Chapter 21~
"Are you sure about this, Rin?" Nekoyoma asked, watching the younger in worry, while the teen pulled on a hoodie and smiled at him. "I know I said-"
"I'm sure, Neko." He interpreted, reaching out to take the male's hand and tightly grasping it. "I did say yes, didn't I?"
The worried look that fell over his mate's face had him holding back a chuckle at the distressed expression, before he tugged on his arm. Ice blue eyes meeting his, and the flash of light he missed seeing dashing across those anxious orbs, till he stood up on his tip toes and kissed the other.
"Where are we going, Neko?" Rin asked, successfully snapping the Glacier Bullet from his trance, and bringing him back into his serious mode. "We don't want to be too late, right?"
A determined nod left the older, before he was led out of the apartment and into the living quarters of the branch. His mate holding tight to his hand, and cautiously leading him through the still quiet halls, while he watched his mate's back and couldn't help but smile.
"Do you want to adopt Owen?" He repeated, giving the man a soft smile. "You can tell me the truth. I won't get mad."
After his words hit the air, Nekoyoma looked at him is pure surprise, before his brow furrowed and he looked down at their joined hands. Fingers tightening around his, and the distressed look slowly disappearing from his face, just as ice blue eyes met his and a smile adorned his mate's lips. His choice clear as day.
"Yes." Nekoyoma spoke, ice blue eyes looking at him with a determined and happy expression. "Yes, I do."
Rin's smile grew with the recollection of the event that happened just over an hour ago, as he closed his eyes and let out a small breath. All because, against what others probably thought, he was really okay with this. I mean sure they'd have a second little one to care for on top of the one they were expecting, and it was another little life he'd have to fear for under the Vatican's eyes, but he had a feeling it was worth it. After all, if this little demon was able to gain Neko's heart then he had to be a special little bundle of joy, and he had no doubt in his heart he'd like the little one as well. Even if he still had the exorcist exams and the Vatican to worry about, he could at least put those aside for the moment to enjoy this with his mate. He was entitled to enjoy his life after all.
"We're here." Nekoyoma spoke up; snapping the teen from his thoughts, as he opened his eyes and found them in front of a whole other sector he didn't know existed. The double doors in front of them reading "Demon Relocation Sector" in big bold black letters, against white wood, while his mate turned look back at him in slight worry and chewed his lower lip. "Are you really sure this okay, Rin? I mean, we already have a little one on the way. I don't want you to think I don't love them and-"
A sigh left the teen, before he reached up and pressed a finger against the older's lips, Neko blinking down at him.
"I said it was fine. Quit making me repeat it." He huffed, a slight bit of agitation reaching his tone, and making the Glacier Bullet flinch, before the doors in front of them swung open and Scarlett stepped out. The demon coming to a halt, and blinking at them in surprise, before she softly smiled.
"Here for Owen?" She asked, making Neko suddenly look away in embarrassment and the girl to chuckle. "Did Rin okay this?"
"Yes I did." He spoke up, while the head of the branch stepped back so they could move past her.
"Then come on in and I'll introduce you to our Relocation Sector." Came her reply, while they moved past her and she let the door close, before taking the lead. "Nekoyoma already knows about this sector, but I'll explain it for your sake, Rin."
A nod left him, while they walked down the hall and past a few open rooms with a few exorcists tending to battered demons wounds or helping them fill out forms in offices. A few rooms showing an exorcist cheering up a little one, or keeping them company, while another filled out forms.
"This sector was founded a few years after I took control of the branch in the hopes to help demons who would need a place to stay and live their lives." She started to explain, while waving to a secretary behind her desk in greeting. "At the time we had just finished building the living quarters and were finding sane demons who wanted to live in peace away from exorcists. Of course to achieve that we had to come up with a safe system to integrate them into the branch and we came up with the Relocation Sector. Of course it wasn't called that in the beginning, but between integrating, relocating them to different parts of the branch or world, and finding younglings homes we settled on Relocation Branch."
"You do all that here?" Rin asked, glancing around, while Scarlett nodded.
"The Relocation Sector has three different wings to take care of each of the tasks, and different personale for them. It was our luck that this sector was far away from Griffin's blast, or we would've had more casualties than necessary and our system would've collapsed."
"It's really that important?"
"Besides Scarlett and myself, this sector is the more important than the rest." Nekoyoma suddenly explained, looking down at him. "Without it we wouldn't be able to integrate new or current demons into biomes or living quarters, let alone give out orders to send certain demons with certain abilities to certain locations to help with the chaos. Hell, even all the orphaned younglings we have now wouldn't be able to find new families without this sector."
"You could call it the backbone, or supporting pillars, of the entire branch." Scarlett continued, stopping in front of a pair of doors and turning to smile at them. "And behind here is the orphan wing. Beyond these doors we have demons of different ages and species waiting to be adopted, so it'll be a bit chaotic since we let them roam around in the wing and do as they please. We'll probably get swarmed, but they're just excited to see us."
At that Rin gave her a small nod, before she pushed open the doors and stepped inside with the two of them just behind her. Laughter and childish yelling reaching their ears, as younglings and young teenagers chased and ran after each other around the hall. Some dashing from room to room, calling for one another, or carrying a toy, till a few caught sight of them and suddenly brightened. The younglings running up to them, and speaking all at once, while trying to show them their toy or get their attention, and Rin couldn't help but lightly laugh. They all seemed too happy to see them.
"Who are you guys?"
"Look at my dolly!"
"My name's Ryuu!"
"Aren't you the Glacier Bullet?"
"I can breathe fire!"
"Play with me!"
