When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you? His brothers jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:10-11
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DREAMERS
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CHAPTER TWO: LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
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It felt so warm.
The sun was shining brightly through the clear blue sky and there wasn't a cloud in sight. The moon reflected perfectly on the evening sun in a crescent shape. But for some odd reason, the stars were visible. They didn't look like the tiny specs that glistened at night. They were much larger in fact and appeared even in the daylight.
"Feh," whispered a human observing this strange phenomenon playing before him.
He was lying under the light shade of the tree facing the heavens. It was a relatively bare tree that allowed him clear access to the vast open sky. He could feel the cool earth beneath him as his head was propped up on some type of hard substance. By its jagged texture, he supposed it was a rock. But there didn't appear to be anything else in sight for miles. Except endless sand.
Was he in a desert?
"Where am I?" the man croaked. The voice vibrating from within sounded rough and scratchy. He didn't even recognize it as his own. It was okay though because he felt happy. No, happy didn't delineate the emotions circulating within him. He felt more like…content. Yes, he could lay here forever watching the sun and the moon and those bizarre stars.
He felt so good lying down looking up at those crazy stars that twinkled and smiled back at him—wait. Stars don't smile. He squinted his eyes against the blinding light. Maybe they do. It was hard to see, but sure enough they were smiling. And so was the sun. And they had faces too. Human faces, he decided. And everyone was so doggone happy like him. This was paradise in itself.
"Ken'ichi," murmured the sun. It was a soft and feminine voice. Her rays of light beat gently down on his face. "I bow before you."
"Ken'ichi?" he repeated dully, staring strangely up at the sight before him. Who the heck is Ken'ichi and could suns bow?
He smiled tiredly letting out a big sleepy yawn. 'Cool.'
He didn't know how it happened, but the sun bowed. And the stars seeing sun's humbleness did him the same favor. They bowed and called out for their Ken'ichi—whoever that was.
While everyone was prostrating themselves before him calling out for this Ken'ichi guy, the crescent moon regarded him. He—the moon had very masculine features—gazed upon him with a rather indifferent look, never speaking, never smiling. Just sitting—or more like floating on the sun's left hand side.
The human's arms and legs were spread out as he bathed in the warmth of light. Nothing he'd ever experienced felt this good. He felt loved. He felt worthy. He felt like the center of attention. He felt…something wrapping itself around his wrist—make that both wrists….and both ankles.
The warmth and sunshine seemed to vanish abruptly as the tree root or whatever it was constricted him until he was unable to move. He was trapped! It was probably those damn Northerners setting up another ambush even in his place of solitude.
Darkness was replacing the light incredibly fast. He was being engulfed by its suffocating presence. He could no longer see the eternal blue that stretched for miles on. It was just complete darkness. He could no longer smell the pleasant outdoor aroma or feel the soft ground beneath him. None of his senses were functioning…except his ears.
He could hear voices. But they didn't belong to his friendly planetary figures.
"What should I do with him?" asked a soft spoken woman. There was a sense of urgency in her small phrase.
"Take Ken'ichi south to one of the smaller provinces and kill him there. That way, nobody will find his body," drawled a man with a deep and silky voice.
"No! Please master, I can't! H—He's just a baby!"
The man tisked in response. "Remember our little deal, Hisa?
When the woman failed to speak, he pressed on.
"I," he enunciated. "Am willing to grant you the one thing you desire most," There was a pause to increase the moment of suspense. "Freedom. And," he chuckled softly. "All you have to do is the kill the royal brat. Then we can both walk away happy and in ease."
"It's your choice, Hisa." The man with the baleful voice stopped speaking so his words had a chance to sink in.
She didn't respond immediately--almost like she was weighing her choices.
"Fine," she spoke in firm tone. "I'll do it."
Those last words of the girl named Hisa echoed throughout the head of the eavesdropping human until he felt his head would explode. The binds on his wrist were getting tighter. He felt like he was being dragged around like a ragged toy by some unknown force that he couldn't see or hear. But now at least he could feel. He was in extreme pain. His flesh felt on fire as if it was slowly being ripped apart and he had no idea what was causing it.
He was cruelly knocked back to conscious when his head bumped over a sharp pebble.
"Hey come on kid, wake up."
