"My Prince, please wake up." Rin was woken by a familiar voice. He opened his eyes, blinded by the morning sun; he immediately noticed the scarlet red hair of his former babysitter.

"Cysat? What are you doing here?" The Prince asked, straightening his hair as he rose from his bed.

He couldn't think of any reason why the fire demon would leave Gehenna.

"I'm very sorry for interrupting your sleep my Prince, but I'm here to deliver a message from Lord Satan." Cysat bowed, apologizing to Rin. It made the Prince uncomfortable to have his baby sitter show so much respect.

"Father gave you a message for me? Did something happen?" Rin was alarmed. What would be so important that his father would send a servant rather than just telling Mephisto?

"Everything is alright. You don't have to worry." The servant tried to calm Rin down.

"Then why didn't my father just tell Mephisto?" Despite Rin's redundant questioning, he was glad to see Cysat who had been the closest thing to a friend back in was a servant but he had been the one to raise Rin. He didn't know how Cysat felt about him but Rin really liked the fire demon.

"My apologies, but Lord Samael is not supposed to know about what I'm going to tell you. It was a direct order from Lord Satan that you're supposed to be the only one to receive the message." Cysat started to whisper even though Mephisto probably couldn't hear them either way.

"Okay, then just tell me already." Rin was starting to get impatient.

In sixteen years Rin had learned that Cysat was rather cowardly when it came to Satan and the Baal which often resulted into him beating around the bush.

"Lord Satan has a special mission for you, my Prince. Tonight, an exorcist called Saburota Todo will make the first step to revive the Impure King. The only thing endangering the plan is a monk who's holding a contract with Karura." Cysat started telling.

Rin tried to cover up his insecurity about missions.

In his father's eyes he had failed the first task he had given to him.

When he messed this up Satan would never trust him with anything again.

"So, he wants me to help him steal the eye?" The Prince asked.

"No, I'm sorry if it was unclear. Lord Satan wants you to get rid of the monk and send Karura back to Gehenna so he can be punished for forming a contract with an enemy of all demons." Cysat explained.

"Get rid of the monk? Father wants me to kill this man?" Rin wasn't sure about this. He didn't know if he could just go to a man that had never done anything to him and kill him in cold blood, but the longer he thought about it he realized that he had no choice than following his father's orders.

Cysat answered him by just nodding his head.

"And why shouldn't Mephisto know about this?" The Prince didn't know how he would keep something like this a secret from his older brother. To get out of his room he literally had to pass the seemingly never sleeping King of Time.

"Lord Satan assumes that the King of Time has a close relation to the current Paladin who knows this monk. If he doesn't know about your mission there will be no risk of the Paladin finding out."

"Alright, tonight I'm going to take care of Karura and the contract holder. How do I find him?" Rin accepted the mission, hoping it wouldn't be that hard. He had killed before but these had been accidents. His thoughts circled back to the Dekalp and how guilty he still felt about killing him. But that had been a demon. It was logical that he felt guilty about killing one of his kind. Maybe it would be easier taking care of a human.

Rin could imagine his father laughing at his internal conflict. "Even the weakest demon stands far above any of those pathetic humans. Killing one is like smashing vermin." Rin could almost hear his father's voice in his head.

"His name is Tatsuma Suguro. A few Reapers have been watching him since weeks. Every evening he spends his time alone at a shrine in the mountains. Once you arrive, they will lead you to him." Cysat explained further, not noticing Rin's struggle.

"I'm very sorry but I can't accompany you, my Prince. I have to return to the royal palace." The servant immediately added.

"Okay, tell my father that I'm not going to disappoint him and Cysat," Rin scratched his head, "It was really nice seeing you again."

"Likewise, my Prince." After another bow, Cysat disappeared in a small flame.

Rin sighed, letting himself fall on his bed again.

He already said he would do it so there was no going back.

He remembered Fujimoto telling him that he wouldn't tell anyone about Rin's existence as long as the Prince promised not to harm anyone.

