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"Is everything prepared?" Isao asked one of his men.
The man nodded, "Yes My Lord, everything is prepared. We're awaiting their arrival any moment now."
"Where's Shiori?"
"I believe the princess is still in her chamber. No one has seen or hear from her all day. She's barely left her wing since she's arrived a few days ago." he replied. "Shall I fetch her for you?"
Isao shook his head, "no, let her rest for now. I'm sure she'll want to be fully rested for when Enma arrives."
"Just what are the Grand Master of Hell's plans for her anyhow?" asked the servant.
Isao looked away, "I'm not entirely sure. But she's chosen to take the fall for Sesshomaru's actions; I don't know how he'll react to that."
"I just don't understand her," said the man. "Why on Earth would she do something like that? Why would she take his burden and carry it as her own?"
"The answer to that is painfully obvious," said Isao as he turned away. "I just hope it's not a decision that costs Shiori her life. I refuse to let my daughter be taken back into Hell…I don't care what the reason is."
…...
Shiori could sense someone coming down the hall. Her maids were in the middle of getting her dressed to prepare for Enma's arrival. She was already in her nagajuban when she heard a light knocking at the door.
"Come in," she invited.
Her back remained to the door. The maids worked to layer her kimono collar with the nagajuban collar. In walked a young male with dark purple hair. Shiori looked over her shoulder at him.
"Hello, Takehiro," Shiori greeted. "I'd say good morning to you, but I can't tell if it's night or day in this place."
He smiled, "Once you're here for quite some time, you'll learn to tell the difference."
"Forgive me, but I don't plan on staying long enough to pick up that skill," she bleakly answered. Shiori kept her arms stretched out beside her, while the women layered the sleeves of her burgundy furisode. Wearing such a complicated kimono reminded her of being back in the sacred lands.
"I understand," Takehiro said with a nod. "I know you have to return back to the Living world."
"Why've you come here?" Shiori asked while being wrapped at the wait with an obi. "The Grand Master of Hell isn't here yet. I don't sense his energy."
"I was ordered to bring you these by your father," he said. "They're hair pins, worn by Lady Ryoko."
"Grandmother's?" she softly whispered.
She turned around to face him. The maids were finally finished; all that was left was her hair. Shiori walked over to Takehiro and received the pins. She sadly held them in her hand. They were purple, orchid shaped designs at the end. They even had black beads dangling at the end.
"Yes, I hear she wore them endlessly."
The pins even smelled like Ryoko. Although she barely got the chance to know her, she missed Ryoko terribly. But she knew she was finally in a better place. Both she and Kikyo were now free.
"This isn't the only reason you came, is it?" she questioned as her hair was being swooped up. One of the women took Shiori's pins and carefully stuck them in her hair.
"Well…I"
But she cut him off, "You've come to talk me out of this meeting, haven't you?"
Takehiro was completely silent. He lowered his head and avoided his eyes. Shiori took that as a yes.
"I just wish you would reconsider," he finally answered. "I'm scared for you."
"Do you women also feel the same way?" Shiori questioned.
The maids stood before her. They were now completely finished preparing Shiori. They also lowered their heads. It seemed they too feared for the girl's safety.
"Oh please your highness," said one woman. "What if he gets violent? Lord Enma came be very ruthless while angered, and you've already angered him enough. I don't believe coming here to face him was a good idea."
"I've already explained this to everyone," Shiori said sharply. "My mind is completely made up. I'm doing this and that is final. I will meet with him as scheduled."
"Yes Princess," said Takehiro.
Shiori cringed slightly. She still didn't like the title of princess. She also didn't liked being followed around the castle. So she did her best to stay in her room as long as possible.
"Takehiro?"
"Yes?" he asked.
"Tell me, how do I look?" Shiori asked.
Takehiro glanced at her long burgundy furisode. Its elegant sleeves dangled by her side. The kimono had a large black and silver floral pattern all throughout it. The maids did an excellent job on her hair. It was gracefully swept up in a side bun. The dangling beads on Ryoko's pins matched Shiori's eyes perfectly.
"You look absolutely beautiful," he answered without hesitation.
She smirked before turning away, "you're supposed to say that."
"Oh, but it's true," he said, as a maid handed her a hand mirror. "It really is."
