"He's looking for someone powerful." Yukio frowned in the glowing antiseptic white of the hospital hallway, his teeth grinding together in frustration. 'Why can't he just leave us alone... Hasn't he done enough?'he asked himself.

"Loosen up man," Shura said, peering at him from the corner of her eye, deliberately trying to direct his anger towards her instead. "Come on, giving yourself an ulcer ain't gonna help anything." His teal eyes looked at her, she froze in place at the glare that was colder than ice. Without the glasses she noticed just how beautiful his eyes were, she never noticed with his glasses in the way. 'What do you know four eyes, you can surprise me,' she thought, the warmth in her heart reheating the rest of her frozen body.

"Nii-san," Yukio called, not even looking behind him to his brother.

"Wah?" He murmured.

"Behave," he said coldly.

"I'll show you behaving," he growled, raising his fist at his brother's back.

"Rin!" He snapped, still not looking at his brother as he grasped the steel handle. Rin huffed, blowing his hair out of his eyes. Yukio walked in first, but Shura stayed behind, making sure all the exwires went in, and then grabbed Rin by the hair and pulled him aside.

"Are you trying to piss him off?" She asked, hands on her hips.

"He treats me like a child!"

"You act like a child! Leave him alone alright? He's got a shit ton of stress and he don't need yer help getting premature grey hairs. Come on," she grabbed him by his neck much like a dog would grab a puppy and led him into the hospital room.

"What happened Arthur?" Yukio asked, eyes focused on the bandaged exorcist in front of him.

"Okumura," he rasped. His boiled skin peeking out from between the bandages, black burns peeling up from his flesh. His blonde hair was melted together in mats at the ends and his jaw bone was singed, his beautiful face marred forever. "This.. is your fault. He's coming," his blue eyes bled anger at the boy.

"I need to know anything Satan communicated to you Angel." His eyes narrowed at Yukio.

"He wants Assiah. And he's not stopping... until he gets it."

"Arthur calm the hell down. This isn't Yukio's fault," Shura scolded.

"It is," he said, pushing himself up in the bed. His white coat bled red as a wound in his shoulder reopened. A nurse bustled in, pushing him down and injecting something into his IV.

"I need you to leave," the nurse said, eyeing Yukio in particular, as he seemed to be causing the disturbance.

"Well that was a waste of time," Bon complained as soon as they got out the door.

"It-," Rin started but his voice faltered. He swayed to the side and his tail hung limp behind him. The hallway was glowing in his vision, the colored carpet swirling like a whirlpool. His throat burned and his body jerked, throwing red into the swirling mix.

"Nii-san!" He heard a voice call, but he felt as though he were hearing it through water. His body felt weightless and the carpet turned so that it was on the wall and he could feel the coarse fabric against his face. He cried out when his stomach felt like a hot iron and been plunged into it, curling into a ball and gripping his shirt.

"What the hell?!" Shura cried, her voice high and her pink eyes frightened. Yukio threw his keys at her.

"What's happening to him?" Tsugumi asked, her mouth wide with horror.

"Get Mephisto. Now!" He yelled, sensing this was something ordinary doctors could not mend. Shura ran off, her hair flowing out behind her with her speed. Yukio felt his brother's icy forehead and cursed. Blood trickled from his mouth and the demon child whimpered, his tail clenching at his pain. Rin shivered on the gorund as Yukio picked him up, cradling him in his arms. His arms were hot against Rin's cold body, making the demon feel like they were burning his skin and he squirmed in his brother's hold.

"Rin," Shiemi whispered, tears falling from her emerald eyes as Bon put his arm around her.

"Stay with me Rin!" Yukio said, his voice trembling. He held his brother closer in his arms as he ran to an empty room, trying to tighten his fists enough to stop their insistent shaking.

"Yuki." Shiemi stood up stiffly, following the brothers. Yukio had taken off his jacket, laying his brother on the bed and strapping him down to restrain his convulsions.

"Nii-san," Yukio said quietly.

"Yuki!" He spun around, his eyes blazing he looked at Shiemi. His tear streaked face resembling that of a child without his glasses. "Nee!" She said, Yukio turned back to his brother, tuning out the little girl's pleading with her familiar. Yukio took a syringe from his belt pack and ripped the protective covering off the needle with his teeth, squirting out the air and plunging it into Rin's bulging vein.

"Y-yukio," Rin said, his blood stained teeth clenched at the pain.

