If Rin Okumura were a more perceptive person, he would've noticed the serious changes in True Cross from the very beginning.
For one thing, the student population was less then half the size it was last year –and continued to decrease as the days rolled by. Many parents feared for their children's health and removed them from school. Due to the illness, some kids were unfortunately orphaned and brought away by aunts and uncles. Then, there were the few left with no relatives at all and forced to shoulder the responsibility of the family wealth alone.
There was also an issue with the entire world in general. Being locked within the walls of True Cross, Rin couldn't have possibly known what hell lingered outside, how his hometown was reduced to chaos. However, the teen knew danger was at his doorstep, waiting….
That sick teacher taught him that.
Four days have passed since then and Rin was currently in the middle of his second week at school. He now sat in the back of the cram school's classroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive. Other than himself, his table was completely empty. The others sat away in the front. Rin couldn't help but overhear a conversation between his classmates.
"Geez, Bon, you're nuts, y'know that? Completely nuts. I can't believe you already checked out of the infirmary," Shima moaned.
"Well, what was I supposed to do? Hide under my covers all day?" Suguro's arms were folded, head turned from his friend.
"You nearly turned into a freaky zombie thing! And come on…. Don't be so hard on Koneko…. You saw how he freaked out that one class…"
Suguro's arms tightened, his voice seemed pained.
"Tch…..No matter how hard I tried I couldn't get him out of bed. He won't…do anything."
Rin felt his heart sink. Konekomaru was afraid to leave his bed….?
"Hey, I didn't want to go class either!" Shima protested.
"But you did."
"…..Only because you forced me to….. Listen, Bon…. just give him some time…. He'll calm down – "
"He came here to become an exorcist!"
"I know, Bon, but he's scared."
Before Suguro could respond, Kamiki chimed into the discussion.
"He should be afraid."
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"I said he should be afraid. That virus turns people into demons and True Cross is not even close to a cure."
Rin's stocky classmate rose from his seat.
"SO YOU'RE SAYING HE SHOULD JUST RUN AWAY?...!"
"I'm saying he shouldn't be here if he can't handle it. An infected victim of 'Noire Du Sang' would turn on his own mother in that state."
"Oh really?..! You're just a coward that talks big! Who was the one that went looking for Mr. Okumura last Saturday?...! That's right – it was me! NOT YOU!"
That was when Kamiki stood up and yelled back.
"I'M the one that talks big?..! You do that all the time! By leaving the infirmary early you endangered us all!– All because you wanted to look big and strong! Well, you're not! You could be carrying the virus right now! And besides, I was the one who brought your stupid friends to the quarantines while YOU went out gallivanting!"
"Stuuupid…?" Shima whined sadly before Suguro reciprocated; little tears budding in his eyes, "You think I'm stupid?"
"I was TESTED for the virus and it came out negative! So I have just as much of a right to be here as you do – AND SO DOES KONEKOMARU!"
"STOP IT, PLEASE, EVERYONE – JUST STOP FIGHTING!"
To the students' surprise, the shout came from Sheimi. Silky tears ran down her face as she stood in front of them. The room was completely silent. Rin stared in awe.
Sheimi….
"We're all on the same side….and…. Yuki once said that exorcists have to work together…." She buried her crimson face in her little delicate shaking hands.
No one spoke for a minute. They all just stared at each other with confusion… until…. Suguro stormed out of the room. On impulse, Rin got up and tried to go after him, but Shima grabbed his shoulder and shook his head.
Just leave him be. His eyes seemed to say.
Everything was happening so fast that Rin and his classmates couldn't catch up. Sheimi was right…. they needed to stick together…
…but how could they if the virus was tearing everyone apart?
"All of you take your seats."
The group turned to see Mr. L'Écarlate…Isaac, standing in the doorway. He looked seriously pissed off.
Maybe it has something to do with Arisu? Rin thought.
He hadn't seen the girl since last week. The teen was pretty shocked by the man's appearance. If his sister really was missing…. shouldn't he be looking for her instead of teaching a class? Even the workaholic Yukio stopped teaching to research a cure.
The teen, Sheimi, Shima, and Kamiki all sat down. Isaac stormed over the teacher's desk and slammed a bunch of textbooks down violently. His voice was hard and threatening.
"Kamiki, 'and zese out."
The girl quickly got up and gathered the books. While she gave them out, Isaac began to lecture.
"All talking, whispering, snarky remarks, 'n foolish mizbehavior will be treated wiz severe punishments and you can kiss zis class 'n being an exorcist goodbye forever."
Silence.
The man turned his head with disgust towards the door.
"Well? Are you coming in or not?"
Suddenly, Rin saw two shivering hands grip the side of the doorway, and a timid blond head stick out.
"Aidyn!" He shouted happily.
"You're gonna be in my class now? That's great! Come sit over here."
The teen ignored everyone's looks of bewilderment as he gestured the child to come over. The moment Aidyn laid eyes on Rin, he seemed to perk up. The boy moved swiftly and carefully to the end of the classroom and sat down. Out of the entire class, Isaac seemed to be the most disturbed by Rin's actions. The man stared at him like he was a monster with three heads. Though it didn't matter to the teen, his friend was here.
Ever since the disaster with Mr. Yonegawa, Rin and Aidyn had been hanging out. It was much easier without his sister around…. Wherever the hell she was… Everyday at school, the two boys would sit next to each other in class and at lunch. They even caught a movie last Tuesday (the day before).
The film was about some clown or something…. It freaked the hell out of Aidyn and they had to leave. Rin didn't mind though, he noticed the hated looks from the other people in the theatre, and thought it would be best. At some point, a guy got up and tried to start something, but Rin scared him away. There were always bullies trying beat on Aidyn, but the teen was always ready to defend him. He'd never let anything happen to the kid.
