Disclaimer: Ao no Exorcist/Blue Exorcist belongs to Kazue Katou. May Yang, Quian Li Yang and all the new demons are invented by me.
I would like to thank Poisonsnake23 for beta-reading this chapter and making some suggestions/corrections.
Chapter 8 - Breaking point
"This is the official demonologic autopsy report of Quian Li Yang." the inspector starts off, "It proves that Mr. Yang causes of death is not related to a physical disease or injury... I'll skip the technical explanation... To put it simple, Mr. Yang's soul... was burned inside of his body..." at these words, Renzo instantly freezes, "As of today, the only known demonic power capable of killing someone by burning their soul while leaving their physical body completely intact... is that of the black flame. And the only known demon capable to produce this kind of flame... is the high-level myo-o demon, Yamantaka... So, Renzo Shima, as this demon current user... you're suspected to be involved with Mr. Yang's death." the inspector turns toward Lightning, who's sitting beside Renzo, "Lewin Light, you were assigned to Mr. Shima as his supervisor during his exam... Have you ever let him off your sight?"
"No. I never left his side." Lightning plainly answers.
"Did you notice anything... suspicious?"
Renzo remembers that while he was fighting against the demons, he sometimes had trouble summoning Yamantaka, and since Lightning noticed that too, he starts to fear that he will talk about this detail to the inspector.
"Nothing worthy of mention." but Lightning, to Renzo's surprise, doesn't bring that matter up.
"I see... Mr. Shima, would you mind summoning Yamantaka right now so I can ask him some questions?"
"...Yes, sir." Renzo feels like he has no other choice.
He grabs his k'rik and, while holding it, he calls for Yamantaka who, as soon as Renzo's chant is over, materializes inside the room.
"Yamantaka... I have some questions for you... Can I count on your cooperation?" the inspector asks the demon.
"...Go ahead." Yamantaka orders the man.
"Are your black flames 'manipulable' only by your master, Mr. Shima here, or is there a way for someone else to use them as well... like, borrow them?"
"From the very first moment I let a human access to my power, that person and I are bounded by a private contract..." Yamantaka begins to explain, "Therefore, I can't lend or transfer my power to anyone else." the demon confirms, "However... during our fight earlier, at times I experienced a very strange sensation while producing my flame... I have no better way to explain it except that... it felt like someone from a distance was somehow... siphoning them."
"Someone, you say? Do you have any way to determine who could that be?" the inspector inquires, he looks confused and curious.
"I don't. But I can guarantee it was no mere human." Yamantaka answers.
At this Yukio, who's sitting at the other side of the table, next to May, starts to feel unsettled. Lightning catches sight of his reaction. Mephisto is there too, at the top of the table, and looks at the scene in amusement.
The inspector, who's sitting across Mephisto's place, at the other top of the table, picks up a paper from the folder in front of him, "This is the official report about the incident... Exorcists Mr. Adachi and Mr. Yamagami both stated that at the time they walked inside the temple, Mr. Yang was already writhing in pain. Mr. Okumura and Ms. Yang were standing beside him."
"That's correct." May states simply and emotionlessly.
Yukio begins to inwardly panic.
The inspector turns toward him, "Yukio Okumura. Fraternal twin brother of Rin Okumura, the son of Satan. Unlike him, though, it looks like you haven't inherited any demonic power, so technically you're just a common human... Even so, you undergo specific check-ups in order to constantly verify that. Up till your last exams, nothing wrong has resulted." and the inspector lifts his gaze to stare at Mephisto, in front of him, waiting for his confirmation.
"That's right. I confirm." Mephisto slightly grins.
"So... if you're clear, it shouldn't be a problem if we request our medical team to take a further test, right?"
Yukio shouldn't be worried about this but, for some reasons, he feels like the whole situation is slowly building up so to frame him as the culprit. The words Lucifer told him months ago replay in his mind.
"But you're in danger and without protection. If the Knights of the True Cross notice your eyes, they will confine you for research... or execute you."
"There'll be no need for that." May stands from her seat, after a few moments of silence, "I was the one who killed Quian Li Yang."
Everyone turns toward her, shocked at her declaration.
"So you're saying that you used Yamantaka's black flame power to kill him?" the inspector asks her, "How?"
