Title: Hellspawn
Chapter: 10/?
Characters: Rin, Yukio, Shura
Genre: Fluff, some-angst, BADASSERY (insert genre here)
Summary: "Oh how he wanted to see her fall under his own blade, only to keep her away from his twin."
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's purely fan made for fun... or tears.
Warnings: No beta'd, etc. cursing, anime!ver, brocon, start RinYuki. prolly ooc?

A/N: I AM FUCKING BACK ON TRACK GUYS. OMG, OMG this is so fricken' long (5k bitch!) and so quick! But I'm really proud of this chapter! Also guys we're getting to RinxYukio goodness with huge steps now! BEWARE OF THE BADASSERY and read&review! Tell me what you loved, tell me what you hated, bring teh fire!

It was a silent day, in whom nothing really happened, yet. From the time Rin opened his eyes, he knew it wasn't going to be any different than the few last ones. It was too quiet and peaceful, a brewing storm probably strolling towards them with a power of a thousand suns but even so – as the peaceful days always came to end – he wouldn't really mind. To be completely honest with himself, he was getting bored with his teacher-stuff, not really knowing how to reach around it and grab it fully as for what it was.

He blinked lazily his wide, blue eyes and sighed towards the window. The weather outside was nice, sun shone and there were only couple clouds slowly making it's way through sky. He longed to get out from this copped up place, he wanted to visit his friends but moreover he wanted Yukio to make that even the smallest step in his exercises.

Now, while he sat copped up within their kotatsu, he wondered if Yukio made any progress at all in understanding and uniting the beast that rested in him. With a quick glance towards his brother's form – now slouched lightly over three candles that sat quietly before him – he sighed again. Of course, he couldn't stop at letting Yukio only walk around with his tail out as that could and probably would be counter-productive as to what was their goal and so he figured 'the candles' would be perfect for his twin just as they were for him.

It didn't change the fact that Yukio couldn't light any of them, not even all of them.

It looked like his brother was lacking that spark that he had to make it work. Still even if he realised it or not, he complied and did exactly how he was told to do, like right now. One didn't have to be a seer to see that his twin was frustrated to no end upon not reaching his goal in lighting up that one, middle candle.

How could Rin tell that though as for complete stranger Yukio'd look like a perfect picture of solid, undeterred calmness? Well, he needed to thank his twin's tail for that. The brown appendage his brother had currently swayed from side to side but he knew it was a matter of time before it'd finally curl in itself and shoot out, letting out a clear frustration his brother was feeling.

And so as the minutes passed between them, nothing happened.

Rin was at a point of almost dozing off with the tardiness of the pace in which time seemed to flow. Suddenly a thought struck him, that it must've been one of side-effects in being closed up in a pocket dimension for so long because wasn't it been almost two weeks now? To think that half of his free-from-school time was over only made him pout and slouch lazily over their kotatsu more.

With his chin leaning on table he sighed – loudly this time.

The relations he had with Yukio... they didn't change at all. Now that was frustrating him to no end. A month ago he believed that when his twin would finally wake up they'd be more... open to each other. Unfortunately there still was that lack of honesty between them and it hurt him, even if it wasn't the worst pain he felt in his life. He wouldn't mind though if Yukio actually came to him – from his own will – and talked about what's bothering him. It was tiresome to always be on edge and figure what's going on around his brother's head, everything would be easier if he just trusted him enough.

But it wasn't going to be the case prolly until their deaths.

Because some things couldn't be changed, like him feeling irritation at Yukio's cold shoulder and that stupid, indifferent tone he was using while talking with him. God, their relationship didn't change at all, it reverted to the state it was from before his twin lost all the control at Blue Lake.

And Rin wasn't happy about it, at all.

A very quiet rustle piqued Rin's interest and soon enough, he couldn't help but smirk towards Yukio. He was finally irked enough to move and touch bridge of his nose, hair falling around his forehead in shame. With another swept of his – now lightly twitching – tail he exhaled.

"Tired already?" Rin couldn't help himself, he was a supreme being once in his life and he needed to relish in it as long as he could. "You've been sitting like that for the last three hours, any luck with the candles?"

