Rin was in a really good mood while carrying the dishes to the sink, they had sukiyaki and sashimi for dinner to wish Yukio farewell. He enjoyed it as much as the first time he tried it when he was younger. Sukiyaki was his favorite and sashimi was Yukio's.
Everyone was on table talking and happy, there was a bit of nostalgia floating in the air but it was normal, Yukio would be going to True Cross Academy tomorrow morning to become a great doctor! While Rin was doing what he thought would be the last plate, Izumi brought to the sink a few more dishes and glasses. The dark-haired teen sent the blond monk an annoyed glare, he answered with just a smirk, shrugging, and returning to the dining table. Resigned but not letting this little mishap ruin his mood, Rin continued to do the dishes. He was really proud of Yukio, of course his little brother was gonna make it! he knew that since they were children, Yukio wanted to be a doctor. Yeah, he could be a crybaby «especially when they were little, heh» but he had the brain, the patience and the talent to achieve it, he could testify it with all the wounds that Yukio treated from the fights he got in, even if they weren't really severe.
He let out a sigh finishing the last glass.
He was going to miss his brother, so, better enjoy and pass time with him while he can, right?
Rin dried his hands to return to the farewell dinner. He could hear the old man, Izumi, Seishiro, Maruta, everyone, full, happy and congratulating Yukio. Rin was going to join them but in the corner of his eye, something weird, a soft white glow, caught his attention.
At first he thought it was his imagination but he saw it again, there was definitely something there. Now curious, he went to look at it.
As he was getting near he noticed the familiar scent of the incense that the old man and the others used for funerals, the scent was mixed with… flowers? It smelled like it. Rin was starting to feel something was out of place.
The soft glow and the scent guided him to the nave (where the people that come to the church listen to Mass), but what left Rin breathless and confused was that ahead, in front of the altar, there was a picture of the old man surrounded by white flowers and incense sticks that released smoke from their tips, as if they were recently burned.
« What?» Thought the blue eyed kid. He felt a shiver run down his spine and the hairs on the back of his neck raise «but… but the old man is in the dining room, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?! the old man wasn't… was he?»
He blinked.
Abruptly, like a slap to the face, he remembered everything, everything came to his mind at once, the old man death, the exorcist cram school, Yukio pointing a gun at him telling him that it was his fault that their dad died, and coldly saying that he should die, his classmates being afraid of him, avoiding him, telling him that he was dangerous, that those blue flames of his could kill.
Rin was speechless, and he couldn't take his eyes off the picture of his father, he was dead, yes, he knew, but then…
what was this place?
Was this even real?...
No… It couldn't be real; how else could his father be with them again?
A ton of emotions mixed inside of him, anger, sadness, pain, loneliness, grief.
What was this? Was someone mocking him, playing with his head just to have fun with his misery?
What a fucking and cruel joke.
He bared his teeth pissed, his eyes burned with the tears that were forming, but he didn't want them to fall, he didn't want to give whoever was doing this the satisfaction of seeing him suffer.
He just had ENOUGH.
If this was a stupid joke he wanted it to end, and he wanted it to end fucking NOW!
Rin felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned and of all people he could think it would be, it was the old man, his father. When did he get there? He didn't hear him.
—Rin? What are you doing here? Everyone is waiting for you — the old man asked as if his picture, the incense and the flowers weren't there. As if nothing was wrong.
In that instant Rin felt something inside of him break, he couldn't hold it anymore, he couldn't give a dam. Without thinking he embraced his dad tightly (but carefully, he knew he had to watch his strength) and he started to sob uncontrollably.
This wasn't real, he knew it, this wasn't real but still, it just felt like it. He could feel the old man's warmth, he could smell his scent, he could feel his father returning the embrace.
—Rin?
— I'm sorry… I'm… so so…rry— He whimpered between sobs, sniffs and hiccups, his face pressed against his father's chest
— Rin, what are you talking about?
Rin recovered his breathing a bit, tears still running down his checks, would it be ok to say more? He already said a lot and Shiro was obviously confused of what he was saying. He closed his eyes tightly once more, let his father free of the hug and took a deep breath, he needed to calm down to explain this.
— This isn't real, is it? you… you sacrificed yourself for me, you died for me, you saved me — it pained him to say it
His father wrapped him in his arms, they were hugging once again. Rin felt like he could stay like that forever. Then he could feel his father stroke his hair softly, he melted at the touch, he really missed him.
—Oh Rin— he kept stroking his hair— "T̸h̶i̶s̸ ̸ i̷͍̰̕͝s̸ ̶̥͍͖͇͇͛̚v ̶̥͍͖͇͇͛̚ȩ̶̓̈́̂r̵͔̗̂y r̸͖̕e̷͈͑͘ǎ̴͖l̵̙̕.̶͇́
Rin snapped his eyes open alarmed inhaling sharply, a shiver running once again down his spine, something wasn't right, he felt sharp nails from the hand stroking his hair and that wasn't his father voice now, he recognized that voice and he didn't like it one bit. He looked up and immediately pushed the man away. He should had known. Shiro, now with long and pointed ears, sharp fangs and nails, and blood red cat like pupils, cackled, really amused when he pushed him. Shiro… no, Satan, possessing his father's body, engulfed himself in bright and hot blue flames, just like the first time.
— What's the matter kid? Can't your papa give you a hug? — He asked amused, rounding his back backwards and raising the nose to the air cackling again
—YOU ARE NOT MY FATHER! — Rin yelled engulfing himself in flames, feeling the hot power and anger run through his veins.
— Just as pathetic as the first time! — Satan laughed pointing at him.
