Chapter 44

Early Spring, 1566

The little village was beginning to awaken from its winter hibernation as the monk and the half-demon began preparing their fields for spring planting. Before winter had hit, the two families had had another successful week during Harvest Festival and had helped Kaede and the other villagers rebuild the small village near the sacred tree. The winter had been cold and bitter, but both families came through it unscathed.

As the world began to come alive once more, the women of the families happily aired out bedding, clothes and the houses, to rid the homes of the stale winter air and welcome in the fresh spring breezes. Kagome shared her bundle of fragranced oils that she burned with Sango and soon both homes smelled like strawberries, lemons, or oranges.

At Sango's urging, Kagome, Kaori, Kohana and Jasmine joined Sango and her girls at the first spring marketplace day. The marketplace was crowded with shoppers anxious to shake off the winter chills. Their little stall was crowded all day as the families sold their specialty crafts and wares. As the day wore on, Kagome noticed a couple of men that seemed out of place.

'They're not Japanese.', she thought to herself, as the men wandered around the marketplace. One of the men was chubby, to say the least, with a huge mustache and beard and sandy-blonde hair. He wore an old-fashioned (to Kagome) three piece suit and looked (to Kagome) very rich. the other man was thinner and wore rimmed spectacles, baggy pants and shirt, and was clean-shaven. Sango had noticed them, too, and commented to Kagome,

"Kagome, they don't belong around here. I wonder what they want?"

"They're European or something."

"Euro ... pean?"

"From the continent ...only further west than China. Much further."

The men approached the stall and began looking over the women's wares. Kagome notice the fatter man staring at her girls and it made her very uncomfortable. Then she heard the men converse to each other in a foreign language, as they pointed to her daughters. Sango was confused and worried about the men's behavior but Kagome was calm now. She knew what they were saying, most of it anyway.

'And Inuyasha was always pissed about my school. At least I learned English.'

More confident now that she understood what was going on, even if the English they were speaking was Old Queen's English, she now mused that they came from England. What she didn't like was that the older man was a bounty game hunter. And very curious about her daughters dog-ears and silver-hair.

Letting them chat for a few more moments before she pulled the ace from her sleeve and revealed she knew what they were saying, Kagome simply smiled at Sango and squeezed her hand. In Japanese, she ordered her girls to go with Cho and Aya, who were heading to the castle to see Aya's beau, Ronin. She knew they would be safe there. As the men watched her daughters walk away with the two, obviously human, girls, their talk continued to be one of curiosity. Finally deciding to speak up, in more modern English, Kagome announced,

"You know the saying, gentlemen, curiosity killed the cat."

The men stared at Kagome in shock for they had never heard a Japanese person speak their language before. And Sango just stared at here, not knowing at all what Kagome had just spoken to these men.

"You speak English, madam?", the younger gentleman said.

"Yes, I do. And I don't appreciate how you were staring at my daughters. And neither do they."

"Those, uhm, girls were your daughters? I'm sorry for my rudeness, but I've traveled Japan for a few months now since we landed on shore and I have never seen anybody with ... uhm ... dog-ears that walked up-right. Nor have I seen that color hair on any natives here.", the older man stuttered out.

"Well, for your information, my husband's ancestors come from Northern China and the dog-ears and silver hair are family traits. You see, they're dog-demons."

"Dog ... demons?"

"Yes ... dogs that have achieved such power that they are considered demonic. They possess super-human strength and characteristics. My daughters could easily claw you to death."

The men just stared at the woman as if she was crazy, but the older man muttered to himself,

"What I wouldn't do to have one of those in my collection!"

Kagome's better than average hearing, thanks to the spell from Yasha, picked up these words and scoffed at the man,

"Dog Demons are not freaks or show animals. They are free creatures and they don't belong in exhibits."

"Are you telling me that these dogs are domesticated?"

"Did my daughters appear wild to you? My husband is still on the wild side and most dog demons do remain in the wild away from humans."

"You don't look like them. Are you a demon also?"

"Yes, I am a demon witch. I used to be human. My husband and children are actually half-demons ... half-demon and half-human."

"Amazing.", the older man said in awe, "I have never heard of such a thing. My good lady, everybody has their price. Your oldest daughter was absolutely breathtaking. I will give you a million dollars for her. Think long and hard, that's alot of money, my lady."

"My daughter is not a slave and she is not for sale. None of my children are. I know how much a million dollars is, especially in this day and age. I have satisfied your curiosity about my children and their looks. Now I suggest you move along. I have no more to say to you.", Kagome said, anger in her voice.

The younger man pulled the older man away from the booth, feeling it was better not to anger a demon witch. Soon they were out of eyesight and earshot of the booth. The men understood some Japanese and were pleasantly surprised to hear of the small village of Inuyama, where a family of half-dogs resided. The older man figured the husband would be an easier target than a mother.

Hurrying to the little village, they were greeted by the Buddhist Monk. In halting Japanese, the men asked about the half-dog. Realizing they weren't from Japan, but understanding they wanted to speak with Inuyasha, he took them to him. Trying their best to abide by Japanese customs, they bowed to Inuyasha and spoke to him, again in halting Japanese. The younger man, who spoke Japanese better, talked first,

"We just met your wife and daughters at the marketplace. My master here is very interested in your oldest daughter. He would like to offer you alot of money for her."

Inuyasha just stared at the men. Why would he sell his own daughter? She wasn't a slave!

"My daughter is not for sale. Leave.", Inuyasha said, ready to turn and leave. The men tried again,

"All men have their price. Surely, us paying you for your daughter is far better than you having to pay a dowry for her when she marries. Now how much do you want?"

"Look. I can tell you don't fully comprehend our language. But what part of NO do you not understand? I don't need money. It's not something I desire. My daughter is not old enough to marry and when she is she will marry who she chooses to marry. And I will definitely not sell my daughter to anybody, let alone a couple of foreigners.", by this time, Inuyasha's anger was beginning to show, as he flexed his claws and bared his fangs. Growling out the next sentence, he said,

"Now leave, before I slice you up and use you as fertilizer for my land."

Inuyasha's anger and show of force scared the men and they quickly left. Inuyasha just shook his head as the men ran away.

"Idiotic humans.", he muttered as Miroku agreed.

That night, after the women arrived home, Inuyasha and Kagome shared their stories. Kagome was glad that the men decided to see Inuyasha. It should keep them away. Unfortunately, the men left something else behind.