I forgot to mention that this story will be first point of view for Rin but third person for other characters.

~NiteMareB4XMAS

Okay, I have to admit that I am actually in a good mood today. The reason behind this small miracle? I managed to find a small café in town that is far enough that only some students from the academy go there, but yet close enough that it only takes me about less than 20 minutes to get to from my dorm building if I took a bus and 40 minutes if I walked. The best part about this café is that they have a small Battle of the Bands every other Saturday and they usually have locals performing live music just about every night. The owners on the other hand were looking for someone to play certain nights since most of the local bands either moved or graduated from the academy and when I asked if I could do it they said that they would give me a chance; and by chance was that I had to perform this Friday in front of a whole room of complete strangers. So yes, I was beyond nervous since it's been forever since I last perform in front of anyone and I was definitely not use to playing my brand new Fender yet either since the only guitar I ever played for the longest time was back at the monastery under my old bed (I know not the greatest of hiding places but whatever). This all happened on Sunday and now that it was Friday I was practically full of excitement! I spent so much time figuring out which songs I wanted to play, wondering if I should play them acoustically or electrically, if the songs I wanted to sing were going to be fast or a nice slow tune and when Paku and Izumo asked what I was going to wear that night I nearly about died. Thankfully I finally found the right songs to play and every chance I got I would practice them as much as I could until I had it memorized and the girls said that I didn't have to worry about an outfit because they would take care of it.

So anyway, now that it was Friday, I was dying to get the day started so I can finally-and hopefully all the time- play at Lost Souls Café (yes I just about died of laughter when I found out the name of the place). I was so thrilled that I didn't even realized that I woke up on time, that I actually finished all my tests before everyone else did during normal school and got no lower than an B+ on all of them, or the fact I arrived earlier for Cram School until I was standing outside the classroom. Well shit. I thought slightly shocked that I didn't even realize how much I slipped up on my act today. Well maybe they will think I am on my game today or something… Nevertheless that thought did not calm me one bit and when I silently walked into the room hoping that no one would realize that I was here, my sword accidently bumped into the door frame creating a loud thud making everyone look at my direction.

Fuck my life.

"Rin? What are you doing here so early? You usually don't arrive until ten minutes after class starts!" Shima laughed as I grinned sheepishly while scratching the back of my neck. "Don't know man, maybe I'm just having some good luck today!" I laughed back as I leaned against his desk. "Usually the only kind of luck you get Okumura is the bad kind." Bon snorted before a smirk graced his lips. I just ignored my crush's comment. Yeah, that's right, I said "crush" as in I had romantic feelings for the guy, that I am gay. Well actually that's a lie; I'm really bi but whatever. For the longest time I thought I had a thing for sweet little Shiemi but I realized that I only loved her as a friend, especially when I realized that she actually was in love with Yukio-who also loves her but is too much of a chickenshit to say anything about it- and I didn't want to get in the way of that. Shiemi though will always have a special spot in my heart though as the first friend I ever made. I found out that I also liked boys when I was thirteen, because it's pretty obvious when I started to have those kinds of dreams with guys I liked as much as I had with girls. And the cool thing about it was that Dad didn't find it disgusting at all when I told him about these dreams, sure he was shock as hell about it at first and didn't know how to go about it since apparently homosexual relationships were a sin, but in the end he told me as long as whoever I end up with, whether it being a girl or a boy, that if we both loved each other it shouldn't matter. Anyway, I guess I started to fall for Bon because he was kinda like me, well the true me really, and he was the first friend to give me a present. I know it was just a hairclip but to me it meant a lot more. He also keeps me on my toes sometimes with our rivalry which I find refreshing because the one thing that's true about the fake me is that I always like a good challenge, whether it be mentally or physically. But just because I like the guy in that sense, doesn't mean I will be like a blushing school girl around him or act like a love-sick teen either; if I can keep up a façade of being an idiot for years I can definitely hide my feelings for him. The only people who know that I am bi and I like him are Izumo, Paku, and Kuro (what? I can trust my familiar with some things sheesh!). The girls are always teasing me about it but I know they mean well. I know at first Izumo didn't like the idea since Bon and her usually are at each others' throats when it isn't Bon and I at it, but I guess she got use to the idea after awhile.

Anyway my cheery mood died when Konekomaru did this nervous side-stepping to not touch me as he went to go sit down at his desk. Yeah, even though he and I made a cake for Izumo, which ended up for the whole class later on, he was still skittish around me, especially when we are on missions and I have to use my flames; I swear one day the kid will just drop dead of a heart attack or something, he is so tense. I just smiled though as if I didn't see it and wished him a good morning before heading to my desk to sit down.

