Those who Favor Fire
Disclaimer: Characters and premise are the property of Kazue Kato. I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.
Chapter Fifteen: Reasons Why
Izumo held back for long minutes while the Flame Kingdom made their obeisance to their new king but the moment the mood seemed to break she ran up and threw her arms around Rin. "Don't worry me like that!" she exclaimed.
Rin leaned down to rest his cheek against Izumo's as he ran his hand through her hair pressing her into him, his fingers caressing the base of one of Izumo's fox ears. "When they told me they were fighting my friends, I knew you found a way to come after me," he said, his voice thick with relief at seeing Izumo unharmed.
At the sight of the two of them embracing a small smile softened Yuri's face. But then she looked around at Rin's allies, a number of whom were now gathered around the Myo'o Dhari heir and the Paladin, at both armies of the Flame Kingdom kneeling to Rin, at Mephisto's self-satisfied smirk. "Rin," Yuri called. "Even if I tried, I couldn't stop them from returning your two companions to Assiah but you don't have to go with them." She nodded toward Izumo, "She would be welcome to stay as well."
"Why would Izumo or I would want to abandon Assiah?" Rin asked. A small nod from Izumo assured him that he had her support. "As for Bon and Angel, I told you: They're my friends. Of course I'm going home with them."
"The Paladin admits that he means to kill you, like he killed me!" Yuri exclaimed, her voice rising in panic. "Don't go with him, please! I'm begging you."
"Um Mom," Rin began with an uncertain sigh. "I- I get you're worried but you don't know Angel."
"I was in his mind," Yuri insisted. "He means to kill you."
Rin's expression hardened, "You invaded my mind too and I don't count that as you knowing anything about me."
A wild look filled Yuri's eyes. Her form shifted back to a ball of blue flames as she dove at Angel.
"Mother-chan stop," Mephisto said calmly. Yuri looked around and saw the rest of the world as a blur speeding past them. "You are only disappointing your son with this behavior. Admit you played your hand badly and move on."
"The paladin-"
"You are confused," Mephisto asserted. "Do you even know if it's Arthur Angel or his predecessor whom you fear?"
Yuri struggled to move faster, to break free of Mephisto's manipulation of her personal time.
"Yuri Egin," Mephisto said forcefully, "You were burned alive. With Satan's aid you escaped but your wounds were too grievous. You loved Satan and knew he couldn't bare to be parted from you so you made a pact with him, placed your soul in his keeping so that death wouldn't separate you. But what you have is only a pale imitation of life which is ruled by the circumstances of your death: You were hurting terribly, afraid for your unborn children and undoubtedly feeling that every hand was turned against you."
"That moment was not the whole of your life. Remember that. After all I'm asking no more of you than your lover does. Remember, remember every last thing you can of who you were. Father begs you to remember your every incarnation, I'm only asking you to remember your last life and remember if this is who you really are or simple who you were as you died, afraid and suffering."
While Rin and Iblis fought Angel had recovered consciousness but not his feet. His skin was translucently pale and his breathing ragged, he was clearly in no condition to defend himself. Rin, Izumo and Bon all moved to intercept the ball of blue flames before it could reach him. To their surprise the ball of blue flames froze several feet short of the injured paladin. Cautiously Rin approached the ball, up close he could see that even the flickering of the flames had been stilled.
"Well! I recommend that everyone makes themselves scarce," Mephisto announced brightly. "It won't be long before Satan notices his beloved's predicament and comes to her rescue. Knowing him, whoever is present will get the blame."
The results of Mephisto's declaration were dramatic. In mere seconds both armies had dispersed. Rin's allies vanished back to Assiah or to the domains of Earth or Sea as each preferred. The Flame Demons who had supported Iblis were just as quick to scatter to the distant corners of their domain while those aligned with Myo'o Dhari hesitated only long enough to look to Rin. "Yeah go," Rin told them. "Let Ucchusma or I know if you guys have any more trouble with the rest of the Kingdom okay?"
"We should be away from here as well," Mephisto said.
"Is she okay? What happened to her?" Rin asked with a worried glance at Yuri's frozen form.
