Satan raised his arm again.
Blue flames coiled upward from his palm, violent and unstable, as he tried to forcibly gather more demonic power into this fragile human body.
The ground beneath him cracked.
The air trembled.
But suddenly—His eyes bulged.
The veins on his forehead throbbed violently as his arm froze mid-air.
Then, with a heavy thud, he dropped to his knees.
Crack—!
The tiles shattered.
Both hands flew to his own throat, fingers digging into his neck, tightly as if trying to strangle something inside himself.
"Ghhh—!"
The blue flames flickered chaotically.
This sudden change made Gojo Satoru, who had just begun forming the sign for Hollow Technique: Purple, pause.
The swirling red and blue cursed energy around his fingers slowly dispersed.
"Oh?"
Behind his blindfold, the Six Eyes activated fully.
In his vision—
It was clear.
Inside that body, two presences were colliding violently.
Satan. And Fujimoto Shiro.
A brutal struggle of souls.
One, an ancient King of Gehenna from Blue Exorcist, arrogant and absolute. The other, a human exorcist whose spirit refused to yield.
The demonic aura surged.
Then collapsed.
Then surged again.
Minutes passed.
The sky above the ruins darkened further, as if reacting to the instability of demonic energy.
Finally—
The kneeling figure exhaled heavily.
"…Haah…"
The blue flames shrank drastically.
When he lifted his head again, the madness and imperial dominance in his eyes had faded.
Instead—
There was exhaustion.
And familiarity.
"No… what should I say…"
He gave a faint, bitter smile.
"Is the strongest sorcerer really this ruthless? That kick earlier… nearly broke all my bones."
"Who told you to let Satan control your body in the first place?"
Gojo said in his usual tone, as he tilted his head slightly.
"So you won, huh?"
"Barely." Fujimoto Shiro chuckled weakly.
Gojo landed lightly on the broken ground and walked closer, hands in his pockets.
Shiro lowered his gaze, as he whisper, "If I didn't… he would've dragged Rin to Gehenna immediately."
Silence.
Only the faint sound of wind brushing over debris.
Gojo studied him carefully—The Six Eyes observed the condition of his soul.
It was burning.
Literally burning!
"If you're like this," Gojo said casually, "you won't last long, right?"
Taking back control from Satan— wasn't something someone could do without consequences.
It required burning one's soul to push the demonic will out, removing the inflicted soul part....
Fujimoto Shiro remained silent for a while, then he smiled again.
"It's fine. I've lived long enough."
He said in a weak, tired voice as he raised his head—eyes turned toward the dark sky.
"It's just a pity… I won't get to drink the wedding sake when Rin finally get married...well, if anyone is kind enough to stay with that brat..Hahaha..."
Gojo glanced at him, can't really say with the blindfold.
"You're planning pretty far ahead for someone about to die."
To be honest—
Gojo's current Reverse Cursed Technique could heal almost any physical injury. Even torn limbs could regenerate.
But soul damage?
A burnt spiritual core?
That was beyond him for now.....
Maybe someday. Maybe when he evolved further.
{T/N: Guess who's that pokemon (>.<) }
But definitely not now.
Sigh...
"Hey, Gojo Satoru."
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
Fujimoto Shiro's voice grew softer, ashe continue to stare at the sky. His eyes getting softer as he requested.
"Although it's abrupt… after I die, can you take care of Rin?"
Gojo didn't answer immediately.
Shiro continued without minding his silence.
"Once it's exposed that he's Satan's son… there will be people who won't tolerate him. In the Vatican branch of True Cross Academy, the Devil Hunters, and even in the Exorcist Union....there will be those who try to hunt him down."
His fingers tightened slightly against the cracked ground.
"My time is running out… but my son is still trapped in this."
Gojo rested his chin on his hand. "I am speechless..."
He didn't like scenes like this.
He didn't like dying people worrying about others instead of themselves.
It was uncomfortable.
Annoying.
Human.....
Shiro gave a faint laugh after hearing it, "He's my favorite son, after all...ah please don't tell this to him."
"Ah yes, yes, of course," Gojo replied perfunctorily.
"...."
"...."
The two fell silent.
Shiro was smiling but he didn't relax, he was waiting—Waiting for an answer, his fist clenched tightly.
Gojo sat down on a broken stone slab, staring up at the dark clouds too.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"I'll make sure he enters True Cross Academy."
Shiro's breathing slowed slightly. "And after that?"
"After that," Gojo shrugged, "isn't my responsibility."
"That's enough." Hearing this answer, it's like a big rock in Fujimoto Shiro's heart finally fell, lessening his burden as he suddenly smiled.
