More to Life

Chapter 19 – Reawakened Fears

I don't own Inuyasha, and I bow down before the mighty genius of her manga majesty Rumiko Takashi.

IMPORTANT: If any of you people know Mary Stam who is my beta reader please please e-mail me or if Mary you're reading this e-mail me please!

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Miroku asked for close to the hundredth time that morning.

"Miroku, for the last time," Sango said starting to get slightly annoyed. "I'm 100 positive."

"Well I'm not," Inuyasha replied. He, Kagome and Kouga had shown up minutes before. "This whole idea of Sango actually being sold by Kouga makes me nervous. We never planned any of this and now wolf boy just comes waltzing in with this new plan and you're all prepared to just go along with it."

"I agree," Miroku said placing a hand on Sango's shoulder. "It's far too dangerous, Kouga might not be able to control the auction, what would happen if Sango wound up in another vampire's possession?"

"I think that's a risk we've got to take," Sango said looking up at Miroku over her shoulder. "Kouga's right, if you're a vampire reputed not to possess slaves than we need a pretty good reason for why you now own me. We never got a chance to inform everyone that party last night, except Ayame why you were my master. Too many people are going to question you owning a slave after all these years."

"I have to agree with Sango, as much as I hate the prospect of her going up on the slave auction, Miroku you haven't possessed a slave in almost a century! Naraku is bound to already be suspicious once he finds out that Sango's back in with the slaves. Kouga or Inuyasha are the only one's who in Naraku's eyes would be strong enough to recapture Sango," Kagome said linking her arm with Inuyasha's and looking up at him.

"But what happens if he can't control the auction," Inuyasha asked gently, but everyone could see that Kagome was wearing his argument down.

"It's a risk we're going to have to take dog-breath," Kouga said. "Sango's up for it, I think her opinion is the most important. Who are you to tell her what she can't do, she's obviously got a lot more courage than you've got. For crying out loud half-breed, she's the one going up on the platform and she's less scared than you."

"No, Kouga," Sango said. "That's not true, I'm absolutely terrified about being on the slave market tonight but if we want this whole thing to work we've all got to sacrifice some things." Turning to Inuyasha, Sango said "I have a lot of trust in Kouga and Miroku and if worst comes to worst I know you'll be there to just knock out anyone bidding for me," Sango joked allowing a smile grin to escape.

"I could do that?" Inuyasha asked one eyebrow rising and a grin beginning to form on his face too. He looked down at Kagome for confirmation.

"Don't look at me, I have no problem with you knocking out some vampire who wants to buy Sango," Kagome said with an identical smile on her face.

"Ha HA!" Inuyasha said triumphantly punching his fist into his other hand. Looking at Sango an evil glint in his eyes he said, "Sango you can count on me!"

"Alright then," Kouga asked. "Are we all in agreement?"

"Not really," Miroku said causing Sango to look up at him, "but I guess I really don't have much of a say in all of this do I really. When it all boils down to nothing, the decision is Sango's and no one else's. So I guess if that's what she wants I won't argue."

Sango's eyes softened slightly as he said that, and was about to say something when Kagome said, "We'll I guess we should get going, Sango are you all ready?"

Turning to her friend, she replied, "I guess as ready as I'll ever be. I'd just like to speak to Miroku for a moment alone, you guys all go and get ready."

"Oh of course we'll give you two a few moments together, we'll just be out front, just don't take too long," Kagome said and dragged both Inuyasha and Kouga off before either could protest with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Sango was about to ask Kagome what exactly she thought she meant by that but Miroku startled her by turning her around to look him in the eyes.

"Just tell me one last time Sango that this is what you want," Miroku said.

"It is," she replied confused as to why her heart had suddenly started to beat a little faster. Putting a smile on her face to reassure him Sango replied, "Don't worry Miroku everything with go fine, you heard Inuyasha he's going to knock anyone out who even thinks of bidding on me."

"That still doesn't make me feel any more comfortable with this whole thing," Miroku replied slowly. Then jokingly trying to lighten the mood he said, "I'll never forgive you Sango if this goes wrong."

