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 Six:
Just a Kiss
It had been three days since Kagome had seen the fated kiss and now she found herself sitting in the small Shore Boat of the Captain's, gliding over the water of the harbor of Port Royal. She glanced over the side of the boat, looking down at the crystal clear depth. It was amazing, how far she could see, what she could see. Below her was an underwater beach, which appeared to become farther and farther away with every turn of the first mates oars. And above that beach was an underwater village of fish, shinny and silver, glistening from the sun.
"Wow." She thought to herself as thousands of little bodies darted this way and that in a tight formation, moving as if they were of one mind and body, the silver of their scales blurring together as they moved in unison, dodging other schools of fish.
Suddenly, she noticed something larger in the formation, a dark shadow moving at a leisurely pace. Her eyes widened as the shadow came to life, a green tint in the blue water and she took in the sight she had never before, a giant turtle swimming. In all her life she had only seen the beast on the shore, sunning themselves as they ignored the towns people or laying their eggs. But now—she saw that giant creature moving in the water, gliding easily, a surprising ability for something that looked so big. Its giant flippers moved like wings causing it to appear as if it was flying above the underwater beach—a heavy bird in a cloudless sky.
The sea turtle turned its massive weight, darting between one of the silvery residential schools of fish, breaking the class in half. The pupils appeared to panic, darting in all directions trying to close the gap as the intruder made its way. Within moments they were back together, tightly knitted as they had been before and the sea turtle was still moving forward on meaty wings. "Amazing." She said out loud with a smile, causing the Lady Mrs. Smith to turn towards her from her spot in the small boat.
Sango glanced into the water, catching sight of the sea turtle as it moved below them. "Awe," She acknowledged. "They are beautiful, aren't they?"
Kagome turned towards her and smiled brightly, her whole face lighting up in such a way that Sango felt her body shudder. Not from anything bad per say, but from a feeling that echoed in her heart—she wanted to protect that smile.
"I've seen them on the beach, but never swimming." Kagome turned back to the water like an excited child in her seat. "I can't believe something so big can move like that. Like a bird."
Sango smiled gently and nodded her head before turning away from the young girl, lost in her own thoughts. She prayed that this girl wouldn't figure it out, that nothing would go wrong today, that she would simply visit and that was it—they would go their separate ways, to their separate lives. Still, another part of her thought differently. Sango glanced at Kagome out of the corner of her eye. It would have been nice if Kagome could have come with them—she was a sweet girl who seemed to understand them without knowing who they were but—a societal girl could never love their life once she was forced into it. Sango had fallen in love with it but her case had been different than Kagome's. Kagome was living as she was expected to live, marry a wealthy man of high station, run his house, gain wealth and honor for her family. It was the way of life—for a pure woman. And piracy would not appeal to the woman who was made in that culture.
Briefly her mind turned back to three days previously, the image of the girl at the Fort, the far off look in that girl's eyes.
"It would have been great to have been born a man."
Could it be possible that she had meant what she had said then? Sango shook her head, the girl had no idea what she was talking about—she wouldn't understand. It was all play talk of a girl who felt trapped but knew her duty.
Sango glanced at the girl again, taking in her rather proper appearance today, which said a lot—she was different than the girl they had first seen. She was keeping up appearances now in her rich blue petticoat and gown, her hoop in place and her stay tighter than necessary, the lace on her shoulders, and her best hat on her head. Even her hair was done for high fashion today, instead of the typical bun it had been curled and left to hang on the side of her shoulder, a slender pony tail that trailed to the top of her right breast.
This girl, no matter what she said, still was of high society, she was still proper and a believer in idiotic propriety. That much was certain from her reaction to the 'affair.' Sango hid a huff and turned away before she heard a small gasp. Glancing back at Kagome she watched amazed as the girl took in the sight of the ship up close.
"It's amazing!" She cried as she practically jumped up and down on the bench seat like an excited child.
The sight was endearing and caused Sango to smile genuinely, maybe she was wrong, maybe this girl wasn't a firm believer in propriety. For a moment her mind drifted to the first time she had seen the girl with no stay in place and gloveless hands, her hair a mess and her hoop missing. She had looked a mess but—she had also looked like Sango felt.
"I'm so excited." Kagome said turning to Mrs. Smith who looked at her with a grin that was somewhere between being thrilled and being worried, maybe even somewhat sad. Kagome let the sight slip—perhaps Mrs. Smith was still worried she would say something to the Captain about what she had witnessed the other day.
Kagome reached out and took the other woman's hand boldly. Sango looked at her confused but Kagome just continued to smile, her eyes closing as the sun crossed her face, making her glow in Sango's eyes. "Thank you," Kagome said as her smile seemed to widen. "This—is a dream come true for me."
Sango looked on silently before smiling in return, brightly—she was going to miss this girl. "I'm glad to have caused you such great happiness, Miss Dresmont."
