Title: Hellspawn
Chapter: 16/?
Characters: Rin, team exo, Shura
Genre: general, angst, some-fluffiness (I hope?)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's purely fan made for fun... or tears.
Warnings: No beta'd, etc. cursing, anime!ver, brocon, RinYukio, prolly ooc?
Summary: "Oh, man" spoke Shima holding the strip and waving it around jokingly. He was exceptionally good in teasing his taller friend, years of doing so finally paid off. "Bon, your face on the third pic though~"
A/N: First off, I am really sorry for a VERY long wait and a VERY long a/n.
Second, I present to you my longest chapter ever (~7k words) for which I am really happy how it turned out to be.
Third, thank you ice-cold-alchemist for your comments, they made me really happy (especially your first one) so I'd like to dedicate this chapter to you. Also, this fic isn't beta'd but will be once I'll finish it for good so for now just bear with me a little bit longer and sorry for my incoherent writing (ya, English isn't my main tongue). ps. a shout-out to blackchaosaria2501 for being with me from the very beginning of this long trip as we're slowly nearing it's end; thank you!
'However, I did notice A slight lack of supporting characters -both in passing mention and 'scenes' in general. would of personally expected the other supporting characters (Bon, Koneko etc) to have more of role in how they themselves delt with the situation and in relation to how rin 'coped' with Yukio's 'issue' and subsequent 'demise' in the early chapters. (apologies for spoilers). ' - the-ice-cold-alchemist
^ this. About a lack of certain events and how everybody gets to cope with them was my plan all along, this story is written mostly from Rin's perspective and his delusions as he gets over them. There are holes I know (rolls eyes) but I like them to stay like that (hm... future drabbles, one-shots? who knows). You know what I'd love to hear one day though? For my readers to fill in the gaps with own stories, ideas – because that's what fanfiction is for.
All in all, thank you everybody for reading, faving and (holy cow) following this fic. Everything you do matters to a plain, simple writers like me.
Hope to hear from you soon and that you'll enjoy this chapter as much as I did, ja nee! ps. *murmurs* follow me on tumblr if you're brave enough ;)
...
Shadowed, half-lit corridor of True Cross Academy seemed to stretch into forever, like that never ending tunnel without a single spark of light at the end of it. Yet even that couldn't make him change his mind. Because Okumura Rin felt honest with himself, his emotions and his sins. No more denying, no more hiding, no more running away. At this point in time he knew he was such a coward, playing with his own feelings until he didn't know what to think any more. His steps weren't fast nor long, they were unnaturally silent – as this time he relished in his decision; which in the end could just as well kill him once and for all.
No, nonono, he shrugged his head. That wasn't an option to even consider, not now when he went as far as he did already.
Thought of actually being with his brother, like that, made his heart race but he was more than ready for it. Time of the year, he supposed, also made a huge impact on this decision – as his hormones were out of control, making him do things he would never even think of doing, to his twin.
Warm feeling in his soul pushed him over the edge, the mix of emotions swirling in his gut. Their bond sung in anticipation, sending tiny pulses down his pinky. Red-and-blue eyes of Rin's looked straight ahead as he kept on walking down his path – path of creation or destruction, he didn't know.
For the first time in a long time, Okumura Rin was going to act selfishly. For the first time in a very long time, Okumura Rin was going after his own happiness, all consequences be damned.
In that corridor, behind the doors he stood before, was Yukio. And he shouldn't be here – now - but he was and that was his choice. With a ragged breath Rin put his hand on the door's handle and pushed them open.
Last days events still reverberated in his mind, firing his confidence up – because fuck everything; it was his heart on the line not anybody else's.
...
4 days ago
Flashing lights, multi-coloured banners and laughter, all of it filled the space around them as Rin with friends walked between different stalls of Autumn funfair that came to the city. Eyes wide and sparkling, he could barely stop himself from jumping in place – his secured tail already trying to untie itself from the confines of his shirt.
Yeah, he might've looked like a kid back there, he didn't care though. By when they finished their walk-over the funfair he already had an entire plan of action ready.
"So who's going with me on a Hammer of Death?" he asked, turning around with a broad smile on his face. Shiemi, Kamiki, Bon, Shima, Konekomaru, Yukio and Shura looked over each other. "Well?!"
Shiemi fidgeted a bit. "Which one is it?" she asked finally.
Shima widened his eyes before jumping before blonde. "Shiemi-chan, are you insane? Don't go on that one!"
She looked confused before sweatdropping little. "Eh?"
Rin, well he sighed grumpily. "Ne, Shima, maybe you'll go with me then?"
At that pinkhaired male laughed out nervously. "Ahahahh, thanks but I'll pass."
"Are you scared of a tiny, harmless rollercoaster?" Rin however prodded on seeing reaction of his friend, smirking inwardly.
Just as Shima started to sweatdrop someone cleared their throat and as it happened it was Yukio. Yukio who looked so out-of-place it was almost comical. He stood out even wearing his so-called casual wear, with his shoulders drawn back and that completely blank expression on face.
