Disclaimer: I have the pirates of the Caribbean movie, and most of the Inuyasha episodes and a few manga around my house. I don't have any copyrights….yet. One day…oh yes. One day when my friend takes over the world, she'll let me have the Inuyasha copyrights! And a pet piglet! (got to see some a few days old today at work….awwww!) I might have to fight her for the POTC rights though….hm…You know, I wonder who reads this? Really? Who reads all the annoying little notes I write:P. All who do, I'm borrowing a trick from soul of insanity. If you have read this and the other note at bottom, include an 'oink' in your review. Thank you. See what I do for entertainment…..lmao.

Chapter 21: Jailbirds flown the coup…

Sesshoumaru had claimed the crows nest of the Pearl for his own, and stood watching the water flowed away from the keel, curling, foaming, glittering in the sun. Land should be approaching soon enough, according to what he'd heard from below. He watched the crew, and Sango and Miroku racing around with ropes and working on the sails.

He looked east, trying to see his home. He knew that he wouldn't see it. Too far away in space and time. At least, according to Kagome it was sometime in the 1660's, and he was really supposed to be in the 1540's. Something like that. The dates and strange calendar didn't mean much to him, particularly when she started going on about 1997….

Sango and Miroku worked side by side below. Miroku sighed as he rubbed his red cheek. Why did Sango slap him so? Was it his fault that she was in front of him and not paying attention? Was it…..well yes, it was, but that wasn't the point!

He consoled himself with counting though the gold coins that had found their way into his pockets in the cave. He wasn't sure what some of them were, but they all looked to be gold. It didn't matter that he didn't recognize the make if they were gold. Gold was internationally recognized.

He put the gold away, and went back to scrubbing the deck. Gibbs had been horrified at the state it was in, and put him to work on it immediately. Miroku glared at the wooden boards.

They didn't look all that dirty to him

Oh well. He would be free of the cleaning duties as soon as they reached land, and they caught up to Kagome, Inuyasha and Jack. Then….he wasn't sure what then. Probably go home? Maybe? He wanted to go home…

No, they couldn't. Not till the jewel was finished. But hadn't the last part been with Barbossa? Kagome might have it then. Or not.

He didn't know. Ah well. They'd be at Port Royal soon. Then everything might make sense.

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Inuyasha seethed as the moonlight streamed though the bars in the cell. All well and good to split them up, and all well and good to say he'd go get Kagome. But it wasn't working out as nicely as they'd thought it would.

He didn't know where she was, and the guards watching him hadn't said anything of value. He didn't count 'Shut up', or 'What's it matter, you'll see her when you get hung tomorrow?' as anything of value. Scrap asking questions.

He glared at the guards. The only good thing about this whole mess was that he'd managed to keep Tetsusaiga. They hadn't been able to make him let go of it in the end, and had just given up. He could be pretty damn stubborn, when he put his mind to it.

He narrowed his eyes and looked hard at the guards. It didn't look like they would be going anywhere soon.

But if he got himself out of the cell with them still here, they'd sound the alarm.

Eh. Who cared? Kagome was waiting for him to come and get her, and so was Jack. They needed to be well away from here by dawn.

He cracked his knuckles, and looked at the closest guard. Was he close enough to punch him out from here? Might as well find out.

Inuyasha grinned and aimed, striking the nearest redcoat squarely in the back of the head. He grinned as the man collapsed like water. Easy. The other guard sputtered indignantly, but he paid no attention. So what if he was 'not supposed to do that?' He didn't care. He probably wasn't supposed to break the cell door down either, but that didn't stop him one bit.

He smirked, and ripped the iron bars keeping him in to shreds with his claws. It was rather satisfying to see them disintegrate so thoroughly.

The guard blanched, and screamed like a baby piglet. Inuyasha sighed, and shut him up. He joined his unconscious friend on the floor, while Inuyasha dusted his hands and set off.

Kagome was in a different part of the building, right? He thought he'd been put in block 1 cell a, (which wasn't a very strong cell after all…) and that they'd taken Kagome to block 3 cell f. Or something close. He did at least remember them saying block 3. That was a start.

He frowned. He couldn't quite remember where they'd put Jack. He'd been more worried about Kagome at the time. Maybe she'd remember, when he got her out. He hoped so. They couldn't let Jack die, even if he hadn't promised to get them to Singapore.

