Puppeteer
Chapter 11: How Many Years


Aniue had become rather quiet and thoughtful.

For some time he just stood still at the huge window front of his office and looked into the distance as if he froze in time. He was probably busy thinking, Aniue thought a lot, forged plans and schemes in the fire of his wit to achieve his aims. Amaimon always considered those plans to be out of his reach when it came down to plotting. He never plotted much, he just acted out of instinct. And mostly he did what his brother applied to him anyway, even though he frequently slipped from the given path.

Aniue was ambitious and successful... it seemed he could accomplish everything he wanted in such an easy way and without much ado that it was almost frightening. However, this time all his linguistic eloquence fell on deaf ears.

The twins simply refused to be part of his play.

»What will you do now, Aniue?«

Mephisto remained staring silently into distance. Whether he just ignored him or whether he didn't hear him, Amaimon couldn't say. But it made him furious.

»Don't ignore me!« the Earth King hissed irritated and felt rage obscuring his mind.

In fact, he knew that it was impertinent to demand this.

In fact, he also knew that it was silly to speak with Aniue like that.

Yes, in fact, he was aware of all this...

But the demon within claimed attention at any cost. Mephisto had given answers to those insolent half-demon brats, now it was his turn to receive answers. He was older than them, he was stronger than them and he was closer to Mephisto than anyone else, be it in Gehenna or in Assiah!

»Amaimon committed a tremendous stupidity when he sought ways to protect me from Satan. I respect his attempt, but his achievement was utterly in vain, due to his half-baked plan and unlimited senselessness. Basically I'd say he deserves to bear the consequences, however, since he did this for me I unfortunately carry a certain amount of responsibility for his actions and, in all honesty, I despise it to be in somebody's debt, even more so when being indebted to a lower ranked demon...«

Amaimon clenched his fists. The disdain in Aniue's voice and the message of his words had been degrading and compromising.

Yes, maybe he didn't think too much about his actions.

Yes, maybe he was impulsive, thoughtless and even silly sometimes in a way.

Yes he was aware, but did Aniue have to point it out that much, when the twins were around?

Yet, Amaimon hadn't been aware that Aniue knew everything about the pact he did with Satan. He must've noticed the changes, of course. After all losing passion was something which hardly passed unnoticed, but Mephisto knew every detail. Since Amaimon never told him about the pact, there remained only Satan... knowing him, he'd probably rubbed it in to disgrace and humiliate Aniue during their disputes.

»... your blue flames, Rin, demonstrated remarkable influence on this pact. Since your first encounter his passion has increased frequently: Hatred and rage prosper again in his heart. And I am certain that Yukio's flames, too, unfold remarkable effects, particularly if both your forces were combined. Together you could correct his silly mistake from back then, your blue flames are capable of burning the pact mark to cinders and, in the same breath, loosening this tiresome loyalty bond which chains me to Satan.«

He had done this for Aniue. For him alone! Loyalty and obsession towards his brother ushered him to do this without hesitating. And all Mephisto did, was laughing at his ideas and mocking him. Asking for cure from weaker half-demons? This was an insult! He didn't need their help... he didn't want their help!

The last bit of sanity that could prevent him from doing something stupid once again vanished behind a curtain of jealousy and rage. With angry steps he strode forward to where Mephisto was located, raised his arm and...

»Tame your temper, Amaimon.«

It didn't need more than these words. The tone tolerated neither objection nor defiance and promised painful punishment if this were to be violated. Amaimon froze instantly, feeling the atmosphere around Mephisto changing, becoming colder and darker.

The will to gain attention by force dwindled and Amaimon obediently sank to his knees out of instinct. Devoted and submissive, like he had to be.

»Forgive... Forgive me, Aniue!« he whispered and bowed so deep that his forehead touched the ground.

How could he forget where his place was?

How could he forget that Aniue owed him no accountability?

How could he lose himself so easily in a tantrum that he forgot almost everything... even the simplest of all rules?

He was the weaker demon and he had to obey unresisting.

Why could he not?

Why would he always run berserk?

An irritated sigh filled the air, but Amaimon didn't dare to look up, yet. »You shall be forgiven, now get up.«

Slowly, as if controlled by an invisible string, he rose again and adjusted his body into its usual, slightly slumped position, only then did he lift his eyes which he had kept firmly fixed on a spot on the ground. He was confronted with green eyes that sparkled mischievously and rather amused. Aniue wasn't pissed?

»Astounding, finally I get to see that you actually can be obedient and do exactly what I tell you." Again the corrosive mockery dripping from Mephisto's voice, made Amaimon see red.

»Don't laugh at me!«

The King of Time lifted an eyebrow disapprovingly, but the corners of his mouth still twitched in amusement. »Who spoiled you so terribly much that you reckon you're permitted to do and say as you please? Did you not realize how contradictory you behaved just moments ago?« When Mephisto lifted his hand, the Earth King cringed, earning himself an affronted look from his brother. »Honestly... do you believe, I would lower myself to brute force when there are much more appealing methods of educating you?« Mephisto's hand aimed for his tie and readjusted it, with an unfavourable expression that spoke volumes of how little he thought of Amaimon's sloppy appearance. "There, no harm done."

