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Nagatomo Seishiro was twenty-five when he first came face to face with the antichrist.
Fujimoto Shiro, priest, upper first class exorcist, and newly appointed Paladin of the True Cross Order, sits across from him. Rumors say that in the midst of the Blue Night, he fled with the apostate, and the devil’s newborn sons. But, he’s back now. The older priest has an expression on his face that Seishiro had never seen on him before: unease, his gaze occasionally drifting away from theirs. Moreover, something that most priests would not have, hangs on top of his coat: a baby carrier.
Another face stares back at him. Wearing a bear onesie and clutching Shiro’s coat is a baby, carelessly hanging on the front pocket of the pouch. Despite being so tiny, the sight of him brings back memories of a demon wreathed in blue flames. Unruly white hair. Deep blue eyes. An impish stare that tells him that he knows all of the priest’s hidden sins. He is the spitting image of his birth father.
On top of Shiro’s back is the baby’s twin brother, completely oblivious to the awkward situation as he sleeps peacefully. Even from a slight distance, Seishiro can see that he resembles their mother more. Dark hair contrasted his twin’s. Eyes shut tight though he assumed it replicated the woman’s vivid shine whenever she was chasing Shiro around. The only thing lacking (for now, he would later on fine) are her notable beauty marks.
“I’m going to look after these kids but I can’t do it alone,” Shiro explains.
“Are you serious? But that’s Satan’s child,” Kyodo interjects.
He’s right. Their existence is an abomination to God, and a danger to all of Assiah. Immediate exorcism, execution even, should have happened but Shiro stopped it, pointed a gun at the face of a Grigori, and threatened to shoot as they made their escape. Now, the woman was gone, and fate, nay, surely Sir Mephisto Pheles, had different plans. Now, the priest has to raise them away from the eyes of the Vatican. While also working so close to them.
“Where’s the guy with glasses? He’s awfully late,” the older priest attempts to change the topic.
“He’s dead,” is the reply. “He died when you defied the Order.”
Shiro’s face drops to a frown. His next words are only apologies, assuring them that he will not be bothering them ever again. As he prepares to leave, Seishiro interrupts him.
“No, we’ll help you.”
Seishiro has hesitations, so much of it. Kurobe was dead and so were thousands of exorcists, and religious people all around the world. Whenever he hears a baby’s cries, he finds himself back to that night. A feral infant setting everyone who approaches him in those ungodly flames. The scent of burning flesh. The horrible cacophony of the mother’s hysterical screams, continuous chants, pleas for help, and dying breaths. Respected seniors, long-time friends, young and hopeful Exwires, all dropping to the ground like ragdolls after succumbing to hellfire.
More than ever, they need Father Fujimoto. Their respect for him never abated, really. If there was someone who could restore the honor of their Order, it was Father Fujimoto, and they want to share that responsibility with him, just like the old days.
The baby staring at him right now was the same demon who added to the casualties of that night. However, he was still a baby, a pudgy, drooling, helpless mess that cannot even control the simplest of his movements. What’s the worst that he could do?
It has been months since they renovated Southern Cross Boys’ Monastery, turning it into a sanctuary for the churchgoers and hopefully, a loving home for little Rin and Yukio. Parenthood is something that did not come naturally to them priests. Sure, it is part of their vow to love their neighbors but playing the role of a parent is another thing. He could not imagine how Shiro handled the first few weeks all by himself.
For the third time that night, he wakes up to the sound of crying. For someone who scared everyone for not crying when he came out of the womb, Yukio sure can bawl now.
He carefully trods to the twins’ nursery. Sans his footsteps and Yukio’s incessant cries, the rest of the monastery is still. Earlier that day, Shiro and Kyodo were dispatched for a mission. Sensing how the pair was exhausted from the day’s labors, he offered to watch over the kids for the night. Three hours in, and he’s already starting to regret it.
Upon entering the tiny space, the first thing he notices is Rin. The little menace is on his feet, no, he’s floating in the air. Somehow, he had managed to grab hold of the crib railing, pulling himself up in the process. His little legs wiggle as they hover on top of Yukio’s tear-stricken face. Seemingly unfazed, the older twin only giggles at the sight of the priest. How strong was he really?
Rin reaches out his hands to Seishiro, making grabbing motions but by doing so, loses grasp at the bar that’s holding him up.
Seishiro rushes to his side but he’s far too late. There’s a sickening sound as Rin lands right on top of his twin. Still looking up to him, the boy’s lips start to quiver and soon enough, the room reverberates with the twins’ synchronized crying.