He went down a flight of stairs, and found himself in a courtyard.

He could clearly see three buildings, and a large cell with the Pearls crew. They were to be hung at a later date, since the scaffold wasn't large enough.

He also saw several guards, who were getting themselves organized and headed right for him. Damn. They must have heard that man scream…

He hadn't been spotted yet. He started to sneak towards the next building over, when someone shouted. He paused. They had seen him…

"Oh shit…" Great. One of them had gone to sound the alarm, and he'd have everyone after him then. He ran into the building, knocking the door in as he went. He hoped he found Kagome fast…he hated being chased! Especially by the bumbling men in red …

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Norrington frowned as the alarm bell rang, waking him up, then turned around in surprise as someone knocked furiously on the door to his sleeping quarters. He got out of bed and went to find out what had happened. It had better be good, this late at night…

He swung open the door to reveal a red faced, puffing messenger boy. "Norrington….sir!" he snapped to attention. "One of the prisoners was seen in the courtyard, sir! A guard was sent to his cell, and found it destroyed and the two guards out cold, sir! The rest of us are giving chase. We believe him to be after his fellow prisoners, and have sent a squad to each cell to lie in wait."

Norrington swore under his breath. That had been the strongest cell they had, and he had destroyed it? That didn't sound good. They might even have to let them go…what use was catching them if they just got out again?

"Good. Tell the men to triple the guard on the two other prisoners, and to be careful. They are to shoot them on sight. They must have planned this beforehand. Now, let me get dressed."

The messenger saluted, and raced off to deliver the message and rouse more of the soldiers.

Norrington watched him go, then grimaced. He hated being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night, and to wake up and find out that one of his prisoners was not only escaped, but very decisively escaped was not fun. He reached for his uniform, and unhappily climbed into it. It was going to be one of those nights…Life was not fair.

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Jack waited drowsily, shivering against the stone wall. He wished Inuyasha, or Kagome, or both would hurry up and get here. Voices intruded on his thoughts, and he looked up. The guards were whispering franticly, and more of them crowded into the corridor. He sat forwards with interest.

"'E broke out…Missing…"

"Orders…Triple the guard…shoot them.."

"…has to be coming here…"

Jack grinned. Looked like one of his odd friends, perhaps both of them by this time, were out and about and scaring the guards stiff. He'd be out of here in no time at this rate!

He leaned forwards a bit more, and raised his voice in an annoyed way. "What's all the fuss about? I'm trying to sleep here."

"None of your business." One of the guards snapped. "Go back to sleep, you dirty pirate!"

Jack smirked, and folded his arms behind his head to wait. They were waspish and snapped easily. They must be worried, all right. Something had spooked them. He was fairly sure he knew what.

All the better for him, wasn't it?

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Inuyasha flattened himself against the wall as a stream of red soldiers raced by. He could tell Kagome was in here. He'd picked up her trail inside, but had been forced to move out of the way as soldiers came and he'd lost it in the confusion.

But she was in here. He was sure of it. He didn't know were Jack was, but he had to find him too. Fast. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east. He'd seen it though a window. He was running out of time…

He narrowed his eyes as he ran down another corridor. There was a huge group of guards around the corner…and in with them…

"Kagome!" he whispered. "Found you!"

He tried to figure out how many people would be around the corner. It sounded like quite a few. Maybe fifteen? He'd have to surprise them, and get as many out of the way as he could as soon as he could.

He just hoped they weren't holding loaded guns. He didn't need to be shot at, on top of being chased.

At least if it came to that he'd survive. Kagome though…he didn't want to put her in any more danger than she needed to be.

So. Dive around the corner and take them all out. Sounded good to him. He didn't like complicated plans anyway, because…they were just too damn complicated! Going in and knocking everyone out was good enough. He tensed up, and took off at a run.

Some of the guards never knew what hit them. Others were only able to shout before going down like tenpins.

He caught a glimpse of Kagome in her cell as he tore across the room, and anxiously looked to see she was fine before turning his attention to freeing her. That was most important at the moment. Finally he paused at the other side of the room, pleased with his work. He half stood up, then froze before straightening slowly as he heard a lone rife click.

Had he missed someone?

"Stay….stay where you are." A soldier quavered. "I….I've got my gun pointed right at the prisoner."

