Toraya Inn

Toraya Inn, Kyoto.

The Exorcists took up shop in there, helping heal the bacteria caused by the Impure King's poison that they all got these weird gross-looking blisters, after Suguro got called out by his mother for dyeing his hair in a way that she called him a Rooster that got Astolfo cracking up. She even got sharper on Shima who dyed his whole hair pink of all things!

'Alright you guys, be Handymen to the tenured Exorcists! Assist all you can while watching how they do things so you'll learn how to treat Rot-based injuries.' Rin instructed the Exwires. 'I'll be busy making tools and helping out in the kitchen. Karna, Astolfo, get instructions from that big-boobed lady! She's the one we all defer to for now!' she said, ordering the Servants who quickly obeyed.

Ever since she became the halfling she's supposed to be but still sealed as her heart is still in the sword given to her, Karna's parameters got bolstered.

He says he's back to his true strength he had when he was alive. She was powerful enough to support that insane power of his. And given Sieg being a Homunculus Battery, Astolfo's also at full power but he was weak in life too so that didn't really matter.

'Neesan, the name is Kirigakure Shura, not big-boobed lady.' Yukio sweatdropped.

'Didn't get her name back in the train, sorry.' said Rin sheepishly. 'I was busy checking if my stash is complete not to mention I have to make sure the right stuff are foremost at front and within reach.' she said. 'I could care less about history, all I need is what type and how to deal with it, then chuck me at it.'

'That methodology is illegal!' Yukio sputtered. 'That's not exactly briefing!'

'Been doing that for years.' Rin chuckled, shrugging. 'Try having my teacher. By the way, what's your job?'

'My job is to be at the Kyoto Branch, so take care of the Exwires and the patients here, neesan. I'm just here for a quick bite and that's it.'

'Alright, go join the others.' Yukio left her while she went to make medicinal soup...and put it all in small 'teapots' for sauces.

'...why those?' Mrs. Suguro sweatdropped.

'For easy, no-mess access for the patients.' Rin grinned as she made two types of soup, all of which, insanely Reinforced with magecraft and then temperature drastically reduced to be just right for no scalding, but still warm enough to drink. 'Ancient folks did this in the past why can't we? They're onto something!'

She handed small trays containing two different teapots.

'Alright, the one with blue flowers go first, and after five minutes, the plain white goes next.' she instructed her fellow Exwires. 'Do NOT mess that order or the symptoms will get worse.'

So upon doing it, condition drastically improved all that's left was the 'blisters'.

'So our job's done?' Konekomaru asked her.

'Nope. We do the laundry next.' Rin told them casually.

'That's not an Exorcist's job!' Suguro sputtered.

'Oho, most of the inn workers are NOT Exorcists despite being in-the-know. They cannot do the laundry of the patients infected by the Rot Spores and definitely NO using washing machines, we gotta do it by hand.'

'...you gotta be kidding me.' Shima deadpanned.

'I kid you not pinky! I already prepared a special soap solution!'

'Rin, Astolfo and I will have to be at the Main Branch.' said Karna as he and Astolfo approached her.

'Go and keep me updated, OK? Warn me if anyone's headed my way.' and the two ran off.

'...I don't get it...why is our Knight Training Instructor taking orders from you?' Suguro croaked out. 'That girl too!' he pointed at Astolfo.

'Astolfo is a BOY despite how pretty he is he puts us ladies to shame.' Rin pouted as the Kyoto Boys and Izumo squawked. 'As for them obeying me, despite how they look, they are in fact, my familiars and I'm their Master. Look up Karna in Hindu Mythology and Astolfo's one of Charlemagne's 12 Paladins. I had the Headmaster give them jobs in school so they won't be bored.'

'WHAAAAT?!'

On their free time that night, they looked up the Internet.

But for now, they're all Field Runners.

xxx

That night, after dinner...

'Well, almost everybody is healed enough to go back to whatever hell their job is,' Rin began as she took out a silver key with red jewels and drew a line in air and left a streak of bluish-white light before said light turned into a small door, which she opened and stuck her hand in hammerspace, and took out several bound decks of ofudas.

'We'll be called in as support any time whether we like it or not, so these ofudas are fire spells.' she said, giving each student a stack. 'Make sure you have anything sharp or pointy handy as they need a small amount of blood to activate. Once the paper is blooded, the writings will glow and chant the spell 'Grand Flare' in literal English. Make sure the writings face the enemy or it's YOU who's toast.'

'How bad?' Shima asked nervously.

