A/N:

Hails: I'm having problems. If aoex goes where I think it is, I will bask in sweet, sweet AUs and silly-ass coping mechanisms.

I disregard any claims to the characters, setting, or plot of Blue Exorcist/青の祓魔師, which are a property of the mangaka Kazue Kato. I'm just borrowing them for a little non-profit fun.

"Unless we learn to know ourselves, we run the danger of destroying ourselves."

― Ja A. Jahannes, WordSong Poets

Mei-Lin sighed dejectedly, running a hand through her dark hair as she reviewed the witness statements. Usually, it'd be Jomei handling all the paperwork but he had been given a lead on the teenage fugitives and had been sent to investigate. However, he had recently taken on some more work for another case, leaving Mei-Lin to finish up behind him for the sake of keeping time. She hated handling all the little details, it was the big discoveries that had her raring to go. Not this.

"You seem stressed,"

Mei-Lin glanced up, meeting Alessa's concerned gaze. She didn't say anything for a hot second before dropping her head into her hands.

"I am stressed," She admitted, placing the cap on a ballpoint pen she'd been using to write which had since accumulated a number of chewing marks from her teeth. "Jomei gets to go off and do all the fun things while I'm sitting here with his paperwork."

Alessa winced, pulling a chair over so she could sit adjacent to her dear friend. "Need any help?"

"Any and all help would be greatly appreciated," Mei-Lin conceded, splitting the stack of papers in half. Alessa slid them over to herself, plucking a pencil from behind her left ear as he read over the reports and responded to the questions. After a couple moments of silence, she spoke up.

"These are a little ridiculous, don't you think?" She asked.

"More than just a little," Mei-Lin hissed, massaging the space between her eyes. "I'm supposed to be finding those teenage fugitives. I'm the one who's in charge. I get it, Jomei is good at finding things. But communication, negotiation? That's at least your deal. Aren't you the one behind reasoning and the inner workings of the brain? Motive?"

"First off, there's no guarantee Jomei found them," Alessa muttered, scribbling down a half-assed excuse on the paper. At least the Vatican would buy it. "And even if he did, it's protocol to call one of us in. Besides, it's not as if Jomei can't handle himself if he were to come across the fugitives."

"It's not the fugitives themselves I'm worried about," Said Mei-Lin, pausing from writing a sentence and tapping the pencil against the palm of her hand lazily. "It's more or less... the authority, the sway demonic influences have over them. They might be the strongest exwires to come from the Cram School but they've also been exposed to more Satanic experiences and miasma than any other generation in history."

Alessa shot Mei-Lin a look. The lilt of her next words seemed affectionate but with harsh undertones. "You're concerned about the Okumuras," Alessa inferred. "Are you really getting riled up over their heritage? Not saying you don't have a right to be, concerning we were both just kids when the Blue Night traumatized us. But do you really think Rin and Yukio Okumura would find a way to recreate a massacre to protect each other?"

"I don't think we have to worry about them committing genocide but rather who they can impact to protect them to the point that it'll become mass genocide," Mei-Lin elaborated, waving her pen around. "According to what I've heard in concerns to the fugitives, the twins wouldn't hurt a fly themselves without cause. But they are incredibly influential and I've witnessed, with my own two eyes, and know that the exwires have broken the law for them before. But how much of the law are they willing to break?"

Alessa didn't say a word, opting instead to do nothing else but continue working until she could come up with a probable answer. The worst part was that she didn't know, demons were good at hurting and manipulating people. But were the Okumura brothers really so bad?

Yukio couldn't help but watch in some kind of anticipation as Shiemi's retreating form disappeared into the branches of the nest. Some part of him was giddy. Any smidgen of knowledge that could be provided was enough drive to discover more, enough to make him live on, even if just for another day. It was motivation, and it felt great.

He hurried, taking a seat within the nest as quickly as possible.

"Hey, Yukio," Rin waved, shooting him an encouraging smile.

Yukio did his best to return it, careful of who he spoke to. There was still a ways to go before he reached a stable foundation to balance upon. His footing had been wobbly, even at his most controlled as everything fell apart around him for so long. From a wide platform to a small playing field to a spotlight that vibrated as though an earthquake was rattling where he stood. Then he finally only had the width of a balance beam to steady himself on and even that eventually crumbled. So he fell from grace and took the shot.

All hell broke loose because of it.

"Way to take your sweet time! Where were you?"

"I believe that is classified information, Rin," Yukio snapped back snarkily, adjusting his glasses. "And I should ask the same of you. We all have things to do."

