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?

59. A Ship in the Distance

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-Nine

A Ship in the Distance

Sango stood on the helm's deck of the Shikuro piloting the ship as the Captain sat on the ground only a few feet in front of her leaning against the rail with his eyes closed but not asleep. "He looks almost peaceful." Sango thought as she eyed the man. "And after everything that's happened—." She smiled faintly to herself, almost mischievously as she forced herself not to chuckle, an action that would have caused suspicion from the man in front of her. "I guess that makes sense." She breathed in deeply and tilted her chin up to feel the sun warming her face her mind gently going back to the conversation Miroku and herself had had only a few nights before.

Sango adjusted her pillow absently preparing to lay down and sleep. Done fluffing the small feathered comfort she leaned towards the table beside the bed and blew out the candle that flickered there the tiny flame extinguishing easily with one small puff of air casting the room into semi-darkness as a trail of thin smoke drifted towards the ceiling. Satisfied, she turned onto her back and snuggled down into the sheets closing her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow with a sigh.

"Good night Miroku." She whispered into the dark as she prepared herself for a nice long night's sleep. Beside her, she felt her husband squirm at her words turning and pulling at the blankets that covered her. Grunting she pulled them back and turned to her side. "Don't hog 'em."

"Sorry." The man whispered into the dark and gently touched her shoulder in way of apology before his hand dropped back down between them.

"It's okay." She murmured as she pulled the blankets up to her chin comfortably and waited for the telltale signs of Miroku preparing to sleep for the night as he always did, by creating a strange little cocoon or nest of sorts to sleep in. After several seconds of nothing happening she furrowed her brows confused. "Why isn't he moving?" She wondered even though her mind was already shutting off for the night. "Go to sleep Miroku."

"I am." He replied but she could tell by the sound of his voice that he was lying.

"Is something wrong?"

"No, go to sleep love." He whispered and moved closer to her in the dark, throwing one of his legs over her hip and hooking it with his foot to drag her closer.

She sighed relaxing from the change to one of his standard sleeping positions. No longer too worried she closed her eyes once more expecting to find sleep easily now. However, not five minutes past before she felt the hairs on the back of her neck start to stand on end, every instinct in her completely human body telling her that someone was watching her: someone she knew. "I can feel you staring Miroku." She whispered into the air. "It's kinda creepy when we've already made love so I know you're not trying to get some."

"He wants to court her." Miroku said without preamble, without reason, without cause. He just blurted it out wincing when Sango's eyes snapped opened and the woman bolted up right in bed knocking his leg off her hip.

"What?" She practically shouted seeming completely caught off guard as the blanket fell away from her revealing her exposed breast. The sight surprisingly didn't distract Miroku in the least.

"Shh—," He hushed her loud voice instead as he grabbed for the blanket and gently pushed her back down as he brought it up to cover her against the chilly night. His wife didn't resist the effort but did glare as he laid his arm across her stomach to hold her in place as he explained. "Otou-san and I had a talk when I found them outside last night—."

"Doing what?" His wife interrupted straining against his hand about to spring from the bed.

"Calm down," Miroku whispered hastily as he eyed the very thin wall that separated the two rooms. "It was an innocent thing."

"Innocent?" Sango raised an eyebrow darkly. "And yet it leads to courting?"

"Yes." Miroku defended speaking quietly knowing the Captain was bound to hear them if they were too loud. "He played the violin for her."

Sango's mouth formed a slight 'o' shape as surprise, pleasant surprise, formed on her face. "He played for her?" She whispered finally into the darkened room amazed.

"He did," Miroku confirmed with a shake of his head as he loosened his grip on her ever so slightly, pushing himself to sit up on one elbow. "I caught them at the end of the session and he told me he played for her—," He 'tisked' slightly and gave Sango a distracted frown. "The whole night Sango all because she couldn't sleep." His voice sounded just as amazed as Sango looked. "Can you believe that? All night just for her."

"Wow." Sango whispered, blinked, then frowned. "All night just because she couldn't sleep?" Sango felt her heart swell with love for her surrogate father figure in her chest. "That's so—sweet."

"Yeah," Miroku agreed as he ran his hand over her stomach slightly in calming circles. "Afterwards, we had a talk about you know," He raised his hand in an attempt to shrug while laying down. "Him and her and what he wanted and—," Miroku looked her right in the eye showing the sincerity of it all. "By the end he told me he wanted her, he wanted to court her," He smiled wide. "He wanted to know if there was something there to pursue."

"There's something there." Sango whispered into the dark as she felt happy tears start to gather in her eyes. "There's so much there."

"And it only took 'em," Miroku chuckled as he pulled her closer to himself and smiled into her hair, happiness easily seen on his face as he thought of his father's own happiness. "Three and a half months to see it."

"I can't believe it." A gleam fell into Sango's eye that soon turned downright devious. "You owe me five gold!" She pulled away from him pointing an accusing finger as he looked at her completely stumped.

"Damn it I thought you forgot!" He groaned and fell back on the bed covering his face with his hands. "We made that bet months ago—months." He threw his hands in the air exasperated but Sango could only laugh, true pure happiness filling her heart. "Fine I'll pay you tomorrow."

"I still haven't gotten my five gold." Sango groused as the memory dissipated and her eyes seemed to magically focus back on Inuyasha instead. "To believe he wants to court her." She shook her head a small part of her still feeling as if it was a joke. "I mean I knew it would happen but I figured it'd take a little longer," She wrinkled her nose. "Still Miroku thought it would take at least a year." She smiled slightly to herself. "Totally called it!" She held in a laugh just as she noticed one of Inuyasha's eyes suddenly pop opened his instincts alerting him to something.

She watched as his ears swiveled on his head and then he looked directly at her glaring slightly. "Why are you staring at me?"

The girl's eyes widened as she realized she had been the cause of the reaction and she shifted slightly from foot to foot unsure. "Oh um—," She struggled to think up any plausible explanation. "I had a question." The words tumbled out of her mouth even before she could think of a plausible question to follow the plausible explanation.

Inuyasha raised a curious eyebrow at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Okay." He motioned for her to speak with one clawed hand.

"Well," Sango looked this way and that trying to think of anything that would suffice—she came up with nothing. "Um, I was—a," She laughed nervously before waving a hand at him. "You know what it can wait, you're trying to sleep right?"

Inuyasha's eye twitched with irritation as he watched the very un-Sango like behavior being displayed in front of him. "Just ask the fucking question."

"I would if I actually had one, good going Sango." Sango felt panic enter her heart as she tried to think of anything she could actually ask him. Her eyes darted this way and that looking at the small islands that dotted the sea terrain around them. "We must be getting close to Boston—," She thought absentmindedly as she looked at the tiny islands knowing they were land marks of the harbor. "Officially in American waters—isn't there a war going on nearby?" The girls eyes lit up as the question filled her and she smiled brightly before rattling off a truly plausible question. "Is the war in America over?"

"Between the British and rebels?" Inuyasha asked needing confirmation; he waited for Sango to nod her head before he truly answered. "No." He informed as he leaned his head back against the railing while she steered the boat. "Been going on now for a few years, since '76 I think."

Sango nodded her head absently as she looked out across the landscape watching as the islands seemed to wiz by. "Who do you think's gonna win?"

"Well I hate the British," Inuyasha grumbled as he stretched his arms above his head and yawned. "So I'm hoping for the rebels."

"Why would you hate the British?" Sango questioned feeling a little offended by the Captain's blunt statement despite the fact that she was French. As a girl she had spent some time in England at a relative's house and had always found the country to be pleasant even though France and Britain were not exactly on speaking terms during her childhood.

Inuyasha gave the girl a slight look and shrugged his shoulders at the question. "Just do—I mean look what they did to your husband."

Sango bit her lips at the words understanding what the Captain meant. Miroku had been a poor soul born to a even poorer family. At barely the age of five he had been sentenced by the British government to work as a chimney sweep so his mother and himself wouldn't be put in the poor house. And then when she had died, he had been sentenced to the streets ignored by the government who had not created enough orphanages leaving not one with room enough to take him. It was the death sentence most children endured—a trial completely unnecessary for the conviction to be delivered.

"If it hadn't been for the Captain that day seeing him in the gutter," She closed her eyes shuddering as the thought rushed over her. "He probably would have died." Inhaling deeply controlling her emotions Sango opened her eyes looking at the Captain wearily. "That may be so," She whispered as she set her chin firmly while thinking ever logically. "But is there any country in this world that would have done things differently?" Her words were blunt and true.

"Fine," Inuyasha mumbled and rubbed at his neck briefly as if he had a crick. "I amend my statement."

