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?

77. Genova

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 Seven

Genova

Sitting in front of her at his desk, a glass of wine in his hand, Naraku slowly swirled the red liquid in the cup. Standing just in front of him on the other side of the desk, Kaede watched the liquid of the bright red wine absently as it swirled. Both of her eyes were exposed, the blue Shinigami eye dancing as it watched the blood colored liquid just a little too closely for comfort. Sighing heavily, Naraku brought the glass to his lips, the eyes watching the motion as he tipped it back and drank a little.

Pulling the glass away, he continued to swirl the wine for a few more seconds before moving to look at Kaede. "Are you sure about this old woman?" He asked carefully, the sound of his voice loud in the quiet room.

"Positive." Kaede answered within seconds, the sound of waves lapping against the side of the ship echoing from an opened window. "These eyes do not lie."

"So," Naraku whispered as he held the glass of wine up to his face, looking into it as the liquid danced. "You can guarantee me that we're heading in the right direction?"

"I can." Kaede told him, offering the man a daring smile that disguised an internal fear. "There's no way we can actually reach Inuyasha and Kagome as long as they don't stay in Italy too long." The woman licked her lips slowly her eyes never leaving the wine glass as Naraku continued to play with it. "It will take the thunder at least two months to cross the Atlantic, and by then they should be long gone, headed towards the tip of Africa."

Tapping his empty hand against the deck, Naraku scrunched up his face, his dark eyes glancing towards Kaede briefly. "What makes you so sure they're in Italy?" He asked, his fingers continuing to drum against the table.

Seeing right through his game, Kaede straightened herself so she would stand a little taller. The bones of her back, ankles, knees, and shoulders groaned and popped from the motion but Kaede didn't waver. "Do I need to prove myself once more," She asked, now standing a good two inches taller as she looked down at Naraku. "Mr. Naraku?"

"I would prefer it." The man growled low in his throat as he turned towards the older woman, the darkness in his eyes making Kaede's heart nearly stop in her chest, a fact she didn't dare show.

Forcing herself to stay tall, Kaede looked into those eyes, seeing the truth behind Naraku within them. "I'm afraid," She cleared her throat loudly to make sure her voice didn't shake in any way. "There's no such way to prove that until we arrive in Italy, Mr. Naraku."

Naraku shrugged his shoulders from her words but seemed to surprisingly accept them. "I can be patient—when necessary." He told her with a strange throaty chuckle.

"You are most kind." Kaede tried to sound as sincere as possible, luckily, she just managed.

"Aren't I though."

Trying to keep herself from hitting the man, Kaede rolled her eyes discretely and turned to look out the window. "We've been traveling three weeks." She thought to herself, inhaling deeply while the sound of Naraku spinning his wine in his wine glass floated throughout the room. "It will be another five weeks at least before we reach the Mediterranean." The thought brought her just enough comfort to relax and enjoy the burgeoning night outside the window.

The sun was just now setting, painting the sky a bright orange color. It was a beautiful sight to the old woman, calm and peaceful. However, the peace didn't last but another moment. Suddenly, before Kaede's very eyes the sky went black, all of the light seeming to disappear from the world in one quick instant. Kaede felt her heart skip a beat, her body going completely cold, all the peaceful thoughts in her head instantly freezing over into panic. "It's time." She said before she could even hope to stop herself.

"What do you mean?" Naraku asked sounding bored before he too felt the coldness consume his body, a coldness he did not understand but Kaede did very well.

Kaede turned her head slowly to the west and even though there was no window, her Shinigami eye let her see outside. The feel of the approaching creature was the feel of death itself. "Kagura." She whispered, as she watched the translucent figure fly across the sky. "It's not in its real form like I am." She realized, feeling thankful, that meant it was only here to visit Kagura in a dream and not to actually perform the ritual to make Kagura's body its own. "But it's only a matter of time, isn't it?" Kaede realized, the feeling making her sick to her stomach. "The Shinigami must be coming to give her the final warning. To tell her it's almost time."

"What about the wind demon?" Naraku asked while continuing to look at the girl with a bored expression, this one fake.

"Nothing." Kaede answered him, turning back towards Naraku with a strange tight smile on her face. "I just realized I was supposed to go talk with her is all."

"About what?" Naraku frowned and sat the glass of wine down on the table, the glass clinking as it touched the wood.

"I'm going to sew her a new dress." The old woman told him, Naraku just arrogant enough to shrug his shoulders and believe her.

"The stupid things women do."

Not bothering to deal with his condescending words, Kaede merely bowed her head slightly. "Have a good night Mr. Naraku." She told him and without another word turned to leave the room, the knowledge that the wind demon's time was finally coming to a close at the forefront of her mind.

-break-

Inuyasha exhaled slowly as the warmer air of the Mediterranean hit his skin full on. Despite it being winter, the air was warm in this region, something he was thankful for. "It feels so good here compared to France." He told himself as he leaned forward over the railing of the Shikuro's Quarter Deck. For once, since they had left France, he wasn't at the helm instead Myoga was along with Totosai, the two men chatting just out of his hearing range.

Twitching his ears, he tried to pick up bits and pieces of their conversation but came away empty. The two men were being careful to speak quietly to each other and in an older dialect of Nihon-go that Inuyasha had trouble understanding. They didn't speak in that particular variant of the language often but when they did it was always to keep secrets from him.

Snorting, he reached up a hand to the back of his neck and rubbed at a sore muscle behind his ear. "I wonder what they're talking about." He thought to himself, slightly unnerved that the two men had gone to all the trouble of changing dialects so as not to be understood. "There can't possibly be more things they're keeping from me, are there?" He growled slightly to himself from the very thought, knowing it was entirely possible. "Otou-san told them not to tell me about the jewel or Okaa-san." He licked his lips slowly the Mediterranean breeze suddenly picking up around him, making his hair fly into his face. "Maybe—there was more he didn't want me to know—things only Sesshoumaru might know."

Inuyasha inhaled deeply before letting out a loud and deliberate sigh. Leaning forward more on the rail, the dog demon pushed the thoughts of his brother to the back of his mind. Only time would tell what the secrets were Totosai and Myoga were keeping; and in time, Sesshoumaru would reveal them.

Golden eyes stared out across the vast Mediterranean sea, watching as the beautiful clear blue waters rose and fell. It was a gorgeous sight, one he hadn't seen since they had recovered Sango from the bar she had wondered into. "That was pretty close to here." He thought to himself as he turned his eyes forward towards the mainland that was slowly coming into view. "She is from Italy." He tilted his head back in thought, trying to remember exactly where they had found Sango. "I think it was farther down the coast, closer to Rome."

Wherever the tavern had been, he couldn't really recall right now. All he knew was that Sango was Italian, although as the daughter of a high ranking military official she had been educated far better than any normal Italian woman would ever dream. She had been so well educated in fact, that she had been given a tutor as a young girl to teach her the foundation of a variety of languages. It was that education that had allowed her accent to virtually deteriorated since they had met her.

"In the beginning, she could barely say that or with without missing the 'th' sounds." He laughed slightly at the memory of Sango stumbling over specific words, pronouncing things incorrectly. "Dat is 'orrible." He mocked even though Sango was not there to hear. "What is wrong wid you-u." He drug out the 'u' sound before it turned into a mocking laugh.

"What do you-u find so fun-ny?"

Inuyasha jumped at the sound of Sango's voice magically seeming to appear from behind him. Turning he saw Sango standing next to a barely contained Kagome, the girl's eyes shining with mirth. Sango beside her stood with her hands on her hips and an eyebrow raised. Smiling slightly, Inuyasha turned around and braced his forearms on the railing behind him, leaning back. "I was just reminiscing."

"Back to de good old days, no?" Sango laughed slightly to herself, unable to keep a straight face.

"Sì." Inuyasha responded to her in Italian, his eyes lit up with mirth. Soon, the mirth made way to a slightly serious face, however. "It's been a while," He told her, his voice quiet and, dare say, gentle. "Since I've heard you use that accent."

Sango shrugged at the words, looking over at Kagome with a slight smile that never really reached her eyes. "It's the principal of the matter." She said cryptically but Inuyasha understood.

After everything Sango had been through, she had tried her hardest to make her old self disappear, even if that meant forcing herself to speak English properly and with no traces of the Italian left within her. It had been a hard endeavor, lasting over the course of the four, almost five years she had been on this ship, starting when she was sixteen. Miroku had been a scant fifteen years old at the time and had done his best to make sure the slightly older girl was happy and comfortable on board. Still, it had taken a good six months before Sango was able to actually come around to him, talking with him and finally beginning to heal. It was at that time, that the girl had decided to strip herself of the identity she once had, down to her very accent.

Clearing her throat, sensing the tension of the moment, Kagome stepped towards the railing looking out over the sea with a smile. "It's beautiful." She spoke brightly, the sound of her voice making Sango's tension somewhat lesson. "Don't you think, Sango?"

