In the dark

A/N – Hello everyone! I know, long time no update, but… oh well, I'd better stop making excuses or wasting your time with tedious author notes. Anyway, I'm so grateful to you guys for all the amazing support this story is getting, it means a lot to me! This being said, enjoy the new chap ;)

Lyrics (and implied music): Deftones – My own summer

Warnings: mentions of extreme anxiety, underage drinking/substance abuse (and Astaroth fluff… fluff?)


Of course, Ryuuji had thought that it was probably wrong – coming here again – but upon agreeing to it, in that moment, some time away from the files and the little apartment where too much had happened already had sounded like a good idea. Or at least, a not so bad idea. It was surprising though how quickly the full horror of Okumura's working place had faded from his memory, maybe it had had something to do with how dizzy and generally shocked by everything he had been that night?

No matter, he was back here, in the middle of the intoxicated crowd, waiting for his classmate to finish his shift and hang out. Why had he agreed to this again? Right, because Rin wouldn't leave the safety of Middle Strip and one didn't get a better place than Sir Pheles's club down here (he suspected that one could get much worse places though!). However, that was only the first question. The second was – why couldn't he make some excuse and avoid hanging out with Rin entirely?

Sure, they were friends and Ryuuji could even say that he cared about the half-demon boy now even more than before, but something was different, Okumura had changed, he had become much more insightful and almost… a bit more mature, which would have actually been a good thing if not for the brutal and otherwise damaging circumstances driving this change. And maybe there was something else at work too, maybe the new environment had awakened more of Okumura's demon nature and powers? Either way, Ryuuji was certain that this newly developed charm could eventually become dangerous.

The atmosphere was suffocating and hot and despite Moriyama's warning, the Aria headed for the bar where it was slightly less crowded and there were less swaying drunkards to bump into all the time.

"What can I get you, handsome?"

The question took the teen by surprise as he'd been staring absently at the enormous glass refrigerators behind the counter and had failed to notice the pink-haired, horned girl who was now leaning in front of him, flashing a broad, sharp-toothed smile. She was pretty though, in that same surreal, delicate-but-beastly fashion he was now familiar with.

"Uh… I'm not sure if I-…"

"… see Age of Astaroth! And this place is so fucking awesome!"

Ryuuji turned, startled by the voices as he was slammed into by two girls in messy school uniforms. They were giggling madly and nearly yelling at each other over the background noise.

"Oh my God, I'm so excited! And I think Okumura is totally fuckable!"

Goodness, this really was the last thing he needed to hear… "Give me a mineral water, please," the Aria grumbled awkwardly, turning away from the girls, desperate to tune out whatever other obscenities they might have had in store next.

"There you go, baby-… Hey!" The demon girl paused with the almost frozen bottle in her hand, suddenly craning her neck to see past Ryuuji's frame and scowling. "Is that a fucking exorcist?!"

Ryuuji froze. Now that was the last thing he needed, to be seen by Okumura-sensei at the bar! He turned abruptly and squinted, but could see nothing through the smoke and dense crowd. Had the younger twin really come again?

"Ah, excuse me… Did you say 'exorcist'?" he asked the girl, feigning ignorance. "What-… what did he look like?"

The pink-haired demon was now typing something on her phone preoccupied and didn't spare him as much as a glance. "Like a fucking crow, don't they all look like that in those long coats? Some old fart… Beelzebub's beard, I thought there was a fucking ban on them!"

So… it wasn't Okumura-sensei. But then, who could have been and why?


The lights had dimmed and Rin walked up on the stage, tossing away the cigarette butt and feeling grateful for the spreading numbness, it eased the unsettling feeling of being stared at by so many people. Yukio wouldn't show up again, would he? No. He wouldn't. Now he'd simply wait for Rin to crack and give himself up, like he always did. But not tonight, not tonight…

"Hey you, big star / Tell me when it's over / Hey you, big mood, guide me to shelter / 'Cause I'm through…"

The words and the song came easily. He wasn't alone. In moments like these, it was alright that the other demons were nearby. They would protect him if…

"When the two hits the six and it's summer"

And then Rin saw him. In the first moment the half-demon nearly felt like bursting into a fit of mad laughter, before the terror began to seep into every fiber of his body, into his very bones. Well, if his brother had failed, it figured that the Grigori would summon the other, the ultimate nightmare they pretended to be unaware of…

"CLOUD, COME! SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, / THE SUN - SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT ASIDE!"

