A/N: Thank you AnimeKpopKawaii and SuperiorDimwit for commenting!

AnimeKpopKawaii: Thanks for your interest! I'm excited that you noticed a similarity between Arisu and Yukio, I never realized how much the two were a like until after I began writing the story. Lol it's funny you say that about Sheimi because I *COUGH* feel exactly the same way. *COUGH* I'm just neurotic about keeping people in character. However, I intend on complicating Rin's feelings in later chapters! (spoiler XD) Lol poor Yukio is loosing his sanity by the second….

SuperiorDimwit: I appreciate you looking at my DeviantArt! Thank you! Lol! Yes! Yukio is powerless without his glasses! Thanks for the advice about the accent. XD I've been using the Fourth Harry Potter book as a reference.


"Sooo… Suguro's test results came out negative you say?"

Rin sat on a plush sofa, listening carefully as the headmaster and Yukio conversed.

It was only five hours ago that the teacher was stopped.

Those were the longest hours of Rin's life.

During that time, he was forced to wait in Mephisto's office until his brother came to elevate – wait no – EVALUATE the situation. He sat there in dread, as the weirdo man asked about Rin's studies and forced him to play stupid, kiddy board games. As for Aidyn, he was immediately rushed home the moment Isaac arrived on the scene. Rin hoped the little guy was all right…

Not knowing whether Suguro was sick or not…. it killed him… One could imagine how anxious and fidgety Rin must've gotten. He felt like a five-year-old waiting for a parent to come pick him up from daycare. Even so, the teen did feel some relief when his brother walked through the doors with good news.

"Yes," Yukio stated coolly, refusing to sit down.

"He's completely clean of the virus. We've double checked to make sure."

"Aahhh…isn't that fortunate. Was anyone else infected?" The man purred, sipping his tea.

"None sir, the only students outside the quarantines were Kamiki, Shima, Konekomaru, and Suguro. Out them all, Suguro was the only one who encountered Mr. Yonegawa. Despite this, we had them all tested… each came out negative. The faculty, as we speak, are being checked as well."

"I see… Good work, Mr. Okumura."

Mephisto was a very suspicious guy. He always seemed amused, no matter how bad a situation got. Not to mention his wardrobe… The guy wore every bright color and pattern under the sun – polka dots… stripes…. It made him hard to look at.

The pointy beard placed firmly on his chin made Mephisto look like an old-fashioned villain on a late night television show. His smile was creepy too, but that went hand in hand with the whole suspicious thing. Rin knew that he and the old man were buddies … but… the teen couldn't help but be wary…

The headmaster turned towards Rin.

"You helped too Okumura, hmm? Did you use your flame?"

"I – "

Yukio cut him off.

"Only once… and Rin didn't loose control of himself. After he spewed fire, the situation was dealt with swiftly."

Rin grumbled.

I still HELPED…. I'm not ALWAYS a walking disaster….

Mephisto continued to smile.

"Now, now, there's no need to get defensive, Mr. Okumura. I'm not going to report your dear brother over here, I just wanted the details."

Yukio was silent, and the headmaster continued.

"I assure you that this will never happen again. I'm currently working on preparations to strengthen the protection of our students and faculty."

Instead of answering, Yukio addressed Rin with a stern tone.

"Rin, why don't you go back to the dorm?"

"HUH? Why?"

"Just go back."

"What about you?"

"I'm busy."

"But – "

The teen yawned from exhaustion. It was late, about 10:00? Being accustomed to eleven hours of sleep a night, Rin gave into the argument. He pointed a finger at his brother and shouted.

"Arrrgg… Fine, Mom, but don't think I'm doing this just because you told me to!"

And yet he was doing exactly what Yukio wanted him to.

Rin stormed to the door, but before he left, he turned his head with a serious look.

"Hey…Yukio."

"What?"

"Don't work so late… You need to rest too, y'know?"

"…"

His brother did not respond and the teen walked outside. Rin was about to tread down the hallway when he overheard Yukio's voice from behind the door.

"Mr. Pheles, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a word with you."

"Ahh! Is that so? In that case please – PLEASE! Sit down!"

Curiosity pulled Rin's ear to the wall like a magnet.

Ah – HA! So THAT'S why you kicked me out, huh, Four–Eyes?

"So? What seems to be on your mind?"

"I find the previous dilemma suspicious."

"Hmm really? How so?"

"…. Doesn't it all seem too neat?"

"Hmmm?"

"One teacher gets infected and everyone else conveniently escapes with their lives."

"Would you prefer the deaths of countless others?"

"That's not what I'm saying… "

"Then what are you suggesting Mr. Okumura? ~ "

"I'm suggesting it was a set up."