This is going to be a long night again.
Probably one of the twins’ earliest memories is their first Christmas. Well, the first one since they have really gained sentience. Right from its first appearance on TV, the now three year old twins have been so excited, giddy actually: asking questions, begging for gifts, convincing them to start decorating already. As the day of the Christmas play approaches, they began decorating the monastery. Given their financial state, there was no way they could splurge on ready-made decorations. And that is how everyone ended up in the kitchen, making any kind of Christmas-related object from whatever materials they already have.
“Eh? Why can’t we celebrate our birthday separately?” Rin pouts as he throws another half-finished paper star. His hair has darkened over the years, giving him the look of any toddler his age. The only overt difference between him and normal kids is the hint of blood red deep in his and Yukio’s eyes. Fortunately, it seems to have no effect other than Shiro joking about how he never wants to meet them in the dark.
“We can’t afford to do that, Rin,” Shiro tries to explain. It’s not entirely a lie. Sir Pheles did fund the twins’ needs behind the scene but it’s not as if they could give in to their every whim.
Yukio, bless his kind heart, responds, “I would not really mind.” He carefully places another star in the basket, only for the tape to pop, making him pout as he hopelessly stares at the rest of their attempts to make paper stars.
“Rin, you have to understand that we can’t hold two separate celebrations. The monastery doesn’t have that much money and besides, we have tons of work to do during Christmas.”
“Nooooo! That’s just unfair!” Rin shouts, pushing the table that everyone was leaning on. The heavy wooden furnishing gives way to his puny hands, almost flipping from his side. Fortunately, Rin does not notice as he was already out of the door, footsteps heavy as he runs to hide somewhere.
Shiro removes his glasses before pinching his nose yet again. No matter how many times they’ve had this conversation, the ending never changes.
This time, it does. Usually, Rin would return to the room after a while, talking and playing with his twin and the other monks as if nothing happened. Four hours have passed and yet, he’s still nowhere to be seen. The dark was creeping ever so closer and snowflakes were slowly starting to fill the air.
“Nagatomo, check the playground. Maruta, to their daycare. Kyodo, try to see what the police can do for now. I’ll check on the Road.”
“They’ll find nii-san, won’t they?” Yukio asks in a shaky voice. Misumi nods, holding his hand tightly. Yukio’s distress and the notion that Rin was somewhere out there, roaming by himself in the cold and the twilight, prompts Seishiro to move out as soon as his snow boots were tied.
Relief surges through his being when he immediately spots a familiar figure upon entering the playground. Rin sits on one of the swings, gazing at his feet that couldn’t reach the ground yet. Slowly, he makes his way to the boy, crouching in front of him to wrap him in a scarf.
“You’re gonna get a cold if you stay here any second longer,” he lies, knowing full well that Rin has, and will probably never experience any human illness.
Rin avoids his eyes. “Dad will only scold me if I go back there.”
“He won’t. Actually, he’s looking for you too.”
“Liar,” Rin sticks his tongue out to him.
Seishiro’s persuasions and Rin’s retorts go back and forth for several more minutes. They were both shaking: the priest from the cold, and the boy from all the frustration that his tiny body could handle. If this would go on for any minute longer, Seishiro is sure that he is the one catching a cold. If that was the case…
“If you go home now, I’ll talk to Father Fujimoto and convince him to make Yukio play Mary instead of you.”
“Really? You would?” Rin jumps from the swing, grabbing both of his hands and dragging him to the entrance. “Come on, let’s go then!”
Seishiro chuckles. As he promised, when they got home, Rin was not scolded, nor did he play Mary in the Christmas play that year.
Light footsteps pitter-patter in the silent halls of the monastery one late night. Seishiro thought it was a mouse but it was too loud, too systematic for an animal to make. They go back and forth, stopping in front of the doors of the kitchen before returning to its nervous pacing. Seishiro and Shiro stare at each other. Finally, they stopped, and with a creak, the door opened and in came Yukio.
The boy, now aged five, still looks and acts as frail as the day he was born. With disheveled hair and clothes, and a pink bunny blanket wrapped around him, he squints at the pair with bloodshot eyes, tears threatening to fall from its edges. In his current state, it was almost difficult to believe that he was the son of Satan.
“Why are you still up?” Shiro asks.
Yukio could only whine in response as he approached the two. Immediately, he throws himself into Shiro’s arms, hiding his face in the older priest’s shoulders. His tiny frame shivers as he struggles to say the words out.
