Chapter 3: Brand New World

Yukine's POV

A half hour after Rin had left the attic for the kitchen to help with preparing dinner with Daikoku, Yato and I were called down and we both stood in the doorway at the feast prepared for us; our mouths hung wide open in shock. Just … how?! Daikoku has never cooked this much before! Why did he suddenly feel the need to cook this much?

My amber orbs looked to Daikoku and I can guess Yato was doing the same, but I was sadly mistaken when he had already sat down and started to dig in. What a pain in the ass. "Don't look at me, kid." I stared at the brunette in surprise as he pointed to the doorway as Rin finally came in. "He did most of the cooking."

"Did I miss something?" He asked as if clueless to what happened in here. I feel as if the people Yato find just get stupider and stupider just like him.

Yato jumps up and puts an arm around Rin and I can see a look of annoyance appearing in Rin's eyes. "Rin, this food looks absolutely amazing! Where'd you learn to cook?"

"No one knew how to cook where I grew up, so someone had to," Rin replied simply as if wanting Yato to get off him. I can understand why. The guy annoys the crap out of anyone around him, including me.

Yato took his arm off of Rin since he wanted to eat and I sat down beside Rin, not wanting to sit anywhere near my Master. All through the meal; Kofuku or Yato would complement Rin's cooking and I'd get constant complaints from Yato of why I'm not sitting beside HIM. It was an average meal, but was different with Rin there and it … felt nice.

I wonder what Hiyori would think of Rin? As soon as that thought came to my head; there was a tapping sound at the sliding paper door. Daikoku got up and answered it and in fact she's there clear as day. "Hiyori, why are you here?" I asked, quite surprised, considering how late it was.

She just gave us a sweet smile and held up a bag. "Sorry, I had a few things to do today, so I decided to come over and drop these by now." Her pink eyes drifted over the table and spotted Rin, cocking her head to the side at seeing him. "Who's that?"

I was about to answer, but Kofuku beat me and Yato to it as she jumped over the table, landing on top of Rin and surprising the heck out of me! Why the hell would she do that!? Doesn't she know that guys hate it when girls lunge at them out of the blue like that!? Though I only realise she's just knocked him over and just playing around, but still… that went little too far. "His name's Rin, Yatty brought him over from one of his jobs."

I noticed Hiyori's eyes move to Yato and he just gave her a huge grin. Yea, like that'll work. Though I blinked in surprise as Hiyori came into the house and bowed, smiling at Rin. "Well, my name's Hiyori Iki, nice to meet you Rin."

"I would say 'hi' back, but I'm kinda pinned down," Rin stated, an eye twitching in annoyance at Kofuku's obvious childishness. She finally decided to get off him and he groaned, holding his stomach. "Who knew a girl could be so heavy."

Uh oh, now he's done it. You shouldn't say stuff like that while Daikoku's around. Rin was picked up by the collar of his shirt as Daikoku glared at him at eye-level. "You dare insult, my lady!"

Rin held his arms up as if trying to avoid a fight though knowing Daikoku I'm not sure that will happen. "She had just burrowed me over and was sitting on my stomach after I had just eaten! How exactly do you think I feel?" At least he didn't compare it to being kicked. That would be a Yato move right there.

Though everyone in the room was surprised when Daikoku put Rin down and just glared at him. I certainly didn't expect that. I guess I'm so used to seeing him beat up Yato that I thought he'd do it to Rin too. "You've got quite the attitude, kid, but if you intend to stay here you will have to follow the rules of this house." I noticed his glare aiming over to Yato and it darkening as if he wanted to beat him up senseless again.

"I know that," Rin said as if he was determined to gain our trust.

Daikoku nodded at him and began clearing up the table, standing he looked over to Hiyori; who looked shocked at what just happened. "Hiyori, why don't you take those things up with Yukine and Rin? I'll clean up things here."

She nodded, grabbed my arm and raced up the stairs around the corner of the dining room as Rin followed behind us. When I looked behind at Rin it seemed as though he had a distant look in his eyes. It was as though he didn't want to be here yet he also knew he had to. I know he can't go back to the school he came from, but I don't understand why. What exactly happened for him to be sent to live with us? Did he do something wrong? He doesn't seem like a bad person; I just don't get it.

Once we got to the room; Hiyori sat across from me at my desk and began handing me the books she brought over. I noticed her eyes drifted to Rin as he lay on his back on the floor, staring at the ceiling. "Rin, do you go to school?"

This caught my attention as I turned to face Rin as well. What school exactly did he attend? Well, he must've been paying attention because he sat up and looked at us with a small smile, but it seemed forced. "I go to True Cross Academy."

"T…That's a very prestigious school!" Hiyori exclaimed in shock as she dropped a book on the table out of shock. She knew about this school?

Rin nodded his head at her statement and held up two fingers which at first confused us until he spoke. "My main goal is to go to the Cram School which is to be trained as an exorcist…" That's when his whole demeanour changed as I saw hatred cross his face and his fists clench. "…which is to kill demons."

My eyes widened at this as did Hiyori's; I can only guess. A school that Hiyori said was known to be high-status trained people to kill demons! How is that possible?! "How can you learn normal studies as well as becoming an exorcist?"

