Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail or Blue Exorcist

Rin was awoken by the strangest thing the next day. Rather than waking up to an alarm, or his brother shouting at him to get ready, Rin found himself snapping up in response to the sensation of something fuzzy on his face. With him moving, the weight on his head quickly shifted and ended up resting on his legs, making Rin blink. There, he saw a small cat, looking up at him with green eyes. The little black fur ball yawned, stretching out before looking over at Rin, as if expecting something. Come on, it's morning already! Aren't you ready to play? Yukio keeps shoving me away, so you have to play instead.

Rin blinked. Sure, he'd been around Happy and had heard a talking cat before…but this wasn't Earthland. Glancing over, he saw Yukio was busy working on something at his desk, scribbling away with his pencil. "Yukio…who's this?"

His brother turned around, seeing the cat in his lap and smiling faintly. "Oh, that's Kuro. He was Dad's familiar. Not long after you left, he went berserk and I was sent out to try and take care of him. It took a lot of effort…but apparently, our father left a gift for him behind, and that seemed to do the trick." Yukio smiled faintly, shaking his head. "He'll randomly show up around me at times ever since then. It's like he thinks I have more of Dad's sake or something."

Well, no one else has any! Blinking, Rin glanced down at the cat with a faint smile.

"Maybe he does." The cat glanced over at him, tilting his head for a moment. Reaching down, Rin scratched behind his ear, slowly lost in thought. "I almost forgot about Dad keeping him around, actually. Kuro was never one to hang out in the house a lot." Plus, he'd never actually heard Kuro talk before.

"Well, Kuro is a demon. Dad was probably worried we'd do something to anger him or something."

Seeing the cat's split tail, Rin grinned wider. "I bet he's a pretty cool one too. I can't imagine Kuro every hurting anyone, right?"

"Rin, he nearly killed four exorcists when he was rampaging after Dad died. He is more dangerous than he looks."

Shirou isn't gone! I know you're all lying…because if Rin came back, so will Shirou! Uh oh. Rin heard the angry tone, seeing the cat hissing over at Yukio for his words. Reaching down, he grabbed the cat, picking him up and pulling him close. Let me go! I'm going to tell Yukio how wrong he is. He'll hear me, I know he will. So, let me tell him about Shirou! Let me tell him he's coming back…

The cat was mewling despite his shouts, and if a cat could cry, he was fairly certain Kuro would be right now. Hugging him close, Rin took a deep breath. "Well, it looks like someone has taken a liking to Kuro. I'm going to head out for a moment and get some supplies, since you seem to be keeping such a good eye on him. Try to get some homework done while I'm out, alright?" Rin nodded, watching him leave. Once he was gone, he looked down at Kuro and sighed.

"Sorry. He's not…I don't think he's going to hear you, Kuro." The cat tilted his head, studying Rin. "But I can…and I'm sorry. It hurts, doesn't it? To lose someone like that. I just lost a lot of people I care about too…and I don't think I'm ever going to be able to see them again." Kuro sat down, dropping his head. Reaching out his hand, Rin patted his head with a sigh. "So, why don't we be friends instead? I can't replace Shirou, and you can't replace them, but we can at least be by each other's sides as we try and figure out something to do instead."

Kuro nuzzled his hand, purring slightly. I miss him, Rin. I want him to come home.

"I know." Kuro stepped closer to him, resting on his lap instead. "I'm more concerned with losing more than I already have right now. See…I overheard something, before I came here. Do you wanna hear about it? Something to take your mind off of Shirou?"

Kuro nodded, looking up at him and tilting his head. "Alright. So…it's about the exorcists. On my way here…I kinda ran into Satan. And he tried to get me to stay with him, rather than coming back."

No way! There's nothing good about that place that would make anyone want to stay.

"I know, but he seemed to think he could convince me." Rin chuckled, watching as Kuro relaxed at his words. "There's some pretty messed up stuff going on, with these people. They seem to think that all demons are evil, even ones like you and me." Kuro hissed at that, looking angry. "Yeah, I wasn't too pleased to hear about it either. Why do you think I haven't mentioned all of this to anyone? It's not like they'll believe I actually know how to travel to Gehenna and back." He sighed, scratching Kuro's head. "But…that's kinda off topic. See, they want to wipe us all out, alongside of Gehenna. I mean, I get that there are some bad demons, but really, I just can't believe they're all evil. I'm not, you aren't…and I met someone in another world…that was sorta demonic, and she was really nice. With all that, it just seems wrong. But…that's not even the worst bit." He rolled over, taking Kuro with him. "To open the gate, they need the blood of a demon with Satan's power…and for the size of the gate they want, I can't say I'm feeling all that relaxed. They'll need…a lot. I'm hoping I'm wrong, but I think they're planning on using Yukio, Kuro. Part of me almost wants to go back and make sure, since I can't easily spy from here…but I don't know if I can face Satan and make it back again."

