Chapter 7
"What-what is he doing here?"
"The traitor! He is back!"
"I never thought I'd see that face again…"
Mephisto walked down the aisle in stride, a quick step of confidence and a wave of his hand that made the cries of dislike, the pouring outrage against him into something of an honor. Indeed, he was ecstatic that after all this time they had still remembered him! His smile would not ease from his mouth, and his heel would not lose power even as he made his way towards the man whom he hated most. Mephisto had not been back in nearly two centuries, and yet by the catcalls and curses shot at him from all sides, well, he had certainly left his mark. Mephisto had not envisioned his return to the castle, to the other side, so soon. He had had other plans, and Mephisto had been putting that day off for a long time…until everything was secure…everything in order. However, now he had no choice in the matter. His return home could not be avoided… that man had made it so.
A grin could be seen, and Mephisto stopped short at the front of the stage. By now, the room had gone deathly quiet. The seated demons waiting anxiously, nervously, for the conversation about to unfold.
"Brother! You made it!" Amaimon shouted gleefully from the front row, jumping up and down and apparently not noticing the shift of coldness the atmosphere had suddenly taken. Mephisto did not look, his face of steel clearly not about to be broke, and Amaimon let his hand slip and shrunk back to the shadows, disappointed his brother did not wish to chat.
A wave, a shout of laughter swung around the room, the attention once again returning to the front.
Quite rapidly, blue flames shot out dramatically from all sides, streams that circled the room and emitted largely from the stage; a crackling fit, a whirlwind of whips which no one had prepared for. They spiraled in a haze, one unlucky demon getting burnt to a crisp while the rest scrambled to their feet, desperate to get out of the fiery way. The chandelier above lit magnificently for a moment, the flames exceeding the bounds before extinguishing completely in a wind unseen. Darkness befell, and the whips lit the walls majestically while chaos ensued. Mephisto stood perfectly still despite one stream coming dangerously close to his face, despite the destruction that seemed to erupt from straight behind him. It amused him greatly that the order of the world could fall at his mere arrival.
Mephisto shuttered quietly to himself, odd feelings mixed within as he took in the fires ravishing about. A blue lit man walked out of the flame which had now taken over the stage, his tail whipping, a grin widening his face, and in a moment too fast to be seen, he had vanished to a blur. The next second he was face to face with Mephisto, who had not moved an inch.
"Well, what surprise is this, is this? If it isn't my Mephisto!" The man laughed a little, his eyes searching his sons for meaning. His black hair strung beside his face casting a darkened look, his fiery eyes looking beyond personal boundaries before he swiftly took on a cooler tone,
"By what brings you here… now…?" His soft voice seemed to carry all around the room, the demons behind stopping their rampage at the sound of their leader.
Mephisto smiled gladly, taking control of the situation by stepping back, pulling out his cane and walking around the room.
"No other reason than the main. How is it, now? Do you suspect me… dear father? Do you believe that I, of all people, would be up to something? Now, now," Mephisto silenced the hissing that had broken out, waving his cane as if giving a lecture, "I know how you are all lead to believe… but you shall know, I have never betrayed. I have never, for the life that I live, plotted against my fellow world. We are of the night, my friends…I am no exception…"
And in a flourish of unruly wind, Mephisto stretched out a pair of great wings, purple and bat-like, beating the air in two powerful strokes. It was as if a violent storm, a whirlwind of insanity had taken over in but a few flaps. He smiled. It really had been a long time since he was able to do that. It was a moment before he let them fall, disappearing them from sight, the room a little taken by the sudden display of power. He continued as if nothing happened,
"And while I may have lived in the upper world, seen the stars, may have taken in the pleasures of man which the likes you know not of, I am no spy. I am truly here for the reason in which all of you are here. That is, to see our youngest brother celebrate his joyous return home and birthday! That is and is my reasons…dear father," He looked back, "None the else."
He ended to an unusual silence which lingered over the scene.
"And if I said…" Satan began, his eyes pure cold. He had not moved from his position since Mephisto's speech, and the darkness of the scene surrounded him, "That I don't believe you?"
And in a movement too fast to be seen, in another blur he was once again facing Mephisto too close for comfort.
"Mephisto..." he breathed, ice cold on frozen air, "Do you really think you can play me...?" He smiled, sweetly, twirling the hair of Mephisto delicately in his hand, who in turn looked as if he couldn't have wished anything more pleasurable. Such was the scowl written on his face.
"What do you think of the situation before us now, hmm?" He continued to play, his eyes never wavering his gaze from Mephisto, "The sword… what of your brothers sword, Mephisto? It has gone missing, you know. What do you think of this, hm? Mephisssto…." He hung on the sound longer than normal.
"Oh, I have not heard. What a terrible tragedy indeed." Mephisto replied stiffly.
"He was under your care."
"Yes, yes he was."
"Why, you even requested to take care of him yourself... a rare thing of you to do..."
"Why yes, I did do that. It is rare of me." He spoke cheerfully.
"Hehe, why then has it gone missing…? Why does he not have it with him?" His flaming eyes grew brighter, his voice trembling to remain soft,
"Of course, Mephisto, I have no proof," He let go the hair, "But do not think I don't suspect. I have always suspected you… of treachery towards me…" He paused before continuing, "Much like your brother whom you cared deeply for…"
"Ah…dearest father… do not bring him into the conversation…else there shall be bloodshed… and settlements to be settled."
"Heh… ahahaha!" He was now moving slowly backward, with each step the air in the room seemed to stiff, each motion drawn out as if in slow motion. He placed out his hand, and flames gathered into his palm.
"My son, how you test me, you really do. Shall I?" He wasn't laughing now, his voice pure ice. "Shall I kill you now? But I hate to see the blood of my own spilled so needlessly..."
"You cannot kill me, father. You would not see for it so early in the game,"
At this he stopped, a curious expression drawing on his face. He released his flames and frowned,
"Game?"
An outbreak, a sudden clash of demons in the back row erupted, the distraction pausing all things. The fight between them was quickly growing fierce, and all eyes looked towards the chaos. A single demon could be seen, just barely among the others, struggling against the waves for a chance to speak. In a hurry, he chanted savagely:
"Mephi-sto! Mephi-sto! Mephi–!" But just as soon as he had begun was he quickly defeated. His voice cutting off sharply in a sickly gasp. Strangely, the room hushed down swiftly after the outburst.
