DRAGON (guest): Of course I'd accept them! There's a website called PicturePush where you can upload photos without an account. If you use it just let me know when you've posted the drawings and I'll look them up!

Good news everyone! The spell check has returned! It just disappeared a while back and now it's returned, which means no more spelling awkward like akward and such. (Btw, totally used the spell check to spell it correctly there.)

Lots of talking in this one, but it leads up to the next one.

Chapter 3, Road To Darkness Part One.

Things sucked back at the plane. Both Shun and Tara had yet to wake up, they were out cold in their rooms. Tsumeyasha was sitting in a chair with a blank expression on his face. Skyress was so worried about Shun after see the hole in his shirt that she was about to discover the joys of throwing up. Runo was channeling her anger, from Shun being a dumbass, at Dan. Dan was taking it like a man. Marucho was watching the demon watch carefully. Jake was trying to coax Tsumeyasha out of his shock. And Drago was sitting there like a good sphere hoping Runo didn't kick him.

Tara was the first to wake up, she found herself back in her room on the plane and very confused. She left her room and went out to the living roomish area. There she was greeted by excited friends, happy to see that she was awake. There was some hugging and then Tara asked a seemingly innocent question. "Where's Shun?"

Everyone looked away and there was awkward silence. After about a minute Tsumeyasha explained what happened after Tara had been knocked out. "So he's still unconscious?"

Tsumeyasha nodded and Tara frowned. After that everyone went back to doing what they had been before, now Tara had joined Skyress in worrying about Shun.

XDXDXDXDX

Shun didn't wake up until almost noon the next day.

Not only does Soul Possession take a lot of energy out of the body being used. But so did Okamiyasha healing the hole in his torso. It was normal to sleep for a while under those circumstances, the others just didn't know that. So when Shun entered the living roomish area, rubbing his eyes sleepily, and asked if this was hell's receiving area, everyone was relieved. Even Runo who tried to beat him with a stick.

After a short conversation they found that Shun didn't remember anything past being brutally stabbed by Sadism, so Tsumeyasha explained what had happened, leaving out the hug between him and his mother of course. Shun listened quietly until Tsumeyasha was finished. "So the old hag is still alive huh?"

I can hear you. And I'm not an old hag.

Shun jumped at Okamiyasha's voice in his head. "That's something I haven't heard in a while." he said to himself.

"Shun what are you talking about?" Dan asked.

Shun crossed his arms and with a completely serious tone said, "The voices in my head."

Everyone face palmed.

After eating lunch they went off by themselves to do various things. Okamiyasha wanted Shun to return to the site that he summoned Skyress from, so he did. "Alright Okamiyasha why did you want me to come here?"

Because we are going to do some training.

"Training?" Shun asked.

Yes. The Homunculus are too strong for you and your friends. Even my son can't fight them. Do you remember way back in chapter one of Demon Within when I gave you my power? What did you have to do to call forth that power?

Shun thought for a moment. "I had to say your true name right?"

Correct. What was that name?

"Falestare."

At once Shun felt a surge of power from the faint second soul in his body. The soul itself had been so faint before he didn't notice it. But now it was clear. A black aura began to envelop him as he could feel the demonic energy make its way through his limbs. If he looked behind him he could have seen that the aura spread out behind him in the shape of six tails. He felt as if he had the energy and strength to do anything. It was even better than an adrenaline rush.

Then it just disappeared. The energy and strength was replaced with a massive headache and the urge to barf up his organs. Shun abruptly sat down, wanting to curl up in a little ball and die.

My, you reacted better than I expected for one who hasn't accepted the darkness yet.

Shun would have replied with some snappy comeback, but he would have puked, so instead he kept his mouth shut and let Okamiyasha continue.

To fully harness a demon's power, without me taking control of your body every time, you need to do one thing first. You must become one with the darkness. To do so you must make a new contract with me, travel to the demon realm as a soul, and obtain a dark form from the Shadow Stone.

The urge to barf was disappearing so Shun could actually speak this time. "What's a dark form?"

A dark form is a human's version of my transformation into a human. It gives you the ability to use demon power, each human reacts differently to the Shadow Stone's power. It was mere coincidence that Shiba's dark form was a wolf, the same as my true form.

"So if I accept the darkness, I'll basically become a demon, the very creatures I'm killing to avenge those in Japan."

Yes.

Shun closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Two very conflicting thoughts running through his head. Stay human, keep fighting, probably die to the Homunculus, world ends. Become a monster, keeping fighting, have a chance against the Homunculus, save the world.

This must be a difficult decision, we have time, think about it a little.

Okamiayasha had barely finished saying this when Shun gave his answer. "I'll do it. For my grandfather, for my father, for all those in Japan, for my friends, for the world, I'll do it."

Then let us make a new contract. Afterwards we'll return to your friends. Tomorrow your journey to the darkness begins.

Shun release a little of Okamiyasha's soul, just the way he had when they made their first contract. She didn't look any different, no that was a lie, her expression was less hostile. "So what are the terms of this new contract?" Shun asked.

"Unlike our first one, this is a very simple contract. One, you agree to enter the demon realm peacefully under my watch."

"Easy enough."

"Two, once you have a dark form you must not reveal it to any normal humans. Your friends are most definitely not normal so you can show them."

"No arguing there."

"Three, if it is revealed accidentally there is no punishment, a human might walk by during a battle. But if it is revealed intentionally you will suffer."

"Alright."

"And four, you must tell the one who brought you to the Shadow Stone the true name you are given and no one else."

"I get a true name too? Wonderful." Shun said sarcastically.

"Do you agree to the terms of the contract?"

"Yes."

"Then your descent to darkness begins. May the Shadow Stone grant you a form that rivals the Homunculus."

There was a flash of black light and words written in blood appeared in Shun's mind.

Welcome to the darkness.

Part one done! From what I have in my mind this will probably three parts long. This one, his journey through the demon realm, and the Shadow Stone.