Title: Hellspawn
Chapter: 29/29
Characters: Team exo, Rin, Yukio, Mephisto (mentions of others),
Genre: angst, general, 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, unrequired love (?), sloooow buuurn.
Summary: ( Right now, there on that corridor was probably the only chance for them to say something, anything. Be it a mere trifle, a memory—anything they could go by just in case; Rin hated how constricted everyone seemed at a loss of words, not knowing what to say. )
A/N: Heyyo I'm back. (upupupu... *cough* anyone interested in some Komaeda/Naegi in the future, maybe? xD) Oh darn I love to torture them, it's going to be weird not writing ANE after this is done. Hm... what kind of the end for them you as readers do see personally(?), just curious question. ByEe! (ps. FF fukced up my formatting and it looks bad, hopefully on AO3 it will look alright.)
With the last of the preparations done and spoken of, it was all they've really had to do before jumping into the fray. Rin, Yukio, their exo-classmates, they all stood on the seemingly empty corridor in front of their principal's office now. There were harsh breaths and trembling hands, a last glances towards each other and quivering smiles.
Each of them bore in mind that the world's safety was on their shoulders and given the circumstances they took it upon themselves without battling an eyelash; even though there was a possibility they might've not come back. Of course throats were tightening with overflowing mostly conflicting emotions at time and heck, Rin could easily see the trembles that shook Konekomaru's body.
There was no time for stalling however and that was a harsh truth, weird ominous song from city's sirens only reminded them of it.
Right now, there on that corridor was probably the only chance for them to say something, anything. Be it a mere trifle, a memory—anything they could go by just in case; Rin hated how constricted everyone seemed at a loss of words, not knowing what to say.
But—Rin couldn't blame them, he was shaking himself if his shivering hand was anything to go by. He barely could will himself to keep calm, for everyone's sake. If he was to show how truly scared he was everyone's spirits would probably just collapse in a heap even before they'd start their fight.
Fight they needed to fight alone, every each one of them.
Brushing invisible dust from his shoulder Mephisto rolled his eyes before he'd pout irked. They all have been stalling, glancing at each other for the past five minutes or so and he was clearly getting sick of it. Afterall there was a battle to win.
Without further ado he jabbed his umbrella into the ground and it cracked with a quiet crush.
"Oh do please forgive me, I understand that you're all afraid of what is awaiting you but fear not. True Cross Order is gathering small teams that will provide you with additional manpower once they'll secure safety of most of the city's inhabitants. It might take some time but you won't be alone."
Rin tsked under nose not happy with that at all but under these circumstances it was the best they could take. "Why can't we go and help the others? I don't like it" he mentioned speaking both for himself and Yukio. "When all of you will be fighting demons I will be sitting in this bloody office waiting for a signal. It's not okay—"
Izumo stood up straighter then, giving him a kind of stink eye. "It's the least we can do for you. You will have to be in perfect shape to fight him. We all do realize it, why can't you just accept it?"
"What she said, Rin" added from his place Shima smiling lightly, his eyes creased little at corners. It was clear as a day that he was distressed as never before but still... he was smiling. "Now, it's not any kind of 'goodbye', we're all going to get to you once we're done."
"That's right!" piped in Shiemi with a wild flame behind her eyes. Yukio couldn't help himself upon that and smiled blankly towards her, looking at her with slight amusement. "We know where the gate is open, don't we? So once we close the doorways we're gonna catch up to you guys!" she finished nodding vigorously as if to prove her point.
Konekomaru laughed from somewhere next to Bon who only sighed. "Actually I am kind of impressed Shiemi-san" stated Bon casually turning around chuckling. "Aren't you like a little ray of sunshine even when the sky grows dark?"
Rin had no idea what Bon meant by saying that but the comparison was unmistakable and he couldn't help but to relax a little bit more, believing in them and smiled.
"Oh, well... Someone has to keep the spirits up" Shiemi retaliated little less cheerfully the confidence behind her words stayed though, making her almost shine like a beacon of hope. "And it's like Shima said, it's not a 'goodbye', it's a 'see you later'!"
As the words were spilling from Shiemi's lips she probably didn't even notice how her shoulders started to shake, how her eyes teared up and that half-red iris was shining from behind her bangs.
