Shadow Filled Hearts by Tamasha Toko

For Sale

Chapter 1

For Sale

For some those times were best of times. Those some of course being youkai. Back then youkai and hanyous had everything. They were free to go and do as they pleased as long as they obeyed their rulers they taiyoukai. That were how things were. You obeyed whoever was more powerful. That left humans on the bottom of the food chain. Humans were nothing but food and game to the lesser youkai who would once in awhile get a taste for human flesh and blood.

Things were a little bit different in other areas though. The richest area of Japan known as the Western Lands who was ruled by the taiyoukai Sesshoumaru son of Inutashio looked for many ways to keep its wealth. This purpose was helped a lot by the humans who had all flocked to the Western Lands years ago when Inutashio was in charge. Inutashio knew he could never control the youkai's urge to kill and torture the lower beings known as humans, but he tried to give the humans as much privileges as possible. Since they had been dealt a bad faith because of being weak he made it law that humans with power such as mikos and priest could be spared due to the fact they had been known to kill many demons. As long as the humans under his protection left the youkai alone they would leave them alone and allow them to become members of the youkai society. There were a few more humans that were allowed the privilege and those were the ones who fought against the Southern Lands during a war alongside with Inutashio. All those humans had been given special family names, which would protect them and all of their offspring from a terrible fate.

This was why the Western Lands filled up with a human population. They all wanted to somehow serve the lord and be protected, but eventually Inutashio was killed putting his sons Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha in charge. Sesshoumaru was known to have a hate against humans, but he made sure the ones under his father's protection were still spared, but for the other humans he allowed the demons to do as they pleased. No one knew much about the other son. He was rarely in the Western Lands and always traveling.

These were the worst of times for all humans. Right away the demons begin mass killings in hopes of ridding their lands of the scum. That was when they decided to improve their wealth. Since youkai enjoyed the torturing of humans they were captured and sold to youkai so no one had to hunt anymore. Lesser youkai bought them as food while youkai that were a little higher up who served under Sesshoumaru and didn't have time to capture humans to torture bought them to have them as pets. All of a sudden everyone started doing it. Humans were the perfect pets for youkai just as cats, dogs, and birds were perfect pets for ningen children. Except these youkai pets could talk, walk, and be fearful of their masters. The human pet business quickly started to flourish. Everyone was buying them as pets. It made everyone happy that they had something lower then them to play with and it made them feel more dominant. Soon everyone had a human. The only ones that weren't owned or waiting to be sold were those who were under protection.

A young girl named Kagome was lucky enough to be one of those humans. Not only was her family given the name Higurashi because her grandfather helped with the war, but she was also a miko. That was why she knew nothing about how humans were being treated lately. She lived in the forest and mountains assisting humans who had survived being attack by youkai. Unfortunately she could never defend them or she would be attacked, but the ones she saved were always thankful.

Kagome lived in the Western Lands, but she had never been near the cities or palaces. She knew she would be accepted there if she did unlike most humans, but she was happier this way. Things would be different today though. Today would be her first time ever in the city because of some supplies she needed to get that she couldn't find in any villages.

"Human," many youkai growled at her as she walked through the crowded streets which led into the capital of the Western Lands.

"Higurashi Kagome," she told them over and over again to let them know she was under the protection program.

This was one of the reasons why she stayed in hiding. Being around all of these youkai like this made her feel like an animal. Sure she was given more privileges then most humans, but she would never be equal to a youkai as long as she had to continue displaying herself like this. It felt like she was an animal that was rare so there was now a law against harming it but that didn't stop anyone from pointing and staring.

After awhile of telling all the youkai she ran into her family name she got tired of it and allowed her hand to glow pink so show that she was a miko. That was when the demons began to stay away and almost looked fearful of her. That put a smile on her face. This was probably why youkai tormented humans in the first place, just to see that look. Kagome's face soon turned into a frown though because that wasn't how she was. She didn't want anyone to be scared of her even if they were youkai. She was a kind and happy person who wasn't into the suffering of others.

