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 Sixty Five
Delaware
"When?" Kagura asked Kaede, her voice small as she sat down slowly in the desk chair, Kaede's eye patch still clutched tightly between the fingers of her right hand.
The old woman sighed heavily, reaching her hand up out of instinct to feel for a patch that was not there. Her hand instead came in contact with her own eyebrow and eventually her eyelashes as she blinked naturally against the intrusion. The old woman shifted uncomfortably for a moment as she dropped her hand back to her lap allowing it to join with her other hand in worry. "It's been," She spoke slowly as she opened the crystal blue eye once more. "At least forty years."
"Forty?" Kagura repeated softly as she inhaled deep breath after deep breath. "Impossible," She thought to herself in complete amazement. "A Shinigami would never let-to someone use their eyes for that long-u." She shook her head back and forth, disbelief clouding all her thoughts. "The Shinigami wouldn't want the body to grow-a," The thought paused in her head as she instinctively took in Kaede's appearance, "old."
"Yes, it was forty years ago this August." Kaede nodded as she bit her lip. "I did not want this to be known." She closed her eyes tightly and gritted her teeth. "This could ruin everything." She opened her eyes slowly knowing that her plan had hinged upon her secret remaining just that, a secret. "Our best laid plans often go astray, I guess." She told herself even as a tiny prickle of anger started to intensify in her heart. "Curse the Shinigami."
"Ano." Kagura spoke suddenly as she slouched further in the chair across from Kaede, looking positively lost. "Why?" She raised her head, the ruby eyes of Yancha the Shinigami staring at Kaede bluntly. "Why Kaede-sama?" She motioned to the eye, the straps of the eye patch she still held flying outwards with her movements. "With such a high-u price, why?"
Kaede looked at the woman before her, studying the complete shock that was coming off of her in waves. "The highest price. Shinigami always ask for the highest price." She told herself, little memories of a time long before surfacing just in the back of her mind. "I was warned of that price, just as I'm sure you were by whoever summoned the Shinigami."
Kagura winced at Kaede's words but the old woman didn't appear to notice.
"But I was young, determined," Kaede took a deep and shaky breath as her eyes focused on the wooden floor staring at it as if it was a gateway to her memories. "And unafraid."
"I want to find something." A much younger Kaede asked as she sat across from a shrouded figure in a striking white cloak. "I was told you can summon a creature," She leaned forward towards the hooded figure her expression pleading. "That could help me."
"It not normal that one ask this of me." The hooded figure spoke, a gentle feminine voice permeating the air. "I heal—," It continued like a wind chime in the night. "I good."
"I know—," Kaede looked down at the table. "Please," She begged softly as she clutched the side of the table with youthful hands, hands of a young twenty something. "You are of the highest order, a mambo." She paused as the woman sitting across from her lifted her head, the light from the candles on the table reflecting in her eyes, causing one of them to distinctly shimmer as if she were a cat, or better yet a tiger in the night. "Only a mambo would have the power to help me."
"You realize, child," The woman raised her hands beautiful coco skin of the most brilliant texture seeming to glisten in the night. "This creature not forgiving is." She brought her hand to the table, tapping her fingers against the wooden surface slowly. "They always ask highest price." She punctuated each word with a slow deliberate tap of her fingers.
"I know," Kaede said again as she took a deep breath. "I was told much on my journey to you."
"Yes." The woman nodded and leaned back in the chair. "You come from place of Orleans—," She spoke the word with perfect pronunciation, French being one of her many languages, if not her best next to her native tongue. "Janjak sent you?"
"Yes." Kaede spoke honestly as she watched the woman reach for a small box that rested on the table. "Did he send you a letter about me?"
The woman fingered the box generally for a moment. "Something like that." She stated a small smile forming on her face before she opened the box and pulled out a pipe already stuffed with what probably wasn't tobacco. "Janjak good man." She spoke as she picked up one of the candles bringing it to the pipe. "If he sent you," She eyed Kaede as she held the candle up to the pipe and took a long drag. "Then I help you."
Kaede breathed a long sigh of relief as she watched the woman make an 'o' shape with her mouth blowing out a ring.
"Once the deal made," The woman stood slowly, the bleached cotton of her plain yet oddly elegant robe twisting with her motions catching Kaede's eye. It seemed implausible, the whiteness of her clothes, Kaede could not recall ever having seen something so pure looking in her life. "There no back—it done when done."
"I understand." Kaede spoke firmly as she too stood at the table. "I have prepared for this—I know this is right." She continued as she watched the woman walk across the hut slowly, a candle in her hand illuminating the home for Kaede's human eyes.
Countless jugs, bottles of various colored glass, wooden boxes, bowls, even china cups decorated her tables, counters, and window ledges. Canned goods lined her shelves; most in clear jars showing various leaves, roots, and even insects within them; while others were dark perhaps because of their contents and not because of the container itself. The woman stopped once she reached a bucket that rested by the door of her small hut and knelt down before it placing the candle at its side along with the pipe. Slowly she cupped her hands and dipped them in the water before standing with such elegant ease that Kaede suddenly felt wholly inferior to her.
"You speak," The woman spoke slowly before she brought her hands to her mouth and took one long drink. "As if these eyes for great 'portance."
"They are." Kaede told her as she tried to keep any unease out of her voice.
The woman dropped her hands to her sides, water dripping down her fingers before falling to the hut's dirt floor creating a pattern of dark specks in the sand. "Tell me," She turned slowly her face illuminated as she did so but not from candle light. "Human—," She whispered as a super natural breeze filled the hut causing the cloak to push and pull about her head before finally falling to her shoulders revealing a beautiful face. Full lips, high cheek bones, dark olive skin tinted with slight red about her cheeks, and one piercing ice blue eye that seemed to look completely through Kaede and into her very soul. "Why do you seek," She whispered her voice dropping a whole octave as she stared at Kaede. "The eyes of a god of death?"
Kaede opened her eyes slowly the imagine of the mambo's face forever printed in her mind, the imagine of a Shinigami eye. "Why suffer such a curse?" She whispered into the dark room as if the mambo was still right in front of her. "For the same reason we all suffer curses." She chuckled slightly to herself before suddenly looking towards Kagura who watched her with firm surprise. "For the same reason you did Kagura—," She drew the name out pronouncing every syllable slowly. "There was something important that needed to be done." The old woman's eyes glistened with tears. "Something that could be done only with this curse."
Kagura blinked slowly afraid to open her mouth and admit that her reasoning hadn't been that brilliant but instead merely young and stupid. The reasoning of a teenager that thought themselves invincible or perhaps immune to the truth behind the Shinigami's curse. "What did Kaede-sama need to find-o?" She questioned as she brushed off her own reasoning, hoping Kaede would never ask her such a question. "What-to so important that Kaede-sama sold her body to Shinigami?"
The old woman looked away from Kagura for a moment, seeming to appear uncomfortable once more. "Many things." She whispered slowly the bright blue eye closing while the other stayed opened, as if the motion had been a habit. "But most of all the Shikon shards themselves."
"Demo—." Kagura tried to argue her logic. "Kaede-sama's body—yuu give yuur body for that?"
"Kagura," The Shinigami eye opened instantly, narrowing and focusing on Kagura as if it actually had a will of its own. "I am old," Kaede spoke slowly her natural brown eyes seeming to grow weaker, more sad; just as the Shinigami one became brighter and more alive. "I have no children, my only family died fifty years ago leaving me with debts and suffering." She paused both eyes suddenly closing as she tilted her chin down towards her lap, looking every bit her sixty something years of age. "I have nothing left to lose."
Kagura felt her mouth start to fall open in protest but stopped as that cool blue eye suddenly opened. She watched it as it raised and stared at her with such unmasked pain that she dared not speak against it.
"There are things in this world," Kaede continued opening her other eye, both eyes now dropping to her lap to stare at her old wrinkled hands. "That are worth far more than an old spinster's life."
