A/N:
Hails: FINAAAALLY. The grand finale! This it folks, strap in for the nonsense that is the good guys winning!
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.
"If by my life or death I can protect you, I will."
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring.
By the time the smoke cleared, Yukio had all the time he needed to register Suguro's presence. He had shoved Tōdō back a considerable distance and continued to hold his position with a self-protecting seal shielding him from the glow of Karura's fire. Seconds passed before Tōdō managed to destroy the barrier. The golden, fractal remains flickered like embers and went out, leaving Suguro with no protection except for the pistol strapped to his hip.
"I really wish I wouldn't be interrupted anymore," Tōdō groaned in annoyance, shooting a glare full of daggers at Suguro, who only snorted in response.
"Guess it's just not your day, buddy," Suguro bit back. His feet found the pavement behind him and Yukio found his hand with ease, saving enough time for him to pull the blindfold back down over his eyes.
"So it would seem," Tōdō said. His voice was tight, his words forced. "Who do I owe the annoyance of the Head Preist's son's interference?"
"Karura," Suguro snapped quickly. "I want my family's familiar back."
Tōdō let out a haughty guffaw at that. His smile was plastered back on his face. "Really now? I'd issue a challenge but I have other things to do."
"I guess that makes two of us."
It was three to one―a vindictive Cat Sith, an exorcist, and a devil spawn versus a Demon Eater with ridiculous healing abilities. That is unless Yukio's hypothesis on the effect his blue flames had proved otherwise.
Suguro made the first move, muttering a quick chant to summon a protective seal around himself, Yukio, and Kuro. He didn't get out an explanation before the both of them were immersed in orange flames. Kuro pounced, knocking Tōdō out of balance and leaving open a short window of opportunity. Suguro and Yukio took what they had and moved to leave the ocean of fire as quickly as possible.
Yukio leaped towards Kuro's screeching with a flaming hand. This time, he didn't miss. This time, he hit Tōdō square in the throat and sent him staggering back. The rapid succession of three bullets being fired rung out, leaving three holes in Tōdō's chest. Yukio could smell the gunsmoke, even from how far away Suguro was standing.
Fireworks tore through Yukio's side. Another wave of nausea crashed into him. Somewhere, his teammates screamed for him.
He really needed to pay attention to Tōdō's attack pattern.
"Don't insult me like this, Okumura,"
'Marco...'
"You were a far more worthy opponent in Kyoto."
'Polo!'
Yukio launched himself at Tōdō with a kick. Their exchange was momentary but Yukio was really beginning to get the hang of this. He blocked a blazing punch, retaliated here and there, even managing a headbutt which he was sure―if the dull cracking noise meant anything―broke Tōdō's glasses. Two seconds and a deafening ringing followed an explosion that chucked Yukio back quite a ways, leaving Suguro to drag him to his feet and out of the way of a searing bonfire.
"He's strong. Even if I can harm him, it could take hours to wear him down," Yukio said with his head turned towards the ruckus of Kuro and Tōdō's new scuffle. "I don't have that kind of time."
"You don't need to beat him, you just need to weaken him," Said Suguro. He was cautious, his eyes trained on Yukio's simmering flames. "I have a plan but I need him to hold still for it to work."
With gritted teeth, Yukio bowed his head and conceded to the idea. "Kuro, I need you to be my seeing eye cat. Can you do that?" The giant Cat Sith roared in eager confirmation. "Suguro, how much time do you need?"
"Just a few minutes."
Yukio could work with that.
"IZUMO!" Shiemi's voice rose above the ruckus, hitting Izumo in the back of her shoulders in the way a dodgeball might.
"Shiemi!" Izumo whirled, just in time to catch Shiemi by her arms. Despite her excitement, an inquiry danced on her tongue."You made it. But, wait, what about your mom?"
"No worries, she'll be okay," Shiemi assured her, with that sweet delicate smile. Izumo was sure it'd come back to haunt her later in their exorcist careers. "Besides, I'd rather be an exorcist. I want to fight alongside you and Rin and Yuki!"
At that, Izumo felt the tip of her ears light up and all her emotional defense mechanisms rise. She swore it was hardest to keep them up around someone as cheery as Shiemi Moriyama, who always took an enthusiastic sledgehammer to everyone's walls. All that was left to break down her walls, although Izumo was unsure how to go about that. Especially if Shiemi was tearing down her own walls just fine. She was an odd one for sure.
