The main house, though untouched by the passing of time, was unfamiliar to her. Her memories of the house itself were vague. When she was sent away by her father, she was five and fragile. She was a little older now, almost twenty. Her health had improved enough that her doctors finally allowed her to leave, though she had to make a hundred promises that she would take care of herself.
The house may be unchanged, but she was sure her brothers were different now. Taller and stronger, perhaps even more handsome. Vampires in general had always been blessed with good looks but the Sakamaki, and Shu in particular, were beautiful. Even as a child, he was lovely, just like a little angel. Of course, her little brother Reiji was adorable but she had the right to be biased about her own twin. She cannot wait to see them.
"Shu-chan?"
It was pure luck. The little boy of her memories and many dreams was all grown up, sprawled on the couch in the living hall, elegant even in his sleep. He was so still that, if not for the colour in his face, she would have worried if he was dead. She walked over to him, careful to make her steps light, and sat on the floor beside him.
"I missed you."
She planted a gentle kiss on his lips. Shu did not even stir, for her presence was so similar to his own that he could not detect anything amiss. He was lulled deeper into dreamland with the comfort of knowing something precious was nearby, though he knew not exactly what.
She stared from his lips to his pale, exposed neck. Fire licked her throat, burning with sudden intensity – thirst. It had been far too long since she had her beloved twin's blood but it was such a vivid, surreal taste that human blood paled in comparison. Her eyes flashed, and suddenly her thirst was all she could think about. He probably wouldn't mind, now if only she could sink her fangs into his neck…
"Shi?" a quiet voice rang out in the silence.
Shion looked up. Reiji stared at her a few steps away, disbelief and happiness apparent in his face. The expression made him almost child-like. She placed a finger at her lips, motioning him to be quiet. Her own excitement seemed to supress her thirst, taming the wild fire in her throat. Reiji glanced at his sleeping brother and refrained from rolling his eyes. That slacker.
His scorn was all but wiped away when Shion flew into his arms with quick but light footsteps. "Rei-chan! I'm home," she said, hugging her little brother, though he was not so little anymore. In fact her height barely reached his shoulders. "When did you get here? He didn't tell us anything." She grinned. "I told Papa to keep it a secret. I wanted it to be a surprise." Reiji sighed. He had almost forgotten his sister's playfulness. "How do you feel, better?" he asked.
She ignored his question. "Rei-chan, I want to meet the others." The others were what she called her half-brothers. She had heard about them but Papa never seemed to like talking about them. She was curious. Now that she had seen her blood brothers, it was now to meet the rest of her Papa's children.
"Tonight," Reiji promised. "For now, go rest. You must not overwork yourself." She smiled and asked, "Sleep with me?" He pretended to sigh but the little smile etched on his lips gave him away. The little girl who was supposed to be older than him had always been fragile and sickly, so much that he wanted to be the older brother and take care of her. So many years stood between them, with only a handful of stolen days to meet each other. Now that he had her in his arms, he was reluctant to let go again.
"Okay, let's sleep together."
She looked up. "But I want…"
"Still?"
Her cheeks reddened and she nodded. He almost smiled but decided to harass her a little. "Can't help it if you're still such a baby you don't know how to feed on humans," he teased. With a clean swoop, he lifted her up. She was even lighter than she looked. The fact worried him but for now, the questions would have to wait. It was time to feed the little princess. "Let's go."