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"Sit up straighter, Kikyo," came the sharp and piercing voice of Lady Kimi. "You wouldn't want our guest thinking you have a crick in your back, now do you?" She turned slightly in her seat to face their guest of honor. "The Queen's Advisor has been kind enough to travel a great distance in order to see you. The least you can offer him are your manners."
As commanded, Kikyo leveled herself from a somewhat slouched position and tilted her chin up with all the grace she could muster. She flashed a lovely smile in the advisor's direction. "Forgive me, Dear Mother."
Their company was seated at the head of the table in the dark of the room. The silk curtains hung limply over the window blocking out any sunlight that might have penetrated the dining room.
"Now, now Kimi," answered the calm and collected man. He raised a glass of wine to his lips and took a long yet effortless sip as he stared with an unreadable expression at Kikyo. "You mustn't be so hard on the poor girl." He returned the bright smile she had sent him earlier with a darker version of his own though it lacked flavor. "You've done a wonderful job of raising her."
He eyed her in an approving way noticing the way her body had changed since he'd last seen her. Her round face had narrowed somewhat, her shoulders had broadened, and she had filled out though she wore and elaborate dress to cover herself up.
"My dear, Kikyo how you continue to blossom before my very eyes," the shady man spoke as he brushed his dark cascading hair away from his face and leaned his head on the palm of one hand. His other one continued to fidget with the stack of papers that lay in front of him on the smooth mahogany table.
Kikyo squirmed under his gaze as a faint blush grazed both cheeks. "Arigato, Naraku-sama."
"We cannot describe the joy you have given us just with your simple presence. You are much too kind, Naraku," Lady Kimi jumped in interrupting the brief exchange between daughter and the Queen's advisor. "So have you brought another list?" She leaned eagerly over the table to peek at the paper in front of him.
Naraku seemed to focus back to his papers as Kimi nosed her way into his business. "Ah, yes." He shot another look at Kikyo before continuing. "Let's see. Who else is interested in the lovely Kikyo?"
Kimi clapped her hands in excitement smiling idiotically at her daughter. "You will have a wealthy and powerful husband in no time, my child." She leaned across the table to touch Kikyo's chin marveling at her hidden kiss. "Naraku and the Queen Maemi have looked everywhere for a perfect husband for you. Isn't it wonderful to be related to the Queen?"
Kikyo continued to flush from the enormous attention she received, while Naraku noted the similarities between daughter and mother. Kimi was just like this when she was younger. She was about the same age when she married the noble, Kazuo –the younger brother of Maemi. He had fought in the war against the Southerners and had died a couple of years ago. Now Kikyo was left as his only heir to carry on the family name. But once she married, his name would be lost forever. No one would ever recall the great Kazuo or any of his accomplishments. But if only he'd had a son—then his name would pass down from generation to generation. He would be remembered.
'No,' Naraku considered, 'Women shouldn't inherent the position of their fathers so easily. Women such as Maemi…'
"Yes, onto business," he resumed shaking his head from all seditious thoughts. "It appears we have three men on the waiting list handpicked by the Queen herself—she is deeply interested in you, Kikyo," he added.
"Who are they?" the young girl blurted out ignoring his seemingly unlimited sycophancy.
"Kikyo," Kimi stated crossly. "Do not be rude and disrespect Naraku by talking out of turn. You will hold your tongue in a man's presence" She calmly turned towards the man with a serious face. "Yes, who might these eligible bachelors be?"
"Well," Naraku chuckled lightly. "There is the newbie Hiko. Son of the wealthy merchant, Jigazao. He has requested Kikyo's hand in marriage if she's willing, but… he isn't of noble blood. So, I don't think we'll even consider the offering."
"Of course not." Kimi turned her nose up and waved away the preposterous idea of some middle-class filth escorting her daughter. "That's not an option."
"All right," he resumed with a faint tone of skepticism as he crossed something off on his list. "I had to make sure. You do remember that the Queen herself married someone of a lower status."
"You mean, Inutaisho—that mutt demon?" Kimi nearly fainted from his name on her lips. "Ugh, how could I forget? She married for love."
"And look how that turned out," he added before getting back on topic. "Shall we move on to the next suitor?"
The woman nodded in consent.
"Have you ever heard of a man named Hakiote?"
"Hakiote?! Did you just say Hakiote?" Lady Kimi nearly jumped out of her seat. "He is one of the most powerful nobles in the land!" she stopped abruptly as something caught her voice. "But I thought he was married." Her lips bit down pessimistically.
