Infiltration Arc: Breathe
Yukio could barely breathe as he saw Rin leaving his practical. Rin had, at one time, shown his successes in his facial expressions, but now he was carefully measured in his composure and expression, nothing betraying his thoughts. Yukio, having not been able to see Rin for several days, however, was still hoping to learn how to read him through this facade, and had missed much of the time he would have liked to learn the smaller, subtler ticks.
Like the sweeping eyes which seemed to see everything and nothing as Rin took in his surroundings. Anfisa greeted him fondly, and Yukio was glad Rin at least had a supportive escort, as things would have been that much more difficult for Rin- and Yukio- to contend with if they had seen extensive discrimination against him for his heritage.
As the test proctor came from the room and informed him Rin had passed, Yukio felt his breath return in a rush. He may have been breathing, but he might as well have not been. He felt lighter than ever now that he knew he would not have to worry about this damned test any longer. It had never occurred to him how far Rin was behind the others until this day, nor would he recall Rin's stiff form as he stood in the testing center, anxious to leave.
Dragging his brother from the testing hall, the trip home was comfortable as Rin- likely exhausted from studying the night before and the practical against Donatien- fell asleep on the way home, leaving a softer disposition that still spoke of great stress and worry lining his entire posture. While the trip home was slow-going for Yukio, he couldn't help but smile like an idiot at his relief. His brother was safe. The residual threat didn't seem to matter for that space of time. Rin, however, was half-asleep and quite content on his own seat, a novel given to him by Matsuri laying open on his lap. They were going to debate it the next time they saw each other, and as such Rin hoped to have finished it. The debates regarding anything and everything had become somewhat normal after he had assisted Rin and the exwires in dealing with the large demon in the field.
Yukio, peering at the novel, recognized it. He had left his copy at the old church, but had never suspected Rin would show it the slightest interest. This copy seemed fairly new to him, and his was very battered comparatively. Looking over his brother's shoulder, Yukio glanced at the page as Rin began to stir. His brother was a little more than half-way through the book, and had evidently found it interesting
"Are you enjoying that book?"
Rin nodded, suddenly preparing to become humorous if the situation so called for it, "It's quite interesting. A friend of mine pushed it onto me so we could have a debate at work in a few days when our shifts overlap."
"Are you okay, Rin?"
The unprompted question threw the newly minted exorcist off guard for a moment, "I just found out all the threats to my life can be subtle now, instead of one gigantic, major test hanging over me. But other than that, yeah. I'm fucking fantastic. How about you, Yukio? Feel like sharing?"
"What do you mean?"
"You haven't asked what or why I'm reading a normal novel, or how I pulled this off, for that matter. Normally- and I'm not saying I want you to do this- you interrogate me if I so much as sneeze strangely."
Rin smiled as Yukio became slightly nervous at the response, prompting laughter from the both of them. It had been a long time, Yukio realized, since he and Rin had joked, even if Rin's humor had become wry and abrasive. His studies and former exwire duties had been the priority at the time, prompting him to be busy quite often when he and Yukio were on speaking terms.
"You're an exorcist."
"Yeah, don't remind me," Rin's grin was impossible to displace, however, and he and Yukio found them glared at for their poor manners on the bus most of the way home, opting instead to joke and relax for once.
When they returned to True Cross, Yukio had everything laid out. With Shura's help and the exwires desire to re-befriend Rin, he had roped them all into helping him prepare a congratulatory party of sorts to be prepared should he pass. As they walked up the path,however, Yukio heard Rin's phone beep in a text tone.
Evidently, it was a text that could be ignored, or was answered on its own by the next notification. Following Rin's replacing it in his pocket, both of the brothers proceeded to enter the dark dormitory. It wasn't strange for Yukio to turn out all lights before leaving- strange given the attraction many demons had to darkness- or at any other time, prompting Rin to head for the steps with caution.
"I'm going to put the book back in my room."
Rin froze as the lights were thrown on by his brother and the exwires squeezed Rin amidst all of them- Bon and Izumo even participating in the group hug. Rin didn't know what was happening, so he did the thing that came naturally.
Blame Yukio.
"What the hell, Yukio?!"
"Language, Rin."
Rin glared at his brother, "Yukio, what blackmail material do you have on them? Because whatever it is, I'm going to triple it for payback."
