Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Shiemi-san had passed away.

When Yukio first heard the news, he nearly dropped the flask he was carrying.

“P-professor Okumura?” One of the assistants caught it in time, saving the laboratory from certain miasmic contamination. “Are you okay?”

“Thank you,” Yukio pasted the smile that he had come to rely on when his heart was in turmoil. He’d been told it was a bad habit, repeatedly, but old habits died hard. “Come to think of it, I’m not feeling so well after all… Please let HR know that I will be taking the rest of the day off.”

“Yes, Professor Okumura. Please take it easy and have a good rest!” Yukio’s earnest assistant replied. He was a good kid.

The instance his back was turned on his team, Yukio dropped the fake smile, putting all his energy into taking out the right key that would bring him straight to the house his brother - and Shiemi-san - preferred to live in ( Nii-san wouldn’t be in Amagahara, would he? ), inserting it into the keyhole and turning the door knob when his hands were shaking badly. He reminded himself not to slam the door closed.

“Nii-san!” Yukio took off running as soon as he heard the click of the door shutting. “Nii-san!! Are you here!?” He didn’t actually expect Rin to reply, did he? But Yukio needed to let out the anxiety building up in his chest.

Shiemi-san’s health had never been the same since the childbirth. 

They had discussed it briefly… far too briefly, in hindsight. Technically, as the last of Shemihaza’s direct descendants, Shiemi-san had the duty to continue the line, but the Emperor of Creation’s blood had become so thin that Shiemi-san was just like any other human.

‘She loves kids, ’ Rin had said, when Yukio asked him out to an Izakaya and baited and waited for his brother to share his real thoughts on the matter. ‘I want to give her the chance to raise one, you know. It’s a convenient excuse. ’

Yukio stared at the bottom of his beer mug, the mug he had been nursing for almost two hours. It wasn’t that he disliked alcohol; he just hated the possibility of losing his inhibitions. Again, an ingrained habit. ‘As long as you don’t mind that they won’t be yours. ’ 

‘ I won’t, ’ Rin grinned. Yukio didn’t think Rin would. His heart was too big. ‘ They say Shemihaza’s line tends to have daughters? If she’s like Shiemi, won’t she be so cute?’ The expectant father (Shiemi-san wasn’t even pregnant yet) gushed.

Moriyama Shino looked like almost a carbon copy of her mother, but for some reason, she had a strong independent streak and she was far more logical than either of the parents who raised her.

Yukio would like to think that it wasn’t from him; he’d had little to do with her upbringing. He guessed that Shino inherited it from her biological donor, someone from the Gregori Agency near Shemihaza’s direct line.

“Nii-san!” Yukio barged into the room where Shiemi-san had been bedridden for the past few months, and there his brother was, lying next to Shiemi-san’s prone body, his arms and leg curled gently around her.

For a while, Yukio just stood there, catching his breath quietly as he watched silent tears stream down Rin’s face.

(A few times during those months, Yukio wondered whether he could have made a difference, if he’d decided to study medicine after he retired from the front lines, instead of throwing himself into the research of Shemihaza and Armumahel’s artificial crystals.)

When his heart couldn’t take it anymore, he approached the bed. Slowly, carefully, he sat beside Shiemi-san’s legs, and used his handkerchief to wipe his brother’s crumpled face. “Nii-san…”

“Yukio?” Rin sounded like he hadn’t been breathing. To Yukio’s surprise, his demonic older brother, who outwardly hadn’t aged a single day since he was fifteen, lunged into Yukio’s arms, rattling his frailer fifty-year-old body. 

“Yukiooo!!” Rin wailed as he squeezed Yukio tightly, each ragged gulp of air a desperate sharp inhale followed by choked, shuddering gasps. His sobs ripped through his chest, his slender frame convulsing with each heaving breath. He cried like the world - his world - had ended, trembling so badly Yukio worried that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. His face was so red and scrunched. 

“She…left! Shi…emi… is…gone!!” Each syllable left his mouth as though forced, carrying so much pain, his roar nearly unrecognisable as human, scraping his throat raw.

Yukio could only try to console his brother by rubbing his back and supporting his head. He didn’t even know what to say. He couldn’t imagine the kind of suffering Rin was going through.