'Big enough that one ofuda is enough to shoot eight feet of flames straight ahead and six feet wide, and each ofuda lasts ten seconds and each deck has 100, so use wisely. You can even walk around in those ten seconds for maximum efficiency.'

'What if we're in the forest?' Izumo choked out.

'Nah, its designed to target rot-based powers. But if the forest is infected, only the tainted parts will be burned, but not spread to the rest. No need to worry about causing forest fires.' said Rin nonchalantly as she took out cutesy band aids. The band aids look like cutesy pink, heart-shaped brooches straight out of anime.

'Er...they're cute.' Izumo and the others sweatdropped.

'What, I like cute things!' Rin sputtered defensively before coughing awkwardly. 'Band-aids they may be, but designed to be Rot Disinfectants and heals up to cm-deep infections. Anything beyond that, you need the ER so its just field first aid.'

'You said you sell tools...don't tell me this is what you sell!' Izumo squeaked out as they imagined the looks on the Exorcists' faces when they buy her things. She's a Weapons' Supplier.

'Ohoho! I design things based on genders' tastes! Girls buy these brands!'

The boys sighed in relief.

'Well, be on standby for now, no telling when we'll be called~' Rin told them. 'Rest all you can because if we're called...treat it like we're going to war with a pandemic.'

'Aren't you the least bit nervous about this?' Shima asked her nervously. 'We're just Exwires and we're called for a big job instead of starting small...'

'Can't be helped, while that's normal in our curriculum, sadly, shit happens and the job chooses you, you don't get to choose nor have a choice in the matter.' Rin drawled at the dismayed boy. 'All we can do is suck it up, do the job and survive. As Exwires, we're a support unit while the tenured Exorcists are up at front while we're behind as a Support unit. If you're nervous now, wait till we get tenured and be on the front lines, you'd miss being an Exwire.'

'Geh...'

'...what's it like being in front? You clearly have experience.' Izumo mumbled.

'Well, one, you need to stay calm and think on your feet while death chases you. You only have a split-second or less to make decisions that can make or break you.' Rin told them as a whole while she recalled her time in Trifas. 'You must be very creative with tactics using what you know and what you have on hand, including where you are now as terrain will help you too. If you're a rule-by-textbook idiot, you die. There is no such thing as 'formal tactics' in the field. Creativity and Innovation, as well as utter Pragmatism is essential in the field and there are oh-so-many ways to skin a cat.' she explained with a grin. 'Play dirty if you have to as long as you live and your enemy dies. Life isn't fair, so make it work for you.'

'So no matter how little, study more in how to use and intimately know what you have. That way you can get creative. Being physically fit and in peak condition also helps, so train hard in evasion skills, and get strong legs with one hell of a stamina. You'll be happy you trained your body if real shit happens. That's all I can say to you. You all have fields you prefer, so get busy when this job is over.'

'A true field veteran speaks.' a bald snake-like man came in. He has amber, slit eyes and a snake tattoo. 'You know what it's like while able to advise rookies in an easy-to-understand way.'

'If I went formal, their head will spin.' Rin snorted.

'Uwabami, is something the matter?' Suguro asked Uwabami who nodded.

'We need to talk. You and I.' he said as Suguro left with the worried man.

'I hope nothing bad happens...' said Konekomaru nervously.

'Uwah, an adult is deferential to him?' Rin asked incredulously. Sure she's used to it in the Association as there ARE young Family Heads, but in normal society, she wasn't so sure...

'Well, Bon is the son of the Head Priest, he's basically the highest authority.' said Shima. 'Myoo-dha is different from the Order even if we're affiliated. Hierarchy Order goes as:'

Most High Priest
Arch-Priests
Senior Priest
Monks
Acolytes

'And all families are ranked.' Shima continued. 'Bon will be the next Most High Priest so even if he's inexperienced, out of how we work, we all defer to him, see?'

'He's basically acting family head...wow.' Izumo croaked out. 'Never thought of him that way though, he's such a hot head!'

'Hee...' Karna, keep an eye on Uwabami-dono. Follow him as the Myoo-dha will have a secret meeting by the looks of it. Get intel invisible.

OK. Astolfo?

Pass along instructions and emphasize this is a grave matter, discretion is important. Then after telling me, pass intel to Kirigakure-san. We'll get our orders then.

OK.

xxx

For one Kirigakure Shura, she joined this job for a reason.

To keep an eye on HIS daughter.

Sure she's on the side of humans, being raised by Fujimoto and risked her own neck to save humanity from a stupid wish. But as HIS child, she could get possessed against them any time. That's what they're nervous about.

