Taboo

Part 1:

{Contemplation and Realization}

Silence filled the air of the infirmary of the True Cross Academy. The students sat on their bed, their bodies aching and bruised from the previous fight, but their aching bodies didn't compare to the pain in their hearts of the betrayal they just faced. All of them were speechless and shocked. They didn't know what to say, so they continued to listen to Yukio Okumura, their teacher.

"Rin Okumura is the child born of a human woman that Satan's possessed body impregnated 15 years ago. By sealing Nii-san's flames inside the Koumaken, he was raised as a normal person for the last 16 years. However, the Koumaken can no longer hold his flames in check. His powers were awakened 3 months ago. Until then, Rin was brought up without any knowledge of who he really was."

"If you two are twins, why doesn't your body spew blue flames?" Suguro, the dark haired, blonde streaked student asked his teacher.

"We are fraternal twins. Rin inherited those flames in the womb. My body was too weak and frail to handle it."

"Why did you tell us this sooner?" Shima, the strawberry dyed haired student asked him.

"I was told to keep this a secret from everyone." Yukio answered him.

"With someone dangerous like that running around, what if we all got hurt or something?" Konekomaru basically screamed at Yukio.

Yukio kept a straight face through this scene, though deep inside him was still upset. He didn't lying to anyone, but he would do anything to protect his brother.

"I assure you, Miwa-san that everything was taken cared of. If Rin happened to get out of control, there would exorcists who would handle it"

"Do all exorcists know about Rin's true heritage?" Kamiki asked, curiously, though she really didn't care about this scene.

"Only a handful of us know about it."

"I…don't want to be around Okumura-san anymore." Konekomaru said as he looked at his lap and clenched his fists together.

"Me either. I don't want to be around someone that's related in any way to Satan." Suguro spoke.

"Ugh, you guys are pathetic. I honestly don't care. I'm used to this whole demon-human breeding, so it's fine with me." Kamiki said as she sighed and leaned back on her chair, closing her eyes.

"I….don't know how to act around him…" Shiemi says quietly as she avoided Yukio's gaze.

All eyes were on Shima now, but he bit his bottom lip and stood up, knocking the chair he sat in down on its side. He didn't say anything to his classmate or his teacher. Instead, he stormed out of the infirmary and walked down the halls. He was too lost in thought, so he didn't notice that he wandered outside. For reasons he didn't know, Shima seemed extremely upset. All throughout the times him and Rin spent together, Shima grew fond of his classmate. Though Rin was extremely stubborn, kind of slow and immature, Shima saw that he was also very misunderstood and loyal to his friends. He high respect for him, but now he doesn't know what to do. He can't bring himself to hate him just because of his relation to Satan, so what exactly is wrong with him? Why did he seem so upset?

He clenched up his dominant hand into a fist, before punching the wall next to him. He didn't feel any pain in his hand afterward, until after he sat down on the edge of the fountain located in the middle of the schoolyard. He glance back at the flowing water and stuck his hand inside the fountain, drawing circles in the water as he stared at it, confusion in his eyes. He contemplated on his feelings long and hard. Shima knew he felt betrayed like everyone else, but what was this feeling? It felt like…heartbreak, but why would he feel that when he wasn't in love with Rin? He couldn't decipher it.

"I wish Rin was here." He mumbled to the water he stared hurt at it.

He started tracing different shapes, until he heard a familiar voice call his name. He tensed up a bit and looked over his shoulder to see Rin walking towards him. His heart started racing with every step he took, getting closer to him. Shima's face was flushed as he clutched his chest. Rin casually sat next to him and smiled nervously, rubbing the back of his head.

"Hehe, everyone seems to be afraid of me, ever since that night. At least I have you to talk to, right?" He asked Shima, hopeful.

Shima avoided his gaze because for some reason he was nervous. Not nervous as in scared nervous, but embarrassed and shy nervous.

"S…sure. I don't really care for that sort of thing. Avoiding you would be too troublesome and I try to avoid those types of things."

Rin's head perked up as he smiled a toothy grin at Shima.

"That's great to hear! At least I have you by my side."

Shima's face flushed scarlet as he still tried to avoid Rin's gaze.

"Y...yeah…" He said nervously.

Rin tilted his head to the side as he raised a brow in confusion.

"You alright, Shima? Your face is red." Rin asked as he leaned his forehead on Shima's and tried to check his temperature.

Shima freaked out a bit and pushed him off and turned around.

"I'm fine! It's…just hot out here…" He mumbled.

"Oh good. I thought you were getting sick. I didn't want that." He smiled a bit at Shima.

Shima turned around; his face still flushed scarlet and stared at Rin. His heart still raced and pounded out of his chest as he tried to gulp down the knot in his throat. His mind went blank, so his body moved on instinct. He closed his eyes as he leaned his face towards Rin. He snapped back to his reality when he felt his lips pressed against something soft, warm and moist. He widened his eyes when he realized he kissed Rin. Rin seemed shocked also. Both of their faces matched each other as they were both dark red. Shima quickly pushed Rin away from when he came to realize what was happening. He held his lips with both of his hands as he stared at Rin. Rin still had his lips puckered up as he stared over at Shima still shocked, but confused at what he did. Shima quickly stood up and ran away from Rin, too embarrassed by what happened before.

"Wait, Shima, come back!" Rin called out to him, but Shima kept running.

He couldn't face him anymore.

Rin sat back down on the bench, confused and face still blushing intensely. He grazed his lips with his thumb as he thought about Shima's kiss.

Shima jumped in his bed and hid his red face in his pillow.

He couldn't believe that he had just kissed Rin, especially out of nowhere.

"Now, how would I face him?" He asked himself.

"He probably thinks I'm some weird fag or something for kissing him like that."

Shima scratched his head his aggravated and frustrated.

"Why did I do that? Could I be falling for him?"

He shook his head.

"I can't be. I'm a guy and monk for crying out loud. I can't fall in love with another guy, yet alone a demon at that. What is wrong with me?"

He groaned and slammed his head in his pillow. He turned his head to the side, blushing profusely as he thought about Rin. His heart started racing again. He pouted his bottom lip.

"Maybe….I am…falling for him. I mean….he's incredibly handsome, even for a demon. He's cheerful and loyal. He has such determination and confidence in himself, which is something I wished I had. He wishes to prove himself to people, show them that he's strong, though he's already extremely strong. I always wished I could be like him."

Shima covered his mouth with hands again as he realized what he had just confessed.

"Shit, I am in love with him….."