Shura and Kaori commuted to the forest in question. When Kaori was far enough into the woods she stopped and constructed a summoning circle.
Out of amusement, Mephisto decided to watch the two. He was watching them from a safe distance where they weren't able to notice him. He wanted to see what was going to happen. Sadly, he didn't tell them what the demon was, he was going to let them find out the hard way.
"This should be interesting.~" he was sitting in his chair with his umbrella sitting on the top of it. He was sure that Shura would be able to handle the demon but he also wanted to see what Kaori was capable of.
"Gentle fragrances of fragile beings, shift your attention unto me. Arrive at my side, Sakura Dragon." A small dragon formed out of pink petals and rested on her shoulder. It scaled down her right arm and met her gaze.
Kaori smiled slightly, "Go and scout ahead, please."
It nudged against her cheek before the petals scattered and drifted past the trees in several directions.
Shura blinked, "Ya know. I don't think I've ever gotten used to those floral dragons you summon. In fact, I haven't seen any other tamers call one other than you."
Kaori simply shrugged and retrieved a volume from her bag. "That doesn't exactly surprise me. Now, did you chat up those informants like I suggested?"
"Manga?" he saw the manga and tried to get a good look of what she was reading without being spotted. Oh? Does she like anime as well? He thought to himself.
Shura's eyebrow twitched, "Yea, but they weren't exactly useful."
Kaori was just skimming over some pages of her manga book, "Mmhm."
A petal brushed over her cheek and she stood up shutting the book in a swift movement. "Come Shura, I've got a bite on the radar." Kaori put her book away and followed the drifting flower petals. Each one drifted to her shoulder as she passed it, reforming into her familiar.
Shura hopped up and quirked a brow, "Eh? What? Already?! Jeez, that stupid dragon is quick."
Kaori just answered without even looking back at Shura, "I wouldn't call her stupid. Her ability to observe and inform is quite useful. A fantastic messenger." The petals fully reformed on her shoulder, the familiar scaled down her arm again and bristled, providing Kaori with a warning.
The air was stagnate and the area was unusually quiet.
Mephisto was curious on how this was going to play out so he followed the two. He really didn't try to see how dangerous this mission was so if he had to jump in and stop it, he would. While keeping a close eye on them he also noticed something off about the forest, hopefully they would notice. He felt as though he should have had someone else do this mission.
"I'll see for now if they can handle this." He had a cup of tea in his hand and a tray of cakes next to him. Mephisto was slowly sipping his tea while following the two at a distance.
Kaori adjusted her glasses and tied back her long hair. "The air here isn't natural. Even the scent is off."
She tensed, "There's a heavy scent of decay." Her eyes glazed over her surroundings, "Signs of struggle, judging by all the trampled grass and- Shura, over there!"
"Shit." Shura muttered under her breath as she summoned her demon blade. "Devour the eight princesses."
Kaori punctured her arm and blood began to trickle down, each drip forming into a rose petal. "As each drop falls, may it nurture your growth. Rozen Dragon, to my side-" Before Kaori could finish her incantation she noticed something bite Shura's ankle, knocking her off her feet and beginning to drag her away.
She lifted her left hand with the smaller familiar since her other one was still working on its form. "Fragrance of intoxication, Charm."
The appendage released Shura and fixed its attention to Kaori. It stalked closer and she didn't even show a sign of movement. Only grinning, "Those without self control can be so fixated on their target that they lack proper attention to detail.~"
Mephisto was amazed by the two, Kaori lived up to her rank and he was devilishly overjoyed about that. He was satisfied that his plans weren't foiled. He watched the battle and noticed how they worked together.
There was a glimmer over the lenses of Kaori's glasses as she opened her hand. "Invocation of divine flame, petals burn away to cinders."
The larger familiar, now fully formed, bit down hard on the demons neck and burst into violet flame. "Smoldering Rose Purification.~" She snapped and the demon screeched. This significantly weakened it enough for Shura to make a move.
Though through carelessness and confidence, a burning appendage wrapped around Kaori's neck. It punctured her skin as it began to drag her towards it with a last ditch effort for survival. Only to be skewered and exorcised by Shura's snake fang but a moment later.
Mephisto stroked his gotee while deep in thought, Team work isn't exactly their strength but they atleast protect one another.
