A/N: Hey! Sorry I haven't written for a while, and my excuse is….I don't have one. Love me. Hate me. Praise me. Anyways, I want to thank everyone that you've read this far, because, I check a list when I'm bored to see how people read each chapter, around 50 people quit reading every chapter. Back to the topic, I want thank you for reading this far, thank you!

Anyways, I'll shut up and let you read…..wait….

*PLEASE READ! VERY IMPORTANT!*

I have posted a poll, for this story. Please give me your opinion, because if you don't, then writing the next few chapters, later on, will be crappy, that, or there will be no more new chapters!

Wolf: Don't threaten the reader…that's my job. *smirks*
me: Yes…but….I need my ideas, and if I don't have ideas, you and Rin don't exist.
Wolf: Well, that sucks for you.
Me: Hey! How 'bout you just- never mind…
Wolf: *smiles* *holds up metal bat*
me: Wait! I thought Rin chained that to a wall?! *runs away*

Disclaimer – I do not own Ao No Exorcist.

Enjoy!

xXxXx
Bon's POV

Once I hit the bottom of the wooden stairs, my mouth fell open. What the hell was this?! I was expecting something…more. We appeared in a huge room around twice the size of a gymnasium. It had four doors at the end of the room, but the fourth seemed newer than the others. The ground was cement with splotches of what seemed of blood. Machines of different types were set up around the room, and different types of sharp objects stuck out of the wall, reminding us not to get too close.

I didn't like the idea of the training, it was pathetic. It was like saying that we weren't good enough, so we needed training. And, what also pissed me off, was the fact that Rin was just watching this! It was insulting! He was basically taunting us, telling us that he was a better fighter than us.

"So, let's begin kitties!" The creepy girl said, grinning like a maniac.

I didn't care if 'creepy girl' or 'insane chick' wasn't her real name, since there was no way in hell that I was going to call her 'Wolf'. Who names a girl Wolf?

"Serpent did. If you hadn't noticed, he has a tendency to name people on what they're like on the inside, the soul, not on what's based on the outside." Rock said, appearing out of nowhere.

I saw Shima back away, clearly freaked out about Rock's appearing act. He was too suspicious. All of Laughing Shadows were suspicious.

They all clearly knew something that we didn't, almost trying to separate us as a group, telling us that we weren't wanted. Only Rin was in the middle.

I grunted in response to Rock, and focused back on what Crow was saying; only now giving the spotlight to Rin.

"Ok, for starters-"

I cut him off, not wanting to babied. "Look, you damn blueberry, I don't care how 'dangerous' your 'tests' are, but if it comes down it, then I'll beat your ass." I smirked, enjoying the look on Rin's face.

Rin glared and then chuckled, almost laughing his head off.

'What was so funny?' I thought, as Rin doubled over at my choice of words.

"You! Beat my ass?! I'll take you up on that, considering that I'm to teach the last test, Rooster." Rin straightened up.

Was this the Rin from Cram School? The same Rin who pissed me off every day? He was…different. I stared in horror as he continued laughing a bit, but his eyes held more. Those blue orbs held sadness and hate, hate for doing this to us, hate to himself, he had lead us straight into this mess, without knowing. He hated himself because of us. It was our fault.

I clenched my teeth, hating myself for this. I hated how Rin kept the burden on himself, not telling anyone. He let everyone around him to be happy, except himself. He kept the secret of being the son of Satan from us, then he kept the secret of him having a girlfriend, then the fact that he was in a fuckin' gang. He watched Shiro and Serpent die right before his eyes, and he kept it to himself. He had taken out everything in his path, just so he could protect the people close to him.

"Screw training! Give us the first test, blueberry!" I shouted, shock spread across his face, staring at me as if I was out of my mind.

I didn't care. I just wanted the old Rin back. I wanted the idiot who slept in class and the guy who was more interested in manga than his studies. I wanted the guy who smiled at every moment he could. I wanted the old Rin back, not this Rin.

"Sounds fine to me, what about you, Demon?" Crow asked, looking at Rin.