"It's going to be all right nii-san!" He said, his voice fast and intense. Rin's gums were blue, his whole body turning a monochromatic scheme of violet blue. "It's like he's been poisoned," Yukio said to himself. 'That's the only way this could've happened so fast.' "Shit." He knew he should've been watching him better... This could easily have been the Vatican, or Satan. How did he not see it before... Shiemi thrust her hand in Yukio's face.

"Have him eat this!"

"What is it?"

"It's a Gollum." Yukio's brow creased, her childish names for things did not translate easily for him. Rin convulsed again and he grabbed the ball from Shiemi's hand.

"Nii-san," his brother wasn't listening. His eyes rolled back in his head and his body shook the bed, red foam leaking from the corner of his mouth. Yukio clenched his jaw and put his hand in his brother's mouth, pushing the medicine down his esophagus manually.

"What the hell are you doing?!" A doctor called from the hallway. "Security!" A officer rushed in as Yukio retracted his hand from his brother's still throat. He grabbed Yukio by the arm, twisting it behind him and roughly shoving his face into the cement brick wall, his weight as leverage against the boy's shoulder.

"You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you-," Yukio wasn't listening to the cop. His eyes were on his brother, on Shiemi crying at his shoulder as he lay still, still trapped to the hospital bed. The doctor that had called security went over to his brother, checking his pulse, his heroic stature deteriorating as he couldn't find Rin's pulse. Yukio's fighting skill kicked in as his emotions seized his body. He kicked off the wall, knocking the cop off balance and gave a quick jab to his shoulder, the cop's arm falling limply against his side. Yukio pulled another syringe from his pack and stabbed the cop with the tranquilizer. His heavy form crumpled and fell to the ground on his face. Yukio's malevolent glare turned on the doctor as he grabbed the handcuffs from the cop's belt, stalking over to the doctor he trapped linked his wrist to the wall and gently shut the door.

"You keep quiet or I will shoot you," Yukio threatened, pulling his gleaming black gun from the holster, pointing it at the doctor, his smile twisted sideways in a way that struck fear into every cell of the doctor's body.

"Yuki!" Shiemi yelled, snapping him out of his trance. He shot up and ran to his brother. He kicked a lever on the bed, knocking it down and leaned over his brother, trying to resuscitate the demon. His bangs stuck to his sweaty forehead as he performed compressions in a desperate manner. A crack echoed through the room and Yukio winced, knowing he had probably broken his brother's sternum. As a trained doctor he knew what he had to do.

"Shiemi, go look for Ms. Shura," he said calmly. She nodded and peeked out the door. "Come on nii-san, come back," Yukio whispered as he pinched his brother's nose, tilted his chin back and pushed air into his brother's lungs. Shiemi turned back to see what he was doing and her face burned scarlet upon witnessing the drastic measures Yukio was taking to save the brother everyone was so certain he hated on some level. The mattress squeaks and the huffs of breath were the only sounds in the dark room. Yukio panted as he beat Rin's heart, trying to make it beat, tried to make his lungs breathe. Yukio spun around the room, grabbing the defibrillator from the wall and ripping Rin's shirt open. "Wake up Nii-san!" He urged as the device charged. He pressed it against the demon's skin, jolting his body upwards as the electricity flowed through it.

"Yuki-Yukio," his brother sputtered. Yukio's eyes were wide as Rin sat up and began coughing, gagging as Yukio removed the rest of the restraints. Shiemi grabbed the trashcan from by the door and gave it to Rin as he vomited into it. A thunk fell to the bottom of the can and Yukio's eyes narrowed as he put a glove on. When Rin finished, he stuck his hand in and pulled out the heavy object.

"Holy silver bullet," he said. The stench of green apple hung around the piece of metal. His mind flashed, recognizing the smell as something that had come from a candy, a candy that Tsugumi had been sharing with everyone before the game. 'Rin must have just digested the coating, and the silver began eating it's way through his organs.'

"Yukio!" Shura called as she burst through the door. The doctor cowered in the corner as the tall demon and endowed woman entered the room. Mephisto walked over to Rin, wordlessly gripping his chin and pouring the contents of a vial down his throat. The liquid burned as it went down and Rin coughed as it singed his throat.

"What are you doing?" Yukio asked.

"It will help him heal." When the fire left one area and moved on to the next Rin realized it was acting like a phoenix, finishing off the damaged tissues and giving rise to fully repaired cells. "My my young Okumura, you sure did some damage here," he said, his purple eyes focused on the petrified doctor. "Eins, zwei, drei," he said, his voice serious. The doctor collapsed to the floor and Mephisto removed the cuffs. "Shall we go?" He asked. Rin tried to sit up as Bon walked in.

