You guys seriously don't know how happy you all make me when I hear you want this story to go on :') I never would have thought people would like it so much. Thank you so much for your support! Really, I am too excited for words that I will updating thins fic regularly for now on! :D
Alright, to give you all the low down, we are skipping episode eleven and we're moving straight to episode twelve and thirteen! This is where it'll be Rin vs. Anima and a special guest will be appearing! (I bet you're all gonna like it, trust me! :D)
Alrighty! I had enough talking to do! Now let's get this chapter rolling!
Disclaimer: Never owned Blue Exorcist. Never have, never will.
Chapter Seven: Old Flames and New Flames
Arrival of the Earth Queen and the Meister
Metphisto knew how to keep his cool. As a well-known man of True-Cross with his servitude to his father and his discipline as Johann Faust V. But now, sitting in his office with all of these items scattered on his desk, he looked very annoyed.
Menko cards, Japanese fans, wooden elephant puzzles, takos with colorful tails, Daruma dolls with only one of their eyes painted in, and other sorts of souvenirs placed on the wooden desk. Of course, at the head of the table was a mountain of sweets, everything from sweet and multi-colored mocchi to saucy-speckled dango. A Tengu mask was the last item to be placed down and his younger, half-sister dropped to her knees to examine it, taking interest in its long red nose.
"I see why you like this place so much, Aniue," She said, tapping the tip of that nose before standing up, placing the mask over her face. "Unlike home, everyone here seems lively yet controlled and well-attuned with one another. Not to mention these odd customs and traditions they have. I'm intrigued." She said, turning her covered face to Behemoth. Her pet jumped at her new appearance and scurried under the desk, his mistress pulling oof her mask and pouting.
"Aw, poor thing." She cooed, putting down the mask and patting the Hobgoblin over, the latter rolling to his stomach and growling pleasurably when he got a belly rub.
"Anima," Her brother coughed, glaring slightly. "What did I say about using the Infinity Key for sightseeing?" He tilted his head with a small growl. "Do you want big brother to be angry?"
"Certainly not," Anima stood up and picked up a yellow bow wrapped in a pink bow, holding it out to her brother. "Which is why I bought you this." She shook the box, the sound of rustling fabric coming from within. Metphisto took the book, wearily looking at Anima, before pulling off the bow and lid. He gasped in wonder.
"Th-The Honey-Honey Sisters yukata!? Where on Assiah did you get this!?" He unfolded the pink robe from the box, the cloth designed with little white dogs, black cats, and his favorite female characters from his one of his favorite anime. "Even those in the Holy Land say it's impossible to get!"
"I was buying this little statue I found in a store when the man in front said I was there thousandth customer," The green-haired royalist shrugged, looking at the replica terracotta soldier she bought. "He gave it to me as some sort of prize. I'd thought you'd like it better."
Metphisto pulled her into a tight hug, swinging her off her feet and nuzzling her head.
"I am blessed to have such a darling sister like you! I'm the luckiest big brother in the world!" He cried, putting down Anima and placing on the robe, admiring himself. "Yes! Perfect! This is simply the Japanese way! Definitely wabisabi!" He nodded and walked over to Anima, taking her face in her hands and rubbing his nose with hers. "Such a good little sister I have. No other can compare."
"No even father's twins?"
Metphisto raised a brow with a surprised frown, before smirking mischievously.
"Are you jealous that I'm paying more attention to Rin-chan and Yukiko-chan?"
Dark green eyes rolled to the ceiling, but the hint of pink on Anima's cheeks answered the headmaster's question.
"Oh, how cute!"
"Don't think of me like that, Aniue."
"You blush every time I do~"
"Aniue."
"I'm kidding, kidding, I say!" Metphisto chuckled and backed away, fixing the collar of his new yukata. "Now, I believe it's time we have you ready to go off against our little sister."
"The both of them?" Asked Anima.
"No, just Rin-chan." Metphisto walked to the window and gazed out of it, a lazy smirk on his lips. "I want the both of you to have a good time, so you shall both have a little . . . "spar" at my amusement park. There, you may fight to your heart's content," He turned his gaze to the Earth Queen, his smirk never falling. "I hope you are ready, Imouto."
Anima looked back at him, s touch of seriousness in her bored expression.
"I am always ready, Aniue."
Looking at a solid-gold, full-scale statue of Metphisto was not on the top ten things Rin wanted to do on a Saturday. Granted, she would have been a little excited that she and the whole gang were at an amusement park, had it not been for the fact that all the rides were closed, none of the mini attractions were playing, and all the food stands were barren with empty glasses and carts. She was clearly not amused (No pun intended).
"This is the worst," She muttered, sitting up near the feet of the statue while Bon, Shima, and Konekomaru stood near, Shiemi and Isamu talking by a bench and Yukiko talking with a few other Exorcists. "I can't believe I want to leave an amusement park this much! I love these things, but there's nothing to do!"
"Calm down, Okamura-san," Isamu muttered, looking frustrated. "Look, instead of complaining, do you mind helping Moriyama with the bow of her uniform? I'm getting a headache and bruised fingers out of it."
"Geez," Rin shook her head and pushed herself off the statue, walking up to Shiemi. "You seriously don't know how to do this? Wow, Shiemi," She took the bow and tied it in a perfect knot. "It's not that hard once you learn it, though it does take a while."
"Thanks, Rin-chan!" The blonde smiled, skipping to the blunette's side with a smile.
"Man, you two are so cute, it's like you're sisters!" Shima grinned. "Hey, can I warp my arms around you guys? My arms are so lonely."
"Keep dreaming!" Rin glared and moved Shiemi away, glaring all the while.
"You're an idiot." Bon told Shima, the latter deflating in where he stood while Konekomaru petted his back solemnly. Bon leaned back against the statue and sighed loudly. "How long do we have to stand with these bunch of losers?"
"The Hell you just call me!?" Rin shouted, marching up to the blonde-and-black-haired teen not a second too late. Unmoved, Bon pointed to the side.
