Ashigaru by Kurau no Zetsumei

Chapter One

Ashigaru

- Kurau no Zetsumei - Eater of Death

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Spoilers: No. This is an AU fan fiction.

Warning: There will be sexual situations (lemons, limes, citrus... all of those fruity delights we enjoy), violence/gore and language. Anyone that does not have the maturity of 18+ should not read this fan fiction. Arigatou.

Author's Note: This is an original plot/idea by me. Do not use it.

Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

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Welcome to my third contribution to the fanfiction world. When writing 'Strength in the Weak' and 'Unfaithful', I noticed I was writing only very angst-filled stories. So here is my attempt to create a more enjoyable, positive fanfiction. I am eager to see if I will plummet in my attempt at writing in an optimistic style or somehow (miraculously) manage to achieve some sort of respectable status in the fan fiction world with my less then admirable stories. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have had as I wrote and created it.

Thank you and enjoy.

Kurau no Zetsumei - Eater of Death

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Chapter One

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A sliver of light peeked through the thin streaked clouds in the sky, the luminous white orb in the black night casting the world bellow its pale face in a glow of ethereal hues of silver and darkness. Underneath the gave of the moon, droplets of water slowly made their paths down leaves and the tips of the grass, appearing to be liquefied silver. The shadows had deepened in depth to the darkest of blacks until they were opaque. The darkness of night fell upon the sleeping world in a dark shower unable to be pierced. In the middle of the small streams of light stood wooden giants. They stood massive and ancient, their limbs graced with long, willowy branches of smooth bark that sprouted from their twisting and turning torsos.

Thick green leaves grew from the branches of the trees and seemed to stretch out across the sky, attempting to touch the distant stars above the trees. The variety of trees in the area signified the region they grew and the age of these ancient beings that silently spoke to each other in the night. The trees whispered to one another, their words carried to each other on the breadth of the occasional warm breeze of the night, their tales spoken in a forgotten language not even the immortal youkai could pride themselves on knowing.

Have you heard? It is gone. The bearer and the life essence have disappeared.

Yes. I heard of that from the sakura tree only a few paces away. Where could the bearer and the life essence have disappeared too?

The trees murmured and whispered to each other of the drastic news, their fear and worry tangible in the forest. A large red oak tree hummed softly, catching the attention of the other trees. Sakura, ume, zizoukanba, urajirogashi... it did not matter their species for they all focused their attention on this large wooden creature, feeling the aura of age and wisdom radiating from its red tinted bark. Silence entered the forest as the trees waited with baited breath for the red oak's words. The red oak stood rigidly in the middle of the forest, quiet and unresponsive. Finally, the soft, deep voice of the tree vibrated in the night.

The bearer has been lost and with them the life essence of the people of the sennyo have been weakened. Unfortunately, the new being in the eastern prefecture has risen to power and has, finally, annihilated the sennyo.

A tidal wave of whispered shock and anger rose from the trees, their branches shaking in protest and fury. The red oak allowed the trees to rant and then calmly spoke again, its thick branches shifting in the rising wind.

The sennyo... children of the earth and descendants of the kami... have outlived their time. The time of sennyo, yousei and other beings of the old have past. It is now the time of the youkai and ningen; an age we have all foreseen for many centuries now. These two species, different and powerful, now hold the earth in their capable hands and will decide the fate of the world. The time of magic, ethereal wonder and ancient power has passed. We, the last beings that were here before all, now must reside on this earth, forgotten and silent. Our language has died - our protectors and allies eradicated. The youkai and ningen will battle for the possession and right to rule this world. It will be long and bloody - killing countless warriors and innocents caught in between the impending war.

The trees listened to the oak, silent and thoughtful. A whispery sound alike to a sigh was carried by the warm night wind. The red oak continued in an ancient voice humming with intelligence and foresight.

The bearer and the life essence of the sennyo can change the grim fate of both men and youkai. The bearer can obtain an absolute karma and powers from the life essence if they are too learn its secrets. We can not intervene in this battle, friends of the world. The wheels of fate are turning and spinning their red strand that is the future. It has been cast and set in the stars - something that can not be rewritten. It is now between the youkai, ningen and the capability of a sole survivor of the sennyo, the bearer and their power, to come into play and perhaps, miraculously, play a part in changing the grim future that lays not too far from us.

The trees allowed the last words of the now slumbering red oak to be absorbed into their spirits. Silently, they too settled for the night, allowing the silvery light of the moon to play on their leaves in the dark. Deep beneath their bark in their very souls, the songs of the ancients hummed. The forgotten tales of heroism, courage and the memory of a time that was both magical and awe-inspiring created by the immortal beings that were now gone still clearly seen in their souls. The imprint of the days when bravery and selflessness, a status and code for the ancient beings now destroyed by the new races that came from the ashes of their destruction, lingered in the trees. Even as they slept as they had for many centuries, the trees still felt the uneasiness in the night.