"It is." Sango agreed, her voice still sounding taunt but her expression growing fond. She had always loved the coast line of her home, the beautiful tranquility of an Italian winter; warm and fragrant. "Why did you have to ruin this for me?" She questioned herself softly as a flash of his charismatic face ran throughout her mind, making her clinch a fist.

Inuyasha's gold eyes stared at the girl as she began to shake, the hate she had for the man from so long ago overflowing. Inhaling sharply, Inuyasha too clutched a fist as anger filled him as well. "Bastard." He growled low in his throat, imagining himself punching the faceless man straight in the gut.

Completely unaware of Sango and the Captain's thoughts, Kagome looked out over the sea with wide grey eyes. Her heart pounded in her chest as she felt every dream she had ever had finally come to fruition. "I've always," She whispered, the Captain looking towards her as she spoke, taking his eyes off the shaking Sango. "Imagined standing here." Her voice was but a wisp of sound on the air, the quality of it making both Sango and Inuyasha forget their angered thoughts to look at her instead.

The girl was an enchanting sight, her grey eyes seeming to sparkle from the landscape before her. Her tiny fingers clutched at the railing, little flakes of dirt underneath her nails rubbing off on the wood. Her lips, a wind scarred red color, parted in amazement taking little breathes of air with each new sight. The wind caught the curls around her head, brushing them against her crown and around her neck, the soft strands dancing. The sun reflected the parts of her hair that weren't completely black, causing little flecks of red, brown, and blond to stand out against her tanned skin. Suddenly, her face broke out into a giant smile, her eyes lighting up with specks of blue amongst the stormy grey.

"Look!" She cried out, suddenly raising a hand and pointing out in the distance. Only a few hundred yards away, a dolphin had just breeched the water sailing in the air before it angled itself back downwards and disappeared without so much as a splash back into the waves. Within seconds, another followed it and then another, their bodies jumping from the water, glistening brightly in the sun.

"Dolphins." The Captain identified as the pod continued to move, the sound of their chattering loud in his ears.

"They're beautiful." Kagome leaned back away from the rail, looking towards Sango with such beautiful innocent eyes that the older woman couldn't help but smile. "Aren't they Sango?"

"They are." She spoke carefully, her voice completely genuine as she took a step forward towards Kagome. Leaning on the railing next to the girl, she inhaled the salty air deliberately, closing her eyes against the sight for only a moment before she opened them once more. The sun entered her vision, nearly blinding her before the landscape of a far off shore and all too close sea surrounded her once more. "If I could just—see the world with Kagome's eyes." She told herself as she studied the beauty of childhood, her eyes still slightly blinded by his charismatic face.

Beside her, Kagome laughed and grabbed for the Captain's arm suddenly. The man nearly jumped out of his skin in surprise, looking down at Kagome with a lopsided grin. "What?" He questioned, Sango's eyes staring at the two as Kagome grinned back up at him.

"Do you remember," She spoke quickly, actually yanking slightly on the man's arm as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. "You told me once, that you would take me to the Mediterranean?"

Inuyasha blinked and tilted his head back, doing his best to pretend that he had no idea what she was talking about. "When was that?" He asked while bringing his free hand up to his face. "I just can't remember—."

Kagome glared from his words and released his arm before crossing her own over her chest. "Jerk." She mumbled quietly under her breath so none of the men working around them would hear her.

Sango felt a smile instantly appear on her face from Kagome's words and posture. "You're so lucky Kagome." She thought as she watched the Captain lean his chin on Kagome's shoulder, the girl shooing him away with a glare. "The happiness you'll know with the Captain." She blinked back tears slightly forcing herself to not feel pity for her own life experiences. "Will be protected at all cost, by all of us." She nodded her head sharply, just as Kagome smacked the Captain's arm away from wrapping around her waist.

"I'm sorry." Inuyasha laughed as he spoke, raising his hands up to protect his head as Kagome swatted at him again. "Come on—I was just joking."

Around them, the crewmen didn't even bother to look, not finding the little 'mating' display all that interesting. Besides even that, they knew better than to pay too much attention to Kagome Dresmont, she was off limits from day one (this they all knew well, even newer members of the crew).

Holding back laughter of her own, realizing that he had in fact been joking, Kagome turned her back on the man. "You're so inconsiderate." She told him, her eyes staring at Sango who was now also holding in laughter of her own. "Don't you agree, Sango?"

"Oh yes." Sango frowned playfully and reached for Kagome's arm. Wrapping her arm around the younger girl's, she pulled Kagome to her side, protecting her like a mother duck with ducklings. "He is a first rate imbecile." She worded delicately, knowing the men around her would have no idea what the word 'imbecile' actually meant.

Before the Captain had a chance to respond to the harsh words, a call from the crow's nest high above alerted the ship to their approaching destination.

"Genova." Inuyasha whispered as he stared at the rather large approaching port. "I can't think of anyone else in this world I hate more than Kouga." He frowned tightly from the thought, a loud snort barely contained in his throat. "Maybe Sesshoumaru—at least he never tried to sell me for a cadaver." He closed his eyes and resisted the urge to curse before opening them once more. "Sesshoumaru only tried to kill me and that's far more respectable."

-break-

The waves of the Atlantic Ocean were calm as they lapped against the Thunder's hull gently teasing the old ship with their warmth. A flock of seagulls squawked loudly overhead, following the ship and playing amongst its mast as the wind filled them. Standing on deck, Hiten held onto the wheel inhaling deeply as he looked out over the large ocean. They were far away yet from where they were currently headed. For whatever reason, Naraku had ordered him to cross the great Atlantic two weeks prior and had yet to tell neither him nor Kagura why.

"It doesn't make sense." He thought as he gritted his teeth and turned the wheel so that they were moving away from the setting sun more exactly. "What does he know that he's not telling us?" The demon inhaled deeply, his nose catching a whiff of a lovely scent. "Kagura-hime." He smiled slightly as the sound of her nearly silent footsteps met his ears. "What are you doing woman?"

"Comin' to see yuu," The woman spoke just as her shoulder's cleared the staircase and her smile filled Hiten's vision. "Hiten-sama."

The thunder demon sent Kagura a narrowed smirk, motioning with his chin for her to come stand next to him. The wind demon replied within moments, seeming to glide across the deck towards him as she looked out at the setting sun. Hiten watched mesmerized for just a second as her ruby eyes caught the light, shining brightly and flickering like a brilliant flame. "Pretty." He whispered to himself and reached out a hand to touch her cheek slightly.

Kagura smirked in response, leaning into his touch and closing her eyes. "Hiten-sama." She whispered his name softly, the sound of it making Hiten actually shiver. Never in his life had he heard anyone say his name in quite the same way Kagura did, as if it was the most enticing word ever to be passed through lips.

He licked his lips as his body began to tingle and allowed his hand to drop away from her face as he tried to control the urge to jump her. Suddenly, her eyes opened, hooded and sultry, the sight nearly causing him to let go of the wheel. "What are you thinking?" He managed to ask as all his blood left his head rushing somewhere else.

Kagura allowed her eyelashes to flicker and pushed away from him turning her back as her arms moved behind her. Hiten watched without blinking as she crossed the deck and moved towards the railing. She stood there for several seconds, the few hairs not held up tightly above her head catching in the wind, tickling at the base of her neck. "I was-u thinkin' I'm—," She paused just long enough to turn and glance over her shoulder, sending him a dangerously wicked smile. "Ready-y to sleep-pu."

Hiten felt his heart stop in his chest as he stared at her, watching as she slowly smoothed her tongue over her upper lip. "Charles!" He yelled without even looking away from her, his body reacting to her so forcefully that he thought he might pass out.

"Yes sir?" A man, who had been straightening ropes for the rigging, responded from down below.

"Take the helm," Hiten commanded barely managed to hold onto the wheel with one hand while the other motioned for Kagura go down the stairs. "Now!"

"Yes, sir!" Charles called back and rushed towards the stairwell, knowing from the sound of his Captain's voice that this was a matter of life and death.

Kagura smirked as she watched Hiten's flustered face and shook her head almost mockingly. "Can't-to even wait-a moment, ne?" She teased him, her ears twitching on the side of her head as Hiten growled low in his throat.

"You're so gonna get it." He licked his lips as he spoke, Kagura sticking her tongue out at him in response before turning and heading down the stairs. Charles passed her on the stairwell not a second later, the demon man scenting the smell of her strong arousal within seconds, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head.

Stumbling up the last few steps, he caught sight of his Captain who looked for all pretenses as if he was about to tear the wheel out of the deck. Rushing over to the Captain he grabbed for the wheel as quickly as he could, mumbling a hasty, "I got it sir" as his hands latched onto it.

Hiten didn't listen even one little bit, choosing instead to rush off down the stairs as quickly as he could. He rounded the edge of the staircase so quickly that the wood of the last step actually cracked. The loud sound rang out in the air making the few remaining crewmen on the deck look towards their Captain with surprised eyes. Their looks couldn't stop Hiten however, who merely continued his rush for the door.

