A/N: Well, here we go on another song-fic. I really must say that I do enjoy these, and I'm really looking forward to writing/posting this one. Of course its another one of those severe angsty things, you know me. I can't help it. Oh well, no one's complained yet, lol.
In this Section: Rating – PG-13. (Sexual Content, Violence, Graphic Descriptions). Prologue and Part 1.
Story Disclaimer: Sorry…but I don't own Inuyasha and Co. nor do I own Chevelle's "The Red."
My Favorite Color
(A song-fic to Chevelle's "The Red")
By: Yabou
Prologue
Fear.
It easily dominates all over emotions when present in an animal's mind. Every basic instinct gives way for the fight to survive when pushed to the edge. A body surging with the sweet drug of adrenaline does not dare to contend with the silly ideals of logical thought; it simply is the way it is. Human and youkai alike have tried for thousands of years to overcome what some consider a demeaning state of mind, and yet, no one can overcome.
Life.
A burden that all strive to protect and cast away within the same second. Hunt or be hunted, as the story goes. Some hunt while wishing to be hunted whilst others lay prey to their own comrades. A knife in the back. Another cycle of this propaganda they call fate.
Death.
In the end, it is absolute and all-powerful. There is no opting-out and no turning back. Neither human nor youkai can buy their way through it or by-pass the process completely. Hatred for such a elementary step in this complex succession they call life is developed by some for no one can carry the earnings of fertile life into the cold, worm-eaten ground of death. And still, for others this ending is ever so sweet. Release from an existence that is filled with violence and pain is unbelievable nirvana.
Fear of life. Fear of death. Either pathway is unclear, and the taste is always…
Bitter sweet.
My Favorite Color
(A song-fic to Chevelle's "The Red")
By: Yabou
Part 1 – Sticks, Stones, and Black Eyes
- They say freak when you're singled out. -
Low-lying brush rustled quietly with the delicate footsteps edging their way toward a small caravan in the distance. The early morning dew his hakama and feet collected as he walked began gathering clumping dirt and mud, making his venture into the camp even more silent than his demonic abilities allowed. Amber eyes flickered in the glow of the small pit fires left burning on the outskirts of the tented masses. Now was crucial, he must remain silent or they would hear.
His ears still burned from his last encounter with the human species. He had mistakenly wondered upon a traveling group of drunken monks passing down a nearby road and asked them for a small parcel of food. They had lashed out and kicked him into the dirt. He could still recall their laughter when he revealed his claws.
Dirty half-breed. Their words of evil still rang in his ears.
Where is the whore that birthed you? The youngest had sneered at him.
Their laughter continued even as one of them brought over a torch and proceeded to light his hair on fire, causing his brilliant, silver strands to be transformed into the short, blackened fringe he now possessed. He had fought back the screams that wrenched through his tiny throat, never would he have allowed them to hear his pleas.
He knew that they had tried their hardest to kill him, and he still could not understand why he had not died. The pain had been overwhelming to his five-year old hanyou body. Laying in the small area of deserted rice yard they had dumped him in, he had sworn that he would die, sworn to release himself from the pain, but…once again, he had healed and was doomed to face another day of hell.
Brushing his ear with a gentle stroke, he held his breath as he neared a yellowing tent and prepared to sneak inside. He could hear low grunting noises of an older man and assumed that the human was only snoring as he had heard so many others do when they were too fat to breathe properly. He could almost envy that snore…those people, they had food enough for themselves and many more, but they were stingy and only cared for themselves and those that brought them what they needed.
The grunting grew louder, and the small child placed a single claw into the tent, piercing it quickly and quietly while creating a peephole. Carefully, he wiped the dirt from the patch surrounding the hole in order to prevent any of it from managing its way into his overly sensitive eyes. He pulled up his red sleeve and used it to wipe the sweat away from his face.
