Chapter 3 - Panic at the Market Square

Magnolia

The market place, which only seconds ago was busy with the hustling and bustling of people who were laughing and talking away in the summer afternoon sunshine, became a place of utter chaos. Panic shot through the crowd and spread like some contagious disease. Lucy, Yukio and Grey ran towards the source of the sudden turmoil. The fact that people were streaming in the other direction made things a little bit more complicated.

They kept pushing past people. Panicked mothers carrying their children. Couples dragging each other away. The young helping the old. Of course when they realised their life was at stake they couldn't help but to knock over a couple of stalls, sending bright, ripened fruit rolling on the paved street.

"What the hell is going on?" shouted Grey while dodging people.
"I don't know but it must be quite large to cause people to freak out like this." Concluded Lucy.

'But how large?' Yukio wondered but then he gasped. The trio came to a sudden halt once they found the thing that created all this panic. It was a three storey, bulky monster with a dark green tail of a lizard, a disgusting long pink tongue and large curved claws.

"Amimon." Breathed Yukio.

With that Amimon swung his tail and wrecked a house on the market squared leaving behind a pile of rubble.

Yukio gripped his guns, tightly.

'Why the hell would Amimon be here? What kind of sick joke is this Mephisto?!'

Grey covered his face with his fore arm.

"Where did that thing come from?!" Shouted Grey, not having a clue what they were up against.

Lucy, with her eyes wide at such a sight, extended the list of questions with a "And what even is it?!"

"Get down!" Shouted Yukio as he pushed both of them into an alley before they got buried under more debris.

Lucy yelped and Grey cursed.

"It's the Demon King of Earth, Amimon." Informed Yukio coldly. He drew his guns with his back firm against the wall.

Grey's eyes widened in recollection. That fateful day came rushing back to him: the demon, Ur, and his parents. It froze every muscle in his body. He tensed and he looked up at Amimon in hatred.

"What? What does that- Why is he here?" Asked Lucy, incredulously.

"That," Replied Yukio as he clicked his guns, "Is what I'd like to know." He then swiftly poked his head out to come up with a strategy to take him down.

Amimon appeared to be searching for something. He was occupied. They were in cover. The market square was spacious but no spacious enough. The area has been cleared but it would take a lot of movement to take him down. They would need to attack from above, preferably on the roof. They'd have to draw him away from civilians to minimise collateral damage but not too far out of town as they will need the cover of buildings. With a target as large as this it would be best if they attacked from several sides to wear him out and to keep him in the dark. It will most likely infuriate him. He will lose focus. He may even show his heart.

He furrowed his brows.

'These damn bullets won't work.'

Just then Yukio felt a chill go down his spine. He looked behind him and was rather surprised at Grey who was emitting, snowflakes(?) in the air around him and gazing at Amimon with a stare colder than Yukio has ever seen.

"How do you know that guy?" He almost growled, without even looking at him. Yukio returned to analysis as he answered.

"My brother and I faced him before. My brother almost killed him but I don't remember being this big." His eyes suddenly widened behind his glasses. "Magic."

"What?" asked Lucy.

"It must be the magic of this place. It seems to empower him. Yet he doesn't have his minions, so he mustn't be able to summon them."

Lucy was getting more and more confused. This wasn't making sense to her.

"Oh-hohohoho-ho! This-sss is-ss amazing! The power! I'm stronger than I've ever been before! Little brother! Come out! Fight me again! This-ss time I won't lose!"

Amimon chuckled like a manic as he smashed another building into pieces. This time the bricks demolished a cute little fountain.

"Little brother my ass." Grumbled Yukio under his breath.

Grey grabbed Yukio's neck and pushed him against the wall.

"Okay, pal."

"Grey! What are you doing?! Put him down!" Protested Lucy,

"You have the total of three seconds to explain what he meant by little brother."

Yukio, struggling for air and with his words found himself easily overpowered.

