After a long draining conversation with Reiji over how the two girls in her class behaved. Yui was told to try and at least figure out what they were planning on doing. Ayato refused to tell her what exactly happened between Lyra and him, though she managed to discern that her earring was made similarly to the knife Subaru gave her…
The knife was capable of killing vampires...though she would have to aim for the head or heart. Though Yui failed to see how a silver earring would pose a threat versus a small dagger...at least it was sharp and easy to conceal, the earring would be ineffective even with a sharp pin on it.
Walking into the class the next day she was surprised to find that all three of the triplets hadn't shown up for class. Today was swimming lessons, so Yui assumed they just didn't want to babysit her. She jogged to catch up with Lyra and Akira down the hall near the change rooms.
"Akira-san!, Lyra-san!" She calls out lightly, watching the two turn to face her. Akira brightened immediately with a grin, whereas Lyra looked oddly uncomfortable. Scuffing her shoe against the floor.
"Ohayo, Yui-san." Akira chimed happily. Her eyes sparkling as she leads the way into the change room. "Ready for the pool lessons? I hope they don't make us do endurance training…"
Yui frowned, tilting her head. " Mostly it's just free swim, the supervisor tends to spend the time grading papers in his office."
"Oh good! That makes this easier. Plus there's all the topless boys we can sneak a look at." She teased, winking back at Yui with a grin.
Yui felt her cheeks flooding with color as she glanced to Lyra who rolled her eyes while unbuttoning her top, the two changed rather quickly and yui lowered her bag to join them.
"Do you like anyone in the class, Yui-san?" Akira asked lightly, her eyes lifting to watch the girl as they all got into the school provided one piece. She wrinkled her nose…" These aren't flattering...on anyone." She mumbled lightly.
Lyra took her hair down and adjusted the straps of her own suit. Watching Yui fumble with her buttons and stutter. " Ah...no...not really, I'm too busy right now for boys."
"Living with six of them must be fucking horrible then." Lyra offered, though she ignored Akira's teasing reminder to watch her language.
"Ah...it's not that bad. Really they aren't so bad once you get to know them." She defended the brothers nervously. A cold sweat gathering on the back of her neck as she considered the possibility of Lyra and Akira potentially being harmed by them. Maybe if they saw the boys as less of a threat they wouldn't be in any danger…
Lyra and Akira shared a look, obviously doubting Yui's words. "Yui-san is everything okay at home?" Akira asked softly. Her hand resting on the smaller girls shoulder.
"Ah yes, really I mean it." She smiles up at the concerned girl. Nothing the creases that formed between her eyes. But Akira smiled warmly. Her gaze dancing with mischief. "Alright, well if that changes let us know."
She says she'll meet them both out there before heading into the pool area. Yui watched her wrap the towel around her slim frame. Frowning down at her own figure in the bathing suit.
"Makes you feel like a kid right?" Lyra asked casually. Yui glanced up at her in surprise. Wrapping her towel around herself just as Lyra did. She recalled Ayato stating that Lyra was even more flat chested than her and a guilty blush dotted her cheeks. "...A little. She seems so comfortable in her own skin."
"She is." Lyra says with a shrug, adjusting her hair. Yui never realized she had bangs but found they greatly suited her. Though as she moved her hand through her hair, she spotted the silver stud in her ear and felt a lump form in her throat. "Akira used to be a cheerleader back at our old school. She didn't particularly enjoy sports but she became co-captain of that squad. I tended to stick to baseball and soccer."
"Ah...I can see it. She seems very...energetic?" Yui offers gently. Fiddling with her towel. Lyra laughs softly, little more than a huff of air but nodded in agreement. " That's a nice way of saying it yeah."
Yui hesitated, the two beginning to move towards the door as they were the last few girls in the change room at this point. " Uhm...Lyra-san? Did something happen between Ayato-kun and you? He seemed agitated with you after dinner…"
Lyra paused before leaving, glancing back at her momentarily. "Nothing beyond the usual. I think we just won't be getting along. He needs to be knocked down several steps instead of a few pegs…"
Yui tried to not laugh because that was beyond just accurate. "Ah...well, my father told me that when boys teased you it often means they like you." She joked lightheartedly.
Lyra scoffed. " I think I'd rather jump into a pit of hungry tigers than date him, Yui." She opened the door without further comment and led the way out into the pool area. The smell of chlorine forced a wrinkle of her nose and she slipped the towel off to set it on a nearby bench next to Akira's.
