A perfect first throw, the sound it made flying through the air was perfect to her ears.

Hirakotsu sliced through near 10 demons, but that left so many more to take down. Sango watched the demons collapse from the sky, proudly.

Kirara bounded forward in the air, angling herself perfectly for Hirakotsu to sail back to the slayers hand.

Sango stood on the cat-demons back, and willingly fell backwards. Performing a backflip, she threw Hirakotsu again, this time colliding with 4 more. Kirara caught her mid-air, racing towards the horde and ripping through a few as Sango unsheathed her sword, slicing through a couple more.

She jumped off Kirara's back onto one demon that had the head of a man, but body of a snake, with long curling horns protruding from it's forehead. She grabbed onto one horn, sinking her sword straight into it's skull, piercing its brain. It screeched, and plummeted from the sky. Sango kicked off from its head, removing her sword in the process. Hirakotsu was in Kirara's mouth, as she gracefully caught Sango on her back again.

Shikamaru could only watch in awe from the ground below, watching as she worked brilliantly with her demon companion. Their teamwork was more flawless than Kiba and Akamaru's. He came back to reality, when he realized many of the demons that had fallen weren't completely deceased, gurgling and hissing around him. Quickly, he used his Shadow Sewing Jutsu and pierced through the brains & hearts of those still quivering. He knew there was no way he could fight them from down here, so continued to watch, in case there was an opening for opportunity.

Sango and Kirara did a lap around the diminishing horde only to be met with a giant bird, it looked drawn.

"I've never seen this demon before..." Kirara agreed with a low grumble.

Sweat was beading up on her brow, she stared at the large bird curiously, it turned slightly and she saw Sai on it's back.

"He's on our side Kirara!" Sango barked.

Sai had a scroll open, drawing it looked like, suddenly large tigers arose from the scroll and sprang into the center of the horde. Tearing apart all they could, jumping from demon to demon. Sango smirked at this, and continued her teamwork with Kirara, throwing Hirakotsu again and demolishing 5 more.

As she was about to release Hirakotsu, Kirara suddenly shot eartward.

"Kirara what the hell!" Sango yelled, almost falling, having to clutch Kirara's hair in her free hand.

She heard her companion let out a troubled roar, and her eyes focused to where they were heading. Seeing Shikamaru in the clutches of a rather disgusting looking troll. It towered over him, the only way to describe it was a mix between a pig head, an orks body, and mixed with an ox. It's skin a disgusting shade of purple and blues, it looked like it was riddled with oozing pimples, its teeth curved upward from its lower jaw like some wild boar. As they descended quickly, Sango saw Shikamaru was able to free himself.

Sango started to align her Hirakotsu on the troll looking demon. Shikamaru was sailing perfectly away from it in one swift jump, but her eye caught another coming in behind him for a surprise attack. He was mid jump, there was no way he wasn't going to collide with it.

"Shikamaru! Watch out!" She screamed reaching forward, but before he could fully look behind him, a portal opened up right in his path,.

He vanished.

There was no possible way for him to avoid the portal. It opened right in his path, no way he could avoid it mid-jump.

Nothing Sango could do either, except watch him vanish.

As soon as he unwillingly entered the portal, it disappeared. Causing the two demons to look around in confusion. Sango didn't take a chance, throwing Hirakotsu she sliced the two demons in half.

Finally Kirara had made it to the ground.

Sango dismounted her running to the spot Shikamaru disappeared.

"Can you find his scent?" a panicked stricken voice pleaded. Kirara placed her nose to the ground, then the air, but before she could continue, they realized the horde was now moving towards the ground. Towards them.

Close to 20 remained, Sai was still cleverly taking care of a majority that were locked on killing him.

Sango, now radiating a new energy ran towards those that had landed. Instead of throwing Hirakotsu she used it as a close range combat, spinning in circles, smashing the demons in their face. Kirara pouncing, tearing apart all she could.

"GIVE HIM BACK YOU MONGRELS!" Screaming, throwing Hirakotsu, unsheathing her sword and fighting her way through the demons.

If she was in pain from her previous wounds, she wasn't noticing. Her heart was racing, and mind was elsewhere. Tearing through each demon nimbly, and fiercely.

In all actuality the battle only lasted close to 30 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime to Sango. She stood in the center of all the demolished bodies, her sword dripping blood. Deep, heavy breathes escaping her lungs.

Hirakotsu was sticking up out of the ground about 100 feet from her position.

Sai landed close by, "Where is Shikamaru?"

She looked to him, her eyes slightly watering, "I-I think they took him..."

"They? The demons?" His eyes searched the battlefield of any live demons.

Her sword landed on the ground, dust arising from the fall. Sango dropped to her knees, slamming her fists on the ground "DAMNIT! IT JUST DOESNT GET EASIER!" She cursed, tears dropping down.

"If it wasn't for me...your village wouldn't be under attack...Shikamaru would still be here..."

Sai walked over to the demon slayer, no words of reassurance exited his mouth. He wasn't exactly the right person to be here for comfort.