"Sit down," he commanded, his voice gruff as he walked over and pulled the demon onto his back. "You about die five minutes ago and you're already trying to get back on your feet." Rin smiled at his friend's complaining, knowing it was his own form of affection, of showing friendship.

"Mephisto," Yukio said, wiping his mouth on his arm, blood trailing the pale skin. "What's going on?"

"That's something I would like to know myself. Let's get Okumura back to his room, then we'll talk." Yukio scowled as the headmaster turned his back on him. Shura bunned up her hair and followed the procession out the door. The kids took a key back to Rin's dorm. Shura Yukio and Mephisto took a path to the headmaster's office. He sauntered across the room, taking a seat behind his massive desk and lacing his fingers together under his chin. "Ai. Come here," he said. A girl, the age of no more than fourteen walked from the side room, a room Yukio and Shura didn't know existed, much less where it went or what it did. She had brown shoes and black stockings going up her pale legs. Her bracelet jingled as she walked, the bell on it jostled by her swaying arms. She wore a white shirt with the academy tie, her long, dark hair standing stark contrast until it reached the black of her skirt, the difference between hair and fabric becoming indiscernible.

"My name is Ai," she said, her small mouth barely moving as she spoke, her bright red eyes following Yukio as she walked from the left side of the room to the center, not once blinking or breaking contact. Her black hair framed her pale face, hanging to her chin in layers and then cut across at her eyebrows for her bangs, the rest hanging well below her shirt line, flowing sleekly as she moved.

"Ms. Kirigakure could you take her to the twin's dormitory, all of the exwires will be staying there until further notice due to recent events." Shura turned sharply without saying a word to the girl, knowing she was being sent out and showing she was pissed about it. Ai followed her, the ends of her black hair the last thing Yukio could see of her as she glided through the doorway.

"A new student at a time like this?" Yukio asked, his arms folded across his chest.

"Most interesting chain of events don't you think." Yukio pulled the bullet from his jacket and dropped it on Mephisto's desk.

"This is what Rin had."

"Holy silver bullet. Most dangerous for a demon."

"He ingested it." Mephisto tried to hold his laughter but burst, cackling until he nearly cried with amusement.

"My my I didn't think the boy was that ignorant." Yukio's frowned deepened.

"It was hidden in a candy that was given to him." Mephisto's laughter cut off.

"I wonder now, where did he get it." Yukio's hair rose in anger and Mephisto looked at him. "But you already know that don't you. Nothing gets past you my boy."

"Tsugumi was handing them out right before we were called to see Angel in the hospital."

"Shibata?" Mephisto asked. "Oh I don't think so," he put the bullet close to his crooked eyes. "Is this one of yours?" Yukio was startled. He hadn't thought to check that. He used a unique hand gun, one his father had specifically chosen for him because it was light weight and perfect for use with an ambidextrous wielder. He took out his gun and retrieved one of the death pellets, comparing it to the one Mephisto held delicately in his palms, even with gloves on his demon flesh.

"It is one of mine."

"So whoever did this, had access to your supplies. Ms. Moriyama perhaps?"

"She wouldn't. She cares about Rin far too much," Yukio replied icily.

"Shura perhaps? She certainly could get ahold of your ammunition with her training as a Japanese Ninja."

"Mephisto that is enough of your accusations. Where did you get her?"

"She's a friend."

"It's awfully convenient my brother is attacked just as you personally admit two new students from out of nowhere. One that seems to have taken a particular interest in my brother and myself," Yukio accused, remembering how Tsugumi has stayed behind to talk to him, how she'd had a rather personal discussion with Rin, how it was her that had the candy that nearly killed Rin.

"Are you insinuating I'm at fault?" He asked, almost challenging Yukio to flat out accuse him.

"I'm just saying it's suspicious. And the way you blame my students and friends."

"You've said yourself you don't like Shura Kirigakure, and the supply shop owner's daughter is just far too convenient."

"I may not like her antics but I would never accuse her of treason."

"I see." Yukio sensed he wasn't getting any more from the demon and he turned on his heel, walking out.

"He doesn't trust you."

"Can't you do anything right Amaimon?" Mephisto scolded.

"Sorry brother."

"If he's dead he can't rule Gehenna. You know Lucifer is planning to attack our father. Rin has to be there to take Satan's place as King of Gehenna."

