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Chapter 24

Delusion

...

Two days later...

"I'm burning?! Blue flames..."

"Those blue flames are the proof of Satan's offspring. I wasn't mistaken after all. My name is Astaroth. Shall we go, young master? Lord Satan is waiting for you..."

"S... Satan?"

He slowly opened his eyes. My head hurts...

He sat down, lowering his head. What happened?

Shall we go, young master? Lord Satan is waiting for you...

His gaze slowly darkened. "Satan..."

"Are you awake, Rin?" Yukio smiled, walking into the room.

Rin looked away, sighing. "Hell yeah!"

"What is it, Rin?" Yukio sat beside him, anxiously staring at his older brother.

Rin sighed. "I just... missed the geezer."

Yukio smiled sadly, lowering his head. "We all did."

Rin bit his lips, clenching his fists. He moved his gaze to the blade. He walked to it and opened it. Blue flames flared on his skin as he held it. "He..."

Rin fell silent, not much knowing what to say. "I just feel like a hole is inside of my heart."

"But now, we revenged! Satan is gone... Nobody will hurt any innocent lives!" Yukio muttered, almost trying to comfort himself.

Rin smiled weakly. "We're on summer-break, right, Yukio?"

"Yes!"

"Good." Rin stood up, rubbing his belly. "I'll go to our old home for a while!"

"Oh, and school?"

"I don't want it! Besides, I'm not feeling that well."

"You're lying!"

"I'm not!"

Rin yawned. "I won't be there!"

Yukio sighed, lowering his head. They slowly glared, smelling a rotten cooking.

"Meh, meh, it smells Mephisto."

"Let's run from the window?"

"Let's..."

They swallowed hard, walking downstairs.

"Good morning!" Mephisto smirked. "How are you doing, kids?"

"Don't give me whatever you're cooking!" Rin gritted his teeth. "I was dead once!"

Mephisto blinked. "It's not that bad..."

"SHUT UP!" Rin smiled nervously. "My poor tummy won't handle that torture..."

"By the way, you all have a day off! All exorcists are off-duty! Feel free to go wherever you like!"

"YAY! AMAZING!" Rin ran outside, dragging Yukio with him."

Mephisto's gaze grew serious. "They've both forgotten..."

"It's exactly as you stated! Amazing, brother!" Amaimon stood near Mephisto. "It's as if Satan wasn't there at all!"

Mephisto took a bowl of soup and started playing with the spoon. "So, Satan used the angels' power to erase the memories of everyone and restore everything, even reviving those that were killed during the few days he remained in Assiah. But in exchange for what?"

"Exchange?"

"Yes, demons and angels are always in an eternal fight," explained Mephisto. "So, if ever a demon asks something from an angel, then he should pay something in exchange and inversely. An angel can take a demon's life. But if a demon is killed by an angel, he can never be revived. Yet, Ethan said that Satan wasn't dead. So, what did that archangel take?"

"It's no use thinking about that! You're burning for nothing!" Amaimon took a bowl of soup. "Satan is gone. There's no way Ethan will let him run away again!"

"I still want to talk to Satan. He has a lot to explain," Mephisto glared in front of him. "Even Shura's memories were erased."

Amaimon smiled. "I can be useful! The imperial army is tough but a little grain of dust can go unnoticed!"

"No, there's no use..." Mephisto sat down. "Let's just wait."

"Hm... Waiting is boring!"

"THIS SOUP IS HORRIBLE! RIN WAS RIGHT!"

"I know!"

Rin stood in front of school. He smiled widely. "Now we can go!"

Yukio smiled and nodded. "We can, yes..."

"Rin! Yukio!" Shiemi ran toward them with Suguro, Izumo, Konekomaru and Shima. Shiemi smiled, meeting with them. "Did you hear? We have a day off, today!"

"Oh, yes," Rin grinned. "I'll go back to my home town, today!"

"That's a great idea!" Shima's eyes sparkled. "Take us with you, Rin! We'll have some fun!"

Rin slowly nodded. They walked toward the train station. Rin pushed his hands into his pockets, lowering his head. Why would Satan need me in the first place? Now I recall that demon saying something. The demon at first hurt me, then he started acting like a cute little doll. Did Satan order him to do it?

He frowned.

They took the train. Shima smiled, standing beside Izumo. "Did I show you my new trick?"

Izumo rolled her eyes. "Would you just stop?"

"Why? I'm a magician!"

"MAGICIAN?!"

