A.N. I do reference the Good Book with these chapter titles. Don't mind me.

The sound of untranslatable gibberish from the TV. That's what Yukio heard upon entering the Headmaster's room after the lesson. It didn't really surprise him to see Mephisto sitting in a chair and listening to another anime song. Even Yukio could not understand half of those made up words. The most amusing part was that the Demon King was wearing a kimono filled with different characters. All the while he was devouring whatever snack he got his hands on.

"Oh, Yukio, what a surprise, what do you come here for?" Mephisto paused the small TV and looked at his charge.

"It's about the new kid. What's the deal with him?" Yukio asked firmly.

"If by asking this you want to know whether or not he is dangerous, I'll say that I do not know! That's why he is here in the first place!" Mephisto laughed, "But don't you worry. I've got it covered. You get to watch the little ghost too!"

"You INVITED a DEMON HERE?!" Yukio lost his temper for a moment. The Headmaster had finally lost it.

"Relax, he is not one of my brothers, after all. He is obviously not working for Satan. He is a kid, barely younger than your brother. But such prowess," Mephisto leaned back in his seat. "It's better to have one on your side, correct?"

"And you said that he was half-demon...he is half-ghost?!" Yukio asked in confusion. "It is impossible," he quickly stated. "Such things are never born. Most are water and fire."

"I asked him about it. He was not born this way, he was MADE into one by a vile ritual he cannot remember. Something tells me he DOES remember. Maybe it is just a painful memory. For a soul to be corrupted and be turned into a half-demon of such power... I am intrigued."

The thought of such thing existing made even Yukio shiver involuntary.

"Is...whatever they did possible to repeat?"

"Daniel assures me that the only ones who knew about the ritual were dead. He himself burned down all the notes and unique tools. Then again, there is only his word for it. But! I've got a lead. The kid is from America. I'm looking into the exorcist families, those where the senior members are dead. There aren't THAT many, just about several hundred. I just have to see the pictures, thankfully me being an Honorary Knight allows to look into the archives. All families keep photos for cases like this, involving orphaned children. Anything else you need? I am in a middle of an interesting episode. They have just returned from hiatus."

"What does Phantom want of you?" He asked sternly.

"To be left alone. Too sad it is not happening any time soon. I finally found someone who shares my interests!" Mephisto wiped a tear, looking at the borrowed volume of manga, "So, that's pretty much it. He is not training to be an exorcist. He just goes for the appearance of it. But nobody but you and Rin is to know, Yukio."

"Why do you care so much about this freak of nature?"

"Harsh words...considering what you are," Mephisto said in a scolding manner, "Then again he is both dead and alive. Go figure. I am simply curious about the outcome. This boy obviously has no purpose, no clear goal but to burn his life away. Yet he has the power, obviously knows how to wield it. Now look at your brother. Totally opposite. Rin has all the ambition in the world but his power goes haywire whenever he tantrums. I hoped that they would tip each other's scales."

"This is insane," Yukio muttered angrily and stomped away.

"I hope you are not going to the shop to buy anti-ghost tools?" Mephisto casually asked. "Daniel may strike someone as a carefree child, but I can assure you that you are no match for him."

"We will see."

Meanwhile Phantom was going through a quite curious experience. A very veteran-looking Polish man was teaching them how to summon demons to do your bidding. Being a Tamer, he called it. The guy also had an eyepatch, how cool was that. The author may sound joking, but Danny himself was not in such mood. His boredom escalated quickly quickly. Neuhaus, or whatever his last name was, kept telling what he had already known. Suddenly the memory of the last lesson rushed in. Well, maybe he should look on the bright side. He would have thought that the exorcists knew everything by this point, so the more you knew.

"...Your blood and an appropriate appeal are vital for summoning," Neuhaus said, wrapping a bondage around his bleeding arm. "Come out, child of Typhoeus and Echidna..."

An ugly rot demon was summoned, looking to be a messily stitched and frail Frankenstein. Danny huffed invisibly. Those ones were impractical. Who would want someone so low in pecking order as a familiar? There were few who could summon a demon, much few could bind it. The trick required an inborn talent impossible to learn, added to a mustered mental fortitude. That's basically what Neuhaus said before giving each student a seal. While Danny was busy examining it and being in two minds about what to do, he saw some girl summon two fox-like creatures. And Phantom still could not name Japanese things for the nonexistent life of his. The girl, named Izumi, received multiple cheers and congratulations.

"Hey, Golden Boy," Bon's smug voice was heard. Danny looked his way, "Can YOU summon anything?" He mocked.

"Judging by the lack of your familiar anywhere, I would say that you failed yourself," Danny shrugged, "No, I just consider doing it. I'm not sure if I need a familiar. But I wonder...it can summon any demon as long as I am capable, correct?"

