In a snowy alleyway four people were fighting, or more like 3 highschool boys were ganging up on a junior high kid. And they were losing. You see these three were ganging up on their usual target when a kid of about 12 came over and told them to stop. When they ignored him the boy threw a snowball at one of them, of course their target switched and that's how this whole thing started.
"You demon!"
One of the boys yelled as one of his friends was put down by the blue haired boy they had cornered. The smaller boy's eyes grew dangerous when he heard those words, he roared wildly and jumped on the one who called him a demon and started to rain punches on the boy's face. A tooth flew out of the older boy's mouth and blood splashed over his attacker's face. The younger boy didn't stop even after the older boy was pleading and crying for him to do so, his two friends were picking themselves off the ground and were frozen in fear at the scene.
"I'm not a demon, I'm Rin Okumura!"
Rin Okumura was feeling very frustrated lately, his father and brother were keeping secrets from him. They thought he couldn't tell but he knew, he could always feel the energy shift when he walked in the room while they were talking. It was like he had almost caught them doing something they weren't supposed to. His father played it off well but he could always tell when something was off with yukio.
He tried to just pretend like it was nothing but as Yukio started to leave more and more he had a harder time hiding his discomfort and frustration with the situation. He didn't understand what there was to hide from him and why they had to hide anything from him in the first place. They were family weren't they? He's been angry for a while and these three just happened to be assholes mess so he was happy to let out some of his frustrations on them. But that word sent him over the edge and now instead of wanting to just beat them up he wanted to kill. He was about to throw another punch to his victim when he was interrupted.
"RIN!"
The familiar shout of his name made him raise his head and stop beating the boy under him for a moment, when he looked up he saw his father standing in the alley with an expressionless gaze. Rin froze and looked around at what he had done, the two boys froze in fear and he could see they had wet stains on their pants. He looked under him at the boy who was passed out with a bloody face and a few missing teeth. He looked back at his father with fear in his eyes and started to shake.
"Dad I-..."
Rin was in his room crying with his covers over his head, this was one of the only times he was happy Yukio was gone. He was the older brother, he didn't want Yukio to see him in this state. He didn't understand what was wrong with him, he knew he wasn't as composed as Yukio but then again Yukio was a bit abnormal. He tried to be normal and make friends but people were afraid of him or even hated him for something stupid like his teeth.
Rin didn't want to keep fighting, to keep proving people right about what they thought about him but it felt good. It was something he never told anybody but he liked fighting, the thrill of almost being hurt, the satisfaction he got from hurting others. A small part of him secretly loved it all. But the problem was he couldn't control himself when someone pissed him off or slightly provoked him. Or even worse, called him that.
He just didn't know what to do, he knew his father was gonna talk to him later after he handled what he did to those assholes and he didn't wanna hear it. He put on his clothes and jumped out of his window and ran out into the white town.
Father Fujimoto was in a dilemma, he didn't know if he was handling the situation with his sons as well as he could be. He could tell Rin could see something was up with him and Yukio and he could see it was having a negative effect on him. He was more irritable and getting into more altercations, it was even having an effect on his relationship with Yukio. But that wasn't all on Rin, his little brother was doing his fair share of straining the relationship as well.
He didn't know if making Yukio an exorcist was the right choice, he could see it made him stronger in mind and spirit, but it also made him more cold on the outside and the difference between him and Rin grew more than ever. He thought it was only a matter of time before Rin blew up at one of them and he wasn't keen on dealing with it. But he wishes he had after finding him in the alley.
"Rin!"
He saw the moment the boy realized what was happening or what he was doing. The kid he was on top of was unconscious already and the other two looked like they were about to pass out from fear. When Rin looked up at him all he saw was fear and regret in the boy's eyes at what he had done and he felt for the boy. He doesn't understand himself and he likely won't for a long while. Sometimes he hated himself and other times he was sure Rin's mom was cursing him from beyond the grave. But he had to protect Rin, no matter what.
"Dad I-..."
That was all he said before he took off passed him and Fujimoto let him, he knew where he was going so he didn't chase, right now he had to handle these kids so Rin doesn't get in trouble.
