Hey guys! It's been a while, but remember when I said that I was studying abroad? Well, I'm leaving in less than two weeks! My departure date is June 11th, and I'll do my best to survive the following 25 hour flight and whatever deadly animals I encounter upon arrival, because I hear that there are a lot. Geezums, it makes me nervous; don't get me wrong, I'm excited to go, but I'm also scared out of my mind. I mean, I'll be away from home 4-5 months (I have no idea when I'll be coming back, but it should be around that time) and everything over there will be so different! But hey, that's the beauty of traveling, and I know that if I didn't go I would regret it.

But geezum, I have a bad case of the pre-flight jitters. Anyway, I'll make a blog about my overseas adventure, so I'll post the link on my profile whenever I get around to doing that. It'll have a day-by-day (or week-by-week) journal thing going on, pictures, and the like.

In the mean time, I'll get around to packing . .. because I haven't even started yet. xD

Enjoy this Assaih chapter!

...

Bon's POV

...

The Tar demon began to wail inside of its scarlet prison and slam against the barriers. The crimson light from the runes reflected off of Konekomaru glasses. His lips tugging into a grin as the light brightened and the Tar demon began to tremble. Nobody could talk due to the chanting, but they all could read his mind.

It was working.

Bon shot Konekomaru a serious glance. Keep going, he mentally told him, then glanced back at the trembling demon in the circle. His eyes narrowed, his mouth formed a grimace. We're almost . . .

The Tar demon suddenly exploded into fragment of black, breaking the circle. Spirit energy escaped in one sharp wave before the air went silent. The floor had been burnt from the intensity of the blast.

Shima was the first to speak up. "Well," he said, his face blackened, "that sucked."

"Understatement," Izumo grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. Her violet hair was a mess. "It was a complete failure."

Bon stared at the blast ring a little longer before closing his eyes and resting his head onto the desk. They had been so close this time; he had practically felt the portal open, drawing the Tar demon back to Gehenna, before the sheer energy required broke apart the flimsy barrier. Something was missing . . . stronger runes, maybe? But that was practically impossible to find, and anything stronger was locked away in the Vatican's library. Maybe they needed to start with a weaker demon, and work their way up? Or maybe they just needed better focus and be more efficient.

Rolling these ideas around in his mind, Bon sighed and stood up.

"We're done for the day," he told them, then turned to walk out of the room.

Only to walk right into Yukio.

Bon took a few steps backward, rubbing his nose. Did he see? he thought, panicked, but said, "Uh, sorry professor. Didn't see you there."

Yukio's turquoise eyes were stones. Ever since Rin had disappeared, Yukio slowly went from distant, but still approachable, to some sort of entity nobody could reach. It was as if Yukio had completely cut ties with them, and the only person who could converse with him was Shiemi, but she had stopped hanging out with the usual gang some time ago. Bon wondered why.

Yukio raised his gaze to the burnt marks in the floor. "What is that?" he asked. His voice was deadpan, but underneath his unassuming demeanor was a river of ice that froze everything in its past. Bon shivered, and not from the air conditioning.

"We . . . we were . . ."

"We were practicing for our test on Wednesday," Konekomaru stated, pushing his glasses a little higher on his face. "It's both a written and presentational exam. There's Tar demons in here, so we figured that we could try to capture them within a barrier." He shrugged. "It didn't work very well."

Yukio's face was blank as he turned from Konekomaru to the runes. His eyes flicked from rune to rune before narrowing at one. "This one needs to be more curved," he stated, walking towards the rune and kneeling, "with the edge here, not here." He tapped the areas with his finger before raising. "Also, a Tar demon is too small for this type of . . . barrier," he added with a sort of smile. "You need something bigger, to provide balance against your own energy. Try a Goblin next time."

And with that, Yukio walked out of the room.

Bon, Konekomaru, Shima, and Izumo watched him leave with wide eyes.

"I think he knew that we were lying," Shima finally pointed out.

"So why," Izumo scowled, turning back to the blackened circle, "did he help us?"

. . .

Yukio's POV

. . .

Yukio used a portal key to walk back into his dorm room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, he slid down to the floor, exhausted. A faint chuckle rose from his throat.

Why am I helping them? he asked himself. They'll only get hurt in the end.

