"Shiro?" You stepped down into the room below the monastery, seeing him standing in front of a chest. "What's going on?" You walked up to his side and looked down into it.

"The Kurikara," you gasped, noticing the seal slowly burning away.

"Yeah," he replied, "His powers are growing. It'll only be a matter of time before they fully awaken." You sighed.

"What do we do?" You asked quietly. His gaze moved to the sword strung over your back.

"Y/n, that sword..."
You wrapped your hand over the clothed sheath.

"It's fine," you quickly assured, "I can control it." That's the first time he ever questioned it.

"Whatever that may be," he spoke quietly, "Please... watch over Rin."

"You don't have to keep saying it." You squeezed the sword. "I was going to do it from the start."

~
The next morning, you were in the room Rin and Yukio shared. The latter had gone out on an errand. Slowly, he sat up, pushing the blankets off of him.

"Good morning sleepy head," you greeted with a smile. With a yawn, he mumbled a good morning to you too. He stood from the bed, rubbing his head.

"How'd you sleep?" You asked, handing him a piece of paper that Yukio wrote.

"Pretty well... what about you?" He took it from your hand and began to read it. You shrugged.

"Could've been better, but better than nothing."

"Man, that's cold," he said, walking over to the window. "Couldn't even say goodbye in person?"

"He's busy." You leaned back in your chair. "It ain't always gonna be like that." He opened the curtains.

"I guess so..."
You rested your head on the palm of your hand.

"Eh...?! Wh-what's that?"
You perked up at his gasp and ran to the window, seeing tiny black balls fly through the sky.

'Shit.' You ran over to his drawer and threw it open, shoving a sweatshirt in his hands.

"Put this on. Come on!" You ran out of his room with him calling after you. He soon caught up to you in the halls. The both of you ran out of the monastery and up to the front gates. People walked by on the sidewalks, unfazed by them.

"How come nobody else has noticed?" Rin asked quietly. You frowned, but didn't respond.

"Okumura, my dear!"
You two turned your heads and saw the same group of males that Rin chased off yesterday.

"Do you have a second?" The middle one asked. You narrowed your eyes at him.

'That smell... Astaroth. He's possessed a human.' You thought. You recognized him as Reiji Shiratori, a leader of a delinquent gang. You glanced over at Rin and saw him hesitate to leave the monastery's ground.

"What are you scared of?" He taunted. You placed your arm in front of him and stepped closer to them.

"Hey, Okumura," the shorter one said.

"Don't tell me you wanna hide behind your mommy!" The shaggy-haired one finished. The four of them laughed.

"I don't know why you've come to bother him, but please take this has a chance to leave," you spoke, voice low. The group looked at you before bursting out laughing—louder than before.

"You've gotta be joking!"
"We don't have any business with you!"
"Run off before you get hurt, girl."
You narrowed your eyes at them, walking closer.

"I won't be the one getting hurt." You brushed past them, glancing into each of their eyes. Suddenly compelled, they followed behind you.

"Hey! Wait!" Rin called, running after you.

~
You led the group of boys into a dead-end alleyway. Their trance wore off because they sneered at you.

"Leading us to a quiet spot, huh?" Shiratori said, "Smart. Now no one can hear your screams." Rin suddenly ran in front of you, shielding you from them.

"Don't touch her!" He exclaimed, "Whatever grudge you have, settle it with me, not her!"
You gazed at the back of his head, mouth slightly open. Shiratori laughed.

"Protecting your woman, huh? I can respect that."
Rin's cheeks tinted pink.

"Sh-she's not my woman... just a really close friend."
Shiratori chuckled quietly.

"Sorry about yesterday, okay?" He said, "I was only playing with those pigeons, see, but then my hand slipped..." More of those tiny demons appeared. You looked around in caution.

"Anyways... how much do you want?"

"Huh?"
"What?"
Both of you said.

"My parents are somewhat famous, you see..." He explained, "... and as for me, I'm about to enroll in True Cross Academy. So it just wouldn't do... for any unsavory rumors to swirl."

"So y'all are going to the same school as Yukio?" You asked, "The same elite school?"

"Yeah, I can see how that would be a problem," Rin said. You sighed and facepalmed.

"You see my point!" He put his finger to his lips. "So consider it hush money. I'll buy your silence. To keep this episode between you and me!"

"Huh, you really threw me a curve there." Rin lowered his arm from in front of you. He turned, grabbing your wrist instead and waving at him. "Keep your money. I won't tell."

"Leave him alone and I'll give my word as well," you assured, turning.

"Okay, I've got things to do..."

"Oh, my! What is that, bravado?"
Both of you stopped. Shiratori laughed.

"Just take the money like a good boy." He pulled out his wallet. "Everyone knows you're so poor you can't even get into school without help." You were about to charge, but Rin squeezed your wrist. Shiratori pulled out a ten thousand yen bill. (about 92 USD.)

"Here, just take it." He waved it. "That brother of yours, Yukio Okumura, he only got into that school by cramming like hell and winning a scholarship, right? In other words, he's in debt! I feel for you. Why don't you use this to help pay for his tuition?!"

You physically held back Rin and unclipped your sword, holding it in front of you. Spinning it once around your hand, you grabbed one end and bitch slapped him in the face with the other. The force alone made him fall to the ground.

"Hey, you piece of shit," you growled, "Yukio has worked his ass off too hard for you to be shitting on him like that."

"Man, that hurts..." Shiratori said. You furrowed your brows at him. The small demons swarmed around him. "I wouldn't push my luck if I were you!" More of those demons materialized from his body—which was beginning to contort.

"Wh-what the hell?" Rin gasped from behind you. You wrapped your arms around his torso.

"Move back!" You ordered, pushing him back. The other males both body slammed you away. You landed on the pavement, sword flying away from you.

'Shit!' You looked over at Rin who was being held down by them. You scrambled to your feet and ran to the sword, picking it up and reclipping it around your shoulder.

"STOP!!!!!"
You looked up at Rin's yell, seeing blue flames shoot out and reflect from the dark corner.

"Holy crap!"
"Run!"
The others ran out of the way.

Ja ne!

{Ruby Red}