"So, how'd you guys do for your first mission?"
"I mean, I had to clean out the Leaper's cage," said Konekomaru.
"I had to take a sample of Bariyoshi to Tamagawa." Muttered Suguro in an annoyed tone.
"I had to carry supplies to Yamaoku," answered Shima.
Suguro, let out an exasperated sigh, "We've only just become Exwires. It can't be helped that all we get are these sorts of mission."
"They weren't missions, they were just odd jobs!" exclaimed Shima.
"What about you Okumura-chan? You've been quiet for some time now," I glanced over to Koneko as he asked me this.
We were currently in Mephy Land for a group mission assigned to us by Mephisto himself. The four of us sat at the foot of Mephisto's statue (the narcissist) as we waited for the Kamiki and Shiemi to show up. While Yukio and Tsubaki-sensei stood close by, muttering to themselves about dividing us into pairs for this mission.
"I and my familiar chased after some Goblins around the main school," I said annoyed.
The three males immediately whipped their heads in my direction, shock written all over their faces.
"It isn't as exciting as it sounds. I would rather have wanted to take one of your odd jobs than running around the school campus for more than two hours trying to trap the little buggers. That and it didn't help that my familiar decided he wanted to take a nap rather than help me out."
My complaint was followed by complaints from the three, jealous of the fact that I had dealt with demons once again. It wasn't my fault Yukio used my ability to speak with other demons telepathically as his gain. Was it? Either way, I was exhausted that I ran around the campus using what Yukio likes to call "human speed," because according to him, students who had extracurricular activities during the weekend should not see my use of demonic speed.
As the three males kept talking to one another, I heard hurried footsteps coming from the entrance of the amusement park. I looked away from the Kyoto trio to see Kamiki with an annoyed expression following a blushing Shiemi in a True Cross general studies uniform, seeing the tight-fitting uniform on her, I immediately covered my chest. Millions of thoughts crossed my mind, but one kept coming back, how do they fit in a kimono?
"No kimono Shiemi?" Shima asked, a blush written all over his face, but he wasn't the only one, I glanced over to the others who had the same expression.
"Pervs," I muttered under my breath. The three of them immediately jolted in their seats and glanced behind them to see me glaring at them.
Shima chuckled nervously while Suguro and Konekomaru looked away, "I mean, you aren't lacking either Okumura."
Luckily Yukio didn't stop me from hitting the pink-haired brat over the head.
Shiemi, being the cute, naïve, and innocent girl that she is, paid no attention to the perverted gaze of the three hormonal teenagers, as she fidgeted with her skirt.
"Well, since my kimono wasn't suitable for missions, the director had me provided with a uniform. Sorry, we're late, I asked Kamiki-san and Paku-san if they could help me get into the uniform, I've never worn anything other than my kimono after all."
I glanced up at her, of course, she wouldn't have, witches of different nationalities have only worn traditional garments found in the country they settled in. This was primarily because they didn't go out into the battlefield, instead, they worked in the comfort of their own homes. Their occupation of work revolved around ecological and environmental groups, respected nature and its animals to the point of being vegetarians. They brought awareness to the world of how nature should be respected and protected, they were known to work in nature reserves or as park rangers, where they could keep a close eye on nature. Others, like Shiemi's clan, focused on selling supplies to exorcists or other humans who believed in the supernatural. However, their kind, depending on the country they settled in, hid their powers from those around them.
I smiled at her adorableness one last time before paying attention to Yukio as he spoke up.
"Alright, listen up everyone. This time, we're at True Cross Academy's Amusement Park nicknamed, "Mephy Land." To deal with the witness and damage reports of a ghost inside here, all the exwires have been recruited to help find it."
"Can anyone tell me the definition of a 'ghost'?" Kamiki shot up her hand. "Go ahead Kamiki-san."
"Ghosts are a demon who possesses material objects from human and animal corpses and turns them to vapor. Naturally, their characters are influenced by the feelings they had while still alive," Kamiki said with confidence.
Yukio nodded at her, but before he could speak again, I asked a question, "What age does this ghost appear to be?"
Everyone looked at my direction in surprise, "What? If we know what age this ghost is, I'm pretty sure we can have an idea as to why it choose this location to be tied to."
