PLACE CALLED HOME

.

Disclaimer: Kazue Kato & Amano Akira

.

Genre (s) : Hurt/Comfort/Family

.

Warn: Typo was my most loyal fans, Spelling mistakes 'cause English is not my mother language, Possibly OOC, Mostly Fluff.

.

A/N: Another 7k chap! No, it's 8k! Huwaaa I broke my promise! Kick me, my fellow reader, kick meee! TAT

For RinxShiemi fans, sorry. But I prefer RinxIzumo. It's a pity though, my fav ship never has enough appearance in fanfiction site…

I want to warn you, my fellow reader. In this chap, Tsuna will speak different languages for a while. And from Rin's point of view, it'll sound foreign to him. I translate it with google translator, so for you who actually study the language, don't hesitate to correct me if you find error(s)

And my beta said that I should put the English translation beside the foreign language and inside brackets. But...I don't know...

So I'm not dismissing your suggestion, my beta, but rather I want to ask my reader's opinion first; should I put the translation like you suggest or should I put it in the end of the chap. Please, please send me your opinion via review or PM, 'kay?

Btw check novirpdotdeviantartdotcom/ gallery/ (delete the space and change the word 'dot' with .) I wanna show you, my reader, about my version of Rin's family. Maan...Lucifer, Egyn, and Beelzebub totally look like a girl, especially Egyn. I'm not very good at drawing long-haired man without them looking very feminine, they look like bishounen(s)`3`

Betaed by Notepadhalffull

.

.

.

There was one time when Yukio decided to invite his students to bunk with them in his and Rin's old dorm. Bon and Konekomaru had a heated argument about how an Aria should act as support when Knight or Dragoon gets into trouble. Izumo tried to search for a signal so she could call Paku and ask about her weekend. Shiemi worked on her homework and occasionally asked Yukio who has a hard time with grading his student exam. Shura had a date with her beloved booze. And Shima tried to flirt with the said girls—Izumo punched him for being too neglectful of her privacy.

Rin sighed in content as he gazed at the sky, thousands of stars shining in the vast sky on a cloudless night. A can of mango juice held loosely between his thumb and index finger. White clouds puffed out from the crack of his mouth, flew around aimlessly with the cold winter air. Those electric blue eyes that shone with playfulness now glazed over.

Rin felt...tired.

Contrary to popular belief, Rin was not stupid. He knew Yukio deliberately asked his friends to come over so Rin could relax, no matter how much paperwork he had to sign, no matter how noisy they were. Or saying all those crap about 'for Rin and his future as an exorcist'. As long as Rin would stop forcing those fake smiles, he'll accept the headaches willingly.

He knew he shouldn't worry his brother like this. He had a hard life; as a prodigy teacher, an exorcist one at that, as Rin's jailer—he'd said one time—and as the only one supporting the broken family of the Okumura. But he was exhausted. Exhausted by all the scorns, those condescending attitude from all of those old geezers of an exorcist toward him. Just because of his heritage as a half-demon, something he couldn't avoid, he had to bear all of those hateful looks. Satan was evil, he knew. But it didn't mean Rin was also the devil. He is human, damn it!

Rin let out another puff of white. Sometimes he envied his little brother. When he was born, he was too weak hence the Satan's flame went into him. But then he smiled sourly. It's a good thing then because Yukio didn't have to endure everything happens to him from the past years. As an older brother, it was his duty to protect the younger one. He had to protect what's his.

He had to.

"Yo monkey! What are you doing, sitting here all alone?" he shot up startled for a moment, before relaxing again when a boy with dual-color hair sat beside him. He barely realized when the bald teenager and a purple haired girl also rest their butt on the hard, wooden floor; with the said girl muttering about a 'pervert' angrily, certainly cursing the pink haired boy who was now having a crude dance with the drunk Kendo master (Shiemi blushed fervently, and Yukio threw a thick book to those two obtuse).

Rin glared for a bit, then turning his gaze to one of the lonely stars, shining with a dim light, alone in the middle of the dark sky, "You know me. I never think of anything useful."

The dark blue haired boy took another sip, unaware with the inquisitive look his friends threw at him. Especially Bon, who was confused at that passive comment Rin made just now. He should be pissed at Bon when he called him with degrading name and started a useless argument with him. They saw him sigh for Mephisto-knew-how-many-times today; as that was the sole reason why they decided to accompany him in watching the stars or whatever it was that he was doing.

Though Izumo mostly just wanted to escape from Shima's perverted eyes, and Rin's weird condition just happened to be a perfect excuse for her.

"This is not like you, Rin." Silent. After a while, moonlight glinting on Koneko's round glasses, smirk donning his small face, "Is it that because you like someone?"

And it looks like the bald boy's guess was correct, as Rin choked and spat out his mango juice. Koneko chuckled lightly, rubbing circles on Rin's back to help him reduce his coughing fit. His face turned beet red like a boiled crab—whether that was from embarrassment or an after effect he had when he choked himself just now—and exclaimed, "N-no! I don't! How can I—" he stop, his face turned dark for a moment. Nobody realized, except Izumo who narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "—how can I l-like someone?"