Inuyasha turned around, and looked, glaring. "Don't you dare hurt her!" Damnit, damnit, damnit!

Kagome looked at the empty barrel pointed in her direction, and sighed. The man wasn't even looking at her, just at Inuyasha. Not terribly bright of him. She could easily do something while he was distracted, and she fully intended to.

She stared reaching for one of the rifles that had been dropped by her cell. The man was within range, and she could hit him on the head with the fat part of the gun while he wasn't looking. "Good to see you again Inuyasha. You haven't got Jack yet, have you?" She was rather proud of the way her voice came out evenly. She didn't like having that gun pointed at her.

"Er…no. Where is he? I can't remember." Inuyasha answered slowly, glaring at the man holding the gun. He'd seen what Kagome was doing, and he hoped it worked. If only…

He could hear people coming closer. The noise he'd made must have alerted them. The soldier facing him couldn't have heard them yet, but he would soon, and all he had to do was outwait them. If Kagome didn't take him out soon, the rest of the soldiers would get here and he'd be in a bad position.

Kagome's fingers closed around the rifle, and she stood up, the butt end aimed at the mans head. She aimed carefully, and hit at him, striking the side of his face.

He fell over with a surprised grunt, and tried to get up "You…little…" He reached for his gun, but stopped as a bare foot stepped on the barrel.

"I don't think so."

Thunk. Another one got laid out flat.

Kagome sighed. "That was tricky."

"Yeah. Move out of the way. We have to get out quickly. More men will be here in a minute. They must have heard the noise."

Kagome stood to one side of the cell, and Inuyasha ripped the door of its hinges with ease. He tossed it out of the way, and Kagome ran out of the cell, only pausing to grab the few belongings they'd put on a shelf.

She followed him as he stared moving away from the soldiers coming their way. They were so close he could hear the individual voices echoing against the stone walls of the prison.

They disappeared around the other end of the hallway just as the soldiers arrived at Kagome's former cell.

The newly arrived soldiers stared in horror at their comrades knocked out on the floor, and at the door to the cell lying on its side across the hallway. This wasn't going to be fun.

The leader pulled himself together, and stared barking orders. "I want this half of you to fan out, and keep searching. They can't be far! You, you and you, see to the wounded. The rest of you, come with me. They have to come to the last cell sooner or later, and we'll get them then!"

They spread out, and kept searching

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Jack watched from beneath half closed eyes as yet more guards hurried into the room. He thought there had to be about forty of them by now.

What did that mean? He wasn't sure what, but more guards meant there'd be more trouble when the two others showed up to spring him from his cell. He glanced out the window, and winced. He was running out of time.

The sky was starting to show the red and pink of sunup, and he knew that he'd be taken away to the gallows mid to early morning. They had better hurry up….this was getting a little more serious.

He sighed. He was sure they wouldn't let him be hung. He was positive. But….it was getting closer and closer to mid morning….

Not much he could do be wait, and get ready to run. Jack settled himself, and worked out the kinks he'd picked up from sitting to long on a stone floor.

He'd be ready whenever they got here. Hopefully, that happy time would come soon…

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Inuyasha ran down the hall, side by side with Kagome. "Where did they put Jack?"

"You were in block 1 cell a, I was in block 3 cell d, and he was in block 1 cell e." Kagome had paid close attention to where they were. She had known it would be important.

Inuyasha frowned. "That's the same building I started out in. So we ought to be able to…." He stopped as they made it to the door leading to the courtyard. "He's in there." Inuyasha pointed to the building to the right.

Kagome frowned as she saw the guards around the doorway. "What about them?"

"Easy!" Inuyasha cracked his knuckles meaningfully. "We knock them out too!"

Kagome grinned. Same old Inuyasha. He never let things stop him at all. "All right. I don't see any more, at least. Let's go for it! We have to get Jack out of there!"

Inuyasha raced across the courtyard as fast as he could, Kagome not far behind. He took out the two men in red, then waited for Kagome to catch up.

"I think the cells have to be in some sort of system. Mine was near the top. Where was yours?" Kagome stepped inside the building, and looked around.

"Ground floor. Why?"

"This is the army. They think in straight lines. If he's in cell e, it follows he must be near the roof!" Kagome panted slightly. She hoped that what she knew about the British and armies in general held true now..

