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 Eighteen:
The Captain's Greatest Treasure
The ship Shikuro sailed up the coast of South America, its oars going full speed as demons and human's alike moved the vessel forward towards the Captain's selected destination. The waves lapped at her bow touching the ship with their intensity as if they were giving her a harsh slap as way of demanding her to go faster. Along her front, playing in those waves was a pod of dolphins: a good omen for the man on the sea. The slender creatures made quick work of the waves, playing games similar to children's tag as they jumped around and up above each other, happily chattering amongst themselves, their conversations unknown.
There was no one to enjoy the beautiful sight, the dolphins in the waves playing in the clear water's of the Caribbean Sea. The way the ship moved, the way the sails teased, no one appreciated it, no one had the time. The ship was on overdrive, the rowers moving faster with each beat of Totosia's drum as the man pressed them on forcing them to make lead way quickly. In fact the only man on board who saw those waves and gave them a second glance was the Quartermaster Miroku who stood at the helm his hands on the ship's wheel expectantly as he navigated the easy sea.
His eyes stared at the scene unseeing while he watched the waves as they flowed around the bows of the ship. The white frothy surf they left behind was beautiful to him as it glimmered with the departing Caribbean sun. "Night will be falling soon." He commented to himself as he watched the sun begin to leave the earth for the night, the moon already taking its place, a quarter slice, that was all that was left in place in the sky.
One by one the dolphins left the ship, the pod separating from its joyous surf as they too went to their night time retreat. The thought made Miroku feel oddly alone. "Has it really been three days?" He questioned no one in-particular as his grip tightened on the wheel turning it the barest of degrees to starboard before loosening once again. "Three days since Miss Dresmont fell unconscious?"
He sighed at the thought of the woman who was currently below his feet with the Captain sitting at her side, unmoving. He could just see the man within the belly of the ship, staring at the young girl's chest, watching every rise and fall as he kept close vigil over her sleep induced form. His eyes trained on her, watching her sleep within the confines of a bed she had never seen. He could see her prone body appearing almost lifeless except for that constant reassuring movement, that constant rise and fall—in and out—one, two, three, four. He could see the intense focus on the Captain's face, the way he muttered each number as he counted, as if he was afraid that if he missed one breath, the next breath would never come.
Miroku closed his eyes at the thought of his Captain's still form, he had only managed to get the man to take a break twice in the past three days. It was hard, Inuyasha refused to move from his post at her side not trusting another soul with the important job of keeping watch of Miss Dresmont's breathing. Miroku was almost sure that if the woman did die under another's watch that the Captain would blame them and not the girl. The morbid thought made Miroku berate himself internally, "I shouldn't be thinking of the Miss Dresmont dying, she's young and healthy and not gonna die anytime soon." He sniffled slightly the humidity of the night getting to his sinuses. "Man I hate this region." He grumbled as he rubbed at his nose feeling a sneeze come on.
He held his breath for several seconds as the tickling feeling of his nose made his eyes water before it started to slowly subside leaving him feeling greatly relieved.
"Thank god." He grumbled as he rubbed his nose once more before wiping at his face not wanting anyone to even remotely think he had watery eyes for any other reason than allergies. His hand paused on his face for just a second as his mind returned to the man below his feet another thought striking him. "What would he do if Miss Dresmont actually died?" He felt his heart pause in his chest as he looked between his fingers staring at the wood of the ship's helm as the sun finally flowed beneath the horizon, disappearing into the depths of an unknown world.
He felt the ship slow down as the rowers left their post for the night, the constant drum beat stopping as Totosai too prepared for sleep leaving the air eerily silent except for the sound of the waves along the sides of the ship lapping at them as the sails ruffled in the wind. He heard hundreds of people moving about, going about their nightly chores, guided only by the slight sight of the moon as it hung partially in the opaque sky. Like little candles stars soon joined it as the last of the sun's rays disappeared, allowing them to awaken in the night.
Miroku saw none of this, however, his eyes were still trained on the floor boards wishing he could see through them so that he could catch a glimpse of the only father he had ever known. "To stay by her side for so long," Miroku bit his lip. "Why would he stay by her side if she didn't mean something." He licked his lips and blinked a few times. "To stay next to her and then have her die," He pushed the thought aside not wanting to bother with it anymore. "No, she's gonna be fine anyway, there's no need to even bother with this."
He snorted and raised his head leaning on the wheel as he tried to pull his thoughts as far away from the Captain as possible but the more he tried the more he found things that were just as distressing as the girl's long sleep. An image of the gemstone he had known sense childhood entered his mind and he furrowed his brows wondering why it was currently resting on Kagome's rising and falling chest over that of the Captain's. After all, Miroku knew that stones origins he had beent old by the very man himself long ago when he had been a curious child.
"Captain?" The little Miroku sat up in the bed his small eyes looking for the man he had called as he clutched the blankets around himself. "Captain?" He tried again as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.
"Yes Miroku?" The gruff voice sounded off to his right and Miroku tore his head around to locate it. He smiled slightly when he saw the leaning back in his chair, his shirt opened and the small gemstone that normally rested against his chest in his hand, his thumb rubbing it slightly. "Whatcha need?" He pressed but his eyes were still on that gem as he ran his thumb over it slowly.
Miroku furrowed his small brow and threw the blankets off himself as he sat up on his knees in the bed before crawling to be closer to the Captain at his desk. "What's that?" He asked softly as he looked at the small jewel that glistened with the candlelight.
"This?" The Captain replied roughly but his voice was still quiet in the night air as he looked down at the jewel fondly. He seemed to think for a moment then clear his throat roughly. "Nothing."
"It looks like somethin' to me." Miroku replied as he slowly threw his feet around so they touched the floor and then walked the short distance towards the older man.
Inuyasha followed his movements with weary eyes until the little boy was right beside him his small hands touching the desk chair's arms as he stood on tiptoe to look at the little fragment of jewel. After a moment of watching the child eye the jewel he sighed heavily. "My mother gave it to me." He whispered into the night as Miroku's eyes widened and his small mouth dropped open.
