Warning: Take note that this chap's ratings has been upped to an R. ^.^;; I guess....

Chapter 24: In Hell

A lone fire burned away in the middle of a stone room, emitting a strangely cold aura to the already chilling atmosphere. Weird logo graphics had been sketched into the walls, everything around looked ancient, as though it had existed since the time of Adam and Eve, and yet not. The fire seemed like a prick of light in the thick black room.

A few feet from the fire, a faint light pierced the darkness. A luminescent figure hung unconscious her feet just barely touching the ground. Her wrists were high above her head, aided by the cold black shackles around them, connecting to some thick chains securely fastened from the top. It couldn't be called a ceiling, because when you looked up, all you could see were swirly darkness.

Her head was throbbing, as if every kind of evil in the world was pressing down on her, wanting to possess her completely. She suddenly jerked awake, rivulets of sweat dripping down her forehead. As one bead rolled down near her lips, she stuck out her tongue and licked it. Yuck.

I'm sweating. For the first time, the great Goddess of Destiny is actually experiencing humanly functions. But why? She tried to probe her head for answers, but instead got an ear splitting headache in return. She nearly screamed with the pain, but bit on her tongue at the last minute; she didn't want to draw anyone's attention to her. If that was possible in an already empty room.

Too late. A huge creaking followed by a slam of a heavy door from somewhere around the room was heard. Footsteps followed, each making a hollow sound on the hollow stone floor (are stone floors hollow?), slowly, slowly as if mocking her.

She felt fear creep up her. Damn it, now I'm having human emotions! When was the last time I experienced fear? Without knowing what she was doing, she shook her hands frantically, trying to free them although her inner heart knew it was a fruitless attempt. A tremendous clanging of the chains sounded.

"Stop that Miramei. You know it's useless." The suave smooth voice reached her as its footsteps moved closer.

"Get away! Get away from me!" Her voice rose up high pitched in fear. He gave her the creeps, although she already knew who he was. It was just like last time. That time....

*************************************FLASHBACK************************************

Several she-devils hurry past, with the tell-tale horns in their hair and carrying baskets of some black gunk (wouldn't want to know what's in it!)

"Did you hear? A beautiful goddess has just arrived from Heaven!"

"Wonder what she wants? Doesn't she know coming down here makes Enma-sama very bloodthirsty?"

"Apparently he can't touch her though; she's the Goddess of Destiny."

"So what if she is? It's not like she controls the world with that name."

"Maybe. She has control of the whole human cycle, though maybe not now. She's down here for some 'training' apparently."

With that, the she-devils looked at each other and cackled in their high pitched tones, their voices growing fainter as they moved further away.

From behind a black tree, a guy in probably! his teens, stepped out. His eyes widened as he struggled to digest what he had just heard.

"A goddess from Heaven? She must be beautiful. Maybe she can take me away from this black misery I live in and bring me up there. Then I won't need to suffer." The boy said to himself hopefully, clutching one end of his huge red cloak as he walked to avoid tripping over them.

Suddenly several guards appeared around him. One of them, obviously the higher ranked one, bowed before the boy.

"Akuen-sama, The Great Lord requires your presence in the Dark Hall. And we are to escort you."

Akuen sighed and followed them. Judging by the amount of guards he sent to apparently 'escort' me, you would think I'm a wanted murderer.

The guards in front of him pushed open the huge doors which led to the Dark Hall. They bowed, making way for Akuen to enter. That he did, nearly tripping over his cloak and his anxiousness to see what his father wanted. He was rarely called to his father's presence.

A blur of bright light, which he had never seen 'cept for the cold blue fires hit him straight in the eye. He was temporarily blinded, and tripped over someone's foot in his path to go crashing into the people that lined up by the right side of him.

"Freak."

Ashi's voice reached the poor boy who had tripped over his foot, soaked with contempt and obvious pleasure as he watched his little brother make a fool of himself in front of their father.

"Akuen! What do you think you are doing?" Enma's voice tinged with rage shook everyone present. "Get on your knees straightaway and pay your respects to me and the our guest."

Akuen nearly burst out crying, but stopped himself just in time. It was always like that; Ashi would find a way of making him mess up any kind of gathering he was actually invited to. As if being shunned wasn't enough.

"Anata wa daijoubu desu ka? (Are you okay?)"

