Konnichiwa! Here's chapter two! Hope ya'll liked the first one.

Big thanks go to the reviewers! Kitara Jaganshi (Hey! We have the same last names!Could we be related…? lol Thank you though! First reviewer, you make my world go 'round! glomps), Arada ('Nother kudo goes out!), and icefox94(Like I said, you'll see. Kudo!)

Hope you like this next one!

Slave or Save?

Chapter I- Where to now and caught in the act.

Bump, elbow, foot. "Watch where you're goin'! You stepped on me foot!"

Arm, leg, leg, elbow. "OW! That hurt!!"

Knee, arm, elbow, arm, arm. "Gods damn it! Watch OUT!"

Kurama sighed; this was most likely the worst part of the trip, once off the boat anyway. People were in such a hurry (why, no one has the faintest…) that it was like a mini war zone with hands and feet instead of guns and tanks. Ayaka was on Kurama's shoulders and Shiori kept a firm hand on his arm, so as not to lose him in the hustle.

Ayaka gripped tighter to his arms, "'Nii-san, Okassan, I'm scared now. Everybody's really pushy now…" Shiori patted her head and chuckled, "This is probably much lighter than it will be." Kurama nodded his head, "Yes, first we have to get there, then fight off the other's for a place to sleep, and finally off to the auctions(1)…"

"Aw, don't sweat it, Shu, it'll be alright… 'least I hope so," muttered a boy that had walked up beside him. Another sigh, "Same here, Mitari, same here."

"Men are not punished for their sins, but by them."- Kin Hubbard

A couple long, grueling hours later, much to the slaves relief, they had reached the small 'camps' in which they would stay.

"Alright now, listen up! This is where you're to be staying for the next few days, depending on when you're picked to go to the auctions. Until then, you're to not roam around to much and respect the Watchers; otherwise, you know the drill." There was a whip crack and the few murmurs that had still been buzzing immediately ceased. The man making announcements smirked, rolling the whip back up and handing it to a man next to him, "That's better. Now, go find where you'll be laying down for the night. We'll start calling you up by surnames, alphabetical. So shut your mouths and listen up. For those of you with no surname, you'll be the last of the bunch. Now, A's come on up!"

More shuffling now, and everyone with there last names starting with A ran over to where they were to start the travel to the slave town. 'We'll be here for awhile if they're going by surnames then…' Kurama thought(2). Once the A's had gone, the man came back up to the small platform he'd occupied earlier. "I forgot to mention, some of you will be heading out to different states here in the Americas, once it's your turn, the Watcher leading you will tell you where the destination is." The crowd mumbled amongst themselves and the man stepped down again. "Somehow, I have a feeling this is going to be farther spread than I thought…"

"Our sins are more easily remembered than our good deeds."- Democritus

Most of the people Kurama knew were in the letters before the M category, and it started to get lonely with out someone his age around. Ayaka had grown restless, and started to just sit on the ground all day, in a way you could think of it as a depression. This bothered the Minaminos', so they decided to get to the root of the problem.

"What's wrong, little one?" Shiori asked, the names had gotten down to the J's, it was actually going much faster than expected, and most of the slaves didn't have last names… Ayaka looked up, small tear tracks on her cheeks. "Ayaka, why are you crying? Tears don't look good on you." Kurama sat down next to her and lifted her on his lap. "What's wrong?" Ayaka glanced back at him, then to Shiori who had seated herself next to her son. She gulped in a large breath of air and hiccupped.

"… I don't have a last name… so we're gonna be separated. I don't want to leave all by myself." Tears came down her cheeks again, as well as another hiccup. Kurama cradled her in his arms and Shiori leaned over to join the hug. "You don't have to worry about that," Shiori whispered. Kurama nodded slowly, "Why do you think you call me your 'big brother' and mother your 'mother'? It's because you're part of the family now, and don't you forget that." Ayaka turned in the embrace with wide brown eyes, seemingly stunned.

"R-really? You mean it?" Kurama and Shiori smiled and ruffled her hair, "Of course we do! Why would we lie about something like that?" Ayaka smiled so largely and brightly, it looked even more beautiful than the sunset had. "THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!" she squealed joyously, holding them in a vice grip around the necks. For a little seven year old, it felt like a viper.

