Blanket Disclaimer: The writer does not own any characters created by Rumiko Takahashi but like everyone else wishes she did. All original characters or concepts are the author's Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).
Chapter Two:
The Masquerade and the Dowry
"This is shit." The Captain said as he steered the ship towards Port Royal his hands holding onto the steering wheel as if it was the most fragile thing in the world and at the moment it kind of was.
"I know," Miroku agreed from the Captain's side as he slumped his shoulders and sighed heavily. "Why did it have to be this place?"
"Not that," The Captain said harshly as he looked out at his ship with a dark frown. "I hate steering this fucking vessel." He pointed at the wheel with one clawed finger to reiterate his point. "That's why I hired that bloody helmsmen in the first place."
Miroku practically smacked his Captain over the head but stopped himself—there were other crew members on the deck and he would never dishonor the Captain in front of the men. Besides, if the men began to think the Captain was weak the chance for mutiny would increase (after the earlier display with the mast, however, the chances of that were slim to none).
The young first mate smiled at the memory of his Captain's insane abilities from the previous night. "Damn," He thought as he shook his head. "Talk about solidifying your post, he's gonna be Captain forever." Miroku chuckled at the thought but knew he was right in the assumption.
Pirate Captains were chosen by their crew, it had nothing to do with who owned a ship or had the most money—no, a Pirate Captain had to have something bigger than that. He needed to be able to keep them alive, he needed to be able to fight, he needed to be able to tear the mast down and shove it into the sea during a raging storm so the ship wouldn't capsize. And if he couldn't do those things he could be voted off—it was the beginning of democracy. And the Captain's move to tear the flaming mast away from the ship had only increased his chances of maintaining his station as Captain permanently, no one would dare vote against a man who saved all their asses, that would be suicide.
Besides, Inuyasha had a good track record at keeping them alive and that was why Captain Inuyasha had never had a mutiny in all his years serving as Captain—he was just too good. And luckily, their democracy didn't require a term limit to change that.
"God damn Helmsmen," Inuyasha growled bringing Miroku back to the present. "Where is he anyway?" He muttered as he turned the wheel slightly to the right.
"Why don't you ask the sea?" Miroku said dryly using Inuyasha's very words from the previous day.
The Captain stilled at the sarcastic mumble and looked towards his first mate darkly for several seconds. The younger man turned towards him as well giving the Captain the most patronizing look he could muster that wouldn't draw attention from the crewmen working on the deck below. Miroku may disagree with the man but he would never let that be known to the other crewmen. After several seconds the Captain turned away and huffed refusing to allow himself to feel guilty. The man in question had been so new to the crew that he hadn't even known the man's name. Hell, they had only picked the man up a week ago from Hispaniola that was no time to form any sort of attachment.
Still—Inuyasha felt his ears droop slightly on his head. "He was my crew." Inuyasha thought to himself as he moved his hand to worry at the small gemstone that hung around his neck. "And I failed him." The feeling of guilt prickled in his chest for just a second before Inuyasha growled at himself and forced his ears to perk back up on his head as he let go of the gemstone deliberately.
Beside him Miroku smirked satisfied before looking back forward at the vast expanse of sea before them. "So, tell me why do we have to dock at Port Royal?" He asked officially redirecting the conversation since he knew his point had been made.
If the Captain realized what his first mate was doing he made no indication. "Why wouldn't we?" Inuyasha shrugged as he spoke, "It's the closest port."
Miroku gave him a long sideways glance before breathing out one name evenly. "Henry Morgan."
Inuyasha stilled at his comment, his ears perking up even more on his head at Miroku's words. "Well, that's a pretty good reason." He told himself as he tapped a clawed hand on the wheel.
A century ago, Port Royal had been a pirate paradise filled with women of questionable morals and men of even more questionable ones. People died there every day, shot out of anger or over treasure or just for the sake of a little fun. Women had been easy to find and even easier to get inside. Ale and Beer ran free like water and it was easy to sell stolen cargo whether it was marked by the crown or not. It had been a great place until the Weasel of a demon Henry Morgan had been appointed lieutenant governor. The demon had changed the city—for the better the upstanding citizens had said but for the worse the pirates countered.
Morgan purged the city of piracy, passing laws that sentenced all people accused of piracy, prostitution, or even gambling to hang upon the gallows Henry Morgan had built just for the job. The pirates had even given the place a nickname 'Gallows Point'—it was a fitting name. Many a brave pirate had met his end at the Gallows of Port Royal and because of this the town was now an upstanding port town as long as one ignored the constant slave trade going on in the area.
Despite all of this information however, Inuyasha knew he didn't have a choice. "We have to dock her." He told Miroku roughly as he looked at the broken mast one hand ideally steering the vessel while the other once again absently fingered the small gemstone. "We don't have a choice. We won't make it to the next port."
Miroku nodded, they both knew they were almost out of food and more importantly water. If they didn't dock here, at the very least to resupply, then they would be dead in the water in a matter of days. Literally dead. "So what do we do?"
Inuyasha took a deep breath letting go of the gem as he brought his hands to the wheel, gripping it tightly as he tried to think of any solution. After several minutes of intense staring he raised his head a smirk forming on his lips. "You know," He spoke evenly as he glanced at Miroku licking his top lip. "Back in London, they have these balls in the palace."
Miroku looked at him strangely, one of his eyebrows raised high into his black hair line. "What?"
"Yeah," Inuyasha nodded his head with a large grin on his face. "They dress up and wear costumes and pretend to be people like pirates and shit like that."
"Your point?" Miroku said calmly as he vaguely wondered if the Captain even realized they were still talking about Port Royal and Henry Morgan.
Inuyasha chuckled and shook his head up and down briskly. "I believe it's time we followed some of their good influence." He motioned down below towards the Cargo Hold.
Miroku followed the Captain's hand to the Cargo Hold his mind trying to wrap around what the Captain was indicting. "Wait?" He whispered as he mentally went through the current inventory. "You're not—are you crazy?" He whipped his head back around to the smirking Captain. "A masquerade?" Miroku guessed as he realized the Captain was talking about a set of very particular 'items' they had acquired a few weeks ago. "You are suggesting we pretend to be part of the Crown's Navy?"
"Um hm," Inuyasha grinned as he nodded curtly. "We have the uniforms, we have the metals, we even have the military issue pistols down there." Inuyasha practically growled with pleasure as he thumped his hand on the wheel. "I bet we can pull it off."
