Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, only my oc

Everyone stared up into the sky as Shiori was whisked away by Naraku and his miasma. Kagura was gone as well. Inuyasha angrily looked after them, while Sango and Miroku returned to the ground. The entire field around the hut was covered in mutilated demons and chunks of Naraku's flesh.

"You idiot!" shouted Inuyasha to Shiori. "How could you do something so stupid?"

"She felt she had no other choice," said Kagome sadly. "I'm sure this whole thing's been really tough on her. Can you really blame her?"

"Great, she's probably making the portal as we speak. We gotta stop them before that happens," said Inuyasha.

"Well it's not like Naraku's hiding from us," said Miroku. "He hasn't hidden his demonic aura. And he did encourage us to join him on the other side."

"He must need Kagome to locate the jewel, since he cannot," said Sango.

"Yes, it makes since," Miroku agreed. "He seeks to use Kagome's power of locating the jewel shards. Then, once she's found it, he'll attempt to steal it away."

"So he wants us to do all the work?" wondered Kagome.

Inuyasha kept quiet about that. Recently, he'd discovered that Kikyo survived her encounter with Naraku. She escaped Mount Hakurei and had been living in hiding ever since. She was still badly damaged by Naraku's poison, but Kagome managed to purify her. Inuyasha had a recent meeting with Kikyo regarding the remaining shard in the spirit world. She warned Inuyasha not to take Kagome with him in fear that Naraku may capture her for her powers.

Sango nodded, "Yes, I'm sure that's what he's planning as well."

"Come on," ordered Inuyasha. "We're going after her. We can't let her open that portal."

Miroku picked up Emi's unconscious body and placed her on Kirara's back. He and Sango got on behind her. Kagome went to stand next to Inuyasha, but she noticed Sesshomaru was still staring up into the sky.

"Eh, are you coming Sesshomaru?" she asked.

He turned to glare at her, "For what?"

"Don't you want to help us save Shiori?"

Slowly, Kagome began slinking behind Inuyasha. Sesshomaru was giving her a chilling stare. Obviously, he was upset about everything that just happened.

"Help you?" he scoffed. "Why would I do such a thing?"

"Because you're her ally," she said profoundly. "You can't just abandon her in her time of need."

Sesshomaru was growing tired of the conversation. He slowly started to leave the area.

"I can do as I please, and so can she. She's already made that rather obvious." he said coldly, while leaving. "I couldn't care less."

"Don't pay him any mind," said Inuyasha as Kagome climbed on his back. "He's just as ruthless as ever."

The group raced off and tracked down Naraku's demonic aura. Kagome couldn't help but think about Sesshomaru and Shiori along the way.

"He sure did seem really upset about Shiori going with Naraku. It was almost…depressing. He came here with the intent to save her. I know he did! But when she surrendered herself, he must've taken it as a sign of weakness…or even a betrayal. So then, he'll really abandon her this time?"

Kagome laid her head down on the back of Inuyasha's shoulder blade.

"I feel bad for her. Despite everything she's going through, Sesshomaru won't be there for her this time. If only he could just understand what she's dealing with. But he's so indifferent."

"Naraku's not too far from here," said Inuyasha leaping over trees. "If Shiori's already created the portal, then we should be able to sense its power. Right?"

"I don't know," said Miroku. "I'm hoping so. It's unsettling to know that she can do something like that at will. Creating a pathway to the netherworld…..what an incredibly disturbing thought."

"I wonder why the lords of the netherworld didn't just bring the jewel shard to Naraku himself in exchange for Shiori," pondered Sango.

"They probably didn't even realize the shard lodged itself in the border between this world and the next until recently," said Inuyasha.

"And even if they knew where it was," added Miroku. "I don't think they have any intention of giving it to Naraku. Surely, they intend to betray Naraku and keep it for themselves. They must want the whole jewel."

"Naraku's must have planned to betray them as well," said Kagome slowly. "Shiori knew this. That's why she surrendered so easily. If she opens that portal, then here's going be some kind of brawl in the underworld!"

