/Inuyasha's thoughts

Chapter 4

Inuyasha awakened to find himself in the dark. The effect of the drugged candy had him dizzy. As he sat up the scent of anger and fear mixed with unwashed bodies, urine and dried blood filled the room to overpower his sensitive nose. He was beginning to become afraid. His eyes pierced the darkness to look around cautiously. He was in a large room that had both demons and humans chained to the walls and floor. He tried to move but couldn't. He looked down to see shackles around his ankles and wrists, and he was chained to a post in the middle of the room. Inuyasha tugged at the chains but they would not break.

"So, you're finally awake," said a voice in the dark. "You can't break those chains. They are magically enhanced to prevent demons and half demons from escaping."

Inuyasha turned to the voice narrowing his eyes. An elderly demon with long floppy ears slowly got to his feet. A rabbit demon. He watched the demon shuffle over to him. Remembering what his brother told him about showing fear. Inuyasha watched the old demon with caution.

"I thought you were going to sleep through the whole journey." Then the old demon sat down in front of Inuyasha.

"Who are you and where am I?" Inuyasha demanded trying to act intimidating like his older brother but couldn't pull it off. He still sounded like a frighten pup.

"I am Usagi. I can tell that you are a hanyou. What's your name?"

Inuyasha bit his bottom lip as he contemplated whether or not to tell the old demon. Slumping his shoulders, he decided to tell him. It can't hurt since he's already in trouble. Inuyasha looked around the room at all the hardened scarred fearful faces glaring at him in disgust, hate or fear. Inuyasha began to wonder if everyone was disgusted or afraid because he was a hanyou or because they were captured. Most likely, it was the latter. For a full blooded demon to be captured by humans is very humiliating.

Inuyasha sighed and turned back to face Usagi. "My name is Inuyasha."

"Well well, so you're the little bastard we've been hearing about," said another demon. He was younger than Usagi. He was more close to his brother's age. He wasn't as tall as Sesshomaru but he was tall enough. The demon stumbled and swayed over to Inuyasha and Usagi, and glared down at the little dog demon.

Inuyasha got to his feet, put his hands on his hips and stuck his chin out in defiance. He glared up at the demon. It had long black hair that flowed down its back in a single ponytail. This demon was lithe with lean muscles. His clothes were torn and bloodied. The demon narrowed its piercing gray eyes dangerously at the little hanyou. Inuyasha could see that his face was handsome but not breathtakingly beautiful like his Sesshomaru. At the mere thought of his brother, Inuyasha felt his heart sink. He wished this was not real that this was all a dream and that his brother will come in any minute to wake him from this awful nightmare. But it was not a dream. He was a prisoner just like this big jerk standing before him. The full-blooded demon continued to glare at the half-breed.

But Inuyasha refused to back down. He gave glare for glare with the demon as he bared his fangs. Deep down, Inuyasha knew Sesshomaru would have been proud of the way he held himself before this brute. /Remember Inuyasha, show no fear to your enemies and make sure to keep eye contact. Your enemy will back down once they see you are not afraid of them. / He remembered Sesshomaru telling him.

"Little wretch how dare you bare your fangs at me," the demon said raising his fist preparing to strike Inuyasha. Inuyasha crouched preparing to attack when a sudden lurch sent them tumbling to the floor. Inuyasha fell on top of the demon that was harassing him. He quickly sat up.

"Where are we?" Inuyasha asked looking at the elderly demon.

"We are all prisoners, you little fool. Can't you tell by the fact that we are all chained up," growled the demon angrily.

Inuyasha growled and jump to his feet shooting the demon an icy glare. "Why don't you go back and set in your corner. I was not addressing you. I was speaking to Usagi."

The demon cocked a brow at the little dog demon. He looked up at Inuyasha and snorted when he saw that the hanyou was not backing down from him. Inuyasha was terrified but he would not give the idiot the satisfaction of seeing him afraid. Crossing his arms across his chest, Inuyasha continued to glare. The demon smirked and edged closer to Usagi and Inuyasha. "You sure have guts for a pup." He sat next to Usagi. "The name is Shirow."

Inuyasha exhaled and sat down. "My name is . . ."

"No need kid," said Shirow. "Just about everyone here, at least demons, knows who you are. You're Inuyasha, son of the western lord, Inutaisho."

"You know my father?"

"Not personally but I have heard of him. Hell, anyone with half a brain knows of your father," said Shirow. "The hair and eyes are a dead giveaway. Only the dog demons of the west, have golden eyes and silver hair. So. . . you're in the same boat as we are."

"I don't understand. The last thing I remembered was a strange dragon demon named Yin giving me some candy and he took me to see this other scary mean looking dragon called Ryuukotsusei. He was going to kill me but Yin talked him out of it." Then Inuyasha gasped as he remembered the conversation between the two dragons. "I have to get away somehow and warn my father about the dragons."

