InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love of her Master ❯ A Day At The Market ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: `Inuyasha' belongs to Rumiko Takahashi. While this plot and any additional characters belong to me, everything else is hers. I make no profit off this story, and am writing it only for my own enjoyment.

 

Warning: NC content included in chapter. Nothing beyond groping, though rape is implied. If you are offended by or do not want to read such material, please do not read chapter. You have been warned.

 

 

CHAPTER 1: A DAY AT THE MARKET

 

It was barely dawn when Kagome awoke from her restless sleep. She didn't want to wake, she didn't want to have to face what was to happen today, but she had no choice. The brutish man banging on the cages and yelling for the slaves to get their lazy asses up made sure of that. Today was the day when they would be sold.

 

It had been around sunset when they had arrived at the site of the great market yesterday, and although there were still some people around most of the crowds had already left. Rather than try to sell their `merchandise' then and risk noting being able to get a good price for them, the slavers had decided to wait until morning and try to catch the daytime crowd. So they locked the slaves, who were mostly young woman, up for the night and turned in. That is, with the exception of the few slaves that some of the more restless slavers decided to take to bed with them that night. Kagome shuttered just thinking about that. She had seen the broken looks on those women unfortunate enough to be chosen at night. She had also seen the lustful stares many of the slavers directed her way and knew that the only thing that had saved her from such a fate herself was that she was a virgin when she was captured and that the slavers believed they would be able to get a better price for her if she remained that way until she was sold. She also knew that once she was sold, it was unlikely that she would be one for much longer. She was fully aware of the kind of slave she was to be sold as.

 

Kagome felt the tears burn at the back of her eyes and she and the other slaves around her were herded out into open. A couple of weeks ago, she had just been a normal girl with a normal family, living in a peaceful village without a care in the world. Then one terrible night the village was attacked without warning and her peaceful life was shattered forever. So many had been killed, others captured. She had no idea what had happened to her family, she had been separated from them in the attack. None of them were among those captured, or at least not by this group of slavers. She just hoped that they were among those lucky enough to escape, and not the dead.

 

As Kagome was lead with the other slaves to the tent where their food was dished out, she glanced furtively around as she wondered for about the hundredth time if she could possibly escape from this hell hole and the horrible fate that was soon to befall her. But as she looked around, Kagome once again resigned herself to the fact that escape wasn't possible, there were just too many guards even if she could somehow get out of those infernal chains, which it itself was unlikely.

 

Besides, Kagome thought grimly as she sat down with her bowl of something, what was the point? She was already marked forever as a slave. Her hand went almost automatically to her slave brand on her left shoulder, that horrible brand the slavers had forced onto her skin the very night she was captured. It was universally recognisable as a slave brand, and as far as Kagome knew, could never be removed. Even if by some miracle Kagome did escape, if anyone ever saw that mark on her she would instantly find herself once again in the same circumstances as she was in now. No, it would be even worse because she would be known as a slave who had already run away once, and would likely be kept chained in a cellar or something simular for the rest of her life. At least if she stayed here and was sold today she might have some chance of being sold to a nice master, although she would admit to herself that the chances of that were slim.

 

After struggling to get down the muck her captors mockingly called breakfast, Kagome was lead along with the others to open space just to the side of the stage were the auction was to take place later today, and left chained there to be inspected by any potential buyers. Kagome was kept slightly apart from the others, along with two other girls a couple of years younger than her. The three of them were the `virgin stock' and were expected to bring a much higher price than the others. The slavers wanted them to be a prominent feature on display.

 

With the chains digging cruelly into her wrists and the already hot sun beating down on her, Kagome tried to keep her head held high and the tears out of her eyes. She was scared of what was to come, but she was determined to face whatever fate threw her way with all the dignity and grace she could muster.

 

By midmorning, Kagome's resolve had been pushed to the limit and beyond, but she refused to break down and cry like she really wanted to. She had been forced to endure the lustful looks of fat old men and smirking youkai all morning, and at one time had been fondled by a fat lizard youkai with almost no hair, while his more humanoid brother gave his own opinions of her in a voice loud enough to be heard by half the market place. The only good thing about the encounter was when the younger youkai had dropped his hands, sighed and stated that as much as he wished otherwise he didn't think he would be able to avoid her price. Kagome had inwardly breathed a sigh of relief after the two of them had left, but knew better than to relax. As awful as those two had been, she could still easily end up with someone even worse.

 

As if to prove her thoughts correct, it wasn't long after that that he showed up. From the front, he appeared almost human, wearing richly made clothes that clearly set him apart as a man of wealth, and armour on his arms and chest that appeared to be made of youkai bones. However, the disgusting tentacles that emerged from his back made it clear that he was of youkai blood, though what kind of youkai was a mystery to Kagome. She tried not to cringe at the sight of him, but it was hard. Not so much because of his appearance, but because of the malevolent presence she could sense around him. There was no doubt in Kagome's mind, this man was pure evil. The salvers on the other hand were not the least bit put off by this and started to flock around him, drawn by the attraction of his obvious wealth.

