Whatever You Say
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
When InuYasha finished dressing, he stepped out from
the screen to present himself to the stranger that awaited him on the other
side.
“You’re perfect,” the stranger said the moment he
saw the young half-breed in the silken kimono. “Though I must say I had not
imagined your hair would be so unkempt. My master usually chooses such clean
creatures, but no matter. I am sure he will be pleased with you.”
InuYasha frowned. “Who is this master of yours
anyway? For that matter, who are you, and why the hell did I have to change
into these damn clothes?”
“Watch you language, young lord, my master will not
be pleased if he hears such a lovely creature speaking so coarsely.” The
stranger touched the stone that blocked the entrance to the room in which he
slept, somehow causing it to disintegrate. “As for who I am, I am merely a
servant to a great master; perhaps greater, even, than your lord
brother…greater than your lord father, in my opinion at least. My master,
however, would be quite upset if I introduced his name to you, as he was quite
excited to meet you in person.
I understand that you have questions, young one, and
I have no doubt that they cause great fear within you, but never you worry.
Take heart in the knowledge that all will be revealed to you in good time. Be
patient, young lord, and make haste. The sooner we depart, the sooner we shall
arrive at our destination, and all your questions will be answered.”
As he stepped out of the room, InuYasha couldn’t
help the shiver of fear crawling up his spine. His instincts were telling him
to flee; that the path he was about to walk was a dangerous one, and that this
man was not to be trusted. The way he saw it, he had two options, the first of
which was to return to his group and find sanctuary there. The downside to
doing this, however, was that they would question him; his attire, his
behavior, everything would be under intense scrutiny…that, and he could trust
not a single one of them. ‘Devils everywhere I look.’ He thought to
himself shaking his head.
His second option, of course, was no better in his
mind. He could follow a stranger, that had locked him in a room and forced him
to change his clothes (which really wasn’t that bad all things considered),
wherever he was leading him, and accept whatever fate that lie waiting for him.
In other words, he had to choose whom he thought was
worse: the devils he knew, or the ones he didn’t.
“Are you coming, master InuYasha?”
The time to choose was now.InuYasha nodded his head, steeled himself, and chose the devils he didn’t…know,
that is. He stepped in the path of this ‘servant of a greater master’ and
followed him into the forest, towards whatever fate awaited him on the other
side of the tree line.
A few hours, and quite a few steps, later InuYasha cleared
his throat, breaking the long silence and gained the attention of the taller
man in front of him.
“So =…what am I supposed to call you?” He asked
abruptly.
“I beg your pardon?”
“What is you name?”
“Oh, well most people call me Dorei.”
“…People call you ‘slave’? Your parents had a pretty
sick sense of humor…what did you do to piss them off?”
“Nonsense, my lord, after all, your parents called
you ‘dog demon,’ did they not?”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“In any case, I was always meant to serve my master,
from the day I was born to the very moment that I am dead.” Dorei smiled at
him. “I must admit, of all my masters chosen, I like you the best. I do hope he
chooses to keep you. Gods forbid he waste such a creature as you young lord.”
This peeked InuYasha’s interest. “What will happen
to me…if he doesn’t want me?”
Dorei frowned. “Perhaps it is best if we chose to
cross that bridge when and if we get to it.”
“Best, maybe, for you,” InuYasha replied. “But it
could very well end badly for me. Plus, its quite possible I shouldn’t like to
cross that bridge at all.”
“I see your point,” Dorei nodded, “Well, most of the
lovelies my master chooses do not pass initial meeting, they are sent to a
whorehouse to be taken by various men. Those that do pass, however, are courted
by my master; if they take too quickly to the courting or deliberately play
hard to get…he puts them to death. Such shallow things he usually picks, but you,
you seem so perfect, I do hope he likes you.”
“Apparently, so do I…” InuYasha laughed nervously to
himself. ‘So, death or a whorehouse…Not much of a choice, huh?’ He
laughed, as the tress seemed to whisper back, tickling his face with his hair,
as it danced in the breeze they seemed to create solely for him. ‘I suppose
you agree? Glad we’re on the same page.’
He smiled to himself as he and Dorei continued their
trek in blissful silence.