"Ah… I see I still have some… supporters?" Mephisto could not suppress his laughter. How things were turning out much better indeed!
"You have none." The reply met his, the gazes of the room flickering between who to follow. Mephisto turned, loathingly, looking into those blue, blue eyes. He lifted his mouth,
"Of course, that was long in the past. I hold, as well as the rest of the world, no other loyalty than... whatever name you wish us to call you?"
The room was held in a breath of strangled silence, the only light source the illuminating blue that flickered against the floors, against the walls in changing amounts; the faces of many poured into darkness, and just as well that they wished to keep it that way.
"Haha… you really do take me for a fool, then?" Satan said, the flames of his body rising and the fires of wrath not dying down. His ears were slightly elongated, and the amount of power his stance gave off was immeasurable. Mephisto did not flinch in the slightest, and on the contrary, held tight to his cane as if any moment he would attack. Even as a Son, Mephisto was something of a unique existence. He most certainly had a reputation far beyond the reaches of the castle, and many demons saw him as a being in his own right. He could stand on his own… for he always had.
"Mephissstoo…" Satan whispered; he walked forward slowly, but when Mephisto twitched his cane, he stopped.
"Hehe… do you enjoy living in your castle? I assume you reside at the top, am I correct? Aha… Mephisto, your cannot hide from me!"
"In case you have forgotten, father, it was I who designed the castle in the first place. But besides that… I have something to remind of you… in return…"
And he could not hide the joy in his eyes, the smirk itching on his lips as he said this. Mephisto noticed the distant demons whisper, out of the corner of his eye he saw his brothers shifting anxiously in apprehension. That only pushed Mephisto further.
"I have a proposal to make of you. Much like last time… you could say, that was also partly my reasons for return? If you would so kindly… accept to hear me out? We can… discuss the rules." Mephisto knew, and he laughed inwardly at the look on his father's face; one of pure hatred.
He would not refuse! Oh, no, he could not refuse; could not because he had too much pride… too much desire to win, much like Mephisto himself.
A loud bang and the doors of the hall burst open to reveal a messenger, exhausted and panicked. Every eye turned towards the newest guest, the newest worry in an already stressful situation. He scrambled down the aisle, rushing, it seemed, to deliver important news. He knelt down in a hurry, saying in short breath:
"My Lord! I have… just received… word…." He paused before yelling frantically, "Exorcists!" And at the mere word, the crowd behind grew noticeably stunned, noticeably more shocked. How was it possible, their minds searched for answers.
The messenger continued in his panic, "They are here, somehow they have made it down. They must have come through the gate with the young– I don't know how, my Lord, but please, forgive me…for not getting here sooner…"
"Ah ah! What is this, this? Exorcists, you say?" His eyes did not betray his fascination, his anger mixed with curiosity,
"Exorcists… have dared to challenge my authority? Enter my domain? Who, who are they? Speak!"
"My Lord, I know not who they are… although, it is rumored one of them is the brother of your newly arrived son."
"…"
"Well!" Mephisto clapped his hands together, drawing all eyes to him in his awkwardly cheery mood, "It appears we have some unusual guests, do we not? I propose a welcome, a greeting of sorts, if you will; after all, it is only the most polite thing to do when one arrives in a most unfamiliar place, don't you agree?"
"Haha… Mephisto, this is it? Is it?" He stared into the eyes of the messenger, his blue flames lighting the floor, casting shadows of disfiguration.
"Has my enemy already grasped the upper hand, before the game has even begun?"
"Why, I would never dream of cheating, if cheating existed, that is. Just in case you have forgotten…though I don't believe you have", he whispered darkly, "Our objective this time… hehe, though perhaps we are only continuing from where we left off?" Mephisto swung around his hat and gave a slight nod. It was all he could amount.
"I will take my leave, now. I will go greet our guests and wish them well on their way." And with that, he made towards the door, passing by the messenger and passing by the ever too silent demons. Such a contrast to how he had first entered indeed.
"Brother! Wait for me!" Amaimon shouted and ran forward down the rows. Mephisto turned and faced him, a small smile gracing his lips,
"My dear Amaimon, I appreciate your loyalty towards me… but now is not the time." He leaned in and whispered, "Stay with father, for now, else you may regret it."
And with that, Mephisto turned back and headed for the doors, Amaimon looking solemnly after.
"They won't survive, Mephisto. Aha! Kill them... if you have the chance. It will save them from the torment that is the outer realm…and don't forget. Mephisto, to remember your own loyalties. You shan't help them…"
Mephisto looked back out of the slimness that was his eye, and said very softly,
"Of course… dear father, for they are humans, after all. Farewell, then, for now. I will be back before you even know it."
The doorway that closed seemed to screech on forever, Mephisto's form disappearing with it. Once closed, Satan moved fast, and in the blink of an eye he summoned three rather odd looking demons before him. They knelt before their King.
"Go now... search for the exorcists. If they are still alive, bring them to me, but if they prove too stubborn… kill them. Either way, he cannot win this. Go!"
With a mumbling of understanding, the demons stood and vanished as if made of air. Their lasting impressions showed too much sharp teeth and dark, pitch-black eyes which matched their clothes. They were of the night, and so to they would become the night; the search had begun.
"Hehe…"
He let his flames die down a little. All was calm, for now. Mephisto could not out do him this time, no matter what he was planning. He walked back to the platform, clearly not in the mood to wait around for the sword, but he had no choice. If Mephisto had truly taken it–he would see when his sons came back. It would be... obvious. For even if he could not penetrate that mans mind, he could, however, see his effects.
He never did trust Mephisto, which was why he had rejected his offer weeks ago. No, he would look after his son himself, not let him fall under Mephisto's cunning guidance. He would not let things crumble like so long ago they had! It really was a continuation... the game had never really stopped. And if Mephisto, his son, wanted to complete this dangerous match of wills, by all means, he would let him. He too was itching for some fun... some revenge!
"Come, Mephisto, let us see what you can do."
And the blue hall flared once more in fury.
Yukio and the others were quiet for some time. They were still in the house, no more than a few hours had passed since they arrived.