Yukio's body twitched at half-mocking comment. "I almost got it, if not for your wheezing over the past ten minutes I would do it."

"Oh really, four-eyes? Am I bothering you that much? With my breathing?"

At that his twin faced him, expression indifferent as always but there was a steel in his eyes. "You've been staring at the bloody window for an hour now, if you really want to go out – go on the first floor, room 112. I am not safe-keeping you here nor you're my prisoner. You're free to do whatever you want."

On Rin's head a tick appeared. "You're blaming me for not being able to light a shitty candle now, spotty?"

As an answer his brother closed his eyes and then make the most incredible expression Rin ever saw. Yukio actually pouted only to frown and shake his head. "I-... I didn't say that, just..."

"You just did!" barked back Rin, sleepiness quickly fading away. He stood up and strode towards his brother. But even though he really wanted to give him a smart-ass comeback he didn't. "Do you even know what you're doing?" he added, towering over his sitting sibling.

Now it was time for Yukio to actually bite-back. "Of course I know!" he snapped, glasses slipping slightly over his nose. "I've read about it in more books than you did in your entire life-"

"And that makes you a master in disguise, doesn't it?" continued Rin, his tail curling behind him. "Well, sorry Mr. I've-read-all-about-it-in-a-book but it's apparently not working!"

"It would if you took your lazy bum somewhere and actually did something productive."

"I am doing something productive right now" countered Rin with a slap of his tail over his twins face. "Move, four-eyes" he said and while Yukio fumed inwardly and moved a bit aside, Rin sat lazily before candles. Then he smiled wickedly and clasped his palms over his knees. "Watch and learn."

"This is not a way to teach, nii-san" deadpanned Yukio, watching closely Rin anyway. "First you need to teach theory then you can get into practical side of the topic. That's what I've been trying to tell you for a week now but you never listened. You just put the candles before me and said 'light the middle one'."

It was a sensible response and Rin frowned momentarily. "It's not like I've had anybody to teach me this stuff, y'know. Everything I know now, I've taught myself. You're a smart guy, Yukio, so I realised that it'll take you even less time than me" he answered and then once again smirked, fangs bared. "So you want a theory, huh?" he asked and when Yukio actually nodded he continued, his eyes on the candles. "First things first, emotions. Second, control. Third, usage."

His twin blinked, clearly not understanding the meaning of his teachings, and so he was forced to continue his thought. "That are the stages I'm going through to maintain both demon and human at equal measurements. There's one thing I've learned and that is that you can have both at the same time. So... demon – emotions, human – control, half-breed – usage."

And with those words, he concentrated on a middle candle. It took him few seconds to breach that border between his Assiah body and Gehenna's soul. Then once again he was reminded of the bond they shared – as every time he stepped beyond that border he figured – he was able to see things on a Gehenna's plane. Not really trying to figure out what that tiny red thread actually meant, he materialised his power on the top of a middle candle and it soon shone with a blue flame.

The middle candle flared, caressing them both with a blue hue.

"I- need to say that I'm impressed" cut through the silence Yukio. "You've come a long way since the last time... as I remember you."

That struck something in Rin, suddenly reminding him of those months full of tears, pain and anger. Gulping fearfully, he blinked the wetness from his eyes and smiled sheepishly, hiding behind his own mask. Some things shouldn't be shared. Ever. With a strong huff he put the candle out but couldn't stop himself from scratching at his head.

"Yeah, I guess. I had a lot of time for myself..." and there it was, that notch of sadness, hid under layers and layers of different emotions. Thinking that his role as a mentor has ended, Rin patted his sweaty palms on trousers and slowly stood up. "Like I said, emotions, humanity, usage. Emotions give you the strength and power, you'll feel it in your body like one side of a border; on the other will be your humanity, reason and control; and you need to cross that border and while you'll be at it, you'll manage to light the exact candle you wish. For now though I guess, you should try to light any of them, okay?"

Straightening his aching back, Rin moaned and then put hands behind his head. "Well, I'll leave it to you then" he said, glancing back at his twin who kept his eyes on the candles – probably still mulling over his lesson – and smiled. Then with a deep inhale he started to walk towards the exit.

