Chapter 7

The next day at school Riiko texted me telling me she had invited her friend Athol and wanted to confirm with me if I had asked the others. With everything going on it seemed as though I forgot. I ended up running to cram school, being Ryuji was always there early and I knew Rin would be free. 'Ryuji what are you doing after class?' I gasped as I tried to catch my breath. 'Uh nothing, what's going on?' He replied back with widened eyes. 'Are you asking Bon on a date?' Renzou gleamed as both Ryuji and I blushed. 'No, Riiko and I were going to go do karaoke after class are you guys up for it?' I replied hoping Riiko wouldn't mind it being a full house. 'Sounds good to me, how about you two?' Renzou asked as he turned to look at Ryuji and Koneko. 'Sure that sounds fun, Bon?' Koneko questioned as Ryuji just sighed, 'fine, who all is going?' He asked as I took the seat next to Renzou. 'Er well Riiko, me, her friend named Athol, and Rin will most likely go… I forgot to ask him last night. I was tired and fell asleep.' I sighed as all three of them looked at me funny. 'What?' I questioned back. 'You were with Okumura last night?' Renzou questioned, 'yeah I am every night, well most of the time I sleep in my own room but some nights I end up in his bed.' I smiled with innocence as they all screamed out, 'What?' 'Oh I guess I didn't tell you, Mephisto put me in the same dorm as Rin and Yukio so we are just a door apart. Whoops slipped my mind.' I laughed as they all expressed different facial reactions to what I said.

When our teacher arrived we were surprised to see it was the girl pulling Rin away yesterday. 'Anyhow, I have transferred from Vatican Headquarters to the Japanese branch. I'm Shura Kirigakura, 18 years old, nice to meet you. Whatever happens let's have fun the next two and a half months of training, nyahaha.' Shura stated as she grinned, everyone was quite shocked. 'Now then for the time being we have Magic Circles, Sealing Technique and er Sword Techniques too… What a pain in the ass, looks like I will be in charge of those, let's have fun now.' Shura stated really unenthused, 'umm, sensei?' Ryuji questioned really awkwardly. 'What is it Suguro?' Shura asked back, 'sensei… why were you pretending to be a student and what happened to our former Magic Seals instructor?' Ryuji questioned. 'Ahh those are adult matters, kids need not worry about them.' Shura replied, 'What do you mean by that?' Ryuji barked back, 'Sorry I am late, I kinda didn't get much sleep yesterday so I slept through lessons a bit… I slept all the way through homeroom and no one bothered to wake me up…. eh it's you!' Rin's eyes widened as he noticed Shura in the room. I was still wondering what happened between the two of them. 'You don't need to explain yourself, just come in, I'm not mad. Just get to your seat already!' Shura smiled, Rin started to talk to Shiemi as he took his seat. He looked different, like something happened. 'Don't you think the atmosphere around him has changed a bit?' Ryuji questioned, 'I dunno something seems different…' I replied, 'I wonder what happened to him?' Renzou questioned with a creepy smirk. Later on in class Rin ended up returning to his usual self, not being able to read what was in front of him. I was a little relieved, however something was different but I couldn't put my finger on it.

