I don't own Inuyasha, just my o.c's

"Honestly, to drag Lord Sesshomaru all the way to this human," Jaken complained as he stood outside of Kaede's hut. "It's absolutely demeaning!"

"Master Jaken?" called Rin, coming out of the hut. "Kohaku's still not waking up."

"He's still out cold, huh? It's because that Magatsuhi tainted his shard. He probably won't wake until Lord Sesshomaru kills that mongrel," he said.

"Oh, speaking of Lord Sesshomaru," said Rin, peering around. "Where did he go?"

"Hmph, he's over their talking to Shiori," said Jaken crossly. "They've been talking for quite some time now. I wish they'd hurry up! We must get going."

Rin giggled, "Master Jaken's jealous!"

"What? Oh, you stupid girl!" Jaken yelled. "I am not!"

"Yes you are!" she teased. "Just because Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Shiori are together now, doesn't mean they'll forget about you!"

He folded his arms, "Lord Sesshomaru will never forget about me! I'm his right hand man! He can't leave me behind!"

"Will you keep it down over there? I'm trying to work on a sheath for Bakusaiga!" Toutousai demanded. "You're giving me a headache!"

"Hmph," grunted Jaken. "The sooner we can leave this place the better!"

He looked over at Sesshomaru and Shiori. They were just a few walks away, and were still in deep conversation. They'd been talking for most of the morning. Rin looked at them as well. The topic they were discussing was apparently very serious. It was written all over Shiori's face. Sesshomaru's expression didn't change much. At one point, Shiori glanced over at Rin.

"Why is Lady Shiori looking at me like that?" Rin pondered. "She looks so….sad. I thought being with Lord Sesshomaru would make her happy. Oh, I really wish I knew what they were talking about."

Shiori shifted her gaze back to Sesshomaru. She was once again engulfed in their conversation. Toutousai held up the newly finished sheath and examined it. He wanted to make sure it was made just right.

"Looks good to me," he mused. "Sesshomaru! Where'd that brat run off too?"

Jaken angrily pointed to him.

"Ah, still talking to his lady," nodded Toutousai. "I'm sure they have a lot to discuss."

"They've been talking all morning!" Jaken fussed. "Shouldn't they be done by now? What could they possibly have to talk about that takes half the day?"

"Master Jaken, stop being so jealous!" said Rin tapping him on the shoulder. "You're already green enough."

"Jealousy is a sign of insecurity!" Jaken shrieked. "Are you saying I'm insecure?"

Rin innocently stared at the imp, "Aren't you?"

"Ugh!" Jaken growled before plopping on the ground.

"Yes, they have much to discuss indeed," said Toutousai. "The future is a large topic to discuss."

"The future?" Rin wondered.

"Toutousai?" called Sesshomaru. He was suddenly beside the elderly demon. "Have you finished it yet?"

"Yep, all finished," he said as he gave him the sheath.

Sesshomaru took the sheath and tucked it into his belt. He then slid his sword into place and turned to leave. Rin stared after him.

"Lord Sesshomaru, is it time to go already?" she asked. "Kohaku still hasn't woken up yet, so please…let's just wait a little."

"Kohaku will remain here," said Sesshomaru firmly, "As will you."

"Eh?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But why Lord Sesshomaru? No, please take me with you!"

"Hey, do as you're told Rin!" Jaken enforced. "Lord Sesshomaru has always lived to fight! Isn't it strange for him to be wandering around with you children?"

"Jaken, you too," said Sesshomaru. "Stay here."

"Eh, but Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken whined as he clung to his pelt. "Please let me go with you!"

"Sesshomaru," called Inuyasha stepping out of the hut. "You intend to follow after Magatsuhi, right?"

"He is my prey," Sesshomaru solemnly answered.

"Since Magatsuhi isn't a being of this world, the only one who can kill him is Sesshomaru," Toutousai informed.

"I remember his scent," Sesshomaru thought. "He will definitely die by my hand."

By that time, Shiori walked over to everyone else. Rin hugged onto her waist. Sesshomaru could feel Shiori staring at the back of his head.

"Are you going now?" she asked.

"I am," he responded over his shoulder.

"Then please, My Lord, do me this one favor," she requested.

He turned to her in acknowledgement.

"This time," she as she cracked a smile, "please…..come back with all your limbs."

