Prologue

The sound of snow crunching beneath his boots was all Shiro could hear as he walked through the silent forest. It was currently winter, just after Christmas, and the air around him was cold and frigid. Clumps of snow clung to his clothes and hair as he made his way through the icy snow. If Shiro could be anywhere right now, it would be someplace with a heater, and not in the middle of nowhere like he is currently. A cloud of respiration clung around his face as the exorcist exhaled. A heavy sigh rested on his lips. It had been a few months sense he first started to look for Yuri Egin, the young woman who had become pregnant with the spawn of Satan. Even now the thought caused a cold lump, with had nothing to do with the weather, to settle into his stomach. His heart clinched at the thought of how close Yuri had become close with that think. If only he had just…no, there was no point thinking about that now. It was too late to think about his own feelings anyway.

He was still hard to believe, even now when he was making his way through the cold, desolate forest, that a young exorcist like Yuri could have allowed herself to be fooled by the demon of all demons. Anyone could tell that something like that couldn't understand love. A demon might find humans fascinating, but they could never really love them the way a human could. They weren't built that way, they weren't capable of it. Shiro gritted his teeth, forcing himself to push that train of thought away. He needed to stay focused. The last thing he needed was to get lost in thought and trip over a root or something. That would be embarrassing, but even if he did it's not like there was anyone else around to see it happen. It was the principle of the matter, and Shiro refused to give whatever animal that might be watching the satisfaction of watching him face plant in the snow.

Shiro Fujimoto is a young man in his mid thirties, despite his natural light gray hair and red eyes which were an oddity on its own. A deep frown was currently on his pale face as he continued to walk through thick snow, a track of foot prints being left behind that was quickly being covered with fresh snow that continued to fall. Considering that red was not a natural human eye color, his eyes has always made people give him a double took to make sure they weren't seeing thinks. It has always been a pain, but Shiro had grown use to it growing up. There might have been a demon ancestor in his family, but no one knows for certain. Especially sense Shiro had never been close with his family. But what Shiro did know was that he had gotten his eyes from his dad, who had passed away when he was very young.

Shiro was tall and slender, being of average build. He was a handsome man, even with his glasses, which in Shiro's opinion just made him look ever sexier. He has always been a cold and distant person, always fallowing orders with a serious demeanor. He never really meant to come off that way, but he just wasn't very good in casual situations. If there was something that anyone could say about him, it was that he always completed the mission assigned to him, making sure what has to be done is done.

But now, he wasn't sure if he could follow through with the orders the Vatican had given him. Just thinking about it caused his stomach to twist with nausea. A part of him knew this had to be done, while another part screamed at him that this wasn't right. That this would make him no different than the demons he has sworn to destroy. A sword in a bright blue sheath was strapped to his back. It was a demon slaying sword known as the koma sword, or Kurikara. Shiro would never forget how he came to be in possession of Kurikara. It had been one instance story. After it was discovered that Yuri was caring the spawn of Satan, he had been sent to retrieve the sword to use to exorcise the child. And if Shiro was to be honest, that was just a way of trying to sugar coat the fact that they wanted him to kill Yuri's unborn baby, as well as her. And that was something Shiro felt himself doubting he could actually bring himself to do. He had gone to steal the sword from the Myōō Dharani temple and had ended up instead being given the sword instead as thanks for helping cure the toxin poisoning that that afflicted the temple. The head priest, Tatsuma Suguro had been the one to give Kurikara to him. The man has risked a lot helping Shiro, though considering the fact that he had saved the lives of Tatsuma's wife and unborn child; it seemed like a fare trade to take the empty sword. It's not like they really needed it anyway.

The sky darkened, as night approached, Shiro stopped and leaned against a tree to rest. Leaning his head against the cold bark, Shiro thought back to when he first met Yuri Egin. Yuri had just become a lower 2nd class exorcist and had been put on his team for her first real mission as an exorcist. She wasn't much younger then himself, about four years if he remembered correctly. She had long brown hair and turquoise eyes. Despite being a young adult, Yuri looked young for her age, making her look as though she was a teen instead of in her twenties. Her wide eyed wonder and interest in the unknown had been a pain since day one, which he had made clear. But Shiro had also found it enduring in a way he couldn't explain. Her world view was just so different then his, it was strangely refreshing, though he would never attempt it. The two had clashed over views, neither willing to back down. She was a bull headed as he was; her strong will butting heads with his own.