Suddenly Rin couldn't move, why?. What did Satan do?. He noticed his flames were still on. After the surprise and trying to move fruitlessly, he could only growl baring his teeth, his heart felt like it would explode from how fast it was beating, just like his emotions inside of him, he was done, he was enraged, and all he wanted to do was to end the fucker that killed his father, that caused all this pain, to his brother, the guys of the monastery, all the people that died in the Blue Night and their families.
THIS WAS ALL SATAN'S FAULT!.
The demon laughed in response.
— It's funny how dumb you are; you know? You are always saying that you are different from me, but if you would put attention you would see we are more alike than you think — Satan took a few steps forward approaching the enraged kid
— I'm nothing like you! — Rin spat, if Satan was going to kill him he wouldn't show fear.
— Oh, r̸͖̕e̷͈͑͘ǎ̴͖l̵̙̕l̵͕͛͗y̶͚̦̆̃.̴̞̤͌̀? — Satan asked venomously with a blood chilling smirk, he got close enough to grab Rin's chin and make him turn to look behind him
What Rin saw left him nauseous, and white as a sheet.
The place was burning, the blue flames consuming everything, but at the center of the fire, Izumi, Seishiro, Maruta, Kyodo, heck, even his classmates were there! Bon, Konekomaru, Shima, Shiemi, everyone! They all had letal wounds, they were dead, with an eternal and lifeless scared look in their eyes. Their skin was melting, like ice cream left in the sun, letting the bones be visible from the heath of the blue flames.
The smell of burnt flesh was suffocating him, he was gonna puke or pass out, maybe both. Blood was everywhere on the floor coming from the corpses, it was too much blood!
He felt lightheaded, his heart beating in his ears, he was shivering too.
What… happened to them?..
How?...
He couldn't process this; he couldn't process anything. He felt his legs giving up under his weight, he didn't resist it anymore and he stayed there kneeling in front of the bodies.
He heard a soft click a little above his head
«Huh? »
He raised his head. It was… Yukio? When did he get here? Did he survive?
It was his brother, yes, but what was he doing? He was… pointing… something… at him…
—You leave me no choice — said his little brother coldly. He was pointing a gun at his head
«What?»
— Told you you were dangerous brother
Rin found himself unable to talk
Dangerous?...
but I didn't...
It wasn't me! It was Sa…
Wait…
...Why are my hands wet?!
He looked down. His hands were covered in warm and fresh blood. What? He looked around, there was no one but Yukio, him and the corpses that were practically unrecognizable by now, their clothes had turn to ashes, and there was no skin left. Satan was nowhere to be found.
Did that mean?...
…. Did he really do this?
… Did…
...his flames…
cause this?...
He looked up to Yukio again, scared, confused. His brother didn't say anything, his eyes were cold as ice. Rin wanted to cry, he wanted to scream, anything! Did he really do this? Did he really just kill his friends and family?.
Yukio pulled the trigger. Rin didn't hear the shot, everything was white noise.
Rin woke up screaming, covered in cold sweat. He could still feel, smell the blood in his hands, in his arms! He had to GET IT OFF!SOMEONE PLEASE GET IT OFF!
He heard a voice but he didn't listen to what it was saying, he didn't care.
— ...D! KID! What you are seeing IS NOT REAL!
Huh?...
That made him pause.
He finally stopped and blinked.
What?
What was not real?.
He looked down, his arms were on fire and trembling. There was blood in his arms and hands, but it wasn't his friends and family blood (Thank god), it was his. He had scratched his arms.
— Kid can you hear me?
He looked at the man in front of him. His heart was racing, his breathing was labored, he was shivering… but yes he could hear whoever this person was. He gave a weak and clumsy nod.
— That's good, listen to me ok? Do as I say slowly, understand?
He nodded again
— Breath with me now, breath in
He followed the instruction
— Breath out — the stranger said after a few seconds. He obeyed.
— Good, again ok? Breath in…. breath out
His heart stopped hammering in his chest. He was exhausted. He lied down on the bed. Wait… Was he on a bed? Where was he?
— Easy there, dear, you sure did a number on yourself — said a female voice. It sounded eldery, kind even. It made Rin think of a grandma, but he was too tired to pay attention to the woman that was saying that.
— I'll bring some water— said the man, his voice sounded familiar...
Rin heard steps walk away. After a few minutes, the man got back with a glass of water
— Here.
Rin was offered the glass. He clumsily sat again and drank it all in a gulp. He was thankful for the water, his throat was dry, scratchy, sore and he was thirsty.
— Thanks — he answered with a hoarse voice while whipping his mouth with the back of his hand. He regretted it immediately as the scratches burned. He hissed. After returning the glass he finally put attention at the people beside him. Now he knew why the man sounded familiar, it was the same man on the alley! The man that had turned off his flames! He finally got a good look at him. He had messy black hair that reached his shoulders, pale skin, a scar underneath his right eye, a weird looking thin and white scarf that was around his neck and he looked really worn out and tired if those eyebags were something to go by.
Turns out the female voice came from a short, elderly woman that had her grey hair tied in a bun, and wore a doctor lab coat.
The doctor lab coat that the old lady was using, the look of the room, the smell of antiseptic… SHIT! was he in a hospital?! He had many questions and he was tired, but his thoughts were interrupted when the woman warmly said noticing his uneasiness, but maybe for the wrong reason
— Don't worry little one, you are in U.A. High you are not in any danger
He blinked, processing the information
« U…A High? Was this a school?»
— Now, how about we treat those scratches and then we let you rest a bit, shall we? — she added giving a glance to his hurted limbs