"As everybody knows, soon you'll be on break for a month and a half. I also get a break, which is totally great," Rin began a small stack of papers under his arm. "But before all that, you have to take the Exwire Authorization Exam."

Yukio was intrigued. If he passed the exam it would be the next step towards achieving his goal.

"Since the exam is made for combat training and not just as an exam, it'll probably be pretty difficult since we haven't gotten to that part of the syllabus yet…" Yukio watched Rin look of thoughtfully.

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Izumo-chan – instead of Suguro-kun.

"I didn't take the test," Rin said like it was nothing.

"What?! How?!" The yelling distressed the caged Reapers causing their cages to sway and them to groan. Yukio wasn't sure if Suguro-kun looked more shocked or appalled.

His brother sighed, "It's really not that important."

His classmate looked like he wanted to say something more but Rin beat him to the punch.

"Anyways, since the test revolves around combat, I'll be holding a week long training camp starting next week," he brandished the papers. "It's, of course, not mandatory but I'm supposed to tell you that you probably won't pass if you chicken out."

Rin passed out the papers to each of them without comment.

"Decide on your meister and return the forms on Monday. That's all for today," Rin started to nod, but the movement was aborted, "Except, Shiemi!"

"Yes?!" She squeaked.

Yukio was pretty sure he knew what his brother was going to say.

"If you don't get practical clothing, I can't let you take the test," Yukio thought it was rather harsh but he understood. It wasn't safe or practical for her to wear clothing that restricted movement like her kimonos did.

Rin pointed at Izumo-chan and Paku-san, "One of you please help her."

Paku nodded and that was that.

"Yo, Sensei! What's your meister?" Shima called out and Rin shot the guy a look Yukio couldn't decipher.

Rin put a hand on his hip, "Why don't you guess?" he challenged.

"What do I get if I'm correct?" Shima actually bantering with Rin?

His brother grinned showing his teeth, "I'll tell you a secret."

The whole class was watching at that point.

"Ah. My first guess is Knight, obviously."

"What do you mean first?" Shiemi asked.

Shima ignored her, "And for second I'd say…." Yukio watched his classmate look his brother over.

"Hmmm. Tamer," he decided – almost arbitrarily Yukio thought.

But his brother actually looked a bit shocked.

"I doubt it," Izumo-chan scoffed.

"Like Naehaus-sensei?" Paku-san asked.

"I'm nothing like that bastard!" he growled but then backtracked and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "But Shima's right, actually."

"How'd you get that from this guy?" Suguro-kun asked.

Shima shrugged not taking his eyes off Rin, "I figured it was obvious."

Yukio didn't think it was obvious and Yukio didn't understand how a relative stranger knew something about his brother that he didn't.

Tamers made up a very small portion of exorcists – it was exceedingly rare.

That Rin was one… Was it because he was half-demon?

Why hadn't Rin told him?

"Gonna tell me a secret now, teach?" Shima grinned like the cat got a canary.

His brother rolled his eyes but motioned him over all the same.

When Shima got to him Rin blocked his mouth with his hand and whispered something that made Shima grin before he returned to his friends.

"It's not much of a secret if it's something I already know," Shima spoke so quietly, Yukio wondered if anyone else had even heard him.

"Rin-chan!" Shiemi approached his brother as the class started to leave. She held out her summons.

"Ah! Good job, Shiemi!" Rin complimented.

Shiemi beamed, "You were right! And I've even made another friend besides Yukio-kun!"

"You're doin' good, Shiemi.

Yukio frowned at the mention of her making a new friend, from what he had seen Izumo-chan was treating her more like a servant than someone she would want to spend time with.

It bothered him.

Back in their dorm shortly before they would have to go greet his classmates, Rin held out a gift wrapped in newspaper, "You're going to need these for the exam."

Yukio removed the paper to expose two leather shoulder holsters.

"It's not realistic to keep them in your bag. This way you'll be armed and you'll have loosen up with your jacket undone…" Rin shuffled his feet.

