Well, my life got busy again. I'm currently studying for medical school entrance exams and boy does that just kill my creative juices. And take up all of my time. So maybe this whole 'chapter a week' thing will turn more into a 'let's wait until she's done with the biggest exam she's taken to date' thing. We'll see what happens
Anyway, showers are great! Great things happen in the shower: you get clean, you can sing at the top of your lungs, make your hair do weird stuff with shampoo suds, stuff like that. But they're also great for thinking up plot ideas! My overall goal with this fic before my recent shower revelation was basically: don't make it a carbon copy of the manga. Change shit up. Well, I had a wonderful idea recently and let me tell you: shit is gonna get real. Not right away, but the overall arching plot is going to be super cool. I'm excited. Are you excited? Let's get excited!
Leggo!
Chapter 4: A New Start
Kazuki let out a sigh of exasperation. What the fuck was she supposed to do with her tail? Why the fuck did she even have a tail? And fangs! Those were a new addition as well. Although the pointy ears were kind of cool, if kind of hard to explain.
But they had nothing on the actual fucking tail that was swaying in the air behind her.
And Mephisto failed to mention that attending the Cram School also meant wearing a skirt. A really short skirt. Who the hell designed this uniform? she thought darkly, looking in the mirror and getting pissed at how much of her thighs were showing. Bending over was a no-no for the foreseeable future.
And her tail just lifted the skirt up further.
Grumbling under breath, she took the blue furred appendage in her hand. Gently. She had learned very quickly that her new limb was freakishly sensitive. Whacking it against almost every doorway she has walked through since obtaining it had caused her to go on a very impressive cursing streak.
She ran her thumbs through the short fur, causing her to shudder at the very acute, very ticklish feeling it caused. Kind of like a cat's tail, she thought. Maybe more like a lion's, since the very tip ended in a tuff of blue hair. Sighing, she tried to think of ways to hide it.
Wrapping it around one of her legs didn't work, simply because the skirt had been too short to risk it. Getting a new idea, she unbuttoned her dress shirt and slowly let her tail wrap around her waist. Buttoning the shirt back up, she nodded. She'd have to stick to slightly baggy clothes, and her tail felt unbelievably restricted, but it would do.
Nodding to herself, she turned around to face her now empty room.
Clenching her jaw, she grabbed her duffle bags and exited.
Rin was waiting by the gate of the monastery. The clergymen had already gathered around him to say their goodbyes and very easily accepted her into the fold. She was passed from priest to priest, all wishing her luck and happiness.
"Please come back, Rin-kun, Kazuki-chan," Maruta smiled at them. "This will always be your home and whatever happens, our doors will be open to you."
Shame overwhelmed her. How could she have doubted her family's love for her? How could she have doubted the men who had raised her? Even her own fa—.
With a forced smiled, Kazuki thanked them.
Subdued birdsong announced Asuka's presence as she landed on her shoulder.
You are sad, the bird stated knowingly.
Kazuki nodded.
The pain will ease with time. This I know. Asuka rubbed her beak against her neck in comfort. Kazuki reached up ruffle the feathers under the bird's neck in thanks.
Many conversations had occurred over the past two days with many people. One of them had been with Asuka…
"You're a demon?" Kazuki asked, curled up on her bed and grieving. She was so tired. The day, much like the night before, had been a rush of barely remembered memories. Plans had to be made for her father's body and she had to be present. She should sleep, but she couldn't, she still need to talk with the tiny tit that was currently perched on her pillow.
I have been called many things, Asuka had answered. Her voice was warm and soothing inside Kazuki's head, like sunlit honey. If the triplet had a mother, she imagined her voice would sound like this. I have been called goddess, demon, angel, and more. Who decides what makes a demon?
Kazuki blinked. "I… I don't know."
The tiny black and white bird mentally laughed while tweeting softly. And I do not expect you to know, my young friend. That is a question that humans have been pondering for many millennia. And while humanity may not know the answer, it does not hurt to keep asking. Fujimoto-san devoted the last years of his life to this question.
Tears welled in Kazuki's eyes at the mention of her father.
Oh, my friend… Asuka hopped towards her and snuggled up against her cheek where it lay on the pillow. It pains me that you must learn of such grief while still so young.