"Why does Okumura have to rule?"

"Because Lucifer is planning to merge Gehenna and Assiah the same way father is. With violence. They don't understand the balance the world must live in. Besides Rin, there's no one who could defeat him, he's the most powerful demon king apart from Satan. Even if the other seven of us managed to fight with him we'd still need Okumura."

"I see."

"Anyway, you failed me. It seems if I want something done right I simply must do it myself. I'm not quite as cunning as Medusa was," he trailed off.

"Mr. Okumura!" Tsugumi cried from the hall. He turned his gaze slowly towards her, his veins burning with hate. His irises contorted as his mind processed the conversation he had heard.

"That son of a bitch," he muttered. He walked towards her, distancing himself from the demon he wanted to kill. "What do you want Shibata?"

"The candies... They weren't mine."

"What?" He asked sharply.

"They were a gift."

"From who?"

"Konekomaru."

"Come with me," he stalked off, shoving a key in the door and emerging in the dormitory he and Rin shared. "Miwa Konekomaru," he said loudly, walking into the cafeteria where the students were gathered. Ai's red gaze turned slowly towards him, a fleeting glance before she turned back to Shiemi.

"Mr. Okumura?" Bon asked, standing in front of his friend.

"Where the hell did you get that candy from?"

"Calm down Yuki!" Shiemi said. He glared at her and she sat back down, partially hiding behind Bon.

"Yukio what the hell is wrong with you?" Shura asked.

"My brother, was almost killed because someone gave him a holy silver bullet masquerading as a piece of candy. Tsugumi said she got it from you!"

"Okumura sensai," Konekomaru started before Bon cut him off.

"You don't have to explain yourself to him," he growled.

"The hell he doesn't!" Yukio yelled. Shura walked over to him and slapped him across the face.

"Yukio look at yourself."

"I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"Mr. Okumura," Koneko said. "They arrived at my door. It had a note on it... said it was a gift from the director. The one that was given to Rin, was separate from the others. He said it was a weird flavor because Rin's a demon and to just give that one to him. I'm sorry."

"Mephisto? H-He gave it to you?" Yukio rubbed his forehead. All the details were far too confusing. Mephisto had said he needed Rin alive, so why would he poison him? Was that what he was mad at Amaimon about? Did he do it for Mephisto? "I'm going upstairs," he said quietly. Shura watched him leave, dramatically sighing before chasing after him.

"Those two, are so weird." Shima said.

"What are we doing for dinner? Okumura is out right now?" They all stared at each other. They were lost without Rin...

He was in the bathroom, his hands gripping the icy countertop when Shura came in. She handed him a pair of glasses and he nodded in thanks, removing the contacts.

"Are you ok?" She asked.

"Why would Mehpisto try and kill Rin?"

"Maybe he didn't."

"You trust him?"

"I don't trust him. I just know that there are plenty of demons who have it out for the brother that left them for Assiah. He could've been framed."

"I heard him talking to Amaimon. He said they needed Rin to rule Gehenna. He was angry at Amaimon for messing something up, he did something that nearly cost Rin his life. I think it was Mephisto. I think he told Amaimon to poison Rin so he could come in and save the day and gain more undeserved trust and he messed it up and nearly killed my brother."

"That's a stretch Yukio..."

"This whole situation is fucked up!" He said, walking out of the bathroom, his hands twined in his hair. He plopped down on the bed, dropping his head into his hands. She sat down next to him and brushed her fingers through his hair.

"It's going to be alright. You and Shiemi saved him."

"Mephisto tried to blame you," he said, his voice small.

"He knows I don't trust him. I have no doubt he's up to something, but I don't think he's the one that orchestrated Rin's poisoning." He laid back, looking at the ceiling with his arms behind his head. "It's gonna be alright Yukio," she cooed. 'What does that damn clown think he's doing...' She twisted different webs of ideas around in her head, trying to understand a culprit, a motive, anything, but she wasn't getting anywhere. She looked to Yukio, saw his pale face smooth of worried lines, his mouth open slightly as he slept. She took his glasses off and laid them on the table, gentle rearranging the boy in his bed and putting the covers on him. She opened his closet, taking one of his shirts and buttoning it up, removing her own scanty clothes in favor of the soft cotton shirt that smelled of Yukio. She sat down on the other bed in the room for a few minutes before thinking, 'Oh what the hell.'