»Aniue...« A delicate, gloved finger was placed on his lips, even before the Earth King could talk further.

»I watched you, studied your behaviour and came to a conclusion that is most unfortunate. Just moments ago you became furious because you felt like being ignored, you even went as far as trying to attack me, but then it takes just some words to soothe your temper and make you apologize. Then, when you felt like I mocked you, you became angry all over again, just to shy away like a beaten dog when I merely raise my hands? Amaimon, your mood swings as much as emotional outbursts of gravid women. Exactly since when do you have this problem?«

The finger pulled away from his lips, granting him, to speak and answer. However, he remained quiet. Not out of defiance, but because he absolutely had no idea... had it been there from the very beginning? Or did it appear bit by bit? The only thing he knew was that this problem bothered him for quite a while.

So he merely shrugged. »Sometime...«

Mephisto tilted his head and looked at him thoroughly from head to toe, before circling him and piercing him with searching, curious looks from each angle. Then he positioned himself again in front of him and twisted his goatee between index finger and thumb. With a frown he moved up to Amaimon and locked his face firmly with both hands, so that the Earth King could not turn away his gaze. Forest green eyes fixed on azure ones with stoic patience and a tang of entertainment.

Although he knew that Aniue didn't seek to annoy him with it, the fire of anger rose once again inside him, while his discomfort grew rapidly. Direct eye contact was a measure for intimidation, even more so if one forced his opponent to eye contact on such narrow distance. But, when Amaimon once more clenched his hands into fists, Mephisto pulled away and turned around to look through the window again.

What was it out there that entranced Aniue so much? Hesitantly Amaimon stepped closer and followed his brother's look.

Nothing.

Nothing, but blue skies and puffs of clouds, now and then a black spot in the sky, whether it be birds or airplanes Amaimon could not say from where he was located now.

»Rage and hatred are strong, passionate feelings,« The Earth King flinched slightly, startled by the sudden sound of Mephisto's voice breaking the silence between them, even though it sounded calm and surprisingly soft. »Feelings you did not possess for a long, long time.«

For a long while nothing else followed those words. Amaimon began to wonder whether Aniue expected an answer or something from him. But what should one answer to a statement? So he just nodded, knowing that nothing escaped his brother's watchful eyes, even if he seemed to be occupied. Aniue always knew what happened around him.

»You have always acted on instinct and impulse that's not what concerns me about your behaviour.« Aniue was concerned? »Back then in Gehenna you always stuck to Demon Etiquette and you never questioned my actions, furthermore, you learned from your mistakes. Nowadays it seems you learn nothing, but rather commit the same mistakes over and over again. At first, I believed you might do this to annoy me enough to gain my attention, but this would even exceed your sense of masochism. Now, however, I come to realize that you aren't able to cope with your re-sprouting passion. You have forgotten how to balance mind and feelings at the same time, so currently you can only operate with one or with the other.«

Mephisto sighed once more, crossing his arms in front of his chest and releasing a breath of air which sent his curl bouncing up and down like the antenna of a frog-fish. After some time he turned sideways and faced his younger brother with a sour expression. »How bothersome you are. Now I must reconsider my plans all over again and have to be more patient. First off, we have to get you on friendly terms with our youngest brothers. They are the only ones who can release both of us from Satan's bonds and if you treat them with hostility, they will never help us voluntarily.«

»They're never going to help us voluntarily! You heard them. They think we're disgusting. They think your plans are crazy. We do not need them.«

Soft chuckling. »Your jealousy searches its kind, Amaimon. It's even rather flattering up to a certain degree.« Mephisto gave him a lewd grin and his eyes darkened noticeably.

The King of Time had been an ordinary incubus, before he gained power and might. Enticement was in their blood. In general it only took them one lascivious look or one sensual movement. Even demons themselves had a hard time to oppose an incubus' charm. Well, why ever? Sins were their métier. Thus it was hardly surprising that even a child-like demon as Amaimon got lured by Mephisto's body language.

The room temperature seemed to raise by several degrees in an instant. Amaimon swallowed hard, feeling his throat getting dry and sore. The smell of pheromones in the air increased rapidly. His head went dizzy, when Aniue pulled him closer by his tie, so close that their faces almost touched.

Out of instinct Amaimon wrapped his arms around Mephisto's neck, his claw-like fingernails buried themselves into his soft, purple hair. He inhaled Aniue's smell, it was like an intoxicating drug, and soon he was so befogged that he missed the hardness in those forest green eyes for a moment. Now it was too late to draw back.

The mood flipped from one extreme into another. Heat turned to frost in seconds and an ice-cold whisper penetrated Amaimon's ear: »No questioning, no doubts, no lapses... or the consequence will be no mercy. We need Rin and Yukio. You will overcome your foolish pride and jealousy and will get along with them. Don't disappoint me.«

Amaimon felt the coldness of the words like a tub of ice water being poured on him. He was too perplexed and stunned to form words into an answer, so the Earth King simply nodded silently. For the first time he felt the same fear around Mephisto that always overcame him in Satan's presence.

