Title: Hellspawn
Chapter: 21/?
Characters: Rin, Yukio, exo-team, (?)
Genre: action, mystery, angst (place a genre here)
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: Rin wanted to laugh but couldn't, he also wanted to curl back into himself but couldn't. He did neither of those things as his twin was yanking him upwards – arm dragged over shoulder and all that.
A/N: Hear me, hear me end is near. I'm done with this chapter, tired but damn I like it. Hope you'll like it too. Also I think I just hit 100+k wow, yay me. Ps. I am fresh after Avengers: Civil War and daaaaamn - I love Stucky. Read & Review!
"A storm is coming, Frank says
A storm that will swallow the children..."
- Donnie Darko.
Rin couldn't stop picking on his sweater's sleeve. He simply couldn't help it, really. And it wasn't even particularly special garment to start with, it was only the one Yukio kept on using when he was pretty much cloth-less mere days after his awakening. Same he lend to his twin oh so chivalrously.
The fact that he was bored shitless prolly hadn't got anything to do with it, but maybe it actually did. Well, who would be surprised at that though? Their so-called teacher hasn't showed up again and the past hour entire class spent minding their own businesses, more or less.
Problem was - bloody sweater just wouldn't bounce back as it did on Yukio's wrist.
By no means, he wouldn't ever try to smell said cloth once he got it back with thanks, that would be weird to do – but he did nonetheless. In the next few minutes after receiving his sweater, he found himself alone in their kitchen while preparing clothes for washing – and he yielded to his primal side to breath in a huge whiff of his twins still lingering scent.
Shaking that thought outta his mind, Rin pulled again on a sleeve which gave in, covering his hand half-way – leaving only knuckles and long, slender fingers on display.
He frowned at that, remembering as Yukio would pull and pull on the same sleeve over and over again but it would just bounce back onto his wrist, just slightly covering his brother's palm.
Not that he'd mind Yukio being once again taller than him but... yeah, he actually did mind. A lot. Rin felt like his head-of-the-family position was endangered in a just few months that followed his brother's awakening. Again. Even though still, he couldn't help but to feel fluttering of his heart at mere thought of his twin, his smile, his frown, his... everything and nothing.
Sometimes Rin would catch himself at how stupefied he'd feel while Yukio could do basically nothing. It was like they say in those fairy-tales, feeling of being on cloud nine by simply watching his brother do every day's chores; by simply being around him. So what if their relationship wasn't progressing in any direction? Rin very much knew that he was in-love and there was no way out of it (not that he'd want to find one!) but at the same time, he was well aware that there was no way into it either.
He didn't mind it though. Actually if he'd be honest with himself he quite relished in the unspoken love that hung heavily around them.
However in the weeks following their supermoon, he felt the ever-growing tension between them. It was unmistakable. Of course, neither of them spoke of it, nor gave a sign of recognition. They kept on prancing around each other, overplaying the brother's card over and over.
Yes, Rin was more than aware they were stuck on each other. It was infuriating to begin with but also for some strange reason felt weirdly exciting. Maybe because it was a taboo, because they'd be alone against the entire world. It didn't matter, it made him feel like he should pursue that happiness he could have, not minding consequences.
There was also a matter of Yukio's so-called pregnancy, about which he never really thought about before. It wasn't as if anyone knew nor could see any signs of it anyway, well maybe beside Rin himself he gathered.
"What a boreeee!" sighed loudly one of occupants of the classroom where Rin was currently sitting. "This is stupid, Shura-san did it again!" moaned same person before slumping with a dramatic expression over his face onto his desk.
Kamiki Izumo, who sat next to said person, exhaled before glaring at her companion. "Would you kindly shut it, Shima! I think by now all of us heard you say it at least hundred times!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "Find yourself something to do."
Upon hearing that on Shima face slipped wicked grin. "I already have" he answered, blatantly turning his eyes onto completely unsuspecting blonde's back before reaching his hand towards her.
Kamiki shrieked at that, swatting at Shima's hand repeatedly. "Pervert! Leave poor Shiemi outta your wicked fantasies."
Shima pouted. "Who do you think I am?" he mock-asked. "My fantasies are top-notch classy with a bit of leather in them, not wicked at all."
Konekomaru laughed somewhere behind them what got him a glare from red-faced Kamiki. Shiemi, who so far was completely enamoured with her familiar Ni-chan, only then blinked her wide eyes to look at her friends.
"What's happening?" she asked confused, not really following their previous conversation.
Izumo shook in place, hand trembling at her side – glaring heavily at Shima – but in the end only huffed before plonking back on her chair. She waved off other girl's confusion with a hand. "Nothing, Moriyama-san. Just Shima being Shima I guess, go back to what you've been doing before."
Shiemi however frowned little before exhaling. "I am kind of bored just sitting here. We were supposed to have a lesson with Shura-san but she's still absent..."
