Kinno glanced just a little more at the reflection shown on the hand-mirror he held before his face. He was not fresh and lively as before. Maybe he was tired. Or perhaps he was just growing older. After all, he would soon be 24; almost an adult youko.

He breathed in very deeply. Then he let a painful sigh out.

When he was a child, youkai would fight till death and pay fortunes for the chance to share some time alone with him. Kinno recalled at that time he even thought it was fun to see how much attention he could arouse. He was really amused then to see all those youkai around him completely enticed by his voice, his manner, his looks. He had been happy when he was younger, but he was not anymore.

Maybe he had been happy because he did not know a different kind of life then.

Kinno had tried all he could to look a little better, but there was no way he could disguise his extreme paleness, his inert expression and the dark spots under his eyes.

He had not slept enough; he had barely eaten anything. Left alone, locked diligently in a dark, closed chamber, all he did was cry. Cry and remember, in pain and anguish, all that he had lost.

The youko put the mirror aside, with a slow, dejected gesture. Then he let his hands caress his own body casually. He huddled then, in a fearful reaction when his fingers touched the sensitive, hurt, bruised spots on his arms and shoulders. The bruises had been disguised by make-up, but even then, that could not hide the pain; nor the shame he felt.

He had begged for his freedom. He had cried, he had begged, and the more he sobbed and shed tears, more angrily his master would treat him. He had been much abused. His Master shouted at him, humiliated him with harsh words, hurt him with his blows and punches. More than that, Kinno had been fucked mercilessly since the morning he had been carried back in. And whenever he whined a complaint, his master would shove harder yet into him.

The monster he was forced to call Master had dismissed his servants. He had ordered guards not to speak a single word to him. And his walks outside the walls, which he was allowed to take before, so as to breathe fresh air and get some sunlight, were forbidden. All his stuff, the beautiful clothes, his bracelets and necklaces, and all the beautiful gifts his customers sometimes brought him, were destroyed.

His room was empty but for the large bed surrounded by iron bars.

He felt his sorrow so intensely that he hardly found peace enough to allow him to sleep and dream. That filthy monster had even stolen his chance to dream, dream about the life he had lost.

Kinno looked down, at his own body. He wore nothing but a translucent gauzy loincloth, which revealed all of his intimacy to sight, and strings of colorful, shiny beads.  He knew what would happen that night, and was very afraid to face it.

His master had said that night he'd be welcoming his customers once again. And he was advised he'd better behave properly, or...

A shudder of terror made his whole body tremble.

He had had some understanding Masters in the past. But it seemed the older he grew, the less valuable he became to those wicked youkai. As a matter of fact, he had fewer customers these days than before, when he was just a little youko. Perhaps he would soon undergo the same destiny of other disobedient or unprofitable pets his master kept - either forced labour or death.

He wanted his daddy so bad... Even though Kurama had been mean to him, it mattered not - he just wanted his daddy...

He swallowed his urge to cry as he started to hear noises coming from the hall outside. Successive clanging sounds indicated the door was being unlocked. The guards must be there to take him to the superior levels of the Fortress. There, his master and the customers he must have arranged would be waiting for him.

Kinno breathed deeply again. Then he stood up with some difficulty. His knees trembled, and his back and thighs were aching due to all his Master had imposed on him recently.

A loud creaking sound accompanied the opening of the large metal door.

You Know Who had put a small army there just to watch his every step, and be alert night and day long keeping guard around his room, and along the corridors. The only way he could attempt to escape again would be making friends with some of those guards. But judging form their looks, it seemed impossible. They were a bunch of ugly, savage, evil hearted mercenaries.

Just one squinted look from them was enough to make Kinno shake with fear.

He hurried to follow them upstairs, not daring to say a word, or do anything those watch-dogs might not appreciate. He had been beaten and fucked badly enough. He'd prefer to be as patient as he could, and just try to wait for a future opportunity to escape. Who could know? He could not lose his hope...

He accompanied the silent body of guards, with his eyes low, and his spirits lower yet. He loathed to start working again, but then, there was nothing he could do to avoid it.

