x Chapter Six x

Somewhere in the maze of a mansion a clock struck the witching hour. The sound of its chime rolled directionless down the laugh-less halls through the wood of the closed door of his study. In that self-imposed prison, Reiji Sakamaki sighed and rolling back the office chair, he stood for a much-needed stretch.

After five hours of poring through the sheets, calculating six years of financial output and input, and then organizing the found material into neat clusters, he rewarded himself with a break.

And although he wouldn't be able to retire for the rest of the short night yet, he had passed his own expectations in terms of a to-do list.

Another five more hours and he could resume some façade as a freeman. The idea of freedom was ridiculous. His nostrils flared and his hands fisted at his sides. "Freedom is slavery…" He murmured. He'd read that quote from a book from a childhood he could barely remember now, but Reiji continued to use it almost daily, having long adopted it as his own personal motto. Six syllables, three words, a single sentence encompassing his whole life. Pathetic…

No. His brothers were pathetic. All five of them. Part of his role as freelancing, unpaid financial housekeeper included a lot of trips outside the tall, penitentiary iron gates at the foot of the family property. Some of those trips had been positively disgusting, others just on this side of tolerable—but they all had been enlightening in their own way.

As a young boy he had no reason to question the abundant wealth he awoke to every night. Unlike his parents, it had always been there.

And in this way he was no better than his dimwitted, ignorant fools of brothers.

Another sigh pushed past pursed lips.

Frustration came along with the memory of the events at the club. In place of his father and Shuu, he'd willingly applied himself as the temporary manager of the financial situation both in-house and out of house.

This self-promotion having occurred only a long month ago, and already Reiji was surprised by the amount of secrets unveiled from what was otherwise one big house full of shadowy lies.

What hardly compared to that initial shock was the superseding surprise at just how many of his father's trusted investees were squandering away the less-than-immeasurable Sakamaki wealth.

The immediate thought was to contact his father, but then Reiji remembered how difficult that would be. Besides he found this paternal figure was nothing short of a stranger.

Still it wouldn't tide his spirit to leave things as they were. So one-by-one he'd visited establishment after establishment, introductions were made and contacts were revisited, and he left each with the parting of change.

Change, slow but steady, would sweep through the city so long as he continued to breathe. In the dirge of entrepreneurial ventures stacking all four corners of his desk Reiji knew change was inevitably promising.

Red Eclipse had been one of these hopeful businesses. A club catering to the vampire society, the files of its finances were connected with a separate series of interconnected paperwork highlighting the rough sketches for a plan of similar services. It was the well-documented proposal that caught Reiji's eye.

Red Eclipse was the would-be prototype of businesses assembly-lining the good 'ole vampire hunt. Lofty in its future designs, the idea itself was both ambitious and fascinating.

Of course that's where the interest stopped short. The first visit was an eye-opener and rather than the business' promise of "a night well-served", Reiji left with stress-induced stomach cramps.

Red Eclipse was a sham, at least as it stood now in the hands of its two incompetent co-owners. Perhaps the most loathsome of his species

But Reiji was more infuriated by his father's carelessly placed trust in these sub-level vampires. The very creatures who would salivated for the land Reiji looked down over now.

Red eyes flickered back at him in the glossy reflection of the office's bay window. He watched his mirrored doppelganger brush his slipping spectacles back over the more comfortable position at the bridge of his nose.

When he'd arrived they hadn't had what he requested. Three days later at their second appointment, the paperwork was steaming hot from the presses and in his briefcase for the long drive home. Reiji hadn't expected them to come through but Wakahisa Kagami and his lovely and too-often aloof mate, Etsuko had managed to wipe away a smidge of their mired professional reputations.

Of course that had been dismissed when Reiji had flipped through the papers in the comfort of his self-appropriated office.

This is so tiring... Is this really all the information they have? Idiots. His thoughts were comprised of little less, let alone any mirth for that exciting hope Reiji initially felt when unearthing his father's extracurricular hobby.

By the time he'd gotten through the folder they'd prepared, a new night had risen and he was bundling his sleepless-self back into the household limo towards Red Eclipse.

This time under his meticulous supervision they'd managed to present a second, more presentable folder containing everything from their current revenue and the profit to date to the history of their investor relationships, and the future plans for the entertainment enterprise.

A gloved hand ran through inky, purple hair. His eyes drooped close, body sinking into the chair from the invisible weights of sleeps.

His head lolled forward, glasses tumbling off from his face onto a skewered close in his lap.

