The billowing blue flames that followed in Rin's trail ignited the forest, destroying all that it came in contact with. The smoke left the air opaque and hazy, but the tension made it nearly unbearable. It was difficult to breathe, but that might've just been the pain Shuku was currently feeling from all over, even where she wasn't injured. Her broken leg hurt like hell, her eye still had that irritable sting, like she had got some type of cleaner in her eye. Her entire body ached from the use of her incantation. Her calfs hurt from the speed she'd been running at, which she over did, and probably had torn the muscles.

Shuku had one arm slung around Yukio's neck for support as she limped along with the others. Her other hand gripping her left eye still. Was she in pain? Yes. Was she going to let it stop her from finishing what she started? Aw hell no! They had made it to the road and had no easy way of leaving unless they were to walk all the way back to the Academy or use one of the teleportation keys. And from the way everyone was panting, the only option was the use of a key.

"What the heck's going on over there?" Shima asked to no one in particular.

"Oh god. The blue flames." Konekomaru said just above a whisper. Of all of the students, he was the most afraid.

"Oh no." Yukio's face was etched with worry for his older twin.

The burst of flames seemed to burn down even the sky as they shot up into the air with tremendous, horrifying force only a true demon could possess.

"Rin." Shiemi looked worried as well. In fact, the only one that didn't look either worried of terrified was Shuku, who held a glare on her face that seemed like it would cause all hell to freeze over.

"Shuku, w-why are you the only one that isn't freaking out in this situation?" Konekomaru managed to say out loud, and everyone fell silent.

"Simple." Shuku's voice was loud and clear compared to everyone else's, "Even though Rin has lost control, he's not the threat I'm worried about. I have my own issues." Shuku responded, her voice not once wavering.

"So, you knew then did ya?" Shura asked, a sly grin on her face as she walked over to Shuku who was now standing upright without Yukio's help.

"Yes. I've known since the beginning, but I still find Rin more of an idiot than a threat to my well-being." Shuku admitted, but still held her ground.

Shura hooded her eyes then met Shuku's from under the shade of her pulled up hood that was still fully intact after the battle.

"So, you're really her then, huh? Missing for about a year and a half just to turn up from right under our noses?" Shura said lowly, and everyone's gazes turned to a usually stoic Shuku as she watched with a cold face.

"Know I have no intentions of staying here and letting myself be captured. I'm still strong enough to escape no matter who you send." Shuku narrowed her eyes and Shura smiled.

"I know. But you're still coming with us, little princess." Shura cooed, then raised a hand to Shuku before she slapped it away with a blinding speed. Shura blinked then Shuku clutched her left eye again. Before anyone could question what was going on, Rin showed up.

He had completely lost control. There was no sign of Rin left, only a crazed, uncontrolled and growling demon. Rin's blue flames still burned around him. Shuku still stood still and unfazed.

"Rin!" Shiemi shouted, then ran towards him. She still cared for Rin even after what she had just witnessed from him.

Rin managed to get up and met the blonde's gaze, she stopped, startled from the look in his eyes. Sorry, Rin is currently not available, please leave a message after the beep. Still only snarling demon, can he take a message for you? Shura and Yukio were faster and blocked Shiemi's path from getting any closer to Rin when she attempted to get to him, as he snarled and bared his teeth, which had sharpened themselves. This had left Shuku standing by herself in a shadowed area.

"Stay back! We got this!" Yukio ordered. But Shuku pulled out her knives and clasped them tightly to her fingers. They were coming.

Rin growled at Yukio and Shura, both had their weapons pointed at him. He ran at them, but before he could get even halfway there, Shiemi caught Rin in a hug, holding him tight.

Rin's appearance was the perfect timing for Shuku, as she both physically and mentally prepared herself for battle. There was a painful itch in her broken leg where Amaimon had shattered it. Her knives were gleaming eerily in the blue light provided by the burning forest.

Realization passed over Rin's features and his snarl faded away. Slowly his blue flames died away and Rin fell into unconsciousness and slumped into Shiemi's arms. HIs demon-like features didn't fade away, but he was no longer a threat.

"Rin!" Yukio shouted and went to go assist.

At that moment, Shuku went rigid, her eyes widened and her head snapped up so fast she could've gotten whiplash from it. There. There he was. Her fate was sealed. Her time was up. It was now or never.

"Ah, so blue." The man-woman said. He had long, platinum blade hair that flowed in the wind. He wore pristine white exorcist robes with a pair of angel wings on the back. As he talked, the others noticed him as well. He stood on top on the walkway that would eventually lead back to the academy.

"As blue as it was that night, no?" He turned around and faced the students, "Good Morning everyone." He greeted. "Arthur Auguste Angel at your service. I'm a senior exorcist First class, from Vatican Headquarters" Shuku's grip tightened on her knives, but didn't dare reveal them just yet. She had to have the advantage of a surprise here, and in her weakened state, she needed it to escape.

"Arthur Auguste Angel..?" Izumo echoed.

"He got promoted a little while ago. He's the new paladin." Shura mentioned, and Shuku froze. See, that was the thing when you haven't been informed about all of the things happening and all of the gossip milling about never reached your ears. You tend to lack information, and now Shuku had to flee from a paladin instead of just an exorcist. Fuck!

