Smoke and mirrors
I DO NOT OWN BLUE EXORCIST/AO NO EXORCIST OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS, I DO OWN MY OC.
This story follows the manga but contains some elements of the anime, contains swearing, gore and headcannons.
After finally becoming up to date, we are more aware of fox demon lore, and hopefully have created a more realistic OC. Please do understand that a somewhat large amount is headcannons and educated guesses as the lore is limited.
It would really help me out by reviewing the starting chapter and letting us know what you think of the rewrite.
Thanks for reading, enjoy!
The summer air was humid and heavy, while the crescent moon hung in the starry sky like the Cheshire's wicked grin, a small run down shack in the middle of the forest was filled with hushed whispers.
"a girl, how.. inconvenient" the father commented,
"a girl.." the mother trailed off worriedly, "my already tainted blood combined with yours.. what is she?" The man shook his head gently and took the child from the woman's arms and held it gently in his own,
"my child" he stated flatly, "the kin of the great nine-tailed fox".
Suddenly the woman broke down in tears, "I can't do it, my family will disown me if they knew what I did",
The demon stood up and glared down at her coldly with his golden slitted eyes, "I never intended to let you raise her, she needs to be around her own kind" he remarked coldly. "your family's history with demon interbreeding won't be enough, she has more demon blood than anyone in your family has had for centuries".
"but she is my child" she wept, "my only one, this deal only benefits you!",
"of course it does foolish women, she was created for a purpose to relive me from my capture and provide a future vessel, not to be doted over and treated as a human child" he growled, "you knew the terms of our agreement, I gave you the wealth you desired in exchange" the fox commented bitterly. "Take her to east forest...there is a old Inari shrine containing White foxes, the shrine maiden along with the foxes will care for her", he instructed placing the child back in the woman's arms, before walking to the door and prying the barricades off it.
the woman let out a yelp which caused the baby to awake, however it remained eerily silent, she carefully placed the baby down and crawled from her bed of rags. "what are you doing!?" she asked worriedly,
"we have stayed here too long, they would be closing in on us, I must leave and change vessels" the fox stated, "do as instructed or I will find you" he threatened.
"please let me keep her, I will do anything" she whispered pulling the child into her arms,
"the deals I make are to benefit me, I don't gain anything letting you keep her" he stated coldly. "do as your told, take her to the forest, when she is of age she will come and search for me" the demon explained,
"take the money back, just let me keep her" the mother sniffed wrapping her arms around child tightly.
"it's too late, she is already born, therefore the contract is complete" he replied sternly, "they are coming" he muttered before sliding through the gap in the door and shutting it behind him. The woman tried to open the door but knew he had sealed it until he was far enough away, she collapsed on the floor into a sobbing heap and stayed there until the door became loose.
XxX
Several hours later she stood up, still numb from the pain, "this is my fault" she cursed gazing down at the child, "if I wasn't so greedy..."" she muttered before picking the child up. It was a days walk to the forest and her body ached from the birth, but she knew the consequences for disobeying the demon.
When she did finally arrive at the forest she was indeed met with the temple the nine-tails promised, looking around she saw the statues of the various foxes, all of which looked down at the approaching guests, something she found rather appropriate. Placing a soft delicate kiss on the child's forehead and a note by her side, she laid her at the foot of the offering box before ringing the bell loudly, its unusual clattering alerting the priestess inside.
Quickly and silently the woman dragged her tired sore feet into the distance, watching as the priestess walked out and quickly picked up the child, attempting to comfort its crying and screaming. After the noise had subsided the child's mother watched on patiently as the Priestess unfolded the note, containing her name, and a brief but vague description of her situation. Her mother satisfied with her daughter's new mother, quickly hobbled away, beginning her new much more wealthy life.
XxX
The child, now much older kneeled before the table in front of her, her long silky lavender hair brushing her shoulders and sharp golden eyes locked on her clasped hands. Eyes still red from tears and throat sore from crying, the funeral had brought up difficult questions from her past. "She did that?" the woman asked letting out a shuttering exhale, "she just left me there?"
The white fox hovering above her had a wide toothy grin, "indeed Akari, without a second glace",
"did not even check to see if anyone was home" another chimed in cheerily, "she thought you a burden most likely" it lied.
Scoffing she shook the thoughts of her mother aside, believing these words true she felt no connection to her biological mother, "it does not matter, she has no meaning to me" she remarked coldly. "but what of my father?"