Shiori gazed at herself in the mirror. She hardly recognized herself. Suddenly, she felt something coming along the horizon. She turned to her servants.
"Do you feel that?" she asked.
"Feel what?" asked one of her maids.
"I don't feel anything at all," said Takehiro.
"He's coming," she answered. "Lord Enma is on his way."
Everyone suddenly looked worried. Shiori remained perfectly calm as she instructed them to prepare everyone in the palace. She wasn't quite ready to meet with Enma just yet. The servants quickly left and Shiori was finally left alone in the highly decorated room.
Or rather, she was alone in her largely decorated room. She still wasn't use to this place. Even though she currently had other things to worry about, Shiori couldn't do anything but think about Sesshomaru. She hated being away from him at a time like this, but it was necessary. She thought about his battle with Shishinki and how distraught it made him.
"I've never seen him so upset before. It was hard watching his tortured expressions during battle. Even Inuyasha tried to cheer him up and pay his respects to the Tenseiga, Speaking of which…..I remember now, the Tenseiga finally created a perfect meido zangetsuha. It was much bigger than any of the meido Shishinki created. But it only worked when Inuyasha and Tessaiga were next to Lord Sesshomaru. I guess what that foul demon said was true, Tenseiga is an incomplete sword…..So what will Lord Sesshomaru do now? I just hope it's nothing too treacherous…"
What a mess she'd gotten into. She didn't like acting as a diplomat Sesshomaru, but what choice did she have? If she didn't, then the attacks on Sesshomaru would never stop. It wasn't as if he needed Shiori's protection…..but Sesshomaru was already angry enough. He didn't need any more added stress. It wouldn't be long before he went on a rampage with his meido zangetsuha….no, of course he wouldn't do something like that. He didn't even want to use the Tenseiga anymore.
"Lord Sesshomaru…." She sadly whispered as she undressed. "I wish I could soothe your aching heart, My Lord….."
She remembered how she came so close to confessing her feelings to him….dangerously close. If the Shishinki incident hadn't come up….what would've happened? Would she have actually told him? He seemed really interested in what she had to say.
"Is it possible that…..he's already guessed my feelings for him?" Shiori thought with horror. "No….that can't be it."
She looked over at Gin Tsunagami on her bed. She wasn't sure if she'd need it or not. Eventually, Shiori decided to leave it behind. She slid open the door to her room and travelled down the dark hallway. She had a job to do, and she was leaving until it was done.
…
"Presenting, the ruler over the Land of the Damned, His royal majesty, The Grand Master of Hell, King Enma the Satanic," announced a voice.
A tall man dressed in a yellow men's kimono paraded into the throne room. He had long ratty hair and pointed beard. His beady black eyes darted around the room.
Isao was seated on his throne high above his subjects. There were men standing on both sides of him. The smaller throne on his left was empty. Shiori still hadn't arrived.
"Where is she?" Isao wondered. "Why hasn't she come yet? I know she's felt the Lord's presence inside the castle."
"This is the new Ruler of the Netherworld, eh? Isao, were the flames of Hell too hot for you?" taunted Enma. "Where is your insolent daughter?"
"She'll be here momentarily," he answered. "In the meantime, tell me what you have planned."
"Hmph," he scoffed. "I won't speak of my business with the likes of you. I only have business with the one named Shiori. Bring her to me at once."
"She's coming," said one of Isao's servants.
"I order you to go fetch her at once," barked Enma.
"Have you forgotten something?" said Isao, standing to his feet. "You have no jurisdiction over these plains. This is my territory, remember that."
"Feh, your territory? I heard the only reason you rule this land, is because your daughter didn't want the responsibility of doing it. You didn't rise to power. The people didn't even want you to rule," he taunted. "Are these not the same people who imprisoned you in my lands?"
"By orders of the old demon lords," Isao shot back. "They were forced to do many things they didn't want to. You should know, you were allied with them. Now, the people are eternally grateful to my daughter and me."
"Grateful why? Because you're a kind, soft ruler?" Enma darkly laughed. "So was the previous ruler, the father of the demon lords. But he was overthrown by his own sons. Now, his soul will forever rot in Hell…as yours should have."
Isao smirked, "so what are you going to do now? Have you come to reclaim my soul?"
"No, he's come for mine," echoed a firm voice throughout the room, "and Lord Sesshomaru's."
Everyone turned to see Shiori standing by the entrance hall.
