Son of the paladin, youngest ever exorcist, genius. Yukio Okumura was called many names. It frustrated him. The more praises flooded in, the pressure of upholding those flowery words only increased, and truly, he would loathe realising that he was unbecoming in some ways, unfit for what he was glorified.
So he worked harder. And harder.
When he last slept and ate properly...Probably ancient history.
If he was not in the library, immersed deep into research then he must be at the Academy or at another mission he could risk some spare time for. Yet recently, his presence grew even more obscure and was rarely encountered.
People grew curious upon his whereabouts, unknowing it lay very close to them, in the old boy's dormitory.
Isolated and forgotten. A perfect place for a summoning.
"Come child of glorified nights and Sleeping mornings! Let the truth emerge and reveal the path through untruth." He chanted, dripping some of his blood onto the large chart spread across the wooden floor. It was the fruit of months and months of research, and if it did not succeed, even he would bang his head against the wall.
It did not seem to betray his expectations.
As the ruby droplets dispersed over the black ink, there was a blinding flash, smoke seeping out and swirling towards the sky.
it must be a powerful demon! Yukio shielded himself with his arms, squinting and barely making out a faint humanoid figure.
"Where is this?" The figure spoke, "The air is weird-ASSIAH?!"
The smoke dispersed, the figure clear. A teenage boy, around the same age as him, with white hair and blue eyes. And pointed ears. And sharp claws. And a tail. And flames for horns. Blue flames.
Humans did not have claws. or tails. Or blue flaming horns.
Despite the sense of familiarity rising in his chest, he knew it was not-above all-human, thus it was potentially dangerous. Especially with blue flames.
Quickly, he rushed towards the chart, prepared to destroy it while the being was distracted in sightseeing his first impression of Assiah.
"Four eyes. You summoned me?" A large grin spread across the demon's lips, "Thanks!"
Yukio froze.
"I always wanted to come here, but pops wouldn't let me." His cheerful voice almost sounded like an ordinary human teenager. Eager, excited and childish.
Yet he was a demon.
And if he wasn't assuming wrong...
"The 'pops' yoy refer to is Satan.."
As a genius, he didn't expect to summon a low-class demon, but still such being able to summon such a high seniority demon terrified and exhilarated him. He couldn't decide which.
"Yeah?" The demon tilted his head, "I am the only one who inherited his blue flames...So it should be obvious-You wanna see?"
Several glowing orbs of bright blue burst across the room, floating gently in the air. Chills ran down Yukio's shoulder at this demonstration and he gulped. This demon was damn powerful. And damn dangerous if he could control the flames so easily.
Well, better safer than sorry.
Unscrewing the bottle of holy water, he splashed it over the summoning circle, letting the ink spread and ruin its delicate writings. Yet the demon did not disappear. He did not return to Gehenna. It disrupted all of Yukio's analytics.
"Whatcha doing?" The demon peered curiously at him, then at the circle, dismissing it casually,"Anyway, are ya free? Will you guide me across Assiah?"
Yukio's brow twitched. This demon seemed a bit...lacking in intelligence.
If destroying the circle failed,,there were still other solutions.
"Sure." Yukio smiled at the demon, "My name is Yukio Okumura. What's yours?"
"Rin!" The demon grinned brightly, "Let's get along! Moles!"
Convincing him to hide his demonic feature wasn't hard. All Yukio needed to mention was 'Exorcists' and 'return to Gehenna' to receive his obedience. The demon wanted to savour Assiah completely, and he didn't want anything, even exorcist to this precious opprtunity.
"OH! What's that?"
"A car." Yukio rolled his eyes, "It allows us to travel long distances."
"Human let themselves be eaten...Just because they are slow?" Rin stared curiously at the contraption, "Isn't running safer? What if this 'car' goes out of control?"
Yukio was speechless.
He didn't expect a demon, out of all things, to realize the dangers of car efficiently, Albeit, in a queer comparison.
"Humans made it, so of course they can control it." Yukio replied, pushing up his glasses, "Let's proceed."
"Oh! Yukio! Look at that! Why are humans biting each other?"
"..." Yukio's face flushed red, and he quickened his pace.
The demon did not stop talking about all the oddities and interesting sights he 'discovered'. Seriously, he was so childish that it seemed off. Every tiny thing impressed him. Was this enthusiastic kid really Satan's son?
"What are those people eating? Can I eat it too?" Rin noticed his human companion was not replying. Annoyed, he jerked Yukio closer to him, "I said, I want to eat that?!"
Yukio glared back, "Why would I go along a demon's whims?"
"You summoned me! You have to take responsibility!" Rin retorted.
"Exorcist summon familiars as weapons." Yukio answered, his hands reaching out for the vial of holy water in his belt, "Not to go bankrupt!"
"Well, I listen to no one!" Rin snapped, "People listen to me-"
Yukio sprayed Holy water on the demon's face. Rin flinched, his grasp on the human's loosening. Instantly, Yukio leapt back, creating a considerable distance from the demon.
"Damnit! That hurts!" Rin wiped away the droplets of holy water with his sleeves, the spots swollen and red, "Why did you do that?!"
