• The Cost of Life


    *Alone…?*

    The mighty hawk demon of Kinosha circled tauntingly above. “Is that all you have?!” he screeched, “I’ve heard a deal o’ rumors about you. The mighty White Demon! No matter how many times you knock him down, he always comes back. The hideous best is immortal! Yet here are you? I don’t even sense your presence! HA! How path--”

    How pathetic? Is that what he was about to say? Before he could finish, the “White Demon” severed his head with an arrow. “I am pathetic?” the White Demon laughed softly as the wind blew off the hood of the cloak, allowing you to see a beautifully grown Aurora.

    Her long hair, running down to the small of her back, was wrapped with white lace, restricting it from flowing freely; black. Her eyes: focused blue and purple orbs. Her cloak blocked all from seeing her scarred body.

    "I am pathetic?" she asked again, whipping the blood from his neck and looking at it amusingly. "Hm. Such a pretty color."

    And another happy customer.

    The life of an assassin was somewhat difficult, but at times interestingly rewarding. Your name becomes well known to many beings; both human and demon alike, both pathetically weak and strong as hell. Who wouldn’t love this profession? Minus all the A- and B-class demons out for your head to prove a point, but besides that, it’s de-freakin-lightful!

    Surrounding herself within her cloak once more, Aurora walked back to her client’s castle and threw the hawk’s head before his feet. The women shrieked in horror, trying to cover exposed flesh with what little fabric they could find. Even some of them men jerked back at the sight of the beast’s wide-eyed head. Her anxious, frightened mustered up whatever courage he could find to remove himself from his shiny throne. He poked the head of the hawk a little more times than was necessary before asking the obvious, "Is it dead?"

    “I brought you his head,” she answered, no life emitting from her voice. Nothing but icicles. ‘You can keep it, of course, as a gift from me. I find humor in you being a coward with the constant need to have others accomplish things for you. But, because I am kind, I’ll allow you to take credit.”

    What will you do young Lord…?

    His face brightened instantly. It’s been nearly 10 years since Aurora has seen a man’s face go from disgust to glee in less than a second. "Ah! Perfect!” The young Lord exclaimed, drawing her from her thoughts. “May I now be so blessed to see the face of my savior?"

    Her answer came out simple, cold. “No.” if only he could see the disgusted sneer she was giving him now. Aurora made it a policy to never allow her clients or prey to lay eyes on her. She’d allow them to make whatever assumptions about her. How do you think she came by her infamous name the “White Demon”?

    "Oh come one. I just want a simple upon you. Is that too much?"

    She turned to leave. "They don't call me the ‘White Demon’ for nothing."

    "Wait! Friend! Stay and have a few drinks with us. This is a joyous occasion. You single handedly destroyed the plague that's been terrorizing us for months now. Afterwards, you'll get your reward. As much gold as three full ships can carry!"

    She turned to face him. "What would someone like me need your money for? It comes as of no use to someone that is constantly on the move. Hm… yes, I already claimed my price."

    "What?"

    "Yes… someone very important will come to visit you soon. In order to persuade him to give you his daughter, you will present this head to him as a gift. You will get his daughter, make love to his daughter, and it is that woman that will destroy you. Your name will indeed be remembered in history for all eternity, but at the price of your soul rotting for all eternity in hell."

    A moment of silence came upon the room “You've got to be kidding." He finally laughed. "Not only are you strong, but you're a jester as well."

    "I told you before I accepted that my price had to be something very valuable to you."

    "Yes."

    "Your pride is the most important thing to you… my lord; if you wish to have my presence again you'll burn the head of the Hawk."

    "And if I don't?" he challenged

    "Then the next time I'll see you would be at your funeral. Now take a look around you. Look at all that you have and cherish. Choose wisely Lord Shizumasa. For once, I want you to swallow your pride, stop leading with your body parts, and do as I say.

    One look at him and you could tell he wasn’t going to let an opportunity like this get away. One look and you could tell he’s the foolish type who believes he can escape his destiny. If he has a chance to keep his name remember for the ages, then why the hell wouldn’t he do it? Her warning was pushed back to the far corners of his mind. “Alright my friend,” he smiled. “If you believe it’d be best, I will o as you say.”

    Aurora started into the black pearls of his eyes then turned to walk away while he shouted his offer of power to her again. She remembered the words Sesshomaru asked her before he claimed her life. 'Is it worth it?' Truthfully, she never really understood what he was trying to tell her until now. Is it worth losing everything for your won gain? In some situations, yes, but in young Lord Shizumasa's case…

    "No…"

    Young Lord Shizumasa would present his head to the mighty Hawk demons father. He offered it to him in exchange for the daughter. He loved her. He loved her dearly. They even had a son 5 years later. As it turns out, the son gouged out his own father's eyes; his punishment for boasting about killing his dear uncle. His dear wife in which he so loved tortured and penetrated him for 10 months straight before devouring his heart whole.

    "Is it worth it?"

    Sesshomaru's words kept ringing in her ears. Only one tear was shed at his burning; from Shizumasa's beloved wife that was forced from his still beating heart.

    "Is it worth it?"

    Sesshomaru's words kept ringing in her ears. One week later, Shizumasa's still beating heart overtook his wife's heart and they stopped beating together. The son she had with her son was a still born just two days before.

    "Is it really worth it?"

    Sesshomaru's words kept ringing in her ears. The half-breed Hawk demon allowed the painful sadness of loneliness to enter his heart. He disregarded his human half fully, becoming nothing more than a lustful demon that was killed by the White Demon.

    ninja

    Aurora walked silently by herself through the forest; a lifeless shell. She knew of the future. She knew it all too well. But alas, time waits for no man. The future soon becomes the present, and the present becomes the past. No moment ever really repeating itself, no moment ever really turning out the way it's supposed to be. No fate can ever be changed by just words, but by actions. Just by saying you'll do something means nothing.

