Disclaimer: I do not own Ao no Exorcist/Blue Exorcist.

1.

Beads of water cling onto the leaves, some struggle to stay on board but ultimately lose, slipping and falling only to be caught by the soil. Like tiny crystals, they glitter from the way the sun sears its heat into the day, and Shiemi pauses for a moment to admire them.

Placing the watering can to her left; she gently reaches out to catch a droplet as it springs off from a petal, smiling as it trickles down her finger. She'd spent the entire morning gardening, thankful that the weekend had arrived and that she could take a break from her studies and most importantly dwell on her situation of indecisiveness.

A frown overtakes her smile.

She wants to be useful, but in what manner could she go about in being so? She wants to help Rin, to help Yuki, to help Izumo, Paku, Konekomaru, Bon and Shima. Wants to prove herself worthy of their friendship, because that's what friends do, don't they? Help each other. But right now, all she does is be a hindrance. Always crying, always hesitating.

There's a voice shouting in the back of her mind, an endless mantra of 'I need to catch up. I have to catch up.'

"But how do I reach you?"

"Eh? Reach who?"

A shriek escapes her lips and Shiemi is immediately grateful that her mother is on a business trip and not at home as a head full of green hair enters her line of vision.

"Frowning doesn't suit you." The voice continues. "You end up looking really ugly when you do that."

Hanging upside down from a tree branch, the Earth King fixes his gaze on the girl, taking in her shocked visage. He can sense the fear, the confusion and blossoming anger. Her multi-coloured kimono matches the plants surrounding her and he ponders whether if it's the garden that belongs to her or whether she belongs to it. Perhaps it's both.

Shiemi can barely believe Amaimon is going this far, intruding in her sanctuary, her Grandma's garden. His very presence destroys any semblance of tranquillity. Plus, since he'd joined True Cross Academy and her classes, he'd taken to taunting her at every chance he could get.

He'd sit behind her only to tug at her hair.

He'd throw wrappers onto her desk when she's trying to work.

He'd make loud crunching noises when it was her turn to speak, purposely crinkling a candy wrapper or popcorn packet, rendering her into an incoherent mess and causing her to turn red faced with mortification.

He'd tripped her once or twice while walking to class and even threatened harming Paku to get her to complete his homework – claiming he didn't want to disappoint his brother by slacking off– and worst of all was the feeling of his eyes boring into the back of her skull, as if reminding her that she's powerless against him, weak and easily malleable.

She especially doesn't like how the demon would use her as leverage against Rin, targeting her to rile the other up. It was an act she still couldn't quite understand.

Shiemi is so engrossed in her thoughts that she doesn't take notice of a vine twining itself around her arm until Amaimon drops down from the tree into a crouch. By then, the vine has crept into her hair and he reaches out a hand to still her as she starts to struggle.

Using his free hand to follow the vines movements, the Earth King is uncaring when he tugs at her strands to pluck out the flower he has fashioned.

"Here, take this."

Baffled, Shiemi takes the plant with caution, her breath stuttering as she focuses on it. The vivid blue reminds her of warm embers, of vibrant smiles and reassurances. It's a colour of comfort and she relaxes. Shiemi almost becomes absorbed but remembers the company she has.

"W-what are you doing here? Why did you give me this?" The words are soft-spoken, but Amaimon can hear the underlying distrust.

"Eh, it's big brother. He's insisting that I 'practice courting' a girl the way he saw in an anime or he'll take my candy and force me to go on a diet."

Shiemi stares at him.

"This flower I've given you, it'll last a long time, for years even. You like flowers don't you?"

She nods slowly, watching as he thinks to himself and taps a finger repeatedly on his chin.

"Oh wait. I have to do this as well." Grabbing her other hand, he brings it up to his lips and firmly presses them on her knuckles, waiting a beat or two before releasing his hold.

Shiemi gapes at him with widened eye, wondering why he would even do such a thing, trying to ignore the warm feeling that has settled on the back of her hand. His mouth had emitted coolness akin to a green leaf in spring. His hand had been the same.

"Tch, don't look at me with that expression." He scoffs before standing up. "I told you, I'm only doing this because big brother made me. Besides, your skills at gardening are lacking, are you trying to drown your plants or something? I can do a whole lot better." He stares down at her with a glower before vanishing.