"A-Ayaka… I'm glad you're happy… b-but I can't b-breathe…" Kurama gasped out. She giggled and let them go, both reaching for their necks and sucking in air like crazy. "But really, thank you so much nii-san, kassan. It means a lot to me!" They smiled again and kissed her cheeks.

"Welcome to the family Minamino, Ayaka."

"If you don't move now, I'll slit your throat, and I won't lose a bit of sleep over it."- Hiei

"Sir, I think it's about time you went… 'out' again," said a tall man, and I mean quite tall. He was roughly six and a half feet tall, somewhere in there, and had orange hair in a carrot like point. The 'Sir' to whom he was speaking was much shorter and was slightly better dressed. Fancier, for lack of a better word. He looked to be an eleven year old in the highest, but really only sixteen. Indeed, quite young for a wealthy person at this time in history. … Don't ask, it'll only be more confusing. Midnight black hair that spurted up in spikes lay atop his skull, and the most piercing red eyes you could ever see, possibly the only you'd ever see. To top it all off, he had a very lithe, muscular build.

The small man sighed and drummed his fingers on the table in front of him. "Yes, I know Kuwabara… Have Yusuke ready to leave, and tell Yukina I will be out for a few days, since the trip takes some time…" The taller nodded and said, "Of course, Master Hiei."

Hiei nodded and stalked off, keeping an emotionless face on while different thoughts came to mind. 'It's been that long already? They're dieing faster and faster… maybe we're over working them…?' He walked into a room and sifted through some drawers of an intricately designed dresser. 'No, it's the same as it's always been, they're just getting frailer.'

Meanwhile, with Kuwabara, we see him walking into a small room where a teenage looking young man is arguing with a young woman about the same age. "That's not the point! I don't need that if I have a job! Keiko, you're just being intolerable!" shouted the boy. The girl, Keiko, dished back, "Quit being an arse Yusuke! You need studies just as much as you need a job! What would your mother think?!"

"Like I care! She's just a dead drunk that sits around all day… d-drinking!" Kuwabara coughed, interrupting the argument, and mumbled, "Uhm… Yusuke, master Hiei needs you to come with him… for… well, you'll see."

Yusuke, the young man obviously, rubbed chocolate brown eyes and sighed. "Awright, I'm going." He whispered something to Keiko and she huffed, nodding and walking out of the room. "Trying to get you to go to school again, Urameshi?" Yusuke sighed again and ran fingers through his slicked black hair, "Yeah… she just won't quit, I tell you! I'm starting to get insomnia from having nightmares about her running after me with a wooden ruler."

Kuwabara gestured to follow him and they walked out of the room. "Where to?" Yusuke asked. "Miss Yukina's room," Kuwabara said dreamily. Yusuke elbowed him in the ribs. "You know, Hiei won't like it if he catches you hitting on his sister."

"That's Master Hiei, Urameshi. And don't you forget it," Kuwabara stated smugly. Yusuke rolled his eyes. "The only reason you call him that is so he doesn't kill you for being annoying." The carrot top spluttered and screeched, "WHAT?! I'll have you know I-" Yusuke waved a hand and interrupted, "Yeah, yeah, you hate the squirt and you know it." Kuwabara grumbled something along the lines of "stupid non-school going jerks", and knocked on a very Victorian style door. "Miss Yukina, may I come in?"

"Of course Kazuma, please do." He opened the door and bowed politely, as did Yusuke. "Hello ma'am." Yukina smiled and brushed back some of her aquamarine hair. She was sitting in front of a vanity mirror… well, brushing her hair, which caused Kazuma to sigh as if he were watching an angel bless him (but to him, that may be what he saw…).

"What can I do for you two?" she asked sweetly. Kuwabara cleared his throat and said, "Master Hiei wished for me to tell you that he will be gone for a few days." To this Yukina frowned, and bowed her head, "Oh… what would be his reasoning this time?" This caused Kuwabara to shuffle from foot to foot uneasily. "Well… I believe he said it was to pay the taxes."