"Not everybody gets kicks of staring death in the eyes, nii-san" was all he said.
That backhanded comment somehow irked Rin, making him narrow eyes at his twin. "Excuse me, Mr. I-don't-do-fun. Why are you in here in the first place?" he snipped half-accusing. Not that he minded his presence much but if there was one huge no-no it was Yukio and anything that had anything to do with fun in it.
As if in an answer Yukio pushed his glasses up. "You invited me."
"I don't remember doing such a thing. You're hopeless when it comes to fun things in overall, why would I invite you to a funfair?" Rin grumbled, his brow ticking in annoyance. "As far as I am concerned you practically invited yourself over—"
Shura cackled somewhere on the side, as Shiemi inhaled sharply – clearly disturbed by outburst. Maybe his words seemed too harsh towards his twin, but they didn't know Yukio would shrug them off as nothing. Exactly as he did, not even letting him finish his sentence.
"Someone needs to keep an eye on you, so you won't break anything" was the answer as his brother shrugged a little and then turned towards still grinning Shura. "Is there any place to sit down?"
She pointedly pouted, letting her finger linger on bottom lip as she thought the question through. "Well, yeah, there is actually" she noted, grin slipping down and being replaced by a raised brow in own silent inquiry.
"Can you show me where? I think I'll pass on the rides" concluded Yukio, putting hands in his trousers pockets. There he stood stiff, proud and aloof as always, silent storm hiding in the deeps of his teal orbs.
Wasn't even a minute before Shura nodded with a sly smile slowly reappearing on her features. "Ah, of course I will. Wouldn't want ya waiting."
At that almost inaudibly Yukio sighed just to see Shura turning her back on him, however before they made their way off, Shiemi jumped in.
"Yuki-chan, why don't you joins us?"
Her sweet voice reverberated in the air suddenly pining everybody to the ground, voiceless. Shiemi was still just a Shiemi – a sweet girl, a bit naïve but of a pure heart, sometimes just she simply couldn't catch on the sourness of the words that were said. Nevertheless if not for her and those smiles she held for all of them, for being her friends – they'd never become what they were now; one of the most-promising team of future exorcists. It wasn't much of a surprise that this one, simple question made Yukio stop and turn his head back, staring somewhere far away; not really looking at them.
"I don't find it fun at all."
"B—but— Yuki—"
Wordlessly, his brother turned then back and walked away towards waiting, clearly bored Shura that started to pick on few youngsters that were cluelessly passing her by. The nerve of Yukio though, like honestly he probably came over just to piss Rin off, and so far he was doing great in that department. Half-glaring at his twins back (as he passed by Shura jabbing a finger into her shoulder), he finally looked over at his companions. One look of their faces was enough for him to know that by now everybody's mood plunged down into darkest pits of Gehenna itself. Clear, undulated awkwardness was almost as thick as a honey which Rin could spread over his ever-growing sense of guilt.
Silence was deafening, and all he wanted to have was a nice, funny day at funfair with his friends. Everything however pointed towards total catastrophe with the speed of their falling spirits.
"So— what now?" he asked finally, breaking the spell that was cast over their group. He waited patiently for an answer, hoping that someone – anyone, really – would catch up on that and go with the flow.
After what felt like an hour, not a minute, Shima actually fidgeted before speaking up. "Um.. maybe we could go on Crazy Twister first?" he jumped in, trying (just like he) to recover everybody's spirits. Thank whoever was watching over them for Shima. "It's not as bad as Hammer of Death but it still gives a great shake."
Even though Shima's words were spoken casually and he even managed an honest smile spread over his face, it was still not enough as their longhaired female friend tch'd, narrowing her almost brow-less eyes at him.
"You go on then, I think I'll pass though" she said, her eyes slowly moving towards Rin. "Thanks to someone I'm not as eager to be here any more."
With a frown Rin took that comment to himself, although it still felt like a slap to the face with the way she looked at him. And just like that his ire hopped a notch higher.
"Hey, eyebrow!" he parroted, his mouth almost agape. Oh, how he wanted to punch something or someone right there and then, but he didn't. As if, all he did was scowl and grit his teeth in aggravation. "It's not my fault that four-eyes is no fun at all. He shouldn't have came with us."
Another pause fell upon them, after which Shiemi shook her head sadly. "It's nobody's fault but you didn't need to rub it off into Yukio's face" she murmured, her eyes still big and as green as ever but this time with a speck of anger in them.
That stilled him in place, if even Shiemi was the one to berate him (like that, in the open) then he really fucked up, big time. Pang of something that shoot through him however wasn't enough to stop him from groaning back. "Oh, great. So you're blaming me too now?"
