Chapter 6: Knew Day

Yukine's POV

It was boring upstairs with the napping Yato and Hiyori had gone home a few hours ago, so I decided to see how Rin was doing on dinner. I walked near the door in the dining room, but heard Kofuku speak, "Rin, there are certain demons like phantoms that can affect regalia to corrupt them. That demon that Yato fought is one of them."

I hid behind the wall and looked into the room and saw Rin and Kofuku across from one another. They were having a conversation about demons? Did that mean Kofuku knew about Rin? How long had she known? I mean, Yato knew because he took the wish from Rin's adoptive Father, but Kofuku…

"S…So, what does that mean?" Rin sounds uneasy or at the very least worried. I must have come down half-way through their conversation. Damn, I missed out on some very juicy stuff! I sighed to myself and rubbed my hand through my blond hair, shaking my head. I probably just stabbed Yato then. I got to stop doing that to him.

"It means that if we don't purify both Yato and Yukine soon; Yukine will go down the same road he did a few months ago…" I froze at hearing this; eyes wide. What? What does she mean by that? How will I? I'm not doing bad stuff anymore! I'm hardly stinging Yato anymore! My hands clench into fists as I stare at the floor. So, why would Kofuku say that?

"I won't ask what happened. It's not my place to ask about that. But how do you know that will happen?" I could hear Rin ask Kofuku out of curiosity. I was surprised that Rin hadn't asked about what had happened to me and Yato a few months back. I thought since we just found out about him he might want to know more about us. I guess he's just not that type of person who wants to look into others business without it being the right time. He must think Yato or I will tell him when we believe it's best for him to know.

Kofuku nodded at Rin's statement with a small smile on her face; understanding why Rin didn't want to ask questions about something he may not understand or 'isn't his business' though it soon vanished as she turned serious once more. "You said you saw Yato grab his neck as if he were in pain and he hesitated to attack the demon again as if he didn't want to put Yukine or himself in that sort of danger again," Kofuku replied to Rin's question.

I touched my chest where I had felt that feeling when Yato blocked the punch from that demon. It felt really … depraved and sickening. After Yato made contact with it I just felt this sick feeling in my chest and a huge chill go up my spine. I didn't like that feeling and maybe that's why I accidentally stung Yato. I felt scared about what was going at that moment and I didn't realize that my emotions had affected Yato again.

"Unlike when a regalia makes their own decisions to sting their Masters; who only know about the pain. If a demon that is as corrupted as the one you faced today makes contact with a regalia they will continue to sting their Master without them knowing; even if they're not doing anything bad. It all has to do with the fact that demons aren't corrupted spirits like phantoms, some demons are created through negative human emotions while others are born in Gehenna through ... other means," Kofuku explained to Rin.

I … can't believe this. Right now … I could be stinging Yato and I don't even realise it. "Kofuku … does that mean I … can corrupt Yukine?" This caught my attention. Rin was half-demon, but did that still mean he could corrupt me or any other regalia? He also sounded worried; like he didn't want to be able to corrupt me. Wow. He must care a lot for us.

A soft laugh escaped Kofuku's lips as she waved her hand in the air. "No, only full demons can and even then only ones that are kin of Demon Kings like the one you faced today. You're half-demon, so you won't corrupt Yukki or Daiki!"

A sigh of relief came from Rin before a frown crossed his face and then he exclaimed in shock, "Daikoku's a regalia too!"

"Yep! He's mine!" Kofuku exclaimed in her usual cheery voice again. I guess the serious atmosphere is gone now.

I sighed and took in a deep breath and walked into the room, making Kofuku smile, but Rin's head was already facing the doorway with a bored look on his face as if he was expecting me. "You're very loud, Yukine."

"Huh! What do you mean?" I exclaimed, taken aback by what he had said.

"Demons have better hearing than humans, so Rinni knew you were there," Kofuku explained while Rin just rolled his eyes.

"What? Then why didn't you tell me to come out!" I exclaimed, a light flush on my face.

"That would've made it boring. Also it would've interrupted our conversation and you probably wanted to hear everything," Rin stated as a grin formed on his face.

The pink flush on my face turned red and I looked away from him and scoffed. Though I turned to face Kofuku with a sigh. "Well, I heard and I want to … purify myself as quickly as possible."

"Oh really?"