It was truly a lie, they knew, because Rin's ears still maintained that particularly bashful characteristic and he didn't want to face any of them, bangs covered half of his round face (they never know his true feeling though. Rin was angry, no, furious at himself. How could he? A cursed, half-demon; an impure being, loving a beautiful, pure human? The mere idea of it was unacceptable!). The bald monk maintained his grin, it grew larger and larger as the second ticking by, "Haha…just tell us the truth, Rin-kun. We've already known you for years, of course, we'd know what kind of problem you're facing. We'll help you!"

.

You said that…

.

"S-Satan! You…you monster!"

.

Yet you were the ones who screamed at me, feared me, looked at me like I'll hurthurthurt you—my friend!

.

"Finally, have an interest in someone huh? I thought you are just a small-brained monkey with a cooking obsession." Bon laughed out loud (and secretly relieved that the dumb monkey finally reverted back to his old self) while Rin sputtered and screamed at the top of his lungs at him to stop calling him that, you damn rooster! A tick mark bulged at Bon's forehead and their famous two-side banter began for an umpteenth time. Koneko sighed in pleasant exasperation, while Izumo shook her head. From the corner of his peripheral vision, he saw Yukio looking at them fondly from behind the stack of white paper, a small smile tugging at his stoic face, looking suspiciously very satisfied. Before he returned his gaze to the wretched, evil demon (read: paperwork), the scowl back on his tanned face.

Shima was still flirting with Shiemi and Shura-sensei though.

"But seriously, Rin," he said, one hand clamping Rin's mouth, that, maybe right now, showering him with every profanity he knew from his past-life as a hoodlum. Not like Rin was a scoundrel before. Some bad people decide to call him that because of his tendencies to maintain justice with his fists. He continued his last statement before their argument started ten minutes or so ago, "Just like Koneko said, we're here you know? You can count on us whether the girl you love accepts or rejects your feeling."

.

You said that…

.

"What the hell? What is Satan's spawn doing here?!"

.

Yet you were the one who betrayed me, avoided me like a plague. Like I'm just a mere demon—but I'm a human!—A devil that has to be destroyeddestroyeddestroyed—till I dissolved into nothingness.

.

"You really are an idiot huh?" Rin's head swiveled so fast, he could have gotten whiplash. A hurt expression marred his face and for some reason, she felt guilty about it. Izumo ignored the churning feelings inside her stomach and decided to stay smug, both of her hands wrapped below her bosom, "do you know what a 'friend' means? It means someone who'll stay with you no matter what happens, and they'll always help you any time, anyplace. If you have a problem, speak."

"B-But that doesn't mean I'm your friend though!" she huffed loudly, face slightly dusted with pink when Rin's innocent smile attacked her with full power, shining so brightly like the sun, "you're just a dead last in our class, not important for someone like me, hmph!"

.

You said that…

.

"Rin is Satan's son, so what? Blue Night was caused by Satan, not Rin. What's up with you people? I thought Rin was the stupid one, but it seems you are the idiot here, you doofus!"

.

Yet you were the one…

You were the first friend who reached out to me.

You were the one who stayed by my side like you said before. You were the one who supported me. You were the one who told me that everything will turn alright. That I'm not alone, that there are people who still believed in me.

Because I am their friend, their family.

I am important to them.

.

"Yukio and I, you can always count on him, count on me." She smiles truthfully. Before then turned her head fast and scowled—or pouted, in Rin's eyes that is, "I said that not because I care for you, b-baka!"

Rin remembered he laughed so hard that time; laughed and cried at the same time. Laughed, because of her typical Tsundereness towards other people. Cried because finally—finally!—someone saw him as a person. Saw him as Rin—not as a demon, not as Satan's spawn. But just Rin; the bubbling Rin who always wearing that goofy, stupid smile. The Rin who always stayed optimistic even when the whole world was against him. The Rin who is Yukio's older brother and always will be.

.

Friend huh?

But…can we become more than just a friend? Because I like you; not as a friend, not as a family. But rather—

.

"I love you."

.

That time, before he went to fight, accompanied by his friends, to erase all of the demons in Assiah (after they'd apologized to him, said that Izumo was right, that Rin was not in the wrong here, that Rin didn't kill all of those poor exorcists). The wind rustled her beautiful purple hair. Rin stood on the edge of the cliff facing the teen, watching as the light shined upon Izumo's slender figure. He saw the blush forming on her chubby cheek; saw her fiddling with the hem of her skirt.

"B-but…I thought you l-liked Shiemi?" This was the first time Rin had seen her embarrassed like this, it was cute. She asked, or mumbled as her voice was so soft he'd have never heard it if not for his demon hearing. Still with her wide, sparkling eyes staring at everything but Rin.

