Five: Sold into Concupiscence

Miroku steeled himself, too nervous to do more than give the women serving him tea an appreciative glance. This was important. He couldn't let himself be distracted, not even if the woman currently waiting on him had hips like a lute… If he didn't get the money, then he wouldn't be able to have beautiful goddesses such as these entertain him. Also, he wouldn't be able to eat by the end of the week.

Finally, at only forty-five minutes late, Mushin sat down across from him. His large form made lowering himself down onto the silk cushions a feat requiring great exertion, but a few of the women recognized him and jumped to help their best customer. By the time he was settled, he was red-faced (more so than usual) and sweating. Grabbing for the tea, he grimaced at the taste and gestured at the women for something stronger.

"Ah, Miroku, my boy, whenever I see that face I'm reminded of your father." Fondness replaced mild irritation in his expression. "Some people get everything. Looks, money, noble birth, smarts, charm. He was one of those."

Miroku nodded and tried not to grind his teeth. "Yes, Master Mushin, I remember well." He didn't, really. He'd seen the man a handful of times, mostly from a distance. "My heart forever sorrows at his untimely passing."

Mushin grunted in sympathy and drank his wine from the bottle. Rivulets leaked from the corners of his mouth and dripped down his fat face and many chins, staining the fine garments he wore.

"There'll ne'er be a man like him, boy," he slurred. "And you certainly aren't fit to carry on his name."

Ignoring that, the young man smiled tightly and called for food and more drink, keeping his mind on thoughts of what the money would bring him.

Miroku's father was a human of noble birth in Inu, something very rare. Unlike the demonic nobles, their residences were not in the sky but remained on the earth. His earliest memories were of his ancestral home, a beautiful, sprawling old mansion like something out of a fairy story. Like all things that were beautiful, his father had to destroy it, and his gambling debts led to it being sold before he was even a decade old. His father continued to live his life unchanged, not a single lesson learned, leaving Miroku to be raised by his old friend Mushin, which meant Miroku was truly raised by a series of maids and nannies whose primary duties were bedding the master of the house.

"The university told me they have not yet received payment for the upcoming semester," he began, hoping the man was drunk enough that this would be easy. "I am so close to enlightenment, I can feel it, Master Mushin. Just a few hundred—"

Mushin slammed down the wine bottle and laughed, his face quickly becoming stern. His mood swings got worse and worse as the years went by and the younger man had to force himself not to flinch. "I sent you to school to network, not read books like some kinda idiot!" He sighed. "What would your father think if he could see you now? You prefer tea to liquor, honey cakes to grilled meat… Nearing thirty and still a failure with women and cards."

The barmaids surrounding him giggled, themselves having been on the receiving end of Miroku's attempts at wooing dozens of times.

"Truly, Master Mushin, I do not know what my honored Father would have thought, but I firmly believe he would not ridicule me and instead respect what achievements I have made."

That was just a complete and total lie. While Miroku had never known his father, he knew enough about the man to know he'd be even worse than Mushin. A diehard womanizer, he had married Miroku's mother when he was young solely to produce an heir to the fortune he'd not yet completely depleted. His young wife had died in childbirth, and Miroku's father had rejoiced more at his sudden single status than at the birth of his son. He didn't even stop partying in order to give him a name for his first two weeks of life.

"It pains me greatly to say this to the progeny of my departed best friend, but boy, I am cutting you off." His cold words sliced Miroku to the bone. "You've been going to that damn school for twelve years, living off my hard-earned coin, and it's time I've said enough! You've made no beneficial contacts and don't seem even remotely interested in making your own fortune or finding yourself a rich wife. The Hōshi line truly died with your great father."

"But Master—"

"From this day on, you and I are strangers," Mushin said, eyes hard. "Girls, help me back to my carriage. I'll let you fight amongst yourselves to decide who wins the night with me."

Mushin wobbled away, assisted by three women who were already glaring daggers at one another.

Miroku felt numb. The noise of the tavern had died down and all he could hear was the beating of his own heart pounding away in his ears. The weight of his remaining silver suddenly seemed lighter than it had before. What was he to do now? Shakily, he got to his feet and went to the bar, ready to spend his coin on drinking the pain away.

There was no work to be had for a scholar, he reflected as he sipped at the cheap ale. He enjoyed learning more than anything else and was almost qualified to be one of the university's masters. Just one more year and then he'd have his place among those exalted learned men. But how would he earn the money to go back? Desperate, he'd already begged for loans, but Mushin was still paying off his father's debts and the family name wasn't in good standing with any lender in the entire Inu empire. The university had given him scholarships and grants aplenty, greatly reducing his fee, but there was still a few hundred silver he needed to be able to pay completely. Asking Mushin to keep paying had been his last resort.

He had no marketable skills. He'd never worked a day in his life and it showed. But he was smart. His schools had taught him how to be smart and stay smart, but no one was going to pay a man a wage to quote literature at them. Or maybe they would if he'd had contacts, like Mushin had told him. But the other men he'd known at school were lazy and sent to learn by their parents, reminding him too much of his father for him to even be on a first name basis with them. The only people he could relate to at school were the masters. What was he going to do now that he was losing the only place he'd truly been welcomed?

The barmaid came over, looking for a tip.

"My dear lady," he began, already feeling the buzz, "has no one told you that you have skin like flower petals and a wonderfully fragrant bosom? Perhaps you could show me your room and we two lonely doves could embark on an adventure that would end with you bearing my child?"

A look of pure disgust crossed her face. "What the fuck is your problem?"

Miroku sighed and watched the sway of her hips as she walked away. Another failure. Was he destined to die in a state of physical innocence? The melancholia came upon him and he pondered, trying to choose between getting blackout drunk and finally admitting he wasn't great with women and buying the cheapest whore he could find.

"Have you heard about the job openings at the palace?" a man said from somewhere down the bar. "They're hiring harem guards. Pay's good, free room and board. Plus, you get to be around all the prince's women."

"Doesn't he have over a hundred now? Lucky bastard…"

"And he gets more every time he leaves the palace. Hell, I'd do the same if I had his kind of money."

Miroku's feet took him to the conversing men before his mind knew what they were doing.

"Good sirs, if I may trouble you, where does one sign up for this guard duty you're speaking of?"

Leaning back, put off by his very close proximity, the man who had spoken first said, "Uh, the center marketplace? That's where my brother-in-law said it would be, anyway."

Miroku was off before the man had finished speaking.

The men turned to each other with puzzled faces.

"Funny guy. He didn't look like a eunuch, though."

O\o/O

Kagome awoke out of nothingness to more nothingness.

