Thank you for your patience with this story and my terrible updating schedule! I hope you enjoyed this story, and that the ending wasn't too disappointing. ~_~ I really, deeply appreciate everyone who read this! And especially everyone who left reviews! You are all the best.

Rin and the rest of the cram students sat on the stairs as the sun lowered towards the horizon, splashing pinks and red across the darkening sky. Yukio, his brother - not the crazy pink-haired ninja - was standing beside him, eating an icecream bar. The evening was quiet, and everyone was content, just relaxing in the moment enjoying their cold treats.

"This all worked out surprisingly well," Shima commented.

"Well, Rin is like a full demon now, right? I would be scared to go against him, too."

"Hey! That's not wh- I'm still half human!" Rin whined, but his flames betrayed him as little blue flickers danced along his shoulders and in his messy hair.

"That's what you say, but your flames are threatening us right now," Izumo teased, tossing a piece of ice onto his shoulder, where it sizzled and evaporated immediately in a little blue flame. Concentrating, Rin forced his flames out - it had gotten much harder to corral them ever since he broke his sword.

"This is just like before, isn't it. You guys are never going to let me live this down."

They snickered, and he buried his face in his knees. But he was smiling.

"Seriously, though - what exactly happened when you broke the sword? Before, when it cracked, you went berserk. I thought if it ever broke you would...I didn't think it would turn out this, well...this good," Konekomaru asked, and Rin's smile shrank.

"I don't really know for sure what happened, or how to explain it. Mephisto talked to me about it," Rin hesitated. It still weirded him out to casually discuss his demonic nature with his friends. But he was trying to get over that.

"It has to do with my demon heart - which used to be in my sword. But when I accepted it, instead of trying to deny it or control it...it just worked out, I guess."

Bon didn't look impressed, "Wow, that explains nothing."

Rin pouted, "Well, sorry! Maybe you're just too stupid to get it!"

Izumo raised her eyebrows, "Maybe it's a demon thing."

Rin jumped to his feet, pointing with one hand and still holding his popsicle with his other hand, "Yeah right! Professor Xavier and Logan and all those guys get it and they're not demons!"

Shiemi tugged on Rin's shirt, whispering loudly, "Rin - your flames again."

Sure enough, more blue flames had sprouted up across his body.

"Speaking of the Proffesor, aren't you supposed to meet up with them around...right now?" Yukio commented, glancing at his watch.

"Oh! Damn! You're right!"

Rin ate his popsicle in one bite, then turned and jumped off the railing of the stairs to the ground several flights down.

"See you guys later!" he shouted before running off, fishing the magic key out of his pocket.

Bon shook his head, "That guy - he just keeps getting stronger. It's ridiculous."

Shima laughed, "You better be careful, Bon, or he's going to surpass you for real."

Bon muttered, "Tch. Yeah right."
Shiemi giggled as they started to argue, then went to stand beside Yukio.

"Rin really has gotten stronger, hasn't he? But he seems a lot happier now."

Yukio nodded, his lips in a tight line, "He's accepted his demon half, he's not trying to fight it anymore. And now he doesn't have his sword to suppress his powers."

Shiemi hesitated, "Isn't that a good thing?"

Yukio sighed, then put on a smile for Shiemi, "Yeah. I'm just always worried about my big bro."

Yukio looked back in the direction Rin had run off in.

He hoped this was a good thing.

Meanwhile, Rin had found a door to use his key on, and burst into the hallway of Xavier's school at full speed. He instantly collided with someone, and both bodies tumbled to the floor.

"Watch it!" a familiar voice snapped, and Rin blinked as he recognized Pyro's scowl.

"Hey! Pyro! So you really came back!"

Pyro sighed, shoving Rin off him and standing, "Yeah. After fighting a god, the Brotherhood and the X-Men have started working together somewhat."

"So you're all friends again?"

"Not friends - temporary allies, at best. The exorcists don't tell us much, but we know something's brewing. And for once, Magneto had to admit mutants aren't the most powerful force on earth."

