The White Poenix by Jenihime

Chapter 1

The castle was bustling as always. Now that the spider hunt was over, Sesshoumaru was busier than ever. Having neglected his affairs for many years, his responsibilities could no longer be ignored. Looking at the pile of missives, the demon lord rubbed his temples. This rare sign of annoyance, one he would only allow himself in the privacy of his study, was a rare lapse in his stoic façade. He had been working every day for months now. His lands were in turmoil from Naraku’s mayhem, and his troops were running thin. However, he needed a break. He could no longer focus on the long list of complaints from his minor lords.

A colorful parchment caught his eye. If it was what he thought, it would provide the necessary entertainment that he needed.

The following week, Sesshoumaru was walking into a colorful tent made of alternating red and yellow fabric. Loud music and noises of merriment filled the air. He saw multiple circus artists practicing their art. He enjoyed the traveling exotic performers. Rarely were they on their land, and they offered a treat that couldn’t be missed. Early on, his father had brought him to visit the performers. He had taught him that exotic creatures and talented assassins could be found performing in these places. Most of the artists and presented freaks were useless, such as the bearded woman or people of little sizes. However, cleaver folks, truth seers and incredible beasts could be found from far away lands. Ah-Un had been found in this very circus. Being a rare spectacle, he had cost his father a pretty amount of gold coins. The two headed dragon would be hard to replace; however, the circus leader had accepted to part with the beast. Ah-Un had proven to be worth than its weight in gold. Many a times had they saved Sesshoumaru during his youth from precarious situations.

It was in search of such a creature that the demon lord visited the circus. Little amusement did the performers offer to the lord. He knew that his ward loved exotic creatures, and her amusement brought him warm feelings. He was walking past ordinary creatures such as tigers, lions and bears of all sizes when the ringleader came to greet him. “My lord! Welcome, welcome! It is always a pleasure to see you visit us. I do believe that it has been a good twenty years since we visited your land.”. Sesshoumaru simply nodded and continued his perusal of the cages. “Ah my lord has a keen eye for the magnificent as always,” the large grasshopper demon said as Sesshoumaru slowed in front of a caged butterfly demon. “This one, we caught in a land called England. Gave us quite a run for.”. “Hun” Sesshoumaru unsewered, continuing his walk around the cages. When he arrived at the last one, he sighed. Alas, nothing was worth his time.

“Is my lord looking for something in particular? Perhaps we could go hunting for it and bring it back soon…”. Sesshoumaru looked down at the bug, not hiding in disdain. He was about to walk out of the tent, when his eye caught something hidden by a curtain. A particularly large cage had been covered with a red silk cloth, indicating that the creature was used for lascivious purposes. Though the demon lord was above raping circus slaves, he was intrigued by a wing peeking through. It was in bad shape, many of its feathers littered the ground of the cage. Sesshoumary approached the cage when he saw the creature. It was pitiful. Its neck, hands and feet had been shackled by heavy chains, the skin underneath ragged and raw, bleeding and infected. The creature was emaciated, hardly more than skin and bones. It was kneeling, its bald head prostrate, almost as if had lost the will to live. Its wings had white feathers here and there, clinging to bare skin that had clearly been flogged, clawed and bitten. The demon lord narrowed his eyes. He could not identify the humanoid creature. He asked: “What is it?”

The ringleader looked embarrassed. “Ah… This poor creature… we picked it up while hunting the butterfly in a land called Brittany. It amuses some patrons to… well… My Lord knows what a red curtain means…”. Sesshoumaru simply nodded, not taking his eyes off the pitiful creature. The grasshopper continued: “Perhaps my lord would like to… sample her?”, he slapped his walking stick onto the cage, “Assume your position, slave!” he yelled. The creature turned until its back was to the demon lord, bent its shoulders to the ground and presented. The humanoid was clearly female. Sesshoumaru sneered at the ringmaster, “what do you think this Sesshoumaru is, a rapist?” he said, in a low, dangerous tone. Is eyes promised pain and blood as he looked down at the insect. “Nnnoo, my Lord,” stuttered the grasshopped, “it’s just that some patrons are attracted to her uniqueness…”.

“How much?” asked the lord.

“Howhowhow much?” answered the grasshopped.

“How much to purchase her? This thing is on the doorstep of death; you had better keep that in mind when giving this Sesshoumaru a price.” The ringleader shrunk under the withering gaze of the tall demon. “For you my lord, I will offer free of charge” the green demon seemed to go pale while as he spoke. The ringleader knew how much money he would lose by giving her away, however one never lost, especially their heads, by pleasing the demon lord. “Hun” acknowledged the demon lord, “dress her for travel, I expect her quickly.”, he ordered. Not waiting for an answer, Sesshoumaru left the stuttering grasshopper and walked out of the tent.

Waiting next to his two headed dragon, Sesshoumaru was getting impatient. It was not good to make him wait this long, especially since his patience was already thin. The grasshopper emerged from the tent, leading the creature by the chain around its neck. The demon lord narrowed his eyes as the ringmaster handed him the chain. He lifted her by her waist and placed her on Ah-Hun. When he let her go, she would have fallen off the mount had he not had the quick reflexes that he possessed. He sighed and mounted behind her. The scent of putrefaction and infection assaulted his sensitive nostrils. “Ah-Un, to the castle.” He ordered. The dragon chittered and chattered to themselves as they took off, as though they were curious about their new charge.