Yukio couldn't believe it, first the attack on the students and now something like this. He had to end his class early when he got a call for an incident. Using one of his keys he opened the door to a morgue and a group of exorcists were already there waiting for him.

"Yukio Okumura, Middle First Class. I had to wrap up class. I'm sorry I'm late."

"It's fine Yukio, this shouldn't be too important but it's troubling."

Yukio was meeting a group of Middle Class Exorcists for an incident that happened last night which was out of the norm. He walked over to where everyone was standing and saw what everyone was looking at. Through a glass window were two bodies that had missing hearts and signs of decay.

"How long have they been dead?" Yukio asked the group.

"A day." Yukio's eyes nearly popped the lens of his glasses in shock. "But with how far they have decayed they have to have been dead at least a few months."

"Yes they should be but when we found them they showed no signs of decay but in just a few hours they have started to rot away."

"That means this was done by a Kin of Astaroth. And a strong one at that."

Yukio didn't know what to think about this. This had to be the work of at least an upper class demon but those shouldn't be able to get in and kill two middle class exorcists. Things are getting out of hand and Yukio couldn't put his finger on why. The only thing he could think of that might have been enticing this was his brother.

Maybe the demons have found out about him and are causing trouble trying to get to him or maybe they were working for higher ranking demons. It was just too many variables to entirely pin it on one thing.

"This is troubling." A new voice spoke up from the room. Everyone turned around to see Mephisto Phelles in the room.

"Sir Phelles. What should we do about this?" Yukio asked him.

"All of the middle class exorcists will be issued new night watch schedules. This makes two high class demons in one day and we can't have that. Other than that everything will proceed accordingly."

"Sir!"

'Rin be careful'

Rin was dying, he was in his holy Scripture class and he hated this class. It reminded him of his literature classes in junior high except now he couldn't just sleep through the class like before. He had to learn this stuff but what did it matter to him. He had his swords and they were all he needed to kill a demon.

"Now then if someone could recite the passage assigned for homework last night. Miss Kamiki?" The teacher called on Izumo who seemed to be lost in thought. "Um yes ma'am." Izumo looked to be shocked back into reality as she was called on. Rin didn't know what was up with her today but her attention in class was worse than his.

She tried to recite the passage but she didn't even get halfway through before she started to stutter over the lines. Rin could see when she gave in.

"Miss Kamiki?"

"I- I don't remember it." She said with her head down.

"Dear me this is unlike you Miss Kamiki. Well then Suguru, how about you."

"Yes ma'am."

Bon wasted no time and started to recite the passage perfectly. Rin watched him in awe as did everyone else in the classroom. But as amazing as Bon was, Rin was more interested as to what was going on with Eyebrows. Maybe she was still shaken up over what happened to Paku yesterday. Should he ask her? Would she even tell him if he did ask?

"Amazing recitation Suguru-kun!" The teacher praised him. "Suguru is amazing isn't he? I was surprised." Shiemi said next to him.

"it's not that Bon's really smart, it's just he's good at memorizing things." Konekomaru informed her. "Which means I'm Smart, right Konekomaru?" Bon asked him with an evil look on his face, scaring his friend.

"Yes of course." The bald student said nervously.

"Hmph memorizing is basic." Izumo said and Bon glared at the purple haired girl. "What was that?"

"I said memorizing has nothing to do with academic ability."

"Big talk from someone who couldn't memorize four lines." Bon said with a cheeky grin on his face. Izumo looked embarrassed but got a fierce look in her eyes all the same. "It's not that I couldn't, I chose not to! An Aria is completely defenseless while they are chanting and have to rely on the party to protect them. They are nothing but baggage."

Bon's eyes grew hateful when Izumo for the second time put down his ambitions. He jumped from his seat and made his way to the front of the room right in front of Rin's desk while Izumo did the same.

