Author's Note: Well, this one came out relatively quickly. It took me two days. One to write it, and the next to proofread and such. I'll end up proofreading it after I post this update, and change what needs to be changed, like usual. Anyway, this one came easier than the others. I guess it's because I actually want to write this thing now. RinKyou is such a cute pairing, so I want to do it justice. Anyway, I have a plan (sort of) for this story. Also, I apologize if Mephisto, Kyouko, and Yukio are out of character. I'm trying, but I was positive I got some aspects of their personalities wrong. I'm pretty confident about Kyouko, but as for the other two, not so much. Anyway, note's long enough. Enjoy? If anyone's reading this...
Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Exorcist or Puella Magi Madoka Magica. As for the descriptions of the Witches and things about them, I do not take credit for those descriptions. I wasn't sure how to decribe them, so I went to Puella Magi Madoka Magica Wiki, and used theirs. Because of that, I don't take credit for them.
One hour since I'd walked into that all but empty room with Rin to find Yukio and Shiemi. When we'd walked in, Rin had held me close to his back, his hand on my elbow tense and strong, as if he was hell-bent on protecting me. I didn't doubt it. I'd gone along with his over-protectiveness, considering how I didn't want to reveal my identity as a Mahou Shoujo to him just yet. Anyone else but Rin and Shiemi. Yukio looked like he could handle the truth, but those two, they had a little while yet.
Rin had been wrong. Yukio hadn't been shooting at some random monster. He'd been shooting warning shots at the clown out of fear, and to alert Rin to come and help him. Yukio had ultimately succeeded, thus justifying Rin and I's presence. But the clown hadn't been the least bit hostile. He'd laughed at Yukio's fear, and teased him like they were brothers, before turning to me with interest. He'd welcomed me, then dragged me out of the room against my will, agitating Rin in the process.
And that's how I'd ended up in this office with Mephisto Pheles.
"So what you're saying is," I started, leaning back into the couch, holding my cup of hot chocolate to my lips, "Kyubey sent me here, though indirectly?"
"Essentially," the clown known as Mephisto Pheles replied. "Not right on the mark, but close enough."
I snorted, chomping down on my stick of pocky. "What's the catch then?"
I didn't understand what else there could be to this. He'd dragged me here against my own free will. He'd sent Éclair Élisabeth to Mitakihara in an effort to capture me and drag me here to Assiah, wherever the hell 'Assiah' was. I didn't even know what I was supposed to be doing here. We'd gone around in circles for the past hour debating what the hell I was supposed to be doing here like bitches in high school. And to be honest, I didn't exactly like or appreciate that. I wanted my answers. But this damn clown was one stubborn bastard.
Every time I thought I'd cracked him, snapped him in half, or broke him, he'd just come out with another smile and revert back to his super-creepy stares and cryptic responses. He was like Homura, but much, much worse. He wasn't as much of a book-worm, or as dark and downright depressing as Homura. But the similarity was still there. And it was biting me in the ass. They were just as stubborn, annoying, and absolutely irritating. It made me want to punch a wall in half with just my two fists.
"No catch," he sighed finally, leaning back against his chair. "Just…"
"Just what?" I demanded, sipping from my cup. The clown shifted in his chair, laying his face down on his hand tiredly. I glanced at the clock. It had been an hour. But he couldn't blame me. If he'd given me a straight answer right from the beginning, we'd be done here. It was his own fault.
"As you're already aware, you're a Mahou Shoujo, or in reality, a magical girl. Because of that 'magic' you possess, whatever it may be, I'm asking you to assist the True Cross Order in dealing with the enemy that is to come."
"What kind of enemy?" I asked suspiciously, narrowing my honey-colored eyes. "Why can't you big-shot exorcists handle it?" Mephisto tapped his fingers to the tip of his hat.
"Are you refusing to assist us? You're quite cruel, Sakura-san," he replied. I curled the side of my lip up.
"I never said I was a nice person. But I haven't given you a straight answer yet," I answered. "What kind of enemy are you talking about?"
"A kind of enemy that falls into your department." I bit down on the remains of my pocky stick. So, I'm dealing with a witch here. Shit. "Kyubey suggested that I ask you for assistance, because you're more of a defensive type fighter. I thought you'd suit the job, based on what my dear friend told me."
