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 Three:
Gold and Grey
Kagome set outside on the docks staring into the waters of the ocean as they drew inwards towards the shore before slowly receding back into the never ending current. The sight of the water rushing back into the sea was enticing to her. She wanted to rush with it. She wanted to be a part of its retreat; its escape. She wanted to disappear within those waves sucked up into a world of freedom that she had always imagined. Kagome closed her eyes from her spot on the pier the hot hiss of tears underneath her lashes making her lip tremble as she sat on a small barrel, which was incredibly improper for a lady of her standing. A indecent act that she couldn't bring herself to care about.
"Why?" She whispered as she opened her eyes looking out into the ocean the wood of barrel digging into her thighs. "Why Mama, why?" A tear made its way down her cheek pooling at her chin. "Why did you have to end my life?" She sniffled and buried her face in her knees, "Why, why couldn't the ocean be my home." She cried into them knowing in the back of her mind that this port was her only home and it would always be her only home. She was betrothed to Naraku Morgan the thirteen year old son of Lieutenant Governor Henry Morgan and they were to be married in four months when Naraku turned fourteen—a fitting age for a boy to wed.
Kagome buried her head into her crossed arms bringing her knees to her chest as she let out a strangled sob. She was only able to do so because she had abandoned the hoop skirt, her gloves, and her hat as she left the house and without them she was actually comfortable enough to move around like a normal person and not a dainty lady. Opening her eyes she was just able to make out the green color of her gown and petticoat in the darkened cavern of her arms. Silently she wished they were blue like the sea.
Sighing she raised her head the slight sea breeze feeling nice against her hot face as she once again looked out into those waves. A small fish jumped from the surf its shinning body flinging in the sunlight before it dropped back down into the churning waves. Squinting, she noticed several others struggling against the surf fighting as they tried to find food in the shallow easy to navigate waters of the beach side. They intrigued her as they fought the ocean's current their mouths opening and closing as they bobbed and weaved just underneath the water's surface. "You're lucky." Kagome whispered to the fish as she pulled her body into a tighter ball upon the barrel, "At least you get to fight."
With a huff she turned her eyes back to the sea to study the ship that was anchored in the harbor a good distance away. It was an old ship she could tell by the aging color of the wood and the tattered sails. She guessed it had seen its fair share of hardships on the waters of the Caribbean. But despite its warn out appearance, tattered sails and missing foremast it was still beautiful, sturdy, and muscularly sound. It had a certain quality to it; a certain strength that drew her in. In the backwaters of her heart she wished to set foot aboard that ship, even if it was only once, so she might experience the feel of its deck and the way it bounced as the waves lapped its bow.
She closed her eyes at the thought her heart beating softly in her chest for once at ease. Just the notion of being on that ship; just the thought of enjoying life away from manners and etiquette made her instantly feel at peace. Opening her eyes once more she watched as the Long Boat of the Port Authorities pulled away from the ship and began rowing back into shore the two men within she recognized as friends of her father. Uninterested in what she already knew she turned instead to the unknown ship, which was dropping its own small vessel into the water and squinted trying to see the people who were occupying it.
Vaguely, she made out a man—no—two men and what appeared to be a woman in fine red dress. The sight of the woman made Kagome pause: a woman on a ship could only mean a few things: first she was a wife of a crew member (most likely the Captain) or she was a very wealthy woman traveling. Otherwise, women did not go on ships.
"Miss Dresmont!"
Kagome turned to the sound of the voice calling her and smiled faintly when she realized it was one of the Officer's on the Long Boat coming back to the dock. He was standing in the boat his hands waving above his head and a silly delighted expression on his face. A little embarrassed but pleased none the less she waved back and smiled at the attention. While everyone else thought her strange the Officers of the docks seemed to find her fascinating. Often she would come down to see new ships enter the port and they would keep her company talking and laughing as well as educating her on the goings on of vessels from mast to the different types of ships that sailed the deep. Over the years, since her father had introduced them, they had developed a sort of bond. It was nice.
After several minutes the small Long Boat arrived next to her and she stood making her way to the side of the wooden dock. "Mr. Charles." She addressed the Officer who had waved at her. "Mr. Ingram." She addressed the other as he put up the oars sending her a small casual wave after they were safely situated.
"Miss Dresmont," Mr. Ingram addressed as he walked up the small plank to stand next to her his hands figeting as he attempted to straighten his clothes as he walked. "What brings you here, today?" His voice was polite and charming a sweet note on the air that made Kagome smile kindly in return, a gesture she did not often bestow on people.
"The ship, of course." She replied as she looked towards the small boat that was approaching and laughed lightly.
"That would be the reason, wouldn't it?" Mr. Charles called to her as he finished up tying off the ship before he jumped up the gang plank to join in on the conversation. "You do always love to watch the ships come in."
"I do." She replied in kind as she looked back out at the giant ship docked in the harbor with no short amount of awe. "Out of curiosity, what is the history of this vessel?"
"Not sure where they're coming from," Mr Ingram said with a shrug as he leaned against one of the many post that lined the small dock. "But they're headed to Charleston—Captain's mother-in-law lives there." He continued as he waved his hand towards the boat indicating the man in the navy officers jacket who was sitting next to the woman in the scarlet red gown. "On the way the ship hit a storm, destroyed the foremast." He shook his head. "You should see it it looked like someone just pushed it off the ship."
"Did it do any major damage when it fell?" Kagome inquired as she looked at Mr. Ingram with truly interested eyes.
