A/N: This chapter's gonna be a long one. Sorry… I hope it's interesting…
Hurray! The plot is actually moving!
The young man stared into the troubled eyes of his reckless older brother.
"Y – YUKIO?..! I thought you were the teacher for a sec!"
I should've known.
I should've known Rin would stick his nose into this.
Yukio was already stressed as it was. The body suit worn for his safety stuck to his skin… the helmet hot. His stomach clenched and every muscle was tense with anxiety. The doctor felt that if he were to grip on to anything solid, he could break it in two. He felt like screaming…. between finding a cure and Mr. Yonegawa contracting the virus…. Everything was hectic at the moment. And Rin – he always felt the need to throw himself in danger when it was clearly unnecessary. Did he want to die – DID HE WANT TO DIE? In a state of fury Yukio opened his mouth.
"DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?..!"
There was a startled squeal that came from behind his brother, whose response was hard and cautious.
"Hey…Yukio…. What's…?"
The doctor hunched over and rubbed his sinuses…. What happened? He was usually more composed than his… Even when Rin bumbled around stupidly… Yukio took a deep breath, composed his thoughts, and searched for an appropriate thing to say.
"You shouldn't be here. Only the faculty is allowed up to this point."
Rin immediately spoke back.
"I can be useful in this situation."
NO YOU CANT JUST GO BACK TO YOUR ROOM!
GO BACK –
WHERE YOU WONT GET YOURSELF KILLED!
Yukio was ready to pull his hair out. He wanted to sedate and drag Rin out of the perimeter. The young man felt like a time bomb ready to explode. However, instead of yelling, he calmly stated the words.
"No. Brother. Go back."
"Yukio… The virus… I'm pretty sure I'm immune… And besides… in the condition you're in… you can't fight this guy alone."
The doctor was completely startled by this answer. True – he wasn't nearly as sharp or as clean cut as usual. Frazzled locks of brown hair hung over his tired, stern eyes. His uniform was thrown together at the last second – placed over the school attire, which he wore the day before and was too busy to change out of. Despite all this, Yukio was still capable of fighting…much more than his brother…. Who was still an exwire…
However, in the back of his mind, he knew Rin was right. Indeed, he was in a vulnerable state, physically and mentally. Even so, Yukio did not want to admit that his brother was immune and helpful. If he did, that would mean Rin would come along and potentially lose control of his flames.
That would mean death for Yukio's older brother…
A painful one…
"There's a student with you, brother. You need to get him to safety."
Yukio tried to the best of his ability not to stare at the boy clutching onto Rin, Aidyn L'Écarlate…. He was well aware of the child and the infectious side effects of his temptant. Rage. Rage. Rage. Anxiety.
It was most likely this boy's condition that was amplifying Yukio's negative emotions…. However…. This wasn't the only time the doctor felt like he was loosing control of himself…. The young man recalled snapping at Shura during their discussion on Aidyn. –
'You mean what are YOU going to do about! Believe it not YOU'RE a doctor too Shura!'
'You're the one that noticed it – be mature for once and handle it yourself!'
It couldn't be… there was another force at hand here…?
Impossible.
It's stress… Nothing more…
Yukio could see Rin's hesitation and reluctant expression as he glanced at the boy.
"Y – yeah…you're right… I gotta – "
Suddenly Aidyn stood up and the doctor was hit with a wave of intense emotion. He was forced to shield his eyes as the child walked passed him mindlessly. His brother called out.
"HEY! Aidyn! What's - ?..!"
There was a pounding in Yukio's head…he couldn't think straight. This boy, his temptant…it was affecting him. The young man took a deep breath. Try to focus. Try to focus.
He heard Rin grab Aidyn.
"Hey… what's with you?..! Are you under some kind of hypnotic thing?..! Whoa – Yukio… you okay? …!"
The young man felt a hand place itself on his shoulder. He immediately flinched away. Hand clutched to his forehead, Yukio backed into a wall.
"Rrrrgg…"
"Y – YUKIO!"
Rin grabbed each of his arms and shook him wildly.
"HEY – HEY! DON'T GIVE INTO IT! COME ON!"
Don't give into it… Does Rin know about the temptant…?
"Let – GO!"
