Fic: Colossus (AoNoEx/ A:tS crossover) Prologue through chapter 2
I should have been cleaning today. I should have been knitting today. I should have done my taxes today. Instead I had a tiny plot bunny this morning while trying to sip my coffee and wake up. So I wrote, a lot.
So I submit to you the fruits of that labor. I would love a little input, even though you aren't familiar with the fandoms, if you have a bit of spare time. I am looking for concrit of the style and flow as well as the plot itself. angelfirenze specifically, if you could read the last scene and tell me if I am having the same problem I had with Ed and Al during the RP I would greatly appreciate it.
So the basis of Ao No Exorcist or Blue Exorcist is that there are two mirror worlds, Assaih, the world of humans and Gehanna, the world of demons. The two worlds are not supposed to cross, but demons can break into Assaih by possessing objects or people in Assaih. The Order if the True Cross, or Exorcists, exist to protect humans from these demons. The head of all these demons is Satan (I know), but normally he is so powerful he can't actually possess a human. However he was able to sire two children with a human woman, Rin and Yukio Okumura. The twins were raised by a Priest/ Exorcist, Shiro Fujimoto. Rin was thought to be the only twin to inherit Satan's actual powers, but those powers were sealed away in a demon slaying sword. Rin's powers begin to awaken, and Shiro is possessed by Satan who is trying to drag Rin to Gehenna. Rin escapes and asks to become an exorcist.
That, left a whole shit load of stuff out. Seriously. Go here to the Blue Exorcist page for more information. Otherwise, just know that this story follows the anime, which as is often the case, is quite different from the manga. At this point Yukio has also had his powers awaken.
Title: Colossus (Blue Exorcist/ Angel: the Series crossover)
Spoilers: All of A:tS, not comic compliant. All of the Blue Exorcist anime
Rating: teen
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Joss and others own Angel. Kazue Kato and others own Blue Exorcist
Summery: They had been running for so long, and both longed for a place to rest, if only for a short while.
Prologue: The Mystery
They had been running for a year before they found the hotel.
At first glance, the building seemed like it shouldn't be standing. The surrounding buildings had obviously been patched. The differences in the mortar and bricks stood out even after several years of weathering. The hotel itself looked to have obvious damage, the back wall cracked and pitted. However there seemed to have been no effort made to fix the damage. The lack of care by the owners was what drew the fugitive brothers to the building in the first place.
Both of them had been reluctant to enter it at first. Despite the obvious air of abandonment there was a hint of magic in the air they could both taste on the back of their tongues. As they got closer, they could see the faint echoes of wards painted around the doorways, but a lack of upkeep had left them chipped and fragmented. Too weathered to do their jobs, they presented little problem when the two brothers slipped through the back door.
Once inside, there was little sign of the trauma that marked the exterior of the building. There were a few cracks in the plaster, but with the age of the building and the area they were in, those could have as easily been caused by an earthquake as what ever had marred the outside of the building. It was as if whoever owned the building had left the exterior in shambles on purpose to deter anyone from looking inside.
That inside was even more confusing. As the two brothers cautiously explored they found a strange mishmash of long abandoned rooms and hallways intermingled with areas that had obviously seen some efforts at restoration. However even the restored rooms had what seemed to be several years worth of dust clogging them. Some of the restored rooms showed signs of hasty packing, with bits and bobs left behind. Others were littered with forgotten boxes, as if the owners never made it back to finish gathering all of their belongings and hauling them to their new place.
The air of magic wasn't confined to the wards by the doors. There were signs of it all over the building. A large magical circle was etched into the floor of the lobby, and both brothers instinctively stayed far away from it. The air in one of the offices was thick with the stench of long expired magical ingredients, some of them still mouldering away in their containers. Broken down spells whispered across their skin when they entered some of the restored rooms, and one room had such a pall of darkness over it that the brothers avoided the floor it was on all together.
Despite all the mysteries and dangers, something about the place called out to the brothers. When they settled together on a dusty couch tucked into a nook of the lobby near a staircase, they didn't take long to decide to stay. Something about the place screamed out sanctuary, even though it seemed as if someone had taken pains to make it seem otherwise. It was that sense of home that appealed to the twins. They had been running for so long, and both longed for a place to rest, if only for a short while.
So it was that the Okumura twins came to reside in the Hyperion Hotel.
Chapter 1: The Inevitable
It was just over two months after Yukio's awakening that things began to go down hill. Yukio had slowly begun to notice his colleagues shying away from him. They would cluster together during staff meetings, attempting to look like they were in important conversations, but Yukio could see the nervous glances out of the corners of their eyes.
Tails could be hidden under uniforms, but other changes were impossible to hide. Yukio knew his eyes had shifted towards Rin's fiery blue, obvious even through the lenses of his glasses. The pointed ears stuck out, despite the fact he had been growing his hair out slightly to try and mask the tips. He was glad he had perfected his stoic disposition, since a stern expression kept him from smiling too widely and exposing his elongated canines. Yukio felt the stares these physical changes elicited every day in the halls of the Order, and he knew he would never again be able to relate to his friends in colleagues in the same way.
He wondered if this was how his brother had felt growing up, ostracized as the 'demon' child by his peers and teachers. If it was, it was easy to understand why Rin had always been so surly. Having people who had once been his friends look at him with suspicion made him ache with sadness and burn with anger in turns. If these emotions were hard to master as an adult--and after all he'd been through Yukio refused to view himself as anything but an adult--they had to be nearly impossible to conquer for a child. Yukio gained a new found respect for his brother and how remarkably adjusted he was despite his fiery temper and churlish attitude.
He gained a new respect for his Father and the other brothers at the Monastery for helping to keep Rin that way, too.
After a few weeks of sidelong glances and conversations abruptly abandoned when he entered a room, Yukio finally had to acknowledge that something was being planned by the others. It was easy for him to guess what those plans would entail, but he needed a timetable. So he goaded Shura into another training 'rematch' and while they were both plugging away at the targets, he took his chance to question her.
"How long until they come for us?"
"Hmm?" Shura gave him an odd look before demolishing a volley of targets.
"I'm not an idiot, Shura. Nor am I the naive little boy you used to know," as he said this, Yukio continued to fire away at his targets. He didn't bother to look at the other exorcist. "I know the Order wants to come after Rin and myself. I also know that the resistance to that plan is rapidly waning. What I want to know is how long we have until the plan comes to fruition."
Shura pounded away at her targets without speaking. Yukio was almost ready to resign himself to the fact that she wouldn't answer when she finally spoke up.
"One month, tops," she replied, so quietly that if it weren't for his newly enhanced hearing, he wouldn't have heard her.
"I see."
Both of them continued demolishing targets for a few minutes. Finally Yukio summoned up the courage to ask the next question.