"Actually," he soothed in a matter-of-fact tone while chancing a quick glance at his well-trimmed nails. "Hakiote's wife passed away recently, and he's looking for someone else to take her place on."
"Wait!" Kikyo exclaimed interrupting the transaction once again. "Just how old is this Hakiote person?"
"He is in his late fifties to be precise," Naraku mused.
"What?!" Kikyo spun her head towards her mother. Her eyes betraying all the emotions circulating within her—fear being the most evident one. "You don't intend to marry me to an old fart, do you dear Mother?"
"My darling, you make it sound like you despise the offer."
"I do—"
"Hakiote is a rich man—and an experienced one at that. If I'm not mistaken, he would make an excellent provider, right Naraku?" she glanced up at the matchmaker for back-up. "He is a perfect husband!"
Naraku nodded with a cruel smile.
"But Mother, he is twice your age—an-and almost three times my own!"
"Actually, four times your own," Naraku tapped his lip with the feather pen silently doing the math.
They were quiet for awhile considering the possibility. Kikyo was about to boil over in frustration.
"Who is the last person?!"
"Thank you for your time, Naraku," her mother cut in throwing her daughter a very disapproving look. "We have already made up our minds. Hakiote is an excellent choice."
"Of course, my lady. It is entirely up to you." He stood from the table to conclude their discussion looking down upon Lady Kikyo. "Besides, the last choice was just a foolish monk searching for a wife who might bear him a child—not a good match for someone with expectations as high as your own, might I add, Kimi." He smiled sweetly at the two ladies.
"I shall make all of the necessary arrangements for your daughter. Perhaps, I'll visit Hakiote later on this week." He approached Kikyo and rested a hand on her shoulder. "I would have you know, Kikyo, that Hakiote is a very solemn man. He does not appreciate childish antics or insolent behavior. He is a respectable man meaning he expects you to be a lady at all times."
Kikyo continued to tremble in anger. Tears were brimming at the rim of her eyes, but no one seemed to notice.
Naraku stared sharply up at Lady Kimi. "Tell me, Kimi, does Kikyo still carry around that naïve playmate of hers."
Kikyo froze.
"Why yes…We er, have kept her around, for Kikyo's… personal satisfaction for many years now. She was a gift from my late husband, you see…" She seemed uncomfortable with the topic. "I-Is that not right to still have her?"
"I advise you to get rid of her immediately," he said simply. "Kikyo no longer needs a playmate since she will no longer be playing silly games. She will need to be brought up under my care." A finger curled into the girl's sleeve. For a moment she sat too stunned to speak. Her eyes were wide as marbles as she slowly nodded her head disbelieving. He smirked at her reaction before, murmuring, "Good, girl."
"I believe it's time I leave now." He stepped lightly on the hard tile floor. His footsteps echoed throughout the room as he approached the door.
"But you just got here!" Kimi cried out moving to intercept him from reaching the exit. Naraku beat her to the chase though. "You can't go now! Please—stay for the night. I'll give you a tour of our lovely home. We could…get to know one another better." She tugged at his sleeve.
He didn't miss the look in her eyes, but turned from her anyways. "I'm afraid I cannot stay as there are other civil matters I must attend to. With war threatening our provinces, the Queen needs my counsel more than ever. I appreciate your offering, Kimi, but I must leave now."
Lady Kimi cast her eyes downward slightly embarrassed by her own forwardness. "I understand."
"Kagura," he spoke in a voice barely audible, his eyes never trailing from the hostess.
A young woman probably in her mid-twenties emerged from the hallway. Her jet-black hair was wrapped tightly in a bun with a feather tucked neatly behind her left ear. Her crimson colored eyes flashed sharply taking in the new acquaintances.
"May I introduce, Kagura. This will be your tutor, Lady Kikyo. She will instruct you in all the necessary fundamentals of being a subordinate housewife as you see fit. Until you are no longer in need of her assistance, she will stay with you." His eyes traveled the length of Kagura before looking back at Kikyo. "I suggest you pay attention; she is very good." The man nodded one final time at Lady Kimi before departing.
Kagura gave a stern glare at the two women before bowing humbly to Lady Kimi her expression softening somewhat. "I'm honored to teach the daughter of the great Kazuo," she smiled sweetly.
"Thank you for coming, Kagura," the older woman managed a tired smile before peering across the room at Kikyo who refused to meet her gaze. "I'll leave you two alone to get to know one another."
