Disclaimer: I deny any rights to the characters/story of Inuyasha, or to the pirates of the Caribbean. I do not deny wishing I owned the rights.
I bought as much Pirate and Nightmare before Christmas paraphernalia as I could carry at the Disneyland giftshop(s). And sung along to 'Yo Ho' while on the ride, wearing my pirates shirt, bandanna, and sword. :P Very sorry for the delay caused by lack of computer access, (and damn internet service! It DIED! NO! ) but…eh. Vacation was nice, and I feel I've earned it after helping clear out that damn moth infestation. (Cleaning damp feeders is truly disturbing. Much moldiness. Ick.)
Chapter 25: Island hop
Kagome glared at the portly Captain as he walked by. At first, sailing with him had seemed great. He'd caved into Miroku's bargaining easily enough, and they'd felt it was a good deal. And it had been, to a certain extent. They wouldn't even have to wait to cast off either, since Terwilliger was leaving as they arrived at his ship. They had only had a weeks worth of sailing ahead of them at minimal cost, and then the short trip across the string of islands that would bring them home.
Sesshoumaru had said he'd take them island hopping, since it would be faster than a ship. So that part had worked out fine. It left them just the week voyage to their take off point. With islands he could come down on when they had to stop, it was alright. Nothing like trying to cross the ocean on that puffy cloud of his, at least.
Of course…they should have looked closer at the Captain.
Like many freelance merchants and fangirls, he was a part-time pirate. None of them cared about that. Jack had been a far better pirate that he was, but he'd still be considered a pirate under the law. It would feel like judging him and the rest of the Pearls crew if they started to get fussy about that now. Not to mention themselves. It wasn't that that had been the problem.
It was when he'd mysteriously appeared in the girls shared room late one night that there had been a problem. Apparently, he thought they'd like a little company…
Maybe not an unreasonable assumption in this day and age. Female pirates (which was what they could be taken as) were rare, and no doubt far from strangers to such things…
But that was no excuse, merely a possible explanation for his behavior.
Idiot. Slime. Scum. Kagome and Sango both descended on him like avenging angels, and had sent him packing out the door with what had sounded like a broken bone and numerous bruises for his trouble, shouting that he was worse than Miroku, pounding the message home with satisfying cracks and thumps. Kagome was sure they'd done a thorough job of it. He's certainly been blue and bruised, and they'd tried hard enough.
He'd been tossed outside their door like the trash he was…where he'd then met Miroku, and Inuyasha.
They hadn't been very pleased with him, and it was only when Sesshoumaru pointed out that they needed him to navigate that they let him go with both his arms and legs unbroken.
The crew had been horrified, and had babbled about a 'Pirate's Creed of Ethics', and something about how 'quarrels between several Brothers whilst aboard ye ship shall be settled ashore with pistol and sword. He that draws first blood shall be the victor. No striking another whilst aboard ye ship!'
Inuyasha hadn't cared a whit, and had offered to take the lot of them on then and there.
Things had gone downhill from there rather quickly, and several of the crew were still sporting sullen looks and battered countenances five days later…
Still. The Captain and those crew on deck watched the entire party closely, and avoided them now unless they were forced to speak. Miroku and Sango seemed not to mind the silence, and neither did the two inu brothers, but Kagome found it depressingly empty. She missed the Pearl's open faces very much.
She would be very glad to be rid of this ship, and it's sullen crew. It was not a pleasant place to be, and she could well imagine how the previous crew had deserted, or gotten their throats slit. She just hoped they would get off the ship before anything like that happened to them. She doubted it would, but it was worrying, sleeping on a ship with that kind of company. It was downright scary, at times.
She shaded her eyes, nudging Sango as the port finally came into view. They could get off this stinking ship-ride-from-hell at last!
"Finally…this was as long as the other trip, I think." Sango made a slight face. "Even though I know that the other one was five times as long. At least the company was better there."
"I know. But we're out of here now, thank goodness."
Kagome hurried over to where Inuyasha was. He waved at Miroku, and both descended from the rigging, once the sails were tied back securely.
"You packed last night, didn't you?" Inuyasha asked
"Oh yes. I'm not going to waste any time getting out of here."