Their world had changed. If it was a good or bad change they did not yet know. Fate would play out its plan soon enough and the conclusion of the future of the world and its inhabitants would seen be viewed by all.

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A lone white figure stood atop of a hill viewing the landscape bellow them silently. Soft, silken strands of the purest of whites tinted with silver were caught by the wind, the fine hairs twisting in a mesmerising dance in the breeze. The white figure continued to observe the small village in the middle of the field he stood above on the bit of land jutting out overhead of it. His tall, slender form was heavily armoured and hinted his preparation for battle. The spiked chest plate, abdominal plate and two sheathed swords tied at either side of his armoured hips made it apparent he was a seasoned warrior.

If a person could not simply tell by his apparel that he was a lethal danger then they would have surely have been confirmed of the power and deadliness of this lone figure dressed in white if they had looked into his face. It was beautiful beyond description and yet many women had attempted to describe this face of what could have belonged to an angel. Smooth, pale skin was pulled over delicately sculpted features. A long aquiline nose hovered over sensuous pale lips. Two orbs of amber flecked with gold were fringed with long black lashes, stared calculatingly down at the village with a dangerous attentiveness, the hawk-like stare hinting the predatory instincts of this stranger.

The thin silver brows over top of those eyes were currently unfurled and the smooth, delicate brow of the warrior was tattooed with a peculiar crscent moon marking between his parted white bangs. In fact, this warrior had a few interesting markings that told of his heritage. Two thin maroon stripes slashed across each cheek, a dark navy blue crescent moon on his brow and red eye shadow on the lids of his narrow, golden eyes. If one was to inspect between the silken white strands along his head, they would see his ears were pointed at the tips and a bit larger then the normal human's.

But a person would not have noticed all of these features on this being. The stoic face of the being revealed the iciness and cool, strategic deadliness of his personality. It could be well assumed he was a loner - a traveller of some sort. While he did not carry a pack for food or a change of clothing, one could tell he had travelled very far and continuously by the wisdom and intelligence in his expressionless eyes.

The warrior slowly lifted a claw from beneath his long white sleeve and rested it on the hilt of his katana. His claw stayed in place, the dangerous diamond-hard tips of those pointed claws wrapping around the hilt and withdrawing the blade from its crafted noyx wood sheath. The sound of metal sliding against the akagashi-wood sheath hummed as the long metal blade was revealed. It measured over a meter long and its acute sharpness was obvious by the gleam along the sword's edge.

The warrior continued to stare in a focused fashion, his golden gaze never straying from the village, his stunning face impeccably blank of emotion or thought. The wind picked up again and in a blink of an eye, the white figure was gone. The soft rustle of grass being hurriedly treaded upon was not heard by the unsuspecting people bellow. The gaze of a golden eyed killer was left unseen by the watchmen that stood gazing from their towers. The glints of a sword raised and ready to strike unknown by the oblivious villagers.

The wooden gate was suddenly smashed open in an explosion of dust and debris. The busy village stalled for a moment, stunned by the sudden attack. Hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to see a tall form stepping through the thick dust too reveal the presence of a youkai. At the appearance of the youkai, screams tore from the throats of women and men alike, children crying for their parents echoing after the adults' cries for their soldiers. The youkai raised his sword and switched it into a striking pose. Vanishing in a white blur, the screams changed from ones of fright to pain.

Nothing but a white blur, the youkai swept around the main throng of the people, darting in between the cowering crowd to attack the foolish warriors who attempted to defend themselves in pathetic, vain attempts. Men fell to the ground, bleeding, and clearly run through.

The men jumbled together in a sloppy circle, trying to protect the item they knew the youkai was after. Rakes, spears and swords were used as a means of defence as the men hovered over the cursed item given to them to protect. The demon was invisible to their mortal eyes as he ran around them with an untraceable speed, occasionally stabbing and disposing of a man here and there. Finally the demon ceased his invisible attack until of the fifty men only ten were left. His katana was bathed in blood, the tip allowing the blood to drip from the rouge painted blade onto the ground.

The men shook in fear as those narrow eyes now settled on them silently, the cruelty and inanimate quality to those golden eyes terrifying. Watching the youkai raise his sword to finish them off, the men threw down their weapons and turned to flee. The demon did not give them the chance. Using his other claw, the demon shot poison from the tips of his claws at the men.

Flying through the air, the green acidic liquid landed on their skin and instantaneously began to eat away at their flesh. The men howled and squirmed in agony to the horror of the women and children left to view this massacre. When the last man fell to the floor, his body twitching now and then as the green poison ate at his innards; the youkai stepped forward towards the small shrine in the middle of the village.

The women hugged their children to their chests, watching wide eyed, their cheeks stained with tears as the demon slashed the little wooden shrine open with his blood-stained katana and looked down into it coldly. Watching his claw rise into the air, the women flinched, scared they were to be the next victims of this demon's campaign for death, and watched the claw dip into the shrine and withdraw a parchment of paper.

