He shook the thoughts out of his head and turned his mind to his task. Obviously, the demon doctor didn't have much experience suppressing demons. As an exorcist—and a half-breed with demonic powers hidden somewhere deep inside—Yukio had far more knowledge when it came to suppressants. Today, he was giving Amaimon a dose from his own stockpile. It should be enough to control the demon until he found the time to visit Shiemi's mother to restock his supplies.

He pushed the earth king's shirt up slightly and inserted the large syringe into his lower back, just about the green base of his tail. Amaimon winced and tensed, holding his breath as Yukio took his time with the injection.

"There. That should last you a few days." He returned the needle to his suitcase for disposal later.

"So... How do you feel?" Rin moved to sit beside Amaimon.

"I feel..." he hesitated, and then nodded, "better. Ghost has calmed down a lot."

Chapter Nine
. . .
An Agreement

At first, everything seemed serene and peaceful. He felt calm, careless, and free, like he could finally start picking up the pieces of his broken life now that Ghost was gone.

But these elated emotions faded quickly, and, suddenly, the world turned strange and hostile. With Ghost gone, Amaimon began to feel empty and alone, his mind heavy and clouded, almost as though he was suffering from a flu. The walls of the training room closed in on him, his chest tightened until he couldn't breathe, and an overwhelming sensation of hopelessness washed over him. He felt trapped and, with each passing second, slipped deeper and deeper into the darkness encompassing him, until it felt like he would lose himself completely.

It was then he realized how badly he needed to feel Ghost's presence, to hear his voice, his contemptuous laughter, his angry growls, his sarcastic retorts.

He didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry at the irony of it all.

"It's getting late, Amaimon." Rin's cheerful voice broke the eerie silence and brought him out of his thoughts. "We should go." He slipped the strap of his sword's sheathe over his shoulder and made his way to the door, oblivious to his friend's anguish. "What do you want for dinner?"

It took a surprising amount of effort for Amaimon to force himself to his feet. "I don't care." It was an automatic response—he wasn't in the mood to eat anything anyway.

Concerned by his solemn tone, Rin turned to him, brow knit with worry. "Really? You don't want anything? Not even something sweet?" Amaimon feigned interest in the wall and shrugged a shoulder. It seemed like the only thing he could easily do now. "Are you okay?" He tilted his head in an attempt to meet his cerulean eyes.

Ghost would be snarling if he could see you... The thought made his heart sink. He didn't want to admit that he actually missed the brazen beast, especially after all the trouble the twins went through to help him. "I'm...just tired," he lied, stifling a fake yawn.

That gentle smile returned to Rin's face, and Amaimon felt incredibly guilty for wanting Ghost back. "Yeah, me too—it's been a long day." He turned his attention back to the door and fidgeted with his key. When he opened it, a chilly gust of fresh air greeted them. Rin mumbled an annoyed complaint and wrapped his arms around himself.

Amaimon followed him outside and found himself near the entrance to a theme park. It was closed for repairs, unfortunately, but he could still get a glimpse of a few attractions through the gate. He eagerly ran up to it for a better look, all thoughts of Ghost gone for the moment. "Where are we?" He stepped back and raised his eyes to the sign. "Mepphyland?" Hearing the name made a chill run through him.

Why...did that sound so familiar?

"Damn!" Rin cursed at the key in his hand. "I can never figure out how to use this stupid thing!" With a heavy sigh, he shoved it into his pocket and joined Amaimon at the gate. "Sorry, Amaimon—we're going to walk a bit before we can get back home."

He ignored his apology and pointed to a headless statue just beyond the gate. "What is that?"

Rin hesitated slightly, as if he wasn't sure how to respond. "...That's Mephisto. Why? Do you, uh...recognize it?"

Amaimon raised himself on his toes, tilted his head, and examined the figure as best he could in the waning light. He hummed in thought and then shook his head. "No—I don't think I've ever seen it before." He couldn't be certain, of course—everything seemed vaguely familiar to him. "I was just wondering why it was dressed like a clown."

"You think so too!?" A playful grin brightened Rin's entire face. "Wait until you see the real Mephisto—he looks even worse!"

He averted his gaze and covered his mouth with a hand, trying to muffle a small laugh. "T-That's not funny!" he snickered.

"You don't have to hide from me, Amaimon," He looked up as Rin gently moved his hand away from his face. "I like hearing you laugh."