"He is … a psycho…You can't trust…a word he says…" He struggled.

"Oh yeah, well he looks severely pissed and I'm betting you have something to do with it. Now tell me, why is a demon trying to destroy my town?" He screamed at him.

"He wants a rematch…He never reallytook defeat too well...Obsessed…We can…take him…" Yukio was kind of out of air.

"Grey you are choking him dammit!" Shouted Lucy.

Grey let him drop. "How do I know you are not with him?"

Yukio rubbed his neck, still with his pistol in on hand, coughing a little.

"Answer me!"

The young exorcist looked up at him in indifference. "Because he is a demon. I am an exorcist. As a member of the Knights of the True Cross it is my duty, to exorcise all that is evil from this world and make sure that everything that spawns from the cursed real of Gehenna, is obliterated from the face of earth. He is trying to kill my brother." Yukio stood up.

"And nobody tries to kill my brother, not unless they get to me first." He added with ice cold affirmation.

"Now, if you want to take him down, we need to attack him simultaneously." His tone quickly became business like as he informed them of his new plan.


Somewhere, just outside Magnolia

"Huh? Did you guys hear that?" Asked Natsu cocking his head to the side.

"Hear what?" Asked Rin as he took his hands down from behind his back.

"The town's in trouble." He concluded and sprinted towards Magnolia.

"Hey! Natsu! Wait up!" cried Happy and they ran after him.


Magnolia's Market Square

'Gotta. Keep him. Distracted.' Reinforced Lucy as she clenched her teeth together. Seriously this Amimon dude was a psycho. Ever since they split up to deal with this guy he has been smashing things like a manic chanting 'Come at me, little brother, FIGHT ME!' like some mantra. Lucy frowned.

Since the plan was to keep him distracted while Yukio got close enough to take him down she summoned Virgo while she ducked behind some rubble. Meanwhile Grey was fighting with a ferocity she hasn't witnessed too often.

"Ice-make: Canon" He enchanted, his words filled with power and surety. It sent icy blasts his way, followed by a punch from Grey and a stab from his Lance.

Just then, Virgo sprang from underground and smacked him clean on the chin, making him bite his tongue as she leaped over him and plunged underground seconds later.

Yukio edged closer and was only within a few yards. He was busy placing a trap by drawing several markings around Amimon. If it worked, with the right incantation, the seal should weaken him just enough to get him back to his usual 'human' form. In theory it should. If it were to work, taking him out should be a piece of cake. Lucy and Grey, as he observed were strong enough for the job.

"FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST!" Came a roar out of nowhere.

"Natsu!" Exclaimed Lucy in relief.

With that Natsu smacked Amimon clean off his feet, causing the whole market place to quake as he hit the ground and landed on his back, stirring up a lot of dust. Amimon was out cold.

"Dammit!" Cursed Yuki. Natsu just got him out of the circle.

'Who the hell is this moron?!'

"Hah-ha! That showed him!"

"Natsu! What the hell took you so long?" Asked Grey, sounding slightly pissed.

"I could ask you the same question. It took me literally one second to take him down. How long have you been at this?" He enquired smugly.

"Are you trying to pick a fight flame breath?" Provoked Grey, slamming his forehead against his.

"Who are you calling a flame breath? Just admit it. You are being stingy cos I beat the guy with one punch."

"Guys…could you please cut this out…" Pleaded Lucy while the two wizards continued throwing similar insults at each other.

"Wow! This guy is huge!" Stated Happy as he landed on Lucy's head.

Yukio ran over to them.

"Why did you do that for?" Demanded Yukio furiously.

"Huh?" Asked Grey and Natsu in unison, taking a break from their bickering.

"You just knocked him straight out of my seal! I could've neutralised him in a few more seconds.

