The demon in Rin moved to take his Father's hand but stopped suddenly.

With a look of pain and fear Rin momentarily regained control of himself, slapping Satan's hand aside. Iblis twisted at his tail causing Rin to buckle over in pain. The demon inside his head screaming for release. It was the worse headache Rin had ever experienced.

He screamed on the floor, gripping and pulling on his hair, claws now scraping gashes into his scalp tainting his hair red with blood.

"Ngh-argh! Stop it! Please!"

His flames rose and flared violently again. Iblis had been about to disable him again, still gripping his tail, but Satan rose a hand stopping her. He motioned for her to leave. Reluctantly she let go of Rin's tail, which immediately wrapped itself around his leg to avoid further pain. Iblis backed up and went to retrieve Amaimon in his semi-unconscious state from where she had pulled Rin off him. She carried him out of the arena; doors closing behind them. Leaving Rin and Satan alone again.

Blood was soon dripping from Rin's head and onto the sand below. Satan took gripped hold of his wrists, pulling them away from his head. Holding them down tightly so that Rin could not do any more damage to himself.

"Rin, look at me." His voice was calm but authoritative. It reminded Rin of Shiro; it didn't help that he sort of looked like him as well.

Rin looked up his face a mix of emotions. Tears were falling down his face whilst his eyes were flashing between normal and warped. The urge to burn everything was so strong and was pounding at the back of his mind, like a monster trying to get out. Rin was still fighting against it, trying to push it back down to the depths whence it came.

"What's happening to me…?"

"Your demon ego is fighting for freedom. Since you are currently separate entities, he wants dominance over your body."

Satan's grip was still tight on his wrists. Rin was shaking under his hold, he was scared.

"How do I make it stop?" He flinched in pain, pushing down another throb. "This is my body!"

Satan laughed. "Do you think that this is just a demon possessing you? Your demon ego is part of who you are! It won't go away it will always be a threat in the back of your mind."

"So, what am I supposed to do…"

"What else?" Satan gave Rin a sly smirk "You can either embrace your demon side and join with it. Which, will further your progress of controlling your power. Or…" He looked Rin in the eyes "You can continue to fight it until it takes over by force. Taking away any control you once had."

"I'm sure you've had experience of what happens when you've lost control of it before now."

A look of realisation dawned on Rin's face as he could recall events of his childhood. Blacking out and sending another child to the hospital, all because he lost control. The realisation slowly morphed to anguish. He always just assumed he had issues controlling his anger – now it seemed like this thing had been playing at the back of his mind the whole time, influencing him but never truly able to break free of the seal.

Another throb hit the back of his head causing him to flinch in pain.

Satan started to wonder how stubborn he was going to be. Then again if anything like Yuri – very. He decided to take pity on the boy, bringing forth his own flames and surrounding them both. Rin tried to pull away in fear but Satan kept the grip on his arms forcing him to stay put.
The flames didn't burn him or hurt at all, just like his own. They were comforting and warm, so much so the screaming and throbbing in his head finally stopped. Rin's own flames dimmed down, just licking on the surface of his body. The urge to burn and destroy now sinking back down to the depths of his mind.

Rin let out a sigh of relief.

"I have calmed it for now. But it will get harder to suppress from now on. Make your choice before it takes over permanently." Satan finally released Rin's wrists, slight bruising apparently where he had held on so tight. But would soon heal. Rin rubbed his wrists to ease the pain slightly.

"What's gonna happen to me if I join with it?" Rin grimaced at the words that just left his mouth. He didn't even want to consider it, but he feared the alternative more.

"Your mind will be whole again, completing your rebirth fully. Your power will come more naturally—" Satan spouted the positives like they were nothing before Rin cut him off.

"No! What will happen to ME?! I don't care about any of that I just want to know if… if I will still be myself!"

Satan looked away thoughtfully, there was no answer he could give that would make Rin any happier about it. He would rather Rin knew the truth and was prepared to make the sacrifice knowing what would happen. Being honest would also put him in a better position than Shiro and the other twin when Rin finally confronts his family, there was no denying it will eventually happen.

