This is a one-shot not based on a review or anything, but I instead wanted to try out how Rin's life would be like if he instead after the birth of his kids he takes on the task of looking after them all on his own; with no help at all. He's got his job as an exorcist, two kids that wake him up in the middle of the night and then he has to buy groceries and pay bills. Some of these one-shots are kind of like daily life events of 'Rin Being A Single Dad' XD While others are AUish type stuff I'll write up from a review at sometimes.

NOTE: If there are any spelling mistakes in this I can't fix it yet because the right mouse button on my mouse is broken, so I can't bring up the spelling and grammar fixes anymore. I'll have to wait until I get a new mouse. Shit...

Story 4: Circle Game

It was loud.

It wouldn't stop.

The crying.

I covered my head with my pillows and groaned; opening my tired eyes. My arm shot out from under the covers and grabbed something flat and smooth from the bedside table. I brought it up to my face and narrowed my eyes at the bright screen against the darkness of my room.

"2:05am…"

I sigh to myself, putting my phone back onto the table and wearily sit myself up. The covers slipping off my body as I raise myself from the bed and begin to head to the next room.

Damn.

This Father business is definitely something I wasn't expecting to be this hard.

I thought it would be simple.

I guess not…

I entered the spare room in my house, yawning. I looked over to the crib in the corner of the room and saw that my eldest was standing up; balling his eyes out. His sister was just looking up at him in confusion, but also looked like she was about to cry from seeing her brother so distraught.

I sighed to myself and approached the cot; picking up the toddler boy in my arms and looking at him with my tired blue eyes. "What's wrong, Yun?"

The boy just stared at me with his own blue orbs and gave me a huge toothless grin; before he started laughing and tried grabbing at thin air.

I glared at him, but a small smile lifted across my face at seeing the happy child. "You brat … waking me up for no reason…"

Who knew being a parent was so tiring...

But it was worth it to see the smiles on my kids' faces.

I wouldn't trade them for anything...

The Later Years

"Okumura!"

A snort left my nose and I jolt awake, sitting upright in my seat at the table. My eyes scanning my surroundings in confusion until I noticed the people sitting around my dining table. My friends and brother; all staring at me in concern. I blinked my eyes, tiredly, as a short yawn escaped my mouth.

"This is exactly what I was talking about!" I heard the gruff voice of Suguro shout. His hair was no longer chicken styled or two-toned. He just had piercings in his ears; not that that still didn't look odd on a full grown man.

"What are you guys talking about?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes, confused and a bit dazed due to tiredness.

"We're talking about you obviously, dumbass!" Suguro retorted at me which in turn made me frown at him.

I heard a sigh and turned my attention to my younger twin brother. "What Suguro means is that the twins are taking over your life. You don't take any help when we ask if you need it." Yukio then, narrowed his eyes at me. "You absolutely look like you need help, Rin. You aren't getting the required sleep you're supposed to and working as an exorcist just adds to that."

Now being fully I awake I stared at my brother and scoffed, waving a hand at him. "I'm perfectly fine. I can take care of both myself and the twins."

This just caused my brother to glower at me. "If you can then you should be able to stay awake during the day."

I gulped and looked away from him, scratching behind my neck.

Okay, he got me there.

I do have problems staying awake due to looking after my kids.

But I love those two and I don't care if I'm just a bit tired.

I want those two to live a normal demon-free life that me and Yukio couldn't.

That's what I want for them anyways...

"Just how much trouble do those two cause for you?" Shima's voice asked me from beside Suguro; across the table.

I turned my gaze back to the group and fidgeted with my fingers.

I couldn't look at them.

They're definetly gonna freak when I tell them...

My fingers are just more interesting right now. "Um … Every night … at around two…"

This caused my brother to jump up out of his seat and stare at me. "EVERY NIGHT! AT TWO!"

I chuckle nervously at his reaction and held my hands up in defence. "It's okay I can handle it."

