A/N: Readers Beware! This story is rated M due to the graphic violence that will be depicted as I continue.

***WARNING***Graphic violence and death are depicted in this chapter. If you are squeamish or dislike reading about any violence, please do NOT read. Be advise as this story is now rated MA. To the rest of my readers, I hope you enjoy.

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The years had passed, but time had become meaningless to Sesshomaru.

In the outskirts of the Eastern side, the crowd began to fill the stands overlooking into the small battle yard, hungry for entertainment and bloodshed. Within the gladiator barracks, the men prepared for battle and began putting on their armor, if it could be called that. The armor given to the gladiators were merely used and worn out padding that couldn't protect a child against a spoon, let alone a man against a sword.

Looking out from the gate, a tall demon gladiator stood without expression; his long silver hair fell past his shoulders like fine silk down to his lower back, and his golden eyes, devoid of any emotion, became lost in the heavy rain that poured over the battle yard. No longer a pup, Sesshomaru had grown to become a strong and fearless fighter – a gladiator and a crowd-favorite despite his demon status.

As a gladiator, Sesshomaru wore very little armor, finding that the useless pads only restricted his body's natural movement and hindered his fighting abilities. For today's match, Sesshomaru chose to fight wearing only his leather shoulder guard, leaving his chiseled abs exposed, a praetorian leather battle kilt, simple leg paddings and leather wraps around his wrists, covering his demon markings. Many would believe him foolish or even make the mistake that he had a death wish to fight with so little protection, but he was not afraid. Sesshomaru was the strongest gladiator, undefeated, earning the name The Killing Perfection. Sesshomaru refused to allow fear to rule over his life; it was one of the small pieces of freedom that he still possessed. However, today it was more than that. He simply desired to feel the rain fall upon his skin. The rain reminded him of the Western lands; the home he was meant to rule over, the home he would never see again….

Since his youth, the cowardly human leaders had led a crusade to exterminate the demons across the country, declaring them an immediate and dangerous threat. As part of their plan, human armies were sent to attack demon territories without warning or mercy, slaughtering any and all in their path until none remained. Much like the attack on his family in the Western lands that fateful night. There were very few demons who survived the massacres and those who did survive were either forced into exile or sold into slavery.

For Sesshomaru, he had been sold into slavery, but it was not long before his owners discovered that he was a demon with untold power and strength. Although intrigued of the profit they could make using his demonic strength, they were still fearful of his power should he decide to fight back. In the end, they managed to find a monk who gave them a mystical bracelet with a suppressant stone that no human or demon could remove; only those with holy powers had the ability to remove it, and being the cowards that they were, they had placed the bracelet on Sesshomaru while he was unconscious. From that day on, the cursed trinket had cut off Sesshomaru's access to his youki, leaving him as powerless as a human for many long years.

However, this did not mean that he was without his strength. As a demon, Sesshomaru had become a much sought-after gladiator by the crowds and slave-owners.

"Killing Perfection! Your death is calling for you out there." Snickered one of the guards. "Let's see if you can live up to your name in today's match this time."

Sesshomaru did not acknowledge the guards, but knew what they had meant. As a highly skilled and undefeated gladiator, his owners wanted to keep his matches interesting by doubling, tripling or even quadrupling the number of opponents Sesshomaru fought single-handedly, sometimes without any weapon to defend himself. In the end, it made no difference to him. Even without his youki, his strength was notorious and without match, but only against his fellow gladiators. Never against his human captors for the infuriating suppressant stone prevented him from ever using his strength in retaliation against his betters. As gladiators were branded by their owners with symbols that the stone would recognize, it would allow Sesshomaru to use his demonic strength against his enemies, but those without the brand, the stone would render Sesshomaru helpless, preventing him from ever attacking a human, even in self-defense.

From the gates, Sesshomaru could see his opponents; at least six men get into position out in the battle yard. The gate slowly began to open and the crowd cheered with excitement, signaling that it was time for Sesshomaru's match to begin.