Yukio seemed to flinch at every possible sound, Shima was trying to find some sort of peace, and Shiemi was looking on while Bon searched through their supplies for anything they could use, anything to stop the progression of their doomly states. They had tried holy water, which had worked to a certain limit; the fires upon them had slowed down, but by no means stopped. It looked like they really were going to die. Who knew how long they had. Yukio tried to keep their spirits up, but even he was growing desperate. It was such a long way to the castle outside, the great tower in the distance showed no signs of diminishing. And they did not even know how many demons there were guarding it, let alone on the streets surrounding it; possibly hundreds, thousands… they couldn't very well just run the whole way with the chance they wouldn't be seen. And yet if they stayed around here for too long, if they didn't find a cure, they were all going to die by the poisonous air. What were they to do?
Yukio was starting, with an aching of his mind, to regret his decision to come down.
Could he not have found another way, on the other side, to help Rin? Could he not have– have requested the aid of the Order? No. What could they do? Nothing, really. No more than Yukio himself could have done without actually being here. But what of– Yukio's thoughts went back to Mephisto. He wondered, for the last hundredth time, what Mephisto really wanted with them? Why did he send them all down here? Why did he–!
"Yukio… don't you think... we should know..." Shima clashed him from his thoughts, "We chase all this way after Rin–are you going to tell us, now? Why did all this happen? You should know. No, you do know. What is this all about anyway?"
Yukio had expected as much, he had been anticipating the question since they first set up in the room. But now that they were here… they had a right to know. Yukio had to tell them. If they were to survive, if they were to live, they had to know what they were dealing with.
"Rin, he is…" Everyone had stopped their activities and gathered in a circle, Bon too looking curious for the first time in a while. He was listening avidly while Shima and Shiemi sat down beside.
"Rin is…" Yukio began a little awkwardly, "As you can probably guess by now, a demon."
"Rin is… a demon?" Shiemi, it appeared, did not suspect at all despite the fact that they had come down here of all places in search of him. She seemed sad, but nonetheless listened for what Yukio had further to say.
"Yes. Before we go further, you should all–"
"Ah, so that's why he was such an troublemaker eh? But– if he's a demon… what...this doesn't make sense…." Shima struggled to make sense, "How did he– how could he– and what about you? What–what–what the hell?" Shima blew out finally in frustration, the only real conclusion he could make of it all.
"I was getting to that, if you will be quiet for a moment." Yukio too was frustrated. He calmed himself before continuing, "Rin is a demon who was born of a human mother, "He traced an invisible portrait on the floor, "His father… is the demon who gave him that status. I was born too, as we are twins, but from my understanding," He drew a line, "I was born human as none of the demon's genes transferred to me. For who this demon is, that is why I said, this mission is deadly... and I wished you had not joined me… in this..."
Bon seemed to guess at this, and spit on the ground. Shima looked weary with dawning apprehension at what was about to be said. Shiemi looked like she might cry at the horrible news.
"Rin is… the son of… Satan." Yukio let this sink in before continuing. Rather than beating around the issue, it was better to just say it straight out. "That means–"
"I get it. If we want to find him, we have to face off with him, right?" Bon interrupted, everyone turning to look at him as he stood and got to his feet. He stood in silence for a while, but there was something on his face that looked far from panic, or even fear that one may expect.
"So what's the problem here?" Everyone looked, bemused, "All we gotta do is find that S-O-A-B and give him the ol' one-two, right? Gotta get my revenge somehow, what better opportunity than this?"
"Ha…?" Shima almost laughed at Bon's stupidity, his false courage. "I guess being honourably brave is overrated huh? But–" Shima looked over at Bon who glared at his remark, a smile spreading across his face, "I guess there's nothing wrong with… being a bit stupid occasionally."
"That's the spirit, Shima. What's it to that guy anyway? What makes him so great? We can take him!"
"Maybe it's because he's the most powerful, god like, demon and the ruler of all of Hell and demons alike?" Shima let his smile run. Bon was slowly cheering him up with his idiotic comments.
Shima knew Bon was only acting, his real sense of worry covered behind his jokes. They needed jokes in times like these. Bon wasn't an idiot, and knew of the dire consequences of undertaking such a mission. On the other hand, though, Shima was deeply amused by Bon's simplification of the matter, and if only to make him feel lighter, it had worked.
"Rin…" Shiemi was only listening half-heartedly to the others, both of them giving her a sense of hope as well as striking her with worry. She didn't want anyone to die, no, she did not believe any one of them would die. Shiemi wanted to save Rin, that was the reason she had come down. It was true that she was surprised to learn of Rin's heritage, but to her it did not matter. If he was a demon, or of where he was from, Shiemi didn't care about that. To her, Rin was Rin. She wished everyone to be safe, and for everything to work out in the end. Even if that meant interfering in things which they did not fully understand.
"The fact that Rin has been taken means that Satan is making his move. I don't know what he wants with Rin, but probably just the fact that he's his son is sufficient enough. If we are to save Rin, it would essentially mean heading straight… into his residence."
"Ha, can you imagine that?' Shima said enthusiastically, randomly; he was in a funny mood, and chuckled with laughter at the thought, "We'll all just go knock on his door and say 'Excuse me, Mr. Satan, but we'd like to have a chat with your son!' How hilarious!"
Bon cracked a smile at the thought, and Yukio, despite himself, could only imagine Satan wearing a suit and living in some normal looking house with flowers and a white fence, causing him too to laugh. Shiemi giggled and tried to restrain herself. It was odd how they made fun of such a serious situation, in turn causing them to feel hopeful that something could turn around, if only their minds believed it so simple. Perhaps they really could just knock on his front door.
"I see its no use getting the situation around to you guys…" Yukio smiled, and the others smiled back in return. He was glad they had come down with him, for sure he would have gone insane all by himself.
How funny it was that Mephisto had gathered them all here, if only for this. Yukio had earlier seen them more as his students, but after spending less than a day with them, they were turning more into his friends. Strange, how desperate times could bring people together. They were comrades now, they were all in the same position. Sure, Yukio was more experienced, and so it was only natural for him to be the leader. But that did not mean they weren't all in the same boat. Each one of them were now together in this situation, and somehow that bond drew Yukio into deeper understanding. He had not experienced this before, and odd as the given predicament before him was, he was grateful.
