I have a lot going on in April, so my Fanfic updates may come not so often. I'll be doing volunteer work and work experience throughout the month/year; I'm also wanting to see 'A Silent Voice' around the beginning, a dentist appointment somewhere in the month (Don't know when it is) and finally there's Supanova near the end of the month (dressing up as Max Caulfield from 'Life is Strange' XD). I'm also working on a webcomic and hopefully I'll stay FULLY committed to this idea till the end. So yea, Fanfics aren't my main priority right now mainly getting my life on track is. But I'll still try and update SOMETHING every so often when an idea comes to me; hopefully.

I know I recently started the Blue Exorcist fics and those are the main ones I DON'T want to stop because I LOVE that Anime. I've lost my mojo for Sonic right now as I've previously stated, but AnE is one my favorite Anime and I will not give up these Fanfics. Only if writers block will force me to.

Now onto the questions:-

CloCloPuff asked - 'Do his kids know he's a demon?'

My answer ~ Well, yes and no. Rin has kind of made the same mistake that Shiro made with him by telling only one of his kids about himself. The only difference is he told Hana he was part-demon, but not really who his Father was, so she always thought Rin was a lowly humanoid demon until she learned the truth. Yun is like Rin; he never knew about demons or anything about the supernatural because Rin was trying to protect him from all that stuff like how Shiro had been doing with him. So basically only Hana knows about Rin's secret while Yun doesn't. (If you read 'Story 3: Parallel Hearts' you'll see what I mean)

Story 5: Aching Horns

"Rin!"

I turn my head to see my younger twin running over to me. We had just finished an exorcism and I had been with Shura and Yukio.

It was pretty easy.

So, everyone was saying.

I found it unfoundedly difficult to stay focused due to exhaustion and restraining my energy, so that I wouldn't pass out. I've been doing that a lot lately. Since my kids were born I've … been very tired a lot. Nights have been almost sleepless and work has become a living nightmare when it used to be fun to fight demons or teach at the Cram School. Now I can't even get a wink of sleep because of those little demons. No pun intended.

After the mission; Yukio, Shura and I stayed behind to clean up. Yukio had been watching my behaviour closely and I guess he noticed me stagger a little every so often. I guess he thought I was wounded and wanted to check up on me.

I'm not however ... far from it.

"Are you alright?"

"Yea, I'm fine," I replied, turning my attention away from him and back to cleaning up immediatly.

Yukio sighed and did the same; though still keeping an eye on me. We had grown distant in the past few months since my kids had been born. It may be because of my moodiness or tiredness that makes us so distant now.

I can tell Yukio wants to help me, but I'm just too tired to care right now...

But ... I hope we can fix it soon.

I don't want things to stay like this forever between us...

"Oi Rin!" I turn my attention to face the voice of Shura as she wraps an arm around me and I mildly glare at her. "Do ya mind if I swing by yer place tonight?"

"I do mind in fact," I growled out, lightly. She pursed her lips and I sighed more to myself than as a response to her. "Why?"

She chuckled at my response and patted my shoulder, whispering in my ear; making me flinch as her lips neared, "Staggering? Ya naughty boy, did ya really think you could hide that from lil' old me?"

This caused a light blush to grow across my cheeks as let go of me and she pranced off making me stare at where she ran off to in shock.

Shit...

Did she really just say that … she knew?

H...How could she?

I wasn't that obvious ... was I?

The Later Years

I stare at the woman sitting across from me on the armchair; a blank look on my face. My fiery blue eyes boring into her vibrant violet ones as a large smirk broke across her lips.

"Ooh! Scary!" She exclaimed as she waved a bottle of liquor in front of me. "Come on, Rin, just have one drink. It'll do ya wonders."

I just kept my glare directed at her and turned my head away. "No," I stated bluntly.

My bottom lip trembling a little; hands shaking at her gesture.

Was she really trying to get me drink?

I don't understand.

Why did she ask to come over?

A sudden force was shoved up against my arm and I cringed, trying my hardest not to look. I knew what she was doing. She used to do this all the time when she was drunk when I was a teen so it'd be no different now.

However … the one thing Shura is good at is faking being drunk.

So good in fact you can never tell if she's sober or drunk … she uses that to get information out of people.

Will she use that technique on me?

Here … in my own home?

Shit, I hope not…

"Why not? Being an exorcist finally gettin' to ya?" Her voice sounded slightly slurred, so I couldn't tell whether she was faking or not.

I bit my lip and remained silent.

My face away from hers as I ignored her advances.

Her breath hot on my neck and I flinched away as she suddenly pushed me down onto the sofa. A light flush on my face at the motion; brows furrowed in irritation. I closed my eyes and looked away from her abnormally large breasts and at her face; she was glaring at me. It was strange to see her like this. However it didn't excuse this act.

It really didn't...

"THE HELL!" I shouted at her; shock written across my face at the position she had put me in. My tail twitching irritably under my shirt as if it wanted to lash out at her, but I wouldn't let it. It would get me in more trouble than I would, myself. I lay on the sofa; glaring back at Shura with defiant eyes under her, waiting for whatever she had planned.

