-:- Adrift -:-

.:An Inuyasha Fan-Fiction:.

Author: B-mo

"Thinking"

"Talking."

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I just borrow him for a little while ;)

Summary: Three days. They had been stranded in a raft, bobbing up and down at mercy of the constant roll of waves for three days already and no one had come. No matter how hard she tired to occupy her mind with other things, busy her brain with anything else so she wouldn't go crazy, she still couldn't get around the fact that they were stranded at sea, lost without a locator to alert anyone to their current position. Kagome definitely wasn't a dumb girl; she knew that no one knew where they were. No one was coming for them.

They continued to drift.

BeforeNote:

Hiya everyone. I've found myself with more time on my hands so I'm back with yet another Inuyasha fanfic. The idea for this story has been bouncing around in my head for a while now so I finally decided to write it out and publish it. I'm not sure how long this story will be (I'd like it to be my longest story yet) but I can never tell at the beginning. So I guess we'll just have to go with the flow. There may be a few misspellings and grammar issues as my computer thinks its smarter than I am and decides to re-write my stories.

Also, I've rated this M for language (thanks to certain half-demon we all know and love) and for later scenes that are more…ehem… intimate.

-B-mo

...

Sorry if this chapter is a little long. I tend to ramble.

Prologue.

Long, pale and slender finger's trailed through the surface of the water delicately, causing lazy ripples in their soft wake. The calmed waves bobbed them up and down gently as if they knew to be careful with the precious cargo inside the raft, only softly rocking them from side to side like a mother rocks her child. Outwardly, everything was peaceful and serene. Inside was a very different story, however.

She stared out at the vast sea; tired eyes with dark bags underneath scanning the horizon for any signs of life, any signs of something, anything. Her head was perched on the metal side of the raft, her un-burned cheek resting against the open doorframe of the vessel, limp hand dipped into the salty ocean.

There was nothing for miles.

"You might wanna take your finger's outta there," came the raspy, brooding voice from behind her. "Never know what kind of monster's are lurkin' underneath the waves, ready to gobble them up."

"Except him." She thought with a roll of her eyes, slipping her damp, pruny hand from the water anyways. "There's nothing out here for miles except him."

Three days. They had been stranded in a raft, bobbing up and down at mercy of the constant roll of waves for three days already and no one had come. No matter how hard she tired to occupy her mind with other things, busy her brain with anything else so she wouldn't go crazy, she still couldn't get around the fact that they were stranded at sea, lost without a locator to alert anyone to their current position. Kagome definitely wasn't a dumb girl; she knew that no one knew where they were. No one was coming for them.

They continued to drift.

~Adrift~

Chapter 1. Finding The Horizon

The crisp mid-summer day was bright and alive with activity. A large crowd of intermixed humans and a few stray demons had gathered to board the cruise ship which sat patiently, waiting in the dock, bobbing with the waves softly. The rich mingled with the rich, talking about their upcoming summer plans, regaling tales of their spring holidays and other upper-class activities.

Demons, the few of them that didn't think it so boring as to go on a very human cruise, stood silently, watching all the commotion with disinterest in their multicolored eyes. They stood out the most. You could be able to spot a more humanoid demon a mile away just by the outlandish color of their hair, or their hypnotic eyes. And if that wasn't enough to alert you, the sharp, almost elf-like qualities of their ears would.

"Kagome hurry up or we'll be late!" Her mother called to her without turning as they continued to walk further into the heavily congested part of the color crowd. "I don't want to miss anything!"

"Yeah Kagome," Souta, her ten-year-old brother grinned in that annoying way brother's do and nudged her. "Hurry up. You're slower than a turtle crossing a highway."

Said girl narrowed her stormy eyes at him from behind the rim of her sunhat, snorting at the earlier comment tossed flippantly at her by her mother but complied none the less, sidestepping around a green haired demon with cobalt blue eyes, who merely grunted down at her in contempt as she tried to squeeze past. Kagome lowered her eyes quickly and kept moving. The siblings trailed after their mother and aging grandfather as they dove deeper into the fray like scuttling ducklings, trying to keep up as best as they could.

"Have your boarding passes ready!" A human man wearing a crisp looking uniform near the main gangplank called out to the throng of people.

The family stopped once they'd made it to the front and Kagome raised her head enough to see over the rim of her sunhat and shielded her eyes from the sun, trying to get a better look at the cruise ship they were about to board.

The Black Pearl, despite her name, was anything but black. She was a large, proud ship, standing tall and sleek, stern to bow. The polished ivory haul shone brightly as the sun reflected off her exterior, while already aboard crew scrambled all around the decks, preparing her for their long voyage ahead. Kagome was definitely no expert but the ship looked rather large and extravagant.

"At least we aren't being jilted. This actually looks like a nice ship," muttered Kagome to herself while her eyes continued to rake over the vessel.

