I have engaged with the demons of typing, and I have emerged victorious to bring you tidings of a new episode! Do please enjoy it! I'm going to bed... *yawn* ZZZZZZZzzzzzz...
Disclaimer: I do not own Blue Exorcist, only Kazue Kato-dono does. Paradise Acquired is my own brainchild though!
Thank you to ef07, YokaiAngel, Itharax, CrystalofTime, ShadeAllure, The hazel-eyed Bookworm, kinda-just-here, Guest, Ichigo-lover-1412, SmartieBlondie, no account, ZeroHakurei, Blue Sparkz, MelonMochi, Kuroi Rin, Dareagon, ElectraX12, and linf! Everyone else has Satan obliterate their souls! Ouch...
Thanks to everyone else who also favorited and reviewed! Now on the chapter, Avanti!
"Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn't misuse it."
St. Pope John Paul II
Satan walked, or rather floated through the dark forest, filled with snow. He looked down, and saw he wasn't in his body, or, his current body that is. He was back in the ball of flame he used when he was with Yuri. He searched around, trying to get his bearings. "Is this a dream?" He said, and after a while, he recognized where he was. 'This… this is Yuri's forest!'
Upon realizing that, he looked around fervently, hoping to find Yuri. After a while of fruitless searching. He remembered, 'Yuri loved the river. She loved watching the fish go by, the sound of the flowing, and the serenity of it all… She always went even though I was always afraid she'd fall in…' He floated off in search of that river.
And there she was, as beautiful as he remembered her. Her long brown hair gently blowing in the wind, and her turquoise eyes twinkling in the moonlight. He called out, "Yuri!" And she turned.
"Oh, you're back Satan!" She smiled tenderly.
"Where were you, Yuri? I couldn't find you at all!"
"Aw, was the big bad devil worried for me? I'm touched!" Yuri laughed, as what could amount to a tic mark appeared on the ball of flame.
"Don't taunt me like that, woman! I could just as easily leave you right now!" Satan yelled in annoyance.
Yuri gently patted her stomach, heavily pregnant, as she rubbed it with all the affection of a mother. "Except you won't. You promised you would help look after Yukio, and you told me yourself. Demons are creatures of their word."
Satan sighed. She had him there. Curse himself for ever telling her that! "Do you ever miss him… the father that is?"
Yuri's face grew solemn, "No. I don't. He thought he could just walk out on me like that, and leave me alone, so I don't. And…" She looked down, "I went down to the local post office, to see if I got any mail."
"What?! You made that long of a trek by yourself? And pregnant?! Do you have no care for yourself or your baby, Yuri?" Satan yelled once more. She might be asking him to look after her and child, but she certainly makes it hard!
"I've always made that trek just fine, Satan! Besides, those little goblins and golems always look after me!" Satan just shook his head. Honestly… this woman… Yuri continued, " I got a letter from Fujimoto. He was the only guy who ever knew me and the father were dating. I don't think he knows I'm pregnant. I just don't want to give up my baby… but he said, that the father was on an exorcist mission that went bad, and… he's dead."
Satan just stared. He honestly couldn't understand her. First she says that she doesn't miss him, and now she'd upset he's dead? That doesn't add up!
"But it does." Satan spluttered. He hadn't realized he said that out loud!
"Well then, tell me how it does? How this makes sense?" Satan asked, obviously annoyed and confused. "You humans are always going on about how you're always though with somebody, yet you always go back to them! I can't even begin to tell you how many I've led to Hell by that! And yet it's somehow something noble?!"
"Because it's love." Yuri answered.
"Love?" Satan asked.
"Yes, love. Love is one of the most powerful emotions that we can have, and certainly it can lead to ruin… but," She tenderly rubbed her stomach, "But in it's purest form, it's one of the most beautiful things. It's the bond between a mother and her children, between husbands and wives, between brothers and sisters, between best friends, as well as between a father and his children. But… not everyone is willing to commit."
"How so?" Satan inquired.
"Because love is also responsibility. When you truly love somebody, it's not because of what they can give you. It's because in essence, they complete you."
"Complete you?"
"Yes, I presume you know the story of Adam and Eve?"
Yuri knew that was a bad question, since as soon as she said it, she got the "Are you serious?" look from him, even though he had no face. "Right… Snake in the garden…"
She blushed. "My bad. Anyway, woman was created from man, from his rib. However, in taking the rib, man was henceforth incomplete. Only when the "rib," the woman, is together with him, then and only then is he complete. What was once one body split into two, is once again brought back together and made one flesh by love. Each one completes the other."
"Then how can other people you described love?"
Yuri smiled, "Because that's only one type of love. There are so many types of love beyond just romantic love. Friendship is a type of love after all."
"Then how do you know that it's not a romantic love?"
"That definitely is a hard question to answer, but I guess my answer is that they vary in the nature of love. A romantic love truly completes you, but something in the friend draws you closer to them as well, perhaps a common belief or goal, something you both strive for, that forms a bond between you."
"But not all friendships are equal?"
"Heavens no! That's the difference between acquaintances and best friends. You can like something about somebody and hand out with somebody, but you might not know them that well. They're not somebody you would rely on in a time of need. A best friend is someone you know you can count, no matter what. The ones that will stick with you through thick and thin. Pardon the expression, but they're the ones that'l go the hell and back with you. Surely, you have had someone like that?"
Satan pondered on it, remembering Beelzebub from so long ago, "Long ago… But that doesn't matter anymore."
"But you still want it, don't you? That's just one of the types of love. There's the bond between siblings, something that isn't easily broken, and I suppose my favorite…" She rubbed her pregnant stomach. "The love between a mother and her children."
Satan finally remembered, "Earlier you called him Yukio… Is that his name?"
She giggled, "Yep! It means 'man of snow.' I spent so much time thinking about a name, and I just looked and saw all the snow, so I thought Yukio!"
"Yukio… huh?" Satan spoke, somewhat curious. He turned back to face Yuri, only to find she was collapsed onto the ground!
"Yuri!" Satan looked at Yuri, floating around in panic, noticing her attire had changed, to simple pure white dress, and that she wasn't pregnant anymore! She just laid there, face up, her hands folded almost as in prayer.
"Yuri, what's going on? Where's Yukio? What happened!" Satan watched in horror, as she slowly sank into the earth. "Yuri! Yuri!"
"YURI!" Rin woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily, not quite certain what it was he just saw. He looked around and saw his blue flames had lit everything surrounding him on fire here and there. "Aw shit!" And he quickly started trying to extinguish them.
After he had extinguished them, he rubbed his head through his hair, gently feeling each fiber, "Man, what was that?" He looked over at Yukio, who was still sleeping, which was good, as Yukio tended to be a light sleeper.
"I'm definitely not getting back to sleep after that…" Rin sighed, looking at the clock. "Man, it's only six o' clock? Damn it…"
He again went to the only place he could ever go to think if he was bored, and went to the rooftop. He enjoyed looking at the sky, feeling the wind on his face, and admiring the sunrise. They're all things he had easily spent millennia striving to obtain, only being able to feel them for a brief moment when he possessed somebody, or hear of in tales from other demons.
"I'll never admit it to anyone, but it's beautiful." He said to no one in particular.
*meow* He turned back to see just a small cat, probably a stray that had somehow gotten onto the roof. He would never admit to anyone, but he loved cats! Especially since they were seen as omens of bad luck, and worshipped as deities, but anyway…He bent down and held his hand out, trying to coax the cat towards him, "Hey there, little guy! Come here! I won't hurt you! No no no! That's only reserved for the buggy little humans!" And slowly but hesitantly the cat approached him.
He sat cross-legged on the ground, and the cat quickly jumped into his lap, and just curled up, purring gently. Rin sat there too, gently stroking its back. "Funny, I'd think that all animals would hate me… but they seem somewhat fine with me for some reason… I don't really understand…"
Rin watched the sun for a while, until he realized, "Wait. What time is it?!" He looked at the nearby clock tower, and saw it was twenty minutes till eight! He quickly moved the cat off his lap. "Sorry cat! I've got to go! I'm late!" And took off, leaving the cat to stare in his direction in confusion.
Rin quickly rushed to his dorm and got dressed into this uniform. "Why the hell do I, the king of the underworld, have to go to school? 'Cause I'm an idiot, that's why! Damn Samael… You and your stupid school."
He rushed down just to hear Yukio say, "Thanks for the meal." And put his chopsticks up. Rin rushed to his own meal, and quickly started eating it.
"Yukio you bastard. Why didn't you come find me!" Rin yelled between mouthfuls.
He only smiled, "I did, but after a few minutes of searching, I gave up. It's what you get for not telling me where you go."
"Damn it Yukio! You know I always go to the rooftop! I've got a marathon to run for P.E. today, and I need to eat for that!" He quickly finished eating, and hurried to off to school, placing his tray at the cafeteria ledge.
