AUTHORS NOTE: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA.
Feel free to send good and bad reviews. I apologize ahead of time for any grammar or spelling mistakes. English was never my strongest subject. I hope you enjoy my story!
I wish I lived in a different reality. A kinder more free one. But, I don't I live here in a world where owning slaves is legal. Its barbaric.
Demons have been enslaved for well over 300 hundred years now. Caught, tortured , beaten and sometimes even raped. Its horrible and the rules that come with owning them are just as bad.
Slaves are not allowed property. Having property gives them a sense of ownership over something. They are items to be bought and used. They are not meant to have any type of ownership over anything. Not even their own names. They must have shelter, it doesn't matter what kind. I've seen some living in dog houses. Its disgusting.
They are required to wear a control collar at all times. This collar gives an electrical shock delivered though sharp metal spines that stick into the neck. If the electrical shock is amped up enough it can kill the slave. If they refuse a command the collar activates, and if they still refuse a control word is implemented at the day of purchase as a fail safe. When the control word is used the shock from the collar intensifies. Along with the shock the collar will automatically tighten to the point of choking the slave. It will continue to tighten, puncturing their necks and increase in shock strength until the slave kneels at its master's feet willingly.
Speech is not allowed for slaves. Why should they speak when their masters have no use for their words. If they try to speak the collar will send a shock through them as a reminder of their place. Like they need a reminder.
Due to their long life spans they tend to outlive their owners. When an owner passes away the slave becomes property of either a relative or the state. If there is no relative to assume ownership the slave will be sent to a training camp where they are reconditioned back to "default settings" essentially they are retrained to a blank slate.
Normally at the age of 18 you are permitted to own your first slave. Before that age you are permitted to rent a slave for 1 hour once a day. That is due to the fact children are not responsible enough to keep the slave alive and in working condition.
The morning of your 18th birthday you are required to appear at the market to purchase your first slave. Or you can choose to opt out of any slave ownership. When that is done you are placed on a list where you can choose to apply for a slave once a year. If you are approved you may choose one. If you are denied you must wait one more year to reapply.
The qualifications to be approved is you must own your own residence, have a steady job and go through a personality assessment to see if you are of sound mind. Because in this society if you turn down the ownership of a slave on your birthday that means you must be mentally ill. A pariah. Needless to say it is unheard of to hear of anyone not wanting a slave.
This is where I come in. My name is Kagome Higurashi, and I do not want a slave. But I must chose a slave or be a pariah. My family believes heavily in slave ownership. If I do not choose a slave I will be disowned. Everything that my mother and granddad have bought me my entire life will be removed from my ownership. I will be stricken from their historical records and kicked out of Tokyo.
How can I be kicked out of a huge complex city such as Tokyo? Well my family owns it. They control it. No pressure right?
Well, needless to say. I'm on my way to the slave market. To purchase my first slave. Oh, how those words leave a horrid taste in my mouth. I'm not happy about this. Slaves are living breathing beings. They deserve to be treated better then cattle.
I hate this. I feel so helpless right now. I'm afraid to be disowned. I have no family outside of Tokyo no friends. Nobody id be alone, homeless. I'd be dead within a week. The only way I can justify purchasing a slave is I won't be cruel. I will be kind and understanding. Protect him or her from the world and my family. I will do everything in my power to save whatever soul needs my help.
I hate this.
The family limo came to a stop. I sat stone still staring straight ahead. I didn't want to look out my window I knew what I would see. A large grey building. And in the dull grey building was hundreds of souls forced to serve humans. I hated it.
"Kagome stop your fussing and get out of the car." My mother stated rather dully as if her bringing me here was a waste of her precious time.
I looked over at her and her pristine white dress, black fur coat and hundred dollar pearls around her neck. The red lipstick she wore made her look even more stuck up, selfish, and cruel.
"Will you just get out and go in their already. I have a hair appointment at 1 this afternoon and I don't have time to wait all day for you." She snapped at me as she slammed the limo door open.
Bright light filtered in through the open door. I sighed a pathetic 'yes mother' and removed myself from the limo. I stood with my hands clasped in front of me wringing my black hoodie in my hands. I didn't take a step forward I just stood there staring at the cold hard concrete beneath my feet.
"Don't take all day damn it. Get moving!" my mother barked at me as she shoved me forward and slammed the limo door shut. The force of her push caused me to stumble forward and land on my knees. I hissed as I felt the jeans I wore rip. I could feel my knees bleed.
'Great. Just what I need today. Skinned knees, ripped pants and a slave. Yippee.' I thought to myself as I sniffled and stood up. Might as well go in. She won't let me back in the car until I come out with a 'new pet' my nose crinkled at the use of my mother's name for slaves. I hate this.
