Age of Lies
AU Three-thousand years of fighting. That was how long the two kingdoms, one born of matter (Assiah) and the other of nothingness (Gehenna), had been at war. In a last ditch effort to save their people, both sides ratify a treaty. But, demons and humans alike have their reasons to want the treaty to fail and the group tasked with beginning the 'coexistence phase' may have more to fear than each other.
Genre: Action, Horror, Drama, Romance, and a dash of Humor.
A/N: I don't have much to say other than that this is an AU set in a land where there is no border between Assiah and Gehenna and all humans can see demons. Oh, and expect demon!Yukio :P hopefully, this story turns out well, but we'll see XD
Disclaimer: Yah... I definitely don't own Blue Exorcist.
Chapter 1- Chosen
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Fidgeting in the group of people at the square, a young blonde felt herself jostled by the crowd, tumbling forward onto the cobble-stoned ground with a cry. But no one stopped to help her; not that she was expecting help. It was the day the village would find who the 'Chosen' were. More were too busy sayings their potentially final goodbyes and rushing off to finish whatever business they did not want left undone.
Hobbling to her feet, the woman realized with dismay that her pink kimono's sleeve had been torn from the fall. Brushing off bits of dust and dirt, she smoothed the fabric, wondering faintly if she would be called for 'coexistence.'
Due to her sheltered and unusual upbringing, it didn't really bother her one way or another. She had heard her fair share of stories about the demons of Gehenna, how they were creatures born without a conscience whose only goal was to kill and destroy. But Shiemi Moriyama wasn't so sure. Her familiar, Nee-chan, a gentle adolescent greenman had never once tried to attack her. Still, she wasn't naïve enough to think all demons were just as kind.
Before she could be wrapped up in thoughts of gentle demons (oh, how the village would laugh if they knew!), a man with silver hair walked onto the makeshift stage, the rotting wood groaning under his weight. He eyed the crowd silently, silver-rimmed glasses obscuring his crimson eyes.
Eventually, he spoke, "Form a line!" He said gruffly, looking as if just standing there was making him sick. And it very well could be; the village had been struck with a plague of miasma over three decades ago, but even now, there were still traces of its horrible purple haze.
Obediently, the crowd formed a line as Shiemi was swept off further away from the stage. She found herself near the very back of the line, sandwiched between a woman with unusual purple hair and a boy with a single steak of blonde through his hair. A man with flamboyantly pink hair a few people behind them called out to the violet-haired woman, grinning widely.
"If I get picked, don't forget about me, Izumo-chan~!" He mock cried, losing his place in line to try to hug her.
"W-what are you doing?" She said, clearly annoyed by his antics. Pushing him away, she folded her arms indignantly.
"Hey, you two idiots, quit drawing attention to yourselves! Do you want to be picked?" The gruff-looking man finally spoke, trailing a nervous hand through his brown-blonde locks.
The pink-haired man waved apologetically, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry, Bon!"
Shiemi kept her head bowed, a shyness creeping up in her. How she wished to have some friends; but being born a 'witches'' daughter had long since robbed her of that luxury. Technically, the correct term was 'tamer' but people barely knew the difference anymore. Born with the innate ability to channel the spirits of nothingness, she and her mother had been ostracized for their gifts. Now, both tried to lead quiet lives off in a forgotten shack in the surrounding forest, only going out for supplies and now, for the 'raffle' as some people called it.
Peering ahead, Shiemi could just make out the 'paladin,' the man credited for making the treaty. Rumor had it that at one point he had been a ruthless general with the highest recorded number of kills on the field. But now, for whatever reason, he stood as ambassador and peacekeeper (ironically enough), ushering in what would hopefully be a time of coexistence between the races.
Still, stories of his cruelty in battle remained and apparently, if one looked long enough in his crimson eyes, they'd see the souls of the demons he had killed. Needless to say, the rumors kept him safe from persecution, as he probably was the only man alive who could be a proponent for coexistence and not be ridiculed or threatened. Shiro Fujimoto's true goals for creating the treaty (surely it wasn't all for simply peace?) had been speculated, but no one knew his true agenda.
Shiemi was awakened from her haze of thoughts at the sight of the silver-haired man in front of her, a deep frown pressed firmly across his lips.
"Name." He said stoically, years of being on the front lines hardening his features.
"Ah, S-Shiemi Moriyama." She stuttered, emerald orbs wide with fear.
"Moriyama, is it? Aren't you and your mother tamers?"
She nodded dumbly, clutching at the fabric of her kimono. How many people who, after being stopped to tell their names, pointed to her, the 'demon lover' out of fear?
"Step out of the line, please." He finished, walking past her and towards the man behind her. Glumly, her eyes traveled down to her sandaled feet as she sighed, moving over obediently. Looking ahead, she was surprised to see the purple-haired girl had also been picked. She stood silently, glaring at the paladin's back. For a moment, Shiemi thought to say something but was too nervous to speak. Eventually, she returned her gaze to the ground, unable to look the crowd in the eye. She already heard the whispers.