*BRRRRRING*
The school bell signifying the lunch bell had finished, and the hordes of mindless zombies, commonly known as hungry high school students began rushing for the student store. Rin himself was running quickly to get there, only to find hordes of students mobbing it, trying to get what they could.
"Damn it!" Rin yelled in frustration, "Only one thing to do!" He began rushing to the crowd, when he saw one yakisoba left, and he jumped for it. "This one's mine!" Only for someone to grab it at the same time! "Hey, who-s Huh?!" Rin saw it was Suguro?!
"What are you doing Okumura, this is mine." He said.
"Huh?! No way, this yakisoba bun has my name on it!"
"Well, Okumura-kun, I don't think we've seen each other here before." Shima said from behind.
"Bon… I think we should just get going. We don't want to make a scene." Konekomaru added.
"No way! I'm drawing the line! It's said that grudges about food last seven generations, so I'm drawing the line here, Konekomaru!"
Shima sighed as Bon and Rin continued their mutual death stare, while he looked off in the other direction. "Well, at least Okumura-sensei is doing alright."
Yukio, on the other hand, was most certainly NOT doing alright! "Please have my lunch!" "No mine!" "No mine first!"
Yukio was just sweat-dropping in nervousness, as these three, Kashino, Nishiwaki, and Omoto constantly terrorized him, trying to get him to eat their lunches, even as they fought among each other about whose he would get.
Konekomaru laughed, "At least Okumura-sensei's pretty popular." Although he tensed up when a hand draped itself around his shoulder. "And what's that supposed to mean, Konekomaru?" Rin asked, with a subtle tone underneath that.
"Ah, nothing Okumura-kun!" Konekomaru yelled.
"Oy! When did you guys get so close!" Bon yelled.
Yukio turned back, "Nii-san!" He quickly held his hand out against the three rabid girls. "I just remembered, I'm eating with my brother today! Bye!" And he quickly took off, grabbing Rin in the process. "Come with me!" He yelled.
"Oy! Yukio! Let me go!" Rin yelled as he got dragged off.
"What was that?" Bon asked.
"Oy! Bon!" Rin yelled, as Yukio dragged him off to who knows where.
"What?" Suguro yelled back.
Rin grinned a little devilishly, and held up a familiar sandwich, "Thanks for the meal!" Even as he got dragged off.
Bon looked down at his hand to see the sandwich missing, "Wha-? When did he? That little bastard!" He yelled, even as he heard Rin's laughing.
Yukio finally arrived into the main cafeteria breathing heavily. "What's the big deal Yukio?" Rin asked, chewing on his lunch, much to the chagrin of Bon back at the store.
"All of those girls were offering me lunch!"
Rin scoffed, "So? They're offering you free lunch? Why would you turn it down?" He took another bite.
"I couldn't eat all three at once! If I took one, it would offend the others!" Yukio said.
Rin finished his sandwich, "Please. I'd just take them all, and save the others for later." He turned around, and his jaw dropped. It was beautiful. It… was… Food! But not just any food, professionally prepared food! "What?! This is amazing! They have everything! Lobster! Italian! Chinese! American!"
Yukio sighed, "Yes. This is a school for the privileged now, although it still doesn't mean we can afford it…"
Rin's jaw dropped at the prices, "What the hell?! Please tell me they added an extra zero!" Yukio's stomach growled. "And I forgot my lunch too…"
Rin eyed Yukio, and quickly looked around, and making sure his adopted brother wasn't looking, quickly closed his eyes, and reopening them, showed them glowing with demonic power. He quickly searched for the most entitled, snobbish student around, as they would be the ones with the most money. He found one nearby, talking show-offishly with a girl. 'Go figure…' He thought.
"Oy, Yukio? Why don't you get us a place to sit?" He asked Yukio, who just simply nodded, and walked off.
Rin slowly walked by the student who he had caught sight of earlier, and making sure Yukio and the others were roughly out of sight, let his tail out. A quick cast of illusion to make sure no others with temptaint could see it, and he was ready.
He quickly made sure the student was too occupied in his flirting, and as he walked by, using his tail, he pickpocketed the students wallet! 'Piece of cake.' He thought as he emptied the wallet. Enough to afford a whole week's worth of high-class food. He quickly put the wallet back as the student blissfully blabbed on, unaware of the heinous theft just committed against him.
Rin quickly bought two meal tickets and went to go find Yukio, who's eyes nearly bogged out when he saw the meal ticket. "Nii-san! How did you afford this?!" Yukio nearly yelled.
Rin just grinned devilishly, "I had some money saved away!"
Yukio was about to say something, when his stomach growled again, "Traitor…" He muttered. "If only we could afford to eat like this everyday…" He said.
They quickly lost themselves in thought after that, and both snapped their fingers at the same time. "Mephisto!"
Mephisto's palace/house
After lunch, they had both gone to Mephisto's house to make their demands, although…
"You want me to lower the school cafeteria prices?" Mephisto asked, hands folded in front of him.
"YES!" They both yelled, hoping this would work."That's not possible." They both face-faulted. "To provide first-rate cuisine, we purchase first-rate ingredients and hire first-rate chefs."
Rin yelled, "That doesn't mean dining has to be first-rate though!" He didn't want to have to keep stealing money. That's a pain in the ass to keep finding rich kids to steal from!
Mephisto's eyes narrowed, "Dining is culture. One's life is enriched by experiencing first-rate cuisine." *ding!* "Oh?" Mephisto reached for the cup noodles right in from him, which had finished cooking, and began slurping.
'That coming from someone eating cup noodle…' They both thought as they sweat-dropped.
Rin thought about it, and remembered, 'Wait, this guy said he was our guardian, right?' He thought. "Then at least give us an allowance!"
Mephisto stopped slurping, "Oh my… Rather unlike me to forget such a detail." He reached into his wallet, "After all, even the son of Satan needs something to live on, no?" He pulled out a bill.
"Whoa! A 2,000 yen bill!" Rin yelled.
"A phantom bill whose existence is said to be an urban legend!" Yukio added.
As they were both admiring the rare bill, Mephisto continued, "Ah yes, before I forget, you will be paid every month on the tenth." And the twin's happiness literally shattered.
"Wait, this is it? This is for the whole month?" Yukio stammered out.
"Yep!" Mephisto cheerfully answered.
"We can't live on this dumbass!" Rin yelled. 'I never knew I raised such cheapskate sons! Then again… I suppose I never did teach them to be charitable…' Satan muttered in his head.
"What's this? Displeasure?" Mephisto reached again into his wallet, "Very well, how about an obsolete 100 yen bill? Taisuke Itagaki's image on it is my favorite."
Rin pulled his sword out its cloth contained, "Like I care who your favorite is!" He prepared to draw as Yukio held him back. 'To hell with covers. Let me just kill him!' He mentally screamed, until he noticed something on the bookshelves, and he smiled satanically. 'Well, if I can't get him to care by Yukio's means, then just hit him right where it hurts!'
"Wow, those are some pretty nice manga Mephisto!" He began, much to the confusion of both Yukio and Mephisto.
Mephisto blinked, "Of course! Power Princess is one of my favorites!" He shamelessly shouted, much to Rin's embarrassment. 'He definitely does not get his taste in entertainment from me! Maybe he's adopted? Regardless…'
Both Yukio and Mephisto were confused when Rin suddenly appeared next to the bookshelf, holding one of the manga, "It'd be a shame if something happened to it…" He said, chuckling darkly.
Yukio sweat-dropped, "Uh, Nii-san?" He asked somewhat concerned, while Mephisto's eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"
Rin's face was downright evil, "Or would I?" He asked, as he lit his right hand on fire, holding it next to the manga.
Mephisto began panicking, "Please no! Not my special limited edition pre-order copy!"
"Oh? Limited edition you say?" Rin said, as he slowly began lowering the manga over the fire.
Mephisto slowly saw the manga go down, and just as the flames began to lick the manga, he freaked, "Please no! I'll do anything! Just don't harm my manga!"
Rin pulled the manga back up, "Anything?"
"Yes, anything!" Mephisto cried out.
"Even raising Yukio's allowance to 50,000 yen a week?" Rin asked.
"What? That's absurd!" Rin slowly lowered the manga again, "But easily done! Just leave it alone! I'll do it! I'll do it!"
Rin extinguished the flames, "Great! Pleasure doing business with you!" And he began walking out, as he tossed the manga to Mephisto.
Mephisto caught and held it as if it were some kind of precious, "It's alright," He cooed. "Daddy's got you! Daddy's got you!" Then he began sobbing, "Daddy's got you!"
Rin and Yukio just stared at the pitiful sight, while Satan just thought, 'Definitely adopted…'
They began walking home while Yukio just asked, "Where did you- why did you-, How?" He stammered out."
