Shikuro: A Caribbean Fairy Tale

by Inuma Asahi De

Inuyasha was as bad as pirates came, according to his legend. Kagome was a woman of propriety, destined to marry for her family's honor when all she wanted was to live on the sea. What happens when their eyes meet by chance or perhaps by daring fate?

56. Kagura's Test

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 Fifty-Six

Kagura's Test

"How do yuu know that-to name?" Kagura spoke in a hushed whisper as she stared at the woman before her.

The old Kaede only smiled in response the wrinkles on her skin becoming more pronounced the wider the smile grew. "How do you?" She threw back her old voice raspy as she leaned forward on her stool her elbows now resting on her knees as she hunched.

Mr. Dresmont watched on in wonder as the two women stared each other down, neither one giving up as they waited for the other to respond. "Um?" He took a big gulp of air holding it in tightly when one of Kagura's ruby eyes turned ever so slightly towards him, her gaze burning into him so intensely that he nearly fell off his own stool.

Satisfied with Mr. Dresmont's hasty quiet, Kagura turned back to Kaede with gritted teeth her normally calm facade tight and controlled as she watched the other woman. "How-u does she know that-to name?" She asked herself again as the image of a silver haired boy filled her mind. "Inuyasha-sama do yuu know her?"

"I guess you're not going to talk easily." Kaede began to speak again as she closed her one good eye with a grin still on her old features. "That's understandable, Inuyasha was never one to speak freely either—perhaps it is in your culture not to speak of such things or perhaps," Kaede paused as she opened her good eye and slowly brought her shoulders back so that she was sitting straight once more. "You both just have many things to hide."

Kagura narrowed her gaze as the wind around her began to pick up reacting to her own err. "She can't-to be working-u for Naraku." She told herself knowing that it was the truth. "Naraku knew nothin' about-to me—she—knows things, many-y things, far more than that scum." She brought a hand up to her face as she thought biting down on one nail. "I don't-to know who yuu are in all of this demo—," The wind demon licked her lips pulling her hand away. "Baa-san the closest clue I have-e!" Kagura bit her lip one of her fangs drawing just a little amount of blood that washed into her mouth tasting of copper. "Kaede-sama, right?" She asked bluntly as the wind teased her hair as if trying to sooth her.

The old woman frowned but not in such a way to suggest confusion instead, the gesture came across as more or less irritation from the wind whipping at her cheeks. "Yes." She spoke truthfully as she brushed a renegade hair away from her eye. "It was."

Kagura held back a growl as she looked at Kaede fully prepared to ask the woman about her knowledge but somehow unable to speak because of her own apprehension. "Is-u this really a good-o idea?" She thought as she looked away from the older woman to her feet not bothering to reply to Kaede's confirmation for several minutes as she debated. "This could be dangerous-su." She closed her eyes in thought as she tried to determine what the best course of action was. "What if-fu—she is with Naraku and I'm wrong?" In her mind's eyes she knew that was impossible just by the old woman's condition and rapidly deteriorating health alone. "Should I risk it-to? Is-u it-to worth the risk?" The wind demon bit down as hard as she could her jaw straining against her own strength. "What would he have me do in a situation like this-u?"

"At all cost, Kagura." She heard the voice speak loud and clear in her head. "You must find him at all cost."

"This-u is-a pretty weighty cost." She told herself as she looked at the old woman accessing her as she leaned heavily on her legs breathing deeply and somewhat troubled. "Demo he did-o say at all cost—and what's the worst-to happen?" She snorted slightly as she straightened herself. "I'm a wind demon who pities the fool-u who tries to contain the wind." As if subconsciously responding to her own thoughts the wind around her picked up once more moving around the tiny woman like a mini hurricane before it stopped just as suddenly as it had began. "Kaede-sama," Kagura's voice was low as she looked over towards Mr. Dresmont who gave her a nervous wince as he turned and pretended he hadn't been watching. "These walls have-e ears that-to hear far too well."

"Ears often do that." Kaede responded slowly noticing the way the girls eyes shifted this way and that as she looked for anything that appeared out of place. "But not walls."

"Yes," The younger woman nodded her head knelling to her knees on the dirtied floor. "It-to is-u something they are known to do." She continued on as she brought her finger to the grim of the unclean disgusting wood and slowly began writing, her eyes glancing at Mr. Dresmont every once and a while to make sure he was still turned.

Kaede narrowed her gaze as she looked at the sloppy English writing. "Do not tark owt lud." She read off her eyes narrowing at the hastily made sentence, understanding dawning on her features as Kagura continued to write with a shaking hand her words actually written one on top of the other in much the same way as eastern writing. "Somzing biger than u now goin on." Kaede raised her eyebrow at the poorly written sentence. "She really is an eastern demon." The old woman vaguely thought as she translated the sentence in her head to make more sense, "Something bigger than I realize is going on?" She resisted the urge to smile as the next sentence was written down "I lukin for Inuyashasama, I musd fid him son."

With that the wind demon backed away and looked at Kaede who brought her head up just as slow her eyes looking for any kind of explanation the wind demon could give her. Before the wind demon could say a word however, a loud bang sounded from above their heads and Kagura panicked throwing her hands forward and wiping away all the evidence of what she had written.

"Mr. Dresmont!" A man called from up above the voice easily recognizable as Mr. Hiten.

The man who had been sitting with his back turned to the strange conversation jumped at the sudden intrusion of both his name and the voice of a man he had thought was still on shore. His back hit against the steel bars of the cage in his haste to stand and he hissed as his spine throbbed with the unexpected pain. "Ow," He moaned quietly as he brought a hand to his back and tried to reach the sore spot to no avail.

"Mr. Dresmont don't tell me yer asleep!" The voice called once again this time sounding much sharper.

"Yes sir!" Richard yelled before cussing under his breath. "I mean no sir, I wasn't asleep." His voice sounded strained to the ears of both women and Hiten himself. "I was just—," He narrowed his eyes trying to think of anything plausible. "I was just in deep thought sir, that I was!"

Hiten snorted for above his head, the sound of the demon's hand smacking his own forehead apparent to everyone in the small brig. "Mr. Morgan wants to see you." The demon called down gruffly before mumbling something that sounded suspiciously like 'I was Captain of this whole ship now I'm a messenger.' "I'm sending Jonathan down," He added as soon as his grumble had subsided. "So get yer ass up here nice and quick!"

"Yes sir." Mr. Dresmont called back to the other man as his whole body shook at the prospect of what was about to happen. "Why would Naraku want me?" He wondered as he stood up his knees cracking together with each step he tried to take. "He doesn't ask for me unless there's someone new—." Something in that thought caused him pause as he saw the pretty face of his daughter flash before his eyes. "Kagome?" His heart thumped in his chest at the thought of her at the possibility of that poor sweet girl being found but that horrible excuse for a man that sat at the Captain's desk above his head. "Could they have—?" The thought haunted him so much so that he couldn't bring himself to complete it. "No I can't think that way—she's safe, I hope she's safe." He felt his lip tremble ever so slightly. "At least as safe as she can be with pirates." The thought was little comfort but then again anyone was better than Naraku Morgan.

He turned back and looked at Kaede in the cell thinking of the treatment this poor old woman had been forced to endure. He could only imagine what would have happened to Kagome had she been forced to endure Naraku's treatment as well. A cringe overtook the entirety of Richard Dresmont's body and he had to force himself to remain calm even as the thoughts of his daughter romped about in his head.

"Mr. Dresmont!" Hiten yelled from above snapping him out of his own daze. "Get up here so I can send Jonathan down damn it!"

"Yes sir!" He yelled back as he shook the haze from his mind and turned hurriedly away from Kaede and Kagura in the small cell. "I will return." He spoke hastily but all the color had drained from his face leaving him looking old and doubtful.

"I wish you well," Kaede spoke honestly as Kagome's father turned towards the small ladder that lead to the upper decks. "Mr. Dresmont."

"Thank you." He told her his voice not sounding the least bit heartfelt as he placed one hand on the ladder hesitating for only a second before he reached up with the other hand and began to ascend.

Kaede followed the ascent with her good eye a frown on her face that only disappeared when the sight of a younger man coming down not minutes later met her. He was a young demon with a hard stony face that Kaede had come to known over the course of her captivity aboard the Thunder. "Good evening Mr. Jonathan," Kaede greeted him as soon as his foot touched the floor.

The young boy turned and looked at her but his expression wasn't one of surprise. This was, after all, the way the old woman greeted all the guards with gentle kindness that made one blush. "'Ello old 'un." He spoke roughly as he approached the little stool and took a seat in the spot Mr. Dresmont had just vacated.

"And to what," Kaede continued on as Kagura watched her still captivated with the way the old woman spoke to the guards. "Do I owe the pleasure?"

"Tere's somethin' wrong with yer 'ead," The young man replied as he sat on the stool no weapons visible in his hands except his sharpened talons. "Miss Cummin's." He finished respectfully as he ran those sharp talons through the wispy ends of his pure white feathery hair.

"You do have a way with words do you not," Kagome continued to play along as the boy blushed under her scrutiny. "Mr. Jonathan?"

-break-

Up on deck Mr. Dresmont winced as his eyes came in contact with the hot Atlantic sun for the first time in several hours. He brought a hand up to protect himself from the blinding light before he felt Hiten grab a hold of his arm in earnest.

"Come on you old fool." Captain Hiten spoke harshly as he started to drag Mr. Dresmont towards the cabin which used to be his own. "Mr. Morgan's being real impatient today."

"How so?" The old man spoke as low as possible not wanting to draw any attention to himself as Hiten dragged him along.

"He couldn't wait to get back." Hiten mumbled with a curt nod his dark eyebrows drawing tight together as he inhaled and exhaled deeply. "I think he's got something planned and I don't like it."

"Something planned?" Mr. Dresmont parroted back as a feeling of dread started to knot its way into his stomach. "The test," He whispered out as she glanced around himself trying to determine if any of the demons he knew had exceptional hearing were nearby—none were. "Could it be the test he wants to do with Miss Kagura?"

