Stolen
By: Discord

A/N: Yes, another of my Inu-Yasha/Kagome stories. Kagome is a captive of Naraku, a cruel slave owner. Inu-Yasha is the hardened leader of a mountain gang of hanyou outcasts. What happens when they meet in a dark alley one night, Inu-Yasha having saved her from a vicious attack?

This was originally named 'A Flower Stolen and Drowned' when it was first posted in 2004. I have since learned a bit of brevity, hence the new title.

-- CHAPTER ONE – DEFIANCE --

He heard them.

Light footsteps. Soft, scared, hurried.

He had her.

Stepping into the alley's mouth, Naraku cracked a cruel grin. The flick of a girl's black hair lit up against the moon. She slipped behind a corner and he sped to a jog, brushing his own dark hair from his eyes. He didn't care if she ran now, he would bring her back and make her his. Again.

"I've got you Kagome," malice loaded his voice. This was the fourth time she had escaped in a year. The girl should have been honored to be part of his personal estate. From all the women he traded she was a chosen favorite. Her will and spirit had caught his eye.

Now the defiance grew old.

It had to stop.

Tonight.

His pace picked up and Naraku reached the end of the alley, veering off where she had turned. He ate up distance and rounded another bend. Triumph burned his insides. She was only a handful of steps ahead. He could almost touch the tips of her flying hair. He saw her look back and leered as she gave a strangled sob.

"Get away from me!" She shrieked. Her voice broke from the effort.

He took one last stride and clamped a hand down on her shoulder.

Victory.

Naraku came to a dead stop and pulled the girl roughly to his chest. She slammed backward into his hard frame and cried out as he grabbed a fistful of hair.

"You're mine Kagome," anger made his words shake. "And I will show you once and for all. I own you body and soul," still holding her hair, he undid the sash at his waist.

"Naraku…," her eyes shone with verging tears and he felt a deep satisfaction as her chin quivered. "Please… don't."

His grip loosened as he reached for the front of her dress. "You should have thought of that before—." Her elbow connected with jaw, cutting off the gloat. The blow wasn't powerful, but sheer surprise made him reel back and let go.

"I said don't!" Kagome yelled. The terror vanished from her voice and she whipped her leg around, kicking him in the knees. "I even said please!"

She turned to run and Naraku lurched forward, grabbing the hem of her skirt. He yanked hard and pulled her to the ground. She fell on her side and he was on top of her in seconds, pinning down her arms and clamping her legs with his own.

"And I said I would show you once and for all," he snarled.

His knees stung and he cuffed her across the face. It hit with a resounding smack and something stirred between his legs as she cried out.

He knew who had the power once more.

"It's time to get rid of your damned fire," Naraku held her arms above her head and let his free hand travel to the front of her dress. "I am no longer amused…."

Inu-Yasha walked quickly through the dark night, wanting nothing to do with the stink of the city. Too many humans in one place. He could feel their hate as if it were a solid form skulking at his side.

The city was Kanaka. Towering mountains on all sides left it isolated and a marauding clan of half-demons lived deep among the surrounding snowy range. If the city populace knew the leader of that clan now snuck down their streets, they would band together and stone him from the city. Again.

"Not that I'd go without bodies falling," Inu-Yasha grinned as he reached into an open window, extracting a family protection scroll plated in gold. Smirking at the irony, he dropped the find into a bulging sack at his side.

Intent upon his task, he almost missed a sound behind him.

Inu-Yasha spun around.

The moon, a sliver from full, illuminated the street and surrounding buildings. His eyes scanned cobblestone and shadow. There was no one.

He turned back to the window.

The sound came again. A whimper.

Inu-Yasha shook his head.

"Stop being paranoid."

His arm ventured to the sill.

The whimper returned, louder this time. It carried thick fear to the sensitive dog-like ears atop his head. They swiveled towards it of their own accord.

Inu-Yasha frowned and ignored his ears. He reached farther into the window.

Silence fell over the night.

The whimper ripped into a female scream of pain and fury, shattering all calm.

The hanyou froze, thinking for a second he'd been caught. He looked over his shoulder. Baked clay and hard stone stared vacantly back. He was alone in front of the house. No one witnessed his thievery.

The scream came again, from an alley down his right. He scowled as his ears perked.

"No."

They twitched.

"I don't care."

The scream came once more, but broke in the middle as if silenced by palm.

"See… it's fine."

His ears wilted.

A muffled cry sobbed out, carrying through the shadows to where he stood.

His ears flattened against his head.

Inu-Yasha rolled eyes.

"I hate you."

They stirred as he hefted the sack to a shoulder.

"You owe me."

Inu-Yasha took off down the alley, padding on bare feet. He rounded a sharp corner noiselessly. Sounds of struggle grew louder and as he came around a second turn he stumbled onto a sight that twisted his stomach.