Rin just smiled, :"Just got to know how to play 'em!" He answered, 'It doesn't hurt to have millennia worth of manipulative skills either!' He mentally chuckled.
Yukio answered, "Although it wasn't really that necessary…"
You could almost hear the record scratch, as Rin just stared, "What?"
Yukio admitted, "Well, I actually have a job as a lecturer, and I actually get paid pretty well as an instructor…"
Rin got his sword out again, "You traitor!" He yelled. 'I stole money for you and went through all that for you!'
"Oy oy oy… Calm down Nii-san! There's one good thing we get out of all this!" Yukio said.
"Huh?" Rin blinked.
20 minutes later at the supermarket
"Do my own cooking?" Rin pushed a cart along as Yukio put food into it.
"Exactly, I give you the money for cooking, and you make the food, and we take Mephisto's money! That way we make money, and you don't have to worry about lunch." Yukio said. "Plus, cooking is the one thing you can do right!"
A tic mark appeared on Rin, 'Yeah, and saving your ass from rogue exorcist teachers as well!' He raged in his head. But he just shrugged, "What can I say, I'm a natural!"
He missed the lens glare on Yukio's glasses, 'It'll help Nii-san keep track of the time, and if I'm offered lunch again today, I just have to say 'sorry, I've got my own lunch!' It's killing two birds with one stone… no, four birds!' He began cackling mentally, while Rin was just creeped out by his little brother's face.
'Oy oy oy… Is that what I look like when I go on one of my mental rants?' Satan thought.
Later that night…
Rin kept chopping and cooking, preparing meals for the next day, as Yukio just stared at his elder brother cooking. "Hey, you don't need to start this late at night, you know." He urged, trying to get him to sleep.
Rin just turned, while he continued cooking, "You should prepare lunch the night before and freeze it. That way, you take it to school frozen, and it thaws to the perfect temperature at lunch."
Yukio blinked. He didn't know that! "I see…" He said, 'Well, there goes that part of the plan…' He thought. "If only you spent the same amount of energy on your studies!" He ducked as a wooden spoon went flying towards his face, and embedded itself in the wall! "Yagh!"
"Shut up, will ya? Just go to bed?"
"Yes! Good night!" Yukio yelled as he ran off to avoid more lethal cookware.
After a few hours, Rin had finished the food. "This should do it!" He shut the fridge as he heard a clang. He turned to see one of the metal bowls had fallen off the shelf. "Huh? A mouse?" He muttered as he yawned, "I need to get to bed…"
The next morning…
Yukio was busy washing his face, as he heard some mini stampede. 'What the hell is that?' He thought, until he got kicked from the side, sliding across the ground. "You stupid four-eyed mole-face!"Yukio quickly recovered and put his glasses back on, "Who are you calling a four-eyed mole-face!"
"Shut up! I don't care how hungry you were! This is unacceptable!" Rin yelled.
"Huh?"
"Don't play dumb! You ate the food I made for lunch!" Rin showed him the empty containers.
Yukio's eye twitched, as he countered, "I'd never do such a thing, and you know it!"
"Then tell me, who did? It's just the two of us in this dorm, remember?" Rin yelled back, but both froze as they came to a sudden realization.
"Just the two of us?" Rin said.
"No… it's not…" Yukio continued. "Every day, whenever it was time to eat, there was always food for both of us!"
"Which we always ate without a second thought…" Rin continued, "So who was it that cooked those meals?"
*clang clang!*
They both heard the sound echo throughout the dorm. "Someone's there!" Yukio said.
"Someone?" Rin's eyes widened, "Who?"
They both peaked through the kitchen window to see… Mephisto cutting food?! He turned around, "Good morning, gentlemen!"
"Mephisto?!" Rin's eyes bugged out.
"You're the one who's been cooking our meals then?" Yukio asked.
"No, I'm just a temporary replacement. The one who cooks you're meals in Ukobach."
"Ukobach? Rin asked.
"It's a type of stove spirit if I remember correctly." Yukio said.
Rin lost himself in a ponder, 'Ah, that's right. I've certainly employed a few Ukobach back at my castle in Gehenna… I miss it…'
"No wonder we employ you as an instructor, a splendid answer! However, since you trespassed on Ukobach's territory, he has since boycotted his job."
They were now at the table, "I think I understand what you're saying, but what is this?" Yukio asked, pointing at their meals, a strange bubbling red liquid, with some food in the center.
"A Mephisto special- Little demon-style oatmeal." Mephisto proudly announce, arms crossed. "Please partake of it!"
They both stared at it terrifyingly, as it continued bubbling like lava, "Go on, don't be shy!" Mephisto said, 'This is what you get for threatening my Power Princess and exhorting my money you little snit!' He terrifyingly thought.
Satan just stared at the bubbling mess. 'I remember the last time Samael cooked for us… That was before Christ was crucified I think… there's a reason we haven't had him cook since…' He sighed, 'Forget this…' He grabbed it, "Ittadakimasu!" and ate it!
Smoke blew from pretty much every opening on his face, as Yukio stared in horror when he collapsed. "Nii-san!" He yelled.
"Baa-chan's calling me…" He muttered out.
"What?!" Yukio cried out. "We've never met our grandmother! Never mind that! Don't go with her! Nii-san!"
"Regardless of the cause, a familiar's misconduct is his master's fault. Until Ukobach's mood improves, I will be in charge of your meals." Mephisto began.
"And if he doesn't?" Yukio asked, as Rin's eyes continued swirling.
"Then I will become your permanent cook."
Yukio began shaking his brother in a panic. "Nii-san!"
Rin just lifted his hand up, "Whoever this Ukobach or whatever his name is, is, I'm gonna destroy him!" Satan added in thought, 'Ugh… even with my demonic healing, that nearly killed me! Just imagine what his cooking would do to Yukio! I need to fix this ASAP!'
Later that night…
The kitchen sparkled as Rin finished cleaning, "Look, I put everything back the way it was. Get over it already will you!" A fork came sailing through nearly impaling Rin in the head. "What, are you still mad? What are you so pissed about anyway?" A bunch of pans now flew at Rin. "If you don't want to cook, then get lost! You're not the only one that's good at cooking!"
Lightning flashed, as Ukobach revealed himself, a very small demon, humanoid from the torso up, but furry from the bottom down, with a fork-like tail. Rin just smiled, "So you finally show yourself?"
Yukio began rushing back to the dorm, but it began to rain, "I know Sir Pheles was there with Rin, but why do I still have a bad feeling?" He finally reached the dorm when…
*BOOM!*
Yukio watched as smoke began coming from the dorm, right where the kitchen was! Yukio watched in horror, 'This is bad!' As he quickly rushed to the kitchen! He burst inside only to see… a kitchen battle?!
Rin and Ukobach were engaged in an intense cooking battle, as they were chopping onions, cooking meat, frying vegetables, all at the same time, making exceptional use of their tails. Yukio just watched as all this was going on.
"An extraordinary turn of events, isn't it my dear Okumura-sensei?" Mephisto asked, suddenly appearing right next to Yukio.
"Sir Pheles?"
"Isn't it marvelous, each battling to an inch of their lives, flexing their culinary muscles? This is how stupendous friendships are born!" He dramatically announced.
"Indeed Sir Pheles, but- GYAGH!" Yukio yelled as a knife suddenly went flying his way, nearly impaling his head!
"Oya, watch out my dear Okumura-sen- GYAGH!" Mephisto yelled as a knife nearly impaled him too!
They both stared to find knifes flying at them from all directions! "Gya! Watch it! Out of the way! Move it! You first! No you! Age before beauty! Respect your elders! Argh!" Finally the flow of knives stopped, but not before both of them were pinned to the wall! Yukio just stared at Mephisto. "'This is your fault."
"My fault, how is this my fault!" Mephisto shouted back.
"Gya ha ha! You were right Ukobach. Throwing knives at people is fun!" Rin laughed, as both the unfortunate victims stared. Ukobach just mewled in agreement.
"That rice dish was awesome!" Rin said, while Ukobach meowed back, "Eh? My katsu rice bowl was exceptional too? Thanks!"
Ukobach mewled on for a couple minutes while Rin stared, and Mephisto and Yukio stared, plotting best how to murder the two chefs.
Rin continued cooking at night again, while Ukobach stood right next to him. Rin asked, "Hey, Ukobach? Why do you cook?"
He mewled in response, "It's enough for someone to eat your food and say it's delicious?" Rin translated, "I see…" Ukobach meowed again.
"Why do I cook?" Rin looked up in thought. "That's a good question…"
Flashback
Yuri was sitting in her cabin's kitchen, gently humming away as she made her stew. She turned as Satan made his entrance flamboyantly, "At last, the lord of all demons has made his triumphant return! HA HA HA HA!"
