Disclaimer: i don' own Inuyasha. what a sad day this is...

About a Bounty Hunter and a Bat Demon

(It differs between facing your fears and having your fears face you. All in the same manner as how there's a difference 'tween overpowering them and having them overpower you. Now only you can decide! Will you still say laying in chains? Will you still stay lying in the bondage of your fears and worries and doubts? Or will you break free and raise against them with your head lifted to the heavens! Because only then can you truly… truly be…)

The Pirate Random Ms K

"If I can stop you, my grandfather will kill papa. That way, I won't have to watch momma choose him over me."

Aurora stood there, silent, her admiration wearing away. The brat wasn't doing things to survive on his own; he was looking to someone else to do it for him. 'Like father, like son' as they say. "Leave me boy. I do not wish, nor do I have the time to talk to you." His determined glare pissed her off. "Your father will raise his hand against you again."

"He can't if he's dead."

For once, she was at a loss for words. The quick reply was something she didn't expect coming from a whipping boy. But even if Aurora were to kill the mighty bat demons and claim her price, would Hideki accept her? When it all came down to it, it would he his decision. Not Machi's, not her husband's; his. Would he really want to leave everything behind for a sense of adventure? "Wanna come with me kid?" she bent down to his level.

"What do you say? Wanna come and watch me in action? Maybe you'll get your first taste of blood other than your own." The words were out before she could stop herself. Her words were inconsiderate of the torture Hideki's been through, but suddenly, she realized how little she cared. We all have problems and this little boy just happens to be his father's currently favorite stress release.

Hideki's trembling voice brought Aurora out of her thoughts. "If I can't stop you," he started, balling his fists to keep his hands from shaking, "if I can't stop you then take me with you. Take my life."

Behind her hood, all emotion left her face. The confusion of going back and forth with this little boy might not be worth it. But things never come easy. Sighing, Aurora looked into his eyes. The pearls of his eyes pierced her. She was afraid to look at them; afraid to look away. The question was, how long will she stay like this? Like the time she first laid eyes on Sesshomaru; afraid, to paralysis, to do anything.

She opened her mouth to speak before a slight hesitation. As she reached her hand out for his shoulder, a knife went flying through it.

Blood.

There was blood dripping from her hand. Aurora neither flinched nor yelled in pain. She couldn't feel it. When Rooster told her no one would ever be able to hurt her again, she didn't understand at the time how literal that was at the time.

An aged bat demon, Hideki's grandfather I'm assuming, descended from above, his right arm stretched out as if claiming to the world that he was the one who injured her. Honestly, his pose looked ridiculous, but Aurora was too busy being fascinated by the beautiful color that dripped from her hand to care. The words that spewed from his mouth mattered not to her until he finished with the oh-so-familiar words. "I will kill you."

"Hn? You'll kill me? That's funny, seeing as how you're my next assignment." She let out another sigh. "Your grandson is paying me to get rid of you. Apparently you've been doing things you shouldn't have. What's the meaning of this gramps? She's married. She doesn't belong to you anymore. Have you earnestly been ignorant of the consequences?

Hideki's grandfather locked his jaw and lifted his chin in obvious annoyance. It seems he doesn't want to chat if he isn't the one doing it. He doesn't need to justify his actions to anyone. 'Sounds like he's exactly like Hideki's father. Maybe that's the reason he won't approve of him. Maybe it was because he felt that he was being replaced by a fake, human, copy.

"Old man, am I not worthy of you gracing me with an answer?" she asked sarcastically, amusement on her face.

"DIE!" he shouted a reply, baring his elongated claws, thrusting himself at her.

Kill all those who stand in your way. The friend of my enemy is also my enemy. That is the way of the world.

Kill all those who stand in your way. The friend of my enemy has nothing to do with me unless I'm paid to kill the unlucky bastard. That is my way. The world can rot in hell for all I care.

"Die?" she laughed, dodging the deadly swipes he made with his arms, always looking forever graceful. "what makes you think you, of all demons, can kill me? Very interesting, love. Now…" she mused, severing his right wing with the shot of an arrow. Such a… beautiful color.

The old bat demons eyes widened with horror as he stared death in the face. Aurora moved with the grace of an angel, but the stroked with the power of the devil himself. The desperation visibly showing on his face was laughable. Watching him cower in fear was just the same. Interesting. Very interesting.

