Lord Huo grunted tiresomely, bending down to cover his bleeding knee with his own hand. Noticing he couldn't stand much longer with the deep injury, and knowing for sure that insolent human had bitten through the thick muscle. Angered, he balanced himself on his good leg, raising his hand high and slapped the poor girl across the face with blunt wrath. The girl's frail head snapped right with a crack to her thin neck, bottom lip bleeding greatly and her cheek horribly stinging with the taste of rust and salt tenderly greeting the inside of her mouth. Yet, she still managed to chuckle; almost with an eerie note, and this angered lord Huo to nothing more than a boiling point. He ordered a guard to take the woman away and give her at least twenty lashes, more if needed.
But it was useless and he knew it himself. No matter how much he punished, beat, and abused the stubborn teenage girl, she seemed to grow stronger with every strike and lash than to shrink into a dead writhing corpse. The girl struggled and twisted out of the guard's beefy arms, hoping to get free and escape, but it was in vain. At the end, the girl was taken, dragged, and before they completely took her out of the horrid room, she mocked Lord Huo once more about his bitten knee with a cheeky and thoughtless comment. A young priestess soon appeared beside the guard who had called for her, and rushed to her Lord's knee to treat it. Lord Huo sighed tiredly and angrily, letting himself fall into a sturdy chair another servant had brought for him. While the priestess went on to healing his gaping wound, Lord Huo couldn't help but think about how to either get rid, kill, or break the pathetic human out of her unrespectful manners and cocky tone.
He thought back to the day where he took in the girl as a slave, as a servant. The slave sellers had warned him, that the 10 year old brat was nothing more than a conniving thief and liar, able to manipulate people and abuse them in her secret ways. Lord Huo, not believing a single thing they said, bought her naïvely. He was well confident that a couple of lashes and beatings for any misbehaving act would break and fix the human right up, but he was completely wrong. As the girl grew, the more beatings she got, the more smarter and clever she became, not to mention an emotional abuser. She was absolutely the worst kind of human when being around demons: mocking, yelling, making fun, and even threatening the demons and at times, her threats became true.
To top it off, Lord Huo could not even sleep well at night. For there were times that some kitchen knives went missing and only to have another servant find them in the girl's pillow. That was what got every one baffled because the girl would very discreetly steal so well, to the point in where no one would notice. So every single night he would position no more than six keen guards outside his door, but soon found that was nothing better than useless. For a night he awoke to find his sword that was hung right above his head, gone. He knew, positively knew that the sword was there when he went to sleep, and when he sat up with a jolt, he was welcomed with the human girl standing right in front of his mat, smirking and twisting the blade in her hand, making the blade catch moonlight that was coming in through the open window to glint. That night he was embarrassed, for he yelled like a frighten little boy he once was, calling for his guards. He had no choice but to nail his window shut, never allowing to open it again. As the priestess finished wrapping up has wounded leg, she caught his sigh of distress. She may not have been a demon, but she knew exactly well that the human girl was more demonic than any other demon that existed in the world, much less the era.
"My Lord, if I may speak, why not release and send the girl on her way?" When the lovely woman was finished with his gash, she stood up with a sweet smile and tempting offer.
"Are you mad?! For sure she would come for me to strangle me, even if she's dead! She'll definitely find a way to come back alive and exact revenge!" He responded with an exaggerated and heavy tone. The priestess sighed, knowing how the small girl had everyone traumatized even her sometimes.
"No, I have thought it over already. The girl is old enough to have a Lord Demon as her master."
"And whom did you have in mind, My Lord?" Curiosity peeked her voice up an octave. Lord Huo sinisterly grinned. The only demon that was strong enough, strict enough, and brutal enough in all of Japan was none other than Lord Sesshomaru. He was positive that Lord Sesshomaru could deal with the little pest, like he had for the cruel seven years.
"Lord Sesshomaru."
The priestess heavily gasped, covering her mouth to hide her unthoughtful and malicious grin. He had truly thought the best, and if the girl continued with her 'little' attitude, in no time she'd be better off dead. Lord Sesshomaru is known for little tolerance. It was time the human learned her place, and if not here, then maybe in the afterlife. Suddenly they heard a loud cling of metal and guards grunting in utter pain. Then a voice yelped from the basement of the castle, her yell so loud it penetrated walls of stern cement and wood.
"Oh Lord Huo, how's the medicine feeling on your knee?"