"Alright, listen up!" Izumo snapped, pointing to the intricacies below her feet. "Just now, I drew the summoning circle Lilith taught me. With our combined offerings, we're more likely to be able to summon it."
Shiemi got an innocent look on her face. Still, the sly tone was obvious.
"Lilith didn't tell you what it was, did she?" She asked.
"No, she didn't," Izumo admitted sharply. Her frown sank even deeper, eyebrows knitting together. With a defeated sigh, she continued just as harshly before. "I only have enough time to teach you the chant once. Are you ready?"
Shiemi nodded. The lesson was quick, the chant wasn't difficult to memorize in the slightest, and although Izumo's lips were fast, she was a good teacher. Shiemi had to keep the words in mind, listening carefully even though Aria subjects were some of her weakest points.
When the time came, both girls took a knife to the bottom of their chins. It was a small poke but it spilled enough blood to make two large puddles on the asphalt. They each stretched about twelve inches or so in diameter yet neither had gotten dizzy or lightheaded. With the same knife, they each cut a few inches of hair from their heads, Izumo more than Shiemi.
With quick, smack-on bandages meant to staunch the bleeding in place, Shiemi and Izumo joined hands and began their prayer. The chalk circle began to glow, gradually becoming brighter and brighter until the girls were blinded by the light.
"O mighty creature, we beseech thee. Lend us the strength to tower above our enemies. Give us the power to clear them from the Land of the Rising Sun. Rise, see, come to us, come to us, come to us!"
From the depths of Gehenna, a creature crawled out with the young exorcists on its shoulders until it loomed menacingly above the tallest buildings and perils. It was made of light with vines and kudzu crawling up its limbs. Its head was pointed and faceless, like a cone. The greenery formed a massive wreathe around it, where the girls stood on its shoulders and used it as a grip. From the very top, Izumo thought she could see all of Tokyo.
The girls grinned and cheered.
"We... we did it! Shiemi!"
In the sky, a bright blue explosion hit the Blightseed head on. It stumbled back, booming irritatedly as if the tiny little soldier were a bug. A pesky, buzzing, annoying bug. Izumo, on the other hand, was astounded and excited. Shiemi couldn't help the grin on her face. A wave of relief washed over the both of them.
And a lightbulb flicked on above Shiemi's head.
"Izumo," Shiemi said. Izumo turned to her, steadying herself on the monster's arm. "I have an idea."
Rin roared, bringing the Kōmaken down. He practically flew at the creature, swiping at every weak point he could find: its legs, the edges of its shell, its hidden eyes. Anywhere possible. The fate of a lot of people was on his and his teammates' shoulders once again. It brought a kind of stress unmatched by anything in the world. Perhaps finals could give it a run for its money but Rin had yet to really experience that kind of stress.
The voices in his head screamed louder than anything around him. Yukio's fear was like ten sets of carillon church bells and the Blightseed was a pair of finger cymbals played in pianissimo. One echoed deafeningly loud while the other he could barely hear. He had his eyes and sense of smell to lead the way and that enough to both defeat the Blightseed and comfort his brother.
'Yukio... I know you're afraid. I can see inside your head. I'm scared too.' A thrumming heartbeat on the other end let Rin know that his brother was attentive. Rin wasn't the type to impart wisdom, he wasn't a teacher. But if there was one thing he knew, it was the inside and out of his flames―their warmth, their light. 'Your power is yours. It always has been, always will be. They're a part of you, they're in your heart. Think of them as a partner, not something you have to control. You give to them and in turn, they give to you.'
'I see,' Yukio said.
If the way he spoke said anything, if his tone resonated with Rin, then it was obvious. No, Yukio did not see. He was still combatting years of training, black and white vision, and hatred of demons―most of which was happening in the span of week or two.
Rin had to make Yukio listen, even if that was neither of their strong suits.
'It took me a long time to come to terms with that, Yukio. I know it's hard but you can do it,'
'-I believe you can.'
Yukio shot a hand towards Tōdō's figure, fumbling for a blow. A well-aimed knee to Tōdō's gut was retaliated with a harsh crack to Yukio's solar plexus. He wheezed, leaping away from more heat then bouncing back into the fray. He went into a sliding kick, missing the nimble phoenix's knees.