"Hey you two."
The two highschool boys turned to look at him, the fear still present in their eyes. He signed and took out a cigarette and took a long drag of it. "What's it gonna take for you to forget about this?"
The two boys didn't say anything before they bowed to him deeply with their foreheads touching the pavement. "We're sorry! We'll never touch or mess with him again!" They grabbed their friend and dashed out the alleyway going in the direction of the hospital.
"Well that was easy."
He walked back to the church slowly trying to think of what to say to Rin and by the time he got back the sun was setting. He wasn't gonna be here for long, he had another assignment something about a catsi. So he wanted to make this time with Rin count. To show him he loves him because at the end of the day Shiro Fujimoto had two sons and he loved them dearly. In his own way. He walked to his door and knocked twice.
"Rin you in there?"
He didn't hear an answer so he knocked again but he got nothing so he just opened the door. He didn't see anyone but he saw his window open and he sighed.
"God dammit Rin."
Rin was asking through the streets and of course he got a few odd looks as he was a 12 year old kid walking alone at night in the snow. Rin didn't pay them any mind though he just kept walking with his head down. He didn't really have anywhere in mind he wanted to go, he didn't have a secret hideout or anything like, so he just kept walking and walking until he felt like stopping. He never paid any attention to his surroundings and when he did he had somehow made it out into the forest. He was just about to head back when he heard noises through the trees, grunting and the sound of something hitting a tree.
His curiosity got the better of him and he followed the noise, the destination was further away than he thought and he went deeper into the forest than he ever had before and that's where he saw it. A tall man surprisingly shirtless in the winter using a wooden sword and hitting a tree. The man used multiple different motions or forms to attack the tree. To anybody with a little knowledge about the sword they would see the man was well trained, but to Rin it all looked like random swings. But he was still awe struck by what he was seeing.
Rin above all else was still a kid and kids like him are easily captured by cool things like guys with swords. He sat and watched the man chip away at the tree for what felt like hours, but what was really only a few minutes.
"What's a child like you doing all the way out here?"
The man said without even turning to look at him. Rin was shocked and jumped out his skin for a second before apologizing.
"Sorry sir!"
"There's no need to apologize little one, I was just asking you a question."
"Well I was just walking and heard you hitting the tree and I came to see what it was." Rin got stars in his eyes and ran closer to the man jumping around him. "It looked so cool, mister, can I try it!"
Now that he was closer he could actually see man in all his glory. He was huge at least 6 ft and he was muscular, he had spiky red hair and beaming red eyes to match. His teeth were sharp oddly like his, Rin noticed. And to top it off he had fire-like tattoos on his arms going all the up to his neck.
The man looked at Rin strangely but nonetheless gave the boy the training sword. Rin took it with no problems which slightly surprised the man as his training swords were weighted. Rin happily swung the sword a few times laughing the whole time, with the sword in his hand he had forgotten why he had come out here in the first place. He turned to the tree under the watchful eyes of the man and got into a sloppy stance. Rin was trying to imitate what he saw the man do. With a grunt he swung the sword down onto the tree with all his might creating a loud thump in the process.
"Oww!"
The vibration from his hit made him drop the sword in pain and then a mound of snow from the tree fell on his head knocking him down.
"Hahahahahahah!"
The man belly laughed at him and Rin jumped out of the pile of snow with anger clear on his face. "It's not funny!"
"It certainly was young one."
Rin just growled at him before she picked up the sword again and repeated his action, this time holding on to the sword. The man watched him carefully as Rin struck the tree over and over.
"Here try this."
The man reached out and charged Rin's stance to a basic sword stance. Knees bent with his arms relaxed and his sword right in front of him.
"Now try."
Rin did as he said and swung again, this went one for an hour before it got too late and Rin had to go home.
"Ok that's enough young one, I think it's time for you to be getting back home."
"But-"
"I'm sure you have someone waiting on you. Go."
Rin was clearly saddened when he gave the sword back to the stranger, he had forgotten what he was avoiding back home but now that he was going back he couldn't help but feel dread invade him. He really didn't want to talk to his old man.