Shima chuckled almost regretfully. "Yeah, I was with Okumura by the lake. We were chucking bu-" He wheezed, suddenly interrupted when Rin jammed his elbow into his ribcage. Okumura fired a well-aimed glare at Shima, whose face contorted into one of pained misery. Rin pointed two accusing fingers in Shima's face.

"Rocks. Flat rocks," He snarled vindictively. "We were skipping flat rocks at the lake. I won, mine went the farthest. I guess it happens when you're born with demonic strength and know how to use it effectively, huh Shima?"

Renzō nodded in terror. The interaction brought Yukio's awareness to them with a weird, questioning look which Rin optimally chose to ignore. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Rin was threatening Shima but with how Yukio's brother evidently didn't want anyone to pay attention to whatever words were about to be spoken. The young exorcist brushed it off, not thinking much of it. Instead, he righted himself and looked to Lilith expectingly.

She was solemn, her eyes darkened and wet. She inhaled.

"So you want to know about the Spirit World hidden behind the waterfall?"

The exwires nodded eagerly, bright-eyed and squirrelly, fidgety as they leaned forward, hanging onto Lilith's every wise word. A being so old and so willing to share what she had learned was rare, most kept it to themselves instead of teaching others, empowering them. This was truly a treat to behold and savor with all the willingness of the Gods.

"If you know anything about the Spirit World, you know it is a limbo between Prison and Paradise where one who has passed from the mortal world will reside until judgment day. In that time, a person from the mortal world can still speak or gain wisdom from their loved one's soul. That is if you can locate one of the minuscule ways to do it. The waterfalls in the Garden of Amahara are one of those ways. You will have to follow the Will-o'-the-Wisp to the ocean, swim toward the surface and enter the brightness. From there, you will be able to speak to the loved one you need a visit from most."

Lilith paused as if to see if anyone was going to inquire of her, ask for elaboration. When no one did, she sighed and continued.

"Which of you wish to gain knowledge of your past?" Five hands went up: Ryūji Suguro, Konekomaru Miwa, Shiemi Moriyama, Rin Okumura, and Yukio Okumura.

Yukio hissed an internal curse word, knowing he may have to wait far longer than he originally predicted if he wanted to obtain power. Lilith studied each of the children's faces, nodding understandingly. "This part of the spirit world will only let you visit with one person once every twenty-four hours. Meaning the total of you could take six days maximum if you don't use your time wisely."

"For real?!" Suguro barked, shock painted his features an impatient picture.

"Unfortunately, my boy," Said Lilith almost bitterly. She pressed her hands together, murmuring a Latin chant. From her palms, a green, immature stalk emerged and split into six stems, each one spreading out to a desiring student. "You'll go according to what color flower you obtain and you will not break order formation. Clear?"

"Wait for a second," Shima was the only one who was confused. He pointed at the bud in front of him. "I could care less about my family's history. Why are you giving me one?"

"Because I can see it in your eyes, boy," Lilith said wisely. "You may not want to know who has served your past but you want to know why they served your past. 'Why is obligation so important in this clan?' 'Why must I serve after my brothers?' 'Who cares about dying without being more than just another man in line to become an exorcist?'"

"I feel called out."

"Good. Then that means you do want to know. So will you visit the Spirit World?"

Shima exhaled defeatedly. "Fine."

"And what about you, Fox?" It was an odd nickname Lilith had picked up while studying the aura Izumo gave off. Sly and patient, like a predator hunting innocent prey. Like a vixen prowling in the tall grass, coming up on an unsuspecting hare who would have an unfortunate end in the clutches of her powerful jaws. Izumo seemed confused as she tilted her head inquisitively, akin to a lost kit.

"I have what I need from my mother," She answered. "My curiosity was sated as soon as I knew my sister was safe. That in itself has given me the strength to move forward, leave behind something I couldn't change and better my future. I know a few people who could stand to learn that."

Yukio pretended not to notice the way Izumo's eyes flicked to him for a half a second. It was unnerving what similarities Yukio shared with the former Shrine Maiden.

"I see," And Lilith understood. She turned back to the other six who were now forming a line of needing to know. She waved her hand dismissively and the buds bloomed into full flowers. Each of them took a moment to interpret the meaning before a mixture of excitement and appall broke out.

"I got a rose!" Shiemi exclaimed jubilantly, weaving her fingers carefully around the thorns so she could grasp the delicate flora. The bright red twist of petals complimented her, brought a side of her out that had yet to flourish itself. How long she had left would be put to the test. "That means I go first!"