"Ah, well, tell him I said to travel safely then." Kuwabara nodded and stepped out the door, taking Yusuke by the arm, whose mouth was agape in question. "Of course, Milady." He shut the door and walked down the hall, Yusuke tailing him. "Where to?" he asked again, only this time referring to someone else. "It's time to…" Pause. "… Buy more slaves." Yusuke nodded in recognition, "I see…"

"Words without actions are the assassins of idealism."- Herbert Hoover

"Hey, Hiei. The wagon ready?" Yusuke queried. Hiei glanced at him from the corner of his eye, and started to the carriage like vehicle. Yusuke took this as the answer it was and climbed in as well. Once it started to move, the taller teen asked, "How many this time?" Hiei was staring out the window, head propped up on a hand, "Hn. Same as usual." Yusuke nodded absently and started tapping his knee. "… You've been really down lately… is it… Yukina?" Hiei sighed and rubbed his temples. "Her conditions getting worse, all of the doctors I've talked to don't know what's wrong. They say it may be from hanging around the slaves like she does. I'm starting to wonder…"

"Well, I swear it's not from me," Yusuke said, trying to be humorous somehow, though it did bring a very tiny smirk to his face. "Well, I got something outta you." Hiei shook his head. "You have an odd sense of humor, Urameshi. Very odd indeed."

"Charity shall cover the multitude of sins."- The Bible

"Ahem, alright, M's, s'your turn! Git movin'!" Kurama picked up Ayaka and carried her over to the man on horse back that was to lead them to their "fates". This one was much smaller then the rest. Just a bit taller than Ayaka, and he had scraggly gray hair. He smirked malevolently and cleared his throat once they were all there. "Alright, I unfortunately have to ruin the surprise and tell where we are setting out to. The name's Brunswick, Maryland (3)."

After a bit of sitting atop his horse and glaring at them all, he turned and started down the path to the town. All of the slaves started to follow, though at a sluggish pace. Let's just say the little freaky man on the horse gave them goose bumps. Kurama narrowed his eyes to his back and Ayaka stuck her tongue out. "That little man is a-" Kurama slapped his hand over her mouth and muffled the last of her sentence. "Don't let him here you say that, it could everyone into trouble."

"I still don't like him." Ayaka climbed down from his grip and walked beside him instead, holding onto his hand. Shiori chuckled and said, "I don't think anyone does. Even the men he works with look like they'd rather him be one of us." The redhead nodded in silent agreement.

"Hurry it up back there, or I'll leave you behind or let my whip take care of you," shouted the horse-back rider. A few of the younger boys made faces at him and flipped him the bird, which caused Ayaka to giggle. Kurama and his mother smiled and rolled their eyes. "So immature…" mumbled Kurama. "Indeed."

"It is much easier to repent of sins that we have committed than to those we intend to commit."- Josh Billings

As much fun as it is to describe an at least five day walk, we're going to skip all that fun stuff. Anyway, they had reached Brunswick, and it was quite well off. A small town, filled with merchants and such walking about trying to sell their wares. The usual in a town like this one. "Lookit all of the stuff these people have!" Ayaka said in awe.

Kurama walked near a small stand and looked at some of the clothes the person had, "These are very well made..." he said to himself. Shiori grabbed his arm and started to literally drag him down the street with Ayaka helping her. "Come musuko, we have to keep moving. We're falling behind as it is."

Coming up to a large building on the outskirts of the town, the Watcher on horse-back came to a halt. This is where you're to be staying until some of the land-owner's and such come to buy you. Now get on inside." He opened a door and they began walking through silently, keeping their gazes on the ground. Of course, there always has to be a prankster, a small boy in this case, and he went up behind the horse and gave it a good kick. The horse went on it's back legs and the Watcher fell off, the boy long gone by then.

Lucky sod.

"God bloody dammit!" he cursed shrewdly, standing up and calming his steed down. "When I find the little wretch who dare knick my horse, I'll pump 'em with lead…"

"Neil, you shouldn't have done that. What if he catches you?" Ayaka asked nervously. The mousy haired boy just grinned triumphantly and strutted forward. "Aw, no need ta worry. That old fart couldn't catch me if he were as fast as lightning. You shoulda seen what I did a few nights back! That was fun!"

"Was that why he was screaming?" she asked, raising a small eyebrow. Neil just chuckled evilly, "Yeah, he sounded like a baby whinin' fer it's mum. Twas hilarious!" He laughed then, and Ayaka giggled with him. "You're so funny Neil! You could get a job for it!" He looked to her with wide, mischievous eyes, "You think so…? Yeah… I can see that… And you could help me!"

