Hey again. :3 I'm super excited about writing this to the point it's getting in the way of working on my book, but the more I think about it, the less I care. I'll eventually taper off the updates (I'm leaving July 9th and coming back the 29th, so definitely no updates between then) so just a heads up way in advance. I'll continue when I get home though!

This chapter is a bit . . . violent. And bloody. I'm not gonna sugar-coat it because it will just sound bad. :( Sorry everyone.

So, off topic, I noticed that I spelt 'Gehenna' wrong repeatedly in the last chapter. It's with two n's, not one, so that's being fixed. Anyway, here's chapter 2!

PS: The title and summary are likely to change, since I don't like them. I'll think about it later.

PPS: this chapter was really hard to write D':

Rin knew that voice. It was different, distorted from his memories, but he would recognize the underlying tone anywhere. The sickeningly sweet, cruel voice seemed to reverberate inside of him like a sharp scream. This was the voice that gave him nightmares the moment Shiro - no, his father - was murdered by Satan.

Rin squeezed his eyes shut, his hands desperately trying to free himself from Mephisto's grasp. He was screaming for help, screaming for anyone, but no one was coming. No one heard him, just like last time.

"My son."

Rin jerked, his breathing ragged in his throat. He always imagined himself fighting head-one and not just winning. He imagined himself completely dominating the outcome and banishing Satan to the darkest depths of Gehenna.

But that all it was, a figment of his imagination. That wasn't reality. This was.

His moment of weakness was enough for Mephisto to throw Rin forward. He hit the ground hard, bruising his head against the rough stone floor. Stars danced in his vision momentarily but he was already getting to his feet, already reaching for his sword.

Then froze.

Blood. There was a lot of blood. Not his blood - someone else's. Maybe a lot of people. Rin recalled the disappearances, but the exorcists had always been 'missing in action'.

He turned his head away, trying hard not to throw up. Guess they weren't missing after all. They were right here the entire time, their purified blood fueling what looked like black, bubbling lava in the center of the floor. A hand made entirely out of the black goop, a hand small enough to be a child's, reached out from the mass. A head followed and it giggled. The sound echoed off of the stone walls and then quickly cut off when another hand shoved it down and another head forced itself above, continuing the laugh. There were dozens of those . . . those things in the black sludge, dozens upon dozens upon dozens . . .

Rin's stomach twisted and he turned away, sick.

"I thought you told me he had become stronger, Samael." Rin could hear footsteps walking towards him but his body seemed to be frozen to the ground, shaking - but not from the cold. A hand reached forward and fingers moved underneath his chin, forcing his head upward so that he was staring into two blue eyes. They were staring back at him in distaste.

But then Rin realized something else. Satan had possessed a different body; this time, it was Arthur Auguste Angel, the Paladin after Shiro. But how? Rin thought in panic, his arms limp to his side. He never liked Angel, especially after he chopped off Rin's ankle with his sword, but he didn't hate him enough to wish Satan to possess him.

Mephisto - no, Samael - shrugged. His movements were jerky and his hands were shoved into his pockets, something Rin had never seen him do before. Not that he cared. "He has become stronger," Samael insisted with a sly grin. "He defeated the Impure King and the Kraken."

"My pets?" Satan suddenly began to laugh, dropping Rin in the process. He fell back onto his knees. It was as if he couldn't breathe, couldn't speak, couldn't do anything.

No. Satan's laugh reminded him of back then, back to when he didn't know anything about the other, darker half of the world. No, he thought again, his hand gripping his sword. I can do something. I can destroy - his eyes flicked up to the black sludge on the floor - that.

Before he could change his mind, he ripped Kurikara out of the sheathe. Blue flames enveloped him as his ears grew long and his canine's sharper than before. His vision went blue, but that always happened. Rin crouched and, hopefully before anyone else could react, lunged at the Gehenna Gate. He had changed from back then, from being helpless and crying out for help. He could do this, could show everyone that just because he was the son of Satan didn't meant that -

- Whack!

Something smashed against his side, knocking him off balance. He slammed against the ground, bruising his side, and his head cracked on the ground. He bounced again from the force and hit a column, only to bounce off and hit the ground hard. He tasted copper in his mouth and something hot and sticky ran down his face, into his eyes. He tried to move and gasped from the pain.