I smirked again. "Defense, huh? I suppose Kyubey was right about that," I allowed. "But, that doesn't mean I'll help you. I want payment for my trouble as well."
"Are you accepting?"
"Will you accept any and or all of my terms in return?" He bit down on what looked like a cream puff in response. I took that as a 'maybe', and continued, rising from the couch. "Look, Mephisto, the only reason I'm going to help you is because there's a Witch involved. Witches drop Grief Seeds, which help support me. I expect, as payment, that you allow me to take that Grief Seed without a fuss, or else."
His eyebrow lifted up. "Is that a threat?"
I extended my left arm, holding my ring finger out to him. With a flash of bright crimson light, the point of a smaller version of my signature weapon sparked at the tip of his nose, bursting from within the ring on my left hand. "You could say that."
He narrowed his eyes. "I don't take kindly to threats."
"I don't take kindly to clowns," I retorted. I jabbed my spear forward ever so slightly. "One of us is gonna have to compromise here, Mephisto. And believe me, it'll be you."
He watched the tip of my spear glow with an agitated crimson luster. "I won't run or hide, if it should come to that." I pulled my hand back an inch. There he went again, throwing those damn curve balls. What the hell was his problem? He lifted his head and smiled. "But please do put that toy away. I'm speaking to you in peace; I shall not act upon any hostile emotions that should come over me while we maintain this conversation."
"In other words, without the ancient manner of speaking, I can relax," I translated roughly, withdrawing my hand, and spear. I sipped more hot chocolate from my cup as I plopped back down on the couch, crossing my bare legs one over the other. "So, to summarize for old time's sake, I'll help you. But, you've got to tell me more information about what I'll be dealing with, the details of its powers, maze, etcetera."
"Maze? Powers?" I sighed, and sloshed my cup.
"Whatever. I'll do some recon later then." Since you're completely useless. "Now, is there anything else you wanted to tell me? While I'm still awake and listening?"
Mephisto sighed. "Sakura-san, your reconnaissance will not be needed. I'll appeal to the Grigori to get some Upper Class Knights on that. However," he paused, his smile returning, "would you be interested in taking on another mission in addition to the one I've just given you?"
I reached into the box of pocky on the side table, pulling out a stick. "Depends on what the mission entails."
"I'm assuming you've heard of True Cross Academy, correct?"
"Not at all." He sighed again. A long and drawn out one. This might sound stupid, but I was thankful that it was finally me that was throwing the curve ball. Now he had to adapt to the situation I just created. But I wasn't worried. He didn't have the guts. "What the hell is it?"
"It's my school that I run. I'm the beloved principal, and I would like you to attend over the course of your second, but more important mission," he answered. I exhaled, and tapped my hand to my forehead.
"Of course, I have to go to school," I muttered. I lifted my head up, and narrowed my eyes. "What do you want me to do there?"
"I'd like you to keep an eye on someone in my absence."
I leaned forward slightly. "Why will you be gone?"
"To get the assistance you requested previously, my dear Sakura-san," he replied cheerfully. My hand tapped my hip, as I ran my tongue across the tip of the chocolate stick in my mouth. "Of course, you won't be alone in keeping an eye on said person. All of the teachers in this school are well aware of the current situation, and are pleased to have such a capable mortal like yourself aboard."
I tensed my free hand. "Don't call me mortal. I'm not human. I'm just not."
"I see. I apologize for my previous comment then, Sakura-san." I nodded my head for him to continue. "Next, I'd like you to report to Okumura-kun with anything you find out while keeping an eye on this person."
"Which one? Rin or Yuki-chan?" I couldn't help but mock the younger twin. He had it coming. He'd allowed Moriyama to give him such a backwater nickname. Which made it all the more entertaining to exploit. Mephisto, on the other hand, was not as entertained as I was.
"Okumura-kun," he answered firmly. I lifted a palm, pointing my index and middle fingers to the ceiling, which, roughly translated, meant, what the hell. "The younger twin, Sakura-san."
"Oh." I curled my lip up. "Yuki-chan."
"I'd like you to report to him if you find anything that you should deem suspicious or harmful to the rest of my students." I stood up again, and shifted.