"Um but—," Miroku felt his voice failing him in his through as he motioned widely with his hands. "What about the ship, she doesn't look like a navy vessel?" He knew a bad idea when he heard one. Not only were they pirates going into one of the most dangerous ports in the world for a pirate to enter, they were pirates who were contemplating dressing up as Navy officers and going into one of the worst ports in the world for a pirate to enter.
Inuyasha closed his eyes and clicked his tongue looking completely unworried. "We got things for that too." He told Miroku with a wave of the hand.
Without a word Miroku put his head in his hands thinking back several weeks to their raid of that Navy Vessel. At the time he had thought it rather weird that the Captain had taken uniforms and hats from the Navy Ship they had raided, but now he saw it was simply a part of his Captain's uncanny luck. The Captain had known he would need it, he had somehow sensed it and brought it along—and now weeks later, they found themselves with the perfect opportunity to use the oddly acquired items.
Miroku brought his hands down limply to his sides. "Dear lord, how do I let you talk me into this." He grumbled before looking his Captain in the eye. "I'll get the navy flag." He said with a deep heavy sigh.
"Yes!" Inuyasha hissed as he clutched one fist in triumph before snapping his fingers and turning back to Miroku "Oh, dress Sango up." He added. "If we have a helpless woman on board we'll look even less suspicious."
"Sango's not gonna like that." Miroku said in a sing song voice as he thought of the only woman on the ship, his woman.
Inuyasha merely snorted in response. "Fuck her."
Miroku smirked and chuckled at the Captain licking his lips with a suggestive wink. "Every night."
The Captain laughed heartily, motioning hastily for Miroku to leave the deck. "Well, go get your prize, fuck her, and dress her." His hands went back to grip the wheel, turning it slightly to one side as a wave brushed against the most damaged side of the vessel. "We'll be in port in about three hours at this rate, that's not much time to get the ship in shape." He turned the wheel slightly to one side, the ship obeyed slowly. "Get the cleanest looking men and dress them too. The others can hide below."
"Do I need to fuck the men before I dress them?" Miroku inquired over his shoulder as he started for the stairs.
"Doesn't matter to me," Inuyasha called after him as Miroku disappeared to the deck below. "As long as it gets done."
-break-
Kagome left the tea hour a little after three in the afternoon. Boldly she walked down the street alone having left her friends to their still ongoing conversation about handsome men who lived on salt and air. She frowned at the romantic thought her mind wandering to her own seamless curiosity on the life they lived. "What would it be," She thought as she looked out at the town around her, nodding when appropriate to passerby's. "To be one of those men?" She sighed at the thought as she continued down her path, making her way back to her house with an umbrella carefully positioned above her head shielding her from the hot Jamaican sun. "I think, it would be wonderful to sail the sea my whole life." She grinned adjusting the umbrella so some sun could hit her face indecently. "To always stand in the sun, to live off of nothing more than an appetite for adventure and the wind that drove my sails."
She stopped in the middle of the street her own thoughts causing a strange tug in her heart as she twirled the umbrella absently in her hands. With a heavy sigh she allowed the umbrella to drop to her shoulder for just a second, exposing her head, neck, and shoulders to the bright rays of sunlight that were streaming down upon her. Slowly, she turned her head to her right looking out over the landscape of small houses whose backyards were made of sand and beach until her irises landed on the hopeful ocean.
She followed the waves with her eyes, watching as they ebbed and flowed for several seconds before raising the umbrella back over her head, "But that will never be." She whispered to herself as she turned away and started back down the path she knew better than she knew herself.
Her family had moved to Jamaica eleven years ago when she was a little over six years old. At the time Henry Morgan had just killed the last of the most daring pirates making the port safe enough for civilized people to take up residence. Her father, a rather well to do man in England, had been given a position by the demon himself as Human Representative or, as her father described it, the go between for human and demon relations. Basically, his job was to maintain order between the two races, keeping control of their disputes and making sure everything was handled in a civilized manner.
It was a job that demanded a lot of time and effort, so much so that Kagome had not really seen her father in a number of years. Sure, she saw him leave the house and arrive back home at least on some days but most of the time her father was simply the money maker of the home and nothing more, surely not a father to say the least.
Her mother was another story all together. At first her mother had outright refused to accept her station in Jamaica. They had even, much to the embarrassment of her father, had to drag the woman off the ship when they arrived. Her mother was French born, pure and simple. And although she had married an Englishman right at the end of the Thirty Year War, she still maintained a certain amount of prestige for her nationality and no French woman should ever be forced to live in a place like Port Royal (according to her mother). Still, despite this her mother had made a home and life in Jamaica. One that any woman back home would be proud.
That is with the exception of one thing: her daughter.
Kagome sighed heavily as she thought of the great disappointment she had become over the years. When other girls had been inside with dolls, Kagome had been outside with the boys making small paper and wooden boats that they released into the sea. When the other girls had been dressing for tea with their mother's help, Kagome's mother had found her daughter in the muddy sand searching for sea shells and sand dollars. When the other girls had started to marry, Kagome had been the only one to not even get a single offer. Kagome had been the female failure of her family. Kagome the tom-boy, who had never outgrown her independent boyish nature had not had one single marriage prospect, the greatest of all humiliations for a French Debutant.
"I'm such a failure." Kagome felt the thought seep out of her head and onto her tongue as she turned onto her street towards her family home, her footfalls growing slower the closer she got to her homeward prison. "All my mother ever wanted was a beautiful proper lady but me—what a shock it must have been to get me." She bit her lip a feeling of honest guilt for the hell her existence must be for her mother running through her. "Still," She shook her head and huffed raising her eyes up to look out at the sun. "That life, my mother's life." She felt a shiver go down her spin. "That's just not the life for me."
She grinned slightly as she admitted it out loud her face flushing as she thought of the life she would prefer. Looking up feeling every bit as confident as she always did, Kagome looked down the street towards her family's modest home only to stop dead in her tracks.
"A carriage?" She whispered into the vacant street as her hands tightened on the umbrella.
In front of her house was indeed a fancy carriage with perfectly manicured horses and a driver smoking a pipe who looked far too proper to be sitting atop a carriage making Kagome cringe. It was all way too clean for her liking; to perfect and proper. She was a girl who liked the subtle dirtiness of life, which added flavor and color to the world. This carriage however, was like a cloudless day. Sure it might be beautiful but where is the thrill in a vacant sky? Half the fun was wondering if it was going to storm and the other half was riding out that storm.
Taking a slow step forward Kagome continued to study the carriage a nagging feeling in the back of her head telling her there was something to be feared from it's presence. "I wonder whose carriage it is?" She whispered as she tiled her head to the side only to feel something tighten in the pit of her stomach. "Oh no that's Mr. Morgan," She whispered as she shook her head back and forth, her hand tightening on the umbrella while her heart sped up in her chest. "It couldn't be, it couldn't possibly, what would he be doing here?"