Inuyasha grinned. He was glad Kagome was on his side. She was smart, and carried her own weight. They'd find him in no time, now. He wished that he'd known that sooner. He took a look at the sky, before ducking inside. They were running out of time. The sun was up entirely now. If they didn't get there fast, they might have a hard time getting away.

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Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes, watching from his crows nest as land finally appeared on the horizon. They would be there soon. In a bit, even those on below deck would be able to see the green and grey blur of the Caribbean shore.

In a short amount of time he was able to pick out the town they were headed for. Port Royal, wasn't it? Funny name. He watched as it resolved into a neat little arrangement of grey houses, and the fortress. He wondered where they would find the people they were looking for. If they had arrived in the custody of the Dauntless, they might be at the fortress. Or they might be wandering around avoiding all the annoying men in red.

Either way, they probably wouldn't be able to just walk in and meet them, then be on their way.

Below, Sango shaded her eyes and stood beside Gibbs as he peered over the horizon. "See anything?"

"Just a line on the horizon. We'll be there soon, with this wind"

"Good." Sango went off to find Miroku. He was dozing in a corner, beside a bucket and a rag for cleaning. She bent down and touched his shoulder to wake him up. "We're nearly there."

Miroku blinked. "Really?" He looked over at the cleaning bucket, and grinned. Soon he'd be off the ship, and he wouldn't have to clean any more!

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Jack frowned as the guards stared moving to open his cell. He looked out the window, and swore softly as he saw how late it had gotten. He was being taken to the gallows.

Those two had better get there quick! He didn't want to die, just yet! He had to go back to Tourtuga and its charming bevy of girls! He had places to go to, things to steal! He wanted to go back to India and see if he couldn't follow up on the carelessness of the east India trading company! He was too young (and good looking, if he said so himself) to die just yet!

He calmed himself as they tied his wrists together again. There was still time. They could just be waiting for a dramatic escape right off the gallows! Or something. Maybe they thought it would be easier to snatch him right out from under their noses while he was moved to the gallows…

That was it! They were going to go for the grand rescue thing, and show the British up in front of all Port Royal!

He hoped it wasn't because they'd forgotten him, or been recaptured. That couldn't happen, could it? Maybe they got shot…

He started thinking up even worse fates for his friends, as one is wont to do when under extreme pressure. They could be dead, or halfway home, or injured, or captured, or all of the above…

By the time he'd left the prison, he was sure something bad must have happened to them.

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Inuyasha swore softly as yet more guards appeared in front of him. He shrank back into the shadows with Kagome, hoping they would not be noticed. Damnit…they had to get to where Jack was being held faster! He might be gone by the time they got there, at this rate. The place was literally swarming with red uniformed guards, and they had had to backtrack to avoid them three times already.

Two more guards appeared on the right, eyes searching for them. He kept very still. They were hidden in a corner of shadows, and his red cloths blended in well. They just might escape notice.

Luckily, they did. The two went on their way, and Kagome and Inuyasha snuck over to the stairs. Inuyasha was sure he'd caught a whiff of Jack from up above.

Kagome held onto her bow tightly. She'd brought it with her when she was freed, after collecting it on the way by. She hadn't had nearly as much success trying to hold onto her weapon as Inuyasha had had in the prison.

The reached the landing without seeing any more guards, and Inuyasha smiled as they waited around the corner. This was the right place. Jack had passed this way.

A minute later, he frowned. Jack had passed this way, but in the wrong direction. Had he already left? It was hard to tell. People had been coming and going constantly. He was sure that it was the right cell just around the corner. If it turned out he wasn't there….well, then they knew what had happened. They'd taken too long, and he'd been moved somewhere else.

"There's quite a few people around the corner. I'll go ahead, and try to get as many out of the way as I can, alright?"

Kagome nodded. "I'll be right behind you. Good luck"

Inuyasha took a deep breath, and swept out of hiding, taking down about half the people in the corridor within the first couple of seconds with a series of inelegant but efficient punches, kicks, and the occasional elbow. He faced the remaining ones, and circled, warily. The soldiers watched him just as warily, trying to get their guns out and pointed at him. He'd obviously caught them napping. He glanced at the cell, and nearly groaned as he saw it was empty.

They'd been guarding an empty cell, waiting for him to come and spring their little trap!

Ah well. He was going to flip the tables on them, and then jump up and down on top of that table for good measure. He grinned and went at them again, fists up. They didn't have a chance against him.