They neared the edge of the large ship both women forgetting their conversation as Miroku called up to the men on top, shouting orders at them. They threw over a rope, which the first mate reached for, dragging them over to it. Kagome knew she would be required to climb the rope to get to the deck of the ship. It was really the only way to enter a ship unless you were a monkey or the ship could dock at a true Port. She watched as Peter (as his guise still was) took Mrs. Smith's hand and helped her to the ladder as the small boat rocked with the ocean. Once the lady had a hold of the ladder, she made quick work of going upwards and stepping on the deck. It was impressive to Kagome, the way the woman moved as if she had done that same thing a million times. Kagome then saw a hand reach out for Mrs. Smith and knew—without having to see the owners face that it was the hand of the Captain.
"Miss Dresmont?"
She heard the voice of Peter. He reached his hand for hers and she took it, allowing him to help her to the ladder. She turned to it, holding onto the first rope notch, Peter's hands on her waist helping her. Unlike Mrs. Smith she was shaky as she moved, losing her footing easily as the slight current rocked the boat back and forth. She looked up the side of the ship, it was steep, it was a rather long way to climb, and she gulped as she felt the small boat bob in the water, Peter's hands could only hold her so steady for so long. For a second she closed her eyes afraid but a voice from above stopped her fears.
"Miss Dresmont," It called to her with confidence. "It's okay."
She looked upwards at the voice and was met by the same honey eyes she had last seen four days prior. They were fixed on her—studying her as if contemplating her abilities. The Captain was focusing on her once again—looking at her in the same way the First Mate had looked at Mrs. Smith. She felt her heart race at the sight—he was looking at her in the same way he should have looked at his wife.
"Don't be afraid." He called to her and Kagome felt the fear in her heart melt as she looked into those eyes and heard those words.
Carefully, she stepped up onto the ladder, she felt Mr. Woodson's hands leave her waist as she began to ascend towards the ship. The wind grabbed at her petticoat and pulled it slightly, it was an exhilarating feeling: the wind rushing around her legs as she held onto the rope ladder. She felt oddly free as the wind seemed to dance around her—it was perhaps one of the few times in her life that she felt completely and utterly in charge of herself.
Slowly she made her way up, the feeling of wind and the smell of salt elating her senses even further. It took only a few moments and then she was at the top of the ladder, the Captain looking at her with a small smile, his eyes trained on her, burning into her. He reached out a hand covered in a Captain's glove much to her disappointment. She placed her hand into his bulky gloved one, her own small fingers seeming even smaller as that rather large hand wrapped around her own.
A feeling of weightlessness hit her as he pulled her upwards, effortlessly, setting her on her feet before she could even gasp at the sensation. He held her hand even after she was on the deck and his eyes continued to look into hers. Kagome felt her heart pound and her stomach twist—the feeling of burning coming back a million times more intense compared to their dance the other night.
This time was different than the other times she had been with him—this time she didn't feel the same gut wrenching guilt for her thoughts. Kagome's eyes widened as the thought really hit her hard, it was a horrible realization she had just made. Mrs. Smith didn't love this man, he was merely her husband, the man she was forced to marry. Her lover was on the boat still rocking in the waves. That was a strange thought to comprehend—she liked a man in a loveless marriage.
Kagome gulped, could that be true, maybe if Mrs. Smith didn't love her husband then, perhaps, Captain Smith didn't love his wife. The thought made her heart leap in her chest and then made her feel very dirty. She was seriously looking at this man in the ways of an affair, she was thinking thoughts about someone other than her intended.
Kagome would have cussed if she wasn't trying desperately to look at least somewhat dignified. She almost felt a little disgusted with herself for holding back her personality. When had manners and etiquette bothered her, when had she started to behave like a lady? She looked at the Captain who was still holding her hand—it had started the second she looked into his eyes.
"It is good to see you again Miss Dresmont." The Captain said and pulled her hand towards his lips, kissing it. Kagome felt oddly disappointed that the action was done with covered hands. A part of her really wanted to feel those soft moist lips against her flesh again.
He let go of her hand finally and she pulled away, regretting the lack of contact immediately. "I am most delighted to see you again, Captain Smith." She curtsied for good measure and then looked away from him, willing her feelings into the pit of her stomach, the back of her brain. Looking for a safer area to place her attention, her eyes took in the ship around her, studying the array of people that were walking the deck, all in navy uniforms.
The majority of the men were at the end of the ship, where the foremast had been driven into the sea. She was amazed to see that the new mast had already been mounted to the ship, the likelihood was extraordinary. She had seen ships built, a mast took at least a month with men working day and night, it was not something that happened over night and yet this ship had only been in Port Royal for five days and the mast was already mounted.
"The repairs are coming along quite fast." She commented as she looked back at the Captain.
"I suppose, our carpenter is very good at his trade." Captain Inuyasha offered his arm to her, she looked at his face feeling oddly unsure of herself but unsure as to why.
He was no different than he had been the first day they met, his eyes were the same intense gold they had been the first time he looked at her, they still bore into her, melting her like honey in a cooking pot above the fire. Gingerly, she reached out and wrapped her hand up in his own. To her shock, he took his other hand, the one that was not escorting her, and placed it on top of her own hand. He glanced at her as he performed the gesture and she felt a flush come to her cheeks as he smiled.
"Is this okay, Miss Dresmont?" He questioned softly and Kagome felt that there was a much deeper meaning to his words. Glancing at him she nodded briefly, her face aflame at the significance of the romantic gesture.
