"The court will now hear the case of Mephisto Pheles, head of the Japan Branch of the Knights of the True Cross," The judge said, banging the gavel. "I, Temoth Tiboun, chief justice of the Order and Arthur Auguste Angel, current Paladin, will carry out this interrogation. Presiding are the Grigori, advisors to the Knights of the True Cross. Pheles, let's get straight to the point. Is this creature that I see before me, the son of Satan?" The judge asked. He looked at the blue crystal that encased Rin.
"That he is, your honor," Mephisto confessed with a smirk. "I simply cannot hide the truth any longer." The exorcists attending the hearing gasped and whispered amongst themselves in shock and horror.
"Fifteen years ago, my brother was born," Yukio said. He sat on the edge of Sakura's bed, keeping an eye on her. The rest of his class was spread out in the room, watching him intently. "His mother was human, and his father was Satan. As a result he inherited the power of Satan's blue flames." The Exwires gasped at the truth.
"Umm…I don't mean to pry, but you and he are twins," Konekomaru trailed off, not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.
"You're wondering if I have the same power," Yukio finished. "I don't. My body was too weak and frail. Rin inherited all of it. But I still take exams everyday just in case. As far as I know, I'm still human."
"To clarify, Yuri Eggen, Junior Exorcist 2nd Class, gave birth to Satan's son. But the reports state that Fujimoto killed him with the Koma sword. And now you're saying that the report was false," the female member of the Grigori pressed.
"Yes," Mephisto confirmed. "The fact is two children were born but only one inherited the power of Satan. And that child, is the one before you now." Mephisto turned and gestured to Rin's encased form. "He would have turned into a demon, so I sealed his demonic heart, the source of his power, into the Koma sword."
Yukio grabbed the Koma sword and held it out for his class to see. "Eventually his power became too much for the Koma sword to handle. The sword couldn't contain it, so the power woke up inside Rin three months ago. And until that day, Rin grew up knowing nothing. He didn't know the truth about himself."
"Do you know what they're going to do to Rin?" Shiemi asked.
"It all depends on the verdict. The worst outcome is that they'll execute him," Yukio told her.
"Really?" Shiemi gasped in fright.
"If he gets consumed by the flames he'll turn into a demon. Once that happens he won't be allowed to live in this world anymore," Yukio sighed.
"Can't he just escape to Sakura's world?" Shima asked.
"The Grigori would never allow that to happen," Yukio answered. "And as far as I know, neither would the village elders. And right now, the Five Great Nations are on the brink of a war. Sakura would only tell me that the plot revolves around a very powerful demon. There's no way any nation would allow the son of Satan to take refuge when they've already got that hovering over them. I'm not even sure Tsunade would be able to take him in."
"But Yuki…you sound like you don't even care if Rin dies!" Shiemi cried.
"I never said that!" Yukio shouted. "I just don't want Rin to suffer any longer. Even if he lives he can never go back to living a normal human life. Especially now that his sword is cracked."
"What? Kurikara's blade is cracked?" Suguro asked in shock.
"What did you say?" Yukio muttered. "I've always called this sword the Koma sword, but you just called it the Kurikara. How did you know that?"
"Kurikara, that's its real name," Suguro sighed. "At least, that's what everyone called it when it was one of my temple's treasures."
"Bon, do you think if we brought it to the Yoshikunis they might be able to do something?" Shima asked.
"The Yoshikunis?" Yukio repeated.
"The Yoshikunis are a family of sword smiths. They were the ones that forged Kurikara. There's only one of them now," Suguro explained.
"Do you think they'll be able to fix it?" Shiemi asked.
"I don't actually know," Suguro confessed.
"Are you kidding?" Konekomaru said. "This is crazy. Do you guys even know what you're talking about? Aren't you at all scared? Fix the sword? Are you serious? Why on Earth would anyone want to do that?"
"Because Rin is our friend!" Shiemi said.
"He's the son of Satan!" Konekomaru shouted. Yukio stood up and bowed.
"I know how you guys must feel, and I understand why, but please, if there's a way to save my brother, please help," Yukio asked.
"Please!" Shiemi begged, bowing as well.
"Cut it out," Suguro muttered, looking away.
"Suguro…" Shiemi said softly.
"Sir Pheles, you admit to having Shiro Fujimoto raise the boy in secret, the question is why," The Grigori cloaked in pink questioned. "Explain yourself."
"To fight Satan," Mephisto smirked. "I was going to turn him into a weapon for the order."
"What did you say?" The judge gasped.
"You'd use that boy to fight Satan?" the elderly green Grigori asked.
"That's monstrous," the female Grigori gasped.
"He's lying!" Arthur shouted. "I advise the court to think twice before believing this swindler! Have the members of this court already forgotten what this man is? Lies are the stock and trade of his kind!" Mephisto smirked reveling in the chaos he was creating.
"Alright, let's get going," Izumo huffed, standing up. "Take us to this Yoshikuni person," she demanded. "Hello! You are the only people that know how to get there because I certainly don't!"
"Kamiki," Shiemi whispered in shock.
"Whatever, I'm tired of everyone talking and not doing anything," Izumo said.
"Well Bon?" Shima asked, turning to his friend.