"I really can't stand you ya know! Don't put down other people's dreams!" Bon slammed his head down on Rin's desk and he jumped in shock while he was reading his book. Rin was trying to keep out of it but now they were interrupting him trying to study.

"Oh yeah you said you wanted to defeat Satan right? You expect me to do anything other than laugh at that joke." Izumo said with a smug grin on her face. Bon growled at her and Rin could feel the anger coming off him in waves.

"What about you then, why are you becoming an exorcist!"

Rin could see something flash behind Izumo's eyes. He could see she wasn't in the classroom for a moment and she was in her head.

"I don't go around telling everyone why I do what I do. Because I'm not an attention seeker like you!"

Rin could see this was about to be a full blown fight. Bon's hand was hastily approaching Izumo's collar and her own hand was speeding towards Bon's face. Rin stopped them both with an annoyed look on his face that shocked the class.

"Cut it out you dumbasses! If you want to fight, take it outside." Rin twisted both of their bodies and threw them towards the door where Yukio happened to be standing and watching.

"Oh hey Yukio." Rin said, sweating bullets.

"Why are we being punished too?"

The entire class was taken back to the training camp where they were subjected to a punishment. An earth demon called a Baryon was placed in their lap while they kneeled on the ground. The baryon got heavier and heavier the longer they held it. The class looks to be struggling, especially Shiemi. While Rin, the Hoodie wearing student and the puppet carrier seems to be fine.

"This is called collective punishment. The aim of this training camp is to one increase your abilities and two deepen your relationships with your fellow classmates." Yukio explained to them all. Izumo immediately denied that notion with a snide remark.

"I refuse to get along with brutes."

"No exorcist fights alone! Making use of each other's strengths while covering your weaknesses is part of the basics. Exorcists fight in a group of two or more, it's basic protocol for any exorcist, even the paladin. If you were to bring these petty arguments into battle someone would be hurt or in the worst case killed. And that would be on your entire group."

Yukio paused to let what he was telling them really sink in. Rin could tell it affected everyone but Rin thought about it and he knew it was true. He wouldn't have been able to save Shiemi without Yukio's help that day. But he was also frustrated at that fact because he knew Yukio could have saved her alone. Once he faked her out with the plant bullet he could have killed it. He needed to be better.

"Now I have a small assignment to attend to so while I'm gone think about what I said. However considering what happened yesterday I will be locking all exits and putting up powerfull wards."

"But how will we leave?" Bon questioned him.

"You won't. You all will stay like this for the next three hours. See if you can get along then." He said before he left then there dumbfounded.

"How are you and that teacher related?" Bon asked Rin.

"He's a good guy… I think."

It didn't take long for the situation in class to resume itself here. "Well this is a fine mess someone's got us into." Bon said.

"Says the brute who grabbed me by the collar!"

"You were the one practically begging for a fight!"

"Can you two please stop fighting with me in the middle!" Right after Rin said that Darkness invaded everyone's vision.

"What the!"

"Did he turn the lights off or something?"

"Is it a black out?"

"Nah, I can see the lights outside. It's just us." Rin said, checking the windows. Shima started to make his way to the door. "I'm gonna go look outside."

"Be careful Shima." Konekomaru said but Shima just laughed off his concerns. "Don't worry there's nothing here."

The smile was wiped from his face as he opened the door and came face to face with a demon. He closed the door immediately and wiped his eyes. "My eyes must be playing tricks on me or-"

CRASH!

An arm burst through the door and Shima screamed and ran to hide behind Rin. The demon bounded into the room and they saw it was the same one from yesterday. Rin was getting ready to resume his battle with the demon when one of its heads exploded open and got liquid all over the class.

"What is this stuff?" Rin said disgustedly. "It's the demon's fluid." Izumo said even more disgusted than he was. The demon started to make it's way towards them but Shiemi was quick to act.

"Nii I need Una Una."

The small Greenman squeaked and large thick branches burst from its stomach and impaled the demon.