Broken, he realized, biting back a cry. Broken. His arm and leg were at unnatural angles on the ground, no doubt from slamming against the ground the first time. He was pretty sure the second or third time didn't help either.

Satan walked towards him, a smile on his face. "Oh?" he grinned, stooping down beside Rin. "There as more resistance that I thought."

Rin glared at him with everything that he had and hoped he wouldn't pass out. It was hard; it was like he was looking through a tunnel with blackness on both sides, but the tunnel kept on getting smaller and smaller and smaller . . .

Mephisto thought he was going to be sick. He hadn't expected that to happen. Rin was supposed to just sit there and be obedient, but his outburst had earned Mephisto his undying respect. It was impressive, but still - something inside of him stirred when Rin fell onto the ground and didn't get back up again. Worry? Mephisto wondered, eyes wide as Satan only smiled. Since when did he, Samael, the King of Time and the one of the eight demon kings, feel petty human emotions like that?

But the feeling only intensified when Satan stooped down in front of Rin and lifted his limp head. Surprisingly, Rin had still been conscious and muttered something under his breath, something that sounded like a curse, only to close his eyes and pass out.

"Satan," Mephisto said, worry curling his gut. He wished that the emotion would just go away. It wasn't making this any easier. "You are to give me my freedom."

Satan, in Angel's body, glanced at him like he had forgotten Mephisto was even there. It was a strange thing and slightly ironic for Satan, a demon, to possess Angel's body, but the humor faded long ago. Mephisto had made Satan promise that he wouldn't harm Angel, or rather, asked politely that Satan not damage his finest exorcist. It seemed fine for now, but the blood was already dripping out of his eyes and nose. He wouldn't last much longer.

"As promised, Samael," Satan said, picking up Rin and throwing him into the Gehenna Gate, "I will give you permission to stay in Assaih indefinitely." The black tar bubbled around his limp body and the hands reached out, gleefully pulling him down. The unconscious boy didn't seem to notice - Mephisto hoped it would stay the way.

Mephisto had imagined this moment many times, but the ending has always been consistent. This is where he would bow, thank Satan for his generosity, and walk away without ever looking back. Now, in the moment, Mephisto could only watch in horror. He didn't do 'horror' very well. Maybe amused, or interested, but never horror.

Satan glanced at him, then suddenly smirked. "Or is that," he said, a crazed light to his blue eyes, "what you had wanted me to say?"

Mephisto's blood ran cold. "You promised - "

"Shaddap!" Something slammed into his gut and sent him flying into a column. He had managed to slow time just enough to dodge, but it didn't work very well. It was Satan's blast, after all. They were his flames, and Mephisto couldn't touch them with what power he had. "I promised you nothing!" He turned back to Rin; the only thing Mephisto could see was one of his eyes and his hand. His eyes were closed and he almost looked peaceful, if it wasn't for the blood running down his face.

"Well," Satan amended, looking thoughtful, "I suppose I should think you for taking care of my son. Not," he added with a smile, "that it matters." Before Mephisto could say anything more, Satan began to laugh. He shook with the intensity of the fit, and suddenly the blue flames around Angel had vanished. The Paladin crumpled to the floor, either dead or unconscious.

Mephisto's eyes were wide as he stared forward, his hand holding the massive wound on his chest. His breathing was silent but harsh, harsh enough to hurt. His human body was never meant to be able to live through that, but somehow, it had. Satan was either being merciful, or cruel.

Well, he thought, turning his head towards the ceiling. It seems like I've screwed up.

It was supposed to be our birthday today.

Everyone had come over - Shiemi, Bon, Izumo, Shima, Konekomaru -and they were supposed to have a party. Yukio put the cake in the oven; Rin had left some instructions on a piece of paper before he left. The handwriting was hardly legible, but Yukio was a teacher. He managed. Shiemi had brought over some of the garden vegetables and fruits she had grown and was setting them on the counter. All of them had asked where Rin was, and each time Yukio heard himself say that Mephisto came looking for him and that he would be back soon.

He didn't know that he was lying at the time. Looking back, it was obvious something was wrong. The unease in his stomach twisted and grew, but he had trained years to not let his emotions get in the way, even if it was just for a birthday party.