Shiemi is left feeling unbalanced and unsure how to feel. Amaimon was self-centred, quick to anger and strangely childlike, but it almost seemed as if he was trying to be nice to her by giving her a gift. Still, although the visit hadn't resulted in negativity, she hopes he never appears in her garden ever again.

Gazing down at the flower and focusing on the bright shade, she comes to a decision. She'll do her best to catch up; she'll stop feeling sorry for herself and speak her mind when given the opportunity. She'll fit in, become a proper human being.

And eventually, without a doubt, she'll be able reach them.

2.

"...there has been activity pertaining to possession, newfound memories, feelings of grief and disappointment from victim accounts, it should be noted that the Demon seems to be searching for a specific host. Once it latches on to a person, it quickly realises they do not suit its purposes and releases them. It does not seem to have a malevolent agenda, however-"

"Wait? So why are we here then?"

Sighing at the interruption, Yukio adjusts his glasses to mask his annoyance. His voice continues to reverberate across the deck as if Rin hasn't just spoken up.

"However, we have been tasked with ending this haunting as soon as possible as the residents who live close to the shoreline keep reporting wailing and other disturbances. This disruptive nature is a thorn in the Order's side, so we are here to confront the Demon and get it to stop."

"So they've left us with the grunt work! I thought this was going to be serious, like we were going to fight a crazy pirate captain or something!" Rin shouts as he stares up into the crow's nest of the ship.

The mainmast appears to have sunken into the nest, the material in tatters. Under their feet, the deck's floorboards reflect the same wrecked state, debris and splinters sprawled out in all directions.

"We don't have time to lose. I have a meeting to attend later this afternoon so there's no use loitering. Suguro, Rin – search the crew's quarters for any signs of activity. Shiemi, you'll be in the officer's quarters with me. We'll meet up at-"

"H-hey! Wait a minute..."

"What is it, Okumura?" Bon's head was currently occupied with being attacked repeatedly by pulses of pain; there was something about the ship that was making him feel on edge, as if something annoying was lingering in store for him. He couldn't wait for this mission to end so he could go back to take a nap before Lightning started flinging other tasks at him. Lately, exhaustion was a constant in his way of life.

The other boy puffs himself up, staring down Yukio and says what Bon suspected he'd say.

"Why do you get to pair up with Shiemi?" The 'Why can't I?' goes unspoken.

Bon observes his teacher, watching teal eyes narrow briefly in irritation, impatience and something else he can't quite read, but what he imagines is envy. Beside himself, he can feel Shiemi's evident confusion at the tension between the two brothers, tension caused from her presence, tension that she was completely unaware of.

Man, this love triangle business is surreal compared to everything else. It's so normal that it's out of place.

He decides to speak up, halting the brakes on the upcoming drama, to stall it for a little longer.

"Ah Okumura-sensei, you should keep an eye on your brother instead. He's been restless lately, so who knows what trouble he'll cause."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean Bon?!" A cry of bewilderment escapes the son of Satan, but Yukio is already nodding thoughtfully.

"That would be for the best. Suguro, both you and Shiemi will search the officer's quarters and then we'll meet up in the captain's cabin. If the Demon has not been situated, we'll head down to where the supplies and stores are kept."

Manoeuvring through the ship's entrance, with Rin complaining about Bon trying to 'steal' Shiemi away all the while, the four split up to get to their respective areas.

Shiemi's naiveté and Rin's lack of tact would make an interesting mix; Bon thinks to himself as he lifts a damp pile of books with one hand to feel around the drawer with his other. With Yukio, he couldn't imagine his teacher loudly professing his love or heaping tons of affection on the girl. Wouldn't he be as straitlaced in a relationship as he was with every other thing? Would he only see it as an obligation to fulfil?

As much as it embarrassed him to admit it, her being with Rin seemed...cuter.

Great. He could feel his face start to heat up. Now he was turning into Izumo, fixating on cute things.

"Suguro-kun, are you okay?"

Shiemi had stopped searching under the bed and was gazing towards him. Concern was palpable in her luminous eyes and for a moment he was touched, reminded of all the friendship and understanding he'd gained since being at the academy.

"I'm fine, just tired."

