Picks up about two months after Knocked down but not out

"Yukio I don't want to go to school today." Rin whines as he cuddles into Yukio's chest. It was about twenty to seven and Rin was attempting to get Yukio to stay in bed with him all day.

"Nii-san you have to go to school today… if you don't you'll probably flunk out with your grades." Yukio points out playfully as he kisses the top of Rin's head quickly as he stands up. He notices that Rin has firmly wrapped his arms around his waist.

"But Yuki…" Rin whines again as he holds tightly onto Yukio's waist.

"Rin you're being very childish right now." Yukio says with a smile as he forces his Nii-san's arms away from his waist, ultimately dragging Rin out of the bed as well. Rin lands with a loud oomph on the cold, wooden floor of their dorm. Yukio just snickers at his brother's dejected look as he lies on the floor.

"Yuki-san this is not funny!" Rin huffs out as his tails flicks back and forth in annoyance. Yukio says nothing as he picks up his brother than kisses him gently.

"All better." Yukio says after he pulls back.

"No it still hurts a little." Rin lies as his tail playfully wraps around his brother's tail as he leans in for another kiss. Yukio just concedes and allows his brother to work his tongue into his mouth and explore freely. Rin sensing that he has dominance begins to become aggressive in his kissing, and without realizing it; he nicks the side of Yukio's mouth with one of his fangs. As the taste of copper enters the mix, Rin kisses him harder lapping at the small wound with his tongue.

"Rin…. Stop…." Yukio moans as he gasps for air, but Rin keeps going undeterred, to lost in the moment to stop. Seeing this Yukio pushes Rin away, and with an audible groan Rin finally releases his younger twin.

"Sorry." Rin mumbles quietly as he wipes the blood from his mouth and onto the back of his pajama shirt.

"It's okay, come on we gotta get ready for school anyways." Yukio says as he looks over to the clock and it reads a half an hour till eight. So with a loud grumble Rin reluctantly grabs his clothing then heads to the shower with Yukio not far behind.

Meanwhile in Gehenna

Satan sat with a smile as he watched his sons express their affections for each other through a shimmering glass mirror on the wall. However, now that he thought about that it seemed rather stalker-ish, though to be honest he was Satan after all… creepy was his middle name.

"Young love is always so beautiful… even if it is between two demons." Satan comments quietly as he stares out over his kingdom. The scene before him was one that literally bored Satan to tears, 'You can only stare at the same ominous sky and obsidian pillar for so many millennia.' Satan thinks to himself boredly as he makes his way back into his lonely castle. He had become restless in Gehenna, seeing as most of his sons had moved out or were stuck in some kind of eternal pit of despair.

"If only Azazel hadn't been so vain." Satan reminisces quietly, however he realizes that he's stuck alone in his castle. See that was the problem with being the god of demons… no one really wanted to be around you…

"Daddy I'm home!" Mephisto shouts playfully as he shows up in his usual puff of pink smoke.

"Samael to what do I owe the pleasure and where is Amaimon?" Satan asks as he looks around for the green haired demon that always seemed to be lurking near his mate in the shadows.

"Here Father." Amaimon answers quietly from a dark corner of the large throne room.

"Well come, come my boys tell me how Assiah is." Satan says with excitement as he produces two chairs from nowhere. Mephisto takes a seat and Amaimon turns into a small sleek-furred green cat. The forest green cat jumps onto Mephisto's lap and purrs as his lover begins to stroke him.

"Assiah is well and Lucifer sends his regards, however it seems that he has been busy." Mephisto says as he looks to his father with a serious face.

"What do you mean by busy?" Satan implores knowing that of all his sons Lucifer was the most forceful and the most ambitious. "Samael you too are often busy, yet I don't see a need to stop you."

"Meph he's got you there." Amaimon meows with a snicker and Mephisto just pushes the green cat off with a glare.

"Go find someone else to annoy Amaimon." Mephisto snaps and with a huff the cat just raises his tail high then scampers off into another room. Satan sighs as he watches his usually silent son disappear off around the corner into a different room.

