Ki Master
Chapter 9
Author Notes: Now we're back to Rin. Last chappy we were doing Ming Xia's perspective while he was starting his first day of work at the monastery. I think we're due for a time skip.
Oh and just a heads up since the ending author notes is long...It will be a bit of time before i upload another chappy since I made these chapters ahead of time, and this one is my last in stock. So i gotta go on a writing binge again lol. With that I do not own Blue Exorcist
3rd P.O.V
Nearly two months flew by with no time at all as Rin went to work at the monastery. Most of the teen's time was spent working, cooking for the church staff as well as the mass guests. From seven in the morning to the late evening he would be there.
But it wasn't all work thankfully. Yukio kept him company, allowing for a bond that he never had when he was younger. Actually now that he thought about it Rin found the entire church group welcoming him with open arms.
It was like he was surrounded by a bunch of weird, funny uncles that teased him. Warmth enveloped his being every time he was praised for his hard work or thanked for his cooking.
However, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. "Alright Rin, you're free to go!" Fujimoto shot him a grin as he grabs the empty bowls to toss into the sink. With a small, tired thanks he grabs his stuff, ready to head out the door.
He blinked surprisingly at Yukio who was there waiting for him. "Sup Yukio?" The younger twin was still unaware of their connection, and frankly Rin was in turmoil over it. He wanted to blurt out the truth, wanting to be completely open to his brother.
"I figured I'd walk you home, we kept you pretty late tonight. It's the least I could do." But he was so, so scared. Even though they were born from the same parents, it's clear that the glasses wearing boy was completely human.
No sign of demon blood or features in sight. If anything he had a stronger ki then most, but that was about it "Uh-ok sure. Thanks." Together the pair make their way out into the bitter cold.
It was snowing again, falling softly on their forms as Yukio brings out a flashlight. "How far is your house from here?" Blue-green eyes gaze curiously ahead, waiting for Rin to respond.
"About twenty or so minutes on foot? I'm not too sure. I don't really keep track of time." Now that was concerning. "Twenty minutes? You walk out here... at night...Alone-for at least twenty minutes?!" All Yukio got from the other was a helpless shrug. "How are you not freezing!?"
His next response is a sheepish grin. The taller boy could only stare incredulously. He's only been walking for five and already he was feeling the cold creeping into his limbs-and he's wearing layers!
That didn't even count the fact that with traveling alone at night was dangerous, especially in this town. Demons were for the most part nocturnal and loved to target individuals like Rin.
"I'm walking you home for now on. Or i'm getting dad to drive you. It's dangerous! You could be-" Before he could say anymore Yukio clamped his mouth shut, he had to word things carefully. "-kidnapped or jumped!" Usually after Rin left for the day Yukio would go to work, hunting.
Not that he'd ever tell Rin, as much as Yukio understood the importance of being an exorcist, it was a painful, exhausting existence that not too many people would understand. "Dude you're over reacting, i've been doing this for ages now, it's fine."
He hoped that his friend would never have to share his fate. "It's not Fine Rin. If anything I'm amazed you're not a frozen popsicle. With the windchill the warmest nights we get is fifteen degrees!" Rin could only roll his eyes.
"Chill out four-eyes! Sheesh you're worse than my mom-..." At the rather rude nickname Yukio was ready to retort, only to frown at Rin's now depressed expression. "Hey...how is your mom doing? If you don't mind me asking." All he got was silence as they continued on.
Their feet crunching into the slowly rising layers of snow as they make way for Rin's home. And it felt unbearable, a thick tense atmosphere suddenly surrounded the boys. "She's-not well." It was a painful thing to admit as Rin nibbled his lip.
Doing his utmost not to let tears form. "To tell you the truth Yukio, things have been rough the last couple years. Her health has more or less been crappy and the doctors don't know why." He paused, suddenly feeling self conscious about talking about his worries.
Only to continue when Yukio gives a small encouraging smile. "The reason I went job hunting was so I could make things easier for her. Despite being sick she works her ass off writing books and taking care of me, even though i'm not her real son." A shaky sigh escapes him as he looks at the snowflakes falling before him.
"She lost her husband and daughter about a year before I was even born, took me in and raised me as if I was her own. She went out of her way when to make me crepes on my first day working for the old man-and apologized when she realized that she burnt some of it..." It was a nice surprise when he came home.
And though he assured her that it was delicious, she was still apologetic, only to collapse in bed from the strain of it all. "She's done so much for me Yukio...yet these days I can't seem to do a damn thing for her. I feel so...Useless!"
Yukio had no idea. With how chatty and happy Rin seemed, he never would've figured how tough things were. "What's your mom like?" His friend gave a wry grin, Rin could go all day talking about her.
"She's awesome. Really smart, a bit of a worry wort who loves to tease me. Even though she didn't want me out working, she was so excited when I told her I made a friend." Call him a momma's boy or a wuss, it didn't matter, after all she's done, he would go to hell and back for her.
At this rate there wasn't anything he probably do for her. Which is what brought about his latest decision. After Yukio walks him home and leaves, he was going to talk to her. What exactly he himself wasn't sure
His mind was an utter mess. Jumbled with suspicions and worries he wasn't even sure the origin of. If he Did have to guess however, the obvious reason would be Mephesto, that stupid clown for a brother.
He hasn't popped by since Rin's first day of work, and the teen should be happy about that. But his instincts were screaming at him that it wasn't a good thing. Especially after the conversation he had about his mother's condition.
Though he was still skeptical, Mephesto seemed genuine when he explained her ailment, and it seemed sound. Even more so with how weak Ming Xia has been in. It was a miracle for her to finish her meal these days.
For once it felt like she was keeping secrets from him. Or maybe she just felt he didn't need to know why she was sick. But it left him nervous, the bond he had so much pride in was weakening, and he just didn't know what to do.
