l-Into Darkness-

"Oh my-oh my!" Uryen mutters walking a full circle around Mio who lay at his feet unconscious, he looks up at Mio with a grin, she glares at him with fierce red eyes.

"You've outdone yourself." He whispers.

Mio looks away ignoring his praise.

"How did you know where I was?" She mutters.

He laughs bending down next to Mio and running his fingers through her medium length locks, "I always know where you are."

Mio scowls turning away, Uryen looks up with a smile.

"And now my precious Ay is here…finally." He breathes standing, he walks over to Mio patting her head but she hisses scratching as his hand, he pulls it away frowning at her.

"Why are you angry?" He asks walking away from her, she pulls herself out of the chair she sat in angrily.

"You cut in on what is to be mine!" She growls.

Uryen cocks his head bending down to look at Mio again, "and how did I do that?"

She clenches her fist walking toward him.

"She's mine!" She screeches.

"I stalked her…I picked her…she's mine…not some toy for you to dangle in front of your Aya to bring her here!"

"Picked her for what?" Uryen asks in a deadly whisper, Mio bares her teeth at him.

"For a body!"

Uryen cocks his head to the other side as his body begins to tremble, Mio's eyes soften and she backs away but the sound of him laughing pulls her back into anger. He throws his head back howling at the ceiling, Mio sneers.

"What's so funny!?"

She freezes when he suddenly sets his eyes on her his grin firmly in place.

"Even if you were to take this girl…I would still kill you."

Mio gasps, her entire body turns cold her eyes widen.

"B-But you said…that I can take a body of my own." She whispers in a small defeated voice.

Uryen stands suddenly making her back away, he shakes his head.

"I told you what you could do…but not anything to save your life…you asked a question and I answered."

Mio grabs her head shaking it, she turns away with he puts his hand to her shoulder.

"She is on her way prepare the castle…can't have it filthy when she returns." He mutters.

Mio's left eye twitches at his words, suddenly shadows close in on the room swooping in on Mio, once they clear she'd gone.

"Perhaps we can keep her as a pet." Uryen mutters thoughtfully but he turns to her again.

"Did you not hear me," he says in a slow mocking tone, "get the house prepared for Aya."

Mio walks away from him on numb legs, she teeters out the ballroom and down the halls her eyes on the stone floors. She could not believe it, Uryen had no plans for her for the future at all.

"What's the point anymore," she sighs looking sadly up at the ceiling, "there is no point in my fear…but I can't let him break me…I have to create my own future and if it be on his deathbed then so be it."

Aya stares at the doors of the shadow castle, she looks down at her hip where her katana sat before reaching for it, she takes a deep breath to calm herself, it was like walking into the lions den but she had no other choice. A cold breeze pushes through her sinking into her bones, she shudders, she had no time for fear. Aya pulls the castle doors open walking in, once she steps in the doors slam behind her, she gasps turning to them. Just as she places her hand against one the door's it melts away leaving nothing but a black wall.

No turning back….

Aya turns the castle's foyer, everything was black even the chandelier hanging from the ceiling, Aya looks down the hall before her and then up at the double set of stairs that wrapped around the foyer.

"Where do I go?" She whispers looking around, she lowers her head sniffing for Mio's scent but she could smell nothing, Aya sighs.

"Choose a path girl." She whispers closing her eyes, she lifts her katana to point at the left path of stairs, Aya grimaces beginning to walk toward them but just as she makes it to the first step a small shadow darts past her snatching her katana away.

"Damnit!" She growls chasing it down the middle hall, it looks back at her it's soft shadowy head contorting a bit to show sharp teeth, Aya shakes her head running even faster after it, it kicks up its heels before sinking into the ground and disappearing. Aya drops to the ground beating on it.

"Give it back!"

Suddenly the katanas blade is pushed up at her face through the ground, Aya gasps falling backward to avoid being impaled through the head, she scoots away when she hears a low high pitched giggle before the blade disappears into the ground again. Aya stands to her feet feeling at her sides for her fans but they weren't there, she curses herself when she remembers that she'd left them at Kagome's, Aya looks around the room that she stood in, it was empty and black except for an extra large red oriental rug beneath her feet.

