Refraining Screams

Disclaimer: Never ever in a million trillion years will this be mine. –cries desperately to herself-

Summary: Jiroh knew it was impossible. He was a slave. A captive. Sold. He couldn't- wouldn't love his master. It wasn't logical. Was it even possible?

Okie, so I totally LOST inspiration for my other stories… so I started to re-watch ALL the Prince of Tennis Episodes. Oh. My. God. I have so many pairs I wanna write, but this story is more like a 'I needa get back on track' story…

/-/-/-/

The fire. The blood. It was all coming back. Jiroh collapsed against the breaking wall. His house. Their house. He tried to convince himself that it wasn't his fault. But… it was. Terror. More blood. Screams, sirens.

"I'm sorry, but we got here too late…"

And the last words. Whispered amongst the ashes. Put to the back of his mind, but always coming up again. He couldn't forget. They wouldn't let him forget. Forget that it was all his fault. Forget that he had ruined everything. His family. His life. And it had just been an accident.

Jiroh stood up wearily, walking down the street, unlocking the door to a different house. His uncle's house. Seeing no one there, Jiroh ran over to the door-less bedroom and rummaged around for his jacket. His shoes. Everything he used in order to look like a normal passerby.

Walking quietly out of the house, Jiroh shook his hair out and jogged to the market. It was time. Looking around, Jiroh spotted a man with a noticeable bulge in his pocket. Passing by silently, he swiped the coin pouch from the man's pocket. He kept walking, as so seem like he didn't know anything.

A few more. Just a few more pouches, and he would go back. Back to his uncle. Back to his personal hell. After two more tries, Jiroh had many coins jingling around in his coat. One more. Jiroh squinted his eyes, swiveling around to get a view of rich-looking merchants or townspeople.

"Bingo." And he strode over to a young man, walking with his hands in his pockets. This one would be easier. Afterall, it was a young man. Lots less keen than the older men that would've beaten him, had they noticed that he stole the coins.

"Perfect." And he dipped his hand into the other boy's pocket, only to feel his arm get thrown outwards, knocking him off-balance. Looking up with confusion, Jiroh stared into dark blue eyes. "Oh, crap." And he ran as fast as he could back home, breathing raggedly, and looking forlornly at the coins he had gotten. He had missed one. He had been caught. Opening the door to his house, Jiroh cringed and then stiffened. There was a definite smell of alcohol and beer, accompanied by another smell. One he was not familiar with.

/-/-/-/

Blearily, Jiroh opened his eyes, immediately feeling soreness in his stomach. A knock came from the door outside, and Jiroh blinked. His uncle wasn't home yet, was he?

"Yes- hey! Ow, no! What's happenin-" Jiroh got cut off by a strong voice, and a cloth shoed in his mouth.

"Akutagawa Jiroh, you are being sold to pay off your uncle's debt." And he saw the man walk away, darkness coming when a door closed. Jiroh tried to squint his eyes, and vacantly felt the place around him moving. A car of some sort?

"Hey, you! You, yes you! Come here, now!" Jiroh opened his eyes- when had he closed them anyways? And walked dutifully towards some woman who was holding a sheet. "You're going to be helping the other slaves by cleaning rooms and cooking meals." And she waved her hand behind her, towards a group of people standing awkwardly in the background.

"Well, Akutagawa-san. Are you ready to start working harder than you ever had before? Because, you better be. This place is hell for demons as well." A red-haired boy with pumpkin-hair said, sneering and walking with the other slaves towards the house. Jiroh took in a huge breath.

"What?"

/-/-/-/

A/N: Penguins.

Oh, god. I'm really sorry I haven't updated my other stories. I just…yeah. BUT I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO HAVE A STORY WITH A SLAVE IN IT (: Okie, so it's a short chapter. My sister is forcing me off the computer. Bai bai~! Review. And vote on my poll!

Note;; this chapter was not edited. Just written and published. Sorry for any mistakes and other stuff I might've messed up in this rushed first chapter.