"Miroku?"
Miroku jumped surprised to hear a voice call his name as he was roughly removed from his own memory. "The only people who call me by name are Sango and," He raised his head and took in the sight of the man standing just at the staircase's edge. "Captain." Before him, tired and haggard looking with a small case in his hands was none other than Captain Inuyasha himself. His shoulders hunched and from what Miroku could make out in the moonlight, his face pale. Hastily, he took a rope out from beside the helm and used it to tie the wheel in place his eyes taking in the sight of the tired man and then the rectangular case that he held in his hand. It was a case he hadn't seen in years. "What are you doing up here, Captain?"
"I thought we were past that Captain shit when it's just you and me?" Inuyasha attempted to joke but the humor wasn't in his voice.
Miroku looked at him with eyes he hoped were not full of piety. "How's Miss Dresmont?" He asked softly, adding slightly joking, "Otou-san."
Inuyasha looked at Miroku and sighed as he put the case down, leaning it against the railing of the ship, "No change, she's still fast asleep."
Miroku bit his lip at the thought and lowered his head allowing his hair to cover his eyes so the Captain would not see the look in them: the look of worry, the look of fear, the look of utter sympathy directed at both Miss Dresmont and the Captain. It was a look he knew the Captain would both resent and loath. He glanced up at the Captain and widened his eyes when he saw that the man was no longer standing in front of him but was instead all the way on the other side of the helm's deck leaning against the railing of the ship. He glanced back to where the Captain had been standing and took in the sight of the case again.
"So you're greatest treasure's out tonight?" He ventured to speak as he studied the sight of the worn leather rectangular box. It had changed over the years since he had first seen it. The handle was slightly frayed and the brass buckles that held it closed were rubbing green from constant use. He had asked once, how long Inuyasha had owned the contents of that odd case, the Captain had simply replied that he had owned it since he was young, since he was a child— it was a childhood treasure. But Miroku didn't even know how old the Captain was and if the Captain had first received that treasure as a boy, then there was no telling how old it actually was as well. Miroku glanced back at the older man, "How old are you?" He wanted to ask but refrained. "His legend does go back a several decades and yet he looks no older than me." Miroku resisted the urge to huff. "That's to be expected of a demon though."
"Yeah." Inuyasha replied shortly as he leaned over the ship's railing not offering up anything else for Miroku as he looked down at the black water.
Suddenly a gust of wind flowed past the ship, pushing at Miroku enough that he had to grab the helm once more for support. He closed his eyes tightly for several seconds, regaining his balance and then opened them again. The moon seemed to be brighter all the sudden as the wind of the ocean bellowed around him. He took a deep breath as the wind caught the strands of his hair pushing them in his face and in his ears with invisible hands causing his whole body to shiver. He shook the weird feeling off and looked back at Inuyasha as he let go of the railing and smoothed his hair. "Who's with her now?"
"With who?" The Captain said distracted as the wind too played with his much longer hair. Miroku practically laughed when the Captain growled at the strands in his face and swatted at them with his claws. Grumpily, he huffed and leaned against the rail of the ship, his arms crossed and his elbows leaning on the wood. He rested his chin on his crossed arms, his eyes bitterly sad as he looked out at the water.
"Miss Dresmont," Miroku answered as he took in the sight of the sad Captain. "Who's with her?"
"Sango." The Captain told him softly as he continued to look out at the sea, his eyes hooded.
"Hm," Miroku acknowledged with a nod of his head, trying to determine what else to say or perhaps how to bring up Miss Dresmont, the mysterious light, and the jewel that she now wore but before he could even think of how to word his question the Captain spoke again.
"I'm gonna stay up at the helm, go get some sleep." He told him without making eye contact instead simply continuing to stare out at the water with the same pessimistic look on his face as before.
Unsure of what to say Miroku obeyed without another word. The Captain's current behavior had said enough: the way he was frustrated by simply his hair, the way he had leaned against the rail, and most of all, the look in the man's eyes. "He was looking at the sea as if he was questioning it." He thought to himself as he watched those yielding eyes, golden and soft, questioning and yet not forceful, full of curiosity and yet not willing to answer unanswered questions.
Miroku had never seen such eyes on any man, especially the Captain. The Captain was all confidence both quiet and loud, he was death defying, he was stronger than a God, and more conniving in battle than any navy officer. He was smart, he knew everything, and what he didn't know he wasn't afraid to search for both on the seas or in a book.
As Miroku mounted the stairs to head down to his cabin for some much needed rest, he heard the sound of that old case opening, the brass buckles scraping together as the Captain carefully undid them, moving the leather away from the metal purposefully. He heard the case groan as it was opened and then a soft note of sound as the treasure was touched by a feather light finger before it seemed to moan as it was removed. He heard the sound of wood being knocked, the familiar sound of a slight twitter like a birds wings or the song from its peak starting and stopping abruptly.
Not stopping Miroku continued his descent, as the contents of the case grunted more as the Captain tampered with it, moving pegs this way and that, an eerie creaking sound filling the air, highlighted by the bird's soft tweets.
Miroku stopped at the bottom of the stairway and turned his ear towards the helm. He heard the Captain mumble, he heard the sound of wood meeting shoulder. He heard the first scrap of reverberation and then the telltale notes—D—F—E—F—E—
-break-
Moonlight poured into the Captain's Cabin through the opened window, a soft beam drifting along the walls. It danced around the room, highlighting the various metal weapons, catching their silver appearance causing them to shimmer in the night, deadly reminders that this was a pirate's ship.
Quietly, the wind too snuck through the opened window, ruffling the curtains upon its entrance, causing them to move in a pattern similar to a waltz. It continued through the room, exploring every recess of it, from papers to maps, to bed linens. It touched the linens that hung over the bed in which the sleeping Kagome lay. With delicious slowness, it drifted up her body, touching the soft cotton sheet that she clutched in her hands, before it finally reached her hair, every small curl moving at its demand, causing the soft tendrils to run over her eyes. As suddenly as those invisible hands had entered the room, however, they disappeared as if sensing that the sleeping girl was now awake.