"Damn right about that" Maybe he could give the captain a punch or two on the way off the ship, since he didn't need his arms anymore… Honesty. Miroku might be a womanizer, but he didn't appear in the middle of the night unannounced. He might flirt, but he wouldn't do that unless asked to attend.
…Of course, now that Sango and Miroku were somewhat more official, Inuyasha suspected the monks days of flirting with every woman he met were over…
Sango smiled as she arrived as well, and picked up the sword she'd laid against the barrels on deck. "Ready to go as soon as we dock?"
"Yeah" Inuyasha glared at the captains back "We already paid, didn't we? Kagome's just got to get her stuff, and Sesshoumaru needs to get his fuzzy ass down here, but other than that…"
"Nearly home!" Miroku added happily . "Just the islands to get through now!" He smiled widely. "I can't wait to get back….poor Shippo must be worried sick, and Kirara as well." He put his hand around Sango's shoulders, and gave her a hug.
"I'm sure she'll be glad to see us. I hate to think what everyone's gone though…" Sango let Miroku hold onto her, watching out of the corner of her eye to see that he kept his hands where they belonged. Miraculously, he did.
For some odd reason, she felt mildly disappointed.
A soft thump announced Sesshoumaru's decent from the crows nest. "We're nearly there." He surveyed the port city. "I suggest we leave as soon as possible. Find the outskirts of the city, and be gone."
He didn't want too many people around when they left. All those humans and just himself to represent the youkai made him slightly uneasy. He wanted to go back home, and find out what had happened in his absence. If Jaken hadn't taken care of Rin the way he should have…
…well, too bad for Jaken, then.
"That's a good idea" Kagome set her bag down with a thump, watching as ropes were thrown to shore. She didn't feel the slightest bit guilty for not helping, either. Even if there was some high handed pirate code that dealt with that too. She didn't know, and didn't care to find out. "Let's go to the edge of town, and head home."
She looked at Sesshoumaru. "I have a map still, if you need it to see where we're going…?"
"No need. I've been to a few of these islands before. I know my way." Did she think he was incompetent, or such? He knew those islands like the back of his hand. His father had taken him campaigning there once, even if they hadn't managed to secure much in the way of land.
"Isn't that a miracle" Inuyasha muttered. "Lucky us."
Sesshoumaru didn't rise to the bait, but he decided that after he was safely home, Inuyasha needed some payback. Maybe he'd just punch him on the nose…maybe he'd do that now, actually…
No. He'd wait and get him when he least suspected it...
As soon as the way to shore was propped against the side of the leaky tub they'd sailed in on, they were off. Sesshoumaru led the way to the fringe of the town, ignoring the stares they accumulated on the way by.
Kagome smiled a bit, since she could sympathize with that. Sango wore her slayers garb, as it had been far easier to move around in on the boat, and Miroku simply wore his monks robes. Inuyasha still hadn't gotten his red haori back from her, though she should really give it back someday…
Kagome grinned. Interesting as the human members of the small party were, they paled to almost normal beside the two irritable looking Inu brothers. Sesshoumaru still had his bandanna, and so did Inuyasha, though each was rather the worse for wear. Inuyasha had told her that as soon as they were home, he was burning the square strip of cloth, but she didn't think he was serious. It had been a 'gift' (of a sort) from Jack.
As for Sesshoumaru…she'd asked him very, very nicely (and threatened to thoroughly 'down' him) if he gave them away by jumping around the deck, or flying neatly up to the rigging while they were on this ship. Jack's crew might not have minded, or had pretended not to notice, but this new crew certainly would. He'd looked slightly sour at having to climb, but had, in the end, agreed. She was fairly sure it was only because of the necklace. He disliked doing face-plants even more than not taking shortcuts, it appeared. Thank goodness for that…she didn't know what she'd have done if he just said no.
Oh well. She didn't care if people stared. At least, not too much. A lot of watching might not be good for their overall secure and continuing health as a group. The people in the crew or onshore might have been staring even more if she hadn't given tips on the 1660's. Just mentioned little things about how the place worked, whatever Jack had passed on and she could remember from school.