A trickle of sweat made its way down the side of her neck as she picked up the end of her dress and began walking as quickly as she possibly could with her corset on towards the carriage. She approached reaching it quite quickly and before the driver could see her stopped and straightened her skirt and hair whilst silently hoping she would not be scolded for her lack of a male escort once she entered the house. With Mr. Morgan inside there was only a fifty-fifty chance. On the one hand, her mother would not want to disturb her company with family matters. On the other however, her mother might feel the need to scold her daughter to show they were still trying to tame her for marriage.
Kagome gulped, either way she really didn't want to go inside but she still knew she had to. If Henry Morgan was indeed inside then something was very wrong. It could be her father or trouble in the town or—she shock her head—she couldn't even bring herself to think of what was worse.
Up on top of the carriage the driver cleared his throat drawing her attention upwards. "Oh, good day sir." She whispered upon making eye contact, giving the man a slight yet proper curtsey for his station.
"Good day young Miss Dresmont." He spoke softly as he gave her a gentle look before diverting his eyes towards the house. "It's best you go in Miss."
Kagome looked back at him, she didn't know his name but he had a kind face a human face and typical rounded human ears. That was one of the distinguishing features between humans and demons: their ears. A demon's ears much like a human's were located on the side of their face but instead of being rounded like a humans were pointed at the tops much like the animal counterparts that they were attached to. This man before her now had obviously smooth round ears however, making him wholly a human. "He must be a pretty low servant if he's human." She registered, looking over his nice clothes and his handsome tan face. It was common knowledge that Mr. Morgan used human servants over demon ones if he deemed the position below a full fledged demon's birth right. "Why should I go in, good sir?"
The man drew on a pipe he had been holding in his hand. The scent of tobacco filled her nose—it reminded her of her father. "They are discussing you."
"Me?" She felt the tightening in her stomach grow even worse
"Yes," The driver took the pipe, turning it upside down and patting it so the ashes of the now burnt out tobacco fell to the ground. "Something about a dowry."
Kagome's eyes grew wide her heart stopping in her chest. "But, Mr. Morgan's married," She argued with the man part of her realizing he would not care but the other part practically squawking with disbelief. "Why would he discus my dowry with my mother?"
The driver gave her a gentle look his expression actually apologetic. "Mr. Morgan might be a married man Miss Dresmont," He spoke to her softly as if she might break. "But his youngest son is still an eligible bachelor."
Kagome blinked once, feeling sick to her stomach as the image was conquered in her head. "Naraku?"
"The very one." The man spoke honestly as he put his pipe back in his jacket.
"Oh no!" Quickly, without giving the man even the slightest recognition or thanks Kagome turned her back on him and ran up the walk way nearly tripping on her dress as she came to the front stairs. Practically crawling up them Kagome made it to the front door of the house nearly ripping the door off its handles as she entered, pausing just long enough to slip of her shows so she could move silently across the wooden floor.
Tiptoeing attempt not to make a sound she headed for the parlor where her mother received all guest. Noting that the door was slightly ajar, she pressed herself against the wall, making sure not even her shadow was cast within view of the doorway as she slid closer and closer. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, she made her way across the long hall and found herself standing right beside the door. With the utmost of care she leaned forward peering into the room with nervous eyes.
Sure enough sitting across from her mother, sipping tea was none other than Henry Morgan and his youngest child, Naraku Morgan. Kagome felt bile rise in her throat at the sight of him. He was greasy looking, his hair long down his back, sloppy and tangled. His clothes although proper and dignified by characteristic looked as if he had been rolling around in mud before he had arrived, the cuffs of both the sleeves and the pants legs brown with dirt.
Kagome crinkled her nose at the sight but couldn't blame him for the upheaval look, after all he was only a boy of thirteen. "My god he's so young." Kagome shuddered at the thought and looked away from the people in the parlor leaning against the wall as if in pain. "Is mother that desperate." She asked herself as she screwed up her face in horror. "He's four years younger than me, that's highly irregular, and has to be more shameful than having me around the house unmarried." She glanced back into the room looking at Naraku who was half hidden behind his father his blank black eyes staring out the window oblivious to the world around him. "Not to mention that he's so, I don't know, cold." Kagome pursed her lips as she thought back on every instance of meeting Naraku Morgan that she could recall.
He was away awkward, standing to the back of rooms during parties and whenever someone would venture to speak to him he was always blunt, cold, and uncaring in tone. He never spoke for long periods of time and his father and brothers didn't seem to mind. In fact they always seemed to ignore him at parties, especially his brothers. For a moment Kagome wondered why, why would a father and brothers that were so close ostracize one of their own?
"Kagome?"
Kagome practically jumped ten feet in the air when her little brother came to stand in front of her his bright blue eyes looking up at her with curiosity. Quickly she covered his mouth with her hand in an attempt to save herself from being noticed but, unfortunately for her, she had never been that lucky.
Inside the parlor there was a stir, as if someone in a petticoat was standing. "Kagome, iz zat you? Pleaze excuse me, Monsieur." She heard her mother's voice. Within seconds her mother was at the door to the parlor, looking at her with curiosity. "Chérie are you back from tea already?"
"Yes, Mama." Kagome answered in a small voice as she glared at her younger brother, releasing him before her mother could say anything about the strange position. The boy looked at her confused and Kagome's anger faded, he hadn't realized what he had done, he had merely wanted to talk with her but now, they would not be able to talk at all until much later. Gently she rubbed the small boys head before turning back to her mother attempting to look as if she had not been hiding outside the room but had been waiting for the proper moment to come in. "I noticed your guest Mama and thought not to disturb you."
The tall elegant woman smiled brightly at her words, looking highly pleased at Kagome's soft yet unfitting manner. "Pleaze, come join us, Chérie." She spoke so elegantly that Kagome felt small beside her. "Mr. Morgan iz in ze palor with 'iz charmant son, Naraku Morgan."
Kagome had to force herself to keep a straight face at her mother's words. "Charming isn't the word I'd use." She wanted to say but knew better and thus held her tongue instead speaking as she had been taught. "I would be delighted Mama."
"Excellent." A beautiful grin broke out on her mother's perfectly made up face before she turned to the little boy who still stood behind Kagome perplexed. "Souta, go play outside, s'il Vous plaît, Chéri." Her mother directed as she stepped back into the parlor, Kagome hesitating for only a second as she looked back at her younger brother.
