Another Day

Chapter 3

Meet the Daltons

Kai hung limply over the wooden block. It was over; an intense relief washed through him at the thought. His back stung like hellfire and he felt dizzy from blood loss, but it didn't matter as long as he would never ever have to endure that again. He opened his eyes reluctantly when he felt someone bend down and untie the ropes holding him. He was shackled back into the line and the black haired boy beside him was untied. Kai's legs were wobbly, but he forced himself to stay upright, his pride slinking back from whatever dark corner it had been hidden in. He searched the crowd with his eyes, but couldn't see the two Tigers anymore. He hoped they had gone home.

The pony-tailed boy did not struggle against the guards. Strangely enough, as he bent down over the block, he turned and gave Kai a look that said 'let me show you how this is done'. The challenging fire in the boy's eyes lit something inside of Kai as well and he glared. He prepared himself for screams and begging, but none came. One lash, two lashes, three lashed and still the boy held silent, even though Kai could see that he struggled more and more with each strike.

He had been sentenced to fifteen whips. At number seven there came a strangled groan, and his head hung limply like he was close to losing his conscious. The slave trader was annoyed that his victim made no more of a show; he nodded to the torturer who swung the leather whip with double force and slammed it down on the boy's back, breaking through his iron will and tearing a scream from his lips. Kai grimaced. When the boy was finally brought back in line, he flashed Kai a tired, but victorious grin, despite the deadly pale of his face. Kai couldn't imagine what he felt he had won.

A couple of eternities later, all the prisoners scheduled to be punished that day had been bent on the block. The blood was washed away, both from the platform and from the backs of the punished men. For being such fine folk, the crowd sure could be savage, but now there was a collective feeling of relief that the bloodshed had passed. The bidding could begin.

The noise-level rose. People went about their business, talking to friends, arguing over prizes with salesmen and looking at the slaves. Kai watched the peacocks prance forth and back between the rows, talking to the trader and now and then asking the slaves a few questions. Everyone could bid on the slaves and by the end of the day the one with the highest bid would take the slave home with him. Names and amounts were written down on scrolls to keep track of them and each slave had a number.

The heat was really getting to the men on front row. All the slaves suffered, but these were the ones who had just had the living daylights beaten out of them and most had no strength left. The women, who stood in the back, had been spared and gotten a sip of water each, but for the men and young boys there were no such comforts. In the beating sun, many would faint and drag the ones beside them down on the hot planks. These were seen to, but otherwise there was no asking mercy from the guards. Kai grimaced as sweat ran down his back and over the bleeding welts; it stung badly. Beside him, the black haired boy sighed in fatigue and wiped sweat from his brow.

The Hiwatari studied the one responsible for getting him up here in the first place. He hadn't thought about it before, but this boy was just like Lee and the Tigers, with fangs and pointed ears. Was that a coincidence?

He was handsome, with soft features and smooth skin, and he held himself with an easy grace that made Kai feel clumsy and crude. His long hair was inky black, and his body was well built, but more slender and elegant than Kai's. He was wearing short pants that showed off his ankles, and his bare chest was tanned and strong.

When he became aware of Kai's scrutiny, he turned his head and met the Hiwatari's gaze evenly. Once again he was caught by those golden eyes, which seemed to see right into his very soul, burning him worse than the sun. And then the knowing, cocky smirk that made Kai want to kick him really badly.

But before words could be exchanged, their attention was caught by a couple who was strolling down the line, arm in arm. A black haired woman, wearing a yellow corset and dress and holding an equally yellow umbrella over her head to ward off the sun, and her husband, who was tall and thin with red hair and an aristocratic look.

'Whoever told him that matching your wife was in season should be shot,' Kai thought and shuddered at the hideous yellow suit that the man wore. The two stopped now and then to discuss a slave here and another there, talking as if though they were buying a new pet.

They seemed to be on a hunt for young boys, for they paused by several such and when they came to Kai, the woman urged her husband to stop. "You know darling; he is kind of sweet up close," she began, giving Kai the urge to laugh.