"Wait! Wait, please. Listen to my proposal," he begged. "If you spare me-"

"Spare you? I'm being paid to kill you. Think of my reputation if I were to turn on my client. We wouldn't want that now would we?" She mocked, holding her arrow to his neck in attempt to behead him. It's his own fault. He wasn't up to talking when she wanted to, now only 15 minutes into the fight, he's begging for his life!

"Spare me and, and I will leave my granddaughter to live in peace with that human! Surely you understand my disgust."

Not really…

"I will acknowledge him worthy to have her. If you were to work for me, we could conquer the western lands!" he smiled broadly. The hood shrouding Aurora's face in darkness scared him. He couldn't figure out whether she was taking everything into consideration, or just didn't care, so he continued. "Then we could go on to Northern and Eastern lands, and finally the south. It's very tempting is it not? Think it over. Remove th-"

SHENK

She removed the arrow alright. Releasing it from her hand, she watched blankly as his head hit the ground. Conquer the Western Lands, he says. Now how do you expect her to accomplish that when she has a hard time already killing the lord of these very lands? But no one knows that. That's how she wants it to be. How it should be. If she could defeat that demon, that beast, her one and only weakness, then there would be no more problems. World domination would be an easy task to accomplish, but until then…

"Sorry love. Even if you had me, you would never be able to slay Sesshomaru, the only man my arrows can't pierce nor can my blade cut."

It was a little too late did she realize her tongue escaped her. She revealed her one vulnerable spot without noticing Machi's lover hiding in the shadows behind Hideki. Aurora cursed herself, wondering what this coward would do with this information: leak it out to everyone? Threaten her with it? Or just go to the almighty bastard of the western lands himself and use his power against her? "Tch! Coward…!"

x.X

X.x

"You are Lord Sesshomaru are you not?" the now frightened bat demon bowed. When he came here, he did not expect to see such deadly beauty with an aura as calm as the sea. He stood tall; proud as always. His eyes of pure gold looking lazily off into the distance. "Please lend us your assistance." A short pause. "Um…" another pause. The silence was unbearable. What could be so damn interesting for him to continue staring? "Well, that is."

To Sesshomaru's annoyance, the bat demon creped around to stand next to him. Obviously he can't take a hint. The way the ignorant demon kept talking, knowing he wasn't listening was just plain irritatingly pissing him off. He lifted his hand, flexing his fingers as if preparing to strike, pausing at the last two words that left the demon's mouth: "White Demon."

"The White Demon?" he repeated, masking his amusement.

"Yes, my wife and I have lived peacefully without son, Hideki. Now a powerful and ruthless king is threatening our very existence. There was no way he could do this alone, so he gained the allegiance of the White Demon. I would have killed him myself if he didn't have my son!" he smashed his fist against a nearby tree for dramatics. If he's going to sell something believable, might as well make it look believable. "The bastard!" he added just for laughs.

O-o

o-O

Hideki watched in awe as Aurora slaughtered 2/3 of the horrible bat demon tribe. One by one, they fell before her feet. One of the lucky few slowly made his way past her deathly arrows, raising his sword above her.

RED

Absolute pure crimson went making a home for itself on Aurora's white cloak. She turned to see Hideki out of breath, his sword sticking perfectly out of his target's head. She smiled, both shocked and amazed that this little boy could have this type of skill so young. Not all half demons – or demons period – have perfect aim when throwing yards away. There is much more to this little bat demon than he's putting on.

Pretty soon, everyone fell back, leaving the bat demon and the bounty hunter in a dead silence. Hideki blushed from the awkwardness. A couple more minutes past before either one of spoke again. "You're a woman aren't you." the young bat said it as a statement instead of the question it was supposed to be.

She reared back as if slapped as the wind knocked her hood clear off. Aurora folded her arms across her chest and lifted her chin, looking him defiantly in the eyes. "Yea, I'm a woman, what of it? More or less I'm still the White Demon. I can still get rid of any demon that crosses my path, an' I can still kick your ass if you piss me o-" She was cut off by the feeling of a very powerful demonic aura coming in their direction. It was in all aspects of the word, terrifying.

"Miss? Hey! Miss, what's wrong?"

It can't be. This is too soon! My heart still isn't completely recovered. Dammit! The coward!