Hearing shifting next to him, he knew that his almighty cuckoohead companion was going to put his two cents in. At this point, he really wanted to stop him from doing that; his question was rhetoric. Bon unfortunately snapped anyway, walking slowly away with no care in the world towards one of nearby flashy rides. "Nobody blames you, but you should keep your temper in check. You seem extremely hostile towards Okumura-sensei these days."
"And he didn't really do anything" piped in Konekomaru smiling blankly. "Sorry, Rin-kun" he added in advance, nodding little and running shortly after Bon.
With Bon's and Konekomaru's fallout, Rin hardly could help himself before snapping at everybody to get their shit together when truthfully he was the one who needed to do exactly that and he knew it. He was more than aware of his hypersensitivity in every aspect of their lives for the past days; especially Yukio's. How could he help it though? They were just mere days before supermoon and his bound-mate was out-of-reach, like for ever. So what if his frustrations were getting better of him, he had all the right in their fucked up world.
Nothing of sorts would've ever happened if his soul mate was another person. Like some nice girl, maybe even Shiemi and her big, green, innocent eyes. But no, his soul mate was a male, and his brother on top of that; yeah he could just as well add to that shitpile the fact that he honestly didn't mind it, if any of his wet-dreams were indicating enough.
All in all, he felt tiny ache around his forehead. A headache, just perfect – for a perfect day. "Great" he grumpily crossed arms trying to calm burning sensation within, yet all he felt was his anger and frustration grow with each passing second. "So now everybody's going on their own?"
Kamiki tch'd once again, probably upon hearing his rough tone. Swiftly she turned to Shiemi, her dark locks flowing like water. "Let's go Shiemi-san, I'll take you for a thrill ride, where you won't have to worry for your life."
Shiemi at that point looked torn between Kamiki and them. "B—but Izumo-chan!" she cried to her, as she just like Bon before placed one step ahead of the other. Clearly there wasn't a point in persuading her to change her mind either, once she took her mind to something it was final. Stubborn, like Rin. With a resigned sigh, Shiemi looked at them with a small, hopefully apologizing smile. "I'm sorry, I—"
Rin saw how she fidgeted, how her eyes would gallop towards Kamiki and so he exhaled. Yeah he migh've been pissed off just at everybody and everything by now but even he knew that no one deserved being left alone in a place where they were supposed to have a good time.
"It's okay" he said, half-hating himself for his own stupidity. "Go after her."
Shiemi's smile grew by hundreds at his words, as she nodded happily. "Thank you. I knew you'll understand."
With those words, she waved them goodbye as she turned around to run after Kamiki. Not that she'd hear him any more but he couldn't stop himself from murmuring under nose a sentence that wasn't going to change anything.
"Yeah, I understand."
Between stalls, colourful lights and loads of blood-chilling rides, he and Shima stood out like that sore thumb. Both of them temporally lost in their own thoughts. Well, it wasn't uncomfortable to be left alone with Shima of all people, Rin just never really had that much time for anybody to be honest. Not him, not Shiemi. His entire world spun around his brother, from the day they were born until now. Was he regretting it though? Nah.
"Well, I guess that leaves us two" suddenly bummed Shima, half-crying. "And I was hoping to take Shiemi-chan to the House of Madness..."
With a snigger, Rin tussled his own hair. Well, that was certainly Shima, okay. Chasing after almost every skirt that was in a peripheral vision. Be it Shiemi, Kamiki or even – god, please forbid – Shura. "Yeah, sorry. It looks like I am fucking everything up these days, doesn't it?" he stated, putting hands into his trousers pockets like Yukio did before and shrugged. After everything was said and done even he didn't want to be here any more.
Sudden hand around his neck snapped him out from his thoughts.
"Nah, it's alright. Happens to the best" remarked Shima, smiling. "Let's go on that Hammer of Death then."
Rin's surprise was written all over his face as he stared at his friend. "You said you'll pass on that one, didn't you?" he said slowly.
In answer Shima laughed way-too-loudly, a laugh that was supposed to cover his fear towards said ride. "If anything happens you'll catch me, don't you" he joked, playfully pushing himself off of him and casually putting hands behind head. "So, what are you waiting for?"
With a very light steps Shima started to walk away but Rin couldn't help but to stare at his silhouette. He was surprised that after everybody turned away from him, Shima was still there and trying to cheer him up. If not for the fact that he was a male and in a middle of a funfair he'd clearly slip a tear in silent thanks for having that pinkhaired airhead for a friend.
Without thinking much he dashed after him, punching on his shoulder when he ran by.
Maybe, maybe his day wasn't completely ruined just yet.
...
As the day went on, sky started to darken and all colours of lights shone more than before amidst upcoming evening, Rin felt better with himself. It wasn't a sense of peace but his anger subsided somehow along the day to the point when he pushed it aside, forgetting about the reason of it – forgetting about everything, really. As it happened both, he and Shima got almost on every single ride available. From some they came down laughing, from some shaking and even almost fainting (that one was caused by a flash of their very own lives before their eyes).
