Chapter 2: Midoriko's Scroll
Well, I hope you guys liked the first chapter! I really like this pirate theme man. I think it fits Inu
Well anyways, here goes nothing!
"...Why are you here..." Just by looking at his face, my heart began to race, "Your ship...it's not here...How'd you even recognize me?"
Inuyasha laughed, "Wouldn't forget your highness's face. And of course our ship is gone. We wanted to send off all those stupid guards and warriors to come fight my crew." He crossed his arms over his chest, proudly, but I didn't quite understand what exactly his purpose was.
"Why send away all those men to chase your ship?" I asked, "Why not just leave?"
The other man, with his long dark braid and and a purple four-pointed star on his forehead, just looked questioning at Inuyasha, who remained in the same position to answer my question, "Keh, because there's something in the castle I'm looking for, and I can't have all those distractions in my way."
He was tricking everyone. "What do you want?! Just tell me and I'll get it for you!" I pleaded, but this only got me strange looks from both pirates.
"Why the hell would you help us?" The other one asked, his voice, much like Inuyasha's, was relaxed.
"I just want Ayame back..." I muttered, hoping that they would accept my deal and I would be able to rescue my dear friend.
"The is fuck Ayame?" The other pirate questioned, looking up at his Captain.
"The princess here is talking about that girl we took back." He then turned back to me with a smirk, "We ain't giving her back. She's home now."
Home? What did that mean? She's lived here in the castle with me for 5 years after her adoptive parents, who were somewhere along the lines related to me, died in a fire.
"She's been engaged to one of our demons. We came back to take her home." Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Anyways-"
"Engaged to a demon!?" I was baffled, "She's not engaged to any demon."
Inuyasha growled, "Listen, wench, that girl was the Princess of a Wolf Demon tribe up on the northern mountains."
"She's not a demon." I responded, crossing my arms to match his position.
"Yeah she is." He argued back, "She's been under a cursed since she was young to take on a human form until she turns 18, which is in a 10 days according to her fiancee."
"Her supposed fiancee is wrong!" I wasn't losing Ayame.
"Keh, what do you know." He mumbled, "Now, are you gonna get us what we want, or am I gonna have to do it myself."
The pirate tapped his shoulder, "Captain, we can't let her go."
"Bankotsu, I'm not gonna waste my time murdering the fucking princess." Inuyasha scoffed, "I just have to find that damned jewel."
"What jewel?" Maybe, just maybe if I help, they'll let me see Ayame again.
Inuyasha eyed me, "Why are you hiding from the guards, Princess?"
"I don't want to get caught out here." I said, with all honesty, "It's too dangerous for me apparently. I'll be locked in my room."
The other pirate, who's apparent name was Bankotsu, smiled, "Get the location of it from the girl, and I'll watch her while you get it."
"Get what!" I demanded, almost forgetting who I was talking to.
"The Shikon no Tama." Inuyasha stated plainly.
...He's looking for the legendary jewel? Why would he think that was here? I didn't even know it actually existed. "We don't have that here." I answered, "Are you sure that's even a real thing?"
Inuyasha looked stunned, "Of course it's a real thing, idiot! And I'm not saying the jewel is there! But I need the scroll of Midoriko!"
The scroll of Midoriko tells of the legend of the Shikon Jewel and how she fought to protect it. She was a warrior at this time, but not here. She fought demons far north from here. Only after saving the soon to be King of our land at the time, did she basically engrave her name into our history. Her story came after, though.
"The scroll is my mother's room on the third floor, east wing. You'll find it in one of her drawers by the closet." I whispered. I felt like I was betraying my family, "But don't hurt anyone!" I was begging pirates not to hurt anyone. I felt crazy. These guys were murderers. I was probably gonna die, as well.
"Bankotsu, you go." He ordered, "Take the uniform of one of those idiot guards over there and go. If anyone were to see my silver hair, I'd be done."
Bankotsu looked stunned, but nodded and pulled out a katana from his sheath and ran out of the cave. That means I was stuck with just Inuyasha, the Captain.
"If he comes back with the scroll, I might think about letting you go." Inuyasha said, sitting down by the fire.