"ah the great nine tails!" a fox sighed in awe, "sadly he was resealed shortly after your birth, the life taking stone I recall"
"yes, it is because of him we took care of you, luckily Moko took primary care of you, we wouldn't have" it explained shortly, causing Akari felt her face redden and she lowered her head in embarrassment.
An awkward silence filled the atmosphere, and the foxes's grins faded at seeing the girls cheeks flush, Moko had always scolded them for teasing her so much, but now they had to stop themselves. A fox by the name of Jun frowned and collected a box from the top shelf of the cabinet, before dropping in onto the girl's lap, "the only possession of your father we have, take it" he commanded dryly, trying to mask the kind gesture.
"Thank you Jun, but.. sounds as if your trying to be rid of me" she huffed,
before he could respond Akio, a rather blunt fox, replied, "Moko is dead, it has been several days and the mourning period is over. We are unable to care for you and your far past leaving age, as far as we are concerned our debt to your father is repaid" he stated simply.
"you are making me leave?" Akari replied her mouth hanging open in shock, "where will I go? you said the world was not tolerant of our kind" she complained fiddling with her kimono sleeves anxiously,
"Mike and Uke are contracted to a Kamiki" he remarked slyly, "your bloodline...well the other half of it anyway".
"family... will she take me in? where is she? Could she help me unseal my father?" the woman asked suspiciously,
"luckily for you she is in the farthest section of True Cross forestry, somewhat... unimpaired by Mephisto Pheles's barriers" the white fox explained. "If she will take you in and help you, that remains to be seen".
Akari sighed deeply and avoided all the foxes either pity filled or judgmental looks, "I know I was most likely just a burden to all of you, and that you felt you owed something to my father, but I want to thank you and Moko for looking after me. And... i'm going to unseal him from the stone and bring him back" she concluded throwing a bag over her shoulder.
Several of the foxes exchanged amused looks at her ambition, but nodded in agreement regardless. As she left the temple many offered the opportunity for her to visit, she of course knew they didn't mean it and would most likely not care whether she returned or not. Looking around the old temple that had been her home for many years, she waved goodbye to the white foxes and left their care, hoping to finally find her biological family.
XxX
The group of young exorcists had been trudging through the thick forest for several hours before reaching a large clearing, "alright we'll set up camp here" Yukio announced, causing the other students to sigh in relief and drop their heavy bags onto the ground. "don't relax too much, during the day the forest may appear calm, but during the night it is a nest for lower level demons. We need to start setting up camp before dusk" he instructed firmly, "the boys will be setting up the tents with me while the girls will be preparing the protection circle and dinner with Shura".
Too tired to protest, the group let out a collective sigh and set off to complete their tasks reluctantly and tiredly. However after a mere half hour the boys had a majority of the tents built while the girls were nearing the completion of the circle. Sheimi looked up from the chalk circle and stared at the boys setting up the tent with interest, "looks fun.." she mentioned casually,
"fun? it looks hot and tiring" Izumo snorted, "and shouldn't you be helping?" she muttered dryly, glaring at Shura relaxing in a tree nearby.
"hm? nah, your almost finished anyway" the woman replied lazily before jumping down from the tree, "when your done come start dinner" she called before walking off.
"of course we do all the work" Izumo complained, Sheimi opened her mouth to offer reassuring words but quickly snapped it close once Izumo set her glare on the blonde, "are you even helping?" she accused.
"oh, y-yes right! sorry" Sheimi stammered quickly picking up the chalk once again, 'I wonder why she's so upset' she wondered glancing at the girl, 'something's on her mind'.
XxX
the group sat around the campfire, idle chatter was shared between them as they ate. Rin looked around the campsite with pride, "see Yukio? We got everything done and had time for dinner!" He beamed.
"Hmm barely" the younger brother replied observing the setting sun, "anyway, that concludes dinner, now I'll start going through the training content",
"In other words, a test of courage!" Shura sung drunkingly.
"Stay on task Shura!" Yukio barked irratibly, "this is serious"
"Oh yeah yeah" she waved her hand dismissively before opening another beer.
Scowling at the woman Yukio calmly explained the course, "to begin everyone must leave this base and scatter in different directions, somewhere in this forest is a lantern you must light and return to camp with. There are only three lanterns that are roughly five hundred meters from this point.."
"wait... that means there are only three spots!" Izumo protested,
"yep!" Shura sung, "only the best will get in!"
Once again the teacher shot a glare at the woman frustrated by her inability to control herself, "moving on, now i'll go through the bag", he explained emptying the contents of the bag.
