Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Blue Exorcist or Once Upon a Time
(Today, in Storybrooke)
It didn't take long for Rin to decide it was time to get away from them. He couldn't deal with Red, nor did he want to explain to Henry the problem with remembering everything. Hadn't the boy dreamed of the curse breaking after all? Rin didn't want to be the one to break that dream so suddenly by telling him that not all of those fairy tales had a happy ending. Still, he could feel their eyes glued to the back of his head as he turned and swiftly began walking out of his own restaurant. "Ryan!" Red's, no Ruby's shout still filled his ears. It wasn't his name, and that wasn't the Red he now remembered. It made him squeeze his eyes shut, taking in a sharp breath as he charged into the streets, no longer caring where he went. However, in doing so, he ran directly into Emma and Yukio, both of which had clearly been looking for him after their little stunt with the sword.
Their collision outside of his tavern made all three of them fall onto the ground, unable to keep their balance. Rin grunted as he felt kurikara dig into his back, but otherwise did not complain. Rubbing the back of his neck, he sat back up and found Yukio glaring at him, looking irritated. By his side, the blond looked just as annoyed, pressing a hand to her head as if she had a headache. "As I told you before, a guy like him doesn't have many places to go. I told you he'd come back here, or go home."
Emma's words made him scowl, looking away. "Like I could manage something like that." His voice was quiet, before he sighed and stared over at Yukio. It felt weird, running into him again already. He could remember everything about his brother, as if he had lived two separate lives at once. Ryan still existed, Rin knew that, but he didn't want to embrace those memories and the hatred he had been growing for his own brother. "You're after kurikara, right?" Evan blinked, looking startled while Rin realized his mistake. He shouldn't know the sword by name, not now. So, he quickly continued on, hoping to cover up his mistake. "The sword…I get that it came from Gold's shop, but you don't understand. I just…Yuk—Evan, there's more to it than just—"
"Before, you were not responsible for the theft, Ryan!" Evan was on his feet again, glaring down at his brother. "Now, you've helped Ruby steal it for a second time. Do you even realize what I am supposed to do to anyone who steals? You are my brother, and as much as I want to protect you, you keep doing these things and I just can't—"
"I know." Rin looked away, closing his eyes. "Arrest me if you have to. I'm still not giving anyone this sword. You'll have to fight me for it if you're that determined, Evan, and if you ask me, I think we both know who would win." Then again, maybe Evan could have beaten Ryan in a fight. Now, Rin had memories of training as a prince in his mind. He had learned under the supervision of the king himself on proper swordsmanship, though when he passed away and left him alone with Regina, she took over that task.
There was an odd tension in Yukio's gaze, something Rin wished was not there anymore. Why was he being so stupid? Sighing, Rin looked away and ran a hand through his hair. "You know what? Fine, take it. Just don't blame me about the damage that happens as a result." He pulled it off of around his back, closing his fist tightly around the red case for a moment. It felt wrong, giving it away after everything that happened. Even back home, everyone had begun to warn him about this sword not long before the curse hit. People said that it was tied to him, that it was the reason those blue flames Snow once saw were no longer consuming him. It looked like there was more to it than just that, based on Rin's own altered senses though.
"Ryan…what is—"
"Ryan, thank god you didn't get far." Ruby came running out of the tavern, with Henry right behind her. "What the hell is going on with you? I thought we were working together…" She trailed off, seeing him holding the sword out towards Evan. With a glare, she marched over and shoved it back towards him, turning on Evan quickly and beginning to stare him down. "That's enough. I don't care what it is that's wrong with you, there is no reason to just give up so easily."
Closing his eyes, Rin took a deep breath and focused on the ground. "I'm not giving up."
"Then what is going on with you?" Surprisingly, it was Emma who spoke, not Ruby. "I may not know you well, but even I can see that something is off. What happened to the guy that was shouting at me from the moment we first met?"
"He remembered something important to him." Rin looked away, glancing at Henry who blinked at him in surprise. "Turns out not everything is worth remembering, though. That sword is not a toy, Yuk—Evan." He had to stop slipping like that. "It isn't even something that should be in this town…why didn't it just stay there when the—" Rin broke off, running a hand through his hair. "Damn it. Damn that clown, and that scaly skinned bastard." The Dark One was involved in this, somehow. Why did he even want kurikara? Rin didn't know, but it irritated him to feel like he was Rumple's pawn.
