Well, I'm getting this out way later than I planned, I'm sorry for that but it should be expected for this fic because I don't really have a plot or direction I'm going in, ahahaha. But, without further ado, a third installment~
Disclaimer: I do not own Ao No Exorcist or the characters, they belong to Kazue Katō.
Shura entered the training room late that morning, clad in her purple robe and sandals, and stretching her arms over her head to relieve the knots and stiff muscles that still lingered after being stuck in a hospital bed for far too long. She was mostly healed now, and things had finally calmed enough for her to actually have a little fun and regain some of the strength she'd lost with her injury.
She was delighted that the remainder of her stay in the hospital was relatively calm. She still had all the toys and games Mephisto had left behind for her, but she didn't have to deal with him again save for an odd call or two with an update on the Illuminati situation. She could handle Mephisto only so much; between her endless suspicions of his motives, his eccentric personality, the way he always knew how to get under her skin, and the fact she could actually get along with him a small percentage of the time was exhausting in its conflicting nature. He confused her, he was an enigma she would never be able to fully understand and he knew it. One minute he could be a charming, arrogant asshole, the next he could be threatening her life without batting an eye, and then yet another he could be this strange version of nice and considerate even if it's mostly for his own gain. She just wished he would pick one and then she could form a solid opinion of him, one that preferably involved loathing him because that's what she'd rather do if only for her conscience's sake.
Upon entering the cage for the battle simulator, Shura grabbed a bokuto and used it to finish stretching, sighing when a knot loosen, the slight popping sensation just what she needed before training. She decided that she wouldn't push herself too much that day, only a standard difficult setting for half an hour rather than the normal endless string of targets like she usually preferred.
"It's nice to see you up and about, Shura," the last voice she wanted to hear that day came from behind her before she could start up her simulation. She glanced back with a frown to see Mephisto standing in the lane next to hers, his hands perched on the top of his umbrella as he leaned forward slightly on it. He had his ever present impassive smirk on his face, as if he was silently calculating something, deducing how to play things in his favor. What that could be- she had no idea and didn't care to find out.
"Don't tell me ya came ta check up on me again, Mephisto," she said flatly while turning back to the console to finish entering her choice in. She was hoping he'd get the idea she wasn't too keen on having his company down there, but she knew that even if that were the case he wouldn't leave until he was ready to. "I'm perfectly fine, sorry ya don't get to see me stumbling around anymore."
"Really? Then why aren't you training at your usual level?" He hummed knowingly and moved to step toward her.
"Because I ain't an idiot who's going to push herself hard right out of the hospital. Anyway, what d'you care?"
"While you may be a high inspector of the True Cross Order sent to keep an eye on myself and Okumura-kun, you are still working under my Japanese Branch as an exorcist and teacher." He said, his voice far too close for comfort. Her back went straight while the grip on her bokuto tightened to prepare to lash out at him if necessary. She was right to be on guard when during a short pause in his explanation she felt a very slight pressure placed against her injured side from the handle of his umbrella, a dull ache erupting from the spot immediately and sending her temper out the window. In an instant she was swinging at him only to strike thin air as he quickly jumped up, floating in midair above her as he stared down at her fuming expression with a serious gaze. "It is in my best interests to see you in good health right now." A grin spread over his face as he came back to the ground, his hands held up in front of him as a show of peace as he went on. "And I must say, I am quite pleased to see that you are fit for duty…. or almost, as it were."
"What d'ya mean almost, ya stupid clown?" She asked, straightening again as she let her temper cool, a hand going to rub at her once again aching side.
"That," he said, pointing at where she was holding her side, causing her to frown in irritation at him, "is what I mean. But, I know an exorcist of your caliber can easily overcome something as tedious as a bruise, so I'll let it slide."
"Tsh, it's just a little sore still." She grumbled, and then waved the end of her wooden sword in his face. "But now that you're satisfied, will ya let me get back to my training and get out of my face."
"Hmmm, no can do, my lady. I think today I wish to watch how you manage." She frowned at his back as he turned to exit out the gate, shutting it behind him before turning to send her a sly wink. "Just in case my impromptu assessment of your injury was off and you end up collapsing again. I would hardly want to miss that."
"If ya wanna watch so bad then get yer stupid ass back in here and let me use yer head as target practice instead!" She hollered, waving her bokuto in the air as she fumed at his retreating back. He laughed at her anger, of course, and moved to recline on one of the weight benches where he immediately pulled out a handheld game console. "Tsh, you're not even gonna watch, are ya? You're just using it as an excuse to laze around again."
"Why Shura, I am offended," he said mockingly, not even sparing her a glance as he focused on his game. "I assure you that I am here as a representative of the True Cross looking to assess the condition of a previously wounded exorcist. I am not lazing around. Anyway, you're not exactly one to be pointing fingers, you know."
"Ha! Fine, ya got me there." She managed to smirk at him when he finally turned away from his game to look at her again, a hand perched on her hip and sword resting on her shoulder. "At least yer not running around as a cockroach to spy on me."
"I considered it, but you seem to have a knack for noticing me so I decided not to waste the effort." He chuckled lightly and turned his gaze from her again. His tone turned lower, a darkness creeping into his voice as he spoke that left her on edge. "Where you're concerned it's always best to be upfront, wouldn't you say?"
"Hmpf," her smile became slightly wary as she turned away from him, deciding it best to just focus on her training and ignore him, but not before muttering one last comment. "It's annoyin' that I just can't seem to figure you out."
"That's exactly how I prefer it, my lady." She wasn't surprised when she heard him chuckle under his breath right after, nor the remark he made as she started her simulation program. She knew that the closer she got to understanding him, the more he would just push her in another direction. Still, out of everyone around him, she knew she was the closest to gaining a bit of insight into his plans, if she wasn't, then he wouldn't bother threatening her so openly whenever she crossed a line.