I nod at her with a determined look in my amber eyes. "I don't want what happened to Yato to happen again. I'm his blessed regalia and exemplar, so I shouldn't allow it."

A smile spread across Kofuku's face as she stood up with her hands on her hips. "Alright then, I'll lead you to the shower." I noticed Rin stand up too, but Kofuku turned around to face him. "You can't come. Remember, holy water burns you since you're part-demon."

"But you're a girl! Yukine won't want a girl looking at him in the nude!" Rin exclaimed which made me flush up again. Did he seriously have to say that?

"I'll help him! I need to go as well anyway!" I looked to the door and saw Yato, leaning on it for support. My eyes widened when I saw that a bit of purple was starting to crawl up his neck. The blight's grown so fast in just a few hours! How was that even possible? Were demons really that powerful!

"Okay then, you two go on ahead and get purified while we wait for dinner!" Kofuku exclaimed as Yato led me to the bathroom.

We walked down the hall, past the kitchen and into the white-tiled bathroom. Yato turned the water on and sighed once he felt the water wash over his blighted hand. "It'll work. We won't have to go through another ablution." He looked at me with a light, tired smile. "You go first, kid. I'll go after since the direct cause is from you and needs to be cleansed."

I swallowed and nodded at him as Yato left the room, closing the door behind him and I removed my white shirt. I looked down at my chest and my eyes widened when I saw an eye just like before my ablution. I took the rest of my clothes off and checked to see if I had anymore. I didn't. I sighed in relief and then got started on to cleansing myself. I didn't want Yato or I to go through that again...

Next Day – 9:00am~~~~

Kazuma had shown up and was going to teach me a few more things about what a blessed regalia can do. We had mostly been working on basic things; like how I could put up a 'borderline' in time before he calls out a 'restraint'. I could never do it in time and he keeps score by drawing on my face! My 'borderline's' have actually gotten a little bit stronger from the training I've had with him, though I would like to learn 'restraint' soon. It'd really help me with protecting Yato.

"So, what will we be doing today Kazuma?" I asked, trying to hide my excitement. I can't help it. I'm learning more and more on what I can do to help Yato! It's great!

"Let me see how much you've improved since I last saw you," Kazuma said.

"Umm … alright…" I said as I put my index finger and middle finger together and pointed them forward and swung my arm. It created a line of light across the yard that looked like a wall.

"Impressive," Kazuma stated as he pushed his glasses up his nose; the sun reflecting on them to create a glare.

"That's amazing, Yukine!" I turned around to find Rin on the porch in a sweater and jeans. "That's so cool! Can all regalia do that?"

I laughed nervously, at how entertained he was from the 'borderline'. It was basic stuff and yet he found it so amusing to watch; though I was wanting to learn the more advanced stuff that Kazuma knew, but he kept holding it off. I guess it was because he wanted to see if I could truly hold the power of what he could teach me. "Yea, all regalia can do it," I told Rin as I gave him a smile back.

"Yukine, is this a new friend of yours?" Kazuma asked as he came up beside me.

He looked at Rin with a wary eye as if scanning him for something. I guess he was trying to make sure he could trust Rin. Why? If I trust Rin then shouldn't he? "Yea, my name's Rin! I'm staying here for a little while!"

This seemed to catch Kazuma off-guard as his olive-green eyes widened behind his glasses. "Really? Why is that?"

"I just have to wait till things cool down back at the Academy," Rin replied, shrugging his shoulders. Good thing he didn't blurt out his secret. Then again he did keep it a secret from his class for quite some time, but Kazuma is very perceptive which could be a bad thing.

"Are you one of those 'delinquent' students? Is that why you got sent here?" Kazuma asked, raising a brow and I stared at him in shock. I think he's looking way too much into this?!

Rin however, let out a noise that sounded like he was holding in a laugh. "Yea, like I'd be caught hanging around any of those kinds of people. I'd just be caught beating the living crap out of them."

"Why is that?" Kazuma, please, stop asking questions! Can we just get on with the lesson! I look to Rin as if to give him any sort of indication for him to leave, but he doesn't get it. Dammit!

Rin stopped laughing and his mood changed to being serious in an instant. "Because … those kinds of people sicken me; they think their cool and tough and beat up people weaker than them when they're just a bunch of cowards," Rin explained, folding his arms across his chest.

