A/N
I'm not gonna spend forever here but I just wanna say hey! I hope you guys enjoy this idea that I have; I can't wait to write more and, as soon as exams are over, then I'll be updating quite frequently. Until then, though, this is probably going to be the only chapter for about a month. But that all depends on you. I'd love to hear what you think of this first chapter if you have the time ^^
Anyhoo, enjoy the chapter ^^
Peace out, my lovely peeps!XxX
(Also I'm gonna use horizontal lines to break up any small time skips I might make in the chapter. And by small, I mean minutes or hours... Basically changed in location and stuff like that. You get it, right?)
"Damn I swear this freaking sun hates me!" I growl with a distasteful pout to Yukio, who's sat at his desk whilst his pen lazily darts over the papers before him, most likely running through and marking the latest test we took in cram school. He may as well just give me my F right now; there's not really any point in waiting in anticipation since there's no hope of me getting a better grade. Everyone knows I work better on the field anyways! Being an exorcist isn't about all the little facts; it's about beating the crap out of demons! But apparently grades matter, which is something I never understood.
When I get no response from my twin, I puff out my cheeks, huffing loudly as my eyes stare out of the window, able to see the way that whatever lies in my vision ripples due to the sheer heat. It's so freaking warm in here! And, because our dormitory block is most likely as old as our old man was, it doesn't have any AC at all. So all we have to rely on to keep us cool is a shitty little fan that just spits the hot air back in my face at a faster speed. Again, Yukio doesn't shift, so I roll my eyes and lean forward, my elbows connecting with the wood of my desk as my tail dangles limply behind me; there's no way I'm keeping it bottled up under my shirt in weather like this. Plus, it's just Yukio and I, so it doesn't really matter. Screw that whole 'a real gentleman keeps his tail tucked in tight' bull that Mephisto preaches; if I want it out, then out it shall be.
Feeling sweat starting to bead on my forehead, I grasp the small silver clasp that I borrowed from Bon when I first joined cram school last year and use it to pin my hair out of my face, wiping the back of my hand over my skin and pulling a face of distaste before rubbing it on my shirt. I then fall back into my chair, sighing loudly. In doing so, Yukio suddenly slams his pen down and my entire body jumps, a startled look spreading over my features as my eyes widen. And, when I focus my gaze on him, his eyebrow is twitching in irritation.
"Rin, if you're so hot, just go out for a freaking walk! I'm trying to mark these papers and I can't with your constant moaning!" Yukio yells, causing me to flinch in reaction. I've really pissed him off, haven't I? Scrabbling up from my seat, I quickly get to my feet before he can shout at me any more, though a pout riddles my lips.
"Well if you're gonna be an ass about it," I retort before spinning around on the spot and proceeding to exit before Yukio can respond, leaving him alone in that hellhole of a room. Then again, it's not like it's much cooler out here either; if anything, it's probably worse! The corridors are so stuffy and I can barely swallow my breaths without it feeling as if the air is clinging to my throat as it slips down to my lungs. I hate summer.
As I'm descending the steps, I have to quietly tread past a slumbering Kuro, his mouth hanging open whilst a little bit of drool dribbles from it. Though I crinkle my nose as if to say 'eww', I still crouch down to give him a small scratch behind his ear, smiling to myself when he begins purring in his sleep. I swear, if I didn't have him around most of the time to keep me company, I'd probably already be insane; as hard as it may be to believe, the differences that have developed between Yukio and I over the years has kinda made it more difficult to live with him. But it's not as if I mind; I have Kuro and he has his test papers. I guess we're both pretty happy is what I'm getting at.
Finally, I make it to the outside world, though I instantly want to retreat indoors when the heat hits me like a wave, the sun's unforgiving rays attacking my skin the second it's exposed to the light. Huffing, I roll my eyes and begin my walk towards town; perhaps I'll be able to get an ice-cream or something to cool off. Though it'll probably cost a shitload because the sellers are gonna have to make a profit somehow, using the weather to their advantage, I don't doubt that it'd be totally worth it in the end. Anything to rid myself of this stinging heat for at least a couple of minutes.
As I walk, I allow my mind to wander, my hands idly fiddling with the strap that holds my sword against my back, the coarse material rubbing on my skin, though I kinda just ignore it. Though it's only been about a week, I'm already missing everyone from cram school; they've all gone to Kyoto to visit Bon and Shima's families. I'd have gone with them, however, no matter how much I begged, Yukio refused to let me, stating that I needed to 'catch up with studying'. As if! He's just bummed because he couldn't go since he has mountains of work to do, meaning that he wouldn't have found the time. Even still, it pisses me off that he had to drag me down with him.