Ah, right. Shiemi. Yeah, he had liked her. The keyword here is; had. Because Rin, at that time was still an innocent, clueless Rin. Shiemi is (was) his first friend. That's why he'd cherished her, misinterpreting his reverence as romantic feelings toward her.

However, he realized, as Shiemi saw Yukio with awe. He should have been jealous, should have been feeling bitter, but no. Instead, he felt, relieved. That Yukio has someone who cares for him beside Rin. That he could rely on his wellbeing to Shiemi. That he could trust her to support Yukio, always, when Rin himself went somewhere (or forever) someday. Yeah, he liked Shiemi.

But he loves Izumo.

"I just wanted to tell you my feelings." Before I'm gone, Rin held back his tongue before those words came out accidentally. His demonic instincts screamed like crazy, warning him that something badbadbad was going to happen tonight. Better tell her now or never, "you don't have to answer, it's okay. Because, you know, I am Satan's son."

The high-class demon that was feared by everyone. Rin didn't want, dare, to think that if—if—someday, someday he'll find his soul mate, marry her and maybe have a kid of his own. That Griggori and co. will fear him/her, treat him/her as another one of Satan's spawn—like Rin, or a demon—like Rin, or an Exorcist's weapon—like Rin.

No. He would rather be alone, would rather be hated by everyone, would rather bear the burden himself, kill himself! Rather than let those awful things happen to his kid (hah! Kid! Wasn't that a wonderful dream? He mused dryly).

"So Eyebrows, no, Izumo." His electric blue eyes stared at those round but narrowed purple orbs (why are you looking at me like that? I'm here, you didn't have to look so sad…please), "thanks for putting up with me." Supporting me, staying by my side, "I love you. And—"

.

"—sayonara."


Long eyelashes fluttered open, electric blue eyes shone between the cracked eyelids. The first thing he asked himself was what had happened to him. Before yesterday's event rushed inside his head, he suddenly rose up and the next minutes, he groaned in pain before flopping back onto something soft, Rin barely realized that he rested on something like a bed. Confusion reflected in those wide, slightly tinted with fear eyes.

Rin satiated his curiosity by investigating the room nook by nook. He was in some stranger's room, he concluded. It felt kind of empty with the little furniture it held; a big, enormous wardrobe. The wall painted in emerald hue while the lamp on the ceiling let out a dim yellow light. Rin swiveled his head slightly to the right, noting a small drawer beside him before something very familiar caught his attention.

His sword, it rested calmly beside the small, brown closet near him. But, didn't he unsheathed it when he tried to hack away those holy-water-drenched Goblins? It was a stupid move, facing the demons without a weapon ready, besides his own fists. He knew it, and there was no way he had time to sheath his weapon back inside it scabbard when he remembered, after how suffocating their clutch, he knew no more what happened besides darkness slowly claiming his vision.

He felt relieved, however. Rin never knew where he would end up; he didn't want someone to find him in fire and decide to dissect him because his body refused to burn. Or worse, call up an exorcist.

Red fire—water splashed—he screamed.

Damn. He didn't want to relive those memories in the meantime.

By the way, where was he? Besides sleeping in someone else room, that is. The bed he stayed at was facing the window, the turquoise curtain shut closed. Rin slowly got up, winched and gritted his teeth in the process, before his callous hand could grab the cloth and yank it open. Mouth hanged open, eyes grew wider and wider in a minute. He was shaking, so hard he had to hold his leg before he could jump outside to ascertain for himself whether this was a dream or not.

Because if it really was a dream—such a beautiful dream too—he will never want to wake up. No way. Never, ever

Wind caressing his pale complexion, startling him from shock. Slowly but surely, his quivering hand reached out. Green slightly brown leaves fluttered down from the tree and nudged his finger for a bit before dropping on the grass. White clouds swimming lazily on the vast, baby blue sky which reflected on his own electric blue eyes. Was this…really the place he thought it to be?

But—look at those trees, those leaves, those birds, all of them are normal. And don't forget about the sky! The sun! Gehenna was never this beautiful. No matter how many millennia had already passed, no matter how many seasons changed, that hell could never, ever have equated the beauty of this world.

A tired but happy tear rolled down, his lips form a slight smile.

Was this really Assiah? His home?

Their home?

"Ah! Kimi ga me o samashite imasu."

Rin started. With instinct alone, he rushed to grab his Kurikara and held it ahead, distancing himself with the voice he never knew before. Rin was unconsciously aware that he'd bared his fangs, hissing like Kuro used to when he met an unknown and powerful demon before. The boy stood before him having brown and, maybe, the wildest and fluffiest hair he ever met. His brown-orange eyes widened, dumbfound when Rin's sword suddenly swung and nearly grazed his nose. His hands tightened around the tray—a bowl of soup, a glass of water and a bottle of aspirin—and his shoulder tensed for a moment before it relaxed and his mouth tugging upward a bit, smiling a calming smile. Without putting down his trustworthy sword, he eyed the teen, who put down the tray he brought on a small table and sat beside the bed with hands folds together around the thighs.

