A/N: Okay, here's chapter four. Another piece of the plot is falling into play.... I guess. It's a pretty small part though. KazeMisuHi how did you guess?

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters that go by the names of the Inu cast. I own all other characters and this universe is intellectual property of me and a bunch of other people who I've probably forgotten. The point- don't copy it!

Chapter Started: 9/20/04 Chapter Ended: 9/22/04

The sun was rising slowly over the misty grounds of the estate, the forest ground was shrouded with fog. The emerald grass was bent with dew, it would need cutting today, but even the servants hadn't begun their duties yet.

Inuyasha woke as the faintest rays of the sun touched his face, eyes blinking and casting up immediately at the sky with it's sliver of a moon and the spectrum of the sunrise. Quite a nice sight, and he had been enjoying it every day for just shy of a fortnight.

Yes, things had changed, starting with the garments he had been given. He now wore loose red pants and a white undershirt beneath the loose red shirt, made from the hair of Fire Rat. The household was in good financial shape in order to afford these luxuries for a slave. His hair, that had been matted with filth, had been combed smooth and the silver tresses were long from his service beneath the old master.

He had had nothing to do either. He didn't have any work or duties and he had never been punished yet, even when he had started bullying the little fox demon Shippo. It was so strange here, he could roam free over the grounds which was the only place he was contained to, yet he was still contained. He hated the collar around his neck and despised the control the girl, Kagome, had over him. He wanted to be free, to get out into the forest and run and hunt without the damn thing getting in his way all the time, without anything binding his will to the will of another.

With a sigh he sat up from the nook in the tall tree he had been sleeping in, where he had opted to sleep even after Kagome had given him a room in her household. He could hear her stirring now, not far from the reach of one of the branches of his tree. He waited until the sounds had died down from her room, knowing what consequences would pursue if he took the tiniest peek. A moment later he heard her voice calling from the porch.

"Shippo, Inuyasha, breakfast!"

He leapt easily down from the tree branch, landing with a soft thud, and met Shippo on the porch. The little fox demon stuck his tongue out at him and he growled but he was more hungry than annoyed so he followed the younger demon into the kitchen where porridge was being ladled into bowls. Four had been set at the table, one finished and three full. Kagome was seated near the empty one, which was at the head of the table. He recognized the scent of Kagome's older sister, Kikyo, on that one. They had gotten a formal introduction, which turned out to be more of a compromise. He stayed out of her way and she stayed out of his.

Shippo immediately plopped down on the cushion next to Kagome and began eating hungrily, reaching towards the center of the table towards a fast emptying dish of cookies. The little fox demon had a sweet tooth.

Inuyasha went over and sat down as well, on the other side of the table, and ate his porridge as well, finishing just before Shippo did. He didn't like breakfast much, it was just porridge. There was meat on the dinner table. He sighed and waited, his arms crossed, for some inkling of a job he would have to do, just like the near two weeks before now. After all, he still held to the belief that this was only a set-up, something cruel to be dashed away just when he started believing it was real.

Inuyasha had eaten quickly, almost as if he expected the bowl of porridge to be torn away from him at any moment. Kagome only sighed softly, her spoon halfway to her mouth. She moved it the rest of the way and ate another spoonful of porridge and then scraping the remaining grains from the sides of the earthenware bowl.

"Kaede." she said as she finished the last grain of her porridge. "The store's supply is running low again, I'm going to go out into the woods and get some more herbs today."

she shivered at the thought, her dream still vivid in her mind. Cut it out, she cried at herself. It was just a dream! Besides, it was in the night, this is early morning! She'd just keep telling herself that, it was only a dream. She'd keep telling herself that, but she wouldn't believe it.

"I wanna come too!" Shippo said, pulling along the hem of Kagome's green and white kimono. "Can I, can I?"

"Won't you get tired?" Kagome asked, sounding cheerful though inside her dream was troubling her again. She wouldn't want Shippo to be out in the woods until she was sure it was just a dream and not a bad omen of things to come.

At Shippo's blatant shake of his head she continued.

"Beisides, you went the last time, Inuyasha should get a turn." the half demon could handle himself, as long as he wasn't ordered not to fight she was sure he could hold his own against any demon, considering what he had done to the hedge when she had decided to help out with the pruning. The servants were still picking up the fragments of branches and leaves that Inuyasha had cut off with a single wave of a claw.

