Chapter 6-

His footsteps echoed in the dark halls of his manor as he paced. He wasn't bothered by the tenebrosity of the late hour, his mind was far away. His slit-pupiled eyes vacant, flicking through timeline after timeline. He searched for a solution to this particular hurdle that had been thrown their way. He knew Rin Okumura was running out of time. That was easy for him to see. How could it not be obvious to the King of Death and Time?

"Oh the trouble you cause, little brother…" Mephisto's voice was mournful in the dark. In many timelines, Rin was the cause of monumental change.

"Anything yet, brother?" another figure spoke, making him wince from the echo overhead. Mephisto grit his teeth as his green haired brother leapt down from the top of a chandelier, making it rattle and groan.

"No. I have seen many timeline endings. None will fare well for our littlest brothers."

"Brothers?" Amaimon wondered aloud. He stepped into the dim light of the moon, his long emerald serpentine tail dragged against the marble floor, creating a haunting symphony with the chandelier above them. Mephisto appreciated the relaxed stance of the other demon, it helped settle his own raging thoughts.

"Yukio Okumura, his life is in the balance as well." Mephisto glanced over the Earth King speculatively. "Things will begin to heat up soon. A war is coming, and our most important players' lives are in the hands of The Fates."

Mephisto sighed, conjuring an hourglass. The golden colored sand reflected on the demons' eyes and faces as they contemplated the shifting. "We have months."

Rin awoke to a dark room and a warm weight on his stomach. A figure knelt on the floor, bathed in moonlight. The glistening silver piercings and bright blonde streak a give away as to who he was looking at. He could tell anyway, because a deep familiar voice was murmuring a… prayer?

"Nam-myoho-renge-kyo*" fell from his lips in a passionate wave. Rin didn't know what he was doing but it was soothing. Rin didn't want to disturb him but Kuro on his stomach made him need to get up. He shuffled the blankets and watched, mildly disappointed as Ryuuji stopped chanting and turned to him.

"Rin, how are you feeling?" Ryuuji's voice was a low rumble. The sound made Rin's cheeks feel hot in the cool room.

"Mmm… I need to go to the bathroom." Rin admitted.

"Ok. Here," Ryuuji leaned over and lifted Kuro off Rin's lap. "You need help?"

"No, I'm ok." Rin stood, trying to hide the way his legs trembled. "Where's Yukio?"

"Downstairs. I need to talk to you." Ryuuji seemed anxious. It set Rin's own anxiety off and he peered nervously in the dim light at the other boy.

"What about?" Rin almost didn't want to know… did he do something wrong again?

"Nothing bad. Let's get you to the bathroom first."

After Rin took care of his needs, he found himself sitting across from Ryuuji on his bed. The soft chirp of a cricket and their anxious breaths the only sounds in the night. Bon was fiddling with his beads, not meeting Rin's eyes.

"Soooooo…" Rin began, he made a conscious effort to ignore the urge to fall back to sleep.

"Rin, I know the timing is horrible but… well… I've managed to develop feelings for you. I have even before all this happened." He paused, then scoffed. "That sounds so lame." He scrubbed a hand over his eyes. Rin leaned forward anxiously. Ryuuji looked up and met his eyes, the dark eyes looking darker in the dim light. "I really like you. And I'd like to explore a relationship with you… if you will accept."

"Like a boyfriend?" Rin sounded delighted, the moon light reflecting off his eyes and teeth.

That wasn't the reaction Ryuuji was expecting. "Yes?"

"I've never had a boyfriend before!" Rin was beaming. "Sure! I think it would be fun!"

A part of Ryuuji knew what Yukio meant now. Rin didn't seem the least bit concerned about anything. He wasn't even blushing! Ryuuji jumped when a silken tail roped his arm.

"Rin. Think this through at least!" Ryuuji tried to reason with him. Don't get him wrong, he was thrilled to hear Rin accepting his feelings but he wanted to be sure that Rin understood.

Rin laid back down, and with a shrug he began to blow Ryuuji's mind once again. "I know. And you are smart enough to know. I'm pretty much doomed unless something works for me. I'm probably going to die." Rin puffed out a breath of air as he stared listlessly up at the ceiling.

"Either by my own body, the Vatican, or someone else that may want me dead. Why not allow myself to be happy and have something else to hold on and fight for?"

Ryuuji hummed a weak response, his mouth was dry, scared for what could lie ahead. Rin's tail tugged him down and he laid hesitantly with Rin, his hand carding through the soft raven locks. Rin's warm body was pressed against his own, as he fell into a heavy sleep. The moon outside cast a glow against the clouds gathering, the weather was set to change soon.

For now, the world was peaceful. In the silence of the night, Ryuuji began to pray over Rin silently. Soon after he began, he was frantically calling Yukio as Rin's nose began weeping blood.

