Narratives of a Lone Wolf [Rin Okumura x OC]

1.. Renegade Runaway

The candies strewn across the table looked more like tiny centerpieces rather than edible confections. The wrappers were colorful. Striped greens, spiraling purples, zigzag blues. Enticing. Charming. Possibly deadly. Too much like the demon who owned them.

Clip. Clip. Clip.

"Mephisto, aren't these expired?" I asked, picking a dotted lemon one from the hoard and holding it up to the light for closer inspection.

He hummed absently.

"They're leftovers from last Halloween when I handed them out to my students."

The scribbling of his pen continued undisturbed.

Clip. Clip. Clip.

Unable to find a printed expiration date, I placed the candy on the edge of the table and flicked it back towards the others.

"Pretty sure you get dibs on the leftovers. Let me guess, you liked the wrapper so much that you didn't want to eat it?"

"I'm saving them. Blithering idiots discontinued the brand last month. If I had known, I wouldn't have given them out. I can't find wrappers like these anywhere."

I hummed. So, he did like the wrapper.

"It's Samhain. Real demons are supposed to play tricks." I gestured, "Giving out candy, dressed like that? Who are you trying to fool, demon king?"

Clip. Clip. Clip.

Mephisto chuckled.

"Ah, but isn't that precisely the trick. Accepting candy from a demon. Who would have guessed."

"It would have been a better trick if you poisoned them." The words flew out of my mouth before my mind could register what I was saying.

Clip. Clip. Clip.

Mephisto's pen stilled. He looked up from his messy desk. Catching sight of my bewildered expression, he smirked.

"That time of month already?"

The knowing glint in his eye frustrated me further. Fuck. He knew.

Clip. Clip. Cli--

"Amaimon! Will you quit biting at your nails!" I turned, unleashing my anger on the unsuspecting green-haired demon who had been gazing out the window for the past 15 minutes. At least there was one annoyance I could get rid of.

He stopped mid-bite.

"Oh, I think he's finally in the mood to play with him," Mephisto drawled.

"Yoko, you're really in no position to be telling me what to do," Amaimon commented off-handedly. "Part of this was supposed to be your job. Why did you suddenly chicken out?"

My mood soured. I didn't want to talk about this right now.

"I didn't chicken out."

Amaimon looked up at me, unconvinced.

"Then why aren't you with him?" His blue eyes pierced into mine, daring me to refute his claim.

I didn't like the blue of his eyes. It was the same shade ashis. Not that it was surprising. They were brothers after all, albeit only half. But I came here seeking refuge. I didn't want to be reminded of him.

"Yes, Yoko, please do enlighten us. You're supposed to be watching our little brother. Why did you suddenly ditch class?"

Mephisto's taunting tone had me itching in irritation. He may have been my guardian, but he was still the slyest piece of shit I knew. I wasn't in the mood for his games.

"Why the hell do I have to watch him? Yukio's there. That's his job. Not mine. Besides," I rounded on Mephisto, "You're the principal. If anything were to happen to your students, it'd be on you. Not me. So, you watch him. This was your plan, your responsibility. I'm done."

I huffed in anger. This was all Mephisto's fault in the first place. Setting me up like that. As if Satan's son didn't have enough people tracking his every move as it were. Rin didn't need me. He had Yukio. He had Mephisto.

He had Shiemi.

My heart squeezed at that thought. I growled low. Fuck this shit.

"Yoko, we've gone over this. I need someone on the inside. Someone who knows him. His movements, where he would go if he ever disappeared, if he ever lost control. We need someone who can reign him in."

"Can't you do that? You're the second fucking demon king."

Mephisto chuckled.

"Oh, if only power alone were enough. My little brother is half human. That's what makes him so troublesome. We need a human's touch."

"So, get Yukio. They're twins for fuck's sake. They grew up together. There isn't anyone who knows him better."

"Yukio doesn't trust me. He won't tell me everything."

"What? And I will?"

"Yes," he said simply.

I frowned in apprehension.

"And what makes you so sure?"

Mephisto smirked.

"Because I raised you. I know you. And I know there's nothing you wouldn't do if Okumura Rin were in dire need of saving. You chose the worst person to fall in love with, Yoko. Satan's son has a lot of enemies."

I recoiled at his word.

"I'm not in love with, Rin."

"You keep telling yourself that."

I looked around the room, trying to avoid his all-knowing gaze. It was then that I noticed Amaimon was gone.

"Where'd Amaimon go?"

"He took the infinity key and left. I'm pretty sure he's roughing it up with your boyfriend right about now. You sure you're not regretting skipping class?"

Fuck. If Yukio hadn't paired Shiemi and Rin together at the amusement park, I wouldn't have fled. I wouldn't have pretended to go to the bathroom. I wouldn't have come here. I wouldn't have left my post. This was all Yukio's fault.

"He's not my boyfriend," I snarled.

I vaulted across Mephisto's desk, crumpling some of his papers in my wake. I pulled open his drawers, rifling through them with channeled aggression. My fingers flew over snack packets and magic eight balls. Why the hell were his drawers such a mess.

"Where's the amusement park key?"

"Oya, are you done with your boycott already?" Mephisto feigned surprise. His tone had me balling my fists. I wanted to smack that grin off his face.

Seeing the barely simmering rage that glazed over my ruby-red orbs, Mephisto relented. He snapped his fingers, procuring a fancy, Ferris-wheel-decorated, brass key from thin air. He handed it over with flourish.

Just as I reached for it, he drew it back. I scowled. Always the trickster. I glared pointedly at him, knowing there was a catch, but not looking forward to hearing what it was. He caught my gaze. Forest green. Familiar and safe.

"I'm counting on you, Yoko." Despite the shit-eating grin on his face, I could tell he was being earnest. The underlying husk in his voice told me so. I knew what he was worried about. Or more specifically who.

I sighed, snatching the key from his hands.

"You expect too much of me, Mephy. You forget I'm only a quarter demon."

I was already racing out the door when Mephisto whispered his reply.

"You forget who raised you."