Shiraga sighed as he stared at the night sky feeling a mass of…emptiness. There’s been no word of Kenji for months and his interest in the world was failing. He sat with his back against the pole, staring up at the diamond lit night sky with the cool breeze tickling the bare chest of his open kimono, fingering his waist length ruby-red hair, wondering just when something interesting will happen.

“Hey!”

Uninterested Shiraga turned and saw a human woman yelling up at him.

“How’s it look from up there? Beautiful night, isn’t it?”

How unusual, he thought, no human should see me.

And yet there she was staring up at him from the street as he looked down from the telephone pole. In the quiet breeze he began to wonder if she was some hunter when she smiled at him. Something about that smile piqued his interest. Turning more to her, he stared at her curiously when she slowly turned away, waving a hand over her shoulder.

“Don’t fall, ‘k?”

He watched her stroll down the dark street lit only by the stars, feeling his curiosity grow.

This could be interesting.

Without a noise he jumped from his perch and landed silent as a feather next to her. She never jumped even when he started strolling with her. Her lack of reaction confirmed she was a hunter which made him even more curious as to why she had not yet to attack him.

“You’re an odd one.”

The deep ramble of his voice prickled her ears stampeding her already rapid heart. Something about this demon made her…curious. He wasn’t like the others, she could tell.

She flashed a grin at him, “So are you.”

He seemed taken aback by that as he raised an eyebrow, “How do you think so?”

“You’re not attacking me,” she turned back to the street with the vision of a town looming past the hills.

The crunching gravel beneath their feet only enhanced the rumble of his voice to her ears as he spoke, “Neither are you.”

To that she merely shrugged her shoulders, the cool breeze lifting a few strands of her long caramel hair in the wind, “There’s no need to.” She turned to him with a grin on her lips, “Isn’t there?”

Again that smile. Again something about that pricked at him. What was that? He continued to stare at her lips as they walked in silence for a moment when she spoke again.

“I’m Fye.”

He raised another eyebrow at her, “You do not expect me to reply to that with my own name, do you?”

She gave a dry chuckle, “No, never.”

She actually dare laughed at him?! Just what is she?

“Just what are you?”

She blinked at him, surprised at his question. Before she looked away he caught a glimpse of a sad look in her eyes while she spoke, “I’m a demon hunter. Nothing strange about that is there?”

“What’s strange is you claim to be a hunter and have yet to try to kill me.”

Again she laughed at him as she answered, “Hey, even I can tell when I’m outmatched.”

It pissed him off. That answer pissed him off and he could not understand why. They went back to walking in silence, both wondering what the hell they were doing and why they were not acting as they should. The only noise was the never ending cool breeze that continued to finger their hair and rustle the leaves of the trees on their right. His curiosity growing again he scanned his eyes over this “demon hunter” woman.

Her looks were average of human standard. She wore clothing that was slightly under serving for the chilling air while carrying a small pack across her back. Her hair was a strange color for a human, honey gold he would say. But her eyes, her eyes had a soft glow to them, as if to hint to a demon lineage and yet nothing about her said demon, everything spoke of human. And yet…

She felt the steady gaze of his eyes as he studied her, feeling her heart pound harder and harder as it went on. Just what is he looking for, she began to wonder. Suddenly the soft breeze that accompanied their stroll roared into a fierce wind as a presence descended upon them. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up straight as she felt the presence of a powerful demon emerge from the trees. She felt her own body tense to no end as the demon beside her gave the new demon none of his attention.

“Shiraga,” he slithered out of the trees like the snake he was, black shadow snakes wrapping themselves together creating his body as he emerged into the starlight, “how wonderful to see you once more.”

“Be gone snake. You try my patience.” Shiraga spoke in a bored voice, brushing the demon off like he was nothing.

Fye could feel small beads of sweat as she felt the menace from the snake grow into a monstrous presence. It was nearly enough to topple her down yet feeling the calm presence of the demon behind her soothed her. It was like having a calm ocean gently misting her back with its’ breeze.

The snake’s face twisted as he snarled at him, “Shiragaaaa…don’t be like that. Come now, let us resume our game.” The snake’s eyes settled on Fye for the first time, “Oh, what is this? Have you found some new pet?”

Shiraga’s eyes snapped to his for the first time, glaring at him threatingly, “You will leave her out of this. I’ve tired of your games snake. Leave.”

Fye couldn’t breathe, couldn’t believe the strength she felt coming off of him. The ocean she once thought was calm was now a raging inferno, bearing down on the little snake. She saw the snake demon shake, gritting it’s teeth as it’s anger grew. Suddenly he lunged at Shiraga. Her mind flashed, sped. What was she doing, was all she could ask as she suddenly moved in front of him, blocking Shiraga from the snake’s attack. As the blade easily sliced through the flesh, bone, and muscle of her chest she stared at it dumbly protruding from her numbing chest. What was she doing, over and over again it played.

How could she be so dumb? No matter how strong the snake felt, she knew Shiraga was far stronger. He did not need her to do this. So why?

The snake pulled back his blade laughing as she crumbled. Shiraga caught her in his arms before she fell. She could feel the boiling warmth of his skin even as hers began to chill. As he gathered her close she looked into his eyes.

Ah, that’s why.

She closed her eyes, grinning as she gave a gurgled chuckle. As her weak hand cupped his face, she felt her life slipping. Her whisper faded into the breeze.

“Beautiful night, isn’t it?”