"DAMNIT!" Sango cursed again, punching the ground, "Shikamaru where the hell did you go!"

She slammed her fists on the ground, a few tears turning the dust beneath into a darker spots.

"Uhhhh...are you doing that Miss Sango?" Sai questioned, pointing to her hands.

Sango opened her eyes to see a bright glow being emitted right under her. She sat up, and crawled backwards away from the glowing circle that was no enlarging on the ground.

A figure started to rise from it, she stared in complete disbelief. Once the figure was completely earthbound, the portal disappeared. Sango launched forward, sending the figure sailing to the ground.

"I thought they had you," She exclaimed, her arms wrapped tightly around the Shinobi she thought was gone.

Shikamaru blinked, unsure of his surroundings, he made eye contact with Sai who simply shrugged and turned to walk away.

He wrapped his arms around her, returning the embrace. He wasn't sure what happened, but realized he was back in his own world and felt comforted by that.

They both sat up after a few moments, Sango's face red.

"I-I'm sorry...what happened? Where did you go?" She questioned, looking away from him for a moment.

He extended his hand, gesturing for her to hold out her hands. She stared at him confused, and placed both hands together, which he dropped something into them.

"Where...Shikamaru, where did you get this?" Her eyes were wide, almost in horror.

"They told me to tell you they're waiting for you.." He spoke, giving her a smile, "I'm not sure how I ended up there...or even came back...I wasn't there long. But after your stories, and you describing them. I was able to recognize them".

Sango held up her gas mask, she hadn't even realized she didn't have it this whole. Or if she did realize, she had long forgotten.

"Kagome said they found this in the rubble, and when Kirara ran off, they knew you still had to be alive somewhere..." He stood up, dusting himself off, and helped the demon slayer up.

"So..you somehow were taken to my world?" Sango stared up at him confused, how? How could he possibly of gone there? Of all places?

Shikamaru nodded, "I guess so...I ended up at some village, some old lady was there. But I ran into your troublesome friend Inuyasha...you were right..he's extremely stubborn. Kagome has some weird power over him, kept him from attacking" Sango smiled slightly, must've been the 'sit boy' command.

"Shit..." Shikamaru mumbled, staring past Sango. She turned to see Lady Tsunade, and other Shinobi/Konoichi, even ANBU appearing from the forest around the training grounds, or in puff's of smoke.

"Wow, very impressive," Kakashi stated, appearing next to the two, startling them both, "Good work Miss Demon-Slayer..."

Sango couldn't help but ignore Kakashi, as she was making fierce eye contact with Lady Tsunade, her stomach in knots. She immediately walked over to Lady Hokage and bowed, "Lady Tsunade! I will be leaving the village no later than tonight".

"That'd be best..." Tsunade remarked, looking unpleased as her eyes darted around the demon riddled grounds.

Sango's eyes widened in shock for a moment, but she knew that if now hordes were coming to find her. It meant only more, and the village would be on constant alert.

Tsunade started barking orders, many started to grab carcasses throwing them into a pile, "This clean up is gonna take forever...and smell terrible..." Sango was now standing straight, but her eyes focused on the ground.

"Thank you Lady Tsunade...for letting me sta-" Tsunade put her hand in the air, which silenced Sango.

"You don't have to thank me," She had her hands on her hips with a small smile, "Many here have come to love you, Sango. Even myself. I only wish the circumstances were different.."

Tsunade walked forward, and placed a comforting hand on Sango's shoulder, whose eyes she could tell were starting to water, "You are welcome back to the village..so long as you don't have any of these following you. But for now...you understand.." Dropping her hand, she turned around and started to bark some more orders.

Sango nodded, and took in a deep breath in an effort to hold the tears back.

"I wish the circumstances were different too.." Her eyes slowly looked over to Shikamaru, who's face wasn't his usual boredom. It was contoured more into a worried/displeased face.

"Lady Tsunade, I ask for your permission to leave with Sango, and ensure her arrival at the gate," Shikamaru barked, walking up to the two. His eyes met Tsunades, and they had a stare off, silent for moments.

"Do you even know where to-"

"Yes, I promise to return in no later than a week," Shikamaru instructed, his hands in his pockets and face remaining serious.

Tsunade pursed her lips, hands on her hips, tapping her foot repeadetly on the ground, "Ugh, Fine Shikamaru. One week. Starting from tomorrow...you two leave tonight, and come back without her.."

Sango didn't appreciate the 'without her' part, but understood. This wasn't her world, and she couldn't endanger this humble village any longer.

"Unless, like I said...you are able to return without these demons following you," Tsunade smirked, crossing her arms.

Sango smiled, and couldn't help but wrap her arms around the busty blonde in a grateful hug.

"Thank you so much Lady Tsunade! I promise no more demons will visit Konoha!" She exclaimed, and let her go.

"Now go get ready!" Tsunade ordered, pointing back to the village, "I have enough hands here for the clean up.."

"I'll meet you at the gate around 10" Shikamaru stated.

Sango nodded, and took off towards the village, Kirara close behind.