Summary: Mephisto and Amaimon are mighty and powerful demon-gods who cower before no mortal! One overly protective family member of Rin's may beg to differ.

Notes: OK this took an UNNECESSARY amount of time to complete but also I wasn't able to write for like 2 weeks besides a sentence here and there when I could find time T.T In my head this fic should already be done now and I'm on to working at Incandescence and yet, we're still only halfway through with 8 or 9 more chs to go?

I outlined everything myself, so you'd think I'd have better perspective on this thing XD

Recipes:

Anatolia Cafe

Chestnut Praline Latte

Chestnut Manju

"-Rin."

"Mm-whuh?" Rin mumbled into his phone he'd dropped onto his face after it pulled him from sleep.

"Did you hear me?" Yukio asked with a light sigh.

"Yeah, yeah I did." Something, something, get ready, see you soon. "See you, Yukio."

The rest of the morning passed in a blur and it wasn't until Rin handed the first customer their order that he woke up entirely.

"Oh shit," he said, heart thudding as he darted his gaze around the room.

Izumo stopped and turned to him with an arched brow. "What now?"

A rumble of an engine approached, idled, two forms neared the door at the same time.

"Oh," Izumo echoed him as she saw what he did. "Shit."

"Pardon me," Mephisto said, smiling.

"Thank you…sir," Yukio responded.

He stepped under the arm holding the door for him, wary, especially since Yukio wasn't short, but Mephisto dwarfed him anyway.

Two sets of eyes met Rin's, two mouths opened and spoke.

"Rin."

Rin's heart dropped as Yukio and Mephisto blinked over after hearing the other say his name.

"Hey guys," he found his voice. He'd forgotten that when Yukio had a day off, he utilized the entire day. Which meant it was inevitable he'd meet Rin's new regulars. "Uh, I guess I should introduce you?"

"No need, Rin, thank you," Mephisto interrupted while Yukio tensed beside him. "I believe I've heard of the top neurosurgeon in the country-the youngest too, a prodigy, they say."

His eyes slid over Yukio in a slow scan, Yukio stiffening further under his appraisal. Then Mephisto's lips twitched into a smile, only the barest tips of his fangs revealed, safe, as he continued, "Okumura isn't so uncommon, so you'll forgive me for not making the connection between you both sooner."

The grin stretched, "Although I should have. Twins?"

At Yukio's nod, Mephisto dipped his head.

"Allow me to introduce myse-"

"I know who you are," Yukio interrupted, "sir."

Rin once again ended up pinned by two intense stares. Izumo had made herself scarce during the introductions. Traitor.

"Ah, anyway," Rin made himself say. He rubbed at the back of his head to two raised brows. "Lemme get your drinks going-er, why don't you sit down, relax, Yukio. I know it's been awhile since you've been off your feet."

Rambling for a few more seconds about his usual "have you been eating right?" and "when's the last time you slept?" eventually got Yukio to relax a fraction. Mephisto just seemed amused beside him, waiting with his lips curved into a wry smile.

Beneath the sure movements of a drink prep, Rin panicked. Was his face red? It felt flushed but if he reached to check it would just bring attention to it. Yukio was too used to all his tells by now, and Mephisto could definitely hear his heart fluttering with nerves.

"Thank you, Rin." A touch to his fingers snapped Rin from his head and he bit straight through his tongue, yelping behind his clenched lips as he hurriedly swallowed the blood filling his mouth.

"What have you created for me today, Rin?" Mephisto said, a gleam in his eyes that seemed focused on Rin's mouth.

"Anatolia cafe!" Rin blurted out, then winced at the slivering of Mephisto's pupils. Had he gotten all the blood from his teeth? His healed tongue traced between fangs, the metallic tang telling him that no, he hadn't. Great.

A light built in green irises, glowing over a grin that said Mephisto definitely teased him, the edges curling as he inhaled.

"Trying to get me drunk before I've even made it to the office, Rin? At least take me out first." The purr that came along with Mephisto's question sent Rin sputtering as he tried to process.

His face burned, forcing out an explanation just as the bell above the door rang and Shima entered. Rin barely acknowledged him and the double-take he did.

"It's just syrups flavored like alcohol-non-alcoholic, it's non-alcoholic! I'm not trying-it's a cherry, cinnamon, and cognac coffee," he finished in a whoosh as he waited for the earth to swallow him whole. It was only right for him to be buried beneath his shop after the embarrassment killed him and left him haunting it for eternity.

