A/N: This chapter is sponsored by Jessica D.  Thank you for the support.  Xoxo. -ptd

Yasu laid quietly in his bed. The Inn had closed for the night, leaving the inn in complete darkness. Sounds of snoring and grunting could be heard, yet in between those noises were the soft shuffling of feet as they crept towards his door.

Yasu rolled over to this side and stood up. He jumped onto the table before launching himself to the ceiling. He rested on the beam in the middle of the room and watched as his locked door was unlocked with a key.

[Strange how thieves could unlock your door with a key.]

"Either a worker here at the inn or the proprietor is in on the theft." Yasu told Tsuki.

Three men entered the room, while the fourth man waited outside. Seeing the bed empty, the three men argued in hushed tones before searching around. Finding nothing, they left and lock the door again. Yasu waited until the shuffling feet could no longer be heard.

[Why didn't you kill them?]

"Now is not the time, my little bloodthirsty Goddess." Yasu told her. "If I kill them now, others will hear them screaming or the fighting. They can also call for help. I would then have to explain the situation and prove my innocence. Its too much trouble. I'll make sure to feed their blood to you when we're on the road again."

[Who wants their dirty blood!] Tuski pouted. [I rather wait another million years in the river than absorb their foul blood!]

Yasu jumped down to the ground and laid back down on his bed. He closed his eyes and rested his eyes for the rest of the night.

The next day Yasu checked the embroidery stores for supplies. He bought what he needed before leaving town. Once on the road again, he traveled at a steady pace towards the capital.

[Why are you going to the capital?]

"I'll need to secretly establish myself there and gather information. I can also send out a secret message to my Father's loyal soldiers and they can meet me there." Yasu told the little Goddess. "They can help me gather information faster and plan my revenge."

When night fell, Yasu traveled off the beaten path and into the forest. He left his horse to graze the forest while hiding himself to wait for his pursuers. Yasu didn't have to wait a long time, the three thieves arrived 20 minutes later and headed straight to his horse. Seeing how there was no owner, they spread out to look for Yasu.

Those thieves were full of themselves. Not only did they follow someone into a dark and unknown forest. They also split up and let themselves be in a vulnerable state.

"It's time." Yasu told Tsuki.

Yasu headed towards the man furthest to him. Yasu snuck up to the man, his footsteps light and fast. When Yasu attacked, his short sword was already pulled out of the sheath. The man did not have a chance to cry out nor did he know how he died.

With Yasu's speed, strength and sharp sword, the man's head fell down just as fast as his body.

Yasu moved to his next targets, executing them with one swift strike. Their headless bodies laid on the forest floor, as their head rolled away a few feet from them.

Yasu wiped off the blood on his blade then placed the blade back inside of the sheath.

Yasu spent that night under the bright starry sky, watching the sky turn from black to blue. He left while the sun rose and rode towards the capital.

Yasu spent two months traveling slowly towards the capital. Gathering as much information on the past 5 years while leaving hidden clues for his Father's subordinates.

When Yasu stopped in town to stay the night, he passed a slave auction market.

[Wait!] Tsuki shouted. [Buy that fourth man standing on stage.]

Yasu stopped his horse and turned to look at the auction. The fourth man on stage was tall and robust. He looked as if he knew how to fight.

[He's a loyal one. Buy him. He won't betray you.]

"How do you know he won't betray me?" Yasu asked.

[Just like how I know you're a worthy person to be contracted to, I know he's loyal.]

"He looks strong."

[He is, but he's been poisoned. You can save him and he'll be forever loyal to you. He's strong, but not as strong as you. No one, is.]

The slaves on stage looked at the crowd without any emotions. They knew their fate was in the hands of others and could only hope that their Master is someone who will treat them well.

As the auction continued, the slaves on stage sold one by one. By the time the fourth slave was up for auction, the bids came out one by one.

"100 gold."

"110 gold."

"115 gold."

"Look at this slave! So young and strong. He can work your fields or become your guards." The auctioneer said.

"130 gold."

"135 gold."

"The slave has been poisoned. How can this slave market sell a defective slave at such a high price?" Yasu shouted over the bidders.

Everyone turned back to look at the rugged man who sat on his horse.

"Nonsense! How dare you slander us!" The auctioneer shouted.

