Hey y'all, this is kind of a short about a half demon girl, who is Inu Yasha and Sesshomaru's cousin. Her name is Hotaru, or firefly. She had been hunting her full demon brother Takeru since he murdered Hotaru's lover. Hotaru runs into Inu Yasha and Kagome in the woods and shortly joins then in their quest. Koga shortly shows up and really ruffles Hotaru's fur ;).

Trees blurred past the half demon girl, her golden ears caught the fading sunlight, she was so damn close. Takeru's sent burned in the demon's nose, ears picked, fangs bared, and power fueling her muscles. Hotaru was not letting her brother get away this time, the bastard would pay! Hotaru winced as a thorn hit the pad of her bare foot, of course damn it, she paused to get rid of the bother. As Hotaru stood back up she froze, another half demon was near, and with a human. Her golden ears flattened to her head and she growled, they were in her hunting path. She took to the trees, leaping like a lemur, fast as the wind. The sent was vaguely familiar, someone she should know. It was a sent from the demon's past, a dark and haunted time before...before him and before Takeru. Damn Takeru, what right did he have to make Hotaru's life hell. They didn't call her the firefly for no reason, Hotaru pulled Kaji, her claymore sword. The glowing red bland lit the twilight, bathing the girl in a eerie glow, an angel of death. She burst from the trees, growling her challenge to the darkening sky, the silver haired demon whipped around. His golden eyes flashed and he pushed the human next to him out of harms way. He pulled a long, curved sword out of a katana sheath, the bland was way too long for the slender casing. Now Hotaru was really confused, and then the sent hit her hard, she flipped. She hit the ground hard with her feet and fell on her knees, then face, damn it hurt! The silver haired demon cocked his head and studied the downed half demon.

"Hotaru, no way, it's been like sixty-five years!" He looked confused

She stood, brushing dirt off her tight black leggings. "Inu Yasha, to long cousin, to long. In the company of a human I see, you still favor them." She smirked, small fangs poking over her lower lip.

Inu Yasha smirked back. "I wondered when I'd run into you, I just caught a whiff of Takeru's sent. You're his bitch so I had to assume you were following." His golden eyes were narrowed.

I bristled. "I am not Takeru's bitch Inu Yasha. I see you have another little human priestess chasing after you though, we thought you'd have learned with Kikyo. Goes to show you can't teach a old dog new tricks." The human flinched at the mention of my cousins ex- lover.

Inu Yasha winced as well. Kagome is nothing like Kikyo, for one thing shes weaker, and she did a shitty job or guarding the jewel " He winced as soon as the insults were uttered, the girl looked close to tears. I could smell the anger coming off her in waves. She was shaking and staring at her feet. Inu Yasha grabbed her shoulders and whipped around to face her. "Kagome, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it, Hotaru put me I a mood!"

She turned away from him. "It seems like you never mean it Inu Yasha, when ever you run off to see Kikyo or say something about her being better then me. I don't care anymore, you'll never love me the way you love her, it stopped hurting along time ago." She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at me, smiling brightly. "Hello, I'm Kagome, Inu Yasha and I are searching for shards of the scared jewel, would you care to join us?"

Kagome

She was pretty, not in a stunning, flawless demon girl way, but in an almost normal way. She had a long scar running down one side of her pale face, passing over a perfect aquamarine eye. She always tilted her head so the sun caught it, showing of the mark that marred her beauty. Her hair was long and black, with streaks of sliver and gold running through it. She dressed almost like Sango in demon slaying style, but all black and with a large sword belted across her back. She had a sad air about her though, for a young demon she carried a great burden. My priestess powers allowed me to sense the in-pureness of her aura, this girl had seen death. Her blue eyes were so sad, I felt bad for the young demon. Inu Yasha was glaring at her, he clearly didn't want his cousin tagging along with them. She seemed shocked, like she didn't expect the invitation.

She looked down at her bare feet. "If you require my assistance priestess I would be honored to accompany you."

She was so polite to me, nothing like the way she spoke to Inu Yasha, I liked her. "You said your name was Hotaru, I like it, I would be honored if you would join us in our search Hotaru." I smiled at her and grabbed her hand. "We can talked about girl stuff now, anything, sometimes it's so boring to just have Inu Yasha hear. There are so many things I can't talk to him about!" I grinned, I hoped I could help this demon fell welcome in our group without Inu Yasha chasing her away. She seemed shocked by my invitations and fearlessness around her.

Hotaru

The priestess, Kagome, was so nice. She was nothing like the Kikyo woman Inu Yasha had loved before. I was shocked about how comfortable she was with me, she showed no fear. Inu Yasha was pissed off, I could smell the anger rolling off him in waves. He stormed after us, Kagome skipping ahead pulling me with her. They were searching for jewel shards, I had heard that the sacred jewel had been broken. I knew where one of the shards was too, I had fought a demon in possession of a shard just nights ago. He was a fire demon, and we had been evenly matched, so we went our separate ways. I had no death wish and he knew we would both walk away badly injured if we continued our brawl. I turned to the young priestess, "I know where a demon with a shard is, I fought him a few nights back", I grinned.