"So you would behave." The holy water was less effective then he imagined.
"Four eyes..." Rin growled, "Do not forget you are a mere human-"
"If anything happens to me, your summoner," Yukio smiled sweetly at him, "You'll simply return to Gehenna."
His tail, which had emerged, slumped and he muttered words he couldn't quite catch, "Damn, exorcist, what's wrong with trying to live as a human for once? It's not like I cannot..."
Yukio sighed, shooting a glance at the ice-cream shop. He was most definitely not softhearted.
Yet...
He heaved another sighed.
"Woah!" Rin gaped with large eyes at the brightly blue coloured ice-cream cone in his hands, "Thanks, four-eyes! You are a good guy, aren't you?!"
Yukio certainly did not know how to feel about being labelled as a 'good guy' by a demon, nevertheless, the son of satan himself.
Rin opened his mouth wide, razor-sharp teeth glinting, and bit off a large chunk of the sweet.
"COLD!" Rin cringed, yet his eyes glittered brighter than ever, "Sweet! This is damn delicious! Human's really know how to enjoy life!"
"Its only ice-cream." Yukio muttered, "You are overreacting."
"Am not!" The demon took another bite, cringing slightly, "In gehenna, we don't eat mostly! And when we do, the food tastes like trash!"
Yukio gazed at him complicatedly, "Even as the son of satan?"
"Especially as the son of satan!" Rin grinned at him, "I am half-human so demons hate me. If they could prevent me from eating, they assumed I would die. Fools, they defeat me, Heir of the blue flames? Now, none of them dare to fight me, but before, there were times I had to eat demons out of hunger."
For some reason, guilt twinged in Yukio's heart. According to demonic standards, the boy couldn't be younger than him, yet his childhood...Perhaps, demons weren't necessarily evil but forced.
Nobody really has a say in how they were born.
And this demon was half-human.
Yukio quickly dismissed the thought. He felt as if...if he continued to think about how this demon survived in Gehenna, he might begin to pity him.
He wasn't so softhearted to forgot that he was an exorcist, and the young grinning boy in front of him was ,in truth,a demon.
"Can you take me to my brother?" Rin asked as he finished his ice cream.
"Your brother is in Assiah?" Yukio frowned.
"Umm...I believe he was called...Mepheles? Mephislo?" Rin said, tilting his head, with his head in his chin.
"You mean Mephisto Pheles?" Yukio's eyebrow twitched, "He's a demon?"
"Yeah! Samael!" Rin's smile grew, "Do you know him?"
"Yes. Yes, I know him very well." Yukio pushed his glasses up, "In fact, I was planning to take you to him."
A few minutes later, after a subdued Rin decided to walk without being distracted, they finally arrived at the man's office. Rin was giggling so terribly all the way along the corridor, that Yukio wanted to smack him and ask him what was so funny about Mephisto's portraits on the wall.
"Mr. teacher!" The clown greeted them with an amused smile, "My, My, what an unexpected guest have you brought to me. How do you do, dear little brother?"
"Yo, Samael." Rin greeted, "Can you return me to Gehenna?"
Yukio jerked his head towards Rin, "You...want to return to Gehenna?"
Rin rubbed his hair awkwardly, "It's not like I really have anything to do here. Anyways, Father will go crazy if he knows I am gone."
"That's not what I am asking about?!" Yukio snapped, "When did you realise I couldn't send you back?"
"While I was eating ice-cream?" Rin smiled and patted Yukio's shoulder, "Thanks for everything, really. I had lots of fun, Yukio."
There it was again.
That emotion in his heart. A nostalgic feeling, yet very regretful.
It felt terrible.
Mephisto stared, amused at both of them, "I don't mind, but...Rin, are you really sure you don't want to stay for longer? I'll handle father. You are training under me for some practical experience, how about that?"
Rin's face lit up, "Really!"
"No need to thank me, Its just a small favour..." Mephisto's voice trailed away.
"Yukio, you hear that?!" Rin said, excitedly, while frantically shaking Yukio,"I can stay longer! I can stay longer!"
Yukio shrugged away the demon's hand and leaned against Mephisto's table, dizzy.
"Both of you can stay in the old boy's dormitory." Mephisto tossed Yukio the keys, "Have a fun stay."
Yukio sighed.
"Don't I have any say in this?"
His complaint was left unheard.
Living with the demon was...Well, it was better then he thought.
Firstly, When the demon was handed a cookbook, though Yukio was hesitant at the beginning, All his meal issues were solved. He was a genius at cooking, impossibly good. Even the demon was dumbfounded by his own cooking.
Secondly, given the demon's interest in Cooking, the demon never really caused mischief, focusing all of his attention and energy in adventuring through the abysmal world of Culinary Arts.
Thirdly, The demon was oddly persistent in ensuring Yukio slept and ate at appropriate times, returning his messed up schedule to a normal healthy one.
Eventually, Yukio grew used to the demon's presence. As if it was natural for the demon to be there, and attend to his needs.
"Like a mom," Yukio commented.
"Whose your mom-Why have you left your mushrooms?!"
"I am eating them, Mom."
"I am not your mom."
"Yes, Mom."
Yukio felt a smile creep onto his face.
