The rest of the day went pretty uneventful. Meaning that Rin didn't start to cry or anything. But the little runt had so much energy in himself, Ryuuji started to wonder if he must have gotten a sugar rush or something. And then he wondered how a kid could even have that much energy. He doesn't recall ever being that energetic himself.
The runt ran around, jumped, even rolled over the ground and crawled. And the most annoying thing of them all; he talked. It was like his tongue was going with 100 miles a minute and the things he wanted to say couldn't be said fast enough. And he talked and talked and talked and talked and talked...
His ears was gonna fall off at this point.
" - then the bad guy got beaten by the hewo!" Oh, and did he tell about the sound effects that the runt was trying to make? One word: horrible. "Oh no!" And don't get him started on the mimicking. "I've been defeated! The great hewo is too great for me! I'm dying~" And more sound effects.
Ryuuji groaned for what felt like the hundredth time that day. Running his hands through his hair, he kept counting to ten inside his head, glaring at the floor below him as if that one was to blame.
Be quiet, be quiet, be quiet, please, be quiet..!
Rin seemed uncapable of reading thoughts, which kind of disappointed Ryuuji, since the runt kept running around, playing the good guy and the bad guy. How he managed to do that with himself only, he had no idea. Ryuuji certainly weren't going to play any such game. But he was still amused by the fact that Rin could maintain two rules and still have so much fun.
"Hey, runt." For the first time since that morning, Ryuuji had dared to speak up even though his patience was running very, very thin. "Can't ya keep quiet fer just a minute?"
"No!" the runt stated stubbornly, donning himself with an expression that said; "Challenge me!" Ryuuji simply groaned, already giving up completely. He didn't have patience for this.
Without a word, he got up and walked out, deciding to get himself some tea and a few snacks. With all the trouble he's been through, the Okumura twins could at least provide with something to eat.
He was gonna have a hard time these upcoming days. Or it could just be a few hours, or worse, weeks, even months. He sighed. He really hoped it wouldn't last so long. He didn't believe he could even last one week like this.
Rin sat atop his shoulders, sometimes moving his legs and the grip on his thig prevented him from falling down. The little runt was talking non-stop, but Ryuuji wasn't paying attention to any of what he said. He had learned over the past few weeks that even if he didn't listen, Rin would just keep talking. He had also learned that if he told the runt to keep quiet, he would be stubborn and keep on talking more and even louder than before. So he just stopped listening altogether, unless it was relevant to him, of course.
They were heading down to the park. The weather allowed for them to be outside; not too windy, the clouds were very few and the temperature was just right. Rin was apparently excited for the trip even though they'd been walking to the park a few times before. But it was exciting to the runt all the same.
They soon reached the grassy area of the park, the brunet'n'blond putting down the child and watched him sprint. Ryuuji himself merely walked, making sure that Rin stayed in sight.
There were other children around with their parents and other family members. Even so, Rin kept him to himself and ran around, making sounds of a plane, his tiny arms spread out.
Ryuuji had once asked why Rin didn't go play with the other kids, but he had simply stated that he didn't want to. Ryuuji had a feeling that wasn't the whole truth, but decided to just let it be. That runt had always been weird and he wasn't gonna try and understand him.
Soon, said runt was climbing the trees and despite his size, he climbed like a professional and was soon near the top of the tree. Ryuuji stood underneath the brances, looking up through the leaves with slight worry. Rin hadn't fell down from a tree before, but you could never know.
Something hit his leg gently and he looked down to see that it was just a ball. A child was approaching him and he kicked the ball, not paying attention to where it ended up.
A snap of a branch and a scream from a familiar voice was heard and Ryuuji nearly snapped his neck to look up again.
"Runt?" he called out softly, but got no other reply than a whine.
Seemed like Rin had accidently broken a branch and had nearly fell down, but he held on to one branch. However, he couldn't stay there for long, even Ryuuji could see that.
"I swear, ye're such a pain in the ass..." he muttered to himself, approaching the tree with uncertain movements. With one arm, it was gonna be difficult, but he had a feeling he could manage somehow.
