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?

76. Family

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 Inuma Asahi De's (with the exception of historical figures).

Chapter Seventy Six

Family

Kagome stared openly at her mother, her eyes unable to look away from the woman's face. She was mesmerized, taking in every feature as if she had forgotten it and was just now being reminded of its look. "She's real—she's really real." The words teased her mind, the voice that said them sounding no more than that of a little child; a tiny lost soul. "Mama." She managed to whisper the word again, her lips trembling as she pronounced the scant two syllables.

Mrs. Dresmont crossed the room within moments of hearing Kagome utter the sweet endearment given only to mothers. Her outstretched hands, fair skinned and tinted with little dark hairs, a strange sight to anyone who knew her. Her feet pattered against the ground, the soft click of heels absent and replaced by the thud of bare feet. The bottom of her dress caught underneath her toes, the lack of hoop making it far too long to walk in properly. Nearly falling forward, she launched herself onto the plush sofa next to Kagome, her hands coming to rest on the young girl's painted face heedless of the possibility of smearing it.

"Chérie." Her pale pink lips trembled from the word as she held onto her daughter's face. "Iz zat really you?" Her words shook as she spoke, little tears welling about her eyelashes as she blinked rapidly. "I thought—I thought I would never see you again."

"Mama." Kagome said the name again as her hands began to shake in disbelief. "It's been so long." She thought as her eyes searched that familiar face, the muscles in her chest clenching violently with child-like emotions. "She looks different—it's been so long she actually looks different." Her whole body seemed to break down from the implications of her own words.

Her mother had changed: wrinkles she couldn't recall ever seeing lined her eyes and forehead, grey hairs tinted the edges of her once dark tresses, and bright blue eyes shone with an aged light that had once been youthful. In short, her mother looked as if she had aged ten years in the span of not even one. Every feature of youth she had when Kagome had left was gone now, the repercussions of worry caused directly by a troubling child. It was not a fact Kagome could dare ignore.

"I did that—didn't I?" She thought as the little girl in her reawakened, the child that wanted nothing more than approval and wished to never disappoint. "I knew—I knew she would be humiliated but I didn't realize—," She felt her heart clinch in her chest as she came face to face with the consequences of her actions. "It would physically change her." She felt tears begin to form in her eyes causing her vision to blur. "Mama." She said the word once more her voice shaking as she felt her mother's thumb brush over the skin of her cheek.

"Chérie." Her mother whispered the sweat sentimental word as she nodded her head. "I 'ave missed you."

Kagome felt a lump take up residence in her throat as she tried to swallow; her mother's words making her whole heart tighten. "I missed you too." She barely managed to say as she felt her hands reach towards her mother, the tears in her eyes overflowing. "Mama."

"Chérie." Her mother cried as well as she pulled Kagome towards her on the couch, moving her hands from the girl's cheeks to rest around her shoulders. "Mama's 'ere, Mama's 'ere." She repeated softly as she pulled Kagome tightly against her as the girl shook with tears.

Standing beside them, Inuyasha watched the reunion with wide eyes; he had honestly not expected in a million years to be in the same room as Kagome's mother. Even more than that however, he had never expected to see Kagome reduced to tears from the sight of the woman. "She repressed her, commanded her, made her into someone she was never meant to be," He told himself as he watched the two girl's cry, Kagome's paint starting to run underneath her eyes leaving streaks on her cheeks. "Kagome even said the woman never understood her or even bothered to try." He gritted his teeth slightly, a well of panic in his chest brought on by protective instincts making him bristle. "So why—why would she be so—so overcome at the sight of her? This woman's done nothing to her but deny her happiness." His thoughts were loud and powerful in his mind but still easily overshadowed by one sure truth: "But she's still her mother."

The thought was a hard one for Inuyasha to swallow but one he knew he couldn't deny. At the end of the day, despite the awful treatment Kagome had endured by the hands of this woman, the woman's identity did not change. Mrs. Dresmont was still Kagome's mother, the woman whom had nurtured her and raised her, loved her and cared for her. Her intensions had always been good if not misguided, and deep down he knew that was the truth just as Kagome knew it was the truth as well.

"Kagome." Mrs. Dresmont whispered as she pulled away from her daughter gently, ignoring the site of smearing paints. "'Ow did you come 'ere?" Her voice was both pained and desperate as she spoke, her hands on Kagome's shoulders to hold the girl in place.

Still far too shocked to speak, Kagome brought a hand to the sleeve of her gown and carefully produced a well concealed handkerchief. Bringing it to her face she patted at her eyes as any lady would, dabbing along her eyelid's edge so as not to disturb the paint any further. "It's a long story Mama." Kagome finally managed to say as she brought the handkerchief away from her face, placing her hands carefully in her lap before looking at her mother straight on once more.

The expression that greeted Kagome was not the kind of expression she had thought to expect. Her mother's eyes were huge and her unpainted lips were hanging opened with surprise. Slowly, her fingers relaxed against Kagome's shoulders, her hands sliding down Kagome's arms until they came to rest at her elbows. "What 'az 'appened to you, Chérie?"

"What do you mean, Mama?" Kagome tilted her head in confusion, not understanding the look of fear mixed with bafflement on her mother's face.

"What 'appened," She whispered just as hurried footsteps sounded in the hall behind her. "To my Kagome?"

"Elizabeth?"

The sound of a man's voice entering the room caused Kagome to jump, despite having heard his approaching footsteps. Raising her head up, she blinked compulsively as the aged face of her Uncle Thorold greeted her. Hair that had once been a dusty blond was now a salt and pepper grey, eyes that had been deep ice blue were now dull navy, and his face that had been smooth and devoid of whiskers was now encompassed with wrinkles and a graying (albeit stylish) Van Dyke beard.

"Qui est-ce?" He questioned, his voice sounding as if he knew the answer but was afraid to believe his own conclusion. Carefully, he studied Kagome with those aging blue eyes watching her features with close scrutiny.

"Thorold." Her mother turned on the sofa, ignoring her earlier worries with a well placed bright smile. Carefully, she laid a gentle hand in Kagome's lap, squeezing the girl's knee reassuringly before addressing her brother. "Vous ne pensez pas qu'elle me ressemble?" She teased her brother as she glanced at Kagome, motioning to the parts of the girl's face that most resembled herself.

Kagome smiled from the gesture, turning the tentative grin towards her uncle. "Bonjour." She greeted the man with an awkward smile dancing across her face.

"Kagome?" He whispered as he looked her over, his stern expression softening tremendously. "The little mischievous thing I knew?" He finished, the use of perfectly pitched English making Inuyasha fidget slightly but not noticeably.

"Yes." Kagome smiled at him, the tentative grin growing larger.

"How," He took a step forward, his dulled navy colored eyes seeming to brighten with each little footstep. "How did you get here?" He asked as he looked down at her with happiness seeming to beam from his every feature. "Why are you here?"

Kagome licked her lips and resisted the urge to glance at Inuyasha for reassurance; it wouldn't do to draw too much attention to him yet. "Well," She reached up and touched one of her stray locks of hair to place behind her ear. The short curl moved easily enough without attracting unwanted attention to its short stature. "I came by boat." She paused to think for a second, unsure of what lies would be plausible and which ones would not be. "I don't even know what to say." She thought to herself as she fidgeted. "I left that note telling Mama I was going to run away—she knows I went willing." She lifted her head to look at her mother. "If she told Uncle Thorold then they might—I don't even know." She opened her mouth to speak but as luck would have it she was interrupted swiftly.

"The pirates—you were with that group of scoundrels." Thorold spoke from his spot only a few feet away from her, his expression narrowing with hatred. "Your mother told me they disguised themselves as navy officials and took you right from your bed." He snorted slightly and shook his head quickly from left to right. "Those—son's of whores."

"Thorold!" Kagome's mother quickly interjected, the harsh insult burning her ears. "Zat waz most inappropriate."

"Forgive me, dear sister." He bowed slightly before turning back to Kagome and bowing his head to her as well. "Pardon my language, Chérie, I hope I did not offend."

"It's quite alright." Kagome nodded her head sharply, thankful for the distraction from the conversation at hand.

"Now do tell Chérie," Elizabeth turned back to her daughter looking at her with a tightly drawn frown. "What 'appened?" She prodded as she squeeze Kagome's knee once more carefully, trying to convey a message from the touch. "Tell Mama—'ow did you escape?"

"Well," Kagome bit her lip as she tried to figure out what her mother was doing. "She hasn't mentioned the note at all, did she even find it?" Kagome thought as she searched her mother's face for the answer, finding it in pressing irises. "She did." She realized as those eyes looked into her very soul, commanding her not to say a word on the subject. "But she never told Uncle." Kagome looked at her uncle out of the corner of her eye, watching as the man studied her like a hawk does prey. "They took me early in the morning after Papa left for work." She spoke slowly wanting nothing more than to turn towards Inuyasha for reassurance but knowing she couldn't. "They kept me prisoner, locked in a small stateroom for months."

Her mother gasped the sound somewhat odd as it ran throughout the room, loud and forced. "Oh Kagome!" The woman whispered as she drew her hand off of Kagome's knee to cover her mouth. "Poor Chérie."

"It's okay Mama." Kagome whispered softly going along with her mother's act as best she could.

Clearing his throat loudly, Thorold looked towards his niece with dark eyes. "How long did they keep you?" He asked, his voice coming across as suddenly stiff, the sound matching his now tense shoulders and back.

Kagome turned towards the man openly, her eyebrows knitting from the change in his voice. "I think—about seven months." She offered slowly as his gaze made her fidget upon the sofa. "Does he know—can he tell I'm lying," She glanced at her mother who had also grown somewhat fidgety. "We're lying?" She corrected before turning her head back towards her uncle. "I was rescued by a navy vessel." She thought to introduce the silent Inuyasha then but held back, not wanting her uncle to connect him to the talk of masquerading pirates. "They found me during a raid off the coast of—," She paused as her mind tried to think of any plausible location. "Ireland—yes—they were kind enough to grant my request to come here." She nodded her head firmly, reassured by the plausibility of her lie. "I came here to see you, Uncle Thorold," She smiled at the man but the kind gesture was barely returned. "Um," She shifted slightly the couch squeaking from the action. "I—I wasn't expecting Mama to be here."

"I arrived a month ago." Elizabeth told her daughter as she too looked towards her younger brother, Thorold, strangely. The man had grown stiff in the past few minutes, his shoulders square and his jaw held tightly clinched as if he was holding back something from being said. "'e wouldn't think zat she waz—zat ze pirates—did something to 'er." She thought as she stared at the man, she could almost guess what had made him go suddenly quiet. "'e might." She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes before turning back towards Kagome who was studying her with shaking pupils.