Amaimon felt his cheeks burn with embarrassment. He shied away, frustrated by this uncontrollable reaction. Rin couldn't see him like this, weak and vulnerable—like Ghost had. "I want to go now," he said, his tone suddenly stern.

Rin didn't seem bothered by his harsh demand. He turned on his heel and began to follow the path away from the theme park. "C'mon—it's this way."

Amaimon trailed behind him slowly, head bowed low, watching his feet as he walked. He wondered if Ghost knew anything about the name 'Mepphyland', but it was too late to worry about it now. The monster was gone and he was alone—trapped in the unfamiliar confines of his scattered mind. A breeze gently ruffled his green fringe and, somehow, the chill from the fall wind emphasized the emptiness he felt inside.

He lurched and wobbled forward uneasily as he struggled to keep pace with Rin. Swaying dangerously, he paused and placed a hand to his aching head, almost expecting to feel nothing there at all. Before he even realized he was falling, Rin caught him and attempted to steady him.

"Hey, is everything alright?" he asked, mouth pulled down at the corners in a concerned expression. "You look really out of it."

"I'm fine," Amaimon punctuated his remark with a quick shake of his head. "I just want to go home and get some sleep." His voice was weak and his words slurred—it sounded strange, even to his own ears. I have to find a way to get Ghost back before this solitude drives me insane...

"Sooo... Uh," Rin paused as he averted his eyes and rubbed the back of his neck anxiously. "...Do you want to hold hands?"

"I don't need you to treat me like a child, Rin." He crossed his arms against his chest.

"R-Right... Sorry."

. . .
At the Dormitory

Both boys were surprised to find the doctor waiting for them outside their dormitory, a small, white briefcase in his hand. He didn't hear them approach, his back to them as he peeked into the slightly open door. Amaimon had to strain to hear, but he started speaking to...something in a high-pitched, careful voice.

"You remember me, right? That's a good boy... I just want to—AHH!" He suddenly jumped back with a yelp and slammed the door shut.

"...Doctor? What are you doing?" The man flinched at the sound of Rin's voice.

"A-Ah, Okumura—it's just you." He sighed and visibly relaxed. "Your pet hobgoblin has quite the temper."

"Did he bite you?"

The doctor scratched at his hair. "No, not me—but I think he really hates my shoes."

Amaimon brushed past him and opened the door. The small animal responded with an angry snarl before realizing who it was. "Behemoth, bad!" He picked the creature up and nuzzled his face against Behemoth's warm, leathery skin. Holding him close seemed to make Amaimon feel better, if only a little.

"Ah, that's right." The man held up the case he was carrying. "I miscalculated the dosage for Amaimon's medicine this morning, so I brought the proper injection. But, ah..." He shivered and rubbed his arms as a cold wind interrupted him. Behemoth shook his head with displeasure and attempted to bury himself in Amaimon's chest. "C-Can we talk inside? It's freezing out here."

Rin seemed hesitant to let the doctor in. "Well, actually, Yukio already gave him something for that. He's all better now, right Amaimon?"

Both of them turned to him expectantly. "Is that true, Amaimon?"

Amaimon glanced between them, trying to quickly gather his thoughts. The doctor wasn't aware that his medication only made Ghost worse—which meant that, if he received an injection similar to the one this morning, he might return. But... Rin... If he discovered that he willingly brought Ghost back for such a silly reason... How would he react? Would he hate him? Force him back to that deplorable hospital room? His grip on Behemoth tightened.

Rin gave him a brief smile as he continued to stare blankly. A burning sensation of guilt made him lower his eyes.

He didn't want to do this, to prove to Ghost that he was pathetic and worthless without the beast's presence in his mind. But, even if his decision ultimately hurt Rin, he needed the disembodied voice back.

"I need to talk to the doctor about something," he answered.

"Sure!" Rin, as trusting as ever, led the doctor into the dormitory and up to their floor. Amaimon stopped by his room to lock up his troublesome pet for the time being. When he joined them in their small kitchen, he found the doctor settling into a chair at the table and Rin preparing a pot of tea.

"Rin?"

He looked up. "Yeah?"

Quickly, he moved along the wall to where Rin was standing. "I need to talk with the doctor privately," he whispered.

He frowned, but the expression didn't last long. "Okay—I wanted to take a shower anyway. Twenty minutes long enough?" Amaimon nodded. "Cool!" He turned off the stove. "Just knock if you need anything." Rin waved to the doctor and closed the door behind him.

"So," the man paused to adjust his glasses. "What's this 'private talk' about, Amaimon?"