"Hi Satan." Yuri said. If a ball of flame could face-fault, Satan did.
"D'oh! Why do I even try with you… Hm? What are you doing?" He asked.
"Oh, cooking." Yuri said, as she added some salt.
"Cooking? Now why would you do that?"
"Well, I do need to eat, idiot." Yuri deadpanned.
"Well, why wouldn't you have someone else do it for you? I have my servants cook all the time!" Satan exclaimed.
"Because not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a giant castle filled with hordes of the demonic underworld to do your bidding and cook for you." Yuri was just plain staring now, in slight annoyance.
"Right…"
Yuri went over to her cupboard, "Now let's see… I need some ginger and bay leaf next…" She rattled through the cupboard.
"Hm? What are those for?" He asked, as he floated over her shoulder.
"I'm making a stew, so they're to tone down the smell of the meat."
"I see…"
After Yuri had finished cooking, she divided the stew into three portions, two which she poured into a bowl, and the third into a container which she sealed up and put away into the fridge. Taking the two bowls she put one at the table, and the other she went outside and put on the ground, and whistled. Immediately, several hobgoblins and some snow golems came out to it, and started eating. Finally she sat down, "Finally, ittadakimasu!" And she dug in.
"Why'd you put the third in the fridge, Yuri? Why not just eat it all?" Satan asked.
"Because I can't eat it all at the same time, baka! So I just put it the fridge to take out tomorrow morning! That way, when it's time to eat in the afternoon, it'll have thawed to the right temperature!"
"Is that so?"
"Yep, it's an old housewife's tip!"
"But why bother sharing, if that's the case? Wouldn't that mean more for you to enjoy?"
"Well, cookings no fun if you can't share it! Cooking is all about the chance to see someone look happy! If someone tells me they like my cooking, it makes me happy!" Yuri said.
"I… see."
"Do you want a taste?" She asked.
"I, wh- er-… yes…" Satan admitted, "But I don't exactly have a mouth to eat it with…"
"Then you can possess me!" Yuri cheerfully said.
If Satan was drinking water, he would have spit it all out at that point. Never before had he heard someone ever say that in his immortal life. This woman was just plain batty! "What part of spontaneous demonic combustion do you not understand, woman!"
"Well, that's when you possess someone for longer than a couple minutes. It won't do any harm if it's for a few seconds!" Yuri answered.
Satan was silent for a few moments, then sighed, "Fine, but don't blame me if something goes wrong!" He then took over her body, and took a bite, and his/her eyes widened in amazement as he flew back out of her, "That's incredible! It's delicious! I've never tasted anything like it!"
Yuri turned to him, "Do you like it?"
"Well, yes... We don't exactly have anything that tastes like that in Gehenna...!"
"If you want, I can teach you a few recipes like that. Oh, I know another one you might like, it's called Sukiyaki!"
"I suppose, it's wanting to see others, like Yukio enjoy my cooking… If they're happy, I'm happy…" Rin muttered, 'And for Yuri…' He thought.
After saying good night to Ukobach, Rin got cleaned up and laid down on his bed, and thinking about everything that happened that day, smiled, 'Ukobach… Samael's familiar huh? I guess in that sense Gehenna Gate is my familiar, but I wonder what having a familiar like that would feel like?' He idly thought, and dreamt peaceful dreams for the first time in a long while.
The next day
It was a pretty hot day, as a heat wave had hit True Cross dead on. The guardsman was sweating pretty hard as he went to relieve his fellow guard of his duties. "Yo, Kuro." He said, as he greeted the cat per his own little tradition, as he walked past the twin-tailed black cat, and familiar of the now deceased Fujimoto Shiro. He walked in to greet his coworker, "It's all yours now!"
The mustached, brown-haired man replied, "Good work." As he got up to leave.
The guard turned back, "That cat's been hanging out up there for the last few days. He won't even look at the food we give him."
The mustached guard folded his hands behind his back, "Indeed." He honestly felt sorry for the poor thing, "He's a smart boy, so it could be that he's starting to figure it out.."
"I wonder what happens to a familiar when he finds out that his master has passed away…"
"Sh! We don't want him to hear that!"
"Sorry. He's a good ways off, so I thought we'd be okay…"
"Probably, he'd revert back to the demon he once was, like a beast breaking free of it's chains…"
Neither of them noticed Kuro slowly turn his head back to them, an unknown glint in his eyes.
True Cross Academy Classroom
Satan yawned as he once again entered the class room, quite annoyed about his religious studies class. 'Again, why the hell am I taking this? Oh yeah, because the big bad devil couldn't say no to a single woman!'
He fell silent as the teacher began speaking again, "Today, we're going to be doing something a little different today. As you know, the Knights of the True Cross were founded through the Knights Templar early in the Middle Ages. However, what is lesser known about that is the Knights Templar themselves were the continuation of another secret order, whose name we have lost to time, but was founded directly by the Twelve Apostles."
Bon was impressed, "Wow, I didn't think the Knights were that old…"
"Although the Knights are not fully subject to the authority of the Vatican, it is still common to at least make the adherents somewhat knowledgeable of their teachings, given the diversity of the exorcists within its ranks."
Rin was pretty much falling asleep at this point, "So I thought the best way to start off is to clarify some of the teachings regarding the Virgin Mary, also know as the Mother of God." He woke up again, at hearing that.
"Now, according to tradition, Mary was born to two Jewish parents, who have since been christened Saints Anne and Joachim, and at some point she was betrothed to St. Joseph. After some time, the angel Gabriel appeared to her to announce that she was chosen to bear the Son of God, to which she responded with a simple 'Fiat.' to quote the Latin translation, which means 'Let it be,' or 'yes.' You should all know the story enough after that, right?" Everyone nodded.
"Now, even today, there is great reverence for Mary. Numerous countries have claimed her as a patron, such as the United States of America, and even today, there have been numerous Marian sightings, such as Fatima, Lourdes, and perhaps the most famous, Guadalupe, which is responsible for the conversion of Latin America."
Shima piped, "Wow, that's pretty impressive!"
"Yes it is! Now there are four major dogma which have become associated with Mary, through the teachings of the first three are the Mother of God, the Assumption, and the Immaculate Conception, which respectively are that Mary was the mother of Jesus, who was the physical incarnation of God, Mary ascended with her body to Heaven, and that Mary was born without sin through the grace of God."
Konekomaru chimed in, "Wow, they've really given that a lot of thought!"
"Indeed! Numerous scholars from Aquinas to Augustine to list a few have written extensively about this in numerous times. Another popular title that emerges as well is Mary as Queen of Heaven, but I digress. Now the final dogma is perhaps one of the most important, her Perpetual Virginity."
"Tch, how does that make sense? If she had a kid, how is she a virgin?" Izumo scoffed, as usual.
"In essence, it stems from the affirmation that Christ's birth was indeed miraculous, a child born of woman, untouched by man, conceived solely through the grace of God, without the sin of adultery. In essence, it was God, a spirit, entering into a mortal form, as no vessel that could hold him in all His glory existed."
Rin went stock still at that, as he pondered the implications, and his eyes widened, 'Impossible!' He thought.
*Bring!* Went the school bell. "Ah, class is over already? Alright then, make sure to finish the homework I assigned, and-"
*Slam!*
Everyone turned as Rin took off, slamming the door shut behind him. "-have a nice day…" The teacher finished.
"What's his rush?" Bon asked. Everyone just shrugged.
Library
Satan was going through book after book, trying to see what exactly he could find on this topic, and each one said exactly the same thing, that Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, as no other vessel could be worthy of him.
He sat down, as he pondered the implications, 'I don't know how, Yuri, but for some reason, you were able to recreate the situation. In essence, you essentially recreated the birth of Christ, but with me… Somehow, this was able to grant me a body that I could walk in Assiah with, much like how God could take human form then… But then how did you do it?' He slammed the book shut. So many answers, but so many dead ends! 'How!'
Eventually he arrived back, and began working on homework, only to get distracted, and mess around. Heck, he even turned to the newspaper, although it was filled with pretty depressing headlines like "Brazil in lockdown after Honduras missile test over sovereign airspace!", "American tensions run high as Cubans stock missiles again! Cuban Missile Crisis all over again?", and "China-Russia tensions escalate as border clashes continue!", just to list a few. Pretty depressing alright… 'Man, is there anything that isn't depressin?' He thought.
He kept at this for while until Yukio came in, "I see you still aren't finished with your homework yet, Nii-san…"
"What do you expect! It's hot out, and having to spend my energy on assignments and homework. I may as well have just stayed an Page. An Exwire's just a bottomfeeder! So where do you rank on this thing?"
"Intermediate first class."
Rin looked, and saw where Yukio was, about half-way up, "So you aren't that much of a big-shot either, huh?"