Her head felt like it was stuffed with that cotton candy thing Hojo had given to her once when they were children. She'd hated the overly sugary taste and forever associated her feelings for him with that candy. He was just like it: nice, but niceness was fleeting and too much was suffocating.

Blinking rapidly, she realized that rather than lying down she was upright and held down to a cold surface. Struggling against her bonds, her sight began to adjust. The bonds were squirming back against her and she cringed, whimpering in fright. What were they made of? They were like tentacles…of hair? She couldn't take it anymore.

"Kikyo!" she screeched, trembling in fear. Only the squeaks and rustles of rats greeted her, making her sob. "Kikyo!"

Kagome's tear-filled eyes finally noticed the figure across from her. Completely still, the pale form of her sister hung limp against the opposite wall. The sight was enough to have her struggle harder, but what drove her to yank and claw at her bonds until they pulled tight and cut her flesh was that Kikyo's eyes were open. Dull and blank, they stared at the ground. The Queen's head was at an awkward angle and she reminded Kagome of an abandoned doll. All that prevented the younger girl from thinking she was dead was the slight rise and fall of her chest.

So why hadn't she answered her screams?

The door at the top of the stairs opened and more light flooded the room, making it a little brighter than too dim to make out shapes. Sara descended the steps, another woman Kagome didn't recognize behind her. Both held delicately painted porcelain lamps, fine things that were hard to come by in Higurashi, even for a princess. The two of them barely glanced at Kikyo before coming over to her, smiles on their faces that made her feel sick.

"I hope your nap was restful, sweet one," Sara said, her voice more melodious than the music of her flute had been. "This is my sister, Yura. I told you about her, remember?"

Something about the condescension in her tone enraged Kagome. Forgetting the pain of her wounds and all the fear she felt, she lashed out, first with her limbs, but when they were prevented from moving, with her words.

"I trusted you!" she screamed. "Kikyo and I trusted you and you betrayed us!"

Sara slapped her. Kagome was shocked into silence. No one had ever hit her before. It brought new tears to her eyes.

"And you're a liar several times over," she said in a rougher voice, affected mannerisms temporarily abandoned. "I may not be able to always tell when you're lying like a full demon can, but because of that I learned to not rely just on my senses. I have a brain and I use it." Yura put a hand on her shoulder and Sara calmed, mouth returning to the small, barely there smile she'd always had before. "I knew you and your sister were different from what you said you were right away. Your hands are too soft to belong to a peasant. And your sister had gold coins sewn into the lining of her dress."

"Isn't it about time we found out who these lost little lambs really are, sister?" Yura said, eyes fixated on Kagome's dripping self-inflicted wounds with a sick fascination. A giggle left her blood red lips and Kagome felt her bonds tighten in what almost felt like an embrace, tendrils of hair caressing her most intimate parts. "I like this one."

Sara smiled and brought out her flute. "Think of her as a belated birthday gift."

Yura squealed and pulled her sister to her, kissing her on the mouth. The human girl gagged, horrified. They were sisters! Weren't they? Girls weren't supposed to kiss like that, especially related ones! Their illicit kiss went on for a long while before they pulled apart with a wet sound. When Sara turned back to her audience, her lips and chin were smeared a pinkish red.

"Time to tell us all your secrets, pretty girl," Yura purred.

Kagome's bonds loosened. Just as she was about to sag in relief, they crisscrossed her breasts and squeezed the breath out of her. The half-demon woman began to play her flute, and this time it wasn't a melody. It was just a note, played over and over again. Oddly, it was a sound she'd never heard before. It made her sweat.

"First off," Yura began, running her fingers across Kagome's now red breasts, "what are your names?"

"Kagome!" she gasped out. "And my sister is Kikyo." If she were able, she would have covered her mouth in shock. She hadn't even been aware she was going to speak! What was happening to her?

"Where are you really from?"

"Higurashi!" she shouted, sounding eager even though she was anything but. Tears flowed down her face and she sobbed silently in shame.

Sara stopped playing her flute long enough to laugh. "I don't think it's ever been this easy, sister."

Yura nodded, the look on her face pensive. "You're right. It's not even fun." Glancing at Kagome's crying face, she smirked. "Maybe it's a little fun. But we've had so many women from Higurashi it's become almost routine. I'm sick of these damn dirty refugees. No one wants to pay much for them. At least this one isn't ugly."

Her sister shrugged, looking bored. "Should we keep going?"

"Yeah, I guess. They did have gold, after all, and this one doesn't look like the average Higurashi peasant." A smile suddenly lit up her face. "I know! We can try with the other one. She looks like a tough bitch. Maybe she'll at least put up a fight."

Sara looked at Kikyo uncertainly. The entire time they'd been there, she hadn't moved once. Her eyes stared blankly at the ground and she had barely blinked. It was almost as if she was dead. But Yura was already in front of Kikyo, examining the woman's scarred, muscular body with distaste. The half-demon played her flute again.

Yura grabbed Kikyo by the hair, forcing her head up and staring her directly in the eye. Whatever she saw there didn't impress her.

"Who are you two?"

It was vague. Kikyo had hoped it would be. There was only so much she could do, now that her power was somehow inaccessible to her at the moment. When they'd started in on Kagome, she'd known the girl wouldn't be able to resist. Never before had she experienced trials in her life. She didn't even have any priestess powers.

That absence of power made it so Kagome was a princess in name only. It was a great shame for a girl from a priestess family to not have powers, many times greater for the ruling family, but Kikyo had shielded her from all that, taking on duties that should have been Kagome's and making them hers. Her little sister was weak, so she had to be twice as strong. Most girls like her were killed once it became obvious their powers would never manifest. But Kagome was different. It had been obvious from birth that she was bereft of even a spark of power. Her aura was so bland and muted it screamed "abomination" to anyone with spiritual senses. And that was the true reason Kagome's marriage to a foreigner from afar had been arranged, the first such royal marriage in Higurashi history. There was no other use for her and she must not be allowed to breed with their own people lest she produce children like herself.

But none of that mattered now. Kikyo still had to protect her, and so she forced herself to act, gathering the last bit of energy inside her, energy she knew might not ever regenerate. Her will wouldn't last much longer.

"I am a warrior. Kagome serves the Queen."

It was true. Kikyo was a warrior, that was what she felt herself to be above all. And Kagome did serve the Queen. Everyone in Higurashi served the Queen.

Sara stopped playing. "Are we done?"

Yura slammed Kikyo's head against the wall. For a minute, Kikyo despaired, falling further into her internal abyss. She hadn't done it right, hadn't acted convincingly enough, hadn't been good enough. And the demon had seen through it and was going to turn them in to their greatest enemy, where they'd suffer unheard of horrors she'd sooner kill herself than experience—

"Gods! I was hoping for something good but it's just the same old shit!" Yura pouted. "A soldier and a maid. They looted their precious queen's castle and ran away. Blah blah blah. Same old, same old."