Yukio gave me a soft smile as he spoke, "That's right Okumura-chan. This ghost has the appearance of a small little boy, at the moment the damage is at the extent of him yanking on people's arms and legs; however, if we leave it unattended as it is, there is a chance that it may become evil and dangerous. Once you've divided into the pairs I am about to list off, I want you to scatter until nightfall and try to find it or at least find evidence of where it could have gone. If you end up finding it, call either mine or Tsubaki-sensei's phone immediately. If you have any question, please raise your hand."
Seeing that no one was going to ask any more questions, Yukio began to divide us into the pairs he and Tsubaki-sensei were muttering about.
When I heard my name called alongside Shiemi's I quickly grabbed the girl's arm and dragged her with me toward the direction of the shops. There we walked around glancing into shop windows hoping to spot any movement, but so far, we had no such luck. Along the way, we spoke to one another on how this being Shiemi's first time to an amusement park. I smiled and promised her that next time we should all come to Mephy Land to have fun rather than be here for a mission. The smile that she gave me was too adorable for words. Gosh, I hate how my mind and heart are too weak for cute things.
As we kept laughing, I immediately looked away from the girl and looked towards my right, "Is something wrong Rin?"
"I hear a voice," I said.
"A voice?"
"It's nearby, call Yukio."
I ran off from her toward the direction of the voice, behind me I could hear her speaking over the phone with Yukio telling him where we were at. Turning one last corner we found ourselves in front of the carousel, and on one of the horses, a ghost of a young boy wearing blue pajamas sat crying. I walked closer to the young boy, approaching him slowly, only speaking with him telepathically.
"Why are you doing this? Why are you here?"
The young boy sniffled as he looked over at my direction, he tilted his head in confusion as he saw that my lips did not move as I asked him questions.
"Why are you crying?" asked Shiemi beside me.
Next thing we know, the young ghost came flying to Shiemi crying into her chest on how he died before his parents could keep their promise. A promise filled with fun memories. Shiemi patted his head, trying to comfort him, as he kept crying. Until the boy became a little brat.
"Shut up, you hag!" he exclaimed as he pushed Shiemi away, specifically with his ghostly hands on her breasts. Before he flew away with Shiemi being a blushing mess. Great, another perv.
"Let's separate from here Shiemi," I said. "I'll call Yukio telling him that the ghost has moved on to a different location."
The witch nodded her head as she headed further away from me. Sighing I grabbed my phone from my vest pocket and dialed Yukio's number.
Scratching the back of my neck, I waited for Yukio to pick up his phone, after the second ring I heard the click of him picking up, but before I could even utter a word to him, I was thrown off balance. And by that, I don't mean a simple push to where I just fell on my butt, no, a push that sent me flying into a stand 6 meters away from me. On instinct, I clutched Kurikara with both hands not letting it fly off in a different direction as I crashed into the stand. I coughed as I tried to get up from the debris around me, and as I finally sat up, I heard a high pitched chuckled coming from in front of me. My whole body went stiff as I heard that familiar cold voice. A voice that had often protruded my dreams since I was 12, I could hear the person closer, not because of footsteps, but the chains that dragged along the cement floor of the amusement park. I could feel my whole-body shivering in fear, I had never expected them to find me so quickly. I never expected him to find me now while I was still considered human. As much as I wanted to stay still and cower, my prideful angelic blood would not allow me to do so. Standing up from the rubble, I patted down my skirt from all the wood fragments and dust, before sending a glare towards my cousin.
Taking a good look at their smirking face, I could see that just like my brothers, they hadn't aged a year since I have last seen them. I followed their gaze as they stared at the red sleeve I had clutched in my arms, they watched as I slung it over my right shoulder, my hand still clutching the strap. They tilted their head slightly in wonder as they glanced between the red sleeve and the way I protected it for the second time. I composed myself quickly underneath their watchful gaze.
"That sleeve is new little cousin, I wonder why do you keep it so close to you? First, when I kicked you into the stand, I saw you instinctively go for it, and even now, you still keep it in your hand, as if your waiting for something."
