-Inescapable Fate-
Kagome sighs when Inukimi walks past her and closer to the woods edge, "how do you think…their doing up there?"
Inukimi looks at the sky before turning to Kagome her eyes sad, Kagome stands moving over to her.
"I'm sure their ok, Aya's a tough cookie and Sesshomaru he's too stubborn to die." Kagome mutters smiling at her.
Inukimi rolls her eyes with a smile as she turns back to the woods, "but their both so…Uryen is a very old Demon capable of things that their small little minds would not even begin to comprehend."
"Then hopefully Inuyasha and Sango will return soon…maybe they can get there and help them." Kagome says nodding her head, Inukimi rolls her eyes again this time making sure that Kagome does not see.
"How are the children doing?" Inukimi asks glancing back at Kagome who sighs folding her arms.
"Mio's out…Lana…out…and Rin very worried and confused, so much happened while she was asleep." Kagome mutters.
Inukimi nods folding her arms, though Kagome knew she worried for Aya and Sesshomaru she didn't understand the full impact of what could have been happening in that castle.
"Did you see Mio's wrist, she has one of Aya's bangles." Inukimi mutters looking back at Kagome, she nods.
"Yeah I noticed that as well," Kagome says scratching her cheek, "Kiyoza said that Aya had lost them but she and Sesshomaru are still alive."
"You do realize that being there with him could taint them both?" Inukimi says.
"Taint?" Kagome says moving over to her.
"Yes, his presence is so dark and so evil, many have fallen to it…even Aya."
Kagome gasps looking at the pink and blue sky, they had been there all night, "but…maybe they will find the other's?"
Inukimi shakes her head looking down at her hands.
~With Aya~
Uryen looks over his shoulder at Sesshomaru who held his sword at the ready, he then turns to Aya who pulls away her smile fading into a look of pure hate. He quirks a brow looking up at the shining glass above him.
"So…you wish to kill me here Aya?" He whispers looking at her again.
Aya glares at him even fiercer as she nods her head, Uryen smirks holding out his arms.
"Then do it." He shouts making her jump in surprise.
"Gladly." Sesshomaru mutters rushing over to plunge his sword into Uryen's chest but Uryen disappears from his front of to the back of Aya, he grabs her around the waist and by her chin.
"Do you think that this is over?" He whispers nibbling lightly on her ear, she elbows him in the chest but he holds her closer when Sesshomaru rushes over to him again, this time when he reappears he does holding Aya by her neck to a wall.
"Have you looked in the mirror recently Ay?" He whispers running his fingers along her chin, Aya grabs his wrist trying to push free of his grip.
"You're mine," Uryen growls once again dodging Sesshomaru's advance, he pulls Aya forward, "you always have been and always will be."
"Evil has many faces Aya." He whispers rubbing his lips against her own.
Uryen pushes her away Sesshomaru comes for him again, he disappears grabbing her from behind again.
"Some of beautiful." He whispers his eyes turning red, Aya gasps feeling her body turn hot, he chuckles.
He turns her to him, "some you'd never see coming."
She groans when an image invades her mind, a lonely hut in the woods.
"Some…disguise themselves as workers of good."
The image he gave her changes to one of a lonely monastery."
"Other's would make you cry at the very sight of them."
The image of a large man sitting in the rain appears before her.
"Then…the one who feels blindly through the world unable to see its true ugly nature."
The image of a young girl with bandages wrapped around her head emerges.
"And some who use their charm to gain power…all of them built from tragedy and despair."
Aya tries to pull away when burning amber eyes etch themselves in her mind's eye.
"But I Aya, am the evil that you can see…I do not hide my face." Uryen growls grabbing her by the arms.
"And for that…I am above them all…they lay their swords down for me." He says shaking her.
Sesshomaru growls lunging for them again, Uryen ducks under but Aya moves aside grabbing Sesshomaru's hand, he looks down at her in confusion.
"Let me." She whispers looking at Uryen who now wore a wide grin.
Sesshomaru reluctantly hands her his sword, she spins it once trying to get a feel of it.
"So Aya…be a good girl." Uryen whispers.
Aya shakes away his words lunging for him, he backs away but she continues to come aiming the sword right for his chest, Uryen falls into the wall behind him just as she plunges the sword into his chest.
Uryen groans when she pushes it through him and into the wall behind him, suddenly the castle begins to shake and crumble around them. Uryen grunts grabbing her by the shoulder and pulling her closer.
"True evil can never die." Uryen whispers, Aya closes her eyes allowing the tears she'd been holding in to fall, slowly Uryen's grip on her slackens as the light leaves his eyes.