"I guess we need to first figure a way out of this…" He pointed to their disintegrating forms. "If–wait! Shh!"
Yukio had heard something, and at the moment he commanded with his arm for them to remain silent, was the moment it was not necessary. The others had heard it too, loud was the thump that had come from upstairs.
Another sound, a slow footing scratching across the floor. The house was made of a dark substance, and the upstairs Yukio had not wanted to explore earlier was coming back to haunt him. Would finally their barrier be put to the test? Would finally their presence be found? They had not been in the world long, but even Yukio was growing worried at the quiet of it all. Who would they meet, if the thing upstairs (for surely it was something; no wind could make that sound) decided to come down?
Yukio wasn't sure if the power of demons was the same as in the normal world. He was sure he had read somewhere that a possessed demon is only contained 30% of its 'real' power. Would they be able to take it, in all its strength? Could they defeat it if it attacked? Questions surrounded him, and again, he had no answer.
The air, the silence that surrounded them all was absolute, the creature above had stopped moving.
Yukio imagined it had sensed them, somehow, and was waiting… listening, just as they were with strained ears. Each on the alert for the other to make the first move. Slowly, he reached for his gun, Shima held onto his pole and Bon was mouthing all the possible verses he could think would be of use. Shiemi, as odd as it was, was–
"Shiemi–!"Yukio yelled, and in not a moment after a fire of events set off and confusion took hold of them all.
For one, the roof collapsed in a whirlwind of dust, their barrier completely useless as the demon jumped, tore his way down from up above and simultaneously avoided all traps the barrier possessed. Pieces of everything flew everywhere and all of them ducked for cover. But the demon seemed undisturbed by such chaos, and swung his claws in every direction. Yukio, falling through a broken doorway to the side, fired a few shots. The demon was large, with a mouth too big for its head, and sharp teeth that could probably have ripped through the entire tiny house. It was frightening; the only good news was that it didn't seem too bright, not even realizing where Yukio was laying beside him, focusing only on the immediate straight in front of him. But then, suddenly, it spoke strangely, and Yukio could only stare, a little stunned, at his gargled speech. He didn't seem to be making much sense, but then–
"H-Humaanss…"
Shima scrambled back against the wall as it attempted to take a bite.
"H-Humans…"
That seemed to be the only word it could articulate well enough for them to understand. At the same time, it didn't seem to think of 'why' and continued his rampage without a further thought.
Yukio stood and fired, the sound of piercing flesh and anger that coursed through the demon reverberating about.
It was dark, and the only light available was through his own flame. The small amount of fire he had been able to produce in the palm of his hand would light on and off, and it took every ounce of his concentration just to get it to that.
Rin was in a room with absolutely nothing, pitch-black, freezing cold. The guards had taken him down a flight of stairs with no end, and finally off to a large, secluded doorway in which he was thrown inside. Not even the door had a window, so he had no sense of anything, without light, without time, without body, he was as if he was the darkness itself.
Occasionally he could believe it too, if it wasn't for his thoughts that would eventually stray back to reality, or his will to try and produce something… anything to distract him, no matter how little his light was turning out to be.
An hour… two… time was wearing on. Rin felt exhausted. He had his palm held out, and now he seemed an expert at controlling the fire– one second turning his little corner blue, the next falling back into blackness. Switch on, switch off… switch on. He was being very repetitive, and he slowly felt like that was all he had done for his entire life.
He didn't know why he was here. What had he done to deserve this? His thoughts kept going round and round, sometimes he didn't even believe where he was. He had closed his eyes for one moment and before he knew it he had woken to a nightmare. Did this even seem real? Somehow, despite everything that had happened so far, despite everything that had happened in his life, he still didn't believe, he still somehow did not accept the flames that came out of his body. Since he had found out of demons existence, since his father had died and he had found the truth, he had accepted it all too easily, and now he was facing something he didn't understand. He couldn't come to terms with it all, it seemed too rapid. And sitting in the dark sure as hell didn't make him feel any better. Half the time he was starting to hallucinate, seeing shifts and shadows here and there. If only he could catch them….
Ah!
The door creaked open and Rin froze.
The light that penetrated his eyes was unbearable, his hands reaching out to block it. So long had he been in the darkness that any amount of brightness caused him to be blind, his eyes shutting and squinting madly. He saw two shapes, vaguely in the doorway, and by the time he was adjusting to the oncoming light they had already entered, blocking the bright with them.
There seemed a large contrast between the two, one incredibly tall, the other incredibly short; one the very form of masculine, the other looking too feminine indeed. Rin almost mistook him for a girl, if not for his clothing and short hair. Rin stood, heart beating in the dark, unsure of what as going to happen next.
"Hehe, you think we will do such a thing?"
"No, no, she believes it! Look at her eyes, she is full of confidence! This is too funny!"
"Heh...little lady, it is all too humorous for a human, of all things, to ask of us in our world to complete your command. Why should we? Here we are your summons, here we are but slaves to your will. In our own kingdom, we will not obey so easily. We are prideful. You cannot get us to act once we leave. Your efforts are futile."
Izumo flushed, all feelings of hope swept from her as the crackling white demons before her looked on. She had summoned them in the belief they would help her, sure that they would accept. Weren't they supposed to listen to her? Weren't they supposed to obey? Only in this world?
The two demons before her sat with a tall back, a kind of presence that made her feel inferior. Clearly they believed to be of a higher standing despite the fact she had called for them herself.
It had been two days since the incident in the shed, since she had desperately watched her classmates and friends head down into the monstrous whirlpool of an unknown hell. Shiemi's pink kimono was still spinning into skulls, Yukio's worried expression while frantically searching for his brother in the night. What if she had gone with them? What if she hadn't gone upstairs?
But Izumo knew she couldn't dwell like this forever. She had more in her than to just give up so hopelessly on those who possibly needed her. Immediately after her despair and tears that fateful night, Izumo had gone back to search for the principal once more, determined to fulfill her teachers final request. At that time she had been growing desperate, the only witness to the events and she knew she had to tell somebody. Izumo had rushed for the only place she knew, requesting the help of the Council and all teachers alike.