She's got an odd mind ... you can never tell what she's thinking; a part from beer.

She's not as bad a Mephisto though; you really can't tell with him whatever goes through his head.

"Rin, you haven't been yourself lately. Yukio and I can tell. What is going on with you?" She asked me, concern etching her voice yet she also sounded like she was lecturing me.

Great … just what I need…

I turn my head away to stare at the wall. "Nothing is wrong."

This seemed to irritate her and she grabbed hold of the collar of my exorcist uniform and brought my face close to hers. Her violet eyes full of anger as my dull blue ones just stared back in annoyance. "Like hell there isn't! We can tell there is! The Rin we know wouldn't shy away from us like that!"

I gritted my teeth together and I swatted her hands away from collar; glaring at her with defiant, angry eyes. "People change, Shura!"

She seemed to stare at me for a few moments; scanning me before coming to a conclusion. "No. Ya haven' changed…" She seemed to be thinking about how to word what she was saying before continuing. "…Yer just been stressin' a lot since … that day and took to alcohol, haven' ya?"

I turn to stare back at the wall again. It just seemed more interesting than the conversation we were currently having. It was smooth yet rough and cracks were going through it.

It was broken.

Heh...

Convenient much?

Kind of reminds me of ... well, me...

"Rin?" I turn back to face Shura, slightly and see her smiling face. "I get that work can get stressful. Why do ya think I drink?"

I blinked at this and swallowed; clenching my right pocket of my pants.

How could I tell her what I'd been doing?

Not just her … but Yukio too…

What would they think of me?

Would they see me as weak?

I can't bring myself to tell them…

"Yer've been so diligent lately it'd be good to see the old Rin back," she told me as she put her arm around me like she did after the mission.

Her boobs once more ... pressing up against my arm.

Ugh...

I may have been slightly used to them as a teen, but not now.

I'm used to a slightly smaller set of breasts hitting me before now.

I mean ... ahem...

She poked a finger at my cheek with a playful smirk on her lips. "Ya also seem to have grown into quite a hot young man, Rin, it's sad to see that potential go like that," Shura giggled in a high-pitched voice.

This made me turn a large shade of pink; brow once against furrowed to glare at her. "SHURA, I'M MARRIED AND I WAS YOUR STUDENT!" I shouted at her; shocked at what she said to me.

This just caused her to burst out laughing as she ended up patting me on the back. "There's the Rin I know; and I wouldn't actually bang an ex-student of mine anyway!"

This just caused confusion with a hint of disgust to etch itself onto my face as my brows scrunched up. However before I could ask Shura stretched out her arms and yawned. "Anyways, it looks like I was right. The staggerin' you have during missions is either from drinkin' or exhaustion from taking care of work overloads or those little brats of yours."

I was stunned.

How did she figure it out so quickly?

She's not as perceptive as Yukio, so how?

I looked away from her and sighed. "So that's what you wanted to know?"

"Yea. You seem really out of it on missions lately. You've been causing both me and Yukio some lot of worryin'." I swallowed when I heard my brother's name. "Tell him about this. We'll help you through it."

"Will I be able to get through this?" I asked her; fear gripping my form.

A laugh was my answer as I looked back at Shura and saw that she was holding her stomach and trying to supress anymore giggles. "That's what yer worried about? Drinking isn't the end of the world! I'd be more worried if ya were smoking!"

I fell silent and once again I turned my head away from her; hair covering my face. Shura stopped laughing and seemed to catch onto my change in mood as she eyed my movements; my right hand clenched my right pocket of my pants, tightly. This caused her to frown before she widened her eyes in realisation.

"Rin, you don't mean that yer…" I silently nod as a reply; too ashamed to respond. I jolted when she stood to her feet and glared down at me. "Does Yukio know about this?!"

I shook my head as a response to her question. "No. He doesn't. I don't want him to know…" I clenched my pocket tighter as I closed my eyes tightly as if trying to escape the reality of the situation I was in. "…that I'm like this right now."

"He has to know, Rin. He's yer brother. Ya can't keep this from him forever." I stared at the floor as Shura continued to lecture me; ending up with me zoning out. "…if ya don't tell him soon then I will!"

I look up at her in shock; eyes wide as hers glare back at mine. We were like that for a few moments before the sound of crying broke us from our staring contest. I looked over the couch backrest to the hallway before groaning and I got up off the couch, but was stopped by Shura. I looked at her, annoyed and exhausted.

"I think it's best if I take care of this. You call Yukio over so this is taken care of now," she explained as she headed down the hall. I watched her leave my sight and gulped, taking out my cell and typing in my brother's number.

What would he think when I tell him?

Would he hate me?

Would he be ashamed of me?

I bit my bottom lip as the cell rung.

I hope … he'd accept that I'm going through a hard time right now…

The Later Years

After I gave Yukio the call to come over because I needed to discuss 'something important' with him he said he'd be over no sooner than half an hour later. It was something important after all. If I hadn't said that then Yukio would've said to wait until morning when we met up at Headquarters.

It can't.

I have to know now.

He has to know now.

