A Fanfic by Yomi no Miko
Chapter 4: Luia
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After the first year, during which I exulted in joy and glory, things started to go back to normal.
The Elders' Council was a bore. Lazy men with old fashioned ideas. They insisted on building a high wall surrounding the city so inhabitants could be kept safe from other upcoming attacks. Therefore, all of the city's funds were being wasted on such a ridiculous project. There was nothing I could do because I was always the absolute, defeated minority. Hell, I hated democracy! As for Luia, it was impossible for our relationship to become any worse. I was forced to marry her, according to the local traditions. Our life together was not fun anymore.
Sometimes I just wanted to get away. But then I stopped to think - Where could I run away to? There was nothing outside but loneliness and danger. In Nijati at least I felt reasonably safe. Moreover I could not overlook the fact in that small city I was an important figure whereas in any other part of the Makai I was... well... nobody. So, I ended up living in Nijati for another year.
One day I decided to put an end to all that boredom by selling off my slaves. My quota was formed only by captive warriors, no one who could be used as a house servant and Luia annoyed me immensely with her demands for a personal servant.
Answering my call, Loto, a slave trader, came to Nijati to evaluate our "merchandise". He came with some helpers, most of them slaves. Unfortunately, he and his crew were lodged in my house. Loto was a disgusting, despicable creature. All I wished was to get rid of him as soon as possible. To assure myself of his departing, I was even inclined to allow him a good discount in our trades.
The negotiations didn't take long. Loto soon became interested in the several youkai I kept locked in an improvised prison. I didn't ask much for them, so he accepted my offer with no haggling. At the end, he tried to sell me some of his "articles". I didn't appreciate the idea of owning slaves, therefore I said I was not interested. But Luia insisted on having at least one servant. Women! I ended up doing what she wanted.
First, Loto tried to sell me an extremely repulsive creature - A very young, female youkai, who had her face mutilated in a terrible, disgusting manner.
"She's very strong..." Loto added, trying to emphasize her qualities "It may not seem so, but she's stronger than several grown-up youkai put together."
I naturally refused such a bargain, the same as the other specimens Loto offered me. Only a demented or twisted minded person could bear staring at the tormented, tortured faces of those slaves. However Luia just would not give up her intent.
"At least one, Yomi. I need a helper here."
"Would you have a less damaged one?" I asked.
"Well..." Loto scratched the top of his head, thoughtfully. "I think I've got something that might suit your interests."
Loto commanded one of his helpers who, some moments later, returned carrying a large wooden box. Unsealed, it revealed a medium sized animal with brown fur, cat-like ears and several bushy tails.
"How cute!" Luia exclaimed, happily "Can we keep him?"
"What the hell is that? Luia, what do you want? A servant or a dog?"
Somehow I felt the animal stared at me with an angry expression when I called him "dog".
"This is no dog!" Loto added, with a grin "He's a youko."
His words made me freeze.
"A what?" Luia asked, dense as always.
"A youko is a youkai, like us. The only problem is the damn capability they have of changing aspects. He has insisted on staying in this form ever since I captured him, which prevented me from trading him. I had already made up my mind about killing him when I had the chance of finding a trick that forces him to shift to his original aspect. Youko are rare creatures, therefore I shall only teach the trick to the one who purchases him."
"How much is it?" Luia asked excitedly, while patting her prisoner.
"Well, that's a problem. This is the only youko I've ever seen. They say the hole race is becoming extinct. Of course, there's that thief, Kurama, I think, but I never..."
"What did you say?" I was excited enough not to realize I was grabbing Loto by his clothes, pulling him closer.
"Said what?" Loto stuttered, starting to become edgy with my questioning.
"About Kurama."
"Kurama? Well, I was just telling you that I've heard a lot about him but I never saw him. I don't even know if he's an actual youko. Is that the reason why are you building that wall?"
"Who's he? Do you know him, Yomi?" Luia asked me.
"Shut up!"
"Tell me everything you know, Loto" I insisted "I might reward any useful information."