Sighing, I fold my arms as I enter town, soon becoming surrounded by swamping crowds until I begin to feel a little claustrophobic, people pushing me here and shoving me there just so that they can get past. It's like trying to walk around in a huge sardine can; everyone's so tightly packed together, it's nearly impossible to go anywhere without bumping into another person or stepping on their foot. And, given my record of being a clumsy idiot, I always manage to do a combination of both. Plus, to add to the already sweltering heat, the more people there are around me, the more my body warms up with my agitation. What does it take for a guy to get some personal space here?!
Since I'm so wrapped up in my own thoughts, I accidentally find myself colliding with yet another person, though this one is a little shorter than me, her forehead being forced against my chest upon impacting with me. Instantly, she backs up, her wide, magenta eyes sparkling in the sunlight whilst her sakura hair frames her round face in tight ringlets.
"S-Sorry! I lost my purse," she mutters quickly with a bow, an awkward laugh escaping from me as I nervously rub my nape, my cheeks taking on a pinkish tint. When I lower my hand, I shrug again, smiling kindly.
"It's no biggie. Do you need help looking?" I offer to her, thinking it's probably the only thing I can do to make up for walking right into her due to me not paying attention to my surroundings. Upon hearing my request, her eyes widen a little with what looks to be hope, her irises glimmering.
"Y-You'd do that?!" She gasps, a smile appearing on her features and bringing out a ghost of a dimple on her right cheek, something that causes my blush to deepen. Damn, she's really cute. However, I don't understand why she seems so shocked that I'm willing to do such a thing; I'm not that intimidating am I? Nodding in response, she suddenly grabs my hand and begins pulling me through the crowds, my eyes scanning for the purse that this girl has lost. "My name's Shoki by the way," she mutters in that same cheerful ring, a smile tickling my lips as I realize that her name is pretty much as adorable as she is.
"Rin," I respond, Shoki turning around to face me, her salmon-coloured hair fanning out with the momentum until her glistening eyes are locked with mine, most likely able to make out my blushing cheeks. Well, there goes all of my dignity.
"Nice to meet you, Rin! I think I know where I might have dropped my purse!" Shoki suddenly exclaims, her face lighting up with realization, as if the whereabouts of her clearly treasured accessory has suddenly popped into her mind, enabling us to locate it. "But it's gonna be hard finding it," she mutters with a pout, confusion managing to dart onto my features for a few seconds before she pulls me towards exactly where it is that she's talking about, the narrow entrance to the back alleys staring me in the face. Frowning, I allow my eyes to investigate, wondering why she'd even go back there. Such a small and innocent girl such as her surely wouldn't find comfort in the creepy dwelling-place of demons, would she? Who knows; chicks these days have all kinds'a hobbies.
"I'm sure we can if we work together!" I reply, shoving all doubt out of my tone so that I can reassure her; I'm not about to be a downer by interrogating her about why she'd go near a dank place such as the back alleys. I guess I'm just going to have to accept it. Giggling a little with glee, confirming that I gave the right answer, she once again starts tugging on my arm, leading me down the winding passage.
An hour, yes an hour, passes and still no sign of this freaking purse. I've tried to stop myself from getting worked up about it; I was the one who offered to help in the first place, but this is just getting ridiculous! I'm hot, sweaty, and the humidity of these alleys is though the roof! I swear, trudging around back here is like trying to walk through water! Eventually, Shoki and I regroup, both of us clearly exhausted since we're both panting like crazy, sweat lining our skin. "I don't get it; we looked everywhere!" I breathe, rubbing the base of my neck as I frown, my eyes flickering down the several routes that branch off from our current position, wondering if there was something I missed. No, I'm pretty sure I checked every possible location, both high and low. This isn't making any sense. "I've been meaning to ask, though. Why would someone like you be hanging around a place like this?" The second I ask that question, everything changes.
All of a sudden, there's a hand pressed firmly against my throat, forcing my body up against the brickwork of the nearest building that constructs the pathway that we're down right now. Letting out a strained breath, my eyes flicker to meet with Shoki's, though what I see sends spikes of uncomfortable ice into my blood, chilling me in a way that I don't appreciate.
