Chapter 3

Kagura

The girl watched as Shiro and Rin ran into the chapel from outside.

"How's the job?" Shiro asked Nagatomo who was waiting for them outside.

"Most of the demons were exorcised. The chapel has been covered in 3 layers of wards," replied Nagatomo.

The three walked into the chapel, with Rin looking dazed as usual. "Extend more of the wards. It will not hold till morning. Where's Kagura?"

Kagura stood inside of the chapel, waiting for their arrival. "I'm here."

"Thank God."

"Who are those demons?" Kagura asked.

"Astaroth's kin. Nagatomo, pour three times concentrated holy water down the drain. Don't let anything enter this place."

"Yes, Fujimoto-san." Maruta and Izumi both carried huge buckets of holy water and went to their destination.

"Astaroth? That's trouble," Kagura said. She turned to look at Rin, who was unclear of what was happening. "Rin, are you okay?"

"I…" Rin muttered. Then with shock he stared at her. "You knew, Kagura? You knew who really I am?"

"Rin, I'm sorry. But-"

"Hurry up, Rin. You too, Kagura." Shiro went into a hidden room, gesturing at the two to follow. The two entered the room which there was nothing but an old chest. Shiro entered a key into the key hole of the chest and opened it. Inside was a Japanese sword with a dark blue sheath.

"Koumaken," Kagura muttered.

"It is also called Kurikara," said Shiro as he took the sword out. "It is a sword in legends that has been passed down in generations. Your powers have been transferred to this sword and its sheath used to seal your powers."

"M-my powers?" Rin asked. Kagura could see that the boy was trying hard to digest the reality that was happening around him.

Shiro handed the sword to him. "This is a sword that is more important than your life. Do not give anyone else. Even while you're asleep you mustn't let this sword leave your sight. Kagura will make sure you will not do any mistake."

He sounded like he was dying… Fear immediately crept into the girl's heart. Has he prepared to die for protecting Rin? She looked at her father, who had pure determination in his eyes. She had never seen him like that before.

"But remember: NEVER LET ANYONE TAKE THIS SWORD," emphasized Shiro. "If the sword is unsheathed, your demon powers will be awakened. And you will never become human again."

"Wait a sec," said Rin. "If I'm a demon, then Yukio—"

"You and Yukio are fraternal twins," Kagura explained in Shiro's stead. "Yukio was born weaker so he didn't inherit the power."

"The one who inherited the power is you, Rin," Shiro added.

Rin's face was etched with more shock. He diverted his eyes from Shiro to Kagura and questions began to pop in his head again. "What about Kagura? How does she know?"

Noises came from the outside of the ward as monsters struggled to enter the place.

"Rin, that's not important. You must—" said Kagura, trying to soothe the boy.

"How come you knew and hid this from me? I thought that you're my best friend!" Rin yelled but Kagura didn't flinch. She knew she was guilty and she was willing to let him bombard her with anger.

"What about the others? Did they know? Did Yukio know?

"It's for your own good," Shiro explained.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why?"

"As long as you're still human I'll continue to raise you. This is to let you live, considering you have Satan's blood in you. This is the only agreement."

"Agreement?"

"I wanted to raise you like a human, so that is no need to let the cat out of the bag. The secret between both of your births, I didn't tell anyo-"

It was like a pandemonium outside. A loud explosion filled the air as the ground trembled. Shiro ran out of the room, followed by Rin and Kagura. Three of them didn't like what they saw.

A huge truck had found its way into the chapel by crashing into the front entrance. Dead dogs that stunk marched towards them like zombies. The boy that Rin previously fought sauntered into the place, with horns grew on his head and a tail swaying behind him. Kagura knew the guy was possessed by Astaroth.

"Young Master, I have found you," Astaroth said. "Let's go home to Gehenna." Then he stretched his arm long enough to grab Rin's leg.

Seeing the situation, Kagura began her attack. "O God of Light, shine on this fiend!" her body enveloped in a white glow. A streak of light formed from the glow of her body rushed towards Astaroth and struck him. The fiend released his grip on Rin and struggled on the ground, burn marks over him caused by the light attack.

Rin gaped. "What the hell was that?"

"No time to explain!" Shiro grabbed Rin by his collar and thrown him into the secret room. "Kagura, go with him!"

"I am not leaving you to fight Astaroth alone!"

