Puppeteer
Chapter 9: The beast

It wasn't that Mephisto didn't expect Amaimon to blame him afterwards. After all, he imprisoned him in die Kammer des Stillstands and he also stirred Yukio's blue flames. It was even part of his plan that Amaimon got hurt and needed time to recover now. Well, he had wished for less disastrous proportions on the matter but it was his full responsibility nonetheless.

Yet, Mephisto was aware that humankind committed themselves to each other in joint sorrow and cataclysm. Be it a natural disaster, a war, a killing spree or just a brother in need. Rin and Yukios efforts to help the Earthking's recovery confirmed that the demon principal backed the right horse.

Mephisto never made any thoughtless or careless decisions. It was all a part of his plan... or as humankind put it, part of his scheme. They were deliberated with utmost care and based on innumerable considerations. At times they were risky, too, but they promised a success at a high rate.

Demons always manipulated, assembling scenarios with highest possible pass rate and using any means to receive the desired results. Naturally, the executive force always would end up to be the demon of lowest rank, the one taking the highest risk, in this case Amaimon. It was so easy to go by the law of demon kind, yet, there was this importunate trifle which went by the name of doubt...

Amaimon's eyes cracked open first after one night of recovery. Just one night and most of his wounds of body and mind were gone almost completely.

His body still felt slightly stiff and sore in some places when he rose into a sitting position, but it wasn't worth mentioning. He was draped on Mephisto's oversized bed, surrounded by soft down-filled cushions and wrapped up in a warm blanket. His ordinary clothing had been replaced by a Yukata, a dark blue one with Coal Tar pattern. It was a custom-made present from Aniue. Underneath he was bandaged on various places. It itched slightly, but, being one of the few demons possessing knowledge of a healer, he knew that itching was a symptom for cure making progress. Somebody had taken care of his injuries... someone who knew what he or she was doing, so he instantly excluded Mephisto from his list of caretakers.

Thinking about Aniue... where was he, by the way?

Silently the Earthking slipped from the bed and sneaked off to the corridor, soundlessly making his way over to the door of Mephisto's office and eavesdropped. He wasn't allowed to enter the room when somebody was in Aniue's presence.

»...neither your guinea pigs nor your entertainment program!« That voice... Amaimon recalled it belonged to Rin Okumura's twin brother... what was his name again? »We want explanations on this matter! What do you want from us?«

»You have to be a little more patient. Time will reveal-«

»Oh come on! Quit getting out of a tight spot, you damned clown! Do you really think we gonna play this cat-and-mouse game with you forever? Forget it and fess up!« No doubt, this was Rin. His vulgar, disrespectful way of talking to Aniue was unmistakable. What was going on in there?

»I assure you I don't intend to cause any harm on either one of you. I give you my word as a gentleman on that.«

»Fuck your word! Put your cards on the table, now!« A growl, a flash of blue and the sound of a chair hitting the ground. Rin went berserk in there, it seemed.

»Nii-san, that's not helping!«

»How very ill-bred... tame your tongue and sheathe your sword, young man, or I'll nullify my word for self-protection-reason. At least try to use your brain once, it would be extremely unwise to make me your enemy in your current situation. Just yesterday both of you have delivered Vatican a wonderful excuse to exchange your period of grace by a seat on top of the stake. I am the ace up your sleeves, the only one you have right now. You may correct me if I'm mistaken, though.«

Silence spread in the office. Obviously the message cast its effect upon the twins. Amaimon impatiently chewed on his thumbnail. He wanted to know more about Mephisto's plans as well... still after all the punishment... but if Aniue caught him here eavesdropping. Not good, not good... it would be better to go back into bed and pretend that he didn't hear anything.

The door to the office opened up precisely at this moment and Mephisto stood in front of him. »I knew it... I knew that this noise sounded familiar and here I am proved right. Amaimon.« he said with a broad grin.

Amaimon winced. His habit had betrayed him. Damn! This meant trouble. Instinctively he retreated even if he knew that he could never escape from Aniue. Mephisto shut the office door silently in the meantime. Did he lock out eye-witnesses...? Oh, this wasn't a good sign! Why didn't he stay in bed?

Amaimon stumbled backwards now, trying to bring distance between the both of them. Maybe it was pathetic but panic didn't let him think in a reasonable way. He acted just out of instinct. An instinct which was branded stronger into a demon's mind than anything: The will to survive.

From then on everything proceeded terribly fast. Mephisto grabbed him by his wrist and pulled him close with a strength and determination Amaimon couldn't match. Yet he tried. His claws scratching the skin and his teeth driving into the flesh didn't help, though. Mephisto ignored his attempts to free himself and remained adamant. Soon Amaimon would get punished once again. Why did he always fail to pick the right choices?

