Look over there! It's the demon child!

He's so scary!

What a hideous young boy.

I wonder how Father Fujimoto does it?

Demon!

But I'm not a demon!

Well, that's what I thought, until a few months ago. I found out that I am the bastard child of Satan. Ever since then, I've been training to become an exorcist. My brother, Yukio, has been helping me with my practice. Only him and my father know of my power.

"…I had no idea, I'm sorry."

I was standing there, talking to her. Shiemi Moriyama. I've known her ever since we were little. I was always so shy to ever talk to her, and she always seemed scared of me. And here I am, talking to her. I wonder why I never bothered to talk to ever before?

"Its no big deal," I mumbled, looking down.

"Yes it is! I hate the way people treat me, and the things they call me…" she trailed off.

"Are you okay?" I asked her.

She sniffled, and smiled.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Anyway, it was nice talking to you. Maybe we could-

"See you in class," I interrupted, walking away.

There's no way I can be friends with her. If only she found out what I really am.

Shiemi's pov

I stood there, confused. Why did he walk away so suddenly? Did I say something to upset him? Just a moment ago we were just having a normal conversation. I sighed, and walked back home. Mom and Dad still aren't back. How long can you spend on killing fake creatures? After I ate my sandwich, I went to bed.

Witch

I closed my eyes, and tried to sleep, but I couldn't. Even if he isn't, he is the closet thing I've ever made to a friend, so I can't stop thinking about him. He seems so nice, why did he storm off? Eventually, I fell asleep, thinking of Rin.

"Moriyama!"

I woke again, not realising I was at school. Everyone laughed again. Just like yesterday. But this time, Rin said nothing. He sat there, ignoring everyone. I felt hurt to why he did nothing. I thought I had finally found someone who was the same as me. I tried to hold in the tears, but they spilled out onto my textbook. Rin looked over to me, emotionless. How can he just sit there and do nothing? I ran out of class, tears pouring down my cheeks. I heard my name being called but I didn't care. I kept on running, hoping that I could run from the reality I was living.

Stupid Witch!

No one likes you, you know that?

You're such a loser, witchy.

Go back to where you came from!

"Shiemi."

A hand grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop running. I didn't look at the person, I already knew who it was. We stood there in silence. I wanted Rin to say something, but he didn't. I wouldn't face him, so he couldn't see me crying like a baby. Slowly, he let go of my arm, and sighed. That does it! He really doesn't care that much?

"I though you understood how it feels to be bullied. To feel worthless and unloved. I thought I'd finally found someone who had felt the same way as me, but clearly I got it wrong. Everyone loves you. You're funny, kind, handsome, outgoing, the list goes on… Its not fair," I said, wiping my tears away.

"I'm sorry."

I turned to face him. He was looking down at the ground, as if he were disappointed in himself. Slowly, he walked away, back into class, leaving me alone. For the first time in my life, I bunked off. It was a lot easier than I thought. I just went up to the gate and wondered around the school until I found an opening in it. I spent the rest of the day lying back in the grass of my garden.

I too was bullied like you

Sure you were. You didn't even tell me why anyone bullied you. Even if you were telling the truth, it didn't last his whole life, unlike mine. Before I knew what I was doing, I ran again. This time, I just let my feet take me wherever they wanted to go. I love running. I'm not into marathons, but I am into avoiding problems at an accelerated rate. I run because if I didn't, I'd be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run…to savour the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that. It helps me escape my reality…

All of a sudden, I felt something slash my arm, like a knife. I stopped running, and held my arm. Blood started trickling from it. What was that? It hurts. I looked around me to see what had cut me. There was nothing there. How? In the corner of my eye, I noticed something. I turned to face it. At first, I didn't see anything, but as I got closer, I paid more attention. Suddenly, a little green monster appeared and jumped up at me. I screamed and fell back onto the stone pavement. What is that thing? I started crawling away, clutching my bleeding arm.

"Shiemi!"

A shot rang out and hit the monster. A boy around my age wearing glasses ran up to me with a pistol in his hands.

"You'd best go. There will probably be more," he said, aiming at where the monster was. "Rin will help you."

"Rin?" I said, getting pulled up by someone.

I looked at the person pulling me along with them. It was Rin. He was cautiously looking at my cut.

"Does it hurt?" he asked me.

I nodded, not looking at him properly.

"Here, this should help," he said, wrapping his jacket around my arm. "It should stop the bleeding for now, until we get you a proper bandage."

"What was that thing back there?" I asked, holding the jacket it place.

"A goblin, and quite a menacing one," he said.

"Goblin? That's crazy, they don't exist," I said, shaking my head.

"What else could it be?" he asked me.

I stopped walking. Rin waited for me, but I didn't move.

"What are you?" I asked him.

He turned away from me and sighed.

"I'm an exorcist, just like your parents."

I gasped and took a step back. My hands clutched my mouth.

"Well, I'm an exorcist in training, my brothers the real exorcist," he said, scratching his head.

I could feel my tears pricking my eyes again.

An exorcist?

So, they are real.

I fell to the ground, crying. So all this time, I was bullied for nothing. I looked up at Rin, who was holding out his hand to help me up.

"Let me join you."

"Huh? What did you say?'

"Rin. I want to become an exorcist."