"Come then, my wife will be along for lunch soon." He said as they began to stroll on the main deck of the ship. "She has told me she has some business with my First Mate Mr. Woodson." He worried delicately.
Kagome felt her heart jump to her throat, thinking of what Mrs. Smith and the First Mate's business might be. Unbeknownst to her, the Captain was looking down at her, watching her reaction, pleased at the sound of her heart rate increasing.
"I believe they are preparing lunch together." He added as they walked towards the helm.
"I thought you had a cook on board?" She questioned trying to keep her mind away from the other things Mrs. Smith and Mr. Woodson might do when the Captain was incapacitated.
"We do but Peter enjoys cooking for guest." He glanced down at her with a gentle smile. "Peter is a very good cook and has been teaching Elizabeth the trade for fun."
Kagome flushed, she bet they were having fun. "I know nothing of cooking." She said faintly.
"Neither do I." He looked down at her and she looked up at him trying to form a soft smile for him to gaze at.
He felt his heart start to race and drew his lips into a line of uncertainty. Why was his heart racing? What was it about this girl that made him feel slightly light headed? He had been around a lot of beautiful women in his time, he had slept with a lot of beautiful women in his time, and yet this girl—this girl made him feel extraordinary. There was only one girl in the world that had ever made him feel even close to the way he was feeling now and she was long since dead, so long since that he couldn't really remember her face.
"I guess we have something in common then, Captain." Kagome looked at him with a smile, pushing back her thoughts of Mrs. Smith and Mr. Woodson and instead focusing on a different one, one that sent her heart ablaze with passion: the sight of the Captain's eyes as they looked at her and seemed to smile along with his upturned lips.
"Well then, while they cook we shall tour the ship, starting," He came to the stairs. "With the helm."
He led her up the narrow stairway, somehow both of them able to continue walking side by side. Once on top, near the wheel, Kagome felt her heart jump in her throat. "Extraordinary," she whispered as she took in the sight of an old compass beside the wheel and a small table with a chair for the navigator.
But the thing that really grabbed at her heart was the view of the limitless sea behind the wheel. From here she could see into the far, unreachable, tide. The place she so longed to venture, the place she so longed to be right now. She brought her free hand to her chest and, with the Captain still holding her arm, walked towards the railing him following.
He watched her as she moved, the look on her face making him feel hot and needy. "Damn." He thought when the breeze from the ocean caught her hair, blowing it around her delicious looking neck. "She's fucking gorgeous."
He continued to watch as she placed her free hand on the rail, looking into the waters with awe. That face—at least to him—was the sign of true innocence. On it were expressions he had not seen in years. A child like curiosity, a child like love for something, a devotion to something one could only see in dreams, dreams he no longer had. He looked out at the world she was seeing and wished he could still see it through her eyes but eyes like his couldn't look at the sea the way hers could.
"Captain," She said her voice airy like the breeze, she turned those eyes back to him. "It goes on forever." She said her smile so bright that he felt his heart beat faster.
Suddenly, the wind picked up catching her hair and pulling it in front of her face. She blinked several times before lifting a hand to brush the tendrils out of the way. Before she could, however, he reached forward, catching the stray strand and placing it behind her ear. He didn't miss the red tint, the look on her face that showed how truly innocent she was. Most of the women he had been with, in his life time, had no longer been capable of looking at a man with that true innocence—even she could not give that look. To them a touch was money, to this girl—to Miss Kagome Dresmont, a touch was something electrifying.
"Captain," She said again so softly that Inuyasha wished his ears had not been hidden under the hat and wig.
"Yes," He replied. "Miss Dresmont?"
Kagome looked into his eyes and saw longing cross his face. It was so strange—he was a married man—and yet, even his wife was having an affair. Could it be that he wanted the same thing Mrs. Smith wanted? He wanted someone he loved to be at his side and not someone he had been obligated to marry? Either way, Kagome knew she could never be adulterous, it wasn't in her nature, she didn't want to hurt either party, she didn't want to hurt herself. Feeling almost saddened at her thoughts she pulled away from the Captain, looking down at the wooden planks of the deck.
"I would like to see more of the ship, if you would Captain. I have only been on one vessel in my life and I was but a small girl," She glanced up shyly. "I would like to explore now that I am old enough to appreciate the ships untimely beauty."
For a second Inuyasha felt disappointed but pushed it back out of his heart. He backed away from the railing, offering his arm to her again, this time more properly. She took it in stride and he kept his hand at his side as he walked her towards the stairs. "Then let us continue our tour, Miss Dresmont. There is much to see."
Once on the main deck they began to walk the length of the ship, both feeling slightly awkward for the very first time since they had met and both knowing that it had been Kagome's silent rejection that caused it. They walked silently down the length of the ship, Kagome taking in the different riggings and hanging ropes, wondering and knowing at the same time how all of them worked.
Inuyasha, on the other hand, was lost in thought not really noticing what Miss Dresmont was doing as he wondered about her silent rejection. Why had she done such a thing? Did it have to do with her upbringing, were Sango and Miroku right, was she a true girl of propriety? He glanced at her, taking in her appearance today. She looked positively regal, her gown amazing on her body, her hair enchanting as it laid on her slender shoulder—Miss Dresmont really did look the part of the perfect society girl and yet, he knew, somehow he knew that this girl in front of him was not the girl on the inside, she was fake.