"Well," Mephisto said, purr still heavy in his voice and eyes shuttering. He brought the drink to his lips and the purr deepened along with Rin's blush. When he came away, the cinnamon frosted whipped cream dusted his nose until he drew his long, tapered tongue to collect it in a deliberate slide.

"Since you brought my hopes up and then dashed them, I'm not sure I should give you your hint today."

"Hey, wait!" Rin broke from his daze and glared, "I need a hint!"

"Hm?" Mephisto hummed, raising a brow as he glanced down at Rin and idly took another drink before responding. "So demanding a thing you are."

Rin pouted with a huff of breath, crossing his arms to glower when Mephisto drew his answer out too long.

"How could I say no to that convincing argument?" came the chirp just as Mephisto snapped, cloud of smoke poofing to his hand. He leaned down and grinned, setting something into Rin's palm before covering it with both his hands, enveloping Rin's between them where he gripped.

One palm was still warmed from the heat of the coffee cup, pressing to the back of his hand as Rin froze, breath hitched and stalled on his chest.

"Warmer, much, much warmer, Rin," Mephisto said, a hint of cinnamon and cherries in his breath that brushed Rin's nose from inches away.

The rumble of Mephisto's voice seemed to vibrate from Rin's ears straight to his own chest, a return vibration building up.

"Nng-" Rin started, syllable strangled as Mephisto-still smiling-pulled away and waved.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Okumura, goodbye, Rin, I'll see you tomorrow."

Mephisto left, Rin staring, mouth parted as he tried to reboot.

Yukio coughed, Rin's mouth clicking shut as he rose to make his way to the counter. The smile on his face promised pain. It was the one that said Yukio was fighting everything in him not to let someone know exactly what he thought about their stupidity in the most debilitating tongue-lashing they'd ever experience.

"So," Yukio began while Rin winced, "now that you're not catering to one of the eight most powerful beings in existence, I'd like a ginseng tea."

Rin waited, ears ringing in the silence after Yukio's request. The start of it, anyway.

An inhaled breath, Yukio leaned in towards Rin's face, continuing, "A ginseng tea, and a very, very detailed explanation for what just happened."

"Thanks," he finished, beaming at Rin with a winning smile.

"I'll just...go find Izumo," Shima mumbled and scuttled past them to the back room while Rin's shoulders hunched to his now drooping ears.

"Yeah, one ginseng tea coming right up," he said, weak laugh fading at the raised brow facing him that crept higher and higher.

Yukio's gaze flicking to Rin's hand next made him jolt, remembering there was something there and looking to see what Mephisto had left this time.

An ornate dragon stared back at him, the simple origami paper it was folded from somehow appearing expensive with the delicate overlay of gold scales on its purple body. Rin was pretty sure it was hand-painted, possibly, the gold was actual gold.

The dragon settled on Mephisto's usual payment, giving the air of a real dragon proudly guarding a hoard.

"Oh," came the stuttered breath from his suddenly tight chest. Rin pulled the dragon closer, searching for a safe place for it where it wouldn't get crushed or damaged-what if coffee got on it?

Plastic caught his eye and he snatched one of the to-go containers off a shelf to place his gift into, sighing with relief at having that accomplished.

His focus split as a customer came through, and he called Izumo, getting her from the back room where she'd been staying out of the way. Rin tried to ignore the smirk twisting her lips and a "good luck" mouthed at him from Yukio's blindspot.

"Come on, Rin, let's catch up," Yukio said, gesturing to the seat as Rin handed him his tea. The urge to tuck his tail closer to his body had Rin fidgeting as he followed Yukio to the table, and no amount of nervous smiling kept the sense of impending doom from digging its tendrils deeper every second Yukio postponed things.

Scary. Rin almost wished he was facing down an angry demon king again instead.

"First things first," Yukio said the second they were in their seats, his gaze boring into Rin's without mercy, "do mom and dad know?"

"Ouch, going for the hard ones," Rin mumbled as his fingers picked at the edges of his shirt. At Yukio's continued silence, he sighed and shrugged, glancing out the window. "No, I didn't want to worry them, I've got it handled, I've been careful!"

"Rin," his name came strained from Yukio, wrinkles forming around his eyes as he squeezed them shut and rubbed at them like he could erase the stress. "Careful is when you keep your tail hidden at the grocery store or don't break things because you've forgotten your strength again."

Like the dented steel mixing cup Amaimon had fixed for him, maybe? Rin decided he wouldn't tell Yukio about that incident.

