Before:

“Oh, I know I shouldn’t tell you, but I just can’t keep it a secret anymore,” placing her hand on her daughters shoulder and giving it a loving squeeze she said, “I’m taking you to the Slave Market to buy you your first personal slave!”

Now:

Kagome gaped at her Mother, unable to comprehend what she was saying.  It was not until Robin slapped her should and said, “Shut your mouth!  It’s not proper to gape!”

Shaking her head and taking a deep breath, Kagome tried to settle her nerves.  It was not the first time her Mother had tried to get her a personal slave.  She could handle it again.

“Mother, may I speak to you alone?”  Kagome asked, opening her eyes and watching her Mother through the glass.  She knew that she was being rude to all of the other people in the room, but she did not want to make a big scene about this.

Again.

“Of course,” Her Mother said, blinking in surprise before looking around the room and adding, “You’re all free to go.  Kagome looks presentable, so you may all go home for the day.”

As everyone filed out of the room, Kagome glanced at Robin, knowing that she would want to stay.

“It’s ok, Robin.” She said.  “I really would like to speak to Mother alone.”

Glaring at her charge, she curtsied and walked from the room.  It was not that she was mad, really, but she always believed that the second Kagome was out of her site something bad would happen.

When the door had finally closed, Kagome stood up and faced her Mother, her eyes hard.

“Mother,” she began, ready to start the old argument all over again.  She really, really did not want a slave.  “You know how I feel about slaves.”

Nodding, her Mother replied, “Yes, I know, but I’m not the one who’s suggesting it this time.  Your Father is.”  She watched as Kagome’s eyes widened and she knew she had won.  “You know how your Father is.  If he wants something, he gets it.  Moreover, he wants you to have a personal slave.  Now, I’ll go get Robin and we’ll be on our way.”  And with that, she strode from the room, leaving Kagome to stare after her.

A moment later, Robin walked into the room, her back straight and her head high.  However, when she saw the look on her young charges face, she dropped her angry act, rushed over to Kagome, and wrapped her in a tight hug.  It was one of the few times she ever really let her guard down.

“It’s not fair,” Kagome whispered into Robin’s shoulder.  “Mother and Father both know how I feel about slavery.  Why are they pushing me to get one?”

“Oh, my dear,” Robin soothed, stroking Kagome’s silky hair.  “They just want you to have someone protect you.”  She patted Kagome’s head and leaned back, her caretaker face falling back into place as she added, “I’m not going to be around forever you know.”

Kagome shook her head, refusing to reply, and let herself be led from the room and through the house to the waiting car.  As she stepped in and sat down, she realized her Mother had decided to come along, which would virtually make sure that Kagome picked a slave this time.  Sighing in defeat, Kagome stared out the side window as her Mother and Robin started to discuss what sort of slave they thought Kagome should get.

“It should defiantly be a male,” Her Mother said.  “They’re always in short supply but they’re also always the best.  And I am going to make sure Kagome has the best.  We don’t need a slave that is going to die on us right away.”

Robin shook her head as her replied, “A male might be stronger, but they’re also still males.  And you know it will have to sleep on Kagome’s floor.  How else would it be able to protect and serve her at all times?”  As Kagome’s Mother considered this, Robin added with a sniff, “Besides, you don’t want her to get attached, right?” at Mrs. Higurashi’s slow nod, Robin continued, “So get her a female.  They more easily replaced and besides, Kagome would be less prone to get attached to it.”

“You’re quite right, Robin,” Mrs. Higurashi said, glancing at her daughter to see how she would take this news.  However, Kagome was staring out the window, trying to ignore the conversation going on around, and about, her.  “But still,” she added with a sigh when Kagome gave no reaction or response.  “Kagome should be able to pick out the slave herself.  And I intend to let her.  If she picks a male, fine.  If she picks a female, fine.  And if she picks more then one, I will be very happy.”  She glanced at her stubborn daughter again and was in time to see her glaring daggers out the window.

The rest of the trip was passed in silence, partly because Mrs. Higurashi did not want to upset her daughter anymore and partly because the atmosphere in the ca had gotten so heavy, it was hard for them to think straight.  It was not until they were almost at the Slave Holder’s Slave Market, the name of their destination, that Mrs. Higurashi suddenly realized what was going on and kicked her daughter, softly but firmly, in her leg.

At once the atmosphere lightened and Kagome had the grace to blush.  She usually had better control of her emotions and, therefore, her Miko powers.  However, with so much coming at her suddenly, it was understandable.

