-Where Her Heart Lies-
Five days later Aya finally awakens feeling like herself. She sits up in bed yawning, it felt good to know that she could go back to her normal life.
Well as normal as it can get.
She sighs dropping her arms, she hadn't seen Sesshomaru since "the incident" but Rin and Mikado kept visiting even though Aya's attitude was in the gutter, she crawls out of bed. She walks over to the mirror. She didn't know how to take his absence, was he angry, was he embarrassed, was he just not interested in her. Aya sighs.
Well I'm embarrassed, I threw myself at that man like a woman gone mad.
But I'm confused as well, I know that we aren't anything but traveling companions but…no…lets be honest we're something more than that. In a strange sort of way we're...ugh I don't know.
"Mi'lady how are you feeling today!"
Aya turns her head to see Mikado at the door holding a large folded kimono Aya smiles saying: much-much better.
"That is great, even though Rin has been coming here I can tell she misses you."
Mikado sets the kimono on the bed saying: she and the Lord are in the dining room…he's been eating with her more because of your absence. Aya walks over to the bed feeling the kimono's fabric, Mikado watches her saying: the Lord thought that you would like it, Aya lifts it. It was white and black with reddish cherry blossom leaves on the right arm to the shoulder, Aya smiles saying: this is breathtaking. She holds it to her body saying: a kimono just for me…he does like me. Mikado quirks a brow saying: of course he does Mi'lady, Aya places the kimono on the bed saying: Mikado could you please prepare me a bath, Mikado nods leaving the room. Aya picks up the kimono again admiring it's design, she walks over to the mirror once again holding it to her body. Mikado returns with five other maids each carrying a large bucket of water, Mikado leads them into the bathroom when they begin to fill the tub.
"Lady Ay you're up!"
Aya turns to Rin saying: good morning Rin, Rin gasps saying: you feel better, Aya nods and Rin runs over to her saying: oh good I was so worried, she smiles saying: Lord Sesshomaru picked that out for you…we went to see the kimono maker in Yurime, Aya gasps.
I would have liked to go.
"Did you see Lana and…."
Oh no…Mio!
I can't believe I forgot so easily.
"Mio? Yup we saw the both of them, they kept asking questions about you but Lord Sesshomaru didn't really answer them but I did…they were happy to hear that you were ok except…Lana was a little worried that you weren't with us…but when Lord Sesshomaru told her that you were sick it seemed she understood."
Aya nods, she'd gone into heat in Yurime plenty of times, which led to her leaving Lana and Mio for a week in search of a secluded place to stay out of trouble, she usually pulled men from neighboring villages.
"Oh Lady Ay I'm so happy that you are back!"
Rin hugs her around the waist, Aya smiles saying: I never left, she bends down in front of Rin saying: so tell me…what's been going on around here since I've been sick, Rin smiles saying: oh nothing much…Master Jaken is just as un-fun…Lord Sesshomaru still works a lot and Mikado is my only friend…. Aya smiles saying: what about me, Rin blushes profusely.
"I-I don't really see you as a friend…you're more than that to me…." She begins kicking her feet as she looked down blushing, Aya nods saying: thank you Rin, Rin giggles saying: for what. Aya stands.
Rin was the beginning of my…my new life. The one I'm working to create, now that I know Mio is alive and well…I can find her and begin anew.
But it's so confusing…how could Kize bring Mio back?
Aya looks Rin over, but Sesshomaru did it.
"Mi'lady your bath is ready," Mikado says walking out of the bathroom, Aya nods saying: thank you Mikado, as she walks into the bathroom Rin plops onto the bed saying: hurry Lady Ay so that we can go play in the snow, Aya turns to her saying: snow.
"It has snowed for the last two nights, it's quite beautiful outside," Mikado says sitting next to Rin, Aya smiles saying: I can imagine. She walks into the bathroom to prepare for the day.
"Mikado do you think Lady Ay will stay with us," Rin asks looking at the bathroom door, Mikado shrugs saying: I don't know Rin, Rin turns to her saying: but she can't leave right…Lord Sesshomaru wants her to stay. Mikado sighs.
"We cannot be sure of Lord Sesshomaru's intentions."
"But he really does, why else would he keep her around or…follow her…or help her?"
"Rin why don't you ask Lord Sesshomaru that question," Mikado says nodding to the door, Rin shakes her head saying: I'll ask when Lady Ay finishes so that he can say it in front of her…maybe they'll kiss again, Mikado raises a brow saying: kiss again, Rin nods. Mikado smiles saying: yes…maybe.
Finally Aya reemerges from the bathroom dressed in the kimono, she already had wrapped her arms and calves in reddish pink bandages, Rin hops off the bed saying: Lady Ay you look beautiful, Aya smiles at Rin saying: thank you Rin, Rin takes Aya's hand saying: Lord Sesshomaru would probably want to see you. Aya sighs.
