Puppeteer
Chapter 5: Catch my Fall

When standing high above, a fall will certainly be long and painful. But if someone considers himself to be so low that he probably could not fall any deeper...

Yukio always believed he would be somewhere deep down on lowest level. Due to his weaknesses, his considerable lack of confidence and virtues the teenager provided a serious amount of self-hatred inside, which would keep him low at any rate.

Someone like him never guessed he could fall any deeper and maybe that was the worst mistake he ever made. For now, he fell, fell into a bottomless pit of darkness, embracing him with cold fierceness, almost swallowing him completely. He paid the price, though, without ever questioning. After all it was due to his arrogance that caused his fall. He'd been arrogant enough to think there was nothing that could blow his mind any further... but there was.

It was easier to forget about Sir Pheles being mistreated when just hearing about it. But now, that he saw what... those pictures in his mind... that atrocious, piercing scream of pain...

Yet, giving up easily, never was an option. He lived to bear, lived to protect, lived to struggle and lived to operate. And in order to distract his troubled and befuddled mind, he had started to work on preparations for upcoming classes. Working always kept the lurking darkness away. Had he not learned from Shiro Fujimoto that the will of mind alone could hold back the evil and that letting it slip for just a single moment would result into a bitter end?

He would cope on his own, like he always did. No need to fret about the current events for too long.

The young exorcist was about to write down the effects and many uses of St. John's wort also known as chase-devil, when his mobile started vibrating on the tabletop. Stunned, he let the ballpoint pen glide from his hand, when he recognized the caller's name flashing on the display: Sir Mephisto Pheles.

He hesitated to answer this call. His hand, however, acted out of its own accord. Yukio Okumura, youngest teacher at True Cross Academy, always answered calls no matter what. It was his duty.

Yukio's thumb lingered on the green button for a moment. Was he really prepared for that conversation whatever it would be about? Would he be able to stay calm, to talk to him like nothing ever happened? Yukio felt his thumb pressing the button, despite his present inner turmoil.

»Okumura speaking.« His voice did not betray his wavering mind. Thank goodness. »Sir Pheles, what I can do fo-?«

The director cut him off rather cheerfully, the way he always did. »Okumura-sensei! Shura-san reported that you suffered from a bit of a break down back in the staff room earlier this day. I hope it's nothing of concern?« he asked, the merry tone changing to a more down-to-business-like shade.

»No, Sir.« Liar. »It's getting better constantly.« Quite the contrary. »It seems I didn't drink enough today and in combination with the summer heat... this probably resulted into a certain amount of dizziness.« Excuses... excuses! »I apologize for the trouble I probably caused. I'll be back teaching by tomorrow.« He finished, each word accented with a smile on his lips. When being on the phone, experts say, a smile will radiate a positive atmosphere, it doesn't matter if the smile is true or false.

»Don't push yourself, sensei. If you need a break don't hesitate to ask me. I'm certain, we can arrange a temporary replacement, if needed.«

Yukio pondered on the thought for a bit. Did he need a break? Or rather, did he want it? He would have some time to recover, yes, but it would give him more time to think about what had happened. No, this was the least thing he wanted.

»Thank you, Sir Pheles. It's a very generous offer, but I don't think this will be necessary.«

»The greatest weakness of all weaknesses is to fear too much to appear weak.*«

Yukio's heart skipped a beat, then it started hammering. »Pardon, Sir?«

»Just quoting an old friend of mine.« The demon principal lilted in merry tunes. »Take care of yourself, Okumura-sensei. Dewa mata~« They disconnected with a soft click, instantly followed by 'tooting'.

Yukio emitted a relieved breath. However, his heart still hammered in his chest. He caught that odd quote and it made him feel rather uneasy. What did Sir Pheles know?

»...Dewa mata~«

»Aniue...« the Earth King gasped.

Towering over him, Mephisto pressed the red button of his mobile phone with the one hand while the other was fimly curled around Amaimon's neck squeezing the windpipe and his Adam's apple tightly. He had done this during the whole conversation with Yukio Okumura, so the Earth King was running shortly out of air.

»Tell me, Amaimon,« his voice was calm and composed, making it sound far more intimidating than any harsh word could achieve. »What difficulty do you see in following such a simple order like 'Don't ever leave this estate without my permission'? Did I not make myself clear with those words? Or do I speak gibberish, maybe?«

»No, Aniue please...« Amaimon choked, looking up at him with panic-stricken eyes as his fingers desperately tried to free his throat from his older brother's ruthless grasp to prevent himself from getting strangled.

Both of them had spent quite some time finding a new vessel for the Earth King after his former vessel got destroyed in the courtroom by Rin Okumura and his raging blue flames. Due to Mephisto's time-and-space-shifting-ability Amaimon's fragile heart got saved in that very last moment, before the blue flames completely burned the body to cinders.

Would he die now, by the hands of his brother, he'd directly go back to Gehenna. And there was no chance he could return to Assiah without either Satan sending him through Gehenna Gate or Mephisto calling for him, meaning, he was stuck in boring Gehenna for quite some time... it could be days, but it could also be years, centuries, millenniums...

And Mephisto knew that Amaimon knew and feared that.

Yes, his little brother made it so easy for him to be cruel and relentless. »Now, let me see, why would you be so keen on opposing my precise, unequivocal instructions... Is it because they don't seem right to you in any aspect? Or is it that you have the pressing urge to criticize my approaches?«

»No... no... Aniue...« Nothing more than a moribund whisper.

»Then. Do. Tell. Me. Why.« Mephisto demanded, eyes narrowed as he finally let go off Amaimon's throat.