It must suck to have a sickness where everyone hates you….
No wonder Aidyn was scared all the time, no wonder his hands, feet, and shoulders shook, no wonder he clung onto Rin and never let go… The guy needed constant protection... and he didn't get any. All he had were jerks like Issac and careless bitches like Arisu who'd abandon him for days.
Despite Rin's dislike for the girl, he knew she was still Aidyn's sister, and the boy was probably worried about her. He tried to steer clear of saying anything mean about her around Aidyn and he also assured the kid that she was alright and was gonna come back safely.
This wasn't a lie. Rin knew Arisu was fine. He was always there when Aidyn got his frequent phone calls from her, the ones she sent him each day…. Probably asking how he was doing or something. Whenever Aidyn's phone would ring, Rin would have to be very quiet to make sure the girl didn't hear him from the other end.
She'd probably freak out if she knew they were buddies.
But he didn't care.
"Now," Isaac started, ignoring his brother's new, strange friend.
"I am aware zat zis class used to be Démonology, taught by Meester Yonegawa. 'Owever, as of today, ze curriculum 'as changed. You will now take zree new courses concerning 'Noire Du Sang': Zeory, Defense, 'n Pharmacy."
No one dared to speak; Kamiki slapped two books on Rin's table. She kept her eyes away from Aidyn. Looking down, the teen read the cover of the thick, heavy book:
Demon Pharmaceuticals Level 10.
Level TEN?...! That looked hard!
"In Zeory, you will learn different beliefs doctors 'ave on ze illness's origins. In Defense, you will be taught 'ow to defend yourself against an infected victim wizout getting infected yourself. Finally, in Pharmacy, you will learn ze physical set up of ze illness 'n what to do if a classmate iz contaminated."
Kamiki raised her hand, probably to ask about the insane level of the textbook, but he ignored her.
"Zeory will be taught by Meester Pheles, Defense by Meester Tsubaki, 'n Pharmacy by yours truly."
EEEHHHH? Rin thought.
Mephisto?...A teacher?...! That's gonna be weird!
"As of right now, Pharmacy class will begin – "
During Isaac's sentence, Suguro slowly walked into the room, hunched over, hands in pockets.
"Sorry, I'm late," He said with a grave voice that sounded more bitter than sorry.
Isaac gave him a condescending look.
"I'd normally not tolerate such childlike 'n disgraceful behavior, Meester Suguro. But, seeing 'ow you are 'ere… why don't you start off ze lesson for us. Describe to ze class… what did Meester Yonegawa look like when 'e was infected?"
The man gave Suguro such a cruel order with such a monotone voice. Did this man have a soul? A heart? Rin could tell by the look on his classmate's face that he was distraught and would much rather not talk about their old teacher. Suguro did not answer…. He was frozen.
"Ah," Isaac said blandly.
"Too afraid? Well I would expect such a zing from a child. Take your seat – "
"He didn't seem human," Suguro growled.
The man's eyes widened slightly, showing an indication of surprise, which quickly disappeared.
" 'OW did 'e not seem 'uman."
"The way he moved…thought…. acted…. It was animal-like… He… he could smell your fear the moment he looked at you."
His classmate was trying so hard to sound tough, unaffected, mature…brave.
"And his face…. his damn face…."
Rin saw it too. He saw that teacher and he knew exactly what Suguro was attempting to describe….
He knew it was impossible….
Too painful for words….
"His face was covered in veins."
"Good. Now take your seat, Meester Suguro."
After glaring at his teacher, Rin's classmate eventually did as he was told. Isaac faced the board.
"What 'e just told you are some of ze many symptoms of 'Noire Du Sang'. I am now going to write ze four main symptoms on the board. Copy zem."
The man expected everyone to move at the speed of light. He barely gave them time to copy. The moment Rin's pen touched the paper, Isaac was off to something else. It was really frustrating…
"An essential zing you need to know about 'Noire Du Sang' iz zat it travels by water. Which means zat it can only survive in damp areas. One could catch it zrough contact wiz infected blood, salivation, any liquid, etc."
While Isaac lectured on, Rin scribbled as fast as he could.
Water travel
Blood/sal (he didn't finish the word)/ lickid.(he meant 'liquid')
This guy seriously needed to slow down. He could barely catch anything he'd say.
Kamiki raised her hand for a second time, which Isaac reluctantly answered with a nod. He was the 'do – what – I – say – and – don't –ask – questions' type of guy.
"Mr. L'Écarlate," She stared.
"Is it possible for 'Noire Du Sang' to spread through the air? ... To be airborne?"
"Well, miss, if you would've been patient 'n waited, we would've gotten to zat subject."
WHOA… That was mean! He really DOES hate everyone!
The girl's small brows knitted into irritation, she opened her mouth to protest… but quickly closed it.
"Yes, it is possible for ze virus to be airborne. 'Owever, it depends entirely on ze 'umidity of ze area. It cannot travel if zere iz no water molecules in ze air. Zat iz why dry air iz constantly being pumped zroughout ze school."
Rin didn't get this teacher, if he was gonna answer her question…. why'd he give her attitude in the first place…? He looked at Aidyn with pity, having that as a brother must be a complete hell. Suddenly the teen noticed his friend did not have any school supplies. He tore out a page from his notebook, took an extra pen, and placed it in front of the boy. The way Aidyn looked at Rin after that… one might've thought he saved the guy's life.
Isaac flashed an irritated yet confused expression at Rin. What's wrong wiz you? He seemed to say.
The teen glared straight back. I don't regret it.
The man returned his attention to the class.
"We've covered ze basics. We shall return to ze dynamics of 'Noire Du Sang' later. Right now, for your own safety, we are going to learn 'ow to deal wiz an infected comrade."
"First rule," He said.
" 'E is as good as dead."