Kikyo refused to make eye contact with either of the women.
"Kikyo," Lady Kimi walked slowly over until she was standing directly behind her. "Darling, I think it would be the right thing to sell Kagome today."
Kikyo winced slightly, but made no motion to show that her mother's words had affected her. Everything was happening so fast. First she was getting married to an artifact, and now she had to send her best friend away. She'd possibly never see Kagome again.
"She my friend though!" Kikyo bawled. "I don't understand—why can't Kagome work in the kitchen or be a house maid? She doesn't have to be my playmate! That way I can still see her, Mother!" Silent tears streamed down her face while her chest heaved uncontrollably.
She felt her mother's arms wrap securely around her sobbing form. "Kikyo, listen. This isn't meant to punish you. It's meant to help you." A soft hand gently eased Kikyo's face up until she was staring back into her mother's loving eyes. "I know you, Kikyo. Don't think for a moment, that the two of you wouldn't find some way to sneak off to play in the forest. I'm not as gullible as I may have led you to believe." She pressed a kiss on her forehead. "It would interrupt your training and it could ruin your chances of ever living a successful life. I'm your mother, Kikyo. And I know what's best for you. Kagome…Kagome must leave."
"Can't I at least say good-bye to her?"
Her mother stroked the young girl's fine raven hair. She brushed the bangs out of her eyes before planting another kiss on the top of her head. "Probably not," she whispered so Kagura couldn't hear them. "It would make her departure even harder for you. I don't want you to be even more upset, Kikyo."
Kikyo stood straight up with these last words.
"I hate you," she snapped menacingly before storming out of the room.
On her way out her eyes met Kagura. They froze for just a brief second each challenging the other with an icy glare before Kikyo sprinted to her chambers.
"Well, it's nice to meet you too." Kagura stared after her once she left.
"Please, don't mind her, Kagura. She's just…upset right now," Lady Kimi walked slowly towards the exit massaging her head with delicate fingers. The whole turn of events had given her a most unfortunate headache. "I am very sorry, but don't stress over it; she'll be back to her old self in no time"—after I get rid of Kagome. "I apologize, but I must have a word with someone, right now. Do forgive me. My servants will help you settle into your room since you will be living with us for quite some time. Make yourself at home for the time being." She smiled weakly and disappeared around the corner leaving a surprised Kagura standing all by herself with no place to go.
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"Hey, get up, buddy," the gruff voice spoke again. "It's a few miles to the next village, and I don't feel like hauling you all the way there."
"Where am I," croaked the broken hanyou as he slowly opened his eyes. He shut them tightly when blinding light invaded the eyelets. He didn't have a clue where he was or why he was lying on the ground eating dirt, but this much was certain: every single part of his body was screaming in pain.
The turn of events from the day before slowly crept back to him. His eyes shot open once more, this time paying no heed to the foregoing light. He was a captured prisoner of war. Mohawk had told him that he was gonna sell him and then…and then…he was a mess. Glancing down at his clothes only confirmed this. His normally light navy uniform was filthy black and he had cuts and bruises everywhere. From a bystander's point a view it would appear like he'd gotten into a fight with a cotton gin and lost miserably. His arms were raised above his head with both hands bound together by heavy chains. Somebody was dragging him by those arms.
"Hey moron, what do you think you're doing up there?" Inuyasha stared unflinchingly up at the bearded man that was giving him a butt burn from the friction with the ground.
The bulky man who was almost twice his size only glanced down impassively at the pathetic form before resuming his gaze in front of him. "Like I said, get up. I don't have all day."
"Listen pal, I don't take orders from anybody especially," his eyes scanned over the man measuring him up. "A human."
"Human?" The guy only lifted an eyebrow at him before shrugging. "Buddy, check the mirror once in awhile. And do me a favor—get up."
"Hey, listen," spat a very insulted Inuyasha. "First of all I'm not your buddy, and secondly I'm a demon, see?" He reached for his fluffy ears on top of his silvery head, but felt nothing.
"Oh, yeah," he said reaching for the rosary beads wrapped just around his neck. "I was in the middle of ripping this to pieces."
The man was growing irritated. "Look buddy, I know you have your own personal problems and I respect that, but you really weigh a ton and I can't—"
Inuyasha slowly crawled to his feet. "All right, all right, stop your whimpering I'm up—ow, damn. That one hurt," he clenched his ribs. "I think I broke something." He limped lightly until he fell into pace with the man beside him his arms still aching from lack of blood circulation.