"Not actively flirting with a demon king," Yukio ended in a hiss. His eyes beneath his glasses could have been glowing with the glare he sent Rin after his hand fell away.

"I'm not flirting!" He strangled the yelped words before they got too loud, not needing to add more fuel to Shima's fire. With luck, Izumo would get whatever orders he had to deliver out sooner than later and Rin would only have to deal with one nosy employee waiting for the definitely exaggerated drama of his life.

Yukio's expression said he wouldn't believe Rin if someone paid him to.

"Sure," he drawled, sounding exactly like Izumo, "sorry, let me rephrase. Not standing by while a demon king actively flirts with you."

"Well, when you put it like that," Rin said without any defense he could think of that wouldn't just get shot down by Yukio. "It wasn't like I went out and invited random demon kings here. I stayed quiet, and I just treated him like any other customer!"

Maybe he hadn't thought his initial knee-jerk reaction at hearing the name of his competitors coming from Mephisto's mouth that first meeting, but he hadn't done much beyond getting him pastries and a drink, and, "And I had no idea who he was when he came in."

Groaning from Yukio met his words, and Rin watched him drain his tea in a quick gulp as if to steady himself further.

"How did you not recognize him?" Yukio's hands twitched like he was about to wrap them around Rin's throat. "His face is on half the city. Mom and dad showed you him when you decided to open this place here."

"I thought he was a cosplayer or something!"

"A cosplayer?"

Ok, Rin deserved the look Yukio was giving him after that one. "Yeah, I mean, when they talked about him, they made it seem like he'd be this, this huge energy and I'd notice right away, but he just…"

He trailed off.

"I didn't think they would feel like that," Rin's gaze fell, a thud of his pulse taking him from the shop at the remembered feel of the first time Mephisto walked through the door. Energy stronger than any he'd ever felt, but still just sparks across his senses, an electric current that set his hairs raising.

He'd expected...more.

"Oh," Yukio said, turning solemn and watching Rin with that look, the one he'd gotten from Kuro, from his family, as long as he'd been aware enough to recognize what it meant. "Rin I-"

"Anyway," Rin cut him off, knowing he could distract Yukio from the topic neither of them really wanted to talk about, "I've been careful. Mom's lessons paid off."

"You don't have to worry, even if I know you will," Rin said, shaking his head and grinning to dispel the unease, "Besides, you do enough of that with your patients."

"My patients don't give me nearly the same headaches you do, Rin," Yukio sighed the words into his remaining tea.

Definitely stressed. Rin saw the signs eating at the corners of the lines on Yukio's face. He would have permanent ones by thirty if he kept up the non-stop work the way he did. Which was why Rin had to lessen his worries when he came to visit the few breaks he had.

"Why don't I make you something and we can see if Shiemi is free for a lunch break later?"

Rin fought not to smile at the way Yukio perked up, much as he tried to maintain his professionalism. Any other time, Rin would have teased him about it, but, given the shock he'd just put Yukio through, he could give him a little break.

"That would be nice," Yukio said like he wasn't about to jump out of his seat and drag Rin to Shiemi. His eyes focused, smile sharpening on Rin and bringing the apprehension back in spades. "She can explain what the both of you were thinking."

"Yeah, ok, Yukio," Rin whimpered, resigning himself to never living the day down.

Amaimon flicked a pebble along the dirt floor of his shop and watched Behemoth chase after it. The game absorbed his attention for several minutes he barely registered.

He'd had customers throughout the morning that he didn't care to remember, gone through all the offerings humans and various kin of his dropped off at his doorstep, and run out of things to capture his attention the moment the last sweet disappeared into his mouth.

The option to wander the town crossed his mind, fleeting, because he'd already gone over every crevasse of it and the surrounding bamboo forest to boot.

Really, his only and best option was one small shop and the strange creature running it.

"Behemoth," he said, accepting the slobbering tongue that left his hair standing on end after the exuberant affection he received.

Familiar in hand, Amaimon left with a thought. A poof, and he arrived, inhaling and discarding the scents of the city to enjoy the sweet smells curling from the shop, following them like a lure. What would Rin have for him today? He hoped it was another of the caramel drizzled drinks, but it was also equally as likely Rin would craft something new and wonderful that he would enjoy just as much.

His claw clicked between his fangs as he used the arm holding Behemoth to shove the door open. It fell from his mouth, Amaimon's brows furrowing at the sight that met him, and he let Behemoth down to examine it closer.

