PLACE CALLED HOME

.

Disclaimer: Kazue Kato

.

Genre (s) : Adventure/Family

.

Warn: Typo is my most loyal fan, Spelling mistakes, 'cause English is not my mother language. Possibly OOC. Mostly Fluff, although in the beginning of the chapter, it will be a lil Dark lol. Not beta

.

.

.

I remember that day

.

"Somebody! Anyone! Help me!"

.

That day, when that disaster happened.

.

"Hahaha! Yes! Yes! Keep shouting like that! Keep begging like that! Though you knew that nobody will come to help you anyway! Hahaha!"

.

That day, when I lost everything.

.

Rin kept struggling, those electric blue eyes shone with fear, desperate, disgust, anger, guilt, guilt, guilt. His hands flailing, trying to grasp the Kurikara hilt that embedded so deep in the pavement, something, everything! Everything to keep himself from drowning, drowning to, whatever place, behind this disgusting, black bubbles of Gehenna Gate.

Yukio—no, it was not him. It was Satan, That Satan! The one who killed Fujimoto, the demon who killed his father (In the back of his mind, someone or maybe himself, said, "Satan is your father, you know. Your biological, real father. Stop deluding yourself!")—his twin figure stood with all his almighty aura. Blue flames—the same blue flames that always reminded him of his curse heritage, that they are Satan's son—sprouting from every inch of his body, like those annoying weeds that always kept Shiemi busy in her flower garden; some of it took a shape of a moon-like wings with two balls accompanying each one. He laughed, laughed like a madman, showing his sharp, white fangs. His dark brown tail, that just grew some times ago, swishing happily behind his back. Satan, the same Satan who killed his friends—their friends, his mentors—their mentors, his father—their father, with just a flick of one finger, shooting condensed blue flames to their fragile body, ending their life within just a second. And he just laughed. Laughed, laughed, laughed, laughed

—before it stops. Too abruptly, it caught Rin off guard.

.

When I lost my home, my friends…

.

"No…" it started with croak voice. Yukio's light, blue eyes—the same color with Rin, the same color with Satan—turned to his original one; dark, brown eyes. His quivering body clutched the black gun with too much power, his knuckle turned white. Slowly, slowly but surely he pointed his gun—Yukio's gun—to his own temple.

That time, Rin realized. He realized that that figure whose coated with blue flames is not Satan who possessed Yukio's body anymore. But he is Yukio; just Yukio. The same Yukio who taught him and his friends about demon and exorcist. The same Yukio who always nagged him to finished his homework. The same Yukio who, in every once of midnight, will woke up abruptly from a nightmare with bloodcurdling scream (Rin asked in one of those night terror of his, what kind of nightmare he had. But Yukio just cried. Cried like when he was still a little child; like his old, crybaby Yukio) and Rin would hug him, soothed him with a small reassurance whisper, stay by his side until he fell asleep. The same Yukio that is his twin, his younger brother, and always will be. Rin's relieved face turned into one of horror when he realized that the gun's barrel still pointed to his head.

"Yukio, what are you doing?" again, he starts struggling, "Stop! Stop it, Yukio!"

But he smiled. Despite Rin's desperate yelling, despite Rin's desperate begging, Yukio just smiled, "This is it, Nii-san. This is the only way."

.

His mentor's death face flashed—

Rin's blue eyes widened, "no, Yukio. I don't want…"

His friends' death face flashed—

"…I don't want…"

His father death face flashed—

"I don't want to lose you too, Yukio!"

.

.

Those electric blue eyes shone with fear, desperate, disgust, anger, guilt, guilt, guilt

.

.

"I'm a worse brother, huh?" vaguely, he could hear Satan's desperate voice, coming from Yukio's mouth, ordered him to stop. He could hear his own voice asking him, begging him to stop! But despite all of that, Rin could hear it very clearly; Yukio's voice. Full of sadness, full of sorrow, full of guilt, while his index finger pressed the gun's trigger slowly, "I'm sorry…nii-san…"

"I couldn't stay by your side anymore…"

.

My brother…

.

