Ok so this is the next chapter!

Thank you for all your reviews/follows/favorites!

See, I said I'd update soon! And hopefully this is a nice long, dramatic chapter for all of you!

ShadowWolf13 asked: Hey there. Nice story! Just one question: Why are neither Yukio nor Shiro concerned about the fact, that Rin knew Amaimons Name? I thought they would be at least a little bit shocked...

Answer: They kind of figured Amaimon shared it with him.

Ok, I think that's all the questions, sorry if I didn't answer yours!

Onto the chapter!

Shiro smiled as he clasped his hand on Yukio's shoulder. "Stay safe out there, ok?"

"You're acting as if I'm going in unprepared." Yukio huffed and rolled his eyes. "I know what I'm doing, Shiro. Not only that, but I'm the one who has been preparing this trip."

"Still, who knows what could happen." Shiro laughed, but in reality he was worried because he just had a bad feeling.

Something seemed to allude to the fact that something bad was going to happen today. Shiro didn't know what exactly, he would be amazed if he already did, but he just knew that something was coming and it almost seemed as if there would be nothing to stop it. It was a little funny as well, seeing as almost a week ago he and Yukio had been worried about this same feeling ever since the run in with Amaimon. Even now, when he looked at the younger exorcist before him, Shiro knew Yukio was feeling the same as he was.

"Don't worry, old man." Shiro's train of thought was cut off by Shura's voice and he watched as she threw an arm over Yukio's shoulder. "The kid's gonna be with me. We'll be fine! Don't worry your gray colored head over this."

Shiro frowned. "I don't know, you seem to make me think that the kids will be in even more danger with you going."

"Oi!" Shura protested, getting a chuckle out of the two men besides her.

"You'll be back soon, right?" Rin spoke up from where he was standing next to Shiro. In his arms he held Kuro, who was rubbing his head against Rin's cheek in a comforting gesture.

Yukio gave a smile and knelt down so he could look his brother in the eyes. "Of course I will. Don't worry, this is only going to be for about two, maybe three nights depending on how things go." Yukio reached out to ruffle his brother's hair. "Don't worry so much, or else you'll get gray hair like dad."

"Hey!" Shiro shouted in protest to that statement, which only made Shura laugh in return, enjoying the fact that it was now Shiro being picked on.

"Ok," Rin mumbled. "It will be weird without you here."

"It won't be that different from when I left for True Cross before you came here, right?" Yukio asked. "I mean, you must have been very brave then, so you'll be even braver now."

Rin puffed out his chest a bit. "Of course! I just said it would be weird without you! I never said I was scared Nii-san! Dad might be scared, but I'm not!"

Yukio laughed. "I can see that! So, you'll be alright for a few days without me. Stay safe, alright?"

Rin pouted. "I'm not the one going camping."

"True!" Yukio laughed as he stood up. "Alright, I need to be going so that way I can be read for when my club members arrive." With one last wave, Yukio and Shura left the dorm building.

Rin watched the door close, biting his lip as he worried about his brother. Sure, he knew he'd be fine, but Rin didn't like the idea of his brother being out in the wild for a long time even if he was told that they were simply going camping.

Rin turned around and scurried up the stairs with Shiro staring up after him before he vanished into one of the living room areas. Shiro figured that Rin was going to go watch Yukio for a long as he could from one of the higher up window, something he had done when Yukio had originally left for the academy, and would come down once he felt like it.

Meanwhile, Rin had reached his room and, after taking a glance out the window to see if he could see Yukio (Which he couldn't), Rin dug around in one of his drawers to pull out the rock Astaroth had given him to call him. Rin hadn't been able to talk with Astaroth since the event at Mephy Land and, even though he really wanted to tell his friend about meeting Amaimon, he knew better then to try when his dad and brother were still watching him non-stop. Now, Rin didn't mind that he got to spend so much time with his family, but there were times when the two of them were just being ridiculous to him.