"Ah, Amaimon!" Rin said from the small table he sat at next to…

Inhaling brought the scents from the shop to him to analyze.

Blue eyes narrowed behind glasses, then widened, a heart skipping through a ribcage in clear surprise.

Laughter under a breath took his gaze to the other human-Izumo, Rin had called her-manning the counter, before it cut off at his attention.

She returned to her task and Amaimon to chewing over the situation he'd arrived at.

"I'm bored, Rin," he said.

Rin jolted like he'd been zoned out, rising and coming towards Amaimon with a laugh that was more nervous than usual. Was he afraid of Amaimon? His eyes narrowed, considering the idea, then discarding it. Rin had yet to show true fear, and nothing like the scents of anxiety the other humans he surrounded himself with had produced around Amaimon.

So, this was likely related to the doppelganger seated across from Rin. A twin? He brought his claw back to his mouth. Would the twin be like Rin? He thought it would be difficult to find another like Rin. But, he could prove just as interesting, even if he'd displayed anxiety signals at the sight of Amaimon.

"I'll get you something started," Rin came up to him with a bright smile that showed the tips of his fangs Amaimon wanted to examine closer. Were they the vestigial fangs of a nephilim, or could they grow into something truly dangerous?

First came Rin's offerings, though.

"Why don't you sit here-ah," Rin shuffled, suddenly beset by a wide, teeth-baring smile from the twin.

Warmth set at Amaimon's elbow and he stilled, pupils slivering as he slid his gaze to the side, Rin's casual touch bringing him from his mind.

"Lemme introduce you to my younger brother, Yukio-er, twin brother," he said, no notice in his voice of the oddity of his actions. Slight pressure to Amaimon had him moving on automatic at Rin's direction.

"He's visiting for the day-he's a doctor, you know, so he doesn't get many days off-hey, Yukio, this is Amaimon! The demon Shiemi introduced me to she was telling you about."

Silence burrowed a hole between Amaimon and the twin. Yukio.

Under his observation, that attention flicked to where Rin still touched Amaimon. Beneath the careful exterior, Amaimon saw wariness, and beneath even that, jealousy.

He grinned. It bared fangs much more dangerous than Yukio.

"Rin, I want something new today," Amaimon said, a chirp in his voice. He broke the stillness and draped himself along Rin, waiting.

There. Blue eyes flashed at him and the smile tightened.

"S-sure thing, Amaimon," Rin stuttered, body curving with a shiver as if to get away. Amaimon's eyelids drooped in pleasure at the rapid uptick in Rin's pulse and the pink in his cheeks that said otherwise.

Purring went through him, a return rumble emanating from Rin before he seemed to come back to himself and broke free, his heat an absence at Amaimon's side that made his claws curl. The desire for whatever Rin would make him warred with the sudden need to keep him near.

"The plant on the windowsill, that's yours, isn't it," a collected voice kept him from trailing after Rin.

Observant, for a worm. Amaimon slid into the chair opposite the occupied one and snapped, bringing the camellia bonsai to rest between them like a battle line.

"Yes," he said simply. Another motion brought a mister to his hand and a small watering can to the table. Amaimon didn't necessarily need to care for the plant this week, but he could always begin early.

Yukio watched as Amaimon settled a stone that had fallen out of place back to its position amongst the tangled roots. Red blooms flourished at a caress of his claws, petals like blood against the gleaming black edges.

To the worm's credit, he didn't flinch or show any overt sign of fear. Possibly, it was because he'd grown up with whatever Rin was. Amaimon could induce real fear into him, but-Rin laughing at a dry quip from Izumo drew Amaimon to glance at him from the corner of his eyes-it would upset Rin.

That polite smile spread in a mild stretch over Yukio's face, fixed there, and he seemed willing to spend the time without speaking a word to Amaimon besides his initial observation.

It suited Amaimon fine. He went back to the camellia, deciding he would change the shape, and began willing it to grow. Roots sprawled into an intricate knot framing the stone, older leaves died as he plucked them off one by one to fall into dust at the base without his power sustaining them until he had the finished product.

His name, or the common symbol humans used to invoke his name, stared blatantly from the new design shaped by the roots. Whether the twin recognized it or not didn't really matter to Amaimon, but, by the flex of the fingers wrapped around the cup of tea, Amaimon would say he did.

Behemoth slumbered at his feet, though he shook awake just as Amaimon noticed movement.

"Here you go!" Rin said, breaking the cold war across the table without a hint that he knew it existed.