Glaring back at me, a pair of ebony eyes bearing flaring, crimson pupils rage, Shoki's face twisted into a sadistic grin as she squeezes my neck tighter, a strangled scream slipping free from my slightly ajar mouth. I can't breathe. She's suffocating me! I can't fucking breathe! Air. I need air now! The blood in my face begins to burn, pressure starting to increase by the second until it feels as if my head's going to explode. Dammit, I need to breathe!
All the while, Shoki just laughs as my legs flail around in an attempt to kick her away, hoping that she'll release me and I can gasp down the oxygen that I'm beginning to desperately require; my lungs are already searing, along with the rest of my body. How is she so freaking strong?! Soon enough, I'm unable to draw even the tiniest scrap of air into my system, my legs going limp as weakness gradually takes over my limbs, preventing me from fighting back in any way. Is this really how I'm gonna die? No! I'm not going to! My friends... If I'm ever gonna die, I need to say goodbye to them first! This isn't how I'm gonna go, no way!
The second I let my anger free, my body erupts into a flare of blue flames that attacks Shoki's arm, a demonic scream tearing from her as she releases me, my body tumbling to the ground whilst I let out a pained cry. As I'm busy trying to regain breath, my weak hands fumble with the clasp on my sheath, trying to free my sword so that I can fight this bitch and kill her before she gets to me first.
"Demon... I can't eat you," I hear Shoki spit, my stomach falling in on itself when she does. What does she mean 'eat'?! What the fucking hell is she?! Shaking my head to rid myself of that question, not wishing to waste any time at all, I finally unbuckle the final clasp, the crimson material falling away to expose the scabbard that houses Kurikara, my hand instantly ensnaring the hilt. True, I'm about to use my powers in public, however, I think it's kind of an emergency! However, before I can tug my blade free, a suddenly feel a slicing sensation tear through my torso, a few seconds passing before I release a scream of agony. And then comes the inability to breathe again. Collapsing onto my front, I start gasping like a fish that's been dragged out of water, desperately trying to claw some oxygen into my lungs. What has she done to me?!
It takes next to no time for my blood to begin pooling around me, insane laughter echoing off of the walls to counteract my shrieks of pain, though I'm soon silenced as I run out of breath to fuel my cries. I don't understand! What's happening to me?! Why can't I breathe?! "What's it like trying to breathe with one lung? I've always been curious. Hahahahahaha~!" Shoki giggles manically, my pulse speeding up rapidly whilst my eyes widen in terror.
Using every out of strength I can muster, I roll onto my back, gasping sharply as I'm no longer able to scream when my eyes track down to where her arm tore through my flesh. And, just as she implied, there's a hole punched right through where my left lung would be, blood tumbling from the wound that twists and tears to cause an unbearable amount of blinding agony. And, no matter how much I try, I can't seem to suck in enough air to satisfy my body, my throat already starting to tighten as my ability to take in the required amount of oxygen has been removed. I can't die... I can't! Not if that thing lives to kill others!
Though it's extremely difficult and causes me insane amounts of searing and torturous pain, I manage to grasp the hilt of my sword in my right hand, my eyes glaring at Shoki as she cackles with the laughter of a truly insane beast. If I'm gonna die, I'm taking her down with me! Knowing that, if I stop to think about it, I'll never be able to do it, I yank my blade free and waste no time in plunging it through her stomach with a strained cry.
I know that I've made my mark when I hear Shoki's screams of agony rip through the air, my flames raging around her and burning her to what is hopefully a crisp, though I'm unable to watch her meet her demise since, the second I'm satisfied that she's going to die a horrible and fiery death, I flop back again, my back roughly colliding with the harsh ground. So this is it, huh? After everything... After all the shit I've suffered, this is how I'm going to die. All alone, choking to death on my own blood before anyone that I know or love will be able to find me. I'm all alone.
I wish I didn't have to be, but I guess I was stupid. Stupid enough to follow that vile creature down here whilst ignoring what all of my instincts were screaming at me. I'm such a damn idiot! If I had the strength, I'd hit my head against the floor, but I can't even manage to carry out that simple action; I'm completely paralyzed. My body refuses to respond to my commands, no matter how many times I issue them.
So here I lay, gasping as I bleed out on the cobbles, my breaths getting thinner and thinner as I desperately try to provide myself with necessary air. But it's useless; living with one lung is impossible. And, considering where I am, there's no hope that anyone's gonna save me. As my breathing gets faster, I let a tear slip from my eye, on final twist of agony ripping through me until my vision finally starts to blur out to black.
But not before I see a sudden flash of white through the darkness.