☢ Chapter Written By StriplessKitten ☢

The raven haired girl was conned, she analyzed her surroundings, she'd lost sighting on the very enemy. With a parry and a slash delivered, Aya had managed to ward off Kofi's numerous wives, she'd then glare over her shoulder at the mighty array of rebels. This was pointless if the main target had fled without notice. Aya called off the rebel's advance, leaving Kofi's wives and civilians nearby badly bruised and beaten. The pale complexion of Aya's skin was reflected a shade lighter in the scorching solar activity skyward's wake. She pinched the bridge of her narrow nose in utmost irritation, sheathing her blade. Mazon was upon the ground, out cold. Haímen quickly dashed to his side, trying her best to heal him as fast as she could. Kharma was gazing around the place, uncomfortable to smell the stench of burning flesh still lingering in the air, especially when it was one of her own kind that had vanquished.

"Oi! This is fucking pointless, call it off, we're heading back to the damn Under-World, hurry up. Retrieve Lez's ashes and we'll give her a proper send off, also extinguish those flames when you have a chance, other innocent lives shouldn't be lost if that blaze gets out of hand."

The rebels simply obeyed Aya's command as she paced around, seeing that Mikah had also vanished, this would cause a sinking feeling within her gut, but he was the least of her worries that shrouded her thoughts, what she needed to focus on is getting home as fast as she could with all of her army. The ebony locks of Aya's hair swirled and swayed in the gusts of wind that blew through the atmosphere, Aya looked upwards to the heavens, her heartbeat still thumping.

"Help me, Father."

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Time-Skip

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The rebels had settled back in the Under-World, Aya and the others apart of the elite squad had maintained their stance inside the old barn, only to be introduced to a new face alongside Mikah's return. The rebel leader, was a very jealous individual indeed, and was quick to resort to threatening the new female that Mikah had retrieved, not to mention she had been one of Kofi's 'wives', or so she claimed. Aya didn't trust anybody right now, especially since Mazon was injured as a result of poor tactics, so she'd place the girl under watch of two rebel guards, nothing too out there concerning men numbers, Aya had plenty. With whatever patience she'd left, Aya attempted to pull Mikah aside, only for him to shoot his wrist backwards in alarm, he offered her an apologetic smile and insisted he'd follow suit without her required assistance. Aya glared, before suspiciously eyeing him up and down, she'd kiss her teeth and exited the barn, slamming the door open as Mikah sheepishly waved everyone off and then closed the door gently behind him.

"Who's she?" Aya was very blunt in speech, and in movement, for she had trapped Mikah against the very door he'd closed prior to Aya's abrupt confrontation, she had him pinned, but she hadn't pressed or touched off of him, just kept her hand next to his head, holding the door closed. Her body inches away from him.

Mikah felt his eyes widen a fraction from Aya's closeness. He gulped down a nervous lump in his throat, awkwardly smiling and trying to calm the aggressive female down before she did something drastic. He needed her to keep her distance, he didn't want the curse to take effect.

"Who is who?" Mikah asked in a quiet tone.

"That harlot you returned with, what's gotten into your head?" Aya seethed, inching closer, her persona giving off a deadly vibe.

"Oh, don't worry, she's harmless. Trust me." Mikah chuckled with a slight waver in his laughter's tone.

"I don't appreciate you bringing filth to my doorstep and expect me to play shelter with them, does it look like a run that sort of organization?!" Aya hissed, only for Mikah to inch away.

"Aya, take it easy-- calm down." Mikah tried to coax Aya out of her temper.

"Don't tell me to calm down! Why are you backing away, do I intimidate you, huh?"

"N-No, that's not what I'm trying to imply at all!--"

"Then what is it, Mikah?"

Mikah pressed his spine against the barn door, trying to keep his distance as best as he could, but those attempts would be in vain, Aya grabbed his wrist, and continued to push her luck, getting as close as she needed to be, her stature placed against his own as her hazel orbs stared into his own dark grey eyes.

"Aya! Enough, you don't know what you've just done!--" Mikah protested, causing Aya to draw back in slight shock.

