InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Firae Circus ❯ The Dog in the Demon ( Chapter 4 )

Blub blub blub and no ownage of inus

WARNING! Major blood and gore in this chapter! Not suitable for weak minds, er…stomachs.

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Chapter 4: The Dog in the Demon

Inuyasha stared out of his cage at the ruckus going on around him. Humans were scampering all over the place putting up tents and whatnot for the circus that night. He looked over at the snow demon cage which was still kept next to him. From what Inuyasha could see there were three other snow demons along with Yuki, two boys and a girl. The tallest boy seemed the weakest although he was the eldest. He kept twitching and looking about him sporadically. The next boy looked like a 10 year old human. He had a hard set to his eyes and a cold demeanor as he watched the movements of the humans around him studiously. `That one would be the smart one, even if he would most likely act compulsively.' Inuyasha thought. The girl was tiny. She looked like a five year old human child with her short white hair pulled up into a high pony tail. She was playing with a ragged straw doll and seemed oblivious to the world around her. `She was most likely born in these cages.' Inuyasha figured. And for the first time he felt pity for a demon.

Inuyasha turned his eyes as he caught the movement of Yuki's previously still form. She pushed herself up and moved to lean against the bars that were closest to Inuyasha without even looking at him.

“Kami, I hate mornings.” She sighed. Inuyasha smirked.

“I know what you mean. Not only is the darkness more comforting than this light,” he dropped his voice to a whisper, “But in dreams we are happy and free. Not like here.” Yuki looked over at him.

“You've been treated badly a lot, huh?” Inuyasha looked at her.

“Do you even know what I am?” he wondered aloud. Yuki tilted her head.

“You're an inu-youkai.” She stated. Inuyasha stared her down.

“I'm an inu-hanyou.” He said. She lifted an eyebrow.

“And?” he looked at her confusedly.

“What do you mean `And'?” she shrugged.

“It doesn't matter if you've got both sides in you. Hell, if we were all hanyou's then at least the lands wouldn't be separated into species. I think it's stupid that demons live on one side of the realm and humans live on the other. Both species are murderous bastards and yet they remain separated because they think other side is eviler than theirs.” She sighed with frustration, “I mean look where we are! We've got a human drinking demon blood, capturing demons and putting them on display for the human masses. But don't you think for one minute that there isn't the exact same thing on the other side of the line. Both demons and humans alike are bastards.” She finished with venom. Inuyasha just looked at her with wide eyes.

“Wow, and here I thought you were a goody-goody. Never thought there'd actually be poison under all that white.” Yuki shrugged.

“I'm just tired of having to be split.” She looked back at him again, “I'm a demon princess,” she stated, “I know people tease me as being a princess because of how I look and act, but my parents were the king and queen of the snow realm on the demon side,” she looked away, “unfortunately for me that means I have to marry whom my parents will. But I had already given my heart to another.”

“A human.” Inuyasha said. Yuki smiled sadly.

“He was a beautiful boy and was gifted in magic. Had we been able to become mates he would have lived as long as I and we would be able to love each other forever.” Her face became sour, “but then my parents showed to me my future and I ran to the only one I've ever loved. In the end he was murdered because he tried to get me to go back to my kingdom claiming that it was right. My betrothed found us and slaughtered him before my eyes. And in turn I murdered my betrothed. Then I ran for the border knowing that I would be hunted in the demon realm.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears, “I was asleep when he found me and placed the stone within my chest. When I awoke I would have killed him except that I found that he had other snow demons, children, which had been missing for quite some time. We thought they had been taken by demons but this human had snatched them. Now I cannot leave for they will be tortured, nor could I leave them behind.”

“If you're a princess then you must have a lot of power, you could just kill the leader.” Inuyasha suggested. Yuki shook her head.

“He had already thought of that. I have a corset tied about me. Woven in its threads are spells that if I use my powers to hurt him, threads about these children's necks would tighten until it cut clean through. I will not murder my people,” she whispered. Inuyasha turned away from her. He didn't know what to say to that. He had never felt so loyal to someone that he wouldn't let them die in order to save his own skin. His mother had died before he could have remembered her and his father had abandoned him as soon as he could mostly fend for himself. The silence between them made Inuyasha fidget uncomfortably.

“What does he make you do in the circus?” he asked to break the silence.

“He makes me dance.” She said. Inuyasha's raised his eyebrow.

“Dance?”

“Yeah. We, the snow demons, have special traditional dances to entrance our audience. We can control their emotions this way. Emotions like love, anger, fear, joy, that sort of thing. It's very effective at peace conferences.” Inuyasha tilted his head like a curious puppy.

“How does that help Leader?” he asked. Yuki leaned back.

“It helps to make the audience addicted to the circus. Humans react differently to my dancing than demons. It causes them to do strange things. Every now and again some humans actually lose themselves and begins dancing with me. Naraku likes it because the ones who dance with me are often very powerful in magic and sometimes are even demons or hanyou's that can blend in with the humans.”

“Why would he want to know about them?” Yuki shrugged.

