Initiation Arc: The Battle Begins

As Rin Okumura looked out onto the empty True Cross grounds, he was reminded of the exact form of solitude he had achieved. Before, his solitude would be accented on the occasion of a rare fight with Yukio, but the priests and Father Fujimoto still insisting on keeping him company. Now, however, he had no one. He could not bear returning to the church after Father Fujimoto's death, and he and Yukio were no longer on speaking terms due to Yukio's expressed opinion Rin should be executed by the Vatican several days prior to the fallout with his friends. The fight had caused Rin to storm out of their shared room and make a comfortable residence in a room far from Yukio, on the other side of the dorm.

He did not have friends to turn to either- though before True Cross, he had only ever had one acquaintance (a slightly older male by the name of Isamu) whom he ran into on the streets occasionally, but they had more of a casual friendship than one involving tense discussions and supportive friendship. After all, he couldn't go to Isamu with the major emotional issues of his life, despite the revelation from Isamu himself that he was a demon banished from Gehenna soon after Rin realized he himself was Satan's son.

So, without his friend's from True Cross there to stand by him anymore and no brother to assist him, he was left with only Isamu or the priests. It wasn't an uncommon occurrence for one of them to call for advice, but spilling feelings was off-limits. It was their one rule, formed early in their semi-friendship.

"Isamu, I need something."

"Shoot, Okumura."

Rin inhaled slowly, "You remember the little issues we deal with, right?

'Little issues' was the fringe name that many banished demons used to describe their condition- demons in a world of humans and in constant danger of exorcists who would like nothing better than to see them burning or back in Gehenna.

"Make your point quick, or I hang up. I'm busy trying to get together people to fight that headmaster of your's for Gehena."

That was another issue, one Rin hadn't known about before joining True Cross. Isamu hadn't told him, having assumed Rin would simply drop out after middle school and work at a restaurant of some sort, thus not being involved. Mephisto had staged a coup-de-tat and took over Gehenna. It wasn't a surprise to some in Gehenna- Satan had been slowly weakening after meeting Yuri, and then after possessing Fujimoto did not retain enough strength to match one of his strongest full-demon sons.

"Well, I might not be here long, not to mention the Grigori is out to get me. I have six months to pass the exorcist exam or I'm toasted."

"Damn, you just get into all kinds of trouble don't you? Well, I may help you if you promise me something."

"What?"

"You have to join the fight."

If Rin was honest with himself, he knew that he wanted to join the fight. Mephisto had done nothing but manipulate him and try to get him exposed. As such, there was no real reason for Rin to continue supporting him, even given the 'opportunity' he had received to attend True Cross Academy.

"Deal."

"So you already know the Big Guy won't listen to us," Isamu had once tried praying- having known God's reputation for loving all people- and had been injured badly for his efforts, "And I doubt you're going to be much different, even if you do have some human in you. So, try it the Shinto way. Pray to that crazy-ass Fujimoto that raised you. As a demon, you can open special gateways, and that can let you see him for a bit. Be careful, though. Mention the word "father" without being specific which father and you'll get a taste of Satan's ghost. If he was bad alive, I can only imagine what the psycho bastard is like as a spirit.

"That being said, if you see Fujimoto, make sure you tell him."

Isamu was referring to one thing- and Rin knew exactly what he meant. Rin replied in thanks before hanging up. Kneeling by his bed like he had as a kid, Rin realized the door wasn't locked. He wouldn't want Yukio to walk in on him praying should he find the correct room (he hadn't informed Yukio which room he had taken), and as such, he made sure to lock it securely before he decided what he wanted to say to Fujimoto.
Kneeling by his bed in the fashion he had been taught by Shiro, he began:

"Fujimoto-san, I need some help. It would make sense that you may never want to see me again, but I really do need you to scold me or lecture me o-or," Rin's voice cracked. He wasn't sure why he couldn't say it, but braced himself and continued, " some fatherly guidance. I never told you how much I cherished everything. You really were a father to me, no matter what I said, and- I'm sorry! I can't tell you how sorry I am for what I said that night, and I can't help but want to make amends.