"How many of the Exwires are involved?"
Yukio could almost feel her reluctance to answer that question, but Shura was never one to shy away from anything.
"All of them."
"Ah. I was afraid of that."
Yukio knew his brother would be crushed by this. Rin had tried so hard to make connections with his classmates. He had worked to show him that they could trust him, that he would never betray them, but after the incident with the Gate they had again become skittish around him. The sad thing was it was most likely the fact that Rin had destroyed the Gehenna Gate that made them shy away. The idea of someone, especially someone as brash and untrained as Rin, holding that kind of power made them afraid. By saving his friends, Rin had created a chasm between them and himself that he could not cross.
"I guess that settles it," he muttered aloud.
"What are you planning?" Shura's voice broke into his musing..
"I'd rather not say,"Yukio answered. "You've been loyal to Rin and I, as well as our Father before us. I don't want you to suffer for your loyalty. If you know nothing, then you can't be grouped as an accomplice."
"I'm not scared of anything they can do to me," Shura replied, her tone taking on a defiant edge.
"I know," Yukio said, glancing towards her while still demolishing his targets. "That's why Father asked you to help Rin and I. He knew the trust he placed in you would be rewarded."
Shura was now watching him, her reflexes and the barest sliver of attention she was paying them were the only thing keeping her from missing the targets. Her face was a mask of shock as Yukio continued to plug away at his own targets while his attention was focused on her. He expelled and switched cartridges without breaking the rhythm of his shots, but he wasn't really paying them much attention at all. He was focused on the woman in front of him.
"Rin and I became a part of the Order to become stronger, to protect those that we care about. However, it's clear now that our presence is actually posing a danger. By plotting against us, the Order is neglecting its other duties. Neither of us wants to risk someone getting hurt because of us."
Shura swung her attention towards Yukio, her anger making her neglect her targets.
"It's not for you to decide!" she shouted.
One by one the targets hurtling towards her burst into blue flames. Yukio's eyes widened as he turned towards the fence and saw Rin standing there, his fingers curled around the fence links so tightly that his knuckles were white.
"You're right, Shura," Rin said, still taking out the targets. "We can't decide your actions, but we can decide our own."
Shura's sword arm fell limply to her side, her face a portrait of shock at Rin's control. Her eyes widened further when she saw Yukio lower his gun and continue to take out targets with his own flames.
"We can't dictate others' actions, but we can take our own actions to keep others safe," Yukio said, his voice resolute.
"We will not do anything else to endanger anyone ever again," Rin continued. "If our presence is endangering others, then it's time for that presence to end."
Yukio calmly holstered his guns and attached the spare cartridges to his belt. The whole time he and Rin kept taking out the targets, the flames painting an eerie blue cast to the whole room. Shura just kept staring, for once stuck speechless. When he was finished gathering his things, he turned to Shura and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you Shura Kirigakure, for everything you have done for us. We will always be grateful to you."
On the other side of the fence, Rin also bowed.
"Thank you Professor, for everything you have taught me. I am stronger person because of your lessons."
Both boys straightened, and Yukio began heading for the exit, pausing to hit the shut off on the machine. Rin joined him as he stepped outside the fence, and they left side by side. Behind them, Shura was left staring, the ashes of the targets settling around her.
"How much did you hear?" Yukio asked his brother, as they crossed the campus heading towards their dorm.
"Enough," Rin answered, his voice somber. "But it wasn't anything I didn't already know was coming. I may be an idiot, Yukio, but I'm not stupid. I could see the others were unnerved by me."
"If it means anything, I'm sorry."
"Thanks, but I get where they're coming from, you know. If I was in their place, I'd probably be scared of me, too."
Yukio frowned at his brother.
"That doesn't make hearing that they are planning on moving against you any easier."
"No, but the only other alternative I have is to get pissed off, and I know that won't make it any easier," Rin gave him a sidelong glance. "What about you? I've only know the guys for a few months, but you've been training with the Order for years. It can't be as easy as you're acting like it is."
"Of course it isn't," Yukio answered, the barest hint of a growl in his voice. He took a deep breath. Rin wasn't the one he was angry at, and in his own hopelessly blunt way, his brother was trying to help. "But you're right, getting angry or upset won't make this any easier."
The brothers arrived at their dorm and quickly made their way up to their room. Tails unwound from torsos as each quickly changed into street clothes. Each brother grabbed a duffel and began methodically packing clothes and other important items into the bag. Books, spare ammo and a few keepsakes were tucked into the bags. Once they were finished, they began to methodically empty their belonging into boxes. Soon the room was empty, save the full boxes that were stacked along one wall, and the furniture that had been there in the first place.
As the brothers were checking the room for anything they had missed, Kuro walked in and blinked in surprise at the empty room.
"Rin, Yukio, what's going on? Why are you packing your things?"
"We need to leave, Kuro. This place isn't safe for us anymore," Rin answered, kneeling down and placing a hand on his familiar.
"Why? I thought this was your home?"
"It was," Rin answered, scratching the animal behind it's ears. A soft purr rumbled as a backdrop to his words. "Now, everyone is scared of us. They are afraid because we're the sons of Satan."
"They already knew that," Kuro said, the mental tone petulant despite the audible purr.
"Yes," Yukio said, kneeling down to offer his own comfort to the familiar. "However, now that they have seen the power we have, they are afraid of what we will do with it."
"You already showed them what you will do with it when you closed the Gehenna Gate," Kuro argued. "You want to fight evil. You want to help people like Shiro did."
"Yeah, we do," Rin agreed. "But people aren't as logical as cats. They are always going to be a little bit afraid of us, and that fear might make them do stupid things. Things that will get them hurt. That's why Yukio and I have to leave."
"Plus, before long, the demons will start trying to get to us again. That will put the humans here in even more danger. It's better if we leave before that starts to happen."
Kuro looked between the two brothers. A knowing look came over the familiar's face.
"I can't come with you, can I?"
"No," Rin answered sadly, cuddling the cat even more. "Yukio and I aren't sure where we will end up, and it is sure to be hard. It wouldn't be safe for you to come along."
"But if you want," Yukio added. "We can take you with us for the first part of the journey. We're going back to the Southern Cross Monastery were we grew up. Where Father raised us. If you want, you can come with us, and stay there. The brothers will take good care of you, I'm sure."
"And you can help them protect the people of the neighborhood," Rin added.
For a moment, Kuro looked like he was going to argue. Then he let out a sad meow and nuzzled up against both brothers.
"I want to come with you, but I know you're right. So I'll go to the place were Shiro lived. I'll help his friends keep people safe. But I'll miss you both."
"We'll miss you to, Kuro," Rin said, a suspicious shimmer in his eye.
