Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha only my oc

It was early morning by the time Shiori arrived at Toutousai's volcano valley. She quietly stumbled upon him sleeping in his cave. He was snoring rather loudly as he lay curled up on his stone bed. Shiori stared at the elderly demon before gently tapping him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me," she said while attempting to wake him up. "Master Toutousai?"

He continued to snore on.

"Wake up, I need to speak with you," she said louder.

Nothing appeared to be working on him. Shiori was steadily growing impatient with the sleeping geezer. It was after sunrise, he should've been up already in the first place. Shiori placed a hand on his shoulder and shocked him with her purification.

"Ahhhh!" he shrieked as he shot up to the ceiling.

He hit his head and landed back on the stone bed. He angrily stared at Shiori as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Oh good, you're awake," she said innocently.

"Sesshomaru's mate? What are you doing here?" he spat.

Before she could respond, Toutousai frantically jumped up. He peered over Shiori's shoulder and stared at the entrance. He was visually terrified.

"Oh no! He's not back is he?" he asked. "Where's Sesshomaru? That brat just won't quit!"

Toutousai quickly tried to pack up his things and make a mad dash. Shiori calmly watched as he ran around like a chicken with no head. She stood up and cut him off. He ran into her and bounced back, injuring his other shoulder.

"Lord Sesshomaru isn't here," she said. "I came alone."

"You have?" he said calming down some. "Why would he send you here alone?"

"He didn't send me at all. I came to speak with you for my own reasons," she responded.

"What could possibly need to speak with me about?"

She unsheathed her sword, "I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."

When Toutousai saw her drawing her weapon, he became horror stricken all over again. He jumped back and hid behind his bed.

"You are here to kill me! No, please don't kill me! I'll forge you a new weapon!" he pleaded.

Shiori rolled her eyes, "will you just examine the sword? I'm not going to kill you, old man."

Toutousai's head popped up from behind the stone bed. He slowly came out of hiding to examine the sword. He took it from her and held it close to his face.

"This blade," he said softly. "I made it. This is Gin tsugunai."

"Gin tsugunai?" she asked.

"Yes, I made it for a man centuries ago. Where did you find it?" he demanded.

"My father gave it to me nearly half a century ago," she said.

"Your father? What was your name again?"

"My name is Shiori," she said slowly.

His eyes widened, "Of course, why didn't I notice it sooner. I knew I'd seen you before somewhere. Though you were only a baby then, I recognize your unique aura."

"Please, Master Toutousai, tell me everything you know about me," she said softly. "Even the minor things. I want to know everything."

"Has Isao not told you anything?" asked a curious Toutousai.

"He didn't give me much to go on," she confessed.

"How is your father?"

"Dead," she deadpanned.

"Oh, I'm very sorry to hear that," he said offering his condolences.

She shrugged, "It's alright. He's with me in spirit….literally…."

"Isao was a very mysterious person," said Toutousai with a deep sigh "I never quite understood him. He showed up here one day completely out of the blue. I'd never seen anyone like him before. Instantly, I had a feeling that he wasn't of this world. He asked me to create a sword out of some coal he brought with him."

"Out of coal?" asked Shiori staring at Gin tsugunai. "This sword is made of coal?"

"Not just any ordinary coal, my dear. This was coal used to fuel the fiery pits of hell. By then, he'd already explained to me his shinigami status."

"I see," she said. "So then, all shinigami swords are made of this substance?"

He shook his head, "no, only your particular weapon. When he came to me with the coal, I refused to make him a sword. It just couldn't be done. That coal was tainted with so much hate and demonic aura. I would have been killed by the sword while forging it. I, myself, can't handle such demonic aura. There wasn't a wielder in the world that would be able to use it. It surely would've possessed anyone who tired. I'm sure you've heard of the demonic blade Sounga?"

"Yes, it was the sword of hell and conquest. It could summon 100 souls from the underworld. I've heard of its existence and disappearance," she said.

"Indeed, it was a very dangerous sword that not many demons could wield," he explained. "It was created from a similar substance and became possessed by an evil dragon spirit. So naturally, I refused to create a sword from that coal. Your father understood this, and left. He returned many years later, but this time with a woman and child. Your mother and yourself."

"What happened then," she asked completely engulfed in the story.

"He also brought the coal rocks again. He presented them before me, and asked again that I make a weapon out of them. Before I could refuse his request again, He cut me off. Your mother then decided to step forward. She held her hand over the rocks and purified them. They instantly turned silver. With the demonic evil of the coal suppressed, I finally agreed to make a sword for him."

"And this is why my blade is silver, and not black like a traditional shinigami blade,"

"Shortly after that, your father sensed a presence nearby and went to go deal with it. Your mother stayed inside and held you close. It was then that you opened your eyes and looked at me for the first time. You had an expression very similar to the one you have now. Your little eyes were full of inquisition. Your mother warned me of the dangers you would face in the future. And so, she told me that's why the sword was being commissioned. It was so Isao could protect you should you ever leave the sacred lands."

"He never told her the truth, did he?" she asked. "He never told her about his prior visit with you."

