and started swimming. He dog paddled, splashing mightily, to where Miroku was waiting for Sango and Will was treading water, impatient to be going.

All of them started moving the short distance towards the Pearl, Inuyasha in front.

He would not let Sesshoumaru see him like this! Inuyasha swam wildly, so focused on keeping in front that he completely overlooked the fact Sesshoumaru was bringing up the rear with Sango and Miroku, who had started helping her.

Will came behind him, just as focused but not quite as fast. Elisabeth was on that ship!

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Barbossa caught Elisabeth's thrashing hands in a firm grip as he watched the Interceptor go down with satisfaction "Welcome back, Miss. You took advantage of our hospitality last time. It holds fair now that you return the favor." He carelessly pushed her into the waiting hands of his crew, who grabbed for her with greedy fingers, anxious to get a piece.

Elisabeth screamed harder, horrified by their lusting eyes and groping hands. She would almost have preferred Miroku! There was only one of him, and he at least had some manners and limits, along with Sango to control him!

She panicked, as thoughts of what would happen to her now rose up. She knew all to well what would come. Elisabeth kicked out hard, knocking with her elbows. She wouldn't go down without a fight!

A pirate caught her arm, and she pulled at it uselessly.

"Barbossa!" The pirates holding Elisabeth paused, and between them she could see Will standing on the rail holding a pistol. Behind him Miroku was standing beside Sango, and Inuyasha, who was helping Kagome and Sesshoumaru up.

"Will!" Elizabeth breathed. He was safe! She was saved!

Will gestured with his gun as Inuyasha straightened beside him "She goes free." He swung his pistol around to face Barbossa squarely.

"Feh. They don't die" Inuyasha muttered, hands now at his sides. He hadn't realized yet Sesshoumaru was blind, and refused to lose face. Kagome drew her bow back. The string had gotten wet in the water, but it was still useable enough. And she had noticed that her arrows hurt the pirates more in the dogfight back there. They had also taken longer for them to heal.

Barbossa stared, horrified, as Sesshoumaru came into view, Sango and Miroku helping him up slightly. Barbossa's mouth gapped as Sesshoumaru tried standing on his own, wobbled on the railing, and fell off, cursing guns, bullets, the pirates and salty water.

Jack blinked as Sesshoumaru came into view. Well, so he wasn't dead. That was good news...what would be better news was if he himself was free...

Inuyasha glanced back, and finally noticed that Sesshoumaru didn't appear to have much in the way of balance. He laughed, more so as Miroku sighed, muttered about blind idiots, and went to fetch him

So...he was blind? That explained a lot...Inuyasha almost fell off the railing he was laughing so hard, before his arm twinged and he stopped. Kagome rolled her eyes.

Barbossa just stared in sick fascination. How could anything survive that? Nothing short of the undead could get up after that!

At least he'd been wounded somehow....one didn't usually fall off a railing for no reason, not like that...

Barbossa closed his mouth, swallowed once, and looked at the crazy man wielding a gun. "What's in your head, boy?" Barbossa smiled at his apparent foolishness. It should be obvious by now they couldn't die.

Will shook his pistol "She goes free!"

Barbossa snickered "You've only got one shot, and we can't die."

Jack looked at Will, and Kagome, who was closest to him "Don't do anything stupid!" he pleaded, mouthing the words at both of them. Kagome frowned. What would be stupid?

Will brought his gun up to his jaw. "You can't. I can."

Everyone except Miroku and Sesshoumaru, who were working their slow way up the side of the boat, stared at him.

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Jack broke the silence first "Like that." He winced.

Barbossa looked at Will more closely, suspicious. Maybe..."Who are you?"

Jack leapt in front "No one. He's no one. A distant cousin of my aunt's nephew twice removed. Lovely singing voice, though – eunuch."

Kagome laughed at that, and Inuyasha frowned. Eunuch?

"Feh. Idiot." Inuyasha blinked. What were they talking about?

"My name is Will Turner. My father was Bootstrap Bill Turner. His blood runs in my veins."

Kagome's eyes widened, as it all came clear to her. So he was the one they'd wanted. It was his blood that the undead crew needed to break the curse. The one Elisabeth had been mistaken for.

Barbossa's face broke into a grin, and he forgot all about the dilemma of Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru as the prospect of freedom came within reach. Beside that, everything faded to unimportance.

"On my word do as I say, or I'll pull this trigger and be lost to Davy Jones' Locker." Threatened Will. He didn't want to die, but this was the only way he could do what he had to. He could easily see, and he was sure the others could see it too, that fighting would get them nowhere. The crew of the pearl couldn't die, and they would inevitably lose. They had no escape on the Interceptor either. This was the only way.

Barbossa smiled. Bargaining, was it? He would win now, he was certain. No one outmaneuvered him in anything! "Name your terms, Mr. Turner"

"Elizabeth goes free."

"Yes, we know that one. Anything else?" asked Barbossa impatiently.

Will saw Jack point to himself "Kagome, Inuyasha, Sango....Sesshoumaru..." Will grimaced "Miroku. And the crew – they are not to be harmed."

"Agreed." Smirked Barbossa. This was too easy! They were close to that island....they had been heading in that direction ever since the battle had closed...it was just peering over the horizon now. Perfect.

He signaled Elisabeth should be let go, and moved her towards the plank. Will came down and gave his gun to Ragetti. He smiled at Elizabeth, and she smiled back, somewhat strained. They weren't in the clear yet...

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Sango sighed, and leaned over the side. Miroku was trying to get Sesshoumaru up the side of the ship. It hadn't been easy with the two of them helping, and it looked like they were having a hard time of it.

Particularly since Sesshoumaru seemed incapable of accepting help in any form, even when it meant taking ten times as long to get up the Pearls side. She should go help the monk, really...