"If he's not poisoned, I'll pay you 1000 gold in damages. But if he is poisoned, how can you account to your customers on your shady business practices?!?"

The auctioneer looked over to the owner of the slave market and the owner nodded his head.

"Fine! If the slave is poisoned, then we'll sell him at a lower price. However if he isn't poisoned, you'll pay us 1000 gold for damaging our reputation!" The auctioneer agreed.

Yasu turned to a street boy who was dirty and skinny.

"Young boy, run to the medical hall and get all the doctors there to come here. Tell them that I'll pay them 100 gold coins each to make a diagnosis." Yasu told the young boy. He then threw a silver coin to the young boy. "Complete your task in the fastest time and I'll give you 10 more silver coins."

The boy quickly did what he was told as the group of people whispered to each other.

"Why hire so many doctors?" A man shouted out.

"It is to ensure that neither me or the auction hall is lying to the public." Yasu told them.

They waited for a few minutes before five doctors came to the slave market.

Yasu pointed to the slave on stage and told the doctors about the bet.

"Diagnose that slave on the stage, if he is poisoned, the slave market has to explain to us why they are selling a poisoned slave to their customers. If he isn't poisoned, I will pay them 1000 gold in damages."

The doctors went up one by one, feeling the slave's wrist and diagnosing him. One by one they all told the public of the slave's current condition.

"Poisoned."

"Poisoned."

"Poisoned."

"Poisoned."

"Poisoned."

The crowd roared in anger and began shouting at the auctioneer. The doctors quickly came down the stage and collected their money from Yasu before leaving the slave market. They didn't want to get caught up in the angry mob.

"Gentleman. Sirs. Calm down. It was all a misunderstanding. Just look at this slave, does he not look like a healthy young man? It was our mistake! Our mistake! I accept our mistake. To appease you all, the rest of the healthy slaves on stage will be auctioned off starting at 50 gold." The auctioneer shouted.

As the crowd began to calm down, Yasu spoke again. "And how much for the poisoned slave?"

"50 gold."

"50 gold? A poisoned slave is worth 50 gold, while the healthy slaves beside him is being auctioned off at the same starting point? Does this make any sense to you?"

The auctioneer looked at the owner and saw the owner lift up one finger.

"10 gold."

"10 gold? A poisoned slave is a dead man walking. Who here will spend money on a sick slave who is about die?"

The auctioneer looked over at the owner as the owner made a signal to lower the price.

"90 silver."

"A farmer family of four can live off of 90 silvers for two years." Yasu mocked.

"60 silver."

"5 silver." Yasu negotiated.

"50 silver."

"5 silver." Yasu said again.

"40 silver."

"5 silver." Yasu repeated himself. "No one here is willing to buy a poisoned slave for so much money, even if he looks healthy and work like a mule. Poisoned is poisoned. No one is willing to spend money to heal him. 5 silver."

The auctioneer looked over at the owner and saw that the owner nodded his head once.

"Sold for 5 silver." The auctioneer said as he accepted Yasu's bid.

Yasu got off of his horse and went to the side of the auction stage. The poisoned slave was brought to him and the transaction was made. With papers in hand, Yasu looked the the young slave that looked to be his age. He was taller than Yasu by two heads and twice as broad than Yasu

"You going to kill me?" Yasu asked the man.

The slave quickly looked at Yasu and caught his eyes for a moment before looking down at his feet and shaking his head no.

"Good. Unchain him." Yasu ordered the slavers.

"But young sir." The slaver began to argue. "You can't believe the words of a slave."

"Unchain him." Yasu ordered the slaver once again.

The slaver unchained the brawny slave and quickly stepped back.

"Follow me." Yasu said as they left the slave market. But before they could get too far, Yasu was stopped by the owner.

"Young Sir." The owner shouted as he and two of his guards stopped Yasu.

Yasu stopped and looked at the slave owner and the guards.

[No signs of wanting your life.]

"How can I help you?" Yasu asked. While beside him the brawny slave was immediately on his guard. He glared at the owner and the guards.

"Just a quick question. That is all." The owner stated. "First, how did you know that he was poisoned? Second, what are you going to do with the poisoned slave, since he is, according to you, a dead man walking."

"Those are two questions you asked." Yasu told him. "My business is my own and it doesn't concern you. Once the transaction is completed, there is no more reason for you to inquire about who I am and what I will do with my slave."