"Wow Shiemi, that was incredible." Rin said with no small amounts of awe.

"Cough cough."

Rin turned around to see everyone coughing and seemingly growing weak.

THUD!

Shiemi dropped to her knees and was breathing heavily and seemed to be having trouble keeping her eyes open. "Shiemi, are you okay?" Rin said as he wrapped an arm around her to steady her.

"I'm…fine Rin."

"What's going on with you guys?!" Rin asked as he saw the others growing weaker too.

"It's because that demon Sprayed us with its liquid, how are you fine?" Izumo asked him and Rin looked nervous.

"Who knows." Rin dismissed the question and kissed his teeth. He dialed Yukio's but he didn't pick up. "Damn hell of a time to not pick up."

"With Moriyama's barrier here we'll be fine for now. But once it's gone…" Bon said with dread. The barrier shook as Bon said this and Rin glared at the ghoul. No ghouls, they split into two somehow.

"Damn for dead things, they're pretty lively." He commented.

"Ghouls are more powerful in the dark like this." Bon explained. Rin's eyes flashes with hope as he tightens the grip on his sword case.

"Ok then I'm gonna draw them out of here and go turn on the lights if I can." Rin said and everyone looked at him like he was insane.

"Are you dumb Okumura, there's two of those things!" Bon said thinking Rin was just trying to play hero.

"I know that but we need to do something, Shiemi's barrier isn't gonna last forever, turning on the lights to weaken them is our best option. And I'm the only one strong enough to go. But just in case…"

Rin reached into his pocket and pulled out one of the only summing circles he had. He quickly hit his thumb and drew blood. As he wiped it over the seals he chanted.

"No Blood No Bone No Ash!"

Flames danced around him as a sleeping Ace appeared before him. Rin grew a vein on his forehead as he grabbed the liger cub by his scruff.

"Wake up!" he screamed in his ear.

Ace jumped awake and landed on his feet looking around before his eyes landed on an angry Rin.

'Prince i'm sorry!'

"Listen Ace, I need you to protect them while I'm gone." Ace surveyed the scene and nodded his head and in a bright swirl of flame he transformed into his fully grown form.

"Ok guys I'll be back."

"Okumura!"

"Don't worry about me, I'm strong."

Rin climbed through the barricade and landed on the other side where he saw the two ghouls banging against the branches. "Hey over here assholes!"

They both turned towards him and Rin dashed out of the room and when he looked back only one was chasing him. "I gotta find the lights."

Back in the classroom Ace was standing tall and growling at the ghoul still left in the room. "Damn that guy is insane." Bon complained but he knew Rin was right, somebody had to get the lights on and everyone else was getting weaker by the second. But if he was gonna do something then Bon would too.

"I'm gonna try a recital."

"But Bon you don't know that thing's fatal verses do you?" Konekomaru asked him, clearly afraid.

"No but I do know that ghoul types tend to be somewhere in the Gospel of . I have the whole thing memorized so if I recite the whole thing I'll be bound to get it eventually." Bon explained weakly but determined at the same time.

"But that has 20 chapters!" Shima exclaimed.

"21." Konekomaru said dreadfully. "I have chapters 1 through 10 memorized, allow me to help." Bon nodded at him gratefully.

"Hang on if that thing breaks in while you're doing that it'll go straight for you!" Izumo said to them like they were crazy. Bon looked at her like she was trash. "That girl is busting her ass and Okumura is taking one on by himself! He even left his familiar with us and you expect us guys to do nothing. You talk tough but when push comes to shove you're a coward." Bon said forcefully and Izumo put her head down, shamed.

"That's our Bon, a real man. I'll be your back up." Shima opened his shirt and pulled out three pieces of a staff.

"If you're not gonna fight just stay back!" Bon said . He and Konekomaru sat down and got into a prayer pose. "Ok guys let's do this!"

"The switchboard!"