"A lily?" Suguro asked, examining the bright orange flower in his hand.

"Tigerlily!" Shiemi corrected. "Those were my grandma's favorite flowers!"

"And mine?" Shima inquired, waving the yellow floret around.

"That's a daffodil! And Miwa has Bells of Ireland!" Her eyes promptly turned to Rin and Yukio who investigated their own blossoms sharply yet quietly. "Rin has a hydrangea and Yuki has a violet."

"I guess that means we're going last, eh Yukio?" Rin grinned nervously before he thought of something. "Yukio and I can go together, ne?"

"If you share the same desire, you can," Lilith explained. "Then you can speak to the same person at the same time."

'But we don't share the same desire.'

"Hey, we can shorten the wait to five days then! Ain't that pretty cool, mole-face?"

An unseen darkness seemed to take over the tree from the roots, coursing through every vein amongst the innate chattering of the teenagers. It corrupts and festers beneath the surface where no one can see it and by the time anyone notices, it may be too late.

"Hey, mole-face?"

Yukio didn't say anything. He was eerily silent.

In the darkness of the night, within the horribly, horribly still halls of the True Cross Order headquarters, two figures crept about with a flashlight. Both were like shadows, donning black clothing to avoid being seen on the cameras. One of them was fearful, the other determined as they pursued their end goal.

"Ms. Paku," Godaīn whispered frightfully. "I don't know if we should be here."

"We aren't," Paku confirmed, shining a light down the corridors and looking at the signs and directories. "This is private ground and yes, we can get in trouble for trespassing. If you don't want to be here, you can turn around and I'll go on alone."

Godaīn didn't say it out loud but despite how desperately he wanted to go home, he couldn't leave Paku on her own. He was here now, he had crossed the line of no return. He didn't want to care more for Okumura but after everything Rin had done, it was the least he could do. He felt he at least owed Rin this much.

"Over here," Paku hissed, the flashlight's beam fell over the plaque next to a door. The Records Room. They shared a silent nod and tested the doorknob, which didn't rattle or stop suddenly, much to their pleasant surprise. Paku pushed the door open, wincing as the hinges squeaked rather sharply. The crack widened enough for the students to slip through and shut it behind them. Click!

The room was darkened, abandoned for the night until the employees came back. Paku scanned the walls with her flashlight, searching for a switch before finally landing on traditional desk lamp on a desk short ways down. She headed over quietly, listening to Godaīn's footsteps behind her. Her hand stretched out to the chain pull hanging from the bulb of the lamp, she gave it a gentle tug, and the desk was illuminated in a soft yellow light.

"There should be filing cabinet near here or at least some files," Paku murmured.

"You're really serious about this," Godaīn realized. Perhaps it was a little too late to be asking that if the look on Paku's face said anything about it. Maybe it was the shock but Godaīn couldn't be sure. He was thought to have great self-control by his peers but enough of a challenge and he was kissing the ghost of a woman in a Shinto wedding robe thanks to a dare from his friends.

Worst night ever.

"Over here," Godaīn whispered suddenly, gesturing to a laptop lying idly on the surface the desk next door. He flipped it open, biting his lip at the lock screen. Paku didn't have time to figure out another solution when Godaīn noted the sticky note on the lamp. Password: tRucrOsorD3r. Godaīn removed the sticky note, examining it before entering the telltale code into the bar.

Paku's jaw dropped, indicating her awe as the laptop opened onto the launch screen. "Color me impressed."

"It really isn't that big of a deal." Godaīn waved her off. "Who leaves their password lying around anyway?"

"Someone who wants us to see this," Paku said, unable to keep a hint of nerve or anxiousness out of her voice. She couldn't help but remember the confrontation she held with Sir Pheles before her resignation from the exwire class, how he had offered to make a deal with her. Her services in exchange for a little confidence and a little ignorance. "If this were really as under wraps as the B-Team claims to have told us, then there's someone on the inside who's trying to tell us something."

"But why us?" Godaīn inquired, clicking on the Finder icon. "We're not special, at least not anymore. Everyone else can see demons too. We might have come into contact with live exorcists or those in training but that doesn't really mean anything."

"Who knows?" Paku muttered. Izumo was never off in her rants, Paku knew this much. Whenever she went on and on about Mephisto Pheles' manipulative sports or the demand of teamwork brought upon her by Mr. Okumura, she always added little details she knew only Paku would pick up on. "If I know anything, we're just pawns. We're being used and because of that, we're thought to be important to the player moving us. They want us to know something. But what? The whole computer screen is just a mess of random words!"