"Acting as a diplomat for the ruler of the Western Lands of the living," a voice announced. "Presenting, the heiress to the Land of the Dead, Her Royal majesty, Princess Shiori of the Netherworld, the Angel of Darkness."
"The Angel finally graces us with her presence," Enma jeered. "And what about Sesshomaru?"
Shiori rolled her eyes, "Were you not paying attention to my prolonged introduction? Lord Sesshomaru is not here. But you already knew that anyway."
He smirked, "You should've brought him with you. I have a bone to pick with the both of you."
"I understand that," she said walking closer. Her kimono dragged across the floor behind her. "But that changes nothing. He's still not here. I'm acting as representation for us both."
"You will take the blame for both of you?" Marveled Enma.
"I never said anything about taking the blame," she said. "I said I would represent us both."
"Hmm, interesting," he remarked. She stopped when she was directly in front of his. Her strong eyes burned into his. "You really mean to do this, then? Your demon lord has committed some huge crimes against me."
"And those crimes would be?"
"He killed one of my vassals of Hell. An act such as that can't go without any repercussions," he spat.
"So its revenge you want?"She questioned. "For the death of one of your men?"
"Don't be so absorbed girl. I don't value the lives of others," he snapped. "Not only did Sesshomaru kill a Lord of Hell, but he also purified an enormous amount of damned souls…..my souls. He had no right to perform such an action…..just as you had no right to leave my domains."
"Well, you sure didn't make enough effort to stop me or the souls," she answered. "And why did you send Shishinki, of all people, to challenge Lord Sesshomaru?"
"I was merely helping him out," said Enma darkly. "He wanted to learn answers about his sword's new ability, did he not? Shishinki seemed like the perfect person to taunt and destroy him."
"You were correct on the first part. He did taunt him with the information he knew about Tenseiga," Shiori stated. "But he didn't destroy him. I'm afraid you failed."
He sharply glared at her, "I haven't failed just yet. You see, there's another way to destroy him."
Enma suddenly hurled a ball of dark demonic energy straight for her. She was struck back across the enormous room. She hit the floor with such a force, that the entire room shook. Guards quickly ran to attend to her. Luckily, Shiori wasn't injured.
"If I cannot destroy his body, then I'll have to destroy his heart," he sneered. "And you have his heart, little princess."
"You fool," she thought as she laid on the cold floor. "The one who had his heart…..is already dead."
"How dare you?" Isao shouted. "I don't care who you are, no one attacks my daughter like that!"
Enma found himself surrounded by shinigami guards. All of them had their swords drawn and aimed right at him. By that time, Isao had stepped down from the throne platform. He too had his sword out.
"You lot really think you stand a chance against me?" he laughed. "I'll kill each and every one of you!"
"None of them will touch you," Shiori ordered.
"But Princess, he attacked you," said Takehiro. "Surely you don't intend to let him get away with it. We must punish him."
"Of course I don't," she said. "That's why I'll be the one to do it. I will be the one to put an end to this madness."
"Feh, you?" laughed Enma. "Are you challenging me?"
"Do you accept?" she questioned.
He glared at the young girl, "Fine then, I accept your challenge fair maiden."
"If I win, you will return to the land of the Damned and you will never plague Lord Sesshomaru ever again," she calmly said.
"And if I win," Enma began. "You will return to Hell with me and become my bride."
Isao gasped, "What?"
"Shiori, you will replace the lord who was slain and forever be a tormentor to the damned…..as well as being tormented yourself," he finished. "That will definitely destroy the demon lord. Do you accept those terms?"
"No, she doesn't!" Isao answered, standing in front of her.
"I accept," said Shiori.
Isao turned to look at his daughter. Was the girl serious? Was she really going to do this?
"Shiori, what do you think you're doing?" he demanded to know.
"….I think I'm about to duel with the Grand Master of Hell," she bluntly answered.
"Was this your plan all along?" he asked. "To fight him?"
"Father, there was never any other option. Negotiating with this monster is completely out of the question," she said.
"It's true," said Enma. "I didn't come here to talk."
"If you lose, you'll have to become is bride in Hell," Isao warned.
"Well then, I'd better not lose," said Shiori credulously.
"She's not taking this seriously," Isao thought. "Shiori….."