"Because we will all come back and we will fight by your side no matter what. No matter for how long. We're exorcists after all now, aren't we?" the voice was shaking and cracking at notes but no one spoke a word, they've all been rooted on the spot listening, understanding where did it come from. With deep breath Shiemi reached into her jacket and pulled out a plastic pin, their True Cross Order emblem. "It's what we do, we save people and don't ask questions. This is what it means, even if... even if..." tears slowly slid down her reddish cheeks as she choked on them.
Then there was an exhale as a heavy hand fell on Shiemi's shoulder. She whipped around instantly and choked again when a much larger body than hers enveloped her. It was all she could take as the dame broke, tears started to flow freely then soaking well known exorcist's coat.
"I am so scared... Yuki—" whispering this Shiemi tried to hide herself in the big, bear hug his twin provided.
"I know, we all are, Shiemi" answered her honestly Yukio, his hand brushing blonde hair in slow motions.
"It's all going to be alright" piped in Rin, stepping up and squeezing Shiemi's shoulder in reassurance. He couldn't just stand around and do nothing when she was breaking down before their eyes. Turning around she gave him a very lopsided smile.
"Oh, Rin—I—"
Before anything else was said though a sudden burst of movement occurred as everyone jumped onto unsuspecting trio. Shima, Bon, Izumo, Koneko – all of them attacked at around same time, group hugging them. It was so sudden there were only yelps heard and few chokes before a faint laughter filled the corridor.
Stepping away slightly blushing Rin chuckled at Shiemi's stricken face. It was a mixture of undulated happiness, sadness and confidence all at once. Clearing his throat Yukio also stepped back, giving space to their blonde friend as she collected her wits about the situation.
"Hey, Shiemi-san, give your familiar a good yank on the leash will you?" stated Izumo with gravity in those words. "I'd hate to lose you to that creep."
Blinking Shiemi finally fell outta her stupor and nodded. "I will."
Frowning and dramatically wiping illusionary tear from his face Mephisto clapped, slowly. "Bellissimo. It was amazing, truly. But now we really do need to go, we're on a schedule here. Shiemi-san would you mind calling that dear brother of mine? I wish to have a word with him before we go."
"Alright" deadpanned Shiemi taking a small piece of paper from her jacket's pocket. Carefully she raised her right hand and bit on the pinky enough to draw a blood. Staring at an empty piece of paper something crossed her mind before the confidence once again flared up behind her eyes. Breathing in with one smooth move her blood smeared the paper. "Amaimon, heed to my command, I evoke you!"
Shiemi's words filled the corridor. Slight breeze swayed their appearances before it settled at nothing. Rin, Izumo and Koneko sweatdropped at that. There was no Amaimon in sight even though their friend clearly asked for his assistance. Trembling, Shiemi flustered little at that and repeated her words but a little bit more hotly than before; and like before there was the same response – a little breeze and then nothing.
Yukio turned around to their principal then with a clear intention of asking for his help and he would if Shiemi didn't stop him.
"Don't" she spoke gritting her teeth. Then she turned around towards Mephisto, her glance almost piercing him through. "I will call him and he will hear to my command."
Mephisto clucked his tongue but there was a curious expression upon his cheek. "Be my guest Moriyama-san but please do hurry."
Nodding she was visibly glad that Mephisto would not interfere and so she stood her ground clutching bloodied piece of paper in her left hand.
"Maybe we should—ouch!" started Rin but jab to his ribs cut him off, he glared side-ways at Izumo. "What was that for?!"
The ice-cold glance he got back spoke volumes and so he closed his mouth, once again watching their frustrated blonde friend. He hazarded a quick glimpse at his twin too when he could, it amazed and worried him at the same time how cool he could be in such situation but then again Yukio was probably many times in such position in the past; to the point he learned to hide everything from the world. Rin though wasn't like that, he didn't want to be like that. Not now, not ever.
Shiemi's shoulders shivered as she once again bit on her sore wound and drew more blood.
"Shiemi—!" Rin murmured concerned but once again a jab told him to stop. A shake of head was everything he needed to see to understand.
"How much blood do I need to spill for you to care?" murmured Shiemi gasping at the cold breeze slinking through her wound. The paper was almost dripping red now. "What do I have to say for you to listen? Do I have to die for you to do something? Do I have to tell you I will cut the sweets if you don't show—"
Wind picked up on strength then and paper flew outta Shiemi's grasp with it, disappearing. With a shaking breath she couldn't believe it, Amaimon came right then appearing nonchalantly before her with one hand on his hip other one rolling lolly in his mouth.
