I broke my laptop once again. However, I have terrible writer's block and took weeks to just try and figure out how to start this chapter.

Anyhow, I'm glad to be back for now. I'm not going to promise a flood of updates, because that would be unreasonable. Thankfully, I ended the last chapter on a note that I think I can work with. Thank Toby for the Undertale soundtrack. It's been making writing a lot easier!

Onwards, to the story!~

Disclaimer: I do not own Ao No Exorcist or -Man.

Chapter 19

Shiro Fujimoto had been surprised as the Musician had eaten a moderate amount of food before commenting on the late time and left. He had been too distracted with what the Musician had said, which had been completely vague. Yes, he had women pray to him about a lot of problems that they turned to God for. A lot of problems. So, Shiro Fujimoto, being the resourceful individual he was, pretended he knew exactly what the Musician had been talking about. In his mind, it had been the perfect plan; pretend to know exactly what was happening and figure it all out later, pretending to have known all along. He simply had to ask the right question to uncover more of the truth. Yuri seemed to know exactly what the Musician had been talking about with the odd look she threw at the two of them. He would probably ask her about it later.

It was clear to the Musician that Shiro Fujimoto was completely clueless as to what he had been talking about, though he had seemed to give great advice about the problem he had been unaware of. It was something Neah had mentioned earlier that night, during the snack he had with the monks and Yuri, that drew him to this conclusion.

You know, he seems a bit too uneffected by what you said, Nephew, the shadow had murmured in his ear. It was true, sadly, that the human had not expressed the horror that Yuri had in knowing his pain. It could have just been the priest's nature that accepted the horrible truth. Afterall, the Musician wondered if he had heard of worst. The monistary wasn't exactly the largest or busiest he had seen, so perhaps someone with a pain similar to his had shown up and said something about it. However, he knew after he left for the empty dorm and thought back at everything the priest had done that night. It had almost seemed a tad forced when he tried to console the Musician. However, the man had been nothing but nice afterwards. He had been trying to make someone feel better about a problem he couldn't see and it had almost worked.

However, the Musician was not the only one who occupied his mind. Neah had seen through the priest's facade and had informed the moyashi about it. Without the shadow, the Musician would have accepted the priest knowing without a doubt.

"Damn. I'm going soft," the hybrid growled slightly, causing his uncle to laugh. It was unavoidable. Things were simply not as tough as they used to be. After being imprisoned for years, his mask had chipped away.

There isn't anything wrong with showing a little emotion from time to time, Nephew.

"Last I remember, you didn't want me showing any affection to anyone."

'Emotion' does not automatically mean 'affection'. I was leaning toward trust actually.

"Do you think I can trust Fujimoto then?"

I don't know. Afterall, he has to gain YOUR trust. I don't like him, though.

"Do you like anyone?"

...That has nothing to do with it, Nephew. I can not like as many people as I want.

The Musician chuckled lightly at the shadow, "I don't know about you, but I'm starved. What do feel like having?"

Well, how about nothing? I'm only a fragment of your mind, so I don't really have to worry about eating.

This caused the Musician to wonder what life was like for the shadow. What did it feel like to look out of someone else's eyes and not be in control? Did he ever miss having his own body?

Well, aren't you forgetful. I share your mind with you, Nephew. You might as well just ask.

"Well, do you?"

I do miss my old body, and it is a rather strange sensation, though not unlike looking at a screen. However, these shadows are akin to a body for me. They are just less solid.

"Interesting," the Musician murmed before thinking about the vistor he had earlier that day, "What do you think of Mephesto?"

He is an interesting character, no doubt. A lot like our brothers and sisters.

The Musician nodded in agreement. Mephesto was very similar to the Noah in some regards. While most of the Noah stayed away from humans, Mephesto pestered humans constantly and often acted as if he knew more than he let on. The hybrid was not certain how much the clownish demon knew, but he probably knew more than he let on.

Speaking of the demon, the Musician blinked at the demon in surprise as he was seated at a table inside the dorm's kitchen and was looking at a group of photos. It looked like the current reincarnation of the Noahs, beside the Musician who was missing.

"This is your family, correct," the demon asked with a cheshire grin. The Musician nodded as he sat down across from the akuma. He could feel danger in the air as his Uncle crawled across the ground and waited within striking distance of the demon. Something wasn't right.

"You know, the Grigori would love to know that these family members of yours are alive and well. Do you understand," the demon continued. The shadows bubbled slightly as if enraged. The Musician sent a very meaningful look at the shadow before looking back to the demon.

The Musician nodded, "I assume you want me to buy your silence."

"That would be correct," Mephesto grinned at the moyashi as he waved the picture around, "I would like some of my questions answered and I'll know if you're telling the truth or not." The Musician nodded and waited for the demon to start asking. He didn't have to wait long for the demon to ask. "What was your relationship with Yuri's father?"

The Musician broke eye-contact with the demon, cursing to himself. Of course, he would ask that question first. The Musician steadied himself before answering.

"He was my jailer and was supposed to take care of me, keep me weak so I couldn't escape." Mephesto frowned at this before standing and walking closer to him, glaring down at the hybrid.

"That's not the whole truth, is it?" The Musician found himself shaking his head, looking down at his lap. He found himself scared to admit to the demon exactly what had happened between him and Egin. Perhaps the demon would let it slide.

"I was thinking, 'why would the Musician love Kanda?'. I couldn't help but wonder, 'did the Musician love anyone else?'. Just say it and get it over with."

The Musician looked up in confusion. 'Did he love anyone else,' seemed like a strange question to ask. Then, Mephesto didn't really know him, did he? He simply had to wonder who else the demon could be thinki-

No. NO. He didn't- He could never- What!?

"It's alright to admit it. Stokeholm Syndrome is nothing to be shameful of." The Musician shook his head back and forth rapidly, trying to clear his head of the confusion. "Of course, I was rather shocked to find this picture inside your personal files. Who else would have taken it?"

The Musician took the picture the demon presented him and felt himself go numb. I was a picture of himself, chained up and naked. However, it was the way the photo was taken that made the Musician go cold. It was taken during... !

Mephesto felt slightly alarmed as the beansprout sported a heavy coating of his golden flames that Destroyed the very picture's existence. He was more interested in the Musician though.

The Musician cried, "I- I didn't want anyone to see that." Tears slowly slipped down his face as he shook from seeing it and reliving it.

Mephesto grinned even more, "It's alright. I promise not to tell Kanda about your little fling." He was stunned silent as the Musician slammed his fist into the table, shattering it. The shadow behind him had sprung up and grabbed his wrist, trapping him.

"Kanda knows about Egin, but you don't," the Musician hissed dangerously as he stalked closer to the demon, "Egin used me. I didn't want anything like that to happen to me! He used me! It wasn't consentual at all! I was his play-thing! FOR YEARS!" At this point the hiss had turned into a shout and the shadow had let his wrist go, keeping him trapped by his feet. "I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, PHELES!" With that, the shadow lurched up and he felt himself fall into his desk chair.

He had made a mistake.

Sorry about the long as hell wait! I missed you, Readers! And sorry for the short as hell chapter, but I simply could find anything else to write about.

My mind is a kerfluffling mess.