"None at all." He shook his head once more and shrugged his shoulders in disbelief. "They're one lucky crew to have lived."
"Yes, they must be." Kagome looked out at the boat as it approached the gap between the three individuals and herself becoming smaller.
"It is amazing, isn't—."
Kagome was only vaguely aware that Mr. Charles had begun to speak her eyes instead focused on the gorgeous woman in the boat. Her petticoat was immaculate and a deep scarlet red, her gown a beautiful daring black, the lace on her shoulders simply angelic and her face, dear lord, her face was absolutely breathtaking. She had smooth tan skin, chestnut eyes, and chestnut hair, which was placed in a magnificently done bun not a single strand out of place upon her head as she sat with her shoulders back and her chin at just the perfect level to look both daring and proper at the same time. Kagome could only imagine what her mother would say about this woman, "Most likely," Kagome told herself as she felt her mouth drop in disbelief. "She would call her splendid and ask her to be her daughter."
Before Kagome could think on the woman any more however, movement from the man beside her caught her attention. Slowly, she turned her focus onto the man that had to be that perfect woman's husband, the Captain of that old vessel. She gulped at the sight of him her heart racing as she took in his form while he sat with his back straight and his clothes flawless despite the fact he was sitting in a Shore Boat. He was lean and muscular with broad shoulders and a strong chin to match. He looked every bit the definition of a Englishman or Irishman and yet there was something odd about him something not quite right about his appearance.
Kagome tilted her head to the side her eyes narrowing as she took him in attempting to figure out what was ever so slightly off but before her mind could place it something else caught her eye and captivated her far more extensively than his muscles or his chin. "Gold." She found the word caught in her throat as she met his eyes for the first time. They were honey gold and intense and focused and piercing as they looked ahead appearing determined as if he was about to go into a battle. They were beautiful and unlike any eyes she had ever seen bright and tantalizing.
They blinked once against the sun closing for just a second before opening once again a flood of light upon his face. And then before she realized it he turned looking to the shore, those brilliant eyes scanning his destination before freezing and looking directly at her. Kagome felt her heart race as his eyes were focused on her appearing intent as he looked at her so hard that she thought he might be searching for her very soul within her chest. She watched as he scanned her, sizing her up, and taking her in the gold of his irises becoming darker more molten the longer he stared. She felt a flush come over her cheeks as she realized the Captain was taking in her appearance.
She felt embarrassed at the attention and inadequate by comparison to who he was standing next to. His wife was gorgeous and proper and he was looking at her probably thinking she looked very plain or like a child playing dress up with her mother's cloths with no fashion sense. For a moment she regretted taking off the hoop of her skirt, she regretted not letting the maid do her hair this morning, she regretted not putting on her best hat and her gloves. Kagome turned away from him, her heart beating in her chest pounding against her rib cage. She looked down at her ungloved hands, "It's scandalous," She told herself, silently berating everything she was at this very moment. "What will he think when he sees my skin ungloved?"
She looked back at him fully expecting him to have turned away and lost interest in her but his eyes were still on her and this time they were searching for her face, for her eyes, and as they did she found herself making eye contact with him those gold irises looking right into her own grey orbs. She shivered at the pure fire of his gaze and for a moment Kagome thought she might die.
He was still looking at her that intensely with those honey irises focused on her grey ones when his ship came to the dock and without breaking eye contact he managed to step onto the wooden plank. His eyes continued to look at her as he offered a hand to his wife the other woman taking it saying a light and airy thank you as he helped her onto the shore. They still bored into her as the two walked towards her and the officers, his eyes seeming to gaze so deeply inside of her that it was as if he was trying to learn her every secret and thought.
Only when the Captain and wife stopped an appropriate distance away did he take his eyes from her choosing instead to look at one of the officers instead. Immediately, Kagome felt a sense of relief run through her as Mr. Ingram took up the Captain's attention by stepping forward and offering to make the introductions in the utmost of civility by introducing the women first. "My Lady," He said looking at the Captain's wife. "This is Miss Kagome Dresmont, she is the daughter of our Human Representative in Port Royal."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Dresmont." The woman's voice was like a wind chime on the breeze or a gentle bell in a church steeple. Her curtsey that she offered to Kagome was just as enchanting as she lowered her head and diverted her eyes her eyelashes brushing against her cheek in such a way that a man would have immediately fallen in love.
Kagome felt the color drain from her face as she took in that perfect woman with her soft voice and gentle curtsey. "I pale in comparison." She admitted feeling slightly nauseous as she glanced at her limp dress already knowing that it alone would make her curtsey look like a joke.
"And Miss Dresmont," Mr. Ingram continued causing Kagome to look up out of manners more than anything. "This is Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, the Captain's wife."
Kagome copied the earlier curtsey but felt completely insufficient as she performed the gesture. "I am privileged to make you acquaintance," She tried to make her voice sound as charming as the other woman's but once again came up completely short. "Mrs. Smith."
"Believe me, the privilege is mine." Mrs. Smith, the Sango in disguised replied. "Allow me to introduce my husband, Captain James Smith."