"You really should be nicer to him, one of these days he's going to leave and you are not going to like it." Satan warns him with a scowl.

"Father he would never leave me, I love him and he loves me." Mephisto says with confidence as he matches his father's stare.

"Just don't underestimate him, he's always been full of surprises like I never knew he had a cat form… did you?" Satan says as he transforms into his snow, white wolf form.

"Actually yes we learned about that a week ago… Rin showed him how to." Mephisto remarks as he joins his father in wolf form. He is a dark violet wolf so dark he's almost black, and his tail curls over itself, forming a large C. There is a short goatee that curls on the bottom on his muzzle like the one that's usually on his head.

"Wait, Rin can transform?" Satan says in surprise he had been watching him for a while and he had yet to see the boy transform.

"Yes Father he has been a demon for awhile now... Father you sound surprised, have you been watching him?" Mephisto asks, knowing their father was nosy but that's just downright creepy… then again, who was he to talk. He kidnapped the boy and almost forced him to have sex with him… several times. Satan says nothing as he pads off and turns the corner sharply. "Hey wait, I was talking to you!" Mephisto shouts in frustration as he runs after his father. "He always does this…" Mephisto mutters angrily as he finally catches up to his father. They were now out in the garden it was surrounded by tall oppressing obsidian walls. The rose garden was filled with the lovely wafting aroma of roses, and with the vibrant colors of every rose a demon or person could imagine. As Mephisto wanders through the garden he finds his father back in his humanoid form admiring a wall of white roses. To Mephisto the white roses seem too pure for such a dark and dreary realm. Right as the king of time is about to talk Satan interrupts his thoughts.

"I have always loved roses." Satan says absent-mindedly as he fingers the satiny petals of a snow-white rose.

"Yes I know that, but…"

"They represent so many things whether it be love or hate, rebirth or destruction, order or chaos…" Satan begins but Mephisto having heard this speech many times before stops him.

"Father, Lucifer plans to kill one of my Exorcists." Mephisto says suddenly trying to persuade his father to help him.

"Your point Mephisto, those men and women die everyday battling my sons and daughters." Satan inquires as he pricks his finger on a thorn and watches as a single drop of his blood splatters onto the white rose. He watches as it turns what was once innocent and pure into a sinister, inky black darkness that consumes the entire bush, leaving nothing but impure outcasts in its wake.

"That may be, but she is a descendant of the shrine maidens of Inari and she plays a bigger role than the one my brother wants to use her for." Mephisto argues trying to persuade his father to intervene on his behalf.

"Well be that as it may, you will have to stop him yourself, seeing as I can't manifest in Assiah for that long."

"But you helped Rin and Yukio."

"Yes because Rin was going to commit suicide due to your meddling, so no I will not help you destroy your brother." Satan says with finality that causes Mephisto to lower his tail in disappointment.

"Very well, Amaimon!" Mephisto shouts and waits for his mate to come to them, but after a few minutes he doesn't show up. "Amaimon?" Mephisto shouts again with worry as he begins to search the garden from him.

"What did I tell you Mephisto, maybe now you'll listen to me." Satan says as he leaves his son in his wolf form searching for his lost mate.

Where Amaimon went

Amaimon was currently running through the forest that led away from his childhood home and his mate. He was looking for someone, but he didn't know whom, he just knew that he needed to find him or her. After about half an hour of running he feels Mephisto call for him, but he can't go back… not yet at least he had to find what he was looking for. So the small green cat continues making his way through the forest.

"Hello..." Amaimon shouts as he feels his journey coming to an end in front of a large white oak, that had leaves made of red and several black blossoms on the tips of the branches.

"You have come…" a voice, whispers quietly as the small cat stops in front of the majestic tree.

"Yes I heard your call, what do you need?" Amaimon asks the strange tree knowing that this tree was alive and much too vibrant to exist in Gehenna naturally.

"I have many names… Goddess of the Harvest… Reaper of crops… but I believe you know me as Inari." The voice says in a wispy voice as the leaves sway in a gentle breeze.