Bon took that exact moment to pipe in. "It's already third time she's done this in the past two weeks" he mentioned displeased, staring at the view behind classroom's window. "Very unprofessional, not to mention someone could've informed us about it beforehand. We're just wasting our time here."
Loud scratch of chair's legs being dragged over the floor filled up classroom just then. Bon was already on his legs, throwing bag over shoulder. Izumo shook her head at that but haven't said a word, probably thinking the same thing as her friend. Konekomaru though was surprised.
"You're leaving?" he asked, his eyes wide behind glasses. "What if she's just late?" he tried to reason, even though it was a stupid reason to start with.
Bon called him on it almost immediately. "It's been half hour, Koneko. She's not coming and I've just wasted all this time waiting— When I could've helped someone."
Rin sighed then, scratching slowly at his chin. "Helped with what?" he asked curiously, glancing at his always-2-cool-4-school friend.
At that Bon stared once again behind the window. "Helped with demons."
Once his words were registered by the few occupants, there was uproar of what's and when's and how's. Bon however wasn't easy to break and didn't give in, standing by his rules and hasn't said anything.
Besides only mentioning something that everybody was aware of but never said anything about, "We've already been through a lot, what's one ghost in comparison to Gehenna's Gate? Makes one wonder why they keep on prolonging making us official exorcists."
That was a good point and Rin had to agree with his friend on this. It looked like not only he picked on the strange policy that hovered around them. While he knew that most good and experienced exorcists finished them bloody cram-school courses, they had nothing on them.
Zero experience. They on the other hand had it in spares already. Yet even though they fought with Satan's spawns and even the devil himself they still were treated like some preschoolers, who had no idea how to say their A-B-C's. That in itself was infuriating.
"Anyway, if you lot want to sit on your arses all day be my guests, I'm going."
With confident stride Bon ended his short litany about wasting time and moved ahead. He already said his bye's and not-so-accidentally shoved Rin's shoulder with his bag when classrooms door was yanked open.
At the mere sound of it all pairs of eyes locked onto the person that shot inside, his hair a bit more unkempt than usual, glasses crooked on his nose and tail ticking with each step.
Yukio looked seriously shaken – quite literally.
Bon immediately stiffened by Rin's desk, wondering if he should get back to his place unnoticed while he still could. Rin on the other side, growled under breath at the view of his friends back – or rather, his perky ass. It took almost everything out of Rin not to pinch Bon's backside so he'd back off from his line of vision. If there was an ass Rin would've liked to see it'd be Yukio's or Shiemi's or Kamiki's – certainly not Bon's.
Seeing hesitation in cockoo-head's shoulders, he grit his teeth before kicking Bon's shin.
Loud crash filled up classroom as Yukio let all his books fall unceremoniously onto teachers desk.
Shiemi jumped in her seat at that, Kamiki closed her eyes instead but boys didn't seem to react in the slightest to that display of irritation from younger Okumura. They were all aware that Yukio didn't come in as a student but as a teacher, and in a very bad mood it seemed.
After hitting twice more on Bon's shin, Rin glowered. "Would you mind taking your ass off my sight already. Sit down damnnit!"
Just seconds after Rin's outburst, gravely silence filled the classroom.
And then nothing.
Bon as silently and quickly as he mustered sat back on his place. Rest of the classroom however waited for something, anything from their Okumura-sensei. Yukio's silence was more than unnerving and very much awkward.
Then there was a loud exhale and Yukio's shoulders slumped little bit before he looked up into faces of his students.
"Alright, so as you might realize Shura once again is off, she's been called over on mission few hours ago and for that I am sorry" here Yukio straightened, letting his tail wave slowly behind him in loops. He raked hand trough hair, making it stick out in different directions. If anyone found it funny, no one called him on it. "I've been called by Pheles-san just few minutes ago and haven't got time to prepare any material for today's lesson, however you might feel free to ask about anything you might find difficult or complicated in your material and I'll try to explain it as well as I can."
Sighing loudly then Yukio slowly, almost sophistically sat behind teachers desk, ignoring incredulous looks he's been given and reached for one of many books that lied on the desk.
Almost instantly classroom sighed with relief.
Rin couldn't stop staring at his twin though, he couldn't recall seeing Yukio like this – ever. More so, he seemed totally at ease with his tail out in the open – and that somehow made Rin happier than ever.
Upon closer inspection he'd say that Yukio was bluffing and hard. Books he took with himself were his school-books, his dishevelled self also pointed towards his earlier shower – and with a whiff of his nose, Rin was more than sure that Yukio showered just before coming into classroom. His brother's scent was heavy and fresh and that send shiver down his back straight to his groin and Rin fidgeted in place.
He could practically see the few wet strands of his twins hair, that didn't have luck to dry out yet.
As Rin was temporally lost to his thoughts, rest of the classroom relaxed and slowly Shima was once again in the centre of attention.
