I turn my head away. Of course I had already known the answer before I asked, but it didn't make the truth any less painful. Of course it was the work of merchants, looking for a quick buck for offering warmth. But still I could not agree with his claim that killing another being was an act of kindness. Well, I suppose that made me an opposer of euthanasia.

Suddenly, he ordered me over, and my ears and tail started shivering, as if inclining me to obey. Of course I did. I walked up to him, stopping at the very side of the bed but not sitting down. The tail - my tail - waved behind me, almost as if reacting joyously in the presence of its master. "Yes?" I ask, strangely curious to know what it is that he wanted of me.

I could feel the rage growing from her already but it didn't stop me from smiling, my head having then fallen down on the fur pelt of a wolf. I sighed, almost as if I was tired from answering her after she had asked me such a question, perhaps it did tire me to deal with so many objections and problems - her view of animal cruelty didn't interest me. Humans are by nature a destructive force, animals and nature itself would be wiped out soon enough with the growing number of them. " Merchants. " I replied to her question before gazing down at her with an amused grin. " They survive in their own way, poaching animals is no different. If wolves and foxes filled the forest then the other animals would suffer. In a way it's a manner of kindness.. " I explained while stroking the fur. Strangely to my surprise it did not feel neither warm or soft - it annoyed me. " Come here.. " I said in annoyance and sat up looking at her.

Animals didn't intrigue me. This fur was as good as a cup of tea for all I cared, what I wanted was something soft - something similar to the same tail that the girl across from me had. I shouldn't have been surprised, of course she would be the best considering she was the reincarnation...even so...

My ear gives a light twitch as I hear his reply. Had he really been so unconcerned about a name? Did he even have one anymore? Or ever? Well, in that case, I suppose I have to take it upon myself to think up a name. Unfortunately, I doubted people would pay no mind if I chose the name "Fucking Jerkass", so that was out. My mind went to the other names he was offering, but none of them seemed to fit him.

He then opened the door that he must have been going to, and I am presented with an ornate room, easily the size of a large living room. Seriously, most people nowadays had their entire home in this amount of space. As I look down at the fur pelts, my ears and tail quiver once, and a sudden feeling of loathing strikes my heart. These animals were killed, not for meat or self-defense, but for their own natural warmth! I remain silent for a moment, and my body starts to shake. My hands clench into fists. "Who...who did you... buy these from...?" I ask, my crimson eyes looking up into his despite the danger I knew they presented.

I didn't plan so far ahead of a name, I was more concerned with the carriage and trade than simple matters like what one should be addressed - I could just as easily use my eye on every person I meet to forget me or have them die if they don't seem useful. Then again Raidy was probably right, something like a name would be good to use. " Anything would do..Florence...Jack... " I spoke in a nonchalant manner before having made my way down the hallway and into a room.

It was my room. A large bed in the center with desks on both sides, a work desk having been beside the window that had been covered with curtains while the floor was surrounded by a soft fur. " Much better than the cold ground, isn't it? " I had asked her while walking over to the bed and sitting down while looking at her with an amused grin. " It's made from a few animals I believe. I never cared much for hunting but these creatures do have such soft fur..similar to your tail. " I mused, not interested in the wealth I was going to surrender. I was detached, almost distant now.

At this, I pull back, unable to believe what had happened. So that was what he had meant by "serving a man". My eyes widen, and a blush comes to my face as the very thought of a yuri relationship causes me to shudder once, before quickly spasming out in disgust a second time. No way! I'm not like that and I ne... Damn it, now I'm confused! That was a part of my past life as a hero that hadn't left me; why had I gone as far as to punish those girls that did wrong with various tastes of their own medicine? Was this another dose of my retribution?

My body completely freezes as his hand comes up to my cheek, gently stroking it. A sharp pain could be felt on the cheek, and I knew immediately that his nail had been the cause. "Understood. What do you want me to call you?" I ask, trying once again to get that answer out of him. My tail wraps itself around my left leg, brushing against the skin and tickling the flesh that was unused to fur.

Such a innocent response made me chuckle instantly, she didn't know what I had meant or rather she was playing ignorant with me. The answer though held some truth to it, there was really no difference from pleasuring a woman than there was a man - both had their twisted desires when it came down to it. " I didn't believe you would be so open to the idea. There would be times where you would be distracting the opponent with your body and I was going to ask if you had any qualms but it seems I may have been wrong. " I said while smiling back at her, obviously amused by the mistake she had made.

I stopped by the end of the stairs and turned a bit to look at her, figuring this would be the best time to explain it. " You and I are going to be merchants. What I want is rumors and information, not battles and reputation. Many traders have pets such as you for...well, a long ride through the mountains, but I'm afraid that I have no such interest in that. You are to serve me only in battle for the other relics, other then that just play your role well and you'll get what you wish. " I explained and reached a hand over to her face, stroking her cheek gently before smiling coldly at her - almost as if I did not care. My nail had dug into her skin, having reminded her that this relationship was not a benefit for her at all. My hand left her face as fast as it touched her, almost disgusted with the feeling her gentle skin left on my fingertips. " Understood? " I asked to confirm our relationship with her.