The wind demon inhaled sharply and closed her own powerful eyes. "Kaede-sama all life—." She attempted to say but was instantly cut off by the old woman across from her.
"Do not try to convince me otherwise—," She chuckled to herself, her old shoulders hunching somewhat. "The deed is already done," She blinked several times as if in thought before shaking her head and raising her eyes to look directly at Kagura. The moonlight caught the ice blue of the Shinigami eye making it appear to glow in the night. "The eye's in place; a place its rested over forty years." She smiled, her old lips cracking, chapped. "The curse is in place." She winced at her words a part of her hating herself for having said them.
Kagura lowered her head slowly, resigning herself to believe what Kaede had just said but something the old woman had mentioned drew her attention back to the conversation at hand. Carefully, she studied the old woman, staring at the solitary eye as it blinked and watched her in return. "One?" She thought to herself a gnawing feeling growing in her gut. "Why one," She mumbled watching as Kaede's eyes both widened. "Watashi wa—," She shook her head as a feeling of tiredness hit her brain making it hard to speak clearly. "I mean—I have never-u heard of a Shinigami," She looked at Kaede expectantly. "With one eye."
The old woman bit her lip at Kagura's words, the imagine of the mambo from all those years ago instantly leaping to her brain. "My Shinigami," She spoke trying to keep her voice even despite the trembling that had started in her hands. "Lost an eye—," She trailed off for a moment her expression becoming strained. "Yes, she lost it, she ripped it out of her face and used it for one of her rituals." She told herself even as the true story settled in her stomach making her feel sick. "So," She began abruptly speaking as if her words should have been obvious. "I could only have one."
"Mo." Kagura drug out the strange sound but didn't look as if she was about to argue. "Maybe a Shinigami can-no lose an eye," She told herself even as Kaede's body posture told her that wasn't the complete truth. "Who am I to know?" Biting her lip, she considered the other possibility for only a second before fully giving in to everything Kaede had just told her. "I see." She whispered just as an uncomfortable silence began to fill the room washing over both women. The darkness of the night crawled around them just as the moon went behind a cloud. "So," Kagura began slowly as she looked out into the dark night. "Our eyes, Kaede-sama's, my own are for the same-i thing?" She turned and looked at the old woman who smiled seeming pleased about something Kagura could not deduce.
"It would appear so." She agreed with a firm nod, her Shinigami eye seeming to wonder off for a second as if looking outside before it turned back to Kagura.
The wind demon stared at the wondering eye for a moment. Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered if a Shinigami eye could wonder like human eyes sometimes did. It seemed plausible but not plausible enough to warrant further debate. "Inuyasha-sama?" She didn't bother to say more than his name knowing Kaede would understand.
The old woman sighed in response before nodding her agreement. "Yes, we both search for him." She said honestly knowing that those words were actual truth finally.
"Kaede-sama wanted to find-u Inuyasha-sama too." Kagura stated as she recalled one of the first conversations she had ever had with the older woman. They had talked of many things, the search for the missing man being the highlight.
"I was not looking for him for the same reason," Kaede groaned slightly as she adjusted her position, having sat so long on the rather soft bed causing her hips to lock up and become painful. "But yes."
"Soka." Kagura whispered softly in Nihongo, her heritage causing her to say 'I see' in a way Kaede shouldn't understand but did, the power of the Shinigami aiding not just her eyes. "—so what-to now," She raised her head to the old woman, watching her carefully. "Kaede-sama?"
The old woman inhaled sharply before standing with no small amount of effort. Seeing the old woman's strain, Kagura immediately jumped to her feet reaching for the older woman to help her. Kaede merely waved the offer off with a flick of her wrist as she finally sat herself on her feet. "There are many things," She spoke calmly turning a small smile towards Kagura. "That need to be done."
"Kaede-sama?"
"I have had the gift of the Shinigami eye a long time Kagura—," Kaede spoke ignoring the girl bluntly as she moved towards the small window by the desk. "A very long time and with that time comes—," She paused in thought before finally speaking one word very clearly. "Expertise." She sighed as she spoke reaching a hand up to rub at her neck slowly. "I can see with this eye things you cannot imagine, in ways you cannot imagine." Kaede's bright blue Shinigami eye sparkled in the light as she turned her head towards Kagura studying the girl openly. The dazzling eye shimmered almost innocently before suddenly snapping closed as Kaede smiled.
"Kaede-sama?" Kagura reached towards the woman intending to brush her hands on Kaede's shoulder but the older woman had already taken a step forward out of Kagura's reach.
"I can see farther than possibility," She continued on as she put her hands behind her back and looked out at the night sky. The Shinigami eye instantly awakened once more studying the stars in the sky as if it had not seen them in many years. "I can see just as the Shinigami do."
Kagura felt her mouth start to open ever so slightly in amazement as she watched that eye take in all the sights before it as if memorizing them. "Yuu mean—?" She tried to speak but her voice died in her throat as the eye turned and glared at her. Instantly, Kagura nearly tripped over her own two feet to get away from the sight, her heart beat racing as Kaede fully turned to look at her apologetically.
"I know where Inuyasha is right now," She spoke, her voice cracking softly. "And it's time we found him."
-break-
The Shikuro bobbed up and down in the rather large port of Delaware, her hull groaning slightly against the surf as the men began the trying process of tying her to the port while in a troubled sea.
"It sure is windy today." Kagome commented absently as she leaned against the railing of the helm's deck next to Sango. "Almost like a storm's coming in." She continued to mumble as her grey eyes focused on the dock carefully watching as the sailors of the Shikuro moved to tie the ship off. One by one they jumped over the side of the giant ship, repelling down ropes that were thrown over the side, before landing harshly on the wooden dock with loud thuds. "I wish I could help." She grumbled to herself with a sigh before glancing towards the oddly quiet Sango. "Why aren't you helping, Sango?"
The older woman jumped slightly as if she had not expected to be asked a direct question. "No reason really." She managed to say even as a lump formed in her throat. "We just have enough men to do the job and I—well—it's nice to take a break sometimes." She finished lamely, a slightly uncomfortable smile on her face that Kagome didn't seem to notice.
"I guess so—," The younger girl agreed and leaned on the railing even heavier as she watched the people of the port with only somewhat interested eyes. "Do you think, if I asked," She tilted her head towards Sango slightly her expression almost pleading. "The Captain would let me learn how to do all of this?" She flicked her hand around her showing off the whole of the crew's movement, from the anchor to Myoga behind them at the helm holding it steady.
"I don't see why not." Sango shrugged slightly even as she licked her lips a bit disgruntled. "That man would probably let you get away with murder." She narrowed her eyes as Kagome turned back away from her with a rather soft, suspicious, sigh. "And that's what worries me."
"Next time we leave port," Kagome began again oblivious to Sango's worried nature beside her. "I'll ask him, I mean, the worst that can happen is he says no, right?" She laughed lightly, turning towards Sango to see the other girl's response only to find that she wasn't really listening to her at all. "Sango?" She tried but the woman seemed too lost in thought to really hear her. Carefully, she pushed herself away from the railing, extending one of her hands forward to touch Sango's shoulder.
Instantly, Sango jolted away from the contact looking completely caught off guard as she gasped. "Good lord," She huffed out, panting as she brought her hand up to cover her chest. "Don't scare me like that Kagome."
"Sorry." Kagome apologized slowly as she lowered her hand to her side, eyeing Sango with just a little bit of worry. "Are you okay?" She questioned gently as she lowered her head ever so slightly so as to get a better look at Sango's face.
Still breathing a little heavily, Sango gulped and quickly turned herself away from Kagome, looking out across the port. "I could ask you the same thing." She mumbled under her breath.
"Pardon?" Kagome inquired, blinking slowly with confusion.
Instantaneously, Sango turned back to Kagome and smiled perfectly convincingly. "I said, I'm fine." She nodded her head briskly as the sun came out from behind a cloud and warmed her face as if it too was trying to be reassuring. "I was just lost in thought."
