Being back in class after a while somewhat feels odd. Yui hadn't been to school in the past two weeks. Of course, the medical reason she presented was that she was suffering from hypotension (since she can't really go around saying she'd been stabbed, then magically brought back to life.) Still, now that she's rested and energetic, she's ready to rejoin the class.
Yui ran her fingers lightly across the wooden desk that she sat at, feeling slightly bewildered to be back after what seemed like a long time. She could remember and make out the faint ink marks on the surface of her desk.
"Chichinashi, what are you spacing out for?"
Ayato took his seat next to her, propped his head up with an arm and stared at her in a very unamused way. She didn't know he sat directly next to her. Just thinking about how they slept side by side in her bed last night, which was less than 12 hours ago, made her blush instantly.
"No-nothing!" Yui said, turning away at once.
Ayato seemed to have caught on. He smirked, pulling his seat nearer to her, that his face was right next to her ear.
He whispered, "It's about last night, isn't it? If it feels that good to be with me on bed, maybe we can try something more intense tonight."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" But she said it a tad too loudly.
Their teacher, who'd just stepped into class, immediately had his attention caught.
"Komori! What's going on over there?"
"Nothing! I'm sorry, teacher."
As Yui turned to glance at Ayato, her face still a deep red, Ayato had gone back to putting on his nonchalant face, although she could swear it's mischief she sees in his eyes.
The bell rang for supper, and the corridors gradually filled up with students going in, out and about. The school that Yui and Sakamakis are in are not an ordinary one, and this isn't just because the school happens after night falls, but because many popular celebrities, sportsmen or the well to do are enrolled in it. Just a flip of the latest gossip magazine and Yui could easily point out maybe 20 of those people whom she's seen at school.
It's also surprising to see that some of these people (mostly the girls) are so eager to mix with Ayato, whom Yui reckons they don't even know he's a vampire.
"Ayato~ I gave you my number the other day but you didn't call me~"
"Say, Ayato, wanna come join us after school for a late-night karaoke session?"
Yui wasn't very keen to hang around in class. Sure, the man might be good-looking but to watch them fight over Ayato was ridiculous. Yui decided it's better that she just head off. Just as she stood up, Ayato had grabbed her by the wrist roughly.
"And where do you think you're going?" he barked.
The few other girls who were surrounded about Ayato immediately turned to point their attention towards her, which frankly speaking wasn't too comfortable.
"To the washroom. And maybe to grab a juice."
Ayato hmphed and released her, although he still looked at her darkly. Yui didn't mean to be rude or anything, but if she had to be around to see other girls hanging around with Ayato, she'll rather not be around at all.
Yui gave all the spare change to the vending machine, and with her packet of cranberry juice in hand; she made it to the rooftop. Lately, she's been into cranberry juice (and it's got nothing to do with because it helps her blood or to satisfy the Sakamakis' bloodthirst.)
The air was cool and crisp upstairs that Yui wondered why she didn't just come up earlier. There were a couple of other students that were there, mostly the loners, so Yui decided to head around the back where maybe she could maybe be alone too.
However, the moment she caught Subaru in sight, she filed the idea away.
"Subaru!" she called out to him happily.
Subaru was seated on the ground, and upon hearing his name, turned to her direction. Although he didn't look extremely pleased, he didn't look unwelcoming either. He just looked like he had been well alone for a while.
"Aren't you hungry? Did you buy something to eat?" Yui asked.
Subaru gave her a look. "I'm a vampire. Unless of course, you want to offer me some blood, which I'll gladly take…"
It had been a rhetorical question and Yui wanted to hit herself for asking.
"Ah, right. I'm sorry."
She stayed rooted in front of him for a while, and so, with yet another sigh, Subaru cocked his head as a signal to allow Yui to seat next to him, which Yui accepts quickly.
"So, what happened? Weren't you with Ayato or something?"
"I was," she answered, "But then he became pre-occupied, with some other girls from the other classes. I don't really know them."
"Mr. Popular, someone is."
Yui nodded, sipping her juice slowly.
"How's class?" Subaru asked.
"It's okay. We only had geography and literature so far this evening. Ayato fell asleep but yesterday, I read up on some of what I missed out the last two weeks so it's not too bad."
"And you remember everything?"
Yui gave a small smile, "The syllabus? Sort of, I guess. I don't remember Ayato being seated next to me in class though."
"But you knew he was in your class?"
"I looked through the class register beforehand, and so I figured it out. I do just wish Ayato could be a little more patient with me."
Subaru looked at her thoughtfully for a bit, which Yui didn't even realise, being lost in her own thoughts. Right now, all she could do is skive through the puzzle pieces and figure out which ones go where. She had hoped that with a bit of luck and some intelligence, she could recall things, but it was easier said than done.
Subaru let out another small sigh. "You know, before you, Ayato never stuck with a girl for long."
Yui's ears instantly perked up. "Really?"
"He plays around with them, sucks their blood, then leaves. He took your blood too, but this week's the first time any of us has ever seen him this way."
