Rin casually strolls into his classroom as the bell rings. He barely made it to class on time…again. He lazily walked in front of his class as his classmates snickered. Smirking as he finds his seat, he makes eye contact with his friends Zel and Leah. Zel gives him no reaction. His face stoic. Leah has the complete opposite reaction and giggles. She covers her mouth with her hands to suppress her laughter, but it doesn't work. Rin is a senior at the Hewyth Academy in the city of Roth. He's been in this wretched city for 2 years. Though he's been in the Human Plane for 18 years.

For 18 years, Rin has had to hide his true identity: He's a demon from the Demon Plane. Forced to come to the Human Plane to recover his demonic powers 18 years ago after being injured in battle, he hid himself inside a pregnant woman was thus 'born' into this world. He was completely aware of himself, humans, and demons around him since his birth and had to play the part of human to survive until his demonic powers returned. Thus, he found himself growing up as a normal human in the modern human world. The Human Plane was much different than he expected, being as he never stepped foot in this plane his entire existence. There were tall buildings, cell phones, fast cars, and modern technology that captivated him. He's lived for over thousands of years and made quite the name for himself in the Demon Plane, becoming a formidable demon. But in the Human Plane, he's just a semi-normal teenaged high school student.

Rin took his seat next to the window and opened his notebook. His long black hair was in a high pony tail and fell across his shoulder as reached in his bag for his textbook. As he got settled, he could feel several eyes on him. A lot of the girls in the class were infatuated with Rin. He was handsome but also beautiful. While his amber eyes captivated, his face is what really grabbed people's attention. His face was delicate, if not a bit feminine. And his high nose gave him a very distinguished look.

Rin blatantly ignored the stares. After the teacher started the lecture, Rin immediately began to zone out. Staring outside at the side walk, people were milling about. Some people dodged dense crowds, no doubt late to work or an appointment. Two women walked leisurely laughing at something on their cell phones. There was also a city worker yelling at a pedestrian for littering. The pedestrian looked completely unbothered while the city worker's face grew more and more red. All of these people didn't realize, that while they were so engrossed in their own little world, there were little demons around them. Some demons had latched on to their hosts, waiting for the right opportunity to tempt or possess them. Demons would usually weigh their hosts down and even whisper temptation into their ears until they submit and acted on the suggestions. Other demons hid, waiting for the right opportunity to create chaos. A lot of demons either possess their hosts for fun or would devour their hosts' body whole and manifest a clone body to live in their skin.

These foolish humans had no idea of how many demons and evil spirits surrounded them as they went about their day. In the Human Plane, to many humans, demons and spirits were a thing of the past. Out of sight, out of mind. It's not that the humans didn't believe in them entirely, it's just that the amount of demons in this plane was significantly less than in the Demon Plane. Centuries ago in the Human Plane, there were individuals called Spiritualists. They had immense spiritual powers and would seek to destroy demon and evil spirits. If they cultivated their chosen path faithfully and dutifully, they would even be able to ascend and become gods of the Heaven Realm, living an immortal life. With the sheer amount of Spiritualists at that time there would also be a large number of demons and spirits. The two cannot exist without the other. The presence of one creates the presence of the other.

Spiritualists fought tiredly against the demonic entities for thousands of years. However, the Heaven Realm also fought against the demons and evil spirits.

Gods of the Heaven Realm were once human and ascended through cultivation on their chosen path as former Spirtitualists. The path's varied depending on the god. Some chose abstinence, others chose martial arts. Some even chose the path of good-will, choosing to have no home in order to travel and offer assistance across the country to those in need. If people chose not to cultivate, they would instead build shrines, temples and alters to these gods. In exchange for their prayers, they and their loved ones would be blessed and forever looked upon by the gods in which they worshiped.

In contrast on the Human Plane, with the decline of Spiritualists, naturally there would be a decline in evils spirits, demons and ghouls. And with the decline of these entities, humans naturally stopped worshipping gods in the Human Plane. Though in the present time of the Human Plane, there still are a few Spiritualists left. They have broken off into different sects depending on their cultivation path. Most being very strict, it was difficult for one to ascend. In fact, the last human that ascended was over a thousand years ago! Nevertheless, the remaining Spiritualists were very devoted to their work and would continue to be for as long as they could.

The Demon Plane. The Demon Plane was very unique. It contained both humans and demons. It wasn't a modern world like the Human Plane, but instead, was in a time of Warring Lands. Set tens of thousands of years prior to the modern Human Plane, the Demon Plane had no technology, hospitals, emergency agencies. Instead, there were villages, vast lands being fought over by local lords throwing their military might around. Families facing starvation due to famine, disease and death due to plagues…It was truly a dark age. With the commonality of death and disease, there were many shrines and temples built by the common people dedicated to the gods to help protect them and save them from their wretched fate. There were shrines built to the war gods, statutes dedicated to the fertility goddess, temples erected for the gods of prosperity. Above all, however, there was a god who had the most prayers, the one whose name was whispered and shouted across many lips in this world. The Heavenly King, Constantine.

