Hey guys. Sorry for being MIA lately. A lot has happened, but I'll save you the stories and go for bullet-point list instead.

- Midterms suck

- Freaking busy and had no time for anything with BF

- BF is now ex-BF for reasons I won't go into that much, because if I do, I'll start to rant and make your brain bleed from boredom, so I'll stay away. But I WILL say that he was ridiculously clingy and needy and, er, grabby. And that is not okay, especially since I only knew him for a month before we split. So, basically, I'm single now! Bah, who has time for guys anyway. I have stuff to do, a life to live, stories to write, and I don't need a childish guy clinging to me like a freaking leech.

Dating advice to anybody: If you think you found the perfect partner, get to know him/her first, all right? And take it slow - love isn't a race, it's a marathon, and space is healthy in a relationship. It gives you both time to yourselves, but also gives you both the chance to look back on the good memories, smile, and look forward to seeing your significant other again. :)

Okay, relationship rant over. Happy early Halloween everyone! I'm going as an incredible (you know, from the move The Incredibles?) :D What about you guys?!

...

Yukio POV

...

Yukio lifted his head to the sky, that great expanse of molted grays stretched out in every direction.

It's going to rain, he thought, then continued on his way.

These past couple of days had been a blur. Images swirled about in his head, just random memories brought to light in the gloomy dark. Students still in uniform jogged past him, laughing about something said in class as their striped tie curled behind them in the wind.

"Oh my gosh, did you try the miso soup in the cafeteria today?"

"No - I heard it tasted like laundry detergent!"

"It totally did! It was so nasty!"

More giggles.

Yukio sighed. Such mundane worries seemed so . . . stupid. Who cared if the soup tasted like detergent? The students were beginning to file back into school, though technically it was supposed to resume next month. Many students were foreign exchange, however, and had nowhere else to go but here.

Yukio turned his turquoise eyes to the sky again and wondered - not for the first time - if breaking Mephisto out of the Vatican behind his superiors back was truly the right thing to do. After all, if they got caught, it wouldn't just be his head rolling. He had seen Shiemi's eyes glaze over once before - he didn't want to see that emerald turn dark again.

But this is for Rin, he told himself. His fist clenched, a jerky spastic movement that he didn't even know he did until he felt the fingernail nearly break the skin. He eased off. This is for Rin, he told himself again, then opened the door to his room.

The air was stale and dark, and dust spiraled around itself in a graceful ballet. Thin light streamed between the window blinds, illuminating the figures sitting cross-legged on the floor. Shiemi was the first to notice him; she looked a bit more pale now and there were faint bruises beneath her eyes.

"Welcome back," she said cheerfully, and her pale expression vanished.

Yukio faintly returned her smile. Who needed the sunshine when the sun was already here? "Back," he replied, and set the groceries on Rin's desk. It wasn't like his brother was using it any time soon.

Heck, now that Yukio thought about it, Rin hardly ever used the desk to begin with.

Mephisto was leaning against Yukio's bed frame, with Amaimon sitting beside him. Amaimon had almost become a doting parent these last few days, always asking if Mephisto needed anything or if there was anything he could do to make Mephisto heal a little bit faster. Angel, after his temper cooled, asked how Mephisto's wounds weren't healing like a demons should, but Mephisto only smirked and mentioned that holy metal burns don't heal so easily.

Yukio tore his gaze away from the odd group on the floor. The worst of times can make the worst of enemies a friend . . . or so the saying goes. But what about after? he wondered, flicking his gaze back to Angel. He certainly wasn't a friend, it was more of a mutual agreement that he wouldn't force-feed the two demons their own bloody hearts.

Angel turned to Yukio and, misreading his expression, scowled and said, "We were just discussing the next course of action," with a casual sweep of his hand.

"Brother needs to heal," quipped Amaimon crossly. Yukio arched an eyebrow; it was the first time he heard Amaimon speak to anyone else but Mephisto and Shiemi.

Mephisto darkly smiled. "I will heal," he replied, cutting the lesser King of Hell off. "However, creating another Gehenna Gate will take time."

"And blood," Angel muttered. "Blood that we don't dare shed."

"I can transfer your minds to Gehenna," Mephisto retorted, "but, without creating a true Gate, I cannot send your physical bodies."

Angel and Mephisto bantered back and forth, and Shiemi lowered her head. It was clear that those two had been at it long before Yukio returned from his walk. Yukio began to feel his own spirit dampen as well; at the moment, he felt like he was continually running into a wall with no way to turn around.

"Hey, Yukio?" Yukio blinked and turned to Shiemi; she was looking up at him with a sad expression. He tried for a smile and only semi-succeeded.

"Yeah?"

"Do . . . do you think that Rin is all right?"

The answer was flying out of his mouth before Yukio could think. "Of course Rin is fine!" he said matter-of-factly. He even threw in a casual shrug to solidify the effort. "Rin's stubborn to a fault and think-headed. He's fine," he repeated. "He's going to be just fine."

Shiemi's eyes watered up and she turned away. The long days were starting to wear down on her. "I wish I could see him," she whispered. "To make sure that he's okay."

"He's fi - " Yukio began, but then stopped short.

I wish I could see him . . .

"Mephisto!" he quite nearly barked, jerking his head towards the demon. Mephisto's violet eyes were wide with surprise. "Can you send my mind to Gehenna?"

Mephisto frowned. "Of course."

Yukio sat down in front of the demon, much to Angel's annoyance. "Then send me," he insisted. "At least to check things out." In the corner, Shiemi gasped.

"That's stupid," Angel stated right as Shiemi said, "Take me with you!"

Mephisto ignored both of them. "Your mind is your soul," he said darkly. "If I send you, a sort of thread will bring your soul back to your body. But, if you die in Gehenna, then your body could easily be possessed by demons. There wouldn't be anything to stop them."

"I don't care," Yukio stated. "Send me. I can scout, find their weakness." And find my brother.

Mephisto scowled darkly, then - in a moment - his expression changed entirely. "Interesting," he mused, then turned to Angel. "You will go with him," he stated, and added before Yukio could object, "you have the most experience."

"Of course I do," Angel stated, getting to his feet. The edge of his blade gleamed in the pale light. "When do we leave?"

"Tonight," Mephisto stated.

"But, Brother - " Amaimon said, " - your wounds . . ."

Mephisto laughed, a long curl of laughter that seemed to chill the air. "Who cares?" he demanded. "This is exciting! To think that I'll be sending the first two humans to venture into Gehenna alone; doesn't that simply boil the blood?"

Yukio grimaced at the metaphor, but it was true - he was excited. Tonight, he thought, everything will change. Maybe I'll be able to see Rin there and talk to him. Maybe everything will be all right.

He turned his head to the window, to the gray sky above and the shadowed world below. There was a sudden crack in the air, and it began to rain.

Ooooooooh ship. The plot is actually moving forward again. By the way, I apologize for the last chapter; someone mentioned that it looked exactly like the previous Gehenna chapter and upon closer inspection I was like, oh shoot, it is! The next chapter will be different though, I promise. Different as in AWESOME :D *hopefully!*

Anyway, thanks for waiting so patiently! I hope this chapter was up to your standard! Good luck with school everyone, and Happy Early Halloween! Screw dieting - go inhale candy! :D

Stay awesome,

Rand0mSmil3z