"Well, duh."

"It was a rhetorical question, Bonnie," the face of the boy was priceless, "Well, then," Danny moved aside, bit his finger and let a couple of droplets fall on it, "Come to me, the flaming siren! Your King commands," he whispered the last part.

And what do you know, the next second the named demon appeared in a gust of flame. Nobody expected what followed. Before anyone could blink, from the flame emerged the hand that slapped the teen so hard that he recoiled. Everyone prepared for the worst, but the next thing left them gaping once again.

"You idiot! How dare you call me like this!"

When the flame vanished, everyone saw an unexpected thing. The demon looked... human enough. Like some punk rocker girl dressed in leathers, with pale skin and vaporous hair, or was it teal fire? Go figure. All in all, not demon looking. That, in turn implied heavily what type Danny had summoned. And honestly, it was quite obvious.

"Sup, Ember," Phantom chuckled, "Still sore after the last time?"

"You bet, dipshit," the demon crossed her hands, "I am not your pet to be summoned whenever you feel like it," she mumbled.

It was when she noticed where they were. And the men in black trench coats were seen as well.

"Uhm...why are the exorcists here?"

"Mr. Phantom, what the hell is this?" Neuhaus demanded to know.

Danny casually wrapped a hand around Ember's neck, "Oh, guys, that's Ember. We used to date."

"You... dated a DEMON?!" Rin exclaimed.

Ember caught on quickly, smirking widely, "Even more than simply dating, actually," she said, "You know, keeping the bed warm... oh, I couldn't walk days after."

Everyone's jaws dropped, while Danny blushed brightly. It looked so out of place.

"Alright, that's it, I guess. Sorry for inconvenience," Danny was about to rip the seal.

"Wait!" Ember exclaimed, "Can we...talk later?" She asked. Phantom blinked and sighed. So now she wanted it.

"Fine. This evening at nine. Be ready when I call you."

With that the seal was gone. Danny saw multiple disgusted looks directed his way.

"What?" He deadpanned.

"You do realise that she is a dead demon, right?" Bon asked, even he had lost it.

It's not necrophilia if he was dead, too, Danny mumbled mentally. So it was okay in his book.

"Hey, we broke up. Although we occasionally do that. When she has some pent up frustration."

"Enough!" Neuhaus shouted. His look of despise was the strongest of all for some reason, "As I was saying..."

Several hours later the lessons were all over. Phantom tried to pay attention so as to ward off the boredom, but no such luck. Arias were the biggest pile of tedium there was. He knew the verses, why was he there? Just to suffer for his many sins? He was not going to repent anyway, he was a half-demon for crying out loud. The looks everyone was giving him were only making matters worse. He glared back and it was creepy enough for them to back off and look their way. The lady teacher asked him if he knew the verses they were learning already, and Danny lied that no, he didn't. She would have wanted to pester him further otherwise, asking him to recite the things that could, theoretically, harm his very being if something wrong was uttered. And, knowing his luck, that's what would happen.

"I hate that white clown," Phantom muttered.

"Get in line, Danny," Rin whispered in a surprisingly good-natured way. There was only one person fitting this description.

As the lesson was over, Danny just took out his phone and fiddled in it, checking the messages he received from his... accomplices. All the while he could hear the conversation nearby. Rin seemed to be very bent on knowing what that exwire exam was.

"So, what's the deal with this 'squire' thingy?" He asked the band of friends.

"It's 'exwire', you idiot," Bon responded, "It is an exam that shows if you are any good."

"Yeah," Konekomaru added, "After this you will be getting a specialised training in the fields of your choosing."

"Jeez, Rin," Renzo laughed, "You really don't know a thing about it?"

"Hey, it's not only me, Danny doesn't know anything, too!" Rin pointed at the empty seat, "Huh?"

"Now that's rude," Danny said, now standing near them.

"Gah!" Rin exclaimed, jumping aside, "Damn it, Danny, where did you come from?"

"I tend to go unnoticed. Wish that was the case yesterday," he grumbled, "Don't mind me," Phantom continued, drinking from a juice box.

"Once the exwire exam is passed, one becomes a Meister. There are five fields in which you can qualify: Knight, Dragoon, Aria, Tamer and Doctor. Teach Okumura is Doctor and Dragoon."

"Guess he is still going for a doctor," Rin hummed and huffed. Phantom meanwhile hummed, too.

"And the fighting style will certainly differ," he mumbled, "How does one differentiate them?"

Everyone blinked at his sudden enthusiasm. He kept being more and more creepy.

"Eh..."

Danny realised his slip and coughed, "I mean, surely there are different people who have different aspirations."

"Yes, me and Shima are going for Aria," Konekomaru said.