"Kimi wa tsuitachi ne~Kimi no kimochi wa dōdesu ka?"

Rin narrowed his eyes, moving the sword for a bit, the red thread circling the Kurikara's hilt bouncing and making a jingling sound for a moment. They stared at each other awkwardly, too much tension they could cut it with a knife. Before the stranger then pounced his hand to another one lightly, breaking the silence. The sound felt like it reverberated inside the room, Rin's flinched for a second and grip the sword more tightly.

"Kimi, ore ga itte iru mono o rikai shite imasu ka?" it looks like Rin's confusion show on his face as the teen scratched his head, looking very trouble and kind of exasperated, "Hmm…tabun, betsu no gengo? Che ne dici di questo?"

Rin blinked.

The brown-haired boy continued, looking very absorbed, ignoring everything, including Rin's gaping mouth.

"Dangsin-eun jigeum naleul ihae habnikka? Apakah kau berasal dari Indonesia? Zhōngguó zé. Wait, English maybe? Oh! Kӧnnen Sie deutsch verstehen?"

The blue-haired boy's jaw opened and closed like a dying fish in dire need of water, staring in something akin of awe. Then, realizing his mistake, his expression turned horrified before he spoke with a croaked voice, unsure of himself, "C-Chotto. I-I understand Japanese." the grip on his sword relaxed slightly, he unconsciously lowered it, dropping his guard. But he didn't care for that moment, didn't care that maybe the boy in front of him was an enemy and trying to distract him so he could strike at the right time, no.

Right now he felt utterly nostalgic.

He never knew he will speak this language again. The first time he set foot in Gehenna, he had to speak in demon speaking or torture was his answer. Egyn taught him how to speak with manner, full of authority when he presented himself in front of an audience. Too much time spent inside that hell, he forgot for a while that he was born in the human realm. Rin's tongue felt strange speaking his mother language, however, but he'll manage. The fluffy haired boy looked relieved, as he slumped down and posture turned more relaxed.

"Hontou? Yokatta~ I couldn't speak Chinese and German very well. Their pronunciation was too hard to remember, I—" He stopped abruptly, glancing around the room, searching for whatever it was that made him so nervous. Before scratching the nape of his neck sheepishly and asked Rin with a low voice, "did Reborn hear that?"

He thought he was imagining things, but Rin surely saw something like a black ball blurred so fast, his demonic eyesight couldn't see nor comprehend what was that thing. Not long after that, Rin blinked his eyes when the petite teenager suddenly fell down, face kissing the tiled floor, as he swiveled his sword back to the front, ready to defend himself if it was an enemy attack. Though maybe it was a false alarm as he saw a six years old kid standing on top of the teenager's back. And, wait a sec—was that kid really wearing a black suit and fedora?

His tiny leg held the brown haired teen head with force a kid should never have, Rin couldn't comprehend his talking beside the groan and some garbled sentence, "of course I did, Dame-Tsuna. As a punishment, you'll have to re-read those language dictionaries tonight. Don't sleep before I say you can."

Another groan, another incomprehensible talk. Those black beady orbs then snapped his view on Rin's, narrowed with thought and lips formed a tight line. The half-demon had to suppress a shudder, unconsciously gripping the hilt so hard his knuckles turned white. With those gazes alone, he felt that this kid could see till the deepest of his heart, it was scary. His black beady eyes stared at him up and down, chubby fingers clasped on his chin. Before he nodded, looking very satisfied though Rin didn't know what.

"Dame-Tsuna, he's good." The kid lifted his foot slightly, giving the teenage boy a little space to breathe, "raw but good. You should ask him to join your family."

"What?! Reborn, no!" the black-suited kid—Reborn was his name—pressed his foot again and made the teenage—was Dame-Tsuna really his name?—faced the floor for the second time. With a little struggle here, the side of his face was visible from behind those brown tuft he called hair and continue speaking, "he's sick and he's a civilian. I'll never involve him with…with…" he hesitated, his honey brown wide eyes looking back and forth between Reborn and the blue-haired teen. Rin tilted his head in bemusement, "with your game, Reborn!"

Reborn snorted. With one graceful hop, he landed beside the boy and walking away, "he's involved at the second you saved him, my stupid student" he murmured.

He dusted his cloth and straightening the wrinkle on his—it looks like a school uniform; with a black vest draped on top of a white T-shirt and black pants. The boy frowned (but it looks like a pouted) for a while before he sat facing Rin, who was still clutching his sword like a lifeline. He tried not to flinched whenever that weapon came to close to his face (the sealed on that thing was so powerful, his hyper intuition flare in caution for a minute) and opted to sit upright with hands in front of his body to let him know that he means no harm, "I'm sorry for confusing you. Ah right, I haven't introduced myself, right?" he put his right hand on his chest, tilting his head to the side slightly, "my name's Sawada Tsunayoshi. You can call me Tsuna. Yoroshiku-ne."

