Dinner came and went. Everyone bid each other goodnight. Rin and Ryuuji cast looks at each other as Takashi led Rin into the bedroom by his hand and shut the door. Yukio made an excuse for needing some air and left Ryuuji to clean up the remains of their meals. Ryuuji sighed as he gathered up the plates and made his way to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Yukio leaned against the railing as he looked over the city. It didn't surprise him when a face appeared in front of him with a peck to his lips.
"Evening, Cutie!"
Yukio nodded in greeting as he backed away from the railing to allow Nox room to land on the balcony. He sat on the railing while facing Yukio.
"You're quiet this evening, Häschen. Normally I'd almost be falling to my death with how eager you are."
Yukio blushed and turned away from the darker boy in front of him.
"I don't get it."
Nox looked at Yukio with confusion. He jumped down from the railing and wrapped his arms around Yukio's waist.
"Get what, Häschen? If you're not in the mood, we could stick to a little teasing tonight. I'll be satisfied either way."
Yukio shivered when Nox began to nibble on his ear and pushed the man away.
"I don't get what we are to each other! It seems like whenever we do anything, it's always at your convenience! The only time I get a say in anything is when you can move! Am I just a toy or some kind way for you to pass the time? I just don't get it!"
Nox sighed exasperatingly before snaking his tail around the teacher's waist and pulled him closer until their lips crashed together, his hands running beneath Yukio's night shirt. Yukio gasped at the cold fingers that teased the warm skin of his abdomen as Nox pulled away to look into the teacher's lust filled eyes with his serious ones.
"That's supposed to be my line! I've never given my past toys anywhere near the amount of attention I give you, Häschen. How could anyone possibly resist you when you give them a look like that?"
Yukio gasped when the hand beneath his shirt traveled higher until it stimulated a nipple between its rough fingers. He struggled to get his words out as Nox lowered his head to mark what was his along the brunette's pale neck and collarbone.
"W-What-Ah! What…l-look?"
Nox pulled away and looked deep into Yukio's dark blue eyes. Yukio couldn't look away from the mint green hues that looked at him with so much passion. He ran his hands through Nox's white strands, glowing silver in the moonlight. Leaning against Nox for the addictive heat the demon seemed to give off whenever they drew near each other. Nox smiled at the action as he pressed a kiss to Yukio's eyelids.
"You're words say you dislike me, but when I look into your eyes, it feels almost as though you'd die if I were to disappear from your sight for even a second. I know that look well. After all, I look upon you with the same eyes."
With those words, the two men shared a kiss filled with passion and unspoken feelings that they could not yet sort out for themselves, let alone each other.
Meanwhile, Rin straddled Takashi as the taller boy sat against the headboard, running his tongue along his neck and leaving marks in its wake. Rin's arms were wrapped around Takashi's neck as the older male rubbed their erections together with one hand while the other had three fingers stretching the young boy's entrance, Rin panting and moaning quietly so as to make sure their activities went unheard to the rest of the apartment.
T-Taka…s-shi-kun…n-no more-Ngh! I-I can't…"
Takashi removed his lips from Rin's neck and crashed their lips together. His fingers, which were previously stretching the insides of the man above him were pulled out before he used both hands to lift the boy up and then back down on his erection. Rin's moan of pain and pleasure was silenced by the battle of dominance ensuing between their tongues.
Takashi gave time for adjust as their tails wrapped around each other, symbolizing their union. Once the elder starting moving, Rin couldn't keep in his moans as he breathed out Takashi's name over and over again. At some point, Rin began moving his hips in time with Takashi's thrusts. Takashi stroked Rin's erection to match their rhythm as he trailed his lips across his jaw and down his neck. Rin held on tightly to Takashi's neck, but his mind help to wander as he made love to boyfriend.
Rin couldn't help but compare his two lovers as one thrust into him while the other was on the other side of the door. Takashi was gentle with him and payed attention to Rin's needs while ignoring his own. He was a passionate lover and Rin knew that people like Takashi were difficult to come by. However, in comparison to Ryuuji, Takashi was too natural of a choice. He was stable and safe while Ryuuji was more of a risk. Not to mention when they had sex, it was borderline primal, yet incredibly satisfying.
Rin's thoughts were interrupted when he reached his climax with Takashi and was left panting against his shoulder while the man held him as though he was his most valuable possession. Rin knew that he should only have eyes for Takashi, but was what Takashi had to offer really what he wanted.
"T-Takashi-kun?"
