Yukio had always worn glasses, and Rin's young mind had assumed that his little brother had been born with them. It was only when he saw the newest pictures of him and his brother, swaddled in different colored blankets, did he realize that Yukio did not have glasses when he was a small wee baby. Logically, Rin's mind came to the conclusion that if Yukio had indeed been born with glasses, that he would have hurt their dear mother.

Of course, when he first saw their baby pictures, he had wondered who the baby in the green blanket next to him in the picture was and why they had replaced Yukio.

Father had laughed when he had posed such a question, curiously pointing at the picture. "That's Yukio!"

Rin blinked. "No it's not. See," he poked at the picture once more. "That baby doesn't have glasses."

Shiro blinked. "Wh-what? You think…" His gaze softened and he messed up Rin's hair. "Oh son. Never change."

It took a while, but then the facts hit Rin with all the force of a bicycle slamming into him (he could attest to the feeling. Both brothers still needed the training wheels even at the age of seven). His brother had not been born with glasses.

Of course, Rin's curiosity got the best of him, and he wondered what it would be like to simply tease his brother with the glasses. After all, Rin's young mind could not understand why his younger brother was wearing them in the first place.

So, the mischievous imp that he was, Rin ambushed his unsuspecting brother. He had waited patiently (1 minute) as Yukio became distracted with the colored picture books father had given them. With his brother so engrossed in the colorful display of Noah's Ark (something about a flood destroying everything) Rin seized his chance. With a gleeful shout, Rin leapt from his hiding spot behind the couch and swiped the glasses from his brother's face.

With glee, he leaped onto the couch, his brother's swiped glasses in hand. He watched with a curious smile as Yukio wandered around, a distressed look on his face.

"Ni-san? Give me back my glasses!" Yukio wandered around with searching hands, his eyes squinting. "Give me my glasses!"

Rin only chuckled with amusement. However, his amusement began to wane when Yukio sat down on the floor, tears welling up in his eyes. Soft sniffles began to fill the room, yet Yukio began to crawl around with searching, desperate hands.

Concern replaced Rin's humor, and he was by his brother's side in an instant. "Yukio? Is it that bad? Can you really not see?" He quickly handed the glasses to his brother and watched him intently.

Yukio sniffled, his cries subsiding as he adjusted the glasses. He blinked, eyesight adjusting quickly. "Y-yeah." He rubbed at his nose and eyes, glasses moving once more.

As if his father-meter went off, Shiro's voice boomed down the hall. "Rin! Did you make your brother cry?"

Rin hastily straightened up. "No sir!"

"Really? That better not be a lie!"

"It wasn't!"

"So when we get to heaven and the angels list your sins before the saints, lying won't be one of them?"

Oh he was so going to hell. Rin gulped, still at the age where the fear of God, and the fear of his father, gave him a sense of caution.

"I-it's alright father!" Yukio called out. "Rin did nothing wrong!"

A pause, then, "You sure? That better not be another lie!"

At Yukio's terrified face, Rin quickly clasped his brother's hands. "Don't worry Yukio! We'll go to hell together, right?"

Yukio hesitated. "Well…"

Rin blinked. "But we're brothers! We stick together!"

Yukio looked away. "But...hell's scary."

"You think I want to go alone?"

"..."

"Traitor!"

"I want to go to heaven! Hell is scary!"

xXx

Now, Rin had revisited the idea of stealing Yukio's glasses, and he came to the brilliant conclusion that it would be fun. Again. Oh it would be so humorous to see his brother, helpless, and at his mercy. Yukio was definitely too old to sit down and cry like the little child that he once was.

Eh, no, he'd most likely shoot him.

Nah, the operation to steal the glasses from the shadows would have to be modified.

Those thoughts followed him when he sat in bed and watched his brother begin his work at his desk. An idea sprung in his mind, and he grinned like the hell-spawn that he was. He would just wait for his brother to go to sleep.