"Them, Okumura," He grunted, pointing to one student holding a rabbit puppet while the other wore a hoodie, jabbing his thumbs into the controllers of his game device. "No you. You're . . ." He grunted and looked away, ducking his head. "You're alright." His face turned red from his ears to his nose. Rin returned the blush and looked away, toying with a piece of her hair nervously.
"D-Ditto." She settled with, lowering her head when she could feel Bon's eyes on her. Her skin felt warmer than usual and she quickly retreated to Yukiko to calm herself down, silently scolding herself for acting that way, to Bon of all people.
"If I didn't know any better nee-chan, I'd say you've taken a liking to Ryuji-kun." Rin jumped and shot a horrified look at Yukiko, the brunette smiling knowingly yet teasingly.
"What!?" She shouted, throwing her hands in rejection. "Me and him!? Him and me!? Where'd you get that stupid idea!" She grabbed her sister by the soldiers and shook her wildly, blushing and glaring. "Who are you and what the Hell did you do to my little sis- son of bitch!" She cried out when her sharp yet sensitive ears was tugged at by an annoyed Yukiko. "Let go, fore-eyes!"
"Really," Yukiko sighed and let go, ignoring Rin as she nursed her sore ear and walking over to the students."Alright, everyone, please gather around me. Today, we shall be investigation MephyLand, an amusement park funded by the headmaster and as of now, a hot spot for a a mischievous ghost. We've gained reports that the ghost has caused rides to go haywire and cause odd and unnatural upbringings. Today, I would like all of you to split into groups of two and investigate the park. If you see the ghost or see any unnatural commotions, please repot to me or Tsubaki. We've requested for the park to be on lockdown, so none of you should have trouble investigating without causing suspicion."
Konekomaru raised his hand.
"Yes, Miwa-kun?"
"So there are only sightings of one ghost?" Asked Konekomaru.
"Yes," Yukiko confirmed. "So far, it's taken the form of a young child and his pranks are only minuscule. However, we must take action before things get out of hand, as decreed by the Order." Yukiko looked at her clipboard and scanned down the list. "For groups, here's how they'll go: Renzo-kun and Miwa-kun. Kamiki-kun and Moriyama-chan. Yamada-kun and Takara-kun. And Okumura-chan and Suguro-kun-"
"Aw, really, Yuki?!"
"Please report your findings four hours from now," Yukiko straighten her glasses, as if the reflective glint almost blocking off her older sister's glare. "Please keep safety at a high priority. Dismissed."
Each of the groups began to walk away, Bon looking at Rin with an expectant look.
"Let's get this over with, Okumura."
Rin grumbled under her breath, following him and stomping her feet all the while.
About half an hour of silence later, Rin and Bon stood near the merry-go-round, not a ghost in sight and the hot sun beading sweat on them. Rin spun her heel once around the area, before shaking her head.
"Still nothing," She said, looking over to Bon. "Anything on your side, Bon?"
"What are you talking about? We're both looking in the same area and all the directions around it." Bon said with an obvious look. A strip of pink flashed across Rin's face and she looked away to hide it.
"I just felt like asking, dumbass!" She shouted.
"Quit shouting or you'll scare the ghost away, Okumura!" He shouted, a flock of birds flying over the both of them. Looking up, the both of them watched a few feather fall, looking back at each other in silence. Rin looked down a sighed, kicking at the dirt underneath her feet.
"S-Sorry."
"Wait, what?" Bon asked, looking at the blushing female student as she bit her lip with a glaze, as if she was directing the look to herself.
"I-I guess it was a stupid question," She made a mumble and tugged at her hair, looking down at herself. "So I'm sorry, Bon."
The son of one of the very few Blue Night Massacre survivor's scratched the back of his head, surprised. Rin was saying sorry to him and admitting that she did something wrong. Bon was blown out of his mind and felt something like pride warm in his gut. But like a gut, a sinking feeling settled there as well when Rin looked sad, her cobalt-eyes darkened with shame. With the way Bon looked at it, Rin could pass for someone who looked lonely.
If he didn't know any better, he'd say what he felt was pity for Rin. But why was that? Why did he feel bad? And why was it that only Rin could cause him to act this way? She was pretty, an attractive girl. He would admit that (though not aloud). He was a guy, after all. But there was something more to Rin besides her dark blue eyes and seemingly matching, long and silky hair. He could see more within her, and that made his palms sweat and his heart race.
'Damn you, Okumura,' He thought with a sigh, walking over to Rin and patting her head. 'You're the only one who makes me feel this way. And even when I'm mad at you, I can't stick to the one reason I should hate about it. I like having you around, I guess? Or . . .' Rin took that moment to look up at him, depths as deep as the sea stealing his soul and looking into him, through body and mind. 'Or something like that . . .'
"Bon?" Her voice snapped him out of his thoughts and the Aria-in-training looked down.
"Look, you were only asking so don't worry about it, alright?" He looked back at her and lifted the corner of his mouth. "I said you were alright. People who are alright with me are my friends," He bit the inside of his cheek with a gulp. "Erm, do you want to be friends, Okumura?" He asked, thinking that Rin would push away from him and laugh.
There was a laugh, but it wasn't snobbish and obnoxious. It was a small giggle, a chime that made Bon's face flush.
"If that's alright with you," Rin grinned and extended her hand. "Yeah! Let's be friends, Bon!"
Her classmate stared before shaking his head, chuckling, and grabbing her hand, shaking her hand firmly. For some reason, something other than that weird feeling erupted in his heart. Touching Rin's hand, it felt like an imaginary fire was set on his skin. It didn't hurt, but it wasn't pleasant either. It made his mind trigger back to years ago, when he was still a little kid. The warmth almost bought back flashes of when his father returned from the Blue Night, burnt nearly to a crisp but alive.
A cry was heard nearby, and the two students turned to see something sitting on one of the mechanical horses of the merry-go-round. Like the smoke of a flame, a child sat at the horse crying, with light brown hair, red-brown eyes, and dressed in light blue pajamas with stars printed on them, a pale blue ghost tail wispily tailing him.