Now, he had to take that promise. Maybe he could cover up that he was responsible. If he didn't use his flames and no one saw him, they would just blame another demon.

But still, Rin would know what he did.

He was the son of Satan. Why did he feel like this? Maybe because he had been human once. Maybe because his mother was human. Maybe because he made friends in Assiah.

The weight of being the heir of Gehenna's throne felt heavier on his shoulders. It was expected of him to follow his father's words like the bible, and for him to hate Assiah. He was supposed to be a heartless demon that could kill and slaughter humans, but that just wasn't him.

He thought about it for a long time. So long even Mephisto came to his room, asking why he hadn't come out to annoy him yet.

Crossing his father would mean betraying Gehenna.

Killing that monk would mean becoming a threat to Assiah, which would lead the Paladin exposing him to the Vatican. If he did that, he would never be able to see Yukio or Shiemi.

The longer he thought about it the clearer it got for him that he didn't really have a choice.

If his father casted him out of Gehenna, he would never be able to return to his home or bring any change by claiming the throne. In order to unite Assiah and Gehenna peacefully, he had to become the ruler of the demon realm. He wanted to create a world where everybody fit in like he never did. Back in Gehenna, he lived most of his life as a human, and now that he was in Assiah, he couldn't fit in as a demon. Once Rin had become Satan's successor, he could make sure that demons didn't have to hide anymore in Assiah, and half-demons and maybe even humans could visit Gehenna freely. But until that day came he would have to follow his father's orders and put his personal feelings and conscience aside.

That was the only thing Rin was actually sure about. He wanted to unite the two realms like Satan would never be able to do.

When the sun slowly started to set, Rin stood up, getting ready to leave.

"So you finally decided to do something. What changed your mind?" Mephisto asked as the Prince made his way to the door.

"I'm meeting Yukio. He doesn't have that much time because of his job as a teacher in cram school." Rin lied, trying to hide his nervousness. He knew it wasn't easy lying to a professional liar like Mephisto.

"Is that so? Yukio is on a mission right now," The King of Time started, making Rin's heart skip a beat, "If you're going to visit your girlfriend, you can tell me, I'm not going to reveal your little secret of dating a human girl to Father."

At first, the Prince didn't know what to say. Mephisto thought he and Shiemi were a pair and he wanted to keep it a secret. Although, what was more surprising was that he would keep it a secret.

"You're not going to tell anyone? Th-thank you." Rin decided to use Mephisto's story as his excuse.

"Not a problem. If Father knew everything I did while being in Assiah, he would probably kill me. Just don't get too used to it." The King of Time mumbled before going back to his paperwork.

It was the first time Rin left the protective barrier around True Cross Academy since Mephisto had brought him to Assiah.

Right outside the barrier a Furfur, a high level wind demon in form of a horse, already waited for him.

"My Prince, I was sent here to bring you to Kyoto, the place where you can find the temple of the Myo Dha." The horse-like demon bowed before Rin and allowed him to climb his back.

"Thank you. But I insist that you're dropping me off before we come to Kyoto. I don't want you to be near the danger." The Prince carefully held onto the Furfur's mane as it slowly started to take off the ground.

"As you wish, my Prince." The green demon answered, flying through the night sky.

"You're from Azazel's kin, right?" Rin tried to do some small talk to calm himself down.

"That is correct. You are well informed, my Prince." That was all he got as an answer.

After that they both remained silent, discomforting the Prince even more.

A little later, Rin could see the a big temple complex at the bottom of a mountain in the distance.

"Okay, I can see it from here. You can stop." Rin told his mount and the Furfur landed in a small forest.

"I'm going to wait here for you, my Prince." The wind demon bowed again.

Rin just nodded, making his way to the temple.

The temple was quiet. Rin could hear the peaceful breaths of people inside but as long as nobody woke up, it didn't concern him.

