"From the deepest despair to new found hope"
by Hentai Jane
AN: A big thank you to everyone who has read this story and left me a review! This is a slightly edited version of ch 3. There's only a paragraph missing that contains some fast sex between Naraku and Kagura. If you want to read it go to Adultfanfiction.net THERE IS SOME LIME CONTENT AND VIOLENCE IN THIS CHAPTER, SO BE WARNED!!
CHAPTER 3
"Ten years Kagome. It has been ten long years since I found you and still you refuse to give me the information I need." Naraku folded his bloodied hands behind his back as he circled a huddled form in the center of the underground holding area. The rough damp concrete bit into her knees as she tried to hold her body up. It wanted to sleep from the trauma Naraku inflicted, but Kagome fought the urge to sink into the blackness. She sat back on her knees, staring straight ahead, showing no emotions as he glared down at the her.
Kagome's dirty hands rested on her thighs as she sat before him awaiting more punishment for something she did not understand. Since the day he imprisoned her, he had repeatedly asked questions regarding her family and the legends that followed her ancestors.
It confused Kagome to no end. Why did he care about her family and all those old stories grandpa used to tell them? She recited the tales that span back to ancient Japan, when the land was known as Edo. There were stories of demons and monsters who took innocent lives, and the brave warriors and powerful priestesses who stood for the honor of the people. Many of these stories were centered around magic spells and ancient curses, but that's all they were, just old stories to either scare children or send the mind reeling at there magnificence.
His questions changed over the course of the years. He narrowed his questions to one that was more baffling than all the rest. "What did your grandfather tell you about the Shikon no Tama?"
The Jewel of Four Souls. Naraku knelt in front of her, close enough that she could feel his breath caress her face as he spoke. "Answer me Kagome."
His tone gave her the creeps. Naraku was unusually calm today. He never raised his voice to her or any of the other slaves. Today was different though. When he hit her in the past his face would twist in an angry sneer right before impact. Now each slap was delivered with a small smile as he waited for her to recover.
She trembled at the site of him, "I..."
"Answer me..." Naraku watched as her eyes started to tear up.
"I don't know master..." Kagome stiffened, waiting for him to hit her again.
He did not disappoint her. A loud slap echoed through the underground chamber as Kagome's head snapped to the left and her body crumpled. His hand struck her cheek with such force that it cut into her delicate skin, forming an ugly gash. Naraku grabbed her by the hair and jerked her face around to look at him. "Why are you so stubborn Kagome? Why do you refuse to tell me what I want to know?"
She whimpered, fatigue and fear violently shook her body. Naraku gently tilted her chin up with the tip of his pointer finger, "Kagome, all of this pain will end when you tell me what I want to hear." he paused for a moment, taking a chance to look at her dazed sapphire blue eyes, "Now, what exactly did that old senile fool tell you about the jewel?"
'Not again.' Kagome thought as she looked into Naraku's black eyes. His eyes glistened with hatred, not only for her, but all beings he came in contact with.
Kagome swallowed the blood that was gathering in her mouth from this evenings round of beatings. It's coppery taste mixed with her own salty tears was nauseating. She wondered when she had become so weak and broken? Was it the first time he hit her? Or perhaps after the first bone he broke? No, her spirit was still in tact when she was younger. She determined that the answer didn't revolve around one event, but rather the series of beatings combined with starvation and living in her own filth. He had degraded her, taken away her identity and finally her will to live.
"I'm waiting." he purred.
"Grandfather said that hundreds of year ago a jewel named the Shikon no Tama was guarded by a priestess in our family. She died defending it and the jewel vanished. No one knows what happened to the jewel. It hasn't been seen since she died."
"That is the same tale you have told me over and over again. I tire of hearing it. He must have said something else. Think Kagome, think!" Naraku's voice sounded strained as his fingers cupped her chin. "Where was the priestess buried? Was her name Kikyo? Was she the priestess who guarded the Shikon jewel or was it Midoriko? It is important that I know these details. If I am ever to find the jewel."
"It's only a legend...." Kagome's voice was barely above a whisper, but Naraku did not miss her words.
Naraku stood up, grabbing her by the throat. His strong fingers dug into her skin as her gave her a look cold enough to turn water to ice, "It IS NOT a legend." his voice was even and cool despite the irrate look on his face, "The Shikon jewel has been pursued for centuries by various demons and hanyous. The owner of the jewel will obtain limitless power. I want that power Kagome." he released her neck, pushing her back against the wall. Naraku pressed his body against her petite frame.
She grimaced as his hot tongue traced the cut on her cheek. Kagome wanted nothing more than to puke as he licked at her half coagulated blood. "You taste so sweet, my dear Kagome." His tongue swiped over the wound as he moaned at the taste of the coppery sweetness. "I should take you, here, now, on the floor. Would you like that?"