"I don't know." Hiten responded roughly as they came to stand in front of the door to his cabin. For a moment he stared at the wood in front of him as Mr. Dresmont's words played in his head. "The test." He breathed deeply. "For Kagura—what a strange name." He had seen her only briefly since but there was something about her that tantalized him, perhaps it was the brash way she spoke to both himself and Naraku, or maybe it was the power of the wind demon that seemed to surround her, or it could have been the strange accent she spoke with and her strange clothes. Whatever it was there was just something about her that he couldn't ignore and that pissed him off. "God damn woman." He groaned before giving Mr. Dresmont a firm glare. "Doesn't matter if it is anyway right?" He told the older man even as his mind flashed to the strange creature he had met a week before. "It's not our concern what Naraku does with that bitch." He continued on as if the woman in his mind was not even there.

Mr. Dresmont looked at the other man in disbelief as he watched the way Hiten boxed his shoulders and turned away. "What a stupid man." He thought to himself as he studied the demon carefully. Every muscle in his body seemed to be tensing all at once as he stood breathing heavy, his eyes focused on the door as if he was attempting to burn a hole in it. "How can he not be concerned with a look like that?" The old man wondered as he shook his head slowly back and forth. "He knows it concerns him—he knows it concerns all of us now whether we want it to or not."

"Let's get this over with." Hiten said gruffly as he reached for the door handle a small part of him wishing he didn't have to enter his master's cabin. "Too late now." He told himself as he pulled the handle down and pushed the wooden door forward with a loud creak.

The door to the cabin swung opened slowly and both Hiten and Mr. Dresmont winced as a wave of smoke drifted out of the room. Not that either man had an aversion to smoking but the sheer overpowering nature of that much burning tobacco leaves was not a pleasant experience for either man. "Good afternoon." Naraku's voice sounded from behind a chair that was turned to face the backside of the ship's windows.

"I brought Mr. Dresmont." Hiten told the smoking demon as he glanced down at the silent Richard Dresmont waiting to see if the little human man would say a word.

"How are you today, Master Naraku?" The human spoke his voice surprisingly strong as he looked at the only part of Naraku he could see: his hand that had snaked its way out from behind the turned chair a pipe smoking in his grasp.

"I am very well." Naraku replied as he stood from the chair his small youthful body just allowing his head to be seen over the chair's back as he rose and brought the pipe to his lips. "I suppose you're both wondering why I called you here?" He asked before taking a drag on the pipe appearing to enjoy the sensation of the smoke as it went down his throat.

From his spot in front of the still opened door Hiten shrugged not really able to think of an appropriate response.

"Please," Naraku motioned with his pipe when he noticed the two men just standing in the opened doorway. "Come in, shut the door," His voice was eerie with calm. "Take a seat." He finished as he turned away from them once more to grab for something that was sitting just out of sight on the window sill.

Timidly, Mr. Dresmont obeyed the commands of the young demon reaching for the door before Hiten was able and gently shutting it with a soft yet resounding click. He winced at the presumed loudness of the sound and waited several seconds before he even dared to look up in the direction of the young Naraku. If the demon had heard the noise and cared however, he didn't show it as he brought a small box of sorts to sit on the table in front of the chair.

He grinned as he ran his hand over the smooth surface briefly before grabbing the chair he had been sitting in and turning it around so he could face both men as they talked.

Realizing that he needed to sit down and soon, Mr. Dresmont took a step forward into the room, the sound of footsteps telling him that Hiten was following suit. Walking across the floor with shaking fingers wringing in front of him he went to sit in one of the chairs in front of Naraku's desk lowering himself into it with a resounding plop that did bring the weasel demon's attention to himself.

"Thank you." The demon nodded pleased to find the door closed and at least one of his minions in their seat. "Mr. Hiten." He commanded motioning to the other chair that Hiten had yet to sit in with the end of his pipe. "Please."

"Aye." Hiten spoke with a loud clearing of his throat before he too took his seat in front of the master of the vessel.

The corners of Naraku's mouth twisted into a satisfied smile as the taller man took his own seat in the far nicer padded chair that had once belonged to Hiten in front of him. "I called you both in here," He began without preamble as he touched the top of the box that rested on the desk. It looked to be a rather plain jewelry box to both Hiten and Mr. Dresmont. "Because I will need your help with the test I have set up for the wind demon."

"I was right." The vaguest ounce of surprise flash across Mr. Dresmont's face as he shifted in his chair looking up at the demon as he waited for him to speak again.

"We will have two test total." He held up one hand presenting the men with two fingers. "In order to determine the authenticity of her claim." He took the two fingers and turned them downwards aiming them at the box before dropping them to tap on its surface. "The first has to do with this box."

"And what exactly," Hiten questioned with his arms crossed over his chest as he eyed the box on the table. "Is in the box?"

Naraku's pleased expression turned to an all too familiar glare. "I was getting to that." He bit out causing Hiten to tense. "Mr. Hiten."

"I'm," Hiten cleared his throat as every hair on the back of his neck stood on end his instincts telling him that danger was lurking behind that face. "Sorry."

"Very well." Naraku's demeanor instantly changed back to his almost more scary calm self. "As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." He threw at Hiten passive aggressively one of his eyes glaring at the man briefly before looking at the box once more with mirth. "I have found some gems that look remarkably like the one the wind girl has." He looked at Mr. Dresmont and smiled sickeningly. "Would you be so kind as to open the box for me," His voice was like venom for ones ears. "Mr. Dresmont?"

"Yes sir." The older man agreed as he felt sweat start to collect on his brow. With shaking hands he reached across the table his fingers just barely coming in contact with the box before Naraku slammed his hand on the table next to them causing him to jump.

"Today Mr. Dresmont!" The young man snarled impatiently as he drug his hand off the table once more his claws nicking the wood as he ripped his hand off the table's edge.

"Yes sir." Mr. Dresmont said quickly as he grabbed the box in haste and pulled it towards him just a little. "Sorry sir." He added as he undid the small cooper clasp that kept the lid closed before pulling it opened.

The contents of the box shown into the room sparkling in the light that streamed in from the window. Sitting on a soft velvety maroon material were eight small gem stones all of which glistened in the sunlight that streamed into the room behind Naraku. Hiten and Mr. Dresmont both looked at the tiny slivers of crystal in awe.

"They look almost exactly like the ones I wear." Hiten thought to himself as he stared at the small jagged crystals admiring them as they shimmered and sparkled fluctuating between a soft white color and an almost pinkish hue.

"Beautiful aren't they." Naraku spoke slowly as he looked at the little gems. "For the first test, I will place two of these gems plus one of the real ones in each of your hands." Naraku leaned back in the chair with a haughty smile on his lips. "We will then ask that demon bitch to come forward and identify which gems are the real ones." He chuckled to himself as he took in his own self proclaimed brilliance. "Any questions about that?"

"How will we know which is which?" Hiten threw in softly hoping not to earn the same reaction he had earlier. Much to his amazement Naraku grinned at him and brought his pipe back to his lips inhaling slowly. "What is with him—I never know what's going on in his head."

"Simple Mr. Hiten." Naraku told him as he slowly blew out a little puff of smoke appearing to be attempting to make a ring. "I'll only put the real ones in your left hands." He frowned at the air as his puff of smoke came out as a mass instead of a shape. "She will be none the wiser and we will not lose tract of the real ones and the fact ones."

Mr. Dresmont pursed his lips together at the idea. "Excuse me sir?" He ventured with an involuntary wince as the demon in front of him turned just his pupils to stare at the older man.

"What," He bit out as he talked around his pipe chewing on the end ever so slightly. "Out with it, Mr. Dresmont."

The human flinched once more this time with reason as Naraku sent him a look between a glare and a smile. "What if," He looked everywhere but at the man behind the desk. "She—just guesses and manages to get it all right—?" He raised his head to look at the weasel demon watching as the boy narrowed his eyes. Terrified of the possible repercussions Richard threw his hands in front of his face waving them in a placating gesture hurriedly before rushing to continue. "I know it's unlikely however," He attempted to cover up the insult that wasn't an insult. "It would—."

Naraku sighed stopping the older man from saying another word and dropped the hand holding his new pipe to the table resting it there as he studied it with bland eyes. "Do you think I'm an idiot?" He spoke deliberately every word slow and calculated.

"No sir!" Mr. Dresmont fired back automatically as he whipped his head back and forth his knees starting to shake as his own dulled human instincts told him to run.

Naraku snorted at Richard's words and ever so slightly looked up at him through his dark clumpy bangs. "Are you sure?" He pressed barely opening his mouth so that the words could be spoken.

"Yes sir!" Mr. Dresmont nodded as his hands started to shake.

Beside him Hiten could only watch as Naraku trained his every cell on the old man. "Poor fool." He told himself right before Naraku brought the pipe back up towards his mouth and took another drag.

"Good," Naraku spoke softly before suddenly opening the right hand deck drawer with a quick jerk of his free hand.

The sound of the wooden drawer scraping against the wood of the desk made Mr. Dresmont jump from his seat his eyes snapping shut as his heart raced in his chest. "Dear lord," He automatically began to pray as he anticipated what might emerge from that desk. "Could it be a gun—please don't let it be a gun." He reasoned as he watched Henry Morgan die over and over again in his head. "Please, please!" He continued to repeat as he closed his eyes listening as Naraku rummaged around in the drawer. He strained his ears in an attempt to listen for the sound of metal clinking as the boy rummaged but none came. "That's not right." He told himself as he opened one eye and watched in complete astonishment as Naraku pulled his hand from the drawer slowly. "A pipe box?" He thought to himself dumbly.

Carefully, Naraku sat the pipe box down in front of him on the desk and opened the unhinged lid pulling it completely off to sat to the side. With the small container in which the tobacco was stored now opened he ever so gently took his pipe and turned it upside down knocking the remaining tobacco out into the small container. "I know that method isn't fool proof," He spoke drawing both men sitting across from him away from his hands to his face. "I'm not an idiot."

"I'm sor—." Mr. Dresmont tried to say right away but was interrupted by Naraku's hands stopping abruptly and his hard glare being thrown his way.

"Shut up!" He bit out as his dark eyes clouded with malice all directed at the little human sitting across him him.

Mr. Dresmont snapped his mouth shut in response and ducked lower in his seat waiting for the man to speak again without saying a word.