"I'll never forgive me either," Sango joked and then just in a softly quieter voice said, "Miroku this is probably the last time I'm going to see you for a while so can you promise me something?"

"Anything," Miroku replied.

"Promise me that-" Sango said swallowing as she allowed just a little of the fear she was feeling to creep into her voice, "that you'll be upfront where I can see you when the bidding starts."

"I promise," Miroku said drawing her to his chest sensing that she was close to tears. "I'll be right there the whole time."

"Thank you," Sango whispered.

Suddenly a horn blared noisily from out front startling the two of them. "I should go," Sango said pushing against of Miroku's chest but he didn't let go. Looking up she smiled, "I'll see you soon don't worry."

"Is that a promise?" Miroku asked his hand slowly wandering closer to Sango's unaware derriere.

"Most definitely," Sango replied and then pushing slightly harder against his chest chided, "Miroku you've got to let go of me sometime. Plus what would Kagome and the others think if they saw us like this."

"Let them think what they want," Miroku grinned.

Sango suddenly felt an all too familiar pressure on her but and blushing furiously screamed slapping him, "YOU HENTAI! Trust you to ruin a perfect moment like that with that- that HAND!"

"Heh heh heh," Miroku chuckled rubbing his cheek.

Sango groaned in aggravation and grabbing her coat stormed out of the house.

"What 'perfect moment' Sango?" Kagome asked curiously her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"It was nothing a slip of the tongue," Sango snapped much to Kagome's amusement. "Now let's go Kouga! Preferably some time today if you don't mind!"

Turning to where Kouga had been a moment before Sango was surprised to find him no longer leaning against the side of his green convertible. Suddenly a cloth was forced over her mouth and she felt her vision slowly blurring. Struggling furiously against Kouga she tried to get him to let go of the cloth but already her muscles were starting to not work. She heard Kagome screaming at Kouga to stop and Inuyasha yelling that he was going to kill Kouga before the darkness claimed her senses.

When Sango awoke the sun had set and she was lying in the back seat of what she presumed was Kouga's car. Groggily she tried to sit up but she discovered that Kouga had bound her arms – probably as a precaution upon her awakening. "Kouga you bastard," Sango yelled startling the vampire. "Stop the car this instant and untie me!"

Glancing over his shoulder Kouga's eyebrow rose. "Wow talk about perfect timing, we're only a couple of minutes from Moonlight."

"Stop acting as if nothing happened you asshole," Sango growled menacingly. "I want an explanation now as to why you drugged me and then bound me up like some sort of- some sort of-"

"Slave," Kouga offered. "I do apologize about all of this but you must see if was necessary. I couldn't let a hunter know the whereabouts of the society I plan to run once you're through with Naraku. And about having to tie you up, well the drugging was necessary and well I do value my life. I knew that once you awoke if you weren't restrained I wouldn't be alive for much longer."

"You've got that right," Sango muttered under her breath knowing if was plenty loud enough for Kouga's vampire senses to pick up.

"Plus," Kouga said going on as if he hadn't heard what she had just said, "if you showed up at Moonlight unbound Naraku might be suspicious. Leading me to my next topic of discussion. You, Sango once we arrive are going to have to put on a huge show of fighting me every way to the podium. You'll be gagged naturally," he said looking in the review mirror to see her reaction. Sango's lips tightened but she nodded her ascension. "Good. Now I hate to say this but I will have to at sometime on the podium have to kick or hit you if you it will be expected. Okay? I promise to try to retract at the last moment but even in doing so you'll still feel some pain."

"Okay," Sango replied.

"Okay now a few quick memory refreshers of how slaves are expected to behave, don't ever forget to address a vampire as either 'my lord' or 'my lady' and once Miroku buys you, you will refer to him as master. You will sleep in Miroku's chambers and it will appear that you are his new pet. Never speak to another of my kind unless spoken to." Kouga opened his mouth to say more but Sango interrupted him.

"My memory serves me just as good as it did when I was a slave, you have no need to repeat yourself," she replied grimly.