Kagome turned to the Captain and found those eyes looking into her own once more. She gulped at the realize attempting to ignore the look as they intently pushed into her making her heart pound but she knew in this situation she would have to keep with proper etiquette. So with a smile on her face and a charming but real blush flushing her skin she extended her hand and waited. Her heart stopped when he stepped forward his wife still on his arm and took her hand into his own touching her bare skin with his white gloves. She felt a shock go through her at the sensation having never felt a man's skin against her hand in such a way, except for her brother and father's but everyone knows that brothers and fathers don't count in situations such as these. Slowly, his fingers wrapped around her own bringing her hand closer to his body in an amazingly sensual gesture. Unable to breath she looked into his eyes and watched as he bent forward placing his lips onto her naked knuckles. She felt her breath hitch in her throat as those moist lips made contact with her bare skin. For a moment she thought she might faint and then she nearly did when he looked upwards into her eyes his lips remaining on her skin just a moment too long to be considered appropriate before he backed away only slightly from her ungloved hand.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," he said, his breath touching her skin as he spoke his upturned eyes making her feel dizzy as he continued to gaze at her, smothering embers in those golden irises. "Miss Dresmont."
Kagome took a deep breath as he backed away holding onto her hand slightly longer than was proper. Vaguely, she wondered what his wife was thinking. Did she know he had kissed her hand a little too long, that he had held her hand a little too long, and was she mad he had touched her ungloved skin with his soft lips? Kagome wanted to glance at Mrs. Smith, she wanted to gauge her reaction to the situation but she couldn't bring herself to look away from those heart pounding eyes.
"The pleasure is mine." She said hoping her voice sounded smooth. "Captain Smith."
He backed away from her taking his wife with him and breaking the eye contact they had shared. Kagome felt herself become lightheaded as the true magnitude of the encounter hit her. She had never felt this way in her life, she had never felt her heart pound like this in her life, she had never felt her stomach burn like this in her life. She looked up at the Captain only to grow more flustered as she realized his eyes were still upon her.
Turning away she looked at his wife instead and watched as the woman seemed to shrug at her. It was an odd gesture leaving Kagome filled with uncertainty. Had the wife noticed? Was she currently feeling hatred towards her? Was she angry and plotting her revenge? Kagome felt jealous looking at her as her eyes shifted to the joined arms of the Captain and his wife. She felt envious as she imagined it was her on that man's arm. Immediately, Kagome froze her train of thought trailing off. "What an ugly thought." She told herself as she shook her head completely disappointed with her own mind.
"Miss Dresmont." Captain Smith said in a soft voice as he looked at his wife and then back to her. "I have some business on the Port today and do not know my way around, would you do us the honor of accompanying us on the Port."
Kagome froze, Sango froze, both women looked at the Captain shocked as Miroku clutched a fist behind him. This was not something they needed to deal with: a woman getting wrapped up in their illegal affairs.
"Captain." He started to interject but was quickly cut off.
"Wouldn't it be nice dear Peter." Inuyasha said behind his guise as Captain Smith. "If poor Elizabeth were to have another lady to talk to instead of simply the two of us?" He patted Sango's hand gently and looked directly at Miroku his eyes conveying something that was not recognized by anyone other than Miroku. "I would hate for her to be bored during our business after all, women do not belong in business but I would hate to leave her out of my sight."
Sango contemplated elbowing him in the side but knew it would only break their cover. Miroku knew the same and relented trying to figure out his Captain's angle. "Aye, sir." He said and bowed lightly. He wasn't sure what the Captain's perspective was but he knew it was bound to get them in trouble at this rate.
"Miss Dresmont?" Inuyasha addressed her again his eyes focusing so keenly on her that she felt her heart clench in her breast.
Kagome thought of it for a moment. It would be rude to deny them, that she knew, but thoughts like that had never really stopped her before. Normally, she would decline such an offer as it was not in her interest to accompany a woman who looked so regal and proper. Women like that were all propriety and no thought. They weren't educated beyond what was needed to obtain a husband and their only want in life was to acquire a good husband they could brag about and that way of life wasn't for Kagome.
However, another thought drove her to say yes; a thought far different from propriety and proper manners. It was the look in the Captain's eyes: he was willing her with them and begging her with them, asking her to say yes. She wondered why he would want her to perform such a duty (she was truly curious) but as she looked at those amazing eyes full of honey gold and determination she knew for a fact that she couldn't deny them, no matter what their reasoning was. "I would be delighted." She found herself saying.
"Then it's settled." The Captain stepped forward and bowed lightly to her. "Peter."
Miroku nodded and stepped towards Kagome, he bowed evenly and she extended her hand in the same way she had moments before with the Captain. He kissed her hand and Kagome vaguely noticed that the kiss, although just as bare on her skin, had not been powerful like the Captain's, in fact it was rather boring by comparison.
Miroku offered his arm to Kagome, which she took easily before looking over at the Captain and Mrs. Smith. She felt an odd resentment over their linked arms that made her flush to think about it. She had never once wanted an escort, typically she went around town on her own but right now a huge part of her wanted to be escorted by the Captain instead of the First Mate. With both women facing inwards and the men walking outwards they headed to the end of the docks after bidding the two Port Authorities a short goodbye.
"Where would you like to go first, Captain?" Kagome asked as they neared the end of the dock her heart pounding in her chest as she spoke.
"Where is the local Carpenter?" The Captain asked his eyes straight ahead much to her disappointment.
"He is a few blocks over, Captain." Kagome said glancing at him over Mrs. Smith to see if he would look at her and catch her eye. "No more than a five minute walk."
Inuyasha looked over at her and smiled at her words causing Kagome to glow at the attention. "And where is the market," He further inquired before adding a subtle explanation, "We need to resupply?"
"The market is in the west corner," She replied while looking straight ahead her cheeks still flushing at the thought of his eyes on her and of his smile. "It is a good fifteen minute walk in the opposite direction."