She'd grown used to the occasional glances after all the odd looks her school uniform had gotten on the trips they'd taken across the feudal Japanese countryside. And she'd learned a thing or two about how to keep the goodwill of hose you met on the way.
She followed Sango down the gangplank, and resolutely turned away from the ship. She wasn't particularly fond of the last weeks worth of memories, and was glad to be rid of the circumstances.
Kagome fairly danced as her feet touched dirtside, and the grin on her face lasted all across town. She just felt so happy. In the busy streets, the group pressed close together, and her hand reached timidly for the callused one in front of her. Inuyasha didn't draw away.
Miroku grinned as he saw what was happening, and casually moved his hand closer to Sango's…then a little further down…
He grinned, then quailed as Sango glared. Luckily, it was too crowded for Sango to get a proper retaliation strike in. He stepped away slowly, sure that he should take the time in the momentary lull to start running…
Sesshoumaru was tempted to roll his eyes as he caught sight of Inuyasha and Kagome, but managed to resist the impulse. His brother was being positively sappy…he doubted he'd been this friendly with that priestess…what was her name? The dead one?
He didn't know, and wasn't going to bother to find out. What Inuyasha saw in the claymation, he would never know…and the monk and exterminator were no better, close as a second skin one minute, and the next Sango would be trying to knock Miroku out. Or Miroku would be dodging whatever Sango decided to throw at him. Useful for training it might be, but on a ship it got tiresome quickly. There was nowhere to escape the idiocy.
Humans, he decided, were very, very odd. A whole month stuck with nothing for company but humans and his equally odd half brother, and he was quite ready to call the lot insane and wash his hands of them. He wanted to go home. He hadn't even asked to be signed up for this little excursion, and hadn't the restored Shikon as a goal either. Rin and Jaken were waiting for him. While she was human, she at least was half-way fathomable…except for that obsession with flowers.
What made a dead plant, with or without roots trailing dirt, so attractive?
Again, he doubted he would ever find out…
Inuyasha crossed his arms and perched on the mossy rocks, legs doubled up beneath him. After what seemed an eternity of walking though yet more cobblestone and dirt streets, and pushing though people, horses, rude people, and more horses, they'd arrived outside the city.
He took a breath, but it still smelled like a port city, even though they were no longer in the streets. Rotten seaweeds and sea salt permeated the air, close, but not quite, the familiar shoreside perfume of home. He waited impatiently as Kagome fiddled with her knapsack, putting it all together and finally slinging it on her back.
He wondered what he beach smelled like where she came from. Was it cleaner, or even more polluted than this? He didn't know. Maybe they should go and find out someday. He shaded his eyes against the glare of the fading sun, and peered out across the water. "Are we going already?"
Sesshoumaru stopped, and glanced around. He had been looking for a familiar landmark, but he must not have come this far south all those years ago. Perhaps he would be able to orient himself from above…
"Yes, as soon as you stop walking."
Inuyasha uncrossed his arms and attempted to look menacing. "Well then lets go! I've stopped…" Why couldn't his damn brother just start flying around, and get them all back home? He was getting tired of the delays, and the annoying, rum infested ships of pirates, and the bustling streets full of loud, noisy humans. They had crushed him in the crowd, and Inuyasha liked having his personal space not filled up with rude people.
"As you wish" Not really as Sesshoumaru wished…he was still quite tempted to dump the troublesome tagalongs in the sea somewhere, but managed to rein himself in. Getting them wet wouldn't help anyone, especially not him if he needed the damn miko's help to work the well. He just didn't know…
Bu one thing was for sure. Once he got back home, she was just as due for a fright as Inuyasha was for a beating. He wouldn't kill her, just…let her know exactly why one did not dare put a collar on the dog lord of the west. Wild dogs tended to bite the hand that 'fed' (or annoyed).
He reluctantly put side all visions of elegantly dumping his half brother in the ocean with the fish, and summoned his cloud, waiting impatiently for the rest of the party to climb aboard. He sighed slightly, wanting to just go and get home as soon as possible. It was hard work, hauling four other people along on this thing. He didn't suppose they knew that though.
He lifted off, making it look even more effortless on purpose, and tried to make sense of the patchwork of inhabitants on the island, looking for the way home. He knew it was around here somewhere…and if in doubt, go north.
