Disclaimer: No I do not own Inuyasha so there:P

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Chapter 8: Again?

Kagome was leaning against the railing of the ship looking out into the clear blue ocean. It was amazing how many shades the ocean was. From the Kirikos Islands turqious to this deep dark blue of the ocean. Then it changed colores through out the course of the day. From the delicate pinks and purples of sunrise to the fiery oranges and reds that set the water afire at sunset and the black abis it became at night.

Then of course there was it's many shapes. The explosive angery waves during a storm and the quiet tranquil almost glassy surface when it was calm and not a wind stirred the peaceful water. And when you added all of the sea life that never failed to surprise and delight her. Like the large but usually friendly whales that occasionally rose above the water with a gyser. Or the playfull dolphins that jumped and fliped along the ships sides.

Kagome was laughing at a pair that were playing with the ship and wishing she could be with them dancing carelessly beneath the waves.

"Enjoying yourself?"

Kagome turned with a smile to Silver who was watching her with a peaceful expression.

"I love the ocean." Kagome said.

"As do I. Any sailors true love is the ocean. She's his mistress, his lady," He turned to her, "his heart."

Kagome felt butterlies in her stomach and turned her head so he couldn't see the blush on her cheeks.

But he saw it anyway and captured her face and turned her back to him. "Don't hide that charming blush."

Kagome felt her breath stop as he moved closer to her.

What's...what's going on? Is this really happening? She thought franticly as he gently grabbed her waist and pulled her closer.

He was inches from her face. She could feel his breath on her face making her dizzy as she wanted dearly to let him close that distance.

But Inuyasha stopped when he felt a small restraining hand on his chest.

He looked down with amusment as he saw her hand.

"Why not?" He asked.

Kagome needed him to back up so she could put a rational thought together but he wouldn't.

"I...I don't...I don't even...know you." She finished looking at him sadly.

"That hasn't stopped people before." He pointed out but he backed up a little giving her enough space to put her thoughts in order.

"But it will stop me." Kagome said regretfully. "Captain, I...I do want you. I know what disire is. But....I don't even know your name. Unless your name really is..."

"Inuyasha." He said quietly cutting her off and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"What?"

"Inuyasha." He repeated. "My mom was very knowladgeable of the old language. It means dog demon."

Kagome's gaze traveled from his clawed hands that were gently rubbing circles on her hips to the fangs behind those seductive lips and to the fuzzy silver ears perched atop his head that she had wanted to touch since she saw them.

"Inuyasha." She said tasting the word.

It was a good strong name that fit him so well.

"Captain!" Miroku called.

Inuyasha sighed and looked at her regretfully. "Next time." He promised before turning away from her and walking toward his first mate.

Kagome grabbed the rail to keep her weak knees from failing on her.

Inuyasha had no idea why he had told her. Or even why he had talked to her in the first place. Maybe it was the cloudless joy that had been on her face when she looked at the dolphins. She had been so beautiful in that moment he had been unable to stop himself from talking with her. Then that blush had flushed her face so prettily. He had never intended to give her his name, but he was glad he had now. He wanted her to know his name. To know everything about him. And he wanted to know everything about her.

It was a completely stupid disire and he knew it was more than lust. It was the same feeling he had had about Kikyo, but at the same time different.

No this wasn't love, but it wasn't simple lust either. It had the potental to be love, he knew that, with a little more prodding it would be love. But he didn't know, dispite what had just happened, if he was completely ready for love again.

"So we need a new heading. Where to captain." Miroku asked unrolling the map in the captains quaters.

Miroku took the time to put a black slash through Kagome's village then looked at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha had the tip of his dagger in his teeth thinking.

Then without warning her throw the knife and it landed in the middle of open water next to a large land mass.

Miroku read the name of the nearest port. "Qiunten?"

"No. The island."

Miroku looked again. "Captain is there something wrong with your eyes? There is no island there."

"Go to that place. There is an island there. I just have not been there in many years."

Inuyasha left without a word and Miroku sqiunted at the map trying to find the island.

Inuyasha had taken over control of the wheel. He wanted to feel the ship beneath him and control it. And he wanted a reason to keep his eye off Kagome.

She tempted much more than he was prepared to admit.

"Inuyasha?" A small voice interupted his thoughts.

"Yes Kagome." He said not taking his eyes off the compass that told him where they were headed.

"You know that thing you keep asking me about? What's it called again?" Kagome asked faking not knowing.

Inuyasha felt his instincts stirring and knew better than to jump down her throat about what she knew. So he played along.

"The Shikon no Tama. The Jewel of the Sea."

"Yes, that?" Kagome smiled at him. "What is it? What do you know of it?"

The first question she asked was to keep up the fiction of her ignorence, but the second was what she really wanted to know.

"The Shikon no Tama is an ancient and powerful jewel." Inuyasha answered as honestly as he could. He knew what he told her know would dictate what she told him if she told anything at all. "It is said that the one who controls this jewel can control the entire sea. Legend says that it was created by a powerful Singer."

"Singer?" Kagome asked.

"Yes. Someone who can control things with their voice." Inuyasha clearified. It wasn't unheard of, particularly in small villages, for people to not know what a Singer was. "Anyway, according to legend, Modoriko, the Singer, was the most powerful Signer that had ever been before, or since. Legend says that she created the Shikon no Tama from the ocean itself."

"Why?" Kagome asked standing at his elbow but not looking at him.

"Supposedly she created it for the man she loved, so he could travel the sea with her. Share in her power, share her love of the ocean. However after she gave him the jewel the man's true nature came out. Cold, greedy, and heartless. He used the power for his own personal gain terrorizing the ocean and killing inocents until finally Modoriko caught up with him. And slew him." Inuaysha looked at Kagome but her face was carefully blank. "After that she hid the jewel since it was too powrful to destroy and died of a broken heart shortly after that."

"And you want to control the sea too, is that correct?" Kagome's voice was still nutral.

"No."

"No?"

"No. I want to live freely with my people on Hium."

"Then why..."

"With the jewel I can keep others from finding my island, from trying to hurt those who seek shelter there. I don't want the jewel for myself. I want it for my people."

Kagome looked at him her face unreadable. His speach was filled with passion and honesty. And yet....

And yet there was still something holding her back.

Maybe it was the lessons her mother taught her, never never never tell who you are and what you know. Or maybe it was the fact that she still didn't know what his thoughts were on Singers.

But the reason was moot, she just couldn't bring the words to tell.

"Thank you, captain." she said turning away her face thoughtful.

Inuyasha watched her go wondering if he had given her the answers she needed.

But she was stopped by Miroku's shout. "Captain, a ship!"

Inuyasha ran Miroku's side. "Colors?"

"Jolly Rodger." Miroku said grimly.

"Again?" Kagome cried dismayed.

Rikos laughed at her reaction. "Two ships in as many weeks. We'll have a good haul this trip."

Kagome shook her head and started to the cargo hold.

But she heard something that made her stop dead and run to the rail in shock.

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LOL. Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza(spl), Happy Ramadon, Happy Holidays to cover any I missed!