"Now, now, don't swarm." Scarlett lightly scolded, laughing at their enthusiasm, while they slowly calmed down and beamed at her. "Remember your manners."
"Yes, Scarlett-sama!" They all spoke at once, making her beam and nod.
"Now run along you guys and let them talk to you on their own." She calming ordered, before they dispersed and she turned to smile at them. "Told you we'd get swarmed."
"They're all so happy." Rin spoke, watching them head to their rooms or dash off with a playmate. "Even after what happened."
"Most of them are, yes. The staff here tries to make them as comfortable as they can, so they can feel at home till they can have a home of their own." Came the reply, before she motioned them forward. "But besides that, you came to see Owen."
"How is he doing?" Nekoyoma asked, as they followed after her.
"He's been really quiet." At the news, the half-demon's mate tightly grasped his hand. "But, given his situation, I wouldn't be too surprised at his silence. He wouldn't tell us much, but from what I gathered he was there with his parents when the den collapsed and one of them shoved him out before he was caught up in it. His injuries were minor, and were caused because he hit the ground hard, but he's not harmed otherwise. Last I saw him he was asleep."
Silence met them, making Rin glance up at the other in slight worry, till Scarlett came to a stop and they halted behind her in confusion. The woman turning to them, and holding her folders tightly to her chest, as she let out a deep breath and glanced at his mate for a moment.
"Is something wrong?" Nekoyoma asked, causing her to shake her head.
"No, but from here on out you'll have to wait here." She announced, making the Glacier Bullet stiffen and move to argue, before she held up a hand. "I'm not forbidding you from seeing him, but given his situation I have to stop you here. He's at a very young age and having just lost his parents he needs more than just his savior at his side. We talked about this a few days ago, but Owen needs a submissive to raise him and to connect with on his own accord. Which means you being in his presence will disrupt his natural instincts and force a connection he might not want. So from here on out Rin needs to do this alone, if he choses to."
Of course all the teen could do at that point was frown, which had the woman turning to him in slight confusion.
"I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to." Rin spoke, making his mate flinch at his slight harsh tone, and the younger to try and keep his hormones in check. "I just have to meet Owen without Nekoyoma there, right?"
"Correct."
"Then what are we waiting for?" He challenged, making the woman chuckle, before she started walking again and he let go of his mate's hand to follow her. A quick look back reassuring the male would be fine; while the other children swarmed the Glacier Bullet in hopes they'd play with him.
"I see why he loves you." At the female demon's words he turned back to watch the back of her head in confusion. "I was worried you two wouldn't connect, since I forced you two into the demon mating program, but you two fit quite well together."
"Speaking of that. Are Neko and me even mates?" Rin asked, frowning at her, while she rubbed the pad of her index finger against her temple.
"I don't know, to be honest. We haven't had time to do any tests yet." Was her reply, making him stare at her in shock. "But with everything that's happened you can't blame Drew or myself. When things settle down we can get to testing your blood and making sure."
"But the Vatican could try and take me back any day now, and I'm pregnant-" A hand appeared in his face, making him stop and meet tired blue eyes in slight surprise.
"I know you're worried Rin, trust me, your problems are my problems since you're under my care, but I can only do some much as one demon." Scarlett replied, dropping her hand to her side and turning to him. "I know the Vatican will send Angel back here to retrieve you, and that your exorcist exam is fast approaching, but at the moment I'm too tired to do anything besides help the branch and do simple tasks such as this. Anything beyond this may fry my brain right now."
A soft sigh left her, before she pointed to the door beside them and he turned to find Owen's name engraved into the metal strip nailed into it.
"You're free to see him when you're ready. I'll be out here." She spoke, before she conjured a school chair and settled down into it with a breath of relief. "And take your time. Don't be too rash."
"Of course." Rin quickly spoke, before he turned to the door and took a deep breath.
A shaky hand reaching out for the doorknob, till fingers wrapped around the metal and he pushed the door open.
Soft clatters and rustling filled Griffin's room as he slowly packed a suitcase. His mate sitting on the bed, and patiently waiting, while their son and Nori sat in the pregnancy doctors' office with Nori's mate Akito. The big panther sitting beside his brother, and sleeping, while his brother quietly spoke to the teen. An unsure feeling washing over him, and pausing his packing, before Mephisto looked at him in slight worry and Griffin couldn't help but feel like this was all his fault. If those exorcists hadn't caught him all those years ago then none of this would've happened. Sure he probably wouldn't have met Mephisto when he did, but no one would've had to go through all this pain because of him.
"Griffin." At his name being spoken, the demon turned to his mate and tightened his fingers into the shirt he had in his grasp. "Are you alright, my angel?"
"Yeah." Came his quiet response, moving to his suitcase and putting the clothing in his hand into it, never missing the frown he got.
"Griffin." Mephisto called his name over more, his gloved hand resting over the younger's in concern. "What's wrong?"
"I...I don't know if I want to leave Kito behind." He quietly spoke, yet Akito still managed to hear him and lifted his head to listen, while his mate frowned a little. "I know we need to have sometime to get used to one another again, and that Scarlett strongly suggested it, but I don't like the idea of leaving him behind, Mephy. We left him alone once and looked what happened. If Kito hadn't used his powers who knows what would've happened to him."
A small sigh left the older man, as green eyes met his worried blue and the demon gently took his hand. The older gently pulling him toward him and wrapping his arms around him.
"I know you're afraid he'll get hurt again, but your brother and his mate promised they'd look after Kito while we're gone." Mephisto spoke. "Kito will be safe with them and he'll be unharmed when we get back."