Was I a prisoner? "What do you mean?" I questioned, "Am I not allowed to leave?!"
"Might as well sit by the fire, Princess." He retorted, "You're not going anywhere."
"You can't kidnap me!" I countered, "I'm the Princess!"
"Keh, it ain't like I care much who you are." I watched him lean back against the wall, "I told you our secrets so I can't just let you go. So sit."
I don't know why, but I went and sat with the pirate, but I was upset.
"Why do you want that jewel, anyways?" I inquired.
He scoffed, "That's none of your concern really, wench."
"Don't call me that!" I demanded, "I have a name! It's Kagome! Ka-Go-Me!"
"Keh, whatever." His eyes were now shut, "Why do you wanna get out your room so badly?"
Was he really asking me this? "Because I like to explore." I answered, "No one likes a stuffy room."
"Your room is probably huge, spoiled girl." He mumbled under his breath.
I stood up and put my hands on my hips, "No matter how big it is, no one would wanna stay in it alone all day! So don't call me that!"
He opened his eyes in shock, "You're just an idiot. You have your whole castle to explore but you came out here to get caught up in stuff you can't handle. Keh, you're spoiled."
"No I'm not!"
"Yes you are!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Nooo!"
"YES!"
"Just shut up!" I shouted, "You're a dumb pirate who steals and kills so don't say anything about me." My face was now probably red, but I hadn't noticed until now that he had stood up in his anger, and our faces were so close.
He growled, "You're still a stupid wench."
"I'm a princess." Our noses were now touching. I was arguing with a pirate.
"A princess can be stupid!" He countered.
"Well, I'm not!" My fists were now all balled up, "What do you pirates even do other than steal and kill."
He slowly backed away from my face as we changed subjects, "I told ya, I'm looking for the Shikon no Tama. So, I travel until I find some good information."
"Where have you gone?" I'd never left the Kingdom of Midoriko.
He shrugged and sat back down, "A lot of places."
I had to admit, the idea of just travelling on your own accord fascinated me. He probably experienced so much more than I ever will, and all because he owns a ship and has no other responsibilities. But I've been forced to play "Climb the Mountain" on the same stairs for years. That just wasn't fair. I stayed looking at him as he continued to close his eyes and lean against the cave walls just like he did before.
When his eyes opened, I hadn't realized I was still watching him. "What are you looking at?" He rudely asked, "Take a nap or something."
Why was I looking at him? I mean, he's nothing but a pirate. They murder innocent people and burn villages for money. This one stole my friend for whatever crazy reason he thinks he has.
But as I continued to analyze his face, I didn't feel like I was in actual danger here with him. He didn't even seem bad.
"Why do you go around killing innocent people?" I asked. It sounded upfront and interrogative, but I was just curious as to why someone like him, who didn't really seem evil (although he was definitely a jerk), would go around and do such evil things.
He rolled his eyes, "You don't ever shut your mouth, do you?"
"I'm just wondering!" I retorted.
He didn't say another word, only just looked back at me, with his eyebrow raised. His arms were crossed over his chest, but he didn't look angry, but rather confused.
"Okay, then answer me this." I didn't break the stare, "Why don't you just kill me?"
This time, he broke the stare, and looked up towards the ceiling, "What would I have to gain from killing some princess?"
"Don't pirates pillage and kill?" It didn't make sense as to why this would be a big shock for him that I was asking.
"Keh, I take no pleasure in innocent bloodshed." He answered, "I only kill who gets in my way and no one else."
He had to be kidding. Pirates aren't considerate or even kind.
"Now, princess. Answer me this." Inuaysha lifted his back from the wall, "Why don't you run? Heck, why didn't you run when you saw us?"
"I want to save my friend." The answer came to me immediately. I had everything and, yet, she was always there to try to make my perfect life even better. She shouldn't have had to be in my shadow all this time, even if she insists she doesn't mind.
"Your friend doesn't need saving." He laughed, "She'll probably end up having a better life on the ship than in that castle. She'll get to see the world with the best crew there is."
"Hmph, I bet she'll miss me everyday because of you guys." I mumbled.