I clicked my tongue in annoyance to the messenger's observation skills, but then again, they wouldn't be much of an Archangel if they didn't have high observation skills. I tuned their annoying high-pitched voice as I listened for anyone nearby, the sound of Yukio's voice coming from my phone sounded erratic telling me that he would be there soon before cutting off completely. I could hear Shiemi not too far away from here yelling at the ghostly apparition to stop running away from her and going off about how he reminds her of herself. I listened for anyone or anything else before I tuned back to what Gabriel was saying. The Archangel went on and on how long it took them to find me at True Cross, on how annoyed they were with Samael's time and space voids scattered all over the city. Annoyed that they had to enter over 100 doors and any sort of entrance before they could finally sense me. Don't mess with the King of Time and Space, better yet, don't even try to enter his realm, it's stock full of mazes, dead ends, and rooms filled with anime figurines and other otaku related stuff. I smirked at their suffering of daring to enter the realm under the protection of a demon king, second only to Satan himself.
Grabbing hold of the nearest plank of wood in the rubble, which was fairly large and fairly sharp, I grasped it in my left hand before chucking it into the air and hitting my cousin straight in the nose with it. They staggered back in annoyance, while I immediately made a run for it away from Yukio, Shiemi, and the others. Behind me, I heard the second born of my uncle curse under their breath before unleashing their wings to catch up to my supernatural speed. I thought I was at a far enough distance to duck underneath an upcoming booth, but I was wrong. I could feel two hands yank my left arm into the air and I could feel myself ascending fast into the air. I struggled to get out their grasp but with no avail, Gabriel let go of arms as we arrived 10 meters above the top of the roller coaster before they kicked my stomach sending me straight down the 139-meter roller coaster breaking into the fiberglass and planks of wood that the structure together. I felt as the bolts came loose under my back, and felt as nails pierced through my clothing and into my skin. I quickly reached out to the nearest plank within my reach as I saw Gabriel make their way toward me, wings retracted, letting themselves fall towards my direction. Holding onto Kurikara in my right, and a second splintered wood in my left, I quickly prepared myself for Gabriel to reach me. However, before I could do anything to them, a chain made its way towards me hitting me straight in the head sending me flying into the ground below me. Not letting the pain get to me, I quickly got up with a grunt as set myself up in a batter position and using the plank of wood as my bat hitting Gabriel straight in the jaw. I took everything I had to not unsheathe Kurikara here and now, to allow my emotions to burst through me, to allow myself to go in a rampage, but I couldn't not now. Not after finding myself caring for these friends of mine. I couldn't—wouldn't let them see me in a blazing glory.
For the second time, I felt the earth tremble underneath my body, Gabriel's feet touched the ground, but this time with much more force. It forced me back down onto my back, above me, I could hear the creaking of wood, metal and fiberglass beginning to fall to the ground, where exactly? I wasn't sure until I heard a scream coming from my left, a voice that sounded all too familiar. My head turned in that direction so fast I felt neck pop, and not in a relaxing way. My eyes widened as I saw Shiemi clutching the ghost in her arms with her familiar right above her making a protective barrier over her. But I knew it wouldn't be able to hold the amount of weight that makes its way towards them. Without a second thought, I outstretched my left arm feeling the Holy Flames of Caelum as an extension of myself, pushing the flames closer to Shiemi I concentrated in burning the debris just above her until I could see no more of it.
Above me, I heard a cough, Gabriel.
"What's this? Did you protect a human? With your flames at that, have you finally unleashed your true demonic form? But where is it? Why do you still look human? Even back then you only looked human, but the strength you had was that of a newborn demon. Unless something is keeping you away from your true form," I watched as they glanced to the hidden sword and as they came to realize what it was.
"What do you have in that sleeve dear cousin? Why do you hold it so protectively in your arms child of Satan?" they muttered.
As they made their way to grab the red sleeve, I heard a voice coming from behind me, "Devour the seven princesses."
Both mine and Gabriel's head craned in that direction when we heard the voice, imagine my surprise when I saw Yamada summoning a sword from the middle of his chest.
"Slay the serpent," he cried as he slashed down at Gabriel who deflected the attack with their chains.
"Who are you?" questioned the messenger.
Yamada ignored the question by asking one of his own, "How did a 'big-shot' like you manage to enter the academy? I thought Mephisto hated your kind with a burning passion."
Gabriel growled as Yamada would not allow them closer to me, "You're a hindrance, you know? Humans should know their place in the world already, and that is beneath my feet."
The malice Gabriel held in their voice was genuine and true, they let out a sigh, "Perhaps we can play another time dear cousin of mine."
Gabriel began to walk backward from us until they went and began to jump from booth to buildings trying to get away from Yamada who was following close behind.
