Hopeless

"You didn't have to be so short with him".

Rin had been grumbling all the way back to the monastery. He nursed a dark bruise on his left cheek. Shura put it there. She hadn't been best pleased with either of them talking to a civilian whilst away from the escort. Rin didn't listen to much of what she had been yelling at them, only picking up drab ends like 'do you have any idea the position you put me in' and 'they nearly terminated you then and there'. It wouldn't have made that much of difference anyway. He'd be dead soon enough.

"It was that or lie to him. Believe it or not, brother, your imminent execution is not public knowledge. You can't visit him if you're dead."

"I didn't mean me, four-eyes. I meant for you."

"What makes you think I want to talk to someone that I hardly know, about parents I would rather not know about?" He scoffed. "I want to get as far away from Satan as I can. He ruins everything. He killed our mother and Dad, and it's thanks to those flames that you'll be taken from me too. He said he 'knew our parents well'. I don't want to hear about Satan or the woman who sold her soul to him."

Yukio hands were shaking wildly at this point. Rin bit his tongue. This had been an emotional day for the both of them.

Throughout the argument, the other exorcists were becoming more and more agitated. Their weapons, beads and holy water were at the ready to take down the demon under their supervision. Every time Rin made a sound or movement that disagreed with them, the exorcists' hands gripped tighter.

The group were taken back inside the old church building where Rin was to be under constant watch until lunch. The easiest way for him to pass the time was by using his skills in the kitchen. Rin was glad that Yukio had had the foresight to bring extra ingredients. The kitchen wouldn't have had enough to feed everybody.

The curry took him not too long to make. The discrimination deeply ingrained inside almost every person made then regard the food in disgust. No one would touch it except for his brother, Shura, Izumi and Maruta. Kuro had a small, unspiced portion that Rin had set aside for him separately. There was no doubt in his mind, from the way that Mephisto was eyeing the food, that the headmaster wanted some too, but he stuck to gracefully sipping tea in the corner instead. There was a lot left over, but Maruta assured the boys that it would all be eaten.

"If we don't eat it, I'm sure that the parishioners and the community would be more than grateful."

Rin lightened at that. It would be a shame for it to go to waste. He set to work using the remaining rice and sauce to make rice balls which would be easier to hand out.

There were a few more hours before the congregation were due back to report. Half of the exorcists explored the small monastery under the pretence of searching for unholy or cursed relics from Rin's time living there. It was apparent that more interest was given to the prior possessions of Father Fujimoto that had been kept. The fact that this had been his home in life, and the place of his death, was probably the main reason for most of the exorcists agreeing to the mission.

The twins resigned themselves to sitting on the floor in the corner of the hall. They would have sat on the pews, however, if Rin hadn't been eyed disapprovingly by the head cleric. He would have ignored it if he had missed the way one of the First-Class was stroking the shock detonator next to him.

"Don't do anything, Rin. He's provoking you", Yukio spoke quietly through his teeth.

"Yeah. No Shit."

Rin's hand went to the back of his neck as he snarled. Yukio kept up his mask of calm but let his hand rest at his side where his primary gun holster was concealed.

Both wanted to go back to the academy, away from the unfriendly eyes always on Rin. Home didn't feel like 'home' anymore.

Yukio saw Shura glance over at the boys, noticing their growing agitation. She hummed then shook herself enough to make her hair bounce almost as much as her breasts. If the situation declined there would be problems that both didn't want to deal with. He sent a mental plea and hoped she understood. They needed someone on their side to break the tension. When she dashed to the door he assumed that she had gotten the message.

The more lustful of the escorts watched her leave.

"What a whore. I can't believe she's a First Class exorcist."

"With that rack I'm sure you can see why."

The Abbot, Hayato Ito, admonished them immediately. "You see with your eyes, yet you remain blind. She embodies a test of sin, one that you have failed as children of God. Be ashamed of yourself and ask the Lord to give you the strength to abstain from such thoughts."

Rin was thankful to him for defending his teacher. If he still had a tail it's hairs would be standing on end, much like Kuro's do when he's mad. Regrettably, the older twin's rage still presented on him and was apparent to all that looked. His pale skin was flushed a purple-red; fists tremored; teeth clenched tightly. Yukio placed a hand on his back to conciliate him before the others attempted to do the same. For Rin, though, it was too little too late.

Surprisingly, the exorcist fingering the detonator from before didn't activate the shock-chip. The Abbot did.

Rin's neck snapped backwards in agony so fast his spine cracked.

For not the first time that day, Rin swore in his head at Mephisto. No, he wasn't in the room. He wasn't even in the building.

Yukio didn't wait to draw his gun. "Stop or I'll shoot", he threatened. Outwardly he showed no emotion but his heart constricted painfully every time his brother cried out. He couldn't believe Hayato, a man who'd helped raise them, would do this.

"Empty words mean nothing, boy. I know you wouldn't dare"

Where was Shura? Things were escalating quickly and Rin could do nothing but try to breathe and bare the pain between zaps. His body spasmed from the tips of his fingers to the balls of his feet. He didn't make any attempt to get up. He knew that his legs would be too weak to stand.

Shura ran in with Murata at her heals.

"Oi! That's enough, sir", Murata shouted over the screams. The pain abruptly stopped.

"Know your place, Brother. This is Gods will."

Shura was furious. "And I don't give a damn! Our orders were to subdue him if he acts up. Not torture."

Rin only panted sharply now. He could barely twitch. Blood trickled from his throat and passed his lips. Another hit like that one and there'd be no life left in him.

"The Grigori only wish to drag out the inevitable. Put the rabid dog down now before it strikes out and infects others. Fear not. I will take responsibility." Rin was crushed by these words.

The world froze for a moment as a loud bang echoed about the building.