"Who is this kid that you want me to babysit?" I demanded, picking up the entire box of pocky, and pulling out two sticks. I was getting agitated. Not only did I have a Witch to deal with, but I also had to watch over some little kid that I probably wouldn't be able to stand. This situation was getting more and more drastic by the minute.
He smiled. "The Son of Satan."
"Yeah, and…? Name?" My nose was inches away from his within seconds. "That's kinda vague, Mephisto."
He waggled his index finger in front of my face, shutting one eye. "It's a secret!"
"Please." I jerked my head back. Once I put enough distance between me and his finger, I narrowed my eyes and set my jaw. "Will I get a Grief Seed with this mission as well, Mephisto?"
"I can't make any promises," he replied. "But it's looking that way. More and more of these 'Witches' you speak of are flooding the school with each passing day."
I leaned up against the coffee table behind me, putting the hot chocolate cup down on the wooden tabletop. "I think you mean Familiars. Full-grown Witches would've leveled this place by now, if there's as many as you're leading me to think."
"That's not possible," he responded in disbelief. "Familiars are spirits that assist their masters in carrying out whatever they wish to carry out."
I nodded. "That's true. But for a Witch, her familiars are spirits or 'minions' that are slighter monsters created out of the crux of the Witch. They're typically charged with maintaining and protecting the Witch's barrier, or basically playing guard dog. However, they can gain independence and stray from the nest to create their own, and grow up into adult Witches." Mephisto's eyes widened. I pressed my palms into the edge of the coffee table, gripping the wooden surface with my nails. "Once a Familiar makes a barrier of its own, it'll surely become a Witch. It's best to take them out before that happens, so that fewer lives will be lost, but doing it that way won't get you a Grief Seed. You have to wait until they're a full-grown Witch in order to get a Grief Seed out of it."
"Barrier? Like a shield?"
"More like a cloak concealing the Witch's presence from the real world, the world of humans. It's an otherworld created by the Witch to keep them out of human sight. If a human wanders in unknowingly, it's impossible to for them to escape on their own."
"Grief Seed?"
"It's an egg that the dead Witch drops once you defeat her. Mahou Shoujo need them in order to stay alive." Mephisto's eyes narrowed as he processed that last bit.
"Oh, oh, I see." He nodded, and pulled out a notepad. I lifted an eyebrow as he scraped his pencil across the paper. I assumed it was out of character for him. Very out of character. "I'll be taking this information along with me when I go to the Grigori to request additional assistance."
"Feel free," I replied nonchalantly. "In fact, you might want to take this with you too." He looked up, expectant. "If anyone finds a Witch's Labyrinth, tell them to get as far away from it as possible."
"Eh? Could you explain, Sakura-san?" I sighed.
"A Witch's Labyrinth is basically a maze that is unique to each Witch. What the labyrinth looks like on the inside has something to do with where it is located and the clues as to what the Witch's powers are or pieces of their past as a-" I cut myself off, and bit back on my previous thought. My darkest secret. I couldn't tell him that. So, I rephrased. "-pieces of their past before they were Witches. As you get deeper into the labyrinth, the aspects of reality become fewer and fewer, until you get to the final room which contains the Witch, as well as true nature of the clues you'd previously seen."
Unfortunately, Mephisto picked up on my mistake. His eyes narrowed. "What were they before they were Witches?"
I wasn't sure what to tell him. "I don't know, why don't you figure it out for yourself?" I retorted. "Or ask Kyubey. I'm sure he'd be willing to give you a hint or two."
"I won't pry, Sakura-san. I respect that you have secrets, though I think it's imperative that you explain to me everything you know about Witches, secret or not, so that I can better protect my students."
"Just know this, Mephisto," I started, looking back at him with a bitter smile, "Witches and Mahou Shoujo aren't much different."
"In terms of nature or power?"
"Both."
My response hung on the air between us for a moment as silence fell. It was a long, drawn out silence. We didn't speak, we didn't say anything. The only sounds I could hear were Mephisto's nails and pencil scribbling on his notepad, which again, I assumed was out of character for him. He tapped the eraser of his pencil against his lip, and cautiously bit into it with his fangs after a moment, teasing the edge with his tongue for a split second. He was done thinking.