After she retold the story of what had transpired, she was immediately pushed aside:
"You can no longer help."
"You're just a child."
"Its too dangerous."
And no matter where she turned, she was told this over and over as people anxiously scrambled about.
Izumo had caused a righteous panic in the school at her news, and now nothing but yelling and blaming was being done. It was then that the idea had struck her, an idea that consumed her with fire and spirit. She would use her summons and request their aid. If anyone would know the detail of the other world, surely it would be them! If anyone would help her, could help her, it would have to be the demons themselves.
Izumo gathered herself before speaking, trembling slightly in anger at their refusal,
"You say, you won't help me. You won't even look? They are there, in your world! How can you not–how can you just ignore my request? You can't–can't you even tell me what's happening?"
"Hehe…so it is true." The right one, a devilish look on his face smiled, "It does intrigue us… that the humans have come down. The exorcists I mean. However, we are likely not to tell you…" His eyes flashed knowingly, "even if we did know something. Unless…" He looked at his brother, who was licking his lips, "You can give us... something in return…"
The other chuckled darkly, "We are curious for information too… perhaps an exchange, if you would so provide? We have heard things… this happens to be the most interesting thing to happen in a while."
Izumo looked curiously at the two. What information could they possibly want, and from her? What could she know? After a few moments, and a little hesitantly, Izumo agreed that she would offer anything she knew for information on her friends. If they would not help her physically, it was the least she could do to know what was going on.
The two demons smirked, and in unison they chanted: "We know that the exorcists have landed."
"In the outer realm, it appears... " One sprouted, "Horrible place may I add,"
"They are still alive, or so we hear. Though for how much longer?" The other smiled showing his fanged teeth, "Not much time has passed though. It is different," He added to Izumo's unasked question, "Though it appears but a day has passed over here, little has in ours"
"The news of their arrival has caught wind. Is it for the better or worse, I wonder?" He looked as if he desired it to be worse, "Some may not believe they exist, many will search for them now. They have no options left…"
"This is all we know... hehe, so far..."
Izumo didn't know if she should breathe or not. They were alive, that was good, and her heart felt a little jump upon hearing. But the question now was: for how much longer? And how on earth could they ever get back out?
"Now–"The two demons got up and started to pounce, circling Izumo as if in ritual.
Izumo did not let their threats get to her, standing tall and she did not flinch. They looked hungry, almost, and Izumo wondered what they would ask. They seemed excited.
"We are aware of Satan-sama's lost son. We are aware of his arrival."
"He has been brought down, at last, thank goodness too! We all suffered plenty at our Master's unrest,"
"We wish to know," the other started, "We can see you have a connection in all of this. As luck may have it, we are lucky to have been contracted by you! You are friends with the exorcists, but also must know him as well!"
"We are interested in this,"
"We are interested in the young master."
"What are you talking about?" Izumo asked, unsure of anyone by this description. A son of Satan? How could she possibly know someone like that? At her remark, the demons looked a little shocked, a little taken aback at her apparent unawares. They smiled with contempt.
"Oh…?"
"You do not know?"
"How unpleasant…" He snarled.
"How unpleasant indeed…" The other snarled back.
They each spoke slyly, and Izumo felt a little annoyed by their constant craftiness. Why wouldn't they just tell things straight out?
"The other night...he was brought down don't you remember?"
"The boy with black hair...that boy in your class I believe?"
Izumo still felt utterly confused. Who did they mean? Black hair? In her class?
"Do you mean–" Izumo was thinking; the only one in her class who she knew had black hair, except for her, was Rin. Rin had been taken by demons, that's all she knew. That was the message she had been told by Yukio and the others. That's why they had chased after him, gone down in the first place wasn't it? She had assumed Rin would be with the others, but now that she thought of it–
"Rin?"
"Oh, is that his name?"
"So Rin is…?" Izumo still couldn't believe what they were trying to tell her, and she looked back and forth waiting for some sort of an explanation.
They sighed. Were all humans this useless?
"It is as we say. He, or 'Rin', is the Master's, Lord's, Satan-sama's son. He has been, according to recent gossip, living here in the school for a short while. It is quite well known, the story, of how he was born in the upper world... by a human woman of all things. Though "how" still remains mysterious. There are though, rumours."
"More like myths," The other chimed in.
"What? What myths?" Izumo was curious too. Who was Rin? And why was such a person as him in the school in the first place?
"That is not for you to know when we still have yet to get our share of the deal…if you have now grasped the situation. Will you kindly impart…?"
"Will now you tell us. We wish to know, anything we are eager for, the information about what had passed the other night ago?"
"Yes, do tell us of that. In detail if you will. And also, what is he like? And is it true he has blue flames?"
"We wish to know these few things, and then we shall be off."
Izumo fell into silence at their stares, at the news of this latest development. It was no wonder the Council had told her it was dangerous, it was certainly understood to her now.
And Yukio and the other's situation, if possible, just became even more deadly.
Izumo hadn't wondered why Rin was taken before, and only now did it occur to her that something was strange. And if Rin really was the son of such a monstrous figure, an immortal god himself–then how could he ever be saved? Did he even need saving? And how could the others possibly expect to win against that sort of a demon? Never mind that they would need that very demon to return home... to summon the gate.
Everything was starting to seem hopeless, the more she thought on it. With the little strength she had left, she told the two of what had happened, of her being sent to the principal and finding the strange body. Of her not making it in time, and the gate disappearing.
She told the little of Rin she had known, as odd as it was for her to explain. She really didn't know how to describe him, she didn't even know he was a demon until just now; her information wasn't very good, needless to say. However, the two seemed quiet enough, and listened with perked ears. When she had finished, they huddled and whispered among themselves.
Izumo couldn't hear, but finally they turned and addressed her.
"We shall be on our way now. We have had a good conversation. We have learned much."
"Hehe, yes, much." They looked about ready to go, but their laughing faces were mocking Izumo greatly. What were they up to?
"Wait!" She stopped them, and they almost seemed to expect her to do so. Their mischievous eyes looked towards one another, their feet pawing and ready for her plea of distress.
"Can't you go and deliver my message? Tell them, please! Go and find them! Tell them I'm trying my best! Tell them to stay alive!"