"Oh, it looks different. That's a cool design," he blinked down at the bonsai, at least noticing that much. "I keep having to tell kids not to mess with it when they come in."

In his hand rested a plate laden with small, gently steaming pastries he placed next to the bonsai, followed by a drink set before Amaimon.

"Here, I brought enough for both of you," Rin's voice interrupted Amaimon from inhaling the first third of the drink. He swallowed, chewing at what he registered were crushed chestnuts and pecans after thinking about it.

"It's a chestnut praline latte-you know, to go with the chestnut manju," Rin gestured at the plate, a pleased smile on his face, "Let me know if you like it! I wanted to try my hand at fall stuff for the menu."

Something new.

Amaimon brought one of the steaming pastries to himself, letting it last in his mouth even as it scalded the skin with the heat.

"Thank you, Rin," the twin said, pointed, though the smile he sent to Rin at least looked less wooden than the one he set on Amaimon next.

Didn't like to share? Neither did Amaimon, unless…

The impulse hit him and he broke off half of his next pastry, holding it out until it nudged at Rin's lips. Impatience didn't have the chance to form as Rin opened his mouth, going cross-eyed as he tried to look at what Amaimon shoved past his teeth.

"Mmf!" His muffled shock had Amaimon humming, pleased as Rin swallowed and gaped at him, red back on his face. "Amaimon, I-"

"It's good, you should have some, too," Amaimon said and enjoyed the sound of gritting teeth from across the table as he licked at his fingers that had just been in Rin's mouth.

Without acknowledging the twin, he selected another to give Behemoth while listening for Rin to finish being stunned.

Rin finished the flustered sputtering Amaimon had caused, gaze darting as if searching for something.

"I'm-thanks, Amaimon! Uh, I'm glad you like them."

It settled on a nearby chair Rin dragged between Amaimon and Yukio before dropping into it and grinning beneath the flush still on his face.

"So," he said, getting two patient expressions along with a raised brow from Yukio, "I'm spending the day with Yukio but we just saw Shiemi and both of us are excited to come by the shop tomorrow. I can bring Kuro, too."

Their weekly gift. Amaimon didn't know whether to be pleased Rin would be coming, or upset he wouldn't be coming alone.

"This is the shop she was talking about," Yukio said as if confirming it to himself, cutting into the pastry with careful precision and fingers that didn't tremble in the slightest.

"Haha, yeah I don't know anything about the plants but she gets really excited every time she sees the new stuff and…"

Amaimon let Rin's voice wash over him, watching as the twin dissected the pastry with a surgeon's eye for detail. Was he making a threat? Or just using the slow cuts to keep from showing fear in his presence.

What would it take to get him to show fear, Amaimon wondered, turning the thought over in his mind. A minor earthquake beneath his feet, something to break the facade and draw out what he could sense lurking beneath, maybe.

But Rin would most likely be protective over the twin, so he would have to test him in other ways.

His gaze slid to the side, tracking the movements and exuberance in whatever story Rin was telling.

Other ways like making it clear he would be staying by Rin until he figured out the mystery shadowing his easy-going demeanor.

Path selected, Amaimon slumped back into the chair, sprawling out and lips twitching when Rin stumbled over his next word. His leg now leaned firmly against Rin's, boots shoved at Yukio's pristine black shoes as Behemoth rolled to make room. He tossed another pastry in his mouth and finished the last of his drink.

"When can we play again, Rin?" Amaimon asked, feeling Behemoth perk at attention to his words just as the twin stilled with a bite halfway to his mouth.

"You wanna play again?" Rin blurted, hair whipping as he snapped to look at Amaimon with a bright grin. "I didn't know you would want to so soon but Kuro'll be super excited!"

A sigh of pleasure drifted out from Rin next as he dropped his chin into his palm. "It was so fun watching you guys, I can't wait to see what you throw out next."

The wistfulness on Rin's face neared the levels of the one Amaimon had caught him wearing the first time he'd brought his familiar to play. It was strange, and he didn't know what to make of it. What he did know was that he would enjoy displaying what else existed in his arsenal for Rin to view. Amaimon dipped his tongue under his claws to get the rest of the pastry from them before chewing the tip of his thumb, plate finished.

"Good," he responded to Rin's hopeful eyes, then stood, though not without making sure to slide his leg along Rin's firmly to see him startle again. Behemoth came to his call as Amaimon nodded to Rin and left.

Amaimon opened his eyes to stare out over the horizon of the city from the roof of a building on the outskirts. He blinked, considering what he would do the rest of the day, one more of many, endless days.

