This particular talent Rin always had but it did not become apparent until he was working in a group. He always seemed to know if someone was in trouble or even if they were overly stressed out. Everyone labeled him a troublemaker but no one ever questioned how Rin always found those rotten humans.

He went out of his way to avoid other people. He never socialized or gossiped with other children or joined any kind of group. So how did he know who was bad news. He tried explaining once to Shiro "not exactly a smell, but something close" he would try but Shiro did not understand and laughed it off as an overactive imagination.

He just Knew when evil was close and he felt he had to do something to stop it. It was simple in the boy's mind. Shiro taught him to follow what he believed was right, so why would he lecture him all the time fighting. He could always seem to find Yukio whenever he was upset. The younger twin found it impossible to escape his brother to cry. This came especially in handy when Yukio was bullied on his way home school. Distanced never seemed to matter either. If Yukio was having a bad day even in middle school, Rin would always appear at lunch. Rin left his brother alone the rest of the time but always knew when he was needed.

Yukio asked about it once but Rin just grinned and said it was his "big brother super power." That was the closest thing to a straight answer Yukio ever got. Eventually he stopped asking and just accepted the facts of his big brother's "power." This mysterious power followed Rin to the exorcist academy and was not exclusive to Yukio. If anyone he called friend was in trouble, he would just be there. It was difficult to turn him away once he just started showing up.

A normal person would leave after a quick "I'm fine, really" but Rin could always tell if they were lying. He just had this sincerity about him that made people feel safe and made them want to talk to him. When they found out about him, they were all angry with him and he just did not know what to do. If Koneko were any weaker, he would have apologized after the first day because of how pathetic Rin looked sitting at his desk during cram school in the evenings. He was curled up around the chair, like he was using it as a shield. Shima thought that sight was the craziest thing he'd ever seen, obviously the one that was dangerous was Rin. Only he did not look it, he looked like he wanted to comfort them but was to afraid to get close. It made Shima feel like he had kicked a puppy. The droopy, pointed ears and downcast eyes just completed the look.

What was worse was that Rin would still com running to the rescue if any of his friends were in danger. If they were on the field being attacked, Rin would not hesitate to take a hit meant for one of them. Even when they ignored him afterward, he would light up and feel so good to finally be able to help. Ignoring the urge to help was like having an itch and not scratching it. At first it was annoying but eventually the feeling would be so maddening he had to physically hold himself to his desk to stay seated during class breaks. Being able to help in any way was like scratching that itch. It was a feeling of pure relief, if only for the moment.

When everyone forgave Rin and let him back into their lives, he thought his heart would explode. When Bon and Kamiki started talking about experiments, Rin had to stop himself from agreeing to all of the just to help them and make them feel better. Most of the rejected ideas were taken off the list by Yukio without asking for Rin's opinion. Yukio figured out the problem early on and decided that was the best way for Rin not to maim himself looking for the group's approval.

The mystery of Rin's "Super power" was solved by accident during class. "Humans can give certain amounts of energy through their emotions, usually negative emotions like hatred or resentment." Yukio lectured in front of the class. "Usually this emotional link is created by a contract of sorts. The demon makes an offer and any form of acceptance will bind both human and demon." Curious eyes tracked the demon snoozing comfortably in the middle of class. "That's why summoning contracts are so important. You don't want to owe something to demons or they can curse you or your bloodline if they think you are fulfilling your end of the agreement."

"Rin, will you please wake up and pay attention to class" Yukio sighed as the entire class looked at Rin's bleary eyes blinking open "Wha?" he yawned. "Welcome back, brother" Yukio said dryly, "Care to repeat what I just Said?" "Uh?" Guess he was still asleep. Everyone in the class snickered as Rin was scolded by his younger brother for not paying attention except for Bon. He looked kind of thoughtful and spaced out. "Hey, hothead" he asked suddently as Yukio was finishing his useless lecture abut the importance of staying awake in class. Rin perked up at Bon's voice and looked at him, "what" he asked thinking Bon was going to come after him next.

"Have you ever done that?!" Bon yelled across the Room at Rin. Surprised and confused, Rin answered "Done What?" "Fed off emotions or made deals with humans?" "Of course N..." Rin stopped and really thought about the question. Bon had pulled out the Demon notes he was taking on Rin and looking at him curiously. He wasn't trying to start a fight but the last time Rin tried to explain what he did, Shiro was just confused. "Not really" Rin replied. "What does not really mean?" Kamiki asked this time. "Well, I like being in really happy places" Rin attempted "but I also know when someone bad is doing something and I need to stop it."