"Yes I know who you are, I am Amaimon the Earth King."

"Now you understand why I need you, you must stop your brother… he plays with dangerous magic. That if released will destroy all of Assiah and Gehenna in its wake… Save her and it will save us all… I must go now, for I cannot exist long in this world just as your father may not exist that long in mine… Save the maiden." Inari says as it and the tree disappears from Gehenna in a blaze of red flame. Amaimon watches, as the spot that was once filled with the magnificent tree is now empty.

"The maiden…" Amaimon whispers to himself trying to figure out whom the goddess was possibly trying to warn him about. He keeps thinking as he walks back to the castle, and then to the garden to find Mephisto staring at the ground in sadness. Amaimon says nothing as he shows up next to his distraught lover and sits in his lap.

"Amaimon, you came back!" Mephisto exclaims happily.

"Yeah of course I did. Why wouldn't I?" Amaimon asks in confusion as he starts to purr as Mephisto strokes his head gently.

"Never mind, let's just go back to Assiah already." Mephisto says changing the subject completely. So with a puff of pink smoke and a few German words the pair disappears from the garden. Once again leaving Satan to his always-familiar isolation.

Back in Assiah

"So as I was saying the a demon's fatal verse can be the difference between life and death…" Yukio lectures and he watches as all of the students are diligently taking notes, well all but one… Rin. He knew his brother had a short attention span, but this was just getting ridiculous. Rin was unbeknownst to Yukio currently locked in a mental debate with his father in Gehenna.

'Dad I'm kinda busy right now, can we talk about this later?' Rin thinks at his father impatiently because he can feel Yukio getting angrier by the minute, and Rin wasn't looking forward to punishment.

'Rin Okumura you are going to answer my questions now, or I'll come up there and drag you down here with me… because believe me I would much rather be having this conversation in person!' Satan retorts angrily. Rin knowing that his father would open a portal just for this relents and letting his father sift through his memories… well at least the PG-13 ones. With a smile Satan watches as Rin teaches Amaimon to transform and he laughs as it takes Amaimon several tries to fully transform.

"Are you done yet?" Rin mumbles out loud, interrupting Yukio mid sentence.

"Excuse me?" Yukio snaps as he turns to face Rin, whose eyes immediately go wide in shock.

"Sorry Yukio."

"Rin you will stay after class and we're going to talk about what could cause you to be so distracted today." Yukio says sternly and Rin can feel the connotation behind his words knowing that it was going to a lot more physical than his brother made it out to be. After that class drags on slowly and Rin continues arguing with his father as he tries to see his transformations.

'Rin I'm your father, there is nothing to be embarrassed about.' Satan reassures his apprehensive son.

'Dad no.'

'Rin I am older than time itself, I will find out one way or another.'

"Oh just go to hell you bastard!" Rin shouts suddenly tired of arguing with his father about this. He still wouldn't even show Yukio his other forms, and the only reason was because he was rather shy about that kind of matters. Rin hears the chalk snap and he feels a piece hit him in the head.

"What did I tell you!" Yukio shouts sternly as he glares daggers at his lover. The students just stare with wide eyes as they watch Rin slides out of his seat and lies on the floor. Yukio who had been done with the lesson begins to stalk over to his disobedient lover, and right before he reaches him the bell rings.

"Thank Inari." Izumo mutters as she and the others bolt from the room, afraid to see the outcome of Yukio's rage.

"It's always the quiet ones." Suguro mutters as he and his group exits the classroom closing the door behind him. Yukio says nothing as he grabs his brother from off the floor and starts to tie him to a desk. He manages to get Rin tied face down on the table and with his tail wagging triumphantly; Yukio starts to undress his naughty student. After he finishes undressing him, he prepares his lover graciously and is about to thrust in when Rin wakes up.

"Yuki what are you doing?" Rin asks in confusion knowing he was going to be disciplined, but not in such a public place.

"Rin you have been a very, very naughty little boy." Yukio drawls out as he gently strokes Rin's tail mouthing at the fluffy tip. Rin let's out a loud moan and he can feel his dick hardening against the top of the cold desk.

