I've updated the story description to now have a spoiler warning. While we're not quite there yet, this fic is going to eventually spoil a lot from the Blue Exorcist manga. I suggest you have read at least up to 83 for now, if you care about spoilers.

"Kuro! You're hurting me!" Rin said.

:Oh! Sorry, Kuro sent. He retracted his claws from Rin's chest and stepped back. Rin sat up.

:I've only ever encountered their clan once, before I became Shirō's familiar. True Cross Order had recruited them in its early days. The silver-eyed clan had Meisters in both Knight and Dragoon classes. They were fanatic with exorcising demons, bloodthirsty even. I barely escaped an encounter with one when I was possessing a different body ages ago. Their numbers dwindled over time. Then the Blue Night happened, and what remained was killed by Satan possessing them. Why are you asking about them? Kuro sent.

:Are you sure all of them died the Blue Night? Rin sent.

:Yeah, why?

:Cause there's a girl who goes here who has silver eyes.

Kuro shivered. :You should stay away from her. If she finds out about your blue flames...

:She doesn't seem like a bloodthirsty demon killer.

:It could be trick.

:I think you're overreacting.

:I'm trying to watch out for you.

:Well, maybe this time, you don't have to.

:Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Kuro jumped to the other side of the bed and curled into a ball. Rin fell backwards, folding his arms behind his head.

Kuro was being paranoid, right? There was no way Ruby was going to kill him.

Right?

Rin felt a lump in his throat. He ignored it and closed his eyes.

At least he was going to get a good night's sleep for tomorrow.

1 hour later

Glynda dropped the stack of papers on her desk. "Renting the bullheads from the city to put out the fire in Emerald Forest require a ton of paperwork and red tape. I thought Ozpin was taking care of this, until I found this stack hidden under his desk. Since you are his PA-"

"I have to do it," Rin said. Glynda started to make her to the door. "You're not helping this time?"

"I have...other things to attend to," Glynda said before she stepped out.

"So what should Kuro be looking for exactly?" Rin said.

"Anything suspicious, out of the ordinary," Ozpin said.

"Okay. What counts as ordinary here?" Rin said. His eyes widened. "N-not that I don't know what's ordinary life here in Vale! Haha. I...don't have a lot of experience at huntsmen academies. That's it."

Ozpin sipped his mug and gave Rin that unreadable smile Ozpin always seemed to have on his face.

"I'm sure that over time, this place won't seem so alien to you."

"Yeah, I guess. So do you want Kuro to be in normal cat size or in his giant form when he's guarding?"

"What would you suggest?"

"A giant Kuro could be more intimidating.." As if on que, Kuro grew several sizes. Students walking by stared at the trio, with one student running into a lamppost.

"Where did you find a cat with such a semblance. Or did you give your cat Aura?"

"He was my Dad's fam-pet first." :I almost called you a familiar. Do they even have familiars here?

:Why would I know?

"He never told you?"

"No, and that's all I know." Rin glared at Ozpin.

"I was curious."

"Is everyone who works here like that?"

"Well, this is a school after all?"

The True Cross staff wasn't this nosy. Then again, they did already know about Satanic heritage. "Don't you have somewhere to be right now?"

"Huh? Oh, kitchen! See ya Kuro!" Rin waved as he ran away.

Out of range of Kuro, Ozpin walked toward the courtyard when Glynda caught up to him.

"Ozpin? We have hidden cameras around campus. Why do we need a giant cat at the entrance of the school?" Glynda said.

"You're saying you wouldn't have been intimidated a giant beast when you were attending Beacon?" Ozpin said.

"Ozpin."

The headmaster smiled. "I don't any harm in humoring them for now."

"We're humoring the potential Salem accomplice?"

"We're keeping him thinking we're not onto him."

"I see," Glynda said. Ozpin looked around him. He really took in view of the courtyard for the first time in a long-

"Is what I would say if I didn't think this also gave you the opportunity to offload your responsibilities."

Now what makes you say-"

"You are walking in the opposite direction of your office."

Ozpin cleared his throat. "Oh, look at the time. I would love to continue this chat, but I have some important tasks to complete," he said as he flipped around and walked toward his office.

"I wouldn't want to take up your time," Glynda said.

"I'm telling ya. The clown-looking bastard has something to do this. And isn't it a coincidence that his spy has stopped showing up to class around the same time. Are you listening to me, Yukio?"

First, it was bad enough discovering the Illuminati's artificial Gehenna Gates. But then Rin and Kuro disappeared. He couldn't have been taken from here, within Mephisto's barrier. Did he run away? Did this have something to do with what happened at...? No, that doesn't fit him. Rin has bulldozed his way through problems head on since he first enrolled in True Cross. Rin was an idiot of a brother, but he wasn't a coward. Unlike...

"I can give you the power you need."

"Hey, Yukio."

Yukio was interrupted from his thoughts by a hand waving in front of his face. He spun to his left to see Shura, reminding him he wasn't alone in his and Rin's room.

"Sorry. I was lost in thought. What were you saying again?" Yukio said. Shura gave him a look. "Is there something on my face?" Yukio said.

Shura sighed, and then sat down next to him on the cot. "Hey, ya know you can talk to me, right? You don't have to deal with this alone."

"I'm hanging in there fine. You should be more worried about Rin. Wherever he is."

"So there's nothing ya need to tell me?"

"You're weak."

"After all, you aren't all that strong in the heart."

"I'm sure. So what happened again?"

"Arthur called for a meeting between senior exorcists and above for Mephisto to explain the disappearance of the weapon."

"I'm guessing Mephisto was cryptic and dodged questions."

"Yes, about what could be expected. The weird part was that Arthur didn't give much push-back against Mephisto."

Yukio raised an eyebrow. "Arthur?"

"You're sure?"

"I saw it with my own eyes. The meeting felt like a formality instead of an interrogation.

"Which means either Arthur doesn't really care-"

"-and Arthur would care about the spawn of Satan vanishing-"

"or he and Mephisto know something."

I missed the deadline by a large margin, again. Whoops. I apologize for both the shorter length and slightly subpar editing. I kinda just wanted to get this chapter done and released. I also apologize for next chapter being short as well, though that will be due where I want cut off the story before [REDACTED] happens.

Also, I am now going to be looking for a beta reader for this fic. I just need someone to help ease the burden of proofreading/revision.

Next chapter I am aiming for either August 9th or August 16th the latest.