Rin was whining, but as usual, Ryuuji hardly paid any mind to it. As he looked up, he determined it would probably be safer to ask for help instead of trying to climb the tree himself. Or at the very least, instruct the runt so that he could come down safely.
"Hey, runt." Stepping back from the tree, he eyed the different branches, attempting to determine which one would be the safest to grab onto. "Try 'n' hold onto tha' one." Lifting a finger, he only hoped the runt could see where he was pointing.
As expected, when Rin reached out, he reached for the wrong one. "No, no, the one ta yer right - yeah, tha' one."
He could see the tiny fingers wrap themselves around the branch he had pointed out and unknowingly, he let out a breath. He hadn't realized he'd been that worried. Not that he'd ever admit to such a thing. That's ridiculous.
"Alright, now try 'n' step onto the lower branch with yer foot - the lower branch, I tell ya!" Rin was searching, but either he couldn't understand what Ryuuji was saying or he was just playing stupid. Sometimes, Ryuuji had trouble discerning between the two.
"There! Right there by yer foot - no, the other one, ya goddamn..." He took in a deep breath and let it out in a long sigh.
As soon as he were safe on the ground, Rin demanded to be lifted. Ryuuji simply groaned. Not only did he have to tune off the runt's rambling, he now had to deal with a traumatized child. Well, what Rin had just experienced wasn't that big a deal, but he kept whining as if it was the most horrible thing he had been through.
"Listen here, runt. I'll buy ya a snack, so keep quiet, 'kay? 'N' I'm not gonna lift ya either. Ye're too big fer that." he stated with a demanding tone, leaving no room for arguments. Rin knew it was futile to press the matter further, but perhaps the promise of a snack lightened his mood a bit.
"Come on."
"Yay!" Rin said cheerfully. So yeah, it was definitely the promise of a snack that cheered him up instantly. Maybe he should use it more often.
There were a small transportable store at the edge of the park that sold snacks of various kinds; popcorn, chips and so on.
"What would ya like?"
"I want it all!"
"Ya can only get one snack, runt, 'n' ya know it."
Rin pouted, looking up at him with puppy eyes. He wasn't gonna buy it.
"Only one snack 'n' no more."
The runt even dared to whine, stomping his foot on the ground. Ryuuji groaned, rubbing his hand on his forehead and ran it down his face. He should have never suggested this.
"But I want it all!"
"'N' I don't have enough money fer that! One snack 'n' that's all. Ya want popcorn or chips? Choose already or ya won't get any."
"No way!"
"Yes way! Now choose."
Rin whined again, pulling at his shirt in an attempt to make him budge. Ryuuji simply started to walk away. "Fine. Then ya won't get any."
Strong, small arms circled around his leg, abrubtly stopping him up. The runt was hugging his leg so tight, he was sure the blood flow had been blocked.
"I want chips! I want chips!" Rin nearly cried out, clinging to him as if his life depended on it.
"Alright, alright, I'll buy it! Just let go 'f my leg, it hurts!" Ryuuji replied while he attempted to pry the runt off him. His words seemed to work and the runt soon released him. Ryuuji rubbed his leg, feeling the blood flow return to normal.
He ordered a bag of chips and digged his hand into the pocket and managed to pry out his wallet. Opening it, however, was gonna be the most difficult, seeing as he could only use one hand.
He eyed the kid.
Then he looked back at the wallet.
And he eyed the kid again.
Silently, he shoved the wallet into the kid's hands. "Open it fer me 'n' pay fer yer chips, alright? I can't do it with just one hand."
Rin looked at him with widened eyes and mouth agape in shock. "M-May I?"
He shrugged. What was the big deal? "Sure. Ye're the one who broke my arm, the least ya could do's help."
"Yay!" Excited, Rin opened the wallet and then it looked like he almost froze. Ryuuji suspiciously narrowed his eyes at him.
"...Do ya even know how ta count?"
"I do! I do! I just... I dunno what to pay."
