Wow, trying to figure out how to write a quick authors note shouldn't have been this hard. Okay guys, first fanfic after I grew tired of lurking around this site for months. I'm new to this, so I don't actually know how to get a beta for stories. I hope this has been edited to a satisfactory level, however any help at all would be greatly appreciated! So read, and review! I'm aiming for updating once a week, hopefully I can stick to that. Okay, onto the story!

Chapter 1

Rin was only twelve years old when the demons first tried to take him

It all started nearly a year before. Yukio had been studying demons, and how to kill them, for a while at that point. He was starting to feel more confident that he could protect Rin, his older brother, from ever having to deal with the things that went bump in, usually, the night. His brother had always been the one to swoop in and deal with bullies, Yukio's own guardian during the day. So Yukio was determined that he could handle the night for them. He knew he had to prepare for a time where demons attempted to hurt, or take his brother from him. When that time came, Yukio knew he would be prepared.

When the time came for Yukio to do his duty as his brother's guardian, he fell through.

A year before, It had been a beautiful spring day. Rin and Yukio, having just finished school, were walking back home. Well, Yukio was walking. Rin was bouncing around all over the place, smiling at butterflies that flapped by and glaring at anyone who walked past.

"Hey Yukio, did I tell you bout' my new studying partner?" Rin questioned his brother excitably, a massive smile gracing his features.

"Yes, Brother. He promised he would make you smart enough to be worthy of the title 'prince', did he not? Seems a little…" Yukio struggled for the word. He had been attempting to expand his vocabulary, as he believed smarter sounding people got smarter opportunities. Well that's what he had seen on a motivational TV program at some point. "Presumptuous?" He finished, inwardly grinning at his clever use of an awesome word while outwardly keeping a bored expression.

Rin was obviously confused by the new term. "Eeeehhh, yes? I mean he is really helping me with history! Soon I'm going to be smarter than you!" Rin exclaimed, proud for the first time of something academic. He had always been okay at math and science, but he was horrible at English and history. Well, he had been until his awesome new tutor had started helping his! Rin's younger brother, perceptive as always, picked up on the fact.

"Rin, that's great! You're finally learning, and enjoying it too! Maybe you will become smarter than me, but only if you keep trying your best!"

Rin beamed, before a smug and satisfied expression settled over his face. "Don't tell dad, okay? I want him to be surprised when my next test score comes in and is a pass." He pleaded with Yukio. "Just tell dad I made a friend at school or something, and I hang out with him a lot now".

"Okay, are you going to meet your tutor now?" Yukio questioned.

"Yup! See you in a couple hours!" Rin smiled at his brother one more time, before running off. Yukio shook his head, a faint smile gracing his spotted face. He hoped the best for his brother, and maybe with this new development their father would have more time to tutor him in exorcism! Yukio was pleased all the way through, never once considering the dangers of his brother running off and meeting up with a stranger. He was far too caught up in his own dream world.

A little over a year later, Rin ran down the street, not wanting to be late for his tutor. He could not believe he was so excited to learn, but the stuff Saradon taught him was so much more interesting than his boring teachers! Rin didn't tell Yukio, but it wasn't just regular dull history that he learned during these tutoring sessions. His teacher made him do fifteen minutes of regular reading and quizzed him afterwards. This first time verbal quiz his teacher. The reason for this was simple; it wasn't until Rin passed the verbal check that he got to move on to part two.

Part two, as Saradon (he asked Rin not to call him by anything else, not even sensei. Whatever, Rin ran with it) had explained, was like a reward for Rin doing decently well in what he called 'Assiah materials'. When he finished part one, they starting 'Gehenna materials'. The first time his tutor told him that, Rin told him he thought the names were stupid. He received sharp scuff to his head for that, and he learned not to question his teacher. Gehennan materials covered everything from 'Gehenna history' to strange, foreign martial arts. It was the martial arts that especially captured Rin, and he was picking up ken-jutsu and a flowing hand-to-hang fighting style that involved fast strikes and controlling the opponent. It kinda reminded Rin of akido in the latter aspect, the former was more like tae kwon do or karate or something like that. Saradon had told him its name, but it was a low, guttural sounding thing that seemed as if its origins came from another world. Rin promptly forgot the name, so he simply called the series of positions 'the stances'. The name stuck.