"I said we were going to have two test, didn't I?" Naraku continued to speak as he took a rag out from the box and carefully ran it over the pipe a few times before putting both rag and pipe into the Pipe Box and retrieving the lid to close it. "Well, didn't I?"

"You did sir." Hiten jumped in as Mr. Dresmont tried to disappear into his chair.

"For a moment I thought maybe I had made myself unclear." Naraku remarked snidely as he put the Pipe Box back in the drawer and shot both men an angry look. "The second test will determine the accuracy of the first."

"And what will the second test be sir?" Hiten inquired when Naraku didn't speak up right away.

"I will hide the remaining jewel shard somewhere on the ship," Naraku leaned back in the chair and looked at the ceiling cryptically. "A location which only I will know."

Mr. Dresmont felt his heart pound in his chest.

"If she passes the first test then we will ask her to find the additional shard," He moved his eyes slowly from the ceiling downwards to look at both men with a smile creeping up on his face. "But she will only have five minutes to find it."

"Five minutes." Mr. Dresmont thought. "That's barely enough time to cover even a fraction of the ship," A feeling of dread began to build in Richard's stomach. "She would have to know exactly where the shard is within the first minute." He gulped his own uncertainty in her claimed abilities worrying him. "Poor thing better be telling the truth." He thought as his mind ran over the images of Henry Morgan dying once more. "I hope she realizes what she's dealing with—a man who would kill his own father has no problem killing others even a woman."

"Brilliant." Hiten grumbled beside Mr. Dresmont as he realized the nature of the test.

"I'm glad you think so." Naraku smirked as he leaned back in his chair even further putting his hands behind his head as he brought his feet up to rest on the desk. "We will start the test after we leave port tomorrow, I want us to be far enough away from land so she can't make a quick run for it." He brought one hand out from behind his head to tap his chin. "Perhaps dusk would be a fitting time to start?"

Both Hiten and Mr. Dresmont both wanted to ask about the strange time but neither was stupid enough to question the man in front of them.

-break-

"Feels like a long time since our last lesson." Miroku commented as he sat on the helm deck's newly restored floor one of his legs out in front of him and the other curled into himself as he leaned against the railing.

"Yeah, it has been." Inuyasha agreed as he directed the ship in the twilight world. It had been only a day since they had left the small cove in South Carolina and now they were once again heading up the cost after a brief discussion on where they should go. In the end, they decided that their lack of income as of late was the first thing that needed to be dealt with, which meant heading up the cost towards New England where they would be able to lie in wait for a navy ship to ransack before heading down the cost once more. Of course should they run into any shards before then they would stop and fight once more as they had promised the crew but for now their plan was simple. Find a ship. Attack. Steal stuff. Sell stuff.

"So," Miroku spoke quietly into the night air as he draped his arms over his bent leg allowing his hurt one to stay stretched out in front of him. "Tonight's lesson is all verbal?"

"Yeah," Inuyasha grunted in response as he turned the wheel to one side absently. "We don't have any parchment." He grumbled as his hands held onto the wheel a little tighter than necessary. "So it's not like we have a choice."

"Hm," Miroku allowed the sound to permeate the air softly as he eyed the Captain's grip on the wheel. "It was all destroyed by the cannon fire I guess."

Inuyasha inhaled deeply his grip tightening even more causing the wheel's wood to moan and creak. "Damn." He cursed as he loosened his grip not wanting to destroy the ship so soon after having it put back in one piece. "Yeah, my cabin was an absolute mess." Inuyasha muttered as he dropped a hand from the wheel in favor of holding it with only one to reduce the temptation of gripping it too hard. "Everything my books, my weapons, one of the beds—."

Miroku winced as he heard the list rattled off for at least the third time. "Totosai did make a new one, right?" He asked as he watched the older man's free hand go slack.

"Yeah," Inuyasha nodded his fingers dangling at his side as his whole body seemed to slump. "What a fun experience that was."

The younger man raised an eyebrow at his father's words. "What do you mean?"

The Captain sighed heavily as he brought a his slack hand to his face and rubbed at his eyes. "He didn't understand why I needed him to make the bed." Inuyasha explained as he pinched his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "He said and I quote," Inuyasha dropped his hand and huffed. "'Yuu aready habe bedaru why yuu wando more?'"

"Nice accent." Miroku commented honestly having never really heard the Captain speak with the strange accent of his people.

"Thanks." Inuyasha muttered before continuing. "I told him to just shut up and make the additional bed and he didn't argue or anything but—." He growled ever so slightly in the back of his throat. "He gave me this look."

Miroku raised an eyebrow. "A look." He repeated dryly.

"A look," Inuyasha confirmed as he glanced at Miroku his lips drawn in a thin line as he took in the boy's sarcastic frown. "I don't know why but it really pissed me off."

Miroku shook his head and sighed, "This is ridiculous." He told himself before looking at the Captain blandly. "So what did you do?"

Inuyasha didn't say anything for a moment as he turned away from Miroku looking straight ahead of himself as his free hand came up to grasp the wheel once more. "I hit him." He spoke firmly as if he was already trying to defend himself.

Miroku felt his jaw drop before he brought his good hand up and slammed it into his forehead. "You would."

"Well," The Captain started to protect himself his voice sounding unconfident even as he presented his reasoning. "The look stopped didn't it?"

Miroku shook his head in disappointment but couldn't stop himself from smiling. "It seems like things are getting back to normal." He commented as the wind picked up on deck blowing at the strands of black bangs that hung around his face.

The dog demon gave him a slight smile as the subject was officially dropped. "We're on the right track at least." He confirmed as he adjusted their heading for the last time that night before reaching for the rope to tie down the wheel. "We got a bit more to go before this ship's back to normal though."

Miroku grimaced at the admission knowing what the Captain meant. They had lost a lot more than just some parchment, books, and a bed—a lot more. "Did you do an inventory on the charts to see what was left?"

Inuyasha didn't say anything right away only sighed as his hands paused on the wheel the rope still in his grasp.

Miroku winced at the sound knowing that the lack of admittance meant it was really bad. "How many did we lose?"

"Nearly all of them." Inuyasha's voice sounded strained as he unfroze and once again began tying off the wheel with a firm knot. "All we have left is my chart of England and Ireland as well as a little bit of Florida and Trinidad—," He finished securing the helm glancing over his own work with a satisfied look before he slumped down right where he was resting his hands on his upturned knees as he continued to speak. "So unless we're in one of those locations which," He grumbled heavily. "We're not, we're officially sailing blinder than bats."

Miroku felt sick to his stomach as he watched the Captain sitting across from him rub the back of his neck with one hand.

"Luckily," The older man continued after some moments turning to give Miroku a reassuring look. "I know this area pretty well so I think," He paused and the reassuring look turned to a wince. "I can get us to Boston's shipping lane."

"What!" Miroku spluttered understanding the wince now that he had heard the suggestion. "Boston are you insane?"

Inuyasha chuckled but the sound was forced. "I thought we went over that."

"First Port Royal," Miroku hissed into the ever growing night his voice low and filled with contempt for the man in front of him. "Now this?"

"Miroku I know it's crazy," Inuyasha put one hand up towards the boy feigning surrender. "But we need money and we need supplies." He spoke honestly his hand still facing Miroku in a soothing way. "What the Indians gave us will only hold out for maybe a month after that—," He let the hand drop onto the wooden floor with a slight thud. "We're dead."

Miroku sighed heavily and leaned back once more bringing one hand up to bury in his hair as he tried to calm himself down. "I know." He admitted after some moments of sitting with his hand gripping his bangs. "But Boston—that's the crown's playground and the war—?"

"Miroku hear me out." Inuyasha's voice was level as if he had been preparing for this fight for a while. "I know the Indians helped us save a lot of money by providing that timber for free," Inuyasha continued trying to convince his son. "But that won't change the fact that almost all the gold that was on the ship is now," He took a deep breath. "On the bottom of the sea."

Miroku groaned and brought his other hand up to grip his hair as he leaned over his leg as if in pain. "I can't believe a cannon managed to hit the storeroom." He groused his voice muffled by his hunched over position.

"I know," The Captain agreed as he stretched his legs out in front of him and put his hands behind him on the ground so he could comfortably look up into the rising knight. "How the ship stayed afloat after that hit's a miracle."

"By that point, I think I was unconscious or on my way to it." Miroku brought one hand out of his hair and glanced at the Captain from underneath his bangs. "So I honestly don't know how it managed to stay afloat so long."

"We're lucky to be alive." Inuyasha told him honestly as he looked up at the milky way that was steadily becoming brighter over their heads.

Miroku brought his other hand out of his hair and looked at his father for a long moment before mumbling a soft, "Yeah."

The deck grew silent then, the only sound coming from a softly snoring Totosai somewhere on the quarter deck and the waves of the Atlantic sea lapping against the bow of the ship. It was a peaceful night, the first truly peaceful night the Shikuro had seen in over a week.

"Enough of this," The Captain's voice broke into the resounding quiet as he drug himself upwards into a sitting position and brought both his hands to either cheek before slapping them soundly. "Yosh!" He said confidently as he snapped his head in Miroku's direction and smiled brightly. "What's done is done—," He told the boy who gave him a curious look with one eyebrow raised as if to say what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you. "Come on, now it's time to look out at the future and what's gonna happen next."

Miroku snorted and leaned his back against the rail as he crossed his arms over his chest and muttered. "Various crimes."

"Yes," Inuyasha clutched one fist tightly in front of himself and smirked. "But for right now," He held up one finger as he spoke as if it was speaking for him. "I was thinking more along the lines of—," He paused and pointed at Miroku commanding the boy to fill in the missing words.

Miroku shrugged his shoulders with his arms still crossed in front of his chest. "I'm not following."

"For some reason, I'm greatly disappointed." Inuyasha mumbled but there was no malice in his tone. "A language lesson son."

"Oh yeah," Miroku perked up at the mention of his lesson. "That's why I'm out here in the first place," His voice became more and more bitter as he spoke. "Instead of resting like I'm supposed to."

"Stop your whining." Inuyasha commanded as he motioned to Miroku's bum leg with a roll of his eyes. "The Cherokee doctor said you'll be fine in a month or two as long as we keep using all those medicines he gave us."

"They smell funny." Miroku grunted as he absently poked his leg.