It was bright. And it hurt his eyes. His stomach whined that he hadn't fed it in awhile and he turned over. A pair of big red eyes met his blue ones and he jerked back. He knew two people with red eyes: Izumo and Soul. She was neither.

"Who are you?" He asked. 'Where the hell is my sword?' He wondered, trying to look around for it discreetly.

"My name is Ai."

"Yukio?!" Rin yelled, wanting an explanation from his brother. 'This is one way to wake up after nearly dying,' he grumbled internally. "Hehe, I'll be right back." 'Does she ever blink?' He wondered as he rushed out, feeling her eyes on his back. He stopped suddenly, walking back into the room. She was looking down at her hands, her black hair covering part of her pale face. 'She's really pretty.'

"You're back," she said, looking up at him from underneath her long eyelashes.

"Do you wanna come with me instead of staying here alone?" She stood up, graceful as water she followed him. He wandered to the cafeteria, but he didn't see his brother there. "Huh. Where the hell is he." He wandered the various levels of the dorm, left to right, Ai following silently behind him. "I'm Rin," he said when he realized he hadn't told her his name.

"You're a demon?" She asked, her lips barely moving as she spoke the words. He nodded.

"I'm the half human son of Satan. My brother and I both are. I'm just the dangerous one though."

"You don't seem dangerous." He could hear snoring from the room they approached.

"You stay in the hall," he said, not knowing if Yukio would be decent or not. He walked into the room casually and saw his younger twin's glasses sitting on the side table. "Wake up four eyes!" Rin yelled, his regular energy and excitement restored.

"Wha-?" Shura said, her wild pink hair sprouting about in every direction as she rubbed sleep from her eyes.

"Shura?!" Rin screeched, jumping backwards. "Where's-?" He started when Yukio sat up, his hair in massive disarray.

"Sleep well?" Shura asked, winking at him.

"Did you two?" Rin asked, pointing at the two of them.

"What do you think?" She said and his finger shriveled back to him. He stood there for roughly three more seconds before sprinting out of the room, grabbing Ai and swinging her up to carry her in his arms so he didn't have to stop for her to follow him.

"Shura why did you do that?" Yukio asked as she fell backwards on his lap laughing.

"Cause it's funny!"

"Why are you in my bed?"

"You don't remember?" His face burned red and she cackled. "That your first time?" She giggled as he robotically got up out of the bed and walked silently out of the room. "He is so uptight."

"How could he not tell me?! What the hell is wrong with him?!" Rin muttered angrily to himself as he fixed breakfast for himself and Ai. "That fucker..."

"Hello, nii-san," Yukio said, his face pale as he walked into the room. Rin ran out there, a pan in each hand as he raged.

"When the hell did you get together with Shura?!"

"I'm not."

"Lie to me again and I'll beat you with this fucking pan little bro." Yukio gulped. His brother was not joking around.

"Seriously I just went to sleep and woke up and she was there."

"Cut the shit Yukio we know you like her!"

"I do not!"

"And she likes you so just get on with it!" Rin yelled as Yukio denied his feelings for Shura.

"Wait what? She likes me?"

"Oh. My. God!" Rin yelled, dropping the pans on the ground so he could violently hit his brother on the back of his dense head. "She was practically hostile towards Tsugumi for just talking to ya four eyes."

"She doesn't trust her. This is all very suspicious." Rin huffed and muttered under his breath. "What did you say?"

"You're a dumbass!"

"I am not!"

"Yes you are!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

"You're dumb Rin!"

"I know you are but what am I?" Rin taunted, sticking his tongue out childishly.

"Why you-"

"She does like you," Ai's gentle voice said. "I can see it."

"Told you! She's been around ya all of a day and already knows she likes you."

"Who likes the chicken?" Shura asked as she walked in, still sporting Yukio's button up shirt.

"Wow you got some bed head," Rin said.

"It's Yukio's fault," she said. Rin's spine shivered at the insinuation she gave.

"Like hell it is!" He yelled.

"Oh come on, you enjoyed yourself."

"Shut up this is my little bro we're talking about!" Rin said. "He's too innocent for this." Rin covered his brother's ears.

"You're more innocent out of the two of us nii-san," Yukio said.

"What?!" He screeched.

"Yukio's got his big boy pants on now," Shura teased.

"Ok what the hell did you two do?!" Rin asked, fingers pointed at them, his tail stuck straight up.

"Nothing," Yukio said.

"Banged," Shura said at the exact same instant. Rin wailed like an injured puppy.

"I'm supposed to be the cool one!"