He gave her a serene expression before taking off into the sky. Jaken cried after him.

"Don't worry, this is just leaving us like he usually does," said Rin, trying to cheer Jaken up. "He'll be back soon. Then we'll travel together again, right Lady Shiori?"

Shiori said nothing as she weakly smiled down at Rin. She softly patted her on the head.

"Let's go check on Kohaku," she suggested.

Rin nodded, "Okay! I really hope he's feeling better."

Shiori and Rin quietly entered the hut. Kohaku was still lying motionless, just as they'd left him. Sango faithfully stayed by his side. Kagome worriedly looked down at the boy and desperately wished she could do something for him.

"Your spiritual powers still haven't returned?" Shiori inquired.

Kagome shook her head, "No, They haven't. Ever since Magatsuhi stared at me, and I passed out during the battle….my powers have been completely sealed. The seal won't lift until Magatsuhi is killed. There's not really much I can do here…."

"So, what are you implying Kagome?" asked Inuyasha.

"I think it'd be best if…..I went home for a little while," she said. "I have some very important exams coming up. If I don't pass them, I won't get into a good high school."

"High school?" Shiori baffled. "Is that a place of study only for the nobility?"

"Hardly, everyone in my age group is required to go," Kagome giggled. "It's a place where people go to learn subjects like math, science, and language. You spend a lot of time studying and taking test. It can be very stressful and difficult if you don't study."

Shiori vaguely stared at Kagome, "I don't know much about this high school…..but it sounds like an evil establishment."

"Hmph, you got that right! Hey Kagome, want me to destroy it for you?" Inuyasha offered.

Kagome face balmed, "No Inuyasha! But I do want you to take me to the well. I have to go back home for a little while. Only for 3 days, okay?"

"Do you have to go now?" asked Sango. "This is sort of a…troubled time."

"Yes, and I feel bad about leaving. But…this is something I have to do," she responded. "Besides, it's not like I can do anything at all. I feel so useless now that my powers have been sealed…..if only there was something I could do to help."

…3 days later…..

Inuyasha poked his head over the Bone Eaters Well. He'd been impatiently waiting for Kagome to return all day. This was the day she said she'd return. He crouched down on the ledge and stared down into the darkness. Where was she?

"She still hasn't come back yet, huh?" called a voice from behind him.

Inuyasha spun around with caution. Shiori was standing right beside him, leaning on the edge of the well. Inuyasha nearly fell in from surprise.

"What? Where did you come from?" He baffled as he jumped of the ledge.

She tilted her head to the side, "Come now, Inuyasha. I'm sure at this point in your life, you understand the basic facts of the reproduction system. Do I really need to explain where I came from?"

"That's not what I meant, you asshole!" He screeched. "I didn't even catch your scent!"

"I was experimenting," she said with a grin. "I've been learning how to conceal my essence. So I decided to practice on you."

"Why do I have to be your practice dummy!" he growled. "Why can't you practice on Sesshomaru?"

"One, he hasn't come back yet," she explained. "And two, I already have! But his senses are too acute, so he can still smell my scent. Your senses, however, aren't nearly as strong as his. So practicing on you would be better. I can see if I'm making progress or not."

"Oh so you're saying my senses are inferior to him?" he asked.

"You said that, not me," she teased.

He folded his arms and angrily turned away from her. But he suddenly turned back to her with a wicked smile.

"Hey, since you're officially Sesshomaru's mate now," he said slyly "Doesn't that make you his….bitch?"

"No, but it does make me your big sister," she said with an evil smirk.

"Oh shit!" he thought.

"I already know how this family works. If you thought having Sesshomaru as an older sibling was brutal," she said as she bopped him hard on his back, "then think again. You have yet to see a brutal sibling."

"Owww!" he yelped. "Did you have to hit me so hard?"

"Yes, I did," she said with a smug. "Little brother…."

"Gah!" he sulked. "Why hasn't he come back yet?"

"I thought you were waiting for Kagome, not Sesshomaru," she laughed.

"I am! But if Sesshomaru were here, you'd be with him and not here abusing me!"

She looked back into the well, "Just go and get her. You know you want to. That's why you've just been sitting here all day, isn't?"

Inuyasha also stared down into the well, "I do….it's just….I don't want to bother her. She doesn't like it when I go to her world."

