Lost Identity

Yukio gets pulled into Gehenna... and it just gets worse from there.

Story Excerpt:

"Still," the glowing serpent slithered closer, "I do put a part of me in each of my children. Even you."

Yukio felt suddenly cold. "What do you mean?"

"Think about it." The serpent circled him. "Mephisto has my cunning. Amaimon you could call my playful side. Your own twin carries all my rage. And, you... your cold, calculating demeanor... Where do you think you got it from?"

Yukio grit his teeth, forcing himself not to turn to follow the serpent's hypnotic, winding path. "That's absurd." His voice was flat in his own ears. "Personality isn't controlled by genetics."

"Not by human genetics maybe." His left hand burned suddenly as the serpent slithered across, leaving a line of smoking flesh. "But, I'm not human. And, really, neither are you."

"Of course I—!" The words died away as Yukio's eyes fell on his hand. His smoking hand, whole and uninjured now flickering with blue flames. "Impossible. I'm not— not—!"

"You are my son," said the serpent, coiling in front of him.

Yukio's breath came in short pants. "I'm—" Fujimoto Shiro's son, an exorcist, human. "I'm not—" Pushing himself back on shaking legs, he hit a wall of solid rock and scrambled to his feet. "I'm Okumura Yukio! And, I'm nothing like you!

Blue flames flared around him, spread up his arm, and reached to consume his body. And, the serpent began to laugh.

The laughter deepened, and, suddenly, the serpent was gone. In its place stood a tall man wreathed in flames. Long, twisting horns of fire curled from his brow, and his eyes burned brightest blue.

"No, that name won't do." The man, Satan, sounded thoughtful. "We need something more fitting."

Screaming, Yukio felt flames waken inside him to answer those crawling across his skin. Felt heat burst free of his body. Felt a sudden, indefinable weight at the crown of his head as his own horns blazed into existence. Felt the slide of new muscle and bone as a tail grew from the base of his spine.

His brother had never said it felt like dying.

And, his so-called father only watched, considering.

"Falsus," he said at last. "That will do nicely."

Yukio stiffened, his scream dying in his throat. He could feel the name taking hold of him, sinking in and pushing down everything he knew. Memories, emotions. They were swept back and buried as a chill seeped into his heart despite the all-consuming flames.

And, Satan smiled. "Welcome home, Falsus."

Yukio looked up at him, face empty of emotion. "Yes."

(Story idea co-authored by Sage SK, who also gets many thanks for critiquing the pic in its earlier stages)

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Okay, I think this is finally done. I've been playing with it for a couple months, off and on. Any suggestions or corrections would be welcome.

“Ao no Exorcist/Blue Exorcist” belongs to Kazue Katou, Shueisha, A-1 Pictures, Aniplex, and various other parties.