Sara put the flute away. "Times are hard. They say slavery is going to be phased out soon, too. The empire suddenly takes issue with it. The taxes we have to pay from slave sales make it so that we're barely breaking even."

Yura snorted. "They're the ones creating all the slaves! We almost never have to catch girls anymore, they'll give themselves to us hoping to find a sugar daddy!" She grinned. "And some people very high up in Inu are my best customers."

"Your 'best customer' hasn't visited us in nearly a year."

The demoness looked like she was going to hit her sister. "Word has it that he's back. I called him when we got this one in. He always pays handsomely for his type."

Sara rolled her eyes. "The sooner we get them out of here, the better. Higurashi girls are dirt cheap these days, and the money we spend feeding them isn't even worth it."

Yura crossed the room back to the weeping Kagome.

"I dunno," she said contemplatively, eyes scanning the girl's body, unblemished but for some mostly healed wounds on her feet and the marks from pulling on the ropes of hair. "I do like this one very much."

Disgusted with the woman before her and hating everything about herself, especially what made the demoness attracted to her, Kagome did the most unladylike thing she could think of and spat in her captor's face.

All movement in the basement room ceased.

Sara stared in horror, glancing between the slave and her sister, appearing worried.

Kikyo wanted to say something to her sister, wished she had thought to tell her to act meek and lull them into a false sense of security so they could take advantage of any opportunity to escape. But now she could only tremble. At that moment, she realized her bonds had loosened, the demon's power waning in her shock.

Pulling her wrist away, she freed a captive limb.

As soon as it had released, the ropes of hair tightened, back in full force, squeezing her tighter than ever before, and she was once again completely imprisoned.

Yura laughed and wiped her face. With a hand covered in spit, she slapped Kagome hard across the face, right in the same spot the half-demon had slapped her earlier. She was rougher than Sara had been, being stronger, and the human girl felt a sharp pain in her neck, the muscles damaged. A rope of hair rose up and gagged her and she choked in disgust.

"I knew I liked you," Yura said breathily. "I've decided! I won't sell you. I'm going to keep you and tame you. Soon you'll be just another dumb slave slut, begging me to notice you enough to hurt you." Her hand encircled Kagome's neck, cutting off her air. "I'll rent out your every hole to any lowlife that wants a quick fuck. In a few years, you'll look twice your age. That's when I'll throw you away. In a few more years, you'll die diseased and insane in some shit-filled gutter." She giggled and released her throat, watching her prisoner's blue face struggle to gulp in air. "This is going to be so fun!"

Kikyo's heart felt like it was going to burst in her chest. Never had she imagined failing to protect Kagome to this degree. She would have been better off in what remained of Higurashi. It was all her fault. Everything was all for nothing. The life Suikotsu had given his own to save was destroyed, and it was all her fault. If he could see her now, he'd wish he had let her be struck down like she was supposed to be. At least then she would have died a hero's death, resisting oppression, while Kagome escaped with Hojo and went on to live in Hekigan. All for nothing. He wouldn't even recognize her now. His precious life…all for nothing.

"Sara!" Yura barked. "Start shaving that one. Gods, these Higurashi bitches are disgusting. Don't even fucking groom themselves."

The former Queen didn't react at the sight of the razor, nor did she react as a soapy cloth was taken to her most private, sacred place.

"It's like a fucking jungle down here!" Sara complained, and with a few quick strokes with the blade, the slave was bare. The half-demon rubbed oil into her skin until it glistened.

A bell tinkled upstairs, barely audible to human ears.

Yura grinned. "Take that one up. Charge a hundred and fifty silver for her." Dragging sharp nails up Kagome's thigh, she continued, "I'm going to stay down here and play with my new toy. Give him my regards."

"One-fifty!?" Sara gasped. "I thought they'd be worth no more than what I gave them in the purses."

"You know as well as I do that I can charge him whatever I want. The bastard has no concept of money."

Chuckling to herself at her sister's business savvy, she easily hefted Kikyo over her shoulder once the ropes of hair released her. Each step she took was like a knife in Kagome's gut, her stomach falling in dread faster than the tears fell from her eyes. How was this happening? Why had the gods abandoned them? What was their sin?

A cold hand cupping her between her legs brought her out of her inner monologue.

The touch fanned the flames of her resistance and her will to fight was renewed. Even though escape was impossible, Kagome struggled, the ropes digging into her wounded flesh further, but she hardly felt it with all the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

"Keep it up, my pretty whore. It's more fun this way," Yura said, her fingers wiggling against that special place.

That someone could take such pleasure from her agony confused Kagome and caused her greater pain. People could be like this? Was the whole world like this? Now she didn't know if she should continue fighting if her captor liked it so much. The gods had cursed them, cursed all of Higurashi and each and every one of its inhabitants. She deserved everything being done to her. After all, every bit of this was her fault.

But Kikyo didn't.

At that thought, everything in her screamed at her to fight. Kikyo was gone. Something was wrong with her sister, something on the inside. She had to save her, first from their current predicament and then from whatever hell she was suffering inside her head. The violence of her attempts at freedom increased. She'd sooner die than be separated from her sister!

Yura ran her palm over Kagome's mons, a small moan escaping her. "The Inu bitches like to shave themselves bare. Everyone's doing it now. I'm glad it hasn't spread to Higurashi. I like my women to look like women." She tugged on Kagome's pubic hair and the girl cried out from behind the gag in revulsion. Her tormentor smirked. "You better get over your prejudices now. A woman is going to be your introduction to sex. A woman is going to touch you every possible way to touch you." Leaning closer, she licked her cheek. "Inside and out."

The former princess had not known two women could do that together. Her lessons had been more along the lines of etiquette, fashion, music, dancing, and managing servants. The only things she knew about sex came from Kikyo, who had grown tired of her incessant questions and finally told her the truth: a man and a woman who were married went to bed together naked, kissed, said their prayers, and then in a year they had babies growing ripe in the garden. Simple. The formula didn't have room for two women.

The demoness took one waving lock of Kagome's hair and twirled the end around her nipple. The girl was horrified when her body responded in a way that wasn't entirely rebellious. It had tickled, but it was a good kind of tickle. That was supposed to revolt her!

"I can make this nice, if you want. Or I can make it hurt." Yura pinched Kagome's stiff nipple hard between her fingers, twisting it. A satisfied look crossed her face when she heard the girl's muted scream. "Which would you prefer?"

