Slave, Escort, And More by Lady Kubira

Chapter 1

There are many stories that can be told. Stories of Princesses, Empresses, or any woman of nobility. Fairy Tales of all kinds regarding mystical creatures, Supernatural beings, even Gods. In the end, that is all they turn out to be, Stories. Stories were meant to be forgotten after a time. New stories are told but I often wonder if some stories may have been true. My mother and father told me stories of all kinds. They told me of beings known to the world as 'youkai.' Sure the translation of the word has been described in two ways. To the English, the word meant 'demon' to my people the world meant 'supernatural animal.' I preferred the term 'supernatural animal,' demons were the spawns of hell and I had known that youkai could be good or evil. They were not born evil and if they were demons why would most youkai be born as animals? Most youkai were beautiful animals. Larger than their domestic counterparts most youkai made their place in the world keeping the land beautiful and pure but still humans feared them. Sure youkai killed, some youkai even ate humans, but I see it as fair. Do humans not eat animals? So why make it a crime that a youkai eat a human? We are all part of the circle of life, the food chain, sure we were not at the top but we were not at the bottom.

The story I have to tell is my own. Most of what I say could probably be unbelievable but that I can leave for you to decide. I was born to a time where youkai ruled over the lands. They kept order and peace as much as they could. There were four kingdoms, Southern Islands, Eastern Lands, Western Lands, and Northern Mountains. Each was ruled by the strongest youkai in the lands. The West were ruled by the Inu youkai or Dog Demons, The East went to a very strong bear youkai, The Northern Mountains were given to the Ookami or wolf demon tribe, and finally the Southern Islands went to the kitsune or fox demons.

InuTaishou wanted to make sure that everything ran smoothly. He appointed many Inu youkai's throughout the lands to all the big villages but he ignored the smaller ones. My parents thought me a blessing since they had tried so hard to have a child without any luck. The one thing that struck them odd was the fact that from where my heart is a blue sapphire stripe began splitting into two just between my breasts to line under them when they developed. The stripes continued down my sides to my hips where they ran through to my inner thighs near my privates to wrap around my legs and finish at my ankles. My parents had no explanation to the strange occurrence. My eyes were also the same color as the stripes that adorned my body. My parents made sure that the stripes were never exposed to anyone. My baths were made when no one was around. By the age of two my mother had a second child. To their relief he was born normal without any abnormalities that I had been born with. Though my parents put up with my presence they had believed that I was a punishment from the Gods for some wrongdoing they had done. They were given a child of the damned. Being that my parents were very spiritual. Well the year that I turned eight it would all change for me. My parents always took better care of my brother. When my brother fell ill it was I who would pay. My parents sold me to a slave trader. They took me away in the middle of the night and it was the last time that I saw home for a long time anyway.

"Where are you taking me!?" Kagome yelled at the man who was driving the carriage with other girls in the back of it.

One of the girls touched my shoulder and I looked at her, "It is no use for you to fight. We have been sold by our parents as slaves. We will be taken to the ones who purchased us."

Kagome shook her head in disbelief, "Momma and Papa would not do that to me!"

The girl gave a sympathetic look to Kagome, "They did, I'm sorry to say but they did."

Kagome watched through the bars of the carriage as they went further into the middle of the Western Lands. Each city they went into girls were being picked to be left with the ones who had paid for the slave. Kagome and the Girl that had tried to calm her were the last two in the carriage when they came to the Palace gates. Sango was the name of the girl with her and they watched in awe as the gates opened to reveal a beautiful large castle set in the middle of beautiful gardens, a big lake that had trees around it making it look more like a lagoon. The carriage stopped and the man opened the carriage. He pulled Kagome and Sango out of the carriage and handed them over to a woman dressed in fancy servants clothing meaning she was most likely the one in charge of the servants.

"This is what we have paid for?" The woman said looking at Kagome and Sango.

The man replied, "Yes, These were the ones that looked the most healthiest. If you do not wish them I will take them back and return with some other slaves when I acquire some.

The woman shook her head, "No, They will do."

The man bowed and got back into his carriage to leave. The woman looked down at the two girls. "Look at me, the both of you."

Kagome and Sango looked up to stare into green eyes. The woman you could tell was not completely human. She had piercing eyes and pointed ears. "Hmm...You girl with the black hair will be working close to the Royal family. You with the brown hair will be working out here with the other slaves."

Kagome looks at Sango and frowns but Sango just smiles and nods to her as she leaves with another slave. The lady looks Kagome from head to toe. "You need to be cleaned up. I am Shina and I do not take kindly to disobedience. I will not hesitate to discipline you. I expect perfection child."