The woman raised an eyebrow waiting for the catch.

"I hate everyone: French," He gave her a pointed look before continuing. "English, German, camels—," He spat the word just like the beast itself. "Everyone."

"That's more like it." Sango spoke dryly ignoring the camels line knowing that was just the Captain's particularly weird brand of humor rearing its ugly head.

The sound of footsteps approaching them caused both Sango and Inuyasha to turn towards the stairs watching as Miroku appeared only seconds later, a smile on his face as he nodded a greeting at both of them. "So what's going on up here?"

"Your father hates the world." Sango supplied briskly as she blinked sarcastically.

"And camels." Miroku added causing Sango to look at him with a mixture of horror and shock.

"Miroku?" She whispered out scandalized with her hands nearly falling off the wheel.

"I overheard that part of the conversation." He supplied slowly as he realized she was looking at him as if he was insane. "That's all."

"Oh thank god." Sango whispered relieved her husband wasn't as strange as his father. "For a second there I was worried."

"What?" Inuyasha hissed from the ground as he looked between both his son and daughter-in-law. "Camels are disgusting." He groused giving them the most horrified expression he could. "Besides," He continued leaning forward ever so slightly looking around them suspiciously before speaking once again. "I distrust anyone who can go a week without a drink."

Miroku and Sango exchanged looks before turning back to the Captain. "Good to know." The son commented as he eyed his father wearily. "Have you been drinking?"

"Today?" Inuyasha raised his head to his son looking honestly confused. "A little, why?"

The younger man paused for only a minute before giving Inuyasha a tense smile. "No reason."

The Captain did nothing more than raise his eyebrow at the strange remark before leaning back against the railing once more. "Good." He grumbled and yawned tiredly. "Kagome in the cabin?"

"Yeah," Miroku answered as he stood next to Sango looking out across the chain of small islands absently. "She's working with Shippo today on his spelling."

"That's nice." Inuyasha replied with a nod as he finally pushed himself into a standing position twisting this way and that, his back popping in response as he sighed loudly. "The kit needs to learn and I'm done raising kids—so let her deal with it."

Sango bit her tongue at the comment wanting to ask the innocent yet harmful question: "What if Kagome wants children—ever thought of that—have you asked her about what she wants in life at all?" The young woman knew better than to ask such a question however, and wisely looked over to Miroku for help knowing her husband would see her distress and jump to the rescue.

Sure enough the man in question saw her just out of the corner of his eye and nodded vigorously before hastily changing the conversation to another topic. "So—how soon till we get in position?"

"No more than two," Inuyasha supplied as he leaned his forearms against the railings in front of the wheel, Sango, and Miroku. "Three hours tops." He shrugged looking back over his shoulder at Miroku. "We've already technically past New York, which is the area the British are still occupying but their Navy ships come out of Nova Scotia for resupplying so we need to go up a little closer into Boston's shipping lanes to intersect them," He pointed out in front of them. "Right now we're in the Merchant Shipping Lane—so we won't see much military but in a few hours we should see hundreds, we just gotta get closer to Canada first."

Miroku clicked his tongue in response and moved away from Sango to stand next to the Captain, leaning backwards against the railing so he could still see her as they talked. "You think we'll find someone real easy?"

Inuyasha sighed heavily and turned as well resting his elbows and back against the railing as he looked at Sango on the helm. "We went over this the last time we raided up here—."

"That was like five years ago." Sango interjected causing both men to look at her in surprise. "The war had just started."

"You weren't even with us." Inuyasha snorted but Sango's own glare stopped him from further comment on that particular subject. "Anyway," He cleared his throat loudly not making eye contact with the woman for fear of the hell fire that he would find in those innocent doe eyes. "The war is actually to our advantage." He explained to both Sango and Miroku slowly. "The British are coming—their navy is up and down this channel all day long," He waved a hand in front of himself as he spoke making the motion for the channel slowly. "Transporting supplies, troops, ammunition." He drew out the last word to solidify its importance.

"But the navy well—," Miroku bit his lip as he spoke looking skeptical. "All navies, tend to run in packs during wars."

"I know, I know," Inuyasha spoke instantly without even a breath as if he had known this argument was coming on. "The trick is to let the navy go ahead of us while we stay hidden," He carefully motioned with his left hand: showing the navy going away, and with his right hand acting as the Shikuro staying behind. "And then we take out the slowest ship sailing at the back. We steal whatever we can: uniforms, muskets, food—."

"I'd like a new dress." Sango commented off handedly her voice almost teasing as she listened to the two men.

"Some dresses—" Inuyasha smirked and stuck his thumb towards Sango. "To sell."

"Hey!" Sango frowned darkly and started to cross her arms over her chest before cursing and glaring at the wheel she couldn't rightfully let go of at the moment, not at least with so many islands around them. "Those are my fucking dresses." Her eye twitched as she spoke but Inuyasha bluntly ignored her.

"We get anything and everything—," He continued looking straight into Miroku's eyes. "Maybe even some food and then," He licked his lips and leaned a little closer to his son. "You know what we do?"

"No." Miroku replied as he narrowed his eyes and waited for the tidbit. "What?"

"Go," Inuyasha spoke slowly as he glanced over at Sango to make sure she was listening as well. "To New Jersey."

Miroku and Sango both had to resist the urge to just drop to the ground and bang their heads on the floor. "Are you sure you've only drank a little today?"

"Yes." Inuyasha hissed looking actually a little disappointed. "Now just shut up and listen, okay?" He waved his hands in front of him as if clearing an imaginary chalk board. "Think about this." He encouraged with a deep breath. "Where are the rebels right now?"

"I have no idea." Miroku said honestly as he crossed his arms over his chest as if bored.

Inuyasha growled and dropped his hands to his sides in frustration. "Read a fucking news paper."

"When did you read one?" Miroku challenged automatically as he too dropped his hands to his sides in frustration.

"Way back when we were in Charleston." The Captain informed his voice nearly a hiss towards the end.

"I never saw it." Miroku dismissed with a flick of his wrist.

"I've never seen a cloud demon," Inuyasha threw back in his face smugly. "But that doesn't mean that one might not be out there."

"A cloud demon?" Miroku frowned and looked only two steps away from checking the other man's temperature.

"It's possible." Inuyasha defended.

"Anything's possible," He agreed only slightly before contradicting the statement completely. "Whether it's probable or not is the question."

"Alright alright enough—back to the point." Inuyasha waved his hands once more in front of him erasing the imaginary chalkboard again. "We'll go to New Jersey and sell everything we get to the rebels." He posed the idea looking at Sango who seemed to just be standing back watching the train wreak that was their conversation with amusement in her eyes. "Think about it, they won't care, they just want to win the war and to do that they need as many weapons as possible from where ever they can get them. Washington's army is not dumb—."

"They're gorilla's, right?" The woman spoke, her voice thoughtful as she tilted her chin back taking one hand off the wheel to tap it absently.

"Gorilla Demon's?" Miroku continued to question as he tapped his chin. "I didn't think Washington's army were gorilla's, aren't gorilla demons usually from Africa—or are they from South America?"

"They're not that kind of gorilla." Inuyasha cut off the conversation his eyebrow twitching violently as he listened to the two. "They're using Guerilla Warfare which is why they're winning." He bit out as both Sango and Miroku nodded in realization—realization that seemed more contrived than actually real.

"Oh—," Miroku drew out the word looking over at Sango with amusement in his eyes. "I see."

"Yeah, the two words sound alike." Sango smiled slightly her own eyes filled to the brim with mischief. "What's that called?"

"A homonym?" Miroku pursed his lips in thought. "That's sounds—."

"Shut up!" Inuyasha yelled loudly causing the whole ship to freeze for just a second as the Captain seethed. "They're like us; they do what they gotta do to free themselves from the crown who cares about the fucking word that describes it!"

Miroku and Sango both bit their lips as they nodded at the Captain.

"Got it?" Inuyasha whispered darkly demonic energy actually seeming to come off of him like a wave as he fumed.

"Of course." Sango whispered charmingly her smile dazzling and wide.

"Okay—," Inuyasha huffed knowing that the two were now deliberately messing with him. "Back to the conversation at hand." He commanded before speaking once more. "We'll sell the weapons in New Jersey maybe even some uniforms if they want. Then we'll travel back down the cost towards the—a-um—," He tried to think of a suitable word. "More friendly settlements and trade the rest," He nodded firmly. "Then we get supplies and shares for the crew."

"What if we have stuff left over?" Sango threw the question out there just as she turned the wheel significantly to starboard watching as a ship on the horizon started to very faintly come into view. It was still much too far yet to be seen and identified but it was still good to prepare in advance.