King Constantine is the god who is worshipped across the lands. He rules over the Heaven Realm and has been it's king for 5,000 years. He first ascended at the age of 32, and has not aged since, as he is now an immortal god. He is a god of martial might and ascended after a bloody battle to defend his lord father's land. He is the young lord who was always expected to achieve great things in his life. He married a neighboring lord's daughter and together they had a son, Midus. When Constantine ascended, all the subjects and villages under the control of his lord father celebrated and rejoiced. The celebration went on for weeks at the joyous occasion. So you can imagine what is was like when Midus, following his father, ascended at the age of 14! The lord of the lands wept in joy, as he couldn't believe that his son and grandson had made their marks on the world and their family legacy as gods! They would be worshipped across the lands for thousands of years. Finally, there were worthy gods who were capable of pushing back the scores of demons and destroying them for good. With the ascension of King Constantine, and his work in taming the growing number of demons and spirits that appeared in the Demon Plane, Spiritualists began to appear in many countries. They cultivated and tried to ascend on their chosen paths, while also assisting the Heavens in pushing back the demons. And so the sordid vicious cycle began.

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Rin was shaken from his stupor by a hand on his shoulder. It was Leah. Her long light brown hair was framing her face as she looked down at Rin with her brown eyes. Class had ended some time ago, not that Rin had noticed. 

"Rin! You were daydreaming again! How is it that you are at the top of the class as far as grades, but you never pay attention?" Leah complained. Zel looked over as he dropped his books in his school bag.

"Good question. He probably cheats." Zel didn't say it as a joke, so Rin ignored him, turning his attention back to Leah.

"I don't know. I guess I'm lucky haha" Rin said smiling at Leah. Rin bent down to collect his things and walked out of the classroom with Leah and Zel at his side.

They had known each other for two years now. Rin had met Leah first. He had been introduced to his new class by the teacher as all the students stared. After the class had ended Leah ran up to Rin's desk and introduced herself. They had naturally gravited to each other, so the conversation went easy. They became fast friends. One day Leah pulled Rin aside in the hallway and waved someone over. It was Zel. She introduced Rin to Zel, and though Rin could see Zel was not the talkative type like Leah, he was a least friendly enough. Rin eventually found that Zel was like that to most people he met. Zel was tall with long-ish black hair that stopped at the tops of his ears. He was handsome, but his cold face made him unaproachable. The two would often banter back and forth which would make Leah laugh at the pair. The trio would often walk the school halls together in the day and walk home part of the way after school. They became inseperable.

After class had ended, with Rin gaining nothing from the class lecture, they all headed out of the school. They all chatted about their day. Mostly, Leah and Rin. Zel would occassionally hum in agreement on something. 

Once they exited the school they all walked together until they reached the second block. It was at this time they all said they farewells until the next day. Rin walked a couple of steps, his cell phone in hand until he felt a presence lurking behind him. He acted naturally and continued to play in his phone as the presence got closer and closer to him. He passed people on the sidewalk as he walked home but no one seemed to notice whatever it was that was behind him.

After a while, Rin turned right onto his street and suddenly stopped. "You know…if you're going to attack, you should have done it already. School was draining and I'm not feeling particularly magnanimous today. Go away or die."

There was silence and then it was as if the air was electrified. There was a low grumble then a growl from right behind him. He could feel the demon's breath on the back of his neck. In an instant, Rin lifted his index and middle finger together and slashed sideways. The growling stopped and the air that was thick with electricity suddenly lifted. The presence was gone.

"How annoying." Rin continued his journey home. When he arrived at his front door, he slid the key into the lock and opened the door. Before sticking a single foot into the foyer two children had rammed into him.

"Rin!!"

"What are we going to have for dinner??" They both yelled at the same time making a smile tug at Rin's lips.

"Why don't you both ask that good-for-nothing what's for dinner?" Rin smiled as he took off his shoes and dropped his bag by the stand in the hallway. He padded through the small and narrow hall and arrived in the living room area to see his guardian, also known as 'good-for-nothing,' writing furiously in his notebook. He was working from the living room table sitting cross-legged on the floor. There were no couches in this room, just small worn floor cushions. He was a tall man, with dark blonde messy and unkempt hair and he was growing stubble along his chin. He was average looking, and looked to be in his late thirties, but he was probably a bit younger than that. He barely spared Rin a glance before he said, "…. Sorry, I got a little busy. I didn't have time to make anything for dinner. Can you manage without me?"

Rin turned on his feet, headed toward the kitchen, and grumbled, "I have managed without you for many years now…"

In truth, Rin was happy to cook. After being forced to fend for himself for many years as a human, he acquired his cooking skills. Though he rarely had a chance to make anything beyond simple dishes. His household was quite poor. Rin had only moved in two years prior and lamented the shabby house. The 'good-for-nothing,' his guardian, who does in fact have a proper name, is Kief Raggon. Kief took Rin in at the age of sixteen and became a guardian of sorts for him.