"Rin's not back yet?" Shima sat down on the couch, some soda in hand. His light pink hair fell in front of his face as he opened the lid with a pop.

Shiemi watched the door, her face a bit worried. But she hid it with a smile. "He'll be back soon," she promised, but Yukio see how worried she actually was. All of them were, not that he looked at it. Everyone felt something was wrong but they all ignored it, all optimistically hoping that it was just because of nerves.

Then the ground shook, hard enough to make the lights hanging from the ceiling sway like a tree in the wind. Plates rattled and fell on the floor, crumbling to a thousand pieces. A cry of a demon cut through the air. Then another. Then another.

Yukio was already reaching for his cell phone while everyone else had run for the window. Izumo had called out her familiars; Nii-chan, Shiemi's familiar was constantly with her. Shuro was on Yukio's speed-dial and he called her now. She picked up on the first ring.

"Four-eyes!" she shouted into the phone. Roars and growls filled up the remaining static; she must be in the middle of a fight. "Get yer butt over her! An emergency!"

"What's going on?" Yukio demanded. He already had his dual-wield pistols in hand. They were beautiful things, the best of their kind, and he was secretly proud of them. "What's happening?!"

"Demons have infiltrated the Vatican!" she shouted. There was a scream on her end; someone nearby her must have been hurt. Shura cursed, then shouted, "No one's sure how it happened, so don't ask!"

"Where's Rin?" Yukio said. He shoved a fresh canister into the hilt and flicked the safety off.

"I thought he was with you."

Yukio cursed under his breath. "I'm heading to the Vatican now," he stated, then ended the call. He didn't want to know what else Shura had to say; probably something about being true to himself. Honestly, he didn't have time for that bull. Between his brother and his duty as an exorcist, there was nothing left over. Be honest?

Yukio grit his teeth. He was honest.

"What's going on?" Bon was the most level-headed of the group, though he was on par with Izumo. She had a defiant expression on her face.

Yukio frowned. "No one knows. Demons are in the Vatican."

Konekomaru's eyes widened. "But that's a purified area," he said. "They can't - !"

"They did," was Yukio's response, and he turned to Shiemi. "People have been hurt; Shiemi, can you go to the hospital wing and help?" She nodded bravely; it was a nice trait about her. No matter what, she always felt like she had to help and that, while often getting her in dangerous situations, always managed to pull through in the end. Well, that and she just had a natural knack at helping everyone. Shiemi was like a light, but instead of dimming those around her, she made them shine brighter. She was just that kind of person.

Yukio turned to Shima; he was still holding his soda. "Can you go with her?" he asked.

Shima grinned. "With pleasure," he replied with that dreamy look in his eyes. Yukio scowled, already regretting his idea but not paying any attention to it. Shima didn't like fighting, and Yukio knew that he wouldn't protest if given a minor roll. It was easier all around.

"Bon, Konekomaru, Izumo, you're with me," Yukio ordered. They all nodded and headed out into the night.

So much for the birthday party, Yukio thought, his finger over the trigger. Guess the cake will have to wait until tomorrow.

D: I'm just going to apologize quickly. This chapter was really hard to write. Ridiculously hard. T_T and it's only gonna get worse until I finish up this little prequel thing and get to the real story. THE REAL STORY. :3

Anyway, some of you might be wondering: Why Angel?! D':

This is why. Most importantly, in the first episode, it was (1) mentioned that a Paladin is the only one who can handle a demonic possession by Satan. Basically, they won't die from it and the only reason that Shiro died was because he stabbed himself in the heart with the exorcist-brooch thing. (2) Angel always hated demons and this gave him one more reason to, not to mention that his name is ANGEL and he got possessed by SATAN. It struck me as ironic and kinda funny. And, finally, (3)rd reason I chose Angel is because I just don't like the guy. He ticks me off. Everything he does ticks me off, but in the beginning I thought well, whatever, that's just his character. AND THEN HE CUT OFF RIN'S FOOT AT THE ANKLE. RIGHT THERE. NO WARNING. JUST BOOM, CHECK IT OUT, YOUR FOOT FELL OFF. Such a jerk :(

Anyway. Fight scenes ahead. 3 and soon this prequel will be over! yay!

Stay Awesome,

Rand0mSmil3z