"Very well, please lead us to the Carpenter, Miss Dresmont." He nodded his head firmly as he started off at a brisk pace in the general direction she had indicated. "It would be most efficient to see him first."
"Of course, Captain." She said and looked at him one more time before looking back at where she was going.
Her thoughts turned to Mrs. Smith for a moment and she wondered what the other woman was thinking. Had she noticed the odd behavior between her and the Captain? Had she seen anything, was she angry? Kagome took a deep breath and cleared the thoughts from her mind but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't clear the thoughts from her heart. Inside her heart, she felt two things: The first was an overwhelming amount of guilt for her unclean feelings about this woman's husband and the second—the second was something she had never felt before.
-break-
Kagome and Sango in disguise stood in the lobby of the local Carpenter's ship yard both shifting with distinct discomfort. The ship yard was not a place that women commonly went (Kagome had only ventured into the ship yards four times throughout her entire life) and yet here she found herself holding onto Mrs. Smith's arm as the Captain and Quartermaster talked to the lumberyard's manager outside in the hot sun. The two women had not said a word to each other as they waited in the lobby of the small office building both of them not really able to think of anything appropriate to say.
Discreetly, Kagome glanced over at the much older woman who seemed to be the exact opposite of herself in every way possible. Looking out of the corner of her eye Kagome took in the ridged set of the Captain's wife's shoulders and forced herself not to gulp with her own unease. This woman was standing perfectly just like her hair, her gown, and her petticoat she was absolutely immaculate from head to toe, "I wonder what it would be like to be her?" Kagome questioned as she turned her eyes away from the other woman and glanced at the ground. "To feel the actual need to observe proper etiquette and behave respectfully, what would that be like?" Kagome paused with her own thoughts realizing that was a feeling she had never really known. Looking down at the ground Kagome took a deep breath knowing that this woman was out of her league, she was in a higher class position, one that Kagome could not touch, and would never dare too. Discreetly she glanced at Mrs. Smith again and took in the stern line of her face as she watched the men talk outside in front of a lot of wood. "I bet my mother would have loved you as her daughter."
She looked away from Mrs. Smith and glanced outside once again looking at the different woods that were staked throughout the rather large lumberyard. There were so many different sizes and shapes all made specifically for ships spread out along the ground. It interested her only slightly at the moment however, because of another piece of sturdy timber that was standing in the yard talking rather animatedly his hands moving and his face the master of excitable expression—unlike his wife. Kagome smiled slightly as she watched him move every gesture and flick of his wrist lively and enchanting to watch.
She really liked watching him.
Blushing, she looked down at the wooden floor her face so hot that she knew she had to be bright red, "What's wrong with me?" She groused internally as she silently berated herself. She had never felt this way before in her life about anyone not a man or a woman or even an inanimate object like a ship. And it only figured that the first person she had ever felt this way about would be completely unobtainable. "Even if I could catch his—he's still a married and I'm," She gulped. "I'm engaged." She closed her eyes a huffed loudly slumping her shoulders all but forgetting that there was a woman standing right next to her.
"Is something the matter, Miss Dresmont?" Mrs. Smith commented as she looked at the other woman. Behind the facade Sango was genuinely interested in Kagome's strange huff and slouch. Both movements were completely against propriety and no girl of high social standing would ever thinking of making such a fuax pas especially in public where men might see. "There must be really something on her mind, I mean I was a girl just like her and the only time I made that sound was," She stopped her thought right there not daring to let it go any further. "Well, I've never made that sound in the three years I've been aboard Shikuro."
Kagome looked towards Mrs. Smith and flushed as she tried to push her thoughts into the back of her mind. "Nothing is the matter, Mrs. Smith."
The older woman smiled gently giving her arm a slight squeeze. "You hide your distress well," She whispered softly her eyes conveying that she didn't believe Kagome for a second. "But not well enough Miss Dresmont"
Kagome gulped and wondered what to do. Had Mrs. Smith been inferring that she was in fact having uncomfortable thoughts about the Captain—about Mrs. Smith's husband or was she simply being polite, perhaps she was just attempting to break the silence? Before she had to formulate the best possible and socially acceptable answer however, Sango continued to speak.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." The older woman said briskly as she looked into the ship yard, her eyes landing on Miroku, "I wish I was outside with them." She huffed internally knowing better than to expression her disappointment out loud. In a place such as this she wasn't allowed to show such feelings but on the Shikuro even though she was a woman she was allowed to enjoy the pleasures that came with a man's job. Although it wasn't typical on any vessel pirate or navy alike, Sango was allowed to accompany the Captain and Miroku ashore so she and Miroku could buy while Inuyasha went about selling on his own. On most ships both actions would have been considered highly inappropriate. For Sango that inappropriateness was obvious since she was a woman int he other case not so much. Miroku should have in both cases gone about the bartering and trading alone however, Inuyasha was a very hands on Captain and liked to do almost all the work himself. It had taken many years and much begging before they were able to develop the divide and conquer approach that seemed to work incredibly well.
Kagome watched the other woman as she seemed to get lost in thought but despite Mrs. Smith's distraction Kagome still found herself focused on her earlier words, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." They replayed in her head gentle and reassuring to the point that she found herself opening her mouth without her minds consent. She wanted to tell this woman about her troubles, she wanted to get everything out in the opened. That is not to say that she wanted to tell her about the strange attraction Kagome had for her husband but instead about her life, her mother, and her engagement. "I was thinking about—," She took a deep controlling breath as the words started to tumble out. "My impending marriage."