"That'll be five hundred yen." the worker said for him with a smile.
"Five..." the runt whispered under his breath, soon searching through the wallet. His face brightened with a wide smile and out came a piece of paper; a five hundred yen, to be exact. He looked very proud of having found it.
The worker accepted it with a smile and then handed the bag of chips to Rin. She wished them both a good day and then, they were off.
"Let's go home fer today." Ryuuji suggested. "There's too much noise 'round here."
"Okay!" the runt said happily. He glanced down at him. Looked like eating the chips was making him happy and more obedient. Huh. He really should bribe him with snacks more often, if it meant he could have some peace.
"Ryuu?" He groaned. He hated that nickname though. "Where's my daddy?"
He widened his eyes, looking at the runt again. "Wha-Wha' made ya suddenly think 'f him?"
"I just..." Rin looked down, saddened, and nearly dropped his chips because of it. "I-It's been so long and I-and I miss him!" Seconds later, he started to cry.
"Oh, God, help me..." Ryuuji whispered under his breath, looking up at the sky. Kneeling down, he pulled the runt into a tight hug. "It's okay, it's okay. I'm here, remember? 'N' I'm sure we can find yer dad, don't worry." He sighed and bit his lip. Probably not the wisest thing to say, but what else could he do? "Alright, c'mere. Don't drop those chips! They're expensive. Now, c'mon, up ya go." With a little encouragement, Ryuuji lifted up the runt and started walking home. Rin was still crying.
Even when they got home, Rin cried still. And it looked like he had forgotten all about the chips cause he hadn't been eaten a single one since he mentioned his father. Ryuuji had no idea what to do other than rocking him up and down in hopes of calming him.
He walked into the kitchen and placed the runt on the kitchen table. "Just sit here fer a while, okay? I'll have ta put yer chips aside fer later, alright? C'mon." Rin finally let go of him and he was now able to grab those chips and put them in the cabinet. Without a word, he picked up Rin again and walked over to sit on a chair. He sighed deeply. Dealing with a non-stop talking Rin was bad enough. But a crying Rin was nearly impossible.
"Suguro-kun? What's wrong with ani?" Yukio's voice suddenly said and when Ryuuji looked up, he saw that the exorcist had just stepped in. "Why is he crying?"
"Um..."
"I want daddy!" And now, the runt was crying even harder.
Ryuuji groaned. "Isn't there anythin' ya can do, sensei? I can't make him stop." he whined, throwing his head back.
Yukio looked a bit hesitant, but he quickly replaced that look with determination and soon stepped up to the two. "Um... Rin. It's okay. Father is out on a mission, remember? And I'm sure he's gonna be fine. He'll be home soon, just you wait and see. Father would never let you down and you know that."
Rin sniffled. He nodded a few times. That seemed to have calmed him down. Burying his face into Ryuuji's shirt, he failed to see how Yukio straightened with a grim look. Ryuuji had that same look.
When turning into a kid, Rin had lost the memories of the time his father had died. All they've been telling him up till now was lies.
"Sensei. How long do we hafta do this? I don't like it."
Yukio raised his chin a bit. "As long as it needs." With that said, he turned and left them. Probably to do some more paperwork.
"Ryuu?" the runt said with a teary voice, looking up at him with wet cheeks and an even more saddened look than before.
"What's it, runt?"
"You don't-don't like me?"
"'Course I do! Sure, ya get on my nerves sometimes, but ye're okay. What makes ya say tha'?"
"You-You said that you don't-don't like doing this. T-Taking care of me. T-That's what you-you meant, right?"
"No, no, not at all! I was talkin' 'bout somethin' else, don'tcha worry."
Rin sniffled. "Then wh-what were you talking about?"
"Um..." Shit. The kid was smarter than he thought he would be. "It's just - somethin' between me 'n' yer brother. Nothin' ta worry 'bout."
The kid sniffled a few times before he nodded and rested his head on Ryuuji's chest again. Ryuuji let out a short sigh of relief. That was too close. He had to be more careful with what he says in the future.
