Hoozuki find himself lying on a cold, metallic floor. He was in a cage that was completely unbreakable, even with his demonic strength. Both of his wrist and ankles were shackled with a strong manacles with seals on it, the collar on his neck started to choked him like a rope and bit his skin, his entire body was laced with cuts and bruises. And he only wore a kimono that he usually wore under his yukata.
He knew he was being followed by mysterious, but he wasn't aware about them. He didn't bring his iron club with him, and it happened pretty fast as he felt like he was being drugged out by a knockout poison and the next thing he remembered, he woke up in a cage.
He soon realized these hooded figures are some sort of cult that sells yokais as pets in an auction. He could've fight them off and ran away, but the injuries on his body was reminder that if he tried to rebel, he gets another painful punishment. It was a complete torture.
This is even worse than my childhood, yokais are not supposed to be treated like pets. Even so, they should be treated with kindness.
Hoozuki wanted to scream or cried out for help, but he was muzzled. The metal contraption hurts his face, and it was useless for him to call for help, he could feel the pain on his throat everytime he tried to speak, thanks to the collar the he wore. And it can only result more pain and torture, last time he was gagged, he tried to bite one of the owners which makes him to used a muzzle due to his sharp fangs.
The cage was not really small, but it was never been a comfortable place for him to sleep or sit. The room was dark, and there's only one small window near his cage, Hoozuki kept on hoping someone would find him. He wasn't lonely because he saw several yokais that were captured there, but he still misses his co-workers in hell. He could feel tears obscuring his vision, it was pathetic that an oni with a strong mental like him crying, but he can't stop the tears from falling.
Enma Daiou...Shiro...anyone...please save me...
He woke up from his sleep, it was the only thing he can do for now, eating, sleeping and waiting for someone to help him get out of this place. He can only ate cold bread, just like everyone because that was the only meal they had. He woke up after he heard a loud kick on his cage.
"HEY!!!! YOU!!! WAKE UP!!!!"
Normally, he would be pissed, but he can't. Their attitudes were threatening, and if he resisted again, they are going to cut off his horn.
They gave him the same old cold bread again. They took off his muzzle only to eat it and drink, and muzzled him back after that. The same old habit in this cage.
Hoozuki just sighed. Suddenly, he heard them talking about an auction that was starting tomorrow night. He soon got worried if he ever got taken away for good.
Shit...what should I do?
He just hoped he could find away sooner.
That night, he woke up and he got hungry again, feeding cold bread wasn't enough as he always got the smaller piece. He saw a kappa in front of him threw a piece of a bread to him, he tried to move but his body hurts. The bleeding cuts on his body stings as he approaches the bread that kappa throws. Hoozuki struggled to eat with his muzzle on, he soon ate it by small pieces, he could felt the tears rolling down to his cheeks.
Thank you...
He can't say anything, but he just wanted to say thank you to the Kappa and it was lucky that no one was on guard.
The auction day comes...
Hoozuki could hear the owners were preparing for auction from the upper floor. They grabbed several yokais from the basement, where he and the others were locked in a cage. He flinched as one of them approaches him, they were very intimidating.
"Don't worry, you'll soon find a new home for you."
No, I don't want a new home. Jigoku is my home.
Hoozuki feel uneasy, he doesn't want a new home, he needs to escape, he wants to stay in Jigoku. Eventhough, he could feel doubts started to get over his head, but he won't give up on his hope for his co-workers to come.
After the hooded figures left, he sat in a fetal position and sighed. It's over now, he thought, there's no way for him to get out until he saw someone familiar.
Kodama...
He wanted to tell him that he was captured but he can't, the muzzle causes his nose and chin to sore if ever tried to open his mouth. So, he just threw a small rock near him, hoping he could respond. The rock hot the barred window and Kodama responded
"Mr. Hoozuki?"
The little spirit approaches him, Kodama saw how horrible Hoozuki was. Getting locked up, wounded, chained and muzzled, it was such a repulsive appearance.
"What happened?"
Hoozuki can't speak, he just used his body gesture that he was chained. Kodama might not understand but he knew that the oni was in trouble.
"You want me to inform everyone in Jigoku about your condition?"
