Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.


Humans

Demons are superior to humans...

That is what most demons believe.

But... what makes them superior?

Demons live long lives and do not succumb to trivial illnesses that rag and break the frail human body. Demons have powers, with just one hand they eradicate and crash even tall mountains, with a look and a nod they control and command hordes of lower demons or beasts of any kind. Demons have deep knowledge of things beyond the material world, things that the narrow-minded humans can not even conceive, let alone fully comprehend.

These are just few of the reasons demons themselves have come up with, in order to verify their superiority.

And these are the reasons that make Kirara laugh at her kind's foolishness, and make herself more certain of her decision to keep "consorting" with humans, as many demons would say in a condescending manner.

Yes, demons do not die that easily from sicknesses and go on and on for centuries and millennia, but... What exactly do they do to fill up these endless centuries, decades, years, months, days and hours?

It's not that they have that many options, actually.

Usually, if benevolent, they choose a mountain, or a forest or something to protect and with that protect the frail humans, seeking refuge and settle close to them; in that case, the demon spirits are forced to maintain peace in the area and keep observing humans coming and going, living their lives and dying... but always from afar. However, if darkness and hate has found its way to the demons' heart, they choose the path of acquiring power but for the sole purpose of destroying the land, the nature and everything that includes, humans too. Both options lead to a dull or meaningless life that stretches on and on, without passion, feelings, adventure, hope... without actual life!

Kirara knows, very well, that humans are not always nice or good. In her long life, she has met all kinds of them; cruel ones, so worthless that disgust her and make her think of them as worse than demons, but also beautiful ones, in their soul, passionate about everything life gives them and about creating new, equally beautiful life through children, somewhat a rare occasion or need among demons. Kirara loves that immense passion in humans and that was why she has chosen that type of humans to live with and, why not, even serve.

Humans are capable of having the same intensity in everything they do. From cooking and eating a simple food to protect and, why not, shape the world. Kirara has seen it quite a few times but it always amazes her. The inner strength a human can exhibit even after losing everyone and everything they knew by the hands of a beloved.

The demon slayer the cat demon happily served and still loves deeply, had seen her father and comrades being murdered by her own brother, a puppet in a demon's hands. She herself might got lost in pain and despair for a while, got fooled by that demon's words at first but it did not break her. She found that sparkle of passion she needed to keep her going, keep struggling where no hope seemed to exist, struggling to save her brainwashed brother. Even if she failed to do so, killing him would be far better; at least, he would be free from the demon's wicked clutch. For endless months, Kirara kept watching her favorite human girl fighting the pain and her inner demons in order to remain true to her commitment.

Passionately committing oneself to a cause till the end of one's life.

Another notion demon's rarely understand, unless it is for their own gain. Strangely enough, humans can do it even if they, themselves, have absolutely nothing to gain; just because it is their duty.

Like a priestess Kirara knew very well, who dedicated her life and soul in fighting demons threatening human lives. Like another priestess, who went as far as taking her duty with her to the grave... And still pursuing it, even after being forcibly resurrected and left with half a soul - the half that could experience only hate and bitterness - even when she knew there were others capable enough to carry her load.

Like a monk Kirara has befriended, strongly committed in avenging his grandfather and father swallowed by a dark void in their hands. Determined to even sacrifice himself to that same void if it meant protecting the precious people he met on the way from getting devoured by it. To be honest, that human had kind of confused Kirara at first... He was not the best or holiest of monks to have ever walked the Earth; his words were deceiving, his hands wandering on women's bottoms, but the cat demon could not sense any malevolence from his person. However, when the demon slayer took upon herself the task of... keeping him in line, in a way, Kirara was sure nothing bad would happen.

Is that all there is in humans? No, of course not. That is just one side of them.

The spirit of human nature is so strong that it can even affect demons. Kirara knew for sure about a great demon lord, who chose to even sacrifice his long life to save the fleeting one of his human lover and their half-demon son.

A half-demon son that most humans deemed as an abomination, worthless creature, but one human woman chose to love the goodness in him and another chose to believe in him, accept and support, both in good and bad times. Kirara had seen with her own eyes this half-demon changing, growing from a crude, rude and selfish boy, to a strong man, a warrior and protector, willing to fight to the death for those he cared and loved; was it a young, weak demon or a human girl transcending time to be with him... after a point, it did not matter. As well as it did not seem to matter the time going by, waiting for the specific girl to be allowed to travel back in time again, once her heart was set and her final choice made.

The power of choice is one more human attribute Kirara admires deeply. Yes, human world is quite restricting many times - forcing women to bind themselves to men they do not love and men to ways of life they hate - but sometimes, some of them, possess such a strong spirit that can freely choose their path in life and the rest of the world has to just accept it.

One more such choice is being played out at the moment, right in front of Kirara's eyes, leaving her smirking in her way. She keeps observing a young human woman, happily returning from the forest, followed by a powerful, cool and seemingly detached demon lord...