~BlueExorcist~

Meanwhile Ryuji "Bon" Suguro was very confused at what he just saw. Or did I just imagine it? The two-tone haired teen wondered. After Konekomaru's poor attempt to be subtle with his fear of Okumura, the demon boy though appeared that he didn't even see it and wished Konekomaru a good morning! Usually Bon wasn't that surprised with Okumura's obliviousness but when the wannabe Knight went to go to his own desk, he still had a goofy smile on his face but the thing that had Bon so stunned was the look in the boy's blue eyes. For the briefest second he saw such agony and self-hatred in those blue orbs but before he could make sure on what he saw Okumura's eyes were normal again. Did I really see that? He then thought about how happy his fellow classmate always was and how he never let anything bother him. There was no way Okumura, naïve goofball Okumura, was depressed…right? "Nah, I'm just imagining things." He murmured to himself as the rest of the students came in along with their teacher. The Exwire class then began their day.

~BlueExorcist~

Yukio

Going out to train with Kuro, we'll be back in a few hours.

Rin

After reading my note a few times until I was satisfied that it was believable, I stuck it on my brother's desk and went to retrieve my guitar. Rin are you sure about this? Kuro's voice resonated in my head as I took my sword out of the red case to fit it snugly in my guitar case.

"Yeah, I don't want to chance it if a demon attacks and I'm defenseless. Don't worry about it too much Kuro, Izumo and Paku are coming too and between me and Izumo, we can take on any demon!"

If you say so Rin…

Suddenly we both heard the sound of the entrance door to the building open and we both froze in fear, until we heard Izumo's voice. "Rin? Kuro? We're here! Where are you guys?" Wow they're early. I thought while looking at my watch: 6:30 P.M. I'm not playing until 7:30! "We're in here!" I replied while closing my guitar. "Don't you two look sexy." I purred jokingly once they made it to the room. Izumo was wearing a pair of black capris, a black and purple laced corset, and a purple hoodie that cut off above her stomach and a pair of black sandals. Paku just wore a black blouse, a red plaided skirt, and black dress shoes. Izumo's usual pigtails were now held in a side ponytail while Paku's short brown hair had a black bow on the side. I smirked when both of them blushed a light shade of pink.

"S-Shut up Rin! Just put on your clothes!" Izumo stammered while throwing the bag at my face. I only laugh though as the two walked out so I could get dressed. "Hey I'm just saying! If only Shima could see you now Izumo, he would be drooling up a storm!" I teased while stuffing my tail in my pants. "Rin do not make me come in there and beat you!" My purpled hair friend threaten as Paku let out a soft giggle. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. So how do I look?" I asked as I opened the door. As they racked their eyes up and down my body I couldn't help but blush a little. "Damn Rin you are going to attract some attention tonight." Izumo whistled; Paku just shook her head in agreement. The demon tamer though frowned when she looked at my hair and face. "We have to do something though to make you look different if you don't want anyone to recognize you." She murmured while playing with my hair. "Oh I have an idea! I bought these the other day because I thought they would look good with your outfit!" Paku said while handing me a black fedora and a pair of sunglasses with orange lenses. After I put them on I took a step back so they could get a better look at me. "Paku you are a genius! Now if we run into kids from school no one will recognize Rin!" Izumo gushed. "C'mon you two let's go before my brother shows up. And Kuro, make sure Yukio doesn't find you until I get back okay?" I called over my shoulder as the three of us headed out. Don't worry Rin! I'll make sure of it! My familiar meowed before scurrying off to who knows where. After adjusting the guitar case on my back we made our way to the bus stop and got on; the whole time we were on I was grinning like an idiot.

That grin though disappeared when we found ourselves in front of an apparently closed Lost Souls Café; the blinds were closed so we couldn't see in and the small window on the front door had the sign that said Sorry, We're Closed. "What the hell? Why is it closed?" Izumo demanded. "If they were going to be closed tonight they should have called you or something!" She then began pounding on the door. "Hey! Open up! My friend is here to play you idiots!" "Izumo don't bother, they're obviously not here. Let's just go see a movie or something." I suggested while gently pulling her away from the door. "Rin's right Izumo, let's just go somewhere else." Said Paku, but as the three of us were about to leave we heard the doorknob twist and turn until a blonde haired woman in her early thirties poked her head out. "Oh there you are! I'm so sorry, my husband and I were just setting up the stage but luckily one of the other bands heard your friend there and told us. By the way I'm Tori Laurens." She introduced herself with a slight accent as she shook hands with a blushing Izumo and a giggling Paku. "Other bands are here?" I asked nervously as she led us inside. "Of course! I wasn't going to make you play in front of actual customers on your tryout!" Mrs. Laurens chirped. I don't know if I should be insulted by that or not. I thought before scanning the room around us. Outside the shop looked small but on the inside it was pretty huge. The counter where they served the drinks and food was on the far left, behind it was a door that probably led to the kitchen, the rest was mostly tables that patrons would sit at and finally the stage was on the right, taking up the entire wall. In some of the seats were about twelve people each in their own little groups of three or four with the occasional loner here or there.