"What's this about now? I was just getting some fresh, juicy energy from Mephiland when you started to bombard me with incantations. Hah? What? Is the world ending?"
Puffing and huffing Shiemi was trembling in place, not only was she frustrated but incredibly angry at him. Amaimon didn't make anything of it but he popped the lolly outta his mouth, licking his lips before he took in the place and people he found himself with. Blinking slowly at his brother he cracked the lolly in one munch and threw the stick behind him.
"Ah, so what's it all about then?" he directed his question straight at Mephisto.
"Answering to your earlier question, yes the world is ending" Mephisto answered nonchalantly then cocked his head to the side, pointing at the blackening sky. "As you can see there is an open gate we need to close—"
"What's in it for me though?"
"Freedom of choice" the answer was simple but there was an eternity of thought behind it. "All you need to do is listen to your tamer."
Amaimon clucked his tongue in a too familiar fashion before he turned around. "And if I don't want to."
A strange light shone from a corner of Mephisto's eyes then. "Then your tamer will make you. You do understand that you're on my mercy as long as you have connection to Gehenna. If you chose to help and fight you won't be bound to him anymore nor will you be bound to me. You will be free o' King of Earth. So what do you say?"
Gulping Shiemi, Rin and others awaited an answer. Wind picked up little but quickly changed into peaceful breeze. Finally after a minute or so Amaimon leisurely turned around towards Shiemi quirking an eyebrow upwards.
"Did you mean it when you said you're gonna cut the sweets if I won't help you?" he asked simply his hellfire aura acting up.
Shiemi nodded breathing through her nose. Even though the place was chilling to the bone given how cold weather was outside, she was burning hot underneath her jacket.
"Yes, I did, Amai-chan. You're eating way too much sweets anyway" she answered honestly, dropping her guard a little if only for Amaimon to use it up against her, porting away in a blink of an eye to literally loom over her in the next his eyes cutting her thorough like lasers. It almost hurt physically.
"I said it before human, you won't have a power over me" he hissed, his clawed hand reaching towards her.
Voices picked up as other exorcists jumped into action over that.
"I order you to stop Amaimon" murmured silently Shiemi under her breath then and the hand stopped as if frozen. Bangs that were shadowing her eyes rocked with the wind. "I didn't want it to be like this but—if I will have to—I will order you around like a mere tool" she spoke softly as her head raised to look at her familiar. "Amaimon, I order you to listen to my every command and never question them. Are we clear?"
Demon king's body was shaking in place as his eyes widened. He was completely stuck, unavailable to move and all he could do was to growl back at Shiemi as she stood her ground, staring back at him.
"Are we clear Amaimon?"
Spitting over himself Amaimon snarled. "Yes, crystal clear."
Nodding then Shiemi breathed out but her gaze was sad. "You can move now."
And as if the spell was broken the king lashed out grabbing the blonde by her throat, dangling her in the air. There was a bloodlust in his eyes, anger like one never seen before. But by few chokes he froze again and his hands moved on their own, letting go.
Shiemi hit the ground and coughed little before she could take a breath again. Rin was by her side in two fast strides glaring at Mephisto.
"You've gotta be kidding me if you want to let that thing go with Shiemi alone!"
Mephisto tsked before he disappeared to hover a second later before Amaimon. Without batting an eyelash his umbrella pierced through the other demon, black mist and blood spewing out into the air swirling. There were gasps and few what's in the open space. Shiemi though even though her so called familiar just tried to choke her to death half-crawled to Mephisto, tugging at his trousers.
"Don't hurt him!" she spewed out, tugging again. "Please, Pheles-san!"
Mephisto didn't seem to listen though as he leaned to whisper into Amaimon's ear and that moment felt like eternity. Whatever he was speaking about they couldn't tell but afterwards Mephisto kicked Amaimon off his umbrella. Green haired demon fell back groaning, clutching at gaping hole in his middle, still after few seconds the wound started to slowly close itself—not as fast as it could though. Shiemi at that ripped herself from Rin's embrace and caressed Amaimon's body as she recalled her other familiar.
Small greenman jumped out from Shiemi's shoulders and started instantly to fawn over his fallen king, touching the wound and constricting the flow of the hellfire.
"I—I'm sorry" said Shiemi lowering her head. "I didn't want it to be like this, Amai-chan. But we—I need your help."