The man allowed him to lean on him a little as they both carried on their journey to wherever they were heading. It wasn't just the two of them though.
Inuyasha looked steadily in front of him. There must have been at least a hundred men and women traveling just like the two of them—bound with no hope of escape. Their gigantic chain gang could have probably been mistaken for a regiment. They marched with three people per row, Inuyasha being the one in the middle and the man with him to his left. But no one was on his right. Apparently someone had either escaped or the spot had just been vacant seeing how their row was the only one with two people. Being in the very back of the line might have also affected this as well.
"Hey," Inuyasha nudged the man beside him. "What's going on? W-Where am I?" His head was going off in all directions—from the worn-out dirt road they traveled on to mountains that ostensibly touched the sky.
"Dang, you really don't have a clue do you, pretty boy?"
Inuyasha's head whirled around just in time to catch the playful smirk on the big guy's face. "Pretty boy?" He shot the man his best death glare who in turn just laughed. "Yeah, keep smiling, hairy. Just wait til my demonic powers return—then we'll see who gets the last laugh."
"Ooooh, big threat for someone who can barely stand, let alone walk."
"Feh." The hanyou did the next best thing that came to mind when running his blatant mouth didn't work: sulk.
"Hey, look." the burly man gestured trying to ease some of the young man's self-pity. "We've been traveling for about two hours with me hauling you like a wagon. All of us will soon belong to the all-mighty Kouga." Those last words he uttered held just a tinge of sarcasm while he waved his hands up in the air. "You see, these two guys—one with some messed up hairdo—dropped you off unconscious at the last stop. And now these psychotic guards who have the nerve to call themselves human beings expect me to march at the same speed as these other guys in front of us while lugging you around like some kind of mule. It's good that you're awake now. You really do pack some pounds though you look as thin as a twig"
"Well, where's our third man?" Inuyasha spoke regarding the vacant spot on his right.
"We have one last stop before reaching Kouga's manor," he said pointing to the village up ahead. "I reckon we'll be picking up some more people at this next place."
"We need to escape." Inuyasha stated bluntly his eyes darting around until they came to rest on his chained wrists.
"No can do, buddy." The man chuckled lightly. "You've got spirit, but even that won't free you. Believe me, everyone here has already tried."
"But it's just the two of us. If we could somehow disconnect ourselves from the people in front of us, we could get away!"
The man bleakly shook his head. "And how do you propose we do that?"
"I-I don't know yet…"
"Well that's great to hear."
"Hey," Inuyasha spoke with a change in topic. "Those two men you were talking about from before—the ones who brought me here, where'd they go?"
The man chuckled again—this time at the young man's randomness. "Every soldier who brings in a live Southerner gets a cash prize of 1,000 yen if they sell them into slavery," the big guy answered bitterly. "Those two ran off with the money they made on you and have probably returned to the war." The man paused as a sudden thought crossed his mind. "What's it been? Nearly 17 years since we've been fighting? I've lost track of the years since I've been here. Northern bastards. I bet none of them have ever done a lick of work in their entire lives without having to rely on us. You see, all slaves in this country are Southerners or are descendents of the Southern race. Those cocky Northerners believe themselves to be superior to our people in every plausible way—just because most of them are youkai. They feel they need to enslave any race that's weaker than them." The man glanced back at Inuyasha who seemed like he was dozing off on the man's cushiony shoulder.
"Hey wake, up you ungrateful brat I'm trying to tell you the history of this war."
"Hu…what?—youkai are better in plausible ways?"
"I suppose none of you youngsters even know what we're fighting for."
"Shut-up. I'm not some prick who needs to be lectured about this war. Unlike most pompous idiots who join the war thinking it's some type of poetry where the soldier survives without a single scratch on their back and later on becomes a hero, I know what I got myself into when I joined this stupid little war. It's as dirty and bloody as hell. And it always—always changes you."
"Then you must know of the foolish Queen of the Northerners who still thinks we're responsible for the kidnap of her child. What a load of crap that is."
"Shit, like I care," yawned a very grumpy Inuyasha. "I just hope they don't take over my homeland." He almost choked when he realized what he'd just said. Funny how things slipped when you got too comfortable around people.