"I have no material on them other than their grades," Yukio smiled at his brother's pseudo-angry glare. Rin's return of the smile was something Yukio couldn't bring himself to take for granted any longer. His brother seemed to be reaching out to them again, no matter how many new secrets he was keeping from them. They seemed not to be deadly, from what Yukio had observed, and mainly revolved around new friends outside of True Cross.
The danger Rin truly faced, however, was far greater than Yukio had estimated.
Rin knew he could only be friends to a certain level of trust with the people in front of him, but refused to acknowledge that sore fact at this moment in time. As he talked and joked with the others, it was clear in his demeanor that he was not the same Okumura from a few weeks prior. As he sipped at his tea, he remained mostly silent through the festivities, as there was too much going on around him for him to fully appreciate a party.
"Hey," Suguro turned to him, "Where do you work?"
Rin's face became suspicious in seconds, "Why?"
Suguro smirked, "I met one of your co-workers. An Etsu something or other, you know her?"
"Oh, God," Rin groaned, missing his slip and then hoping he would not be smote, "What did she tell you?"
"Only that you work at a restaurant on the edge of town. Is it that weird place people really like? That American-styled 'world foods' place?"
"Yeah, actually," Rin became slightly more unnerved when Suguro guessed correctly as to his work, "The food is good. You should come sometime."
Suguro seemed skeptical, prompting Rin to shrug as he grumbled about 'pesky luck bastards' and 'that damn manipulator'.
The evening wasn't rambunctious or calm as it progressed, as Rin could not stay still, nor could he move around too much- Donatien had landed several substantial hits on the boy.
Eventually, however, he relaxed a bit more and let himself forget the war as long as he could. It may not have lasted long, but he felt enough room in his chest, his breaths no longer felt as though they were filled with water vapor. Overall, Yukio had been successful. He had gotten Rin to relax a bit and become a little bit closer to the exwires.
Anfisa laughed as Isamu stressed himself with worry over Rin. She was aware of their relation- everyone in Gehenna knew the face of the first one to be exiled in millennia, Satan's son born to serve others- and as such found his stress over his youngest demon brother humorous. Isamu had not made overt motions to show his anger and anxiety.
No, it was more casual than that. A slap to her head, a spilled drink in her lap, pacing, and knocking over things or running into them.
"Why won't you tell me? He's my damn brother!"
"What about Lucifer?"
"He's a di-"
Lucifer looked up from his plans. Curious as to Rin's performance, he had deigned to join this meeting for the evening, "Don't finish that statement if you like your appearance. Rin is not the only one with fire abilities."
Etsu huffed shortly in laughter, "Yeah, but he has luck not seen since the unfortunate person to find the Hope Diamond. There is a reason Luck demons hid the damn thing, yet these humans think all that glitters is gold."
Anfisa rolled her eyes as she joined Etsu on Isamu's sofa, "They're humans. Cut them a little break. At least they figured out it was cursed."
"After how many people died with it in their possession?"
"Point taken," Anfisa continued the discussion with Etsu as the night continued. All she had told Isamu was that Rin was alive, but the Vatican had yet to release his test results.
Of course, they had released them to Rin, but they would have to tell all of True Cross the son of Satan still lived. Said announcement would not be released until the day following this meeting.
"Just tell me already!"
Isamu was starting to become obviously nervous. Anfisa knew he had watched Rin to keep him safe for years, and knew he cared greatly for the half demon whom had never known the wrath of their father until the day Shiro had died.
"Fine-"
Lucifer stood and stopped her, "Don't give him what he wants. This is amusing."
Isamu suddenly seemed to gain a harsh quality he had not had earlier.
Ah, of course. His demon and human forms are so close, it's hard to tell sometimes, Anfisa smirked.
"Fine," she prepared, "But you owe me a major favor, Isamu."
"Whatever, just tell me how my brother did damn it!"
Anfisa laughed loudly, "He did fine. The guy he fought for the practicals seemed genuinely impressed, and he is such a hardass!"
While it had been amusing to see Isamu so nervous, his blatant relief made Anfisa regret it slightly.
No one should have to worry that much for someone's life, and yet Isamu had to worry for Rin, who was only fifteen. Theirs was a cruel fate. Both could not truly appreciate demon society, but they could never fully integrate into the human society either. This war was their only hope of finding a place to belong, but the creation of such a place was going to be a hardship beyond one they had ever faced.
[END CHAPTER]
I apologize for updating so late, but I have been busy all day. Enjoy, and drop a comment if you have anything you wish to say.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
~endlessnotebooks