Ah, so his name's Tsuna. Make senses though, being there was no parent who'll name their own son with a degrading name such as Dame-Tsuna like that, Rin mused. "And he's Reborn." Tsuna then held his hand and pointed toward the black suit kid who was now sipping on a coffee—from the smell his enhanced nose caught. But wait, when did he get that drink? "He may look like a kid—ouch" he yelped, caressing his side as Reborn jab him for his careless remark, "yeah he hate that if someone looked down upon him. But he's my tutor. You could ask him everything you wanna know."

Rin's eyebrows rose when he heard Tsuna muttered something within a line, "'cause he's a stalker." Before Reborn reminds him again with a smack, Tsuna let another hiss of pain.

"So, what's your name?" he asked, fingers curling on a bump that growing between his brown tuft of a hair. A charming smile plastered on that silky skin, it warmed Rin and butterfly fluttered inside his stomach (such a calming smile, he looks like a sky; accepting everything within open arms).

Rin slowly, deliberately put his sword down—the boy sighed in relief. The weapon now rests on his lap, fingering the intricate that decorated it hilt, "Okumu—Iie…" he shook his head and corrected itself, "Rin. Just…Rin."

He knew he made Tsuna suspicious of him, as there was no one who didn't have any family name. It's not like Rin hates his family name—instead, he loves, almost cherished, that particular name. Because that was the only thing that connected him with his late foster father and brother. It was just that, although Tsuna looks like a nice boy, like an ordinary schoolboy he always encountered in the True Cross Academy, he had learned from experienced not to judge a book by its cover (take a look at himself. Who would have thought a silly, immature teenager who always slept in class, sucked at everything besides picking a fight, was the son of the most powerful demon that had killed many people, the king of all impure being; Satan's son?). He prefers to stay on the safe side. Moreover, nobody knows, maybe someone will recognize an 'Okumura'; as either the former pastor or the greatest paladin in his time? Rin didn't want his freedom snatched away again from his grasp because of an exorcist after he struggled enough for two years that felt like an eternity.

Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows in question, honey brown eyes trying to identify his expression that Rin tried to keep blank as much as possible—he failed miserably, of course. His (former) friends said that his expression was like an open book. Before Tsuna then shrugged his shoulders, feeling that maybe it was not his place to inquire any further, "okay then, Rin-san. How's your feeling? Anything hurt?"

Rin prodded every inch of his not-so-slender-but-not-too-bulky-either body, grimacing in pain when he unknowingly touched the hematoma on his left chest and stomach. Tsuna turned panicked for a minute, gushing about his wellbeing, but Rin flinched and inched away, it made Tsuna stopped on his track, a hurt expression suddenly surfaced on his face. Rin tried not to felt guilty because he knew Tsuna means well and the brunette just trying to help him recover. However, he registered pain only without the slightest compassion over the past two years —including Egyn, the nice demon he ever encounter from his past life, never have any physical contact with him, except when they have a sparring contest so Rin's skill didn't turn rusty, made him wary of a no matter tiny, slight touch without considering the trauma he got when he stayed at that so-called home, "were you…were you the one who saved me?"

"Oh. Yeah. You fell from the tree and your body full of injuries so I brought you home. My mother treated your wound. So, try not to move so much because the stitch on your stomach will re-opened." Tsuna explained.

It took a few minutes for Rin to understand his sentence that he just spoke a while ago. But, when he realized the meaning behind those words, Rin blanched. He unconsciously clutched the orange sheet that covered his entire body, "does…does that mean—"

"—you saw it?"

Tsuna blinked once then twice, Reborn putting away his cup so he could observe their interaction more carefully. A second passed, Tsuna snapped his finger as his eyes turned dark. The shadow that fell on his face made the harmless looking boy suddenly turned more feral, more dangerous. Rin swore he caught it, albeit just a glimpse of it that his orbs changed from honey-brown to honey-red, he shivered involuntarily. Mouth set in a thin line, a scowled marred his complexion, "yeah. I saw it curled on your body." Tsuna tch'ed, fist clenched into a tight ball, relaxed, clenched again. The brunette let out a long soft breath and focused his attention back to the said person Tsuna felt obligated to protect, hence that small moment he was trying to suppress his feeling of wanting to punch someone, "ne, Rin. Are yo—"

But he didn't have any time to ask his question after he was aware of Rin's current condition. He saw his red pupil contracted; sweat flow profusely on his white sheet face.

Someone saw my tail. Someone knew I'm a demon.

They'll call an exorcist. They'll capture me.

They'll kill me, they'll KILL me!

.

White face and hand quivering, he hyperventilated.

.

Blue fire—his dad covered in blue fire—maniac laughter—scream—a pocket knife swung—blood sprayed all over his face.

Blue fire—his brother covered in blue fire—tail swishing madlyhis friends' corpses sprawled on the tiled floor—blood pouring from their delicate body.

Blue fire—his brother covered in blue fire—gun tapped beside his temple—a bang reverberated inside his skull—a falling figure.

.