"I'd say we go down to Trinidad again," Miroku suggested as he looked over at the Captain. "Couldn't hurt maybe there's some shards there too—we didn't have the compass last time we were there."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Inuyasha agreed with his son as he glanced at the speck on the horizon faintly. It would be another hour before they were close enough to figure out the ship's origin.

"Just one more thing—," Sango's voice caused both men to turn back to look at her once more. "If we head down the coast who's to say we won't run into the Thun—."

"We won't hug the coast," Inuyasha cut her off already knowing who she was talking about. "I bet they're doing just that right now. It's the easy way to track us, stopping in ports along the way to ask for information. They'd be stupid not to."

"You really think they're looking for us?" Miroku whispered as he brought a hand up to his face, running it across his chin where stubble had collected. "I need to shave." He thought vaguely as he looked over at Inuyasha awaiting an answer.

"I know they are." Inuyasha spoke without much thought as he looked out over the horizon slowly. "After all, we killed Manten and a true man won't rest until his brother's murderer is dead."

Miroku blinked slowly as the word 'brother' flooded his senses a memory immediately lodging in his brain as he heard it.

"I've never had the love for my brother that you do—but I guess I can understand a bit."

The young man blinked as the words filled him and he glanced at the Captain almost feeling nervous. "Back then, you said brother—," He licked his lips wanting to ask the question know but knowing now was not the right time. "Do you really have a brother Captain, or were you just speaking out your ass?" He licked his lips and glanced over at Sango who was already looking at him, the same expression on her face that he wore on his own.

"Not yet." She tried to convey to him with her eyes as she glanced for just a brief second at Inuyasha her own mind plagued with thoughts on the strange slip up from nearly two weeks before. "I know it's bizarre," She looked over at the ship on the horizon watching as Miroku's eyes followed her own. "But now is just not the time."

Miroku understood the woman easily and shook his head to clear away the thoughts about the mysterious possible brother. "Not now, we're about to raid, there's a ship just a speck on the horizon we don't need to get into this now." Inhaling sharply he quickly picked up where the conversation had dropped off. "You think that's why they were in Louisiana?"

"Most likely." Inuyasha told him not having been bothered by the strange lengthy silence. "But if we run into them, we run into them there's nothing we can do but fight."

Miroku nodded understanding what the Captain meant but at the same time finding it interesting that Inuyasha hadn't brought up the next point himself. "What about Kagome?"

"I think Kagome'll be okay." Sango interjected quietly before the Captain could say a single word. "She can hold her own."

The dog demon turned to look at her surprised blinking slowly as he thought of the woman in question. "Kagome being okay in a fight like that?" He closed his eyes trying to imagine the girl seemingly in the thick of things—he knew she could defend herself if need be, she was amazing with her arrows against demons and her barriers but to do so voluntarily? "Kagome—she wouldn't take part or be able to deal with that—she's sweet and kind." He lifted his eyes and shook his head slowly back and forth. "Sango, Kagome wouldn't dare hurt even a fly."

"I have to agree with Otou-san." Miroku said sagely. "Kagome isn't one to hurt anyone—even with her arrows she cannot kill."

"I know that." Sango sighed and closed her eyes. "I mean—she understands and she'll be okay if we have to fight." Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked from her husband to her father-in-law expectantly. "I talked with her and told her about us raiding—at first she was a little hesitant and freaked out." She spoke honestly only rushing to confirm what she meant when she saw the Captain's pupils dilate. "But then we talked and I explained how the raid worked and that we don't hurt anyone unless we have to and all that and she said—she understood."

"Really?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow not looking as if he believed her in the least.

"Yes, I mean she's not gonna kill anyone anytime soon," Sango closed her eyes just slightly looking down at the ground threw sad slits. "But—she understands that we're not doing this for wrong reasons, bad reasons." She closed her eyes completely, her grip on the wheel tightening as she spoke. "She knows we only fight to protect ourselves and keep her alive as well. So if we go on a raid or encounter The Thunder—," She raised her head and looked Inuyasha directly in the eye. "I think she'll be okay—I know she won't kill but you've seen her." She gave Inuyasha a patient smile. "She can't throw a punch but she can do some pretty amazing things. She'll protect herself if she absolutely has to."

"I think I've been swayed." Miroku whispered as he looked down at his hands that were wringing in front of his stomach. "What she did to Adahy, to that orb with her arrow." He dropped his hands and shook his head quickly. "That's some amazing—shit." He finished unable to come up with a more suitable word. "She made the Shikruo completely disappear once with that barrier of hers too." The man grinned. "She can do that at will now right?"

"You were there." Inuyasha told him without thought as he looked out at the ship that was getting just a little bit closer by the minute—tiny bit after tiny bit, it would only be another forty five minutes, maybe a hair more, before they were able to see the ship full on. "I've seen her do it a few times now." He spoke but it sounded as if he was actually speaking to himself. "Still—that doesn't mean she needs to."

"I agree." Sango spoke up from behind him. "But at last we know she'll be safe and—," She hesitated for just a second as she let go of the wheel with one hand once more and clutched at her chest as if actually experiencing pain. "She won't hate us for it."

Her words caught Inuyasha off guard and he turned to look at Sango expectantly, watching as the girl squirmed just slightly under his gaze. "Hate us?"

"Maybe it's silly," Sango spoke quietly trying to smile despite her obvious discomfort. "But I kind of thought that she might—might hate us. You know?" She shrugged as she tore her hand away from the front of her jacket so she could grip the wheel instead. "This is the first time she's ever really seen us do something pirate like and I don't want her to be scared of us or hate us because of it." She gulped, pausing for only a second so she could collect herself. "After talking with her, I don't think that's going to be possible at all." She smiled as the pain in her chest began to lesson. "She could never hate us. Not even one little bit."

Inuyasha looked down at the floor of the deck as Sango's words sunk into his chest. He hadn't really thought of that possibility yet. "Does Kagome accept us because she really doesn't know us?" He asked himself as he thought back to the things Kagome had seen them do. "She's seen me beat people within an inch of their lives, seen me shoot people, punch people, drink, get into bar fights, but she's never seen something as—," He struggled with the word. "Memorable—as a raid." He licked his lips as the sensation of an elephant sitting on his chest began to form. "That's our true nature at its best." He blinked several times. "That's what pirates do—we raid—we steal and Kagome hasn't ever really seen that. What will she do," He questioned himself. "What will she do when she sees that happen?" He glanced at Sango who had grown silent her words deeply ingrained already in his head but somehow not believed. "Will she just accept us without a thought Sango?" He wanted to ask the question but felt his throat too tight to open as the fear of rejection bubbled within him. "I don't think I could take it, not after everything, not after—." He let the thought trail off and sighed deeply to himself as he choose to focus on Sango's optimistic words; relying on them heavily to sooth his subconscious and conscious both.

"That ships getting closer." Miroku said suddenly breaking him out of his thoughts. "And its alone." He turned towards Inuyasha waiting for the other man's command.

Blinking back into consciousness, Inuyasha turned to look at the speck on the horizon. It had gotten closer—the flag not visible yet but it would be soon. "It's either a merchant vessel," He deduced simply by its location alone. "Or a passenger," He shrugged. "I don't think a little lost navy ship we be in the shipping lanes."

"We'll know soon." Sango whispered from behind Inuyasha as she turned the wheel just a hair larboard in the direction the other ship was taking.

"Yep," Inuyasha spoke softly as he reached for the railing holding onto it as if it had suddenly become his lifeline. "We'll know real soon."

Miroku eyed the suddenly subdued man somehow getting the feeling that his father wasn't talking about the boat.

-break-

Kagura stood on the helm's deck of The Thunder, her ruby eyes staring out across the sea intensely as she silently tracked the jewel shard that was becoming just a little brighter with each passing hour. "It can't-to be more than a few days-u away now." She told herself as she leaned forward on the railing and looked out at one of the islands of the Florida Keys.

They were staying very close to the shore because at first Kagura had been pretty much certain the shard was going to be found on land. However, there was something strange about this particular shard she was tracking so far. Over the course of the past week or so she had been tracking it, it had moved erratically; sometimes becoming closer and sometimes becoming father away, sometimes going right and sometimes darting to the left. Sometimes it even seemed to disappear for hours on end before reappearing in a totally different location than where it had left off.