The man didn't appear suspicious, but he'd learned to never trust anybody other than himself. Yet here he was blabbing to some complete stranger about where he lived.
"And where would that be?" the man asked casually.
"The Risoukyou province. What's it to you?"
"Wow kid, good luck trying to protect that. Everybody—especially the Northerners can't wait to get there grubby hands on that little piece of gold."
"Why? Besides the pretty scenery, our most profitable exports are sheep and fertilizer. How can anybody want that?"
"Well," the man lowered his voice. "Since you grew up there, I think it's safe to say that you've heard of the Jewel of Four Souls?"
"Keh," he scoffed. "Everybody knows that's just a myth."
"Myth of no myth, this country wants that jewel."
"I know," Inuyasha hissed quickly. "That's why I joined this stupid war."
"So I guess your not really fighting for the Southern cause then, you just want to prevent the Northerners from taking over your homeland, am I correct?
"Jeeze, whatever made you think that?" he rolled his eyes.
"You're wearing the uniform just like me and all these other guys around us."
Inuyasha looked away. His eyes fell upon a male slave close to the front who had just tripped and fell holding up the entire line.
"That doesn't mean anything," he said softly regarding a patrolling guard who was strutting his way to the front to see what all the commotion was. Another guard on duty was already beating the man senseless shouting at him to get up. The woman next to the unfortunate man was desperately trying to silence a wailing child in front of her who was starting to irritate a guard nearby.
Inuyasha narrowed his eyes. 'These people make me sick.'
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She watched from a tree as the guards entered the village along with the commercial slaves. Her legs dangled from one of its highest branches that overlooked the entire village from within the manor's fortress-like walls. Every Sunday afternoon when Lady Kikyo would sip tea with her mother, she would slip out into the courtyard and peak at the foreigners. She rarely saw new people in her small world that revolved around Kikyo, so it was always a stirring experience.
She squinted her eyes against the blinding sun to see if she recognized anyone from before. The guards looked the same. There was that large man in charge who always rode on his speckled chestnut tokara. She pitied the animal for lugging the tub of lard everywhere. Then there were his two right hand men who were apparently brothers though they looked nothing alike. They always got into each others way when making deals with customers. Yes, it was quite entertaining to watch them pick fights with each other and with people who held a bargain too high.
The people in their rich little village always seemed to be selling, exchanging or buying slaves from the slave trade. Then the leftovers were sent to some man named Kouga where they maintained his estate while he was away at war.
But what amazed her most was the number of slaves they were already carrying with them. It didn't surprise her to see large numbers of people in the slave trade; it's just that she'd never seen so many Southern soldiers in her entire life. They made up at least half of the party this time.
"Kagome," a gruff voice spoke somewhere below interrupting her thoughts.
Kagome's head shot down in time to see Keiji leaning against the base of her tree. His normally long and unruly hair was tied back into a tight ponytail. Each of his finely tuned arms were folded across his bulky chest. The man was impressive standing at 6'5. He could overcome anyone in both physical and verbal quarrels being quite a clever man. But his normally sharp and perceptive mind seemed a little distracted today.
"Keiji," Kagome finally breathed his name the initial shock lessening somewhat. But it was quickly replaced with fear. She was always afraid in his presence.
"Why do you address me from up there? Come down, I must have a word with you."
Kagome wondered what he would do if she simply stayed where she was. Would he climb up and drag her down if she resisted him? Could Keiji even climb a tree? Probably. Keiji could do everything. But it would be funny to see him sprawled across the tree trying to catch her…
She decided not to press her luck any further. All in all she would still have to take her beating. It was best not to upset the man. She leaped nimbly down the tree gliding from branch to branch like a natural squirrel. She finally reached ground level kneeling several feet away from Keiji. At least there was some distance between them.
"Yes?" her voice squeaked. She grasped her neck self-consciously before trying again.
"Yes?"
"Kagome," the man smirked. "Relax. I will not punish you today."
"Y-you won't?" Oh great, now she was stuttering.
"No," he said simply before he turned to his back to her. "I could really care less about your "adventures" with Lady Kikyo or why archery with Kazuo's weapons intrigues both of you so much. But it is no concern of mine…unless Lady Kimi has a problem with it."
"So… you knew about this morning, huh?" She sighed sadly.
"Mmm," he nodded. "I know everything."
When she still refused to make eye contact with him, he continued. "Come. Let's take a walk."