Aya pulls away turning to Sesshomaru as the castle begins to tilt and lower, she holds her arms out for him, Sesshomaru walks over to her taking her in his arms.
"It's over…isn't it?" Aya whispers looking up at him, Sesshomaru nods stroking her hair, he looks up when he notices Uryen's body disappearing and shadow's begin to fly away from it.
"Then…why do I feel so…ugh–"
Sesshomaru drops to his catching Aya as she falls, he shakes her gently but she does not stir, soon the castle begins to crumble completely and fall from the sky….
~With Inukimi~
"I can smell them but I don't see them…" Inukimi whispers looking over the large pile of rubble before her.
"Can you believe that it just came down like that…I hope no-one got hurt." Kagome whispers looking at her.
Inukimi looks back when she hears the frozen earth cracking behind her, Kiyoza stood there holding the arms of Lana and Mio who both looked alert and worried, Rin runs over from behind him her eyes on the wreckage.
"Where are they!?" She asks looking up at Inukimi, Inukimi shakes her head making Rin gasp.
"B-But they gotta…they gotta be here!" She cries rushing over to the rubble.
"No Rin, that has to be purified before you can touch anything!" Kagome shouts after her.
Kiyoza walks over to Inukimi who looks down at the children with a quirked brow.
"You two have impeccable timing." She says with a small smile, Mio smiles weakly, Kiyoza looks down at her before lifting her into his arms.
"The little one should not be walking around." He says in slight annoyance, Mio sighs looking away.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin screams from within the broken castle.
Kagome gasps rushing over followed by the rest of the group.
Sesshomaru sat up holding Aya across his lap, Kagome gasps, "what happened to her!?"
Aya's skin was paler than she'd ever seen it, her body held the color of porcelain but her lips held they cherry blossom pink color.
"She won't wake up." Sesshomaru mutters lifting her head to his shoulder, Inukimi bends down touching Aya's hand, it felt like ice.
"Mio…give me the bangle." She says looking back at her.
"O-Ok" Mio says taking the bangle off her wrist and handing it down to Inukimi, Inukimi grabs Aya's hand sliding it onto her wrist.
"She's been tainted by Uryen." Inukimi says looking at Sesshomaru.
"If that's true…why am I not the same way?" He asks looking down at Aya.
"I-I cannot say." Inukimi whispers looking down.
"Hey she's…she's waking up!" Rin says dropping to her knees before them, Aya groans moving closer to Sesshomaru as if to go back to sleep but he shakes her until she opens her eyes, everyone lets out noises of surprise.
Her eyes glowed as if someone held a light from behind them, Sesshomaru frowns when she sits up holding her head.
"This headache…" She mutters shaking her head gently.
Kiyoza gasps when Lana suddenly rushes over to Aya pulling her into a hug, Aya laughs when Rin follows in suit.
"Heey you two…be gentle…I'm sore." Aya mutters wrapping her arms around them.
"Aya!" Mio shouts making her look up at her.
Aya smiles nodding to her, "are you ok?"
Mio shrugs, "I think so"
Aya sighs cocking her head and Mio sniggers, Sesshomaru grabs Aya turning her to him, she smiles closing an eye just waiting for a tirade of mean words.
"I'm sorry for worrying you…and sorry for hugging him…and sorry for going on without you…and–"
She turns away coughing into her hands, Sesshomaru looks at Kagome who leans over touching Aya's head.
"Sick huh?"
"Again!" Lana cries out in annoyance.
Everyone begins to laugh except Sesshomaru, he stands helping her to her feet as well.
"Aya…are you ok?" He asks grabbing her by the chin, she looks aside.
Their around…the many faces he spoke of…I can feel them.
"I'm great!" She lies hugging him.
I'm happy to be here with you and everyone…but…something's wrong with my body…something really bad…I just don't want to ruin this moment.
"Sesshomaru to be honest…I'm just ready to settle down and have some babies at this point." She says poking him in the chest.
"Ay!" Lana cries covering her ears, Aya looks at her in surprise.
"You…well…." Aya turns away her face burning red.
For once…can I ever just be alright. Can everything just fall into place? Even as we smile and laugh…I am still the problem.
Sesshomaru grabs her hand, "come, Kagome will have a look at you."
Aya nods allowing him to pull her through the group, Kagome looks at Inukimi with a smile but Inukimi does smile back.
"Where is the Hikari No Ishi…that one peice of it will not purify her body." Inukimi mutters glancing at her.
"And her eyes." Kagome whispers.
"I fear…that this may not be the end." Inukimi says looking down.
Kagome sighs looking ahead at Aya who's eyes ran over the ground sadly.
I saved them…I redeemed myself. But…I haven't saved myself.
Sequel: C&M: The Faces of Evil