Mouth freed, her courage returned with her ability to speak and be heard. "I would rather you kill me!" That was the only option for a woman when faced with violation: death. To survive with her purity sullied would be a great shame, almost as great as her lack of power. What was she worth without her virginity? Less than nothing. Gagged again, she glared with all her might, willing her abductor to either kill her or let her go.

Yura smirked. "I don't recall giving you that option."

A length of Yura's possessed hair squirmed up Kagome's body like a greasy black tentacle, growing thicker and thicker in mere seconds, right before her eyes. Soon it was bigger than a muscular man's forearm. Like it was sentient, it caressed her face almost lovingly.

Red lips brushed against Kagome's face and a pink tongue traced the auricle of her ear. "I'm going to penetrate you," Yura whispered. Sharp teeth bit her earlobe, drawing blood. "First in your pretty virgin pussy, and then in your tight virgin ass."

The thick length of hair slithered back down her body. Kagome froze in panic, bile rushing up until she could taste it. The thing rubbed against her netherlips, poking and prodding her. Yura reached down to caress it as though it could feel. The girl wondered if the act would be worse than the anticipation of it.

She hoped not.

O\o/O

Miroku was beyond surprised at the lack of a crowd in the marketplace. True, they were closing up and ordinarily it would be almost deserted, but shouldn't men be knocking each other down and fighting to get to the interview location? Shouldn't the streets be full to bursting? He had rushed over thinking he'd have to wait in a line with as many red-blooded men as there were grains of sand on a beach to even take a number. The news must have only just circulated, he decided. There was no way any man with a functioning cock would pass up this opportunity.

The small building with a thatched roof that stood in the center of the marketplace seemed hardly a location where all his wildest and wettest dreams would come true, but he supposed appearances were deceiving. Inside the foyer crowded four men, sitting huddled so close together and with such unremarkable presences that he nearly tripped right over them. Clearing his throat awkwardly, he sat next to them, arranging his robes around him. His fellows were rather soft-looking, all either bald or balding, looking like overgrown babies.

Miroku smiled secretly to himself. He was sure to get hired.

While not muscular like a warrior or a professional athlete, he was fit. He ran regularly while he was at school, and lifting heavy old tomes all day had given him some muscle definition. And he had a full head of hair. While surely that wasn't a requirement, looking like a normal man could only work in his favor.

A man who looked disturbingly similar to the other men came out from the main room and motioned to the one sitting next to him. They retreated behind the heavy wooden door, both of them with strange gaits and hunched shoulders. Miroku nearly gasped aloud. Perhaps they were all related!? But then he'd never get this job! Never ascend to the palace in the clouds mortals hardly ever saw, never earn his tuition, never console a lonely and sexually neglected sexy harem girl who viewed him as her sole protection, never lose his hated virginity…

Frantically, he began composing speeches extolling his education, character, and pedigree, distractedly murmuring the words to himself, heedless of the bemused glances sent his way by the man-babies, who quickly scooted away from him as much as possible in the small space they had. One by one, they were called on back, and sooner than later he was sitting all alone. He didn't even notice that none of the others had returned.

At last, the man from behind the door came back out and motioned to him, stopping mid-gesture and staring at him like he'd never seen his like before. Knowing employers liked confidence, he smiled in a way he hoped was winsome and strode into the interviewing room. There was only one chair and he assumed it was for the other man, mentally patting himself on the back when he sat down and stared at Miroku expectantly.

"Most honored sir, I am Miroku Hōshi. I must say what a sincere pleasure it is to make your acquaintance.

"Ever since I was just a boy, I held myself to the highest standards. Loyalty runs through my veins and my will to serve the empire of Inu is as solid as the hardest—"

The bald, fleshy man pulled down Miroku's pants.

He screeched. "I am saving myself for a beautiful lady of the highest order! How dare you!"

The interviewer sighed. "Just as I thought." Giving Miroku a glare, he pulled a serrated knife from somewhere in his voluminous sleeves. "Harem guard positions go solely to eunuchs. Is it really your dream job?"

Panicking, the disgraced nobleman did the only thing he knew how to do and thrust what was left of his coin at the man, shedding his rings and a thick gold chain he wore around his neck as well, showering the eunuch master in gold.

After a few seconds, he put the knife away and pulled Miroku's pants up for him, giving him what felt like an almost maternal pat on the bottom.

"Well, you definitely don't have any balls, buddy. Let's get you to the palace."

Feeling faint, Miroku followed the man out to where a carriage was waiting, the other eunuchs already packed inside, huddled like they'd been in the foyer. When the eunuch master closed the door, he found he had a hard time breathing. The other men (could they truly be called men?) were glaring at him and he felt afraid. Was this to be his life from now on?

A smile curled its way across his face. If his fellow guards jumped him, at least a sex-hungry harem girl would be there to kiss his bruises better.

O\o/O

The red-light district in the Inu capital city of Inukai was in the process of being cleaned up, but the efforts had only come so far. It was still seedy as hell and a hotbed of criminal activities of all sorts. The streets were too narrow for his carriage, so it was left a few buildings away on a broader road leading out of the district. Unafraid, Inuyasha walked with his shadow dressed in finery the people surrounding him had never seen before and most likely would never see again. Without a glance to the dirty peasants hiding in rundown doorways and gaping at the splendid sight he was sure he made, he strode purposefully towards his destination. His mind could only dwell on one thing.

It had been way too long since he'd last had a good, proper fuck.

Sango too, of course.

Ever since his teens, Inuyasha had enjoyed few things more than breaking a slave. It had all started with a particular slave brought to the kitchens when he was sixteen. After a week, the place was in an uproar. Apparently, she was lazy and mean and had a powerful right hook. He and Sango had gone to take a look at her and he had been surprised when his body reacted to the sight of her in a way he was used to it only reacting to Sango. Truly his mother's son, by sunrise on the third day he'd turned her from a belligerent bitch not worth the gruel she was given as pay to his own demure sex-craved whore. That had been the first, but certainly not the last. From then on, he'd gotten a new slave at least every month or two. Some girls were more difficult than others. Those were his favorites.

The most difficult ones in the entire empire, he'd found, came from Yura's Pet Shoppe.

Sango was along not merely as his shadow but also as his partner. He always utilized her help during training the slaves. If she wasn't there keeping her watchful eyes on him, he'd probably go overboard. Being a half-demon who almost exclusively enjoyed human women, it was sometimes difficult to keep his passions in check with his frailer slaves, and he didn't really want to harm them. Sure, he could be rough, and he felt that sometimes a little pain was necessary for greater pleasure, but he never drew blood and they never bore marks of cruelty.