Sakura groaned and shifted in her bed. The movement and sound caught everyone's attention.
"Sakura?" Yukio called, glancing at her. Said girl opened her eyes and looked around wearily.
"Yukio? What's going on?" Sakura muttered. She lifted up a hand and rubbed her head.
"Rin's in trouble," Shiemi said quickly. "His sword is broken! But Suguro knows someone that might be able to fix it." Sakura grunted as she pushed herself to sit up.
"Be careful," Yukio told her.
"No need," Sakura said. "I feel fine. I'm just a bit sore."
"But you were just in a huge fight with Rin, he stabbed you," Shima reminded her.
"And Tsunade healed me, so I'm fine," Sakura hissed, glaring at him.
"But your chakra hasn't recovered," Yukio protested. Sakura sat up and stretched her arms, popping the limbs. She jumped off the bed and crossed her arms.
"My systems are fine, raring to go in fact," Sakura said with a smirk.
"You are not coming with us!" Yukio denied.
"Why not? Rin's my brother too! I want to help him!" Sakura shouted. Her tail swished out and twitched angrily. The Exwires gasped lightly, not expecting to see the tail. "And you can't stop me from joining you!"
"Doctors truly do make the worst patients," Yukio sighed. Sakura smirked and her tail wagged in victory. "Get dressed."
"We're in Kyoto in one second," Shima said in awe. Yukio held up his key ring, gripping one of them.
"This key can transport us anywhere in the world, as long as it has a religious site," he explained. He tucked the keys away and gripped the strap for the sword. "Lead the way." Bon nodded and directed the group.
The group walked around the side of a small little hut. A young girl wearing a white hakama was wiping her face off. She had short brown hair and wore glasses. She watched the group in confusion. Once Suguro was in view her face lit up.
"Ryu-chan!" She gasped, running towards him. She tackled him lightly, wrapping her arms around him.
"H-Hey!" Suguro protested. Blood rushed to his face, turning his cheeks pink.
"Suguro, I never knew you had a girlfriend," Sakura smirked.
"I didn't think he could get a girlfriend," Izumo teased. The two girls snickered at the less-than-effective glare Suguro sent their way.
Rin smiled as he scooped up a spoonful of curry. His classmates and friends were gathered around him, sitting around the fire. Their voices and chatter created a peaceful white noise. If he concentrated hard enough he could pick out a single voice and tell what they were saying. Shiemi was complimenting his curry again and Suguro was going on about…table manners? Whatever.
His brother and sister were discussing something in hushed voices. Straining his ears a bit more and he noticed they were talking about Sakura's village. He smiled when he heard Sakura eagerly go off about some handmade medicines and Yukio responded in kind.
The voices cut off abruptly and everything became quiet. Too quiet. Not even the fire crackled. And his hands were suddenly empty. His blue eyes flew open and he found himself in an empty forest clearing. The fire was gone, the tents were gone, and his friends and family were gone. The only thing there was his sword, pierced into the ground.
"G-Guys?" Rin called, jumping out. His tail swished out, twitching in apprehension. The world around him became darker. A black mist approached him. The half-demon ran to his sword and gripped it, regretting it immediately. His blue flames consumed his body, burning him.
"Help!" He screamed into nothing.
"No one argues the fact that we view demons as our enemy, however we have learned much from them over the centuries," the pink Grigori announced. "The proof can be seen in the countermeasures we've developed."
"Even so, none of that can even begin to dispel the suspicions of treachery by Sir Pheles," the green Grigori said.
"And yet, he's cooperated with the Order for over 2 centuries. Surely that is reason enough to trust him." The blue Grigori looked at his fellow council members.
"This demon conspired with Shiro Fujimoto to raise the son of Satan!" Arthur said. "That fact is indisputable."
"She is an eleventh generation Yoshikuni. She's descended from the sword smith who forged Kurikara," Bon said, gesturing to the young girl.
"A female sword smith?" Izumo muttered
"Women can create weapons just as good as men," Sakura said, crossing her arms.
"Exactly," Yoshikuni agreed. "It isn't that surprising. In fact, in the mid-Edo period there was a master sword smith known as Lady Kunishgae. They may not be mentioned in the history books, but I know that there were a lot more like her."
"This chick really knows her stuff." Suguro chuckled. "Hell, she's even going to be the next one to leave her mark on the world."
"Who are you calling 'chick' you poser!" Yoshikuni reached over and pulled on Suguro's ear.
"Watch it!" Suguro shouted, rubbing his ear.
"Bon's been put in his place," Shima said with a chuckle.
"My father and I would go to Ryu-chan's temple to clean things. We've known each other since we were kids." Yoshikuni smirked and glanced at Suguro, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "He was so cute! You should have seen him. He followed me everywhere. Come on you did, don't deny it."
"Shut up," Suguro gaped.
"He even wanted to marry me! He even made me a ring from some lotus flowers!"
"Knock it off!" Suguro hissed, his face turning red.
"Please marry me! Please! Please!" Yoshikuni giggled, teasing him.
"Oh Rin is gonna love this! Tell me more!" Sakura said, leaning forward.
"Alright, well there was this one time when he was seven-!"
"NO!"