"Hideki, I want you to go back to Machi and wait for my return," she said as calm as possible, looking in the direction Sesshomaru was coming.

B-bmp!

Out the corner of her eye, she saw Hideki still there, shaking. She already knew what his father would do to him. Who could blame him? The boy had what was coming. He decided his own punishment the moment he stepped foot outside the castle grounds, but she still couldn't see him cry. Not anymore. Not that boy.

"Listen to me. I was already planning on taking you under my wing when I walked in. Understand that you are the most valuable treasure your father has. He loves you even more than he loves Machi. You have to believe that," she stopped, walked over to him, bent down to his level, and patted him on the head. "Can you not feel it young love? Can you not feel it coming closer? So close… You. Mean. Absolutely nothing to me dead."

She could tell her words weren't taking his fear away. What she couldn't tell was if he was actually listening. Hideki reached his small hands out and grabbed hold of her cloak. His knuckles turned white from his tight grip. "I want to stay with you momma," his confusion announced, grasping her tightly, finding comfort within her slow-pacing heart beat.

B-bmp

He's here.

Too late.

"Coward," she said through grit teeth. "Are you really that scared of me to ask for outside help?"

"Shut up," the bat demon said calmly, confidently. "What about your client? He hired you to-"

Before he could finish, an arrow pierced his chest. The two situations were under different circumstances. Besides, are they not demons? Do they have no shame in gaining help to defeat a mere woman? A human woman? What the hell is this?

B-bmp

"Be. Quiet. I'm getting paid to kill you, and I will enjoy doing it. Slowly. Painfully." Aurora walked over to him, placing her blade to his neck tauntingly. "Now, have you anything to say?"

"…demon."

"Hn? What was that?"

He laughed seductively once her ear was right beside his lips. He wanted to make sure she understood him. He wanted to make her regret ever coming in contact with Machi and her husband. Most of all, he wanted to do something that would not only hurt the White Demon, but claim revenge against the mighty king as well. Hideki should have been his son, but now

"Heh. We are gonna kill that half-demon brat you have a sudden interest in and seize the power of the White Demon."

Widened eyes.

Aurora stayed in her position with a terrified look visibly showing. It's all her fault if anything happens to him. She was just angered and threatened that this bastard brought Sesshomaru into all of this. But she was the one who brought Hideki into this. *we are going to kill the half demon brat...*

"Oh no," she said, for the first time, helplessly. And everything after that was a blur. All in slow motion. She was trapped in Sesshomaru's dance with no escape to get to her charge.

b-bmp

His sword slashed across her arm. Even though she couldn't feel it, she could see drops of crimson falling like feathers, to stain her snow white skin.

B-bmp

Caught in a festival of her own blood, Aurora stared blankly as Hideki being whipped to death by Machi's lover. If he wanted that, he could have gone back home. She didn't need him to be there.

B-bmp

Hideki's screams and cries for a savior wasn't worth it. None of this is worth it! "Hideki!" He looked horrifired.

"Very interesting Aurora. The very thing you decided to make a living on killing, you want so dearly to save. But instead of worrying about the boy, you need to worry about defending yourself."

B-bmp

"Hideki…"

B-bmp

"Momma! Don't let him kill me! Momma! MOMMA!"

"Fight them!" Aurora shouted as Sesshomaru slashed his sword across her thigh. What she really needs to do is worry more about herself at this moment. That damn brat was the one that followed her of his own free will. She did not drag him into this. Even so! "Hideki! Fight back! If you don't, you really will die! Is that what you want?"

B-bmp

He wasn't doing anything. Hideki was just lying there, allowing the many whips to leave passionate expressions everywhere; marring his beautiful skin. He looked just as dead as Aurora now did. This was not what she wanted. She didn't want him to give up, she didn't even want him to be there in the first place dammit.

Sesshomaru's eyes went from gold to red. Aurora's attention should not go to any other man or demon but him, so why wasn't she acting like she's supposed to? Why the hell isn't she looking at him? Annoyed, he lifted his poisonous claws, trying to gain her attention. Trying to make her remember what happened when she was infatuated with Rooster, and Rai, and everyone else. Look at me! "If you're not going to fight back, then you're better off dead," he coldheartedly announced, curling his lips as their eyes met.