"All right! The girl with the blue hair over there is Ayano, Keiko is the one with black hair and Nori is the blonde; their band name is Everlasting Shadows. Next to them are the triplets Daiki, Hideki, and Katsuo, the only way to tell them apart is the color of their eyes, and their group is Yesterday's News. The redhead girl beside them is Yumi and the brown haired boy next to her is Masashi; they are both soloists. And finally the last group is Kenji, his sister Mariko, Tsukiko, and Arata and they are called Final Hope. Gang this is Rin and his two friends. So Rin, you can start anytime you want."

Well shit…I thought while trying to remember all the other musicians' names. I soon snapped out of it though when Izumo gave me a little push towards the stage. "Well here goes nothing." I muttered to myself as I took out my Fender guitar out of the case along with a blue guitar pick. As I tuned up my guitar after plugging it into the amp that was next to me on stage, I decided that I would play Gone Away by The Offspring. "I guess I will dedicate this song to someone who is no longer here on this world. Here's to a great man." As I began to strum my guitar, I couldn't help but tear up a little at the thought of my dad.

~Maybe in another life

I could find you there

Pulled away before your time

I can't deal, it's so unfair

And it feels and it feels like

Heaven's so far away

And it feels, yeah it feels like

The world has grown cold

Now that you've gone away

Leaving flowers on your grave

Show that I still care

Black roses and Hail Mary's

Can't bring back what's taken from me

I reach to the sky

And call out your name

And if I could trade, I would~

At this my tears began to spill over as I remember my dad's final moments as Satan possessed him; my blood began to boil when I remember the maniacal laughter that wasn't his own pouring from his lips as blue flames engulfed him like a second skin. The crazed look that was in his eyes was, and always will be, burned into my memory as that monster tried to drag me to Hell. As the memory of my dad gaining control over himself again only to stab himself to stop my real father, my tears began to flow harder but I refused to let my crying affect my singing, so for my old man I kept my voice strong and clear as a final gift to him for being such a great dad.

And it feels and it feels like

Heaven's so far away

And it stings, yeah it stings now

The world is so cold

Now that you've gone away

Gone away, gone way

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oooooo, yeah oooooo

Ooooo, ohh yeah

I'll save your soul

Whoa

Yeaaaaeeaaeah

Mmmmm

I reach to the sky

And call out your name

Oh please let me trade, I would

And it feels, and it feels like

Heaven's so far away

And it feels, yeah it feels like

The world has grown cold

Now that you've gone away

Gone away, gone away

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oooooo, yeah oooooo

Ooooo, ohh yeah

Oooooo, yeah oooooo

Ooooo, ohh yeah~

As the song came to a close it became eerily quiet in the room as I removed my glasses to wipe my face of tears. Shit, did I fuck up or something? I thought with panic when it continued to be silent, a nervous sweat beginning to build on my brow. Then suddenly Mr. and Mrs. Laurens, along with Izumo and Paku, began to give a round of applause which had the others soon joining in, all of them with tears in their eyes. "Wonderful! Wonderful! Rin you are amazing! I have never heard such raw emotion be put into one's playing like yours! It was so powerful that I can't stop crying! You definitely got the job!" Mrs. Laurens said with a chuckle while wiping her eyes. "Whoever you lost should be very grateful for such a song, I know I certainly would!" "Thank you Mrs. Laurens, I appreciate that." I said with a grateful smile. That's when I noticed that Paku was holding a video camera. "Did you video tape the whole thing?" I squeaked as a dark blush stained my cheeks. It only darken when she nodded her head while her and Izumo giggled. "Why I oughta-!" "By the way Rin, since you didn't want me to use your real name when you perform, have you figured out a stage name yet?" Mrs. Laurens asked before I could strangle my two friends. "Ummm," I said as I thought about it. I had to be careful about this since I didn't want anything that would tip it off that it's me, but I didn't want a stupid name either. I was stumped on this until Izumo spoke up. "How about Dusk?" She suggested. "It fits since you pretend to be happy and full of sunlight but once it fades into night we see the real you." "That's perfect! Dusk it is!" Mrs. Laurens agreed.

Dusk huh? I can get use to that.