A/N: My dear audience, it just barely came to my attention that I messed up on the dates of the story. This story isn't supposed to take place during '1669', but rather '1685', which would make a greater difference. I'm extremely sorry for the careless mistake on my part. I'll go back and fix each chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. All rights are reserved to Rumiko Takahashi, Viz, and Sunrise. All events are in this chapter are based on factual events that occurred in history, only set with different dates for the story's convenience.
Chapter VI: Recounts
On the crisp morning of early July 1685, Sesshomaru Blood sat leisurely on the side of his ship, pacify with a golden spyglass in his hand and a captain's log and quilt in his lap. His eyes twinkled with unrepressed mirth that was only known to him. Slowly but punctually his ship was arousing to the new day and its task. There was much to do and nothing could be unattended to. With his spyglass, he looked out into the vast blue sea that sparkled perpetually under the rising sun of the new day. It was a beautiful and breathtaking sight that any born demon or man who was destined to sail the sea and confront its challenges, would wholeheartedly enjoy.
On this exact morning, not all were enjoying the sun's warmth or the sea's majestic and subtle beauty. The only one who seemed to perceive Mr. Blood's silent laughter was the premature second-in-command Kohaku. By routine, Sesshomaru was not one to even strain himself with a smile, only when it was a matter that ensured treasure or simply torturing the Spanish and taking their prizes. Nearly two months has passed since the lost battle betwixt the brothers and the dismissing of Miss Rin and his former captain's ship and crew.
The only one who had some knowledge of how they were fairing was Blood himself and he was most secretive about it. From what Kohaku could tell, only seven letters between his current captain and that of Miss Rin had been exchanged during the pass two months. Kohaku claimed no acquaintance with what the letters said, but a man of his age and position could tell what the documents contained. Had Miss Rin's eyes not been only for Blood, Kohaku would have wooed her and captured her lovely heart. She was a delicate and comely thing with an innocent face that made her the perfect living doll and a perfect wife if he dared think that brazen.
It was her innocence that led Kohaku to wonder why such a girl as her could ever fall in love for a man like Sesshomaru Blood. Sadly for Kohaku, he had fallen into the chains of being a biased lad; there was more to Sesshomaru then what he wanted the world to see. Had Kohaku been acquainted with Sesshomaru's past then he would not have wondered such things. Things that not even Rin could say she was ever told. Only Inuyasha knew his brother for they were kin and had grown up together.
By nature Sesshomaru had been a stern mischievous calm child, who saw the world as nothing more then a place where one came to suffer until ones last breath. No one could ever know how many times his mother had told him happiness and hope existed in the world around him and that he should not think the way he did. Her words had little to no effect on him whatsoever. More so when she was killed under false charges by a king, who had loved her, but those same affections had not yielded him from killing her.
After her death, Sesshomaru was rescued from being sent to the orphanage by his father, who the night before had laid anchor on the coast of Kiyoto to see him and his wife. From then on it was nothing but the sea and the fight for survival. When he turned seventeen, Inutaishou had seen it fit that his sons should know a profession that would serve them with purpose throughout their lives should they leave the comfort of the sea. Sesshomaru had naturally been taken to choose the profession of a physician whilst Inuyasha had settled for being what his father was: a gentleman of fortune.
At the age of twenty-two Sesshomaru had a bachelor's degree in his hands and had for a time disconnected from the world of ransacking and plunder. When he had a chance, his father sent him brief and to the point letters inquiring how he was and told short narratives of what Inuyasha and he had done at sea. It was on one of these unfortunate events that resulted in Sesshomaru's current fate. He had been dealt a bad hand and had found himself in command of one of his father's prized ships and in no time had created a reputation that had taken his father years to create. Obviously I stray from the point. Had Kohaku or anyone else known of Sesshomaru's past, than perhaps they would question their opinion on him? But not many did, and the only person who did was bond and chained just beneath his boots.
Minutes passed and still Sesshomaru either pretended or was unaware of Kohaku's quizzical eye on him. Sesshomaru saw nothing more then the mystical and unfathomable sea that reminded Kohaku how much the sea and he (Sesshomaru) shared in common. Two beings that were feared yet loved at the same time. Two substances that were uncomprehending yet understood. Kohaku fathomed that much, and even knew why Sesshomaru appeared to love the sea so much. Deep in his world of observation, Kohaku did not see when Sesshomaru turned his attention to him and stood up from his spot on the side of the ship.
Graciously with an air of authority as it were, Sesshomaru put away his spyglass and quilt inside the pocket his dark blue coat and approached him. Just as he was rushing to a profligate conclusion about Blood, Sesshomaru handed him the log he had been writing in, which on closer inspection from the startled second-in-command, found the notebook to be a text of the plans for the taking of Porte Bello. For weeks they had planned and made critical amendments to his previous plans, a rare thing considering when it came to raiding, Sesshomaru did things first time and knew they would come out perfectly.