"I really don't want to hear it from you…"
'Well, I AM the king of hell, so of course I outrank you!' Rin snidely thought. "I wonder what it takes to get to this rank of Paladin at the top… I wish I could do a mission or something, otherwise I'd just get bored…"
Yukio put his pen down, "The rank of Paladin is awarded only to the the strongest exorcist. And we aren't sending you on any missions for the time being."
"Huh?" Rin asked.
"You always disregard orders, and act like a loose cannon. Can you really blame us? Plus, you rely too much on Satan's power.
"What the hell? I said I was sorry!"
"You shouldn't be so quick to draw your sword, and no matter your healing abilities, you shouldn't use yourself as a shield! Otherwise Satan's power will consume you completely"
"What the hell! Everyone was saved, right?" Rin said, 'I almost forgot he doesn't know I'm Satan! I'll use my power whenever I want! I'm Satan! Hell, if it weren't for me, you'd be dead because Neuhaus!' He continued, "Don't lecture me like the old fart!"
"I'm speaking for Tou-san! I can see him turning in his grave out of worry for you! You act just the way you fight, with no skills or knowledge. Try using your head more!"
"What did say you damned Moley four-eyes!" Rin accidentally smacked Yukio's glasses off of his head, and both stared speechless as they smacked into the ceiling and shattered, then proceeded to fall back onto Yukio's head.
Rin started laughing, "It's a miracle! A miracle happened!"
Flames could almost be seen behind Yukio as he stared at Rin, "It's not freaking funny!" He angrily put out, with a glare that froze even the king of Hell. His phone rang, which he picked up, "Okumura. Yes, I'll be right there."
"What is it? A mission?" Rin asked.
"Yes, but you're not involved." Yukio shut him down, and went over to his desk drawer, and opened it, revealing a whole horde of spare glasses! He quickly put one on, then went to leave.
'Man, you have a buttload of spares…' Rin thought, as he subtly went to follow.
Yukio rushed over to the south gate as he present his ID, "I'm Okumura Yukio, first class intermediate exorcist."
The exorcist guarding nodded, "Good, we've been waiting for you." Yukio went under the caution tape, as Rin suddenly appeared from behind.
"I'm Rin Okumura, Exwire." He quickly followed under the tape.
"Nii-san! I told you not to follow!"
"I was worried about your second pair of glasses." Rin responded, 'Like hell I'm gonna let the opportunity to get out pass away!'
"What the hell is that supposed to mean! I don't have time to play games right now! Go home!"
"No way!"
"RAGH!"
"What was that?" Yukio asked, as the exorcist filled him in.
"Kuro, the guardian for the South Gate has gone berserk. We're sealing off the area within 1 km of the rear gate road."
Rin stared as he saw a giant Cat Sith perched on the street sign, numerous exorcists aiming weapons at him. 'A two-tailed cat sith? I haven't seen one of those in millennia! I thought they were extinct!' Satan thought.
"Liars! You're all liars!" He heard in his mind, as he looked around. 'Who said that?' He wondered.
"Are you alright?" Yukio asked the two guardsmen from earlier, as one was getting his arm bandaged.
"Kuro suddenly blew up in size and attacked us. We accidentally let it slip that Father Fujimoto had passed away, and he overheard us."
The injured guard piped in, "I'm sorry… Um.. What's going to happen to Kuro?"
Yukio narrowed his eyes, "We exorcists will take him down."
Rin stared in shock, "Take him down? What are you talking about? What does this have to do with the old man?"
"Kuro is Tou-san's familiar. That familiar was revered for centuries in a part of the country as a protective deity of silkworms. By protecting the silkworms from disease and local pests, he was worshipped at a local shrine, and co-existed with humans. Eventually, as silkworm breeding died out, he was forgotten, and having lost his home, he became a demon…"
*BANG BANG!*
The exorcists fired numerous tranquilizer darts, hoping to take Kuro out peacefully, to no avail, as Kuro just shook them off. "Now!" One yelled to an exorcist on top of the semi-truck, as she threw a holy water grenade, but Kuro just shook that off as well, as he barreled towards her. She barely missed the truck getting totaled under her, as she leapt to safety.
Two other exorcists weren't as lucky, as Kuro rammed them with his tail, sending them flying away. "Liars! You're all liars! Liars!" Rin could hear again. 'That voice, so its coming from Kuro… I was wondering whose voice it was…' He thought.
"Are you alright?" Yukio asked as he joined the fray. "We've tried holy water, holy silver, holy wine, holy pharmaceuticals, pretty much everything that can be blessed! Nothing seems to work!" The female exorcist put in.
"We don't know his fatal verse either, so we can't use an Aria. We've dosed him with tranquilizers, but he'll recover quickly."
Rin turned to stare at the rampaging god turned demon, as another exorcist asked, "Did Father Fujimoto ever tell you anything about Kuro?"
"You participated in that mission that day, didn't you?" The female exorcist asked.
"Yes."
"That day?" Another exorcist asked.
"Back when Yukio was still an exwire, a series of unexplained phenomena kept happening at a construction site in a village, from fences collapsing, to girders giving out, to vehicles being knocked over. All of it was Kuro. The locals called in several shaman, but they could do nothing to him."
"Eventually, they called in the Knights of the True Cross. The man chosen to annihilate Kuro, was the Paladin Fujimoto Shiro. He tamed the demon without spilling a single drop of blood. I was so impressed…"
"I had no idea there was such a backstory to this cat…" The exorcist who had asked the question answered.
"Afterwards, Tou-san named him Kuro, and put him as a gatekeeper to the Academy."
Rin however, was quite awe-struck. 'Fujimoto was a Paladin?' He clenched his fist, 'To think that I was spared by the strongest of all exorcists… How prideful can these humans get?'
"But the fact is, he's still a demon. Once they lose their master, I guess they go back to being a demon…"
"Yes, Tou-san was prepared for such an emergency." Yukio gestured to the case he was carrying. He opened it,"It seems to be a modified hand grenade, most likely filled with medicine that will kill Kuro."
Rin's eyes widened, 'What?!'
The exorcist sighed, "We're saved!"
"However, since the power and nature of this device are unknown, will you let me handle this by myself?" Yukio asked.
"Liars, all of you are liars! Shiro's the strongest one among all of you!" Kuro shouted, as Rin realized what was going on.
"Alone? Fine, I'll evacuate the others, just in case." The exorcist said. "Evacuate to the rear gate!" He yelled.
Rin stared at Kuro as he rampaged, "There's no way Shiro would die! You're lying! He's going to come back!"
"I see…" Rin said.
"Nii-san, you should probably step back too. Since you're a demon, there's no idea what effect this would have on you."
"Wait, so you're going to kill him?" Rin said.
"That's right. There's currently no exorcist in this school who can tame a demon of that class. So we have no choice but to exterminate him."
"Shiro's going to come back, and until he does, I'm not dying either!" Kuro yelled, once more unheard to Yukio.
"Hold up." Rin stopped Yukio
"What?"
"I think this is a little overreacting. He's just sad!" RIn explained, not quite sure why he was saying such things.
"How do you know?" Yukio inquired."Demon telepathy." Rin said.
"That being said, we can't let him be!" Yukio turned back to Kuro.
"Let me talk some sense into him before you kill him! Don't worry, I won't draw my sword, and I'll use my head!" Rin countered, 'Besides, I've handled more demonic disputes than you have moles, and I don't even need to draw my sword anyway to use my power…'
"Huh?" Yukio stammered out, as Rin approached Kuro.
"Oy!" He shouted, "I'm Okumura Rin! Shiro's… son…"
"Nii-san!"
Kuro paused, "Shiro's son?" He seemed to calm a bit.
"Shiro's dead! He died." Rin admitted. Kuro picked up in ferocity again.
"You're lying, I don't believe you!"
"He's dead!" Rin yelled back.
"You're lying!" Kuro yelled as he began charging Rin. "You're lying!"
Rin stood firm, and even grinned a little bit, as Kuro barreled towards him, and they collided heads! Although Kuro wobbled a bit before he collapsed, while Rin just grinned, 'I'm the most thick-headed demon in Gehenna for a reason!'
Meanwhile with Yukio… "WHAAATTT? He really used his head… That's not what I meant Nii-san!"
Kuro struggled to get up, as Rin felt blood leak from his nose, which he quickly wiped up. But he walked towards Kuro. "You really did love Fujimoto, didn't you?" He asked, as Kuro's eyes widened, "So you were just sad. Right? I can understand the feeling, of being left behind by a father." Memories of his exile from Heaven flew through his mind. "So why don't we make up." He held out his hand.
This time it was Yukio's turn to remember, as he flashbacked to when Fujimoto tamed Kuro.
"Listen, you… You really loved humans, didn't you? So you were sad about being forgotten, right? Let's make up! I made you some silver vine wine! It's really nice!" Shiro laughed as he held out the bottle.