The sweetest voice he had ever heard in his short life rang through him, accompanied by a very white hand hovering just in front of him. He looked up hesitantly and found himself falling in love immediately with the face. Beautiful intense gray eyes shaping her whole transparent almost childish face, her contrasting blue green hair framing it.

He couldn't stop looking at her. He knew she was the one. The One. His other half. It had to be.

He later found out that she was here, on her journey or training to be the best Goddess of Destiny ever. And to be that, she had to endure several years in Hell as a god or goddess would never have to do, for the heavenly beings could not last long in the chilling atmosphere, where evil lurked at every corner.

He seldom talked to her in the weeks she was there. Instead, he satisfied himself by following her silently whenever he could, admiring her from behind. Though one day when he was following her as usual, she suddenly disappeared. Feeling surprised, he stepped out from behind the tree to see where she had gone.

A hand tapped his shoulders. He nearly jumped with fright, but when he turned around and saw her, he got ready to run his life away. However she stopped him, smiling brightly.

"You'll be friends with me, won't you? Everyone's so unfriendly around here, but I've noticed you've been following me around for quite a while. Lets be friends ne?" She stuck out her hand.

That was the first time anyone had ever offered to be friends, much less even talking to him at all like an equal. Hesitantly, he reached out and shook her hand, reveling in the warmth she emitted.

Without further need for formal conversation, they gamboled around the throes of Hell, playing like small kids would, among the dark forests found there, among the evil creatures which turned good when Destiny was there, even among the dark faeries.

Finally they stopped, panting heavily. Akuen smiled contentedly as he saw the beautiful face in front of him. She was his friend. He had a friend.

".... You haven't told me your name yet." Akuen whispered, as though afraid she might suddenly disappear if he were to so much utter a word.

She looked up and smiled another one of her gentle smiles. "You can call me Miramei." At the mention of her name, her expression turned sad for a second. "Only special people can call me that, so be sure not to tell anyone else okay?"

Akuen nodded happily, and they both began playing again, rolling over the dark fields which had never seen the light of day till Destiny came.

Unknown to them, someone was watching them through a crystal ball. Long fingernails scratched the ball, as a pair of evil green eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Each time Akuen was behind her, following her, a certain warmth entered his heart, as though she was emitting it from a twenty mile radius. He felt more powerful, stronger, as if she had secretly been giving him power. He didn't take heart in his brother's teasings anymore, to his brother's annoyance.

Having finished his daily training and feeling 3 times stronger, he decided to find Miramei for a play session again. Passing by a small field of roses which only Miramei had passed through to make them grow, he decided to pick a special one and bestowed it with his power to give to Miramei. The black rose shone with a crystallized shine.

This time he would tell her his love. This time they'd be together for certain, he didn't care what it took; Miramei was his. He grinned happily as he ran through the hallways of the huge palace, to Miramei's room. As he passed by his brother's chambers, he noticed the door slightly ajar and light was shining through the small slit.

Knowing that his brother never had light in his chambers, Akuen decided to stop and take a look. Peeping through the small slit, his eyes widened in horror.

She had been conjuring up a special necklace for him. One that could protect him. Smiling, she held up her newly finished masterpiece. The last ingredient needed: a little of her power to make it whole.

She blushed as she thought of Akuen. I've never felt like this before. Before I went on this journey, I read my own fate. It said I would fall in love with an immortal. But it didn't say anything else, whether it was heavenly or hellish immortals. Could it be that my destiny lies with Akuen?

But before she could insert her powers into the necklace, the doors to her room opened. She looked up, surprised. No one ever dared to come to her. Who was that?

Several she-devils, her 'maids' appeared and bowed deeply.

"Miramei-sama, Ashi-sama would like to see you in his chambers."

What does Ashi want? Miramei thought, a little irritated at having been interrupted. She decided to keep the necklace in her robes, as she pushed open the door that led to Ashi's chambers.

Small pinpoints of blue fire adorned his room, like little stars. A table was set out, a huge bottle of wine set on it with two goblets on either side of it. Something was not right.

Miramei looked around for Ashi. She could not spot him anywhere. I'm probably in the wrong room. Guess I'll go finish that necklace for Akuen then. She turned just as the doors slammed shut in front of her. A little shocked, she tried in vain to open them.

"No use, Destiny. Why don't you come enjoy a little wine with me?" Ashi stood behind her, holding a filled goblet to her.