Rin was running towards the empty park he and his tutor always met in when he felt a hand grasping his shoulder. Automatically moving into a stance that would allow him to use 'the stances', Rin twisted his attacker to be over his small frame, and managed to get on top of whoever it was.

"Bravo, Rin. I see teaching the stances to you over the year has paid off." Saradon's metallic voice rumbled to him. Looking down, Rin saw his tutor sitting complacently underneath him. "I think we should focus more on kenjutsu from now on. You don't get off practicing your martial arts, obviously. Only I will spend more time coaching you in the ways of the sword." Saradon commanded. For every time Saradon spoke, it was like Rin was receiving a command from someone very powerful. Someone who had control, and who you could never escape from or trick. Oh, Rin had tried. He forgot his textbook once, and none of the stories he came up with to try and placate Saradon had worked. He only got a beating and a lap to run around the moderately large park where they studied. Rin had not lied again.

"Rin, we have been using fake swords up until now. Why don't we move on to the real thing, if that's what you want?" the elder rumbled, knowing very well that Rin was extremely dissatisfied with using the bamboo substitutes.

"Really!? Alright! Do you have two swords!?" Rin jumped, eager for the opportunity to do some real work with a real sword.

"No Rin. But I know where you can find a sword. Your father, Shiro, has one." Saradon spoke, after a pregnant pause following Rin's question.

Rin's face fell just as quickly as it had become excited. There was no way his father would let him take a real sword! He didn't even know Rin was learning how to use one! Even if he did know, Rin was sure his father would not permit him to use his sword. If he had it locked up, the sword evidently had value and was somehow precious to him. After voicing his concerns to his tutor, he was surprised to hear a soft laugh and to see a slight sneer grace the face of Saradon.

He launched into an explanation. "Rin. The sword is yours, Shiro is simply keeping it for you until you can wield it properly. If he knew you were learning how to use a sword, he would allow you to carry the one hidden in the temple in a heartbeat. Trust me, Rin. He will be so happy if you were to show him mastery over that blade. You can ask him if you would like though, and ruin the surprise if it's what you want." Saradon finished, glancing at Rin expectantly.

No way would Rin ruin the surprise! He would show his tutor the he was perfectly capable of keeping secrets and being just as good of a son as Yukio! "Fine! I'll go get the sword right now!" Rin declared. Running off, Saradon let out a malicious chuckle before carefully blanking his face at Rin's sudden return. Rin looked up at his tutor, sheepish. "So… Where can I find it?"

Rin glanced around the monastery, surprised to find no one there. He had found the sword, after some work, right where his tutor said it was. On his way out, he realised it had been a little too easy to find the beautiful katana, and leave with it. Something had to be up, Rin's luck was never this good! He shrugged to himself. It didn't matter, he couldn't wait until his dad and brother saw his sword skills! He was going to look so cool! Smiling to himself, he ran out of the monastery to where Saradon said he would wait.

For once, they weren't meeting in a park. Rin met Saradon in an empty parking lot, located near on overpass. It wasn't a great area of town, just walking to meet with his tutor Rin had evaded several disgusting men who tried to grab at him. When he finally caught sight of his tutor, he breathed a sigh of relief and ran up to him.

"I got it Saradon! Let's start right away!" Rin spoke in an excited tone, glittering eyes looking up at his trusted master. It wasn't until he finished speaking when he noticed he wasn't alone with his tutor. Saradon noticed his glare and answered Rin's unspoken question.

"Rin, this is Astaroth. He is an associate of mine who will help with your training. For now, he will keep everyone away while we get that sword unsheathed". Saradon explained. Rin thought it was rather strange someone needed to protect them while they opened a sword, but shrugged. The sooner they started training, the sooner he could show off to Yukio! Rin smiled.

"Let's begin".