A/N: Welcome to "Hide and Seek," the first thing I've posted to FF as Taffeta. I plan on updating every two or three weeks, depending on how my schedule works out, so be patient with me and you'll get good chunks of quality writing.

Cover art will be up as soon as I can draw it.

I'm planning on Mephy X OC Slow Burn since I don't see a lot of that on the internet, so feed the fire with reviews, favorites, and follows.

~TR

Disclaimer: Blue Exorcist may not be mine, but the OCs and most plot ideas are. And I highly recommend reading up on the manga before I get to certain chapters. (I'll put up a warning when we get there.)

#1: Taninaka Knight

"Mana? Mana, you're shaking!"

The young woman thought she'd only been cold when she woke with a start at the crack of dawn.

"Was it that dream again?"

"Y…Yes…" Her long, callused fingers knit into her auburn hair, tangling it further. "It must have been. I'm okay now though... Thanks."

She felt, rather than heard, her elder cousin's soft sigh as she let go and scooted back to her own mat. "I hope you have a good, understanding roommate if you have any more of these night terrors after moving to True Cross."

Mana did a set of breathing exercises to calm herself as she laid back down and stared at the ceiling, hands resting together as an extra pillow under her head. Aya – her cousin – had been the ideal representative to send to the far-off True Cross Academy until their elders decided there were still things for her to learn at home. The Taninaka clan exorcists were known for their skills as dragoons and tamers so there were plenty of helping hands ready for their black-haired, green-eyed princess.

Then there was the "unofficial" reason pointed out by the academy's chairman on the day he paid his first visit to their tiny village: Aya was too old to participate in either the cram school or the regular courses.

"We are in need of…sharper young minds nowadays."

Mana shivered as she thought of how quickly those unnaturally green eyes had flicked to meet hers, then to the slender sword always at her side, and then back so suddenly that she'd been pinned in the doorway until her godmother threw a pillow into her face to drive her off. She'd have known the chairman was a demon even without her mashou, but she hadn't felt frightened at all…rather, she felt-

"Mana, Mana, wake up faster or Aya runs our training experises!"

"Ex-er-ci -ses, silly!" Mana couldn't help but giggle as she picked up the hyperactive six-year-old bouncing on her stomach and set him in the hallway so she could get dressed in peace. Her smile faltered a bit when she realized this morning would be the last one she had with the kids out on the training field just outside the village, but she'd still give it her all to make their day better.

-Flames-

"My coat~"

Belial quickly obliged, slipping the garment onto the taller demon with a practiced ease that only comes from centuries of servitude.

"Aaaand set!"

The butler applauded politely as Mephisto twirled away from the full-length mirror just in time to adjust the top hat that appeared on his head and strike a pose. He had no complaints about the King of Time being energetic enough to "grab" his own hat from the coat rack five steps away.

"Pardon my asking, but you are picking up the new transfer student yourself, sir?"

"Of course I am – I want her to get here in one piece! And besides," the demon prince's tone changed ever so slightly, "when was the last time we had such a talented lady knight in our ranks?"

Belial nodded in understanding. "When shall I have her placement tests scheduled, sir?"

"Tomorrow. I plan on introducing her to the other exwires today."

Belial made a mental note to see if Yukio had gotten a new student notification.

-Flames-

Mana shifted uncomfortably on the tatami mat only to get a firm elbow dangerously close to her right kidney. She'd have reached for her sword but it was carefully wrapped in its ornamental sheath (her usual, favored one was already packed into her luggage) and placed just out of reach directly in front of her. Not like her yukata would allow that quick of a movement anyway – it was a hand-me-down from Aya and bound extra snugly since it was a bit too loose in the chest and waist.

"My own family couldn't make me feel any more naked and helpless unless they actually stripped me and tied me to a rock by the sea as a demon sacrifice." Her toes wriggled nervously at the thought, then settled into steadily curling and uncurling when she realized there weren't any incoming repercussions.

"Lucia Taninaka, Maya Taninaka, Mana Taninaka, Sir Mephisto Pheles." One of her male cousins announced, voice cracking a little, as the sliding door opened and the demon let himself in.

"Oh yes they can – they just have to invite him over."

Sir Mephisto Pheles (so he'd taken a Western-sounding name) was definitely wearing the same spotless white True Cross Order uniform from the first visit, but Mana hadn't noticed how it flattered his thin frame then because he'd been sitting down. Now on his feet, the demon was easily over six feet tall and a very commanding presence.

"Mana."

"Yes! Welcome to our home, sir!" She quickly bowed her head at her godmother's tone.

He chuckled ever so softly and she kept her head almost pressed to the floor so her fringe would hide her embarrassed flush. "I do appreciate the formality, but I'm on a very strict schedule and must return to True Cross Academy without delay. May I…?"

"Of course, Sir Pheles. Her luggage should be in your vehicle by now – she doesn't have much to pack."

"And this… This is her sword?"

Mana's head jerked up with a short gasp, earning disapproving stares from both elders, but her eyes were only for her precious weapon.

"It will do."

What a comment! She wasn't sure whether she should feel insulted or not. "I thought you were here for me, not my sword…sir."

Lucia's thin mouth tightened at the corners. "Excuse her, Sir Pheles, she's been hesitant about leaving our village since we told her-"

"Oh no, it's quite all right! I seem to have unintentionally struck a nerve." The tension in the air, however, held no signs of lessening. "Now, Mana! Take it and come along~"

Those dreadfully green eyes held hers captive for the second time as their owner's large, gloved hands gently pulled her to her feet and wrapped her fingers around the sheath's intricately braided strap, holding them in place until she took the hint. This was bad – if she couldn't keep herself under control he'd rip her to shreds as soon as they were out of sight of the village. Her weapon stayed with her solely because it was as useful against him as a security blanket was against a hungry wolf.

"Wh- What is that?!" She finally managed when she stepped outside only to be confronted by the bright pink limousine parked directly outside the building.

"Just a little something I like to use once in a while."

Careful to avoid the demon's gaze, Mana cautiously slid through the open door and fumbled with the seatbelt. The limo's interior was just as ostentatious as the outside, if not more so – she could see at least two flat screens, a mini fridge, a snack dispenser, and a ridiculous amount of gaming consoles without raising her head.

"Drink?" The sharp clicking of glass on glass told her that her host had opened a ramune soda, of all things. "No? I have snacks – pocky, doughnuts…mochi?"

"I think I might just take a nap. Last night was a bit stressful."

The demon shrugged as he helped himself to what he'd offered her. "Suit yourself; we'll be at True Cross Academy in about…five hours."

"Five hours?!"

"That's a teensy overestimation, even with no stops for you to use some facilities." Mephisto's grin widened as his newest exwire's face reddened.

"How did you get here when you did, then?! You don't – this car looks like it's fresh from the cleaner's!"

"Why don't you enjoy your nap, and I'll explain later."

"…All right. But stay over there…please…" Mana quickly closed her eyes but that didn't keep her from hearing his obnoxious little chuckle. It only hastened her reliving the Blue Night yet again.