Sango glanced at her out of the corner of her eye seeing the way Kagome slightly hunched and then looked away off into the distance her unique grey eyes appearing greatly troubled. "It is not a happy match?" She inferred as she adjusted her position to face Kagome a little fuller.
"No—it is a match most horrible." Kagome looked outside at the cloudless sky a little disappointed that the world had chosen to be so proper today. Pursing her lips she turned away from the sky looking at the other woman sideways. "If you don't mind me asking," She spoke faintly as if afraid to insult. "Was your match a good one?"
Sango looked at Kagome and tried to think of an appropriate answer. Her and the Captain were not technically married, if anything she was married to Miroku (if only in the eyes of Inuyasha). If she thought of it that way she knew her answer would be yes she had been given a good match; she had a good and strong caring man at he,r side who saw her as more than a bed pattern but as a true woman. But, if she thought of the Captain what could she say? Really he was a good man a little stern for her taste at times, and ruthless when his demon blood was released but okay none the less. "It is acceptable." She concluded to Kagome trying to maintain an air of cool as she spoke.
Kagome nodded her head accepting the response in kind before fidgeting slightly with her next question already on her tongue. "Do you love him?" She asked so softly that her companion nearly didn't hear her.
Sango looked at Kagome for several seconds watching as the girl waited tensely for her answer. She got the feeling that this young girl was trying to sort out a lot more than just a subpare engagement but she just couldn't put her finger on what else could be going on inside the girls head. Concerned she turned to look out the window her eyes chancing to fall on Miroku as he moved to help the Captain exam some of the wood they were looking to purchase. She felt a slow smile begin to form on her face at the sight of his unkempt hair next to the Captain's wig. He looked like such a misfit, awkward, and a little dirty, perfect. "Yes, I do."
Kagome frowned at the other girls words and turned following Mrs. Smith's line of vision to the two men outside. She was almost positive the woman was looking at the Quartermaster and not the Captain. "How strange," She told herself. "Why would Mrs. Smith look at Mr. Woodson?" She narrowed her eyes and glanced at the other woman again taking in the almost flushing bride like skin of her cheeks and the rosy quality of her lips as she chewed on them thoughtfully like Kagome had often seen Eri do when she flirted with men who were not her husband. "Mrs. Smith—," She started to say but before the conversation could go further the Captain and Quartermaster walked in.
"I think it's too high Captain." Miroku was saying as they walked towards the two women. "The quality of the wood is mediocre at best."
"It might be but what choice do we have?" Inuyasha put a hand over his eyes briefly before looking at Miroku. "A Sloop will not sail with a whole mast down. We just barely made it into Port because of the oars on the ship."
"But a Sloop doesn't normally have oars and is typically one sailed." Kagome spoke up from her place next to Sango startling both of the men. "Your ship is obviously some type of Galley." They turned and looked at her causing Kagome to feel a wave of embarrassment. "I'm sor—,"
"Don't be," Inuyasha cut her off as he began to approach her his face unreadable to everyone in the room including Sango and Miroku.
Standing behind him Miroku winced as he watched the Captain's slow footfalls a cold sweat breaking out on his head as he thought of the Captain's typical reaction to being defied, "This is not good please don't lose your temper." He pleaded silently knowing that Inuyasha was not one to be told he was wrong.
Kagome felt herself shake slightly as she realized the vastness of her mistake. "Dear lord what was I thinking!" She yelled at herself as the man approached. "He must be furious with me. I mean I don't even know these people and here I am putting my foot in my mouth." She bit her lip hopelessly and searched his face in desperation hoping to receive any sort of indication as to what the Captain was feeling and yet as she gazed at him she couldn't find any telltale signs of anger, he didn't even look irritated, if anything he looked intrigued.
Inuyasha stopped just a few feet away from Kagome at an appropriate distance his eyes trained on her as he watched her fidget and shift nervously under his gaze. He forced himself to keep the smirk off his face as he watched her only to find that he couldn't bring himself to smirk even the slightest when her shifting eyes finally settled on his own blinking slowly as they made eye contact. "Wow," He thought as she gazed at him with unnerving curiosity. "I've never seen eyes like that or have I?" He realized as he looked into those deep protruding pools of swirling black and white. They were oddly familiar in a way that he couldn't quite place. Underneath his clothes the gemstone that he kept tied around his neck burned lightly against his skin making him feel uncomfortable. Clearing his throat he discretely brought his hand up to brush against his jacket effectively moving the hidden gem and causing the pain to go away before he distracted himself by actually correcting her assumption. "The ship is a Galley."
Kagome smiled at him thankful he had not berated her for speaking first and shyly countered her statement with knowledge of her own. "But you said it was in fact of Sloop, Captain."
Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise at her words all over again. It was not often a woman spoke up to him in fact Sango was the only one who had in years. "Well then," He grinned a part of him liking her bluntness and enjoying her bravery, "Allow me to explain more thoroughly what I meant. My ship is now a Galley, originally it was a Sloop." He finished with a lopsided grin on his face that was filled with a strange boyish charm that made Kagome smile as well before she narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Originally?" She whispered out the word leaning forward with intrigue. "Do explain Captain."
"Yes, over the years I have modified the ship." He crossed his arms over his chest and looked at her expectantly curious to see how a woman who appeared to know something about ships of the sea would react to his statement.
