Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Author note: (Some stuff you may want to know before hand, in other words.)
Okay, this story is set in the past, in Inuyasha's time. Kagome is no longer from the future and lives in a village. She still has a younger brother. Oh, Inuyasha was never sealed and Kikyo isn't going to be in the story, unless I find some place where she fits ^_^ I think that is all the major changes…I'll explain other things in the actual story!
Kagome clutched her younger brother's hand and looked at him in reassurance. He was watching the ceremony with tearful eyes. "It'll be all right." She whispered.
"I am scared. What if one of us are chosen?" Souta asked, watching as the basket was carried up before the leader.
"There are many people." She said calmly. "So, they will probably miss us." He nodded, but still could only watch in terror. Her feelings echoed his own, but she was the older sister. She had to be the one to stand firm, otherwise her brother would completely fall apart. Their parents had died earlier from a terrible attack, so she was all he had, and he was all she had. She watched on with the same dread, wishing the village could be free of its tragedy and not have to resort to this…this…evil.
A few weeks ago, a strong Youkai attacked their prosperous farming settlement. They were not made up of warriors, so could offer little resistance. They would have probably have all died if their leader hadn't of managed to convince the monster to leave their village in peace. The monster agreed, though for a terrible price. Every week, the village was required to send out one person to be fed to the ferocious monster to appease its hunger. Every week, the villagers would gather in the town square, knowing that in a few moments, one name would be drawn out of the basket; each time fearing for their own lives as the leader stood up to read off the name. The worst was the waiting. Just standing, knowing that someone you know would be sent to some monster and be eaten alive. Never to be seen again.
If people tried to leave, they were eaten as well, so there was no real escape. Kagome found this completely pointless. Sure they got to live for a little while longer, but sooner or later, the entire village would be consumed. This was just putting off the inevitable.
The entire crowd held its breath as their grizzled leader stood up. "This week is…sorry..." The old man sniffed a bit, looking like he was going to break down in tears himself. "It is…Souta." Kagome's heart felt like it had stopped. She felt her brothers grip tighten, then fall limp as he stood in shock.
"M-m-me?" He stuttered in terror. The crowd opened a path leading to the leader, everyone looking sad that a boy had been chosen, but at the same time relieved that it had not been them. He looked up at his sister with tears in his eyes. "I am going to die, aren't I?" He whispered, hardly believing this could be true. Kagome's eyes filled with tears as well. Her brother. Her only brother had been chosen. She bent down and hugged him tightly. She couldn't bear the thought of him dying.
"No, you are not." She reassured him, tears running freely down her face. "You stay with our neighbor's family, okay? And be good." She told him. He looked at her in confusion.
"But…I…I was chosen…" He said. She stood up and looked into the leader's eyes.
"I want to go in his place." She stated. Her brother stiffened in shock. "I want to be the sacrifice." The elder looked confused. This had never happened before. She walked forward. "I want to save my brother." She said pleadingly.
"No, Kagome!!" Her brother cried and ran to catch up with her. A person form the crowd caught his arm and held him back. "Don't leave me!" Kagome looked at him in sorrow.
"I can't stand the thought of you dying. Our family was killed by them. I don't want you to be too." She looked back to the leader, who nodded, agreeing to let her go. She walked forward in determination. 'At least it is me.' She passed by the leader and looked nervously at the forest beyond. There was where the creature lie in wait. She could still here her brother yelling for her and she stifled a sob threatening to overtake her. There was no question to it. She was going to die.
She passed though the beginning of the forest, shivering as the sounds of nature died down. The people had never seen the monster actually consume a human since the attack, but you could tell from the screams that it had been terrible. Suddenly, in front of her erupted a massive creature. It had a long, serpentine body covered with scales, and a face with a mouth that had far too many teeth then necessary. It looked at her, smacking it's lips in delight. Kagome stood in fright as approached her, baring its fangs for an attack. It leapt at her suddenly and she automatically screamed and fell flat to the ground. It passed over her, but its tail simply grabbed hold of her and hoisted her off the ground.