Overall however, Rin was happy. Shima didn't push him aside not once, sometimes even challenging him to those stupid sidestalls and games. If there was one thing in funfairs he wasn't fond of then that were they – the games. They were so staged that he felt sorry for everybody that tried them. Still he envied those lucky bastards that would walk away with huge mascot for their loved ones.
Not that he wanted to give Yukio huge teddy bear with written 'I love you' all over it's stomach. That wasn't going to happen. Ever.
A push on his shoulder reminded him that he was actually half-glaring in a direction of some couple – all smiles and laughter; said huge teddy bear between them.
"Hey, wanna try it?" asked Shima, pointing towards shooting range where the couple just came from.
Rin grumbled, tearing his eyes from the happy sight just to exhale. "Y'know we're not gonna win anything, don't you?" he asked, more than sure they won't get anything but empty pockets from it.
"Well, if we don't try, we won't know" answered him back Shima, now stepping towards the stall.
Groaning, Rin followed after him – he didn't have anything better to do anyway. Besides he was still feeling the results of their last ride. What was it again? He couldn't remember clearly as once he sat down everything changed into one rainbow blur around him; something with crazy in it, he supposed. One thing he was sure of, was that he never was going on that one like ever again.
Bottle of water in his hand, he opened a cap and sipped from it as Shima walked over to stall. Just out of pure curiosity he stood next to his friend, glancing at his attempts of shooting down a huge targets and failing miserably.
After good five minutes of trying, he snapped. Almost violently he closed the bottle he was holding and grumbled.
"I told you so."
At that Shima smirked, somehow making Rin a bit self-concious of being with him in a shooting range where most people came with their loved ones; be it a family or couples. Just as Rin was going to comment on their predicament and a pair of curious eyes from the nearby pair on their persons, he heard a loud bang as Shima actually managed to hit a target and it didn't ricochet this time.
Wide-eyed, Rin whistled low under breath. "Good game. You actually managed to hit one target."
Shima literally jumped into air, all happiness and proudness of his half-assed success. "Hell yeah! You see?" he managed through his broad smile as he pointed accusatory finger towards Rin. "It is possible to win this thing!"
Yeah, because hearing those words made everything so much more possible, but Rin shrugged nonetheless. Before however his friend started his self-explanatory monologue about how pessimistic and completely wary he was of funfair games a man appeared with a tiny, clone-leaf like pendant in his hand.
"Here you are" the man said with a way-too-forced smile on his face. His huge hand hung in between them before he actually pushed it into Rin's direction. "For boyfriend."
At first Rin blinked confused shitless why would that man try to push that thing into his face before the meaning of his words finally gnawed on him. And he blushed, like a school girl on her first date nonetheless.
"I—I— I'm not..." he stuttered, chilled to the bone. Stares he felt on his back seemed to burn with insensitivity through his clothes. "We're not—"
All the words failing him at this moment made Shima try and help the situation, if only a bit. Not a word was said as Shima took the pendant, smiling.
"Yeah, thanks. I'll give it to my boy friend later though."
If it wasn't at that moment ground shattering feeling underneath his feet, then he was owning Shima a big time for that one. The man seemed confused but quickly got over that statement, bowing little in silent apology at which Shima just waved it off like nothing happened in the first place.
"For that one misunderstanding, I think the least I can do to apologize is to give you two one more game for free" said the man hurriedly. "Please."
Shima shrugged his shoulders but his eyes travelled to Rin, Rin who still was a little shaken. He might've had a funny face 'cause even Shima called him on it, poking him in the cheek. "~Hullo, earth to Rin."
Blinking, he slapped his friends hand off his face. It wasn't as if they just were called boyfriends, now were they? Shima's behaviour wasn't helping the matter at hand either but he was glad he had him by his side anyway. The man seemed getting impatient though.
"So which of you is going to play?" he asked, looking in between them.
Shima grinned, rubbing his hands as if Christmas came early. Rin on the other side, glared at his friend for not even asking him if he wanted to try, it wasn't okay for Shima to have all the fun, now was it? Of course it wasn't and this time he wanted to try his luck too. No wonder he practically yanked the rifle from between Shima's hands just as he was getting comfortable with it. He couldn't however stop his friend from shrieking out in agony.
"Hey! You said, you don't play these games!"
Rin shrugged nonchalantly, throwing his bottle of water towards Shima; which the other caught instinctively. He grinned, his eyes almost shining with challenge. "Who says I'll hit more than you?"
His friend huffed, racking free hand through pink locks. "You're just angry that I managed to hit one, aren't you?"
Getting a hang of the rifle, Rin leaned it on his shoulder, checking trajectory. "Nah" he said as he pulled the trigger and hit literal nothing.
"Of course you are" was all that Shima said before sighing and pushing the cap of the bottle open.
After that a strange, not entirely uncomfortable silence followed. Few moments later however as Shima leaned over the stall, looking everywhere and nowhere, he started to talk freely, not really caring if Rin actually listened to him or not.