Kagome's eyes filled with curiosity as she looked around the town. There were youkai everywhere, but she didn't see a single human. She wasn't expecting this, especially after always hearing things about youkai society from her grandmother Kaede. She thought the cities in the Western Lands would be littered with others who were like her and were under Lord Inutashio's protection so they wouldn't have to deal with the savage youkai in the wilderness. Instead there were none at all. This wasn't good. She was hoping to find a human run shop so she could ask about buying a special herb, which she hadn't been able to find at all lately. She wouldn't get what she wanted out of the demons she had heard they knew nothing about herbs.

"So your one of those humans put under protection by our former lord," questioned a female voice that came from behind Kagome.

Kagome knew it wasn't the right thing to do considering the one who was speaking to her was probably youkai and her a mere human addressing one without permission would be in insult, but she turned around and replied anyways, "yes that's right."

She faced a woman who had a colorful pink and white kimono. She looked pretty eerie even for a youkai. Her hair was short and her eyes were piercing red.

"I am pretty sure it was one of your ancestors but on protection," the woman continued, "hopefully for you Lord Sesshoumaru doesn't put an end to this protection plan, wouldn't want the number of stray humans to increase."

"Stray humans?" Kagome asked.

"Yes stray humans," the female youkai stated as though she had asked something dumb, "as in nobody wants them so they litter our streets. I am sure someone would buy you even though you have been exposed to the life of freedom."

"You must excuse me, but I don't know what your talking about. This is my first time around so many youkai and buildings. I am a miko who comes from the woods I am not use to all of this."

"Oh so you don't understand. So tell me why are you all of a sudden here?"

"I was hoping to find a place with others like me," Kagome informed her meaning 'others like me' as in humans, "I need to buy some herbs."

"Others like you? Just keep going down this road until you reach the palace. Once you're their turn left and walk for awhile you should find what your looking for."

"Wow thanks," Kagome responded not knowing any youkai could ever be so friendly, "ummm I don't know what to call you so sorry for my rudeness of not being able to thank you properly."

"Kagura," she noted as she turned around and began to walk away letting out a chuckle before addressing the human she had just met one last time, "remember walk to Sesshoumaru's castle then turn left."

Kagome headed towards the huge structure she saw in the distance that was probably the castle. She was in a good mood now, so good she even made her miko flame disappear and went back to having to tell everyone her family name hoping to find another kind demon like the one who had given her the directions. Little did she know the path she was going lead something she never would have expected.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Kagome opened her eyes to only shut them again once she felt a splitting headache come to her. It was clear that something had knocked her unconscious. All she could remember was making that left turn at the palace, someone yelling at her, and then something hitting her in the head as she uttered 'Higurashi Kagome' thinking someone was just asking if she was under protection or not.

Curiosity then consumed the pain she got from her head so she cracked her eyes open once more to find out where she was. The first thing she noticed was the hay she was laying in. It was itchy and scratchy. She tried to focus on the hay after she noticed the second thing that was out of place. She was totally naked. Somehow when she had been transported she had gotten separated from her shrine maiden outfit. She looked further to study her surroundings more. She saw bars. She was in some kind of narrow bared wooden cage. It was big enough for her, but not enough room to stand up. She looked out further and what she saw made her skin turn red in embarrassment. Her she was in a cage facing one of the busy streets in the city, which was full of youkai walking by. She quickly covered herself when she noticed a few youkai stopping and studying her.

"Everyone needs a pet!" Kagome could hear a male voice yell.

She turned her head to the side and noticed some kind of ox youkai yelling towards the crowd that went by. She seemed to be in some kind of area where there were open markets. This was the way that Kagura woman told her to go and now she was here. Stuck naked in a cage visible to all the youkai in the city. Kagome quickly spun around and noticed a lot of cages with humans in them. In the whole little section there had to have been three men, a few children who were the only caged humans clothed, but the majority were woman who were all naked, scared, and too beautiful to be in a place like this.

"How in the hell did I get here!?" Kagome shouted above the crowd.