The memories kept playing like a fragment of a movie all chopped up and sewn back together again, hideously distorted, but clearer than the two-edged sword as they rushed by, circling lazily as if enjoyed the bluenette torment. The stabbing, screaming, shooting, all of the bad sensations came back in a fury. His forehead was drenched with sweat, and his heart rate pounded out to a dangerous rhythm that made Rin dizzy as the rest of his body felt now—there was no other word for it—jiggled and off balance. He was feeling light-headed and his brain felt hot and fuzzy. It was too much! It all caused him to arch in discomfort, groaning as the weight came on full force.

.

Chains rattled inside the empty basement—hand felt numb—skin raw and redblood dripping slowly.

Red fire—water splashed—he screamed.

.

Tsuna's eyes changed back to its original color, looking alarmed with Rin's sudden change of behavior. As he saw those eyes glazed over, mouth opened in a silent scream, Tsuna bolt as fast as a bullet. His previously murderous face disappeared as concern took over, horrified by his patient's action.

Rin was having a terrible seizure!

"Rin-san! Rin-san, snap out of it!" he tried to reach him, tried to shake his shoulder so he'll wake up from whatever vision he had right now. But the sword on his lap suddenly let out a blue lightning. It crackled like a storm, surrounding his body. Tsuna ebbed away, cautious with the barrier that suddenly formed from the teenager's uncontrollable emotions.

He hesitated. Not like the yesterday night, when he felt that lightning exude warm even though slightly wary feeling. Now they acted like a wild animal, trying to defend their territory, it looks dangerous. Before he then finally set his choice, eyes hardened in absolute resolution. No matter, Rin was in jeopardy and need help. Fast.

Within a blink, Tsuna lunged forward, hand outstretched to the front and he swung it with enough force—penetrating the electrical shields, which now began to change its direction to the body of the presumed enemy who has an ill intent to hurt his master—he gritted his teeth in agony—

PLAK

Rin snapped awake, his electric blue eyes slowly but clearly surface back to its normal place. He saw Tsuna, out of breath, hand reddened and burns covered on the corner of some of his delicate fingers. Realization dawned on him, as he peered at his sword that let out it final crackle before it died away. Horror struck, Rin scrambled away from Tsuna outstretched arm, "s-stay away…" he wrapped his body inside a blanket, eerily similar like a cocoon, attempted to make another barrier after the first one gone, though he knew it was fruitless.

"Rin-san…I'm sorry I didn't mean to—"

"STAY AWAY!" he exclaimed. Tsuna cringed when he heard his cracked voice; full of distrusted, anger, fear, pain, betrayal, guilt, guilt, guilt. The whirling of negative emotion he poured out attacked him with full force, it hurt. Rin whimpered, head dropped on his embraced knee, sob wreaking his entire body, "stay away…stay away. Please…stay away from me…"

(I don't want to hurt anyone anymore!)

Tsuna stopped advancing when Reborn put his tiny hand on his shoulder, head shaking slowly, telling him to drop it for now. His beady black eyes stealing a glance at Tsuna's red hand, the said boy flinched sheepishly when Reborn show his displeasure with his rash decision. His mouth moves 'later' before he walked out of the room albeit hesitantly. He glanced at the teen, who was still curling up on the guest bed, his hair sticking on his forehead as sweat kept pouring, drenched his broad—but looks so small right now—figure.

"Don't forget to eat, Rin-san," Tsuna reminded him, though he didn't know with Rin condition right now, will he heard his suggestion or not, "and…I'm sorry."

Then the door closed with a soft thump.


"Nii-chan! Nii-chan, I wanna play that!" the child Yukio pointed his chubby finger on the lone swing, "come on! Come on! I wanna play that!"

"Okay, okay geez. You have to slow down or you're gonna…" PLOP, "…fall."

Yukio sat on top of the green grass, his brown wide eyes staring at the bleeding knee. Mouth quivered slightly before he let out a deafening cry. Rin sighed in exasperation. He approached his little twin brother, hands closing Yukio's injured knee, "pain…pain…go away." he chanted as his hands flailing wildly in every direction, "pain…pain…GO AWAY!"

"Feeling better?" Rin asked his bemused brother, head tilting to the side. Yukio nod automatically, it made Rin smile his famous wide smile, white teeth slightly peeking between his rosy lips, "then what are you waiting for? Let's play that swing! I'll push you."

Yukio stared for a while before he wiped his tears clean and showed the older brother his own blinding smile, "hai!"


Rin's eyes instantly open. The blue orbs examined the half-empty room, as he finally aware that the eventful occurrence this morning—when he found himself back in Assiah (his home, their home!), met Tsuna and his mentor who had saved him, knowing that they knew his…secret—was not a mere dream, but a reality—a nice, sweet reality mixed with bitter feeling. Once glance of an orange sky made him realized, that his blind panic before wore him out, he unconsciously felt asleep. His body stiff from sleeping in an awkward position, sitting on the corner of the bunk, and some of the wound he received from the goblin twanged painfully.

He didn't heed nor care about his injuries, though. Since at the moment, his mind was focused on just one goal.

