III: Irregularity

The roses shone crimson under the night sky. The soft, dark petals danced lightly in the cold breeze. It's as if their beauty is trying to hide the traitorous thorns lodged in their stems, an aberration to come to such perfection.

What is so great about roses anyway? Even their smell is an exaggeration made up by extremely foolish people who like to put these prickly blooms on a pedestal.

The mansion is crawling with them. The garden, the center of the dining room table, inside the rooms where they are cramped in vases that reek of chemicals to make them look alive as possible.

There is a satisfaction seeing them wilt and die. They deserve it.

Kanato closed the window and hugged Teddy close to his chest.

"Teddy, do you know that the saddest thing about beauty is that they fade away no matter how much you try and preserve it? Do you?"

Kanato sighed and turned around.

There's nothing more he wanted than set those stupid flowers all on fire.

He walked out of his room into the dark. The vaulted hallways suffocated him. Lines upon lines of finely carved statues littered the massive floor and he felt their eyes follow him as he walked past.

Kanato hummed solemnly to himself. The echoes kept him company until he reached the brightly lit thresholds of the main hall.

He entered the vast corridor and found his way to the dining room. He peeked silently and saw all of his brothers were already seated, eating slowly and not talking to each other. Neither of them realized he was there, the strained silence in the room only being broken by the soft, brief tinkles of the finest cutlery.

Kanato noticed an empty chair apart from his.

He waited a while but the seat remained vacant. Curious. This is the first ever time she didn't show up for dinner. Her presence there increases all the tension already present in the air. Her blood is too strong he sometimes wondered how they can all stomach the food on their plates when the real treat sat helplessly among them.

Kanato hated the nagging feeling on the back of his brain. What is this sudden urge to go look for her? Why should he care if the little pest starves to death?

Kanato furrowed his brows and turned around. He made up his mind that once he finds her, he's going to suck her blood dry.

"Teddy. It's strange. It's as if I'm missing her."

Kanato climbed up the grand staircase, his fingers drumming lightly on the railings taking each step. The high, glass windows painted shadows on the walls Kanato eyed them suspiciously.

He turned left and walked the path leading to Yui's bedroom. A faint, familiar smell had Kanato stop dead in his tracks.

"Teddy. Is that her blood? It's… different."

Kanato tentatively took a step and inched closer. He edged closer still until he found himself in front of Yui's bedroom door.

It's strange. Yui's blood has always been pungent and hot and inviting even in a great distance, but now Kanato could only feel a weak, almost diminished stream it did not even stir his hunger.

Kanato turned the handle and entered slowly. It was dark. The moonlight can barely pass through the thick curtains blocking the open window. A strong surge of wind blew the heavy drapes and Kanato's purple orbs glowed stunned in the doorway.

Yui is sitting placidly on the bed. Blank, lifeless eyes turned to gaze at him.

She looked like a living replica of a corpse.

"Kanato-kun… what are you doing here?" Yui said weakly.

Kanato carefully approached Yui's frail body. He placed Teddy neatly on the bedside table and sat next to Yui. He stared fixated on her face. It's very pale. He moved his face closer and the smell of her blood up close had Kanato inhaling the trenchant, sweet scent. Kanato stuck out a finger and traced the hollow of her neck.

"Ne, are you dying?" Kanato whispered.

"Kanato-kun… stop… please." Yui brushed Kanato's hand away.

"Is this another stupid act of yours so you can try to get away?" Kanato's eyes shone with contempt.

"An… act?"

"What a pathetic, miserable figure you are." Kanato said leaning away.

Yui's face registered an expression Kanato had never seen before. Fear, panic and anxiety would usually reflect in those deep, crimson eyes, but now her face twisted in a repressed sense of anguish, agony and shame tears pooled in her eyes.

"Just what do you all want from me?" Yui reached out slowly and clutched Kanato's shirt taking him aback "Why can't you all just leave me alone!" Yui sobbed loudly on Kanato's chest.

Kanato pried Yui's hands off him. They were cold and frail. Kanato felt Yui recoil in his touch. Her tears soaked his shirt and it annoyed him as much as seeing her tear-streaked, pallid face.

It's the trembling that bothered Kanato. She seems so scared and weak and sad. It riled and baffled him at the same time. He doesn't know why he found it so… appealing.

"You're just like those roses you know. You smell like them too sometimes. I want to burn you. With them." Kanato wiped the tear running down her cheek. "I wish you stay this way. You're more fascinating than I thought."

Kanato held Yui closer to him, his hand brushing the hair out of her face.

"Kanato-kun…" Yui said surprised.

Kanato leaned in closer and burrowed his face in Yui's hair. He found her ear and in hushed, sultry voice whispered, "I'll forgive you. Just for tonight."

Yui turned to face him but Kanato clinched her waist and pinned him down on the bed.

"No, please? Kanato-kun!" A fresh set of tears ran down Yui's eyes.

"Don't worry, Kanato said climbing on top of her. "I'll make you feel better."

Kanato placed one of her arms in his neck and lowered his mouth down to kiss her.

Yui staggered at Kanato's kiss. His tongue gently coaxed Yui's lower lip to give way, tracing the outline of her lip, giving it a casual nibble here and there. Yui was reluctant at first, but Kanato holding him, his hand caressing her cheek as his kiss deepened had Yui parting her lips fully and Kanato's tongue ran teasingly against hers, encouraging her to do the same.

Yui moaned and Kanato tilted his head and added more pressure to his kiss. It's rough and gentle at the same time Yui relished at the soft, firm lips ravaging her senses on fire.

When Kanato pulled away, Yui's breath caught in her throat. The bereft, dissolute ache clawing at her resolve.

"Did you like it?" Kanato asked innocently.

Whatever remained of Yui's blood came rushing to her cheeks.

"I don't have an answer to that, Kanato-kun…" Yui mustered, looking away.

Kanato gazed apprehensively at Yui and his mouth formed a delectable half-smile. Kanato lowered his face again and thumbing Yui's lips apart, said,

"Maybe I'll stay a little longer, ne, Teddy?"

Kanato grabbed Yui's hair, their mouths crashing viciously with a dance barely containing the blistering, arduous rhythm.