On many occasions Shiro had been the mature one and ended the argument for the sake of the mission. He knew that the young women's softness towards demons would get her into trouble one of these days; he just didn't realize just how much he was right. He wishing he had been wrong. Yuri Egin had gone on a many other missions with his team after that. Over time Shiro and Yuri had wormed up to each other. Over the years Shiro couldn't help but notice that he had grown fond of the strange woman know as Yuri Egin. He didn't know when it happened, but before he knew it, Shiro enjoyed her company, and with the way he had seen her blush more and more they interacted, Shiro had started to suspect she might feel the same way. But now, he wasn't sure anymore.

Looking back on it now, Shiro shouldn't be surprised this happened. She was to kind for her own good. Always wanting to see the good, even when there wasn't any. Pulling a cigarette from his pocket, the exorcist plopped in his mouth and lit it. He needed a smoke to help his increasing nerves. Could he really do this? Could he harm a child that was part of Yuri? Regardless of its father, it was still Yuri's child. Shiro pushed the thought away, it was Satan's child as well, a creature as that was too dangerous to be left alone. Why did he have to feel so conflicted about this, it shouldn't be difficult, but it was. It was clear that they had chosen him for this mission was because they believed Yuri would let her guard down around him. The thought make him feel ill.

It was getting colder and Shiro knew he would have to find shelter for the night. Once night fell, the demons would come out and become more active. He clutched his scarf closer to himself in a feeble attempt to cling to warmth. Shiro hoped he would find her this time; he had a hunch about this place. He might not have known how far along Yuri was when she disappeared, but he knew she had to be close to giving birth if not already. It had been several months now, and if Shiro was to be honest with himself, deep down he hoped he never found her. He can't kill what he can't find. The upper class exorcist was about to stop and make camp for the night when he saw it. Chimney smoke rose above the trees, giving indication that someone was living close by. A cold feeling settled in his gut. Shiro didn't know what he would do if it was Yuri. He knew what he had to do, what had to be done. He hoped he was wrong, that it was just someone else who happened to live in the woods.

Shiro clinched his fists and quickened his pace, following the smoke trail. It didn't take long for him to step out into a small clearing. A little wooden cabin sat in the middle of clearing. Little flurries of snow coming down gave the place a winter wonder land kind of feel. The cabin appeared to be in good condition from the outside and had a cutesy look that Shiro could picture Yuri owning. Raising his fist to knock on the door, Shiro stopped at the last second when he hears the sound of a baby's laughter and the unmistakable voice of Yuri Egin. Shiro's breath caught in his throat, he actually found her. After months of searching, Shiro didn't know if this was a good thing or not.

Pushing his self doubt away, the upper classed exorcist steeled his resolve and slowly opened the door. He then walked inside, but not before dropping his cigarette to burn out in the snow. It was an instinctive reaction. Yuri didn't like it when he smoked around her. So he doubted she would appreciate him smoking around her baby as well. Shiro shook his head, what was he thinking, he was here to kill the spawn of Satan, what did it matter if he smoked. God he was to emotionally attached to this. Why did they want him to do it again? There was no point questioning it now that he actually found her.

It was only when Shiro walked further inside that he heard a second voice, a very familiar voice at that. And just like with Yuri, Shiro would have recognized this voice from anywhere. So that was how Yuri escaped the order before Shiro could return with the koma sword. He should have known that demon had been involved. The real question was why though. What did he have to get out of this; this wasn't any of his business. Shiro gritted his teeth in annoyance. Why did that clown have to involve himself? He was only going to make this even more difficult, Shiro was curtain of it.

Silently making his way through the small kitchen and sitting room, Shiro stopped outside of the door leading to what he assumed to be the bedroom. If Shiro had been paying attention, he would have noticed the capon was just as nice looking on the inside as it had been on the outside. The wooden walks and flooring with its simple wooden furnishings gave the place a warm welcoming feel that anyone would love to spend time in. There was even a fire in a small fire place, a little chair with a cushion set beside it. But all Shiro could focus on was the door separating him from Yuri, heisting as he felt his mouth go dry. This was it, Shiro had to choice. He knew what had to be done, but could he do it. He had to, didn't he? There was no other choice, wasn't there? No, there wasn't, he would be seen as a traitor if he didn't. He couldn't help her if they were both wanted.