"You modified your ship?" Kagome said in a surprised tone her mouth dropping opened. "I've never heard of such a thing." She spoke truthfully, in the many years that Mr. Ingram and Mr. Charles had been educating her one the docks about ships they had never once mentioned the possibility of modifying a ship after its construction was finished. "I mean, a ship is something made once and repaired forever," She spoke bluntly repeating the very words Mr. Ingram had told her once during a heated debate on carpentry. "It is not something that one fiddles with or tampers with." She continued bringing her arms up to cross over her chest in the most masculine way possible. "In fact the very notion is not only dangerous but completely ludicrous."
Inuyasha had to force himself to swallow the loud chuckle that was threatening to bellow up from deep within his stomach. "Yes, I know," He told her with the most even voice he could muster. "It must sound really off but," He stepped forward closer to her and then off to her side offering his arm much to Kagome's deeply flattered surprise. "I think it was the best choice for my line of work."
"Really?" Kagome said back thoughtfully as she took Inuyasha's arm her face flushed and filled with delight as he lead her away.
Behind them Sango's arms went lax no longer supporting Kagome's now departed figure and Miroku let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. "What just happened?" The woman said as she watched on confusedfor several minutes before turning to Miroku who was simply shaking his head back and forth. "Miroku?" She questioned him but the man only shrugged and offered his arm to her knowing that it was considered proper where they were right now. "What could he possibly be thinking?" She asked Miroku in a hushed tone as they followed a safe distance behind.
Miroku was silent for a minute before he let out a loud sigh. "I don't know."
"This could be bad for our image." Sango went on her eyes on their retreating backs. "Married men do not walk without their wives, its scandalous." She looked at Miroku trying to bring her point home with her eyes. The man glanced down at her and nodded knowing that Sango had spent seventeen years of her life in a rather high ranking family she above anyone else would know how this looked to the socialite set.
"Do you think the Captain knows that?" Miroku questioned back as he watched the two in front of him who were simply talking.
"I don't really know," She shrugged before continuing. "But he does seem almost too well versed on mannerisms of the rich. I mean," She stopped for just a second to collect her thoughts before looking up at Miroku with a frown. "The way he talked to those Officer's and won them over, that's not something that just anybody can do." She turned away as she finished and looked after the Captain as he entertained Miss Dresmont with a wave of his free hand as he spoke excitedly.
"Yeah he did," Miroku found himself agreeing as he too watched the pair before them strolling as if it was the most natural thing to do in the world. "And the lumberyard manager, too," He shook his head as if still amazed. "He took care of that with such ease it was like a battle with his mouth." Miroku tilted his head to the side thoughtfully. "You know Sango," He whispered softly as he glanced at her almost conspiratorially out of the corner of his eye. "He was my teacher as a boy, taught me everything I know including etiquette."
Sango glanced at Miroku, she knew that the Captain had raised him from a young age but she had never really heard of the Captain schooling him on anything other than ship law.
"He taught me how to read and write, arithmetic, astrology," Miroku looked up at the cloudless sky thinking back to his youth with a fond look on his face. "Foreign languages, how to dine, how to dance." He clicked his tongue before turning his attention back to the Captain's back suspiciously. "I always thought he was very knowledgeable. Almost too knowledgeable."
Sango frowned darkly and narrowed her brow in thought. "Do you think he came from a wealthy family?" She poised the always unasked question leaving it hanging in the air between her and Miroku.
Miroku didn't answer right away as he watched the Captain retreat. The Captain was not the typical pirate first of all because he was a demon and second because he was incredibly well versed in the ways of high society. Miroku remembered learning from him as a child spending many days learning to read and write in English before the Captain moved him on to more difficult languages that he was forced to master as well French and Latin, Greek and German and a few more exotic one. And when he wasn't learning language he was learning math math so he could be the quartermaster of the ship one day able to calculate shares for the crew and astrology so he would be able to navigate on the sea. Both had been a priceless gift; something that few ocean baring men were actually good at but Miroku was. And when he wasn't involved in the world of academics he learned of propriety and Etiquette. Inuyasha had taught him all of it, demonstrating and forcing him to use his proper behavior inside the Captain's courters. Outside on the ship he had been allowed to do anything he wanted as long as he remembered his manners when it was just him and the Captain, which was very common. Unlike most Cabin Boys he had spent much of his time with the Captain; a small tag along that the Captain had never seemed to mind. Miroku always found it strange that the Captain had let a small boy of eight spend his time with him.
Still he had received an esteemed and well rounded education; the kind of education that only the nobles obtained and yet, Miroku had received it from a pirate Captain. A true conundrum of possibility, how had a pirate Captain received such an extensive education in the first place? Miroku had never had the nerve to ask him where he had been taught Greek, Latin, French, German, and English Grammar or where he had been taught to dine and dance. It was all a great mystery to him.
"I don't know where he came from." Miroku finally admitted to Sango with an apologetic frown. "I know he has a noble's education but whether it came from a noble family or not, he's never told me." Miroku scratched the back of his head. "He taught me though about manners and academics. I thought it was useless at the time but now I see how much we need it when dealing with shore folk."
Sango looked at Miroku and smiled gently. "He raised you well."
"Yeah," Miroku scratched the back of his head and smiled at her from behind a sea of black bangs. "He's the only father I've ever known." He looked up and grinned at the back of the Captain's head. "He used to seem so tall." The young man fluffed with pride, a giddy smile on his youthful face. "I wonder if he's proud of how tall I've grown?"
Sango smiled and let Miroku enjoy his moment. The connection between the two men had always astounded her. They had an unbreakable bond like any other father and son, older brother and a younger brother, or set of best friends that was deep and stunning. She squeezed Miroku's hand gently bringing the young man out of his boost. "Regardless of how he learned, I think he really knows propriety better than he lets on, even if he never uses his manners." She said gently, her eyes never leaving the two in front of them to focus on Miroku. "Do you know anything about where the Captain's from?"