Rin had just made it to the eclectic system and his hand was reaching for the switchboard when his sixth sense went off. He rolled to the side to dodge an attack from his pursuer and immediately drew his sword.

"Come on, I've been waiting for round two!"

Rin charged the ghoul and in response it thrust its tail out at him in rapid succession. Rin dodged its attacks and closed in on it.

"Hellfire Sword School: Flame Dance"

Rin made three quick cuts that burned the ghoul and made it jump off the balcony they were on and into the area down below. Rin followed after it, not giving it time to rest.

"Hellfire Sword School: Cherry Blossom rain!"

Rin thrusts the air multiple times and small pink flames flew out of his sword and rained down on the Ghoul. The ghoul screamed in pain as it went up in pink flames. Rin didn't waste time though and quickly put it out of its misery with a single slash.

"Man am I awesome." He said as he rubbed under his nose with a smug look on his face.

"Oh crap the lights!" Rin jumped on the elevated structure and quickly flipped all the switches and watched as the lights came on with relief. "I hope this helped." He said as he rushed back up the stairs. As he was running he never noticed the man standing in the shadows watching him.

Back up stairs things were getting heated. Konekomaru had already completed his entire section and Bon was finishing the last chapter.

"Moriyama!"

Shiemi fell over and the barricade disappeared with the last of her strength and the demon was through.

Ace pounced on it and tore a chunk out of its side. But the ghouls strength in the dark was enough to get the Liger off of him. With a scream it threw Ace out of the window. He roared loudly as it fell 5 stories.

"Well I guess I'm up next." Shima said with no small amount of fear in his voice. As Shima tried to hold off the ghoul, Izumo checked on Shiemi.

"Kami..ki are you okay?" Izumo looked at the girl with shock and a bit of anger.

"Am I okay?! Look at you?!"

"It's just you don't… seem like yourself today."

Izumo grit her teeth as she heard Shima fight behind her and Bon spew passages one after the other trying to kill the demon. While she was here, cowering in the back like some scared little girl. That wasn't her not anymore, that scared girl should have died in that temple. She was stronger, she was someone who hates to lose. She grabbed two summoning papers and chanted.

"...Leave not my prayers to be unfulfilled!"

Her familiars Mike and Uke appeared before her with just as angry as before.

"How dare you call on us agai-"

"You will obey me!"

"Crap, she's back to normal."

"Quaver, Quaver gently. Rite Of The Quavering Soul!"

Mike and Uke swirled around the demon so fast they just became two white streakes and they bit the ghoul all over. But in that darkness it was two strong and knocked them both away. The ghoul grabbed Bon by his head and lifted him off his feet but the Temple boy kept reciting the scripture.

CRASH!

With a window breaking Ace made his way back into the building and leaped onto the ghoul. At the same time the lights were turned on in the room. Ace raked a flaming claw across the Ghouls chest making it scream in pain.

" I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written!"

Bon finished the last lines of the scripture and the demons disappeared in a black smoke. Bon dropped to the ground on shaky legs and his eyes were looking at nothing.

"Am I dead please tell me I'm not dead."

"Hey you guys okay?!" Rin burst into the room with concern on his face.

Bon looked at him in disbelief and the class was much the same. "Your ghoul… what… happened?" Bon asked in complete shock. Rin just smiled like it was obvious what happened.

"Oh I killed it. Seems like you guys handled your half two awesome."

'I helped Rin-sama, can you cook something for me?'

Ace asked him already back in his liger cub form begging Rin for food. This was a usual occurrence after Rin fed him for the first time. He would eat and then pass out somewhere in the dorm house.

'Yeah yeah whatever.'

Ace started to rub his head in Rin's leg and he purred happily.

"Okumuraaaaa!"

Bon rushed Rin and tried to hit him but Rin dodged it. "Whoa why are you trying to hit me?!"

"Are you an idiot! Trying to get yourself killed or something!'