Inuyasha frowned darkly at the boy before him and contemplated hitting his leg—in the end for whatever reason he decided to only mumble instead, "Try being me."

"No thanks—," Miroku gave him a cheeky grin. "I'm surprised you hadn't passed out from the smell."

Inuyasha chuckled slightly motioning to the distance between them. "Why do you think I made you sit so far away from me?"

"I had a feeling." Miroku grumbled dryly as he looked down at his leg and sighed. "All joking aside," He thought to himself as he gently ran a hand over the bandage that covered the still extensive wound. "It was really messed up." He gulped pulling his hand back as he looked at the now clean and white binding that had once been soaked with blood and grim. "I was pretty worried that we were going to have to amputate it." He winced as the memories of sitting in the Cherokee doctor's hut ran through his mind. "The whole time I was there I thought they were gonna do it but that doctor—," He shook his head as a smile came to his face. "That man was downright amazing." He felt his heart thump in his chest as he experienced the relief all over again. "After that first dose of herbs I knew I was gonna be okay and Sango—." Miroku closed his eyes as the image of his wife sprang up in his head. He could see he sitting next to him her beautiful brown eyes fixated on the Cherokee doctor as Onaconah translated his words, taking everything in so she could take care of Miroku properly. "What a woman she is."

"Anyway enough with the distractions." Inuyasha broke up the other man's thoughts as he rolled his neck trying to work out a kink. "Tonight's lesson is greeting people."

"Greeting people?" Miroku parroted back the image of Sango going to the back of his mind as he focused on the lesson at hand . "Shouldn't that have been one of the first ones?"

"Shut up." Inuyasha snapped as he glared at his son before standing back up and moving towards one of the rails slowly. "First, let's talk about the various versions of hello." Inuyasha came to stand by the rail opposite of Miroku turning his back on the hard wood so as to lean against it his arms crossed before his chest. "I know we've talked about a few but what do you remember?"

"Ohayo?" Miroku responded without thought. "Myoga told me that was hello."

"It is but its rather informal," Inuyasha responded as he closed his eyes and started in on his explanation. "Ohayo gozaimasu is the proper term but you would only use it with people that outranked you, Ohayo is used with friends." He spoke quietly into the dark, the sound of the waves nearly drowning out his voice. "It means specifically good morning."

"Ohayo gozaimasu." Miroku repeated the word effortlessly having already head it countless times between Myoga and Totosai during the early morning hours when the two men thought no one was awake to hear them greet each other. "Good Morning."

"Yes," Inuyasha gave him a brief smile before becoming serious again. "When we can afford more parchment I teach you the character but for now," He gestured unintelligently with his hands before sighing and simply moving on. "Anyway, Ohayo is used in the mornings and Konnichiwa is used in the afternoon."

"I'm guessing," Miroku spoke evenly as he scratched his nose. "It means Good Afternoon."

"Don't be a smart ass," Inuyasha glared but calmed his features almost instantly. "But yes."

"So Ohayo gozaimasi means Good Morning and is a proper greeting," Miroku tilted his head back in thought. "And Konnichiwa means Good Afternoon." He lowered his chin to look at Inuyasha once more. "Is it proper or improper?"

Inuyasha frowned and furrowed his brows in response as he tilted his head back in thought. "I honestly don't know." He said after a moment looking completely confused as he stared up above their heads. "I'll have to ask Myoga."

"Oh," Miroku looked on surprised, he had never known the Captain to not be able to answer a question. It was just one of those things—Inuyasha always knew, he was never stumped. "How strange is that?" Miroku rubbed the back of his head as he shook it in disbelief. "Maybe it's been a while since he had to use the word—he said it's been a while since he's written in the language and I know he doesn't speak it much, so maybe?" Miroku narrowed his gaze but quickly threw out the question, knowing that now was not the time to rub anything in the Captain's face. "Just let it go." He commanded himself before hastily changing the subject. "So what's Good Evening then?"

"Konbanwa." Inuyasha supplied easily as he uncrossed his arms and moved them until his elbows were resting on the railing behind him.

"Konbanwa—." Miroku worried his lip for just a second as he thought his eyes staring at the floorboards intently as he tried to formulate what he was about to say. Raising his eyes up towards his father he licked his lips in preparation as he brought his hands away from his legs and dropped them to the hard floor as he gave the Captain an apprehensive look. "Konbanwa," He said the word once more before adding. "No chichi."

Inuyasha blinked in surprise as he took in Miroku's words. "When did he?" He questioned the use of the word 'chichi' in the sentence. "Did Myoga teach him that or Totosai?" He wondered absently as he felt his chest prickle with pride. "He called me chichi—he actually called me father with more respect than I ever called my own." He felt the corners of his mouth barely starting to twitch with his own desire to smile. "Mir—," He started to speak in English but then stopped as his reply formed in his mind in Japanese. "Yoi shigoto," He spoke slowly as he watched Miroku take in the words with rapt attention. "O watashi no musuko."

The younger man grinned at the praise and then grinned even wider when he realized he had understood the sentence so easily. "I feel like I might really be able to speak soon." He told himself as a feeling of pride welled up in his chest. "It's such a hard language, the hardest I've ever had to learn and yet I'm actually picking it up—and understanding it, I never thought I would that first night." He smiled to himself before pushing the thoughts aside, now was not the time to praise himself too extensively, now was a time to learn. Refocusing and calming himself he looked at the Captain prepared for the next phase of the lesson. "So if all that is hello then what's good bye?"

Inuyasha blinked in surprise at Miroku's question having not thought of this particular part of the lesson all that far in advance. "Good bye, Good bye, Good bye." He repeated the word in his head several times not because he could no longer remember the word but because of the memories the word produced. "Sayonara." He finally spoke but his voice sounded distant to his own ears that twitched ever so slightly on his head picking up every syllable of the word savoring them.

"Sayonara." Miroku repeated the word allowing it to roll off his tongue completely oblivious to Inuyasha's rapidly changing mood. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think?" He whispered thoughtfully. "Say—," He formed the syllable delicately enjoying the very taste of it. "O," He smiled as the next syllable tumbled from his mouth unhindered. "Nara."

Inuyasha swallowed deliberately as he only half listened to the other man talk. "It's beautiful." He agreed but his voice came out soft and unnatural as his gold eyes stared at the floor of the deck without really seeming to see it.

Miroku snapped to attention as he picked up on the subtle shift in his father's voice and looked up at the man watching as his gold eyes looked downwards and far away. "Otou-san?" He questioned as he resisted the urge to stand up knowing that he was still on strict orders not to put any weight on his leg.

Inuyasha didn't react to the name as his eyes became more clouded and intense as he stared at the dark wood. "Sayonara," He thought to himself vaguely his mind slowly become clouded with memories long ago suppressed until just recently. "When was the last time I used that word?" He asked himself even though he already knew the answer.

"Otou-san?" Miroku tried again growing worried as he watched the Captain completely lose focus as if he was not even there in the first place.

"Sayonara." Inuyasha whispered out but it was not in reply to his son, no, it was meant for someone very far away. Slowly, he pulled his eyes away from the wood and tilted his head back his elbows still supporting his weight as they rested against the rail. Bright gold eyes looked at the billions of stars overhead seeing them and not seeing them all at the same time. "Okaa-san." He spoke so softly Miroku couldn't have hoped to hear him as the memory consumed his mind.

The room was dark only a small candle flickering on the end table next to the twin bed in which the woman laid. Her straight dark hair fanned out underneath her head the large black gaping wounds of her disease destroying the beauty that had once accompanied it on her face. "Inu-chan." She whispered into the dark and the small boy grasped her hand even tighter.

Behind him, a collection of men watched silently, Myoga and Totosai standing off to the side while three other's hovered just behind Inuyasha's head. All five of the men were silent as they watched the young man clutch at his mother's hand, holding onto it as he held back tears of great anguish.

"Hai," Inuyasha spoke his native tongue knowing that his mother would understand it, not caring that only two of the men behind him would as well. "Anata wa," His voice was small in the room as he asked her if she was in need anything. "Nani ga hitsuyōdesu ka?"

She didn't respond to the question at all her beautiful honey brown eyes looking around blankly as if she could no longer see. "Inu-chan." She whispered once more and raised her un-held hand reaching for something that Inuyasha couldn't see. "Inu-chan." She repeated the words her voice sounding weaker and weaker as the hand dropped back to the bed only seconds later no strength left in her to hold it up.

Behind Inuyasha, the youngest of the five men stepped forward, hi silver eyes going wide as he watched her. "No." He whispered into the dark, his voice coming out in one loud gasp.

Not hearing his words, Inuyasha's small heart thumped hard in his chest as he grabbed her hand tighter little tears forming in his large golden eyes. "Okaa-san?" He whispered in the dark responding to her call, unfortunately by now she could neither see nor hear.

"Pretty." She whispered suddenly into the dark catching Inuyasha off guard. "So pretty."

"Okaa-san?" Inuyasha managed to get the words out just barely. "Can you hear me?" He fell back into using English, his tiny voice sounding so desperate in the darkened room that it made the other occupants look away.

"Inuyasha-sama." Myoga voiced from behind him but Inuyasha didn't bother to turn as his nose twitched smelling a new scent for the very first time.

"What's that smell?" He asked himself as it plagued his nostrils forcing itself upon him. He would not realize until later that it was the scent of decay, of despair, and of death.

The man who had stepped forward fell to his knees a great sob overtaking his body. "It's not fair." He cried out as one of the other men knelt beside him, touching his shoulder carefully and whispering comforting words.

The woman slowly turned her head and looked in the direction of the voice. She stared for some time at the man but didn't speak as her eyes were suddenly overcome with the sight of her son. "Inu-chan," She whispered her now white lips just barely moving as her vacant eyes took him in one last time. "Sayonara." The woman whispered the word softly, her eyes seeming to fade as if something was leaving them that had been there all along. Their chestnut brown color turned to black as the whiteness that surrounded the irises and pupils seemed to grow almost damp. Her once beautiful complexion faded into an off white and her hand, which had up until now held Inuyasha's clawed one tightly, went slack.