The man fished a monocle out of his breast pocket and held it up so that he could study Kai more closely. He leaned in until Kai had to lean back to avoid touching him. These stuck up peacocks were stranger than Grandpa Granger, and he was strange. Next to him, the black haired boy snickered.

In the end the man straightened up, put the monocle back and brushed himself off as if though Kai's mere presence was contaminated. "I don't know, my dear, he seems to rough for our boy."

Kai wondered what tasks he would be set to do if they actually bought him for little junior; polish his shoes, hold his toys and change his diapers? He knew perfectly well that the boy in question was probably old enough to do all sorts of things for himself, but thanks to his parents he would grow up to be a wet smack, just like his father before him.

The couple became aware of the black haired boy beside him now and they seemed to forget Kai entirely. They tripped around the feline and discussed him as if he had no ears, "This one is more what we are looking for, right dear? Seems calm...not so rough...a pretty boy." The kid flashed Kai another smirk, and Kai rolled his eyes.

The woman looked very exited, "I think we should bid on this one, Harold; he will fit perfectly for Michael!"

Harold nodded, "What is your name young fellow?"

He gave a small bow and answered, "Rei Kon, sir."

Kai shook his head in disgust; way to suck up! But Mrs. Dalton was only more convinced, "We must get a second opinion; have you seen the trader anywhere, dearest?" But before her husband could answer, another voice broke in.

"Mr. Dalton, Mrs. Dalton, enjoying the fine day, I see."

The new arrival was a man past his prime, but still big and muscular. His brown hair was streaked with grey and caught in a ponytail. Next to his obvious confidence, Mr. Dalton seemed even more pathetic than before.

The stranger took Mrs. Dalton's gloved hand and kissed it. "Ah, Betina, you look as beautiful as ever."

She giggled, "Oh, Oscar, you scoundrel. Why on earth are you here? You couldn't possibly be in need of another servant." She laughed, loudly and not exactly ladylike.

The man grinned and Kai was reminded of a wolf.

The two gentlemen shook hands. "How is the business going, Oscar?" Mr. Dalton asked.

The other man shrugged, "Oh, you know, well enough, well enough. And how is your little charmer coming along? Found him a suiting wife yet?"

'Oh, so little junior is that old.' Kai thought to himself.

Betina put on a dramatically sorrowful face, "Our Michael remains stubborn. He will hardly look at the nice girls I point out to him, and he insists on flirting with every common girl he meets. If he continues like this I am afraid he will end up a bachelor, or worse-."

"Now, now, my duckling, let us not go there," her husband interrupted her hastily. He took a white handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed his brow with it. It reminded Kai of the blistering heat and he cast an annoyed glace up at the sun, who ignored him and shone even brighter.

Oscar looked from one to the other. "Well you know what, Harold? Since you did me that favour with McGregor a while back, I will help you out. You let me have a talk with the boy and he will be ready for marriage in no time. I'll show him that there are benefits to getting a lady to call your own." At that last comment he threw a glance and a smile at Mrs. Dalton, who blushed.

Harold Dalton smiled in relief, "Thank you Ivanov, I really appreciate that."

Kai thought that he and Rei were well and forgotten, but no such luck was theirs today; three pairs of eyes turned on them and he kept his own gaze carefully neutral. Oscar Ivanov gestured to the black haired boy, Rei, "So you were looking at this one, huh?"

Mrs. Dalton nodded, "Yes, and we are really considering buying him. He is just what we are looking for."

Ivanov pretended to be confused, "Are you sure. Isn't he a bit too wild for Michael?"

It was the Daltons' turn to be confused, "He has not been very wild so far."

"But of course, you would not know; I spoke to a guard about him, and it seems he is quite the monster when let loose. He told me that he and his partner had nearly been killed trying to get this one into his cell, and he was badly clawed and bruised, shouldn't have been on duty at all with the damage he had sustained, the poor man."

The couple turned to regard the boy who was growling low in his throat; no doubt remembering his arrest. His fangs were showing, although he didn't seem to be aware of it.

"If this is true then we will have to find another. Such an awful thing can not be let loose in our home. I am afraid we have come for nothing then." Mrs. Dalton seemed to be ready to cry at the loss of her perfect servant.