Rin absently stared upon the distance. His gaze saddened as he closed his eyes.

"Rin?" Shiemi anxiously stared at him. "What is it?"

He glanced at her, then sighed. "I'm tired! I didn't sleep well!"

She looked away, pouting. "You're lying!"

He laughed. "I'm hungry, anyway!"

"Well, we're done with this train, anyway!" Suguro muttered, annoyed by Shima and Izumo's childish chat. They walked out of the train.

Rin walked silently toward home. Yukio patted his shoulder, smiling. "It seems like we're back..."

"Back, huh..." Rin lowered his head. He smiled. "We're back."

They stood in front of the crunch.

Rin clenched his fists.

"It might be hard to be an Exorcist. You have to get rid of things that don't even exist."

"Demons do exist in our hearts."

"Bullshit, they just asked to consult you."

"By the way, what's with that get-up?"

"Everyone insisted on my going to the interview so I borrowed it."

"And the necktie?"

"It's faster without it!"

"Heh, you just don't know how to tie it, do you? Give it to me. I'll teach you. Raise your collar and close the button. Damn... You're only growing up physically! You were so cute when you were little, going "Daddy, Daddy" all the time."

"That was ages ago! I'm grown-up now, stop embarrassing me!"

"Grown-up? I can't see any grown-ups around!"

"HEY!"

"If it's that embarrassing, show me how much you've grown!"

"Don't look down on me. I'll show you that I can do this by myself! Open your eyes wide and look!"

Rin's smile slowly faded.

If only Satan wasn't there...

He lowered his head and walked ahead.

We'd be laughing like back then...

Shima glanced at the house. "Ha! I like this place! It's really cool! Your house is amazing, Rin!"

Rin sighed. "I'm hungry!"

"Well, the door is open?" Suguro raised an eyebrow. "Are those inside of here all careless? No wonder why Rin grew up like that!"

Rin frowned. He walked in with Yukio. They looked in every corner of the house but found nobody...

His eyes suddenly widened.

I raised you as a human and that's why I told you nothing. Nothing about the secrets of your birth.

Human... Am I...

He's my best friend. Call him as soon as you leave the monastery. I'm sure he'll protect you.

Pro... tect?

"Let go! You'd throw me away anyway! I've been doing nothing but trouble all my life. We're not even really related! Just strangers..."

"Rin!"

"Just be honest! You got tired of pretending we're family! Or can't a clergyman talk like that? Maybe you want to play a good father to the end? Don't screw with me! You're not my father or anything! DON'T EVER CALL YOURSELF MY FATHER!"

No... Fa... ther... Don't leave...

"Finally, I meet you, my son! OR WHATEVER!

"What's wrong with you?!"

"I am Satan, the God of Gehenna and your real father. You can call me daddy if you want! Let's go back to Gehenna!"

"Don't come near me! STAY AWAY!"

I... I'm a...

"You have the blood of the God of Gehenna yet your body is of Assiah. You're special."

"Today, you will be reborn as a demon."

"Someone... HELP ME!"

I'm a...

Rin gasped, falling to his knees. He placed his hands on his face, panting.

"Rin!" Yukio ran toward him.

You're wrong... He's my son and you'll give him back!

He... was... protecting me...

"Hey, father..."

"Hm?"

"Why am I so different from everyone? Am I really a demon's child?"

"No, you're not. You're a human's child."

All the time...

"Nice to meet you. I represent the Japanese branch of the True Cross Knight Order, Mephisto Pheles."

"Are you Exorcists too?"

"Indeed, and we know everything about you. It seems Reverend Fujimoto raised you as a human, but contrary to his wishes, you awakened."

Mephisto... He... asked me to...

You're a demon and that's why you're very dangerous.

You should quietly hand yourself to the order or just die.

Are you saying that it's my fault that he died?

You killed him!

Rin's eyes went wider. He glanced at Yukio then stood up, leaning on the wall.

"Do you still... think that?"

Yukio frowned in confusion. "Think... what?"

"I..." Rin smiled, lowering his head. He walked out of the room. "Let's go, Yuk-"

His body froze.

Just remember one thing, is that I'll protect you, no matter what…

Rin gazed at the ground, eyes wide. He started rubbing his forehead. "What is this?"

"Rin?" Yukio placed a hand on his shoulder. "What's going on? Why aren't you answering my calls? Is something disturbing you?"

"Hey, guys!" Shima's voice echoed from the outside. "Can we go in?"

"I'll…" Rin ran away.