"You know," Godaīn said offhandedly, leaning over slightly. "This computer looks organized similar to how my mom does it and she told me a lot of companies, especially those related to crime and the military, will cleverly label their files to throw off those looking through them. For example, you see this kanji?"

~x線 was what read on the screen.

"Yes. It means, 'sen.' Like a cord or line." Paku's eyes narrowed as if trying to piece together the puzzle. "It's an electrical term for things like wires and cables."

"Right but in English, the literal translation, it means 'wire.' And with the English letter 'x' the two combined forms x-wire. Exwire. Like-"

"The Exwires!" Paku exclaimed. "Godaīn, you genius!"

Without another thought and the double clicking of the mouse over the documents, all the files were brought up, each one pertaining to a specific member of 2011-2012 enrolled young exorcists in training. Godaīn brought each one side by side, examining the statuses of his new friend group. Defected they all said. He scrolled down on one code-named 'Dragon' to the notes section.

Notes: Second Offense. Jailbreak. Sentence decided. Incarceration. Unknown time length.

Godaīn swallowed as each notes section read similar punishments for Du-Yama, Sacred Tree, Cat Round, Traitor, and humorously Satan Jr. At least someone in the Order was trying to be wry in these troubling times. Godaīn paused as he scanned Rin's file, horror filling him to the precipice as if his limit was the lip of a water glass. His mouth felt dry and his stomach began twisting into knots.

"They... they can't do that."

Notes: Multiple severe offenses. Lost demonic impulse control, physical assault, jailbreak. Sentence decided. Execution.

"Oh no," Godaīn tuned Paku out as he rapidly searched the files again, locating the one labeled 'Yukio Okumura.' He inhaled sharply, unable to control the emotions that made his nerves fire off rapidly.

Notes: Multiple severe offenses. Insubordination, jailbreak, abandoning posts, vocally stated anti-authority. Sentence undecided. To be placed under experimentation and strict observation in the underground psychodemonolgy/physiodemonology division.

Neither of them had time to react to the hideous truth before them when they heard the shaking of the doorknob. They shared a petrified look, shut down the laptop, and scattered to different places in the room. The light switch flicked on, lighting up the entire space as Paku tucked herself away underneath a desk just across from Godaīn. There were quiet footsteps and grumbled shuffling when a voice with a thick Romanian accent.

"I know you're in here! Whoever you are, show yourself!"

Neither of the students dared to. The person moved around the room in laps as if on a patrol. Paku made hand motions to Godaīn to move around the room until they could see the door in sight. They forced themselves to move one desk at a time, growing closer until Paku found a space between two filing cabinets that would hide her. The shadow of the man went around again, passing over them. Godaīn didn't make light of the space of time, moving for the door in hopes Paku would follow.

She was unable to.

There was a raucous clamor outside as two guards wrangled a suddenly submissive Godaīn back into the room, who seemed far too guilty and terrified in that moment. Paku curled in on herself as three loud voices began conversing outside her line of sight.

"Sir, we found this teenager lurking outside the Records Room. What shall we do with him?"

"I want you to keep him here, I will go searching for any possible accomplices that may have escaped. He couldn't have gotten in here without any help."

"Yes, sir."

Paku couldn't hear anything else, there was ringing in her ears too loud to listen over. But she could make out Godaīn gesturing to the door with his head. As the guards had their backs turned to her and began interrogating Godaīn, Paku squeezed out from between the filing cabinets and tip-toed towards the door. She felt an insurmountable amount of shame in leaving Godaīn behind but what choice did she have?

As she turned the doorknob and quickly left the room, she found a horrible revelation towering over her in the shape of the Romanian Man.

"Hello there, young dear."

The hearth of the fire crackled and the air was filled with cheerful conversation yet Rin had never felt more uneasy than he did now. His mind was constantly drifting to his brother who hadn't said a word since Lilith had spoken to them about the Spirit World. Yukio had retained this dark look on his face, something silently furious if the nonexistent heat Rin had felt said anything about it. He had been unable to focus on the countless silly stories and words of wisdom Lilith had been speaking to them.

"And then, get this, the Tamarin got angry on my behalf and attempted to challenge the oxen to a head-butting contest. Poor thing, I had to treat its head injury for a month after the incident," Lilith explained, eliciting giggles from those around her. "And that, my children, is why you don't fight something ten times your size when you know you aren't fit to even try it."

