Chapter Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Anissa. Thanks for all the reviews and support from all my reviewers.

Chapter VI: New Pet…

Botan sat rigidly behind Kurama. The horse was walking at normal pace which she was grateful for. Her body was still aching and she was about to pass out. It wouldn't hurt to rest her head against him, would it? She didn't think she'd be able to stay awake for much longer. Then fate decided to smile upon her. The horse came to a stop. Kurama got of first and hauled her down. They were met by a young man. The newcomer took the reins from Kurama.

"Welcome back, master Kurama."

The lord nodded and the stable boy went on his way.

"Follow me." He said.

She followed to what she assumed to be his castle. The edifice in front of her was made entirely out white marble. The white castle was surrounded by lush gardens. While there were lots of different flowers, there were more roses of all color. She had never seen such beautiful gardens. Not even the one back home could compare.

Botan hung her head in shame. She missed her family so much. She didn't think that she would have missed them so much in so little time. What would happen to her as time went by. While she was Kurama's slave, there was no way he would let her escape. At this point, there was no telling when and if she'd ever see her family again. She brushed the thought aside and focused on her surrounding.

Botan's breathe caught in her throat. The inside of the castle was magnificent. It was illuminated by a chandelier that hung high up in the ceiling. The ceiling in question depicted long past battles and wars. There were several portraits and tapestries hanging on the walls. She suspected they were his ancestors. Each corner was adorned with a vase filled with fresh cut red roses. For the first time, she noticed that there were other people walking around the castle. They bowed to their master as he entered his home.

"Akina." He bellowed.

A Neko demon appeared at his command. She bowed to him and looked at Botan with disdain.

"Yes, master."

"Take her and have her clean up then bring her to my quarters."

"Yes, master."

Akina turned to Botan.

"Follow me."

Botan looked at Kurama and back at Akina.

"When you're done, bring me something to eat. I'm famished."

"Yes, master. Would there be anything else."

"Yeah! Is my bath ready yet?"

"It's being prepared as we speak, master."

"Good. Now go."

Akina bowed again and left, leaving Botan to follow after her. They walked down a hall and after a couple of turns; Botan found herself a bath chamber. It was very large with a huge tub in the far left corner. In the right corner were some low tables where soaps and other and toiletries were kept. There were a couple of shelves on the walls filled with big and fluffy towels and silk bathrobes.

Akina summoned some servants. With them, they brought buckets filled with cold water. Botan was confused for a minute. Did they intend to give her a cold bath? Once the tub was about half full, one of the servants pulled a plug on the wall. Botan hadn't noticed it before. Soon hot water came rushing from the little hole and filled the tub with hot water and fogged up the room.

For the second time the neko demon eyed Botan with hate-filled eyes. This time, she returned with as much venom.

"I got a feeling that you don't like me very much. Not surprising since I'm new but I don't think that's the reason."

"You think? Well that's new. Half of the whores he brought here can't do anything for themselves."

"Ha, so this is about Kurama." Botan said.

Akina flinched.

"You have feelings for your master?"

"That's none of your business. Now if you will, get undress so you can bathe. You reeked. Master doesn't possess much patience."

"Well, sunshine, you don't smell roses either? And here I thought that cats had keen sense of smell."

Akina growled.

"If you don't mind, I rather bathe alone." Botan said.

"Suit yourself."

After Akina left, Botan undressed and stepped into the warm water. Her cramped muscles immediately relaxed under the water. She would have liked to stay in the water a bi longer but Akina had said that Kurama was waiting for her. Today was her first day at the white castle and her first day as a slave. She dint know much about Kurama and she rather not found out anything the hard way.

She washed her hair with great difficulty and bathed herself. She admitted that she missed the comfort of home. Till now, she had never bathed alone. She didn't know that washing her own hair would be such a hassle. Her nanny, Kitana had made it look so easy. Once she was finished, she dried herself up as best as she could. She wrapped one of the bathrobes around her and left the room. Akina was waiting for her outside the door.

"Took you long enough."

Botan didn't bother to answer. She knew even if she had spent one second in the bathroom, Akina would have still found something to criticize.

Their next stop was a vast room who looked more like a huge closet. It was filled with beautiful clothes. There were a lot of kimonos but also some western gowns. Jewelries and shoes complete the room and made it every woman's dream closet.

"Go in. the hairdresser is waiting for you."

Botan reluctantly went inside. The room was also equipped with some coaches and loveseats. A huge dresser sat on the opposite wall facing her.

"Well come on, child. We don't have all day."

Botan turned around to see a plumped looking woman. She was a bear demon and kind of reminded her of Kitana.

"Well?" she said.

"Oh, sorry." Botan murmured.

"That's alright, child. By the way, what's your name?"

"Botan. My name is Botan."

"That's a pretty name. They called me Carina. Now come on, we have to get you ready for the master."

Botan didn't like the sound of that but she sat down nonetheless. Thirty minutes, she was dressed in s silk kimono with matching sleepers. Her hair was flowing behind her in ringlets. Carina had told her that the master like his women with long hair. Botan had resisted the urge to bolt from the older woman.

"Now go, master is waiting."

She really was starting to hate that word but she supposed there was nothing she could do about it now. Whether she liked it or not, Kurama was her master. He had brought and paid for her. Akina was the one that took her to Kurama's chamber. Her heart was threatening to beat right out of her chest. She was afraid that she was going to have a heart attack. She wasn't given any warning but the next thing she knew, she was standing in front of two giant oak doors. She turned to face Akina.

"You're on your own." Said the other servant.

With that, the neko demon left. Botan gulped and told herself the worst thing was that he decided he didn't want her as a slave anymore and decided to kill her instead. She shook her head to get rid of her morbid thoughts. She composed herself as much as she could and knocked on the door. A second passed before a husky voice responded.

"Come in."

Author's Note: Ok, I know it's short and you want tp kill me. Please don't. I'll try to update quicker next time.