It was a long, narrow path upwards to the main room of the Fortress. The whole place was tight and dark, built of  granite blocks. There were no windows, no openings. All the light came from flickering torches stuck on the pillars. The air was heavy and smelly. Long series of locked metal doors filled the tortuous halls. Once in a while, screams or the sound of chains and shackles could be heard from afar. They were other sexual slaves his Master kept. Kinno knew quite well the reason for their despair - They were being tortured and punished locked in the dungeons in the lowest levels.

That Fortress was a chamber of horrors. The happy life, the freedom he had possessed for such a short while had made him forget how dreadful that place was.

The screams grew louder. Kinno shut his eyes tight; he started trembling so much he halted halfway. He had faced those dungeons many times. Uncountable times he had been jailed down there, in the dark, shackled, with no food or water, screaming his terror...

He was pushed and pulled, and a vigorous, huge hand clasped around his arm, as the guard forced him to follow the corridor.

Another curve, another series of locked doors, more steps, and there he was, facing the main room of the Fortress.

Even there, the scarce vents on the walls were small, enough to let a little air in, but not sufficient to provide any daylight. The stone walls and the dim torch-light made it all most horrid. His master and the youkai who sat on cushions scattered on the carpeted floor seemed much more heinous under that unsteady light.

He trembled more yet, but the guard forced him to continue on his way, dragging him along by one arm to his place.

Kinno sat quietly on a fluffy rug extended on the floor right before his customers. He carefully placed his hands on his lap to cover himself, his legs tight together, and his eyes turned sorrowfully down.

He had never felt so vexed and vulnerable before. He could not avoid blushing intensely as he noticed all eyes on him, ogling him.  There were three youkai there. They  were siting cross-legged around his Master, expectantly. Three young, elf-like female youkai could be found there too, one next to either customer, serving them liquor and making them company.

He had never felt that bitter before - That life was so disgusting, so offensive...

With the corner of his eye he glimpsed at the treasure chest his Master kept before him. It was filled with coins, jewels and gems - The price collected for one complete love session with him.

Kinno barely breathed with so much tension and repugnance. He had three customers that night.

Oh... It would be a long, agonizing night for him...

He didn't smile, or talk in his joyful and animated way as he'd do before. Kinno just sat tight, examining the three youkai with the corner of his eye.

To look at them made his nausea much worse.

There was a barbaric one, large and tall, with very ugly manners. He was almost as huge as his Master, and yet he looked even meaner than You Know Who. He knew, just by looking, that one was a brute, who would have no consideration for him.

There was another one, a short, skinny youkai with a bald head, long fangs and narrow, evil red eyes. By the wicked way this second one ogled him, Kinno could tell he was a filthy sadist.
 
Finally, sitting by his Master's right side, the worst of them all. A green skinned youkai with a long, forked tongue which hissed loudly in between his thin, scaled lips. He was ugly and slimy, with detestable, cold whitish eyes, and hard antennae-like excrescences on the top of his head.

He was repulsive!

Kinno shuddered violently, and his cramps and nausea almost made him throw up. He had to breathe deeply as he covered his mouth with one hand and fought the sickness. Just the thought of those disgusting, cold limbs around his body made him want to vomit.

He turned his face down when he noticed the warm tears filling his eyes. He wanted his dear, his perfumed Shura; he wanted his kisses, his hands, and not those clammy hands holding him.

His body and his soul protested. He started to quiver, in fear and repugnance. Yet he knew he could not protest, or refuse himself to any of them if he did not want to suffer more. His Master would never forgive further insolence on his part.

"Gorgeous, isn't he?" Kinno's Master declared to the others, proudly. "You can see that I charged you for a fair price. " He continued. "Kinno, stand up, show yourself ."

The golden fox did what he was told at once. He stood up, and turned round slowly, allowing the youkai to observe him in detail.

But he was down, dejected, sick. He did not smile, and his movements were coerced and expressionless, with none of  the bright, joyful seduction he used to salute his customers with.

"He seems sick. Are you sure he doesn't carry any plague?" The biggest of his clients asked his Master, with a harsh, antipathetic voice.

"I don't do business with spoiled goods! You know I have a reputation to maintain." You Know Who glared at his guest then. "You are offending me with such an accusation!"

"He doesn't seem quite willing. If  it is for me to rape someone, I'd better not pay such a high price."