Bon placed his finger to his lips, motioning Rin to be quiet, but the other exorcist-in-training already had other plans.
"Hey, kid," The child looked up and saw Rin kneeling to him, sitting on her folded black coat and smiling up at him. "Hi. What's wrong? Why are you crying?" She tilted her head innocently. "Are you lonely? Oh, don't worry; everything's going to be alright." She assured kindly. The child's face suddenly began to swell with tears before he jumped into Rin's arms, startling both her and Bon when he cried into her chest.
"I-I was always sick when I was alive! M-Mom and dad promised me that we would go here when I got better! B-But-!" He began to wail, looking pitiful and heartbroken. "But then I d-died! It's not fair, b-big sis! Why did I die? Wh-what did I do wrong?!"
Rin felt a lump form in her throat, the pressure damaging her heart. The poor kid. She wrapped her arms around him and rocked him gently.
"Hey, hey, calm down, kid. You did nothing wrong, ya hear me?" She pushed away a little and patted his head. "You're a real good kid. A real- AHHHH!" She screamed and bugged out her eyes when the kid slipped down and flipped her skirt, laughing mockingly and flying above them.
"Stupid old hag!" He giggled, blowing his tongue at Rin as he flied away.
"You little bastard, get back here!" Rin shouted with a red face, running past a flustered Bon from what he just nearly saw. If that skirt had been tossed just a little higher- "Bon, move your ass and help me catch this little brat!" Shaking off dirty thoughts, he ran after Rin with just as much intent, jealousy sparking from that little kid.
At the stretch of a ten minute sprint, Rin had lost Bon through the maze of rides and attraction, the second to youngest of Satan's children rounding the corner of another statue of Metphisto and stopping at that point, panting from all the exhaustion.
"Little freakin' brat . . . I swear, he's gonna be glad he'd dead after what I'm gonna do to him!" She swore, tracking back till her back hit the base of the statue and resting there. "Oh wait," She reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "Gotta call Yuki. But man, she better let me knock that kid down a few pegs before she gets rid of him." She began to dial the number to her sister's phone when Kurikara was suddenly slipped from her hold. "Hey!" She shouted, looking up and gasping when she saw a girl she had never seen before, with elfin ears and snake-like eyes that looked like her own. "Who the Hell are you supposed to be!" She shouted, angered that someone stole her sword.
From above, Anima unwrapped a blue berry-flavored lollypop from her pocket and she popped it to her mouth, the white stick making her not-so surprised face.
"Who, me?" She asked, pointing at herself like a child. "Oh right, he never told you, did he? How silly. My name's Anima and I'm one of the Seven Royals of Satan's off-spring, a demon queen. So I guess you can call me your big sister. Nice to meet you, Imouto." She then held up Kurikara. "Oh, and by the way, I'm not gonna give this back. Its mine now." She stated as blankly as her expression.
Rin took one step back, her hands clenching in front of her with unsure, tactical will.
"I-I have another sister?" She shook her head. "No way! You're lying! I don't care if you're a demon queen or not! There's no way I have another sister! There's only-"
"Yukiko Okumura. Also know as Yukiko-sensei and only to you, Yuki and nee-chi," Rin gasped when Anima said that without a hitch, fumbling with the red sleeve of her sword when it was tossed to her.
The Earth Queen raised the sword above her, examining it with her curious blue eyes. "Ah, so this is Kurikara." She nodded.
"Give that back!" Shouted Rin from below. Anima raised the weapon higher and gripped the hilt of the blade.
"Neat. Now let's see what happens when I do this!" She pulled the sword out of its gold and blue sheath, the sword glaring with blue flames.
"No-" Rin whispered faintly when her demotic fire shot from her heart and spread through her entire body, seeping pass her skin and starting a blue fire around her body. Her ears turned Devil-like and her eyes shaded into electric-blue with a red tint causing the sclera to glow, sharp teeth and talons enlarging and her skirt and blouse fanning from the energy.
"I see! The blade itself acts like a gateway to Gehenna. And the scabbard is the door, opening and closing when the sword is pulled from its sheath." Anime pulled Kurikara in and out of it's hilt several times, rising and extinguishing her blue flames.
"Knock it off!" Shouted Rin, having enough of her clothes rippling from her despised and feared fire attire. "Just make up your mind already!"
"Huh," Anime stood up and whipped the sword from the scabbard, unaffected as flames surrounded and took over her half-sister. "Fine, let's keep it out then." She twirled the sword in her hand, bobbing her head as she watched Rin become a lit in a scorching fire that was unable to burn her alive. "So this is how it is. In Gehenna, your flame resides where your blood is from. While in Assiah, your body is here because you were conceived and born here. How interesting."
"You-!" Throwing rationality to the wind, Rin scaled up the golden statue and threw her foot to kick at her sister, only to miss and knock the statue's head clear off its golden shoulders.
"Uh-oh! You broke my big brother's head!" Anima tattled, swinging on the back of her knees from a rollercoaster bridge. "He's gonna be very mad at you when he finds out, Imouto!"
"What?" Rin backtracked and gave a look of shock and anger. "Mephisto's my big brother? You gotta be shitting me!" She shook her head, dismissing the thought for later. "Whatever! Just tell me what the Hell you want!" She shouted. Anima tapped the tip of near her heels, pursing her lips in thought.
"Oh, I don't want anything in particular," She shrugged, looking down on Rin. "You see, I was bored so I came over to play." She torpedoed her bare lollypop stick to the side and flipped over the bridge above her, quirking a small smile. "Since this is an amusement park, lets amuse ourselves! Come on, play with big sister, Imouto!" She threw he hand out and snapped her fingers with ease and the MephyLand suddenly came to life.
Tea cups twirling, animated and sill-faced demon robots began to greet and dance in certain areas, inflatables began to sway and dance with hot air. Under Anima's thumb, everything was bended at her whim.