Both Usagi and Shirow stared at the small pup in shock. Inuyasha saw the looks and asked. "What's wrong?

"By the seventh level of hell, you don't know. Do you kid?"

"Know what?" Inuyasha frowned at the two demons.

"Word in the western lands is, Ryuukotsusei killed you. Then he attacked your father and defeated him," said Usagi.

"No." Inuyasha shook his head in denial. "No, my father is undefeatable. That stupid dragon couldn't have defeated my father." Tears began to well up in Inuyasha's eyes and spilled down his cheeks. "Is he . . ."

"No, he's not dead but I'm sure he wishes that he were," came a voice from behind Inuyasha. They turned to see Yin standing behind them. Inuyasha growled leaping to his feet. "You . . . you . . ." He tried to think of a name to call the dragon. Then he remembered what his father had called one of the noble demon's in his, court that dared to insult his mate. "You bastard."

"My my such language from a prince," Yin chided in amusement. "But it is to be expected. You are, after all, only a half breed."

Inuyasha growled loudly and was about to pounce on the dragon when Shirow grabbed the child and restrained him.

"It seems that the rumors about you dog demons are true. You are very short tempered demons." Yin laughed at the enraged hanyou. "You will definitely fetch a handsome price."

Inuyasha settled and stared at the dragon in shock. "What are you talking about?"

"Inuyasha, we were all captured by this demon," said Usagi. "He intends to sell us as slaves."

"Slaves." Inuyasha stared at the green hair dragon demon in horror. "You can't do this. It's wrong to force someone into slavery. My father won't stand for this."

"From what I've heard. Your father isn't standing at all. Ryuu has the great Inutaisho locked away . . . and in his own dungeon no less."

"That's not possible." Inuyasha fell to his knees. "What about my mother and my . . . Sesshomaru?"

"Your brother is a coward. When Ryuu stormed the palace, it was deserted. Your brother ran with your father's whore and is in hiding somewhere."

"You take that back you bastard!" Inuyasha eyes burned with hate for the demon standing before him. "My mother is a kind and gentle woman and my brother is not a coward."

"Whatever," the dragon said dismissing Inuyasha's ranting. "Your father is imprisoned and your brother is in hiding. If you were hoping, someone would come for you. I'm afraid it will do you no good. Even if they knew, you were still alive. They will not find you."

"Why not?"

"Remember where I told you I was from, little demon?" Yin said smiling at the hanyou. Inuyasha nodded his head slowly. "Well, we are on a ship heading for my homeland. I will sell you to the highest bidder in China whether they be demon or human. And you shall remain a slave, little dog demon until the day you die." Laughing, Yin turned and just seemed to disappear into the dark.

Inuyasha felt his heart sink. He would never see his mother, father or beloved brother ever. He lowered his head and wept into his hands. He didn't care if anyway, see him cry. His entire world had shattered and it would never be the same for him every again.

xxxxx

Inuyasha learned that it has been over three weeks since his life fell apart. Usagi and Shirow told the little hanyou that the dragon kept him drugged until it was time for him to leave Japan.

Usagi told them he was captured when he was returning to his home from visiting his children. While Shirow was out hunting with some of his friends when Yin and his crew attacked him. Shirow was very pleased with himself when he told them that he had injured three of Yin's men and killed two of them. Unfortunately, after he was captured, the demons kicked him into unconsciousness.

Although it was only days, to Inuyasha it felt like they had been on the ship for months. The swaying of the ship had Inuyasha's stomach doing flip-flops. Bile rose into the hanyou's throat. Shirow reached him a bucket and all that he had eaten came back up. Inuyasha wiped his mouth and leaned against the pole in the center of the room.

"I hate this. I hate this place and I hate that stupid dragon." Inuyasha closed his eyes holding back the flow of tears that was threatening to fall from his eyes. He really hated this. He wanted to go home. He wanted to see his parents and beloved brother. But he knew that it was only wishful thinking. He knew that he would never see his family or home ever again.

"It's been days kid," said Shirow sitting next to him with a plate of raw meat in his hand. The scent of the raw meat assaulted Inuyasha nose and he turned to throw up in the bucket until there was nothing left in his stomach. "You have to eat something."

"I can't stomach anything. Just the smell of food makes my stomach all queasy," said Inuyasha leaning over the bucket. The scent of his own bile was turning his stomach. He quickly slid the bucket away from him and leaned his head against the pole.

"Don't worry. It will pass," said Usagi walking up to them.

Inuyasha's eyes widened. He hadn't notice before but he old demon was not chained down like the rest of them. Seeing this, Usagi smiled sadly to the young pup. "I'm not chained because I am not a threat. I'm an old man. I can harm no one."