"Rin!" Yukio followed him out. The others glanced at them, confused. Then they all ran behind Rin. They ran into the monastery. Rin stared at the hall. He sat on a bench, lowering his head.

"What happened, Rin?"

Rin glanced at them, not knowing what to say.

-o-

Mephisto was sitting in his office. He absently stared in front of him. Amaimon was sitting on his desk, legs folded. He sighed. "I'm bored! What to do now? Can we play a game?"

Mephisto sighed, lowering his head. "There's no time... for now, the only game we'll play is..."

He stood up and walked to the window. "Uncovering the truth..."

-o-

Rin smiled, lowering his head.

Yukio grabbed him by his shoulders. "Rin?"

"I just... felt a little bit confused," whispered Rin. He looked away, not willing to eye Rin. "Probably I... I'm just tired?"

Shiemi frowned. "This is no good, Rin! You scared us to death! Are you sure you're okay?"

Rin grinned. "Of course! I had a nightmare," he lied.

Suguro raised an eyebrow. "A nightmare?"

"Yes, a nightmare," Rin smiled nervously. "Problem?"

Suguro folded his legs, smiling sarcastically. "Idiot! It's always a problem with you!"

"HAH?" Rin gritted his teeth.

"Well, let's go, Rin? We should visit our father's grave," Yukio patted Rin's shoulder. "That's mainly why we came, right?"

"Yeah..."

They all walked toward the graveyard. Rin coldly stared at the ground. "I'm hungry..."

"Shut up!" Izumo rolled her eyes in annoyance. "He's been crying like a kid during the whole way, I'm hungry, I'm hungry! KNOCK IT!"

They walked into the graveyard. Rin stood in front of Shiro's grave. He smiled weakly, lowering his head.

Nothing is the same without you, old man...

He smile widened as tears ran down his face.

You're wrong... He's my son and you'll give him back!

You've been such a hero...

Hah...

And I wasted all that...

Don't screw with me! You're not my father or anything! DON'T EVER CALL YOURSELF MY FATHER!

I've always done things wrong...

I regret...

I regret everything I've done so far...

I regret so much...

A red glow shined in Rin's eyes. He frowned. What was that?

He felt something in the pocket of his jeans. He grabbed it. His eyes widened, seeing an ice-blue crystal. What is this?

He felt a huge envy to let out a blaze, but something was preventing him from doing it. It was as if something was making a barrier around him. He stared at the crystal.

The crystal was shining...

Was it the crystal? Was the crystal preventing him from unleashing his powers? What was the reason? Did something happen? Did someone put it in there? Who was it? Why was it? Did he know that person?

And a pile of question rushed in...

He gritted his teeth, holding the diamond.

He wanted to throw it away. Yet, for some reason, he felt like he shouldn't do so.

He lowered his head, pushing the diamond back into his pocket.

He forced a smile, staring the grave.

"So, this is the legendary Fujimoto Shiro's grave!" Shima smiled widely, eyes sparkling. "It is said that he was the top ranked in all the exorcists! He was so cool!"

Rin clenched his fists.

Yukio cleared his throat. "Well, indeed..."

He moved his gaze to Rin. "What if we go eat something now? Travelling so much probably made you hungry!" He offered.

"Yes! Let's go!"

They all walked toward a restaurant.

-o-

He slowly opened his eyes.

He heard yelling. He heard people screaming all around him.

This is a catastrophe!

This is a betrayal!

This is unforgivable!

He should be killed!

We can't allow him to be our king!

Ethan-sama, Viperiah-sama, please help us!

Justice shall take place!

We can't allow someone like him to be among us!

A holy punishment should take place!

Kill him!

He tried to move but felt his arms chained to the sides, his legs too. His vision was blurry. He could barely move. He gazed in front of him, panting.

"Now, order, please!" A voice called.

And in a second, silence reigned in.

A tall man walked and stood in front of the judge's chair. He had blonde and long hair. He coldly gazed at the audience.

It was a colossal, round hall, with two hundred thousand seats. The seats were full with demons from across Gehenna. They were all watching the bottom of the court with angry expressions. Down, in the bottom, the accused was chained vertically.

"Now..."

He moved his gaze down to the fire demon.

"Satan's tribunal shall begin..."

To be continued...

...

Everyone lost their memories due to Satan's attack, except for Mephisto and Amaimon. Yet, Rin still had problems with his memories and remained suffering from constant delusions. On the other hand, a tribunal started against Satan.