Guardian was used in the loose sense because Kief had a work-from-home job, in which no one knew what he did. He would only write and work on his computer and mostly stayed out of sight until it was time to eat, usually the meals that Rin cooked. He barely made any money for the household, which included two children and a live-in housekeeper.

Rury and Arty were children of the ages ten and nine respectively. Rury, was a little girl with dark brown pigtails and a cute face. She was a bit tall for her age, but no less adorable. Arty, had messy brown hair and was small for his age, but his loud mouth made up for this.

"Rin!! I'm hungry!! Please can we eat???!" Arty yelled from the adjacent room. Just as Arty finished yelling, Cura, the housekeeper walked into the kitchen. He was a tall man standing at 197 centimeters. He had short blonde hair, a rugged face and steel blue eyes that could pin you on the spot. "Do you need help with dinner, Rin?" he grumbled in a low deep voice.

Rin could swear he only heard the man speak a handful of times since he started living there. So, every time he opened his mouth it was a novelty to Rin.

"Nah, I got it thanks." Rin continued to get the ingredients together for a hearty soup with meat and vegetables. At one point it had crossed Rin's mind, why this shabby house needed a housekeeper. It was a bit dilapidated, as the foundation shifted too many times. It wasn't properly vented and during the winter there would be cold drafts that would make the rooms freeze. That's not to mention the pests that would sometimes find their way in. This house needed an exterminator and a possible blessing from the nearest temple, not a housekeeper.

Apparently, Cura and Kief go back some years and have known each other for quite some time. Maybe they were in a shady business together and this is Kief trying to help out his friend? Rin thought to himself. He really didn't know much about the man who is supposed to be his guardian. But he wasn't going to ask any questions. He was in no position to question anyone about their past and where they came from…

After dinner was prepared, Rin brought the heavy pot into the dining room where the others sat at a small wooden table. Arty was the first one to lift his spoon in anticipation. For a boy his size he could put away an obscene amount of food. Rin would often lay awake at night wondering where the boy put it all, and while misty-eyed, would then calculate the grocery expenses for the next day.

Rin dropped the heavy pot in the middle of the table. When he picked up the lid, the steam rose up out of the pot and the aroma spread across the room. Multiple hums in appreciation echoed in the tiny room and everyone dug in. Rin sat across from Kief and smiled at the man as he took the ladle and scooped the soup into his bowl.

"How was school today?"

"Typical," Rin answered almost immediately.

Kief chuckled and ceased his questioning about school. Rin and Kief had these types of conversations daily. A way to resemble some sense of normalcy, no doubt. But in honesty, they were playing house. Rin didn't know any more about Kief than Kief knew about Rin. They both knew the other were harboring secrets, but neither of them dared to cross that boundary. Instead, they preferred relatively simple and harmless questions and conversation topics.

Rury, or 'Ruru', as everyone in the house affectionately called her, drilled on about her day at home. Ruru and Arty were homeschooled. Rin wasn't sure who exactly was teaching the children, but at least for now the authorities had not come by to question it. He wasn't about to either. They did have homework at times so they must be receiving lessons while Rin was away at school.

After dinner, Rin sent the children upstairs to bed. They protested at first, but with a stern tone, he dismissed them. They obeyed and went to their room to get ready for bed. Rin couldn't help but think he was more of a guardian to them than Kief. Kief never scolded them and when he did tell them to do something they would ignore him. He would sometimes look at Rin with pleading eyes and Rin would intervene. The children always listened to Rin.

Kief had retreated to his room to continue his 'work' and even left his bowl on the table to be cleaned up by someone else. Probably Cura. Rin sighed and then washed the dishes along with the pot used for dinner. After he was done, he tiredly retreated to his room.

He had passed Ruru and Arty's shared room and heard them whispering to each other and giggling. Rin gently reminded them to go to sleep and the whispering ceased.

When he entered his room, he flopped on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His room was tiny. There were probably closets that were bigger than his room. He had a bed that was roughly shoved against the window. To the side sat a small desk for him to work on his schoolwork. On the opposite wall there was a small closet which held minimal clothes, shoes, and his spare school uniform. There was also a guitar and violin stashed in the corner of his closet.

While being in the Human Plane, Rin discovered his fondness for modern music. He taught himself the guitar and violin at a young age and would often practice when the mood struck him.

Sighing again, Rin sat up and prepared to start his homework. What a dreary existence. He thought to himself. If he was back home, his real home, he would be lounging in his own bed without a care in the world. He missed the Demon Plane terribly, but even so, he had started to find himself silently liking the Human Plane little by little. Not the mundane existence and routines of Human Plane, but the small group of people he allowed into his life. Despite him being exasperated by them at times, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of them.