"Suit yourself," Kouga shrugged. "The last thing I'll say is that I would stay in Miroku's chambers at all times unless it is absolutely necessary that you leave. The less contact you have with the vampires at Moonlight the less chance there is you will be recognized as a slayer."

"Got it," Sango said. "So who else is on our side?"

"A few of my old friends, Ginta Hakakku and Ayame to name a few," Kouga replied.

"Ayame's involved!" Sango exclaimed.

"I take it the two of you have met?" Kouga asked.

"Yeah, we talked for a while last night," Sango replied remembering that the vampire she was talking to was the one who had changed Ayame and the same one who Ayame was helplessly in love with but he hardly noticed her. Feeling a little bit a matchmaker coming on Sango sighed. "Yeah she's really nice isn't she?"

"Yeah, great with the customers," Kouga replied.

"Yeah and really pretty too, I wish I had hair as nice as hers," Sango went on poor Ayame the guy she was in love with was so incredibly dense! "You can't deny that it's gorgeous."

"Yeah," Kouga said pausing. "You're right I normally don't notice things like that, but her hair is a pretty colour."

Sango smiled. Finally some progress. "Why did you decide to save her? And then why did you decide to change her?" Sango asked.

Sango heard Kouga gulp and looking in the review she saw a very faint tinge of colour appear on his cheeks. "She was a cute kid," Kouga finally said. "I felt sorry for her, pretty awful way to die….all alone on the backside of some mountain. I raised her and then Naraku came one day and practically killed her. I don't know what came over me, I had never changed someone before, no one had meant enough to me. But the sight of her lying there after Naraku had left…I'll never forget in. He had broken nearly all of her ribs, both her legs and I think one of her arms had been broken too. When I left her to see Naraku out the door she was coughing blood up all over the place and when I returned to see if I could help her she was lying motionless on the floor, all her red hair cascading over her shoulders and mingling with her own blood that was pooling by her head. I crossed to her side and she opened her eyes and I'll never forget how green they looked at that exact moment. She opened her mouth and tried to speak, it took her a couple of times but eventually she managed to say, 'I'm sorry Kouga. I'm sorry I wasn't stronger.' Then she closed her eyes and her breathing began to shallow out." Sango saw Kouga clear his throat and blink his eyes before he continued. "She didn't deserve to die like that, Naraku had no right to take her life. She was probably the only person since I had been changed that I had allowed myself to be around me constantly. So I knew I had to make a choice, and so I decided to change her. I couldn't let her die like that, she had been such a happy person she didn't deserve such a horrible death."

Sango didn't know what to say to that, it was obvious that Kouga cared greatly about Ayame. From the emotion Sango had sensed in his voice he cared for her, no ifs ands or buts, however Sango mentally cursed him for being so thick. It was obvious that he loved her but just didn't realise it. Stupid, STUPID, dolt. Sango opened her mouth to ask him how he felt towards her now but before she could the car suddenly stopped and Kouga said over his shoulder "just remember everything I said and we'll be fine." Sango nodded and he hopped out of the car. She listened and heard Kouga say to someone who Sango guessed was a guard. "I've got a slave in the back, not too late am I?

"Nope, you're just in time Kouga. Need a hand?"

"I might, she's a handful this one. A regular wildcat, nearly lost my eye capturing her," Kouga joked.

"Well if you need a hand just holler," the guard said.

Then the side door opened and Sango nearly toppled out. Luckily Kouga caught her before she hit the cement face first. Remembering that she was supposed to be struggling Sango started to try and escape. "Let go of me you bastard!" she yelled right next to Kouga's ear causing him to wince. Grinning Kouga picked her up and threw her like a sac of potatoes right over his shoulder. Struggling furiously as he carried her up a flight of stairs to reach the front door Sango screamed her loudest and almost smiled when she saw the guard laugh and nudge his partner pointing to Kouga who was struggling to contain his so called captive. "Well," Sango thought wryly. "If I'm trying to escape I should definitely makes it look real. Ha! This is what you get for drugging me Kouga," Sango thought as she punched him as he put her down. Kouga winced slightly and the next thing Sango new he had a collar around her with a chain attached. Then her memory quit on her until she was on the slave platform compliments of the collar.