The family's two week vacation was set on the Black Pearl, an opulent passenger cruising liner which was part of a fleet of luxury ships that catered to some of the richest and most important people from around the world. Inu no Taishō, owner and executive of Sō'unga Corp. had recently hosted a raffle as a publicity stunt for his ever growing company, there in which a family of four could win tickets aboard the ship for an all expenses paid, two-week trip across the Caribbean. No drawbacks. No catches.

Seeing the contest in their local news-paper, Kagome's grandfather had entered, thinking nothing of it. If he won, he won. There was no harm in entering himself, he figured. And somehow, in spite of all odds betting against him, he'd been selected out of the other thousands of hopeful entries. He'd done it. He'd won.

And thats how, four weeks later, the Higurashi clan found themselves standing on the deck in the port of call, awaiting to go aboard, surrounded by a large group of well-off people.

"Don't be so ungracious," her mother chided softly from beside her, speaking about her earlier comment.

Much like her daughter her own brown eyes swept eagerly over the vessel they would all call home for the next fourteen days, her gaze matching that of a child looking at all the unwrapped presents underneath a christmas tree; excitedly and curiously.

"This is a trip of lifetime. It will be so much fun," she continued.

The line that had steadily formed in front of the gangplank shifted forward and they all took two steps forward, shifting with it. Kagome opened her lips to respond when a young woman, who couldn't have been much older than herself, suddenly bumped into her side, not really watching where she was going. She seemed to looking at someone who was at the back of the crowd, her head turned.

"I'm sorry," she apologized without really looking her way.

She wore a matching white pantsuit that showed off her curves, a look in which it seemed only she could pull off. Her face was framed by large sunglasses that appeared three sizes too big for her head. Flat-ironed obsidian hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, showing off her cheekbones and facial structure. Her lips were stained a bright red. Without another word she kept walking, sleek heels clacking on the ground beneath her feet.

It wasn't much of a first encounter and the young woman hadn't really even looked her way, but Kagome knew her. Everyone knew who she was.

She was Kikyo Nakamura, a famous model and spokeswoman for an up and coming makeup line. Kagome had seen her in all the popular magazines—read up on her articles and most recent photo shoots. She was the kind of classic beauty that Kagome had never been able to achieve, and anyone was either blind or stupid to not know who she was.

Kagome watched her go, disappearing to the front of the line where she cut everyone off and boarded the ship, her sleek ponytail swaying behind her as she walked her signature strut, looking at all the world like it owed her something. She scoffed and, suddenly self-conscious of how she looked compared to someone who looks as breathtaking as Kikyo, began tugging on her sunhat and pale dress.

"Why do all the rich people get the perks?" She mumbled. Her eyes stayed glued on Kikyo until she could no longer see her walking up the gangplank.

Kagome's eyes continued to sweep over the scene, watching people board, watching passengers mull about on the main deck so high above, waving at the people on the docks, watching as crew loaded suitcases and trunks onto the ship. And then her eyes drifted, drawn past the large cursing liner and to the vast ocean beyond. The waves rolled softly in the seemingly never ending sea, like it could just go on and on forever.

A ripple of dread passed over her.

It felt nauseating and all to real, like the kiss of death had suddenly puckered up and given her a big wet one on her cheek. It was abrupt and harsh and she had a moment where it was hard to breathe. Her chest contracted painfully. "What is this?" She locked her legs, hoping she wouldn't faint. "Why do I suddenly feel this way?" She glanced around discreetly form underneath her hat, trying to gage the reaction of her family. Maybe they felt it too.

But no. They all stood patiently, her mother continuing to gawk at the grand ship, her brother fiddling with that handheld video game of his, her grandfather looking over the itinerary for their journey.

"Don't go," something whispered in her head, sounding pleading and urgent. "This is a bad idea! I don't like this. Don't go!"

For some odd reason it seemed to be just her feeling the odd sensation. A coil of dread curled up in the pit of her stomach like a rattle snake. "Maybe I'm just getting nervous for the trip," she mused sensibly."Everything's going to be just fine."

And that's what she chalked it up too: nerves. Had she pondered the idea longer, listened to the voice of reason speaking to her a little more clearly, she might have taken all those signs as a warning and heeded that warning. However she didn't. Instead she brushed out her dress and adjusted her sunhat, trying to look a bit more presentable. The image of a picture perfect Kikyo still burned in her memory.

"Next!" The man wearing the official looking uniform commanded, his voice loud and booming over the din of the crowd.

Collectively, they took another step forward and Kagome moved with them, getting one step closer to a fate unknown.

He let out a long, low huff and tried making himself smaller, more compact. Invisible even.

"Can things get any worse?" He thought, grappling with the urge to growl at the situation he found himself in.