Yeah, A family.
This was a warmth of family.
Both Rin and Yukio were discovering it. Slowly, but surely.
Peaceful days do not last long. If they do, then you must expect the worst ending. Because, surely, the equilibrium will tip.
Unexpectedly, Unknowingly.
"Rin?" Hearing loud scraping noises from above, Yuki stirred from his sleep. He reached out for his glasses, only to find them gone. Pulling open the lamplight, his heart skipped a beat.
There were droplets of blood on the floor.
Human blood.
He grabbed a spare pair from his drawer before scrambling out of the room, and upstairs, where the sounds were only increasing and growing distinct. Noises of fighting.
"Dammit!" Rin growled, Why did you try to kill Yukio?!"
"It's none of your business."
Sounds of gunshots echoed, followed by pained hisses. Yukio literally flew up the stairs, two steps at a time.
"Holy water is ineffective, it seems."
Finally reaching the door, Yukio flung it open, a burst of blue nearly blinding his vision.
"Y-Yukio...?" Rin slowly turned his gaze towards him, almost guilty, "You woke up?"
"With this much noise how could I sleep?" Yukio muttered, gazing at Rin deeply, or more at the flames the demon was fully clad in.
"Sorry..." Rin rubbed his neck, "You can return to sleep-"
His eyes narrowing, Rin leapt back, barely avoiding holy water being splashed on him.
"Perfect Mr Okumura. We can exorcise Satan's spawn together." Blood continuously dribbled from the gash in his arm, yet the eyepatched man did not even flinch.
"Professor Neuhaus...What are you doing here?" Yukio gazed at the man with suspicion.
"I received the intel of satan's spawn being here..." Mr Neuhaus eyes flickered with disgust, "Unlike you, Icannot be tolerant towards satan's kin."
"You do realize he's my familiar?" Yukio stated, warily, inspecting the magic circle. A ghoul had been summoned. A dangerously high-ranked ghoul.
Rin could not be blamed.
Many loathed Satan, conveying their hate to his Kin instead. Yukio understood how twisted this was, after spending days with Rin.
Rin was Rin. Satan was Satan. Two different entities, each responsible for their own mistakes.
Rin couldn't be more human. Why can't anyone compare him to his other bloodline?
"So that's your choice." Neuhaus walked closer to Yukio, "I thought you wanted to remain human."
"What are you signifying?" Yukio reached out for his gun.
"Don't pretend." Neuhaus said, "You found your brother, and now you can't bear to exorcise him."
"You are truly not making any sense." The tugging feeling in his heart emerged again. Anxious. Nervous.
"So you refuse to acknowledge it?" Neuhaus words were dripping with poison, "Fine. I'll do the honours."
Panic spread across his body.
Don't say it.
Don't say it.
If you say it...
I will be forced to face it.
"Satan's spawn over there..." A malicious grin spread across Neuhaus's lips, "Is your brother!"
Rin froze, his eyes wandering towards Yukio, traces of weakness visible, "M-My brother?"
Yukio clenched his fist, glancing down. His heart feared Rin's reaction, his rejection and disgust, and sunk, heavier and heavier...until it might burst.
Just as Humans hated having a demonic relative, demons loathed having a human relative. Yukio had time to come terms to it throughout the weeks they spend together but Rin...
"Yukio is my brother?" Rin grinned, that familiar, almost childish grin, "That's awesome? Yukio did you hear that? We are siblings!"
Yukio fist unravelled, limp. His heart lightened and floated, unbelieving. His breath gradually relaxed. Joy and relief envwloped him like a warm blanket.
Yeah.
Rin was a different kind of demon.
He should have known.
"So what of it, professor Neuhaus?" Yukio pointed a gun at the man, "What does Rin being a brother have anything to do with you?"
To his surprise, the professor just laughed. Laughed and laughed, almost maniacally.
"Such foolishness." Neuhaus said, "I am overpowered here. My familiar was killed. Looks like this time, I must withdraw.
Rin and Yukio both stood on their guards as the man walked past them, shooting Rin one last dirty glare, "But next time...Surely, there wouldn't be mercy, Human or demon."
As the man door slammed behind the man, Rin collapsed.
"Rin?!" Yukio rushed towards him, "Are you alright?"
"Just dizzy from all the holy water." Rin grinned at him, wearily, "You know, it's doesn't feel unexpected. Us being siblings. Somehow, somewhere, I knew it about it."
"We do look somehow familiar." Yukio mused, "Except for your white hair."
"I didn't always have white hair!" Rin exclaimed, "I used to have black when I was younger...but it eventually grew out. Probably, because my demonic blood grew stronger as I grew older?"
"Maybe, that's why you were summoned." Yukio smiled, "Affinity is not needed when we are blood-related."
Both of them smiled.
After the equilibrium has tipped, truth will emerge. Reactions will occur. Ulitmately the path they tread on will npt remain the same.
Maybe positive, maybe negative.
Yet all he understood right now was the meaning of family.
Did race matter when you were family?
No, it never did.
Nor would it ever.
Even across dimensions, somewhere, sometime, families will always be reunited, always together, always...
Even if everything changes...
Family will not.