Both boys took a few more minutes to cuddle with the feline before Rin abruptly stood, Yukio following suit a bit more slowly. Both boys grabbed their bags, then headed downstairs. Rin grabbed Kuro's carrier, and Yukio turned the lights off as they exited the room, leaving the door unlocked behind them.
Down in the kitchen Ukobach was busy making their supper. Yukio eyed his brother warily before they both entered the kitchen.
"Ukobach," Rin said. "Don't go to too much trouble with supper. Yukio and I don't have time for more than a snack."
The hearth demon made a questioning sound, although there was a hint of disappointment and anger in the noise as well.
"I understand, and we both appreciate the work you put into it, Ukobach. But Yukio and I promised we'd visit the monastery where we grew up and have dinner with the Brother's there."
The demon made another grumbling noise.
"Well what are you making?"
Rin listened to the answer.
"I'll tell you what, that shouldn't be too hard to turn into boxed dinners. I'll help, and then Yukio and I will take it with us. That way some new people will get to enjoy your cooking."
Ukobach made an affirmative noise, and soon the two began creating the meals to take with them. Yukio was a little perturbed about the delay, but he knew it would solve more problems than it caused in the long run. So he sat with Kuro on his lap, while he watched his brother and the demon cook up a storm. If Rin seemed to relish the cooking with a little more gusto than normal, Yukio knew the reason, he just pretended not to notice.
Soon, the boxes were packed and tied into manageable bundles for the brothers to carry. Bags slung over their shoulders, the brothers turned towards the hearth demon who was finishing it's cleanup.
"Thanks again for the meals Ukobach," Rin said. "I'm sure the guys will appreciate it a lot. We'll make sure your containers get back to you as soon as possible."
Yukio pulled out a small package and held it out to the demon.
"Ukobach, could you please take this to Mephisto? You don't have to bother him tonight. Tomorrow morning is fine."
The demon made an affirmative noise, nodding as it took the package.
"Thanks, Ukobach," Rin said, as he turned around. "For everything," he added in a much quieter tone.
As he turned to follow his brother, Yukio saw the demon give the both of them a look that was both curious and measuring. Then the two brothers were exiting the dorms and heading for the nearby train station. They were both quiet as they moved away from the campus leaving the True Cross Academy and everyone they had met there behind.
Chapter 2: A Place Called Home
It took two hours to make their way to the Southern Cross Monastery from the Academy. After asking what Yukio had given Ukobach, Rin had stayed mostly silent. lost in his own thoughts.
Once he told Rin that he was turning in his and Rin's keys to the demon, the finality of that action had settled in on Yukio, and he had remained silent as well.
If the Brothers had any inkling of the melancholy that had a hold of the Okumura twins, they gave no sign of it in their joyful greeting. Despite the fact the visit was unannounced, the whole of the Order was excited to have the twins back for a visit. The excitement was even greater when the Brothers realized the twins had brought food.
Brother Maruta was the first to spy Kuro's carrier, and he was overjoyed that the twins had finally brought Shiro's familiar to meet them. He soon had the cat sidhe purring with delight as he showered the familiar with attention. Rin shot his brother a small relieved grin, and Yukio nodded back, both relieved that the creature would be well cared for.
Despite their inner turmoil, Yukio and his brother managed to remain cheerful through most of dinner. They listened attentively to the stories the Brothers told, and basked in the fact that none of them had altered their actions towards the twins at all. They all ribbed Rin about his grades, and inquired about how Yukio's studies were going. During the clean up, Brother Izumi even tweaked Rin's tail through his shirt, eliciting a yelp and a growl from the boy. Yukio felt his own tail twitch from it's position around his torso, but he couldn't help laughing along with the rest of the Brother's at Rin's reaction.
It wasn't until they had finished the dishes and the rest of the evening chores that Brother Kyodo finally breached to topic of the twins' arrival.
"Not that we aren't glad to see you, especially if you bring good food, but why the visit. You two both have classes at the Academy and the Cram School."
"Rin wanted to visit," Yukio said, smirking slightly at his brother's glare. "He kept going on and on about how much he missed you."
"And why wouldn't I miss them, idiot. They're my family. Besides you were yammering on and on about visiting just as much."
From where he was seated with Kuro lounging on his lap, Brother Maruta shot the others a significant look. The others returned it with interest, and Yukio shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Across from him, Rin swallowed thickly. Brother Nagatomo excused himself, and strode from the room, and suddenly Maruta was all smiles again.
"Well I don't care what the reason is, I'm glad you came. It has been lonely here without the two of you, just like I thought it would be."
"What about us?" Izumi asked, indignant.
"I see you all the time. The boys hardly ever visit," the man replied.
Brother Kyodo just rolled his eyes and winked at the twins. Then his face grew serious.
"It's actually a good thing the two of you came. We didn't want to bring it up the last time you came, because of the situation, but there are some things of Shiro's you should probably go through."
"Some of the boxes had your names on them, and we didn't want to pry and open them," Maruta said, his argument forgotten.
Izumi wasn't quite so quick to leave the bickering behind.
"You mean we didn't know what kind of seals Shiro had placed on the boxes, and we didn't want to risk setting them off."
"Whatever the reason," Nagatomo said, returning to the room. "You two should go through them before you leave. There might be something important in them. We left them in you guys' room."
After that, the conversation made a lighter turn again, and continued for a couple more hours until one by one the brothers excused themselves, leaving the twins behind. If the good nights seemed more final than they should, none of them made any mention of it. Soon, Yukio and his brother were left alone, each steeling themselves for the task of going through their Father's things.
There was a hint of grim determination on Rin's face as they headed back towards their room, and the items held within. Not that Yukio blamed his brother for those emotions. Yukio wasn't looking forward to this task either. The emotions weren't aided by the fact that Yukio sensed that the Brothers had understood what the twins were leaving unsaid, and they felt that whatever Shiro had left them would be needed for any journey the two of them had to make.
Yukio entered the room, and saw his and Rin's bags sitting neatly on the desk, side by side. Rin took the Kurikara off and set it down by his bag. They both turned towards the boxes on Rin's bed. Neither was large, and each one had one of their names written on it with their father's familiar neat script. Slowly each reached out towards the one bearing their name.
Yukio stared at the box for a moment, too many emotions for him to name surging through him one after the other. He was set to open the box when he noticed his brother was struggling with his own. He looked up and noticed the seals inscribed on the tape holding the box shut and gave a wry smile.
"Rin," he said, halting his brother's struggling. "Those seals mean you aren't going to be able to force it open."
"Huh," he said, looking confused as he stared at the glyphs on the tape. "Then how am I supposed to get inside it?"
"Your flames, brother. Use your flames."
Rin blinked at him for a few moments. Then he looked at the glyphs again, then back at Yukio.