Shina leads Kagome to a bathhouse for servants. Shina sits down and waits for Kagome to disrobe and enter the spring. Kagome looks at Shina then the water but doesn't disrobe. "Child what are you waiting for? I have not the time to wait for you to bathe. Modesty is something that you must overcome for there will be times other women will be here with you."

Kagome drops to her knees and bows her head, "Forgive me Shina-sama but my parents told me never to bathe in the sights of others. They told me I would be killed if I did so."

Shina tilts her head in curiosity. "Disrobe now or suffer punishment."

Kagome sighs and stands up. Her fingers take out the knot to her obi and her kimono falls to the floor. Shina's eyes widen a little seeing the markings on her skin. Shina stands up and walks towards her and traces the lines feeling that they feel similar to her markings except with a more velvet texture. "Child you are human, where did you get these markings?"

Kagome replies, "I was born with them, I do not know why."

Shina stands up and walks back to her seat, "It does not matter.. Hurry and clean yourself. Scrub every part of yourself I do not wish for you to be dirty."

Kagome gets in the spring and takes the scrubber along with cleansing herbs and starts to scrub her skin. Kagome scrubs her skin raw before she steps out of the spring and stands for Shina's inspection. Shina nods handing her a new kimono. It is a kimono that is the color of the servants of the castle. The obi has another color that signifies that she works near the Royal family. It is blue just like Shina's except Shina's obi has a black tip to signify her status as the one who gives the orders. They walk from the spring when Kagome gets dressed and go into the castle. It is still dark out but the morning servants have already started their tasks. Shina gives a small tour to the girl before they go to the kitchen. Shina had braided Kagome's hair back noticing that she has a streak of blue hair that stands out in her hair.

"We will be serving breakfast to the Royal family. InuTaishou-sama, Izayoi-sama, Sesshoumaru-sama, and Inuyasha-sama. You must never look any Royal in the eye. Do not speak unless spoken to. Never spill your item. If you break the rules you will be disciplined or perhaps even killed."

Kagome nods and helps with the preparations. Shina decides to give Kagome the simple task of pouring the juice this morning. The Royal family is sitting down at the table already. She sends Kagome into the dining room. Kagome is shaking slightly remembering what Shina had told her. When she walks into the room she sees the family seated and talking together. One boy looks to be about two years older than her making him eleven and the other is about four years older than her making him thirteen in human years anyway. Kagome is so nervous that Shina did not smell the scent that Kagome is giving off.. The scent of jasmine and a calming vanilla. Her natural scent is jasmine unlike any other human. When Kagome walks towards the family InuTaishou sniffs the air along with his sons. They turn their gaze to the little servant girl that has begun to pour their drinks.

InuTaishou raises an eyebrow to the girl, "Child are you new?"

Kagome sets the container on the table and drops to the floor in a bow, "Hai, I arrived late last night."

"Stand child, Look up to me."

Kagome does as she is told and looks up at InuTaishou. Izayoi gasps, "What beautiful eyes.."

InuTaishou looks at his mate then back to Kagome, "Child you are human yes?"

"Hai, M'Lord.."

Shina walks in and freezes as she sees InuTaishou inspecting Kagome. She walks towards them and bows, "M'Lord has the child done something wrong? If she has she will be punished appropriately."

InuTaishou shakes his head, "No she has not done anything wrong, She smells divine, What bathing herbs are you using?"

Shina tilts her head in question, "M'Lord the normal ones that do not leave a scent."

InuTaishou turns his attention back to Kagome. When he looks into her blue eyes again her eyes glow softly at his stare. Startled he stands up quickly. Shina takes Kagome and pulls her away.. "M'Lord are you okay? Has the child done something?"

InuTaishou shakes his head, "No, She has done nothing.... Continue with your duties."

Since that encounter Kagome has always been given other duties to perform that never left her to encounter the royal family. Six years have passed and Kagome grew into a very lovely woman. Servant boys are fond of the young woman even though she shows no interest in any of them, human or youkai. Shina walks into the servants quarters, "Kagome child wake up."

Kagome opens her eyes and sits up in bed. She smiles at Shina, "Yes Shina-sama?"

Shina returns the smile, "Today you shall not have any duties, You may have the day to yourself."

"Thank you Shina-sama.."

Shina leaves the room and Kagome jumps up. She gets dressed in her kimono and geta shoes. She smiles and runs out of the back door to the room. She grabs an apple and makes her way to the lagoon. She always loved going to the lagoon when she did not have to perform any duties. She has this spot that has a lot of big trees that she sits at. A lot of animals gather around her and she plays with them all. She goes to her spot and sits down eating some of the apple she had brought with her. The animals she usually plays with start to come around her.