"We have to stop Naraku from going through to the other side!" shouted Inuyasha.

….

Sesshomaru briskly walked through a forest. He could smell Shiori's scent becoming more and faint. That was exactly what he wanted. He didn't want to be anywhere near her or anyone else. How could she waste his time like this?

"My lord, It was never my desire to abandon you I could never do such a thing. But this is my battle. And I must do this alone, I'm sorry. I….."

Her thoughts were transmitted to him, just as she hoped. It was always the same thing with her. Shiori constantly left his group to take care of her own affairs. He knew she would eventually leave him for good one day—he just didn't think it'd be under these circumstances.

"But this is my battle. And I must do this alone,"

Although Shiori didn't realize it, she was one of the only people he'd go out of his way to help. But she never once asked him to help her. Not when she was having her issues with the tennin, not when she was struggling to climb Mount Hakurei, and definitely not now. Shiori would accept aid from anyone other than him, and it bothered him! Why was this girl being so difficult?

"I'm sorry. I….."

Just what was she going to say? Suddenly, he stopped walking and stared ahead of him.

"I remember now…..back then. I remember Shiori," he thought.

He remembered the very first time he ever saw her—back in the sacred lands. Before this day, the first memory Sesshomaru had of her was during the panther tribe battle. But he could suddenly remember the time he visited the sacred lands.

….

"You need to eat to keep up your strength," said Naraku darkly.

Shiori sat in a corner of a room. There was a plate of food sitting in front of her, but she didn't pay it any attention. Naraku stood in the middle of the room and observed her. He placed a barrier around her to restrict her movements.

"Drop dead," she sharply replied.

He smirked, "you sure are an unruly little guest, aren't you?"

"I'm not your guest," she snapped. "And stop insulting me with this fake hospitality!"

"Now, there's no reason to get upset," he jeered.

"I every reason to get upset," she fired back. "Why have you brought me here? I thought you wanted me to create a portal for you."

"Of course I do, but not yet. I want to wait a little longer," he answered.

"Is he waiting for the rest of the group to get here? If he wanted them present, why not have make the portal back on the battlefield? Why take me away?" she wondered.

She examined him from behind the barrier. But Naraku was unaffected by her icy stares. In fact, he found them very amusing.

"What business do you have with the underworld demon lords?" Interrogated Naraku.

She smirked, "wouldn't you like to know?"

"So she doesn't want to tell me, huh?" he thought. "No matter, I'll have my answers soon enough."

He sat down directly in front of her. If she weren't trapped behind his barrier, then she would've easily been within striking distance.

"I'm sure your friends will be here soon to save you from my clutches," Naraku heckled.

She eyed him, "you say that as though I'm a damsel in distress in dire need of rescue. Don't insult my pride in such a manner."

"That's right, you did surrender yourself over to me," he smirked at her. "Was it not you that said you would rather die than surrender to me?"

"I meant exactly that," she said with contempt. "I have no reason to take back what I said."

"And how does Sesshomaru feel about your submission?" he asked. "I imagine he's not very happy with you."

She knew he was trying to get under her skin now. Naraku had no other reason for bringing up Sesshomaru.

"My lord is never happy with me," she casually answered. "This is nothing new. He won't be coming to my aid. So that's one less person you must worry about."

"Oh," he said with an evil grin. "It doesn't bother you that your lover won't even come to your rescue?"

"What bothers me is you, Naraku," Shiori retorted. "This is the second time you've interfered with my personal affairs. And this is the second time you've connected me to that accursed Shikon Jewel."

"It would seem that fate continues to pull us together," he taunted her.

"If you believe in fate then you must also believe in karma," Shiori said darkly.

"Karma?"