Kuro stared as Rin held out his hand, memories of Shiro flooding though him, Shiro always given him sake, getting drunk on the sake with Shiro, as he slowly shrunk back down in size. "Shiro… So you're gone Shiro? I'll never see you again, Shiro? You're… dead?" Kuro said, as he began bawling, sad mewls echoing through the area.
Rin slowly walked towards Kuro, as he picked him up, and began stroking his fur, "It's alright. It's alright." He thought, 'Consider my debt to you discharged with this, Fujimoto. I guess I can at least take care of this cat for you, like you cared for me.' He looked to the sky, 'Although Yuri, I think I understand why you were so caring for demons. Because no one else in this organization will. It's my duty as the king of demons to ensure their protection, and I'll do what I can, while still keeping my promise to keep Yukio safe!'
Unbeknownst to everyone, they were unaware that they were being watched, as two figures kept an eye on the whole event, from the top floor of the South Gate building. "What do you think of Okumura Rin?" Mephisto began, otherwise known as Samael, King of Time, addressing his guest, the demon King of Earth, Amaimon.
"Well, I can't really assess him really, since he hasn't gone full out in battle." Amaimon answered looking at Rin from his hands like binoculars.
"Indeed. He never seems to go all out. It's really quite exasperating. Would you like to make him do so?
"Yes, but before I do that," Amaimon held out his hands as books magically appeared in them, "I'd like to try to learn more about Japan, given your obsession with it."
"Well, I must say I'm impressed, but I didn't give you an Infinity Key just to go sight-seeing." Mephisto looked on in amusement. He honestly didn't think Amaimon was capable of that kind of higher thought! "Although I'm impressed at your idea, nevertheless, remember you are still the weakest of us Baal. Don't get into any trouble now!" Mephisto continued. He never noticed Amaimon's fist slowly tightening, blood starting to drip from his nails digging into his hand.
"Yes. I'm off now." Amaimon said as he shut the door.
"Are you okay with that?" Mephisto turned to the mysterious figure behind him.
"He'll be fine. After all, his interest is piqued enough, and Amaimon could never resist a good battle.
The figure shrugged, "Well, it's your head, I suppose, if he gets caught."
"He won't, I'll make sure of that. I'm still curious, as to why a person of your… nature though is interested in my school. I don't suppose you'd like to make me aware of that."
The figure turned to face Mephisto, "No, I don't. My reasons are my own. Don't forget that I do outrank you, Samael." The figure looked at his watch, "Oy, I better get ready to make my big entrance soon, I can't wait! I'm oh so eager to finally meet this infamous Okumura Rin!" He smiled, as he slowly shrunk into the shadows.
"Interesting. I didn't know he could do that… Now, what's going to happen next, I wonder, my dear little brothers?" Mephisto folded his hands, as he reflected on his little bout with his elder brother.
Flashback
"Now what can you tell me about Okumura Rin?" Amaimon was sweating somewhat nervously, a very rare event, if not for the fact that Lucifer, his eldest brother, and strongest of the Baal was facing him! He might be stupid, but even he's not that stupid!
"Uh… not really anything. I don't know anything!" Amaimon stammered out.
Lucifer held his hand up, as light energy began crackling in it. "For a demon, you're a terrible liar Amaimon. No wonder you're the weakest of the Baal."
Amaimon clenched his hands, as he stared defiantly at his brother, "I am not weak!"
Lucifer scoffed, "Please, you're nothing but an insect before me!"
Amaimon jumped off the beast he was standing on, as he prepared to fight, "Behemoth, go hide, I'll join up with you later." Behemoth wisely decided to follow his master's wishes. Even it could recognize power when it saw it.
"Always taking little pets. I never could understand that, even after I annihilated the last one, don't you remember that one?" Lucifer taunted.
Amaimon just narrowed his eyes, and vanished in a burst of speed. Lucifer looked around, trying to find his youngest brother. "Impressive speed, Amaimon, but nevertheless…" He turned around swiftly, punching Amaimon in the chest as he appeared behind him, "All too predictable." Only for the "Amaimon" he punched to shatter into rock! "What?"
"What was that about predictable, Lucifer?" Amaimon shouted as he materialized behind Lucifer, ready to punch straight through him, only… to go right through Lucifer?! "How?" Amaimon gasped as he tumbled forward, unable to stop his momentum.
Lucifer appeared next to him, walking over till he stomped on Amaimon's chest, keeping him pinned there. "Honestly, are you ever not going to fall for that? Now tell me…" He began pushing down harder, cracking the ground underneath Amaimon from such pressure. "Why is Samael so interested in this Okumura Rin?"
Amaimon struggled in vain, as he tried to break free. slamming his fist down onto the earth, and causing Gehenna to shake for miles. "You expected that to do anything at all? That's quite pitiful…"
Amaimon chuckled, "Well, I needed to get my message out somehow…"
Lucifer's eyes narrowed, "Message? What message?" Then his eyes just as quickly widened as spikes suddenly materialized to impale him! "How?" He yelled as he jumped back to avoid sudden impalement.
"Gutentag, my dear brother!" A familiar theatric voice drawled out, which Lucifer turned to.
"Samael, it's been a while. How long has it been so you've been back in Gehenna?"
Samael just bowed, "Ah, nearly 200 years! I had forgotten it was so dreary! It's why I left in the first place!"
"Then why return at all?""I just had a little brother to pick up, no big deal." Samael muttered, as he snapped his fingers.
"WAUGH!" Amaimon yelled, as a Cuckoo Clock appeared to snatch him up and vanish. "Not agaaaiiiin!" He screamed.
Lucifer stood face to face with Samael, the two strongest beings in Gehenna since the disappearance of Satan, "Now since you're here, what can you tell me about Okumura Rin, why you're so interested in him?"
Samael smiled, "He intrigues me. That's all there is to it."
"Surely it's more than that."
"Nope, not really."
Lucifer stared at his younger brother, "Well, while you're here, I don't suppose you'd be willing to help me take the throne."
Samael lifted his umbrella, "Not really. You see, you being king would really put a hamper on my ability to enjoy the humans, so I can't really allow that."
"Well, that's indeed unfortunate, because now that I know that," He held out his hand, "I can't allow you to leave alive."
"Ho? So you'd fight me, despite father's warnings for us never to fight lest we level all of Gehenna?"
"Well, father isn't here now." Lucifer countered.
"Fair enough, but that still doesn't mean I want to level my former home. So… Einz, Zwei, Drei!" Mephisto snapped his fingers, as Lucifer fired a burst of light. "Er Stopfen!" Mephisto yelled, as he stopped time in the area. He stared at the slowly advancing burst of light, "Impressive, my elder brother, not even my time spells can stop your light. But as for my interest in Okumura Rin, I guess you'll just have to find out!" Mephisto chuckled, as he vanished back into Assiah, taking Amaimon with him, leaving Lucifer alone by himself.
Mephisto chuckled at the memory. He really did relish any chance to embarrass Lucifer, although he was distracted from his musing as one of his scientists knocked on the door. "Come in!"
"Ah.. Mephisto sir, you asked for us to keep you alerted on any change in Yuri Egin's condition?"
"Indeed, that's right."
"Well, she's woken up sir!"
Rin sat with Kuro, as Kuro rubbed against Rin's leg time and time again, getting a feel for him. Rin stroked his back as well, wondering what he was going to do with him exactly, 'Although at least Fujimoto could pick his familiar's well! I love cats!' He thought.
Yukio came up, "Well, I persuaded them to let you have Kuro as your familiar, although they're pretty impressed that you could tame Kuro, but I think they'll use another familiar to guard the South Gate from now on."
Kuro sniffed at the container Yukio was holding, "It smells like Shiro!" As he jumped at it.
"Ah, Kuro! That's poison!" Yukio yelled, as he rolled the container to Rin.
"It smells like a present from Shiro!" Kuro told Rin.
"He says it smells like a present from the old man."
"Huh?" Yukio said, as he unscrewed the top, and took a sniff, "This is… Silver Vine Wine!"
"Silver vine wine? That's the best! Let me have my present! Let me have it!" Kuro yelled,as he danced around happily.
Yukio started laughing, leaving Rin confused, "Oy, what's so funny?"
"Now that I think about it, there's no way Tou-san would ever kill Kuro." Yukio said as he got a pan to pour the wine into for Kuro.
Rin looked to the sky, lost in his thoughts, 'The old man, I hate to admit it, but he was kind of cool…'
Kuro just kept slurping, shouting with joy, "Delicious!"
Rin looked the ever-familiar clock tower, until he remembered, "Crap! I've got to get somewhere! See you in a little bit, and watch after Kuro!" He yelled as he took off running, leaving Yukio and Kuro to stare at Rin, then stare at each other, until Kuro went back to drinking.