Kagome stared at her mother something finally clicking in her brain as shock gave way to reason. "The only reason she would be here." She realized as she looked at the disheveled woman, studying the black petticoat that was barely held against a thinning frame. "You know." She told the woman, watching as her mother's eyes widened for a moment before dulling with properly contained grief.

Slowly, Elizabeth looked down at her lap not saying a word as Kagome's accusation hung in the air. In all the chaos of the past few moments, she had been lucky enough to escape from her grief. It had been a relief but now, as with all things, the moment of sanctity had passed. Raising her head up, she looked at her daughter, watching as the girl's eyes seemed to shimmer with tears. Their grey color was thrilling for all of a moment before it became too painful to even see. Pulling her eyes away from her daughter, her grief building up once more within her, threatening to overflow, she inhaled shakily. "I do—I know." She told her daughter, clutching at her dress as if in an attempt to keep herself composed. After several seconds of gaining her own composure, she managed to bring her eyes back to her daughter's face, studying the girl carefully. "'ow do you know?"

Kagome opened her mouth slowly as if to speak but in the end found she had no idea what to say. "I can't tell her the truth can I?" She realized as the secrets of her journey up until this point haunted her. "If I tell them about my quest and my powers and Naraku then I'll have to tell them I wasn't captive—they'll see straight through the lie and I can't let that happen." Thinking as quickly as possible, Kagome struggled to come up with a plausible answer. "The navy," She finally blurted out the only reasonable thought she could come up with, hoping it was sensible enough to work. "They had been in contact with Mr. Morgan's ship—he had asked for their assistance in finding me." She winced from the stupidity of her own statement but it was not in vein. "They told me what happened to Papa."

"I see." Elizabeth nodded her head slowly, accepting the answer despite its loopholes. "I waz sent a letter from Mr. Morgan's squire."

Kagome blinked and turned her eyes towards Inuyasha who was also transfixed on her mother's words. Without her noticing, Kagome's uncle followed her line of sight as if for the first time realizing there was another person currently in the room. With a furrowed brow he looked the man up and down, accessing the properness of his uniform and the demonic quality of his eyes.

"'e told me your papa waz lost to sea." Mrs. Dresmont continued unaware of the exchange happening over her head.

Kagome started to open her mouth to deny her mother's words but stopped when movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. Turning ever so slightly she watched as Inuyasha raised his hand and gently shook his head; a silent signal to not say a word. "But why not ask—something strange is going on here?" She wanted to question him but decided against speaking up, there was too much at stake to do something rash such as that. "But still," She turned to look at her mother watching as the woman worried at the black dress with her fingers. "Who would send her a letter? Was it before or after Mr. Morgan died? Could it have been Naraku?" The very thought made her whole body go cold.

"I came 'ere with Souta," The woman's voice was distant, almost detached as she persisted with her story. "We 'ad nowhere else to go."

"Mama, when was the letter sent?" Kagome gently inquired despite Inuyasha's signal to leave well enough alone.

"Why doesn't she just listen?!" Inuyasha growled in the back of his throat the sound unwittingly catching someone else's attention instead of Kagome's.

Instantly, Thorold turned his attention towards the silent Captain and resisted the urge to glare. "Sorry to interrupt Elizabeth." He politely excused his poor manners as he motioned to the mostly ignored man. "But, out of curiosity, who might you be?" The man spoke slowly, watching Inuyasha with careful and distrustful eyes.

"My name is Captain James Smith." Inuyasha replied also in English as he straightened himself to his full height.

From her position on the sofa, Kagome's mother turned towards the well dressed boy, something about his name causing a memory to turn up in her head. "Where 'ave I 'eard that name before?" She wondered to herself as she stared at the man's pressed navy uniform, trying to discern anything about him that might give her a clue.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance," Inuyasha bowed from his waist while his hands rested tightly against his sides, like a true navy officer. "I'm sure."

"Of course." Thorold bowed as well in return while looking at Inuyasha with still suspicious eyes. "Pardon me for being so forward," He tilted his chin towards Kagome while sending Inuyasha a narrowed frown. "But what is your relation to my niece?"

"I am Captain of the ship that saved her." Inuyasha informed easily as he held his chin up high keeping up the pretense that he was indeed a high ranking official.

"I see." Thorold spoke carefully as he looked Inuyasha up and down, inspecting him as closely as possible. "I suppose our thanks are in order then, wouldn't you think—," He paused just long enough to turn towards his older sister. "Elizabeth?"

The woman, whose eyes were staring at Inuyasha openly, blinked before turning to her brother. "Pardon?" She whispered as her mind tried to process what it had only half heard. "Our thanks, Oui," She nodded and turned back to Inuyasha offering the man a smile. "Yes—we thank you kindly."

"It was merely my duty." Inuyasha told them both as he bowed at the waist towards Kagome's mother trying to show the woman all the respect in the world. "After all, I want her to like me."

"Well I suppose then," Thorold finally sent Inuyasha a genuine smile as he returned the respectable bow. "That you should be returning to your ship—you must be very busy and we can't afford to inconvenience you anymore."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Inuyasha spoke calmly even as fear began to run throughout him. "I can't let them think I'm just her rescuer." He glanced towards Kagome worriedly, her grey eyes matching his own in depths of scared emotion. "I guess now's the best time."

Thorold straighten from Inuyasha's words and quirked an eyebrow. "And why wouldn't it be?" He asked evenly, the genuine smile that had been on his face disappearing instantly.

"I am to be her husband." Inuyasha replied thickly without really thinking the bluntness of the admission completely through.

Kagome felt a lump form in her throat from the bluntness of the statement but couldn't deny that she wasn't pleased. "He said it without a single thought," She smiled to herself even as her cheeks grew hot. "Unlike with his grandfather's—it's like he's more confident now, like he truly believes it."

"'usband?" Her mother repeated the word with wide eyes before snapping her head towards her daughter. "Kagome?" She pressed as her mind raced, trying to dig up her memories associated with the name James Smith. "I know I 'ave 'eard it but where?"

"It's true Mama." Kagome told the older woman even as her heart sank in her chest at the look of sheer disbelief on her mother's face.

Mrs. Dresmont turned back towards the man after hearing Kagome's confirmation, her blue eyes seeing him as if for the first time. The thought of her daughter's previous suitor, a man she no longer wished her daughter to even be near (accept by choice), didn't even cross her mind as she stared at her current one. Carefully, she studied the polished navy uniform before raising her eyes to see the bright golden ones, which stared at her brother unnervingly calm. She knew first hand that she had never seen such eyes and yet there was something about them that was oddly familiar. It was as if she knew those eyes without ever having seen them. And his name, his name was familiar although she was positive she had never met him. It was a feeling she couldn't quite explain.

"Who iz zis man taking you to dinner?"

The sound of her own voice, conveying a distant memory she had long ago forgotten, exploded in her mind. In a flash, she felt her world slow down around her as a memory from eight months before played in her head.

"His name is Captain James Smith, Mama." Kagome answered with a heavy sigh as she straightened her hat on her head. "He's a demon."She affirmed as she looked at herself in the mirror, turning her head this way and that as she studied herself.

"Are you sure?" Her mother asked suspiciously as she watched her daughter study herself in the mirror as any normal girl would. It was an odd sight, she remembered thinking, to see her daughter so carefully checking her appearance.

"Yes Mama," Kagome's voice was exasperated as she dropped her hands and looked back at the woman with a frown that slowly turned into a giddy smile. "He has these beautiful bright gold eyes."

Mrs. Dresmont's eyes focused on the golden irises intently, watching the man as if he were a ghost. "It couldn't be zat would mean—Kagome never left ze pirate ship." Something inside her heart tightened, worry over what had happened to her daughter momentarily blocking the truth in front of her. "Ze pirates—what could zey 'ave done to her?" She lifted her head just in time to see her brother turning towards her, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Elizabeth," He shook his head looking as if he was about to laugh. "Hasn't Kagome already been given away?"

"Um—." Mrs. Dresmont tried to speak but she found herself unable to say more than an incomprehensible squeak.

Stepping in easily, years of lying finally coming to a surprising use, Inuyasha raised his hand calmly. "That arrangement has been negated, monsieur."

"Negated?" Thorold repeated, turning his head towards Inuyasha with eyes drawn in a suspicious and tense line. "This is ridiculous."

"Monsieur." Inuyasha tried to stop the oncoming storm but it was already too late for such a thing.

"How was it negated?" Thorold growled as he looked at the man standing so comfortably in his parlor. "I was not there to negate it."

"I took care of the issue." Inuyasha's voice was low and his posture just as tense as the other man across from him.

"What gives you the right to negate any marriage arrangement?" The man bit the words out before turning towards his niece with narrowed eyes. "What do I even know of this man?" He thrust his hand in Inuyasha's direction, face contorted in disbelief. "How could you do this, child?"

Inuyasha took a step forward his demeanor bristling as the demon in him snarled from the none verbal threat to its mate. "With all due respect—."

"Respect?" Thorold growled low in his throat sounding as if he had demon blood despite having none. "You come into my home and announce both an impending marriage and an annulled one without first consulting me?" He snorted back a laugh completely devoid of any amusement. "It appears you have no idea what respect is Captain Smith."

Inuyasha bit back the smart remark that threatened to leave his tongue. "My deepest apologies." The words barely left his lips, sounding fake and anything but apologetic. "But I was unaware I would be consulting with you."

Barely listening to the argument, Elizabeth felt her heart tighten in her chest. Her daughter had indeed run away from home and had taken up residence on a pirate ship. "She stayed with ze pirates." She lifted her head slowly looking at the Captain as his demon eyes bore into her brother. "She wants to marry one of zem." She shook her head, a part of her not believing anything that was happening in this very moment. "My daughter iz sitting beside me, in gown and petticoat, she looks proper and respectable." She turned her eyes towards the girl, studying the red dress with knowledgeable eyes, it too she had seen before, albeit briefly. "I feel—faint." She turned her eyes towards Inuyasha and shook her head slowly. "Zis iz impossible—zis iz not my Kagome." She pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes, "I need to talk to 'er."

Unaware of his sister's thoughts, Thorold crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Inuyasha with stony eyes. Carefully, he licked his lips unpleased with the lack of respect the other man seemed to be showing him. "Why would you not expect to consult me, I am Kagome's only male relative." He spoke distinctly, glaring at Inuyasha for his own rash words. "I am responsible for her welfare and the distribution of her dowry to the proper suitor, no one but me has the right to arrange her prospects."

