Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or Peter Pan. I only own this fan fiction piece.
Special Thanks: to anyone who reviews and especially, Jostanos, who let me borrow his original character, Sylt, for this chapter..
Summary: "I apologize for the interruption, but Naraku has been sighted heading this way." Then without waiting for the Captain's dismissal, the pirate ran off.
Sesshomaru scowled. As if dealing with his brother was not enough, he now had…. a gator problem.
Beware of Pixie Dust
Chapter 6
Soon after rescuing the Indian princess, InuYasha left with Kikyo for the Indian village, with Kagura trailing behind him. Concerned about leaving their brothers for so long, Sango and Kagome headed back to the Goshinboku, dragging a protesting monk along with them.
Back at the tree, two solitary boys waited for their arrival.
"Mother!" Shippo called quietly from the tallest tree branch as he waved at their flying figures.
Swooping down, Kagome landed on the limb beside the red haired youngster. "Hi, Shippo. What are you doing way up here?" Kagome asked.
"We're keeping a watch out for the pirates," he said, completely serious.
Kagome smiled at the boy, "That sounds like a frightening job."
"Oh, I'm not scared," Shippo voiced, bravely.
From across the tree another voice echoed his words, "I'm not scared either."
"You two are very brave," Kagome murmured, smiling at their strong words.
The two boys visibly beamed. Then calling for replacements, Shippo and the other guard climbed down from the tree, quickly followed by Kagome.
Once on the ground, Shippo walked up to his surrogate mother, tugging insistently on the hand of the other guard. The boy Shippo was walking with had silver hair with purple highlights and looked just about Shippo's age.
Placing her hands on her knees, Kagome leaned forward, bringing her face closer to the young boys, "Who's your friend, Shippo?"
Shippo nudged the suddenly shy boy beside him with his elbow, "Tell her your name," he urged.
Sheepishly, the child blinked his eyes and stepped forward. "My name is Sylt," he said, regaining his voice.
"And how old are you, Sylt?" Kagome queried, temporarily forgetting the timeless nature of Neverland.
The child appeared to be slightly confused and his brows knotted in concentration, "Well, I was 10 when InuYasha brought me here."
"Do you remember what year that was," Kagome asked, curiously.
The silver-haired boy scrunched his eyes together in concentration. A moment later, a light bulb flashed over his head, "It was in the year 2000."
Kagome nodded as she studied the child. Wearing a purple t-shirt with a Pokeball and silver dragon on the front, a blue vest, blue jeans, and purple sneakers with silver dragons on the sides, Sylt looked just like a modern boy.
"And you, Shippo, how old are you?"
Shippo shrugged completely clueless. "I was the first boy to join InuYasha," he said, pride filling his voice.
This time Kagome gasped lightly. The legends all said that InuYasha was born sometime in the feudal era. If Shippo joined him shortly after the dog-eared boy came to Neverland, then the child could be well over 500 years old.
Kagome sighed sadly. In her earlier anger, she had forgotten InuYasha's kindness in bringing the boys to Neverland.
"Neither of you have parents?" Kagome asked quietly, before feeling immediately guilty for asking.
Both boys shook their heads sadly.
Shippo spoke first, "My parents were killed by a pair of evil brothers, but InuYasha killed them before they could get me."
"My parents were killed, and InuYasha found me frozen in an ice block and brought me here," Sylt said next.
Unable to say much of anything, Kagome wrapped both of the boys into a tight hug. "You are both fortunate to have InuYasha," she whispered.
The boys nodded in agreement. "And don't forget we have you now, Mother," they said back.
Eyes threatening to water, Kagome's arms only tightened around the boys. After a moment the boys started to squirm, and laughing, Kagome let them go.
"Can you tell us a story, Mother?" Sylt begged after Kagome stood back up.
"A story?" Kagome asked. "About what?"
"About the pirates and InuYasha and the Lost Boys!" Shippo yelled.
Kagome looked curiously down at the two innocent faces, "How do you know I know any stories about all of you? This is my first time here, you know."
Shippo gazed pleadingly up at her, "But InuYasha says that you know lots of stories. He hears you tell them every night. He tries to tell them to us, but he's not very good at it."
Immediately, Kagome's eyebrow rose in shock.
