InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Entrapment ❯ The Slave Trade ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Entrapment

Chapter One:

The Slave Trade

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, so get over it!

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"Kagome-chan? Kagome-chan?" The black-haired girl continued to poke the lump of burlap covers. A groan came out from underneath. "Wake up! We have to get up extra early today. It's the time of year for the Slave Trades."

When her friend didn't reply, Sango ripped the coarse blankets off of her friend.

"Kagome!" she snapped at the rousing teen. "Wake up!" Kagome yawned, blinking widely at her best friend, scratching her untamable mass of now frizzy black hair.

"What's the rush, Sango-chan?" she murmured, eyes drooping with sleep. Sango hissed at her through clenched teeth.

"Slave Trades! Today! If Hiko doesn't see us in five minutes it's gonna be our heads! Or we might have to clean the stalls for the rest of the year!" Kagome popped up at this.

"Slave Trades…again?" she muttered. Kagome shuffled over to the wash basin and splashed dirty, freezing cold water over her face. Then she proceeded to finger comb her messy hair while Sango changed into a fresh pair of slave clothes, which consisted of rough, abrasive fabric that formed a crude, short dress. "Already? Didn't we just do that?"

She stumbled over to her bed and pulled out a fresh pair of clothes from underneath it. There was only one clean dress left. That meant she'd have to wash them in the dirty lake nearby.

"Everyone's really nervous," Sango said casually, while she scrubbed her face with water. "I think we might be next. There aren't many slaves left since most of them were hauled off six months ago. Hiko says he's gonna get more soon."

Kagome yawned again.

All slaves were taken from different places all over Japan. They were all women, mostly protestors of the Shiroko Dynasty or ones that posed a threat to society, like strong women warriors or untrained mikos (which were getting rare nowadays). She and Sango had been rounded up last year, when they were found brutalizing an advisor of the Shiroko Dynasty who had stupidly tried to force himself on Sango.

When they were all finished "freshening up", they shuffled out of their small, mud and straw hut into the glaring sun and chilly winds of awakening autumn. The gusts of wind ruffled Kagome's hair, making it stand out in odd places. She grumbled under her breath as they passed the rough, poorly constructed huts of the other slaves of the 'village.'

Soon, the chattering of the loud women began unbearable as they became lost in a sea of slaves. The overseers made the girls stand upright and rigid in perfect lines, so it would be easier for catch someone if they tried to escape. The oldest overseer leered at Kagome and Sango before yelling out to everyone else.

"You know the drill! Get to your stalls and wait for the customers to show up! If you are chosen, report to me! Now scat!" The woman scattered in opposite directions, babbling incessantly.

"I hope we don't get separated," Kagome muttered, shuddering. "I don't know what I'd do without you!" Sango nodded in agreement.

"And plus there's no law about having sex slaves either!" Sango moaned, covering her face with her hands. Kagome sighed, running a hand through her long black hair as the picked their way through the throng of nervous and excited women to their stalls.

The Slave Trade stalls consisted of four pieces of wood hammered together to form a box, with the slave's name carved on the front. They where crudely made and tiny and very uncomfortable. Plus, it was unnerving to see suspicious men leering at you and preparing to spend every coin they had or expensive item to trade just to get their dirty hands on you.

Kagome leaned against the short, three foot wall of her stall. She yawned and snorted, tired even now from yesterday's excursions. Her back still burned with pain from last Wednesday she had bent over all day in the boiling sun to plant and water rice. She rubbed her back absently while her eyes traveled over to the overseer who was letting men and women of all shapes and sizes into the Slave Trades.

She sighed and stood up, brushing the dirt off of her clothes. A few men stopped and stared at her, muttering darkly to their partners, then nodded in approval. Kagome exhaled as soon as the leering males moved off to a different stall. Just then, a man walked cooly into the "market place" where the slave trades were being held.

He had an air of peace and serenity around him. The man had short, glistening black hair tied into a teeny ponytail at the base of his neck. He observed every single women with critical, midnight blue eyes and straightened his dark blue robes hastily as his gaze fell on Sango. The girl audibly gulped and fidgeted nervously in her stall. The man's stare didn't waver as he pushed his way lightly through the clusters of cackling men to meet her.

Kagome looked forlornly at her best friend. She knew by the way he got that steely glint in his eyes that he wouldn't turn back. Her friend would be bought and then she'd never see her again! She felt tears prick up in her eyes, as the man leaned casually over the stall and began conversing animatedly with Sango. After a few long minutes, that seemed like hours, he straightened his back and followed Sango's directions over to Hiko. He began to talk to the man for a few minutes as Sango eased her way out of her stall and ran over to Kagome's.

"He's going to buy me!" she wailed. "And he's a filthy pervert! He'll make me his sex slave for sure!" Tears glistened in her eyes. "I don't wanna leave you here, Kagome!"

"I know, but we have to be strong," she said in a soothing voice. "Maybe that man-"

"Miroku," she corrected instantly.

"Well maybe Miroku isn't so bad. Maybe he's just sending off strange vibes." Sango shook her head.

"He's a womanizer! Did you see the way he was gawking at Yura? The one who barely wears any clothes!" Kagome swallowed. There was no way in hell that she was gonna let her best friend get sold to a filthy hentai!

