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Akari lifted her head from her white paws and narrowed her amber eyes suspiciously, watching the bright purple flashing and glowing in the not too far distance, an unusual sight foreign to her. Her fuzzy vision struggled to focus on the details of the scene, and to her further misfortune the wind carried the scent in the opposite direction. Before long the soft violet light had grown to almost double the size, expanding in a blinding light, the surrounding trees beginning to bend back from the force and the perimeter of light quickly etching it's way towards the clearing.

Letting out a sharp squeak she dug her claws into the dirt and quickly tried to scramble away from the clearing as the cleansing light slowly approached, she had no idea what is was or what it did, but if the exorcists caused it, it couldn't be good for her. Her escape attempt were once again unsuccessful, the thick vines still pulling her back to the base, her small form too weak to fight back.

"No, no, no" she squeaked desperately tearing at the vines with her long teeth, before glancing once again at the shell of light, her heart froze and to her surprise and relief had stopped expanding. However this didn't last as before she could sigh in relief, the bubble of violet light exploded in an even brighter white light, blinding Akari and causing a hiss of pain to escape her lips.

Disorientated and dizzy it felt as if someone had struck her across the head with a heavy book, the sky above her spinning and the earth seeming to shake. Rolling onto her side she propped her body up and looked around, nothing had changed except her. When Akari raised her arm to line of sight she was pleasantly surprised to find her large paws were replaced with her normal clawed hands, but less impressed to see that the thick vines had remained around her ankles.

Akari scowled and from the corner of her eye saw an object resembling a human flying through the air, not paying it much attention she begun picking at the vines which had begun to loosen, only slightly, but all she needed was a small amount.

XxX

As Amaimon was ungracefully flung through the air by the force of Shura's barrier he flailed his limbs around, desperately trying to aim for a nearby cluster of trees, meanwhile a string of curses and insults to call her flew through his mind. Before the Earth King knew it he had hit a large pine tree, hard, the thick trunk splintering beneath his body as he slid down the rough bark, eventually stopping on a low branch, "damn it" he muttered picking the pine needles from his hair.

"I was hoping to enjoy my tea and watch the show unfold" Mephisto's condescending tone remarked, "but...it doesn't seem to be going as how you planned it".

"Obviously not" Amaimon huffed clambering to his feet and brushing the needles from his clothes, "I just want to kill...one".

Mephisto crossed his legs and took a short sip from the dainty porcelain cup in his gloved hand, "If you try to kill any one of them, I will slaughter you" he remarked lowly.

The Earth King looked up at his brother with annoyance but nodded in compliance regardless, "got it, I won't" he stated shortly, "but I will hurt them".

"Do as you will, but nothing fatal, or crippling" Mephisto reminded, "I need them all alive and well for now",

"what of the Fox?" Amaimon commented absently,

"What fox? A Byakko in the forest?" Mephisto muttered, "Most likely dead if it was within the barriers range".

"I see" he replied flatly, "well, wish me luck".

XxX

Shura peered into the distance, examining the trees for any sign of the Earth King. Finding nothing but a trail of broken trees, she turned to the rest of the stunned group, "the barrier will protect anyone inside, and keep powerful demons out. We'll be safe for now",

Bon scowled and shot a glance at the distance which Amaimon flew, "a protective barrier? Is this also part of our training? More importantly, what the hell was that?!"

"Training's over" Shura announced grimly, "from now on we're gonna be prepain' and defendin' ourselves from Amaimon's attacks".

The young exorcists all stood silent in shock, before rounds of complaining and worried questions were being fired at the instructor, "are you talking about one of the Eight Kings!? The King of Earth?!" Izumo remarked shrilly.

"Yep" Shura chirped, "pretty much impossible fer any exorcist to defeat, that's why we gotta be on the defense for now". Walking over to the tents she retrieved several large canisters of holy water before flicking off the lids and with many complaints and curses doused the students, with the exception of Rin. "Alright, that should minimize the damage he inflicts" she announced throwing the empty canisters to the side.

XxX

Shoving another clip of ammo into his pistols Yukio precisely aimed and shot down waves of the Chuchi, which to his disdain never seemed to end. As the pile of Chuchi and ammo clips grew at his feet he cursed Shura for sending him out here. "What's the meaning of this?'" he asked himself as the insect demons swarmed around his body, 'the Chuchi of this forest were hand reared by tamers, they shouldn't be attacking exorcists' he noted, dodging the flying demons. "What is he up to?"

XxX

Shura placed her hand on the mark on her stomach, mumbling a handful of words under her breath, which to Rin's surprise allowed a sword to pass through the seal. "Take it" she offered bluntly dumping the weapon in his hands.