Yukio shoved Rin away with weak force. Hunched over, he continued to clutch his sinuses while speaking.
"Rin. Where is Aidyn?"
"…..Uh…Walkin' down the hallway…. I don't know what's wrong – "
"We need to follow him. Restrain me if I lose my mind."
"HUH?"
"I don't know why, but I have a feeling that Aidyn's going to lead us to Mr. Yonegawa…."
"Y – you sure?"
"Yes."
"Oh…alright…"
Yukio refused to lean on Rin, he could walk on his own. And, as long as he averted his eyes from boy ahead, the throbbing skull was bearable. Aggravating as it was, the young man had no choice but to let his brother help with the mission… but one step out of line and he was –
"H – hey…Yukio…"
The doctor flinched….Why did he have such a violent reaction to his brother's voice? Why did he feel this extreme bitterness, like he wanted to be left alone... to be as far away from his brother as possible?
Why can't you realize that protecting you would be THAT much easier if you stayed PUT?
"What?"
"This teacher… are you … gonna kill him?"
"There's no other choice but to kill him."
"But – "
"It's too late Rin. Mr. Yonegawa's no longer human…He would want this…"
Yes… He would…. Just like the corpse I dissected earlier… the one that wrote 'child' on the glass.
"He would? How do you know? –"
"WHAT WOULD YOU DO THEN?..!"
Rin and even Yukio was surprised by the roaring of his own voice… Everything was silent for a moment. His brother began to speak again.
"Hey. I'm worried about you."
"What…?"
Yukio's voice was coarse and low; Rin's response was firm.
"I'm worried. I think you're losing it with this virus. You don't seem like yourself."
The young man was silent… He couldn't find something to say to this. Brother continued.
"You're always out… And…when you're home you never eat… or sleep…..You look like a walkin' mess most of the time."
Silence.
"Yukio…. I know you're trying to help people….but…. how can you if you can't even help yourself?"
"You don't understand." The doctor said tiredly.
You don't understand that your life is at stake…
"Hey! Look – the little guy brought us…"
Yukio observed his surroundings. They now stood in the dark cafeteria. The only light source was the faint white glow of a rainy day seeping though the window. In a matter of seconds, there was a thud and Rin ran passed him.
"HEY! HEY! ARE YOU - ?..!"
Aidyn must've collapsed. Yukio couldn't afford to look…his sanity was at risk.
Why did the boy lead them here? Was there a connection between his temptant and the virus? Yukio would focus on that later, right now, he needed to find the teacher and rid the academy of this threat. The young man pulled out his gun and loaded it with a swift click.
"Alright Rin. Your job is done. Take Aidyn out of here, I will handle the rest."
"Tsk!… Didn't I say that you can't handle this on your own?..!"
"You don't have a choice…the boy – "
"I'll fight and shield him at the same time!"
"How arrogant."
"W – why you - ! Look who's talkin' four – eye's….or….er… mister – I'll – do – this –alone – just – to –look – cool!"
Yukio sighed.
"Arrogant and immature."
"Gaahh!"
Rin slung Aidyn over his shoulder and stood up, holding the boy in place with his left arm. The doctor eyes remained averted.
"Stay quiet." He whispered.
"Yeah – yeah whatever."
They remained frozen and silent for about fifteen minutes – a pin drop could be heard in the room. Yukio needed to find something…anything to figure out where Mr. Yonegawa was hiding…
Still. Still. Silence. Silence. Tension rising, was there something here? Was it sensible to rely on the judgment of a shivering insecure boy with a dangerous temptant? Rin yawned.
"Hey… Is he….gonna come out?"
"….I'm not sure – "
/sUcH fLoOdS…. SuCh bEaUtIfUl fLoOdS/
Yukio's arm jolted his gun out before him. Rin grabbed the handle of his sword behind his back with the right hand. His voice was low and raspy.
"He's here."
"I know."
Rin turned his head surprised.
"You heard?...! But - isn't he sort-of a demon now? I thought demons could only hear other demons…"
"I know, I can't explain it…"
I can't afford to worry about that right now –
/tHy cHiLdReN sHaLL fOllOw/
"HEY!" Rin screamed out.
"Quit sayin' creepy things that don't make sense! Just come out!"
/tHy sHaLL ReTuRn tO tHy mOtHeRs/
"IM NOT A BABY!"
