Welcome back, Readers! I see you've come for more. I appreciate the support! Though, right now, there aren't many of you, I appreciate you guys for taking the time to read this! Always remember, reviews are welcomed. Be honest, I welcome the constructive criticism if you have some.

Also, I didn't mention this in the last chapter but, Ao No Exorcist does not belong to me, it belongs to Kazue Kato and her amazing mind!

Rin's POV:

I know today is another day…

Another day full of self-loathing.

Another day…just waiting.

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'Rin'

'Rin'

'Rin'

'Rin'

My eyes opened slowly, sleep still tugging gently at my eyelids. "Wha, Kuro?" I muttered haphazardly. 'Rin, something doesn't seem right.'

"Everything is good, Kuro. Don't worry." I said, turning onto my right side, snuggling into the blankets.

I felt a soft paw on my face, pushing my cheek. 'Rin, wake up, this isn't funny. Rin, I won't stop till you get up. It's about Yukio.' Kuro was really getting on my nerves, I just want to sleep.

"Yukio is a four-eyed mole rat that cannnnn….eat…..socks."

'What?' Kuro, I suspected looked at me weirdly. 'Whatever, but Yukio needs your help!'

Two fuzzy cat paws on my face now. A horde of meows growing louder and louder. I totally lost this battle, Kuro wins. I slowly lean upward, petting Kuro as I yawn. "So, now that you've got me up, what's wrong little buddy?" A loud and irritated meow, 'RIN! I've been trying to tell you that I think Yukio is in trouble!'

"WHAT!?" I jumped out of bed, only now noticing the absence of my little brother. As Kuro jumps off the bed, I ask quickly, "Why do you think he's in trouble, Kuro?" He only looks up at me with a serious face and says, 'Follow me, Rin.' And he walks out the door, leaving me to jog up to him.

We walk down the first flight of stairs to the first floor and I notice something smells off. "Do you smell that too, Kuro?" 'Yeah, Rin.' I continued to follow him into the kitchen, where lights were on, covering everything in a warm glow.

At the entrance, I noticed something red on the ground. My eyes widened as I realized the red liquid was blood; dragged around on the ground. The crimson liquid was a smeared and messy trail that went around the table and back outside towards the front door. As my eyes trailed the mess, my legs followed, with Kuro now on top of my right shoulder. I prepared for what horrors would lay behind the front door. "Brace yourself, Kuro, I don't know what we'll find out there."

'Don't worry Rin, I'll always be ready when I'm with you.'

"Heh, thanks buddy, likewise."

I held a small smile for just a few seconds before a sinking realization slammed into my mind. 'Whose blood is that? It's not Yukio's right? I mean, he wouldn't die that easily, he's too strong. Right?' I clutched the doorknob hesitantly. "You ready, Kuro?" Kuro nuzzled his soft head against my ear. 'Yup." I took a deep breath, "Alright."

Enough stalling then. Here I go!

I turned the knob and burst through the door. My eyes widened at what I saw.

"There's…no blood?" I asked, dumbstruck. "Wh-what?" I choked out. 'I-I don't know, R-Rin.' Kuro let out hesitantly. I felt a slight twinge of anger then, where the hell was Yukio?

'Hey, Rin?' I heard Kuro ask uncertainly.

I calmed down, "Yeah?"

'Don't you have school today?'

"…...Damn it."

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Yukio's POV:

Where the heck is my brother?

He's late to class…..again.

My brother was supposed to be here an hour ago, he's missing crucial information that will aid him while fighting demons. I sigh, sometimes, Rin is just a lost cause….

I heard a door burst open a split second before I heard a loud, "YUKIO!"

I turn immediately from the board, eyes wide for just a second before I realize that it's just my brother's tardiness joining us again.

"Nii-san, where have y-"

"NO! Where have YOU been?!"

"What?" I shook my head. "Nevermind, Nii-san please take a seat and we can discuss whatever that is bothering you later."

"No Yukio, you need to answer me now. Why the hell was there blood all over the kitchen and trailing to the front door!?"

Now...THAT accusation surprised me.

"Ummm, Nii-san? Are you feeling okay?" Rin just stared at me. His bright, blue eyes searching me for clues. I honestly had no idea what he was talking about. "Yukio, what are you saying!? Did you just NOT see the freakin' BLOOD all over the ground!?"

I could only stare, wide-eyed at Rin's behavior. Blood? There was no blood when I had left to the Cram School early that morning.

"Rin, there was no blood when I left that morning." He just stared at me still by the door, like a defiant child, as all my other students sat with wide eyes filled with shock and hints of horror. Rin was starting to make me concerned, as well.

He started to tear up, which was very unlike him, "Yukio...please tell me..." He walked forward a few steps, close to the my desk, and fell to his knees abruptly.

"RIN!" I yelled as I ran up to him and knelt down on one knee with an arm on his left shoulder. He started to bawl like a child. I felt awkward from all the eyes boring into us, but also worried as to what was up with Rin.

"R-Rin?" I heard a scoff from the far left of the room. "All he wants is attention again." The voice said. I felt a twinge of anger from that, but kept quiet.

Rin was still on his knees, staring at the wall with his eyes wide, unblinking, and mouth agape.

"Yukio...I..."

"Rin." I interrupted, "I think we need to get you to-"

A puff of smoke in front of us. Grrreeaaattt...

