Apparition (Blue Exorcist)

Chapter 4

"Wait a second, repeat that."

Rin sighed. "Would you like to come over for dinner this friday?"

Natalie felt her jaw hang open. Hastily, she grabbed her bag then tried to fish through it.

"Uh, what are you doing?" Rin asked, confused.

"Hoping to find a sudden camera appear in my bag."

"Huh?! WHAT FOR?" Rin stared at her, dumbfounded.

"To commemorate the day where Rin Okumura has finally admitted to my beauty."

"Admitted to what now?" Rin faked stupidity. Natalie glared at him.

"Admit it Rin, you're asking me on a date." She laughed haughtily.

"Are you always this egoistic?" He groaned, feeling exhausted.

She flashed him a smile. "Only to fools who don't believe in my awesomeness."

"You really are a she-beast." Rin sighed, shaking his head in dismay.

Natalie punched him on the arm. "I was joking Okumura. Don't look so crestfallen."

"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, are you going?"

Natalie looked at him. "That depends, who's the cook?"

This time, it was Rin's turn to smile. "You're looking at him."

++++++++++++++++++++++

"So yeah,I'm trying not to puke here but your fake sweetness is killing me Natalie." Rin whispered to her, looking a little green. Natalie waved him off as she stared at the pathway leading to the gates. The two of them were both sitting on the hcurch's steps.

"Oh shut it, I'm being polite. And it's your fault anyways since you ate too much." She whispered back. Just as agreed, Natalie came over to the Rin's house for dinner. To her surprise (she should've expected it actually) they lived at the back of a small chapel. And also, she finally saw the enigmatic priest again, the twins' dad. Definitely answers her question about him being a granpa or not. They had a lively supper, with Rin being Rin and Yukio staying nonchalantly quiet. Father Fujimoto made most of the conversation topics.

"Hey, you have no idea how hard it was for me to not eat while I was cooking. Man I'm starting to miss the skillet now." Rin sulked. Natalie rolled her eyes.

"Rin, mind calling me Natty instead?" She asked suddenly. Rin glanced at her sideways.

"Why?" He narrowed his eyes. "Are you trying to be cute or something?"

Natalie flipped her hair back. "No need, I already am." She grinned at him smugly. Rin snorted then suddenly doubled over.

"You know what, I think I'm heading back in." He jerked up then ran inside. At the same time he came in, Yukio walked out. He gave his brother a confused look then turned to Natalie.

"Is he-"

"Stomach problems." she answered curtly. "He'll live."

Yukio chuckled to himself then sat down on the steps beside her. "He did eat a lot, didn't he?"

Natalie nodded. After a few moments, she realized that it was getting awkward. Thankfully, Yukio broke the ice.

"You know, I never got to thank you." He spoke softly. Natalie turned to him, meeting his turquoise blue eyes. It struck her how much that he did and sometimes did not look like Rin.

He turned to her, smile reaching his eyes. "Thank you for being Nii-san's friend, Karashima-san."

She turned away before his adorable innocent face killed her. There was just so much cuteness she could take. "I-it's nothing. You don't have to thank me." she stammered.

Yukio's eyes brightened. "Oh but, I want to. Not a lot of people think highly of Nii-san. Most of our classmates tend to stay away from him because of his rash attitude."

More like explosive, she thought.

"And well, although it doesn't usually seem like it, he's actually a lot more sensitive on the inside." Yukio continued on. "He gets hurt easily."

Natalie rubbed her hands together. Yukio was right about Rin getting hurt easily, it was one of the main contributors to his overly abrasive attitude. That wasn't why she befriended him though. It was purely coincidental.

"Well..." she murmured. "If you put it that way, I guess I'll receive your thanks."

Yukio grinned. "Really? Thank-"

"One one condition." she cut in.

"And that is?" Yukio asked in confusion.

"Call me Natty instead of Natalie, saves all the trouble of having to pronounce it." She said nonchalantly, blowing hair out of her face.

"Okay." he answered. he didn't bother asking why. Natalie's lips curled into a smile. Friends was a nice term, it made her feel warm inside. She followed Yukio's eyes and looked up. It was a star-less night.

For how long, exactly, would she keep living such a peaceful life?

"Is that your mom?" Yukio's voice snapped her out of her daze. she glanced up and surely, her mother was walking towards them, her jade eyes smiling with amusement as she regarded the two of them.

"Natalie dear, you can sit down for a moment. I'm just gonna head in and pay my respects to Father Fujimoto." Lin said before Natalie could stand up.

"Okay." she muttered. Yukio stood up instead and offered her mom a smile.

"Good evening Karashima-sensei." he said politely, referring to the fact that her mom was a doctor.

"Likewise." she smiled. "If you'll excuse me."

Natalie watched as her mom walked up the chapel steps and entered the building.

++++++++++++++++++++

Lin walked through the rows of pews, taking in the scenery. Fujimoto's taste hadn't changed since she last visited him. She reached the front, facing directly at the tall crucifix that loomed behind the altar. She kneeled and did sign of the cross.

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." Someone said behind her. she looked up and saw her old friend staring back at her with an annoyed yet endearing look.

"Good evening sensei. You look well." Lin said, standing up. Shiro walked over with a smile on his face.

"Long time no see, Suzuya. You're as beautiful as ever." He said to her. Lin laughed lightly.

"You never change do you, sensei? I'm married now so you can't flirt with me."

Shiro laughed loudly, his sides aching. "You never fail to make anything you say seem like a threat."

Lin smiled but then it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm flattered, sensei. However, I didn't come here to reminisce about the past." She paused, looking dangerously into his eyes.

"The children... one of them has the sight I presume?"

Shiro's smile dropped. "I'm well aware of that, Suzuya. You don't have to worry, they're my responsibility." He waved his hand dismissively.

"But you haven't worried enough Fujimoto!" Lin snapped, her composure breaking. Erupting was the once rampant young girl Shiro knew well. "Those children are in danger! If the seal breaks then-"

"It's fine Lin." Shiro said, the finality in his tone evident. The woman reeled back, gave him a wary look then sighed.

"It's getting late. Natalie-chan will get worried." Shiro reminded softly. Lin nodded reluctantly.

"I'll be going then. Have a good evening, sensei."

Shiro watched her walk briskly towards the door. However, before she left entirely, she turned around slowly and gave him one of her eerily dangerous smiles.

"He'll find them, Shiro." She nearly whispered. "And when he does, you won't be able to protect them."

And with that, she let the door close shut behind her.