''Do you realise how much alike we are?''
Yukio threw up, his knees aching against the cool, bathroom tile of the dormitory. He'd play it off as being sick, too much stress finally getting to him – yes – Rin would buy that. The older twin might even dote on him while he played functional sick.
A cold, freezing hand was on his back and he shuddered, his very form filled slowly to the brim of his resilience by seething ice.
''Calm yourself, my son,'' The voice spoke, melodic and enchanting – to soothe – to taunt – to convert – TO USE! NOTHING MORE NOTHING MORE !
Yukio rose steadily to his feet and tottered away from the ethereal creature grinning at him. It looked like Rin. It looked like himself. His eyes burned. They ached and he blinked the fear away. No guns could help – he had tried everything. Nothing had worked. Nothingnothingnothingnothing
''What do you want from me?''
The grin widened on the creature's face. It flexed its claws and said, ''You. First you must listen to what I have to say. If you do not...'' The twisted apparition tilted its head towards the campus, implying many things.
Yukio paled. ''You cannot expect me-'' he stopped himself because the way the creature looked at him, determined, unfaltering, meant that it did expect him to obey and more. ''Don't...'' the exorcist whispered hoarsely, ''don't, please.''
''Please.'' The apparition – for the real thing could not walk the Earth – mocked. It marched towards Yukio. He felt his breath constrict, shallow out, and quicken at the sight of Satan's face inches away from his. ''Has that word ever helped you, son? Tell me. Has any demon quivered before its might? Or turned on its master to let humans conquer – no. Not even the lowest of my minions believe in such philosophies, so why should I?''
Cobalt blue stared into icy azure.
''Low level demons are usually incoherent animals...'' Yukio choked out and averted his gaze. He detested the show of weakness, but couldn't help but be overwhelmed.
''You are a fool driven by the Church's propaganda if you believe that.'' Satan snorted. It stepped away from Yukio and continued, ''Gehenna has a million tongues and they their dialects and subcultures – if you are truly so conceited to believe each one should speak yours then humanity is lost. Or at least the prototype God spread across Assiah.'' It frowned now, no grin to rationalise, ''It is a waste. God should just wipe you off and give Assiah to me.'' A nonchalant shrug, something Rin would do – exactly how Rin would do it. Yukio felt bile travelling up his throat, his eyes fluttered, and clumsily he made his way towards his bed.
''What,'' Yukio lied down on the bed, no fight left in him, ''do you want from me?'' Desperation spoke from inside the young exorcist and all Satan did was narrow those demonic eyes in return.
''Rest, youngest,'' it spoke softly, ''we shall speak later.''
Yukio drifted off to sleep and would wake up tomorrow morning to a concerned Rin mothering him and Satan sitting on Rin's bed, eyes empty, but that grin – present, ever so present. He nudged his head towards Satan for Rin to see – to scream and swear revenge ...anything. Rin looked at the spot where Satan now reclined and shrugged. ''You should eat something, Yukio. I made your favourite!''
The moment Rin bounded towards the kitchen the laughter started, slowly at first –a stifled kind of courtesy that grew into hysteric cackling. Blue flames circled the creature and Yukio could only watch and choke on his cries, dry heaving into his own hand as not to ruin the bedding.
''Those eyes,'' Satan's laughter died and he pointed at Yukio's eyes and then at his, '' -while they do differ in colour – they are mine. Not one of my sons has inherited them, but you have. How will you use them?''
Yukio opened his mouth, but Satan spoke over him, ''Preposterous question, I know.'' Satan's eyes – the mirror to the demon's heart flared. ''You will use them however I tell you to.''
The exorcist nodded to the king of demons - for what was he to do? Alone and helpless cursed with a gift bestowed upon him by the same demon who watched him with a withered look.
''How are you here?''
''Oh,'' the demon said, dry, ''I am not. I am in Gehenna. This is just a piece of me that can pass through. With no one to see me I found it useless to continue the splitting practise. In this form I can do nothing to anyone except you.''
Yukio jumped to his feet and said, hope igniting those cobalt eyes, ''So then that means you can't harm anyone!''
Satan regarded him with what passed for pity. ''Know, son of mine, if you do not obey I will slip through those cracks Samael has overlooked and slay every single one of your precious exorcists. Do not mistake my civility for mercy.''
Yukio fell back on the bed, more lost than ever. He clenched his hands into fists and snarled. ''Fuck you.''
''Yukio, you say something?'' Rin called, tail swishing in happiness.
''No,'' Yukio finally put his glasses on, swiping them from a cupboard near his bed, ''I did not.'' Satan laughed and laughed and laughed.