Suddenly, his thoughts were pulled from him when Miss Dresmont came to a halt, her face turned away from him and looking upwards. Confused he followed her line of vision and frowned, he saw nothing except the main mast and main sail tied up tight. Looking back at her he was shocked to see a look of utter glee on her young face.
"Miss—," He started but couldn't finish when she abruptly turned towards him, her face lit up with happiness again.
"I never thought a mast was so tall!" She cried delighted as she turned away from him again. "It's like it could touch the clouds." She gasped and pulled away from him, her hands clamping together under her chin. "Are their men up there?"
He didn't respond right away because he was truly unsure of what to say. He finally glanced up and noted the presence of some of his men, they were sitting in the sails performing routine maintenance under the watchful eyes of Myoga. "Yeah," He responded dumbfounded. "They're working."
"How fun."
He looked at her in thorough disbelief as he watched that wave of delight increase.
"Have you ever done that?" She questioned before looking back at him, her eyes filled to the brim with wonder. "I mean, I think I'd be scared but, I bet it's really fun to be up that high, you can probably see for miles, can't you?"
Inuyasha smiled at her, maybe he had been wrong. "You can, you can see forever." He told her as he offered her his arm again. She took it holding on tight both physically and mentally as she took in his every word.
"Tell me all about it." She insisted as they began to walk again.
"Well, the first time's a little intimidating." He started to say as they walked, his eyes on her, focused on every expression she made. "But then, each time, it gets a little easier and you find yourself enjoying it more and more."
Kagome nodded, her eyes poised straight ahead. "I think, I'd enjoy it a lot."
Inuyasha nodded, his eyes becoming soft even though he knew she couldn't see them. Boldly he placed his hand back on top of her own, delighted when she didn't seem to mind. He wasn't sure what had changed in those few seconds but he knew it had something to do with the true girl inside. "I know you would."
They continued their tour, awkwardness forgotten as Inuyasha took her all around the ship, answering her questions with happiness and taking in her love of his vessel with ease. Every little thing thrilled her, the giant docking ropes, the anchor, the galley where they briefly encountered Sango and Miroku, the stores, the lofts, everything brought a smile of delight to the young girls face.
Finally, they came to the Captain's room and Kagome felt her face grow flushed, realizing they would enter and be all alone. As they reached the door, he released her arm and opened it, parting himself back to the side so she could enter unhindered. She stepped inside the threshold and felt her whole body turn red as she took in the sight of the sparsely decorated room.
There was a bed off to one side, the covers made so tight that a coin would have bounced off the sheets. For a moment, she wondered if Mrs. Smith slept there with her husband but the thought caused a strange stir in her chest and she let it go. Across from the bed was a table filled with maps. There were also book shelves and different spy glasses as well as a few antique looking plates and dishes. The decor was mainly red, the chairs and bed colored in a beautiful crimson, but the small area rug was a blush tan color which almost blended in with the wooden floor below it.
She stepped forward farther into the room when the windows caught her eye for the first time. The back of the room was solid windows with curtains of dark red pulled back framing them, there was a table in front of the curtains set for dinner already. Kagome's eyes weren't drawn to the table or the curtain's however, they were drawn to the ocean outside of the windows—she could see Port Royal, it looked so insignificant from here, the ocean encompassing it, encasing it.
"This is my quarters." The Captain said causally, coming to stand behind her. "What do you think?"
"It's—," she whispered. "Very well decorated, did Mrs. Smith decorate it?"
"Oh no, this is my room alone whether she is with me on the sea or not." He walked away from her then, over to the windows looking out at the ocean. "She has her own room which she decorated to her own taste."
Kagome's eyes went wide at the thought. They didn't share a bed, the very thought was strange to her. Every couple she knew shared a room, it was the thing to do now-a-days. "I see," She said as she came to stand next to him. Thoughts running in her head over why they would sleep apart. "I would like to see her room before I leave."
"I'm sure that can be arranged," He looked back at her and smiled gently. His eyes smiling with him, making her heart melt at the sight.
He wanted desperately to act on the emotions building inside of him but he didn't dare—it could make matters worse and on top of all that she had already rejected his advances—even if she had not outright said a word. Still, she had eventually become comfortable with him again taking his hand back silently and even now when Inuyasha looked into her eyes he saw curiosity, not fright, it gave him a slight boost of confidence. Maybe, she wouldn't object if he at least kept it innocent?
"What am I thinking?" He berated himself as he watched her look out the window. "She rejected me, that's the end of it, I tried and I failed." Inuyasha resisted the urge to slap himself in the head. Even if this was true, he still thought he at least had some hope, maybe, just one try. If she rejected him again then he would back down and let it go but he had to at least try. He had to know, he absolutely had to know one way or the other.
He licked his lips and slowly reached for her, placing his hands on her shoulders. Kagome turned towards him, her eyes curious still, not frightened as she gazed back into his eyes. Even more encouraged, he turned her towards him fully, positioning her to face him and lowered his head slightly, his eyes trained on hers, she didn't move. Optimistic he moved a little closer.