"Father, you had so much faith in me when I went up against the Old Lords. Why don't you have faith in me now?" she questioned.
"Enma is a completely different foe," he answered. "He's on a different level. There's a reason why the Old Lords never tried to overthrown his reign in Hell. He's ruthless….."
"I don't care," she snapped. "How else am I going to stop him from sending his ghouls to the Land of the Living?"
"Shiori, don't you think Sesshomaru can handle himself? He's a powerful Demon Lord; he doesn't need you to do this for him,"
She lowered her head, "you just don't understand…"
He looked away from her. There was nothing he could say to persuade her. She really intended to fight Enma on Sesshomaru's behave.
"Well girl, if you're done discussing matters with your daddy," he mocked her as he drew his sword. "I'm ready to stop."
He came rushing forward and slashed at her. Shiori ducked in time to dodge the blade. She repelled him backwards. Enma slid back across the throne room, and blasted her with fire balls. The court scattered as blasts rained from all directions. Shiori ran and ducked to avoid being hit with any of them. She began firing her own blast of purification bombs. Enma immediately put up a barrier around himself.
"You'll have to do better than that!" he taunted.
Shiori channeled her energy into her hands and fired a diamond purification beam. Enma could sense the high level of purification from the beam. Instead of letting the energy hit his barrier, he moved to avoid it. Enma swooped in to directly attack Shiori.
"Shiori!" called Takehiro.
Shiori turned to left and saw Gin Tsunagami hurling towards her. She caught the blade with one hand and unsheathed it. Shiori ran blocked Enma's sword with her own.
"You left that in your room!" shouted Takehiro from the sides. "I rushed to get it for you.
"Thank-you!" she called out. "And not a moment too soon."
"I'm surprise you've held up against me for so long," said Enma, while they were still in grid lock. "But you won't hold up for much longer. You're a hundred years too early."
"Then it's time for me to travel forward through time," she spat as she pushed him back slightly.
Enma flew up and crashed through the roof. Shiori quickly followed after her opponent. As soon as she flew through the hole, Enma tried to incinerate her.
"Devil's Demise!" she cried as she swung his sword.
Shiori repelled Enma's dark energy back at him. He took to the sky to escape being killed by the blast. While he was distracted, Shiori flew up and barely missed slicing off his head. He grabbed her arm and flung her down towards the ground outside the castle walls Shiori's body zipped down below. Before she hit the ground, she flipped back and landed on her feet.
"Curse of the Damned!" Enma bellowed from the roof top as he swung his blade.
Suddenly, dark demonic power surged toward her. The energy was in the form of black lightning bolts. Shiori tried to run, but she wasn't fast enough. Her body was filled with excruciating pain as she was shocked by Enma's power. She dropped down to her knees.
"Calling it quits already, eh little angel?" jeered Enma.
He leapt down from the roof and lunged for Shiori's heart. But she wasn't done with him just yet.
"Hell wrath!" she fired as he raced toward her.
Enma was taking by surprise and pushed back by Shiori's hell wrath. He hadn't expected Shiori to keep fighting. She'd just taken a direct blow from him…..a blow that should've killed her. But she still had the energy to fight. Why wouldn't she stop? Enma landed down a few yards away from her. As soon as he stood up, he was immediately attacked by purification beams. It was obvious that this girl meant business. She intended to win this duel.
"This nonsense stops now!" Enma rushed toward her and dispatched her weapon.
Before she had a chance to react, Enma kicked her in the stomach and sent her back. Shiori was slammed against the ground on her back. She barely had enough time to catch the sword that nearly pierced her heart. She struggled against Enma's pressure on the blade.
"Since I've got your attention," said Enma as he stood over her. "I'd like to run something else by you. I think I should add another term to our prior agreement, don't you?"
"You….scum," she strained.
"I thought you might say that. Anyway, about that extra term." he said with an evil smug. "I will need for those purified souls to be replaced. Do you have any souls in mind?"
"What are you getting at?" She demanded to know.
"Well, I seem to be lacking some souls and I was wondering if you had a few thousand to spare," he said with a grin. "Or perhaps just one soul that's worth thousands to you."
"You're speaking madness! Stop talking in circles!"
"I want the soul of that young human girl you hold dearly to your heart," he said darkly. "Was that direct enough for you?"
Her eyes widened, "You….you want Rin as well?"