"Hey...Yukio? I got a question for you." His twin looks at him, watching the other bite his cheek. "What would you do...if Father Fujimoto was hiding things from you? Or you were told something about him that wasn't good?" It was hard to form the right sentences, it was the best he could do.
And much to his relief it seemed his younger brother understood. "Well...to be honest Father Fujimoto keeps a lot of things secret from me." Rin stood, paused mid-step in shock. "Wait what!?" The old man didn't seem to have a secretive bone in his body.
What was Yukio talking about? "It's true. There's lots of things he doesn't tell me, especially when he's injured or sick. And if I'm being honest, it upsets me to no end." The raven haired boy really wasn't expecting this kind of answer. Or the angry expression on the taller teens face.
"Still. It doesn't change how I feel about him at all. Do I wish he trusted me more with the truth? Absolutely. But I can't force him to talk if he doesn't want to. I know no matter what he loves me, and if he is hiding things, then there's got to be a good reason for it, even if I don't understand."
Their gazes met, and instantly Rin felt better. Despite their separation, it was kinda scary how similar the twin's lifestyles were. Both of them had a loving guardian that they cared for very much.
And the two sons were stubborn in trying to understand them, determined to pay their kindness back in full. The fact the one was a 400 plus year old demon, and the other was a Paladin ranked exorcist was irrelevant.
"Did that help at all?" A snort escaped Rin then as he looked towards the sky. "In more ways then one." His brother's words reminded him of something Ming Xia told him long ago. back when he had first tapped into his powers. He couldn't remember how old he was...but he remembered that night clear as day.
He was crying in fear as blue flames shot around his form. Everything was burning, turning into black and gray ash. "Rin! Calm down!" He was scared, why won't it stop! "Stay away from me!" The child couldn't even remember what set off these flames.
Something made him mad, he knew that much. But it seemed so stupid now. "You're ok. I'm not letting you do this alone." She winced as she made her way forward, towards him, and the azure inferno. "No stop mom! I don't want to hurt you."
All she did was smile as she continued, facing the heat with no fear in her eyes. "Why is this happening? Were they right? Am I a monster!?" A sob burst from him as arms were gently wrapped around his small frame. She kept him in a loving embrace.
"Monsters are creatures full of malicious intent Rin. Beings with no heart and are only driven by dark thoughts and instincts. It's not the form or blood that decides that, but the actions and motivations." Tears still fell from his eyes, but he was starting to relax.
She rubbed soft circles on his back, humming a soft tune. "We're demons Rin, but only in name. That doesn't make us evil. Humans aren't saints, as they can be just as corrupt. Everyone can always do better. One can always be better."
It was hard understanding her words at the time, he just couldn't quite grasp it. But he did remember her holding him close, not minding when the flames licked her skin and caused painful burns to form.
If anything she praised him for calming down, both watching in awe as the fire died out, as if never present. It was the first and only time his powers ever truly went out of control. Despite her full demon blood she fully believed in the integration of man and demon.
Just because you had the power to destroy didn't mean you had to. Though she freely admitted that their instincts are more aggressive compared to humans, that didn't mean they couldn't get along.
Yukio and Rin were living proof of that. Born from the same parents, man and demon. One a human exorcist and the other a demon with the powers of hell were walking together, chatting away as friends. Though one was completely unaware of the fact, it still meant something.
"Wow you weren't kidding when you said you lived far out. How on earth do you find your way home every night?!" The forest made it even darker and harder to see. "Usually I have a flashlight on me. But again I've done this so many times I just know the way." The light part wasn't technically true.
He Was a demon, he could see just fine in the dark, but he couldn't just blurt that out. "I'm so having dad drive you home for now on." Yukio didn't like the feel of this place, there was an ominous aura about it, though he couldn't decipher it fully.
There was no doubt that demons flocked to this area, and it only puzzled Yukio that Rin remained totally unaffected. The guy was whistling a tune for crying out loud, his little funk behind him. After he dropped Rin off he was going to patrol the forest and do some hunting.
Because of the cold, he had layers, making it easier to hide his guns, holy water vials and ammo packs. Should something try attacking either of him, the exorcist was ready. "Kyaaa!" Suddenly the two heard a sharp shriek ring throughout the forest, causing shivers to shoot down their spines.
"Mom!" He knew her voice anywhere, and made a mad dash to his house. "Rin-wait!" Gritting his teeth Yukio ran, desperate to keep up with the raven haired boy. But he was too fast. Leaving his brother in the snow infested dust.
He lost him.
To be continued
Author Notes: Whoop whoop that's another one done folks. I can't believe I'm nearly ten chapters in and yet we still haven't reached the school lol. Not that it matters because i'm not following the canon story too much.
But you know, I like adding these layers of backstory. As well as showing that Rin isn't some stupid, reckless idiot he's usually depicted. Yes he can be loud and rash but to me there seems to be way more than that.
Being a teenager in general, he let's his emotions get the better of him. It's normal, but that's a dangerous thing with his powers. And in the manga, just from what we've seen, I don't think Fujimoto ever truly raised Rin to calm his anger.
Yeah he lectured the hell out of him, but he never gave the boy a way to express himself or find something other then cooking to keep him occupied. Which would've really helped considering his demon heritage.
So i just want to point out that though Rin may not be representing the manga version, i feel like this was a possible route he could've gone onto. Ming is teaching him both the demon and human ways to live, showing patience and compassion-something Rin desperately needs.
Am I rambling? I'm rambling. Sorry about that, i just went into critical thinking mode for a moment. Anyways that's it for now. Thank you all so much for reading. If You like this series so far(and want to do a philosophical debate with me on fictional characters) please feel free to fav/follow/review. Tchao for now!
