Disclaimer: Ao no Exorcist I don't own it! (But Kazue Kato does).

Timeline: Begins with Camping Arc. Incorporates future arcs, so be wary of spoilers. Read at your own risk and pleasure.

Update Frequency: I'm pretty unreliable. Busy life? Slow to write. I'll be good and finish it though.

Rating: Technically rated T because it is appropriate for young adults and older. The chapters that have mature content will be marked beforehand. A synopsis will be at the end in case anyone doesn't want to read the spicier portions.

Artwork: Curious? The cover was drawn by myself (someone told me Rin's nose looks like it belongs on a pig. Charming, no?

Cheers~

IgnisVulpes

Coincidence. It's a basic word when broken down. The prefix 'co' comes from the Latin root com, meaning "together." Incidence refers to an event or occasion. Combined, they describe "a remarkable occurrence of events or circumstances without an obvious connection."

Really.

In this world, where one atom decides if a molecule kills or gives life, where one grain of rice tips the scale, where one precise reaction causes a star to explode; do you believe the world so sloppy?

Perhaps it is.

Perhaps not.

Perhaps coincidences could be better explained as indirect scheming―the hands of fate as some say. And for some reason or another, these hands just can't seem to stay away from our affairs.

._..._.

._.

"Will you not take this gamble with me," Mephisto Pheles challenged, undaunted even before the Grigori. "Will you gamble, that this child will become the demon king of Gehenna, or will he become the Knights'… nay... Will he become Assiah's savior?!"

At that moment, Rin couldn't care less. Assiah or Gehenna... The entirety of his being focused on the sharp edge digging into his calf. Arthur had him pinned beneath an obnoxiously large sword, and muscle spasms threated to tear his leg open.

Sweat dripped down his temple. He favored a shaky breath instead of a pained scream. Damn it if he let any of these prejudiced bastards see his pain. Doubtful they would notice anyway. They were completely engrossed in deciding his fate like a feral animal.

"To bring up Satan's spawn? Inconceivable!"

Deciding if he deserved to live.

"Why are we even debating? Destroy this monstrosity!"

Deciding his own humanity.

"He's absolutely insane, allowing Satan's child to walk amongst us! Bring down Mephisto!"

The room began to spin. The air felt thick. Their banter began to pull more familiar voices from memory. Voices that hit harder.

"Why the hell is Satan's kid here in the academy?"

"As if there's nothing strange about it?!"

Everything hurt. His leg, his chest, his head.

"It's just a disgusting akuma! Get rid of it!"

Why? What did he do to deserve this? The embers inside him sparked. Why did they get to decide his fate for him?

"Shut the hell up!"

The Grigori halted their debate at his growl. More eyes than he could count fell on his shoulders.

"You bastards," Rin snarled, the flames inside purring. "Since the very beginning, you've been blabbering on and on! Don't just mindlessly judge people as you please!"

The heat collected, pooled, and overflowed. Those present recoiled as blue flames engulfed the teen.

Arthur twisted the sword. Agony tore through his leg. Rin slammed his fist into the ground, biting back a scream.

"I ain't your weapon… demon king… or savior," he growled, pulling himself together. "I'm Rin Okumura! And I'm gonna become the best exorcist you ever laid your eyes on!"

The hall exploded into a heated debate.

._..._.

._.

Outside that hidden court, the world continued down its timeline, oblivious.

Or perhaps not, since all the events that followed could be boiled down coincidence.