Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, only my OC...sadly
Shiori walked down a lonely passage through the woods. She could hear the faint sound of a wolf howling at the moon. If it weren't for the stars hanging in the heavens, she would've been surrounded in total darkness. Not that she would have minded, Shiori liked the dark. It concealed many secrets. As a person with many secrets of her own, she could definitely relate. Even so, she couldn't help but steal occasional glances at the stars through the tree tops. She stopped running along the tree tops once she was a certain distance from Sesshomaru and his "minions".
"I wonder what's going on now," she quietly thought. "That whole entire plan is simply devious. How could Jaken come up with something like that?"
She had no idea where she was going; she only knew that she had to go somewhere. Anywhere! Shiori finally stopped walking and glanced over her shoulder. Someone was following her—she could feel it. Though she could pick up no demonic aura or scent nearby.
"Ha," she scoffed. "So which one of you did she send this time?"
She was greeted by the nighttime silence. She turned around.
"I know you're there!" She called out. "I can feel your presence!"
Shiori spun around when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to find herself face to face with a woman with long white hair and narrow lilac eyes. The woman was draped in a long lavender cloak.
"Shiori," she sang. "You silly girl, it's not like you to let someone sneak up on you!"
Shiori frowned as the young woman giggled.
"And it's not like you to sneak up on someone," She retorted.
She laughed, "Well I guess I have you to blame for that! You've had quite the impact on me. It may explain some of my bad behavior lately."
Shiori walked pass the girl in lavender, but she called after her.
"Wait, Shiori! I didn't mean it like that!" she pouted.
"Yes, you did," Shiori called over her shoulder.
"You know I'm always shooting things off at the mouth. I'm terribly sorry!"
Shiori continued to walk on as the girl begged her to stop.
"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings!" she shouted.
Shiori instantly stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to face this woman. She had had enough of this nonsense.
"Emi, let's make one thing clear," she said as she walked back. "I'm not like you, or the others. I don't have these feelings you speak of. A few words aren't enough to make me experience ….sorrow or anguish."
"If that's so, then why did you flee from your companions?" Emi asked. "Why didn't you stay to watch all the events unfold?"
"Why are you tennin always spying on me? Have you nothing better to do with your lives?" she snapped.
"We're worried about you, our sister. We're worried about the path you're taking. It's a dark one."
Shiori narrowed her eyes, "what path I choose to take is my decision and my business. I don't need any interventions from any of you. Were you not the ones that casted me away from the sacred lands?"
"Shiori, we never should've let you out on your own. You need us. Won't you come back home?"
"Enough," Shiori said coolly. "This discussion is over."
Emi hung her head in sorrow. Once again, she'd failed to convince Shiori to return to the sacred lands. If only she could convince her to come home…if only.
"I must show you something, before I leave. This is the real reason I was sent to find you tonight. Please, come this way."
"She acted on her own to try to convince me to go back? Why would she do that if she wasn't given that order?" Thought Shiori.
Shiori quietly followed Emi through a thicket and caught on to the scent of running water. There was a river nearby. If her sense of smell was as great as Sesshomaru's, she would have noticed that much sooner.
Emi sat on a rock by the river bank and motioned for Shiori to do the same. Shiori did as she was asked and sat down across from her.
"Why did you leave your companions?" Emi questioned. "You never gave me an answer?"
Shiori looked away, "You wouldn't understand."
"It's because you could feel the pain and despair of Inuyasha and the Unmother, was it not?"
"If you think you know, then why ask me?" asked Shiori looking to the coursing river.
Emi frowned "because I only had a thought and I wanted your confirmation. You said you didn't have feelings. Yet, you're able to feel the emotions of those around you. You can sense whenever someone is in emotional pain or a deep depression. None of us are able to do that."
"None of you are half shinigami," Shiori flatly stated.
Emi nodded, "yes that's true. I suppose empathy is a trait better suited for a shinigami than a tennin. Nonetheless, you still possess a very special ability. Despite what the others say about you Shiori, you are the most unique of us all."
"You said you had to show me something?" she asked in an aloof tone.