Rin started when he saw his brother shift quite abruptly, digging into his duffle bag for something he couldn't see but the feeling of something invisible kicking him the gut didn't give off a good impression. Yukio produced one of his fake smiles, hands behind his back.

"I greatly appreciate the words you have spoken tonight, Ms. Lilith," He began. "But all the noise is beginning to give me a headache. I'm going to get some peace and quiet for a bit if that's alright with everyone else."

No one had room for protest as Yukio tread careful steps between the group and left the nest. The merriness resumed and yet Rin still felt horribly hollow inside. There was something screaming at him, a feral instinct he didn't even know existed and told him to follow his brother because he was a liar. A liar and a deceiver. Rin hated assuming those things of his brother but what could he do when he knew it as the truth?

Yukio may not have shot Mephisto but he would have if someone else hadn't done it first.

Yukio may not have joined the Illuminati but now that the truth was there, he might.

Yukio was lost and Rin knew damn well he'd stood aside without following to see just where Yukio was going. Rin wouldn't place this on himself, no, this was all Yukio's fault. He could have accepted help and he didn't, he could have prevented this self-destruction but he chose not to no matter how often Rin had reached out.

This time it was up to Rin to be forceful.

If there were any survivor's of the plagues of the Blightseed, even one lone soul who had clawed their way from their rubble, then they had spread their account to where gossip spreads like wildfire. When one wildfire starts, sparks fly and the next catches and ignites the world until everyone is aware. The scrambling of exorcists, the overwrought hisses of horsemen and temptation, the terrorized yowls of soldiers too young to die, each and every one of them shouting curses at God, others pleading for their lives, let there be no bloodshed when bloodshed was the inevitable outcome. When there was always blood to shed.

Even then, a nameless subordinate would have within their frightened eyes a spark of curiosity, of the Desire for Knowledge. Humans truly were the naturally agog species. They feasted on every little shaving fed to them in concerns to knowledge. How interesting.

"What's the Blightseed?" He was a young man and Shura could care less for his name, face, or rank. He was just another stepping stone on the path across the crystal clear lake that was horrid adversity. Even as he tailed his superior around, akin to a lost puppy, she rolled her eyes. Honestly, he was far too faithful to a woman who didn't know much of their next opponent.

"Couldn't say, bucko," Shura said, feigning her affection for someone she barely knew. "I've looked through the books," She lied. "And as far as I can tell, it's just another pain in the ass, high-level demon we have to deal with thanks to the Illuminati trying to assert their dominance over Assiah. Like always, we'll be expected to kill it, send the lives lost off on a proper hunter's funeral, and report the ordeal back to the big shots who will look it over, archive it, and make a decision concerning it which we will follow through on. We'll hear from the Grigori again soon but for now, we cannot afford to dilly-dally and ask questions, as badly as I want answers."

"But-"

"No buts!" Shura cut the junior exorcist off. "Return to your post at once, that is an order."

"Shura!" Lightning's voice echoed down the hallway, making her stare at the notorious duo of the Angelic Legion. "We found Mephisto's shooter! He's in interrogation room one! Let's go!"

All the shouting made Shura shake her head. When darkness fell, Lightning still found a twisted way to be optimistic. "I'll be right there!" She called. She started forward, about to meet them when she remembered her shadow. She made shooing motions with her hands, making the little exorcist take a couple jumpy steps back. "What are you still skulking around for? Go on, shoo! I gave you orders now return to your post!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

With that, the subordinate scurried away, leaving Shura to march over to her superiors as quickly as possible. Her boots were loud as she did so and she meant business by it. She offered them a curt nod, which had them whisk her away to a corridor several divisions over until she was before a door that would open for the senior class and only them. It rattled, shrieking and grating against her ears like it had so many times. There was a harsh sibilation of exhaust being released as the massive door opened fully. It's slow, snail-like attributes made her grit her teeth. She was far too impatient for this.

The man who sat broken before them in the blindingly white room was one Shura recognized. She had seen him at multiple staff meetings and student-related gatherings to discuss the progression of the exwires and the EA exam. She shook her head, smiling mirthfully. She was in luck today because this man was just like any other exorcist she had met, with an awfully mediocre and bland personality. She had God to thank he at least stood out physically with his curly, ginger-orange hair and tinted square glasses. And thank God he made this man the way he was, otherwise this would've been a little more difficult than she would have liked.

