Xeon fell softly unto the grass, and his head began to throb. He poked Sakiko softly, and he whispered,

"Sakiko. Are you alright?"

Of course, he really couldn't care less if she was no use to him, but he needed her to find his father.

"Sakiko."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Her scream pierced into the night, so shrill and high that it sounded unearthly. Sakiko writhed in the grass, holding her hands down her ears, trying to shove her head into the ground. She beat upon the soil with her pale hands - now stained with the obvious marks of brown.

"STOP IT! STOP!!!!!!"

Bloody tears rolled down her cheeks, her lips also stained with crimson red.

"No...."

She groaned.

Then silence settled in like a thick blanket.

Inside, Okikas laughed wickedly, dancing around in Sakiko's thoughts. The witch cackled, and clapped her hands. She hissed,

"Mine now, Sakiko... it's only a matter of time before we'll act as one, think as one...and you won't refuse me then. Oh yes, you will find this sudden need for me. Without me, you shall be incomplete. Without your other, dark half, you will find no peace...."

Sakiko scraped at the ground, her thin silver hair becoming wispy and disheveled.

"N....no...."

"Ugh!"

Xeon jumped back, shocked by Sakiko's sudden shrill. Not a one to stay in a state of surprise forever, though, he grabbed Sakiko's arm. He hissed,

"Win, Sakiko - you must tame your new being..."

He knew that if the mage was to lose, Okikas would take over her body forever - which would become an empty shell. Sakiko must accept the new dark form as her own. That was the only way she could survive.

Sakiko stood up, and began to scream in pain. It felt as if her limbs were being torn from her, as the form of Okikas began to etch itself into Sakiko. The harsh cackle of the dark witch drove her mad as the mage began to tear out her silver locks. She barely noticed Xeon, and everything was blurred.

Then...

darkness.

The entire room was flooded with light. Sakiko breathed in relief, knowing that at last she was safe. She knew not where she was, but the light comforted her. Maybe she was dead... maybe Okikas did take over her soul entirely...

Suddenly, half of the room was engulfed with shadow.

The mage turned abruptly, her eyes widening in fear. A girl with chains decorating her wrists as accesories, with midnight black hair - but with the same facial features as Sakiko - walked towards her. Okikas.

"Sakiko, I think we must strike up a bargain, no?"

Okikas stood face to face with Sakiko.

"I'm not all that bad, you know... I'll be useful to you. You'll give me a home. What do you say?"