Amaimon tsked turning his face away and slowly stood up, leaving Shiemi on the ground. "It's the last thing I will do but I will do it. I have all of you as the witnesses, once it's over I will be a free King, no more bounds. And you—" here he looked down his nose at sitting blonde. "You will have no more power over me then. No more—"
Words were sharp like the window shards lying around them on the floor but yet the King of Earth reached out his grey, black clawed hand towards sitting girl. Shiemi looked up in wonder and glanced at the opened palm for few seconds before she reached out and let herself be pulled up from the ground.
"Now that everything is done, we can start. Everyone's ready for the fight of your lives? Yes, no? Doesn't matter, it's time." Mephisto mentioned, rolling his umbrella around. Pink cloud puffed out and in his hand were three keys he magicked himself, each of a different colour. Slowly his palm pushed forward with said keys for them to take. "These keys are magicked to take you to the closest doors from where you will have to get to the doorway. Once you'll be there key's magic is gonna take you to boy's dormitories when you'll use them again but be aware it's only a one time transporter."
Stepping ahead Bon, Izumo and Shiemi took a closer look over the simple seemingly normal keys if not for their different hues. Each one of them reached out and got a hold of one of them. Izumo picked upon purple key as Shiemi got herself greenish one leaving Bon to take last one, golden key.
"So this is it" mentioned Shima as Izumo took her leave by his side, he inhaled. "Well, good luck, we're gonna see you on the other side of the doors then."
Shiemi smiled nodding her blonde hair before she stepped up next to Amaimon. "Let's go."
Bon slowly tipped his head at Konekomaru whom understood the motion instantly also moving ahead. Watching that, when all his friends took different routes towards different closed doors preparing for unknown fate that awaited them made Rin's gut clench in jiffy, suddenly he felt light-headed and realised his heart was beating so fast, too fast.
"Guys—hah?" he started but jumped startled when touch of Yukio's hand became apparent on his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay" replied his brother squeezing once before letting go. "It's our mission, save the world, just the usual."
Chuckling at that Rin glanced back at him, his tail whipping behind with a ghost of a smug smile on his cheek. "I had no idea that you start to joke when you're scared. It's—good to know."
Yukio's jaw grit little to that before a flash of smile went off. "I have no idea what you're talking about, nii-san" he answered back coolly pushing his glasses upwards.
This time Rin smiled widely. "Of course you don't" stating that he once again looked back at their team. "Guys—" shouting a little bit louder he pumped a fist up to the sky "—give them the hell they deserve and come back to kick some Satan's ass with us, alright?!"
A laughter, a nod and a roll of the eyes answered back to Rin but overall their spirits were alight with confidence, alight with hope. It was a good thing, given they had no idea what to expect. Breathing slowly the first key was inserted into the lock and then another, and another. With the last glances between each other Bon, Izumo and Shiemi finally turned them and loud clicks filled the corridor.
The last Rin seen of his friends were when they stepped into sunset, doors quietly closing behind them. When the last of them shut with strange sense of dread and finality the passage grew colder, practically drown in monochrome for him then. It felt almost as if the pillars of strength he's always had and unknowingly relied on for all this time irrevocably disappeared leaving him vulnerable in the void.
Gulping he glanced back at his twin and Mephisto.
"What about us?" he asked simply.
Mephisto hummed under breath thinking, scrutinizing them up before he pulled up one more key, this one silvery white and pushed it towards them. Yukio took it without question but did a double take on the situation.
"It doesn't send us back to the dormitories, does it?" Yukio mentioned carefully, eyeing their patron.
"Well, I can't get you boys hurt now do I? It will take you to the safe place and before you ask, do not worry, when the time comes the doors will appear. Now go, shuush! I have a place to be, a doorway to close. Go on."
Blinking twice Rin wondered as to where they've could possibly be lead to but fortunately Yukio beat him to it, stepping ahead towards principle's office with outstretched key in hand. It fit and the lock clicked. His twin turned towards him, nagging on to come and Rin did.
After a few more seconds Yukio opened the door and a flash of light blinded them as they stepped ahead. Rin barely registered where did he walked into before the doors yanked close on their own and disappeared into thin air leavening them both stranded in—turning around he managed, with decreasing burning pain behind his eyes, to notice—he knew the place.
Shining sun, green hill with a lone cherry tree and seemingly fresh air—which wasn't even real—welcomed them.
"Is it—?" he started but his brother beat him to it.