A drumming headache marched a tune up from his neck on either side of his temples. He wanted to toss all the papers and ledgers from the surface of the swamped desk, let them rot on the plush black carpeting below while he sunk into sweet sleep, but if there was one thing Reiji hated more than an unsightly disorder, it'd be the loss of a challenge.

"And that's all this is, correct? A challenge. A beast to be bested."

Somewhere in these clauses there had to be a clearly-legible cause for the loss of money his father's company was losing. Rubbing his temples at futile attempt to try and soothe his swelling headache.

At least he had already began working on the seemingly unsolvable puzzle. The first task had been to find information.

Reiji had split Red Eclipse's owners up in a deft, off-handed maneuver. He didn't need suspicion dogging and questioning his investigative purposes.

First he managed to corner the beautiful Etsuko. His method had been a combination of sweet-talking, indirect proverbial nudging towards the right direction. Overall he'd managed to keep his clothes on while concluding the tall blonde knew nothing about the finances.

His whimsical theory of some sort of foul play only strengthened in its solidity when Reiji orchestrated a meeting with Kagami. Unlike Etsuko, he replaced the sweet talk with free dinner and dessert with a personal in-house bloody wine.

200-year-old fermented, uncorked blood flowed along with more headway towards building a case for foul investment and breaches of legal contracts.

But the more information he gathered, the more Red Eclipse's aloof couple seemed like victims rather than the culprits he intended to hunt down and mete justice on.

Yes. Reiji made a promise on his character. He would find the individuals and any of their well-disguised ilk and when he did he'd make the calls he hesitated to do now. He'd pass the honor of severe punishment to his father.

Reiji smiled, his reflection returning the toothy mirth; then and only then would he feel truly worthy to speak to the magnanimous King of Vampires.

For a while he basked in the possibilities of such a conversation, such a triumphant beginning to endless fantasies. Unfortunately unlike the lifespan of his brothers the pleasurable goals were short-lived.

Thus far the sanctity of his room had protected him from their childish interruptions, and this sole peace had allowed him to complete much of the needed tasks; however, the start of the loud blows on his door, followed by their voices suggested the remaining night would bear little fruit.

On the other side Laito rapped again over Ayato's angry hollering. "Oi! Four eyes! You happen to be plannin' a trip to that club without us in there?"

Before Ayato went with his first instinct and yanked the hinges off the door, the lock unclicked and Reiji swung into view. Blocking their entrance, he narrowed his eyes and held up a hand at their rushing steps forward.

"Ayato, Laito. Isn't it a bit too late for your noise? What do you want?"

"Maybe we just wanted to say 'hi'?"

Reiji quirked an eyebrow. "Is that all? Well, hello then. Goodbye." He hadn't actually closed the door, knowing their intrusion was selfish and nothing close to brotherly affection.

Ayato and Laito would agree if asked. Blood tied them together, but it could easily rip them apart if prompted. Thankfully food was always readily available and their arguments rarely escalated into strikes. Not counting Subaru of course…

"Oi! Hold up! We ain't done talking to you yet." Ayato pushed past him, forcing Reiji to step back to allow them entrance.

Laito tossed himself into one of the two loveseats in the room. His boots crossed over the squeaky leather of the arm, while he propped his arms under his head for makeshift support. Reiji had just begun telling him to relocate the unsanitary footwear from his precious upholstery when Ayato piped up from his position behind his desk, rifling through the nearest stack of folders.

Flickering to his side, Reiji pulled the papers and their file from his hands, replacing it where it would remain free from damage. "Your manners are appalling as usual."

"Ayato-sama does want he wants. Anyways," Ayato peered at him through a narrowed gaze, "what could you be hiding?"

"I don't hide. Especially when I don't have a need. Now will you be informing me of this unceremonious visit, or must I find a way to drag you it out of you both?"

Laito's breathy laugh defused the animosity lurking behind their staring match. "Such bad tempers and so early in the night… Actually we wanted to go with you again on another of your stalkings… Hmmm."

"Stalkings? My efforts will help cushion the income that shelters, clothes and feeds you. They are not to be equated with stalkings. Now get out of my chair." Reiji grunted.

"Just makin' sure you ain't goin' off without Ore-sama." Ayato said, and instead of arguing he cleared the seat and the vicinity of the desk. Opting to stand at the same spot Reiji had been, the fifth Sakamaki son and the loudest of the brothers looked over what Reiji knew was the very green pastures of their handsome property. Though he suspected not in the same conscious light, particularly where Ayato was concerned beauty was framed between a woman's face and her waist. There might not be any love lost with his filial counterparts, but Reiji had long made it his business to know what their likes and dislikes were. However such reasoning was a mystery he'd never be able to articulately unravel to his satisfaction.