"Heh," Rin gave a curt smirk. "You might be my sister, since you got a little bit of style." She commented.
"Yoo-hoo!"
Rin turned around and saw Anima standing on another beam of the rollercoaster.
"I've gotten into you're Japanese games, too! They're pretty funny and coincidental. Hey, demon~! Over here~! Follow the sound of clapping~!" She sang as she shook her hips, clapped her hands, and wiggled her backside at Rin, fire flaring in the younger demon's cheeks.
"You freakin' jackass!" She shouted, pouncing off the metal shoulders and throwing all her weight into her next killer kick. Anima turned into a slice of air and materialized at the top of the coaster, Rin glowering at her as she grabbed at the ladder of the ride and began to climb. "Don't tease me! Get your ass down here so I can kick it back to Hell!" She shouted.
"Temper, temper, Imouto. Seriously, why does big brother find it cute? Nothing's cute about you," Anima pulled a face and looked back, jumping and landing on the first cart of the moving roller coaster. "Look at me! I'm having fun like a human!" She shouted with glee. Rin bought herself to jump through the air to dodge but she gasped when Anima appeared in front of her a second later. "Here's another game I learned to play!" What was a simple flick to the forehead sent Rin crashing to the ground, Anima grabbing her a few feet above the air and socking her directly in the face, hard and causing blood to flow into Rin's mouth.
"Really. What are Aniue and father so obsessed about? What is it about you that makes them want to crown you as Gehenna's true princess?" The green-haired royalist asked, throwing one last punch before chucking the younger demon into the ground. Dust swirled and splashed into Rin's eyes, the later screaming when her older half-sister kneed her in the stomach. "You aren't any fun at all. And here I thought you would-" Her jaw was grabbed with tubes of blue fire brushing her skin, her face flowing the rest of the Erath Queen as she flew a few feet away, landing on the ground upside-down, right on her shoulder blades. Tumbling to her feet and cracking her back, she whipped wind into the soles of her feet and launched herself into the air, somersaulting as Rin chuckled lead pipes in her direction.
"Yahoo!" She cried as she landed on her feet, catching Rin in her arms and falling backwards into a ball of blue flames, pinned to her back and staring back at the snarling demon above her.
Rin's sapphire-blue flames were more wild than before, as untamable as a wild fire's. Her tail was bristled and stuck out and her fangs and claws looked ready to claw Anima's eyes out. She snarled and snorted like a wild animal, deep growls escaping her pulled back lips with a vicous set of fangs foaming and enlarging. Rin looked more chaotic than ever. Her whole mind had went primal and carnal with anger.
"Excellent! That's what I was looking for, Imouto!" Anima laughed and kicked Rin in the stomach knocking the blue-haired student off her. Lightening fast with amazing agility, Anima grabbed one lead pips Rin had thrown and threw it in the air, a puff of wispy smoke its target.
"Huh?" It was the ghost, and he stared at the beam in surprise as it hurdled towards him.
"NO!" Rin's sense of thought and protection whipped into over drive as she punced and garbbed the child before he was hit, the two landing on the ground and the pipe striking itself in the earth, a trembling following after.
Rin breathed heavily through her mouth, small whistles escaping the gaps of her fangs and her hold on the child constrictor-like. She placed the child on her lap and stared at him with her crazy eyes, pure discord drawn all over her. She closed her eyes and waited for the ghost to cream or cry out, disgusted or afraid of her appearance.
"That was AWESOME!"
Rin didn't expect that.
The ghost flew out of her arms and into the air, twirling in air and giggling.
"You saved me when I was already dead! And you held me close like mom did when I had nightmares. You're really nice, big sis!" He giggled. Rin looked at him, surprised.
"You . . . You don't think I look scary or creepy-looking like this?" She asked, staring at the blue fingers that crept and toyed with her skin. From the moment she was given the cloak of fire, her demotic birth right, she hated them for making her look different than others. She hated them for making her look more of a freak than she already was.
"A little, but they make you look cool, too!" The child nodded. "Besides, you're not a bad lady, big sis! You must be really nice if you go out of the way to save someone who's already dead!" He giggled and span around once more, before waving cheerily at Rin. "Thanks again, big sis! It was fun playing with you! Bye-bye!"He left with the shake of his blue ghost tail, his giggle echoing throughout the park.
Weakened by her older sister's attacks and realization she was bought to, Rin fell to her knees and elbows, panting with drool and blood sliding down her chin as her need for air was awakened.
"That was just something else, Imouto. Saving a ghost without another thought," Anima sighed as she walked over and kicked at Rin's face, throwing the latter to her back. The heel of her boot dug into Rin's stomach as Rin could only lay there and wheeze in pain, blue eyes flickering with flashes of fire blinding the corners of her eyes. "It's interesting, but I'm already bored. And here I thought playing with you would be fun." She shrugged and lifted the sword above her head, the glaring blade meeting Rin's wide eyes. "Big brother says I can't do this but I'm really bored right now. So, I'm gonna break this in two."
"Don't!" Rin shouted, panicking. "Leave Kurikara alone! Let me go!" There was a crack of metal. "Don't-!"
"Devour the eight princes . . ."
The half sisters, looked up, just to see the gleam of a slashing sword almost cut of Anima's head.
"Slay the serpent!"
The royal demon had made a jump back just in time. Rin couldn't believe it when Yamada, slacker of exorcists classes and game-addicting burnout, stepped in front of her with a braced sword, bended at the knees and ready to defend Rin.
"Oh, this is new," Said Anima, placing Kurikara behind her and tilting her head, curious about her new challenger. "I never thought a new player would be joining the game."
"You're Anima, queen of Earth, aren't you?" Stated Yamada coolly, his deep and cool accent sending a shiver down Rin's spine. What she usually heard from the gamer was a grunt or snore. The voice he used now turned the tables. "How did a big-shot demon like you get into the academy? Did Mephisto summon you?" He asked, holding his sword by his hip.
"Aren't you a pain in the ass?" Anima sneered.