More soldiers went down, though some had managed to shout that he was there, that they needed backup, before he got to them.

Kagome watched as one tried to leave to get help, and hit him on the back of the head with her bow. He went sprawling, slack face looking extremely puzzled.

Both surveyed the room, and Kagome sighed as she too caught sight of the empty cell. "Too late. We'll have to catch up to him. Soon."

Inuyasha clenched his fists, and swore under his breath. "Right. Let's move"

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Will straightened his hat. He had heard the uproar at the fort this morning, but wasn't sure exactly what was going on. It didn't change the plans he'd laid the night before though. He was not going to stand and watch as they did away with his three companions. Jack might be a pirate, but he was a good man, and he wasn't sure that the other people were even pirates at all. They might be a little odd, but they were good people as well.

Just because Norrington found them in the company of Jack, they got to swing from the noose along with him. He'd admit Inuyasha had helped steal the Interceptor, at the least, and had seemed fairly practiced about the whole thing, but Kagome was innocent entirely. Plus, she was a woman, even if she did run around in that odd getup toting a bow and arrows.

Still. That was no reason to kill someone. If Norrington killed all the people in this country who dressed funny and were seen in the company of supposed or real pirates, the gallows would be very full indeed….

He checked to see that his sword was loose enough in its sheath to be drawn quickly, and then headed towards the gallows. He would be there, and he would stop this. Even if he didn't manage to save them, he would have tried his best, and could die in peace.

For he was sure that this would end in his death, if they didn't take him with him when they escaped. He'd been granted clemency before, but that wouldn't save him now.

Will sighed. He didn't have too many regrets….just one, in fact.

He wished he'd said things properly, in that cave. He should have told Elisabeth that he loved her. He should have.

He would put that right then, before this ended.

Perhaps it was his approaching doom, but as Will walked towards the gallows he fell cheerful, as though now that he'd decided to take action all that needed to happen was to go out and do it. The proverbial weight was off his shoulders.

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Jack winced as he was led up onto the gallows 'Erg….someone had better show up. Soon. I don't want to be here at all…'

He tried to unobtrusively drag his feet, but the men holding him wouldn't have it. They pushed him up on the gallows without so much as a by your leave, and settled the noose around his neck. Jack swallowed slightly.

Someone, somewhere, had better get here soon! All that stood between him and a rather undignified death was the proclamation they had to read.

Silently, he congratulated himself on the length of the documentation of his crimes. Who knew it would be his many misdeeds, if anything, that would save him now?

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Inuyasha had Kagome on his back, and he raced above the streets in the direction of all the shouting, leaping from roof to roof. There was a large crowd of people up ahead somewhere, and they had to be going to watch the hanging. Apparently most of the people in this place had an unhealthy fascination with wanting to watch executions.

He cursed as the sounds of shouting followed them towards the fortress. They'd been forced to backtrack into town, and had taken to the roofs before going round to the fortress. And the damn British were still tailing them….

Ah well. Nearly there. He put on an extra burst of speed. Kagome shaded her eyes, and looked behind them at their pursuers. "I think they're falling behind a bit more. We should lose them by the time we get there. Not that it makes much difference. I'll bet anything there's a lot of guardsmen there already, and the ones chasing us are bound to know where we're headed. They'll just go to the fort, is all."

They jumped up the side of the wall, landing unseen among the battlements beside a rather familiar parrot. Both stared as they saw the strange goings on below.

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Elisabeth seriously considered having a little corset bonfire in her grate that evening as she watched Jack being brought out. It was such a pain. Literally. Then she winced. What was she doing, thinking about cloths when a good bunch of….no, where were the rest of them? There was only Jack there. Where were Kagome and Inuyasha? What was going on? Had they escaped, or would they be murdered later? For that's what this whole business was. Murder dressed up in legalities. She hated it.

The townspeople saw that there was only one too, and began muttering. They had been sure it would be three pairs of boots going to the hangman. For some reason this was a great disappointment.

Elisabeth crinkled her nose, remembering the uproar this morning. Had they gotten away? She hoped it was so. She could not bear to watch hangings, much less one where friends, people she liked, were the guests of honor. It wasn't right…

She hoped with all her heart they had gotten away clean. It wasn't a victory, not when Jack still would die, but it was better than nothing. She closed her eyes slowly. She did not want to watch this, but her father had insisted on dragging her out here.