"And if I am?" He replied answering the delayed pause to Ayato's statement.

"How unbrotherly of you, Reiji." Laito tsked. He'd rolled over and pulled himself up into a position where his elbows were propped up and he cupped his cheeks with his hands.

"Please forgive me then. Only place yourselves in my position. Your sudden interest in my activities is unnerving and I have every right to distrust and deny such a request."

"Hey! Why can't we go with you? Huh?" Ayato moved closer, his posture had turned aggressive again.

Laito also rolled out of the couch and approached the desk's opposite ending, and in this position they confronted Reiji from the side and head-on. But no blood would be spilled.

"Ayato's right. We've been good and sweet and… Imagine the things we could do to this room of yours if you don't take us?"

Ayato blinked. His clenched fists relaxing signaled his understanding of the implication

Laito's implication was a testament to his more calculating brain. As the eldest of the triplets he showed much more reserve and astuteness. Now if he managed to shed himself of his sexual pervasiveness than Reiji believed he would be a formidable figure in the

"Fine." He said. And although ducking for the briefcase at the foot of his desk, Reiji was acutely aware of their victorious relief. "Once again I expect the utmost presentation. I will not have you sully my name. What I don't expect from you is to understand the rationality—plain as it is—behind my words. Nor do I ever."

"Yeah, yeah! So basically we stay out of your way." Ayato said.

Reiji fought the urge to sigh. Fatigue and exasperation were a lethal combination. "Hai. In so few words. Much like, I'm sure, whatever poor creature had earned your frightening attention."

Ayato scoffed. But his reaction was enough to confirm what had just been mere guessing on Reiji's part.

"Well since you asked so kindly…" Offering a more forth-coming reaction, Laito's sarcasm roused even a smile from Reiji. "I found the entertainment quite…entertaining… Do I need to explain myself further?"

"Heh. You got yourself laid did you?" Ayato's naïve obscenity was enough to make even Reiji cringe. It was to be expected, yet the crude speech always unsettled him.

He censured where he could, but with Laito feeding off of him and vice versa, it never stuck and was, therefore, near impossible. Much like the rest of them, what their childhood hadn't fostered would not be grounded now…

"Tsk tsk. I told you once already, Ayato-kun, I don't kiss and tell." Laito teased.

"Heh. Don't you mean 'kill and tell'?"

Green met green, and then they shared a laugh.

Displeased by their merriment, Reiji frowned, tapping the end of his gold and ruby-studded Omas atop the thick manila folder holding their newly-organized family finances. "I hope that's not the case. Murder might be easy, but it'd be awfully stupid."

"Then remind me to plan my murders elsewhere." Laito remarked over a blasé smile.

"Besides, it ain't as hard as it looks. Accidents can happen you know." Ayato shrugged off Reiji's callous glare.

"Now it's your turn. Who is she, Ayato-kun?"

"Ore-sama might have found something worthwhile." He cocked his head, eyes narrowing on Laito's smirking countenance. "What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing really. You just reminded me of someone right now, that's all."

"Oh is that right?" Ayato cocked a brow, a slow-forming grin pulling his lips. "Another good reason we should go again. Ore-sama only wants more and more…"

Laito's content sigh echoed in the room. "Ore mo…"

Having located the papers he needed for this particular round of trips right on time, Reiji locked away the color-coded files into the safety of his briefcase. The click of the setting locks riveted both his younger brothers' attentions from their testerone-induced fantasies.

Normally Reiji wouldn't waste even a precious second amusing the thoughts of their odd choices for diversion, but curiosity almost had him voicing dangerous questions. If he could the first would be identifying the hapless female or females who had them both dogging his steps like a couple of well-trained dogs glued to their owners. Of course there was the funny fact they had sharper bites than the average four-legged creature…

At the entrance they were detoured by a stuffed bear. The unanimated creature was lying directly in Reiji's path. He came to a hasty halt and the outcome was Ayato colliding into his back, pushing him dangerously close to trampling the stuffed animal.

"Oi! Ain't that the crybaby's bear?" Ayato remarked once he stepped out of Reiji's backwards glower at the unintended collision.

Laito moved to Reiji's other side so that he, too, could get a proper look at the furry obstacle. "It is. Kanato-kun won't be happy. Especially as it seems he's lost it again…"

"Heh. Oresama just got an idea."

"If that idea includes any action other than returning Kanato's teddy bear then I'll have to get you to reschedule your mischief." Reiji said, and before Ayato clamoured out his loud protest, he added, "Unless you've changed your mind and won't encumbrance me with your presence on my business."

