Chapter Eleven
That night Noriko tossed and turned like the night before. Images of blood splattered across her mind, the sound of screams ran through her head, and the smell of death wrapped around her whole being. Suddenly she was pulled away from that hellish dream and back to reality when she felt someone shaking her awake. Gasping and popping her eyes open, she was greeted by none other than Mephisto.
"My my! That must have been some dream angel, you're absolutely drenched in sweat and you were crying like you found out your puppy died." Mephisto said with some what of concern.
"What the hell do you want Pheles?" Noriko asked in annoyance as she rubbed her eyes.
"Well we have a date with the council today. They are most excited to finally meet the legendary Hitomi Noriko." He said while parading around her room and looking at certain books that lay on her desk.
Noriko groaned and fell back on her bed, today was going to be a long day.
After getting ready she followed the clown to the council's office. They certainly walked quite a way to get there, and once they did finally arrive, the gate was guarded by a dozen armed exorcists. Once they saw Mephisto they quickly opened the gate and let them in without question.
"So… what do they want from me anyway?" Noriko asked as she looked around the courtyard and up the neverending staircase.
"Sadly they told me nothing of the sort. Only that they must speak with you, nothing else."
Noriko's eyebrows came together in suspicion. For some reason she felt something bad was going to happen.
Once they had entered the building and walked down the dimly lit hallway she saw a huge door guarded by exorcists once again. Entering through the door she saw that multiple people were gathered together and sat on different levels. It was like a courtroom but more fancier and bigger.
"Ah, Ms. Hitomi, please if you would." a man gestured towards a podium for her to stand at.
Noriko walked up to the podium and looked at the people and was surprised to see that their faces were covered by cloths.
"Thank you for joining us Ms. Hitomi. Now let's get down to business shall we.," one of the people said behind the cloth, "You are aware of the fact that both of your parents were once exorcist here correct?"
Noriko nodded and said, "Yes sir."
"To be honest we did not know of their… relationship, and were shocked when both of them suddenly disappeared and were off of the grid. But once we received news that you had come to Mephisto's aid many years later, we… saw an opportunity, and seeing that your father was sent by God to help us in a time in need, we suspect that you have inherited your father's powers, correct?"
Noriko squinted her eyes at them and crossed her arms over her chest, "Maybe. What are you guys getting at?"
There was an awkward silence in the rom that made her even more suspicious to what they really wanted.
"We have come up with a deal for you."
"And?"
Once again there was a moment of silence.
"We would like you to work for us and take your fathers place."
Noriko relaxed and said, "That's it?"
Mephisto started to giggle, "Oh, I think not darling. It seems as though the council has something else in mind."
Noriko looked from Mephisto to the council members and back again.
"I'm sorry, do continue." Mephisto said smugly. Noriko glared at the council members.
"If you do not accept our offer, we will order an execution on not only you but also Rin and Yukio Okumura."
Silence.
Noriko looked at the council members in shock, then she smiled and started to laugh. The council members jerked and glared at Noriko.
"So let's see, I either die alongside two of the best friends I've ever had, or I die from absolute torcher from you disgusting lot. Oh, what a choice to make. And who do you think will be able to execute me? My father gave me his holy gift, he died a human after he gave his powers to me. So whatever you throw at me I will regenerate quickly and come back swinging harder than before."
There was a snicker from Mephisto and a yell from a man in the corner.
"How dare you speak to the council like that! I should have your head for that!"
Noriko cocked her head and looked towards the voice who dared threaten her.
"And who might you be?" Noriko asked in a sly voice.
The man had long blond hair and dressed in an all white suite, holding his sword in a battle stance.
"My name is Arthur Auguste Angel, and I will end you if-" he was cut off when Noriko flashed in front of him, grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up of the ground.
"A paladin I see… I would watch what you say to me, I can snap your neck if I felt like it, you know."
Arthur had fear in his eyes as he looked back into Noriko's silver ones.
"ENOUGH!" One of the council members yelled. Noriko dropped Arthur and glared back at the council.
"If you do not comply with us we will order you to death! You are a disgrace as well as the Okumura twins! Either you agree with what options were given to you or else!"
Noriko was about to snap, but all of a sudden she felt Mephisto put his hands on her shoulders and said to the council, "My dear council members, I would strongly agree for you to reconsider or to come up with a different option for my darling here. She almost took out your dear paladin in a single hit, and I feel that if I let her go, it's going to be one hell of a bloody mess to clean up; Even though I would deeply enjoy the scene."
There was a pause, then the council members started to murmur to each other.
Mephisto smiled and squeezed Noriko's shoulders to try and calm her down.
"Thank you Mephisto… I was starting to lose it there…"
"Honestly, I would have let you do it, but then that would give me a bad reputation and I just can't have that angel."
After what felt like an eternity, the council finally made a decision.
"We've come to a conclusion. Either help Rin Okumura with his training alongside Shura, or work for us alongside Yukio Okumura."
Noriko sighed and said, "I will help train Rin Okumura alongside Shura, as well as help Yukio... when he needs me."
The members mumbled in agreement. Noriko turned towards Mephisto and he gave her the chance to leave the council, which she accepted. She walked towards the door and glared at the paladin as he glared back, whispering "asshole" as she walked by, making the paladin growled in anger.
Noriko sighed once fresh air hit her face. How dare the council threaten not only her life but also Rin's, just because they wanted her to be a puppet for them like her father was. He escaped with her mother and got off of the grid for a reason, now she saw why. They were controlling him as a slave, and when he found happiness with her mother he knew the council would never approve; so they left on their happily ever after.
When she finally left the council's area, she walked towards a garden and sat behind a huge oak tree under the shade. She leaned her head against the tree and started to think. Not only did she have to re-learn everything she was taught about the life of an exorcist, but now she was Mephisto's 'slave', she had to train not only Rin, but also with Shura, she also promised Ryuji that she would teach him some more tricks, and on top of all of that, she was having a bad feeling that war was going to break out somehow. Noriko put her head in her hands and massaged her temples, what did she get herself into?
After a while, Noriko decided to head to the dorms and go on the roof to talk with Ariel. Hopefully the lion would comfort her somehow. Once she was on the roof, she summoned Ariel.
"My dear, I can see sorrow in your eyes. What is the matter?" Ariel asked in a deep soothing voice that almost reminded her of her father.
"So much..." Noriko said with a weak voice. Unable to finish her sentence she began to sob.
Ariel purred and nudged her face against his, "We are connected in a way that I can not explain, and I can feel your pain Noriko. I will lend you my ears, advice, and comfort for you."
Noriko and Ariel lay on the roof and stared at the cloud, she told him about the troubles she just went through, the nightmares she has been having for the past week, and the feeling that something bad was going to happen… again. She rubbed her face against his main and sighed.
"Now you see why I've been going nuts."
Ariel purred and licked Noriko's face, making her smile and giggle as she wiped off the saliva off of her face.
"I'm glad that you have come to me in a time of need. I will gladly do it again when you need me Noriko."
Smiling, she released Ariel and walked back to her dorm room. Even though it was still sunny outside, she decided to hit the hay early. Not only was she exhausted from crying and relieving the stress she has had on her back for a while, she didn't want to see Rin and Yukio. Eventually she would have to tell them what happened sooner or later.