Endless Night

"Have fun girls."
"We will! Why can't you go with us?"
Asuka smiled sadly, checking her adopted daughters' bags to make sure they had everything they needed.
"Unfortunately I have school this week, and if I don't go to work I wouldn't have any money to send you guys on this trip."
Tawny pouted, putting the hat her mother had made her on her head, covering her once again sandy blond hair.
"Next time?"
Asuka nodded.
"Next time. Now, you girls have fun. Behave for Sidius and Christian, and watch after the younger girls."
Tawny, Evey and Kirimi nodded, hugging Asuka before following the men and Luana out to the car Sidius had rented. The sun was going down, the family traveling at night so that Drea would be able to go with them.
Asuka stood in the doorway, waving goodbye to them as they all piled into the car.
"Have a good time camping!"
Sidius closed their bags in the trunk, making sure all the passengers were safely inside before opening the driver's door to the van. He glanced up at Asuka, his crimson eyes clear and bright. His gaze was serious, despite the smile that Asuka offered.
Soon the driveway was empty, and Asuka was alone. She stepped inside, locking the door securely behind her.
"He looks as if he suspects something."
Asuka ignored the voice, walking down the hall towards her room.
"You're ignoring me again?"
As she passed the mirror in the hall, out of the corner of her eye she saw black smoke drifting from her. This too, she ignored.
"I'm hurt, Asuka. We can finally spend quality time together, and you are ignoring me."
Asuka sat at her desk, pulling out a textbook.
"I wouldn't call being stuck with you quality time, Yuurei."
Cold laughter echoed softly in her ear, and she could swear she could feel Yuurei's breath against her skin.
"Come now, Asuka. Was it really better without me?"
"Of course it was."
"You didn't really think that I would let you go that easily, did you?"
Blue eyes closed in frustration, anger rising within her.
"No."
"Good girl. You know you need me."
Asuka laughed mockingly.
"Me? Need you? Don't make me laugh. I don't need you, you need me."
"You couldn't be more wrong. Take the one you are drawn to, for instance..."
"Leave him out of this."
"Without me, you'd be blissfully unaware of your doubts."
"Be quiet."
"If it weren't for me, you would end up broken again because of your own foolishness."
"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been broken in the first place."
"Ha! You poor woman, you are so deluded."
Asuka's fist slammed against the desk, silencing the voice inside her head.
"Temper temper, Asuka."
"Yuurei, let me go."
"Excuse me?"
"Let me go!"
Asuka's eyes were cold, her jaw clenched in anger.
"No one will ever be able to separate us, Asuka."
"Sidius will..."
"And then what? You'll be broken beyond repair. You need me, Asuka. If the demon takes me from you, you'll never be the same."
Yuurei's laughter echoed loudly in Asuka's ears, pale hands covering them in a futile attempt to stop the horrid voice.
"There there, Asuka. I'm sorry I had to open your eyes to this, but you know I'm right. How can you trust him?"
"I do trust him!"
"Not anymore, you don't. You know it deep down, Asuka."
"Shut up!"
"Look into the mirror, Asuka. I'll never leave you."
Asuka held her head in her hands, trying to block out the venomous voice. She knew what Yuurei spoke of, of course. Her own eyes revealed that she wasn't alone, the once blue gray shade of her eyes invaded by a ring of green.
"How can you trust anyone, Asuka? You've been betrayed, how many times?"
"Go to hell, Yuurei."
"Not without you."
Asuka jumped when she felt a cold grip on her shoulder, but there was no one there.
"You must act now, Asuka, before it's too late. Do you wish to piece your heart back together again?"
Yuurei's voice had changed. It was no longer mocking, or cold. It sounded soft, comforting.
"I'll never trust you."
Yuurei laughed lightly at this, the cold grip tightening on Asuka's shoulder.
"You already do, Asuka. More than you know."
"You're just the face from my nightmares, nothing more."
"If that's so, this nightmare will never end. You are awake now, and yet here I am."
The voice lowered to a whisper, speaking low into her ear from an unseen force. Yuurei's voice was calming and gentle once again, dripping with a luring silk that Asuka knew all too well.
"Think about it, Asuka. It doesn't seem right, does it? You must do something before you are destroyed once more."
Asuka laughed mockingly to herself.
"That's what you want, Yuurei."
Yuurei laughed as well, sending a shiver down Asuka's spine.
"Only if I cause it."