Kagome slowly drifted into consciousness, becoming aware of wakefulness for the first time in days. She felt as if a heavy weight was resting on her chest and as if a pair of deadly hands was covering her eyes, forcing them to remain closed. She whimpered against the imagined restraints and tried to force herself into consciousness but no matter how hard she tried her body didn't seem to respond.
Forcing herself to use all of her strength and effort, she finally removed the deadly hands from her eyes and slowly forced the heavy lids to open. She blinked several times trying to push away the strange feeling of still being asleep, of not wanting to wake up. After some moments the room around her seemed to become clear but the sight she saw startled her greatly. Shooting upright in the strange bed she looked around, scared at the sight that greeted her, adrenaline pumping through her veins helping her too panic.
"Where am I?" she questioned as she took in the sight of the red carpet and window drapes that were still moving with the wind. There was even an unfamiliar desk with papers scattered all around it, the wind shifting them as if it was causing mischief. "Why am I here?" She felt her body grow shaky, "Why am I not at home?"
Kagome gulped as she closed her eyes tight, thinking the strange room was just a bad dream, a very bad dream. It was only then that she noticed the slight sway of the room, the strange movements up and down, tide and ebb, the sound of the sea outside the window, the sound of the waves as they lapped the bow, the smell of salt on the air. Deliberately slow, she opened her eyes and took in the room again this time recognizing it for what it was:
This was the ship Shirkuo and she was in the Captain's Cabin.
Inhaling deeply she closed her eyes, hiding the reality from her mind but no matter what she did she couldn't keep the memories at bay. She could see his golden eyes, she could feel his soft lips upon her hand, she could feel his hands upon her waist—lifting her into the air as he twirled her in a circle above his head, she could taste his hand on her lips, taste his lips on her lips. She remembered the feeling he gave her, the confidence to do what she had never thought to do before, she could remember running away from home, hiding on the ship, being discovered, being—marked.
She opened her eyes automatically looking for the front door of the Cabin, the very spot she had first encountered the real Captain, the man Inuyasha. He had been harsh, he had yelled, he had threatened her, he had been a complete opposite of the other man, and yet—
"I will never make you do something against your will. I'm a better man than that."
It was true, wasn't it, he was the better man? She remembered Manten, she remembered his hands on her, she remembered the blank feeling, the darkness, and then the sight of the Captain struggling before her, fighting against something she did not know. She remembered feeling happy that he had come for her. She remembered the jewel.
Instantly, she felt an odd weight on her chest. Intrigued she looked down her own body until her eyes landed on the source of the odd sensation.
There sitting between the flesh of her two breast was a jewel that she recognized instantly as the one that always rested against the Captain's chest, the one he fiddled with when he was nervous, the one he rubbed when he was thinking; there is was a soft pink jewel sitting on her chest. Carefully, she reached up and touched it with trembling hands, trying to remember when he had given it to her but her mind came back blank. She rubbed her thumb against the smooth surface and tilted her head to the side, "Does it look bigger?" She questioned as she turned it this way and that in her hand. "It seems bigger but then again I've never been too close to it."
She groaned as her own confusion mounted and laid back on the bed her mind reeling as it tried to remember when the jewel had come into her possession. No memory met her, however, a strange feeling did occur within her heart. Kagome bit her lip and glanced down at the gemstone as she reached her fingers upwards once more to touch it with just one fingertip. She blinked surprised when the gem seemed to glow for just a second but before she could even comprehend the change in color it disappeared as if it had been a figment of her imagination and not a reality.
She frowned at the sight as the strange feeling doubled as if she had seen that jewel glow once before. Her head pounded slightly and she closed her eyes bringing her hand that had touched the jewel up to cover her face. She saw a flash of memory, the Captain gasping pain on his face as he held the jewel in his hand and then as quickly as it had occurred it was gone. Bringing her hand away from her face slowly she opened her eyes, the pain in her head going away as she looked into her palm. "It hurt him?" She spoke but her words came across as questions.
Even more confused Kagome looked around trying to find some clue to help her. As she looked she noticed a still form in the bed next to her own, only a foot or so away. The body moved as it laid on its side, completely dead to the world. Kagome squinted in the moonlight trying to make out who the person was in the other bed. She knew it wasn't the Captain because if it had been him his silver hair would have been bright in the moonlight.
Leaning closer she took in the curve of a feminine hip that lead up to a soft face and a long wave of hair. "Sango?" She questioned and took in the full sight of the person resting above the sheets. It looked almost as if she had simply lain down to relax and then drifted to sleep. The sight made Kagome smile halfheartedly.
Before Kagome could think any more on Sango's presence a noise coming through the window stopped her. It was a gentle sound, a deep and throaty hum, carried on the sound of waves. She turned to the window and listened as it grew fainter in the background, disappearing behind the sound of the oceans tides. For a moment she thought she had simply been hearing things but then the sound drifted to her ears again, this time louder and more predominant in the air. It was mournful, sad, but hauntingly beautiful.
Curious, she threw her legs around the bed and let the pads of her feet touch the floor, as quietly as she could she walked to the opened window and leaned slightly forward, waiting for the sound to come again. It started just as it had before, nearly silent but gradually becoming louder, the melancholy notes gentle as they were placed into the air. She closed her eyes as the sea air caressed her face, the smell of salt in her nose a happy reminder of her love of the sea, and the said melody a wrench in her heart, it brought tears to her eyes.
"Whoever's playing," she concluded to herself. "Must be very sad."
The music stopped and she felt oddly disappointed as she leaned on the window's frame. It was simply sorrowful that such a beautiful tune had to end. She closed her eyes, trying to imagine it in her head but she couldn't match it, no matter what she did, her mind couldn't recreate the enchanting melody. Saddened by the thought she turned to lay back down when the breeze brought the notes back to her ears. Startled, she turned to the window, looking out as the music floated down to her, beaconing her to come and see it made.