The image of Satan, snarling at him with sapphire eyes, rippled through him. With a shudder Yukio got back on his feet and headed to his bed. Within moments he had practically collapsed in it. He was beginning to shut down; all of those sleepless days were catching up to him, but he didn't have time to sleep. There was still so much to do, so many leads to follow . . . he still had to find a way to get his physical body to Gehenna, not just his soul, and then figure out a way to come back with Rin. He needed to train; his aim was getting sloppy, and a sloppy aim meant a higher chance at dying, which meant that he wouldn't be at his best when he shot Satan in the head. He also needed to talk to Shura . . . try to get her help because . . . because . . .

His breathing slowly evened as he fell asleep.

. . .

Shura's POV

. . .

Shura had the swift and the sudden urge to kill a man, one in particular.

"Mephisto." She gently reached forward and formed a first around the iron bars, her eyes focused on the demon sitting across from her. "You're being ridiculous."

Mephisto grinned. "Am I?" he demanded, throwing his arms out with gusto. "The only thing ridiculous is this situation; you, visiting me during the night? The world must surely be ending."

"You told me that there was no way a physical body can pass to Gehenna without the Gehenna Gate," Shura growled, her fists tightening around the bars. "You told me that Rin would not be able to be saved . . . but you're only telling me part of the truth."

Mephisto eyes glinted in the pale light. "Oh?" he said, his lips curling into a smile. Shura got the definite sense that he was inebriated. How, she had no idea, but she had stopped wondering. "And what makes you say that?" the demon continued.

"Because I don't believe in lost causes." Shura's voice was a whisper. "There is always a chance, no matter how small, to change a situation. There's always something that you can do."

Mephisto looked at her with an incredulous expression. Then his lips twitched and he began to laugh, laugh and laugh and laugh. Amidst the laughed, he managed to choke out, "I didn't know that you had such a romantic view on life."

Shura's cheeks reddened and she spit out, "Just tell me what you've been hiding, damn you."

Mephisto's laughter slowly faded away, though his smile remained, bright and mad. "There is nothing you can do," he grinned.

Shura forced herself to remain calm, though her patience was running thin. Rin's smile briefly flashed in her eyes, but also the look he had on his face when everyone found out that he was not only part demon, but also Satan's son. He had been devastated, but hid it behind a smile. If he could only see everyone now, all united together to save him.

And when they did . . . I'm going to tell him how proud I am of him, she decided, and how much everyone missed him.

Her fists tightened on the bars. "If there's nothing that I can do," she said slowly, "then who can?"

Light danced in Mephisto's eyes. "Ah. You're catching on."

"Shut up and tell me, demon."

Mephisto smirked. "I will tell you . . . if you free me from my prison. I would like to see the sun again."

Shura raised her gaze, murder in her eyes. "Fine," she spat out. "But in return, you have to do something for me."

Mephisto arched an eyebrow. "And that would be?"

"The next time we go to Gehenna - and there will be a next time," she added darkly, "I am coming along too . . . and you're coming with me."

Anger slid behind Mephisto's eyes, but only for a moment. It happened so quick, Shura wondered if she had noticed anything at all. Finally, Mephisto smiled, stood, and extended his hand through the bars, taking care not to let the metal brush against his skin.

"Deal," he grinned.

Shura only grinned. "Deal," she declared, and they shook hands.

Chapter's over! Now I get to help my little brother with his homework and illustrate his story. Wonderful hahah.

Comments!

optimustaud: Astaroth is so badass, not to mention snarky and sarcastic . . . may or may not turn into one of my favorite characters. xD And they really did!

J Luc Pitard: So, you're a biology major too, I take it? How's that working out for you? :P

El0ndon: Fast updates may be out of the question . . . but I will never give up on the story! This sucker is going to be finished, whatever it takes!

DarkestDemonsInTheSoul: Actually, if you look up Astaroth, she's actually supposed to be a female. I was so surprised! And thanks - I actually did really well on my finals! :D And you know what's kind of funny? I drank so much coffee at the library, I got addicted to the caffeine! All good now, no worries, but I think that may turn into the new norm hahah

Higekimaru: Hahahah thanks! But actually, it's not too bad . . . just one thing at a time, and it'll all work out in the end. :) Trust me on this one. And hey - if it ever gets rough on your end, feel free to talk to me about it. :) I'm a surprisingly good listener!

Dowgma: Don't worry dude, I'll finish this story. :) It might just take me a while with everything going on, because the last thing I want to do is rush through it. :) Thanks for all the help with this story by the way!

Comments are over! See you all next update! :D

(and PS you guys . . . I'm going to be 19 in 3 days! :D :D :D )