"I have been responsible for her welfare for the past—," He nearly said eight months but managed to stop himself expertly. "Month, and thus was not under the impression that I would be competing for her." He smirked slightly as Thorold gritted his teeth and threw his arms to his sides. "Forgive me for thinking I was the male charged with her protection." Inuyasha snorted but kept the loud sound to a minimum. "I assure you however, I have her best interest at heart."

Kagome lowered her head from his words feeling more like cattle than an actual human being. "They're talking about me like I'm not here." She placed her hands upon her knees gripping at the fabric of her pants with trembling fingers. Part of her knew the Captain was just playing his role but another part felt as if he was playing it a bit too well.

The fully human man inhaled sharply as he resisted the urge to openly slap the other man across the face. "She is my responsibility and only mine." He told Inuyasha firmly, the dog demon actually clutching a fist at the words. "With her father's passing she has become my charge and I will take that duty seriously until the moment I find a proper suitor to give her hand to."

"Pardon me," Inuyasha glared at Kagome's uncle, his golden eyes turning into a molten yellow. "But aren't you limiting her prospects by treating your niece like cattle?"

Thorold's jaw dropped from the sheer bluntness of Inuyasha's words. Eyes narrowing he tightened his fist at his sides and looked at Inuyasha with fire starting to burn in his eyes. "Why you—."

Firming her jaw, Elizabeth turned towards her brother and with a firmly set jaw finally inserted herself into the conversation. "Thorold," Mrs. Dresmont's voice was surprisingly solid and authoritative, the sound of it stopping Thorold's words in his throat. "I would like to talk to my daughter—," She turned and looked directly at Thorold, her lips pressed tightly together and her eyes a bright shining blue. "Alone, s'il vous plaît." It was a command, not a request or even a suggestion.

"What?" Thorold turned towards his older sister with a slightly opened mouth.

"I wish to speak with Kagome alone." She repeated slowly, her once dull blue eyes seeming to shine once more with the new confidence that rested within her. "Take ze Captain and leave." She deliberately left off the proper 'please' at the end of her sentence, wanting her younger brother to feel his place.

Nearly shaking with rage, Thorold nodded his head sharply before turning back to Inuyasha with icy blue irises. "Let's leave the ladies to their idle conversation." He quipped, not missing the way his sister glared at him smartly.

"Lead the way." Inuyasha motioned with one hand while sending the man a mocking bow.

The man inhaled sharply in response and started towards the entranceway to the hall and out of the parlor. Turning to look back at Kagome, Inuyasha sent her a comforting smile but didn't dare to utter a word in front of her mother. Gingerly, he bowed to both women before heading after the seething man.

Watching them leave, Kagome felt her heart start to gallop in her chest with fear. "They won't kill each other will they?" She asked no one in particular but that didn't stop her mother from responding.

"No," Elizabeth told her daughter as she smiled faintly at the Captain's retreating back. "But zat iz not important."

"Mama?"

"Kagome, I am not dim," She smiled faintly at her daughter, watching the fear as it danced across her face. "I recognize 'iz name and 'iz golden eyes." Her words made Kagome's heart stop in her chest, her whole world seeming to slow down as they infiltrated her mind. "Ze man, on Port Royal," She whispered watching as her daughter grew more and more uncomfortable with each passing word. "You told me of ze Captain James Smith with ze golden eyes."

Kagome felt fear shoot from the top of her spine to the base of her back. "It's not what you think, Mama I—." She tried to speak and defend herself but her mother held up a petite hand in order to silence her.

"Zen tell me," She looked at her daughter with soft and unassuming eyes. "What it really iz I should think."

-break-

The drawing room was rather large with thousands of books lining giant bookshelves that encompassed every wall. In the center, a small sofa and two plush easy chairs rested with a small table in front of them. Behind even them, positioned in front of a large window with its curtains drawn back to reveal the dismal day, was a table with a decanter of dark honey colored liquid as well as one which was a richer reddish gold in color. On either side of the decanter's a few small bar glasses of gleaming crystal waited to be used.

"Would you like some brandy?" Thorold asked with a tight voice as he approached the table reaching for the decanter, the liquid swishing inside it as it moved. "Or can I offer you something else?" His voice was polite but only out of civility and not true desire to show Inuyasha any kindness.

"I would prefer sherry," Inuyasha told him as he stood in the room, his hands positioned behind his back tightly. "If you are able."

Thorold nodded his head shortly as he poured his own glass of brandy before reaching for the glass of reddish honey colored sherry. "You have good taste." He told the Captain thickly as he poured the sherry into one of the glasses before replacing the cap on the decanter. "For a man who spends his life at sea." He quipped as he turned around towards the tall Captain, his expression almost mocking as he walked across the room, sherry in one hand and brandy in the other.

"I try to keep my palate reasonable," Inuyasha told him, his own voice thick and taunting as he accepted the glass of sherry with a slight nod. "Despite the ocean's lack of fine liquors."

"Hm." The other man snorted as he brought the brandy to his lips and sipped at the substance slowly. "You are a man of delicate insult." He told Inuyasha with a raised eyebrow as he lowered the glass, swirling the liquid around it with a flick of his wrist.

"I try." Inuyasha smiled at him as he raised his own glass to his lips and took a sip of the strong sherry. It had truly been a number of years since he had tasted the full bodied fortified wine, one of his favorites. Hissing from the burn of it against his throat he inhaled sharply before smiling genuinely at the man before him. "This is very well made."

"My family tries their best." Thorold nodded, the stroke to his ego doing the conversation some good. Raising his glass towards Inuyasha, finally looking more pleased than angry at the man in front of him, he nodded his head. "And they are the best."

"Really?" Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow and held back the snorting insult that rested just on the tip of his mind. "I can see why." He said instead as he tipped his head towards the other man before raising the glass to his lips for another taste. Truthfully, Thorold wasn't far off; this particular sherry was very good and very well made, something Inuyasha hadn't been lying about. "This is some of the best I've ever had."

"You embarrass me." The man said with a smile, his chest seeming to puff with pride in his families works "But I do appreciate your compliments." He moved towards one of the plush chairs as he spoke, motioning for Inuyasha to do the same with his free hand. "Please, take a seat."

"Why of course." Inuyasha nodded his head, gold eyes watching the man carefully as he moved to take a seat at the offered couch. "Something strange is going on here."

A far off clock ticked loudly as the two men took their seats across from one another, Thorold in one of the large chairs and the Captain on the sofa. The quiet was deafening as they stared at one another, every once and a while taking a drink from their glasses. The seconds ticked on as Inuyasha watched the other man, studying the subtle changes in his body language. With each sip of his drink, Thorold was becoming more relaxed and more contemplative. It was almost as if the delicate taste of the brandy was giving him time to straighten out his thoughts properly without anger's interference.

"I wonder what he's thinking." Inuyasha thought as he leaned backwards slightly and brought one of his legs up to cross over his knee. "It has to be about Kagome." He told himself as he took another slight sip of sherry, knowing it wouldn't do to drink too fast and lose his head. "But what about exactly, her prospects—of course—but what else?" He licked his lips as the sound of the distant clock ringing hit his ears. It was eleven o'clock in the morning now and here he was drinking sherry.

A similar thought must have struck the man across from him. "Eleven in the morning—how improper is this?" Thorold clicked his tongue and turned his glass over and over again in his hand.

"It is rather early for a drink." Inuyasha commented as he watched the man continue to turn the glass in his hands.

Thorold looked up at Inuyasha, his once angry eyes appearing must calmer now as he studied the man. Now that he was thinking more clearly, he could see the benefits of the individual before him. "Kagome was with pirates." He told himself as he looked towards the Captain's barely touched glass. "Could that be why Naraku Morgan denounced her?" He wondered to himself, knowing that for all pretenses it was probably the truth. "He must know." He narrowed his eyes as he looked towards Inuyasha. "But he wants her anyway—he must want the money—how convenient." Clearing his throat, he too leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs as he looked at the other man. "You must forgive me for my words and actions." He began although there was something oddly lacking in the sound of the apology. "I was just," He swirled the drink in his glass, watching the honey colored liquid absently before raising his head to look at Inuyasha once more. "Surprised by your sudden appearance." He licked his lips gently as if trying to get a bad taste out of his mouth. "In light of everything that has happened to my niece, it seemed—odd."

Inuyasha quirked an eyebrow not quite following what the other man was getting at. "That is understandable." He told the man anyway, not wanting Thorold to think he had the advantage of intelligence in this conversation.

"My sister often told me about her—," He fidgeted with his glass for just a second as if being very careful to pick appropriate words. "Troubles but it seems you have done well by her." He tipped his glass towards Inuyasha in praise of the way he had seen his niece appear before him today, looking for all pretenses like a proper lady.

Unsure of what to say in response to Thorold's words Inuyasha merely took a sip of his own drink as if toasting to unknown and unwanted success.

"Well," Thorold cleared his throat before taking a slow drink of his brandy. "I suppose," He drew out the word, looking at Inuyasha over his glass, his blue eyes bright next to the gold drink. "We should discus my niece's prospects and, of course, the financial rewards for their prospects."

"That's unexpected." Inuyasha thought as Thorold's anger and suspicions suddenly gave way to discussions of marriage. Leaning back further on the couch, relaxing as much as he could during such a tense conversation, he launched into the conversation bluntly. "I don't want her dowry."

Thorold lowered his drink away from his lips and eyed Inuyasha as if he had grown a second head. "What kind of man are you?" His voice was oddly tight in his throat as if he truly was confused by Inuyasha's words. "Who would refuse a good dowry?" He chuckled slightly as if trying to turn the situation into a joke. "I'm willing to offer you a substantial sum."

Taking a sip from his sherry to appear calm, Inuyasha shrugged his shoulders calmly before answering, "I don't want your money."

Thorold stared at the man, openly gapping for a few moments before he snapped his mouth back shut. Leaning backwards in his chair in an attempt to appear just as calm as the other man, he inhaled slowly. "Then what do you want?"

"Her." The word was blunt and truthful, a truth Thorold could not deny.

Leaning forward, he set down his glass of brandy on the small table between the couch and the two plush chairs. "What do you mean?"

"I want her." Inuyasha answered him evenly as he too reached forward and placed his own glass on the table.

"Why?" Thorold whispered the word as if it was dirty. "Who would any man want a woman without her dowry?" He continued on as he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward on the edge of the chair. "It's ludicrous." He searched Inuyasha's face watching as the man looked down at the floor and then up at the ceiling; anywhere but at Thorold's face.