She licked her lips, wondering if she should even dare. With a gulp of determination she decided she had to and turned towards the door of the Cabin. She quickly made her way across the room, her feet making the wooden beams creak as she moved. She paused when she reached the door touching the handle with some anxiety but the sound of the music as it reached a crescendo enticed her, she had to know who played it.
Without another thought she pushed the handle downwards and stepped onto the main deck, behind the stairs that lead to the helm deck. Treading silently from years of practice she turned her ear towards the sound, noting that it was coming from above her. Carefully she hid her form and crouching low made her way towards the stairs that lead to the violin behind the music and the man behind the violin.
The sound of the waves, the gentle rhythm of the ship creaking as it bobbed in the sea, the steady downbeat of the music as the violinist played, it all made her heart clench in her chest. Staying low she moved up the stairs on her hands and knees something she could never have done dressed as a woman. Finally she found herself high enough to take in the sight of the man behind the violin.
Standing before her, his back turned, his body facing the quiet see, was the Captain of Port Royal. His silver hair hanging low down his back, the violin resting on his left shoulder as the bow was poised in his right hand. His fingers moved slowly lethargically, shaking slightly as he caressing each string making it vibrate and sing from his touch, creating the haunting melody as his body moved in time with the sensational sound.
Suddenly he turned, his fingers still moving, shocked Kagome started to duck when she saw his normally life filled golden eyes shut tight. His face drawn into a line of concentration, his chin pressed tightly into the violin holding it in place, his eyebrows knitted in attentiveness, his mouth in a tight line as his body stayed swaying in time with every upward stroke of his bow.
Without realizing what she was doing Kagome stood to her full height on the stairs and looked on, watching as he moved, his whole body moving in perfect time as each note was struck. She became mesmerized by the sight, mesmerized by the man but at the same time, she wondered how a man like him could play music that was so innately sad? What had happened in his life to cause him to play in such a hauntingly mournful way?
Tears came to her eyes, she knew that for a person to play like that he had to know the ultimate despair, the ultimate betrayal, or pain. The Captain played like a man who had been stabbed, like a man who was bleeding on the ground from wounds that could not be seen nor mended. He played like a man whose heart had broken, whose life had broken, and whose home was not a home. He played the way Kagome felt. She brought a hand to her chest, moved by the amount of emotion in the air. She felt a sob in her throat and then she felt tears run down her cheeks when the Captain's baritone voice began to sing, a song as sad as its tune.
Love of mine where have you gone?
Have you gone into the sea?
I would follow you my love,
But I can't sail those leagues.
Love of mine where have you gone?
Have you flown into the sky?
I would follow if I had wings,
But a sea man can't fly.
Love of mine what will I do,
If I can't find you again?
I will simply sail the sea
And search till the moon waned.
What else can I do?
What else might I say?
If only I could go,
To the place you now call home.
She felt the tears burn hotly on her skin as his voice echoed into the dark night, the sound bouncing around her, surrounding her with its engaging melody as he took the violin from his chin, slowly moving it till it hung at his side, limp in his grasp. His eyes were still closed and by the light of the moon Kagome could see that the normally twitching ears on top of his head were bent backwards, still, as if he was trying to block out the sound of his own playing as it continued to echo around them, a disembodied voice in the wind.
Finally it ebbed, disappearing on the wind's tides, drifting across the quiet Caribbean to be heard on distance shores, leaving Kagome perplexed. What should she do now that he was done playing? Should she leave or should she approach him and talk with him? A part of her was scared, scared of the reaction she might get. Would he be angry, would he be embarrassed, would the pirate in him come out? She already knew the answer but before she could speak the Captain's voice filled the night air once again.
"Flowers?" The Captain mumbled turning towards her with his eyes still closed as if he was afraid of what he might see.
Kagome brought a hand to her chest brushing against the jewel just as her resolve weakened, not sure what to do. She took a step back, her initial fear returning to her. "Should I go back down?" She asked herself but her feet didn't move again, instead she found herself drawn in when his eyes did open; the luscious gold enticing her with its sad beauty. "Why does he look like that, so sad?" She wondered as she took in his mourning expression looking as if he was just remembering someone he had forgotten.
"Is that your smell?" Inuyasha questioned his eyes looking at her half lidded. "Flowers, it's the same smell, your smell is." Slowly, Captain Inuyasha's lips formed a smile as he looked at her, his whole body drawn into a sad line.
"My smell?" Kagome questioned her eyes blinking in confusion.
"Yes," He replied as he watched those curious, innocent eyes. Even after everything she had been through she still maintained it, that air of undeniable innocence and gentleness. Kikyo never had. From the second he met her Kikyo had looked like an adult, firm and scolding almost, always proper, and pristine. Even when she was in the thralls of passion she maintained that look of utter control and obedience, that look of contained propriety. Inuyasha gulped, somehow he knew that Kagome would look different under him.
"I smell like flowers?" She asked with a faint blush on her cheeks as she allowed his sad look to drop to the back of her mind.
"Yeah, and salt." He felt odd as he said it, as he told her of her smell. "You smell like flowers and the sea."
"That's so funny." Kagome replied nervously as his eyes turned into a color she couldn't recognize. Yes, she could name it, in more than one language, but the meaning behind it scared her. The molten honey—it was a look of—lust. "That sounds like it would smell bad."
"It smells wonderful." Inuyasha said before he could stop himself.
Kagome's eyes darted to him, her heart beat picking up in her chest as she looked away from him, her thumb coming to her mouth so she could bite her nail anxiously. She wasn't sure what she should say to him, she wasn't sure how to react, this man in front of her somehow reminded her of the man from Port Royal, handsome and romantic, intelligent and insightful. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight with her own uncertainty.