I don't know about that Rin.
Without waiting for an answer Rin begins pulling Aya out of the room, Mikado smiles following them. Rin pulls her to the library saying: he's in there, Aya folds her arms looking away.
Mm…too late now he probably knows we're outside the door already.
Aya walks into the room to find Sesshomaru sitting at the same table as before with what seemed to be the same stack of papers, he doesn't look up when Rin runs over to his desk.
"Lord Sesshomaru look, Lady Ay is better."
Aya blushes and Mikado giggles behind her hand.
"I noticed."
Aya walks over to the desk her eyes on the papers in front of him, she leans over saying: you're always busy with the same things, Sesshomaru looks at her and she nods, he frowns looking at the papers again.
Well that's better than him bringing up what happened.
So things remain the same…why does that disappoint me?
"Come on Sesshomaru," she mutters putting her hands to his shoulders, he looks at her saying: come where, she leans over close to his ear saying: outside with Rin and me, Rin nods saying: yeah come on.
"I am busy."
Aya looks at Rin shrugging, she walks around Sesshomaru saying: come Rin we can go play in the snow together with that nice boy who works in Ah-un's stables, Rin nods saying: ok. Mikado nods saying: and I will come as well seeing as how my work is finished for the day, Aya glances back at Sesshomaru who now glared at her. She smiles blowing him a kiss while walking with Rin out of the room.
"Wow," Aya whispers walking out of the castle and onto the grounds, snow covered everything creating a surreal winter wonderland, Rin laughs running into the snow, she squeals saying: it's so cold. Aya leans over picking up a handful of snow; she smiles thinking of her sister.
I know you loved snow Mio, are you excited as well? Wherever you are...are you happy?
Rin hops up and down in the snow just to see how far the snow went to the ground, she gasps when she jumps into a particularly deep part, Aya laughs when Rin becomes trapped in a snow mound up to her knees. Mikado rushes over to help her, Rin giggles saying: Lady Ay how far do you go down, Aya folds her arms.
"Well Rin I'm substantially taller than you so…. I'd say I wouldn't go too far."
Aya drops down scooping up more snow, it was nice to look at but she wasn't really fond of playing with it.
"Oh how childish you are!"
Aya looks back to see Jaken standing in the doorway with judging eyes, she smiles saying: I missed you as well Jaken, he gasps but regains his composure.
"Please, I Master Jaken did not miss such a misfit waste of a demon."
Aya stands wiping the snow away from her numb hands, she turns to Jaken saying: what was that, he takes a step back saying: don't you come any closer, Rin runs over grabbing Aya's kimono.
"Don't mind him Lady Ay; he's happy to see that you're better because when you're around Lord Sesshomaru hits him less."
"That is not true!"
Rin nods saying: yes it is you told me…you told me two days ago when-, he tackles the girl into the snow, Aya sighs bending down and plucking the small demon away from Rin, Rin rubs the back of her head saying: ow now my hair's all wet. Aya puts her hands on her hips saying: wait until I tell Sesshomaru about this he'll have your head. Jaken gasps saying: please no…please I am sorry; he drops to his knees pleading with her, Aya looks at Rin saying: it's your call. Rin narrows her eyes and a small smile builds on her face, Aya juts her hip looking at Jaken.
"Um…I'm gonna have to think about this…hmm…this isn't the first time you've been mean to me…remember when you burned that doll Lord Sesshomaru had gotten for me because you said that I was too old for them…or that time you made me do all of your errands that day Lord Sesshomaru left us for the Northern Lands…or that-.
Aya stiffens when she feels Sesshomaru's presence near her, she turns to see Sesshomaru at the door of the castle, Jaken gulps about to speak but before he can say anything Sesshomaru kicks him over Aya's head, Aya watches him fly.
"Well seems like the choice was made for you Rin," Aya mutters when Jaken lands in a tall pile of snow, Rin stands saying: oh Lord Sesshomaru you decided to come and play anyway, he shakes his head looking at Aya, she waves her hand saying: that stable boy thing…nothing more than a joke. He raises a brow and she laughs, Rin giggles saying: Lord Sesshomaru were you jealous. Aya nods looking at her and Rin laughs even more, Sesshomaru looks at Mikado who now watched with amusement in her eyes, Aya notices grabbing his arm.
"Come let's go for a walk?"
Sesshomaru looks at her saying: a walk, she nods saying: you like walks don't you, he sighs saying: I can't say that I like them. Aya reaches her arms up putting her hands on his shoulders, she cocks her head saying: you know…you are really tall…this is almost troubling, Sesshomaru grabs one of her wrist and she smiles saying: what are you going to do push me away. She gasps when he raises her suddenly by her arm; she looks at the ground saying: ok…that's nice…but ow, he glares into her eyes when she looks at him.