"Nii-san you said it yourself, I only kissed her when Shiemi dared me too. That's all," Yukio said, trying to talk the demon down from his jealousy.

"You've only kissed a girl?"

"You really think chicken's got balls?" Shura laughed.

"You said you'd stop calling me that."

"Nuh uh!

"Besides, you haven't really even kissed a girl cause truth or dare doesn't count." Rin said, crossing his arms triumphantly.

"So you two are actually even," Shura said.

"Ah hah! It's a miracle!"

"This school is weird," Ai said.

"Surprise!" Mephisto said dropping in. "Oh my, are you two engaging in coitus?" Yukio glared harshly, something Pheles didn't even seem to notice.

"Good morning," Tsugumi said as she walked into the room.

"What do you need?" Yukio asked shortly.

"My my quick to the point are you youngin. Since Satan has recently opened attack on our high profile exorcists, I have arranged with Lord Death to have his young meisters return to aid us on our missions. Since Satan has avoided you directly young man you will be in charge of the students along with Ms. Kirigakure. You will all be staying here and they will sit in on Cram School classes during the day. Enjoy!"

"So now I have high school, teaching, babysitting Rin, my job as an exorcist, watching eight Academy students, watching over Shura and her responsibilities she doesn't do and am taking over even more missions. Fantastic."

"Somebody needs a vicadin," Rin said.

"Or a less disobedient older brother!" He snapped back, still retaining most of his composure.

"Hello?" Maka called from down the hall.

"And so it begins," Yukio said, a warped smile on his face. "Rin have you done your homework yet?"

"What homework?"

"You have a test tomorrow nii-san." Rin cursed.

"I forgot." Takura entered the room, his pink puppet focusing it's button eyes on Ai in a creepy fashion. He took a seat by himself in the corner of the room, far from everyone else in there.

"Well, I was going to give you the day off to recover but you seem full of energy so you'll be going to school today." Yukio went up the stairs to put fresh clothes on. Shiemi and Bon came down together, holding hands, Shiemi's face alight with happiness.

"Good morning Rin!" Shiemi said. He waved half heartedly at her.

"You look down Okumura, you still not feeling well?" Bon asked.

"Oh no I'm alright!" He tried to run into the kitchen but was grabbed by the collar.

"Liar." Bon said, calling Rin out. Rin hung his head, prepared to confess his feelings for Shiemi when he was hit by what felt like a brick wall.

"What the hell was that for?!" He raged. When he saw the white hair and red eyes he shook his head, the anger fleeing and a face cracking smile spread across his face. "Soul!" He called.

"Okumura!" Black Star yelled, "you didn't forget a big star like me did you?"

"Black Star!" Rin yelled, running over to his newly made friend.

"Rin!" Soul and Black Star wailed, running to Rin.

"Oh god why," Maka said as she walked in on the bromance scene.

"At least they aren't trying to kill each other this time," Tsubaki said. Rin, Soul and Black Star collided in a three way hug, hugging each other so tight their eyeballs threatened to pop from their sockets.

"Alright let's keep it Pg-13," Izumo said.

"Huh? Who's that?" Maka asked, looking at Tsugumi.

"I'm Tsugumi Shibata. Nice to meet you," her head tilted sideways as she smiled widely at the plain blonde girl.

"My name is Enma Ai," Ai said, appearing beside Tsugumi, her red eyes wide as she took in all the new faces entering the room.

"Well, I'm Maka, and the creepy one is my partner Soul. This is Tsubaki and Black Star is the other guy hugging Rin. This little guy is Crona," she said as the pink haired child slid into the room. "This is kid."

"Hello there."

"His partners Patty and Liz."

"Hi!" Patty drawled.

"And Ragnorak," she said as liquid seeped from Crona's back and hardened into a bulging eyed monster.

"Well I'll be damned she's actually pretty!" Ragnorak said, stretching away from Crona to get closer to Ai.

"Who's that?" She asked as Spirit and Stein finally made their entrance.

"Maka's creepy dad and his meister," Soul said as he stuffed his hands in his pockets, breaking the hug from Rin.

"I'm going ahead to school Rin. Don't be late." Yukio said as he passed through the kitchen area. "Hello everyone," he acknowledged them but did not pause.

"Talk about cold." Rin said. Tsugumi's eyes followed Yukio out the door, watching him with worry.

"What's up with Teacher?" Soul asked.