The small eight year old gave her a halfhearted smile, even at such a young age he understood what was happening in that bright yet dark room. He offered her a little wave and she smiled as brightly as she could in return. "Have fun." She whispered with false cheer and sent him an encouraging wave of the hand.
"Good luck Kagome." He whispered back before fleeing the scene the prospect of playing outside in the sand and waves of their backyard much too appealing to resist.
Kagome's eyes followed him as he ran to the back door of their house her shoulders tensing as she imagined her own playground she was about to enter. "I wish I could follow you outside." She told herself as she sighed and turned back to the door preparing to enter the parlor. "It's be so much more fun outside in the sun, walking barefoot in the sand—," Her thoughts trailed off as she followed her mother in the parlor to sit and talk with the waiting man and boy, her barefoot feeling cool against the hard wood. "Oh no—," She whispered, her eyes widening as she looked back over her shoulder at the place her shoes set. It was too late to get them now.
-break-
"We're gonna die." Miroku said for the fifth time as he looked at the flag that now hung up among the white sails of the ship.
"We'll be fine." Inuyasha said and put an arm around his first mate and Quartermaster. In front of them were the only men suitable enough to pass as navy crewmen or at least navy crewmen who had just weathered a strong storm and nearly drowned or at the very least rats that had weather a strong storm and nearly drowned. Either way they had the uniforms and hats and guns and sabers so their props were effective even if their appearance was not.
"Fine?" Miroku hissed into his ear, trying to maintain at least some of the required formality when addressing his Captain in front of the crew. "You think they can pull this off and we'll be fine!" He slapped a hand over his eyes as he took deep breathes almost sounding as if he was about to hyperventilate. "They know nothing of proper manners and navy etiquette." He pulled the hand down over his face roughly his dark eyes wide with terror. "Fuck they can't even spell it!"
Inuyasha smiled slightly as he took in the man's great discomfort. After having spent nearly ten years with Miroku he knew that this was just a phase. Pretty soon he would be fine with the idea, at least after having spent the correct amount of time panicking over it. "Miroku—," He tried to interrupt gently but the man just continued on.
"Hey you," Miroku pointed at one of the 'officers' his eyes practically filled with fire. "Spell Etiquette!"
"What's that then ser?" The man replied while he adjusted his three cornered hat on his head trying to determine which way it should face before setting it down facing completely the wrong direction for a Navy officer.
Miroku turned back towards Inuyasha his eyes flaring with the knowledge that they were headed into Danta's fifth layer of hell. "See!" He motioned towards the man with a shaking hand. "He doesn't even know what it is!"
"In his defense," Inuyasha said with a slight shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head. "Etiquette probably wasn't a part of his finishing school curriculum."
Miroku thought briefly of the implications of trying to strangle the Captain but before he was able to get even one finger around the Captain's neck a soft and charming voice entered the air around them.
"Etiquette." A female figure curvy, shapely, and downright seductive brought the whole of the crew to look at a woman who had just emerged on deck. "E-t-i-q-u-e-t-t-e." She spelt the word allowing each letter to drop from her lips like water gliding from a waterfall. "A french word that means: The practices and forms prescribed by social convention or by authority."
Miroku felt himself grow dizzy as he watched her glide across the deck towards them. "Sango."
Tears started to form in his eyes as he took in the sight of her. Usually Sango dressed like any other member of the crew—like a man—but now she stood in front of him in scarlet petticoats and outer gown. Her body contorted into a stay and hooped skirt. Around her slender shoulders was a lace neck handkerchief and around her now tiny waist was a silk apron speckled with daring needlework of red thread interchanged with gold. Her hair was fashioned into a delicate bun and on her head was a stylish hat that Miroku had stolen off a navy vessel several years ago just for her. How she had managed to dress herself in the clothes and style her own hair was beyond any male member of the crew, she was just downright impressive. She was Sango.
"We might not die." Miroku concluded as she finished her approach coming to stand beside both the Captain and himself, a fan poised in her white gloved hand.
"You still might but it won't be from docking." She muttered as she opened the lacy fan and waved it slowly before her face her proper clothes and undergarments already making her feel faint. "I hate these clothes." She whispered as she closed her eyes and placed a hand on her stomach taking several half breathes unable to take any that were truly deep enough to sustain her in the Caribbean heat. "Dear lord," She grumbled before opening her eyes and giving Inuyasha a fixated glare. "Why am I dressed like this, Captain?"
The Captain noticed the slant to her words and smiled before reaching out and taking her gloved hand into his own, he pulled it to his lips in jest and kissed the top with a delicious slowness that actually made Sango blush. "Because my lady," He told her, his voice full of soul and passion. "A Captain needs his wife."
"What?" Miroku yelled before clamping his mouth shut as the men around them snickered before bursting into full out laughs.
Sango pulled her hand back like he had burnt her and glared at her Captain. "I wish you would have died in the storm." She said harshly as she folded her arms over her chest and huffed her face turning red not with embarrassment but with anger.
Inuyasha titled his head back and laughed brightly at their obvious discomfort before waving his hand in a calming gesture. "Now, now. Look at it this way." He motioned to the Navy Captain's clothes he was wearing. They were put on expertly and he really looked the part with every button polished, ever string clipped, and both shoes bright and shiny. His hair was even stuffed (which was amazing in itself) under a powdered wig that was somewhat covered by his hat, a desperate measure he had undertaken to hide his irregular ears. "If I'm traveling with my wife and crew, there will be fewer questions." He raised both his hands when Miroku looked about to protect. "Think about it, we use a story like um," He thought for a moment before snapping his fingers. "A navy Captain, that's me and his wife," He motioned to Sango. "Are traveling to see her mother in a quaint place like Charleston, when they hit a storm and it took out the mast of their vessel. Who would question that?"
Sango bit her lip, wanting so desperately to ask why Miroku couldn't just play the role of Captain since she and he were currently in a relationship however, as she stood there and looked at the crew around her she knew she couldn't. A woman questioning a man's authority was bad enough without her questioning the Captain of a vessel in front of his men. To do so was disrespectful and even though she knew that her Captain wouldn't mind or yell or punish her, she still couldn't bring herself to say a word. "I understand Captain." She whispered and sent Miroku an apologetic look that spoke volumes.
They might not be officially married in front of the law but she and Miroku might as well have been. After all, she was damaged goods and a damaged woman can never get married. She gulped at the thought closing her eyes in an attempt to not remember the sordid details of her past but instead remember being saved after she had been disowned for the horrible dishonor she had brought upon her family.
"Sango?" The Captain spoke softly as he leaned towards her reaching a hand out to touch her shoulder. She jumped in response her hands coming up looking ready to deck him but stopping just short of punching him in the face.
