Chapter 2: Irremediable
Rin stayed in bed for the rest of the next day and the one after that. Yukio at least was able to get him to eat some soup a few times. There was a knock at the door and Yukio stood up after minding his paperwork and opened it, finding the others there. He had known they were worried to an extent when a few of the classroom questions had gone in Rin's direction, but he had told them he was sick. There was no other replaceable word for his condition.
"Why, hello there everyone."
"Hi, Yuki." Shiemi smiled warmly at him and that helped ease some of the stress of the day, tight muscles in his shoulders relaxing without his knowledge.
"Hello, Shiemi." Yukio stepped aside and let the small group in. "If you guys are here to see Rin, he's asleep in his room. He hasn't woken up for very long the last few days. Whatever you do, don't touch him."
Bon stepped in, the frown that was forever on his face just a tab darker now as he turned on him like an angry dog would an abusive owner. "And just what does that mean? We're not here to just stare at the guy."
"Unless you want a first degree burn, you'd do best to listen." Yukio closed the door as they all congregated inside. He ushered then further inward. "I'll explain when we're all sitting down."
"Tsh, fine." Bon faced forward and headed off in the direction of the bedroom, Shiemi on his heals. The two other males who had remained behind them shared and apologetic smile and gesture.
"Sorry about that, Teach. Bon's really been on edge lately. I guess Okumura is like his rival or something and he has the strange idea in his head that, even if he scores on a test, he's not really winning unless the other party is there to be gloated at or something."
Yukio waved him off. "It's fine. I noticed Suguro's grades slipping. I assumed, like me, it was because his mind wasn't on the work. I wouldn't be surprised if some of the errors though weren't mine, at least in judgment." Yukio started after the other two who disappeared down the hallway. "I can worry about that later though. I suppose you all should know what's going on."
…
"So…. What are we suppose to do?" Shima kicked his foot against the carpet, sitting in one of the desk chairs backwards and looking at the other silent figures in the room.
"It isn't like I'm dead and I'm getting better." Rin pouted, turning his had to the side. "'Sides, even if we don't know what this is, it's over now, or will be soon."
"And if you get sick again?" Yukio spoke up. "Rin you can barely make it to the toilet."
Yukio wasn't privy to seeing his brother blush very often but those words sent color across his checks and he turned in a flash, angry blue eyes staring him down even as he knew he couldn't get out of bed. "Will you shut up about stuff like that!?"
"If he can yell this loud, I say he's all better." Bon stuck a finger in his ear while he sat in the only other chair, suddenly not caring much about what went on around him. "You better start coming to class."
"As if that's the first thing on my mind." Rin folded his arms and leaned back, though the second he did his eyes started to fall closed, stopping halfway as if daring his body to try and make him sleep against his will. "Damn it."
Yukio was pretty sure several in the room shared that response.
"Here, Rin." Shiemi held out something that looked like a skinny, half rotted potato, to him. Rin took it hesitantly, staring at the thing and expecting it to snap at him or something.
"Thanks?"
"It will help you get better."
Rin's smile grew. "Thanks Shiemi, that's just what I need. Ah… do I boil it or something?"
Shiemi laughed a quiet little laugh that had several of the guys in the room focus on her.
"Aw you have such a cute little laugh." Shima pointed to himself. "You should really try going out with me sometime. I bet I could make you-" He was cut off but a sharp pain in his side as Izumo drew her fist back.
"You should really learn how to keep your mouth shut."
"Sorry." Shima hung his head, not even sure who he was apologizing to. He hadn't even said anything yet.
It took a second for Shiemi to realize the others were looking at her. Her startled expression didn't fade as she turned to Rin, a blush on her face as well. "Yes, you boil it."
Rin tossed it back to her, watching her fumble with it before the root settled in her grasp. "Give it to Yukio then. I'm not allowed out of bed until my fever's down."
"It is not my fault that I'm afraid you'll burn your way through the carpet."
"You're making me pee in a cup!"
Rin's words, instead of defending himself against his brother's treatment, made all of the others laugh to one degree or another. The teen turned from the group, color back there on his face. Yukio didn't miss the twitch of his tail under the covers. He was like an angry kitty cat.
"I'll go cook this for you." Shiemi stood, the smile back on her face as she left the room with small, hurried steps made short by her long skit.