Honestly, that answer exceeded his expectations.
He had prepared for rejection.
Ensuring Rin could enter True Cross Academy was already protection.
Shiro Fujimoto's eyelids became heavier and his whole body was on the verge of falling, "Looks like… I need to rest for a bit…"
His voice beginning to faded as he fell backward.
But before his body hit the ground—
Gojo reached out and caught him.
Slowly. Carefully. He laid him down on the ground.
"Go ahead."
Fujimoto Shiro died with a faint smile, while staring at the now clear night sky.
....
In truth, Gojo's promise doesn't even matter....
In the original plot of Blue Exorcist, Rin would have entered True Cross Academy anyway.
But in this mixed world—where names like Seigen Amawaka and Makima carried weight…
Anything could change.
And If an accident occurred—Gojo would interfere.
That was enough.
He stood up and took out his phone.
"Tsuchimikado Arima," he said casually after the call connected. "Clean-up duty. Big one."
He glanced at the destroyed church.
This time the Satan incident had escalated too far. Even the officials might struggle to suppress this.
The wind howled softly across the ruins.
.....
Monday.
Fujimoto Shiro's funeral was held hastily.
No grand ceremony for the Former Paladin.
No large crowd....Just a small cemetery beneath gray skies.
Light rain fell steadily.
In front of the tombstone stood only one person.
Rin Okumura.
Looking at the black and white photo of laughing in the middle of the tombstone with blank eyes, Rin Okumura wanted to cry.
But he couldn't.
As he just stayed there in daze.
When grief exceeds a certain threshold, the brain activates a defense mechanism.
It numbs everything.
{T/N: Reduced Cognitive Function ("Grief Brain"): The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for executive functions, logic, and planning, becomes less active. This causes "grief brain"—mental haze, memory loss, and poor concentration—which acts as a temporary stop gate against complex, overwhelming thoughts.}
Ta.ta.tat—
There was a sound of soil being trampled.
Gojo Satoru appeared, dressed in black, this time with sunglasses instead of blindfold.
In his hand, there was a small bouquet of white chrysanthemums.
As he walked past Rin quietly.
Kneeling down before he placed the flowers before the tombstone.
"Your father told me," Gojo said calmly, "that he wanted you to enter True Cross Academy."
Gojo Satoru took out a bottle of wine from his pocket and put it over, saying at the same time.
"For him."
Rin didn't respond. Rain soaked his hair while his eyes remained unfocused, he didn't seem to have any intention to talk....
Gojo stood up, without speaking as he took out a small box of cigarette out of his poket, he took one cigarette out—before placing it on his lips as he used his hand to saved it from getting wet in this light rain, litting it up just for the occasion.
As he took one big puff—
"Cough—! "
Only for him to coughed violently as soon as the smoke touch his inside.
"Ahem. Yeah. Definitely not my style."
He said before he flicked the cigarette into a puddle, extinguishing it.
Then he turned and walked towards Rin, lightly patted his shoulder.
"If you try to hold snowflakes in your palm," Gojo said quietly, "they'll only melt faster."
Rin Okumura's lifeless eyes finally fluctuated at the ridiculous comment, he lifted his head before slapping the white-haired monster's hand away, and said.
"Don't try to act cool."
"Huh? That wasn't cool enough?"
"Not even close."
"…Harsh."
Rin suddenly laughed.
At first, it was small then it get louder before it turn into uncontrollable laughter.
But as he laughed—Tears streamed down his face.
Hot tears flowing from his eyes as it disappear with the rain.
Sixteen years of memories flooded back.
Training in the yard.
Being scolded.
Eating together.
"Dad…" Rin voice cracked in between his own laughter, "I miss you so much…"
Gojo Satoru next to him didn't disturb the other party, didn't comfort. Didn't offer empty words. He knew he is not good at it....he never was good at comforting someone in their griefs...He never was.
He simply opened an umbrella.
Left it beside Rin.
And turned to leave.
However as he was exiting the cemetery—
He paused.
In the distance, behind a tree—there was a familiar yet unfamiliar person, standing silently behind the tree. Looking over Rin with sharp gaze.
Gojo narrowed his eyes slightly as he muttered something under his breath before he looked away.
"Not interested right now."
He stepped forward and left without disturbing the other party.
Behind him—Rin Okumura knelt before the grave.
Crying freely at last.
The rain fell softly, as if to hide his tears.
...
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Bonus Chapter:-
4 Bonus chapter at 100 powerstone
6 Bonus Chapter at 150 powerstone
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Word Count — 1,614