"No," he confessed. "I'm afraid he didn't. As far as she knew, the sword was for your father could protect you. She didn't know about our first meeting regarding a sword. I'm not sure what he told that woman."

"Well it sounds to me like he just used her for her purification powers," she flatly stated.

"Perhaps, but perhaps not," said Toutousai.

"So then what happened?" she asked.

"Your father returned, and began the sword's commission. I explained that the sword would take awhile to be completed. So Isao said he'd return for it. A bout a month or so later, he did."

"And he returned alone?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered. "It was only him. He asked to see the sword and was marveled by it."

"Why is that?" she asked. "It never occurred to me that it was anything extraordinary."

"That's because you can't separate it's aura from your own," he said.

"Now what are you going on about?"

"Like you, Gin tsugunai is the perfect blend of spiritual and demonic power. I'll bet you've never even sensed it's aura before."

She tried to recall a time when she felt Gin tsugunai's separate aura. It was true; she'd never been able to sense it. All these years, she thought it was no different than any other katana. It sure didn't look any different.

"You're able to transmit both spiritual and demonic energy through that blade, right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"That's not something you can do with just any sword. It's special," he said. "Your father explained that the sword wasn't for him, but his daughter Shiori. The half tennin, half shinigami child I'd met. He asked me to hold on to it for him. With that, he disappeared and I didn't see him again for centuries."

"Until 50 years ago, when I was exiled from the sacred lands," she added.

"Yes, that's precisely the reason he came to claim the sword. You were on your own, and completely unprotected. You had no idea how to utilize your new found power. It was time to reunite you with Gin tsugunai,"

She looked up at him, "he didn't really explain much to me at that time. Even though it was my first time meeting him, I had no doubt he was my father. Something told me he was telling the truth—I could feel it. I'd never been able to feel another's emotions before."

"What did he say to you?"

"Like I said, he didn't explain much. He briefly introduced himself, and handed me the sword. He told me wield with all my might and always respect the dead. After that, he vanished from my sight," she looked down, "he never told me how to use it. He never even answered my questions about my life. I had to figure out everything on my own…even my newfound abilities."

"It might have been his way of making you stronger," said Toutousai.

"So my father had me for the sole purpose of wielding a sword? That's why he mated with a tennin, in order to create a wilder for Gin tsugunai. He needed the perfect blend of spiritual and demonic power. He needed…me. My father commissioned my birth, just like he commissioned the creation of this sword….."

"You've been awfully quite Miss," said Toutousai breaking her train of thought. "What seems to be on your mind?"

"I just want to know why," she said quietly. "Why did he want that sword forged in the first place?"

"That, I don't know," he responded honestly. "He never told me why. The only thing he said was to remember you. And I have."

Shiori rose to her feet and gently placed her sword back in its sheath.

"Thank you for everything, Master Toutousai. I really do appreciate it," she said going for the exit. "But there's still so much I don't know. I'm leaving with more questions than I arrived with."

"Take care Shiori," he said while waving. "And please, do something about that mate of yours! I'm getting sick of his death threats."

She sighed, "He's not my mate, you old geezer!"

"Oh, would you prefer I called him your lover?" he asked.

Shiori blankly stared at him. She couldn't believe how quickly he managed to switch her mood. It was unbelievable!

"Do you mind? I'm trying to somberly storm out of here! But you're making that extremely difficult!" she yelled.

"Yep," he said. "I had my doubts earlier, but you and Sesshomaru are a match made in heaven. Or hell…well, in your case both."

Shiori eyeballed him as she pointed her finger at his foot and zapped him. He yelled in pain as he hopped around on one foot. Shiori crossed her arms and promptly walked out. It was now the evening. Shiori hadn't realized that she spent all day talking with Toutousai. Time flies when you're learning about the bastardly deeds your father did. She had so much to think about now. Her father was right; she did have more questions to ask him after her meeting with Toutousai. She looked at the sword on her hip.

"Gin tsugunai ….so that's your name. I had no idea it was such a unique weapon. Unique to me, that is. My father was commissioning this sword's creation long before I was even born. He was unable to create the type of sword that he wanted without purifying the coal rocks from hell. But he would be unable to wield this purified version, so he had to find someone who could. Someone with the perfect blend of spiritual and demonic aura, just like the sword. But why? What threat was he trying to defeat? And was he passing said threat onto to me to fight?"

Toutousai watched her from the front of cage.

"At least I got her to leave in a slightly better mood," he thought rubbing his chin. "Just what kind of plans do you have for her Isao?"

…..

Sesshomaru stared out onto the nighttime horizon. His long silver hair was caught in a warm gentle breeze. He stayed as still as a statue as Shiori approached from behind.

"Were you waiting for me?" she asked.

She didn't expect for them to still be in the meadow. They should've been long gone by now. She looked around for Rin and Jaken because she hadn't sensed them nearby. Shiori figured they were out foraging for food.

"Have you found the answers you were looking for?" he asked completely ignoring her question.

She looked down, "No, I only found more questions. I'm growing tired of this puzzle. Just when I think I have all the puzzle pieces….."