Succeeding in silencing Ayato, Reiji stooped to collect the worn, limp form. He grimaced at the grime knotting the bear's surface. Long having lost its softness and sheen, it was like every other lifeless object in their castle. A remainder of the passing time and nothing more, but that wasn't true. This odd creature was loved, or at least its worn form suggested it was.

Bruised and battered, Reiji had to admit the silent creature was formidable in its fortitude. Where expected to fall apart, it remained pieced together by stitch-after-renewed stitch. Perhaps in a way it, too, gained immortality. At the least longevity…

"You're going to return it then?" Laito asked, the question effectively wrenching Reiji from his thoughts. Instead of answering him, he adjusted his glasses and resumed the brisk pace he'd been maintaining before the distraction.

They didn't have to detour, however, as the owner found them first. Purple hair was particularly upended today, and the greying flesh under his wide, frightful eyes were particularly tender. "Ayato! Where is it? Where is Teddy?" His hysterical greeting reverberated through the entrance hall and back up the long marble staircase they just descended.

Reiji grimaced.

"You, you… How could you be so cruel?" Kanato cried. Just like that the flood works replaced the screaming anger.

"Ah! Ne ne don't cry Kanato! Ne ne, we found your Teddy."

"Hontou ni…" He choked out past his sleeve.

Reiji held out the asked-for object. In his arms again, Kanato clasped the creature to his chest and buried his face into its mired synthetic fur. "So Ayato did take it then?"

"No. You just misplaced it again. And I must remind you to place it where it won't be damaged. Somebody could have had an accident."

Ayato and Laito snorted in unison, no doubt at the unfathomable idea that they could get injured and especially by something so entirely harmless.

The notion was just as ridiculous in his mind, but Reiji really feared was whatever might block him from accomplishing the duty he'd set out to undertake. An accident of any kind, even one caused by a bear or by its mentally-questionable owner, would set back or destroy all that he had worked for up and to that point, including the trip he needed to go do right now.

Having disposed of the burdensome bear, he rounded Kanato and dialed for the servant's quarters using the phone propped up on a table to the side of the double-door grand entrance.

"Where are you going?" Kanato asked as soon as he hung the phone back on its cradle.

"Do you want to come, Kanato? The club just might have something for you, too." Not to be mistaken for what it wasn't, Laito's friendly invitation was unsurprising. He had a strange way of being nice whenever it included raising the chances of multiplied misbehaviour.

"Kurabu?"

"Yeah! A club. Huh. Don't tell me you haven't heard of that kinda place before?" Ayato's teasing tone earned a scathing glare.

"It's not that. Stop mistaking me for some common vampire. Why would I go to such a disgusting place? And Teddy hates filth as much as I do…ne, Teddy?"

Interrupting their banter was the materialization of one of the myriad butlers. And like all his fellow coworkers, this swallow-faced man was incapable by a powerfully magical blood bond to refuse any command from a family member, direct or distant. Luckily, the castle housed only the six of them and if there happened to be visitors, they were of the human variety, and as such, they never saw past these walls again.

Expressionless, he placed the set of requested shoes on the floor in front of Reiji. With the polished loafers replacing the slippers, Reiji made to head out of the house. Naturally as fate seemed determined to thwart him of his plans so long as able, Reiji tilted his head towards this new distraction.

"Will none of you shut the hell up!" A quaking smash closely heeled the sound of clattering. "Oshaberi na. Like a freaking alarm clock. Kuso!"

"Must you damage the house on your rampages? I hope you know these walls don't rebuild themselves during the day." Which when said, said a lot because although blood dotted the surface of Subaru's knuckles upon the exit of his hand from the fist-shaped dent in the dry wall, those wounds would heal. It was fact that almost every wound on a vampire's body was superficial, or at least could be. There were special ways their kind could get hurt, so it was misleading to call them immortal...

Though the youngest of the family, Subaru seemed destined to die first. He was a walking time-bomb, and the only thing that protected him now was his near-constant residence in the castle, other than attending school. And in this way he had yet to make enemies. Real enemies anyways. Of all the brothers, he had the most animosity towards any kind of gatherings such as the present one.

"Oi! Show off. Did we wake you from that beauty sleep of yours?" Ayato goaded.

Subaru growled. "Urusai." In what otherwise might have been a blur to a human, Reiji, Kanato, Ayato and Laito easily tracked Subaru's blinking trajectory.

In that way Ayato was able to launch backwards and dodge the aimed kick to his head.