Panic strangled him and he squinted out of reflex, avoiding to face that anger from his brother. Nowadays there didn't seem to be anything else than anger in those forest green eyes.

Inwardly he prepared himself for the pain-to-come, externally he stiffened. Mephisto was so merciless at times. A few scratches and burn blisters wouldn't restrain him to make the Earthking suffer.

But nothing happened. At least nothing of what he had expected...

The Earthking felt the comforting warmth of Aniue's chest and one arm snaking around his slim upper body, drawing him even closer, while one hand softly patted his hair.

It took Amaimon long to realize that this was all Mephisto did to him. Holding and patting. Eventually, his body started to relax into the soft embrace, clinging to Mephisto and enjoying the desired attention. He had longed for that and it felt incredibly good. Finally he dared to open his eyes and looked up into his brother's face, inquiringly and insecure.

No anger was in his eyes and an almost gentle smile lay on his lips. Such a rare sight but all the more precious, like a gift that one had to earn himself first. How did he earn it, though?

»Come on in... there is a lot of explanation ahead.« he told the Earthking in gentle tones and directed him into the office, where Rin and Yukio waited, both of them throwing daggers at Mephisto before realizing with mild astonishment that Amaimon accompanied him. The atmosphere in here appeared to be tense, Amaimon registered.

He narrowed his eyes and growled warningly at his younger brothers. Such young half demons, didn't have the right to exchange challenging glances with Aniue.

»There there... Amaimon. Be nice to Rin and Yukio, they have treated your injuries with utmost care. Now, come here.« Mephisto seated himself on the sofa opposite the Okumura twins and gestured for Amaimon to join him there. The Earthking followed the invitation and crawled onto Mephisto's lap, still casting warning glares at his two younger brothers.

So what? They took care of his injuries... nice of them, but he didn't owe them anything. He never asked for medical treatment and he didn't need their treatment to recover, anyway. Help didn't justify the disrespectful tone towards Mephisto.

This was... plain ridiculous! Amaimon wasn't just unbelievingly ungrateful towards them, he also still ate out of Mephisto's hands, like a trained dog. Rin couldn't understand this, no matter how hard he tried..

Rin and Yukio spent the night in one of Mephisto's guest-room in Faust Mansion. It had been late and the demon principal thought it best to let them stay over-night after yesterday's eventful evening. They were awake for quite some time, exchanging thoughts. Rin had revued the former events and discussed them with Yukio.

After his second fit of rage in one day the younger twin seemed to be too leached out, to stem the stubbornness of his older brother and discussed the matter with him, sharing his thoughts and considerations.

At long last they had fallen asleep with the certainty that Mephisto had some kind of plan, that both of them were part of said plan and that the stupid clown didn't shy away from any measures to accomplish his goal. They just didn't know what he aimed for. Therefore they had decided to confront him after their opulent breakfast the next morning - luckily a Sunday.

The principal owed them explanations and answers and they didn't plan to let him get rid of them so easily. But Mephisto came prepared like always. He had them in his grip with his trump going by the name of Vatican. That bastard!

»Aniue... what did actually happen? I remember vaguely being surrounded by blue flames and melting whiteness... and there were clocks and cries... so irritating and confusing.« Amaimon broke the silence with his monotone voice, snuggling his head against his brother's chest. Tzk... as if that bastard clown was worth this gesture of affection.

To the astonishment of everyone for once Mephisto didn't avoid the question with one of his many excuses, but patiently answered it instead: »You were caught in the time vortex, Amaimon. It's the centre of my strength, the deepest part of my heart. When the blue flames started to melt Die Kammer des Stillstands, its matter was no longer stable enough to keep itself upright and therefore retired to its origin.«

That was all Greek for Rin. However, Yukio seemed interested in the subject, bending forward in his seat and trying to catch everything being said.

»I see... but that sight and those cries nearly drove me over the edge of sanity...why or, better, how so?«

The principal brooded a while, twirling his goatee with his forefinger. An answer to this question didn't seem to be so simple. »The visual aspects of time is something the mind can not grasp, it's unimaginable for those who aren't me. It is just an assumption, but I guess what you saw and heard was probably nothing more than an illusion cast by your mind. After all, a mind knows best how to protect itself if overtaxed and no one else but the King of Time and Space himself can grasp the whole extent of the time vortex.«

»And what..?«

Mephisto shook his head with a lenient smile. »I cannot explain it. I couldn't even paraphrase it. It is an extent far beyond anyone's imagination. Even if I told you that I know what past, presence and future look like in all possible and impossible parallel existing dimensions at this very moment... it would just be a minimal fraction of the whole truth. «

Amaimon nodded thoughtfully. However, Rin understood less and less. How could one individual have a knowledge that no-one else could understand in the slightest?