The youkai turned on his black heel after placing the rice paper scroll into his hoari. Meeting the accusing eyes of the women and hearing an occasional sob from some over emotional fool, the demon stared at them unfeelingly.

After a moment of glaring at them, the demon began to walk to the gate, prepared to leave. He would not kill the ningen women and children. He had not been assigned to rid of them – just the soldiers and those idiotic enough to try and fight against his superiority.

A woman watched the demon begin to leave the village, and finding her voice finally, yelled, "Why? Why did you do this?"

The shrillness of her voice grated the warrior's sensitive ears. Stopping his stride form the massacred village, he turned his head slightly to the left to pierce the woman with the frigidity of his golden eye. Her question hung between them. His pale lips, however, did not move to give her her answer. Instead, the demon turned his head again and disappeared in a flash of white.

The woman stood rigidly in place, her tears streaming down her face. Staring at the many bodies of her friends and family, fellow villagers she had grown up with, the women sobbed and placed her head into her hands, falling onto her knees before the destroyed gate.

The warrior was once again at the small jutted ridge he had previously been observing the village from but a few minutes ago. Hearing the loud wails of children and women come from the village, the warrior ignored the depressing sounds and walked into the woods. Reaching into his hoari, he withdrew the parchment that he had been told to retrieve for the taiyoukai of the south-western province. Sniffing it along the edges, the pale lips of the demon tightened at the edges. It was clearly poisoned with a flesh eating acidic compound.

He would advise the taiyoukai of the booby-trapped edges of the scroll before he handed him the parchment. He could not have a customer such as the south-western taiyoukai of the tora youkai be injured. Stopping his swift stride, the demon closed his eyes slowly, his emotionless face calm. A bright green glow suddenly illuminated around his form and in a flash alike to a shooting star surrounded him in a ball of lime-green energy and shot into the sky at the speed of sound.

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"You should not have trusted the inu youkai teme, my Lord. He is not creditable." A smooth voice hissed.

A tall, strongly built youkai glanced up at his advisor slowly, a bored expression on his beautiful face hinting his growing aggravation. Keiji, Lord of the south-western province of Nihon, sighed and cast his advisor, Yukio, a silencing look. Keiji had listened to Yukio's complaints of the ashigaru he had hired this morning to complete a task none of his best-trained warriors could complete since the breaking of dawn. It seemed that the ningen who protected the scroll he needed had placed an enchantment that only the most powerful of beings could touch the scroll with out dying instantly. He had lost several warriors to the scroll in the last few months and had finally thought he would never be able to get the amatsu no sukuro-ru.

Then fatefully last night he had spoken to the northern taiyoukai of the ookami. The taiyoukai had spoken of a mission he had sent a very strong, mysterious ashigaru on to get a katana of some sort from the protected village of the dangerous oni youkai deep in the southern borders of Nihon. The taiyoukai had eagerly told a tale of how powerful this exiled youkai from the West was and how he had completed the rumoured 'impossible' task in less then a fortnight. His interest piqued (and his heart hopeful) Keiji had questioned the taiyoukai Michio about the infamous ashigaru.

Michio had painted a livid picture of an indestructible warrior sent from the Kami. He spoke of the youkai's intelligence, power and his cruelty. He had said the demon was heartless and almost a clay warrior in a way - unable to feel and thus made him perfect for any mission that required 'annihilation'. Keiji had been pleased with the review from Michio but had doubted the impeccable description the ookami taiyoukai had given on this mysterious mercenary. Summoning the ashigaru the next day, Keiji had been stunned.

He had never sensed an immortal with such power, intelligence and wisdom. Looking into those amber orbs that stared at him emotionlessly, Keiji had examined the mercenary closely, unable to believe the barren wasteland that seemed to be left inside of this youkai where his soul should have been. The deep, smooth voice of the demon had intruded his thoughts during his inspection. He could still remember those words spoken in that deceptively soft voice that had given him chills.

There are no missions I can not fulfil. I will complete any task assigned immediately with out flaw. I am the killing perfection.

Keiji had at that time stared into that angelic face of the youkai and shuddered at the coldness in his eyes. There was not a spark of life or warmth in those frozen gems and it had made him nervous. But Keiji had needed that scroll for not only his people but for the benefit of a few allies of his. Reluctantly, Keiji had accepted the ashigaru into his services and assigned him to the task of retrieving the scroll. Yukio had protested loudly the hiring of the mercenary who in turn had glared at his advisor with the most apparent death threat in his gaze.

Keiji had immediately dismissed Yukio to his apartments in the shiro and quickly debated with the mercenary the price of his services. It would cost quite a bit of gold for Keiji - he still winced at the reminder of the steep amount - but it was worth it. This scroll would be a fundamental asset to the cause of ridding of the ningen. They had used such a scroll to aid in the destruction of the sennyo a few centuries ago.

Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Keiji sighed. He still remembered that war that was, for an immortal like him, not too long ago. It had lasted over five centuries; at least one third of his life time. The powers of the sennyo had almost obliterated the youkai race in the war. When the time came that it looked as if the sennyo would reign over the youkai, the current Southern Lord had appeared and took control. Using several magical items he had stolen from the Kami, the Lord had combined the efforts of all the taiyoukai and their armies with the powers of the magical items into destroying the sennyo.

The sennyo were eradicated and the youkai were left supreme and victorious. After the war, the Southern Lord had to be killed by the last remaining youkai on that same battlefield that had been victorious on. The Southern Lord, Bishamon, had decided he wanted to take over the world by the use of the magical items he had taken from the Kami. In a desperate attempt, the other taiyoukai, including himself, had taken the magical items and cast them across Japan, out of the clutches of Bishamon. They had then been left for the battle against the crazed taiyoukai of the South and had just barely won the battle against him. The dying words of the Southern taiyoukai were remembered by all.

You have destroyed a race... the sennyo... in a quest for power... a quest that was my own. A race that was as old as this world has now been demolished from it. You have sickened and weakened the ties between this world and the next and have set the stones for the destruction of everything to walk across to it. I will be back to complete what I began. In another form if I must.

Keiji stared down at his shaking claw and quickly fisted it. Bishamon had been a puppeteer. He had fooled the sennyo and even them, the taiyoukai of Japan, into a war. Keiji had felt foolish and used, as did all the other lords. They had gone back to the hidden forests of the sennyo and had viewed their ruthless destruction of the ancient civilisation. Staring at the burning trees that moaned in agony, the countless bodies of the once supreme beings and the fading away souls of the slain had made more then one of them look away in shame.

'If only the past could be undone. It was a shame that our greed and personal desires were twisted and pressed upon us for Bishamon's own gain. The sennyo were important creatures for this world.' The taiyoukai thought inwardly.

Keiji sighed. He could not undo the past despite his desire too. The sennyo were gone and the item that Bishamon had lusted for and had been the cause and reason of his insane war against the sennyo was lost with the ancient civilization. The sennyo called it the akaderum hasa essente or in common nihongo, the life essence. It was said to be an item of ultimate power that had been created from the purest of magic - the essence of the gods. It had been passed to the sennyo to protect and care for this essence for it was the balance and power of the world itself. In the wrong hands, this mystical item could destroy or aid the entire world.

Keiji sat on his plush pillow at his table and stared at the document he was supposed to sign. He was brooding on the past and a few legends that only a lunatic such as Bishamon would listen too. He had more important matters such as the stability of his economy and the news of other provinces then of old stories long forgotten. Picking up his quill to scratch his signature on the rice parchment, Keiji froze when he sensed a chilliness enter the room that was accompanied by the troubling sense of foreboding.

Looking up, he met the golden eyes of the ashigaru he had hired.

Keiji froze his claw and, staring into that blank face, gave a small smile to the demon. Placing his quill down, he stood and bowed to the mercenary. It was disrespectful of the mercenary to not bow to him back but Keiji did not mind. He knew the history of this particular demon and decided it was more appropriate for him, Keiji, to bow to this mercenary. Watching the ashigaru stare at him coolly, he noticed the parchment in the demon's sash. His eyes widening, Keiji smiled unabashedly and turned to the demon.

"So I see your reputation is in tact. You have managed to acquire the amatsu no sukuro-ru." He said as he nodded towards the scroll.

The ashigaru gave a slight nod, his blank mask still in place. "Hai. There is a poison on this parchment the ningen placed along the edges. It will eat the flesh of any who touch it." The mercenary stated monotonously before placing the scroll on the table.

Keiji nodded. "I will get one of my servants to clean it. One of who is an expert in poisons. So you broke the barrier on the scroll as well?" Seeing the icy glare sent towards him, Keiji smiled a bit nervously. "I had no doubt of course. Michio was intelligent to recommend you."

The mercenary remained silent. Keiji knew he had to pay his end of the deal or face the consequences of this formidable mercenary. Withdrawing a large purse from underneath his desk, he handed the leather pouch to the mercenary.

"Your payment, ashigaru. You have earned this and ten fold." Keiji stated calmly.

The mercenary glanced at the leather purse and took it from the offered claw of the southern-west lord. Turning on his heel, preparing to leave, the mercenary paused his silent exit when he heard Keiji say,

"A message has arrived from the Eastern province for you. From the taiyoukai it seems."

The mercenary stoically looked at the lord and nodded as he accepted the offered message. Turning again, he walked out of the room and heard Keiji murmur,

"You truly are the perfect killer, Sesshoumaru-sama."

Ignoring the comment the demon had made, Sesshoumaru continued to walk through the halls of the shiro, pretending to not notice the frightened stares directed towards him. He now had a new mission and it seemed to be in the eastern province. Glancing down at the parchment in his claw, the mercenary turned the corner and entered the garden. Scrutinising the area around him for any onlookers and expanding his aura in case of any hidden stalkers, the pale demon was satisfied when both tests found the area clear.