Knowing she had no choice, she reluctantly accepted it and sat in the chair he held for her. Swirling the contents around suspiciously, she asked, " What do you want to see me for?"

Ashi took a sip from his goblet and savored it before saying anything. " I'd just want to warn you to stay away from my little brother. He can... get a little carried away with his obsessions you know."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you know very well. He thinks he's in love. Hah, what does a small kid know about love?"

"He loves me?" Miramei asked, a red tint coloring her cheeks.

Ashi noticed it, and became annoyed. "No he doesn't. He's in his own dream world. After all, " he got up and moved to the behind of Miramei's chair and began massaging her neck, " After all, you're already betrothed to me. I wouldn't like it if my brother were to have a.... affair with my to-be bride you know."

Miramei's glass crashed to the floor as she pushed away Ashi, horrified at what he had just said. She ran a little further from him.

"That's not true! I so am not betrothed to anyone! No one at all!" She cried.

Ashi smiled. He snapped his fingers and shackles appeared on her wrists, pulling her hands above her head as they connected with the ceiling. He walked to her slowly, purposely, and cupped her chin, his long fingernails faintly brushing against it. He moved close to her ear and whispered.

"You are now, luv. The little brat's outside now too, he'll be bursting in any second. If you don't acknowledge what we just 'discussed' I don't know what I might do to the sickly thing."

Miramei squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She knew what Ashi was capable of, and could put Akuen through endless torture if he felt like it. She didn't want anyone to suffer, because of her.

As expected the doors burst open, Akuen standing at the entrance, his red eyes gleaming with fury.

"Get away from Miramei, you-you son of a bitch!" He spat.

Ashi merely grinned, running his fingers along Miramei's back, which was to Akuen.

"Don't disturb us Akuen. We're in the middle of something important here." Came Miramei's hollow, strained voice.

Akuen stopped. Did he hear right? They were....

"That's right, little brother. We're going to be married soon, so you should keep your distance from now on. I've shown enough empathy for you."

**********************************ENDFLASHBACK************************************

Akuma's hand cupped her chin as he leaned closer to her, his handsome evil features visible.

"And you know what I did later. How could you deceive me? My feelings, were you just playing around with the poor pathetic little boy?" His fingernails pressed into her chin, drawing out a small rivulet of blood.

Miramei grimaced. He's acting like Ashi now. No, Akuen, I never wanted it to be like that. Wait, did he go on a rampage, killing his brother and father because of this? Her eyes widened in realization.

"Wait Akuen. You don't know what happened...." Her breath caught in her throat as she focused on the steely red ruby eyes in front of her.

"Of course I know. You used a poor little boy for fun, and then I front of him, got ready to make love to Ashi. And if I know my brother, you should have been enjoying endless hours. With this tainted, spoiled body." His hand gripped her sleeve tightly, as he recalled back.

"No, Akuen, I never....."

"And you call yourself a goddess? How could you still become the goddess of Destiny when you've united with a demon before?"

"Will you just listen to me, you selfish Akuen?!"

//Rrippp// Cloth which had once been the sleeves to her robe floated to the floor. She gulped as she saw his stone-faced expression. He sure isn't kidding.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Hurry up, Tenpou. What's taking you so long?!" Konzen paced up and down. They were taking too slow. Too slow. He needed to find Miramei fast. Who knows what that idiot could be doing to her right now.

"Oh, there. I've found the book." Hakkai announced. "Now the problem is how to decipher it....."

In his haste to rush over to Hakkai, he tripped over Goku and they both fell splat on nearby Gojou.

"Hey, watch it you stupid monk!

"Aahm, you're so heavy kappa! Get off me!"

"I should be saying that, you baka zaru!"

Konzen hurriedly untangled himself, not before whipping out a paper fan and clobbering them with it. ^.^

"What do you mean how, Hakkai?" He demanded as he went on a whacking spree amidst the yells and shouts.

"*sweatdrop* Okay I think I've got it. You guys have got to help me, okay?"

"Of course, just get this dirty monk of me!"

"Who's the one who's dirty, you ugly slime!"

"I've always wondered where you got that paper fan from."

"Harahetta (I'm hungryyyy!)!!!"

Hakkai sweatdropped, smiling guiltily as he held the huge book in his heads. His expression turned serious. We'd better repair this fast, and get to Destiny.

babyg: Thank you to all the reviews! Hope you liked this one! More reviews as to how this chapter is, okay? ^_^