Barbossa smiled, and took in the whole scene. Will, safely separated from his gun, and Sesshoumaru in the water. Another man who looked like his brother was standing just behind the woman in the black suit...neither one paying much attention to him either.

How foolish of them.

He made up his mind, and acted.

Quickly, Barbossa shoved Inuyasha into Sango, and off the boat. On their way down, they managed to take out Miroku and Sesshoumaru. All four clamored in surprise and outrage as they struck the ocean, sending water shooting up.

Kagome glared, and let her arrow fly. It blasted Koehler in the stomach. They had a deal, didn't they? She looked over and saw Will tied up tightly.

Barbossa turned to a crewmember, and the plank was made ready. Kagome glanced quickly over the side. The foursome in the water were trying to sort themselves out after falling into the ocean.

"Go on, Poppet, go! Walk the plank!" Pintel called out. He'd enjoy seeing the two women walk.

Will swore "Barbossa, you lying bastard! You swore she'd go free!" he struggled, trying to get free.

"Don't dare impugn me honor, boy. I agreed she'd go free, but it was you who failed to specify when or where." Will glared as he was forcibly gagged.

Kagome sighed. Why hadn't they thought of that? He was keeping to their bargain after all....in his own warped view of the world, anyways.

"Though it does seem a shame to lose something so fine, don't it lads?"

Kagome stepped closer to the plank. There was land, close enough to swim to even with their group injured. They could rest for the night, sort themselves out, and then go after Barbossa in the morning. With them rested, they could easily catch Barbossa and make him pay dearly. She made up her mind, and dove off the plank cleanly. It made sense....they would be rested, and then...Barbossa was going down.

The crew agreed, as Elisabeth stared at where Kagome had been in horror. She couldn't be giving up!

"So I'll be having that dress back before you go."

Elisabeth straightened, and slowly, took off the burgundy gown Barbossa had put her in. It felt like peeling off her skin, she felt so vulnerable. It didn't help that every eye on ship was watching, including her own crew. She could feel the eyes.

"It goes with your black heart." Barbossa smiled, and caught the dress as she threw it at him, smirking.

"Ooh, it's still warm."

"Off you go! Come on!" shouted the undead hoard.

Elisabeth looked back at Will, still shocked that Kagome had given in so easily. It was impossible to believe that this was happening, that she was walking the plank...

"Too long!" declared the Bo 'sun, shaking the plank. Elizabeth screeched, and fell in with a splash.

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Sango sighed, and tuned to Kagome. "There's an island that way?"

"Yes. Think it would be a good idea if we stayed the night then caught him in the morning, Inuyasha?"

"Feh. I'll be able to get him no problem then. Bastard. If he hadn't blasted my ears..." Inuyasha scowled horrifically. He supposed he ought to be glad he didn't have the delicate hearing Sesshoumaru had. He'd found out once he'd landed, after that bastard had shoved him off the boat, that not only was his half brother blind, and his balance had been destroyed, but he was pretty much deaf unless you shouted at him.

Inuyasha suddenly grinned....oh, the possibilities....

"Feh. Fine, we'll go after him in the morning." Inuyasha's ears twitched under their bandana.

Everyone blinked as Elisabeth splashed into their midst, landing on Miroku.

He squinted, and then smiled at Elisabeth. "Well, how lovely of you to drop in my dear Elisabeth"

Elisabeth dug her nails into his hand, glaring and then stared for the island. She still felt that they had betrayed her somehow.

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Jack was dragged up to the plank. "I'd really rather hoped we were past all this."

Barbossa putt an arm around his shoulders "Jack.... Jack. Did ya not notice? That be the same little island that we made you Governor of on our last little trip."

"I did notice." Said Jack dejectedly.

" Perhaps you'll be able to conjure up another miraculous escape...but I doubt it." Barbossa drew his sword and brandished it at Jack 's throat. "Off you go."

Jack looked hard at the sword. "Last time, you left me a pistol with one shot."

"By the powers, you're right. Were be Jack 's pistol? Bring it forward." Ragetii hurried forwards. He dodged Will's kicking foot, and brought the pistol.

"Seeing as there's lots of us, a gentleman...would give us a brace of pistols."

"It'll be one pistol as before, and you can all fight over the pistol yourselves. Perhaps you'll get lucky and die first." He hurled the pistol into the ocean, after the disappearing crowd of swimmers. Jacks eyes widened, and he jumped in after it. He wouldn't want to lose that pistol...one day...Jack dreamed of the day he would shoot Barbossa with its single shot.

Jack dove in with scarcely a splash, and severed his bonds with the coral on the bottom of the ocean before recovering the pistol and surfacing. He grimaced at the retreating Pearl, and started swimming towards the island gleaming a verdant green on the horizon. There was nowhere else for him to go, after all. Absolutely nowhere.

One day....one day....he would use that pistol on Barbossa's black heart....

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There...just as promised. A quick update. wow. its the end of the world. lol. only cause i had to break ch 13 up though, really....and i had the long weekend. thanx for reading/reviewing? and especially to:

Naomi-Starcloud: lol. I thought so too....hehe. And no. I might drop him in the ocean, and get him wet...but not kill. Lol

Shadow Fox777: yes....i think he will have an interesting next few chapters...lol

Crying-Moon-Angel-Of-Hell. Lol. I thought so too. And thanks for putting me on favs!

Bomhammer: yes...and I have updated! lol

Soul of Insanity: I know....for once, I had time! Lol...yes....i had fun writing that! And yes....when I make a promise like that, I try to deliver....it makes things easier.

DogEars22: I doubt He or She had much to do with it....more like my bio teacher was out of tome so couldn't give me hw. Lol