"Hey, you know what? I had fun today" spoke Shima, his eyes following people that were passing by. Sips of water in between his rambling. Sky was blue-orange at this point in time and rainbow flashlights reflected on everything, filling it with funny pang of giddiness. "Like, I really did, even if only with you. D—don't get me wrong here, Okumura, I'd love it if we were all been here but like this... It's good too. It's only a shame that Shiemi isn't here, wonder where she is? And Shura too... Hey, do you think she'd be able to drag your bro on some ride?"
Half-listening to Shima's monologue, Rin sighed. Just as he thought that he could completely ignore the growing uneasiness about getting back to where he and Yukio lived, knowing that he'd have to face him again after their fun was gone... He haven't even felt as his fingers pulled the trigger, most of bullets hitting the targets head on and making them swing back.
Unbeknown to Shima, he continued Rin's guilt trip.
"About Okumura-sensei, don't you think you've been extremely harsh towards him this past week?" asked Shima, sparing him a look, before taking another sip of water. "Heck, we all know you two can bicker like a married couple but this is way out-of-control. You're either stalking him, ogling and teasing or you get totally disgusted by him, keep away and don't speak a word to him. What are you, expecting or something? It's strange at least, as if... You were lovesick or some shit."
Shima's words hit way too close home for Rin's tastes, his hand slipped too and he missed. With a narrowed eyes and a growl he lowered rifle, now finally glaring at his so-called friend.
"Thank you, Dr. Phill."
Answered him a shrug of shoulders and a hidden smile. "What can I say? I am good in what I do" Shima joked, pushing himself off the stall and for the first time saw the results of Rin's game. His eyes almost bugged out at the view. "Holy cow, you might rethink going as the Knight y'know. I think you'd be just as good as a Dragoon" he commented, counting hit targets. "Wow, 7 out of 11, that's just... Wow."
Rin sighed, aggravated. "Thanks but I think one Dragoon in the family is more than enough."
"Make that two though" stated matter-of-factly Shima, now scraping at his head. "Your dad was a Dragoon as well, wasn't he?"
He chuckled at that. "Now that you mention it, yeah you're right."
Shadow fell over them as the man came closer, he seemed just as shocked as Shima when he counted hits and almost choked up before speaking.
"W—well, we have a winner here" he managed to creak out, before staggering back to show up with a few smaller prizes in his hands. "Here, pick the one you like."
Rin almost boiled out with anger at sight of the so-called prizes. It seemed they were just as bad as the pendant won by Shima. "Is that it?" he asked somewhat acidly, leaving rifle on the table. "One would think there's going to be a bigger prize for 7 out of 11" he added, his eyes narrowed.
If not for his friend he'd clearly smack the man right then, but thankfully Shima patted him on the shoulder albeit forcefully.
"Ne, just take one. Maybe you can give it to Yukio as an apology gift, eh?"
Though Shima had a point, he needed to apologize to his twin one way or another but still – prizes seemed way too worthless to count as one. However deep there somewhere he knew that the man was just playing his role in all this mess, that he probably was met with similar reactions from many people before him.
Sighing tiredly he looked over the prizes and from the first sight he knew which one he was going to pick, there was no other way he'd take the pendant or that stuffed puppy. No, he went almost immediately for the gem that rested between rocks, a silver-alike pocket watch. It wasn't anything special, really – especially coming from a funfair like this, but the engraving reminded him of feathers; overall it was great eye-catcher.
The man whistled, letting him take the watch and blink at it.
"You have a great eye, boy" he said, putting rest of the prizes aside. "Those are handmade in here. You won't find second pocket-watch like this ever, they're like limited edition."
Shima leaned over his shoulder to look at the watch, Rin on the other hand grumbled, pushing it open to find it winded-up and ticking. Least to say he was surprised it worked.
"It's working" he said, blinking once more.
A loud, deep laugh gurgled from man's throat. "Of course it does, it's one of the best prizes you can find in here. Unless you want to try for a tablet or NintendoDS then feel free to do so but I'll tell you something" he spoke, somehow fondly. "The best prizes aren't the ones that you get for being the best but those you achieve by trying to be."
Nodding, Rin looked the man in the eye and chuckled. "I guess, you're right" he said pocketing the watch and finally shrugging pink head from his shoulder. "Oh man, your head is heavy. Do you mind returning my water now, please?"
Shima smiled before he remembered that he actually drank it dry. "Eheh—"
"You've drank it, didn't you?"
Only Shima's loud, nervous laugh filled the air.
...
How did it happen for everybody to meet just before the mentioned House of Madness was still a mystery to Rin. He didn't mind it though – far from it, actually - but at first was wary of stolen glances and still silence that fell upon them. However thanks to Shima and Shiemi soon enough they were talking again, laughing out and actually pushing ahead into haunted house, Bon head first with Konekomaru just slightly behind.