"Didn't you say you'd only give it back to me if I defeated you!?" he protested,

Shura shot him a confused glance and shook her head softly, "nah my condition was I would give it back accordin' to my judgment. So just take it",

"You wanted me to suppress my flames yeah!? You told me to put them out?!" he barked handing the weapon back to Shura roughly.

"shuddup yer idiot, I said that but yer flames came out anyway!" she huffed shoving the sword back, "Amaimon ain't no small fry, it's gonna take a lot to hold him off. If yer don't have yer flames how are ya gonna fight?"

Just as Rin opened his mouth to argue a shocked yelp came from the other side of the camp, Izumo stood horrified as Shiemi walked over the barrier lines. "Oi Sheimi whattya doing!?" Shura barked rushing over to retrieve the girl, only to skid to a stop in her tracks as the Earth King dropped down from the trees. Shiemi walking blindly into his awaiting arms, a smug grim plastered on his face.

"What did you do to her?!" Rin howled angrily, Shura holding him back with the flat of her blade,

"hmm well I had a female Chuchi lay an egg inside her" he replied absently stroking the blonde's hair as her blank stare was locked on the ground. "It took awhile from incubation, but now they have hatched and are living in her nervous system...right now this girl will only obey my commands" he replied slyly.

"Sheimi come on wake up!" Rin called desperately, the edge of the blade holding him from crossing the barrier, the rest of the exorcists remained silent and before Shura could say anything the Earth King had scooped up Shiemi and held her on his arm.

"Come on" he mumbled before disappearing back into the dense trees,

Shura let out a defeated sigh and lowered her blade, "well this isn't ideal".

"Come back cone head!" Rin screeched running at the direction of the pairs disappearance, "come back her right now and fight me!" However just as he left the safety of the barrier, Amaimon's forgotten familiar charged from the underbrush like a feral boar, blindly running towards the boy with its mouth wide open exposing rows of sharp teeth. Rin skidded to a halt and quickly turned on his heel in a desperate attempt to return to the safety of the barrier, he could hear the demons stomping coming closer and closer until he could feel its heavy breath on his back.

Just as the beast's teeth were inches from the boy, Shura rushed forward and effortlessly swatted it away with her blade, sending it into the not too far distance. "Idiot, you're an complete idiot sometimes you know that!" she barked throwing the boy's blade to his feet. "Go, i'll catch up with ya later" she called walkig off to the distance to finish off the Hobgoblin.

Bon watched as the dark haired boy quickly sprinted into the distance of the Earth King, "unbelievable, he's doing it again! Always trying to be a hero!" he growled. "What can he do against him!?"

"Now isn't the time for that!" Shura scolded from afar, "even if I die stay in the barrier!"

Reluctantly the Exwires obeyed her command, but positioned themselves at the edge of the circle in the event of an enemy approaching, watching with a careful eye.

XxX

Mephisto leaned his head against his hand, this was going on much longer than he expected, although he would be lying if he said that he wasn't impressed with his brother's trickery. However, this show was drawing itself far too long for his liking, and as he watched the Exwires frantically scrambling around inside the barrier his thoughts were drawn to earlier conversations. Particularly his brother's mention of a Byakko, figuring he had some spare time on his hands and was interested to see why such a creature would come this way without a tamer.

Turning the large plush chair in the opposite direction his green eyes carefully scanned the surrounding area below, looking for flashes of white or a etheral fast moving figure. However after several minutes of searching, he spotted neither, instead in a large clearing below sat a miserable looking women, wrapped in a tatty kimono, absently scratching at the thick vines around her legs and wrists. He could recognize them anywhere, but this was unusual for Amaimon to trap humans without killing them, 'perhaps he is coming back to her later?' he noted. Lowering the chair more he could study her better, she appeared to be digging through a small satchel of items.

Akari shuffled through the contents of her small back, eventually dumping the contents onto the ground and sorting through the items, "spare Kimono? No... Pipe? No...Hair pins? Uh, no". Still sifting and sorting through the items for something to help her escape she found nothing, although the ivory knife she had was sharp, she knew it would be useless against a demons power.

"I could summon.. her I suppose.." she thought aloud, mulling the idea through her mind, "absolutely not! If someone saw I would be humiliated!" At the very thought of having to resort that low she could feel her tail thumping in anger, "this is so embarrassing!"

At seeing the tip of a white fox tail peek out from beneath the loose kimono Mephisto raised a brow, "she's a demon then, no wonder he kept her here, probably sought to finish her off later" he mumbled recalling his brother's tendency to pick fights with other demons. Lowering the chair even more he hovered meters from the ground, careful to be out of striking range. "rather humiliating the way you are now isn't it?" he asked slyly,

Akari's pointed ears perked at the sound and she cautiously looked around for the source of the voice, "who are you? Where are you?" she demanded quickly shoving the hem of her kimono over her tail. "I don't appreciate being-" Akari cut herself off when she finally looked up and saw the man, "o-oh no" she squeaked.