"Aren't you a bitch who needs to cool it with the brother-complex?" Yamada countered. Dark blue eyes drifted over to Rin, Anima watching the quick and painful rise and fall of her little sister's breath. Scratches and dirt covered her entire body and her hair was ripped from the hold of her ribbon, the garment loosely clinging to her hair. She looked ready to fall over at any second.
"Hm . . . Fine," Anima sheathed the sword and tossed it to Rin's feet, the flames dying in a instant. Anima turned on her heel and shrugged. "I'll leave for now. But I will come to play again, Imouto!" She called as she leaped over the rides, making her escape.
"Get back here!" Shouted Yamada. Cursing, he turned sharply to Rin. "The other's will be here soon. Hide the damned tail!" He shouted before running off. Sitting there, tired and ready to fall to her back, Rin could only stare at the scratches on her as everything was roved back to her. Once everything hit her, she became frighten.
'She's my sister . . . She took my sword without even trying and she nearly killed me . . . I cant believe how strong she was . . .' Her hands laid flat on the grass, the cool blades of green ripped and torn as Rin clawed at the ground, biting her lip to the point of bleeding. 'She even drove me to the point of losing control. . . Damnit! I still haven't changed a bit! Son of a bitch!' She wiped the back of her arm across her eyes, pulling back her tears of frustration.
"Okumura!"
'Who's calling me?' Rin wondered, looking up to see Bon running right up to her.
"Okumura!" He shouted again, finally reaching her. His heart was gripped at the site of all the scars on Rin, his pulse racing. Anger was rushed into him, his thoughts blistering to other thoughts of killing whoever hurt Rin. He didn't know why, but at this point, he didn't want to wonder why he was thinking such thoughts. He placed his hands on Rin's shoulders. "Okumura-"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Screamed Rin, throwing Bon's hands off her. Bon stared at her, narrowed eyes wide, and Rin realized her mistake. "I-I didn't mean that, I swear! S-Sorry, you just scared me, is all." She whispered, rubbing her arm and wincing when she accidentally brushed dirt into her cuts.
"It's . . . Alright. I'll go get the others. Just stay here and rest, Okumura," Hesitantly, he patted her head before dashing off one way, Yukiko suddenly appearing a minute later in the other direction.
"Rin! Are you OK?" She asked, helping her sister back on her feet and brushing away her bangs from her sweaty forehead. Rin nodded, despite her fatigued.
"I'm fine but Yuki, there's something I need to tell you. It's about Yama-"
"What took you so long, Yukiko?"
From the distance was Yamada, striding in his dark clothing with only a teasing smile shown past his hoodie. "Did you take your sweet time to get here? Honestly, Yukiko," He smiled and crossed his arms. "Been a while, hasn't it?"
Dark blue eyes widened behind glasses. "It can't be . . ."
"Yuki?" Rin looked between her sister and confused, mind-boggled on how Yukiko and Yamada knew each other. "Just what's going on here?" She asked. Yamada sighed and stretched.
"I'll tell ya all ya need to know. Just let me get out of this damn hoddie. I'm sweating buckets here." He reached and pulled off his hoodie, Rin gasping as a mane of rose-red hair fell out of the hoodie, slender strands framing a muscular and well-built chest tattooed with red markings starting at his collar bone to the 'V' that rested on top of his low hanging, black jeans. His handsome face was accented with a small stubble and gold-yellow bangs curtained near his magenta-purple eyes.
Yukiko gasped quietly while Rin gasped with a blush.
'Holy shit! He's freakin' hot!'
"Sorry about all that went down, kid. Hate to break it to you, but I'm not your classmate. I'm an inspector with the Knights of the True Cross Order. The Vatican HQ sent me here to investigate some trouble brewing here in the Japan branch," He pulled back his long red hair, his seductive eyes chilled with superiority. "I'm Senor-exorcist, First-Class, Shuichiro Kirigakure." He introduced.
"Y-Yuki . . ." Rin turned to Yukiko, who took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"It . . . It's a pleasure to see you again, Shuichiro," She coughed, before her cell phone rang. She answered it right after. "Yes. . . Yes, everything's fine. The ghost has left the area . . . Yes, of course. Yes, another exorcist has arrived. Please come to the rollercoaster north of here. . . Yes, thank you." She put away her phone and averted her eyes from Shuichiro, the latter smirking her way while Rin could only sit and live in confusion.
It didn't take less than ten minutes for exorcists and the students to gather near the rollercoaster, various questions given to Shuichiro and Rin given a small treatment by Shiemi and Konekomaru. She squawked when Shuichiro suddenly lifted and sat her stomach on his shoulder, holding her by her lower back.
"P-Put me down, asshole!" She shouted, pressing on the hem of her skirt to hide what underneath. She didn't trust any of the guys (namely Shima) to take the chance to look up her skirt.
"Easy, girly. I'm not held responsible for you falling on your face if you keep kicking and screaming like that." Teased the elite.
"Hey, where ya taking Rin-chan?" Asked Shima.
"No where of your concerns," Stated the redhead, Moving Rin more comfortably on his shoulder. "Relax, kiddies. She'll be back eventually. I won't guarantee that she'll come back in better shape than she is now."
"I'm right here, ya know!"
"Aw, shaddup," Shuichiro turned and nodded to the students. "See ya." He gave the same farewell to the exorcists and left with Rin fuming and screaming. Yukiko trailed behind them silently, though she didn't look too pleased either.
The students left behind began to wonder what was going on. Bon croassed his arms tight and formed a thin line with his mouth.
'Where are they taking you, Okumura?'
"Where are you taking me?" Rin asked furiously for the hundredth time, looking over his shoulder and blinking when the three stopped at an employee building of the amusement park.
"What are we doing here?" She asked.
"Yukiko, mind doing the honors?" Asked Shuichiro. The young teacher pulled out the ring of her exorcist-only keys and opening the door with one of them. Rin let out a breath as she was carried into a room with golden-brown walls and endless hallways, the floors polished to look like gold and candle stands proudly glowing with orange flames.