“S-s-scary woman,” he sniffles. “Scary woman in the be-bedroom.”
Without another word, Shiro rushes out of the door, leaving Yukio and Seishiro by themselves. The boy stares at the door, transfixed.
“Would you like something to drink?” He asks but receives no reply. Still, he makes a new batch of hot water for the boy’s chocolate. Even after he had poured the hot liquid to the mug, exaggerating how he added marshmallows to the mug, Yukio’s eyes refused to leave the door. He takes it upon himself to open the boy’s tiny hand, carefully placing the mug in between his fingers. Finally, that breaks the boy out of his daze and he mumbles a soft thanks before sipping.
“Will Dad be okay out there?”
“Of course! Your Dad may not look like it but he’s strong.”
“Nii-san sent him to the hospital with only one punch last month.”
“Well that’s…” He laughs shakily. “Your nii-san is just very strong too. See? You have nothing to worry about since you’re surrounded by strong people who are willing to protect you.”
“I don’t want to be protected. I want to be strong to protect myself, and nii-san, and dad, and all of you.”
He breathes out a sigh of endearment. Rin and Yukio really are growing to be completely different from their biological father. “You can do that when you’re older. For now, you can rely on us for things like this. We’re here to protect you two.”
“He’s right, kiddo. What’s this talk about not trusting your Dad’s strength, oh?” Shiro suddenly appears at the door without as much as a sweat on his brow.
“Dad! Is the scary woman gone?”
“Yes! She’s far, far away, and she won’t be going back here anymore. So you should go to sleep.” Shiro taps his nose, making the boy giggle.
“Let me finish my choco first?”
“Of course.”
Yukio gratefully gulps the rest of the drink. Considering the late hour and the warm drink, it won’t be a surprise if the boy fails to wake up early the next day.
“Thank you for the choco, Nagatomo-san. See you in the morning!” He exclaims before dragging his blanketed self back to their room.
Waking him up in the morning will definitely be a struggle but knowing that Yukio will be going to sleep with less worries makes it worth it.
“I’ve decided to enroll Yukio in the exorcist program.”
A unanimous disagreement rings out among the occupants of the table, all arguing that the boy was far too young to be exposed to the horrors of demons on an almost daily basis. Seishiro agrees with them but considering the situation, he’s decided to keep mum.
Everyone but Rin knows that for as long as he has lived, Yukio has been able to see demons. Whether it be because of the demon blood in his veins or a temptaint that they never noticed, the boy has been haunted by sights that no child should ever see. It was easy to disguise it as Yukio being a scaredy-cat when he was a toddler but now that he’s started elementary school, it was getting more and more difficult to assure him of his safety and to protect him when he’s away for classes. Not to mention all the times when Rin arrived home, sporting cuts and bruises in his face and knuckles, and with a note from a teacher informing Shiro of his “violent” behavior.
“You don’t have to tell me that. He’s my son. Of course, I know he’s too young for this,” Shiro sighs, removing his glasses and pinching his throbbing forehead, “but this can’t keep going on. I know it’s impossible but before their heritage comes back to bite their asses, I want them to live a normal childhood.
“You think facing demons is part of a normal childhood?”
He knows that Misumi did not mean it but it definitely hit a nerve in Shiro. He drops back to his chair, seemingly lost in thought even when the others call for him. It’s not the first time they’ve seen the older priest succumb to the memories of his time in Section 13. Of course, he’s heard of Shiro’s own abnormal and troubled childhood. Seeing him try his best to give the twins something he did not experience was a feat in itself but again, he was essentially born and raised as a weapon, a way to alleviate the Demon Kings’ wrath due to their lack of corporeal forms. Most likely, he knows no other way to get out of this mess other than be stronger than the creatures who pose a danger to them. It’s not ideal. Not at all. But with Shiro as the direct mentor, maybe things can change a little bit. Maybe the caring and loving father in him can keep young Yukio from being turned into another one of the True Cross Order’s pawns.
“He’s right,” Seishiro surprises everyone with his proclamation. “It will help Yukio if he knows he can overpower these creatures.”
“That’s what we’re here for. And Sir Pheles too. The kids don’t need to know about these things.”
“And what do you want them to do once we’re not here anymore? All of us, our time is limited, moreso because of what we do. It doesn’t matter what we do, how careful we are with our work, there will come a time when we won’t be here anymore to protect them, and I want my sons to be prepared for when that time comes.”