"Why hello my little demon brother and others." Mephisto grinned, only slightly amused as he slowly floated to the ground; pink smoke dissipating. "A little birdy told me that someone was disrupting one of my classes." He threw his hand to his face dramatically, as he exasperated, "Oh, I should've known it was you!"

I glanced from Rin to Mephisto, then back to Rin. Rin was sitting on his knees now, face forlorn and quiet. I stood up defensively, even though I was still behind Rin. Mephisto couldn't have come at a worse time, if he could just leave...then I could assign the class an independent study packet and take Rin back home.

"Mephisto, care to answer why yo-"

"Dear me, Mr. Teacher, do you not know why I'm here? Even though I clearly said why I was here just a few minutes ago, I suppose I'll repeat myself." He bent forward with a pointer finger up, smiling with his tongue sticking out and adding an irritating wink . "Just this once." He added tauntingly.

Mephisto Pheles is and always will be one demon that I will never understand.

"So," he continued, a little more seriously now, thank God...or...thank...Satan? No, no, nevermind.

"I came to visit my faavvvvooorriittteee little group of exorcists-in-training to see how they are~." I narrowed my eyes at him. "I also came to take Rin and have a little talk with him, since he's the little demon disturbing my school's peace."

Rin, finally moving, looked over at Mephisto now, surprising not only me, but the students as well. He slowly stood up as everyone watched him, a determined and slightly angry exterior plastered over his face. The principal of True Cross Academy had a damned smirk on his smug face now. As Rin stood defiantly, he huffed, slightly out of breath, I noticed."You damned clown, I'm not going anywhere with you!"

Mephisto put his gloved hand to the side of his face and tilted his head. "Ohhhhh~. And why not Mr. Okumura?"

Rin, seemingly steaming, was glaring at Mephisto as he simply grinned, slight amusement and the satisfaction of irritating someone clearly evident on his face. Rin broke the staring contest, stammering, "W-Well, I...uhh...I...I...don't think it's right! It's unjustified!" He ended triumphantly.

"Why is it not justified, Mr. Okumura? Do you think I might do something mean to you?" The sing-song voice responded.

Rin just stared, searching his audibly irritated mind for an answer, I suppose. My own mind is darting back and forth, trying to find an excuse to convince Mephisto that everything is fine and to let Rin stay here. But, before I could come up with a sensible solution, Mephisto yawned, "This is taking too long, just because I'm correcting a problem in one classroom, does not mean I don't have other places to be." He grabbed Rin's arm, who was still thinking of a no-nonsense response to Mephisto's rejoinder. "Well, we must be off now!" He said quickly.

My mind raced and I darted forward, hand outstretched. "W-Wai-!" "Ta-ta~!" And without leaving a moment for me to respond, Mephisto, along with Rin, were gone. Leaving me standing there, staring at the dull gray wall. "Damn it."

As I stood there, mind drawing a blank as what to do next, I heard a cough asking for acknowledgement. I turned my head to see Kamiki Izumo standing behind her desk, arms crossed.

I stared at her for a few seconds before shaking my head to regain my senses. I coughed, "Ack, um, yes? Izumo-san?" She huffed, "Are you really NOT going to go after your brother who just got taken away by our principal to do Satan knows what?"

I stood rigid, was I supposed to go after Rin and leave the class? Or stay here to do my job and let whatever happens to Rin happen? I couldn't ask Izumo that, I'm the teacher, I should know what to do. But, in my defense, the teacher's twin brother who he teaches and who has had a mental breakdown in front of the class, whilst being the Son of Satan being taken away by the academy's principal, who is also a Son of Satan, is NOT something that happens everyday.

"U-umm." I stuttered. Izumo groaned exasperatedly, "You seriously have to THINK about this?"

"Well, Izumo-san," I sighed, "If I go, then what will you students do?" Izumo, clearly irritated, walked to my teacher's desk and grabbed and straightened a stack of papers that had been spread out on top.

"Is this our homework for tonight?" She asked, lifting up the papers and pointing to them.

"No, they're Thursday night's homework."

"Not anymore." She huffed out, passing out the papers to all the students. "Now go." She exhaled, tonelessly.

I was shocked that she would so boldly go against my authority, but this was not the time, Rin, most likely, needs my help.

I nodded my head, awkwardly, I must add, and started toward the door.

"Wait!" Someone called behind me. I turned quickly, time was apparently not on my side.

It was Ryuji Suguro who spoke. He was also standing now, as Izumo wordlessly went back to her desk and immediately started working on the homework. "A-Are you sure?"

"Am I sure what?"

"Are you sure you should go after him?"

"Rin?"

"Yeah, don't you remember what he did? This could be the time Mephisto finally takes charge and punishes him for the damage and trauma he's caused."

These comments...

"Look, Ryuji, Rin is my brother whether I like it or not, he has powers whether I like it or not, he's the Son of Satan whether I like it or not, but he's still my brother. And I made a promise to my father that I would protect him, no matter what. Now, if you'll excuse me..." I turned and swiftly walked to the door.

As I turned the knob, Ryuji spoke again, "I understand how you feel, but one day, he's going to do something that's going to make you wish you would've ended him sooner."

I walked through the door with that statement clinging on to me and closed it as gently as I was able to, strongly fighting the urge to slam the door shut. "You don't understand, Ryuji, you don't understand at all..." I whispered as the door shut.