Rin looked away and muttered a small 'yeah' as a reply. His eyes were contracted in fear, his body tense. He clearly didn't like the idea of us taking the tests now, but why? I was jolted out of my thoughts as Shima nudged me, indicating that it was time go through the first door in the back of the room. I gave a slight nod, but noticed that the insane chick was staying behind, heading to a wall, and starting to pry off knives and pieces of glass out of the wall with her hands. I signaled to Shima and Miwa (1) for them go on ahead, indicating that I'd tell them later. They nodded in response. I headed back to area Wolf was in, but something told me not to get too close. (2)

"Hey, Rooster." She said, not looking over her shoulder.

"How did you know-" I was cut off by Wolf's laugh.

"Your steps are heavier than others, and also the fact that I saw you stay behind. Now, what do I owe the pleasure of bestowing you today- no, wait, let me guess. You want to know why Rin is acting so different, no?" Wolf turned towards me, her voice full of sarcasm.

I was about to say yes, when she cut me off again.

"It's because of the situation. The Rin you knew in the city is the same Rin, but it's because he's in front of the others. In the slums, if you show weakness, you get eliminated. Kicked out of the game. Whatever you want to call it. If it makes you feel better, just so you know that Rin isn't one-upping you in knowledge, he and you are different. You will always be smart in school, and Rin will always be smart on the streets. Either way, the only thing that's changed is the environment. If you put Rin back in the city, he'll act the same as before. Rin is still Rin, so, please, don't make his mental burden worsen because of you. He's under enough stress as it is."

Wolf turned back to what she was doing, acting as if she hadn't spoken, but she still knew of my presence.

"Whatever. I didn't even ask you anything." I turned on my heel and walked away.

I thought I had heard Wolf say a few last words, something like; "Didn't ask anything? Someday, you'll get bitten by those words. Everyone does. Be careful of yourself. Because once you start the test, your mind and sanity is your greatest weapon. Lose it, and there is no return, Light Dweller."

xXxXx
(Rin's POV)

I couldn't watch anymore, but, yet, I had to. I had to watch as everyone struggled. I had to watch as everyone suffered. I had to watch as everyone was in agony. Why did Bon have to suggest the test now? What fools they were, yet, I was a bigger fool than them all combined. I had led them here. I had done this to them. I should've dropped them back in the city the moment they had gotten knocked out by Wolf. This was my fault.

This was only the first part of the first test. Rock hovered over them, as they did their part of the test.

'To have will as strong and unbreakable as a rock.' I thought, as closed my eyes for a second, not wanting to watch my own brother silently went on through the test.

The room was fairly large with cement walls and flooring. There was a dug out near the door where I stood, where all Laughing Shadows members went if they wanted to watching the testing. True, it was interesting to watch, but not when they were people you knew, or your friends for that matter.

Iron bars were evenly set horizontally around four to five feet off the ground. The training was pretty simple; to hang upside down and hang by your knees on the iron bars, then use your core and lift your body up into straight position, making it seem like you were lying on a bed, your feet as if they were touching the ground.

Yes, it was hard, but you didn't need to go all the way up. You just had to try your hardest and keep your mouth shut. This was about whether or not you could keep your mouth shut if you were captured by an enemy gang or something. Either way, you had to try, if you gave up, you immediately failed.

But, if they failed, would they come back? Would they come back over the boarder just to fight? No, they weren't that stupid. No one would do that. No one in the right mind would, at least.

I refocused my mind on the test, wanting to watch. Everyone was doing fine, all trying, well, Shima looked as if the was giving half-assed crap, but he was trying. (3)

I stepped away from the edge of the dugout and sat on the cold ground. I could hear a groan across the room once in a while, but I never heard Rock's voice call out a name to kick them out of a room. I closed my eyes and listened to sounds which echoed around the room.

I remembered doing the same test. The same test in my first year of middle school, and back then, Rock hated me. He had tried to fail me over thirty times on stupid things. Only thanks to Crow was I able join. But, was I really thankful?

xXxXx

By the time the test was over, all of the Esquires had passed. Everyone filed out of the room except for Yukio, who stayed where he was. It was almost like had drawn an invisible line or wall between us. I somehow knew that Yukio wouldn't move until I left. I got up and strolled out of the room, but my brother's voice stopped me from leaving.

"Nii-san."

I stopped and turned on my heel, facing Yukio, his cold eyes on me. I knew that there was something he wanted to say, and in any way, he was going to say it. I closed my eyes, not wanting see Yukio's face as this was about to begin.