Silence. Regardless of everyone’s initial arguments, they know that Shiro is right. The twins are only seven but Rin’s strength is growing by the day and they have no idea how long the Kurikara could handle his power. Yukio may not be showing signs of demonic power but his curiosity, paired with his intelligence, is slowly proving itself to be just as deadly. Whether it’s the twins, the demons, or the exorcists who figures out the truth about them first, they will be in grave danger, and at least one of them has to be prepared for it. The younger but more reasonable twin seems to be the ideal candidate for it.
“If Yukio becomes an exorcist, he’ll be able to protect himself from the demons and if he proves himself worthy, the Order might not be able to get rid of him, even if they find out the truth. While I’m here, I also want to be the one teaching Yukio. That’s my responsibility as his father. Doesn’t this look like the best case scenario?”
More silence but Shiro knows that he’s convinced them all. All the fight in their eyes had given way to a deep, deep concern. “All we need to do now is wait and see if Yukio agrees.”
Seishiro stays after Shiro dismisses them all. Leaning on his chair, he stares up at the ceiling, replaying the discussions from earlier. Just as Shiro had put it, it was indeed the best case scenario for them, and for Yukio but a voice in his head tells him that they’re missing something. Something that could derail the future that Shiro is preparing for.
His thoughts are interrupted when the backdoor opens. Yukio comes in and without a word, takes the seat beside him.
“How long have you been there?”
“Long enough to know what’s about to happen in the new school year.”
“You’re agreeing?”
“Why would I not? It would be nice to not have to fear the dark, and what’s in it.” Yukio fiddles with his fingers, a sure sign of nervousness. Seishiro prepares himself for the onslaught of questions, his mind racing and wondering if they’ve let slip of the truth behind the twins’ biological father but instead, the boy asks, “I know you don’t really want me to be an exorcist so why did you do that? Why did you speak up for Dad?”
Seishiro sighs deeply. He remembers how Yukio used to cry and tremble at the sight of mere coal tars. He still does, especially now that he spends more time away and finds himself crossing paths with other minor demons as well. But the seven year old boy standing in front of him is not that boy anymore. His round face is hard with resolve, eyes gleaming with a silent strength that even Yukio seems to be unaware of.
“You once told me you wanted to be strong to protect yourself, your brother, your dad, and the rest of us. If you and your father agree that this is the best way to do that then, who am I to say otherwise?”
Yukio nods his head slightly, struggling to keep the edges of his lips from lifting to a smile. Seishiro does not resist and to Yukio’s great annoyance, ruffles his hair.
“Good luck with the training, kiddo.”
Father Fujimoto calls out Yukio’s name, but not for any ordinary purpose.
They were at the yearly exorcist inauguration ceremony. As expected, upon stepping out of the crowd, Yukio catches the attention of everyone. After all, it’s not everyday that a mere child of sixteen passes the certification exams to receive not just one but two meisters.
Seishiro’s chest warms with pride as he watches the Grigori officially knight Yukio as an exorcist. Truly, he has never expected that a time like this would come. Not that he did not trust Yukio’s potential but the frail, sickly child that he used to take care of had really gone a long way, even exceeding all expectations they had on him.
Just as young Yukio had hoped, he had grown up to be someone who was strong, both in physical and mental terms. He’s a bit taller than Rin now, much to the older’s grimace, and his training shows in his slightly bulky form. What more, he wasn’t the same kid who used to jump at the sight of his own shadow anymore. The added strength had made him much more confident, pushing him to be more vocal, more outgoing. He’s been intelligent since childhood but now that nobody dared to mess with him, he’s shone more in school, gaining the attention of his teachers, and the admiration of countless classmates, and schoolmates, all of whom are completely unaware of the second life he led.
The boy who used to be terrified of the smallest coal tars now heals, kills, and occasionally wields other demons, all for the sake of protecting humanity from these ungodly creatures.
A model student by day, a hero, and a protector in the shadows of the night - Yukio now lives a life that his younger self could only dream of.
“I hear he’s the Paladin’s adoptive son,” one exorcist whispers to their colleague beside them.
But above all else, that is what makes him proud the most. All traces of Yukio’s biological father are completely overshadowed by the traits of his mother, adoptive father, and brother. Yuri Egin’s brain, and dedication to learning more about demons combined with the way he fought, directly taught and molded by Shiro, made Yukio a formidable exorcist. It would not be a surprise if in the far future, he follows his father’s footsteps, and becomes an instructor in the Cram School. If he plays his cards right, he might even be the Paladin of the entire Order.