At this, May raises one hand and a single black flame forms over it.
"Again." Yamantaka recognizes the familiar feeling of its flame being siphoned away from him, "Yes, this is the same feeling from earlier. I can recognize it. That is my black flame."
On the outside of the room, someone is using a device to control the black flame. The same guy from earlier.
"Looks like it." the inspector concludes. After a few seconds, May lowers her hand and the flame disappears, "Why?"
"...Even though we belonged to the same clan, Quian Li Yang could never stand the fact that a weakling like me was a part of it. He's been abusing and humiliating me for as long as I can remember... So I thought to myself that... he was better off death. And today I finally got the chance to take my revenge." May states with a cold tone.
Yukio, alongside all those present, stare at her.
"Why are you saying this just now?" the inspector keeps interrogating her.
"As you said, Yukio Okumura is the twin brother of the son of Satan. I guess the reason he undergoes constant check-ups is that his genes are subject to unpredictable mutations. He's clear, but if you happened to find any kind of alteration now of all the times, you would've obviously suspected him. So I'm confessing the truth now because I can't allow that. Yukio Okumura has nothing to do with this." May's tone is determined.
"So... do you take full responsibility for what you just stated?"
"Yes." the girl confirms.
"It saddens me, but looks like, at this point, we don't have any other choice." the investigator concludes, "May Yang, you are charged with the murder of Quian Li Yang. Therefore, for the time being we're going to restrain you."
Yukio, shocked, turns toward May, who keeps staring ahead of her, more determined than ever. Mephisto is smiling again. A couple exorcists enter into the room and take May to bring her away. Yukio stares at her as the girl turns toward him the moment she walks past him, smiling at him for one second. Yukio recalls the words they exchanged earlier.
"Why are you doing all this?"
"...You know that already."
"I want to help you remember."
Since the Japan group is going to travel back to their homeland the day after, they're spending the night in a inn. Lightning, Renzo and Yukio, after the investigation is over, head there too and reunite with their friends and the rest of the teachers. Lightning calls everyone in a private meeting room of the inn and explains them the situation. At the end of his report, he states that May has been arrested with the accusation of having killed Quian Li Yang.
Rin, in particular, is speechless. He turns to look at Yukio, who's standing a couple steps away from Lightning. The boy is staring into the void in front of him. Shura stares at him too.
"...And that's it." Lightning concludes, "The rest is gonna be up to the China Branch higher-ups... As for us, we're gonna travel back to Japan tomorrow. So, for now, let's all go to sleep."
"Where's Sir Pheles?" one of the teachers asks.
"Oh, he already went back to the Academy..." Lightning answers, "Well, I wish you good night, everyone! See you all tomorrow morning!" and he waves a hand at the presents, smiling at them, before walking away of the room. Everyone else prepares to go to sleep as well.
Rin and Yukio are assigned to the same room and, after the meeting, walk toward it.
Rin keeps remembering May's words, along with the admiration looks on her face while she talked about Yukio.
"I'd do anything to repay him for saving me."
"I need some air..." Yukio declares as they are about to walk into their room, "I'm going outside to take a walk... You go ahead."
Rin grabs his arm to stop him, "I have something to tell you before you run away from me... so come in." and turns to face Yukio with a menacing look.
Yukio follows Rin inside the dark room.
"So... what happened back there?" Rin asks.
"...Didn't you hear Mr. Light earlier? Or was his report too long-winded for you?" Yukio ironizes with a cold tone.
At this Rin walks toward him and grabs him by the collar of his shirt, "Listen up. If that's how you want it to be, then keep all the secrets you want from me. But don't drag that girl into whatever crap you're going through."
"...Why do you think I would do that?"
"Don't screw with me! She didn't kill that guy and you know that. Even if she said so, don't tell me a freaking smart liar like you couldn't come up with something to save her!" Rin accuses him, "Why did you allow that to happen? What really happened?!"
"Let go of me..." Yukio orders him.
Rin stares at him for a long moment, "...What happened to my little brother?" shock clear in his voice, "Who are you?"
"...Let go of me." Yukio orders him again. And after a few moments, Rin releases him.
The younger brother walks past the older one and leaves the room. Silence remains.
Lightning and Ryuji are walking along another corridor of the inn.