Surprise lit both her face and the Captains as well as she stood there frozen in shock. "I'm—I'm—so sorry I don't know what came over me," She struggled to say as she brought her hands down and smoothed her dress, her eyes staring at the floor. It wasn't like Sango throwing a punch was a big deal. The girl could fight along with the best of 'em but the fact that she had sprung into action where the Captain was concerned was very out of character. Sango wasn't one to simply start beating on someone simply because they had startled her.
Concerned Inuyasha and Miroku shared a look over her head before each came to stand on either side of her. Miroku touching her arm just faintly with the tip of his fingers. "What were you thinking about?" He inquired gently, his fingers rubbing against her skin.
"Just—," She started to say but stopped herself as she looked around at the crew before looking at the two men. "Nothing."
Inuyasha frowned at the dismissal and grabbed for her arm pulling her away from the men farther up the ship where they could not be over heard by human or demon alike. Miroku followed behind unquestioning as they came to stand by the downed mast a good twenty feet away from the nearest crewmen. "What's going on?" He pressed as he turned to look at her his hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah?" Miroku questioned as well as he came to stand behind her, his hand reaching for her waist in a gesture meant to comfort.
"God! You both won't let anyone be will you?" She muttered as she swatted at both men away from her before a frown formed on her pretty face. "I was just thinking about when you found me," She continued to talk in a hasty mumble as she looked out across the ocean taking in the ever growing speak that was Port Royal. "I don't know why—it was just a thou—."
"I remember that night," Inuyasha spoke cutting her off as he leaned against the railing glancing over the side. "You were in that tavern, can't remember the name."
"It's not important." Sango told him bluntly as she crossed her arms under her bosom.
"Don't mean it won't be remembered." Miroku told Sango with a smirk as he nudged her with his shoulder. "Hannagins was the name, man it was in a bad part of town."
"That's putting it mildly." Inuyasha chimed in as he pushed himself away from the railing and brought his arm up to rest across Sango's shoulders. The girl gave him a dry look but didn't move to remove his arm instead choosing to elbow him discretely in the ribs. He grinned at the gesture but didn't move away. "You were there drinking all alone and this man—."
"Not me." Miroku threw in but the Captain shushed him.
"Where was I?" He made a show of lifting his chin in thought. "Yeah, this man comes up to ya asking for your," He tapped his chin and turned to Miroku. "How should I phrase it?"
Miroku frowned for all of a second as he leaned back against the railing still facing inwards towards the Captain and Sango. "Services," He nodded at the word. "I'd go with that."
"I like it." Inuyasha complemented before starting to continue only for Sango to cut him off.
"Oh enough!" She groused but a smile was starting to appear on her face. "I know the story I was there."
Inuyasha only smirked finally removing his arm from around her shoulder. "I know you were there." He admitted with a contrived slowness before adding offhandedly. "I just like telling it."
She snorted in response the sound completely contrary to her current state of dress. "You like telling it because you two," She motioned between them as both men looked at her innocently. "Beat that man within an inch of his life when he felt me up."
"Ah," Inuyasha sighed almost dreamily. "I'm so damn proud of that."
"Me to." Miroku agreed with an easy laugh.
Soon both men were laughing as well as Sango who looked on at them with no small amount of wonder and love. "Where would I be without you both?" She thought to herself as Miroku's arm came around her waist once more, pulling her closer to himself before he planted a sweet kiss to the side of her head. That night so long ago he had done the same thing as he drug her out of the filthy tavern she had found herself in broken, beaten, tainted, and alone.
It was sweet gesture now but then it had been horrifying and she had cried so hard that both men had known something was wrong with her, something a lot greater than simply being drunk. Her inebriation had actually worked to their advantage and in her unhindered state she had told them both her story of her lack of honor, of being disowned. At the time she had thought that they too would drop her the second they found out just as everyone else had and in a hastened state of depression had dropped to the ground before them in tears. She had been downright shocked when the Captain had knelt before her and took her hand rubbing the back of it soothingly before whispering:
"Do you have something to live for, miss?"
She hadn't known who he was at the time, hadn't realized how terrifying those words normally were to people. She hadn't even registered the look of complete panic that had come over Miroku's face as he watched the exchange. In fact, she had only been able to think of one thing at the time and that had been her answer:
"No. Who can live when their body is raped of life?"
It had been the only answer her destroyed mind and heart could give. Miroku had looked even worse then, as if he was trying to save her from a fate she had not known was coming but much to her surprise as well as Miroku's the Captain had only gripped her had tighter and pulled her to her feet, taking her arm as he led her to the ship, Miroku trailing confused. Once there he had spoken to her softly, it was one of the very few times the Captain showed himself to be a kind man:
"If you don't mind piracy, I can give you a reason to live."
Alone, confused, and unsure she had stepped onto that ship and in four years never once looked back. With time Miroku had started to heal her old wounds and the two had become the only thing you could be intimately on a ship such as this—she had become the first mate's wench. No other man allowed to touch her, even glance at her—except the Captain.
If the Captain wanted he could take her without reason bed her, kill her, use her, it was his freedom as Captain but Inuyasha was a good man and had never done such a thing, although there had been several less than savory jokes over the years, which implied certain less than moral deeds between the two. With the exception of that, the Captain had never interfered with Miroku or Sango leaving them dress to practically live as husband and wife, albeit not under the eyes of the law but at least under the eyes of the Captain.
In the end, the only condition the Captain had given them in regards to the relationship had been "No kids." His only explanation: "I don't want to follow them overboard."
Memories fading into the back of her mind Sango curtseyed for the Captain and Miroku bringing both of them out of their slight laughing fit. "Well," She spoke her voice demur. "I guess then I shall be calling both of you my dear husbands."
"Both of us?" Inuyasha chuckled as he spoke. "I don't think that very proper."
"I've never been a proper girl." Sango threw back as she opened her fan once again, very slowly fanning herself with the utmost of flirtation in her eyes. "Still, I don't think the people of Port Royal will take kindly to a girl with two husbands in her bed."
Inuyasha and Miroku looked at each other and both cringed. "I don't think I'd take having to share." Miroku supplied as he watched Sango sped up her fanning in a way that was considered incredibly indecent.
"Oh, no sharing." Sango said with a wink as she snapped the fan shut holding it to her breast. "I was thinking more along the lines of all three of us," Both men raised their eyebrows as she spoke drawing out her words sensually. "Together."
For several seconds both men were quiet, looking at Sango as if she was insane before they both reacted quite differently.