It only took a second for the curse's effects to begin, leaving no time to waste, Aya would grimace, rubbing her temple as she tried to fight off the sudden migraine that began to pound at her skull, she swore under her breath, until she was envisioning a blonde male, his eyes shadowed over by his hair, the last thing she could take sighting in was his twisted grin, she'd cough up a splatter or so of blood that dropped two individual droplets upon her gloved fist. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, smearing the bloodstains. She'd then shake her head back and forth, her long wisps of midnight locks swaying back and forth from her head's movements.

"What the hell was that..?" Aya mumbled, only to bring her gaze up to a frantically worried Mikah.

"Aya, are you alright?" He questioned in his soothing voice.

"I'll live, what on Earth was that sighting?"

"What sight?"

"A man, he had fair colored hair."

Mikah furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, only to shrug off Aya's vision as a side-effect of the curse, he then grew upset, holding Aya at her shoulders and frowning at her. Aya continued to analyze his distressed body language, and she could clearly tell there was something amiss with him.

"Aya, there's something I need to discuss with you, it's to do with the involvement with Queen Sakura, you see.. she curs--" Mikah was cut off in the middle of his sentence when a group of Royal guards had emerged from the East end of the village, causing a ruckus, that's when he remembered Aya was still wanted and didn't have a chance to pack up and evacuate.

"Shit." Aya swore, shrugging off Mikah as she unsheathed her sword, preparing for a bloody brawl. Mikah instantly gripped her wrist.

"Aya, resisting arrest is dangerous and not the smartest move in tactics, perhaps we could speak to them first?--"

"Mikah, that's not how Rebels operate, we fight till we lose all our limbs, that's why we have them in the first place. You should never back down in the face of the enemy, you keep going, no matter the outcome. I came into this world kicking and covered in someone else's blood, I'll go out the same way if need be." Aya ripped her wrist back from Mikah's hold, giving him a warning look over her shoulder, with the usage of the corner of her feline shaped eyes.

The approaching guards had their weapons at the ready seeing Aya's own blade wielded in her dominant right hand, she twirled it in a figure eight, getting into a fighting stance as she awaited their further advancement. Meanwhile, Mikah ran inside the barn to raise the alarm Aya was in danger.

With their weaponry at the ready, Aya launched herself at the fifteen or so guards, they'd come prepared however. Aya underestimated their potential, thinking of them like they were mere weaklings that Sakura had sent for her capture, little did she know, these guards had been giving a helping hand with a couple of 'enhancements' through magic. When Aya had taken down two of the guards, she was overwhelmed, a series of hands had grabbed her in all different restrainments, leaving Aya helpless. They took her sword as well, causing her to become unarmed.

Alas, Aya was taken into custody, the rebels too slow to have forbid this action from occurring, Aya continued to struggle and writhe around under her captors, but she was nearer to failing than she was to achieving freedom. The rebels all panicked, their leader now in the hands of the enemy, Mikah was the most stressed, unaware of what he should do or act upon next. He wasn't the only one. Three or so rebels fled the Under-World, since their families were slaughtered due to the postponement of Aya's turn in, they'd ratted on her whereabouts, resulting in her successful arrest.

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Time-Skip

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Once in the confides of the castle, Aya was familiarized with the same exact cell she was trapped within when she was younger, visions and flashbacks played on in her memory like some sick film on repeat. Aya bashed her fist into the stone wall, swearing over and over, the ball and chain attached to her ankle forbidding her that much motion, including the ropes that bound her wrists. She'd press her forehead against the same wall she'd battered her bloody knuckles with, her breath coming in pants, heavy breathing as she exhaled a sigh. Slowly, she blacked out, when she awoke, she was upon the ground, free from majority of her bounds. She fluttered her ebony conspicuously lengthy eyelashes, which would unveil the hazel brown eyes beneath them. She groaned lightly, attempting to lift herself to her knees.

Thus, she waited for her vision to serve her justice, finally coming into focus along with her consciousness. She'd then release a gasp, the man she'd seen in her vision was before her, holding out a dirtied palm stained with crimson and muddy substances. Aya hissed as she felt a strong pang within her head, she relentlessly took hold of his hand, he'd smirk as he allowed her to support her weight on his shoulder, elevating her to her two feet.