She's acting as leader of the Exwires when her brother is needed elsewhere.

Her tools she supplies the Exorcist Shop are incredible, she can give her credit for that. And she's the Master of one hell of a man, and a proxy for another. Really, heroes of the past at her beck and call who are effectively great spies.

And said spies told her about Myoo-dha's secret meeting...about a traitor in their midst.

Now this is a whole new can of worms. But they're suspect the most. One or more works for Todo Shura was glad she could also instruct the two only if Rin allows it to.

And very few knows of the truth about Rin and her familiars. VERY FEW because they're Trump Cards.

'Stay invisible and keep track of the worst one of the lot Karna. Astolfo guard the Eye and be very rough if you have to and a few broken bones is sufficient.' Shura instructed. 'The last thing we want is two eyes united. If that happens, the Impure King will revive and Kyoto compromised.' Karna merely nodded and Astolfo cheerfully said, 'OK~!' and they were gone.

End result?

Hojo Mamushi or Todo Saburota never expected them...

xxx

'OK, we're both out here and the boys get to go.' Izumo huffed as the next morning, they got nothing to do.

'Well, its a Myoo-Dha In-House Conflict and we're not Myoo-Dha Members.' Rin shrugged. 'Clearly none of our business.'

'But you know through Karna-sensei anyway.'

'Aa. It goes like this...its a long-term manipulation plan.' said Rin. 'Based on the distrust surrounding the Most High Priest.'

'Distrust?!'

'Yeah. When I got Karna digging, the duty was a painful one that will understandably, isolate him and fan flames of distrust. Someday, Suguro will suffer the fate the position brings.' Rin told her. 'You cannot tell the boys.' she emphasized as Izumo nodded. 'It started since Hojo Mamushi was in High School. She was very loyal to Myoo-Dha but very frustrated with how things work and happenings at the time. Todo exploited her loyalty to her sect, frustration, a few kind words while sinking your claws into such a person and you got a clueless insider who has no idea she became a tool.' Izumo gulped at that.

'Ah...but what exactly does the High Priest do?'

'In return for having Karura as a Familiar, he must keep 'secrets' till the day he dies. Secrets that keep Kyoto safe from the Impure King. He also must work alone. Knowing that he's in for one hell of a job, he does what he wants afterwards for some small bits of happiness in life as his duty...is incredibly depressing and lonely. And to think Suguro-kun wants to succeed him, not knowing what he's in for. He'll take back his words and bite his tongue someday for it...and suffer in silence as his father has.'

'Ah...'

'What about you? Family headship issues or normal?'

Izumo laughed bitterly.

'I wish I was normal.' she said. 'But I can never be either. But I prefer a life of distrust any day to a life of not knowing how long you have left.'

'...I'm not gonna ask.' Rin closed her eyes with a solemn expression. 'But at least if crap happens, my brother and I, you can turn to.' she put her hand on Izumo's shoulder. 'Until then, study and train hard.'

'Yeah...'

'For now, Karna burned the two eyes to ashes. The Impure King is dead for good. However, the High Priest was the real target all along for Karura...I might get summoned soon.'

xxx

Hours later, after lunch, Rin was indeed, called.

'Okumura,' said Shura as in the Dungeons, were the entire Myoo-Dha sect, her brother and father, Shura and Mephisto present. 'Given that the Most High was the target with the Impure King as distraction, what can you do for Karura not to be targeted by Demon Eaters? Apparently there's more of them.'

'Well, I'll have to exert my authority for a bit.' Rin grinned as she took out a certain sword.

'Kurikara! Why do you have it?!' Suguro sputtered out.

'Ah, I gave it to Fujimoto years ago.' his father grinned. 'For if the time comes...it'll come in handy.' Rin unsheathed the sword and her skin went a shade paler, her ears went long and two balls of fire on her head in place of horns. Her tail also came out...all of which, in blue flames.

'Blue flames?!' the monks looked at her in fear while the boys gaped in disbelief.

'Hey, I'm not the only hybrid in this room you know.' Rin deadpanned. 'And I wasn't even born when my 'father' went batshit insane.'

'That's one way to put it...' Fujimoto pinched his nose hard while Yukio looked exasperated.

'Neesan, get serious, please!'

'I am serious. I'm just not a formal person, Yu-chan.' Rin chuckled. 'Formal people are so boring, I prefer fun people more. But anyway...Karura! Arise!' Rin put all her authority and power into her voice.