DOR

The last thing he saw was his younger brother's body whose falling, so slowly, so scary! With the face that still maintained his sad smile before everything turned dark.

.

.

—before every light from his beautiful, blue eyes faded away.

.

And my life as a human being…is over.

.


Black clouds and a bunch of bird-like creatures with the same colors—because with his enhanced eyesight, no matter what, a bird with too large bat-like wings and too many big yellow eyes cannot be called 'a bird'—sauntered freely across the purple sky. Tall, black trees without leaves sprouted so high from inside the cracked, dried land, with a batch of brown bushes surrounded the barren garden, "this is Gehenna" the blue-haired teen mused, his tail swishing lazily on top of his king-size bed, watching the never changing view from the double window.

Two years had passed since that day; since he lost everything (his home, his friends, his family, Yukio…) since Satan brought him to Gehenna, his new home (prison, hell, hell, hell). Satan's form in Gehenna was a man with unkempt, dark blue hair that reached his shoulder. He had the same electrical blue eyes like Rin, same blue flames surrounded almost half of his body; with some of it formed a shape of two horns on top of his head. The first time he saw his enemy (never, ever he called him father! Never!), Rin lashed out. He let out a loud roar—like an enraged lion, like a lonely cub demanding his family back (his father, his brother)—and leaped at the man with his sharped nails coated with blue flames. But Satan stops him before he could reach his throne immediately, thrown Rin across the room with just a swipe of his black tail. They sat like that for hell-knows-how-long; Satan stared at his son with a blank look, while Rin hugging his knees near chest level as he let out a small whimper, tears began flowing from his closed eyes. He didn't remember much after that whole fiasco. He just knew that Satan called someone—likely his other son—to showed Rin his room, now that he will stay here. And other than that, everything was a blur.

"Rin." He was startled from his musing and tensed however, as a calm, soothing voice reached his demon hearing. From the big mirror that hung on the wall in front of him, he could saw a reflection of a pale man in twenty. His straight, light blue hair flowed like waves, reaching his waist. He was wearing a white yukata, a robe made of water that has the same color as his hair draped over it and a small white tiara circling his head, it emitted bubbles of water. He is Egyn, the demon king of water, Satan's fourth son. He was one of a demon who treated Rin's nicely beside Mephisto and Amaimon (although the latter done it unwillingly. If not, Mephisto will never buy him his favourite candies from Assiah anymore), Egyn's silver eyes watched Rin's back and sighed, "Rin, dinner will be ready in a minute. You should change your attire now."

"Ah…today is the day huh?" once in three months, Satan demanded every one of his sons to came back from whatever place they may be and held a family dinner. Mephisto was no exception, despite his tight schedules and some of the demons treated him like a traitor for forming a school of exorcist, meddling Satan's plan for uniting both worlds into one. That was the day Rin dreaded most. He didn't want to meet his older brothers (no in Gehenna way that he will call them his brothers out loud. His only brother is (was) Yukio. And always will be) especially Iblis and Astaroth. The demon king of fire tended to act cool but was angered easily, while the demon king of rot still had a grudge on Fujimoto, his father, for exorcising him at the first day they met, thus their relationship didn't bode very well (he didn't want to have any siblings relationship with them in the first place anyway, so he didn't mind).

"Oh well…must finish it quickly." He snapped his finger and his clothes changed within a second; from his white shirt and black short to the same outfit like Egyn but with different color—light blue yukata and dark blue robe made of his flames—and a small light blue tiara on top of his unruly hair, it emitted bright blue flames.

Satan wanted every one of his children to wear formal clothing in this sacred family dinner, thus making them wearing similar attire with a different color, depending on each of their own attributes. Though Rin and maybe, Iblis also, actually hate wearing traditional clothing of Japan (why Japan? He didn't know) they had to comply albeit begrudgingly

Besides, he didn't want to provoke Iblis's thin patience because of his tardiness. There was a time Iblis snapped because of Rin's ignorance attitude toward him, and before he knew it, the dining room was burned down by the swirling of red and blue flames, it was so beautiful like an aurora and at the same time, so dangerous; look like Satan countered his fourth son flames with his own so he cannot harm Rin, or worse, killed him. Without his Kurikara, that was left in Assiah—after the big war between demons and exorcists, the latter forming a very big seal around the world, thus Satan couldn't send his underling to retrieved it (Mephisto refused to do the task, because he was on a constant watch of Grigori and co.)-Rin cannot utilize his full power, that means he was still half human half demon. And, as much as he hates it, he is the weakest among the nine sons of Satan.