'He's been there all this time, and I never knew,' Kagome thought, suddenly a tad angry and embarrassed.
Unable to dwell long on her thought due to the boy's hopeful gazes, Kagome gave in to their demands. "All right, I'll tell one."
The boys squealed happily. Holding up her hand to silence them, Kagome continued, "But don't blame me if I get it all wrong."
Walking into the hollow tree, Kagome was immediately surrounded by the rest of the boys and ushered onto a seat of honor. With a small smile and a deep breath, Kagome began her story a bit nervously at first, but as she continued, her voice grew animated, enthralling the young boys with her tale.
Outside, their silver-haired leader sat perched on a branch, listening intently to every word.
Somehow ending up walking together, Miroku and Sango watched the young man on the tree limb.
"He'll never admit it, but someone is interested in the story teller more than the story," Miroku whispered.
Sango's gaze grew thoughtful, "You think so?" They fought an awful lot to be interested in each other, but then again, she and Miroku… Shaking her head, she whispered back, "You just may be right."
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"Naraku," the Captain growled as he looked out at the water from the freshly washed deck of his pirate ship.
From the water, an alligator of immense size rose to the top of the water and feasted his greedy eyes on Capt. Sesshomaru. After a moment, his crocodilian eyes studied the glistening hook on Sesshomaru's remaining arm, and seemingly, his eyes filled with an evil laughter.
Inwardly, the captain shivered, as did each and every one of the pirates on board.
Jaken too stupid for his own good leaned over the rail and shook his tiny fist at the menacing creature, "You fool thing; you'll have no more of Captain Sesshomaru. Be gone. Shoo."
The cold eyes only laughed more and slowly the huge creature began to make his way closer to the boat.
"I told you; go away!" Jaken yelled, in his excitement climbing up on the outside rail of the ship and shaking his wooden staff.
Knowing what was going to happen, the pirates all breathed in a hopeful breath and watched as Jaken gestured once more before falling into the glistening water below. Instantly, everyone was at the rail hoping to see the coming show.
Snorting, Sesshomaru looked away from the rail and began to walk back toward the cabin.
"Help! Save me, Captain!" Jaken yelled fitfully, as Naraku closed in slowly on the frightened first mate.
Expressive eyes shown with the thrill of stalking and torturing its prey.
As the gator opened its wide mouth, showing a double set of razor sharp teeth, Jaken panicked and floundered in the water screaming and wailing. Piercing teeth opened around Jaken's body and began to close, signaling the coming demise of the little green body. Only seconds after closing however, the mouth stopped, and Jaken opened his eyes to see that his double-headed staff was propping open the gator's mouth.
For a moment, Jaken was indecisive. He had a strong self-preservation instinct, and his instinct was telling him that if he did not leave in that moment, there would be no "self" to preserve; however, he also knew that the fire-breathing staff was priceless. The captain had given it to him sometime ago for safekeeping, and Jaken's leaving with out the treasured staff could get him relieved of his life at his arrival back in the boat. Still, pondering the situation, he was unaware of the person who had joined him.
Leaping down from the boat, Capt. Sesshomaru landed on Naraku's eyes, further angering the gator. Then reaching into the open mouth, he grasped onto the terrified body within and jumped back onto the boat deck seconds before the staff split in two. Naraku's mouth closed quickly on the remains of the wooden pirate loot, and slowly he sank further into the water.
Voice icy with anger, the captain glared at his first mate, "Do not make me regret my decision."
Cautiously, peeking over the railing, Jaken saw huge flames shoot from Naraku's mouth, smoke billow from his nostrils, and eyes glow eerily from the flaming heads within its mouth
… and Jaken shivered from the cold.
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Kagome's eyes grew wider as she neared the Indian camp. Just like Kagome, Miroku's eyes widened as he gazed down at the wonderful village before him; his fingers were literally itching to get down there and… introduce himself. Seeing the monk's expression, Sango slapped him mid flight and for a moment, Miroku lost his happy thought and began to plummet toward the ground, yet again. Thinking about how pleasant it would be to land in some beautiful maiden's arms, Miroku gave himself up to falling, but alas that maiden became his happy thought and sadly, his body floated upwards anyway.
