Isho: finally decided to write the next chapter. a bit longer this time too. :)

I happily trudge back to my cage after the last potential buyer and onlooker leaves the plaza. Tomorrow I will be put up for auction. From what I've heard, my starting price will be around 1000 gold. I guess I was popular, to start at 200 gold above price. The rest of my life is going be hell, I just know it. I AM being sold as a pleasure slave after all. I soon get to my cage and sit down inside, having it closed after me by Joe. He soon locks it and leaves, deciding not to shackle me to the bars as well.

My best option at this point is to try and escape before or after I'm sold. I could try while on the way to my new home. If that fails, and I end up getting raped, then I'll just have to kill myself. Hopefully I'll be able to escape though. I don't know where I would go, but Jou taught me how to forage and take care of myself in the wild. But, again, if I don't make it before I get hurt, I wont be able to live with myself.

I sigh and study my lock again. I could try picking it, and if I do manage to get it open, I would have to sneak past the patrol guards. Yvon, the lean, crop haired slave dealer, took it upon himself to hire ten guards, including Joe. The man certainly knows how to protect his assets.

I sigh again and look up at the dimming orange sky. I can escape better at nightfall, so I start looking for the stray bit of stiff wire I had picked up earlier. Once found, I wait for the sky to dim completely.

**Time Change**

I huff in frustration as the wire screeches across the pegs inside the lock for the fifth time. I glare at the overly large hunk of iron that was refusing to be picked. I take a few deep breaths and roll my shoulders, hoping to clear my head and get rid of some of the tension that has been building up since the sun had set a few hours prior.

After I had calmed down sufficiently, I take the lock in hand and try my luck again. After five min. of futilely pushing and scraping at the pegs, the wire slips and digs into my palm. I yelp and shake my hand, releasing the lock, and examine the damage. I have a small scrape on my right palm that is bleeding a little. I sigh and then look around for the wire.

My eyes widen when I can't find it anywhere in, or around the cage. I stare at the ground; the frustration and tension suddenly build up and send me over the edge. Tears spilling out of my eyes, I growl/whine and hit the door of my cage several times with my uninjured hand. Soon I tire out and just slump against the back of my cage, sobbing into my arms and knees.

"What is wrong, Little One? Why do you cry so?"

I sniffle and look up, perplexed and annoyed with the dumb question. I glare at him through my stemming tears.

"Are you blind? Everything! My life is crap and I'm going to be sold to some pervert!"

He chuckles and I wipe my tears away and look at him closer. From what I can see, he's moderately tall, probably a foot taller than me, with a dark, angular face, sharp, bright red eyes, and a large mane of hair similar to mine. I say his face is dark because it doesn't look all that pale in the moonlight, kind of tan almost. When he finishes chuckling, he kneels down to where he is about eye level with me, but still a bit taller.

"I see, then why do you not try to escape?"

I continue to glare at him and start to clench my fists, worsening my cut.

"I already tried! All it got me was an injured hand and my only means of picking that lock lost somewhere outside of my cage!"

He hums and continues looking at me. I eventually look down, dejected once again.

"What do you want anyway?"

I then realize something and look back up.

"And how did you get past the guards?"

He smirks and looks to the lock on my cage, tinkering with it a bit.

"Guards are quite easily dispatched when they can't see or hear you sneaking up behind them."

I scrunch my eyebrows together.

"You didn't kill them did you?"

He laughs again and stops messing with the lock.

"Killing them would have been easy but pointless. Why? Did you want them dead?"

"No! I mean, no one deserves to die, I just-"

He chuckles more as I just mumble to myself, blush heavy on my face. I soon feel a gentle hand under my chin, making me look up at him again. He has a soft, kind smile on his face now.

"Do you want to be free?"

I stare at him. I desperately want to say yes, but something holds me back. I look at him suspiciously now.

"Whats the catch?"

The smile still on his face, he removes his hand.

"I suppose there is one isn't there? All I want is your blood."

I blanch, blood? I look him over again and can see that his pupils are different from before. Slitted, like a cat's or snakes. He's a vampire then? I smile wryly.

"So what, the only way I'm getting out of here is to be drained dry?"

He scoffs, as if offended.

"Hardly, you should not believe all of the myths out there about us."

I sigh, exasperated.

"So what should I expect then?"

He goes back to smiling again and explains.

"I would only need a bit of your blood every few days. Other than that, I don't expect much out of you other than certain services."

"What services?"

I say, eying him with more suspicion. His smile softens and borders on pity.

"Nothing like your thinking Little One."

My suspicion doesn't lower, and he chuckles again.

"I promise you, I won't ever touch you like that. All I would require you to do is help out the other servants when they need it."

He reaches through the bars again and makes as if he wants to shake mine.

"Deal?"

I think, it's not absolute freedom, but I have nowhere else to go and I don't want to put out for someone I don't know. I sigh and then take his offered hand and shake it.

"Deal, now how are you going to get me out of here? Do you have the key or something?"

He beams at me and pulls his hand back out.

"Of course not. I do not need one."

Confused, I watch him take the lock in hand and mutter something. Soon it clicks open and he unhooks it from its loop. He quietly opens the cage door and helps me get out. Once I'm out, I groan and rub the tingles out of my cramped legs.

"So, Little One, what is your name?"

I look up at him, my legs finally calming down. I was right about him being a foot taller.

"Its Yugi. Can I ask yours, or should I call you master?"

He chuckles and we start making our way out of the plaza and into one of the hidden alleyways. We stop when we can't see the plaza anymore, and he turns to me.

"You may call me Yami. Though all of the others call me Lord or, as you said, master."

I just grunt. He then pulls a dark cloak from somewhere and hands it to me. I look at it then back up to Yami, wondering what it's for.

"Wrap yourself in that. It gets quite cold while flying."

"Flying?"

He chuckles again.

"Yes Yugi. It is far faster to fly to our destination."

I hum in thought and wrap myself in the blanket.

"Oh, before we get going."

He takes my hand and looks at the cut, excitement growing in his eyes. He then runs his tongue along it and then pulls me to him. Confused, I try to push away. He chuckles again.

"Relax, I am simply going to feed. It will help you sleep."

"W-will it hurt?"

He thinks for a bit then answers.

"It will only pinch."

I nod and he tilts my head to the left, leaning down and inhaling near my pulse. I jerk as I feel his teeth jab into my skin. I then shudder as I start to weaken and I lean against him. He soon pulls away and licks his lips.

"Mmmm, wonderful. Now, let's get going."

I squeak when he picks me up and situates me across his arms bridal style. He then sprouts these large pair of leathery, horned wings and swoops into the air. I shiver as we get higher and yank the blanket tighter over my face.

"So, how long until we get there?"

"An hour or so. You should probably get some sleep now."

I nod and then close my eyes, letting the days events take their toll.

Isho: hope u like.