It was tradition, it was expected, it was only 'those dirty thieving pirates' dieing, so 'why did she get so worked up?' Hang the bloody tradition…

She watched in muted horror as an official mounted the gallows with a large, fancy scroll. Idiots. As though they could make it better by making the scroll so outrageously ornamented. Nothing could hide the fact they were killing someone, not to her.

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Jack watched as an officious, stuffy looking person spread out the scroll on which was written his many crimes and stared reading. Jack sighed, and listened carefully. It would be interesting to see what they'd pinned to him, and to remember some of the good times he'd had in the past before he was hung. Unless someone appeared….unlikely...

"Jack Sparrow , be it known that you have…"

Jack's back went up immediately. "Captain, Captain Jack Sparrow!" Couldn't they at least get that right? British naval stupidity struck again…

" …for your willful commission of crimes against the crown. Said crimes being numerous in quantity and sinister in nature, the most egregious of these to be cited herewith – piracy, collaboration in piracy with your companions, smuggling…"

Jack felt mildly disappointed. They weren't going to read all of them? But that was the best part, right there! Gave the townspeople days of gossip fodder…not to mention that it would have added a great deal of time to be rescued in…

Elisabeth shook her head. How many things had Jack managed to get himself and the other two in for? She almost had to smile at it all, but didn't. This was far too serious. She looked at her father. He believed he was right to do this. So did Norrington. She couldn't believe they thought they were solidly in the right, even when they'd signed the death warrant themselves. Didn't they feel the slightest bit guilty?

"This is wrong."

Governor Swann sniffed. He didn't think it was all that wrong. He was somewhat disappointed the other two had broken out. "Commodore Norrington is bound by the law. As are we all."

" …impersonating an officer of the Spanish Royal Navy, impersonating a cleric of the Church of England…"

Elisabeth grimaced at her fathers back. Who cared a hoot about the bloody law? What exactly was so criminal about impersonating a cleric? People did that all the time at costume parties. Goodness, Jack must have been busy…

Jack grinned. He remembered that day very well. It had proved most profitable for him, too. Pity he couldn't try it again, the way things looked to be headed "Ah, yes." The executioner caught his spreading smile, and was not amused.

Jack didn't pay much attention, for at that moment, he had seen a parrot.

Not just any parrot either. It was none other than Mr. Cottons parrot, and it was trying to avoid being hit in the head by Inuyasha. Kagome was busy trying to get him to stop it, and keep everyone from seeing them.

"Stupid bird! Come back here!"

Jack felt like cheering as he caught the distant yells. They hadn't been caught, shot or just forgotten about him after all! He knew they wouldn't have! He hadn't doubted them for a second! He knew they'd have caught up to him! Eventually…

"…sailing under false colors, arson, kidnapping, looting, poaching, brigandage, pilfering, depravity, depredation, drunkenness, and general lawlessness. And for these crimes you have been sentenced to be, on this day, hung by the neck until dead. May God have mercy on your soul."

Jack briefly wondered who had coined the phrase 'hung by the neck till dead', then decided he didn't want to know that information, ever. Best not to think about it.

Think about rescue, instead. Much better topic.

Now that they'd finally arrived, he found he was slightly irritated. Why had they waited so bloody long? Didn't they know they had caused him much pain and suffering over the past few hours?

He had to talk to them about that…

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Will frowned as he arrived. There was only Jack standing on the podium, and nobody else in sight. He hoped that the others had escaped, and not merely been sentenced for this afternoon. He wished them long life, certainly. But…Jack was in need of being rescued still, right now. He just had to hope the others could take care of themselves. He turned towards the gallows, and then towards where Elisabeth stood in the morning sun. He had something that must be done first. No doubts, no loose ends for him.

He had to say goodbye, first. And he would make sure that any regrets he'd felt at not saying what he had meant to before, would be put to rest now. He pushed his way carefully through the crowd, and stood before Elisabeth and her father. The governor looked at him, puzzled, but Will had eyes only for Elisabeth

Goodbye…and…no regrets.

"Governor Swann. Commodore. Elizabeth." He nodded, just as though this was an ordinary day where he'd seen them passing in the street. "I should have told you every day from the moment I met you. I love you." He smiled brilliantly, and turned to face the looming gallows.