"So this is it? Is this really the end for me?" Breaking eye contact, Aurora let her eyes be captured by the stars above her. "Can you remember Sesshomaru? This is just like the day you came to me, dying from poison. You told me," she swallowed. "You told me that you weren't planning on coming to me that day, but without knowing it you found your way to me. And it was that day I vowed to take care of you. Forever and for always."

All those precious memories were coming back to her. Who knows, maybe it was her life flashing before her eyes. "Ok," she said, out of hope. "Ok," she said again, gently closing her eyes. "You win. I give up. I just give up. It's not worth it. I'm not, I'm not strong enough!"

Sesshomaru stopped, his hand with determination to punish her, but refused. And so he just looked at her. Admitting her weaknesses and crumbling beneath him. Absolutely beautiful. To him, she looked the same way she did 10 years ago in her well decorated kimono.

"I'm scared. I am known as the White Demon, Reaper, Immortal one, Death. Pain is inflicted upon me yet I feel nothing. The gift of love and of life was offered to me, yet I feel nothing. I don't feel a damn thing! If I keep this up, I'll end up just like Hideki's father. What I fear most is losing myself to you. I'll soon slit my own throat before I allow that to happen. It's not worth it!"

As she grabbed hold of his hand and held on tightly, his eyes changed back to their golden purity. "Say, Sesshomaru, will you spare me until Hideki frees himself? I have to see him make it out alive. He who reminds me so much of myself 10 years ago." She searched for a yes in his yes. She pleaded for one with hers.

He slowly let up, allowing her to shield Hideki's blood drenched body with her own. She couldn't feel any of the lashes, so it didn't matter how many times they did it. And Sesshomaru just stared on, comparing Hideki to a 7 year old Aurora.

0.0

Hideki opened his lavender eyes in wonder why he wasn't feeling pain anymore. He shot his head up once he noticed Aurora's figure protecting him. "Stop… stop it! Stop it!"

"Hmph! Who do you think you're talking to? I told you you're not use to me dead didn't I?" she was trying to put on the tough guy act so Hideki wouldn't worry.

"Doesn't it hurt?" he asked, looking caringly into his "momma's" eyes. Looking for her reason for doing this.

"Of course it does young love. Pain always does, but I've learned to fight through it all, so it's ok for me, now what about you?"

"What?"

"You are so much stronger than you give yourself credit for; too strong to be cowering from a measly whip." She looked saddened at his lack of a response. "You know, my dear friend once told me 'There is a difference between facing your fears and having your fears face you. All in the same manner as how it differs between overpowering your fears and having them overpower you.' Do you understand Hideki?

Break free from them!" she shouted words of encouragement. "Don't say lying curled up in a shell. Take my mistakes and learn from them. Make them acknowledge you as someone to be feared. Make them see that you are not someone to be taken advantage of. Make them understand why the infamous White Demon claims you, above all others, her ally!"

…

…

This section of the episode has been edited for the bloody, gory content, but please enjoy the rest of the story ^-^

The pirate Random Ms K

…

…

Hideki took the two heads back to the castle and waited for Aurora to come claim him.

Sigh. I'll leave this world with one regret and that's…

"You mentioned earlier, Aurora, that you were offered love, yet you felt nothing."

"Yes."

"Even now, do you feel nothing?"

"Yes." Liar

He came closer to her, circled around her, hawked her figure as if he hungered for it. Sesshomaru found it in himself to stop right behind her. So close. So close that if she leaned back just a centimeter, their bodies would touch.

Ever so slowly, Sesshomaru used his index finger to trace a serpent up her spine to the nape of her neck. "Really Aurora?" he teased, warming the back of her ice cold neck with his breath, piercing her skin that caused blood to trickle down his fingertips, and tending to it with is tongue. "You feel nothing?"

"Shut-up!" she roared as she knocked him back. She didn't want to hear it. She didn't want to hear a damn word that came out his mouth. Just what the hell is he trying to do here? "What the hell…?" she asked; anger, frustration, confusion taking over her body. "What the hell! You want to kill me right? Then just do it. You don't have to torture me in the process. Stop messing with me! Stop playing with my emotions. You already know I can't-!"

He kissed her. He kissed her with everything he had. He kissed her like there was no tomorrow. The lord of the western lands was going to make her forget regretting her love for him even if it killed her. She was his to do with as he pleased. Forever and for always!