"And here we thought you were dying or something." Izumo was sitting near Shima, leaning against the desk. "And all this was for a little fever?"
"It's not little." Yukio found the amusement from seconds earlier quickly leaving him as the situation once again sunk in. "And it's not a fever. You know it's not too, don't you Rin?"
Rin kind of half shrugged. "I don't know. I've never been sick before. Not since the old man died anyway." Apparently Rin's own skin was immune to the same effects the other's weren't as he touched his own forehead without any change in expression. "I don't feel warm or anything, but the sheets and air feel a bit chilly."
"Rin, it's ninety-two degrees out today. I'd have the fan on if I wasn't trying to make sure you stayed warm."
"Yeah man, I'm sweating my ass off here." Bon pulled the collar of his shirt away, the beads of sweat obvious where they glued part of the material to his skin. "That really must be some fever if you think it's chilly in here."
"I said it's not a fever," Yukio repeated himself, as it seemed the others in the room were ignoring him. "I think it might be something you touched or ate and you're having a bad reaction to it." He stood, getting a pen and paper and setting it on top of Rin's covered legs. "Write down everything you did and everywhere you went the day before and day that this started."
Rin stared up at him, one eye half falling shut as his mouth partially opened in an expression of disbelief. "Huh? You want me to do that all right now? And you expect me to remember every little thing?"
"Yes, I do."
"Ah," Rin sighed. He grew contemplative after, picking up the pencil and pad, tapping the former against the sheet. "Yesterday is pretty much a blank and the day before all I remember is getting back here, so it must have been something before that."
"We can work backwards if that's easier."
Rin snorted but shrugged. "Fine then. I walked here along the same path I always do. I didn't see anything or talk to anyone. Before that, I guess I just had all my classes. I don't remember doing anything differently. Hm."
Rin looked like he was really thinking for once and after a few moments of that, Yukio couldn't help laughing. "It looks like your brains about to pop."
"Will you just shut up?"
Rin threw the pen at him and Yukio didn't have much time to react before it bounced off his forehead, leaving a small mark, and clattering onto the carpet.
But the others were laughing at this point to and Rin just went back to brooding, knocking the paper out of his lap and onto the floor. "Don't ask me to do this if you're just going to make fun of me. It's pointless anyway. I don't remember anything strange happening at all so unless you want me to tell you every time I took a crap, get a better idea."
"Well, if it's nothing you did, maybe you did really just get sick. You're weird enough that I'd believe it." Bon was equally as amused as the others had been but he wasn't as ready to throw off this episode as being nothing. Getting sick wasn't really that funny.
"Maybe." Izumo stood up, folding her arms. "The truth of the matter is, you're not really a demon, are you? You had to have a human mother. Maybe you're still kind of human."
"You are either one or the other." Yukio pushed his glasses up, trying to explain this concept. "The children born of both human and demon always carry on the traits of one or the another. The Blood of both human and demon cannot mix. Rin was human until last year but once his demonic powers took over, he became what he is now. There is no in-between point. Unless he's the first demon in history to get sick, I think it has to be something else."
"He did kind of set the marker for new and weird things." Bon shot a cocky grin Rin's way. "Bet you could write a whole book about it."
"You know I'd kick your ass if I weren't stuck in bed." Rin half got up, the covers pulled back as he knelt and his tail swished behind him, readying him to fly at the guy. There was a noticeable dullness that overtook his gaze and the fire was gone just as quickly, Rin half falling back onto the bed.
"I told you not to move you idiot." Yukio stood up, going over to Rin and making sure the cloth was in place still before touching his forehead. "You're still burning up."
"Maybe we could seal his power. You said that that might be what's causing this, right?" Konekomaru didn't know much about sicknesses in demons, but he did know wardings, sealings, and exorcisms as well if not better than the others did. "If we seal him in a room or circle, we should be able to stop the fever, right?"
Yukio let out a breath. He'd also had his thoughts in a similar place for a while. "It took a lot of energy to seal his power into the sword. That was the most that could be held back and even then it didn't last. We'd be as good as fighting Rin and his potential is exceptional." He met his brother's eyes. "That doesn't mean you are, so don't get the wrong idea."
"We could at least pull off a barrier for a few hours." Bon stood. He eyed Rin before quickly glancing away. "Maybe you can get better by the time it falls."