"Wha—what?"
"Is there a problem with that?" he called over his shoulder.
"Um—er no." she fumbled. "It's just that…well, we rarely converse."
"I suppose not."
He shook his head slightly as she fell into place beside him. She had no idea where they were walking to, but she couldn't complain. The only purpose Keiji served in her life so far was to punish her for disobeying Lady Kimi. They never chatted and she never complained. Keiji just did what he was told to do and that was the end to their exchange at least until Kagome broke another rule again.
It was always a very straightforward procedure.
"The Queen's advisor was here today," he said quietly. "Did you know?"
"Yes," Kagome whispered. She paused as if she wanted to add something else, but at the last moment decided against it.
Keiji caught it though.
"Is there something you want to tell me?"
His voice was kind when he spoke those last few words. For some strange reason, Kagome felt like she could trust him despite all the pain he had caused her. Like he understood her suffering and pain. It really wasn't him who had caused her the pain though, was it? It was Lady Kimi. Keiji just followed her orders like he was supposed to. He didn't do it to be mean.
"I do not like that man," she stated firmly. "Whenever…whenever he looks at me, I feel cold. I-It's hard to explain."
Keiji nodded again deep in thought. "You are wise fear the man. And you have every right to hate him. He was the one who first introduced slavery to this country. He is very old and very powerful despite his youthful appearance."
"I see," Kagome murmured, unsure of how to respond.
They walked on for some time until Keiji led them to the manor's front gates. He stopped when they were about a hundred yards away. "You will hate the man even more after today," he spoke quickly as his big hands grasped her smaller ones and gently lifted them up.
"What do you mean?" she spoke apprehensively. His cold touch made her shudder faintly. With wide eyes she glanced at the gates that were slowly opening.
The slaves in the trade were waiting outside, but the guards—the fat man who had finally detached himself from his steed and those two brothers—she'd never seen them so close before— had already entered Kazuo's manor. One of the brothers was hastily trying to grab and carry three of Lady Kimi's handmaidens to the chain gang. They put up a good effort of resistance, crying and screaming at the top of their lungs, but they were no match for the bald man who overpowered them all. Lady Kimi was always replacing handmaidens. In exchange for the three women, the more attractive brother emerged from the gate with three other middle-aged women who looked confused and out-of-place. One of the new women kept turning around and shouting something about her small child that was probably still manacled. The man paid little attention to her pleas when he threw them to the ground inside the gate.
While this brief swap took place, the fat man approached Keiji and Kagome who stood apart from struggle.
"Is this all?" the fat man breathed heavily. He was sweating so much that that his shirt was translucent—a sight that none of them preferred to see.
"No," Keiji spoke nonchalantly. "This one too." He nudged Kagome over towards the man.
"W-What?" Her heart skipped a beat.
"Lady Kikyo…," he said sternly. "Is no longer in need of your assistance, Kagome. She has wished me to remove you from her sight immediately."
Her eyes widened in horror. It couldn't be true.
"Wait, I-I don't understand!" The fat man had already tied her wrists together rather tightly and was tugging her towards the gate away from the manor. "Keiji!" she nearly cried.
"Listen," Keiji shot back at her receding form. "I don't want hear it! You have been very fortunate to have never performed any serious labor during your stay here. You have been treated kindly and respectably all your life—be grateful for the memories of this household!" With that he turned his back towards them and started walking away. "I have no control over this, please forgive me."
"No!!!" she struggled violently—biting and kicking any part of the lethargic animal. "Don't take me away!!!" she screamed.
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He listened absentmindedly at the rather piercing scream that erupted from within the gates. It had been the same thing with every estate they had visited. The loutish guards would enter; everybody would scream and try to run away; the guards would capture the slaves and haul 'em out.
Inuyasha sighed loudly. Bored. Bored. Bored. He tapped his foot on the ground impatiently.
All of the sudden there was a loud and long whistle from the crowd. All the men around him were hooting and hollering as the gates shut tightly.
"Whooohooohoo, ride 'em cowgirl!"
"Bet'cha never touched a purrty girl like that before, Captain!" another one called.
"Ooohhh, feisty!!"
Inuyasha glanced up to see what all the commotion was. His eyes fell on a thin yet vehement girl who was trying to break free from the lethargic man's grasp. 'Ewwww," he thought watching the young woman clamp her teeth down into his skin making the man howl in pain. "That can't taste good."