"My intentions were to help."
He drops her onto her feet and she frowns saying: help sure, he walks past her saying: let's walk, she rubs her shoulder saying: I'm not so sure anymore, but she follows him anyway. Rin plops into the snow with a smile on her face, she sighs saying: I think their in love, Mikado looks at Aya and Sesshomaru who walked silently next to each other.
"I would say they found likeness in one another, two Dog Demon's pretty much alone in the world…it's more to them than meets the eye. They have you, and their own happiness on their minds. I wouldn't be surprised if Lady Ay stays at the end of this or if he continues to follow her until she agrees to just come here and stay. Either way Lord Sesshomaru will have his way."
Rin nods saying: I hope he does…their babies would be so cute, Mikado laughs.
Aya bumps Sesshomaru with her hip and he glances down at her, she looks ahead whistling, he sighs saying: you're so childish at times, she smiles up at him saying: I need a conversation starter…and it worked…so let's talk about how childish Aya is, he looks down at her saying: there is a lot to talk about. She smiles saying: like.
"Your plans, your sister, your brother…."
Aya nods saying: true…you know that sad part about that is…I don't have a plan…I don't see Kize unless he wants me to and the fact that he has Mio makes this a lot more serious, Sesshomaru frowns saying: I thought that you found your sister dead, she nods saying: I did…or at least I thought I did…. Sesshomaru quirks a brow and she sighs saying: it sounds crazy but it's true…it was Mio…my…Mio, she looks up at him saying: I'm sorry about that you know.
"I was about to leave with them, and in doing that I would have left you and Rin, Jaken, and Rin. It was so selfish of me."
Sesshomaru glares at her saying: I wouldn't have cared, she nods saying: and that's why we're here now and our relationship is in the place it is now, he looks away saying: what relationship. Aya frowns.
Why is he so…ugh!
"That pride will get you no where," she mutters looking down, Sesshomaru snorts and she looks at him again. She sighs saying: then why are you still with me, he looks at the sky saying: almost the same reason I began following you in the first place, she gasps and her heart begins to pound. Here it was the answer she'd been waiting for.
"And why is that?"
Sesshomaru looks at her saying: boredom…nothing more to do…I was interested in seeing how this story ended.
Bullshit!
"So boredom has brought you to this moment," she says bitterly, he nods. Aya glares at him saying: are you sufficiently entertained yet, he looks at her and she looks away fuming, Sesshomaru grabs her arm when they make it to a frozen fish pond, Aya looks away saying: you're such a bastard…I should have known not to get attached to someone like you. He drags her closer saying: mm hmm, she looks at him saying: I'm serious; she yanks her arm away saying: my life being in shambles is nothing more than a show to you. He shakes his head saying: I never said that, she clenches her fists saying: then what did you mean by that, he sighs saying: in the beginning this was a show to me and now I have to see it to the end…not for entertainment but because I am now involved…I have my own fight with your brother, she gasps when he turns to the frozen pond.
"W-what?"
He looks at her saying: Rin cares for you…she doesn't like to see you hurt…and he hurt you…even more than she can imagine…I want to rid the world of him because of that because Rin cannot not help you herself.
"That is the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"
He chuckles gently when she steps in front of him.
"Why don't you just say it, you want to help me because somehow in that dark evil heart of yours you've grown feelings for someone other than yourself and Rin. That you want to help because…you care about me."
"If you felt you had an answer to this question why do you keep asking me."
Aya growls pushing him, he glares down at her now.
"Why is this so hard!? You care for me, and I care for you too. If the roles were reversed I would be doing that same because I really really…care," she says through gritted teeth, she sighs saying: but you'll probably never do it…this is part of the reason I like human men. She turns away saying: at least they can tell you when they like you.
"Human men are weak."
"Human men have real feelings."
"Human men die easily.
"But that's why they try to make every day count for something," she says shrugging, she shakes her head saying: just…let's end this please. Sesshomaru cocks his head and she holds up her hand saying: just go please, she drops to her knees looking at the frozen pond, she lowers her head when she hears him walking away.
"What was I thinking," she mutters looking at the sky.
"How could I allow this to happen to me, I've gained feelings for some…crazy man?"
She shakes her head.
"Maybe I created a romantic image of him in my head, of what he could offer me. A home, a family, love…maybe."
"Ay!"
Aya looks up to see Mio standing at the middle of the frozen pond, Aya stands saying: Mio what are you doing, Mio closes her eyes smiling. Aya ignores the flutter in her heart saying: Mio that's dangerous! Mio looks around herself saying: but Ay it's really frozen…it can't hurt me now, Aya silently curses to herself.
"Stay there Mio let me come and get you!"