"I adjusted her relationship with time," Mephisto replied. "It won't hurt her a bit and would wear off on its own in a day, not that I expect Father to allow my spell to stand that long. He'll be quite irritated with me but he's already more than aware that I have been the one keeping you from him since your arrival at the Academy." The Hell King snapped his fingers and a letter appeared which he tucked between two flames near the top of the ball that was Yuri.
"What's that?" Bon demanded suspiciously.
"Oh nothing much," Mephisto replied dismissively. "A note to Father: Lucifer's kingdom is in turmoil, I haven't seen Aniki in sometime and am concerned for him. Iblis' hatred of humans had gotten completely out of control: He knocked Mother-chan to the ground right in front of Rin before they fought. Speaking of that, isn't the little brother he and Mother-chan gave me remarkable? That Rin was able to defeat Iblis at a mere 18 years of age where Iblis was old enough to have seen the destruction of two Assiahs is an amazing feat and truly shows how much more suitable Rin is to rule the Flame Kingdom. Mother-chan really shouldn't worry so much about him, Rin is quite capable of handling himself in Assiah. Keeping him home in Gehenna would be ridiculously over-protective in light of his accomplishments. Also Amaimon and Egyn have fallen in love with the same girl and I'm finding great amusement in watching the two of them fight for her favor. She might be a suitable soulmate for Amaimon, but I can't say for certain yet. Just a bit of family gossip. I've found that, from time to time, pre-emptively reaching out to one's parents deters them from making potentially inconvenient efforts to check in on you. Now we really should be going, Father is extremely over-protective of Mother-chan and will be here soon."
Bon shook his head disparagingly but didn't say anything else. Mephisto used the tip of his patched umbrella to sketch out a pentagram in the air then a portal spiraled open at the heart of the pentagram. Rin offered Angel a hand up but the Paladin ignored him and staggered to his feet on his own. Rin rolled his eyes and followed Angel into the portal holding hands with Izumo. Mike and Uke trotted through after them. Mephisto waved Bon through then allowed it to close behind them.
They found themselves back in the cavern at the root of the World Tree. The floor had somehow repaired itself after they'd been swept into Gehenna. Members of the Angelic Brigade jogged back and forth with bemused expressions carrying books, movies, cigarettes and assorted foods to the Kallikantzaros who were lounging about. One of the larger insect demons was smoking a hookah while waving a sheet of paper at a grim and exhausted looking Lightning. "See, it's all there in the contract!" The Kallikantzaros pointed a segmented leg at the World Tree, "We keep that weed under control and we get twelve days vacation in Assiah every year. It's all right there in papyrus and blood!"
"It says you get from December twenty-fifth to January 6th off," Lightning stated after making an obligatory study of the contract being shoved in his face.
"Yeah well those bat-winged flame-brains wouldn't let us go," the Kallikantzaros complained. "No work left to do but could they see that? No, they just keep cracking the whip. Don't know a thing about gardening. We've been keeping the grand old weed in proper shape for thirty thousand years but in they come claiming they know better than us when we're done for the year. Since when have we ever missed the deadline? We always got our work done by the solstice, take couple days to clean up the mess, then it's vacation time! I was planning on hitting Maui this year."
"Sorry about your plans," Lightning said flatly. "But it's January 10th, your contract says you get the Twelve Days of Christmas off..." He trailed off as Angel stumbled out of the portal. A brilliant smile lit up his face. "As I was saying we're terribly sorry about those nasty Ifrits messing up your plans but it's no fault of ours that they did. We got rid of them as soon as we could. But anyways, is there anything I can get you? Since you missed your chance to stock up this year."
"Spam," the Kallikantzaros declared firmly. "Can't get enough of that stuff, comes in a can ya see."
"I'll get right on that," Lightning declared as he started toward Angel. "Just as soon as I check on our Ifrit exterminators, 'kay?"
"But that doesn't make up for missing Maui!" the Kalikantzaros shouted after Lightning. The Adept waved him off negligently.
"I know just how you feel," Mephisto declared. "Gehenna is so terribly boring. And Iblis interfered with your promised vacation, after you'd done such a good job pruning the tree back. I want you to know we take your complaints very seriously. Rin-kun over there took them up with Iblis himself and next year I promise there will be no problems." Mephisto leaned close to the Kallikantzaros and threw an arm around it's shoulders. "The former King of Flames is dead at Rin-kun's hands. Naturally, he has assumed the throne… So next year there shouldn't be any problems enjoying your vacation… Although you might want to tone it down a bit. Rin-kun grew up in Assiah and no one likes tourists who leave their manners at home, if you know what I mean."
