Volume 17

Volume 17 is the seventeenth volume of the manga series, Blue Exorcist (青の祓魔師 Ao no Ekusoshisuto) by Kazue Katō. The front cover features Shura Kirigakure and Hachirotaro Okami.

Blurb
Fight hellfire with hellfire!

''Shura Kirigakure has always been one of Rin and Yukio's closest and most trusted friends and mentors, but her past is a mystery. When Shura suddenly goes missing, Mephisto sends the Okumura brothers to the cold and wintry backcountry of Aomori Prefecture to find her. The journey is a chance for Rin and Yukio to talk over recent events, and try to sort out where things stand between them. Out in the frozen hills, Shura reaches her destination, and a meeting with an entity who will impose an ancient curse upon her…''

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.''

''Later, mysterious events begin occurring around the globe. A secret society known as the Illuminati is behind these incidents, and Shima is their spy. On Mephisto's orders, Shima had infiltrated the Illuminati to work as a double agent and was supplying information to both sides.''

''When Shima asks Yukio about his meeting with Lucifer, Yukio brushes it off. But Yukio now grows increasingly uneasy about the power in his eyes. He designs dangerous tests for himself to awaken the fear of death and kick-start his power.''

Then Mephisto informs Rin and Yukio that Shura has disappeared and orders them to find her!

In the next volume…
''Freed from her curse, Shura returns to True Cross Academy with a new outlook on life and a new appreciation for how far Rin has come (and a new haircut). While Yukio recovers in the hospital, the double agent Renzo Shima is back in action and an old enemy reappears. New plots are being laid and old secrets will come to light. A new phase of the conflict between the Knights of the True Cross and the Illuminati is beginning that will test the Exwires like never before.''

Foreword
''This volume begins telling the middle portion of Shura's backstory. She's an adult, so I included lots of adult topics. Younger readers might not always catch the drift…''

…but you will when you get older.

Enjoy volume 17!

Cast of Characters
Info below retrieved from Viz Media.

Rin Okumura Yukio Okumura Shura Kirigakure Mephisto Pheles Shiro Fujimoto
 * 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.
 * 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. The number two power in Gehenna and known as Samael, King of Time.
 * The man who raised Rin and Yukio. He was a priest at True Cross Cathedral. He held the rank of Paladin and once taught Demon Pharmaceuticals. Satan possessed him and he gave his life defending Rin.

Chapter List

 * Chapter 74: Hachinohe Station in the Snow「八戸駅は雪の中 Hachinohe Eki wa Yuki no Naka」
 * Chapter 75: Frozen Serpent「凍える蛇 Kogoeru Kuchinawa」
 * Chapter 76: Goodbye to You「さよならあなた Sayonara Anata」
 * Chapter 77: It's All Right If I Don't Go Back「戻れなくてももういいの Modorenakute Momōī no」
 * Chapter 78: As If Begging for Tears「泣けとばかりに Nake to Bakari ni」
 * Bonus:
 * Illustrated Guide to Satan
 * Fan Art Corner

Demons

 * Hachirotaro Okami

Others

 * Tatsuko Kirigakure