Yui eyed the energetic blonde as she dove into the deep end. Nervously moving her eyes to the shallow water. She glanced to Lyra as she wandered towards the steps and followed after her. Noting something black peeking out from the back of her swimsuit. She had a tattoo but Yui couldn't tell what it was.
"Uhm…" She started, glancing to the pool again. Lyra paused and eyed her curiously. "...What is it?"
Recognizing the nervous expression she wore and the way her eyes kept flicking restlessly towards the pool. Lyra seemed to catch on. " You don't know how to swim?" She raised a brow.
Yui fiddled with her fingers but nodded to show that she had guessed correctly.
" we'll stay in the shallow end then and I'll help you learn." Lyra said casually moving to slide into the water and watching Akira continue diving with some other girls in the class.
Yui hesitated for a moment but then moved to join Lyra in the shallow end. Her eyes moving up to the other girls face as she carefully walked towards her. Still holding the ledge of the pool.
Lyra managed to grab a board and brought it over to Yui. " here this actually floats and can help with learning. Brace yourself with your upper body on here and kick your legs behind you slightly. I'll guide you around at first."
Yui looked at the other girl in surprise. But after a moment of hesitation she gladly accepted the board.
Though Lyra was blunt she had a kindness to her that was refreshingly genuine. She said what she thought and didn't pull any punches, her candid nature was appreciated most of the time.
Yui started to kick her legs a bit. Her body slowly moving forward and Lyra keeping herself ahead of the board and guiding her with a light hand.
Seeing that they were mostly left alone to their own devices. Yui figured this was the best chance she had to ask her some questions.
"Lyra-San that earring is beautiful- why do you only wear one?" She asked. Pointing to her earlobe.
Lyra paused. Suspicious of the question given the fact that Yui lived with the Sakamaki brothers. However after a moment she answered softly. " it's an heirloom. One of the only items I have from my birth parents."
Yui feeling suddenly like she crossed a personal line immediately began to apologize but Lyra seemed more amused than anything.
"You know you kind of remind me of a rabbit. Big wide eyes and super jumpy at the slightest sound." Lyra said lightly.
Yui blushed and glanced down with a huff.
" Oi Titless!"
The voice was not a welcome one and Yui turned towards the sound. Facing Ayato who was surprisingly in the pool as if he'd been there the whole time.
However he seemed to be watching Lyra.
" What is it, Ayato-Kun?" Yui asked timidly. The two girls slowed to a stop.
" Not you. Her." He jerks his chin at Lyra. " she deserves the title more than you. At least you have -something- but even in her bathing suit she looks like a boy."
While Yui was happy to not be called that horrible nickname anymore. She didn't like that he decided to turn it on someone else. Ayato spoke loudly on purpose. Drawing the attention of nearby classmates a few of who even giggled and pointed towards her.
Lyra for her part didn't say anything. Just sighed and pulled Yui back to the ledge making sure she was holding the wall before she moved towards the stairs.
" Oi I wasn't done talking to you!" Ayato scowled. His brief feeling of victory fading as he sensed absolutely no shame or embarrassment from the girl.
"Well luckily for me. You aren't my boss. Therefore I don't have to listen to you." Lyra replies. Akira hopped out of the deep end and moved towards her sister as she walked towards the towels. The two girls stopped to wrap them around themselves and Ayato grabbed Lyra's arm before she could lean down to grab her own.
He dragged her towards him scowling. " Don't ignore me, titless-I thought I taught you that already." He glanced to Akira and smirked. "Wow are you -really- sure you're a girl?" He looked back down to Lyra with a malicious smile. "Your sister sure looks like one even in that horrible suit."
He expected tears. Maybe even a glare. What he didn't expect was the solid slap he received from her free hand.
Yui tried to get out of the water quickly as Lyra followed up the slap with a low fast tackle. Ending up on top of him on the tiles and punching him- until he flipped her over and returned the favour.
"Stop it!" Yui called finally making it out of the pool as Akira kicked Ayato off her sister and dragged Lyra to her feet only to hold her arms behind her as she struggled to go at him again.
"What is going on out here!?" Ayato was stumbling to his feet with a snarl as the teacher entered the silent pool room.
"Mr Sakamaki, mrs Gallagher. Grab your things and get changed." He stated coldly. "The rest of you back to laps! This isn't a tv show."
Akira let Lyra go who grabbed her towel and muttered curses in English under her breath. Storming off to the girls change room.