"Yeah, that would be fun!" she giggled again. Kurama came up behind them slowly then and placed his hands on one of each of their shoulders, "BOO!"

"AH!" they squealed and jumped. "Onii-san, don't do that! I thought it was the Watcher," Ayaka gasped out. "Heheh, that was awesome! You scared the crap outta me! You're good K'rama!" The redhead smiled and picked them up, one of them under each of his arms. "Alright you troublemakers, let's find a room and settle in for the night(4)."

Shiori was standing near a door at the end of the hall, "Took you long enough. Neil, your father is in the room with your sister already." Neil nodded and scrambled out of the redhead's arm and scampered into the room. "Hi papa, sis!" Kurama sighed and leaned against the wall, sliding down. "What's wrong nii-san?" He glanced through his bangs and gave her a tiny smile, "Nothing, I'm just tired is all."

"Well, at least get in the room, it'd be better than out here."

"Alright, I'll meet you in there in a little bit." Ayaka looked unsure of this but nodded and went in with Shiori, who shot a sad frown at her son. He didn't see it though, for his head was turned down once more, and silent tears were falling down his face.

"Psychoanalysts are farther confessors who like to listen to the sins of the father as well."- Karl Kraus

"Master Hiei, we're here." Hiei roused and rubbed his eyes, "About damn time…" yawn. Yusuke snickered, "Oh, sleeping beauty awakens." Hiei glared at him, "I'll lower you down again if you don't start respecting me, Urameshi." The teen feigned innocence. "Why, I treat you with the highest respect there is Sir, why on Earth would you do that? And Miss Yukina wouldn't approve of that either."

Eye twitch. "… Shut up."

"Ha-ha got you there. So, let's get this over with, shall we?" Yusuke climbed out, followed by Hiei. 'Don't think I can't Yusuke… I could easily make you a slave again.' They walked over to a large building, the walls a slate gray. "Man, I never did like this place… Always gave me the creeps," Yusuke muttered darkly. Hiei nodded, "Yes, but we have to come, no choice on o-" he was cut short by another voice, this one not as deep, but held a sinister sound to it.

"Ah, Hiei, it's so good to see you." Hiei sighed and muttered something like "evil stalking business partners that won't leave him alone" and didn't say anything except, "Hn." The other chuckled. He had long, silky black hair with blonde tips, finished off with violet eyes and a strange metal mask over his nose and mouth, tiny glasses included.

"So talkative, I suppose I should expect as much." He then turned to Yusuke, who gave a reluctant bow, which ended quite fast, "Good afternoon Sir Karasu." Hiei growled in the back of his throat. He had never liked the man, but he had been a business partner with his father, and now that he and his mother were gone, he had become Hiei's. But that didn't mean he had to like him. "What the Hell's are you doing here?" he asked.

Karasu's eyes glinted, and you could tell he was smirking under the mask. "Why, I'm sure the same reason you are, Hiei. Slaves dieing on you again, eh?" Hiei snorted and turned away from him, walking towards the building with Yusuke behind him. Once out of earshot, Yusuke said, "I can't believe your dad worked with slime like him."

'I can't either, but he did,' Hiei thought. "Hn, just need to watch out for him is all." Yusuke nodded, though still on edge, "Yeah, he might try to seduce you again." Now, though, he cracked and smiled. Hiei twitched and socked him in the arm, "Baka, stuff it and let's find the room." Yusuke mock saluted, "Aye, aye Sir."

"If you lay so much as a finger on me, I swear you will die a slow, painful death."- Kurama

"Wake up maggots, it's time to head out!" Adults and children alike groaned at being awoken, and crawled out of their "cells". Kurama tried to move, but had been sitting in the same position all night and was stiff as Hell. All he had to do was move a finger and it would make a loud crack. "Ouch… I shall never sleep sitting up again." Shiori, Ayaka, Neil and his twin sister and father came out then.

"Onii-san, you never came to bed last night, and you're really cracking." He quickly rubbed his eyes and cheeks of the tear stains and said dryly, "No joke, and next time I will…" He finally pulled himself off the floor and stretched. "… -crack- Ow…" Shiori patted his shoulder and whispered, "Are you alright?" He nodded. "Okay troops, let's head out," said Neil's father. "Yes Sir!" said the three little ones and they started a march down the hall.