I watched as they became blobs in the distance as I began to myself up to my knees. I stayed their quietly, not uttering a single word, my body shaking and holding onto my heart as tight as I could. I swallowed a dry lump in my throat as I allowed myself to recount what just happened.
I was scared.
Scared.
Too scared to even think.
Too scared that I let adrenaline take over me and allowed only fight-or-flight instincts to kick in.
I didn't even have a chance to think before Gabriel got the best of me.
What was the point in all this training?
What I have I been training for all my life then if I allowed Gabriel to once again get the better of me?
Again, he was too strong. Even with all this training I had committed myself too, he was still too strong for me to beat in my human form.
I let the fear get a hold of me far too many times in that fight.
Fear of not wanting what happened three years to happen again.
Hell, I barely made it in time to save Shiemi.
I should have been more aware of my surroundings.
I should have paid attention to where exactly Shiemi was in all of this chaos.
If she had died because of my fear for my cousin, I wouldn't know what to do with myself.
My mind was in such a state of shock I hadn't heard Shiemi making her way towards me calling out my name in that worried tone of hers. I wasn't even aware that she was only a hairs width away from me until she hugged me. I didn't even realize it was her until I pushed her off of me yelling at her to not touch me. It was only when she asked if I was okay that I finally understood that my friend was worried about me.
Not a human.
A friend.
I looked around in surprise seeing Yukio, and Tsubaki-sensei making their way towards us a little further away.
"Where's the kid?" I think I asked because Shiemi told me he had disappeared.
I think she understood how out of it I was because she tried to keep my mood up, and oh how she tried. It wasn't her fault that the chaos had ensued, it wasn't anyone's fault but mine.
"Nee-san!" I looked over to where Yukio was coming from once again to see face etched with worry at my state. I looked down at my blood-soaked vest, the sleeves to my black collared shirt in tatters. My skirt messed up in so many places that I knew that I would have to order a new uniform altogether.
Before I could even say anything, a figure wearing a black hoodie appeared in front of me, Yamada.
"Yer slow, Yukio. 'Cause yer so slow I was forced to make my move."
I glanced up at Yamada and back down to his shadow as I watched it giggle in delight, Yamada spoke to Yukio as if they had known each for a long time.
"Long time no see four-eyes. Well, whatever. I've gotten tired of lookin' like this," he said as he began to pull off his hoodie.
My eyes widened in shock as I saw that before me stood not a male student but a female with an all to exposing a set of breast held together with what looked like a cheap red bra. Luckily, I wasn't the only one who stared at her in shock as she introduced herself.
"I'm Kirigakure Shura, an upper first-class exorcist," she stated with utmost confidence.
"I was dispatched by the True Cross Vatican headquarters to investigate the existence of the Japanese branch's 'risk factor.' In other words, I'm a Senior Inspector."
I frowned when I heard her say "investigation," had Mephisto known of this? If he had he wouldn't have let this happen in his territory, no, wait, he would have just to see how long this would amuse him.
The four of us stared at her as she showed her license and exorcist pin to us, "Anyways, I'll be taking this kid to the Japanese Branch Headquarters. Afterward, I'd like to talk with the Branch manager, Mephisto, so please bring him to me. As for the other exwires, they will return to their dormitories."
I felt her hands grab hold of my black collar as she pulled me up to my feet, "C' mon, Get up! I have something to say to you."
Before I could be dragged further away from where I was, Shiemi stepped in front of us.
"Rin is still injured; I can help take care of her wounds."
Shura smirked at the young girl and denied her help immediately. She continued on her way, walking us around the blonde and making her way toward the entrance of the park. There I could see the rest of the exwires huddled together waiting for us to arrive. Yukio or Tsubaki must have called them to return to the entrance and to await further instructions. Seeing that we were getting closer to them, the group quieted down as Yukio began to speak.
"Everyone, for the time being, today's mission is done. Please return to your dorms…" he trailed off as he glanced back to Shura who still had me clutched by my collar.
As we made our way past them, I could hear them question who Shura was and mutters of concern for tattered clothes. I chuckled because it always seemed that they have seen me with more bruises and tattered clothes than anyone I have met.
"What the hell does she want with Okumura?" I heard Suguro grumble.
"You! What in the hell happened? With all the tremors going on we couldn't even complete the mission."
I glanced over in their direction to see that Kamiki had asked this of Shiemi.
"I don't know. Rin did nothing bad though, we found the ghost and we got separated looking for him after he ran off. Next thing I know the earth started shaking and the roller coaster, what's the word, crumbled?"