"Stop it!"

He kissed her again.

"No!" And again. "Sesshom-!" And again.

Finally, she gave in to Sesshomaru's threateningly passionate kisses. She was too weak and tired to fight against him. She was too depressed and confused to do anything about it. Truth be told, she wanted him to have his way with her, she wanted him to take advantage of her. It had to be Sesshomaru and no one else. Aurora wanted to kiss him, she wanted to kill him. She wanted to embrace him; she wanted to squeeze the life out of him. She wanted to take care of him forever and for always; she wanted to send him to rot for eternity in hell.

"Why are you doing this?" she whimpered from a loss of contact with him.

"You feel nothing?" he teased.

All emotion left her face at this. Yes… Aurora felt too ashamed of herself and her emotions towards him. That's right. Along with her memories of the past, the way she felt towards him in the past were returning as well.

"Aurora."

Shut up. Stop talking. You'll ruin everything.

"Aurora," he breathed again.

Idiot. Idiot! Don't say anymore. Just walk away.

"Come with me."

He got no response. The depressed woman before him kept her head down; her eyes disconnected with him. "Come with me."

"Now?" she trembled with rage, balling her fists so tight her knuckles turned white. "You say that NOW? Where the hell was that 10 years ago? Where was that last year or the year before that? Why didn't you take me with you when you killed Rai? My family? Or how about the day you killed Rooster? Just where the hell were you then, hunh?" When she didn't get a reply she grabbed hold of his face, forcing him to look at her. "I loved you. You took EVERYTHING from me and I still loved you. I jus, I just wanted to be with you!"

"Come with me," Sesshomaru said again. Just those three words.

It was her turn not to reply now. She was heartbroken all over again, wrapping her arms around him for support. Aurora made Hideki break away from his fears, now it was her turn. It's her turn to stand on her own two feet. No one else is going to help her along the way; the bastard killed everyone she loved. What now?

"I can't Sesshomaru, I just can't do it. Hideki needs me."

Hideki? The half demon? So she's going to choose another man over him? Again? "You should remember this, Aurora. I am a jealous man." And after that, he left.

=D

"Well? Are you ready to go Hideki?" Aurora smiled, her cloak was swung over her shoulder. For right now, she decided to stop hiding behind her hood that shrouded her world in darkness. She decided to let the world see her for who she really was. If Hideki was willing to change, then Aurora's the next person.

"Your wounds are healed. I'm so relieved."

"Yea, but you know we're gonna have to get you a cloak too. The apprentice to the White Demon has to go by something. We gotta make it cool though."

He thought on that for a bit. Light bulb! "How about I go by Hideki and you go by Aurora?" he smiled broadly.

*Come with me* Sesshomaru's words whispered in her ears.

I'm going to stay with Hideki.

*You should remember this Aurora, I'm a jealous man.*

"Say, Hideki? Let's not stop. Let's not look back until we're beyond the border."

Ms K's Nonsense:

well alrighty then! *whoots and shimmies on the dance floor*

soooo how'd you guys like episode 3? when i first started writing this fanfic, i wanted it to be a corny Romance novel, but then Sesshomaru's character shouldn't be changed. but some people here do really good OOC, *stands and claps for you* I on the other hand love Ms Rumiko's Sesshomaru and tried ta keep his calm, cool, collective nature (ROOOAAARRR! WHATEVER!)

what i'm tryna say is this. i wanted it ta be a corny romance novel, so i was giddy that i did that this episode. seriously, i jumped up and down.

about the names for Hideki, well i told you i wasn' very creative when it comes to names, so i just said "skip it" know what i mean, they're gonna keep their names.

once again for the next Ep. i still need names for the demon lord of the south and some random King. If not, their names will be "default"
but it's whatev. i forgive you.

anythin else? hmmm... oh, if you like my story, tell me you do so i can keep writing. If you don' like it, tell me it's crap so i can just stop here and move on to the next story *thumbs up*
i kina feel bad for not uploading the first chapter of my other story. sooooooo for those who's read the prolouge, it's your fault there's not another chapter yet cuz you din't review.

BOOOOO! BOOOOO! *cries* *eggs your car*

well that's it! whoot!
Stay Random
The pirate Random Ms K

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