 

“Can I help you sir?” The head slaver asked, hoping that he could make a good deal out of this. Rich youkai were always good customers.

 

“Yes, I am in the market for a new slave.” The youkai said in a deep yet smooth voice. Kagome couldn't help but shutter slightly at the sound of it, even his voice was evil. “I prefer virgins, I don't appreciate getting another man's leftovers, but I also don't like them to be too young. Fifteen to seventeen is a good age.”

 

Kagome felt a wave of despair well up within her. She was the only one here that fit that description. The other girls that had been classified as `virgin stock' were thirteen and fourteen respectively. While she certainly wouldn't have wished such a master on either of them, she didn't want to go with him herself.

 

The slaver bowed, happy with the way this conversation was going. “We may have just the slave for you, sir. Sixteen, still untouched, and very pretty. If you'll just follow me.” As expected, he lead the youkai right up to Kagome, who looked away unwilling to meet the eyes of either of them.

 

The youkai looked her over, obviously liking what he saw. “Yes, she is very pretty and just the right age too.” He said, sounding like he was already considering which position to take her in first. “She also seems to be in good health, that is good. The last slave I acquired picked up an infection somewhere and died on me. I would see the rest of her before I decide whether or not to put in an offer though.”

 

Kagome blanched, realising what he was asking. This was more than anyone else had asked, and far more than she thought she could stand. The head slaver however wasn't about to deny a request from a rich potential customer, and hurriedly reached forward to untie the belt holding her rather tattered yukata closed, before he pulled the yukata itself open enough for the youkai to look upon the body underneath. Kagome felt her body flush with shame, and finally lost to her fight not to cry as a single tear rolled down her cheek when the youkai reached out to grasp her now naked breasts roughly in his hands.

 

After a moment, the youkai made a sound of approval and dropped his hands. Any relief Kagome may have felt at that however died with his next words.

 

“Very nice.” The youkai said. “I will definitely be back to bid on her later. What time will the auction take place?”

 

The slaver grinned happily. This was the most positive response he had gotten for the girl all day. While her virgin status raised her price, she was actually a couple of years older than most of their usual clients liked. “The auction will begin at one, sir.” He answered with a bow. “We will be showing our virgin stock last.”

 

The youkai nodded. “I will be back then.”

 

He was just about to turn and walk away when the head slaver spoke up again. “May I know your name sir, so that I may be able to better warn my underlings to be on the lookout for you.”

 

The youkai stopped and turned around. “I didn't introduce myself? How forgetful of me. My name is Naraku, Lord of the Dark Mountains.”

 

***

 

Inuyasha, youngest son of Lord Inutaisho of the Western Lands had been having a fairly good day at the market. He had come here along with his two closest friends, Sango and Miroku, and several of his father's men to sell some goods for his father as well as some goods he and his friends had brought themselves. He couldn't help but feel proud that the demon hide he, Sango and Miroku had brought was fetching a much higher price than most of the goods his father's men had brought. They had hunted and killed those demons then processed their hides themselves, and he was pleased to see that their hard work had payed off.

 

They had sold the last of the hide yesterday, and were now just waiting for the other goods his father had sent along to all be sold, which should hopefully be by the end of the day. In the meantime, Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku were just wondering around the marketplace, enjoying themselves and looking to see if anything jumped out at them as something they wanted to buy.

 

It had been a good morning; that was until they had the incredibly bad luck to run into Lord Naraku of the Dark Mountains. Inuyasha had hated Naraku since the very first time he had laid eyes on him. Inuyasha was pretty sure Naraku felt that way about him too, but pretended to like and respect him because of the power that Inutaisho held. Their meeting was one of forced politeness, as usual, and left Inuyasha with a strong desire to rip the bastard's head off. Naraku was a snake, and was notorious for being cruel to those under him. Inuyasha was not the least bit disappointed when Naraku had to leave before long, claiming he had an auction that he wanted to make it to the start of.

 

It wasn't long after that that Sango dragged Miroku away to a stall where they were selling kimonos, claiming that she wanted her husband's opinion on them before she decided to buy one. Inuyasha suspected that she just didn't want to let the notorious letch out of her sight for too long. Although they all knew Miroku would never actually cheat on Sango, six months of marriage had yet to curb all of the monk's flirtatious tendencies. Having no interest in women's fashion himself, Inuyasha wandered away to check out the market on his own for a while.

 

Not really paying attention to where he was going, Inuyasha soon found himself nearing the edge of the market place, when he came across a plot of open ground containing a simple, wooden stage surrounded by a large crowd. Much to Inuyasha's disgust he spotted Naraku within the crowd, near the stage. So this then was the auction that Naraku had said he wanted to make. Just as Inuyasha arrived, a young woman wearing a torn and dirty green yukata was pulled onto the stage by the chains she was wearing on her wrists and made to stand by the auctioneer.