"—there's going to be Halloween's party in the academy I've heard" Shima blabbered, hovering on the back feet of his chair nonchalantly, hands behind his head. "You guys coming right?"
Shiemi nodded vigorously her blonde head. "Yes! I've already told my mum I want to go but she said I can't go alone."
Shima at that smiled sincerely. "Don't worry, I'll be there for sure."
"That's great! I'm so glad" breathed out Shiemi with relief. "I'll tell my mum I won't be alone, that you're coming then."
Kamiki huffed under nose. "Of course you'd go, typical" her words aimed at pinkhead. "Probably in some silly costume too."
Ears of wide-eyed blonde perked up upon hearing this. "Costume? What costume, Izumo-chan?"
The other girl bit her own tongue. "Err— Just a costume, don't you know? It's called Halloween for a reason, scary costumes included."
"Scary?" piped Shiemi, jumping little in place excited. "Amazing. I already can't wait. Can I wear a costume too?"
Kamiki opened her mouth to answer back but unfortunately Shima beat her to it by pushing her lips close with a hand, his smile aimed at expecting blonde. "Of course you can, I'll help you find one if you want."
Bon chuckled under breath, shaking his head. "With cat ears and whiskers I gather" he said, raising his brow. He's got an eye wink as an answer to that question and chuckled once again. "You'll never change will you?"
Shima shook his pink head. "Never."
Three of friends burst into heartily laughter then, as Kamiki tried (with little to no effect) convince blonde girl to go with her instead of pinkheaded pervert to shop for an appropriate costume.
However as future team of exorcists was staring to bicker back and forth between themselves, Rin's mind was completely off of it. He half-listened to his friends but his utmost concentration was on his twin's stern facade. But it was just that – a facade, as his brother's tail was starting to fidget with agitation. At what, for what reason he couldn't guess though - at first.
Only when Shima started to describe how Shiemi's future costume was supposed to look (with lace and silk included), Rin understood his brother's silent ire. Even if he himself liked to imagine how things could look between him and Shiemi, he always would catch himself thinking that it wouldn't work. Some kind of sudden trigger would pop on when it came to the blonde and he'd feel very disturbed by a mere thought of her with anyone like that to be honest.
Their light-haired friend was too nice, too sweet and too innocent to try and imagine such dirty things with her as the main character.
And at that moment, he wished Shima would just shut his trap.
To Rin's utmost surprise, he didn't have to wait long before that happened. Just as if his wish came true abrupt burst of bright blue flames shocked silly pinkhaired boy and he fell flat from his chair onto hard floor groaning. Momentarily Rin narrowed eyes at his brother and for a second they locked but to make everything funnier, Yukio was too startled at the happening – or so it seemed by his stupefied facial expression.
Rin couldn't help it and laughed upon remembering his own accidental bursts of flames when he'd get angry or displeased with something. The worst thing was that his twin was trying hard to conceal his little accident by keeping as straight face as he could – without flustering terribly at what had he done. Not that Rin wouldn't catch a beet-red tips of his twins ears anyway.
Shima on the other hand was slowly getting back on his feet, picking up his chair while at it. "Why did you do that?" he asked mock-hurt but sat down totally relaxed. Of course it was aimed at Rin, who shrugged. "You're gonna get dibs too, y'know. I'd never forget about you, Rin."
His laugh hitched when from a corner of his eye he once again caught distressed face of his twin.
"Oi! Okumura!"
"I—it wasn't me!" he finally managed in-between his laugher. Unfortunately for him, Shima's confused face made entire situation even more hilarious.
"Of course it was you, dimwit" cut in Bon, narrowing his eyes.
Rin waved him off. "No. I—it wasn't me."
"Yes, Okumura. We've all seen blue flames pop out from nowhere and knock Shima's chair out from underneath him" reasoned Kamiki but her face was cracking into silent laughter as well.
Waving his hand again, Rin shook his head as his laugh started to subside. "Whatever. I'll be going to the party too by the way."
Patting him on the back, Shima smiled, no hard feelings left. "Attaboy. But for future reference, if you want to fry my ass just give me a weeks notice, okay? So I won't be too surprised."
Nodding to himself Rin once again glanced at his twin – who sat, sweating profusely about his slip of control and for the last time burst out laughing. This time however entire classroom followed, not even knowing what it was that their friend found suddenly so funny. Not that it mattered at the time, as even Yukio joined in, quietly chuckling under his nose.
Little did they know that it was probably the last time they'd laugh so heartily in each others company given the storm that was closing on them. Because unbeknown to them the real danger was looming over closer than ever and soon enough was going to swallow them all, sooner than they'd expect.
…
The day it happened sky was grey and October's chill was already hungrily biting into everyone. It was surprising to think that just barely few days ago they've all been sitting in a classroom laughing their heads off at Rin's outburst of hardly-contained laughter.