"I see." Kazuma pushed his glasses up; a glare focusing on them. Please, don't tell me he's going to do something to Rin? He looked up at Rin as the glare dissipated and small smile was on his face. "You are quite extraordinary."

Rin blinked at this; shoulders slumping and staring at Kazuma in shock. "Huh?!"

He chuckled at the reaction Rin gave him as if it was funny. I would give you the same reaction too, pal! What are thinking, Kazuma? "My assumption is that you protect others more than caring for your own life, correct?"

I instantly saw Rin's face go red and he looked away with a frown on his face. "So, what if I do? Protecting someone else's life gives you satisfaction that you helped someone. If you just help yourself it just makes you feel lonely and pathetic."

The smile stayed on Kazuma's face as he nodded at Rin's statement. "Then you're a good person in my book," Kazuma said, making Rin turn back to him in surprise. "Yato's the kind of person who can get manipulated easily and I didn't know whether I could trust you. I had to test you."

Rin frowned at this and I knew he was thinking about how Kazuma could think that. "How can you think you can trust me just by my words alone?"

"I don't..." Rin looked on in astonishment at Kazuma. "…though I could see every emotion in your eyes from resentment to sorrow to a glow of sincerity. The eyes are the window to the soul after all."

Rin kept his stare on Kazuma for quite some time, before he shook his head and a big grin spread across his face. "Thank you. I wish more people were like you guys!" Kazuma frowned at this and Rin shook his head after saying that. "It's nothing."

"RIN, COME UP HERE AND DO YOU'RE HOMEWORK! YOU BROUGHT IT HERE SO YOU SHOULD IT!" Daikoku yelled from upstairs. He had obviously found Rin's homework which he had left on the floor last night. What a moron…

Rin groaned and stumbled back into the house. "Why did Yukio have to give me so much homework?"

"That's Rin's brother that goes to the same Academy as him," I told Kazuma once I knew his eyes were on me as if asking me who the name Rin said was.

"Really? What kind of school is it?"

"True Cross Academy," I told him as simple as a reply I could give.

"True Cross…" Kazuma said as he began to go into deep thought. "I believe Veena and I went there once. She was still going after Yato at the time and we met someone by the name of Mephisto Pheles."

"That's who Yato went to get Rin from. I think he owns the school!" I exclaimed, quite shocked they actually met that guy. He was weird…

"Well, he isn't exactly human." I looked at Kazuma with shock on my features. What did he mean by that? "He's actually a Demon King, but he didn't say which one." Kazuma then, turned his gaze to where Rin had run off to. "Demon Kings give off a feeling of malicious intent and fear while their kin; who have no real power compared to them don't. I can tell Rin isn't all human."

I froze up; eyes wide. He could tell Rin wasn't all human? Then again Kazuma was Bishamon's navigator and exemplar, but still. Is that why he asked Rin all those questions to see if he was trustworthy or good? Sometimes, I really don't understand Kazuma … or Yato for that matter.

"Don't worry, Yukine. That test I gave him was to see if he held any sort of malicious intent towards you or anyone else here. Though Yato or Kofuku would've dealt with him before me," Kazuma explained to me as his eyes met mine. "I assure you that I sensed nothing immoral of the sort coming from him. The only thing I did sense was his demon-half and that's why I surveyed him to see if he was trustworthy."

"Fine, I get it," I sigh, kicking the dirt on the ground. "Though after hearing about Rin. I kind of do pity him. He may not want it, but … he never asked to be part-demon."

"That may be true, but there are some things in the world we can't control. We can't control who our parents are and we can't control our death either. Maybe think about that." After saying that, Kazuma began to walk away and I sighed to myself. Well, that was a waste of a lesson.

As I've said previously the first six or so chapters are of Rin getting used to living with Yato, Yukine, Kofuku and Daikoku and getting to know about the world of Gods and regalia. In this chapter I didn't really know what to put in it to get it up to the required word length after Rin and Kofoku's talk, so I decided to add in that Yukine had a lesson with Kazuma and he meets Rin. Yes, Kazuma appears before Bishamon. I liked Kazuma a lot more than Bishamon until I saw Aragoto and saw what she went through, but I still like Kazuma more. She'll appear later on when things really start to head into chaos for the characters. Remember this follows a little bit of Aragoto, so there will be quite a few scenes that happen that happened around the end of it just with Rin around.

D0A OUT