"Oh! I'm sure we'll finish soon enough...but, it looks like there's no trace of the Demon in here. We should go meet with Rin and Yuki in the captain's cabin."

When they reach the cabin, they find it to be empty, save for a large chest situated in front of a four poster bed, a desk topped with maps and various trinkets scattered about.

"It looks like they haven't made it here yet."

Shiemi hums under her breath in response and wanders over to the large chest. The latch appeared to be jammed so Bon helps her open it. Inside, scrolls upon scrolls are stacked to the brim. One bounces off the pile and lands at their feet.

Bending down to pick it up, Bon startles at the green mist that begins leaking out of it and the voice which accompanies it. The Okumura brothers enter the doorway as it begins to echo across the room.

"I was lonesome lad, full of anger and strife.

But there was one comfort I had, my saving grace, the stability in my life.

I watched her from afar, rays of sunlight trapped in her hair.

Her form seemed to resemble a star, for I had never seen a woman so fair."

As the lines are recited, Bon feels something take a hold of him, forcing him to step closer to Shiemi and loom over her. She peers up at him, inspecting him closely, or more precisely, the green mist which has now encased itself around him.

"Play along. The Demon has yet to reveal itself. My guess is it will only do so when the scroll has been read aloud in completion." Yukio's voice is low, halting Rin in his movements of drawing his sword.

"Self-conscious of my brutish features, I approached her for a dance.

I knew women were flighty creatures, but I could not squander this chance.

I held her as gently as I could, surprised this angel had agreed.

Warmth filled me, warmth so good, it was no wonder evil arose in the form of greed."

Suguro's hands are steady, though he feels jitters inside him fizzling wildly. His right hand holds Shiemi's, whilst his other lies gently on her waist. He can feel the soft curves under her school uniform as they sway slowly, and tries to ignore Rin's obvious seething, back scorching under the weight of his glare.

Doesn't that idiot realise I'm possessed? Does he think I'm doing this on purpose or something? Why would I steal another guy's woman? Could this be any more embarrassing?

He should have held that last question back.

"Her cheeks began to stain with red, as I closed the gap between us two.

I longed for something more, her image trapped beneath me in bed, but this will have to do.

Pulling her tighter against my chest, my lust briefly stalled to make way for a kiss.

No longer could I allow this isolation to manifest, so I did not dare miss."

Oh shit.

Inwardly screaming, Bon was trying his hardest to resist. Shiemi was the brightest shade of red he'd ever seen and was breathing shallowly, eyes wide with astonishment. The feel of her chest pressed against his own was far too distracting, Yukio's frosty silence and Rin's growling was pissing him off but there was no way he could let this happen.

As his lips neared the blonde's, he willed himself to move.

Thankfully he missed. His kiss landing beside her mouth instead of the fated destination read from the scroll.

There was an anguished wail and the ex-wire could feel the weight lift, freeing him of restriction. The green mist gathered over the desk and formed the figure of a muscled sailor with cropped dark hair, who started jumping up and down on the desk in a fit of rage, screaming all the while.

"No! No! NO! This can't be happening; I was so close this time! I almost brought the words to life, with the right characters, with the right features! Damn your willpower! I'll just do it myself this time, no more self-inserting!"

Whirling around, the sailor locked his eyes on Shiemi and made a mad dash for her. Before he got close, Rin was already in his way, sword drawn, eyes blazing as brightly as his flames.

"Quickly, burn the scroll." Acknowledging Yukio, Rin slashed at the Demon to send him reeling into the wall and did as he was told, cutting cleanly through the parchment.

The four of them watched both the scroll and Demon wither away, sighing a collective sigh of relief (save for Yukio, who merely adjusted his glasses). A silence followed but was quickly shattered by Rin.

"Oi Bon, you can stop touching her now! Shiemi, are you okay?"

Realising his arm was still around her waist, Bon lets go faster than he would have a hot coal. Grumbling an apology to her, he mock glowers at the Satan spawn.

"Oi Okumura, I was the one who was possessed. Shouldn't you be asking if I'm okay?"

"Huh? I'd kill a man or two to have been in your shoes, you lucky bastard! You got to dance with Shiemi..." The 'and got to grope her too' goes unspoken but the other two males hear it loud and clear.

