Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any other anime for that matter.

Kagome was actually happy to be doing something. She knew she didn't have the whole slave thing down, but that hardly bothered her. She could roam the city now, though the strange necklace would restrict her from actually leaving. 'Too bad.' She thought to herself. She finally made it out of the mansion and turned on the street, following Inuyasha's directions the best she was able. It was a nice day and many Youkai roamed the grounds, several of them being followed by humans or other creatures who were carrying the stuff the youkai must have bought, or simply waving fan in their faces.

Kagome thought that was stupid. If anything, it was too cold, not too hot. But hey, if those youkai got their kicks from brightly colored fan in their faces, they could go right ahead. She saw one of the fan carrier stumble and fall to the ground. The Youkai didn't even hesitate; he simply lifted one of his fingers and the boy was gone. Ashes littered the ground where he had stood, settling for a moment before the youkai walked by them, causing them to lift in a strange, dark cloud. Kagome felt physically sick at this gross display of murder. That was not right. She had a powerful urge to run over and slap that creature, but knew she would end up the same as that boy.

The other humans and youkai hardly blinked at the matter, not seeming too disturbed. She wondered if it was an everyday thing; otherwise their lack of emotion was just inhumane. Either way, she should probably hurry with her job and get back to the safety of Inuyasha's room. These people were really giving her the creeps; the other slaves included.

Kagome soon reached a market filled with a variety of people. It was so packed that she had to push her way to a stall that sold kimonos like the one Inuyasha was wearing. In her haste, she ran into one especially short youkai, who then kicked her already tender leg.

"Watch where you're going, human!" It hissed. Kagome opened her mouth to shout back, but managed to control her anger. 'No use in getting angry.' She chided to herself. She had run into him, so all she would have to do was to watch where she was going from now on. Kagome finally reached to stall and approached an especially ugly youkai.

"Sir, I need a to buy a--" She was shoved out of the way by another youkai. "Hey, I was here first!" She cried. Both the creature and sales clerk ignored her as they began to talk over business. "Did you hear me!?" She reached out and to grab him by the shoulder, but another human seized her arm and led her away. "What are you doing?" She demanded, ripping her arm from the stranger's grasp.

"You are new in town, aren't you?" He said calmly. "Youkai are always served first. We are always last. You were about to get yourself killed." Kagome gulped. She hadn't really thought about what could have happened. "So, what is a beautiful woman doing in a place like this?" He asked her as they walked down the streets.

"My!" She said, instantly pleased by his words. "I am here to by a kimono for Inuyasha."

"No." He said. She looked at him in confusion. "You need to always remember to say 'Master Inuyasha.'"

"Oh." She blinked. "Well, then for Master Inuyasha." She said. "You?"

"I have to buy some flowers for Mistress Janegi." He looked around. "But, she won't be expecting me back for some time."

"Hmm, neither will Inuya--eh…master Inuyasha; at least I don't think he will be. He probably doesn't care, so long as I get the kimono. So, what is your name?" She asked as they continued to walk, both unconsciously choosing paths that led AWAY from any youkai.

"It is Miroku. And, if I dare to ask, what might your lovely name be?"

"It's Kagome." She answered back. They approached a florist shop. "I can help you choose some flowers, since you did sort of saved my life back there." She offered. He instantly grabbed her hands and looked deep into the pools of her eyes.

"You want to help me?" He asked solemnly. "You are too kind." He stepped towards her, a tad too close for comfort. "May I ask a favor of you?"

"Uh…I guess…" Kagome was wondering where this conversation was leading to.

"Ever since I have been here, I have longed for one thing. A child. A child to carry on my name if my mistress should ever choose to kill me." He said emotionally. "Kagome, will you bear that child?" He encircled his arm around her and let it slide down her back. Kagome cried out in shock and instantly jumped away from him.

"Excuse me!!??" She yelped.

"Just one. That is all I need." He repeated, somehow managing to make it sound like a reasonable request. Another girl, who had been watching the conversation, approached the two and hit him on head with the back of her hand. "Sango! I have been looking all over for you!" He cried, though one hand was feeling the bump already forming on the top of his head.

"Pervert. You were suppose to meet me fifteen minutes ago, not hit on other girls." The newcomer hissed under her breath. She kept looking around, as though worried someone might overhear her. Kagome wasn't sure what was going on, but used this distraction to slip away from the lecherous man.