No seeing anything familiar, he headed off, careful to stay low enough that the human passengers, with their weak lungs wouldn't have trouble. If he was fated to become an elevated cab driver, then he was going to do it right. No mistakes, no errors, no problems finding the directions…
He narrowed his eyes against the piercing rays of the sunset, and glared at the tapestry of unfamiliar foliage spread out below him. He was not going to admit that was lost. He wasn't going to say anything about the map he'd refused either. He didn't need it to find where he was. He wasn't going to say anything about lost. Sesshoumaru never got lost. He just happened to take the long route most times…he didn't need a map.
And he was especially not going to ask for directions…
"Are you sure about this? It looks kinda…damp."
Kagome eyed the cave suspiciously. The sandy floor looked like it was below the tideline…
"I think the tide would come in here" Sango eyed the sand, and straightened slightly. "Those trees were better."
Miroku sighed, and followed along behind her towards the trees. His feet hurt after standing in one place for hours, terrified that if he moved he'd fall off. He glanced back at Sesshoumaru.
He was not convinced that that last 'shortcut' had really been all that short…had Sesshoumaru been here before? Their progress so far seemed had seemed awfully zigzagish…
He shrugged, and decided not to mention it. He had no sense of self-preservation when it came to going after Sango, but a man had to draw the line somewhere
Finally, a decent stand of trees was found, and they paused for the night, Inuyasha grousing about the delay and Sesshoumaru silently agreeing. This would be so much faster if they didn't have to stop for the humans…
But then again, maybe it was a good thing. He'd been getting pretty tired, hauling all that dead weight around up there. He blamed his brother for over-eating…it had to be him dragging at the seams so much…
So perhaps he should actually be thanking the humans (Which was not about to happen) for giving him this time to recuperate for the next round of air surfing…
"Erg…" Kagome sneezed, grimacing at the sand that had somehow become embedded in her hair, her skin, her clothes…everywhere! during the night. She had no idea how it got there.
She sat up, and looked at Inuyasha's off white clothing. He was sitting cross-legged by the beach, watching the waves brush at what seemed the millionth beach they'd stayed at, on this endless string of islands.
"You up finally?"
"Yes…" She wiped sand out of her face with a frown, and suddenly a thought struck her. "Inuyasha…?"
"Yeah?" What was it? He was pretty sure they were almost home. At least according to Sesshoumaru.
"When do you want your haori back?"
He blinked, slightly confused. He'd nearly forgotten that she still had it, after all this time. In the hot air of the Caribbean, he hadn't really missed it. On the ship it would have gotten in the way, and above all he'd wanted to make sure of her safety, especially when they were in that cave with Barbossa. He hadn't really minded she still had it.
"Ah….thanks" Kagome handed it back to him, and he grinned slightly. "I…forgot…"
Kagome's eyes crinkled up in a smile, and she laughed. "How could you forget about it?"
"Well…I…" He didn't really have an answer to that, at least not one that he could say without sounding grandiose and cliché. He'd just wanted to make sure she was safe…and he knew she'd take care of it. He'd even thought, that if she forgot she had it on he could come back to her time to get it as an excuse.
He put it back on, and watched as the camp began to stir. Sango and Miroku emerged, blinking owlishly, and Sesshoumaru dropped out of the tree he'd been occupying.
Breakfast was a swift affair, gone as soon as the crumbs were. Sango shaded her eyes, and looked east towards the rising sun. She wasn't sure which direction from here they needed to go, but it couldn't be far now.
She really wanted to be home. They'd been camped out on various islands for a few days by now, moving onwards though the day with only a stop at lunch. She wondered why Sesshoumaru wasn't protesting the stops like his brother was. Kagome insisted that they eat lunch on the ground (wisely, in her opinion) and Inuyasha moaned and groaned as he always did about the delay. But Sesshoumaru wasn't.
Maybe he was more mature. Inuyasha certainly wasn't…
She didn't mind. They had to be close. She could nearly feel it in her bones. Another few hours, and they would be home…geographically, at least. The time was still wrong. Kagome had told them they were in the wrong era, and she'd seen nothing to change the idea. Kagome was an intelligent person. The things they taught people in her time! She was a veritable sage sometimes.
