Puppeteer
Chapter 4: Be My Light

Mephisto brooded. All the chess pieces were carefully placed on the board, the first act of his puppet theater was about to begin. Nevertheless there was still an unknown variable in his equation: Amaimon. He was necessary for his plans, but also erratic.

No question, he always listened eagerly to what Mephisto told him and he also conscientiously accepted his orders. But every so often he would cross the lines and have the impudence to mix his own ideas into predefined tactics. Mostly, this ended up either disastrous or devastating. He was the manifested chaos theory, a curse and a blessing at the same time. Each of his steps could lead into the right direction, but also into the wrong.

The most annoying and worrisome thing about him at the moment was that he was not traceable. Mephisto had taken the infinity key from him and had demanded to not roam on the school grounds. It was meant to be a punishment and protection at the same time. Punishment for the escapade in the courtroom and thus opposing strict instructions, protection for the possibility of running into Rin again at any possible time – a circumstance Mephisto chose to avoid. He did not need another encounter between two strong demons in his academy and he was not fond of discovering one or even both of them dead due to inattentiveness. He needed them both and alive.

That is how things were. Mephisto did not trap Amaimon literally... it was more like Amaimon was bound to move exclusively within his estate. Nevertheless, his presence had gone missing and was nowhere to be found. Annoying as it was, Mephisto would make sure to punish him more properly once he returned.

Lost in his train of thoughts regarding proper punishment, the King of Time absentmindedly caressed the fleshy leaves of a succulent from the garden Amahara, which resided in a pot on his desk and was about to bloom. It was a present from Amaimon the principal got after his first couple of centuries in Assiah. The plant meant to be a constant reminder of someone impatiently waiting for him in Gehenna...

Silly otouto. He never needed any reminder...

A rough wind blew over the vast lands, whirled up sand storms and tugged mercilessly at Mephisto's fancy cloak. The radiating heat coming from the volcanoes nearby added up to his level of discomfort. Their march was arduous and far from easy. Neither of them had been here before, at the second level of hell. The empire of Asmodei, manifested sin of lust, lover of Lilith and mother of Amaimon.

Mephisto's eyes scanned the area. On their left side, leading their way for days – weeks? Month? - were the banks of the river Acheron, branch of Styx. Its dull grey coloring came from the lost souls inside, the remains of devoured souls, a useless pulp, howling and whining all the time ever so tedious. Those were his companions on this journey as well as his faithful, loyal younger brother, who would cast side glances at him every now and then.

They did not speak much, though, only if it was necessary. In this wasteland every step had become a pain and every excrescent word only a waste of strength. And strength they needed in such a tremendous place like Gehenna.

Yet, the hardships and efforts would be worthwhile. The outermost edge of Gehenna, known as the limbus, was no longer far away from them. There, he would find a way out, away from Gehenna's specified patterns resembling chains of slavery which condemned him to be second best for all eternity.

There, where Gehenna and Assiah almost touched.

There, where the legendary 'Lost Portal' stood, the shortest connection between these two dissimilar worlds.

The portal only a King of Time and Space would be able to use to turn his back towards Gehenna forever.

The only other possibility apart from Gehenna Gate to reach Assiah.

Assiah, in which he alone would be the most powerful, for there was no vessel existing that was capable of containing Satan's immense power.

It was an insane intention, indeed. There was no source that proved the portal actually existed, where exactly it was located inside the limbus and how much effort was required to activate and use it. But did Mephisto have a choice? Either he dared everything or he submitted, unable to outflank himself and live on, forever stuck on second place. He would never be satisfied with second place.

Maybe he was acting atypically, doubting the specified hierarchy of Gehenna and risking everything he got. Well, he never saw himself as a perfect example of a typical demon. He dared, he risked and he enjoyed it with utmost glee.

A broad grin crossed his lips, a sight that would undoubtedly make even the most powerful demons tremble in fear. Oh yes, it did not matter the costs, he would pay every price for reaching Assiah. He would blast the chains of his cursed existence and he would slip out of Satan's reach.

Each step was accompanied with the same thoughts.

Each step drew him closer to his aim and destination.

And each step increased his expectations.

„Aniue... over there!" Amaimon indicated towards a group of stone heaps nearby. There was a narrow opening in one of those rugged solid rocks, spatting out Acheron river and throwing it into the dreary landscape of Gehenna like a distorted golem's mouth would. Inside had to be the limbus.