"I wish I could believe that, but I can't help but worry about him." Griffin replied, pressing his palms against his mate's chest and separating them, an anxious look on his face. "I just got you all back and I want nothing more than to lock you both up and throw away the key. I don't want to lose either of you."
A small smile fell over Mephisto's face, before gloved hands caressed the pregnancy doctor's cheeks and a small kiss was placed on his lips.
"We're not going anywhere, Griffin. We're both here to stay. So finish up packing and the two of us can have the honeymoon we never got." At the elder demon's words, the younger suddenly perked up and raised an eyebrow in amusement.
"Do I get to pick where we go?"
"As long as it's within my means...and wallet." Mephisto replied, yet the last bit seemed to be ignored as Griffin quickly stuffed a few more things in his suitcase and snapped it closed. The younger pulling it off the bed, and holding it close to him, as he smirked slightly and headed for the door.
"Then I hope you're ready for a round trip, Mephy! We're fulfilling my bucket list!" The groan that came from behind him had Griffin smirking in victory. "Come on, we don't got all day!"
"Good luck." Was all Nori had time to relay to his mate, as the pregnancy doctor kissed his son's forehead goodbye and dragged his mate out the door. "You'll need it."
Complete silence reached him as he stared into the seemingly empty room. The walls a soft green, and grey carpet beneath his feet, as Rin looked around the space. A small bed resting in the far right corner of the small bedroom, a nightstand next to it, and a dresser across from it, while two doors led to a closet and bathroom respectively. A few toys littering the floor, but no presence in sight, while the teen glanced back out into the hall and to the head of the branch. Scarlett gesturing to go inside and close the door, while he sent her a frown and looked back into the empty room.
The teen deciding to follow her instructions, and step far enough into the room to close the door behind him, till the click sounded and he surveyed the space once more. No little demon in sight, in neither the room, or the bathroom and closet, as he slowly stepped further into the bedroom and frowned.
"Owen?" He calmly called, waiting for some kind of movement. "Are you in here?"
When no movement came, it took everything he had not to turn back to the door and pull it open to ask the head of the branch if he was really in here. All because this was most likely some kind of stupid test of sorts, made to see if he was really fit to be Owen's...dare he say mother?...Well he was going to be his offsprings mother so there was really no difference, but there was no way he was going to fail this. Neko really loved the youngling and he wanted to do anything in his power to keep his mate happy.
"Owen, my name is Rin." The teen spoke, tossing away his doubts and slowly moving to sit on the floor, having a bit of difficulty since he was just starting to show and the new weight made it uncomfortable to move around. "Scarlett told me you just came here today."
When nothing reached him the half-demon chewed on his lower lip and looked to his lap. Should he mention Neko? No, Scarlett mentioned she didn't want his mate's savior status to sway Owen's natural instincts to connect with a suitable submissive, so he couldn't mention his mate. He had to do this on his own, but what could he say that would possibly appease the head of the branch or make the little one appear? Owen was already freaked out because he lost his parents, and was there when it happened, not to mention he was probably scared Neko wasn't here with him. Overall he was frightened and was probably hiding in a safe space, or at least a place that made him feel somewhat safe- wait, he just had to show the little one he wouldn't hurt him and he was safe with him...That he understood him, duh!
"I bet it was scary, wasn't it?" Rin spoke, pulling his knees as close to him as he could and resting his arms on his knees so he had something to lean his head against. "All the noises and yelling? Were you scared?"
Silence.
"I know I would be if my brother and me were in the same situation. I'd do anything to protect him. After all, I'm the big brother, so it's my job to protect him."
A soft sniffle echoed through the room, as Rin paused and glanced up from his gaze on the carpet. No other noise being heard, while the teen relaxed and closed his eyes.
"But I'd still be brave, because he looks up to me." He continued, sitting up a little and grinning at nothing. "Of course he'd get mad at me, but-"
A sob stopped him from his speech, as he quickly looked toward the noise and felt his heart clench when his eyes fell on the bed. Sapphire eyes falling on the space below the bed in particular, and catching the flash of reflective eyes underneath, making him pause and dig his fingers into his jeans.
"Owen?"
"Don't go too far ahead Owen!" A voice called, the little youngling letting out a happy giggle as he transformed and played in the grass.
The two figures watching him from their den, while the taller of two ruffled the smaller's shoulder length hair.
"He'll be fine, Mason. He's still in our sight." The male spoke, holding the other close. "No one will hurt him."
"I know, but I can't help but worry, Noah. I promised my mother I'd keep him safe." Mason replied, chewing on his nail, while brown eyes watched his younger brother chase after a small bug. "Owen, be careful of the rocks!"
A soft sigh left the older as he set a hand on the other's chest, before he could get up and go after his brother, and leaned over to place a kiss on the smaller's cheek.
"Mason, take a deep breath and relax. We're in the American Branch, away from the poachers, and no one will hurt us with me here." Noah spoke; taking the younger's hand and squeezing it. "Besides us being mates, I don't think anyone wants to mess with a Siberian Tiger shifter. We're not exactly small."
"Idiot, you're the biggest feline species." Came the huff, getting a chuckle.
"Exactly my point. We're safe." Noah spoke, just as a distant noise reached their ears and Owen came to a stop in his chase after the beetle he had been trying to play tag with. "The hell was that? Owen, come here."
Of course the little black panther followed the order as he bounded over to the male and his brother, shifting back and holding onto his brother's arm, while the other two gazed back out toward wherever they heard the noise. A few moments of silence following, before a deafening scream smashed into their eardrums and Owen let out a whine as he covered his little ears. His brother holding him tightly against his chest, and Noah now standing in front of them, before the noise halted and the little shifter gazed up at his brother in fear.
