The Time Key

A Hole in the Spacetime

Mephisto waited backstage for his turn to speak. He knew the next few minutes would be an utter shitshow, but he couldn't help that.

Soon, his son Yukio would accost him, and inflict a violent act. Well, it was up in the air, honestly. Shiro had a gun as well.

Of course, Shiro thought his interference was saving Yukio and Shura, but the poor sap hadn't foreseen the actual consequences of his actions. Shiro wouldn't see it coming. Mephisto sighed inwardly; the man never did.

"Oh my goodness." Mephisto chuckled behind his hand, listening to the President speak on stage. "He just called demons antisocial organisms. That's hilarious!"

Finally, something in the present broke your reverie. I wish you'd take this more seriously.

Mephisto's dark passenger spoke within his mind.

"Oh? Is that constructive criticism?" The demon crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. "I wasn't sure you were watching this. I know it makes you uncomfortable."

He is so confused about her. Are you sure it's wise to make him unravel?

"I need his confusion right now; I engineered it that way," Mephisto replied stoically. "That is how the game is played, and I need to know if he learns anything."

Why Shura?

"She must learn how to live for herself," Mephisto remarked. "And the other must learn to be more caring. That is the only way."

But he is an asshole. It's too bad I couldn't visit and try to talk some sense into him.

"It's too soon. He'd think it was nothing more than a parlour trick." Mephisto shrugged his shoulders. "As we know, he's still headstrong and stubborn. We must rectify his troubling attitude toward demons. The world will end if we fail."

The Shura thing is hilarious, though.

"Agreed. The joke's on him." The demon giggled. "He'll find out eventually."

Mephisto's phone rang in his pocket.

"Well, here we go." The demon sighed painfully. "It's showtime."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Mephisto's spy, Renzo Shima, spoke worriedly to Mephisto on the phone. 

He informed his demon boss that Yukio was acting crazy, and he couldn't find him. No sooner did Mephisto hang up than he saw glowing ice-blue eyes stalking him from behind. They emerged from the shadows of the right-wing, like Satan reborn.

"How did you get in here?" Mephisto quipped as if exhausted from replaying the same script multiple times.

"I was on the list." The young exorcist tossed his ID card at Mephisto's feet.

"Hmmm, so you are." He answered with mock innocence. "Imagine that."

"I want answers, and you will tell me!"

"About what?"

"MY EYES!!!"

"Yes, they're lovely." Mephisto smiled maliciously. "Satan coloured."

"Tell me! Did I inherit Satan's flames?"

The demon paused before smirking.

"No, you arrogant little shit, but I bet you wished you did."

At that moment, the announcer called for Mephisto to take centre stage. 

"That's my cue."

As the demon marched away, he looked over his shoulder and gave Yukio a final parting shot.