Inu Yasha growled. "Why wouldn't you mention this sooner Baka! We have been traveling all over fighting demons!"

I scowled. "Sorry for not thinking of it sooner, if you want my help you'd better mellow out!" I was bristling with rage, he rubbed me the wrong way. Kagome jumped between us, glaring at Inu Yasha. "Fighting among ourselves isn't going to help us get that jewel shard any faster. Inu Yasha, fighting will be easier and quicker with Hotaru helping you. Hotaru, you can't tease Inu Yasha like that, I won't always be there to break things up!"

I grinned. "Sorry Kagome", I glared at Inu Yasha, "the shard is in the possession of a powerful fire demon, we fought and parted when it was obvious there would be no winner without sever injury."

Inu Yasha snorted. "It will be easy to find the place you two fought, fire wielders never have complete control of their power. You're always losing control Hotaru, no wonder your parents kicked you out!"

Kagome closed her eyes and balled her hands into fists. "Inu Yasha... sit sit sit!" My eyes widened as Inu Yasha smashed face first into the ground, the beads around his neck glowing. I couldn't help smirking in triumph, this priestess had a better grip on my crazy cousin then I first thought. I laughed then, the enraged look on Inu Yasha's face and Kagome's blazing eyes, they were the perfect couple. They both looked at me with confusion. Kagome walked over, "whats so funny Hotaru"? She was completely oblivious. "Nothing Kagome, don't worry about it." I smirked and retraced my steps, we could track the demon from the last place I fought him. Kagome and Inu Yasha were bickering behind me, making it hard to concentrate. I flattened my golden ears to my head and shook out my hair. Takeru would have to wait, it had been along time since I had a friend. Hell, my last friend was...was him, and that hadn't ended well. Kagome was messing with the quiver of arrows thrown over her shoulder, hopefully planing on shooting my loud mouth cousin. I had always like Sesshomaru better then the half demon, he always dismissed me as a pest though. My nosed twitch, meat was cooking, somewhere close to where I had battled the night before. I pricked my ears and gestured for the other two to quiet down. It was his sent, the demon from the night before, stupid for staying in the same area. Kagome leaned over and whispered in Inu Yasha's ear, "it's a shard, I can sense it". I had told them so, I wasn't a baka!

Inu Yasha sprang up into the trees, I followed, glancing at the abandoned priestess. She was standing alone, scowling after Inu Yasha. I jumped back down and landed next to her. "Hop on, I'll give you a ride to the demon, just be care not to knock Kaji out of his sheath."

Kagome looked confused. "You treat your sword like a living being, Inu Yasha has never talked about Tessaiga like that."

I smirked. "That is why my naive cousin has yet to master his blade, he had no clue the power he could harness." Kaji was more then a living being to me, he was an extension of myself, an extension of my soul. Kaji had been my mothers, a beautiful wolf demoness who ruled her land with and iron fist. Kaji was left to me when Takeru inherited Banish, the dark blade, from our grandfather. Banish was more then Kaji's match and we had dueled violently many times. We had often wiped out swaths of forest in our bloody battles, and neither had ever conquered the other. Takeru like to go around saying he was stronger then his half bitch sister, but he couldn't beat Kaji. Hotaru had almost forgotten about the human girl perched on her back until Kagome pulled one of her golden ears.

"Um, I know this isn't a good time Hotaru, but can I ask you a question?" She was blushing slightly

"Ask away Kagome, I don't have a problem with it." I mentally slapped myself, if her question was about Inu Yasha I had no clue what to say.

She was still blushing. "what happened to you? Why is the energy that flows around you so dark and tainted with revenge?" She fidgeted nervously.

I mentally slapped myself again, of course, if she asked a question about me I might not know how to answer either. "Um, I have a very... jaded past Kagome. Someone hurt me badly and I've been hunting the cause of that pain since then." I ground my fangs and followed Inu Yasha's sent, please don't talk any more!

"Your brother, Takeru, he killed someone. I could sense it form the whirlpool of emotions you just released, sorry." She cringed against my back, ready for whatever wrath Inu Yasha would have released on her. I just sighed instead, defeated. "It's fine little priestess, I don't like people prying in my past." Kagome winced, "I get that Hotaru, your past is privet and it was unacceptable for me to go shuffling through your emotions".

I landed, my feet hitting the hard packed earth next to Inu Yasha and smelled the air. The fire was close, and so was the demon, and by now he must have smelled us too. I growled involuntarily and touched Kaji's hilt. Inu Yasha sensed my stiffness and touched my arm, motioning for me to stay still. Kagome crouched behind both of us, stringing her bow. I sniffed the air again, the demon's sent had vanish, I crouched ready for an attack. My eyes were glowing, I could feel my demon taking control, I rested my hand and Kaji and felt my urges fade. Thank you friend. Inu Yasha sent me a puzzled look as he felt my aura die down.

"Ya do know all that energy you were releasing would have helped us win right?" He looked confused.

"Of course I do Inu Yasha! I prefer a more complex style of fighting then using my brute strength to over power an opponent!" He was already grinding on my nerves.

"Keh, just like Sesshomaru with all that talk about form and technique. Fighting is about who's stronger and better, screw all that girly crap!" He tilted his head, ignorant through and through. I jumped as something bolted out of the trees. "Inu Yasha! Lookout damn it!" He was startled by my out burst as I launched myself forward. The demon grunted as I crashed into his side, knocking us both flying. I hissed as I ate dirt, skidding across the ground, a growl rumbling in my chest. He stood on the other side of the clearing, red hair carelessly thrown across one shoulder, obsidian eyes sparkling with mirth. "Well if it isn't the little demon girl form the other night, and with friends this time. You what to go round two honey?" He cocked his head, grrr, just like Inu Yasha.

"Bring it you useless excuse for a demon, you can't beat me!" I grinned and grabbed Kaji's sheath, he was gone. I panicked, the demon held my sword. No way, there was absolutely no way he could steal Kaji without me sensing it. He was good. I had to fight, it couldn't cave due to one set back. "So girl, since I'm not in immediate danger of having my head severed I thought I'd share my name, Yuuta. Now what's your name pretty puppy?"

I burned with rage, he stole my sword, dismissed me as not a treat, and called me a puppy. "Die Bastard!" I lunged, my claws raking inches away from his face. He danced back, "interesting name puppy". His laugh rang in my ears, he was pissing me off! I roared and swung a high kick, hoping to catch him in the face. He flipped back and pulled Kaji from his sheath. He sniffed the glowing red bland and wrinkled his brow. "It is a masterfully made sword, I haven't seen one like it since the death of the great dog demoness. "Yes" I spat from between gritted fangs. "I am her daughter and that sword is my birthright!" Yuuta laughed. "You speak of birthright, you should be mine then betrothed!" I froze, "what the hell did you just call me"?! "Ayaka promised you to me little demoness, while you were still tottering around in diapers, when I pledged my allegiance!" He was burning with rage, "you vanished when I came to clam you, Ayaka said you left when you got sick of being a half breed misfit" he growled low, "now I can reclaim you fire princess"! I backed away from the demon, a new fire had lit in his black eyes. I had forgotten about Inu Yasha and Kagome until a arrow whipped over my shoulder and almost impaled Yuuta. Inu Yasha flashed past me, his sword pulled out. "Run Hotaru, we'll catch up to you later!" His own amber eyes burned with unleashed flames. I was the firefly though, and I never ran! My flames burst into existence, fuel by cold rage and my demon powers. Kagome looked at me in awe, and I was awe-inspiring, my flames turned me into a warrior no one had conquered. Yuuta looked at me, glancing past Inu Yasha and sighed. "She really is the most beautiful demon to walk this earth, just like her mother!" He sprang past my cousin and raced towards me, Kaji grasped in one clawed hand. I roared, my power flooding the clearing, every demon within miles would sense my rage. Yuuta laughed and fire sprung to existence on his own balled fist, we were both users of this element. Inu Yasha and Kagome stood back, awed at the display of power from the two fire elemental fighters. Yuuta grinned and swung at me, his fist whizzing by my head. I dodged quick as the flames that engulfed me. My kick connected and the demon flew across the clearing, smashing into an oak tree with the force of a rock slide.

He stood, brushing dirt from his side. "Damn girl, that fucking hurt, you're gonna pay!" He flew at me, eyes raging. I grinned and blocked, fucking with the older demon, he had no clue who he had chose to mess with. I roared and my flames flared, scorching his side. He growled and hit the dirt again, I landed perched in a tree. "Fuck you bitch! I can't wait to tell your brother what kind of greeting I got. He'll drag you to me by your hair!"

I laughed. "Takeru, he can't beat me in a fight either, and believe me, he's tried. I guess I'm too much woman for either of you to handle!" My smirk made his eyes burn with even more rage. Inu Yasha pushed Kagome behind a trees and whispered at her to stay. She glowered. but complied, sensing that the situation was dangerous. Yuuta lunged again, and this time I twisted my blade from his grip, laughing as Kaji amped my power even more. The sword vibrated in my hand, wanting to taste the bastards blood. I hissed and felt the blue fade from my eyes, replaced by the flickering orange of fire, I was a demon. My demon side was strong, it was hard to conquer. Yuuta's eyes widened and he turned. "I'll be back you little bitch, and you better believe I won't be alone!"

A fire portal opened up in front of him, he was quick, I was quicker. He blanched as I landed before him, demon eyes blazing. "Shard, now!" He winced. "Here, you want it so bad, take it, Takeru will give me a new one anyway!" The coward threw the shiny piece of stone at me at raced through the portal, it closed after him. I collapsed, the demon dying inside me. Inu Yasha landed in front of me and snatched the jewel shard. "That was either really dumb or really epic Hotaru, and I don't know which." He seemed awed. "I need to sleep Inu Yasha, that was too much power all at once." I was fading fast.