Rin looked up, falling back on the bed so he was sitting. He thought about that for a second before grinning. "Think you guys can take me?"
Bon snorted in humor and pointed to himself. "Hey, don't insult me. I could take you in my sleep."
"Yeah, we'll I haven't seen you try yet. Scared?"
"You're the one who should be scared!"
"Now, now." Yukio put his hands out, trying to stop the argument before it went any further. "Right now Rin being sick might actually be a good thing. I honestly don't think that any of you are ready to try and put this kind of barrier up against his power, that is, if he were at full strength." He turned to Rin, offering his hand. "It's worth a shot."
Rin grinned all the more and clasped his hand. "Bring it. I can try and hold back as much as I can, but I'm not making any promises." He stood, his legs nearly giving out, Yukio swooping an arm under him to keep his brother on his feet.
"I don't think we have to worry about that much."
Rin's smile was weaker but it was there. "Yeah. Sorry." He winced, putting a hand to his stomach. "What about food? I know Shiemi was making something, but honestly I'm freaking starved."
"Better you are. The weaker you are, the easier it will be on us."
"And quit acting like such a tough guy." Bon got on his other side, helping steady Rin. "It just makes you look like an idiot."
"Look who's taking."
"I said enough." Yukio let out a breath, his shoulders dropping. How old were they, really? This was going to be a long day. "Let's go to the kitchen and see if Shiemi's done. We'll need her help, just in case anything goes wrong. I'll clear the back yard. You should all get something to eat yourselves and Rin, try not to cause too much trouble while I'm gone."
"As if. Stop acting like I'm a walking disaster."
"Well, aren't you?"
Rin glowered under a few chuckles from the others as they all walked from the room. Ukobach would be able to handle the others but he wasn't sure if he could trust the demon to withhold food from Rin. He was, after all, his biggest critic.
…
Yukio left all of them in the kitchen, hoping that nothing more would go wrong. He had to go back to their room to get a few of the things he'd need. The circle would come first, along with a few talismans that the others would be using.
He really wasn't sure about this. It wasn't the first time he'd restrained a demon, but most of the time it was done no one had been worried about its health. After placing a few warding charms around the parameter, he really wasn't sure. He held his arm in a nervous gesture before taking a breath and letting it out. Maybe he should have consulted Shura or Sir Pheles.
"Hey, Teach."
Yukio turned to Bon when he headed around the corner, his hands in his pockets. It seemed his student was observing his work and Yukio normally would have been happy with the impressed attention his work received if his conscience weren't busy eating away at him about the fact that this was very likely to harm Rin.
"You really know your stuff. I guess you're not the teach for nothing. We're all ready. Okumura got a stomach ache or something from the root but we didn't let him touch anything else."
"Thank you. I'll be right in." Yukio went over, grabbing a vial before closing the briefcase, once more looking at the patch of no longer empty grass as he followed Bon back into the dormitory.
Did he always have to walk in on something unwelcoming?
He could actually see steam coming from Rin where he was kind of half leaning on the table, Shiemi holding what appeared to be a wet cloth to his head and a bowl of water in front of her. Rin didn't look as well as he had when he'd left and it was clear what fight he had in him earlier was now gone.
"I stepped out for two seconds. What happened?" Bon ran over to the others, Yukio taking his time. The words alone would get him the explanation he wanted.
"I don't know. Rin just started saying he was getting cramps and then he started just… doing this." Shiemi put the cloth that had been in her hands back into the water and when she placed it back on Rin's forehead, Yukio watched a few traces of the water evaporate.
"I'm fine." Rin made no effort to push her away though. He did sit up more, but Yukio was pretty sure that, no matter what, Rin was always going to stay the punk he had been since he was a kid. He always hated to admit he was hurt, even when Yukio himself had been the one to clean up the blood and cuts.
"Let me see." Yukio stepped over, moving his hand under his chin and making Rin raise his hand to face him. He hissed and drew his fingers back, not burned but it seemed that his skin was hot as well.
"Just stop touching me." Rin turned back away and Yukio had to put a hand roughly on his shoulder to get him to look back.
"I'm fine. Now let me see your face."
Rin turned back grudgingly, shooting him a glare that almost looked like it glinted with the same blue flames.
"Are you really that mad at me? This isn't the first time I've had to look after you."