"I had better be more careful." She decided, and then ran straight into another youkai. He turned to face her, a vicious glare in his eyes. 'So much for careful.' She thought grimly to herself. "Sorry."

"Why are our streets filled with filth like this?" He asked his companion, who also turned to glare at her.

"Filth!" Kagome couldn't help but exclaim. She immediately wished she had kept her mouth shut.

"A bit uppity for a slave. Should we teach her a lesson?" The first asked his friend, who nodded in agreement, his wild eyes focusing on her.

"Hey, I am not your slave!" She snapped at him. She was already in trouble, so she figured that there was little she could do to prevent it. Might as well get in everything she could. "So, you can't hurt me." Kagome wasn't sure if that was true, but assumed she was wrong when they both laughed at her.

"Does it matter?" He approached her and slammed one fist hard across her face. "There are already too many of you. One less will hardly make a difference." Kagome had fallen during the first blow, and looked up to see the creature's giant foot about to crush down on her. She raised her hand to block the coming attack, not excepting to actual succeed, but before she could do anything a strange person intercepted between them.

"Hey, this is my slave. Don't mess with her." She glanced up and found herself looking at a familiar red outfit.

"Inuyasha…" She breathed, hardly believing that he was saving her life.

"Oh, so he managed to get a slave, did he?" The youkai laughed with his companion. "You should be one yourself, half-blood." He sneered.

"I wouldn't say that if I were you!" Inuyasha growled and cracking his knuckles dangerously.

The monster simply laughed. "Do you dare threaten me, hanyou? You know I can't hurt you, you being protected by your brother and all. He is a YOUKAI I wouldn't want to mess with." He shoved pass Inuyasha, making sure it was clear that the only reason he stopped the fight was because of the youkai in the family. "Oh, if I ever see you again, you will die." He looked at Kagome and laughed as she shivered. She had this distinct feeling that he was not lying.

Kagome slowly got back to her feet, feeling her face already bruising from the blow. "Thank you." She told Inuyasha.

"Feh, those creeps annoy me. It's not like I stopped them just to save you." Kagome glared at him, but then paused as she saw some weird stares the other youkai and humans were giving her. She swallowed her pride and bowed submissively to him, like she'd seen other humans do.

"I thank you, master Inuyasha, for choosing to save my worthless life." She could almost laugh at the shocked look Inuyasha gave her.

"Eh…whatever." He yanked her forward. "You didn't get the kimono, did you?"

"No, master Inuyasha. I am afraid I have yet to comply with your wishes." Kagome said, still keeping with the overly polite attitude. She felt that she kind of owned this to him. He had just saved her life and this way the people and the youkai would think that he had complete control over her.

Inuyasha looked a bit flustered by this sudden change in her behavior. "Uh…I knew it. Go get it then." He ordered, pointing to a stall. She bowed again and rushed to the store, quickly buying his desired item. Luckily, no youkai butted in front of her, so she was able to return without any obstacles. She handed them to him and was about to speak, when the slave trader's words echoed in her mind. 'A slave doesn't speak unless spoken too.' She firmly shut her mouth. If she was going to play the submissive slave, she was going to play it perfectly.

He snatched it out of her hands. "Lets go!" He walked forward, Kagome following behind. As soon as they got out of the crowded market to the quieter streets, Kagome asked a question that had been bugging her for awhile now.

"How did you know I needed help?" She asked.

"I knew a stupid human like you would manage to get into trouble." He snorted.

"Hey, I might have not! And I am not stupid!" She said defensively.

"Heh heh, you would have been killed if I weren't there." He laughed at her. "You are too much trouble than you are worth."

"Then why did you buy me?" She yelled again. He continually circled back to that same comment. If she was so worthless, why didn't he either let those guys kill her or let her go? That would solve his problem.

"It is not like I wanted to or anything." He muttered under his breath.

"Then WHY DID YOU!?" She cried. He was so annoying, always dodging that question. He said he didn't want to buy her, yet he did. Where was the logic in that?

"Feh, I don't have to answer that." Same excuse as before. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Were you suckered into buying me or something? Lost a bet and forced to buy such a useless slave like me?" She mocked. She knew she was being a little harsh, but his inability to answer was really ticking her off. What was he hiding?