Unravelling the scroll carefully, the demon read the few lines written in impeccably beautiful kanji.

I am in need of your service ashigaru. This mission settles the fate of youkai around the world.

Sesshoumaru raised a silver brow. It seems those who had judged and humiliated him were now depending on him - how annoying. Glaring at the parchment and deciphering if he should accept the task or not, the demon decided he would walk the way to the Eastern lands. A mission was a chance for some sort of amusement and occupation. Placing the gold from Keiji in his hoari, Sesshoumaru walked out of the shiro and off the grounds. The mercenary did not care about the shudders his presence caused to Keiji's people or the frightened stares of the other warriors whom served the south-western Lord.

He stepped onto the path that lead to the forest and walked into the towering woods, his white figure disappearing into the darkness to the relief of the viewers of the demon. A youkai soldier shook his head, his handsome face taut.

"Who was that creature? How is it he has such a chilly disposition? He appears to be made out of ice and just as dangerous." He murmured to his companion.

His companion nodded as he fidgeted nervously. "That was the ashigaru Sesshoumaru. He is a ruthless mercenary that is famous for his perfection in the arts of war and murder."

The other soldier nodded. "What do you think Keiji-sama wanted him for Taro?"

His friend shrugged his shoulders. "Wakarimasen, Keitaro. Only Keiji-sama needs to know that."

Keitaro frowned, his silver-blue eyes fixed on the disappearing white clad stranger. "Where did Sesshoumaru come from? The name sounds familiar..."

Taro smirked. "Hai. Of course it would be. You see Sesshoumaru was once the taiyoukai of the Western Lands for over five centuries. He was a part of the sennyo war which I assume you remember quite well." Seeing the glare Keitaro cast to him Taro continued.

"Sesshoumaru was powerful; too powerful in fact which he proved when he fought Bishamon. Sesshoumaru was growing to the status of a Kami and the other taiyoukai knew it. So they gathered together and gave him an ultimatum. To give up the leadership of the Western Lands or be killed. Sesshoumaru, being the stubborn bastard, refused to give up his lordship. The taiyoukai were preparing for another taiyoukai battle but a taiyoukai friend of Sesshoumaru's, Akihiko, intervened."

Keitaro scowled. "And what happened? What did Akihiko do to change Sesshoumaru's mind to give up the leadership of the Western Lands?"

"No one knows. Only the taiyoukai and Sesshoumaru know. But it is a fact that the leadership of the Western Lands were given to Sesshoumaru's hanyou brother, InuYasha. Supposedly the half-breed is leading well enough that the economy isn't falling apart." Taro snickered.

Keitaro raised a brow in shock. A hanyou leading the Western inu youkai? What a scandal on the taiyoukai part. No wonder Sesshoumaru would have preferred to die. A hanyou half-brother leading his rightful inheritance. A disgrace and humiliation no decent youkai should ever have to endure.

Not knowing of the whispers and gossip based on him at the shiro, Sesshoumaru walked down the dirt path that lead through the forests, his silken white pants not making even a whisper as he strode forward, his angelic face set stonily in place. Glancing around him cautiously, not trusting the woods for he knew of the distrustful thieves that hid in the bushes, the taiyoukai ceased his walk when a scent caught his nose. His legs halting, he raised his head higher into the air (if that was even possible for the arrogantly held high cranium of his) the demon sniffed the air again to confirm his suspicions.

He smelt a large neko youkai group only a few paces away. Shifting into the woods and hiding in the shadows, Sesshoumaru quietly withdrew the sword he had had made, Tokijin, from its protective sheath. He disliked neko besides the apparent point that he was an inu. Neko was distrustful vermin in youkai society; they played games and were reputed to be the most dishonest sort of demons one could ever encounter other then the oni youkai.

Silently treading through the woods, stalking his prey, Sesshoumaru paused when he heard a female cry. His eyes slanting thoughtfully, the mercenary leapt into a near by tree to get a better view of the group, masking his youki in case the moronic neko actually sensed him. Hovering in the branches of the stable red oak, Sesshoumaru observed the situation. A group of five neko youkai were in a circular arrangement that seemed to be surrounding a mortal female.

'A ningen.'

Sesshoumaru's upper lip curled. He should leave at this moment. It appeared the neko youkai were readying to rape the girl and he did not want to view such an act; he would pity the neko for having no standards. Sesshoumaru despised humans. His loathing for the inferior race that his species had fought against consistently since the sennyo war had been evident before the ningen had grown idiotic enough to assume they were better then their superiors the youkai.

The female shrieked as a guffawing neko grabbed at the front of her kimono and began dragging her to him.

"Onegai! Stop! I don't know you!" Hearing the scornful guffaws of laughter at this, she turned to their leader. "Why are you doing this?" she sobbed as she tried to push herself away from the smirking youkai.

The youkai purred when the little ningen's body came into contact with his. Pressing his evident erection against her stomach, he licked the shell of her ear slowly, ignoring her protests against his seduction.