"She closed it." He realized only seconds before he slammed into it at full force his hand just grabbing the handle in time to turn it and push it opened. The door swung opened, Hiten already reaching for his shirt to pull it over his head. Blinded by the fabric in front of his face, he didn't see Kagura standing still fully clothed until the cotton shirt was already on the floor.

"Sorry to interrupt." The voice was calm and gentle, old and wise, the sound of it drawing Hiten's black eyes towards his bed quickly. There sitting on what had become Kagura's side of the bed was Kaede, her old body hunched forward as she looked towards him. Her one good eye stared at his chest for a moment, watching as he panted before lowering down, staring a bit lower for a second. "I didn't anticipate this."

Instantly, Hiten's arousal went limp, the man growling low in his throat as he stared at the intrusion. The demon inside of him growled and panted, its need and want far outweighing how much it actually had grown to like the old woman. "What the hell?" He spoke between clenched teeth, his breath coming out in a hiss. "What are you—?"

"Hiten-sama, be calm." Kagura interrupted him before he could explore. "Kaede-sama?" She whispered her face actually flushing bright red as she glanced behind herself at the shirtless Hiten. The man glared at her when their ruby eyes made contact, not liking the fact she had interrupted him one bit. Shaking her head and sending him a glare in return, the wind demon looked back towards the old woman. "What-a yuu doin' here?" Kagura asked as she studied the strained posture of the old woman carefully. "Kaede-sama look-ku tired."

"I need to talk to you Kagura." Kaede spoke softly as she eyed the younger woman as if she was looking not at an acquaintance but at a dear friend.

"About what?" Kagura whispered, the perfect pronunciation making Kaede smile. It seemed the more time the wind demon spent with them the better her English was slowly becoming.

"About," She glanced at the floor, her hands shaking as she thought about what she was going to say. "Won't it make it worse to tell her?" She reached up and rubbed a hand across her face the debate raging in her head. "Anticipation is often worse than the heat of the moment."

"Kaede-sama?" The girl stepped towards her worriedly, a hand outstretched. "Are yuu alright?"

Kaede raised her head from the kind words and offered Kagura a little smile. "Don't worry." She tried to reassure even as her knowledge of the creature headed towards them tore into her heart. "I'm just—tired."

"Yuu should-u lie down, Kaede-sama." Kagura bit at her lip and took a step forward only to freeze at the sight of Kaede's pained eyes.

"I'm quite alright." Her lip trembled as she spoke but her voice was firm enough to stop Kagura from stepping any farther forward.

"Kaede-sama."

"I just need to talk to you." The old woman supplied evenly as she glanced backwards towards Hiten. The elemental demon for his part had not moved, his shirt still lying on the ground at his feet. "I truly am sorry Mr. Hiten, I had not meant to interrupt your—private time."

Hiten raised an eyebrow, suddenly feeling very dirty as the old woman looked him up and down. "She looks like my grandmother." He thought and shuddered slightly at the implications of his words. "Don't worry about it." He told her as he finally reached down and grabbed for the shirt on the floor, hastily putting it back over his head. "It's not like I'm in the mood anymore anyway."

Unhindered by Hiten's predicament, Kagura turned back towards Kaede, her eyes narrowing as she watched the older woman. Kaede was pale, a sight that Kagura had only seen maybe once when Mr. Dresmont had been shot, but never before and never after, "Somthin' is wrong." She thought, knowing that the old woman would hear the thoughts inside her head. "Please, tell-e."

Looking towards the girl, Kaede felt a lump form in her throat. To tell Kagura was to tell her of her own impending death. That was something Kaede had never prepared herself to do, especially for one so young and full of promise. "It's unfair for you to die like this." Kaede told herself, closing her eyes for a moment to focus. "You're so young—you deserve to live."

Growing worried, Kagura moved across the short distance from her position to the bed, kneeling down in front of the old woman hastily. "Kaede-sama." She pushed, the sound of Hiten shuffling just as confused behind her making her ears twitch.

"Kagura," The old woman finally spoke, her words slow at first as she tried to think of the best way to word her sentence. "You remember what I told you about—what I can see?"

"Yes." Kagura nodded slowly and turned to look back at Hiten wondering if he should be hearing this conversation. Even though Hiten and herself had grown very close over the course of the past few months, she had yet to divulge everything she knew to him. "I can't-to risk-e that." She told herself, even as an unsteady feeling grew in her stomach. "Ano—?" She turned back towards the old woman, trying to convey her thoughts, while knowing Kaede already knew them.

"Do not worry." Kaede smiled softly, trying to reassure the girl as best she could. "How do I say this," She asked herself as her one 'good' eye welled with tears. "Can I say it?" She opened her mouth, her lips trembling as they parted. "I've—seen again."

"What the hell is she talking about?" Hiten mumbled and narrowed his eyes as he looked at Kagura confused.

"Nothin', Hiten-sama." Kagura whispered as she looked directly at Kaede as if trying to read the woman's mind; a power Kagura didn't possess. "Go on." She urged the woman, bringing up her hands to touch Kaede's shoulders.

"I've seen." Kaede replied also in thought as she started towards Kagura, looking at the woman. "She's so young." Kaede seemed to realize as she watched Kagura stare at her. "How can I tell someone so young they're going to die?" She shook her head slowly back and forth as Kagura's eyes narrowed from the sight. "I've seen," She started to tell her, her very thoughts wavering until the lie came out. "Inuyasha."

"What?" Kagura tilted her head to the side, trying to figure out how a sighting of the dog demon would make Kaede behave this strangely.

"I saw him and I told Naraku."

"Nani!" Kagura practically screeched, the sound making Hiten nearly fall backwards onto his ass.

"What the hell!" The man yelled but neither woman actually heard him.

"Yuu told-u Naraku where-e Inuyasha-sama is!" Kagura gritted her teeth as she thought her words as loudly as possible, hoping they would sound like a scream in Kaede's head.

"It's all part of the plan." Kaede whispered back, continuing on with the truthful cover up. "I just can't tell her." She told herself even as her heart stung in her chest. "Kagura deserves at least one more peaceful night on this earth." She reasoned with herself knowing that, in the end, she was simply taking an easy way out. "I'll let the Shinigami tell but before then, I'll give her the gift of a peaceful mind."

Unaware of Kaede's thoughts, Kagura's eyes narrowed dangerously as she looked at the woman. "Everything we did," She thought as her mouth went slack jawed. "Hiten-sana stealin' the shards, me givin' them-u to Inuyasha-sama, tellin' him to go to his Onii-san, sending his ship-pu flyin'?" She heard Hiten step towards her, the demon obviously trying to figure out what was going on between the two women, but she ignored it. "That-to was for nothin'!?"

Kaede didn't think anything for several seconds as she looked at the wind demon with one old eye. "I can't do this." She thought to herself and herself only, leaving Kagura in the dark as she stood from the bed. "That's all I wanted to say." She told Kagura even as the wind demon gabbed at her.

"That-to can't be all!" She exclaimed as Kaede shuffled her old body in the direction of the door. "Kaede-sama!"

"I'll leave you to your fun." Kaede turned towards Hiten, smirking at the man but the look didn't seem all that mocking. More or less, Kaede's expression just came across as pained.

"Kaede?" Hiten tried to stop her but she had already moved towards the door and away from him.

The old woman reached for the door handle, with the full intention of leaving the room but hesitated. She could hear the inner turmoil of Kagura's thoughts, the way they raced and panicked. She could hear the way she begged, wanting to at least know that her death wouldn't be in vein. The old woman felt her hands shake, the door handle rattling against her fingers. "Kagura." She whispered the name, not bothering to turn towards the girl even as pity for her flew throughout her body. "Everything has a reason," She spoke calmly even though she didn't feel calm at all. "None of this is for nothing, even when you might not understand it."

Kagura opened her mouth to protest but found she couldn't think of a single word to say. There was something in Kaede's voice that made her unable to say another word but she wasn't sure exactly what. It could have been the tone or maybe the phrasing but Kagura was unable to tell. Tentatively, she took a step forward towards the older woman but Kaede merely shook her head and turned away, opening the door.

"Inuyasha is in Italy—I told Naraku he was there." She thought loudly in her head, Kagura actually jumping from the sudden sound of her voice. "He's preparing for his trip to Nihon."

"Did-u tell Naraku where-e Inuyasha-sama was headed next?"

"No—Naraku knows nothing of Nihon." Kaede explained softly as she moved out of the door way and into the hall, turning around to bow slightly. Turning however, was a mistake, the old woman caught sight of Kagura's wide and still fearful eyes. "Kagura." She tried to stop herself from whispering the name but failed.

It would only be a matter of time, Kaede realized, before this very girl disappeared from the world. She would suffer a fate worse than death, another life, in which she was not the one in charge of the life she lived. Kagura's soul would stay trapped within her body, used as food for the Shinigami who filled and controlled it in her stead. It would be a painful existence, every moment of which would be the equivalent of a living hell. She would experience every pain, every sight, every person the Shinigami brought to their death. It would be a lonely, painful, double life.