They arrived at the massive shop and Inuyasha was already hard in anticipation, a condition made worse by the sights in the display windows. Blondes, redheads, and brunettes of all body types were crammed in partitioned areas right in front of the window like you'd see in a regular pet shop. Some girls were all by themselves, tied up, gagged, and displayed, hands fighting to free themselves and touch their dripping slit. In some areas as many as ten girls were together in a giant orgy, tongues and fingers working frantically to tease and arouse and touch whoever they could reach. But he wasn't here for them.

For years now, he'd been doing business with Yura. Her latest message had reached him just as he was about to leave the palace to go to her shop. Knowing the merchandise was already waiting for him and he wouldn't have to waste time browsing was a relief. At first seeming like an airhead, Yura was a serious businesswoman who knew what he liked and went above and beyond to supply it to him. His type was hard to find in a place like Inu: small breasts, big bouncy ass, brunette, tough, intact maidenhead. Like Sango.

Inuyasha overwhelmingly preferred his women to be virgins. It wasn't exactly a fetish, and he didn't really have a thing for the act of deflowering, but it was the thought that he was the only one these women had been with that got him going. As long as they remained with him, they had no other lovers. Being the one to teach them how to love with their bodies was exhilarating, too. Seeing the look on a woman's face when she realized she wasn't as demure and pure as she thought was what he lived for. It was difficult to find a virgin of his preferred age from the Inu empire. Every Inu citizen was familiar with sex by the time they were in their mid-teens, and he preferred his women a little older, closer to his own age. The anticipation of a new slave that was his exact type had him straining against his breeches, eager to fill the virgin woman.

A bell tinkled prettily as they entered the shop. Inuyasha took a deep breath, his cock twitching at all the aroused scents of the women in the shop. Quick as a flash, the half-demon assistant and main procurer appeared from behind a back door marked "Employees Only". Inuyasha smelled the woman Sara was carrying before he saw her. If he had a tail, it would be wagging. She was absolutely perfect. Tall, slender, and muscled with long black hair that flowed like a gentle waterfall to her delicious-looking ass. Scars crisscrossed her body, but that only made him want her more. He liked strong women. Sara dropped the woman on the inspection chair and forced her down. It didn't require a lot of effort, since the woman seemed beyond resisting. It was almost as though she wasn't even aware what was happening. Even with how docile she was, Sara strapped her wrists and ankles and forehead down.

"Why's she collared already?" Inuyasha asked, eyeing the thick black leather ring around her neck, the silver chain that held the true power hidden within

"She was obviously from Higurashi, and we've learned not to take chances with them, what with all the priestess horror stories we've heard."

He snorted. "Pretty sure we killed all those bitches." Unable to help himself, he ran his claws over her collar, brushing his fingers on the soft skin of her throat. He frowned at the complete lack of a response. "I don't feel any power coming from her. But thanks for saving me the trouble." Collars blocked anyone from releasing spiritual or demonic power. Originally used on demonic prisoners, it was now more popularly used to subdue slaves, human or otherwise. They worked well as tracking devices, and there were a few other features that made them interesting.

Giving the woman the entirety of his attention, he finally inspected her. Given how long he'd gone without proper release, he was sure to be thorough. Her eyes were closed, however he had briefly glimpsed them when they had been open, and they were a beautifully rich brown, if a bit dull, but that was understandable considering the circumstances. Her expression was still and calm, not so much peaceful as it was thoroughly expressionless. The lack of fear, anger, or panic was surprising enough to be interesting. For now.

The backs of his fingers couldn't resist running themselves down her body, tracing her scars. Nothing, not even a shiver. Perhaps she had fought in one of the many militias, which would explain her stoicism. Inuyasha bent at the waist and peered at her more closely, examining the little details. Fine, elegant features, a long neck, and perfect little breasts. There were some faint worry lines around her eyes and between her brows, but they would be gone before long. His women never had much to worry about other than receiving his favor.

Brushing aside the long hair that was not uncommon among Higurashi women, he leaned in close and smelled her just behind the ear, where her scent would be strong. Nice. Very nice. Smell was important to dog demons, and if this woman smelled like that after what was probably just a quick once-over with a sponge, things were going to go well between them. Crouching between her legs, he spread open her pussy lips and saw her undamaged cherry for himself. Yes, perfect.

"Name?"

"Kikyo. She was a warrior." Her voice turned slightly annoyed. "Are you going to fuck her here? You certainly look ready enough."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and got to his feet. Despite the two of them being half-demons who had known each other for years, he and Sara had never gotten along. Once upon a time, she'd had a huge thing for his brother, whom she'd met briefly when he'd tagged along on one of Inuyasha's shopping trips on the orders of their father, but he'd shut that down quickly enough with his bullshit talk about dirty blood. It was like she somehow blamed Inuyasha for everything, like he had been the ambassador to his brother for all half-demons and had somehow fucked up his job.

"I'm going to pay and take her away, just like always." Looking her up and down, he said mostly to himself, "I can hardly fucking wait."

She snorted. "I forgot, you like to play those strange little games with your slaves. All right, then. One hundred fifty silver."

Without even batting an eye at the exorbitant price, he nodded at Sango to write the intent to pay. The money would be sent at a later date since he never carried that much on him in this neighborhood. That was far too dangerous. A servant did it instead.

"Buy my sister."

The new voice spoke so suddenly Inuyasha nearly jumped in surprise. Sango actually did.

The slave had spoken.

"Buy my sister or I won't go anywhere with you." Her voice was firm, but the look in her eyes was still blank. Perhaps there was a small spark there where before there had been none, but it was fading fast.

Sara slapped her hard across the face. "You do not order your master!" she barked.

"Sister?" Inuyasha couldn't help it; his ears were standing straight up. His interest had been peaked.

Already knowing what was going to happen, Sara insisted, "She's really not your type at all. The other one's the complete opposite."

A sister. Two at once. It was suddenly all he could think about.

"Bring her to me," he demanded.

Sara sighed in exasperation and disappeared behind the "Employees Only" door.

"Are you sure about this?" Sango asked, brow creased in concern. "You've never done two at once. And these are Higurashi girls. You might accidentally harm them, especially considering where we've been and what we've been going through these past few months."

Inuyasha ignored her. No matter what, he wanted two girls for his last training session before being married off to some boring idiot. Sisters. He would have sisters. He'd had sex with sisters before, but they were from Inu and used to things like that. They weren't his to control. He wanted two beautiful sisters at his command, pure and innocent girls turned into wanton whores. It was something he'd always idly fantasized about, but now he was finally going to make it happen.

Yura burst into the shop, a murderous look on her face. Behind her she dragged something squirming in between thick ropes of hair. The something turned out to be a girl, gagged by the ropes that were so thick and numerous they rendered her nearly invisible. She was very petite and looked like she'd readily chew through her own limbs to be free.