But Ivanov turned and looked at Kai, "What about this one? He was not half as bad."

The black haired woman told him that they thought Kai too rough for Michael as well. "I believe this boy would be more of a playmate for your Tala, Oscar."

The imposing man seemed to consider it. He looked Kai up and down. "How old are you?"

Once again, Kai did not answer the question; with the heat and the blood loss he felt dizzy and tired and vulnerable, but he was angry as well, and this man did nothing to help.

But Ivanov just laughed, "Indeed, I think Tala would like him." Did nothing get this man down? "Let us get the trader and see what he thinks, shall we?" They called, and the fat, beady eyed salesman came huffing and puffing up along the line.

Kai was once again released from the shackles and tied with the rope. A guard held the other end and he glared threateningly at Kai, as if daring him to pull another stunt and try to escape, but Kai stood silently and obediently while the customers fussed over him. More shoppers had gathered around and the slave trader gave his opinion, "Well, he has got an impressive body for a boy his age. He can't be lazy." Kai rolled his eyes; most of his day was spent running, climbing and fighting brutes twice his size.

"He would do very well in hard labour, prime material this one, and handsome too, but he needs a master who knows how to handle his temper."

Kai growled when the bastard used the word master. Unfortunately that only emphasised his point, but Kai could not stand the idea of being owned; no man had the right to own another.

Ivanov nodded in affirmation, "Well his attitude can always be dealt with; that will not be a problem." He addressed Kai directly then, "I want your name and age boy, and you can put that sneer behind; you will not need it where you are going." He raised an eyebrow at Kai expectantly.

The Hiwatari glanced behind him at the guard with the club; the idiot smiled sadistically and patted his belt where there hung several more weapons, amongst them a short whip. Kai swallowed and turned back to the shoppers. He met Ivanov's gaze with his own and answered, as steadily as his voice would allow, "My name is Kai. I'm seventeen."

"Wise choice, boy. Seventeen is a good age, and that is a strong name you have. Good, good." Kai glared, but he was ignored. The big man turned to the slave trader and said, "He seems fit enough, but I will need to see the rest of him to determine whether he will suffice."

To Kai's fury, the slave trader simply nodded and reached for Kai's belt. How could they treat him like this? How could they treat all the slaves like this? Did they not recognise a fellow human when they saw one? A voice in the back of his head told him that Rei was paying close attention to all that was happening, but why that mattered he did not know.

Ivanov noted the boy's reluctance and his eyes narrowed, "Now Kai; don't start acting a fool again. There is no way around it, so why fight?"

"I will not be made a toy for some stuck up brat, I am not an animal to be bought and sold and I will not bow and scrape for you good-for-nothing peacocks!" He breathed heavily from the outburst, and felt a little better. Rei laughed. Mrs. Dalton was covering her open mouth with one, gloved hand, and Mr. Dalton looked like he had never seen anyone act so rude. Ivanov, however, was not impressed; his bushy eyebrows had lowered dangerously. He nodded at the slave trader who gestured to the guard.

Kai struggled in vain as the big man grabbed his arms and held them securely over his head. Angry, red spots bloomed on the slate haired boy's cheeks as his pants were removed and he was left in his undergarments. Ivanov bent down and ran one hand down the back of Kai's leg, squeezing to see the strength of his muscles. When he rose again he seemed satisfied that Kai measured up to his standards.

As soon as he was released, the Hiwatari pulled his pants back on and glared at the wide man with all his venom.

While he was shackled back in place Ivanov bent close and whispered, "You are obviously a clever boy, but you had better learn to dispose of your pride or you will become even better acquainted with the whip. We'll get some discipline into that stubborn head of yours."

Kai shivered, but answered, "I am not afraid of you."

The man straightened up again, "You will learn to fear me soon enough, boy." Then he left with the slave trader to get his name down on the scroll and to determine a price.

Rei watched the man's retreating back, but then he turned to Kai, "Nice legs."

The slate haired boy growled at him, "Shut up."

Now and then, others would come and look at him, but he wasn't released from his shackles a second time. The sun continued to beat down and Kai's strength drained slowly with the blood that ran down his back.