They were currently cramped in car, which always sucked on a normal basis, but this was much worse considering the two people he was cramped in the car with.

The vehicle suddenly took a sharp turn. This caused his left leg to bump into his elder siblings while his right thigh brushed against Kikyo's. His brother seemed highly annoyed that his leg kept accidentally knocking into him, whereas Kikyo seemed happy, even thrilled about it, sitting as close to him as naturally possible without actually climbing into his lap.

He was completely uncomfortable.

They had been driving for what felt like centuries but could only have been nor more than forty-five minuets. Sesshomaru cast him an icy glare and he sent one of his own when his leg bumped into his again. His half-brother then went back to the newspaper he was currently preoccupying himself with, licking the tip of his thumb and turning the page.

"Are you sure they will have my luggage sent to my room?" Kikyo asked, lightly powdering her nose with the compact makeup case she carried in her oversized purse. "I don't want to lug it all the way up to my suit," she continued and smirked at her reflection, obviously satisfied with how she appeared for the day.

Inuyasha fought the urge to roll his amber eyes yet again. "Yea, I'm sure. I told you that there are people for that on a cruise ship. They'll deliver your junk to your room."

"Besides which," the deep, devoid of any emotion voice of his brother suddenly interjected for the first time since they had departed, his eyes never once leaving the black and white print of the paper. "You're a celebrity; a VIP during the duration of this voyage. My father has made sure of that. I highly doubt they wouldn't scramble to get your luggage to its proper place if you asked them to." Kikyo nodded with the reasoning, seeming to relent slightly.

"Yeah," Inuyasha thought. "Then there's that."

"So tell me," Kikyo said, turning to him, leaning casually up against the door of the car as it zoomed down the highway, heading toward the ocean. "What is this big dinner gala that we're attending? You told me about it a few months ago, but I've just been so busy with work that I forgot."

Golden orbs flickered over to her and he couldn't help but take a breath. Kikyo, obviously, was lithe and beautiful. How couldn't she be? She was a model, after all, and an exquisite one at that. Her bangs fell sharply in front of her dark eyes and the rest of her jet-black hair had been tied up on the crown of her head, fashioning a ponytail. Her complexion was flawless and pale, like she was completely made of soft ivory. A small smirk was toying at the edges of her blood-red lips.

His father had set them up a few months prior at an annual auction, stating that Inuyasha didn't date and wasn't showing himself in the public eye as much as he ought to. There had been an immediate attraction between the two. He had never felt that way with a woman before. Kikyo was gorgeous, seductive, knowing at just the right moment when to toss her hair over her shoulder with a delicate flick of her head, causing her long ebony hair to cascade down her shoulders. She knew when to smile and how to laugh in that way that had his heart racing. He thought, at first, himself in love.

And then came the day a few month into the relationship that she began to look at him a certain way, staring at the downy ears atop his head like they were eyesores. And he was left to wonder how long she'd felt that way. He not only took everything about her into question, but himself.

He already knew he was worthless, to be blunt. He was a half-demon, a mongrel, a monster, unfit for the human world or the demon world. Hanyous had no proper place in society and were generally viewed as abominations. The only reason he was allowed to live on a 'normal' day-to-day basis was because of his powerful fathers name. That was it. That was the only thing that kept the general public from beating him, maiming him, or worse just because of what he was.

And so he put on the stuffy suits and he combed out his untamable hair and he walked and talked like the rest of the overdressed peacocks at the cocktail parties his father threw. He blended in, trying his damnedest to be what they wanted him to be and reeled in his true feelings until they were practically nonexistent. He laughed at jokes he didn't think were funny and he smiled when he really just wanted to scowl.

And with Kikyo on his arm it became easier—the pretending. She was so good at capturing everyones attention; a true expert in the flirtatious game.

He regarded her with his usual lazy gaze. "The dinner is a type of fundraiser for all types of charities our father has invested himself in. A few beneficiaries will also be there. There's gonna be a quick auction, dancing food, etcetera," he waved his hand dismissively, not giving a rats ass about the whole pomp and ceremony of the whole shebang. The way he saw it was just another thing he had to endure through.

Though Kikyo, always one to soak up the limelight like UV rays, saw it as an opportunity to flaunt herself on the arm of the gorgeous man sitting next to her. She smiled pleasantly and leaned forward, placing her manicured hand on his thigh in what was supposed to be a comforting gesture but came out as slightly possessive instead. Inuyasha rigidly tensed where he sat, his gaze sinking to peer her pale hand on his thigh.

"Sounds like fun." She chirped happily, seemingly ignorant to his current discomfort.

Suddenly the town car slowed before finally stoping. "We're here, sir," came the high pitch squawk from the drivers seat. It was Jaken who'd spoken, a skittish little kappa of a demon and ass-kissing servant to Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru finally tore his attention away from the paper, glancing out the window with his countenance composed as ever. "Jaken," he finally said, folding the paper neatly. "Keep the car running and fetch our things from the trunk."