"But you miss her, right?"

"Feh," he scoffed. "That's not it! We've just got stuff to do! And she's taking her sweet time back home. Damn that girl!"

"I wonder how she's doing with those demonic exams," Shiori pondered. "What if she needs your help?"

"Nah, she's fine. It's much safer in her world then it is her," he answered. "They barely have any demons there."

"Hmm, how odd," Shiori mused.

"Inuyasha, there you are," said Kaede walking towards them. "I thought you might be here."

"Kaede, what's up?" asked Inuyasha.

"Give this to Kagome, she forgot it," said the elderly priestess. She handed him Kagome's bow and arrows. "She'll need it for her battle against the exams."

"You're right Kaede," he said as he accepted the bow and quiver. "I'll go take it to her right now. She'll definitely need this."

Shiori stared at him, "But you just said—"

Inuyasha violently shoved her over. She fell down on her hip. A vein popped in Shiori's head.

"Yep, I'd better make this trip," he said with a snicker. "Even though it's going way out of my way."

"Here," said Shiori, sweet as can be. "Let me give you a hand!"

She kicked his legs from under him and he went tumbling backwards into the well.

"Shiori, you asshole!" he cursed her all the way down. Shiori watched as he disappeared in a flash of pink light.

"I'd rather be an asshole than a bitch!" she shouted after him.

"Uh….do you suppose he's alright?" asked Kaede. "He might've hit his head on that fall."

Shiori smirked at her, "Oh I've no doubt that he suffered a severe head injury. But I'm pretty sure it was during his infancy."

A giant sweat ball dropped down the back of Kaede's head, "What strange youngsters….."

…hours later….

Sango looked down at her little brother. Kohaku had fallen into a coma after his shard was tainted. It had been days since that event. And without Kagome's spiritual powers, his shard would stay that way.

"He's sure been sleep a long time," Jaken commented. "He hasn't even eaten or drunken anything."

"Yes, and he won't wake until Sesshomaru's killed Magatsuhi," said Sango. "It's been a long time, since we've been together like this. Even if he doesn't wake up, his heart will still be at peace more than when we're separated."

Rin sat by the fire pit and played with Kirara. Shiori wearily looked down at Kirara.

"Strange….I've never noticed her in that form before," she said. "She's so….small and….nimble….and….cat like."

"Yes, isn't she the cutest thing ever?" Rin asked.

"Uh-huh," she said with unease.

Kirara came over and rubbed her body against Shiori's knees. She purred happily. Shiori slid back a bit.

"Okay," she nervously laughed. "She's a little too close now."

Jaken laughed, "Don't worry Shiori, Rin will protect you from the big bad kitty cat!"

"Listen you 2ft toad," said Shiori with disdain. She abruptly stopped talking and looked to the exit. Her eyes were completely hardened.

"What is, Shiori?" asked Sango with alarm.

"Something's coming," said Shiori, rising to her feet.

"Miroku…." She grabbed her Hirakotsu.

Shiori and Sango rushed outside. Shiori stood in the door frame and looked into the sky. There were loads of demons coming straight for the hut.

"These demons….They aren't very strong," She thought. "Yet I'm sensing something incredibly evil…."

There was an enormous shadow over them all. Miroku was already sucking then in with the wind tunnel. Sango worriedly ran over to him.

"Stop Miroku! You can't use the use the windtunnel like that; your miasma wounds will spread!"

She threw her Hirakotsu at the approaching monsters, destroying them all. The giant shadow still lingered over them. Shiori looked down and saw an evil face in the shadow.

"Of course!" she thought. "Miroku! Sango! It's Magat—"

Suddenly, the dark shadow phased right through Shiori's body. Her eyes went dark and she fell backwards.

"Shiori!" Miroku yelled. "Those demons were just a distraction!"

Miroku and Sango ran into the hut. Rin was already by Shiori's side.

"Lady Shiori, what's wrong? What happened to you?" she cried.

Miroku knelt down next to Shiori's body. He lifted her up to examine her. He was sensing an evil aura coming from her body.

"She's been poisoned by Magatsuhi directly…." Miroku observed. "Right now, her body must be fighting to purify the evil inside her."

"Miroku, look!" shouted Sango.