"M-Mommy."
"It'll be ok, Owen." Mason reassured, ignoring the title the little one had given him after their mother died at the hands of poachers, and played with his hair. "Noah, what was that?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it. Stay in the den." The older ordered, his eyes narrowing, till the noise came back at full blast again.
Yells and shouts echoing amongst the scream, and his mommy and daddy yelling toward each other, trying to talk above the noise, till something cracked above them and Noah pushed them out of the way. Bits of the ceiling suddenly crumbling, and falling on the spot they had been a second ago, as fear took over him and he sniffled.
"M-Mommy, D-Daddy."
"It'll be okay, Owen." Mason spoke up, holding him tightly against him, while Daddy helped them stand. "Noah-"
"We have to get out of the den, now!" He yelled, urging them forward, as the horrible noise continued.
A horrible snapping sound coming from behind them making them turn, just as a landslide of rocks came rushing toward them and his mommy flinched. Hands holding him tightly against him, and shaking, before brown eyes looked down at him and seemed to realize they wouldn't move fast enough to avoid the caving rock.
"M-Mommy…"
"I love you, Owen." The male above him spoke, tears filling his eyes, as a kiss was placed on his forehead and daddy lifted him up.
"Be safe, little one." Daddy spoke, before he was suddenly flying through the air and collided with the ground.
The impact making him cry in pain, and curl up when he skidded to a stop, while tears filled his eyes and he sniffled. The little shifter trying to escape the ouchies, till he suddenly sat up and looked toward the den.
"Mommy! Daddy!" He called, eyes falling on the mountain of rocks left of their den, as he shakily got to his feet and ran toward the rubble. Little hands digging through the rocks, and crying and screaming for them, above the screaming around him, till he paused in his search and stared at the little gold light flashing back at him. Chubby fingers reaching down to grab the golden ring that was always around his mother's neck, as tears filled his eyes and he curled up into a ball. "Mommy, Daddy."
"Owen?" The new voice snapped him out of his memory as the little one sniffled and ran a paw over his muzzle. Tears rolling down his face, and wetting the carpet, while the new demon looked toward his direction in worry. "Owen, do you want a tissue?"
I want mommy and daddy.
A moment of silence fell over them, besides the little shifters sniffling, before a noise of happiness reached him and rustling could be heard. Owen glancing over to see the demon searching his clothes for something, till he produced something small he couldn't make out and held it out toward him.
"You want some candy, Owen? My friend gave me some. She said they make tears go away." Rin spoke, making his ears perk up a little.
Candy? Mommy mentioned candy before.
"You can't give him candy, Noah. He'll be up all night."
"It's your favorite though. And one won't hurt."
"I said no."
A look of disappointment fell on the demon's face, before he pocketed the treat and rested his head on his arm. Sapphire eyes focusing back on the carpet, like they had done before, as a black fluff flopped behind him and brown eyes were instantly glued to it. The tuff swaying to one side, and then the other, as the little feline watched it in interest, till it gained his full attention and his tears were long forgotten. His rear end rising in the air a little, and his legs ready to launch is forward and pounce, till the black fluff swayed to his direction and he lunged for it.
His paws catching it, and making the demon beside him jump, while he put all his weight on the wiggling creature and stared at it in wonder. Brown eyes studying it, till he followed its length and found it disappeared beneath clothes...which meant- In an instant the little shifter looked up to find sapphire eyes looking down at him in wonder. The demon having never once moved, except for when he pounced on what the little one realized was his tail, as he gently removed his paws from it and backed up. Ears instantly flattening against his head, and tail curling inwards, while the demon slowly raised his hands up.
"Easy, Owen, it's okay." Rin spoke, a smile on his face. "You didn't know it was my tail, and it didn't even hurt. You just surprised me."
H-He didn't hurt him?
"Are you okay though? You hit your head when you jumped out at me." At the question, he blinked at the other, before the pain registered as he whined. A paw reaching up to rub it, but only succeeding at making it worse as he smacked it and yipped. "Hey, easy, little one. Let me see."
At the kind command he looked up at the demon with caution and lowered his paw. Brown eyes surveying him, and not finding any weapon, or object that could hurt him, before he slowly padded toward the other and came to a stop when fingers lightly brushed against his fur. The touch gentle, and slightly warmer than the lady from earlier, while the demon above him checked his head and softly smiled.
"It doesn't look too bad. It'll just be a little bruise. Does it hurt?" A small nod was his response, till the hand that had checked his ouchie gently stroked down his back and the little one's ears perked up at the relaxing feeling that washed over him. "Then we'll have to make the ouchies go away."
In an instant fingers reached under him, and wiggled against his belly, before a little snort left him and he tried to back away from the other. The onslaught of tickles continued on however, till Owen rolled over onto his back and wiggled his paws in an attempt to grasp onto the demon's hands and push them away in his fit of laughter. However, just before he could get purchase on the male's flesh, the fingers attacking him disappeared, causing the little shifter to open his eyes in confusion. Only to find Rin smiling down at him lovingly, and just like his mommy did, while fingers gently brushed against his head.
"Feeling better, Owen?" Rin asked, as the little panther carefully rolled over and sat up.
"Yes." Owen finally spoke, causing the other to smile in relief, before Rin sat up properly and lowered his legs to the floor. The action causing the little one to notice the little extra weight settled near the demons midsection, as well as the extra energy, making his ears perk up. "Baby."
A look of confusion fell over the older's face, till the demon realized what he was referring to and set a gentle hand on his stomach.
"Yeah, I have a little one inside me."