Bon chased Rin around the Room trying to hit him but Rin dodged him at every turn.

"What's going on here!"

Yukio came into the room followed by Professor Neuhaus, but that wasn't all teachers started to appear from the floorboards and the closets.

"Hello my young Pages!"

"Mephisto!" Rin exclaimed as the clown director fell from the roof..

"You all didn't think I would let an upper class demon just walts in do you? Those with doctor titles see to the injured." He ordered and Yukio and two others got to work on the students.

"This wasn't an ordinary training camp; this also served as your Exwire promotion exam. After I hear the accounts from the teachers I will tell you all who passed. Look forward to it!"

"I can't believe this whole thing was a pop quiz." Rin said as he sat down on a sleeping Shiemi's bed. The students were taken to a makeshift medical Bay to tend to the wounds they sustained during the test. Rin, like most, was very frustrated at the surprise test. While others were nervous.

"I just hope I did well, I was so scared I thought I might have passed out." Konekomaru said as he prayed for success.

"I'm sure you'll be fine Konekomaru, you stepped up and helped Bon take out the ghoul." Rin reassured him and the bald student almost looked surprised that Rin would do that.

"He's right Okumura sensei said that teamwork is essential for exorcists so if anybody failed it would be me." Izumo explained.

"Nah like Okumura said you stepped up and fought. Unlike some people." Bon said glaring at the two students who didn't help during the battle. "Sweet I got a dragon claw." The one in the hoodie said words for the first time.

"Shut up you brats, we have nothing to say to you." Takara, the one with the puppets, spoke also or more like his puppet spoke. The boy's mouth never moved.

"Whoa that guy's an incredible ventriloquist!" Rin said, amazed. "Mmm." Rin's outburst stirred the sleeping Shiemi and she sat up while rubbing her eyes cutely.

"Sorry Shiemi didn't mean to wake you." Rin said sincerely.

"Iss okay Rin I'm fine now. What are you all talking about?" She asked the group. "Just talking about if we passed the exam or not. Though I'm sure you passed Moriyama." Shima said, smiling brightly as always.

"Yeah Moriyama without you I fear what would have happened to us. Thanks." Bon said bowing to the stunned garden girl who was blushing in embarrassment.

"No no Rin was more amazing then me he killed a ghoul all by himself." She said as she hid behind Rin's back. This was an old habit she had as a little girl whenever she felt overwhelmed, she would hide behind her mother or anyone she was close with. Rin looked at her with a raised eyebrow but said nothing of it.

"Speaking of, how did you kill that ghoul all by yourself?" Konekomaru asked and everyone turned to Rin to hear the answer, even the two outsiders. Rin gripped the sword on his shoulder with a grin on his face. "With my sword of course." He said smugly.

"With your sword?"

"Yep, I cut it down."

"So you're saying you killed a mid rank demon with just your sword? If you ask me I say you're more mysterious than the two back there." Bon said and everyone besides Rin nodded along.

"Yeah I guess I may not look it but I do have a certain mystic." Rin said with an arrogant laugh. He didn't notice the inquisitive look Izumo was giving him, she had her eye on Rin ever since he summoned the demon liger. And now as a page he beat a mid rank demon all by himself while the rest of them nearly died killing one together. She would definitely be keeping a closer eye on Rin Okumura from now on.

"Ok class you all should be ready to get out of here. Besides you Shiemi." Yukio said as he appeared in the room. Shiemi didn't complain and in a few seconds she was back to sleep while everyone else dispersed to do their own thing. The temple trio went back to their shared room while Izumo went to check on Paku. Meanwhile Rin and Yukio went back to your room.

"You surprised me today." Yukio said as he sat down at his desk.

"What are you talking about?" Rin asked, confused. "You didn't use Satan's power to take out the demon, a mid rank of that level is completely different from the plant demon that you saw weeks ago. I thought you wouldn't be able to handle it." His brother further explained.