Yet now entire exo-team was facing Gehenna's doorway that appeared out-of-blue in a park near centre of the town. Said doorway was sinister in itself – with huge wafts of black matter coming out of it in waves; otherwise than that it couldn't be any bigger than every-other plain doorway.
However each of them bared in mind that it was just a thin barrier between two worlds that always collided – Assiah and Gehenna. If there was one thing that was putting them on edge was the enormous amount of coal-tars and ghosts that'd come through it.
At first when they finally reached the cursed soil – they were overwhelmed, quite literally and not in a good meaning of that word. Even now, as they slowly were being forced apart from each other's sides – they tried to keep themselves in check.
Rin was practically swarmed with black, tiny demons that wouldn't leave him alone. He was hardly making any progress at all if he was honest. Not even his flames were able to burn the ever-coming waves of enemies from him.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that Kamiki was jumping along with her foxes gracefully, fighting some kind of apparition he couldn't really know. A bit farer away he caught a glimpse of Bon, Shiemi and Konekomaru doing their best at exorcising one of the many ghouls that crossed over to their world.
And for some fucking reason they all wanted him.
Having lost his focus for a second – just a bloody second – he found himself jumping back painfully into tree's bark and hissed, as sweat slightly dripped down his chin. If he was honest, their situation was ridiculous. That was, until Yukio snapped angrily towards him.
"They all are after you" his brother sneered, eyes throwing daggers his way. "They see the Death's Kiss that's on your soul, nii-san!" He shot four times at their swarming enemies, slowly making a path towards Rin. "You should've stayed behind! I told you it was a bad idea for you to come with us!"
"No!" Rin snapped back, anger burning his rational-thinking away. "I am as much part of our exorcist team as everyone else!" With a kick he once again flew into fray, slashing his burning sword at coal-tars.
That's when suddenly, Yukio's shot barely passed by his head and Rin stiffened – watching his brother.
Yukio was breathing heavily but kept his dirtied face impasse. "You're endangering this entire mission" he said calmly, eyes staring with cold certainty. "Everybody in here might die because of you" his hand shivered, yet he kept pointing pistol at Rin. "For once in your bloody life, Rin – do something right!" Yukio finally growled, throwing other hand in the overall direction of Gehenna's doorway. "Demons will keep coming through it until he won't get you! Don't you understand! He wants to get you onto other side and won't stop until he'll get you!"
Not so subtlety nor quietly – Yukio's words echoed blankly between trees, catching everybody else's attention to two of them. One could only notice how Bon's eyes hardened upon those words, how Shiemi closed her own wide ones – trying hard to contain upcoming tears. Even Izumo jumped away from apparition to cock her head into their direction, frown marrying her face. Shima at that just shook his head numbly, waving his a bit too-long hair outta his face before once again launching himself at his opponent.
Heaviness of the situation finally settled on Rin's shoulders and he shook his head angrily, his almost white hand long time cold from grip he's had on his sword.
"How the fuck do you know that, four-eyes?!" he couldn't help himself but to growl back, clutching his Kurikara ever tighter.
Just then for a second Yukio's facade crumbled as he shivered. "I can hear him—"
Those words stupefied Rin before he fully registered entire meaning of them. Just as he opened his mouth to reply to that piece of information, he was boldly interrupted by another wave of coal-tars, directed straight at him. Smoothly, practically automatically he swirled around and slashed at black cloud that aimed for him to burn it with burst of blue flames in the next minute. Wheezing little from his stunt, he furrowed brows worriedly at his twin who stood steadily reading his face.
"You can hear him."
It wasn't a question, a statement really. One that froze blood in his veins. Yukio nodded slowly at that inhaling heavily.
"How long?"
With a frown of his own Yukio clenched teeth before replying. "Every time I am near one of them."
'Them' was unspoken but Rin understood what he was aiming at. 'Them' were those bloody doorways that made his twin so shaken and uncertain – for all this time. It made sense in a way, flashback of his twins stricken face from month ago suddenly at forefront of his mind. Upon remembering that, he viciously turned around towards said doorway and fixed his grip on Kurikara. They had've been trying to get close to that bloody thing for hours now – or so it seemed – but to no avail.
As much as his brother was right though, they still needed him. Actually he even had a bright idea struck him. Looking back at his twin, he exhaled, before speaking with slight quirk of his mouth to it.
"We have to close it" he stated the obvious and saw as Yukio's jaw clenched a bit more, watching him cautiously. "And no matter what you think, you need me."
Of course his brother shook his head at that. "You're not doing anything stupid, nii-san" he warned him, not that Rin ignored it to turn and look at his friends how they've been faring so far. "And as you can see, all of us is trying to keep your stupid-ass alive if it's possible, not to mention in Assiah."