"Why isn't it out here?" At that Rin chuckled and ruffled his fur.
"Because the baby has to grow and collect energy, and it's my job to give it energy to grow." The older explained, while brown eyes watched him in curiosity, till the male gestured him closer. "You want to come closer?"
A small nod was all Owen gave, as he carefully padded closer. No noise leaving the either of them, before the little shorter carefully settled into the demons lap and rested his head against the older's stomach. A few moments passing, before he heard a soft echo and his ears perked up, causing the other to look down at him in question.
"Heartbeat. I heard a heartbeat!" Owen exclaimed, suddenly sitting up and looking up at the other in joy, while the demon looked toward his belly with overwhelming happiness. "Is it a brother or sister?"
The moment the innocent words fell into the air, the both of them fell silent. Rin looking at him in complete surprise, and then heartbreak, while Owen felt the realization of his words crash down on him and tried to hold back a sniffle when tears welled up in his eyes.
What was he saying? Mommy and Daddy died. He didn't have a family.
"Owen." His name was spoken softly, while fingers gently stroked his fur and he looked up at the other male. "It's okay."
Except it wasn't. Rin wasn't his Mommy or Daddy, and because he wasn't he was alone.
"Owen…" The worried tone reached him the moment his ears flattened against his skull and his tail sagged. All the while, Rin chewed his lower lip and looked at him lovingly. "Do you…do you want to have a brother or sister?"
At the innocent question the little shifter sadly nodded his head.
"Do you want a Mom and Dad?"
Of course he did...but…
"I love you, Owen."
He had a Mommy and Daddy...well did, but…
"Be safe, little one."
Mommy and Daddywere gone.
"Well, that's probably a bad way of putting it." Rin suddenly spoke, causing the little shifter to look at him in confusion, as the pregnant demon rubbed the back of his head in thought. "I mean you already had a mom and dad, so I can't count as a mom when you already had one, but I called my old man dad when I was a kid even though he wasn't…so- ugh this is giving me a headache."
In an instant Rin turned to him so fast it had him jumping back in surprise and shock.
"To hell with it. I know me and my mate can't replace your parents, but…" Rin fell silent for a moment, before he took a deep breath and smiled at him. "But we can protect you in their place, just like they would've wanted. For you to be safe and happy, in a nice home. Of course I can't make you choose, but if you want, our door is open for you."
Silence filled the air as Owen stared up at the demon in a shocked stupor.
A…home? Safety? Happiness? Tears welled up in the little shifters eyes, before he wiped his paws against his muzzle and a finger joined in on the action. Brown eyes lifting up to look into loving sapphire, as Owen sniffled and felt his little chest ache with pain. R-Rin wants to protect me? Make me happy? Safe? Like Mommy and Daddy, with his mate? L-Like a family?
"Shh, it's okay Owen." Rin softly spoke. The demon suddenly pulling a tissue from his pocket and dabbing away the tears rolling down the little ones face. "You don't have to cry."
Because you'll protect me.
In an instant the little ball of black fluff leaped toward the older and collided with his chest. Rin scrambling to catch him, and then support him properly against his chest, till he managed to do such and found the little youngling sobbing into his shirt. Little claws digging into the fabric, and his head nuzzled under the older's chin, before he gently stoked Owen's back and smiled.
"It's okay little one." He spoke, until he felt the weight against him grow heavier and he quickly looked down to watch the little one shift. All his dark fur disappearing, and making way for light cream skin, covered with an occasionally spot or two, while the claws attached to him morphed into fingers. The little ears and tail still attached, but the rest of him very human like, as Rin held him tightly against him and let the little one sob against his chest. "Shhh, I've got you."
"R-Rin, I want Rin as my mommy!" Came the little wail, before the door to his bedroom opened and the lady from earlier smiled down at them, another figure behind her.
"Scarlett-" Rin was interrupted by the woman, as she disappeared out into the hall and out of sight, a smile on her face, while the demon held him close. "Owen, do want to meet my mate?"
A small nod was all the little one gave, between his tears and sobs, before he unburied his face and glanced toward the door. The man standing in the entryway causing his little heart to soar, and his eyes to well with more tears, as Nekoyoma knelt down beside him and smiled.
"Hey Owen. You miss me?"
"N-Neko!" The little wail had both men smiling, while the little one tackled the older into a hug and snuggled into the Glacier Bullet's chest. Both Rin and Nekoyoma watching him with love, while the little shifter softly sobbed in joy and Rin gently stroked his hair. "C-can I stay with you?"
"Of course, Owen." Nekoyoma replied, holding him close while Rin leaned against the male. "You can stay with the both of us."
"No."
Silence filled the room, as Nir stared at the older man and blinked in confusion.
"Huh?"
"I said no." The 'panther shifter' repeated, before getting up and fixing his blood-covered shirt. "I'm not choosing."
"But it's the only way to get the old me back." Nir argued, grabbing the man's arm the moment he headed for the door. "Isn't that what you want? The old me back? Your mate?"
The instant pain flared through his body, was the moment he was harshly shoved and smashed into the metal frame of the hospital bed, which had him crying out in pain, till ocean blue eyes meet enraged yellow and he flinched beneath the other.
"I said, no." Came the deafening growl, before the man let go of him and left the room.
His footsteps slapping against the tiled floor, before the slamming of a distant door brought tears to the teen's eyes. The crystal beads falling to the floor, while shaking fingers touched his wet skin and a hiccup left him. The sound so foreign to him he couldn't even recognize it was coming from his own lips, as he buried his face into his knees and sobbed with the pain and foreign voice echoing in his head that followed.