Yet unlike Shiro, he has his brother to keep him in line. Rin and Yukio’s contrasting personalities have not changed over the years yet their bond is unbreakable, their care for each other remaining endless. Rin, who used to fight the bullies who hurt Yukio, is now being secretly protected from demons by the same kid he used to defend from fellow kids. Yukio is now strong, but with only one goal in mind, he has remained humble, and gentle outside of his battles against demons. And though Yukio had his own, harsh way of showing it, he reflects Rin’s caring nature to the people that they both consider precious. Seishiro is aware that he is one of them, and he can’t help but be in awe with the way things had turned out with the twin babies he used to be scared of.
“I’m so proud of you, kiddo.” He pats Yukio’s shoulder. Though he had grown taller, Seishiro still towered over him a little bit.
Yukio’s reply was a sheepish smile, and a shaky whisper of “thanks.” When it comes to handling compliments, Yukio has not changed a bit.
Later in the night, after another hearty meal prepared by an unknowing Rin, he approaches Yukio, who was busying himself with the dishes. The proud smile on his face has not yet faded but his heart’s thrum is steadily rising as the reality sets in. Yukio was now an exorcist. He’s not, and will not be a mere bystander when it comes to demons anymore. Regardless of how skilled the boy is, that doesn’t change the fact that he’s already placed one foot in his future grave.
“Yukio.”
The boy’s eyes are questioning as he looks back at Seishiro. They hold the same curiosity, the same brightness that they always did from when he was younger. It reminds the priest how young this boy really was.
“You know, I have no right to say this given that my skills are not as good as when I was younger but if ever you need help, we’re here for you, alright?”
Yukio attempts to tamp down the smile from his face but he fails, laughing out loud. “Nagatomo-san,” he calls out once his laughs die down. “I’ll be fine but I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you!”
The assurance quells the growing anxiety in Seishiro. He’s not sure why but since the announcement of Yukio’s inauguration, there has been an incomprehensible fear nagging him at the back of his mind. Nevertheless, he chooses to trust the boy. He’ll just have to keep a closer eye on him, and Rin now that one of them has completely immersed himself in this world.
Everything they have done was for naught. The sight of Father Fujimoto’s body has burned itself into his eyes, reminding him of that night almost 15 years ago, when he first witnessed the priest harming himself to get out of possession. But this time, his older, frailer body did not handle the injury, and Shemihaza wasn’t around to aid in his recovery. There was only the vicious demon inside of him, and Rin.
Poor, poor Rin who was currently glued to his position on the floor. Even when the paramedics passed by with his father’s covered body, the boy refused to look up. He’s slumped down, tightly holding on to the Kurikara, which has been unsheathed for the first time again just some moments ago.
Seishiro kneels down in front of him but the boy averts his gaze, hiding his face away from him.
“Nagatomo-san.” Rin’s voice has never been this soft, this shaky, this hopeless. “I, I couldn’t do anything. I was there but-”
The priest stops him from speaking any more by scooping him into his arms.
Rin does not hesitate for a second. He collapses into the arms of his guardian, tightly holding onto his collar as he sobs out. Shock momentarily hits Seishiro when he registers the foreign sensation of something long and furry inserting itself into the hug. He looks down to see a tail similar in color to Rin’s hair wrapping around his forearm. Even without that, it was already apparent that whatever Rin had witnessed inside the cramped room had completely changed everything for him.
“It’s okay, Rin,” he assures, over and over again. He knows it’s a lie. Whatever future he was hoping for the twins had been completely burnt up in blue, blue flames, He doesn’t want to catastrophize but if Satan’s reintroduction to his son’s lives is as disastrous as this, he cannot be that hopeful. He couldn’t break the boy’s heart any more though.
He doesn’t know how long they stayed like that, him wrapping Rin with his arms, comforting him like he used to when the boy was younger, and he cried over more trivial things. When the sobs subside, he still doesn’t leave the priest’s side. His hold on Seishiro is tight, even tighter now that his newly-awakened power is settling into his body. Frankly, the way he’s gripping the priest hurts but he doesn’t complain. Rin is just making sure that he’s here, that he won’t be gone, just like what happened to his father.
“Nii-san.” After what felt like hours, Yukio’s gentle call finally rouses Rin from his daze. He settles beside his twin, and together, they wait until the older fully recovers from his breakdown. They sit there in silence until the sun starts to peek from the horizon, and Rin registers that his twin, who was supposed to be away to prepare for his new dorm, and his new school, is once again, beside him.
“Yukio, I’m sorry.”