He knew that his twin was right, he figured as much himself. Nonetheless, even given the situation they were in, he found Yukio's outburst cute and chuckled under nose before sobering once again. "I don't plan on visiting Gehenna any time soon if that's what you're hinting at" he answered clearly, steeling himself. "I have a plan."
Yukio's brow quirked at sharp tone he used, good. "No" was his brother's answer to that and dangerous glare sent his way.
Rin smirked in a mean of answer to that silent threat only bursting his flames brighter. "Well, I wasn't asking" he concluded then and before anyone could've stopped him, he jumped into air to fall a quite away from his shocked-still twin to start running straight at Gehenna's doorway.
Yukio's shouts fell dead on his ears.
With adrenaline pumping through his veins and what-not, he let himself loosen his control over the demon that resided within him. Sounds became a white-noise in the back of his head, colours washed away leaving darkness, reds and yellows in his vision as he ran. All he was thinking about was his goal – to reach the doorway and close it once and for all, before Yukio'd lose his mind again.
It wasn't going to happen. Not on his watch.
His concious mind barely registered Shima's sharp scream as he fallen struck by his opponent. Soon after Shima's, Kamiki's needlelike shout followed and then Shiemi's and Koneko's. They went down fast as their opponents went berserk at his try to close the doorway. Demons were far from stupid, or rather their father was.
Not that it mattered as he slashed his way through copious amounts of opponents that tried to stop him in his way. He never stopped, not even once. As he slashed at the bloodied ghoul that tried to munch into his middle, he found himself before the doorway and with a breath of finality held his Kurikara up.
With a whirl of air and coal-tars that he cut through, he struck the eye that blinked ominously at them for all this time.
Horrible screech pierced the air then and Rin found himself suddenly overwhelmed by sheer power of the other side. He didn't stop, pausing only to catch a breath as he slowly dipped his Kurikara deeper into the eye. What he did not foresee though was that once the doorway started to close, it'd try to suck everything back into Gehenna. Clinging to his sword with all his might, his own words suddenly drifted back to him and he couldn't help but to feel unease settle down in the pit of his stomach.
Waves of demons kept on biting into his back, kicking, screaming, pushing him inside doorway. At some point he'd believe he saw black hands reaching for him, it's owners very much his clones beside black holes instead of eyes and mouth.
That was fucking terrifying.
Just as he shuddered when first hands curled around his neck and shoulders, he heard a blood curling scream that yanked him back to Assiah. Not thinking much he whipped his head to see unconscious Shima on the ground, a growing pool of blood around him.
Fuck, shit, no. Please, don't be dead.
Shivers kept on going down his arms and back as he watched his friend lie motionlessly on the ground. Only after few more seconds he noticed stricken face of Izumo that with unshed tears kept on sending her foxes to take the burst of the situation. Bon and Konekomaru were sending arias one after another, trying to hold the ever wavering barrier around them as silently crying Shiemi was working her charms with Ni-chan on pale pink-head.
Blinking away tears and fear, he felt himself growing furious.
His flames burst even bigger, black smudges interlining his bright blues but he never knew.
With last push, he completely sheathed his Kurikara in Gehenna's doorway eye. There was no tell what might've happen, but he didn't care – he might've just as well get suck back in – for all he cared. He just wanted this thing to disappear and Shima to be alive. This time he didn't flinch as the black hands curled once again around him, pulling him into darkness.
Waves of demons tediously grew weaker as he waited, watching the black whiffs of matter dissolve silently into air.
Only when all he stared at were pine trees quietly moving with air, he breathed out with relief that he was still in Assiah, his flames dismissing along it. That thought was quickly pushed to the back of his mind as his ears caught a sniff and then movement.
Suddenly the weather felt way too chilly for his tastes, as even his breath was still coming out with white puffs. Somehow he couldn't look at his friends, knowing that everything what happened was his fault. When he finally did raise his head he was met with Shima's scrutinizing gaze.
Rin's heart leapt into his throat and he blinked away tears, smiling.
"Well, that was one hell of a show, man" spoke Shima, smiling back at him through pain. Shiemi then smacked him upside down his head at what he hissed. "What are you hitting me for, woman?!"
Blonde shook her head, at the same time hugging awkwardly pink-haired male. "Don't you ever do that!" she hiccuped angrily before glaring at her friend.
Shima smiled awkwardly at her. "I— well—"
Their blonde friend growled at the boy in her arms. "Never, ever again jump before me, understood? I could've evoked Amaimon!"
"There was no time—"
But Shiemi had none of it, calling bull on their pinkheaded friend. If there was one thing that Rin was painfully aware of at that moment though was the way Kamiki stood, shaken to the core – actually visibly trembling at the entire event. Shiemi however beside her little tantrum was completely calm – he could recall her concentrated face as she healed whatever damage Shima's body taken for her.
In the end he was glad it was over – that they closed Gehenna's doorway and that everybody made of it alive.
