The Art Of Dancing With Demons (Blue Exorcist/Amaimon)

Ch 40

"Try again." Shura instructed as she paced back and forth along the wide room were had been stationed at for the past couple of hours.

My limbs shook from exhaustion as I took a gulp of saliva, attempting to calm my racing heart. Rin sat right in front of me, his body sprawled along the floor as he took long gasps of air.

"Break?" He pleaded weakly.

"I'll break your face..." Shura offered with a shrug, making Rin groan in defeat.

Both our arms were singed, covered in bruises and even small cuts because of each other's flames. Our training? Lighting four candles, together.

"Lets try again." I mumbled half heartedly, begging internally to be allowed to leave.

Rin used a great deal of effort as he sat up facing the four candles, stretching his hands out and wiggling his fingers.

"Ready."

I took a deep breath before inching closer to the candles, aiming to light the one at the right side and the other on the middle-left side of the candle row.

"One... Two... Three!" I said, immediately concentrating a burst of flames into the candles at the same time Rin did. The collision of our flames had enough force to send us reeling backwards and crashing onto opposite walls.

I groaned at the ache on my back, pain seeping through my every pore as I remained on the floor. There wasn't much energy left in me and by the looks of it, Rin was suffering the same fate.

"You guys are using too much force. You'll never learn to fuse your flames if you can't get them to stay near each other without exploding." Shura informed, hands on the back of her head as I heard her own back popping.

"Are you guys even working on the candles by yourselves?" She lazily asked, sliding her eyes shut.

"I am, a bit." I mumbled weakly.

"Yeah, so am I. School's kind of rough, I can barely keep my average score as it is and now I have to worry about some damn candles." Rin grumbled under his breath and I let out a shaky laugh, understanding him completely.

Shura sighed before opening her eyes and directing us a studying gaze.

"You won't get anything done if you guys are this tired. Lets leave it for today, get some rest and meet me back here at the same time tomorrow."

"Yes!" We both said, a glimmer of happiness shining through our voices. I painfully sat up, taking a deep breath and collecting all my left over energy before pushing myself to my feet.

"I'm gonna sleep so comfortably now." I mumbled with a smile on my face, picturing the huge bed in my head.

Rin was still on the floor rubbing his sore arms as he looked at the ceiling. I called out my goodbyes before turning to the nearest door and opening it.

"Ryoku, we're leaving." I said and the dragon, who had been laying on the floor of a medium sized break room, immediately sat up at my voice.

"Master. Are you done with training?"

I nodded. "Kinda sucks, but I think it'll be worth it."

"You're hurt."

"Yeah, Rin's flames are not exactly fond of mine." I sweatdropped. "But don't worry, if I can dance with a dislocated ankle, I can definitely handle this."

"I still do not approve-."

"Ryoku, please don't start. I'm really tired." I pleaded. "You should give Rin a chance. He's a really cool guy."