"I'm sorry." Kaede spoke but neither Kagura nor Hiten realized exactly what the woman was apologizing for. Unable to look at Kagura any longer, Kaede backed out of the room, bowing her head so she would be unable to see the young girl's face. "Good night." She whispered one last time as she pulled at the knob, closing the door with one soft click.

The room grew quiet as both Kagura and Hiten looked at the door, watching it as if Kaede might suddenly reappear to explain to them what had just happened. Clearing his throat, Hiten looked towards Kagura, watching as the wind demon stared at the door unmoving. "Okay," He spoke carefully, looking between Kagura and the door completely baffled. "What the hell just happened?"

"We're headin' to Italy-y." Kagura answered thoughtlessly, her eyes still trained on that door as she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Italy?" Hiten's mouth dropped opened slightly, surprised by the information. Naraku had only told him to head to Europe and had yet to reveal their exact destination, "So how could Kagura know it?" He narrowed his eyes, looking back towards the door, glaring at it as if he was glaring at Kaede. "When the hell did she tell you that?" He asked, whipping his head around to look back at Kagura. Over and over the replayed the conversation in his head but couldn't find one instance in which Kaede had revealed that fact.

"Just now." Kagura answered him truthfully, turning to look at him and his mystified eyes. "In my head."

"In your—," Hiten blinked rapidly, knowing now more than ever that he had been left completely out of the loop. "Kagura, what is going on?" He took a step towards her, his eyes becoming narrowed as he gave her a look that said to tell the truth.

Kagura stepped away, wrapping her hands more firmly around her body. She imagined Hiten's hate for Inuyasha, the man who had killed his brother and the boy she had known when he was but a baby, she couldn't let Hiten know, she had to protect him. "I can't—."

"Don't you dare lie to me." He spoke, his words harsh but somehow his voice coming across as more pained than angry. "Don't you trust me?"

Kagura blinked once from his words, looking back up at him, taking in his features. "Of course." She spoke without hesitation, watching as his eyes pulled away from her, appearing hurt. "I do—I do trust-to yuu Hiten-sama."

Hiten wrinkled his nose and turned his head up towards the ceiling as if collecting his thoughts. "Then tell me the truth," He finally said as he looked back at Kagura, watching her closely. "What the hell is wrong with Kaede?" He pressed as his mind raced for any plausible explanation; he couldn't think of one. "She's not just some normal old woman, is she?"

"No," Kagura answered unable to keep the secret any longer. "She's a Shinigami."

-break-

Inuyasha looked at himself in the one mirror that was on the ship, a small handheld he kept hidden away in a drawer. His eyes focused on the front ruffle of his shirt, adjusting it until it was properly placed. "At least it's not a navy uniform." He grumbled as he adjusted smoothed the material of the fancy white necktie.

The feel of the cotton material was awkward against his skin, making him clear his throat uncomfortably. With one final adjustment, he sat the mirror back down on his desk, attempting to angle it in such a way that he could at least see the line of his shirt. Noticing wrinkles in the white fabric, he turned to the side and smoothed it until not one remained. Satisfied, he turned to the old red and brown jacket that rested on his chair. Taking it into his hand, he ran his fingers over the material briefly, enjoying the velvet coat's texture. Slipping it on over his shoulders, he sighed reaching up and moving his hair from being trapped within it.

Gathering his hair at the base of his neck, he reached for a scrap of red fabric on the table, an easily tied the long locks in a low hanging pony-tail. "Well, it's not a damn wig at least." He told himself, bending down to look at himself in the tiny mirror. His forelocks highlighted his cheeks on either side, "Maybe I should have tied them back too." He thought to himself but in the end decided against it.

Straightening, the Captain grabbed for the tiny mirror and stashed it back inside the drawer for which it came. Drawer firmly closed, he started towards the cabin door, grabbing his hat from a nail on the wall absentmindedly as he existed the room. Stopping for a moment outside in the hallway, he looked down towards Sango and Miroku's own room. He could just hear the sounds of Sango speaking quietly to her husband, telling him how to properly tie his own shirt ruffle.

Smirking, the demon shook his head, "I should have taught him better." He laughed to himself lightly before turning towards the doorway leading to the quarterdeck. The sea breeze hit him instantly, along with the loud sounds of seagulls that made the ancient port of Genova their home. Inhaling sharply, he delighted in the scents of sea and fish, his gold eyes immediately filled with the sight of Genova's ancient lighthouse. "Lanterna."

He smiled as he looked at the giant structure, nowhere else in the world had he seen something quiet like the giant lighthouse. It stood, hovering over five mast lengths above his head, an entrance way to the ancient city.

The ship turned suddenly, the sails catching the wind loudly, as they entered the harbor, moving towards the giant wooden docks of the cities port. The tan colored wall that surrounded the city, encompassing it came into view, Inuyasha's golden eyes taking in the sight carefully. "That's new." He thought to himself as he started towards the staircase leading to the helm's deck, his eyes still sweeping over the beautiful white washed city. "Kouga may be an ass." Inuyasha thought as he looked out over the thousands of light tanned colored stone houses, with their bright red and blue roofs. "But—I have to admit—this is one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen in my life."

Turning away from the sight of the city, about to head up the stairs, Inuyasha froze, a sight greeting him that far surpassed even the most beautiful city he could imagine. Leaning against the railing on the starboard side, in a green gown with no stay or hoop in place, was Kagome. The wind was catching her hair as she leaned forward looking out at the city. The gown, without the hoop and stay, caught on her hips showing off her natural womanly figure. Heart pounding in his chest, Inuyasha resisted the urge to come up behind her so he could trace the line of her hip with the tips of his fingers.

His palms itched and grew sweaty as he imagined himself grabbing the delicious spot where her hip curved to turn into her silk covered ass. "Mate." The demon inside of him whispered, urging him to do what he was trying desperately not to. "Shut it." Inuyasha demanded under his breath as he took a shaky step towards his intended, his mate. "Kagome?" He called towards her, his breath nearly hitching in his throat when she turned around and sent him a bright smile.

"Inuyasha." She brought a hand up and motioned for him to come over to her.

Not able to resist such an invitation, Inuyasha glanced up at the helm's deck, double checking that Myoga was at the helm. The little demon, barely managing to see over the wheel, was doing well to steer them. "He'll be fine." Inuyasha told himself before turning his eyes back to Kagome, sending her a lopsided smile.

"This city is beautiful," Kagome told him as he approached her, coming to stand at her side. "I can't believe it even exists."

"I know," Inuyasha agreed as he forced himself to look into her face and not down at her curvy body. "They don't have anything like this in France." He motioned absently towards the colorful roofs, tan stoned walls and distant hills, tall and quiet, a backdrop to the town's exquisiteness.

"No," Kagome smiled, her grey eyes looking towards the three large wooden docks they were approaching. "They don't at all." She agreed, her eyes following the thousands of men as they scrambled around the docks, passing goods from hand to hand. The sounds of their yells and commands were loud even to her ears, as she watched them jump on and off ships as if the movement was nothing. Narrowing her eyes, confused, she squinted against the bright sun looking for the mandatory gangplanks that she had grown used to seeing at port. "They're not there." She realized after several seconds, her eyes widening.

Sensing that something had changed in Kagome's attitude, perhaps by scent or feeling alone, Inuyasha turned to look at her. "What is it?" He asked, his gold eyes searching her face for any indicators.

Looking at the Captain out of the corner of her eye, she motioned to the ships and their crews with her chin. "They're not using gangplanks."

"Huh?" Inuyasha quirked a brow and turned back to look at the ships. For several second she studied the vessels before smirking slightly and crossing his arms over his chest. "They're demons." He explained easily as he eyed his cousin's workers casually. "Wolf to be exact."

Kagome tilted her head to the side intrigued. "Like your grandparents?"

"Yeah," He nodded slightly as he watched the men work, jumping from the deck of their ships back to the docks with cargo in hand. To a human, it must have appeared impressive, to another demon however, it was no more than a normal sight. "Aengus is even from the same pack."

The girl frowned slightly at his words confused. She knew exactly what a demon pack was: the equivalent to a human family, however she was unsure how these random men could possibly be related to Inuyasha's grandparents. "How do you know?"

"Almost all the wolf demons in Europe are from the same pack." Inuyasha easily answered her, his sharp eyes moving away from the working demons to look at Kagome's baffled grey eyes.

"Wh—?" The girl tried to say, blinking perplexed. "How is that even possible?"

His eyes widened as he realized that Kagome, like most humans, wasn't well versed in the history of demon affairs, Inuyasha cleared his throat. "Yeah, um legend has it that over a thousand years ago the ruler of the wolf demon tribes sired five pups."

"Five?"

"In one litter." Inuyasha nodded his head as he tried to recall the details of the ancient history. He hadn't really heard it since he was a small pup and his grandfather had last told him the story before putting him to bed. "Each of the five brothers grew up to be strong, none stronger or weaker than the other." He tiled his head back in thought as he pieced together the story. "Unable to chose a true heir, the old ruler decided to give each pup a piece of territory."

"Wow." Kagome pursed her lips in amazement, this was a legend she could honestly say she had never heard.