"I wonder why-y it-to would do that," She thought as she leaned away from the rail and crossed her arms over her chest. "I know the shard's-u not-to on land—," She licked her lips absently as she narrowed her eyes. "It-to has to be on a ship-pu, demo, the more-e I watch its movements the more-e it seems not-to be—no ship-pu could move that sporadically, it's-u just not done." The wind demon closed her eyes against the harsh light of the Atlantic Ocean's sun and turned away from the sea so she could lean backwards against the railing and look at the man currently steering the large vessel.

Thoughtfully, she studied the man in front of her looking at his strong Spanish chin as he clutched his jaw tightly, his dark eyes staring ahead of him with such intensity that anything in their path should have burned. The sight of him made the pit of her stomach tighten and she turned her face away forcing herself to ignore the firm jaw and tense shoulders. It was useless however, and before long she felt just her pupils move directing her gaze back to the tall tan man seeing his muscles strain underneath his black jacket as he turned the wheel hand over hand.

"Hiten-sama really-y—." She frowned and shook her head quickly before turning away once more this time completely back to the rail so she couldn't easily move an irise to see him. Looking out across the sea she frowned and pursed her lips. "He's a pirate—a horrible man." She told herself as she remembered the things he had told her a week ago: the crimes he had committed. "Even though they're nothin' compared to Naraku's cold blooded killin'su—they're still." She felt some bile rise in her throat as she thought of virgins being ripped apart for the organs, slashed down the front of their stomach screaming as organ after organ was removed from their chest cavity. A bloody mess of glistening entrails pilled beside her as the excavation continued until the woman's body finally succumbed to sweet merciful death leaving nothing but a cold corpse with beautiful skin and a gaping empty torso. "I think-ku I'm gonna be sick-i." She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose in hopes of not vomiting.

From his place at the helm, Hiten turned an eye towards her upon hearing her ill fated words and instantly winced as he watched her lean over the rail fully expecting her to immediately vomit. He watched as the woman in question dry heaved a few times her shoulder blades nearly touching as she clutched the rail and pushed herself forward until her breast were resting against the smooth surface. Convinced she might not throw up Hiten turned ever so slightly in her direction dropping one hand from the wheel while the other hand held on firmly. "You okay?" He tried to sound casual but his voice actually did come across concerned.

"I'm fine." Kagura managed to reply as she sniffled ever so slightly from the dry heaving ordeal and pushed herself away from the railing simultaneously turning and dropping down to the deck floor with a groan. "I'm just not-to used to bein' on ship-pu I guess."

"Seemed fine before—," Hiten commented as he eyed her suspiciously, his natural fear of anyone coming down ill on a ship starting to build in his heart. "Maybe yer gettin' sick."

"I'm a demon." She said back to him sounding annoyed as she turned and sent him a glare as she pulled her knees to her chest, the blood in her eyes flashing.

"Even demons get sick." Hiten fired back with a snort as he turned to focus on the sea once more so as to not neglect his actual post.

"Hmp," Kagura grumbled as she drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms tightly around them for support. "Not-to that often they don't."

"Well maybe now's yer often?" He muttered but his voice was still far too loud to be missed by a well trained demon's ears.

Kagura knitted her eyebrows and dropped her jaw before shaking her head at the man and snapping her mouth shut firmly. "What-to ass." She thought to herself as she glared at him and rested her chin against her upturned knees the nausea starting to come under control the longer she focused on her annoyance instead of her over active imagination.

Hiten felt a smirk form on his face in response and turned away from her bringing the hand he had dropped from the wheel back up again so he could continue directing the vessel properly. "So has the shard moved any again?"

"Yes." Kagura commented as she turned her head in the direction of the shard watching as it glowed ever so slightly ahead of them. "Keep-i heading in this direction, it shouldn't-a be much farther."

"No problem." He nodded his head thoughtfully keeping his hands steady on the wheel so as not to change their current heading as per her command.

The deck went silent then as Kagura focused on the shard watching its movements carelessly and Hiten focused on sailing, his back straight and his eyes focused looking downright commanding as he stood before the wheel feeling in perfect place upon his ship, there was not a duty Hiten loved more than piloting and navigating—it was his favorite thing to do. With precise and patient hands he held the wheel tight as he marked his spot on the horizon following the sun so as not to tilt their heading, his eyes checking only absently for any sign of any danger that might be coming. Nothing seemed to be ahead of them at the moment and with the lookout up above him he was sure there would be no problems. Feeling somewhat safe for the first time in a while, Hiten allowed himself to relax, his mind wandering as the sea breeze caressed his skin and black shaggy hair.

"It's been a little over a week since Mr. Dresmont died—Jonathan just got back last night." He closed his eyes glad that the man had returned safely. "That boy always does a good job for me, hopefully the widow will get the letter and not be—too depressed." He held back a sigh and opened his eyes before glancing over at Kagura who was leaning against the rail once more lost in her own little world. Narrowing his eyes he thought back to a conversation he had overheard bits and pieces of the week before, only a day or so after Jonathan had left, between Kagura and Kaede. "The Shikon Shards." He brought one hand up to touch his forehead where three shards rested above his temple fueling him with amazing power. "They want to destroy them." He licked his lips. "They need Inuyasha for that and his bitch."

The Captain's heart tore at the very thought of the man's name and he drew his lips into a thin tight line as he tried to keep his rage contained. It seemed downright unfair that the man who had killed his brother was also a man who could help kill the bigger bastard below his feet.

"Damn!" Hiten cursed and tightened his grip on the wheel to stop himself from punching something out of anger. "What luck is that?" He glanced up above his head. "Huh? What kinda shit ya tryin' to pull?" He resisted the urge to spit. "I know I'm not a good person but this—you take my brother, put me in the hands of some mass murdering fuck head, and then make my solution my brother's killer?" Hiten closed his eyes and tried to collect himself. "What choice do I have?" He finally forced the question into his mind almost screaming it so he would be heard. "It's either this or—watch Naraku collect these jewels and die. I can't stop him—even with these fucking jewels I'm not strong—," He could hear his father mocking him somewhere in the recesses of his mind. "I fucking hate that he was right." Clearing his throat drawing Kagura's attention the wind demon turning to look at him with an eyebrow raised.

"Hiten-sama?" She questioned as she waited for him to say something having thought he was trying to get her attention.

The elemental demon shook his head quickly trying to clear it, "This is all going to shit." He told himself as he ignored the curious eyes of the demon beside him. "I heard what they said that the jewel shards were dangerous in the hands of this man and that Inuyasha—." He closed his eyes tightly. "And his bitch both—were the key to stopping it, shit Padre—." He gritted his teeth as the man's voice echoed in his head loud and clear.

"You think you know everything—know all the evils of the world and how to beat them?" The man slowly raised his eyes shock permeating both Hiten and Manten as they looked at the pain in their father's eyes both to young yet to realize its importance. "I've failed you."

"You were right Padre—but it wasn't you that failed." Hiten took a deep breath. "It was me." He opened his eyes slowly the pain of losing his brother deep in his chest but the knowledge of what might happen if he didn't swallow his pride far greater. "Besides—I can always kill the dog later once the shards and Naraku are gone I'll have no use for him." Turning to look at Kagura who was still watching him intently from the ground he opened his mouth saying the first thing he could think of. "Do shards," He looked at her and sighed heavily his body language contradicting the lack of importance connected to the question itself. "Normally move like this?"

"Only-y when they have-e an owner who moves—," The girl supplied as she watched him already suspicious of his intent. "So I would-i say constantly."

"Constantly huh?" He looked at her for a few seconds more before turning away and looking back to the sea before them. "I better just dive in the sooner I gain her trust the sooner we can start to plan." He told himself as he took a deep breath. "You must've tracked a lot of shards in your day, huh, Kagura?"

Kagura narrowed her eyes at the question before speaking carefully. "Just-to one I had when I met you." She offered up the barest amount of information she possibly could too unsure of his game to offer more. "Why does he want-to know something like that? What's-i game?"

"Only one?" He frowned ever so slightly but didn't really say anything to deny her words.

"Yes, one."

"Funny." He shrugged his shoulders absently not looking at her as he spoke. "You only tracked one shard and yet you seem to know what to look for exactly—," He clicked his tongue coming across as mocking. "And what certain movements the shard makes mean." He looked at her out of the corner of his eye watching as she glared back at him anxious. "I have to do this just right to gain her trust, just right." He licked his lips slowly before continuing again. "Seems like something only an expect would know."

"What are you getting at?" The wind demon narrowed her eyes not liking where this game was going one little bit.

"Just thinking out loud is all." He shrugged watching her every move for any sign that might help him identify what he should and should not say.

"Mr. Hiten." She was careful to use the western word.