But now, Rin could finally talk to Astaroth again. Not only have both Shiro and Yukio calmed down in terms of watching him, but Yukio has left for three days so he has one less person to sneak around. Honestly, Yukio leaving is bittersweet for Rin because, even though he misses his brother, now he has a better chance to contact Astaroth.

Grabbing the rock and rushing out of his room, Rin dashed through the building to find a perfect room to meet with Astaroth in. Once finding it, he opened the window and poked his head out and looked for the piece of paper, a seal if he remembers what Astaroth told him, and plucked it off once he found it. After placing the paper down, he shook his hand a bit due to the uncomfortable tingling feeling he felt when he grabbed it. The feeling had been steadily growing stronger whenever he has to touch one, and it was beginning to range in the area of uncomfortable.

Shaking the thought from his mind, Rin brought the rock to his lips and mumbled, "Astaroth."

Astaroth smiled as the coal tar came flying towards him. The smirk upon his lips clearly showed that he knew this was coming despite the fact that it had been over a week since his last contact with his youngest brother.

"About time." He huffed. He was getting tired of waiting, and he was not referring to talking to Rin again. No, what he was referring to the fact that today would be the day he would find that damned sword that was keeping his brother locked away and, hopefully, letting his brother finally know what he really was.

"I've got to admit, I didn't think Sammy would help out so much." Astaroth laughed. "Even Amaimon seems excited to play his part." Taking a deep breath, he turned his gaze to the demons of rot standing before him. "Alright, you know what to do. Find that sword!."

With that he turned his attention to the coal tar and followed it to the room he would be meeting his brother in once again.

"Alright, that was very good!" Yukio smiled at his students, hands on his hips as he looked down at their panting forms. They all just had to locate peg lantern demons located throughout the forest and bring them here, each having possessed large, stone peg lanterns. He had to give each of them credit for getting them here. "Each of you can have a few minutes of a break before we move onto the next

part of this camp."

Protesting groans reached his ears but he ignored them just as much as he was ignoring the drunk Shura in the corner near one of the tents. Honestly, he was amazed he had trusted her so much in regards to aiding in watching his brother over the past few days. I mean, sure Rin shared his fair share of tales about her...attitude during the time she would be with him, but it was not as horrible and scarring as Yukio was sure she was going to cause.

Then again, he did get through living with Shiro.

A sudden sound caught his attention and Yukio turned his gaze to the protective ward's edge around their camp site. His eyes could not make out anything beyond the trees and bushes on that side of the border, and as he tried to peer in closer another sound came from behind him. Whipping his head around, Yukio watched that side of the border this time, his hand reaching for one of his pistols. All around the border now there seemed to be a rustling sound. It was as if something was moving quickly from one part of the surrounding forest to another.

By this point, Shura and the exwires had caught on as well and they were each slowly moving into a defensive position.

"So, are we already going into the next test?" Shima spoke up, his voice trembling within his attempt at a carefree tone.

Yukio didn't reply, his sharp eyes darting around as he attempts to keep sight of where the disturbance was within the forest. The moment he believed he figured out the pattern of whatever it was that was playing with them, Yukio swiftly pulled out his gun and shot a bullet towards the direction of the next movement.

The rustling suddenly stopped, but there was no other sign of Yukio hitting something beyond the now silence. Everyone within the campsite seemed to be holding their breath as they awaited for any sign of just anything.

"Well that was rude." A voice suddenly pouted from behind them, turning their gazes away from where Yukio had shot the bullet. Yukio's own eyes widened at the voice, recognizing it very well as of last week.

Before their eyes, the Demon King of Earth stood right outside of the border with a pout on his face.

He tilted his head at them, green eyes staring each of them down. "But, I guess that made it a little more interesting. I thought you would all just stand there, but one of you decided to play."

Yukio growled and leveled his gun with the demon as he heard Shura pulling out her sword. "Stay back."

Amaimon hummed. "I could. I was only told to keep you here, not if I had to actually play a game with you weaklings or not."