"Because I want to little mortal. Now be a good bitch and just enjoy it." He murmured, his claw slipping inside of her kimono and searching for her breast.

The girl screamed when she felt his claw wrap around her breast and began fondling the silken orb. Her tears flooding her vision, the girl struggled against her captor, her heart racing as the circle of laughing, smirking beasts began to tighten around her. The blood rushing through her, her eyes wide with fear, the girl closed her eyes when she felt another pair of hands grab her by the hips and force her bottom to meet another aroused crotch.

The rustle of her obi being untied to completely bare her upper torso made her shudder in fear and disgust. Keeping her eyes firmly closed, unable to handle the sight of her own rape, the ningen froze when she felt her assailants stall their unclothing of her. Hesitantly, she opened her left eye. What met her sight she would never forget. In the middle of the path was a tall white figure looming in front of the neko group. His sword was drawn and prepared for battle, the evidence of the impending fight gleaming along the edge of the dangerous looking ken. The girl blinked in surprise, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Was this person going to save her?

The neko who had ripped open her kimono turned to the demon and snarled. An inu youkai... how he hated inu youkai. His green cat eyes flashing furiously, the neko gave the demon a venomous glare.

"What are you doing here inu? Do you not see we are busy?" He snapped.

Those amber eyes stared at him coldly, the winter wasteland quality to those golden flecked jewels making the neko youkai uneasy. His eyes fixated on the perfect features of the inu youkai, the neko hissed at him spitefully.

"Are you too stupid to have a reply or do you just go around taking out your sword and pointing it too everyone?" The neko demanded.

The pale lips of the stranger began to move and revealed a smooth, deep voice. "Release the ningen." The inu youkai ordered icily.

The neko raised a black brow at the demon and smiled at his laughing comrades. Turning his back to the shaking girl and ordering his friend too continue holding her, the neko sauntered towards the demon and stopped but five meters form him. A deathly silence settled between the two rivals, their eyes boring into one another. Amber met emerald as the two sets of narrow eyes swept along the other with keen scrutiny, the two rivals apparently assessing the other's abilities. The figure in white stared at the youkai before him with stoic iciness, his golden-flecked orbs becoming slits of amber with his rising anger.

The neko suddenly smirked. "Make me inu."

Sesshoumaru raised his head higher, glaring down his elegant nose at the miscreant who dared to oppose and challenge him. The mercenary tightened his claw around his ken, allowing the blade to become charged with his youki. If this fool wanted to die he was more then willing to aid him in his mission to join those in the underworld. His amber eyes narrowing into two golden slits in his pale, stoic face, Sesshoumaru slid his foot slightly to the left, readying to deliver a swift attack to the youkai who had now drawn his pathetic katana that was only half the size of his Toukijin. The youkai mercenary mentally sneered. The neko youkai was fooling himself into the thought of victory against he, Sesshoumaru.

The girl stared at the angelic figure that had appeared by what appeared from the Kami. He was so beautiful. How could such a being exist in this world? Her eyes wide with curiosity, the girl chewed her bottom lip nervously when she noticed the other three neko youkai had withdrawn their katana. How could this silver-white hair stranger hope to take on these four neko youkai by himself?

"Onegai... leave... they're going to hurt you!" she called to the inu youkai who currently glared at the leader of the pack.

Sesshoumaru ignored the girl. She was an idiot if she assumed he was saving her. He simply wanted to kill neko for the purpose of his loathing for the race. They were almost on the same level as ningen to him. Staring unblinkingly into the emerald eyes of his main opponent, Sesshoumaru raised Tokijin to his side, his face blank and his body ready for battle. He was going to enjoy this small amusement.

The girl watched intently, the tense scene causing her already quivering body to quake nervously. Her eyes flittering between her harasser and who she assumed to be her savior, the girl gasped when the white hair demon suddenly disappeared. Maybe he had taken her advice and left her. Her head bowed forward, the girl tried to repress her tears. While she had not wanted someone to die for her, she was still hopeful he could save her-

A shriek caught her attention, causing her to swiftly whip her head up to see the silver-white figure of the warrior behind one of the neko youkai, his blade running through the warrior through his chest. Gasping at the blood pouring from the fatal wound, she tried to turn her head to look away but couldn't when she saw the stranger leap into the air gracefully as he dodged an attack from two other neko youkai. Her eyes fixated on her angel of death, the girl screamed when she saw the silver warrior kick the nearest neko in the face as he descended to the ground and cut off his head before he fell to the ground.

Her lips parted in a silent scream, the girl shuddered when she saw the silver youkai dodge an attack from behind and swiftly switch his blade in his left claw so it pointed behind him and the neko youkai run into it. The attacker stiff as the demonic blade run him through, his lips a few centimeters from the demon's ear, he felt the blade be torn from his body and watched, wide-eyed, as the demon turned to face him. Staring at his and his comrades' blood dripping from the sword, he fell on his knees before the warrior, unable to speak as the blood pooled in his mouth.

