Title: Hellspawn
Chapter: 20/?
Characters: Shura, Mephisto(?)
Genre: angst, pure angst and mystery
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's purely fan made for fun... or tears.
Warnings: No beta'd, etc. cursing, anime!ver, brocon, RinYukio, prolly ooc?

Summary:
That's when everything came crashing down on Shura. Mephisto, fucking Mephisto was right. Boys had it bad— and they danced around each other dance of denial. It wouldn't matter though because when Rin would turn his eyes from Yukio, Yukio would turn his towards Rin.

A/N: Hi, I'm still alive. Got terrible writer's block even though I have all my notes and stuff. Sorry. This is short & sweet (NOT). Thanks for views & reviews, peace! PS. Natzure – Aeron. PS2. Shura/Mephi showdown, no Rin nor Yukio so it's kinda a filler oops.

"A storm is coming, Frank says
A storm that will swallow the children
And I will deliver them from the kingdom of pain
I will deliver the children back to their doorsteps
And send the monsters back to the underground
I'll send them back to a place where no-one else can see them
Except for me
'cause I'm—"

- Donnie Darko.

With fast strides, Kirigakure Shura made her way down one of Academy's corridors. There was unusual urgency in her step. Few unfortunate souls caught on that, practically trying to blend in with nearby walls when she'd pass by. Said woman of course haven't even noticed she was practically oozing with gloom.

Well, how could she? After all what she might or might've not overheard was totally off-putting and she really hoped she was dead wrong... because just... no.

It was wrong on so many levels, and it affected not only Okumura twins but everybody else.

That was the main reason why she was almost running towards principals office where she knew she'd find Mephisto aka. Bloody-Demon-King of Gehenna that figured he'd reside in the Assiah for god knew what, probably just to entertain himself. Yes, Mephisto Pheles was bastard and not the good kind of one you'd want to cope with. He was deceiving, creepy and most of all narcissistic to a nth degree. Whatever he did, he always did it because of his own, pretty often ulterior motives.

Like the situation with Gehenna's portal appearing over their Academy barely couple years back. How twisted one person would've had to be to enjoy seeing kids fighting with something that shouldn't ever exist on this side? But, Shura guessed he was just that kind of a person – one, that would love to watch the world burn and his words only proved it – Bravo, the show was amazing, I enjoyed every second of it. Ye, but he did not even move his pinky to help.

Gulping she pondered for a second if she should even bother with Mephisto at all. Knowing him, it was probably all his fault for latest happenings and shit. Lately Shura had a feeling, a very bad one too. Her guts were telling her it somehow had everything to do with their demon king resident somehow.

As it happened, something was very wrong in their world and the other side. It certainly wasn't getting better, as if. If she wouldn't know better, she'd say that some big shit was probably going to get down and soon. As fucked up as their world was – with Gehenna and Assiah both existing side by side like two-way mirror – there always seemed to be a certain balance.

Balance that now was going bat-shit crazy. Ever since Yukio's second possession they constantly were bombarded with sightings and other hauntings. Then to make matters even worse Shura came in contact first-hand with Gehenna's doorway before anyone even knew what that was; that's how they'd start call them afterwards.

In the last three months they found four doorways which they destroyed but that was it. That's how Shura became suspicious of the balance between Assiah and Gehenna – that somehow it got disrupted and maybe, just tiny maybe it all had to do with Yukio Okumura's awakening. Not Rin anymore as he was actually less harmless than a baby in a crib, but when it came to Yukio—

It wasn't something she wanted to think about, but thought crossed her mind nonetheless. Yes, by now Shura knew she treated both Okumuras' like those brothers she never had. Never, ever she'd want anything bad happen to them but— there was that terrifying nagging at the back of her head that maybe they should let Yukio go, as he would not made it if not for Mephisto's healing prison. It was almost unreal to think that but what if they did make a terrible mistake by fighting with their every fibre for his life. What if he would eventually become Satan's vessel and turn on them all in the end?

Just as another long, internal debate was incoming, Shura stopped dead before principals office. Why the heck she felt so nervous all of a sudden, she couldn't stop the strange jittery feeling in her legs nor the fact that her hands were sweaty.

Sighing, she braced herself at whatever she might find and pressed doorknob. Before as much as she crossed the room, Mephisto's voice greeted her like usual.

