Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Author's Note: Well I have writer's block for all my fics. Sorry for the wait, but think it's 1;30 on a school night and I'm posting this aren't you happy? Happy Reading!

- Na

Purrfect

Chapter 6: Oppression of a Hanyou

Kagome's head finally registered that she was lying on a cold hard ground and she realized that she had been unconscious for a while. Ignoring the protest of her headache she opened her eyes expecting to see the current harsh rays of the sun. Kagome's eyes fluttered open to pitch black, she was wondering if she had even opened them. Upon the idea of checking her head for any good sized bumps Kagome's hand moved to her forehead, her hand was accompanied with the feeling of cold iron and the sounds of clinking chains.

Shocked Kagome tried to remember what had happened. She remembered Sparring with Inu-Yasha and coming out in many draws, but he had won many times and the last time she won. Thanks to the adrenalin rush she was not tired and decided to get herself a late night bath. After she sat under a tree and watched the stars. She heard a twig snap behind her but it was down wind. She had figured it was Inu-Yasha and did not acknowledge him. That when it went black.

"Well I guess it wasn't Inuyasha. Damn it! I have to stop getting knocked out, I wonder what is going to happen this time?" said Kagome, which she immediately regretted as it hurt more to talk and colored spots appeared in front of her eyes. Kagome groaned as her dulled senses tried to shut down once more and slip her mind into sweet unconsciousness.

A sharp new pain that made itself known; with the sound of foot to stomach shocked Kagome into wakefulness, with a groan of pain. The sudden sound of leather snapping across her back made Kagome scream in agony.

A cruel laugh drifted to her ears as a sinister voice spat hatred at her, "Get up Hanyou! Mistress wants you working right away!"

"What?" Kagome asked confused. The leather whip once more found her back, in five excruciating snaps, Kagome screamed and let the tears flow.

"Bakayuro you are a slave to the richest human family to the west. Now get up!" said the menacing voice cracking his whip once more.

Kagome sat up ignoring her protesting body and newly bleeding back she glared daggers at the man with her glowing neko eyes, "Is slavery legal?"

"You're a Hanyou," was the man's blunt answer before he yanked Kagome off the ground and dragged her in to the light of the outdoors, that's when Kagome saw that her feet were chained as well. Kagome squinted normally a dramatic change of lighting would not effect her as so but her mind was still swimming.

Kagome looked at her capture he was certainly human and a big burly man at that with black hair and cold black eyes, his beard had hints of gray, he was certainly a man to fear. He dragged Kagome roughly across the courtyard and into the huge looming house; Kagome didn't even have time to take in her surroundings. She was brought in front of a woman who was sitting calmly at a low table drinking her cup of afternoon tea.

"The hanyou slave as you requested M'Lady," said the man, as he kicked the back of Kagome's knees, "Bow to your mistress you hanyou filth!" Kagome fell unwillingly to her knees.

The lady looked up at Kagome, "Yes well let's see her."

Regaining her voice Kagome tried to stand, "What right do you have to enslave me?!"

"Insulate beast! You will pay for that mouth! Flog her till she knows her place, and clip those claws don't want her hurting the children, " the woman said than she smiled, "Since she is part neko youkai dunk her." Kagome starred at the woman in horror as the man behind her hit her hard on the head. The room span before it all went black and Kagome heard the sickening sound of her body hitting the ground.

--------

"Where is Kagome?' asked the curious kit.

"She went off to take a late night bath after we spared," replied Inu-Yasha eating his breakfast of rice.

"And you let her go alone?" asked Miroku.

Sango looked perplexed, "A bath? Well I guess the old Kagome does take over more than the neko youkai."

"Well she is a hanyou," replied Inuyasha.

"She left her Shinsei here,' said Miroku. That was what let out all of Inuyasha's worry Kagome was still new to the hanyou thing and didn't know her special attacks with her claws. She was as good as unarmed, without a word Inu-Yasha put down his rice and bound out of the hut following Kagome's scent.

Inu-Yasha followed in to the lake that she had used to bathe in and than to a tree where she had star gazed. Inuyasha's heart sunk as he laid eyes on Kagome's bath stuff but no Kagome. Inu-Yasha sniffed around to be horrified when he realized Kagome's scent had simply vanished; he stared to growl when the scent of clay and grave dust entered his nose. Inu-Yasha surveyed the clearing in search of Kikyo to his dismay he saw three small graves on the eastern edge of the clearing each with a clay pot or two filled with flowers. Kikyo or not Kagome was missing.