They're going to hurt Yukio? Kuro stood up, growling faintly. I won't let them! Yukio was the one who was there for me, the only one who didn't try and kill me for believing in Shirou. Maybe he doesn't hear me, but I'm not going to let them hurt him either!

"Glad to hear that, Kuro. Sounds like you and I have another thing in common." Kuro blinked at him, slowly smiling.

I know! I'll help you. Rin blinked, watching as Kuro hopped down. You need to spy on the exorcists, right? He nodded, and Kuro jumped over to the window, staring out at the school. They don't realize I can understand every word they say most of the time. Really, I'm just a cat to most to them…He actually looked angry with that, glaring at the ground. This time, I'll make use of that. I'll sit around, and hear everything they have to say about this! Just tell me where to go, and I'll tell you exactly what's going on!

Watching him, Rin slowly began to smile. "That's awesome! I can't believe I didn't think of that." He walked over to Kuro, grinning and gazing over the school with him. "Man, I wish I could hide away like that. Really, the power I have just gets too flashy and scares people away. It's hard to keep it hidden most of the time…"

He rubbed the back of his head, and Kuro smiled at him. Well, I like you Rin. I don't know what kind of demon you are, but I'm glad to have someone that actually listens for a change. You wouldn't believe how long it's been since someone's replied to me! Oh, wait! Does that mean you can get me some silver vine sake when I'm done? That's my favorite!

Chuckling, Rin rubbed his head. "Sure, Kuro. I'll find some for you as a reward. Together, we're going to save Yukio, after all."

"Save me from what?" Rin turned around, seeing Yukio walking inside. Kuro blinked, tilting his head before laughing, or at least laughing as much as a cat could.

Good luck with that, Rin! I'm off to spy on some exorcists. Be sure to have that sake for me when I get back! He watched Kuro jump away, leaving him alone to deal with Yukio.

"Hey! Come on, how's that helping with anything?" He shouted after the cat, before realizing Yukio was still staring at his back, with his arms crossed over his chest. Turning around, Rin laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Uh…welcome back? I was just…talking to Kuro…"

"And how exactly did you think I was in danger? Please don't tell me you were planning on charging out on campus to search for me. I told you I was just running some errands." He set a bag down on his desk, shaking his head.

Laughing again, Rin dropped his hand. "Uh…yeah! You caught me. Sorry for not listening, like usual. I'll…just get to work on that homework now! Because I didn't listen…and didn't do that at all." Yukio frowned at him, but Rin already rushed off to his bag. Pulling out his work, he tried to at least pretend to focus, with his heart beating fast. Yukio had no clue, about anything. Rin didn't know if he should tell his brother about it or not, but given the fact that it would involve discussing his little detour to Gehenna, he preferred to keep quiet about the matter.

Yukio watched him for another moment, before sorting through whatever he had just gotten. There was a slight noise as he put things in drawers and sorted through various objects, likely for his jobs as an exorcist. Rin eventually turned around, finding himself amused with watching his brother instead of his work. "You know, that work is never going to get finished if you keep getting distracted by the smallest things. I understand wanting to get to know Kuro and getting used to being back, but that still doesn't change the fact that your work is due when the weekend is finished." Weekend? Rin blinked, turning around. It was Saturday? That was why Yukio wasn't pushing him to get to class.

Grinning. he stood up, taking a deep breath. "Well, I'm bored already." Mira would typically roll her eyes at him if he did this while they were studying. She'd ask him if he seriously wanted to go back home or not, and that'd always deflate his desire to go out and do something. Yet, Yukio hadn't seen him in years. His brother wouldn't figure out how to motivate him like her.

"Rin, this stuff is important. If you want to take a break, that's fine, but if you're just leaving because you want to avoid the work, that's not acceptable. The more you procrastinate, the more you'll fall behind and then you'll never catch back up."