"Yeah, one founded what's now England, another what's now France." Inuyasha explained easily, the story starting to come back to him the more he spoke. "Two of the countries no longer exist and the last was this one, Genovia, the one Kouga's grandfather founded."

"So Kouga's Grandfather—."

"Was one of the five sons." The demon nodded his confirmation before he continued on with his story. "He died in battle young, and so did his son, Kouga's father, about five hundred years ago. Kouga took over the kingdom then."

"How old is he?" Kagome inquired as she tried to calculate Kouga's possible age in her head, he had to be pretty old, at least she could assume.

"By a human's standards," Inuyasha reached up and adjusted the hat on his head absently. "He's around twenty."

"And he rules a country?" Kagome's mouth dropped open in amazement. "To be so young—," She thought to herself looking out over the beautiful harbor with awe twinkling in her eyes. "And keep all this flourishing so—he must be amazing."

Ignoring Kagome's amazement with the young ruler the best he could, Inuyasha quickly changed the topic back to a safer one. "Aengus's related to the five brothers."

Distracted by Inuyasha's admission, Kagome turned her attention away from Kouga and back to Inuyasha. "He is?"

"Yeah," He spoke calmly, feeling a bit relieved that Kagome had so easily forgotten about the young ruler. "Aengus came a few litter's later from another mother."

"So," Kagome processed his words slowly, her grey eyes imploring. "He's their half-brother." She whispered the words, her jaw dropping once more.

"Yeah, they were adults when he was born." Inuyasha continued on as he watched the look of complete shock dance across her every feature.

"And Paedar?"

The dog demon opened his mouth to speak but closed it suddenly. "I have no idea." He admitted, just now realizing that he honestly had no idea where Paedar and Eoin actually came from. He knew Paedar and Eoin weren't from the same pack and that Aengus had known Paedar since they were in single digits but other than that, he had no idea. "I really should ask."

"Prepare for docking!" Myoga yelled suddenly up above them from the helm's deck, bringing Inuyasha away from his thoughts and back to the present.

All around him, the crew moved hastily to meet Myoga's command, preparing to actually put down ropes and a gangplank in order to accommodate their human crew. The sound of their feet pounding against the solid wooden deck, made Inuyasha inhale deeply. "Looks like time's up." Inuyasha told himself as he bit his lower lip. No part of him actually wanted to step foot off of this vessel and onto Genovian soil, yet, he knew he had no choice.

"Protect pack."

The demon inside of him whispered and Inuyasha was inclined to agree. "No matter what I think of Kouga—I have to at least ask." He glanced towards Kagome, watching as she silently studied the crew as they worked. "For my pack." He closed his eyes to collect his thoughts for just a moment more before opening them against the bright sun without a wince. "You should finish getting ready."

"Huh?" Kagome turned to look at him surprised before glancing down at herself. "I thought I was."

"You're not wearing a hoop." Inuyasha pointed out easily, as he looked down at her hips as if to prove his point.

"So?" Kagome shrugged her shoulders and sent him a bright smile that made his heart jump in his chest. "I thought you liked me better this way?"

A slow grin formed on the dog demon's face, his eyes seeming to smile along with his mouth as he eyed her. "I do." He told her, the grin still on his face as he surveyed the way the dress fell around her hips and the natural curve of her waist unhindered by a constricting stay. He felt the demon within him begin to growl with its own appreciation of her look, the beast nearly purring as it mentally tried to convince him to find out what was underneath the hoopless gown. Shaking his head hastily to clear his thoughts, Inuyasha brought a hand to the back of his head, rubbing at his neck as he fidgeted.

As if sensing his inner turmoil, Kagome giggled, bringing a hand up to cover her naturally pink lips. "I'm glad." She whispered just loud enough for the wind to carry her words to his ears.

Inuyasha dropped his hand from the back of his neck, his face appearing completely flabbergasted. "Kagome?" He started to say only to have her look down at the deck with a blush, her eyes fluttering cutely. "Why are you glad?" He questioned softly as his heart fluttered in time with her eyes.

"I'm glad," She spoke quietly but her voice still maintained a daring lack of innocence. "You like it."

Inuyasha inhaled sharply just as he felt the dock butt up against the ship causing them to jolt. Captain's instinct told him to scream at his men for bumping the side of the dock so hard but the sight of Kagome falling forward towards him stopped any words at all from leaving his tongue. Reaching out, he wrapped his arms around her, stopping her from falling further. In response, Kagome's fingers dug into his shirt, holding herself up as her face landed against his chest.

Around them, the crew ignored the movement, instead hurrying to secure the vessel before their Captain could scream at them for their failing. None of them were quite aware that their Captain was completely sidetracked. The man didn't even bother himself with thinking about the jostling of the ship as he looked down at the mass of curls that belonged to Kagome's head. It was all he could see until she tilted her chin upwards, her grey eyes swimming with emotions as she looked up into his golden ones.

"Inuyasha." She whispered, the breathy way she spoke his name making the Captain lose sight of where they were standing.

Dipping his head down, he captured her lips with his own, his eyes sweeping closed as his every thought was consumed by the taste of her. Kagome gasped into his mouth, her hand that had been desperately clutching his jacket losing its grip. Her fingers ran down his chest to his stomach before they froze, actually grabbing at his waist. Inuyasha moaned from the contact, delighting in the way her fingernails had scrapped against his clothes. Dragging his hands from her sides and up her ribs, he inhaled deeply through his nose. "Kagome." He whispered against her lips as he moved his hands even farther, brushing against the side of one of her breast without even realizing it.

"Um—I hate to interrupt."

Kagome's eyes snapped openly, her lips disengaging from the Captain's quickly as she realized they had been caught. Turning red she looked down at the ground between Inuyasha and herself, knowing full well that he wouldn't let her go to run away.

"Come on Miroku," Sango said beside him, her arms crossed over her chest as she smirked at the two. "You know you loved to do it."

"Oh yes, yes I do." Miroku smiled smugly while his father glared at him, the look actually dangerous.

Kagome groaned from his words and turned around to glare at Miroku. "You have no decency." She managed to tell the man with a huff that made both Inuyasha and Sango laugh.

"She's got you there." Sango snorted as she looked back towards their reason for interrupting the Captain in the first place. "Would you like me to handle the port authority?"

"No." Inuyasha sighed loudly as he dropped his hands away from Kagome, sending her a brief apologetic smile. "It's better if I do—you know how wolves are." He commented dryly, turning away from them a stomping as he abandoned his preferred spot next to the girl whom he loved.

"What did he mean?" Kagome asked as she composed herself fully by deciding to ignore the events of the past minute. "About wolves and how they are?"

"Well, wolves tend to be rather," Miroku thought for a second, trying to determine how to word his sentence carefully. "Salacious." He finally settled on, Kagome eyeing him skeptically.

"You mean they—," She stopped herself from saying the words, instead moving her hands in a hasty cycle to imply them.

"Yeah," Sango nodded her head as she adjusted her hat to fit properly. "They like women—a lot."

"Are they," Kagome stuttered as she spoke, not used to talking about such matters. "Dangerous to women?"

"Generally no," Miroku informed casually as he adjusted the ruffle of his shirt. "But—they tend to take what they want and don't accept no for an answer."

Kagome gulped openly, her eyes going towards the Captain, watching him as he talked to the port authority quietly. "Do you think Kouga will be like that?"

"I doubt it," Sango yawned into her hand. "He is related to the Captain, after all."

"True." Kagome nodded feeling a bit better, after all, any man related to the Captain had to be a decent person; at least, that was her logical conclusion.

-break-

Kagura opened her eyes against the darkness of her dream, her mind already aware of what was happening. Instantly, the sight of nothingness filled her ruby eyes, a world that existed only in death surrounding her. She inhaled deeply, the smell of decaying flesh making her skin crawl. Just behind her, she heard the scurrying of rats, their tiny claws scrapping against rock as they ran away. "She's here." Kagura whispered into the dark as the rats squeaked. "I guess—my times up."

The sound of vicious laughter filled the air as Kagura finished speaking. "You've been expecting me?" The Shinigami whispered from within the dark, its voice causing the rats to hiss.

Biting her lip, knowing she truly had nothing left to lose, Kagura smirked. "What-to took so long-u?"

A low growl sounded from the back of the cave, causing everything within it to quake. Little stones and chips of rock fell around her, dust coming unsettled as the beast allowed the growl to fade. "It's good to see," She spoke quietly, so quietly that Kagura almost felt as if she shouldn't have been able to hear her. "You've accepted your fate."

The wind demon thought to say something, a witty remark sitting just on the tip of her tongue but at the last second she pulled it away, unable to speak. The Shinigami laughed loudly, having heard Kagura's every thought regarding it.

"Oh please speak," It begged, the cavern shaking suddenly as the beast took a step towards her in the dark. "I do wish to hear your insults with your own voice."

"Why don't-to yuu just get it over with?" Kagura asked, not falling into the Shinigami's twisted games. "Take-e my body and be done with it-to."