"Am I, am I allowed to have these?"

"Any exorcist in-training can carry a weapon as long as it's approved by a teacher."

Yukio clutched the gift to his chest, "Thank you, Nii-san."

"One more thing, Yukio," Rin stepped through the door. "They're not the old man's weapons anymore, they're yours."

After holstering the guns, he made to join Rin who was sitting on the steps outside the dorm.

"Nii-san?" he asked, Shiemi's predicament returning to the forefront of his mind.

Rin hummed.

"Have you seen what Izumo-chan is doing to Shiemi?"

"Yeah."

"Why haven't you done anything about it? She's being bullied!"

Rin just rested his chin in his hand.

"Are you going to do anything about it?" he asked fearing the answer.

"No."

He could see his class nearing the bridge.

"Why not?!"

Rin pushed himself to his feet, "The world is a cruel place, Yukio. The sooner she learns that the safer she'll be."

Yukio was stunned into silence. He had known his brother to be rude and openly hostile, but never this callous and never this jaded. He wondered if he really knew his brother.

When his class appeared there were various complaints about the state of the dorm – all of which he agreed with wholeheartedly as it was a disgusting place. He noticed that Shiemi was dressed in the Academy's girl's fitness uniform and looked uncomfortable.

He offered her what he hoped was a reassuring smile when she passed him carrying Izumo-chan's bag.

Rin lead them inside and showed them the rooms that had been cleaned out for the occasion before taking them to a room with a long table on the first floor.

"I have to give you a bunch of worksheets and after everyone's done, you can go."

Once everyone had finished working, the girls headed to the bath.

"A bath full of women, we gotta go check it out. Aren't training camps supposed to have that sort of excitement?" Renzo commented surprising Yukio – he grew up in a monastery after all.

"You're supposed to be a Buddhist priest!" Suguro-kun protested loudly.

"Guys, there is a teacher here…" Miwa-san warned.

Shima turned to face Rin and paled at his expression.

"Maa, don't worry about him. I bet he's not into this stuff anyway," Shima waved off Miwa-san's concern.

"Shima..."

"Listen to Glasses, Shima-kun. We both know Eyebrows would kill you if you peaked. Besides…"Rin didn't finish his sentence but Shima seemed to get his message.

"Do you still not know our names?" Miwa-kun asked.

It occurred to Yukio that maybe his brother didn't actually know his classmate's names. He thought back on Rin's interactions with people. He had always assumed that his brother just liked handing out nicknames – was he actually bad with names?

His brother just shrugged and offered a wry smile.

Soon after they filed out of the room and Rin turned off the light.

On his way up to their room Yukio found Shiemi outside the baths.

"Shiemi?" he questioned, "What you doing?"

She wouldn't look at him, "… I need to buy fruit milk."

It was wrong.

And if Rin wouldn't do anything about it, than he would.

"Shiemi, you don't have to do everything Izumo-chan asks you to," he said softly.

"I'm-I'm just helping out a friend," she protested.

"Friends don't treat friends like slaves."

She whirled around, "You don't get it! Yukio-kun is smart and popular! You've always had friends!" She was breathing heavy by the end.

Yukio was momentarily stunned and she took the opportunity to walk away.

"Wait!" she stopped. "I may not personally know what it's like, but I've seen what it does to people," he took a breath. "Rin always had trouble making friends when we were kids and I know that if he was treated by a friend like Izumo-chan treats you, I would be angry."

Suddenly, there was a terrible scream.

"It's coming from the baths!" Yukio exclaimed. "Shiemi, go find Rin!" he demanded as he rushed to the source.

When he burst into the bathroom it was to the scene of Izumo-chan's summons turning on her.

Instinctually and with reflexes honed over the years, Yukio whipped a gun from his holsters and shot downed the summons in two quick shots. They weren't deterred.

"Tear the paper!"

Yukio took stock of the room. Paku-san was on the ground and there was… and there was a Ghoul by her. The pictures he had seen of them were nothing in the face of the real thing.