"About time you have awoken," sneered the ox demon who walked up by her cage, "now stop yelling and just look appealing. No one wants to buy a loud one."

"Loud one?" she questioned, "get me out of here! I don't know what this is and I don't like it!"

"Who cares? No one that's who. Your just more proof that humans are inferior; if you were smart you just would have stayed out of the youkai market area."

This was the youkai market? Kagura probably knew it too, that explained the chuckle from earlier. Kagura knew what would happen to her and she still sent her down, but why?

"You can't do this!" Kagome yelled, "I am under Inutashio's protection. My name is Higurashi Kagome."

"Yeah right," he laughed, "every human I have captured now has said that. If you really were under protection you wouldn't have come down here, there is nothing for you

down here."

"You don't understand I-

"That's enough out of you," he growled cutting her off as he unlatched her cage and stuck his hand in to as gently as he could smack her upside the head, "now do as your suppose to and hope someone gets interested. If you don't then you die. That's how it is here."

"One hundred and twenty pieces of gold for her?" asked some kind of furry youkai that walked around the small shop.

"Yes it's a great deal," the ox responded with a smile on his face as he latched Kagome's cage and faced his customer, "take a look and you will see she is the best we have to offer. She is perfectly healthy, has looks, and she doesn't have a single injury on her except for a hard to see scar on her stomach.

Kagome looked at her stomach and noticed the pale pink line over it. That was all she had compared to the other woman in this place who had scars and bruises all over them. She didn't even know where she got her scar from it was too long ago.

"Nice," replied the youkai as she looked at her naked body, "but I don't want to spend that much. I have children too so I was looking for something a bit younger."

"Then come this way my friend," said the owner of the shop as he walked his customer towards the back.

What was this place and what was going on? All she had been told about youkai and human relationships were if you weren't under protection a youkai would kill you and that was the end of it. This seemed to be some kind of place where youkai were selling humans to other youkai. Kagome stopped thinking about it and looked at the latch on the outside of her cage. Were youkai stupid? Humans weren't as dumb as animals all she had to do was stick her hands out of the bars and unlatch it herself.

Everyone looked towards her cage as she let out a yelp that came from getting shocked by some strange energy coming from the latch. Okay youkai weren't as dumb as she thought they were. They had clearly enchanted the cage. That meant she had to try the second option and that was using her miko powers. Pink energy started crackling around her hand. She was going to burn down the bards and make a run for it. There was nothing. She tried with all of her might and concentration to make her powers stronger to get out, but the energy she already had just burned out and wouldn't come forth.

"Dammit," Kagome cussed, "I am not suppose to be here."

"You have a mouth on you don't now don't you?" asked a strange deep devious voice.

Kagome didn't even bother looking up at the man who was talking. She wouldn't dare do it while she was there in all of her naked glory. She just covered herself as much as she could and started at the hay, which was suppose to be her bedding.

"I don't want my pet to be shy," he noted, "but yet you seem to be the best money can buy."

Kagome calculated what she had just heard in her head. When she awoke she heard the ox yelling to the crowd about how they should all buy a pet and then it became clear. Youkai were buying humans. So that made her a pet for sale? This disgusted her.

"I am not a pet," Kagome said in a very angry, but yet low tone since she didn't want to get hit by the ox again.

"Your in a cage and undressed like all the other pets are," he said, "and you are nothing but a human."

"I'm suppose to be under Inutashio's protection."

"Oh really? If you had a family name you probably would have been smart enough to stay away from here and I am sure that if you were a miko you would have escaped by now."

Kagome finally lifted up her head and looked at the youkai who was addressing her. She wanted to gasp in amazement. Out of all the youkai she had seen since coming here he was the one who looked closest to a human. His hair was black and long which is brought out the red in his crimson eyes. They were similar to the ones that Kagura woman had.

"My name is Higurashi Kagome," she told him leaving out the part about her being a miko seeing as how she had no proof.

"Well then maybe if you good and behave you can keep your name."