Their journey in there was too short but clearly not boring. Only after, when Rin held in his hand a long strip of photos that were shot along their way through the House of Madness, he finally knew that everything was once again okay – no hard feelings about their earlier fallout and his own stupidity.
As they walked through the crowds, dark sky above them, people's laughter and screams around, Rin could say he could almost burst with the warm feeling of happiness that spread within him. Bon was sighing somewhere on his side, his voice rough as if he was in physical pain. The motions he made didn't help his clear embarrassment over the said photo shot.
"Oh, man" spoke Shima holding the strip and waving it around jokingly. He was exceptionally good in teasing his taller friend, years of doing so finally paid off. "Bon, your face on the third pic though~"
At that Bon groaned, smacking hand over his face. "Don't" he managed, half-growling. "You weren't much better!" he shot back, hand falling down and eyes boring into Shima's. "Never knew a guy can have that high-pitched scream."
In a reply, Shima smiled. "Well at least Shiemi-chan didn't have any objections in keeping bad things away from me, ne?" he asked smugly.
Shiemi blinked, realizing the question was towards her. Then she bounced on the heels of her feet little as they walked, amused smile on her features. "It was great! I loved it!"
"So that's why you're smiling on every photo, huh?" added Kamiki Izumo, tearing the strip from Shima's hand and looking it over. There was a slight fondness to her tone when she spoke next. "You're really strange, Moriyama-san."
With another bounce, blonde nodded nonchalantly, her locks flaying around her face. "Thank you all for coming today with me here" she announced, her eyes sparkling. "It was so much fun! I never imagined that funfair's could be like this!"
Chuckling Rin also piped into conversation. "Yeah, it was a good day" he added, as they passed by another laughing group of people.
"But it wasn't great, was it?" spoke lightly Konekomaru, who's glasses mirrored a colour of rainbow.
With that he sighed, scratching lightly his not-so-much any more pounding head. "What makes you say so?" was his question, half-jokingly chuckling.
"You still need to apologize to your brother, Okumura" answered Kamiki nonchalantly before anybody could speak up. "We all know about your tantrums but it was simply cruel."
Bon sighed almost inaudibly as if resigned. "It's no use, he'll never change."
"But he realises that what he did was wrong" ended that string of conversation Konekomaru, all awhile Rin walked beside them trying really hard to ignore the fact they were talking about him in his presence.
"Y'all know I am still here, don't you?" he finally growled, racking his mind to find a solution to the mess he made.
"Yes, there's a point to this too if you didn't know" answered him Kamiki, a slight smile on her lips. By the way her eyes were squinted he could say she was amused by his problems. Damn that girl.
"The point?" he prodded on, trying to get some more info about the strange way his friends minds could work sometimes.
"The point— Yuki-chan—"
Bon's voice was swallowed by Shiemi's outburst. Everyone blinked confused before sparing a glance in her direction just to blink once more and follow her suddenly much sadder glance. Her wide green eyes seemed to lack the sparkles they had before and even her shoulders slumped some more. There wasn't a bounce to her step as she stopped completely still.
Entire day's goodness disappeared within a heartbeat, as Rin realised were his friend was looking. Suddenly everything became a white noise in the distance, every flash of lights was washed out of colours and all he could do was stop and look at the silhouette of his twin, Yukio's back towards him – sitting alone at the table, hand keeping his chin up.
There was no presence of Shura in that picture, his brother was left completely alone.
Guilt which Rin tried to ignore gnawed viciously at his coincidence even more than before. Because all in all, he left him alone. He made him do that. And it was all his fault that his twin was left alone in a place where people came together to have some fun (still his position about taking Yukio to fun places wasn't going to change).
Just as Rin started to submerge in the darkest pits of guilt and that hidden anger at Yukio, he was suddenly torn away from it with a pat on his shoulder and the world burst once more in a vivid repertoire of colours.
"Go talk to him."
With a startled surprise he stared at Shima for what seemed to be ages. When another pat came, he finally shrugged off the stiffness of his limbs and glanced over to the rest of his friends. They all waited for him to make that first step to Yukio, Kamiki was half-glaring alongside Bon where Shiemi and Konekomaru just nodded with smiles upon their faces.
That left only Shima and him.
With a silent groan, Rin messed up his hair – ready but not really to face his brother just yet. "I—I don't know—"
"If you don't go this instant I don't want you to talk to me for a week!" burst out Shiemi, so suddenly it was almost funny. Her face was bright red at this point.
Rin chuckled under his breath at that. "Okay, if you say so."
Shima then patted him twice more before pushing not very gently ahead, what made Rin stagger on his own two feet. "Now GO."
Glaring at his friends he bummed under breath at how evil they could be at times but he followed their hints anyway, putting one feet before the other. As his brother's back was coming closer, he started to sweat nervously upon realisation he didn't know how to apologize to him. He had literal zero ideas as to how start that conversation, not to mention he was starting to get afraid that this time he might've pushed Yukio too far. That maybe, his brother finally would give in into hating him.