He raced over and knelt next to Paku-san checking her pulse.

"She has a mashou!" Izumo-chan shouted, "If it's not treated soon she won't… she won't – "

The Ghoul moved and Yukio released several shots into its torso. He didn't think he was strong enough to take it down on his own and he prayed Rin would get there soon.

It was in that moment that he hated himself. He still wasn't strong enough. Nothing had changed. He was still that lost little kid crying for his brother.

"Paku-san!" Yukio took his eyes off the Ghoul for a moment to see Shiemi.

"What are you-"

"You distract the demon. I'll treat Paku-san," she ordered as she rushed over to Paku-san falling to her knees beside her.

Not having a better plan, Yukio stood and drew the second gun.

Over his shooting he could hear Shiemi muttering to herself.

The demon slowly pushed Yukio into a corner.

"Oi!" The demon released him at the shout and Yukio slid to the floor.

The sound of grating steel filled the room but just as Rin was about to dispose of the Ghoul it made a growling sound that caused Rin to stop.

Rin's mouth moved but he couldn't hear him over the demon's growling.

Rin swung his sword, defeating the demon in one strike.

And then it was over.

"What happened to your friend, Eyebrows?" Rin asked and Yukio scrabbled to stand and joined the rest of the group at Paku-san's side.

It was a testament of the situation that Izumo-chan didn't object to the nickname.

"The ghoul…" she was shaking and Yukio figured she was in shock.

He watched his brother poke at where Shiemi had treated her.

"Aloe?" he asked.

She nodded her head.

He clapped a hand on her shoulder, "Good job."

Hours later with the day's work completed and everyone was asleep, Yukio awoke to see Rin's bed empty.

He had long since grown accustomed to Rin disappearing in the middle of the night. When they were kids he would climb up onto the roof when he couldn't sleep or he would go to the kitchen and end up passing out on the table.

So, unperturbed, Yukio put on his glasses and made his way to the kitchen for a drink.

The dining hall was illuminated by the light in the kitchen. Yukio could hear voices but they were too low to make out. So, he crept through the dining hall and peeked through the serving window.

Yukio sucked in a breath.

"-getting long," Shima said softly with his hand in Rin's hair.

"I guess," Rin shrugged. "I think it got longer when the seal broke." Why would Shima know about the seal on Rin's powers? He remembered Rin telling him that he knew Shima's brothers but he hadn't thought it went any farther than that. Did it? Would Rin rather tell a stranger his secrets than his own brother?

His brother pulled at a strand of hair and looked at it, "I kinda like it. Does it look bad?"

Renzo shook his head and reached into his pocket, "Close your eyes."

Yukio watched as his brother complied and Shima slid a clip into Rin's hair holding his bands out of his face.

The moment was so tender, Yukio felt as though he was intruding despite the fact he was hidden. So, he took his guilty conscious and went back to bed.

Chapter 3: Venice

As soon as he was finished speaking Renzo called out, "Yo, Sensei! What's your meister?"

"Why don't you guess?" Rin cocked his hip and smirked.

"What do I get if I'm correct?" Shima teased.

Rin thought for a moment then grinned roguishly, "I'll tell you a secret."

He could feel the whole class' eyes on him and was distinctly uncomfortable. He didn't like being the center of attention if he could help it – it was one of his biggest hang-ups with teaching. Samael, of course, knew this and the proceeded to ignore it completely. If Rin actually asked about it the demon would probably laugh and make an unnecessary and inappropriate joke about how he was the son of Satan and he should be greater than the problems of mere humans.

Obviously, it wouldn't have been the first time Samael put Rin's problems on a back burner if it meant his plans would be furthered. Not that Rin minded, not really. He was used to it by that point and he knew if there was actually a serious problem then Samael would spar with him to scare it away.

"Ah. My first guess is Knight, obviously," Renzo started.

"What do you mean first?" Poor Shiemi didn't seem to understand that a guy doesn't wear a sword if he doesn't have some idea as to how fight. Rin didn't bother to respond too absorbed in his and Renzo's banter.

