Yoshikuni looked at the blade intently. She sheathed the sword and pushed it over to Yukio. "It'll take a lot of work, there's no denying that. But repairing it isn't impossible."
"So you can fix it?" Yukio asked hopefully.
"Maybe," Yoshikuni answered. "In order to form a Japanese sword you need iron sand, smelted in a furnace at a specific temperature. In order to create a demon sword, you must use a slightly different process. The iron sand must be infused with spiritual powers through a ritual. But here's the thing, I don't know anyone that knows or remembers the ritual."
"Aren't there any records of the ritual?" Yukio asked. Yoshikuni shook her head sadly.
"What about another way? There must be another way to make a demon sword," Sakura said.
"I'm afraid there isn't," Yoshikuni said.
"We came here for nothing," Shima huffed.
"Alright, so we don't know the ritual, what if we had some iron sand that had been blessed?" Suguro asked.
"That could work, but where would we find some?" Yoshikuni asked.
"Do you think you could use those temple nails?"
"What temple nails?"
"There used to be a tower as old as our temple," Suguro said. "During the Blue Night it was burned down. Nothing was left, except some thick temple nails. It turns out they were pretty valuable so we sent them to our sister temple for safekeeping. Anyway, the nails were crafted by the Yoshikunis, so there's a chance they were created using the same iron sand as the sword."
"Well, it is a possibility," Yoshikuni agreed.
"That means that if we can get our hands on the nails-"
"Then I might be able to fix the sword!" Yoshikuni finished for Yukio.
"Anybody home?" Shima called. His voice echoed slightly through the empty temple. "That's weird, are they at lunch or something?"
"Oh well, let's have a look around," Suguro said. "I'm going to look in the main building."
"I'll join you," Yukio said, following him. Shiemi, Shima, Izumo, and Sakura walked around the grounds, trying to find someone.
"Over there!" Shiemi gasped and pointed at a body lying in the shadow. Sakura ran over to him and pressed a hand against his neck.
"Please tell me he's not dead," Shima said.
"He's alive. He's just unconscious.
"Look, so are they," Izumo gasped, pointing at a few others.
Suguro looked around the charnel house.
"What's wrong?" Suguro gasped and turned around in shock. A Buddha statue was behind him, an eerie aura surrounding it. "You want to kill Satan, don't you?"
"What are you doing?" Yukio gasped and turned to see a golden female Buddha statue. "Why are you trying so hard to save a demon?"
"Don't lie; I know what you're feeling."
"You don't know anything," Suguro said with a growl.
"Be honest with yourself. They are the children of Satan after all. The world would be better off without them, isn't that how you feel?"
"Are you sure you want to save the children of Satan? Why? Just because you happen to be related by blood?"
"You demon." Yukio growled and took out his gun, pointing it at the statue.
"Now you know that I am not the one you have to defeat. Deep in your heart you know who it is that you fear the most. Your siblings. As long as they are alive, you will always fear them and their powers. You will always live in fear of them." Yukio's hands shook and his breaths quickened. "I ask again, why are you trying to save him? And why did you save her?"
"What reasons are there for saving the children of Satan?"
"Reason?" Suguro shook as he felt something infiltrate his mind, trying to manipulate him.
"Do you not remember what Satan did to your temple? So then why should you save his son? Why didn't you let his daughter die?" Suguro fell to his knees, feeling his will and resolve weakening.
"Why make your life harder? All you need to do is turn your back and let the Order take care of your brother. And you know that your sister hasn't recovered nearly enough strength to fight you. Just get rid of them and you'll no longer have to live your life in fear." Yukio's gun lowered.
"Hey teach!" Shima shouted, running into the room.
"Yukio!" Sakura gasped, appearing behind the Exwire.
"Shima? Sakura" Yukio gasped at the sight of his students. Shima tossed a talisman at the statue. The slip of paper was destroyed instantly. The statue disappeared and reappeared in front of Shima, knocking him back. Sakura growled and made a move to punch the demon but she was knocked back as well. Yukio narrowed his eyes and raised his gun, taking aim.
"You're wrong. I'm not afraid of my siblings. That's not what I'm afraid of. I'm scared that I won't be strong enough to protect them when they need me. I swore that I would become a stronger person so that I could protect my brother! I swore I'd protect him! And now that Sakura's found us, now that I have a sister as well, I'll protect her too!" The statue appeared in front of Yukio. The exorcist didn't give it the chance to make another move. The sound of a gunshot filled the room and the statue fell to the ground, the demonic spirit leaving it. Yukio leaned onto his knees and panted, feeling exhausted despite not fighting.