"Awwww, you're both just adorable. These flames aren't some kind of cute toy. They don't belong to the Phoenix Karura or the Wisdom King Yamantaka like you both make them out to be. And they certainly aren't yours. They are the possession of yours truly, you're own flesh and blood. You both would do well to remember your places beneath me."
Rin hissed from behind the curtain between the twins' minds.
'No, I was born with these flames, I'll use them however I please. You don't get to tell me what to do.'
"You say that now," Satan sneered. "But one day, you will be mine. Your body, your flames, your mind and your soul. You belong to me."
'Shut up! I belong to no one! And neither does Yukio!'
Tōdō's voice sang in his ears.
"You're slowing down, Okumura~"
Yukio's head hit the pavement. Hard.
"Alright, NOW!" Shiemi screamed.
The tips of the giant's arms were illuminated in blistering white light. It charged, arms close to the ground until it reached the Blightseed and brought its power skyward in a devastating uppercut to its underbelly. It let out a shrill screech as it flipped over onto it's back, rocking back and forth and squirming around like an off-balance pill bug.
"Holy-" Rin breathed. From his position on the railing, he could hardly believe what he'd just witnessed. His eyes swept to a waving, laughing Shiemi, who was perched upon the new monster's shoulder. And he couldn't help his own grin! "Shiemi!"
Another loud cry from the Blightseed pierced the air as it tucked itself into a ball and rolled back onto its feet. From underneath its shell, a reptilian maw revealed itself, beady eyes of coal staring down maliciously.
Rin suddenly found it hard to breathe. "Is that its head?" He bared his teeth, shooting his teammates a determined look. "I can take it out now. Shima, Koneko, cover me!"
"You gotta be kidding me," Shima muttered, as Yamantaka's void boiled around him. Koneko only nodded, even if he wasn't quite sure how to do that.
Rin flew through the air, embedding the Kurikara as deep as it would go into the Blightseed's head. It made a barrage of noises, reared back. Rin planted his feet against his only foothold, even as the Blightseed attempted to vehemently shake him off. Rin only returned the attack tenfold with the heat of his flames.
Suddenly, before anyone could process it, the Blightseed slammed into the light giant and scraped its spindles against the ground. It broke the concrete and therefore the magic circle, making the giant vanish into thin air. Shiemi and Izumo, without their seat, were left to fall the distance.
"SHIEMI!"
Shiemi's prowess was not enough to stop Rin's panic, even as she summoned vines to catch both her and Izumo and swing them to safety. At the base of the academy, she tugged on the vines more force than ever before. Using Nii as a pair of stakes, she kept the Blightseed in place.
Tōdō fangs glistened as he spoke. His black nails were sharp and unforgiving as they punctured the sides of Yukio's neck. Yukio clawed at his opponent's arm viciously, feet dangling inches away from the ground.
"How long are you going to keep this up? How long will you keep fighting?" Tōdō demanded to know.
Yukio growled.
"As long as it takes to defeat you."
Mephisto burst out into a fit of maniacal laughter at that―one that bubbled and fizzed.
Truly, Yukio was something else. Something honed and cold, like a weathered sword being sharpened at a spinning wheel, sparks flying with a fiery passion. He was something with a keen edge, too smart for his own good. He was a concealed blade, meant to be used at the end of a battle, to make the finishing blow after the finishing blow. The knife in the sleeve if the enemy attempted to stand again after his humiliating defeat.
"Such a juvenile declaration of words, Yukio Okumura. Emily Brontë has something to say to you. 'He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.' Tell me, youngest, about you and your brother. Are your souls the same?"
"Have you become more childish since our last encounter? Still in denial?" Tōdō asked, tightening his grip. Blood gushed in the back of Yukio's throat, sizzling like oil on a hot pan. He hissed and growled as the blood dribbled past his lips. His insides were lit aflame by the mental lighter Tōdō held. "You are not suited for this lifestyle and no leash can ever hold you back. You and I are the same, you cannot pretend anymore."
Silence fell. In the shadows the building cast, between the stucco and the twitching Cat Sith on the ground, Yukio could make out Suguro's outline. He was whispering something and Yukio could only think to stall. He started small and built up, a giggle into a laughter. Even if he was absolutely terrified, he was also amused.