Muttering a hurried, “I’m sorry,” Kagome ducked her head and breathed deeply before again looking out the window and concentrating on staying calm.  It would not do any of them good for her to go berserk now.

The driver pulled up to the curb near the express entrance to the Market and got out to open the doors.  As he helped Mrs. Higurashi out, Robin did the same for Kagome.  As the driver got back into the car and started to pull away, a man dressed in a dark gray suit walked up to them, a smile plastered on his face and a name card reading, “Slaver Kevin” pinned to the front.

When he reached them, he bowed low and said in a silky, winning voice, “Hello, Ladies.  How can I help you today?”

“We’d like to see your stock,” Mrs. Higurashi said.  Bowing her head slightly at Kagome, she added, “My daughter is here to buy her first personal slave and we’d like to see your best.”

“Of course, My Lady,” Kevin said, bowing low again.  “We were just about to start a Rally in the small arena, if you would like to go and bid there.  Or,” he added, as if he had just remembered, “We are also hosting a few Games in the large arena, where you may go and check out our newest stock against a few of older stock.” Leaning forward, he added confidentially, as if no one was suppose to know, “I hear they’re going to let the slave Inuyasha out again.  He one of our best and mostly highly converted specimens.  He’s a hanyou, and so very strong.”  He stood straight again and smiled.

Robin sniffed and said, “These Games…they pit one slave against another?”  When Kevin nodded, she added, “So, we’d be able to see who was the strongest and then…?” she let the sentence hang for a moment.

Kevin picked it up right away and replied, “Bet on them.  Or, if there is one you really want, they all have selling prices, so you would be able to buy it straight away.”

Mrs. Higurashi nodded, as if this was everything she had hoped for and said, “We would like to see these Games.”

“Of course, My Lady,” Kevin said with another low bow before gesturing for them to follow him into the building entrance.

They all ignored Kagome, who was trying her hardest to not run as far away form this place as possible.

She did not, and would not, tell anyone that her Miko senses were making her feel all of the death and pain going on around her.

~*~

Inuyasha slammed his fist into the wall in frustration, breaking off some of its plaster but otherwise doing little other damage.  The whole place was made of reinforced metal.

“Dammit!” he yelled, slamming the wall again, breaking off more plaster.  “Dammit!”

It had been over ten minutes since they had taken the old man out of the cell next to his and sent him to his death.  So why hadn’t they come back for him?  Or for another slave?  If they were hosting their stupid Games, wouldn’t they want to keep the crown enticed by sending out slave after slave!?

He slammed the wall one more time before turning around and sliding down into a sitting position.  It was not like him to be so on edge but, then again, the old man had been his friend…sort of.  In the last few weeks, the old man, who Inuyasha had never learned the name of, had talked and talked to him, telling him stories of the time when he was an adventurer.  At first, Inuyasha had been annoyed by the continuous talking.  However, as time went by, Inuyasha found himself listening to the old man’s tales and dreaming of the freedom he hoped to have one day.

Now, however, there would be no one to talk to, no one to tell him stories of freedom and adventure…no one to keep the nightmares away at night…

The door slammed open and there was the sound of feet on the stairs and of something being dragged along the floor.  It was not until the cell next to him was thrust open and a body thrown into it that Inuyasha realized the old man had survived!  He was breathing hard and seemed to be favoring his right leg, but he was alive!

“How the hell…” Inuyasha started, but the sound of the old man laughing cut him short.  It was so long since any slave had laughed…

“Ah, my boy, that was fun,” the old man said, pushing himself up against the wall.  “Didn’t think I was going to make it.  But I did!  Aye, I did!”  He laughed again and stuck his hand through the bars into Inuyasha’s cell.

His eyes, wide, Inuyasha slowly took the old man forearm in his and shook it.

“Aye, see?  I’m alive.”  Nodding, the old man shifted and withdrew his arm, holding it to his leg now.

“How did you…survive?”  Inuyasha asked, knowing how brutal slaves could become when they wanted to stay alive at all costs.  However, he never knew the old man had it in him.

“How do you think?” the old man replied, a smile on his face, though it looked forced.  “I still have a few tricks up my sleeves.”

Inuyasha shook his head in disbelief and was about to ask more when the door was again slammed open and feet were head pounding down the stairs.  This time, as expected, they stopped in front of his cell.