"Satan made an attack recently and it's got his panties in a twist," Rin said like it was no big deal. All of the Academy students stared at him, the weight of an attack from Satan falling much heavier on their shoulders than it did on Rin's.

"He's paranoid that's all," Shura said as she walked down, donning a girl's uniform skirt white button up and her usual exorcist jacket. "I'm sure you guys all know you're attending class with us today so I won't remind you," she winked as she walked out the door.

"I see she put on clothes this time," Maka commented. Shima stumbled down the stairs then, bags under his eyes from having just awoken.

"Well if Shima's up we should be heading on to school too," Bon said, knowing his friend never got up a minute earlier than he needed to. The atmosphere was light as the kids started their day, exchanging the dingy interior of the old dorm for the dingy interior of the cram school.

"Why is everything around here so dirty?" Black Star asked.

"The Cram School isn't a very high profile place. We're the only ones training to be exorcists at this time. It's actually kind of a secret place, so not much effort goes into upkeep. As far as the dorm it's just old so Rin doesn't burn a bunch of money if he burns it down," Bon explained.

All the kids took seats at desks in pairs: Bon, Shiemi; Soul, Maka; Black Star, Tsuabki; Kid, Patty; Rin, Ai; Crona, Liz; Shima, Izumo; Konekomaru, Tsugumi; Stein, Spirit and then Takara by himself. Shura was seated on Yukio's desk.

"Mr. Okumura will be here in a minute," she said, her legs swinging freely below her. They could hear commotion in the hall outside, voices raising but only faint mumbles passing through the walls. When Yukio walked in he already looked worn down and the day had barely even started.

"Good morning," he said. "Today we will be reviewing for the test tomorrow. I encourage you to study in groups, this is one of the most challenging tests you'll take in this class."

"Crap. I already don't do well," Rin said.

"We're all in the same dorm, maybe we could just group study?" Shiemi offered.

"I can help," Maka offered.

"Nerd," Soul said. Maka took a dusty book from under the desk and cracked it on Soul's head. "Ow." Yukio cleared his throat from the front of the room.

"Any questions before we get started with review?" He asked. "There are a couple of you that really need a good grade on this test in order to pass this class, so I suggest you put some serious time into studying if you haven't already."

"Who studies ahead of time," Rin asked rhetorically.

"People who want decent grades," Bon said.

"Some of us just aren't smart," Rin said, sinking into his chair.

"Some of us just don't try very hard," Bon countered.

"Excuse me, could you do that after class? I know for a fact you should be paying attention to this Rin," Yukio said, his glasses glaring as he eyed his brother. "Maybe even take out paper for once," he suggested, his voice implying it was more of a demand than an option. "Alright, so the first topic for this test was pharmaceuticals that excel in treating demonic infections. You'll want to be careful with this chapter because there are many similar sounding names, and you will have to know how to correctly spell each one as well as define it's most suitable use and a specific infection the specific pharmaceutical will actually accelerate instead of stop."

"That was really cool!" Maka said as they left the class.

"Are you kidding me? It was awful!" Rin complained.

"You're the one who has a test on it tomorrow," Maka said.

"Don't rub it in!"

"So are you going to study?" She asked. Rin flipped his hair back.

"That's way too boring. I'm an in the field kinda guy. I don't do chained to a desk." Maka facepalmed.

"Black Star is the same way. Maybe you two could find a way to study together," Tsubaki said.

"Yeah, by not studying!" Black Star and Rin said together, high fiving at their similar idea.

"Those two are hopeless," Maka sighed.

"You're telling me," Yukio said from beside her. She jumped at his voice, not realizing he had followed them out.

"M-Mr. Okumura! I didn't see you there."

"It's hard isn't it, having some people who don't even have to try and still excel?" He asked her.

"My father is absolutely useless yet somehow he's a death scythe and I can't manage to make Soul a death scythe no matter how hard I try."

"Rin's always been able to do things I can't. He's a better fighter, has better morals, and he got Shiemi motivated to become an exorcist. He could be a better exorcist than me in no time if he tried."

"Before Crona was on our side Soul and I tried to fight him. I was weak and Soul nearly died. He still has a scar from protecting me. From then on all I wanted to do was become stronger, so no one else could get hurt. I tried and tried but my work seemed to just send me backwards, and then Black Star just conquers everything easily even though he's an absolute idiot. I know the frustration."

"I was a cry baby as a child. Rin always bailed me out, beat up kids twice his size and got my stuff back. He always defended me. When my father first approached me about becoming an exorcist, he said Rin was going to need protecting one day, and he wanted that to be me. All I've wanted to do since I was seven was protect my brother, become stronger so he didn't have to fight my battles for me."

