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[It all ended in one fell swoop. Satan had destroyed everything in less than two minutes, scorching the Earth with his blue flames. He had left Earth shortly after- his host had died very quickly after being possessed- but his touch on the world remained.

It was hard to know just how much of the world had been burned, as Rin had no way to actually leave Japan. Even now, nearly two years later, he was stuck. He had no idea how to sail a ship, and the ones that had survived the fires didn't look that sturdy anyway. He wasn't about to risk a watery grave, not when there probably wasn't much else to find out there.

Japan was gone. The fires had destroyed everything within 50 miles of True Cross town, and rendered the rest of Japan unlivable. Rin himself was the only one to walk away from the blast zone alive, and what remained of the Japanese population declined quickly in the aftermath. Lawlessness took over the country, and gangs ran everything. You either got protection from a gang, or you risked dying in far too many ways.

And in two years, there had been no word from the outside world. Was there even anyone else left out there? Rin did not know.

But he did know one thing: there were rumors of places up north near Hokkaido that had survived the flames. That plants still grew there, and water could be found without drilling deep into the ground. If there was a place to survive in, then Rin wanted to be there. He was tired of wandering the burned landscape and dead cities, eking out a life from what he could find.

His travels north happened to take him through a city called Karakura, though. It wasn't within the 'instant death zone', but it was close enough that most of everything had probably been wiped out in the fires. Rin never really encountered anyone anymore, what with pretty much everyone being dead and all. But who knew? Maybe there were still survivors in this husk of a town. Many buildings still stood, so maybe some people had gotten lucky.

Or maybe it would be called 'unlucky', given the circumstances.

Either way, Rin kept walking forward. He wore a light cloak of sorts, one meant to shield himself from the harmful rays of the hot sun. But as light as it was, it was still hot, and Rin found himself sweating in it as he looked around at the various buildings left behind in this city. Could anyone have survived out here?]

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[He'd had a nice life, before everything went to hell. Living in a calm town, with his family, even if his mother wasn't around anymore. Sure, he was half demon - well, more than that, if he really bothered to go back in his lineage on both sides, his father being a rot demon who had possesed a man and fallen in love with his mother, an exorcist from a family that had a contract with an ancient demon of archery that took their souls upon death as payment.

Still, he'd lived quietly - getting into things with other demons in the area, going to school, peaceful days that he never quite appreciated until they were gone.

Now, he wants them back - but knows they'll never return, torn away from him along with the lives of everyone he'd ever known in a rush of blue flame.

When the end came, he'd been underground, waiting for the subway to take him to another town. That was the only reason he'd lived - because when everything went on fire, he lit up like a christmas tree, his natural element making him burn twice as fast as the people around him. It was only through the water from a fountain that he was able to survive, though he healed painfully and slowly, leaving behind massive burn scars on the left side of his body.

Yet, even that pain was nothing compared to the despair he'd felt as he managed to walk outside, seeing his hometown reduced to nothing but flames, his family and friends having burnt away to ash inside those damned blue flames. At night, he still dreamed of them, seeing them scream and burn away to nothing.

But - he survived. The burns didn't kill him, and even if he felt he had nothing left to live for, he continued out of sheer habit and the keenings of his own inner demon refusing to let them both die. Weeks turned to months turned to years, his hair growing out and his scars slightly fading, but still brightly visible whenever anyone looked at him.

He'd eked out a living, in the shell of his hometown - scavenging for whatever he could find from the area and cities nearby. When demons came to fight him, he killed and crushed them, determined for them to not trample all over the town he'd once called his home and spent so many happy days in.

Rin would notice the pile of corpses as he walked, getting denser as he heads towards the center of karakura, and eventually he'd see Ichigo, long hair down his back, standing in the open as he shook the blood off of his sword and sheathed it, back to the approaching demon.]

[Actually, it was the corpses that drove Rin to head further into the town in the first place. He had originally planned on passing through, but something was killing demons at an alarming rate, and Rin wanted to know what. Could an exorcist have survived the fires? Or was this a particularly strong demon, one that killed for the sake of killing? The former, perhaps, could become a friend. The latter...well, Rin just hoped it wasn't the latter.

Ichigo didn't look to be a demon at least, but Rin knew looks could be deceiving. He himself hid his demon lineage nowadays, not wanting to deal with getting attacked by anyone who came across him. But whoever this guy was, he was strong, there was no denying it. Rin could feel it, and it drove him forward.]