She winced as the scales dug into her skin and then as the tail began to constrict. The monster was trying to suffocate her!! She kicked her legs frantically and squirmed to get free, by the creature was too powerful. Her vision began to blur and for a brief instant, she thought she saw someone standing below her. She blinked, realizing there WAS a person below her. It was a boy with shockingly white hair and red clothes. It's face was bent into a scowl, but what was the strangest thing of all was his dog like ears resting on top his head.
"Feh, you take too long to kill your prey." He mocked. "Look, she is still breathing."
"Hey…help…me…" She managed to gasp out.
"Me? Help a human?" He snorted, and leapt high into a tree as someone else walked out of the woods. Kagome by now was having trouble staying conscious, her feeble supply of oxygen running out. The monster then threw her into the air and she landed unceremoniously onto the ground, rolling into a near by bush.
"Hmm, I hope you didn't kill her." The newcomer remarked. "The price goes down when that happens." It was humanoid, but instead of skin it was covered in scales similar to the giant monster from before and had deep set, fiery eyes. He walked to the girl and checked her pulse. "Good, she is alive." He didn't sound relieve or even thrilled by the news.
Kagome squinted one eye and saw this strange creature peer down at her. Her entire body hurt from the fall and she could hardly move after almost being suffocated. She wasn't sure if this lizard-man saved her or not, but either way she was now alive. "Thank you." She sputtered.
The man laughed its voice low and dangerous. "I wouldn't be thanking me, miss. You are probably worse off now then with my Youkai." Kagome stiffened. What did he mean? He pulled her sharply up to her feet, seeming even more pleased she had not been knocked out. "I am Tereshi the slave trader."
'Slave trader?' She thought wildly. 'He can't be a slave trader!' But still, now knowing her savors intentions, she suddenly drew back her foot and kicked him and hard as she could. It caught his squarely in the stomach. "I am not going to be anybody's slave!!" She cried out and turned to run, surprised when the lizard like creature caught her arm.
"If you do that again, I will kill you." He hissed in her ear. She shivered and nodded submissively. She didn't want to die now. Maybe she could escape later...maybe. "Go back into the woods." He called to his creature as he dragged her down an almost invisible trail. Kagome blinked in surprise. That man…and that monster…were working together! They soon came upon a carriage-like cage. Several other people sat in it, looking angered and depressed. He opened its door and threw her in. She landed ungainly on her knees, wincing as they skinned themselves on its rough surface. The monster walked to the head of the carriage and jumped on, taking hold of the reins in one movement. The carriage began to move, wobbling on the uneven ground.
"What's going on?" She asked one of the people sitting on the ground. He looked up at her with bleary eyes.
"We are heading to Iferious." The old man croaked. He looked worn out, stomach sunk in and lips dry and cracking.
"Iferious?" She wondered out loud.
"It is the Youkai capital. Most people believe those bastards run with no control and have no organized place, but they are wrong. Many Youkai live in there with actual households and have families. It is located high in the mountains, where humans can rarely find. We," He laughed bitterly. "Are slaves for Youkai like these."
"I am not going to be a slave!" She cried, hands on her hips and a determined scowl covering her face.
He laughed again. "You say that now, but after a few days with no food and water, you will find that the prospect of slavery more tempting then death from starvation or dehydration." Kagome stared glumly out the cell bars. This can't be good.
After two days of travel, they reached a mountain. Kagome was parched and her stomach kept crying out for nourishment. The old man's statement proved to be correct about no food and water. She wasn't sure what the lizard man was trying to do, keeping his 'wares' in such a weak condition. 'I have to escape. I have to escape.' She thought over and over. The carriage stopped and the monster hopped down.
"You stay there." He said mockingly. "I have some business to take care of." Kagome blinked. This could be her chance. She waited until he had gone then ran to the cage door. She looked at the lock glumly. 'Eeech…I need to get this off…' She thought for a moment and looked on the ground of the cage, which was littered with branches. Their evil driver let them out one by one everyday so they could…eh…do their business, and when they returned, twigs and such naturally collected on the floor. She picked up a durable branch and stuck it into the lock.
