With and Without You (AetherxAyaka)

Chapter 24: Jail Break!

As they walk through the room, Aether looked to the ceiling and spun around slowly, it was as if he stood still and the room had spun instead. He wasn't sure how deep down this was but it had to be pretty deep, the walls seemed to endlessly climb upwards, wooden balcony after balcony. The support pillars stretched up along the balconies, reaching into what seemed to be a never reachable ceiling.

"This place is a complete Labyrinth." Aether muttered under his breath.

Paimon nervously chuckled, her voice shaking.

"Uh... Now that we're inside, this place is a whole lot creepier that Paimon imagined... *eh-he*..."

"Right, but remember to keep an eye out. This place is probably crawling with guards." Aether reminded them

Yoimiya nodded, her face was a polar opposite of the normal displayed emotions.

She always looked happy and playful, but right now Yoimiya was about as serious as could be.

It showed that she was competent and reliable.

"C'mon, let's go this way." Yoimiya pointed towards a long hallway "as long as stay quiet we've got a good chance! I certainly wouldn't want to end up locked away in here.... so let's find Master Masakatsu and get out of here."

She began walking before coming up with an idea.

"Actually... we should split up. I've got a 'little present' to prepare for Master Masakatsu." Yoimiya giggled "*hehe* I'll be riiiight back."

"Are you sure Yoimiya?" Paimon asked concerned

She nodded her head

"Absolutely."

Paimon sighed

"Alright then... just be careful not to get caught."

"Yes, uh- you too!" She cheered

She moved on into the hallway and became smaller as the distance grew.

"Well guess that leaves us with the large stairway..." Aether complained

"Quit the whinning Aether, a little exercise doesn't hurt anybody"

"Oh that's rich coming from you, Paimon..." he grumbled

"What was that?" Paimon's voice raised.

"Nothing... nothing at all..."

.

.

.

.

Aether stood on top of the staircase, before him was a massive room. A couple paces would have led to a balcony that stretched out past his line of sight on the left. On the right the balcony went until a wall greeted it, from there the path continued forward to a decent sized platform. He walked into the room and rested his hands on the railing, peaking over and looked downwards.

Darkness and nothing for presumably miles down. If he fell here...

...then it was game over...

"Hey, You two ! You shouldn't be here!" Shouted two guards at the left end of the balcony had been standing guard, now rushing Aether and Paimon with their spears.

"Well shit... there went our stealth... Paimon get behind me!" Aether said preparing for combat and getting into his stance.

'I really don't want to fight these guys, but they might not leave me a choice...'