After class I asked Rin if he would like to come out for Karaoke with us, Shiemi overheard so I invited her as well. Renzou asked Kamiki so it looked as though it will be a full house. When we arrived we met Riiko and Athol outside the Karaoke house. Athol had sheep like horns sticking out of his head, to anyone else it would be weird but then again for me it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. 'Hey Mira, hey guys glad to see you showed up.' Riiko waved, 'of course, and you must be Athol. It's very nice to meet you.' I smiled as Athol gave me a cold look. 'Same here…' he replied coldly which made Ryuji pissed. 'What's with the horns?' Renzou questioned, 'oh um, Athol here is a half demon.' I smiled innocently, 'are you serious?' Ryuji barked, 'oh that's cool!' Rin smiled, 'are you kidding that's not right…' Koneko replied with a scared look on his face. 'Lot's of people have demon blood, let it go and let's go in.' Izumo replied as she headed in the door. 'Izumo is right, let's all go in,' I continued to smile as I grabbed Ryuji and Koneko's wrists and pulled them in. Once we got inside and were settled in the room we decided on an order to sing. 'Okay so I will start, Rin is up after, then Izumo, then Mira, and after her is Shima and Konekomaru, Shiemi is after that, and Ryuji and Athol still haven't decided if they are going to sing yet.' Riiko stated, 'I'm not singing…' Both Ryuji and Athol responded at the same time as Ryuji shot a death glare over to Athol. He just responded with a cold look, it seems as though they weren't going to get along. 'Okay so I will start then!' Riiko winked as she plugged in the song, she ended up choosing "Lost My Music from the anime Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya," she was a really good singer and had lots of energy. Truthfully I was nervous, I never sang in front of this many people, just Mephisto on our anime karaoke nights. When Riiko finished singing we all applauded. 'Wow that was awesome you sound just like her!' I stated, 'yeah great going Riiko!' Rin added. 'So awesome!' Renzou cheered. 'Thanks, looks like Rin is next.' Riiko grinned as Rin took the stage next; he was also one of those people who had a lot of confidence. He was a good singer as well; I looked over to Ryuji who looked like he had something on his mind. Renzou and Koneko were cheering with the others so I decided to go sit beside him. 'Something wrong?' I asked, 'not really, just not sure how I feel about Athol.' Ryuji stated as I felt my heart sink. 'Is that because he has demon blood in him?' I asked as Ryuji sighed, 'yeah well I don't know if I can trust him.' I felt cold, what if he found out about me and everything changed. It never really occurred to me before but what would the others think about Rin and me if they found out about our bloodlines. Riiko was cool with it obviously; Ryuji and the others seem to really have a hatred of demons. 'I don't think it matters…' I stated as Ryuji turned to face me with shock. 'I don't think someone should be judged because of where they are from and who their parents are. Demon blood doesn't make you a bad person, if you found out today that Renzou, Koneko or even if I was a half demon would that change how you feel about us?' I asked nervously as Ryuji smiled, 'no I would be more upset that you guys weren't honest with me.' Ryuji stated as he took a sip from his drink. My chest tightened again, 'sometimes it's not as easy as you make it out to be…' my voice became shaky as Ryuji looked at me with confusion.

'Hey Mira you are up next!' Riiko waved, as I felt even more nervous. 'Uh yeah I'll be right up!' I called back as Ryuji bumped my forehead with his fist. 'You will be fine,' he grinned as I couldn't help but smile back. I hope that when the time comes and he finds out the truth about me that nothing will change… as I got up on stage I decided to go with a song from an anime that Mephisto made me watch as a child. 'I will be singing a song called "Innocent Starter from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha," I blushed as the music started to play and the words flowed out of me, just like they did that time.

'Hugging my knees in the corner,

I was always shaking from my unease.

Knowing the "truth" is frightening, so I closed the door.

I sought a place to belong in a gentle lie, and took refuge in my dreams.

This sea of loneliness that nobody else knew was dyed a deep blue.

With my earnest desire to hide my loneliness,

I wounded your heart.

In the secret inside my eyes, in the reality behind my smile that draws you in,

There is a tender love that I'm going to send to you.

If you touch it, that fragile warmth will pour into the present from the past.

I'll always be by your side, so don't feel lost in the sad shadows.

Like a child, just chasing my dreams,

I couldn't find anything.

All I did was lose sight of what's important to me.

The happiness that definitely exists in the "obvious" and the "normal,"

With power can be protected; I wanted to obtain that, so I head straight and live on.

I won't get lost. My gaze is only on that "one" answer.

In the red dawn sky, there is painted a rainbow that wraps around all the darkness.

This small courage surpasses words.

Even if the future is taken captive, even if it vanishes in the distance, this prayer will never

cease. I want to send my sincere feelings to you.

I whisper to you, the person who gave me my "beginning,"

Keep the promise that we made just between ourselves.

The magic of eternity that never changes.

Even if the future is taken captive, even if it vanishes in the distance,

I will remember your clear voice.

Call my name.

And smile like you did that day.'

Everyone applauded as I smiled back, 'that was awesome Mira, I didn't know you watched anime!' Riiko smiled, 'Mephisto made me watch a bunch when I was younger and still to this day, he also made me dress up in frilly outfits and put on live performances for him.' I laughed as everyone's faces went white. 'What's wrong, what did I say?' I asked confused, 'that's… creepy…' Everyone stated together. 'Is it?' I asked back, 'well ignoring that let's get on with the karaoke party!' Renzou cheered as he and Koneko took the stage next. The rest of the evening was a lot of fun; we ended up getting Ryuji up to sing. Athol wouldn't budge. I really hoped things like this would last forever with everyone; I had no idea what was lying ahead.