Inuyasha's breath stopped, the tears that had been forming in his eyes overflowed, his mouth dropped opened. "Okaa-san!" He wailed into the room, his teenaged body doing nothing to stop his tears from falling. "Okaa-san." He repeated the name over and over again, his face contorted into a look of horror, shock, and unlimited pain. "Wake up—." He pleaded but no matter how much he cried, or wailed, or screamed, she never moved leaving him to simply cry.

"Otou-san wa," Miroku whispered in Japanese the sound of the boy speaking in his native tongue bringing Inuyasha out of the memory. "Daijōbu desu ka?"

Inuyasha blinked several times and shook his head as if to wake himself up from the nightmare that had just consumed him "Hai." He replied shortly as he pushed himself away from the railing. "Good job, I had forgotten I taught you that." He motioned towards Miroku without making eye contact with the boy.

Miroku nodded his head with his eyes narrowed. "Something on your mind?" He pressed not bothering to keep up any pretenses.

Inuyasha clicked his tongue before shooting his son a glare. "Do you not remember what the past week has been like?" He told him bluntly.

"I remember," Miroku replied. "And I know there's a lot of stuff going wrong lately but—," Miroku gave the man a hard almost calculating look. "You'd tell me if there was something more right?"

Inuyasha didn't say anything for a moment as he attempted to look anywhere but at Miroku unfortunately the only other place to look was at the Shikuro. His mind froze as he looked out over the beautiful ship's deck taking in the ropes and riggings and sails and mast with eyes that saw so much more than a vessel. "Shikuro." He allowed the thought to enter his mind only briefly. "The black death—how many years has it been since then, since you said Sayonara?" Inuyasha blinked forcing back the old pain that lodged in his heart.

Ripping his eyes away from the sight of his vessel he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before raising his head and opening them to look at Miroku. The boy was still sitting in the same position his leg outstretched in front of him as his hands rested on the ground beside his hips as if they were prepared to push him upwards.

"Otou-san?" The boy pressed him the muscles in his arms straining as he gave his father a look that clearly commanded the other man to speak.

"Miroku," Inuyasha started to say but stopped as he watched the dark eyes of his son stare at him commanding him to speak the truth. "I can't but its Miroku—I just." His subconscious told him as the memory of his mother overflowed within him. "I—I just can't do this right now I—damn it." He looked away from Miroku unwilling to look at the man as he lied to his face. "I'd tell you Miroku." He winced as the flat out lie left his lips. "You know I would." He added giving the boy a strained smile knowing Miroku would most likely see through the lie but hoping he would let it go for now. "I can't deal with this now."

The younger man gave him a scrutinizing glare his eyebrows knitted tightly together and his lips parted as if he had something he wanted to say. At the last second, he decided against it however, and closed his mouth turning his head to the side and looking out over the Atlantic as night encompassed the small ship making it appear as if they were floating in a void. "If you say so." He mumbled under his breath the very air of his voice sounding as if he knew he had just been lied to but didn't wish to fight about it.

"Thank you." Inuyasha acknowledged as he gulped down a swelling tightness in his throat.

"So what's next," Miroku turned back to him giving the older man one of his brash award winning smiles. "Greeting wise?"

"How about," Inuyasha tapped his chin in thought. "How to say goodbye to your lover?"

"Oh," Miroku smirked and closed his eyes. "Sango would like that." He couldn't help the laughter that was building up in his throat already from the very idea. "Give it to me!" He commanded as his eyes snapped open looking like a five year old about to receive a treat.

"Sayonara," Inuyasha said the word, the lump in his throat almost stopping him from saying the rest. "Boku no koibito." With a shake of his head he pushed the ill feeling aside and concentrated on the last part of the sentence, which held no emotional ties for him whatsoever. "Sayonara boku no koibito."

-break-

Every man who worked on the Thunder found himself standing on the quarterdeck as the sun hung on the horizon slowly starting the last leg of its descent towards the other side of the earth. Their Captain stood in front of the staircase which lead to the helm's deck, his arms crossed before his chest looking downright intimidating as he stared at the woman in front of him. In his hands he gripped a long chain that connected to the wind demon Kagura who stood with her hands chained and feet shackled as a precaution.

After all, the wind demon despite her small size looked just as intimidating as the Captain of their ship as she stood there with her chin held high, her eyes closed, and her whole body held in a taunt straight line. Even with the chains weighing her hands down she still managed to stand with her shoulders rolled back and her body regal. Her black hair blew tauntingly in the natural wind that encompassed the sails above them, the sound of the large white sections of material ruffling as they caught the wind filling the ears of every crewman that stood there taking in the sight of the strong and beautiful wind demon shackled and waiting.

"Captain," One of the men standing not too far away from Hiten called out as he looked from the chained Kagura to the man in question. "Why 'ur we out 'ere?" He questioned Hiten as he took a step closer to the Captain speaking in a hushed whisper. "'Ur we gonna kill her?"

"You'll see," Hiten replied harshly as he snapped his head in the man's direction giving him a good stern glare that made the man take an involuntary step back. "Now stand still and shut the fuck up!" He finished with a snarl as he shifted uncomfortably where he stood waiting for Naraku to emerge from what had once been his cabin.

The man who had ventured to ask him practically squeaked in surprise from his Captain's abnormal outburst and jumped away to the safety of the other sailors who were staring at their Captain in astonishment as well. It was not that Captain Hiten was normally a sweet and kind man, he was not by any means however, he was also not known for screaming at the drop of a hat for a perfectly legitimate question. It was odd to say the least and very disheartening for the normally feared but now fearful crew.

Satisfied he would not receive any more stupid questions, Hiten chewed on the inside of his cheek and glanced over the ship taking in the men that were standing around waiting for whatever spectacle was about to occur. He tightened his hands on Kagura's chains as he looked out at those men. Some were hanging from the riggings while others sat on barrels that lined the deck, the railings, or the ground all with the same curious looks on their faces directed both at him and at the door to the Captain's cabin.

Hiten snorted at the look of curiosity even though he understood it all too well. "It's all too weird—almost out of place." He shifted slightly as he looked at the woman before him gingerly. "This woman says she can see the shards of the shikon jewel but is she telling the truth?" Hiten frowned darkly. "Even if she is—what does that mean for us?" He licked his lips tightening his grip on her chains once more, the steel clinking together as it started to move from the gesture. "We'll go after that fucking dog for sure, Naraku's wanted that mutt dead since the day I met him." Hiten tapped his fingers against the steel at the thought. "And not to mention the shards," He took another deep breath as pain filled his chest. "Manten had shards that should be in Captain Inuyasha's hands by now," Hiten's hand went slack for just a moment. "And after we get those shards and kill that man—after that happens—." He raised his head to look at the ship around him. "I have a bad feeling about what will happen after that."

The sound of a hatch opening made Hiten snap his head around in time to see Mr. Dresmont emerge from down below carefully helping the frail old Kaede whom they had been keeping in the brig following as she too scaled the stairs.

"Why did you bring her out?" Hiten questioned the mentally older man as he eyed the old woman who stood hunched over her one good eye only briefly surveying the crowd before landing on Kagura herself.

"Master Naraku told me to." Mr. Dresmont admitted as he offered his arm to the old woman once she was standing on deck. The woman in question smiled at Richard gently as she wrapped her arms around his offered limb and walked slowly with him as he made his way to stand next to Captain Hiten. "And I wasn't about to question a man like that."

Hiten started to retort but closed his mouth before he inserted his foot. "I could say I wouldn't do the same all day long but when push comes to shove," He clenched his jaw as anger welled up in his heart. "I'd do the same."

Mr. Dresmont shifted uncomfortably as he glanced at the men around them who were growing impatient grumbling and looking ready to pick a fight. "When will the Master be out?" He asked his voice coming across pained.

"I don't know—," Hiten replied as he looked towards the horizon where the sun was getting closer and closer to setting. "I hope soon."

In front of him Kagura forced herself to keep the smirk from her features as she finally opened her eyes and looked at the beautiful painting of the world at dusk. "Such-i pretty picture." She told herself as she watched the pinks and oranges of a dying day blaze into existence. "If-fu I die-e today," She closed her eyes happily as the warmth of the sun began to fade. "I will be happy-y to have seen somethin' this-u beautiful."

Just then the old Kaede Cummings coughed behind her the sound appearing like a normal cough and yet sounding almost deliberate.

Not able to turn around for fear of drawing too much attention to herself, Kagura trained her ears hoping for another sign from the old lady—none came. "Strange, I thought for sure Kaede-sama was signalin'." Knitting her eyebrows together Kagura tried to move her arm only to remain completely in place, the heavy chains not allowing her much movement. "That's-u damn inconvenient." She told herself a dry look coming over her features as she closed her eyes and attempted to calm herself down.

Breathing deeply in and out, Kagura drove away all of the exterior distractions around her from the sunset to even Kaede's strange cough forcing herself to concentrate on the matters at hand. Slowly, she opened her eyes once again looking out into the world without really seeing it, without needing to see it.

"I don't-to know what-to Naraku is-u about to do," She thought to herself as she worried her bottom lip. "Mo, I have-e no choice, I will play Naraku's game." She narrowed her eyes even further. "This-u is-u the easiest method of gettin' to Inuyasha-sama." She told herself just as she heard the sound of a door clicking open. "And I have-e to find-o him at all cost!"

"Good evening," Naraku's voice rang out into the burgeoning night air. "I am glad we are all gathered here to witness this momentous occasion." He continued to speak as he stepped out onto the deck fully dressed in one of his best state outfits, his normally greasy and unkempt hair slicked backed and tied with a small stylish navy bow that matched his navy jacket.

The men of the ship shifted at the man's entrance their eyes roaming over his cleaned up appearance with suspicion that they soon voiced in quiet murmurs not meant to be heard by the strange weasel demon.

"Now, now," Naraku spoke as he moved his hands in a placating gesture the tone of his voice seemingly diplomatic. "Everything in good time my children."

Hiten, Mr. Dresmont, Kaede, and Kagura all blanched at the words thinking at the same time, "But they're older than you," without even knowing it.

"By now," Naraku took a step forward the sound of his expensive leather boots hitting the ground echoing over the silent crew. "You've all been made aware of this beautiful creature," He came to stand next to Kagura one of his hands brushing against her shoulder as he spoke. "Who has graced us with her presence."