Shaking her head, Sango groggily tried to move but discovered that her arms had been chained above her head to a post. For a moment she froze, the familiarity of the collar and the realization she was in Moonlight once more brought back all the nightmares, and it was as if she had never left. She was still a slave, she was still Naraku's pet, she was still worth nothing less than her pulsing blood. Beginning to struggle Sango, tried to get rid of the chains. Jeers from some of the vampires reached her ears making her struggle more. Crying she threw her entire body weight forward trying to break through the chains. Sobbing she hurled herself forward again and again until her wrists bleed, but even that didn't stop her. She kept flinging herself forward escape until her eye was caught by a vampire trying to force his way through the crowd to stand in front of her. She knew him…but from where? There was something familiar about his violet eyes and that dark shaggy hair that fell in front of his eyes, but who was he?

Miroku. The name came to her unbidden, "Miroku," she said to herself and then he smiled the reassuring smile she had seen so many times before and suddenly all her memories came back in a flood. She had escaped Moonlight, she had escaped Naraku, and she had been become a vampire hunter, she had hunted vampires until she had meet Kagome, Miroku and Inuyasha, and then she had made a pact with them to hunt down Naraku together, she had agreed to pretend to be a slave so they could smuggle her into Moonlight and now she was just waiting for Miroku to buy her. Sighing she leaned back against the pole, and winced as the pain became aware. Looking up at her wrists which were raw and bleeding she winced she hadn't realized just what she had been doing. Letting her head fall, Sango imagined she looked the perfect picture of defeat but really all she was was tired. Sango looked at the slaves to her right, each like her were chained to a pole and wearing a collar, there were two left before they would reach her.

By the time the auctioneer reached her Sango was impatient, her arms hurt from holding them up for so long and her wrists were throbbing and she was scared she might get an infection if they didn't hurry up and let her clean them.

"Now, here's a brand new slave fresh from the outside," the auctioneer began consulting his notes. "Just captured yesterday by Kouga, poor sucker wanted to keep her for himself but decided she wasn't quite what he was looking for so now he's looking for someone money. Do we have any vampires that are interested?" A few pale hands rose Miroku's included. "Good good," the auctioneer said. "I shall now go over her features, Kouga claims she's approximately 18 maybe 19. Got long brown hair," he said grabbing a fistful and holding it up to see. Sango tried to jerk it away from him but he just tugged it higher resulting in immediate pain to her scalp. "Brown eyes, very lean and petite, and her teeth," the auctioneer went on and before she knew it his fingers were in her mouth examining her teeth, "are nice and white." Sango growled and reflexively tried to bit his fingers which only caused him to say, "oooh looks like we've got a feisty on here."

"What's her ass like?" one male vampire shouted.

Suddenly the creature's hand was on her butt and Sango screeched in fury, Miroku was one thing, he couldn't help himself but this guy she just wanted to kill!

"It's nice and firm to answer that gentleman's question, not too large or too small. She's a tasty morsel if I do say so myself. Are there anymore questions? Or should I start the bidding?" Sango glared out furiously out at the audience daring them to bid on her, that way Inuyasha could beat them up. When no one called out the auctioneer smiled," alrightee then let the bidding start at $250. Do I have anyone for $250?"

Miroku and a bunch of other vampires raised their hands, and so the auction for her went on. Every once in a while a hand not raising because either the vampire didn't want meet the price or because Inuyasha reached them, which ever came first. Soon the battle was between Miroku and one other vampire, the one who had asked about her ass. "Do we have $2 000?" Miroku raised his hand.

"Alright 2 000, from the vampire in the front, any one like to challenge that?"

"$2 500," the other vampire said raising his hand.

"Do we have 3000?"

Miroku raised his hand, "$4 000,' he replied.

"$5 000," the other vampire said.

"$5 500," Miroku said.

"Do I hear a 6 000?" the auctioneer asked looking at the other vampire.

The vampire paused and then shouted out "6 000."

"Do I hear a 6 500?"

"6 500," Miroku said.

