Hello, there! Raven, at your service. This story is a "re-release" of a one-shot song fic I wrote ten years ago under the username Raven-999. Because I created that account so long ago I no longer have access to that email and cannot remember the password. I have been trying to figure it out so I can delete the original, but it seems to be lost in time and space. It's been a long time since I've been back, but, because the story had some positive feedback, and I just love this pairing oh so much, I decided to update it! I can't be certain at this time, but I would love to add some more chapters at some point and build on the intrigue between these two that has blossomed here. So please review, tell me what you think, and let me know if you want more.

Raven Rose.

I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters named herein. Otherwise I'd be a much richer person than I am currently.

Enjoy :D

Sango glared at the stoic dog demon in front of her, katana in hand, poised and ready for battle. Hiraikotsu lay about 50 yards away, lost in the heat of the battle. Blood seeped from deep gashes the demon lord had left on her forehead and thigh, a bruise of violent purples flowered on her exposed shoulder, her armor having been ripped away.

Sango eyed Sesshomaru carefully, holding steady, waiting for him to make a move. Determination flashed in her eyes as she watched him circling her, circling him. Left foot over right, right back to left. Sessomaru mirrored her every move, his face as placid and beautiful as a porcelain mask.

Sango's heart thumped heavily in her chest, sending thrills of adrenaline through her veins. He looked celestial; like a deadly god of war. It always amazed her just how beautiful – and dangerous – he really was.

Not twenty-four hours ago, Inuyasha had informed Sango of his elder brother's attempt on her own brother's life. Her mind had gone blank with rage; her vision turned red. What had Kohaku ever done to the demon lord? What threat did he possess? How dare he attack her brother?! Sesshomaru clearly had no regard for familial bonds, as was evident by his own strained relationship with Inuyasha, but Sango certainly did. She vowed she would teach him a lesson. She would make him pay.

She had jumped up and tried to chase after the demon lord that very moment, but Inuyasha and the others restrained her.

"Do you have shit for brains?!" The hanyou had snarled in her face, grabbing her shoulders with brute force. "He will destroy you. He's a demon LORD." He shook her, his claws sinking slightly into her flesh.

"Please, Sango-chan, listen to what Inuyasha says," Kagome walked over, gently placing a hand over one of Inuyasha's clawed ones, giving him a subtle glare. The hanyou loosened his grip, but still held fast to the slayer.

Miroku and Shippo added their own protestations, the monk entreating her, "Sango, we know you are strong, and you care deeply for your brother, but this is a fool's errand; we can exact our revenge when the time is right."

The little fox demon clung to her leg as well, staring up at her with beseeching eyes. "Yeah, Sango, just wait it out. We can do it together."

The exterminator's shoulders slumped, and her grip on hiraikotsu slackened. "Fine…" She finally conceded, looking away. She shook herself free of Inuyasha's grip, stalked back to the campfire, and plopped down with emphatic force. She stared into the flames as she brooded, and the others made sure to give her plenty of space.

However, as soon as Inuyasha and the others let her out of their sight for just a moment, Sango slipped away into the trees. No one would stop her from seeking the damned dog demon out. She knew he couldn't be far, and, fool's errand or not, her years of slayers' training would not allow her let this go.

There was a sharp snapping sound as Sango's foot came down on a twig, breaking her out of her reverie. Her grip on the katana tightened and she charged.

She swung her blade with precision, but Sesshomaru was too fast; he easily sidestepped the attack. Sango tucked into a tight ball and rolled off to the right, just in time to avoid his claws as they swiped at her retreating form. She felt the coolness of displaced air just inches from her back.

She used her momentum to tumble back up to a crouching position, just as Sesshomaru summoned his whip and sent it lancing towards her. Sango jumped backwards into a nearby tree, narrowly avoiding the sting of his weapon.

She panted heavily as she tried to hold steady, one hand clutching the branch for leverage, the other holding the katana out behind her for balance. But there would be no time to regroup. Sesshomaru growled as swung the whip with force once more, cutting straight through the thick trunk of the tree.

Her legs bucked slightly as she flipped from her perch, landing unsteadily on the forest floor and tumbling into the trees. From her crouched position she launched her katana at Sesshomaru as he advanced on her, aiming straight for his chest.

