Okumura Rin's Descent

Yukio Is Oblivious

-

"Remember, trust no one." Taima reminded as he saw the two out. Rin and Dan both nodded, although Rin's brow was creased in a manner that suggested that he was conflicted over the instruction. He had already come to that conclusion, but that didn't mean that hearing the words spoken out loud made it any easier to not trust the person he had always felt as his ally. He reminded himself of the lie Yukio and their adoptive father had been telling him throughout the entirety of his life up to the days leading to the priest's death.

As he walked back, transforming into the weapon that had been fused with him, he thought of the hatred his brother had harbored within his eyes as he had aimed his blessed gun at Rin. He realized, with great hesitation, that the order was founded, they had cause for secrecy, especially if the person who had attempted Rin's murder was truly the same as one of Yukio's hypothetical coworkers. His mind drifted further away as he allowed Dan to wield him for the first time, energy pumping through both of them as they processed and intensified the energy the other gave them, an endless cycle of pushing and pulling an intensifying energy, which seemed to filter through into the bloodstream and fuel both, similarly to adrenaline.

His partner had also been attacked, and that was an act that Rin would never forgive.

Dan lifted the scythe, turning it in a way that caused the moon's intense light to reflect off of it in a glimmering array. Rin smirked evilly.

'They will pay.'

-

Yukio, despite being of True Criss Academy's brightest, failed to understand the reasoning behind Rin's behavior. He had thought that, what with his earlier apology and Rin's previously positive mood, all of the tension between them had been abolished, but Rin's dismissal of Yukio's presence was concerning, to say the least.

"Hey, Rin." Yukio began, causing the other person, who had entered the room without introduction, to turn and look at his sibling, a lone brow rising slightly at the newfound attempt of conversation. Yukio paused, awkwardly glancing around, and then gestured towards the bathroom.
"Why are your clothes hanging up in the bathroom?" Yukio asked finally with an awkward smile, desperately trying to begin a conversation. Rin tilted his head slightly, as if confused as to why this was in question.

"Because they're wet." He said in a flat voice, a tone that was so unusual. It was odd, and it bothered Yukio greatly.

"Why were they wet?" Yukio asked, digging slightly deeper in his line of questioning.

"Because they were on me when I got wet." Now Rin seemed to be ignoring Yukio, even as he spoke to him. His eyes flickered over towards the spot beside him, the mattress shifting as if someone else had sat upon its surface, but Yukio failed to notice this oddity. He opened his mouth, as if to speak again, before being interrupted by a small feline hopping on the other side of Rin.

"...you got a cat today." Yukio deadpanned. Rin allowed the feline to crawl into his lap, quickly moving into Rin's awaiting arms, where he cradled the feline similarly to an infant.

"Yup." Rin responded, suddenly attacked by the feline as the smaller creature wrapped its paws around his neck, almost as if it were a hug. Rin's previous attitude cratered as he fell into a fit of giggles.

"Is...is that Father's familiar?" Yukio asked, alarmed and in shock. Rin looked up, a stony look in his eye.

"Why would I know? It's not like you guys were ever honest or open with me." Rin responded flatly, his words holding the bite that his tone refused to bare. Yukio flinched, having not truly expected this topic to be brought up. Just as he hadn't expected the topic, he also hadn't expected Rin to hold a grudge over their lack of disclosure.

"I-I'm sorry if we-I offended you." Yukio tried, brow furrowing as he tried to think of what might have caused this sudden mood. It was odd, the on/off of their arguments and the variation of the thoughts behind it. Rin hummed, almost as if pretending to think over Yukio's apology, before shrugging, having finally decided to shove his anger at his brother to the back of his mind.

"Terrible apology for a life built on lies, but accepted. Now, what's up?" Rin asked. Yukio's eyes honed in on Rin, as if he were inspecting the older twin, before he responded in a slow manner.

"Nothing...you?" Yukio asked carefully, as if he had realized himself to be conversing with a ticking pack of dynamite of an unstable engine fueled by a highly flammable material.

'Oh, nothing really, just SURVIVED A FUCKING ATTEMPT IN MY LIFE, TWICE!' Rin thought, clearing his throat rather than allowing his anger, annoyance, and trauma to show.
"Nothing that needs to be said." He said, emphasizing on the word, 'need'. He felt the emerald eyes of his partner, transparent to the eyes of his sibling, fall upon him, and he realized the opportunity presented to question the other.
"Say, you wouldn't happen to know if there've been any new staff members for the Cross, would you?" Rin asked in a mildly suspicious manner.

"Yes, actually, there've been a few." Yukio responded. Rin's eyes flickered to Dan's for the briefest of moments. Yukio chuckled, as if flustered.
"It was actually the new guy who convinced me to have our chat-the one we had this morning-why do you ask?" Yukio pondered.

"What does he do?" Rin asked, trying not to let the steely hatred that had begun to fester within him enter his voice. He sounded almost patronizing, almost threatening, yet not bearing the weight of the harshness that resided within him.

"Missions-like me-and a substitute teacher." Yukio answered again, although he was most definitely elsewhere, thinking of whatever conversation that had prompted his heartfelt apology. Rin's brow furrowed slightly at Yukio's lack of interest, and the conversation ended with a grinning, ignorant Yukio popping up, spouting something about wanting to work on his papers within the company of a few of his other coworkers. The door closed, and the light of the moon faded as a click of a lock sounded.

"So," Rin began in a somber tone.
"I guess all bets are off, then." He continued.

"Remember, secrecy is everything." Dan reminded, glancing around and walking to the closed blinds, opening them up to allow sunlight to filter through the room.

"I'm guessing they killed Ukobach." Rin added after a long moment's pause. Dan sat back down atop the bed, leaning back.

"Either that or he is on vacation and no one bothered to tell us." Dan responded. Rin leaned against him, Dan leaning back, and for a moment the stress, horror, and trauma the day had caused had dissipated, being replaced by a momentary feeling of content.
"Things won't go back to how they were, will they?" Dan asked quietly, the moment having been broken. Rin shook his head, his small smile falling to a frown.

"They'll be watching us, and they'll be at the school, too." Rin replied, just as hushed. Dan frowned, but nuzzled Rin slightly before settling in again.

"We'd better get to sleep, then." Dan told, pulling away and laying himself down, being joined by Rin within a few moments. Kuro hopped onto the surface of the bed, curling himself into a ball between the two's feet. Neither truly slept, for neither were sure of their safety, and despite the comfort that the company of each other gave, a feeling of unsureness, fear, and anxiety remained. It hadn't been the first time either of their lives had been at stake, but it was the first in a while, and neither wished to relieve past agonies.