That Rin didn't sleep well after his mission in Kyoto would have been an understatement, he didn't sleep at all.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he could see Suguro Tatsuma lying on the floor; his life slowly fading, and Karura, being locked in a cage and waiting for his execution.

He knew that he shouldn't feel guilty, he was the son of Satan after all. But still, these images haunted his thoughts and dreams. Maybe he had inherited more from his human mother than he had thought.

Most of the time, Mephisto acted like nothing happened but now, after 2 days, he suddenly showed interest.

"You know, there is one thing I just don't understand." The King of Time broke the silence after hours of silence and moping around from Rin.

Rin looked up, waiting for his older brother to continue.

"Why did you even use your flames that night? You knew that nobody's supposed to know that Satan's son is in Assiah." Mephisto asked, not receiving an answer from Rin.

The Prince was ashamed that he lost control of the blue flames. This power should be completely under his command, this is an embarrassment to Gehenna's throne

Not being able to manipulate them would mean that he was unworthy and not fit for the throne. A King didn't let himself control by his power or he would lose himself in it.

"Hello? I'm talking to you." Mephisto pulled Rin out of his thoughts.

The Prince mumbled something incomprehensible, which annoyed the King of Time even more than not getting an answer at all.

"What was that? Remember your manners and speak up."

"I didn't want to use them," Rin growled the words a little louder. He didn't want to talk about this subject, especially not to Mephisto.

Realization showed on Mephisto's face, "So you can't control them. Interesting."

"Of course I can control them! Just not when I can't focus." Rin defended himself.

"You mean when you're consumed by your emotions. Don't let father hear that, he would certainly disappointed if he knew that you're getting too sentimental about something."

"Don't you think I know that? I knew it was wrong to take his life but I did it nevertheless."

"And why? Was it because you didn't want to fail Father?"

"No, I-"

"Did you want to prove yourself?"

"No, it's no-"

"Then why did yo-" This time Rin interrupted Mephisto.

"I need to claim the throne and I can only do that when I follow Father's orders. I can't do anything when he banishes me for treason." The Prince explained his motives to his older brother.

"It's the first time I hear that you want to be the ruler of Gehenna so badly," Mephisto commented, getting more and more interested in Rin's plans. It certainly would be exciting to watch him succeed or fail, either way, would guarantee a great show.

"I-" Rin shortly thought about what exactly his plan was, "I want to claim the throne and unite Assiah and Gehenna peacefully before Father can start a war between the realms."

"Before he can start a war? Does that mean you would overthrow the great God of Gehenna Satan himself if necessary?" Mephisto grinned, eagerly waiting for Rin's answer. He didn't care that the Prince was basically conspiring against Satan and he definitely wouldn't give his father a heads up. Where would be the fun in that?

Rin took a while until he answered.

"Yes, I would do that if necessary. But I have to try to convince him first."

"You will actually try to change Satan's mind about his ultimate goal? You know that it sounds insane." Mephisto laid back in his chair.

"I know, but I have to try. He is my father, I don't think I can just kill him like that." The Prince wasn't even sure if he could ever take another life.

"And when are you going to confront our dear father?"

Rin hesitated. When would he bring up the courage to request something like making peace from Satan? He would probably take it as a sign of disrespect, treachery, and weakness. Satan would laugh at his son, not taking him seriously.

"I guess I'll try talking to him next time I'm in Gehenna," Rin said after thinking about it.

"You guess you'll try? That doesn't sound very persistent." Mephisto commented, letting a cup and a tea can appear before taking a sip from his hot beverage.

"But I am sure. I will talk to Father when I'm back in Gehenna."

"So how about you go right now?" The King of Time added a bit of sugar to his tea.

"What? No! It's way too soon. I first have to think about what exactly I'm going to tell him. And could you please stop making tea? It's very distracting!" Rin shouted insecurely.

"All right, I accept that. I may even consider to help you since I also grew really fond of Assiah. But it would also be entertaining to see what you're accomplishing on your own." Mephisto let the cup and tea can disappear.

"You would really help me?" The Prince certainly didn't expect that.

"Do you even listen to me? I said I would consider it. Maybe."

"Thank you, Mephisto! You might be cool after all!" Rin smiled, gaining more confidence in Mephisto's words.

"I said that- oh never mind. Wait, you're thinking I'm uncool? I'm your older brother and the King of Time and Space. What would be cooler than that?" Mephisto was obviously offended.