"How dare-e Naraku touch me." Kagura thought as she felt a growl building in her throat as Naraku moved his hand from her shoulder up the side of her neck and to her chin causing a shudder to run down her spine. "Disgustin'." She groaned internally as her skin began to crawl at the sensation of him dragging his dark claws against her delicate flesh.

"This girl," Naraku spoke evenly as he rubbed her skin with the pads of his fingers before flicking a claw ever so slightly against it giving Kagura a red welt. "Is more than just beautiful," His fingertips came to rest right underneath her chin pushing it upwards and forcing her face to turn towards the sky. "She claims to have a gift," Naraku's voice turned sickeningly sweet as he held Kagura's face up with just two fingers his surprisingly sharp claws digging into her chin. "A gift that could make us all incredibly wealthy."

The crew broke out into hushed whispers at Naraku's words, the prospect of money after having made almost nothing for the better part of two months driving them on.

"Calm down," Naraku whispered softly his voice stopping all of the chattering despite its hushed quality. "After all, I said it was a claim not a truth." He practically purred as he moved around Kagura's body coming to stand in front of her as the girl followed him with just her eyes, knowing better than moving her chin against his claws. "But tonight we shall find out the truth behind the claim and if it turns out she lied." Naraku's voice dropped an octave becoming much deeper than he should have been capable of at his age. "I'll let you all have your way with her," The smirk on his face broadened with each word. "However you like."

The crew began to talk once more this time much louder than before. Their individual voices boomed loudly as they expressed their interest at the prospect of touching such a fine demon woman.

"She look 'oft!" One of them called out to the others, all of the men yelling in agreement before another man chimed in.

"And her tits—," A chorus of yells accompanied the voice as he continued to speak. "Look at 'em! I ain't seen 'um like that in yea's."

"You haven't seem 'em ever Pete!" Another man called out causing a round of laughter to take over the ship loudly.

Kagura felt the rage mount in her chest as she listened to the catcalls and remarks her face screwed up with disgust. "Like I would let-to yuu near me." She grumbled before turning her attention to Naraku glaring down at the little boy her ruby eyes blossoming with hatred for the small man. "How dare-e Naraku—kuso!?" She thought to herself as a voice entered her head once more.

"At all cost," The man said as he sat with his legs crossed. "You must find him at all cost."

"Kuso." Kagura cursed again from the memory as she felt Naraku finally drop his hand from her chin the crew still yammering in the background as the tiny man turned his dark eyes on her.

"Are you ready?" He questioned as he smirked, the little fangs in his mouth glistening with spit. "For your test wind demon?"

Kagura inhaled deeply the feel of the wind in her lungs invigorating. "Do your worst-to." She told him with her own smirk gracing her naturally red lips.

"As you wish." Naraku ignored the look on her face and merely smiled before he tore his eyes off hers to look behind her. "Mr. Hiten?" He waited for the man to take a step forward before he began. "Release her." He commanded as he took a step back. "But only her hands."

"Yes sir," Hiten nodded as he reached into his pocket and produced a demonic key. Stepping towards her he closed his eyes and exhaled sharply pushing his demonic energy into the object. The key in question glowed with the influx of power and Hiten reached forward placing it into the lock that ran across Kagura's hands before turning it to the left. Instantly, the deadbolt that held the chains in place snapped opened breaking apart and landing on the ground with a loud clatter. Satisfied Hiten took a step back throwing the key in his pocket once more as he awaited the next order.

"Produce the gems." Naraku spoke bluntly as he watched Kagura's pupils every move wanting to gauge her reactions himself.

Glancing at Kaede, Mr. Dresmont smiled apologetically as he released her arm and took a step forward reaching into both his pockets where a series of small gemstones rested. He gulped as his fingers came in contact with them knowing that the ones in his left hand were fakes and the ones in his right were true shikon shards. Shaking, he pulled his hands outwards and turned his palms to face upwards before opening them and revealing the glistening jewels.

Beside him Hiten had done the same, the only difference being the locations of the true and fake jewels. In the palm of his right hand the true shikon's that came from his own body rested glistening in the faded light and in his left the fakes took up residence glistening in exactly the same fashion. "There's no way to tell them apart visually." He told himself as he looked at the jewels and then towards Kagura. "Unless she's just a good guesser this should be a good indicator as to whether she can see them or not."

Across from him Kagura raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" She questioned herself as she looked at the little gems that rested in each man's palms the real ones glowing under the influence of the shinigami's eyes. "Is-u this a joke-e?" She resisted the urge to drop her mouth opened. "It-to has to be." She narrowed her eyebrows. "Please let it-to be."

"So wind demon," Naraku started to speak but Kagura had already tuned him out. "Tell me—."

"Oh kami-sama it's-u not-to." She told herself as she sighed heavily. "Hiten-sama shikon are in his right-to hand," She cut the weasel demon off not wanting to even bother with his long winded explanation of the rules for this farce. "The Jii-jii's are opposite," She gestured towards Mr. Dresmont's left hand appearing bored as she indicated the real jewels. "The real ones are-e in the left-to hand."

Naraku was quiet as he stared at the girl both Hiten and Mr. Dresmont clutching their hands closed and dropping them to their sides in utter surprise as Kaede coughed again giving the wind demon a slight smile which made Kagura laugh. Around them, the demons and humans in the crowd began to mutter to each other the barrels they were sitting on creaking as they shifted uncomfortably away from the Master of the vessel as his eyes narrowed and his body grew taunt.

"How the hell—that fast?" Naraku pursed his lips giving the woman a haughty glare. "She did it that fast?" He felt his blood start to bubble underneath his skin as excitement welled up inside him. "Could it be possible all my troubles—could it—could she?" He forced the grin that threatened to form on his face away. "That bitch might have been telling the truth!" He felt his breathing begin to grow heavy. "Calm down don't get excited yet." He commanded himself as he focused on the wind demon's smug face. "There's one more test, if she completes that just as fast then—then I can get excited." He nodded his head before speaking once again. "Very good," He whispered before allowing his lips to contort into a tight smile. "But that's not the only test." He motioned to the two men holding the gems, "Put those away."

"Yes sir." Mr. Dresmont responded as he fitted the little gems into his pocket.

Beside him Hiten disposed of the fake gems by way of his pocket, while he took the real ones and pushed them back into his forehead. Slowly, he pressed each gem into his skin by means of his thumb allowing his hide to mold around the little shards until they were stuck inside of him once more. He practically hissed as the power of the gems built in his system making him feel exhilarated and youthful and downright invincible once more.

Taking a deep breath after each jewel was back in its rightful place Hiten turned his attention back to the wind demon in front of him watching her as she rubbed her reddened wrist absently. "Can she really see them?" He wondered as he watched her bring one of her wrist up to her face looking at it critically before gently lapping at it with her tongue. "It seems so impossible yet—," He put his hand in his pocket clutching at the fake gems nestled there, rolling them around between his fingers nervously. "That didn't feel like a guess." He licked his lips as his eyes darted back to Naraku who was staring at the girl an undeterminable expression on his dark features. "What are you thinking," He questioned the man's dark face. "Naraku?"

"Are you ready," Naraku spoke up suddenly his dark eyes shining in the fading light. "For the second test wind demon?"

Kagura turned her eyes upwards to look at the young man without moving her head. "Of course." She spoke boldly as she eyed him through her dark bangs a smile playing across her mouth that rested against her wrist. "Whenever Naraku-sama ready-y." She straightened her back and dropped her hand looking downright terrifyingly confident

Naraku gave her a strange slow grin that spread across his face just as a disease spreads throughout a country. "The last test is the one that really matters." He spoke coolly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "On this ship I have hidden one more shard of the jewel, I want you," He separated his arms so he could point at her with one black clawed finger. "To find it," His grin became almost sickeningly sweet as he turned and looked at Richard Dresmont. "Mr. Dresmont if you would."

"Yes sir," Mr. Dresmont who had moved to stand next to Kaede once more shook his head quickly and reached into his pocket once more producing a small chained watch that he flipped opened with a faint clinking noise. "I'm ready."

Kagura raised her eyebrow at the addition crossing her arms over her chest dryly. "Let-to me guess," Her accent came out this time a little thicker confusing some of the men of the ship who had a hard time understanding her to begin with. "A time-e limit-to?"

"Just a small one." Naraku reassured modestly. "Five minutes," He licked his lips slowly as he chuckled. "Starting," He glanced at Mr. Dresmont waiting for a signal. With a slight shake of his head Richard gave the go ahead and Naraku hummed in the back of his throat before turning towards Kagura. "Now."

Kagura didn't move, her hands still crossed over her chest as she looked at Naraku almost expectantly. The crew watched silently for several seconds as the wind demon stared their master down before the whispers started to overtake the ship.

"What's she waitin' fer?" A man grumbled from his spot tangled up in a rigging.

There was a slight grumble of consensus as the men debated the reasoning behind the wind demon's unmoving form. "It's just strange, 'idn't it?" A bunch of men nodded and hummed their agreement.

"Yer telling me." One in particular said in a hushed whisper as he sat on the railing directly underneath the web of rigging leading up towards the foremast.

"Both of ya," A final man exclaimed as he tried to blend into a crowd of men standing amongst some kegs. "Shut up!" The ship went silent at that last command all of the men realizing that a particularly cold wind that did not need to be provoked had settled in their sails.

Naraku narrowed his eyes at the wind demon as she continued to stand there the small pocket watch ticking quietly in the background each soft tick telling the young weasel demon that time was being chipped away and yet this woman had not moved. "Why isn't she moving?" He questioned himself as his own impatience rocked his body. "Can she not see them—was the first test really just luck?" He gritted his teeth as his hands shook. "It's slipping away." The thought echoed in his head. "My chance to find them—to find that dog and bitch—its slipping away." He growled slightly as he cast a particularly angry glare in Kagura's direction. "Why?" His voice was slow and deliberate. "Aren't you moving?"

"Simple Naraku—," Kagura shrugged her shoulders easily even though her arms were crossed. "I don't-to have to look-u."

"Four minutes." Mr. Dresmont interjected softly from Naraku's side.

The weasel demon practically saw red at the intrusion allowing himself to let loose the growl he had been attempting to hold in while sending the man a dirty look. "Not now!" He bit before turning back to Kagura with his eyes drawn in a narrow spectrum of focus all on her. "Why not?"