Satan kept running, until he came to the Monja place, and lo and behold the woman was there again. "You're lucky I came…" He burst out, gasping for air.
"Well, of course, you've said to God many times that demons are beings of their words."
Satan clenched his hands. This woman and here many tricks! Why did she have to be so infuriating!
"Because it annoys you, that's why!" She smiled. "Although something tells me you've found out something more about how you came to have a mortal form here."
"Ah, not much, just that Yuri was somehow able to give me a mortal form, despite being a spirit, much like you did ages ago."
"Well, I suppose it's a start. Although…" She chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing! I guess that really does make you the Anti-Christ!"
Satan just face-faulted at that. "You and your lame sense of humor…"
After a meal and a couple minutes of talking though, even Satan had to admit he was having a decent time, "Please, just try handling Yukio! He's only fifteen and thinks he's hot stuff! You have no idea how annoying it is when a fifteen year old thinks he knows best!"
She laughed, "You think that's hard? Try being the mother to God himself! Walk on water? Please, I had to deal with that every time it was bath time!"
Satan nearly choked on his water, "Really? I would've thought he would be one of the most well-behaved children ever!"
"Ha! He certainly would be, but there were other times where he insisted on miracles! I can't tell you the times he cursed someone dead, only to bring them back to life, turn a kid into bird, or drive his teachers crazy because he started going into the metaphysical!" (1)
"Really?" Satan asked, only for a hammer to go flying out of nowhere and hit him on the head. "Ouch! Who the hell threw that?!" He yelled.
She looked to the background, "Ah, I suppose that'd be my husband, He always did prefer the direct way of getting someone's attention."
Satan turned back, to see a carpenter hard at work on the other side of the street, while the familiar white Fiat appeared again. Gabe lowered his window, staring at Satan. He just stuck his tongue out back.
"Well, I suppose I'd better get going. And you probably shouldn't keep my husband waiting either. His hammers always find their mark."
Satan sighed, "Fine, just get going." He muttered as he got up to talk to the guy. She just giggled.
Satan approached the man, who just kept at his work. "Yo." He said, trying to get the guy's attention. The man just ignored him as he continued shaping his work. "Hello? Is anybody there?"
The man held out his hand, "Chisel." Gesturing to the toolbox right next to Rin.
"What?! I-"
A hammer flew out and him in the head again, "Chisel." The man ordered again.
"Fine, fine, I'll get you your chisel..." Satan muttered as he went to get the tool.
After a while of sawing, cutting, chiseling, and various other carving skills, finally Satan had enough. "Oy, if you're going to call me over here, at least talk to me!" Although he was pretty quickly silenced when the carpenter held out some tools to him, and looked at him. Satan just looked at what he was making, and saw it was a wooden crib. "You've go to be kidding me…"
The woman kept on her way home, as she looked out the window. "Are you certain it's wise to keep meeting up with that… lunatic, my lady? Surely there's no need to waste your time with his kind!"
She just smiled tenderly, "I'll be fine Gabriel." She looked out the window again, "Gabe, dear. Do you mind opening the window? It's awfully stuffy in here."
"Yes, my lady." He replied, quickly complying.
"It's been a while since I've seen you." She said, as she began talking with the person who appeared next to her.
Gabe looked in the rear-view mirror to see who she was talking to, only to nearly lost control of the car when he saw who it was! "Careful Gabe, we don't want to wreck the car again…" She laughed out, as she turned again to her guest.
It was a young boy, probably only eleven or twelve, but the most noticeable thing about him was that he was white. Not in skin color, in that regards, he was the color of the average Jewish boy, but his clothes were completely white, a simply short sleeve button-up, and some shorts. However, the curious thing was that his hair was completely white as well, looking as soft as the white plumage of a bird. But his eyes, his eyes stood out the most. They were a brilliant orange, the color of an ethereal fire almost seeming to burn within them, in contrast to the rest of his pure color scheme.
"You know what I'm going to say to you…" He started.
"Yes yes yes. I know. It's reckless, there's no regard for my safety. What are you going to do? Report me to God?" She countered.
"No, not really. After all, it was you who asked me to keep these meetings veiled from him in the first place. He's content with letting Satan do as he pleases here, but I can't imagine he'd tolerate you meeting with him."
"Are you certain He's alright with you keeping secrets?"
"We might be of the same essence, but that doesn't mean we can't keep secrets from each other."
"Very well then."
"Just remember, always make sure your safety is a priority. I shudder to think what would happen if the other Two should ever get angry."
"Don't worry. I'll stay safe." She turned to face him, but he was already gone. All she could see was a single dove flying off into the distance, and feather left on her seat. "Nice seeing you too..."
The next day
Satan muttered in annoyance to himself, he can't believe he had to waste that much time on building a stupid crib! 'I could've read a manga, or played with Kuro, but no! I had to help a stupid little carpenter husband!'
He sighed as he collapsed onto the table, as Yukio began telling the class to get ready. "Now class, before we begin today, I'd like to welcome a new student." He walked over to the door and opened it. "You can go ahead and come in now." He said to the mysterious person, as they walked in.
Rin looked at him, and overall, he was rather bland. He was about average height, maybe 5'9" or 5'10", definitely a foreigner, judging by his light brown skin, and short dark hair. The only thing that stuck out about him was the eyepatch that covered his right eye. He bowed politely, "Pleased to meet you! I'm Kageyama Hikaru. I hope to get to know you all very well!" He said, smiling sincerely, as his single eye ran across all of them, pausing on Rin.
"Please feel free to sit wherever you want, Hikaru-san." Yukio instructed.
"Thank you very much, Okumura-sensei." Hikaru said, as began to sit down, right next to Rin.
Rin just stared, rather unamused at the guy, and yawned as he began to take doze off.
"Found you." A voice echoed in Rin's head.
"Who said that?" He answered, turning around, trying to find the source of the voice, making certain he didn't reply out loud.
"I did. I assume you wouldn't want me to say it out loud, considering how hard you've worked to keep it hidden." The voice continued.
"Keep what hidden?" Rin answered, looking around still, sweating slightly, until he fixed his eyes on Hikaru right next to him, smiling darkly.
"After all, it's not everyday after sixteen years that one gets to have a conversation with the missing Satan!"
Satan's eyes widened in shock, as he realized what was going on, "He knows!"
Mephisto walked in annoyance to the halls of the Grigori. One thing after another prevented him from visiting Yuri after she woke up, and he hated having to wait for anything! Why did they have to summon him now of all times?
Mephisto bowed in mock respect again as he entered, "Greetings my dear Gri-"
"Cut the crap Samael." The head Grigori ordered as he threw a newspaper to the ground, the exact same one Rin had been reading earlier. "What is the meaning of this?"
Mephisto quickly scanned the headlines, "So it begins…"
"What begins?"
Mephisto stared, a scowl on his face, "War."
"What?! How is that possible?"
"Each of us demon kings have some of the world governments in our pockets, or hands one way or another, so it gives us some influence on world affairs. As I said, each world affects the other, so it was only a matter of time before our war began to spill over into yours."
"To what extent does the reach of the demon kinds extend?"
Mephisto snapped his fingers, as a map appeared with different colors highlighting parts of the map. "The eight demon kings control most world governments in one way or another."
"First off," Mephisto began as part of the map were highlighted a dark brown color, "Beelzebub controls Central Africa, it's a hot spot for spreading his insects and plague. He enjoys especially having the mosquito population run rampant. It's a shame, I like traveling there..."
"Focus, Samael."
"Yes, yes." He snapped his fingers as other parts of the map turned a light brown color. "Astaroth controls South America, due to the large amounts of fungi and rot that grow there. Why do you scientists keep finding new species of fungi every year there? He keeps making more and more!"
This time, parts turned blue, primarily islands though. "Egyn controls the Pacific islands and the Caribbean, for reasons that should be self-explanatory. King of water, islands... enough said."
The Grigori slightly caught their breath, as a very large portion of the map turned red. "Iblis controls the Middle East, and Northern Africa, especially due to his influence in the religion there." (2)
Now a very large portion of the map, perhaps the largest yet, turned green. "Amaimon perhaps has the largest expanse, controlling all of Russia, Canada, and parts of Eurasia. I suppose it's also why Lucifer doesn't like him as much, especially since Amaimon's controlled it since the time of the USSR, but he usually lets the humans do as they please. He doesn't have to go too crazy there, assuming he's capable of that."
"Fascinating."
The map turned silver this time, "Azazel is perhaps of the least concern, concerning his neutrality, but he still has South Asia, and China in his grasp, due to their traditions regarding the dead. He used to have Japan as well, until I, ah, "politely" acquired it from him."
"And what territories do you control, Mephisto?"