"Hello, sleeping beauty." The blonde male trailed his index finger from Aya's chin to the side of her jawline, earning a distasteful look from the pale female.

"Who the fuck are you?" Aya gave him a slight shove, only to stumble, and cause him to catch her in a frontal stance, her cheek pressed against his chest, she could feel his silver chain's cold metallic touch against her temple, which caused her to rise her head away, his hands holding her by her slender waist.

"Your knight in shining armor, I can explain more details at uh.. a more later time. But, we best get you out of here before I spill anything." The blonde was clearly cocky in persona, which made Aya roll her eyes.

"And how the hell am I supposed to trust a damned stranger?" Aya clicked her tongue in annoyance, displeased with the positioning of his hands.

"The names Yoku." He flashed Aya his pearly whites, which she didn't seem to appreciate.

"I don't care, I'm cautious about you."

"You don't have to be, I know plenty ways to ease you up, but here wouldn't be the most comfortable places to demonstrate such.~ " He cooed in Aya's ear, giving her earlobe a light nibble, until he was shoved away once more.

Aya grunted, before dusting herself off, she'd adjust her leather jacket and then looked around for her blade, which she was handed by the male who claimed his name was Yoku. Aya snatched the blade by it's hilt, she'd then sheer off the chain and ball that was around her ankle, the ropes that bound her wrists before had already been taken off when she awoke, which would lead to rope burn marks left behind. Not that she cared.

"Don't be so damn perverted, and lead the way out of this shithole, now that I am at least armed, I can lower my guard slightly. Hurry up about the exit." Aya beckoned.

"Feisty, alright. I understand, you'll be begging for it some other time I suppose.~" Yoku continued to push at Aya's buttons, which was never an advisable choice.

Yet, Aya didn't commentate, she would roll her eyes again, and follow suit, she still maintained her hostility, but did she have any other choice? She needed out of here. And to regroup, stat. Yoku took notice to the pink hue that dusted over the bridge of Aya's nose and her cheeks, and chuckled arrogantly, earning Aya's attention which he shrugged off as a mere thought he had. Aya then scoffed, ignoring the male thereafter.

Though, Aya couldn't really take her mind off of what exactly Yoku was sought after? Was it her? Did he wish to hold her for ransom? Or was he sent her by the rebels? Who knows. Yoku, however, did know what he wanted. Revenge on the person who had trapped him.

"You're Exavier's daughter, right?" Yoku asked as him and Aya walked through the castle halls, exiting the way he had entered to retrieve her soon after asking his said question.

"What's it to you?" Aya hopped down onto a nearby roof, landing in a crouched position alongside Yoku.

"I knew him." Yoku nudged the ebony haired girl.

Aya's eyes widened, this guy looked the exact same age as her, how in the world would he know her Father? She pondered on this thought process whilst she continued to follow suit on escaping with the blonde. Her movements catlike, and his swift to keep in time with the rebellious seventeen year old.

"I'm presuming you meant to say you knew of my Dad." Aya corrected him.

"No, no. I knew Exavier, trust me, I've been in a previous body before, this is merely my body for the past sixteen years, which would probably make you my senior in terms of biology." Yoku winked.

"May I ask how the hell you know my Father, or rather, what exactly are you? You're clearly not human."

"Far from it, actually. Haha, I said I'd explain soon, just try and keep up at least."

"I am ahead of you, you damned idiot." Aya glared over her shoulder at him as she jumped from another rooftop, Yoku following suit.

"Uh-huh." He stuck out his pierced tongue at her, which Aya deemed unworthy of any type of reaction.

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Time-Skip

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They had eventually discovered a makeshift shelter that would momentarily give them a minute to catch their breath, they then stayed down for a good couple minutes, and then took off again, they didn't stop till they reached Exavier's old cottage, which was now used as Aya's own home. Aya shivered, and then glanced over at Yoku, who returned her hazel gaze with his own pale blue orbs. They'd sit down upon the tattered couch to converse for the time being.

