The Imprisoned Heart
By
Firebird Phoenix

Chapter I

InuYasha ran thru the forest his wound throbbing, warm blood trickling down his leg; his tattered black pants covered with blood leaving behind a trail of blood for the hunting dogs to follow. His ears twitched, the dogs were not far behind he would be able to out run them it weren't for the shackles around his ankles. InuYasha stopped on the edge of a large glade panting heavily trying to ignore the pounding pain his leg his vision blurring, he has lost too much blood he needed to get to the Shrine beyond the forest before he pasted out. Suddenly the dogs lunged at InuYasha snarling he leapt ungracefully narrowly missing the dog's hungry jaws, cold fear gripping his heart.

'Damn, how did they catch up so fast?' InuYasha wondered dashing across the glade straining his weakened hearing listening for the Master, halfway across an arrow shot out of the tree line slamming into his bare chest sending him flying back crashing to the ground. Groaning in agony InuYasha watched his master Lord Naraku walk up to him smiling triumphantly handing his bow to a servant.

"As expected slave, you have proven to be a disappointing hunt, perhaps next month you will show more sport." Naraku turned to leave, his prize captured leaving his punishment for giving a disappointing hunt in the hands of his son Akago; a man of sadistic pleasures eyed him hungrily, he ruthlessly tortured slaves especially InuYasha, eager to return the half demon to the castle to inflict his punishment.

A servant pulled the arrow out of InuYasha's chest before locking a metal collar with a long chain leash attached around InuYasha's throat, InuYasha cracked his claws, anger burned in his veins tempted to rip Akago's heart out. Sensing his intentions the Beads of Subjugation that hung loose around InuYasha's neck flashed pink and tightened digging into his skin, threatening to pump agonizing electrical spiritual power into his body. Tempted to try but not willing to risk it on the night before the New Moon, InuYasha suppressed his anger.

InuYasha was lead behind Lord Akago horse thru the massive opium fields, Master Naraku's main source of income, Akago tugged on the chain leach sending InuYasha crashing into a pile of mud, the entire field erupted in laughter, he quickly got up as they started to drag him. InuYasha knew his destination by heart spending most of his time there. He was lead to the far western corner of his Master's castle and chained between two posts forcing him to stand, aggravating his wounded leg. InuYasha closed his eyes preparing for what came next. Akago took a bamboo rod pushing his matted filthy silver hair off his back, raising it high above his head striking it across InuYasha back with a snap. InuYasha refused to cry out as each lash cut deeper into his skin, panting heavily Akago finely stopped, InuYasha relaxed his fisted hands digging his claws out of his palms, jabbing the Bamboo rob under InuYasha's chin forcing him to look up at him, Akago smiled.

"You didn't cry out like I wanted, but your eyes betray you Mutt, I can see the pain in them, but how rude of me let me offer you a drink." Akago placed a bucket of water in front of InuYasha scooping out a cup for himself gulping it down, and then taking a second holding it under InuYasha's nose letting him smell its refreshing scent before pouring it out, Akago laughed leaving InuYasha to bake in the sun.

InuYasha stared at the bucket of water its scent torturing him with the promise to relieve his parched throat, the jagged Beads of Subjugation cutting into his skin, Akago hadn't released the Beads until he did they would continue to dig into his neck. InuYasha wondered how long Akago would leave him here. He wasn't a necessary slave bought for a purpose, he was given to Lord Naraku as a gift by another Lord, but the gift of a half-demon slave was an insult to a Lord of Naraku's standing, Naraku was forced to except him to maintain his honour. InuYasha was given whatever difficult task Naraku could think up, pushing his body to the breaking point then pitting him chained and injured against his hunting dogs on the day of the New Moon for his entertainment, with the Enchanted Beads limiting his power it was a one sided battle. This month was different Naraku had chosen to hunt InuYasha for sport and he prayed Naraku wont pit him against the dogs tomorrow.

End Chapter