If anything, it was Tōdō who was still in the same place.
That was somehow funny to Yukio.
Tōdō pursed his lips, reaching up to rip the blindfold from Yukio's face. The boy's blue eyes gleamed with a killing intent rarely seen. The red pinpoint dot in the center of his eyes dilated to overtake the entire pupil.
"You really think I haven't come to terms with that? You really believe I'm still stuck in that perfect fantasy I've had for so long?" A fantasy where Rin would be safe and Yukio could keep his promise to Fujimoto. A fantasy where nothing went wrong and history weren't so cruel. "You're right, we are the same, we come from similar backgrounds. But there's one major difference between us that you keep forgetting. When scorned, I don't take my anger out on the world. There are too many people in it that I care about!"
The chant was done. Yukio snatched the blindfold into a tight bind around his wrists and pinned the Eternal Phoenix to his knees. "NOW SUGURO!"
"Wha-" And just like that, the fire and youth drained from Tōdō.
Karura poured from his mouth and formed a flaming flower that cried for their freedom, singing a duet with Suguro's chant. Freckles faded and wrinkles formed in a rapid aging transformation until Tōdō was no more than the ashen, terrified old man when Yukio had first met him.
Yukio lit his fists on fire and crushed what remained of Tōdō into ashes that swirled and danced, only finding rest in a pile of dust on the ground. He stood and kicked at the pile with a twinge of childish glee that didn't show. He huffed.
"That's for everything."
Shima groaned, leaning against his khakkhara exhaustedly. "How much longer are we gonna keep this up?"
"Not much longer. Look!" Konekomaru pointed, done with any chant he could conceive.
Kuro was weakened, lumbering along as best as he could carry Yukio and Suguro. The duo slid off the Cat Sith's back just as he transformed into his small version and fell over, leaving Konekomaru to pick him up.
"What happened while we were gone?" Suguro asked brusquely.
"See for yourself," Konekomaru replied, cradling Kuro in his arms.
Yukio leaned on the railing, peering at the restraints tying the Blightseed down, marveling at the strength Shiemi possessed. 'Shiemi is so strong and confident and-' He paused abruptly, eyes catching on the giant blue ball on top of the monster's head."What is that idiot doing now?"
The group collectively face faulted forward. Like a flock of beheaded chickens.
"Right, okay, this is gonna sound ridiculous," Suguro broke the silence. "If Rin is having a hard time doing it on his own then you can help him. With your joined powers, maybe you guys can take it out."
The communication devices on everyone's belts crackled with Shiemi's and Izumo's voices, tainted with distress.
"I can't... hold it... for much longer."
"Listen, if that's the plan, you guys better hurry up. This thing's about to tear Shiemi's limbs off!"
There was a pause on Yukio's behalf. He gripped the railing with white knuckles and bowed his head. Back then, in the face of the blazing beast whose scales shined in the firelight, he listened to his father and evacuated. He saved his own skin, there were minimal casualties, there was back up. He looked on in both fear and awe. Now was different. A completely new array of circumstances littered the field.
And Yukio was back to deciding what he wanted to do.
Cave to his fear or fight regardless of it.
"Fire on..."
Konekomaru stared, tracing Yukio's every meaningful, lethargic step as he turned away from the scene. "What did you say?"
"Fire on!" Yukio spun and bolted towards the railing. The fledglings cleared like the Red Sea as Yukio propelled himself across the gap between the academy and the Blightseed. The landing knocked the wind out of him. As he scrambled to deal with the consequences of the most reckless decision, nearly sliding down into the jaws of the hungry beast, he felt a pair of hands yank him up and was greeted by Rin's smile.
"Gotcha!"
Yukio looked back at the shocked expressions of his teammates, one of which stood out from among the rest. Shiemi beamed like there couldn't be a thing wrong in the universe. She released the vines and the twins shrunk away from view.
'Go get 'em, Yuki!'
"I can't believe it. They're doing it." Shura said. She let out a noise that sounded like it was between a groan and a sigh, proceeding to heave all her weight onto the banister in front of her.
Beside her, Angel observed the blue star with his fingers curled around Caliburn's hilt. The warm night stirred around him.