I tuned them out, letting myself be dragged by the woman and away from my friends towards a 'Staff Only' door. There Yukio grabbed one of his keys attached to his waist and headed toward the door.
Making our way through the open door, I found myself inside surrounded with tall golden-brown walls and what seemed to be endless hallways on all sides, the floors polished to look like gold and candle stands proudly glowing with orange flames. In front of us a bridge connected with a tall door that looked to be opening up.
"This place is the center of the order of the True Cross, the Japanese Branch's base is hidden below True Cross Academy. While the Vatican headquarters are under St. Peter's Cathedral. Officially we don't exist, we're just an international organization with branches all around the world. We have a long history though. We've carried the burden of exterminating monsters all over the world for over two thousand years now." Shura informed me.
"That's right," confirmed a gleeful voice. I looked away from Shura who still held me by the collar and towards the voice in front of us.
"That is what we, the True Cross Order do. It's been a long time, hasn't it Shura?"
"Tch. Let's get straight to the point Mephisto. You're a bastard who's been hiding Satan's kid without informing the Vatican. What in the hell are you scheming here?"
"Don't be absurd Shura, I'm not scheming anything. While it's true I'm hiding her, everything is in the best interests of the Order," I watched as his smiling face turned cynical. "I'm raising Satan's kid to become a weapon for the Order! In these last two thousand years, we Exorcists have only fought a defensive war. Now we have the chance to take the battle to the frontlines."
In my peripheral vision, I noticed as Yukio got closer to me, clearly shaken for what our older brother had said. A weapon for the Order? Sure we decided on that to be our cover story, but, it still felt strange to be considered as a weapon for an organization that sees God as a greater force. That and my brother calling himself an Exorcist? He has never once exorcised demons as human Exorcists do.
"Even so, you must still consult with the 'TOP' before doing anything right?"
"In an ideal world at the very least."
"Was Fujimoto Shiro also trying to do this?" The way she said the old man's name made seem like she knew him on a personal level.
"You can say that until the power of the flames gained strength, Fujimoto was tasked in raising her. Whether it be because it was for raising a weapon or a child, you decide for yourself, or better yet, ask the man when he wakes up from his coma."
"I see," muttered the red-haired. "Whichever the case in, I'll need to report to the higher-ups. Before that, I'd like to interrogate this girl, I'll be using the great cell."
Mephisto chuckled before muttering under his breath.
"You bastard, always playing in calm. Whatever, don't regret this later."
When she dragged me off again Yukio began shouting at her, "Shura-san! Please wait! It's pointless to interrogate my sister, interrogate me instead. I can give you all the answers you need."
Shura paid him no attention as she made her way past the King of Time and Space and to a steel door decorated with different patterns. When she opened the door, she pushed me inside a plain room with pipes protruding out of the cement walls.
Turning look back at the older woman in confusion, this was supposed to be an interrogation room, right? Then why was there no tables nor any form of security?
"How are you acquainted with Yukio and the old man? Who even are you? An old student of his or something?"
The woman gave me a surprised look before speaking, "Yeah, I guess you could say I was his student 2 years before you and your brother were born. Back then I was training under him, but we lost contact a few years back."
I tilted my head as I spoke up again, "So were you like a sister-in-training or something like that who got stuck with the perverted geezer as your instructor? Man, tough luck."
Shura snorted at what I said, "Hell no, I've never prayed once in my life, kid. I might be an Exorcist but that doesn't mean I'm all for God and his Archangels."
I looked up as she said this, and Exorcist who did not worship God like most of the others did? Who exactly is she? From the glimpse of her sword I saw at the park, it seemed to me like a demon sword, maybe not as a high level as Kurikara but demon sword, nonetheless. She must hold an immensely high level of concentration and strength to be able to wield a sword of that type. A student of the old man huh? Guess I have to do more digging later. I glanced down at her shadow as it looked back at me, something about it didn't seem as if it was connected to a human, at least not a regular one. As I kept glancing between her and the shadow, Shura clutched her chest as if in pain, I looked over at her shadow, it clearly showing no sign of pain at all. Maybe it wasn't physical pain, mental? No that didn't make sense, the shadow would still be squirming around. Then, is she trying to distract me? Why? Why would she—Kurikara. She wants to grab a hold of it. Becoming aware of this, I clutched the hidden sword in my hand tightly.