XxX
Unknown to the group below they were being carefully watched and observed, Akari curiously looked at the group eyeing each individual as she carefully balanced herself on a tree branch above. Inhaling the air around her she tried to pick up a scent but even her strong nose couldn't distinguish between the individuals, deciding it was too risky to move closer she relied on her weak eyesight to scope out the scene.
After several minutes of staring at the group Akari spotted a woman with violet hair, she had been told was exclusive to the Kamiki family, although much darker and tamer than hers, she recognized the shade anywhere. "Is that her?" she wondered aloud, squinting to make out the woman's face, "this will not work I must get closer" she huffed jumping off the branch and landing softly.
Crouching in the nearby bushes and peering through the leaves she noticed the group now standing around the perimeter of the circle, "what are they doing?" she wondered aloud her eyes locked on the girl. So focused on making out her blurry face, Akari jumped and huffed angrily when a gunshot pierced the air startling her, shortly after the students ran off in opposite directions and into the large forest.
Watching the girl disappear into the thick greenery she made a move to follow her when she noticed a boy with dark hair quickly approaching her direction, knowing she would never move in time without being she buried herself further into the greenery hoping to not be spotted. Shortly after the boy quickly rushed past her, only centimeters away from where she was hiding, letting out a frightened squeak she accidentally triggered her transformation.
Her angle of view was now much shorter, she watched the legs of the boy rush off into the distance, along with him came a cloud of scent which overpowered her now even more sensitive nose. Struggling to control her rapid breathing she unwillingly inhaled the scent, 'a demon?' she thought in surprise, 'this is not good'. Feeling her chest tighten Akari now faced the challenge of her current form, hanging her head in frustration it gave her the view of her familiar white paws, 'well i'm less noticeable I suppose' she noted in defeat before padding off in the direction of the suspected Kamiki.
XxX
Shortly after the exorcists entered the forest, despite their location swarms of Chuci attacked them mercilessly, providing the first of many struggles they would encounter in the forest during their test. Rin was the first to fall victim to the relentless attack of the demons, desperately swatting away the moths he only grew more frustrated as they continued to swarm "ugh where are they coming from!?" he yelled angrily still beating away the moths before his attention was drawn away from the insects when a scream emitted from the darkened area near him, "huh, Shemi?!" he called only to hear more shrieking in response, "SHEIMI!" he called running off in the direction of the girl.
Meanwhile Bon and Konekomaru had previously been desperately chanting bible verses to kill the swarming demons around them, and with much success they had been freed from the insects and continued their journey forward. Rin however, had finally reached Sheimi and desperately tried to swat away the insects with his faux sword with little success, panicking at the growing swarm he snapped. "GET AWAY FROM HER!" he growled viciously causing blue flames to burst from his body and light up the surrounding area in a blinding blue light. The Chuchi immediately died and Rin collapsed in defeat, "dammit I am too dependent on them.." he cursed.
XxX
Meanwhile Akari slunk through the forest in her fox form, careful to avoid all the exorcists that ran through the forest, breaking through a the thick wall of greenery in a small clearing nearby she saw Izumo viciously beating away the Chuchi. Her golden eyes widened and she had to stop herself from rushing in to help the woman, 'why is she attacking them? why are they hurting her?' the fox asked herself, 'unless..'. Carefully slinking forward the demon hid in a thick bush mere meters away from the girl, observing her actions it wasn't long before Izumo pulled out the paper square from her pocket.
"I humbly beseech thee, to grant mine by virtue of mine prayer" Izumo shouted frantically still attempting to beat away the moths, seconds later two white foxes burst from the circles and immediately begun exterminating the Chuchi. Akari watched in amazement as Mike and Uke effortlessly tore through the wall of insects, however her admiration soon turned to disdain as she noticed the girl standing back and letting the foxes do the work. After several more long minutes the remaining moths lay dead on the ground and the girl fell to the ground in exhaustion, the foxes exchanging words before disappearing. Akari still in her fox form, cautiously walked closer to the girl trying to get a scent,
'she smells...human?' Akari noted confused, 'but she can summon Mike and Uke?' For the first time she considered that perhaps they weren't related after all, and the shrine foxes had perhaps told a cruel lie to motivate her to leave. Shortly after Izumo clambered to her feet and wiped the dust from her skirt, she dashed back into the forest. Akari had to make a split second decision on whether she wanted to follow the girl or not, looking at her fast disappearing figure she let out a long sigh and walked in the opposite direction.