(The only thing remotely similar for Yukio was the time the Grigori had just confirmed Nii-san’s execution, when the Impure King was wreaking havoc upon Kyoto.)

“She wasn’t…that…old,” Rin was crying so hard he was hiccupping. “We…should have… more time…” he started to slump forward, perhaps too tired from griefing.

Yukio prayed that Rin would fall asleep soon. And have sweet dreams, unplagued by sorrow.

Nii-san deserved a reprieve from his loss.

Thankfully, Yukio’s prayer was granted.

TBC

Chapter Text

In the aftermath of the war against Satan, Lucifer and the Illuminati, as Yukio spent days recuperating in bed, he thought long and hard about what to do with his life.

Just because Satan and Lucifer were gone, did not mean that all demons had left Assiah. Also, Baals were concepts. As long as there existed someone alive who believed in them, who knew them, they would be resurrected. It might take a while for them to regain egos, but it would be a bad idea to completely disband the True Cross Order. They had to make sure that remnants of the Illuminati didn't cause trouble again, either.

However, the war had thoroughly beaten into Yukio’s head how insignificant a fighting force he was. His strength was probably only slightly higher than an average human at best. He didn’t have Lightning and Lucy’s affinity to high-leveled demons, or Osceola’s physique and talents as a medium, not even Shura-san’s agility. 

Of course, they had always been the exceptional ones; most people wouldn’t have a fraction of their power. Suguro-kun, Kamiki-san and Miwa-kun did not have Upper first class exorcist’s level of abilities either, yet their resolve to be exorcists hadn’t changed, the last time Yukio talked to them.

Yukio could remain as True Cross Order’s rank and file, continue teaching Anti-Demon Pharmacology - the subject their beloved Father Fujimoto had taught - and aim for promotion, but…

Was that… enough?

‘ Keep living! ’ Rin had told him. [1]

Yukio wanted to. Make the most of his life.

What was it that only he could do?

The answer came surprisingly easily.

“Yukio, you’re moving to Romania!?” Rin looked devastated as he caught Yukio packing his personal belongings into a large suitcase one day. “Why? It’s the first time I heard about this-” His lips trembled like he was going to cry.

Yukio blinked as he looked up at his older brother. He didn’t expect Rin to be so upset. “Nii-san, as an apprentice Arc knight, you’ve been away at the Vatican a lot, right? Shi… Shemihaza is also based in the Vatican… won’t you take the chance to move as well?” 

“B-but…” Somehow, Rin seemed lost and grief-stricken, his eyes roaming around the room they had shared for… around nine months, before the world went completely balls-up. “I…”

At once, Yukio realised the reason why Rin had been insisting to sleep here, in the old boys dormitory, every night, even when it was probably more convenient and he would be better rested if he were to live in the HQ, like Angel and Lightning.  

Yukio smiled softly at the only family he had left in the world (...probably not for long). Nii-san was, surprisingly, a creature of habit.

“We’ll visit each other often, Nii-san,” Yukio reached out and squeezed his brother’s hand. “It won’t be the last time we see each other.” 

“Uuh,” Rin sniffed, before tears finally fell out of his glossy eyes, and he threw his arms around Yukio, knocking his breath out, and held on tightly. “Promise?” Rin cried against Yukio’s neck. “You won’t break it right?”

Yukio huffed as he returned the hug. “Of course, Nii-san.”

It would be the first time, truly the first time they would live apart ever since they were born, but Yukio knew Nii-san would be fine.

Nii-san was strong.

(Besides, Nii-san wouldn’t be alone.)

Yukio ignored the ache in his heart.

What was it that only Okumura Yukio could do?

Yukio was one of only two people in the world who could withstand all of the flames of Gehenna.

It wasn’t a leap of logic for Yukio to decide to delve into the research of Armumahel’s black flames.

So Yukio transferred to K.R.C. Laboratory in Bucharest, which was still in chaos after its former Chief was discovered to be a traitor. It wasn’t difficult for Yukio to convince the interim Chief that the Sol’s artificial crystals should be their next focus, the idea bought in relatively easily, considering that Armumahel’s crystals had dwindled rapidly during the war and Shemihaza’s crystals were all but almost gone.