"But what if we become hungry?" The other snickered into his paw, "What if we decided to eat them upon finding? Do you trust us not to...?"
"I don't believe you would." Izumo said, a little too confidently for her place. She didn't know what their game was, but she was sure they were only messing with her mind.
They looked a little furious at her sudden defiance, her sudden assurance of their actions. However, they sighed and, a little too quickly, put on a, not so convincing, act of a pair of two very tired demons.
"Perhaps if we feel in the mood." He yawned lazily.
"Perhaps if we happen to drop by." The other closed his eye.
"Goodbye now,"
They started to turn into smoke.
"No–wait!" Izumo didn't want them to leave. Summoning them could only be done on equal terms. She could call for them, but for a novice like herself…they had to agree to it as well. She had already used her daily call, they probably wouldn't come back for a while. She wasn't at the level she could make them come to her will any free time, her spirit had to be well trained for that. If they went now, she may not hear from them for a while.
She jumped, foolishly attempting to grab hold of them. This only caused them to crack up, laughing in a fit. And the next moment they were gone, their smiling faces, a whisp of smoke as though they were mere ghosts.
Izumo fell helplessly to the ground in their place. Oh, how it reminded her painfully of that night, of her futile efforts to grab hold of something that did not exist. Of something that vanished before her very eyes, that fell through her fingers into nothingness. She wanted to cry out, but–no. She would not do that again.
She sat up, looking around her now empty room. It was getting dark, the day almost done. She believed in them. She believed that they would help her and deliver her message. And she could only try her best to think of some other way in the meantime, some other method to help her friends. She wouldn't give up, now that she knew they were still alive.
The door closed silently behind as she left, her feelings of resolve heading her towards the last person she had hopes for.
"Haha, what does he expect from such a pathetic boy as this? I could do much better, this little brother of ours is no good for the job, don't you agree?"
If Rin could have hid his face in shame, he would have. Bor being taken down by someone smaller than him, extremely feminine in features, was no easy thing to admit. Little brother? He certainly didn't look any older. And to top it all off, Rin was being kept down by only one foot, on his back, and he was still struggling to get up from the great pressure that was cutting off his breath.
"Yes, it does appear that way". He seemed to be speaking to himself. Or somehow, the other, taller figure in the room did not say a word.
"Perhaps he is being held back!" He stomped down a little harder, Rin being choked into his own distorted speech.
"Haha, jealous? Of what?" Again, it was as if the silence was enough of an answer for him. Rin couldn't make out from his position exactly what the other looked like, but he was standing a little ways off, his eyes glowing red.
"If I am jealous, what does that make you!" Was the only answer he could spit out.
Silence.
"What? No. Of course I know–" Now he was the one being silent. Rin wondered a little what was going on, his back about to break and his breathing seemed just about ready to go out.
Then, he released Rin, taking his foot off and kneeling down towards his ear,
"You are lucky, today, little brother, in that it's a day of celebration for you. But don't think you can get away," He grabbed some of his hair, "with disrespecting father anymore, no matter how much he favors you so. What?"
He looked round at the door, the other seemed to be leaving.
He pushed Rin back and stood up, one last time stomping him with his foot before heading off as well. At the door, Rin could see blonde hair, and blue flaming eyes. The other was turned away, but Rin could just make out his hair as a dark brown, and judging by the way he stood, he looked in complete control, even in his quietness.
"I hope you enjoy your time locked up, who knows how much longer the others will be? Haha," He smiled sickly, "But you had better spent your time hoping for your friends instead…"
He was just about to close the door when Rin caught his voice and shouted,
"W-What d'you mean?"
"Haha, cannot you tell?" He looked as if he enjoyed Rin's torment of lack of information. He spoke through the crack,
"Some exorcists have in come after you, but by now they have probably been killed!" Goodnight, my darling little brother. Hehe, sweet dreams!" And he slammed the door after, very fast, and in a loud click that echoed all around. Rin was once again alone and shut up in the dark.
"Damn it!" Rin shouted to himself, hating everything about his very being. He was angry that he couldn't do anything, angry that he had no power to do anything at all. They had come after him? What did that mean? How? But also, did that mean that Yukio was here? Who else?
Rin still lay on the floor, for some reason he didn't want to get up.
Why was everything so useless? Why had Mephisto done this to him? Or why had he even been–he felt a great lump in his throat, his chest–
"Haha…" Rin felt the coldness against his heart. He reached and pulled from around his neck, a set of keys. He had forgotten about them. Looking at them sideways from the floor, he remembered the time when Mephisto had given him one, his father the other. He tried to remember what they had said.
A little more to himself, Rin got up slowly, whispering doubtfully as if the whole world were making fun of him,
"Really…?" It couldn't be that easy.
The keys had proven useless during his weeks at school. He had no use for them then. Sure he did find it fascinating at first, Mephisto telling him he could open any door. But after a while he saw no need for it. It was much faster to just go the regular ways. Now, however.
Rin didn't believe they would work. Open any chest… open any door. Was it really that simple? That powerful that they could work in both worlds? Of course he was skeptic, feeling foolish for even trying. But he had them in his palm now, how could he resist? And although he was actively telling his mind the impossibility of it, the reasons against, that did not stop the sweat from beating down his face, his hands shaking as he guided the key towards the handle– or no handle, as this door did not have one. What was Mephisto playing at?
Surely they would not work, for why would he ever make the mistake of giving him such a valuable object?
The key was before the door now, he did a turn. It wouldn't open! It made no sense to! It was stupid to even–!
Click.
Time was still. The space in the house was odd, and Yukio couldn't describe it, but a heavy weight was on him at that moment, a feeling as though time really was slowed down for that instant.
Yukio's bullet flew into the demon's neck, his claws now directed at him.
Yukio hadn't realized he was now backed up into a corner. He had been so distracted with the others, hoping they could make it out of harms way that now he himself was in danger. The bullets seemed to have an effect, it was specialized, after all. However, it was still taking long for the effects to settle in, and Yukio was trapped by the wall with no ammo left. The demon stepped forward and lunged. Yukio ducked and tried to get away; was this it, was this as far as he would get?
Blood swept across his face, a sickly splatter that nearly made him puke.