"You okay? Did you get hurt trying to follow that thing at the amusement park? Maybe I should call for help," I said as I moved ever closer to door. However, before I knew it, her left hand outstretched itself to grab Kurikara. I kept a tight hold on the demon sword not allowing her even a fraction of an inch to be pulled closer to her.
"Kirigakure-san, I'm going to have to ask you nicely to let go of my sword, thank you," I said in a sing-along voice.
"Aw, c'mon kid. At least let me know why that Archangel got so interested in your sword at the very end of your little brawl."
"No can do," I grunted as she wouldn't let go of that tight hold she had on the sword. "The old man told me not to allow anyone to get ahold of it."
We stared into each other's eyes; blue met green in defiance of letting the other win. Our duel wasn't one of fists or physical action, but one with unsaid words and hidden meanings. Like they always said, eyes are the windows to the soul. Technically it was the demon called a shadow, but let's follow what the humans say for this. All of a sudden, the Exorcist let out a howl, not one in pain but one of laughter. Seriously of all things that could have gotten me off guard, it was her laugh that got me to let go. Like are you serious?*
She clutched the yet sheathed sword, wrapped up in the red sleeve called its home for who knows how long. Shura glanced between the way I handled myself on the way the sword was taken from me, and the sword now in her hands before she laughed once again.
"This is what Shiro was trying to protect so much that he was thrown into a coma? That crazy dam fool. Asking me to train a little brat like yourself. What was he thinking? He did become a good-for-nothing man, a shell of a man of what he once was. A coward."
When I heard her mutter that my mind went blank.
Sure, Fujimoto lied to me for 15 years never telling me that Satan was my father and that I was a demon. He may have kept me in the dark all these years and decided to help Yukio become an exorcist as soon as he was able to see demons at the age of 5. I may hate him for never once coming clean to me before it became too late, but I never once thought of him as a coward. Satan and my brothers taught me that of the old man, he may have been wrong to strip me of my family origin, but he was a man of integrity, and of high morals. Father said that he was glad I wasn't raised in this world alone; he was glad about who my mother and Samael had asked to care for me and Yukio. He had once told me, that if he were to go back and time, he would still have allowed Fujimoto Shiro to adopt me and my brother. And I agreed with him. For as much as I wanted to hate him. I couldn't, wouldn't.
Afterall, Fujimoto Shiro was and is my father.
"What did you say?" I asked quietly.
"Who the fuck do you think you are to talk crap about my father? Do you even know what happened that night? Do you even know what he went through for me? You don't know anything, you said it yourself, you lost contact with him. You don't know anything about how he raised Yukio and I. My father is in a coma because of something I did, he was no coward. And I'll prove it to you by becoming a better Paladin then he ever was," and with that ran to her, pushing her against the cement wall, grabbing hold of Kurikara again. I held my left forearm to her neck and kept her up against the wall when I could feel her shaking underneath me. What was up with her and laughing? She was almost as bad as Mephisto.
"Don't make me laugh you brat," she laughed. "So, you like Shiro huh?"
I blushed at her statement, "Huh? Why would I ever feel something like that for the perverted old man?"
"Whatever, for the time being, I'll be looking after this sword of yours. I caught a glimpse of what you could do at the amusement park with you burning away that debris-about crush blondie. You have yet to unsheathe the sword and gain your full demonic abilities, but you already have a way to draw out those flames, did this happen during that night? If you want it back, then get in control with those flames of yours in your human form and when you can beat me, you can have it back.
"Man, guess I'll be postponing that report of mine to the top and instead of teaching you how to wield a demon sword correctly," she said as she pushed me off of her. Holding out her hand, I reluctantly gave her Kurikara, the sword I had not let out of my sight for the past two and a half months.**
As the redhead lead me out of the interrogation room, I saw Yukio on the phone with concern written over his face, and then he smiled.
A smile I have not seen since Father Fujimoto had slipped into a coma.
"What's up four-eyes?" questioned Kirigakure.
Ignoring the female's question, Yukio looked over at my direction, his eyes wide and his smile still etched on his face.
"Nee-san. Father, he woke up."
Lesson: Fear is a strong emotion.
*In the manga Shura has green eyes, so green eyes it is!
**The Japanese school year begins in April and summer vacation usually begins around July 20. I'll be going by the official Japanese school year calendar for this.