He gazed at her also, allowing a small smile to come over his features as he took in her shimmering eyes. "Kikyo never looked at me like that." He told himself as he felt the corners of his mouth tug upwards even more. "It's the same face staring at me but the expression is all Kagome, Kikyo have would have looked at me so uncertain." He shook his head slightly back and forth as his nose took in more of her scent unconsciously. "Yeah, their face may have been identical in many ways but their scents really are different." He closed his eyes at the memory, Kikyo had smelled only of flowers, a sweet heady lusty scent but Kagome smelled like the thing he loved the most, she smelt like the surf, she smelt like the wind, she smelt wild, she smelt free, she smelt like heaven must have smelt. It was the smell of Irish daisies and salt filled air, of lily's as they bloomed in the moonlight in a clear pond, it was the smell of the white rushing waves on the ashen Cliffs of Dover, a place he had once called home, a scent he had loved since he was a child.
It was Kagome Dresmont's scent and no one else's but still that face, that powers. Inuyasha gulped.
"Reincarnation." The eastern word popped into his head before he could stop it. "I haven't heard that word in centuries." He told himself and yet knew that it was possible. They had the same scent base, similar facial features, the same miko ability, and not to mention—he glanced downwards ever so slightly at the little gem that glimmered against her skin. The image of Kikyo wearing that same jewel came to him and he frowned deeply. It really didn't mean anything or hint at reincarnation but he couldn't help but think it was strange to see Kagome wear that jewel after Kikyo had worn too. "It doesn't help," He told himself. "That I gave it to Kikyo and now I've given it to Kagome." Logically, he knew that he had given it to each women for totally different reasons but that didn't make the striking similarity of seeing both similar girls wearing the same jewel any easier.
"Oh wow!"
The cry made Inuyasha jump in panic as Miss Dresmont suddenly became very excited, her whole body jumping up and down as she pointed at something behind Inuyasha's head. Quickly he turned away from her and looked back behind him, his eyes searching frantically for what she had seen. Seeing nothing but stars he turned back to her and glared, his heart slowing down in his chest as he realized there was no danger. "What the fuck?"
"Did you see it?" She said completely ignoring him as she quickly made her way across the helm deck to stand behind him, her hands holding tight to the rail as her eyes glued themselves to the starry sky. "It was a star, it fell from the sky."
"A shooting star?" Inuyasha gathered as he turned to look at her.
Kagome was leaning on the railing of the ship, her eyes still focused on the sky, as if she was waiting for another star to fall. There was an innate happiness surrounding her, he noticed, and even though he knew it was always there, today it felt like he was seeing it for the first time. The smile on her face, the gentle look in her eyes, the excitement of a small child, the innocence of one as well. Briefly, Kikyo's face flashed in his mind looking nothing like Kagome, the facial features might be the same but the way Kagome's eyes lit up, the easy way she smiled, the haughtiness on her face when she was angry, the way her nose crinkled with irritation, the childlike look she had when her eyes closed, all these things were Kagome and Kagome alone.
"No wonder I didn't see the resemblance." Inuyasha concluded, feeling better now that he understood, maybe it was a magic spell that was placed on him, maybe she had wanted him to forget or perhaps Kikyo's sister had but either way as he looked at that carbon copy he knew that it wasn't exact. This girl was not her. Kagome was something, someone, else entirely.
With a smirk he came to stand next to her on the railing. The violin still in his hand along with the matching bow. "It seems you're feeling better."
"Oh!" Kagome turned to him startled but quickly recovering. "Yes—I feel fine really. Was I asleep long?"
He shook his head, not really wanting to tell her how long she had been out, even if he knew he should, he simply didn't. He didn't want that look to leave her face. "Not at all," He said after some time. "Why are you awake anyway? It's late."
"I know, I—," She looked down at the floorboards below her feet unsure of how to respond. She wanted to tell him she had heard the beautiful sound coming from his violin and that it had driven her from her bed and yet, she didn't want him to think she was ease dropping on his private moment. After all, if he wanted anyone to hear he would have played in the daylight, not at night while everyone was asleep.
"I hope it wasn't my playing." Inuyasha spoke, interrupting her thoughts as he looked at her with a devilish knowing smirk.
One look at that face made her glare drily as she turned away. "No your playing didn't wake me." She insisted quickly.
"Good." He said with a smile as he propped his elbow on the rail, resting his chin in his hand. "Did you hear it at all?"
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, he was looking at her with a lopsided grin that sent a slight chill all the way to her brain from her tailbone. With a gulp she found herself only able to nod.
"Fucking good aren't I!" He said with a laugh as he looked away arrogantly.
Kagome narrowed her eyes and felt like punching him but before she could draw her hand back in a fist his laughter stopped. She watched as he looked at the old violin in his hands, his eyes trained on it, focused and—loving.
"Seriously," He started in a voice filled with reminiscing and beautiful memories coming from it. "This is my greatest treasure." He told her, unsure why he was saying such a thing to her. It seemed odd but he had to tell her. Perhaps it was his current state of melancholy or, more likely, it was simply her that drove him to talk without censoring his mouth.
"Your greatest treasure?" Kagome repeated, going against her own rule of never repeating what other people said but now, she needed to her it, a treasure, a person's greatest treasure, a treasure that was not gold or silver or tobacco or poppy seeds, a treasure made of wood, of stings of cats and a bow from a horse—she had never heard anyone call something like that a treasure. Her eyes stayed on him, taking in the sight of those gold eyes, the gold eyes of Captain Smith, of Captain Inuyasha of the ship Shikuro—no that train of thought was wrong, faulty. These eyes did not belong to the navy or to piracy; they were not identifiable in that way. These eyes simply belonged to Inuyasha—they were the gold eyes of the man Inuyasha. She smiled faintly, wanting nothing more than to stare at those beautiful eyes forever.
"You really are the better man." She whispered into the darkened night, her words coming from her mouth with a will of their own, however, she found she didn't mind them being said.
Inuyasha looked over at her confused, his eyes glancing away from his violin as he quirked a brow. "The better man?"