InuYasha seeing that they were closing in on the Indian village increased his speed, leaving the other members of the group in a whirlwind of pixie dust.
Trying to keep up, Kagome flew her best, but was unable to catch him, "InuYasha! Wait up!"
The boy never looked back. Frustrated, Kagome slowed her pace to that of her brother, cousin, and friends. 'He just left us.'
Hearing a slight whir, Kagome looked up to see that Kagura was flying directly in front of her. She was doubled over laughing at Kagome. Once she knew that Kagome was watching her, she looked up from her laughter. Red eyes flashing, arms crossed, and chin hauntingly lifted, her message was clear.
'He does not care one bit about you.'
Kagome's eyes flashed too. Well, she didn't care what the fairy thought; she didn't like InuYasha one bit.
Speeding up, Kagome passed the hovering fairy, sending the small pixie flying backward from the force of the wind.
Unfortunately, for her, a male hand— a happy male hand caught her.
Minutes later, the small group landed on the outskirts of the village.
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Deserted. She, Kagome Higurashi, had been virtually deserted.
As soon as they landed, Souta and Kohaku had been off to explore the town and meet a "real live" Indian, mindless of Kagome's warning to be careful and stay with her.
Miroku had was no better. Knowing him as she did, Kagome knew that he was stalking the women, and Sango was probably keeping a sharp eye on him.
Sighing, she sat cross-legged outside one of the tepees.
"I should have stayed back with the boys," she mumbled. "No, that's not true, I should have stayed home."
From within the tepee a voice spoke, "Pitying oneself gets a body nowhere."
Kagome head snapped up; she had thought the leather home was empty.
"Come inside, child. Let me get a better look at you," the unknown voice continued.
Pausing for a long moment, Kagome debated within her mind. Then shrugging, she lifted the leather flap and walked inside.
The woman before her was obviously older and was dressed in a white top and a type of red pants—the same clothing that the girl, Kikyo, was wearing. Covering the old woman's eye was a large black patch.
"So you are the famous Kagome," the elder said.
Kagome's eyes narrowed suspiciously, "How did you know my name?"
"I know InuYasha," she said. "He has spoken to me before of the girl with the wonderful stories of the boys and him." She studied Kagome critically, "You reminded him of Kikyo."
Kagome huffed, "I doubt that we are very much alike."
"No, I don't think you are," the silver-haired woman said slowly. Then she extended her hand in a gesture of friendship, "I am Kaede. It is a pleasure to finally meet you Kagome Higurashi."
Kagome took the woman's hand and smiled.
"Your trouble is with InuYasha," Kaede stated.
Frowning, Kagome nodded, "He doesn't like me very much, and I kind of forced him to let us come here."
Kaede's eyes sparkled with a hint of amusement, "I would like to hear exactly how you did that sometime, but for now tell me why you think he dislikes you."
Finding in Kaede a source of comfort, Kagome poured out her story—how she had sewn InuYasha's shoe, the swans, the near cannon-ball miss, mermaids, Kikyo's rescue, and the flight to the village.
Kagome concluded, "He probably hates me."
Kaede listened intently—silent until Kagome stopped speaking, "I believe you are mistaken in your assumptions, Kagome. You know InuYasha's life has not been easy. Albeit, he does have a rough exterior, but his heart is pure. Perhaps you should give him another chance."
Reaching behind her, Kaede pulled out a strand of beads, "Take these. Use them wisely, but once these are around someone's neck, one word is all that is needed to get their full attention."
Cautiously, Kagome took the beaded strand. "Thank you, Kaede."
"You are most welcome. Now, go and enjoy yourself," Kaede said with a smile.
As she watched Kagome exit her home, Kaede thought to herself, 'She has a rare fire. They will be good for each other.'
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Author's note: I am truly sorry for the long wait on the update. I do not intend on letting that happen again. I finished "Are You My Father" which was the holdup on both this story and "Once Upon A Robbery." My plan is to only have one more chapter on this story. Then while continuing to work on "Once Upon A Robbery", I will start work on the sequel to "Are You My Father."
Please let me hear from you. I would love to hear your opinions and suggestions about and for the story.
I realize not much happened, but I wanted to get this out before the end of the weekend. Hopefully, you were able to enjoy it anyway.
Thank you so much for your time and patience.