"Smart alecks…" he muttered. "Damian, you started that one," pointed out Shiori. "Ah well, y'alright Shuichi?" Kurama nodded again and rubbed his shoulder. "Let's just get going, or else they little ones might get lost." He smirked, "Right ho!"

Shiori and Damian went ahead, to Kurama's request, while he was behind thinking. 'Lucky Neil. He still has his father.' A sigh. 'I miss him.' Then he heard voices, ones he hadn't heard yet, so he ducked behind a corner.

"I still say he's got the hots for you. Why do you think he'd act like that around you?" This voice sounded young… 'Maybe a year or two younger than me…' Kurama thought. "Hn, I think you're just paranoid. He just has a fetish for rich people with good looks, though I don't have that, so I wonder…" This one sounded much older, though.

"Oh, come off it Hiei, you so are what he'd want in someone. I mean, look at you!" Unable to contain his curiosity, Kurama poked his head around the corner. His eyes grew wide as he saw the two of them, the smaller one looked to be nothing more than a child! 'He must have been the first one,' the redhead thought. "I don't see it, Yusuke."

Green eyes went wider, no, it was the smaller one! His voice was so deep, he sounded much older than he looked, and he'd look it more to with out the frown. 'He's actually kinda… sweet looking.' Kurama blushed after that thought. Yusuke sighed in exasperation, "You just can't take a compliment, can you? I can see why he comes after you."

"Would you just sh-"

"Master Hiei! Your room is over here!" The smaller man from the horse came running up to the two, Kurama then ducking back behind the wall. "The slaves will be going in soon! You have to hurry!" Hiei glowered at him, "I'll go there in my own damn time." 'Oh, very sweet…' Kurama thought. "Well, come with me. I'll lead you there." Hiei nodded, and Kurama quick poked his head out again. While the other two turned, Hiei glanced near another hall, catching sight of a quick red blur before it vanished. Hiei started walking over but was then called by Yusuke. "Yo, Hiei! Hurry it up!"

"Shut up, baka. I'm coming." He walked away from the corner, shooting a last glance at it, and walked after the other two. While Hiei casually walked, Kurama was trying extremely hard to calm down his heart. 'Gods, that was to close! He almost found me!' After the footsteps faded, he stood up and wandered after his mother, still blushing and clenching his racing heart.

"Oh, I can't let something as lovely as you slip from my grasp, can I."- Karasu

"There you are Hiei, I was starting to think you'd gotten lost." Karasu was sitting on a stool, another next to him. Hiei grumbled and asked himself out loud, though not loud enough for Karasu to hear, "Why do I have to be with him of all people?" Yusuke answered back, equally quiet, "Because life sucks like that. Get used to it." Hiei sighed and sat down on the other stool, Yusuke standing next to him.

"I have a question. Did you really come here for more slaves, or just so you could try and molest me?" Karasu laughed at this and said in a seductive voice, "Maybe a bit of both, but definitely more so for you." Yusuke made a face that looked like he was going to throw up and covered his mouth. Hiei snickered at him, and then glanced out the window in front of him, where the slave would be coming into so they could see them.

"Are you Sirs ready?"

"Yes."

"Hn."

"Alright! Send in the first batch!" A door to the side of the room opened and in walked ten different people. Hiei and Karasu glanced at them. There were a few children in there as well, "I think I'll take the small young boy and girl… along with the man next to them." A Watcher came and took those three away.

In the room hooked onto that one, Ayaka said, "Someone took Neil and his family already." Shiori and Kurama craned their necks to see. "My, that was fast," Shiori murmured. "There goes four more." They watched as a few more were removed from the room. "And the last three… come back in here," Kurama finished off.

Back with Hiei and Karasu, there couldn't be anymore tension. It was like a contest of who got what one. Pathetic, really, immature children. "So… three for me, and four for you." Karasu was tapping his fingers on his knee, while Hiei was tapping his foot and had his arms crossed over his chest. "Does it really matter?" Hiei asked. "Oh Hiei, don't you see? I'm trying to impress you," Karasu chortled; again, you could tell he was smirking under the mask. Death glare: to Karasu, from Hiei. Merry early Christmas.