The priestess and Lord Huo looked at each other with pure frightened looks, fumbling to open the tub of ointment that she had just applied to her Lord's leg. The ointment looked fine in fact, and she smelt it just to be sure; smelled normal like herbs. So what was the sly warning about? A stall perhaps? No, the priestess shrieked when she looked into her Lord's face. His face was completely red and was getting swollen! What did that girl do now?
"My face is hot! I can feel it getting swollen. Asuki, what did she do!?" He sternly demanded, shooting up from the chair to gaze at his horribly beet-red limbs.
"I- I don't know My Lord! T- The ointment seems fine!" The priestess stuttered, rationally thinking of what medicine to use to help him. Problem is; she needed to know first what caused his strong swelling to use the proper cure. As if on cue, the girl answered once more yelling with a deafening voice.
"He's allergic to the leaves of the Aravac Purple Flower! In fact, he's allergic to the whole Aravac Bush! Go ahead and give him the allergy medicine, but he'll stay glowing a bright crimson for months!" Laughter followed her insane shouts.
The priestess dashed out of the room to retrieve her allergy medicine, while Lord Huo stayed behind screaming for he was frightened beyond belief. He swore to himself that the very next morning or as soon as he could, he was going to send the girl away with Lord Sesshomaru, even if he had to appear in front of him like a red tomato. The girl has to get out of his life for once and for the better.
"Come on... just a bit more... Ah Ha!" The girl whispered triumphantly as a wooden knife picked a cut stone out of the wall. She broadly smiled, because with just a few more pebbles out of the wide wall, she could squeeze through and go to the village center. Truth be told is that she didn't want to leave Lord Huo, but it would have been nice if he had allowed her some freedom once in a while. She did indeed escape, but only to go steal food or just have fun, and always made sure she come right back at nightfall. Lately though, he has allowed no freedom at all, and was driving her crazy for some fresh air. Just as she was starting to pick at the other stone, light footsteps sounded outside the cellar door. She surprisingly gasped, hurriedly pushing the stone back into place within the sturdy wall, and frantically searching for somewhere to hide the slick knife. She could find no place, and just as the key turned on the door, she threw the knife into the air. The knife flew up and embedded itself into the stone ceiling, making her change her expression into a cunning smile. I truly am amazing, she praised herself only to stare at an open door. Lord Huo walked in, glowing a bright cherry just as the girl had predicted. It was just the day before this that he had the allergic reaction, and his body was still a bit swollen, with a chubby face and a round body than is usually built. The human girl openly grinned up at him.
"Good morning Lord Huge." She visibly mocked.
"Good morning... girl." He bitterly replied. He had considered giving a shameful name for the beast-like girl. But decided not to be bothered with it.
"What brings you to my room?" For so many times that she had gotten punished, the cellar prison for her grounding was like a room to her now.
"I have decided to sell you to another master-"
"No surprise there."
"To a demon lord, if I may finish." He angrily growled at her blunt reaction.
"Go on." She encouraged with an interested front.
"I would normally say to pack your things so you may be ready to go now, but as I can see you have none-"
"Oh no! You see I have many things! My clothes, my blanket, my sweater, my brush, my pillow, my-"
"All of those things belong to me!"
"If they belonged to you, why did you let me use them?"
"Because I let you borrow them, not have them!" He continued on his one-sided scream festival.
"Ah well, keep them. I have better things up my sleeve." She said with a naughty smirk, clearing enjoying this little conversation.
Lord Huo stepped away from her haughty figure and ordered his masculine guards to search the long sleeves of her kimono. They did, and found Lord Huo's most precious and treasured necklace that his mother had left for him so he may give it to the wife he would soon marry. He gasped, snatching the necklace out of the guard's tough hand, carefully holding it in his palm. He glared at her with utter hatred while she pulled herself away from the men.
"How did you get this?"
"I found it on the ground." She replied with an innocent note, but her large eyes told a different story.
"LIES!" He screeched. She shrugged uncaringly while he still tried to ravel his thick mind around the girl's conceit.
"So what if I entered your room, I couldn't help myself." And just as she said that, the loose rock on the wall fell onto the floor, letting in a ray of sunlight. The knife followed after that, first bouncing off Lord Huo's scalp and onto the terra floor. She gazed at her things, and then into Lord Huo's face with panicking and sweaty palms.