For years, Yukio studied part time and immersed himself in his experiments. The highlights of his life were: Nii-san officially being anointed as Arc Knight, Yukio’s graduation from ETH Zurich, Nii-san and Shiemi-san’s wedding, Miwa-kun and Yumi-san’s wedding, Nii-san’s appointment as the Paladin (Lightning finally convinced Angel to step down, huh), Shino’s birth, Yukio’s own anointment as Arc Knight, Suguro-kun and Kamiki-san’s wedding- (that was unexpected!)

Nobody had said this to Yukio outright, but Yukio had a hunch that, like Nii-san, Yukio was not permitted to have children.

Sure, Yukio did not inherit Satan’s flames, but who knew what kind of recessive genes he possessed. And Yukio’s offspring might be genetically susceptible to possession by Baals. Certainly, it was wiser to end Satan’s line with them.

Yukio didn’t feel a great sense of loss. He didn’t particularly want children. Work was gratifying and he didn’t want to get married for the sake of getting married. On the (very) rare occasions he had…the urge , it wasn’t difficult for Yukio to find people who were willing to sate it, no strings attached. 

Thankfully, he seemed to have a low sex drive.

“Shima-kun,” Yukio asked as the pink-haired forever bachelor tied a used-up condom and threw it into the trash bin. “Have you decided on a plus-one for Suguro-kun and Kamiki-san’s wedding?”

Director Shima’s youngest son made a face, like he was still miffed that ‘Izumo-chan got snatched’ (as though he’d shown any commitment to marry her in the first place), before he shrugged. “Nah,” he settled lazily into a comfortable sofa and crossed his arms behind his head, “Thought of picking up a new babe there, but my nosy family’s probably gonna misunderstand… or meddle,” Renzou sighed before he raised an eyebrow. “Why, Yuki-chan, ya applying?” The pink-haired man flashed Yukio a filthy grin.

Yukio pressed his glasses up the bridge of his nose before he began to put on his clothes again, methodically. One leg into a boxer hole, another leg in. Then his shirt, each arm going into each sleeve. And he carefully slipped each button into their designated holes, from his throat to his stomach… 

“Nii-san has been worried about me being alone.”

Time seemed to move slowly as Renzou turned his head towards Yukio. Honey brown eyes scanned him up from his toes, up his still naked calves and thighs, up his back and the hickeys peeking through his collar, pupils dilating in his intense gaze like he wanted to devour Yukio again. Yukio seized up nervously, because he swore he didn’t have anything more to give and overstimulation hurt . 

That predatory expression disappeared in the blink of an eye, though, and Renzou was grinning casually the next moment. “In other words, Yuki-chan wants to do… pretend boyfriend kinda thing?”

Yukio deflated like a leaking balloon. He tried to resist the urge to heave deep breaths. “...That’s right,” he eventually managed as he pushed his glasses up his nose again, letting the glare of his lenses hide his vulnerable eyes.

Renzou was silent for a beat, before he shrugged again. “I don’t mind, since my family will also back off from nagging me to settle down but…” He got up and finally, finally dressed himself.

“You sure you wanna lie again, Yuki-chan? Don’tcha cling to too many bad habits?”

Yukio felt like he’d been slapped on the face.

He didn’t remember what was said as they parted. The days leading to Suguro-kun’s wedding felt foggy. Ultimately, Yukio recalled sending Renzou a negative reply when the pink-haired man messaged him about ‘still needing a fake date?’

Nearly twenty years since the banquet where Yukio threatened Suguro-kun at gunpoint, here he was again, attending his former student and classmate’s wedding, all water under the bridge far too soon, Suguro-kun’s quick forgiveness undeserved. 

(But his forgiveness was Suguro-kun’s right to give, so who was Yukio to oppose?)

“I really like something like this,” Nii-san repeated the same line, nearly verbatim, as the beautiful Suguro Izumo-san, resplendent in an ivory Shiromuku with exquisite, raised embroidery of holy foxes, shuffled to the altar. “You get a real family vibe.” His tears and snot almost dripped all over Shino, who was squirming in Rin’s lap, alarmed at the possibility of getting her step father’s body fluid on her hair and pretty dress.

“Indeed,” Yukio remarked this time, and accepted Shino when she sought refuge in his lap, as Shiemi-san wiped Nii-san’s face with a handkerchief. 