Kagome felt frozen to the spot, trying to figure out what he was going to do now that he had turned her. Her heart was racing in her chest, she was glued to her spot, her eyes trained on his eyes. She noticed those eyes seemed to be getting closer—vaguely her mind told her why. She was not as naïve as one would think; her friends had told her a lot about their married life, leaving her very aware of certain things. In the back of her mind she knew what he was doing, what she didn't know, was what to do. She had already made up her mind, she was not an adulterous but—
He was leaning into her, he was moving closer to her. Her mind screamed, told her to push away from him and yet she couldn't no matter how much she wanted to—which wasn't very much at all. She closed her eyes unmoving. Her heart was telling her not to budge, it was telling her to enjoy this moment as it might be the only time she ever kissed someone she wanted to kiss. And then much to her surprise she felt something on her forehead and opened her eyes. His chin came into view and she realized, he was kissing her forehead.
"Cap—tain." She whispered with a shaky breath as she felt his lips brushing against her skin and hair.
She could feel his breath on her forehead, it was hot and heady. Her heart slowed down in her ribcage, everything slowed down as she watched him pull back into sight. He looked at her, his eyes hazy as he bent closer to her, until she could feel that same heady breath on her own lips. She closed her eyes, felt a light pressed on her mouth, a phantom pressure. It was so light she wondered if it even happened but when she opened her eyes confused she saw him looking back at her, his lips a little distance away again, their faces very close.
He was studying her, as if debating with himself, his eyes focusing on her lips. He took a deep breath and leaned forward, leaning his forehead against her own. She closed her eyes, allowing him to rest there for a second. The hands on her shoulders moved down to her elbows and held her in place as if he was afraid she might run away. They stayed like that for several moments before he brought himself away again and kissed her forehead lovingly.
Kagome's heart stopped in her chest, her eyes opening wide at the action; the tenderness, the gentle press, all the love that she felt flow from his body to hers—Kagome couldn't even breathe—she had never known a feeling like this in her life. "Is this love?" She wondered as she closed her eyes, her mind heady and her body heavy. "I never want this feeling to end."
With that Kagome's resolve dissipated like a cloud in a pristine sky and she opened her eyes slightly. Inuyasha opened his eyes just as she opened hers and the two looked at each other for a second, lost in each other's eyes.
"Miss Dresmont." He asked in a small voice, his eyes looking almost frightened, unsure. "May I kiss you?"
She looked at him confused, hadn't he already kissed her? Wasn't that what the pressure was on her lips? She gulped, the moment fleeing her. Did she want to kiss him? Did she want to have one moment of happiness? Did she want to betray Mrs. Smith—no—Mrs. Smith had already betrayed her husband. Mrs. Smith didn't love this man and apparently Captain Smith didn't love her but did that make it right? Kagome closed her eyes as the emotional dilemma hit her hard. What should she do? What should she do? She was not a woman who had an affair—she was not that girl but, the way his lips had felt on her forehead, the almost touch of his lips on her lips, she wanted to feel more. She wanted to feel the love that they had in them, it had been there—love, she was sure of it even if she didn't know how it could grow in such a short amount of time.
She opened her eyes again, looking at him, pleading with him but his eyes simply pleaded back. They wanted her, they said they wanted her and she—she wanted them. "Yes." She uttered softly before she could change her mind. "Yes."
Inuyasha didn't know what the hell he was doing. He was risking everything because he wanted to kiss this girl. Just this one time he wanted to kiss her—he had never just wanted to kiss a girl. He had wanted to fuck them, he had wanted to take them to dark alley ways, he had wanted to rent a room for half an hour, or visit her on moonless nights but he had never—never in his life had he simply wanted to kiss a woman like he did her. Even she from so long ago had never provoked this feeling.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he bent forward and without hesitation pressed his lips onto her own. He felt her gasp into his mouth, felt one of her hands come up to grab his coat. It was delicious. She was inexperienced, he could tell, her lips not knowing how to press against his own. She appeared to even be shaking a little from the action. He put a hand on her shoulder the other still holding her elbow and with the two hands combined, he brought her closer to himself. He felt her other hand come up to clutch his jacket, both hands now holding onto him for dear life. Bringing his hands behind her back he pulled her flush against him, lost in the feel of such a small body against his own.
Finally, after several seconds he pulled back from her. His arms still around her waist. They made eye contact and he looked into her gray pools, they were so deep, so vast like a sea. "Miss Dresmont," he whispered as he found himself becoming absorbed in those pools. He started to lean into her again, this time wanting to teach her the meaning of real passion.
Right as his lips touched hers; however, he heard the telltale sound of the door opening. Letting go of her hastily he stepped an appropriate distance away and looked towards the door. Standing there with a tray in his hands was Peter or better yet Miroku, his eyes already narrowed with something akin to deep anger as he walked into the room, followed closely by Sango.
"Pardon me Captain." He said as he set the dish down. "May I speak with you for a moment?"
Inuyasha looked between Kagome and Miroku only briefly before he nodded and followed the other man out of the room, behind him Kagome stood, her eyes fixed on the retreating men as Mrs. Smith entered the room. Instantly, Kagome felt horror well into her heart as the woman smiled at her, in greeting.
"What have I done?" She asked herself as unwanted tears welled in her eyes. "What did I just do with Mrs. Smith's husband?"