XxX
Shura finished off the drink in several large sips before crushing the can in her hand and throwing it into the growing pile beside her, "how many more of those are you going to drink?" Yukio asked irritably.
"oh yer just upset because yer brother used his flames not even an hour into the test!" Shura snickered,
"I feel like he's reaching the limit of concealing his power" he confessed,
Shura tisked, "yer gettin' to old, ya worry way too much".
Ignoring her comment Yukio looked into the forest in the direction of his brother, "why are you hanging around here Shura? Why don't you just inform the Vatican?"
"Ive put my report on hold, he requested that I teach him about his sword" she explained "he told me he wants to become the paladin" she snickered.
"wait seriously?" Yukio asked in disbelief,
"yep, at first when Shiro asked me I thought hell no, it doesn't really appeal to me but as for the way I train Rin, im sure 'he'd' agree too" she remarked vaguely looking into the sky to where Mephisto and Amaimon hovered above.
Amaimon scowled while Mephisto looked down at her from the night sky in amusement, "that woman noticed us, how insolent" Amaimon commented dryly,
"has the Lord of the forest agreed to co-operate?" Mephisto asked,
Amaimon looked down at the camp with interest, "yes, since they have murdered so many of his bretherin" he replied. "that woman is a hiderence, she's hiding Kurikara...I wonder how we can provoke Okumura".
"I'm glad you're enthusiastic, but this time you'll do what I tell you to do. Don't start an earthquake" Mephisto warned, "oh, and don't kill any of them, it's a messy situation to clean up". The earth king ignored his comment and continued to stare into the forest with excitement and anticipation, "he's not even listening to me" Mephisto huffed.
XxX
"what the hell is that!?" Rin barked eyeing the large stone lantern with interest, "it's huge! How are we supposed to get that back to camp",
"it's a peg lantern" Bon muttered examining the object, "once it's lit, it begins to move around and eats anything living for fuel, women being it's favorite, we'll need to co-operate to move it" he concluded.
"co-operate? you were pretty against that earlier, every person for themselves you said" Rin huffed eyeing Bon with doubt,
"I was confused by the fact they said there were only three lanterns!" Bon retorted, "we gotta work together on this one, anyone know Kamiki's and Takara's numbers?"
"I asked her for it, but she would give it to me" Shima sighed, "and Takara never talks to anyone, I doubt he would hand out his number".
The group nodded in agreement and let out a collective groan, "guess it's just us then" Bon sighed,
"uh well I thought of a formation that'll get the lantern and all of us back" Konekomaru suggested before picking up a stick and drawing a diagram in the dirt, "here let me explain"
XxX
Akari trotted down the worn pathway untill her path was blocked by a small stream, sighing she sat beside and dipped her soft white paws into its cooling water. Her golden eyes stared back at her from the reflection and anger washed over her, 'I came all this way for nothing' she thought bitterly, 'and I cannot go back'. For once she was thankful for her random transformations, because at least in this form she couldn't cry. "I have no one now, where will I go?"she whispered shakily,
"huh? what's this?" a voice muttered behind her, "ah...so I guess brother was right",
Akari whipped around to see who had interrupted her thoughts and was instead left staring up at the demon in shock, "the earth king?" she yipped with wide eyes. He looked down at her with interest and before she could move her trembling body he had snatched her up by the scruff of her neck and held the fox at eye level,
"that's me" he replied flatly, "now...who are you?"
XxX
The exwires had been successfully travelling with the lit lantern through the forest for several minutes until they were stopped in the tracks by a long rickety bridge. "ah crap, there's a bridge!" Rin called to the group in dismay, "dammit! it looks more like a ladder than a bridge, there's not way its gonna hold us!"
Shima looked down at the river to find that it consisted of various worms and bugs, "that's it...i'm done, i'm not doing this!" he paled eyeing the writhing insects.
"Hey everyone, Bon's got a plan" Konekomaru announced causing everyone to fall silent and look at him with anticipation. Quickly and without explanation Bon pulled out a sketchbook and pen and begun describing the plan while continuously chanting,
:Konekomaru and Okumura will carry the cart across, and be waiting with a tailsment to re-seal the lantern. Shima will carry Moriyama across causing the lantern to chase after them, then once on the other side, Rin and Konekomaru will re-seal it in the cart:
"aha great plan Bon" Rin praised earning a scowl from the other student, "and you're actually pretty good at drawing",
"im going to die" Shima whined, "all those bugs touching me" he shuddered, "no way".