"Ah, Shura-san, how sweet of you to visit me at this time" he said, sitting oh-so-casually in his armchair, fingers interlaced and looking no less like a cat that just ate a canary. There was something very unnerving about his smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I think you know why I'm here, Mephisto" she all but gritted out through her teeth. His growing smirk didn't help the matter at hand only irking her more. "I just heard the most disturbing thing ever." Shura crossed her arms, staring her partner down but he wouldn't bat an eyelash at her. "I believe you might have something to do with it, clown."

Mephisto clucked his tongue, leaning over his desk. "And what might you've heard that got you running into my office pry tell?"

His tone sweet and sharp just made her want to puke all over the place not to mention— "Rin slept with Yukio—"

Answered her holler of a laugh as Mephisto stood up. "Is that all? I thought there was life and death situation going on. So carefree, Shura-san, to come over for some spicy gossips you might've overheard" and he chuckled, his umbrella in his hand all of sudden.

Bile that kept on blocking her voice cords lessened. "So it's just a gossip? Nothing happened between them—" she mumbled, feeling stupid. Of course. There was no way—

"No, actually they are expecting as we speak." Mephisto's words cut the air between them and for a second Shura thought she was going to lose her footing.

Did she hear that right?

"Wha—?"

Mephisto's smile was so wide and insincere, just the proper amount of bullshit. "Ah, as you see there was a tiny oversight on the night of supermoon. Apparently, somehow boys ended up in the same room for the night and, as you can guess – they did actually end up succumbing to their primal needs."

No, it was— Shura felt sick for a moment. "YOU BASTARD!" she burst out, her head spinning from anger. "Ye knew what's going to happen when there's supermoon on the sky. Yer damn job was to secure both of them in separate rooms and—" A sudden flash of memories stopped her blabbing. "Oh my— fuck. Shit."

"You're disgusted. Interesting. Would it matter less if you didn't know, I wonder..." spoke Mephisto casually walking around, his umbrella twirling from time to time. "Well, was that all you came here for? If yes, do please show yourself out, you know the way and I apparently need to be somewhere."

Shura shook inwardly. "Ye twisted motherfucker. I always knew there was something seriously wrong with ye but this— This takes the cake— I wonder what would ye do if Shiro was still around."

"Oh, bugger" he rolled his eyes at her. "Shiro knew well before boys they were meant to be together so to speak. Actually, since they were born. He just figured that keeping them in the dark will save them from another burden they'd have to bear. It didn't end good for either of them, did it though? Rin-kun noticed their bond anyway and Okumura-sensei recognized the nature of it almost instantly."

That commentary momentarily stupefied Shura into place, her eyes getting wide. For a second she wished she could unhear what she just heard. It was unbelievable, to think that Shiro— That boys had a bond, a red thread of fate between them? Also Shiro knew, all the time too and never even gave a slightest hint— but that didn't surprise her, he probably hoped that boys would live normal lives. Well, as normal as exorcists could anyway.

It was a piece of information Shura did not want to know but now that she did, well...

"That still doesn't explain why would ye do such a foul thing and close them up together on supermoon, ye sick bastard. What did ye have from it anyway? Entertainment? Or was it something more?"

"Hear me now, Kirigakure-san, there was no point in trying to run away from it. Do you reckon that their bond wouldn't grow? Well, it would. As if they weren't acting like a fools in love already. So I just gave them a little push in a good direction."

Mephisto by now stood still, facing very disturbed Shura.

"It's so wrong— Yukio, Rin—"

Suddenly a very peculiar smirk appeared on Mephisto's face and she shuddered. Just as she did so, he leaned over her. "Actually, there's something I'd like to show you."

"What?" she barked back, unrelenting.

Chuckling under nose, Mephisto twirled his umbrella staring her down but after few seconds nodded towards closet doors. "Eins, zwei, drei—" he spoke with mirth in his tone and there was tiny puff and pink cloud coming from under the doors. "Follow me, please."

Without word he stepped over but Shura only stared at his back as if he just grew another head before she huffed. "I ain't going into closet with ye, bastard" she stated, curling her fists.

It was wrong move, as Mephisto send her such devious look she felt it piercing her through. "It is closet or we can jump out the window. Your pick, Shura-san" he ended with devils smile on his sharp face, one fang shining.

