Okumura Rin's Descent

Completion

-

"WATCH OUT!" Bon exclaimed, having just realized himself to have misspoken the last verse, allowing for the lantern-like demon to release itself from its binds. It roared, chasing after Shima's form, who was still mounded overtop Rin's back. She squeaked fearfully, her grip suddenly tightening around Rin's neck like a chokehold. Rin gagged forcefully.

"Shiemi,-" he gasped out, his face turning a comical shade far too quickly.

"Run!" Shiemi interrupted. Rin moved quickly in response, leaping from the river and landing just before the cart. Her turned around, facing the ever approaching demon, the colors of its flames painting the area with its illumination. Shima screamed, fearful tears cascading his cheeks in a display fit for a cartoony show. Rin leapt backwards just before it could reach them, the creature lunging forwards with a second thrust of its forelimbs Rin eyed it, time seeming to slow for the briefest of moments, as the thing had just slammed face-first into the back wall of the cart. It howled and groaned, being momentarily stunned, as Rin's feet touched the ground just before the cart.

Kamiki had leapt into action, subduing the demon with what little knowledge of seals she had and her two familiars. Bon and Konekomaru were quickly approaching the scene, Konekomaru clinging to Bon's shoulders during the trip. Rin tossed Shima aside, similarly as one would a sack, and followed Kamiki's lead into action. Shima landed in a bush, the air escaping his lungs from the impact as he made an expression that seemed to exaggerate his collision with the ground and shrubbery.

The pistol emerged from its holster, glinting dangerously with a clean shine. Rin's eyes, glowing slightly, skimmed it, seeming to reflect and increase the sharp gleam. This lasted for the briefest of moment's before Rin's feet made contact with the ground. Time sped up again as Rin aimed the gun, which was currently set at the lowest level of intensity it could go, just barely having more than twice the froze of a hairdryer. The cart shook as Rin connected with it, the nephilim shooting once before leaping back up into a high jump, easily avoiding the poorly constructed retaliation.

He landed again, this time on Bon's shoulders, which had just a mere ten second ago held the presence of Konekomaru. Bon almost cried out in shock, nearly breaking his chant, but regaining composure and continued with nothing but a moment of hesitation. A final blow was delivered by Kamiki's familiars, and the creature was subdued, being secured once again by chants and seals.

Rin giggled excitedly, adrenaline pumping freshly through his veins. The others approached the cart, but Bon remained planted to the ground, Rin still standing on his shoulders. With a jerk, Rin was thrown off. He flipped midair, his reflexes at their best due to the recent action, cartwheeling once before landing on his feet. He laughed openly, throwing his hands up into the air.

"Again, again!" He cried enthusiastically. The others sweatdropped at his antics, amazed and bewildered at his drastic changes in attitude. Rin approached, catching up and passing Bon by, and moved back into position, humming a song he didn't know the lyrics to under his breath.

"You're surprisingly nimble, Okumura-Kun!" Shima noted, still amazed. Rin chuckled for a moment, pausing in his humming, and then took off for the second time.

-

To say that Yukio was surprised was an understatement, for what he saw before him was truly astounding. He had thought that Rin and the others would figure out the true point of the test, but never did he think that they would accomplish it so swiftly and with so little struggle.

Rin came first in the lead, the others either in the cart he pulled or trailing carefully behind. Then, as a group, they crossed into the circle, cheering. Bon was the only one to not be cheering, for he was still chanting, but he was grinning nonetheless, his shoulders broad with pride. They were not the first to arrive, for the only student to have not participated in the group effort sat at the fire, toying with his hand puppet, but it was clear from the other large lantern that he had been successful.

Yukio forced away his disbelief, instead portraying a more stone-faced expression,, not wanting to show favoritism.

"Well done, everyone may retire for the night." He said.

"Y'all finished early, so we gonna head back to the campus tomorrow!~" a very drunk Shura, a minefield of emptied bottles littered at her feet. The students sweat-dropped in unison, but Rin was the first to break from the expression. Mr. Himura stared at him with a darkened expression, eyes cold and filled with bridled hatred. Rin pupils contracted slightly into slits as his expression turned to a glare reflexively.

"Oku!" Dan snapped quickly, snapping Rin from the previously unbroken staring contest. Rin turned back to the conversation, but Yukio turned his gaze away from Rin's the moment their eyes made contact. Rin narrowed his eyes suspiciously but forced his thoughts away, not wanting to ruin what few chances he might still have.

Payback was a word that was used so frequently, it was more acceptable than its counterparts. Those counterparts, however, left little to the imagination. Rin didn't forgive what had been done to him, nor would he turn the other eye for what had been done to Dan. Self defense was one thing but this was another entirely, and Rin would not accept defeat in for this man's transgressions, nor for those of his cohorts.

But, before anything fun could happen, he needed to know for sure that he had the right guy. He knew it was him, he recognized the voice and his agitation had to arise from somewhere, a failed assassination was a good bet. He knew it was him, he just needed some confirmation before he could act. Hopefully, it would come before his patience would run out.

-

Rin lay on his side, the ground beneath him softened due to the sleeping bag he had gone into, but Rin was not asleep. Dan hovered just above him, intangible so as to not be seen by the other resident of the shared tent, but Rin doubted that he slept, either.

The night air was cool outside of the tent, the sun no longer granting it warmth. A few nocturnal creatures rustled on occasion, hunting for their prey or frolicking joyously. It wouldn't be long now, dawn was a mere hour away. Bon snored loudly, undoubtedly out cold. His body was in the starfish position, arms and legs spread out wide, taking up a decent portion of space, but leaving just enough for Rin to maintain comfort.

"Sleep," an echoing voice said in a soothing tone. Rin opened his eyes, noticing a silhouette that hadn't been there before. Twilight opened his wings, crouching down in preparation for takeoff.
"I'll keep watch for tonight."