Naraku looked into her cold violet eyes. For a moment, he felt threatened by her very presence. Is that what she wanted? Did she aim to get inside of his head? Naraku was annoyed by her arrogantly aloof attitude. It almost reminded him of the way Kikyo constantly taunted him for not being able to kill her. But at least he was able strike fear into Kikyo's heart, right before he killed her. Shiori showed him nothing but indifference. She didn't even care about being handed off to the dark lords. Naraku wondered if that was for a specific reason.

"Just what are you planning?" he questioned.

"Absolutely nothing," she said bluntly. "I'm leaving everything up to chance."

He gave her a look of skepticism. Shiori glanced at the demon with uninterested.

"What, you don't believe me?" she said with a devilish grin. "I'm being complete frank with you. I have nothing up my sleeves."

Naraku still didn't believe her. He felt she was planning something devious and heinous. Something about her strange demeanor just didn't sit right with him. She was definitely up to something.

"Coward," she spat.

He stopped and turned back to her, "what was that?"

"Coward," she repeated. "You're nothing but a lowly coward."

"Is that so," he said, his face hardening.

"Why am I behind this barrier?" she demanded. "You know I'm not going to run away from you. So why go through this trouble."

In the past, Shiori was able to break Naraku's barrier from the inside. But because of his recent transformation into a full demon, his barriers gained strength. This was something that severely irked her.

He glared at her as he listened to her speak, "is it that you're afraid I'll attack you…or are you simply afraid I'll open the pathway without you? Is that what you think I'm planning?"

"Hmph," he scoffed.

"You're afraid of the power of the netherworld rulers aren't you? That's why you're putting it off. Even though you plan to betray them and go back on your deal."

"Me, Afraid? That's preposterous," he dismissed.

"You think you can hide behind that false bravado of yours, Naraku?" She sneered. "I can feel your fear."

"You can't scare me with your words?" he scowled. "I have no reason to fear anyone. I can't be killed. You should've noticed by now that no matter how many times I'm killed, my body will always regenerate. Why should I waste any energy fearing anyone?"

"I don't know, you tell me," she said.

Naraku walked up to her and stuck his head through the barrier. He hated the expression she had on her face—it angered him.

"I don't have anything to prove to you," he said.

"No, but you sure as hell have something to prove to yourself," she said calmly, while still grinning.

He smirked, "the lords of the netherworld will wipe that grin off your face."

"Same to you," she thought. "Same to you…"

Naraku placed his hand on the barrier and paused for about a minute. He then dropped it, freeing Shiori from her confinement. She didn't even acknowledge that it was now down. Shiori continued to stare across the street.

"You're free to move about the castle," he said darkly. "I'll find you when I need you."

"I thought you said, you didn't have anything to prove to me," she said.

"I don't,"

With that, Naraku got up and sauntered out of the room. Shiori was now alone.

"You should've noticed by now that no matter how many times I'm killed, my body will always regenerate."

"He did something….in the instance before he released the barrier. I felt something…were they his thoughts?" wondered Shiori. "He must've sent a thought to one of his incarnations just now. But why did he wait until the barrier was dismantled?"

She focused on the energy sources she sensed in the castle. There was no one else there but Shiori, Naraku…and a subordinate of his. That boy called Kohaku—she sensed him! She didn't sense anything else other than the barrier he placed around the castle. But she was sure there was someone else in the there. She thought she felt Hakudoshi's energy source, but it was gone when the barrier disappeared. Why would Naraku go through all the trouble of hiding Hakudoshi from Shiori? Then again….the energy source she picked up wasn't exactly the same as Hakudoshi. It was just eerily similar. Did Naraku have another incarnation that she didn't know about?

"Such things are unimportant to me now," she thought. "I'd better focus on trying to create that pathway. It's been awhile since I created one. I hope it's not too demanding on my body,"

Shiori thought back to when she first created a pathway. It was right after she was casted from the sacred lands. She was alone—and scared. There were demons everywhere she turned trying to attack her. Back then, she didn't know how long she'd survive on the outside world. On one particular day, she was ambushed by a pack of disgusting ogres. They all cornered her. She attempted to use her weak purification skills, but ended up tapping into her unknown shinigami powers. Shiori had accidently created a portal known as an underworld rift. She was absolutely terrified that she created something so sinister. All of the ogres were instantly sucked up into it. Shiori attempted to run, but was caught up in the swirling vortex. Just as she was about to be sucked up, Isao came in and closed her portal. That was their meeting.