The demon exploded into ash leaving Kaori on the forest floor. She was heaving with a grin, her smaller familiar had flown off only to come back with some aloe so she could treat her new wounds. That last bit was wreckless. I should have been more cautious.
At this point Shura snapped, "How many times do I have to tell you to stop using yourself as bait?! Those pheromones are useful as well as dangerous! Damn it, you're so stubborn!" Shura lightly slapped Kaori's cheek.
"Lovely, now let's see if I should give them an even harder mission.~ I would love to use her power for my own amusement but Shura might try to get in the way." Mephisto's clapping could be heard by the two from a distance, his voice echoed along with it. He was clearly up to something and it was going to be known for a short amount of time. The grin on his face showed it otherwise.
"Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!" He exclaimed as he made his way over to them. Descending infront of the two with the help of his parasol. He had a feeling Shura was going to give him a harsh glare but he could live with that, he got what he wanted after all.
Kaori sat up abnormally quick but grimaced slightly. The punctures on her neck were making it difficult for her to keep her composure.
Shura was irritated to put it lightly and stood up. "Why am I not surprised, you can never resist a chance for a good show. Can you?"
Pink petals swirled in Shura's face causing her to cough.
Mephisto was just watching how the forest brightened up, before he decided to answer Shura as he noticed all the human bones that needed to be cleaned. He wanted to give them a harder mission but he could only think of the Aokigahara forest, a popular suicide spot though recently a demon had taken residence there that lead humans to their deaths in order to feed on their souls. There wasn't any way that someone would take on that mission after so many past attempts.
"I only came to remind you two about my cup noodles.~ I couldn't possibly let you forget now could I?" He knew Shura was familiar with the mission but he was also aware that she might not do it. He sighed before glancing over to Kaori, he had a feeling that she might take it.
Kaori stood up, silently handing Shura an aloe plant for her own injury before directing her attention back to Mephisto. She snapped once and the petals from both her dragon familiar's dispersed into the wind, much like ash. "This makes reporting the success of the mission simple. Though is there still any reason for the two of us to go fetch those noodles for you seeing as you're already out here?"
Kaori adjusted her glasses and after a moments pause, just gave him a very slight smile from her comment. If he's going to give us a hard time, it's only fair that I do the same.
She worked on fixing her sleeves. "Was there another reason for you to come meet us, Sir Pheles? Or was it simply for praise?"
Shura just stared at Kaori, I find that extremely unlikely. She thought to herself, just waiting for her supervisor to answer the questions. It was best for her not to make another scene since Kaori was so irritable from the last interaction.
"Yes please, I'll be quite busy after this. When you get my cup of noodles, take a moment to read over this new assignment. It's about the Aokigahara forest.~" He handed the folder to Shura with a grin before lowly whispering in her ear.
"Try to bring her back alive…" His tone sounded like mockery. He then looked at Kaori with a grin before making his way back to his chair.
Shura looked at the mission statement cover in the folder and froze. He's out of his fucking mind. She had heard about this one and even knew a few of the well trained exorcists that had attempted this mission. Shura had even caught Kaori trying to visit there herself before, only to snatch her arm at the entrance and practically drag her back home. And now he's giving her fucking free reign when I've tried to keep her from this place?!
Mephisto couldn't wipe the smile from his lips, "Hopefully you two will be able to handle this one.~"
Before she could think of anything else, the bespecticaled girl snatched the folder and turned, beginning to pace. The apprehension on Shura's expression leaked long enough for even Mephisto to see.
The green eyed libertine noticed and this piqued his interest, My, it isn't often that Shura has that expression. Humans are intriguing. His emerald orbs slowly moved to Kaori as he simply studied her.
There was a short silence before Kaori spoke up. "Seems you can't keep me from going there anymore, Shura." She snapped the folder shut and held it to the side. "You'll have that delivery in your office in under an hour. And then Shura and myself can prepare for this mission." Kaori kept her expression neutral so not to give anything away. Though her own thoughts echoed in her mind as well as that abnormal dream she experienced last night before meeting him.
She seemed to hesitate a moment too long before beginning to pace towards the exit treeline they were currently enshrined in. "If that's all then we'll be going."
Shura's expression was one of shock but she quickly masked it with a small tsk. "Fine. We'll go get your stupid food." She inwardly sighed, So long as Kaori doesn't get distracted in the store again. Last time the younger girl came out with bulk pocky sets, cases of ramune and two tubs of matcha ice cream.
