Chapter 22

"Okami! Bon got hurt, so- hey, Izumo! You sure are cute in a yukata!" Shima said, "Bon's hurt, so can we have some ice?"

"Um, okay. What happened?"

"The right eye was stolen and they've arrested Okumura." Bon answered, "He flared up and everyone saw him. I don't know what they're going to with him now. Miss Kirigakure used a spell to knock him out and they locked him in a cell."

The whole group looked worried except for Shima, who looked like he was about to suggest a rescue plan.

I'm lying on something hard and cold. It's not very comfortable and my body feels stiff and heavy. Amy tail has the worst of it, feeling like it's being ripped out from the base. What happened before I fell asleep? Right, Bon was disowning his father, I snapped, Shura did something, my tail hurt, I fell unconscious. Now I'm... wherever I am right now.

I groaned.

"Have you cooled down?"

"Shura?"

"How you feelin'?"

"I'm still weak, but I can move."

"Then read this."

"A letter?"

"Suguro's dad asked me to give it to you."

"Why me?"

"I dunno, just read it."

I opened the letter. All these weird symbols... What language is this? "...I can't."

Shura grabbed the letter from my hands. "Gimme a break! You can't even read? The state of education today! Yow! I can't read it either!"

"See!"

"It's in cursive script. I can read it." Yukio said. When did he get here? Was I really looking all pathetic and stuff in front of Yukio? He saw me unconscious and no doubt Shura told him what happened. Damnit! Why did Yukio have to know? Maybe he was there and he saw? Why did I have to screw up in front of my brother too?

Yukio read the letter. We learned all about the Koma sword, Bon's father, and even Father Fujimoto's role in all of this. It's so complicated and so stupid at the same time, I don't even know what to think. I just know that Bon's dad should give him some more credit, trust him a little bit. It's no wonder that Bon doesn't trust him.

"I want to help. Father Fujimoto saved my life. So if it will help, I want to fight! That's just my hope, though."

"I won't allow it." Yukio stated. Why is he acting so cold towards me? Is he still upset about learning my secret?

"Come forth and serve thy bearer" Shura chanted. She looked pointedly at Yukio, "If he says he wants to fight, we should check before deciding. Let him draw the sword."

"Moments ago, he was raging out of control! It's crazy to give it to him now!" So that's what it's all about. He really doesn't trust me now. Why do I have to be such a fuckup? "Next time, they'll put him to death!"

"Listen up. The Vatican know the moment I chanted the imprisonment spell. They already can put him to death. It's too late to wimp out now. If the Impure King has returned, we have more dangerous things to worry about. Besides, you know as well as I do, his flame has worked on demons before. IT can't hurt to try." Shura lectured before handing me my sword. She even gave me a tiny smile. I don't know if I can meet her expectations. "Rin, draw the sword."

I pulled. It stuck. It won't move. I pulled harder. Why won't it move? Someone is finally trusting me, finally believing in me just a little bit! Why can't I pull the fucking sword out? What's wrong with me? Why do I always screw it up when it counts? I pulled as hard as I could on the thing.

"I don't get it. I can't draw the sword." I said, sighing. "It must be caught somewhere. That's right! That's gotta be the reason..."

"Rin, you're afraid." I blinked, "Of course you are. You were overjoyed at finally gaining control of your flame and moments later your emotions took control and you freaked out. Emotionally, you're back where you started. You're thinking "What will happen to me the next time I draw the sword?" "Maybe I'll lose myself again." "Maybe I'll hurt someone." That's what you're thinking, right? You've totally lost your confidence." Shura explained.

Whatever confidence I had to begin with. I know what she's saying, hidden beneath her words. She knows I want my blade, she knows that I need something to take the edge off of my emotions right now, and she's explaining to me why I always feel that way, why I always feel that urge. It's not just right now, it's always. Right now just happens to be the worst it's ever felt.

"Wait a second, how would that stop me from drawing the sword?" Ask questions, don't panic. Please, don't let me panic. I think I still have those sharpener blades in my pocket. I'll get them when Shura and Yukio leave. In the mean time, jsut don't panic.

Suddenly, a bright pink cloud burst in front of my cell.

"Howdy! Guten Abend! My first appearance in ages is in a jail? How depressing. I;m only here to clean up your mess. Eins, zwei, drei." Mephisto counted boredly.

A metal box appeared in front of me. A claw shot out of the front of it, grabbed me, and started draggin my into it.

Mephisto grabbed the sword from my hand. "I'll be taking this from you. And the hidden trasures in your pockets." he whispered. He did not just do that. I'm going to rip his head off his creepy clown shoulders when I get out of this box. "Due to the recent incident involving Rin's behaviour, a majority of the inquest comittee headed by the Grigori has voted to put Rin to death. Now, the Impure King is on his way and will soon destroy all of Kyoto. Defeating him will take a lot of manpower. Here's a little present for you. I hope it helps."

Mephisto poofed away, leaving Shura with the sword and an armful of camo-ponchos.

Shura went straight to the exwires. Even if Rin didn't think so, she know that all of them were still willing to be his friends. Even if they were crappy at showing it, she also knew that they'd bust an arm and a leg, and maybe even more to help him out if he needed it.

"Rin has been given a death sentence for using his flame and the Vatican's orders cannot be overturned, so Suguro, I'm giving this to you. Here's the Kurikara and a letter your father wrote to Rin. It says that Rin needs to defeat the Impure King and Rin wants to help. Will you help me bust him out?"

The vote was instant and unanimous.

"Take these camo-ponchos to hide from the guards. He'll have to prove himself to avoid execution. I'm counting on all of you. The rest of the plan is up to your judgement. I have to go fight with the other exorcists. Good luck." Shura left, leaving the exwires to figure out Rin's escape plan.

"Solitary confinement is this way!" Bon said as he grabbed a camo-poncho and led the way.

The group was extremely quiet and made sure to keep their heads low as they crept past the guards. Once past, they breathed a breath of relief and took off the hoods. Around the next corner, they found the giant metal box Rin was being held in.

"Wee hee hee! I am das starkste Geffangnis! I unlock from the outside but not from the inside! So riddle me this! Why am I so strong? Fight me and see! Wee hee hee!"

"So we have to fight it!" Bon exclaimed. All of the exwires save Shiemi drew their weapons.

"Graaah!"

"Wee hee hee! And the answer is... BECAUSE I CAN FREEZE ANYONE WHO APPROACHES ME AS AN ENEMY! That's why they call me the strongest! Mwa ha ha!"

"Huh? So why didn't I freeze?" Shiemi asked the box.

"You aren't an enemy! You're weak and unarmed! Wee hee hee!"

"You open from the outside, right?" Shiemi asked.

"Oh yeah. Sure, but you'll never get back out! Wee hee hee!"

Shiemi put her hand on the handle. She gripped tight, sent Rin a thought, drew up her courage, and pulled the door open. Without another second of hesitation, Shiemi walked right into the strongest prison, hoping she'd be able to get her first ever friend out of there safely.

Hey, it's been a while! School and all that... Anyways, this chapter is a bit shorter than normal, but it's the best place to stop before the coming chapters. This story is finally getting through all of the content in the manga that it needs to get through before it goes back to all of the introspection and stuff. I hope you didn't miss me too much and that you're all still enjoying the story! -Shippo704