Later, after alcohol had loosened everyone’s mouth and behaviours, after countless photos had been taken with the happy couple and many congratulations cried into the air, after Shiemi-san had retreated to their room with a dozing Shino-chan tucked under her chin, Nii-san dragged Yukio to the porch, to spectate at yet another Shima family’s sparring. Kinzou was finally stealing the show tonight.

Nii-san laughed as someone wiped the floor with Renzou’s arse yet again, before his expression turned pensive. “Yukio,” his tone was serious. “How are you doing?”

‘ Here it comes ,’ Yukio thought as he stopped swirling his cup of sake. He’d kept himself sober for this. “I’m doing fine, Nii-san,” Yukio replied earnestly, “We successfully synthesized stronger black crystals last week, and I believe the grafting-”

“I’m not talking about work,” Nii-san interrupted. He rarely did, even though most of the time Yukio’s updates about his work went over Rin’s head. “I never doubt that you’re brilliant, Yukio.” Yukio let himself feel warmed and pleased about that. “But… are you having difficulty meeting people? A lot of people admire you, you know… and you’re so good … if you open your heart, I’m sure you’ll find someone quickly.”

Yukio breathed calmly, inwardly building up his resolve.

“Even Shura has a common law husband.” A warm, smaller hand was placed on top of Yukio’s hand, calloused palm softly rubbing and squeezing him. “Do you need Nii-chan to introduce you to someone? There are a few nice, cheerful girls in the ‘Satanic’ legion.” It was a pun after the ‘Angelic’ legion. At first, Rin was annoyed, but he gradually grew fond of it. 

When Yukio was still silent, Rin scratched the back of his neck, his face showing slight discomfort. “O-or boys,” he ploughed on, cheeks turning pink. “I-I heard some stuff through the grapeyard-”

“Grapevine,” Yukio corrected automatically. He couldn’t help himself.

“Y-yeah, that,” Nii-san quipped, still flustered. “Nii-chan doesn’t mind, you know, you can love whoever you want-”

“Nii-san,” Yukio turned fully towards his older brother and stopped his rambling before Rin’s head combusted from embarrassment. “Thank you for your acceptance. It means a lot,” Yukio was completely sincere in his tone, in his expression. Everything he said was honest.

Rin brightened. “Then-”

“Nii-san, I don’t feel lonely,” Yukio stopped Rin’s fantasy before it grew out of hand. “We meet often at the Vatican and at least once a week for dinners. I have plenty of friends. I find my work challenging and fulfilling. I don’t feel like I am lacking in any way just because I don’t have a partner.“

The blue-eyed nephilim frowned. “But-”

“Nii-san, I am happy,” Yukio declared with all the conviction he could muster.  

At first, Rin was taken aback. His eyes widened, and he stared at Yukio for a long time.

He must have found what he was looking for, because at last, all the tension left his body.

“I see…” Rin murmured as he laid his head on Yukio’s shoulder. “I’m glad,” he breathed out and wrapped his arms loosely around Yukio. Like when they were kids. “Thank you, Yukio.”

As usual, Yukio returned Rin’s hug. Since they reconciled at the ruins of Dominus Liminis, he could never deny his brother anything.

“Likewise, Nii-san.”

TBC

A/N: This author is thirsting from lack of comments... please leave some kind words T_T

Chapter Text

Nii-san had taken a break from his post as Paladin.

He started withdrawing from missions since it was definite that Shiemi-san’s days were numbered, but those felt like a sabbatical. 

This time, it felt like an indefinite leave of absence.

Yukio was worried, but at least Nii-san didn’t try to forget his pain by losing himself to work.

(He guessed that was the type of thing Yukio was more likely to do.)

Shura and everyone from their exwires batch attended the wake, but Nii-san didn’t cheer up.

“Don’t be too worried,” the curvy woman, her fiery hair more grey than red these days, admonished him as she flicked his forehead. “Rin is resilient. He’ll bounce back soon.”

“...Yukio-kun,” like her husband Izumo-san had taken to calling him by his given name. Come to think of it, she started doing that way, way back… since he overshared his feelings in the maze, Yukio recalled. “If you need any help with Rin-kun, please let us know.”

Her expression was warm and concerned. Ah, Izumo-san had changed so much from their teenage days.

“Of course, Izumo-san,” Yukio smiled sincerely. “Thank you.”

“Oh, the younger Okumura!”