Hiding in the shadow of a tall tree, he was looking for the Reaper that was supposed to bring him to the monk.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity to him, he saw the small frog hopping towards him.

"There is no going back now." Rin muttered to himself, picking the Reaper up.

He remembered the last time one of the frog demons showed him the way.

"Don't worry, I'll look out for you." Rin was actually trying to reassure himself more than the Reaper.

No demon would die here tonight, he would make sure about that.

He looked down, expecting some kind of an answer, but the frog on his hand remained quiet.

"Okay, you don't have to say anything. Just bring me to that shrine." The Reaper jumped off Rin's hand, showing him a path leading up the mountain.

It wasn't a long walk to the shrine, but Rin tried as hard as he could to lengthen it.

Although, he had already made the decision to kill the monk but that didn't mean he felt comfortable with it.

The Reaper stopped before the shrine which looked like a smaller version of the main temple.

"Thank you. You can leave now, I'll find the way back on my own." Rin muttered.

The small demon nodded returning to Gehenna, unpossessing the small frog.

Until now, it had been quiet in the forest. But now, standing in front of the shrine, he could hear religious chanting from a single person inside.

Carefully, he walked up to the wooden door, slowly sliding it open and revealing a thickly middle-aged man.

Rin clenched his fists, trying to stop his hands from shaking.

"Are you Suguro Tatsuma?" He asked, disturbing the monk in his prayers.

The man, reeking of alcohol, turned around.

He didn't seem to be completely drunk, so it must have had a bit time to sober up.

"Indeed I am. What brings a young boy like you to this shrine at this time?" The monk stood up from his kneeling position.

Rin pulled out his dagger, pointing its tip at the person he was supposed to kill.

"Now don't be hasty. Why would you want to kill me? I don't even know you." Suguro lifted his arms in defense.

"You hold the contract with Karura. I am really sorry and I don't want to do this, but I have to." Rin thought he deserved an answer since he was probably just protecting his friends and family with Karura's power.

"Do you really think that? You are quite young. What could force you to kill a man?" The monk was really calm, talking to Rin.

"You wouldn't understand. Please don't make this harder for me." He felt a little blue flame igniting at the tip of his tail. Before it started burning his clothes, he let it slip out of his shirt.

"I see. You are the one Fujimoto needed Kurikara for all those years ago. I guess his plan didn't work." It would have been a lot easier for Rin if the monk had attacked him. How could he kill someone who wasn't defending himself?

"You are just a kid. What kind of father would expect his child to become a murderer?"

"Shut up! You don't know what you talk about." Rin yelled at him, as he got more nervous.

"Okay, okay, you're right, I don't know your situation," Even if the monk seemed calm, Rin could hear his heart beat rise, "But I can see that you're not a cold hearted killer."

As Rin got more emotional the flame on his tail spread over his whole body.

"I have to be! I have to prove myself, so I can change things! You can't change my decision. I have to kill you."

"Then why are you hesitating?"

"I- I'm not hesitating! I-," A little growl escaped his throat out of frustration, "Why is this so hard? I am the son of Satan dammit!"

"But you are not only that, are you?" The monk's words made him think.

It was right what he said. He was the son of Gehenna's ruler but his mother had been human. Satan had often commented that Rin had inherited her kind soul, which wasn't pleasing the Demon God.

"Don't you understand? I don't have a choice! You have to die and the contract with Karura has to be broken."

"Calm do-" Tatsuma started only to be interrupted from a sudden burst of blue flames.

"Shut up!" Rin's flames blew up the roof. He was clenching his fist to calm down.

It had been a long time since he had lost control of his powers. Rin never really finished his training before Mephisto had taken him back to Assiah, but when he thought about it he had barely used his flames since he came here.

The Prince looked up, knowing that this certainly attracted more attention than he had planned to.

Time was running out. Somebody had to notice the blue flare over the shrine.

"I'm sorry." Rin rushed towards the defenseless monk, aiming for his heart.