"Oh you're right, I guess I really should have stolen a kiss" Leering at the squawk he gets, his taunt is followed by claims that he really is 'trying to steal Shiemi'.

"At least I don't have 'brutish features'." Rin snickers to himself, edging closer to Shiemi in a manner he clearly thinks is inconspicuous. Yukio and Bon exchange looks in response...

His head was aching again.

When he got back, he wouldn't just take a nap...no, he'd take a power nap. And if Lightning asked him to do something, Bon would just tell him to kiss his ass.

3.

"Woo! That sure hits the spot."

Throwing back the last of her drink, Shura slumps forwards in her seat, already eying another expensive bottle filled to the brim with the goodness she craved. Before she could steal it all for herself, it's snatched away and taken out of her line of sight.

"Um, I think you've had enough Shura-san." Koneko tries passing the bottle off to Bon so he can hide it under the table next to theirs, but a gloved hand takes it from him with relish.

"Ah, thank you very much!" Reclining in his seat, Angel sends the cork flying. It lands in Lightning's drink who takes no notice; cheek pressed on the table, snoring away. His hat finally falls off his head and covers his piece of chocolate cake, causing Shima and Rin to shout their appreciation as they had spent the past 20 minutes waiting for the inevitable to happen.

The ex-wires were attending a party, hosted for the Order by a rich couple they had helped by eradicating an infestation in their attic. They were supposedly being minded by the higher-ranking Exorcists, except Koneko had come to the conclusion that they were the ones babysitting instead of being babysat.

If this is how adults behaved, then he'd like to remain a child for all eternity.

Sharing a drained glance with Izumo when Angel swipes her especially shiny spoon to admire himself with, he leans away when Shura unexpectedly tries grabbing him. Bested, she swivels in her seat for the other nearest victim.

Draping herself on Shiemi - who squeaks, almost dropping her spoon - she nuzzles into her neck.

"Uwah, you smell really nice, is that a new perfume? You're so cute! Let's get married under a starry sky and wear flower crowns instead of rings..." She continues giggling and babbling drunkenly but Koneko's attention is stolen as Angel takes notice of Lightning's hat and exclaims delightfully: "You finally washed that filthy hat! I've always wanted to try it on."

Bon opens his mouth to warn him but it's already too late.

Angel's screech matches that of a banshee's, loud and dreadful and people at the other tables look over to see what's making all the commotion. It's a miracle that Lightning manages to remain deep in his slumber.

Koneko, Bon, and Izumo slide down their chairs in an attempt to make themselves as unnoticeable as possible, but Shima and Rin are too busy enraptured by the sight of Shura now pressing kisses into Shiemi's neck, one hand smoothing pale strands back and the other beginning to fondle her side.

The pink haired ex-wire's expression matches the one he usually has when reading hentai but Rin's face was red, from both shame and anger, for he kept wishing he was in Shura's place. Shiemi herself had given up trying to dislodge the overly affectionate woman and was instead finishing off her cake but it was taking all of her concentration to do so.

"T-that's it! I can't take it any more." The ex-wires grow pale when they realise Rin has his hand gripping the hilt of his sword, a determined expression painting his face.

"Oi, Oi, Okumura you idiot, we're surrounded by members of the Order, do you want to end up imprisoned again? Also, weren't you asked not to bring that along?!" Bon stands up in an attempt to foil Rin's attack, but is interrupted by the sound of a bottle being slammed onto the table.

"I leave for one phone call and this is what I come back to." Ears perking up, Shura releases her hold on Shiemi and lunges for the bottle, rubbing her cheek against it with glee before uncorking it.

"Eh? Yuki, thank you, but I don't think Shura-san should have any more..."

"Its water, she can do with some sobering up."

Shura spits out the water as he finishes speaking, choking and coughing. Panicking, Shiemi starts patting her back gently to help her breathe, Yukio joins in, but his pats propel the older woman into the table and his hand forms the shape of a fist. Following his brother's cue, Rin attempts to enact his revenge but is tripped by Bon when he rises.

"Aw man, why did the girl on girl action have to come to an end, I was enjoying that." Without looking at Shima, Izumo karate chops the back of his neck and Koneko drives an elbow into his stomach.

Meanwhile, the 'slumbering' exorcist cracks an eye open, grins at the brown stains on Angel's hair and clothing and feigns sleep once again.