Kagura frowned and tapped her chin absently as if really thinking about the man's question. "There's-u no reason too."

Naraku tightened his jaw the bones cracking under the strain. "What are you talking about Kagura." He bit out the name each syllable sounding as if he was trying to kill it as he spoke it.

The woman's lips twitched at the sound just the corners forming a slight smile. "That's the first time Naraku-sama really-y said-do my name." She clicked her tongue before taking her eyes off of Naraku's face in favor of looking towards his coat. "I will reward Naraku-sama for the sign of-fu respect-to." She chuckled deliberately. "I don't-to move from this spot." Kagura pointed her hand towards Naraku. "Because the jewel is-su hidden right-to there."

All of the men on the ship watched the direction Kagura's finger faced, their eyes staring in wonder as the delicate appendage pointed directly at Naraku's breast pocket.

The full blooded demon's eyes grew huge as his right hand flew upwards to cover the area she was indicating as he involuntarily took a step away from her nearly bumping into Mr. Dresmont who had been standing just behind him. "How?" The man barely whispered as he looked at her with hope building in his eyes.

"I told yuu, Naraku-sama," Kagura closed her eyes as she spoke her voice almost sounding annoyed suddenly as she once again crossed her arms before her chest. "The Shinigami see them," She spoke calmly as she opened her eyes focusing on the wooden deck of the ship for several seconds before bringing them upwards to look directly at Naraku's own dark irises her ruby ones flashing as she made eye contact with him. "With-o their eyes."

Naraku felt his breath hitch in his throat as he slowly blinked looking at this woman with pure amazement. "She can see them." He thought to himself as his heart thundered in his chest. "This demon bitch can actually see them," He let the smile sweep his face once more. "This is perfect more perfect than I ever thought, I can find them—I can find that bastard dog demon and that insignificant bitch kill them and," He licked his fangs as his breath began to come out in heavy pants. "Get their jewel shards." He laughed at his own thoughts as his eyes closed and his body began to shake slightly from the rumbling welling in his throat.

Around him the men of the crew started to back up again terrified by the sudden and unreasonable change in Naraku's demeanor. "Ya think he's a'right?" One of the men whispered as quietly as possible as he hung from the rigging.

Another man perched beside him also tangled up in the web of ropes responded quickly. "It's 'ard ta tell." His voice was doubtful as they all watched Naraku tilt back his head and continue laughing.

"This is brilliant." The demon finally managed to say as he tried to regain his composer one hand going to his stomach while the other reached up for his face covering his eyes in pleasure. "You can see them unlike the fucking dingbat," He moved his hand and thrust his thumb in Kaede Cummings' direction. "You can see them before you and hidden away?"

"Yes." Kagura agreed with a nod not seeming fazed by the strange outburst as she turned back to give Naraku a deadly smirk.

"From distances," Naraku continued giddily as he looked at the girl his expression appearing almost childish, a strange sight to see. "Can you see them from distances?"

"Yes." Kagura confirmed with a nod as she watched the small boy become excited. "This isn't-to the reaction I was expectin'." She told herself as she gently ran a finger against the fabric of her still intact kimono sleeve. "Mo, it's-u not-to bad—he's talking about-to distance, the more distance Naraku gives to search the more likely I will find Inuyasha-sama." Stilling her features Kagura looked at the happy man as she laid the foundation for the rest of her plan. "Kagura is-su prepared to offer my services with-u no hassles," She told him plainly for authenticities sake. "For a small fee."

Naraku's mirth seemed to instantly melt. "What did you say?"

The ship froze as his words echoed all around them, the voice sounding just as frightening and out of place as it always did.

Unhindered Kagura gave the man before her a dark look. "I don't-to often offer services," She paraphrased bluntly. "I would be happy to work for-u Naraku-sama if-fu it-to made worth my while.

"Why should I bother trying to please you?" Naraku commented swiftly the smile returning to his face smugly as he snorted. "I can make you do whatever I want, I have the power here."

A slow smile spread across Kagura's face as she looked at the tiny man before her. "Are yuu so sure?" She asked before she brought her hands straight out before her and carefully released some of her power.

The wind whipped all around her so strong that some members of the crew found themselves falling backwards off barrels and struggling to hold onto rails or riggings. The sound of sails beginning to rip and tear under the force of the almost instant gale-force winds resounded in the air and Hiten instantly jumped forward in an attempt to stop the girl from destroying the expensive material. The wind demon only sent him an apologetic smile however, before she flicked her wrist and to the amazement of everyone on board sent Captain Hiten backwards several feet before the man managed to control his body and drop his weight to the ground.

"Shit." He cursed the sound drowned out underneath the thundering of the wind demon's increased power. "Kagura stop!" He tried to make his voice loud enough to be heard but found it dwarfed in comparison to the rushing wind.

Barely maintaining his ground Naraku raised his arms over his face to protect himself as he gasped for breath. "I've never seen this before in my life!" He thought as he felt his boots begin to slip, the force of the wind actually causing him to slid backwards. "Is this the power Hiten was speaking of—the untamed power of the wind?" He winced as he tried to look at Kagura through his arms. "To think what I could do if she worked for me?" He felt his lips curve upwards. "If I could control this power, control her—to think what I would be able to do with her eyes and this wind!" He chuckled as his eyes widened with pure delight. "It's worth it." He told himself as he licked his teeth slowly. "So worth it." He schooled his features as best he could before ripping his arms away from his face and screaming as loud as he was able in Kagura's direction. "Name your price!"

The wind instantly died down all around the ship as Kagura lowered her hands and stared at Naraku with a smug smile. "Sorry?"

The weasel took a step forward coming to stand where he had been before the gale had started. "Name your price." He repeated keeping all his features calm and collected as he looked at her with a firm glare.

The wind demon tilted her head back and tapped her chin slowly with all four fingers hitting the tip one after the other—pointer—middle—ring—and pinky as she made a show of thinking about it. "How about-to," She grasped her chin with her hand. "Twenty gold-u coin a month."

"What?" Naraku reacted to the outrageous amount unable to keep his expression calm.

She flared her power once more sending a man so hard into the rail that it broke under the pressure and sent him over board.

"Alejandro!" A crewmen yelled as the men scrambled to get a rope together and the other necessities for saving a life.

"Hurry!" Hiten screamed as he too scrambled towards the broken railing his job as Captain dictating that he must save the man's life.

Seemingly unaware, Kagura and Naraku continued to stare at each other as if nothing was going on. "Kagura is-su being perfectly-y reasonable." The wind demon grumbled as she crossed her arms over her chest and released a little 'hump' noise.

Naraku snorted completely oblivious to the men gathering in a straight line with a rope grasped in their joint hands as they pulled with all their might to save the man Kagura had sent flying. "Ten gold coins."

"Ten?" Kagura spat the word out in distaste.

"All together," Hiten called out from somewhere to her right. "Pull!"

"Twenty not-to one more or-u less." She raised her hand and with a flick of her wrist another just of wind exploded throughout the deck sending the men so desperately trying to recover Alejandro flying forward the rope nearly falling out of their combined grip.

"Hold on tight!" An unknown man yelled as the men forced themselves to maintain their grip knowing this was a matter between life and death.

"Fuck!" Came a yell from over the side. "Pull me u—" Alejandro yelled desperately his voice drowned out as he was dunked back underwater from the slack in the rope.

"Pull men, pull!" Hiten's voice called out as all the men found their footing once more and yanked the rope while stepping backwards their muscles straining under the rather large demon's weight. "Pull harder—just a little more." He encouraged as he stood at the front of the line of men pulling with all his might the top of Alejandro's head just in sight.

The men groaned in response as they pulled with all the strength left in their arms bringing the man back from the brink of death as he was yanked over the side of the vessel back onto the deck.

"Ya alright?" Hiten asked as he knelt next to the wet and shivering man. "Alejandro speak to me, speak damn it!"

"So what-to Naraku-sama say," Kagura spoke over the commotion her eyes never having left the youth before her. "Do we have-e a deal?"

Naraku slowly licked his lips as he eyed the woman. "That power—is that power worth twenty gold a month?" He breathed in deeply the answer already having been made long before the question had been formed. "You have a deal little girl," Naraku spoke over the sound of Alejandro coughing up water. "But so help me god if you go back on that deal." Naraku took a step forward towards the wind demon his eyes turning a shade of black that seemed just as impossible as it was unnatural. A mist formed over his head that same pitch black purplish color, the evil of his character seeming to manifest from his skin. "Not even hurricane forced winds will save you," He bit out as the unnatural swell of dark energy seemed to brush towards her. "Do you understand?"

For a second Kagura felt fear actually bubble in her throat as she gulped and turned sideways attempting to appear unaffected. "Yuu have-e deal Naraku-sama."

"Excellent." Naraku smiled his sharp canines glistening in the sunlight as he turned and looked at Kaede as if just noticing she was on deck. "I bet you're wondering why I wanted you here to witness this old woman." He eyes Kaede with a smirk blossoming on his face.

"I hadn't-to given it too much thought." Kaede spoke evenly, Mr. Dresmont at her side looking uncomfortable as Naraku gave her a firm glare from her tone.

The glare itself turned into a smile easily enough as Naraku stepped towards her calmly. "I wanted you hear," He spoke as if she had not said a word. "So you could see firsthand why I no longer need you." He took a step towards the old woman causing the crew who had up until this point been focused on the recovering Alejandro to freeze and watch. "This wind bitch can see the jewels Kaede—," He licked his lips slowly. "And that was the only reason I was keeping you around."

Kagura felt her eyes widen as she watched Naraku step around her towards the old Miss Cummings. "What's-su Naraku doing?" She felt her heart beat pick up in her chest as fear mounted within her. "Why would he hurt-to Kaede-sama, she's just a perceptive baba!"

Around her the crew also felt fear run through them—over the course of the very few weeks Kaede had been on board they had come to know this old woman as they guarded her or talked about her. They had begun to see her as more than a simple old hag. With her gentle and polite ways they had been reminded of childhoods long gone, mother's long since dead, and grandmother's also tucked into the ground. She had brought something back into them, something that had been instilled by now dead hands causing soft spots to form in their heart's unwittingly.