"Yes, M'lord!" The scaly, green skinned imp scurried out of his seat, dashing around to the passenger's side to open the door for his master.

Inuyasha sent a bemused glance in his brothers direction. "Why does he call you M'lord again?"

The full demon merely sent one of his very rare smirks but didn't divulge any further. The grin was so small Inuyasha had to squint his eyes to see if it was really there or if he'd made up the whole thing.

The car door swung open and, with the inhuman grace one shouldn't posses with a stature his size, Sesshomaru placed one leg out of the car before sweeping up to his towering full height, his cool gaze staring out impassively at the harbor in front of him while Jaken went to fetch the luggage out of the back. Jaken had been obedient enough to park the car in a gated area in which the camera's, news reporters, and paparazzi couldn't reach them.

Inuyasha followed quickly and stood a few paces away, eager to get out of the confined and stifling car to stretch his powerful legs. He stared briefly out at the harbor, sharp golden eyes sizing up the accumulating crowd. He swallowed, his clawed hands clenching and unclenching by his sides nervously. He hated crowds. He hated feeling like an animal trapped. He loathed the way people bumped into him like he wasn't even there, practically drowning him where he stood. He hated it all.

Someone cleared their throat behind him and he turned curiously, momentarily forgetting about the large group of humans and demons waiting to go aboard. Kikyo stared expectantly up at him from her spot in the car, unmoving, one plucked eyebrow raised into her hairline, lips pursed.

Inuyasha bit back a snarky remark for her behavior but complied to her nonetheless. Glancing away almost pettishly he offered her his outstretched hand, feeling her much smaller one slipping into his as she too rose from the car, her heels clacking against the ground when she stood.

"What a gorgeous ship," she commented to the vessel which bobbed up and down a few yards ahead, putting on a pair of over-exaggerated sunglasses that practically swamped her whole face.

The half-demon had to smirk at that. "Yeah she is. She was christened The Black Pearl," he stated proudly. "After my mother," he thought to himself, still grinning.

"Inuyasha," Sesshomaru called, approaching them. When he got close enough he uncurled his large hand, producing four small clips from inside his palm. "I assume you'll be wanting these."

For his part, Inuyasha merely growled lowly in his throat, his happy thoughts about his mother scattering as quickly as they had come, but swiped up the offered clips anyway, glowering at Sesshomaru who wore his usual neutral, expressionless mask.

"What are those for?" Kikyo inquired lightly, squeezing his hand. It was then that he realized that their hands were still clasped together and, as discreetly as he could, pulled his hand out of hers to conveniently brush some hair from his face.

He huffed and figured there was no way he could skirt around this particular subject. "They're for my ears," he mumbled and his gaze slipped down the ground, the two downy objects of current conversation leaning back to meet his skull shamefully.

The ears, he thought. It was always about the damned ears. They were the elephant in the room and the reason he was labeled a freak. The two harmless and rather adorable objects were either heatedly disliked or annoyingly adored. Children stared and adults sneered when they saw the two twitching objects. People either tugged on them in affection (most times without asking, mind you), or they were tweaked in a cruel taunt. Sometimes people were gentle, though most times they were rough with them. Everything combined had been why he'd started using the clips. The clips hid his ears in the thick layers of his fair hair, keeping them pinned down so no one could see them.

Kikyo's mouth popped open into a small 'o' and she glanced away, permitting him the opportunity to slip the clips into place as discreetly as he could mange. When he was done securing the plastic clips into place—two clips for each ear—he frowned. The world sounded muffled and dampened, like cotton balls were swathing up that particular sense.

"A small price to pay," he thought.

"Well," Kikyo clapped her hands together cheerfully, putting on a fake smile to sidestep the awkward silence that had fallen. "I'm going to go check us in and then we will all head up to our rooms and freshen up, hn?" She didn't wait for a response before sauntering away.

Though she did turn to look over her shoulder at him, sending him a meaningful look that he couldn't quite decipher. Because she wasn't watching where she was going, she bumped into a girl where she stood waiting in line. Kikyo appeared like she said something brief to the girl before continuing on. Inuyasha took a step forward, his eyes glazing over as he stared at, not Kikyo, but the girl she'd ran into.

The young woman had on a large white sunhat that covered most of her face from view and wore a sundress the color of the sky that hugged her shapely figure and slim waist. The fabric of the dress fluttered with the slight breeze that was picking up from the ocean, wiping around her knees. Her small, pale hands were ringing themselves out in front of her, her long legs shifting, causing her to sway in her spot anxiously.