"Those things aren't mine." She quickly lied with fear draining her chest. Lord Huo took in a deep breath, and let it out.
"No matter anymore." He roughly spat, looking toward one of his men.
"Have her tied well, with tight and merciless knots." He looked towards the pitiful girl, she decided to hold up a happy façade with a beaming smile.
"With chains." He hissed out a correction, strutting out. The girl grunted as a guard forced her to turn sharply and started to wrap her frail hands with nothing but iron metal.
"Tighter please." she politely asked, and grunted more when the guard tightened them, especially much harder against her request.
"Fine, have it your way..." She timidly whispered to herself.
Lord Sesshomaru waited in the Study Room for the arrival of Lord Huo. As he looked into his fire pit that warmed his room he wondered what this surprise was from Lord Huo. He excepted no gifts from humans, but Lord Huo said it was a 'special' gift for him, a challenge. And Kami knows that Lord Sesshomaru, Lord of the Western Lands, loves challenges. Curious, he excepted the gift and now waited for Lord Huo's arrival. It was sooner than he anticipated for rattling steel chains sounded from his courtyard, and then in the hallways that led to his room. A servant unlatched the door, and Lord Huo walked in, bowing deeply before the Demon Lord.
"Lord Sesshomaru..." Lord Huo acknowledged him politely.
"Lord Huo, welcome. Where is this gift?" Lord Sesshomaru replied, looking at Lord Huo's bloody red appearance. Lord Huo smiled as he stood from his bow.
"Eager to see your gift? Trust me, in no time, you will be eager to leave it or kill it." He coughed with a bitter tone. Lord Sesshomaru nodded.
"Care to tell me what happened to you?" He asked, looking him up and down with an amused eye. Lord Huo opened his mouth to speak but it was not his words that came out, rather from the girl who stood outside.
"He's allergic to the Aravac Plant and his stupid little priestess was dumb enough to apply Aravac ointment to his injured knee." She hissed of pain as a guard smacked her on the head, ordering her to shut up. Lord Sesshomaru still couldn't see his gift but the 'gift' could see him perfectly from where she was standing. She hated him already, and vowed to make his life a living hell especially since he was a demon.
"There, My Lord, is your gift." Lord Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at him.
"Lord Huo, I buy no slaves, especially human slaves. For her attitude, what makes you think I would want her at all?" He growled with a steady beat.
"Oh, but Lord Sesshomaru, you don't know this girl! She is worse than human, worse than a demon like you! All my years I kept her she probably kept me as her slave than her as my slave! The more I beat her, the more I punish her, the more... more... more beastly she became!" Lord Huo cried out desperately.
"Why, thank you for the compliment, Lord Huge!" The girl shrieked from outside. The servant who was still kneeled before the opened door, glowered at the girl angrily.
"How does this concern me? Why not get rid of her already?"
"A human, with no manners and who does not know their place in this world, should know before they die! I want her to suffer, I want her to see how cruel this world is for all she sees is candy with apples that she can steal! She, My Lord, is a great challenge to teach her this which makes me think that you will love her more. And soon enough, I want to see her obedient to you." Lord Huo voiced, grinning happily like a genuine mad man. Interested now, he nodded his head approving to Lord Huo's proposal, and Lord Huo called for his guards to bring the girl inside. She hopped in, still wrapped tightly in chains. Sesshomaru was astounded to see how carefully she had been tied up with chains, chains instead of normal rope. This girl must be worse than a beast, he thought to himself, but no matter that will be gone before she dies.
"You gave me away to an old man?" The girl uttered, inspecting Sesshomaru just like he was inspecting her. Angered, he snapped his hand forward grabbing the girl's mouth shut so tightly that it made her wince of pain. Lord Huo grinned happily at her pain.
"You will not speak unless spoken to, understand?" Sesshomaru eagerly growled. Suddenly, just as his hand had surprised her, her hand that was supposed to be tied behind her back with chains, snapped to grab his wrist and rip his hold off of her face, surprising him and digging her own nails into his wrist.
"And you will not touch me unless I want to be touched, understand?" She retorted back with clenched teeth. He tugged his hand away from her, and looked up at Lord Huo. Lord Huo only shrugged.
"Don't ask me how she untied herself from the chains, because it's just as a surprise to me as it is to you." Lord Huo countered.
"Is this all, Lord Huo, to train a human to be obedient?"