"Believe me, little demon," The creature whispered, the cave rattling as she moved closer and closer to Kagura, the wind demon refusing to see her as she approached. "That's what I came to talk to you about."

"Then talk-u."Kagura commanded although her voice came across as faint. In her heart, she had always known that this day would come, the moment in time when she died young. And yet, an imagine of the youthful Hiten flashed before her mind. "I'll miss him." She told herself, aware that the Shinigami knew her every thought.

"Oh, how interesting." The creature snorted as it too saw Hiten's face and heard Kagura's private thoughts. "You've found another boy to fuck you."

Kagura growled low in her throat but didn't rise to the bait.

"Tell me," The creature grew closer to her in the dark, the heat of its breath touching her cheek. "Is he as good as Sesshoumaru."

"Shut up."

"Does he love you, like Sesshoumaru did?"

"You don't know anything." The wind demon inhaled sharply, immediately regretting the action as the smell of death hit her nose full force. Gagging, she doubled over, clutching at her stomach. Even her retching however, couldn't stop her from imaging the stone cold face of the current ruler of Nihon.

"You think I don't know?" The Shinigami taunted as she moved away from Kagura in the darkness, her voice growing father away. "You think I don't remember the circumstances of our—contract?"

Kagura felt her lip tremble for just a second as she tried to block out the distant memories from so long ago, but in the end she was unable. In her mind, clear as day, she saw Sesshoumaru, his golden eyes staring at her as his mouth formed the words. "Wareware no haichi ga owatta."

"Our arrangement is over." The Shinigami laughed bluntly as she translated the hurtful words. "In the end, that's all you were to him, a contract, an arrangement."

"Sesshoumaru-sama found-u another." Kagura argued, not wanting the pain of Sesshoumaru's abandonment to be any worse than it really was. "That-to was part of our arrangement." She inhaled deeply as she imagined the small thing Sesshoumaru had presented to her. The girl had been beautiful, with long black hair and bright black eyes, a perfect Nihon woman with a secret childishness about her that seemed out of place at Sesshoumaru's side. "If-fu he found another, then he was free to have-e her. I was a last resort-to for an eternal bachelor."

"Oh, is that how it was." From the sound of her voice, the Shinigami almost seemed disappointed. "But—it still is strange that even after he married that stick of a girl, you still did his bidding."

"I had nowhere-eu to go." Kagura argued even as her heart tightened a bit more inside her chest. "I lived there all my life, I knew Sesshoumaru-sama when we were children, we were friends-u."

"You were lovers."

"Friends first!" Kagura bit out the words and squeezed her eyes shut but the Shinigami only laughed.

"But lovers always." It told her, the throaty chuckle Kagura's misery brought her, loud in the tight space. "Until now."The voice of the Shinigami faded away, an unnatural wind moving throughout the cave, causing Kagura's close to ruffle around her.

Opening her eyes, the wind demon gasped as she found a perfect replica of Hiten standing right before her. His dark eyes were gentle, a gentleness she only saw when he took her to his bed. She was almost positive, it was a gentleness he hadn't known he had.

"Kagura-hime."

His voice echoed all around her, his face breaking into a soft smile as he reached for her. Unable to resist the temptation, Kagura reached forward as well, her soft white skin bright in the dark, wanting him to take her away from everything around her. "Hiten-sama." She spoke his name with love in her voice, love she should have tried to stop from ever being heard. The wind demon nearly moaned as he leaned forward towards her, his large muscular hand clutching her own tightly.

He pulled her closer and closer to himself, until their faces were nearly touching. In the back of her mind, a small voice screamed at Kagura to wake up but she found herself unable. She was lost in his handsome face and beautiful black eyes. She was so caught up in fact, that she didn't feel the odd texture of his skin or notice the horrid smell that touched his breath until it was too late to get away.

The face of Hiten twisted into a sick smile before it began to melt. Globs of flesh fell from nearly completely decayed bone, the bone substance smelling far worse than anything Kagura had smelt up until this moment. The almost completely healthy teeth dissolved, turning into nothing but blackened gums in a putrid mouth. Kagura screamed against the sight, her eyes unable to neither shut nor look away as the eyes that had been Hiten's until just a moment before began to bubble inside the monster's head. Like a pot about to overflow, they boiled in the eye sockets until they became runny resembling uncooked eggs, gliding down the creature's bony cheeks.

"You shouldn't have become attached Kagura." The lips moved and the tongue flopped in its mouth as it spoke. "You'll only find it harder to die."

Shaking violently from the sight, Kagura finally was able to close her eyes only to find herself staring once more at the creature on the back of her eyelids. Gasping for breath against a barely contained scream, Kagura panted desperately. "Please," She begged unable to stand the sight nor smell any longer. "Just-to do it—just-to let me die."

The Shinigami barely managed to contain its laughter as it leaned forward and much to Kagura's disgust placed a tender kiss on her forehead. "Believe me," She spoke, her voice soft and sweet as if she was talking to a frightened child. "I so look forward to that very moment." She told Kagura sweetly, running a hand down the side of Kagura's cheek while the demon squirmed. "And it will come soon."

Dread building in her heart mixed oddly with reassurance, Kagura forced her eyes opened, looking directly into the creature's sickening face. "When?"

"Oh dear girl," the Shinigami looked right at her with her eyeless sockets. "You know the ritual can only be done during a full moon."

Kagura felt her heart tighten in her chest, the world slowing down around her. "That's three days." She whispered to herself, in so much shock that she never felt the Shinigami let go of her arm or slip away. "Only three days." She held in a large sob that threatened to jump up from her throat. Unable to control herself, she let her body slid to the ground, never noticing when the blackness of the dream disappeared around her, replaced by a white emptiness: the sign the Shinigami had gone.

Kaede sat on the edge of Kagura and Hiten's bed, her one blue Shinigami eye studying the girl as she slept. The only sign that Kagura had been visited by a Shinigami came in the form of the sweat on her brow and the way her hands clutched at the sheets. Otherwise, the girl was perfectly still, unwavering in her sleep. That did not mean however, that Kaede was unaware of the contents of the dream.

"Three days." She thought to herself as she watched Kagura's hands suddenly relax as the Shinigami left her mind. Her one bright blue eye watched the nearly dead creature as it existed Kagura's unconscious, the older Shinigami not even giving her a second glance. "Arrogant creature." Kaede told herself as she watched the transparent image move to the window before disappearing through the glass. "Just ignore the human—never assume she is a Shinigami." The old woman held back a laugh at the creature's expense.

Without another look in the direction of the now departed Shinigami, Kaede turned to look at Kagura once more. Kaede felt her heart clench in her chest as she took in the sight of the wind demon's tear stained face. She looked so young in that moment, as if she was nothing more than a child in a woman's body. Her rounded cheeks were red, her long eyelashes squeezed shut, and her nose twitching as if the scent of the death god was still assaulting her.

Reaching forward, Kaede gently touched the girl's cheek with the back of her hand, running it against Kagura's clammy skin. "I'm sorry." She whispered to the girl, feeling terrible for the things that would happen to her in just three days. "I wish there was another way." The old woman continued on, the affection in her heart that had started building for this poor tormented girl only growing bigger as she watched her suffer.

It all seemed so unfair to the old woman. Kagura had barely lived even a fraction of her life, sure she was by far older than Kaede but for all pretenses, she was still much younger. The girl was no more than an early twenty something, with so much left to do and so much life left to live. To have been cursed to make a Shinigami contract so young and have to fulfill it so soon afterwards, just didn't seem fair at all.

"If only we could change places." Kaede whispered into the dark, her voice unheard by either sleeping youths. "I've lived a long life—I wouldn't mind letting it end but—who would finish this," She looked towards her left, her eye seeing all the way through the wall towards a sleeping Naraku. "Who would play my part?"

"Who says she couldn't play your part."

Kaede's eyes opened wide as the voice filled her, it was a voice she hadn't heard but in dreams.

"You'll be with her always just as I was with you."

The voice continued on inside of her.

"And she'll be able to live the life she deserves."

Kaede felt her lower lip shake, her own hands grabbing for anything she could to still her shaking nerves. Much to her own surprise though, she found the object of her comfort was actually the object of her distress. Held in her tired old wrinkled hand was Kagura's youthful one. The skin was smooth and taunt, reminding Kaede of what her hands had once been. Tears formed in her one natural eye, the Shinigami one appearing forever dry. "Three days." She whispered softly knowing in her heart what she had to do. "Just three more days."

-break-

Kagome, Sango, and Miroku all stared at the giant golden ceiling as if they were in a dream world. They had never seen such delicate architecture. The ceiling was doomed with curved wooden beams all painted the same dark golden color making it appear as if the wood was in fact made from the precious metal. Between each high beam on the left hand side of the hall, a series of large windows painted a bright white allowed light to flow into the room, brightening what would normally be a gloomy dark hall. On the right, on the other hand, fabulous frescos were painted directly onto the wall depicting scenes straight out of history books and mythology as well as the odd portrait.