Makes sense, Danny's thought, that guy did look like a wimp. Both physically... and mentally. That guy was going to be possessed one day.

"I wonder what I should go for," Rin mumbled, "What does the rest mean?"

Danny decided to judge from his experience, "Well, some exorcists fight with guns, some with swords. The rest is self-explanatory."

Didn't prevent them from dying, though.

"That doesn't help, Danny," Rin responded, "Wait, did you say sword?"

"Yep. Seeing this pretty sword you carry around, I could figure you would be interested," Phantom chuckled. "Go for knight, then."

"What about you, Danny?" Renzo asked carefully.

"I'm being held here against my will," he reminded, "I'll probably just ditch the exam."

"Then why the hell you are here?" Bon asked.

"Because your lovely Headmaster is a prick, Bonnie."

"DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

"But if I were to choose... I learned swordsmanship, but it is somewhat redundant to me. Dragoon, maybe, I prefer distance. I would have taken doctor if I weren't an egoistical shit myself. Aria is just boring... Tamer? I have several hellish pets. That would do."

"So far you have done nothing but boast, Ghost Boy."

Phantom only snorted, "I am sending hellhound to your dorm this evening then. Would you like this?" He turned around, " I need to get some fresh air."

"The lesson is about to start," Konekomaru warned, albeit afraid of his threat.

"So? You think I am afraid of being kicked out? There's nothing I wish more."

With that Phantom left the classroom, and several students gulped. Just what would he do for that? Rin thought about the newbie. He seemed cool, if outgoing even by his standards. But there really was something unsettling, even the air seemed cold around him. But his mind was nothing if not easily distracted, and for a while he thought little about the absent guy.

And then the evening came, and Rin returned to his dorm. It was near the doors of the seemingly rundown building where he saw Danny, who was looking just as bored as always while eyeing the structure.

"Hey, Danny!" Rin called and approached the teen. "What are you doing here?"

"Wondering why the world hates me so much. I am apparently staying in this dorm."

"You what?!" Rin raised his voice. Upon seeing Danny's confused glance, he coughed, "Not that there is anything wrong with it of course."

"You sure? I figured you would want to hide who your daddy is."

Blood drained from Rin's face, "I don't know what you are talking about," he stuttered, "I am not a demon," a nervous laugh was let out.

"Relax, who cares that your parent is a demon? Certainly not me," Phantom's eyes suddenly glowed green as he winked. "My lips are shut as long as yours are."

He decided against spilling everything. Danny had figured that the Child of Satan would like to keep it hidden. And those who knew about it would not have much trust.

"H-how did you know that?"

"Well, simple traits. Besides, I am gifted with a rare power that allows me to sense demons whenever they are in close proximity."

"That's... so cool!" Rin exclaimed joyfully, grabbing Danny in a headlock to which the latter was too surprised to respond, "Finally a dorm mate who is not a four-eyed mole face! I am so happy!" Phantom did not struggle. He didn't need to breath anyway, and it was better to just let him have his way. Why was he so polite, again?

Ah, yes. An investment into the future. Besides, he did seem like a nice kid, the one who had a secret of his own and would not utter Phantom's to anyone. It would be a fair exchange. In a twisted way Rin was his foster sibling. In a very, very twisted way.

"Come on! I will show you the house!" Rin pulled the half ghost after him. "I promise you will be in time for your date!"

"What are you... we are not dating! It's a business talk, and why are you so cool with that?!"

"Cause it is not so gross if you are a half-demon yourself. Besides, that chick is hot, all is forgiven!"

Danny couldn't help but smile. Rin did remind him of someone. There was one guy back in Amity Park. Tucker was his name. And he was the tech geek obsessed with girls, techs, and meat, go figure what he liked the most. But what mattered most is that the teen was Danny's best friend. Had been for years, before the accident and after. Phantom truly missed him. But his job was too dangerous to stick around the one who couldn't protect himself in a lifetime. As much as it pained the half ghost. But no time to ponder on it.

"You know, I am glad that I won't have to watch behind my back. That's why me and Yukio got a separate dorm, miserable as it is."

"I can see that," Danny glanced at the cockroach in the corner. "Don't you think it needs some repairs?"

"Mephisto is a greedy jerk. He won't spare a single yen for this house."

"Want to team up and and murder him?" Phantom offered in a casual tone, "We can prepare a trap by hiding the bomb under a pile of hentai mangas. He won't be able to resist."

"Nah, he is annoying, but he is our caretaker. I wouldn't go that far."

"That makes one of us," Danny mumbled. But then Rin's stomach grumbled.

"Oh, shoot, are you hungry?" The half-demon asked.

Phantom was about to respond, but his enthusiastic companion already pulled him towards the kitchen.