Ayato moves to the boys room shouldering past Akira on the way. Ignoring Yui completely.
He walked into the change room and paused. Reaching up to his lip. The cut had already healed...but that bitch made him bleed.
Somehow. Someway. He didn't end up beating a couple of mortals.
—-
Twenty minutes later both Ayato and Lyra were sitting on opposites sides of a door to the guidance counselor's office. After being yelled at by both the swimming teacher and principal. Lyra had her hat tucked low on her head. Arms crossed as she glared forward at the wall. Ignoring his existence to the best of her ability.
Ayato meanwhile was staring right at her. Noticing little things here and there about her appearance the more he stared. Her eyes were dark brown in a glance but closer inspection revealed flecks if lighter brown more golden in sheen. Her skin was pale and the bite and punch left no lasting damage. She wasn't bleeding. And seemed to already be bruising much like himself.
He narrowed his eyes in thought as he considered what she could be up too. He guessed hunter still. But she hadn't pulled out a weapon at any point and aside from the earring. Didn't seem to carry any silver items on her person.
" Honestly, I have to clean up enough of your messes at home, Ayato."
Ayato turned his head to peer at Reiji standing before him with his arms crossed. Surprisingly Shu was also with him. Looking about as lively as a corpse.
Ayato scowls as Reiji goes to sign the papers for Ayato. Lyra didn't even glance up. Until her own friend showed up anyway.
Akira and Aya walked towards her. The silver eyes landed on Lyra and made her tense.
...Aya however only sighed and moved inside to sign the papers. " we'll talk at home…" she murmured gently. Akira leaned down to grab Lyra's bag and pull her to her feet.
" Where's Yui?" Lyra asked bluntly.
Ignoring the way Shu and Ayato glanced their way. Akira shrugged. "Back in class. I told her I was going to get Aya for you. She begged me to apologize to you."
Lyra gave a small hum in reply but merely reached up and tugged her hat down.
Aya stepped out of the office with Reiji just behind her. Handing the paper copies to Lyra and adjusting the headphones over her neck.
"I expect this will be the last interference, Mrs Gallagher." Reiji suddenly spoke up. While peering sharply at Lyra.
"Whatever. You speak like my granddad." She tells him bluntly before stalking off. Akira looked awkwardly between the people remaining. But at Aya's look quickly followed after her sister.
Aya turned to face the three brothers. First eyeing Ayato. He was glaring at her and seemed to tense when she glanced his way. She slowly moved her eyes to Reiji, observing the pink nearing red colour of his eyes. And finally Shu…
" I'm sorry for their behaviour. It's unworthy of them. Though they typically try to avoid too much attention, or at least Lyra does. She's got a few...anger troubles? We're working on it but she tends to go off and explode sometimes when antagonized."
She glanced at Ayato pointedly. Who tsked and looked away.
Aya looked back to Reiji and Shu, bowing slightly. "I'm not their parents by any means and we don't have many adults around us. But if you need anything further from us you can find us at the address on the sheet from the office. Either me or Rayna would be answering your questions…"
Reiji narrowed his eyes. "You speak politely but I have a hard time telling whether or not you are truly sincere. Mrs…?"
Aya lifted her head. " Winters, Ayanna Winters."
She then tipped her head to the side and eyes him for a long moment. " I don't think you should be worrying about whether or not I'm sincere though. I doubt we'll be interacting much after this."
Shu chuckled. "But your friends with Yui."
Aya tilted her head. " and you're taking care of her yes? So perhaps you should be more concerned about where she is right now."
Shu and her stared each other down silently. Only for Subaru to round the corner and come barreling towards the group.
" Oi! The brides gone- the damn halfbloods are missing too-" he stopped mid sentence to peer at the girl standing there.
"What do you mean she's gone?" Ayato demanded, standing up and scowling.
Aya glanced between all of them silently. Before reaching down and pulling her headphones back up over her ears. "Sorry for taking up your time. If you need any help finding her you know where to find us." Her words almost sounded amused if they weren't so dull sounding in tone.
She walked away down the hall as the four vampires watched her.
"She's not working with them." Shu said. "Though I have a feeling she knew this was going to happen…"
" what makes you say that?" Reiji asked, eyeing his brother through narrowed eyes.
" A hunch...and since one of them mentioned him...I think it's safe to say they probably know more than we realize."
Silence greeted the blonde's words. The distant howl of a wolf sounded in the distance.