They walked in silence as they passed through the empty hallways. Satan's castle, much to Rin's astonishment, very much like True Cross Academy (perhaps that was where Mephisto got his ideas about the school design? He knew it, Mephisto didn't have any fashion taste at all) albeit the king of every demon's house color was dark. They passed through the small window that is face to face with a fountain of purple water in a barren backyard—the same place Rin and his friends always had a lunch. They passed through a not-to-wide-but-not-to-small-either empty room with unused chairs and tables—the same place Rin and his friends studied about demon and exorcist, and Yukio as their teacher.

Before they halted abruptly, Rin staring blankly at the man in twenty-three or so standing in front of the double door, his right hand hanging on the doorknob. He has a grey hair with black tips reaching his shoulder. Wearing a black yukata with light grey robe dangled over the tiled floor, as a small grey tiara that emitted gust of wind hung on top of his unruly hair, "brother Azazel. What are you doing over there?" asked Egyn to the demon king of spirit and wind, while the third son of Satan just shuffled his foot awkwardly; his droopy black-grey eyes looking at everything but the younger brother of his.

"I wanna ask the chef what kind of food he will make tonight. 'M hungry already…"

Rin eyed those two demons, especially Azazel. He never saw him much, other than when he was hungry or they held a family dinner. Now that he thought about it… so basically Azazel came out from, whatever place he had been, only if it concerned about foods. He reminds him of Amaimon and his obsession with candy and sugar too much.

They then proceed into the dining room, aware of another presence that sat at the corner of the long, rectangle table with his hands fold around his chest. He was a man of twenty-eight, although his white, silky skin betrayed his real ages. His shiny, blonde hair pulled into a neat pony-tail that reached his back. He is wearing a bright orange yukata with white, long robe made of light—it looks transparent—and a small yellow tiara that shined like a sun hung on his head lazily. Rin noted that that man is Lucifer, the second son of Satan, the demon king of light. He almost never spoke, so he didn't know how his voice sound. The said Lucifer didn't bat an eyelash as he just nodded slightly, recognizing his three young brothers before he closed his eyes, continuing his musing.

Or maybe he just fell asleep.

Sometimes, Rin though, I agree with Yukio that older brother tended to be the childish one.


Rin didn't remember much about anything that had happened during that time. For the start, he vaguely remember that Mephisto and Amaimon didn't come to the family dinner; Satan's first son told him that they had an exorcist meeting and couldn't come in time, while Satan's eight son disappeared without any notice—maybe he just went to mini market to stock another bag of candy, Rin snorted. Surprisingly, Satan didn't complain and allowed his two rebellious sons to do whatever they want. He also vaguely remembers Iblis bragged about his awesomeness in defeating the exorcist to Astaroth, while the latter replied with similar boasting, though Rin knew better that they were simply exaggerating the story itself. He chewed the meat slowly—demon meat, he noted. The first time he realized what kind of meat he just ate, Rin blanched and he bolted out like a thunder to the bathroom, throwing up and emptying his stomach immediately; prompting a brash, cruel laughter by the one, and almighty demon king of flame (Rin scoffed)—and darted his blue orbs to the empty chair in front of him absentmindedly. The chair should be filled by Yukio presence, but…

"Oi, half human! Whatcha thinking about with that small brain of yer?!" Rin flinched and knew right away who had just called him—speak of the devil and he shalt come. Rin stared at the red-haired man with sharp fiery eyes. He was wearing a red-black yukata with red robe shone like a bonfire and a small indigo tiara that emitted red flames draped on top of his spiked hair. The sixth son of Satan, seethed as his face turned into one of his famous scowls, "ignoring me again, ya brat?"

"Is it about your stupid twin, huh?" Iblis said another mocking taunt when he realized that his youngest brother staring at the lone, empty chair. Rin eyes widened, his body shook.