“Come on, half-breed,” one of the slavers said.  “We’re hoping you’ll catch the eye of some fine Ladies who are shopping today.” They threw cuffs around his hands and feet and pulled him forward, towards the open door.  “Be good today, and maybe you’ll get bought!” the Slavers laughed at their own joke as they all stepped out into the light.

~*~

“Mother,” Kagome said sickly, as she watched an old man being beaten up in the arena below her.  Although the arena was large, she, her Mother, and Robin had all been able to get seats that offered them the best view of the…Games.  “Mother,” she repeated, “I don’t think I can take much more of this.  It’s sick!”

Laughing, her Mother said, “Oh Kagome, toughen up!  You know only the strong will survive in this world!”  And, although it was undignified for her to do so, Mrs. Higurashi cheered, albeit quietly.

“You’re Mothers right,” Robin added, her eyes riveted on the fighting going on below.  “You’ve got to toughen up!  Otherwise where will you end up in this world?”

Kagome, however, had had enough and she ducked her head, concentrating on breathing and blocking out the sounds of fighting and cheering around her.  She did not know how long she stayed that way, but it felt like forever before her Mother was suddenly calling her name.

“Kagome?  Kagome!” her Mother shook her should slightly.  “It’s over.  Did you see one you liked?”

Kagome could only shake her head and watch as the bodies of two of the dead fighters were dragged away.  However, in her slight daze, Kagome realized that the old man was not among them and her heart soared for a moment before plummeting back to the ground.  That only meant he had killed the other two and, next time, would either kill again of be killed.

“I wonder who’s up next?” her Mother mused, looking at the program in her had.  “Oh!” she exclaimed, making Kagome and Robin jump slightly.  “It’s that half-breed Kevin was talking about!  That Inuyasha male.”  She gazed over the rough field at the gate just to the left of where they were sitting.  “I wonder what he will be like?”

But Kagome did not care what he would be like.  He would just be like all the others.  A killer or a dyer.  Nothing more.

At that moment, she did not know how wrong she was.

The gate open to a loud cheer and almost everyone in the stands jumped up, trying to get a better view of the, supposedly, famous Inuyasha.  Unable to contain her curiosity at something that would cause this much of an uproar, Kagome forced herself to watch the gate as three people stepped out of it.  The two in front, both with dark hair, were pulling behind them a tall, silver haired man.

Kagome could not help but gasp.  Was that really a slave?  But…he was so gorgeous!  Most of the slaves she had seen were cut and bruised, or deformed and tragic looking.  But this one…Inuyasha…he was perfect.  Everything was still there: arms, legs, fingers, everything.  And Kagome could not help but stare at this man, the likes of which she had never seen before.

“Ah, I see he’s caught your eyes!” someone next to her said, smiling a toothless grin at her.  Blushing, Kagome ducked and shook her head.  “Don’t be shy, lass!  That slave there is none other then Inuyasha!  The most perfect lookin’ slave here!  But you wont find him bein’ sold, no sir-y.  He one of their best, and they don’t wanna be getting’ rid of him any time soon!  Costs over seven million yen, he does!” and, with a cackle, she turned back to the arena again, leaving Kagome to her staring and blushing.

She was not attracted by him.  She was not!  It is just that…she had never seen anyone like him before.

She was still staring when the second gate, across from the one Inuyasha had come out of, opened and a mob of slaves rushed out at him.

~*~

The moment the cuffs were off him, Inuyasha stretched himself and watched as the two Slaves hurriedly backed away from him and into the ‘safe’ zone, an area abundant in weapons only they were designed to use.

He was given a moment to stretch, since this would show him off to the people in the crowd, and Inuyasha took this tame to survey the people sitting in the stands closest to him, although he made sure no one noticed him looking.  He had learned the hard way what staring would get him: a slap and a beating.

However, he could not help himself as his eyes fixed on the face of a blushing girl who was looking at an old woman next to her, who seemed to be talking animatedly.  The girl ducked her head at one point, and Inuyasha ripped his gaze away, just as she lifted her head again and looked at him.

He watched her out of the corner of his eye as the gate across from him was opened.  And, even though he tried to deny it, he could not help but hope that she would like what she saw…not the killing, but the way he moved.

And, on a whim, or so he kept telling himself, he was go all out this time and do all he could to look good.

A/N:  Hmm, I really liked this chapter.  Maybe cause it’s long, or maybe cause I just like it…

Anyways, like always, enjoy.