"Yeah, but you never did it in front of everyone before," Rin grumbled under his breath. Yukio paid him no mind, grateful once more for the bandages on his hand. Rin did feel hotter than he had earlier, but it was so hard to tell without a real way of judging.
"Can you walk?"
"Course I can walk."
Yukio let out a breath. "Then come on, let's go. Suguro, will you give me a hand again?"
"Sure." Bon went around, helping him get Rin to his feet, muttering himself as well. "Still acting like a touch guy."
Yukio and the others walked around back, Rin fighting in both their holds to walk on his own but it was clear that wouldn't be happening. He was far too wobbly.
He tightened his hold when the others spread themselves out. A few were hesitant and Bon didn't leave either.
"Hey, nothing bad is going to happen if we just seal his power, right?"
Yukio pushed his glasses up. "We'll be sealing, not attacking. It's been done hundreds of times. Rin already had it done once, when he was a child." And they didn't have near the same power, not to mention Rin had far better control and could fight back now. His words were for his brother when he spoke once more. "I can't guarantee it will be painless, but it will help us get further with helping you."
"I'll be fine." This time Rin did shake himself off, shoving his hands in his sweater pockets before walking over to the circle. "So what am I supposed to do?"
"I think asking you to stand is a bit too much so sit in the middle of the circle. We'll work on the rest."
Rin walked the rest of the way forward, crossing the line of the circle. As long as he stayed in there, this should be foolproof.
Yukio went forward with him, opening the vial and spilling a little blood on the circle. He pressed his hands together, watching the others as they tried to make sure they were evenly spaced. "Suguro, Miwa, Shima- you three take up the other directional positions. Moriyama and Kamiki, be sure to back us up if necessary."
There were a few more adjustments made and Yukio started the chant, hearing the others pick up after him.
The ring began to glow and Yukio's eyes began to focus on Rin. As long as they could stop that demonic energy, his brother could get better. His power has done nothing but get him into fights he shouldn't be in and seclude him even more than Rin already was. He didn't need this too.
As the energy began to grow, the light from the circle rose. In a few more seconds it was closed. Rin didn't look comfortable but he didn't let that stop his chanting.
Shiemi speaking drew his attention away for a moment. "Maybe we should stop. Rin looks really sick."
Yukio knew that. He could see his brother as well as she could, near curled up on himself. This couldn't be hurting him though and, with another few verses, the barrier would be self-sustainable for a while. It was too late now for Rin's demonic power to fight against them. It had nothing to draw in.
Shiemi's worrying fidgeting was unnerving him and it wasn't until the words faded and he was able to let out a breath did Yukio start to calm himself down. "Rin, how are you doing in there?"
Rin had his arms wrapped around his legs but Yukio could just barely see him shake his head. That wasn't much of an answer but at least he'd be safe in there. The warding would keep out any attacks aimed from the outside on the off chance anything happened.
"We'll wait and let his body heal. We only sealed his power. It shouldn't have anything to do with his healing ability." He still was a demon.
"But he really doesn't look good."
"I agree." Izumo walked over, a slip of paper for her summoning between her fingers. "I've seen the guy take a lot of hits but I've never seen him like this before. He looks worse than when we started."
Yukio did have to think about that. She had a point. He glanced back over at his brother. "If he doesn't look better in ten minutes, we'll drop the barrier and see if anything has changed."
…
Ten minutes passed and Yukio wasn't the only one who was suddenly in favor of letting Rin out. He could have gotten up and walked out on his own, since it hadn't been made to physically trap him, but walking seemed like a supernatural power for the time being.
The barrier was down after half a minute and a few of them walked in. Yukio bent down, checking Rin's forehead again and finding the same fever, his powers likely having attacked him the second the barrier was gone. "What happened? Did the barrier help at all?"
"No." Rin's words were barely distinguishable. "It hurts worse. Don't do that again, please."
It was the pleading in his voice more than anything that made Yukio frown. "Nothing could have hurt you and that should have blocked any self-inflicted wounds."
"I wasn't hot. It burns." Rin went to move his hand, apparently the only thing that was keeping him sitting up. He fell on his side, his fingers crinkling up his shirt where he grabbed at himself. "It hurts real bad."
"Rin!" Yukio tried to get him to sit up again but with those last words, Rin's battle with consciousness was lost. What had he done wrong? Had he messed up the circle? Rin's fire was still burning him…
Had he just made it worse?