"Keh." was all the half demon said in reply. Kagome supposed that meant yes, assuming she had guessed right when Inuyasha followed her out the door. A servant handed her a basket, a pair of gloves, and a small knife as she stepped out onto the porch.

"We'll miss lunch." Kagome informed Kaede, seeing the woman nod out of the corner of her eye as she turned to leave.

They were halfway to the forest when Inuyasha spoke. Kagome had been enjoying the fresh morning air and took a moment to register the half demon's words.

"What are you trying to pull?" he snapped as soon as they were out of earshot of the house.

"What do you mean?" Kagome asked, looking over her shoulder and a thoroughly annoyed Inuyasha.

"I mean, what are you thinking asking me to accompany you on your little walk?"

"Well, that's the polite thing to do, if you know what that means." she said, getting annoyed herself. What was he trying to say?

"Why didn't you just command me to come with you then, there's something called a collar around my neck you know!" he snapped, glaring at her and sounding as if he were talking to a chicken-brained fool.

"Well it's not really fair is it? You should be allowed to have a choice in what you do." Kagome said, exasperated. Was it that hard to grasp that concept? Apparently it was.

"There's nothing fair in the life of a slave."

"That just depends on how you look at it."

"Maybe you can think that, living in your own happy little world where things are all fair and equal. Well you know what, take that stupid locket off your neck, roll around in the mud for a little while, and see how fair and equal everything is then!"

She gaped at him, even as they entered the forest and he took to the tree branches. How had he known about her locket? He had been gasping with pain when she had revealed it. And why was he so accusing, how did her simple remarks get him so angry? For god's sake she had just tried to be nice, what was with him?

It made absolutely no sense at all. Who was this Kagome and what in the world was going on in her head? She hadn't ordered him to do anything, not even the tiniest thing, not counting the more embarrassing little incidents which she apologized over and over for. What kind of master was she, could she really be all nice and warm all the time? Impossible, yet the more he thought about it the more it seemed to fit.

Yeah right, believe that, Inuyasha, and there'll be a knife in your back before you can say 'keh' again!

That was right, he couldn't allow himself to be dominated by the feelings she might actually be good. All masters were bad, they just were. She would probably turn out to be the worst of the bunch, almost convincing him that she was really good inside. Keh, as if.

"Hey, Inuyasha!" he turned from his crouched position on a tree branch, looking below and behind him as Kagome waved at him.

"I'm going this way now, feel free to explore around here. I'll meet you here around noon!" she said cheerfully, heading off towards the right of the path. There still wasn't an order in her words, she was driving him insane with this. When was she going to cut to the chase and start treating him like vermin? When was she going to take back the clothes she had given him and make him eat the slops that weren't even good enough for the pigs? Maybe never...

Cut that out, you know she's going to be just as rotten as those other bastards!

He wished he could be so sure of himself now, though. She really did seem nice and he was filled with confusion. No one, not even the kindest person in the world, would treat a half demon slave like a real person, like a friend... Maybe this Kagome was kinder than the kindest person in the world.

That doesn't make sense, look at what she's making you think of now!

With a sigh he told his inner voice to shut up, deciding to take advantage of his master's lack of orders. He'd go hunt something down, maybe find a few kids to scare. Without any restrictions he could do anything he wanted, even run back to the house and kill everyone in site. That alone was suspicious. The girl was trusting him with the lives of her entire family, she could well return to an empty household, yet somehow that prevented him from going back and slaughtering them. She must be a witch or something, he couldn't believe he was passing up a slaughter just because she hadn't ordered him against it.

Enough of that, he would find something to occupy himself with and he slid down to the ground, sniffing for something to chase. There were old trails of squirrels, rabbits, a very faint deer. He crouched slightly, sniffing harder. There was a fresh trace of a fawn below a bush over to the side and he followed it, eager for a chase.

He hadn't gone far before he smelled fresh blood on the winds. He paused, scenting, and confirmed his suspicions that the blood was fawn blood. Apparently someone had found his quarry before he had. Well, he was quite prepared to fight and with no master to call him off he would do just that. All that remained was to find his opponent.

He continued on his way, leisurely following the scent of blood, until he caught site of a nearly stripped carcass, but that wasn't why he had stopped. He smelled wolves, they had taken down that young fawn, and the yellow eyes that hovered around the carcass and the lean furry bodies fit into his memories, for it had been a long time since he had been that shepherd's slave.