"Uyren…where are you." She whispers looking about.

Aya growls in frustration at herself and her fear, she takes a deep breath before balling up her fists and walking toward the next room but as she walks it seemed she never got closer to the room, Aya looks back she was getting closer to the front wall again.

"Bu–"

She looks down at her feet, the rug was slowly being pulled backward, Aya goes to run but it moves faster knocking her over and pulling her away from the room and toward the front wall, as she nears it the rug makes a sharp turn rolling at her back as it carries her up the stairs and down a long hall. Aya leans over trying to grabbing for something but the rug was going too fast.

Suddenly the rug stops launching Aya onto the floor of a long hallway, the rug turns zooming away again, Aya moans sitting up from her place on the floor, she grabs her head trying to calm an oncoming headache.

"What the hell is wrong with this place?" She whispers squeezing her eyes shut.

"Ah…Aya you've arrived." She hears someone say in a deadened voice, Aya looks up to see Mio standing them holding a long black silk kimono, she throws it Aya's feet.

"Master Uryen would like for you to wear this." She says with a twisted grin, her eyes flashed red and her teeth sparkled ruby red with blood. Aya stands shaking her head.

"I'm not doing anything…where is she?" Aya asks glaring at the small girl, Mio cocks her head and her eyes wander off into the distance.

"So you will not change."

Aya narrows her eyes while leaning over to get a better look at the girl's face, she didn't sound like that same child that spoke to Aya not too long ago, Mio's eyes suddenly meet Aya's and she smiles.

"What, something on my face?" She sighs in a long taunting whisper.

Aya goes to speak but suddenly Mio thrusts the kimono into Aya's face, Aya backs away shaking her head. Mio quirks a brow before turning away to walk down the hall.

This is so strange, why is she not attacking me….

"Where is Mio!?" Aya asks running after her, Mio glances at Aya over her shoulder and the deadly look in her eyes brings Aya to a halt.

"Why Ay, I'm right here." She says in a sickeningly sweet voice, Aya shakes her head head.

"Don't play games with me."

Mio turns to Aya now with a smile on her face, she cocks her head walking toward her but Aya backs away, the look in the child's eyes was a strange one, she looked ready to attack but at the same time ready to cry.

"She's dead." Mio whispers, Aya growls lunging for her, Mio screams when Aya grabs her by the neck pushing her into the wall behind her, Mio drops the kimono grabbing at Aya's wrists.

"Where is she!?" Aya growls shaking Mio, Mio grunts kicking at Aya but slowly her movements begin to cease and her eyes close.
Aya's grip slackens when Mio's breathing begins to slow and halt, she backs away and the girl slumps onto the floor lifelessly.

"Is she…," Aya whispers, "but–"

Suddenly Mio's body begins to shake and convulse on the floor, her hands reach out and she digs her fingernails into the floor, Aya gasps covering her ears when the child begins to laugh. It was a piercing sound one that dug into Aya's sensitive eardrums, she falls away as Mio begins to get to her feet.

"Stop it!" Aya screeches falling against a wall, she whimpers sliding down it as Mio walks slowly toward her.

She cocks her head looking Aya over as her laughter dies, she drops down in front of her touching Aya's knee.

"So pretty." She coos.

Aya slowly open her eyes to find Mio before her, her hand moves up Aya's leg and a smile slowly builds on her face.

"Even if I cannot have her…maybe I can have you…strong in body you may be…but strong in spirit you are not." Mio whispers crawling closer to Aya.

Aya growls going to push her away but before she could reach her a dark shadow covers her body pulling her into the wall.

"Damn him!" Mio growls crawling to her feet.

She growls rushing down the halls toward Uryen's bedroom but a large black wall appears before her, Mio backs away from it shaking her head.

"Enjoy your last hours little one."

Mio's eyes widen as she begins to look around the hall for the source of his voice, "where are you!?"

She winces when his laughter fills the hall around her.