Yui didn't know what to think. Did he really care for her or was it just the blood? Ayato was mean but when he was good to her, she finds herself submitting to him easily. She wonders if it's because of lust, coupled with feeling obligated, that she even cares for Ayato. If she could read minds or magically regain her memories, all might be well, but no.
"I don't know, Subaru," Yui replies, "I don't know what to feel about Ayato."
Silence lingers in the air, as a gentle autumn breeze runs through the air.
In the end right after class, Ayato had disappeared (maybe he went karaoke after all), leaving Yui to head home alone herself. In her mind, she had many things she wanted to let Ayato know, in which first and foremost, she wanted to be on her own.
It was a nagging feeling right from the start, but her short talk with Subaru only firmed up the idea. As much as she wanted help herself, help Ayato, she was also frustrated and she just wishes to be alone, at least in the mean time. Set on telling Ayato her true thoughts, Yui hurries home to avoid the dark clouds that were forming in the sky.
Yui didn't spot Ayato in the living room at the mansion, and neither was he in the kitchen or in her room. She guessed today's not the day after all, and decided it's best to just retire to bed after a hot shower. But as she returned to her room, there Ayato was, sitting at the edge of her bed.
"You're slow tonight, Chichinashi," he remarks with a grin, "I was getting all hungry."
Normally, Yui would give in, but tonight, she had her mind made up.
"Ayato, I've been thinking…"
"What now? I'm starving."
"Please don't get mad. But-," Yui bites her under lip, suddenly growing nervous, "I want to be left alone, at least for a while."
Ayato narrows his eyes, "The hell does that mean?"
"I just need some time alone to sort my feelings out, that's all. Right now, I still can't remember anything and…I just want to be on my own, to figure things out."
"You don't need to be alone, you just need to listen to me. And I say you're mine, Chichinashi." He grabs her by the arm, which hurt.
"Let go, please," her voice a whimper as she tries to pry away from him, "I'm tired of this."
"You can't get away that easily," Ayato growled.
He presses himself to her, slamming their lips together suddenly and kisses her in such a rough manner it shocks her. He'd let go of her arm, instead pulling her forward by the waist in attempt to get her to kiss back, all by brute force. Even when she tried to pry away, Ayato only slants his mouth angrily over hers.
But this was not at all what Yui want. Ayato didn't understand that when she says she feels she needs to be alone, it was because her feelings for him weren't strong enough to make her stay. Ayato doesn't understand, because Ayato didn't even know the person she was. She thinks he probably never did.
With as much strength as she could possibly muster, Yui pushes Ayato away by the chest and dashed out of the room. It didn't matter if she had to sleep in the cold living room on her own tonight, because so long Ayato was in her room, then she won't be!
Yui walked hurriedly along the dark corridor, heading for downstairs. Her arms were exposed and cold, for she had stupidly left her cardigan back in her room, but she supposes she'll just have to put up with it, at least till the next day. If things go well, she could even get the fireplace working (although she'd never seen the Sakamakis use it before in her life so maybe it doesn't work.)
Just as she was going down the longest corridor that led to the stairs, lightning flashed past, and that scared her more than anything.
Yui had been afraid of them for as long as she could remember. She hated lightning and she hated thunder and thunderstorms even more. Now, it's worse, for she's alone, in a place where her father isn't with her.
Tears begin to fall as Yui puts her hands over her ears, silently willing for it to stop, but it didn't. Every clap of thunder sent her crying even harder, as she crouches down in the middle of the empty corridor.
Just then, a hand pulls her up to her feet and she finds her face buried in someone's chest. There was no heartbeat, and no warmth, but just his familiar scent alone made her feel safer than anything…
"Ayato…"
Another crack of thunder shocked her, and she presses herself even closer into him. She realises that she must've been shaking uncontrollably, when Ayato envelops her in his arms, quietly trying to calm her down.
Even though the thunderstorm was just as bad as it had been moments ago, everything now felt different. Because he'd come, she didn't have to be afraid on her own.
"Idiot, stop crying already," Ayato's voice was low as he cupped her face, running both thumbs across her cheeks to wipe her tears away.
"I'm scared. Please don't go."
"I'm not leaving."
Finally, at long last, Yui looked up at him. After how she'd rejected him and the things she'd said, Ayato was here. She couldn't understand.
"How did you know? I've never told anyone I'm afraid of…of lightning."
"I know, because this has happened before."
Ayato continued, "Now, just focus on me. The storm doesn't matter. Only yours truly does."
Yet another bolt of lightning zips through the sky, and Yui flinches, but as she stares into his deep, green eyes, she is no longer as afraid. For now, only Ayato matters.
Their faces draw closer to each other and this time when their lips met, Ayato was kissing her in such a gentle manner that their fight earlier on felt unimaginable. She didn't even know he was capable of such kisses, but the only thing she knew now was that she didn't want him to stop.
It was just a feeling, but feelings are always usually right. And on this night, Yui wanted to be with no one but him.