"Geez, calm down four eyes," Reassured Natsu, "The guy's out cold, he won't be-"

Without a warning Amimon let out a deafening scream, causing several birds to flee the surrounding trees. He quickly stood up, reaching his three storey height. The orange sky behind him grew darker as the sun disappeared. His yellow eyes were filled with evil before but this time they were glowing blood red from rage. His gaze threw daggers towards Natsu who only slammed his fists together and smirked.

"Well it seems like I was wrong after all." He added.

Lucy, Grey and Yukio were are embracing themselves for the attack.

"YOU!" Amimon roared, his voice drenched in utter hatred and he lounged towards him.

But then a voice stopped him short.

"Hey Amimon."

He turned to the direction of the voice. "Huh?"

SMACK

Rin came and fly kicked him across the jaw, causing him to stumble a couple of times before he fell on his knees.

Rin landed beside Yukio and the others.

"Rin?" Questioned Yukio, sounding slightly relieved now that he knew that his brother was safe.

"Hey! Four-eyes!" Exclaimed Rin as he sheepishly scratched the back of his head, "It's good to see-"

He never finished that sentence.

"Rin!" Cried Natsu.

Amimon smacked Rin into the building opposite the square with his scaly tail. Rin landed with a visible crash.

"Rin! Hey! Broccoli head! Leave him alone!" Protested Natsu.

"I have been expecting you." Informed Amimon as he eyed Rin, almost forgetting about the others. It wasn't until he felt the heat from Natsu's flaming fists that he turned to them.

"As for YOU!" He swung his massive talons, deflecting Natsu's attack and sending shockwaves in their direction, forcing them to retreat behind the stalls.

"Look out!" Shouted Grey as the gang took cover.

"NOBODY INTERVENES!"

Meanwhile, Rin got up on his feet. His school uniform was covered in dirt. He had a few gashes on the side of his head but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. He wiped his mouth with his wrist.

"Alright," he said, "You want a fight," He took his sword out of his red case and held it in both hands, "You got it."

And with that Rin unsheathed his sword and his body erupted in flames. But it wasn't like anything before. His flames were almost fluorescent and so blinding, the gang way back at the other side of the square and even Amimon had to shield his eyed from the flare. His flames expanded several feet away from him and formed a shape easily mistaken for wings, behind his back. His ears and canines grew sharper as before but his nails turned into claws and what's more: His right eye was on fire too. And it burned with a beautiful electric blue flame. In the summer setting sun, he was like a beacon of light.

Unbeknownst to him, he positioned himself for battle.

He smirked at the sight off Amimon's expression which was utterly amazed and shocked.

"Come at me." Rin simply said.

Amimon screamed at him in devastation. "I will kill you! You will not live another day! I will not lose!"

As the two demons clashed Grey grew more and more uneasy. He let his gaze shift to the younger Okumara twin in scorn.

'Just who the hell are these guys?'

Meanwhile, Lucy, Natsu and the exceed Happy stared at Rin dumbfounded. "Wow. How. Does. He. Do that?" Asked Natsu.

Yukio pushed hid glasses further up his nose while still holding on onto his pistol.

"He isn't usually like this. The magic in this place is effecting him too."

"We can't just let him fight, alone! We mus-" Insisted Lucy but Yukio grabbed her shoulder gently before she could go anywhere. "No. He's got this. He has beaten Amimon before."

"Wait. That's Amimon?" Asked Happy incredulously.

Yukio nodded.

"You know this guy too?" Asked Grey, not sounding amused at all. He had his armed crossed as he leaned against a crumbling wall.

"Huh? No. Rin told us of this guy." Informed Happy.

Grey scoffed. "Sure he did."

Lucy scowled at him but he pretended he didn't notice.

"Satan Slash!" Exclaimed Rin as he sent a wave a blue at Amimon. He had to admit training with Shura really does pay off!

"I'm going to try and set up another set of seals to neutralise him. I'm going to need you to cover me? Think you can handle that?" he asked.

"You bet!" Agreed Natsu throwing his fist up in the air. Yukio nodded and headed off. "Go Rin! You can pummel the guy!" They encouraged as Rin and Amimon continued fighting.