The statuesque lord turned to the right just in time, the demon slayer's blade embedding itself a trunk across the clearing, along with several wisps of silken, silvery hair. He stopped, eyes narrowed. He took a moment to assess his opponent, a look of casual disdain settling on his perfect features. Though his countenance remained as impenetrable as ever, his thoughts were not as composed as the façade he was putting up.

He was by far the superior fighter of the two, and though he clearly outmatched her, she had, much to his shock, knocked off a few shots on him. Moreover, her refusal to give in was proving to be quite bothersome.

Her large boomerang had caught him off guard, at first, crashing into his chest with surprising power. He had spun around just in time to see the infernal woman glaring at him, her long, dark hair swinging wildly about her, and fire seeming to spout from her eyes. She had screamed some nonsense at him about her brother and teaching him a lesson. He could almost taste her rage from across the clearing. It had been mildly intoxicating; exhilarating. He lived for the thrill of battle.

Had she not been such a meddlesome human, he would have almost been able to commend her fighting ability.

Almost.

Her impudence irked him, though. He told himself that it would be him who would be doing the schooling today. Such insults to his grand person could not go unpunished.

It was his turn to break their standoff, and now that she had no weapon, she would hardly be a threat. He sent his whip racing towards her once more, and she darted behind the trees once more. He swung his arm around his head and slashed again and again, slicing through several more trees, but to no avail. The slayer had circled behind him along the outside of the clearing, much quicker than he would've thought possible.

With a feral snarl, she pushed off one of the tree stumps. Leaping into the air, she released a hidden blade, slashing into the his arm as he brought it up to shield his face. Sango grinned with satisfaction as she felt her knife cut into cloth and flesh alike. She ripped the blade back, cutting away a piece of his fine red and white robe.

Her celebration was short-lived, however. As she attempted to duck away, he brought his other hand around grab her wrist and snatch the blade from her arm. He threw it to the ground, still clutching her wrist tightly, painfully. The two locked eyes, and Sango was surprised to see more than cold calculation and bloodlust in Sesshomaru's eyes; but also a kind of grudging respect, and… intrigue?

Sango was intrigued to find she felt the same way.

She took advantage of his brief pause, placed her feet against his chest, and flipped backwards away from him. She landed gracefully and stood to regard him once more. The silken fabric of his robe caught in the breeze, floating up into the air above them. Blood dripped from his arm and hand, but he stood the same as her; watching, waiting, searching.

In that moment the two warriors understood each other.

The sleeve came fluttering down as the breeze died, landing on the forest floor between them. Weapons forgotten, the two charged simultaneously.

They came together in a blur of chaos, crashing together with urgency. Sango wrapped her arms around his shoulders, as she felt his arms come around her waist and lift her into the air. Their lips met, pressing hungrily into one another, submitting to a desire that felt so natural. His body felt warm and sturdy against her own. There was a soft rush of air and a gentle thud as they fell to the ground rolling over and over. His legs came around her and she felt compelled to press her body against his. She ripped his robes off his shoulders, revealing the glory of his chiseled body. Her breath caught for a moment as she marveled at him.

She felt his own hands working around her slayer's garb and reveled in his touch. She could feel him admiring her as well, and it sent waves of pleasure through her. They held onto each other fiercely as they surrendered to a basic, feral instinct, allowing their bodies to become one, for just a moment.

Sesshomaru wasn't sure how much time had passed. The dusky sky was turning from deep orange to purple, and a few stars twinkled above. They laid next to each other, completely unselfconscious. Though they didn't speak and no longer touched, they were close enough to hear the other's heartbeat.

He wasn't sure what this meant, except that they had each finally found someone who understood them. Their need for battle, their need for release; the pumping drive of being a fighter, bred to perfection for that very reason. Their encounter was an unexpected, but welcome, revelation.

Sango turned to look at the demon lord, a thoughtful look crossing over her face. Propping herself up on one elbow she said, "This doesn't change the fact that, if you ever try to hurt my brother again, I will kill you," and she grinned wickedly.

Sesshomaru turned his head infinitesimally to regard her, his eyes lighting up with the barest hint of amusement. Before she had a chance to react, he flicked her on the head, regaling her with a faint smile of his own.

He had won the match.

Or so he told himself.