Yukio looked, and he saw a blade of silver stuck out from the demon's chest. The demon gagged out red, in obvious pain, his eyes rolling backward. The blade was pulled out in a swift motion, a single pull and the demon collapsed, dead before Yukio's feet. And before Yukio could register who it was that was standing before them, a great rushing of footsteps and a tinier, smaller demon burst from the roof where his fellow had come and took in the scene. He couldn't speak very well, but in shock and anger, in both, he spoke to the bladed man,
"You!"
And after taking a few steps back, in fear or in something else, he ran out the front door and down the street, so fast that after a moment he could no longer be seen, the darkness outside consuming him whole.
"Ah, perhaps I was a little too bold? That was a tad too gory…even for my tastes."
And while Mephisto was the one who had committed the bloody deed, it was odd how he had not a single drop of blood on his clothes, even his shoes where he stood on the bloody mess did not stain. It was almost as if he could control his own space, controlling what lay on him and what not.
Yukio couldn't suppress his shock, and not so shocked, expression at Mephisto's arrival. For certain, he was always suspicious of Mephisto's true identity. He had always thought in the back of his mind, that thought and cloud of uncertainty.
Now, it was that he had proof, yet now it was not needed. His mere arrival shining no doubt on the matter anymore. And Mephisto's sharp teeth, dark eyes, his devilish appearance...they all told the same story in themselves. The others didn't seem to realize who Mephisto was, and so Yukio quickly glanced at them for some sort of recognition. They didn't seem to get it.
"Well? Do I not even get a hello, a welcome, a thank you, really, anything at all? My darling students?" Mephisto took a look around at them all.
Surely they looked like hell. All of them were covered in dirt, grime, and Yukio was now spilled with blood and sweat from nearly being killed. They were really not in the mood for any fancy greetings. And most definitely not to a man who's presence and rank was shrouded in mystery.
"What–what are you doing here?" Yukio tried not to let his anger rise, but quickly failed. He didn't know what Mephisto was doing here, but wasn't about to be taken advantage of yet again.
He held tight to his gun, his voice shook as he spoke,
"We know it was you who set us up. We know it was you who sent us here. Whatever your game is, you can't fool us any longer... Mephisto."
The others had the shock of realizing it was the principal, the very principal who had played them all like pawns. In turn, they each took up their stances, ready to fight if they had to. Nobody seemed to trust him. And rightly so.
Mephisto remained quiet, looking only at Yukio in silence. No smile graced his lips now, his face falling flat.
Perhaps at being found out, he had become selfishly cross.
Perhaps at Yukio discovering his ploy, he had gone into a seething rage.
If he did, however, it was not known. He did not show any of it, and his eyes only remained cold as he stared on at Yukio.
In that moment alone, Yukio felt the presence of a man much greater, Mephisto's height almost seeming to grow in bounds compared to him. And even if it was four on one, it only proved to show how completely powerless they were against him that Yukio felt they were all at his mercy, his whims; that now they were all trapped in a corner by a demon far more fearsome than the one they had just faced.
"I have come, my dear Yukio, to welcome you. Though if you will not do me so the honor of a proper greeting… what a pity that is…?" He said this very softly, menacingly, and did not charm in the least. Yukio never before had imagined Mephisto could be this intimidating. He slightly regretted telling him what he knew.
"It is true…as you say. I see no use in deceiving you any longer. I guess I have no need in telling you of my identity? You are clever, no? You have me all figured out now, have you?" He placed the sword back in his cane, twirlling it around for a moment in thought before slamming down and simultaneously leaning on it,
"You are all here, my students, on behalf of me, yet why do you take the position against me? Why, I should think you would all come crawling to my feet once you found out. I deserve a thank you, at the least, no?"
"Why the hell would we say thank you for sending us all to our deaths?" Bon shouted, blurting out, clearly pissed at the principal's attitude. Mephisto turned to look at him.
"Ah, Mr. Suguro, I knew you would not agree… you too, then?" He nodded at Shima, "Perhaps… Miss Moriyama? No?" He did a sad face and sighed, "I would think, if we all looked a little more closely towards ourselves… perhaps you can see it now? Yes…" He smiled down pleasantly, looking superiorly happy at the extinguished look Yukio displayed.
Because Yukio knew he was right. He should thank him.
"I guess I shall explain myself, then? Why, perhaps too, how, I sent you all here?" He stood in the middle of the room, and each of them were formed as if in a circle and Mephisto teaching a class. He looked calmer now, and his eyes were full of delight as he took control.
"It's a very simple reason. If you cannot see it plainly? I did you all a favour. My dear Yukio, here, knows it, now how will the rest of you see it too?"
And each one of them looked confusingly to Yukio, to the sly grin of Mephisto. It caused them to feel sick.
Mephisto started softly,
"Yes, Yukio, my dear. You could not help but want to save your dear brother. If I had not sent you about that notebook... if the nights events had progressed any differently than how I set them up, imagine how upset you would have been to discover in the morning your brother had gone missing!"
He smiled at Yukio's downcast eyes, his averted gaze, seemingly satisfied in his silence. He had won. He turned swiftly to Bon without further notice.
"And you, Mr. Suguro, are here because you wished it too, did you not?" Bon looked a little pale, "Your family was ruined by the Blue Night, so you sought revenge against the one who did it… am I wrong?" Mephisto's eyes burned, "You followed dear Rin because you wanted to know… you wanted to further your ambitions... come closer to your goal. I simply gave you the opportunity to do just that."
When he had finished, Bon looked about ready to punch something. Yet at the same time, he couldn't, and his face showed. Everything Mephisto told him was the truth.
And again, in the lingering silence, Mephisto continued to speak for each of them, his blood rushing with delight as he uncovered their eyes to the truth.
"Miss Moriyama," Shiemi looked freighted, "Now...what would a lovely lady such as yourself wish for in a hellish place as this? I think you know the answer too. You too should be grateful to me... for the message I sent you. I should hate to see a beautiful face in tears. You wished to help Rin from the bottom of your heart. If I had not awoken you to such a disaster taking place... had I not intervened and told you the location of the others, you would not have made it in time. You would have been… ignorant to it all."
Shiemi looked ready to cry, again, but held back in sadness. She did want to help Rin, and so it was true that if she had not got the message… she would have been heart broken. Mephisto gave her a slow, knowing nod before–
"And lastly…"
Shima here looked a little skeptic. What could he possibly say was his reason in wanting to come?