Creeps went down Shura's spine, she felt paralysed. Whatever that bastard was doing, it worked. In the end there was no tell what he might really do. She relented but reluctantly. "Alright, get into that closet I'll follow behind."

Mephisto's eyes flickered ominously. Of course she'd pick it, she was so boring no backbone whatsoever, unlike Shiro had. "No fun whatsoever, never—" he muttered under breath, opening doors.

Once they went through, their eyes were met with huge stadium. Weather there was hot and humid unlike the one outside the Academy, that could mean only one thing. They were somewhere far away, not that anyone minded. Shura walking behind Mephisto looked around but haven't found anything interesting about the place.

That was until Mephisto stopped just before railing and glanced down where their young proteges were having a training session. Everybody was there, entire team and they were having a blast. Shura smiled at the view, they were fighting against each other – sometimes ganging up at unsuspecting teammates.

"Look and tell me what you see" said plainly Mephisto, but this time his face was blank.

Shura sighed, trying to figure out where she was supposed to look but her eyes would automatically drift towards Rin and Yukio. Thought of them being— intimate was still fresh in her mind. She couldn't look at them the same way. It was wrong— so wrong.

"Don't let your disgust get better of you. You still care about boys."

"What they did— it's disgusting. I can't— Shit. Mephisto" she snarled tearing her eyes from Yukio's persona. "I can't look at them—"

He clucked his tongue right then, looking sideways at her. "Love is disgusting? That's a first. Now, before you'll give me another mouthful just spare a one good look at boys, shall you?" he commanded and Shura obliged, trying to keep her face impasse. He continued then, "It was meant to happen. Ever since they were born, one was always looking after another. If it wasn't young Yukio patching up young Rin then it would be Rin trying to cheer up gloomy Yukio. Their bond grew on it's own without anybody's interference, do you know why? Subconsciously they'd always put each other on the proverbial pedestal, not anybody else. Not their father not their friends— not to mention neither of them even tried to find somebody to love, ever."

Mephisto nodded towards Rin, who was apparently ganged up upon by Shima, Bon and Shiemi and jumped away before running from them. "It was because they already had that person. You and I know well enough that both of them would sacrifice for each other in a heartbeat. Isn't that romantic? Actually when you think about it more, they already did."

After what seemed forever Shura finally found back her voice. "No, yer wrong. What yer telling is a normal, brotherly love— kind that is in every family—"

"Normal" mocked Mephisto, mulling over the word. "Whenever Okumura twins were normal? They're truest hellspawns of Satan, both calling upon devils powers at will. You cannot call that normal, now can you?"

It was still wrong. "Yer twisting the facts into some bloody, surreal fairytale when it's not. Do ye expect they will live happily ever after, together? It's sick."

"Sick or not. It's true and real" here Mephisto chuckled. "The best part is they are still in denial about it. Both Yukio and Rin are dancing around each other, neither of them making any moves but both do keep a sharp eye on each other. Now that's what I call tragic."

Shura shook her head, trying to forget last few minutes of her life. In doing so, she spared that one glance at Yukio and Rin. They still acted so normal with the rest of team it was strange knowing that there was something very ugly going on between them. Love is love she heard once but when it came to this... No. She couldn't believe in Mephisto's tale but there were signs— Sings only now she understood.

And there was Yukio standing in the pitch a quite far away from Rin but when Shiemi actually managed to beat his twin into sand, he tensed up and did stop his shooting practice. Only when Rin stood up— thanks to Shiemi who sputtered apologizes— he once again corrected his grip on pistol and fired towards Kamiki's foxes.

And then again when Yukio was starting to get encircled by said foxes and barely dodged sharp fangs of one of them, Rin almost jumped to his rescue— one foot ahead already.

That's when everything came crashing down on Shura. Mephisto, fucking Mephisto was right. Boys had it bad— and they danced around each other dance of denial. It wouldn't matter though because when Rin would turn his eyes from Yukio, Yukio would turn his towards Rin.

They knew it was wrong, they were fighting it.

At that moment Shura realised she didn't know what to do anymore. Cry or laugh? Maybe both at the same time? Ghost feeling of incoming tears was only thing she felt, not to mention how torn she was on the inside.