"Go and get the other side of the castle ready…we will be having more visitors."

Mio gasps before nodding her head and running up the hall, maybe if she made herself useful he would give her more time to put her plan into motion.

"Aya…wake up…please wake up!"

Mio leans over Aya who lay unconscious before her on the cold stone floors, she whimpers when Aya does not budge. Mio pushes her hair behind her ear as she scoots closer to Aya feeling her forehead, she felt normal but her brows were furrowed as is she were in pain. Mio lays her head on Aya's chest when tears begin to fill her eyes, " we have to get out of here Ay."

Mio's pain and fear ran deep and her environment did nothing to help it. Locked away in a cold deserted dungeion, the frost of the room crept slowly through her frost bitten toes and up her legs. Mio shudders moving closer to Aya.

"Are we gonna die here?" She whispers squeezing her eyes shut.

She touches Aya's arm gently shaking her again but Aya does not react, Mio shakes it again but a soft jingle brings her attention from Aya's face to her wrist, Mio reaches over taking Aya's hands to look at the glowing bangles on her wrist.

"Whoa…why…are they shining like this." Mio whispers gently brushing the tip of her thrumb against the outside of the bangle closest to Aya's hand, Mio looks at Aya's face before gently gripping the bangle in her hand and pulling it away.

"There was a reason Lord Sesshomaru wanted this right?" She mutters looking it over, she nods standing to her feet.

"Maybe its magical…maybe…I can use it to save us both!" She cries bringing the bangle to her chest, she nods before slipping it on, suddenly the cold that had overtaken her fades away.

"They are magic." She breathes looking at it, she goes to turn away but a loud moan from Aya makes her throw herself back into Aya's body.

"Ay!" She calls shaking her, Aya whimpers turning onto her side, Mio bows her head; there was no helping her.

Mio closes her eyes trying to hold in her tears as Kize moves away from their parents bed a grin on his blood stained face, he laughs turning back to the hall.

"Now…if I remember correctly…he has another…."

Mio grimaces pulling Azuma closer to her, it wouldn't be long before her found her hiding place behind her father's bed, Kize walks into the hall and Mio lets out the breath she'd been holding. Maybe he'd leave now but he suddenly turns his attention back to the room.

"This nose." He mutters smiling at the bed now, Mio's eyes widen and her body turns numb when he begins walking toward the bed again, he takes a deep breath before laughing to himself.

"Found you!" He growls coming around the bed, Mio screams scrambling to her feet and pushing past him out of the room, he laughs chasing behind her his sword trailing against the ground behind him. Mio climbs the stairs with him right on her tail, he swings his sword at her head but she falls to her knees crawling away as he wrecks havoc on the house behind her.

"Kize…Kize please!" She cries trying to get to her feet again but he grabs her by the ankle pulling her backward, she turns on to her back biting his wrist, he growls pulling away as she grabs Azuma again running into her bedroom where she tries to get through the window but he yanks her back by her hair onto the floor. He grunts swinging the sword downward but she squeezes under the bed avoiding death once more, Kize laughs yanking the bed away from the wall preparing himself to impale her but she quickly climbs over the top and he misses again this time ripping into the pillows on her bed.

"I'm getting annoyed!" He shouts pushing through the feathers that now fell from the ceiling, he runs out of the room following her into the room down the hall but just as he makes it the door is shut in his face and locked.

Mio backs away from the door pulling Azuma into her chest, she whimpers when a loud thud comes from the other side of the door.

"Aya." She cries falling next to the bed, another thud comes followed by the sound of splintering wood. Mio closes her eyes trying to slip into a state of nothingness, but the sound of the door being bust open yanks her back into reality.

"Kize." She whimpers pushing herself into the wall nect to the bed, "b-but why…what did I do?"

He smirks at her, "you were born."

He swings the sword at her but she holds her arms up and his blow is reflected by a golden light, Kize's eyes widen.

"So it is here." He whispers looking around the room, Mio sniffles shaking her head.

"I must search for it…but before I do…I have to put you out of your misery." He whispers smiling at her, Mio closes her eyes again as he plunges the sword toward her chest.

