Inuyasha, "Next Generation: Shiori Chronicles" Chapter 21 | What's Next" Shiori, Kohaku | PG

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Fandom: Inuyasha
Title: Next Generation: Shiori Chronicles
Chapter Title: What's Next
Author: Paynesgrey
Characters/Pairings: Shiori, Kohaku, (slight Kohaku/Shiori)
Rating: PG
(Chapter) Word Count: 300
Genre: Adventure/Romance
Warnings: None
Notes: Post-manga.Continuation to my "Shiori Chronicles". This is the 22nd installment. Written for the "Run" theme at iy_unsung_heros. You can find the previous chapters at my archive HERE.

Summary: A teenage Shiori wants to do something more with her life, and everything changes when she meets a traveling pack of pacifist bat youkai, as well as a handsome demon slayer.

Chapter Summary: Shiori muses on what's next for her path and Kohaku's after the battle with Azuna.





Shiori looks uneasily at the bag which encases Azuna’s decapitated head, and she remembers the unearthly gash that split open her forehead, releasing an ominous gas into the world.

Shuddering, she turns her attention to Kohaku. He has stopped glaring at the sack with the head and has occupied himself with cleaning his weapons by the campfire. Before sunset they have reunited with Kai and Shinta, who immediately run off and take patrol together around their camp. Shiori thinks they like being useful, but she no longer feels a threat from Azuna’s forces, and whatever that gas was, it’s long gone.

Only - Shiori is sure she’ll encounter it again someday, and if she stays with Kohaku, it’s more than likely she will.

But will she be staying with Kohaku? The concept makes her feel uneasy. After their fight with Azuna, Shiori feels that perhaps her destiny isn’t with Kohaku after all, despite her feelings for him.

Plus, Kohaku has hinted to her several times that he’s not interested in her like that.

Still, there are bigger things at play here than worrying about her unrequited love for the youkai slayer. She has to get back to her people and train to become an Elder. She’s beginning to learn to use the Scepter much more, but she’s not foolish enough to believe she’s ready to lead.

Shiori watches Kohaku poke the fire with the machete he used to take Azuna’s head, and she narrows her eyes. “You said you were going back to your village with the head. Does that mean you’re not taking the bat youkai to the Sacred Waterfall?”

Kohaku turns to her and the expression on her face affirms her dejected thoughts. “About that,” he says. “I was hoping you would take over that mission. Without me.”