"So why did he bother capturing you?" asked Inuyasha curious.

"Well, because some people would prefer an elderly servant," said Shirow eating the raw meat. "The old ones like Usagi don't tend to runaway. Plus they are good to have around to look after small children. That's probably who he will be sold to."

Several days later, the ship pulled into a private dock near a huge mansion. Guards arrived from the mansion and led the prisoners down the gangplank. As they left the ship Inuyasha could see a village not far from the mansion. Then the guards watched the prisoners closely as they herded them towards a nearby large building connected to the mansion. Once inside the prisoners were separated into groups and taken to separate rooms. Suddenly three female servants entered the room giving them towels. Then they motioned to the men to follow them. They were led to a large bathing room. There were no windows or doors for them to escape. Even if there were, they wouldn't get far. Yin had guards stationed everywhere.

One of the females turned to the group of ten captives and spoke to them in broken Japanese. "You . . . to . . .clean here. Ring gong when ready." They turned and left them alone. Then several guards walked into the room.
One guard stepped forward and unlocked their chains. Then they turned and left.

Inuyasha, Shirow and Usagi were among the ten. They stripped out of their clothes and stepped into the warm water. After thoroughly cleaning themselves of sweat, dirt, bile and other unpleasant filth. Shirow rung the gong and a male demon walked into the room along with the guards. The guards put the chains back on. Afterwards the guards placed a silver collar with a red stone around everyone's neck. Once the last of the collars was around the last human's neck. They stepped back.

"Follow me." Was all the rat demon said. He led them to another room. Inside were ten female servants, all were holding clothing for each man. The guards began to unchain their feet again.
"Get dressed. Once you are clothed, the guards will lead you to the dining hall. You will not speak unless spoken to. Master Yin has important clients that are here. If you speak out of place or is disrespectful.
You will be beaten where you stand." The rat demon turned his gaze on Inuyasha. "You half breed. Do you understand."

Inuyasha growled wanting to rip the rodent's face off. The elderly rabbit demon placed a hand on Inuyasha shoulder. The little hanyou looked up at his friend. Usagi shook his head. Inuyasha fell silent as his ears lay flat against his head in defeat.

The rat demon smirked at Inuyasha. "Good." Then he turned and walked out of the room.

Inuyasha poked his tongue out at the retreating back of the demon. The servants giggled at his childish behavior and gathered around him. They spoke some strange language and began grabbing Inuyasha's ears. The little hanyou moaned in distress. He hated it when people grabbed his ears. Suddenly there was a shout. The women quickly stepped to the side and bowed to the middle-aged woman.

Standing in the door was a human female with a face that resembled stone. Inuyasha cringed. The woman scolded the maids and then left. After that, the women helped the men to dress.

xxxxx

After everyone was dressed, the captives were led into a large dining room. The prisoners were led to the center of the room and stood waiting. Inuyasha noticed that they were all dressed alike with the long haori and close fitting hakama. The material was made of silk and very beautiful to the eye. However, the footwear was uncomfortable to him. He did not like them. He preferred to go barefoot. Inuyasha began to fidget with the stoic collar and hop from one foot to the other. He hated this and he hated wearing those closed off footwear. Usagi nudged the fidgeting child and Inuyasha ceased twitching. He turned his attention instead to the people sitting at the table. Several well-dressed demons and humans were sitting at the table eating. He had never seen people or demons like this before. Some demons and humans had very dark skin. Others had something that looked like a jewel in the center of their foreheads with four arms. Some human males were wearing short skirts and some had nothing but a long piece of cloth tied around them with one shoulder bare. They seemed to be wearing a wreath of leafs on top of their heads. /What a bunch of freaks./ Inuyasha thought.

Just then, Inuyasha along with several of the other prisoners stomachs growled in hunger, as the smell of food was tempting. But no one dare make a move. There were guards all around the room. Inuyasha watched as servants brought in a variety of food that made his mouth water. His stomach growled angrily at not having a taste of the deliciously smelling banquet.

Once dinner was over Yin stood and began speaking to the assembly. All eyes then turned to the captives. Yin said something to his men and the guards filed all the captives into a single line. Inuyasha watched as the strange people all got up and began to look at all of them. Unfortunately for Inuyasha all the females gravitated towards him. They grabbed him,
hugged him and kept tugging on his ears. Dammit, it hurt like hell. And like any child, it became down right irritating until he could no longer take it. The hanyou released a warning growl hoping that would deter the insane females. It didn't work. So, he did it again. Still, the stupid women did not heed the warning. He heard Shirow say something but he was too far-gone. Now, the little hanyou was pissed off big time. His growled echoed in the room as he sunk his claws into one woman's face. She screamed clutching her bloody face. Then he struck another woman across her arm. The women screamed in terror as they ran from the rampaging child.

