Devastating. Incredible. Humbling.
The fight between Rin Okumura and Amaimon, King of Earth was all these things and more. It also put into perspective how very, very small and pathetic I was compared to the entities of this world...
I felt like an ant in a world full of giants...
But that little reminder could not keep my feet glued to the forest floor, nor could it keep my lips sealed shut. When that Angel guy had come along and threatened to skewer a defenseless Rin, I found myself suddenly between the pair, arms outstretched and eyes defiant.
That was the moment I felt myself freeze. Not from fear, but from a memory. Hazy but vivid enough to leave me shook. Here, I had a sword slashing towards me. In my mind, there was a butcher knife...being held by a man with short, black hair and hateful blue eyes...
White covered my vision, blocking me from sight of the blonde man. The purple hair and that familiar hat were all the signs I needed to know that Mephisto had stepped in to block the fatal blow. From the corner of my eye, I saw Shura with her sword out and at the ready. She looked just as shocked as I felt.
"That's no way to treat a lady," Mephisto taunted the Paladin-level exorcist. With ease, the demon flicked away his sword with an elegant twist of his umbrella.
"M-Mana? Why?" Rin's voice at my back prompted me to turn my gaze away from our savior. I knelt to give him a helping hand to his feet. "You could've been killed, idiot!" He bonked me on the head with his free hand.
"So could you!" I shot right back with a glare, but refrained from causing greater physical harm to his already beaten and bruised body.
"You both are such a handful," Mephisto sighed in exasperation. I held my tongue while Rin threatened his principal, getting to my feet.
"Mephisto Pheles," Angel addressed, disgust heavily lacing his words, blue eyes glaring icily at the True Cross headmaster. "You are under arrest for harboring a spawn of Satan. Take these demons into custody!" he barked at the men who had accompanied him to the area, his long golden hair shimmering brilliantly in the coming dawn. His hard stare finally settled on my small, frail form still standing between him and Rin. An unreadable expression passed over his well-chiseled face before a look of pity sparked in those clear, blue eyes. His hand settled on my shoulder after sheathing his overlarge sword, an understanding smile gracing his lips.
"Lady, your heart may be pure, but it is misplaced. You've been tricked by demons," he began to spew nonsense. I tuned him out only to brush his hand off with a frown. "Go with your friends." He motioned towards the group of teens just yards away, all of whom looked positively-horrified by the truth behind Rin's heritage.
Amusement quirked the corners of my lips into a smirk—something I didn't do often. "I am with them," I replied in a matter-of-fact tone. Just in case there was any confusion, I inched closer to Rin and Mephisto. Both seemed surprised at my declaration as did the small class in the distance, even Yukio and Shura. I shuffled nervously as the silence grew until Rin pulled me into a hug and wouldn't let go. "Rin?" I mumbled into his neck, glad that no one attempted to pry us apart. I had no intention of allowing him to undergo that stupid trial on his own.
"Just need the support," he choked out. I caught on to the double meaning behind that statement, glancing at Mephisto. He didn't appear too happy, but he gave a sigh at my pleading stare.
"Might as well allow Miss Feldman to join us. Call her the 'character witness', if you wish," Mephisto gave me a wink, a smirk growing on his face. My heart leapt to my throat, but I kept my calm façade.
Whatever kindness or understanding Angel may have held for me previously vanished upon the realization that I'd chosen to be with demons over my own kind. And, what's more, I did so without hesitation. He didn't even bother to acknowledge my presence, just started to lead the way to Vatican Headquarters.
"Kid, you just picked a thorny path," Shura said from my side, looking amused.
"Good. More fun for me, then," I joked, honestly happy with the remark. Mephisto's chuckle from up front informed me that he'd heard my comment. Rin, too, gave a laugh, sobering up once he saw what used to be his friends turning their backs on him.
"You are weird, Mana-chan," he mumbled into my ear.
"They'll get over it, Rin," I reassured him, following his sorrowful gaze. Even Yukio averted his eyes. I fought the urge to stick out my tongue not unlike a child. During stressful or intense moments, I always seemed to get very unusual...as in, I would try to lighten the atmosphere with jokes or silly gestures. If my friends or those I cared about were particularly-affected by such travesties, then I was even more intent on brightening their spirits.
Before long, we ended up in what I assumed to be the innermost sanctum of True Cross headquarters. Awestruck by the vaulted ceilings and intricate carvings throughout the gothic architecture, I barely even registered the fact that there were people already gathered in the seats up in the balconies crowding the expansive walls. The podium before us—nearly two or three stories high—held three throne-like chairs. A single robed person sat at each of them, faces completely-obscured by their hoods.
The Grigori? I believe that was their title. A shorter pedestal stood in the middle of the room directly in front of the three strangers. It really did look like a courtroom, but not the American modern one I was familiar with. Which meant the Grigori were acting as judges.
Or judge, jury, and executioner...
I chewed the inside of my cheek when Shura yanked me to stay back as Mephisto and Rin advanced to the center of the cavernous room. It took me a moment to realize that the Demon King's hat was now on my head. My fingers stroked the brim of it while I gave an encouraging smile to Rin who happened to glace back. The surprise on his face made me snort as did the doubletake he did between myself and our school director.
"Sir Pheles!" one of the masked men addressed in a booming voice. Mephisto had seen himself to the top of the podium, looking as calm as ever. He even had a smile on his lips. Rin, however, was the opposite of anything positive. Worry, fear, and sorrow had his features twisted into nothing short of a pained grimace as he awaited whatever fate the Vatican had in store for him.
It took everything I had to hold myself back from running to my friend's side...
"You are accused of harboring the son of Satan--"
I tuned out the rest of this impromptu hearing, already knowing what would happen. Mephisto admitted to concealing the fact that he and Father Fujimoto had not slaughtered the twins when they were born. Vatican or not, it pissed me off that they would so heartlessly kill innocent newborns without a thought! It wasn't as if they could choose who their father was! Gods know I didn't...
Flashes of that face from earlier passed through my mind. Black hair, blue eyes, hate...I didn't recognize that man, but something was so very familiar about him...
"Come along, Kitten. Time to leave," Mephisto's amused voice drew me from my musings. I looked up to see that wide smirk stretching over his face, his fangs visible to all. Rin shuffled along behind him, his vivid blue eyes now burning with fiery determination.
Relief hit me as I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. Despite knowing the outcome—and Mephisto's silver tongue—I still couldn't prevent that gnawing concern in the back of my mind. When had I gotten so attached to these two? Why did I so easily care for demons while almost disregarding humans?
Upon trying to give Mephisto's hat back to him, the demon refused. "Keep it on for now. I quite like seeing you in it," he drawled in a teasing voice. Rin was quick to jump on that, not missing my pink cheeks.
"Are you two together now or something?" the dark-haired teen growled, a tic forming on his temple.
"I have no idea what you mean," the Director of True Cross Academy trilled. "That would be quite unethical seeing as how she is my student." Despite his words, that didn't stop him from giving me a strange look.
Rin must have been able to interpret whatever message was there because he got between us with a snarl, grabbed my wrist, and began to drag me away. Stumbling after him, I shot Mephisto an apologetic look from over my shoulder. He did not appear happy although there was a smirk on his face. If looks could kill, Rin would be dead several times over. It got me wondering about something as we returned to the dormitory.
Could demons really feel emotions? Could they learn to love?