 

Inuyasha felt disgusted. A slave auction. He hated these things, hated the very idea of slavery. He thought it was just sick, the idea of owning another person like that. He was about to leave, when something made him look at the woman's face and what he saw made him freeze.

 

She was young like he had thought, but older than he knew many woman at these auctions were, looking about maybe sixteen. With his demonic vision, he could tell even from as far back as he was standing that she was beautiful, with full lips, long raven hair and large, soft brown eyes. But what really made him freeze, was the expression on her face. Scared, and almost in despair, she was nevertheless trying to be brave about this whole thing and stand with her head held high. He couldn't help but feel respect for the woman's courage, and soon found himself wishing he could help her. Almost without thinking he moved forwards towards the crowd.

 

“Now, gentlemen and youkai, here we have our final slave for sale.” The auctioneer yelled out in a loud voice that could be heard clearly my everyone in the crowd. “Sixteen years old and in good health. Still a virgin, although with a face and body like hers I don't expect her to stay that way for long. Shall we start the bidding at one hundred gold pieces?”

 

Forced to stand next to him, Kagome struggled to keep her face expressionless, although inwardly she was scared out of her mind. She could see Lord Naraku in the front of the crowd, watching her with a predatory gleam in his eyes. More than anything she prayed that he would not be the one to buy her, but considering that everyone else in the crowd that looked as wealthy or more than him had already brought at least one slave, she didn't think it would be likely that anyone else would be able to afford her. She struggled to keep her tears at bay, she would not cry in front of these people.

 

The bidding started, and quickly escalated. It didn't take long before the other bidders dropped out, and Naraku held the highest bid at two hundred gold pieces.

 

“I have two hundred gold pieces, do I hear any higher bids?” The auctioneer, who was also the head slaver called out, happy to get such a high price. “Two hundred going once, going twice…” He was just about to declare her sold, when another voice spoke up from the back of the crowd.

 

“Three hundred.” The voice called out calmly. It wasn't someone who had bid before, and a number of people turned to see who had offered such a high price. Kagome glanced over to, wanting to see who her potential new owner was.

 

Standing there, dressed in a bright red haori and hakama, with a sword strapped to side, was someone who could only be a hanyou. He had thick, long silver hair, with a pair of dog-ears sticking out from the top. He was young as youkai and hanyou went, and appeared to be in good shape. But he didn't really look like someone who could afford to pay such a high price, the auctioneer couldn't help but think. He was about to say something when Lord Naraku spoke up.

 

“Lord Inuyasha, I did not expect you to be here.” He said calmly to his rival bidder, and the auctioneer's eyes instantly brightened. Another Lord? Well then, maybe he could back up his bid after all. Three hundred gold pieces was a lot of money to be made on a girl like this. And to think, he had almost considered her to be too old and let his men have a go on her after all.

 

“I didn't expect to be here either Naraku, but I am now.” Inuyasha answered, not bothering to address Naraku as a lord. As far as Inuyasha was concerned, Naraku did not deserve that honour. “Are you going to bid against me?”

 

Naraku bowed his head slightly. “Sadly no, Lord Inuyasha.” He said. “Two hundred and fifty is my limit to bid on any one single slave. A pity you came along, I was looking forward to having her in my bed tonight. Oh well, I hope you have fun.”

 

Inuyasha decided it was safest to just ignore the connotations of what Naraku had said, and just be happy that he wasn't going to raise his bid any higher. He couldn't really afford to pay any higher than that, no matter how much he wanted to protect the girl from Naraku. As it was, he had just used up the last of the money he had made from the sale of the demon hide and everything he had brought with him from home. It was just a good thing that accommodation at the inn was billed directly to his father's account, otherwise he's be stuck sleeping outside tonight.

 

A little disappointed that he wasn't going to get a bidding war going between the two lords, the auctioneer was nevertheless happy with the price he obtained and quickly announced the bidding closed, and said that everyone who had purchased a slave that day could pick them up behind the stage as soon as money changed hands.

 

All too soon for Kagome, the bill of sale had been handled, and she was being lead away from the auction by her new owner. As she walked meekly behind this hanyou lord who was now her master, she wondered fearfully of what her future might entail.

 

Inuyasha, on the other hand, was mostly trying to figure out how he could keep Sango from killing him long enough to explain after she found out he had brought a slave.

 

 

Author's Note (Updated version of chapter)

 

As you may have noticed, I have made some changes to the early part of this chapter that should hopefully address the question I keep getting asked of `why doesn't Inuyasha just set Kagome free?'. I wanted to give a serious reason as to why this was, but I realised that if I added this to the next chapter (which would be chapter 7), it would just seem weird it having appeared so far into the story, so I went back and added the part about `branding' a slave into this chapter. Sorry if this annoys people having a change to the first chapter so long after I first posted, but I didn't know how else to address this problem that would make sense.