"What?" Yura growled. "I found you another one of your pear-shaped body builders, now pay me and leave me alone! I'm keeping this one. I was just about to finally penetrate her!"

He barely heard her, his attention on the girl he could barely see. She was putting up a good fight, but it was useless against bonds of that sort.

"Lay her down where I can inspect her."

The chaise lounge which was normally used for those who wished to test their purchases a little more intimately before committing (for a fee, of course) was for the first time put to use for him. Obeying his order, the ropes of hair dragged the thrashing girl, yanking her until she was appropriately displayed.

"Ungag her," he said, voice hoarse. So close, he was so close to having one of his greatest fantasies fulfilled. Hopefully she'd be pleasing to the eye.

The rope slithered off her mouth, revealing a pair of perfectly plump lips, a shade he'd never quite seen before, too light to be called red but too dark to be properly pink.

"I'll send you all to hell!" she screeched like some sort of monster. "I'll kill every single one of you! Kikyo! Kikyo!"

Inuyasha cringed. "You know what? Just keep her gagged."

Finally, silence was restored. Glancing at the woman in the inspection chair, he saw how her face remained effortlessly blank. She didn't even turn her head the slightest bit to her right to see her sister, not even when she had been calling for her. Obviously she cared for her, if she wanted to be purchased so they could stay together, but why was she acting this way?

Whatever.

"Take the ropes off her, but leave them around her ankles and wrists."

At his command, the ropes slithered away, revealing a body that took his breath away. Unlike her sister, she was all smooth silk, and he knew she'd be soft without even touching her. Inuyasha took a step closer without realizing it. Unblemished and pale, she continued to squirm even though the ropes had pulled her limbs tight and held them that way. Smoothing his hand along the concave of her stomach, he slowly caressed her, moving up her ribs, savoring the feel of her. He could feel how he made her breath catch and quicken. Her breasts were bigger than he preferred. Not even his whole hand could cover one like he was used to with most of his other lovers, but they were still nice. Very nice, he thought, his clawed thumb circling her stiff little pink nipple. A change might be just what he needed.

His strong attraction to her suddenly made sense. She looked just like those statues back in Higurashi.

The size was off since she was just a tiny thing, but the proportions were the same. A little living princess statue, bound and collared just for him… The half-demon nearly groaned aloud with want.

Like he'd done to her sister and countless other slaves, he bent over and peered between her legs. She was already partly spread thanks to the rope, and so it was simply a matter of holding apart her pussy lips to glimpse her perfect cherry, ripe and ready to be fucked away, staring back at him with a little glisten. The sight of that slight bit of moisture, evidence that she had responded positively to his touch, had him wondering if he should treat himself. Relieving the burning lust he'd been suffering with would be the best thing right now, and she seemed much more eager than her sister. But he didn't really want the shop owners to see him fuck her. Straightening up, he considered it.

A small tremor ran down his spine and he met her eyes for the first time, that blazing blue making his mouth drop open in shock at the pure rage and hatred he saw there.

There was no time to process it before she kicked him right in the mouth.

Somehow, the bitch had slipped one foot free. Inuyasha tasted blood. His lip had been cut by his fang. In complete shock, he stared down at her. Hardly any enemies on the battlefield ever managed to draw his blood, but this stupid slave bitch did so with everything tied up but one short fucking leg!? And she was fucking angry! At him, of all people! Fury lit her big blue eyes up and he knew that if looks could kill his entire body would be an open wound.

"I think I found my headache," he muttered to Sango, not taking his eyes off the slave. For a long while, they simply glared at each other, neither one willing to look away and lose the impromptu contest. The bitch didn't even flinch when he bared his bloody fangs at her.

"I-I'm sorry, my lord. I'll take her away now and punish her however brutally you want. You can watch if you want, of course, m-my lord," Yura stuttered.

"Name?" he growled.

"Kagome." Yura's voice was shaky. She probably thought she was about to witness an execution.

"What was she before you found her?"

"A maid. She said she served the queen."

His ears perked up despite himself, showing his interest. If anyone would know where that cunt of a queen had run off to, it would be one of her personal servants. Wiping the blood on his sleeve, he narrowed his eyes at the girl, telling her without words that this was far from over. Turning, he faced the frozen slavers.

"I'll take her, too."

Yura's fear evaporated. "She's not for sale. She's mine!"

"I can either pay you and take her home with me or I can shut your business down and take her home with me. It's up to you."

The hair demoness grit her teeth. "One hundred fifty. One hundred in silver, fifty in gold."

He was about to protest, then figured it didn't matter. Shops like this would be extinct soon enough, so he might as well give her something to live off of. Sango wrote the note with a shaking hand. It was probably inconsiderate of him to buy a slave for more money than her entire family could earn in a lifetime, but he couldn't just leave the bitch with Yura. He didn't want used merchandise. Once the note was handed to Sara, he grinned down at the girl. She was still struggling to get free, her liberated foot since double bound.

"Sango, hit her. Open palm, on the face."

It looked like the shadow had been eagerly awaiting such a command. She slapped the slave with enthusiasm, hitting her so hard that her head flew back and hit the wooden arm of the chaise lounge. A sharp cry sounded from behind the gag. The blow was enough to shock her into stopping her struggles. Her big eyes looked up at them, confused and betrayed, like she'd never been hit before today. He almost felt bad, but then remembered she had kicked him first without even a reason. Stupid bitch would learn. Still, the look on her face reminded him of a child's innocence. Inuyasha hated kids, but he figured they should go a bit slower for now.

"More gently next time, Sango." He didn't doubt there would be a next time. "I bought her in order to punish her for that kick, so don't go all in yet." Grinning down at the bitch, he continued, "She's mine now. We have all the time in the world."

"Even when she disrespects you like that?" his shadow asked, voice hard.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He had stopped bleeding in the minute after it had started. "Let's not get carried away. These Higurashi barbarians don't understand the ways of the real world. Maybe that's just a regular greeting where they're from." Laughing internally at the renewed outrage in the girl's face, he leaned over close and whispered so that only she could hear, "I'm going to keep you separate from your sister. Don't want your bitchy attitude rubbing off on her." The muffled cry of agony made him grin. "Take the other one to the carriage. I'll deal with this bitch."

The bitch screamed for her sister, the noise muffled by the gag, but the meaning still clear. Still, she didn't look back, not once. There was no indication she had even heard. It looked like the girl had annoyed the fuck outta her, too. Instead, she just sat still as Sango freed her from the inspection chair and passively allowed herself to be led to outside the building. Inuyasha wasn't worried about leaving the two of them alone. For one, the woman didn't appear to be a flight risk, and she didn't look to be in the best of health, either. Her ribs protruded a bit too much and her skin had a pallor to it. The girl looked much better in comparison. Still, he wished they had been twins or something. He would have preferred someone taller and not so damn tiny and frail-looking. The one slap looked like it had been enough to give her a concussion. What a little princess.