Ne, he really needed to go outside.

But as he was reaching towards the handle, the door burst open and his jaw dropped to the floor. In their entryway stood no-other but Kirigakure Shura in all her skimpy-clothed glory, sword dappled over shoulder.

"If that aren't mah favourite twins" she drawled in her specific way, mouth half-smiling. "I've come to keep ya some company."

Yukio who's face went sheet-white, gulped but instantly changed it into his usual indifferent look, Rin on the other hand had his hands outstretched in a shock.

"How did you get here?" Was Rin's first question, because really, how? "I thought we're here completely alone?!"

In an answer Shura only pouted. "Ye wanna say ye didn't miss me?"

At this time, Yukio finally cut into the scene as delicately as he could. "It's nice to see you too, Shura-san."

"Ah!" Shura only now spotted a small form of Yukio, sitting on the rooms floor. "Mephisto didn't lie then, he said yer all healthy and kickin'."

"Of course he is, why wouldn't he be?" parroted Rin, suddenly aware of Shura's eyes on his brother's form. He couldn't do much as to not like it and so he stepped in-between them. His blue irises met with Shura's red ones. "What are you doing here? How did you get here?"

Now, Kirigakure Shura never really turned down a good day of brawl and it just so happened that Mephisto felt like being generous enough and let her have a day off with the twins. But in all honesty she was send there only to give both of them a proper training, even if only she had a few hours for it.

"I came here to kick yer lazy asses, so get up and let's go."

With those words she turned on her heel, not checking if any of the boys followed. They as dumbfounded as they were, only looked one to another and with shrugs they actually did trail after the exorcist.

They were going through well known corridors but only realised where they are going when they turned around a corner. Shura was clearly directing them towards their private firing range. The hall in which it was enclosed was huge, separated into different sections – Rin briefly remembered his own 'candle' training and what happened there. Well, he blushed over that memory.

Shura's and Yukio's backs were bared to his liking, as much as he could want but back then he was too surprised over the event to care about the details. Now however...

"Did ye have a proper training in the last few days?" Shura's voice boomed in a new room, which they crossed and stopped near the end of firing section. "'Cause you two looked like having a great honeymoon in there" she mentioned, giving them an idea that she heard their little spat. "Rin-kun must be a really good husband if yer lost ye touch."

"Wh-AT?!"

"Tche... Now yer even takin' shots fer him."

Yukio to whom previous words were aimed at, sighed calmly. "She's riling you up, nii-san. Don't let her get to you, it won't do you any good."

Rin however was too lost in the deep to speak. "What-? She just said-!"

"She was pulling our legs, ignore it."

Shura pouted. "I don't like te be ignored. Anyways who's up to some nice, long spar session?"

"So that's the reason why you came here?" asked Yukio, finally getting some answers.

"Ye, f'course why should I bother wit two of ye otherwise?" she countered, still keeping that smug look on her face. "Ye thought I missed you, scaredy-cat?"

At that Yukio's brow twitched, but he kept silent. Unfortunately for him, his tail couldn't keep much in the hiding and soon enough even Shura spotted his discomfort.

"I guess under all that yer aloofness ye still are human, eh?" she stated, smiling now openly. "Ye mind some quick rematch of our last match?" she dared Yukio and he compiled.

"Only if you're ready to lose, then yes."

Rin watched the exchange from a corner of his eyes and while he knew there wasn't anything wrong with it, he still caught himself wanting to bare his fangs at Shura and hiss. There was something in his blood, in his soul wanting something, he just didn't know what. With a half-glare he resigned from intervening though and sat down on a chair, crossed his arms and huffed in silence.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested in the rematch but he'd really enjoy it by far more if Shura wasn't present. On the other hand it was nice to have to see if his younger twin still had that trigger that made him be a perfect Dragoon.

"Ye ready, scaredy four-eyes?" Shura spoke and her voice loomed over the room. When she got a nod from Okumura-sensei that stood not far from her she smiled and laughed out loud. "Let the game begin!"