"Well, well," Shura nearly crooned. "If it isn't Susumu Yunokawa. How are you today, old chum?" She didn't give the man a chance to speak up for himself because she knew what desperation looked like. It was pitiful. "Don't. Don't try to defend yourself. Just tell us exactly what happened and whether or not you had any accomplices. Simple as that."

Yunokawka closed his mouth, swallowed, sighed, and spoke.

"I had been approached by Mephisto about a week before the shooting," Yunokawa began shakily. "He said he had orders for me, for a special ops mission. What he reqeusted was ridiculous but I obeyed nonetheless. I've never disobeyed as much as I've hated him."

"That's right..." Shura mused aloud. "You're strictly anti tamer, aren't you? Had a vendetta against demons from day one, not that I blame you. With the history you have with them, I don't think anyone would. But that's beside the point. Mephisto asked you to shoot him? Why?"

"I wish I knew, he didn't offer any explanation, he just told me to do it. When I tried to protest and told him I'd lose my job, he didn't seem to have any qualms about it."

"Mephisto never does," Shura murmured. She exhaled, turned, patted Angel on the shoulder, then headed for the exit. "Do me a favor and get the rest of the information from him. I need to go question Mephisto, though I doubt I'm gonna get a straight answer." She was halfway out the door when she shot Yunokawa a roguish grin. "Oh and hey, Susumu. I wouldn't worry too much about losing your job, especially with how short-staffed we are all around the world. Your life will be needed on the battlefield anyway."

She didn't check to see if she had rattled him.

Yukio was quick as his feet took him down the cylinders of wood that acted stairs. The echoes of laughter followed him until he had managed to get away, leaving it behind if only for a moment. He could care less now when the answers were within grasp, he could care less about who he had apologized to, who he had attempted to reconcile with. Nothing had waited as long as this had, answers he'd been seeking since his pre-teen years. He had been broken and agonized since he was a child, who was he to fight the truth anymore?

"Yukio!" There he was. The savior, coming to hold out a hand, trying to help even though Yukio didn't want it. Wanting to help the people around him was part of Rin's human nature or at least that specific part of him expressing itself. Oil and water, the twins were. One giving for the sake of giving and the other giving, sacrificing everything because he had been forced to. Shirō had shoved generosity down his throat for so long and he felt ill of it, sick and fatigued and vexed. It was time to start catering to himself. "Hey, Yukio! Where are you going?"

"Away." Away? Was that all he had to say? Most certainly. Even as he clutched the violet so tight in his fingers that it might snap like a toothpick, he continued on in an attempt to ignore his brother.

"Away? Away from where?"

"I believe that's none of your business," Yukio said, halting on the grass next to the glistening lake the roaring waterfall cascaded into. The thin sliver of the silver moon that remained glistened on the rippling surface of the water. Faint bird calls, the hooting of an owl, could be heard—it was a deathly omen. It's large eyes gleamed menacingly and the sounds it made resonated over the valley as if warning of oncoming disaster.

Owls were peculiar things. They were known as harbingers of death across the middle east, thought to be symbols of wisdom in Europe, and holy symbols in Japan, regarded as lucky and worth carrying in the form of a talisman. They were dangerous, birds of prey with keen talons and sight magnified to locating the most hidden of quarries. It's round eyes, however, were thought to be the most inquisitive of things. Childlike innocence and unanswered questions seemed to sparkle in their golden orbs as if inquiring repetitively, over and over again until it received an answer. Why? They queried silently. Not who, why?

"None of my business?" Rin repeated incredulously, making a hand motion and expression of dubiety. "You said that earlier. No more of this classified bullshit, Yukio. What's going on? Why are you suddenly getting like this again?"

"Again? I've always been like this."

"No, you haven't. I mean, a bit of a dick, yeah. But closed off? We used to talk to each other about everything."

"You mean before exorcism? When I was afraid and weak?"

"Yukio. We were children. We had every right to be afraid and weak, why are you venting so much hatred on your past self? You can't be angry at a six-year-old for being afraid of monsters."

"Maybe it's different for you. You weren't afraid of anything, you were strong and courageous and never backed down from any challenge. I, on the other hand-"

"Whoa, Yukio, let me stop you there. I asked dad to check if my toothbrush was possessed when I was six. You, on the other hand, smart, hard-working you, was getting accepted into the honors program. I don't want to hear jack shit!"

"I suppose that is how you saw it, Father Fujimoto was a comforter to you, a safety blanket. He loved you unconditionally. Me, on the other hand? I must have been an eyesore, a disappointment. I was nothing less than a tool, a weapon to him, used to protect you because he cared about you, even so much as to give his life for you." Yukio ignored the way Rin flinched, winced, how a part of his heart struck him as broken.