"But the old man didn't want me to...," he trailed off. "Stupid old fart," Rin muttered as he realized what the inclusion of the seals meant.
Yukio let out a sigh as he saw the evidence of their father's familiarity with Rin's impulsive nature disintegrate in a wash of blue flames. He wasn't surprised that the lid of the box was slightly singed but in truth he was kind of impressed that Rin hadn't incinerated the whole package in his annoyance. Rin's control was obviously improving by quite a bit.
Yukio turned towards his own box intent to open it when he sucked in a shocked breath. The same glyphs that had lined the tape sealing Rin's box lined his own as well. Yukio stared at them in shock, pondering the fact that just as Shiro had always known about Rin, he had also somehow know that Yukio would eventually come into his own demonic awakening. A brief jolt of anger surged through him as he wondered why his father hadn't told him what to expect, but it faded just as quickly as it came. If he was ever going to find an answer to that question, it would be in the box in front of him.
He traced the lines of Shiro's handwriting gently before summoning the flames and breaking the seal on the box. Once the tape was gone, he gently opened the box. Sitting on top of the contents was an envelope with his name on it. Yukio glanced up to see Rin collapsed on the ground, tail waving moodily behind him. A tear was tracking down his cheek, and Yukio distinctly heard him mutter out a pained "Daddy."
"Rin," Yukio said, his own letter forgotten due to the urge to comfort his brother.
Rin looked up, more tears joining the first.
"He knew, Yukio. Dad knew," Rin said. rubbing a sleeve across his eyes, then looked up at his brother. "Just read your letter, Yukio. You have to read yours."
With that, Rin turned his attention back to the letter, more tears trailing down his cheeks, as he raised a hand to trace down whatever words he was reading on the paper.
Yukio turned towards his own box, and with shaking hands, pulled the letter out of the envelope, sitting down on the corner of the bed to read.
My dear son, Yukio-
I am so sorry. If you are reading this, then I am no longer there to tell you these things. I know it will be hard to hear this, so please turn to your brother to comfort you. From now on, you two will have to depend on each other more than anything. I trust you both to keep each other safe.
Yukio. Know this before everything else. You are my son, and I love you. Nothing as weak as mere biology could stop that. I consider you and your brother gifts given to me by God, no matter who your parents really are. You and your brother are the dearest things to me, and I am so sorry I not there to protect you.
You have known since I began your training that you and your brother were born of a demon father and a human mother. I always let you think it was a spirit wound that let you see demons at such a young age. However, I can now say with certainty that this was not the case. Despite what we thought when you were a child, your body did not reject your demonic heritage. It was just shrouded so deeply in your humanity that it wasn't as apparent as your brother's was, swirling around him like blue flames when you were held in your mother's arms. However those powers have always been there, lying in wait for you to call upon them.
If you haven't begun to feel the awakening, then I know this must be a shock. If you have begun to feel the awakening, please Yukio, do not resist it. Do not be afraid. These powers have always been a part of you, and despite what they have drummed into your head at the Academy, they are not a bad thing. If you resist the awakening, it will only cause you hardship, and your brother with you. However if you embrace it, you and your brother will be able to do great things.
I regret the weighty burden I am about to put upon your shoulders, but I have seen your strength. I know you can bear it.
Yukio, you and Rin are so much more than simply the sons of Satan and Yuri Egin. You are the Gatekeepers. Together you can cleave shut any connection between Gehenna and Assaih, whether that connection is a gate opened by Satan, or simply the connection allowing a demon to possess someone or something.
This is not a power of destruction, son. It is a power of healing. You know that demons are able to possess humans because of the pain in their hearts. When you and Rin break that connection to Gehenna, you will allow that heart to heal. You will help the rend in these people's souls to mend.
Yukio, despite his flaws and his rough nature, I have always known your brother had a gentle heart. I also know your heart is equally open to others. Those open hearts, that desire to help people, was what I was trying to nurture as you grew up. I knew your would both need those hearts to stay open if you were to truly come into your power and be able to help the world as you were meant to. No matter how difficult things get, I beg you to cling to that openness for all you are worth, because that is the true secret to your powers.
There were so many things I wanted to teach you, Yukio. However if you are reading this, then I have been unable to teach you them all. I have left instructions with the Brothers to deliver these packages to you and Rin when the time is right. Inside this box you will find the small amount of information I could piece together about the Gatekeepers, as well as a few of my favorite weapons. There are also supplies and spells to help you along the journey you now have to make. There are also some funds that you should be able to use without being traced by the Order. Use all of these things wisely.
Finally, please help your brother, Yukio. He doesn't have the benefit of your training, and we both know he is not the best at studies. Please be patient and teach him the things he needs to know about Exorcists, but please remember to respect him as well. Your brother isn't unintelligent, Yukio, he just needs someone who understands him to break through the walls around his mind. Once you figure out how to do this-- for I'll be honest Yukio, I haven't figured it out after all of these years-- but once you figure it out, the two of you will be able to learn about your powers together. Then the Okumura brothers will truly shine.
I love you so much my son. No matter what happens, hold that knowledge close to your heart. Remember that I shall always love you and watch over you from wherever I may be. Keep safe, and may your life be filled with joy.
Your loving Father,
Shiro Fujimoto
Yukio sat there, tears streaking his face as he read the words his father had written over and over again. He had known, had known Yukio's whole life about the demon blood in his veins, and he had been proud of it. Shiro saw that power as a blessing, something that would allow Yukio do do great things, to help people, as he had always wanted to do. Shiro had known, but he had also trusted that Yukio would be able to use that power for good. In fact his words made it clear that belief in the goodness of his son had never faltered.
"Daddy," Yukio said softly, echoing his brother.
He heard Rin sniff, and looked up to see his brother on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest. He had his arms crossed across his knees, one hand weakly clutching his letter, while his head was buried in the crossed arms. His tail curled around his feet flicking back and forth morosely.
"Rin," he said, softly. He stood and walked over to crouch in front of his brother.
Rin looked up, his face a blotchy mess. Tears still leaked down his cheeks, but behind the pain there was such joy in his eyes.
"Yukio. He was proud of me. He was so proud of me," Rin whispered. "He said it wasn't my fault. I..I always thought it was, but he said it wasn't my fault. He was proud of me. Daddy was proud of me."
Yukio fell the rest of the way to his knees and pulled his brother into a tight embrace. He felt his own tears well up again as he held his brother tight.
"Of course he was proud of you, you dope. You were his son. You everything to him."
"We were both everything to him."
The two brothers held on to each other for a long time, grieving in a way they hadn't had a chance to during the time after their father's death. There were happy tears as well, as they each repeated the praise Shiro had left for them to the other.
As the brothers of the Southern Cross Monastery rose for morning prayer, they peaked into the room to find the twins asleep, leaning against each other in a way they hadn't since they were kids. If the brothers could see the tear tracks drying on the their faces, no one said a word.