"Miss Kagura," He fired back and raised his eyebrows into his hairline in a truly challenging way. "Don't hide things from me—," He leaned slightly towards her trying to make his eyes look as focused and intense as possible. "After all—the walls-u," He used her own strange accent against her. "Have ears."

Kagura felt all the color drain from her face as she stared at the man in front of her, heart stopping in her chest. "He heard?" She felt her hands starting to tremble as her mind raced with possible outcomes. "Hiten-sama works-u for Naraku—what-to is he tells—kuso, what-to do I do?"

"Why are you panicking Kagura?" Hiten groused as he took in her scent and her whiter than normal skin. "I don't need her to panic—damn it!" He licked his lips and shifted uncomfortably as he waited for her response.

As if a switch had been turned on her face went back to its normal mellow at his words causing him a slight pause of fascination. "Why shouldn't I?" The wind demon threw back in his face as her composure was once again back in her complete control, maintained.

"Because—," Hiten's voice dipped low as he ever so carefully bent down and picked up the rope that lay on the helm's deck floor. Standing back up he quickly made a noose style knot in the rope and put it around one of the wheel's many hand holds. Helm secured he turned to look at Kagura, walking over to her slowly as she stood up to look at him, red eyes gleaming with anticipation and defiance.

Upon reaching her he put either hand on either side of her body trapping her against the rail, encasing her and bullying her even though he and she both knew that in a fight it was extremely hard to tell who would win between the two. Pushing his body closer to her own he watched as her ruby orbs turned blood red her eyes narrowed into thin sexy slits as she tilted her chin downwards a bitch's way of showing she couldn't be controlled—she would not submit.

Growling ever so slightly Hiten leaned forward into her pressing himself against her as he moved his lips beside her face licking the skin just before her ear. The wind demon's breath caught in her throat from the loud sound of his tongue lapping so close to her ear and she growled in return a warning that every male demon in existence understood: Back off or I will make sure you never touch another woman again. But he didn't back off instead he opened his mouth right before her ear and spoke. "I heard what you two were talking about with the jewel." He put his lips right up against her earlobe their moist caress causing a chill to run down her spin. "I want in on it."

Kagura opened her eyes in surprise but didn't say a word as she felt his hands come up to touch her elbows gently caressing them.

"And I want to help you," He paused and for a moment just inhaled her scent, a spicy heady jasmine that caught him off guard. "She's intoxicating." He had to close his eyes before they rolled back in his head. "Focus." He commanded himself quelling his demon expertly before he pressed his lips to her ear once more whispering out the tantalizing words: "I want to help you kill Naraku."

-break-

"Myoga!" Inuyasha yelled up to the crow's nest where Myoga was currently stationed looking out at the ship that was getting closer and closer to them by the minute. "What can you see?"

"Ano," The man called down as he looked through his spyglass at the ship that was now much more than a speck on the horizon but still far too small to be seen easily with even demonic eyes. "Myoga see a flag-u sir!" He called down excitedly as he removed the spyglass from his face and looked down at Inuyasha who stood at the helm fifty feet below. "It's navy-y!"

"No fucking way." Miroku whispered as he turned and looked at the Captain in surprise. "It's navy?"

"You're right, no fucking way." Inuyasha ground out as he reached into his jacket and pulled out his own spyglass opening it and placing it before his eye attempting to get a look even though his angle was horrible. "All be god damned—," He groused as he lowered it back down slightly. "It's the Union Jack."

"For sure?"

"Damn sure." Inuyasha nodded his head but something in his eyes looked distant and suspicious. "It must be lost—to be on the shipping lane—still, the navy isn't one to get lost unless it's a verily new Captain." Inuyasha growled low in his throat as he turned towards Sango and clicked his tongue. "Keep heading that way, straight at 'er—this is either our lucky day or someone's mocking us."

"It does seem almost too convenient, doesn't it?" The woman on the helm whispered to the two men as she adjusted the heading only slightly so they would be approaching the ship dead on. "I thought we'd be in the harbor for days—weeks, to think our luck actually turned around."

"I know, right?" Inuyasha snorted as he put his spyglass back in his jacket before allowing his arms to cross over his chest as he stared at the distant object with scrutinizing eyes. "My lucks been sour since I gave the bloody necklace to Kagome—it seems almost weird that someone would finally take pity on me and throw me a bone."

Miroku resisted the urge to make a bad joke instead glancing at his father out of the corner of his eye and agreeing. "Yes, it's rather strange that the fates finally would decided to ease up." He licked his lips and leaned back as he crossed his arms over his chest apprehensively. "Maybe it's a trap."

"Sure feels like one." Inuyasha took a few steps forward to the fore railing and leaned against it his eyes focused solely on the ship before them eyeing it with clear disdain.

"It is kind of suspicious." Sango agreed from her spot at the helm her hands adjusting their position without thought as she too looked out across the water at the small vessel. "And is it just me or does it seem like the ship's not moving?"

Something in her words seemed to click in Inuyasha's head and the man let go of the rail to look at the ship in the distance with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, I just noticed that the rate of movement is off." The young woman explained to the back of Inuyasha's head, the man refusing to take his eyes away from the ship as she spoke. "We're gaining on it, which is normal because we're faster than any navy ship." She frowned darkly. "But we're almost gaining on it too fast."

"I see what you're saying." Miroku nodded his head uncrossing his arms as he came to stand beside the Captain mimicking his position on the rail. "It does kind of seem like we're gaining on it too fast even if it is a navy galley." He looked over at Inuyasha out of the corner of his eye watching the man as he tensed looking at the ship as if trying to read its none existent mind. "What do you think?"

"I don't like it." Inuyasha pulled away from the railing and shrugged, his eyes never leaving the ship. "It's all too easy." He drew out the last word slowly as he licked his lips. "A navy ship lost their way." Inuyasha sighed long and low before crossing his arms once more. "It happens but what are the odds, it seems like they'd be way too slim for this to happen to us." He finally pulled his eyes from the ship to give Miroku a pointed look. "Especially after what's been happening to us lately—I don't think kami-sama would give us a break."

"Yeah." The boy nodded his head understanding the foreign word and waving off Sango's odd look as if to say: I'll tell you later. "Well, let's give it the benefit of the doubt." Ever diplomatic Miroku began to speak. "—there's a war going on right?"

"Yes, I told you about it." Inuyasha spoke with the most sarcastic look Miroku suspected he had ever seen.

"I know," Miroku muttered dryly as he turned away from his father to look at the ship on the horizon. "During war there are always many new crewmen, new Captains to keep up with the ones who have been killed." He explained his theory evenly. "Maybe, the person piloting that ship is a new helmsmen or there's a new Captain who doesn't know what the hell he's doing."

"It's possible." Inuyasha inhaled deeply from his nose. "But let me take you back to my earlier point." He held up a hand for silence closing his eyes before he spoke just as diplomatically. "Our luck lately contradicts everything you just said."

Miroku sighed heavily and lowered his chin to his chest—even he couldn't find a negate to that argument. "Okay," He raised his head and nodded carefully. "Then let's look at it another way." He huffed and turned back to Inuyasha beginning once more with another plausible explanation. "In war what's the best thing to do to protect your navy when its coming into port?"

"Oh I know!" Sango raised her hand in much the same way she had in finishing school. "Create a diversion."

Inuyasha glanced at Sango and raised an eyebrow before looking back at Miroku intrigued. "You think that ship," Inuyasha pointed out ahead of them. "Is a diversion."

"I think it's likely, don't you?"

"Well," Inuyasha nodded his head briskly. "Judging by our luck and the fact it doesn't appear to be moving—," Inuyasha tilted his head this way and that in thought before finally conceding to something in his own head with a nod. "I'd say, I'd bet five gold."

"In which direction?" Miroku threw back as he thought of the validity of the wager.

"Five gold it's a diversion." Inuyasha supplied as he turned his eyes back to the ship and pulled his spyglass back out to look at the ship before them. "I have to wonder though—if it is a diversion," He lowered the spyglass skeptically. "What is it trying to divert from?" Suddenly his heart plummeted in his chest as he turned around and looked in the one direction they had been ignoring this whole time. "Fuck me."

"Otou-san?" Miroku turned and looked at him and then behind them at the empty sea. "What's wrong?"

Inuyasha didn't say a word as he closed his eyes and tilted his head downwards in a pose Miroku had only seen a hand full of times in his life. It wasn't a thinking pose, it was a listening pose. Suddenly, the Captain's eyes snapped opened and he turned shooting his chin up towards Myoga. "Myoga-jii-jii," He yelled none of the crewmen even flinching from the sound of their Captain bellowing. "Do you remember a port being in this area?"