/PrEcIoUs fLoOdS/
Sweat dripped down Yukio's neck. The ominous voice echoed throughout the entire cafeteria… it seemed to come from everywhere. There was only one chance…
"Brother… Do you sense the teacher from anywhere?"
"Uuuuuhhhhh…. That stuff usually just comes to me… Uh – wait – uh…"
Rin turned his head from side to side frantically. Yukio became frustrated.
"Forget it – "
"WAIT – That way."
Brother's eyes were squeezed shut with concentration. He pointed to the left… toward the menus. The group carefully eased in that direction.
"Mr. Yonegawa, show yourself." The doctor announced.
"Don't make this any harder… Any resistance and I will shoot."
He knew it was pointless, of course. The teacher was beyond any reason and feeling… Yukio was only hoping to draw him out.
Or… at the very least he tried to tell himself that.
No response.
"Is he still here Rin?"
"Y…yeah – he's here."
"Where? Can you pinpoint a specific location?"
"Uhhhmmm…."
Aidyn, who was leaning unconsciously on Rin, began to stir. Brother whipped his head round to the boy….Yukio looked away and braced himself.
"Hey! Are you okay? You passed out, remember?"
"A – ah….R – Rin…."
"Yup it's me!"
The young man found it ridiculous that his brother kept on speaking when the boy clearly did not comprehend a word he said. Either way, Aidyn seemed to put heavy faith in Rin…. faith that Yukio himself was too afraid to give…
"You're not sick or anything right?"
"U – uh?"
"Sick. Are you sick from the demon?"
"…"
The rain outside grew heaver… They could hear its pattering from inside. The fragile boy gripped Rin harder (it appeared as though he was embracing him). He lifted his head up towards the ceiling and shrieked. Instantaneously the two brothers looked up as well.
Lightning flashed.
A malformed silhouette perched like a gargoyle on a bar protruding from the wall, high above. Wheezing… hacking up black fluid and scratching newly grown claws against the wood, Mr. Yonegawa stared down at them. Before Yukio could react, he sliced a chain connecting a miniature chandelier to the bar, sending it crashing down onto them. The group jumped out of the way, landing on their sides. Aidyn passed out for the second time. Yukio rolled onto his back and shot at the 'man' overhead.
The infected teacher dodged easily, jumping to different bars.
I need to knock him down somehow!
As though reading his mind, the Koma Sword was flung at the man, cutting the wood he sat on. While the 'man' fell, Yukio shot him with two sedation bullets. In an instant, Mr. Yonegawa laid motionless on the ground. Rin calmly retrieved and sheathed the sword. Afterwards, he ran towards Aidyn and slung arm over shoulder once more. Yukio looked down at the former respected faculty member with a blank expression.
"It's over… Mr. Yonegawa…"
It was difficult to believe that this creature was once a man he knew. Looking closely, the doctor could see dark veins and black plasma… all scarring the 'man's' face… twisting his skin, maiming it. The glasses he once wore were gone. They most likely fell and cracked during his rampage. His once frizzy orange hair now laid in slimy clumps beside the neck.
Indeed… It was over…
Brother approached from behind.
"Hey, what's that?"
"What?"
"That – that thing in his hand…"
"Hm? I don't see…"
Yukio kneeled down and in fact saw something white and thin in the 'man's' palm. The doctor pulled and smoothed it out. It was a picture of two students. The photo was water damaged, so only one person could be seen.
"I – It can't be…."
"W – what? What is it?"
Rin hunched over Yukio, also overcome with shock.
"I – IT'S THE OLD MAN! O – only.…he's not old here!"
There was no mistaking it… the young teenager in the picture was indeed Father Fujimoto attending cram school.
"I don't understand…" Yukio mumbled
"Why would Mr. Yonegawa cling onto this photo in such a crazed state? What relevance does it hold?"
Rin rubbed the back of his head in confusion. "Uh…why does a teacher have this picture in the first place? …it's kinda creepy…"
Yukio frowned. It can't be that Dad - !
Wet claws sank through the young man's suit and into his neck. Mr. Yonegawa was on his feet again, and this time he grabbed the two brothers by the throat. The unconscious Aidyn dropped to the floor.