So I submit to you the fruits of that labor. I would love a little input, even though you aren't familiar with the fandoms, if you have a bit of spare time. I am looking for concrit of the style and flow as well as the plot itself. angelfirenze specifically, if you could read the last scene and tell me if I am having the same problem I had with Ed and Al during the RP I would greatly appreciate it.
So the basis of Ao No Exorcist or Blue Exorcist is that there are two mirror worlds, Assaih, the world of humans and Gehanna, the world of demons. The two worlds are not supposed to cross, but demons can break into Assaih by possessing objects or people in Assaih. The Order if the True Cross, or Exorcists, exist to protect humans from these demons. The head of all these demons is Satan (I know), but normally he is so powerful he can't actually possess a human. However he was able to sire two children with a human woman, Rin and Yukio Okumura. The twins were raised by a Priest/ Exorcist, Shiro Fujimoto. Rin was thought to be the only twin to inherit Satan's actual powers, but those powers were sealed away in a demon slaying sword. Rin's powers begin to awaken, and Shiro is possessed by Satan who is trying to drag Rin to Gehenna. Rin escapes and asks to become an exorcist.
That, left a whole shit load of stuff out. Seriously. Go here to the Blue Exorcist page for more information. Otherwise, just know that this story follows the anime, which as is often the case, is quite different from the manga. At this point Yukio has also had his powers awaken.
Title: Colossus (Blue Exorcist/ Angel: the Series crossover)
Spoilers: All of A:tS, not comic compliant. All of the Blue Exorcist anime
Rating: teen
Disclaimer: I don't own it. Joss and others own Angel. Kazue Kato and others own Blue Exorcist
Summery: They had been running for so long, and both longed for a place to rest, if only for a short while.
Prologue: The Mystery
They had been running for a year before they found the hotel.
At first glance, the building seemed like it shouldn't be standing. The surrounding buildings had obviously been patched. The differences in the mortar and bricks stood out even after several years of weathering. The hotel itself looked to have obvious damage, the back wall cracked and pitted. However there seemed to have been no effort made to fix the damage. The lack of care by the owners was what drew the fugitive brothers to the building in the first place.
Both of them had been reluctant to enter it at first. Despite the obvious air of abandonment there was a hint of magic in the air they could both taste on the back of their tongues. As they got closer, they could see the faint echoes of wards painted around the doorways, but a lack of upkeep had left them chipped and fragmented. Too weathered to do their jobs, they presented little problem when the two brothers slipped through the back door.
Once inside, there was little sign of the trauma that marked the exterior of the building. There were a few cracks in the plaster, but with the age of the building and the area they were in, those could have as easily been caused by an earthquake as what ever had marred the outside of the building. It was as if whoever owned the building had left the exterior in shambles on purpose to deter anyone from looking inside.
That inside was even more confusing. As the two brothers cautiously explored they found a strange mishmash of long abandoned rooms and hallways intermingled with areas that had obviously seen some efforts at restoration. However even the restored rooms had what seemed to be several years worth of dust clogging them. Some of the restored rooms showed signs of hasty packing, with bits and bobs left behind. Others were littered with forgotten boxes, as if the owners never made it back to finish gathering all of their belongings and hauling them to their new place.
The air of magic wasn't confined to the wards by the doors. There were signs of it all over the building. A large magical circle was etched into the floor of the lobby, and both brothers instinctively stayed far away from it. The air in one of the offices was thick with the stench of long expired magical ingredients, some of them still mouldering away in their containers. Broken down spells whispered across their skin when they entered some of the restored rooms, and one room had such a pall of darkness over it that the brothers avoided the floor it was on all together.
Despite all the mysteries and dangers, something about the place called out to the brothers. When they settled together on a dusty couch tucked into a nook of the lobby near a staircase, they didn't take long to decide to stay. Something about the place screamed out sanctuary, even though it seemed as if someone had taken pains to make it seem otherwise. It was that sense of home that appealed to the twins. They had been running for so long, and both longed for a place to rest, if only for a short while.
So it was that the Okumura twins came to reside in the Hyperion Hotel.
Chapter 1: The Inevitable
It was just over two months after Yukio's awakening that things began to go down hill. Yukio had slowly begun to notice his colleagues shying away from him. They would cluster together during staff meetings, attempting to look like they were in important conversations, but Yukio could see the nervous glances out of the corners of their eyes.
Tails could be hidden under uniforms, but other changes were impossible to hide. Yukio knew his eyes had shifted towards Rin's fiery blue, obvious even through the lenses of his glasses. The pointed ears stuck out, despite the fact he had been growing his hair out slightly to try and mask the tips. He was glad he had perfected his stoic disposition, since a stern expression kept him from smiling too widely and exposing his elongated canines. Yukio felt the stares these physical changes elicited every day in the halls of the Order, and he knew he would never again be able to relate to his friends in colleagues in the same way.
He wondered if this was how his brother had felt growing up, ostracized as the 'demon' child by his peers and teachers. If it was, it was easy to understand why Rin had always been so surly. Having people who had once been his friends look at him with suspicion made him ache with sadness and burn with anger in turns. If these emotions were hard to master as an adult--and after all he'd been through Yukio refused to view himself as anything but an adult--they had to be nearly impossible to conquer for a child. Yukio gained a new found respect for his brother and how remarkably adjusted he was despite his fiery temper and churlish attitude.
He gained a new respect for his Father and the other brothers at the Monastery for helping to keep Rin that way, too.
After a few weeks of sidelong glances and conversations abruptly abandoned when he entered a room, Yukio finally had to acknowledge that something was being planned by the others. It was easy for him to guess what those plans would entail, but he needed a timetable. So he goaded Shura into another training 'rematch' and while they were both plugging away at the targets, he took his chance to question her.
"How long until they come for us?"
"Hmm?" Shura gave him an odd look before demolishing a volley of targets.
"I'm not an idiot, Shura. Nor am I the naive little boy you used to know," as he said this, Yukio continued to fire away at his targets. He didn't bother to look at the other exorcist. "I know the Order wants to come after Rin and myself. I also know that the resistance to that plan is rapidly waning. What I want to know is how long we have until the plan comes to fruition."
Shura pounded away at her targets without speaking. Yukio was almost ready to resign himself to the fact that she wouldn't answer when she finally spoke up.
"One month, tops," she replied, so quietly that if it weren't for his newly enhanced hearing, he wouldn't have heard her.
"I see."
Both of them continued demolishing targets for a few minutes. Finally Yukio summoned up the courage to ask the next question.
"How many of the Exwires are involved?"
Yukio could almost feel her reluctance to answer that question, but Shura was never one to shy away from anything.