He turned back to Rin, with seriousness even he wasn't aware he was capable of.

"No."

Rin's face dropped at the revelation. He was stunned Satan was so blunt about it, thinking he would just tell Rin what he wanted to hear. But he was actually telling the truth. He wouldn't still be the same person anymore. But his only other option was being that uncontrollable monster.

Since he had been in Gehenna, it was like he was faced with constant ultimatums that he didn't want to deal with.

Satan held his hand out again to Rin. He ignored it and struggled to his feet alone.

"You will still be conscious and your actions will be your own. But embracing your demon side will change you, mentally."

"I can't decide this right now. I don't want to be an out of control beast but…I don't want to lose myself either."

"Very well. When you have made your choice come and see me. Iblis will still be taking you for training in the meantime."

Rin had a defeated look at that, he didn't want a repeat of today.

"There will be no more fighting until you have made your choice." He turned and began to walk towards the door before stopping briefly to say one final thing "However…" turning back to face Rin again "If you do lose control permanently. That is when your body is forfeit to me."

Rin looked defeated and gave a weak nod and followed Satan out of the Arena.

Rin opened his eyes, to a room that felt strangely familiar. When had he fallen asleep? He looked around confused by his current surroundings, the brightness of the room practically blinding him. When had Gehenna been so bright?

His eyes adjusted and he realised he wasn't where he thought he was.

It was the room he shared with Yukio at the monastery, he looked around taking in the pleasant view. Feeling elated, was he really home?

The morning sun was shining through the window with a welcoming gentle breeze on his face. He could hear the faint sound of someone breathing. His eyes wandered over to the opposite side of the room. Seeing a familiar shape under a pile of blankets, messy brown hair poking out of the top, those dorky glasses on the nightstand.

Had he been dreaming…? Or was this the dream? It felt real, but so did Gehenna. He sat up and slid his feet on to the wooden floor, scratching his head roughly before standing. He felt off balance, he turned to see his tail was gone. His breath hitched as he quietly but quickly left the room, making his way to the bathroom.

He looked in the mirror taking in his appearance. He was human again. Dark hair and all.

What was going on? Had he been dreaming this whole time or was his head playing some sort of sick joke on him?

He left the bathroom and stood in the hallway for a moment. Silence. There was no bustle of the other priests, or of Father Fujimoto making breakfast. It felt wrong. On returning to his room Yukio was now sat up in his bed, his head in one hand, a gun in the other. Rin froze in the doorway, eyeing the gun. Feeling like something had dropped in the pit of his stomach.

"Yukio…? Why do you have that?"

Wake up.

Your brother is an exorcist. They all fear you. Demon. Burn them all…

Voices echoed in his head.

Rin put a hand up to his head, teeth clenched in pain.

"No – Shut up!"

Wake up.

Yukio raised his head up to look at Rin, who was still staring at the gun. Yukio clicked off the safety and stood up, gun still by his side. Rin looked up to meet his brother's gaze, only then did he see the fear and anger in them. Yukio raised the gun to Rin's head.

Wake up now.

"You're not my brother. You're nothing but a demon wearing his skin…" Tears formed in his eyes as his finger tensed on the trigger "You're the reason my Father is dead!"

Rin flinched, feeling his heartache in his chest at the thought of Father Fujimoto dead. Rin raised his hands to reach for the gun, only to see the blue flames that fluttered around them, black claws instead of his fingernails. His tail swishing around behind him. This wasn't real, it had to be a nightmare and he wanted out of it now. Yukio wouldn't pull a gun on him…would he?

"Yukio… pleas—"

"Shut up! I won't listen. My family is dead! And it's your fault!" With that Yukio pulled the trigger. "Filthy demon…" Rin just barely made out his final words before everything faded to black.