"It would seem so" Yukio said turning his face towards illusionary sunset. "That would explain why Pheles-san said the doors would appear when the time came" as if to prove it, he turned around looking for an exit they came through to no luck. It was non-existent.
"So what we gonna do now? Sit and wait for the world to end?" growled Rin under breath, he wanted to punch something. He was frustrated and scared. Taking a deep breath he exhaled. "Can't we at last change the scenery? I remember we could change it."
"I don't think so, nii-san" answered him back Yukio his legs pushing onward. Rin blinked after him, catching up and falling into step with him. "Wasn't it magicked to change only before you get inside?"
Breeze grazed their bodies, stroked their hair as they walked.
"Well, we could at least try to" he shot back at his twin. "I want to know if they're okay—" If they're alive...
Before long they found themselves on the hill where wind made rosy petals dance in the air. Yukio sat down but picked his weapon to inspect it almost instantly which left Rin standing, staring, thinking, wondering.
"I understand it's difficult but everything is going to be okay" said Yukio not once tearing his eyes from the pistol. "They'll be fine. We'll be fine."
Those reassuring words fell flat on Rin's ears though, they didn't feel true. His muscles constricted mechanically but he didn't act, didn't speak. He could though try to at least have some—if any—kind of window to the outside world. While months ago the thought never crossed his mind, now all he could think about was to see, to be sure that everything's alright.
With half-angry huff he dropped next to Yukio cautious enough of his Kurikara and grimaced little at the uselessness of himself. Taking the deep breaths he tuned everything down, tried to think about their world, his friends. Weird silence hung around boys as neither spoke. Their bond flew around, wide and beautiful red ribbon of fate. Rin let himself go, let his emotions flow hoping that maybe Yukio'd do the same but he never did, not even now.
"What if we fail?"
It was a loaded question, he knew but he needed to know.
"Then everything will change" Yukio answered simply, quietly. His pistol was stocked back on it's place. "He will win if we fail. There won't be much we could do to stop him from merging Gehenna and Assiah together."
"Would it—would it really be that bad though?" he asked, welcoming the breeze on his face. "I mean—we keep on fighting him but can't we just let it be? Maybe we're wrong maybe we shouldn't stop it, let it happen."
"He killed our mother, he killed our father—nii-san—and you're wondering if he is right?"
Sharp tone sliced through Rin like a dagger. "You misunderstood Yukio, I meant after we destroy him. Would it be that bad to merge both worlds? Maybe that's what we need, understanding."
Yukio sneered at that shaking his head. "That's the difference between you and him. He wants to consume Assiah, he doesn't want understanding, he wants power and destruction."
"But once he's gone—maybe we should just let the things go."
Turning slightly towards him, Yukio asked with blank expression upon his face. "Do you really think people are ready to face that? Every day, until they die?"
At that he sweatdropped. "Eheh, when you say it like that it does sounds kind of bad, doesn't it? That's one of the things I hate about people, they love, they hate, they never try to understand."
"Neither do you, nii-san. It's—good to hear actually."
Breathing out Rin let his head slump a bit more. It was truth after all. Even he had things he loved, even he had things he hated, even he had things he couldn't—wouldn't—understand. Oh, how human he still was and all that rounded back at him and this question.
What if they failed?
He and Yukio were the black horses meant to save the world but what if they didn't? If they were to die up there on the other side then there would be no-one guarding Assiah. Satan would have a free pass to do whatever he wanted to with it, probably destroy and kill—
—a flash of abandoned and collapsing buildings filled his vision—
Rin shook the picture outta his mind. It was not going to happen, not on his watch. Glancing from the corner of his eye at his twin, poised and calm he knew what he had to do before everything else were to fail. Assiah needed at least one of them down there to keep the guard up, to keep others hoping and believing.
It wasn't a surprise that Rin felt like he was the last person to do so, unlike his twin.
Unbeknownst to him at this point his story was being written to an end, like many times before. Repeating itself, looping; even if he himself wasn't aware of it. He was a victim of the time as was Yukio's pocket watch that would always witness it unfolding, keeping on ticking away precious seconds to the end and the beginning of everything.
H
E
L
L
S
P
A
W
N
—the doors materialized silently; so twins could finally face their destinies for what they were—*
"There are no mistakes, save one: the failure to learn from a mistake."
—Robert Fripp
The end.
Hellspawn: Celebr[A]te Hell.
*no.10
ps. it's not finished yet... I hope.