InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tale of the Twins ❯ Chapter Fifteen: Too Late ( Chapter 15 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Chapter Fifteen

Too Late

Once the ship was repaired again, they set sail again, this time for China. Nanako had promised them that they had made arrangements with a few youkai from the mainland to both provide escort to them, and, of course, to carry their things—which was their main purpose, as they did not particularly require or desire an escort.

Sesshoumaru and Naraku were honestly surprised that neither of the twins had fallen overboard on their trip to Korea, but there was always opportunity for that to happen on this trip. As a safety procedure, they made sure that they never ran about unchecked—which was probably a good thing as later on the twins decided that playing tag on the railing and mast might be fun. Rin deterred them by dragging them to their room, literally, and then Sesshoumaru had to threaten them from continuing to do anything that might be hazardous. It was difficult having such wild children sometimes—more often than note, actually.

There was a storm once, but the captain and her crew were skilled with the sea and a ship, so there was no trouble. Other than that, the weather held up rather well. Once, the wind had ceased. Rather than wait for it, though, Nanako had the crew trim the sails and use the “wings,” as she called them—that is, the oars. Her nautical terms were sometimes disorienting for those not accustomed to life at sea.

For some reason, Naraku seemed nervous about something. Sesshoumaru had been watching him the last few days, and he was constantly staring out at the horizon, waiting to see land even more anxiously than the lookout in the crow's nest.

“Are you tired of being at sea?” Sesshoumaru wondered, weary of trying to guess at what the trouble was.

“No…”

He frowned. “Sick of Nanako?” The koi captain had not deterred her advances toward Naraku at all, despite Sesshoumaru's veiled threats, glares, and vague growling sounds. It was as if she were completely oblivious to it. Even when Naraku had made a blatant point of moving away from her and toward Sesshoumaru, she had not taken the hint. Either she was stupid, or it really was just her personality shining through. It still looked like she was flirting with him though.

“Not entirely…”

Sesshoumaru moved beside him and looked at his troubled features. “Then what is wrong?”

Naraku's eyes darted about, trying to find some kind of island—anything other than the ship, in fact. “I was expecting to be there by now…”

“What are you talking about?”

“It is…” He glanced up at the position of the sun. “I might have about two days before my body forces the transformation…”

“Oh… I see.” That could be troublesome if they were still on the ship at that time. Sesshoumaru laid his hand on his shoulder gently. “If you want to go on ahead, that is fine.”

Naraku had known that a sea voyage would be risky for him, but he had taken the chance anyway, putting his faith in Nanako's skills. He should have let the transformation overcome him right before the voyage. It had been idiotic not to. He shook his head. “That could be troublesome right now—my power is waning. I've gone too long without it.”

That was why he was so nervous. Sesshoumaru looked around. He doubted that they would make it in time, and Naraku doubted that he had the strength to make it to shore. “I'll take you.”

Naraku looked at him. He didn't like that idea at all. If Sesshoumaru took him, there was a very high chance that he might get a glimpse of him in his lesser state—and that wasn't even something that he liked looking at himself in, and the smell was unbearable, but he was accustomed to it. He just couldn't let Sesshoumaru see him like that. But what choice did he have? Nanako didn't know he was a hanyou, and neither did the crew. It would create problems if they knew, so they could just say that they were going on ahead. He sighed. Risking Sesshoumaru finding him was better than the alternative—risking everyone seeing him. Nevertheless, he didn't answer. He didn't want to rely on Sesshoumaru.

“I'll tell Nanako that you are seasick,” Sesshoumaru said. “Everything will be okay.”

“You should let me become a youkai. Then we won't have this problem.” He glanced at him. “What will we do when we're traveling to Europe? What about when we get there?”

Sesshoumaru was unconcerned. “The youkai taking our things will not ask questions when we wander off together.”

“T… together…” Sesshoumaru would…

“I won't look,” he promised. “You can hide, but I'm staying nearby—to protect you. Besides, fewer questions will be asked that way.” His voice took on a suggestive tone. “Don't you agree?”

“Fine. What about once we are there?”

The dog considered, then a thought occurred to him. “How would you feel about being locked in a basement?”

“So long as the smell doesn't leak through.” He didn't want to be anywhere where there might be light. He didn't want to see it, and he especially didn't want Sesshoumaru, the twins, or Rin to see it. If Sesshoumaru saw it, it would just be awkward. If it were the twins, he would have a lot of explaining to do that he wanted to avoid at all costs. If it were Rin, it would, once more, be quite awkward.

Sesshoumaru leaned forward and kissed him softly. “Don't worry. I'm here.” Sesshomaru's fingers curled into Naraku's hair. “I'll guard your secret too.”

Naraku sighed and looked away, still unhappy. That was as good as it was going to get though. “All right. Tell Nanako, and then we will leave.”

“You should tell Rin.”

He nodded. Rin would pass it on to Iria, Jaken, and the twins that Sesshoumaru and Naraku had left. He wasn't about to tell them the real reason though. Iria could probably figure it out on her own anyway—simply from how fatigued he was.

He found Rin with the twins. Shuarra Meitsuki and Kuraimaru were receiving Italian lessons from Rin, who herself was still in the process of learning, though she was quite functional in the language, but she did have a bad accent.

Once Naraku walked through the door, Shuarra Meitsuki jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. He was in no mood or shape for this. He dislodged her and set her down on the floor, muffing her hair affectionately. It was sort of disturbing how much she looked like Kagura had. He had, after all, sculpted Kagura as sort of a shadow of himself, though. It only made sense that Shuarra Meitsuki might look like her, though she certainly didn't act like her—thank gods.

Kuraimaru greeted him in Italian vaguely, with an accent—but understandable enough to know what he said.

“Nara-chan, you look sort of weary,” Rin commented.

“It is stress, I'm certain.” That was part of it, anyway. “Sesshoumaru-sama and I are going on ahead. We will meet you there.”
Rin sort of frowned, but decided to wave off her questions for later. “All right. I'll take care of the twins for you. I'll tell Iria-chan and Jaken-san too.”

“Arigatou, Rin.” He turned and left to find Sesshoumaru. He couldn't believe he was agreeing to let Sesshoumaru take him there, and then watch over him afterwards.

He was not looking forward to this. There was too much at risk right now. He was beginning to have second thoughts about this trip…

Too late for that now!