Meanwhile back at the Palace, InuTaishou and his sons gather up some weapons and head towards the lagoon to practice and possibly find some game to hunt.

"I do not wish to go Father. I much rather continue my studies."

Inuyasha smirks, "Are you afraid of getting dirty Sess?"

Sesshoumaru glares at Inuyasha, "No half-breed, I just rather study something your little mind can not do."

InuTaishou sighs, "We are working on weapons skills outside at the lagoon. That is final so stop complaining."

Kagome takes off her clothing and undoes her knee length hair to flow around her. She leaps into the lagoon and swims around ducking under. She comes back up and smiles walking out of the lagoon her hair dripping with water. She walks out of the lagoon and smiles when a bird sits on her shoulder. To anyone who was to come upon the sight they would have mistaken her for some sort of mystical being.

Kagome smiles to the animals and starts dancing around when she starts to sing.

/Some how I know I will find a way. To a brighter day in the sun. Some where I know that he waits for me. Someday soon he'll see. I'm the one./

InuTaishou and his sons stop when they hear the singing when the come upon the trees near the lagoon. Inuyasha being the compulsive one goes towards the voice followed by his father and brother. They get to where the trees come up to a small clearing. They all freeze in their tracks as the naked beauty dances with the animals that are gathered around her.

/I won't give up on this feeling. And nothing could keep me away. Cause I still believe in destiny. That you and I were meant to be. I still wish on the stars as they fall from above.

Cause I still believe. Believe in love./

Inuyasha's mouth is hanging open he whispers so only his father and brother can hear, "My Gods dad can I have her?"

InuTaishou hits Inuyasha over the head. Sesshoumaru doesn't notice what is going on, his focus being on the girl and how beautiful she is. He follows the stripes on her body, as his beast pants in want. Kagome stops her singing and looks up and starts to look around. Her eyes stop on the spot that InuTaishou and his sons are standing. She narrows her eyes as her stripes start to glow softly.

"W-who's there?"

Inuyasha whispers, "Can..She see us?"

InuTaishou answers, "No, She is sensing us.."

"What type of youkai is she? I have never seen one like her.."

InuTaishou looks to his sons, "Go back to the castle.."

"W-What?"

Sesshoumaru looks at his father, "Why?"

InuTaishou bares his fangs, "Do not ask questions, Leave now!"

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru reluctantly leave and InuTaishou waits until he can't sense them anymore. He walks towards the clearing coming from the trees. Kagome grabs her inner kimono and holds it against her body.

"Do I know you child?"

Kagome bows, "Hai, M'Lord, I once served breakfast to you and your family when I was nine."

InuTaishou looks at the girl, "Look up at me, I wish to see your eyes."

Kagome looks up at InuTaishou, Their eyes connect and soon a soft light starts to glow in her eyes. InuTaishou smiles softly to the girl, "You are very special. You appear to be human but yet you're not human."

"I do not understand what you are saying M'Lord."

InuTaishou smiles gently at the girl, "It is nothing for you to worry yourself about. Dress and we will return to the palace together."

Kagome nodded as InuTaishou turned his back on her as she dressed quickly and walked next to InuTaishou. He started walking as he acknowledged her presence. They walked together towards the palace as Shina was coming out of the bathhouse she saw them walking up. She quickly walked over to InuTaishou and bowed to him.

"InuTaishou-sama, Is there some problem with the young girl?"

InuTaishou looked at Shina, "No Shina, I am changing her position. I wish for her to get lessons on proper etiquette as well as training sessions with hand to hand combat as well as all forms of dance."

Shina looked from Kagome to her Lord before replying. "May I ask why M'Lord?"

InuTaishou smirked, "Kagome will be a castle Escort."

With that said InuTaishou walked to the doors of his palace leaving the two women to stare after him. Kagome was confused while Shina frowned a little at this. She turned towards Kagome and led her off to the servants quarters. Once there Kagome sat down on her bed.

"Shina-sama? What is a Escort?"

Shina sighs again as she looks at Kagome, "It is a person who accompanies royals and lords. You will be lent if need be to visiting Royals who do not have company to a royal event. You might even accompany one of the sons of the Inu no Taishou if need be."

Kagome gets a horrified expression on her face, "Am I expected to sleep with them?"

"No Kagome, You are not to be a courtesan, The castle has those on hand for the visiting Lords. I do not know why our Lord wishes this of you but it must be good. Once you have become well trained you will be moved to the castle instead of being here with the other servants."

Kagome frowns, "I have no choice in the matter do I?"

"I am afraid not Kagome. It is an honor."

Kagome nods and lays down in her bed, while Shina starts to set up everything for her.

~*~