"Yuki please not here." Rin whines as Yukio begins running his tail against his brother's puckered entrance. Yukio just laughs as his brother fidgets trying to get free.

"You will do what I say Nii-san, see that's how this works I'm the teacher and you're the student. So… if I say we have kinky sex on this desk then we do, if I say suck my dick then you do it. Do you understand me Rin?" Yukio says as he goes around to the side of his desk then comes back with a whip.

"God you two are so kinky… Shiro would have been so proud." Satan says casually as he interrupts them suddenly. Yukio just sighs in disappointment and Rin pales at the sight of his real father. Seeing as there wasn't much else to do Yukio uses his flames to burn the ropes holding his brother while putting his clothes back on, and as soon as he is free Rin transforms. Satan watches with a smile as Rin turns into a large, fluffy dark blue kitten with black paws, his eyes are still the usual bright blue. After his transformation he attempts to run away, but is only quickly snapped up by his brother who cuddles him into his chest.

"Release me!" Rin meows loudly as he struggles in Yukio's tight grip.

"Nii-san relax, I won't hurt you."

"Yukio!"

"Rin you're being ridiculous."

"This is so embarrassing." Rin mutters quietly as he settles into Yukio's arms.

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about, I'm your father and your brother won't judge you." Satan says trying to persuade the kitten to come out of his brother's coat.

"No, its not fair Yukio is a bad ass wolf and so is Mephisto. I'm just an awkwardly fluffy kitten." Rin mews from inside of Yukio's armpit.

"Rin, this form is much more practical." Yukio tries to argue, but is shut down by the grumpy cat face he receives from Rin.

"Yeah this is real practical! I'm a blue fucking kitten Yukio, there is nothing practical about this at all!" Rin meows angrily as he wiggles out of Yukio's grasp and storms off. Satan and Yukio watch with smirks as the kitten wanders off down the hall.

"He really doesn't like that form does he?" Satan asks and Yukio just nods slowly.

"I think it makes him feel less manly, though he is rather feminine to begin with." Yukio mutters and suddenly an image of Rin in blue lacy lingerie comes into mind.

"Yukio, what can you transform into so far?" Satan asks dragging his horny son from his thoughts.

"Well a wolf, a cat, and…" Yukio trails off rather embarrassed by the last one.

"And?"

"A stallion." Yukio mutters in audibly.

"Um can you say that a bit louder please?"

"A stallion." Yukio mumbles and Satan stares at him in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Yeah, I can shift into a large black Clydesdale stallion; when I gallop I leave blue flames in my wake." Yukio says and his father just shrugs.

"So one could say your hung like a horse." Mephisto interjects suddenly as he appears with kitten Rin in his arms. The kitten says nothing but rather choosing to hide his head in the crook of Mephisto's arm. "Father I thought you couldn't manifest here that long."

"Yes, well I can and I can't."

"So you can choose to be here to talk to your precious twins but when I need your help you can't." Mephisto says accusatorily as he pets Rin softly causing him to purr and rub his head on Mephisto's hand affectionately. "Such a pretty boy Rin." Mephisto praises causing Rin to purr harder. Yukio just watches as his lover purrs, and rubs himself on Mephisto with an angry glare.

"Mine." Yukio growls out as he approaches the older demon; Satan at this point wears a scowl on his face.

"Give him to Yukio."

"No Father, he seems to like this and besides he looks happy." Mephisto says as he puts Rin down on the ground only to have him rub against his legs for attention.

"Rin come here." Yukio commands, but Rin just ignores him and moves over to Satan.

"Mew." Rin meows at Satan in an attempt to get his attention. Satan looks down to his son and realizes that his son's vocal chords had been rearranged so that he couldn't speak.

"Mephisto you didn't, did you?" Satan says with disappointment as the kitten transforms back into its usual human form.

"Sorry Father." Amaimon apologizes as he stands in front of the group.

"Where's Rin?" Yukio asks his anger turning into fear.