"I know you may never want to make amends, or to see me, but I want to give you the choice. I will leave this opening or connection or whatever it is open, but I can only hold it for so long," by this time, the tears were freely flowing and Rin was speaking barely above a whisper, "And, either way, I'm sorry. I'm so, so, so unbelievably sorry. I didn't realize how important Yukio and I were to you, and I didn't have any clue how important you were to me before you- before you-"

"I know Rin," Rin felt someone holding him in a tight hug, "I know."

"Fu- Dad?"

Fujimoto smiled, Rin was slightly surprised with how serious he seemed. He didn't often act very seriously, but listened as he spoke, "It's fine. I forgave you a long time ago. Don't worry about it. I suppose I was the same as a teenager, so I can't blame you either way."

This confused Rin, as the only image he had of his father was of a strong willed individual who made almost all the right choices (outside of his forms of entertainment).

"Yes, Rin, I was human too. I was rash and impulsive before I became a certified exorcist. It wasn't until I finished my training and was out on my own that I even began to consider gaining control of my decisions."

"But what should I do? There is no one for me to turn to, and I've already gotten committed to a war I don't fully understand the dynamic of."

Fujimoto looked at the boy solemnly. There was a war, a war that saw demons and angels working together. Granted, the banished demons were considered 'wraiths' or 'wandering spirits', but they were demons nonetheless and carried the abilities and natures of their own persons. Fujimoto had been surprised to learn that, contrary to popular belief, all demons and angels did not bow to their assumed proper authorities. While cases of angels were known to have 'fallen', it had been shocking to learn that many demons had aligned themselves with angels and God because they did not agree with the goings-on in Gehenna.

Rin presented a conundrum in itself, as well. He was half-demon, raised Christian (though Fujimoto was unclear on his beliefs, given he had prayed to Fujimoto instead of God), but still half human. He was fallible and could see things from the perspective of the humans and those bound to Assiah. God hadn't put Shiro in charge of the war effort for nothing. As this former squabble had caught his attention, the battle to overthrow Mephisto Pheles had resulted into a full war, lead by Fujimoto, causing angels to team with demons. Looking to Rin, he saw the potential to help him along, as well as the potential to shatter his current reality with another, far harsher one. One he had committed himself to.

"As my son, I'm going to ask you something important. While I know you are dedicated to overthrowing Gehenna, what is your ultimate goal?"

Rin looked him in the eye and hesitated before answering, "To take back Gehenna, and to gather support from the demon population for the uniting of humans and demons. I would not wish to unite the two realms, that could be disastrous," Rin had been told this by Isamu, who had been insistent that they make Gehenna accessible to Assiah and vice-versa, "and that prejudices be corrected. I just want for people to acknowledge each other- regardless of being of the demon race or the human race. That's exactly what they are- races. They can't be changed anymore than someone can change their relatives."

"Wise words coming from you, kid," Shiro guided Rin up, surprised by the lack of outburst from the half-demon, "You really have had time to mature and think this out, haven't you."

"Well, when Yukio is ignoring me and my friends don't give a damn, I get a lot of free time. I've also begun to use it to study. I only have three months to pass the Vatican's exorcist exams before I'm executed."

"What do you mean?"

And so, Rin spent their time discussing his deal with the Vatican, and subsequently, school. It wasn't long before the subjects came full circle.

"Rin," Shiro looked Rin dead in the eye before continuing, "I can help you, but you have to realize that the part of you that is human will be transitioned into something else. You will still be partially human, but not half."

"Okay? What would you be doing?"

"While I wouldn't be changing you to half angel, I would be giving you several attributes of an angel, as well as several abilities of one. It is rarely ever done, and usually to spirits. As you are likely close to giving up on holding this connection- I can recognize when you are fatigued, Rin- I want you to realize that you don't have to keep it. You can reject it as soon as you see it or within a few days. But if you do reject it, it can never be given to you again.

"I also want you to know that I don't want to see you here for a long time! And I will be having words with Yukio when he dies. You aren't like other demons, Rin. You will die, and you won't be automatically banished to Gehenna. Don't worry about dying, but living. Promise me that, won't you Rin?"
Rin thought on Shiro's words as he felt something burn his back and extend.

"I promise, Father."

And it wasn't an acknowledgment of Shiro's position or title, but an acknowledgment of their small family that Shiro heard as Rin left the in-between world in which he could speak to his deceased father and returned to his own world. One of pain and heartbreak, one of war. But, more importantly, the world for the living.