Lively as ever, spry seventy-year-old Lightning greeted Yukio as the younger man was juggling with an armful of personal effects in a box, while also trying to open a door using a special key.

Age didn’t seem like something that could hinder the eccentric Arc Knight. Considering Lucy Yang remained an Arc Knight until she was well over a hundred years old, seventy might not be that old.

“Mr Light,” Yukio greeted back. “It’s rare to see you in Romania.”

Now that Rin wasn’t fulfilling his duties as the Paladin, Yukio had no doubt Lighting would be doubly busy.

“Thanks for satiating my curiosity on the conversion of the flames of Gehenna back then! You even cooperated in the entire 32 experiments! I‘m still grateful now!” [1] Lightning slapped Yukio on the back merrily. Not one for much small talk, he quickly ploughed on. “I heard you’re stepping down?”

‘News travels fast,’ Yukio thought absently as he nodded.

Once Yukio found Rin nearly drowning in the bath tub, Yukio decided to move back in with his brother, after 35 years of living apart. Rin was unstable, oftentimes lost in a daze, and although he wouldn’t die, per se, but Yukio would rather he not suffer physically. 

(Besides, Yukio was glad Rin seemed to be processing his grief properly, and didn’t simply sweep everything under the rug like when they were teens.)

Yukio tried to work remotely for a few months, but it wasn’t fair to the Laboratory. Many experiments needed him to observe the results in person.

So Yukio decided to leave his position as Arc Knight.

It was fine. Yukio had been mainly working on anti-demon weapon development these days, working with Neuhaus on improving Armumahel's crystals-based weapons for usage by ordinary humans, after he succeeded in his research on the artificial crystals. Yukio didn’t hate weapon development; it was interesting in a different way, but Yukio wasn’t sad to let it go.

Back to the present, Lightning heaved a deep sigh like the world had disappointed him. “Are you sure? Maybe you can just take an extended leave. Shemihaza aside, I don’t think the other two Grigori will oppose it.”

Yukio raised an eyebrow. He was surprised that Lightning, a very intelligent individual in his own right, bothered to try to talk him out of his resignation. Lightning’s knowledge might not be as deep as scientists, but his tactical mind was flexible and unparalleled not just in battlefields, but in grasping the bigger picture. If Yukio remembered correctly, Sir Pheles used to be wary of him.

“But it will trouble the Laboratory, surely,” Yukio countered. 

“Oh, no! The Lab loves you!” Lightning declared loudly. He started approaching some of the passersby in the corridor, as though he wanted to strongarm them into joining the conversation.

Yukio’s eyes widened in alarm. “Mr Light, I didn’t expect you to come in person to protest my departure…” He tugged on the Arc Knight’s arm to keep him from menacing Yukio’s… soon-to-be ex-colleagues.

“Well,” Lightning’s frivolous energy dropped. All of a sudden, he appeared way more serious. “You’re special.”

Yukio blinked. He was silent for a moment before he chuckled lightly. “Mr Light, you flatter me.” Being told that by someone a whole lot more brilliant than him felt like a joke.

Lightning remained serious. “You know, geniuses who are good at this,” he made a wide gesture, like he was referring to the Lab at large, “tend to be…mad scientists? Stopping at nothing to pursue their morbid research topics, type? Like Dragulescu and that… Gedo something… you know, the guy you fought in the nine-tailed fox case.”

Gedoin Michael. Even decades later, Yukio still remembered him.

Lightning raised his head, and directed a sombre stare at Yukio. “But not you.”

‘ Because it is useless, in the end, ’ Yukio thought in his mind. He was grateful to have learned this lesson so early in his life.

Yukio smiled, as he was wont to do when he was unsure how to respond. “You think too highly of me.”

He finally managed to open the door, so Yukio made his escape before Lightning tried to delay him further. “I wish you good health, Mr Light. May you have a long life.”

The seventy-plus-year-old Arc Knight pouted, before he waved energetically. “You too!” As usual, Lightning didn’t dwell on things he couldn’t change. “Especially you.” He said rather cryptically.

Yukio didn’t understand what he meant until much, much later.

“I’ve reached my limit!”

Yukio was blowing Nii-san’s hair dry when Moriyama Shino wandered into the living room and snapped.

