Vanilla Smoke (Blue Exorcist)

Chapter 9

((A/N Remember, I am now referring to shuku as a girl, but no one other than Rin and Yukio know. And Mephisto too...))

Shuku leisurely strolled to class, hands in her pockets, hood up over her head. She'd missed a few days of regular school, and half as many days of cram school. The excuse was, she'd caught a bad cold, or she had gotten a call to tell her that her Aunt died and was depressed? Shuku shook her head in dismissal. She shouldn't have an excuse, this secret would crumble away anon or later. No secret could last endlessly, and she acknowledged that fact. It was merely a veil she was using to keep herself hidden, and it would eventually decay. Everyone would discover who Shuku was, then she would be deported back to hell, and sat on a shelf on display for everyone to see.

Shuku opened the classroom door and walked inside. She sat in her usual seat near the back of the room. Everyone's confused and curious gazes seemed to follow her. Shuku could help but notice Yukio stare at her in a way that told her she was untrusted, and Shuku was fine with that.

"Listen up, summer vacation is less than a month and a half away, but before the break, you're going to be taking this year's Exwire authorization Exam." Glasses began, going into teacher mode.

Rin, having no idea what his twin was talking about, asked Blondie what it was, and she answered him. Shuku couldn't hear her response but after it, Rin still seemed to have some questions.

"I want everyone to keep in mind that once you're promoted to Exwire you'll be subjected to more specialized combat training. The Exam won't be easy to pass. Therefore, starting Monday, we're offering a week-long boot camp to prepare you for the exam." Shuku gave the teacher a bored look.

Shuku had slightly gotten over the exposition that the fucking clown had done, but was still slightly aggravated. She was still emotionally stable enough to keep up her attitude that she had maintained for a few months.

A swift murmur went throughout the classroom about the boot camp but died down as quickly as it had come.

"Since attending the camp isn't mandatory, indicate whether or not you'll be participating in the form. If you are, please indicate the mystery or title you'd like to acquire. And turn it in on Monday." Yukio sat down, concluding his speech.

Shuku got up and noticed a perplexed looking Rin. He got up and went over to Skunk to ask what a mystery was. Shuku sighed, it was only logical Rin didn't know what it was. But yet, having been raised in a different setting, Shuku didn't either.

Shuku sauntered over to Rin, just to hear him admit to not knowing, then having Nerd give an explanation with Ryuji finishing it up for him. Shuku waltzed over to their table and plopped right next to Skunk like it was the most casual thing in the world.

Ryuji shot her a glare, "What the hell are you doing over here Shuku?" He growled.

"Geez, don't be so uncivil. I haven't even done anything yet so cool it. I just got lonely over by myself and came over here." Shuku shrugged, raising her hands up in a sign of surrender. She seriously just wanted the rest of the explanation. She needed to figure out which one(s) to pick.

"So Shuku, which one are you going for? I can't make a good guess on which one you'd pick." Rin asked, and Shuku smirked to himself. If she was going to try to make friends, that meant not being an asshole.

"Umm. I'm gonna see if I can go for Tamer and Knight. I'm no good when it comes to memorizing long passages or healing or any of that. It's too easy with a gun, and more of a chance for friendly fire in a big fight, a blades probably my best bet." Shuku answered honestly, shrugging her shoulders at the end.