"Splendid!" Mephisto replied as he took a seat in his chair, he gazed at the pair with a smile before Poof he had vanished. The Time king actually had work that he needed to attend to. He also had to talk to both Rin and Yukio in private, needing them to do a job for him. His hands would be full for a while, though he was going to slack off of course when no one was watching. Mephisto ended up back in his office studying the stack of paperwork and beginning to work on them. He would be up all evening with no sleep again. This was something Mephisto was used to, the most sleep he usually had was an hour, then it was back to planning and working. The bags under his eyes weren't just there for show.
"I should start gathering some missions together for the four of them. This might be more amusing than I originally anticipated." Mephisto place both hands under his chin as he grinned while deep in thought.
Mephisto heard a gentle knock at his office door after an hour, like Kaori had originally promised him. She was standing on the other side of the door, holding a palette of cup of noodles and something else under her arm, it rested at her hip. Though this time she had come alone, managing to convince Shura to go back home with the rest of their groceries instead of going with her to see Mephisto.
It felt nice for her to actually receive some breathing room for the moment.
"Lord Pheles?" Kaori chimed softly from the other side of the door.
"Yes? Come in!~" he was too focused on the paper work to actually glance up to see who was entering his room, by the voice he had an inkling it was Kaori. After a few minutes he leaned back in his chair and took a sip of his tea before looking up at the female.
Kaori opened the door with her free hand and stepped in. Upon approaching him, she set the bulk ramen palette on a freespace on his desk. Except, that wasn't the only item she had brought with her. The next item was nearly the length of her torso and with closer inspection it was a bulk pocky variety box.
"I see you kept your word! And here I thought I was going to have to go and get it myself.~" He teased.
"Shura wasn't exactly keen with going on a food run for you but I didn't exactly mind. I had my own shopping to do too." Kaori gently nudged the large variety pocky box towards him.
"Oh? It seems that she isn't very fond of me for some reason, is it my attitude?" He knew the reason and why she didn't, he was just feigning innocence. Mephisto's eyes gleamed as he noticed the pocky sticks, a grin gracing his lips. He enjoyed doing things like this to Shura. Teasing her was his amusement, it always had been.
"And this was my idea. Specifically since I kept missing your summons due to complications. Oh, and there was the whole incident this morning." Kaori reached up to adjust her glasses, her eyes wandering elsewhere.
"Hm? I wonder why you kept missing them." He was making himself some cup of noodle as he conversed with her. Mephisto couldn't resist the taste of cup of noodle, though he did need to work on eating healthier food.
"She can be very particular with those she interacts with and how she views them. Shura and I have been acquainted for a long time. She keeps people away from myself. Specifically those she feels can't be trusted around me. Whether it's due to base instincts or lack of self control."
Mephisto quietly listened, stealing glances at Kaori whenever she would get distracted by her own musings.
There was some visible tension in her shoulders as she continued. "Though I feel her actions to intervene with me branching out to meet others in the order is unnecessary. Shur was and is still especially keen on keeping a distance between you and myself, Lord Pheles."
Mephisto kept a neutral expression while Kaori spoke, removing his hot food from the microwave and setting it to cool in a small space on his desk. The demon king didn't take a seat quite yet, his full attention on her with a small smile. He had the ability to be intimidating or to be especially charismatic and persuasive of getting humans to spill their thoughts to him. Right now? He wasn't doing any of that, Kaori was doing this herself.
She offered him a timid smile, "That's not exactly her choice now is it? She often forgets how capable I am to look after myself." Kaori shook her head, the bell and her hair echoing a small chime as her eyes wandered over to Mephisto. "I do apologize, it seems I began to ramble. I'm sure you have other things you need to do this evening. I'll see myself out…"
Kaori turned to leave, only managing a few steps towards the door before she felt a presence behind her and a gloved hand on her left wrist. Causing the young woman to freeze in place and struggle to suppress a sharp inhale as her voice found itself again. "Was there, something else? Sir Pheles…?"
"Only a tiny reminder, Miss Suzuki. While your performance on today's assignment was exceptional, I advise you to take care tomorrow." She could practically hear the grin in his voice. "You see, I did some digging in your file and notice that you possess a certain history with the location you'll be visiting tomorrow." This is when his voice fell into his more serious tone. "Do come back alive, won't you? I have a very special assignment for when you finish this one." His face was above her left side as she caught his gaze and he flashed one of his trademark grins.