For a moment, Inuyasha stared at the ceiling, unable to think of anything that would sound convincing to the stone faced Thorold. "I should just accept the money." He thought to himself but knew he couldn't ever do such a thing. Accepting the dowry would be the equivalent of buying the woman he cared for most, a treason he just couldn't allow himself to commit. "Kagome isn't cattle or a prize to barter for." He told himself as feelings he had been trying to ignore started to bud within his chest. "Kagome's so much more than that—she's the woman I lo—." His eyes widened before he could complete his own thought. His heart tightened in his chest, the truthfulness of his own near admission making him look directly back at Thorold. "That's it." He told himself as he stared at the man waiting patiently for his answer. "I love her." He spoke from the very bottom of his heart, staring into his intended's uncle's face with all the reassurance he could muster.

His words hung in the air for several moments, loud against the tick tock of the unseen clock. Inuyasha felt his heart pound in his chest, barely able to believe that he had permitted himself to reveal such a private feeling out loud. He could only imagine what the man across from him was thinking and he could only dream of the power he had just given him. Thorold now was in possession of Inuyasha's deepest feelings, a fact that made Inuyasha feel exceedingly vulnerable. Feelings such as this were not meant to be known by third parties, parties that might exploit them and use them for their own advantage.

"What have I done?" Inuyasha thought as he waited anxiously for Thorold to say something, anything.

After several moments, Thorold snorted before looking deliberately away from the honest golden eyes. Gingerly, he leaned forward, hands on his knees and stared into his glass of brandy. "Love is painful business." He informed Inuyasha firmly as he studied the honey colored liquid. "Painful and stupid." The man shook his head and reached for the glass. Grasping it between shaking fingers, he tipped it back haughtily drinking the last of it before placing it back on the table. "Look what it did to my sister." He told Inuyasha, his voice gruff and almost angry. "She loved, he died, she suffered." He spat the words, looking up at the demon before him, speaking to him as if he was older and wiser; which, in a way, he was. "I don't love my wife—like her yes—love her no." He shrugged absently, the nonchalant nature of the gesture making Inuyasha feel almost sick. "And when she dies, I won't feel that pain."

"But," The dog demon attempted to argue with the jilted man. "Isn't it better to have known that emotion, than to have never felt it?" He asked, his heart tightening in his chest as he thought of a world without his feelings for Kagome in it. "A few moments of pain in the grand scheme of my life outweighs how empty I would feel without it."

"You're a demon, she's completely human." Thorold shot back; there was a certain growl in his words that made the room feel even more uncomfortable than it already was. "She'll die long before you."

Inuyasha gulped, a lump forming in his throat as he was reminded of the truth of his situation. It was a truth he had yet to really even think about. Kagome would die long before he even started to wrinkle with old age. She would wilt and he would continue to grow stronger. Hell, Kagome wouldn't even know him when he reached his prime. "I know."

"And still you would live that short existence with her," Thorold stared at Inuyasha, watching the man as if expecting him to break and leave. "Only to suffer a longer lonelier one without her?"

For a moment, Inuyasha found himself unable to answer, even though he already knew what the answer might be. The prospect Thorold was presenting covered more than just his feelings for Kagome. It also covered his son and his daughter-in-law. They were just as human as Kagome and yet, he couldn't imagine a life without them. One day they would pass and he would be alone with nothing but fitful memories. Still, deep down he knew his life would be a lot more painful if he was not even left with the memories to keep him company. "I would—I would be happy just to have known her, even for but a short while."

The man sitting across from him was silent for several minutes as he digested Inuyasha words. "You're a fool." He finally told him, his eyes pulling away from Inuyasha to look out at the darkening day.

"I know." Inuyasha confirmed his own foolishness at the forefront of his mind.

"And I both pity and respect you for that." He spoke truthfully as he stood from his chair and grabbed for his glass. Slowly, he crossed the room back towards the drink cart, preparing to pour himself another wee splash of brandy. "You'll treat her well, yes?"

"She will want for nothing." Inuyasha nodded his head firmly, knowing his words to be the absolute truth.

"Will you," Thorold paused as he placed the cap back on the brandy, raising his glass for a drink. "Allow her to have children?"

Inuyasha gulped, the question making him feel oddly nauseous. He knew, to Thorold, the question was logical and part of the dangers of love. Love, after all, is the only reason a demon would ever permit a human to bear a child. Thorold, as a proper aristocrat, would never allow anyone in his family to dare bring a child such as that into the world. But a part of Inuyasha, a truly honest part of himself, really wanted to imagine such a love child. He could almost see Kagome's eyes on a small pudgy face and her curls mixed with his own silver hair. He could see her sitting in a rocking chair, the small whelp on her knee as she rocked and read a nursery tale. He could almost taste the security of such a moment and yet—. "No." He answered, a small part of his heart actually sporadically clutching at the promise. "I could never curse a child to such a fate."

"Good." He spun the brandy in the glass absently before smirking as if only to himself. "You've made my life easy—do you know that Captain Smith?"

"I'm sorry," Inuyasha told the other man even as his heart pounded in his chest, telling him that Thorold's sudden change was about to be explained. "I really don't know what you mean."

"Well—my sister always knew Kagome would be hard to marry off," Thorold turned towards the Captain walking around the chair's once more but not actually sitting down. "And after this ordeal with the pirates," He shook his head sadly before taking a little sip of brandy. "It would be downright impossible."

"Why's that?" Inuyasha gritted his teeth, he already knew where this conversation was headed and it was not a place he would ever dare let something lead.

"God only knows what they did to her." Thorold brought his glass to his lips and sipped thoughtfully. "You're a good man." He told the Captain not paying too much attention when the other man stood to his feet, hands clutching at his sides. "Not every man I know would knowingly take damaged goods."

Inuyasha felt his eye literally twitch with rage, the demon blood inside his veins pounding against his head as it shot through his arteries. Trying desperately to keep his blood in check, he pushed his heels into the ground not letting himself take the initial step forward in order to act on his baser desire.

"She must have tasted good for you to take her," Thorold continued unaware of the danger directed at his person. "That's really the only reason I can see for you to so easily fall in love with her." He turned his eyes towards the Captain, missing the slight twinge of red in the man's normally honey eyes. "After all, without her purity, what good is she really?"

"You—," He growled low in his throat as he tightened his hand into a fist at his side. "Bastard!" He snarled and before he could stop himself, lunged forward and punched the other man directly in the face. The brandy glass shattered on the ground as it fell out of Thorold's hand, the aristocrat spluttering as blood ran down his face from a clearly broken nose.

"Damn it man," He yelled as he pushed Inuyasha away, the demon in such shock that he had acted on the urge making it an easy task. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He gasped as he brought a hand to his face, feeling the blood against his fingers.

"What's wrong with you?" Inuyasha fired back as he allowed his demon blood to seep back into control. Hate and anger filled him, flashing of Sango and her story running throughout his mind. He could almost see Sango broken and mentally dead inside that tavern but instead of Sango's face, he saw Kagome's. "She's your niece."

"She's a whore." Thorold fired back as he grabbed for his handkerchief and placed it against his still bleeding nose. "I'm sure those pirates made her one."

"What the fuck do you know?" Inuyasha snarled as he stepped forward and grabbed the man by the collar, the handkerchief falling from his hand to the ground. "Your niece is the purest woman I've ever met." He spat in the man's face as he spoke, spit landing on Thorold's bloodied cheek. "She is kind and gentle and has more goodness in her pinky than you have in your whole body." He shook the man as he spoke each word, watching as the human's head snapped back and forth. "How dare you talk about her as if she was simply a common whore!" He snarled the last words, throwing Thorold backwards and onto the sofa with his last fierce shake of the man's body.

"You're insane." Thorold yelled as he tried to push himself back upwards on the couch, looking at Inuyasha with terrified eyes.

"And you're an asshole." Inuyasha fired back as he watched the blood from the man's nose run down his face, staining his shirt permanently.

"How dare you," Thorold finally pushed himself back to his feet, trying to appear brave as he stood in front of the other man. "You come into my house and insult me—."

"Shut up." Inuyasha snapped as he reached forward and grabbed Thorold's collar once more. "You deserve every word."

"Let go of me." Thorold commanded evenly as he tried to maintain his composure, appearing brave despite being terrified.

"Apologize for what you said."

"Apologize?" The older man growled as he looked Inuyasha right in the eyes, not seeing the red tint for the warning it was. "Why should I have to apologize for that filthy whore?" He drug out the words, smiling as he felt Inuyasha's grip loosening on his collar. Slowly, the fabric of the ruined shirt slipped out of the Captain's hands and Thorold smirked. "So you finally understand." Thorold snickered as he brought a hand back up to his face. "I'll understand if you don't want her filthy body any more—."

Thorold never finished the sentence; instead, he was silenced as blackness overtook the entirety of his mind. The sound of his body flying through the air and hitting the bookcase was not even registered in his ears. In fact, the loud thud of his body was barely even registered in his attackers own (despite the pointed triangles being far more efficient at hearing than Thorold's normal human ones.)

Breathing heavily, Inuyasha stared at the limp body of Thorold Montague his red eyes gleaming for all of a second before they mellowed once more, becoming gold. "What—?" Inuyasha started to question the sight before him only to hear the demon within him grunt: "Hurt mate." Nodding his head in understanding Inuyasha felt a smile form on his face. "Serves you right, bastard." He grunted as he straightened himself back up right.

His self satisfaction didn't last long however, as Inuyasha suddenly realized the implications of such an attack. Thorold was a French aristocrat, a wealthy man who probably knew people in very high up places. There was no telling what Thorold would be able to do once he woke up and alerted his servants to the assault. It would only take one search of the Shikuro for Inuyasha and all the people on it to be implicated of heresy and crimes against the crowns of both France and England.

"Fuck." He whispered into the room as he looked from left to right before his eyes finally landed on the man's body once more. Thorold was not in particularly too good of shape, blood dripping slowly from a cut above one of his eyebrows as well as from his already broken nose. Slowly, Inuyasha gulped as he tried to think up a plausible excuse for the master of the house's condition but he couldn't think of even one. Stepping backwards towards the drawing room's closed door Inuyasha bit his lip his eyes unable to look away from Thorold. "Kagome's gonna kill me." The thought was loud in his head and downright terrifying. "Fuck." He repeated, unable to think of anything else to actually say.

-break-

"And that's pretty much what happened." Silence flowed throughout the parlor as Kagome finished her story, her eyes downcast and unable to look at her mother.