"You can come in Shiro, we know your there." The sound of Mephisto's calm playful voice pulled Shiro out of his spiraling thoughts. Mephisto's sudden words had caught him off guard him had startled Shiro to the point that he had almost jumped in inch of the ground. He even felt his heart skip a beat, he hadn't expected that. Though he should have, of course that demon would know if Shiro was standing outside the door, that man practically knew everything going on around him. Slowing Opening up the bedroom door, Shiro stepped into the doorway and looked around the small room. It was a bedroom just as he had thought. The only furniture to be seen was a simple double bed, which Yuri was currently laying on, a side table next to the bed, and a small dresser with a small round mirror handing on the wall above it. Mephisto stood beside the young woman, a look on his face that suggested that he found the situation amusing, Shiro didn't. If anything, he wanted to wipe it right off that demon's smug face, but even Shiro knew that wasn't going to happen.

"It took you longer to find Yuri then I originally thought. It's a shame you didn't make it in time to see Yuri have these precious babies." Mephisto said with a grin on his face as she shook his head in mock disappointment. Before Shiro could remind him that he was here to kill the child, his brain processed what the purple haired demon had just said. Babies? As in plural? Looking over at Yuri Shiro finally noticed that she wasn't holding just one baby but two. In her arms Yuri held two small bundles; one in each arm as she laid back, propped up with a bunch of billows. Yuri had given birth to twins? The exorcist felt his head spin, was this really happening right now? And here Shiro thought that she couldn't surprise him with anything else. Walking up to the bed, Shiro numbly took a closer look at the infants. The babies were wrapped in blankets to keep them warm, both appearing to be fast sleep against Yuri's chest. Shiro didn't think the added worm was necessary since both children were engulfed in blue flames. The sight was captivating just as it was equally disturbing. Babies shouldn't be on fire! It amazed Shiro that Yuri hadn't been burned by the flames of her children as she held them close to her body. Yuri looked up at Shiro and completely stunned him with a simple question. Her eyes filled with a trust that Shiro didn't believe he deserved.

"Do you want to hold one of them Shiro."

The upper classed exorcist took a step back, his breath catching in his throat. How could she ask him that when he was supposed to kill these babies? He couldn't risk becoming attached to them. Shiro knew right at that moment that if he held his arms out and did as she asked there would be no going back. Misunderstanding his retreat, the young mother continued to speak, her voice, which Shiro loved to hear, filled with reassurance. "It's ok Shiro. Their flames won't hurt you. I've been holding them all day and I'm complete fine." Yuri gave him a warm smile, a smile that made Shiro's heart ache. "It's completely safe, they don't bit; they don't even have any teeth yet." Yuri laughed at her own joke, all the while Shiro didn't know what to do. Then his body moved on its own.

Shiro will never know why he did what he was about to do. Without even thinking, stepping closer to the bed and Yuri, he reached his arms out. Yuri handed one of the babies to him. The tiny bundle was so light in his arms that for a moment Shiro was scarred he would accidentally drop the baby. The sight of his teeny-tiny face made Shiro's heart twitch. How could something that was supposed to be evil look so angelic. It was hard to wrap his brain around.

"His name is Rin, isn't he just beautiful." Yuri said, her eyes gazing at the child Shiro now held awkwardly in his arms. He had never held a child before and this whole situation was putting him out of his comfort zone. But at the same time, a warmth was starting to settle in his chest the longer he looked at the sleeping baby's face. Yuri continued to speak, "And this one is right here is Yukio, just as precious as his brother. I still can't believe I was carrying twins this whole time and didn't realize it. Aren't I lucky?" Shiro wasn't sure about that, but at least he knew that the babies were boys, not that it really mattered. Rin, the baby currently asleep in Shiro's arms, was wrapped in a blue blanket while Yukio was wrapped in a yellow blanket. Shiro was surprised that the blanket colors could be seen through the thick blue flames.

And speaking of flames, Shiro continued to hold Rin in his arms as he couldn't get over how the flames didn't harm him. It wasn't even HOT! The flames that covered the baby boy was warm and loving, the pure opposite of how he thought that they would be. He had expected it to have been like their father, violent and pure destruction. But that wasn't what Shiro was seeing at all. Before his very eyes, Shiro gazed at the pure innocence of a newborn baby that, it his newly started life, knew nothing but love. The little baby opened his blue eyes and stared up at him with wonder. It seems he had woken up. The infant then began to giggle, reaching his tiny hands up to Shiro's face in an attempt to grab his glasses.