»Summing up, you are saying that you carry the knowledge of all times...?« Yukio expressed.

»Nay... it's not that simple, unfortunately. I don't permanently know everything about the run of time... as I said before, it's complicated... at least for others.«

Yukio considered the words, Rin could tell. But he seemed to be really curious and couldn't keep himself from asking further questions. Unlike himself, his younger brother always craved for knowledge. »Let's say, if I'd ask you now, whether you plan your actions considering all opportunities given and knowing the outcomes of every opportunity before it all happens...?«

Mephisto nodded approvingly. »Even this question isn't easily answered. I do indeed plan my actions with my knowledge. After all, who could blame me for wanting to be successful? However, time is not an absolute term, it changes and deforms with any moment passing by and outside influences have an effect on it as well: every action opens further paths splitting into uncountable branches, every single thought forms new timelines, sometimes even melts them together into something utterly new. Time is permanently in motion and it gets permanently re-written«

Just listening to this cryptic talk caused a stinging headache. And Rin didn't even try to understand what was said. It was way too difficult for him, too abstract and way too physical. So what must it have felt like to fall into that time vortex...?

Yukio let himself sink against the armrest of his chair and whistled in amazement. »This exceeds my imagination by far... but such knowledge must be tremendously exhausting.«

Mephisto merely shrugged. »I decided to adapt this role and learned to grow into it.« he stated. »I don't want to claim that it was always an easy way but, if one strives for great power, one also has to be ready to make equally great sacrifices. «

»Wait a sec... what do you mean? Are demons allowed to pick their titles?« Rin asked curiously, proud of himself that he managed to filter some proper information between all those complicated words.

The principal chuckled. »No, not necessarily, but still a good question. Let me explain to you about regality in Gehenna. Some demons gain their titles by birthright. Like Amaimon for example. He was born to be King of Earth, just like Iblis was born to be King of Fire or Egyn to be King of Water. Naturally, such titles come with the specific elementary abilities of their owners.« Mephisto stopped for a short moment letting that bit of information sink in, before he continued.

»However, Some regality doesn't depend on elementary abilities, such as the title of the King of Spirits, the King of Rot or, in my specific case, the King of Time. These titles can be acquired, if the one claiming it is a child of Satan and possesses the will to fight for it by killing the predecessor. That's how Azazel and Astaroth gained their royal dignity. Unfortunately, I never had the spirit and the power to fight for my right, being just one of many incubus demons, except for also being one of Satan's children. I probably don't have to point it out that I used to be the black sheep in our family. Knowing them, I can say they would have killed me if it wasn't for Satan's affection.« A Cheshire smile darted over his lips. Grinning like that seemed to be so out of place when talking about such topics.

Didn't it affect the clown at least a little bit that his father molested and abused him, while the other side of his family wanted to see him dead? Even if it was Gehenna they were talking about... demons couldn't be that different from humans, could they?

»And how did you gain your title, Sir?« Yukio asked politely. Forest green eyes sparkled mischievously as his grin broadened. Rin never liked that facial expression one bit... it meant no good.

»I will show it to you.«

It was definitely more pleasant to travel into the past with Mephisto at their side than getting sucked into that diary. No nausea, no fainting, just a gentle nudge in the gut. But Rin still felt uneasy about this journey.

The stinging sulphuric smell, the ether, was the first evidence that they were back in Gehenna. Judging by the looks of it they landed in a bedroom. A classy one, dominated by an oversized four-poster bed. The light colour scheme and the variety of expensive looking furniture strikingly resembled the interior of a certain office from a certain principal.

Samael lay on the bed dressed in nothing more than a burgundy red silk dressing gown, apparently waiting for someone or something. He seemed nervous but also expectant.

»This sequence is older than the one you witnessed last time, but younger than the first memory. Amaimon isn't born yet and I'm still just one of many...« Mephisto declared, leaning back into his seat, still having Amaimon sitting on his lap. »One might say this is one of the most important moments... not only for me , but also in history of Gehenna and Assiah.«

Rin cast a sideway glance at Mephisto, trying to read the expression on his features. He wasn't kidding, that was for sure.

It didn't take long until that well-known darkness and those blue flames filled the room again. Rin stiffened almost instantly. Yukio beside him looked miserable. They already witnessed such a scene and when Satan appeared both of them winced in unison.