It didn't matter—none of it mattered—the fact that Mrs. Smith was having an affair didn't matter. The only thing that did, was what she had done. She had kissed a married man, she had kissed him full aware of this and she had enjoyed it. To top it all off—Kagome looked down at her gloved hand, the image of a ring forming on her finger—she was newly engaged. That made her a whore, an adulterous, and a deviant.
"Is something wrong Miss Dresmont?"
Kagome looked up at the older woman and felt her heart sink in her chest. "No, Mrs. Smith," she got out with an easily seen false smile, woven on her face from years of practice. "I am very much enjoying myself."
-break-
"Did I just witness what I think I witnessed?" Miroku said as he and the Captain stood in the hall.
"So what, I kissed a girl." Inuyasha shrugged and leaned back against the wall. "What's the big deal."
"You kissed a girl of society!" Miroku tried to maintain some quiet but was unable to. "That could ruin her, not to mention if she tells, ruin our shot at living another month."
"No it won't." the Captain said back haughtily. "It was only a kiss and besides we're leaving soon anyway so what's it matter?"
"It matter's to her." Miroku said back frustrated as he placed a hand over his eyes. "She's a good woman, Captain, this will haunt her for the rest of her life.'
"Haunt her? I'm not that bad a kisser." Inuyasha laughed off the comment but Miroku simply glared, not wanting to deal with any of his nonsense.
"She will remember this forever: the time she, as an engaged woman, kissed another man, a married man." Miroku pointed an accusing finger at Inuyasha. "You will be the person who caused her to be an adulterous whore in her own eyes. She will hate herself—she will keep her secret until it eats her alive."
Inuyasha frowned. "I doubt that." He shrugged and started towards the door, opting to ignore what Miroku was going on and on about.
Miroku growled in frustration and ran his hands through his hair. "This is just like what happened to Sango."
The Captain's eyes flashed violently and before Miroku could react he found himself pinned against the wall by a grip too strong for him to break. "What I did is nothing like what happened to Sango. Sango was fucking raped, repeatedly by some cock sucking assholes."
Miroku struggled to maintain consciousness as the pressure on his neck became greater and greater. He brought his hands up and placed them on the Captain's, attempting to hold off the impending lack of blood to the brain—something far worse than suffocation. "Cap—ta—in." He struggled to get out.
"Don't you ever insinuate that I did what they did. I'm not some raping, murdering pirate scum and you of all people know that. And that girl is not an adulterous."
Miroku felt himself grow dizzy, the Captain was pushing down on his jugular veins on both sides of his neck, cutting off the vital flow of oxygen rich blood to the brain. His eyes became heavy and he started to black out. Instantly, he felt the grip leave him and he fell to his knees, feeling disoriented. He looked up and saw the shocked look of the Captain's face.
"Pup?" The Captain said with a quivering hand as he reached and touched his first mate's back. "Fuck, Miroku are you okay?"
Miroku nodded and held his throat. This had only happened once before—the utter lack of control overcoming the Captain, back then it had scared him only slightly, as the uncontrollable nature was directed at someone else. This time though, it had been directed at him and it had been terrifying. "Don't call me pup." He rasped out attempting to add some humor to the situation but the Captain brushed it aside.
"I'm sorry."
Miroku's head shot up, the Captain never said he was sorry—even when he really should have been. That could only mean one thing, the Captain felt so bad—felt so horrible that he had swallowed his pride.
"I'm fine." Miroku said with a smile. "I'll be fine."
Inuyasha looked at Miroku as if he wasn't going to accept the reply but at Miroku's gentle smile he took a deep shaky breath and fell back against the wall. In his head he knew that he had acted in a very demonic way, he was protecting a woman's honor but not just any woman—a woman his demon wanted to mate with. He realized it now, he realized it deep down—his demon side wanted this girl, his demon side was dangerously close to making that very thing happen. It was just like the last time with her and just like before—he was controlling it very poorly.
"I'm sorry—fuck Miroku." The Captain put his head in his hands and breathed in deep shaky breaths. "I just—I just wanted to kiss her."
"Kiss her." Miroku questioned, he knew the Captain well, the Captain was not a kissing man. In fact he seemed to hate the idea of kissing—as if it disgusted him. During a conversation once the Captain had told him it was a demon thing—demons didn't kiss and usually when he was going for a girl it was the demon that wanted her and it just wanted to fuck. "Why did you want to kiss her? You never kiss."
"Did it ever occur to you that we know too much about each other?" Inuyasha said evading his question.
Miroku smiled in return. "I do know too much about you. I've known you practically my whole life, you're like the father I never knew."
Inuyasha looked up at Miroku in slight disbelief. Miroku never admitted how deep their relationship really was, neither did Inuyasha. They simply knew, they knew that they were family. Miroku was the son and brother the Captain never had and Inuyasha was the father or older brother Miroku had never known. It was a relationship they kept well hidden from everyone, even from themselves.
"And because of that," Miroku continued as he rubbed his neck. "I know that you're not like this. You don't go ape shit over women. So what's different this time?"