The fire demon showed up with a solemn air.

'...I have heeded your call, princess.' said Karura while also bowing in respect at Karna, before looking at Rin again.

'Karura, I know of the weight of your task you share with the Head Priest. However, you cannot remain in Suguro Tatsuma any longer.' Rin declared in keigo as this got the monks alarmed. 'Given circumstances, it is no longer possible. Whoever is behind the Demon Eater will come again and again, and this sect will cease to exist. And given the Most High's condition, you must become his son's familiar next, and he shall inherit his father's duties as of this moment. Can you trust Suguro Ryuji as your next partner?'

'I shall weigh his heart, princess of blue flames.' Karura told her. 'If his heart is as strong as his father's, I shall consider. I understand the weight of the situation as well, but for our duties, I wish for the strength of his heart, his will and resolve to carry on what it means to be the Most High Priest. If he fails, I shall wait for his child while I remain with Tatsuma regardless of the situation.'

'What it means...?' Suguro croaked out. He just recently learned the duties center around Secrets, But what secrets?!

'Very well. Test him right here and now.' Rin ordered. 'Suguro-kun, if Karura were to accept you, you will become the new High Priest of Myoo-Dha. I hope you're prepared for the weight the position brings. This is a deal or no deal. You only have one shot. Make it count!'

'Yeah, I accept the challenge!' Suguro declared as his father gave him a sad smile.

'Very well. My son accepts.' he said solemnly. 'Test him, old friend.' Karura flung himself in Suguro's body and he was on fire.

The monks watched nervously with bated breath...

...and for Suguro Ryuji, his life flashed before his eyes and to think he's not even dead!

"The hell? Ain't this s'posed to happen when you're dying?"

However, after he saw his entire life, even memories he forgot...he saw what his predecessors, including his father had to deal with.

He was stunned...and ashamed of himself. But he still wanted to rebuild the sect and his family and return the happy days they all used to have. Everyone was counting on him, failure is not an option! Besides...he ain't alone! He can carry on! He'll carry the sect or die trying!

He then saw light at the end of the tunnel and back to where he was...Karura now perching on his shoulder.

'He passes. However, he is not yet powerful enough to endure me in his body though his will is impressive.' Karura declared. 'I will wait for him to mature a bit more.' he returned to the current priest.

'Alright. I will train hard, Karura.' said Suguro.

'That's that.' said Mephisto. 'We have the verdict. As of this moment, Suguro Ryuji-kun is interim Most High Priest.' he declared as Rin sheathed back the sword to revert to human form again. 'For now, we will send reinforcements to Myoo-Dha until Suguro-kun is powerful enough to pair up with Karura.'

xxx

'Rin-san...what's it like to be that thing's daughter?' Suguro asked her back at the inn when they were alone. 'What of sensei?'

'Yukio was born sickly because of our lineage. He had a mashou ever since he was in mother's womb that was never treated until he was born...he could not endure so he remained human.' said Rin softly. 'So I became the hybrid between two of us. And I accepted what it means to be...well, me.' she said. 'But sire and father are two different things...sure, you're created by a male and female doing the deed...' Suguro choked hard at the mental image, '...and then there are those who raised you. Those who raised you with care are one's true family. It matters not who created you if they didn't even have a hand in your upbringing. So, who loved and cared for you as a child till present day? They are true family. That's how I see it at least.'

'So it's Fujimoto, huh?'

'Yeah. You'll understand what I mean one day. When you mature a bit more.'

'H-hey, I AM mature!' Suguro sputtered indignantly, making Rin laugh.

'Maturity comes with experience, not age.' she said. 'There are so-called adults older than you yet still behave like kindergarteners and whiny brats. See the world a bit more, and accept things as they are for there is no such thing as perfect and fair world. That there are things you can and cannot do. Then you'll know if you actually are mature.'

'...'

'Think on it. We'll return to school soon so get ready. And prepare for Karna's training. He'll be tougher on you in class soon. He'll handle the physical job, I handle the spiritual one.'

xxx

'...y-you talked to her...' Konekomaru shivered as Suguro returned to them. 'And you're OK?'

'...she's not scary.' said Suguro. 'She knows what it means to be...well...her. She knows and accepted everything. I can't imagine being her either.' he said. 'She had the worst bad luck.'

'Understatement of the year...and she's raised by priests to boot.' said Shima with a nervous laugh. 'She's kinda cool though, and one hell of a cook. No demon can do what she could and she's real nice. She's not scary.' he told Konekomaru. 'Try to observe from afar.'