"This is the base for the Japan Branch of the Vatican," Shuichiro explained as they walked. "The HQ for the Vatican is held directly under the St. Pierre Polo's Basilica. The Order's been around for more than two-thousand years and it covers almost every part of the world, defending everyone from monsters and demons alike."
"Well said, Shuichiro-kun!" Rin cried out when the high-level exorcist pulled to sharp stop, she, her, sister, and captor looking to see Mephisto walk to them with his arms held up in hospitality. "Welcome to the Japan-Branch of the Knights of True Cross. Shuichiro-kun, you cannot believe how excited and surprised I was to find out that you had snuck into my campus with an alias. And we haven't seen each other in so long as well."
"Let cuts to the chase, OK, Mephisto?" Shuichiro asked harshly, his hold on Rin tightening. "Why did you hide the existence of the daughter of Satan from the Order?" He asked. The purple-haired headmaster held his hands in defense with a carefree-smile.
"I didn't hide anything from anyone. Yes, I took her in but it was only for the safety of the Order and Vatican." He replied.
"You still didn't answer my question," Shuichiro muttered with a glare. "Why didn't you tell the Order about this?"
"Now, now, there's no need to be steamed, old friend," Mephisto assured, waving his hand. "I don't think the Order would have been pleased to see an unfinished project. You see, with the daughter of Satan on our side, then the Order can take its chance to use her as a weapon. I'm only helping what needs to be done for the Order . And besides, I'm raising her with the most well-provided care I can give." He said.
'Well-provided my ass. You make me and sister live in an abandoned dorm.' Rin thought with a snarl. 'So much for acting like a good big brother.'
"Was Shiro involved with this?" Shuichiro asked suddenly, Rin able to feel how tense his shoulder got. Did Shuichiro knew Shiro?
"I'm only helping him out, bringing out the potential he was unable to bring out of Rin-chan when he was alive," Metphisto smiled a toothy grin. "There's no need to cast suspicion on me, Shuichiro-kun."
The man in question smirked back. "Heh, we'll see about that. Listen, I'm gonna interrogate the kid, so ya mind lending me the big grey cell?"
"By all means, go right ahead!" The headmaster chimed. "Use it to your heart's content."
"You're acting too cheery," The Senior exorcist grinned wickedly. "Let's see if you'll act the same once I'm done with her."
"Shuichiro, wait!" Yukiko ran in front of him with a fixed look. "Anything you need to know about my sister, you can ask me. There's no need to interrogate her." She said, knowing that look on Rin's face. It was scared and what Rin would do in a panicking situation would be unpredictable. Yukiko held herself straight as Shuichiro walked right up to her, holding back a sound as he rested his free hand on his waist and dipped his hand, rubbing its way down Yukiko's ribs and hips, sliding into the slender curve and resting on the small of her back. Her skin from beneath felt on fire.
"You grew up, Yukiko. You're hair's a little longer and I see you're finally blooming, eh?" His eyes trailed the curves she possessed before he met her dark blue eyes, his own drooped with sensual desire in them. The pair of jewels suddenly brightened and he gave a deep chuckle when he saw a light pinch of pink of the teacher's cheeks. "But you're still just a kid. A cute kid, but a kid all the same," He grinned and turned away from the lot. "Keep your panties out of a knot! Your sis is safe with me!"
The door to the cells shut behind him with a thud, and Yukiko was unsure if he was telling the truth or not.
"Alright, down we go!"
Rin retreated a few steps the minute Shuichiro put her down, backing up until she was a good distance from him. The golden, mechanical doors behind them sealed shut with a lock, the only light source in the cell coming from the sewer grate above.
"What's the matter?" Asked Shuichiro with a knowing grin. "You haven't said anything in a long time. Got something on your mind?"
"A lot," Rin agreed. "Hey, I want to know how you know Yuki and dad. How do you know them?"
"Dad? Oh, you mean Shiro," The flame-haired man nodded. "I knew him and Yukiko from a long time ago. I guess you could say that I'm Shiro's disciple, back when I was training under him." He said
Rin blinked, trying to imagine the topless exorcist as a host with the dark robes and holy wares. "You . . . Were a host?" She asked, Shuichiro snorting in response.
"No way. I never prayed once in my life, kid," His laughed, calming down and suddenly frowning. "It's just . . . Growing up as a kid, I made bad choices. Even though they were ways to stay alive, it didn't stop me from becoming an animal to the rest of the world. But then . . ." His smile was faint with nostalgia, and Rin could almost see loneliness in his eyes. "Shiro Fujimoto saved me, then. He took me in and chose me, a monster to the world, to train under him. I swear-" He suddenly stopped, clutching his chest and coughing like he had the plague, dropping to the ground, coughing and heaving for air.
"Hey, what happened?!" Rin raced over to him. "Did you get hurt back- HEY!" She schreeched when he sword was taken from her, her senior exorcist smirking as he waved the sleeved weapon in the air.
"Dumb broad." He chuckled. "Can't hold onto this, can ya?"
"Give it back!" Shouted Rin, running at him with her flames suddenly appearing. Shuichiro gasped and jumped back, surprised that the royal attire of Hell appeared so quickly.
'Kurikara hasn't even been unsheathed yet. It . . . It can't control her flames anymore . . .'
"The Hell?!" A younger Shuichiro stepped back from Fujimoto, scaring away a few birds that rested near the open corridor they were in. "You want me to mentor some little brat? No way!" He pointed at the dropped photograph with a glare. "That kid is way too young to know anything! That four-eyed kid will be dead in a week if she's put against that kind of training!"
"I meant her twin, Shuichiro," Shiro picked up the photo and held it with care. "She'll need one of the best and I see no other fit to train her but you."He said. The young man shook his head angrily.
"Get someone else to do it, old man!" He shouted. "I ain't gonna train some whinny little brat that's gonna cry when she skins her knee every time we train!"