"Oh," Kagome raised an eyebrow slowly but didn't seem all too concerned. "That happens to everyone I suppose."
"Yes," Sango agreed albeit slowly. "It does." She finished with a sigh of relief since the conversation had quickly ended. "This is just downright weird." She thought as she shot Kagome a worried glance, her eyes watching her younger companion, narrowed and focused. "I haven't seen Kagome this relaxed—," She paused and tilted her head in thought. "I've never seen Kagome this relaxed." She amended hastily before inhaling deeply. "Everything about her—since last week when the Captain basically proposed has been just—so strange." Slowly, Sango allowed her hands to fall from the railing as she looked closely at Kagome. "Something about her looks different, her clothes, her hair—something's changed but I can't for the life of me figure out what."
Suddenly, a great shudder came over the ship and a loud cry from somewhere down below signaled that they had successfully docked in Delaware Bay. Beside Sango Kagome gripped the railing her face splitting into an excited smile. "We're here." She whispered joyfully to herself as the wind picked up all around them blowing her hair into her face. Unhindered by the intrusion, she reached up a hand and pulled the strands away from her eyes. The misty light of the cloudy afternoon caught her every feature, highlighting them, making her almost appear to glow with happiness.
"Kagome." Sango whispered as she took in that happiness, watching it as it almost ignited like a tiny flame put upon a dry wood pile.
"Are you ready to go?" The sound of the voice behind them made both girl's jump instantly and turn as a light laugh entered the air. "Didn't mean to scare you, Damn." Inuyasha continued to laugh as he sent a slight wave in Myoga's direction before turning back to the two girl's with a smile. "Why are girl's so jumpy?"
"Captain—," Sango started to chastise the man but before she could even get a word in, Kagome interrupted, her voice suddenly soft.
"We're going already?" She spoke with every air of dignity she had ever possessed. Her back was suddenly straight as if she was wearing a stay and her chin tilted up as if she was wearing a wide brimmed hat.
Inuyasha smiled at the girl gently in return, his eyes turning to a soft molten color that Sango swore she had never before seen in her life. "That ain't right." She thought to herself as she looked between the two watching the matching dovy expressions with growing weariness. "Not right at all."
Suddenly as if a spell was broken the Captain cleared his throat and gave Kagome a more customary cocky grin. "Now's as good a time as any, don't you think?" He spoke, for lack of a better word, briskly his voice smooth and calm, confident as it always was and with just an undertone of haughtiness. For a moment it seemed as if everything was normal but then, much to Sango's amazement, he bowed his head ever so slightly towards the young girl.
"That really isn't right." Sango thought immediately as she took in the subtle sign that every lady and gentleman knew. A subtle nod in the direction of a blushing girl. "I know they're courting but this—so soon?" She felt sweat begin to build on her palms. "These two were practically blushing brides until a week ago—what if, what if the Captain—." He eyes widened as the idea took place in her brain. "I gotta talk to Miroku."
"I believe it is." Kagome returned the bow ever so slightly, maintaining an air of superiority that Sango thought Kagome would not have known how to use. In fact, the only indication that the awkward girl still remained was in the slight redness that brushed her cheeks and the almost overly giddy smile that graced her lips.
"Miroku," Inuyasha called down suddenly towards his son. Miroku was standing on the quarterdeck a small table already posed in front of him laden with charts. "Looks like he's gonna finish counting everything we got from the navy ship." The Captain thought absently as he turned his attention away from the two women and to his son. "Good thing too—the more accurate we are the less likely we are to be swindled if the buyer falsifies his own count."
"Yes, Captain?" Miroku yelled upwards as he placed the parchment he would be working with under a large weight so it wouldn't blow away.
"Miss Dresmont and I are gonna go." He spoke calmly only using Kagome's proper name for the sake of the men around them. "I'll negotiate everything now and you can deliver with the men later, right?"
"Yes, sir." Miroku nodded from his place down below, although his expression was as tight as Sango's.
"Good." Inuyasha nodded and turned towards Kagome, motioning with one clawed hand for her to follow. "Let's go."
"Okay." Kagome agreed with a slight nod and quickly made her way across the helm's deck, passing the Captain with as much grace as she could muster.
As soon as she hit the stairs, the man shook his head appearing amused before turning to look at Sango just in time to receive a rather dark glare. "That's strange." He thought to himself as Sango barely managed to control the glare so that the men wouldn't see. "What'd I do?" He wondered as Sango drew her lips into a thin line, a line that suggested she was attempting to keep her tongue in check. "Um—," He grunted as the darkness of her eyes started to intensify. "We'll be back then."
"Be safe." Sango grunted around gritted teeth as she crossed her arms over her chest and continued to discretely glare.
"Will do." Inuyasha said hastily before glancing over at Myoga who simply gave him an amused smile. "You know something don't you." Inuyasha mouthed slowly but the old man merely shrugged before tying down the helm with quick hands.
"Sayonara." The old man said with a slight bow. "Cap-a-tain."
"Sayonara." Inuyasha replied without thought as he gave the old man a glare of his own before turning on his heel and starting after Kagome. "I totally missed something." He mused as he jumped down the stairs easily, waving to Miroku absently as he caught up with Kagome who was waiting by the gang plank. "Ready?" He asked her with a barely recognizable smile on his face knowing it wouldn't be safe to truly smile at her until they were off the ship.
"Yes, Captain." Kagome replied with a little nod, keeping up the pretense, to the best of her abilities, as well.
Behind them, Miroku pursed his lips as he watched the Captain offer his hand to Kagome, helping her down the gang plank while trying to appear nonchalant. "You're a bad faker." He grumbled to himself as he just barely noticed the delicate way Kagome took the accepted hand. Sighing heavily, he fell into the chair he had set up for himself and turned his eyes towards the ship, double checking to make sure the men were not watching their Captain with too much curiosity. Other than an amused looking Totosai, it seemed that none of the men were all too concerned however. "Like they would care—their Captain marked her, he can do what he wants with her." Miroku huffed and swung his legs around to rest on the desk as he leaned his head back to look towards the stairs of the helm's deck.
Descending slowly, Sango caught his blank expression with a still ticked off one of her own. "Miroku?" She called just as her feet came off the last stair and landed on the quarterdeck.
"Hm?" He grunted as he watched his wife cross the deck, arms still crossed over her chest.
"What's going on with them?" She asked as she tilted her chin towards the two figures that had just hit the dock and were now starting off into the crowd. "It's all so—what happened?"
"All I know is what I already told you." Miroku huffed and drug his feet off the table. Irritated he bit his lip and growled ever so slightly before laying his forehead on the desk. "They're courting—," He spoke quietly so the men around them wouldn't here; it wasn't any of their business after all. "That's all I know."
"He didn't give you any details?" Sango furrowed her brow in absolute surprise as she came to stand beside her husband one of her hands absently reaching to touch the small rat tail that rested at the back of his neck.
Miroku closed his eyes at the touch, enjoying the feeling of her fingers against the base of his scalp. "No." He mumbled, the sound of his voice muffled because of the way he was hunched forward. "And he said he would too." He grunted and finally raised his head looking out over the ship absently as Sango continued to play with his hair. "But I haven't gotten a chance to talk to him, he's been—," Miroku paused for only a second in thought. "Distracted—for lack of a better word," He sighed as he brought one hand up to rub his face. "I mean, he doesn't even sleep lately—he's always out on deck so the men are around so I can't ask him anything. At least when I'm awake that is." He huffed sounding just a little bit like a horse as he did so. "I'm sure if I got up at four in the morning he'd be free."
"I noticed that too." Sango tapped her chin with one finger in thought. "Honestly I'm a little worried," The girl bit her lip as she spoke. "Don't get me wrong, I think they'd be a good match but she's just." Sango sighed, dropping her hand away from her husband's hair. "She's so young and innocent and—what if he does something she's not ready for?" The woman spoke quickly, the words rushing out quietly so as not to be overheard.