The old man's head appeared over the side of the crow's nest as he looked down surprised. "No." He called down before adding the fated words. "Demo, there are-e many-y hidin' places-u." The man motioned towards the tough terrain around them, island after island providing perfect hiding spots.

"That's what I was afraid of." Inuyasha nodded his head and turned to look at the islands around them. "They're hiding."

"How the hell do you know?" Miroku wondered as he looked around as well the feeling of impending doom already settling in his stomach—he was beginning to get used to it, sadly.

"I got one reason." Inuyasha whispered as he tilted his head upwards and looked at something Miroku and Sango couldn't see with human eyes. "Right up there." His ears twitched on his head and suddenly he bent his knees lowering himself until his butt was almost touching the floor before springing upwards high into the air, above even Myoga in the crow's nest.

"Holy shit." Sango barely managed to whisper as the whole of the crew froze and watched as the Captain jumped higher than seemingly demonically possible. "How is that even possible?"

"It's Inuyasha." Miroku managed to reply as he watched his father make himself into a ball crossing his arms in front of his chest and brandishing his claws above them. Despite his poor human eyesight Miroku could tell that the claws were gleaming prepared for an attack, his golden eyes appearing to be focused on something that Miroku had no hope of seeing.

Suddenly, as quickly as the Captain had sprung upwards, he lashed out his claws tearing into something that screamed bloody murder. The demons of the crew gasped and fell to the ground covering their ears as even the humans winced and gasped from the sheer heinous quality of such a sound. It was worse than the screech of a dying rat, worse than the scream of an angry hawk, worse than even demonic nails running over a bare rock.

"Oh god!" Miroku cried out as he felt a headache coming on.

"Make it stop!" Sango called as she held onto the helm as best she could resisting the urge to protect her ears in favor of keeping them alive and on course.

Wincing from the painful abuse to his ears Miroku managed to look upwards just in time to see the Captain strike again as his body began to descend against his will. A bright green light flooded the sky for just the barest of seconds as the Captain lashed his claws in the unknown object one last time, the green light seeming to dissipate like an extinguished candle as the Captain reached forward grabbing something as he floated back down to the deck, clutching whatever it was in his hands.

Landing only a few seconds later in the same exact spot which he had started from Inuyasha looked at Miroku and Sango both apologetically. "Sorry, shoulda warned you." He mumbled just as they heard the sound of feet pounding on the stairs.

All three turned just in time to see Kagome holding a crying Shippo in her arms, the tiny fox kit pulling on his ears in great distress. "What was that?!" Kagome cried out as she tried to comfort the crying kit while her eyes maintained a state of pure panic.

"Fox magic." Inuyasha supplied as he finally held up the strange object in his hand. It was a piece of paper shaped to be a little cut out human figure that was struggling in his grip as if it were alive. Two enchanted looking green eyes that were the only features on its otherwise none existent face looked on at the group in complete horror as it pushed at Inuyasha's tight grip attempting to escape.

"A piece of parchment?" Kagome whispered just as the crying Shippo calmed himself down and looked at the piece of paper while blinking back some unshed tears.

"My papa did 'hat." He mumbled causing everyone to look at him with surprise. "Chanted parchment, ya put soma yer power in it and it spies for ya."

"Exactly." Inuyasha nodded at the kit agreeing with everything he had just said despite the baby voice. "A fox demon can take their demonic energy and put it into anything." Inuyasha turned the piece of paper around towards him looking at it with malice. "A rock, a tree, a piece of parchment." He stared directly into the green eyes that almost looked ready to cry despite a lack of tears. "They'll put their energy in anything and then use it to spy on people."

The paper actually made a noise at that point, almost like a little cry before it pushed at Inuyasha's hand with more vigor.

"It allows the demon to see from pretty far distances but no more than a league," Inuyasha brought the paper towards his face showing off his fangs. "If the demon's strong even farther—so tell me little parchment." He whispered and his teeth gleamed dangerously. "How strong is your master."

"No!" The parchment sounded much to the shock of everyone around except Inuyasha and Shippo.

"It has no mouth!" Sango pointed out as the parchment ignored her looking at the Captain, talking as if by magic itself.

"I will never tell pirate." It's voice was high but surprisingly mean sounding. "Kill me." It commanded as the green eyes almost seemed to burn red.

"Why should I?" Inuyasha whispered to the little piece of paper. "I could torture you until you speak."

The little piece of paper, even though it had no mouth, seemed to frown. "Go ahead." The paper mocked him raising its paper arms in defiance. "I will never betray my master."

Inuyasha sighed heavily. "That's the problem with these things." He shook his head. "They're very loyal—I've never been able to get information out of one."

"That's right pirate scum!" The paper mocked him pointing a little white arm at Inuyasha its eyes drawn into an actual glare. "Now kill me!"

"Such a cheerful little thing." Miroku mumbled sarcastically as he leaned towards Inuyasha's hands with curiosity brimming in his deep black eyes. "Fascinating though, I've never seen anything like it."

"It's not a commonly used skill." Inuyasha offered with a shrug as he watched the paper continue to try to escape. "But the navy is known for it during times of war." He watched amused as the piece of enchanted paper pounded ineffectively against his hands. "You were just a kid during the last war so it's only natural you never saw anything like this."

"Enough!" The paper finally cried out becoming frustrated looking at Inuyasha with the fire of hell in its tiny eyes "Kill me, get it over with." It waved its hands furiously. "Do what you do best pirate and let me die."

Kagome winced in horror at the words. "My goodness." She whispered as Shippo looked up at her and blinked. "It really wants to die."

"It reawy can't die. It's justa piece of parchment, after all." The little kit told her softly. "So don't feel bad Kagome—," He turned and looked at the little paper with sad green eyes as he thought of his own father's little people. "Papa used ta make 'em just ta play with me." He sniffled and then shook his head knowing he had to be strong especially sense Kagome was so sad. "Just 'member it don't feel pain, it don't even know what it is." He reassured giving her a bright smile, his baby fangs so tiny compared to the Captain. "So it won't even know its dead."

"Oh?" Kagome let the word drop from her mouth as she looked down at the baby kit with a frown. "They don't."

"They're connected to the demon that made them," Inuyasha explained further knowing Shippo probably didn't understand the magic all too well at his age or at least not well enough to explain it thoroughly. "When you get rid of them, the power just returns to the demon—," He shrugged as the paper made a motion of biting him despite its lack of mouth. "No harm done to anyone."

"But they," Kagome paused her mouth opened and confused. "They talk."

"It's just part of the fox's magic." Inuyasha sighed as he flicked the paper causing it to actually laugh.

"You think that hurt!" The paper mocked and narrowed its eyes almost accusingly. "You're weak and useless, a disgrace to the crown."

"Well sorry to disappoint." Inuyasha mumbled with a huff before squashing the paper like a flee this time no screech sounding as his hand was consumed with bright green flames similar to Shippo's.

Kagome frowned feeling as if she had just witnessed something sad but knowing deep down that Shippo wouldn't lie to her. "It's just a piece of paper." She told herself as she closed her eyes for a second to control herself. "It's not alive in any way—still—it seemed so real not just some inanimate object." She shook her head and opened her eyes to look at the Captain who was dusting little bits of ash off his hands from where the paper had burned up.

"Well, now we know that ship." Inuyasha pointed out to the horizon causing all of Kagome's thought to turn onto the vessel. "Is a decoy and those little enchanted parchments were meant to keep an eye on us."

"A ship?" Kagome thought amazed as she looked at the ever growing speck on the horizon. "Wow—that makes it real doesn't it?" She pursed her lips feeling just slightly uneasy unable to take her eyes off the vessel. "Are we going to raid that ship?" She questioned as she held Shippo to her a little tighter.

"No," Inuyasha informed giving her a surprisingly calm smile as his eyes almost went soft looking at her. "Man, she already seems worried, apprehensive." He shifted just slightly uncomfortable as he thought of the conversation Miroku, Sango, and himself had had no more than fifteen minutes before. "That ship is meant to distract us from the real ship." He informed her despite his uneasiness.

"So—," Sango cleared her throat as she looked at the vessel in question. "Those pieces of paper came from a different ship?"

"I'd beat you a million gold that yes, yes they did." Inuyasha bit his lower lip in thought before reaching a hand up to rub at the back of his head. "And that ship is somewhere hidden among these islands," He glanced around his sharp eyes looking for anything abnormal around them. "Waiting to ambush us—," He paused for just a second discretely taking his eyes away from the sea to look at Kagome who had not moved or changed her expression. "She looks—like she's deep in thought, I wish I knew what she was thinking about." He winced and took a deep breath before continuing. "It's a pretty well made trap: while we focus on the decoy it gets into position then attacks—kind of sneaky for the navy but it is wartime."