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"One hundred and twenty pieces of gold huh?" he said as his arm went through the bars and he grabbed her left breast after pushing her own hand away, "that is pricey, but for your sake it better be worth it."

Kagome grabbed his hand and tried to push his arm away. He just clamped his cold hands harder on her nicely shaped breast as she cried out in pain. The man just smirked at her cry as he began to use his thumb to play with her nibble. After selling off a small human boy he headed to where the screaming was coming from.

"I see you have an interest in my newest catch," the ox said to the red-eyed man, "the only problem seems to be her modesty and mouth, but she will learn."

"Training is the best part though," the man added in as he finally removed his hand.

Kagome quickly backed up as far away from them as she could and then covered her chest once again, "don't you dare touch me ever again."

Kagome went ignored as the men continued to talk about her; it was scary by the way the man talked it seemed, it seemed he was going to buy her, "do you know how old she is?"

"I would say around seventeen," the shopkeeper replied.

"I am fifth teen," Kagome noted.

Still she went unheard as the man talked, "she is perfect I will take her."

"Okay but I need some information. You know for kingdom surveys and such. What's your name and what will you name her?"

"Senaka Naraku," he answered as the ox began to unlatch the cage, "and I might consider changing it but for now her name can be Kagome."

"Okay we just need too-

"Stop I want her!" another voice ran through the crowded shop.

All three heads turned to look at the newest member in the conversation. He was pretty strange looking. He had long and sliver hair which surrounded two dog-ears. He was easy to spot due to a bright red kimono he wore.

"Master Inuyasha," the ox said in a shocked tone after almost throwing himself on the ground and bowing to the visitor in front of him, "I was in the middle of selling this human."

"Well cancel the sale," the one known as Inuyasha demanded, "I am claming her as official property of the Western Lands."

"I saw her first hanyou," replied Naraku, "you shouldn't interrupt my shopping."

"I hate to waste your time Master Inuyasha," continued the shop keeper, "but may I ask what is done with all these humans that I am suppose to give to you for free? This would have been the twelve you have taken this month and you always take my best ones."

"If you have a problem with that then you can take it up with your precious Lord Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha snapped as he crossed his arms, "this one is suppose to be my brother's birthday present and as far as it goes with the other humans its none of your business."

"Your right it is none of my business millions of apologizes. Just allow me to get her ready for you"

"I believe I was already buying her," Naraku pointed out to the man who went back towards Kagome's cage.

"Sorry Senaka but we must grant Inutashio's sons their wishes. I don't even want Master Inuyasha mad at me let alone Lord Sesshoumaru."

"Yeah Naraku," Inuyasha mocked, "so being on Sesshoumaru's council won't get you what you want this time."

"It probably will. You see I know your older brother a little better then you do and I am sure he wouldn't care if I took her off of his hands. Last time I checked Sesshoumaru is not the type to be entertained by a human pet."

"If that's the truth then he will probably entertain himself by killing her. After all that's why these humans are pets in the first place so youkai can entertain themselves in torturing them."

"You should keep her for yourself Inuyasha. She almost looks like Kikyo."

Kagome noticed Inuyasha's fist clenching causing his claws to go into his palms. She was too busy noticing his actions to fight back when the ox youkai grabbed her by the arm and clamped some kind of metal collar around her neck. Once it was on she put her hand o the buckle and tried to remove it just to be met with the same black energy that burnet her fingers before.

"What is her name?" Inuyasha was asked.

Inuyasha just went glanced at her for a moment before going back to staring down Naraku, "her name can be Shadow. So Naraku why do you want her? I believe you're the one with Kikyo issues."

"Kuku Inuyasha you really don't expect much from me. I was just interested in having a pet."

"I saw what you were doing before I came. You weren't looking for a pet you were looking for a sex toy that resembled Kikyo."

"I am a youkai Inuyasha unlike you are. I am suppose to belong here so I choose to obey Lord Sesshoumaru's laws. I wouldn't want to impregnate her and have more hanyous running the streets. Even though I am sure she would be a better bitch then Kikyo."