"No, of course, I think you're cool, umm, I'll just go out and I uh," Rin made his way to the door, quickly leaving the office when he reached it.

"Me and uncool. I don't think any of our brothers had the complete collection of Dia Witch Iroha action figures so how can they be cooler than me?" The King of Time muttered sorely after Rin left.

At first, Rin didn't really have a clear goal when he walked through True Cross Academy. After thinking about his plan over and over again, he decided to look for Yukio. His younger twin brother would certainly help him when it came to making peace between Gehenna and Assiah.

He took the same way as the time he went with Yukio to the Cram School. When he reached the door and opened it he stood in front of an empty broom closet.

"What the hell? Why isn't the Cram School there?"

He closed the door and opened it again just to find the closet.

He tried a few more times without luck.

"Is that the wrong door?"

He closed the door again, looking around for another way when suddenly the closet opened on his own.

"Too bad that Ryuji, Konekomaru, and Shima weren't here. I bet they would have fun in this lesson." Shiemi said, walking out of the before empty closet.

"They have family business to take care of. But it would be nice if you could give them your notes. You really did do a great job today." Yukio answered, following her through the door only to be stopped by Rin who jumped in front of his twin brother.

"Yukio! There you are! I tried to come to the Cram School to visit you but I just landed in a closet again and again."

"What are you doing here? Why would you try to come to the Cram School?" Yukio was more than confused about his twin's appearance.

"Rin! It's nice to see you. Did you recover from our trip to the zoo?" Shiemi smiled at the half demon.

"Oh Shiemi, hey. Everything's fine, uh, can I talk to Yukio for a second?"

"Of course, I have to go home anyway. See you tomorrow in class, Yuki!" Shiemi left the two alone, making her way home.

"I didn't know you and Shiemi were close friends. She doesn't know about your heritage, right?" Yukio was skeptical about this friendship. He knew that Rin supposedly wasn't an enemy of Assiah but he didn't want him as a demon get too involved with humans.

"Well, I helped out at her Mom's shop and I guess we became friends, isn't that awesome?" The demonic twin smiled.

"That depends on the stance. However, why did you want to visit me?"

"I need to talk to you about my plan to stop Father from starting a war. I thought it might be important enough to talk to you immediately." Rin tried to sound less excited and more serious than he actually was.

"So you didn't say that just to save your hide after all. All right, but I think we should go to my dad and talk to him too." Yukio took out his key ring, opening the closet door again with a rather plain looking key.

"Yes, that would be great. He is the Paladin, maybe he can help us, even if he is kinda scary." The Demon Prince could imagine that the highest ranked exorcist was able to talk to their leaders, making a peace treaty possible.

He watched carefully what his younger twin did when he opened the door with one of his keys.

"Oh, now I get it. You're using Mephisto's keys to get to the Cram School, that's why I only found this closet."

"Well, yes. This one's leading to the monastery. You're probably lucky that nobody but Dad should be there."

"Ha! I knew it. Take that, Mephisto, I'm not that stupid!" Rin followed his twin brother through the door, stepping into the monastery.

"Dad? Are you there? It's me and," Yukio shortly looked at Rin before finishing his sentence, "Well, Rin is also here."

"I really hope you didn't mess up already." Fujimoto greeted Rin, entering the room.

Messing up was an understatement. Killing the head of the Myoo Dharani would probably be considered more than slipping up.

"No, of course not, Sir." Rin's voice trembled, fearing he would be caught in the lie and out of respect for the Paladin. He was more than uncomfortable. Maybe Fujimoto knew about his trip to Kyoto. Maybe that was why he was talking about Rin messing up. People would probably expect Rin to be a great liar since he was the son of Satan, but in his time in Gehenna, he didn't need to tell lies. Why would he? He was the crown prince and nobody but Satan did have the right to scold him for something he had done wrong. Of course, he could have tried lying to his father when caused trouble but he wasn't suicidal. Lying to Satan was something absolutely no one dared to do; except Mephisto probably.

"I'm just kidding, boy. Why are you two here?" The Paladin laughed, sitting down in an armchair.

Rin relaxed a little bit, it seemed like Shirou didn't know about the murder of Suguro Tatsuma.

"Well, I want to talk to my father about sparing Assiah. I know it is very unlikely that he accepts my belief that a war is unnecessary but I have to try. I thought about it and I want to make peace between humans and demons but to make that happen I need humans, no wait, I need exorcists trying to convince the Vatican to stop killing demons." The Demon Prince choose his words carefully.