"oh no indeed" Mephisto frowned, "it appears you've had a run in with my dear little brother, and for whatever reason he hasn't killed you yet",

"how unlucky can I be in one day!" Akari cried, "I only got away by the skin of my teeth with the first one, I don't have that much luck left!"

Mephisto frowned and let out a long exhale, "awfully dramatic aren't you?"

Ignoring him once again Akari continued to babble, "please don't kill me, I have a deal with you're brother, just ask him, really! I talked to him he's keeping me alive for a good reason I swear!"

"And for what reason is that exactly?" he asked narrowing his eyes, this was all sounding very unusual for his brother, he was not known to make deals,

"I-it was for a familiar contract" she replied feeling her throat tighten, "he said he'd think about it".

"Think about it?" he repeated frowning thoughtfully, "why you of all demons? You're trembling at the sight of me? How will you serve him?"

"Because I thought you would kill me!" she defend, "I-i'll have you know i'm very powerful!"

"Hmm i'm sure you are" Mephisto replied in a condescending tone, "that explains why you're trapped, surely if you were as powerful as you say, you would be free yes?"

"well...it's a long story" she mumbled, "it seems whatever that was took away much of my power".

"bold of a demon to admit it's weak" he remarked in amusement,

ignoring his remarked she glanced up at the smug demon, "well, will you set me free?" She pleaded, "surely, you are kinder than him?"

Mephisto let out a short chuckle and glanced into the distance at seeing the trees rustling, "you are wrong fox, I would not set you free even if I had the ability".

"I will set my deal with you then!" she offered, "just set me free I don't want him to return",

"such awful things for a familiar to say" he tisked. "Your fate is his decision since you are his catch, I cannot influence or change it",

Akari opened her mouth once again to beg for her life but at seeing the demon's stern stare fixed on her she saw no room for argument. "Well...if by chance you could waver his choice in my favor you will be rewarded".

"kind of you fox, but you have not much to offer" Mephisto muttered, "best of luck, perhaps we will see each other again", he offered reassuringly before heading off into the distance of the disturbance. The show was starting again.

XxX

"What are you going to do to her?!" Rin barked staring up at the Earth King with hatred,

"I haven't thought of that" he admitted tapping his chin with a long clawed finger thoughtfully. "Oh! I know... I'll make her my bride!'

"What!? You can't be serious!" Rin protested,

Ignoring the half demon Amaimon turned to Sheimi and cleared his throat, "now that's been decided, time for the vows...Do you take me in sickness and in health? To love? To honor? To help? Do you swear to uphold this vow? Till death do us part?"

Sheimi's blank stare remained fixed on the ground, her limp body supported by Amaimon's arm, Rin below watching in shock and wondering if she would recall her marriage ceremony. "Now... to seal seal the vow with a kiss" he muttered opening his jaw to almost inhuman proportions,

"Don't screw around!" Rin screamed finally reaching his boiling point. Swinging his still covered sword over his head and bringing it down on Amaimon's head, hard, but much to his dismay the attack had little affect. And with a mere flick of the wrist the Earth King flung him across the forest with ease.

XxX

The remaining Exwires watching in horror and amazement as Rin was flung hundreds of feet through the air, eventually landing in painful heap nearby, only mere meters from the protection of the circle. "Holy shit" Bon muttered before running off towards Rin, much to the protest of the other group members.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Izumo hissed, "she told us not to leave the circle!"

Shima quickly rushed to the boy's side and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt in an attempt to slow him down, "Bon! Just calm down okay!?"

Tearing his shirt from his freind's grip he glanced back at the group, "I'm pissed off! Leave that composure shit for the dogs!"

"Ugh what's with him!?" Shima cursed running after his friend, several seconds later Konekomaru reluctantly ran after the pair leaving Izumo alone.

XxX

"How strange.." Amaimon begun, "isn't this human girl is so important to you?" he asked gesturing to Sheimi,

Rin lifted his face from the pile of rubble it lay in, "drop dead asshole" he spat.

"Well looks like she's useless to me now" he shrugged examining her face, "since I've gone to the effort, I may as well take one of her eyes, my cousin has an interest in the occult, perhaps I could get her some for her collection".

"Don't you dare" he snarled, struggling to move his heavy limbs, "don't you touch her",

"hmm, well it isn't-" Amaimon was cut off when a small object whizzed past his head and exploded in a small cracking noise, both demons turned around in surprise to see Bon, Shima and Konekomaru, all in offensive postures, apparently ready to fight.

You idiots" Rin cursed under his breath, barely able to make out Bon's yelling over the ringing in his ears,

"Okumura, get the hell out of here as soon as you can!" he called.

"I have to save Sheimi" Rin called back, "you guys just get out of here already!"