Takashi brought Rin's face up to stare at his own, an expression that spoke volumes of how much he adored the half-demon more than mere words could possibly begin to explain.
"What is it, Darling? Still not satisfied?"
Rin shivered when Takashi licked his cheek affectionately, sighing in pleasure as his boyfriend trailed marks down his jawline and neck to entice him into another round of love-making.
"N-No, i-it's n-not that. It's j-just…hm…w-why?"
Takashi stopped his ministrations to look at Rin with a confused expression regarding the unexpected question. Rin looked away with a flushed face, instantly regretting having asked the question in the first place.
"Why what, Rin? Is something bothering you? If I've done something you dislike, please tell me."
Rin shook his head as he buried his face in Takashi's bare, sweaty chest. Takashi kissed the top of Rin's head while running his fingers through his dark blue tresses.
"I haven't seen you this needy and affectionate for a long time, Rin. It's really cute!"
Rin shot a light glare at Takashi before sighing and deciding to get his question out before he lost his resolve.
"Why me, Takashi-kun? It's not as though I have any redeeming qualities to speak of and I'm always moody, which must be difficult for you to deal with. Why do you stay when the door is just out there?"
Takashi smiled with sigh before pulling Rin into a hug, which the younger demon gladly accepted. Rin buried his face in the crook of Takashi's neck and collarbone, inhaling the scent he gave off that only he could smell as his mate.
"What am I going to do with you, Rin? Just when I thought you couldn't get any cuter, you pull a stunt like this! I'm done for! I really am!"
Rin looked up at Takashi expectantly to see a look of total adoration staring back at him.
"It's obvious I love your flaws just as much as I love your good points. Rin, you're sweet, compassionate, a bit of a goofball, but serious when it comes to your goals in life. When I see you sad, I just want to hold you and make everything alright again, if only to see your smile. I'll tell you these things as many times as I need to until you believe me, and even again after that. I love you, Rin. Nothing will change that, understand?"
Rin couldn't stop the tears that flowed down his cheeks as he nodded furiously. Takashi wiped away Rin's tears before leaning in for their lips to meet in a loving kiss.
The next morning, Rin bid farewell to Takashi, Ryuu, Yukio and Nox at the door while he and Ryuuji stayed behind to watch over the house. Once everyone had left, Rin turned to Ryuuji with a nervous expression. Ryuuji sat on the couch watching television with no opening for Rin to discern what was going through the older teen's head.
"Um, Ryuuji-kun?"
Ryuuji glanced at Rin briefly before turning back to the anime being shown on the television.
"What? Do you need help cleaning the house?"
Rin sighed heavily at accepting that the conversation he knew they needed to have was not going to be easy. The boy walked over to the television set and turned it off, focusing all of Ryuuji's attention on him with no other distractions in the room.
"Don't be a jerk. We need to talk."
Ryuuji scoffed as he rose from the couch and made his way to the kitchen, Rin following him to find him fixing himself a glass of water.
"I already get it Rin. You chose him. I was too late. Can't you just let me accept it and move on? I don't want to talk about this."
Rin scowled in annoyance and turned Ryuuji to face him. Ryuuji's expression didn't change from the teen's rough action, further angering Rin.
"I don't want to talk about it either Ryuuji, but it's something we need to discuss! Besides, when did I ever 'choose' you or Takashi-kun? I'm more than confused over my feelings for the both of you. I want you, but I also want to keep what I have with Takashi because it's good!"
Rin paced about the kitchen, not noticing how Ryuuji's eyes widened at the bold confession the younger teen had blurted out without noticing, only having his emotions to guide what he wanted to convey to the stubborn male.
"Why did Ryuu-chan have to get me found out on that mission at True Cross? Why did she have to bring you and Yukio here? Everything was fine until you two showed up! Why couldn't you have just forgotten about me like you were supposed to? Why couldn't you…"
Ryuuji had long set down the cup of water as he watched Rin collapse into himself, hugging his body while tears stream down his cheeks in frustration and overwhelming confusion. His tail lay limply on the tile floor of the kitchen, further displaying his sour mood.
"W-Why couldn't you stop loving me…like I had thought you did 3 years ago?"
Ryuuji couldn't help himself as he flung himself over to Rin and enveloped the younger teen into a embrace, immediately turning him around so that Rin could clutch at his shirt as a way to ground himself from the bottled up frustration that coursed throughout his body.
"Rin, do you love me?"
Rin nodded into Ryuuji's neck, as that was where he had buried his face as a way to hide his tears.
"However, you also love him?"