Beside her, Miroku pushed himself away from the table, turning and draping his arm over the side of the chair so he could look at her better. "What are you suggesting?"
Sango flinched as the protective look crossed Miroku's face. "Miroku I'm just saying—," She paused taking a deep breath as she prepared to defend her words. "He's experienced and she's—she's just a little girl whose never even been given flowers."
Miroku winced at Sango's words wanting to retaliate but knowing there was some truth behind them. "Otou-san isn't a virgin that's for sure but he wouldn't—not this soon." He told himself even as his heartbeat slightly picked up in his chest with worry. "Kagome's not that kind of girl—he knows that, he knows she's the kind of girl that deserves to be wooed and given flowers and presents," A tiny prickle of doubt filled his chest. "He knows that, right?"
Beside him Sango looked down at Miroku apologetically. "I'm sorry, you know I love him just like you do," She spoke firmly as she looked down at her husband. "But, he is what he is and—I don't know." The woman grunted in frustration bringing a hand up to pull the hat off her head for a second, revealing a mass of hair tied in a large bun. "Part of me knows he wouldn't do something like that—I mean—he might be a pirate," She inhaled sharply for just a second before continuing, speaking as if to herself. "But he's a good man. I of all people know that but Kagome—there's no one here to protect her from getting hurt." Her voice cut off for just a second before she spoke again. "Except you and me."
"Sango." Miroku said her name gently with pure affection touching his tongue. "Believe me I will protect Kagome even from my own father." He nodded sharply so as to reassure his wife further. "I mean I've yelled at him about her more than once right?"
Sango smiled at his words and actually laughed as she recalled the many conversations they'd had about the two getting into fights over girls. Most people would think two pirates would fight over which one got to fuck the girl but in this case it was always over who would protect them, even from each other.
"And I agree with you," Miroku continued not waiting for her to speak. "He's a good man." He gave her a deliberate smile. "Right?"
Sango fingered her hat gingerly before placing it back on her head. "Right." She agreed even as she inhaled deeply as if calming her own nerves. "He's a good man and he knows what he's getting into." She reassured herself and Miroku both. "He's well educated, he should know that proper courtship's last a year at least—not a week."
"That's true, very true!" Miroku brought one hand up to cover his mouth in thought. "And he did ask to court her, that is it was a serious proposition, not a joke or anything." He shook his head quickly continuing to babble instead of waiting for an answer. "And if he's serious that means he's not about to fuck it up by doing something a girl like her wouldn't be ready for."
"Yeah." Sango agreed slowly but her voice sounded unconvinced as she turned and sat upon the table, pulling herself up into a comfortable position. "He's a good man, a gentleman." She whispered under her breath even as an uneasy feeling formed in her stomach. "It's always girls like Kagome," She thought to herself as old memories started to creep into her mind. "Innocent girls who know nothing of love and sex who get taken advantage of though." She closed her eyes tightly as she fended off her own biases. "He's a good man." She spoke firmly. "A very good and gentle man."
Miroku smiled at his wife as he watched the look of pain cross her face, already knowing what dilemma was building inside of her. "Sango?" He whispered softly as he reached out and took hold of one of her hands that rested just on top of her thigh. The girl winced only slightly at the contact before giving Miroku a gentle smile.
"I'm fine." She told him honestly as she squeezed his hand. "Just fine."
"Mr. Miroku!"
Both Sango and Miroku jumped at least ten feet in the air as the small voice of Shippo entered their ears. Clutching her hand to her chest Sango inhaled deeply at least three times before she managed to look down at the small red headed boy who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere at her feet. "Shippo." She tried to smile but the look came across as more pained than anything. "What do you need sweet boy?"
"Where's Kagome?" The boy asked even as he looked around at the deck his tail twitching behind him anxiously.
"She and the Captain just left Shippo," Miroku told the boy as he turned around in the chair and looked down at him with a gentle smile. "They're looking for buyers."
"They left?" The little boy frowned and fought back what sounded suspiciously like a sniffle. "She said I was gonna go with 'er and the Captain ta see ta port but—," His little tail drooped as he spoke, along with his shoulders and pointed ears. "They're already gone ain't they?"
"Oh," Sango smiled sweetly at the child and bent down to pick him up. Shippo didn't fight the show of affection in the least and instead snuggled into Sango's warm body. "Don't worry Shippo," She whispered against his red hair speaking as soothingly as she could. "I'm sure Kagome and the Captain will be back soon and they'll take you to the port."
The little boy snuggled deeper into Sango's warmth causing a soft smile to form on Miroku's face. "She'd be a good mother." He thought absently before shaking the thought completely from his head. "A good mother she might make," He told himself sternly as he turned away from the sight and towards the table. "But babies do not belong upon the sea."
"Miroku—." Sango spoke suddenly, her voice sounding completely shocked.
Turning quickly Miroku looked at her face, watching as surprise washed over all of her features as she looked down at the child in her arms. "Sango?" He called her name a little bit concerned as he watched the color drain from her face before suddenly returning.
"Shippo." She said, whipping her head around to look at Miroku as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What about him?" Miroku pressed just the tiniest bit concerned as he watched a slow smile spread across her face.
"Don't you get it?" She pulled the boy away from her, holding him out towards Miroku.
"Hey!" Shippo whined as he was taken from his warm resting place.
"He sleeps with Kagome." Sango continued undeterred by the now squirming boy.
Miroku raised an eyebrow, "Your point?"
Leaning closer to her husband so as not to be overheard, Sango drew the small boy close to her chest and whispered. "He sleeps with Kagome—and Kagome would never do something like that with a child around."
Miroku narrowed his eyes before his face lit up with realization and relief all at the same time. "Thank god." The first mate whispered in relief before falling backwards into the chair covering his face with his hands. "Good god I married a smart one."
"And don't you forget it." Sango joked as she too felt a great weight lifted off of her shoulders.
Cradled against her chest Shippo frowned darkly, his tiny face scrunching up as he tried to turn to look at the woman holding him. "What are we talkin' 'bout?" He asked but was completely ignored.
"I was so worried." Miroku shook his head slowly from side to side, trying to pop kinks from his neck. "It's just way too soon for a girl like Kagome."
"Too soon for what?" Shippo chimed in but was once again ignored.
"Could you imagine—," Sango inhaled sharply as she thought about Kagome, thought about her timid nature, and the world she had grown up in. "A girl like Kagome who grew up in propriety—a place that doesn't talk about such things," She whispered slowly, "And when they did make them sound so awful." She held Shippo a little tighter to herself. "I mean it was hard enough for me."
Narrowing his eyes and crossing his little arms Shippo growled. "What was 'ard?"
"It took you over a year." Miroku replied to Sango watching his wife with gentle eyes. "Hell it took six months before you would even talk to me. And that's where they are now."
"What—," Shippo tilted his head to the side completely confused. "What are you talkin' 'bout?" He tried to ask but was once again ignored much to his own fury.
"It was worth the wait." Sango laughed slightly as she absently began to run her hand across Shippo's blazing hair only to be interrupted by his blazing temper.
"Listen to me, damn it!" He yelled causing both Miroku and Sango to finally snap their attention to him and not to each other.
"Shippo—!" Sango started to chastise the child for cussing but was stopped by Miroku's hand waving nonchalantly as if the boy's words hadn't been a big deal.
"What Shippo?" Miroku asked calmly although the vein in the top of his head was starting to bulge.
The child instantly realized his mistake and calmed as he watched the vein throb in the much older man's head. "Um—," He pushed himself closer to Sango out of instinct, the demon in him realizing that he was less likely to be killed by the female than the male. "I just want'd to know what we're talkin' 'bout?"
Both Sango and Miroku froze before slowly turning their heads to look at one another. "Cussing's one thing." Miroku said slowly.