Inu-Yasha quickly left the clearing gathering Kagome's things. Inu-Yasha ran to the house at which they were staying at, he had stopped for nothing and ran into the room that his friends occupied, "Kagome is missing! I found these by the tree."

Miroku, Sango, and Shippo looked at Inu-Yasha and the shower stuff. Sango stood up from her breakfast and took the items from Inuyasha, "Maybe she went for a walk and did want to take them with her so she left them where you found them."

"No! The clearing where I found her stuff had her sent coming to it but never leaving. Her scent just disappeared!" yelled Inuyasha.

"Oh No, Kagome!" exclaimed Sango, as Shippo burst into tears.

"We should search for her, "added Miroku as he laid a comforting hand on the sullen Sango, "I suggest we split up, searching for Kagome and any rumors of her whereabouts."

"I'll go west alone," replied Inu-Yasha turning to leave.

"Why?" asked Sango looking up at the hanyou.

Inu-Yasha stopped but did not turn around, "If anyone should have to deal with the lord of the Western lands my brother Sessho-Maru, it should be me." With that Inu-Yasha left.

-------- Two Days Later-------

Kagome struggled to weed the garden it wasn't that this specific work was really hard, to put it simply even with youkai-healing Kagome had open wounds from days ago. Kagome tripped and fell flat on her face in the dirt, a loud laugh reached her ears and Kagome turned her head hissing.

The two young children Kaeko and her older brother Himura were laughing at her. Kagome took a deep breath and tried to ignore the black haired children. Kagome refused to lash out at the small children though their parents were another thing in general. Kagome had sworn that she would not be broken.

Kagome painfully stood up and continued her weeding and watering. Kagome in the beginning was surprised that her youkai strength or miko powers didn't help her at all, her arm and feet shackles were youkai proof way to strong for a hanyou such as herself, and she was simply too weak to muster her miko powers.

A rock hit Kagome Square in the forehead; she let out an exasperated groan as she turned to the ever laughing, ever torturous Himura. Kagome gritted her teeth as she walked to the little stream to fill buckets for watering plants. She filled her two buckets and placed them down on the ground, looking around for anyone, she smiled, as there was no one. Kagome bent down cupping her hands and dipping them in the water. She took quick and greedy sips. In her new 'possition' a meal of broth came every two days.

A snap on her back brought her face from the river as she whimpered, the second made her scream. Her slave driver was back as he spat out, "That was for dawdling, and the second for drinking without permission," snapped the man he roughly grabbed Kagome's arm and dragged her to her feet, "Come Hanyou filth, your presence is requested!" Kagome was dragged back to the house.

Kagome walked in to the house to hear her Mistress speaking, "Oh no Lord Sessho-Maru, We do not have a youkai enslaved, she is only hanyou."

"Like I'll believe that, I'll decide what is to be done with your slave, now bring her here," replied Sessho-Maru is his usual monotone.

"Yes, yes she is on her way now M'Lord," replied Kagome's master.

At that moment Kagome was pushed into the room she fell to the floor her head bowed, as it was plain to painful to move much more. Kagome had lived in hell for two days but to her it felt like eternity. She slept outside on the ground chained to a stake like a common dog! Rain or shine, lets just say night one had rained. Being dunked and flogged were an every ten-minute type of deal. And as already said, food was given every other day and only a small bowl of broth.

Sessho-Maru looked at Kagome who's head was still bowed to him, she was obvious a hanyou partial neko youkai. Her purple garments, could you say they were purple? Sessho-Maru wasn't sure; they had been stained with blood and mud. Her hair was a knotted rats nest, caked with mud. Sessho-Maru was leaning to letting her stay under 'employment' of the humans.

Something in Kagome's mind clicked and she slowly raised her head at the sound on three running children. In came an excited Himura, Kaeko, and Rin. Kagome smiled at Rin, "Hello Rin, do you remember me? I was human before. It is me Kagome, you know Inu-Yasha's friend."

Rin looked curiously at Kagome and than she smiled, "M'Lady!" her smile was quickly replaced by a frown, "Are you hurt M'Lady? Lord Sessho-Maru please help Rin's Lady, she is hurt badly."

Inwardly Sessho-Maru was starring wide eyed, the feeling to leave her there had lessened a smidgen. He glanced at Rin with her pleading eyes, than at Kagome. Even he believed no one she be treated like this, not even Inu-Yasha unless he was dying at Sessho-Maru's hands.