"How would my students or the exorcists know that they're walking into a Witch's Labyrinth?" he asked, looking back up at me, his pencil hanging out of the side of his mouth. I toyed with the sticks of pocky between my lips.
"They wouldn't know."
He narrowed his eyes further. "How would they end up in one, Sakura-san?"
"Either, they get a Witch's Kiss, or they wander in by mistake. Only a Mahou Shoujo can safely go in and out of a Witch's Labyrinth." He narrowed his eyes.
"How?"
I sighed, smirking as I held out my left hand. I blinked my eyes shut for a split second, then opened my palm. I smiled faintly at the crimson red Soul Gem in my palm, flinching at the thick line of corruption along the edges. I needed another Grief Seed. "I can use this to find the barriers and labyrinths instead of wandering around like an idiot, or getting caught by the Familiars or worse, getting a Witch's Kiss."
"A Witch's Kiss is the worst thing that can happen to you?" he asked, scribbling more words down on his notepad. I shrugged.
"None of it's good. I wouldn't consider anything 'worse' than the other. Just keep in mind all of these things when you give out orders to your people. They need to be extremely careful," I answered. He continued scribbling.
"What's a Witch's Kiss? It slipped my mind to ask that," he muttered, his voice muffled by the notebook paper. "What's that you're holding?"
I sighed. "A Witch's Kiss is the mark that appear on a human that was targeted by the Witch who 'kissed' them. They are unique to every Witch, much like a Witch's Labyrinth."
"And the thing you're holding?"
"A Soul Gem. It proves that I am a Mahou Shoujo. That's all you need to know." Mephisto nodded once.
"That's all I need to know, but the Grigori will want more information, Sakura-san," he pressed. I sighed again for what seemed the hundredth time.
"A Soul Gem is a gem created from making a contract with Kyubey. It's basically the source of all of a Mahou Shoujo's power." He scribbled that down on his notepad, then flipped the page. I tapped my foot on the floor once. "Is there anything else you need to know about what we're dealing with?"
"Could you explain to me, in full detail if you wouldn't mind, what a Witch is exactly?" I nodded, narrowing my amber eyes.
"A Witch is the result of excessive negative impulses. They're monsters that spread despair across the world, while we, Mahou Shoujo, spread hope."
But I knew the truth. It was all a lie. Every last word of it. It was every Mahou Shoujo's fate to become a Witch. Meaning I would one day become a Witch, just like Sayaka had. Homura and Mami would someday as well. I would become a Witch, and destroy every last shred of hope I'd planted into each of the Earth's pores, and replace them with seeds of despair. Sakura Kyouko, me, would die the instant my Soul Gem went black. And I was afraid.
Mephisto didn't pick up on my trembling hands and clenched teeth. "Phew! I think that's everything!"
"Do you want me to check?" I asked quietly, taking a few steps toward him. "Just to make sure?"
He looked up, and nodded, smiling. "That would be kind of you, Sakura-san."
I smirked faintly, and took the paper from him. As my amber eyes scanned the paper, surprise flickered across my face. He'd copied everything, from every tiny detail. My facial movements, each shallow breath, tiny flicker of my eyes. He was studying me, copying down everything he observed, like a scientist taking notes on his experiment. Only, in this situation, I was the experiment, and he was the scientist. He didn't trust me as much as I didn't trust him. That, was glaringly obvious.
Even now, as I was looking over his notes, his eyes were watching me, analyzing me. They were narrowed, but piercing, like a demon's eyes, like Sayaka's had been before she'd turned into a Witch. They were like Homura's were now, cool and calculating, adding up all of the numbers and factoring in the extra digits acquired with each second's passing. It was almost as if he assumed I was a Witch in disguise, that I was going to attack him with everything I had in the next minute. That would be true, if I knew the full extent of his powers. But since I didn't, I held still.
"Barrier, Familiar, Witch, Grief Seed, Mahou Shoujo, Witch's Labyrinth, Witch's Kiss." I handed it back to him, nodding. "I think you have everything."
"I will leave for the Grigori right away then," he replied, standing up. I backed up a pace, and put my hand on my hip. He peeled his hat from his head, and bowed. "Thank you for your help, Sakura-san. I shall take my leave to bring this information you've provided to the Grigori."
"Fine by me," I answered. He looked me up and down.