"Aya!"

Aya covers her eyes screaming with Mio when the final blow is delivered, Kize smirks yanking the sword out of the dying child before turning his attention to Aya who sat on the floor next to a large dresser.

"See Ay…there is no way out…this…is how it was meant to be."

Aya sits up abruptly pushing Mio onto her behind, Mio gasps when she sees the tears falling from Aya's eyes.

"Ay…wh-"

She stops when the door to the dungeon bursts open.

Uryen steps into the room walking past Mio who scoots away and into a wall, he bends down before Aya who looks away shaking her head.

"That was something that I could not tell you but you had to see." He whispers gently pulling her closer. "You wanted to know…did you not?"

He sighs when Aya turns away tears falling even faster from her eyes, "poor Aya…."

He wraps his arms around her waist gently placing his lips against her jaw, Mio gasps when she notices him take a black cloth from his side taking a large stack of the bangles into it and pulling them off of her wrist.

"Why isn't she fighting." Mio whispers getting to her feet.

"Aya it is about time we end this…we've played around long enough." He whispers into her ear placing the bangles into his pocket, he grunts lightly when they flash brightly in his pocket but he continues to 'comfort' Aya.

Aya leans away from him when he kisses her neck while undoing her kimono, Uryen smiles draping her shoulders in a black silk one.

"My Aya." He whispers to her to him, she looks up at him her eyes puffy and red, Uryen grips her chin pulling her close.

Mio shakes her head, he had to have done something to her.

"Get away from her!" Mio shouts charging him but he knocks her away and into the wall again, Aya gasps when he hears a loud crack come from Mio's body when she lands on the floor. Uryen sneers at Mio before turning his attention back to Aya who now stared at his chest with harsh red eyes, he frowns bringing his hand to her face but Aya grabs it suddenly her eyes now on his.

"Get away from me." She whispers getting to her knees, Uryen's eyes widen when she throws her fist at his face, he grabs her wrist yanking her forward but she pulls away punching with her other hand; it lands at his jaw and he falls away sliding against the door.

Aya growls going to rush for him again but a cold energy moves up her feet and wraps around her ankles holding her in her place. Mio grunts managing to lift her head just as Uryen stands moving over to Aya again, she growls lunging for him again but she falls forward onto the floor and the shadows reach up grabbing her by the wrists.

"Such an angry woman…so much so that it clouds your judgement…," Uryen mutters bending down before Aya who yanked visciously at the shadows, "you still haven't accepted the truth."

Uryen raises a brow when Aya's body begin to tremble, she gasps digging her nails into the stone ground breaking into it, Mio moans trying to sit up but her stomach hurt too badly.

"So…you've hit your breaking point?" Uryen whispers stroking her hair.

Aya screams managing to yank an arm free from the shadows that held her, she throws herself at Uyren only for more shadow's to build around her other arm, she screams when her arm snaps. Uryen shakes his head gently tutting at her, he jerks his head aside and the shadows fade away.

"Your mate will be here soon." Uryen whispers to Aya who whimpered while trying to lift her broken arm.

Uryen smiles at her weakened stature, "he's coming to save you…doesn't that make you happy?"

Aya grimaces and Uryen laughs.

"Even as his mate you despise his saving you…is that it…so used to be alone…so broken you are my dear Ay…and in your broken state I have suffered at your hands but no matter…when he comes all will be right." He whispers crawling closer to Aya who was in too much pain to fight back.

"How about this…you meet him at the doors…allow him to see you in your shining moment before I split you apart." He whispers leaning his forehead against her own, she sniffles shaking her head.

"But you have no choice." He whispers bringing the black cloth back to her wrist and pulling away the last bangle, Aya tries to turn away when he lowers his lips to her own but nothing could stop him now. Aya uses her good arm to try to push him away but he simply lifts her to her feet as shadows cover her body putting Aya's mind to rest and bringing Uryen's will forward. He breaks the kiss stroking her face, she wore a blank look that he'd never seen before, she was now completely under his control.