Kinno took the opportunity to sit down, shyly avoiding every stare, looking down at his hands laid on his own lap, gloomily.

"My merchandise is always very healthy! Kinno is a bit shy, that's why." Kinno's Master cried, angrily. Then, he gave the youko a long, tyrannical stare.

It was enough to intimidate Kinno. The youko felt a lump tightening his throat. Terrorized, he did  his best to try to offer the youkai a smile; a beautiful, but lifeless smile.

"I'm eager to serve you, o-nii-sama." The youngster whispered, bowing his head again before the youkai. "I am shy as my Master says, but I'll make your pleasure my pleasure." Kinno chanted, like he had been trained to in such occasions. His voice sounded firm and inviting, but his face was somber and his heart pounded painfully with agony and sorrow.

His reply seemed to ease his Master's temper, and assure his customers they had made a good bargain. But only Kinno knew how much he trembled, an how much nausea the situation caused him. But he held tight sitting elegantly and patiently, bravely holding his cry back.

The green-skin demon stood up then, pushing the female youkai to the side. A smile curved his thin lips as he announced he'd be the first one to taste Udo's merchandise.

"Yeah, take him in Kinno." You Know Who ordered the golden youko then, smiling, amused with his dubious choice of words.

Kinno looked up, helpless, and for a short instant he kept still, too shocked at the sight of that disgusting slimy youkai. But he knew he'd have to put him up and push back his nausea.

He stood up with effort. Now he needed take his client to one of the chambers down the Main Hall, designed for his Master's pets to welcome their customers. They were all on that same level, to allow both his Master and the Guard an easy access in case something went wrong. You Know Who didn't tolerate his pets being mistreated by anyone but himself.

There, he just had to do his excruciating task... He had done it too many times before. Yet, somehow it was harder than before. His first time with a youkai had not been so difficult, so anguishing as this one would be.

He had been free... It had been such a happy life then...

The youko tried to complain. His lips even mouthed a vehement negative, but his voice was not given out. He was afraid of that repulsive contact, but he was far more afraid of the beatings his Master would shove upon him if he refused his client.

He must resign to his miserable life. Kinno could do nothing against it. It was what hurt him deeper...

The youkai moved one arm around Kinno's waist, bringing him closer.

"I'm gonna be nice to you. I'll be your best fuck ever, goldie!"

Hn... They all said the same... Kinno was tired of all that. All he wanted was to kick that thing's nuts, wherever they were, shove him away and run, run from that nightmare, till he could be free again, till he could have his daddy and his uncle back...

His eyes became blurred and warm with tears. He just covered his eyes with his light, long fingers, to conceal his crying.

He just nodded to his customer's proposal, too nauseated for anything else. Obediently, he let the youkai hold him. Then, with trembling legs, he guided his client upstairs, preceded by some guards, to the room which had been prepared for that night. Not only were these chambers luxurious and comfortable, but also conveniently full of peeping holes and magical wards to guarantee no one would steal his pets.

Since Hikaru had managed to take him away from the Fortress, Kinno's Master was much more attentive to security.

"He's a very beautiful youko, Udo." The short, evil-eyed youkai commented then, as he watched Kinno leaving the room. "I might be interested if you wanna sell him."

You Know Who seemed surprised. He nodded, very open to the idea. In a way, Kinno had been bringing him more trouble than profit recently.

"Is that a fact?"

The youkai agreed. "I enjoyed that pet. There are many things I'd like to do to him. Besides I don't like to share my broad boys." He explained, indicating the huge youkai on his side.

The bigger demon tried to protest, but with a snap of his fingers Kinno's master ordered that more beverage be served to him. The cup of sake, and the attention of all three female servants made the big youkai keep quiet.

Udo looked forward to doing business. He could not hide his evil, tusked grin. He shifted forward, staring at the other with keen interest.

"Let's discuss a good price then. That youko has caused me some trouble. To tame Kinno you'll have to be very tough with him"

The unspeakable, small youkai offered Udo a dirty sidelong snigger.

"That's exactly what I intend..."
 
 
 

Kinno was laid on the large, soft bed. The slimy touch of that monster's hands impelled him to part his knees wide. Thus, a broad sight of his lower body was offered.

