A Demon's Butler: Rewind

His Master: At School

A yawn escaped the lips of the high schooler inches away from falling flat on his face atop his desk. He knew he shouldn't have stayed up so late, but it was his brother's fault for keeping the light on all night to grade papers. 

"Rin, are you paying attention?" Yukio asked, noticing Rin bobbing his head above the desk. He paused his lecture to eye his twin brother skeptically. 

"Huh? Oh, yeah of course!" Rin replied, sitting up straight. 

"Really? Then what did I say?"

"Um..." Rin glanced around before mumbling, "something about repelling demons..." 

"Of course he doesn't know. He was falling asleep," Izumo said, rolling her eyes.

Rin didn't offer an excuse and instead rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.  

Yukio sighed heavily, "you really need to pay attention. I was explaining the effects silver has on demons. Most demons can be repelled by the presence of pure silver. It's  due to the fact that --"

As Yukio continued with his lecture Rin yawned again and placed his cheek into his palm. His mind wandered away from the lesson as he found himself glancing back at the newest addition to his exorcist class. 

A girl sat delicately with her pink lips drawn to a smile. Her long black hair seemed almost unnaturally black as it covered her forehead. Her coal colored eyes flickered to him as her smile widened, the faint sight of a small fang peaking from her lips. The girl had recently arrived at True Cross Academy two days prior and was known as Anabelle Meyer.

The new girl Anabelle is weird. Rin thought, turning back towards the front. He could feel her eyes staring into his back and resisted the urge to shiver.

After class was over and Rin attempted to leave, Yukio grabbed him by the arm. "Rin, wait. Mephisto wants to see us." 

"What for?" Rin asked.

"I don't know. He said it was important."

Rin couldn't help but wonder what could be so important that Mephisto wished to speak to them. The silly headmaster probably wanted them to do something stupid and unnecessary again and he let out a small groan as he followed after his brother. 

Once Rin and Yukio entered Mephisto's office, Rin couldn't help but notice the many newspapers scattered across Mephisto's desk.

 "Hello Rin! And how are you, Yukio?" Mephisto asked, smiling and motioning for the two to come closer, ignoring the mess in front of him. 

"What do you want with us?" Rin asked as he and Yukio stopped in front of Mephisto's desk. 

Mephisto folded his hands and kept a bright smile plastered on his face. "Tomorrow night is a Sabbath. Due to that, I'd like you two to stay indoors and protect yourselves. Understand?"

Such a simple request earned a puzzled expression from Rin as he asked, "What's a Sabbath, and why do we have to stay indoors?" Rin asked. 

 "We understand," Yukio interrupted, before grabbing Rin and dragging him out of the office.

"H-hey! Yukio?! W-wait!" 

"Tell me what a Sabbath is!" Rin yelled, yanking away from Yukio. 

With an annoyed sigh Yukio replied, "A Sabbath is a night when the veil or barrier separating Gehenna and Assiah weakens allowing demons to freely travel between them. It's basically a party for demons that takes place in Gehenna." 

"A...party? Wait! If the barrier separating Gehenna and Assiah weakens, doesn't that mean Satan can escape?!" 

"Quiet down!" Yukio ordered, glancing around the empty hallway. His voice lowered as he said, "As far as I know, He can't escape. The barrier weakens but someone as powerful as him would still have trouble getting through due to the exorcist's efforts. The Sabbath starts at sunset and lasts until the dawn of the next morning. The majority of the stronger demons return to Gehenna to celebrate while the weak ones come here to Assiah. As to what the demons are celebrating, we don't know."

"So...the demons are all going back to Gehenna? Then why haven't the exorcists sealed them all in Gehenna during this Sabbath?"

"Because if they did that, the demons could combine their strength and come here with Satan.  Some might come for us, after all, Satan is our biological father. If we were taken to the Sabbath, Satan could use you to escape. That's why Mephisto told us to stay indoors and protect ourselves. I have somewhere to be during that time, with other exorcists so you don't have to worry about me. You don't leave the dorm under any circumstances, understand?"

"Okay, okay! I won't," Rin replied.

"Promise?"

Yukio's eyes narrowed and he peered into Rin's eyes with such ferocity that Rin had to look away. 

"I Promise," Rin answered weakly. He gave a sloppy grin that only seemed to make Yukio roll his eyes in response.