Author's Note: Hey! Its back! I'm really going to try to finish this for once! It may take a while, cuz this story is purely out of my imagination, but hey! ^__^ I hope Naga ain't too sappy of a character; I hate it when people make up their own characters to pair off with a series character and end up with a major Mary-sue, a.k.a. the absolutely perfect, good at everything character….o__O Anyways… Hope this isn't too sappy-- if it is, please say somethin! I'm trying to be realistic here, but still…

Naga felt anger trembling her hands as she swept the stiff broom across the stones. It boiled in her mind like sugar, burning into flesh; a slave. And I can't even tell him how much I loathe his face.

Ankles rubbed raw by the metal bracelets that encased her legs, Naga drug the stubborn thing along the floor with her injured limb braced against her body, brain oozing like oil within her head. How many days had she been there-- or weeks? And when she had had enough, there was nowhere to go; at every attempt she had made to escape he had been there. The farthest she had ever gotten was the entrance to his demented and beautiful palace; Lord Hiten had somehow managed to foresee her attempts.

And that was why she now sported the deceptively innocent metal anklets; Naga suspected he had somehow cursed the delicately wrought things. He had forced them on her, finally growing tired of her antics; the chase, he said, was no longer amusing. Every time she ran, the youkai had but to call 'come' and her traitorous legs would lead her back to him.

He was gone at the moment, probably teaching a lesson to some idiot lesser demons for daring to lay eyes on his lands or harassing the poor humans who had the unfortunate luck to wander into his territory. Idly, Naga wished that a peasant would pitchfork him in the back as she recalled his cruel remarks from the night before.

The memory was still fresh in her mind; he had called her to serve his evening feast and she had accidentally tipped over his goblet. The lord had repaid her clumsiness with a stinging slap and sharper words. When satisfied with the bruises he raised on her face, he subsided and had acted in an almost benevolent demeanor.

Naga pressed her lips together, eyes still stinging from his words; "A pity you cannot speak; a song at this moment would have been desirable," he paused for a moment to look at her, then continued in a musing voice laced with cruelty. "... But no matter. I find that I would rather endure the braying of an ass... than hear your voice blaspheming my name again."

And with that, the youkai lord proceeded to tear ravenously into the carcass of what Naga hoped wasn't a human corpse.

Now, as she threw down the broom and stalked towards the doors, she wondered why she was bothering to play his game. Why do I continue to defy him to his face and then bow and polish the tiles?

Footsteps echoing in the vaulted hall, Naga headed to the massive doorway set in the gleaming walls. Glancing around her furtively, she ran for the door. Not here to watch me. Or call me back. I'm not his pet!

She yanked open the door and stepped through. Or tried to.

*BAM*

It was like hitting a wall; Naga felt her body connect with the invisible force and fell away from it. Kami! He cursed the door! Dropping her head into her hands, she fought back a sob of frustration. There was no escape; and, Naga finally admitted to herself, even if she did make it past the door and manicured gardens that seemed so weirdly out of place; where would she run? He will find me; if only just to see the look on my face. He thrives on my suffering!

Aikonaga climbed to her feet, hugging her throbbing arm close. She slammed her palm into the invisible wall, fighting down the sudden claustrophobia. I am so useless; so powerless! I feel like the weak, puny mortal being Lord Hiten so despises.

Mouth uttering salty words, the human turned on her heel and stalked in the opposite direction. And as she did, a traitorous voice claimed her attention. …Why not?

Why not give in to him; how hard would it be? Just to let go and become the obedient slave the lord wanted. There would be so much less pain, the wheedling little thing said.

Naga found herself at the door to her sleeping room-- more like closet. Suddenly, she felt tired; old, aching and so very, very tired. Wearily, the human began removing her outer robes. That voice... wishful thinking. Maybe he put a curse on my ears... And then Naga was asleep, eyes shut even before she thought to blow out the small lamp that lit her sleeping space.

Lord Hiten sat silently in the great hall, face immobile except for the yellow eyes that followed his servant's every move. So quiet… Not as she once was, full of defiance…

Metal clinked together as the human set down a platter on which wetly glistening meat was arranged, eyes properly down cast. The youkai leaned his arm on the low table edge, thoughtfully drawing a claw along its surface as he wondered at the change in his slave. It had been a month and a half since he had drug her home, hanging limply from his arms and half dead. And when she had healed sufficiently enough to earn her keep; Hiten felt a smile pull at the corner of his mouth. The fastest transformation yet from insolent, obdurate wretch to broken spirited, soulless slave yet.

Hiten leaned forward and selected a particularly bloody chunk of flesh and brought it to his lips, relishing the rich and metallic smell that permeated it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the girl standing as if awaiting an order; he ignored her. Let her wonder.

It was a kind of game to him, to see which would break first; sometimes it ended quickly, and at other times, it stretched into hours. But tonight, he was in no such mood; he merely motioned her over to pour him more drink and then dismissed her. So silent, now… At times, I almost wish I hadn't crushed her throat.

For a moment he lingered on the thought, but then Hiten shrugged the notion off, dismissing it with a twitch; why should he feel shame for his actions? Indignation boiled hot in his veins. I am what I am. I need no excuses and nor need explain myself… But yet I--

The lord looked up finally, eyes meeting those of his slave; for a minute the youkai seemed on the verge of speaking. Then, with a disgusted look on his face, the not-man turned away.  Throwing down his cup, the youkai stood and stalked out of the room, not noticing the expression in his slave's eyes. I would have words with you…

Naga's eyes followed her master's retreating form, lips moving soundlessly. I am invisible.

Author's Note: And… that's it until the next chapter! o__O Hope you liked it! I'm starting to kinda build on the whole tension between the two here… hope it sounds plausible and not too OOC…. Anyways, thanks for all the lovely reviews!

Until next time, KA

(BTW—It'd be nice of people would give me feedback here about what they like/didn't like—Don't be shy!!!)