"Wha-"

"Ahh...but I should at least see if you can do anything entertaining, or else it will be very boring for me just keeping you in that circle." His eyes trailed over to the exwires. "Maybe a game of capture the flag or hide and seek?"

A gunshot sounded out as bullet flew past Amaimon, the Demon King having quickly dodged the bullet when he saw it coming. "Don't you dare touch my students!"

"Oh, you mean…" There was a flash of movement before Konekomaru suddenly cried out in the stillness and shattering of the ward. Whipping towards the cry, they all stared in horror as Amaimon's hand crushed the teen's arm in his grip. "Like this? It's such a shame that humans are so fragile."

"Oi, let him go bastard!" Suguro shouted at him, watching as both Shura and Yukio attacked the Demon King, only for him to once again avoid their attacks and dragged Konekomaru along with him, the boy crying out from the movement.

Shima joined in attacking only to get a swift kick in the gut and pushed out of the way. A vine erupted from the ground before Amaimon, attacking with a multitude of vines that made Amaimon finally drop Konekomaru, though whether it was actually due to the attack or his own chose could not be figured out.

Amaimon swiftly dodged the vines, only to feel sharp blades of air suddenly pass him by, one managing to graze him. He narrowed his eyes at the cut in his sleeve before looking up at Shura.

"Hmmm...at least one of you is not weak." Amaimon hummed. His pointed ears caught the sound of muttering and turned to see Suguro reciting a verse, one no doubt in hopes of doing some sort of attack or binding. Amaimon scoffed at the verses, knowing that there was no way for this teen to either know his verse or have enough power to bind him. However, he will admit the words were annoying his ears just enough that he felt the need to silence the boy.

The Demon King of Earth charged at the exwire, only to be intercepted once again by vines and bullets. He quickly turned his gaze to glare at the small greenman that was sitting within the blonde girl's hands. The earth demon squeaked and quivered at the sight of its king glaring at it, the vine it created quickly shrivelling. A growl caught his attention this time, ignoring the girl attempting to sooth the greenman, and found two byakkos before him. When the two demon's charged at him, Amaimon was quick to grab both of them by either their necks or their tails, and swiftly throwing them away from the battle ground. It was amusing to him that these demons thought they could take on a Demon King like himself, no matter how dedicated they were to their masters.

More bullets shot past him, however a few were able to graze him, just as he dodged the slash of a sword as well. He could hear the charging of the byakkos again and once again grabbed them. However, this time he aimed his throws at the teen still chanting, trying but failing to find a way to affect Amaimon by his chants. Amaimon laughed when the demons came in contact with the teen, all three of them flying a bit further from the impact point due to the force of the throw.

Dodging another swing of the blade, he turned to look at the female exorcist, boredom once more returning to his face. Continuing to doge her swings as well as the occasional bullet shot his way, Amaimon spoke again. "You're helping in hiding our otouto, right? That's not very nice of you."

"Yeah?" Shura huffed, moving as fast as she could to keep up with the demon. "Well, I don't think you're one to judge, seeing as you've just decided to attack our students like this!"

"Hmmm, to you." Amaimon hummed. "But I was asked to do this. No one asked for you to steal our otouto." Suddenly striking out, his foot connected with her side and flung her across the ground.

Amaimon then turned his attention to Yukio. "I don't like you even more though. You stopped my game with my otouto." Amaimon then flew forward, claws flashing in warning.

Yukio jerked back from the attack, the sharp nails just grazing his face enough to leave a few shallow cuts. At the same time, Yukio raised one of his pistols and took a shot directly in Amaimon's stomach. The Demon King grunted from the impact, but was quick to shake it off, sending his own hit in return. With a chop of his hand, Yukio felt one of his arms shatter from the impact. Dropping that gun, Yukio was quick to jump out of range of the demon, firing bullets as he went, getting a few lucky shots in yet none of them seeming to have any lasting impact on the demon despite the few drops of blood that have now stained the ground.