In the end, she had told her mother a nearly complete truth, divulging only the most important details of the past eight months to the woman. Albeit, she had excluded most of the salacious details, such as: Inuyasha marking her and Miroku and Sango's relationship as well as the more unnerving one's such as her near death experience, her Miko powers, and the Shikon no Tama. She had told her of the violin lessons, the books, the pups and exotic taverns. She had told her about learning to navigate by the stars and by the sun as well as how to steer a vessel and check for water depths. She had told her of Cherokee Indians, New Orleans, Hispaniola, Boston, Delaware, and of course of Ireland. She had told her about the Captain, about their relationship, about his family, but not about his heritage. That, above all else, she had purposefully excluded. In short, she had simply told her mother that she had indeed run away, found herself on a pirate ship, been accepted as a member of the crew, and had been traveling with them ever since, living a happy life of adventure and surprise elegance on the sea.

And, for her part, her mother had never once interrupted her and had instead simply sat patiently, listening to her daughter with both intrigue and nervousness. Every once and a while the woman had asked a question, about Kagome's feelings or safety, and Kagome, each time, had answered her truthfully. So truthfully in fact, that Elizabeth had actually flinched at times in disbelief. The woman had been astounded by the tale and amazed that it had been her daughter living within its frame. It was wrong; it was not the life her daughter was supposed to live. Yet, the small smiles on Kagome's face and the little looks of amusement in her eyes that popped up every now and then as she spoke, told Elizabeth that it didn't matter if it was wrong because for Kagome it was obviously right.

Carefully, the older woman took a deep breath as she listened to the silence of the room trying to think of anything she should say. "I should stop zis." She told herself even as her hands dug into her black gown tightly in disagreement. "But," She lifted her head finally and looked at her daughter. "I've never seen her look so 'appy as when she told zose storiez." The woman struggled with an innate inner conscience. "So you've been living," She finally managed to whisper as she looked down at the Oriental rug on the ground, watching the patterns with unseeing eyes. "As a pirate?"

"Mama." Kagome reached for her mother, her heart clenching at the way her mother had spoken the soft words. "I—I have." She told her unable to deny the truth. "But I've never hurt anyone and neither does the Captain if he can help it."

Mrs. Dresmont closed her eyes and placed her hands gently in her lap. "Zat man, ze Captain." She opened her eyes slowly and turned back towards her daughter, looking her straight in the eye. "Iz a pirate by trade."

"He is," Kagome licked her lips trying to think of anything she could say that would redeem Inuyasha in her mother's opinionated eyes. "But he's been very good to me Mama." She exclaimed hastily while gripping hold of the edge of her gown. "He's kind and he's well educated and I want for nothing—he gives me everything I could ever need—like I told you, the bed, the clothes, the shoes, the violin, the books—anything I could ever want."

Her mother didn't speak for several seconds as she studied her daughter's pleading face. Grey eyes shown with fear, the sight of them making her remember another pair of grey eyes, ones she had loved with all her heart. "Richard." She thought the name, seeing her husband's face for just a moment before it faded back into her little girl's.

"Please Mama," Kagome spoke fearing the woman's silence meant disapproval. "He's the only person I've ever met that—that allowed me to be myself."

Mrs. Dresmont's eyebrows rose at her daughter's choice of words. "To be 'erself?" The thought was whispered in her head, a mocking sound that reminded her of all her faults as a mother. "Waz it really so bad being my daughter?" She heard the words leave her mouth before she could dare contain them.

Beside her Kagome felt the color drain from her face, all of the blood leaving it as her mother's words absorbed into her psyche. This particular situation was one she had never thought to be confronted with. Here was her mother, sitting before her looking anything but like herself, asking her if she had been a good mother and the only answer Kagome could think of was a lie. "You weren't—bad." She tried to tell the other woman feeling dirty with every word. "It was me, I was a bad daughter."

"Oh Chérie—zat's not true—." Her mother started to say but Kagome shook her head somehow silencing the other woman.

"It is." Kagome sniffled slightly, the musty air of the damp room combined with her own emotions making her nose run. "All you ever wanted was someone to sit and respect you and wear her dresses properly and marry well." She sniffled again and brought the hand that still held the handkerchief up to dab at her eyes. "And I—I—I mocked that at every chance I had."

Elizabeth felt her heart clench in her chest from her daughter's words. She knew what her daughter was saying was true and she realized that her daughter had never deserved to be treated in such a way. "I should 'ave let 'er play and romp." She told herself as Kagome continued to rub at her eyes. "I should 'ave listened to 'er—why didn't I listen?" She wondered, her feelings of guilt for the life she had tried to push on her daughter overflowing in her chest. "Maybe she wouldn't be with pirates if I 'ad."

"I'm sorry Mama." Kagome continued on not bothering to look at her mother's face as she tried to say everything she needed to. "I'm sorry I couldn't be the girl you wanted or at the very least a suitable daughter but," She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes trying to block out everything around her. "I'm not that girl." She opened her eyes and forced herself to look at her mother who was staring at her with open eyes. "You know I'm not." She pleaded softly as she looked at her mother's face watching the look of strange regret that formed on the woman's brows.

"Kagome—." The woman shook her head slightly, looking for all pretenses that she disapproved of Kagome's words.

"No Mama," Kagome cut her off not wanting to let her world slip away. She had fought much too hard for her right to be herself and to find a place where she was accepted to simply let it slip away. "Propriety and fine dining and hoop skirts and stays—," She named off each of the evil's her voice growing louder with each word. "I want nothing to do with any of them."

Her voice echoed in the room loudly, the sound of it floating throughout her mother's entire body. Carefully, the woman blinked, taking in her daughter with eyes that actually could see her. The woman before her was very much the daughter she had raised unwittingly. Buried under every layer of clothe and fake manners, Kagome was shinning, her grey eyes swirling with a scene she loved more than life itself: the sea; freedom. "I raised a girl no one would ever understand." She thought as her heart tightened in her chest. "Except me."

Afraid of her mother's silence, Kagome moved forward until she was sitting on the edge of the couch. She felt her lips quiver and her legs begin to twitch, the need to escape building in her. "Please say something." She spoke, the whisper unable to be contained.

"I'm glad." Elizabeth's voice was soft and almost unreal to both Kagome and herself.

Kagome blinked quickly and leaned away from her mother unsure about what she had just said. "What?"

Mrs. Dresmont sent her daughter a careful smile, turning her head away and looking towards the picture of herself on the far left wall. "Do you remember," She asked as she studied her blue eyes, watching them reflect back another person. "When you were a little girl, you asked," She smiled from the memory as she imagined a little Kagome standing on a sandy shore. "Mama, do you love ze sea?"

Kagome bit her lip as she tried to recall what her mother was talking about. "I—um."

"I never 'ad an answer for you," Elizabeth cut her off as she pulled her eyes away from the picture and looked instead at her daughter. "I do," She finally told her daughter the truth. "I really do love ze sea." She watched as Kagome's eyes knitted with confusion, her daughter's head shaking back and forth, not able to comprehend her mother's admission. "I love it more zan anything."

The younger girl tried to open her mouth, unsure of what she should say or how she should respond. All of her preconceived notions of who her mother was were slowly falling apart. She had always thought the woman to be unflappable and a true socialite. She had thought she liked the hoops and stays and paints that accompanied the mask of a proper girl. Sitting here now, however, she saw a very different woman across from her. She saw a woman with no paints and no hoop; she didn't even have shoes on. Before her, she was finally seeing the reality which was her mother.

"I always wanted to be," Her mother started to speak again, shifting on the sofa to become more comfortable. "An—um," she paused in thought for several seconds before simply saying the word in French. "Explorateur."

"An explorer?" Kagome repeated slowly as she looked at her mother in complete surprise.

"Yes." She smiled brightly at her daughter as she released a secret she had been holding in for years. "Like Cartier or Marquette." She spoke the names of the famous French explorers fondly. "I always wanted to be like zem but—," The smile left her face for all of a second before she turned to look at her young daughter. "My life waz on a different path." She reached out and touched Kagome's streaked face with gentle fingers, softly rubbing the paints back into place, smoothing them. "My greatness came from you—you and Souta."

"Mama?"

"Souta is in Paris, at ze université," She explained slightly further as she brought her hand away from Kagome's cheek, rubbing the blanc on her hands absently. "'e will become a great man, a wise man—everything 'e wants to be." She lowered her hands down to her lap, watching as some of the paint rubbed at her dress. "And you—you will be what you want to be—," She looked towards Kagome, her eyes bright with unshed tears. "'appy."

Kagome felt as if she should have cried at her mother's words. She couldn't believe what she was hearing or even understand what her mother could possibly mean. "She—she wanted to be like me." Her mind tried desperately to comprehend her mother's words. "She wants me to be happy." She felt more tears start to build on her lashes, threatening to fall and undo her mother's earlier work. "She understands—she always did—how did I never know?"

"However, I do not think," Her mother continued, shifting uncomfortably, as her mind raced away from her willingness to allow her daughter happiness, to her need to protect her. "Being among pirates iz wize."

Kagome felt as if her whole world was about to fall apart at her feet. Her stomach turned with dread, the feel of it lodging itself into her throat. "You can't." She managed to whisper \even as her mouth went dry with fear.

"Kagome," Her mother whispered softly and reached across the sofa to place her hand on her daughter's knee. "It iz a dangerous life." The woman nodded her head as she spoke, as if daring Kagome to deny her. "It iz ze life of ze fugitive, it iz hard, and dangerous and you are but a girl."

Instantly, an image of Sango flashed in Kagome's mind, the brave and proud woman seeming to dance about her head. With wide eyes, she turned to look at her mother, watching as the woman stared at her, seeming to plead with just her irises. Slowly, she felt her mouth open, the natural filter that had once been in place to stop her from speaking inappropriately no longer functioning. "And that's why you were never an explorer, isn't it?" She spoke bluntly, unable to stop her words even as she watched her mother's breath hitch in her throat. "Because you're a girl and girls just aren't capable of doing anything but bearing children and keeping house."

Elizabeth's mouth opened slightly as the truthful insult hung in the air. She felt as if Kagome had kicked her solidly in the gut, cutting off any chance of breathing she could ever have. Shaking, she brought a hand to her lips trying to stop herself before she could actually make a sound.

"We can't face danger or explore the world." Kagome told Elizabeth, continuing on despite the look of hurt on her mother's face. "We have to stay at home and sew and knit and dream." She closed her eyes against the pain she saw in her mother's. "I refuse to be the girl that just sits and dreams—I want to explore, I want to have adventure, I want to experience a little danger or hell," She cursed in front of the woman, not missing the loud gasp as she pushed herself up from the couch. "A lot of it." She told the woman as she stepped around the center table and placed her hands on her stomach where the stay compromised her breathing. "I want to live, Mama." She whispered out the words and turned towards her mother finally able to look her in the face. "And danger is part of living."