"YAAAAH!" Shouted Amimon as he slammed Rin's face into the pavement and started punching it repeatedly.

"I WILL WIN. I AM STRONGER. I AM STRONGER!"

When he stopped Rin wasn't moving at all. A malevolent smile crept on Amimon's face, and he continued punching. But then Rin's eyes opened and with a sudden movement he blocked Amimon's next punch with Kurikara. Amimon was surprised at first, then annoyed and then furious at this. The two opponents shook as the friction built between them. Amimon was having trouble keeping him down.

Lucy and the others watched them while holding their breath. Each of them looking intently at the battle in front of them.

Then slowly, almost unnoticeably, Rin forced Amimon back until he was able to stand on his feet again and he swung his sword, sending a fluorescent wave of electric blue at him.

Amimon yelped in annoyance and his father's flames, which he has learned to fear and respect, burned away at him. He stumbled a bit sending a partially deteriorated building crashing down near where Yukio was working away. Natsu, upon realising this sent a stream of fire to deflect the rubble away from Yukio. When Yukio realised what just happened he gave Natsu a nod of gratitude. And he continued on.

The Flames of his Father…This only infuriated him even more. He should be able to wield that power. He is more worthy of it than that half runt. He isn't even a full demon. Yet he was a Demon King. The Demon King of Earth! He will not allow a little scum like him to beat him ever again. He could've killed him. If only Mephisto wouldn't have intervened. Yes, he could've done it. He could have done it. Rin is a weakling. A Half demon! A weakling! He will be CRUSHED!

As Amimon leaped at him with these infuriating thoughts poisoning his mind, his body froze. He couldn't move. He held his arm up ready for an impact that it will never make. He then heard murmurs. The murmurs became clearer. As did the source. To his left. At his feet.

He turned his head with all the effort he could muster. It was Yukio. Reciting a mantra causing numerous seals surrounding him to light up. He then realised what was happening.

His pupils widened.

"NOOOOOOO! Don't you DAAAARE!" He screeched in agony as the seals were taking their effect. The dark gleam light engulfed him as it wore away his power and he shrunk and continued shrinking until he resembled his more human form. He screamed as he shrunk and ended up on his knees. Completely defenceless.

Amimon hung his head as the Yukio finished and the seals faded. A light came over him. Burning as bright as an evening star. He knew damn rightly what it was. He looked up.

It was Rin.

Well, his silhouette. His right eye was still blazing and his other features were not clear in the twilight.

"Now you… die."

That voice sent chills down his spine. It wasn't Rin. It didn't sound anything like him. It was filled with malice. It rang with sick pleasure. He smiled. You could tell from the way blue flames reflected off his teeth. It wasn't a nice smile. It was a cruel smile. And it wasn't Rin's smile. He has observed him in his more feeble moments. He was a goofy, brainless idiot. He was a lot of things. But Amimon couldn't ever recall him being this vicious. It almost reminded him of…

His eyes widened in fear. It tensed all his muscles. All of a sudden he couldn't care if Rin was stronger. He didn't want to deteriorate. He wanted to stay. He wanted to stay in Assiah. With Mephisto. With the colours, with the smells and the sights. With the foods, the clothes, the toys, the sweets. All those things that were so entertaining. All those things that made him feel something other than boredom and indifference. All those things that stopped the endless and mundane cycle of death and hatred in Gehenna that became so boring and meaningless after a centuries. He wanted to stay. He didn't want to die. He'd do anything to stay. Even if he had to…

"I'm sorry," He choked.

That stopped Rin.

"I'm sorry. I admit it. You are stronger. Much stronger than I'll ever be." He hung his head in hopes of receiving mercy. Instead, all he heard was the cling of the metal as Rin lifted the Kurikara to behead him.

"That's too bad…"

"RIN!" Shouted Yukio as he ran towards them.