No regrets.

Elisabeth looked after him as he disappeared into the crowd. Her heart flipped in a pleasant, startled cartwheel, and she herself felt as though she would fall over from shock.

He …he loved her. He loved her! He loved her! Had he really, truly said that…?

She felt like cheering, but didn't dare. The next thought she had drove any want to cheer completely away.

He was trying to free Jack. He knew he was going to die, most likely. That had been not only goodbye, but…a final one. He knew what he was doing would most likely kill him, and he was still…he was a good man. She loved him for it.

She wished she could hop down off this blasted podium and set the lone prisoner free right along with him. Was that too much to ask? She looked skywards with watery eyes, and blinked as two very familiar figures crept closer to the edge of the battlements.

Would they get there in time? Would they be able to save him and Will? Would they all die? They couldn't….Inuyasha and Kagome would make sure Will would be safe, wouldn't they? She looked at Will's back, and then Jack on the scaffold.

Her hand went to her mouth. They were putting the noose around Jack's neck, now. Not just Will, but Inuyasha and Kagome were going to save him too. Surely they would succeed…?

They had to get there fast…and somehow, she had to help them…

A slightly mischievous smile crept onto her as she thought of the perfect way to do just that "I can't breathe." She gasped, and flopped to the ground, wincing a little as her ribs protested. That hadn't been too far from the truth, with this corset strangling her…

The effect she wanted materialized immediately. Everyone went into a flap, and completely forgot to pay attention to the hanging.

Drums began to thunder ominously, bringing doom with every beat.

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Well. One more chapter up to put towards finishing my little story. And then I go back and redo a great deal of it. Yay. And now, I'm going to go get set up to download the rest of every Within Temptation song ever made….Oink!

Thanks for reading, people! I know I can see 'hit count' for stories now, but it's not quite the same as reviews. You guys're awesome:

RubyRoseoftheBlackBlood: They do end up back in Japan. Soon. And I know part of how they get here (I didn't actually sit and plan for this story like I should have… Eh.)

The Violent Tomboy: lol. Yes. I know. I'm horrible at updates. Hopefully the past few days made up in part for that. And despite working a lot, it is summer, aka more time. Maybe I'll finish. (party when that happens!)

Inuzrule: lol. I'm just happy you review. I don't mind when that happens. There's no rule about 'review story or die!' here.

DogEarFetish: lol. Don't be sorry. I posted fast. And that you review at all makes me very happy. And…yeah. I don't write hugely great fluff, but if you liked it, that's good. InuxKag is hard to write, fluffwise. Inuyasha isn't a warm cuddly poetry-dripping-out-of-mouth person And yes…next story I'm currently writing (will post eventually) is SxK. Come back and read anytime, when it's up

Spiketwo89: yup. I know I can't talk, but there are a few stories out there I really want updates for too. 'Cause they're awesome…. Glad you think mine is good enough to wait on bad update times for:P

Yami Pandora: lol. Glad you're amused

TrisakAminawn : Hope you see this….Gah. Serves me right for just thinking I could email. That backfired horribly. (Stupid email account….won't even let me log in half the time….)now wants to sue hotmail So I'll just ask what I wanted to ask : Are you interested in editing/beta type stuff, at all? I know that's somewhat out of left field, so you might not want to. Tell me yes or no, please? Is at I know….I'm not good with updates unless I have things actually written in advance. Next story will be half written when I post it, at least…--

Wisdom: So polite That's rare….my school could use a bit of that. Really. I shall keep updating till finished (almost fin)

Victory's Ashes: (Snags a Sesshoumaru plusshie ) I know I have a weird sense of humor, sometimes. Bit dry, bit twisted, very much oddness. Glad you like it:P

BlackFeatherz29: Yup Sesshoumaru is getting humble pie….and I don't think he likes it. Eh. Too bad for him. :P And really….If you compare the last few chs with the first one, you'll notice that the first few chapters of this story are pretty crappy. (Why they're being redone, eventually)Practice, that's all…and editing. Can't do without that…

Akana Akazen: Really? I'm glad you think so. Next ch after this….maybe next weekend? Don't know…I'm not good with updates because I write in spurts.

There….now…I is off to have a nice, long, hot bath. Cute as piggies are, they leave your cloths smelling differently and the need for a shower even if you have to shower in and out for biosecurityness -- bah