"Well, there are the normal classes for those that don't know about demons and then there's the Cram School for those that want to participate in anything demon related; like me!" Rin said as he pointed to himself.

I couldn't believe this. The school that Rin went to taught them how to hunt demons! Is that why when Yato and I entered that guy's office I felt a chill go through me like I was in the eyesight's of a predator and I was his prey? Just what goes on at that school? And even worse … what happened to Rin for him to be sent away like that?

"Are demons … like phantoms?" I heard Hiyori ask. I never thought of that. Yato and I hunt phantoms, but do they have any relation to demons?

I looked back at Rin and he looked as though he was in deep thought. I'm guessing he's not good at thinking on the spot. I lowered my eyelids as Rin began to tap his head until he finally shrugged his shoulders. "I really don't know. I kind of … fall asleep in class, so I don't find out that kind information."

"WHAT!?" Hiyori and I both exclaimed. You've got to be kidding me? He wants to be an exorcist yet he doesn't listen in class! What the hell!

Rin just rubbed behind his head in awkwardness which he should be more embarrassed about his pride rather than falling asleep in class. "I'm a lot better in the field than studying that's why I don't bother listening or ... staying awake for that matter." A light laugh escaped his lips, but he ended up glared at the bag he was given before we left the office earlier. "…though I get given a butt-load of homework."

Before I could ask anything about the homework he gets we're interrupted by the sound of footsteps and Yato entering the room. "Seems like you kids are getting along nicely," he states as he leans against the doorframe.

"You could say that…" I mumbled.

"Rin told us he comes from True Cross Academy and that they train people to become exorcists to fight demons. Is this true?" Hiyori asked Yato with a curious look on her face.

I looked to Yato to see him … actually looking like he couldn't explain. As if he didn't know what to say. His face was contorted in shock and I think I have the distinct idea he was trying to hide it from us, but Rin blurted it out. Yato sighed to himself and nodded as he loosened his neck scarf. "It is."

"Are demons like phantoms?" I asked, becoming just as curious as Hiyori. Since Rin couldn't answer that question might as well ask Yato.

This caused Yato to look a little panicked and he rubbed the back of his neck as if thinking the answer over in his head. Gosh, how much alike are these two? I look between the clueless look on Rin and the thoughtful one on Yato; yep, they definitely are.

"Well, to explain it to you clearly. Phantoms are spirits that has been corrupted and gone over the border that separates life and death. Regalia's are on the border of that line since they are dead and if they come into contact with a phantom they can become corrupted which equals in their Master being blighted," Yato explained what me and Hiyori knew all too well, but looking at Rin; he was in shock.

"Wait a minute…" He pointed a finger at me which I did not expect from how dumb I thought he was. "…You're dead!"

I heard Yato groan and the three of us turned to see him, rubbing his temple. "Yes, Yukine is technically dead, but he is an uncorrupted spirit. Those of the near-shore; the living; you and Hiyori can't always see us of the far-shore; Yukine and I because we're on the border of life and death. We blend with the crowd and look like any other person you wouldn't care about on the streets. Gods and their regalia's; who are spirits of dead; people can't make much contact with the world of the living unless asked for it."

Once Yato had finished explaining all this to Rin I noticed that Rin looked sad. Oh crap, don't tell me he's pitying us!? Wait a minute. He isn't sad because of what Yato said it's as if … he understands what we're going through ... but how could he unless he's dead too. Why do I have a feeling he's hiding something more about what happened at the Academy?

"That's a lot to take in, but…" he suddenly smiled at us, trying to show he wasn't fazed by it. "…you're helping me, so why can't I help you!"

This just caused Yato to laugh which made Hiyori, Rin and I to turn to him. "Kid, you're really something. I actually think that old man of yours was right when he told me to look out for you."

"The old man said that?" Yato gave Rin a huge smile which surprised Rin at first before he smiled back. "Thanks!"

Hiyori and I looked at each other before Yato shuffled into the room and sat down under the window between me and Rin. "Anyways, a demon isn't dead from what I know. They're mainly just creatures that like to play pranks on the living, but also can't be seen by most of them unless they have something called a 'temptant' I think it was. Though there are those few that like to cause destruction in the living realm." I could see a glare in Yato's eyes and I could tell he didn't exactly like demons either. "They're from another dimension which they come from through holes in our dimension and theirs to wreak havoc and the exorcists stop them from doing that."

"Another dimension?" I asked Yato with a quizzical look on my face. "How is that possible?"

Yato turned to look at me and his crystal blue eyes held a darkness to them I had only seen a few times. "You've heard of Hell, right, Yukine?" I swallowed and nodded my head at his question. "That dimension is the equivalent of that. It's called Gehenna."

Chapter 3 of Exorcists And Gods and basically this chapter is Yato explaining to Yukine, Rin and Hiyori the difference between phantoms and demons. I thought that they would be different since phantoms are corrupted spirits and demons are creatures from Gehenna they'd be very different. The story is still getting into the groove of where it wants to go, but I feel maybe it might start to get more interesting around chapter 6 or later. That's all I'm saying for now. Hope you enjoyed!

D0A OUT!