"Let her go now. Hanyou or not you cannot enslave people. Leave her with some food and I'll take her away," was Sessho-Maru's solemn reply. After a hesitant moment and a few nods from Kagome's ex master, the black haired man that had taken such a liking to her pain removed her shackles and handed her a rather large crust of bread and a bottle of water.

Kagome took the objects and not quite sure of what to do she bowed at everyone in the room her torturer, Master and Mistress, and Sessho-Maru, "Arigato," Kagome whispered barely audible.

"Come, Rin, Jakkin, Kagome," said Sessho-Maru as he turned and left the house of the rich family.

Kagome followed at his heals and for once since she got there she could look at the beauty of the house and grounds. The house itself reminded her of Naraku's Castle where the demon wolf tribe was murdered. There was a river and set further back on the backside of the house was a large pond. A lush green forest surrounded the whole grounds. As Kagome walked out on the house and then the path to the gate Kagome gave her best smile for the sun, as it shone warming and caressing her hurt face. Kagome took small bites of her bread savoring its wonderful taste although it was a little stale.

Kagome was truly happy all of her pain seemed to slip away as they walked down the street away from her imprisonment. Sessho-Maru walked a little in front of Kagome holding the reins for Ah and Un while Rin and Jakkin bickered from behind her.

"I would really like to thank you Sessho-Maru, for saving me," said Kagome quietly.

Sessho-Maru stopped and turned towards her, he smirked. Kagome looked at him almost in horror did he ever smirk? This was a bad thing, a very bad thing. Sessho-Maru spoke calmly, "Well no worries Kagome, I was almost surprised when I realized my brother had not found you, but of course your journey left no scent, since my brother's dead bitch transported you here and sold you. But she isn't completely to blame now is she? Oh no the person who turned you into a hanyou would be more to blame, so I guess you could blame me. Because I had mention to that youkai fortuneteller that oh how much trouble it would cause if my brothers new bitch were a hanyou like him except neko and not inu. I guess I got my wish. Oh how I wish I could have seen his face when he saw that you were neko and not inu youkai. As for helping you, Feh! Forget it I did it for Rin and to piss off that dead bitch Kikyou. I plan on leaving you here all by yourself."

Kagome just starred wide-eyed at Sessho-Maru as he lifted Rin up onto the two-headed dragon's back. Kagome was shocked and wasn't sure exactly how she suddenly became alone. Realization dawned on her by the will of Sessho-Maru and the magick of another she was Hanyou, by Kikyou's revengeful soul she was enslaved. And now, now she was a free hanyou roaming the Western lands lost.

"Inu-Yasha were are you?" cried out Kagome as her sore and tired feet walked on slowly making there way into the center of the village.

-------

Inu-Yasha bound with speed through the trees of the western lands forest, in search of the scent of Kagome, or Kikyou (since he had a feeling about her being involved.) so far he had found nothing. And stranger still he had not seen his brother.

Inu-Yasha had thought to soon because his brother showed up right in front of Inu-Yasha.

"My, my brother what brings you to my lands?" asked Sessho-Maru his voice dripping with distain.

Inu-Yasha let out a low growl, "I'm searching for Kagome have you seen her?" Inu-Yasha didn't like telling his brother this but the small chance that he would help and the greater chance that he would not force battle, persuaded him.

"No, I haven't."

"How about a hanyou, who is half neko youkai?" Inu-Yasha asked gritting his teeth.

Sessho-Maru smirked, "Besides you, you mean? No I haven't I did hear of a hanyou slave sold to a rich human family by the miko Kikyou, I believe she was neko. Thanks to a new no slavery law, she was set free, I would hope. Now what are you doing in search of a hanyou, a neko at that?"

Inu-Yasha growled, "None of your business!" with that he bound away from Sessho-Maru, angry and hoping that the hanyou he spoke of was not Kagome. Inu-Yasha headed towards the village where the richer humans lived.

-------

Kagome walked through the village asking everyone and anyone she could find for help. Woman yelped and hid their children while men bickered and tried to kick her out. If it wasn't enough to have small children make fun of her and throw rocks, full-grown men were no better.

She was beginning to get a feel for how Inu-Yasha's life had been and sometimes still is. As soon as she sees him again she is going to hug him and apologize fore all that had happen to him.