Yes, his step wavered when that thought lodged itself in his mind and sudden wash of sadness flashed over his features.
Maybe it was already too late.
With a sigh and way-too-tight vocal cords, he snapped his hands into pockets. Then a flash of idea burst out as his palm felt a similar coldness of a watch he won on one of those stalls. Was he going to do it? Was he going to give Yukio that piece of crap he won?
Yes, yes he was. By that point he was desperately trying to find something, anything to start that conversation.
When he finally reached (oh the dreaded) back of his twin, he did the first thing he could think off and so he grabbed nearby chair and put it roughly next to his brother's to slump down on it. Yukio's unresponsiveness was worrying, as he barely acknowledged that somebody just bodily sat down next to him but also it was crystal clear message that his brother wasn't going to start anything, his eyes boring into some speck of invisible dust on the opposite stall.
With a grumble and a bit of shifting, Rin took out the watch and slid it towards Yukio.
"Take it" he concluded, promptly sighing but not before leaning comfortably on the chair, pushing hands into pockets.
Yukio spared a glance at the table and then back at Rin. "What's this?"
Coming form his brother, it was such a stupid question he wanted to smack him down his head. "Don't need it" he answered, now looking back at his twin. Their eyes met and held each others for a few seconds before Yukio's plummeted down towards the watch. "Figured it's gotta be of better use to you."
At that his brother exhaled tiredly before hand which held his chin limped down towards silver watch that rested on the table. He flicked it open and raised a brow in surprise. "It's actually working."
Upon seeing Yukio's flabbergasted expression Rin couldn't help himself and laughed out loud. "Of course it is, spotty."
In a reply there was a flick of a shutting pocket watch and a glare. "Did you really came all this way here to make me angry, nii-san?"
He shot his hands up in a surrender, he certainly didn't want Yukio to be pissed off, by any means. But alas it was good to know his brother didn't hate him for their earlier spat. There was still hope. And so he smiled, massaging his neck.
"Well— I—" There was so many things he wanted to say but he was at loss of any coherent words. "Does it really matter?"
Yukio's eyebrow twitched but eventually he breathed out, smiling slightly towards the ever-moving lights. "No. Not really."
"Good 'cause my feet are killing me from all that walking. You won't mind if I rest a bit and keep you a company."
With another exhale his twin half-smiled even though he really tried not to, which as a result made Rin grin stupidly back at him. Afterwards the tension eased as they started chatting about how pretty the lights were and how people's laugh was contagious when some teen walked by them but could not stop giggling. Before long they were smiling, laughing and even talking about things they saw over here, at funfair.
Surprisingly Yukio's day wasn't as bad as Rin thought. Even he the almighty don't-do-fun actually let himself be dragged by Shura to two thrill rides which didn't end good for Shura, hence her absence by Yukio's side when they found him.
So in the end all was good, Rin kept on grinning and Yukio on smiling until the day ended.
...
"Hola, what's up kiddos?" asked Shura, swagging towards team exo minus the one and only Rin.
Kamiki nodded her chin towards the view of a laughing Okumura brothers. "They seem to get along just fine."
Konekomaru nodded while Shiemi could barely keep at bay the tears of joy that tried to spill out of her eyes. Shura on the other hand stared long and sharply at the backs of brothers as they chatted about something completely lost in their little bubble of their own world. There was something nagging at the back of her mind, something akin to a far away alarm bells but she ignored it, chuckling at the stupidity of the Okumura twins.
"Ye, honeybirds seem to not have a care in the world, don't they?" she said, sighing and looking over the group. "Well, let's them have it for a while, eh?" she added, an idea already forming in her mind.
Shiemi nodded vigorously. "Yes, they need it. Badly. Let's go to the House of Madness!"
Shima, Kamiki and Bon sweatdropped at the want girl had in her sweet voice. As if anything Shura didn't help the matter, raising a brow.
"What's that House of Madness you speak of? Sounds fun as heck" she asked, sly smile forming already on her face.
"It's great Kirigakure-sensei!" burst Shiemi, head over heels with that particular attraction. "I'll show you, let's go!"
Groaning, group slumped some but only a few seconds later Shima was once more all game, jumping to a conclusion that he could accidentally jump into Shura while in there. With a few more pros and cons the group in the end figured that they'll go anyway.
By the end of the day, neither Yukio nor Rin realised they completely forgot about their friends.
...
2 days later
Two days.
Only two days left to the supermoon to be at it's highest point in the night sky, and let me tell you it was a bitch. Rin could barely function by now, wherever he went he could smell Yukio and his bond would vibe with something akin to tiniest pleas towards him to make it official. Their bond stopped growing at this point, beautiful red ribbon stretching between them whenever they went; flexing and waving around with their heartbeats.
It was magical in a sense but also depressing to know it was pointless. There was no chance in the Assiah that Yukio would have any higher feelings towards Rin than those of a brotherly love. Or love in overall, if one could think more.