"I am going to get us out of here." She told her onlookers. She turned to the man she met the first day. He looked dead now, each breath seeming painful for him. Kagome returned to the lock and quickly began to work on it. After a few minutes of trying, she sighed, "It always works in the books I read." She tapped the lock lightly with her hand in frustration, stifling her shock as it came off. She swung open the door. "Come on!" She called. The few people in the cage ran out, everyone that is but the poor man in the corner. He had stood up, but he was so weak that even to step would require too much effort in his part. She ran to his side and pulled his arm around her shoulder, helping him to walk out.
"You idiot. That old geezer will slow you down." Came a loud voice from the tree. Kagome looked up, seeing the boy from earlier casually resting on a branch watching down with little amusement.
"You! Go away if you won't be helpful!" She yelled up at him.
"Heh heh, you are going to be caught." He mocked. "Idiot."
"He's right." The old man said. " "Just run…can't you see I am dying…" Kagome shook her head.
"I won't leave you behind to that monster." They continued to walk, slowly getting out of sight of the carriage. She saw a stream running through the forest and quickly pulled the man too it. "Drink." She pleaded, watching him as he knelt down and begin to shovel the water into his mouth. She followed his example, feeling strange delight as the liquidy substance ran down her throat. That's when she heard the yell. "He must be back." She whispered. The other man seemed refreshed by his drink and looked at her.
"Lets split up. I can make it on my own now and we'd have a better chance of surviving." She quickly nodded and they each ran in opposite directions along the river. She heard footsteps echo behind her and she paused once to look back. It was Tereshi, one hand reaching out to take a bow and an arrow. 'Is he going to shoot me down?' She thought worriedly and changed directions suddenly. An arrow passed within inches of her shoulder. 'I'll take that as a yes.' She cried as another arrow lodged itself deeply in her shoulder. She bit her lip to hide the pain and continued to run. Another arrow sprouted from her leg and she fell to the ground. The creature walked to her, a terrible scowl covering his face. He looked even more dangerous than before.
"Stupid human." It muttered as he got nearer. "It was you who let my merchandise go." He hissed. "I smelled your stench all over the lock." Kagome winced as he aimed a blow directly at her side. The combinations of all these pains were too much for her, and she felt her world go black.
She awoke in a strange place. The arrows had been removed from her skin, but the wounds still stung like fire itself. "Good, your awake. You can join the others now." The lizard like creature was standing over her. "You are lucky I didn't kill you. I would have if…" He stopped as a small creature bounded into the tent.
"They are starting the auction!" It piped.
"Good." He pulled her roughly to her feet. Her wounds stung anew and she gritted her teeth as she was drug forward. There was a long line of humans like her self, each appearing sullen and resentful. Youkai's were all around, watching the people with little interest, occasionally walking up and choosing a human, tossing money to the slave traders. Kagome felt fear take over her. She was going to be sold. It was as simple as that. She watched as more and more people were taken away.
The lizard-man chained her to a pole and settled to the ground. Kagome watched as a Youkai with bright blue skin and hard, black eyes approached her. "Anch ye ah beaut." He spoke with a strange accent, forcing Kagome to listen hard to even catch anything he was saying. He looked up and down her in this strange, overly observant way, making Kagome shiver. "Bit on da scwanny 'ide, neh?"
"She is in perfect condition." The lizard man said indignantly. " Smart too, if you have any children that needs to be tutored, and strong enough to handle any other stuff." Kagome wasn't sure what he meant by 'other stuff', but had a feeling she didn't really want to know.
"Dunt cey too mooch feh eh bren." He smirked. "I'll pey 50."
"Fifty!? Only fifty? That is an outrage! Anywhere else she would be sold for 200!" Her trader cried.
"Hey, I told you I won't be a slave." Kagome muttered. She didn't know what possessed her to speak up, but these too people bartering over her were making her really mad. She wasn't just a slab of meat. "I'd never want to be a slave for an ugly beast like you, anyway." She spat.