Another nod was felt against the older teen's neck. Ryuuji ran one hand over Rin's back while the other massaged the shorter boy's head, raking his fingers through his dark curls.
"Well, where do we go from here? It's not like I'd be willing to share you. Not to mention, I've seen that guy battle when he was still a teacher at True Cross Academy. I wouldn't survive 5 minutes in close combat with him."
Ryuuji felt a light smile being formed on Rin's lips before the half-demon pulled back far enough to look Ryuuji in the eye.
"Please, Ryuuji. You wouldn't last 10 seconds, and that's if he'd be holding back against you."
Ryuuji scoffed as he pulled Rin back into the embrace, a blush forming on his cheeks from the younger teen's comment.
"Che! Thanks for the vote of confidence, Dumbass…"
Rin frowned at the insult, but ignored it go as he hugged Ryuuji closer. Unbeknownst to them, a catastrophic event would soon force them to take on the ultimate test, as Rin would soon have no choice but to choose between his current lover and his old flame.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Ryuu, Nox and Yukio leaned against the alley wall of a cafe, each of them with a freshly brewed cup of coffee in their hands.
"So, Princess, mind telling us why the change of route today. Normally we head to the warehouse for info before heading to the school to rummage through files. Afterwards, we head home to have dinner and then you spend most of the night on the computer. P.S. your bags are getting quite heavy."
Ryuu growled at Nox as Yukio gave the dark-skinned boy a look as though he had finally snapped. Ryuu took a deep breath as she brought the cup of coffee to her lips and sipped the warm beverage a little at a time.
"What crawled up your ass and died, Nox. You make comments, but you normally draw a line at certain topics. Is your love life hitting an obstacle that you can't get over so easily this time?"
Yukio blushed heavily and down his coffee before muttering about how he was leaving to get another cup. Nox grabbed the boy by his arm and pulled him back to lean against his chest with the demon's arm around his waist. He smirked down at Ryuu while Yukio struggled to speak.
"I'm perfectly fine, Ryuu-hime! Actually, I hit a revelation. I've decided to only treat my honey nicely, otherwise he'll grow insane with jealousy! We wouldn't want that now would we, Häschen?"
Yukio looked up at the taller boy's mischievous eyes with his own rebellious ones, his face as red as a tomato. Ryuu rolled her eyes at the loving display.
"Please, someone gouge my eyes out before I kill myself."
Nox kissed Yukio's nose to embarrass the exorcist further before turning towards the shorter girl with a playful smile.
"Don't be so cynical, Princess! You left your lover behind, so don't blame us if you're feeling lonely at night."
Ryuu would have responded to Nox's accusation were it not for the group of dark clad men that surrounded the ally they stood in. Nox held Yukio protectively against him as the glasses-clad boy looked around in confusion. Ryuu whispered a string of curses under her breath as she took a defensive stance in front .
"Nox, get Yukio out of here now!"
Nox looked at Ryuu's tensed back and was about to protest the order when Ryuu cut him off.
"Don't argue with me! Just go now! I'll hold them off for as long as I can, but Yukio needs to get away from here! You wouldn't want anything to happen to him now, would you? Just go! I'll be fine!"
Nox tensed in a struggle to nod towards the girl and prepared a spell of transportation while holding the struggling Yukio against him.
"Give 'em Hell, Princess."
With those words, Nox and Yukio were gone. Two men made as if to follow after them, but a blade flung towards where they were about to leap stopped them and drew their attention back towards the stoic faced girl.
"Don't even think about it. I'll kill you where you stand."
The men all gave each other questioning looks before they pulled out their own weapons and advanced towards Ryuu's ready form. She subtly smiled as she let her circular blades drop from her long sleeves and took a deep breath in preparation for the oncoming battle. She sent a telepathic message to Nox, who was now miles away as he jumped atop buildings at incredible speed to warn Ryuuji and Rin of the danger that was approaching them with Yukio on his back as the exorcist buried his now wet face against the demon's shoulder.
Protect Rin and the others now, Nox. Because…I don't think I'll be able to anymore. Also, if you ever meet a whimsically dressed demon king with green hair, tell him sorry, would you? A clown in a white suit with purple hair will be quite angry, but tell him he did well with me. They deserves as much.
Ryuu closed her mind off from any incoming messages from the male demon and met the eyes of her multiple opponents.
"Come on! Let me have a little fun, ne? Don't hold back on my account."