Yusuke coughed, "Uhm… the next ones are in gentlemen." They turned to the window and looked, picked, and so on. Hiei- nine, Karasu- eight. Yusuke sighed again. "Can't this end now? Gods, I so need your help with these two." The two in question narrowed their eyes at him. "Eh… just messing with you!"

"Next!" shouted the Watcher. Kurama, Ayaka, Shiori, and seven others walked in. "Shuichi, they're so gonna pick you!" whispered a boy. Kurama rolled his eyes and just ignored him. Once in the room they were told to stand still and… well, stand there really.

Oh, so very exciting. Right.

Hiei's eyed them but stopped on a bundle of red hair. 'That looks like the same color…'

"I'll take the redhead." Hiei turned to Karasu with wide eyes, and understood when he saw his. Karasu's eyes looked like they had found a delicious piece of meat, and were sending images to the brain ASAP. Hiei narrowed his eyes and said, "No."

"No? Oh, Hiei, I don't think you have a choice. I picked her already." Yusuke rolled his own eyes again. "… I'll pay $1000 for him." Lilac and chocolate eyes widened. "Are… you're serious?" Yusuke stuttered out. Karasu just blinked. "You're going to pay that much for a slave?" Hiei nodded and smirked. "Got a problem with that, Karasu?" Fish. His mouth started opening and closing like a fish, which made Yusuke snort.

He coughed then said, "Alright, $1050 for her." Hiei glared, "$1200."

"$1300."

"$1400."

"$1500."

"Would someone just buy 'er already?!" Yusuke shouted, which caused the slaves on the other side to jump. "… They're… fighting over someone… a girl," muttered the boy from earlier. The Watcher stared with wide eyes at the window, "Jesus, lotta fuss over a slave… first time for everything." Hiei sniffed, said, "$2000, I win," and stood up, trying to intimidate him. Karasu glared and growled, but muttered darkly, "Alright, you can have her." Hiei gave him an evil smirk and turned to the window, "I'll be taking the redhead."

The Watcher shrugged and grabbed Kurama by the arm. "I knew they'd want you Shu!" Kurama glanced at Shiori and Ayaka, smirked, and walked out with him. "You'll be waiting in here for the rest of the slaves to be bought." He nodded and sat down on the ground with a sigh. 'Wonder who got me.' (The window is a one way, that's why he doesn't know.)

Karasu pointed to Shiori this time, "Then I'll be taking the woman there." Hiei shrugged, now sitting again. "Whatever, but why would you want her?" He chuckled, "I heard her and the redhead were related." Snorting, Hiei turned back to the window. "I'll take the little girl next to her then." And so on… so many more people, but we're not going to stay and see them all.

"Onii-san! I getta be with you!" Ayaka squealed and ran into his arms. "That's great! What about kassan?" Ayaka looked away then. "… Someone else got kassan…" Kurama slowly closed his eyes and held Ayaka tightly. "Please be safe mother…"

"… What now?"- Hiei

Now, after all the buying and such was over and done with, Hiei and Yusuke quickly left the room to escape the sadistic man's wrath and fled to the carriage outside. "How shall the slaves get there Sir?"

"… How they usually do." Hiei climbed in with Yusuke behind him. "Why were you so interested with that chick?" Yusuke asked bluntly, yeah, no strategy at all. Nice one Yusuke, you get five stars. Hiei looked over at him unblinking, "HE was snooping on us earlier, so I thought it would be interesting to have him if he can get past the guards." Yusuke shrugged, "Well, that would be in- wait! That's a guy?!" Hiei rolled his eyes and smacked him on the side of the head.

"Baka, of course he's a he! How could you mistake him for a girl?" Yusuke put his index fingers together, "Well… the hair for one…" Hiei sighed, "You're hopeless." He then lies down and promptly fell asleep. Yusuke poked him then told the driver to go.

Well, out side, the slaves Hiei had rounded up (who still had no idea who their master was) were starting their walk as well. Ayaka was holding Kurama's hand. "How long do you think the walk's gonna be, nii-san?"

"Dunno. We'll just have to walk it." His mind strayed to Shiori again… and he couldn't stop thinking about her. 'Well, just don't piss off the landowner you're stuck with, Mother.'

Tada! Hope you liked this! And I hope it's lengthy enough for you all! Until next time!

Anna Jaganshi/Wynn the Hybrid