Without fear or hesitation, Sesshomaru calmly made his way out into the yard, ignoring the women who swooned over his rock-hard muscular body, his perfectly sculpted abs exposed to their lust-filled eyes. In addition to being the strongest and longest undefeated gladiator, Sesshomaru was very well known for his unnatural beauty and masculine sex appeal.

The moment the rain drops hit his skin, Sesshomaru momentarily allowed himself to believe that he was back in the Western lands, as a lord in training, not a slave used for the entertainment of disgusting humans.

After a moment, Sesshomaru returned his attention back to the barren battle yard. With no weapon, Sesshomaru was forced to use his bare claws and primal strength. From beneath his long silver hair, his cold eyes regarded his six opponents who held a combination of swords, spears and battle axes, all useless against his superior strength and speed.

The first to attack was obviously the bravest of the six, charging as fast as he could towards Sesshomaru, waving his sword wildly against the demon gladiator, missing his target with every slash. Sesshomaru had it beaten into him long ago to prolong the matches for as long as he could, never killing his opponents instantly, which would bore and enrage the crowds. Drawn out and brutal battles would give the crowd a more entertaining show that they would happily spend their money to see. As his opponent continued with his wild attacks, Sesshomaru merely dodged each attack effortlessly until he grew bored of this dance.

It was not long before that happened.

Sesshomaru grabbed the man's wrist in his claws, using his strength to shatter his bones before ripping his arm straight from his socket. With his other claw, he tore through the flesh of his opponent's throat, his blood showering onto the ground along with the rain.

His cold golden eyes turned to the remaining five men, now shaking in terror after seeing this demon's abilities. Hoping to combine their strength, the human gladiators attacked Sesshomaru all at once, aimlessly stabbing and slashing their weapons at the demon gladiator.

Using his demonic speed, Sesshomaru tore through the flesh of each of his opponents with his claws, their blood spilling onto the ground and splashing his body. To ensure that the crowd was given a good show, Sesshomaru would first maim his opponents, drawing out deafening cheers before ending the gladiators' suffering. Although he was trained as a pup by his father in the art of combat and fighting styles, he did not pride himself in learning the art of torture with humans as his teachers.

Soon, only one opponent remained.

The lone gladiator, small and weak, gripped his battle axe tightly in his hands. His angry eyes met Sesshomaru's emotionless gaze. With a snarl, the human ran towards his demon opponent, raising his axe above his head ready to strike.

In a white blur, Sesshomaru suddenly appeared behind the human gladiator, his back turned to his opponent.

Confused, the human felt a loud thud directly behind his feet. Looking down to see that it was his battle axe now on the ground, the human gladiator looked up with shocked eyes to see that his hands had been sliced off. Before the human could make a move, Sesshomaru stabbed his opponent's torso with his claw, tearing out his heart in one quick thrust. This ignited an amazed and excited reaction from the crowd as they cheered at the carnage displayed before their eyes.

Throwing the lifeless body to the ground, Sesshomaru briefly watched as the heavy rain washed the blood from his claws. With a stoic demeanor, Sesshomaru made his way back into the gladiator barracks, never acknowledging the enraged gaze of a fellow gladiator from behind the gate on the opposing side.

From high up in the balcony, a wealthy slave-owner called Byakuya had been watching the battle with deep fascination. He had been sent by his lord to the small providence to look for "new talent" to take back home and until now, he had been unimpressed by these weak and underfed gladiators, but this demon gladiator sparked his interest. This demon was exactly what his lord had been looking for in preparation for his upcoming gladiator events.

To his side, Suikotsu, the trainer of his gladiators spoke, "Such wasted talent out here in the provenience, wouldn't you agree?"

Byakuya replied with a smug grin, "Make the necessary arrangements. Tomorrow we shall return home with Lord Higurashi's newest batch of gladiators."