Suddenly the red stone in his collar glowed blood red and it sent a bolt of blue electricity through his body. Inuyasha screamed in pain. Then a guard came up behind him and struck him behind with the hilt of his sword. The little dog demon fell to the floor with a thud.

xxxxx

When Inuyasha finally awakened, he was lying in Shirow's lap. He stared up into the gray colored eyes of the demon. Shirow looked down and smiled. "So, finally awake."

"What happened?" Inuyasha asked sitting up with a groan. He grabbed the back of his head rubbing it.

"Well, you attacked those women and a guard knocked you out." Shirow smirked. "How do you feel?"

"Okay, I guess but I feel like someone held me over a fire roasting me." The little hanyou stretched his soar muscles. "How long have I been out?"

"For almost twelve hours," said Usagi walking into the room.

"Usagi," said Inuyasha turning and throwing himself into the elderly demon's arms.

"Hey old man," said Shirow.

"Where is everyone?"

"Well, they've all been sold except for me." Inuyasha could hear sadness in the rabbit demon's voice. "I was too old. So that dragon demon is going to keep me here as one of his servants."

Then something occurred to Inuyasha. Usagi said everyone was sold except for the old rabbit himself. Then he looked up at the elderly demon. "Wha . . . what about . . . me?"

"That bastard sold all of us. While you were unconscious, someone bought you," said Shirow. Inuyasha turned to the demon. "At least you and I have been sold to the same person."

"Demon or human?"

"Human." Shirow growled in disgust. "It seems that that swine has a thing for people that look good. It doesn't seem to matter to him whether you're human or demon."

"Ah Inuyasha, you're awake," said Yin walking into the room. "Usagi, you should have come get me when he woke up."

"I'm sorry, master," said the elderly demon bowing to the dragon.

A growl rumbled in Inuyasha's throat at the show of respect the poor old rabbit demon was showing that vile dragon. Suddenly the growl ceased as the hanyou realized that Usagi was a slave and he has no choice but to show respect. Inuyasha sighed in defeat and lowered his head.

"As for you puppy," said Yin. "That was a very naughty thing you did. Striking a customer is a no no. Then striking women, that is unforgivable but luckily, one of the customer's liked your wildness." Yin smiled disgustingly at the little hanyou. "I knew I would get a pretty penny for you and I did. I mean everyone wanted you Inuyasha. It seems that your wild violent nature was what everyone wanted. Even the women you attacked still wanted you. It seems that they all were attracted to those gorgeous golden eyes and that lustrous silver hair." Yin held his disgusting smile on his face. "It seems that the image of what you will look like when you become older had everyone's blood turning into molten fire."

Being too young to understand the meaning behind Yin's words, he frowned. But out of the corner of his eyes, Inuyasha saw a look of disgust mar Shirow's face. Thinking he would ask Shirow about it later. He turned his attention back to Yin.

Inuyasha was filled with so much rage until his small body began to tremble. He looked at the dragon with such icy hate. He was surprise Yin didn't turn into a block of ice where he stood. "I hate you."

"I'm sure you do but let's save the niceties for when you leave for your new home. Now, you two follow me." Yin turned and walked out of the room.

Shirow got to his feet and placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. Inuyasha looked up and could see the defeat in the other's eyes. "Let's go kid."

A short while later Inuyasha, Shirow, Usagi, Yin and their new master was standing out in the courtyard. The heavyset man stared at his new slaves in approval. He turned to Yin and said something.

Two guards walked up to Inuyasha and Shirow. The men locked shackles and chains around their ankles and wrists. Then they connected the chains to the back of the their new master's carriage.

Then Yin turned to them. "Your new master's name is Abdul. He comes from a far off country. For the first month you shall travel by land and afterward you will travel by sea." Just then a small girl walked out of the building. "This is Shakir. She will be teaching you their language. So I suggest you two shut your mouths and learn."

The small girl was dressed in pale green, flowing robes with a veil covering her mouth and nose. She bowed to her master and to Yin and then took her place beside Inuyasha and Shirow. "Shakir can speak a number of languages including Japanese," said Yin. "So, if you have questions. It's best to ask her while you are on your way to your new home because once you arrive don't expect your questions to be answered." Yin turned to Abdul and bowed. The human bowed back. He said something and his caravan began to move.

"Good bye Inuyasha. Shirow," Usagi said waving to his two young companions.

"Good bye Usagi," said Inuyasha watching the old demon until his tears blurred his vision. Then he turned his attention to the crystal blue sky. /Good bye mother, father. I love you both so very much. Good bye Sesshomaru. My Sesshomaru. You will alwyas be in my thoughts and in my heart. /