"I've been with him for ten years, Sango." Miroku said with an offhanded shrug, "And I've never even known him to have a home Port."
She nodded and took a deep breath that she expelled slowly. "Well, setting that aside, why is he so interested in her?" She pointed towards the girl who seemed to be enjoying herself her face lit up as she talked with Inuyasha. "I mean he brought her along. He never brings women along, myself the exception."
"Yeah," Miroku agreed with a nod. "It's troublesome. I would think he wouldn't want another person wrapped up in this charade especially a young girl like her."
Sango nodded in agreement as well as her hand clutched tight to Miroku's arm. "She's engaged." She barely got out as she looked up at him trying to convey what her sentiment meant. "An engaged woman behaving like this, it could ruin her."
Miroku didn't acknowledge her words physically his eyes trained ahead as he watched the Captain and the young Miss Dresmont. "What are you thinking, Inuyasha?"
A good ten feet ahead of them Kagome held onto the Captain's arm her heart was racing in her chest at the feel of his hand lightly resting on top of her own. It was a very intimate gesture and without a glove it was simply delightful to feel his skin on her skin. She flushed at the thought her mind wondering to other places that hand might touch. Her cheek, her waist, a finger to her lips. Kagome took a deep breath all of her thoughts making her tremble.
"I put oars on the ship, even though I typically do not need them in the Caribbean," He was saying as he looked ahead walking at a brisk but easy to keep up with pace. "For when I travel up the coast of Africa and whilst in the Mediterranean."
"You've been to the other side of the sea?" Kagome felt like a small child talking to the Captain he was so other worldly to her: the small girl who had only ever briefly known England and had set up her home primarily in Port Royal. Otherwise, she had never done anything or been anywhere. "I have always longed to travel in such a way."
He looked down at her and smiled at her childish happiness a refreshing sight coming from a woman. Most of the women he knew were far from being children. They were whores and sluts girls who bedded men for money not love. Giving her an already fond smile he glanced down at her lips as she spoke and felt himself have an urge he never had had in his life. "I just want to kiss those lips." He gulped at the thought and took a calming breath as her scent came across his nose and he felt his eyes begin to glaze over. She smelt intoxicating her natural scent of the sea and water lilies unhindered by perfume.
"What is it like in the Mediterranean?" She asked and looked at him with a smile that turned into a frown when she saw his golden eyes looking at her or more accurately looking at her lips. Flushing scarlet she looked away from him and cleared her throat as loudly as possible.
Inuyasha came back to himself at the sound and found himself staring at the back of her head. In the back of his mind he just barely remembered her earlier question and quickly tried to come up with a decent answer. "Its very similar to the Caribbean in the summer." He gently said, looking at her, waiting for her to turn to him.
She did after a moment and he smiled satisfied before continuing.
"The waters are clear and the fish are easy to see." He recounted with a frown of contemplation. "Once, while we were on land, my mate and I," he pointed back at Miroku. "Climbed all the way to a monastery that's perched on top a giant ledge in Greece." He moved his head in a horizontal motion over the floor, showing her with his fingers the shape of the cliff before opening them wide and sprawling his fingers as if to mimic his own words. "The sight was absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life."
Kagome looked at him with wonder in her eyes. "What did it look like?"
Inuyashalooked down at her his eyes sparkling with childlike innocence. Anyone who would have known him would have thought that he looked strange. "The water was below us," He brought his hand parallel to the ground motioning in small circles to show the water. "It looked like a mirror and in its depths we could see all the way to the bottom of the sea." He rushed his hand down towards the ground only stopping the motion to look back up at her excitedly.
Her grey eyes sparkled at his words and her mouth opened hungrily requesting more. "The bottom?"
"All the way to the sea floor." His eyes lit up even brighter as he brought his hand up to his face before pushing it out as wide as he could. "And we could see nothing but that clear water and those small fish for over a hundred leagues."
"A hundred leagues?" She said in an airy whisper.
"A hundred leagues." He watched the happiness spread on her face and felt proud of himself for having caused such a look to come over such a pretty girl. It wasn't something he often thought to do; it wasn't something that he ever really tried to do. He had never really been interested in women but this girl, her face, her eyes, her simple expressions, the way her hand felt in his own, the way her skin had felt under his lips when he kissed her hand made him feel reckless.
"That must have been the most amazing sight." Kagome whispered as she looked up at the sky picturing what he had just described with pleasure. "I wish I could see such a thing."
Inuyasha grinned and squeezed her hand. "Maybe you will one day."
She whipped her head towards him and gave him a shocked look at his words. "I don't think so." She spoke honestly her expression that of someone who was forcing themselves to not dare hope. "I'll be tied to this Port for the rest of my life."
"You never know," He told her softly. "I thought the same thing about myself and then I found myself on a ship," He shrugged. "Found myself a Captain."
"What made you join the Crown's Navy?" She asked, curious from his odd words.
Inuyasha froze completely unsure of what he should tell her having not prepared for anyone to ask him such a question. "What's a good reason for wanting to join the navy?" He asked himself hastily, "Or at least a reason that would sound believable considering the fact I've never really been in the Navy." He gulped as his mind raced continued to frantically race.
"If I was to join the Navy—," Miss Dresmont began before he could speak causing him to start and look at her. "I would join it, just to see things like the Mediterranean from a cliff in Greece." She looked at him, her eyes a soft texture that drove him mad.