Completely taken by the beautiful paintings, Kagome's grey eyes found it hard to look where they were going, instead focusing on each picture with adapt interest. Demons dressed in Roman style clothing with large feathered war helmets stared back at her. There large eyes were deep and deadly blue, focused and intense. Kagome felt the air leave her lungs at the sight, each painting's eyes seeming to focus solely on her as they passed them. "It's almost like, they're alive." She told herself as she turned to finally look in front of her.

Her eyes instantly landed on the back of their escort, a rather short man who was obviously a demon by blood. His dark hair was well trimmed and held in a long ponytail down his back, similar to the one the Captain was currently wearing. Although, Kagome could freely admit, the man's black hair was nothing in comparison to the Captain's shining silver strands.

"Not even close." She told herself just as their escort suddenly stopped in front of them, motioning with one hand towards a small unassuming door.

"Il sovrano vi accoglierà nel suo salotto." The man told them in Italian, refusing to actually look at them as he spoke.

Kagome frowned darkly at the sound of the man's voice, not liking the way he looked at the Captain one bit. Glancing at the Captain, she frowned even deeper at the sight of the man's own calm look. Kagome had to wonder why the Captain was simply ignoring the wolf demon, his eyes focused on the door. "He's been that way since we entered the building." Kagome thought as she studied the Captain. "He's just ignoring them while they treat him so horribly." She felt a bit of anger well up in her chest mixed with obvious confusion. "Why would he just ignore that?" Kagome wondered as she watched the man move towards the door as if to open it.

"L'unico motivo per cui vi stiamo lasciando entrare qui, meticcio," The wolf demon paused as he pronounced the last word, taking his time to drag out each and every letter. Sango (the only person present who knew Italian besides the Captain) flinched at the sound of it: half breed. "É a causa di Aengus." The man hissed through clenched teeth, his eyes narrowed as he sent an unapologetic glare in Inuyasha's direction.

"Eres tan bueno conmigo." Inuyasha bit back sarcastically as he preceeded towards the doors, ignoring the man plainly. Grabbing the door with one hand, he used the other to motion towards the three humans, his posture already tense even though he had yet to see Kouga.

Automatically, the three followed him as he opened the door, Sango only pausing for just a second to look at the wolf demon in the eye. "Bastardo." She pretended to sneeze, delighting in the way his eye twitched from the disguised insult before she followed the rest of the group into the room.

The room, compared to the hallway, was simply furinished with a few plush chairs and a giant fire place in front of which stood a man, posed as if expecting the group in front of him. He was tall with long black hair held in a high ponytail , his skin a pleasant tan color, and his eyes the same piercing blue as the paintings outside in the hall. His face was drawn into a bluntly smug smirk that made Inuyasha want to just go ahead and punch him in the face. On either side of him, two men stood their arms crossed over their chest and their own darker blue eyes focused solely on Inuyasha.

"Well at least his two loyal guard dogs are alive." Inuyasha thought as he watched the two men standing on either side of Kouga. "I still can't rememeber who was who though—." He raised an eyebrow as he looked between the two very similar men unable to tell the difference between the two. "Not that I'm actually trying."

"Well, well, well," The man in the middle spoke, his tongue seeming to roll over each 'l' as if he was making love to its sound. "If it isn't de meticcio."

"I have a name." Inuyasha growled low in his throat, his eyes staring at the other man with malice building in them

"Iii yes," Kouga straightened his back and snorted loudly. "De fun-ny one from your padre. In—u—ya—sha." He drew the foreign name out before proceeding to laugh. "Tat isn't a name, it's a sneeze-e, no?"

Inuyasha felt the veins in the side of his neck start to bulge. "Protect pack." He told himself, commanding the demon within him to only focus on the thought of protecting his pack over all else. However, that was far easier said than actually done. "Listen jackass."

The two men on either side of Kouga tensed as if prepared to move but stopped as Kouga raised his hand in a silent command to stay still. "Yes, meticcio." He smirked openly as his eyes finally wandered away from Inuyasha to look at his companions.

Having stood silently up until this point, Kagome watched as his bright blue eyes roamed over Sango for a moment appreciatively before turning to Miroku. The man barely bothered to look at Miroku however, before his eyes were on the move again, coming to land on Kagome. Instantly, his eyebrows raised into his hairline, his eyes lighting up as he studied her. Kagome squirmed under the scrutiny, her whole body seeming to respond to the look in a way she wasn't sure was negative or positive.

Inuyasha inhaled sharply the word 'meticcio' echoing in his head. "He never did call me by my name, I knew that before I ever stepped foot here." He told himself in an attempt to calm back down even as the anger began to build inside his heart. Forcing himself to relax, he looked towards Kouga, expecting the man to be staring at him with disdain, instead he found Kouga's eyes occupied by something else entirely. "Oi!" He growled low in his throat, Kouga snapping back to attention easily.

"Patience meticcio." The wolf demon clicked his tongue loudly as he looked towards the dog demon, the disdain instantly building in his eyes. "I will give-e you plenty at-tention, momento." He held up one finger as he spoke, his blue eyes landing back on Kagome one more time. "But first—her."

"What?" Inuyasha started to say but stopped abruptly when Kouga suddenly jumped into the air going straight over Inuyasha's head. "Hey!" The dog demon whipped his head around just in time to see Kouga gracefully land straight in front of Kagome, a large smile plastered across his face.

"Hel-lo," He spoke carefully, his blue eyes sparkling as he reached for Kagome's gloved hand before the girl could react. Holding it between his large clawed ones he bent forward and kissed the back of her knuckles sweetly. "Bella."

"Um," Kagome's whole face went red as he pronounced the name with such tender care that it sounded almost, dirty. "My names Kagome." She tried to correct but Kouga merely shook his head while sending her a delicious smile.

"O no, no, no," He whispered as he raised his head up keeping her eyes contained by his own. "Kagome is a lovely-y name," He rolled the 'l' sound on his tongue, making it nearly purr. "But a bella, is a name only for de beautiful girls."

"Oh my." Kagome barely managed to say before suddenly the Captain appeared as if out of nowhere.

"Hands off!" The man yelled as he punched deliberately at Kouga's head, his eyes flashing red.

Kouga dodged the hit in a way that neither Sango, Miroku, nor Kagome could say they had ever seen. His body flipped backwards once, then twice before he landed on his feet as if the move was absolutely effortless. "What is a prêt-ty girl like tat doing with a meticcio?"

Practically yanking Kagome towards himself and pressing her to his side, Inuyasha sent the other man the most intimidating glare Miroku had ever seen his father use. "She's mine." He spoke slowly and clearly while Kouga crossed his arms in front of his chest as if mocking the words.

"Real-ly?" He rolled his tongue before promptly laughing, his blue eyes turning towards Kagome astonished. "'e is lying, no?" He asked her rhetorically before looking back at Inuyasha with a smile on his face. "Because-eh when my nose pressed against her delicato flesh-e," He spoke the words once again in such a way that Kagome honestly felt as if he wanted to eat her, in a good way. "I smelt not-ing of de sort."

Inuyasha felt his heart stop for all of a second in his chest, realizing that to a demon like Kouga the type of mark Kagome wore really meant nothing. At most, it meant Kouga simply had to work harder to get what he wanted. Clearing his throat in an attempt to sound strong even when he was slightly frazzled, Inuyasha spoke again. "We're intended."

"O," Kouga, for his part, held back a rather loud snort. "How—carino."

"Shut up." Inuyasha bristled even as Kouga's words bit into him deeply. It was the truth, his and Kagome's relationship was 'cute.' They were intended, they were courting, but they weren't mating or doing other hot and steamy things. Up until this point he hadn't really thought of the implications of that too deeply, other than it being a source of continuing frustration for himself. Now, however, Kouga had sparked a thought within him, a dangerous one that the demon within him grew agitated from just thinking: there was nothing stopping another demon from touching her. "Unless they're afraid of me." Inuyasha added as he looked at Kouga, a low growl building in his throat. "And Kouga's not."

Kouga laughed openly as Inuyasha growled at him, his blue eyes going straight back towards Kagome. "You know bella," He whispered just loud enough for Kagome to hear him, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "'e might not be man enough to mak-eh woman of you," He paused only long enough to watch the veins tense in Inuyasha's throat. "But I am."

Kagome's face went bright red at his words, the girl feeling to the point of fainting as Inuyasha finally snarled openly at the wolf demon. "Not another word to her Kouga." He growled dangerously while the two guards still standing by the fire place tensed their hands into fist, preparing to fight for their leader.

In response Kouga leaned forward, raising his own wide opened hands showing off long and sharp claws. "Or what?"

"Or your blood is going to be splattered against your golden walls." Inuyasha hissed as he let go of Kagome and moved her behind him, straight into Sango's hold.

"I'd like to see you try, meticcio." Kouga baited as he spread his feet out a little wider, his hands tensing to the point his knuckles popped.

"Captain?" Kagome tried to interrupt as Sango gripped her shoulders holding her back. "Sango let me go." She said in a hushed whisper as she pulled forward her eyes never leaving the two posturing males.

"Come at me meticcio!" Kouga finally yelled, the words loud in the small room, the sound of it finally making Inuyasha snap.