Her hand fell away. The snake demon stupidly stood there laughing, dancing in his glee as he watched Shiraga cradle the dying human. Black flames erupted from Shiraga, startling the demon out of it’s victory dance. Before he could say anything back Shiraga looked up, and the look in his eyes froze the snake right there. Never before has there ever been such anger in his eyes. Not since his sister’s wedding did he let such anger control him. The ruby-red demon jewel crowning his forehead gleamed as his anger roared. The flames screamed engulfing the snake, burning it quicker than a flash as he crumbled to ash.

Before the wind could blow the ash away Shiraga transported them to his lair, his fingers digging into the woman’s skin as he felt something rise in his chest. Grabbing a nearby healing potion he chugged it then grabbed the woman’s chin, kissing her, forcing the liquid into her mouth with his tongue as he breathed air into her lungs. At first the sounds were wet sickly gurgles but soon turned into moans of pleasure as the hole in her chest healed.

From drowning in darkness to exploding warmth she opened her eyes to see herself still in his arms, kissing him. For a moment they merely stared at each other panting hard as they tried to wrap their heads around what they just did. Suddenly the hand that grabbed his opened kimono during the kiss grabbed him tight tugging him to her as heat flushed into her eyes.

She let out a breathless moan pleading with him, “Shiraga…”

That was it. He grabbed her lips with his, his black nails growing long and sharp in his frenzy as he tore her clothes. Her hands rushed to push his clothing off him as her pack hit the floor. They fell onto a bed, clothing gone, his nails raking her skin. She reveled in the feel of it, moaning loud as she felt the power within him crush her. In his heat his four demon horns emerged from his head and her hands found them in their rummage, holding on for dear life as his lips claimed her womanhood. He moaned as her fingers touched them softly then grabbed on for the ride as they both destroyed each other’s world in their passion. Moans were loud, screams were heard, whispers were yelled, given was taken, taken was given. It was beyond their understanding, their comprehension, their expectation and yet it was everything they needed, could ask for.

They collapsed onto the bed spent, him lying on top of her, the tip of his bigger horn gently poking her scalp, his crowning jewel softly glowing, warm to the touch; her skin branded with his claw marks. She should be afraid, ashamed, terrified but she was not. She felt so alive, so powerful. Just the mere touch of her fingertips to his horns made him moan. How she marveled at that.

He couldn’t believe what he had just done. He swore to mate with woman on their last request and yet this woman was not. He had just saved her life with his precious healing potion and simply took her right then and there as the heat overcame them. He couldn’t even bring himself to attempt to take her soul. Why couldn’t he? What was stopping him? He did not know but he knew he wanted more, more of her. And that wanting terrified him.

She cleared her throat and tried to push him off of her. He easily rolled away as she got up and went to her forgotten pack. With her back to him baring his marks she spoke in a calm voice. “Thank you for saving my life, though I know my actions have put you out.”

He leaned back, folding his arms behind his head as he watched her hiding his nails and horns when he gain control over himself again, “Put me out?”

She felt her cheeks flush and kept her back to him as she dressed from clothing in the pack. She tried clearing her throat again, “Yes, well…” she couldn’t think of anything to say so she said nothing as she continued to change. Finished she turned to him to thank him again and stopped when she saw him laying there in all his naked glory merely watching her. Her eyes flashed over everything on his ripped body yet lingered on his gleaming jewel, wanting to touch its smooth surface startling herself. Jerking herself right she straighten her spine and bowed to the demon who unknowingly changed her forever.

“Thank you again for saving my life. I will forever be in your debt. Will you allow me to leave?”

He raised an eyebrow at her bowed form, “You wish to leave? The door is right there.”

A door appeared by her side by magic. She quietly said her thanks again and left. Shiraga stared at the door, unsure of what he felt. Unsure of why…he was waiting. Waiting for what?

The door led her outside a building. She looked around for a moment and realized it was the very town they had been walking to before. For some reason she felt as if that was just like him, sending her back to where she was going. Shaking those unpleasant thoughts out of her head she forced her trembling legs to walk calmly as she felt his eyes on her still. Perhaps watching her to make sure she was safe? She was not sure. After all, he is a demon. A demon you just had mad hot passionate sex with. She shook her head forcibly, screaming at her mind to shut up as she walked faster, quickly making her way to an open motel.

She was able to book a room and get inside the door, feeling those eyes leaving her then. Locking the door she ran to the bathroom where she slammed to door shut behind her. Leaning against it she panted in shallow breathes as her legs finally gave way under her, sliding down to the ground as the tears began to flow. When she hit the floor she sobbed, curling up into ball, feeling something in her soul break. Suddenly she stopped. Hitching her breath she looked up, wiping her eyes of her tears as she spoke.

“Shit. That’s what I get for not sealing the doors.”

Crawling from the ceiling the snake demon loomed over her, smiling it’s slithering smile, “That’s right dearie, and you and I have quite a few things to talk about.”

She glared at him the best she could through her tears, “What do you and I have to talk about? Get out of here before I throw you out.”

The snake smiled, tilting it’s head at her, “Oh I don’t think you can do that dear. All your powerful instruments are in that little pack of yours. Which is currently outside this door, am I right?” The snake smiled as her looks grimed. “Now, let’s talk about Shiraga, shall we?”

A tail of a snake reached out caressing her face as she jerked away, “What does that have to do with me? I don’t even know him.”

His laugh sounded like a bag filled of rattlers, sending deep chills down her spine, “Oh, but I think you do.”