Staring numbly into those cold, indifferent golden eyes, he gurgled once more before he fell to the forest path floor, dead. Sesshoumaru stared at the three dead bodies of the neko and slowly turned to the leader of the pack and the neko youkai who held the girl. The neko youkai leader stared at him with fear. Sesshoumaru inwardly smirked. The arrogant asshole had learnt a most important lesson; do not question your betters. Raising his ken again, Sesshoumaru stood where he was and looked at the shaking neko.

And then he was gone again in a blink of an eye. The girl looked around her nervously. Suddenly, she felt the claws let go of her and heard a sickening gurgling sound. Looking behind her, she froze when she saw her captor slump to the ground, her warrior appearing from behind his body, his blood stained sword the evidence of his annihilation of the youkai. Shaking as she met those frigid amber eyes, she watched the demon walk towards the remaining neko, obviously prepared to rid of him.

The neko stared at the demon in horror and turned to flee. Sesshoumaru sneered at the desperate attempt to escape and used his superior speed to catch up with the coward. Appearing in front of him, Sesshoumaru stared down into his pale face emotionlessly, his golden eyes flickering with mockery.

"Baka. Did you really presume you were going to win?" The inu youkai murmured, his mockery lacing his deep, smooth voice.

The neko shuddered, unable to respond. Opening his lips to try and defend himself verbally, he paused when he felt the cursed blade spear through his chest. Wide-eyed, he looked down to see the demon had stabbed his heart. Feeling the blood rise in his chest and into his throat, he dropped to the floor, dead. Sesshoumaru looked around him in a bored fashion, unfazed by the five youkai he had just massacred. Looking at Tokijin, his eyes slanted in annoyance at the blood stained blade. Kicking the neko to assure he was dead, he rubbed his sword's bloody blade on his hoari, cleaning the blade efficiently.

"Sumi masen... wh-who are you?" The girl stammered.

Sesshumaru had almost forgotten about the ningen and found himself annoyed that she was still alive and near him. Turning his head slightly, he glared at her icily.

"It does not matter to you ningen." He stated coldly.

The girl visibly flinched. Her large blue eyes staring up into his stoney face, she tried to give him a smile. "D-Domo arigatou... for saving me... that was very-"

"I did not do it for you girl. I simply despise neko." The silver warrior interrupted frostily as he sheathed his sword. His golden eyes piercing her very soul it seemed, causing her blood to freeze in her suddenly chilled body, she heard him say, "Almost as much as I despise ningen."

The girl winced. How could her angel turn out to be the devil? Looking up and noticing he was beginning to walk away, the girl gasped and ran up to him, jogging beside him. The youkai continued to stare in front of him, pretending he did not notice the annoying little mortal following him. Continuing to walk, Sesshoumaru felt his patience begin to thin as the girl continued to keep stride with him. Growling, he turned and pinned her with a fierce glare.

"What do you think you're doing, wench?"

The girl stopped instantly. Staring up into his eyes (she was rather short even for a ningen), she felt the tears begin to gather in her eyes.

"I have no where to go... I don't know where I am."

Sesshoumaru glared at her, his emotionless face becoming stony. "That is not my concern girl. Go to a near by ningen village. If you continue to pester me you will join the neko's fate." He promised coolly.

Beginning to walk away, Sesshoumaru heard the girl whisper, "I don't know where a ningen village is, youkai-sama. You see... I don't even know who I am."

Sesshoumaru paused and turned and looked at the distraught girl. "What do you mean you do not know who you are?" He demanded, not believing the ningen.

The girl's tears flooded over the rims of her eyes and flowed down her cheeks, Her bright blue sapphire orbs looking up at the warrior earnestly, the girl sobbed, "I don't remember anything since the neko! I don't even know who I am or where I came from!"

Sesshoumaru listened to the girl's words. Staring down at the pitiful ningen who continued to cry most dishonourably, the demon readied to leave her in the middle of the road to be raped or killed for all he cared. Turning on his heel, the demon ceased his exit when he felt a pulse at his side. His brow furrowing, he glanced at Tenseiga, the only heirloom he still possessed from the Western Lands. His eyes slanting thoughtfully, he watched the katana pulse again.

'Why is Tenseiga awake? It has not responded to this Sesshoumaru for over five hundred years.'

The demon glanced at the tear sodden girl who looked at him most pleadingly, her large blue eyes set in her small pale face beseeching him for mercy. Sesshoumaru almost sneered at the idea. Mercy was not one of his few abilities. He did not allow himself to have or perform such a ridiculous moral emotion. His body unrelentingly stiff, the mercenary eyed the girl thoughtfully, a calculating look in his eyes.

"Do you remember anything girl." He demanded stoically.

The girl blinked in surprise. He was giving her a chance? Her heart fluttering with hope, she shook her head. "Iie, youkai-sama. All I remember is waking up and seeing those horrible neko youkai hovering over me... I think I was unconscious for I was lying on the ground underneath a red oak tree deep in the woods."