Kohaku gasped when he saw his captain holding out the log to him and quickly took the bound notebook into his hands. Lowering his gaze and fingering through Sesshomaru's notes, Kohaku said cautiously, "Have my suggestions to your plan been to any service, Captain?" Sesshomaru was deep in thought when Kohaku asked him again if the suggestions he'd made were to his liking.
"Yes, that is why we are leaving for Porte Bello today and if I've calculated everything right, we should enter port by the 7th of this month and take the harbor by storm. And what makes it even both fortunate and leaves us at a disadvantage is that on the seventh there will be a new moon. However, we'll have to be more careful." Sesshomaru explained and before Kohaku had a chance to say anything, Sesshomaru ran up the stairs to the quarterdeck and leaped up and grabbed the ratlines and addressed his crew.
"To work you bloody monkeys! Raise the anchor, lower the sails and get this damn ship on its way to Porte Bello quickly. Soon my lads we'll take the Spanish by surprise and capture the fort. If not money and jewels that motivates you to work quicker, then for the pleasure of raiding the Spanish then!" Sesshomaru shouted to his men with a loud and commanding voice that never failed to have his crew heed and listen to his orders. From the side, Kohaku watched as Sesshomaru actually smiled and gave out orders to his men, who did their work with content.
Sesshomaru may have been strict and commanding at times, but he cared for his crew and them he. These men had sailed under many captains from various parts of the world, but there was something alluring about Sesshomaru that made them remain a loyal crew to him. In moments the anchor had been raised, the sails freed to the care of the favourable winds, and the ship was in motion. Sesshomaru jumped down from the ratlines and like a good captain does, inspects every inch of his ship, for his ship is part of him and it cannot be in disarray.
Kohaku slowly brought himself out of his thoughts and confusions and walked besides Sesshomaru as they went about inspecting. When that was done, together they went into his cabinet and made final arrangements to their coming attack.
Down below Inuyasha disentangled himself from his dark world and stood up as best he could without crumpling to the ground. With much endurance and force, he leaned his battered body against the iron cell door that consisted of his prison and took a second to catch his breath. Inuyasha clenched his teeth and clawed at his skin. The pain was not just in his stomach, but everywhere. Bit by bit, he calmed himself and took in a deep painful breath through his mouth and realizing his mistake, threw up what little fluid he had in his rented stomach.
Blood and humors spilled to the floor and he closed his eyes as tight as he could to keep the room from spinning. When he could trust his stomach had nothing more to give up, Inuyasha opened his eyes and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. He looked at the foul mixture of blood and fluids on the floor. Red had always been one of his favourite colors since he had been little. There was just something about it that he fancied. Coming back to his senses, he knew he was going mad. The only reason why he was thinking such things was because of the frightening lost of blood that was extracted from him. Buckets and buckets of the accursed red liquid were taken out of his veins and thrown away.
It sounded theatrical, but it was true. Inuyasha lowered his arm from his stomach and looked into the darkness of the hold. Nothing had changed since he'd last been awake. Nothing but his sanity and life. He missed the perpetual heavens that looked down onto the world and its inhabitants, the wind that brought both promise and misfortunate, the sound of the waves clashing against the side of his ship, and the shouts of his crew when they were off to the sea again. He missed his freedom.
The memories of the past night avalanched his thoughts and he remembered why he was how he was now. This pain and these sores and bruises should not have affected him so much. It should have become a custom. Inuyasha pressed his cheek against the cold metal and allowed the memories to return to him. There was no use fighting them. The past night Sesshomaru had conducted a simple yet ensuring way of torture for his sibling. Bound and forced to watch, Inuyasha watched mutely as Sesshomaru drew a long blade, bland and rusty from its obvious use.
Even by candlelight, the blade somehow managed to regain some of its malevolence and gleamed menacingly. He did not fear it when it cut deep into his skin nor did he ejaculate. His eyes stayed dry, yet were glazed from the pain at first before his mind numbed and he could not feel it. He remembered the look in his brother's golden gems, so calm and reserved, thought irked that Inuyasha did not scream. Patiently Sesshomaru navigated the blade with such skill and he took his time. He saw no need to rush or be careless; it had to be done perfectly.
Sesshomaru had cut long perfect strands of his brother's flesh from his arms and the sides of his body. It was like skinning a pig, only funnier and bloodier. Not once did Inuyasha permit any signs of weakness to show and amuse his brother. A man's pride could never be lost and Inuyasha would be damned if he lost what little he had left if he screamed or worst: kindled his brother's mirth. Blood covered most of his upper body and was absorbed by the oak floorboards. Forever his blood would be apart of this ship until it sunk down into the deepest part of hell.
Inuyasha had been lucky, he thought tiredly. Sesshomaru could have forced him to eat his own flesh, but he had settled for only skinning him. How many times had Inuyasha seen captains have their men hold down one of their own and start skinning him alive, only to jam the man's own flesh into his mouth and was forced to chew and swallow? Too many times, too many goddamn times, Inuyasha growled. It seemed barbarous and malevolent, but now and again, it is necessary to put one man to death in order to inspire the others to fight and obey§.