"Well it's only fair. She was already on her way to eternal damnation. If it hadn't been for that filthy dog demon, her soul would've been mine."
"No!" she cried. "I'll bargain for my own soul, but not Rin's. I won't take that risk."
"Oh, you won't?"
"I absolutely reuse," she shouted. "Curse Deflect!"
Enma was zapped back and Shiori jumped to her feet. She rushed over and kneed him the stomach. He curled over in pain as she round house kicked him. He sunk to the ground.
"How can you move so freely in that long kimono," he said with strain.
"I'm trained in tennin martial arts," she answered. "I have 400 years of training in uncomfortable clothing…this is nothing."
"I underestimated you, little angel."
"As does everyone else," she said with disdain. She picked up Gin Tsunagami from the ground and pointed it out in front of her.
By that time, Isao and the rest of the court had come out of the castle. They were now observing the fight from a safe distance.
"She's standing her own against him," thought Isao. "Maybe she'll win after all."
"That doesn't matter," taunted Enma. "I'm still going to win this. And then, you will belong to me for all eternity…as well as that sweet little human child."
Shiori could barely control her rising anger. The vision Rin's tortured soul resurfaced in her mind. It replayed it's self over and over. Shiori didn't care about her own life, but Enma wasn't about to take Rin's. Not again. Enma was preparing to fire another deadly attack.
"I suppose this is as good a time as any to use this new attack," thought Shiori.
"Curse of the Damned!" Enma fired.
Shiori expected that attack, so this time she was prepared.
"Devil's Demise!" she hollered while sending the attack back to her opponent.
"Ha, same reaction as ever," Enma mocked. "When will you ever learn child?"
He easily sliced his way through the giant blast, which was exactly what Shiori wanted.
"I believe I just did," she answered while channeling her energy into her sword. "Doomsday Strike!"
She swung her sword, and an enormous tornado of energy twisted toward him. The entire court watched in complete shock—especially Isao. How did she learn that attack? He never taught her that move.
"The only time she's seen the attack performed," he thought "Is when I used it against her. That was way back when I use to visit her inside of her mind…..but that was only once.."
Enma quickly moved to avoid the spiral of doom. He escaped at the very last moment. The Enma worriedly looked back at the long canyon Shiori created in the ground.
"If I hadn't moved in time….that would've killed me," Enma though while looking back at Shiori. "This girl…is far more dangerous than I thought. If I continue fighting her like this, she'll destroy me."
Shiori stood motionless in front of Enma. She vaguely watched him as he pondered about his next move. She didn't care what it was, she refused to lose. She wouldn't let Rin fall into his grubby little hands.
"Well princess, I believe I know when I'm defeated," said Enma after some silence. "So you win. I'll return to Hell. And as promised, I will lift all charges of Sesshomaru. None of my men will plague him anymore."
"You're giving up that easily?" Shiori baffled.
"As I've said, I know when I'm defeated….." he answered.
"Something's a bit off…..does he really intend to just let me go?"
"Your lover will be safe," he said as he began to disappear, "but you should've been more specific about the terms…..you didn't guarantee your own safety….."
The Grand Master of Hell was now gone. Everyone loudly cheered and ran over to Shiori. Her father embraced her as everyone around them celebrated.
"Our angel has once again protected our lands!" someone in the crowd proclaimed.
"Shiori, how did you learn to use doomsday strike?" asked Isao.
"I've been trying to learn that technique ever since you used it on me inside my mind," she answered. "For months, I've been training myself…..but I never quite got it right until recently. I didn't want to be attacked by another Curse of the Damned, which was beyond unbelievably painful! The only other choice I had was to use the attack I hadn't completely modified yet. It seemed to work in my favor."
"I hope you realize, you just made a powerful enemy," he sadly said.
"I've had powerful enemies before Father," she answered. "This is nothing."
"Yes, but this is the King of Hell," he explained. "He's very vindictive. The only reason he gave up is because he doesn't think he's strong enough to kill you as of right now. But in time, he'll come back to challenge you again."
"And in time, I'll be ready….if I have to go war with the devil then so be it," she responded. "As long as my loved ones are safe."
He briefly looked at her. She'd changed so much, it was almost difficult to recognize the girl. She'd grown and matured so much in such a short amount of time. She even seemed to surpass him in power. But he didn't tell her that just yet.