Did you do all of this?

[A simple question, one that sounds more genuinely curious than horrified. This guy had to be strong, and Rin wanted to know who he was.]

Hn?

[In the past, he might have jumped at someone's voice coming from behind him. Now? He was more surprised that whoever this was didn't immediately attack him.

Turning around, it's even more apparent he's a survivor of two years ago - the burn scars trail up his face, stopping just before his left eye, and from what Rin can see of his torso and limbs, his left side is nothing but a mass of 3 degree burn scars. It's also apparent he's a demon - unlike Rin, Ichigo didn't see the use in hiding his heritage, having obvious fangs and pointed ears, as well as having the strange eyes so common to rot-elemental demons.

When he speaks, his voice is rusty from disuse, having not had anyone to actually talk to in years.]

....I did. They attacked me, so I defended myself.

Who are you?

I...

[A rot demon. Somehow a rot demon survived the fires.

He didn't make it out unscathed though, and Rin had to fight to keep from wincing at all of those burn scars. Not that they made Ichigo grotesque or anything, but it looked painful. Painful in a way Rin couldn't imagine, since he couldn't be burned like that.

Those eyes are just a little unsettling, though. The last time he had seen anything like it, it had been back in Kyoto, when he had saved the world with friends who were now long gone.

A flash of pain sweeps across Rin's face, lasting a moment before he gets it under control and just frowns softly at Ichigo.]

I'm just a stranger passing through. I don't want any trouble, I promise.

[Though Rin's fangs and pointed ears are partially obscured by the cloak, it's not hard to tell what he is. A lone person, wandering a waseland with only a sword? Yep, has to be a demon. Or half-demon, in his case.]

[His eyes just aren't like the impure king's - they're also a mixture of the demon who had made the pact with his mother's family in exchange for power, the multiple pupils looking almost like miniature irises unto themselves. It was an unnerving effect, but Ichigo hadn't had a reason to go back to his human eyes in a long, long time.

It was obvious this was a wandering demon, but as long as he wasn't attacking right away, Ichigo would let him be in the area. A long moment passes as he considers the outcome - would this person attack him if he let him go, or would he really just leave?

Finally, he makes his decision - jerking his head towards the north.]

...I'll take you to the edge of the town. Be ready to fight - for some reason, demons have been drawn to this area lately.

[Rin lets out a little sigh of relief there. He hadn't wanted a fight, and it looked like this guy will at least give him a chance.

Still, Rin is curious. Just who is this guy? How had he survived so long in this place? And how was he holding up by himself against all of these attacking demons? He had to be strong, Rin was sure of that, but he wanted to know more.

He had time to think of how to ask, at least.]

Okay, sure. I'm not completely defenseless anyway.

[He indicates to the sword strapped to his back. He doesn't use it so much anymore- he's more than strong enough to kill most demons with punches and kicks- but it's a good backup for when he's overwhelmed.]

[Ichigo nods, not saying much more but heading out, trusting Rin will follow him.

As they walk, he remains silent - rin might notice that his left side drags a little, as he can't feel his footsteps due to the burnt nerves - but it's a mostly uneventful trip.

Well, right up until they're almost to the northern most part of the city, when a bunch of demons suddenly jump out of some of the nearby areas, directing their taunts at Ichigo - Who they call 'Shirogane' and 'White King' before they rush to attack the two of them. Ichigo wastes no time, unsheathing his sword and looking over at Rin.]

Better show me you know how to defend yourself!

[Of course they couldn't get anywhere safely. But that's okay, Rin gets to see a bit more about this mysterious guy now.]

Ha! Piece of cake!

[He doesn't fight with his sword at first, instead focusing on punching. It takes a bit longer to actually beat these demons (and, interestingly enough, he always gives the demons a chance to run away in the end. He only kills when they try to attack him again after being given the chance to leave.), but he's holding his own quite well.

Until a rather large snake-like demon shows up, of course. It's always the snakes that get him.

Rin tries to punch it at first, but the thing is so large that it can snap him in half in one bite. So after one too-close call, he reaches for his sword and slices in a wide arc as he draws it.

Blue flames explode from the scabbard as he draws the sword, bathing the snake demon in blinding flames that cauterize the wound as it cuts. Not that it would have mattered in the end, because being cleaved in half is a quick way for a demon to die. But now Ichigo can get a better view of Rin's more demonic form, complete with clawed hands, elongated ears, and blue flames licking at the edge of his blade and the tip of his tail.]