"He 'ouldn't?" Jonathan whispered into the now thick night air as he looked at the small frail woman who had been kind to him and talked to him as his mother once had when he was a boy. "He in't gonna do it, she'za li'le thing. Frail, he ain't ta do it." His words echoed around him as other men who had been her guard nodded in agreement watching the small woman stand so tall before Naraku. "Capt—." Jonathan started to say only to be hushed by Hiten raising a clawed hand from his spot next to Alejandro.

"If you want to live." He spoke for the first time admitting to the crew (even if it was offhanded) the severity of the situation they were. "You'll not say another word."

Jonathan stared at his Captain watching as the man looked at Kaede with pain in his eyes. "I'm the first person to hurt a woman been doing it for years." Hiten told himself as he looked at the woman's hunched back. "But—this—I would never hurt an old frail woman," He clutched his hand until his knuckles popped. "That's just low and yet—." He felt a feeling he hadn't experienced in years wash over him—shame. "I can't do a thing without all of us going down."

"I've grown quite tired of you Miss Cummings," Naraku spoke as he took another step towards the old woman reaching inside his waistcoat as he did. "You refused to help us, refused all my offers, spoke to me—hm," He fingered something within the lining of his inner jacket absently. "As my father spoke to me."

A sinking feeling entered all of the crew.

"I never appreciated the way he spoke to me," Naraku brought his unoccupied hand to his face running it over his mouth slowly. "So I did the only thing I could do." He let his hand fall to his side before looking Kaede directly in the eye. "I got rid of him." He pulled the gun from his waist cocking it as he aimed it right for her head.

A collective gasp filled the entirety of the ship as the gun pointed at Kaede Cummings forehead.

Kagura felt her heart stop in her chest at the sight, her eyes going wide and panicked. "I can't let-to this happen—," She looked at the steady eyes of the old woman. "I can't-to." She tensed all the muscles in her body preparing to stop the incident if need be. Carefully, she tried to edge herself closer to Naraku only to find herself nearly tripping over the shackles still around her ankles. "No!" She felt the word slip from her mouth as she realized she was still practically immobile. "I don't-to think I can stop a bullet-to with wind," Her eyes opened wide as the realization struck her. "What do I do, I will never-u be fast-to enough with these shackles and I can't let her die." Kagura thought helplessly as she looked at the old woman with tears filling her ruby eyes. "Kaede-sama?!"

The old woman in question, much to the surprise of everyone did not look the least bit afraid her old eye staring down the barrel of the gun as if it wasn't real but a toy. "So," She spoke softly totally in control as the people all around her watched helpless to the sight. "You don't want to know the truth then?" She said calmly to Naraku her old eye looking at him and not the gun.

"Is this the thing about my mother again?" Naraku smirked as he held the gun right in line with her forehead. "What is there to know," He asked with a breathy laugh. "She birthed me and then she died. I heard the story a million times growing up." Naraku's voice turned surprisingly bitter. "No one ever let me live it down—I killed my own mother." His voice sounded young as he spoke. "I killed her—the first horrible deed I ever commuted in my life, my brothers," He glared at the old woman as if it was all her fault. "My father, they never let me forget it." He hissed out as he took a step forward placing the end of the gun directly on Kaede's skin.

The old woman didn't even flinch. "Is that what you chose to believe?" She spoke evenly.

Perhaps it was her tone that did it or maybe it was even the words but for whatever reason Naraku stepped back away from her and glared darkly as the gun lowered just a hair. "What do you mean?"

"I mean what I say," Kaede told him her voice cool and her expression almost distant. "And I say what I mean it is up to you to actually listen."

Naraku hand holding the gun began to shake at her words as his pupils dilated even though there was no light. His teeth gritted together one of the molars snapping in two as he bit down so hard that it had no choice. "You," He spoke the word as his eyes went red and he snapped the gun upwards back towards her face only a foot of space between her and the barrel. "Bitch!" He screamed and pulled the trigger.

Kagura fell to her knees and covered her face at the sound of gunpowder exploding. The crew winced and turned away none of them able to watch as the tiny woman who reminded them so much of their mother's and grandmother's was shot in the head. Hiten covered his face with his hand waiting for the sound of her old body to crumple before he dared to look again a feeling of shame, remorse, and regret already building in his heart.

And yet the sound of Kaede falling dead never came.

Shaking the crew, Kagura, and Hiten all brought their eyes back to Kaede just in time to Richard Dresmont touch his chest where a hole sat in the fabric and blood began to slowly pool.

Behind him the unflappable Kaede Cummings stood with wide eyes and horror on all her features. "No." She spoke nearly silently her lips making out the word as she watched Richard Dresmont fall to his knees in front of her. "Mr. Dresmont?" Kaede yelled losing her composer for the first time since she had found herself a member of this mess.

On his knees Richard brought his hand away from his chest, the appendage shaking uncontrollably blood splattering onto the deck as it did so. "It didn't go through?" He questioned as blood began to dribble down his chin slowly as it welled from his lungs where the bullet had lodged.

Kaede rushed to stand in front of him her old eyes looking at the younger man in horror. "Why?" She spoke as tears ran down both sides of her face. "Why would do that?"

Hiten felt himself take a step forward as he looked at the man he had once seen as small and insignificant. "He did it." He felt the words echo in his head as he watched the blood drip from Richard's chin. "That man protected her—he—." The shame in Hiten's chest doubled.

Richard Dresmont smiled the blood washing over his once off white teeth. "You were so kind—." He breathed deeply before chocking on his own blood coughing and splattering it over Kaede's face. "I'm sorry." He whispered out as he reached a shaky blood covered hand towards her trying to wipe the mixture of spit and blood from her skin. He frowned when it only smeared more red. "I'm sorry." He said again what for was uncertain.

"Save your breath." Kaede whispered as she brought an old hand up to press against his chest in vain. "Please don't talk."

The insignificant man ignored her. "What-t-a-a kind of man," He spoke each word coming with a gargle of blood. "W-w-w-ould I b-e-e-e." He looked down as his blood ran along the tilt of the deck. "If I—I—let you die." He coughed more the jerking motion causing blood to bubble up from his chest running down the front of his clothes.

"Stop it." Kaede commanded as she tried to force him to lay down but even with his dying strength he resisted her and continued on.

"When you—you see—Kago—go—m-e-e—tell her," He reached forward grabbing the front of Kaede's shirt holding it in a trembling hand as he leaned forward his head looking down at the ground as blood dripped out of his mouth onto its surface. "Tell her I was—I was—," He forced himself to look up at Kaede as his eyes grew dim. "I was—."

Kaede shook her head as the crew watched on as Mr. Dresmont tried to breath just enough to speak his final words.

"Wrong." He finally pushed out as he looked upwards at the night sky that now was alive above them. "She—I didn't—I didn't see." His eyes began to fade as the image of a small black haired girl formed in his mind. "I did—n't want—to-o-o-o see her."

"Papa!" She called as she played in the sand her eyes bright and shinning sweet and innocent.

Mr. Dresmont's hand fell from Kaede's shirt as he looked behind her at that image no one else could see.

"Come play with me Papa!" She giggled as her dirtied dress spun as she spun, the little ringlet curls about her head seeming to dance. "I want to make a boat!"

"I'll help." Mr. Dresmont whispered as a small smile formed on his face.

"Hurry Papa!" The little Kagome called again as mirth danced in her grey eyes—those beautiful eyes.

Tears formed in his own slightly grey eyes a trait he had passed down to her. "Why didn't I see it sooner?" He wondered as he looked at this beautiful spirited girl he had ignored, neglected, and never truly seen. "My one regret is that I didn't see her sooner." Black began to tint the sides of his vision and all he could see was that little girl laughing in the sand. "I didn't see her until I was forced to—until all I could see was the horrors of the life I wished on her." The image of Naraku Morgan standing next to this sweet girl at the altar flashed before his eyes and he cringed the blood in his throat becoming thicker.

"Papa!" The little girl called exasperated as she stomped her foot and pointed beside her. "Come play, I can't make the boat alone—I need you Papa."

"I'm coming." He whispered out as he tried to smile and laugh at her antics.

"Mr. Dresmont," Kaede called to him as she grabbed hold of his arm. "Can you hear me—it's going to be okay, it will be." Her voice shook just as it had so long ago before her sister's grave. "It's okay."

Richard didn't hear her or feel her as he looked at that little girl however, the tears overflowing from his eyes as the blood collected in his trachea slowly suffocating him. "Kagome?" He whispered as he watched the little girl before him smile wide her little teeth white and her bright eyes filled with love and mirth. "I—'m com—."

"Papa!"

She called and Richard Dresmont smiled before closing his eyes. "Kagome." The name left his lips as he fell forward and died.

"No." Kaede cried out as she caught him in her arms the blood soaking through her close as she held the man who had saved her life without a second thought for his own. "Why?" She whispered as she hugged him close. "I'm an old woman." She spoke softly into his ear as the ship looked on even the hardest man there feeling for this woman. "I was prepared to die."

"To bad." Naraku finally spoke as he opened his gun and looked into the chamber. "I only had one bullet." The demon shrugged his shoulders as he came to stand next to her being carefully not to step in the blood. "Fortune smiles upon you." He whispered out as the men looked on with mouths wide opened at the lack of feeling on this man's face. "I guess—you'll just have to life as I do." He clicked his tongue. "With the weight of a death on your conscious."

End of Chapter

Please Review

Congrats to WhiteKnight52 for being review 1450! Edited for content 6/5/2013.

Bonus Point:

Is Kagome's father ever mentioned in the manga, anime, movies, or any official Inuyasha media?

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

Totosai was a blacksmith, weaponsmith, or swordssmith depending on how you want to define it! Congrats to the winners:

AnimeNerd1, Ream D0bby, Whiteknight52, kate101, 14 inu-kag, HeabenlyEclipse, Leo-mae, iaminlovewithcoffee, Guest, LittleMargarita, scorpioprincess18, Bonus Point, Alice's Secret Lover, suyurilrig, Litle C, AKEMI SHIKON, NurNur, HentaiLemon, TheRealInuyasha, Glon Morski, avengeme

Next Chapter:

Her Personal Symphony

See you then!

UNEDITED

POSTED 8/5/2012