Still, the scent of a demon was in the air, a wolf demon to be exact. He had had a few dealings with wolf demons before, it had never been pretty, so he didn't snarl or slash at the wolves that were quickly finishing the rest of the fawn. Common sense, a virtue he had acquired over the years as a slave held him back. Apparently not all demons had such sense.

Something moved along the farthest corner of his vision and he immediately leaped clear, pivoting mid air in his flight to a tree branch to see his opponent. It was a wolf demon, just like the scent dictated. He wore a mixture of furs and armor and a sword was slipped into his belt. His human-like body was muscled and scarred and his black hair was pulled back into a ponytail and a bushy brown tail protruded from his backside.

"What are you doing in my lands?" the wolf snarled, his voice betraying anger but his face twisted into a menacing sneer. Before Inuyasha could respond the demon's nose twitched and his eyes locked on the half demon's neck, on his collar.

"So, you're a half-breed, and a slave, how nice of you to come join the meal." his sneer turning into a evil look of delight. Inuyasha prepared himself, his sleeves falling back to reveal silver claws. Before the demon could say another word he leaped, slashing with his right hand at the wolf demon.

"Got yo-" wait, his claws were clean. Not even a mark or anything, and no blood.

The dust from his landing cleared and the wolf demon lunged at him, kicking at his head. Inuyasha quickly ducked and just as the wolf demon's foot touched the ground he reached upwards to grab the demon's tail. It slid easily out of his grasp and he was suddenly blown back by a swirl of wind. Blinking in surprise he stared as the wolf demon appeared out of the miniature twister he had formed.

"You see, I'm faster than you." the demon said easily, blowing the dust off one of his fists. Inuyasha, his temper wearing thin, lunged again, claws flashing.

"Iron reaver!" he cried, though again his claws met with nothing. A moment later something knocked into his side and he went sprawling across the ground, picking himself up just to be struck by an onslaught of blows.

"Iron reaver, soul stealer!" he cried again, clawing just as the timed blows hit for the second barrage. The yelp of pain and the wet liquid on his claws told him he had hit his mark.

"You'll pay for that!" the demon warned, the fur wrapped around his forearms shredded to bits, his fists cut to the bone.

"I don't think so." was the half demon's reply, wiping the side of his mouth with a sleeve.

They both lunged at each other then, Inuyasha armed with his claws and Kouga with a sword. The wolves snapped and snarled, circling and preparing to lunge, their slavering jaws informing all who cared to look the half demon was outnumbered.

A/N: Contrary to my user info I've decided to update sooner, though there is a consequence. This is actually half of the original chapter four, which I have yet to finish. I just thought this was a good cutoff point. Isn't it such a good cliff hanger? Not. Anyways, expect chapter five by the middle of next week at latest.

Replies:

Neko-Yuff16, Hot Hanyou, anomaly, StaryKegome, Victoria Wolf, DimmingBlackRose: Thanks for your reviews, good to know I have fans!

Samieko: Not likely, sorry, but this story isn't going to drag much longer than 10 chapters so there's no place from them to really get involved. They would just be bad side characters without any importance in the plot.

Amaya Mistu: Yes, Chapter three really sucked. When I'm done with the story, and not pressed for updates, I'll give it a bit of a rewrite.

KazeMizuHi: I was planning all along to get Inuyasha and Kouga in a fight, though it doesn't help that much in the plot. I thought it would be interesting.

Naturesunicorn: Yes, I know, I took it for what it was. I just didn't really think the story was that unique, I'm sure there is some other Inuyasha slave fic on fanfiction.

Inutashio: Yup, he isn't with the evil master or slave master! I didn't like torturing him that much anyways.

turtlerad17: Yes, slavery is horrible. I can't imagine we could do that to human beings! But, it is a good setting.

GoddessDiana: Here's the update you're hoping for.

yugia: Talent? Well I suppose you could call it that. My favorite chapter is the first though. I think the idea I have for the last will be good as well.

Inuyasha-Addict- 77: I see, I think I might be reading one of those. Well, never fear, this story has an ending in mind so I'll be continuing until that gets written.

The next part will come out in the middle next week most probably. The more you review the faster I'll update! Now, for the requirement. How about three new signed reviews?

Darkwolf