(:Disclaimer:) I don't own Inu Yasha. Yada, yada, yada.

(:A.N:) Hey minnasan! Sorry I havent't updated lately, but I'm busy with two other fanfics I'm writing (you should check them out!). I rotate writing for my stories, so I'll probably update this story every three days or so, okay? Well, I've kept you waiting long enough, so on to chapter Thirty-One!

Haunting Me in Dreams
Chapter Thirty-One : Slave
By : Feng Shui Goddess

I awoke to a pounding pain in my side, like someone was kicking me. I moaned and continued to close my eyes, no where near ready to wake up yet. I was absolutely exhausted from the previous day, and had no intention on getting less than ten hours of sleep. The kicking continued, getting harder and harder, until I got really pissed off and grabbed the leg that was jabbing into my side, stabbing my claws into his flesh. "Damn you, Inu Yasha! How dare you attack someone with such higher priority than you?!" It was Sessho Maru's voiced. I should've figured it was him. He grabbed my by my hair and pulled me from the ground, then he dug his claws into my face. "Back off, Sessho Maru. I'm not going to take any of your shit today, no way no how," I growled, wiping the blood off of my face. "Oh, is that so? Well, you're being held captive at the moment, and are one of our slaves from now on. I'm afraid that I cannot allow you to try to hurt anyone in this house," he said, laughing. I snorted, pushing Sessho Maru off of me, "Oh, PLEASE spare me, Brother." Sessho Maru kicked me back into the wall, and punched me with a lot of power in the stomach, making me feel like I was going to throw up, "I told you not to mock me before, Brother Dearest, and I strongle suggest that you do not continue to." I smirked, but decided not to attack him again. "Father has requested your presence for breakfast, and I strongly suggest that you fulfill his request," Sessho Maru said, grabbing my arm and pulling me out of the bedroom. "I can walk by myself!" I shouted, pulling back from my brother's firm grip on my arm. "Whatever you'd like, Brother," he said in his monotonious voice, releasing the grip on my arm. As soon as he released his grip on my arm I began to feel dizzy again, forgetting all about the poison that still flowed freely through my veins. I walked sideways unintentionally and bumbed into the wall, leaning and resting on it for a minute. "Stupid hanyou," Sessho Maru growled, grabbing my arm and pulling me through the halls again.

When we reached the dining area of the house, my father and his wench were sitting at the table, slowly eating rice from porcelan bowls. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Inu Yasha," my father said, a fake smile on his face. I ignored him and just stood there, gazing at the wall across the room from me with a newborn interest. I had no intention to speak and interact with my father or his dear wench Setsuko, for I hated them both with a passion. Instead, I disregarded my father's words he spoke to me, seeing how far I could push him before his string snapped. "Listen here, hanyou. When the Lord of the Western Lands speaks to you, it is only correct that you respond," said Setsuko, staring at me with anger whelling up in her eyes. I smirked, "And, when you are the musuko of the Lord of the Western Lands, it is only correct that you act kindly towards him." Setsuko looked angered, and looked at Sessho Maru who punched me hard in the gut once again, making me fall over in pain. "How dare you refer to yourself as an intentional son to Minoku Sama, when you are merely a stupid hanyou and have nothing in common with him," Setsuko said, smirking. I wanted so badly to go over and hurt that wench, and pay her back for treating me so poorly, but I decided not to upon glancing at my brother's poisonous claws. Setsuko then scooped a little bit of rice into a bowl and signaled for me to sit down where she placed the bowl. I did as I was told, and slowly ate the rice, glaring occasionaly at my father who was watching my every move. "Father, what is the purpose of my being here? When am I permitted to leave?" I asked, staring down at the table. "You will stay here as long as I wish, and you will not complain or your stay will be longer than you'd like. If you try to escape, which I know you will not dare attempt, my guards will slay you immediately. Do I make myself clear?" my father said, smiling. I nodded, shivering at the thought a little bit. I hated being held prisoner, being forced to stay somewhere I didn't want to be. "What are you going to do to me?" I asked nervously. "Whatever I want to do, my son," my father said, smirking. I was furious and frightened in equal amounts, wanting badly to charge at my father and destroy him and his wicked heart.

Later that day, I sat quietly in my new room, staring blankly at the white wall. It was hell being where I was, true hell. I thought many times about how easily I could escape from the house and be on my way back home, but yet I knew that if I tried to do something like that, I would be killed, and Father wouldin't think twice about ending my life. He had killed my mother so easily, without any sence of sorrow after she was gone. He had moved on, and probably forgotten all about how he, Mother and I had all lived so happily together in our home. How Sessho Maru treated me like a brother should, and how we would never fight (well, except for Sessho Maru and I, we would fight quite often, but not because we held grudges against eachother). I never realized how good my life was back then, when everyone cared for eachother. I took all my happiness for granted, as did my mother. She would have never pictured in a million years that the one to end her life would be her own mate, nor would I. But it was the truth, the sad, sorrowful, hateful truth. I wondered if my mother knew that Father was still in love with his first mate, Setsuko. I wondered if she would have still loved my father even if she knew that he would kill her and cheat on her with another wench. My mother was very loyal to my father, and loved him dearly with all her heart, I knew it. I could see the love in her eyes every time she looked at him, the look of love and true contentness. I wondered if my father really ever loved my mother, or if he just wanted to use her as a mate? Was he really like that for his whole life, just a scam? Maybe he would just like a woman for her beauty, and not like her for what she truly was, not like her personality or respect her feeling. My mother was a beautiful woman, there was no doubt about it, and I could see how a demon could just want her for her looks. Still, I hoped that they had both loved eachother at one time...

I heard the faint song of birds outside my window, and walked over to it to listen more carefully. I pulled back the drapes that hung over the window, and looked outside at the sun that was slowly setting. I saw many demons standing guard outside the castle with arrows and spears, staring at my window thinking I was going to try to escape. I growled at the guards, wanting them to leave me at peace and not stare into my room. Some of them got the picture and turned around, but some of them did not move at all. I sighed, figuring that it would be of no use to argue with the demons. Instead I sat down by the window sill and stared up at the sky. I looked at the birds, wishing so much that I could be like them and fly away high in the sky, away from all my problems. The sky was slowly turning a brilliant shade of orange as the sun set in the horizon, the clouds turning calming shades of pink and purple. I closed my eyes tightly, and clenched my fists. 'Okaasan, I am still going to get revenge for your death, no matter what Father does to me. I don't care if I don't survive... For I can die happy knowing that I fought for you...'

(:A.N:) Hello, I'm really sorry that this chapter took so long to write! I've been really busy and I found out that I got accepted into the best high school in the state and the IB program! Waii! Now the only thing I have to worry about is reading the Odyssey and doing a report of it which will be due on the first day of high school... God help me! So please excuse the lack of update and I'll work on chapter 32 this weekend! later! -Mae-