"Yes, that's right,"
Emi turned to the river and looked into the dark waters. She held out both her hands and softly chanted something. Suddenly, Images began to develop in the water. It was Inuyasha! He was being sucked into the Unmother's chest. Shiori wasn't sure if Inuyasha even realized what was happening.
"He must still be in Unmother's illusion. He still believes he's somewhere safe with his mother." She thought. "How very…..sad."
"Why are you showing me this?" questioned Shiori.
"Look at him, Shiori. He's being sucked into her. She'll absorb his soul," said Emi with concern.
"No, he won't be. They're after the location of the tomb. He's no use to them dead."
" And what do you think will happen to him once they find it?" asked Emi.
"It's none of my concern," stated Shiori.
Shiori looked back at the images in the water. Inuyasha body was just about to be engulfed completely, when that human girl splashed Unmother's reflection and destroyed her illusion. How did she know to do that?
"I can see the relief in your eyes," Emi said cheerfully.
Shiori narrowed her eyes, "you see nothing!"
"I don't understand you, Shiori. Why are you trying so hard to repress your emotions? What are you trying to prove?"
"Be quiet," snapped Shiori. "I'm trying to watch."
Sesshomaru was suddenly in the scene and he was holding Inuyasha by the neck. I used some sort of ability to drag something out of Inuyasha's left eye. But what was it? Shiori wished she could hear what was going on. It would make watching everything so much easier.
"What is that?" asked Shiori.
Emi examined the scene, "It looks like a black pearl."
"A black pearl? Where have I seen something like this before?"
Sesshomaru's smug expression was one Shiori had never seen before. This pearl had to be of some importance. But how? Suddenly, everything began to make sense to her.
"That's no ordinary pearl. It's a portal to the netherworld!" exclaimed Shiori.
"A portal to the netherworld?" said a baffled Emi. "Inside that pear?"
She'd seen one of those black pearls once before, thought she couldn't remember when. How had the Great Dog Demon mange to put that black pearl into Inuyasha's eye? It's no wonder they weren't able to find the tomb, it didn't exist in this world. Had Sesshomaru known that, he would have asked Shiori to open a portal for him. Jaken was right about Inuyasha causing the staff the act up; Looks like he'd be able to live after all. She then watched as Sesshomaru took the staff of 2 heads and placed it onto the black pearl—the portal opened. Sesshomaru disappeared inside of the portal, with Jaken following pursuit.
"I hope he finds what he's looking for in there," Shiori calmly stated. "If not, I'll never hear the end of it."
"The Great Dog Demon's eldest son, Sesshomaru," sighed Emi. "While he is every powerful, he's nothing like his father. What an interesting choice for a mate."
"He is not my mate," Shiori grumbled.
Emi giggled as she received an icy, death glare from Shiori. She was so used to Shiori's menacing looks that they didn't seem to bother her. In fact, she found Shiori quite amusing in her own way. This didn't sit well with Shiori at all.
"I am I really gonna let this airheaded bimbo ruin my composure?" She thought.
"It looks as though the young half demon and that human girl have gone after Sesshomaru. They must also want the treasure that's inside of it," Emi said glancing into the waters
Shiori realized that she missed something while talking with Emi. What happened to the Unmother? She hadn't seen her in quite some time. Destroying her illusion shouldn't have killed. So what could've happened to her?
"Where's the Unmother?" she asked.
"Oh, didn't you notice?" Emi said justly. "She was killed trying to protect Inuyasha from Sesshomaru. She took a direct hit for him."
"What?" Shiori choked. "Why would she do that? He's wasn't really her son."
"True, but the Unmother was born from the grief of a mother's suffering over the loss of her child. Knowing he was about to be killed may have activated her real maternal instincts."
Shiori said nothing as she stared down at the now empty scene. Everyone was gone—they all went into the black pearl. The only thing left was the Unmother's putty corpse. She hadn't even noticed it was there. She had sent the Unmother to her death...
"Do you feel sympathy for that creature?" asked Emi.
"Her death doesn't matter to me."
"At least there's one less soul sucking demon around. Though I never meant for this to happen, at least she won't be able to damn anymore souls. But still…why do I have this….feeling?"