"Do I hear a 7 000?" the auctioneer asked. Sango saw the hand begin to go up but the next thing she knew the vampire grunted and fell over. Inuyasha was left visible. He smiling winningly. "He seems to have passed out," Inuyasha said innocently flexing his fingers. "Any other bidders?" The vampire on the ground grunted and Sango winced at the sickening crunch that was heard by all.

"I'll repeat that, any more bidders?" Inuyasha asked and when no reply came he went on, "7 000? No one? 7 000 dollars for that beautiful young lady, going once…going twice….sold to my friend Miroku the vampire in the front."

"Y- Y- You may come and collect your prize now sir," the auctioneer gulped nervously.

Miroku looked up at her and smiled and Sango let go of the breath she hadn't even realised she had been holding. Miroku placed his hand up on the stage and hopped up and took her chain off the pole.

"Come on girl," he said briskly every inch the slave owner and Sango felt her heart drop slightly at how he called her girl but then remembered that he was just acting. But she suddenly sympathized with Kagome, no wonder she got so mad when Inuyasha referred to her as 'woman' or 'wench'. Following him, Sango allowed herself to be led a long quietly she was too tired to even pretend to put up a fight. Suddenly Miroku stopped and Sango bumped into him too exhausted to even realise they had come to what was obviously his chambers at Moonlight. She saw Miroku look over his should startled a quick flicker of worry crossed his face but instead of saying something sympathetic he snapped, "watch where you're going girl."

She nodded her head as he opened the door and slowly closed it behind her. He pressed his ear up to the door to make sure no one was listening then did a quick survey of the room to double check they were alone before turning to her and embracing her. "Are you alright Sango?"

"I'm fine," she said softly, "I panicked up there though, all the horrible memories came back. My wrists are in agony, do you have any bandages?"

"Of course," he said letting go of her and crossing to a cabinet out of which he took a long roll of bandages. As he did so Sango sank onto a leather couch close by. Miroku came and sat next to her and she took the bandages and Neosporin (A/N: an anti-pain cream) from him but found she couldn't even open the tube of Neosporin. "Here," Miroku said taking it from her and opening it. He then took one of her wrists in his hand and very carefully rubbed it in. As he began to wrap the bandage snugly around her wrist Sango was struck by the intimacy of what was going on and coloured slightly. Miroku then moved onto the other wrist and once he was finished Sango sighed, her wrists didn't hurt quite so much anymore.

"There," he said returning her wrist to her lap.

"Thank you," she said.

"It's no problem, how are you feeling? You look shaken up."

"Not as well as I had hoped," Sango replied honestly. "I was so scared, for awhile I forgot about everything. It was as if I was still a slave, that I had never escaped."

"Well that's not unexpected," Miroku replied.

"I forgot everything," Sango said slowly. "I even forgot who you were. I saw you and knew that somehow I knew you but I couldn't remember how. I recognized your eyes and your hair but as hard as I tried to remember who you were I couldn't. And then you smiled at me….and suddenly it all came back to me."

Miroku looked at her, and sighed and realised that there was nothing he could say to that comment that would make her feel any better. "You must be hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

"Sure," she said. Miroku stood up and walked over to the fridge and after a brief moment returned with a simple sandwich and glass of water only to find Sango fast asleep on the couch. Miroku smiled at how serene she looked and placed the plate gently down on the table. Picking her slim frame up with the utmost care Miroku carried her to where he had set her bed up. Laying her down, he tucked her in, and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. He sat for a long time watching her sleep before he hesitantly pressed a tentative kiss on her forehead and whispered. "Sleep well my beautiful slayer, sleep well."

Turning off the light he sat on the floor and rested his back against the bed. He felt an odd need to protect Sango that night and so he would in the only way he could, with his pressence.

To be continued…

Author's Note: Well what did you at think? Ahhh don't talk to the computer screen! E-mail me while all you're lovely comments are fresh in your head. I worked hard to make this chapter longer, so I hope you appreciate it's 9 page length! I debated about putting that last little bit of fluff in but decided oh what the hell I'll put it in now and think of something else for the part I had been planning on putting that in. Well cheerio all you lovely people who read my story! Don't forget to review! REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!