"Look, the witch has been chosen!"
"I should have known I had nothing to fear! Only demon lovers would be picked for something like this!"
"Finally! I feel safer just having her out of the village."
The girl bit her lip. She was used to these sorts of taunts, but the words still stung. Apparently, tamers, while rare, had been a legitimate exorcist meister at one point, until a tamer got 'possessed' and ended up killing nearly all of his peers and destroyed the exorcist school. Ever since then, tamers had been equated to magicians and demon lovers and now kept themselves hidden.
"I'm training to be an exorcist! I can't be chosen!"
"M-me too! We're both training as exorcists! I'm going to be an aria while Bon is trying to get a meister in aria and dragoon!"
Looking towards the voices, Shiemi was surprised to see that their whole 'group' had been selected. Many thought that he would simply pick and choose the four randomly from the line, not call out four who were all standing together.
"Ryuuji Suguro, Renzou Shima, you've been picked for a very important task. One that could be humanity's salvation or its undoing. I expect you to take your goals more seriously. Now, come along, you four have much to learn."
And with that the group had been chosen. Two boys, two girls, to face four demons and hopefully, learn to coexist. Although, at this point, the group only wished to survive.
Trailing a bit behind the three, the blonde took one final glance at the crowd. She saw her mother with a sullen look on her face, the shimmer of unshed tears in her eyes. It was obvious that she thought her daughter was walking to her death.
Turning around, she followed as bravely as she could. She'd prove to the village she was more than just a witch; she'd come back a hero. With a renewed determination in her eyes, the blonde quickened her pace, catching up to the group.
She just caught up with the group when Shiro spoke, an eerie calmness settling into his voice. "I do have some… troubling news. At least for you four."
"What? Don't tell me the demons aren't even humanoid?" Bon questioned, a frown playing on his lips. He seemed as equally upset as being chosen as Shima. Izumo seemed almost untroubled by her new role, only upset that it inconvenienced whatever plans she had before.
"You'd probably actually prefer that. The demons you are to coexist with are not of the usual variant. They are all demon kings, meaning they are sons of Satan."
On the opposite side of the land where there was only barren earth, layered in bleached bone on a backdrop of heavy hues of violet, there was a single, solitary castle. It loomed over the miasma-filled land, a great, heaving structure of ivory that reminded all demons of where their allegiance lied. In it, four demon kings bowed, remaining completely still.
A deep voice bellowed from within, blue flames rattling the tattered throne room with immense power. "My sons, it is time. Rin, my only son born with my flames. Yukio, the war strategist who has helped us slaughter all those in Assiah. Amaimon, one of my youngest sons with the power over earth. And Samael— or do you go by Mephisto Pheles now? No matter, my prodigal son, you have time and space wrapped around your finger, yet you bide your time with petty tricks…"
The demon king with dark blue hair stopped bowing first, a look of anger in his cobalt eyes. But he did not speak, merely shuffled out of the room without a parting glance to his father. A weak-looking brown-haired boy followed after, calling for his twin. The purple-haired man chuckled, giving another almost mocking bow to his father before waltzing out the door. Finally, only the green-haired demon remained.
"Father... why did you pick us?" He asked, a coldness seeping into his words. It was obvious he did not want to be one of the 'chosen' demons.
"Do not question my decision, Amaimon. Out of my ten sons I picked you. It is an honor you should not forget." There was a darker undertone to his voice that promised much more than simply burning in blue flames. Unconsciously, Amaimon shivered, slithering away from his father.
The usually apathetic demon gave a great bow, fringe dipping over his eyes before he pushed open the black double-doors. "I understand. Goodbye, father."
With it, the demon followed his brothers out of the castle. It was time. Tomorrow, they'd reach the only shared land between the two races, which had been written in by the treaty. There, they would coexist for as long as necessary with the humans, as long as needed. They were to be the distraction as Satan, the true king of Gehenna made his final move.
Kicking a discarded skull, Amaimon called for his familiar. The hobgoblin known as Behemoth ran to him, allowing itself to then be put on a metal chain. It bounded in front of the group happily, gnawing on bones and the occasional demon carcass. Mephisto looked at him quizzically.
"You're bringing your familiar?"
"Behemoth really enjoys human flesh."
The twins looked at their half-brother with disgust as the violet-haired trickster chuckled, unable to contain his laughter.
Suddenly, his peridot eyes narrowed as he collected himself, a dangerous smile playing on his lips. "My, my, what a naughty little brother I have."
They then continued to walk through the barren landscape in an uneasy silence.
A/N: Expect betrayals, allegiances, unlikely friendships, and death as the story continues XD Loyalties will be tested, the truth of demons will be revealed, and, with any luck, the treaty will save the land!
Anyway, hope you guys enjoyed the prologue! Next time we'll see just how well the group gets along (or, at least, how they appear to get along in front of other people) and more plans will be revealed! Oh, and sorry for the shortness of the prologue; I promise longer chaps in the future!
Review?
-Isis