Sesshoumaru listened to her explanation. He did not care about her pitiful story. He wanted to understand why Tenseiga was responding to this girl when she was not dead. Tenseiga only pulsed when it wished to resurrect a dead person. It was a curious matter he had in his claws currently. His eyes scrutinising her carefully, he examined the girl. She was only five foot six perhaps even a bit less. She seemed small built, her limbs long and fragile almost. She had curved body however, he could tell by the tears in her kimono that allowed his eyes to stray across her petite, curved figure.

Her skin was a creamy colour and texture – not pale but not dark either. Healthy if he had to explain it in a word. Her eyes were look a does; large, wide and fearful. They were, however, her best feature. A striking dark blue that shone in her pale face, her pink lips parted and her long black hair that waved at the ends that touched her hips. Overall, he had to admit this female was not the most unattractive ningen around. He could understand why the neko had allowed themselves to disgrace their race – the ningen wasn't a terrible looking creature.

But the most alluring characteristic about this girl was her foreign aura. It was pure, clean and strangely, innocent. In a time like this, no aura he had come across had ever been this strangely untouched by the world's cruelties. Sesshoumaru's pale lips tightened at the corners slightly, his annoyance growing. He despised this girl already. She was already causing issues for him just because of her mere presence.

'I should leave this wench. Humans are fragile creatures and this girl seems like an idiot. She will easily fall into danger and I will have to rescue her. And for what purpose? Because a rusted sword my Otou-san gave to this Sesshoumaru gave some sort of response?' He thought scornfully.

The girl stepped forward hesitantly. "Onegai... youkai-sama... please allow me to travel with you until I reach the nearest ningen village. I will be of no problem. I promise you I will not stand in your way." The girl gave him a pleading gaze. "Do not leave me alone, youkai-sama..."

Sesshoumaru gave the girl an annoyed look. "You may accompany this Sesshoumaru girl until the next ningen village." Seeing her blooming smile, he added coldly, "If I find you annoying or you do some sort of idiotic ningen move on your part, you will be left behind."

The girl nodded, a smile blooming on her lips. "Hai! Agreed youkai-sama!"

Sesshoumaru cast the girl a cool look. "My name is not youkai-sama wench. Watashi no namae wa Sesshoumaru desu. To you it is Sesshoumaru-sama." He stated in a bored tone, his angelic face indifferent.

The girl nodded. "Hai, Sesshoumaru-sama. Watashi no namae wa..." The girl paused, her face falling. Looking up at the demon, she whispered, "I don't know my name."

Sesshoumaru turned his back to the girl and began walking. "I do not need to know your name girl."

The girl frowned. Following the demon, she caught up beside him and looked up into his face. Her lips puckered in thought, she suddenly smiled. "I am going to call myself Kagome. Isn't it a beautiful name? I think it is a wonderful gift to be able to name one self." she sighed.

Sesshoumaru continued to walk quietly, intending to ignore the girl and her blabbering. The girl chattered now and then and he found his left eye almost twitching with annoyance. He was a loner and had been all his life. Not even his closest friend, Akihiko, had truly had the opportunity to understand him. Since his exile from the Western Lands, Sesshoumaru had been completely alone in the wilderness except for the times he was interacting with those he was hired to slay. The demon eyed the girl on his right. Seeing her smile and start humming, the demon inwardly growled.

He was already regretting his decision. Damn him and his curiosity.

_________________________________________

Names:

Sesshoumaru: Killing perfection

Kagome: A song/game

Keiji: Cautious ruler

Yukio: Gets what he wants

Michio: Man with strength of three thousand

Bishamon: The Japanese God of war

Keitaro: Blessed

Taro: First-born male

Akihiko: Bright boy

Word Translations (in order by appearance):

Ashigaru: Mercenary

Youkai: Demon

Akagashi: A large evergreen tree with dark brownish black bark.

Sakura: A cherry blossom tree.

Ume: A tree

Zizoukanba: A moderate-sized deciduous tree with greyish white bark, peeling off in horizontal papery flakes.

Urajirogashi: A large evergreen tree with dark greyish black smooth bark

Ningen: Human

Sennyo: Japanese elves/nymphs

Kami: God(s)

Yousei: Japanese fairies, sprites etc...

Tora: Tiger

Inu youkai: Dog demon

Teme: Bastard

Nihon: Japan

Katana: One edge sword

Ken: Double edge sword

Taiyoukai: Demon Lord

Ookami: Wolf

Nihongo: Japanese

Amatsu no sukuro-ru: Heavenly scroll

Shiro: Japanese castle

Wakarimasen: Too not understand/comprehend

Onegai: Please

Hai: Yes

Iie: No

Sumi masen: Excuse me (to get attention)

Watashi no namae wa Sesshoumaru desu: My name is Sesshoumaru.

Onegai: Please

Neko: Cat

-sama: Title of respect - 'Lord'