"Oh so you're saying I'm better than you thought. Don't worry Yukio, pretty soon you'll be asking me for help and advice."

"With the way your grades look, I highly doubt it Nii-san." Rin growled at his little brother while the exorcist paid him no mind.

'Rin-sama, what about my food?'

Ace whined as he bounded into the room. Rin sighed and grabbed his sword and made his way to the kitchen. 'So what are you gonna make me Rin-sama?'

"It's a surprise."

As he made it into the kitchen he was surprised to see the hoodie wearing individual sitting there playing a game. He paid Rin no mind as Rin started to cook a simple spicy curry for him and Ace. It didn't take him long and good thing too as his Familiar was literally drooling as he waited. He served his Familiar and he made an extra plate for the third occupant.

"Here." He said as he slid the plate over to him. The male looked at the plate and then back at Rin and though Rin couldn't see his face he knew he was confused. "I don't like to cook in front of people and not Feed them." The male actually took the food and started to eat which surprised Rin. He didn't think he would eat the food, he was just being polite. Once the male started to eat he couldn't stop and Rin was happy to see it. Rin sat down across from him and ate as well but he had a question to ask the male apart from him.

"Why didn't you fight today? I can tell you're strong." Rin asked and waited for an answer but the male just finished his food and left. Rin sighed and scratched his head in frustration.

"Man, that guy's so weird."

'What guy?' Ace asked confused as he finished his plate.

"The guy that was just here."

'There was no guy that was a female.'

It took a full minute for Rin to realize what Ace just told him but when he did his mouth fell to the floor in shock.

"WHAAATTTTT?!"

Rin was currently on the roof as he couldn't sleep. He needed some air and a quiet place to think. He was thinking about the Exwire exam, more specifically what happened to Paku. He knew for sure that it wasn't part of the exam after today, the way Yukio reacted and how badly Paku was hurt was the biggest indicator. While they were in danger of being hurt, nobody came out with wounds nearly as bad as Paku. The ghoul had said he was just doing what his master said but who was his master? Satan? Rin didn't think it was him as he had no reason to want him dead now. He needed him or more specifically his body. So that crossed him off the list. Was it another exorcist? But why would they try to attack the students, or were they after him? Did they know he was the son of Satan? But who would know about that besides Mephisto?

'Is that clown playing tricks on me?'

'RIN-SAMA!'

At the sound of the urgent voice from his Familiar Rin jumped up and looked around but it was too late. Hands grabbed Rin and started to drag him to the edge of the roof. He tried to kick and break out but he couldn't.

"Get the hell off me!"

Rin erupted into blue flames and the hands burned off of him. As Rin picked himself off the ground he heard slow clapping.

"There they are, those blue flames."

Rin turned and was shocked as to what he saw or who. His Demonology teacher Mr. Neuhaus stepped out of the shadows of the roof. His arm was bleeding and he had the same expressionless face as always but his eyes held a fury and hatred Rin had never seen before. Rin was on guard as was Ace, the liger had transformed and was spewing angry flames from his jaw. "What is this?"

"You haven't put it together yet? I'm here to kill you Rin Okumura. Son of Satan."

"How do you-"

Rin got no answer as two ghoul dogs rushed from behind the teacher. Rin jumped back and opened his sword case while Ace stood to meet the attackers. Ace was able to stop one and pin it down with one of his huge paws but the other slipped by him. But Rin was ready, his sword was already out and he sliced through the dead dog. Ace on the other hand burned the other to death.

"Were you the one who hurt Paku?!"

"If I was?"

Rin growled and charged the teacher but Neuhaus met him with a large compass needle. Rin idly remembered that he used it to draw his magic circle in class. Rin got into a back and forth with the teacher and while Rin had better physical capabilities the teacher kept up with him with skill and experience alone. Rin quickly made two horizontal slashes but Neuhaus dodged them both and met Rin's next attack with his compass. "Your good son of Satan but maybe it's just your lineage."