"Yeah." Sango agreed and looked down at the little boy in her arms with his tiny arms crossed. "We'll tell you when you're older." She said bluntly to the boy.
Shippo narrowed his eyes and frowned darkly before pushing himself away from Sango and landing on the deck with light feet. "I getti now." He said, sighing loudly as he crossed his arms, shaking his head back and forth slowly as if disapproving of the adults actions. "You 'hink I don't know." He said, his voice almost sad with disappointment. "I grew up with 'irates—I know when we're talkin' 'bout that."
"About what?" Sango asked feeling a bit confused as she watched Shippo start to walk away.
"You know what." He called over his shoulder, stopping for only a moment to glance at Sango out of the corner of his eye. "I know you know—it's why you always smell 'ike Miroku."
Immediately Miroku started to laugh as Sango tried desperately not to swallow her own tongue. "Shippo!" She yelled loudly as Miroku's laughter continued in the background.
The small kit's tail immediately puffed realizing he had pushed the envelope too far and he darted towards the stairs before Sango could even think to grab for him.
"That little—." She growled even as her face turned slightly red out of embarrassment. It was one thing when the Captain made a comment or one of the men, but it was an entirely different thing when a little boy did. Especially when the child made it bluntly known that he could smell what she had been doing with her husband on her. "That's almost disturbing." She thought to herself as her anger began to fade making way for humiliation.
Beside her Miroku grabbed the edge of the desk as he started to wheeze in an attempt to catch his breath. "I should have known." He barely managed to say between ongoing fits of laughter, which were only interrupted by panting breath. "I grew up in London and I knew when I was seven—so him on a pirate ship—yeah."
"You were children!" Sango protested as she turned to look at Miroku who was supporting his whole weight with the desk now. "I didn't know till I was fourteen." She continued her protest as the men who were bringing the merchandize acquired from the navy ship from down below to the quarterdeck paused in their work to watch her perplexed. "But you—," She waved a hand at Miroku. "And him—," She threw her hand in the direction of the stairs Shippo had disappeared up. "Not even out of single digits?"
Miroku's laughter died instantly at Sango's words as he blinked once then twice before a crocked amused smile completely filled his face. "You lived a sheltered life." He said more to himself than to her. "You really did." He grinned to himself softly, the crew around them finally realizing that their quartermaster was merely playing with his woman and thus going back about their business.
"Miroku." Sango barked his name and glared mistaking his affectionate smile for him mocking her innocent upbringing.
"Sorry." He apologized instantly and brought his hand away from the desk to rub at the back of his head. "Just think about it Sango—you were raised in a manner house, we were, well—," He licked his lips slowly. "Raised by the streets and the streets—," He paused trying to think of a kind way to phrase what he was thinking. Carefully, he tilted his head to the side the chaotic nature of Delaware's port catching his eye. "Just look." He told her with a wave of his hand as he turned his full attention to the port. "I saw this every day and worse if I stayed in the alleys."
Sango blinked once then twice as she too turned and looked out across the port. The chaos of people moving about selling wares, selling bodies in relative secret was all there and in the middle of them, almost disguised by the motion of adults there were children. Children of all ages: some stealing food, other's actually with their parents (poppers and rich alike), and even more so children covered in dirt, in soot, in things far worse. "Children shouldn't know these things." She protested weakly as her eyes scanned each child, her mind imagining stories for each dirty face she saw.
"No they shouldn't." Miroku agreed easily as he stood from the table and took Sango's hand pulling her towards the edge of the Shikuro gently. " I knew all these things," He continued as he lead her across the deck. "And that stole part of my childhood—a part you had." The edge in his voice started to leave as he reached a hand out for the railing of the Shikuro. Gently he touched the wood, running just the very tips of his fingers against it. "But then I came here—," He turned away from the wood, his large black eyes looking up towards the sails watching them even though they were currently rolled and stored so they wouldn't be damaged by the wind filling them when they had nowhere to go. "Shikuro." He whispered as he inhaled the sea breeze a moment of peace crossing his face that Sango loved to watch. "And this—," He turned his eyes away from the sails finally, looking at Sango with all the love in his heart he had for this ship, his father that brought him here, and for her. "This childhood was amazing."
Sango grinned as she reached for him, looping her arm through his own. "I bet it was." She whispered as she pulled herself close to him and gently pressed her lips to his own.
-break-
Kagome smiled softly to herself as she walked down the small side street in Delaware. Beside her, ears perched on his head and eyes intensely focused on what laid ahead of him, Inuyasha walked with the same (albeit smaller) smile on his own face. "He's smiling that smile." Kagome thought and resisted the urge to giggle to herself with delight only to stop instantly when his ears twitched on his head and he turned to look at her raising an eyebrow.
"What?" He grunted but the minute traces of that tiny smile never left his face as he spoke.
"Nothing." She replied and clasped her hands in front of herself only slightly awkwardly. "I always forget how well he can hear."
Inuyasha snickered as he watched that sweet embarrassment encompass her. "I don't think I've ever made a woman act like she does around me." He told himself, a minuscule loop sided grin forming on his face meant only for himself. "It's nice." He mused the demon inside of him also smirking with pleasure, enjoying the sheer innocence of Kagome. "That'll change though." The half demon smirked plainly a primitive emotion building in his gut. "All in good time, that innocence will change." He chuckled ever so slightly under his breath before shaking his head sharply in order to regain control. "Calm down you idiot." He grunted under his breath turning his eyes away from the now blushing girl to the front once again. "The key word in that sentence was time and now is not the time." He chastised his inner demon briefly as he turned his attention to the alley instead of his companion.
Carefully, the Captain surveyed the back street his eyes lighting over every nook and cranny slowly looking for anything that should be taken as a sign of danger. Luckily, there was really nothing to see. There was a stray human of no more than ten sitting on a stoop with a stick he was using to draw in the dirt on the road and on another stoop their was an old owl demon shaking out a rug. There were barrels and some other things Inuyasha didn't care to even mentally identify but neither human nor owl was of any danger to either he or Kagome; and beside that neither of them were paying the two 'men' any attention to begin with.
"Everything looks good." Inuyasha twitched his ears this way and that, unconsciously identifying every sound that might be a threat. "Who am I kidding," He snorted silently. "We're in Delaware, the only dangerous thing here is the revolutionaries and they only hate you if you're with the king." He rolled his eyes. "Like that's gonna happen." He narrowed his eyes at the very thought before promptly snorting once again. Satisfied that they were both safe in their current position, Inuyasha turned his attention back to the girl beside him. "Kagome." He spoke her name softly not actually wanting to catch her attention but speaking just loud enough that he accidently did.
She stopped instantly at the sound of her name and turned to look at him. Her grey eyes sparkled in the dark alleyway as just a bit of light managed to hit them. "Yes?" She tried to hold back her smile and desperately tried to contain the blush already mounting her cheeks but it was a lost cause if there ever was one.
Inuyasha offered her a small grin in return and reached forward allowing one of his hands to brush ever so slightly against her cheek. "She looks so happy." He thought to himself as he ran his fingers against the slight twinge of red. "I'm glad," He spoke softly, so softly that she almost didn't hear him. "You're happy."
Kagome finally allowed a small smile to grace her lips openly and turned away from the soft caress to look down the alleyway. Feeling somewhat vulnerable, she searched for just a second, her eyes darting back and forth looking for anyone who might see the exchange. She saw the old owl demon right as he went inside and her eyes landed on the small boy right as he found a coin on the ground and jumped for joy. It was the perfect spot. This little back alleyway was perfect. "I am happy." She still spoke softly, although she couldn't really find reason too, she felt almost compelled to for some reason. "Are you," She ventured to ask turning to look back into his face delighting in the gentleness she found there in his eyes. "Happy?"
"Happy?" He repeated her word and tilted his head slightly to look at her out of the corner of his eye. "What do you think?" He asked as he finally dropped his hand from her cheek and instead looked at her intensely, golden eyes focused solely and completely on her.