Now, mentioning that—
"Have anyone seen Yuki-chan?" asked Shiemi, looking around them. "Where is he?"
Ice-cold dread flood his system, as Rin realised that yes – he wasn't anywhere in sight. Was that possible he took even worse hit from closing the bloody thing than them? Because he couldn't have been taken now, could he?
No, no.
Leaving that trail of thought, Rin looked toward his friends who where just as distressed as he was. There was a silent conversation between them that lasted around thirty seconds but it was enough to have a plan.
"I'll evoke Amaimon to take me and Shima to Pheles-san" stated Shiemi, not letting go of her friend. "Anyone want to go back with us?"
Rin scowled at that, he still didn't like the fact that Shiemi seemed to go quite along with his so called half-brother. "I don't like it, Shiemi."
She send him a look, knowing he hasn't had a say in the matter. "Shima is in no state to walk on his own. He has broken leg and arm, not to mention he still might have some internal bleeding we're not aware of" she concluded, her wide eyes very sharp.
He shrugged the look sent his way off, still holding Kurikara in his bruised and bloodied hand. "Alright then. Go ahead. I'll stay behind and look for Yukio" he mentioned, breathing heavily all his nerves away. "Anyone else wanna stay behind?" When nobody said anything, he shrugged it off. "See you back in the Academy then?"
Without waiting for an answer he darted into park, not once looking behind. When he walked, glancing around trees he realised he couldn't blame them for leaving him alone though. Yeah, it hurt like bitch that not even one of them stayed behind to help him find his brother but— somehow, in some twisted way he understood.
And he was more than aware that Shima's apologizing smile was meant for him. Bloody idiot, that was. If Shiemi let him, he'd bet his left arm that Shima would stay just to keep him company. Sighing, Rin still couldn't understand his pink-haired friend. If he could say, he'd say that Shima would gladly sacrifice his own life for one of theirs – and that thought didn't sit right with him, not at all.
As he walked the same path he remembered his twin was supposed to be, he paused when he noticed that his breath was getting continuously more visible. Yeah, upon closer inspection he knew that somehow, one of the ghosts must've stayed behind.
Yukio was probably keeping it at bay, he figured. But why? Just as he wanted to resume his walk, a very cold, wet thing pressed into his palm – at what he jumped back, Kurikara ready to slash whatever it was and stared.
Stared long and hard at one of Kamiki's foxes, that gazed at him with something akin to relief.
"What—?"
"Why so surprised, Okumura?" drawled Kamiki, appearing from behind one of trees. Her cheek dirty and scratched, still though wearing that frown she's always seen with.
"Kamiki" he said, not really understanding. "You haven't gone with the rest?"
She shook her head at him, pointedly avoiding his gaze. "As you can see" she said cheekily. "Besides, I have two noses to help you find your brother" she added pointing at her familiars. They looked well rugged and tired.
"Well, thanks." Rin answered, a bit surprised. He scratched at his head before smiling his usual smile at her. "I guess."
At that girl waved his thanks away with her hand and smiled herself. "No problem Okumura" she said, gesturing her foxes towards him. "If you don't mind."
Rin could only shrug at that with a small smile. "Go ahead" he added, holding his hand up. Foxes ran towards him and both sniffed his extended hand. "How do you know that Yukio will smell the same way I do?" he asked then, suddenly aware of the strange situation he was in.
Kamiki shrugged before speaking again. "They kept on saying you two smell alike for a long time now, I never knew it might come in handy though."
"Oh" was his short reply before foxes held their noses up in the air, sniffing. They stood awkwardly for a few seconds before one of the foxes jumped up towards west direction. Other one following soon after.
"They found him" said Kamiki, walking behind her familiars. "Let's go."
Nodding, Rin silently fell into step with her. It was strange and completely new to him to be with Kamiki Izumo alone for once. To be honest he haven't knew her all that well – but maybe it was because they never spent much time on their own.
Also he's always seen her as that snobbish know-it-all type he kind of despised, but not really. When it came down to Kamiki, he was aware that there was something missing – something that made her different from other girls like her. He just never really thought about it either.
Now that have had him relenting as to what he really knew about his friends? Practically nothing. While they knew everything about him and Yukio. Well, almost everything.
"You've been amazing by the way." Kamiki said quietly and Rin almost missed it.
"What?" he asked dumbly after her, then laughed it off. "It was nothing, just doing my job and all that, y'know."
But she disagreed, chuckling. "Well, you haven't seen the look on your face when you noticed Shima— and that blast of flames—" she kept on talking, her frown deepening. "You looked feral" she finally said, looking at him from a corner of her eye. "Don't get me wrong, but even my foxes were wary of you."
"S—sorry."
Kamiki shook her head. "Don't be, you closed single-handedly Gehenna's doorway."