When last syllable echoed in a fire range, lights went out – literally – and everywhere they could see was darkness. Rin shivered, his eyes scanning surroundings and briefly sweatdropped upon realisation that they were going to shot targets in dark. Before he could gulp through a bile that rose in his throat, first shoots fired – sparks lighting weapon Yukio was holding.

And that was when he lost it, his mind flew outta his skull at amazing show he was seeing. Because for him it looked as if they coordinated each and every turn, twist or even slight bend of their bodies together. Sparks leaving Yukio's hand gun more than once lightened his concentrated profile, beautifully tracing every even the tiniest nook, lips, cheek, eyes... Those eyes, they got that spark in them!

It was clear that he was awed and even when light once again surrounded them, he couldn't stop his mouth from hanging open.

"Ye know" spoke Shura, shouldering her sword and looking at slouched Yukio with a bit of disappointment "Yer almost had me. It's a shame that ye get so easily tired."

Yukio who couldn't hide his own disappointment, shuddered but managed to hold in his own need to snarl at older exorcist. Brown appendage that kept on spiralling and slashing was indicating enough that he was far from happy. "Next time then" he answered, clearing his throat, his breathing ragged.

Shura agreed with a smirk of her own. "Next time, scaredy" she smiled and then turned towards the only-quiet resident of the room. "Yer ready, Rin-kun?"

Question shot Rin down, only now aware of two pairs of eyes on his person. For a second he wanted to turn down the invitation but when Shura shrugged nonchalantly and looked back towards Yukio, he snapped. He didn't want Shura to look at his twin as she was, with those lewdly parted lips and barely covered breasts.

Before he knew it, he was on his long, lanky legs. "You're on!" he shouted for both of them to hear. With Shura's half-cock of head and Yukio's surprise written all over his face, he walked over where he kept his Kurikara. With a smooth move he shoved the sheathe down and to his brother's shock of his life, he didn't burn with the blue flames.

"Nii-san?" Yukio asked, slowly getting up from ground. His mouth open a bit, he tried to say something but Shura – fucking Shura! - cut it short.

Her sword's blade slashed near Yukio's stomach, to keep him in place. "Ah, yer didn't know? Well, leave it fer later, honeybirds..." she said, mockingly and finally faced Rin who's own face expression was as indifferent as Yukio's could be. "I'd say get outta way, four-eyes. It might get ugly" she mentioned from a corner of her mouth and upon seeing questioning in younger twins eyes she added. "We'd be very sorry if we'd hurt you by accident."

Now totally confused about the 180 degree change of the entire situation, Yukio actually compiled but only because of Rin. He seemed like a very different person, calm, stoic and maybe even a bit overconfident. As if the twin he grew up with disappeared and was replaced with complete stranger. It was the first time he'd see Rin like that, so serious, so... mature, probably even more so than he felt like.

With long strides, Shura moved to the another section of the hall, Rin following after her and Yukio trailing behind both of them. Once they got into section reserved for Knight's Shura cranked her neck little but Rin did nothing of sorts. Only his dark blue eyes moved with every motion his opponent was doing.

Yukio who was truly intrigued by the situation, sat down on a bench for trainees and waited.

Time ticked but yet none of participants moved a muscle.

"To fist blood?" asked nonchalantly Shura as if bored and then slashed her blade down in invitation.

"Or to first blister" answered back Rin, now smiling himself. Oh how he wanted to see her fall under his own blade, only to keep her away from his twin. "No holding back."

Shura 'tsked' but smirked nonetheless. "Ye think ye'll manage to win this, Rin-kun?" she asked him, knowing that something triggered his inner demon. "Well, then. Just don't ye run back cryin' to four-eyes later!" and with that she jumped from her place with sword coming first and fast towards Rin's face.

Rin on the other side smirked, one fang glistering in the lights upon Shura's attack. She could be so predictable when it came to fighting, that he barely needed any effort to try and dodge her attacks. This time however, she crossed some invisible border she shouldn't and he needed to put her back behind it, no matter what.

"Nii-san!"

Sword was coming at his head and face fast but he wasn't going to dodge it, oh no. No, not this time and only when hall's lights shone on the blade – that was brimming with the power – he reacted and pulled up till now limply lying Kurikara to clash steel with steel.