"No. You can't, Rin," Yukio stated me, bluntly, causing me to stare at him shocked. "You need help with taking care of those two and you're denying you do. You're taking this all on by yourself. You can't do that, Rin. You need help whether you like it or not."

I swallowed and looked away from my brother and instead turned my gaze to the three kids in the lounge room. My twin toddlers were playing with Shima and Kamiki's toddler son. He had short, dark brown hair and vibrant red eyes; he looked a combination of his parents. My kids on the other hand...

I sigh to myself.

Maybe they were right.

Maybe I should get some help from someone.

But who?

The Later Years

I stood out the front of the supply shop, swallowing the lump in my throat. I was holding my daughter in my arms while holding onto my son's hand. The shop looked the same as it did when I last here … three years ago. I turned to look at the garden that I had first met my children's Mother in.

I swallowed once more.

This place brought back so many memories for me.

Though it probably brought back more for Yukio and ... Shiemi's own Mother.

That's one of the reasons why I avoided coming here; so I wouldn't have to face her. But Yukio told me I couldn't handle these two on my own and I needed help.

Someone who has raised a child before … and that person would be Shiemi's Mother.

I approached the garden gate and opened it, surprised the demon charm didn't go off like the first time I had been here. Then again it was probably taken off by Shiemi or Yukio, so that I could come and go as I pleased when we were seeing each other. I set my daughter down and let go of my son's hand as they raced around the garden. I closed the gate and sat down on a large rock beside it. The garden was different from when I was last here; plants were overgrown, weeds were everywhere and … it didn't look like it had been taken care of since Shiemi…

I turned my attention to Hana and Yun to see them pulling up the weeds and grass. I jumped to my feet and ran over to the two kids; putting my hands in front of them to stop them. "Whoa, whoa; that's not how you garden."

They just stared up at me with their bright eyes in confusion.

Wordless.

They pointed to the spot they had been pulling and I gave a nervous smile. Of course they'd want me to show them how to do it properly. I sighed in defeat and shrugged my exorcist jacket off, rolling up the sleeves of my white undershirt up.

It looks like I got no choice.

I showed my kids what Shiemi had taught me; from digging holes in the dirt to pouring compost to cutting away dead leaves and pulling away weeds. It wasn't long before I heard the shop door open and I turned my heard to see Yukio come out with Miss Moriyama following behind him. I gave a small smile to the two of them and a short wave; the only response I got from the woman was a glare.

Great, she's still angry at me about Shiemi…

I turn back around to face my kids only to find them covered in dirt and grass; covered from head to toe in it. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out as the two kids before me just laughed at me.

I'm meant to have authority over these little brats and they're the ones making fun of me.

Am I doing something wrong here?

"How the hell did you two get so dirty?" I exclaimed; eyes scanning their dirty clothes and messy blond hair.

All I got in response was a bunch of childish babbles as the two pointed to each other; as if blaming the other.

I groaned and began to ever regret having kids.

They were too much work.

Too much of a hassle.

They…

I suddenly collapsed onto the grassy ground on my back; earning surprised shouts from the twins and I heard Yukio yell my name. "Rin!" He rushed over to my side and helped me sit up; my body felt heavy as I leaned on my younger twin for support. The concerned look in my brother's eyes told me he knew what was wrong with me. "Rin, you need rest. Your body is exhausted. You've pushed yourself past your limit. Please."

I shook my head at my brother as my head lolled to the side. "Da…" My eyes grow wide for a second and I turn my head to look at my kids. Hana and Yun were looking up at me; fear evident in their eyes. They were obviously confused and didn't understand that I was just tired. There was nothing really wrong with me, but that didn't mean that they were afraid of possibly losing me.

"Dada…" The twins before me said at the same time.

I was shocked.

They had said their first word.

My jaw was slack; throat dry and I swallowed.

I felt Yukio nudge me and I looked to him. "I think they're also trying to tell you to rest, Rin."

I look back at the twins that looked at me with such worry in their eyes that I felt … guilty. I sighed and nodded at my brother. "Fine." He helped me to my feet and I looked to my brother in confusion. "It's just gonna be a small rest, right?"

