Moments in Time

By: wolf demoness

Chapter Eleven: A Raven In A Cage

Demon Palace (dungeons, east wing, cellblock 895) Guard's POV:

It was boring here, dark, dank and moldy smelling. There was no one else in this part of the prison complex. No one ever came down here and nothing ever happened. There was only one youkai being held in this part of the dungeons and he'd long since given up any interest he had in his captors. The brass used guard duty in this cellblock as a punishment to soldiers who mouthed off or fell asleep while on duty. I'd done the last one, but what did they expect after having me on guard duty for forty-two hours straight? It wasn't fair. I think my Sarge has it out to get me. He's been making my life hell since he got here.

"Damn, this is dull!" I would have taken a nap, this guy wasn't going anywhere, but I was being punished I should at least try to stay awake "What to do? What to do?" I mutter to myself. I walk over to the bars of the prisoner's cell. He's asleep in the corner, curled in on himself on the stone floor. I really don't know much about this guy, or I do, I know what my Sarge told me, that is. But, he's so full of it. According to Sarge he single handedly wrestled this demon down receiving a vicious bite to his hand, got his communicator away from him and was awarded a special commendation for capturing one of Koenma's spies. He even has the medal and the scar. But, rumor has it that if you read the official reports there was a group of no less that thirty soldiers under his command in the field at the time of capture, the youkai was fatally wounded, it was a miracle that he survived, and the communicator was badly damaged. Apparently someone, who shall remain nameless and is a real asshole, stepped on it when he discovered it. And if you listen to some of the older soldiers in the garrison, Sarge pissed off a dog demon and got snapped at. The infection the dog bite gave him nearly took his hand and left it all scared up. Evidently Sarge wanted to make his scar seem more heroic, idiot.

Anyway, this guy doesn't look so tough. Some skinny winged demon in rags huddling in on himself for warmth. What's so tough about that? Well, I can understand the skinny part. Sometimes they forget to feed the poor bastard. I haven't though, I guess I feel sorry for him. Nearly half a century in this hole, I don't think I'd stand it. I'd probably have offed myself after the first decade. I kick the bars of the cell, "Hey! Wake up!" He doesn't move. Damn. This is so boring. I open the cell door and kick the demon in the side there's a loud crack, I guess a rib snapped. "Get up damnit!" Lightning fast the demon lashed out at my foot. I hit the floor and quickly roll toward the cell door in time to miss a blow to the head that would probably have rendered me unconscious. "Fuck." I get to my feet. The only thing that keeps him from coming after me are the chains around his neck and hands. He knows how far they reach so when I roll out of range he doesn't pursue me. The demon just stares at me from the shadows of his cell. He blends in so well; it's really unnerving. No wonder they told me not the open the door, he should be weak as a puppy after the way he's been treated. Shit, that's one strong demon, but there's no way in hell I'm letting some scrawny youkai prisoner get the best of me.

A couple hours later I'm relieved from guard duty. I feel really good. I think I'll go see if that barmaid I've had my eye on wants to go for a walk before the sunrises. She's really beautiful, and I think that she's noticed me as well. Maybe I'll bring her some flowers. I've been going in to the bar every night for the last week just so I could see her. Maybe I'll ask her to be my girl. Yeah, I think I'll go right now, I'd better go freshen up. "I wonder if she knows how to get rid of these bloodstains. I hope so or I'm going to have to buy a new uniform." I mutter to myself as I walk down the hall to the barracks.

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A/N: Random switch, huh? This was fun to write though; I don't get the chance to be evil very often. Hope you liked!

AnimeObsessedQueen44: I appreciate the enthusiasm! Don't worry, I have frequent updates planned.

Minamoto Miyuki: You're right, she wasn't my favorite Shiori, but that wasn't my favorite chapter either, so, oh well. Life goes on. By the way your spelling's not bad at all, heaven knows what my chapters would look like if it weren't for spell checker.

Rei Akita: Thanks for the review and don't touch my floppies!