Elizabeth didn't speak for a moment as her eyes stared into her daughter's face. In those grey eyes she found not only her husband but something new. She saw bravery, courage, resilience and tenacity, she saw a person who would never be pushed around. But mainly, she saw herself as a young girl. "I thought like you once." She let the thought stay in her head, unable to express it out loud. "But I never acted on it farther zan marrying ze man I loved despite my father's wishez." Smiling faintly, unable to hold back to expression, Elizabeth allowed a tear to run down her cheek that she hadn't realized was ready to drop. "I wish—," She spoke quietly as the tear hovered on her chin and prepared to drop. "I waz as strong as you, Chérie."

Kagome felt the fight leave her body as she listened to her mother's words repeat over and over again in her head. "Mama?"

The sound of feet suddenly running down the hall gave Kagome pause. The hasty footsteps were loud, pounding against the floor and then suddenly, quiet, too quiet. A few seconds passed and suddenly, Inuyasha appeared in the doorway. His gold eyes spotted the two women instantly, a devilishly charming smile appearing on his slightly nervous face as he moved to straighten his jacket only to pause hastily and put his hands behind his back. "Pardon."

"Captain?" Kagome stood up in surprise as the man strolled into the room with his hands hidden and jacket somewhat rumpled.

"We need to get going." He spoke without preamble as he looked behind him slowly as if looking out for something.

"So soon?" Elizabeth pursed her lips as she spoke, the knowledge that this man was the Captain of a pirate ship unnerving and yet, she felt as if she could ignore it. After all, the man from the story was wise and educated, well versed in proper things, but not deadly.

"Well—um," Inuyasha turned towards her, bowing his head kindly in her direction. "My sincerest apologies." He told her truthfully, wincing because he knew what he was really apologizing for. "But I can't keep the ship in port too long."

Kagome narrowed her eyes at the hasty explanation, knowing now that something had truly gone wrong. "What happened?"

Inuyasha turned towards her and glared, unable to mask the look as it jumped onto his features. "Nothing."

Mrs. Dresmont shook her head and stood to her feet much to Kagome's surprise. "Chérie." She addressed Inuyasha causing the man's eyes to widen and his mouth to fall opened at the gentle sentiment. Looking more proper and dignified than she had since she entered the room, the woman took a step forward and stared Inuyasha down with no fear at all in her eyes. "Tell me, what 'ave you done?"

"I—," Inuyasha opened his mouth to lie but found himself unable to because of the intensity of her gaze. Instantly, he was transformed back to a time long ago when his mother had sent him the very same look for attempting to tell a lie. "Damn." He cursed to himself, not believing that by her look alone he had lost the ability to lie. "I—lost my temper."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome spoke his real name easily, knowing her mother already knew the truth.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha hissed at the use of his real name, his eyes panicking instantly as he practically bounced in place.

"It's okay," Kagome shook her head quickly before nodding her head towards her mother. "She knows."

"You told her?" Inuyasha started to say only for his mouth to snap shut when Kagome launched herself at him.

The girl grabbed the man's arm shaking it slightly so that he refocused on the situation at hand. "What did he say?" She asked, knowing that the Captain would only have lost his temper if properly provoked.

Inuyasha cleared his throat loudly before gently disengaging her arm from his sleeve. "Nothing."

"Oh no you don't." Kagome crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him, not noticing as her mother tilted her head to the side in confusion. "Don't you dare."

"Kagome it's not important." He told her hastily as he looked towards the door to the parlor once more and licked his lips. "What's important is getting out of here."

"Just tell me." Kagome continued on, looking at him with demanding eyes.

"Kagome." Inuyasha glanced towards her mother as he spoke. "Um—Pardon Madame." He spoke hurriedly, just now realizing how inappropriate his actions over the past minute or so had been.

Kagome's mother eyed him carefully, her eyes glancing towards her daughter who was staring at the man with narrowed eyes. "She does not fear 'im." She blinked slightly as she looked between the two, studying his face with careful scrutiny. "'e looks like no more zan a boy." She thought as she noticed the hidden childish features of his countenance. His cheeks were still slightly rounded and his eyes still held an ounce of innocence associated more with youth than with time spent alive. Inuyasha really looked no more than a teenager, probably the same age as her daughter. "'e doesn't look dangerous." She told herself as she placed her hands slowly in her lap. "'e actually looks more afraid of my daughter than she iz of 'im." She resisted the urge to laugh at her own thoughts. "Tell me, what iz it zat my brother 'as said?"

"He spoke ill of your daughter." He tried to word his sentence as delicately as possible as he shifted uncomfortably from side to side.

Elizabeth lowered her head not all that surprised that Thorold would have said something against Kagome. Thorold was an opinionated man, that is, he made sure the world knew where he believed women should be placed. "Thorold 'as very," She paused for a moment as she smoothed out her dress. "Strong opinionz on what women are good for."

"That's putting it mildly." Inuyasha muttered before finally catching himself and turning towards the woman in dismay. "Please excuse my impulsiveness."

"Do not worry." She sent him a smile, the action causing both Kagome and Inuyasha's jaws to nearly drop opened in shock. "I agree with you." The woman nodded quickly before drawing her lips into a tight line. Slowly, she surveyed Inuyasha's jacket eyeing the disheveled material with interest. "What did you do to 'im for 'iz words?"

"I um—," Inuyasha glanced at Kagome who was staring at her mother still with wide and disbelieving eyes. Shifting slightly, he sighed, "The charade's already over." He told himself as he finally allowed his hands to come in front of himself, the sight of Thorold's blood streaked across his skin making both women gasp. "I broke his nose and knocked him unconscious."

Kagome squeaked from the sight and brought a hand in front of her face to cover her mouth. "Oh dear lord." She spoke the sound muffled against her fingers as she eyed Inuyasha's somewhat bloody hands.

"I'm sorry," Inuyasha winced as he spoke feeling absolutely dreadful for what he had done. That is to say, he didn't regret his actions, not in the least. If given the chance he would have punched the man a million more times; however, seeing Kagome's disappointed face made him wish he had never raised a single hand. "I really am, Kagome."

Kagome looked at his apologetic face and frowned. She above anyone knew that Inuyasha would only do something such as this in self defense or in the defense of someone else. Reaching for Inuyasha's face, she cupped his cheek in one hand, drawing his eyes back towards her own before questioning him. "What did he say—truthfully?" She posed the question while her mother watched the exchange silently.

Any normal woman would have felt sorry for her brother and had rushed to defend the man, Mrs. Dresmont however, found herself far too curious to even think about such things. She could see the control Kagome had even if the average person could not. Kagome probably didn't even realize the power she had over the man in front of her. "'e bends to 'er will." Elizabeth realized as she watched the pirate close his eyes in an attempt to block Kagome's imploring eyes from view.

"Please." Kagome pressed further upon seeing him look away from her. "Just tell me. You know I can handle it."

Inuyasha didn't speak for a second not wanting Kagome to hear the depth of her uncle's prejudice. "He insinuated that I—," He stumbled over the words not wanting her mother to think for even a second that he had actually done anything. "Used you," He worded as delicately as he possibly could, looking into Kagome's eyes trying to tell her that he was sorry for even having to speak such words. "For my own—pleasure."

Kagome let her hands drop from Inuyasha's chin as she winced from his words. Behind her, her mother stood from the couch in disbelief, the sound of her gown ruffling even louder than Kagome's quiet gasp. "He wouldn't." She started to say before snapping her mouth closed and looking back towards Inuyasha. "What else?"

"He said—that you were a burden to him." Inuyasha continued his voice soft as he watched the woman he loved tense with the pain of his words. "And that I was doing him a favor by marrying you." He paused debating if he should mention the last small part of the conversation. "Because—it would be impossible for him to find a suitor willing to take damaged goods."

Kagome felt her legs buckle underneath her, the Captain managing to grab her around the waist before she crumbled to the ground. Her heart stopped in her chest and her face went even more deathly white than the paints could even make it. "He—," She tried to speak as she felt Inuyasha's arms pull her back to her feet. "I." She turned her face upwards to look at the demon. The man returned her look with one of complete anguish.

"I'm sorry." He told her as he continued to hold onto her, apologizing for her uncle, for the pain of his words, and for the fact that it had been him who had repeated them. "We know his words are lies Kagome." He tried to tell her but the girl merely shook her head unable to comprehend how her uncle could ever say such things about her.

"How could he—?" She felt the tears start to fall onto her face once more, the pain of knowing that her own uncle viewed her as a whore too much for her heart to bear. As Kagome was about to sink into the fits of complete dismay, however, her mother brought her back.

"Salop!" The woman cursed loudly as her own anger at her brother overflowed throughout her.

"Mama?" Kagome's mouth dropped at the use of such a harsh word coming from her mother's proper mouth. Letting her hands fall away from Inuyasha, she turned towards her mother reaching for the woman as her body shook with rage.

The feel of Kagome's fingers brushing against her arm did nothing to sooth the woman though. Instead, Kagome's mother raised her head and glared at her own child as anger built within her. "'Ow dare 'e speak of you like zat." She growled, literally growled with her own rage looking as if she was only a few seconds away from spitting in disgust.

"Mama—." Kagome looked at her mother in absolute shock, her mind flashing towards Sango once again.

Sango had in theory committed the very 'same' crime for which Kagome was currently being accused, she had been persecuted unjustly for it, and had paid the ultimate price. Sango's own mother had been part of the prosecution, blaming her daughter openly for what had been done without ever asking Sango for the truth. They had all automatically assumed it was Sango's fault and that she should be punished and yet Kagome's mother was not blaming her for anything. She was defending her honor, unquestioning. It seemed surreal for a woman she had always seen as the prime example of propriety to ignore all of its conventions.

"Zis iz most intolerable." Elizabeth continued on as she clutched her hands at her sides and drew her lips into a tight line. "For 'im to say such thingz about 'iz own niece under ze guise of a gentleman."

Inuyasha snorted at the woman's words and crossed his arms back over his chest. "The important word in that sentence was guise." He spoke calmly, the sound of his voice bringing Kagome and her mother's attention towards the pirate. "He pretends to be a gentleman but only when convenient." Inuyasha inhaled deeply as he tried to quell his temper. "A true gentleman would wish only to protect and defend a woman not spit on her for something out of her control."