Shura suddenly came back from where she was thrown, he blade getting a strike along Amaimon's back. The Demon King of Earth jerked from the impact, but it wasn't long before the cut began to heal. He spun around and swiped his talons at her. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see the exwires, or at least the ones who could still fight, getting up to help and was quick to use the earth to his advantage. Some were swallowed up by the ground beneath them while rocks rained down upon the others.

He heard the two exorcists curse at his actions and quickly used their distractions. He grabbed the wrist of the woman when she got close enough and twisted, making her cry out before he threw her once again across the battlefield and into a tree. As for the fake brother, Amaimon raced forward and kicked out, knocking the male fall to the ground with a grunt.

Standing up straight, Amaimon hummed as he observed the surroundings. All of his playmates, if he could even call them that, were panting for breath and gasping in pain. As for himself, he just dully looked down at the rips in his outfit, a sweat not having even broken out on him. Sure, the exorcists had gotten a few hits in there, but they felt no more than a few itches.

"Aw, I had hoped there would have been a bit more entertainment in this. Oh well, I guess I should have expected this from humans-" He cut off when footsteps reached his ears from the dirt. His eyes narrowed at the figure entering the fight. "I wasn't told I would play with you."

"Come now, I must put up more entertainment than everyone else." Shiro said, raising an eyebrow. He knew that the rest of the forces from True Cross would be behind him soon. He doubted he'd be able to restrain the Demon King, but he was the best chance at weakening him between all other exorcists.

"I guess." Amaimon sighed. "But big brother might get mad if I fight you." He seemed to think about this for a few seconds, and Shiro took that chance to get one of his own guns out. Amaimon's gaze shot to the weapon and he huffed. "No, I'm ok. Besides, if you're here, then it can't be long now. Bye, bye."

Shiro watched Amaimon suddenly leave, unable to follow him. The sound of his fellow exorcists coming up behind him snapped his attention back to the students and their injuries.

"Attend to the students! Quickly!" He shouted, his own attention falling on Yukio and Shura. "What happened?"

"I honestly couldn't tell you, old man." Shura huffed as she worked her way over to him, with Yukio doing a similar thing. Both cradled their broken limbs to their chests. "Don't really know why a Demon King suddenly decided to just attack us."

"He mentioned something about keeping us here." Yukio gritted out as a doctor came over to help with his arm, trying to keep the injured limb from moving too much. "He said he didn't have to attack us, but he did."

"But that doesn't explain why he would just decided to bother with a few exwires." Shiro explained, frowning even more. "Despite how they tend to act at times, Demon Kings usually do things with a purpose. In Amaimon's case, I doubt he would bother exwires for some entertainment."

"Rin!" Yukio suddenly gasped, eyes widening as he looked between the two older exorcists. "This is about Rin!"

"The kid?" Shura questioned?

"Yes! It's why he said he had to distract us! Its-gah!" He gasped in pain when he suddenly moved his injured arm too sharply but was quick to continue on. "It's why he mentioned his otouto to us! He was talking about Rin!"

"But why deal with us if he wants the kid?"

"He said he was keeping us here, so Amaimon might not be the one targeting Rin directly." Yukio said, distress painting his voice and he looked directly at Shiro. "Because a Demon King was attacking, the Paladin was forced to come here, which got you away from Rin. Where is Rin?"

"He should still be at the dorm." Shiro said, catching on to what Yukio was implying. "Kuro's watching over him, but if the demon's are planning something, I have a feeling we need to start moving. Shura stay with the students!" He wasn't even finished before he started running away from the battle scene, determination within his steps. Yukio was quick to follow, ignoring his current wounds in favor of reaching his brother as quickly as possible.

Shura stared after them, wanting to go along with them but knowing she needed to stay to deal with this part of the situation and to try to keep any of the other exorcists from following the two. The last thing they needed was for the Order to pick up on Rin.

Laughter filled the air of the dorm room.

"So he really let you get a hit in?" Astaroth asked, a smile spreading his lips wide.

"No!" Rin huffed. "I got it myself!"