"Last I saw he was sprinting out into the forest behind your dorm." Amaimon says pleasantly as he curls up next to Mephisto with a large smile.

"Does anyone know why he'd be out there?" Yukio asks with worry because his Nii-san had a knack for attracting trouble. The demons just shake their heads in no, however Yukio had a feeling Mephisto knew more than he was letting on.

In the Forest

Rin was walking through the forest, burning off the frustration that was plaguing his mind. However he was literally burning the frustration off, leaving a small trail through the underbrush.

"Stupid kitten body, fucking useless tiny paws." Rin mutters as he continues on through the forest trying to leave his frustration, but it continues to stalk him like a hawk in the night. After he's about seven miles in he notices that a presence of some sort is closing in on him. Rin begins to pick up his pace, but so does the being. He feels as it closes in on his position, at this sudden enclosure he tries to shift back into his demon form but can't. So with nothing left to do he stands his ground, even being an awkward blue kitten.

"Little brother why are you so upset?" A melodic voice asks from behind a large oak tree.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Rin asks as he puffs up his fur trying to look menacing.

"Well it's less of a what and more of a who." The voice teases as the man comes out from around the bush. Rin would describe the man as mid-thirties, and a demon, the tail was proof of that. The man had an air of charisma surrounding him and seemed to glow in his own skin. He had light blond hair that fell just below his chin; his eyes were an eerie shade of blue. Rin didn't know what to make of the strange demon, and he warily kept his distance as it tried to get closer.

"I won't ask again, who are you?" Rin says forcefully while trying to shift back into his humanoid form, but he still can't.

"Very well, my name is the king of light…"

"Lucifer." Rin interrupts and the man smiles with recognition.

"So you have heard of me, and you must also know that I don't plan on hurting you." Lucifer says with his charming smile and Rin wants to relax but something tells him to stay alert. Lucifer notices his younger brother's hesitance and just pours on more charm.

"Who do you want?" Rin asks trying to end this conversation as quickly as possible to keep himself from falling prey to Lucifer's charm.

"I want the power of Inari."

"But Inari is a goddess and you're a demon, Inari would never lend you her power."

"See there in lies the problem, but I have a simple way to get around that."

"And that is?"

"Rin, tell me, have you ever heard of a shrine maiden?" Lucifer asks and he watches as the kitten loses his concentration allowing Lucifer to get close enough to pick him up. The older demon quickly snatches up the confused kitten as Rin finally realizes who Lucifer was after.

"Izumo…"

"Yes she is the current closest descendent to Inari that could possibly be of use."

"What do you plan to do with her?" Rin asks as he struggles in the demon's suffocating grip.

"That's for me to know and young Izumo to find out, goodnight kitten." Lucifer sneers as he throws the kitten against a nearby tree, leaving Rin unconscious as he goes to collect his prize. With a snap of his fingers Lucifer is in Izumo's dorm room, and with a smile he sees the aura of Inari surrounding the girl like a purple shroud. In less then a second Lucifer gently picks up the maiden, and disappears back to his compound strategically placed under the maiden's hometown. He lays her on one of the beds in the lab and straps her in.

"Whaa…" Izumo mumbles quietly as she slowly becomes aware of her situation.

"Shh…. My young fox, we will change the world."

Back in the forest a couple hours later

Rin awakes to the feeling of a cold nose on his face. The sudden change in temperature causes him to jump up quickly only to see that a large black Clydesdale is hovering above him.

"What do you want Yukio?" Rin meows at the horse that looks at him with confusion.

"You didn't show up and I was worried, so I came to find you." Yukio neighs as he watches his brother get up, shake his fur, and then jump on his back.

"Carry me home?" Rin mews and makes his eyes real large in an attempt to look cute.

"Sure Nii-san." Yukio responds and he starts off towards home at a slow trot. He can feel how Rin changes back into a human, he looks back to see his brother laying close to his neck. When Yukio looks he can see that Rin's face is contorted into pain.

"Yuki stop." Rin mumbles, but before Yukio can stop Rin gasps in pain and falls to the ground roughly. Yukio watches in horror as his brother curls up in pain and Yukio immediately changes back.