"All of them."
"Ah. I was afraid of that."
Yukio knew his brother would be crushed by this. Rin had tried so hard to make connections with his classmates. He had worked to show him that they could trust him, that he would never betray them, but after the incident with the Gate they had again become skittish around him. The sad thing was it was most likely the fact that Rin had destroyed the Gehenna Gate that made them shy away. The idea of someone, especially someone as brash and untrained as Rin, holding that kind of power made them afraid. By saving his friends, Rin had created a chasm between them and himself that he could not cross.
"I guess that settles it," he muttered aloud.
"What are you planning?" Shura's voice broke into his musing..
"I'd rather not say,"Yukio answered. "You've been loyal to Rin and I, as well as our Father before us. I don't want you to suffer for your loyalty. If you know nothing, then you can't be grouped as an accomplice."
"I'm not scared of anything they can do to me," Shura replied, her tone taking on a defiant edge.
"I know," Yukio said, glancing towards her while still demolishing his targets. "That's why Father asked you to help Rin and I. He knew the trust he placed in you would be rewarded."
Shura was now watching him, her reflexes and the barest sliver of attention she was paying them were the only thing keeping her from missing the targets. Her face was a mask of shock as Yukio continued to plug away at his own targets while his attention was focused on her. He expelled and switched cartridges without breaking the rhythm of his shots, but he wasn't really paying them much attention at all. He was focused on the woman in front of him.
"Rin and I became a part of the Order to become stronger, to protect those that we care about. However, it's clear now that our presence is actually posing a danger. By plotting against us, the Order is neglecting its other duties. Neither of us wants to risk someone getting hurt because of us."
Shura swung her attention towards Yukio, her anger making her neglect her targets.
"It's not for you to decide!" she shouted.
One by one the targets hurtling towards her burst into blue flames. Yukio's eyes widened as he turned towards the fence and saw Rin standing there, his fingers curled around the fence links so tightly that his knuckles were white.
"You're right, Shura," Rin said, still taking out the targets. "We can't decide your actions, but we can decide our own."
Shura's sword arm fell limply to her side, her face a portrait of shock at Rin's control. Her eyes widened further when she saw Yukio lower his gun and continue to take out targets with his own flames.
"We can't dictate others' actions, but we can take our own actions to keep others safe," Yukio said, his voice resolute.
"We will not do anything else to endanger anyone ever again," Rin continued. "If our presence is endangering others, then it's time for that presence to end."
Yukio calmly holstered his guns and attached the spare cartridges to his belt. The whole time he and Rin kept taking out the targets, the flames painting an eerie blue cast to the whole room. Shura just kept staring, for once stuck speechless. When he was finished gathering his things, he turned to Shura and gave a deep bow.
"Thank you Shura Kirigakure, for everything you have done for us. We will always be grateful to you."
On the other side of the fence, Rin also bowed.
"Thank you Professor, for everything you have taught me. I am stronger person because of your lessons."
Both boys straightened, and Yukio began heading for the exit, pausing to hit the shut off on the machine. Rin joined him as he stepped outside the fence, and they left side by side. Behind them, Shura was left staring, the ashes of the targets settling around her.
"How much did you hear?" Yukio asked his brother, as they crossed the campus heading towards their dorm.
"Enough," Rin answered, his voice somber. "But it wasn't anything I didn't already know was coming. I may be an idiot, Yukio, but I'm not stupid. I could see the others were unnerved by me."
"If it means anything, I'm sorry."
"Thanks, but I get where they're coming from, you know. If I was in their place, I'd probably be scared of me, too."
Yukio frowned at his brother.
"That doesn't make hearing that they are planning on moving against you any easier."
"No, but the only other alternative I have is to get pissed off, and I know that won't make it any easier," Rin gave him a sidelong glance. "What about you? I've only know the guys for a few months, but you've been training with the Order for years. It can't be as easy as you're acting like it is."
"Of course it isn't," Yukio answered, the barest hint of a growl in his voice. He took a deep breath. Rin wasn't the one he was angry at, and in his own hopelessly blunt way, his brother was trying to help. "But you're right, getting angry or upset won't make this any easier."
The brothers arrived at their dorm and quickly made their way up to their room. Tails unwound from torsos as each quickly changed into street clothes. Each brother grabbed a duffel and began methodically packing clothes and other important items into the bag. Books, spare ammo and a few keepsakes were tucked into the bags. Once they were finished, they began to methodically empty their belonging into boxes. Soon the room was empty, save the full boxes that were stacked along one wall, and the furniture that had been there in the first place.
As the brothers were checking the room for anything they had missed, Kuro walked in and blinked in surprise at the empty room.
"Rin, Yukio, what's going on? Why are you packing your things?"
"We need to leave, Kuro. This place isn't safe for us anymore," Rin answered, kneeling down and placing a hand on his familiar.
"Why? I thought this was your home?"
"It was," Rin answered, scratching the animal behind it's ears. A soft purr rumbled as a backdrop to his words. "Now, everyone is scared of us. They are afraid because we're the sons of Satan."
"They already knew that," Kuro said, the mental tone petulant despite the audible purr.
"Yes," Yukio said, kneeling down to offer his own comfort to the familiar. "However, now that they have seen the power we have, they are afraid of what we will do with it."
"You already showed them what you will do with it when you closed the Gehenna Gate," Kuro argued. "You want to fight evil. You want to help people like Shiro did."
"Yeah, we do," Rin agreed. "But people aren't as logical as cats. They are always going to be a little bit afraid of us, and that fear might make them do stupid things. Things that will get them hurt. That's why Yukio and I have to leave."
"Plus, before long, the demons will start trying to get to us again. That will put the humans here in even more danger. It's better if we leave before that starts to happen."
Kuro looked between the two brothers. A knowing look came over the familiar's face.
"I can't come with you, can I?"
"No," Rin answered sadly, cuddling the cat even more. "Yukio and I aren't sure where we will end up, and it is sure to be hard. It wouldn't be safe for you to come along."
"But if you want," Yukio added. "We can take you with us for the first part of the journey. We're going back to the Southern Cross Monastery were we grew up. Where Father raised us. If you want, you can come with us, and stay there. The brothers will take good care of you, I'm sure."
"And you can help them protect the people of the neighborhood," Rin added.
For a moment, Kuro looked like he was going to argue. Then he let out a sad meow and nuzzled up against both brothers.
"I want to come with you, but I know you're right. So I'll go to the place were Shiro lived. I'll help his friends keep people safe. But I'll miss you both."
"We'll miss you to, Kuro," Rin said, a suspicious shimmer in his eye.
Both boys took a few more minutes to cuddle with the feline before Rin abruptly stood, Yukio following suit a bit more slowly. Both boys grabbed their bags, then headed downstairs. Rin grabbed Kuro's carrier, and Yukio turned the lights off as they exited the room, leaving the door unlocked behind them.