Rin was so happy to be back in the dorms but he was tired of the hovering. Everyone, including Kuro, insisted on keeping one person with him at all times. Yukio gave Rin his ever growing pile of medications, and played doctor. Rin couldn't even bathe without someone coming to check on him. He wanted his life back.

His saving grace turned out to be his new boyfriend. Ryuuji Suguro. Rin certainly hadn't seen that one coming. After Shiemi turned Rin down in Kyoto, Rin had put all thought of romance out of his head for a bit. He knew he had a small crush (ok a big one) on the other boy but he never even considered asking him. When Rin found out about his newest threat, he had figured he would be once again fighting alone.

Ryuuji had held him that first night, not flinching away from Rin's blood. Rin had allowed himself to actually picture a life that didn't end in three to six months, as he was wrapped in the strong arms. Maybe Rin could go on to become Paladin and defeat Satan with Yukio and Ryuuji at his side. But even if he didn't make it that far, Rin was happy and that's what mattered, right?

Rin hadn't been allowed to return to classes just yet, which made Rin stress over the approaching deadline for the Exorcist Exam. Ryuuji stayed with Rin as much as he could throughout the day, and tutored the half-demon in the evenings. The rest of his friends assisted him in their specific strong points.

Yukio had retracted from Rin somewhat, Rin wanted to talk to Yukio but he was never around anymore. He gave Rin his medicine and left as quickly as Renzo had been.

Rin had been doing surprisingly well. Mephisto had given the class a series of missions that Rin was allowed to partake in as long as he stayed close to Shura or Yukio. Ryuuji's lips twitched at the memory of everyone putting skirts on and getting their hair done up. Rin had looked better than everyone else there.

Rin had only just begun to fall apart once again. Rin's bad days hit them hard. Rin couldn't hide the fact that it felt really nice when someone would sit and hold his hand through the days when he was in too much pain to move.

He had never experienced a migraine before and it was agony. His vision was splotchy, his ears were ringing, his whole body throbbed, his own heartbeat too loud. Lately, Rin's greatest enemy was body aches and a lingering fever. The doctors had insisted on starting chemotherapy immediately, and Yukio had urged them on.

Ryuuji was clutching his hand, reading a textbook for one of their Cram Classes aloud to him, and Rin tried to focus on Ryuuji's face as he spoke. The words washed over him endlessly. It was a lot to take in, and soon his gaze wandered. Rin wearily listened, his eyes focused on the liquid dripping from the IV and into his chest port. It was his first day of chemotherapy and they were two hours into the treatment.

Rin could feel the discomfort sinking its claws into him. His stomach started to twist, acid tickled the back of his throat. He was already trembling, he curled onto his side with a whimper. A warm set of lips pressed to his temple and Rin shut his eyes tight against the nausea.

"You're going to be ok." Ryuuji whispered. "Just hang in there." He set the book down and gave his full attention to the small half-demon. Ryuuji wouldn't admit it aloud but he was stricken with terror for his new found boyfriend. He continued providing as much support as he could as the half-demon hid his face in his shaking hands. Ryuuji wasn't sure what else he could do for Rin when he was in such a fragile state. He retrieved a cool damp cloth and draped it over Rin's face. The young half-demon whined, shivering but he was so hot. Ryuuji could see the beginnings of steam coming off the cloth. Rin cried out, his frantic gaze turned to Ryuuji and he brought out the carefully placed bucket.

Yukio was slumped on the floor of the hospital, right outside Rin's room. He could hear Suguro reading and the bustle of the hospital around him.

He peered up at the door to the room, contemplating for not the first time if he should go in. But no. He shook his head, dropping his eyes to his white knuckled hands. He ignored the way they trembled. He couldn't do it. He couldn't let this be happening in the first place.

A fat green hamster slipped out from under the door, scurrying down the hall. He watched it go, his thoughts turbulent.

Save him.

How? How was he supposed to save him from this?

Yukio winced when he heard Rin retching from behind the closed door. He stood as Rin gagged, hand grasping the handle.

He opened the door a sliver and peered inside. Suguro was holding Rin up as he trembled violently. His hands were clenched around a bucket, head hanging low and tears making tracks on his face. Suguro wiped away the mess on Rin's face with a small towel. Yukio slid the door back into place silently, breathing ragged.

God, help us. Yukio prayed, but would God be on the side of a demon? Yukio swept swiftly away, his white coat felt extra heavy. He had gotten his wish, he was practically a doctor now. That gave him clearance to Rin's drawn blood, medicine, and files. He planned to use it.

His determination blinded him as he didn't see the figure hidden in a supply closet stepping out to follow behind him silent as a ghost.

Back in the hospital room, Ryuuji was out of his league. Rin was in tears, his trembling hand holding Ryuuji's. Ryuuji had looked out the door for Yukio, hoping to get Rin more help than what he could provide. But it was in vain. Yukio was nowhere to be seen and Rin was miserable.

"Where are you, Yukio?"