Sesshomaru was capable of doing worst, Inuyasha was sure of that. He had seen his brother do more extravagant things to anyone who opposed him or offend his person or Rin. Inuyasha much more preferred being skinned alive then what he was sure Sesshomaru could do to him, since Sesshomaru was skilled with the saw and scalpel. Though he was hurt and in pain, Inuyasha was well up to date with the events above his head. Two nights passed he had heard a conversation from the crew that Sesshomaru had changed his mind and that they heading for Porte Bello.
This bit of information brought to life an enraged burning in the pit of his stomach. For months Inuyasha had contemplated how he was going to get back at the Spanish for having nearly hanged him at the gallows back in Spain. It had been by chance he had not been destined to die that early morning two years ago. His executioner had had clumsy hands when it came to properly placing a noose around a prisoner's neck, which Inuyasha was eternally grateful for. Right when the latch underneath his feet had been open, the rope around his neck had snapped and ripped, allowing Inuyasha to go free. But now that his brother had beaten him to his revenge, Inuyasha couldn't help but be pissed.
With a sigh, Inuyasha muttered, "At least the bastard will be doing me a favour without knowing it. But god, how I wish to be on deck and watch as the entire city and fort go up in flames!" mechanically he rubbed his sore wrists and thought about the gold the fort housed and the sounds of the guns going off and the shouting. Things he would merely be able to hear and not see. A pity really it was. A voice had him return from his thoughts and he looked towards the stairs leading up to the upper levels of the ship. His eyes studying the bastard.
"Thinking Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru said dryly, holding something bulgy in his long pale hands that were ironically skilled to execute both murder and were equally effective to heal if he wanted to. The addressed pushed away from the iron door and stood up as straight as he could muster. Arms crossed and a blazing glint in his golden eyes, Inuyasha stared at his brother and replied, "Can't I do that, or do I have to have your damn permission, Sesshomaru?" both glared unnervingly into each other's shimmering eyes before the eldest replied dispassionately, "I wasn't aware you had anything to think about Inuyasha since yiou hardly use that empty head of yours."
"Get to the fucking point Sesshomaru. I know you did not just come down here to make small talk. You want something, now tell." Inuyasha bit, his posture stiff, yet his voice resilient and brazen and adamant. Like he said, a man must have his pride. Sesshomaru climbed down the last steps and stood before his fettered brother dearest. The bulge that he held in his hands began to take a form by the use of the light, allowing Inuyasha to see that it was clothes? His eyebrows shot upwards and he wondered what Sesshomaru was up to. Sesshomaru followed his brother's eyes to the clothes in his hands and he managed a smile.
"I would find it hard to believe if you were not all ready aware of our destination to Porte Bello. It is this reason why I have come down here to make a proposal with you, little brother. Care you to listen or are you too sore from yesterday to care?" Sesshomaru commented, secretly wanting to hear Inuyasha's response. A proposal? Now Inuyasha was sure his bastard brother was up to something, but it never hurt anyone to listen…oh the irony in the things Inuyasha thought!
"If it will get you to leave faster, then I will listen to what you have to say to me." Inuyasha kept his eyes fixed on his brother, not trusting him in the least. Anything could happen and he had to be ready. A thick silence laced betwixt them for a few minutes before Sesshomaru remarked caustically, "Instead of having you rot down here and attractive more attention from the rats and scurvy, I am going to employ your knowledge for the upcoming date. Mind you, Inuyasha if you try to escape, I'll kill you as you run away like the dog you are. Do you accept my offer or do I have to just place you in a pot of boiling oil and watch you get burned alive and be done with you?"
He was not joking; Sesshomaru would do just that. Only once had Inuyasha seen an actual man being put into a cauldron of boiling oil and be roasted like a hog and die in a matter of minutes due to the excruciating temperature of the oil. Not even a half-demon like he could hope to survive such a thing. Inuyasha uncrossed his arms and answered, "With those options, I'll take my chances dealing with you." Sesshomaru smirked and handed Inuyasha the bundle in his hands to him—Inuyasha eagerly took them into his possession.
Before Sesshomaru climbed up the stairs and disappeared, he said, "Do be aware that I am only doing this because you still have some use. If it were not for that reason alone, I would have slit your throat and gutted you like a pig ready for market day and thrown you over the side of my ship to feed whatever sea creature is desperate enough to eat your disgusting flesh." With that, Sesshomaru left a smirking Inuyasha below in the darkness. It would seem death was not ready to claim him just yet and to think in a matter of days the shackles adoring his wrists would be removed and he would be freed…if only for a few hours.
The smirk he wore faded and he frowned thoughtfully. It startled Inuyasha that Sesshomaru suddenly dubbed him useful. There must have been more to this temporal freedom. But what could it be? Should he worry? Closing his eyes and his head against the iron bars, he decided what more could he lose.
§ A reference to something I read in "Candide" by Voltaire. The exact quote is "In this country it is necessary, now and then, to put one admiral to death in order to inspire the others to fight." I though it was very fitting to this story.
My sincere thanks to those who've read thus far and reviewed. I hoped you enjoyed and please tell me what you think! Until soon my dear audience!