Elizabeth drew her head back in surprise at the man's words. "Zis man might be a pirate." She thought as she looked at those prodding golden eyes. "But 'e thinks as a gentleman should."

The sudden sound of footsteps in the hallway halted any further conversation that might have happened in the small parlor. The three individual's stood utterly still, the knowledge of what the Captain had done only a scant fifteen minutes before hanging in the air. The footsteps were loud as they echoed, the sound causing Inuyasha to reach for Kagome out of instinct, pulling her towards himself prepared to flee if necessary.

"Someone's coming?" Kagome whispered worriedly as she held onto the Captain's jacket feeling only moderately safe in his arms.

"No." The demon corrected her as he twitched his ears on his head, listening to the noise as it retreated. "They turned, they're in the other hallway—." He narrowed his eyes suspiciously before the sound of a door opening made his heart stop. "Oh no."

"Le maître a été attaqué!" The words rang out loudly in the air, flooding throughout the entirety of the houses first story. "Vite, appelez la police."

"Shit." Inuyasha cursed quickly as he let go of Kagome and hurriedly moved towards the wide opened French doors of the parlor. Grabbing for them without thought he yanked them both closed and turned the simple lock until they were secularly sequester in the room. Turning around quickly, he looked Kagome directly in the eye, only slight panic filling his vision as he stared at her. "We have to get out of here," He licked his lips and tried to convey the severity of the situation without alarming her. "If they find out who I am, we're dead." He told her as he looked around the room hastily, his eyes landing on the window as his mind began to formulate a plan.

"What do we do?" Kagome whispered to herself unaware of her mother beside her, who was also looking around the room quickly.

Unlike Kagome and Inuyasha however, the woman was well aware of the estates secrets having spent the better part of her childhood within its walls. Pretty blue eyes searched for the spot on the back wall where a secret door the servants used during parties hid among the wood paneling. Within seconds, her eyes landed on the place where the wood didn't quite fit correctly into the wall and she nodded her head. "Come with me!" She commanded as she hurriedly moved across the room, towards the secret passage.

"What is she doin—?" Inuyasha started to say only to stop talking instantly when the woman literally opened up the wall. "Well, that's convenient."

"Ze servants use zis to get from room to room." She hastily but quietly explained as she pulled the door open to its fullest revealing a very dark and damp passageway. "Now 'urry!" Elizabeth commanded just as the echo of footsteps sounded from the other side of the door, followed by relentless pounding.

"Elizabeth?" Thorold yelled through the heavy wood the sound of his voice carrying loudly despite the door's thickness. "Open this door, now!"

"'urry!" Elizabeth pressed her voice a loud whisper as she motioned towards her daughter and future son-in-law. "You must disappear."

Inuyasha looked at Kagome for only a second before he grabbed for her hand, clasping it tightly in his own. "Let's go." He told her softly as the pounding on the door became more forced.

"Right." Kagome nodded hastily just as Inuyasha started to move, pulling her along as they crossed the room towards the secret door.

Stepping inside the passageway, Kagome and Inuyasha shivered from the cold that met them. Inuyasha tightened his grip on her hand in response to the cold and looked down at her to convey reassurance. "It's gonna be okay." He whispered quietly as Elizabeth entered the passage behind them.

"Thorold does not know of zis." She explained just as the door closed with a firm click, the pounding of Thorold's fist and the yelling of his voice fading into the background as they were encompassed in darkness. "I forgot a candle!" She gasped as they were consumed but Inuyasha merely shook his head.

"Don't worry." He told her as he reached for her, easily able to see her in the dark. Without hesitation, he wrapped his arm around her own, holding her in a comforting escort hold. "I can see just fine in the dark."

"He can Mama," Kagome confirmed as she held onto his hand for dear life. "Trust him."

Elizabeth nodded even though she knew her daughter could not see her and relaxed against Inuyasha's hold. The demon inhaled deeply glad she had accepted his touch so easily. Blinking slowly, Inuyasha allowed his eyes only a few precious seconds to adjust to the dark before he took a step forward, walking hurriedly away from the door.

The passageway was cold and drafty, the feeling of wind drifting down towards them from some unknown place causing Inuyasha's teeth to actually chatter. "Is there only one route?" He asked the older woman as she clung onto his hand.

"No." Elizabeth whispered into the dark as they began to move down the dark corridor. "But ze route we want will be straight."

"Okay." Inuyasha nodded and continued down the unlit path, his eyes searching carefully for any possible ways they might fall or otherwise be hurt in the darkness. The corridor didn't seem to be dangerous however, simply unlit. "The servants must carry candles when they walk down here." Inuyasha thought to himself as his demonic eyes easily began to see the path more clearly. The floor underneath their feet was wooden and the walls on either side were paneled just as the parlor had been. Cobwebs, left to their own devices, lined the corners of the floor and ceiling. "They're probably the most dangerous thing down here." He told himself as they neared a small staircase. "Are we supposed to go down a flight of stairs?"

"Oui." Mrs. Dresmont answered just as the corridor howled with a sudden burst of wind.

"Someone just opened a door, didn't they?" Inuyasha deduced as the sound of far off footsteps assaulted his ears even from underneath the wig and hat.

"Um." She confirmed and pushed Inuyasha in the back with one firm hand. "We must 'urry."

"Inuyasha." Kagome's voice begged from in the darkness as her mother's words made her heart stop dead in her chest. Without saying a word, Inuyasha squeezed her hand before picking up his pace and starting for the stairs.

To their credit, the two women navigated the stairs easily despite the dark and soon they found themselves moving towards both a warmth and a soft light. "Zat will be ze kitchen." Kagome's mother whispered as they grew closer and closer to the warmth and the sudden smell of fresh made bread. "You can escape with ze back door."

"Won't the servants tell?" Kagome asked her mother, fear running throughout her body as the prospect of being stuck in such a place made her squirm.

"No, never." Her mother whispered just as they neared an opened door. "Zey love me far more zan Thorold."

"I can see why." Inuyasha mumbled just as they stepped through the threshold of the opened kitchen door. The sound of pots and pans being fumbled from their sudden appearance was loud in his ears causing him to release both women with a hiss. "Ow." He growled low in his throat as the kitchen staff looked at him in complete disbelief.

"Madame?" The kitchen cook whispered as she saw her mistress emerging from the servant's hallway. "Pardon, qu'est-ce que tu fais?"

"Regardez la porte." Mrs. Dresmont commanded without answering the cooks question and crossed the room towards the already opened back door. "'urry." She commanded quickly, motioning with shaking hands. "You're a demon, yes? You can jump over the back wall."

Inuyasha hesitated as he looked at the woman, unsure why she was suddenly helping them. "Why are you doing this?" He asked her as Kagome looked on, the same question running throughout her mind as well.

Mrs. Dresmont smiled at them sweetly, her eyes landing on her daughter within seconds. "Because I want 'er to be 'appy." She told him honestly. In the past few minutes, she had seen the true colors of the man before her. A pirate he might be, but a good and honest man he truly was.

"Mama." Kagome felt her lip quiver with happiness. For the first time in her life, she felt truly understood by the woman she had always wanted to be accepted by most. "Thank you."

"Of course Kagome." She nodded her head towards her daughter, staring at her with once more bright blue eyes. "I will miss you."

"I'll miss you too Mama." Kagome told her with a sad smile on her face as she reached for the older woman pulling her into a tight hug.

"Kagome—." Inuyasha drug out the name worriedly knowing they would have to sprint for the port in order to avoid the port authorities. After all, they took it seriously when one of their famous aristocrats was assaulted by a British Officer of the Navy.

Mrs. Dresmont pulled away from her daughter and raised her eyes towards Inuyasha at the sound of his voice. "Please," She whispered the world as she reached towards him, taking his cheek in her hand for only the briefest of seconds before she released him. "Take good care of 'er."

Blinking in surprise, Inuyasha turned towards the middle aged woman, his eyes searching her own as if trying to discern what she had said. After several seconds, his expression softened and he smiled at her in the very same way that made Kagome's heart melt. "With all due respect," He told the woman, that charming smile making him look far younger than he actually was. "We'll take care of each other."

The woman looked surprised for all of a second before her features composed completely. "Zat's all I 'ave ever wanted." She stepped back into the house, holding the door tightly as she studied her daughter's suitor one last time before turning towards Kagome herself. "Adieu Chérie." She told Kagome softly, the tense use of the word 'farewell' over goodbye making Kagome bit her lip. "Et," She spoke again, a soft smile on her aging face. "Joyeux anniversaire."

"What?" Inuyasha turned back towards the two women as the words 'Happy Birthday' echoed in his head.

"It'z next week," The woman continued on as she watched her daughter's mouth fall open in surprise. "Février vingt-troisième."

Kagome's mouth opened at her mother's words as she realized she had indeed forgotten. She would be eighteen in just a little over a week, February twenty-third. "I forgot."

A yell from behind them made all three heads turn quickly towards the servant's passageway. They could not see anyone approaching yet but by the look of worry on the cooks face it was only a matter of time. "You must go quickly." Her mother spoke hastily as she turned back towards them, pushing Kagome's shoulder lightly away. "'urry, run—," She paused for just a second as the sound of footsteps started to approach. "Be 'appy."

"I will," Kagome nodded her head even as she felt Inuyasha's arm snake around her waist. "I love you, Mama."

"I love you," Her mother told her one last time, touching her cheek with the pads of her fingers. "Chérie."

Holding onto his intended tightly Inuyasha looked towards his future mother-in-law and offered her a curt nod before using his free hand to direct Kagome's arms around his neck. The girl complied easily, already knowing what he intended to do to insure their escape. "Adieu, Madam." He said the words quickly but meaningfully before turning away and heading towards the opened door.

The fresh air and the misty cold instantly hit his warmed skin and he inhaled deeply. The demon in him felt the freedom wash over him, the feeling of being cornered slowly leaving him the closer he was to the door. Knees bending he held Kagome as tight to himself as he could, shifting all his weight into the balls of his feet.

"Are you ready?" He asked her, knowing how hard this moment had to be for her. Holding back tears, Kagome nodded against his shoulder giving him permission to take her away from the life she had once known. "Okay." He whispered, and without another thought sprung upwards, taking off in the direction of the back gate.

-break-

Kagome stared at the retreating imagine of Bordeaux, her grey eyes watching the landscape with such gentle scrutiny that she seemed almost in a trance. Her fingers gripped the railing of the helm's deck as she heard the Captain and Miroku speak quietly from behind her. There was no doubt in her mind what they were currently discussing, the reason for their hasty retreat, her uncle and his words. Unfortunately, Sango and Miroku hadn't even had the opportunity to leave the ship when the Captain and herself had arrived in a scramble. It was a fact Kagome felt horrible about but also something she felt was an insignificant event compared to the events of the day.