"And for second I'd say…." He hadn't actually told anyone outside his proctors, Shiro, and Samael but if anyone could guess it, it would probably be Renzo – the guy was smarter than he let himself believe.

"Hmmm. Tamer," he said matter-of-factly.

So, maybe some part of him didn't expect for him to be spot on, at least not on his first try.

Eyebrow's didn't believe him and he wondered what she had thought it was or if she didn't believe he had a second one at all.

Then, Eyebrows' friend compared him to that Ghoul summoning bastard – not that she knew or that it was anything more than a simple question.

Either way, he was instantly defensive.

"I'm nothing like that bastard!"

Naehaus was a bastard that believed a good demon was one a dead one – something hypocritical for one with his meister – and he hated him. Secretly, he feared what would happen if the Satan loathing man was to find out. He hoped Samael would be able to protect him. Those thoughts always lead to him feeling like a child. He knew he was strong and was growing stronger but he still hid behind Samael's coat tails. Even though there was an obvious difference in power between them it all summed up to a kid hiding behind his brother.

He took a calming breath ignoring the class' shocked faces, "But Shima's right, actually."

The punk questioned Renzo and Rin knew the others were wondering the same thing.

"I figured it was obvious." Renzo shrugged but looked him in the eye.

He was a half-demon, the likelihood of him being a successful tamer was extremely high – it was actually the main reason why the Order allowed half-demons to be inducted. He was slightly offended that his class was surprised. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't human and the tamer thing was common knowledge.

He understood why though.

He knew they didn't respect him – even Yukio wouldn't listen to him.

And he knew they didn't think highly of him.

They underestimated him and he could hear a voice in his head – that sounded eerily like Samael – telling him that if he was underestimated he had the advantage in a fight. He thought that was bullshit. He would rather be feared than seen as weak.

So, while Renzo had never seen him in full combat, they were close and he knew Renzo had as high opinion of him as Rin did of him.

The grin Shima gave him stirred familiar feelings.

"Gonna tell me a secret now, teach?"

Rin rolled his eyes in mock exasperation.

He raised his hand and leaned towards Renzo so that his mouth was at his ear.

"I'm really glad you're here," he whispered.

After the scene they made, the class dispersed but on his way out, he was stopped by Shiemi holding out a baby Greenman – it was adorable and if he had been alone he would have gushed.

So, Shiemi had tamer potential? That was food for thought.

The day the training camp began, Rin was sitting in their room with Yukio.

He pulled out a package wrapped in newspaper and sat it in his lap just looking at it. Rin had ordered the holsters several days after the Shiemi fiasco and Moriyama had given him a huge discount. He had no doubt that Yukio would find great use in them but if he gave them to him…

Giving Yukio the holsters would mean more than his brother would ever understand. Giving him the holsters would mean he could fight. Giving him the holsters meant that Rin would have to let him go.

"Hey, Yukio, I have somethin' for ya."

After giving him something to think about, Rin made the trek down to the front steps of the Old Boy's Dorm and waited.

Waited for Yukio to join him.

Waited for his class to show up.

Waited for something to actually go right for once.

And the first thing Yukio did when he joined him was criticize him.

No, he wasn't going to help Shiemi. He didn't want to – she needed to learn – and he was starting to think that maybe he didn't need to.

But, "The world is a cruel place, Yukio. The sooner she learns that the safer she'll be," was all he said.

Of course he saw Yukio flinch, he wasn't blind and he knew that Yukio had never heard him be so cynical. Rin also knew it was his fault. Shiro might have trained him, but he didn't train him to an exorcist. Yukio was sheltered – this was not something he harbored resentment over, not anymore. Shiro had said he wanted Yukio to have a chance at a normal life and Rin had accepted that. He wanted Yukio have what he couldn't and be who he wasn't.