"Do not worry Aya, I don't like making love to dolls I'll let you have your will back but for now…for the girls sake go to the foyer and meet your mate." He whispers holding his arm out as a long spear materializes in his hand, Aya takes it nodding. Uryen smiles as she moves past him the shadows covering her again changing her appearance, Mio groans trying to sit up again but Uryen turns to her freezing her in her place.

"Do not worry little one…I wish to keep you alive…you will be having company in the form of a Toad…he tried to sneak in as well." He whispers turning to the doors, Mio groans laying her head down on the floors, her exhaustion finally taking its toll.

Sesshomaru and Kiyoza move swiftly up the blue glittering path to the castle of shadows their weapons drawn.

"I do not like this," Kiyoza mutters looking aside at the swaying trees next to them, "he's pretty much inviting us in."

Sesshomaru nods.

Once they make it to the front doors of the castle they waste no time bursting right in but they find no hoards of evil demons just Aya sitting on the right side of the double-ended staircase.

"Aya." Sesshomaru mutters moving toward her but a shift in her demeanor brings him to a halt, she smiles at him.

"She's not your Aya right now." Kiyoza mutters backing away from her.

Sesshomaru grimaces looking her over, even the way she looked had changed. Her long back hair was pushed away from her face and her eyes glowed bright red, she wore a long silk black kimono that hung open to show a short white lace shirt and skirt, she held a black spear over her shoulders and her limp left arm sat across her folded legs.

"What took you so long?" She says in a breathy whisper as she stands to her feet, her arm falls to her side and this when Sesshomaru notices a stream of blood coming from her broken arm dripping onto the floor from her fingers.

He growls about to grab for her but she holds out the spear shaking her head, "no touching."

Kiyoza grabs the Meido stone from his side, "we have to use this."

Sesshomaru takes his eyes burning into Aya's broken arm, Aya bows to them before looking up with a small smirk.

"Welcome to my home…beautiful is it not?"

"Your home is with me." Sesshomaru mutters moving closer to her, she grins shaking her head.

"No-no…I am home…here with my soul mate…my everything…the love of my life." She whispers dreamily.

"You're coming with us." Sesshomaru says moving toward her, she pouts and her face falls when he reaches for her.

"B-but…why…why can't you be happy for me." She whispers.

"Sesshomaru, she's not in a stable mind…use the Meido stone." Kiyoza says nodding to Aya who now teeters over to the stairs again trying to hide her tears.

Sesshomaru walks closer to her holding out the Meido stone but she looks up at him now a killer grin on her face.

"I get it…mates are forever until one dies…well then…let's complete our forever." She growls standing straight, Sesshomaru backs away but she lunges at him sending him onto the floor but he stands grabbing her around the waist.

"Let me go!" She screams bringing the spear above her head to impale him but he pushes her away and she slides across the floor to the end of the stairs, she stands again this time swinging blindly at him but he ducks her pulling her back again however this time, she has the advantage. Aya elbows him in the face before turning to bring the spears blade down upon him but Sesshomaru moves away.

"Just stay still." She groans rushing him again.

Sesshomaru jumps away moving over to a wall, Aya smiles triumphantly as she rushes over to finish the fight.

"Goodbye!" She shouts thrusting the spear toward his stomach but he edges to the side causing her to push the blade of the spear into the wall behind him, she grunts trying to pull it out but Sesshomaru grabs her pushing the Meido stone against her chest. The stone glows as it works to push the tainted energy out of Aya's body, Aya moans falling forward when the light fades and the red leaves her eyes. Sesshomaru drops to his knees holding her close when she moves closer to him.

"You came." She whispers burying herself into his chest, Sesshomaru nods stroking her hair.

"And so they lived happily ever after" Uryen says in a sing-song voice from his place at the top of the stairs.
Sesshomaru growls as he stands helping Aya to her feet as well, Uryen grins looking down at Meido stone in Aya's hand.

"Oh…so you've brought that weak trinket," he whispers leaning toward them, "nothing can replace the Hikari No Ishi in strength and it would seem…that you don't have that anymore."