Neuhaus pushed Rin away from him and jumped backwards and threw a container of some kind. Rin didn't have time to see what it was because it exploded and water flew out of it.

"Aaaaaaaaa!"

The water burned Rin and Neuhaus slightly chuckled. "I guess holy water still works on you. Proof of what you are."

Ace angrily pounced at Neuhaus but he was intercepted by a large Naberius bear. Rin didn't know where the bear had come from; it wasn't on the roof before. "This is the skill of a first class tamer." Rin couldn't help but be impressed by his skill, he was able to summon a demon in the midst of battle with Rin and he still didn't know how he'd done it.

'A first class exorcist is really amazing.'

Rin re-engaged with Neuhaus as Ace was in a fierce battle with the bear. As Rin exchanged blows with Neuhaus he saw something strange behind the man. The hands that tried to drag him off the roof were behind him drawing a magic circle. Rin was shocked still and that left him open for an attack. Neuhaus gave him a strong kick to the stomach that left him reeling. Rin slid back and steadied himself and when he looked up the tamer was summoning another demon.

"It's time for you to meet my strongest Naberius." Neuhaus tore through his arm with his compass and spilled blood over the circle and chanted.

"From a corpse in the ground where even vultures won't gather round, arise."

A very large beast appeared from the magic circle. It looked like nothing in this world, it had no eyes, only a large mouth with arms laying next to its tongue. Stitches ran up and down its rounded body while stray arms stuck out of its form. Rin stared in shock and jumped back as the large demon swung at him. Rin checked on his familiar but he was still occupied by the bear and while he wasn't losing he wouldn't be able to help Rin. He steeled himself and charged the demon, in response arms shot from its body. Rin cut and dodged them and was able to close the distance to attack. Rin cut into its stomach but he was surprised to see multiple hands sprout and catch his blade. He tried to pull it out but it wouldn't budge and his sword started to sink into the demon's body.

Rin knew he had to do something quick or he would lose this battle and he needed answers as to why his teacher was doing all of this. He saw the demon's blood on his blade and he decided to take a risk. 'I can't control the full power of the sword yet but I need to do something.'

"No Blood. No Bone. No Ash!"

The sword erupted into pink flames and the force of it pushed Rin away from the demon while simultaneously burning it. Rin's sword was surrounded by a cyclone of pink fire and he seemed to be breathing heavily in an attempt to control them. Rin dashed towards the demon laser focused on finishing the battle quickly but it was a mistake.

"This isn't a one on one."

That was all he heard before he was struck in the back and pushed into the hands of the large demon. It's large hands caught him and threw him to the ground with so much force Rin bounced off the concrete roof making him drop his sword and the flames went out immediately. The demon started to squeeze Rin and was pulling his head like he was trying to rip it off.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

'Rin-sama!'

Ace tried to escape his battle with the bear but it caught him and pinned him down. Ace's body started to produce fire and he rapidly burned the bear away. He dashed over to Rin but Neuhaus got in the way with severed hands to support him. Ace growled in anger but then Rin's screaming suddenly stopped and when Neuhaus turned around his demon was gone and Rin was dropped on shaky legs.

BANG!

A bullet flew into his leg courtesy of Yukio and it made him drop to one knee and before he could get up a sword was at his neck.

"Why are you doing this?" Rin asked him as he was breathing heavily from the damage and energy loss he sustained during the battle. "Why am I doing this? I'm a survivor of the Blue Night." Neuhaus said with a large amount of resentment and hate.

"i was possessed by Satan and although It only lasted a few seconds in that moment I lost my eye… and my family. I won't forgive any demon I come across, especially the son of Satan! I don't care if I duenir anyone that gets in the way!" A sharp hand shot from Neuhaus's arm and stabbed Rin in the stomach. When Neuhaus looked at him he was shocked to see the boy was smiling.