"Ah." Miroku yelled instantly shielding his eyes looking every bit as disturbed as he should considering the circumstances. "It's in my head."
The Captain practically screamed with laughter, doubling over as he grabbed his side. "Shit, Sango!"
"You're naked in my head!" Miroku continued to scream as he pointed at the Captain accusingly, as the other man was practically rolling on the ground in laughter. "How can you be amused by this? It's just not fair!"
-break-
Kagome entered the room following her mother in a state of perfectly acceptable panic. "What do I do, what do I do, what do I do—?" She asked herself over and over again but was given no immediate answer for her pysche. She felt the floorboards under her feet cool slick and recently waxed by the maid and nearly fainted. If they saw her without her shoes on, what would they think? Oh—she knew what they would think, "There goes Kagome, the only girl in the world who is strange enough to run around without her shoes on," The voice in her head sounded just as crazy as the words. "That's probably why her mother can't marry her. Keep your son's away, she's mental!"
Kagome gulped as she came to stand before the two men in the room whom had both risen at her entrance. Trying to look somewhat dignified despite her inner terror, Kagome brought her chin up high and gave a bright smile that would have made any mother except her own proud and offered her hand to the elder guest first.
"Hello, my dear." Mr. Morgan said as he took her hand into his own, kissing her knuckles lightly. "I am glad you were able to come see us."
"Oh, yes." She said back politely as she curtseyed slightly for him taking extra care to cover her feet as she did. "I am most humbled by your visit Mr. Morgan."
The man smiled brightly at her words and proper curtsey turning to her mother and giving her a nod of approval as if Kagome wasn't even in the room. "You have done well Mrs. Dresmont." He whispered making Kagome blush not from embarrassment but from anger. Wisely she chose to hold it in however, as Mr. Morgan motioned towards the small boy at his side. "This is my son, Naraku."
The boy looked up at her, his unnaturally dark eyes appearing bored as he took a second to look her over. After several critical seconds he turned away without a word, his eyes looking for the window that he had been staring out earlier as he preceded to ignore her completely in favor of looking out at the scenery.
Kagome felt her mouth start to drop open, surprised at the boys behavior. She actually felt insulted.
"Naraku!" His father said harshly drawling the boy's attention away from Souta who was playing outside. "Say hello to Miss Dresmont."
The boy glared at his father in a way that Kagome had never seen anybody glare before. It was almost as if fire was in his eyes for all of a second before he turned to her once more, his expression tight and not compelling. This time he didn't look at her closely but instead frowned and sighed heavily his eyes closing. "Hello," He said simply but the words did sound as if they were very much forced.
"Hello Mr. Morgan." Kagome repeated in kind offering the son a curtsey as well before extending her hand. He gave her an odd look at the gesture, almost a look of disgust before grabbing hold of her hand out of duty and planting a quick kiss to her knuckles. He dropped it at almost the same speed before moving away from her. Obligation fulfilled he took his seat, crossed his legs with his elbow leaning against his knee and his chin leaning against his hand before his eyes looked back outside once again.
Beside him, Henry Morgan looked about ready to commit homicide and Kagome for a minute felt as if this was a good thing. There was someone else out there who was a major disappointment to their parents, "Perhaps we're a match made in heaven," she thought with sarcasm.
"I'm sorry for his rude behavior." Mr. Morgan said regretfully as he stayed standing.
Kagome glanced at her mother who had taken her seat and watched as her mother signaled with her eyes for her to sit as well. Kagome knew though if she set down her mother, Mr. Morgan, and the brat Naraku would all be able to see her feet, her bare feet. "What do I do, what do I do, what do I do—," The voice began to chant again as she shifted where she stood nervously.
"Miss Dresmont please, take a seat." Mr. Morgan insisted still standing despite his son's bad manners.
Kagome gulped, she knew it was proper etiquette for all of the men in the room to stay standing until all the women were seated but here they were—Kagome without shoes, not willing to humiliate her mother in front of the Governor of Port Royal. But wasn't she humiliating her enough by refusing to sit, forcing their guest to stand or appear rude if he decided to sit before her, much like his son?
Kagome wanted to bang her head on the wall—she hated this, she hated authority, she hated manners, and etiquette, and proper behavior. All she wanted was to run, to run and leave this place of rules and order, she wanted to be outside, she wanted to be on the sea where she could do as she pleased, she wanted to be anywhere in the world but here.
"Miss Dresmont?" He asked again.
Kagome looked at him and smiled pleasantly. There was nothing she could do—'I'm sorry, mother.' She whispered to no one but herself as she set down, attempting to at least hide her feet as much as possible by crossing her ankles. Surprisingly, it worked, it didn't appear that anyone noticed her lack of shoes. "Thank god!" Kagome felt happier than she had in a long time, "Maybe I'm getting luckier."
"Kagome," Her mother addressed from her place beside her, one of her white gloved hands motioning towards their guest. "Mr. Morgan 'az come to talk about your dowry."
Kagome felt her heart sink, maybe she wasn't so lucky.
"My dowry?" She questioned civilly as she straightened her back to the designated angle. "Why would a man as important as Mr. Morgan concern himself with the financial prosperity of my future husband?" Kagome might have been a tom boy growing up (she was one even now beneath her petticoats) and as a child would have rather fooled around than study or learn—but that did not mean she was not smart and well educated.
"Well," Mr. Morgan said with a smile in her direction, pleased at the delicate way she had phrased the question. "I am concerned with the financial prosperity of your future husband," He parroted back to her, "Because he happens to be my son."
Kagome stood straight up, her skirts swishing around her shoeless feet. "What!" Etiquette be damned she thought. She had expected this but hearing it—hearing it out loud—she couldn't believe her mother was going along with this.
"Kagome, Vous Vous assiérez, s'il Vous plaît." Her mother told her to sit in a language their company would not understand her hand firmly on her daughter's elbow but Kagome pulled away.
"I will not marry a child." She said straight to Mr. Morgan's face. "Even if he is your son."
"Kagome!" Her mother stood and pushed her into the chair. "I am most sorry Monsierur I do not know what 'as come over 'er."
"It is understandable." The man said as his son continued to look outside unfazed by the commotion. "The shock has made her anxious, it is only natural when one finds out they are to wed."
"No," Kagome said despite her mother's urgent eyes. "It's natural when you find you are to wed someone very old or," she pointed at Naraku, "extremely young!"
"Kagome, come wiz me, s'il Vous plaît." Her mother said harshly, the French word for please slipping in her speech as she drug Kagome from the room, slamming the door behind them. They stood outside, her mother practically holding her to the wall before the conversation began again. "We cannot deny zis match." She spoke harshly, her thick French accent coming back after years of disuse the more agitated she became. "Zis iz the only offer you 'ave ever 'ad. I know girls who received offerz at ten Kagome and you 'ave 'ad but one at the age of seventeen!"