Shiro pulled his face back to keep his glasses out of the child's range of reach. And it was at that moment that Shiro knew that this child was innocent, he didn't deserve to die, nor did his sleeping brother. Shiro finally realized that he couldn't do it. He couldn't kill these children, not now. Though a part of him whispered that he never would have been able to. That he could never hurt Yuri that way. He love cared for her to much.

"So what are you going to do now Shiro?" Mephisto said as gave him a knowing look, his gaze giving the impression that he could read his mind. Shiro sighed and looked away, not wanting to meet the demon's gaze. "I don't know. I know I can't kill them, but I don't know what I'm going to do. How would we even begin to hide them when their engulfed in flames like this. It would be a dead giveaway." Yuri gave him a warning glare. She probably didn't like that he had even considered harming her children. He couldn't blame her there; any mother would have had the same reaction. Mephisto waved his concerns away.

"You don't have to worry about; I can handle this no problem. All you have to do is hand me that sword you got there." Mephisto pointed to Kurikara still strapped to Shiro's back. Which he had almost forgotten was there. Shiro didn't trust Mephisto as far as he could throw him, which Shiro honestly knew he actually couldn't. But he handed over the requested item anyway. Mephisto pulled the sword from its carry bag, then help out the still sheathed sword. Both Shiro and Yuri watched in amazement as Mephisto spoke some kind of spell under his breath in a voice Shiro didn't understand. Rin's flames began to pull away from his body, flowing into Kurikara. The flames were quickly sealed away within the koma sword, Rin's body no longer covered in a blanket of flames. Mephisto sat down the sword and gave the remaining flaming child a thoughtful look.

Then without warning, an amazed look appeared on his face as he proclaimed, "I knew that would come in handy somehow." Mephisto snapped his fingers and a small wooden box appeared in a buff of pink smoke. Opening the box, the demon pulled out a simple hand gun, the kind that all dragoons are first given to use to train with. Shiro gave the demon a questioning look while Yuri glared at him, tightening her hold on Yukio. Mephisto ignored this reaction as continued to say, "Long story short a young fire demon tried to posses this gun a few years back and got trapped inside. It just happened to recently escape… " And by that, he most likely means, 'he let it out'… "And this gun has now become an empty vessel, like the Kurikara. Though it's not quite as strong as it unfortunately, but it's all we've got." Shiro raised an eyebrow at the sheer coincidence of the situation. That gun just happened to have a demon get stuck inside and create a vessel to use just when they needed it? The clown's hands were all over this. But just as Mephisto had said, it's all they had.

Mephisto repeated the sell, this time sealing Yukio's flames into the gun. Now both children were free of flames. Looking down at Rin, Shiro noticed that Rin had drifted back to sleep in his arms, his tiny chest rising and falling as he breathed. It was the most adorable think Shiro had ever seen. Mephisto then placed the gun back into the wooden box. "You see the seal on the gun is the safety twitch. If the safety is taken off, the seal will brake and Yukio will once more be engulfed in flames." He then pointed to the sword leaning against the dresser. "The same applies to the koma sword, if the sword is ever unsheathed, Rin will also return to his true form. Understand?" Both Shiro and Yuri nodded their heads. Mephisto handed the sword back to Shiro, who then handed Rin back to his mother so he could put the sword back into its blue carrying bag and into his back. Mephisto then handed Shiro the box with the gun inside.

"There you go, problem solved," Mephisto said as he pretended to just his hands off like he had done some hard work. He then gave Shiro a pointed look. "So Shiro, if you're not going to fallow the Gregory's orders then what will you do. You know if this ever came out you will be tried for treason." Shiro didn't need to be told that, he already knew. He then looked over to Yuri who was now holding two normal looking children. She looked so beautiful, he loved her so much. Shiro's eyes widened when he thought that. He instantly knew it was true. He had been in denial for so long, but looking at Yuri now, that was all he could think. He loved Yuri Egin and would do anything to protect her and her children. Shiro knew what he wanted to do. Giving Mephisto his most serious look, he said, "I'm going to protect Yuri and her children." His gaze softened as it turned to Yuri. "I'll even help you raise them if you would let me."

A blush crept up Yuri's face as stuttered out, "I would love that, but what about the Vatican, if you don't go back, they will look for you. Are you sure you want to do that Shiro?" Shiro nodded his head, "Of course I do, I…I love you Yuri, and I would do anything for you." It had slipped out before Shiro even realized he had said it. Now his face was heating up. Yuri's eyes then sparkled in a way Shiro had only ever seen a few times. "I love you to Shiro; I have for a while now."