As her training program started up and she began hitting target after target with ease, she felt her stress melt away, her mind focused on what was in front of her. She moved smoothly, each swing of her wooden sword natural. She could feel the muscles in her legs stretch and flex as she stepped side to side with grace as if she were merely dancing.
"You're looking very good, Shura," she heard Mephisto muse behind her again, but she didn't pay him any heed. "As expected of a Kirigakure."
"Hmpf," she chuckled smugly, her lips quirking into a smirk. "Quit with the flattery, Mephisto, it's creepy."
"And what exactly is so creepy about it?"
"Sounds like yer sizing me up when you say something like that. I can tell the wheels in yer mind are turning, calculating how you can take me out if I become a threat, or how you can use me to your advantage. Either way, sounds like yer stalkin' yer prey and that's creepy." She spared him a small glance back to smirk at him. "I already know that's what you do half the time anyway; I don't need the commentary to remind me'a that fact."
Mephisto chuckled again, shaking his head in amusement before letting out a sigh. "You hardly know what I'm thinking, my dear, but you aren't entirely wrong either."
She wasn't even looking at him anymore, but she knew his eyes were on her, the sensation of him staring sending icy chills through her veins and nearly making her falter in her exercises. She wasn't sure just how much she wanted to know what exactly she wasn't wrong about.
Silence overtook them as she tried to clear the lingering sensations of his eyes on her. Her mind focused on the targets firing at her, slashing each one away and forgetting once again that she was in the company of a powerful demon with whom she had no idea if she stood in his good favor or not. The sound of his game starting back up again managed to break the remaining tension in her, much to her relief as she let out a small sigh.
"Ne? Mephisto?" She waited until he hummed to acknowledge her so she knew she had his attention. "Did ya get yer stuff back from the hospital?"
"I did. Were they to your satisfaction during your stay?" He answered distractedly, his tone relaxed and almost normal.
"Yeah, thanks for leavin' that behind. Though I half expected ya to come back for them before I got released."
"I was unfortunately too busy to even consider it at the time. Well, I guess we can call it a reward for doing as you're told for once." His bored tone paused for a moment as a few shrill tones came from his game while he muttered something to him. She could hear his fingers pressing eagerly at the controls for a few moments before abruptly stopping with a satisfied grunt. She rolled her eyes, knowing that he had gotten distracted, but now his game was off and his full attention on her again, and she wondered if that was a good thing. "You just reminded me, though, that we never did finish our little match."
"Nope, we didn't. Guess it looks like neither of us won in the end."
"On the contrary, despite not meeting the requirements of the wager, you still came away with the reward. I cannot allow that to stand." Mephisto said lowly, and she turned slightly to look as he slowly got up from the bench he had been reclined on to saunter over to where she was. He stopped just outside the cage, his fingers curling around the wires as he grinned. "We'll need to rectify that, of course, but since you have no reason to follow through with the remaining match, I will give you the opportunity to change your wager and give you motive to play that last game with me."
Shura kept her back to him, not answering him for long moments as she considered the offer while finishing the last few minutes of her training. He didn't seem to be in any rush to get her answer as he stood back watching her intently, this time his gaze not feeling quite as penetrating on her back, but still no less unnerving to be scrutinized by him.
Leaving things unsettled left a bad taste in her mouth, honestly, but she would rather have the draw this time if it meant she could avoid the chance that Mephisto would win and be able to hold her to a single favor. Still, she also knew he wouldn't let things remain this way; he was never one to back out of a bet, no matter the situation, and he would hound her relentlessly until she gave in. She didn't have much of an option it seemed, but that was her fault for purposing the silly thing in the first place, at least he was giving her an option for a new wager this time.
What did she want from him, though? There was the obvious but even knowing that he honored his bets, she wondered if he could be trusted to answer her questions about Rin honestly if that was what she wagered for. It would certainly not be in his interests to do so, and then there was the chance that he'd just kill her after telling her everything and she really didn't want that to happen. Still, it could be worth a shot.
One last swing of her bokuto and her session was complete, leaving her to turn and face the expectantly grinning Mephisto.
"So? What will it be, Shura dear?" He asked upon opening the gate to her and handing her a water bottle. She stared at the drink he offered her skeptically, knowing well enough she hadn't brought anything in with her which meant he had conjured it. "It's not poison, I swear on my honor as a demon and a gentleman." She sent him an even more skeptical look and he sighed impatiently. "Really? If I had any desire to kill you right now, poison would be the absolute last means for me to fall to. I'd rather you knew you were about to die at my hand than be left wondering."
"Well, I guess I can't argue that," she shrugged and took the water from him, taking a long drink and sighing in relief as her thirst was quenched after her small workout. "As for yer wager, if I turned ya down, you'd only hassle me about it, right?" His smile grew in answer and she let out an irritated huff. "Thought as much. Alright, if ya say I can change my conditions, then I'll take ya up on that last game, but let me think 'bout my wager for a bit first."
He raised a brow at the request. "I assumed that would be easy for you to decide on."
"Oh, I know exactly what I want if I win," she laughed and turned her back on him to head for the exit. "But when dealin' with you, I know I got to make sure my wording is exact so you don't find some loophole to screw me out of my part'a the deal somehow. See ya 'round, ya ugly clown."
As she walked out of the room with a small wave back, she heard his chuckle echo behind her. "Cunning woman."
Oh, and another note, I am going to try to come up with a story that actually has a plot behind it, so when I do, I will probably end this one and focus on that. As much as I enjoy interconnected one shots, I really want to try my hand at something with more substance and action befitting these two. I'll keep you informed if that's the case, of course.