I sat at the dining table in the kitchen, twiddling my thumbs impatiently as I glanced at the clock every so often. Shura had done as she had said and settled my kids down and was now napping on my sofa due to a hangover.

My hands began to sweat and shake due to nervousness so much that they began to inch for my pocket. I quickly took out a small bottle from my left pocket, opened the lid and took a swig of it; downing the liquid inside in a few quick gulps. I closed the lid and put it back into my pocket as I heard my front door open and straightened my posture.

My brother walked into the kitchen a few moments after he had closed the front door and stared at me in surprise before seating himself across from me. "So what was this 'important thing' you needed to talk to me about, Rin?"

I swayed a little and shook my head; smiling at my brother.

Gosh, I hope he can't tell that I've been drinking.

Or smoking…

Well, I am going to tell him, but I don't want him to guess before I do.

I swallowed as the nervousness came back and I felt myself itching for another drink, but I stopped myself as Yukio was right in front of me and could see my every move. As my right hand grabbed to stop my left I noticed Yukio monitoring my movements like what Shura did before as if trying to figure out what was wrong with me.

"Rin, is something bothering you?" Yukio paused for a moment as if thinking about his next words. "I know things have been hard on you since Shiemi's passing, but I know you can do this."

I look down at the table at hearing his words of encouragement.

I've tried, but at the same time I haven't.

I've fallen harder than I could ever fall.

It's because of all this stress…

The kids, work, everything…

I needed some form of escape.

"Yukio, I'm sorry, but…" I bit my bottom lip as I lowered my arms to the pocket my bottle was in just in case I needed a relieve. "…I haven't really been trying all that much."

This answer caused a look of worry to cross Yukio's face and I noticed he nearly stood up to retort. "What do you mean?"

"I haven't been dealing very well as some might say."

Yukio stared at me.

He was silent.

He had no words as he stared at me; wide eyed.

He finally decided to speak after a minute or two; the shock fading and turning into a frown. "What is it then? Is it bad? Do you need psychological treatment for it?"

I chuckled at my brother's concerned yet panicked reaction and shook my head at him. "I'm pretty sure I don't need that kind of treatment."

This just caused him to frown at me.

I know he wanted to know.

It was obvious from the look he was giving me.

I sighed to myself and took out my cigarettes and the bottle of alcohol; earning a sharp gasp from my brother. He looked at me with concern and fear in his eyes and I gave him a weak smile; tired wrinkles under my eyes already were showing due to a lack of sleep. I really didn't want to get wrinkles at such an early age, but they'd probably go away once I get better sleep ... right?

"You were suffering this much behind the scenes because of..." Yukio couldn't finish so I decided to for him. "Yea. Everything basically. The twins, work; it all just got to me and ... I needed an escape for a little while." I gave my brother a wider smile to show him how sorry I was. "Sorry, little brother."

That's when I heard it.

A sniffle.

I looked at Yukio to see tears at the edges of his eyes as he tried his best to wipe them away from under his glasses. "Please, don't apologise. I should be the one apologising. I should've been able to tell something was wrong with you. That you were suffering."

Great.

He's blaming himself now.

Way to go, Rin.

It's his fault I'm doing this anyway.

...Who am I kidding it's not.

It's my own damn fault I'm this messed up in the first place...

It's not Yukio's.

It's my own.

"It's not your fault. I'm just ... really stressed out right now. I'll get better. I didn't tell you to avoid worrying you like this," I told my brother.

Yukio sniffed and blinked; rubbing his eyes and I noticed the small smile coming across his usually stoic face. "Is that why you've been avoiding me lately?"

I nodded at him as I lowered my head; a small smile still on my face. "Yea. You're my brother and I didn't want to worry you with my problems."

"Rin..." I looked up to Yukio at hearing his voice sound a lot calmer now and filled with concern. "...your my older twin brother, so your problems are mine too, got it? I'll always help you, so don't push me away because you don't want me to worry because I will anyway."

I stare at him for a moment as tears prick at my own eyes and a large smile spread across my face; larger than what had been on there in the past few months. "T...Thanks, Yukio!"

These stories don't all have to revolve around Rin. It takes place in the future. If you want to see some of the other characters futures just ask and I'll try and think up something. If you want to see more of Rin's kids I'd be glad to write more as I love writing them; either it be them as children or teens or older. Each story is like a story in itself of Rin's future life I think; only in an AUish way at times.

This is also a prequel to the previous chapter 'Story 4: Circle Game'. It connects to how Rin is dealing with Fatherhood and is having stressful problems because of it. The last chapter shows he's slightly better; only showing signs of exhaustion while here he's fallen to alcoholism and smoking due to the stressful workload, looking after his twin children and the recent death of his wife.

Also, if it's a bit rushed I had at first written this up on my iPad from an idea I had at night because I didn't want to wake up and realise it's gone. I then, rewrote it on word as good as I could. I didn't feel like continuously re-reading this to fix mistakes today; so if it feels rushed that's because I kinda did rush it though I did my best with it. I may look through it again and add more to it later when I feel up to it.

Anyways, hope you enjoyed!

D0A OUT!