"Miss Dresmont?" He questioned softly not realizing he had stopped walking; she didn't seem to notice either. "You would join just to see the sea?"
She nodded her whole face and neck flush with her embarrassment. "I would join to see all of it. Even if I died on the sea, even if my teeth rotted and I became sick or ill." She looked down becoming more and more embarrassed by the second but not letting up on her words. "Even if I lost a leg or an arm, I would join and I would stay." Slowly she raised her head her grey eyes looking out across the busy street as they stood side by side. "I would be happy to have lived my life on the sea." She turned and looked at him swirling colors of black and white mixing at her words. "I would have been on her waters having known her most intimate of secrets."
Inuyasha felt his heart pound in his chest as he looked at her her words touching something within him that he couldn't even fathom.
"Captain?"
Both Inuyasha and Kagome jumped as Miroku's voice entered their ears. Kagome looked at the woman on Miroku's arm and instantly felt a giant wave of guilt tackle her heart. She pulled away from the Captain not caring if it was rude and stepped back. "Would you like to walk with your husband, Mrs. Smith." She said softly, a part of her screaming to not offer such a thing and another part of her telling her she had to.
Sango glanced at Inuyasha and then at the flushing girl. She sent the Captain a well aimed glare and walked towards Kagome instead. Gently she took the younger girls arm and blatantly ignored the Captain. "We should walk together, Miss Dresmont. It will be far more appealing than walking with the men, don't you agree?"
Kagome walked with Mrs. Smith and wondered if the woman was mad at her or just mad at her husband. Perhaps, Mrs. Smith was blaming her husband for his boldness with an engaged woman. Maybe Mrs. Smith wasn't angry at her at all.
"Yes," Kagome replied as Mrs. Smith pulled her along. She glanced back at the Captain and his First Mate, they appeared to be deep in a discussion.
"I can't believe you." Miroku's voice was dripping with anger. "She is a young girl. Sango says she's engaged to be married."
"So," Inuyasha groused as he started after the two woman. "I was simply talking with her."
Miroku huffed and pointed towards Kagome's back. "Her face didn't look like you were just talking. She had a face that said 'fuck me now.'"
"Did she?" Inuyasha looked forward towards the woman, feeling a source of pride jump into his chest.
Miroku growled very realistically and grabbed the Captain's chin boldly, turning him away from Kagome and Sango's backs, not caring if people saw. "She is engaged and she is young. She doesn't know what she is doing and you—you are playing the rule of the Captain far too well. And not just any Captain—a married Captain."
Inuyasha tried his hardest not to make eye contact with Miroku but failed. He took a deep breath and pulled away from Miroku roughly. "I won't do anything, I just want to talk to her." He said, his eyes collecting anger.
"She's just a girl." Miroku quietly said to the man. He had never seen the Captain actually get angry about a girl. He usually found a suitable one, fucked her and left her, he never even brought them to the ship if he could avoid it for Sango's sake. He was a back alley kind of guy. He never seemed to take any interest in girls for such things as talking, but what was different with this one? "Is she different—?"
"She's just a girl." Inuyasha cut him off and walked up ahead. The market was right in front of them now. "Let's get this over with." He went to pass Sango and Kagome but was stopped by Sango's hand lightly touching his arm. Turning around about to yell at her, he restrained himself when he noticed the friendly face on both girls.
"Captain." Sango said with a small grin. "After we gather the supplies, can we have dinner with Miss Dresmont?"
"Yes," Kagome said shyly. "I know of a wonderful place and Mrs. Smith was telling me sea food can be a little plain."
Inuyasha studied the girl for a moment his thoughts turning back onto her and himself. Even if he couldn't be with her perhaps indulging in a little time with her (no matter how small an amount that may be) was worth the trouble it might cause. He felt a smile form on his face only vaguely seeing Sango look at him with curious eyes. "I don't think we will be able to manage such a thing today, it is very late already."
Both Sango and Kagome looked at him slightly chest fallen.
"But, I have grown tired of the cook's food. It is far too salty for my taste." He glanced at them feeling cool as he smiled. "Tomorrow, we can come and have dinner with you, if you wouldn't mind Miss Dresmont?"
"Excellent," Kagome said with a happy smile. "I would love to see you again tomorrow."
"Good." He looked at her a strange feeling cascading his heart. He was happy to have made her smile so brightly. "But I insist it be my treat dear lady."
Sango and Miroku once again found themselves staring at the Captain as if he was some great stranger to them both.
"Why thank you, Captain." She said back even more delighted.
"It is the least I can do for your troubles."
Kagome looked at the Captain's closed eyed smile as he spoke and she felt her heart skip a beat. His eyes opened after a few minutes and she felt herself grow warm all over. He was looking at her as he had before his eyes happy but half lidded, his mind appearing foggy with some sort of distraction encompassing his thoughts. Could it be she was the distraction? She felt Mrs. Smith's arm on her own and took a deep breath trying to make herself feel less guilty than she did.
"Thank you all the same." She whispered to him and curtseyed with one hand, his eyes brightened with his delight.
End of Chapter
Please Review
Edited for content 7/13/2012
Bonus Points:
I have Bonus points for Byss and Angel, they guessed it.
The title of the fanfiction mimics the series long title Inuyasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale and the first chapter title mimics the title of the very first episode The Girl Who Overcame Time and the Boy Who was Just Overcome.
For my other reviews thank you for the kind words!
POST: 2/10/2011
UNEDITED