Author's Note: Whoa… so many moons have gone by since I last updated!!! Yikes! I will try to make it up with a very long chapter…. Emphasis on TRY… o__O Thanks again for all those awesome reviews, peeps! WOW, I got 30!! ^__^

Aikonaga's hands were white knuckled as she picked her way through the bodies scattered haphazardly throughout the room, dodging reaching hands and other obstacles. She did not bother to estimate the hours that she had spent running, fetching and carrying; her feet ached and she throbbed with the countless bruises, courtesy of the impatient youkai. Even my master is more humane than these; I am an animal and nothing more than a beast of burden, a means to an end… I suspect that if I were to take up a sword and slice my own still beating heart from my chest, not one would give me a second glance…

The slave's face remained expressionless as she did the youkais' bidding, bringing food, taking papers and whatever else the horde deigned for her to do. As she ran to and fro, Naga couldn't help but notice the strange deformities some of the creatures boasted; horns, extra limbs, missing limbs-- all of these seemed to be of the lowest ranking, or so Naga observed as she covertly watched the scene before her. Those with more human-like visages seemed to posses an air of authority over their more nightmarish counterparts; some appeared to be so human that Naga, had she not known, would have dismissed them as ordinary mortal beings.

"Wench! Here!" A voice startled her out of her thoughts. Naga blinked and looked over; one of the lords was leering in her direction. Keeping her expression blank, the slave hurried across the room, taking car not to step on various appendages and belongings.

As she neared the youkai she could see fury etching lines in his arrogantly handsome face; the lord stood to his feet and Naga flinched as he raised his hand as if to strike her.

"Are you lacking, whelp? Do you expect me to wait on you?"

Naga bowed her head, making every effort not to offend the lord any further, shoulders tensing for a blow.

"What? No apology?" The lord grabbed her chin and yanked her eyes up to look at him. "Where has your tongue gone? Are you deaf?" Talons pierced Naga's skin as she made an attempt to wrench herself from the youkai's grip.

Crack!

The lord's fist connected with Naga's jaw, sending her reeling back with the taste of blood in her mouth. She turned to flee and he grabbed her arm, fingers digging in like fishhooks as he pulled her back to him. The lord pulled her forward, one hand reaching to the fastenings of her robe and the other grabbing her hips and forcing the slave against his body. Kami!

Naga gasped as he grabbed her face and smashed his lips against hers, teeth slicing the inside of her mouth. Onlookers laughed at the slave's feeble attempt to free herself. After a breathless moment, the lord shoved her away, licking the blood from his lip and grinning.

"Just wait-- you bite me now, but tonight I will make you scream." As a few laughed in the background, the lord leered at Naga. She reeled back, spitting the salt from her lip as he turned away. If only I had bitten harder…

"Lord Hiten has good taste… Maybe tonight he will reward his loyal servant, heh?" One of the lesser youkai cackled as he made a halfhearted grab for the girl. "Do you think he'd share?"

Naga turned and bolted to the doors with the sounds of the raucous youkais' laughter following as she slipped between them-- no-one followed; she didn't stop until the sounds of the awful din faded away. Her pulse pounded thunderously in her ears as she gasped for air, leaning against a wall for support. Naga glanced down the way she had come, making sure none had followed her escape. If there had not been so many all round, he would have raped me… Will he ask the master for me tonight? Would lord Hiten give my body to him…? The slave was not sure she wished to know that answer.

The hall echoed with the sounds of activity as the guests gorged themselves on the feast that had been put before them. As the great youkai lord surveyed the sight of his ravenous minions, he was struck by what a disgusting sight it was. Some tore at mangled handfuls of raw flesh, blood dripping down their chins carelessly; gnawed bones were carelessly tossed aside as the youkai reached for more meat, washing it down with gulps of sour wine. Odd how they all seem so… vile, now. At one time, I would have joined with them in licking the blood from my claws and sucking marrow from the bones. But it no longer holds any pleasure for me… What has changed? Why do I no longer find contentment in what my kind has found enjoyable for thousands of years? These things do not please me as they used to…

A dull spot of color drew him from his thoughts; Hiten glanced about, searching for… yes, there the girl creature was, waiting on one the lords. He frowned as his eyes picked up on the slave's body language, stiff and artificial looking as the youkai leered suggestively at her. As she moved away, the underling lord looked after her as if he could undress her with his eyes. After a moment of gazing on the spectacle, Hiten looked away and downed a mouthful of the sour tasting wine before him in an effort to distract himself.

The feast wore on and on till the shadows had grown long and dark; all of the lord's lesser followers had been dismissed long ago and only the youkai possessing a title remained. In the bright candlelight their eyes glowed and teeth flashed as the lords discussed plans for departure the next morning. Hiten sat back, presiding over the discussion and deigning only to speak when he felt necessary; though his face remained immobile through the verbal battles, his eye frequently drifted toward the slave girl. She too had stayed after the others had been ordered to retire; though her face was carefully bland, he could tell by her stiff and slowed movements that the girl was exhausted.

When, at length, the plans had been looked over and verified, Hiten sat at the head of the table and uttered something in closing, formally thanking the lords and bidding them goodnight. The slave stepped to the table, bending at the waist to retrieve the now empty decanter of wine; as someone laughed hoarsely one of the guests grabbed the girl and pulled her toward him roughly. Hiten stood to his feet as the slave cried out; the lord noticed the sudden attention and removed his hand from where his fingers had been fumbling with the fastening of her robe.

"Lord, with your generous permission, I wish to… make use of this girl tonight; surely you will grant your loyal servant this small request?" The slave froze in his arms as Hiten stared evenly down on the underling lord; she seemed to implore him silently with her eyes as the lesser youkai looked on arrogantly.

The room grew silent as lord Hiten stood before his guests, face impassively set as his golden eyes traveled slowly over his guests. Even the proud general sensed the sudden chill that had settled over the room.

"I see no reason to deny you this small privilege," the youkai lord's voice was steady as he turned the full weight of his gaze upon the abrasive general. "… When you have proven yourself worthy of my faith in your so-called servitude."

The general stepped forward, eyes glinting in the half-light as he prepared to challenge his lord's words. Hiten ignored the youkai; turning to the others before him, he bid them good night.

Author's Note: Phew…. Another one!!!! ( authors now has writer's cramp… ouch) I was stuck about what to write… so it took me a bit. Tune in next time to find out what happens… if you review. ^__O