"I'm back!"
When he got back home everyone was there but his father was nowhere to be found.
"Where were you Rin!" Izumi, one of the priests, asked him as soon as he saw the boy walk in. Rin rubbed the back of his head and smiled, obviously trying to deflect from the situation. "I was just taking a walk, that's all."
"Where's my old man?"
"Don't know he's out somewhere." Rin nodded silently, celebrating in his mind. "Ok well I'll get started on dinner."
Rin got right to work on dinner with a little extra pep to his step and that was because of two things. The first reason was he didn't have to hear whatever lecture Fujimoto was gonna give him for a while. And the other reason was he couldn't get over how good it felt to swing that sword, plus he knew he looked pretty cool doing it. He started to go through the motions of the swings the old man had tought him while the food was cooking.
He was so focused on what he was doing he didn't notice his curry was burning and he also didn't notice someone walk in.
"Yo!"
"Aaaaaaaa!"
Rin jumped and swung the spoon at whomever had scared him on instinct, but his hand was caught easily and when he saw who did it he paled.
"Old man."
"Whatcha doin kid, your burning dinner."
"Oh shit!"
"Language!"
"Oww!"
After dinner and everyone laughing at Rin for burning the food he was finally getting the talk he was dreading. Rin was sitting on his bed while her father stood in front of him.
"So you're gonna tell me what happened today." Rin tightly balled up his fists as he replayed what happened in the alley. "I saw those guys picking on some kid so I told them to cut it out, but then they got rough with me and we started to fight. But then one of them called me… he called me a…"
"A demon."
Rin gripped his hands tighter and bit his lip and nodded. He sighed when he looked up at his father. "Next thing I knew I was beating that guy bloody while his friends watched." Small tears started to well up in his eyes. "I'm sorry dad, I tried to control myself but I just couldn't. I really am a demon." He started to sob and Fujimoto just sighed before he hit Rin over the head.
"And if you were a demon would that change anything?" Rin looked up at him strangely while rubbing his injury. "It would mean I was a monster and everyone was right about me."
"Rin what did you do today?"
"I beat up some guys until they pissed themselves." Fujimoto hit him over the head again. "No you idiot, you helped someone today."
"But I-"
"Yes you did beat some guys up but they deserved it, you didn't beat them for no reason." Fujimoto bent down so he was eye level with Rin before he rubbed his head affectionately.
"Look Rin, what other people think of you doesn't matter, ok. Because whether you are a human or a demon doesn't matter because you will always be Rin Okumura. And You will always be my son." Rin tried to hide his tears but failed to do so, making Fujimoto laugh at him.
"You're such a crybaby Rin. No way you're a demon. Hahahaha!"
"Shut up you bastard old man!"
"But listen Rin, while those guys did have a beating coming you didn't need to take it that far. You need to learn to control your strength."
"But I try and nothing works."
"That's because you're an idiot with no self control."
"Hey I'm not an idiot!"
"Whatever you say kid."
Fujimoto put his hand on his chin in thought before an idea came to mind. "Hey, about you try martial arts. They take discipline and self control."
"Martial arts?"
"Yeah things like karate, or judo, or even something like kendo."
Instantly stars invaded Rin's eyes at the thought of using a sword again. "Kendo! you mean like swords right!"
"Yeah, but never mind you're too impatient to learn something like that, it was a miracle you learned to cook. Just forget I said anything." Fujimoto turned his back to Rin, hiding his mischievous smile in the process. "Night Rin and remember what I said ok. You're mine son, and above all else your Rin Okumura. It doesn't matter what anyone else says."
He left Run to his own devices after that and the boy was gitty thinking about what he could do to get that man he met to teach him how to use a sword.
Some time before Rin had this talk with his father, that man he met was watching him walk back home when someone came out from being a tree. "That boy really is a demon, you know you won't be able to hide what he is from him forever." turning around the red head man came face to face with Shiro Fujimoto. Shiro lit a cigarette and scratched his head in frustration.