"My power was raw back then. I didn't know how to control the portal….I didn't even know how I did it. Of course, over the years I grew in strength and figured out how I did it and how to improve it…..I've just always been afraid to try it again. It wasn't as though I need a portal anyway. But things are different now…..things are always changing in my life."

Shiori stood up and walked to the door, she could feel someone walking around. It wasn't Naraku. She slid open the door and peered out. It was Kohaku. He was walking past the door and now heading up the hallway. He turned to look at her. Kohaku was confused as to why the prisoner was moving around freely.

"It's him again. Strange, the boy's soul…..is tainted," thought Shiori. "Yet he feels so innocent. What has Naraku done to him?"

Kohaku was still a little startled by Shiori, and held up his blade to her. She eyed him and shook her head slowly.

"Oh please," she said. "Put that away. You'll hurt yourself."

"Huh?" he baffled, while doing what he was told. "Why have you stepped outside your room?"

Shiori walked closer to him, "Because it reeks of a disgusting vermin, as does the rest of this castle."

Kohaku took a step back.

"You're called Kohaku, are you not?" she asked.

"Um, yes," he answered.

"Kohaku, where has Naraku gone?" she asked.

"I don't know. He was here just a minute ago. He ordered me to make sure nothing happened to you," he said.

She rolled her eyes, "so, you're my body guard? You, a human child? That bastard just won't pass up a chance to insult me."

Shiori started walk down the corridor and Kohaku ran after her.

"Where are you going?" he asked. "You should really go back to your room."

"Naraku's left the castle?" She thought. "That doesn't make any sense, why would he leave now?"

She walked past room after room in the long hallway. Kohaku caught up to her and observed her. He was unsure of what she was doing. Was she trying to escape the fortress?

"You're still here?" Shiori asked Kohaku. "Why don't leave already. Naraku's not here to stop you."

He looked down at the floor, "Why would I do that? I am his subordinate."

"Does he truly wish to serve Naraku, or is he only pretending?"

She could sense great fear coming from the boy. He was deeply afraid of something, but what? She could also sense there was something he didn't want her to know.

"Miss, where are you going anyway?" he asked her.

She kept walking past room after room….as if she were looking for something.

"I have to find that strange demonic power I sensed. Though Naraku had it moved, I can still feel its energy lingering in the castle."

Finally, Shiori felt the lingering energy behind one of the doors. Kohaku stared in disbelief.

"Why did she pin point this room of all places? This is where the infant was, right before Naraku ordered him to a different location," thought Kohaku.

Shiori glanced down at Kohaku. She could feel that he was very troubled by something.

"Is there something significant about this room?" she asked him.

He lowered his head down and avoided her eye contact. She slid open the door and walked in. The Hakudoshi scent was all over the room. She stepped inside and took it all in.

"Who was in here?" she demanded an answer from Kohaku. "Tell me."

He shrunk back a little. He knew he couldn't run from her, she'd only catch him. But he couldn't tell her either, or Naraku would kill him. Shiori stared him down waiting for an answer. Just as Kohaku was about to risk running, Kanna materialized into the room behind Shiori. Shiori noticed Kohaku was focusing on something behind her and turned around. She was surprised to Kanna looking up at her with her coal black eyes.

"Where did this one come from?" thought Shiori, a little startled. "I didn't even sense her…she emits no energy at all." She examined Kanna a little longer. "I remember her…she's the one who showed me the image of Kagura beating Emi."

"Kanna? What are you doing here?" Kohaku asked. "Why isn't she with the infant?"

"Shiori…" Kanna eerily whispered.