Yukio chuckled and shook his head at me. "Nope. You're going to have a couple days to yourself … without work and the twins."

This caused my eyes to widen and I glared at my brother in anger. "The hell! Who's gonna look after them while I'm 'resting' as you call it!?"

"Why do you think we're here?"

I blinked again and looked to Miss Moriyama once again. Her gaze had seemed to soften a little at my reaction to my children. I swallowed the lump in my throat that had formed. She was my Mother-in-law after all and my kids' Grandmother; their only living grandparent … I won't speak about their other one…

"Um … Miss Moriyama, I guess Yukio spoke to you about this?" I asked the woman.

She nodded at my question. "Yes, he did." Her gaze went to the two children that had hidden behind me and Yukio; continuously chanting their newfound word.

Great.

Now I need to teach them how to say Uncle Yukio and even teach them how to say each other's names.

Ugh!

Fatherhood is a huge pain…

"Um … this is Hana…" I pointed to the girl hiding behind me; holding tightly onto my pant-legs in fear, but also was curious about the woman before her. "…this is her brother, Ryunosuke, but … we call him Yun for short." My son seemed to be eyeing Miss Moriyama from behind my other side.

The woman looked between both twins before a small smile crossed her lips which shocked both me and Yukio. This woman hardly ever smiles and ever since Shiemi … she seemed a lot more distant than she was when Shiemi was alive. "Those two seem to have some physical similarities from both you and Shiemi…"

I looked down at both my kids and nodded at what she said; a light smile on my face. "Yea, that's why I didn't want to accept any help. They're mine and Shiemi's kids, so I should take the full brunt of what she left me with."

"You're wrong about that." I look up at Shiemi's Mother to see her once more glaring at me. "Just because these are your kids doesn't mean you shouldn't accept help when you need it. As of now … I will be taking care of them until you're able to."

I stared at her in shock.

She sounded so defiant about what she was saying.

As if she really wanted to take my kids off of me.

"B…But…"

I hardly got out a stutter before I stumbled again due to exhaustion and clung to my brother once more. "Rin, it'll only be for a few days. You'll see them again once all your energy is back."

"This is only a babysitting job since your my son-in-law and these are my grandkids. I doubt you'll like what happens in the future," Miss Moriyama said with a small smile gracing her lips as if to tease.

I gulped as a growl left my lips. "I'm kind of dreading that day."

Yukio just chuckled at my comment and I glowered at him.

I was!

The day when my kids grew up; left home and had kids of their own!

I'm dreading it!

I love how these cute little demons run around my house even if it drives me nuts!

I wonder if Dad missed it when me and Yukio grew up?

He probably did, but knew it had to happen one day and accepted that ... so I'm gonna have to accept that too when that day comes...

I groaned as I made my brother let go of me and I bent down to my kids' level to look at them; eye to eye. "You'll be staying here for a few days. It's only until I'm back at full capacity." I pointed at Miss Moriyama and my kids looked at her with sceptical looks. "This nice lady will be taking care of you two. She's your Grandma."

"I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be a Grandma," she muttered to herself.

I inwardly chuckled at that and stood back to my feet; watching as my kids hesitantly approached their Grandmother. It seemed she tried to be the nice, smiling type that Shiemi always said her own Grandmother was. That's what a kid would want to see from their Grandparent. Though kids can also idolise their Grandparents or parents; depending on which ones have had a bigger impact in their life.

I guess that's what I get from my own Dad...

As I turned to follow Yukio out of the garden I felt something grab my pant-legs and looked down to see Hana hugging my legs. I chuckled and bent down to hug her properly. "It won't be for long. I promise."

"Dada!" I heard the other twin shout as Yun jumped on top of me; wanting to join in on the hug.

"Hey! Get off me!" I exclaimed; just hearing the little boys' giggles along with his sister's. "Get off my back, Yun! I'm leaving now, so no piggyback!" The boy just stuck out his tongue and blew a raspberry at me.

Geez, this boy is so much like me I can't even begin where to start…