Reward was a magic word for Loto. He smiled and sat down, staring at the youko that struggled to escape Luia's grip.
"As I said, I don't know much about him. Word of mouth is that he's a youko, a notorious thief from the East. He has gathered up some followers in a small gang. Let me see... Well... Oh, yeah, they say he's remarkably beautiful, with silver hair. I don't think this can be trusted. This youko we got here is no big deal, I must warn you."
"Go on" I demanded of him.
"I can't believe you haven't heard the stories about him... This village is quite isolated. Look, I don't have anymore to tell you. There's a whole bunch of absurd stories about Kurama but few people ever managed to see him in person. Some say he can control plants, can you imagine? If he could really do that, he'd not be a thief. He'd be rich enough growing vegetables. But if knowing more about Kurama is all that's important for you, why don't you ask this youko? Maybe he and Kurama are related or something."
I was already walking towards the animal when I heard Loto say.
"There's just a detail... he cannot speak under this aspect."
I froze. So, that was Loto's plan. I had to buy the youko in order to talk to him. Moreover, now that Loto knew how badly I was interested in that whole Kurama business, he'd ask a high price for the animal youkai. I had to fight back and bargain right on the spot.
"Listen to me, Loto! I'm no fool! Don't you dare to offer me any kind of insane negotiation because I won't put up with it at all!"
"Take it easy, Yomi-Sama. Don't be so nervous. I would never do such thing. I'm a fair tradesman! It's just that, as I said, youko are very hard to find nowadays, ya know."
It was when I realized Loto was examining Luia with a very careful and interested attention. The woman soon realized what was going on.
"Yomi, you wouldn't do it..." she begged me.
"Shut up." I replied her, adding then to Loto "Do you want her?"
"That's going to be a fair trade. A rare youko for a good looking female. I can't grasp why people say around I'm unfair and merciless."
Luia stared at me in fright, and tears came to her eyes.
"Yomi, please..." she mumbled.
I came closer to her. Truth is Luia was not unattractive. She had blonde hair, black eyes and a voluptuous body. But I was fed up with her. I placed my arms around her, and noticed she was trembling with fear. Cold sweat sprung on her brow. I hesitated, but just for a little while.
"Done."
Luia screamed, tried to struggle to break free, but I had her locked in a tight, firm grasp. She fought and kicked hysterically for some short moments.
"Don't hit her, Yomi-sama! She's mine now."
Loto took a scrap of cloth from his bag, dripping a strong smelling liquid on the rag. He approached Luia, who was still held by my hands with some difficulty. Then Loto pressed the rag against her nose, rendering her unconscious a short moment later. He ordered one of his servants to carry her to his cart.
"Wait!" I shouted out to him.
I demanded Luia be wrapped in a broad blanket, so the villagers wouldn't figure out I had just traded her. Loto agreed, with a scornful smile on his face.
"The youko is yours now. Do you want me to teach you the trick to put him back to his original state?"
"Sure."
"It's rather simple. You have just to burn him."
"What?"
"That's exactly what you heard. I always perform some experiments with the articles in my stock in order to test their resistance. One day I decided to burn him and he changed back all of a sudden. I've tested it several times. I guarantee you it works."
I couldn't help thinking back on my decision of giving Luia out to that beast. But it was too late for me to change my mind.
"Do you want to try it now?"
"No."
"Very well then. It was a a pleasure doing business with you. I hope to see you again soon."
For the past year, Luia and I were living more like master and servant than like husband and wife, so I thought there was no way Loto could make her life any different. Even though, it crossed my mind to ask him not to do any experiments with her, but in the end I said nothing. It would be useless anyway. Denial and regret would either.
Then I realized the deformed girl Loto had tried to sell me was staring at me from the door. I must confess she gave me the creeps. She showed me the most accusative gaze I had ever faced in my whole life.
That was the last time I ever saw Luia. And the
first time that I faced Mukuro.
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Shrine to Yomi-Sama -