"I don't know." He put his head in his hands and looked at Miroku from between his fingers. As he thought about it he realized that perhaps it wasn't just his demon that wanted her. Perhaps it was a side of him that was stronger than he thought."Something in me," He said slowly, "Wanted her."
"Your demon?" Miroku asked softly, he knew the instincts of the demon in the Captain were strong but to react like that?
"No," Inuyasha replied as a strange realization came into him. "My human."
Miroku's eyes widened in disbelief. He had known the Captain for the majority of his life and in that time he had never known the Captain to let his human side influence him in anything, especially women. It was dangerous to do such a thing, the human thought with the heart and the heart was the easiest part of any man to destroy. Therefore, the Captain always kept his heart tightly sealed away, and in effect his human tightly sealed away with it. "What did the human want from her?"
"It just wanted a kiss." He said back, his eyes looking out in a daze. "Her lips, they just looked so inviting and before I knew what I was doing I asked her if I could kiss her."
"You asked her?" Miroku said in astonishment as he studied the Captain's face.
"I did." Inuyasha looked back at the door to the Captain's cabin one hand over his mouth as if he was just now realizing the truth behind the situation. "She said yes."
-break-
After the encounter, lunch had been served on a silent table. No one really talked, except Sango who was still unaware of the incident Miroku had witnessed. Even the cheerful Kagome mainly stared at her plate, musing with her food. Soon after, she departed with Miroku as her only escort who took her to the docks in the same manner she had used to get to the ship and then from the docks took her home with barely a word spoken between them during the duration of the journey.
Now back on the ship, Miroku found himself standing outside the Captain's door staring at the old brass handle with his arms crossed in front of his chest. He licked his lips as he stood tapping his foot on the ground debating if he should enter the cabin with or without knocking, neither prospect seemed to be too promising, however. "If I knock he might not let me in." Miroku told himself with a stiff sigh as he closed his eyes in thought. "But if I don't he might just throw me out." He groaned and let his hands drop to his sides. "Either way I have to talk to him." He mumbled out as he opened his eyes just slightly and slumped forward till he was looking at the wooden planks of the ships floor instead of the door. "Well," He inhaled deeply as if gathering courage and not oxygen. "Here goes nothing."
With a taunt expression on his face and his shoulders rolled back so his head could be held as high as possible, Miroku reached for the door handle that would grant him passage to the Captain's room. His hand shook for just a moment as he prepared to open the door and make his entrance without permission. He knew the Captain would be upset that he had let himself in without knocking but at the same time he knew it was worth the risk, they had to talk right now, whether the Captain wanted to or not.
Hand on the brass handle, Miroku pushed it down and then forward opening the door to the room listening as it squeaked needing to be oiled. He frowned at the noise knowing that it would hurt the Captain's ears. "I'll have someone oil that tomorrow." He told himself as he released his hand from the door handle allowing the door to open the rest of the way on its own. The sight that met him was one that didn't surprise him in the least.
The Captain was standing in the back of his room, his eyes gazing out the windows that lined the whole back of the ship from the Captain's room to his own next door. His body was hunched over one hand resting on the window sill above his head while the other rested against his hip. His jacket was tossed on the bed leaving him only in his white undershirt and his wig was strewn on the desk haphazardly leaving his uncombed hair a shaggy mess upon his head. "What do you want?" He whispered but didn't turn around as he continued to look outside his ears moving around on his head turning this way and that listening for any little sounds.
Not hindered by the Captain's tone of voice Miroku stepped into the room and grabbed the door closing it behind him. "We have to leave." He said to the Captain's back without a thought; his voice only met silence so he continued on. "You can't confuse this girl any more than you have." He took a step forward further into the room the floorboards creaking under his weight. "She's engaged and she feels really horrible about what happened." He frowned when the Captain's ears stopped moving and instead flew back against his head as if this was something he didn't want to hear. "On the way to her home she was distracted and distressed," Miroku pressed on bluntly knowing the older man could still hear. "She feels guilty, I can tell without her saying a word."
The Captain's bod slouched just a little more before he pulled himself away from the window the arm that had been above his head dropping to his side as he turned and looked at Miroku. "Okay, your point?" His face and tone appeared indifference but Miroku knew better.
The younger man saw straight through the Captain without even trying. "She's to marry another man in four months." He spoke evenly watching as the little twitches of the Captain's ears and the wrinkle of his nose said more than any words.
Inuyasha looked away from Miroku, his hands crossed tightly across his chest as he once again turned to gaze out the window at the ocean the setting sun in the background throwing shadows into the room. "Again, your point?" His voice was cold but his muscles taunt.
"She can't see you." Miroku continued, his eyes catching a strange movement from the Captain as Inuyasha seemed to clutch his hands into his shirt sleeves creating small holes with blood oozing from them. "Seeing you would only make her worse." He said gently as he watched the Captain's claws dig farther into his arms. "On the way home I saw her touch her lips and tears came to her eyes." He let his voice trail off for just a second as he heard a sort of strangled growl come from the Captain's throat. Knowing he was getting somewhere he took another step into the room before he continued. "Then she looked into the distance and utter longing crossed her face."
Inuyasha growled low in his throat before snorting and in an attempt to control himself dug his claws even deeper into his own flesh.