He stared with mild interest as the man slowly made his way over to their end of the line with the young woman who kept screaming something incoherent.
"Ooooh! Chain her to me!" a Southern soldier called out.
The captain ignored the pleas and comments as he proceeded to the very end of the line. He didn't stop until he was standing right next to Inuyasha with the tear-streamed creature who had now fallen silent.
"Here we go, missy," the man said kindly helping her with the chains. She only cried harder. "Maybe if you're lucky, I'll buy you myself." He gently touched her chin with his chubby fingers after she was all set. "Pretty little thing. I'll tame you." With a wink and toothy grin he walked back to his loyal steed.
For some strange reason, Inuyasha felt himself growl at the thought of the man touching the girl next to him in any way.
"Lead the way, Hiten," the generously proportioned leader called out as he rode to the front of the enormous line to join his fellow guards. "We should reach Kouga's manor before sundown."
"It's about time," the man beside him nudged Inuyasha waking him back up to their current situation. "I don't know about you, buddy, but I'm getting kinda hungry." He eyed the hanyou suspiciously who was still staring intently at the girl. Her blank eyes however, were watching the ground blinking furiously to hold back the tears. "Though it pains my heart, would you prefer to lean on her instead of me?" he smirked. "Try not to get too attached though, Googly-eyes."
"I am not googly-ing!" Inuyasha shot him a death sentence glare before looking away. "It just makes me mad, that's all. She's gonna slow us down if we try to escape."
"If that's how you feel, would you mind if I swapped places with you? I think you just offended her."
"Bug-off." was his only reply.
"Look, you made her cry." The man leaned over in front of Inuyasha to reassure the woman by gently patting her on the back.
"I did not! She was already a weeping mess when she came here!"
"Don't worry Miss," he continued his gentle stroke. "The man's a heartless idiot, but were not all like him, honest."
"Hey pal, what's that supposed to mean?"
"It's pretty self-explanatory."
"Well, at least I'm not some crazy old lecher! Yeah," Inuyasha slapped the hand that was steadily moving its way down her back. "Don't think I didn't see that. You're a sneaky, but you can't pull the blinds over this human's eyes."
"Old, huh?" the man glanced at Inuyasha rubbing his offended hand. "Some women happen to like older men, like myself. It shows reliability and wisdom."
"Feh, maybe some women do, but its bad when someone who's old enough to be my old man is sweet talking little girls," Inuyasha wrinkled his nose in distaste. "Besides all old age means is wrinkles and bald heads."
"Well," the man stretched his arms behind his head. "I'd rather be me any day than some blustering virgin chicken boy."
Inuyasha had Pal in a headlock grip before the man could even blink. "Let's not talk about our sex life, shall we?"
Pal gasped slightly, but managed a weak nod.
Inuyasha released him and they continued on with their banter until both were left breathless and fed-up. Kagome just stared at the ground refusing to make eye contact with either of them. She could ignore the man's forward touching for now since nothing could really upset her more than she was at the moment. If he tried again, she would unleash all of hell on him, but that was for later on. Somehow just listening to the immature fight reduced her violent sobs to a few sniffles. It reminded her of the better days with Kikyo when they would disagree on certain topics and start screaming at each other. It was ironic how she had worked so hard to prevent herself from being sold; to prove that she was valuable and hardworking, but in the end it never made one inch of a difference. And now, here she was, marching in the chain gang with two Southerners who were biting their heads off and attracting attention from everyone around them. Perhaps Southerners were people too—able to laugh and argue like anyone other person she knew.
Kagome smiled in spite of herself. She was alone and inexperienced with the outside world, but somehow the future didn't scare her that much.
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A/N: First of all, I'd like to say that the reason why I have all these Biblical quotes at the beginning of this fic is that my story will sort of follow the tale of Joseph in the household of Potiphar. No, there will not be any divine interference (though I am a strong Christian believer). I just wanted everyone to be aware of that.
Thanks for the reviews: Windesprite-you always got my back in my stories, crystal stardust-you encouraged me to keep writing, and bloody little jasmine thanks for the rather energized review—this is also for you. Ok, and for the rest of you. Please RxR this chappy? The little button in the left-hand corner works wonders when triggered. oh, and if anyone knows how this yen-money thing works could you fill me in? I really don't have a clue what one yen is equal to.
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