Kaori was at a loss for words, only managing a nod and to adjust her glasses with her right hand as she broke their shared gaze with a flushed face. "Will that be all this evening, then?"
Mephisto's hand dropped and he briskly stepped to her side, opening the door for her, "Yes of course. Now get some rest this evening!~ You'll need it for tomorrow morning."
She bowed briefly as a sign of respect before stepping out into the hall. "Yes, good night." Once far enough down the hall and hearing his office door shut, she booked it back home. Kaori didn't stop until she was at the door to her shared flat with Shura. Though she couldn't bring herself to open the door just yet. Damn it. What the hell was that about? And now it feels like my heart is ready to burst out of my ribcage.Taking a moment to collect herself, Kaori opened the door and stepped inside. Turning to close and lock the door she felt the familiar weight of her well-endowed roommate leaning on her back with her chin on top of her head.
"Riiiiii~ You took way too long. I'm hungry!~" Shura was clearly drunk but this was something Kaori was used too.
She simply slinked out of the other woman's hold and made her way to the kitchen. "Yes well just give me a moment alright? I didn't exactly think that you would be waiting up for me. I was under the impression that you would eat left overs and go straight to bed in preparation for tomorrow's assignment."
Shura gave her an exaggerated sigh, "What? Really…? Nahhh of course I would wait for the precious Ri to return and make us some food!~"
Her friends behavior was more outlandish than usual as Kaori just worked on preparing dinner.
Later that evening when Shura had passed out from her drunken stupor and Kaori had finished cleaning up after dinner. It was just before ten in the evening, the lights had been turned out and she had finished her nightly routine. Upon laying in bed, Kaori had difficulty falling asleep. The simple interaction in the office replaying in her mind. Mephisto's closeness, the tone of his voice, even his scent of rose and tea leaves. That small moment replayed and caused her cheeks to flush again. Kaori became dizzy from embarrassment and eventually fell into a deep slumber.
At approximately four in the morning Mephisto leaned back in his chair, stretching his long arms over his head. "Dear me, so much paper work." He stood up and snapped his fingers so that he would look more presentable. His hair fixed so that there were no longer stray strands other than the one curled wisp atop his head. He rested his top hat in its usual place and displaced in a puff of pink smoke.
The demon king's location changed as he was now in the center courtyard near Yukio and Rin's dorm. The same dorm where both Kaori and Shura shared a room together. Sighing to himself, his gaze climbed upwards to the glimmering full moon or atleast what was left of it to be visible in this time of night. His ear twitched as he heard light gentle steps of an individual leaving the dorm. His thoughts successfully interrupted, this drew his gaze over in that direction only to greet him with something unusual.
Kaori Suzuki was in what seemed to be a daze. Moments earlier she had risen from bed, having fallen asleep in her outfit for what seemed to be tomorrows mission. She was without socks or even shoes as the young woman trudged aimlessly.
Mephisto's eyes narrowed for only a moment and his brow raised, This must be that phenomenon I read about in her file. This would mean her destination would be the Aokigahara forest. Intrigued, the emerald eyed libertine took it upon himself to follow her. This time of course he saw no reason to hide or keep much distance. He studied her movements as she stopped for trains and at crosswalks, how she even rode the bullet train and the last bus to get to the location she eventually would end up.
Six in the morning, that was the time it was when she had breached the forests treeline. While the being dwelling within that forest was a danger to humans, he felt no hesitation when entering along with her.
Futher and further she walked, without her glasses, she was being lead to this place. This forest which held intrigue as well as sacredness within its roots. When she was far enough inside, Kaori snapped from her haze. Without her glasses she could see little more than blurred green and grey. It took a moment for her expression to shift into slight panic but then indifference.
Since Kaori had regained her consciousness, he perched himself high in one of the tree branches, studying her from above. What draws you here, Kaori? His curiosity was something that wouldn't be fully satisfied, atleast not yet.
Pain thrashed Kaori's skull, the woman heard static which would usually be whispers. She clutched her hand to her head and panted hard. The migraine became so excruciating that she quickly lost consciousness. Though the last thing she saw before blacking out was a blur of white in the tree branches above her, descending closer to her as her vision faded to black.