/t – tHy/
He looked at Rin.
/tHy sHaLL bE cLaImEd bY tHee gOdEss/
He looked at Yukio.
/tHy sHaLL bE cLaImEd bY tHee DoLLmAkEr/
W – What?
"Screw – YOOOOOOOUU!"
Rin burst into blue flames and the 'teacher' immediately released the two. He screamed in pain as his arm was covered in fire. To put it out, Yukio threw a holy water bomb at the 'man'. After the flame was doused, the remaining spray of holy water became black and sticky. The residue of slime covered the – lets face it – the THING'S body and seemed to give it strength. The creature hissed at the brothers stumbling from left to right. Yukio held out his gun, prepared to shoot. Rin called out.
"I don't think sedating him is gonna work!"
"I'm not going to sedate him."
"Wait, Yukio… you're not….?"
"There's no choice, Rin."
The young man's hands tightened around the firearm's handle.
"I have to kill him."
Brother clasped his hand over the gun's nose.
"Hold it! There has to be another way."
"Can't you see that there isn't?"
"Exorcists are supposed to save lives! – NOT TAKE THEM AWAY!"
"Rin – it's a MONSTER!"
"NO – it's a TEACHER!"
Rage, anxiety and guilt filled Yukio's tightening chest. He shoved Rin away with his arm, knocking his brother to the ground.
"Aaaarrg – Yukio – DON'T!"
"WE DON'T HAVE A CHOICE!"
Mr. Yonegawa – a man – no - it – a thing – no – a man – a thing – Mr. Yonegawa charged at the group. Yukio released the safety on his gun… ready to fire….
I'll do whatever it takes….
To keep my brother safe….
"On Basara Gini Nenhatana…Souka!"
The chant seemed to come from nowhere. Before the doctor could pull his trigger, a magic barrier appeared in front of the 'man,' blocking the two from attack.
"Teacher! Okumura!"
The chanted shield came from Ryuji Suguro. He stood alone, fingers pressed together, forming a sign. The others weren't with him.
"EEEHHH?..! S – Suguro!"
Yukio tore an furious gaze at Suguro, demanding, "Students shouldn't be here, it's dangerous – RUN! Go now!"
A flash of confusion, then anger, appeared on the stocky teenager's face.
"T – Then why's Okumura?..! - He's a student too!"
Before Yukio could think of a response, the creature stood up and faced Suguro.
The student flinched and his shoulders tightened.
The thing charged, and the teenager began to chant once more… Though, it wouldn't do him much good. Even if he did block the creature, that wouldn't stop the black fluid from splashing and possibly getting on Suguro. He wasn't wearing a suit like Yukio, and clearly wasn't immune like Rin. The danger was inevitable…. And he knew it. The two brothers shouted at the top of their lungs.
"NNNOOOOO!"
"SUGUROOO!"
Then.
As luck would have it…
The thing collapsed before he could reach Rin's classmate.
Suguro dropped to his knees, relieved, realizing he dodged the kiss of death. After checking to see if the thing was out cold, Yukio ran over to his student. He could see Rin wanted go over as well. However, the tense look in Suguro's eyes made him reconsider.
"Stay calm." The doctor calmly stated.
"You'll need to be examined by the doctors."
In the distance, Yukio could hear a conversation between Rin and Aidyn.
"You're up?"
"U – up?"
"Yeah, you're okay?"
"O – okaaay…"
"Hey, listen! You helped us! Thanks!"
"T – thank…?"
"Yeah! We make a good team, huh? I'm sure one day you'll become an exorcist!"
"E – exorcist…"
"U – huh! And I'll be by you're side – we're buddies!"
"B – buddies?..!"
The boy's voice seemed stunned. As though he understood the word.
"Yeah! Buddies!" Brother happily exclaimed.
And then Yukio heard Aidyn sob into his hands.
Rin was dumbfounded.
"UH – UH – WAIT – UH – I – I DIDN'T MEAN TO MAKE YOU CRY OR ANYTHING!"
Something told Yukio they were tears of joy.
But they only filled the doctor with anger and distress.
The photograph crunched tightly between his fingers.
A/N: Hurry for Bon! Last minute hero!
Lol and yes Rin, I'm sure after passing out twice Aidyn's gonna make a great exorcist...