Rin's eyes snapped open and he yelled out in pain. He sat up gripping his chest, heaving and struggling to breathe, his flames flaring around him before he heard a gasp from the room. The demon servant girl from the previous day stood in the middle of the room with a trolley. A look of fear on her face and visibly shaking at the sight of the flames.

Something came over Rin. The fear she emanated sent a strange feeling bubbling up inside of him and he let out a low growl.

Before she had a chance to react, a demonic looking Rin had pounced on her. Knocking the trolley over and spilling the contents over the floor. Pinning her to the ground claws dug into her arms, he could feel the fear radiating off her and it made him shudder with delight. She screamed as he sunk his fangs into the crook of her neck.

The taste of blood on his tongue nearly sent him into a frenzy, he wanted more. He sat up to admire his prey. The fearful demon squirming under his hold, blood running down her shoulder. He licked his lips and grinned.

It had been a few hours and was now lunchtime, servants were buzzing around the castle. The matron noticed the trolley for the new Prince's room was still there. Had the servant to that room shirked their duties? She decided to take it herself and reprimand the servant later when she found out who it was. Far too many demons under her command to remember them all, plus with Lord Satan's temper, it was a high turnover when the occasional servant did something wrong and got burned alive. From what she had heard the Prince seemed rather timid in comparison.

On arrival at the Prince's room, there were no guards outside – obviously still waiting to be replaced after Iblis' outburst. But something else stood out, a strong smell of blood. There was nothing in the corridor that she could see. She pushed the trolley up to the door and gave a small knock. There was no answer.

She knocked again, but still no response. Did the Prince leave his room to eat with the others instead? Surely Satan would've updated the service demons if such a thing had happened. She knocked one more time before opening the door a crack. She was hit in the face with the strong smell of blood and decay, she pushed the door open to see what had happened, fearing the Prince had gotten hurt himself.

But what she saw before her was not the Prince, but the missing servant, what was left of her anyway. She was surrounded by a pool of her own blood, a trail of which was leading to the adjacent bathroom. The door was ajar but the light off. She wondered if she should risk checking on the Prince or find someone more capable of dealing with him, he certainly wasn't as timid as she was led to believe. But then what should she have expected from a child of Satan himself.

She took a breath and steeled herself, pushing the new trolley into the room and confidently walking to the bathroom door. Carefully stepping around the pool of blood not even sparing a glance for the dead servant on the floor. She would end up the same way if this didn't go well. Walking up to the door she could hear sobs and panicked breathing from inside. Pushing open the door a bit more and feeling around for the light, she turned it on.

The blood trail led to a corner of the bathroom where Rin sat huddled up and shaking. He was covered in blood. He held fearful look on his face when he realised someone had entered the room.

"Get out! Get away from me!" He croaked, tears falling down his face leaving smears through the blood.

Without hesitating the Matron was in front of Rin cupping his face and forcing him to look at her.

She had a long stern face with a light purple skin tone, narrow red eyes with yellow slits and two long straight horns atop her head. She wore a long black conservative dress with a white apron tied around her waist.

"My dear boy you are a mess. Let's get you cleaned up"

He recoiled at the touch and pushed her away growling at her, his flames were a flicker but still there. "Don't touch me!"

The Matron gave a sigh and knelt down in the trail of blood directly in front of Rin, not giving a care for her dress. Tilting her head, trying to make eye contact with him. He buried his face into his arms, that were wrapped around his legs. He let out a shaken breath.

"I killed her…" His voice was a whisper, but with the Matron's demon hearing she had no trouble hearing what he said.

"Tell me what happened, Your Highness." Rin flinched, being reminded of his status here. He raised his head to look at the older demon. "Or would you rather speak to your Father? I can take you to him." He would, but not the same one she was referring to…

"No, not him." He managed to croak out. "Please…" He gave her a pleading look. Now that she could see he face she could see the blood smeared on his face. But she gave him a calm smile.

"Fine, but you will have to speak to him about this eventually. For now, just tell me what happened."