He had no idea why he continued to stare. He knew how it felt to be stared at like he was the biggest freak on the planet—he had no desire to make anyone else feel that way. He didn't know why he was until she finally turned her head in his direction to gaze out at the vast ocean, allowing him to see her for the first time underneath her hat. His breath was stolen from his lungs at the sight of her. She had to be, without a doubt, the most intoxicating thing he'd ever seen in his life.

Her ebony hair was short and thick, falling to the middle of her shoulder blades in waves. Her face was round and heart shaped and her smooth chin lead up into a curved jawline. His attention was snared further when small, white teeth seemed to materialize from out of nowhere to nibble on her pale, pink lips, her large, grey-blue eyes blinking out at the ocean innocently. It was her eyes that had him hooked. They were like the sky and sea before a storm; untamable and captivating and steely. Dark eyelashes fanned over those eyes as she glanced down, the lashes feathering against her rosy cheeks.

When a particularly powerful gust coming from the sea swept over the girl and then back towered himself he almost lost it. He grit his teeth audibly, his legs buckling. Her natural scent, even more stimulating then the sight of her, was carried on the back of the salty air where it traveled to his powerful nose. Greedily he took a great inhale, his slitted pupils dilating unintentionally while his nasal passage claimed the floral smell with one deep breath.

Dewey, lavender and forest rain.

Amber eyes fluttered closed against the world and he tipped his head back in pleasure. His demonic senses picked through all the particles one by one, to insure he took all of it in. It took everything in him not to moan.

He re-opened his eyes and stared at her a bit longer before he settled on a decision. And as if under a spell she'd cast herself, he took a step in her direction. She was mesmerizing, beautiful, even when merely standing in line. He had to talk to her. He had to know who she was. He had almost taken four steps in her direction when Sesshomaru's voice broke him from the moment.

"Lets be going," he practically commanded his younger brother, leaving little room to argue. "Jaken, have our bags sent to our room." The kappa nodded his head vigorously while Sesshomaru turned on his heel and headed toward the ship whist Inuyasha, following a few paces behind, kept glancing over his shoulder to look at the young women. But when his eyes swept over the spot she'd been staring in mere moments before, he frowned.

The spot she'd preoccupied only moments before was empty and she was no where in sight.

"She must've boarded already," he mused, finding himself deflating a bit at the thought.

The two brother's slipped by the line of passengers, looking suave and sophisticated as they boarded the ship without any preamble. A man wearing a uniform simply bowed at the waist as they brushed past, granting them access aboard. Sesshomaru wore a crisp, white dress shirt and black slacks. His silver hair, which he wore like a badge of honor, a testament to his pure white inuyoukai blood, brushed against his ankles. Inuyasha, different from his brother like night and day, wore a blood red button-up with a few of the top buttons undone and dark jeans. His own hair was, as usual, unruly.

They mounted the main gangplank to the ship in unintentional unison. One of Inuyasha's hands was draped lazily out the front of his pocket—Sesshomaru wore a look of indifference. Crew and staff members hastily moved out of their way as they boarded the large ship, gazing at the two demons like they were royalty. The brothers stepped food inside like they owned the place because, truthfully, they did.

The ships interior was designed like a bustling, sparkling city that floated on the sea. Passengers mulled about on the main floor, passing by a lit-up water fountain the size of a small building. Shops, restaurants and stores were all open, casting a cozy, almost homey feel about the ship. People sat at 'outdoor' bistro's, drinking champagne and soaking up as much of their vacation as possible. Strings of lights cascaded down from the ceiling, looping over and around large white pillars, so when evening finally arrived it was always a starry night. A grand staircase was set near the back of the main plaza which then deposited passengers into the main area. The rich mahogany wood dipped in a smooth arch until it reached the bottom where it curled.

Over all, the innermost part of the ship was a grand sight indeed.

The two Taishō brothers merely sidestepped all of this activity, however, continuing on toward the set of tube shaped, glass-encased elevators at the back of the main floor. While Sesshomaru pressed the button and waited for the car, Inuyasha's eyes swept over the whole scene, searching for the beautiful raven haired beauty that had captured his full attention. Her scent still lingered defiantly in his nose.

The elevator doors swished open and Sesshomaru swept inside. Using a card-key he produced from his pocket to swipe it through the card reader installed in the keypad on the inside, he allowed them access to the top floor. When he turned, he found his brother staring off into space. "Come, Inuyasha."

A muscle in his cheek twitched as Inuyasha ground his jaw, golden eyes narrowing at the command, but he complied and stepped into the elevator car. Sesshomaru noted, though never spoke about it aloud, how Inuyasha's molten gaze never lingered too long in one place, always looking, always searching for a flash of sky blue and the scent of raindrops and lavender.

After a rather lengthy safety run-through should an emergency occur on board, the Higurashi family were allowed to roam free about the ship. Souta eagerly chirped that he was heading up to the main deck to watch the activity of their departure.