„Finally..." Mephisto mumbled. The dryness in his throat swallowed up the longingly joyful tone, but his broad grin spoke volumes. The impulse to approach it was there, it was incredibly strong and absolutely irresistible. He made a step forward and stopped dead. Something hold him back... or rather someone. A hand had curled around his wrist, tight like a vise.

„What is it Amaimon? I have no time!" Funny words coming from the demon that rules over time and space itself, yet, it was true. He had no time, not when Satan was involved. Any moment the god of Gehenna might detect that his most valuable toy was no longer where he had left it. And being a proper god, Satan was neither bound to time nor space. Within split seconds the lord of darkness was able to roam his whole empire, being omnipotent in one way or another.

This was the reason why both of them traveled on foot and refused to use any magic at all. Mephisto would have been able to snap his fingers and pop up just at the portal's base, but then he would have risked to get recognized before he was given the chance to flee. A risk he did not wager.

No, use of magic had to wait until the very last moment.

„I'll miss you, Aniue..." Mephisto stiffened when the Earth King's arms coiled around his frame and when he buried his face in his back, squeezing him tightly. What in Gehenna's name? „Farewell."

Amaimon had never been an champion of great words. He would always only state what was necessary. No exquisite addresses, no honorific speeches, no nice talk ... he was not born to be a master of words, this was rather Mephisto's specialty. But his words inherited a certain accuracy and depth; a depth which moved Mephisto in some sort of way, more than he would ever want to admit.

Farewell. Such a simple word. A greeting for departure and simultaneously the secret wish for him to... well, fare well.

Amaimon pulled away from the tight embrace. Then his departing, shuffling steps told Mephisto that the Earth King made his way back home. Mephisto did not turn around once, but continued his journey onward. He did not fear that he might throw his plans overboard for such trivial things such as emotions or regret. Certainly not! One does not make such a wearing journey to retreat and surrender. No, he would go on, start a new life, step over that thin line of destiny and write his own story. Time was pressing, he must not stop here for too long.

Two brothers departed, each one going separate ways with every step they made, yet, they had never been any closer than in that very moment before they left each other.

„Farewell, otouto." Mephisto mumbled thoughtfully and hoped against all odds that the blowing wind would carry his words to his brother's ears, before he entered the darkness of the limbus.

Yukio Okumura woke with a start from his nightmare trip into Sir Pheles' past. He was in the staff room, a nauseous feeling forming in his guts, while cold sweat ran down his forehead.

Reality surrounded him once again. It went on smoothly just where it had stopped as if he had never been away, he noticed even though it felt like he was wrapped in a veil of mist that would blur his vision and deafen his ears. When he rose time seemed to run slower than before. Under effort he stumbled forward, panting hard, frantically trying not to throw up in the middle of the staff room.

„Okumura-sensei!" The muffled voice of Kaoru Tsubaki echoed. Somebody supported him before he tripped and fell over his own shaky legs. A side glance told him that it was Hinokawa-sensei with a concerned expression.

The hectic voices around him subsided to a muffled buzz. How he, in such condition, successfully mastered to cast a calm smile towards the Doctor Meister beside, was beyond him. Maybe he had gotten used to it, his most effective defense against the outside world. Nothing seemed to be more dishonest than his reassuring smile.

Confidently Yukio rose again and rattled on. Every support was unnecessary, he declared, he just felt slightly dizzy from the summer heat and he was able to manage to get to the nursery or his room by himself, thank you very much. He continued to cross the room in controlled strides, heading for the door. The nauseous feeling remained, but he could suppress it for a moment or two. In due calmness he told Shura to pass on to Sir Pheles that he felt unable to teach for a little while and needed to rest, nothing serious, of course, but also nothing he wanted to underestimate.

The redhead nodded, eying him sceptically, but for once she did not lecture him about honesty. Instead she simply punched his arm in a buddy-sort-of-way and wished for him to recover soon. He smiled again, thanked her politely and left, never noticing the worried looks the staff members gave him behind his back.

No thinking, just go on.

As soon as he was on his own, he gave up on his forced determination and stumbled forward once again. Once or twice he had to stop to catch his breath leaning against the cool surface of the hallway's walls. His first aim was the bath room, quickly he made his way to one of the cabins and emptied his stomach from its contents until the bitter taste of gall was all that was left.