"Have Moriyama-san help you with finding a uniform. I've already written up the papers—as of today, you are a student of this school. Sakura-san, I'm going to have you start today, alright?"
"But I never agreed to it!"
"…Sakura-san?" I sighed, and nodded.
"I'll take on this mission as well. Just state the name of the person I have to babysit." Mephisto smirked devilishly, and wagged his finger again. He was within slapping distance. Oh to joy.
"I told you before. It's a secret," he answered, holding out his hat. He tapped it three times. "Ein, zwei, drei!" Then he disappeared into a puff of smoke. Just like a clown.
I sighed, and turned back to my empty cup of hot chocolate and picked it up from the coffee table, as I chomped down on my sticks of pocky. I pulled my white shirt down over my panties, and turned toward the door. I didn't understand why I had a creeping feeling that telling him all of that stuff about Mahou Shoujo. I had this nagging feeling that it would bite me in the ass sometime soon, and I hardly ever got those feelings.
Still, I continued on, opening the door with a tender hand, my brown eyes downcast. What would happen to me next? I had two missions on my plate. I had to defeat an enemy they weren't even sure was a Witch, and then I had to play Terminix. I had to clear out all of the Familiars. It was going to be like Mitakihara all over again. And on top of that, I had to go to school? This was going to be rough. I'd gone through many rough patches in life, but this new one definitely took the cake. Right after the loss of my entire family.
The door opened, but not because of me. I lifted my head, widening my eyes when I met the determined but angry gaze of Okumura Yukio. "Hey! What do you want, Yuki-chan?"
"Tell me everything," he ordered, his voice low. I narrowed my eyes, and straightened up.
"It isn't any of your business," I retorted. "Go pester someone else."
"Tell me everything." The flash of metal and the click of a trigger snapped me back into focus, my impulse spear jutting from my outstretched hand. The tip of it hissed as I channeled magical power into it. "Now."
I narrowed my eyes. "You've got a lot of nerve, threatening me like that." I smirked, and cocked my head. "But unfortunately, exorcist, I outclass you in both skill as well as weaponry."
"I'm hoping it won't have to come to that, Sakura-san," Yukio replied earnestly. He tightened his grip on his pistol. "I don't want to have to hurt you."
I smirked wider, callously. "You think that your little toy gun will kill me? Go ahead and try." I withdrew my spear, bright crimson light flashing from my left hand upon its disappearance. I smiled. "I won't stop you."
He wouldn't do it. I knew he wouldn't. And if he would, then I could trust him enough to tell him why I was here. If he had the guts to shoot me, while I had a spear pointing directly at the bridge of his nose, then I could trust him. He'd never seen my weapon before. It took enough gall to stand in front of someone new, someone you'd never seen battle before. If he attempted to kill me now, then I would tell him. I would tell him everything.
A vein popped from Yukio's forehead. "Don't…Test me."
"You're right," I drawled, taking a step forward. My hand came down on his, lowering his pistol gently. "I shouldn't. Put that thing away, Okumura-kun."
"Not until you tell me everything I want to know, Sakura-san," he demanded. I tossed my head, getting angry and impatient.
"Yukio!" I cried, raising my voice. "Don't be stupid! Firing off your gun won't do you any good. I won't tell you, unless it's necessary that you know it. Our relationship is going to be on a need to know basis, understand? I'll tell you what you need to know when you need to know it, and you'll do the same." I gripped onto his wrist tighter. He flinched as I leaned my face closer to his. "So get that stick out of your ass and be a man!"
My words seemed to hit him. They hit him hard. "You're…Right. I'm sorry," he murmured, lowering his pistol. I sighed, and stepped back, shaking my head.
"Honestly, you scared me a little bit back there. I seriously thought that you were going to try." Yukio shook his head, sliding his pistol into his back pocket.
"I'm sorry, Sakura-san," he repeated, pulling his wrist from my grip. My hand fell away, and I watched him brush past me. Something inside me snapped.
"Yukio," I called. He stopped. "I'm…Going to need help with this. Mephisto told me to report to you if I find anything suspicious or harmful to the students. You will allow me to do that?"
"Of course. As long as my brother and the others are safe," he answered. I smiled. I can trust you.
"Good. I'll tell you what you need to know."