"Shut up." He ran ahead, forcing her to run as well to catch up.

"IT was something like that, huh!? I knew it." She crossed her arms. Inuyasha turned to face her, a scowl on his lips.

"Look, if I hadn't of, that guy would have killed you in the woods. Is that what you want?" He yelled. "Not that I was doing it to save your life or anything, but your slave trader happened to be one guy that I couldn't stand. He got me to agree to buy you if no one bought you by the end of the day." Kagome was a little shocked. Inuyasha had saved her life again, before she had even really known him…and here she was being mean about it.

"Sorry." She said softly. "I didn't know that you bought me to save me."

"I didn't buy you to save you! I bought you 'cause I hated that damn jerk!" He yelled back. Kagome frowned a bit.

"Then why did you save me today? That would have been an easy way to get rid of me." She demanded.

"I hated them as well!" He cried. Kagome glared at him. Whenever she thought that there was a chance of him being nice, he had to say something like that. "And why is this an argument? You are not supposed to argue with me! I am your owner! So, SHUT UP!" He stomped down the street.

Kagome crossed her arms and walked behind him, purposely going as slow as she could. He was almost out of sight before he turned around to face her, hands on his hips. "Hey, hurry up!!' He yelled, sounding very impatient. Kagome ignored him, still maintaining her slow pace. She could practically feel his anger rising. "I said HURRY UP!" He cried. Kagome felt victorious in extracting her private revenge.

"Why should I?" She called up to him. "I'll catch up sooner or later." Inuyasha growled in response and ran back to her. She had to admire his endless energy, always running ahead of her, and then back down to her, then ahead of her again.

"You have to because I said so!" He cried, and grabbed her arm and pulled her forward, walking at an incredibly fast pace. Kagome stumbled to keep up with him.

"Slow down, you idiot! I can't walk that fast!"

"Bah, you walk to slow."

"You walk too fast!" Kagome retorted. He slowed a bit, but still kept an unnecessary fast pace. "You are so childish." She stated.

"You are the one who started it." He shot back. "I say speed up and your suppose to speed up, moron. Slaves follow orders."

"Well, I am a terrible slave then." She muttered. "I won't follow just any order."

"Moron." He repeated. "I heard that."

"You know, I do have a name." Kagome snapped. "And it is not moron."

"Idiot."

"It's not that either. It is Kagome." She raised her voice.

"I really do NOT care what your name is. A slave is a slave. They don't have names." He mocked, his mouth pulling back to an odd, half grin.

"Really now?" Kagome said sarcastically. "I have a name, so I guess I am not a slave." She smirked as Inuyasha turned to glare at her.

"You are nothing more than a human." He said, making that seem like an insult.

"I sure am." She was not the least bit miffed by his words. They had reached his home by now and he purposely strode up to it, followed by Kagome. They soon arrived back to his room, where she chose to ask yet another question she had been wondering about. "Why do I sleep on the couch? Don't I go with the other slaves, or in your case, a slave's quarters?"

"I don't have any." He paused at the door, seeming to be waiting for something.

"The knobs right there." She pointed to it.

"You open it." He said, his voice resuming a mocking tone. "You are the slave after all."

"You are the lazy one after all." She mimicked under her breath, but opened the door anyway. He walked in and she absently grabbed the necklace from around her neck and threw it at him with all her strength, surprised by the slight tingle emanating from the strange jewelry. Inuyasha caught it, but his eyes were wide with shock. "What's wrong now? Surprised I can throw too?"

"You were not suppose to be able to take this off!" He cried, looking at it in disgust. "Must be broken." Kagome remembered him mentioning that fact to her earlier. Just her luck. The perfect chance to escape had just passed her by, and she never even knew it. She sighed and watched as Inuyasha left the room to the long hallway, still carrying the necklace.

"Where are you going?" She asked, annoyed that he had made her open the door only to walk in and then turn around and leave.

"None of your business. Just do whatever until I get back." He slammed the door shut behind him.

"Whatever?" She looked around the room. Everything was in order. The fireplace had been swept by someone (heh heh), the room was clean and even the table had been polished. She felt a little bad for the people that had to come in here and do this. At least she was lucky that her owner didn't make her do anything overly tiring; at least opening doors, sitting on couches, and visiting markets didn't seem strenuous to her. There were no distractions.