"But mother listen—."
"No, you lizten," Her mother's thick French accent filled the hall. "'e iz a démon, Kagome, a démon. We need zis, we can be so wealsy - sink of it, my daughter marreed to a démon - a démon who iz gouverneur of Port Royal, ze finest Port in ze Caribbean."
"But—I can't marry someone I don't love," Kagome fired back as she waved her hands before her angrily. "Let alone someone who doesn't even seem to tolerate me!"
"Kagome," Her mother said in a stern voice. "We are weemen - our 'earts are not above our duty to our famille, to our blood.." The woman took a deep breath composing herself before she continued her voice low so as not to be heard. "Now you will accept zis propozal and not anozer word."
Kagome felt her body sink to the ground. Her mother would not hear her now, this was not about Kagome, this was about her family, just as it always had been. It had never would never be about what Kagome wanted—it was what was best for her mother and her social standing. And Kagome didn't matter when it came to that. "I understand." She whispered as she felt red hot tears sting at her eyes but refused to let them fall.
Her mother backed away and looked at Kagome with a smile that turned into a frown and then an annoyed look. "Kagome, where are your shooz?"
Kagome took a deep breath and sniffled before shaking her head darkly. "Lying somewhere with my dignity."
-break-
"Alright men, the Officers are coming to access us, act natural." Inuyasha said as he stood on his ship, all the men had been arranged by Miroku, in the typical formation of the English Armada. They were under strict orders not to move or speak, or, for that matter, think. One false move and their true identity could be discovered and if it was they were simply fucked.
At Inuyasha's side stood Sango in all of her petticoat glory. She was regal, her eyes glancing at Miroku and Inuyasha as the two waited patiently for the ship to reach anchor waters. "This is going to go well." She whispered to both men as she held her chin firmly in place with a pretty smile gracing her painted lips.
Miroku grabbed another fistful of hair yanking on it lightly before forcing himself to let go. "I'm going to lose my hair over this." He muttered as he looked at a few strands he had managed to accidentally pull out before flicking them off his hand.
"Please don't." Sango whispered back giving him a seductive look as she held onto the Captain's arm for appearances. "Sex wouldn't be fun unless I have a handful of your hair."
"Come to my side." Inuyasha said with a grin as he leaned towards her and whispered darkly. "I've got tons."
"As soon as this is over I'm killing you." Sango said with a gentle smile in the Captain's direction.
"Duly noted." He replied back as he looked forward watching the small row boat come towards them with Port Royal Port authorities inside prepared to inspect them. "Miroku give the men the last minute orders."
Miroku glared at his Captain, a major part of him wanting to go ahead and simply kill him now. With a huff he turned to the men and took in the sight of pirates parading as Navy Officers. "This is never going to work." He mumbled.
"Not with that attitude, now to work, Pup." Captain Inuyasha said with a smirk.
Miroku returned the smirk with a narrow glare at his childhood nickname. He knew that in demon culture calling anyone a 'pup' was considered a term of endearment, at least until they were over the age of fifteen at which time it was considered a back handed insult. "Man I've wanted to kill you before but bot so many times in ones day sheesh." He thought to himself as he let the word go for now, choosing instead to turn towards the crew. "Okay." Miroku said addressing the men on the ship one more time. "Once we leave the ship I want you guys to disperse, go about your normal duties, if you feel you can't maintain the illusion of the Navy then for the sea's sake go below deck where no one can see you!" He motioned to the cargo hold where the more unsavory crew members were waiting. "The Captain and I will go ashore with Miss Sango. No one is to leave this ship, not for a second." He punctuated each word with blazing eyes to get his point across. "Remember this is Port Royal," He paused for effect making eye contact with as many men as possible. "And the Gallows are always opened."
The men gulped visibly as the reality of the situation hit them but none dared to say a word all of them standing at attention waiting for their date with hell to commence.
"If something goes wrong, get out." Miroku looked over at the second in command, an older man, who doubled as Master Rigger and Master Sailor, Myoga. "Myoga sail to the south shore, we'll find our way there." He licked his lips stopping himself from adding, if we survive, before he continued. "Give us two weeks. If we don't make it by then, the ships yours."
"Ai wirr do my bessu, ser." The old man agreed with his thick accent his face still looking pretty paranoid as he spoke. He didn't know if he could take the ship, there would probably be a mutiny if he tried but still—he doubted these two would die, especially with a woman like Sango with them.
"Does everyone understand?" Miroku said sternly.
"Aye, Master!" The men responded, some louder than others but all obeying their first mate and quartermaster none the less.
Miroku walked away from the men and over to Inuyasha and Sango who stood formally, arm in arm. "Great speech." Inuyasha complimented his eyes staring forward unblinking as he watched the speck become larger and larger.
Miroku nodded in response as he came to stand next to Sango's other shoulder, his hands tight at his sides. "Learned from the best."
"Who might that be?" Inuyasha inquired with a lopsided grin.
"Sango."
There was a snort and Inuyasha looked at his 'wife.' "Have you been playing with the other men again?" He said in a soft voice his hand rubbing the back of her own lightly. "You know I don't like that."
Sango looked at him and spoke in a voice so quiet only Miroku could overhear. "I can and will kill you."
Inuyasha backed away his hand loosening slightly as he gripped her arm. "All these death threats, shit." He shook his head before giving her a playful wink. "That settles it I'm not sleeping with you tonight, might kill me in my sleep."
Sango giggled and hugged the Captain's arm lightly, she had found a great Captain.
A long boat came up beside the ship some moments later, two crewmen scrambling to perform their duties by sending down a ladder for the Port Authorities to climb up onto the ship. The two human officers of Port Royal came up the ladder one after the other their faces drawn in tight scrutinizing lines as they boarded the vessel "Hello," One of the men carrying a booklet said as he stepped towards the Captain, Quartermaster, and Sango. "Would you mind stating your names, ship, and business please."
"My name is Captain James Smith." Inuyasha said formally. "This is my wife, Elizabeth Smith and my first mate," He motioned to Miroku. "Peter Woodson."
"Very good." The man said taking down their names as the other man walked the ship slowly, inspecting things here and there. "Ship name please."
"Wounded Sea." Inuyasha replied without missing a beat, the true name of his vessel far to easy for trained Port Authorities to recognize as a pirate ship's name.
The Port Authority took his eyes away from the booklet he had been writing in for all of a second as he gave the Captain a strange look. "Sad name for a vessel."