    The b*****d of the western lands never said he wouldn't destroy her family after killing her, but why would he even bother with her if he was going to do what he wanted anyway?

    "This is it," she sighed deeply as she stopped walking. This was the very spot she stood when she first laid eyes on Sesshomaru. It was this exact spot.

    Aurora slipped her cloak off her shoulders allowing the moon to envelope her and illuminate her pale skin. She allowed the wind to leave silent kisses all over her and let him whisper sweet nothings in her ear. The night was the only thing that can claim Aurora as his lover. It had the right to do anything it wanted to her.

    Gently closing her eyes, Aurora was starting to drift off into the realm of the past that was her memories, as the night had his way with her. What was it that made her feel that she owed everything to that demon?! That beast in human form! What was it about him that made her have a sense of belonging?

    Rustling.

    There were rustling in the leaves. A demonic aura was coming in her direction. So close. It stopped. The demonic aura, very powerful, was of steady pace. Aurora tried not to feel elated as his aura surrounded her.

    "The White Demon…" The dark velvet of his voice caressed her, amusement in his voice. “Hmm…” the deep rumble of his voice shook her core. I know him… “I heard you were 13ft tall. Your body, made of steel, but you look no more than a mere human woman.”

    She was annoyed.

    At the b*****d who seduced her with insults.

    At herself for being so damn responsive. But she stayed with her back towards him. “It’s a full moon tonight,” she stated, her voice a little less controlled than she meant. “I don’t like it. Yes, it was a night just like this… how disgusting!”

    "Aurora," he called out.

    Her heart skipped a beat. Not many people, especially demons, know what her identity, and those who were unfortunate enough to gaze their eyes upon her features were killed moments later; all except for one. This situation scared her. His voice, like silk, that captured her name as if it was hungry for it, his demonic aura that continued their deceitful caresses, his perfectly round spheres of pure gold that hawked her figure, keeping her absolutely frozen; she knew this man!

    Keeping her eyes trained to the stars above her, Aurora tried to clear her mind of things. She tried so hard, so hard not to think about his cold stare that always sent shivers down her spine. So hard not to hear the echo of her name being whispered. So hard not to feel the ice of his steel penetrating her body. So hard not to remember the jolt of pain he inflicted on her, forcing his hand deeper within her, letting his other kiss her tears away.

    In retrospect, he never did completely finish the words that trickled from his mouth. "Is it worth it?" she spoke in an almost whisper, making sure he listened intently, making sure her worlds struck through him like knives. "That’s so like you my Lord. You despicable beast! The least you could have done was finish what you said before destroying me… ‘Is is worth losing your life, and leaving this life knowing you won’t be the last one…?”

    He listened to her words. He felt the pain in her voice. He kept his eyes trained on her beautiful features that shone so brightly under the pearl moon, smiling at the impression he left on her back. It mattered not how torn she was, or how her joyful smile dissolved to nothing more, nothing less than a lifeless stare. He couldn't care how she felt towards him.

    “Why did--”

    "Your life is mine to do with as I please,” he reminded her, watching rage fill her body. “Is that the part you left out Aurora?” he watched her blood lustful aura increase around her. “It was a night just like this. Your face was stained with tears and blood, your clothes were torn.” He watched her hands clench around the hilt of her blade.

    RUSTLE

    With every word that left his mouth, he took steps closer. So close. She could feel his breath against her neck. Aurora's heart was beating as fast as a drum roll. Having that man oh so close to her was very provocative. His aura became bolder in their caresses which was rewarded with a gasp. “Aurora…” he warmed her pale skin.

    Damn you! Damn you! No more…

    “You can’t kill me can you? You can’t even remove your swords from its sheath.”

    "I'll send you to HELL!" she growled, whipping her fang at him, sending a massive force towards absolutely nothing. A few trees were blown away, but that was it. "Coward… COWARD! Come out here and face me!" she calmed down when she noticed that his aura was nowhere to be found. She searched for it, she searched for the tiniest glimmer of his aura, but she found none.

    B-BMP

    Aurora gasped and fell to her knees. She's lived as a lifeless shell for 10 years and still counting, yet around Sesshomaru, the monstrous being that haunted her constantly; around him she felt truly alive. She could actually feel her own heartbeat. It weighed heavy in her chest and she hated the feeling.

    Regaining composure, looking around, and concentrating hard, she went back to looking for him. Once again there was no trace of it. It was either he was very skilled at hiding his aura, or it just wasn’t there to begin with. He was just a figure of her imagination. The warmth of his breath on the back of her neck was no long there either. She could only feel ice. She could only feel the ice of her skin that was like a newly frozen lake; untouched, cared to go near, smooth. She could only feel her pulse slow down, very slowly, back to its original pace. She could only feel herself becoming like the walking dead once more. Unable to live, unwilling to die.

    "You should not have saved me that day." She announced helplessly, letting her blue and purple eyes reclaim the night sky. Things would have been different if the two had never met. She knew it with every fiber of her being. But had he not come, she would have been brutally murdered, her lifeless body put to shame until all signs of warmth fled with her soul. With her death, her family would have been spared. And she definitely wouldn’t be standing here wondering if she was going insane. “Why did you have to… you should have just let them kill me.”

    Right beside her was a pair of fresh foot prints. Foot prints that were too big to belong to her. The smell of fresh blood clung to the air. That alone was proof that someone had been there. She hit him. SHE HIT HIM!! That alone was proof of her sanity.

    Just as his demonic aura disappeared, it hit her again full force. It wrapped around her with the warm night air, caressing her, encouraging her.

    “… My Sesshomaru…”