"Do you want her shaved?" Yura asked bitterly.

He shook his head. "Nah. She's got the perfect amount of bush." It was just a tiny dark puff above the split of her pussy lips. He found he liked it even more than when women shaved themselves bare.

The girl was crying now. Inuyasha guessed she was the type where anger turned to tears. It made him uncomfortable, so he turned to face the shopkeepers.

"Do you want us to wrap her up for you?" Sara asked sarcastically, telling him to leave without saying the words outright.

"Actually, yeah. Give me some real ropes and tie her up. A gag, too. I know this one's trouble and I don't want another incident."

Stomping away behind the counter, Sara tossed him some leather bonds wrapped in silk and a simple gag. Sighing heavily, he restrained the girl himself. To his surprise, she let him, her body shaking with sobs as he turned her over and tied her up. When he was done, he tossed her over his shoulder, feeling her warm bare skin on his neck and jaw.

"Bye, Kagome!" Yura called, seeming on the verge of tears herself. "I'll miss you! See you in my dreams tonight."

Inuyasha left the store, his hand on her bottom not entirely to keep her steady.

"You should be grateful," he grumbled, opening the door of the carriage and shoving her inside. "Normally, I'd toss baggage like you on top, but you'd just roll off and die and that would be a waste of money."

Good, that got her to stop crying. Now she was glaring at him, squirming again, saying things he was sure he'd have to make Sango slap her again for later. As the carriage left the ground, she went completely still, eyes widening comically. She reeked more of fear now than she had back when she was being sold. Curling in on herself, she looked at her sister, but what she saw only seemed to make her more anxious. Grabbing her ankles, Inuyasha decided to distract the both of them, and so dragged her face down onto his lap.

"You know," he drawled, squeezing her almost perfectly round ass, "you really aren't even close to my type. Not at all." He gave her a gentle slap and she screeched. This one really had no tolerance for pain. "But your sister is. I always found it difficult to deny a beautiful woman when she asks me something, especially if she's naked."

The girl screamed curses at him through the gag and he was glad the full power of her lungs wasn't unleashed.

He spanked her harder in the same spot, then gave her a matching slap on the other cheek. Not pausing in between, he soon began a steady rain of blows on her ass. She kicked against the door, but it was sealed shut and no weak attempts on her part could open it. Finally sensing the pointlessness of her flailing, she began whimpering and squirming again, rubbing up against his clothed cock. Fuck, his reaction was surprising. Had it really been so long that just reddening a girl's flesh was going to make him cum in his pants?

"I've got plans for you," he said hoarsely. "You're going right to the dungeon." She quivered in fear and he grabbed her ass hard, watching the pink turn white and then pink again when he let go. "And I'm gonna take every single one of your holes. I'll fuck you over and over and over…" He felt himself begin to salivate and tried to calm down. "And then, as a reward for your little stunt back at the shop, I'm gonna give you away. Hand you off to one of the worst courtiers in the palace, someone old and ugly and foul. I'll make you addicted to me and then I'll send you away." He was almost out of breath; his cock was rock hard. The sound of her crying brought him back to reality and away from his fantasies. "Unless you keep yourself on my good side."

The girl's ass was bright red now. Inuyasha winced. He'd been a little too enthusiastic. This was why he usually had Sango do this stuff. Why hadn't she stopped him? Even if he did tell her to never undermine his authority, if he was actually hurting someone, she should stop him. He glared at her. She was watching him with an odd look on her face, like they were strangers. Fuck, had he been that brutal? In silent apology, he began to rub the girl's ass, absently noticing that hers was quite nice, even if she wasn't a "pear-shaped body builder". There were a few stray scratches where his claws had broken the skin. Dammit, this was why he only took strong women. The weak ones couldn't handle his needs. She wouldn't be able to sit for a week.

He sighed. At least they were almost at the palace.

Inuyasha's nose twitched. Was that—? His hand stopped rubbing her ass and drifted lower. She squeaked as his fingers stroked her slit and started struggling like mad again. He laughed aloud at the wetness he felt. Bringing his hand to his face, he gave his dripping fingers a strong sniff. Fuck, it really must have been a long time. She smelled divine. His tongue licked her essence off his fingers of its own accord and he tried to hide the shudder that ran through him. Ambrosial. What the fuck was up with this contradiction of a slave girl? Lost in lust, he looked down at her. Her neck was twisted at what seemed like an uncomfortable angle just so she could give him a look that told him she was absolutely appalled by and disgusted with his behavior. It was so out of place and prissy that he moaned for emphasis, trying not to laugh.

"You're gonna have a lot more than fingers inside you. Soon enough, you'll be tasting me the same way."

That turned the cheeks of her face red with rage and shame and perhaps, he hoped, frustration from not being fulfilled.

Out of curiosity, he looked at her sister, the only one he'd wanted in the first place. Wasn't it kind of rude to ignore her like he'd been doing? Instead of glaring at him like the girl in his lap, she just laid back, eyes closed. Just a glance would have shown her to be relaxed, but her jaw was clenched and her hands were clasped so tight her fingers were white. It relieved him, a little. He liked his women spirited.

The carriage stopped. Home.

Sango got out first, as she always did, leading the older slave in front of her. After she had ascertained that there were no assassins hiding in plain sight, she motioned for him to come forward. Figuring it was safe to untie the girl now, he undid the bonds, keeping the gag because her loudass bitch mouth was the last thing he wanted to deal with at the moment. The girl didn't move.

"Come on. Up." He gave her thigh a pat impatiently. "What, did all that wooing make you weak in the knees?"

Inuyasha wasn't expecting another foot to the face, but that was exactly what he got. This one was twice as hard, calculated and not spontaneous as it had been the first time. Releasing a sharp curse, his hands automatically flew to his sensitive nose, eyes watering in reaction. Gods damn it all, but that had hurt. With blurred vision, he saw the girl go running, wildly looking for an escape. Animal instincts kicked in when he saw where she was headed and he threw himself at her, tackling her. They fell to the ground together, him on top of her, pinning her small form down.

"You fucking idiot!" he shouted. The girl actually had the gall to look scared of him. "Take a look around you!"

At first, she just stubbornly glared at him, defying even this small command, but then he grabbed her chin and forced her face to the side. She took in the misty white ground they were on, the lack of any surroundings but the massive palace they lay in the shadow of. The sounds of birds flapping their wings could be heard below them. Tears came to her eyes as she saw how close they were to the edge of the cloud they were on, mere inches, and how the earth below seemed so very far away.

