Asylum

Asylum(n.) - 1. A place of safety; refuge 2. An institution for te care of mentally ill, aged, or poor people: a term now rarely used (Definition taken from Webster's New Compact Desk Dictionary and Style Guide)

Resolute in the Transformation

There was immense pain in Ayana's expression as she balled up on the floor, shaking and whimpering. Every few seconds a scream would tear through her and her back would arch, making it look even more excruciating to watch. A few times, someone would come to see what was going on, but when they saw the fiasco, realization would dawn on them or they would be confused, only to be shooed away with a severe look from Isabella.

Hiei had no idea what was going on as he stood by the door, watching it all. Tears were wetting Ayana's face now and she had ceased to scream, but continued to shake and whimper. Not long after, something began to happen.

Ayana continued to shake, that was apparent, but Hiei could now see that her features were shifting, even if it was slight. Her brown hair was becoming darker and tints of red began to appear. The length of her hair was shortening to as well, at a strange rate. Hiei didn't understand what was happening to her and didn't question it, feeling that the silence wasn't meant to be broken. All he could do was continue to watch.

Her skin grew a few shades whiter, her hair now came to her shoulders and was a metallic crimson shade, and her ears were visibly pointed now. Minutes continued to pass and it seemed like an hour had flow away before Ayana finally stopped shaking, her whimpers fading off. She was breathing heavily but she didn't look to be tormented anymore.

Slowly her eyes opened, revealing not the usual bright blue irises, but deep green ones. She slowly unfurled herself, straightening her legs out and unlocking her arms from around her chest. Taking a deep breath, she slowly stood up. She was standing, but her legs were unsure of themselves as they shook.

Now the full extent of Ayana's transformation was revealed to Hiei.

The girl now only stood a few inches taller than him, when before, she was about the same height as Kurama was. Her clothes hung loosely around her thinner frame and Hiei saw that the strange aura he had been feeling around her was now three times as stronger than before.

Tears still rolled down her face as she stood, her eyes fixated, unblinking, on the tiled floor under her bare feet. Hiei could tell she wasn't seeing the floor though, but something else, somewhere in the back of her mind. Isabella finally moved, coming to stand at Ayana's side. Gently taking the woman's hand in her own, Isabella guided Ayana farther into the room and had her sit on Hiei's bed. Ayana complied mechanically, still oblivious to her surroundings. A few tremours shook her body from time to time, but she was now silent and wore an almost impassive expression. Every few seconds or so, her face may contort with pain, regret, or sadness but she never once uttered a word.

Isabella continued to stand by her, watching just impassively as always. Hiei didn't move from where he was, but his eyes were still watching Ayana's actions as well; seeing all that he had, there was no way he could turn away and ignore it all.

Almost an hour had now passed in silence. Ayana was still in her head and Hiei was beginning to wonder what exactly was going on in there. Without much thought to the repercussions, he opened his Jagan and entered her mind.

The hotel was just as grand as it was to imagine. Ayana stood on the sidewalk, looking up at it with disgusted on her face. She had since concealed her otherworldly features and was now waiting for the opportune moment to carry out her plan.

"Of course the rich ones have to live the luxury life in a damn hotel," she hissed.

Just then, she heard the raucous of cheers, whistles, and claps from inside; now she was going to strike.

Going into the alley, at the side of the hotel, she began to scale the twelve story building. When she finally climbed onto the roof, she sprinted for the doors that lead down to the penthouse floor; exactly where she needed to be. As she entered the hall, she was momentarily hit with the immaculate decor and grandeur of the hotel's interior. It was pristine and decorated with the most expensive of items. She didn't have time to dawdle though; she was here on business.

She ran down the hall and easily located room 1200. Breaking in was the easier part of it all. Taking out a spare keycard, she swiped it and entered, unnoticed. Inside, she found the master bedroom and walked in, found a place to hide herself, and then waited. It didn't take long for her quarry to return from the award ceremony. She was tired, which Ayana had accurately expected, so she retired to her bedroom immediately.

The young woman entered and sighed, expecting to finally get a good night's rest after all the preparations and calls she had to make. Ayana knew better though. Producing a dagger from her leg holster, she waited in the shadow of the wardrobe to strike. When the woman came to stand before the wardrobe, opening the doors to find her pajamas, Ayana slipped out from hiding, now exposing her elfish features. The shadows still clung to her in places, giving her face a haunted quality, which suited her fine.

When the woman saw her, she screamed–an action that Ayana had come to expect from her victims. Swiftly and accurately, Ayana dashed the woman's throat, followed by a few stabs in the chest for good measure. Ayana had no care for the blood that coated the clothes, carpet, and blade as she smirked. Just a quickly and silently as she entered, she left, headed back onto the roof of the building.

Just as soon as she had landed on the ground and began to walk away, Ayana was hit with a wall of remorse. This happened after every assassination she carried out and it was beginning to get to her in the worst of ways. She knew that what she was doing was wrong, that the blood she was spilling was not spilled with justified reason. She had abandoned her code, walked away from her own kind, and was shunned for her actions.

Walking down the sidewalk, impervious to the blade she was still gripping in her hand, Ayana was wracked with immense guilty. It was painful, the code she had bound herself to virulent as it attacked her mind, raping her brain for it's shameful and impure faults. It was finally becoming too much.

Hiei was suddenly yanked from Ayana's head. When he reopened his eyes he saw that Isabella was glaring at him heatedly.

"Intruding on other people's thoughts is extremely rude," she bit out when she saw that she had his attention. "Ayana needs to resolve things without you watching in."

Hiei didn't respond. He was staring at Ayana. What was she? What did that memory mean? Hiei was running over questions upon questions that he thought to never voice aloud. He was curious beyond all reason, but he would never openly admit to it.

Four excruciatingly long hours later, Ayana finally came to. She blinked her green eyes rapidly before looking up. Isabella was standing before her, black eyes almost apologetic as they looked into Ayana's. Tears still silently slid down her face but she seemed for resolute in herself, more firm and confident.

"Thanks," Ayana whispered softly.

"So you've come to terms with yourself?" Isabella asked in a gentle tone.

Ayana nodded solemnly as she whipped the tears off her face. With a small smile she said, "It was difficult, but I did it."

"Was I right in saying that you would have never confronted it if I let you go?"

Ayana rolled her eyes skyward but nodded again.

"Good. Now you'll have to explain yourself to Hiei." Isabella nodded her head toward Hiei and, before Ayana could utter a retort, she was vanished in the same strange mist, leaving the woman and Hiei alone.

Slowly turning her head toward the door, Ayana expected to see Hiei standing there, but instead, she was looking at an empty doorway that was opened to an equally empty hallway. Ayana wasn't sure where he went, but she had a feeling she knew. Standing, the woman left the room behind and headed downstairs, destined for the garden where she was sure to find a brooding Hiei awaiting her.

There was much explaining to be done on her part.

I'm very pleased with this chapter. I'm anxious to see this story come to an end though. It will be the first fic I've ever actually completed and that's something for me to be happy about, considering my short attention span issues. I'm hoping you all enjoyed this and continue to until the very end.

Tata, luvs.
.Bloodrunner.