Rin knew he wasn't good with emotions, but maybe he should have expected everything to turn out how it did. Not with the Paladin's death, but with Yukio seeing him in his natural environment. Shiro hadn't just sheltered him from the world of exorcism; he had sheltered him from Rin. They were relatively close as kids but as they got older and Rin's training became more intensive, they spent less and less time together and grew steadily apart. Rin knew it had been Shiro's going regardless as to whether it was intentional or not. It made sense, why would a father want a monster anywhere near his son?

Rin pushed open the door to the dorm and lead his students inside.

When he handed out the work sheets Renzo gave the obligatory groan and when everyone hunched down to work, he winked.

It was late afternoon and they would have plenty of time to work before dinner began.

The worksheets were finished soon after dinner and Rin watched Eyebrows lead away her friend and Shiemi to the baths.

The guy were all joking around and all was fine until Renzo opened his mouth.

"A bath full of women, we gotta go check it out. Aren't training camps supposed to have that sort of excitement?" Rin nearly started. Was this what Renzo was like with his friends?

The punk obviously had a problem with it as well.

"You're supposed to be a Buddhist priest!"

"Guys, there is a teacher here…"

Rin glared when Renzo turned to face him and found some sort of satisfaction in seeing him pale.

Renzo quickly looked away, "Maa, don't worry about him. I bet he's not into this stuff anyway."

"Shima..."

"Listen to Glasses, Shima-kun. We both know Eyebrows would kill you if you peaked. Besides…"That's disgusting went unsaid but Renzo seemed to get the message.

He dutifully ignored Glasses when he asked if he actually knew their names – he didn't.

…

When Rin faintly heard screaming he practically launched himself up the stair and skid across the tile before bursting into the bathroom.

He quickly took in the scene. Eyebrows was cowering and her friend was lying prone on the floor with Shiemi hovering over her supposedly giving treatment. And Yukio, Yukio was cornered by a double-headed Ghoul.

That wasn't part of the exam.

No demon could get in without Samael's knowledge. Meaning, he knew it was there and it was probably summoned.

Naehaus.

The bastard.

Rin drew his sword and was about to off the thing with it spoke in abyssal.

"My prince."

Rin scowled.

"Give your master no report," he ordered.

"As you wish," were its last words before Rin took it out.

He made a face and flicked the blood off his sword sheathing it before kneeling over Eyebrow's friend's body.

Shiemi had to have worked quickly for the treatment to be sticking.

He clasped her shoulder, "Good job."

….

He was ten years old and it was his first trip to the Japanese Headquarters of the Order. Shura was busy and Shiro was with Yukio so, instead of being bored at home, Rin took to following Samael around.

It said something that he was more comfortable with a demon than in his own home.

Samael pushed him through the doors of the training facilities and told him to wait there and learn something. So, little ten year old Rin with a sword that just barely fit him, took a deep breath and straightened his back. Those were the people whose positions he coveted.

His eye was drawn to a large pit of sand where two knights were sparring.

"Hey!"

Rin started at the shout.

"What're you doing here, brat?" Everyone in the room had stopped what they were doing to look at him and it took all he had to resist the urge to curl into himself.

They were exorcists. But if he couldn't handle their judgement, was he really worthy?"

"He's Sir Pheles' pet," piped up another guy. Rin flinched, "I've seen him following that demon around like a puppy."

The guys closest to him snickered.

"He should keep his pet on a leash," someone muttered. It words were so quiet he wasn't sure if he was meant to hear them.

He wasn't a pet.

He wasn't a pet.

Anyone who knew Rin knew that he had a terrible temper – something that was beginning to subside as he grew older.

"Why do you think he keeps him around?" another asked.

"Who knows? He'll throw him away as soon as he's done."

Rin seethed.

Yeah, he knew Samael was a demon. Yeah, Rin knew that he really had no obligation to him and if it were anyone else in his place, he would have assumed the same thing.

But it wasn't someone else, it was him.

Samael had explained once that demon's had packs and that it was a pack's job to take care of the weak members until they were strong enough to provide for the pack – Rin thought this was awfully domestic and did not fit the image that exorcists had of demons in the least.

