A New Normal

Disclaimer: Characters and premise are the property of Kazue Kato. I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.

Epilogue: Stepping Forward

"Earlier this week the World's Governments reacted with confusion and disbelief as Greek officials formally recognized the sovereignty of the State of Delphi, ceding control of nearly twenty percent of the country to the so-called goddess Gaia in the person of her earthly representative the Oracle of Delphi, a seventeen-year-old citizen of Japan, Moriyama Shiemi."

The television droned on repeating the top news story of the week for the dozenth time that day while Rin, Bon, Konekomaru and Izumo watched and wondered if there would be any new information or just another rehashing of what had been said before.

Three very official looking letters lay ignored on the table by the door in the lobby of the Old Dorm.

The door slammed open and the first year Exwires stomped in, fresh from the new term's first day of classes. "Killing the headmaster wouldn't be murder would it?" Ueno growled. "He is a demon after all."

The older students traded a knowing smirk. "An understandable wish, but hardly a practical plan for a bunch of Exwires who just got the 'why you all failed' speech," Konekomaru remarked.

"So did he pair you guys up with each other or was that just our class?" Bon asked.

"I'm switching to be a Knight-candidate," Ueno declared. "Pheles wouldn't let me pair with Suzuki-kun otherwise."

"And I can't channel enough energy to Yips, so he said both Ito-kun and I would be Mana-chan's protectors," Godain sighed.

"Which left me the odd man out," Maki said. "He stuck me with Ueno and Suzuki, 'because it looks like chaperons are going to be important this year'," he finished mimicking Mephisto.

"Nisan went on about your relationships like they're for his personal amusement didn't he?" Rin surmised.

Godain and Mana glanced at each other and blushed then they glanced at Ito and turned an even brighter shade of red. Ueno snarled inarticulately. Suzuki stuck his nose in the air and ignored Rin. "I will too get a girlfriend someday," Maki muttered.

"These look important," Ito remarked picking up the letters in an attempt to change the subject.

Izumo, Bon and Konekomaru glanced at the letters then at Rin guiltily. Rin rolled his eyes, "You guys are acting like Yukio when he started getting acceptance letters from the High Schools he applied to. Open them, I'm happy for you."

Reluctantly the other three took the letters from Ito and opened them. "I got both my Aria and Dragoon Meister," Bon reported. "But they docked points the General Exam for not paring down my answers to essential information."

Konekomaru quietly slipped his letter in his pocket.

Izumo scanned through hers a second time then glared venomously at Maki. "What did I do?" he asked shifting to put Suzuki between himself and Izumo.

Bon plucked the letter out of Izumo's hand, "In short, she didn't get her Knight Meister because you suck as an opponent. 'Failed to provide an adequate demonstration of skills'." He scowled, his competitive nature overriding his worry about Rin for a moment. "Kamiki and I tied for fourth rank on the General Exam. How'd you do, Konekomaru?"

"Well, um," Konekomaru stammered.

Rin slipped the letter out of Konekomaru's pocket, "Wow! You aced it!" he exclaimed. "And you got to skip a rank, you're a Lower 1st Class Exorcist already."

Both Bon and Izumo gaped enviously at Konekomaru.

"Congratulations!" Rin exclaimed.

Bon and Izumo glanced at each other, shame-faced. "Congratulation," they echoed and Bon slapped Konekomaru on the shoulder.

The moment the helicopter touched down in the Delphi Arena Renzo grabbed his duffle bag and hopped out. Ducking low against the wind of the still spinning blades he ran across the grassy stadium to the first row of seats where Shiemi was waiting.

"I've been so worried about you," she exclaimed, flinging her arms around him and hugging him with all her might.

Renzo closed his eyes and let his cheek rest on top of Shiemi's head, "I missed you," he whispered. He stroked her back and she nuzzled into his chest.

Egyn and Amaimon glared down at Renzo from opposite sides of the arena, occasionally taking a moment to scowl at each other as well. At first, Gaia's overwhelming presence swamped Renzo's senses, but it didn't take long for him to feel the weight of their disapproving stares. Renzo's demon heart, trapped between himself and Shiemi, pulsed and his pupils expanded until his eyes were filled with black fire. He tilted his head up challengingly and glared back at the two ancient Hell Kings over the top of Shiemi's head. 'If they think I scare off that easily… Man are they in for a surprise," he thought.