Should he visit Samael and ask for a solution like he'd meant to when he'd first arrived in Assiah? He narrowed his eyes, following that avenue to its natural conclusion.

If he went to Samael, then Samael might ask him what he'd been doing recently. If Samael asked, then he would find out about Rin, because no secrets stayed that way once he sniffed them out.

And if Samael found out about Rin, then Amaimon would be forced to share. Or worse, get pushed aside because, even though he'd discovered Rin for himself, Rin was in Samael's territory and was therefore his.

Irritation bit at Amaimon's nerves and he vanished from the city.

Next time, he would see if Rin would consider moving out of Samael's territory.

Yukio took the last sip of his tea and set the mug down as carefully as he'd picked apart the remaining chestnut manju Rin had prepared earlier.

The manju he'd just shared with Amaimon, king of earth, seventh in Gehenna, and the second of the Ba'al he'd ever met in his life. Both meetings in the same day, in the same place, with only the hours separating them from each other.

Both meetings in his very own brother's shop. His brother, who couldn't seem to move from the position he'd frozen in, staring at the spot the earth king had vacated.

"Rin," he started to say.

"Yukio," Rin said without warning, something about his voice and the wide cast to his eyes when he faced Yukio pausing him, "am I cursed? Can you check?"

"Er, cursed?" Yukio tried to understand Rin's train of thought. It clicked in the next second and he groaned, rubbing at his face beneath his glasses to the earnest pout Rin sent him for the reaction.

But, "Yeah, I'll check."

If anyone could be cursed to get the attention of not just one, but two of the Ba'al, it would be Rin. As his brother, he could at least check to make sure it wasn't a curse Rin had picked up the same way some people did bubblegum off the pavement onto their shoes.

"You're a lifesaver, Yukio," Rin echoed his groan, wrapping his arms around the base of the bonsai pot and hugging it like a security blanket. "The last thing I want to do is let mom and dad know because you know they'll freak out and never let me leave the house again."

Yeah, that was probably true, Yukio winced. It had been hard enough in the first place, and, much as he'd agreed with their worries...well. He'd seen Rin's eyes light up enough times at his shop-just talking about his shop-that the alternatives felt like pale shades in comparison.

"I'll check before I leave today."

Now, he just had to use the restroom, possibly scream about what he'd just gone through, and carry on with any more surprises Rin might have in store he'd conveniently forgotten to mention. Yukio excused himself and Rin went to go assist Izumo with several customers.

Out of the corner of his eye, pink shifted, and Yukio registered Shima by the entrance to the storage room looking shifty, as usual. He nodded and made to pass.

"Hey doc," Shima whispered, sounding as shifty as he looked, "I got this weird bump on my butt, can you check it out, make sure I'm not dying?"

He released a long breath through his nose, smiling the smile he gifted the most difficult family members of his patients. "For the last time, Shima, I'm not that kind of doctor and I don't want to check out your-"

Shima reached out and dragged him into the back room, shushing him before he could complain at the manhandling.

"So, have fun meeting Rin's newest suitors today?" An exaggerated wink accompanied his words.

His implications brought a shudder to Yukio. "No."

"Shiemi thinks it's cute," Shima said, eyebrows waggling as he nudged at Yukio's shoulder. "She keeps asking if Rin will see them more often outside of work."

Outside of work. Spending more time together. Time that might include Yukio, because Rin was oblivious like that. Would it be worse to find excuses not to go? Or leave Rin in the clawed hands after his tail that he somehow didn't see? Above that, the very real possibility existed that he would meet even more of the Ba'al. The danger of such a scenario had him reconsidering his promise to Rin to not involve their parents.

It might be something they couldn't handle. Not if-

"I don't have time for this," Yukio said and moved to leave only for Shima to grab his arm, a sinister smile on his face.

"So there's this betting pool," he revealed when Yukio didn't just yank his arm away and flee like he was beginning to think he should. "About who breaks through Rin's shroud of obliviousness first-or if they do at all."

There was a betting pool, realization dawned on Yukio. Of course there was a betting pool.

"You in?"

Shima smiled wider at Yukio's silence, waiting.

Of all the stupid, idiotic, thoughtless…

"Yeah, I'm in."

His twin was going to break two non-existent hearts, and he would be there to witness it.

"Man, you're scary, doc."

End notes:

Idk who to feel most sorry for, Yukio, Rin, or the two bastard demons who have to deal with them lmao