"I just don't understand it." Kagome thought to herself as she leaned against the railing. She could hear the slight whine of the wheel as Miroku navigated behind her, the sound soothing her but only slightly. "The things he said—they just don't make sense." She inhaled deeply as she looked out towards the beautiful retreating landscape. In the distance, she could hear a far off clock tower begin to chime, the sound echoing over the water as they left the port. "But in a way, I guess it does." She told herself just as the sound of footsteps approaching from behind her caused her to turn and look.

The Captain came into her sights within seconds, the tall man sending her a pained smile as he came to stand beside her. She returned the gesture slightly, her own expression just as pained as his. "How you doing?" He asked her, trying to sound nonchalant but actually failing.

"I'm fine." She replied evenly but her voice didn't come across anywhere near as convincing as it should have.

Licking his lips slowly, Inuyasha reached out and placed his hands on her shoulder, squeezing the deep scarlet fabric comfortingly. "You'll forgive me if I don't believe you?" He asked, his voice coming across as sweet and playful.

The sound made Kagome smile for all of a second before her face fell into a frown once more. "I can't believe the things he said about me." She whispered, her words sounding both strained and pained all at the same time.

For his part, Inuyasha didn't say a word, simply stood next to her as he too looked out over the retreating city. He could see the large palace as it began to disappear, becoming nothing more than a shadowy figure against a murky landscape. Honestly, he was glad to see it disappear, happy that he would never have to see that man's face again. "If I ever do see him again—I won't just knock him out." He growled slightly, his now free ears twitching as the sound of footsteps on the stairs alerted him to Sango's presence.

"Just because I was—I am with pirates—he thinks I'm—I'm," Kagome inhaled sharply, unable to say the words she was thinking. "How can he think that," She turned and looked straight into the Captain's gold eyes, the softness of his expression not halting her words. "I'm his niece." She pressed just as the imagine of Sango appeared over the Captain's shoulder.

"What did he think of you?" Sango asked as she took a step forward towards the younger girl.

Kagome shook her head quickly, still in far too much shock to actually speak of such things. "I don't want to talk about it."

"That's understandable." Sango nodded her head and sent Kagome a gentle smile. The woman had known all along that Kagome was not going to be accepted as she had thought she would be. It was a harsh reality that both Sango and Kagome were unfortunate enough to share. "It's hard when even your own family sees you as nothing but—damaged goods."

Inuyasha felt the hair on his neck bristle from the choice of words. He could still see Kagome's uncle as he swirled his brandy and spoke them haphazardly.

"How could he?" Kagome sniffled slightly and tilted her head back to look up at the misting sky. "How could he think that—he didn't even," She inhaled sharply as she forced herself not to cry once more. "He just assumed."

"Did your mother?" Sango ventured to press, mainly out of curiosity.

Instantly, Kagome felt a calmness consume her as she imagined the face of her mother unpainted and remorseful. "No." She spoke so softly that Sango nearly didn't hear. Blinking back tears she looked down at the boards of Shikuro's deck, staring at them as her mother's words replayed in her head.

"I want nothing to do with them anymore!"

"I'm glad."

"Mama was glad, it sounds absurd but she was glad." Kagome told Sango as she stared at the floor boards, looking at them as if they had all the answers. "She and I," She whispered, her quietness causing Sango to take another step towards her in an attempt to hear. "We're more alike than I ever knew."

"Kagome?" Sango prodded as she took yet another step towards the girl, moving past the Captain in order to touch Kagome's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"My mother," Kagome whispered the words as the tears in her eyes clouded her vision of the floor. "She accepted me." She drew in a shaky breath as she raised her head and looked at Sango. "She told me, she wished she was as strong as me." The tears fell down Kagome's face as her lips contorted in an attempt to stop her from crying. "She—all this time—she wanted to be—to-o-o—be."

"Like you." Sango finished, her own eyes wide as she thought of her own mother who would have never wanted such things.

"I can't—," Kagome shook her head quickly back and forth as she sniffled loudly. Carefully, she turned her head towards the Captain looking at him as if needing him for reassurance. "I treated her so badly." She told him as she drew her arms around herself and closed her eyes against the pain. "And all this time—she—she was just like me."

"There's no way you could have known that." Inuyasha spoke up for the first time since Sango had stepped into the conversation. Moving closer to her, he reached out wanting to give her all the comfort in the world but not really knowing how. Clawed fingers brushed underneath her chin, coaxing it upwards until her eyes opened to look at him. "Kagome—she lived her life the way she wanted."

"But she didn't," Kagome shook her head fiercely denying Inuyasha's words and making his hand move away all at the same time. "She wanted so much more, to be an explorer—she told me so."

"But she also wanted you." Miroku interrupted from his place at the helm, making his presence really known for the first time.

"What?" Kagome turned towards him surprised, having almost forgotten he was there.

"Your mother chose to have a family and you," He sent her an unnerving look over his shoulder. "You chose the other path." Miroku continued as he looked back forward at the channel in front of them. "Your mother may regret that and she has every right to but she made her choices and she lived her life." He turned his head slightly to the side so he could look at Kagome. "But now Kagome—it's your turn to make your own choices." He explained slowly as he watched his father nod his head in approval. "And you have: you choose to run away, to stay with us, to learn about your powers, to sail the sea—you chose all those things and you deserve the consequences of them," He smiled softly at her, his feelings of odd brotherly love for the woman who was to be his step-mother only slightly confusing. "Whether they're good or bad."

"But," Kagome blinked back a few stray tears before raising her hand to rub at her face absently. "It's not fair."

"Nothing fair." Inuyasha told her with a shrug before reaching for her, placing one arm loosely around her shoulders. "She made her choices and she accepted them."

Kagome was silent as his words sunk into her brain. "I'm going to miss her." Was the only thing she could think to say.

"I still miss my mother." Sango whispered quietly as she leaned against the railing next to Kagome. "I always will—because she was my mother."

Kagome nodded her head slowly as she leaned into the Captain's embrace. "She was my only family left, beside my brother."

"And what about us?" Miroku turned and looked at her, faking hurt.

"What?"

"We're your family Kagome." Inuyasha spoke up this time, his words soft in Kagome's ears.

"Family?" She repeated gently as she looked up at him.

"A weird family," Inuyasha shrugged slightly as he sent her a teasing smile. "I mean—we don't exactly look conventional."

"That's putting it mildly." Miroku laughed as he turned the ship more to starboard, the wind along the channel catching the sails with a loud ruffling sound.

"But that doesn't mean we're not still a family." Sango smiled and leaned forward to catch Kagome's eyes. "And I think we're a stronger one than any other."

"Stronger?" Kagome shook her head slightly. "What could be stronger than blood?"

"Choice." Inuyasha whispered causing the other three people to look at him surprised. "I once read that the ancient Roman's would adopt son's even if they had a blood born one, because you can't chose your children or who they will be but you can chose the kind of child you want from an adoption." He looked towards the others and smiled crookedly. "We chose each other and that makes our bond stronger."

Kagome felt a great sense of peace wash over her from Inuyasha's words. Slowly, she wrapped her arm around his waist heedless of who might be watching amongst the crew. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head against his chest and inhaled the rough masculine nature of his natural scent. Instantly, she felt safe as if the whole of the world was unable to do anything to her. "Is this what it feels like—to have a real family?" She wondered, her childhood had been a constant battle between her mother and herself, fighting for the right to be what she really was and who her mother was deep down inside.

Looking back on it now, it all seemed rather ridiculous. She had been fighting her mother over something her mother perfectly understood. The family she had been given in life had simply not been prepared to deal with her, it seemed. But this family, the one she had chosen, regardless of everything, seemed to truly understand and give into that fact. Opening her eyes, she looked towards Miroku's back, watching the slightly older man as he navigated down the river with ease. Turning her eyes away, she looked towards Sango watching as the other woman looked out over the water, a look of complete peace on her face. And finally, turning away from her, she looked up towards the man holding her securely in his arms, her eyes finding his own staring at her.

Blinking, she felt a lump form in her throat as his soft golden irises watched her with what she could only assume was love. Without hesitation she returned the look, hoping to convey to him how she felt through just her eyes and smile. If he understood he didn't say but instead bent his head forward and pressed his lips ever so gently to her forehead. She closed her eyes from the affection, the awkwardness of the public display not bothering her in the least.

"I chose you, Kagome." He whispered against her skin, the sweetness of the words making her eyes open.

Her vision came in contact with his strong chin and the curve of his throat. Leaning forward, she pressed her forehead to the exposed flesh, the heat of his body comforting her as she whispered: "We chose each other."

End of Chapter

Please Review

A/N: Hope everyone liked this chapter. Starting next chapter, I am pleased to inform you, Kouga will be making his first appearance as we enter Italy, specifically the Republic of Genoa. How fun will that be!

Bonus Point:

How many jewel shards does Kouga have in his legs?

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

Sesshoumaru met Rin after a fight with Inuyasha he actually lost. While recovering Rin found him and brought him food and water (which he did not eat). Later, she was attacked by Kouga's wolves and at Tenseiga's urging he decided to bring her back to life. Without asking, Rin followed him and never stopped, Sesshoumaru eventually accepted this and grew very fond of her. Congrats to the winners!

14 inu-kag, Team D0bby, IkutoTsukiyomi'sGirl, Sharp 8394, chronos-girl, TheRealInuyasha, Glon Morski, Nur Nur, TaoGrace, disneyclassics101, , KaUiA, FridayzGirl, Aozora12, Suyurilrig, Cagome, AiydanWarrior, walomadolo,

Translations:

Qui est-ce? – Who is that?

Vous ne pensez pas qu'elle me ressemble? – You do not think she looks like me?

Le maître a été attaqué. Vite, appelez la police. – The master was attacked. Quick call the police.

Pardon, qu'est-ce que tu fais? – Excuse me, what are you doing here?

Regardez la porte. – Watch the door.

Notes:

Jacques Cartier 1491-1557 – Cartier was the first to claim what is now called Canada, for France. He mapped the Gulf of St. Lawrence and much of the St. Lawrence river. He tried a variety of settlements but all were fairly ill-fated.

Jacques Marquette 1637-1675 – Jacques Marquette founded Sault Ste. Marie which was Michigan's first European settlement. In addition, he and Louis Jolliet are credited with mapping the northern most point of the Mississippi River. Jolliet was a French Canadian.

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6/4/2013