"Not even if I told you that she'll be given a demon sword for her training?" Asked Shiro, nearly shocking the lights out of the young exorcist. "She's a really good kid. Temperamental, but funny. Impatient, but yet amusing. But what you'll love more about her is how much she loves those she cares about."
"You are fuckin' insane! You hear me?!" He shouted, the volume of his voice rising with his rage. "To give a kid a demon sword is like giving a bomber a million sticks of dynamite! I'm not doing it! You can't tell me what to do anymore, Shiro!"
"Please, Shuichiro," The older man's voice was near begging, hands shaking and shoulders trembling. "Please. You're the only one who can help her. If something were to happen to me and if she were left to defend herself . . ." He hung his head and whispered. "Please . . . For her . . ." He pleaded. Shuichiro backed away from him with small steps, shaking his head with disgust and little remorse.
"You're just some other crazy old man! You abandoned me after everything and now you search for me who-knows-how-long, get on your knees, and beg and plead for me to teach some kid and expect that I'll go right ahead, forgetting everything that's happened?! No! No, damnit!" He shouted.
"Shuichiro, please-"
"Go find some other dumbass to preach to! Keep me out of your shit and leave me alone!" Shouted his old student, running away from Shiro as fast as he could, hoping the dry wind would stop his tears.
'Shiro . . . You were the greatest teacher . . . I only wish I can still believe that . . . However . . .'
"Devour the eight princes . . ." Shuichiro bought his hand to the symbol on his chest and his sword popped right out of it, the swordsman smirking at the bewilder Rin. "Slay the serpent!"
"W-Wait, what are you gonna do with that?" She backed away, her fire forming a protective blanket around her. "You said you were dad's disciple!"
"Yeah, but here's the thing, kid," Shuichiro edged closer to her with a knowing look. "It's been reported by unnamed sources that Shiro and Metphisto have been conspiring against the Vatican ever since the Blue Night Massacre. And I was sent here to find and exterminate anything Satanic. Basically anything that would bring harm to the Order."
Serpentine eyes turned to dinner plates. Rin had trouble gulping down the lump in her throat.
"Th-That means . . ."
The cleaning slash of wind and metal was made. Shuichiro smirked.
"Kirigakure Technique: Serpent's Fang!"
Rin screamed as she was threw back by giant bursts of wind, landing over and over again to the hard surface of the wall. Her ignored injuries were being bought back and reopened, and Rin could feel her energy deflating as she dodged all attacks the senior Vatican member sent at her. Shuichiro sent his anger and hurt feelings into every attack, cursing as every assault failed.
'Shiro . . . What were you thinking?!' He thought, all hatred directed to his teacher. 'Keeping this secret, the existence of one of Satan's offspring Assiah, without reporting to the Vatican! I just don't understand!'
"You see, with the daughter of Satan on our side, then the Order can take its chance to use her as a weapon."
"I'm only helping him out, bringing out the potential he was unable to bring out of Rin-chan when he was alive."
'Was this your dying wish? Is this what you risked your life for? What you died for?' He growled quietly under his breath as he sent more tornadoes of wind at Rin, angry and confused all the while. 'Damnit, Shiro!'
Rin screamed and landed on her front after the last attack, coughing as she staggered to stand and gazed at Shuichiro. She crawled on her back as Shuichiro advanced on her, his sword held ready and poised right at Rin's chest when she stopped scrawling, stuck between the information collector and a hard place.
"You are such a fool, Shiro," He muttered, as he drew his sword to Rin's chin, holding it lightly with a dull glare on him. "You wanted me to train some weak little kid. I knew you were always a good-for-nothing, crazy old man. The cast aside shell of a strong man who became a coward."
"Shut up!" Rin screamed, furious. "My dad wasn't a crazy old man! He was never a coward! He died to protect me!" Her flames suddenly froze when the slap of epiphany was bought down on her, tails of sea-blue fire curling around her hands, tamed and calm. "Don't talk about my dad that way . . ." She used the wall behind her to help herself up and glare at the young man with all the rage and passion she had for her deceased father. "I won't die because of you. I won't let you kill me in a place like this! On the day of dad's funeral, right on heisgrave, I swore that I would become a great exorcist like him! I'm gonna be as great as him and beat the shit out of Satan!"
"She's a really good kid."
"You? An exorcist?" Shuichiro rolled his purple eyes, his sword raised above his head. "That's the biggest load of bull crap I've ever heard."
"I don't care if it is to you! I swore that I'd be the best!" She stepped forward, unafraid. "I'm gonna become a Palladian!"
"Temperamental, but funny."
"Now I know you're just some crazy bitch," Muttered the swordsman, shaking his head.
"To you, yeah. But I've gone through shitty insults much more worse than yours," Rin panted and looked up to the ceiling, staring at the peaking lights on the sewer grate. "As a Palladian, I'll become the strongest out of all the exorcists."
"Impatient, yet amusing."
"And when I do-"
"But what you'll love most about her . . ."
"People will see that my dad was right," Rin looked at Shuichiro with tears in her eyes, not making a move to stop them as they ran down her cheeks, mixed feelings of happiness and sadness washing over her. "They'll see that he wasn't raising a monster or some random bad kid off the street. They'll see he was raising a daughter. And . . . A-And . . ." Rin sniffled and whimpered a sob. "I'll be able to return the favor for when he saved my life. I'll be able to stand at my dad's grave and tell him what I did. I'll be able to look at a picture of him without turning away. I be able to say that I proud to be his daughter." She confessed sobbingly, her sniffles muffled by her dirty arm.
". . . Is how much she loves those she cares about."
A deep and happy laughter was heard when as Shuichiro opened the doors to the cell, laughing and smiling at the dumbfounded daughter of Satan.
"You must have really loved Shiro, huh?"
Rin's cheeks went ablaze in embarrassment, herself found out.
"Y-You freakin' jerk! I didn't s-say anything like that-! Don't go saying shit-!"
Rin screamed and kicked in embarrassment, Shuichiro could only stare at her fondly.