"You make it sound like it's a decision to kill demons. Exorcists protect people from random attacks. Should we just let this happen?" Yukio crossed his arms, being suspicious of Rin's plan.

"If I could convince my brothers to stop their kin from attacks on Assiah you wouldn't have to defend yourself. But it's not like exorcists are never the aggressors." Rin tried to explain, "Some demons are just here to get stuff that doesn't exist in Gehenna, like candy. And many demons can't control their aura, they don't even know that humans feel sick around them."

"But it is fact that demons harm people," Fujimoto muttered. He didn't mean to accuse someone, he was just stating what he knew.

"I think if Astaroth told his kin to stay in less populated places, fewer people would get sick since they are the main source of illnesses. You don't even know how often I got sick when I was little just because Astaroth stood a bit too close to me; it took a while until I got used to his miasma. When we manage to accomplish little things like that, I am sure we can unite Gehenna and Assiah!" The Prince's voice was determined, even though he first had to convince or defeat his father, the latter was more than impossible at the moment. He had never seen his father fight but there had to be a reason why nobody dared to challenge him.

"Wait, what do you mean by uniting?" Yukio asked, smashing a big part of Rin's confidence.

"I think what Rin is trying to accomplish is a world where demons and humans can live together peacefully. Isn't that right, boy?" Shirou was skeptical but willing to listen to Rin.

"Well, yes, of course. What else could I mean?" Rin looked at his twin brother. Wasn't he supporting him?

"But that's crazy. After centuries of demon attacks, we can't just start living with them. Wouldn't it be better to close off both realms so nobody can travel between them?" Yukio's words hurt Rin. If they closed off the realms, Rin would never be able to come back to Assiah, making it impossible to see him or Shiemi ever again. He would be stuck in Gehenna and in his 16 years living there, he had learned that it could be really boring.

Before, Rin had been sure that Yukio would like the idea and support him. What was he supposed to do when his twin brother was against him? He would need every help he could get from Assiah.

"But when Gehenna and Assiah are united we can all profit from one another." The Prince tried to argue.

Yukio didn't seem to be convinced, "I don't see how anyone benefits from it."

"I'm sure Assiah is one a far higher technological level than Gehenna, right?" Fujimoto asked the Demon Prince.

"Exactly! We don't have amazing things like cars or TVs or other stuff like that. But what we have are all kinds of magic. It doesn't matter how far your technology advances, you can't stop natural catastrophes. I've seen it in Mephisto's TV that there are earthquakes and tsunamis destroying whole cities and killing many people. I don't understand how these disasters occur but I am sure that earth and water demons could stop them." Rin stated, hoping Yukio would help him after all.

"And how can we be sure that demons would actually try to help us? They could exploit the permission to stay in Assiah." The glasses wearing twin seemed to be a hopeless case.

"When the ruler of Gehenna is telling them to help with the problems in Assiah nobody is going to refuse it."

Fujimoto listened carefully to what Rin said.

"The ruler of Gehenna? Is there a reason why you're not saying Father or Satan?" The Paladin reassured himself.

"Well, I-" Rin tried to frame his plan right since overthrowing his father was the last thing he would try to do, "I am willing to take my father's place if there is no other way to unite the realms."

This actually surprised the two exorcists.

"You're going to kill him?" Shirou stood up, "I don't think you really mean that."

"You want to take the throne?" Yukio was obviously not believing him.

"It's not like I want to do it but if I have to." Rin took a step back, perceiving Shirou's movements as a threat.

"All right, if that's really the case I'm going to put a good word for you with the Grigori," The Paladin started, earning a shocked look from Yukio.

"But Dad…" The younger twin started, only to be interrupted by Fujimoto who was still talking to Rin.

"I have one condition. You won't hurt any human and share all the information you have about Gehenna." Shirou finished his sentence.

"Are you going to tell me about the Vatican's plans and strategies and stop hurting demons?" Rin turned the situation around.

When the Paladin didn't answer the Prince knew that they still didn't trust him. But how could he blame them? They didn't know yet but he had already killed someone to achieve his father's goals.

"It's okay, I guess. But I can't tell you anything, I'm sorry. To be honest I probably couldn't tell you anything about Father's exact plans." That wasn't a complete lie. He had never been allowed on the war council so Rin had no idea what exactly Satan and the Demon Kings were planning. He had been told that he would be allowed there once he was a King.