Aya lowers her head when Sesshomaru looks at her wrists, "I'm sorry," she whispers looking up at him.

"So what now…you will try to kill me only to be broken by the shadow's that surround you." Uryen says raising his arms, suddenly the shadow's in the room become denser and more ominous.

"When all can be avoided if you would just come to me Aya." Uryen says smiling at her, Aya shakes her head and Sesshomaru pulls her behind him.

Uryen sighs, "this has nothing to do with you Demon Lord Aya and I have been playing this game for years now."

Sesshomaru narrows his eyes at him and Uryen sighs again.

"So what will you do now, you came here hoping to destroy me and now you know that your goals cannot be realized…do you try to run…or stand and fight only to die like the dogs you are."

Uryen leans over looking at Kiyoza who glares even more fiercely at him.

"Ah, Kiyoza…long time no see." Uryen says smiling.

"Too long." Kiyoza says looking down.

Uryen smiles grimly before turning his attention back to Aya who tried to nurse her arm and staunch the blood that poured from her arm.

"Come to me Aya…allow me to help you…you will die if you lose too much blood."

Sesshomaru turns to Aya his eyes widening at her paled appearance, she looks up at him with tears in her eyes.
"I just want Mio." She whispers to him.

Sesshomaru nods bringing his hand to the side of her face, she closes her eyes allowing him to stroke her face and wipe away her tears, Uryen scoffs.

"Aya bring to me the Meido Stone and you can have your Mio…I will spare the life of your precious mate and allow the old dog more years."

Aya shudders when a wave of nausea rushes through her, Sesshomaru glares up at Uryen, " I will kill you."

Uryen shakes his head before pointing up at a large clock on the wall, "time waits for no man."

"Especially not for Aya…not now…she's had enough time." Uryen mutters folding his arms.

Aya glares up at him now and he smiles.

I've got to think of something quick…but…I'm so tired.

"Tick-Tock Tick-Tock." Uryen sings.

Sesshomaru growls at him his eyes turning red with fury, he pushes Aya aside before lunging toward Uryen.

"Sesshomaru!"

Aya screams when the shadows in the room surround them and everything turns black.

So…tired….

"Ugh…mm." Aya moans opening her eyes slowly, she pushes herself into upright position only to find herself sitting against a wall in a long darkened hallway, she brings her right hand to her aching arm , she gasps.

"Its…healed?" She whispers looking at it.

B-but…

Where is Sesshomaru and Kiyoza….

She pushes herself to her feet as she tries to regain her composure, she brings her hand to the wall next to her as she moves down the long hall.

"Mio." She whispers feeling tears build in her eyes, she still hadn't found her.

Aya brings her other hand to her face to hide the tears that now fell but what was the point when she was all alone…again.

"I…I'm sorry Mio" she whispers.

She drops her arm as she slides down the wall to wallow in her sadness.

Even the Meido Stone is gone….

Aya groans burying her face in her arms but just as she readies herself to push out a fresh wave of tears she hears a whisper from her left, she sits up looking down the hall to see a large mirror at the end of the hall and Hiro stood in it.

"Father." She gasps getting to her feet immediately.

"Aya." He whispers gesturing for her to come to him, she nods wasting no time as she runs to him, she clasps her hands together looking up at him with wide eyes.

"Father I-", she goes to speak but he continues to gesture to her, "w-what?"

Aya glances back to see if anyone had followed her but nothing, she turns back to the mirror.

"But I don't understand." She whispers becoming discouraged again, she sighs going to lean against the mirror only to fall through it.

Aya scrambles to her feet turning to the mirror again but nothing was there anymore, Aya pushes her hand toward the mirror but the cold glass does not budge, Aya stands pushing against it again.

She grunts turning to the long dark hall the stretched out before her, it was identical to the hall that she'd just been in but the energy felt different more sinister.

If that's possible.

"Welcome to my world Ay." Comes a whisper from some unknown place in the hall, Aya gasps standing straight now.

"Ha ha!"

Aya backs into the mirror again.

Now what.

Next Chapter: The Beautiful Liar