"I-I was dreaming and when I woke up…I dunno, I just wasn't myself…She must've come in to bring breakfast and saw the flames. She got scared." He paused briefly "I felt her fear and it made me feel…it made me feel happy." The Matron nodded letting him continue "Then the next thing I knew she was dead-" He took in a sharp breath "—and I was covered in her blood. I could still taste it in my mouth—oh god what's wrong with me?!"

"Nothing, Your Highness. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It happens a lot. Especially in this place." Rin looked up to her "Lord Satan has gone through many servants. As have the Ba'al. It's a job risk I'm afraid. You have done nothing that they themselves haven't already done plenty of times. I mean you remember what happened to the guards?"

"I don't care! I'm not…I'm not like them! Just because they do it doesn't make it right! She didn't deserve to die…and now I have to live with what I did. I have to hear her screams in my head and the smell and taste of her blood are still there!"

"Oh, my boy. You are still very much human, aren't you?" She gave him a sympathetic look.

"Is that such a bad thing?"

She frowned at him briefly but her features softened again and she sighed.

"Considering who your Father is and where you are, probably. If Demon's sense you have a weakness, they will exploit it."

"But if I could just get back to Assiah—"

"You would be killed." She interrupted. "You obviously have no control over your demon urges right now, and if you lost control up there you would have exorcists all over you."

"My Brother is an exorcist – I'm sure he'd protect—" He suddenly remembered his dream and stopped. He clenched his fist and pushed down the rising anger in his chest, a dull throb at the back of his mind.

"Calm yourself, child. Let us get you cleaned up before you go planning any escape attempts to Assiah." She held out a hand to him.

He tentatively took it and allowed her to help him. She helped him out of his clothes and ran a bath. He was almost too out of it to care that he was stood in his underwear whilst this demon took care of him. She placed a towel by the bath and left the room so Rin could bathe in privacy. Proceeding to clean the mess in the main room whilst he was occupied.

When Rin was finished, he wrapped the towel around himself and moved to the bedroom, hesitating at the door. His hand shook as he hovered it over the handle. He was afraid to see the bloody mess he had created and be reminded of what he had done. He felt himself slipping into a panic and fell to the floor trying to remember how to breathe. He screamed.

Matron opened the door with a worried look, Rin was sat on the floor in the doorway. His hands on his head as he panicked. She grabbed a nearby robe and draped it around Rin.

"You do not have to fret, your Highness. The room is back to the way it was."

Rin looked up and glanced around the room. Not a trace of blood was left, the body was nowhere to be seen.

He looked up at the demon in confusion.

"Why are you helping me like this?" He had assumed all demons or most to be evil and manipulative or bloodthirsty and violent. Admittedly some were but even his so-called Father was causing him a bit of shock with the way he was being treated.

The matron looked somewhat taken aback by the question. But returned a kind smile. "My dear, it's my job. I wouldn't be the Matron if I didn't take it seriously."

She wheeled the trolley she had brought up over to the table.

"Now would you like your food here, or would you rather go and eat in the dining hall? The Ba'al have more than likely moved on by now, so you'd be sat alone."

He thought about that for a moment, after what had happened in here, he didn't feel comfortable casually eating in here anymore. To be honest he wasn't sure he'd be able to sleep in here either.

"Would it be a pain to just move me to another room? Even though it looks clean, I don't really want to stay here."

"Hm. I see your point. Come to the dining hall first then, we shall get you fed and I will speak with Lord Satan about arranging another room."

Rin froze "You're not gonna tell him about what happened are you?" a look of panic drawn over his features.

"I'm afraid I will need to explain the situation, your Highness. I'm sure everything will be fine. Follow me." She didn't give him a chance to argue before throwing some clothes at him to get changed. She then ushered him out the door.

In the throne room, Satan was sat mulling over the previous day's events. Joined by three of the Demon Kings.

"How is Amaimon recovering?" He said turning to Iblis.