She stood beside him and also stared out into the horizon. She felt like she would forever be trapped in her father's endless maze. It was, after all, the only purpose of her existence. Or so it seemed.

"What do you think it means to live?" she asked.

"The meaning of life?" he asked turning to her. "I suppose that has different meaning depending on the person."

He continued to look at her under moonlight. He'd never seen such a sadden expression her face before. Even when she was crying while mind battling her father, she never had that expression. He'd noticed a steady change in her behavior lately, and he wasn't sure what to make of it. Shiori felt his gaze and turned to face him.

"What does it mean to you?" she somberly asked.

He didn't say anything. He only looked away to avoid Shiori's gaze. No one had ever asked him that question before. Until now, he was never faced with the fact that he didn't have an appropriate answer.

"What is she getting at? Just what did Toutousai say to her about her father?"

"To get the most out of living and find what you seek most. I seek to fight and defeat the strongest opponents in battle. I seek to build an empire and continue my father's legacy," he answered.

"What I seek most is to find out the truth about my birth. So then my meaning of life, is to find out why I live? And once I discover the truth, I'll have nothing left to live for…..but to death," she said sadly.

Shiori was now looking down at her sheathed sword. What step would she take next? Should she stay with Sesshomaru and the others, or should she wander off on her own? It wasn't like anything really mattered to her anymore. Her father would be coming to meet her again. This time, she wouldn't fight him.

"It's possible that my life does have some purpose…my father meant for me to use this sword against some kind of foe of his,"

She thought back to what Kikyo told her about the Shikon jewel. It was so valuable, that even the lords of the underworld were after it's power. When he refused to deliver it to them, they killed him.

"Father had a reason for refusing to deliver the jewel. Perhaps he thought they were already too powerful and corrupted….he was afraid of what would happen….."

Shiori suddenly looked up. She felt like a haze had been lifted from her eyes.

"I think I understand now, the lords of the underworld must've been after the jewel for centuries. But they could never get their hands on it. So they released more and more demons into the world to retrieve it. My father must have seen this, and vowed to stop them. That's why he went to Toutousai for a sword. He wanted to defeat the lords. But because of the dangers of using the coal rocks, his plan was put on hold. He had to find away to purify the rocks. And so, he went to Reika. Because her heart was so badly corrupted, she couldn't correctly purify the coal…..and that's why he turned to my mother. It was then that he realized only someone of half tennin and half shinigami could use the sword to its capacity….which is why I was conceived."

Sesshomaru had been watching her silent epiphany the entire time. The sad expression disappeared from her face, and her eyes appeared to harden. Her face went back to being the blank slate that it usually was. He felt….relief.

"No," she said after moments of silence. "That's not my purpose at all. It's all become clear now. My purpose in life is to fight my father's battle and defeat the lords of the underworld."

"And you suddenly came to that conclusion?" he asked dryly.

"I finally had enough pieces of the puzzle to come to that conclusion," she said sharply.

"If that's the case," he said, "then you're merely just a tool to him."

"That's a fact I've known for years," she stated.

"What a strange girl…." Thought Sesshomaru.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" called Jaken.

Both Sesshomaru and Shiori turned to see Jaken running towards them. He was panting as usual.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Rin's been kidnapped by Kagura!" he shrieked.

"Kagura?" asked Shiori. "Who is this Kagura?"

"She's one of Naraku's incarnations," Jaken explained.

"Naraku," she said with absolute disgust. "You let Rin fall into his filthy hands?"

"I tried to stop her! But she attacked me with her evil wind and flew off with the girl," he said.

"Ah, there's the problem," she said crossing her arms. "You're so weak, that whatever force you put up was easily knocked down…without the slightest bit of effort."

"Why you no good little-" But Jaken was suddenly cut off.

Naraku was silently sitting behind them all. He was once again clothed in his baboon cloak.

"Do not worry Lord Sesshomaru. If you should satisfy my request, the girl called Rin will be returned to you," bellowed his voice from under the cloak.

"So we meet again," said Sesshomaru calmly. "What are you planning this time?"

"Oh it's nothing special, I just want you to kill Inuyasha," he stated.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but we aren't exactly fond of ultimatums," said Shiori dryly.

"Shiori, you're looking well," said Naraku darkly. "I never expected you to be in such high hopes….especially after everything that happened with your sister. You remember the brutal images I showed you of her? You wouldn't want Rin to end up that way, would you? All Lord Sesshomaru must do is kill Inuyasha."

Sesshomaru smiled darkly, "Tell me, why are going through all this trouble for something so trivial?"

He instantly ran up and slashed Naraku with his claw. His body was completely destroyed.

"It was another demon puppet," said Shiori.

"Did he really think that he could call me into action, just for the sake of a human?" said Sesshomaru.

"Will you forsake the girl?" asked a surprised Jaken.

Shiori was surprised also, though she hid it well. She watched as Sesshomaru walked away from her.

"I can sense him….Naraku's very near. But just a moment ago, I felt nothing at all. Lord Sesshomaru must be following his scent….is this what he wants? For us to follow him?"

She quickly went after Sesshomau.

"Wait, where are you going?" Jaken panicked "Don't leave me!"