“Shino-san?” Yukio looked up from the messy black locks between his spread legs and blinked at his step niece. As usual, Nii-san was sitting on the floor with a blank stare, before he relaxed into Yukio’s hand as the man’s fingers rubbed his scalp. 

“How long are you going to let him mope?” The green-eyed blonde young woman threw a couple of airplane tickets to the coffee table. “We’re going on a vacation! Tomorrow!” She announced as she put her hands on her waist, not giving them a choice at all.

Yukio picked up the tickets. “...Singapore? Is it related to the work in-”

But Shino had walked out of the room, leaving as suddenly as she came. “Please pack for hot weather! I’ll come get you tomorrow morning!” She yelled before she disappeared behind a door.

So that was how the three of them came to stand next to the infinity pool at the top floor of Marina Bay Sands, overlooking the skyline of one of the most expensive cities in the world.

“I’ve signed the two of you up for a cooking class at Commune Kitchen,” [2] Shino told them as Yukio went out of the bathroom, toweling his hair. “It starts in an hour.”

Yukio blinked. He’d been blinking a lot at his niece, these days. “Me too?” He expressed his befuddlement, “but I’m bad at cooking-”

The young woman gave him the stink eye. “Do you expect Tou-san to understand English without True Cross Order’s translation device?”

Yukio pursed his lips.

He was so nervous as he stood behind a counter in a room filled with so many people from all walks of life. They were cooking in groups of four, too!

But Nii-san’s eyes slowly brightened as he watched their instructor wash the chicken and rub salt all over its skin. He took charge of the knife when their teammate had difficulty cutting the shallots thinly. And by the time they submerged the chicken in boiling stock, Nii-san was happily chatting away with their Australian and Kenyan teammates through Yukio.

It reminded him of that time with Osceola.

“Wow!” Rin’s face simply bloomed when they tasted their Hainanese chicken rice. “It’s so tender and flavourful!” He dipped a piece of chicken into the condiments, and yanked on Yukio’s sleeve. “The sauce!! The sauce is to die for! Subtly salty with a hint of sesame!” He commented with gusto. “And the ginger and garlic chili-” Rin was stuffing his face so enthusiastically he choked.

“It’s so nice,” one of the participants was a Japanese and she smiled at them as Yukio passed his brother a glass of water and patted his back. “Going to a cooking class together with your son.”

Yukio froze.

He used to dye his hair when he was still working; ageism, manners [3] and all those. But he’d stopped months ago since he moved to live with Rin, and now his hair was more grey than dark brown.

It wasn’t just his hair. There were more wrinkles on his face, the beginning of crow’s feet, and some sun spots-

Rin opened his mouth as soon as he swallowed his food. “He’s-”

Yukio promptly stopped him by pressing a paper napkin to his mouth. “Yes, he’s such a sweet boy… aren’t you? Nii…kun?” He pretended to laugh as he wiped imaginary sauces off Rin’s chin.

Nii-san’s mood dropped for a while, but he thankfully recovered by dinnertime, where Shino brought them to eat seafood.

“This fish soup has milk in it?” Rin slurped his bowl with wide-eyed wonder. “The meadow sweetness balances the savouriness well and removes the fishy smell! And this chilli crab! Wow, it’s so delicious!! Do you think they will share the recipes if I ask them?”

“Mellow,” Yukio corrected automatically, before he covered his plate with one hand as Rin was about to give him an unpeeled claw. “Sorry, Nii-san, I need to start watching my cholesterol intake.”

“Oh,” Rin’s face fell again, and Yukio cursed inwardly. ‘Why did I have to open my big mouth…’

Shino noticed (very little escaped her notice… she was like Shiemi-san in that regard) and put down the menu. It belatedly occurred to Yukio that perhaps she was thinking of ordering some dessert. “I’m sure you can find the recipes online, or from books.” She raised her hand to catch the waiter’s attention. “We need to start making our way now.”

Rin popped the claw into his mouth and talked as he munched, “It’s the reason you have us wearing suits, right? What is it?”

Shino only proceeded to put on her Shemihaza headdress and did not answer.

“I now declare the Regional Centre of Nephilim Children open!” Shemihaza exclaimed as she cut the ceremonial ribbon.