Back at the apartment, Ryuuji and Rin were on the couch with a movie playing on the screen across from them. Rin's head lay against the older male's chest as he listened to Ryuuji's heartbeat, his tail thumping against the couch to the rhythm. Ryuuji had an arm around Rin's waist as he lay his head on the demon's. They both knew that many things had been left unsaid between them, but were in mutual agreement that they had made enough progress for the day. For now, they just wanted to enjoy each other's presence and pretend that the world outside the dream they created for themselves didn't exist. Unfortunately, that dream was shattered when the door burst open with Nox falling to the floor panting while Yukio closed and locked the door behind them before attending to the dark-skinned demon. Rin was the first to rise from the couch and help the taller teen to the couch.
"Nox, what happened? Where's Ryuu-chan? Wasn't she with you guys this morning?"
Nox's eyes brimmed with tears at the mention of the demon girl they were forced to leave behind. Yukio grew silent and avoided eye contact with his brother and student. Ryuuji felt the air in the room grow tense when it settled in that something had happened to the stoic girl.
"What happened? Why isn't Akihana-san with you? Okumura-sensei, say something!"
Nox rose from the couch and wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his shirt before putting on a serious face and closing all the windows and turning all the locks.
"Now's not the time to dwell on that. We have to get out of here. They'll be here soon."
Rin followed Nox around the apartment while Ryuuji tried to calm Yukio down from his oncoming panic attack.
"Whose coming? Why do we have to leave so suddenly? Where's Ryuu-chan?"
Nox, growing more and more agitated, turned and grabbed Rin by his shoulders and brought their faces inches from each other. His eyes were bright red from the heightened emotions he was experiencing from the situation, shocking Rin still.
"She's gone, Rin! Ryuu-san is gone!"
Rin stood silent as Nox realized what he had done and brought Rin closer into a hug with his head resting on the smaller boy's shoulder, tears flowing from his once again mint green eyes and trailing onto Rin's shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Little Chick. I didn't mean to-Shit! I'm so sorry!"
Rin's body grew cold as he could no longer support himself. Nox lowered Rin to the floor with him and ran a hand through the smaller demon's hair in an effort to calm him. When Rin finally spoke, it was barely above a whisper.
"I can't be…She couldn't have-! Why can't I hear her voice? Her heartbeat…I can't feel her…Oh God! Why? Where is she? Where is Ryuu-chan?"
Nox held tightly onto the thrashing boy in his arms while the information sank into his core. Yukio and Ryuuji looked on with apparent sadness in their eyes while Rin struggled to accept the cruel reality he was forced to face.
"Where is she? She would never leave me! We're one! She and I are one! We're the same! What's happened to her! Why can't I hear her voice! he won't talk to me! I want to see her! Where is Ryuu-chan! She's supposed to be here! She has to be…"
Rin's yells quelled down into sobs as he held himself against Nox and let out all the misery he felt right then. Ryuu and he had been one being since they met. Without his friend, he felt empty inside. She had been there when everyone abandoned him after realizing he was Satan's offspring and made hi smile or laugh whenever he was depressed. She helped him meet up with Takashi when they fell in love. Ryuu helped him espace True Cross and stood by his side no matter what befell them. It was too much for him to handle. Rin's mind fell into darkness as he let sleep take him wherever it may.
As he slept, Rin dreamed that he and Ryuu were standing on the surface of the water of a great big ocean. The wind blew Ryuu's long raven hair, white dress and long grey cardigan in random directions as she walked towards him barefoot. She smiled at Rin sweetly and cupped his cheeks with both hands as she brought their foreheads together. Rin felt his tears flowing freely down his cheeks as he tried to hold her, but his hands only grasped at open air. Ryuu gave him a reassuring look and hugged Rin close to her, whispering soothing words into his collarbone. Rin cried harder and harder as Ryuu comforted him as best she could.
Once Rin had calmed down, Ryuu pulled him away to face her properly. She spoke to him but no sound came out. Rin tried to ask her what she was saying, but rose a hand to his own neck when he realized no sound came from his lips. He looked at Ryuu with a scared expression, but the girl just giggled mutely and turned from him before running away until her form seemed to dissipate into thin air.
Rin called out to her, despite how he was unable to speak, over and over again. He ran in the direction she disappeared from, but the minute he took even one step, Rin's body fell into the water he stood on. His body felt unusually heavy as he sunk deeper and deeper into the black abyss, struggling to clamor back to the surface as his air supply left his body at a rapid pace. Soon, as though natural, Rin's body grew still and his eyes closed as he surrendered to the darkness and continued to sink farther beneath the ocean's depths with only one thought circulating his mind.
Ryuu-chan…Are you really gone?


