Chapter 2
Ryuuji was tired of seeing Rin in pain. Ever since the fight with Amaimon, the young half-demon had been hurting. Ryuuji knew he was to blame for some of that pain, but the sound of Rin's screams in the Keep, Rin's fear and self-loathing, it had all hit him harder than he thought it would. After the defeat of the Impure King, hell… even before then, when the pair rushed up the mountain to save Kyoto, Ryuuji made a promise to himself to help Rin through everything that may come. The half-demon was so selfless, giving and giving, expecting nothing in return, Ryuuji wanted to help him carry that burden. Ryuuji thought, maybe things would start looking up, as Rin lugged the group through Kyoto Tower. The silly picture at the end had made them all smile. Rin's smile the brightest, eyes alight, soaking up the good-natured teasing. It had been a good day. How he wished it had lasted forever.
A full body shudder ran through him. He could hear the choked panicked sounds Rin had made on the floor of the train in his head. The sound of his body hitting the floor. Yukio had moved with an almost super human speed, cradling Rin's head in his hands. The watch on Yukio's wrist counted past the five minute mark and he immediately instructing Shura to call for help. Yukio's hands trembled but his voice was surprisingly calm as told them it was called, "Status epilepticus", an endless seizure. The train had stopped at the nearest station and Rin was whisked away, Yukio staying with him.
Shura had taken the rest of them up to the hospital and now they waited. Yukio and Shura had gone back not too long ago. Ryuuji watching the door for anyone to come through. He didn't expect Yukio to come flying through the doors. The doors banging behind him as he pelted past. Their teacher's eyes were wild, too bright. Were those tears gathering in his teal eyes? Ryuuji's breath left him in a grunt as Rin's sword slammed into his chest. His hands cradled the blue sheath protectively, this was the second time in under a week someone had given him this important part of Rin.
Shiemi was shouting after Yukio, she stood to chase him but was stopped by Shura's voice. "Let him go. He will be back." But she sent a worried glance out the door.
"Did something happen to Rin?" Konekomaru's voice was soft. Ryuuji almost gave himself whiplash, turning to face Shura. His hands squeezed the sword. What if he's dead?
"He's alive." She said simply. A tense silence fell over them. Ryuuji didn't feel comforted by that fact when Yukio had looked so devastated.
"What is wrong with him?" Shiemi turned her shining green eyes on Shura. Shura seemed to deflate, the students eyes on her every breath.
"Rin is very sick. That's all you need to know right now. If Rin or Yukio want to tell you, they can." Shura, flipped her phone open and attempted to call Yukio.
"Can we see him?" Ryuuji found his voice for the first time since they came to the hospital. Shura huffed at the phone in frustration.
"Yeah. Luckily this is an Exorcist hospital so you can all come see him at once. Not as strict with rules." Shura shot one last worried look to the exit before leading them through the white halls. That's where the similarities of a normal hospital ended. The True Cross symbol hung from walls. Several of the walls had weapons, and pointed crosses hanging. High up on the walls, demon wards and prayers were scrawled in black ink. If things hadn't been so tense, he may have stopped to study the words. As it was, they hurried with a quiet urgency through the halls, passing endless doors. Izumo was pretending to hate the hand holding hers, Shiemi trotting along next to her. Konekomaru's eyes were brimming with unshed tears, almost pressed against Ryuuji's side. Shima brought up the rear, fidgeting with his phone, and glancing around. Ryuuji's hand was in his pocket, his fingers dancing over the prayer beads tucked safely away.
They stopped before a door that looked like any of the others. Shura didn't hesitate to open the door and peek inside. Her brow crinkled and her hand on the knob, tensed, knuckles whitening. She pushed the door open wider, herding the students in, a finger to her lips.
The room was cool, and dimly lit. The beep of a heart monitor was the only sound. The single bed in the room was occupied by a raven haired figure. His face was covered by a wet washcloth, two bags of fluids ran into an IV in his arm. His body trembled, even with a thick blanket pulled up to his chest.
Shura approached the bed, slowly. "Hey, Rin. Your friends are here."
His head tilted in her direction, his tail slithered out from under the bed covers and wrapped around her waist. Shura glared at the appendage with no real heat, stroking the fluff. Her other hand caressed Rin's raven locks.
"Okumura." Ryuuji's voice was quiet but he still winced at the rumble of his own voice. The others followed his lead, whispering gentle greetings to their quiet friend.
"I need to go." Shura said moments later. Her hand gripped her phone tighter and Ryuuji understood. She needed to find Yukio. She stepped away from Rin, gently unwrapping Rin's tail from her. Shiemi took her place at Rin's head, one hand tracing his hair, the other still clutching Izumo's hand. Ryuuji stepped around to the other side, seeing Rin's arm with the IV sticking out. The fingers on his hand were tinted purple/red, his frame shivering from the effects of the liquids dripping into his system.
Ryuuji couldn't even see Rin's face and he could hardly stand even this. Rin looked so tiny, dwarfed by the bed and equipment around him. Ryuuji's eyes flickered uneasily to the defibrillator sitting in a glass cabinet. Ryuuji's hand found itself resting over Rin's ice cold fingers. Rin's hand turned, soft fingers with callouses on the palm and fingers gripped Ryuuji like a lifeline.
A chair was pushed against his legs, finally forcing him to look to his classmates. Shima was setting chairs behind everyone, the pink haired boy him a sad smile. Ryuuji's eyes followed the boy as Shima stepped out of the room, "discreetly" wiping at his eyes. Shiemi was sitting at the head of Rin's bed. Izumo had Rin's tail around her arm. Konekomaru stood by the door, biting his lip. He looked from the door, to Rin and back again before he stepped closer and lifted his shirt up. Ryuuji choked on laughter as Kuro appeared from the depths of Konekomaru's shirt. Soft chuckles filled the air, lifting the tense atmosphere. Kuro mowed softly and Rin lifted his head weakly.
"Kuro?" Rin's voice was weak and hoarse but hearing his voice lifted Ryuuji's spirits. The cat demon trotted up to Rin's chest. Rin's hands moved, lifting away the cool cloth and petting the cat. Ryuuji's hands felt empty without Rin's.
Eyes, more muted than normal flitted around the room. His chapped lips lifted into a gentle smile. "I'm happy you're all here." A sigh passed his lips and his blue eyes closed, too weak to cling to consciousness. Izumo readjusted the cloth over Rin's face, the amount of care put into the movement was surprising.
What could cause Rin to be this way? Ryuuji almost didn't want to know. But he needed to know. And whatever it was… Rin had to pull through.
The door clicked open, Shiemi tried, poorly, to conceal Kuro but it was just Shima. The pink haired boy slinking into the room, his face troubled. He knew something that they didn't.