Before either of them could say anything else, Mephisto stepped in. "While this is a touching moment, we should wrap this up. Yuri dose have a point, they will want to know what happened if you don't return, as well as the fates of Yuri and her child." For once Mephisto had taken on a serious expression. "That's why I already came up with a plan for just this outcome." Shiro opened his mouth to ask what he meant, but Mephisto cut him off, "We're going to fake your death, as well as Yuri's. And that's just the start. For this to work, if would be best for the both of you to leave Japan all together with the babies are raise them somewhere you two won't have to worry about being recognized." A part of Shiro hated the idea of faking his death, but he knew this was the best option. Shiro then thought about the little girl named Shura he had taken in not too long ago and felt a pang of guilt. He would have to leave her behind; she would believe his false death and would morn. No matter how much the thought hurt, this had to be done. It was his only option now.

"How exactly are you going to fake my death exactly?" Shiro asked out of curiosity. Mephisto waved his question off. "You don't need to worry about that. I have everything handled." Shiro scowled at the demon for not answering his question. But before he could snap at him, Yuri asked a question of her own. "When are we leaving?" Mephisto snapped his fingers and replied, "Right now!" Shiro felt something heavy drop into his coat pocket. Shiro pulled out two thick wallets that Mephisto had made appear. "Those great quality wallets hold your new identities and everything you'll need to start your new lives with. I even placed the twin knew born certificates in there. They will need one after all." Mephisto then turned on his heel and faced the closed door leading back to the sitting room. Pulling out a key, Mephisto slid it into the doors lock and turned it. "You don't need to worry about taking anything; beyond this door is a place all set up for you, everything you might need is already there waiting for you." Shiro and Yuri both nodded their heads. Mephisto turned back to face them, and then handed Shiro a second key that was identical to the one he had just used. "Here you go." Shiro took it without a word.

"I hope you enjoy New York."

The demon poofed away before they could respond, nether expecting to be sent to America. Helping Yuri from the bed, Shiro helped her over to the door. Sense Mephisto had already opened the pathway; the only think they had to do was walk through. On the other side was the inside of a small cozy looking apartment. The two looked at each other one more time before and stepped through to start their new lives. The door shutting closed behind them.

Back at the Vatican Mephisto was shocked to see the devastation that had occurred will he had been gone. It would seem that Satan had devastated the True cross order while trying to find Yuri. He knew his father had been desperate to create a vessel strong enough to hold him, but to have caused all of this because he couldn't get what he wanted? It sent a shudder down even Mephisto's spine.

Not long after returning, Mephisto found himself standing before the Grigori giving an account for what had transpired with Yuri Egin, her child and Shiro Fujimoto. With an act he could have gotten an award for, Mephisto explained the tragic death of Shiro Fujimoto that unexpectedly seemed to fit in with what would become the blue night. The higher ups had eaten up what he had said; only a few had doubt.

"When Shiro and I found Yuri, she had just given birth. The child had ended up being a still born, while tragic; at least no blood had to be spilled. No one likes the idea of killing a baby, even a demon one." A few had nodded in understanding. "Sadly the pregnancy had taken too much out of her, and consumed with the loss of her child Yuri died not long afterwards. Shiro Then went to remove their bodies from the cabin we had found them in, in order bury them with dignity, but before he could, Satan appeared and in a blinding rage set the cabin ablaze. I just barely got out myself and was unable to save Shiro." This statement being backed up with the burns on his clothing Mephisto had made as proof of his story. "Shiro was killed and his body burned to ashes along with Yuri and her child." The Grigori had no reason to believe he was lying, which he was of course. But with the great lose they had faced this night; one more didn't make a difference. When Mephisto was dismissed, he went back to the cabin and burned it to the ground, just to be on the safe side.

Elsewhere in America, Shiro and Yuri were looking around there new home, trying to get a feel for the place, and a sense of the layout. A note was quickly found on the refrigerator, being held there by an ice cream cone shaped magnet. It read.

I hope you have good luck in raising the twins, if you need anything just give me a call.

A number was written underneath, which Shiro knew had to be one of many that Mephisto had. Shiro looked over at Yuri and smiled, this is where there new lives would begin, this is where her children will grow up safe. Safe and protected.

Notes: I can't believe it's been four years sense I wrote the original prologue. I'm happy to have gotten this updated version out. I'll be updating the other chapters as well as once that is done, I'll start working on newer chapters. Thank you for reading, if you liked it comments are always welcome to let me know how I'm doing and to know if there is anything that I can improve on.