Down in the kitchen Ukobach was busy making their supper. Yukio eyed his brother warily before they both entered the kitchen.
"Ukobach," Rin said. "Don't go to too much trouble with supper. Yukio and I don't have time for more than a snack."
The hearth demon made a questioning sound, although there was a hint of disappointment and anger in the noise as well.
"I understand, and we both appreciate the work you put into it, Ukobach. But Yukio and I promised we'd visit the monastery where we grew up and have dinner with the Brother's there."
The demon made another grumbling noise.
"Well what are you making?"
Rin listened to the answer.
"I'll tell you what, that shouldn't be too hard to turn into boxed dinners. I'll help, and then Yukio and I will take it with us. That way some new people will get to enjoy your cooking."
Ukobach made an affirmative noise, and soon the two began creating the meals to take with them. Yukio was a little perturbed about the delay, but he knew it would solve more problems than it caused in the long run. So he sat with Kuro on his lap, while he watched his brother and the demon cook up a storm. If Rin seemed to relish the cooking with a little more gusto than normal, Yukio knew the reason, he just pretended not to notice.
Soon, the boxes were packed and tied into manageable bundles for the brothers to carry. Bags slung over their shoulders, the brothers turned towards the hearth demon who was finishing it's cleanup.
"Thanks again for the meals Ukobach," Rin said. "I'm sure the guys will appreciate it a lot. We'll make sure your containers get back to you as soon as possible."
Yukio pulled out a small package and held it out to the demon.
"Ukobach, could you please take this to Mephisto? You don't have to bother him tonight. Tomorrow morning is fine."
The demon made an affirmative noise, nodding as it took the package.
"Thanks, Ukobach," Rin said, as he turned around. "For everything," he added in a much quieter tone.
As he turned to follow his brother, Yukio saw the demon give the both of them a look that was both curious and measuring. Then the two brothers were exiting the dorms and heading for the nearby train station. They were both quiet as they moved away from the campus leaving the True Cross Academy and everyone they had met there behind.
Chapter 2: A Place Called Home
It took two hours to make their way to the Southern Cross Monastery from the Academy. After asking what Yukio had given Ukobach, Rin had stayed mostly silent. lost in his own thoughts.
Once he told Rin that he was turning in his and Rin's keys to the demon, the finality of that action had settled in on Yukio, and he had remained silent as well.
If the Brothers had any inkling of the melancholy that had a hold of the Okumura twins, they gave no sign of it in their joyful greeting. Despite the fact the visit was unannounced, the whole of the Order was excited to have the twins back for a visit. The excitement was even greater when the Brothers realized the twins had brought food.
Brother Maruta was the first to spy Kuro's carrier, and he was overjoyed that the twins had finally brought Shiro's familiar to meet them. He soon had the cat sidhe purring with delight as he showered the familiar with attention. Rin shot his brother a small relieved grin, and Yukio nodded back, both relieved that the creature would be well cared for.
Despite their inner turmoil, Yukio and his brother managed to remain cheerful through most of dinner. They listened attentively to the stories the Brothers told, and basked in the fact that none of them had altered their actions towards the twins at all. They all ribbed Rin about his grades, and inquired about how Yukio's studies were going. During the clean up, Brother Izumi even tweaked Rin's tail through his shirt, eliciting a yelp and a growl from the boy. Yukio felt his own tail twitch from it's position around his torso, but he couldn't help laughing along with the rest of the Brother's at Rin's reaction.
It wasn't until they had finished the dishes and the rest of the evening chores that Brother Kyodo finally breached to topic of the twins' arrival.
"Not that we aren't glad to see you, especially if you bring good food, but why the visit. You two both have classes at the Academy and the Cram School."
"Rin wanted to visit," Yukio said, smirking slightly at his brother's glare. "He kept going on and on about how much he missed you."
"And why wouldn't I miss them, idiot. They're my family. Besides you were yammering on and on about visiting just as much."
From where he was seated with Kuro lounging on his lap, Brother Maruta shot the others a significant look. The others returned it with interest, and Yukio shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Across from him, Rin swallowed thickly. Brother Nagatomo excused himself, and strode from the room, and suddenly Maruta was all smiles again.
"Well I don't care what the reason is, I'm glad you came. It has been lonely here without the two of you, just like I thought it would be."
"What about us?" Izumi asked, indignant.
"I see you all the time. The boys hardly ever visit," the man replied.
Brother Kyodo just rolled his eyes and winked at the twins. Then his face grew serious.
"It's actually a good thing the two of you came. We didn't want to bring it up the last time you came, because of the situation, but there are some things of Shiro's you should probably go through."
"Some of the boxes had your names on them, and we didn't want to pry and open them," Maruta said, his argument forgotten.
Izumi wasn't quite so quick to leave the bickering behind.
"You mean we didn't know what kind of seals Shiro had placed on the boxes, and we didn't want to risk setting them off."
"Whatever the reason," Nagatomo said, returning to the room. "You two should go through them before you leave. There might be something important in them. We left them in you guys' room."
After that, the conversation made a lighter turn again, and continued for a couple more hours until one by one the brothers excused themselves, leaving the twins behind. If the good nights seemed more final than they should, none of them made any mention of it. Soon, Yukio and his brother were left alone, each steeling themselves for the task of going through their Father's things.
There was a hint of grim determination on Rin's face as they headed back towards their room, and the items held within. Not that Yukio blamed his brother for those emotions. Yukio wasn't looking forward to this task either. The emotions weren't aided by the fact that Yukio sensed that the Brothers had understood what the twins were leaving unsaid, and they felt that whatever Shiro had left them would be needed for any journey the two of them had to make.
Yukio entered the room, and saw his and Rin's bags sitting neatly on the desk, side by side. Rin took the Kurikara off and set it down by his bag. They both turned towards the boxes on Rin's bed. Neither was large, and each one had one of their names written on it with their father's familiar neat script. Slowly each reached out towards the one bearing their name.
Yukio stared at the box for a moment, too many emotions for him to name surging through him one after the other. He was set to open the box when he noticed his brother was struggling with his own. He looked up and noticed the seals inscribed on the tape holding the box shut and gave a wry smile.
"Rin," he said, halting his brother's struggling. "Those seals mean you aren't going to be able to force it open."
"Huh," he said, looking confused as he stared at the glyphs on the tape. "Then how am I supposed to get inside it?"
"Your flames, brother. Use your flames."
Rin blinked at him for a few moments. Then he looked at the glyphs again, then back at Yukio.
"But the old man didn't want me to...," he trailed off. "Stupid old fart," Rin muttered as he realized what the inclusion of the seals meant.