"Yeah, yeah. Don't worry about it." He didn't need to catch up with the others, not really. Oddly, Rin couldn't find himself feeling that eager about the job in the first place. Killing demons…was it all that different from killing people? Rin had seen far too many people die in Earthland, more than he'd ever expected. His smile faded at the thought, staring out the window with a sigh. "Yukio? How…how do you know that a demon needs to be exorcised? I mean…like Kuro didn't seem that bad. I'm certain there are others like him…"

"Kuro is a familiar, meaning he serves an exorcist. There are certain rules that allow for such things to happen, and when they do, it is the responsibility of the one that owns the familiar to keep the demon in check." Turning around, Yukio focused on him. "Currently, Kuro has no master, but as Shirou's son, I've been fulfilling that role. For other demons, there is no question. They don't belong in this world, Rin. You've seen what they can do personally, and that isn't even the first case where demons have caused havoc and death in this world. Our history with demons is tainted with the blood of far too many to count…and while this may be a losing war, it is one we must fight to keep others safe from what they can't see."

He…really believed in the cause then. Rin swallowed, closing his eyes. They don't belong in this world. Meaning he didn't belong. Rin's tail pressed against his back, coiling faintly as it strained to be free. Yet, he didn't let that happen. "I guess you're right." Rin was quiet, swallowing as he spoke those words. His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten breakfast, but he really didn't want to eat right now. Yukio…hated what he was. His own family didn't want him. Staring down at his palm, he frowned. Fairy Tail…they wanted him. He had the mark to prove it, to say he was one of them. Even Mira said it didn't matter that he was a demon or not. She teased him about it, made it a joke that only them knew. The thought made him smile faintly, tracing the mark as he grew lost in thought.

He heard footsteps coming closer, and Rin turned to see Yukio frowning at his hand. "What's that? Did you get a tattoo while you were in this other world?"

"Uh…yes?" It had been just a stamp, but Rin figured something related to magic had made it stick around for so long.

"Of course you did. Come on, let's go get some breakfast, Rin." Following after his brother, Rin nodded slowly. "What even made you want a design like that?"

Thinking about Fairy Tail, and what he'd learned, Rin couldn't help but smile faintly. "Because it made sense."

"A weird bird thing makes sense?"

"Hey! It's a fairy, get it right." His brother blinked, while Rin laughed. "One with a tail, too. But, a picture really can't answer that question, now can it?"

"What question are you even talking about, Rin? You do realize you aren't making any sense right now."

"The question of if a fairy has a tail or not, duh." Rin walked towards the kitchen, sitting down as he recalled Makarov explaining it to him. "No one knows if they do, or if fairies even exist. So, finding the answer…is an eternal adventure."

"You got a tattoo because of some weird philosophy? That really doesn't sound like you."

"Well, it made sense at the time!"

Yukio just shook his head, eating the food that had been placed on the table. "If you insist. It is still a weird place to even get a tattoo."

"They said the same thing." He stared at the black mark again, smiling once more. He belonged there, in that world. Yet…he also couldn't leave Yukio. Hesitating, Rin glanced over at him. "Hey, Yukio?" His brother looked up, raising his eyebrows. "If…if I ever found a way to get back there…would you come with me? Leave this world behind and start over? Because right now…I'm really wondering if I'll be able to find anything here like I had back in that world."

"Rin…" Yukio paused, sighing. "Look, I know you miss your friends. I'm not trying to say anything against them…but you need to focus on reality. That place hurt you, even if you can't see it. Here…here, I can protect you, Rin. It's where we grew up, where Dad lived. Leaving all of it behind, this job included…it'd be the same thing as just running away. I like the life I'm living, Rin. This job I have, the people I'm with…it is a place that feels like home. You'll feel that way too, if you just open up and let yourself see that too."

Yet, he was surrounded by people who wanted to kill demons. Rin grew quiet, silently eating his meal. Yukio seemed to think he'd gotten through to Rin, but really, it wasn't the case. Rin wanted to bring Yukio back with him…but his younger brother was stubborn and thought he was doing the right thing by killing demons. Everyone here thought it was right. Yet, Rin couldn't help but feel like it was wrong, and like the plan that was being made behind the scenes would only serve to harm both of them in the future.

And as a few of you have been requesting, we now have Kuro! I never had intentions of him not being around anymore, since I really like the friendship between Kuro and Rin from the anime. I do hope you enjoyed this altered meeting for them. Feel free to review and let me know what you think!