"Lightning?" Ryuji calls him from behind.
"Yes?"
"Earlier..."
"Have you ever wondered about the circumstances which surrounded your birth?"
"...Why did you ask Okumura about that?"
"Just checking something." Lightning answers.
"...Have you-"
"Ryuji." Lightning turns toward him and puts a hand on his shoulder. The boy stares at him, tensing for a second, "You go rest now... okay?" the man asks him with a smile.
Ryuji decides to drop the matter, "...Okay."
As soon as Ryuji walks away, Lightning picks up his phone and makes a call, "...Yeah, it's me! Can you put me in contact with the medical team? I need to take an appointment... Oh, tomorrow sounds perfect!"
Yukio is back to the Jade Temple. As he's staring at it, Shura reaches him. She stands at his back, a few steps from him.
"Ya know" Shura starts off and Yukio slightly turns toward her, "For some reason, ya never struck me as the type who would go to extreme lengths to save a damsel in danger. Then ya come up with this creepy big plan to save my ass and I'm like 'Whoa, was I eva more wrong!'... Turns out, ya really had me fooled back then."
After a moment, Yukio sighs and turns to stare at the temple again, "Sorry to disappoint you."
"Don't give me that crap." Shura states, turning serious.
"I have nothing to say. So, please, leave me alone."
"Sorry to disappoint ya too, but I ain't buyin' any of the shit Lightning said. No inspector in their right mind would've restrained someone based on proofs as shady as those... It's clear that the girl offered herself up as a scapegoat... for ya." Shura concludes, "And ya allowed that... cause yar the same scaredy-cat as always... And since ya are... Yeah... I have no doubt yar not gonna tell me what's really going on."
"...Every single one of you..." Yukio mutters to himself, clenching his fist in anger.
"I don't know what in the holy hell it's happenin' to ya lately, but ya better snap out of it soon, cause yar a smart one but there are things ya can't deal with on yar own... Why don't ya try puttin' some faith on those around ya for a change? Like yar brother, for starters?... If yar gonna fall, he'll sink down along with ya. And now ya brought that girl on the boat too-" Shura screams to him.
"You better... stop there..." Yukio interrupts her.
"...Strength comes from acknowledging yar weaknesses." Shura states with a calm tone, this time. And at this Yukio remembers the Aomori episode.
"I crave strength... no matter the cost."
"Learn to recognize yar limits." and then she walks away. Yukio is left speechless as the words start to sink in. The rest of that memory starts to play into his mind.
"I'm sorry, Rin... but I want to be stronger."
"I don't need your help."
Ryuji walks by the inn's resting area, as he notices that Rin is sitting on one of the coaches, staring at the floor. He takes a seat next to him.
"I'm keeping a secret from Yukio..." Rin begins and Ryuji turns to stare at him, "...I've been hiding something from him for a long time and... I can't get myself to talk to him about it..."
Ryuji, after a few seconds, breaks into a small snort. Rin, confused, turns his gaze toward him, "...No wonder I couldn't recognize you lately... The Rin Okumura I know is an idiot who's not cut out for telling lies and tricking people... Let alone keeping secrets." Ryuji states and, at this, Rin recalls the memory of the time he first unsheathed his sword in front of his friends, "What happened to that?"
"...You're right... I'm not being myself..."
"Then be yourself!..." Ryuji smiles.
"Thanks... Suguro." Rin smiles back at him.
January 10th - Dominus Liminis
Lucifer learns about Quian Li's failure by one of his Chinese spies.
"I see..." it's the King of Light's only comment. Todo, standing at the back of the conference room, smirks to himself.
At the end of the meeting, Todo walks away. While he's walking along an empty hall, he picks his phone and calls Renzo.
"So... what was Okumura's reaction the moment they asked for a new test?" Todo asks him.
"He was visibly frightened at the thought that the test could accidentally turn out to be positive." Renzo explains. The pink-haired boy is sitting on the bed of the inn's room he and Konekomaru were assigned to. Konekomaru is washing his face in their private bathroom.
Todo smirks again, "I see... Then maybe the situation is still in our favor... Keep monitoring him, don't put any pressure for now... Report any unusual changes in his behaviour over the next few days."
"Got it, roger sir."