The pure surge of the power that Shura's sword was holding – send an enormous wave of wind, that'd knock back even the heaviest wrestler from the ring. Both of them, Shura and Rin however stayed in place – unwavering – and only stared each other in the face.

It was a clash of the titans.

Without second to loose, Rin called upon his flames and with a bit of frightening smile upon his lips, burst them around – lightening entire hall. For a second there was just blinding light but when it slowly faded away one could make out a silhouette of standing Shura, few meters from Rin. He wasn't entirely happy that she dodged his wall of fire and figured he needed something else to make her loose her balance. Something to trigger her off, but with her there was a flat chance for anything to work out.

Frowning silently, he launched himself at her, and she recuperated by doing the same. Their dance started and Rin didn't want to be the one to step on toes of his partner. No, he kept on using all of his information about Shura's techniques, as she taught some of them to him too, but no it was in the past. All he wanted to do is to win, he wanted to win Yukio.

When another gust of wind almost caught him on his cheek, he snarled and just for a second he let the beast take control over human. His bright blue eyes shone with red, flames a bit wilder and harder to keep a grip over but he didn't care. For Rin even the slightest kind of control was enough, as far as he wouldn't completely loose the sight of the goal, everything was fine.

Steel clashed with steel, wind fought with fire.

After nearly hitting Shura from the flank – and her jumping back, albeit tired now and breathing hard – he finally felt the first seeps of tiredness coming over his body too. Well, that was another thing he didn't master nor understood completely but by using his demonic powers since Kurikara's spell was broken, he could tire extremely fast (even to the point of losing conciousness) if used for too long. Short bursts where good but in a long shoot, he was doomed.

Seeing the situation as it was, while he kept his indifferent mask on he realised that Shura was playing for time, she somehow must've seen his weak point and wanted to use it. Unfortunately for her, he wasn't going to lose.

There was only last thing he could use against her, her own strategy.

So when a steady sweat drifted down his forehead and cheek, he calmed the beast and slowly put out the flames, reverting to the beginning. He saw a flash of opportunity in Shura's eyes and played along. She lunged at him – one, two, three slashes in mid-air – and summoned her snake familiar to strike him as well, yet he didn't do much again but dodged the hits. Only when he jumped back the snake familiar made completely new move; entwined itself around his body – trapping him – and he fell to the ground, Kurikara clashing nearby.

Shura stepped up to him and he hissed upon seeing edge of a blade. Edge that was getting closer and closer to his face until he once again called upon his flames – sizzling the snake into the dust and too-fast for a normal eye to see ran his own claws over Shura's side – ultimately winning the battle.

Shura gasped but didn't move an inch.

Rin however smiled, his strange need to show Yukio that he's the best passed by then and he was back as the good ol' Rin everybody knew.

"Ha! I got you! I won!" he chortled, his body reverting to his human form, flames gone. It was his victory and he was going to celebrate it. "Ye see?!"

Shura however didn't seem to lost her own nonchalance even more upon looking at his face she smirked wickedly, lightly caressing her own wound. "Don't be so happy yet, it's a draw."

He stopped, blinked and then growled under nose. "No it's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not!"

Shura sighed and then called over her shoulder lightly. "Ne, scaredy four-eyes, it was a draw wasn't it?"

Yukio stepped back towards them and looked over both of them, sighing. "I'm afraid so."

"What?!" snapped Rin, fading fast. He felt really tired after the match. "How?! She didn't-?!"

"Apparently, she did, nii-san" answered slowly Yukio and then reached towards Rin's face.

If the time seemed to tick too slowly before then at that exact moment it simply stopped. For Rin, his twins hand moved in slow motion, touching him, his cheek and when his thumb brushed something from it, he didn't want that moment to end. But it did as Yukio took his hand back as quickly as he put it in the first place, rounding thumb at him and showing a dark red fluid that slowly drifted down it.

That touch, soft and innocent however once again woke the flames he was bearing inside, and just for a second – his eyes caught Yukio's entirely ignoring the friendly gesture he made. His breath caught in chest upon seeing the bold realisation on his brother's face but couldn't look away.

"Will te two of ye get a room or somethin'?"