She blinked slowly and shock her head to clear it as the honey of his eyes lost her for a moment. "Those eyes are dangerous." She told herself before taking one deep calming breath, a newly found confidence beginning to show as the blush on her cheeks started to fad. "Yes." She spoke with soft poise that she truthfully never had known she had.
Inuyasha inhaled sharply at her words before closing his eyes and extending his hand as a man would to a proper lady. "Would you care to be escorted, my dear?" He asked with a thick British accent that made her laugh instead of blush.
Kagome laughed at his gesture and motioned down to her clothes with an improperly ungloved hand. "People might stare." She whispered as if the whole incident was as completely scandalous as it really was.
A delicious smile immediately curved on Inuyasha's mouth and without preamble he reached out and grabbed her in the most indecent way he could muster. Throwing an arm around her waist, instead of looping it with his own, he pulled her close to his side.
Kagome practically squeaked from the contact her whole face heating up instantly, "His hands." She managed to think as the warmth of his hand on her hip seemed to travel underneath her clothes, as if he was actually touching bare skin. "Inuyasha." She scolded as she looked around for the old demon and the young boy, neither was in sight now but that didn't mean a girl of her station was immediately comfortable with such an intimate contact. Placing her hands on his own she attempted to push him away just enough so she felt more comfortable but he simply growled in reply, the vibration running through her and causing her to shudder. "Inuyasha." She said again, this time in a hushed whisper, as her body started to heat up in a far different way than simply embarrassment. "Please don't faint." She begged herself as her head began to feel light.
Inuyasha inhaled her scent, turning his head and burying his nose in her hair before another soft rumble filled his chest. "Come on Kagome," He whispered against her skin, his warm breath touching her ear as he took in the spicy heady scent that rested behind her ear. "Shit," He growled low in his throat, that spicy smell awakening instincts within him that he tried damn near every day to keep in check. "I can tell you like it." He inhaled deeper, burying his nose farther into the hair behind her ear. "I can smell it."
Instantly, Kagome's face turned a brand new shade of red, her whole body quaking for a second as she tried to form any coherent thought at all. "He can—I should have known—he can smell—that's just not fair." Consumed by a strange combination of heating skin and heavy embarrassment, Kagome's face contorted into something between a grimace, a moan, and deep laughter. "Dear lord," She tried to form a sentence but found herself unable to as a strange tingling feeling began to form in her stomach. "We're on the street." She protested as she attempted to shove herself away from him, needing the space to breath more than anything.
Inuyasha laughed softly, allowing her to push herself away from him expectantly. "It's only been a week." He thought to himself as he watched the flustered expression overrun her face. "One week and—."
Beside him Kagome finally managed to control herself at least somewhat, her face still red but the strange laughter contained. Feeling braver, she tilted her chin upwards towards him, her expression shy as she offered him her arm in the most proper of ways. "I wouldn't mind a proper," She spoke her voice slightly cracking but her posture perfectly calm. "Escort."
"I'm happy—I'm really happy." The thought ran through him, an unstoppable force that consumed him. "Of course," He told her as he took her arm, wrapping his own around it and resting one hand on top of her hand, their bare skin almost sparking upon contact. "I always do enjoy escorting ladies."
"Not too many ladies I hope." Kagome fired back almost instantly a little, only somewhat awkward, smirk on her face that made him laugh.
"I try not to." He told her with a small grin as he started walking again, gently directing her down the alleyway and towards a busy street. "We should be getting close to the main street," He informed as they approached the end of the alley his eyes scanning once more for any hidden dangers. "It might take a bit to find someone to buy what we have."
"You mean the guns and such?" Kagome questioned as she too looked around at the quickly approaching busy street.
"Yes," He nodded briskly as they finally entered the street, his grip on her arm tightening out of instinct as he fell into step with the heavy foot traffic of what appeared to be one of the main roads through town. "We just need to ask around for the rebel leader," He spoke absently as he began to direct them across the street wanting to walk with the flow of traffic on the other side. "Or someone who might just like a ton of guns, there are people like that." He stopped abruptly nearly causing Kagome to trip over her own two feet as a man directing a horse passed right in front of them. "I really don't care who we sell it too, as long as we get a good price."
Kagome nodded as if she was listening but her attention really wasn't on the conversation anymore. All around them people were turning their heads, gazing at the couple oddly. "Do they know?" She thought to herself as she unconsciously leaned a little closer to her escort but that only caused the hushed whisperers to whisper more. "They can't know, can they?" She panicked slightly her face going red before she turned her head towards Inuyasha. "People are starring." She told him in a low and alarmed murmur.
Looking down at her nonchalantly the demon shrugged having already come to terms with the fact people would be starring. "Let them stare." He told her bluntly just as he laid eyes upon an old sign with a gun on it. "A gun smith—that's the person to ask, maybe even sell some of the stuff too."
Beside him Kagome continued to watch the small groups that seemed to be forming along the street, mainly composed of gossiping women talking behind gloved hands. "Look at them." She told herself as her skin paled. "They know." She gulped as she watched the women's eyes dart between the Captain and herself before returning back to their little gossip circles. "This is completely inappropriate." She spoke mainly to herself but Inuyasha's ears picked up her words none the less.
"Why?" He muttered as he continued down the street ignoring every man who was looking at him as if he had grown two heads. "Because you're dressed as a man?" He inferred distractedly, only waving one hand towards her current state of dress to reinforce his point.
"No." Kagome hastily replied as she brought one hand up seemingly to cover her face.
Finally turning to look at Kagome, Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in confusion. "And I reiterate," He pressed as he watched the disgruntled girl try to hide her face. "Why?"
"Because," Kagome spoke rapidly as they passed right by the gun smith's shop too distracted to actually notice they had missed it. "We've only been courting a week and that's—."
"What?" Inuyasha stopped dead in his tracks, dragging Kagome's words and her feet to a deliberate stop. "What are you talking about?"
Kagome blushed as the gaggle of girl's across the street giggled loud enough for her to hear. Ducking her head slightly, she looked at her courter as if he simply should have known what she was talking about. "We're supposed to court at least a month before this, I mean covering a full year—."
"Wait a second—," He interrupted her looking around the street as more people started to watch them. "Damn it, I don't want to attract too much attention." He grumbled internally. "Having them stare as we walk calmly is one thing; having them stare while she has a meltdown is another." He grunted to himself as his eyes darted towards another alleyway just off to their right. "Come on." He mumbled and pulled her after him as the girl's across the street began to make small scandalized noises. He rolled his eyes at the sound just as they ducked into the alleyway, his grip on her arm as firm as it was gentle.
"What are we doing?" Kagome protested as Inuyasha pulled her further down the alleyway until they rounded a corner completely out of the street's view.
"There." Inuyasha sighed in relief as he released her arm before deliberately turning her to face him in the somewhat darker, quieter alley. "Now—what were you saying?"
"About what?" Kagome asked completely confused from the past three minutes.
"A year—," Inuyasha waved his hand as if that would reiterate his point. "What about a year?"
"We court," Kagome told him honestly, finally catching onto what he was saying. "For one year before—," She stopped, her eyes going wide as she realized the demon implication of what she was about to say. "Well—um—," She tried again but found herself unable to actually form the sentence. "That is," She opened her mouth one more time, a large 'o' shape forming where words should be. "It's the proper thing—," She finally settled on, speaking quickly for fear that when she stopped she wouldn't be able to start again. "It's the proper thing to court for a year."
"Okay—," Inuyasha spoke slowly no part of himself actually liking where this conversation was headed. "And this applies to me?"
Kagome's head snapped up at his words, her expression actually one of surprise. "Yes," She nodded once slowly, watching him for any contradiction to her words. "You're proper."
"Since when?" Inuyasha fired back quickly starting to feel a bit frustrated.