This was the first time she got to completely think about the situation she had managed to get in. During the few days she had been here she had been kept busy by arguing with Inuyasha, caring for her wounds, or looking around her strange surroundings. She sighed and leaned against the wall, sliding down it in exasperation. She wondered how her brother was getting along. He must be sad, believing her to be dead. 'But I am not.' She told herself. 'I will find a way out of here. I will try to escape tonight.'

Inuyasha slammed down the necklace on the counter of a smith who specialized in rosary charms. "Your wares are crap." He stated.

"Excuse me?" The man asked, or rather hissed. This Youkai was actually a serpentine creature with far too many legs than normally and a mouth full of dagger teeth that made speaking a difficult task. "This is in fine condition."

"Well, my slave just kindly tore it off and chunked it at me." Inuyasha glared. "It's broken." One tentacle like arm wrapped around it as he took it in for a better look.

"The charm was cracked." He said after a moment.

"Well, then fix it."

"How odd…Charms just don't crack." Came a calm voice behind him. He whirled around and found a youkai by the name of Yura looking at the rosary and him in interest--or rather the rosary and his hair. It creeped him out the way she was always looking at his hair. "I heard that you now have a slave all of your own. I was wondering if you were going to ever show some of your youkai heritage." She said in the same soft tone, yet somehow managing to get across the insult.

"Feh, I only show my youkai side." He declared.

"Yet you are still a hanyou. I know of a way to change that." She said, looking at the items around the shop. She picked up a necklace made of minuscule skulls, sighing when she noticed that all of them had been polished to the smooth bone underneath. Inuyasha's ears perked up at her words, yet he still maintained his uncaring look.

"What do you mean?" He asked when it was clear she wasn't going to continue on her own. She walked up to him.

"Your hair is so nice." She murmured. "Such a unique color." She reached out, as though to touch it. Inuyasha's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

"What do you mean?" He demanded again.

She sighed and took back her hand, a look of disappointment momentarily flashing across her face. "If you come to my house for dinner tonight, I'll tell you." She walked out of the stall. "Oh, bring your knew slave too. I am wondering what kind of slave it is, if it was bought by you." She left the shop and then jumped into the air and vanished, probably taken up by her strings of hair. Inuyasha glared. He wasn't sure if he should trust that youkai…but, if there was a way…he had to know. He had to.

Yura smiled, and fingered one strand of Inuyasha's hair she had managed to capture during their brief dialogue. What luck she had to see him in the shop and learn about his new slave. 'Someone to put the blame on.' She thought to herself. Now all she had to do was to set her plan in action. It seemed like a lot of work for one head of hair, but she had her eye on it for awhile now. Either Sesshoumaru or Inuyasha's hair would do, since they both had that rich, silvery white color she always longed to add to her collection. She was not stupid enough to go after the full-blooded youkai. More questions would be asked and she herself could end up in trouble. But that simple hanyou was the perfect candidate. "And I really did have a way to help him." She laughed to herself. "But why would I? All I want is his hair." She ran along her perfectly placed strings. "Poor Inuyasha…" Her laughter echoed around, like the beams of light pouring on the youkai village.

Two people walked around a strange shop selling unusual charms. They were not allowed to go in the building, since it was only reserved for the youkai. It probably held magic that the youkai didn't want the humans to get hold of. One of the humans kept sliding closer to the other until she would say something that temporarily warded him off. The conversation they had overheard had finally been a rewarding one. After several days of constant watch and listening, they had managed to discover what they had been wanting. "Do you think she is talking about…" The girl trailed off.

"What else could change a hanyou to a full youkai." The other calmly answered back.

"Lets go." She stood up and he followed her example. "If we don't return, Janegi will be suspicious."

"Mistress Janegi." He corrected, earning a sour look from her. "Besides, I bet she thinks that we are late for other reasons…" He trailed off, but his implied words did not go missed. She knocked him upside the head, shaking slightly in anger.

"Pervert."

********

A big thanks to all the people who read this! I hope you enjoyed it--there is actually a little bit of plot occuring ^_^ I hope I got the Yura character alright--she isn't going to be a major role, but she is going to help me move the story along. Oh, and I wish the best for Katra! I accept her apology, and I hope she accepts mine:) Anyways, reviewing stories is always good, so I'd appreciate any feedback! Like? Don't like? Review!!