Yukio let out a sigh as he saw the evidence of their father's familiarity with Rin's impulsive nature disintegrate in a wash of blue flames. He wasn't surprised that the lid of the box was slightly singed but in truth he was kind of impressed that Rin hadn't incinerated the whole package in his annoyance. Rin's control was obviously improving by quite a bit.
Yukio turned towards his own box intent to open it when he sucked in a shocked breath. The same glyphs that had lined the tape sealing Rin's box lined his own as well. Yukio stared at them in shock, pondering the fact that just as Shiro had always known about Rin, he had also somehow know that Yukio would eventually come into his own demonic awakening. A brief jolt of anger surged through him as he wondered why his father hadn't told him what to expect, but it faded just as quickly as it came. If he was ever going to find an answer to that question, it would be in the box in front of him.
He traced the lines of Shiro's handwriting gently before summoning the flames and breaking the seal on the box. Once the tape was gone, he gently opened the box. Sitting on top of the contents was an envelope with his name on it. Yukio glanced up to see Rin collapsed on the ground, tail waving moodily behind him. A tear was tracking down his cheek, and Yukio distinctly heard him mutter out a pained "Daddy."
"Rin," Yukio said, his own letter forgotten due to the urge to comfort his brother.
Rin looked up, more tears joining the first.
"He knew, Yukio. Dad knew," Rin said. rubbing a sleeve across his eyes, then looked up at his brother. "Just read your letter, Yukio. You have to read yours."
With that, Rin turned his attention back to the letter, more tears trailing down his cheeks, as he raised a hand to trace down whatever words he was reading on the paper.
Yukio turned towards his own box, and with shaking hands, pulled the letter out of the envelope, sitting down on the corner of the bed to read.
My dear son, Yukio-
I am so sorry. If you are reading this, then I am no longer there to tell you these things. I know it will be hard to hear this, so please turn to your brother to comfort you. From now on, you two will have to depend on each other more than anything. I trust you both to keep each other safe.
Yukio. Know this before everything else. You are my son, and I love you. Nothing as weak as mere biology could stop that. I consider you and your brother gifts given to me by God, no matter who your parents really are. You and your brother are the dearest things to me, and I am so sorry I not there to protect you.
You have known since I began your training that you and your brother were born of a demon father and a human mother. I always let you think it was a spirit wound that let you see demons at such a young age. However, I can now say with certainty that this was not the case. Despite what we thought when you were a child, your body did not reject your demonic heritage. It was just shrouded so deeply in your humanity that it wasn't as apparent as your brother's was, swirling around him like blue flames when you were held in your mother's arms. However those powers have always been there, lying in wait for you to call upon them.
If you haven't begun to feel the awakening, then I know this must be a shock. If you have begun to feel the awakening, please Yukio, do not resist it. Do not be afraid. These powers have always been a part of you, and despite what they have drummed into your head at the Academy, they are not a bad thing. If you resist the awakening, it will only cause you hardship, and your brother with you. However if you embrace it, you and your brother will be able to do great things.
I regret the weighty burden I am about to put upon your shoulders, but I have seen your strength. I know you can bear it.
Yukio, you and Rin are so much more than simply the sons of Satan and Yuri Egin. You are the Gatekeepers. Together you can cleave shut any connection between Gehenna and Assaih, whether that connection is a gate opened by Satan, or simply the connection allowing a demon to possess someone or something.
This is not a power of destruction, son. It is a power of healing. You know that demons are able to possess humans because of the pain in their hearts. When you and Rin break that connection to Gehenna, you will allow that heart to heal. You will help the rend in these people's souls to mend.
Yukio, despite his flaws and his rough nature, I have always known your brother had a gentle heart. I also know your heart is equally open to others. Those open hearts, that desire to help people, was what I was trying to nurture as you grew up. I knew your would both need those hearts to stay open if you were to truly come into your power and be able to help the world as you were meant to. No matter how difficult things get, I beg you to cling to that openness for all you are worth, because that is the true secret to your powers.
There were so many things I wanted to teach you, Yukio. However if you are reading this, then I have been unable to teach you them all. I have left instructions with the Brothers to deliver these packages to you and Rin when the time is right. Inside this box you will find the small amount of information I could piece together about the Gatekeepers, as well as a few of my favorite weapons. There are also supplies and spells to help you along the journey you now have to make. There are also some funds that you should be able to use without being traced by the Order. Use all of these things wisely.
Finally, please help your brother, Yukio. He doesn't have the benefit of your training, and we both know he is not the best at studies. Please be patient and teach him the things he needs to know about Exorcists, but please remember to respect him as well. Your brother isn't unintelligent, Yukio, he just needs someone who understands him to break through the walls around his mind. Once you figure out how to do this-- for I'll be honest Yukio, I haven't figured it out after all of these years-- but once you figure it out, the two of you will be able to learn about your powers together. Then the Okumura brothers will truly shine.
I love you so much my son. No matter what happens, hold that knowledge close to your heart. Remember that I shall always love you and watch over you from wherever I may be. Keep safe, and may your life be filled with joy.
Your loving Father,
Shiro Fujimoto
Yukio sat there, tears streaking his face as he read the words his father had written over and over again. He had known, had known Yukio's whole life about the demon blood in his veins, and he had been proud of it. Shiro saw that power as a blessing, something that would allow Yukio do do great things, to help people, as he had always wanted to do. Shiro had known, but he had also trusted that Yukio would be able to use that power for good. In fact his words made it clear that belief in the goodness of his son had never faltered.
"Daddy," Yukio said softly, echoing his brother.
He heard Rin sniff, and looked up to see his brother on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest. He had his arms crossed across his knees, one hand weakly clutching his letter, while his head was buried in the crossed arms. His tail curled around his feet flicking back and forth morosely.
"Rin," he said, softly. He stood and walked over to crouch in front of his brother.
Rin looked up, his face a blotchy mess. Tears still leaked down his cheeks, but behind the pain there was such joy in his eyes.
"Yukio. He was proud of me. He was so proud of me," Rin whispered. "He said it wasn't my fault. I..I always thought it was, but he said it wasn't my fault. He was proud of me. Daddy was proud of me."
Yukio fell the rest of the way to his knees and pulled his brother into a tight embrace. He felt his own tears well up again as he held his brother tight.
"Of course he was proud of you, you dope. You were his son. You everything to him."
"We were both everything to him."
The two brothers held on to each other for a long time, grieving in a way they hadn't had a chance to during the time after their father's death. There were happy tears as well, as they each repeated the praise Shiro had left for them to the other.
As the brothers of the Southern Cross Monastery rose for morning prayer, they peaked into the room to find the twins asleep, leaning against each other in a way they hadn't since they were kids. If the brothers could see the tear tracks drying on the their faces, no one said a word.