"Rin what's wrong, what happened? Rin can you look at me?" Yukio asks as he takes his lover's pulse, only to find it at a normal level. However he feels that his brother is intensely hot even for a demon.

"Burning…. He's burning her…" Rin mumbles as his eyes roll back into his head.

"Burning? Rin who's burning?" Yukio asks desperately as he watches his brother seize.

"Why…" Rin mutters as his eyes close, but he watches the scene unfold behind his closed eyes. Lucifer had Izumo strapped down to a bed and he was injecting a dark red substance into her veins. At first her body does nothing, but suddenly it bursts into a violet flame that forms a fox around her protectively. Rin watches as Lucifer groans in frustration, then slinks back to a nearby lab table in anger. Rin's vision goes dark and he goes unconscious again. Yukio watches as his brother stops seizing and finally falls silent.

"Amaimon!" Yukio shouts, knowing his brother was fonder of helping them without hindrance.

Mephisto's office

Amaimon feels himself being called by his youngest brother and as quietly as possible he unwraps Mephisto's arm from around his waist.

"Amai where are you going?" Mephisto mumbles sleepily as he curls his arms back around his lover possessively. Amaimon just sighs and unwraps his grip again.

"Father wants me." He lies quickly knowing his lover was rather perturbed with the Okumura twins right now.

"Why?" Mephisto asks into the pillow as he slowly becomes more coherent.

"He wants help with his rose garden." Amaimon lies knowing his brother won't even question that and with one last groan Mephisto just rolls back over. So with that the earth king disappears quickly before Mephisto can even question the lies truthfulness.

Forest

When Amaimon arrives he sees Yukio holding their brother with a worried look.

"Help him, Amaimon help him." Yukio begs as he feels the older demon approaching them.

"What happened?" Amaimon asks as he puts a hand to Rin's forehead, looking for something to explain his collapse.

"I found him and he was unconscious, when he woke we were heading back but he started to seize then fell unconscious again." Yukio explains and he watches as Amaimon cocks his head slightly in confusion.

"Did he say anything?" Amaimon asks because he can see no reason for the young demon to be unconscious, though for some reason he can feel a familiar presence. A presence he hadn't felt since he was a young demon and living in Satan's castle.

"Yes, he said burning, he's burning her." Yukio recalls and he watches as Amaimon's confusion disappears.

"So he knew the maiden." Amaimon mumbles and Yukio looks to him with confusion.

"Maiden… the only person he knows that could be considered a maiden is Izumo, but what does she have to do with this?"

"Izumo, who is she?" Amaimon asks remembering what Inari had told him.

"She's one of my Exorcist students with a talent for taming." Yukio explains wondering what this could have to do with Rin.

"When she summons, whom does she summon from?" Amaimon inquires, feeling as though he already knew the answer.

"She calls forth two fox spirits from Inari, why?"

"Where is Izumo right now?"

"Her dorm room most likely, but what…" Yukio asks but is cut off by the disappearance of Amaimon. He's only gone a few minutes, but it feels like hours to Yukio.

"She is not there, but Lucifer was here and there." Amaimon says to Yukio as if that was some sort of explanation. Yukio stares at him in confusion as he feels Rin shifting in his arms. Rin slowly opens his eyes and is met by Amaimon's and Yukio's faces, though Yukio looks quite worried while Amaimon has a contemplative look on his.

"Why is he here?" Rin asks quietly and Yukio shifts his gaze from the older demon to Rin.

"Thank god you're awake, Rin I was so worried. What happened?" Yukio asks as he pulls Rin close to him.

"Yuki let go."

"No, and you're getting a cerebral scan when we get home."

"Yukio I'm fine, have either of you seen Izumo… I just had the craziest dream about her." Rin says as he pulls from his brother's tight grip.

"Was Lucifer here?" Amaimon asks suddenly derailing Rin's train of thought.

"Yeah he threw me against a tree after saying something about a descendent of Inari… I think he wants Izumo." Rin says as he stands up however his legs don't want to work right so he wobbles on his feet. Yukio sees this and quickly grabs him by the waist to hold him up.