Don't think. Stay calm.

With matter of course he sprinkled his face with ice cold water and gargled some to flush away the bitter aftertaste on his tongue.

Yeah, good boy, no thinking.

He continued walking like he was being in trance. Before he realized it, he stood inside his and Rin's shared room in the old dormitory. Mechanically he slipped out of his shoes and removed his exorcist's trench coat, neatly placing it inside the cupboard.

The whole expiry appeared to be like an automatic process. His mind seemed to have unhooked itself, while his body moved on autopilot.

Don't think!

He lay down on the bed on top of his blanket and mused while staring up at the ceiling. It was not until then that his emotions broke lose due to the current events and shattered in his mind like a collapsing house of cards in a storm. Hate towards Satan, anger towards Rin, sympathy for Sir Pheles, the lonesome pain of knowing something he was not supposed to know, the fear to have a secret no one ever wanted, the shame he was sure he would feel whenever facing Sir Pheles again and the certainty that Rin wanted to talk it all over with him once he returned. He did not want this! He did not ask for it! It was too much... and it made him go insane!

JUST BLOCK IT!

Rin moaned from pain when the Earth King tackled him down with all his force and pushed his wrists into the ground like it was the easiest thing in the world. Kurikara lay somewhere in the grass, out of his reach. Amaimon had made sure to smack it out of his hands before attacking him.

„Shush, little firebrand." he whispered with a malicious sneer on his lips. „I won't do you any harm, even though you deserve it."

„Fuck off, you... you...!" Rin fumbled for a proper insult. He was actually about to call him Broccoli-Head, but reminded himself just in time that this would not be the wisest thing to do, if Amaimon's reaction to the last time he was given that nickname was any evidence. This did not need repetition, especially not on the campus where innocent students might get involved.

„Or what, brother?" The demon asked in a provoking manner. „I already said I won't do you no harm. I just want to know something from you."

Rin struggled like a madman, but it seemed impossible to wiggle away from the Earth King's merciless grasp in his current, unfortunate position. The blue flames alone might have helped him out of this, but the teenager hesitated to make use of them as long as it was not absolutely indispensable. „Then spit it out, goddammit!"

„What do you think about Aniue?"

„Huh?" Oh yeah, smart reaction, pea brain, Rin mocked cynically in his mind. The Earth King's question surprised him, dumfounded him even so much that he forgot to struggle for a moment. Of all possible questions to ask, why this?

„Just answer."

Rin glared at the impatience, but he did not say a word of protest. Instead he gave it a thought. What did the Earth King want to aim at? For heaven's sake, Rin did not even sort his thoughts out about that matter. There hadn't been the possibility, yet! After all, he had been directly confronted with that... that berserk after his trip! „I... I don't quite know, yet... lemme think... uhm... well... I guess, I feel sympathy towards him... or so..." he finally answered.

„Sympathy... I see." Amaimon stated. His face still reflecting an emotionless mask of boredom. Just a short break between those words and the following question gave thr teenager the indication that Amaimon actually mused about his answer. „Nothing else?"

„I don't know, what you wanna hear! But yes sympathy. I mean, it's cruel and terrible if things like that happen to someone, even though it happened to that damn clown. It's the most likely feeling one would have, right?"

„Is it?" Two rudimentary eyebrows quirked in surprise.

What about those silly questions? Of course it was! He just said it, did he not?

Well, maybe he had no idea of what normal demon education might be like, but this sort of... of thing was no comparison to the loving and caring education Yukio and him experienced from Shiro Fujimoto. The father had granted them that sort of carefree childhood one could only wish to have, despite all the problems, despite the demonic inheritance slumbering inside Rin, despite the troublesome lecturing and amounts of reprimands. Yeah, the old geezer really had been something. Unfortunately such realization always came too late.

„Listen, I had a sheltered childhood. So I just can't imagine what it is like to..." he stopped, not wanting to speak that sort of thing out loud. „I just think, parents are there to love their children no matter what, right? That's why I feel sympathy..." he mumbled.

The Earth King made a snorting sound, something between a hiccup fit and chortled laughter. It sounded joyless and empty, but sort of amused as well. What was so funny, eh? „What a messed up way of thinking for a son of Satan."