Once the blade struck his chest the man collapsed in Rin's arms.

"I'm a fool. I thought-," He coughed, "And I thought I could reason with the spawn of Satan."

A small orange flame emitted from his dying body.

"You ignorant child. You killed the only man able to control my flames and by that the only chance to seal the Impure King." A voice called out to Rin from the flames.

"I know." Rin was shaking, tears filled the corner of his eye. He put Satan's orders over the life of a human being. Would he have to kill more innocent people? What would he do if Satan wanted him to hurt Shiemi or Yukio? He had crossed a line and there was no going back.

"What will you do now, Prince?" Karura pronounced his title with a sarcastic undertone.

"I'm taking you back to Gehenna. I'm sorry." Rin closed his fist around the small flame bird which was too proud for an escape attempt.

"You are truly pathetic. You call yourself a Prince but you are actually just a little soldier that does as his master commands." The monk's familiar snarled, not even looking at Rin.

"I know." The Prince repeated before closing his eyes and pushing his claws in his palm until his blood dripped on the floor.

The Gehenna Gate formed, just big enough for Rin and Karura to fit through it.

Rin took a last glance at the dead monk, mentally preparing for meeting his Satan.

Gehenna's velvet sky was the first thing Rin saw when he stepped out of the gate.

Guards that had noticed the Gehenna Gate appearing, surrounded him and Karura, kneeling down before Rin when they recognized him.

They took Karura in custody, locking him in a cage.

"Lord Satan is awaiting you, my Prince." One guard proclaimed, showing him to the throne room.

Luckily, the servants and the guards took Rin's silence as a sign of arrogance rather than emotional distress. He didn't want anybody to know that he as the heir of Gehenna's throne was shaken by the death of a mere human.

Stepping into the throne room, the Prince tried to take on a more confident posture.

"You did as I expected from you, my son." Satan greeted him.

It surprised Rin a little bit since his father had only spoken to Mephisto the last time he had been in Gehenna.

The Prince kneeled down before getting a sign from Satan that he was allowed to stand up.

"Of co-" Rin coughed shortly to get rid of the lump in his throat, "Of course, Father."

"And you didn't tell anyone about it?" The God of Gehenna asked as he was trying to test Rin's loyalty. As if killing someone hadn't been enough to prove it.

"Nobody knows where I went and what I did." Rin reassured, looking behind him as guards brought Karura in its cage to them, closely followed by none other than the King of Fire, Iblis.

Rin had never seen his older brother and teacher for everything concerning his flames so serious.

The tall, dark-skinned Demon King was usually really carefree, serene and in Rin's eyes by far the coolest of his brothers. But now, the orange flaring eyes carried determination, disappointment and even a little bit anger.

"Iblis, so you have finally arrived. Since Karura belongs to your kin, it's your duty to judge."

"I know, Father. And I have already decided on the punishment." Rin had never heard Iblis talk in a formal manner like this.

With a short hand gesture Satan told Rin to stand next to him during the trial.

A few months ago, Rin would have been honored to be allowed to stand next to his father during any official affairs, but now there was too much on his conscience.

He already had the blood of a demon on his hands and if Karura was sentenced to death it would be his fault, not to mention the fact that he had killed an innocent human.

The trial went by without Rin paying attention to it.

"Karura, also known as Phoenix and Fenghuang, you are accused of high treason and conspiracy against Gehenna. I, Iblis, Demon King of Fire and ruler of the fire demons' kin, hereby sentence you to death." Rin knew, even though it didn't seem like it, Iblis regretted his decision.

Karura was one of the oldest fire demons and it had to be hard for the King of Fire to pass sentence on him.

"I'll never have regrets about what I did and I accept my punishment." The proud demon bird proclaimed in its cage. At least he would die without losing his dignity.

The guards from before came back and carried Karura away.

"You can both go now. Rin, return to Samael in Assiah." Satan ordered, making himself more comfortable in his throne.