Blue flames sprang freely and licked his limbs eagerly as Rin allowed his body to morph completely, voice turning to a feral growl for the chorus. He would not win just yet – the boy pulled the microphone out of its holder and walked up to the front of the stage, closer, watching through the drug-induced haze as the man's disturbing smile grew, devious and almost ecstatic, basking in a sense of infinite power. His coat seemed to absorb all shadows, like a hungry black hole inside which there was nothing but void, nothing but death.

"I think god is moving its tongue / There's no crowd in the streets / And no sun in my own summer / The shade is a tool, a device, a savior / See, I try and look up to the sky… / But my eyes burn…"

Rin wanted it to be over, it was too much. Too much… Despite being still numb, a weight pressed on his chest, suffocating, crushing. He dropped to his knees, but the weight pressed him further down, on his back, the flames spreading from his body like a deadly liquid.

"CLOUD, COME! SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT,/ THE SUN - SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT, SHOVE IT ASIDE!"

The blue fire burst into a violent wave like never before - in rhythm with the music - and swept over the swaying, screaming crowd and the man's wicked smile.


Cold water dripping from his hair, Rin stared at the pale face in the restroom mirror, with tear-streaked cheeks, reddened nose and lips pressed tightly, almost colorless. Out there, on the stage, he'd nearly passed out. He'd nearly turned everything into the ashes of his despair. The high of the drug, brusquely countered by violent emotions, had left his body weak and without energy, completely drained. Defeated.

Defenseless.

"What have I done that was so bad?" the half-demon boy whispered, gulping. "Why? Why, God? What have I done to deserve this?"

"Young master, what are you doing here? Are you alright?"

Right. There was this other problem, on top of everything else. Rin took a deep breath, momentarily closing his eyes, then whipped his head around abruptly, teeth bared and claws already extended gripping the edge of the sink.

"Astaroth, if you're looking to corner me again, I swear you're in for a-"

The lavender-haired boy sauntered closer, the usual hideous grin plastered on his face. "Oh, young master, by all means… be as hypocritical as you like, but I know something's wrong again. What was it this time?"

Rin wanted to speak, tried to answer, but the curse squeezed the words into his throat until nothing but a faint hiss came out. He slumped helplessly to the ground, hands clasped around his own neck as he struggled for breath. The King of Rot was fixing him intently and the pink orbs widened in understanding.

"Stop trying, young master. I think I get it," he said.

"I…" The half-demon boy inhaled deeply, free at last but already blinking back fresh tears. "I want him… I want him to… to b-…"

Astaroth knelt and gently gathered the brunet in his arms, nestling his head in the crook of his neck. Sharp-nailed fingers treaded softly through the prince's hair, smoothing the damp strands in a soothing caress. "Yes… say it, young master," he prompted. "Say what you really want. Set yourself free…"

Rin's eyelids fell shut as he pressed his forehead into the king demon's shoulder. "I want him to burn," he murmured, voice faint with exhaustion.

"What is going on?! What the hell are you two doing again?!"

No wonder Mephisto Pheles was the King of Time. He did have the worst timing ever.

"Master Samael, I'm afraid that man was here tonight," the King of Rot informed him, still cradling the teen in his arms. "Young master saw him and was greatly disturbed by this."

Mephisto said nothing, but a curious, pondering expression graced his features, as if this was somehow entertaining. Rin mentally rolled his eyes, whatever his older brother was currently up to was impossible to comprehend or figure out and if he indeed had a plan concerning the Council, he was surely taking his fucking time with the results.

"Master Samael, I know that this is a free zone, even if the man has broken the ban," Astaroth went on saying. "But perhaps it would be best if the others and I were to follow him back into Assiah and have him done for, once and for all. We will find him with ease, he has already been seen by several of our servants."

