Disclaimer: I do not own Diabolik Lovers or the characters! All rights go to the original authors and creators.

Some people might tell you that their biggest fear is dying

and others fear life itself

Like a slow haunting song, death approaches them with each passing day

How I envy them..

For I am faced with death at every moment of my life

It is staring me in the face as it towers over me

Draining my world of color

I am rendered helpless and left broken on the surface

But inside.. my silent nerve slowly builds and my fear of death subsides

As I wait for the day where the only things to grip my soul are happiness and peace

When you'll be left with nothing but the blood that stains your hands

And the emptiness that fills your heart

I'll be free from this nightmare forever

..

Chapter Five

The days began to blend together for Yui. Each becoming a blurry remnant of the last. Her time spent with Laito was almost routine now. They'd wake up together, he'd get ready for school and leave her in the bedroom where she spent the next several hours alone until he'd return with her schoolwork. Sometimes he'd let her tend to her studies without interruption, and other times he'd pull her into the bed or the dungeon to play with her.

Fighting back was useless, and begging only spurred him on. So she'd found a counter between the two; completely shutting down mentally during those moments. It seemed to be working for now. But Yui feared he'd soon grow bored with her. She suspected he'd noticed a slight change in her demeanor over the weeks, and she felt conflicted on what to do. If she became useless to him.. her fate would be uncertain.

Laito pushed open the bedroom door and stepped inside. Yui was lying with her back against the headboard, staring off at the far wall.

He walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down next to her. "I'm home." He smiled, reaching a hand out to stroke her cheek and he whispering lovingly into her ear. Though the girl remained ever so still.

"Bitch-chan." He said softly, leaning over to peer at her face.

...

He frowned and he layed down on his side. "Bitch-chan, look at me." He said flatly.

She slowly turned her rose irises downwards and blankly stared into his eyes.

"You've been acting.. different." He said cupping her jaw and pulled her chin down to study her face. He lifted her limbs and pressed his hand to her forehead. "And you don't seem like you're sick.. I don't know what it could be."

Her eyes seemed to trail off when he spoke to her, but she gave no response to his touch.

He stood from the bed and slowly paced from from one end of the room to the other as he thought about what to do.

Yui looked over at him when he'd appeared at her side again. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek before stepping towards the door. "I'll be right back, okay? Wait here for me."

Laito gave the girl a small smile before pulling open the door.

She merely nodded in response and watched as he disappeared through the door and into the hall. When she was sure he'd left she let out a deep sigh and slumped down into the sheets. She folded her arms and stared up at the ceiling, drumming her fingers against her sides.

Her new tactic was definitely working. Laito had eased up on his harassment. Yet somehow.. She was feeling a small pang of guilt inside her chest.

Being brought to the Sakamaki mansion last year had truly been a life changing moment. Why she had chosen Laito to look after her.. She wasn't sure. Had she'd known how messed up he was deep down ahead of time, would she have reconsidered? She wasn't sure about that either. It was hard to imagine how her life would be like with one of the other vampires.

And there was no going back now. Her heart couldn't let her even if she wanted to. She had truly loved Laito before everything with the Mukami brothers had happened. She didn't plan for things to turn out this way. It was as if the whole situation had him changed into someone she couldn't recognize. Though the remaining flames of her feelings for him were small, they hadn't completely burned out.

The sound of the door creaking open broke the girl from her thoughts.

"Bitch-chan." Laito called as he stepped inside.

Yui observed him through her peripheral as he walked over to the side of the bed. What was he up to now?

He knelt down next to her face and combed his fingers through her hair. "I know something's been going on with you. You're upset with me aren't you?"

She remained silent as he spoke to her.

He sat up on his heels and held out a small box his hand. "I got this for you. I know that sometimes when human couples have a fight, a man will often bring his love presents as an apology. Do you think you can forgive me?"

Yui tried her best to hold in her curiosity as she averted her gaze from his direction. There was no way Laito had actually brought her anything with harmless intention.

"Bitch-chan." He called. "Don't you want to know what I got for you?"

Just ignore him, Yui. Don't be fooled. Don't give in. She told herself.

"I see.." He said with a small chuckle. "I'll just leave it right here." He placed the small box on the nightstand and stood to his feet again.

Laito climbed up to her side and softly rubbed her arm. "You don't have to open it right now. It's alright." He said leaning down to place kisses on her hand. "I had a long day at school. We're supposed to be preparing for finals soon."

...

He smiled and gave her hand a small squeeze."Haha but don't worry! We'll still have plenty of time to spend together. I never study for my classes anyway. That stuff is really boring."

...

"Bitch-chan?" He said, rubbing her cheek. "Didn't you miss me at all while I was away?"

...

He looked down at her and tilted his head. "You know.. it's funny. Sometimes I would imagine my life as one of those television sitcoms. You know, where the guy would walk through the door to find his wife making supper.. and she'd run into his arms and greet him with a kiss."

...

His smile slowly faded as he stared down at the unmoving girl.

...

"Bitch-chan."

...

"Why won't you talk to me?" He asked, his tone becoming slightly harsh.

...

He grit his teeth and gripped the girl's shoulders. "Huh?"

Yui held her breath and steeled herself against his touch.