"You're a gentlemen." Kagome shot back instantly waving her hands towards him as if that would make it true.
"Have we met?" The dog demon threw back as he pointed from her to himself, laughter building behind his every word.
"Yes, many times." Kagome held back the urge to snort as she struggled for the right words to further her argument. "And each time you've proven you're a gentleman."
All semblance of laughter died on Inuyasha's tongue at her words. Carefully, he straightened his back giving her a critical look before he spoke. "I'm a pirate." He told her bluntly, every part of his body language telling her that he meant his words.
"I know." Kagome nodded reassuringly not daring to actually look at him as she spoke. "You are a pirate, a pirate who," She took a slow step towards him, her hand reaching out as if to touch him only to stall midair and instead close into a slight fist before falling. "Also happens to be a gentlemen."
"Kagome—."
"You know it's true." Kagome interrupted before he could say a word in his defense. "I've seen it many times," She raised her head finally and looked at him her grey eyes meeting his own with inarguable truth hidden in them. "You can't deny that you've been a gentleman with me."
He opened his mouth to try to protest further but the sight of her determined face stopped him. "Only sometimes." He mumbled and looked away from her to one of large, luckily, empty barrels that happened to rest in this particular alley. "Damn it." He groused knowing that he really couldn't argue with her even if he tried. "I didn't agree to this." He grumbled weakly out of principle even as his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Kagome smiled brightly as she realized she had won. "Too bad." She told him with a smirk in her voice.
"So a year—," He exhaled slowly, turning his head to look at her completely pathetic. "A whole year?"
"Yes." Kagome nodded sharply, a old sense of propriety filling her that had been gone for quite some time. Perhaps though, this sense of propriety was more out of fear than necessarily a sense of duty. "You'll court me a year, it's the proper thing to do."
Inuyasha felt a glimmer of hope flicker into his heart as her word's meaning fully reached his senses. "Kagome—," He turned and looked at her slowly, taking all of her in from head to toe before a slight smile formed on his face. "It's also proper to keep your hair long," He reached and gently tugged on a curl causing her to flinch. "And dress like a woman." He moved the hand down to tug on the collar of her jacket a little smirk dancing across his features as he discovered his loophole.
Kagome practically swallowed her tongue as she studied the positively devious look that had formed on his face. "Oh—he's got me there." Her heartbeat instantly accelerated in her chest, sparked by things unknown, causing panic to well up in her. "Um—I—well—that is—." She brought her hands together in front of herself, twiddling her thumbs nervously.
Inuyasha frowned as her scent reached his nose: the smell of Irish lily's compromised by blatant apprehension. "She's afraid." He realized as he watched her stutter and move back and forth from foot to foot uncomfortably. "She doesn't want the courtship to end?" He narrowed his eyes as he tried to piece together what that could possibly mean. "Courtship's have to end—they can't go on forever that defeats the purpose—so why wouldn't she want it to—." His eyes widened suddenly as the reason seemed to knock the wind out of him. "Oh—I could punch myself." He shook his head feeling positively stupid as he watched the young girl look down at the ground every bit as innocent as she could be. "Kagome."
"Yes." She squeaked and jumped slightly the prolonged silence braking catching her off guard.
"How 'bout—," He started slowly reaching a hand out to touch a loose curl that was dancing around her temple. "We court as long as we want to?"
Kagome blinked in surprise at his words, snapping her head upwards to look at him in surprise. "As long as we want?" She repeated as he twirled the piece of her hair he was holding round his claw.
"Yeah." He told her with a shrug as he disentangled himself from her hair, watching as it bounced against her crown. He smiled as the wind picked up sending all the small curls around her head into a spiral of black, brown, and faint red. "Kagome, in the demon world courtships last a year," He told her looking at her confused expression with a gentle smile. "It's proper and customary but neither of us is exactly—," He tilted his head back in thought. "How to put it—what society expects—," He settled on as he turned his eyes back on her. "I'm well—you know what I am and you—," He paused as he looked at her as if trying to determine what he should say. "You're—you."
Kagome raised an eyebrow confused by his choice of words. "Me?"
"Yes," He smiled stupidly as he realized how ridiculous he must have just sounded. "I mean, you're completely your own person, you're not improper or proper you're just," He threw his hands in the air and growled. "You're you. That's the only way I know how to say it." He huffed and brought one of his hands to his head, lodging his fingers in his hair. "And people like you and I, we don't have to be what society wants right?" He yanked his hand away from his hair to look at her almost seeming to expect an answer but not waiting to hear one. "We can just be whatever—do whatever works for us." He sighed as if realizing how ridiculous he still sounded.
Kagome blinked slowly as everything he had just said started to sink in. "What works for us?"
"Yeah," He nodded feeling slightly encouraged that she hadn't simply laughed. "This is about you and me, not the world, society, or propriety " He reached for her then, placing his hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "It's about us mat—um," He hesitated when he saw her begin to tense. "Doing whatever," He gulped waiting to see if his choice of words would be appropriate. When she didn't hit him right away he decided it was safe to continue. "When we're ready for it," He dropped his voice low hoping that his words wouldn't embarrass the innocent inside her to the point that she would rethink everything all together. "And whether that's years, months, weeks—who cares, as long as we're happy," He brought his other hand up slowly to her other shoulder, reassured by the fact that she hadn't hit him yet. "Both of us."
Kagome wasn't really sure how to respond to what he had just said. "He doesn't mind going at my pace," She raised her head to look at him. His hands were still on her shoulders and his face was positioned right in front of her own because of that. She could see the hopefulness in the set of his chin and the anticipation in the way his eyes seemed to burn as he waited. "Just from hearing that—I don't feel as scared." She felt the strings inside her stomach tighten, a gnawing feeling she was beginning to associate with some unknown delight, growing. "I like that idea."
The dog Captain tilted his head back and sighed in delight. "Thank god," He thought to himself as he pulled her forward towards him encompassing her in a hug that she didn't resist. "If I had to wait a full year I'd kill myself." He shook his head ever so slightly and rested his chin on top of her black curls. "But I guess—Kagome is worth the wait; however long that wait may be, just not too long." He smiled and inhaled her scent, enjoying in the spiciness that had returned to it since the hug began. "I like it too." He told her honestly as he tightened his grip around her. "I mean, it's my idea after all."
Kagome laughed slightly as she lost herself in his warmth, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her in this secluded area. She couldn't stay comfortable for long however, as one thought still danced around her head, plaguing her. Carefully, she pushed herself away from him just enough to see his face but not so much as to completely disentangle her from him just yet. "—um—," She started to speak not quite sure how to phrase her question. "At the end of the month or the year or however long," She gulped as he looked down at her expectantly, his eyes showing that he already knew exactly what she was talking about. "Of course he would." She groused before continuing. "What, you know—happens?"
"I'm surprised she actually said it." Inuyasha mused silently before replying. "Whatever you want to happen."
"Really?" Kagome's words came across as far more surprised than she should have been.
"I'm a gentleman Kagome, you said so yourself." He reminded even as his face twisted into an amused smile. "And a gentleman only hopes for the best outcome."
Kagome narrowed one eye at his words. "And what's the best outcome?" She pressed, a large part of her truly wanting to know what he thought the end of their courtship was going to be. "Marriage, a mateship, something permanent maybe?" The words floated in her head uninvited and she practically had to scream internally to make it go away. "He might be a gentleman, his own son might be—married—but he is a demon and a pirate at that, and they aren't the marrying type."
Carefully, Inuyasha disentangled himself from the girl, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes as if in great thought. "I," He began slowly opening just one eye to look at her. "Am not gonna tell you."
"What!" Kagome practically growled as he smirked in amusement.
"That would take all the fun out of it." He remarked while watching her openly pout like a child.
"Sometimes I really don't like you." She sulked and crossed her arms over her chest with a huff.
