Remember Me

// inner 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.
====================================================

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.
=================================================

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.
==============================================

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 always be in my thoughts and in my
heart. /