"I've talked with her, she wants away from her life but we can't offer her what she wants." Miroku knew his voice was pleading now. Inuyasha had to understand, he just had to. "She's a woman of society, she doesn't need to run away from her obligations and end up on a pirate ship." Miroku tried to catch the Captain's eyes but found himself unable to. "We need to leave before she asks us to come along." He took one more step forward finding himself now in the middle of the room only a few feet away from the other man. "It would kill her for us to say no." Bravely Miroku added, "It would kill you."
Inuyasha didn't say a word for several minutes, he just continued to watch as the sun set above the town of Port Royal. As it finally disappeared, leaving the room in semi darkness he let out a sigh and moved from his spot towards his desk. Reaching into one of the many draws he pulled forth a match and without even appearing to breath lit a candle that rested on its surface. It flickered into existence within seconds and Miroku sighed gratefully as the darkness that now haunted the room was slowly vanquished. Unlike the Captain who had the eyes of his animal spirit counterpart Miroku, a pure human, could not see into the dark.
"I understand." Inuyasha said as moved away from the candle watching it for only a moment as its little flame danced. With a heavy sigh he tore his eyes away from it and moved back across the room to where he had stood before and placed both his hands on windows ledge looking out into the bleak darkness, his eyes sad. "What's wrong with me?" He wondered as he looked out over the sea one hand subconsciously coming up to touch the jewel around his neck holding onto it as if it was a lifeline. In many ways it was, it was the only connection he had to a woman from so long ago. "Okaa-san." He thought as he allowed his hand to drop away landing back on the sill. He heard Miroku shift behind him and sighed as the younger man's words tumbled in his heart. "Kagome."
He felt a great source of unknown pride hit him at the thought of this girl wanting to come with him, to leave her life to be with him. He couldn't exactly figure out why but something in him said it was a big deal that this girl, that is, this particular girl wanted to be with him so unconditionally. Still, another part of him knew that Kagome Dresmont wanted to be with a navy Captain, a married one none the less, and that she didn't want a pirate. Hell, she probably hated pirates. Inuyasha snorted knowing that if she knew the truth she would never set foot on this ship again.
"She's a lady of society Captain," Miroku said as if knowing what was on Inuyasha's mind. "And a lady never kisses anyone but her husband." When Inuyasha didn't respond right away Miroku continued. "That was probably her first kiss."
Inuyasha turned to look at Miroku slowly as the young man's words settled in his already turbulent mind. "First kiss?" The words sounded strange to him, he had never really thought of any girl having a first kiss that was just something that men didn't really think about, he guessed. "The girl—that young girl—has never kissed a man and I was the first?" His inner dialogue trailed off as he looked away from Miroku back out into the dark night. "I was the first man ever to take her lips to his own." He wasn't sure how to feel about this realization. "Should I feel pride? I've had never taken a virgin anything from a woman." Typically the women he saw were already well on their way to being whores if not whores already. But—no matter how he thought about it he couldn't bring himself to think of her as some trophy. "That kiss," He told himself. "That was some kiss." He gulped. "But she's a woman of society, with the exception of Sango, a woman like her could never want a pirate." He snickered and leaned his forehead against the glass of the windowpane. "Miroku practically spelled that out just now." He closed his eyes as the thoughts seemed to dim from his mind. "When will the ship be ready?" He barely mumbled out.
"Totosai said tomorrow morning if he worked all night." Miroku supplied, his eyes trained on Inuyasha focused on the man's every move.
Inuyasha nodded and looked out at the sea his demon eyes able to studying the ebbing of the tide despite the darkness. He brought his eyes up to the moon and watched it with intensity, his mind wondering to the girl he would probably never see again. A sad feeling entered his heart as he thought of her, thought of never seeing her again in her lifetime. It greatly saddened him and yet—it was for the best—he knew this.
"Tell him he has till dawn." Inuyasha looked out at Port Royal and a feeling hit his stomach—a feeling of anger. "Tell the men to get ready for a fight."
"A fight?" Miroku felt a strange sinking feeling enter his gut. "What do you mean by a fight?"
"We're gonna leave Port Royal in style."
The sinking feeling doubled.
End of Chapter
Please Review
Edited for content 7/30/2012
Congratulations Amaura for being review 50!
New Bonus Points:
Who is she?
Previous Bonus Points:
Everyone who tried got that set of bonus points. Yes, I was originally going to call Inuyasha John Smith but then I thought—wow that's really Disney—so my solution was to change it to James Smith, a good name I thought. So congrats:
pApAw, Byss, Love This Fic, AVAgrl, Warm-Amber92
The other Bonus point no one got, however. In the last chapter I referenced another Disney movie or at least a horrible sequel. Mulan II "My duty is to my heart." Anyway, it's good to know my readers aren't influenced by horrible Disney sequels, but I have small children, I am influenced by all.
Notes:
Green Sea Turtles are native to Jamaica where Port Royal is located and are known to stay under water for several days. Only one in 10,000 of their eggs make it to maturity, they are a protected species. In the 1700's they would have been more predominate in numbers but also considered very tasty.
T/he Silver Fish – the fish Kagome saw schooling were kingfish, also a native to Jamaica.
Next Chapter:
Attack on Port Royal
See you then!
UNEDITED
POST 2/20/2011