"Of course, of course!" Astaroth apologized despite knowing full well that Amaimon had completely let his brother get a pounce in there since Rin would have know way of winning a game against Amaimon, not when it was his first time and he wasn't even awakened yet.

"Amaimon was so much fun to play with!" Rin continued, these words being said for the nth time. "Was that how demon's play?"

Astaroth hummed. "Well, you played a very toned down version, but yes."

"Toned down!?" Rin whined. "But I can play it full out! Watch! I bet I can!"

"Sure, after some time maybe, but it was your first time playing."

"I guess." A sudden crash from outside caught Rin's attention, his ears twitching, and he turned to look at the door to the room. "Did you hear that?"

"I'm sure it's fine." Astaroth tried to sooth the child. He knew what the sound was. It was that damn cat sidth no doubt taking out his demon's in their search for the sword.

"But what if something's broken?" Rin worried, about to stand up only for Astaroth to stop him once again.

"Trust me, I'm sure it was nothing of importance." Astaroth said.

"How do you know?"

"I'm sure if it was something really important, than your dad or brother would call for you, right?"

Rin bit his lip. "I guess."

As Astaroth was about to speak again, shots suddenly rang out and two voices were calling out in worry. "Rin! Rin, where are you?! Rin!"

"It's bad!" Rin cried, pulling away from Astaroth and dashing out the door, calling back.

Astaroth watched him go, eyes remaining on the open door for a while before he sighed. "Times, up I guess." With that he walked out the door, going to search for the sword himself.

Shiro and Yukio barged into the dorm building, calling for Rin as their worry had only increased when they found Kuro fighting off hordes of rot demons. They heard Rin call back, and they quickly ran to the stairs when they saw Rin racing down them.

"Rin! Oh my lord! Are you alright?! Are you hurt?!" Both Yukio and Shiro fussed over the eight-year-old, who had paused when he saw them only to get tears in his eyes.

"Nii-san! What happened?! Why are you hurt?!"

"Don't worry about me Rin-"

"-did you get into a fight?! Nii-san-!"

"No, nothing like that Rin-"

"-Why is your arm wrapped up?! Why do you have cuts on your face?!-"

"-its really nothing, I just want to make sure you're ok, Rin-"

"-was the mean demons wasn't it! They hurt you because they're mean!"

Those words made silence fall upon the three males. Yukio and Shiro stared at Rin in horror, both of them taking an unconscious step away from the teary-eyed boy.

"...What are you talking about, Rin?" Yukio asked, his voice trembling.

"No! You know what I'm talking about! I know you do!" Rin cried, shaking his head.

"Rin, what do you mean by demons?" Shiro demanded.

"The demons! The ones from Gehenna! I know you didn't want me to know but I know now and I know that you know about the demons so why are you acting like you don't know!?" Rin cried, sniffling a little when he saw his family still looking at him with wide eyes.

"Rin-"

"No! Don't lie to me again!" Rin stomped his foot, gritting his teeth. " I know you know about demons!"

"How-" Just as Yukio was about to speak, Kuro growled from where they appeared behind them and a voice spoke from the stairs.

"Come, now. It shouldn't be that hard to figure out."

Shiro glared up at the Demon King. "Astaroth-!"

Rin, however, cut him off with his own cry. "Astaroth! They don't believe me!"

"Well, it's to be expected." The Demon King sighed. "After all, they did tory to hide all of this from you."

"Rin, get behind me." Yukio said, prompting a laugh from Astaroth.

"What? Why?" Rin asked, confusion covering his face. "Astaroth is my friend. He won't do anything, he's not like the mean demons."

"No, Rin, he's been playing you just to get close to you."

Astaroth scoffed. "I have done no such thing. I have only educated the boy in the things he should know that you refused to tell him!"

"To keep him safe!"

"As if! He's so sick and you can't see it due to your delusions!" Astaroth growled. "He should have never been raised with the likes of you!"

"And let him be raised in a life of being hunted down?!"