That is until sudden shove made him lean forward and he saw extremely fast approaching, blushing face of his own twin. There was a clash but different kind of it, their faces met or would rather smack together if not of Rin's last second slight detour. Thanks to it, their noses were still in one pieces, Yukio's glasses slightly askew and his lips over his but it was a tiny detail.

Before he realised what was happening.

Yukio was blushing – full, rosy blush over his nose and cheeks – eyes wide open – just like he himself was. Neither of them moved, scared of what might happen if any of them actually did. That was also the exact moment when that sweet mixture of wood, honey and something fruity filled the air but it was much, much stronger this time.

After few seconds in which they stood like that petrified on the spots, Rin realised two things. First was information that Shura was still with them and probably balling her eyes out at this view the second being the fact that his open palm somehow landed around Yukio's neck while his twins stopped over his shoulder.

The situation they were in was so fucking wrong but in that one moment it felt perfect to him. If he only could move his lips a bit... God, his own twin stole his first kiss!

Before his brain could completely run through all the information, he felt that sudden heaviness that shoved him downwards was gone and he could finally move back – and he did. He practically jumped away from his twin – but it wasn't as if Yukio didn't do the same because he did. Terrible silence blossomed around both of them, and Rin used it to chance a look at Shura who – to his fuckin' surprise – had her back to them and was probably totally unaware of the awkwardness of their situation.

As he stared at the back of Shura's head, his tongue darted outside to lick his lower lip. He wouldn't dare say he could actually still taste Yukio on it. Thankfully before any more awkwardness ensued, Shura boldly turned to face them but before she spoke, she frowned and took a long, good look over both of them.

Rin felt as his skin burned with embarrassment, he couldn't help a fully-faced blush that spread around his cheeks and face. He glanced at Yukio too, hoping he was looking even worse for wearing than he was and in reality... when Yukio's still wide open eyes caught him staring, he blushed cherry-tomato too.

"Now, what's wit ye two honeybirds? Need some marriage counseling?" she dropped at them but shrugged at the strange, apparently awkward glances boys were exchanging. "Whatevs, I need ta go, I hope ye won't stop yer training tho. I'd make me really sad to kick yer asses without effort" she added, turning and waving them goodbye. "See ya scrubs!"

Even though Shura left the room, the silence was too heavy for twins. Not really knowing how to react, they stood motionlessly, either looking everywhere but themselves. However Rin was first to break from his shock upon what occurred barely seconds ago. He actually was glad that Shura didn't see anything, now that would be terrifying.

He cleared his throat, suddenly dry and thirsty. "She haven't seen anything, thank god."

Yukio followed him into safe-topic of Shura's mocking. "Yes..." he cleared his throat as well. "I could only imagine what she'd call us if she saw."

Rin fumed, cheeks still red and pouted. "As if honeybirds wasn't bad enough."

Yukio agreed, nodding. "It's Shura, everybody have a nickname."

Rin casually shrugged it off, awkwardness still thick in the air. "About-"

"It was an accident" cut in sharply Yukio, then pushed his glasses up. "Shura's fault as well, as far as I can tell."

"How was that-?"

Yukio send Rin silent glare and he pouted. "She tugged on our shirts, nii-san. Rules of physics unfortunately didn't help the matter at hand and we... crashed."

Rin coughed, suddenly feeling light-headed. "Yea-h, we crashed. Our faces crashed."

Now that comment made slight blush reappear over Yukio's nose and he crossed his arms. "Yes, crashed. We can't call that a kiss, now can we?" Rin twitched nervously, sweating. "Kiss is wanted by both sides and clearly is not just a smack of lips one over the other." Well, yeah, Yukio could believe in what he wanted, Rin still wasn't sold on that definition though. It wasn't end of it as his twin choose to continue his thought but much more subtle.

"Besides, I can't tell anyone that my first kiss was that of my nii-san" he ended with a clear air of uneasiness around him."

Well it took one to know one.

Because, unbeknown to Yukio, Rin was going to cherish this moment many, many days later with a small, broken smile upon his face. Because life was cruel and they were hellspawns, and that combination wasn't meant to be (for very long).

And to think that it was such a silent day, in whom everything happened at once.