'I guess you weren't raising a weapon, Shiro . . . All this time . . . You were raising a daughter . . .' He thought, crossing his arms and closing his eyes in peace. 'Fine, I'll train her. Anything for you, you crazy old man.'
Kuroko yawned and climbed up the top of the abandoned dorms, ready for the prospect of searching for unsuspecting birds in the early morning. She tilted head when she saw someone already on the roof, swishing her tail when she saw it was Rin.
"Rin!" She mewled and crawled to the demon's shoulder, nuzzling her neck. "Hey, why are you up so early? You worried about something?"
"Nah, don't worry," Rin scratched Kuroko behind the ears, smiling as the Cat Sith purred in response. "I was just thinking about the past. I was thinking about dad, too."
"You were thinking about Shiro?"
"Yeah . . ."
"Rin-chan! Please calm down! AHHHH!"
Anger and a chaotic sense of bloodlust ran into the five-year-old's mind. Rin couldn't remember why she was angry. Why she was so upset. All she could see was blood on her hands, on the floor, and the mess of broken items she had thrown to keep adults and children at bay.
"Stay away from me!"
"Rin!"
Blue eyes snapped over to Shiro in surprise, Rin taking a step back.
"D-Daddy . . ." She whispered.
"Look at what you just did," He foster-father muttered firmly. "You sent your friend to the hospital! Rin, do you realize what you just did?!"
"He's no friend of mine!" Rin screamed, throwing a toy set at the white-haired priest and missing. "It's all his fault! He called me a demon! A monster, a freak! Daddy, he deserved it! I'd do it again!"
"It's your own fault, Rin!" He father shouted back. With the cry of an animal, Rin threw everything from toys to desks at her father, Hellbent on shutting him up for good. All the while, parents from the back pleaded for the priest to back away.
"She's a beast!"
"Father, get away from that monster!"
"At least exorcise the child!"
"What child?! That's a demon in its purest form! Get rid of it!"
"Stand aside," Fujimoto simple said, calming the crowd. Slowly, he walked over to Rin with his arms at his sides, kneeling to her level and pulling her to him. In a act of fright, Rin threw a punch at his stomach and struck him, her foster parent shouting in pain. He coughed and began to shake and Rin realized what she did.
She grabbed the front of Shiro's robes and began to blubber.
"Dad?" She asked, before starting to sob. "D-Daddy-!"
"Psyc! Fooled ya, didn't I?" Shiro laughed, wrapping his arms around Rin and pulling her close, making sure her small body curled safely at her chest. To think that a body so tiny could cause max destruction. "Listen, Rin; if you don't change your ways, you're gonna find yourself alone someday. Please, try to use your strength to help others instead of hurting them." He held his hand over her head, pulling her till they were impossible close and melded to each other, the embrace so warm and safe. "I want you to have a bunch of friends when you grow up. I want you to be that really cool girl who can make anyone smile and brighten up everyone's day. That girl all the guys drool over and want to be with her, even risking to face my wrath when they want to date you. I want you to be the best person you can ever be."
"H-How can I do that?" Rin sniffled, rubbing her cheek to Shiro's robes. "How do I become the best?"
"Not "the" best person, Rin," Her foster father corrected, pulling away from her until they were elbow- length apart. His warm brown eyes looked into hers with fatherly care, in all seriousness and love. "I want you to be the best you can be. It to be that, you can always try. Work hard and be nice, care for others and be good. Before you know it, you'll be the best person you can ever be."
Rin gave a cry and ran back into her father's arms, knocking the both of them over. As Rin cried and sobbed, Shiro became blue in the face.
"Someone call an ambulance . . . My little girl punches hard!"
Sitting on the ledge of her dorm with Kuroko on her shoulder, Rin waited as the early morning breeze made her hair ruffle and her skin chill. Held in her hand was a her blue ribbon, warm and crafted from the hands of her deceased and beloved father.
'I always wanted to grow up into someone as cool like my father. Everything up to this point has changed my life. I've met knew people I never thought I'd meet and I'm taking those path I'd never thought I'd take,' She stood up with Kuroko on her shoulder, Kurikara replaced with a wooden sword Shuichiro had given her for a substitute. 'I can wrap my brain about it a million times, but I won't find the answer by just sitting here. I gotta take action!'
"Kuroko, let's have some fun!" She said.
"Yeah!" Kuroko leaped off Rin and changed into her demon form, grinning her cat smile. "Lets play, Rin!" The two ran to the edge of the roof and leaped into the night.
Dawn broke over, beginning the new day.
"Hey! Good morning!"
The small groups of the exorcist class stopped when Rin came dashing up the steps the next morning, dressed readily for the school day without a single scratch on her.
"Rin-chan! Are you well?" Asked Shiemi. Her blue-haired companion nodded, a giant smile on her face.
"Totally! I'm ready for today!"
"You seem more energetic than usual, Rin-chan," Shima smiled. "It's very cute."
"A little weird of you ask me," Bon said under his breath, though he was secretly happy that Rin was fine. After all, he didn't want anything wrong to be with his new friend. The bell suddenly rang and Rin made a run up the stairs.
"Let's get going, guys! Or we're gonna be late!" She shouted as she ran into the school.
"Rin-san seems more different than usual." Konekomaru noted. Bon suddenly smirk and cracked his knuckles.
"I won't let that stop me from beating her to class! Hey, wait up, Okumura! You got a head start!" He shouted after her. Everyone else either sighed or laughed at their unknown flirting, all of them climbing up the steps.
Today would be a fine day. A new day, but a fine day indeed.
To Be Continued…
Man, guys! Wasn't that chapter epic? I thought so! You guys got two episodes in one chapter AND you got to see Anima and the newest character, Shuichiro! I hope all you Fem!YukioXMale!Shura fans will get a kick out of that :D There shall be more chapters later! But please make sure to review so that I can have the motivation to go on with this story! Please and thank you! Well, I gotta go! It's pretty late over here and I REALLY need to get some sleep! R and R and I'll see you all next time!
This is me saying, Peace!