"There's nowhere for you to run." His voice was hard and merciless. "Not unless you want to die."

A bit of uncertainty entered her eyes, but then she caught sight of her sister and it was gone as soon as it had come. Inuyasha released a breath he hadn't known he was holding and got off of her, extending a hand. It wasn't like he was a monster. He could be a gentleman, even to a slave. To his slight surprise, she accepted his hand, her palm weak and limp in his and so soft. He grumbled in displeasure and tugged her to her feet, wondering if he should keep carrying her. Instead, he stayed close to her as they followed Sango to the outside entrance to the dungeon.

It wasn't truly a dungeon, exactly. He just liked to call it that. Mostly, it was used to hold courtiers suspected of some crime or another while they awaited trial, and so the cells were outfitted rather comfortably. It hadn't been used in years other than to play games with his slaves.

The rooms were cold, though, being deep in the very high up cloud as they were, and fires were not permitted. Even with all the blankets he had in the rooms, the girls would be uncomfortable. And that was good, for now. Especially for the little bitch. His nose was healing but still sore, and reacting to the dull pain that remained, he put his hand on the back of her neck, forcefully pushing her along down the stairs. She jumped away from him in surprise and stumbled, nearly falling headlong down the stairs and taking out Sango and her sister, but he grabbed her just in time, swinging her over his shoulder like before, hand on her ass. Idly, he wished there was a mirror nearby so he could see the sight they made. They probably looked like a couple of Higurashi barbarians with him getting ready to toss her in his cave and ravish her.

When they came to one of the nicer cells, he nodded to the guard on duty and the demon jumped to obey, knowing exactly which key out of the many on the ring was needed for that particular cell. The solid wooden door was engraved on the inside, and furs covered the rock floor. A good-sized bed was heaped with plush blankets and pillows. But for the lack of windows, it could have been a regular room. Some old novels were on the bedside table.

"I'll leave you here for now, Kikyo," he said, barely remembering her name in time.

She didn't respond, standing in the middle of the room where Sango had put her, looking like nothing more than a big, forgotten doll. The creak of the door didn't even make her stir, and that was how he left her. The door was locked securely, the shield preventing any sort of power from being used activated automatically.

Unexpectedly, the slave using his shoulder as a mode of transportation started hitting him, her fists pounding his back, knees going for his stomach. Sick of her shit, he shrugged her off, keeping a hold of her hair. With a sharp tug, he dragged her along, and she stumbled to keep up with his pace. Inuyasha walked all the way to the end of the hall, the furthest away she could get from her sister while still remaining in the dungeon. It was also the shittiest part of the dungeon, reserved for those who had royally pissed off the emperor. Well, she'd royally pissed off the emperor's son, and she was going to be paid back for it.

The guard ran to keep up with him, getting the key to the room he'd stopped in front of, a tiny rusted thing distinct from all the other polished, newer ones. It took a couple powerful attempts, but soon the key turned in the lock. The door opened to reveal a shabby room that would have been embarrassing to show to anyone else. A thin, dusty rug took up most of the room, even though it was about the size of a towel. There was no proper bed, instead just a cot with a single blanket, pillow nowhere to be seen. There was a thin, single slit at the top of the room to let air in, air which would be bitterly cold. Chain-link metal was worked over so not even a finger or folded slip of paper could be pushed through. The door was the only new thing about the room, and it had been replaced and refortified, making it the most secure room in the dungeon. There was the option to slide bars over the outside, making escape that much more impossible. The girl wouldn't even have a book to entertain herself with, though he doubted someone like her could read. Maybe she could've entertained herself with pretending, or the pictures, though.

"I'll come back and see you when I've calmed down, but know that I hold grudges." Inuyasha grinned. "You can take your gag off any time, by the way."

The door closed on her scream of rage.

Kagome sat in the darkening room, face damp and aflame. Why hadn't she thought to take her gag off before!? She could hear the echo of that damn dog's laugh as he walked down the hall. Not only did she fail to escape every time an opportunity had presented itself, she'd also made herself look like a complete and total idiot. Trying to console herself, she thought that it might work in her favor. If she seemed like a moron, they'd take fewer measures to guard her, and another opportunity wouldn't be too far off.

That hope fed her for five days.

Five days without human (or demon) contact. There was a small slot towards the bottom of her cell door that the guards would unlock and use to slip in a plate of food and a bowl of water, which they did twice a day. To her shock and alarm, it was better than the food in Higurashi. And they served prisoners like her delicacies? Truly, the demons were wealthier than she'd ever comprehended. Though that wasn't hard when it was all ill-gotten through making war on innocent people like they'd done to her homeland.

But the good food could only distract her while she was eating it. And soon, she came to dread it.

The bucket in the corner that she used to relieve herself was alarmingly full, the stench permeating the room. Never had she thought she'd ever have to experience something so undignified. In the past, there was always a maid to carry her chamber pot away as soon as she had done her business. And she was so bored and cold that by the second day she'd taken to sleeping constantly, waking only when absolutely necessary. She dreamt about the demon who had bought her returning. Sometimes she begged him to take her out, swearing obedience. Other times, she threw the bucket in his face and ran.

Kagome began to fear she was going to die in that room.

Every time she sat down, the pain she felt reminded her of that demon. She almost began to wish he would come back. Every small sound she heard sounded like his steps, and her heart would beat faster. In her dreams was the only time she would allow herself to remember how he had touched her. Kagome didn't think those places were able to be touched, and she was ashamed to realize she wanted more of it. Just remembering made her feel sick inside and very scared, but there was also something else there, something else she didn't know how to identify.

But she knew that only he could make it clear to her.

Note: So like do you guys watch Inuyasha Abridged? It's like so shitty but I appreciate the fact that it exists so much.

Sorry for the wait! I'm so busy with summer school and I'm out on a dig right now working all dang day. When I get home, I'm too tired to eat, let alone write. But I'm always writing here and there, even just a sentence or two sometimes. I do realize that my writing reflects how busy and exhausted I am right now, so I just wanna apologize and tell you it won't be that way for too much longer. I intended to put a lot more in this chapter but I wanted to get it out sooner. There will probably be more Miroku and some SessRin time next chapter.

Are these chapters too long? Too short? Just right? Be my Goldilocks, please.

Also, check out MagicalRum's story, which is an awesome Inuyasha role reversal. I'm betaing purely for the sneak peeks, haha. I think she's got a good story going and I'm so excited to see where she'll take us. Please review so she doesn't get discouraged! Reviews keep us writers going. I don't know if you guys know how much they mean. Literally, they can make my entire week, and turn a totally shitty day into a smiley face day. That's how great you guys can be. That's the power you have.