Gehenna: Satan's Castle, training ring

Year x112

"Wow, you really have no control." Iblis laughed as he watched Rin desperately try to manipulate the fire on some candles. The young half demon only growled in frustration.

"Now I see why father wanted me to help you first. If you have no control over fire in general, you'll never be able to wield the blue flames." Iblis was honestly amazed at just how much the exorcists had messed up the boy. He had no idea the power he was capable of. The exorcists had scared him into submission and then completely broken him when his usefulness was gone.

"I don't get it. How am I supposed to make this fire bigger? It's not even mine." Rin stared frustratedly into the orange flame of the candles. He was grateful that he was finally doing some training with his flames, it had been nearly two years since he had been brought to Gehenna, but this is not what he had in mind. At first, they wanted him to learn more about Gehenna and its ways of life and the demon's that resided there, before he learned control of his flames. He supposed it made sense, he wasn't really in a good state of mind then. He probably wouldn't have been able to summon his flames anyway.

This however, made no sense. Iblis had brought him to a training room took a match and lighted some candles. Why the Fire King didn't use his own flames, he wasn't sure. The older demon had simply told him to make the flames grow. How was he supposed to control fire that wasn't his?

They had been at this for a few hours with no progress. Iblis had to remind himself that with Rin's upbringing he would not have the same understanding or instincts as a regular fire demon. He needed to change tactics.

"Okay then." He thought for a moment. "Alright get up."

Rin did so. Iblis tossed him Kurikara.

"Now draw it." He continued. Rin was a bit confused but did as instructed. His flames instantly surrounded him. "Now take a battle stance."

Again, Rin did as he was told. He was preparing for the worst. He knew he couldn't defeat a Demon King in battle, but he also knew this one wouldn't try to kill him. Or at least he hoped he wouldn't.

Rin watched with caution as Iblis raised his hand. In a calm steady motion, Iblis held is palm out to Rin then in another equally fluid motion closed his hand.

Rin's flames instantly went out.

His eyes went wide, and he looked from his drawn sword to Iblis then back again.

"What the - How did you..." Rin stuttered.

"Fire is wild, fierce and powerful. And will only bend to someone of greater will." Iblis let his red fire dance in his hand. "If you're weak it will consume you."

Rin sheathed his sword and watched the flame in Iblis's hand.

"Every flame is different; no two flames are the same. It is forever changing." Iblis still saw the confusion in Rin's face, so he continued his explanation.

"Fire starts off young and weak. It grows stronger with time then grows old before diminishing completely. If cared for right, it can stay aflame for a very long time. But if left unfed and abandoned, it will go out forever."

Rin still wasn't sure he understood. Iblis saw this.

"Hold out your hands." Iblis said. Rin showed him is palms. Iblis slowly and gently placed the red-orange flame in Rin's hands.

Rin stood there too amazed to move as he watched Iblis cradle the flame around his hands. He had never felt anything like this. It was fire in his hands. He had felt his blue flames more than once in his hands, but nothing like this. The fire was gentle and calm. It felt comforting, but also commanding. He wasn't so foolish as to believe that it could never hurt him. He knew that if Iblis released his hold on the flame then it would burn him and everything around.

That's when an inkling of understanding hit him.

The flames reflected their user. Iblis was calm and understanding, but was also a teacher, a protector. But if he chose, Iblis could destroy everything in his path. Just like his fire.

Iblis saw the look in Rin's eyes and smiled to himself.

"Now that's better isn't it, little brother."

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Gehenna: Azazel's Library

Year x360

Azazel's library wasn't your average bookshelf. The shelves seemed to stretch endlessly towards the ceiling and closer to the top they started going horizontal, they curved around each other, and seemed to be in impossible shapes and angles. Books of all kinds could be found here. From the history of Assiah and Gehenna, to mathematics and physics, to cook books and children's stories, to spell books and ancient scrolls. Every book of every kind could be found there. The book the two demon kings were looking for, however, was more of a personal matter.

"So basically, we're looking Azazel's diary."

"Pretty much. It was a brown leather book. Looked old. Now stop yapping and start looking." Iblis slapped a hand on Rin's shoulder before jumping and climbing up one of the bookshelves.

"I hate reading." Rin commented to himself.

"I can't hear you from down there." Iblis laughed sarcastically as he through a book down on Rin's head. 

Rin growled in annoyance, but stared to climb one of the bookshelves too. Together they rifled through the library in search of leather journal. 

While the two Demon Kings were in the library, Kuro was stealthily keeping watch for the King of Spirits. He knew that Azazel would most likely be in the garden this time of day, so that's where he went. He was not disappointed. He crouched low under one of the taller, more leafy plants and kept watch.   

Azazel was tending to his plants, when a spirit came looking for him. In Azazel's kingdom, the inhabitants were mostly spirits, ghost, or something related to the afterlife. Out of all the demon kings the king of spirits was probably, no definitely, the calmest and most rational. Azazel had white hair and typically dress a little bit more old fashioned.

"Sir," the spirit greeted, "I thought I should inform you that the King of Fire and the King of Shadows are currently inside your library."

"Is that so." He didn't look away from the plant.