Rin knew Samael respected pack – even if they were only half-brothers – and he knew that since Samael hadn't thrown him away yet, Rin probably wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

"Get out of here, brat. Go find your master."

Rin's vision went red.

And then it cleared, and everything was quiet.

And everything was so, so, clear.

The man that stood before him was bulky and significantly larger than himself.

Cocked his head slightly and smiled.

The man took a step back, uncertain.

Rin took a step forward.

The man stuck out an arm to keep him from getting any closer.

And as simple as that, Rin wrapped his fingers around the guy's wrist and twisted.

The crack was audible and the man screamed in agony but before he could make it to the ground, Rin spun around slammed the top of his foot against the side of the man's head.

Rin looked down at the man expressionlessly.

The sound returned at the sound of clapping.

He blinked several times and slowly turned his head to look up at Samael.

It occurred to him then, that Samael had expected something like that to happen. It was definitely the reason he was shoved into the room.

He could tell his brother was speaking but his voice was a buzz.

He had hurt someone of Assiah.

He had hurt a human.

Yukio was human.

Would he hurt Yukio if he got angry enough?"

Samael's hand clamped onto his shoulder and he was directed from the room.

"There will come a time," he began, "that demons will not be your only enemy. And for that, we must prepare. You must learn to control your temper until the moment is beneficial to release it."

Rin listened quietly as Samael continued to talk and then suddenly, Rin was sitting on the pink carpet of Samael's office while the demon sat at his desk.

"Much like your flames, your anger will rage if left untamed.

Rin fell back onto his back his eyes on the – it's violet not purple you heathen – ceiling.

"He said you were my master…"

Samael barked a laugh, "There will come a time where you become the master of yourself. Never let anyone shackle you."

….

Renzo was not ashamed to say he made Bon flip the mattresses before they laid down.

No, sir, was he bunking with bedbugs.

Bedbugs were no joke.

Bon, of course, was not amused and was very much begrudging in the act.

After that was taken care of and had what taken his immediate attention was the fact that the door creaked. No, that wasn't right. The door screamed like it was being murdered.

And he had promised to meet Rin in an hour.

Neko was snoring and Bon's back was to him.

Renzo sighed softly and ran a hand down his face.

"I'll just make a break for it."

He fished Rin's gift from his bag and with socked feed shuffled to the door.

"Please, please…."

The door that immediately opened its jaws and promptly woke everyone in the room.

"What the fuck!?" Bon started and glared at Renzo.

"Where the hell are you going at this hour?!"

"Uh… Bathroom?"

He opened the door another inch.

"Just go back to bed, Shima," Neko pleaded.

"Sorry, really have to go!"

He swung the door full force and slammed it behind him.

….

"I know you said this place was filthy, but I underestimated just how bad it is," Renzo bemoaned. "How do you live like this?"

"I've seen your room," Rin deadpanned.

"Riiiin," he whined.

Rin just sipped his milk and smiled teasingly.

"Your hair 's gotten long."

"Yeah? I think it got longer after the seal was undone.

"I kind of like it. Does it look bad?"

"Close your eyes."

Rin complied and Renzo slid a metal clip into Rin's hair.

"See, now you can see."

Rin opened his mouth to speak but suddenly snapped his head to the side, eyes narrowed.

Renzo followed his gaze, "What's wrong?"

"Someone was there…"

"Did you see who?"

Rin shook his head and stared at the empty space for a moment.

He turned back and smiled widely, "Thanks, though. This'll make reading easier."

Renzo watched Rin push himself onto the counter.

"How are things going with Yukio?"

Rin flopped onto his back and groaned.

"That bad?"

"No, not really."

"Then?"

"I gave him holsters for his guns. It'll make things easier for him in a fight."

Renzo lifted himself up next to Rin.

"Is it the idea of him fighting?"

"I don't know. Maybe? I mean, how can he fight if he can't even see his weapons as his own?"

"It'll take time, Rin. Shiro may have taught him to shoot, but he has to figure out how to fight on his own. All you can do is push him in the right direction."