"I can't— I need to go" she concluded, shaking her head. "I'm going."

Mephisto upon hearing her words sighed. "You're giving up on them."

She was already half-way towards exit but stopped anyway. "I need time to think."

"Well, off you go then!" Mephisto chirped back then, nodding to himself. "Just don't take too long or you might run out of it" he added waving towards young exorcists.

"I'll try" Shura concluded, walking out.

That left Mephisto alone. Actually, he was in a kind of a whiff in there. He didn't think that Shura might have such negative reaction towards boys relationship, well— it didn't matter. He really should've been somewhere else entirely but hey, free energy was still free.

Waving once again— this time towards Rin, he smiled before stepping back. With a motion of his umbrella he shut the door close and then once again twirled his favourite piece of equipment. When pink cloud started to clear, he walked through the doors.

Instantly when he found himself on the other side, doors snapped close. Wherever one would look, there was only unrelenting dark fog around and nothing else. Briskly, Mephisto took ahead to meet his guest. Yes, he was late but it didn't really change anything— not in this place anyway. Maybe simply because time was non-existent in there.

When he finally arrived at the place he fixed his white top-hat before glancing at his guest.

In there, in the middle of nowhere a black silhouette was kept still by shadows themselves. Sometimes long black tail would escape from that dimensional prison before it'd be caught once again.

Teal eyes glared heavily at Mephisto but all he did was smile back.

"I really hoped we could have an accord."

Upon hearing his voice, girl tripled her strength behind attempts to escape. "Why?!" her voice drifted, low and angry. "I trusted you!"

At that Mephisto squinted his eyes, smile splitting his face. He was completely unperturbed at seeing her rage, these black flames that would start to burn her free.

"I told you before. You cannot interfere. It wasn't a question but a command, my dear niece" he said sweetly.

"You let her mark him!"

This time there was a chuckle. "Actually, no. It wasn't me. If I remember correctly I had my hands full of another demon at the time—" here he send her a sharp look, which meant exactly what she thought it did. "If not for a said demon trying to play a hero card I'd probably saved oh-so-poor Rin-kun from his doomed fate. Bravo—" he clapped, slowly and then tipped his hat. "Thanks to you, I am having a blast. Not only Rin Okumura has got Death's Kiss upon his stubborn butt but also future you."

Girl stopped dead, unmoving. Her teal eyes started to widen in shock. "Impossible."

Using sudden stillness of his niece, Mephisto called upon his power to once again encase her in never-ending shadows. Of course he knew it was futile to try keep her in there, she'd escape sooner or later but for now it was enough.

"There are always consequences of altering time." Mephisto started, as if recalling a long forgotten memory. "I know, I am the Master of it. Even so I, myself cannot change anything back. Future, yes. Past, no. I thought I taught you at least that much, but apparently, no" here he sighed, pouting. "It's going to get even messier the longer you're here, do you really want that?"

His niece, name of Kyoko shook her head before steeling herself. "Whatever will happen to me is not important. I came back to right wrongs that will happen."

Loud tsk was heard. "Exactly what I was telling you. You can't. If you start changing things over, not only you'll end up dead but Rin and many others too" said Mephisto looking closer at his niece. She clearly had a mindset after Yukio, she wasn't going to budge. "How many times did you actually travelled back in time?" he asked out of curiosity. It was something that was nagging him for some time now, her story was too elaborated for a kid like her.

Answered him silence.

"Ah, so I am right" he stated, nodding to himself. "And that's probably where our conversation ends" he added as if in afterthought. "Again, you shut me out."

"Let me free. Please."

Now that was surprising.

"Will you go back to your time if I do so?" Mephisto asked back and he felt the glare that was pointed at him.

And then more silence.

"I guessed so, au revoir for now then, niece-of-mine!"

Turning his back at the girl, Mephisto waved as he walked out from his pocket dimension. There was a huge smile on his face as he once again sat behind principals desk, waiting. It seemed his games were becoming more and more enjoyable with appearance of his niece and Shura actually taking his bait.

Armchair crunched under pressure as he leaned into it. Even he himself had no idea what will happen, how anything will work out in the end. So far however he had too good time to think about trivial things. Besides, his brother was back. Lucifer. After almost seventeen years he bothered to find him, only to deliver their father's message.

Mephisto was running out of time.