Assiah had changed his big brother. This world didn't make him softer as everybody in Gehenna disdainfully gossiped, no, it made him become more ruthless and harder than before.

His appearance was nothing more than an euphemistic façade which whitewashed the darkness flawlessly, his cheerful nature just a distraction of the illusion that one ever had a choice around him and his smile nothing else but the mating call of the black widow.

Aniue was more dangerous than ever and Amaimon had up until now simply refused to perceive it. Now, however, he saw it more than clear.

Amaimon was just another pawn in Mephisto's game, always in danger of being sacrificed for the Greater Good.

»Samael...« he spoke as reality hit him hard and cleared his mind. It was time to make his own decision.

Mephisto withdrew one step from him and studied his face with a searching, slightly baffled look. Confusion looked strange on his features and for one moment Amaimon hesitated... but the fear was there inside him and it was stronger.

»... I'm sorry...« he whispered and aimed a punch as fast and as firm as he was able to. The noise of splintering bones seemed bitterer than the pain which momentarily seeped through his arm, as his knuckles made contact with Mephisto's nose. As expected, his brother had been too occupied by his confusion at the moment to react in time. With a fulminating bang his body crashed into the wall of the office. Amaimon slightly flinched when the fragile frame of his brother sank to ground by the fierceness of the impact, before it got wrapped up in a cloud of dust. Still, Amaimon also felt a little bit of pride rising inside him – there weren't many demons which could boast of knocking out the King of Time.

Before he continued celebrating himself, however, he whirled around like greased lightning, sprinted towards the huge window front and dived right through it.

Glass shattered, sending shards raining down on him and leaving them cut on his arms and thighs, but he didn't feel the pain at all. His human heart pumped blood and adrenalin into his system, the fear of consequences for his actions drove him on to go even faster.

Faster than the King of Time... hah!

A bitter, agonised grin stretched on his lips. His mind still somewhat doubted the success of his action, yet his instinct shouted at him to move his ass and run, run, run. Thinking was best preserved for when he was in a safer place than here!

Oh and he needed some thinking after this suicide stunt.

He dashed over roofs, glided down the merlons and jumped over on ledges and balconies, deeper and deeper, until his feet touched firm ground. He rushed through the front gate, downhill to the school buildings, sidestepping like a rabbit on the run. He sprinted faster and faster, until he almost toppled over and caught himself just on time. Then he ran through narrow, dark lanes, alleys and fancy porticos, avoiding the broad schoolyards where he could have been spotted far too easily.

He dodged the students, ran down a few unlucky teachers and swiftly avoided the people in black trench-coats.

How he wished he still owned the infinity key Mephisto took from him.

With it he could have easily stepped through a door to end up in the middle of nowhere and...

His step slowed down, until he completely came to a halt. Then he turned around to Faust Manor which was already almost out of sight behind all those tall buildings. Menacingly it sat enthroned at the peak of the True Cross Academy hill and seemed to stare down at him reproachfully. Amaimon swallowed.

All of a sudden the fear driving him to rush onwards before paralysed him now.

Could he really get away?

If Mephisto wanted to find him, he would find him, no matter how far away he got, the distance was immaterial. He could just as well remain here, in immediate vicinity, and hide on the school grounds.

Amaimon snapped his fingers. He didn't want to play pawn any longer...

A moment later, a fox with light green fur and a small conical horn in the center of its forehead jumped out of the lane and dived into the undergrowth of the school forest.


-TBC-


A/n: Oh, I'm so sorry for the long wait... it seems my muse is getting lazy once again, but once in a while I can force her to work at least a couple of minutes a day. T.T

So Mephisto wants to get rid of his loyalty bond to Satan as well as Amaimon's pact with Satan... but is that the ultimate goal? Nah, you bet it isn't, all this work and planning for something minor like that? Pfff... no.
Did someone realize that I like it veeery much to send him flying into walls by brute force? ^_^
No...? QAQ
Thought it was obvious, oh well... *sniffle*

Well, and Amaimon has a lot of thinking to do, now that his mind finally realised Mephisto means danger... running from his Aniue... oh dear, the consequences. *shakes head* But maybe it was the best idea he had up until now... who knows.

The twins refuse to be part of Mephisto's play as well... so the puppeteer isn't as allmighty as he thinks he is... or maybe he is...?

One (funny/weird) epilogue ahead of us until the sequel starts... YAY!
Why a sequel, you ask? o_O;
Erm... well, Puppeteer is a songfic and there are no more songs on this specific album... ^^;;
So... yeah... have to get a new one. *simpleton* -w-

Thanks to all of you who read this, even though I totally skipped the yaoi-part which should have been inside this very chapter... yeah, now it's out, that's why I changed the Rating. xD
BUT there will be Yaoi in the future... somewhere... in the sequel! ô_ód Dunno when though... and maybe I'll need a Trequel...? OTL

...And even more thanks to those who review.

*bows* I love you all!

(What an unusual long author's note. o_O;)