Kagome continued through the village, without finding a kind soul. She knew their had to be a large group of people that oppressed half-demons, or full-demons even, or even humans. She thought about Sango's village of youkai taiji-ya why not a hanyou hater village. Her food was gone and to make matters worse, it started to rain.

Kagome's tired body finally gave up as it collapsed to the ground on the outskirts of the far side of the village. Crawling Kagome curled up under a tree that was supplying minimal coverage. Kagome moved her hands around feeling the pain in her wrist, which were black and blue and had dried blood splotches from the shackles, Kagome figured her ankles were no better but she had no energy to see. It didn't take long for the accumulated pain to force her asleep.

She was completely unaware of the ominous figure hovering over her. Their scent, which had been restrained by the rain, gave her no warning of their dark thoughts.

-------

Inu-Yasha cursed the rain but felt better as he heard one of the last of the villagers going into their homes grumble about, "Not another hanyou filth soiling our village!" when they talk of more then one hanyou than the other could be Kagome.

Even threw the rain Inu-Yasha could smell death on the approach and fresh blood, hanyou blood, Kagome's blood.

-------

Kikyou hesitated with the knife in hand blood already trickled out of Kagome's throat not enough to kill her. Kikyou was utterly baffled she had thought that killing Kagome strait out would not have worked, or at the very least would have waked her. She smiled well than the fates favored her than she could Kagome regain her full soul and be with Inu-Yasha and reek her revenge.

(A/N: actually though of stopping here, just had to say that.)

"Kikyou?" asked a familiar voice from behind her. Kikyou mentally swore to her self as she turned to face Inu-Yasha.

"Oh what a relief you're here Inu-Yasha I found Kagome passed out with this knife in her, she tried to kill herself!" said Kikyou, trying to hide the lie.

Through the rain and over powering scent of Kagome's blood, Inu-Yasha could not get a good whiff of Kikyou's scent. Inu-Yasha went to Kagome placing a gentle hand under her neck and another under her knees her picked her up.

Hesitantly Inu-Yasha turned to the anger growing Kikyou, "Thanks for helping Kagome." Once more the rain had obscured senses because if it had not rained than the point that Kagome had awoken and heard Inu-Yasha.

She mentally cursed herself; he still loved her and trusted her even after what she had just done! Kagome stifled a cough as Inuyasha bound off with blinding speed.

-------

Kagome woke up wrapped in Inu-Yasha's haori by a comfortable fire in an unknown hut.

"Good to see you awake, I needed to get you out of the rain a farmer a few villages over gave us bandages, dinner and allowed us this hut for the night," said Inuyasha as he walked from his dark corner and sitting next to Kagome helping her sit up and handing her a bowl of soup, "Would you mind telling me what happened?"

"I awoke a few day's ago at this house and they treated me as a slave, I was flogged and dunked too many times to count. Sessho-Maru released me from their grasp only to tell me Kikyou is the one who sold me to slavery and it was his wish that turned me hanyou. He left me and I walked to the village where they villagers hurt me. I crawled under the tree and fell asleep. Kikyou came and tried to kill me, then you came," Kagome said by this point Kagome was in tears she took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm sorry Inu-Yasha, I'm so sorry you had no one to love you as a child, I know this feeling to its extent now and I'm so sorry," Kagome hugged Inu-Yasha, "and I know now that you won't believe me because of what I said of Kikyou, it is alright you don't have to stay." Kagome let go of Inu-Yasha and cried.

"Forgive me Kagome," said Inuyasha and Kagome cried more, she believed that he was going to leave her. Instead Inu-Yasha raised his hand to strike Kagome, she flinched and whimpered, "Kagome, it is all right Kagome. I'm not going to hurt you I just wanted to see the effect on you. They broke you I'm sorry Kagome. And don't worry I'm not leaving you I'm the only one who knows slightly how you feel. I'm glad they didn't bring you to the brink of dying, than you would have become youkai and killed them. I'm sorry I really am Kagome, you have no need to apologized to me."

Inu-Yasha looked at Kagome another hanyou for the time at least. Maybe he had been wrong maybe you do need someone to help you with your problems, maybe you should show your feelings. But Inu-Yasha knew it was almost too late for him and at this second he didn't need to think of himself rather Kagome. Inuyasha picked Kagome up and held her close to him.

Author's Note: Please tell me what you think. I know at the end it was a bit OOC. Thanks.

- Na