"Mr. Shima, you went out looking for Mr. Suguro, I believe? You seemed swung in the nights events, a boat caught in a deadly storm. Nonetheless, you were an important part of the group. You were meant to tell your dear friend of the bag, set off the spark, so to speak. If you went out to search later on, well, that was entirely your own choice. Honourable, though, as it was for you to follow, you cannot complain now. If you had not gone down, I believe we can both say, you would have been devastated just as the rest to find your friends missing. I know you too well, my charming Shima, to know that you care too deeply for their sakes...no matter what you say otherwise."
And Mephisto walked around the little home in silence, everyone watching, waiting, his footsteps bringing meaning for what he was about to say.
"Let us go now to the next topic. I am sure," He stopped and poked at Bon.
"That you all believe," He came around to Shiemi.
"That I am the cause of you being here." He went back to the center.
"But make no mistake, my lovely students…"His eyes glowed dark, his black hair contrasting his pale skin.
"It was your own will, not mine, which caused you all to act. In fact...one could say I did absolutely nothing at all. Though of course…' He added softly, smiling wide while resting his hands on his cane, "I figured you would… it was a likely probability..."
"Which brings us!" He started again rapidly, loudly, leaving no room for interruption as his voice addressed all, bouncing off the paper thin floors, "to the topic of probability!"
And again, he walked around the home in a dance, taking in each one of them as he spoke.
"You see, it really did not matter to me whether you all made it here or not–though it would have been a minor set back–" He added under his breath before sharply going on, "I simply gave you all the chance, the increased probability that you could help your dear friend in this desperate time if you had wanted to. I did nothing to prevent or push you into action. I simply opened your eyes and made your odds more favorable, did I not?"
He stopped in front of Yukio.
"By setting up events as I did, I ensured you would have the chance of running across the others." He moved along.
"I ensured, by all the events, that each one of you would strike across the other. But of course…"
He paused, in an apparent thought, "it really was a… game of odds."
Now he stood silent and still, his eyes looking lazily around the scene.
"Yukio, dear, could have come down all by himself for all I knew. Perhaps only Mr. Suguro would have made it? I merely set up the pieces, it was in your position to move. I merely gave you all high chances, and whether or not it worked was none of my concern."
"However!" Mephisto shouted grandly, spontaneously, causing everyone to jump, "Now that you all are here…I am glad everyone could make it…to the party. Truly, I am. I wished for each of you to arrive, for everyone serves a purpose in this play. And–"
He rotated his stick, jabbing it towards the outside, through the open door and into the distance, down the darkened street of the abyss,
"If anyone can save dear Rin… if anyone will save dear Rin–" His smile, if possible, grew even broader, and his features seemed to sharpen into fine lines, "It will be you. That is why you are here… that is why you have come, is it not?"
Yukio could see, on the faces of those around him, the looks of the defeated.
On Mephisto, the triumphant look of a victor who had won the war.
Somehow, though, the others still wanted to fight, somehow they still wanted to disagree– but each knew, and each saw–in painful realization- that Mephisto had done nothing but tell the truth. He had not said anything new, he had not even requested something outrageous in which they did not ask for themselves. And even if they had wanted to say Mephisto was the cause of it all, that Mephisto was the reason for their manipulation, they could not. For logic would go against it. And as much as they hated to admit, he was right. That was why they were here.
Mephisto could have planned the whole night, could have set up everything in which they fell, and yet they still could not say anything against him. For chance, probability…their own desires and wishes... it was all as simple as that.
Mephisto seemed to see this in their eyes, their acceptance, and turned back slowly to face them. He let his hand drop, speaking quietly,
"If you all can see this now, I will impart on you my final piece of knowledge. Or first? I was only supposed to tell you this. My, how things can change at the drop of a die? But never mind. I only came to wish you well for your journey, to see if you acquired your weapons… to see how many of you had made it….heh."
And with a great surprise to all, Mephisto uncurled his demonic wings, heading with his back towards the door. No body had expected him to pull out such effects from seemingly no where. He really was a master of disguised looks.
"So if nobody is going to ask me before leaving–" He didn't look back, "I guess I shall tell you then? It appears I have stunned you all into silence..."
And with a newly born smile on his face, he walked out the door and twisted, pointing to them from outside. He flapped his wings and hovered above the ground. Yukio and the others had come closer to see, and from above he spoke down to them,
"You cannot survive here, as I'm sure you all know. Humans are not meant for this world. I myself would not have known if not for– but never mind, again. I shall tell you now. You cannot do anything to stop the damages of your bodies. You can, and I see, have slowed it down? But still, that is not good enough. It will not stop forever."
Yukio felt his spirit drop a little, as did the rest of them. It was useless, then? What was all his talk about before? About saving Rin?
"Ah, I see to have crushed the little hope you had left? Hehe… come now! You are much stronger than that!" Yet he looked as if he relished in their pale, white faces.
He dropped back down a little, his feet barely skimming the ground as he floated towards them. If one could have said that he looked like an angel, it would have been only in his delicate, light touch.
But that touch was a deadly, poisonous touch. And by the way his face looked hungrily at them all, by his frightening aura and eyes which held a power not to be meddled with, he could be no less than a devil.
What kind of a devil would he prove to be, Yukio wondered? Friend or foe? Was he helping them? No matter what, though, Yukio would keep his guard up. He could, and never had, trusted this man; certainly he wasn't going to now. Now that he was proven to be a demon, that only increased Yukio's distrust. Yukio frowned, a little defiantly if that was all he possessed, as Mephisto drew close.
"You have only time." He looked down, his black locks covering his face, his mouth curving secretly behind,
"You have one month."
And Mephisto flew upward, in a finishing flash of purple, a great spiral of wind that caused them all to blow over in confusion and dust. They coughed, desperate for air. One month? What did that mean?
Mephisto's form grew tinier, smaller, and then quite lost in the sea of sky and darkness. With that little bit of news, Yukio did not know how he should take it. He did not know how he should take any of the 'news' Mephisto had given them.
One month to die. One month to live? Or perhaps, thought Yukio, getting up to his feet,
"One month...to save Rin,"