"Can't you complain or protest?" she offered weakly. "Maybe Hikowill…" Her sentence trailed off. No. Hiko was mean, nasty, dirty, insensitive, and would do anything to get his hands on a pile of gold coins! He didn't care about individuals. He only cared about himself.

"No. Hiko will do nothing. Do you know how much Miroku is willing to pay for me?" she asked, rubbing at her arms vigorously, trying to shake off her goosebumps. Kagome shook her head.

"150 gold coins!" Sango informed her. Kagome's jaw hit the ground.

"Really!?"

"Do you know Hiko would kill to get his grubby mitts on that kind of money? I mean, he could buy so much stuff with it. He doesn't even care about me."

Sango bit her lip and cast a glance over her shoulder. Miroku and Hiko were still chatting about something or another, which gave Kagome a little more time to talk with her friend. The tears that threatened to fall earlier, where now burning tracks down her cheeks.

"You can't go, Sango!" she sobbed, scrubbing her eyes with her hands. "What if we run away? We can beat up some more ShiokoDynasty advisors!" Sango chuckled.

"Man those were the days, huh? Why did we have to be stupid enough to get caught?" Sango shrugged.

"We were bathing." Kagome nodded.

"And those bastards crept up on us and captured us - naked! Ooh! I'm still so mad about that!" Kagome smiled. There was the Sango she knew. Hiko's chattering stopped and they began to make their way back to Sango. Kagome sniffled, throwing her arms around the trembling girl. Just as the men had almost reached them, Kagome dug in her pocket, and pulled out a silver coin. Sango gaped.

"Where did you get that from! Kagome! You're rich!"

"No, you're rich," she corrected, shoving the money into Sango's rough hands. "Please take it so you'll remember me."

"I will always remember you, Kagome. No stupid token will…" Kagome shook her head stubbornly.

"Take it. I want you to have it. Hey, if no one buys me, I can still steal some money from Hiko'sprivate stores, eh?" Sango allowed a grin to cross her lips. Suddenly, a large hand pressed down on her shoulder. She whipped around to find Miroku grinning at her.

"Come Sango dear. I'm sure you'll love it with me." Sango swallowed a sob that threatened to consume her and looked longingly at Kagome who had pressed herself against the wall of her stall and was shaking with silent sobs. She wanted nothing more than to be next to her friend, to reassure her, to tell her everything was alright. But she couldn't.

Suddenly, the burning of a whip snaked up her spine. She yelled out in pain. Hiko glared at her, mouth twisted in a snarl.

"You've said your goodbyes. Now go! And I don't want to ever see you again, got that?" Sango bit her lip so hard it bled as Miroku steered her out of the Slave Trades Market Place, soothingly rubbing the lash on her back, shooting the overseer a nasty glare over his shoulder.

Sango longed to swat him away and she craned her neck over her shoulder to see Kagome waving sadly at her.

She feared that would be the last time she ever saw her friend.

* * *

There was no reason to stay in that place any longer. Her best friend was gone and it was almost noon. So many of the girls had already been sold, leaving her all alone. Kagome was so bored that she began to pick a scab on her arm. In fact, she was so into it, she didn't see the shadow that poured over her stall, blocking out any view of the sun.

"Excuse me?" said a cool, clean voice. Kagome jumped to her feet.

"Sorry." She bowed her head and looked up at the speaker. She had long, black hair cascading down her back tied into a ponytail and slitted, steel gray eyes with pale, soft skin. The woman wore a traditional miko outfit, with a flowing white shirt and billowy, baggy red pants. Kagome suddenly felt very homely, what with her scabs, cuts, bruises, messy hair, calloused skin, and raggedy clothes.

"That is quite alright. Are you up for sale?" the woman asked. "I am Kikyou. What is your name?"

"Kagome," she replied. "Yes, I am up for sale." It made her wonder, if that woman even saw her as a person, not some item up for sale.

"Okay. My own slave and I have been searching for a young woman. I think you might be the one we have been searching for."

"You have a helper?" Kagome asked. Was this woman greedy or what? Two slaves? One was more than enough already!

"Yes."

"Lover? Your lover is your slave? Ooh. Sorry ma'am, I don't mean to sound rude." Even though you have no concept of the word: Love.How cruel! The poor guy! She must not really love him if she's forcing him to do her dirty work!

"Yes," Kikyou nodded briskly. "He willingly agreed to it. He follows my ever order. Very obedient." She let an ice-cold smile grace her lips. It was so frigid, it made Kagome shudder. This woman is obviously very selfish. I dislike her already.

"If you don't mind me asking, Miss Kikyou," she dipped a wobbly curtsey. "Why do ya need two slaves?"

"Oh, it is quite simple, really," Kikyou answered. "I have decided to trade something of mine for a slave of his own. He has been so obedient over the last year that I really think he deserves a treat."

"Treat?" Kagome echoed. Did that woman really see her as some measly possession, not as something that lived, breathed, walked, and talked? She growled deep in her throat. Slaves are property, not people.

"Did you say something?" Kikyou inquired. Kagome coughed.

"No ma'am. I was just clearing my throat."

"Very well. I shall give you a test. If you pass, I think we might just trade something for you."

Kagome gulped. She was not liking the sounds of this.

Okay, this is chapter two. Remember to review. Aloha!