"Wh-What's happening to me?"
"Nir, can you hear me?" Scarlett spoke up, snapping the teen from his thoughts, before the fork in his fingers clattered to the tray below him and he quickly looked up to find the redhead looking down at him in worry. "Are you feeling okay?"
"Y-Yeah." He quickly responded, picking up the utensil and stabbing a few carrots. "What did you need?"
"I came to see how you were doing and to check on Yasuo." She replied, her eyes scanning the room frowning. "Where is he?"
"He told me he was going for a walk."
"Again? Honestly, does he not understand the word house arrest?"
"That's two words." A soft chuckle left the head of the branch, while she rubbed her temples, and his blue eyes fell on the bag under her eyes.
Exhaustion coming off her in waves, and even her normal movements sluggish, but with the situation at hand he didn't blame her. From what he had been told by the nurses the entire 'branch' had suffered major damage from those echoing screams a few days ago and everyone had been working together to rebuild. Right now everything was well enough to live in, but it couldn't stay like this forever, and with her position Scarlett didn't have much time to stop and rest. Her job entailed working while the others rested, even if she needed it herself, and due to her personality she wouldn't rest till everything was back to normal. Even-
"How's your head by the way? Still hurting?"
Him.
"It's fine." Nir spoke, giving her a smile, and succeeding in getting her to relax.
"That's good. If it starts hurting again be sure to go call Drew. He'll fix you up." She spoke, while rearranging the documents in her arms and he softly smiled at her.
"I will, but I'm the least of your worries."
"You'll be the least of my worries once Yasuo gets his butt in my office." Scarlett huffed, getting to her feet and putting a vanilla folder on the table by the door. "So be sure he gets this."
"Of course." He easily responded, till the door to the hospital sector room he was in closed and he dropped the fork in his hand and laid back on the bed.
Yasuo...Yasuo..Yasuo?
"He's not here." Nir spoke aloud, gazing up at the ceiling, and tightly grasping the side of his head.
Yasuo?...Yasuo?...Yasuo!?
"He's not here!" The teen spoke louder, sitting up and glaring at his lap till the pain in the back of his head disappeared along with the voice.
The door to his room opening once more, as a nurse poked her head in and gave him a worried look.
"Are you ok, Mr. Valorez?" She carefully asked, worry etched onto her face, while he gave her a small smile and rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, sorry. I bumped my funny bone a little too hard." He easily lied, getting a look of relief from her, as she moved toward him and he held up his left elbow for her. "It's nothing major."
"Alright. You had us a little worried out in the hall." She replied, inspecting his elbow, before letting go of him and glancing at his lunch. "You didn't each much. Are you not hungry?"
"No, not really." A somewhat worried look fell back over her face, as she took the tray and held it close to her.
"Do you want something different? Any favorite food I can get you?"
Yasuo?
"No, but thank you for the offer." A small nod was all he got from the woman, till she turned and quietly left the room.
Yas-
"He's not here." Nir bit out, fingers digging into his hair, as he somehow managed to get his weak legs to pull to his chest and buried his face into them. "He left, so please be quiet. Please."
Left?
"Yes, he left."
Left… The voice sounded so heartbroken that it took everything he had to hold back the tears that wanted to fall from his eyes. Left...H-He left?
"Y-Yes."
The agonizing howl that followed only caused the pain in his chest to increase, as a sob fell past his own lips and his dug his fingers into his skull. Each cry only getting louder, and rattling against the inside of his head, as he clawed at his head and sobbed against the hospital gown covering him.
Why was this voice still here? Why was it crying like that? Why was it affecting him so much? Why? Why...Why wouldn't it go away? Yasuo didn't want either of them, so why was it staying? It may be the other him, but…but this was his body god damn it. Why was this thing trying so hard to get to Yasuo, and why was it making him want the man as well? Why was it every time it said the panther shifters name it made him want to curl up in a ball and cry? Like he had been abandoned...wait, he had already been abandoned. The man had left him four days ago and never came back to see him, not once since he was given this room in the American Branches Medical Sector, and that fact alone made his chest hurt.
Was he not important enough to the man anymore?
Yasuo…
Did he not care about him anymore?
Yasuo..
Why did he even bother coming for him in that hospital then? Why did he bother pulling him out of his a coma when-?
Yasuo?
"Sh-Shut up." The teen pleaded, clawing at his skull and shaking. "Shut up."
Y-Yasuo...Y-Yasuo…
"H-He's not coming for us. Shut up."
Y-Y-as-uo… Y-Y-as-uo…
"H-he couldn't pick between us! S-So leave me a-alone!"
Y-Y-a-s-u-o…
"H-He doesn't w-want us!" Nir screamed, squeezing his eyes shut till it hurt and sobbed.
YASUO!
"SHUT UP!"
The slamming of the door to the room was barely heard, as nurses came rushing in and attempted to help him. Each hand reaching out to grasp at his skin only making him flinch back, till he backed up so far he fell out of the bed and tumbled to the floor as machines crashed onto the tile. Yells and calls of his name falling on deaf ears, while the voice in his head wailed and screamed out in agony. His chest so tight from the pain he could barely breathe, let alone cry for help, till something black flashed through his vision and the nurses backed away from him. A deeper voice trying to call for him amongst the agonizing chaos jumbled in his ears and mind, and failing miserably, while a black shape appeared in his vision and something heavy pressed onto his chest.
YASUO!?
Make it stop. Make the pain stop, the voices, the other me. Make it all stop, please. I can't take it anymore...I can't-
"Nir!"