"A trap, you say? Whatever do you think the demon responsible wants from us?"

From the teasing in Mephisto's voice, Rin could tell the man already knew the answer to that.

Probably me, right? Being Satan's son…

"I believe it was after brother and I."

The teen was surprised by the 'and I' part. The teacher wanted Yukio too? Why…? Sweat rolled down Rin's neck in concern for his brother.

"Are you suggesting that Mr. Yonegawa was purposely infected in order to retrieve you and Rin? And he purposely avoided poisoning others because the task would get messy?"

"Yes."

"OH! How riveting! Tell me, Mr. Okumura, what led you to such a conclusion?..!"

"….During the incident, there was a point when Mr. Yonegawa grabbed us….and spoke. He told Rin that he would…'be claimed by the Goddess' and told me that I would 'be claimed by the Dollmaker…"

There was a long silence in the room. Rin couldn't hear Mephisto mumble under his breath.

"Well isn't that something."

"The goddess and the dollmaker…." Yukio pressed. "Tell me Mr. Pheles…. Are these terms familiar to you?"

"What's this? Am I a suspect, Mr. Okumura?"

"…I… confess that I originally thought Astaroth was responsible…but now…."

Long silence…

His kid-brother continued.

"….The first mission I encountered 'Noire Du Sang'… an infected demon stated: 'Mother is calling'…. I can't help but wonder, sir, … if this so-called 'Mother' may also be the 'Goddess' Mr. Yonegawa mentioned earlier. Mr. Pheles…surely an exorcist with your experience must've at least heard about a female demon in the past."

Rin's cheek was becoming sweaty from pressing his face against the wall, but he couldn't pull away.

Female? A GIRL demon is behind this? What does she want with me….?

"Tsk-tsk, Mr. Okumura. Don't ignore my question, it's quite rude." The headmaster's voice was low and mischievous. He spoke slowly, as though he wanted Yukio to hang on every word.

"…"

"Tell me…. Am I a suspect?"

The teen was almost a hundred percent sure the man looked creepy at that moment. He almost felt bad for Four-eyes there…

"It's like I said before sir, I only asked because of your experience….and….this."

Rin's brother must've handed Mephisto something, because his voiced boomed with excitement.

"What is THIS!~"

Rin jolted from the door, cursing…. The guy's voice was so freakin' loud. After two seconds of recovery… he returned to the wall. This time he peeked through a keyhole to see… Why the hell did he not think of that before?

Mephisto was still at his desk and Yukio was still standing. The picture was floating in midair, in front of the man's face… some kind of magic or whatever.

"This was found in the possession of Mr. Yonegawa. It's a photo of Father Fujimoto as a child. I believe he was in cram school at the time it was taken."

"Correct you are! Ah, what a time it was."

Cutting the 'sentimental' (Who knows if Mephisto was serious or not?) moment, Yukio got down to business.

"That's why I ask you, Mr. Pheles. You were close friends with my foster father… Was he involved?"

"Hmm?"

"Did Father Fujimoto ever face this 'Goddess' – or virus as a teenager? And… who is the other person in the picture? It's water-damaged so we can't see her face."

The headmaster let out a fake sigh.

"Oh well…. I'm afraid it was such a long time ago that I seemed to have forgotten…. Tell me, Mr. Okumura…are you aware of the significance of a photo?"

EEEHHH?..! What's that got to do with anything?...! Rin thought.

His brother seemed to feel the same way.

"I don't see the how that's relevant to the – "

"A photo is taken to capture a critical moment in one's life. If a person were to take an album and observe carefully, he or she may be able to read the entire experience of another."

"….."

"That's precisely why I keep this!"

Mephisto pointed his umbrella at Four-Eyes.

"Eins…Zwei…DRE!*"

Out of nowhere, a weird polka-dotted album emerged out of a poofy cloud of pink puffiness and nearly fell on Yukio's head.

Luckily he was able to catch it. (Though, secretly, Rin would've much preferred for it to have dropped on his head. Not that he wanted his brother to get hurt – it was just that it would be nice to see Four-Eyes screw up once in a while. Rin could feel like the cool brother for once.)

His brother seemed annoyed by not getting an answer.

"Sir, what are you implying by all this?"

Mepshisto stared down coolly.

"You may find that this picture fits quite well with the rest of the album…. If you look closely you may find that something's missing. Why don't you re-jog my memory and come back later."

THAT MADE NO SENSE!

Yukio did not respond, he only nodded and walked toward the exit.

Crap! I need to get outta here!

But it was too late.

By the time Rin scrambled away from the entrance, his brother had opened the door.