Volume 12

Volume 12 is the twelfth volume of the manga series, Blue Exorcist (青の祓魔師 Ao no Ekusoshisuto) by Kazue Katō. The front cover features Izumo Kamiki, Miketsu, and Ukemochi.

Blurb
Fight hellfire with hellfire!

''As the True Cross Academy festival reaches its peak, trouble is brewing. While Izumo confronts Nemu Takara, Rin and the rest of the Exwires race to find her. The betrayal they discover and the tragic details of Izumo's past will shake them to the core and herald the beginning of an all-out war between the Illuminati and the Knights of the True Cross!''

The Story So Far
''Unknown to Rin Okumura, both human and demon blood runs in his veins. In an argument with his foster father, Father Fujimoto, Rin learns that Satan is his true father. Satan suddenly appears and tries to drag Rin down to Gehenna because Rin has inherited his power. Father Fujimoto fights to defend Rin, but dies in the process. Rin decides to become an Exorcist so he can someday defeat Satan and begins studying at the Exorcism Cram School under the instruction of his twin brother Yukio, who is already an Exorcist.''

''Rin and the others succeed in defeating the Impure King, awakened by the former exorcist, Todo. Meanwhile, Yukio fights Todo, and as the battle rages, he senses the same flame in his own eyes as his brother. Afraid, he keeps it a secret.''

''Rin returns to school life at True Cross Academy, but his classmate Godaīn suddenly starts seeing demons during summer break. In fact, reports of such mysterious incidents have been coming in from around the globe. With the Impure Princess returning in Yemen and a man-made Gehenna Gate appearing in Russia.''

''The secret society known as the Illuminati is behind these events. An investigation reveals that the organization has spies within the Knights of the True Cross and one of the spies has infiltrated True Cross Academy. Nothing has happened yet, but the Illuminati is increasingly active in the days leading up to the academy festival.''

''Meanwhile, Shiemi passes the academy entrance exam and Rin is thrilled to have her as a classmate. On the day of the academy festival, in the shadows of all the excitement, the Illuminati makes it move!!''

In the next volume…
''The fox god Mike relates the terrible tragedy of Izumo's childhood to the Exwires. The Illuminati's Professor Gedoin, searching for the secret to immortality, subjected Izumo's mother to horrific experiments. When they failed, the Illuminati took Izumo's little sister hostage to force Izumo to do their bidding. Now, Professor Gedoin means to experiment on Izumo herself! Rin and the Exwires aren't about to let that happen and stage a dangerous raid on the massive and mysterious Illuminati fortress, Dream Town Inari! And if they all get out of there alive, will they ever be the same again?''

Foreword
With volume 12, the story enters a new arc! I planned to draw this story a lot sooner, but it took a long time to het here.

Now dig into volume 12!

Cast of Characters
Info below retrieved from Viz Media.

Rin Okumura Yukio Okumura Shiemi Moriyama Ryuji Suguro Renzo Shima Konekomaru Miwa Izumo Kamiki Noriko Paku Nemu Takara Shura Kirigakure Mephisto Pheles Arthur A. Angel Lewin Light Kuro
 * Born of a human mother and Satan, the God of Demons, Rin Okumura has powers he can barely control. After Satan kills Father Fujimoto, Rin's foster father, Rin decides to become an Exorcist so he can someday defeat Satan. Now a first-year student at True Cross Academy and an Exwire at the Exorcism Cram School, he hopes to someday become a Knight. When he draws the Koma Sword, he manifests his infernal power in the form of blue flames. He succeeded in defeating the Impure King and affirmed his determination to live with his flame.
 * Rin's brother. Hoping to become a doctor, he's a genius who is the youngest student ever to become an instructor at the Exorcism Cram School. An instructor in Demon Pharmaceuticals, he possesses the titles of Doctor and Dragoon. Todo told him that his true nature is that of a demon.
 * Daughter of the owner of Futsumaya, an Exorcist supply shop. She possesses the ability to become a Tamer and can summon a baby Greenman named Nee. She passed the high school entrance exam, so now she is a classmate of Rin and the others.
 * Heir to the venerable Buddhist sect known as Myodha in Kyoto. He is an Exwire who hopes to become an Exorcist someday so he can reestablish his family's temple, which fell on hard times after the Blue Night. He wants to achieve the titles of Dragoon and Aria.
 * Once a pupil of Suguro's father and now Suguro's friend. He's an Exwire who wants to become an Aria. He has an easygoing personality and is totally girl-crazy.
 * Like Shima, he was once a pupil of Suguro's father and is now Suguro's friend. He's an Exwire who hopes to become an Exorcist someday. He is small in size and has a quiet and composed personality.
 * An Exwire with the blood of shrine maidens. She has the ability to become a Tamer and can summon two white foxes.
 * An old friend of Kamiki's. They entered the Exorcism Cram School together, but she couldn't keep up with the classes and dropped out. She is currently attending regular classes at True Cross Academy High School.
 * A student at the Exorcism Cram School. He is a puppet master who can summon and control dolls. Mephisto played a role in his acceptance to True Cross Academy.
 * An upper-rank special investigator dispatched by Vatican Headquarters to True Cross Academy. A Senior Exorcist First Class who holds the titles of Knight, Tamer, Doctor and Aria. She used to be Father Fujimoto's pupil.
 * President of True Cross Academy and head of the Exorcism Cram School. He was Father Fujimoto's friend, and now he is Rin and Yukio's guardian. He is the second power in Gehenna and known as Samael, King of Time.
 * A Senior Exorcist First Class and the current Paladin. He wields the demon sword Caliban and is certain that Rin, as the bearer of Satan's blood, should be destroyed.
 * A Senior Exorcist First Class with a deep knowledge of demons. He speaks to the current Paladin, Arthur, as an equal and appears to occupy a high position within the Order.
 * A Cat Sidhe who was once Shiro's familiar. After Shiro's death, he began turning back into a demon. Rin saved him, and now the two are practically inseparable. His favorite drink is the catnip wine Shiro used to make.

Chapter List

 * Chapter 48: The Night of the True Cross Academy Festival「正十字学園祭—当夜 Sei Jūji Gakuen Sai - Tōya」
 * Chapter 49: True Cross Academy Festival—The Final Night「正十字学園祭—後夜 Sei Jūji Gakuen Sai - Kōya」
 * Chapter 50: The Most Important Thing to Me「あたしの一番大切なもの Atashi no Ichiban Taisetsu na Mono」
 * Chapter 51: A Fool Is the One Who Is Tricked「騙される方がバカだって… Damasareru Hō ga Baka Datte...」
 * Chapter 52: I Can't Rely on Anyone「もう誰も頼れない Mō Dare mo Tayorenai」
 * Blue Exorcist Bonus:
 * Illustrated Guide to Satan

Illuminati

 * Homare Todo
 * Michael Gedōin
 * Maria Yoshida

Demons

 * Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit

Others

 * Soji Inami (flashback)