The potential buyer simply raised one hand and swung it across her face. She fell to the ground, clutching her cheek, a little surprised to feel blood running freely. She wanted to cry, but didn't want to give this monster that satisfaction. She resorted to just glaring up at him. "Too festy fer me test." He looked back at the lizard man, who didn't appear to care that Kagome had just been hit.
"She just isn't broken." Tereshi reassured him. "A few weeks and she will be just fine. Lets say, 150?" He asked.
"150? Ye afer me muny. 's not wert 150. 75 es me fenel affer." The creature insisted. Again, they were completely ignoring her. 'I do not want to end up with him.' Kagome frantically thought. 'There has to be a way…'
"It cost 100 alone to catch her." The lizard man cried. "I have to make an income to support my family. Let say 135?" The beast seemed to consider this new offer. Kagome suddenly thought of an idea. Whenever they were selling a cow or a horse, one of the first things they would check was its health. With a lot of over dramatizing, she suddenly began to cough and sway, as though sick.
"Eh? Wuz wr'ng wit er?" The monster asked, backing off a bit.
"I don't really know. When you slapped me, I suddenly remembered my own families deaths." She said, forcing herself to shed a tear. "We were on our way to a nearby village when they suddenly caught sick with a strange kind of fever. I sat by their side day by day, watching as their lives drifted away." She looked at her hands. "I was so careful…I wonder why I feel sick?"
"She lies! She is in perfect health!" The lizard-man declared. The buyer did not look convinced.
"I dun take no chince. Ged bye." He turned and walked off, heading for another trader who had more healthy wares. Kagome sighed in relief and watched him go. A sudden hand dug into her shoulder and she was whirled around to face the deadly eyes of her seller.
"Don't you ever do that again." He hissed, one claw resting on her neck. "If you do I'll kill you. Youkai find dead humans to be almost as useful as those that are alive." Kagome swallowed hard, finding it difficult to not believe the man's words. She sat down obediently and decided not to press her luck for awhile. It must have been spread around about her 'sickness' because no one else approached the seller about buying her. She felt a little relieved, but also wondered what the lizard like creature would do if she weren't sold. He didn't look too worried, and as the day grew late, he called a tiny Youkai to him, handing him a letter. The small creature looked at the address and held out his hand expectantly. The trader quickly gave him a silver piece and he went on his way.
"What was that about?" She asked him, earning a kick in the side.
"Slaves don't question Youkai's business." He glared. "I feel sorry for the person who gets you." Kagome sighed and leaned against the pole, looking up and down the street. By now, most people…Youkai…had left to their homes in the town are in the forest.
"Doesn't look like I am going to be sold." She remarked, and the lizard man again tried to kick her, but she managed to scoot out of the kicks way.
"Slaves don't speak unless spoken too." He hissed. "Shows how little you know." He looked expectantly down the road. Kagome closed her eyes. She didn't care what was going on now. No one would buy her, so maybe the man would have to put her away for the night and then she'd have another chance to escape. Or maybe he's…she gulped. She hoped what he said about dead slaves being worth almost as much as live ones was simply a threat. She was so busy fearing for her own safety, she failed to notice a stranger walk up.
"I never agreed to buy a dead slave!" Came a loud voice. Kagome shot her eyes open and looked at the speaker. It was that boy again!
"What are you doing?! Following me?!" She cried.
"Why would I follow some worthless human?" He snapped. "Feh, you think too highly of yourself." He handed some money to the lizard man.
"Okay then." Tereshi pulled his belongings together, and began to walk off.
"Wait? What just happened here?" Kagome cried. The boy bent down and easily ripped the chains off of her.
"You certainly are slow." He mocked.
"Am I free?" Kagome asked, feeling new hope overcome her.
"Why would he set you free? Humans." He shook his head in disgust. "No." He smiled revealing fang like teeth. "You belong to me."
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Thank you for reading! This will end up being a Kagome and Inuyasha pairing, if you haven't guessed ^_^. This is my first Inuyasha fan fic, so any feedback would be greatly appreciated!
Please Review!!!