I nodded, understanding his meaning. He didn't have to say it, but the demon parasite was doing so much more to my mind than to my body. For one, I was no longer thinking about trying to run away, as if the demon had somehow made me more docile and obedient than normal. No that wasn't right... for some reason I couldn't hope to explain, at this point I didn't even want to run away anymore. I wanted to stay with him for as long as he wanted me, but then... what would happen if he rejected me? Could I turn him down? Was this what love was?

"It's... no different from serving a female..." I admit, confused at his question, as I follow behind him, the tail - my tail - waving randomly behind my body.

A plead? Such a thing surprised even me. Most begged to be broken or wanted to be touched but what she wanted was strangely amusing; freedom from her past life and responsibilities. A part of me wanted to scold her for having betrayed her so called reputation that she created by her own two hands while another part of me wanted to praise her for having submitted to her own desires. " We'll see.. " I had whispered in a rather dark tone before turning my back to her and began to make my way down the stairs before I stopped myself in realization. " I forgot. That demon attached to you will sense that I'm gone or not and depending on the nature, whether you ran away or I just left you for a moment, it might get a bit....testy. " I explained and looked back at her.

I looked back down at the stairs and began to head down in a slow rate so she could pick up whatever dignity she could collect before following after me. I figured she could amuse a fellow cell mate that I toyed with before as well. " How do you feel about serving a male? " I had asked her, having known she could easily hear my words with no trouble. Her ears would focus easily enough with me, though that may just be due to her own attraction to my nature - we were similar....how strange.

My body gave a sudden spasm out of fear as he began to stroke at my shoulders and whispered his poison into my ear. My mind desired so badly to just succumb and listen to his words, yet my battle-hardened body felt almost uncomfortable when there was nothing to save. No... I had to bring myself to accept it, if only for the simple purpose of learning to relax...

I blink once, before looking up at him. My tail waved once. "C-can you... help me...?" I ask, embarrassed to ask. My eyes shift away, and a deep blush crosses my face. I can't believe I'm asking for help to be a pet, and yet I knew I couldn't do a thing about it. "I still can't quite bring myself to release my past self..." I admit.

It was kind of awkward, this breaking process, and not nearly as bad as I had thought. Perhaps it's like what people say on how people don't usually die screaming and begging, but instead with a calm mind, as if preparing for the next world. Or maybe my break was strange; I doubt as if I'd ever break a second time.

Her reputation was indeed already being stained by the words of many, it seems it wouldn't be long before the country knew of her enslavement if the information already reached the ears of the servants I had. Holding the Hero within my arms like a simple object, the woman that single handily defeated so many demons that imprisoned villages and women as my own item to do as I pleased with, such a fact only tickled me. Watching her Soul break, her pleads to me grow, it left me hungering for more and yet I knew when to stop myself. I had let her go as her form slipped from my back and against my legs for support. " I'm going to leave my butler to look over the estate in my leave, for now you are all excused. " I stated and watched them leave.

I looked down at the fallen hero who was beginning to accept her fate, my hands having then rested on her shoulders. " It's not so bad is it, losing all that responsibility? You now have new found pleasure in what you fought against for so long...just let yourself enjoy. " I whispered down to her as I stroked her shoulders and smiled in amusement.

(Hm, gotta bring this up.)

I wince as the man tightens his hold on me, perhaps tighter than he had realized. "I... have not... forgotten... either identity..." I reply through the pain, as my tail waves behind me, joyous to be receiving so much attention. "Nor have I forgotten my past. You seek to destroy who I am, and I cannot allow that..." I reply, yelping slightly as I am pulled to his chest and made to look at all the servants in the garden. One of his hands crosses over my arm and presses hard against my stomach, while the other hand grabs at the second arm and wrenches it to my back.

Then, he drops a real bombshell, directly contradicting what I just told him, and I am forced to watch the disappointment in many - all - of the servants' faces. Then, one speaks up. "Wait... wait a second... I heard she was kidnapped and enslaved..."

"Yeah, that's what I heard...!" a second man speaks up. "Apparently some men set up an entire ruse to catch her doing something criminal then captured her for it."

I can hardly believe it. Even though I am right in front of them, my identity scarred and my name pronounced for dead, these men still believe me to be alive. My head dips down; I'm unsure whether to be happy or break down crying from this moment. "No more..." I beg, mildly disturbed at the fact that these men's support was making me feel worse than I already was. They had been a reminder of my life as a heroine, a representative of what the common people thought of me.