Lord Huo openly snorted, "It's not just obedience that you or anyone here will have to deal with."
"I see." Sesshomaru replied, quite pleased while he stared at the young girl. Lord Huo grabbed her from behind, and shoved her forward to Lord Sesshomaru, making sure he folded her arm first to keep her from clawing at him.
"What are you looking at? Keep your old eye balls in your big head!" The girl snapped, angry for having him stare at her with an unreadable expression. Sesshomaru quickly struck her across the face, making the servant kneel by the door gasp. She had never seen her Lord slap any servant, ever, let alone a girl like this one.
"You hit like a girl, worse than Lord Huo in fact!" She laughed once her head snapped back into place. That earned her another slap, and quickly once more snapped her head back into place and spat at him, her spit hitting him in his left eye. He wiped his eye clean, visibly angered and when he was about to swing his arm at her again she ducked quickly and swiftly. The slap landed upon Lord Huo who was holding her from behind, the slap sending him onto his back with a single gasp. She rose back up, smiling at the Demon Lord, her cheek red-hot with the countless thrashes.
"What a nice way to treat your company." Sesshomaru grabbed her by her throat, raising her up to the sky. Earning a shriveled gasp spill from her shaky lips. Lord Huo rose, rubbing his cheek.
"That felt like a boulder pounding into my face; how did she stand those two hits?" He questioned, almost about to cry from the horrible stinging pain.
"Lord Huo, she truly is a piece of work, and I already like her." He narrowed his heavy eyelids, looking directly into Lord Huo's face.
"Thank you for this gift, she truly is a nice challenge." Lord Huo smiled, forgetting about his pain for a bit.
"Well now, I am happy to see you enjoy your gift." Then his simper and Lord Sesshomaru's frown faded in color when a cup full of saliva landed on Sesshomaru's head and dripped into has face and down his chin. He let go of the girl's throat immediately and she fell onto the ground giggling and coughing. Servants rushed in to clean and wash Sesshomaru's face while Lord Huo glared down at the squawking girl on the floor, her arms now free from the binding chains.
"You're disgusting." Lord Huo flatly reticulated her.
"And you're ugly." She replied with equal hatred.
Lord Huo snorted, and turned his head to look at a looking-glass Sesshomaru had. He looked at himself in it, am I really ugly, he thought. As if the girl read his mind, she answered his easy thoughts in a flash.
"Yeah, you're ugly enough that no women will want to marry you, and you're already halfway through your life!" She chortled with a horrible tone. Lord Huo snapped his head towards her, anger clouding his eyes.
"Look who's talking! You'll never get a husband as well, for you will be a slave for the rest of your damned life!" The girl raised her index finger and wagged it at him, side to side.
"You see, my dear Huo, that is false. At any given moment I can leave, right under your nose and you will never know how or when it happened." Lord Huo crouched beside her, and looked into her eyes.
"How do you do it?" He whispered with a fond likeness. She curled her lips and smirked at him.
"Magic." She whispered back. Lord Huo's eyebrows arched confused. Magic?
"Take her away, out to the prison hut." Sesshomaru demanded once his servants left him clean. The girl simply smiled. "Had enough fun for one day?" She asked.
"Fun has not begun yet, until tomorrow."
"Can't wait, old man."
Sesshomaru's personal guards came in and took her away. Lord Huo and Lord Sesshomaru said their farewells, and parted. That night, lord Sesshomaru was under his silk covers, smiling at his new challenge. In just that short meeting with her, he was tired. That girl can suck the anger out of him in buckets, leaving him empty of energy. After all, his energy was composed of a major one part, anger. He turned on his side, and just as his eyes were beginning to close, a mimic wolf howl sounded through his castle and room, a very good mimic wolf howl indeed. He frowned, not believing the girl would do this every night. If she would, her teeth would be knocked out or worse, her lips stitched up. The howling went into a few minutes, and soon into hours. Lord Sesshomaru turned and tossed in his bed, swearing that if another howl was heard he would march down there and smack the girl shut himself. He noticed it wasn't just him, because he heard his servants and guards grunting and complaining. The girl halted for a minute or two of noise to regain her breath, and look out towards Lord Sesshomaru's room.
"The fun has just begun now, Lord Sesshomaru." She sneered, ripping another howl from her throat. Which in turn earned a wonderful yell from the Lord Himself that pleased her very well until early morning.