“What are you saying?” Yukio is obviously angry but his tone is gentle. “There’s nothing you could’ve done about it.”
“But-”
“Nii-san, it was Father’s time!”
The sudden rise of Yukio’s voice finally prompts Rin to look up, only to stare at his twin.
“I’m sorry. I’m just finding this difficult to accept.” Yukio’s shoulder slumps and he leans into his twin’s shoulders. Whether by intention or by accident, he doesn’t know, nor mind. “But it happened, and we can’t do anything about it, okay? There’s no use in blaming yourself for it.”
“What’s going to happen to us now?”
Seishiro grasps both of their hands. They both stare up at him. With their faces right next to each other, it’s not difficult to see the changes. How the red spot in Rin’s eyes are more prominent, how his teeth and ears were sharper. How Yukio’s eyes bore almost none of the brightness that it used to have, how his fade had further hardened because of the harshness of his second life. Yet despite everything, the twins stare at him with something in common: confusion, fear, dread of the future that they are now going to face without the constant company of their father.
“Rin, Yukio, remember that wherever this future takes you, you’ll always have a home here. Even if Father Fujimoto is gone, you’ll still be the sons of this monastery. After all of this, we’ll be here for you every step of the way.”
Maruta paces around, his teeth chattering from both the cold and nerves.
For a while, Seishiro was relieved that Misumi-san had passed away earlier that year. The events of the past hour would have given the old man an actual heart attack like what they had told the twins. Demons had started to attack in uncontrollable hoards. The government’s only response for now is to acknowledge their existence and request the aid of the True Cross Order. Mephisto, of course, appeared to represent the Order but someone had shot him in the midst of his speech. That someone turned out to be Yukio. Earlier that evening, Rin had sneaked him out of his holding cell. And the reason they know about all of this is through Mephisto’s retaliation: revealing the twins’ parentage to the entirety of Assiah, showing just how much of a threat they are despite being humans as well.
The door to the monastery kitchen slams open, and Rin rushes in, immediately falling to his knees. On his back is an unconscious Yukio, supported by other teenagers, probably their friends from the Cram School.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Rin screams. “I don’t know what to do. I know it’s dangerous for us to be here but I don’t know where else to go.”
“What happened?” He asks the hysterical boy.
Upon realizing that Rin was in no condition to reply, he turns to Suguro, the only person among the group whom they know. “We don’t know either. Okumura-sensei just, his left eye just changed. There was another voice coming from him. It’s not possession but we also don’t know what to call it either.”
“I had no choice, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t hurt him and you guys know that. I just needed to make sure he would come with us,” Rin continues to sob.
They drag Rin and the group of teenagers to his and Yukio’s room, and Yukio to the chapel.
Yukio is still unconscious but his left eye remains open, glaring as it continues to spew out those ungodly flames. It cannot be. Yukio was human. But now, everyone can see it, has seen it. Whatever demonic power his birth father may have marked him with is now awakening. Seishiro can sense that heavy, brooding presence. The same entity that killed all those people sixteen years ago. The same entity that drove Father Fujimoto to thrust a metal pin straight into his heart.
Outside, the gates rustle as the townspeople rush to get in. Seishiro would be lying if their screaming did not hurt him at all. Some of those people were probably members of their own church who doted on the twins, calling them Rin-chan, Yuki-chan, little angels. Now, they taunted them, called them names, and actively wished for their deaths.
Clutching the shotgun that Father Fujimoto left behind, he stares at the crowd beyond their yard, and the gates. Most of them were human but some were not. Nonetheless, all of them are here for the twins. And their intentions cannot be any good.
He takes off his vestments all while staring at the golden tabernacle at the center of their altar, and a recording of his own voice reciting the vows during the countless times he renewed his baptism, plays in a loop in his mind.
Do you reject the devil and all proud rebellion against God? I reject them.
Do you renounce the deceit and corruption of evil? I renounce them.
Do you then renounce all evil? I do, by God’s help.
The twins are not evil, not at all. They’re half-humans who are caught up in this dangerous complexity, just as the rest of the world is. But the people outside don’t know that; they cannot, and will not comprehend anything beyond the twin’s biological origins. Maybe even the God he’s been serving this whole time will refuse to understand that. If that was the case then, he’s better off revoking them, all of them.
Whispering what may be his final prayer, he faces the crowd out. No matter what happens, no matter how God, and how his neighbors see him for this, he will protect Rin and Yukio. If God was truly merciful, then may He have mercy on him.