"I said terrible things to him," Kazuki whispered. "How could I say those things?"
Many words can be said in moments of passion. Good and bad. Wise and foolish. And while we cannot take these words back, we can learn from these moments and become stronger. I can assure you, Kazuki-chan, Shiro-san did not hate you for these words.
"He didn't?"
Asuka rubbed her feathered head against the skin of her cheek. He was your father. He loved you until the end.
Even though Kazuki believed herself incapable of still shedding tears, they stubbornly continued to fall whenever she thought of her father.
"Dad knew about you?" she asked, once the tears subsided.
Asuka tweeted in confirmation. Yes. Stubborn man! He suspected for months and would constantly try to trick me into revealing my true form. It was amusing to watch. Eventually, once I deemed he was not a threat, I revealed myself to him.
"You showed him your other form?"
And I spoke with him. Asuka moved away from her. With a quick hop, she took flight. Kazuki followed her movements intently. Once in the air, Asuka summersaulted. There was a small burst of black fire and then a magnificent bird of prey came to land on the bed beside her. Her coloring was much the same, black and white feathers and a black beak. But she was now the size of a large dog, with talons and a fierce gleam in her eyes to match.
"In this form I can speak to others," Asuka spoke, her beak making odd clacking noises as she did so. "It is not preferred. But I cannot communicate with most the way I can communicate with you."
And she had a suspicion why. "Because I'm a… a demon."
There was a flash of emotions in the bird demon's eyes. You are also human, Asuka said with emphasis, reverting back to telepathic communication. But you are correct; the demonic powers that were awakened inside of you allows us to communicate thusly.
"Why now? Why not show me what you were before now?"
Asuka tilted her head and intelligent eyes blinked at her. That is a question that requires more information before I may answer. Will you listen? Kazuki nodded. Very well, then. You may be familiar with the creature called a phoenix; many have likened me to such a creature. When I become gravely injured, my material body will erupt into flames and create a new body from the old. Thus I begin a new life. New beginnings are dangerous because I am left defenseless. You found me at such an instance.
"You were a hatchling," Kazuki remembered. Her eyes widened in understanding. "And you were sitting in a pile of ashes."
About to become the meal of a feline until you found me. I knew what you were the moment I laid eyes on you, daughter of Satan. Fire recognizes fire. Kazuki looked away, but Asuka lightly nipped at her fingers to regain her attention. I have seen evil, Kazuki-chan. Despite your heritage, you have no ill-will in your heart. I made the choice to trust you, and to this day I do not regret it.
I did not show myself to you in the beginning for two reasons. The first being that I simply could not. My new body had to grow and become strong enough to support the transformation. The second was because I knew you did not know of your heritage and I did not want to be the one to reveal it to you.
"And after the beginning?" Kazuki asked.
Fujimoto-san and I spoke on this topic many times. He wished to keep you ignorant of your heritage, and while I do not agree with some of his reasons, he wanted you to have a normal life for as long as was possible. Who am I to disagree with the decisions of a father? I kept my identity from you, and stayed as your friend and protector.
"Protector?"
Asuka bobbed her head. Yes, my friend. You saved my life and cared for me when I was at my weakest. You have proven yourself to be a kind and compassionate being. I wish to repay this kindness you have shown me by staying by your side and protecting you.
Unfortunately, the demon ducked its head in shame, I have recently failed at this. I was unable to stop the King of Gehenna with dire consequences. Forgive me, my friend. I will prove my strength to you in the future. My power still grows inside this body and the next time you face such dire evil, I will be of more help. If you will have me, that is. I have kept much from you and have caused you great pain.
Asuka's head remained bowed before her, waiting for an answer.
Kazuki's brow furrowed in anger, confusion, and grief.
"I don't like that you hid yourself from me," Kazuki eventually told the demon bird. Asuka's head dropped lower. "I do not like it, but I… I think I understand. Dad made the decision not to tell me and Rin about demons because he wanted us to be happy. To grow up human. And maybe I don't like his choice, but to him there wasn't a better option. Maybe… well, maybe some decisions don't have right answers."