The King of Earth choked and panted. greedily gasping for air. There was a dark imprint on Amaimon's neck, but it would soon vanish, unfortunately. His breath rattled as he answered in a low, hoarse voice.

»I just talked to him. I didn't harm him.«

»And you think this answer satisfies me, because~?«

Amaimon growled, trying to stand his ground, battling Mephisto's admonitory stare with his stubborn, adverse glare. He failed and submitted shortly after, though. »I just asked what he thinks about you and father... and well, also me. Nothing more. I didn't pass any information. How could I even? You don't tell me anything!« Something in Amaimon's azure eyes flared up and shot daggers at Mephisto. But the rage inside wasn't meant for the latter but rather for someone else and... it was mixed... with... could it be?

Mephisto laughed out loud, a merciless, sardonic and disdainful sound. Marvellous! His little brother had done the trick... searching for answers he didn't want to hear!

»Well, well...« the principal said, after his laughter subsided into a mere chuckle while wiping a tear from his left eye. «What did he say?«

Amaimon's cheeks instantly got tinted pink when the laughter started, his arms were crossed in front of his chest in a pouting manner. Mephisto couldn't tell, whether it was from rage or shame, but it was an amusing sight to say the least. »He said, he sympathizes with you and that his hatred towards father magnified... I guess, this is according to plan.«

»It certainly is not of disadvantage.«

»Why, goddammit?! Why won't you trust me?! Why don't I get involved into your plans?« His voice trembled as reasoning left him once more. Oh, here we go again, Amaimon chose to test his limits, how very tedious.

Mephisto merely quirked a disapproving eyebrow at him. Amaimon violated the strict rules of demon etiquette. ‚A demon is never to question another demon of higher rank than itself. It is to follow the order no matter how absurd it may seem for the higher-ranked demon is not accountable to none of lower existence.'

No matter the amount of jealousy bottled up inside Amaimon, he was far below Mephisto in royal hierarchy and the latter always insisted on compliance to demon etiquette, even though he turned his back on Gehenna and violated that specific rule quite often himself.

»I am willing to admit that I prefer it for one reason or another to have you by my side. But, Amaimon, trust? Don't make me laugh! How am I to trust you, when you so ceaselessly and willingly refuse to follow my strict orders? You may have the potential to be a loyal companion, but you waste this potential every single time you fail me. So, do tell me, what exactly makes you believe that such behaviour will strengthen my confidence in you.«

Amaimon dwindled under his narrowed eyes and the well chosen words, still he didn't falter, yet. »I am your brother...«

Enough is enough. Impatiently Mephisto grabbed the Earth King by his collar and brought him close to his face. His voice was barely more than a whisper, but it was as sharp and ice-cold as a Siberian blizzard at midwinter. »This is my last warning. Don't confuse brotherly affection with loyalty and listen once! In Assiah you have to play by my rules, despite what you may think of them and how much I choose to introduce you to my plans. Or you will retreat to Gehenna. Another one of your faux pas' and you're gone. Did I make myself clear this time? So, it's either Assiah or Gehenna. Which one will it be?«

»Aniue... you wouldn't...«

»Don't test my patience, Amaimon. Not. Now.«

Amaimon flinched. At last, finally some admission of guilt sunk in. »Assiah.«

»Good. I finally spot some sense inside that thick head of yours. And now, since we both agree on the topic of you risking my plans so carelessly by misbehaving, I'm sure, you understand that I have to punish you adequately.« A cruel grin darted over Mephisto's features, while Amaimon's eyes silently begged for mercy. »Before you start blaming me, consider that you could have expected consequences before you eloped from this estate. It's your actions that force me to take disciplinary measures. Clearly, this isn't my fault. So, since you're obviously not able to remain at a conditional area on your own accord, I will just have to lock you in somewhere more escape-proof. Alas, 'Die Kammer des Stillstands'*.«

»No... Aniue, please don't!« The pleading expression vanished and gave way to faint frustration. Something inside those azure eyes shattered, be it a world or an illusion, for Mephisto it simply didn't matter. But instead of simply accepting his fate, the Earth King grabbed the principal's collar now in utter despair. »Not there... please, I'll be good, I promise!«

»Nothing more to be said.« Mephisto brushed Amaimon's fingers from his lapel with the same indifference one would shoo off an annoying fly, before he fiercefully pushed him away. The Earth King stumbled backwards and hit the marbled floor bottom-first. »Eins, Zwei, Drei!« Snap!

Amaimon dissolved in pink-coloured smoke, while at the very same moment something similar to a snow dome appeared on Mephisto's desk. The orb seemed milky and heavily clouded, though, shimmering like an outsized, precious pearl.

Best punishment and best protection at the same time. Amaimon would be able to think about his deeds and had no chance to cause further damage from inside that isolated cell.

Mephisto sighed and brushed his fingers over its smooth, cold, glassy surface. »Soon, you will understand, Amaimon...«

TBC

* from Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (September 27, 1627 – April 12, 1704), a French bishop, theologian, and court preacher. Bossuet was one of the first to advocate the theory of political absolutism; he made the argument that government was divine and that kings received their power from God. (source: wikipedia). Dunno if he was Mephisto's friend or not, just found that quote and thought it fitting. ^^;;

** "Die Kammer des Stillstands" = Chamber of Stagnation

A/n: Short chapter, but rather quick update. If that isn't something! xD So here we have Yukio trying his hardest to suppress his inner turmoil and Amaimon's punishment. Not much, but I had to sort this out, before they main actors of this play will come together. Hope you enjoyed it~