"Yes," Kagome said with a bright smile on her face and her eyes closed in happiness.
Inuyasha took in the look, his heart beating quickly in his chest at the sight. "Beautiful." He thought to himself as he allowed his eyes to go soft as they took in her sweet innocence. Even if she was the reincarnation of the past, she was not the past itself. She was something new, something he could treasure forever.
"So," Kagome said unaware of his strange epiphany, her eyes opening quickly, startling him. "Where did a guy like you learn to play like that?" She pointed from him to the violin in turn.
"A guy like me?" He said with a slight lopsided frown on his face.
"Yes, I didn't think a pirate could play like a noblemen." She pointed a finger to her chin in contemplation. "Unless you forced a noblemen to teach you but that's an odd thing to force a nobleman to teach."
Inuyasha blinked drily several times. "For your information Miss Dresmont I learned this from no nobleman."
"Oh?" She questioned surprised, her eyes turning to look at him wide. "Then who taught you?"
Inuyasha glanced around, his eyes darting away from her, refusing to make eye contact. "Well," He didn't want to tell her the truth, it was something he had never shared with anyone, not even with Miroku. Resorting to his old standby when he didn't want to reveal something about himself, he snorted loudly deciding to redirect her curiosity with irritation. "Pst, I don't have to tell you shit."
"Well you don't have to be rude about it." She mumbled with a huff turning away. "I just thought it was neat."
His ears twitched on his head as her voice barely reached them. "You thought it was neat?"
"Yes, very much." Kagome said with her eyes downcast and her lips pouted. "I've always loved music and playing but—I was never allowed." Her face grew sad at the words.
"Hm?" Inuyasha inquired lightly as he watched the change come over her posture. "Why were you not allowed to play?"
Kagome looked at him surprised that he had asked. Most people never took an interest in her with the exception of Sango, Miroku, and the Captain of Port Royal. Turning to him once again, Kagome took in his appearance, the way he was leaning towards her, his ears perked slightly forward, his eyes opened with curiosity. She smiled faintly at him, deep down she knew that whether he was Smith or Inuyasha, he was still the himself, a complex man one and the same.
"Mama said it wasn't proper for a lady or necessary." Kagome glanced around her, taking in the night air as she turned away from him. She couldn't see very far, the moon only gave off a little light, but she could hear everything. Every wave, every slight snore, a quiet conversation somewhere below, the wind gently pushing the sails, Kagome could hear it all. "I always wanted to learn though." She admitted in a barely audible voice.
Watching her Inuyasha was unable to control the words that left his mouth. "I'll teach you."
"Pardon?" Kagome said back almost chocking on her words, her eyes wide at the suggestion. This was diffidently not the pirate Captain Inuyasha—the demon of the sea.
"I can teach you, if you want." He offered again, screaming at himself in his head, "What the fuck am I saying?"
"You would really teach me?" She asked intrigued, her mind racing at the possibilities.
He looked at her, panicking, why had he offered such a thing to her? He couldn't do something like that, she hated him, she hated all pirates, she could never want to learn to play the violin from the scrooge of the sea. Hastily he tried to cover himself. "Yeah, I mean, I taught Miroku, and he liked it but little bugger wasn't musically inclined and you might be, I mean—I don't really know what you're good at or bad at but you can't suck as bad as him so—I mean if you want I wouldn't mind showing you some things, you know, this is A, pluck it and you make music—," He looked at her clearly flustered. "Aw, shit."
She looked at the stammering man and felt her heart grow light and airy in her chest and then she started to laugh. Not little giggles that a proper girl of society should issue forth when entertained but true deep laughs that filled her whole lungs. Her hands went to her mouth as she tried to cover them up but no matter how tightly she held the laughter inside, it seemed to find a way out.
Inuyasha felt his ears go back flat against his head, blocking out the noise as he glared at her, "Why in the world are you laughing?"
She tried to contain herself but only laughed harder from his irritation, small tears building in her eyes.
"Stop it," He said his face turning bright red as she continued. "God damn it that's an order!"
The laughter died down to a giggle and she opened her eyes, small tears highlighted on her lashes. She hiccupped a few times before reaching up and wiping away some of the stray tear drops. "I'm so sorry." She finally managed to say, little laughs breaking up her words.
"You better be." Inuyasha huffed, crossing his hands over his chest, his ears flat on his scalp.
"I am, it's just," She giggled again behind her hand. "That was so funny."
"What's so funny?"
"You," She said bluntly as she smiled up at him in that same closed eyed manner that made him blush. "I mean, the great pirate Captain Inuyasha, most deadly man of the Caribbean—no—the whole of the Atlantic, offers a girl violin lessons."
"I don't see what's so funny about that." Inuyasha huffed but had to admit it did sound kind of awkward. He was known more for killing than classical instruments.
"I'm sorry, it was just funny to me, I didn't mean to laugh like that it's just," She looked at him, her eyes sparkling with endless mirth. "I've never been free to laugh like that before and I—I guess I took advantage of the situation."
He looked on silently as she finally composed herself completely, smoothing out her clothes and brushing a few stray hairs out of her face. "She's never laughed like that before?" He asked himself feeling a wave of piety come over him. "She wasn't allowed to laugh?" His mind drifted to something Sango had once told him on a night similar to this when she had first boarded the ship.
"Women of society aren't allowed to show emotions Captain. We aren't worth the ability to have emotions whether it's hurt or even laughter."
Was it the same for Kagome? Had this beautiful, innocent girl not been allowed to show on her face when she was happy or sad or when she found something funny? For only a second his mind drifted to a place he hadn't thought about in years. To a similar realization he had once had about the worth of a person.
A much smaller Inuyasha ran through a courtyard, a garden of sand and rock within it along with a small stream filled with brightly colored fish. Ignoring the sight he continued on, his destination decided in his head as he headed towards a tall figure in the courtyard. The figure stood, long silver hair down its back waving slightly in the wind as it towered above everything in the garden it seemed (or at least it seemed to a child so small).