"Huh?! The paladin?" Izumo said, expressing Shuku's initial shock. She was lucky he hadn't noticed her yet, but it wouldn't be long. He was here for Rin and Shuku didn't care enough about her dying secret enough to risk Rin's life.

"That is correct. I am your supervisor now Shura." Arthur faced Shura, then looked down at Rin. Four exorcists, possibly more hiding in the shadows, appeared from the base of the tower "Now then. Care to explain what's going on? Weren't you to assigned to investigate a possible conspiracy?" His words were directed towards Shura, "One between the late Shiro Fujimoto and the Japan branch present Mephisto Pheles? Am I correct?" He said from his high, pristine white horse of an ego.

"Yeah, well I'm not the only spy you got stashed here am I?" Shura retorted, and Shuku went impossibly more rigid. The itch in her leg intensified.

"Too true. And that brings us to the other crucial tasks you've been assigned." His gaze went from Shuku back to the unconscious Rin in Shiemi's arms. "If you discovered this plot had anything to do with Satan, you were to eliminate it at once." He emphasized the word 'it' which showed clearly how he didn't see Rin as a person and that infuriated Shuku, but the pain behind her left eye flared at her rage, causing her to wince.

"Now, the second part of your assignment had been watching out duty in the location of the Missing Priestess of the Hunters' Moon Temple. His gaze scanned over all of the students and landed on Shuku still clutching her eye. Her hood had fallen off of her head, showing off her two-toned hair of light brown and royal purple. Her scar also peaked out from under her hairline, giving her away.

"Wouldn't you say that this blue flame spewing beast has something to do with Satan and that the student Shuku Murasaki in the hoodie is, in fact, Shukura Ryuunome?" Everything then stopped for Shuku. He had said it loud and clear. Her cover was officially fucked. Gazes landed on her in silence, but Shuku took this moment to fully pull out her knives and poised to attack.

"Well, aren't you as perceptive as always! Aren't you?" Mephisto made his way out of the forest and into the scene in all his nonexistent glory. He was met with a glare from the paladin, looking not so happy with his arrival.

"Mephisto." Was all Arthur said.

"Long time no see, Angel. I've heard through the grapevine you've been appointed to the rank of the paladin. You have my congratulations, my good sir." The clown congratulated, but Shuku couldn't help but notice the slight tone of mockery in his voice.

"So, you've shown your tail. Reports of your treachery have reached the ears of the three sages, the Gregory, and this is the proof they need to seal your fate." Angel responded with instead of the polite 'thank you'.

"Actually, a gentleman never shows his tail. Such accusations are quite rude you know." Mephisto's tone was still filled with mockery.

With a quiet chuckle of "Indeed." Arthur unsheathed his blade. "By order of the Gregory, advisors of the true cross," He seemed to vanish and reappear before Shiemi and grabbed Rin from her.

Shuku wiped her knives around in a quick turn, slashing two exorcised that had snuck up behind her. Using her good leg, Shuku jumped away from them as the aimed their guns at her. Shuku gave an inhuman growl and snarled at them.

"I shall execute the spawn of Satan and reclaim the Priestess!"

He held his blade up to run Rin through with it through the back. Shuku prepared to save Rin from his death, but Shura was faster to act. He teleported out of the way once more as Shura slashed. Rin fell to the ground with a thump, and Shimei went to get him when the other two Exorcists blocked her way. Shura raised her hand to her mouth and drew blood, then drew it across her sword's blade.

"Kirigakure sword technique! Snake belly!" The blade shifted into what resembled a serpent's head. "Snake Fang!" Shura swung her sword and a wave of fast-moving purple energy flashed right where the Paladin was just a moment before.

The two exorcist advanced on Shuku, getting closer with each step. Flipping out her vapor pen, she covered them in a dense cloud of vanilla vapor, then lit it. They screamed in pain from inside and fell to the ground with 2nd or even 3rd-degree burns. The battlefield went quiet for a moment as Arthur said something the Shura who he held at blade point before he seemed to talk to nothing, the released Shura.

"That was the Gregory just now. Mephisto Pheles, you are hereby ordered to report to them immediately for a disciplinary hearing." He ordered.

"Really? Oh goody, I can't wait." This time the sarcasm and mockery were clear enough in the Clown voice.

"Shura, you're a witness so if you don't mind, you're coming along with me. The spawn of Satan comes too." Angels eyes hardened as they landed on Shuku.

"Princess Shukura! I hereby order you to come-" He was cut off by Shuku.

"Go to hell." She growled and drew a line of blood from her slashed finger across her shoulder. Arthur's eyes widened as Shuku started an incantation and rushed over to stop her.

"O' Fountain of Light and Shadow! Embrace me in your color and darkness! Let me fly free, unbound by my mortal bond!" Shuku shouted, and just as Angel appeared behind her to grab her. His hand phased through Shuku as a sneer was pasted on her face.

"Sorry guys. But I gotta run. Tell Rin he's a fucking dumbass for me!" Shuku waved before completely vanishing altogether. Her vapor pen in hand as she blew out some smoke from it and it drifted in the air.

Everyone was silent as the blue flames died out in the distance. Shuku was gone, every trace of her was gone. All that was left of her, was the faint scent of

Vanilla Smoke.

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