"Yeah, but Shima got hurt, badly" he stated, suddenly feeling very aware of Kamiki walking beside him, watching sternly ahead her. "It's my fault."
This time she stopped before she shrugged. "Bloody idiot jumped before Shiemi and me. If not for him one of us or both would be in much worse shape than he is. I guess you're rubbing off on him, too much."
Rin chuckled at her disapproving tone. "You think?"
Kamiki nodded her head before walking once again. "Yes, but by that he keeps forgetting he's not like you. He won't heal in a matter of hours."
"Yeah" he agreed, somehow solemnly. "I guess I'll have to talk with him."
"He probably won't hear a word of it though."
"Well, he'll have his ass fried crispy crunchy if he won't" he answered to that, laughing afterwards little.
Kamiki giggled under nose before she scrutinized it in disgust. "Bad image, Okumura. Now I won't be able to look Shima in the face for a month."
"Just a month?"
She nodded, pointing to her right as to where her familiars where directing them. They've came around the bushes that obscured their view and almost jumped in scare when they were met face first with Yukio's concentrated one.
"What are you doing here?" asked Yukio, still looking around warily.
Rin frowned, before puffing. "We've been looking for you. We closed the doorway."
"Actually you closed it, as we were trying hard not to get suck into Gehenna."
That got Kamiki quizzical look from Rin. "It wasn't that bad" he retorted, at what her brows jumped into her hairline.
"You've got to be kidding me, Okumura" she replied. "We could barely hold our own. All of us. Together."
Nah, it couldn't be. Kamiki for certain was pulling his leg, Rin let it drop though. This time. He turned to look at his silent brother. "Where is it?"
Yukio frowned, sending him glare. "I don't know. As soon as you happened to close on me, she disappeared. She might be everywhere now."
"She?" asked Kamiki, looking between brothers as if they were talking about their mutual crush.
Younger Okumura frowned, keeping steady hands at his sides. "Banshee."
Banshee, went through Rin's mind. He certainly couldn't mean the same one that gave him the kiss. Now could he?
"You've gotta be kidding me," Rin murmured under breath, looking cautiously around like Yukio.
Kamiki frowned and both boys could easily see she was almost dead tired yet tried to look otherwise. Doing quick movement with her hands, three of them felt as rune came to life when she nodded towards her familiars.
"We'll try to call her to you" she said looking at both Okumuras' blankly. Rin opened his loud mouth once again at that, cutting her off.
"You're not going to be a distraction for it," Rin growled dangerously at his teammate. He had enough of drama for one day already.
Yukio who stood and watched them from a corner of his eye, nodded at Kamiki. "You're sure you can do this?" he asked, ignoring Rin's another outburst. "It's one of the most advanced runes you're trying to do."
Kamiki gulped before she smiled little confident smile. "I'll manage, but thanks for your concern, Okumura-sensei" she answered back, walking into spot she figured would be appropriate for the rune she was going to evoke.
Blood pumped in Rin's veins heavily, he barely understood Yukio's motives. It wasn't surprising he rounded at him, furious.
"If something happens to her—!" he spat angrily at his brother who only cocked his ammo clip back into pistol.
"She'll be fine. It's you I'm more worried about" his twin replied honestly, turning to look at him warily.
"What? Why?" Rin couldn't stop himself from feeling bewildered at such response. "I'll be just fine, thank you very much."
Yukio however didn't look convinced at all, actually he sent him such pitying once-over Rin started to growl silently. Oh how Rin wanted to teach Yukio a bloody lesson, if he could of course. Yeah, now of all the times he remembered that one thing he hated about his brother. Not that he could see it often, as lately Yukio seemed to pass on his bossy persona little bit.
Not on missions though it seemed.
"I can see you glowering, you know? You can stop that now. In a second you'll understand what I meant earlier" Yukio spoke slowly, pistols ready in hands. "Kamiki-san is going to use your soul mark to lure out our banshee."
Blinking away angry haze he felt, Rin felt like a complete idiot. "Oh."
His brother dared to smirk at him. "Ready?"
Nodding, he helped his grip on Kurikara. "Of course," Rin added, trying hard not to give into Yukio's tease.
"Now, Kamiki-san!"
Yukio's shout filled tiny clearance they've been at and only then Rin realised that Kamiki started to murmur something under breath. Her hand moved smoothly around piece of paper she held and stopped only when bright light seemed to emerge from it – as it did, she clasped the piece of paper between her hands; yet once she opened them it was gone.
It was the first time ever Rin saw a real rune work and his breath caught in chest as he looked from Kamiki to her familiars. Each of the foxes stood way away from them and it appeared that they've had exact same copy of the rune on their foreheads, shining.
Once he looked over to his brother, Rin realised that Yukio was watching him with interest and a little bit of worry on his face.
As he opened his mouth to ask what was supposed to happen then he found himself cut off by sudden pang of searing pain. In a blink of an eye he was sprawled on the ground, twisting and screaming at the burn that'd come from his soul.