Towards the back of the stage, right next to the huge tree that had been built to be the pivot of this mini replica of the Heavenly gardens, Yukio clapped perfunctorily along with the rest of the adults. Meanwhile, Nii-san was looking around at the myriads of children and toddlers in various shapes and sizes in awe, a lot of them bearing tails and horns.

Yukio had correctly guessed the purpose of Shino’s presence in this country. The further down the line Nephilims were, the more human their constitutions became, but demonic manifestation in early-generation Nephilims had always been unpredictable (please refer to exhibit A: Yukio himself and his twin older brother, who occupied the opposite extreme ends of the spectrum). Some Nephilims might suddenly develop more demonic traits during puberty [4], which made matters more complicated.

But no official research had been started on early-generation Nephilims. Because… their faster regeneration speed meant they rarely experienced long-term medical issues (their suffering notwithstanding…), and…

It was such a slippery slope…that could easily turn to a repeat of ‘Section 13’.

Decades ago, MAGA brought about a huge surge in first generation Nephilims, but they were mostly left to their own devices as the world focused on healing from Satan’s calamity. Now, the time was about right for second or third generation Nephilims to be propagated, and the True Cross Order finally decided to do something. 

“No, don’t bite, kid…” Yukio was watching Nii-san wrestle two fighting Nephilim children apart, one of them having fur on his face and wolf-like ears and sharp canines, and the other a beak, claws and luminous eyes. They growled and chirped as they argued. “Robin didn’t mean it, Jean, come on…” Rin was able to understand them just fine, as always.

From the corner of his eyes, Yukio spied Shino taking out her smartphone from a pocket and smiling at the screen, her cheeks blushing pink, the curve of her lips giddy and Yukio began to understand.

“Ah!” Shino nearly fumbled with her phone when she noticed Yukio’s stare. She took a deep breath and turned towards him, a slight pout on her bright red face. “...Is it wrong of me to have ulterior motives behind wanting Tou-san to cheer up?”

Yukio smiled. Wise, wise Shino knew that her going off to start her own family would crush Rin if he was still reeling from Shiemi-san’s loss, no matter how long ago the previous Shemihaza had passed away. He shook his head. “I don’t think I’m in any position to judge…”

Unexpectedly, Shino huffed, “That's right.” She’d bounced back from her embarrassment very quickly. “I’m surprised you’d let it go on for so long, Yuki-oji,” the blonde woman crossed her arms in front of her chest. “You seemed more strict at work.”

“Yes, well,” Yukio pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. He’d learned long ago that the path to life was not straight and narrow. “Nii-san deserves to heal at his own pace. It’s not like the world has some sort of emergency that urgently needs him.”

Shino didn’t reply for a long time, merely watching Yukio with calm green eyes that looked so much like Shiemi-san’s, but the young woman was wearing an expression Shiemi-san would never make.

“You know, Yuki-oji,” she suddenly confessed, “I used to have a huge crush on you.”

Yukio blinked.

But before he could respond, she wandered away. Right before Nii-san came bounding over with a bunch of toddlers on trail, most of them not speaking human languages. “Yukio, look! Aren’t they adorable?” Rin grinned brightly.

(“But I have always known where your gaze is fixed at,” she said.)

A few days later, they were lounging at the clean, beautiful Sentosa beach. Rin was splashing water with Robin, the Nephilim boy who was deeply attached to him, while Yukio buried his toes under the warm sand, and Shino was reading her tablet peacefully under the parasol.

Later, against the backdrop of the sun setting on the horizon, a fiery vermillion orb bleeding into bruised purples while streaks of gold, pink and crimson formed shadows on fluffy clouds, Rin told his daughter and his boss in a serious voice as he cradled a sleeping toddler in his arms. “Shino, I don’t want to go back to Japan tomorrow. I want to stay here.” He then turned his imploring stare to Yukio.

Shino and Yukio exchanged a short glance. The Regional Centre had, in fact, offered Yukio the position of a Director.

(“But not you,” Lightning had said.)

Yukio nodded. “That can be arranged.”

He’d decided to stop being afraid, after all. 

Rin fully recovered after a few years, flourishing with the Nephilim children.

And Yukio?

Yukio just never left.

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the delay... busy with work (estimated tax season in Singapore) and then Alterna Vvelt dropped... Anyways, if you have enjoyed this story or this chapter even a little, please do leave kudos or some kind words.