Everyone looked at him blankly and he tried again. "When we did the birthday party" he waited until the others nodded in understanding before continuing "It was really warm and I stayed awake for three days." "What!" that was Yukio. "Yeah and like, if someone was thinking about doing something bad, then I just walk up to them and Wham! Problem solved." He spoke as if that was the obvious solution as he punched out at an invisible enemy.

"Yukio already knew this!" Rin defended himself. All eyes turned to a now blushing Yukio who was quick to offend, "No, I didn't. How could I when you never told me!" Rin just looked perplexed at the statement. "You don't actually still believe I have "big brother superpowers" do you?" Rin put his fingers in the air to quote his past self's explanation. "Wait, is that how you knew whenever I was in trouble when we were small?" Yukio asked as Bon was scribbling furiously on his notebook. "Kinda, I can always feel when your super upset or happy. I've always been able to do that." "A contract" Kamiki spoke suddenly. "Rin must be feeding off Yukio's emotions. Is there a die effect of This?" Now all eyes turned back to the teacher of the two. "There has not been a reported case of a demon choosing to feed on positive emotions" Yukio explained "but when they are feeding on negative emotions, there are not usually side effects." "What do you mean?" Shima asked from the back of the classroom. Yukio wished they were always this interested in learning something new. "usually the demon in question acts to amplify the emotion from the human in themselves. Take for example, if I become annoyed at someone and a demon was feeding on that particular emotion, they would absolutely despise that person and probably attempt to kill them to please me."

"In return for this favor, I would be expected to compensate the demon with something of mine. The demon in this case would take our shared annoyance as an agreement to the contract and the payment is usually my blood or flesh." "So me and Rin may have a strong bond with a contract because I have not given him anything." Yukio finished the lecture. "Besides I feel like that with all of you, not just Yukio." Rin added as he leaned back in his chair and stretched his back and tail. "I don't really ant payment, it just feels good, you know."

"Maybe we should ask the principle about it. J-just to make sure it's safe?" Koneko suggested. As if he was summoned by someone mentioning his name or more likely he was eavesdropping from the other side of the door, Mephisto poofed into existence in front of the startled class. "You Rang/" he asked with a manic grin. "We had a question about Rin." Yukio explained. Mephisto looked thoughtful after the group explained their question. "How to explain?" He asked himself as he played with his cane. "Well, fear not students, demons feed on emotions because that's the quickest way to drain a human's life force."

"What! So Rin is like eating us!" Now Shima was concerned. "No, no, no, of course not. That would only apply if Rin were a full blooded demon." After a dramatic pause, he continued "but he's only half so alas, he can't actually make a contract and steal a human's life force. He makes his own when he shares the same strong emotions as his friends and his instincts urge him to repay what it sees as kindness." "Is that why he's always helping us?" Shiemi asked. "Partly but he mostly helps you for the same reason anyone would, because it feels good."

Rin did not understand most of what Mephisto was saying but the others were nodding like they understood and were listening intently and if they were happy, he was happy. The group continued to ask Mephisto and Yukio questions about demons devouring emotions and Yukio could not be happier in that moment. His brother had already zoned out again but the rest of the class were fully engaged and having a heated debate on what would count as a contract with a demon. Kamiki and Bon were using examples from the class earlier and Mephisto kept changing side to make things interesting for him. It was enough to make any teacher proud.

Mephisto actually stuck around for a while and the classed went on later than usual. Rin was soundly asleep at his desk again and suddenly Mephisto lost his teasing tone and grew serious. "You know class" he interrupted the debate "A demon can choose what emotion to feed on and it's much harder to feed on positive emotions. IF the demon does not get enough of the emotion, they grow weaker until they are forced back in our world to recover but for Rin things are different. IF he does not have his chosen emotion and he refuses to feed on negative emotions, he will get very sick and it will eventually kill him."

The whole class was struck silent as they remembered a time Rin was completely miserable in class. When he was afraid to sleep around them because of their selfish anger. The demonic look on Mephisto's face told the students he was thinking about the same thing they were. If they did not let Rin back into the group, would he have been forced to feed and amplify their negative emotions instead of the positive ones. They were angry but never wanted to put their friend's life in danger. If his face was overcome with hatred for what they did to him, would they have tried to help him because he was their friend? Maybe they would have brushed off his cries for help and pushed him into becoming the demon that the accused him of being.

That terrfying thought would stay with them long after class was finally dismissed and a sleepy Rin was led back to his dorm by his precious younger brother. Eyes closed and trusting him to lead him back. If Rin noticed that the others were nicer to him after that, he did not question it out loud. When he helped them on the field, they no longer ignored him and did not hesitate to help him in return. The school became well known for their students being sent after more powerful demons that any other school and nothing hurting them. After all, they all put in support for each other and amplified it back.