"That couldn't be further from the truth!" Rin burst out abruptly. "Dad loved you just as much as he loved me. You were our pride and joy! You're humble, smart, diligent, kind and compassionate, a chick magnet, popular. You were gonna be a doctor! No one could ask for someone as perfect as you, Yukio. You did that all on your own."

"Maybe I did," Yukio smiled almost painfully. "I admired him, some part of me still does. But Father Fujimoto comes from an underground laboratory called Section 13, which was created during a time when Mephisto and Lucifer worked together. It was their creations that caused the Blue Night and father was one of those creations. The Illuminati is no different than the True Cross Order, it was created by the Order in the first place-"

"No different from each other?" Rin asked cynically. "The Illuminati wants to destroy the world! The Illuminati is okay with committing mass murder! The difference between the Order and the Illuminati is that the Order saw their mistakes and tried to fix it. The Illuminati doesn't care who they hurt or kill!" He paused, grasping a moment in his fingers as a way to calm down. "Where is all this coming from in the first place? Is it because of the Spirit World? Do you wanna talk to dad just so you can chew him out?"

"I think you've heard enough." Yukio walked farther, turning his back on his brother.

"No way! Get back here!" The sound of Rin's boots rapidly followed the young dragoon. "Let me help you!"

'This again?' He thought of his brother. Intramural, he was laughing, cackling. Deeper internally, he was in pain, agonizing pain. He didn't want help. 'Oh, brother when will you understand?'

Rin had never paused faster as he stared down the cold, unforgiving muzzle of a malicious pistol. The target: right between his eyes. There was a silence, a stillness, one that prickled Rin's skin uncomfortably, it made him bristle and shudder. He had gazed into the barrel of similar weapons at the hands of his brother only two times before then. Once, when he'd discovered his brother was an exorcist. Twice, in Aomori in an attempt to save Shura.

His wide eyes asked a question that disturbed those around him. Like the owl. Why? Why are you doing this? Why are you hurting me again?

"Don't you get it?" Yukio hissed, almost in amusement. The first word to flash through Rin's head would haunt him for a lifetime. Demon. "I don't want to be saved. I don't need your help anymore. I'll get stronger of my own volition and you won't stop me."

Rin eyed the flower in Yukio's hand as he stalled for time.

"So you'd steal Shiemi's chance to see her grandmother again?"

"There's no rule stating she wouldn't get to if I just went before her. She can wait twenty-four hours."

"Dude, I don't think so!" Rin nearly shrieked. He combatted the urge to backhand his brother's gun away. This had to happen, Lilith was wiser than he was and she understood more than anyone how important the events transpiring were meant to be. "Lilith told us not to stray from the order we were given. Suck it up, just wait another week! How bad could this possibly be?"

"I refuse, I'm done forgoing everything for someone else. Hell, if I'd joined the Illuminati then I would have been given this power without hesitation."

"What good does it do to know!? What good does it do to hurt yourself?"

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

Rin had no comeback to that, no way to shut his brother down. But he had bought enough time for Lilith to notice what was going on and leave the nest, followed by a jumpy bunch of skittish fugitives.

"Then you'll shoot me just to prove a point?"

"I won't shoot you if you turn around and walk away. Get it through your thick skull. I don't want or need your help anymore."

"You're talking crazy!" Rin took a step forward, muted voices of the exwires shrieking for him to stop and having to be held back by Lilith who had summoned forth a bunch of vines. "I want to help you, whether you want or need it. We can get stronger together."

"No," Yukio said sharply. "No more."

He pulled the trigger.

...

There was an indistinct, faltering noise emanating from the weapon. Click! Click click! Yukio stared at it, eyebrows knitting together as he repeatedly pulled the trigger as if to see if it had been jammed or... empty. It was empty. That couldn't be right, Yukio had loaded the entire thing before he'd even left for the Garden of Amahara. Unless someone had gotten into his duffel bag and depleted it-

Realization dawned on him. Something Rin and Renzō had been conversing about only hours before came back to him, the ever observant.

"Yeah, I was with Okumura by the lake. We were chucking bu-"

"Rocks. Flat rocks, we were skipping flat rocks at the lake. I won, mine went the farthest. I guess it happens when you're born with demonic strength and know how to use it effectively, huh Shima?"

Yukio had to fight to keep from stumbling over his words. Rin had been threatening Shima then. "You... you threw my silver bullets into the lake?!"