That snapped Rin out of it. He shook his head. And his flames died down a little.

The others followed behind Yukio.

"Hey Rin, are you okay?" Queried the little blue exceed.

"Yeah...yeah…I'm…Hnnnn"

"RIN!" Cried Yukio as he caught him, just before he collapsed.

Rin!" Sounded Natsu as he saw his new friend faint. Lucy and Grey caught up closely behind.

"You!" Spat Grey and he held Amimon by the throat, "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you."

"I would strongly advise against it." Added Yukio as he laid Rin on his back and seethed Kurikara so Rin's demon form would vanish.

"Yeah? And why is that?" Asked Grey harshly.

"Because if we kill him here. He might be reborn in this realm." He pushed his glasses further up his nose. "And I guess that would be a little inconvenient." He gave Grey a look that he didn't like and dropped Amimon who whined in his weak form. "We need to take him back with us…Where he may be taken care of properly."

Amimon's eyes nearly filled with tears as he learned that today will not be the day that he died. In his sudden happiness he changed into a form that he has been hiding out in for the last couple of months, unbeknownst to the Okumara twins: A green, red-eyed hamster.

Poof!

"Thank you!." He squeaked.

"HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHHHHHH?" Exclaimed Lucy, Natsu and Happy in unison.

"Are you trying to tell me that the Demon King of Earth is actually a Hamster?" Cried Lucy, not believeing her eyes.

"I knew there was always something shady about those guys!" Concluded Happy in a serious voice.

Yukio couldn't help but to stop and stare for a moment with Rin slung around his shoulders. He then met Natsu's, rather surprised gaze - that would be a friendly way to put it.

He perked an eyebrow.

"Hey, don't look at me. I am just as shocked as you are." He answered.

"Guys, I think we need to take Rin to the infirmary. He is bleeding quite badly…" Urged Lucy.

"Come on let's go take him." Agreed Natsu.

Grey only growled in annoyance as they made their way to the guild. He threw his hands in his pocket while Natsu helped to carry Rin.

Meanwhile, Amimon ran up Yukio's back and sat on his shoulder. As Yukio noticed he quietly whispered to him in an indifferent tone.

"I swear to God you try anything nasty and I will feed you to the blue flying cat." And he tipped his head in Happy's direction. Amimon followed his gaze. Happy was throwing an 'I'm watching you' look to Amimon from Lucy's left shoulder.

"Understood." He replied, sounding content with this deal.


The office of Sir Mephisto Pheles

ACHOOO!

"OH MY ACTUAL- Achoo!- heavens...It's times like these I really hate Assiah." Complained Mephisto who was still severely sick.

He sniffed in defeat. He was feeling miserable and he couldn't even read manga since his eyes were so blurry he couldn't see the page.

His mouth was getting really dry so he concluded some tea would do him good. He lifted his pink teacup and took a sip. But the hot tea burned his tongue so much that he even dropped the cup which scalded his feet.

"HOT! HOT HOT! AOUU!" He frantically cried as he jumped around his chair. But then the feet got tangled in the telephone wire and he fell on his flat on his ass, beside his desk, yanking half of the contents with him.

"Oh my word…"

ACHOO! He sneezed, for the umptheenth time today.

"This couldn't get any worse." He moaned.

He really badly needed a tissue. He looked to his right. Thankfully the tissue box landed just a few inches from him. He reached to grab it but he couldn't. He got so tangled in the telephone cable he was just millimetres away from reaching it. No matter how he tried, no luck. He let a very frustrated sigh that turned into a whine.

"Amimon!" He called, but there was no response.

"Amimon! Where are you?" He shouted, every louder. "I need medical assistance…" He whined, almost like a lost puppy.

ACHOOOO!

A lost puppy with one hell of a cold.


A/N: Hope you like :) All you guys who reviewed and fav'd and followed: THANK YOU SO MUCH Please let me know what you think. I really appreciate it. Until next time.