Sprouting Flames Of Shadows
Chapter 4-Ten Mysteries
Yukio studied her carefully as he ate. Her head was bowed, hands folded in her lap. He had noticed earlier that she never ate when someone who was supposed to be there, was not. He thought back to the lesson, what now seemed like a lifetime ago, it being dinner.
"Sir...what you're describing...they're my familiars."
White would possibly the most powerful exorcist ever to exist, once she graduated. She might even become the paladin. But...that could only be if she had chosen Tamer instead of Knight. With these thoughts, his mind drifted to what he had been about to say, when he had noticed the entire class staring at her.
However, legend has it that there is one being who can supposedly control such demons. It belongs to a group we call the Ten Mysteries. Each one has their own legend, although we do not know their true names.
The eldest, Dameus, was worshipped as a god of joy. He always throws parties and got everyone drunk. He is the only one we know the name of, as he is the deity of a nearby village. The next, Lucky Cat, is a common stray cat you see wandering the streets. It gives good luck to children who pat it or give it food. Dream Weaver is a mysterious blond man on the beach, and if you approached him, he would give you a dream catcher. Then there's Fire Figure. Sometimes a figure would appear in a flame, whether it was a campfire, in a fireplace, a big forest fire or just a candle. Other times, you could see it standing right at the tip of big and old forest trees.
After that there's Healer Woman and Hellish Queen. Healer Woman is like a nurse or midwife. She tells pregnant women when their babies are to be born, and gives medicine to the sick. Hellish Queen, on the other hand, is a devilish woman who likes to play tricks on men and annoy the shit out of them. It's still unclear why, but we believe it's just for fun.
Song of Peace is next. When a child is sick, peaceful music can be heard, and the child would get miraculously better. On stormy nights you can see a girl atop a cliff with lightning coming down and hitting her, although she remains unharmed. This is Mistress Storm. It's said that if you wander deep enough into a forest, you will stumble upon a garden with many colourful flowers. A girl would be sitting in the middle, and this is Flower Child.
And that brings us to the only one of these able to control a Sai Dae. The legend is that a dark silhouette blocks the way to travelers in a shadowy alley with two smaller animals, both predators, but undistinguished. Some believe it is a nuisance, others think it's a guardian spirit, protecting stray travelers from harm. This ones name is Dark Lady.
Could it be? The familiars, they could just a coincidence. But...it was also possible that she was a descendant of a demon, like Rin and Izumo. It was more likely. They didn't know for certain what exactly they were; they just classed them as demon because that's what they seemed to be.
Yukio was about to say something, when White twitched. It was small, almost invisible, and he wouldn't have seen it if he hadn't been looking in the right place at the right time. A split second later, Rin came crashing through the door, blue flames alight as he smacked into the opposite wall, creating a gaping hole.
White was standing in seconds, hand on her katana hilt, ready to draw her weapon. Yells came from the open door; it seemed the other exwires were fighting yet another demon.
"Why you little-" Rin cursed, wiping a bit if blood off his chin as he rose, brandishing his bare sword. He glanced at White, who was watching his blue flames curiously, and he froze.
"Umm, I can explain."
Rin had expected to see betrayal, hatred or anger, or even confusion or surprise on her face. But all he saw was grim realization. That was definitely unexpected.
"Okumura!" Bon yelled from outside. "Would you hurry up and get out here!?" It sounded like they were in trouble.
"Yeah, hold your horses!" Rin yelled back. He reached the door, but Yukio grabbed his shoulder.
"What's going on, Nii-san?" He asked, but the older twin just jerked his thumb outside as White caught up with them, blade drawn.
"That." Outside, a tangle of thick, thorny vines had overrun the courtyard. Where the exwires killed one, two more seemed to grow in its place.
Seeing this, White took it upon herself to rush outside, summoning her familiars as she did so. Rin and Yukio followed close behind.
"Venite ad me, Umbrae. Et primo de venatu!" She cried, drawing blood on the edge of her sword. (Translation: Come to me, my Shadows. Let us begin the hunt!)
"Sai Dae..." Yukio murmured, whipping out his guns and began to shoot the vines. White saw this, and grimaced.
"Wait! Don't harm it!" She ordered, throwing an arm out in a futile attempt to stop him. Yukio ignored her, shooting a vine that was coming towards him alarmingly fast. "I'm serious!" Still no response.
Rin did a running slash at one of the thick vines, and she growled, and turned to her Shadows.
"Animi meum, et dicam ei prohibere statim invenietis." She ordered the familiars. (Translation: My Shadows, find and tell him to stop this at once.) The ran off to do as she bid, ducking and weaving through the three-person-thick vines.
A moment later, they retreated.
White scowled. That was way too risky. She glanced at Rin, who was sheathing his sword. But...at least she now knew what her brother ment by sending her here.
Rin didn't bother hiding his tail-now that she knew-as he came over to her.
"How did you do that?" He asked softly. White was taken aback.
"Do what?" She asked innocently.
"How did you make that thing leave?" Shima supplied, walking towards them.
"I...uh...gave my Shadows a sealing spell to put on the demons main body." She lied. They frowned, but seemed convinced.
"Sorry, Shadows?" Yukio inquired. He was unfamiliar with her name for them.
"The Sai Dae." She explained briefly. Uncomfortable with these people pressing on her, she changed the subject. "So, um...you've got...blue flames..." Rin fell silent, and looked down, tail twitching.
"Yeah, son of Satan."
"You're...you're a demon?"
"Half." He corrected. Silence.
When White spoke at last, what she said surprised everyone.
"Cool."
"Wh-what do you mean, 'cool'!?" Bon exclaimed, very confused.
"I've always wanted to control fire! And have a tail! And then you come along, and you've got both!"
"Are you serious!?" Rin asked, cautious.
"So you don't have a grudge against Satan, or anything?" Shima asked, head cocked. It gave him the impression of a curious puppy.
"Nope." She replied, a little too cheerful. Yukio frowned. The way she was acting, it didn't feel...natural.
"Huh." Rin shrugged. "Well that was lucky, wasn't it?" He added, elbowing Yukio playfully. White couldn't help herself. She giggled at his antics. But to Yukio, it sounded...forced.
Changed my mind, I'm sooooo shipping it. But friendship-like, y'know? Also, sorry if this seemed a little too soon, but Whitney finding out is not the main storyline.