"Why don't you go with him?" Her mother suggested, watching her son trot off.

"He's fourteen-years-old, mom." Kagome practically groaned. "He doesn't need a babysitter."

Mrs. Higurashi sent her daughter a small smile. "I know he is, but I would really appreciate it."

Knowing she couldn't possibly win Kagome nodded and trailed after her brother, making sure to keep him in her line of sight. She headed up the curved staircase and out onto the main deck. There was a slight crowd and she had to stand on her tiptoes to see over the bobbing heads, trying to spot him.

"Where are you?" She mumbled silently, wobbling on the balls of her feet.

"Talking to yourself?" A teasing voice asked right next to her ear.

She quickly whirled around and let out a happy squeal of surprise. "Sango!"

Sango stood smirking, hands stuffed into the white beach shorts she wore casually. Her long, shapely legs were crossed at the ankles, one worn sneaker resting over the other. "Hey."

Kagome had to once again stand on her tiptoes to throw her hands over the taller woman's shoulders, enveloping her best friend in a tight hug. "I was wondering where you were. You didn't text me this morning."

"My phone has been getting crappy reception," she shrugged and stepped back, giving her a look that clearly said What can you do?

Unlike Kagome, who would never be able to afford a trip like this on its own, Sango's father, a police chief, had paid for the trip in full. When Kagome had first told her about the voyage Sango had immediately said she was coming along, saying something about how they seriously needed some time to themselves and have an 'affair of a lifetime' as she'd put it.

"So," Sango mumbled, her eyes scanning the area. "Seen any hot guys yet?"

Kagome whacked her best friend on the arm playfully. She really did have a one track mind. "Sango!"

She shrugged again, not looking apologetic in the least. "What?"

Why Sango didn't have a boyfriend was beyond Kagome. She was gorgeous, talented and intellectual. She had dark brown hair that fell all the way to the middle of her back and thick, full bangs. Her brown eyes were always alive, bright and eager. Her witty personality was contagious and she could hold her own with the guys. If it wasn't for her deep love over the girl, Kagome would constantly be pea-green with envy over her own friend.

"Were you looking for someone right now?" Sango asked, leaning up against a nearby railing.

"Yeah. I was looking for Souta. Did you see him?"

Sango nodded and pointed. Kagome's eyes followed the direction of the gesture and spotted Souta, stationary at the railing that overlooked the dock. Standing next to him was Kohaku, Sango's younger brother.

"Well, at least I won't have to watch him now." Kagome smirked and linked her arm through Sango's. They headed back inside together, walking past a few quaint bistros and 'outdoor' restaurants.

Kagome leaned her head in close to her friend, hushing her tone. "Guess who I saw boarding the ship this morning."

Sango lowered her head as well. They looked like two regular conspirators. "Who?"

"I suppose saying I saw her boarding the ship is a bit of an understatement," Kagome murmured, mostly to herself. "She actually bumped into me like I wasn't even there. Of course how could I really blame her? She's so famous she probably doesn't even see regular people like me anymore and—."

"Kagome." Sango snapped somewhat as Kagome blathered, eager to know just who it was she was talking about. "Just tell me."

Kagome cast her an intense glance and took a long pause for dramatic effect. "Kikyo Nakamura."

Sango's eyes widened. "Get out. Are you serious?"

"Completely."

Sango tugged on her arm, causing Kagome to stumble from the abruptness when she practically threw the younger woman onto a nearby, unoccupied bench and plopped herself down, eyes alight with excitement.

"Tell me everything." She leaned her elbows on her knees and inlined her head eagerly.

Kagome giggled at the sight of her friend, looking like a puppy begging for a bone. Sango was a sucker for good gossip. "Well," she shrugged. "I was just standing there, minding my own business, waiting to board the ship when all of a sudden someone bumped into me. I turned and there she was."

"What was she wearing? What did she say? Was she as gorgeous in person as she in the magazines?"

She shook her head and laughed at all the questions thrown at her. "She was wearing a real gorgeous pantsuit and high heels that probably cost more than the shrine." She said, referring to the family shrine that her grandfather owned. "She said she was sorry about bumping into me. And yeah," Kagome mumbled, growing subconscious of her appearance once again. "She was really beautiful."

"Wow. You're so lucky."

Kagome snorted. "Oh sure. I'm about as lucky as a black cat and a field full of broken mirrors."

Sango noticed her friends sudden discomfort and leaned in, not out of a girlish need for gossip, but out of concern for her friend. "Hey." She wrapped her arm around her shoulder, her voice gentle and distinctly motherly.

"Lets quit talking about her. This is going to be a fantastic trip—one of a lifetime. And I'm not going to be spend it sulking around, are you?" It was more of a rhetorical question because she didn't give her the chance to answer. "Now, lets go scope out the guys. I'm sure there's plenty them. How does that sound?"