"What a shame—." Inuyasha grinned to himself before reaching for her and uncrossing her arms deliberately. "Come along my lady." He told her with the same sappy British accent he had used before.
Unable to keep a straight face Kagome laughed slightly her mind easily clearing, unable to stay mad at such a charming boy. "Why thank you good sir." She chimed in as they headed back down the alleyway from where they had originally come.
"You know they're starring because of the way you're dressed, right?" Inuyasha questioned as they entered the street again, the group of girl's nowhere to be found but plenty of people still staring once they saw the two 'men' walking together.
"Oh," Kagome hummed slightly in response an almost doopy innocence taking over her face as she brought her free hand to rest on her chin. "I guess that makes sense."
"Yeah." Inuyasha chuckled slightly as he watched the small groups begin to form again. "I do kind of feel like I'm escorting a guy, no offense." He turned and looked down at her expecting her to flinch and retaliate but instead she tilted her head thoughtfully, an expression of contemplation on her face.
"Well," She shrugged her shoulders with ease. "I guess I make a good man."
Instantly, laughter bubbled up from within his chest and he pulled her just a little closer brushing his nose against the tiny curls that crowned her head once again. "Yes," He whispered against her hair affectionately. "Yes you do."
"Oh, the book store!" She squealed suddenly pulling away from him almost gleefully as they passed the very shop he had promised to take her to a week before. "You promised I could go." She called over her shoulder as she practically skipped across the street with glee. Something she would not have been able to do in a normal dress but something that was not boyish of her at all.
"And then you do something very girlish like that." He commented to himself as several men around him looked at him strangely. Not appreciating the stares he growled low under his breath baring his fangs at the other men deliberately. "Yes—she's a girl now stop staring!" He snarled bluntly causing all the men to hastily continue about their business, no longer paying the obvious woman dressed as a man anymore attention. "Bastards." He snorted loudly as he started across the street knowing that the search for buyers would have to wait.
"I hope you have a lot of money on you." Kagome called over her shoulder as she reached the door.
Inuyasha smirked at her words, jumping the last few feet to the door so she wouldn't be able to open it herself. Grabbing for the handle, he lowered his head just enough so he could speak into her ear disserting. "If I don't—," He mumbled, the spike in her scent making his mind go just a little numb. "I'll steal them."
"You're so bad." Kagome laughed in return as he opened the door and motioned for her to go inside.
"You have no idea." He muttered but she didn't hear him as the smell of books pulled her into the store and away from him for the time being. "Looks like I have competition." He thought to himself as he watched a look of complete awe encompass her face. A slow smile washed over his features as he took her in, watching the small footsteps she took as if afraid to move to fast and miss something. "Don't worry Kagome." He told her even though she was far too distracted to hear him. "I won't let you miss a thing. Take all the time you want and remember anything you desire is yours."
-break-
Naraku leaned back in his chair, the pipe tucked between his teeth smoking lightly as he drew on it. Leaning his head back, resting it against the plush fabric of Hiten's old desk chair, he smiled before slowly exhaling the smoke threw his nose and into the air. Instantly, it rose above his head joining with a small yet growing cloud of tobacco smoke that he had been nurturing for well over an hour.
"Perfect—everything's perfect." Naraku thought as he watched the smoke, his eyes which should have been watering, dancing with mirth as he took in the sight. "I knew that wind demon would come in handy." He told himself as he took another long drag against the pipe. "Another piece of jewel—all for me." He removed the pipe from his mouth and leaned forward placing one elbow on the desk as he studied all the little fragments of jewel: Kagura's, Hiten's, and now the shards that had once belonged to the dead ghost. "All mine." He smirked slightly to himself even as a tiny gnawing feeling began to form in his gut.
"It's too good to be true."
His eyes widened instantly and he jumped out of his seat dropping the pipe without thought. "Who's there?" He roared into the room as some of the ash from the pipe spilled onto the table threatening to catch it on fire.
"This isn't right."
He whipped his head around looking behind himself for any sign of intruder. He saw none. "What the fuck?" He bit out as he clutched his fist together and inhaled threw his nose sharply. The smell of smoke assaulted his nostrils and not that of tobacco smoke but of something burning. Turning back to the desk he instantly snarled in anger as his eyes came in contact with a quickly growing flame on one of his parchments. "Damn it." He cursed as he reached forward and without a single thought, smashed his hand against the flame preventing its further spread.
"Excuse me sir?" A voice suddenly sounded from across the room causing the young demon to jump with a growl.
"What!" He roared as he saw the figure of Hiten appear in the door way one hand posed above the wood as if he had been knocking.
"Sorry to interrupt." He spoke carefully even as he eyed the somewhat crazed looking man.
Naraku instantly calmed from the sight of Hiten, the hairs on the back of his neck that had been standing on end smoothing from the realization. "It must have been him." He told himself with a firm nod and a snicker. "How stupid of me." He grunted to himself before turning back towards the desk and sitting once again in the chair. Once comfortable, he brought his eyes back to Hiten, the air of superiority that one his age should not have yet mastered floating around him almost menacing. "What do you need," He asked as he leaned back in the chair once more and propped his feet up on the desk. "Mr. Hiten?"
"Not me sir." Hiten spoke calmly as his eyes darted behind him towards someone in the hallway. "The wind demon sir."
"Is she with you?" Naraku grumbled as he brought one hand up to brush against his smooth chin.
"Yes," Hiten nodded once sharply his eyes darting between the unseen girl and Naraku himself uneasily. "She wishes to see you."
"Then by all means." Naraku spoke calmly as he tapped his fingers against his chin slowly still, his dark eyes intense and pleased. "Send her in."
End of Chapter
Please Review
Edited for Content 4/8/2013
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. As you've noticed, I'm sure, the relationship that has now budded is finally ready to progress at a decent pace. That being said, please take into consideration that this story takes place in a time when women were considered far worse than just a slut for doing what Kagome is doing. Thus, it will be hard on her emotionally at times. I hope you do enjoy their new 'closeness' however, and next chapter will promise to be a great chapter for everyone who wants some good romance...among other things. I have many ideas in store for their courtship that should entertain I hope. And of course, all courtships must eventually end—at least Inuyasha hopes so lol. Happy New Year All!
P.S. A note on this story's length. I think I've mentioned this but just in case: originally this was a series of novels I was writing consisting of six books approx. As you read the fanfic you will notice that each event is a story arc. And each story arc is actually a novel. Jinenji's story arc and the Cherokee story arc for example, can be read stand alone in a way. Originally I had thought to separate each arc into different fanfictions but for whatever reason decided not to and now it is too late unfortunately. But anyway, just an FYI for those who were curious about the stories length.
Bonus Point:
This bonus point pertains to a line used in this chapter: Kaede says to herself, "Our best laid plans often go astray." The original quote I was alluding to is as follows: "The best laid plans of mice and menoftengo astray." What book made this old proverb (and poem) famous? Hint: The titles in the quote.
Last Chapter's Bonus Point:
And the answer is: Episode 82, I'll also take episode 127 mainly because its one of my favorites but also because we find out again there too. Congrats to the winners!
14 inu-kag, KittyIchigo1, XxxXAiydan's MommieXxxX, TheRealInuyasha, Word Doc, Glon Morski, walomadolo, Suyurilrig
Notes:
Mambo – The term for a female (as opposed to the Houngan, or male) High Priest in the Vodou religion in Haiti. They are the highest form of clergy in the religion and are responsible for preserving the religions customs, providing services, and maintaining the relationship between the spirits and the community. Contrary to popular belief, their central focus (and the central focus of Voodoo) is healing people from illness. Such healing activities probably constitute 60% of all Voodoo activity.
Janjak – The Haitian Creole name of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, the first ruler of Haiti after it gained independence. I used this name because of its historical significance however, the actual Jean-Jacques Dessalines is not part of the story and Janjak has no connection to him at all.
Next Chapter:
Prelude
Till next time!
UNEDITED
POSTED
12/31/2012