Chapter One:

The cackling sounds of the rising flames echoed off of the vast cliffs surrounding the large village. Terrorized screams of the victims of the slaughter joined in with the cacophony as the survivors scattered across the rice fields to escape the oncoming blood lust of the powerful demon. His growing laughter of the kill grew louder with each scream and cracking of bones as he came upon the rice fields to look over the forest over yonder. The demon's eyes glazed with the flickering flames as he raised his long six foot in length Katana to slice through the nearest human he could see. Blood spurted as the body fell limply to the floor, eyes of the victim soulless and dull. The tall demon continued into the forest, three more helpless bodies falling to the floor, robbed of their life. A woman clutching her toddler child in her arms tripped as she stumbled away from the approaching demon. Tears rolled down her cheeks, the child screaming in agony as the demon raised his sword.

The flames crawled onto the rice fields and continued onto the grass of the forest, dancing around the demon as the terrified woman's eyes widened as she looked up at her maker. The demon smiled with pearly white fangs protruding onto his lower lips as his dark green eyes began to seep into a crimson color, loosing control of his blood lust and yet not fighting it. He suddenly stopped and lowered his sword. Crimson blinked back to green as his smile faded to an arrogant grin. The scent of a powerful demon came to his sensitive nose as he turned away from the sobbing woman to the presence within the shadows of the trees.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, it has been a while since we have last been acquainted, hasn't it?" The demon chuckled as he lowered his long sword to his side. Sesshoumaru, the silver haired dog demon and Lord of the Western Lands walked with silent footsteps to the scene. The woman who gazed in bewilderment at the two demons, focused her gaze on the beautiful dog demon. Her tears flowed heavily down her cheeks as she quietly thanked him before she scrambled away.

"Wow, I would not have pictured a human saying such words towards such a demon as yourself." The demon who faced Sesshoumaru said amusedly. Sesshoumaru glared at the demon before him, his golden eyes almost mirroring the burning flames as his eyes revealed the emotion of the burning flames despite his calm demeanor.

"Senzuru." Sesshoumaru seethed with a cold indifference. "Your death was long overdue."

Senzuru's grin was cleared from his lips as his demeanor hardened at the demon lord. Sesshoumaru clasped Tokijin at his side with an elegant right arm and unsheathed the blade from his left side.

"You disappoint me, where is your anger? Where is your sadness? Let me see the emotions of the Taiyoukai who lost the very thing I took?" Senzuru replied coolly as he raised his blade. "Or have I yet to make your heart bleed."

Sesshoumaru released a fierce growl as he leaped forward to the demon with long brown hair and black stripes upon his cheeks. Their swords clashed as the growing flames engulfed around them, forming a ring around the dueling demons. Trees crumbled as birds flew from their nests to escape the fire's wrath.

Senzuru leaped forward, his long sword about to pierce Sesshoumaru's heart when his Tokijin blocked the strike. Sesshoumaru charged forward with several narrow strikes towards Senzuru, but the offending demon leaped back, barely dodging each swing.

"What do you desire now, Sesshoumaru-sama? Power? Respect? Property? The destiny of every Lord in this time of war require in order to be satisfied? Supreme conquest you may presume. But no, that cannot be for I have not taken that from you at all. I thought that was your dream, Sesshoumaru, Then why do you hold onto this grudge?"

Sesshoumaru said nothing to the ramblings of the demon as he slashed a green ribbon like whip to hit Senzuru, but the demon blocked each slashing motion.

"Is it for love? The cold-hearted Sesshoumaru in love with a girl like that? I find it hard to believe as would others that the Lord of the Western lands would obtain such a foolish thing such as love."

Senzuru and Sesshoumaru leaped up into the air and landed onto the cliffs just outside of the burning village, the clanging of their swords echoing off of the rock walls.

"You should be proud, however, she was a feisty one to kill, but all the more satisfying when she willingly sacrificed herself for the sake of mankind. But look at it now. The wars are getting bloodier and yet you do nothing to stop the slaughter."

"I am not like you, Senzuru, I do not kill senselessly. You are nothing but a lowly demon who cannot control your own beast in your veins."

"Ah, I beg to differ, for there is purpose. These worthless humans have lived long enough with their raging battles, growing like viruses throughout the Earth like a bunch of rats in heat."

"The wars will end soon, Japan will unite into one country and the feuds will fade." Sesshoumaru replied as he leaped back to avoid a strike from Senzuru. At the response, Senzuru laughed.

"You are a fool to believe in such a trifle thing. With every end of a war comes another. Whether it be for gain in wealth, land or dispute, Gaia is crying for release of these humans and I will be her vassal. All I needed was your woman. She was to be the sacrifice to end all of this silly warfare. And she played into it nicely, becoming the jewel itself, thinking she could save the ones she loved."

Senzuru held out the fragments of the Shikon No Tama and chuckled as Sesshoumaru's eyes glared at him.

"Is this why you didn't take the shards when you could have? Because it reminded you of that woman?" Senzuru clenched his hand around the shards and watched as the shards fused into his hand.

"The human race's days are numbered and Gaia will be at peace once I and the chosen demons that are worthy for her presence will inhabit this world." Senzuru looked up at Sesshoumaru as his feet began to hover over the earth's soil, a small smile playing on his lips.

"We shall meet again, our fateful fight before I shall destroy mankind."

Senzuru dissipated into the night air before Sesshoumaru could reach him. Sheathing his sword, he turned from the battle scene and walked away. His mind filled with memories. Memories of him and her until she was no more.

( A/N: I know it may be a little confusing at this part, but bare with me. This is supposed to be on some levels confusing. The confusing parts with Senzuru is supposed to show his character babble on a lot to reveal that he is a bit off his rocker. And the girl that Senzuru is talking about, it leaves clues as to who it is, but I'm not going to tell you yet. Muahahaha! Aren't I evil! Well, anyway, thanks for reading.)