Amaimon sat in his corner and pulled his legs up to his chest. "Don't tell Rin about this—okay?"

He scratched at the rugged, uneven stubble on his chin. "Very well."

"I..." He stopped and gritted his teeth—an attempt to smother his building emotions. "The medicine Rin's brother gave me forced the...voice to disappear."

"I see," he let out a long, disappointed sigh and glanced down at the white case. "I suppose you don't need me anymore..."

"Uh, well..." He lowered his head guiltily. "I want him back. And, assuming it will work like it did this morning, I think your dosage will help."

The two sat in silence for a long while—Amaimon staring at the tiled floor and the doctor fidgeting with his sleeves. As the tension of the moment grew weaker, he looked up. He fully expected the man to be difficult and argue, so he was stunned to see a smile on his face.

"If that's what you really want...then I can't say no," he said, his voice unexpectedly calm.

Amaimon raised a brow, suspicious of the doctor's soft expression. "That's it? You're not going to ask me why?"

He shrugged and his smile deepened. "I don't claim to know what's going on in your head, Amaimon. You know what's best in this case and, if you want the demon back for whatever reason, who am I to deny that?" He happily turned to the table and opened the briefcase, preparing a sterile needle. "Come on—it'll just be a quick poke in your upper arm."

"Do you think it will work?" he asked as he cautiously moved to the other chair beside the doctor. "I mean...he's not gone forever, is he?"

"Ah, most likely not. Demons are like rats." He flicked the needle with a finger. "They always come back to their hosts, so they're impossible to exterminate entirely."

"...Good to know."

Amaimon quickly dismissed the doctor after receiving the injection, making the excuse that he didn't feel well and was going to bed for the evening. In reality, he felt little to no difference, and this lack of change frightened him. He decided a short nap might help ease his fears and laid down on his bed. Amaimon passed the time staring at his blank ceiling, his thoughts still swirling incoherently. What if the doctor was wrong? What if Ghost would never come back? Could Amaimon live the rest of his life stumbling through the muddled darkness like this?

At some point during his tirade, Rin quietly opened the door to check on him. Amaimon sat up at the sound, surprised by how easy it was now. "How do you feel?"

"...Better," he remarked, unwilling to say anything more.

Rin simply nodded, a gentle smile softening his features. "I'll let you sleep—see you in the morning."

Some time after Rin had gone to bed, the fog in Amaimon's head finally lifted and Ghost's familiar growling returned to him.

MURDERER!

What!? Startled, he sat up, struggling to make sense of this sudden accusation. Ghost had yet to call him anything but weak, and 'murderer' was certainly not something he ever expected to hear from the monster. "What do you mean?" he rasped, his throat painfully dry.

I AM A BURDEN TO YOU
SO YOU TRIED TO GET RID OF ME
YOU WANTED TO TAKE MY BODY FOR YOURSELF
YOU WANTED TO KILL ME
DIDN'T YOU?

"Ghost, I-" He stopped himself. What was the harm in letting the beast believe he wanted to be free of him? It wasn't too far from the truth anyway, and would give him a long-wanted power over the demon.

DON'T LIE TO ME!
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE AFTER
THIS BODY IS MINE
I WON'T LET YOU TAKE IT FROM ME

"...You don't have much of a choice, do you?" Ghost didn't respond, and Amaimon felt perversely satisfied that he was finally able to shut him up. "If you don't want to die, you'll do as I say. Understand?" There was a trace of something bitter and sinister in his words.

Something that made Ghost increasingly uncomfortable.

"You will stop attacking people, especially Rin. Deal?" Amaimon stood as he waited for the demon's answer. He raised his arms over his head, carefully stretching his rigid muscles, enjoying the feeling. "Ghost? Do we have a deal?"

He hesitated and then reluctantly spat a single word.

FINE

"Good. I'm glad we were able to come to an agreement." Satisfied and confident—and tired of talking to himself—Amaimon opened his closet door and looked at his reflection.

He brushed his fringe aside and closely examined his eyes. The light blue hue seemed more vibrant than he remembered, but those dark bruises under his eyes were still far too visible. As he continued to examine his face, his mirth darkened and, suddenly, the image in the mirror was warped. It was as if two of him were superimposed—one frowning, almost sad, and the other smiling gently, maniacally. He shook his head and the sight vanished. Feeling nauseous, he quickly shut the door.

Ghost let out a disconcerting laugh at his reaction. The sound sent chills up and down his spine.

I WILL MAKE YOU REGRET THIS
GOODNIGHT