It was no wonder that Rin started to constantly ask himself what was exactly love. Was that the feeling of lust, of need, of warmness, of happiness?
There was no clear answer to that and on one of the in-between class breaks Shiemi only confirmed it to him. What he didn't expect however was that his blonde friend was very perceptive and caught him red-handed once he spilled his guts to her.
"I think that no matter who do you love, you should go for it Rin. We all only live once, we'll never have the second chance, don't we?"
The words she spoke so clearly and sweetly were having some hidden depth in them, and that underlined layer played on the strings of his heart. The time when he woke up on that bed to find only his twins broken glasses on the seat became way too real. Snapping his eyes close didn't help to calm the sudden whirlwind of cold emotions that engulfed him.
Because he kept it all inside, those feelings never went away. The worst thing was he didn't want to go through that pain ever again, he wouldn't know if he'd be able to cope with that any more. Shiemi, oh sweet Shiemi didn't have any idea that she just fuelled his own stupid hope that maybe, just maybe Yukio would feel the same to him. Groaning inwardly, he remembered Shima's comment about him being lovesick. Yeah, he was, and it was a very bad case of lovesickness.
When did it start? He racked his mind looking for an answer but couldn't come up with any and chuckled sadly. Well, he guessed, he was always in love with his brother then. Which shouldn't be surprising, noting the existence of their bond and maybe he just needed to acknowledge it.
Warm, autumn sunlight fell over his face, lighting it up against his sour thoughts. The wind that ruffled his appearance and made his hair a wild mess of locks was cool against his skin but he relished in the freshness of it. Opening slowly eyes he let his hand shade the sun, as he stared at it trying to see the bond that was there but only on Gehenna's plane.
It wasn't funny any more, it was painful because he was in a hopeless situation without a way out.
With a long exhale, he let his eyelids fall close once again. The sudden, sharp pull on his left pinky however made him sit up with a pang of pain on his face. Caressing hurt limb, he furrowed his brows.
"What th—"
And just like that, a girl with way-too-bushy brown hair walked past him with fast yet sophisticated strides. Once he glanced at that mop of hairdo and big glasses he felt as the bond he shared with Yukio trembled. It was a very familiar motion to what happened before, with the exact same girl. What was her name again? He couldn't really remember but her tiny, skinny frame and mole on the cheek resembled too much of Yukio to him, now that he realised.
Even staring at her striding from one side of the grounds to the other, filled him with a strange mixture of uneasiness and wariness towards her. Just as he'd make another rash decision and run after her, his eyes caught a glimpse of something that stunned him into stiffness.
Dark, dirty and clearly worn out thin chain hung loosely from her school uniform's breast pocket. It bounced lightly with each step she took, unaware of his gaze over her persona. What really caught his eye though wasn't the chain but the thing it was attached to – a pocket watch, which if he was correct had a very similar engrave to the one he gave Yukio to, of a feathers. It was impossible though, wasn't it? She couldn't possibly have the same watch, besides hers was practically in shambles.
Gulping he tried to catch even more details but the girl disappeared from his sight. Still the resemblance was almost terrifying, not to mention the fact that girl was wearing it even though it was old and broken. Oh, yeah, he caught the sight of shattered glass on that thing as it lacked half of the cover.
"Yo, Okumura! Ogling newcomer girls now?"
Sudden appearance of Shima above him, startled him so much he forgot what he was thinking about just now. As a hello he could only snap back at his friend.
"DON'T YOU DO THAT!"
Shima burst out laughing, before waving his hand playfully. "It's a new technique, isn't it? What it's called, Stat~uo?"
With a low growl coming from deeps of his throat, Rin glared. "Har-har, so funny" he snapped, standing up and patting his trousers from the grass.
"Ne, ne... What's got your knickers in a twist? Did I hit the nail on the head?" prodded Shima, sly smile on his features. "Is this the girl you fell head over heels for?"
"WHAT—?!"
Rin's mortified expression was promptly ignored by Shima as he sniggered. "So I WAS right. You've been taking out your lovesickness on your bro!"
Shaking his head wildly, Rin tried to stop that trail of his friends thoughts. "No, nononononno! You got it all wrong!"
But Shima shrugged the comment off, as if trying to say that Rin's secret was safe with him. Which wasn't even close to what Rin was trying to actually say. Kinda knowing it was pointless to argue with the likes of pinkhaired friend, Rin exhaled tiredly while listening to Shima's ramblings.
If there was one thing Rin Okumura should ever regret though, then it was the moment when he stopped himself from running after the girl. Because unbeknown to him, she was holding the key to the future events that will take place and make him choose between himself or Yukio.
And it won't be an easy choice.
...
Now
... In that corridor, behind the doors he stood before, was Yukio. And he shouldn't be here – now - but he was and that was his choice. With a ragged breath Rin put his hand on the door's handle and pushed them open.
Last days events still reverberated in his mind, firing his confidence up – because fuck everything; it was his heart on the line not anybody else's.