All of them witnessed as Magatsuhi slid into Kohaku's body. Slowly, Kohaku stood up and vaguely glared at them all.

"Magatsuhi, he was hiding in the shadow the entire time," said Sango. "And now…it appears he's taken over Kohaku's body."

The possessed boy smirked at them, "Until the wound inflicted by Sesshomaru healed, I'd been hiding underground….waiting."

"What happened to Lady Shiori?" Rin cried.

"This girl has the power to exorcise spirits, and would've easily expelled me from this body. So, I to take care of her." said Magatsuhi staring down at Shiori. "And now I will deliver Kohaku's shard to Naraku. The Shikon jewel will soon be completed."

"What?" Sango exclaimed.

"Don't worry," he slyly replied. "Once my business is complete, I'll gladly give you this body back…..that is, if you're alright with a corpse."

Sango stared at him with terror. She couldn't let her brother die.

"By attaching to him, I understand perfectly," he continued. "His life is bound by the power of a jewel shard."

"What's that sound?" asked Sango looking around.

They ducked down as loads of demons tore through the roof. The ceiling showered down on them all. Kohaku jumped onto the back of one of the demons. Rin protectively covered Shiori's head, while Jaken covered his own. He was about to escape. Miroku threw off his rosary beads.

"Miroku, you can't!" Sango shouted.

"Hmph, do you intend to kill this boy by sucking him into your wind tunnel?" Magatsuhi questioned.

But Miroku rushed forward and wrapped his arms around Kohaku's body. He stared at Magatsuhi's true form that was lingering behind Kohaku.

"Magatsuhi, the only one I'm sucking up is you!" he opened up his right hand. "Windtunnel!"

"Look! He's sucking him in!" Jaken pointed.

"It's useless," said Magatsuhi as Miroku attempted to suck him up. "Do you really think you can suck me up completely? Instead, you've just sucked up something that no human should ever absorb."

Miroku closed up his windtunnel and violently began coughing. Blood dripped from his mouth. He fell to the floor.

Magatsuhi smirked, "you've just sucked up my demonic poison."

"Miroku!" cried Sango rushing to him.

"Woman, you will die as well," said Magatsuhi as he transformed Kohaku's sickle into a monstrous weapon, "by your brother's hand."

He threw his weapon straight for Sango. She blocked it with her giant boomerang, but the sickle curved around and stabbed her in the back. Sango sunk to the ground in pain.

"Stop Kohaku!" Rin shouted, as she ran towards him.

"Rin, no!" screamed Jaken. "That isn't Kohaku! It's Magatsuhi in Kohaku's body! Come back!"

But it was too late. Rin ran towards Kohaku, but was expelled backwards by his miasma.

"Rin!" shouted Jaken. She fell back unconscious…..right next to Shiori.

Magatsuhi flew off inside of Kohaku's body.

…Just moments later…..

Inuyasha was running toward the village with Kagome on his back. They'd just returned, and sensed something was out of place. Inuyasha could smell blood and poison coming from Kaede's hut. They finally reached the half demolished house.

"Miroku! Sango! Shiori!" shouted Inuyasha.

He saw them all lying down on the ground. Both Miroku and Sango were covered in blood. Even young Rin was unconsciously spread out on the ground. What happened to them all? Sango slowly opened her eyes.

"Inu…yasha," She strained. "Please….go after Kohaku."

"Sango! Where did you get that wound?" asked Kagome.

"Magatsuhi….he came and took possession of Kohaku. He aims to deliver the last shard to Naraku,"

Inuyasha stared at Miroku.

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha….for being in this state," he said.

"His miasma wound," thought Inuyasha. "It's read all the way to his chest. If it reaches his heart…"

"That sound…" thought Sango after she heard a faint gushing sound. "It can't be the windtunnel….can it?"

"Wait, Shiori can help him right?" Kagome asked. "She can purify him like she did before."

"Both she and Rin were poisoned by Magatsuhi's miasma," said Sango.

Inuyasha went over to Shiori, "But before….she was able to purify his miasma."

"It's because Magatsuhi took her by surprise, phased into her body, and tainted her," said Miroku. "He did it to keep her from exorcising him out of Kohaku's body. If this miasma is strong enough to harm even Shiori, then…"

Miroku coughed again and Sango crawled over to him, "Please Miroku…..rest. Don't talk anymore."