"I said go!" Shiro grabbed her shoulders, attempting to throw her into the room but she violently shook his hands off. She lunged forward at Astaroth with a white glow over her palms. Seeing the girl was about to attack him, Astaroth's body immediately grew larger in great proportions. His arms flailed backwards, ready to smash the girl when she approaches. As she neared him, she slipped her feet and glided beneath Astaroth's legs, missing his attack by a few inches. She got up to her feet quickly and with her glowing palms, she punched the demon's back with such tremendous force the demon nearly toppled over.

Rin and Shiro could only watch her doing her work, with Rin amazed and the latter worrying his head off.

Astaroth spun his body around to face Kagura, only to find her body enveloped in the same white glow, preparing for an attack. Immediately Astaroth stretched his hand to grab her but it was too late.

"O God of Lightning, strike down this fiend!" As the words were spoken, lightning burst through the ceiling and struck the demon with 10000 megavolts, shocking his every fiber and muscles. With that, Astaroth, now in crisps, fell on to the ground. His eyes glued on her, with infinite shock and disbelief.

"You… You're an an—"

Great pressure that pressed his chest stopped his sentence. Shiro's foot stood steadily over Astaroth's chest despite his struggle. A rifle was aimed at the demon's head. "She is an Aria, and my daughter, nothing more than that. Shut your filthy mouth and be sent into the depths of Leviathan, unable to see, hear, smell or speak. Be covered by darkness itself and never to return!"

A piercing howl was heard and something like a black soul came out from Astaroth's mouth as he slowly turned back to human. Shiro took back his foot. "Nagatomo, drive the car here. Izumi, Kyodo, purify this boy and make sure no demons possess him again."

"Yes, Fujimoto-san."

On the other hand, Kagura patted dust off her clothes, ignoring the fact that her arm bled from the glide she just took. Shiro glared at her. "That was a stupid move. You could get yourself killed!"

"Well, it saved our lives, didn't it? Don't think that I don't know a hell what you are going to do. You think throwing me and Rin into a room so that you can fight to protect us? I am not that weak as you think! And what you said before, it left me questions and I want answers so don't die before I say so!"

"Now young lady, it's for your own goo—"

"Telling me the whole truth of what is actually going on would be for my own good! You're hiding something, father, don't deny it!"

"I did not! Now, get to your room and get packed! You too, Rin. Both of you must leave at the first light of dawn."

"Father!"

"When all of this is over, I'll tell you. I promise. Okay?"

Kagura sighed. Rin was her priority right now since demons had found out the truth about him. "Fine."

"Hold on a sec!" Rin suddenly yelled. "Why are we leaving?"

"You should realize the demons' target is you."

"So if I leave, everything will be solved, right?"

The girl knew where Rin was going with this. "Rin, father didn't mean that."

"Then I'll leave instead! Isn't that easier?" Rin walked towards the door but Shiro stopped him. The boy pushed Shiro's hand away from him with anger.

"Leave me be! Even at the end, you still chose to abandon me!"

"Rin…" Kagura muttered. "Father didn't—"

"Shut up Kagura! After all I'm not a good son… no, I'm not even your son!" Rin glared at Shiro. "I'm just a stranger! Stop pretending to be my family! Stop pretending to be my father!"

Kagura's eyes widened in shock as she watched Shiro slapped Rin on his left cheek loudly.

"Dawn's coming." Gently, Shiro spoke. "Go pack your stuff."

Rin remained silent for awhile. "Fine." He walked back to his room slowly.

Kagura knew deep down in Shiro's heart, Shiro was regretting that he slapped his son. His palm was red. She wanted to step forward and console him.

Then it happened.

Shiro suddenly fell to his knees, his hand clutching his chest tight.

"Father!" Kagura rushed forward.

"Stop!" Shiro yelled.

Kagura halted.

"Don't come any closer. Leave me, quick!"

Ominously, all the light bulbs in the chapel shattered into pieces and dark blanketed the place. Kagura had a bad feeling. She immediately jumped onto the spot between Rin and Shiro, defending the boy. "Rin, stand back."

"What the—"

Suddenly, Shiro snickered in a wicked way. "I finally got this body."

"Crap. He's possessed," Kagura gritted.

Shocked, the colour from Rin's face drained away. "By who?"

"Your blood father, Satan." The familiar white glow retook its position over Kagura's body.

"It's so nice seeing you, my son," Shiro, or Satan, laughed as he erupted in blue flames. "I am Satan, your father."

And all hell broke loose.