"He's fine if anything he's quite eager to fight with the Runt again." Satan raised an eyebrow at the name, Iblis shrugged and smirked. Her little brother was looking slightly more impressive now, but he was still the runt of the family if you didn't count the human sibling anyway.

"He didn't take too kindly to losing though, he might have less restraint next time. You know what Amaimon's like when he's riled up." Astaroth, the suited man with a paper bag on his head; covered in rotting mushrooms, spoke.

Satan nodded.

"It might be wise to keep them separated for now. At least until Rin has more control. We want him to embrace his demon side, not be overcome with it."

Iblis gave him a questioning look.

"You've decided to keep him, haven't you? Rather than taking his body when it has acclimated to the flames, you want to keep him with you." She looked a bit annoyed at the prospect. Hadn't it always been the plan to find the boy and take his body as a vessel?

"You have a problem with my changing of plans, Iblis?" He glared at her, sending a spike a fear through her. She backed up and lowered her head.

"Of course not, Father! I just—"

"You just felt you would question me again, as you did 16 years ago?"

Iblis fell silent, head hung in shame she bit her lip. The other two present watching silently, the tension in the room had risen.

"Egyn informs me that Lucifer has made progress in Assiah."

"Yes, but even Lucifer is not at full health. Your last body only lasted a little more than three to four years."

"I want the Exorcists to pay for what they did to me and Yuri." A low growl forming in his throat "And for then hiding my own flesh and blood and raising him as a human - to be used as a weapon against me!" His fists clenched tightly "Shiro will pay."

Iblis shot up "Wait, I thought he was dead?"

Astaroth stepped forward "Amaimon reported he survived…just. That priest is quite the resilient one."

"He was one of the Azazel clones, right? Like Father's vessel?" Egyn asked. Iblis nodded.

"Maybe we should go finish him off." Iblis gave an amused huff as she looked to Astaroth. The corners of Satan's mouth twisted into a smile.

"No. It's quite fortunate that he survived."

"Father?" Iblis gave Satan a confused look.

"The sword was the first message. The next one will be Rin himself. We just have to get him ready. Rin is not to know of Shiro's survival though, not yet."

"I don't want to be questioning Father, but I feel you underestimate his loyalty to those humans. He is angry with them but I don't think he would hurt them."

"Not yet, but there is still time for him to change. Once he stops fighting his inner demon, he will see things differently."

They were interrupted by the main doors opening. Matron walked in and quickly down the aisle towards the four demons, who all seemed to be glaring at her. She reached the area directly in front of the throne and bowed low.

"I'm am sorry for the intrusion my Lords and Lady." She kept her voice as even as she could.

"Matron, it is unusual for you to be out of your hole, what's happened now?" Satan gave her a questioning look.

"It's the Prince, Lord Satan. He has requested another room. There was…an incident this morning, resulting in the death of one of my servants. The mess itself has been cleaned up but the Prince was quite shaken up about it and is not comfortable to remain there."

His eyes widened slightly as did the eyes of the others, his interest piqued.

"Incident? Death? Tell me more." He held a sickening smile on his face that made the Matron run cold.

"I had arrived hours after the incident occurred. The servant in question had been spooked by the sudden appearance of the Prince's flames and he attacked. When I found him, the room was covered in blood and he was shaking in a corner of the bathroom. Apparently in shock."

Satan let a small laugh slip before standing. Matron ever so slightly flinched, she tried her best not to show fear in from of her Lord but sometimes his aura was far too intimidating.

"Fine, you can organise a new room. Where is he now?"

"He is currently in the dining hall, my Lord."

Satan nodded for her to leave, she gave a quick bow and skittered off out of the throne room. He turned back to the Demon Kings, with a smug grin.

"See, he's already becoming more like a demon. All he needed was that little push. Get him some more training Iblis, we'll keep Amaimon away at least until he shows a little more control."

"Yes, Father." She bowed - hiding her grimace in the process.

"Let us go join our little Prince." Satan beckoned the others to follow him and they all left the throne room, making their way to the dining hall.

Temporary OC is temporary!

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