„What's that supposed to mean?!"

Messed up? Seriously?! Come on, who was the messed up one of them, really? Didn't Amaimon also stand on Mephisto's side? Didn't he provide, support and help him? He had to have similar thoughts... or not?

„Find it out for yourself, beansprout. Whatever, there's nothing more than sympathy, you say?"

Rin sighed in annoyance. It was not that hard to get, was it? How often did he have to repeat himself, until the Earth King was satisfied with what he said? Also, the half-demon had no clue why the Earth King had to be so penetrating about that subject. „As I said before, I don't know what you wanna hear from me. It's sympathy for Mephisto and incredible hate and contempt towards Satan. This didn't change... well maybe it magnified."

„Good... or maybe not. Anyways, what about me?"

Okay... this one was new. Rin looked up at him dumbfounded. Another thing he did not have the time yet to think it all over. He mused. Was it also sympathy? No... well not exactly, a bit maybe... but there was something else, something more important...

Something inside him basically changed when thinking about Amaimon. There had been anger before and rage. After all it had been the Earth King who had harassed him in the amusement park and in the camp. He had abducted, threatened and harmed his precious friends – something the teenager would not forget easily. And it was Amaimon's fault that Rin's identity had been exposed to Vatican. Yeah, he had been really pissed about that sort of stuff and pranks the demon pulled, to say the least. Who could blame him for that? However, currently the anger vanished, as if someone put out the flames of fury inside Rin without him noticing. It was simply gone.

But why?

Well, Rin mused onwards, on the one hand it must have been quite a pain for Amaimon to support Mephisto back then in Gehenna. The principal seemed quite hard to handle, when being furious and he surely was not too fond of being dependent on help, accepting it rather ungratefully even. Moreover, the Earth King's support must have been an openly opposition towards Satan himself. It was more than likely that he had to go through a lot of punishment for that. And punishment from Satan must have been hell... well, Rin got a glimpse of what it was like and he did not want to deepen his train of thoughts on this matter.

On the other hand there was this mysterious contract, Amaimon wanted to make with Satan, in order to protect his older brother. This made him stand in direct line of fire between Satan and Mephisto once again. And according to what the principal said it was rather uncommon that a demon would risk his own safety for another. (Rin did not have to be that smart to figure that their relationship was intimately connected with each other.)

Summing up, all this shed new light on Amaimon and there seemed to exist a word in Rin's none diversified vocabulary that was able to express it properly:

„Respect... I guess, I respect you more now..." The teenager replied calmly.

If Amaimon was any surprised about this revelation, he made a damn good job of hiding it. He still seemed to be his bored and absolutely uninterested self.

„That's all I wanted to know." he stated, before releasing Rin and disappearing with few, specific jumps over treetops and roofs.

Rin followed his track with his eyes until he was completely gone. Then he rose, readjusted his messed up clothes, picked up Kurikara to slide it back into the sheath and put it in its bag. „Weirdo..." he muttered under his breath, before making his way to cram school.

TBC

A/n: Thank you dear reviewers for supporting me, even though I'm such a lazy-ass and update only once in a while or don't answer your lovely comments... *cough* Special thanks to SuperiosDimwit for smoothing out errors! *3*

This chapter was kind of complicated... so many characters, so many ways of how to make them interact and react and so many ways of doing it wrong and OOC and argh... I can't tell how often I changed the whole concept, how often I rewrote whole parts or the entire chapter... but finally I'm somewhat pleased with the outcome.

Especially the interaction between Rin and Amaimon seemed to be a tricky part. They were always jumping at each others throat... goddamit! *glares at them* I wanted them to talk! In a kind of normal way... well, they refused so hard, but I finally could make them have this little chat without any blood being spilled... oh yeah compromises. xD

Another tricky part proved to be Yukio's reaction... he is so complicated. A boy that would always smile but behind that mask there seems to be this lurking darkness, bitterness, rage, fear and his major lack of self-confidence... he's doing a good job on hiding it towards the outside world, though.

Enough with the babbling. Hope you enjoyed it so far! Please feel free to criticize me, to share your thoughts, to praise me even (Anti-Me: Yeah, you'd like that, wouldn't you?). I'm very eager to hear anything you want to tell me. ;3