“He has a thing for power. It gets him off. Other than that I don't know.” They sat there for a while in silence watching the bustling around them. There were five main tents constructed around the site. Their placement made a large, crescent shape. In the center of the shape there were several vendors selling food, drinks and other merchandise. There was a cluster of six or so venders that boasted different carnival games that would give you stuffed beasts and toy demons if you won. Of course, Inuyasha knew that, with a man like Naraku managing, most of the games would be rigged.

The tents varied in size. The first two were very small, being able to hold only about two people at a time. The second two were of medium build, being able to hold about twenty people. But the final tent was absolutely enormous, it being able to hold over seventy-five people.

The signs on the small tents labeled one as a psychic's tent and the other a snake charmers tent. The snake charmer would have his tent opened wide so that passerby's could stand outside and see him work. The psychic would leave her tent closed unless there was no one getting their fortune read.

The medium tents held rare oddities that were kept in jars or in cages. A few of the oddities were able to sit behind a railing because they had proved their ability to remain docile. These two tents mostly held some of the stranger demons that the entire public wouldn't want to look at. The right tent held the less disturbing creatures while the left held ones that might make you feel ill.

The final tent was to hold the main attractions. The back of the large tent was connected to a smaller tent that would hold most of the performers. They would wait back there until their time, then they would walk out underneath an elaborate archway that proclaimed Firae Circus and out into a large circle. The circle was surrounded by bleachers that rose up fifteen rows that stretched halfway on the left side to halfway on the right side of the circle. The rest of the space would hold caged demons. It unnerved the people to always have them there and also leader liked to make them watch their fellows humiliate themselves. Speaking of the leader, Naraku was heading straight for them eyeing Inuyasha hungrily. The hair on Inuyasha's hair stood on end as a low growl began thundering in his throat.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. You shouldn't be growling at your master, pup. He might forget to feed you.” This made Inuyasha growl louder and tighten his body like a spring making his bracelets bite into his flesh. Naraku smiled at him then looked at Hatsuyuki, “Yuki, you will be the closing act tonight in the main tent. I want you to do the Blizzards of Eden dance.” Yuki's eyes went wide.

“B…but that dance is-”

“Yes, your strongest, I know. There's a strangeness to this place, I want to see how many people stand tonight.” Yuki lowered her eyes and nodded her agreement. Naraku looked back at Inuyasha. “You will be placed in the creatures tent for most of the night,” he smiled wickedly, “Some men will be coming to take you to your spot. If you give them trouble, I will be forced to hurt you.” The look in his eye betrayed his desire to hurt Inuyasha, “When the main attractions begin, your cage will be brought inside with the others. You can enjoy your first dance tonight.” He looked at Inuyasha's wrists that were bleeding profusely from him clenching his fists, “I'd be careful of those. Looks like I'll have to have someone scrub down your cell, wouldn't want all that impure blood to stain my cages.” Naraku smiled again at Inuyasha who was glaring at him then gave Yuki a lingering stare making Yuki shudder. After he had left them Yuki shook her head.

“I really hate that man.” Inuyasha nodded. Inuyasha relaxed and began licking the free falling blood from his wrists.

“Which creature's tent did he mean?” Inuyasha wondered. Yuki looked at him sadly.

“I believe he meant the left one. Be brave, Inuyasha, and don't let them make you into an animal. They do their best to destroy what little civility we have.” Inuyasha snorted.

“They won't get to me,” he said arrogantly.

“I hope so,” she whispered as six men came over to Inuyasha's cage. The largest of the men brought out a key and unlocked his cage. A wicked gleam entered Inuyasha's eyes as they opened the door. Two men stepped into the cage while the other four remained outside. The first two grabbed him roughly by the arms and lifted him to his feet. He walked with them civilly with head bowed and his bangs in his eyes. He knew it would make him look weak, but it also helped to hide the cruel joy that he knew would shine in his golden eyes. When his foot finally hit ground a wicked smile caressed his face. The other four were about to put some sort of poles with shackles attached to them around his arms. He let them get close enough until the shackles almost locked together. Then he threw his weight against the guards to the left dragging the ones holding him on his right. Three of them fell to the ground while the others were sneering at him. They had taken out black sticks that had been strapped behind them. Inuyasha smirked.

He moved quickly despite his spikes and fake lunged for the ones who were standing. They swung at him but he was already at the fallen few. He made quick work of them ensuring that, if they ever got up again, it wouldn't be for a long time. He felt something coming closer and stepped aside just in time as a black stick whipped past his shoulder. He didn't know what those sticks would do, and he didn't want to find out. The last three eyed him menacingly. They hated him, he realized, they weren't simply afraid as most people he fought were. These men actually hated him.

It wasn't that unusual a concept, but usually it was fear that drove the violence against him. There were the few that hated demons with such unbridled passion that they would attempt to kill anything that resembled a demon. And it was just Inuyasha's luck that he was born with dog ears atop his head.

The man on the right swiped forward but Inuyasha was able to easily step aside. His ankle bracelets were starting to hurt, but he couldn't stop. He stepped towards one of the men and hit him in the back of his head using his wrist spikes. There was a satisfying crunching and an even better grating sound as he wrenched the spike out again. Blood and brains were thrown in the air collecting in Inuyasha's hair and splashing on the other two men. Inuyasha felt a kind of glee at seeing the hole in the man's skull and turned to look at the other men. Fear had overcome their hatred.