Suddenly, the grunting stopped and he could hear no more from inside of the tent. He froze, allowing only his ears to flicker wildly to pick up any nuance of sound that might signal that he had been discovered. When no sound was made for another few minutes he returned to his work and looked through the slit in the tent.
It was dark inside. The occupants of the room were on a very plump mat near the doorway on the other side of the space; hopefully he could slip in and out without any complications. The room reeked of noxious perfumes, sweat, and body fluids. The small hanyou covered his nose and mouth with the excess of his sleeve in order to prevent himself from retching and waking them up. He would have turned away from the place, but the prospect of food was just too high for his meager body to throw such a perfect opportunity away.
Ever so slowly he slid his claw back into the hole and began pushing it down, creating a small opening for his body. He stopped only a centimeter above the seam, praying that his cut would not be noticed until late in the morning. The darkness of night shrouded his entrance into the room as he looked for anything small that he might be able to carry away swiftly if the need arose. He saw useless pillows and cushions piled up near the bed, blocking his view. Candle stick holders of silver and gold cluttered one mahogany stand that must have been a burden to whatever animal was destined to carry it and the many books and maps that filled its cabinets. Jewels and bobbles lay strewn across a white fur rug nearby like children's toys scattered around a playroom.
Useless. He thought sadly. His nose brought a small satchel in one corner near the bed to his attention. The scent of bread, meat, and fish drew him closer and closer toward the slumbering, fat man. Quickly, he darted toward the bag. With a fast snatch, he began his way back to his hanyou-made opening only to feel a cold steel pressing into his neck.
"Animal," the old man sneered. "What are you doing in my tent?"
Inuyasha froze, his breath caught in a huge lump at his throat.
The man sucked at his teeth and applied pressure with the blade. "Can you not speak, animal? Are you dumb?" He grabbed a mass of the dirtied hair and pulled him into the air. "Se," he yelled out. "Brighten the fire and wake the men. It seems we have a toy to play with tonight."
Afraid. Inuyasha's mind recoiled away from the man. He could see every deep wrinkle set on his massive hands. Piercing black eyes lit with laughter as they watched him struggle to free himself from his grip. His heart sped up and released a dangerous drug into his system.
Adrenaline.
He could feel it beginning to tear through his veins as his body slowly became numb to the chubby, bejeweled fingers ripping out what was left of his hair and ears. Desperately, he fought against the laughing man, but still he could not free himself.
Even while they tied him to the trunk of a large tree and began to spit and urinate on him, he still tried to release himself. He jerked and pummeled against the tree, enabling himself to kick a few of the onslaughts away with his dangling legs. One by one they began picking up small rocks and sticks and throwing them at his exposed body.
All the while, the black-eyed man watched him with a smug look upon his face. He did not spit on him, or throw anything at him, but he was the most frightening. His eyes told a tale of horror and cruelty to anyone he dared to share it with, and Inuyasha felt his fear growing with every glimpse he got of those eternally black eyes.
Finally, the predator neared his prey and all the other men backed away, waiting to see what pain their leader would add to the animal's suffering. "Are you afraid, animal? Can you feel fear?" He moved his hand forward and grabbed Inuyasha's chin between his forefinger and thumb. "Is there any intelligence in that small little brain of yours?" He slowly turned Inuyasha's head from one side to the other, as if looking for any signs outside of his body.
Inuyasha tore head away violently, banging the man's hand between his skull and the tree. The man raised a brow and grabbed his chin again, pressing his nails into the skin of his face and laughed demonically. "No, I guess not. How could an animal ever know anything?"
Inuyasha's eyes filled with hatred as the fat man waddled away, and suddenly…
The world faded to red…
A/N: Very short intro, I know…but you all know how I am…I just can't stand not leaving you on your toes, lol. Anyway, tell me what you think…should I have a go at another song-fic?! By the way, this is a different "style" of fic from my norms…see if you notice what it is…
(I actually am debating on continuing this or not…so let me know if I should…its kind of iffy…)
-Yabou