|| Tale Of The Heart's Slave ||
Chapter One Root River Town
"Inu... yasha..." she breathed softly, I barely heard her voice. I saw the blood in my claws, on the floor, on her dark purple kimono, in her hair, running from her mouth. I couldn't move, I couldn't even feel guilty.
Before I even realized, her gaze was empty, the familiar light gone from them. She was dead.
X
I remember the day when I saw Inuyasha for the first time.
It was just a ordinary morning in the little town where I had lived three years. People had talked to me about traveling sellers who were meant to come that day to visit. That was a rumor. the carriages drove pass me when I was walking through the town towards my own house. Alltogether there was five of them, some full of pretty clothes, scarlet dresses for women and handsome ropes for men, others full of exotic (that was the word what fascinated middle aged women used) foods and drinks. And the last one... humans with handcuffs.
I hadn't even intent to go after the carriages but couple of women who I knew insisted me to come with them and find out where sellers would stop. Though we weren't the only ones; many others were interested of them and walked with us to the center of the town. The carriages stopped close to the river and erected their stalls. Almost everyone of them were men, foreigneir looking. I wasn't really interested about those fansy clothes and foods like others, I didn't need anything.
"Oh, look at those", whispered Mrs. Dayton near me as the one of the drivers opened the carriages door and pulled the chain. From the carriage stepped out a young boy with dark hair and dirty face. After him a woman, her face old and tired. And the other one after her. And one more. And one more. The chains around their necks, cuffs around their wrists and ankles.
"What is this?" I gasped softly at their miserable faces. We were quite close, more people were staring at them behind us.
"I don't know", Mrs. Collins frowned.
"Slaves of course", her husband answered, coming beside us. "I've heard they are really popular in other towns."
"But... that's awful", I said, looking how uneasy their walking was as they followed the man who pulled the chain. They were wearing only simple gray ropes and pants and their feet were bare. I didn't even want to watch but I also couldn't turn my gaze away. "Look at them."
"That's today, Kagome-san", Mr. Collins shrugged like we were talking that sky was blue. "I don't know, maybe I could have some use for those."
"Ronald!"
"What? Think about it, honey. They could clean the house, do the laundry, even watch over the children."
"Maybe but I won't let someone that dirty to get near my boys."
"We would wash him of course."
I couldn't even believe that they were considering it.
"Hello, Root River Town's people!" yelled suddenly a voice. We all turned our heads towards a man who had a black bear and little eyes. He was standing on the stool, his hands up. "My name is Rico Wilson and we are very happy that you have allowed us to visit in your little town and that you are already interested about our products. We have traveled in many big towns but now we have decided to bring the reform to small ones too like yours. You charming people deserve charming clothes not those old rags!"
I looked at my dress. It was simple, green, front covered with white apron. I liked it that way. But when I looked at others faces as they saw their clothes, I suspected that they didn't agreed with me.
"You deserve to be helped and served and that's why we have our slaves with us", Rico continued and pointed at the slaves. "They may look wild and unruly but belive me, if you know how to punish, you are perfect master for them."
The last slave stepped outside, then carriage's door closed. There was something different about him and we all noticed it; his hair was silver and long, hair that I had ever seen. He was wearing gray clothes too but he looked even more unhealtier than others. His head hanged down and on top of his head was two ears. Two animal ears.
A hanyo.
AN:
I got an inspiration for this when I watched Tales from Earthsea, not one of the best anime movies but quite good anyway. The old time when people just lived in their wooden huts, carried swords, rode with horses and sat on the green meadow... it has interested me for a while now. I hope you like this little start of the story. Thanks for reading & comments are welcomed!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha
