Qualities of a Hanyou.

Strength.

InuYasha's breathing was ragged. He wanted to fall down, but that wouldn't show everyone how strong he was. He stared at the demon across from him, and he swallowed. He caught his breath, then heaved Tetsusuiguia, holding it out in front of him. The muscles in his arms were burning. He had been fighting the same demon for almost two hours now, and Sango and Miroku were already out of the fight, too wounded to fight any longer. Kagome was tending to Sango and Miroku, about ten feet behind him, and was casting worried glances at his back. He didn't care.

The demon charged forward, and shifted shape, taking on the appearance of a dragon. InuYasha braced himself for any attack that he might launch, but the dragon stopped a few feet away from him. It opened it's mouth, and roared at him, revealing row upon row of pointy white teeth. InuYasha wasn't scared. He summoned up his remaining energy, and jumped forward, bringing his sword down, trying to split open the demon. The demons long snake-like neck slipped around his attack, and a taloned claw came up, smashing InuYasha out of the air.

InuYasha brought his sword down, sure that he would get the demon. His eyes widened, and he cursed as the demons head snaked out of the way. He caught some movement out of the corner of his eye, and turned too late, a clawed hand slamming into his body, knocking the wind out of him, sending him flying through the air, to come to rest at the base of a tree.

InuYasha coughed, wiped the blood off his chin, and tried to catch his breath, realizing that his lungs weren't working. He shook his head, ignored Kagome's cries, and dropped his sword in the dirt. Immediately, he could feel his demon blood unleashed, and it was only a matter of time before he transformed. He had better move quickly, for he wanted to kill this bastard without transforming.

He staggered forward, and a few seconds later, his lungs kicked in. He drew in a breath of oxygen, and jumped at the demon, left arm pulled back as far as it would go. The demon countered, raising it's right leg, swiping at InuYasha. InuYasha grinned, and cut right through the demon's tough leathery skin, blood spraying everywhere, soaking his already dark red kimono. He landed, as the dragons roars of pain filled his ears.

"Shut it!" He yelled, walking forward confidently, slashing his clawed hands across the demons throat. More blood sprayed, and InuYasha jumped up, dragging his right arm across the demons throat, until he reached the top of his jump. As he started to fall, he realized that the wound he had recieved in an earlier battle had opened, drenching his side in blood. He grinned, grabbing his side. His claws became covered in his own blood, and he silently launched his Blades of Blood attack, slicing the demons head off as he fell from the skies, landing on the ground.

The demons head hit the ground, and a few seconds later, so did the hanyou. Just for a second. InuYasha, on his hands and knees, caught his breath before getting up, lest anyone see him.

He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but the fight had been hard. His demon blood roared at him, and he quickly retrieved his sword, silencing it. He thought about the battle. He had almost never won. But he had the strength to, and he had won. His eyes hardened. Nobody was ever going to call him weak, as long as he was able to stand and fight.

He would always stay strong. He spotted Kagome running over to him. He decided that if he didn't get stronger for himself, then he could at least do it for the people that couldn't be strong.