Vaguely, she wondered if there was an idea on how to get back besides just jumping in the well again floating around in her friend's head. Miroku might as well. She certainly didn't have one.
Reluctantly, she turned towards her waiting fluffy conveyance, for another few hours of ocean touring. She didn't know if it was just her, or if the rest of her friends didn't like Sesshoumaru's cloud.
It wasn't that she didn't mind flying either. She'd long ago gotten used to riding on Kirara's back. It was just that she knew Sesshoumaru was not about to change his flight schedule for anyone. Kirara would have done what she asked, within reason. She was a friend, and the two, fire cat and slayer, knew each other as well as one being can know another. They were a team.
Sesshoumaru just didn't have the same familiarity…unless you counted a few battles fought against them…
She watched in the now commonplace way as the ground dropped from under them, and stayed elusively far away beneath the transparent fog they somehow managed to stand on. She did not like looking down at her feet, standing on nothing. That was another point for Kirara.
Hours later, she grinned as something she knew appeared on the horizon. Why, she and Kirara had flown by there before! This was almost 3 hours away from home!
Sango leaned out over the cloud eagerly, till Miroku made a funny noise and tugged her back.
Sango glanced at him, and decided that green looked rather funny on his face…"You alright, Miroku?"
"Don't do that! We're already just hanging here…not even a solid body between the ground and your toes…" Miroku looked slightly worried, and Sango blinked. He'd never minded Kirara before…
He was glad when Sango decided not to lean out too far again. It worried him. He wasn't too comfortable this high up. When were they going to get there?
He grinned as a thought passed by on a cloud. He should ask Sango the age old question: are we there yet? Second in importance only to 'Will you bear my children?'. He could also try giving her a quick hug, comfort her against the long drop below…
He glanced at the rather precarious perch he was on, and decided very quickly not to rock the boat till they were safely on the ground. He had severe doubts about Sesshoumaru's willingness to catch him if he fell off. Particularly if it was, technically, his own fault for dropping over the side in the first place.
He sighed, and waited impatiently for home to appear, wanting to put his feet back on the ground where they belonged, and his hands where they…didn't really belong…not that that had ever stopped him before…
Miroku's face glazed over as he began to daydream of all the possibilities solid ground presented to an enterprising young fellow.
Hours later, he was finally jolted out of his train of thought, and his eyes lit up as he saw a very familiar village just rounding the horizon.
"We're here! We're here! We're…what is that?" What was that big building over there? And why were all the trees gone…?
Sango's frown deepened. She had been watching as they finally reached Shikoku, and then crossed the sea again to the island of Honshu. They had seemed to pick up even more speed as they went, and she was sure that Sesshoumaru was as eager to be home as the rest of them.
None of their group had planned on this little outing. She'd left Hiraikotsu behind, and Shippo by himself with Kirara. She hadn't really brought anything but what was on her back. She began to see why Kagome still carried her backpack everywhere. Everything she needed came with her. Or nearly everything. They'd run out of ramen and shampoo a while ago…
She'd wanted as the not-quite-familiar landscape passed under them. Fewer trees and more people met her eyes, and she'd wondered how much things had changed in a hundred years or so. She was almost afraid to ask what Kagome's time, even further away in time, was like.
She watched with trepidation as the village Kaede had lived in drew closer, and narrowed her eyes as it finally did. This was much different than she remembered…
Sesshoumaru stared to spiral downwards, ignoring the surprised looks on the people below. Hadn't they ever seen a youkai before? Idiot humans…
That reminded him…why had they not met anyone traveling? It was unusual not to be challenged as they passed over the lands of the south, or of the east. Lord Shinaka in particular was touchy about such things.
A small mystery that would probably never be explained. He contented himself with thinking of how close to home he might be. He was under no delusions that it would work for sure. Kagome had said she didn't know how they got here, and presumably did not know a way back that would be 100 percent effective.
He could but hope. And finally be able to stop carrying this lot around. It had been hard work, getting them all here. And they didn't seem to appreciate it much either…ungrateful bunch…
With a soft sigh of relief, he set them down just outside the substantial settlement. He had been here before, but the landmarks had changed. And he felt somewhat uneasy about flying over a settlement that had projectiles. He knew his own country frowned on outsiders and might not have the pistols of the Caribbean, but he didn't feel like finding out what they did have. Far too late in the day for that.
