I know I say this every time but I'm so sorry for the wait. I hit another severe case of writer's block. I wrote a different draft of this chapter but it just didn't seem right so I had to change it.

InsanityPie (is your profile picture Squid Girl?), thank you for your review! You bring up a good point. I believe that at this point in time (a while after the incident with Shinichi's mom), Migi has the ability to act a bit irrationally. In other words, emotions are starting to appear around this time. He doesn't want to tell them for essentially the same reason he's wary of Kuramori—he's worried the exorcists will turn in Shinichi, which of course goes directly back to him. But good eye—this next chapter covers it. I'm just pacing myself. Remember, in the world of this story, the last few chapters happened in a very short amount of time. He would keep denying as long as possible.

Castella Leena, don't worry. I would never discontinue a story without telling my readers and I fully intend to finish this one.

And thank you everyone for the support!

21

The Jig Is Up

"Don't say it was Kana's fault she died. You think she wanted this?" hissed Yukio. "Do you really not feel any sadness?"

"You don't know her at all. No, she didn't want death. You know what she wanted? She wanted me. I told her to stay away from me. I knew something like this would happen someday. But did she listen? No. It's not your fault, it's not my fault, it's not anybody's fault but her own," said Shinichi. He knew he wasn't getting out of this. But would Migi allow himself to be revealed? He had always been very adamant he remain a secret.

"Nothing. You feel nothing. Out with it, Izumi. You can't dodge the question anymore. Right here and now, you're going to drop these…walls you've built and tell us what it is you're hiding. Why did you know something like this would happen? Why do you know so much about Parasites? And don't give me that 'the police know stuff about them' excuse because I'm getting the strong impression you know more about this than they do. And my intuition is always right."

Well, he really was backed into a corner. He made his decision quickly and hoped it would go at least as well as it did with Kuramori, but hopefully better. After all, they had the power to actually turn him in by force, even if Migi was a novelty to the exorcist world. They were exorcists. They could adapt to new threats quickly and efficiently.

"The jig is up, Migi," said Shinichi calmly. "You know as well as I do that we're not getting out of this one. Not a whole lot of point in playing dumb anymore."

"Who are you talk—" Yukio demanded, instantly being silenced as Migi made his appearance. A stunned silence fell over the entire room.

"I suppose you are right," said Migi as his mouth took form. He suddenly shot towards Yukio and stopped very close to his face. "After all, Okumura can see through lies effectively. You must be very observant."

Yukio backed up, focusing his guns on Migi now. "So you are a Parasite."

"No, no," said Migi before Shinichi could. "Allow me to explain. When I burrowed into his hand, Shinichi stopped me from going further than slightly above his elbow. Because of that, I matured in his right hand rather than taking the brain, which was, of course, my original intention."

"Why not now?" asked Yukio. Shinichi didn't like the way this was going.

"I am not positive relocation is possible and I will not take a risk like that," replied Migi. "And you," he added, going in Rin's general direction. "What is it about you? You send out Parasitic signals but they are different…"

All eyes turned to Rin and a small bead of sweat could be seen on his forehead. "Uh…"

"He recently went on a mission with me and the demon sprayed something weird on him. I got it off to the best of my ability," said Yukio, looking a little nervous like Rin. "I guess it lingered a bit. Lingering demon scent or something akin to that is not unheard of, nor particularly uncommon."

"So, uh, Migi, do you eat…?" asked Konekomaru from the back, trailing off. He had a mix of a terrified expression and an angry one on his face.

"I do not. Shinichi's nutrition is enough," he replied simply.

Shinichi could tell Migi didn't want to go into too much detail as a precaution. They weren't sure how the class and Yukio were taking this but it looked like it was going to go downhill fast. Both of them knew whatever information they were giving could wind up in the hands of the Vatican. A group of hunters chasing them from the Vatican, that is.

"Alright," said Yukio. "You should turn yourself in."

He knew it. He just knew that they wouldn't accept it. Why should they? Parasites were the enemy. Eliminate everything having to do it and problem solved. Shinichi mulled over his options in his head. He might have considered going on the run but he had his mother—not his mother, the monster wearing her face—to worry about. She could go after Kazuyuki while he was gone. In any case, he had unfinished business with her.

"I don't think you should," declared Rin loudly, catching the attention of the rest of the exwires. "Look, Yukio, he's clearly on our side."

Is that sympathy? Shinichi thought briefly.

"How can you be so sure?" asked Yukio. Once again, the brothers had a silent conversation with their eyes. It was obvious that they knew something the rest of them didn't. "He could have been a spy this whole time. This a whole new enemy, Rin. How are we supposed to face it? We can't afford to take any risks."

Of course, there was something off about Rin. There was the fact that Migi picked up waves or whatever they really were from him. He'd like to believe that this was another, smarter, Kana. It likely wasn't the case, however. Migi had said the waves felt different, and he was about the only person he could really trust at this point. Even if he was only in it to protect himself. Though Shinichi himself was beginning to doubt that was his sole intention by now.

"He should turn himself in," said a female voice, a figure appearing from the shadows. Shinichi clenched his fists at the sight.

"Izu?" said Yukio, clearly surprised to see the other teacher there. "You're still here? I thought you went back to True Cross."

Shinichi wasn't sure whether he wanted to kill her or beg her to forgive him for keeping Migi secret for a brief moment before he got ahold of himself again. This was not his mother. She was dead and gone. But man did it make things harder when the monster looked like his worst weakness. He wished she'd changed her face. It would have spared him some buried grief and guilt.

"I have been checking the area for anyone else—" she paused as she glanced at the other exwires sharply. "And I finished. I came back to report to you. Risks are not something I like to take."

"That wasn't necessary, but thank you all the same," said Yukio. He then seemed to come to the realization that she didn't seem surprised or scared at all in Migi's presence. "You're not fazed by this?" He added, gesturing in Migi's general direction.

"There's worse," she stated, sneaking a look at Rin. Yukio looked unsure for a moment before muttering, "This better not be another Neuhaus."

Izu walked up to Shinichi. "I will kill you at a later time," she whispered in his ear. She promptly turned around and left, saying she needed something to eat over her shoulder.

Shinichi had to force down a growl. Hungry? He knew what that meant. It sickened him to think of his mother's face covered in blood as she chowed down. It was repulsing. He was going to get her. And he was going to do it tonight. As a matter of fact, he was going to hunt her down the second he was out of this situation. He wouldn't let emotions get the best of him this time. He wouldn't hesitate. He would strike the killing blow. He couldn't handle her any longer. That monster was as good as dead.