Just as Bon opened his mouth to protest a firecracker whizzed past his head, mere inches from his face, eventually finding it's way to Amaimon and hitting the demon's hair in a weak explosive burst. For once in the past day, the forest was completely silent and the Exwires quickly retreated several steps from the Earth King realizing their mistake.

"Uh it slipped through my hand!" Konekomaru squeaked,

Shima burst into a round of barking laughter at seeing Amaimon's hair now a poofy mess, "it looks like broccoli!" he wheezed. Hunched over in a fit of uncontrollable laughter before looking up to see a flash of green and purple, a powerful force throwing him against the nearby cliff face.

Immediately at seeing his pink haired freind tossed like a ragdoll, Konekomaru rushed in front of Bon, using his smaller frame to attempt to shield him from the demons attacks. However Amaimon continued forward barely noticing the boy, a mere tap on his arm shattering the bones inside and sending him to a painful heap on the ground.

"Don't laugh at me" the Earth King muttered before wrapping his hand around Bon's throat, who stood frozen in fear.

XxX

Akari looked into the sky to see its dark navy blue turning a soft mix of light blue, pink and orange, the sun barely beginning to peak over the distant mountains, soon dawn would arrive and along with it the hot summer sun, something she tried to avoid. Looking once more in the direction of the earlier disturbance, which now sounded much closer, she could make out the furious yells of several people, along with popping of firecrackers. The fox awaited both somewhat eagerly but anxiously for the return of Amaimon, where he would decide her fate, something she didn't look forward too but neither did she with limbo.

However after the yelling had briefly subsided and the forest was silent, a piercing blue light filled the air, along with demonic screams, presumably from the source of the light.

"I've heard about this" she noted aloud trying to recall the information. "Was that half demon the famous son of Satan?...No, it is impossible for him to have the flames" she muttered under breath,staring at the vibrant flames in the not too far distance. She could swear that the crashes and banging in the distance were causing the ground to shake, and even with her weak eyesight she could see another human shaped object flying through the air.

"Oh I hope he wins" she sighed.

XxX

Yukio carefully guided the small metal hook into the red swollen lump at the base of Sheimi's neck, pulling out the writhing Chuchi larvae and eyeing it with disgust, "absolutely horrible" he muttered under his breath.

"Oh there ya are Yukio!" Shura called running towards him,

"and just where the hell did you go off to?" he barked eyeing the panting woman with irritation.

"I've been dealin' with Amaimon's pet!" Shura huffed in annoyance, "but now it's run back to it's master",

"so it is still alive?" Yukio sighed standing up and squashing the larvae beneath his shoe, "great".

"Nevermind about that!" Shura barked pointing towards the direction of the disturbance, "we gotta leave, now"

XxX

Lifting the cup from the saucer below Mephisto let out a long defeated sigh, the fight had progressed much further than he expected, both of his brother's seeming to be turning more and more feral by the minute. Each taking great pleasure in throwing the other to the ground or tearing chunks of skin away with claw or sword, "such is the nature of a demon I suppose" Mephisto noted. Watching the fight slowly build until it had reached the boiling point, if he allowed it any longer than the forest along with the students inside would be nothing more than a crater, very inconvenient for him.

The two feral snarling demons charged at each other mid air, each appearing to go for the final kill, something the Director couldn't have. The decision was final and absolute, he knew what had to be done, otherwise this would end horribly. Just as the pair were meters away from devastating collision much to their dismay, braced the impact of both Amaimon's fist and Rin's sword, "that's quite enough" he announced, "this has gone on long enough".

XxX

In the sky appeared the most unusual thing Akari by far had ever seen not only today, but in her lifetime, covered in sweets and nauseatingly colorful she couldn't look away from the large clock shaped item, "is this the King of Time's doing?" Narrowing her eyes cautiously she could make out the struggling form of a battered and bruised Earth King, slowly receding into the confines of the clock. She felt her heart drop and dread begin to fill her thoughts, however to her surprise and pleasure the thick vines keeping her confined to the clearing, had begun to rot away, enough for her to tear herself free and escape. Tearing the greenery from her skin she scrambled to her numb legs, "my luck has turned around!" she chirped cheerfully. Before throwing the bag back over her shoulder and sprinting into the thick greenery, only to come face to face with a very upset Hobgoblin.

XxX

Mephisto grabbed Rin violently by the wrist, "what troublesome younger brothers" he muttered under his breath avoiding the wild swings Rin would throw. The vibrant blue flames still burning on the school in the distance caused the King of Time to let out a pensive sigh. With a muttered set of words he had transported him and his still fighting younger brother to the burning school tower with a puff of pink smoke, a scowl coated his face. However much to his misfortune, Yukio, Shura and a group of traumatized Exwires shared their stares between him and Arthur, who had already arrived at the scene. "Oh my it has been awhile hasn't it Angel?" Mephisto commented idly hiding the worry in his tone. He had much to explain.