"Yukio!" Sakura shouted, running over to him.
"Be gone demon!" Izumo shouted. Her wolf demons ran forward, teeth barred and growling, but it was no use. They were pushed back before they could even touch the statue.
"Suguro!" Shiemi called.
"You want a reason?" Suguro growled out, standing up. "Well then I'll give them to you. In the middle of class he said he wants to be an exorcist so he can kick Satan's ass! And he's Satan's fucking son! I've never heard anything so twisted before in my life! If he dies before I can ask him what he meant I'll be pissed!"
"And what about the daughter? What's stopping you from killing her right now?" The statue asked, attempting to take control of his will again.
"I can't beat up a girl while she's still recovering, that's weak and spineless. Besides, she's the strongest girl in our class. And if her death can start a war, then I'd rather not force my friends into a war." The statue moved forward and Suguro growled, clasping his hands together quickly.
"U man saman sa Buddha an bah!" The statue shook for a few seconds before falling to the ground, the demon spirit flying out of it. Suguro breathed heavily, his spirit and energy drained.
"The head priest is alright," Suguro said.
"That's good. I'm glad," Yukio said.
"Are you okay? You're a little pale." Sakura studied her youngest brother in concern.
"I'll be fine," Yukio assured her.
"The demon we faced, that was Mara, wasn't it?" Suguro asked.
"Yes. Mara tried to distract Sudatra while he was meditating to reach enlightenment," Yukio said.
"Praying on a person's doubts and weaknesses, huh? Typical." Suguro scoffed in anger.
"That's offensive," Sakura said. Her arms were crossed and she was glaring darkly at him. Suguro flinched and gulped.
"Not typical of all demons! Just demons like Mara!" Suguro said quickly. "You're nothing like Mara! Not as far as I know anyway." Sakura smirked and rolled her eyes.
"One glare from me and the weak are begging for mercy. Typical." Suguro narrowed his eyes and growled at her.
"H-Hey now," Yukio said, trying to calm them down.
"I brought the temple nails you asked for." A monk handed Suguro box.
"Thanks." Suguro unwrapped it and opened the box, revealing two old nails.
"Do you really think those will work?" Sakura asked, slightly worried.
"They'll have, for Rin's sake," Suguro said.
"He planned to betray the Order and destroy it from within. There can be no doubt about Mephisto's treachery!" Angel shouted.
"But even so, never before has the Order possessed a weapon powerful enough to defeat Satan and his armies," The blue Grigori said.
"The magnitude of this issue is unprecedented. An error in judgment could mean the end of the Order," the elderly Grigori said.
"Damn, how long are these guys gonna keep yapping?" Shura huffed and inspected her nails for a moment. The Order was caught off guard as the ground shook beneath their feet.
"What was that?"
Mephisto huffed, a cruel smirk forming on his face. "Damn him."
"WHERE IS HE? I HAVEN'T LOST THE BATTLE YET!" Amaimon shouted. The floor burst and several hobgoblins flew forward, swarming and laughing. Amaimon stood on a giant hobgoblin, transformed and ready for round 2.
"Amaimon!" The Grigori woman shouted.
"How did he get in here?" The blue one demanded. "Angel!"
"Yes sir!" Angel nodded, running off to fight. Shura followed behind him.
"Pheles! Did you bring him here?"
"You jest milord. What on earth could I possibly have to gain by causing so much mischief and mayhem at my own hearing? And with that I urge you not to let this golden opportunity slip through your fingers. Instead of just talking about his potential, why don't you see for yourselves just how powerful the spawn of Satan is."
"What do you mean Pheles?"
"We are under siege milady, and currently the boy is the only one powerful enough to protect us," Mephisto said, gesturing to Rin. "Who would like to bet on whether Rin Okumura becomes the savior of Assiah, or the Demon King of Ghenna! Wouldn't you like to see the outcome with your very own eyes?"
Yoshikuni pulled the red hot nail out of the flame and placed it next to the Koma sword. The sword glowed blue and she smiled.
"This will work." The teens gasped in happiness and relief.
"You did it!" Sakura told Suguro.
"What are you talking about? I didn't do anything," Suguro said in confusion.
"That's not true," Yukio said. "If you hadn't suggested the temple nails, we wouldn't be able to have the sword fixed. We owe you."
"Thanks Suguro." Sakura smiled.
"Don't mention it." Suguro told them.