He knew that a part of the plan was the revival of the Impure King, but what they wanted to accomplish by that Rin didn't know.

"I thought you would be second in command, being the heir of the throne," Yukio questioned distrustfully.

"You think I'm that high up? I'm probably in tenth place in the hierarchy right now." Rin explained, defending himself, "What is it with you that you seem so suspicious of me? Last time we saw each other you said that I wasn't as dangerous as you thought and now you are treating me like I could betray you anytime!"

Rin was clearly upset about Yukio's skepticism.

"Just because you're not as dangerous as I thought I don't think you pose a threat at all. You still are the heir of Satan." His younger twin's look was determined, it didn't seem like he would change his opinion any time soon.

Rin sighed, "Why do I have to prove everything I say through actions?" He muttered to himself.

"Trust just isn't easily gained." Fujimoto ended the little argument, going back to more important matters.

"How are you going to convince the 8 Demon Kings to help you?" The Paladin asked.

Trying to ignore Yukio's glares Rin shortly thought about it.

"At home in Gehenna, everything is about strength. I have to beat my brothers in a fight of life and death." The Prince explained.

"You're trying to kill the Baal?" Shirou reassured.

"They're not going to die, it takes a lot of energy to kill a Demon King. They will probably be out for a few days. They will accept that I'm stronger and follow me." Rin knew that it was easier said than done. All of his brothers were extremely powerful even if some of them weren't much of a fighter. He couldn't imagine Azazel or Mephisto to fight on their own but they didn't have to anyway. Rin could be lucky that Mephisto already decided to take his side or be a neutral party. The power to control Space and Time wasn't something to be underestimated. Azazel, on the other hand, was really calm and diplomatic, maybe Rin wouldn't have to fight him but rather just convince him that he was a worthy leader.

Egyn would certainly put up a fight. The King of Water was quiet but still, waters run deep. He was arrogant and would never submit to Rin voluntarily. It really didn't help that Rin was a fire demon which put him at a major disadvantage. Egyn's water was one of the few things that could quench the royal blue flames. Rin had to get creative to find a way to beat him.

Iblis would also be hard to beat. Rin learned from him everything he knew about controlling his flames and the King of Fire had far more experience. If Rin went all out against him his own flames would overpower his brother's. The question was if Rin could use all of his power against him. Iblis had always been his favorite brother. Knowing that Rin would be a fire demon when he grew up made the King of Fire look out for him and bond with him even if he rarely visited the Castle. Whenever Iblis came back from Assiah and stayed for a few days in Gehenna Rin hadn't been as lonely. Rin decided that he would try to talk to him before fighting him.

Astaroth, Beelzebub, and Amaimon were probably the smallest problems. Being the youngest of the Baal they were also the weakest. Additionally, Astaroth as the King of Rot and Beelzebub as the King of Insects were weak to fire which was Rin's trump card if he fought them.

Amaimon was a skilled fighter but by now Rin had seen him fight multiple times. Next time they clashed, the Prince would be prepared.

The one that posed the greatest threat was Lucifer, the King of Light. He was the oldest and strongest of the Baal. Rin had never met him because he had always been in Assiah and he could just vaguely imagine what it meant to control light itself.

But before he made plans to challenge his brothers he wanted to talk to his father. Maybe Rin got lucky and Satan would listen to him.

"Fight everyone stronger than you until there is nobody left. Sounds like a simple plan." Fujimoto agreed.

Yukio looked like he wanted to object but before he could say anything there was an acute ringing in the Paladin's pocket.

He took out his cellphone, listening to what the caller had to say.

"What? How?"

"Are you sure?"

"I'll head there immediately."

He ended the call with a grave expression on his face.

"Yukio, we have to go now. There is a problem with the Kyoto Branch."

The Paladin took out one of his keys.

"You have to leave now, Rin. Just contact Yukio if something comes up."

They practically threw the Prince out of the monastery before disappearing with the key.

Rin didn't even have time to react but when the two exorcists were gone he stood there in shock.

What if they found out what he did in Kyoto? What was the problem? Did he cause it?

Quickly, he made his way back to True Cross Academy. Maybe Mephisto knew what was going on.

Hey!
I just want to thank all of you for your support. I always love to read in your reviews what you think about the chapters.
I finally made up my mind how long the story is going to be and how it is going to end so look forward to it :D