Kagome listened to the words of the Captain only halfheartedly as she looked out across the ocean at the ship in question. "A navy ship using a decoy?" She thought to herself. "That seems a little—sneaky," She borrowed the Captains own word. "And not very noble." She frowned her fingers twitching against Shippo as she thought. "It seems like the more time I spend on this ship, this pirate ship, the more I realize," She looked away from the sea to the people on deck with her. The Captain, his son, and his daughter-in-law all good people doing simply what they had to do to survive. "That the navy has less morals than the pirates—well at least these pirates."

Across from her Miroku hummed lightly in the back of his throat catching her attention once more. "But with the little enchantments." He questioned his eyes looking out across the sea just like the Captain as he spoke. "Wouldn't it tell whoever created them that we know their plan?"

"Yeah." Inuyasha huffed slightly in agreement. "That's the problem. They know we know," He shrugged and rolled his eyes up towards the sky. "Which means they're going to be coming for us really soon."

Kagome frowned even darker at his words. "They're going to attack us for no reason other than entering their territory?" She bit her lip trying to wrap her mind around what that meant to her. "Well, the Captain was going to attack them and steal from them, is that the same?" She blinked and shook her head slowly from side to side. "No, it's not the same. They're attacking for no reason, killing for no reason, we're attacking for food—to live because we have no real means otherwise. I mean, the crown regulates the merchants—it's almost impossible to get honest work without being born a noble demon—so who can blame them for doing what they have to do?" She felt the semblance of a smile start to form on her mouth—it was almost sad. "Everything I've ever been told was a lie in some way." She raised her head to the sky. "Amazing, isn't it, realizing your life was built on lies?"

"So we lose the element of surprise." Sango spoke over Kagome's thought as she looked at said girl who was staring upwards at the sky her grey eyes swirling with deep thoughts. "Kagome?" She thought to herself hoping silently that the girl wasn't second guessing their earlier conversation.

"I know I said I didn't want to take part in this—but," Kagome looked at the beautiful white clouds above their heads. "The more I think about it, the more I realize helping them wouldn't go against my nature as much as I think it would, as long as no one dies—we really aren't creating more hate, are we?" She blinked to herself. "We aren't, we're surviving in the only way we can—if anyone's creating hate it's the crown." She frowned darkly to herself as she tilted her chin downwards her eyes looking at Shippo's red hair without really seeing it. "They create poverty, create beggars and orphans—not us." Taking a deep breath she drew her face into a determined line. "It won't kill me to help if they need me—I'll do anything I can." She narrowed her eyes in further thought. "Is there anything I can actually do?"

"Yeah we do, which sucks." Inuyasha growled low in his throat answering Sango's question. "The element of surprise sure would come in handy right now." He grumbled as he eyed Kagome completely unaware of her thoughts but very much aware of her body language. "It's killing me," He told himself as he watched her stare at Shippo's hair appearing in her own little world. "What the hell is she thinking about?" He winced, praying she wasn't thinking about what he was thinking about. "Was Sango wrong—is she really starting to see us for what we are, does it scare her to actually see us for pirates not just, renegades with a ship?" He closed his eyes for a second to collect himself before turning towards Kagome looking at the girl expectantly. "Kagome?"

Said girl jumped and clutched at Shippo tighter in her surprise. "Yes?" She squeaked before clearing her throat and taking a surprisingly deep breath. "What do you need me to do?"

Inuyasha blinked stunned at her words. "I—," He started to speak but then cut himself off with a loud throat clear. "Get your bow and stay in my quarters for now. If anything goes wrong—," He gulped a feeling of dread building in his heart at even the implication of his words. "Do whatever you have to do."

Kagome nodded her head briskly. "Don't worry." She spoke bravely her grey eyes bright. "I'll be fine now that I have the bow."

"I know." Inuyasha assured her even though his body posture spoke volumes against his words. "Shippo?" He turned his eyes downwards to the little boy. "Protect Kagome with your life."

"Wh—." Kagome started to interject but froze when the kit pushed his way out of her arms and landed on the deck with a stern expression on his tiny face.

"I will not fail you!" He spoke clearly for perhaps the first time in his life, his tiny chest puffed out with pride as he gave the Captain his bravest look.

"Good." Inuyasha nodded firmly before looking up at Kagome with intense gold eyes. "Go ahead down below." He spoke evenly knowing that Sango and Miroku were currently watching his every move intently. "When its safe I'll let you know."

"Aye," Kagome smiled brightly despite the connotations of the situation. "Captain."

Inuyasha's whole face drew into a tight line of surprise, his eyebrows knitting and his eyes narrowing as his forehead wrinkled and his nose crunched up. For a moment, it even looked as if he might laugh but then serious took over his face once again and he gave Kagome a brisk nod before nodding to the staircase. "Very good." He said smoothly and Kagome without another word took her leave.

Behind him Miroku stared in disbelief for many reasons. First, because he could never recall ever seeing his father give anyone that particular soft look before and second, because he had been completely shocked by Kagome's own nonchalance. "She didn't question it—she didn't say anything about disagreeing," He narrowed his eyes in wonder. "She didn't even seemed scared maybe Sango was right." Looking at his wife for some kind of explanation he watched surprised even further when she smiled at him boldly.

"Told you." She mouthed playfully as her own heart lightened at the interaction.

"I'm glad we didn't bet on that." Miroku spoke loud enough for Inuyasha to hear him and turn and glare.

"Shut the fuck up." He snarled at his son, even though his heart felt a little lighter in his chest, before turning back towards the present situation. "Every man to his post," He yelled out even as Miroku and Sango both noticed the slight redness twinging against his silver ears. "We're gonna have company soon!"

-break-

Kagura stood frozen, the railing digging into her back as she felt Hiten's breath move over the sensitive skin of her pointed ear. Closing her eyes against the sensation she tried to straighten out her thoughts, tried to straighten out everything the man breathing in her ear had said. "Yuu," She drew out the syllable as she always did not missing when Hiten growled low in his throat seeming to appreciate the sound. "Want-a Naraku dead?" She whispered as Hiten pulled away from her ever so slight to look into her face, studying her ruby eyes with his own deep black ones.

"Yes." He told her honestly as he kept his voice down as low as possible pushing himself even closer to her so he could speak even softer, not wanting a single soul to overhear any part of this conversation. "Speak quietly." He told her. "Pretend we're having a tryst. This is a conversation neither you or I want out."

Understanding the importance of speaking quietly and acting as they were, even when her body was starting to react to the proximity in a way she really wished it wouldn't, Kagura gave him a sweet smile and leaned forward mimicking his earlier action by placing her lips on his chin—a sign of demonic submission. "Why-y," She whispered against his flesh as she gently licked Hiten's chin. "Do yuu want him dead?"

"Why?" Hiten growled low in his throat as he looked down at her with actual shock not from the question itself but from the lick, the pounding thunder that rushed through his veins shocking him with its electricity from her rash actions. "Dear lord this women, fuck me." He thought to himself as he leaned towards her brushing his lips over her forehead before pulling his hands off the railing to grip her hips pulling her closer as he answered her question. "Have you not seen what he's done to my ship—," He bit out as he drew his face right in line with her own, their lips almost touching as he spoke—a deliberate move to keep up the charade. "No crewman would dare come up here it they thought I was busy with some girl—especially," He drew her in tighter to him feeling her sweet curves consume his hands. "With a girl like this." Growling low in his throat he pulled her flush against him and looked her straight in the eyes. "The things he's done to my crew—hell," He spat Kagura wincing as she felt the moisture touch her skin, her eastern upbringing making her feel absolutely disgusted. "To my very way of life?"

Pushing him slightly away from her she wiped her face with her sleeve and looked at him her mind returning to the week before once more as she imagined the deeds this man—right in front of her—had performed on the demon and human race both. "Yuu used to be," She froze and concentrated as hard as she could so she would not mispronounce the word. "Like Naraku."

Hiten frowned at the proper pronunciation of the 'l' a part of him feeling oddly cheated before he considered her words for what they were. "You're right." He told her honestly. "I've done horrible things but I was never that man—," He bit out as he moved closer to her once more, pressing himself against her in a completely none sexual way that still created sparks. "I told you I've done some fucked up shit but Naraku—the things he's done." Hiten closed his eyes tightly as he thought of his mother, thought of his father, his poor dead brother seeing Kaede's face, Mr. Morgan's face, and Mr. Dresmont's face taking all their places. "Those things are unforgiveable."