"Rin you should be resting." Yukio scolds lightly as he picks him up bridal style.

"Yukio I am not a child put me down." Rin demands, but Yukio just ignores him and starts walking back. Amaimon decides to wait till they get to the dorm room to ask any more questions.

"You know I still owe you a round of punishment." Yukio says casually, and he feels Rin go rigid in his arms.

"Yukio, please no." Rin says in fear as he shifts in his brother's tight grip.

"We'll see Rin, maybe if you're a good boy I won't have to teach you a lesson." Yukio threatens seductively with a wolfish grin.

"You are more like Mephisto than you think." Amaimon comments quietly as he falls into step next to them as they near the dorm.

"What do you mean?" Yukio asks as he turns to his older brother.

"You and him both share that dark seductive side." Amaimon answers as he pushes the door to the building open. At the door Rin jumps out of Yukio's arms only to fall face first on the floor.

"Ow." Rin mutters as he lies on the ground to tired to move. Yukio just sighs in frustration and picks his brother back up.

"You need to lay down. I don't know what Lucifer did to you, but whatever it was you still haven't recovered yet, so take it easy." Yukio orders as he puts Rin down on the bed, Rin just growls in frustration as he pets his tail. Amaimon turns into a cat then settles on Rin's chest. The younger demon strokes his older brother gently.

"Amaimon where's Mephisto?" Rin asks him quietly as he shifts onto his side and moves Amaimon with him.

"He's somewhere… Rin he made you watch as he killed a fake me, why do you care?"

"Well I was simply curious, no harm in that."

"Actually there is…" Amaimon says and that's when Mephisto makes his appearance, however not in his usual garb. Mephisto was wearing a pair of dark wash jeans, and a dark purple v-neck t-shirt.

"Amaimon what are you doing here? I thought you were with father." Mephisto says as he walks over to the bed and picks up his mate.

"Mephisto I was helping them out, Rin was hurt."

"He doesn't look hurt to me."

"Sir Pheles he was seizing, weak, and bouncing in and out of consciousness." Yukio interjects knowing that Mephisto had an awful temper lately. Mephisto says nothing as he puts Amaimon down then walks over to Rin. He gently puts his hand on Rin's forehead, and he uses his demonic powers to shift through the timeline to see exactly what happened.

"It appears that Lucifer has stepped up his game… Dammit he already got her." Mephisto swears as he runs a hand through Rin's hair affectionately. Rin being to tired to fight just lies there enjoying the stroking hand. "Good boy Rin, good boy." After Mephisto says that Rin's tail starts to wag. Yukio does his best not to growl, but it still comes out quietly.

"Sir Pheles please don't touch him." Yukio asks as he steps closer to his mate protectively. Mephisto notices the youngest demon's demeanor change and removes his hand slowly.

"This is what I was talking about." Amaimon mutters as he jumps back on the bed with a smile. Both Mephisto and Yukio turn to face the cat on the bed settling down next to Rin quickly. Rin says nothing as he begins to stroke his brother and Amaimon purrs contently next to him.

"You know I never really thought about it but you're right." Rin murmurs to the cat and the other demons just glare at him.

"Rin lie there, and be quiet please." Yukio commands as he and Mephisto leave the room to discuss something. Once their gone Amaimon transforms into a wolf and beckons for him to do the same. Rin shifts, but this time instead of being a cat he turns into a sleek pure black fox with no other markings.

"What?" Rin questions he had been expecting his normal cat form, but is pleasantly surprised by the change.

"Each demon usually has three forms they can shift into, not counting the human one. Father can shift into a wolf, a cat, and something else but he's never shown me." Amaimon explains as he and Rin quietly sneak out the room making sure neither of their lovers are around. After that they quickly run out of the dorm, and towards the train station. Upon arrival there they swiftly transform back and board the next train to Izumo's hometown.

"Why are we on a train Amaimon?" Rin asks as they settle in some nearby streets.