"I guess even though we're from different places we're a lot alike huh," she said, smiling gently.

"Maka get up here!" Soul called.

"Coming!" She said, jogging to catch up with her weapon partner.

"You're looking tense as usual," Spirit said to Yukio.

"Spend another few days around my brother and you'll see why."

"He's a handful I'm guessing," Stein said.

"You have no idea."

"Lord Death was pretty scarce with details, what's been going on up here?" Spirit asked.

"Satan attacked our Paladin, someone tried to kill Rin, and Mephisto has some plot involving my brother."

"Quite an instigator," Stein said. At that point they were entering the cafeteria and Yukio broke forward to debrief everyone.

"Starting tomorrow students will be participating in exorcism missions unsupervised. We will divide you into four or so groups composed of both Academy and Cram School students to complete daily missions. Tonight just get settled in and," he turned his focus to Rin, "my students will find it in their best interest to study for tomorrow's exam. Also, room assignments are on the door."

"Room assignments?" Rin asked.

"I wonder if they'll split us up," Maka said, looking to Soul.

"Well," he said, standing up, "let's go see."

Tsubaki - Shiemi = 110

Maka - Izumo = 120

Soul - Rin = 210

Black Star - Bon = 320

Shima - Kid = 310

Liz - Tsugumi = 410

Crona - Konekomaru = 220

Patty - Ai = 420

Takara = 115

Spirit - Stein = 315

Shura = 415

Yukio = 215

"Oh geeze, they put all you three on the same floor," Maka said, pointing to Rin, Black Star and Soul's names.

"Along with your brother," Black Star said, his face sour.

"Don't make fun of him."

"Don't get your panties in a wad," Black Star said.

"Nii-san," Yukio called. Rin flinched, knowing it was probably nothing good that his brother wanted.

"Yo Yukio," he said when he walked up to him.

"If you would make dinner for everyone, and only use the things we bought at the grocery," he said gently.

"O-ok!"

"Oh and Rin, don't forget to study."

"I could help you study," Maka said from beside him.

"Thank you for helping him Ms. Albarn," Yukio said, smiling innocently as he walked away.

"You don't even study exorcism Maka," Soul said.

"So? I can still help him study."

"Geeze you're lame," Black Star said, high fiving Soul.

"Why don't we all study together. We could play a game," Maka said.

"A game?" Rin asked, his tail wagging.

"Excuse me Mr. Okumura," Maka said, her boots hitting the ground heavily as she ran into the hallway after the teacher. "Do you have some paper and scissors I could use?" Yukio looked at her, confused but nodded.

"I have some stuff in my room you can look through," Yukio said, leading her to the second floor. He unlocked the door and held it open for her. The room was clean, a dark blue blanket over the bed the only personal touch to the room. She looked to the adjacent bed and gasped.

"Ms. Shura!?" She cried as she saw the teacher laid back on the bed, her pink hair falling off the side.

"Shura? What are you doing in here?" Yukio asked, his voice curious but not impatient towards her for once.

"Looking fer you," she said. "You wanna go to dinner with me tonight?" Yukio stared blankly at her. "I asked but you don't really have a choice," she smiled cheekily and stood up from the bed. "Meet me at my room, and change. You look stiff." She walked out, skirt swaying with her practiced movements.

"What... just... happened," Yukio asked himself quietly.

"Mr. Okumura?" Maka asked, knocking him out of his reverie. He swung open the pale wooden doors and reached to the top of his closet for a box.

"Here you go. Just leave it by the door when you're done."

"Thank you sensei!" She said, running out the door happily with the box of craft supplies.

"This day is all kinds of odd," he said to the bland tan walls. He looked to the window where the sun was setting, throwing out reds and pinks across the sky, dancing with the clouds as the sun sank further towards the horizon.

Yay! We've got the Academy kids back and are ready to have some fun. Hope you are liking it, please review, It's getting harder for me to find time to write this stuff but I'm definitely going to keep it going, it just may be a little slower update pace cause I get really stressed out when a lot is going on. I do like to write and when ya'll show interest I'm like ah come here twins I wanna write about you!

You're so creepy! - rin

*glares*

Yukiooooooo! - rin cried.

Studying - Yukio called. Rin ran up the stairs. Love you guys thanks for all the support with reviews and faves and follows! See ya soon!

Lifehouse fanatic 2011