Rin frowned, "Something's brewing? What are you talking about?"

Pyro rolled his eyes, "Don't play dumb, Okumura. You killed a god. Even we know that has to have ramifications. Anyways...see ya," Pyro finished awkwardly, shuffling off down the hallway. Rin had only seen him a few times after the battle, but he liked to think they were becoming friends. Maybe. Slowly.

"Rin! I thought you might have forgotten to come today," Professor Xavier called from down the corridor, and Rin turned to see Storm strolling along behind him, pushing his wheelchair. Logan was walking beside them with an unlit cigar in his teeth.

"Hey, Professor! Storm! Logan."

Storm smiled gently, "How are you doing today, Rin?"

"Pretty good, sorry I'm late."

"Fight any demons today?" Logan asked, raising his eyebrows at the little trails of flames still running through Rin's hair, across his shoulders, down his tail.

"I did fight a few today in a training exercise with Shura," Rin answered, running a hand through his hair and trying to extinguish the flames. Wherever he put one flame out, another would pop up, "It wasn't hard, but it was just weird, without a sword. Have you guys had to fight any?"

"Nothing big, a few little goblin looking things. The kids saw some in the forest, but they leave us alone. Nothing like Aokigahara," Logan answered.

"We're still trying to wrap our heads around this," Storm said.

"And in return for you helping us deal with...recent developments. We have something that might help you with recent developments."

Rin creased his brow as Logan grinned a little, pulling something out from behind his back. It was long and thin, wrapped in cloth. As Rin took it from Logan's hand, the cloth fell away to reveal the Kurikara, whole, looking as if it had never been broken in the first place. Rin delicately held the sword, inspecting it with awe.

"Wha- how…"

"It doesn't hold the same power it once did, of course. But we thought you still might like it back. Magneto was able to restore the blade. I hope it's to your liking."

Rin gripped the pommel and swung the sword around a few times, the familiar weight comfortable and happy in his hand. It was a little strange - he could tell the sword had changed, just as he had. But he could still feel the familiar swing, like an extension of his own arm. And even though it no longer sealed his powers or held his heart, the metal still hummed with power; it resonated with him.

"I think he likes it," Storm observed aloud, and Rin realized he had been completely absorbed in the sword without speaking for a few minutes.

"Sorry! Yes, this - this is amazing! Thank you, so much!"

"Logan, why don't you take Rin and head down to the training room? Storm and I will get the others."

"Training room? Are we doing another training exercise? Do I get to ride your motorcycle?"

Logan hit Rin on the head, "You don't even have a license!"

"Come on! I'm responsible!"

"You'd accidentally blow it up, with those flames of yours. You need to get those under control."

Logan and Rin's banter faded as they disappeared into the elevator and headed into the basement facility.

Storm spoke up when they were gone, "Do you think he will get his powers under control?"

"You once asked the same question about yourself."

"Yes, but he's half demon. The son of Satan, actually, though I still am trying to wrap my mind around that."

"Rin will be fine. He's powerful, more powerful than any mutant I've encountered, but we don't need to worry about him."

Storm frowned, "Just like we didn't need to worry about Jean?"

"Jean couldn't accept her own powers - they overwhelmed her. Rin has accepted his darker side; instead of hiding from or fearing his power, he embraced it. No, Rin is the least of our problems."

"Then what's the greatest of our problems?"

Charles sighed, "I'm not sure we can even comprehend what kind of battles lay in the future. Maybe none. But an entire new world has been opened to us. New dangers, new enemies, new allies - we need to be prepared."

Storm nodded, "I'll go get the others."

"Who thought exorcists and mutants would be training together, here of all places," a small smile broke across his face, "People never ceases to amaze me. Our world just became more interesting, for certain."

The end! Whew! Thank you for sticking with me through this mess! I may continue this story at a later date, but I need to take a break from it for now. If you liked this story, or want it to be continued, let me know! Reviews are highly and sincerely appreciated. You are all amazing people for reading, thank you so much once again! I hope you enjoyed the ride!