"I guess I should tell you a couple things, then." He said in a hushed tone to not draw any sort of attention.

"You think?" Aya kissed her teeth as he stated the obvious.

"Well, I'd like to clarify my species. I am a demon, that much is true. Or you could call me an unholy spirit. I just took the form of a human body. I don't have a physical form as of yet."

"Lovely, a demon." Aya sarcastically said.

"Quite. Anywho, I used to deal with your uncle, doubt you remember much of the ol' ginger. His name was Christoff. Right asshole he was, but who am I to talk? The guy was greedy concerning cash, so I fed off his energy oozing from that greed. His little farm was going bankrupt, and Christoff, he was a tough one to crack, I tried to possess the idiot, let me get his soul for my collection, I was low on stock just like him, so I was trying to do an exchange kinda service. Didn't work, I had to go big or go bold. And I chose both, to be quite frank--" Yoku was cut off by Aya.

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"Just listen, beautiful~" He purred, which caused Aya to blush a rouge shade, which he was fond of.

"Idiot--"

This side of Aya, flustered, he had to admit, wasn't such a bad sighting to behold, he couldn't deny, the damphir girl was indeed easy on the eyes for many. And he was no different, but Yoku wouldn't voice that thought just yet though. He snaked his arm around her waist, letting her ease into his touch, she seemed offput, but she wasn't objecting due to the fact she yearned for more information about her father than what she was already provided.

"Yeah, yeah. As I was saying, I wanted to stir up some hatred in the redhead, so I offered him so information, tabs kinda stuff on your Dad. But at the price of his soul. The guy refused me again, though I won't lie to you, he seemed pretty tempted alright. Claimed he wanted nothing to do with Exavier, which was bloody annoying." Yoku explained further.

"I see." Aya nodded in understanding, listening closely.

"Anyways, I decided your Dad was a better option, since that geezer Christoff effected my ego, innit, but-- Exavier was easy, if I'm honest. I meddled with him somewhat." Yoku shrugged.

"Wait, what do you mean you meddled with my father?" Aya suddenly perked up, placing her hand on his leg, her eyes seemingly eager.

"Eh, calm down." He chuckled, "I'll add a little bit of mystery to that story, you gotta find out another time, from a different source most likely, since it's not particularly entirely my position to speak of it from start to finish-- Oh? You getting handsy with me already?~" Yoku teased, placing his hand over Aya's, only until he intertwined his fingers with her's.

Aya would blush the same crimson but a lot darker than she had previously displayed, swallowing down a gulp as she narrowed her eyes at him. She then would avert her gaze, clearing her throat as she hummed, trying to distract herself from the current situation, she'd grab her hand back, folding her arms as she huffed.

Yoku then makes a move, yawning and stretching his arms above his head, allowing one of his arms to drop at his side, and the other to drape around Aya's shoulder. Aya immediately notices this cheesy display of affection, and returns a response by smacking the back of his head whilst she kissed her teeth.

"Tch, hands to yourself, lover-boy." Aya analyzed her manicure, her hair pooling over her right shoulder that wasn't being held by Yoku's hand.

"Hey!-- Damn you're a tough bird, that's cute~ I like a challenge every now and again." Yoku would rub the back of his head where he had been hit, before he then took his chances again, and tackles Aya down onto the couch, pinning her down through a straddle position.

Aya squealed in dismay as she was restrained by the blonde boy atop of her hourglass physique, her piercing hazel orbs glaring up at him as her hair sprawled out behind her head, Yoku smirked devilishly as he hunched over the female, licking his lower lip as if he had found his latest meal.

There is a sudden knock at the door, until it was swung open, which would alarm Aya and Yoku, but it wasn't anyone dangerous--

Mikah.

He had came in search of Aya, once word got out she'd already escaped from five hours of capture. His dark stormy orbs widening to see the position Aya and Yoku was currently in. He believes she is somehow cheating, he had wanted to explain to her about the curse, only to have his heart sink to his stomach. With a breathless whisper, he parted his lips and exclaims one thing;;

"Aya..?"

Copyright © 2018 by StriplessKitten

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