Mio nods and Aya steps onto the ice, she slowly walks across it to Mio who smiles up at her saying: see, Aya drops in front of her saying: Mio don't ever do that again that's…this is not safe…we should move now, Mio pouts saying: Ay are you angry with me, Aya sighs saying: no Mio but…I am disappointed, Mio sighs when Aya stands grabbing her hand. Aya begins walking the girl across the ice her eyes constantly on her.
"How did you get away?"
Mio frowns saying: get away…get away from what, Aya sighs saying: how did you get away from Kize, Mio shakes her head saying: he allowed me to visit, Aya frowns.
"Where do you two stay anyway," Aya asks trying to get as much out of Mio as she could before someone moved in and ruined this moment.
"Oh this big castle it's beautiful."
Aya nods saying: ah…where is it…North, East West, South?
Mio shrugs saying: I dunno but look at what I found in Kize's room, she holds up a small darkened stone, it was pyramid shaped and had a shiny outer coating, Aya shudders, she could feel the power coming from it.
The Uryen Stone.
Aya holds her hand out for it and Mio hands it to her, she gasps when a strong pressure moves through her body, Mio frowns saying: Ay what's wrong, Aya tries to drop the stone but she cannot, she falls to her knees trying to pry her hand open but it seemed to have a mind of it's own. Mio steps back when Kize appears beside her, he bends down in front of Aya saying: you need help, Aya moans saying: get away from me, he glances back at Mio saying: Mimi Ay's coming home, Mio claps her hands. Aya screams when the stone sinks into her skin and embeds itself into her hand. Her entire body goes slack, Kize smiles saying: now sister can see the world through our eyes, Mio nods. Kize stands when Aya begins to move again, she opens her eyes. Her once soft heterochromatic eyes were now a shocking red color; she closes them taking a deep breath. Her body felt light and her spirit rested; she opens them now taking in the colorless world she now lived in. The only figures in color were Kize and Mio, Kize's hair was brightest blonde she'd ever seen and his blue eyes sparkled in the seemingly dull sunlight, Mio's eyes had also gone back to their cool grey-blue, she sighs when Mio hugs her.
"Now we can be a family…right Ay?"
Aya nods.
"Lord Sesshomaru where is Lady Ay?"
Sesshomaru leaned against a tree with his eyes closed; Mikado was in the house preparing dinner with the cooks while Jaken nursed his head on the other side of the tree.
"Lord Sesshomaru where is she!?"
Sesshomaru looks at Rin saying: she wanted to be alone Rin, Rin frowns, she turns away muttering: Lord Sesshomaru must have said something to her, she turns to him saying: can I go look for her.
Sesshomaru shakes his head saying: no, Rin sighs slouching over, Sesshomaru goes to close his eyes again but he hears a piercing scream in the distance, he frowns saying: Aya, Rin turns saying: what was that Lord Sesshomaru…it…it sounded like Lady Ay, Sesshomaru unsheathes his sword saying: Jaken take Rin inside. Jaken nods saying: come girl, Rin glares at him saying: no I wanna come, Sesshomaru looks down at her his face a mixture of anger, annoyance, and something unreadable.
"Since Aya has been here Rin you've been behaving differently…go…now."
Rin whimpers when Jaken pulls her into the castle, he sighs; at this point there was no getting rid of Aya or leaving her behind, not with everyone so taken by her. Sesshomaru shakes his head deciding to leave that thought alone for the moment; he takes off into the direction where he'd left Aya.
Aya smiles saying: Mio…Kize…how could I have been so foolish…all this time I've been fighting the very ones I love, Mio nods looking back at Kize who holds up his hand saying: it's alright little one, Aya nods.
This is how it always should have been.
Just us.
This world has been an ugly and empty place until now, now I can see it for what it really is. A colorless realm with no beauty unless you're with the ones you love.
Where I belong.
Home…home…home…home…home….
"Aya!"
Kize turns to Sesshomaru who stood at the other side of the pond, he sighs saying: didn't we talk about this already, Aya glares at Sesshomaru.
He'd try to ruin this for me so that he could string me along with him right into hell.
Sesshomaru growls when he notices Aya's new eye color, what had Kize done to her. There was a small shadow next to Aya, it looked ghastly but it had surrounded her in it's darkness, he glares at the shadow.
Aya stands saying in the most haunting voice.
"Leave us alone."
Sesshomaru cringes slightly, something had left her, something that he could not name or describe. It was her laugh, the brightness of her eyes, her very soul. She rears her head back when he doesn't budge.
"I won't hesitate to kill you," she whispers in that robotic tone of voice, she brings her hand to her katana.
She pushes the shadow aside saying: Mio…stay back, as she moves for Sesshomaru Kize pulls her back.
"No need to fight Ay, he's not worth our time. Come let's go home."
Aya nods allowing Kize to her into his arms, the shadow moves closer to them. Sesshomaru growls jumping across the pond to get to them but before he could reach Aya she and the group were gone.
"Damnit!"