Right away Inuyasha grabbed Naraku by the collar of his shirt, "don't you ever say anything about Kikyo again...or I will kill you."

"You should let go of me right now hanyou. I don't think your brother would like it if you killed his right hand ruler."

Kagome's mind snapped right out of the conversation again as white-hot pain sheered through the little bit of her neck that showed above the metal collar. The shopkeeper had taken a sharp object that was burning and now it was cutting into her skin. Inuyasha put his attention on Kagome after she began to cry and try to fight the youkai away.

"Do you have to do that to her?" Inuyasha asked.

"If she doesn't have a mark she could be killed or recaptured," answered the ox as he finished with her neck, "there she has the mark of Sesshoumaru on her now. Speaking of humans being recaptured we have one here that has an 'I' on her neck. I assume she is one of yours."

"Probably, I will take whoever it is with me today."

The screaming continued as the shopkeeper resumed craving things into her neck. On one side of her neck she had a crescent moon while now on the other side was the word Shadow. That was when a lizard youkai brought out a girl with chocolate brown hair. She was wearing a dark and light pink top with a long green skirt.

"Do you require a leash for any of them Master Inuyasha?"

"I don't. Sango knows to follow and Shadow will learn."

"Okay that's it!" shouted Kagome after she recovered from the shock of having things carved into her, "I don't know what's going on, but it disgust me. We are humans not pets, I am under Inutashio's protection so I shouldn't be here at all and my name is not Shadow its Kagome!"

"It is Shadow now and always will be!" roared the ox, "who you were and want to be will never exist. All you are now is Lord Sesshoumaru's pet Shadow. And just to worn you if you act this way around our lord you won't live long."

"What he is saying is true," Inuyasha noted, "so take his advice and come with me Shadow."

"You best listen to Master Inuyasha," the brown haired girl said with an emotionless tone, "disobeying him is not wise."

Kagome thought it over. So now just because Kagura led her down the wrong path she to change her name and belong to some Sesshoumaru guy who clearly had power over everyone. If she didn't leave with Inuyasha she would probably get hurt again. And the sooner she got out of here the better. She was still naked and she didn't want to receive anymore of the treatment that Naraku had given her. She just walked towards the one known as Inuyasha thinking about a way that she would escape later.

"Good were moving out then," Inuyasha announced as he turned his back.

Kagome stood there and didn't start to follow until the other girl did. Inuyasha all of a sudden stopped and removed the top half of his kimono. He draped it over Kagome and muttered something about how just because humans were pets didn't mean they needed to go unclothed.

It was then that Naraku began to take his leave, but not before coming up to Kagome and whispering something in her ear, "I will live in the same castle that you will be in so don't think you have escaped me my Kagome."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

It had all been like a nightmare, but in a matter of hours the nightmare would be over. It turned out that Inuyasha was indeed the brother of the man who was suppose to own her and rule over the Western Lands, but he wasn't that bad. He actually spent his time going to shops like the one she was at and pretending to want some humans when really he would go and take them back to their homes. That was where Inuyasha was right now, taking Sango back to her village. Until he returned Kagome was suppose to wait her in the actual castle of the Western lands.

It was true that Inuyasha was suppose to get her to be Sesshoumaru's birthday present, but that was only because Sesshoumaru's advisors told him too. She wasn't going to be a gift now and she wasn't going to be a gift ever. Inuyasha planned to return before Sesshoumaru was to be given his gifts that way he could stage Kagome's escape and she could go back to the woods. Kagome planned on never going to the city again. Everything going on here was pure evil and it seemed humans would never find peace. Her powers and last name couldn't even save her anymore.

She had faith Inuyasha would though. She had been placed in a small guest room so no one would find her and give her away to Sesshoumaru before they could act, but instant fear flew into her as the door slid open. She thought Inuyasha had come since whoever it was had sliver hair and golden eyes, but he was much colder and strict looking.

"What do we have here?" he asked in a very harsh tone."

(End chapter 1)