Kagome felt a bulge press firmly against her stomach. She shook her head, not wanting to answer him in case her voice cracked from this new fear of being raped.
He smiled down at her, softly laughing at her reaction. He kissed her forehead and pulled away, "Don't worry Kagome. You are much more valuable to me as a virgin than used goods."
Naraku looked up toward the ceiling as the sound of thunder disturbed the quiet night. "Do you hear that Kagome?" her eyes widened at the question, "I think you should sleep outside tonight. The fresh air and pouring rain might jog your memory."
Kagome grasped his arm, "No! Master please, no. Don't lock me outside in the storm!"
Naraku jerked his arm from her grip, giving her another slap before hauling her to her feet and walking up the stairs. He laughed as she cried. He took her into the back yard where a thick metal pole with a hoop on top was sunk deep into the earth. A heavy chain was attached to the hoop. At the end of the chain was a leather collar with a small lock to insure that the wearer could not get away.
Endless clouds rolled across the night sky as the thunder clapped over head. Naraku attached the collar around Kagome's slim bruised throat. He took a few steps back and smiled at her, "Seventeen and still afraid of storms. How pathetic. Pleasant dreams Kagome. I hope the rain isn't horribly cold tonight." He winked at her and sauntered off to his warm home.
Soft white light beamed from the windows, outlining a form that was staring out at her.
Naraku walked in and threw the key to her collar down, "Damn." Kagura observed the girl as Naraku entered the house.
"She doesn't know anything, does she?" Kagura looked over her shoulder at the handsome black haired hanyou.
"No." he sat down in a chair and looked at Kagura, "Ten years and all I can get out of her is the same, highly condensed, story of the priestess and the jewel."
"So, you are starting to believe her then."
"You have an annoying habit of stating the obvious Kagura."
"I told you before that she did not know. I can tell by the look in her eyes. Don't you think that after all you put her through that if Kagome knew anything, even one extra detail, she would have told you?" Kagura crossed the room and stood behind him. She leaned down so her lips could brush against the outer shell of his ear, "What are you going to do with her? Since she has no information, she holds no value to you."
Naraku's breath caught in his throat as her hands massaged his shoulders and warm lips tugged at his earlobe. He took a moment to enjoy her actions before deciding to answer, "Hmmm...well...I suppose I will sell her. Kagome's virginity will fetch a high price."
Kagura smiled as she slipped around him and straddled his thighs, "How much can you get for her?"
"Six thousand easy. But I think it would be more profitable if we sold her to 'temporary owners' instead of permanent ones."
Kagura smiled at him, "Temporary? Do you mean to turn her into a whore?"
Naraku chuckled as he slipped his hands under her shirt, "That, my red eyed beauty, is exactly what I mean."
Kagura seized his lips in a passionate kiss, grinding her lower body against his lap. Naraku stood up with her legs wrapped around his hips and carried her to a table in front of the window. He knew Kagome had a bird's eye view of what was happening between the lovers.
Kagome couldn't look away. She knew the silent message Naraku was sending to her: you are next.
Kagome turned away from them, but heard Naraku's inhuman growls as he and Kagura climaxed.
Soon, the heavens opened and released the cold stinging rain. The thunder was louder this time, signaling the storm was coming near. Lightening streaked across the sky, dancing in eerie patters as the rain increased. Loud booms of thunder drowned the sounds of the panting lovers inside.
Kagome laid in the rain, freezing as the temperature dropped. Her thin clothes were soaked already. She closed her eyes and prayed for death. It didn't matter how she died, just as long as she no longer had to endure this life.
The rain seemed to come in all directions as she turned her head in an attempt to keep the water out of her face and ears. Cold winds whipped about, making her shiver and curl into a tighter ball. It wasn't long before the terror of the storm and fatigue took over, pushing her body into a restless slumber.
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Inuyasha tossed and turned in his queen sized bed. He had turned the pillows around and fluffed them countless times, but no matter what he did, he just couldn't sleep. There was too much on his mind. He worried about Sango hating him for all eternity. And what about this slave girl? Was all this hassle really worth having a clean house and a home cooked meal? After the negative incidents with hired maids, he didn't feel like putting trust into anyone else.
He folded his arms behind his head as he watched the lightening flash. Something about the thunder relaxed him, lulling him to sleep like a mother's soothing touch. Golden eyes glanced at the clock. It read 2:30 a.m.
Inuyasha listened to the soft patter of the rain against the black shingles that lined the roof. His eye lids grew heavy as his mind drifted to the sanctuary of sleep. As the fog of sleep engulfed his mind, an image of long black hair and sad blue eyes came to mind.
How little he knew that this image would mark the beginning of a new chapter in his life.