Inuyasha's forehead creased as he hopped off a few meters above the ground, and he surveyed the dirt road into Kaede's village…town. The road was a lot wider and the people more numerous than he remembered
"You sure this is the right spot?" Sesshoumaru was a klutz when it came to directions…his policy seemed to be pick a direction and go. And he's eventually get somewhere. He'd nearly gotten lost in the islands, Inuyasha was sure of it. There had been a few too many 'shortcuts' that weren't really helpful and a few too many pauses for him to believe otherwise…
Kagome shaded her eyes "It looks a lot different. But I'm sure it's right. I was following where we were on the map" She waved the ripped pages of her textbook, privately wondering how much a new one would cost. It had been water-damaged, torn, rough handled by pirates…ripping out a few useful pages seemed a minor transgression.
Sango an Miroku didn't look quite so sure, but they followed Kagome down the broad roadway into town, eyes darting about.
Kagome nearly laughed as they walked into town and the whispers broke out in their wake. Just like old times…everywhere she went her uniform had attracted some sort of comment (generally of the wrong kind) and walking into this old but familiar town…it brought back the first time she'd been hauled into the village t see Kaede.
She frowned a bit as the whispers grew to the point where even she could hear them.
"Youkai…youkai? Demons…"
What was that supposed to mean? Were youkai not around as much? She shrugged, and headed unerringly towards the well. Not her problem…interesting, certainly, but not something she cared about…much.
She paused at the foot of the stairs and looked up, and grinned. "So close!" She stared upwards, walking abreast with Inuyasha and Miroku, both of whom looked just as eager to be back.
Whispers grew and took on an incredulous tone "Youkai…shrine…in there?" "But they…" "Youkai…can't do that!"
Miffed townspeople started to climb afterwards, no doubt to ask them to leave. Sango looked back, surprised. What was going on…?
"Kagome, what's going on? We're not youkai…well, most of us aren't…" Miroku frowned at the few people climbing after them, looking slightly irritated. Was the shrine off limits now?
Inuyasha glared at the monk. "Shut up. I'm going to go through the well."
It became a race to the top, the smaller party easily beating the crowd on their heels. "Come on…It should be over here….there!" Kagome grinned at the well, and perched on the side.
Privately, Sesshoumaru was not impressed with 'over there'. Run-down looking stone well…
"I think…maybe I should go first?" Kagome looked quizzically at the well, ignoring the sounds of voices outside. "And…hold hands, or something? I'm taking a guess…I hope this works…I don't know… Inuyasha, you bring up the rear, alright? You've done this more often with me…"
Inuyasha nodded, and waited for the group to arrange themselves…and then glared at Sesshoumaru. Somehow the youkai Lord, not liking the idea of holding onto a human but finally doing so in the interests of getting home, had ended up on the end nearest Inuyasha…and Inuyasha was left without a hand to hold.
Sesshoumaru's lips quirked upwards a notch. Looked like Inuyasha was regretting cutting off his arm right about now…served him right...it had certainly caused him enough suffering up till now…
Inuyasha finally took a fistful of sleeve as a poor second, nose scrunched up in distaste, and followed the chain of reluctant, would-be time travelers down the rabbit hole.
I'm sorry for the delay. Really, truly sorry. My internet service died a day after I got back from vacationing. It's been offline for well over a week…meaning no updates to stories, to website, to anything --. I hate my ISP. I want to get Shaw instead…they are at least competent…
…And then the evil known as calculus happened to me…more time lost to the dreaded math…and swimming practice, maybe getting a job, more homework…
Eh. Enough of my eternal bitching. :P To make it up to you, the next (and last) chapter has probably been already posted, right after this one. Enjoy. (Again, I apologize deeply for the long delay… )
Thanks to the people who commented on last chapter! You guys rock! XD (still can't believe you lot put up with my 'updates'…really, you're amazing for still reading this…love you all!)