[Ichigo, meanwhile, fights with experience - no wasted movements, striking down demons without hesitation or mercy while his blade flashes in the sunlight. Unlike Rin, he doesn't allow them to run away - having spent too many years trying to do just that, and being hurt for it in the end.

It's after he strikes down another that the rush of blue flames come out, and for a second Ichigo flashes back to that day in the subway, the burned side of his body crawling with phantom pain. Had it come again? Had the end of the world returned to finish everyone off -

But when he turns around, he sees only the demon he'd thought was harmless, swarming with those flames, those damned blue flames -

He doesn't even think, snarling as his true form comes out, a long white lizard tail sprouting as the rest of his body and hair turn as white as bone, claws forming on his hands and horns sprouting from the side of is head, his eyes turning a chilling yellow on black. This is the form that became to be known as the White King, the imposing lizardlike demon of rot who brought death to those that saw it.

And even knowing that he couldn't do anything against those flames, he was still going to try - if not for him, then for all the lives that had been taken away by it.]

YOOOOU-

[His words are cut off with a roar as he rushes at Rin, claws and sword outstretched.]

[Honestly, it's not the first time Rin has been attacked for his flames.

Most demons knew the truth about what Rin was: a half-demon who carried the power of Satan via lineage. He was nowhere near powerful enough to scorch the Earth with his flames, as they were a mere shadow of what Satan himself could do.

No, it was the humans (and, by extension, the half-demons that lived among humans) who took his flames at face value. They were the ones who blamed him for the accident two years ago, who chased him out of towns and tried to murder him the moment they saw that flicker of blue.

For a second, Ichigo's changed appearance startles Rin. He knew the guy had some demon in him, but he didn't know it ran this deep. He must have been using his powers pretty much nonstop if they had developed this far. It was impressive, if a little freaky.

A moment later, Rin realized what Ichigo was about to do. He brought his sword up, not to attack but rather to block Ichigo and defend himself. He wasn't going to attack this man if he could avoid it, but he also wouldn't let himself be harmed.]

Oi! Stop it, the fight's over already!

[Rin knows this is not about the other demons that had attacked them, but he has to give Ichigo an out. He always gives everyone an out, before things get serious.]

[But he doesn't stop - his attacks are harsh and constant, trying to get at Rin any way he can, to tear him apart before those flames manage to burn him away to ash. And during this, he's howling, yelling out things that he doesn't even realize he's saying -]

Give them back! GIVE THEM BACK!

[Another powerful thrash down with his claws, his sword forgotten on the ground, tears running down his face.]

Give them back, damn you! Yuzu, Karen, the old man - they were all burnt away! GIVE THEM BACK TO ME!

[It would be easy to strike Ichigo down. He has the type advantage, he could burn away Ichigo in an instant. Or he could cut him down, or throw him down, or any other way of fighting this now-frenzied man. He has lost himself to rage, so beating him would be easy.

But Rin can't do that. He just can't. Those words Ichigo said, they ring in his ears, echoing off his mind that is already full of thousands upon thousands of names that had been shouted at him in a similar fashion. Even if he didn't cause this calamity, he still has to carry the burden of it.

So he pushes back against Ichigo, trying to shove him away, so that he can jump up high and out of Ichigo's reach. He'll end up perching on top of the remains of a telephone pole, balancing up there with only his feet to hold him up. He gazes down at Ichigo sadly, wanting to say something to comfort the man, but coming up with only one platitude that might possibly help.]

I'm sorry.

[As Rin shoves him and jumps away, he can do nothing but roar in mingled grief and rage, Digging his claws into the side of the pole as if to bring it down.]

Shut up! SHUT UP!

[He can't jump like that - he's not built for it, his demon form made more to destroy and rend, to spread death along the ground and have it steal away lives.

Like this, he can't do anything - and he slowly sinks to his knees, his roars of rage dying down to pained, grief-stricken sobs.]

[Rin will wait it out there, because that's what he's good at: perching up high and waiting for the right moment to move. Of course, the 'waiting' part took some practice, but he's got that down now. Mostly.

As it becomes clear that Ichigo is winding down, Rin sheathes his sword and puts it back on his back. The fires disappear immediately, leaving him in the form he had before, when he had first arrived in the town. But he stays up there still, looking down at Ichigo below.]