Her voice sent an icy chill down Shiori's spine. She eyed the mirror in Kanna's hand. It was glowing with a silver light. Kanna held the mirror up to Shiori.

"Look into the mirror…." said Kanna.

Shiori looked down at the image on the mirror. It was Inuyasha and the gang, plus Emi. She was still unconscious. They were on their way to the Naraku's castle.

"They still intend to stop me?" she wondered out loud.

Kanna then showed her another image. Shiori's face dropped when she saw Sesshomaru and Kagura together. Kagura was smirking about something, while she seductively played with her fan.

"And just what are they talking about?" she angrily thought.

For some reason, this particular scene made her mad. She knew Sesshomaru wasn't going to come for her, but why take the time to talk to Kagura? Shiori didn't like the feeling she had deep inside her heart.

"Why was I shone this?"

She remembered that Inuyasha wasn't far from the castle. So she turned to find the exit. Kohaku walked after her. He wasn't sure if Naraku wanted him to escort the girl. Finally, Shiori found the back entrance to the castle. Shiori and Kohaku walked into the misty air and up a grassy plain.

"What are you doing now?" he asked.

"I'm going to create the portal," she answered. "I'll need lots of open space. But I must work quickly; Inuyasha and the others will be here soon."

"I was hoping she wouldn't go through with it," thought Kohaku. "Ever since I regained all the memories that Naraku stole from me, it's been harder to do my duties. I have to find a way to kill Naraku so I can be free…..but doing this means he'll get closer to having the whole jewel. Eventually, claim the shard that keeps me alive."

They stopped when Shiori sensed Naraku in the mist. Slowly, he came down from the hill. He had an evil look on his face. Kohaku took a tiny step back. It was almost as if he were trying to hide behind Shiori.

"Jealousy is a terrible thing, isn't it?" he darkly asked.

She glared at the foe before her. He deliberately had Kanna show him an image of Sesshomaru and Kagura just to make her jealous.

"Yes, you would know all about jealousy, wouldn't you?"

"I guess you were right. Sesshomaru isn't coming for you after all," he said. "He's found something better to do."

"I would hardly call talking to Kagura something better to do," she said crossly. "Now do you want this done or not? Inuyasha and his group are almost here, and I can see that you've let down your barrier around the castle. So I assume you want this now, right?"

"Of course," he smirked. "You may begin."

She walked past him and continued going up the hill. Kohaku stayed down at the bottom of the hill with Naraku.

"I still don't understand why he took me away from everyone. If he wanted them all present, why not just have me create it on the spot instead of capturing me?"

"Amazing," thought Naraku. "It's just as the infant reported to me. We never had to force her to do anything. Bringing her under our control was an easy task."

….

Inuyasha was running straight toward Naraku's hideaway in the mist. Miroku, Sango, and Emi flew over head. They were closing in on their arch enemy.

"Up ahead," shouted Inuyasha. "It's Naraku's castle. The bastard's nearby."

"Yeah, and that's not all," added Kagome, while clinging to his back. "There's a jewel shard up ahead."

"Kohaku," whispered Sango.

"Let's hurry, I don't feel any terrible demonic aura around," said Miroku. "Shiori still hasn't opened the path to the netherworld yet."

Naraku appeared in the sky above all of them. He had a wicked grin spread across his face.

"So glad you all could join us," he said. "You're just in time for the grand spectacle."

Naraku attacked the group with his tentacle vines. They quickly evaded all of them. It was obvious Naraku aimed to distract them from getting to Shiori. It was much easier to deal with them now that Sesshomaru wasn't around. That was actually the reason he abducted Shiori instead of forcing to create a pathway while everyone was present. Naraku knew he could eventually make Shiori surrender on her own, causing Sesshomaru to become very angry…..angry enough to abandon her. Shiori now lost all hope that Sesshomaru would change his mind and come for her when she saw Kanna's image. Everything was working according to Naraku's plan.

"You're not getting that shard Naraku!" screeched Inuyasha, while whirling his sword. "Wind scar!"