He didn't miss Rin's eyeroll as he trodded over to the insect pit and examined it with reluctance, "ugh fine.. I'll do it" he volunteered before lifting Sheimi onto his shoulder's suddenly enticing a surprised gasp but no protest. "Come on, let's do this" he announced confidently.
XxX
Akari couldn't help the slight trembling that took over her body, "I am, uh... no one, so you can let me go!" Akari rambled squirming in the man's grip, "just passing through, really!"
Amaimon tightened his grip and dug his claws further into the scruff of her neck enticing a hiss of pain, "no, Byakko don't stray from their shrines unless they have a purpose" he muttered eyeing the fox with suspicion.
"uh, well I've completed my purpose so you can let me go" she squeaked, "besides, shouldn't you be more worried about the humans?"
"well that is my purpose, i'm going to test the son of Satan" he boasted, "I plan to fight him".
"he's here? in this forest?" she paled flattening her long ears against her head in fear, "I have picked the worst day to come here" she mumbled. Suddenly she felt the grip loosen slightly but still remain somewhat firm, "let me live, I'll make a deal with you" she quickly offered.
This caught the earth king's interest and he looked at her with doubt, "what could I possibly need?"
Akari hurriedly thought of something a powerful demon could want, since she couldn't offer him her usual deal of power or knowledge, 'ah, I know...' she thought. "a powerful Familiar?"
"I hope your not offering yourself" he scoffed eyeing the fox,
"I don't normally look like this!" she yipped defensively, "I'll have you know i'm the daughter of the great and powerful nine-tails" she boasted.
"then I should hold you hostage" he concluded,
"no, he is sealed away, and I am not welcome at my...old home.." she trailed off. "But forget that, I am of more use alive than dead!" she chirped cheerily hoping her fake confidence would convince him. Amaimon dropped her to the ground causing her land in an ungraceful white heap of fur, masking her scowl with a canine grin she looked up at the man anxiously, "what do you think?"
"wait here, he's close" he replied absently looking into the distant wall of trees, "I'll see how I feel after my fight" he muttered before scratching something into the dirt with a claw and walking away.
"wait come back" she growled before attempting to run after him, however as soon as she moved her paw forward thick thorned vines burst from the ground and wrapped around her neck and back legs pulling her down onto the dirt. "dammit" she yelped, "dammit, dammit, dammit!" she cursed struggling against the vines and dragging her claws into the dirt in frustration as she watched the Earth King disappear into the forest.
XxX
Bon and Rin led the exhausted group into the safety of the camp and protective barrier, expectantly as soon as everyone reached the inner section of the camp they collapsed with exhaustion and sighed with relief.
"i'm glad that's over" Rin yawned before eyeing Izumo and Takara, "wait.. you guys already passed!?" he exclaimed eyeing the pair in disbelief,
"I just got my familiars to pull it here, and your just slow" Izumo replied coldly.
"good work everyone, yer all managed to get back alive and on time" Shura cheered clapping her hands together drunkingly, "but, what about the-"
She was cut off when Amaimon suddenly descended from the high treetops and landed softly in front of the camp, careful not to cross the barrier, followed by his pet Hobgoblin. "taaadaaa" he called enthusiastically.
"shit not you again!" Rin cursed taking several steps back anxiously,
"me again" he replied casually before taking the leash of the goblin, "go Behemoth!" he commanded sending the demon forward.
"what are yer doing!?" Shura growled glaring at Rin, "get your head out of yer ass and help" she barked quickly summoning her blade,
"help, how? you took my sword!" he retorted.
"ugh, never mind" Shura dismissed before muttering something under her breath, minutes later a white snake writhed up from the soft earth while a bright purple flame emitted from its form. "I'll just do everything" she huffed before the fire from the snake spread to the outer edges of the circle and lit the edges in its brilliant flame, signalling the activation of the barrier. Shortly after the flame had reached the border of the camp it exploded in a inferno and created a powerful shock wave that easily threw the Earth King away from the camp and propelled him into the treetops a fair distance away.
Amaimon sat in the tree tops in shock, not processing what just happened, "not as easy as I thought" is all he could say,
"it doesn't seem to be going as planned, she's a tough opponent, how will you defeat her?" Mephisto asked in a taunting tone.
The earth king gnawed on this thumb nail anxiously and eyed the camp with disdain, "I have a plan"
I'm crazy sorry this has taken so long to publish, but I was hoping to finish my other story before restarting this one, but I didn't anticipate how long it would go for, so I decided to just work on this in my limited spare time.