"Did that make you feel better?" He said as he pulled his sword away from the teacher's neck and sheathed it. "Listen I'm sorry about what happened to your family, truly I am. But I can't let you kill me. There's still things I need to do so please hold off on your attacks until I accomplish my goal. When that day comes i'll happily fight you, just please leave everyone else out of it."

Neuhaus gritted his teeth but otherwise made no move to attack Rin. "This isn't over, I'm not the only one who would happily see you dead." Was all the teacher said as he walked past Rin back into the building. Rin sat there with a clenched fist and a depressed shadow over his face.

"Rin are you okay?!" Yukio said as he and Ace rushed over to check on him. Rin just lifted up his shirt and Yukio watched amazed as the wound was closing before his eyes. "It's already healing."

"I guess it's proof of what I am." Rin said bleakly.

"I have to be better, Yukio." He said with a tone of resolution.

"What are you talking about?"

"Me just being alive puts people in danger. Not just for demons but Exorcists too. Neuhaus was going after me but Paku got hurt instead and Izumo could have met the same date or worse. I have to be better." Yukio never got to say anything as Shiemi burst through the roof door out of breath and concern was written all over her face.

"Rin Yuki!" She spotted the wound on Rin's side and immediately got even more worried. "Rin what happened, that looks like a ghoul Mashou!"

"I'm fine, don't worry about it." Rin said dismissively as he started to walk away. "No way, lay down I have to treat it-." Rin turned around with a forceful look in his eyes that scared Shiemi.

"I said I'm fine!" He exclaimed and Shiemi regarded him with a shocked look with small tears in her eyes. "Let's go Ace, I'm tired." He said as he continued to walk away with his Familiar following him. He was stopped once more by the sound of Shiemi's voice only this time she didn't sound worried, she sounded determined.

"Rin I've made up my mind! I'm gonna do it! I'm gonna become an Exorcist and fight with you and Yuki!" Rin didn't say anything, he just sat there near the door but then he turned around with a huge smile on his face.

"That's great Shiemi, I can't wait." He said before he walked away leaving the two of them on the rooftop. As he walked down the stairs his smile had slowly faded away and was replaced with a calm fiery look filled with resolve.

'I have to be better. I have to be stronger. I will protect them.'

Reiji was on top of the world, nobody could stop him. The days he spent bragging about his father's success and fame to get things were done, now he had his own power and he was building his own kingdom. He wasn't in his dorm again tonight, he was collecting tools for his next move. Well his and Astaroth's next move. He didn't know much about the exorcist world, just the stuff Astaroth had told him. Exorcists and demons have been fighting a war for a long time and bla bla bla. He didn't care he was helping Astaroth with his plans so Astaroth could help him with his.

He wanted revenge. On Okumura for humiliating him. On the people who looked down on him. And most of all. His father. He was gonna prove him wrong.

'You are nothing but an embarrassment Reiji.'

He was gonna show them, he would prove everyone wrong.

He was currently in a dark space, so dark no light appeared in its halls. As he walked down the long hall demons layered the area.

"Tell me why we have to gather this many demons."

"It's never a bad thing to be prepared."

"And why are we in pitch darkness?"

"My ghouls thrive in the darkness. It's better this way."

"And when are we gonna exact this grand scheme of yours?"

"When the time is right." Astaroth was starting to sound annoyed with all of these questions.

"And when is that?"

"Just shut up and wait, you brat!"

"Who are you calling a brat! You're just trying to sound more wise than you really are!"

"I'm not trying anything, this is how I am!" Astaroth fired back at him.

"You're wise but you make me spend thousands on ice cream! You are like a kid!"

The two continued to argue in the darkness of their layer, by this point the demon king and Reiji had become very close and this was a normal occurrence for the two of them. As they confirmed to bicker like brothers of some kind the demons around them watched in confusion. Nobody would be able to predict the chaos these two would bring to the True Cross Order.