"Nii-san…why did you kill her?" Yukio's voice solid, but his eyes were covered in shadows.

"Who?" I asked, drawing a blank, opening my eyes in surprise.

"You know fully well who I'm talking about! That girl! The one who you killed in the alley!" Yukio shouted, his eyes still covered in shadows.

I didn't want to answer, but I knew I had to. If I didn't, my younger brother would hate me even more. I took a few steps forward and stopped, only ten yards away from Yukio.

"I…killed her…to protect. If I hadn't killed her, then she would've sent word and gotten her entire gang, along with her leader, and then tracked us down and killed us even more gruesome than what I did to Himitsu. Now, if you had wanted to die, then you should've spoken up, cause then I would've let her lead you to the Dead Zone." I said threatening.

"….."

This wasn't me. This wasn't what I was like.

"Here, in the slums, exorcism is useless. The only way to survive is to fight. Here, its kill or be killed. Hunter and prey. If you're the prey, then you don't have much time left. Here, you have limited amount of time to live, and if you waste your time worrying about who you kill, you'll end up in an alley with a knife in your heart. You're too kind, Yukio." I looked into Yukio's eyes and smiled a true smile, one I hadn't smiled in a while.

Yukio's shadow disappeared and his eyes widened. He bowed his head a bit, grinding his teeth. "I just…I just hate feeling so useless. You have already passed the test while you were in middle school….I'm the same age as you, and yet, I'm only taking the test now. I…just don't want to be left in the dust again… You can do anything you set your mind to, ever since we were small. I don't want to be the last one out. I…"

"I was always hated. So, joining Laughing Shadows, a place where they liked the part of me that was different, made me realize that my life wasn't such a burden on others. I was called names like 'devil child', 'monster', and 'demon', only to find out that I actually was. I couldn't help but feel hurt, but, you can't go back into the past and change your mistakes." I gave a sad smile, telling Yukio that I was telling the truth. "It was always my fault. That's what I grew u on. But, I also grew up around Shiro and Serpent, but then…. And then, I realized, before being told, that I was a monster. A monster where if anyone got close to me, they would die as well."

Yukio looked up once more in surprise at the choice o my words. I kept smiling, telling him that I was okay.

"I fight in the slums, so that everyone unwanted stays on this side of the boarder, so that the church doesn't get hurt more than it already has. I fight on instinct, so that no one else gets hurt. Yet, you just don't get it. You don't understand the danger of even being here." I said, turning on my heel, slowly walking to the door.

When I reached the door, Yukio's voice carried to me. "Nii-san, would you….would you kill me, like you did to that girl?"

I lashed around, to find Yukio's cold eyes on me. He had been wanting to say this all along.

"We're brothers, aren't we? Brothers don't kill each other." I gave him an earnest look, hoping to get my point across.

"I-"

"Would you kill me?" I asked, staring into his eyes, searching for any signs of betrayal.

Yukio gave a small, joyous, smile and closed his eyes. "We're brothers, aren't we?"

I smiled and walked out the door, smiling all the way up the stairs.

xXxXx

A/N: I'M GONNA GET SO MUCH HATE! I know I made characters OC, so, yeah. I don't got a good excuse. Sorry 'bout that. I tried not to, I'll tell you that much.

Anyways;

I got lazy so instead I wrote 'Miwa' instead of 'Konekomaru'. There's my reason.

Smart, Bon. Especially when Wolf has sharp objects in reach….

Okay, I seriously can't see Shima doing hard, focused, exercise unless flirting with a girl. Yep. Tell me if I'm wrong, please.

Oh yeah, in the next chapter, I will be using a song, so whoever guesses and gets the name of the song AND who sings it right, they'll get something….ya, if I can find something. It'll probably be something like another coke or popcorn or a used battery. Yep….oh!

I DON'T NEED ANYMORE IDEAS! I HAVE TOO MANY! THAKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT! But, if you're dying to tell me, then tell me. But, it may or may not be put in the story.

Oh! And, just tellin', but there will be a sequel to this…yep, not even at the climax of the story and I'm thinking about the sequel. It'll be called 'Demon's Past Mistakes', that is, if I finish this.

Bye bye! R&R! I may or may not update by Halloween, so, HAPPY HALLOWEEN!