I own nothing, not the characters, the space where this story exists, or even the eyes that you are using to read it. This is for entertainment purposes only, no money involved.
Rin sat in the rows of benches in front of the church's shrine, looking up at the statue of an angel. He wasn't praying. He couldn't even remember the last time he had prayed for anything. Even Shiro Fujimoto, his adoptive father, a licensed exorcist, and the priest of the church, had never really been one for praying your problems away.
He could remember a time when he was a boy before the middle school entrance exams when Father Fujimoto caught him praying to do better on the exams. He laughed at him and told him to stop wasting his time before pulling a chair up and helping Rin study. It was too bad Shiro was so bad at Japanese Literature. It was a small miracle that Rin managed to pass.
No, Rin was not praying. He was thinking about the girl. The way she moved. She had so much purpose and confidence in every step. She could even block attacks aimed at her while her back was turned. She had been incredible. Far more skilled then any of the random street fighting Rin had ever done or seen. Good enough to even kill a real monster.
Rin had no doubt that it was all real. The throbbing pain in his shoulder was enough to convince him of that. Rin eyes clouded as he tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. "I wonder... how she would handle a sword..." Rin mumbled as he closed his eyes and pictured the girl holding a fair sized Japanese sword. But it was odd... the image of the sword was so crystal clear. Its blade shone white in the light of some blue flames surrounded it.
He was shocked out of the day dream when he felt something cold on his forehead. He nearly jumped out of his seat and his hands struggled to catch the can of cold green tea that had been place on his forehead.
"You know Rin, next time you bring a nice middle aged woman to our door for me to look at. Make sure she isn't injure. Nice tits are preferable." Shiro joked as he dropped down into the seat next to Rin. He took out a cigarette and lit it.
Father Fujimoto was dressed like a respectable priest, in his plain black preacher's jacket and pants. He had wired spectacles with orange tints and his hand was covered in untamed gray hair and beard.
"Shut up, you perverted priest!" Rin snapped as he opened the can and took a few sips. "And you really shouldn't be smoking in a moldy old place like this. You'll end up burning the place down."
"Well that was hash. Next time you get into a fight and come home all injured, I clean your wounds with salt. You know Yukio isn't around anymore and I'm not as gentle with it as he is. They way I see it if you were dumb enough to get into the fight you need to at least feel the pain for a while." Shiro said with an off putting grin. But the smile slipped away. "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"
Rin paused, he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know if Shiro would believe him. "It was... a guy with a knife. I heard the woman being mugged and I ran over to help. The... police arrived and took care of it." Rin lied. It was pretty obvious he was lying.
"Oh, the police did huh... well that's good to here." Shiro said standing up he walked behind his adopted son, and then punched in on the back of the head.
"OW!.. what was that for you dirty old man!?" Rin barked angrily.
"I thought I raised you better than to lie like that! It wasn't even a convincing one!" Shiro yelled back. "If you don't want to tell me, then don't! But don't openly lie about it!"
"Don't pretend like your my dad!" Rin shouted back.
"Oh? So your saying I'm not the one that puts food on the table for you? Or have you managed to keep a job this time?" Shiro said with a taunting smile. Rin froze and looked away with a pout. "I thought so. Seriously Rin, when are you going to grow up? You can't just live in this place forever you know?"
"Shut up! It wasn't my fault! At least I'm trying to get a real job, and not 'helping' people with imaginary demon!" Rin stopped again as the word demon left his mouth. Was that what the creature from before had been, a demon? "They... aren't real." He mumbled. Shiro frowned at the expression on his son's face.
"Rin... You are not to leave the church grounds tomorrow." Shiro said seriously.
"What!? You can't just say that!" Rin objected.
"This isn't up for discussion!" Shiro shouted, his voice was dead serious. So serious that Rin's will to fight against it disappeared. "I'm going to make a call to a friend about getting your shoulder stitched." Shiro said and left the room.
Rin could stop it as a lie, the old priest had already stitched Rin's wounds closed... but why was he lying?
It didn't matter, because Rin was not going to stay inside all day. He had already made a back up plan in case his last job didn't work. There was a couple that was about to get married and they were having an addition for a pianist to play at the wedding. Rin had been playing the piano at the church since he was old enough to climb onto the sees.
It had always seemed that anything that was considered artistic came naturally to Rin, will anything academic was more of his brother's skill set. Rin could cook, draw, sing, dance, and could play four different instruments nearly on the professional level. But he could never learn to read properly and it took his until he was eight to learn to tie his own shoes, which was the reason he opted to walk around bare foot as a child. His brother said that there was a fancy word for people like him that wasn't insulting, but it wasn't one that he could remember.
And if he preformed well as this one wedding, then he would be able to do it again in the future, maybe make a real job out of it.
So he didn't care what his 'father' said. He was going to go out the next day.
Shiro stood at the phone holding his cigeritte out as he listened to the ring. Part of his hoped that no one would answer. Or that he would walk up and that it will have all been just a dream. He couldn't help but to hope he was wrong, even though he knew that simply wish for this never did anyone any good. If he wanted the world to change, he had to do it with his own two hands. No hesitating. Sloth was the most deadly of sins, if the slowest to become fatal. And with the devil himself knocking at the door of the church, this priest wasn't going to show any weakness.
"Hellllloooo!" A cheer voice said when the phone was finally picked up.
"Mephisto... it's me." Shiro said grimly. "I think the boy was attacked today, and received a spirit wound... I don't know how much long it will be until he wakes up to who he is."
"Well, that is a shame. You had a good run, but the boy shall be under my wing for now on. I'll be their tomorrow night to pick him up." Mephisto said and someone on the other side of the line hung up.
Shiro slowly lowered the phone, a pained expression crossing his face. He was going to have to let go of Rin. It was too dangerous for him to stay at the church. But Shiro straightened up. Even if Rin was going to have to leave, he would be damned if he ever let anyone try to hurt his son. No mater what the risks would be, Shiro swore he would protect Yuri's boys. No mater the personal cost.
He moved to cabinet and pulled out a special key from his pocket. Unlocking the cabinet, he opened it up to reveal an entire treasure trove of weapons and holy symbols and Sutras. He might not have been a saint, but he was still Rin's father, and he was still one hell of an exorcist.
Even if the Eight Warriors themselves came for the boy before tomorrow came. He will take down each and every one of them. No one was going to hurt his boy.
Shiro. You only wish you could be half the father he is.