"I know, and that's becoming more and more apparent as time goes on. Which is why I have a favor to ask you, Benimaru."
"Anything Shiro, you are the reason I'm able to live a peaceful life among the humans. I am forever in your debt."
"Yeah yeah, cut the worship. Rin is having a hard time controlling the demon part of him, his strength and his impulses. I want you to teach him how, without letting him know what he is." Benimaru looked at him seriously before he nodded his head and started to walk away.
"Oh and don't mention me either I want him to think this was all his idea so he can throw his all into it ok."
"Of course Shiro."
Rin was giddy, he hasn't been this excited for anything in months. It's been a week since he met that man in the woods and it's been a day since his father left again, but this time he wasn't sad, he was happy. Part of him felt bad for feeling that way but he remembered what he told him and he was keeping those words close to his heart. He was his son always. Rin also couldn't be anything but excited at the thought of swinging a sword again. He didn't know what it was but he felt oddly at peace. It was like he got to let out all his pent up energy and frustration without any consequences.
He was currently running through the snow looking for the strange man he met. He's been looking for hours and he's already searched where they met a few times already. He was getting tired of searching when he saw a cabin between the trees.
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
KNOCK!
Rin loudly knocked on the door and impatiently waited for a response. He didn't have to wait long and as soon as the door was opened he immediately asked him to train him.
"PLEASE TEACH ME HOW TO USE A SWORD!"
"Come inside."
Rin followed the man inside the cabin, it wasn't anything special, it had a table and a mat to eat on. A small kitchen and a second floor, probably for sleeping.
"Sit."
The two sat across from each other and benimaru poured the both of them tea. "What's your name?"
"It's Rin. Rin Okumura."
"And why do you want me to teach you how to use a sword?"
"Well my old man says it can help me learn how to control myself and my strength. I've always had a hard time with it, just last week I sent some guy to the hospital."
Rin still hadn't really gotten over what he did to that guy, if his dad hadn't shown up he wasn't sure what would have happened. "Is that the only reason?"
"Well I guess more than that, I like it. I like how it feels to hold and swing a sword and I wanna do it again."
Benimaru eyed him up and down, he wasn't gonna say no to teaching the boy. He owes Shiro Fujimoto his life and this was a request from him so there was no way he was turning it down. He just wanted to get to no the son of Satan, what made the boy tick. And from what he could see he had a good heart and a true yearning for the sword.
"My name is Benimaru but from now on call me master." Rin looked shocked but at the same time ecstatic.
"YES MASTER!"
"Are you ready for this Rin, this is a comment and you will have to push yourself everyday. You may even be hurt, are you prepared for that?" Rin showed no sign of hesitation and he had and had a grin on his face.
"I'm ready for anything old man!"
Before Rin could notice he felt a pain on the top of his head, and when he looked up he saw his new teacher holding a wooden sword.
"First lesson, always be on your guard. And secondly it's Master."
With small tears in his eyes Rin nodded his head. "Yes master."
"Good, now follow me."
Rin got up still rubbing his head in pain and followed him out back where he saw many wooden figures. Some of them looked like people, others looked like animals and then there were some Rin couldn't make out. Monsters he thought.
"Here." Benimaru tossed Rin a wooden sword and directed him to a wooden dummy.
"Hit this dummy until you can't anymore."
Rin didn't ask any questions, he was just happy to be able to swing a sword. He hit the dummy for hours, even when his arms were burning and tired he didn't stop, it wasn't until he hit it one last time and his hands couldn't hold on to the sword.
"Ok that's enough."
"But I can still-"
"I said it was enough."
Rin just nodded, his hands were bruised and had blisters filling them but the pain barely registered in his head, he felt happy and calm. They walked back inside where Benimaru wrapped up his hands and gave him some food. Rin took one bite and his face scrunched up.
"Ugh, this sucks master. let me make something."
"Oww!"
"Mind your manners Rin. And keep your guard up."
"Yes master."
Rin made a simple soup but it was leagues better than Benimaru's. This is how Rin's relationship with benimaru started. And this is how he started his path to be an exorcist, he just didn't know it yet.