Of course, he did not realize that his brother stayed up so late, and Rin often fell asleep before jolting awake, only to see his brother still hard at work.

Rin scowled. Seriously, how did his brother function?

But Yukio was still mortal, despite the demon blood running through his veins, and he had to retire at some point. Sure enough, the light at his desk flickered off, and his brother left the room for the bathroom to change into his sleepwear.

Rin leapt into action. He scurried around the room, snatching any and all glasses he could find. Was he petty? Of course. Did he feel any shame? Hell no! It was his right as the older brother to mess with his little brother.

He made sure to remove the gun at his brother's desk, his pillow, and beneath the mattress. Seriously, how was his brother so paranoid? Rin could protect them with no difficulty!

Satisfied with his mission, the glasses and guns stowed away, Rin jumped into his bed and eagerly succumbed to slumber.

xXx

A shadow flickered over on the ceilings.

Yukio remained still, his breathing slow and steady. The shadow could have been the fan or a bug, but Yukio learned to never leave anything up to chance.

He slowly rolled over, his hand sliding beneath the pillow. His searching fingers only felt the cold sheets and not the cold hard material of a gun.

Okay. No need to panic. The chill he was feeling was not fear, or the presence of a demon, but rather the air. His gun was missing. So what?

He sat up, hand automatically reaching for his glasses. When his hands met the empty air, he froze.

Now the fear seized his heart. He was a small boy again with a blurry vision, unable to see the true form of the dark and fearsome creatures. His eyes were failing him and leaving him helpless in the shadows. He could not make out the threat, even though it was right there in front of him. He could not see where he needed to go, could not think clearly and could not formulate a plan. If he couldn't see, he wasn't safe, and no one could help him.

He released a shuddering breath. He was not a child anymore. He was an exorcist. He knew how to fight blind. He had his brother Rin with him-

Wait.

His brother.

His blurry eyes narrowed.

xXx

Rin was not expecting his infuriated brother to kick him awake. With a startled yelp, Rin woke up to Yukio grabbing him by the shirt.

"Where are they, Rin?" He had never seen his brother so infuriated. "They're all gone. Where are they?"

Groggily and not at all fazed by his brother's rage, Rin looked at the clock. "What the hell? It's 4:30! It's way too early for this. Go back to bed."

"Ni-san, I need my glasses. Where are they?"

Grumbling, Rin dragged Yukio down and held on to his brother. "Just go to bed."

Yukio squirmed in his brother's grip. "What did you do to my glasses?"

Rin cracked a sleepy smile. "Na-uh. You're at my mercy now. I'm not telling you."

Yukio grew still. "Rin, I need them. I can't be at anyone's mercy."

"Sure you can."

"No!" Yukio managed to break free, falling back on the bed and away from his brother. Even in the dim lighting, Rin could see how his brother's eyes were unfocused. "I...I can't see."

Rin sat up, awake and alert. "Yukio-"

"What if we get attacked? What if I can't see where to shoot? Oh God, what did you do to my guns?"

"Hey," Rin grumbled. He crawled over and wrapped his arms around his brother. He dragged them both down. Yukio gripped Rin's arms, his eyes wide and flickering around.

"Rin." Yukio's voice was small. "I can't...I can't identify any threats."

"The shadow on the ceiling is the fly you let in when you opened the windows. The hulking figure over the door is my coat I left hanging for the morning. And the soft feet running under the bed are just Kuro."

Yukio's shoulders loosened just slightly. He was quiet for a while, and just when Rin thought he might be able to fall asleep, Yukio spoke up. "And my glasses?"

Rin grunted. "Go to sleep and I'll tell you in the morning."

"Then let me go."

"Nah. You're sleeping with me." With considerable effort, Rin managed to get them both under the covers and tighten his hold in his protesting brother.

"You're going to hell."

"We both are. Goodnight bro."

A/N: I don't know. I wrote the first two pages a year ago and then left it. I can't say this was my original intent for the story, but eh. I decided to revisit it.