"P-Please...s-stop…" He shakily pleaded, his voice so shaken and full of pain he was surprised he heard it, while the blurring figure above him slowly started to morph and fingers grasped his hand. "S...stop."
"NIR!"
A heavy sigh left the head of the American Branch the moment she stepped out of the Medical Sector and was met with an empty hallway. Her shoulders slumping with exhaustion, and the woman taking a moment to close her eyes and take a deep breath, before she opened them once more and glanced at the folders in her arms. The stack laying against them barely being held up, due to the vast amount of them, and stuffed with forms and documents, as she moved away from the doors and looked away from the files. Her mind instantly going to all the tasks that still had to be performed to bring the branch back to it's original capacity, and all the different exorcists and demons she had to send off to different parts of the branch to bring those ideas into reality, till the sound of footsteps reached her and she quickly lifted her head up. Blue eyes falling on the one man she didn't need to be seeing during all this quiet chaos, before she frowned and moved forward to meet him halfway.
"Angel." Scarlett spoke curtly, quickly glancing over him and catching a document folded up in the man's coat, while trying to come off neutral. "Did you book an appointment?"
"Yes, I followed your 'rules'" The man replied while pulling a form out of his coat with disdain, before showing her his appointment slip and she retrieved it from his fingers. "I assume I can continue?"
"Of course." She returned, moving past him and heading down the hall. "We can talk as we move to my office."
"That won't be necessary." Angel interrupted, causing the woman to turn and raise an eyebrow at him in question, while he pulled the documents from his coat out and handed them to her. "I have here all the forms that is required of the Vatican to retrieve and gain custody of the son of Satan, and seeing as they're inscribed, they can not be destroyed by any means."
A heavy sigh left the woman as she took the stack of papers from him and carefully balanced the folders in one arm to read the words on the Paladin's forms. A quick skimming of the first page bringing forth the dread the older Okumura twin had voiced to her earlier, before she set the files in her arm on the floor. The woman slowly coming up to her full height, and glancing at the document once more, before she handed it back to the man and ignored the quizzical look on his face.
"I decline."
The shocked look that fell over Angel's face wasn't held back at the least, as his usual schooled expression came crumbling down and he glared at her. A hand being set on his sword, and his eyebrows furrowing, as he squared his shoulders and took the papers between his fingers, but didn't pull them from her grasp.
"Then will you take on the consequences of your actions, by declining this order from the Vatican, and name yourself as a traitor to every Branch and Sector within the Vatican?" A chuckle left the woman at his politically correct speech, while she left go of the papers and gave him a small smile. The exhaustion and acceptance written all over her face, as she took a step back and held her arms out in a welcoming gesture.
"When have I ever not been a traitor? When did I ever earn the Vatican's respect? Would I have ever received it? Would I have ever been trusted?" A chuckle left her once more, before she lowered her arms and shoved her hands into her pockets, relaxing and gazing up at the ceiling. "I doubt it. Even if I outlived everyone in the main Branch of the Vatican, and a new generation took over, I would never be trusted and the world would continue to spin in agony. So yes, I'll take all the shit you're ready to throw at me, but be sure of one thing Angel…"
Slowly, the Head of the American Branch lowered her gaze to meet his and a smirk played against her lips, the lights above them flickering ominously, and the hall itself shaking around them, before the bulbs above them shattered. Sparks and shards of glass flying everywhere, and the concrete around Scarlett's feet cracking without warning, as she reached a hand out and pointed at him.
"You touch a hair on anyone's head in this Branch, and I'll rip you limb from limb, before placing you on the Vatican's doorstep, and that'll only be the beginning."
Silence fell over them, before the Paladin sucked in a breath and bowed his head. The man turning away from her, and moving down the hall, with his head held high.
"Then it's war."
Scarlett: *beams at the camera* Guess who got the DOF chapter done faster than last time?!
Akira: *frowning at her, reading a book* I am so no answering that.
Scarlett: *pouts* and here I was excited, meanie. *shoves him off the couch, before sighing* Anyway, I got it done faster than last time thanks to my Beta reader Flaming Black Arrow, who reminded me I actually had to write the damn thing after I got caught up in other crap and forgot about it, and edited it in record time! So I gotta give her a huge thanks for that, and a huge thanks to the two 'guests' who took their wonderful time to actually read this fic enough to report it for several wrongs I've apparently commited in posting this fic.
Akira: *frowns, sitting back on the couch* You're kidding, right?
Scarlett: Nope. *shoves a pillow in his face when he rolls his eyes* They had good concerns over it, and I understand them, so I won't complain about it. However, so you all know, if there is a time that I do gather enough reports to rid me off this site I'll still have all my fics somewhere else for you to read and continue reading. I made a AO3 accounts quite awhile ago, and have all my fanfictions located there as well, so if it does boil down to the possibility that I'm driven off this site you can continue enjoying them there. So, for those or you interested, or those of you that already have an AO3 account, my username there is Scarlett_sama. *clears her throat* But besides that, I do hope you all enjoy this chapter. And as usual, be sure to do the usual ideas and such. The faster we get them the faster this fic may update *bows* Until then, enjoy.
Answered Reviews:
TheCauldron: The answer to your review was sent via FF PM, seeing as I won't be touching that subject just yet.