She was right, Kagome knew. This was a trip of a lifetime and she deserved it. She would spend her time soaking it up in the sun, swimming in the pool, heading to the spa and, if she was lucky and the universe stopped laughing at her along enough to allow it, she might meet a guy. It was going to be fantastic adventure and she sure as heck wasn't going to spend her time moping.

Sango sent her grin a cheeky wink and Kagome couldn't help but smirk.

The sitting room was lavishly furnished, with a few chaise lounge chairs pushed against the far wall and a small coffee table. All the way on the other side of the room, opposite the door, was a private walk-out deck that overlooked the ocean. The room then spilt off into the master bedroom with the bathroom attached to it.

Walking into the room, his nose twitched at the overpowering undertones of cleaning solution and soap from when the maids had been in there earlier. He fought off a sneeze.

It was…nice. Too nice. Wasn't this supposed to be a cruise, not some five star hotel? Was there really need for all of this space? He kicked off his shoes and sighed, noticing his bags and suitcase lined up neatly in the main entry.

His mind flew instantly to Kikyo, wondering if she was happy that her bags would've been brought to her or if she was indifferent with the whole thing even though she made a big fuss over the whole situation. Inuyasha was inclined to go with the latter.

He undid the buttons on the wrist of his nicely pressed shirt and rounded the corner into the bedroom. Again it was crafted to perfection just like the sitting room. A monstrosity of a bed overtook most of the main wall, with feathered pillows stacked high and a plush down comforter.

He sighed, never really one for outlandish and extravagant things. While he did and could appreciate the finer things in life, he was always more inclined to go with a simpler look; a simpler life.

Stepping into the bedroom fully, he approached two glass door's on the furthest side of the wall, across from the bathroom, and slid them open.

Fresh sea air assaulted him, instantly clearing the sterile cleaning smell from his nose and replacing it with only scents of sea-life and ocean froth. He inhaled fully, feeling his lungs expand gratefully before he exhaled, finding himself grinning. It was wonderful.

He moved out onto his own private verandah, leaning his clawed hands onto the railing to over look the horizon of the ocean. The waves were placid, only just making the ship bob up and down. A sublime breeze skimmed the very top of the ocean and rose up to greet him, forcing a few silver stands of hair back and away from his face.

He let his mind wander, his thoughts drifting from the matter of his stoic brother and the secret he thought his father and Sesshomaru were keeping from him, to the 'problem' between himself and Kikyo. His mind never stayed on one subject to long, always ricocheting from one to the other, before finally it landed to…that girl, of all things. A welcomed thought among the chaotic mess of the other two.

At first glance, if he had not known better, he might've mistaken that young woman for Kikyo. The dark hair, taking on almost a blue hue in the sunlight, the milky white skin. There were small but almost identical similarities between the both of them. But while Kikyo's features were angular, sharp almost, the girls face was not. She was softer, rounder, and all around more angelic.

He let out a muffled groan and pushed away from the railing. He didn't want to linger on the idea of that anonymous wench anymore. He was with Kikyo…wasn't he? He loved her…didn't he? Sure their relationship wasn't the best and needed improvement in many area's, but they were still satisfied…weren't they?

"This is ridiculous," he muttered to himself and stepped back inside, shutting the doors. It wasn't merely the thought of the girl that bothered him so much. It was the irritating fact that he was still musing over the whole situation.

Without truly noticing it he began pacing back and forth like a caged animal, walking up and down the length of the room in repetitive agitation. He pocketed one hand, the other hand flew up to cup his chin, dragging his index finger across his lips pensively.

After a good twenty minuets of tedious pacing the suit—which only served to stroke the angry fire of confusion and agitation flaming in his chest—an odd growl hinted in the back of his throat when he suddenly came to a conclusion. Stomping almost like a petulant child, he strode toward the door, powerful and determined legs surging him forward.

If he couldn't get her out of his mind, he would simply go find her and squash any thoughts of her bouncing around in his head. Maybe if they met he would become uninterested and overcome this bizarre urge of curiosity. Maybe she was terribly boring. Maybe she uglier up close. Though he highly doubted the last possibility, he still had to go and find out for himself. He wanted to know the girl. He had to know.

Fate intervened with his plan, however. A nock came from the other side of the door just as his clawed hands wrapped around the cool door handle. He reeled back somewhat, surprised, before swinging it open to reveal Kikyo who looked as equally surprised that the door opened so quickly.

"Kikyo," he breathed and leaned against the door, still surprised. "What're you doing here?"

It was her turn to look taken aback, her eyes promptly flickering about the expanse of his room, as if trying to see if anyone was inside. Her lips pursed. "What?" Her eyes flew back to meet his, challenging. "Were you expecting someone else?"