Shiori stood up and began walking back to the path. Emi clamped onto her wrist.
"Where are you going?" she asked.
Shiori looked back at her, "I have a mess to clean up."
"You'll return to him, even after everything he's done?" Emi seemed a little surprised.
"Are you trying to manipulate me, Emi?" Shiori accused.
Emi was stunned, "No. Of course not!"
"Then why did you show me this?" Shiori said turning to face her once more.
Emi released the grip she had on Shiori's wrist and folded her arms. She bravely stared into Shiori's cold violet eyes.
"You ran away before witnessing all of this. You had to see it for yourself. Shiori, the one who claims she doesn't care about anything, but she just showed signs of concern for others. You were relieved when Inuyasha was rescued from Unmother's spell. You were sympathetic to Unmother's death. You even seem concerned for Sesshomaru's well being. That's why you're going back aren't you? You don't know what's going on in there, and that worries you."
Shiori's eyes hardened as Emi spoke. Emi didn't back down and continued on.
"I was sent here to show you that you do have your own emotions. You don't just feel what other's feel around you as you claim. And that makes you responsible for all of your actions. Shiori, please come back with me. We can help purify the darkness in your heart. We can save you. Return to the sacred lands."
"Why are you still on this?" Shiori retorted. "I'm going back to pay my respects to the dead!I have none of those weak hearted emotions of my own! This is the last time I'm going to say this! I will never return to the sacred lands. You can relay that message to Reika herself!"
"Then I'm afraid you leave us no choice," said Emi somberly. "If you continue along this same path, we'll be forced to…destroy you."
So that was the reason Emi tried to convince Shiori to return. She was hoping she'd get through to her and all would be well. Emi didn't want to see a fellow sister destroyed. Even if that fellow sister was only half tennin.
"So you would destroy something simply because you don't understand it? How very typical of your kind," tiffed Shiori.
"Your kind as well," Emi shot back.
"I have no kind! I'm neither tennin, nor shinigami. I'm in my own category."
"And if you return home your blood will be purified by the air once again. You'll truly be a tennin," said Emi.
"So you want me to just ignore half my origin?" Shiori questioned. "You are trying to manipulate me."
Emi hung her head in shame, "No, I just want you to live!"
Shiori was thrown off a little by the strain in Emi's voice. Why was her voice suddenly cracking? Was Emi experiencing sorrow…over her? A strange feeling inside of Shiori made her soften up her tone.
"Why is it necessary to threaten my life? I'm no threat to any of yours."
"Because Reika is….."
"Afraid of me," Shiori finished.
Emi nodded, "She always has been. Your power is truly terrifying to her. If you wanted to, you could open a path straight to the netherworld."
"I'm not the only one with that ability, as you've just witness."
"True, but she fears you nonetheless. Since you've been travelling with Sesshomaru, her fears have worsened. She's afraid of what you'll do next. This latest scheme confirms that," explained Emi.
"Reika needs to be knocked from her self-righteous high horse," said Shiori as she slowly began to walk away.
"Shiori," called Emi. Shiori stopped, but continued looking straight ahead. "Will you heed my warning? Will you stop living your life this way?"
"I'll do as I please,"
"Then its war," Emi sneered.
"hmph, I didn't know your voice could become so menacing," mocked turned back towards the river and looked up into the sky.
Both women now had their backs towards each other.
"Well I guess I have you to blame for that," said Emi as she began to floating in the that, Emi flew over the tree tops in the direction of the sacred lands.
Shiori continued on threw the thicket and back onto the path. The entire night left her irritated and slightly exhausted.
"Reika! Leader of the Tennin" she bellowed. "I know you're watching me right now! Don't send anymore of your messengers! The next time you want a word with me, come to me yourself!"
So for anyone who doesn't know, a Shinigami is a death god or soul reaper demon. And a Tennin is spiritual being found in Japanese Buddhism. It's something similar to a nymph or fairy. In my story, I have them more as angelic creatures. But they aren't exactly angels and their sacred lands isn't heaven if you were wondering.