Inuyasha carefully removed his hat, mindful of the wig, and placed it over his heart dramatically."We named her for those lost to the sea in the Thirty Years War."
The man before him removed his hat as well placing it over his heart at the explanation. "A good honorable name then." He said with true agreement in his voice before he put his hat back on his head as did Inuyasha, or Captain James Smith as it were. "And please what is your business?"
"We are in desperate need of supplies and repairs." Inuyasha pointed to the mast as he spoke his eyes attempting to convey the true need of it. "As you can see we have taken some hard times. A storm destroyed our foremast."
"Yes, I see." The man agreed as he looked towards the missing mast. "It's completely gone?"
"Yes, we were lucky it did not fall on us." Inuyasha took a hold of Sango's waist and brought her close, the woman went stiff at his touch but soon relaxed to keep up appearances. "I was so scared for my wife, it is only her second time at sea."
"Poor lady." The man said and took her hand in his own, kissing it. "I know my wife is terrified of the ocean, she says it can do terrible things—," He paused for a second as he bowed his head slightly. "Killed her mother it did."
"How sad." Sango replied in such a beautiful soft voice that Miroku and Inuyasha were both certain it didn't belong to her. "My father died at sea." She continued and brought a hand to her face, brushing at imaginary tears. "I miss him dearly."
The man gave her an almost sickening expression of pity as he tipped his hat towards her out of respect. "Poor dear."
"We're actually on our way to Charleston," Inuyasha said as he 'comforted' his wife by offering her a handkerchief from his breast pocket. "To see her mother."
"How nice." The Officer jotted something down and then looked around at the ship once more. He caught the eye of the other officer who come aboard with him and motioned with his chin towards the ship around them. The other man simply gave him a shrug and went towards the rope ladder without even a single word. "Well everything looks to be in order."
Inuyasha smirked as the man looked down at his papers. "He didn't even ask for any identification." He nearly growled with pleasure but stopped himself instead choosing to to take Sango's hand and hold it a little tighter. The girl looked up at him in response and he simply grinned at her before giving her a slight wink of reassurance. "You're a lucky charm Sango, a damn fine lucky charm."
"Well then," The man said as he finished scribbling something down in the book before looking back up. "We can get you the supplies but the mast is tricky." He shook his head apologetically. "We have the wood but our carpenter is back logged with work."
"We have a carpenter." Inuyasha supplied truthfully as he glanced at Totosai, who was standing just a little ways from Myoga. They made eye contact and the tiny old man gave him a small smile before holding up five fingers, indicating it would only take him five days to do the repair job Inuyasha was implying. "If we can get the wood to him," Inuyasha turned back to the man. "He can make the new mast without a problem."
"By himself?" The Port Authority pushed amazed.
Inuyasha opened his mouth to tell the man it was no problem because of their employed demon carpenter but paused before the words could leave his mouth. Port Royal's pot authority didn't need to know that the ships carpenter was in fact a demon and extremely good at his trade. It would be suspicious. Demon's typically did not join the Navy as something as menial as a carpenter, jobs such as that were saved for humans."Well, others on the ship are able to help him." He evaded expertly.
The Officer looked at him for a moment and then smiled. "Isn't the navy amazing? So many men diverse in so many trades."
The man laughed—Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku joined him, in the way of keeping up appearances.
"Well," The man looked at Inuyasha bluntly. "There is also the matter of payment. This will be very expensive I'm sure you realize."
"Yes," Inuyasha replied still in character. "We have more than enough money to pay for the necessary supplies and the timber."
"Good." The man nodded closing the book and holding his quill away from his body so as not to get ink on himself. "You won't be charged a port fee as long as you stay out here in the deeper water." The man handed Inuyasha a piece of paper. "This is your permit. It should take at least a month for you to make the repairs."
Inuyasha smiled, already knowing that once they got the wood it would only be a matter of five short days.
"I'm extremely sorry you will be delayed in seeing your mother for such a long time my lady. I know it must be hard." The Officer said with a bow to Sango.
"Thank you for your sympathetic words, sir, you are very kind." She curtseyed for him and the man went to leave the ship.
"Men please arrange my shore vessel." Inuyasha spoke the moment the two men were out of sight. The crew sounded off in response to the command immediately seeing to it that the order was fulfilled quickly so that their Captain, Quartermaster, and the lovely Miss Sango could dock and begin the grueling process of getting through town to find supplies and wood as quickly as possible. "Myoga." Inuyasha summoned softly once he was sure the task was underway.
The old man appeared next to his side almost instantaneously. "Yes Captain?"
"We're going on shore to arrange everything, have Totosai ready when we return." He ordered his voice still low so as not to be overheard by the two human Port Authorities. "I want this mast built in a week, understand?"
"Captain—?"
"Am I," Inuyasha spoke slowly to the man, his eyes intense. "Understood?"
"Yes ser." Myoga nodded with a futile gulp and left to continue his temporary command. Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku boarded the small Shore Boat, his men lowered them expertly and upon hitting the calm waters of the harbor they began to follow the other Long Boat to the dock.
"That went well." Miroku said as he looked at his old friend as he rowed.
Inuyasha nodded in agreement as he fingered the gemstone around his neck nervously. "Hopefully our luck will hold out."
"Hopefully." Miroku nodded, the seriousness in his and Inuyasha's voices bothering Sango.
"Both of you. We're gonna be fine." She said from her spot next to Inuyasha, while Miroku rowed the boat. "They fell for our guise." She reached a hand out to touch Inuyasha's shoulder. "You just convinced two Officers of the Navy that you were higher ranking Officers in the Navy." She spoke truthfully her voice sounding amused. "They're idiots. We're gonna be fine."
"I hope you're right Sango," Inuyasha said from his place at her side his shoulder warm and comforting where her hand rested.
"We're gonna be fine." She said for the third time, both men gave her an odd look. "Come on," she said resisting the urge to push them both overboard. "We fight to live right?"
"Yes." Inuyasha said with a raised eyebrow.
"This is the same as any other fight we've ever been in," She dropped her hand choosing to open the fan instead as a little sweat trickled down the back of her neck. "Only instead of using guns or knives or claws, we're using our heads."
"I like my claws." Inuyasha said while studying his hands.
Sango growled before punching him in the arm.
End of Chapter
Please Review
Edited for content 7/12/2012
Notes:
Henry Morgan was the actual Lieutenant General of Port Royal in the late 1700's and responsible for countless pirate deaths in an attempt to clean up the town.
Naraku Morgan on the other hand is just some ass from an anime I watched once (at least the first name is).