"Onii-san!" The small Inuyasha yelled as he ran over the bridge that stood above the stream. "Onii-san?" He said more quietly when he came to stand a few feet away from the man in question.
"Nani-o?" The man replied as he reached upwards touching a branch on a tree that was covered with small pinkish flowers.
"Onii-san," Inuyasha repeated shifting from foot to foot as he stepped closer to the tall man, his face obscured by the sunlight that flooded the garden. "Nani ga hanyou?"
The man's hand slowly drifted back to his side as he continued to stare at the tree, watching it calmly before just his eyes turned to look down at the small boy at his feet. He snorted as he took in the sight of the much younger child before he turned away once again, looking at the tree once again his mouth opening slightly to answer the question. "Orokana ikimono wa," He said as the young Inuyasha felt his heart clench in his chest, "Kūki no kachi, sore wa kokyū."
The memory faded quickly, the image of the man disappearing back into a locked door in his mind. A place he desperately didn't want to remain opened. With a deep breath he thought of that man for a moment longer, thought of his powerful hateful words for a moment more.
"Am I really not worth the air I breathe brother?" He questioned silently as he pushed the thought from his mind as hard as he could.
He looked at Kagome understanding somewhat how nice it must feel to laugh for her. It had felt nice for him too, the first time he had been called worthwhile and felt fulfilled in his own existence, the first time someone had told him not to be ashamed of who he was—even if that person had been his own mother. With a slow smile he spoke, "Do you want me to teach you, Miss Dresmont?"
Kagome looked at him surprised that he had offered her the opportunity again, was he really serious and more over, where had this man come from? Where had this nice and intellectual man come from, his words clever if not a little laced with obstinacies? Where had he learned to play so beautifully, with such emotion? Kagome looked at him, her eyes trying to see inside the man and not at his outer shell. She knew that pirates weren't all bad, some were downright violent, yes, but the vast majority were good people, the Captain, he couldn't be any different, could he? Taking a chance, Kagome stepped away from the railing, facing the Captain boldly, head on.
"I want to learn." She told him straightforward as always her eyes daring him to deny her seemingly nonexistent challenge.
He glanced at her surprised, his eyes darting to her face, as if asking her for the silent truth.
"Please, teach me." She said again, her whole body determined as she looked at him. "I want to learn."
Inuyasha pushed away from the rail, the violin in his hands voicing its own opinion as he jarred the stings. He glanced down at the old instrument, memories running rampant in his mind once again.
He saw her face sweet and soft and motherly, she was a beautiful woman with long black hair that reached her waist and a gemstone on a golden chain around her neck."Here little one." She whispered as she leaned forward towards him the gemstone shinning as it circled on its chain. In her hands rested strange eight shaped instrument. "Take it." She encouraged him gently as her smooth hands offered him the wooden contraption.
Carefully, his clawed ones reached out and took the strange instrument as his eyes studied it small and curious as the young gold of his irises reflected the polished wood. Reaching forward, he touched the odd silver strings with a sharp clawed finger and plucked it. A vibrant hum filled the room and he nearly dropped the instrument, startled.
"It's a violin, Inuyasha." The woman supplied as she touched his head, ruffling his hair, a gesture he would take with him in life.
"Violin." He repeated the new world as he watched the string continue to vibrant with fascinated eyes.
"It will be your greatest treasure." The woman said, "With it, you can be on the sea."
He blinked and looked up at the woman in surprise at her words. Briefly his eyes caught sight of the gemstone around her neck and he grinned at the familiarity of it. Reaching forward, he grasped it in his little fingers for reassurance, running them over its smooth surface before he repeated her words. "The sea?"
"Yes," She replied as he gently removed his hand from the jewel drawing his eyes back to the instrument as she strummed her fingers against it ever o slightly. "A man who can play is always welcomed on a sailing ship regardless of his blood or origins," She spoke so softly as she always had. "Every Captain finds him worthwhile."
"Miss Dresmont," He said as the memory faded, his hand subconsciously reaching to finger a now absent jewel around his neck. He started when he didn't feel it at first and then stilled his features as he looked towards her watching the gem around her neck for only a few seconds before he pushed all his thoughts from his mind and spoke again. "I'll teach you on one condition."
"A condition?" She replied apprehensive.
"Yes," He said as he looked up at her, the sadness lurking behind the mischievousness of his eyes.
"And what's the condition?"
"Lessons will only be at night and we will always be alone," He smirked as he spoke. "No telling Sango or Miroku."
Kagome gritted her teeth, it would figure he would want the lessons to not be seen by the other men and yet, "Why do we have to be alone?" She felt her stomach flip flop at the prospect. "Doesn't he trust Sango and Miroku?" She huffed at the thought but in the end she really did want to learn, it was one of those things she had always wanted the freedom to do. With her chin set firm in place she spoke, "Agreed, but I have a condition also."
He quirked his eyebrow at the sight of her set chin and firm eyes. "I don't think it works that way."
"You were the one who offered to teach," She pointed out with a vixen like smirk on her pink lips. "So you are the one who wants these lessons to commence the most," She pointed her finger at him as the smile grew more and more wicked. "So it is only natural that I should get something more out of the deal as well."
Inuyasha would have face planted if he wasn't so anchored to the ground by his feet. "You get to learn the violin," He told him his expression dry. "Isn't that enough?"
"Nope," She turned her nose up in the air looking at him with one eye opened. "I want something immediate, immediate gratification if you will."
He couldn't believe this girl, it was almost slightly annoying. Here he was offering her a once in a life time offer, he would teach her to play the violin, something she had always wanted to do (from what he could gather) and she was the one giving him a condition? "Alright," He said while rolling his eyes. "For my own amusement, what is your condition? This immediate gratification you want so badly?"
"I want to know," She said and he was surprised to hear her heart beat picking up in her chest and her scent twinge with nervousness. "Who taught you to play the violin?"