»Is it really necessary for us to see this, Sir Pheles?« Yukio stammered.

Another matter Rin and Yukio discussed yesterday's night. Yukio had always envied Mephisto for his carefree attitude and his easy-going life. The more he was ashamed when he found out that even Mephisto Pheles had experienced incomparable hardships. Yukio had admitted that the simple fact, that such thoughts never crossed his mind, made him feel ashamed. Everyone had a cross to bear and everyone coped with it on his or her own.

Rin had never experienced the darker sides of Yukio's personality. He'd get into fits of rage sometimes, scream at him and insult him with sarcastic remarks, but he never knew that Yukio actually hated him at times... or that he hated himself. He never showed any weakness and now Rin finally understood why.

He finally understood why Yukio had never openly cried for their deceased father.

Maybe it was due to that damned clown that his younger brother talked more frankly about his concerns and fears now. Rin was, however, not sure if that was a reason for gratitude. The principal had literally kind of broken his brother's backbone and even used their beloved father as a means to an end. The result might have outstanding side effects, but the path remained questionable ... just as Yukio stated.

Mephisto didn't answer. He stared at the scene with a straight face, but his eyes were narrowed and his eyebrows were knitted tightly together, frowning deeply. Yet, he didn't seem angry or worried, rather, curious and thoughtful.

»Samael! What a joy, a personal invitation from you. How very ... interesting is that?« Satan sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Samael snorted. »Don't feel too flattered about it. I invited you for business reasons.«

»Oh business reasons? Even more interesting.« Satan's gaze wandered over Samael's sparsely covered body. It was utterly disgusting how much of lustful desire sparkled in his eyes. »What kind of business does someone like you have?«

»You won't believe it, but even such low life being just like myself can achieve more than just look stunningly awesome. I want a pact with you.«

Satan laughed maliciously. »A pact? Hahahaha ... Don't be silly. What would you offer me in return? All I want from you is what I already take.« His sharp claws pierced the cream white skin of the demon, leaving behind rivulets of blood like landmarks. But it didn't take long for the wounds to heal again.

»I won't give you anything, I'll take something instead.« Samael purred unctuously, almost a bit too self-assured and confident. »The curse of the fallen angel, the chains which still bind you to God, the part of you that remained Lucifer and never became Satan. How does that sound?«

»How much do you know about it and who told you?« Satan growled angrily. »And what do you want in return?« His claws dug ruthlessly deeper into Samael's flesh.

The younger version of Mephisto inhaled sharply and replied with an equally dangerous sounding growl. »I have ways and sources and I know that this curse kind of limits your powers. As it is, however, I don't quite know how exactly the curse affects you, but this is the wager I'm going to take. I'm aware that you will be godlike without it, incredibly powerful, so I'm pretty sure you won't miss your chance to get rid of it, right? What I want in return is simple. I aim for becoming the King of Time, the second most powerful force in Gehenna.« Manipulating, smug, witty... Mephisto had always been a trickster with a silver tongue. Those words proved it. Did that mean, the current Mephisto still carried that aggressive demonic side somewhere deep inside of him...? Scary thought.

»Indeed... that's a reasonable deal.« Satan looked at his son sceptically. Probably for the first time he appeared to realize that there was more to Samael than just his looks. »I underestimated you. Your ambitions are quite remarkable and your wit is worth of a son of mine. You have to kill Chronos, the current King of Time, by yourself, though, or else his powers would reject you when being transferred. If I weaken him beforehand it should be no problem for a wimp like yourself to achieve that.«

»Lovely. I'm looking forward to that... now, let's seal the deal?« A coquettish grin flashed across Samael's lips as he opened up his robe. He whispered seductively and sprawled on the bed.

»That's enough.« the principal snapped with a bossy tone and the scene blurred.

In no time they were back in his office, everyone sitting comfortably in their seats again and silently pondering over the impressions made. Every pair of eyes was focused on Mephisto, even Amaimon's.

The principal knew very well that he had provided answers that raised further questions. His brothers were so curious and eager that it was most entertaining to look at them.

Which would be their first question? And which would be the last?

He chuckled. The game had just begun.

TBC

A/n: Where, what , when? What happened here? Mephisto's taking full control over the plot by now... I swear... that sneaky bastard. XD Anyways, without him I'd be stuck somewhere by now... so should I thank him? ôó

Well, still so many questions unanswered and yet so many new questions... huff... not revealing to much until the final curtain falls, hm? Well... I guess that's good for the tension. xD