"I bet she will until she hits the sea." Inuyasha grinned, "Then, she'll realize freedom."
"You're only saying that because you got kicked out of your land!" I said, defensively.
He said nothing for a moment, but then, with a straight face, he replied, "No. I'm saying it because it's true."
I was quiet from that moment on and we just sat there, soaking in each other's presence. It was hard to believe that this was the man everybody was so scared of. He was different than normal people, but he wasn't terrible, or so my experience with him told me.
"Whoever killed them is gonna get it." In the distance, a man's voice was gliding through the air, in our direction, "Especially if it's a pirate."
"Yeah." Another spoke, "Can't handle all 7 of us!"
Inuyasha was quick to extinguish the fire and, although it was dark, I saw him ready to run off.
"Wait, where are you going?" I whispered.
"Keh, by myself, I can take maybe 4 of your guards without my demonic power, but not 7." He whispered back, "But I'm still faster than most humans, and I can outrun them."
"Are you leaving me?" I questioned, still in a soft, almost silent voice.
"It's your lucky day." He responded, "You're free."
No. I can't let him get away. If I get caught, I'll never be able to go after him and Ayame. "Take me." I pleaded quietly, "Please. I can't get caught."
He turned his head and looked at me like I had 100 eyes, "You're insane, princess. I'm a pirate."
"Just take me!" My whispered screams echoed.
"Oi! I think I heard something!" A man yelled out, "In one of those caves!" Shit! I blew our cover.
"Come, hurry stupid girl." Inuyasha held out his hand, "Before they all come in."
I grabbed onto him, and, in less than a second, I had been flung over his shoulder and on his back and we were on our way out. Inuyasha was so fast, it was almost unreal. Before any of the guards had actually entered the cave, we were out. Inuyasha jumped and soared over them, and landed back on the ground and kept running.
"Is...IS THAT PRINCESS KAGOME!" One of them yelled, taking out his sword and running after us.
"Hurry Inuyasha!" I warned, they're chasing us.
"I'd like to see them try and catch me." He hissed.
We ran past the craggy coast and, as I looked behind us, I noticed the guards were out of sight. But Inuyasha still ran until we came across a small boat. He hauled it into the water and we both sat inside, as Inuyasha began to paddle out into the ocean.
"Bankotsu's gonna have to figure out a way back himself." He muttered, obviously aggravated.
"Where are we going?" I asked, surprised at how amazingly fast the boat was going.
"To my ship." He stated, "Unless you wanna jump off now and swim to shore."
His ship?! I can't go there! What if he kills me!? Or what if him and his crew rape me and torture me?! Should I jump and swim?
"Listen, wench." Still paddling, he eyed me with such intensity that I felt a force keep me from looking away, "If you wanna jump off, be my guest, but if you wait too long to decide, we'll be too deep and you'll drown."
He said before that he doesn't kill for fun. And I saw no fault in his horizon eyes, as they gleamed under the burning sky, open and clear. If he was hiding something, I'm sure I would be able to see it in them. But his naked eyes showed no fault in his words. Still, how could I just leave home? Even if I do get locked in my room, would it be that bad?
"But Ayame..." I whispered, while tears built up in the corners of my eyes.
"Huh?" Inuyasha stopped paddling for a moment, "D-Don't cry...I hate when girls cry..." He reached his hand out, but stopped it right before it would have been placed on my shoulder. And he just left it there, hanging, almost as if he was contemplating whether or not he should touch me.
"I can't leave her alone..." I whimpered, and buried my face into my hands, letting my palm put slight pressure under my eyes, almost like it would stop the tears from pouring.
"Err...what do you want to do?" He asked, softly, "We won't hurt you, but you have to decide before those bastards come."
"Will you bring me back?" I asked, hopefully.
"Keh, I ain't coming back once I'm gone." He scoffed, "I got too much to risk so if ya really wanna go back, then go. But don't even think about telling anyone about Bankotsu back there."
I have to rescue Ayame. I owe her that much. And she'd do the same for me, I know it. So, I sucked up all my tears and nodded my head. "Let's go."