Rin looked as though he were about to say something when Lilith lowered the vines and beat him to the punch. Shiemi met Rin in a bone-crushing hug, crying almost, having feared for his life. Rin reassured those who were doting on him (sans Shima who didn't care about anyone.) Lilith stalked forward, keeping her movements slow, lithe, and easy to track.

"Even when I told you not to, you directly disobeyed me. Why is that?"

"I don't have to answer to you."

"Answer to me anyway. I very specifically stated that there was an order in which you were to follow. Does the anger and desire to rebel you feel prevail over someone who is trying to make you understand that it isn't about you? None of this was about you."

"It never is-"

"Shut up. It isn't about you, it's about everyone. You of all people, who has worked in a team for years, should understand that. You want power just like they do, you want to get stronger just like they do. Wasn't it you who said it? We fight in groups of two or more, that's basic procedure. It covers your weak spots and enhances your strengths"

"How did you know that?" Yukio barked a demand.

"If you think that I myself am not of demonic origins- if you think I am not capable of seeing the pasts of others, and if you think I am not omniscient in some way or another, then you have forgotten what you deduced of me less than a day prior. Hypocrite."

Yukio was silenced in that moment by a voice louder than his, more ardent than his, and far more knowing than his. Lilith did not toil, she had lived for millennia, seen things no one else had seen, lived through disasters and history itself from the moment the world had been born. She had sought solitude in the Garden of Amahara after a mighty battle, lived to be old and kind, to help others. Yukio inhaled, shaky and feeling her power swell as if the world was distorted around her. Much in the same way it was distorted around Mephisto and Lucifer.

"Oh, dear child. Your life has been controlled by older men and ideals you can't live by anymore because they've been smashed. How badly did it hurt to know that the organization you work for doesn't care about you?"

That was it. A glassy heart, already so fragile with countless, incomprehensible cracks and chinks, felt the breaking pressure of a final phrase. It shattered into a million, glittering pieces like the Snow Queen's frigid mirror.

Yukio fell to the grassy floor, on his knees, and bowed his head. One could barely hear his breathing, how he sounded on the brink of tears, how close he must have been from finally breaking. There was a quiet call of his name, his nickname, someone pushed past Lilith, and tackled Yukio into a hug.

"You're not alone, Yuki." Shiemi tightened her grip on his shoulders. "Don't push me away anymore. Let us help."

"There's no shame in accepting help, child. It doesn't make you weak, it just covers your weak spots until you can find a way to strengthen them. We all have an Achille's heel. How you deal with it is what defines you."

Yukio breathed out shakily, scared as he was, and nodded. He had been shown true danger and power and mercy and kindness from a being who pushed him in the right direction. It was shockingly pleasant, he felt weak as he tried to suppress the urge to cry but it was a good feeling, whole, real. Shiemi's warmth was real and it meant something. He had always been loved he just didn't bother to grab a hand on the way down. Even in hell, he was still being offered a hand.

"Good. Then let this be the start of real change."

Shura knew there was something immensely wrong when one of Mephisto's servants staggered like a zombie, on fire and black as ashes when it fell like the fires of Pompeii. Her heart climbed into her throat as she dashed past the demon who could no longer be helped and barged into Mephisto's room. The fire blazed before her, dancing in the eyes of a man she had lost to once but would never twice. Tōdō dangled a golden key on a string as he stood over Mephisto, who was too weak to fight back and while she felt a sick sense of satisfaction for the retribution, Shura knew that what was to happen must happen.

She drew the empty sword from its sheath and intensity met ferocity.

"Ready for round two, bitch?" She asked.

A/N:

Hails: "According to what I've heard in concerns to the fugitives, the twins wouldn't hurt a fly themselves-" AhahahahahahahAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh, honey. No... The twins are not above extreme violence to get what they want. Trust me.

Hnnnnnnnnnnnnng something feels out of character, especially with Yukio. If you think Yukio is out of character, please tell me so I can go back and fix it. Holy shiz. I need advice like no other.

Knowledge Whale Here to Bestow Some Knowledge Upon You!

*The kanji symbol 線 is indeed pronounced 'sen.' It is the symbol for electrical cables, cords, and wires. I figured it was time I got creative.

**Random fun fact. Rin's favorite animal is an owl.

***The quote "We fight in groups of two or more, that's basic procedure. It covers your weak spots and enhances your strengths." Is from episode 8: Now a Certain Man Was Sick.

On another note, come on, guys. Reviews = quicker chapters. Support your local writers.