Aah, that's better.

Inuyasha stepped forward. He knew he must look disturbing with blood oozing down his wrists and ankles and another mans blood and brains in his hair and on his face. One man looked between his dead comrade and the demon before him in terror. Inuyasha sniffed and knew that the man had wet himself. The man raised his stick shakily in front of him trying to fend off the slowly approaching demon. Inuyasha just grinned, then darted forward and impaled him all the way through with his fist. Inuyasha chuckled then sliced his claws sideways freeing his arm from the man's torso cutting him in half. Blood bubbled up from the mans' throat as his eyes, staring at Inuyasha with horror, glazed over. Inuyasha cracked his fingers then turned to the last man. It was the large one that had opened his cage. He no longer looked afraid, but he did look royally pissed.

“Those were my friends,” he snarled. Inuyasha smiled.

“Were being the key word?” The man narrowed his eyes.

“Even if I die, you will not escape this place. That cursed stone in your neck won't allow you to.” He had forgotten about the stone. He knew is eyes had betrayed him when the man laughed, “You probably don't even want to escape! You just want to die. Well I can't grant your wish, hanyou. It's against the masters orders.” The man lunged with his last words, leading with his weapon. It shined oddly in the light and Inuyasha realized it would be similar to the snakes in his cage.

Knowing what it was, made it easier for him to avoid it at all costs. This last one was stronger than the other ones and faster as well despite his size. He was a good fighter too, never letting Inuyasha get a clean opportunity to attack without leaving himself open for the black rod.

Inuyasha began to get angry and felt that wickedness from before fill him. He growled then jumped far away from the man, ignoring the tearing of his flesh from the spikes. He crouched down feeling a kind of wildness fill him. He could see the oncoming man with unusual clarity, the sweat that fell from his brow, the tightness of his arm and leg muscles. The man was getting tired and he was stressing out his body. He was right handed but when the club was in both hands it would have more accuracy, though in the left hand it would have weaker accuracy. By the tension in his hands Inuyasha knew that, being such a trained fighter and despite the weakness in his left side, Inuyasha would still be hurt if he attacked there. Then he saw it, there was a strange twinge in his right leg. Inuyasha smiled and looked at the man. The analysis had taken less than a few seconds.

He sped toward the man with lightning fast speed. He didn't even question his sudden ability to move faster than normal. He crouched down like the inu-youkai he was and latched the man's right knee in his mouth. He bit his fangs down and yanked taking the man's leg with him. He barely registered the unholy cries that erupted behind him as he bounded away on all fours. He crouched down ten feet from the wounded man and began gnawing on the leg he had stolen. He didn't move when the screams turned to whimpers or when the whimpers suddenly stopped with a slight cracking noise. He did move when a low chuckling reached his twitching ears.

He looked up and saw the tall man with pale skin and wavy black hair. His violet eyes laughed menacingly at him. He knew he wanted to kill this man but couldn't exactly remember why. It didn't really matter though, killing was enjoyable. He began growling forgetting the leg he had treated himself to. He crouched down and began circling the man on all fours. The man simply looked at him with amusement. This infuriated Inuyasha. He should be cowering, not laughing. Inuyasha tensed then lunged at the tall man. The man grinned wider then said.

“Sit.” Inuyasha suddenly found himself in a lot of pain with his face in the dirt. He blinked a few times trying to come back to himself. He had a strange, but good, taste in his mouth. He licked his lips and realized it was blood. He gagged a little at the thought that he had enjoyed it as his memories of the last few minutes of the battle overcame him. He had lost himself to the dog within him again. He looked up from the ground at Naraku and sneered at his joyful face.

“You are awfully vicious, Inuyasha!” he laughed, “I'm glad that you'll fit perfectly in the set up I made for you! Especially with all that blood all over you mouth and hair. And what is that? Brains?! Haha! Inuyasha, you dog!” Inuyasha growled at him and began lifting himself up from the ground. Naraku wagged a finger at him, “Tsk, tsk. What did I say about growling at your master?” He shook his head, “I'll hurt you later tonight for it, but for now, Sleep.”

When Inuyasha awoke he was inside one of the tents. He stayed lying down as he assessed the damage. His body hurt everywhere but his ankles were the worst. If he wasn't careful he would hurt himself so bad that the healing would be all sorts of fucked up and he'd never be able to walk right again. It was true that his wrists and ankles hurt immensely, but they didn't hurt as much as they should have. He looked at his ankles and realized his spike bracelets had been replaced with smooth plated shackles made of the same black metal as the clubs the men had. So they're letting me heal. He thought, Or they're upping the degree of pain my chains can inflict. He noticed the thick chains that snaked from his shackles to the ground. He crawled over to where the chain went into the ground and inspected it. It seemed to just melt into the ground. He grabbed onto it and tugged as hard as he could. The ground didn't even lift a little bit, not a single speck of dirt even rolled in reaction to Inuyasha's strain. Eventually Inuyasha just gave up and sat down grumpily. This is definitely not going to be fun.