A hand touched his shoulder, making him turn around to see Ruby trying to give him a sympathetic gaze. However, it wasn't the look he wanted from her. He wanted to see the confident headstrong girl he knew from his adventures with her and Snow. He wanted to see the girl striving to become better, because she knew and accepted what she was. Right now, he needed someone like that more than ever. So, he jerked away from her touch, scowling at her in irritation. "Sorry." She looked away, blushing faintly. "I wasn't trying to be rude…but you just look—"
"Like someone to pity?" He snorted, closing his eyes and rising to his feet. "You feel sorry for me. I honestly don't know if that's better or worse than what everyone else thinks." Then again, it wasn't all that different from back home. He belonged in a prison cell, for being stupid enough to think he could be useful to anyone.
"Ryan!" Evan narrowed his eyes. "What has gotten into you? Ruby never did anything to you, she is just trying to help."
That was the most painful thing of all. Before, when his brother tried to give him advice like that, it always came with a wavering uncertainty in his eyes, as if he questioned if he was being too harsh with his brother. Now, it just came with stern anger, a look Rin never wanted to see his little brother giving him. "All of you need to calm down and focus on the important thing here. Ryan, if you remember, then that means the curse—"
"Is real?" Rin let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Sure. And it also is something that we're not getting out of with ease. Trust me…when the Dark One wants something done, he finds a way to make sure it sticks."
"Dark One?" Emma rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Look, I get that you agree with Henry's story book beliefs, but even I know that there is no fairy tale being known as that in any book."
Meeting her gaze, Rin remained calm for once and rose back to his feet. "You might be right. That's because he isn't all that popular of a character, but you better believe he's someone you don't want to mess with. I barely even met the guy and the only reason I even spoke to him was because—well, I don't think now's the time to talk about that." Really, there wasn't a good time to talk about it at all. At first, he had thought Rumple was in those cells because of Regina, but he later learned that it was Snow in charge again. Why had she not released him? Then again, there had been more and more incidents with blue flames sprouting up throughout that place around that time. Maybe she blamed him for the whole thing, just like she nearly had when they first met.
"And who were you? Do you know how to break the curse at all? I mean, someone back there had to at least have started some kind of more detailed plan than what I told you about from the book." Henry looked eager, staring at Rin with hopeful eyes. However, Rin looked away, closing his hands into fists, the one holding the sword tightening and wrinkling the fabric.
"I was in prison at the time…right alongside Rumplestiltskin." That made Henry stare at him in shock, his eyes widening. "You think I'm some kind of hero, Henry? Well, I'm not, so just stop with all those illusions in your head about happy endings and fairy tales. I tried to do the right thing. All that I got was a prison cell and a crazy imp trying to taunt me with his riddles and deals."
"Ryan…whatever it is that's going on with you, I'm certain we can work it out." Evan looked cautious for once, holding his hands out in a calming motion. "I know that you and Henry are close, but there are better ways of coping with anger than—"
"Shut up, Yukio." This time, Rin didn't care about the name he used. Really, he was already talking openly about the past anyway, so it didn't matter. "You can give me that crap once you actually remember a thing about me…and this sword. If you knew what it was, you wouldn't be trying to give it back to Gold, that's for sure."
"But it is still the law, Ryan." Evan held his hand out, while Ryan sighed, hanging his head. Maybe he'd have to show his brother something to get out of this, something minor to convince him that taking the sword back was a bad idea. However, before he could even really think through how to do such a thing, something yanked on the case and tugged it free from his grip. A sudden blur shot past him, with a giggling voice echoing in the air.
"Finally!" A familiar green haired demon stood before him, making Rin grow tense as he recalled meeting this man in both worlds. "I've been waiting so long for you to wake up, little brother. Now, we can finally play! Ooh…I wonder, do you mind if I keep this for a moment?" He held out the sword as a taunt, while Rin tensed, stepping forward threateningly. However, the case dropped, revealing the blue sheath underneath. Amaimon gripped it with an amused grin, one hand clasping the blade and the other the sheath. No matter what happened here, Rin knew it was not going to be good. However, he just hoped he could get the others away before it turned into a complete disaster that took their lives rather than just their peace of mind about the world around them.