Kagome sadly watched the disheartening scene. All of her friends were sprawled out all over the floor…..all of them in pain. She turned to Inuyasha.

"We have to find Kohaku,"

He nodded, "right, let's go…"

Jaken watched them leave before glancing down at Shiori and Rin.

"Oh no! What will Lord Sesshomaru do if he finds this mess?" shrieked the imp. "I'm so dead."

…Hours later….

"Miroku is it alright for you to be up?" asked Shippo.

Miroku had finally woken up. He, Kaede, Shippo, and Shiori were all inside of the village shed. Miroku was sitting on a straw mattress. Shiori was lying across from him.

"Awhile ago, an ominous aura rose from your body," informed Kaede. "Could that possibly have been the part of Magatsuhi you sucked up with your windtunnel?"

"Most likely," He answered. "My recovery seems too good to be true."

"Inuyasha and the others must have beaten Magatsuhi," said Shippo.

Shiori sighed as she stirred around. Shippo hopped over to her.

"Hey, Shiori's waking up too. They really did defeat him!"

"What….what happened?" she asked. She slowly sat up and grabbed her forehead. "And why is the room spinning?"

Shippo sat on Shiori's knees, "Uh, I don't think the room's spinning."

"Ugh….will everyone please stop yelling," she moaned. "I have a splitting headache."

"Huh, but I wasn't yelling," said a confused Shippo. "Actually, I was speaking kind of softly."

"Shiori, you don't look well," said Kaede with concern. "The poison must still be in your system."

"But Rin's fine," Shippo commented. "And Sango said she was also hit with Magatsuhi's poison."

"Magat….suhi?" Said Shiori slowly.

"Yes, don't you remember?" Miroku asked. "We were being attacked by a load of demons. But they were only serving as a distraction, the real threat was Magatsuhi. He phased through your body and poisoned your soul."

"It's all very fuzzy," she admitted. She calmly surveyed the room. "Where's everyone?"

"They've all gone after Kohaku," said Miroku. "He was possessed by Magatsuhi right after you were attacked."

"So that's why I was attacked," she thought. "He didn't want me in the way. And right now, Magatsuhi must be transporting Kohaku's shard to Naraku. Magatsuhi's poison was strong enough to effect even Sesshomaru, so of course it was damaging to me…."

She sensed something vile coming from Miroku's body. The energy felt similar to Magatsuhi's.

"Miroku, you have a lingering demonic aura inside you."

"Yes," he nodded. "That's probably because I absorbed some of Magatsuhi's demonic aura with my windtunnel. It poisoned us all."

"Yes, and while he slept, the remains of the aura rose out of his body," added Kaede.

"Where's Rin?" she asked with alarm.

"I think she and Jaken went to get some fresh air," said Shippo.

Shiori gasped and dizzily stood up, "Oh no!"

"What's wrong?" asked Miroku, also standing. He caught her as she stumbled over.

"You don't sense that?" she asked.

She ran out the shed, and into the night. Everyone else chased after her.

"Shiori, what's going on!" asked Miroku, running behind her. "What do you sense?"

"Something evil," she responded. "The same evil that I sensed coming from your body—Magatsuhi!"

"You think something's happened to Rin?" he questioned.

"I don't know…."

They ran down a path until they finally saw Jaken—alone. He was widely running around in a circle. Shiori grabbed him by the collar and shook him.

"Where's Rin?" she demanded. "What happened to her?"

"Gah! She was kidnapped!" He yelped. "The aura that came from the monk's body was all around her."

"Then its true, she was kidnapped by Magatsuhi," said Miroku.

"So Magatsuhi survived, huh?" said a voice from behind them. Sesshomaru had returned.

"What do you mean by survived?" asked Miroku. "Is it possible that he hid his true form inside of my body?"

But Sesshomaru turned and flew off.

"I wish he'd answer some of our questions for once," Shippo complained.

"He didn't even say anything to you at all," said Miroku to Shiori.

"This is bad…" thought Shiori, dropping Jaken on his head. "Why would Magatsuhi abduct Rin? What could he possibly be planning?"

Shiori levitated off the ground.

"Shiori, are you going to find Rin as well?" asked Kaede.

"Yes, I must," Shiori answered while taking off. "I have to know what Naraku's up to….."