"Iblis…" Egyn tried to reprimand his brother.

"What, brother Egyn? I'm not wrong, right? His twin is stupid. Like, really stupid!" he laughed boisterously as Rin clenched his knuckles too strong, his nails pierced the white, milky palm, "who, in the right mind, shoot himself so he could save his friends—oh wait they are dead. So he could save his older brother from the hell—oh wait he is in the hell already, yeah? And he was just a human! Father's son, a mere human?! Hah! What a disgrace! He really should just d—"

.

DUAK

.

Oh, but Rin remember this scene very, very clearly; when he stood up from his chair and landed a strong punch to his 'older brother' disgusting face. His flames burned brightly, ears turned long, fangs became sharper and his tails lashed from beneath his light blue yukata, swishing furiously. Rin could feel a tear forming on the corner of his electric blue eyes—that was dull, but shone with full of anger now, "never, ever…" he gritted, trying to suppress his wild flames that demanded him to be let out, let out! "..called my brother STUPID again! YOU HEAR ME?!"

"What the fuck?" Iblis stood up, swiping small trail of blood from his mouth, "you dare PUNCHED ME?!"

But before he could send a counter-attack and teach the youngest one to respect the elder, a horde of bugs flew between them, blocking their view toward each other, "stop it, you two." They heard a hoarse voice, belonging to a teen with turquoise hair that curled like a seaweeds reaching his back; maybe he was three or four years old than Rin. He wears a light green kimono and, in lieu of the missing long robe like his every brothers' had, a horde of dark green bugs flew over his body and took a form of a scarf, a small tiara emitted black thunder crackled madly. He is Beelzebub, the demon king of insect, the fifth son of Satan. His violet-green eyes look over at the two demons that, in any minutes will kill each other right here, right now if his underlings (insects) didn't stand on their way, "Iblis, you should know by now what kind of punishment you will get if you attack your own kind, especially, your own brother, hm?"

Iblis flinched and realized his mistakes, as he turned his head oh so very slowly to the front of the dinner table; looking at his almighty father who is watching the entire mayhem with his calculating, cold, blue eyes like a hawk.

"Iblis." Another flinched, "go to your room."

"B-But…father—"

"Now."

Iblis gritted his teeth and tch'ed, before he disappeared in a cluster of dark, red flames. Rin turned his heels toward the big, double door but stopped himself as he heard Satan's low voice calling his name, "where are you going? Dinner's not finished yet."

Rin knows how angry Satan will be if someone refused to obey his order; and he knows that his brothers are showing him their best pleading look right now, asking him to sit down and enjoyed the not-to-pleasant dinner (and the bloodlust in the air is so thick, it suffocating). But with Yukio had been mention by someone that took on the second place from 'the most disgusting person (or in this case, demon) that he hates very much' list—a really forbidden topic for the blue-haired teen, Rin lost his appetite. He is angry, he is furious, he is…tired; tired of being constantly reminded about his twin, tired of being constantly reminded about his death, Yukio's death (my fault, my fault, my fault!). Why couldn't they just leave him? Why couldn't they just. Leave. Him. Alone?!

"No thanks." Rin growled, his unique, blue flames flared, lightening the entire room, "seeing those crap of foods irritated me to no end." And your face too. Before he closed the door with a loud bang.


He kicked the door open and stomped in, snapped his finger loudly—his attire changed back to a white shirt and black short—and flopped onto the king-size bed, watching another unchanging scenery from the window. He is sure that Satan ransacked the dining room with his famous blue flames right now, and his older brothers tried to evacuate themselves before they bear an unwanted injury(ies) on their body. Well, he didn't care. He could burn the entire manor if he wants and Rin wouldn't budge. It was not like he has any place to go. Not many demons (or humans either) want to accept the sons of satan inside their haven, didn't want to sustain a permanent mental or psychic shock, either from their unique power or their mere existence in their peaceful life. He didn't care. After all that nightmare from two years ago, he stops to care; about other people opinions, about his wellbeing, about—

.