"Bitch-chan.. Why? Why won't you talk to me anymore?" He asked with a saddened expression.

He snaked his fingers into her other palm and grabbed both of her hands. "Bitch-chan please.. Just say something." He pleaded, giving her hand another squeeze. "Anything."

She let out an unsteady breath as Laito held onto her.

"I don't know what else you want from me.." He whispered. "I've tried to give you every ounce of my love the only way I know how. And it's still not enough for you."

Yui choked back a sob as she felt his weight shift off of the bed and stepped towards the door again, pulling it open and leaving without another word.

Her mask completely shattered the moment the door shut behind him. She sat up on the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and burying her face in her arms as the tears poured from her eyes.

She lifted her head as she remembered the small box that rested atop of the shelf. Wiping her face, she reached over and grabbed it, taking in a deep breath before pulling off the top. She let out a small gasp as her eyes gazed upon the sparkling silver necklace inside.

With trembling hands, she picked up the thin chain and held it up to her eyes. It glistened in the light as it swung between her fingertips. A shining row of diamonds surrounded the large ruby colored gem that hung from the end.

She slowly unhinged the clasp and hooked it around her neck. Without even realising it, her legs were carrying her over to Laito's mirror. She stopped in front of the dresser and stared up at her reflection. The necklace was beautiful. She shut her eyes and placed her fingers against the cool metal, pressing it to her skin.

When she opened her eyes she nearly fainted. An eerily familiar woman stood behind her. Long lavender hair draped over her face and shoulders.

"I-it's you!" She gasped. "No way..!"

A vicious smile curled onto her crimson lips and her green eyes flashed with malice. "I won't let you have him." She whispered.

A pair of arms was wrapped around her neck and Yui cried out in pain.

She quickly pried at her hands but it was no use. The woman held her in a deathly strong grip.

"Never." The woman hissed.

"Heughhh.." Yui wheezed as the grip around her throat became tighter. Her vision began to fade out she felt the air slowly leaving her body. No..! Please..

Her arms limply fell to her sides as the last traces of oxygen were squeezed from her body. And then everything went black.

...

"Bitch-chan!"

"Mnn.." Yui groaned. Her limbs felt heavy and her eyes wouldn't stay open.

"Bitch-chan! Can you hear me?"

"Ugh.. Lai..to.. Kun?" She choked out. With the last amount of strength she could manage, she forced her body to sit up and pried her eyes open.

Her head was spinning as she tried to focus on her surroundings. The smell of damp earth filled her lungs and she could hear the caws of crows nearby. Her vision was blurry and her legs felt wobbly as she tried to stand.

Something cold touched her skin, causing her to flinch and scream out in surprise. "No! Don't touch me!"

"Hey, hey! Bitch-chan, relax! It's just me."

She stopped thrashing and slowly opened her eyes. "Laito-kun.." She panted, looking up to see his face.

"That's right." He smiled, brushing the hair from her face.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly as she tried to make sense of what was going on. "What.. What happened?"

"I found you unconscious out here in the graveyard." Laito explained. "What were you doing all the way out here? Did you leave the room on your own again?"

Her mouth hung open as she tried to recall what had happened. She gasped and quickly reached down to her neck. "I-It's gone!"

She looked back at Laito as the tears filled her eyes. He pulled the girl into a tight embrace, rubbing her back as he spoke soothingly. "It's alright now. I've got you."

"But.. But.. The woman. I-in the mirror-!" She sobbed out. "And the necklace!"

Laito pulled away from her and stared at the hysteric girl. "What..?"

"You brought it to me in a little box! And you left it on the table!" She cried. "And when I went to put it on-!"

Yui looked up at Laito for an explanation. But it looked as though he didn't have the slightest clue as to what she was talking about.

"A necklace?" Laito said with a confused tone. "Bitch-chan. You're not making any sense.. You've been in bed for the past five days."

"Huh?"

"I had gone to Reiji for some help. He thought that you were succumbing to anemia. When we came back to check on you.. You weren't in the bed. And the next thing I knew, I had found you out here."

He gave her a small smile and trailed his knuckles down her jaw. "It's a good thing I had stopped drinking your blood when I did. I actually almost killed you. I have to be more careful. Humans are such fragile creatures." He chuckled.

Yui's eyes trailed off in disbelief as she took in his words. No way.. Then who had been in the room with her..? She flinched as a hand waved out in front of her.

"Bitch-chan if you're still not feeling well you really shouldn't be out here." He lifted the frozen girl to her feet and carried towards the gate.

Yui's mind was reeling with a thousand thoughts as the two made their out of the cemetery. Her eyes fell onto the large tomb at the back of the graveyard that she'd found the other day.

Something was definitely very.. very.. wrong.

The border between what's real and what's not. I'm not sure where it lies anymore.

These things seen with our eyes. How true are they, really?

Reality..

Illusion..

All the pieces of my mind have been shattered like glass.

They sit pooled around my feet as I fall to my knees.

I look to you for answers. You're the only thing familiar to me in this place.

But you simply smile and whisper to me, those same three words.

The woman in the mirror.. and the tomb in the graveyard

Do they hold the key to this cage that's entrapped my sanity?