Hellbent | Blue Exorcist/My Hero Academia Crossover

Chapter Four: New Places, Old Friends

RIN'S P.O.V

I wanna talk about what I saw. But I think everyone would think I'm crazy, Kaminari included. It was there, clear as day but... But then it was gone. Just like that. Like someone had flicked off a light switch, or cut off the gas. The flame just went out. But it was there, blue as anything! I could've sworn it was one of my own little beads of fire if it wasn't so far away. Maybe I'm just tired, but nothing like this has ever happened to me. I don't hallucinate. I've never hallucinated, not unless I was under a demon's influence (I'd look at you, Lucifer, but you're dead. Ha). So what the hell was that then?

I guess it becomes pretty obvious that I'm zoning out; before I can think about it anymore, Kaminari waves his hand in front of my face, eyebrows raised as he tries to get my attention again.

"Sorry, did you- Were you saying something?" I numbly ask, finally blinking at him a few times. I can't even begin to think of how irritating this must be for him- I'm not usually one to zone out like this, but even I can't manage to stop myself. Every time I try, I just go back to thinking about that flame and I just-

"Not really. But you're staring into space. That's usually my job," he snorts, squeezing my hand with a concerned smile. "Rin, if you saw something back there, even if I didn't see it, I bet it was there. I never said I didn't believe you."

"I know. But you must think I'm crazy."

"Well yeah. We're all crazy here. How else are we meant to put up with Bakugou?" He knows exactly what to say to pull me out of my own head. All thoughts of my eerie vision vanish, and we're just giggling like a pair of idiots trying to stay hush hush but failing miserably. Let's just be glad Bakugou didn't hear a word of that, shall we?

Hold up- Speaking of Bakugou.

"Hey ah- When I was talking to Bakugou on the way here he was... Well he was real cold," I admit, scratching the tip of one of my ears. "Like he didn't really wanna talk to me, and when he did he kept dodging my questions," I mutter, thinking back to how off he was acting as soon as I tried to ask him about those scars on his arms. I can't help but feel like he's hiding something, which is just adding to the list of things I'm getting myself paranoid about.

"Oh. Yeah, he's been like that for a while now. Ever since he got captured by those villains and All Might lost his power, he kinda shut off for a bit," he explains, glancing around, as though expecting Bakugou to appear around the corner and throat punch him or something. "I think he's pushing himself too far. He used his quirk way too much during training the other day and burnt his arms up."

"So that's what those scars were," I mumble under my breath, suddenly spiking up when I hear footsteps plodding along down the hall. Thankfully, it's just Sero, who sends us a knowing smirk that makes Denki blush. But he doesn't hang around- he mostly just heads into his room without another word. Well at least it wasn't McSplode.

"We've been trying to tell him to take it easy but- Well you know what he's like." Yeah. Stubborn as a mule, and as willing to listen as a toddler throwing an eternal tantrum. Hell, I doubt he'd even let me in, and he did some serious warming up to me right before they had to leave True Cross. Still, nobody should suffer in silence.

"I'll try and speak to him," I insist, offering a smile that seems to settle my power outlet for the time being. It won't be easy getting anything out of Bakugou, but that doesn't mean I can't try.

However, before I can even open my mouth to say something else, another set of footsteps start to creep into earshot. And it seems as quickly as I hear them, my brother's rounding the corner.

"Rin? Kaminari? Mr. Aizawa and I are running a mandatory introduction course for all of you. If you could both get ready, we'll be meeting in the Ground Beta training grounds. I presume you know where it is?"

"Uh- I know, Mr. Okumura," Kaminari hums, Yukio's eyes quickly flitting between both of us before he pushes his glasses up his nose and turns his back to us.

"Try to be quick getting ready. We wanna make the most of the daylight." Then he's gone, like the grumpy teach he is, leaving the pair of us alone in the hallway again. Jeez, talk about a cold reception. Guess my little bro and Bakugou have something in common, huh?

Still, we shouldn't keep him waiting. And it's clear Kaminari has exactly the same train of thought; as soon as my twin's disappeared from sight, he practically drags me into his room so we can both get changed into something more appropriate for training.

In hindsight, getting changed in the same room as your boyfriend is never a quick process.

~

"I'm really sorry, Rin. I didn't think it'd make a mark," Kaminari bleats as I try to fix the collar of the training uniform UA provided for us. But it doesn't even begin to cover the very obvious bruise on my neck. A hickey. A goddamn hickey, and right before training too. In front of the entire class. And the Exwires. With my brother as one of our teachers. God, how the hell am I meant to get through this unscathed?

Well, I don't; as soon as we step foot in the training grounds, all eyes fall to us. We're late. Everyone's already here. And, soon enough, everyone's staring. My tail can't tuck between my legs soon enough, and I droop my head to try and hide my shame. Y'know those times where you just wish you could disappear into a void and never be found by anyone ever again? Yeah, that's me. Right now. Being stared at. By everyone.

Thankfully, my brother's got enough decency in him to clear his throat and get everyone's attention. I don't miss the disapproving glare he shoots at me, obviously, but I can at least be glad that he's trying to protect my dignity. Both classes turn to face him, and then he's off, explaining every last detail about what we're all gonna be doing today as we train. Learning how to combine quirks with exorcism techniques, right down to how to use them to take demons out.

"There are low level demons all over the training grounds. It's your job to exorcise them. We've planted trackers on all of them, so once they're exorcised we'll have a record of it. Remember, you have to work together. If something isn't working out, try switching partners. When fighting demons in the field, there isn't room for error."

"The same goes for villains. There are no second chances like there are in training. If you don't work together, you're as good as dead. Got that?"

"YES, SIR!"

"Then get out there. Your time starts now!" Yukio announces, readying his pistol and shooting a bright, white flare into the sky. 

But, just after it explodes in the air, I swear the spark flickers blue for a split second before it dissipates into the clouds.