"You reckless idiot, what part of 'scout' don't you get?" Lightning said fondly as he pushed Angel to sit down.
"It would have been a good idea if Iblis had actually been trying to destroy the world," Angel objected. "Besides it was Okumura's plan anyway."
"Blaming your student," Lightning tsked. He produced an IV bag of blood from beneath his serape and hung it off a convenient protrusion from the World Tree. With a well practiced movement he ripped Angel's sleeve off and quickly found a vein. Then he set about checking over Angel's assorted injuries and redoing all of his bandages.
Rin wandered over. He winched at the mix of scars and fresh wounds that marred Angel's bare arm. "Is he going to be alright?"
Lightning smiled reassuringly. "Yeah, I always carry his vintage. He'll be all tanked up by morning. Then give him a couple of weeks to finish sealing all the leaks and he'll be right as rain."
"Please, just finish with the bandages," Angel said avoiding Lightning's eyes. "Okumura and I have business."
"The hell you do," Bon immediately answered him. Meanwhile every trace of animation had left Lightning's face. He continued tending Angel's injuries but his movements were abrupt and harsh.
"That woman wasn't lying?" Izumo asked Rin.
Rin gave her hand a squeeze. "It's okay."
"No it's not," Bon snapped.
When Lightning finished tying off bandages he clamped the IV line and yanked it out of Angel's arm then he turned pointedly away from the others.
Rin turned to Mephisto. "Don't let anyone follow us, please?" he asked.
"As you wish," Mephisto replied.
As Rin and Angel walked away Bon turned to Mephisto. "You don't understand! Rin's mother told us-"
"The Grigori has been squandering if not outright abusing Sir Angel's talents, and limitations, for years," Mephisto interrupted. "You know that very well don't you Lewin Light, given all you've done to keep them from destroying him. Rin is well positioned to break him free of their grasp and ready to try, I think it is worth the effort."
"Did you bother to consider the cost if Rin fails?" Lightning accused. "Because I've been trying and failing for better than a decade."
Angel and Rin walked in silence until they found a small clearing well away from the others. "Your mother was right," Angel said stepping away from Rin and drawing his sword. "Today is the day. The Grigori has ordered your execution."
"I know." Very slowly Rin raised his hand to the buckle on his weapons harness.
"Don't," Angel protested.
Rin unbuckled the harness and let his swords fall. He started walking toward Angel.
"I told you, once the order was given, one of us has to die," Angel took a step back.
"I've never beaten you in a spar," Rin pointed out. "You told me it would help you sleep better afterwards if I tried to fight you but we both know who will win."
"I've never fought you with your heart unsealed," Angel argued. "I'm anemic, if I try to cut my hair any shorter I'm liable to scalp myself. Pick up your swords."
"If we fight, you'll fight to win. Your honor demands it," Rin said. "The only thing you have left to sacrifice is your life, even if I could beat Caliburn at that level… I don't want to. If I fight you today we'll both die."
"So you do have something of a demon in you after all," Angel replied with a shade of his typical arrogance, he took another step back. "You're trying to manipulate me. It won't work, I swear to you. Pick up your swords."
"I'm not trying to fool you, you're trying to fool yourself!" Rin exclaimed. "Do you really believe I'm a threat to Assiah?"
"I have my orders!"
"Screw them. Do you believe Assiah will be better off if we both die here?"
Angel let Caliburn's point sag until the blade rested in the dirt. He stood head bowed, shoulders hunched. With his hair raggedly cropped back above the level of his jaw and his gleaming white clothes dingy, blood-splattered and torn, Angel looked oddly vulnerable. His thoughts turned back to the night he'd been given his orders.
"Sir Angel, hold a moment," Baltazar called as the Paladin rose to leave after receiving the Underworld keys from Mephisto.
"Time is of the essence, is it not?" Angel asked with a frown.
"I won't delay you long," Baltazar said. He gestured for Mephisto to go then waited for the door to swing shut. "The son of Satan is not to return from this mission."