Rin hugged Yukio close to him as he rubbed circle on his back, hearing his twin outburst that slowly morphed into small hiccups, "don't leave me…"

.

"Don't leave me alone…nii-chan."

.

—how it feels to protect someone that you care.

Because that 'someone' is already gone.

"I know you don't have any manner, but I don't know you are this clueless." Rin flinched and whipped his head too fast—that he was sure he had a whiplash just now—before he let out a small, relieve breath when he realized who was the culprit that should be held responsible for giving him a shock, "if you couldn't detect demon presence because you were too fed up with something, it'll bite you in the back someday"

Rin changed his position to a more comfortable one, glaring at the purple haired man as he smiles his creepy smile, his famous curly burn peeked from beneath his tall, white hat, "stop sneaking up on me, Mephisto. Do you want your youngest brother (insert 180-degree roll eyes here) die from a heart attack?" if I still have a heart, that is Rin mused dryly.

"Now, now, my dear. That kind of attack will not kill you right away, as you are the most stubborn person and demon I ever encountered." The teen snorted like he always did when he is chatting with his ex-headmaster. The old Rin will surely throw him a snarky remark, a splutter response and maybe a punch or two. Then again, he was not the same, old Rin. The 'Rin' that he knew before is already dead; it was just in the past. Now, he is more like a doll; a lifeless doll with strings attached on every one of its joints, never have its own will. Mephisto hop from the wall, approaching Rin and watched his dull, blue glass eyed his graceful movement thoroughly; his pink umbrella clacking noisily on the tiled floor, "now, Rin. I know you don't trust me, but I want to give you a special offer."

"What kind of 'offer'?" knowing Mephisto, it was maybe for his own amusement. Don't have any benefit to him.

"Do you want to go back to Assiah?"

.

.

.

Time went still as Rin absorbed every word that came out from Mephisto mouth. His jaw dropped like a gaping fish, didn't believed anything that he had just heard, "wha—"

"And I have your Kurikara too." His wide eyes grew even wider as Mephisto produced his sword from out of nowhere (this is Mephisto he talks about, the demon king of time). The sword of his still in a good condition as before, didn't seem like something that had been lost over the past two years. Don't tell him that Mephisto had his sword all this time? And he didn't give it back to the right owner? Rin opened his mouth, tried to retort his usual snarky banter or at least ask the oldest brother why did he keep his mouth shut all this time. Then promptly closed it again, as he realized that it didn't matter anymore; and he was sure that the first son of satan will answer his question with twisting riddles that make him more confused than before. Mephisto merely twirled the umbrella before it rested on his shoulder, "I already set a seal on every door of my brothers' room, and I'm sure they will realize it sooner or later."

"So." Mephisto offered the black sword to the half-demon face, showing him the biggest smile/smirk he had as realization dawned upon the blue-haired teen, "what's your choice?"

.

"Nii-san…" Rin hummed as he prepared the bed, Yukio sat on his own staring at hot chocolate that his older brother made to calm his nerve down; another night terror of his, "will you promise me, that no matter what happens…"

.

He watched as those electrical, dull eyes, that finally after he-knows-how-long had passed, shone with something other than emptiness and loneliness—

.

"That no matter what happens, you will stay alive. You promise me…nii-chan?"

.

—it full of determination.

.

"Yeah, I promise…"

.

.

That I'll keep fighting.


TO BE CONTINUE


(A/N) :

I hope I'm not rushing Rin's brother characteristic description too much. Why did Lucifer, Egyn, and Beelzebub faces look like a girl when I tried to draw them? And I forget to mention Astaroth in this chapter, but oh well. Just imagine the bully Astaroth possessed in anime, you know it (what a lazy author) :v

Oh, and I'm gonna followed the anime base story. I don't read the manga and didn't wish to do so in the near future. I'm not satisfied with the anime ending, but I don't have the same interest in watching the anime when I read the manga either.

This is my second English fanfiction and I hope I'm not making too much spelling and tenses mistakes 'cuz English is not my mother languange (SOMEONE PLEASE BETA THIS FIC T_T)

Please, review guys. Criticisms, suggestions, whatever it is I'll accept it all.

Best Regards

Akabane Kazama