"Hiten-sama." Kagura whispered as she watched the emotions of pain and regret actually play across his features. "Either Hiten-sama a very good actor," She told herself as he looked down at her with those beautiful glassy black eyes. "Or he really-y does regret some of the things-i he's done."

"Think of it Kagura," Hiten continued his voice now soft not because of necessity but because of his own emotions. "A man who would kill his own father, attempt to kill a little old lady, laugh when he realized he had shot an innocent man instead—," He shook his head feeling that the words he spoke were unreal. "What's stopping that man from fucking up the whole world?" He posed the question, looking up into her face with doubt painted from his dead to his toes. "Kaede knows it, she told you. Don't you believe her?"

"I do—I know." She answered him softly as she watched his eyes fill with something akin to hope.

"I heard what you and Kaede said—," He licked his lips tightening his grip on the railing behind her. "About the jewel—collecting it—destroying it before that mother fucker can get his paws on it," He leaned into her and then around her putting his lips against her ear once more partially for a display to the few crewmen he knew were looking and also because he felt compelled to. "I know I use those shards myself but—Naraku can kill me easy, I know it, my instincts don't lie." He whispered as he felt one of her hands surprisingly come up and grip his jacket. "I know the only way to protect my crew and myself is to get rid of these shards so he can't get a hold of them and then team up with whatever force we can to take him down." He pulled away from her just slightly to look her in the eye. "I want to help." She clutched onto him tighter. "Please." He pleaded moving closer to her placing his lips to her ear thinking she was going to push him away. "Let me help."

"Hiten-sama." Kagura whispered faintly as her mind actually grew fuzzy from his closeness and her hand gripped tighter instead of pushing back. "Can I trust this man?" She asked herself. "Can I trust-i him with Inuyasha-sama's life?" Somehow she knew the only way to get the truth was just to ask. "Why should-u I trust yuu."

"Look Kagura, I'll be honest—," Hiten leaned his head against her shoulder dropping his mouth from her ear in favor of feathering his lips against her neck making the show even more realistic. "I know this Inuyasha guy you were talking about."

"What?" Kagura looked at him in shock. "How come so many-y demons know yuu, Inuyasha-sama?"

Hiten rolled his eyes not answering the partial question in favor of continuing his own thought. "I know him yeah but," He licked his lips and spoke honestly. "For all I care the guy can burn in hell."

Kagura's eyes widened at his words her hands gripping him tightly preparing to push him away but before she could he spoke again, his lips moving upwards to brush her earlobe in the most tantalizing of ways.

"I hate the man but—," He paused allowing her to feel his breath on her now sweaty skin. "Naraku is number one on my list of people who need to die and," He took a deep breath. "That fucking mutt is strong, like me, if we team up I think we can stop that bastard," He pulled away from her neck slowly and looked her in the eye. "Beside that—Kaede said his bitch can destroy that jewel, right?" He didn't wait for an answer. "She destroys it and we take Naraku out easy—all problems solved."

Kagura narrowed her eyes and allowed her grip to fall from Hiten's shoulder's as she looked him dead on trying to convey the truest depths of her soul to him. "How do I know-u," She leaned forward towards him her face coming so close to his own that he could literally see nothing but her. "Yuu won't-to just murder him when Naraku's-s done?"

"I might." Hiten spoke honestly finding himself unable to lie as he looked into those ruby eyes the only thing in the world he could currently see. "But is that a risk you're willing to take?"

"At all cost, Kagura."

She didn't even frown as those words consumed her, words she had only really heard a month before. "I won't-to hesitate to stop yuu." She warned bringing one clawed hand up to touch his chest, the nail digging in to the limited exposed flesh created from his opened jacket. "I will make-e sure that yuu never take another breath-i again should even one hair on his-u head be touched by yuur claw."

"I don't know what's up with you and that dog but—," Hiten eyed her strangely as he watched the true intentions of her words play out across her face. "She really would do it." He realized as fire burned in her eyes, fire and contempt. "Fuck me, she really would." He smiled the action catching her off guard as he leaned towards just as she leaned towards him. "I respect your tenacity."

Kagura frowned at the foreign word. "Ten—as—ty?" She tried to pronounce it but found it oddly shaped in her mouth.

"Tenacity," He supplied the smile still on his face as he spared the deck below a glance to make sure no one was milling around too close for comfort—none were. "It means your balls—you got a lot of 'em for a girl." He turned back towards her and smirked. "You just don't fucking give up, I respect that." Hiten supplied as he looked at her the smile reaching all the way into the recesses of his black eyes.

"Well," Kagura returned the smile appearing very much pleased as she leaned back away from him pressing her lower back into the railing once more. "It's good-i to be respected Hiten-sama."

"Hiten-sama," He repeated the foreign concept having heard her call him that several times now. "What's that mean that –sama bit?"

Kagura wasn't sure but for a second she thought she might blush. "-sama is-su my way-y of sayin' Captain," She explained in the only way she really knew how. "So I can show respect-to where it is due."

Hiten gave her a charming grin at the explanation leaning into her once more, his eyes and lips a breath away from her own before he stood still. "How can I return the favor?"

"That-i up to you." Kagura whispered feeling something in her stomach start to dance in a way she had never felt before. "Hiten-sama." She whispered the word as if mockery him, her smile becoming teasing.

"Up to me?" He whispered out becoming almost enchanted but that devilish smile. "I would say Miss or lady." He suggested. "Or I could use the Spanish word my father used to call my mother."

"Okay." Kagura's teasing smile left as he spoke of his mother and father—he was the kind of man you just didn't associate with a mother and father.

"Princesa," He whispered as his thumbs that rested against her hips began to move in small circles of their own accord. "Kagura."

Her eyes fluttered at the word, even though she didn't know this new language she recognized the sound just enough to understand what he was implying. "Hime?"

"Hime—," He repeated the term and tilted his head to the side expectedly. "Is that how you say princess?"

"Yes." She whispered as one of his hands moved up past her hip further until it left her body all together to come and touch her face.

"Hime Kagura." He whispered out finding his hand pulling her towards him in a very dangerous way.

"No," The wind demon whispered as she allowed him to pull her near, experience telling her exactly what the man wanted. "Kagura-hime." She corrected as her eyes fluttered slightly closed, only the barest of slits still opened to show her that his own had closed slightly as well. "Yuu pronounce it Kagura-hime."

"Your language is weird," He whispered his lips just hovering above her own as the act they were putting on seemed to become less of an act and more of a mutual dangerous attraction. "Kagura-hime."

"I could say," She flirted as she felt his lips actually barely brush her own for only the slightest of seconds. "The same about-to your own," She opened her eyes to find his own eyes looking at her with a dangerous smile on his face. "Hiten-sama."

He grinned and leaned forward closing his eyes completely before pressing his lips against her chin. Kagura's eyes widened immediately in disbelief as she felt his tongue lap against her jaw in a demon sign of submission.

It seemed another dangerous game was now beginning.

End of Chapter

Please Review

Congrats WhiteKnight52 for being reviewer 1550! Edited for Accents 6/6/2013.

Bonus Point:

What is the fabric of Inuyasha's haori and hakama made of in the anime/manga?

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

The rosary did break in the third movie, "Swords of an Honorable Ruler," my favorite movie BTW. Congrats to the winners!

Jemzet A Heart Broken Angle, Leo-mae, AnimeNerd1, Dev Li, L.C, Sahora, Guest, Saria Forest14, HeavenlyEclipse, 14 inu-kag, RavenShadow, Nina Morenos, HentaiLemon, Suyurilrig, Glon Morski, Litle C, TheRealInuyasha

Notes:

American Revolution: 1775-83 between the British and the Rebel Americans.

Boston: The British actually lost control of Boston in 1776 and captured New York instead. However, the shipping lanes were free game because Washington's army was not as navy oriented as the British, in fact the French offered the only navy support for the American's during the war.

Nova Scotia: is one of Canada's three Maritime Providences and is the most populous province of the four in Atlantic Canada. Fun fact: The British Navy launched their ships out of the Capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax, during the revolution.

New Jersey: After General Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware to take back New Jersey in 1776, New Jersey became one of the primary strong holds of the Rebel Army or American Army.

Guerrilla Warfare: A form of irregular warfare in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, Petty warfare, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and less-mobile traditional army.

Fun fact: I paraphrased a quote in this chapter from Joe E. Lewis, an American comedian from 1902-1971. It is as follows—, "I distrust camels, and anyone else who can go a week without a drink."

Next Chapter:

The Raid

See you then!

UNEDITED

POSTED 8/26/2012