He had to get out from here.

It was not like he didn't felt grateful for the kindness Tsuna and his mother displayed at him, taking care of a stranger that they met only for the first time. Yet he knew, from his experience so far, all of their pretense kindness will vanish when they knew he was not an ordinary child, not a human; but rather, a vile demon. They definitely saw his bonus limb—Tsuna especially said that he saw it curling on his entire body—and he'll not squander his little luck for waiting his demon's healing kicking in and threatened being caught by Griggori and co. for a second time, no. He'll escape from their grasp.

And stay alive, like his promise to Yukio.

Rin got up, snatched his trusted weapon and opened the window. Speaking of which, he himself felt like, with his presence alone, he already besmirches this humble home. So it was prudent of him to leave this place as soon as he could. Rin stops short immediately, however, before he began absorbing the entire environment, a feeling of deja-vu and foreign at the same time enveloping his entire figure. The sky looks so welcoming, cloud swimming lazily and birds chirping happily.

How he miss this scenery badly, so bad it made him choked his own saliva—true to said, when someone wise enough with his/her life said to you that you'll never appreciate something, not before it finally disappears, gone forever, from your sight; sun shining dimly on the vast, orange slightly maroon sky, wind caressing his pale skin, he drew a long breath—

"Demon, demon~" Rin stiffened, taken aback so suddenly as he stops awkwardly beside the windowsill, face paled when a high-pitched voice drummed his ears. A toddler wearing a cow tight suit then came strolling in, a pair of yellow horn peeked from his mess of curly hair. His green eyes lit up when he saw Rin and, with a loud laughter, he jumps onto his lap and touch his arm—Rin retracted it almost immediately, "you're the demon, blue-haired Nii-chan!"

His heart stopped for a second.

He knew. Rin breathed in and out. They totally knew!

"Mou, Lambo!" Rin whipped his head upward, looking at the short, brown-haired woman that stood in front of the ajar door. She was wearing a pink, full of hearts and flower apron while her hand held a first-aid kit box loosely, "Rin is sick. You shouldn't bother with him."

"But Lambo-sama had touched him. Lambo-sama demanded him to be 'it'!*" the toddler—Lambo—pout childishly.

"Then I'll be the 'it', Lambo." Another voice could be heard around the corner that belonged to an eleven years old kid. A white strip black scarf wrapped around his neck, some of it covering his sandy brown hair. On his shoulder, sit another toddler—was it a boy or a girl?—black haired done in a tight braid and wearing some kind of Chinese clothing. The boy put his hands on his hips and mouth formed a tight line, trying to mimic a scolding mother, "but leave Rin—nii-chan alone. Or I-pin and I will eat all of the desserts!"

"Wuaah Fuuta, no faaiir!" he jumps and ran quickly, chasing the laughing boy while screaming on top of his lungs to stop right there and don't eat Lambo-sama's cakes! Rin stared at their disappearing figure, dumbfound and bemused about what the heck has just happened. A soft giggle startling him from his reverie made him aware of another presence beside himself inside the room he occupied right now.

"Excuse those kids. They really love playing tag." She sat beside his bed, opening the first-aid kit box and pulled out some white rolled-gauze accompanied by a bottle of antiseptic.

"Tag…"

"Uh-huh. They usually play it with Tsu-kun, but my little boy was in school right now. And he said that he'll come home late as he has a group study in Yamamoto's house." She hummed.

"Oh…" he let out a long breath that he unconsciously held, suddenly feeling relief and very exhausted. So the toddler was talking about playing tag, huh? Maybe Tsuna knew something bad going to happen if someone knew about his weird, yet existed, limb so he closed his mouth.

By the way, the woman in front of him was Tsuna's mother, right? Their resemblance was very uncanny. Rin still wondering how could Tsuna have that wild hair that definitely defied the law of gravity, however, as his mother's hair was quite straight without any spike or curl at all. Maybe he had that kind of ridiculous looking hair from his father? "um…Sawada-san."

Rin stopped when the matriarch wiggling his fingers to the right and left, a ghost of a smile appeared at the corner of her lips, though he could saw a disapproving glint on her honey orbs clearly, "no, no. Sawada-san makes me feel old. Just Nana is okay. Or mama, like Reborn and others call me."

"Ma—" the shock Rin felt was not unusual really, considering the woman before him just asked him-a stranger!-to call her nickname. Rin could never do that, let alone calling her 'mama'—that's basically asked him to accept a new mother (well, he never saw nor meet his own mom though). He shook himself from his stupor, feeling his stomach churned and do a flip-flop, but he didn't know what kind of feeling he experienced right now, "um…Nana-san then."

Maybe it was a feeling of embarrassment, that someone treated him like a child he should have been? (he didn't hate it, however).

Or an acceptance, that someone saw him as another human being?

Why though, either with the son or his mother, Rin felt something warm flowing within him?

Never, except his brother and maybe Izumo (though with her own way of tsundereness), in his life, Rin felt so accepted like this. He wants to stay here, wants to stay basked in their warm, charming smile.