"And the royal guard is currently on a manhunt for the King of Shadows." It continued.

Azazel sighed and placed the watering can down. With the way his two younger brothers behaved, he honestly shouldn't have been surprised. 

"That will be all" He dismissed the spirit.

He had a pretty good idea why his two younger brothers were in his domain. They had been overly obsessed over a particular book after they had seen him writing in it then placing it under lock and key. However, he wasn't exactly sure why the royal guard was after Rin. But if Iblis was involved, and he usually was, it was probably something stupid and destructive.

As he walked off, he saw Kuro trying to hide. With another sigh he grabbed the poorly hidden cat, before he had a chance to warn the others. 

"I'll never talk!" Kuro shouted as he squirmed. Azazel paid him no mind as he held him by the scruff. 

Azazel walked into his library and saw his brothers climbing the shelves. Irritated, he walked underneath them and slammed his fist on the shelf. Kuro had wisely stopped struggling at this point as to not anger the King of Spirits anymore than he already was. The sudden disturbance caused Iblis to lose his balance and fall, dragging Rin with him. They fell right in front of Azazel. Rin had fallen first, face down on the floor with Iblis landing directly on top of him. Azazel had chosen this moment to release his hold on the cat. Kuro scampered off and out of the castle, deciding his services were no longer needed.  

"Azazel! What are you doing here?" Iblis laughed nervously.

"What am I doing in my castle, in my kingdom?" Azazel crossed his arms and looked down at him.

"Well isn't that convenient." Iblis did his best innocent smile, while still laying on top his little brother.

"Indeed. Now tell me, what are you doing here?" Azazel wasn't quite sure what to do with them. He knew that they meant no real harm, but likewise they could not just break into his castle. He had a schedule to keep and honestly they could be a pain sometimes.

Iblis rested his chin on his hand, which was conveniently propped up on Rin's head.

"Well, you see..." He didn't get to finish his sentence, because Rin had kicked him across the room.

"You're heavy." Rin spat. He got up in a sitting position as he stretched his back.

"Tell me youngest brother, why is the royal guard hunting you?" Azazel inquired, quickly changing the topic from breaking and entering to manhunt.

Rin stood up and crossed his arms.

"The old man's completely unfair. All I said was that Iblis and I were going to hang out, and suddenly I'm on lockdown and Iblis isn't allowed near me." Rin huffed truly not understanding why he and Iblis couldn't be together, they weren't going to do anything bad. Though, if he had asked anyone else they would have told him it was because when the two were together, things tended to get messy.

"That's because the last time you two were together you burned down half of the West Forest." Azazel replied rubbing the bridge of his nose. Yes, his brothers really were out of control sometimes.

"What are you talking about the forest looks better now." Iblis said while rubbing his head recovering from being thrown across the room.

Azazel started lecturing his brothers on why they couldn't break out of the castle and break into his kingdom. The two destructive kings just rolled their eyes. This was not the first time they had heard this speech in the past two hundred and fifty years.

The window behind Azazel flew open.

"Hey did ya hear! Rin and Iblis escaped the... Oh, I guess you already know." Egyn King of Water said as he sat in the window.

Great this is exactly what the king of spirits needed... another brother in his domain. 

Egyn had long aqua colored hair that he kept in a high ponytail. He dressed similar to a genie and his shirt only covered the top half of his chest. He was also always barefoot.

"Egyn. What are you doing here?" The now very irritated Azazel asked. Egyn crawled out of the window and went over to them.

"I came to gossip, but I see there's no need." He draped an arm over Rin and had a mischievous grin. "So, what did you two do?"

"Father said we weren't allowed to hang out." Rin answered.

"Well, that's because the last time you two were together you burned half the west forest." Egyn released his hold and shook his head. He should have expected it to be something like this.

"It looks better now." Iblis mumbled, though they heard they chose not to comment. 

They were interrupted by a spirit who came in and told, the now four demon kings, that the royal guard was approaching.

"I'm not covering for you." Azazel stated in a monotone voice. He then walked off to find the guards.

"Stupid Azazel." Iblis frowned. He turned towards Rin, only to find him missing. Confusion dominated his facial features, then it turned to anger, as he saw Egyn dragging Rin by the arm down the hall, smiles plastered on both their faces.

"Hey! Wait for me!" He shouted after his brothers.  

Almost as soon as Azazel left the library he heard shouting and something... many things breaking. As he walked down the halls a devious smiled formed on his lips. The childish antics of his younger brothers never ceased to amaze him.

At the entrance to the castle Azazel was greeted by the guards.

"We are looking for the youngest prince." One of them stated.

"I see." Azazel grinned, an idea forming. He wasn't sure why, but he would blame it their childish ways rubbing off on him, or perhaps it was nostalgia. Maybe he himself was just as immature. 

"Sorry, but I don't know where he has gone." 

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So I'm going to have each chapter start off with some sort of flashback about Rin and his life in Gehenna. I was originally going to make that a separate book, but had no real ideas or plot for that. So instead of posting a half assed story, I decided to add it to the original in hopes of enhancing it.

I also forgot to mention that I posted this story on FanFiction.net

Anyway thanks for reading!