He froze, his eyes just barely looking at the gem around her neck before he turned away from her not able to speak. "Why does she want to know so badly?" He asked himself as he ran a hand threw his hair. "God, she wants to know so bad she'd even use it as a condition now!" It was strange but he found himself compelled to tell her. He wanted to tell her and yet he didn't want to tell her at the same time. Behind him he heard her shift, her weight going from foot to foot as she fidgeted.
"Never mind," She whispered with a nervous laugh in her voice. "You don't have to tell me—,"
"My mother," He cut her off before he could really think of what he was even saying.
"Captain?" She whispered confused as he slowly turned and looked at her, his eyes downcast and a strange sad smile on his face.
"My mother taught me and," He held up the violin for her to see. "She gave me this violin."
Kagome looked at him, not sure how to take this information, his mother had taught him? She had never really thought about a pirate having a mother but then again, it made sense. No one just came into existence, not even the great pirate Captain Inuyasha.
"So." He said as he looked away from her, out across the sea. "Do we have a deal?"
"Yes," She said firmly but gulped all the same. She reached out her hand and he gave her a funny look. "We have to seal the deal Captain, so shake hands."
He frowned at the odd custom but reached out for her anyway. Their fingers touched and both ignored the electric shock they felt as they shook on their deal. Both pulled back, trying to appear unaffected, surprisingly, they both succeeded.
"When do we start?" Kagome said bravely, her fingers still tingling.
"Right now." The Captain suggested and handed her the violin. She took it with a taken aback look on her face.
"Ah," She said faintly as she looked at the instrument afraid to move. "What do I do?"
He snorted, "But that part under your arm," He motioned her body on where to go. "And the neck in your left hand, that's it."
She shifted to where her right arm was holding the violin like a guitar. The fingers of her right hand on the strings above the bridge and her left hand on the neck of the violin poised to pluck the strings. "This isn't how they hold it at the symphony." She said drily, Inuyasha snorted.
"This is how you hold it to learn, now be quiet and listen." He instructed, "Don't worry about the left hand for now. We just wann'a look at the right. So—um," He looked at her confused before reaching forward towards her right hand. She trembled as he took her pointer finger and brought it towards the very first string, forcing her to move against it. A sound flowed around them, a high pitched hum. "That's E."
He said drawing his hand back. They both looked at each other as he backed away, her hands holding on tightly to the violin, their eyes focused on each other. For a moment, he thought, she thought—they both thought that they should move in, closer to the other's face, so they could find that same place they had known before, that place they had discovered together back on Port Royal but Kagome's fingers ruined the moment as they unwittingly brushed against the E again. The sound bringing both back to a strange reality.
"Um," He fidgeted as he looked away, the spell broken for now. "If you pluck the next string, it'll be A."
Kagome forced herself to look away from him and down at the string, carefully she drew her finger in the same way he had made her finger draw before. A slightly—ever so slightly—lower pitch hit her ears. "A" she repeated. "And what's next?"
He smiled at her, feeling his heart clench in his chest, at least this was a start, what more could he ask for? "D."
"It's a violin Inuyasha. It will be your greatest treasure."
End of Chapter
Please Review
Edited for Content 7/30/2012
Congrats to, youkaineko on MM, for being review number 350!
Translation:
Onii-san, nani ga hanyou?
Brother, what is a hanyou?
Orokana ikimono wa, kūki no kachi, sore wa kokyū.
A stupid creature not worth the air it breathes.
Bonus Point:
What is the last string on a violin? E, A, D and _?_
Last Chapter's Bonus Point:
The answer was Kaede and baba means old hag or something of the like, namely a very rude way of saying grandmother or elder woman. Congrats to those who got it!
Ravenreux (Kaede), JusTheUnderdog (Kaede), Kirafish, (Kaede), 3lue3utterfly (Both), Inuhanyouchick (Both), BoredGirl17 (Both), Regina lunaris (Both), Hinata fox-demon (Both), LOVE-all-we-HATE (Both), InuKag4eva (Both), Laken (Kaede), wolfy the snow wolf (Both), inu-luva123 (Both), TheRealInuyasha (Both), Mika (Both), Purple Dragon Ranger (Both), Victoria-Fortis-Elegit (Both), TheBookAddict (Kaede), Saikoubi-Megami (Both), SilverStarWing (Hag), LitleC (Kaede), AnimeRomanceFreal1990 (Both), Warm-Amber92 (Both), angel (Both), reader (Both), ArisLuvsInu (Both), .Flip-0v3r. (Both), Amaranth (Both), theoriginalXxKikyoHaterxX (Both), Coka Cookie Cola (Kaede), The Anime Chosen One (Kaede), Menarie (Both), youkaineko on MM (Both), kagome inlove inu (Kaede), Dark Angel and Silver Savior (Both), Jaunty Maestro (Kaede), arkangel213 (Kaede), KatylerAvatar (Both), Byss (Both), AnInquisitiveRedhead (Kaede)
Notes:
Inuyasha's Violin Solo – The music that inspired the solo is Kyoudai or Brothers from the anime Full Metal Alchemist one of my favorite anime's of all time and, in my opinion, the anime with the best OST I have ever heard. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. Kyoudai can be found on youtube. Search, Full Metal Alchemist OST 3 - Kyoudai.
Inuyasha's Song – The Lyric's of the song in this chapter were written by me with the violin solo as inspiration. If you listen to the violin version of Kyoudai you will be able to match the poetry to the music.
Fun Fact – Pirate Ships usually had musicians on board for amusement, they were required to play at all times except Sundays. Typically they were commandeered from Navy vessels and 9 times out of 10 if you could prove you knew an instrument a pirate would not kill you but instead would use you for entertainment on his ship. Many men who wanted to be seamen (pirate or not) would learn to play an instrument so their likelihood of being hired and well paid/feed would increase.
Next Chapter:
Hiten and Naraku
See you then!
UNEDITED
POSTED 4/6/2011