Kinno shuddered, really ashamed, when he witnessed his customer's desirous eyes directed right to his intimate parts. He shut his own eyes tight, chewing his lips when he sensed those cold, long fingers touching the tender flesh between his spread thighs.

His knees trembled. His nipples grew hard, and his skin was filled with goosebumps. His lips were dry, and his heart throbbed fast. But it was not arousal; it was just an overwhelming repulsion, mixed to the most intense fear.

The youkai smiled. His long tongue slipped out of his mouth, slithering in between his lips like a nauseating, sticky snake.

He was all green, and his skin let out a glistening shine.  He was an ugly, stinky, gooey youkai, and Kinno was dead sure he didn't want that creature's prick inside him.

He had never minded such objections before, but now... No...

When the monster was bending over to embrace him and move in between his thighs, Kinno pulled himself back, without warning.

"Oh... D'ya wanna play hard to get, goldie?"

Kinno shut his knees together. He fled from the holding hands of that youkai, and kneeled down on the mattress. He brought his long, beautiful tail forward to conceal his own sex, and held his hands together in prayer right before him.

"O-nii-sama, please... Don't do this to me..."

The youkai's aimed a surprised stare at Kinno. He could not grasp what was going on. He tried to reach out for the youko again, but Kinno dodged, crawling to the opposite end of the bed.

He put his begging hands together again, supplicating for mercy.

"My Lord, please, help me escape this place... I'm not just a prostitute... I have a family! I was stolen from my daddy, I was tortured... Help me leave this place, please..."

"Hey, what kinda game is this?"

Kinno looked up at the youkai. Then he was not able to repress his crying any longer. The tears fell continuously from his eyes, sliding down his flushed face. He did not care to hide his weeping; he just kept his hands tight together, in a fervent prayer before the youkai.

"I am not a whore, my Lord... I ... I have a boyfriend..."

The youkai moved back. He bacame very apprehensive as he saw Kinno's whiny, convulsive crying. He did not want Udo to imagine he was mistreating his property.

"Hey, youko... Listen, I don't wanna play this game..."

Kinno sobbed louder. To recall his loving Shura made it all unbearable.

"It's not a game, O-nii-sama! I am a prisoner! Please, help me!" Kinno bent over, bowing his head deeply before the other youkai, still placing his begging hands before him, hiding his teary face behind them. "I can't live here! My Master is very bad to me! He beats me, he rapes me every night! I need to go back to my family! Will you help me o-nii-sama? Please?"

The green demon stood up, thoughtfully. He observed Kinno, still confused about what was happening there, but he didn't say anything more. He just reached for his clothes, dressing them up.

All the time he stared at the weeping youko. Even crying like that that boy was pretty...

But he insisted no more.

Much to Kinno's surprise, he watched from the corner of his eye as his customer turned and left, slamming the heavy door behind him.

Kinno blinked his wet eyes, scrubbing them with his hands. He breathed deeply, relieved for a while.

He lay across the bed. Then he reached out for one of the pillows, embracing it, covering his naked body with its clean softness. He fitted the pillow between his thighs, and held it firmly against his chest, thinking of his pretty horned boyfriend. He wanted to be able to hold him again... He didn't want to make love with anyone but him.

Recalling Shura, Kinno even managed to smile for an instant.

Then he heard the voices outside...

It was his customer, complaining to the guards put at the door.

"Tell Udo I want my money back! I want a randy youko, not a crying baby! He cheated! This youko is a lie!"

Kinno grew taut, becoming very nervous once again. He could hear very well the complaints and the agitation beyond that locked door. As a response, his whole body started to shake.  His shy smile was dismantled, giving way to a crying, despairing expression. He knew his Master would never, never forgive him for such insolence, but he couldn't do it... He could not go to bed with any strange youkai any more...

"Oh, damn... Kinno, you're such a stupid... Couldn't you just fake?" the youko asked himself aloud. He knew his Master would beat him too much that time...

He sighed, and then he shook his head calmly. Even though tears sprang form his eyes again, he cherished a bright, hopeful contentment deep inside his youko heart.

He knew he could never fake again, and he knew why.

His life had changed. He was not just an ass peddler any longer. He was someone, he had a father, a family, friends, a boyfriend.

His master could beat him to death, but he could not steal that from him.