(Like a sky.)

Nana's smile widened even for a bit, her eyes closed in satisfied, "then, will you lie down for a while?" she asked, "I have to check the stitching on your stomach and change the bandage with a new one."

But as instantly as the feeling of happiness came, it vanished as quickly as it came also, and Rin's little color on his complexion he managed to recovered, disappear in a minute, "wait a sec—" he didn't even have a time to refused when the housewife of Sawada family pushed his body onto the soft bed gently but surely—damn, who would have thought that behind that sweet face, she had a fairly strong power? Nevertheless his injuries restrained Rin's actual prowess, he should have not down with one touch, especially it came from a human being—and threw aside the orange blanket that engulfed his figure for the past hour—which he just realized that he was not wearing anything besides an underwear and white bandages covered his body, from his broad chest till his abdomen.

Rin shut his eyes, feeling a dread washing over him as he waited for a scream or disgusted mock flowing from the nice lady mouth.

But second, changed to a minute, minutes changed to an hour (or he felt it that way, though maybe his brain was just exaggerating a bit because his fear already overwhelmed his rational mind). But the said ridiculed he expected never came. Rin's eyelashes slowly, clearly fluttered open and he looked down—

He stilled like a stone; didn't move, didn't even breath.

"It finished~" her sing-song voice brought him back to reality—Rin didn't notice that in the middle of his reverie, Nana had finished cleaning his wound. Moreover, pain that he should have felt when that antiseptic sprayed on the gaping wound was supposed to warn him. He should have felt relief that it means, his demon's healing was working and he'll recover in no time.

However, his mind was now occupied with something; something he never thought will happen, something which he knew was forever lost and was just the sheer of his puerile wish. The second Nana retracted her hands, Rin bolted to another door beside the main one, near the wardrobe. He vaguely heard Nana said something like 'don't hurt yourself inside the bathroom' and a soft voice of a door being closed, indicating that the mother of Sawada family finally leaving the room.

He ignored it completely. Even when those three kids running amuck in front of the guest room, it made the wooden floor rattle and his head ache. Even when his body began to shiver with cold from the lack of clothing, wearing only a boxer without socks. He totally didn't care about it right now, completely blocking the entire of his surrounding (it was a fatal mistake if he was in the middle of a fight, Egyn taught him. But just like he said before)

(I. Don't. Care!).

What he tried to understand right now was his figure that reflected on the mirror that mounted on the wall a bit lower than his eyesight. Looking at something that should have been accompanied him even when he was asleep, something that has become a part of his life, something that identified him that he was not a human being—

"…gone."

.

.

.

"My tail's…gone"


TO BE CONTINUE


Sayonara : a farewell that means he will never come back forever

Ah! Kimi ga me o samashite imasu : (Japanese) Ah, you finally up.

Kimi wa tsuitachi ne~ : (Japanese) You slept all day.

Kimi no kimochi wa dōdesu ka? :(Japanese) How's your feeling?

Kimi, ore ga itte iru mono o rikai shite imasu ka?: (Japanese) Do you understand what am I saying?

Hmm…tabun, betsu no gengo? : (Japanese) Hmm…maybe another language?

Che ne dici di questo? : (Italian)How about this?

Dangsin-eun jigeum naleul ihae habnikka?: (Korean)Do you understand me now?

Mungkinkah kau berasal dari Indonesia? : (Indonesian) Maybe you came from Indonesia?

Zhōngguó zé :(Chinese) Chinese then.

Oh! Kӧnnen Sie deutsch verstehen? : (Germany) Oh! Do you understand Germany then?

Chotto : wait (informal)

Hontou? : really?

Yokatta : I'm glad/ I'm relieved

Yoroshiku-ne : nice too meet you

*'It' could be interpreted as 'demon' in Japanese tag.


(A/N) :Izumo was really the first one who approached Rin after his identity as a demon came out though. I think it was when she took a seat next to Rin on a bus, I don't know...

Sorry guys. I just couldn't help myself to inserted my mother language; Indonesian. But yeah Japan already established a connection with Indonesia y'know? With Miku concert held in Jakarta two years ago…I think? I didn't attend it, sorry, I'm not Vocaloid fans. Though Len reminds me of Roxas from Kingdom Hearts game, my very first fav animation character that I falling in love with lol.

Tsuna's decision to use another language was justified, though. He already experienced what it called 'parallel world(s)', 'future world', etc, etc, it was not weird for him to guess that Rin was not from around here and maybe some kind of technology brought him here to Namimori, just like Lambo's ten years bazooka. It was not an everyday occurrence for him to met a teenager who suddenly fell from a tree, right?

I don't know why but this chap felt like a filler to me. A too-much-words-and-too-long filler.

Damn. Suntan140 actually guess this chap correctly. I have to work harder from now on, huh? `3`

Please review guys. Criticisms, suggestions, flames, whatever it is I'll accept it all.

Best Regards

Akabane Kazama