He shifted, uncomfortable at how close to the truth she was. He had the good sense to grunt and try and look offended. "No. Why would I be?"

She bypassed him and moved into the suit uninvited, still gazing around suspiciously and blatantly ignoring his question, as if whatever or whoever she thought he might be keeping in his room would simply jump out and yell I'm here! I'm right here!

"Why don't you come with me and watch the ship depart from port?" she suggested, actually sounding sincere. "I wouldn't usually be interested in such trivial things but theres going to be a large crowd and I thought I'd mingle and see what all the excitement is about."

Suddenly it dawned on Inuyasha that Kikyo wasn't interested in going up on deck merely to watch the activity for the heck of it, but rather she wanted to go and have the crowd see her. She wanted to go up in her famous splendor and have them humbled in her presence.

He snorted in disgust, his body sagging against the doorjamb. "No. I don't think thats such a good idea." When Kikyo raised an eyebrow in his direction, he elaborated. "You know I hate crowds."

There weren't many things Inuyasha could say Kikyo knew about him one-hundred percent. They were supposed to know things about each other that no other could possibly know. Inseparable, is what they were supposed to be. What they should be.

However, they'd never divulged that deeply into their personal lives. They had always been estranged, even at the best time in their relationship. Except for this. She knew that fact better than anyone.

"Well, then why don't you come walk with me?" She shrugged, her hands flaying around. "It's not good for you to be holed up in here the whole trip."

He opened his mouth to object but the narrowed gaze she sent had him shrugging his shoulders. She would't let him wriggle himself out of this one. "Sure, I guess."

"Good!" She beamed, offering a true smile that revealed a set of straight, ivory teeth.

Inuyasha mentally captured the moment, the brilliant gleam of her smile, and filed the mental image away like a trophy. Kikyo rarely smiled like that, so care free and happy. It was scarce to see her so lively. She usually wore demure smirks, coy grins, flirtatious dimples. But never true smiles.

Not realizing Inuyasha's current thoughts Kikyo moved for the door, grabbing at his clawed hand and pulling him after her. Though the suit door clicked shut silently to mortal ears, it sounded more like the din of a canon boom going off to Inuyasha. Kikyo practically skipped down the hall with him shuffling close behind.

Most of the passengers were up on the main deck, watching as the ship was towed out of port and pushed out toward sea, therefore there weren't too many people they came across as they walked the length of the ship from the inside.

Nonetheless, the few of passengers that they did cross paths with always acted the same way. The girls paled and squealed or jumped around like they couldn't control their filling limbs, asking for Kikyo's autograph or picture. The men merely stared at her, their eyes alive with desire and lustful interest.

Critically, Inuyasha observed Kikyo as she filled the role of dedicated celebrity, smiling coyly at cameras and signing anything that was shoved underneath her nose. He always moved out of the way, trying to make no noise and be as invisible as possible. He had no intention of being the center of attention any time soon.

When the most recent squealer parted ways with her, walking down the hall, still gawking after them, Kikyo turned, looking like she was trying to smother a smile. Inuyasha didn't comment on it, allowing himself to be, once again, tugged to her side while they continued walking.

Underneath their feet Inuyasha felt the impossibly large propellers of the cruising liner push them further out toward the sea. The smog and over-crowdedness of the city vanished until there was nothing but open water and clear skies. The Black Pearl sailed proudly and true, living up to her name for all it was worth.

The crew hastened to give the ship everything she needed for a smooth and safe voyage, calling out to one another from their specific stationed positions. The captain, a man by the name of Totōsai stood at the helm, while Myoga, the ships first mate, stood at the wheel, snipping orders at the young man in charge of steering.

Totosai scratched at his balding head with his long fingernails as he watched the world drift past, only half listening to Myoga giving his usual condescending speech to the poor helmsman. The sky was blue, the air was fresh and the outlook for the trip was superb. They were on their way.

Below deck, Inuyasha glanced at Kikyo from his periphery and saw her chin lifted proudly in the air. Her slender shoulder' were level, stride even and absolute. Her small arm in the crook of his own felt heavier than an anvil, the weight of commitment denser than anything he'd ever felt.

He was sure he looked completely awkward next to her, failing in the confidant department painfully.

Suddenly he wished he was like the ship they were on. He coveted the idea of being able to pick up the anchor, the weight, the burden that was holding him down and run away from everything confining him; run away to a brighter horizon.

A/N: Yea. Okay. The ending was a little cheesy but I really had a hard time figuring how to end this first chapter. I hope you liked it anyway. I'm currently working on chapter four and I should be posting the second chapter in a few days once I have a chance to re-read it. Anyway, tell me what you think. I love hearing from my reviewers. Plus, when you review, it motives me to write faster. So really it's a win-win for everyone ;).