The sky was grey and downcast as the two of them watched the funeral. They had both being dragged there to, as Mephisto had put it, "Keep them out of trouble." Amaimon sighed and turned to Astarte. "Are you bored of this yet?" He asked. "I was bored before it started." She answered. They both watched as the coffin was brought out, followed by a number of exorcists. "I can't believe Aniue actually has to go to these things." She mused aloud. "And how could he drag us along? I mean we wouldn't have caused that much damage." Amaimon added. Astarte nodded in agreement then suddenly looked up at the sky. "It's going to rain soon." She mumbled. She raised her wings so that they were above both their heads. As the first few droplets fell, she spotted a familiar mess of dark hair. "Do you think he'll ever be a suitable vessel for father?" Amaimon asked. Astarte glanced at her promised one then shook her head. "As you said, he's too unruly, too rash to serve much potential as a host for father. Now his brother, he's got hidden potential." She said, raising her claw to scratch the back of her neck.

"Yeah, but he doesn't possess the flames." Amaimon pointed out. "But that doesn't necessarily mean he lacks them." Astarte stated. "His may not have awakened yet." The two of the turned to look at their two half-brothers and their friends. "So, you plan to put this to the test?" Amaimon queried. "I can't though can I?" Astarte said. "Remember I'm bound with a heart bind. If I put so much as a strand of fur from the tuft on my tail out of line, I'll be exorcised faster than we can say "Gehenna Gate"." She sighed and leant back against the tree they were sitting in. "So, unless we can find a way of testing my theory without the risk of exorcism, all we can do is monitor both of them." "And why would you want to do that my fabulous Angel?" Mephisto's voice startled the two of them so badly that they fell out of the tree and crashed to the ground in a heap. He stood over the two of them and nudged the entangled mass of demonic limbs with his foot. "Well?" He asked. Astarte slowly extracted herself from underneath Amaimon. "Why would we want to do what Aniue?" She asked innocently. "You know what" Mephisto said. "Now tell me why?"

"To see if the rumours that only one of them possesses the flames are true." She answered quickly. "You should be more concerned with convincing the Vatican that you have changed your ways." He said. Her ears went down. "Sir Pheles?" A voice echoed from behind Mephisto. The three of them stared as Rin walked up with the others. "Why are they here?" The flame-coloured haired exorcist asked. "To ensure they stay out of trouble." Mephisto stated. Astarte sat back on her haunches. "Is there some law saying we can't be here?" She asked, a mocking light flickering in her eyes. Amaimon let out a chuckled beside her as the woman growled. "Sir Pheles does have a point Shura." Rin's brother stated. "Whilst here, the two of them are pretty much under constant supervision of multiple exorcists. They can't do anything that could harm anyone." Shura merely huffed. "I still don't trust her." She said darkly. "Why?" "Well, look at her." Shura pointed at Astarte. Or rather, the spot Astarte had been sitting in a few moments ago.

"What the…? Where'd she go?" One of the students cried. Rin suddenly spotted something purple coiling near the other side of the tree. He walked around to see Astarte on her hands and knees, her rear sticking up in the air, as she watched something intently. She jolted forward, her claws wrapping around something and then sat up and inspected her catch. Rin peeked over her shoulder to see her staring at a butterfly. She stared at it as it fluttered in her claws. A smile slowly spread across her face as she watched the fragile creature. Amaimon crouched beside her to examine it as well. Mephisto smiled at their child-like curiosity at such a tiny creature. "Why are they here?" A cold voice startled them, causing Astarte to jolt and crush the butterfly in her claws. She looked disappointed as she turned to see the Paladin glaring at her. "You two are dangerous. Especially you!" He pointed at Astarte, one hand resting on the hilt of his blade. Astarte growled at him in response.

"If they are here, they can't cause trouble can they baldy?" Shura said. The Paladin glanced at her. "You are the last person I'd expect to defend such horrors." He remarked. "I'd rather side with two demons then with you." Shura snapped. Astarte and Amaimon both watched with a bored expression. "Want to go explore?" He asked her. "Alright" She stood and opened her wings, wrapping her arms around his waist whilst he coiled his around her neck. Shura and the Paladin stopped their arguing when the gusts of air generated by the flapping of her wings brushed past them. Rin stood and stared as the steady wing beat lifted both demons skywards and away from the funeral. As he watched, he felt jealously burn in his heart. She was far more dangerous than he was. And yet, she had gotten away with essentially everything and escaped with little more than a heart bind. He on the other hand had been issued with a death warrant twice and never actually killed any humans. It wasn't fair. He gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his blade. His anger did not go unnoticed.

As the two of them flew above the town to their favourite spot on one of the many water towers, Astarte sensed the rage of their half- brother turn his aura red. "Oh dear. I think I've annoyed our annoying little bastard of a half-brother." She mused aloud. Amaimon merely laughed. "So where will we explore?" She asked him. He paused for a few moments. "We've explored everywhere we can haven't we?" He asked her. "I think so. Shall we go see what Aniue is doing now instead?" She asked him. He nodded and jumped from the top of the water tower. "Who knows?" He called as she flew after him. "Maybe we can find out what's annoyed our little brother so much." She laughed as she chased him through the town to Mephisto's home. When they arrived back, a stranger stood talking to Mephisto. "…so the Grigori has decided that you are to go on this mission Sir Pheles." Astarte froze in place when she heard this. "What of Astarte?" Mephisto asked, the two men blind to the presence of the two demonic teens.

"She will have to remain here. She cannot accompany you on this mission, so the heart bind will be temporarily released until the mission is complete." The man said as he turned to walk away. He froze when he saw the two of them standing and staring at him. "Aniue, where are you going?" Amaimon asked. "The Vatican wants me to travel to America to gather some new potential exorcists and bring them back here for training." Mephisto answered. Astarte remained frozen in place. Mephisto walked over to her. "I won't be gone that long. You'll be fine." He whispered to her. She looked straight at him. "But Aniue, my nightmares are back." She murmured. Amaimon glanced momentarily at the man but he seemed not to have heard. "Amaimon can help you cope with them until I return. I'll be leaving tomorrow though." He added. Astarte hung her head. "But I don't want you to go." She said softly. Mephisto sighed and embraced her gently. "I'll be back before you know I've been gone." He said to her softly. But in her heart, Astarte knew that even though he would be gone for so little an amount of time, she would succumb to her nightmarish visions.