A very dark, glistering in the sky serpent hissed above everybody's head.
Yukio gulped, turning his eyes from the view of his brother and tried to concentrate upon finding their enemy.
Chilling seconds passed with Rin curling on himself half-screaming, snarling, hissing. There was no sight of the banshee though. Kamiki trembled with each gust of wind, feeling tired more than ever. She wasn't in the best shape and was well aware of it. At the moment though she was worried for her friend.
"If we'll keep on doing this he'll pass out" she stated, looking with concern at Rin who clawed at dirt underneath him. She couldn't watch this. "Okumura-sensei!"
Yukio felt as cold-sweat poured down his brow, chin and back. With a glance at his twin he knew.
"Few more seconds" he concluded.
Kamiki nodded silently to herself and counted to five. Just as she breathed out 'five' she crumbled to the ground exhausted, barely aware of her surroundings, breaking instantly rune. Familiars were at her side in a second, sniffing and poking at her. She smiled blankly to them.
"You've done good," she said proudly, stroking slowly Mike. "You too, but for now I need to—"
With a swift move, her charm was torn and foxes dissipated in a gusts of wind leaving her alone to asset the situation before her. As it happened Rin was lying on the ground, wheezing terribly and she could see each tremble that went through him as he tried to compose himself.
"Bloody— shit—" Rin gargled trembling, as he tried to get off the ground. "Fuck—"
Yukio was by his side in a instant, reaching and turning him on his back as he still felt the after effects of the charm. "Hey, hey—," his brother murmured, taking his hand and checking pulse. "It's okay. It's over."
Rin wanted to laugh but couldn't, he also wanted to curl back into himself but couldn't. He did neither of those things as his twin was yanking him upwards – arm dragged over shoulder and all that.
"Got her?" Rin asked, his voice rough from screaming. At Yukio's shake of head, he flinched but pursued the problem. "She didn't appear?"
"No" spoke Kamiki from her sitting spot on the ground. Both boys instantly turned their heads towards her and Rin could've believed that she was crying. "I was too weak. I'm sorry."
Her voice was breaking at notes, and he knew it all too well. She was punishing herself, because she thought she failed. He opened his mouth to say something but Yukio beat him to it.
"It's not your fault. You've been amazing actually," his twin was saying, completely sincerely. "It's only the second time anyone I know managed to pull it off."
His brother's praise seemed to do the trick as Kamiki sighed and pushed herself up on shaking legs. She looked them dead in the eyes but couldn't hold it for long so she looked around them in a weak attempt to hide her growing blush.
Rin really wanted to tease her on it but Yukio's push on his ribs was a clear give away to drop whatever was on his mind.
"Let's go back."
It wasn't a command nor a statement just quiet plea to both of them, and Rin felt as Yukio walked him off from the clearance. Kamiki fell into silent step beside them on their way and overall, entire journey back was so calm and peaceful unlike past hour or so.
Rin let himself enjoy his twins help all the way he could, they barely ever were able to be this close to each other. Not to mention Yukio was still wary of him and feelings that were waiting for him to pick upon them and act.
"Better now?" Yukio's voice cut through silence and Rin dared to turn his head towards his twin. They were so close, he could see every tiny freckle on his face.
All it would take was a tip of Rin's head to steal a kiss. They were literally a breath away from each other. And he would if Yukio didn't catch on the reddening of his irises so he'd change the hold he's had on him.
"Nii-san?"
Rin growled under nose, looking at his feet – being rejected and so openly hurt his pride. He couldn't help it but fume. "Yeah" he answered nonetheless, attempting nonchalance at his tone and failing. "Give me a minute or two more and I'll be fine."
Yukio nodded in acceptance to his answer, gladly. His hold still firm but soft at the same time. None of them however took themselves to wait for a minute and they ended up curled awkwardly like that for more than that.
Neither of them also did not foresee that their banshee would strike them just by the entrance of the park, appearing from the thin air to fly back still recuperating Okumura with her.
For Rin it was a mere second; in one he felt warmness of Yukio's body next to him, in the next nothing. Scarcely aware of being attacked, he felt as his back hit cold, hard ground painfully once his flight few feet away with spectre ended, Yukio's and Kamiki's shouts somewhere far away lost on his ears.
He remembered there was singing involved, a lullaby. But not the lullaby. This one was different. Nonetheless, it still was such a beautiful sound. Cold grip on his body appeared from nowhere and slowly encased him in it.
Lying on his back, pressed into ground he heard as if through a mist Yukio's words of "—not —banshee! —some —hybrid. Nii-san— don't look—!"
But he did, as it was all he could do and his head hurt – the said apparition kept her claws on his shoulders holding him steadily in place, it's face mere inches from his and he—
—was lost to the darkness that waited for him to come.