"Don't call me meticcio!" He screamed in return as he jumped forward his own claws ready to lash through every bone in Kouga's body.

Kouga jumped backwards easily, his feet having barely touched the floor before he shot himself forward, his own claws ready to rip into Inuyasha's body. The dog demon managed to dodge the first hand as if he was simply walking in a park, when Kouga brandished the second hand however he wasn't quite as lucky. The wolf demon's second set of claws managed to catch the front of Inuyasha's shirt ruffle, the sharp weapons tearing into the material as the wolf demon laughed loudly.

"Sei così lento." He mocked the Captain's speed but his words became his major fault.

Seizing the opportunity, Inuyasha lunged forward, his own claws nearly connecting with Kouga's face. The wolf demon's eyes widened immediately with surprise as he watched the weapons glisten in front of him. Luckily for him, speed saved him from permanent scaring, as his body leaned away just enough to where only his hair fell victim to the strike. "Now who's slow!" Inuyasha yelled as a lock of Kouga's hair fell to the floor between them. Wasting no time to gloat though, he lunged forward again, clawing and slashing as Kouga jumped backwards, maintaining his balance just barely as he dodged.

Watching the two men as they flew around the room, the Captain having taken the advantage for the time being, Kagome panicked. "Please don't fight." She thought her heart clenching in her chest as she watched Kouga finally regain his footing, jumping over the Captain's head and landing behind him stopping the assault. "I hate this." She began to shake as Kouga leaped at the Captain's back nearly catching the man's shoulder blades with her claws. "Such violence, because of me—."

"Violence begets violence."

She heard the words echo in her head just as Kouga finally managed to land a hit on Inuyasha's shoulder, ripping the material of his clothes enough to actually see skin.

"Hate begets hate."

The next part of the phrase teased her senses as the Captain retaliated so quickly Kouga didn't have time to dodge. The dog demon's closed fist connected solidly with the wolf demons face, sending the man backward against a wall. The pictures shook from the contact, one of them crashing to the ground as the wolf demon slid to the floor. The two guards sprang forward, heading right towards Inuyasha only to freeze when their leader shot passed them, moving at impossible speeds, his ice blue eyes filled with malice.

"Their violence will only beget more violence—."

"Stop." Kagome finally yelled, and with strength she didn't know she had broke away from Sango, throwing herself between the two men before even Kouga reached the Captian. "That's enough!" She commanded, the whole room freezing at the sight of her between the two demons, one hand pointing at Inuyasha and another pointing at Kouga. The two demons stared at her in amazement, neither one actually believing that the tiny woman had dared to jump between them. "I won't have either of you getting hurt over me." She told them, Inuyasha dropping his arms as he looked at her in amazement.

"Kagome—." He tried to speak only to have Kouga abruptly interupt him.

The wolf demon grabbed for her outstretched hand causing her to yelp as he pulled her to him and wrapped his arm around her waist. "O bella," He whispered as he held her head against his chest and rested his chin on her curly hair. "Did you wor-ry-y for me?"

Kagome froze at the feel of the man pressed against her unsure of what the hell she was supposed to do. "Aaa—." She tried to speak only to find herself suddenly no longer in the man's grip but instead in Inuyasha's.

"Do you make it a habit of just randomly grabbing women?" Inuyasha snarled as he held Kagome against his side protectively, his eyes twinging with red as the demon in him screamed with jealousy.

"Not normal-ly no," Kouga sent him the same smug smirk he had on his face the very moment they arrived. "But she is a pret-ty one." He looked right at Kagome who stared at him a strained smile on her face that was somewhere between flattered and disturbed.

"That's it," Inuyasha blurted as he pulled Kagome tighter against his side with one hand while the other pointed a shaking finger at Kouga. "I'm done, this was a stupid idea, I wish I never would have listened to Aengus."

"Aengus," Kouga's whole demenour changed, his face serious for the first time since Inuyasha had walked into the room. "'e sent you?"

Surprised by the sudden change in the wolf's posture, Inuyasha raised an eyebrow. "Yes." He spoke slowly, his grip on Kagome lessoning slightly.

"What does 'e need?" Kouga spoke carefully, looking truly concerned as he focused all his attention on Inuyasha and not on Kagome.

"It's not him," Inuyasha shrugged knowing that Kouga's whole tune would change as soon as he told him the truth. "Its me."

"You?" Kouga drew out the word as if it had left a bad taste in his mouth. "Why would 'e send you to me," He motioned towards Inuyasha, looking as if he was actually offended. "What do you need tat badly."

"It's a long story." Inuyasha gritted his teeth as he spoke, his grip on Kagome tightening once more.

"I 'av-eh time." Kouga smirked slightly, seeming to suddenly draw delight from the fact that Inuyasha needed him. "Tell me what 'as 'appened."

"Really?" Inuyasha glanced at his son, as if asking the man if he too thought Kouga was setting up an intricate trap. Miroku could only shurg in baffled response.

"Yes." Kouga nodded his head sharply before looking down at Kagome once more. "As long as she tells it," He sent Inuyasha mocking smile as he motioned towards Kagome. "I will lis-ten."

"Why you—." The dog demon growled but Kagome's hand on his chest stopped him from saying another hate filled word.

"I'll tell it." She spoke softly, hoping that Kouga wasn't able to hear her gentle voice. "It's just a story right and its for our mission." She looked up at him her grey eyes imploring and very convincing. "It'll be okay."

Inuyasha inhaled deeply as he looked at her before letting out a long breath. "Fine." He told her while raising his head to look at Kouga with promise in his eyes. "But she's not going anywhere near you."

Kouga held up his hands as if in surrender before crossing the room, heading for a large and overly stuffed chair. "Do not wor-ry, meticcio." He told the Captian even as he sent the man a dangerous smirk before motioning towards the couch. "Take a seat."

Inuyasha glanced down at Kagome who smiled reassuringly before looking over at Sango and Miroku. Miroku looked confused as he nodded at his father before moving towards the couch. Sango, on the other hand, looked downright pissed, her arms crossed under her breast and her back tensed. "She knows what they've been calling me." Inuyasha concluded as she stiffly crossed the room and took a seat next to her husband. "I don't blame her for being pissed." He told himself as he followed Sango across the room, Kagome still held against him.

Sitting on another couch across from Sango and Miroku, Kagome looked towards Kouga, watching as the man stared at her as if she was something to be eaten.

"Go ahead bella." His voice was sultry and exuded sex from its every octive.

Kagome blushed at his words, Inuyasha growling low in his throat as he watched her skin twinge. "Only I should make her turn that color." He grumbled to himself as Kagome began their story for the second time in under a month.

End of Chapter

Please Review

A/N: Now obviously I do not know Italian. The extent of my Italian knowledge is how to order food, find a bathroom, and the train station (as well as a few choice words). However, if there is an Italian speaker out there who would like to provide translations I would very much appreciate it! Please either PM me or, if you prefer, contact me in a review. As you know, I strive to make this fanfiction as accurate as possible, so if anyone would like to help me with that endeavor I would highly appreciate it. I hope everyone liked the chapter and is looking forward to what is in store for use over the course of this saga.

Bonus Point:

What happened to Kouga's tribe in the anime?

Last Chapter's Bonus Point:

This is actually a tricky question. Originally Kouga had three jewel shards, one in each leg and one in his right arm. Naraku eventually reclaims the jewel shard in his arm leading us to remember him only having them in his legs. However, I will accept both the answers 3 and 2. Good job to the winners!

KuramixMidnight, Ki Ai Sky, 14 inu-kag, uTs?UkUsHil kUro NeKo, ravenraymoon, TheRealInuyasha, disneyclassics101, Kauia, Glon Morski, IkutoTsukiyomi'sGirl, NurNur, Cagome, cristine44, TaoGrace, walomadolo, Aozora12, AiydanWarrior, Suyurilrig, Team D0bby

Translations:

Il sovrano vi accoglierà nel suo salotto – The king welcomes you in his living room.

L'unico motivo per cui vi stiamo lasciando entrare qui, meticcio. É a causa di Aengus – the only reason we're letting you in here, half breed, is because of Aengus.

Eres tan bueno conmigo. – You're so good to me.

Carino – cute

Sei così lento – You're so slow.

Notes:

Genova – Genoa in English is modernly the sixth largest city in Italy. Historically, it was a very powerful and successful empire which declined towards the end of the French Revolution in 1789 for various complex reasons. At the time of this story (1782), the empire would have still been pretty stable and known for its banks mainly in Spain.

Lanterna – Or the Lighthouse of Genova is the main lighthouse for the city's port. Besides being an important aid to night navigation in the vicinity, the tower serves as a symbol for the City of Genoa, and is one of the oldest standing structures of its kind in the world. At 249 feet (76 m) it is the world's second tallest "traditional lighthouse" built of masonry. It is constructed in two square portions, each one capped by a terrace; the whole structure is crowned by a lantern from which the light is shone.

Next Chapter:

Rivalry

See you then!

UNEDITED

POSTED

6/11/2013