"We are going to save the maiden."

"I know, but why can't we just use a key?"

"Because our mates both know of ways to track those keys, and besides I don't think Mephisto really wants Yukio helping us."

"What's his deal with Yukio lately?"

"Rin if you can't tell he wants you, and Father told him that you are Yukio's intended… and Mephisto hates when he doesn't get his way." Amaimon answers as he plays with his tail boredly. Rin wants to ask more questions, but something about his brother's tone suggests that he should let it be. So reluctantly he stares out the window and drifts off into an uneasy slumber.

Dream

Rin didn't know where he was, but he could feel the straps restraining him to a bed. When he glances around he sees nothing that could be of help, other than a scalpel lying a few feet away on a nearby table. Rin reaches for it but can't due to the restraints. After another ten minutes he hears the sound of a door swinging open and with a confounded stare he watches Lucifer walk in.

"How is my young fox this morning?" Lucifer asks as he approaches Rin with a smile on his face.

"I'm not your fox you demonic bastard, now release me!" Rin shouts but it not his voice. The voice that comes out is Izumo's, and that's when Rin realizes he was just an observer in this situation.

"Still fighting it are we? Izumo if you just relax this will be much more pleasant for you." Lucifer says melodically in an attempt to soothe the young woman.

"Just wait till Rin gets here, he's going to shred you to pieces." Izumo spits at him as he scowls at her.

"I see, well have it your way, this will only hurt you more." Lucifer says bitterly as he injects her with another dose of dark red liquid. It makes Izumo's eyelids flutter open and close as she fades into unconsciousness. After her eyes shut completely Rin feels something dragging him from Lucifer's domain. The presence takes him to a large open barley field and he can feel it swaying in the gentle breeze. When Rin looks around this time he notices that a lone woman is standing at the edge of the field, without thinking he strides over to her quickly. Upon his approach he sees that she resembles Izumo almost identically except her long purple hair is unrestrained and it ruffles slowly in the wind.

"Are you Inari?" Rin asks the woman who turns to him with a confused look.

"Why do you demons always try to kill my descendents?" Inari asks him and he blinks twice before he answers her.

"Because demons are ambitious and what is more powerful than a goddess." He answers taking a similar seriousness to his tone that she had.

"That is true… but that is not what I called you here for." Inari answers swiftly as she looks Rin in the eyes with her piercing gaze.

"What do you need?"

"I need you to save Izumo because your brother is trying to sacrifice her to an ancient power that will if released destroy both the worlds…"

"But what is it exactly?"

"Rin are you aware of Izumo's duties as a shrine maiden?"

"No not really, we don't tend to see eye to eye."

"Yes she does have a tendency to be quite stubborn, but regardless her duty is to appease the Nine-tails demon, one of my fox spirits gone rogue." Inari tells him and he listens dutifully way more interested in this lesson than when Yukio taught it.

"Gone rogue? You're a goddess why didn't you stop it?" Rin questions knowing there were few things more powerful than a goddess. Inari says nothing for a few minutes as she looks out over the field with sadness in her eyes.

"He had been one of my most loyal followers, but it all changed when he met Lucifer… He no longer worshipped me, only sought to further his own power. So with the help of your brother they created a pack and infused him with power unimaginable by either. He went on a rampage destroying everything and killing many, I had no choice but to destroy him, so I bound him to a cherry blossom tree near the Kamiki family. It has been their duty since then to keep it from being awakened." Inari explains with a wistful look as she begins to walk into the field and Rin follows her wondering where they were going. After about a mile they come to a Japanese Cherry Blossom tree with a small gray kitsune statue at the base. Rin walks up to the statue to see a name on it 'Tadao' which Rin finds ironic because that name means loyal man.

"Did you love him?" Rin asks, but before he can ask anymore Inari whirls on him with a hand on his throat.

"Falling in love with your followers is unforgivable." Inari mutters bitterly as she crushes his windpipe slowly. As Rin gasps for air he notices the single tear that falls from Inari's angry crimson eyes.

"Yuki…" Rin whispers right before he black out again.