Mephisto bowed excitedly, as the portions were highlighted a brilliant pink color, much to the distress of the Grigori. "Ah, so small, my reach only extends to Japan, Germany and parts of Europe, but don't worry. I don't wreak any havoc. I'm much to busy managing my school. Although I am glad I reacquired Germany. Honestly... Lucifer caused me so much trouble when he stole it from me back in the 1900's."
"Why are some ares not highlighted here and there."
"Ah, noticeably, Italy, Mexico and Israel have remained mostly free, due the strength of the religion there, especially as hot seats for relics, but aside from that most governments are under control of the demon kings."
"But what about Lucifer? Surely he must have some territory as well."
"Ah yes, he does."
"Well, spit it out! Where is it?"
"Shouldn't it be obvious what territory he controls, especially as the strongest demon!"
"You can't mean-"
"But yes, I do!" Mephisto smiled darkly, as one part of the map was highlighted a brilliant yellow, a very distressing part of the map. "After all, what better country for the strongest demon in Gehenna to manipulate, then the world's only superpower, The United States of America?"
Unknown
The aide ran breathlessly through the halls, gasping desperately for breath, even though he probably wasn't going to get anymore any time soon. He finally reached his destination, and straightened himself up. After all, it wasn't everyday even someone like him got to have an audience with the most powerful man in the world.
He quickly knocked on the door, and waited until he heard the muffled, "Come in!" And he entered the Oval Office, the official seat of power of the President of United States of America. He quickly saw he wasn't alone though, as he saw one of the president's most highly ranked generals in the room with him, a blonde-haired guy. He didn't like him one bit.
"Well," The President barked out, "What is it?"
"Uh, sir, we've received intelligence that the Cubans are once again starting to stockpile weaponry, possibly nuclear arms as well. We don't know if the Russians are involved, but they might be."
"Very well. Dismissed.""But sir-"
"Dismissed." He ordered.
The aide just gave the general a side-glance, and departed.
The President ran his head through his thinning hair. He was getting to old for this… He had served his country in the gulf war, proudly continued in the National Guard, and gone on to serve in politics as well, but the world never seemed anymore peaceful then when he started.
"Surely Sir, you aren't going to let this challenge to our superiority go unpunished!" He turned to his general. He couldn't really remember when he had started serving, but all he knew was that he always had the right answer.
"Now we don't want to rush into things headfirst."
"But of course we do! We need to show that there are repercussions for daring to challenge our superiority!"
"But-"
"But nothing! Besides isn't it time for you get back to the Missus?" His general asked.
"No, it's not even-"
"Go to the Missus." His general ordered, more force in it that ever, as the President's eyes glazed over.
"Right, get to the Missus." As he got up to leave, leaving the general alone in the office.
The general quickly got on the President's intercom, and in perfect imitation of the President's voice, "Attention all units. Please prepare for armament at once. In the event of any Cuban aggression, prepare to bomb them at once!"
He didn't wait for a response and quickly sat down in the President's chair, reaching down into one of the desk drawers, opening them, pulling out a VERY familiar mask. And so, Lucifer, demon King of Light donned his mask once more in the Oval Office, all the while humming "Hail to the Chief." (3)
"καὶ ᾠκοδόμησεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς τὴν πλευράν ἣν ἔλαβεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Αδαμ εἰς γυναῖκα καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὴν πρὸς τὸν Αδαμ. καὶ εἶπεν Αδαμ τοῦτο νῦν ὀστοῦν ἐκ τῶν ὀστέων μου καὶ σὰρξ ἐκ τῆς σαρκός μου αὕτη κληθήσεται γυνή ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς ἐλήμφθη αὕτη. ἕνεκεν τούτου καταλείψει ἄνθρωπος τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν μητέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκολληθήσεται πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔσονται οἱ δύο εἰς σάρκα μίαν."
"Et ædificavit Dominus Deus costam, quam tulerat de Adam, in mulierem : et adduxit eam ad Adam. Dixitque Adam : Hoc nunc os ex ossibus meis, et caro de carne mea : hæc vocabitur Virago, quoniam de viro sumpta est. Quam ob rem relinquet homo patrem suum, et matrem, et adhærebit uxori suæ : et erunt duo in carne una."
"The Lord God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: "This one, at last, is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called 'woman,' for out of man this one has been taken." That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body."
Genesis 2:22-24
"πάσῃ φυλακῇ τήρει σὴν καρδίαν ἐκ γὰρ τούτων ἔξοδοι ζωῆς."
"Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te."
"With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life."
Proverbs 4:23
Well, things are starting to escalate even more now, aren't they? Now for some notes.
(1) Well, this events aren't exactly biblically canon, but what I mean about that is what we call the Bible, in particular the New Testament, nowadays was complied back in 397 AD, due to the urging of St. Augustine. There were a lot of traditions going around, and they painstakingly worked to determine what was inspired scripture. The events I described came from the Infancy Gospel of Thomas, which supposedly described the childhood of Jesus... I read it, and I can tell you, you really did not want to anger baby Jesus!
(2) For those who don't know, Iblis is the primary antagonist in Islam. According the Quran, when God, or Allah in this case, created Adam, he ordered his angels to bow down to Adam. Iblis, who was a Jinn allowed to worship with the angels, refused to bow down, and as such, he was cast out of Heaven.
(3) Hail to the Chief is basically the American president's theme song...
Now, a minor correction, back when I was describing the Blue Night, around ch. 3 or 4, since I was using the intro to BE as inspiration, I mistakenly identified the statue in the beginning wrong. I had initially thought it was a statue of the Virgin Mary, but as it turns out, it's a statue of St. Helena, made by Andrea Bolgi. Who knew?
Here's the current review listing. Those in brackets will be updated soon!
Paradise Acquired (ANE): 18!
It ended with Blue Flames (FT/ANE): 1
Angels, Gods, and Demons (KI/ANE): 2
[The Demon King of Dragon Fire (FT/ANE): 7]
The Dragon Fallen becomes the Serpent (N/FT): 4
[The Dragon's Eye (N/FT): 7]
The Angel's Fallen Light (KI): 1
The Guardian Angel of Fairy Tail (FT): 6
The Jealous Flame (FT/FMA): 3
[This is War! (N/FT): 7]
Hopefully, I'll be back to my regular update schedule come Christmas time.
Shoutout time!
Blue Fire, by ef07: What if a certain blue haired demon was actually Satan sealed in human form? How would things change? Follow Rin as he struggles to become an exorcist, make friends and protect Yukio, all the while having to keep a secret that could not only place him, but everyone he has learnt to care about in danger! (Hiatus) This is actually the parent fic that inspired this story!
Gears and Flames Memoriam, by ShadowDragon94: Fairy Tail is getting on its feet again when Natsu brings in an injured girl who may know more about him than they realize. But what is Natsu hiding? And why? When the Grand Magic Games surface, trouble stirs and the once famous guild will be fighting tooth and nail for their right to be the best and survive. One question: what do this girl and Natsu have to do with it? (One of my all-time favorites!)
Harbinger, by MelonMochi: Rin has an "imaginary" friend. But things aren't always what they seem.
I see Fire in the Sky, by snakeboy33: Natsu is present when Fairy Tail disbands, and overwhelmed with hurt, and anger, he runs into the mountains. There, his despair consumes him, and something happens. What happens the next year, is something nobody in the now gone guild, could have ever dreamed in their wildest nightmares. Dark (but maybe not evil) Natsu.
Master Dragneel, by digemsmack: Certain things seemed to line up just right to make it so that Natsu wouldn't be able to go to the S-Class exams. It all started with an urgent quest asking for him and from there it went downwards, but Natsu being himself wouldn't let that stop him. Will he be able to keep Fairy Tail afloat, or will it all come crashing down around him? Disclaimer I do not own Fairy Tail.
Now, one of my reviews was worried that this story was ending (although, it was just a misunderstanding), but I'm going to assure you, this fanfic isn't ending any time soon! I'm having way too much fun writing it, although editing is a pain in the ass... Beyond the current canon arcs, I have about five or six non-canon arcs I've been thinking hard on about. THIS WILL BE MY MAGNUM OPUS, MWA HA HA HA! *cough*
Now, as usual, don't forget to review! Or else Ukoback will be making some reader stew... Oh, yeah! I almost forgot as well! There will be a Christmas special! Cheers! And Merry Christmas!
Shinigami
"God who created man out of love also calls him to love - the fundamental and innate vocation of every human being. For man is created in the image and likeness of God who is himself love. Since God created him man and woman, their mutual love becomes an image of the absolute and unfailing love with which God loves man. It is good, very good, in the Creator's eyes. And this love which God blesses is intended to be fruitful and to be realized in the common work of watching over creation: "And God blessed them, and God said to them:'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.'" (Gen 2:24)."
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1604