Here it finally is! This is the first chapter I was itching to get finished ASAP, so it's fairly short and may have a few Tiny Typos, but please let me know if there are any, and I will fix it :) Enjoy!

Also, I won't be able to post another chapter as I promised. I will post tomorrow when I get the chance, whether it be midnight or two in the morning :D

~EmmyTheTurtle

Now

Among Depression and Other Things

Summer

The Present

"Rin has been found," Yukio announced.

Amaimon lifted his head slightly, being careful not to reveal his relief. He had been worried they wouldn't find him before he died of starvation. After all, Rin still had a little human left in him. Starvation was always a concern. Amaimon didn't say anything, just nodded slightly with gratitude.

"And you sent Neko to watch over him?"

"I trust Neko more than I trust you. And I'm sure that made you happy, didn't it?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"We're alone Yukio. Why would they put cameras in here? Worried I'll break free from these chains constantly being guarded by exorcists. I only allowed myself to be caught because it was to protect him. Nothing more. And here I'll stay until Rin is released from True Cross and so am I."

"You know that won't happen."

"What does Big Brother have to say about that?"

"Mephisto requested he stay at True Cross."

"What will I do then? You're going to keep me away from him."

"If he remembers everything… he'll…"

"He'll return to the way he was. Aren't you afraid of what he is now? Emotionless, speechless… perhaps it'd be better if I paid him a visit."

"Absolutely not." Yukio's voice was like cracking ice. "You are not going anywhere near him."

"Why not? He is mine, and I am his. I marked him." Amaimon lifted his sleeve to reveal the intricate lining along his left hand, arm and torso. They were dark, navy-blue markings staining Amaimon's skin, almost mirroring a flame. "And he marked me."

Neko sat up from the hospital bed to look over at Rin. He had notice in the time of Rin's retrieval that the boy seemed to possess strange habits, like biting his nails and fiddling with his hair. Neko also found that he wanted Yukio to accept him already. The marks that branded Rin's pale skin looked sexy on him. He thought Yukio would look just as sexy, if not sexier, with Neko's marks running along his hip, ribs and stomach.

Once a demon finds a suitable partner, whether they be male or female, the demon brands them with a unique mark, as a way of claiming them as their own. The demon may also mark their desired partner, essentially bonding them for all eternity. Once the two are marked, it cannot be reversed. The location of the mark depends on the demons. The stronger the bond, the more obvious and large the mark is. Humans, not even exorcists, know of this knowledge unless, by some chance, the exorcist becomes infatuated with a demon themselves.

Primarily, Yukio is a fine example. Though he himself did not realise it, he'd grown to subconsciously care for Neko. Neko obviously expressed his adoration for Yukio in sexual ways, but Yukio had never made an attempt to stop him. If Neko thought that Yukio had lost interest, he wouldn't have allowed Yukio so much pleasure the previous night.

Neko's thoughts had run away with him and he suddenly realised he'd been staring at Rin for at least two minutes. Rin didn't seem to notice. He seemed to be in a daze, staring blankly outside with dull eyes.

"Hey, Rin, are you alright?"

He moved his head to stare at Neko. He said nothing.

Neko felt the air around him go cold. It was discomforting, to see Rin so expressionless. He'd seen Rin like this once or twice before. And every time it reminded Neko how fragile humans and half-demons like Rin could be. Every time it gets worse. And only Amaimon could pick him back up. What is it called? Depression?

Depression: Mental illness involving a seemingly permanent stage of melancholy. Neko nodded sharply to himself and Rin looked back out the window with a somewhat sad expression in his blank eyes. "Hey, Rin. Cheer up. Amaimon will be released from the prison soon, and you two can get together, watch some movies and eat some good ramen."

A small, weak smile appeared on Rin's face. "I could cook…"

"Yeah, you could cook. See? That's good!"

Neko felt panic rising in his stomach. He had no experience with this counselling thing. Most of the time, he was the one being counselled over whether or not to make his move on Yukio. He didn't comfort a depressed boy who was missing his other significant half. He needed to speak to Yukio about this. Seeing Rin so broken was beginning to take its toll.

The door to the room opened and Yukio walked in, carrying papers and food. He placed the tray on Rin's bed, then sat down, neither facing Neko or Rin. "I was given permission to personally visit Amaimon this morning."

Rin's eyes seemingly came back to life.

"He won't be released."

Neko felt his stomach drop. "So, what'll happen to Rin?"

Yukio sighed sadly and turned to face Rin. "It pains me to say that there might have to be some… altercations to his release."

Neko's ears inclined themselves forwards with interest. "Altercation? What sort of 'altercations' do you mean?"

Rin's interest seemed to be piqued. "As in… breaking him out?"

Yukio's cunning smile appeared on his face and he adjusted his glasses. "I wouldn't call it 'breaking him out'. I'd call it 'express relief'."

Yukio hadn't expected Rin to be against the idea of breaking Amaimon out of the prison. But it made him happy to see Rin filled with energy. "We – we can't break him out!"

He bounced up from the bed, his long and uncut hair flying upwards, showing a thin scar on his forehead Yukio hadn't seen before. "If you break him out of prison, then the exorcists will hunt all of us down and… and then…" Rin's voice grew small and quiet. Perhaps he didn't know what would happen? Yukio didn't know the full extent of Rin's amnesia, but he seemed to remember snips of important people.

"Rin, calm down," Neko said, sitting Rin down. "You'll only make yourself sick. Besides, the chances of them releasing Amaimon are pretty low. We don't have much of a choice here."

He looked over at Neko and a small sigh escaped from his lips. He hadn't meant to let it slip, but Neko certainly heard. His eyebrow arched up and his lips twisted into a small smirk. Rin hadn't noticed – he was beginning to control his breathing.

"Why am I… so… so…"

"Afraid?" Yukio suggested.

"That's not it," Rin muttered, brushing away his hair. "I don't know what it is…"

Neko stood up and placed his hands on Rin's shoulders. "When you remember, you'll get why."

If Rin remembers, then… what will happen to him?

Rin hadn't stepped outside of his own free will in a long time. Sitting in the courtyard of the hospital made him feel slightly refreshed; the ever-constant smell of chemicals and cleanliness made his nose itch. The fresh air was, well… refreshing.

Neko sat down beside Rin, crouched like a small cat. His ears were flicking back and forth against his head. "It's nice to be outside again, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it's… pleasant, I guess."

"You're speaking a lot better than when you first got here."

Rin stared up into the sky. It was a bright day, and the sun shone brightly in the distance. A light flurry of clouds moved slowly across the sky, creating patterns along the ground. Everything about the sky intrigued Rin. Neko followed his gaze upwards and leaned back to face the clouds. "Yukio and I met on a day like this one, you know."

"Mm?" Rin looked across to Neko, who smiled nostalgically.

"Yep." Neko's voice had turned soft. Happy. "Just like this one…"

There we go, a short and snazzy chapter. In the next chapter, expect a 'First Encounter' :3

Please let me know if there is anything I can improve on and your positive comments are so amazing :D

Have a fabulous morning/day/afternoon/night!

~EmmyTheTurtle