A man with broad, angry shoulders straddled a resisting woman. Her dress lay ripped open and she shook with terror. Arms pinned above her head, she was helpless as the man hit her again to be still. He was too occupied undoing his pants to notice Inu-Yasha's presence.

The hanyou hated humans, but none deserved the fate this girl was headed for. He didn't hesitate. Surging forward, he swung the bag down on the man's head. The blow came hard and hit at the base of the neck. The attacker went limp and collapsed atop his victim.

Inu-Yasha cursed and bent down. He lifted the prone form and threw him aside. Lip curled in disgust, he sent another oath in the man's direction and lowered his gaze to the girl.

A bruise darkened one side of her face, but did nothing to diminish the long curl of lashes or the fine line of her jaw. She was striking for a human and Inu-Yasha inhaled sharply as blue-gray eyes blinked up at him in gratitude.

He expected tears of relief and blubbering hysteria, but she surprised him. Rising quickly, the girl pulled her torn dress closed. Her hands stayed firm as she tied the remains of her tattered sash and Inu-Yasha couldn’t help but admire the composure

"Thank you youkai," she looked up from her waist and noticed his eyes on her. Misreading the approval in his face, she held her dress tighter and stepped back.

"What are you staring at?"

"Nothing," Inu-Yasha frowned at the obvious assumption.

"Well then… good night."

His brow hiked high. "That's it?"

She stared coolly. "What more do you want? Banners? A parade?"

"I wasn't looking for accolades," he scowled. "Don't you need a… doctor or something?"

"I'm fine."

"You're bleeding," he motioned to a thin line of red threading from her mouth. She touched fingers to her chin and shrugged as they came back colored.

"Barely."

"Your jaw will swell."

"Are you an expert? Hit women often?"

His frown deepened. "Don't take your anger out on me. I was just offering to help."

"I don't need any."

"Yeah, you were doing great before I came."

"I would have gotten free on my own."

Inu-Yasha scoffed. "Right. After he'd finished."

The cool dignity melted. "Shut up."

"Oh? Touched a nerve?"

She stepped forward. "Don't you have more things to steal?" She eyed the bag at his side in disdain.

"Hey," he rattled the sack. "This saved your life."

"Hardly," she crossed arms. "Luck and surprise did."

"Excuse me?"

"You attacked a human in the back."

Inu-Yasha fought irritation. "You're alive!"

She shook her head. "Life left me long ago. I've been Naraku's property for over a year."

"Naraku?" Inu-Yasha turned to the man. "I've heard of him."

"Most have. He owns everything of importance in Kanaka."

"Not everything."

"You hardly count," the frost returned to her voice.

He appraised the girl. Finger marks at her throat were already beginning to darken. His eyes slid lower and he noticed old bruises and lash welts peeking from the tattered dress.

Something thick rose in his throat. He couldn't name it but it made words tumble from his mouth before he could stop himself.

"Where will you go?"

Surprise flashed in her face.

"Away from the city," a shallow ghost of smile touched her lips. "They all know I'm one of his harem favorites. They'll sell my trail for his favor in a heartbeat."

"And after that?"

"What does it matter to you?"

Inu-Yasha pushed down the emotion choking his throat. "Well… I saved you…," he forced a smug note to his words. "That means your life is forfeit to me."

Confusion doused her anger. "What?"

"Remember the man on top of you?"

"Vividly. And while he fumbled with his belt you hit him on the head. You call that saving?"

He nodded. "Now you belong to me."

Her jaw dropped. "I don't!"

"You do," he crossed the distance between them, leaning down so their noses met. "You're mine."

He grabbed her waist without thinking and swung her over his shoulder.

"Let go!" She yelled at his backside.

"No."

"I will NOT be traded from one man to another like cattle!"

"You have no choice," Inu-Yasha hid his amusement at her protest. He preferred the fire to the passive calm. "My men have need of a woman of your talents and persuasion, even if you are human. You're just another city find," he rattled the sack once more for effect.

"Kagome…." Naraku moaned from his place in the alley. He was beginning to wake. The girl fell quiet.

"Is that your name? Kagome?"

She hesitated.

"If not, I can come up with one of my own."

She exhaled loudly.

"How about Wench?"

"Yes it's my name."

Naraku moaned again and Inu-Yasha felt her body stiffen against him.

"Coming with me is better than waiting to be found," he said softly.

"Is it?"

"Yes."

"Coming and being taken are different."

"It's payment for time wasted."

"I thought you didn't need gratitude."

He grinned. "Gratitude and payment are different," he swatted her rear. "Let's get out of here before your previous owner wakes up."

"Attacking from behind? Running at the first sign of confrontation? How valiant."

His grin grew. "That's me," he hoisted her higher and began the journey back to the mountains. "My men are of equal valor and will be anxious to meet you."

The girl frowned and cursed her rotten luck. From one bad situation to another. God had a lot of explaining to do to her one day.

--