"We would never let harm come to him! You're the ones who have been keeping him on the edge of illness! Speaking of," Astaroth let one of his hands come out from behind his back showing the sword in his grip. "You've got some powerful seals on this thing, don't you?"

"Put that down!" Yukio shouted, raising his pistol with his good arm.

"Nii-san what-!?" Rin stared up in fright at the weapon in his brother's hand.

"Oh, I'm so scared." Astaroth mocked. "As if! I'm not giving this up, not when I have the chance to help my brother!"

"How are you helping him?! You'll make him a target for the Order!"

"Oh, because that is much worse than being unable to fully develop and being so sick when his blood attempts to fix that!"

"It's because of his blood that this is happening!" Yukio growled. "If Rin wasn't the son of Satan, he could be living a healthy, normal life!"

"What?"

They snapped their eyes over to look at the boy they were speaking of. His blue eyes were wide, flickering between all of them with confusion and hurt in their depths.

"I...I'm the son of Satan?" Rin's voice came out as a whisper, his body shaking. He focused on Astaroth. "Why...why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted to, and I was going to, but...I didn't want to overwhelm you." The Demon King replied just as softly.

"You...you didn't tell me, none of you told me." Rin shakily said, looking at everyone once again. "You...you all lied to me! And...and you all want to hide me, or change me, or yell at each other! Why didn't you tell me!?"

"Rin, we were trying to protect you the best way we could." Shiro said softly, trying to calm the boy down.

"By hiding everything?!"

"Rin-" Shiro went to reach for him when Rin suddenly flinched back and blue flames sparked along his arms. Everyone froze at the sight and Rin stared down at the flames, eyes wide and in shock, before he looked back up to the others in fear. Backing up, trembling, the half-demon spun and shot out the open front door, not wanting to see any of the other three as his emotions ran wild.

"Rin!"

"Shit!"

"Come back!"

Rin ran.

He didn't know where he was going, but he knew he just needed to get away. Everything was too confusing, nothing was making sense to him. Both his father and brother, as well as Astaroth-who is his brother as well?-lied to him. They hid things, trying to make him oblivious, or told him things to change him.

Did they want him human? Demon? But was he either? His dad and Yukio didn't want him to know about demons, to know about himself, so did they not really want him if he showed his demon side? That thought made even more tears build up in his eyes and a sob forced its way from his throat. He didn't know, so he kept running. Nothing was making sense and the emotions were so overpowering that he just let himself drown in them.

His arms still glowed with blue flames, but they flickered weakly. A cough suddenly wormed its way into his chest and eventually tore its way out. He hacked, hands reaching up to grab his chest. The coughing wouldn't stop, if anything it just continued to get worse. Eventually his weak body fell to the ground as he tried to catch his breath, tears still streaming down his face.

Footsteps neared his fallen form, having sped up when they no doubt saw Rin, but Rin could barely move to look at whoever it was. He knew he should be worried, but as the person drew nearer, that comfortable feeling he had in his chest whenever he had been with Yukio or Astaroth or Amaimon appeared, so he wasn't scared.

The footsteps stopped besides him and he felt the person kneel down as arms fell upon his shoulders, very lightly as though they were afraid to cause more discomfort to the boy.

"Oh dear! Oh my Gehenna! They just do not know how to handle a child! I swear if you asked me, they would have caused this a long time ago if they hadn't somehow learned the art of subtlety. Honestly! You would think Astaroth would know better, especially since he's been watching over you since he was able to locate you! I ought to give him another scolding! Honestly, he can be as bad as Iblis is with his temper sometimes! And why would you want to model yourself off of that imbecile! He is the least subtle person out of all of us!"

Rin let out a weak whimper, which pulled the person from their rantings.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Rin was pulled into their arms and cradled against their chest. "Sh, sh. Don't worry, I've got you. Big brother's got you now."

So that was that! Who do you think that was at the end? I wonder if any of you can guess it correctly.

Anywho feel free to comment, ask questions, etc.

Until next time! :D