"But- I convinced you to forgo your initial conditions. And even if you hadn't Okumura-kun passed the Exam this year."
Baltazar waved off his objection. "Beyond evaluating the Hell-spawn's reactions the Exam was meaningless. He could have fail it hundred times for all I care, just so long as his usefulness continued to exceed the threat he represents. But the moment that ceased to be true his execution was guaranteed. It wouldn't have mattered if he were a brilliant as his twin or as dumb as a rock."
"You gave your word," Angel protested helplessly.
"Demons aren't the only ones capable of being clever with the oaths they give," Baltazr replied carelessly. "We trusted that Mephisto Pheles would be able to arrange outs for us so long as we didn't wish to carry through with our threat. And we never promised NOT to execute him for offenses unrelated to the Exam."
"What offense?" Angel demanded. "Okumura is an excellent subordinate and student. His oath to Suguro is beyond reproach. For God's sake, he freely gave an oath we wouldn't dare ASK of any other demon!"
"Quite," Baltazar said. "If we asked Pheles for a fraction of what that boy swore to the Myodha, he'd laugh himself sick… After eviscerating whomever had presumed to ask."
"Then why?"
"Politics," Baltazar replied. "The Myodha's Ucchusma is the only source of Blessed Ashes left. With the Satan's flames at their command as well they have every ability to break with the True Cross and then hold us hostage for our supply of Blessed Ashes. Ten years ago the Myohda finally agreed to come under our umbrella when they could no longer deny that the Blue Night had left them too weak to stand alone. That cannot be allowed to change! That stubborn old man wouldn't acknowledge anyone as his better and the grandson looks to be cut from the same cloth. If they gain enough strength for Suguro to convince his advisors to leave we can't expect another Blue Night to force them back into the fold."
"This order, it has nothing at all to do with Rin." Angel shook his head in denial. "His character doesn't matter to you in the slightest."
"All I care about is is ensuring the True Cross' continued ability to protect Assiah from demonic invasion," Baltazar replied. "Okumura's human blood and human upbringing may, as you have observed, bind him personally to Assiah but his mere existence has the potential to cost the True Cross hard won gains in creating a united front against Gehenna."
"Naturally your orders regarding Okumura are to remain secret, speak of them to no one," Baltazar continued. "To avoid damaging our relations with the Myohda it would be preferable if the Myodha's future High Priest returned unharmed and with no clue that Okumura was anything other than a casualty of the war against Gehenna."
"I may be incapable of carrying out your wishes," Angel said stiffly. "I am not talented at disassembling."
"If Suguro dies or suspects that Okumura's death was intentional I will disavow all knowledge of your orders," Baltazar said coldly. "For the sake of the Order of True Cross, you'll be punished to pacify the Myodhan. Do your best but it probably won't be anything beyond demotion if you fail. Tamers have a bad habit of making pets of their familiars but, at the end of the day, if one dies it's just a dead demon."
Angel gave Rin a despairing look, "If I can't trust my superior's orders, what can I trust?"
"Trust yourself," Rin stated. He stopped just within a sword's length, Caliburn's length, from Angel. "You gave me a long time to think about today. If we fight you'll die and I'll probably die. That's not what I want. For me, winning is both of us walk away alive. I'm not trying to manipulate you. Not fighting is the only chance I've got to make that happen."
"Angel?" Caliburn ask uncertainly when the Paladin made no move.
"Your orders were to kill me if I was a threat," Rin reminded Angel. "I'm not going to betray Assiah or humanity. Satan may be my father but he killed my dad. And honestly? I don't know what to make of my mom. Ever since learning who my Father was I'd hoped she was some sort of innocent dupe but, well, I guess not. I don't know why the Grigori suddenly decided I'm a threat but don't ask me to do their job and convince you that they're right. If you think I'm a threat, go ahead and kill me."
Angel's elbow pressed in against the fresh burn scar on his side, a physical reminder of all the ways Rin had kept him alive for the past few days, one that he would wear for the rest of his life. He sighed and put away his sword. "It would have been simpler if you hadn't stopped me from sacrificing my life to defeat Iblis."
Rin's knees collapsed. "Yeah, I know."
After few moments Angel offered his hand and pulled Rin back to his feet only to lose his balance and end up leaning heavily on Rin as the younger knight steered them back toward the others.