I'm sorry they died, and I'm sorry I can't bring them back. I'm only a half-demon, I don't have that kinda power.

[He doesn't respond, still sobbing - And as he does, his transformation fades, white hair turning orange, horns and tail crumbling to dust as he returns to the form that Rin saw in the beginning.]

Just...Just kill me.

[He curls up on himself, lost in his grief.]

Just end it, burn me like them...! I'm so tired of waiting, so just do it already!

No.

[He might be strong enough to do that, especially since Ichigo is a rot demon, but he won't. He only kills people when he has no other choice, and there are other choices right now.

He hops down from the pole, landing on the ground nearby. But he doesn't walk closer yet.]

I can't. I'm not like my father, I'm not going to burn the world, much less a single person. My flames aren't for hurting.

[And there it is. Rin isn't responsible for the death of this world, his father is. It is a heavy burden to carry, but it's one he has no choice in.]

[He hears Rin come down off the ground, but also hears the declaration that he won't be killed by the son of Satan himself, and he...

He can't move. It's like he's rooted to the spot, and not for the first time does he wish that Yhwach's contract activated upon when you reached your most despair-filled moment, and not your happiest one.

He'll never die, at this rate. If even the son of satan, the one that has the flames that burnt half of his body and killed everyone he ever knew won't let him die, then...

His sobs slowly die down, and he just...falls to his side, as limply as a puppet that had their strings cut, eyes dull and hopeless.]

...Then go. Just...go. More demons will be coming soon...so you won't have to worry about me. I can be a distraction.

[And, unspoken, it would be the only way for him to commit suicide - by allowing himself to be killed as easily as one would step on an ant. But he's Done - if satan's son won't kill him, and his demon side won't let him die, then...this is the only option.]

[Wow, this guy is absolutely broken, isn't he?

Instead of leaving, Rin goes and sits down near Ichigo. He is just outside of grabbing distance, but he's closer now at least.]

These guys here aren't nothing, if they attack then one of us can handle it.

But what are you going to do now?

[Broken does not even begin to cover it, and he doesn't move as Rin sits down, staring straight ahead.]

Nothing.

[His voice is still flat and lifeless.]

I'm just going to wait until they come and kill me.

[That's what he meant by 'distraction' - that Rin could leave while the demons in the area were busy tearing him apart.]

Why?

[He's not trying to be petulant here, honestly. He's trying to understand what it is that broke Ichigo so badly that he just gave up. It's not like Satan is dead or anything, Ichigo can still get revenge for his family. Or maybe he doesn't know that? Maybe Rin should tell him that.]

[He doesn't answer for a moment, and then -]

Because it doesn't matter. I'll still die eventually, when I hit 30. I just...don't want to be here when there's nothing to live for anymore.

[Because yes, he doesn't get that Satan is still kicking. Whoops.]

I've fought for so long - survived for so long, but I...

[He trails off, curling in more on himself, not looking at Rin.]

[Ah, one of those types of deals. Rin is familiar with them. He's probably not smart enough to get Ichigo out of it, though. It was all Yukio's brains that saved Shura.

...of course she probably died in the fires, so it didn't help her much in the end. But it was nice for a little while at least.]

If you're just gonna throw your life away like that, mind if I take it instead?

[...wait. Bad wording. Bad wording!]

Figuratively, not literally.

[He looks up a little as Rin says that, squinting vaguely.]

...What do you mean?

There's a lot of people in this world who still need help. I try to help as many as I can, but I'm still just one guy. Having someone to help me would make things easier. Plus they might appreciate getting help from someone who doesn't use blue flames to fight.

[He's silent for a minute, thinking it over.]

...You're...strange.

[But, finally, he shifts to a sitting position.]

I don't know how much longer I'll have left - reaching 30 is just one of the conditions that ends the contract - But....if you really want this life of mine, you're welcome to have it. I don't...I don't have anything else to do anymore.

[He hasn't for two years - seeing those blue flames just made him aware of how meaningless his life had truly become.]

Well now you have something to do, even if it's only for a little while.

[Even if Ichigo dies young from the contract, he can make this time matter. Or so Rin thinks, at least.

Maybe he can do something about that contract, though. He'll have to think on it for a while and come up with a plan.]

I'm Rin. What's your name?

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