"Oh, but I think I will. There's nothing you can do to stop me!"

Inuyasha and Naraku battled it out, while Sango and Miroku landed down below. Miroku got off Kirara and stood down beside Kagome. He had Emi on his back.

"We're going after Kohaku," said Sango. "He might be with Shiori."

"Wait," said Kagome, "I'll come with you."

Sango and Kagome took off on Kirara, and Miroku ran after them with Emi. Naraku watched them leave and made no move to stop them. He knew their efforts would be futile. The only one who could possibly stop her, wasn't around.

….

Shiori stood at the top of the hill and looked down at the empty space below. This was it; she was going to create a pathway. She didn't know what consequences might happen if she did…..but she was well aware of the consequences that might happen if she didn't. Slowly she extended her hands out and let her body swirl with demonic power. Kohaku, who was standing next to her, was terrified.

"Stop!" called Kagome from the sky.

Shiori looked up to see Kagome and Sango hovering over her. Kagome had an arrow pointed at Shiori. She knew it wouldn't kill her, but she hoped it at least slow her down. Kagome fired her arrow, but Kohaku moved in and deflected it away.

"He's protecting her?" thought Sango.

Kohaku looked up at his sister. It was painful to be so close to her without being able to talk to her. But he had to pretend like his memory was still gone. He had to play the part of Naraku's subordinate.

Miroku showed up with Emi right behind Shiori. Emi began waking up when she sensed Shiori's energy nearby. Slowly, she opened her eyes.

"You're too late," said Shiori, as her demonic power swirled around her.

It became so powerful, that Kohaku had to jump away from her. Kirara flew back from her.

"It doesn't have to be this way," shouted Miroku over the swirling winds.

"Shiori!" called Emi weakly. "Don't do this!"

"I can't turn back now,"

Shiori's energy exploded around her and pushed everyone back. Her hands began glowing a dark silver color. Suddenly, she began ripping at the air, as though she were ripping through a piece of fabric. A silver glimmer appeared at the spot where she was ripping.

At that moment, Inuyasha came running up to everyone. Naraku had disappeared on him while they were fighting and figured it was because of Shiori's portal. He tried to fling himself at Shiori, but she was repelled backwards. He couldn't even get close to her.

"Inuyasha, why not just do the obvious and cut her down?" asked Naraku appearing above them all. "Wouldn't that just solve everything?"

"You stupid girl!" Inuyasha screamed. "Stop this!"

But she refused to listen to him. Shiori continued to ripping a hole in the sky. Soon, the silver glimmer became larger, and larger. Finally, the whole was ripped completely, and a swirl of demonic power exploded out. Shiori jumped away from it. The portal began sucking in the air around it. This portal wasn't at all like the one inside of Inuyasha's black pearl. It was more similar to Miroku's wind tunnel. But the wind of Shiori's portal wasn't as violent as the windtunnel's Inuyasha and his friends were in a state of complete shock. How was she able to make such a thing?

"Well done," Naraku bellowed over the howling wind. "I applaud your work Shiori."

He walked as close to the portal as he could without being pulled into it. He turned to face the group and clamped onto Shiori's arm.

"You'd better hurry," he taunted. "This portal won't stay open for long."

He attempted to drag Shiori with him into the power, but she shocked him with purification. He released her from his grip only to be shocked again.

"I'm done being your hostage," she said.

Before Naraku could retaliate, Shiori turned and jumped into the portal.

"Let's see if you can keep up with me, Naraku!" she shouted as she disappeared.

"That wench," he spat. "I knew she was up to something."

He dove in after her. Inuyasha and his friends could see that the portal was slowly beginning to close.

"Come on!" shouted Inuyasha. "We gotta go too!"

Kagome climbed on Inuyasha's back and they rushed into the portal. Miroku, Sango, and Emi hopped onto Kirara's back. They too went in after everyone. Just as the last group went inside, the portal slowly diminished. Kohaku watched as it closed completely. All of the swirling winds disappeared.