Lady-Seoh-Phoenix: I didn't really cover bargaining….but you can guess. :P And…well, for me, a few weeks is an awful lot. I 'm one of those people that works though lunch on extracuricular computer stuff. Especially when schools on. I can't send all the assignments home to work on in computers, for one thing…and my poor Webby wasn't updated…or stories…thank you.
The Violent Tomboy: …Didn't really update soon, did I? I wasn't too bad all summer, and then it all went to pieces…next story I do I'm going to try and fix that. Have things ready in advance type thing. :P Thanks!
Aya: Of course I would not comment. And actually, plausible does matter, or at least, I think it does now. Bear in mind that parts of this were written a year or nearly two ago…I had a little different view then. Thank you for reviewing!
Amaquieria: I don't know that I said which way Kagome was facing, fore or aft. While I was writing that I couldn't remember, so phrased it in a way so that it could even be taken for sarcasm. Maybe :P. But I will readily admit to spotty nautical knowledge, since I live out on the water-less prairies…hope you like the conclusion! Thank you for that little piece of knowledge, and review!. (Port…left! Starboard, right:P)
BlackFeatherz29: I have no trouble picturing Miroku drunk…it seems to fit, somehow! And I know that many people think beer stimulates the mind. I happen to disagree, but some people think so. Oddness. Thank you!
DogEarFetish: Please do let me know if you write it…I happen to like crossovers. (Bet you never would have guessed that one :P) And yes, Sess is still around. I couldn't leave my fav. character out, now could I? And if you want, I have the first few chapters/prologue of the next story I'm writing on my website. Link is on my profile page. No promises as to website updates though. That's a random act of webmistress. :P Thanks for your many lovely reviews!
Victory's Ashes: Sometimes I think the world runs on coffee :P. Or rather, caffeine, since I get my stimulants in the form of sugar and raspberry tea. Nasty coffee taste...but yes. Rin is too cute for her own good. :P Thanks for review(s)!
Tira's Host: Sometimes. Most times it's just annoying and aggravating. :P Thank you to both of you…and you read it all in one go? Wow…must have been a while…my pet story has grown quite a bi, I think…thanks to both of you for your kind words!
Tera Earth: No. No sequel, I'm afraid. Not even when the new Pirates movie comes out. I wouldn't be able to maintain an interest in the idea long enough. Not even for an epliogue. And the answer to your questions lies in the next chapter, conveniently already posted 2 seconds after this one was. And yes, that scene with blind/deaf Sess is due to be rewritten. Editing will be done. Needs to be. Thank you!
WhyWhatShutup: Thank you! And thanks for reviewing!
Sssshy-chansbestpal: I'm sure it would be…lol. Thanks!
Akana Akazen: Yeah, registration sucks. Especially when you get there late and have to do it another time. :P And Miroku was always the businessman before, so why not now? And yes, even Sess has a few people skills…not many, but they must be there. Thanks!
RubyRoseoftheBlackBlood: lol. Try 14 hours straight at Disneyland…murder on your feet, I must say. (Through it was enjoyable!) (Passes out random Jack action figure) And sorry about updates…that was…bad. . Vacation plus dead internet equalls long time. Thanks!
Zanamra Adokiam: Thank you! And yes…I do pity the poor soul who tried that. Fortunately for them, no one did. Thanks for your reviews!
Fhaerujea: . I think that's me not doing a proper spell check. Thanks for that! And your review!
Bomhammer: Ouch. Hope that went well for you. Thanks! I think…you must be one of the first reviewers I had…and, amazingly enough, you're still reading this! (gives out a random pirate flag) Big thank-you for all your reviews!
IntoTheWakingDawn: lol. I can't talk, since I rather adore crossovers. But I'm glad you though this one was entertaining enough to read! Thanks for your review!
Swordsman of Fire: Thank you!
Auxana: I'm glad you think I did a good job! I shall continue…although that extends only to the next chapter. Since then I'm done…lol. But I have other stories floating around as well which will get posted eventually. Thank you!
TrisakAminawn: There's not much I can say…other than an enormous thanks. I really do appreciate all the time and trouble you've gone to to help me out. Thank you so much for all those critiques of my writing, and encouraging me to be a better author. And when I rewrite some of this, you can be sure I'll look hard at all those wonderful reviews you left me. Thank you very much.