Afterstory Monologue:

Momo: Oh my gosh! I am so sorry for how long it took to get this chapter up everyone! [Bows Low] As bogus as this sounds, I've actually had the chapter done for months now, but only recently got internet back because I'm house-sitting for my grandfather! Blame my jerk of a dad for not giving me the password! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! Sorry! [Blubbering Heavily]

Nox: Here, Baby Doll. Wipe your snot before you lose followers...

Momo: [Whimpers] Thank you...

Rin: Why did you kill yourself off?! How does an author kill themselves off?!

Momo: [Sniffling] For the greater good of the story, Rin-chan. If my death creates brilliant smut between you and Ryuuji or Takashi, so be it. That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make!

Ryuuji: You do realize that we're just figments of your crazed imagination, so there really isn't any need for you to die, right?

Momo: [Puppy Eyes] Please don't say that...

Takashi: Moving on... [Turns To Camera] Please review your thoughts on this chapter. Our author has been yanking her hair out thinking about how much you guys were waiting on this anyway... If the characters seem OC to you, the full explanation will be revealed in the next chapter, which should be at it's final stages of writing before it gets proofread and posted.

Momo: On another note, since this house-sitting situation will only last about two weeks, that's how long I'll have internet. Once I go back to my father's house, I will be internetless once again until I figure something else out. To be honest, I have no idea how I'll survive much more of it...

Ryuuji: [Turns Camera To Him] Give her your best wishes! We're out! [Turns Camera Off]