AN: Huzah! I got reviews! ::Happy Dance::
DemonBlade: Thanks ^_^ and I love your Whipping Girl story.
Silver Eyes Bright: How did you guess? ^^;
Little Washu Chan & Keri Maxwell: Thanks! And here you go.
An Inuyasha Story
Chapter 2
I stretched as I loaded the cart with the last of the day's supplies. The sun was out, the sky was cloudless, and the wind kissed my skin gently. All in all it was a beautiful day. I had to go into town to sell some of the pottery I made and see if I could hire some one to help with some 'male jobs' around our small farm. My parents having died some years back leaving only myself and my younger brother Souta to raise ourselves.
"Souta." I called over my shoulder.
"Yeah Kagome?" He called as he stepped out of the barn holding the horse we were to hitch to cart.
"I probably won't be home till late so I need you to be responsible." Souta rolled his eyes.
"I know Kagome." He sighed.
"Don't let any strangers into the house."
"I Know."
"Keep the door locked."
"I KNOW."
"And don't, under any circumstances,…"
"Kagome, I KNOW!" he almost shouted, "It's not like I regularly run through the country side naked." I had to smile at him. Souta and I went through this every time I had to leave. It was always the same routine. I crawled into the cart seat and Souta handed me the reins. I looked over my shoulder to make sure that all the pottery was securely tucked into the straw before turning back.
"All right Souta." I half laughed, "Just be careful."
"I will Kagome." He said, waving as I started down the road. I waved back and smiled. The village was over an hour ride away and the route ran down a very beautiful stretch of road. Off to the right were a series of small farms very much like the one Souta and I tended. On the left was a small river with a forest on its opposite bank. The birds were singing and the wind was playing in the trees. The trip to town was fairly uneventful, I waved to my friends and they waved back. They also warned me that they had heard strange noises coming from the woods and that I should be careful.
The town, Shikon, in the land of Tama, was a good size village. The people walked to and frow from booth to booth looking at the wares of the venders. The crowd parted to let my cart pass. I had made many trips to Shikon, before and after my parents' death, but never have I seen the streets so empty. The atmosphere was harboring something that I couldn't readily identify. I shrugged it off.
"Hello Myouga." I called to the squat man who sold my pottery. Myouga was an elderly man no more then three feet tall and two feet wide. He has been a friend of the family for as long as I can remember and is never short on wise advice. He ran a small pottery booth near the Village Square and always bought my pottery for more then it was worth. I guess it was his way of looking out for Souta and I.
"Hello Kagome, how have you been?" He asked as I stepped down form my cart.
"Good." I said with a grin, "I've brought lots of new stuff for you."
"Then let's get down to business." Myouga said with a clap of his hands. We walked around to the back of the cart and unloaded my wears. As we took each out of it's straw cushioning we lined them up for along the ground behind the booth. When we had finished this task, Myouga judged them. After examining each piece thoroughly and with many 'Humm's, 'Uh huh's, and 'very nice's he finally reach a price that he felt was fair, if not a little weighed.
"Well Kagome, I'll give you 100 shillings a piece." I think my jaw fell open because he quickly added, "I know what you're thinking, '100 shillings is a lot', well I'll have you know that I have yet to sell anything of yours for less." He turned and filled a leather purse with 1300 shillings. Before I could say a word he shoved the money into my hands and ushered me off. "Now hurry along child, I have a booth to attend to."
"Thanks Myouga." I said climbing back into my cart.
"You're welcome Kagome. Be safe."
"I will." I replied before turning the horse and starting down the street. I considered my options. I now had 1800 shillings, 1300 from Myouga and 500 I had brought with me. That much money could easily buy me two or three hired hands. I smiled and shook my head. Myouga had known, I don't know how, but some how he had known. The sound of a lady screaming snapped me out of my thoughts. I briefly wondered what was going on before turning my horse to head for the square. The Square was the best place to pick up hired hands after all.
The closer I got the more crowded and louder my surroundings became. I scanned my memory for some event that could draw such a crowd. Festivals, traveling shows, perhaps a noble passing through. I didn't recall any rumors of such things. Up ahead I heard someone yell an obscenity the crowd roared with laughter. That's when I hit me. The event of the day was not some joyous occasion; it was an execution. I urged my horse faster through the congested streets. I didn't need to worry about hitting anyone, most people have the good sense to get out of the way of a horse and cart. Though they did make a few choice comments and gestures. I rounded the last corner just in time to see a silver haired boy, maybe only a few years older then myself, gasping for breath at the end of a rope. All around him people laughed and jeered at his distress. My stomach turned at the site.
"1800 shillings!" I shouted before I could stop myself. Everyone turned to look at me as silence filled the square. I felt heat rise to my cheeks but kept a determined look on my face.
"What did you say?" the guard standing next to the trap door lever called in surprise. It was a very rare occurrence to have some one buy the freedom of a convicted.
"1800 shillings for his freedom." I said again. The guard smirked and drew his sword.
"As you wish." He said and cut the rope with a single swing. The boy at the end crumpled to the ground with a dull thud and lay still. The crowd parted to let me pass, many whispering things I couldn't make out. I tossed the leather purse at the guard as I stopped next to the boy. Steadying my horse, I climbed down and knelt next to the boy. My first instinct was to check his pulse. It was faint, but it was there. I sighed with relief. With great effort, due to the fact that the boy was both bigger and heavier then myself and that no one would help me, I managed to get the boy in to the back of my cart. I climbed back up into the cart as a guard passed me a key to remove his bonds. With a finally look back to make sure he was secure, I returned the way I had come.
The stares and whispers followed me all the way out of town. When I passed Myouga's booth I could have sworn he smiled at me.