From East to West Chapter 4

In the morning Lord Kaemon suggested that I go into town and see what there was to see. He gave me a small pouch of coins to pay for anything I might want and sent me out after I promised to have fun and come back with something new for myself.

So I left. It wasn't as if there was anything else I wanted to do and I couldn't find Sesshomaru.

In town I looked in every shop I saw and by lunch my little pouch was empty. I considered my options as my growling stomach got louder and louder. I had never been very skilled at being pompous and even though my garb was fancy I would never be able to get people to give me free food. And I obviously couldn't pay for any.

I pondered the question for a while until an idea came to me. I had seen dogs begging for food at home and I relatively sure that I could get food in the same way. It occurred to me that if I were to shape-shift out here I would become a dog with no opposable thumbs sitting in a pile of Lord Kaemon's good clothes. So I entered the nearest alleyway and followed it until it curved sharply around a building.

There I divested myself of my clothes and laid them in a neat pile. Gathering my magic I applied a little to hide the star on my forehead and sent the rest to release my yoki or animal side. Just as I began the Change a voice whispered from somewhere behind me.

"She's a Youkai! Get Futaru."

I would have beaten whomever it was staring at my naked backside, but I was irrevocably caught up in the wonderful change into my yoki form. A shudder passed through my body and all five of my senses shut down. For five whole seconds I was dead to the world as another part of me took my form and changed it to suit itself. When the black receded and I could feel again my left foreleg protested its change of position. But that was the only bad thing. My senses of smell and hearing had magnified many times. Every scent was at least a thousand times sharper and the sounds I heard had been amplified four and five times over.

A glance about me told me that the voyeurs had left for better views. I dipped my head in a doggy shrug and trotted into the bright sunlight of noon. I had passed three butcher's shops earlier in the morning and I followed the heavenly aroma of fresh meat to the first of them.

At the back door I reared onto my hind paws and scratched at the door with my left front foot. From inside I heard a woman's voice and the scrape of metal against stone. The door was thrown open quite suddenly and I fell forward onto my front legs. The unexpected contact with the ground sent a painful shock up my broken left forelimb. Yelping I hopped backwards a little. As the pain faded to a dull throb, I transferred my gaze to the one who had opened the door so suddenly.

She was a large, unhappy-looking, gray-haired woman and she gripped her broom like a weapon.

"Beast I hope you're not looking for no food. We can't feed all the foolish mutts wandering the streets. Now shoo or I'll call for Futaru and his gang. Go on, shoo, shoo."

The lady swept at me with her broom in time with her last words. She was quite strong, the first blow that landed on me stung and the back swing pushed me away. Discouraged, I shooed as she had bidden me.

As I limped away I swore silently in doggish. At the next butcher's the scene repeated itself, including the threat to call 'Futaru.' Trotting away I wondered who this Futaru was and why he would be called to get rid of me. I was so immersed in my own thoughts it took me some time to realize that a shadow had fallen over me.

I wheeled sensing their malicious intent and found myself almost nose to knee with the largest of three boys. He and the boy to my right resembled each other in build and face, but their scents were very different. The boy, or maybe young man, in front of me smelled like meat and sweat but his companion, maybe brother, retained the scents of smoke and metal. The third boy, the one to my left scared me. Not because of his looks, no, he was dark-haired and thin, like he didn't eat enough, and he was clean. No, it was his smell. For all that he looked clean the scent of death and blood and misery clung to him like wet cloth.

Fear, pure instinctive fear, rose and coursed through me. The metal scented one to my right held a rope. Looped at the end, it spoke of possession, futile escapes, and pain. Blood stained it, it was meant for me and I was trapped inside of a malicious circle.

I pulled my lips away from my teeth and snarled as the boy with the rope advanced upon me. He didn't hesitate, didn't even seem to notice the sizable fangs I had revealed. Panic tore through me and I tried to make a break for it.

Hands clamped around my torso, holding me in place as my soon-to-be captor advanced. I struggled in vain to gain freedom as captivity advanced on me.

"Cum on Hatori! Havin' trouble holdin' a stupid Youkai down? Don' let'er get away!"

Hatori, the boy with the meat-smell, grumbled something rude under his breath as I struggled against him towards freedom. He yelled over to their partner who had removed himself from the fray as soon as I had been apprehended.

"Futaru, how cum you're not helpin' us? We could use your strength to hold her still. You could hold her head so Mahiru can get her tied!"

Terror shook me at the thought of the clean/bloody boy's hands touching me. I cried as he came nearer, until my yoki took over and lashed out. My fangs sank deep into his grasping hand and his blood seeped out. A more base side of my mind reveled in that bloodletting.

Futaru yelled in pain and rage and his unharmed hand lashed across my muzzle, sparking stars in my vision. As I reeled in pain Futaru grabbed the ruff of my neck and shook me. His grip on the skin of my neck brought back memories of my puppy days. Whenever I had been bad, my parents had done the same thing. Instinct told me that this treatment meant that I had been bad. I cowered, whimpering my repentance, and trembling with fatigue as my adrenaline rush faded, leaving me cold and weak. I just huddled there, my tail between my legs, as Mahiru fitted the noose around my neck.

Futaru kicked me in the stomach and I yelped skidding over the ground until the cord reached its limit and I stopped. The other two boys laughed and Mahiru tugged at my leash dragging me a few inches across the hard gravel. I struggled to my feet and trailed meekly after my three captors to whatever fate they had in mind for me.

A/N: It's gonna get a little violent after this so bear with me. I needed some villain and I figure if a stupid, injured girl turns into a dog the worst person she could meet would be a jerk who kicks puppies (and other assorted, innocent animals). Please read and review!

Oh, and again, thanks to SweetAnew for the words of support!