"And to think, all this time, I believed what I was told," He muttered. "Youth these days. Suddenly being a demon is the new cool thing."
His statement earned him a punch to the shoulder.
The very moment Yukio laid his hands on Kurikara, his blood turned into the streams of a boiling geyser. The pain behind his eyelids increased beyond his limits and he could feel his body morphing as the blue flames possessed him. The metallic taste of blood pooled in his mouth.
'This power! It's overwhelming! And it's eating me alive! I'm... so scared. I wanna go home. Rin, I-'
"Yes, come to me, youngest. Let the flames devour you." Satan beckoned.
'No! I need to stay in control.' Yukio protested.
"Oh, but why?" The lilt of Satan's velvet voice tied a noose around his child's neck and called to him from hell. "If you trusted me, gave yourself over to me, I could give you everything."
'I...'
Yukio couldn't find a reason to protest. He wanted to rip into the world and destroy it, to make every living creature freeze with fear when they saw him. He wanted to be the best, he wanted to be strong, unbeatable. He wanted-
"Now is different, right? I'm just glad to see you're doing better."
Sensibility slammed into Yukio, bringing him back into the real world. "Shiemi..."
Other words began to echo around him, the words of Lilith...
"Let this be the start of real change."
...And of his brother.
"You did all that on your own!"
His gaze landed on Rin and for once he was aware of the life-giving warmth of his twin's hands. They shifted over his cold ones. Rin smiled softly. His very presence grounded Yukio, prevented his mind from running wild, kept him in the here and now.
"Rin, you're with me, right?"
"Of, course. We promised, remember?"
Satan scoffed. "You know nothing, can do nothing. Don't you dare to oppose me! Without me, you'd be nothing!"
"No." Yukio's voice was cool as ice. "I think it's quite the opposite. Right now,"
"Here in Assiah," Rin said.
And the twins spoke simultaneously: "You're nothing without us!"
They poured their power into the Kurikara, overflowing the precipice with blue fire. Yukio shoved Satan's voice down, hushing him into gagged silence. The Blightseed roared in distress, Yukio felt the energy drain from his body, exhaustion taking its place as he fell.
It was just like before, in the Spirit World. But this time, Shiro was turned away from him, as though he were leaving Yukio to himself for good.
"Dad... what now?" He asked, reaching out to catch the rays of light his father left behind.
"Ara, ara, I already told your brother this," Shiro said, not so much as peering at Yukio. "You're a smart kid, you decide."
When Yukio woke again, it was to the sound of Shiemi cheering and to the feeling of a giant flower sinking underneath his weight. He sneezed, sending yellow powder into the air.
"I did it! I caught them!"
Yukio slid to the ground, trying to stifle his urge to sneeze again. Rin was being swarmed by his friends and it wasn't too long before they were all over him too. They were peppered with questions, pat downs from Shiemi to make sure they were safe, and excited proclamations about how cool they were. (Yukio was sure Shima would deny saying such things five minutes later.) It was then Yukio became aware of the stench of burning flesh and something else rank enough to make his nose wrinkle.
"Out of the way, let me through." Shura shoved her way through the small crowd. She threw herself around the twins, wrapping them in a tender hug. "Are you both okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine," Said Rin.
"Never been better," Yukio said.
"Okay, good," Shura breathed. Two seconds later, she yanked on the twins' ears and pulled them forward, earning a slew of yelped 'OW OW OW's' from her victims. "Then what were you two thinking?!" Rin and Yukio rubbed their ears, guilt painting their faces. Shura almost felt bad for them. Almost. She pointed to the militia of exorcists flooding the area. "House arrest. Immediately. Everyone else hit the showers. The B-Team still want to ask you some questions."
"Yes, ma'am."
The newly appointed exorcists fell in line, shuffling away from the scene while Rin and Yukio were escorted off the premises. They locked hands, sparing glances behind them.
A/N:
Hails: WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO TALK ABOUT THAT GRAND FINALE. How'd you guys like the story?
Okay, so the epilogue has already been written. I'll post that in a few days, maybe a week. I'm gonna take the short breather I've got here and work on some bonus material, maybe drink an iced pumpkin creamer. Who knows?
Remember to leave a review! Seriously, I want to know what you guys think!
Stay savvy, my friends.
~Hails