Guest(s) for chapter 2, 13, & 21 (Seeing as replying to this separately would be time consuming and long, I'm going to reply to all three of you at once): *clears her throat* alright, so as stated by all three reviews, two of you reported me and one didn't, and I thank the one that didn't, I did take the time to read each of your statements and check the rules of FF on my own accord. After doing so I realize you all have FF and it's community in mind, and respect that, so here's my reply:
For the Interactive Entry I understand FF doesn't allow any choose your adventure, second person/you based, Q/A's, and etc., however I do have a small rebuttal to this. If us as writers are not allowed to accept any kind of suggestion from readers than how can you be sure every story and chapter that is posted on FF isn't suggested by a reader? Ideas and thoughts are expressed by a good handful of readers in stories, through their reviews, and I myself have come across many wonderful readers who have great intuition and can figure out what I am going to write before hand, or have such great ideas I want to incorporate it into my story to increase their reading pleasure and enjoyment in the chapters I create, and other writers may feel the same. Sure this may seem a bit off topic, but it has purpose. These ideas and thoughts are a catalysis for this story, a starting point, if you will. Sure I say right in the description it's a Reader Driven Fic, and each reader expresses their opinion on what they want to happen next, and they are voted on, but beyond that the story is dependent on me and my writing. I am the one that sits down and writes it, the one that takes the ideas and molds them, but if you were to read the chapters and correlate them to the reviews, ideas, and polls, not every idea makes it into chapters each time and many things are added onto it. A few chapters are even my own ideas, hidden within the polls to give enough choices for the story to grow and be enjoyed, and even a few TINY suggestions are used in a chapter. Most of the time I'm even using my own ideas to bring suspense into the work, but they're either hidden or untraceable. Sure you can argue against these points, say they still count as a choose your own adventure, but would it have been noticeable if there wasn't a label? If writers aren't allowed to use suggestions, tiny or big, then why are polls allowed when we use them to ask our readers questions about what we should write next or what their favorite character is? Would you know readers suggested ideas unless you actually clicked the reviews to a story and read through each individual one?
Author Comments/Poll is one rule I won't argue much over, considering there isn't much to rebut about, however I will pose a question: If there is no way to reach our audience, the readers, then how do we let them know when a poll is up, when we need them to read something pertaining to a fic, about our writing in general, or maybe we have a life emergency and want to convey that we may be inactive for a certain amount of time? Not all readers will know if we have a FB or other social media service, or may not even be able to reach the social media we use, so how do we keep in touch? If I post a chapter for a week, then take it down, is that illegal based on FF's standards? It's not a permanent chapter, and it usually stated as such, which means after the allotted time it is removed and it doesn't clutter my story nor the site itself. So does this short period of information really wrong to relay to readers, since it'd disposed of in a timely matter and doesn't remain up? Is there another way I can keep in contact with my readers? Or am I doomed to leave them in the dark while a story rots? As for the polls...well then why do we have them on FF is they're illegal by the rules standards? Most polls will probably retain to a story, so I find that side a little contradictory.
Inserting oneself into a story. Alright, so I find this rule a little hard to accuse someone of, and I do see why I may have been reported for it, but in general you can't be too sure if it is being done. I know my username is Scarlett-sama, and I use Scarlett in author comments, however you can not be completely sure that the Scarlett in the author comments and the Scarlett in the story are the same person, nor me in general. My name may or may not be Scarlett, but would you know that unless I told you? Nope. In fact Scarlett-sama isn't my original username, it was goldXsilverfangirl. Scarlet was my original author name, because I liked the color, and Scarlett-sama was a name given to me by my readers. The reason my author comments are Scarlett now is because I was told it was a stupid name to refer to myself as and added the extra t to use an actual name. Scarlett-sama was a name I was called by from a reader and has stuck with my readers ever since, hence the username. As for the OC Scarlett, she is a completely different entity in her own right. She's been around for a long while, before I even changed my username, but seeing as no one would be able to tell I doubt anyone would be able to believe that statement. However, due to this rule there is a small problem with it. As fans of books, tv shows, anime, etc., we love to insert ourselves into the world and become apart of it and this usually involves an OC which is an extension of ourselves. So, in other words, a great number of OCs are based off ones self, whether its our appearance, personality, memory, or situation we were in or a person we met. In general, that would mean OC's go against the rule and therefore make the OC option in the characters filter bar contradictory to said rule.
MA *runs a hand over her face, sighing* I'm not going to even try, cause to be honest I'm not the only person on this site that does this so I find it pointless to attempt to being up a rebuttal. A lot of categories have this issue and I don't see a decrease in it so meh. *shrugs*
*Claps her hands together* So there is my reply to each report issue. I may have missed one or two by accident, but at least you know my thoughts. I'm in no way complaining about FF's rules, nor find them unfair, however there are a few holes and I'm pointing them out. I won't be bringing this up anymore, nor will I reply to anymore reports, but I thought I'd at least give my response once. *bows* So I appreciate your concerns for the FF community, and understand them, which is why I've had another account on a different site set up for quite some time now since I've gotten plenty on this fic, but it won't stop me from continuing to bring great content to my readers. I find it an inconvenience to them to suddenly have to switch accounts on them instantly, and have them be forced to create an account on a site they don't want to be a part of, so I hope you can understand me with that regard. I'm fully aware of what consequences that entails and I'll take them head on when the time comes. However, till that time, I'll continue to write for my wonderful readers and be an avid reader of fan-fictions myself.
For more information and Updates about my fanfictions, coming straight from me, visit my author page and look under the Progression and Important Information section. I have updates about my current Ao no Exorcist fanfictions and a new ones that are going to be posted in the future.
Rin, Yukio, Shima, Bon, Miwa, Izumo, Shura, Mephisto, Shiemi, and Angel does not belong to me. They belongs to Kazue Kato.
Nekoyoma, Drew, Kira, Scarlett, Kamiti, Trey, Yasuo, Nir and Yori however, belongs to me. No stealing unless you ask for permission to use them!