A/N: I've discovered a way past my writer's block. I've no idea of this would work for any of you, but when I first started writing it was all in notebooks. So, when I switch to that, it's a lot easier to get everything out.
Anyways, I'm back! Hi
Published: 9/15/2017
Warnings: For this chapter, none. Shocking, huh
Chapter 7
The Drawing of the Line
Rin's first impression of his new sensei was that she was a complete and utter badass. Not as cool as Amaimon-nii or as daddy, obviously, but still.
She had a demon killing sword!
What was cooler that a demon killing sword? It was totally awesome and Rin so wanted one!
The next moment was one Rin would deny forever. As long as he lived, he would refute it. For the rest of her days, Shura would cackle and tell stories about it, but she was totally lying and mean and she was completely unfair.
No matter what Shura-sensei said, Rin did not squeal like a little girl in delight upon being presented with a sword.
Shura laughed.
"Like it, kid?"
"You bet! I'm just like Ichigo!" Rin declared, not noticing Shura rolling her eyes, a slight smile on her lips. Instead, Rin happily hummed Ranbu no Melody as he swung the sword around a could of times.
Now, for most children, swinging around a sword would be impossible. Swords were heavy. Doing so put a strain on the body, especially at the speed rin was swinging.
Rin, however, as we've already established, is no normal child. To him, the sword might as well have been made of plastic.
"Easy there, kid." Shura have one last chuckle before placing a hand on Rin's shoulder. He smiled up at her and Shura nearly let out a squeal herself.
He was so adorable! Especially with that little fang that was practically jutting out of the side of his mouth.
Not that Shura would ever tell Shiro. Nope. Fuck that. He'd never let her live it down.
"Now," Shura began, drawing her own sword from it's dimensional holding, "let's teach you how to use that thing."
Rin grinned.
Soon, he would be a badass anime hero!
Who knew daddy had been holding so much from them! Actually, come to think of it, how deep did this go? What other secrets and revelations did daddy have yet to give up? What -
Rin's thoughts were interrupted as Shura swung at him. With glee, Rin lost himself in the fight, all thoughts forgotten.
When a book was flopped down in front of Yukio, he couldn't help the feeling of disappointment that shot through his body.
It must have been visible on his face because a comforting hand was soon placed on his shoulder. Yukio looked up.
Daddy's red eyes stared right back at him.
"The first, and most important step, of fighting demons is understanding them, Yukio. Without that, we are at a loss." Daddy spoke.
"Then why isn't Rin in here too?" Yukio couldn't help but point out the obvious.
Shiro sighed. Then, he sat down on the ground and patted the space next to him. Yukio made his way off the desk seat and sat next to his dad on the classroom floor.
An arm wrapped around his shoulders and Yukio leant into the warmth.
"You and Rin are different, Yukio,'" Daddy began
"You mean he's stronger and special and I'm weak and pathetic." Yukio interrupted, unable to keep the bitterness out of his voice.
"No. No, Yukio, that's not what I said."
Yukio, however, refused to even look at his daddy.
"Yukio... Yukio, look at me."
Yukio almost didn't. But, that pleading tone in his daddy's voice made all the difference and he looked up.
"You and Rin are different. Every two people are different. It's what makes us individuals. We all have our weaknesses and we all have our strengths. And this, Yukio," Daddy lifted a book, "this is your strength. So, what we have to do is hone what makes you strong, then move from there. Do you understand?"
Slowly, Yukio pondered the words. Taking his time, the child processed it all before finally speaking. "So…. Rin's good at fightin' and I'm good with books?"
Daddy nodded. Yukio supposed he couldn't fault that logic. He was literally bored with regular classes so he sometimes snuck a Calculus book into class. Still, though, something seemed off.
"Shouldn't we also focus on what makes us weak?" Yukio looked up and was met with a proud smirk that made his heart warm.
"Exactly, Yukio. However, that comes after. Now, come on. Let's learn." Daddy stood and held a hand out. Smiling, Yukio took it, mind set on the future.
Mephisto overlooked the city.
Glorious, all of it.
Humans were oh so fascinating. Yes, they were fleeting. Yes, their existence faded as quickly as one could blink. Bam, the're there and then suddenly, they're not. Still, it was that reality that made them so unique.
They were fascinating to Mephisto because their spark burned out so quickly. IT burned so rapidly, yet so brightly. Such innovative creatures!
This was not the opinion shared by all of his brothers, however. With a slight turn of his head, Mephisto nodded.
"Hello, brother of mine."
Iblis, ever the dramatic, appeared in a pillar of fire in the railing next to Mephisto.
It was here, at this unfinished Skyscraper, that Mephisto liked to come and think. Unfortunately, it was also here he was most likely be pestered.
He really should set up some sort of warding around the place to keep unwanted company out. "Mephisto," Iblis acknowledged before gazing down at the city alongside him. "I will never understand your interest in them."
Mephisto snorted.
"Of course you don't. In the beginning, you judged them. That was your job. But, now that Father has gone away, what are we to do now?"
Iblis grimaced.
"Satan-" he began.
"Is what's left. Not what began. Not what once was," with that, Mephisto stood and stretched his arms out. "I wonder, brother of mine, is that our fate? God's power was too strong; his sight, his existence, too grant to contain itself. So, he became split. The creator of all," Mephisto declared, splaying out one hand, a ball of energy forming in it, "light," he drew the other hand and summoned shadows to it, "and darkness."
Iblis gace a bitter laugh.
"Is that why the humans draw your attention so?"
Mephisto turned to him.
"Why not? They are, after all, made in Father's image. Creatures of light and of the dark," Mephisto stated.
Iblis glanced at the city with distaste.
"They're animals, all of them. No, worse than animals, worse than demons. Demons have no choice. No morality to focus them. Humans, on the other hand, choose the darkness despite knowing the light. They destroy all." Iblis spat.
Mephisto tilted his head.
"Perhaps. In that way, however, they are like us," Mephisto revealed, "for we too can choose to walk either the path that is set out before us. However, this little philosophical discussion is not why you are here, I take it?"
Mephisto smirked as Iblis rose, his amber eyes roaring with barely suppressed flame.
"Father's children. Where have you hidden them?" Iblis demanded, not bothering to beat around the bush.
Mephisto's eyes glistened.
"Oh. Therm. Jealous, are we, brother, of a fire that will one day grow brighter than yours?" Mephisto taunted.
Iblis snared.
"You know as well as I do that no good will come from that abomination's legacy! We should kill them while we can."
Mephisto, however, instead summoned a staff. Pointing it at the other, Mephisto spoke. "I'm afraid not, little brother. I have plans for those two. Oh, I have planes." Mephisto smiled.
Iblis snarled and batted the staff away.
"You have a choice, Mephisto. Join me… Or die."
The flames flared around them, which Mephisto casually waved off easily enough.
"You forget, Iblis, that I have more power than you could ever hope to wield," Mephisto snarled, flaring his own aura. Most would have dropped. Amaimon himself would have waivered.
Iblis, however, instead stood firm.
"Those children are under my protection," Mephisto declared. "Come near them, and I will shove you into a lamp and seal you away for the next five hundred years!" Mephisto threatened.
Iblis barred his teeth.
"This isn't over, Samael. Not by a longshot." Iblis promised, then vanished into a colorful explosion of multicolored flames.
Mephisto twitched as he realized his favorite perch would soon be a pile of ashes as the entire frame of the incomplete building began to burn away. In a moment, Mephisto was gone.