Still bowed, Asuka tilted her head and met her gaze. You speak wise words, Kazuki-chan.
If only I had found them sooner, she thought to herself bitterly. Her father had been between a rock and a hard place with her and Rin. Raise two children knowing they were the spawn of Satan, or keep them ignorant? In the end, all choices had been bad ones.
She reached out and ran her fingers over the feathers on the back of Asuka's neck. "You are my friend. You do not have to protect me if you don't want to."
It is what I desire.
Kazuki lifted a shoulder in a small shrug. "Then I won't stop you. If you'd like, we can get stronger together. As friends."
Birds couldn't smile, but Kazuki swore that was exactly what Asuka was doing. I would like that very much, my friend.
As she thought back on the conversation, Kazuki wondered just how old the bird demon that sat on her shoulder really was. Old, she answered herself. Very old. You could practically hear the years of experience dripping off every word she said. Since she was still wrapping her mind around the fact that demons existed in the first place, she saved herself a mental breakdown and decided not to ask.
Yukio walked up beside them, more subdued than usual. Kazuki couldn't look him in the eye.
She was never one to shy away from a conversation that needed to be had, but for once she decided to play the coward and run away. How could she explain to her little brother that she was involved in their father's death? How do you explain demons and Satan and power giving swords?
It would seem like a cruel joke to play on him, because there was no way he would believe a word of it.
Yukio didn't ask questions. And she was too much of a coward to start giving him answers.
Kyodo, the eldest clergymen, had been the one to call Yukio during the aftermath. He had asked the eldest triplets if one of them wanted to make the call, but Rin didn't even acknowledge the question and Kazuki didn't know what she would tell her little brother. She ran away from her duty and let an equally grieving Kyodo do the job for her. The shame of the deed had happily piled on top of what she was already feeling.
She wasn't sure what Kyodo had told her brother, but Yukio had returned home with red eyes and a stoic face, not even blinking at the destruction of the chapel. He barely acknowledged Rin and Kazuki's presences.
The rest of the day had been a whirlwind of grief. Funeral arrangements had to be put in order, and though the people they dealt with were very sympathetic to their plight, you could tell that they dealt with grieving families every day and didn't really care that theirs had walked through the door. Yukio had taken the lead, with Kazuki helping him out, while Rin just sort of stared at the floor the entire time.
She and Rin had talked. About their father, about Satan, about what they would do next. But Yukio didn't even attempt it.
And now all three of them were waiting for their ride to True Cross Academy and Yukio didn't even question their admittance. He had always been quiet, but now his silence was deafening.
"Where've you been?" Rin asked him.
"Visiting father," their little brother replied. He glanced at them, his face unreadable. "Have the two of you visited him?" When they stayed silent he went back to gazing at the road. "Typical brother and sister." He made the comment sound light-hearted, but she knew enough of Yukio to know that he meant every word of what he said, he just tried to disguise the daggers in his teasing tone.
She clenched her hand on the handle of her duffle bag and willed the tears that stung her eyes away. She had tried to visit their father's grave that morning, but the moment it was in her sight she found that she couldn't take another step forward. The grief and the shame had been too much and she had knelt where she stood on the gravel path, her head bowed.
Tears rolling down her face, she had promised she would come back when she was stronger, when the pain wasn't so fresh, and she would show him a daughter he could be proud of. She had whispered her father an apology for her lack of strength, stood, and left.
But Yukio didn't know that, of course. Typical little brother.
"It's weird, isn't it?" Rin's voice cracked from lack of use. Kazuki looked up to see him giving his siblings a ghost of his usual vibrant smile. "We're all going to high school together. I never thought it would happen."
Kazuki had to smile at him. Rin's good spirits had always been impossible to repress. "It is weird," she agreed.
Yukio stayed silent.
The three of you need to talk soon, Asuka commented. Rin flinched at the words, still not used to the little tit's ability to talk. Kazuki nodded, agreeing.
The two of you now have many paths before you, the bird informed them. Do not allow guilt over past mistakes cloud your judgement. Above all, Shiro-san wanted you to grow up knowing love and kindness. Do not let allow yourselves to forget them.