(Many years ago, in the Enchanted Forest)
Sitting around in a cell was not how Rin ever expected to spend his life. Being placed in that cell by his own brother was even more unexpected, but it still was understandable. Yukio would never abandon him. Rin had confidence in that fact, so he had relaxed and taken to trying to find ways to entertain himself, despite the lack of…well, anything in the cell. Sleeping on the dirt ground was not that difficult to get used to after camping with Snow for so long, but not being able to talk to anyone or do anything was far worse. Soon, he knew he'd go mad from just sitting around.
Rin didn't know how long it was before the new prisoner joined him. He had heard rumors about the man, sure, but when he saw the man with the yellow-tinted skin in the cell next to him, he was stunned. Someone had actually managed to capture the Dark One. Yet, the odd cackle he gave off once inside sent chills down his spine. It almost sounded like he was pleased to be here, despite the boringness the cells held.
"Why, hello there, dearie. I didn't expect them to be so kind as to give me a cell mate." He smiled brightly, offering a hand. "I'm Rumplestiltskin, but you likely already knew that. Though, I suppose you aren't all that much, are you?"
Scowling, Rin glared back at him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I can do plenty—"
"Oh, the hot-headed brother of the princess, I think we all know quite well the kinds of fights you get into. You're almost worse than pirates with that kind of a mindset, you know." Once again, Rin didn't know what to make of the insult, but he knew the man was looking down on him with that arrogant smile of his.
Leaning forward, Rin glared at him. "Shut up about that! I can control my temper just fine when I want to."
"Then what are you doing in here? Most people don't end up in prison for nothing, dearie, especially not with that oh so pure-hearted princess leading our kingdom now." Wait, what? Rin stared at the Dark One, his eyes growing wide. "Did you not hear the news? Snow has overthrown the evil queen. Victory is hers, and now she gets to live happily ever after with her truuue love. Such a wonderful ending, is it not?"
He didn't understand. Glancing out of the cell, Rin saw nothing but dim light illuminating the cave around them. "But…why am I here then? I mean, we were raised together. Snow knows me…I was only here because of—"
"Indeed, but you know more than that, don't ya?" Rin didn't answer. They hadn't found much on the blue flames sprouting up everywhere, despite trying to figure out what the source was. Every time they found another attack, Snow seemed to get more and more suspicious of him. "There's something dark in you, dearie. I daresay you are possibly even darker than me, whatever it is." Leaning closer, the Dark One grinned, his teeth taking on that same yellowed tone as his skin and making Rin wonder if the guy had ever heard of hygiene at all. "In fact…I find myself rather interested in the power I sense in you. Would you be interested in making a deal and offering me some of that power? After all, I am the most powerful magic user in the world. Anything your heart desires—"
"No." He knew what happened to people who made deals. However, based on the wide eyed look on Rumple's face, Rin realized that few people refused to take one when it was offered. "I'm…I'm normal. I refuse to be anything else…so there's nothing you can give me that I'd want, Dark One. Just stop bothering me, because I'm not going to fall for your tricks and make some deal with you."
Oddly, the man gave out a giggle of amusement at that, clapping his hands together with the cackle. "Is that so? Well, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see, dearie. After all, I get the feeling that we'll be getting to know each other real well here…since we are both sentenced to live here for life, right?" Another laugh echoed throughout the cavern while Rin buried his head into his legs. His own sister was keeping him trapped in this place. He didn't know why, but all he could focus on was hoping that Yukio didn't agree with her. Hopefully, his brother was still out there trying to find a way to free him, but the more he heard about Snow, the more he wondered if he could even put his faith in those familial ties. Even family was willing to betray him, once they saw the monster that Rin was slowly beginning to feel lurking beneath his own skin, begging to be released just like those blue flames he saw every time that demon came in search of Yuri and their son.
Thank you to Pizza Man for another review! I'm glad you enjoyed. Things are starting to get a little more intense here, with Amaimon coming back. Feel free to review and tell me what you think!