"You will do no such thing," the King of Time said smoothly, still rubbing his chin.

"But master Samael, what that human has done is unprecedented and he's not even hiding! He came here clearly seeking a challenge and you wouldn't see it answered! He will grow even bolder! Besides, can you not see that until he is dead young master will not have any peace?"

Rin lifted his head and looked up, suddenly feeling Mephisto's eyes on him, fixing him with an unspoken question.

"Is that true, Rin? Would you really be that merciful?"

"Wha-…"

"Would you let him get away so easily, with only death as his punishment? And even so, should his head only roll down in the dirt? Hmmm? I wonder…"

Brusquely, Rin hauled himself up on his feet, out of Astaroth's grasp, and scowled at his older brother without a word before storming out of the restrooms.


Ryuuji was perched awkwardly on a bar stool, half-slumped over the counter and nursing a half-empty bottle of who-knew-what quite confused. Goodness, he couldn't quite get used to the blue flames, harmless or not, rolling over him like that, all-consuming, simply… simply dreadful! And then something bad had happened, he knew it, the mysterious exorcist he'd been unable to lay eyes on had stirred a lot of commotion. Exorcists did come to Middle Strip sometimes, unofficially, but that man had shown off his insignia openly, as if purposely looking for trouble! What the hell was that about?

"Hey, Bon! What-"

"Oh, come on, I just had a mineral water!" the Aria replied defensively. He wasn't getting a lecture from Okumura now, was he?

Rin blinked, gaze trailing from his friend to the bottle and back and he pursed his mouth in a funny way. The pink-haired girl came and brought him a big glass full of something red and thick, topped with ice cubes.

"Hey, make that two!" Ryuuji asked, out of the blue, straightening his back. He saw that Okumura's black t-shirt was damp on the front and he looked a tad disheveled, blue-and-black hair messy and sticking up in all directions."Hey… what happened? Have you been crying?" he asked softly, reaching out to smooth his classmate's hair as if it was the most natural thing in the world, only realizing what he'd done when he noticed that some of the blue dye had come away on his fingers.

Rin took a swift swig from his drink and wiped his mouth awkwardly, averting his gaze. "Uh… no, I just… I had an episode again, I was in pain and had to finish quicker than usual. But I'm okay now, really…"

The taller teen nodded, not very convinced. In this short time, he'd learned how to read his classmate and could sense that the other was lying now. Whatever had happened though it must have been still too fresh, but Okumura would eventually tell him, he figured, when he was going to be ready for it.

Up on the stage a new band had followed and more wild music began pouring through the sound system, almost deafening. Ryuuji got his own drink and took a long sip from it (he saw Rin's lips moving, saying something – most likely advising against it, but it was too late). In turn he leaned it to shout in the other's ear, although the half-demon could probably hear just fine despite the noise.

"Let's go dance," the Aria said, abandoning his glass and motioning to the crowd. He pulled at Rin's hand boldly and the smaller teen followed, albeit with a look of surprise on his face.

Alcohol and whatever-the-hell else had been in that drink was making him feel lighter and lighter and Ryuuji let his body loosen in the rhythm, without a care in the world. All the tension, all the worries were gone. This was so new, crazy, wrong! He reached out, cupping Rin's pale cheek and stroking the smooth cheekbone with his thumb, every movement feeling like in a dream, and the half-demon blinked slowly, sleepily, as if he too doubted it was real.

I think everything is going to hell…

Ryuuji leaned in slowly and tilted his head - with as much precision as his drunken state allowed – and pressed his lips against his classmate's without warning. Perhaps he should have said something beforehand, like… only right now his clouded mind was incapable of mustering a single logical thought, aside from the fact that if he didn't do it right now

Rin didn't move but didn't stiffen either, too stupefied or too drunk to have much of a reaction, only give in.

The Aria pulled him closer, eventually lifting up the half-demon and prompting him to wrap his arms around his neck and his legs and tail around his waist. His lips were chapped and tasted of alcohol and cigarettes and unconfessed tears, yet when he finally kissed Ryuuji back, clumsily, messily, it lit his blood aflame.

To be continued