It was a shame Yukio couldn't hear her words, Kazuki thought as a pink limousine pulled up. She felt like he could have used them.
True Cross Academy was just how Kazuki always imagined it would be: so posh it made her want to throw up from the reek of privilege that oozed from it. She tried not to fault Yukio for wanting to attend this place, she was sure it had some great teachers who taught some great…stuff. But jeez, she was definitely in a different world now, far away from the shady neighborhood they'd grown up in where the name Okumera Kazuki sent fear through anyone who thought they were above acting like a decent human being.
She definitely did not belong in this school. She only hoped the cram school was a bit more promising.
Rin and Kazuki followed Mephisto (who could turn into a freaking dog!) through the grand hallways of the cram school.
"How do you keep this place hidden?" she wondered aloud. The hallways were never-ending and the windows indicated that they weren't underground. She doubted that the non-Exorcist students on campus just failed to notice that there was a building they never had classes in.
"A lot of clever warding on my part," dog-Mephisto answered, trotting ahead of them. "While there are ways to access the cram school without a key, if you approach the buildings without this destination in mind, you are doomed to wander mindlessly around it for ages. We used to set up the Fall Festival corn maze right outside, but too many people got lost and we had to move it. Pity. It was dead fun."
"A corn maze?" Rin perked up. "I've never been in a corn maze!"
"Because no one was dumb enough to let you loose in one," Kazuki informed him dryly.
"We should visit a corn maze, Kazuki! I bet I could get through it faster than you."
Knowing her brother's directional skills were non-existent and that he was more likely to just run around for hours out of excitement, she felt her odds of winning were pretty good. "You're on."
They stopped outside a classroom labeled 111. Dog-Mephisto looked up at them. "I will be sitting in on your class today. Some of your teachers are aware of your… particular circumstance." He eyed them and Kazuki's tail twitched under her shirt. "However, you should keep this hidden from the other students. That means no drawing your swords, no showing your tails, and no blue flames."
She looked over to make sure Rin was paying attention before answering. "Got it, whiskers."
Mephisto gave her a flat look over said whiskers. "You're hilarious. I might just piss myself."
"Better not, I hate cleaning up piddle."
This time the dog did laugh. "Finally, someone in the family with a sense of humor…" This statement confused her, but Mephisto was already moving. "Come on, then! The classroom awaits!"
Rolling her eyes, she leaned forward and opened the door. The dog happily trotted in before them, the garish collar his was wearing bouncing with every step.
She and Rin followed behind him. The room they entered was dusty and full of furniture that had seen better days and large crates were stacked in the back for storage.
"Urg." Kazuki wrinkled her nose at room, a bit put out by its dilapidated state since the rest of the Academy was beyond pristine.
"Only seven others?" Rin wondered aloud.
Looking around, there was a trio of boys that were giving her funny looks, a pair of girls chatting quietly to themselves, some kid with what looked like a puppet, and a guy in the back with his hood up that vaguely reminded her of that American rapper Eminem.
Mephisto was informing them that this year's class was unusually large as Rin and Kazuki took their seats, sitting close to the front. So much for being more promising, she thought to herself as she studied her fellow classmates more. The trio of boys looked alright enough, but the one with the pink hair kept sending her lecherous glances. She glared back with enough force that he squeaked and looked away, causing his two friends to glare back at her. Whatever.
The two girls were clearly already friends. That would be hard to infiltrate. Looked like her only shot at some friends were puppet-boy and the Eminem-wanna-be. Great.
One o'clock on the dot and the door to the classroom opened.
Kazuki's jaw dropped.
"If everyone could please take your seats, class is about to start." Yukio took his place behind the teacher's desk at the front of the room and gave them all a smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. I will be your teacher for anti-demon pharmacology, Okumera Yukio."
So, after reading the manga and perusing some stories other people have written for this fandom, I have finally caved and am trying to use Japanese honorifics. At some point I'll go back and correct the previous chapters. Please god, someone tell me if I'm using them wrong. From what I understand boys you know well get -kun, girls you know well get -chan. People you don't know well or who you respect get -san. I'm going to use them like that until told otherwise.
Please leave a review! It really helps to hear back from you guys!
x Cheerfully Blue