He has given her the time and freedom to grow and choose the life she wants, but the cat demon bets this lord is actually quite stunned and beyond himself with happiness - despite doing an excellent job hiding it - by the woman's obvious choice of him as her mate. It seems he always thought his path in life similar to that of his father and he is right; only that, instead of just seeking more power to become the great dog demon lord of the West, he resembles his father more by gaining someone precious enough to want to protect, even if it is a frail, but so cheerful human woman.

Kirara could hardly hold her giggles, seeing the said demon lord's face, slightly changing from serene to annoyed at the view of a certain half-demon exiting a hut, with a face and expression similar to his. A demon and a half-demon half-brothers that shared more than they liked to admit, as they stood there, surrounded by humans who accepted, appreciated, respected and loved them.

{~}

"Time to go home, Kirara." The voice of a young man was heard, pulling the cat demon out of her reverie. "Oh, I apologize for ruining your relaxation..." He said regretfully, seeing the cat demon sprawled on the grass, her paws playfully kneading the ground and a strong, pleased purring coming from her chest. "The battle in the west forest was a little too much, right? Do you want to stay here for today?" He smiled through cuts and bruises adorning his face.

The cat demon simply meowed and got up, changing to her battle form, to be able to carry the young demon slayer; she would be fine. Her ears twitched at the discussion taking place a little further.

"Sesshomarou-sama, thank you for protecting Rin's friends, Kohaku-san and Kirara, when the monster split in two!" Rin said with wide eyes, looking up at the tall demon.

"Don't be insolent, Rin! Sesshomarou-sama always looks out for everyone who walks in his kingdom and punishes those disturbing order. He doesn't need a human to thank him or anything!" Jaken reprimanded the smiling woman.

"Jaken! Shut up. Let us go." The heavy, calm and quite cold voice of said lord was heard, making the small demon shut it in an instant and follow by climbing on his lord's fluffy fur hanging from his shoulder.

"Oi, lord Fluff, don't talk so much, you'll bite your tongue. Honestly, Rin-chan, what do you see in him? I wonder." Inuyasha said casually, exchanging glares with his older brother.

"As I wonder what I see in you, when you are being rude and nosy, like now." Kagome said, crossing arms on her chest and sighing, used to her husband's verbal spats with his older brother... one-sided verbal spats, actually, since Sesshomarou rarely bothered to respond. "I apologize on his behalf, big brother..."

"Oi, woman. What do you mean you wonder what you see in me? Haven't you said I can be adorable?" The half-demon said, twitching his dog ears and knowing how they affected his wife, who was already giggling at the sight.

"Ha ha ha, pardon me, my friend, but if you are the adorable one, then what that makes me?" The monk joked, looking a little tired, carrying his so energetic twin daughters.

Inuyasha stared at him with a funny look, got ready to respond but was cut off by a big puff sound and Shippo landing on the half-demon's arms, quick to catch the fluffy, young demon fox.

"No idea what you're talking about, but I am certain, the most adorable one... is me!" The kid said in a totally smug way that made Kagome and Rin laugh outloud and agree with him. Inuyasha and Miroku had their objections, but Kirara's attention was drawn by something else.

Her beloved slayer was slightly bowing her head to the demon lord, thanking him for passing from the right place the right moment and assisting her brother. "If it is not too rude of me, to ask you to keep an eye out for Kohaku... at least until the demon slayer village is back on its feet. It might take some time." Sango said and her eyes showed confidence that Sesshomarou would do so... In the past, he had even taken Kohaku under his wing for a short while.

"Sister, you are embarrassing me in front of Sesshomaru-sama. I can take care of myself just fine and I will organize our village soon. I have found many wandering slayers!" The young man's chest puffed with pride.

Sesshomarou did not respond, simply looked at the two slayers and then took off. Kohaku, climbed on Kirara and followed for a while until he turned towards the slayers' village. The cat demon was again deep in thought, the scenes that took place just a few moments ago, replaying in her mind.

Passion, commitment, free will and love... Yes, humans have these attributes, but are just the tip of the iceberg of the so complex beings they are; Kirara loves them so much and enjoysto observe them when they fight, laugh, play, love and so many more!


Happy New Year everyone! Be safe and healthy! :D

Wow, it's been some time since I published something but... sooo much work. Really, I managed to take a break only for two days during holidays.

I know that my last story was not liked very much, but no problem, that's the freedom of opinion. I actually enjoyed the different opinions I read about it. However, I liked the idea of examining various themes through the characters' points of views and I decided to expand it and create this little series. So... yes, more will come!

Note: The second part of the story was greatly inspired by the fourth chapter of the Yashahime manga. I watch the anime, I am not very pleased with it (today's episode was absolutely perfect and touching, though) but the way the characters' relationships are pictured in the manga, so far, make me warm and fuzzy inside! :)