Hoozuki nodded. Suddenly he heard a noise from outside, it appears that they heard the noises fron the rocks he threw into the barred window. They knew he being disobedient again. Kodama soon ran away.
"So, are you trying to escape again?"
Hoozuki shook his head in fear as the hooded man grabbed him by his collar
"You're in luck because you will be one of the pets in the auction. So, we don't want to cut that beautiful horn of yours."
Beautiful? I'm not really sure that I am beautiful.
"But, since you're being disobedient again, we'll have no other choice but to punish you."
NO!!! NOT THIS AGAIN!!!!
They stripped him, exposing his upper part of his body and beating him again. Hoozuki could feel another lash on his back, he gritted his teeth as tears overflowed again. Soon, they left him lying on the floor. Hoozuki just shut his teary eyes and trying to covered his battered body.
Nightfalls, they started the auction.
Hoozuki doesn't know who's turn it was now. Too much pain in his body and he could feel the still bleeding wounds on his back stings.
I think it's my turn next...they will probably called me a problematic pet...
Hoozuki closed his eyes and sighing, he just wanted to sleep, so he won't cause another nuisance again.
They're not coming...
Suddenly, he heard some sort of noises. Hoozuki doesn't know what it was, like a raid or something, he thought. He could hear someone coming downstairs, he flinched, ducking his head in fetal position and covering his ears and eyes.
No, I don't want to go...
He heard a familiar voice.
"Hoozuki-sama, where are you?"
Shiro...it's that you?
He could hear the voice of his trusty animal companions.
"Shiro, we need to find a key for the cage."
"Relax, Kakisuke. The twins already got the key. The problem now is which cage he was in." Shiro told Kakisuke to calm down.
Twins...Don't tell me the Zashiki Warashi twins were here too..."
Hoozuki sighed in relieved, but he can't move due to the pain.
"Rurio, did you find him?"
The pheasant just flew in the sky, he just saw his superior was in the cage.
"Guys, I found him
Rurio informed his team, they rushed into the cage where Hoozuki was locked up. They finally reached the cage and unlocked it, the oni just remained still.
"Hoozuki-sama."
Hoozuki opened his eyes, he saw them at last. But, he still worried about going outside of his cage, Shiro approaches him.
"I missed you, Hoozuki-sama. You've been gone for days and I thought you were a goner."
Hearing what Shiro just said, Hoozuki just hugged the white dog and whispering in a weak voice.
"I'm...sorry..."
Both Rurio and Kakisuke were sad, the Zashiki Warashi twins also approaches their foster father. They unlocked the shackles on his wrists and ankles, undoing the muzzle and released the collar on his neck. Hoozuki coughed as he tried to speak.
"Thank you...Girls."
He still can't talk properly as his throat was sore and dry. He hugged Ichiko and Niko, he could felt tears building up again, he really wanted to cry. Before long, Enma Daiou came down into the basement. Hoozuki tried to crawled out of his cage because both his legs were numb.
"HOOZUKI-KUN!!!!!"
Enma Daiou quickly approached and hugged his trusty second hand, he glad that he finally found and reunited with Hoozuki after his mysterious disappearance.
"I'm so glad, I could finally meet you. Don't worry about those hooded men, they will be punished for hurting you and the other yokais. You're safe now."
Enma Daiou smiled, Hoozuki didn't reply. Instead, he cried, he buried his face into Enma-sama's big body. He sobbed endlessly and tears flowed down from his eyes like waterfall. He knew his subordinate was in pain for days and seeking comfort. Enma Daiou just stroked Hoozuki's head and body, it was comforting somehow.
"There...there...let out all of your pain, Hoozuki-kun. I knew you were scared, but everything's okay now. We're going home after this, you'll be taking a day off for a couple of weeks till you feel better."
Shiro and the others felt guilty for what happened, Hoozuki's weeping turned into a slow and small sniffles and he somehow felt tired and asleep. The rest of the yokais were free as well.
Hoozuki might never understand why would a human tried to captured him and turned him into a pet. He was never a pet, but now he is safe and he knew the others would protect him, no matter how bad he treated them, especially Enma Daiou. But, Jigoku was the only place where he was safe and comfort as it always be.
There's not enough Hoozuki no reitesu whumpfic. So, I decide to make my own.