I stood and walked to the door of the building and pulled the door open. Warm air assaulted my face the heat from the building was comforting compared to the chill of the autumn air outside. It was a lie, nothing in this place was comforting. It was a cruel barbaric building holding broken and abused beings in it. It sickened me.
"Hello, dear! Are you hear to purchase or sell today?" I jumped as a very perky woman showed her face from behind a reception desk.
"I...I'm here to purchase today I just turned 18 ma'am." I stuttered out. 'I don't want to do this.' I blinked my eyes fast as I felt the tears begin to well in them.
The woman behind the desk look alarmed as she stood and rushed to me, "oh! There's no reason to be frightened sweetheart! The slaves can't reach you and can't harm you!" she tried to reassure me as she rubbed my shoulder.
The comfort she tried to give me just made the tears leak from my eyes. 'That's not why I was crying!' I internally yelled' I hate this!' but I couldn't tell her that.
I wiped my eyes and smiled at her" thank you ma'am. I feel better now"
"Good! Good! It's ok to be scared. Owning your fist slave is a big step in adult hood!" she smiled as she became even more chipper. "Now all I need is your id and I can get you started. Do you know what kind of budget you have towards your purchase today?" she asked as she took my id from my outstretched hand and walked towards her desk.
'A budget! Seriously how can she be so happy?' "I don't have a budget ma'am, I can spend as much as I wish." I stated as I continued to smile a fake smile at the horrid woman.
She started laughing," oh child! No budget! That's just silly! You have to have a budget we have slaves that cost more than the Higurashi household!" she laughed out as she gasped for breathe." Oh my, that was a good one sweetheart. But seriously what is your budget. I need to know so I can point you to the right floor. Silly girl…" her face paled as she read my id and her sentence came to an end.
'Ya. I'm a Higurashi lady. Now shut up.' Now I felt a little bit of happiness as the woman in front of me became a blithering idiot.
"I'm. I'm .I'm sorry ma'am! I didn't mean to be rude. Her...here's your id. I don't need it. …and sense you have no budget feel free to look at any and all floors!" she stumbled over herself quite good. I took my id from her and spoke in a calm tone.
"Could you please tell me how this all works in choosing a…a slave" I stammered over that word. How I hate this.
"Of... of course!" she perked up as she began her explanation." So it's relatively easy, we have 7 floors. The first floor is for household slaves, they are useful for all household functions and for any lawn and households labor. The second floor is for our childcare slaves, they are mainly used as nannies, and just general child care. The third floor is for our working class slaves, so farming, construction and any sort of manual labor you can think of. The fourth floor is for our young slaves; the children. They are used for our human children to play with. The fifth floor is for our companions, meaning the animal type demons not the humanoid type. And our sixth floor is out most popular. That is our pleasure floor. They are used for our more 'carnal' desires. On each door is a file as to the slaves past owners and other useful information on them such as breed, and age. On the right side of the door is a red button, press that when you have made your choice and it will be packaged for you" She smiled during this whole explanation and seemed genuinely happy that she knew this.
Me on the other hand, I was doing my best not to vomit." I'm sorry you said you have 7 floors?" I asked her genuinely curios.
"Oh! Um, yes the seventh floor is where the slaves who have been returned the most go. That's is our conditioning floor. They can be bought but its ill advised. Some of those slaves are due to be put down due to being unsellable." She said sadly as if she had just had a toy taken from her.
"What do you mean by being unsellable?" I asked her.
"Well when the slaves are returned to many times that usually means they have displeased the owners too much, some are just disobedient, and some obey to well. It pretty much comes down to them just not being wanted. But right now we only have 1 on that floor."
'Only one?' pain sprang up in my chest. I brought my hand to my chest,' I can stop this from happening.' I gulped and breathed a shaky breathe," thank you for your information. I'd like to start shopping now." I turned away from her and headed towards the elevator.
I knew what floor I was going to. I couldn't bring myself to go 'shopping' in the other floors. I couldn't bear it. I only needed the seventh floor. I can save that soul. I won't let it be snuffed out. I can help someone.
I stopped in front of the elevator and reached a shaky hand towards the button. I pushed it. I jumped as the doors slammed open.
My hands gripped the front of my hoodie. I could feel the sweat on my palms. The tears in my eyes. The pain in my chest. I hate this.
I stepped ion the warm elevator emitting a false sense of comfort. The red velvet walls looked as if they were made of velvet blood to me. My stomach turned. I bought my hand to my mouth as I felt the bile rise to the back of my throat.
'Hold it together Kagome your almost there. Almost done!' I mentally pepped myself up as I reached for the button marked seven. I pressed the button and my heart stopped. All time held still.
I can't believe I'm doing this. I feel like my heart is going to burst from my chest. My blood felt cold in my veins. Tears leaked from my eyes. Tears of pain, sorrow and tears of hate.
The door opened. I looked up. I took a step forward. I hate this.