"Yes, Father." Iblis and Rin answered almost simultaneously, leaving the throne room.

"So, you're going back now, aren't ya?" Iblis asked when Rin took out his dagger to return to Assiah.

The Prince nodded slightly, not saying a thing.

"Hey, sorry that ya had to see me like that, Lil' Bro." That was more like the Iblis Rin knew.

"It's okay." Rin muttered, still being lost in thoughts.

"Why so serious? Aren't ya happy to see me? Don't tell me that you feel sorry for Karura, he had it coming." The King of Fire said calmly. Maybe Rin was wrong about Iblis regretting Karura's sentence after all.

"It's nothing really. I'm just tired." Rin faked a yawn, avoiding eye contact with his older brother.

"Tired?" Iblis laughed, "I'm always forgettin' that you're literally my baby brother."

Usually, Rin would have attacked Iblis for that comment but he was too depressed.

"There really is something wrong with you." The King of Fire noticed.

"I said, I'm fine." Rin wanted to end this conversation as soon as possible.

"Okay, okay, if ya don't to talk about it. If you go back, you should work on controlling your flames, I can see that they're about to break out any time, oh and say Sammy hey from me. I haven't seen that bastard for a while."

"You see…?"

"I'm the King of Fire. Of course I can see that flame inside of you raging. You've always been a softie. Quit being so emotional."

Iblis let it sound way too easy to ignore his emotions. He probably didn't understand what was going on in Rin's head. The Prince was ashamed that he didn't find a better solution, he felt guilty about the two new lifes that had ended because of him, afraid because if anyone found out about all of this the exorcists would come to kill him.

"Alright." The Demon Prince muttered, cutting his hand, opening the Gehenna Gate with his blood.

His way back from Kyoto to True Cross Academy felt longer than before. The sun already rose in the distance, making Rin worry about the excuse he made up.

Silently, he tried sneaking back into his room, even though he knew that Mephisto left his office overnight time he tried to be as quiet as possible.

Opening the door to his room, he stopped halfway when he noticed that the light was switched on.

"Welcome back, Rin. Well, what do you have to say in your defense?" Mephisto asked, sitting on Rin's bed, already awaiting the Prince.

"I don't know what you mean." Rin answered nervously.

Mephisto was just staring at him, waiting for Rin to tell the truth.

"I don't know what you're talking about! Stop looking at me like I did something wrong!" The Prince felt like a cornered animal.

Still, there was only silence from Mephisto.

"STOP STARING! I didn't do anything!" Rin shouted, his flames suddenly engulfed him.

"Liar liar pants on fire. Who would have thought that there was some truth about that?" Mephisto grinned, "I know you've been to Kyoto. Did you think nobody would notice a sudden blue light over the shrine of the Myoo Dharani? You can be lucky that people are still unsure of what they saw."

"I- I-" Rin stuttered.

"I hope you're satisfied with the outcome. The old monk is dead, Karura is dead, but at least Satan is happy, well as happy as he can be."

"If Father is happy, s-" Rin started before getting interrupted by his older brother.

"Then so are you? You don't really believe that, do you?"

"I have to." The Prince clenched his fists.

"If you say so. I don't want to be in your way." Mephisto shrugged his shoulders, standing up.

"But let me say one thing. If people find out about your existence, you can't stay here."

"What do you mean?" Rin was confused.

"If anyone finds out that you killed Suguro Tatsuma, Fujimoto will kill you and expose you to the order. I can't to be affiliated with an enemy of humanity. Then you have to return to Gehenna or find some other place here in Assiah, but you can't live here anymore." Mephisto seemed serious about this.

Maybe he was a traitor after all. Satan trusted Mephisto when he agreed to let Rin come with him, but what if Mephisto was on the exorcists' side?

Without another word, Mephisto left Rin alone.

Hey guys!
I hope you liked the chapter since it is probably the longest until now and one of the most important chapters in the story :D