Subaru was intent on damage, and so he swiped out again, careening past both Laito and Kanato who otherwise might have been unintended victims if they, too, hadn't flipped in a similar direction out of harm's way.

Safe and sound again, Laito chuckled. "Guess Subaru isn't interested in going clubbing either."

"Hm." Kanato nodded over Teddy's head.

This continued for a bit more until a sixth voice introduced. Subaru stopped short from breaking the wall behind Ayato's head, and ironically at the command of the would-be interim head of the family.

At the top of the stairs, having mysteriously appeared there, Shu lounged over the plush loft beneath the large, centring painting. "So much annoying noise. I just missed Dittersdorf's final part of the Third Movement in the Ovid… Mattaku."

"Ovid what? Geez Shu, you blab on and on about that dumb music of yours."

One blue eye switched to focus on Ayato's electric green gaze. Lifting himself up from his reclining position, Shu yawned, scratching the back of his head. "Tch. What a waste. And now my battery's dead, too."

Reiji rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. He was almost embarrassed to be in the proximity of so useless a vampire. Shu's abdication, comically cruel in its own sense, was a direct tie to his personal laziness. And so here he was, filling the pinching shoes of the fair-haired eldest.

Hating the grating sound of his voice, Reiji intended to use that time to finally get on his way with his business.

"Reiji."

His name in that distasted voice stopped his finger from pushing the latch to the door free. Stepping to the side so in such a position he'd be able to face him, Reiji impatiently shoved his sliding glasses up his nose.

It was rare that Shu directly addressed him, and likewise in the reverse, and he wasn't alone in noticing this unusualness. Despite his curiosity Reiji held back his response. He had no need to impress any unnecessary kindness; kindness that might lead one of his other brothers to extend an invite to Shu. And that wasn't something Reiji would allow. Any time or place that was Shu-free was a gift not to be rejected or carelessly tossed away.

"That other man was asking for you. Something about money…" Shu drawled into another yawn.

That other man. In code that everyone there understood; code for a certain individual with moss-coloured hair and red eyes…

Never was there a perfect example of his dissatisfaction with destiny's go-ahead at family draw. Richter was a maniac, cruel and sadistic and perverted in his conduct; a true vampire in every mythological sense of the word. He also was their uncle.

Together the six of them were drawn by a similar dislike for this supposed adult authority figure. Not one of them hadn't fascinated at a most fortunate end to a more deserving soul.

They learned very quickly nothing good came of his visits, and whenever he was around or asking for all or one of them in particular it was never to share what another relative might, like presents.

Yet they also always managed to revert into fearful retreat. Like Reiji decided then.

"Ikimashou."

Understanding the need for a change of focus, Laito and Ayato trailed after him.

Fall had come early that year; its cold wind flicking at the loose twigs from hedge tops. The chill was nothing but water off their backs, and they could all easily stand around in their summer clothing without so much as a shiver.

Ayato and Laito had struck up a conversation, clearly avoiding the silent third member of their party. This was fine by Reiji. As it was the closest moment to peace he'd been given; an uncharacteristic selflessness on his brothers' parts.

Not that he got much peace. There was no peace in his mind, and where there was a lack of conversation was aptly filled in by the despairing formulation of the latest wrench in his planning.

Whatever Richter wanted would wait until he arrived, but he already suspected he knew the answer to the mysterious message of money.

Somehow, some way, the loathsome man managed to find out. It was an unrealized worst nightmare, and Reiji, like most vampires, thrived on that darkest part of dreams. Yet here was one nightmare he couldn't face, at least not for the time being.

There was only one last thing on Reiji's agenda at this point. "All I ask is you mind your manners. I will not tolerate any mud-slinging my way. Wakarimasu ka?"

Reiji accepted their shared smiles as good enough responses and soon the odd threesome were all occupying separate corners of the stretch limo. Laito switched between picking at his fingernails and looking out the window. Ayato had his arms folded across his chest, his head tilted back and mouth flapped open for the light snoring. In a similar sentiment, Reiji's eyes tiredly crossed as he tried to read over some documents. The lull that fell over them was dispersed when the vehicle pulled into a full stop.

Ejecting themselves out of the car, Laito and Ayato already stood on the sidewalk next to the car when at last Reiji retired from the comfortable leather seating inside. He exchanged a few quick words with the driver, mostly about scheduling and a pick-up time, and then he joined his brothers under the stoplight-red glow of the signage for the aptly-named business.

Red Eclipse.

Appearances could be deceiving. Through the bright light and past the buff-looking vampire security, there were a few seats too little, an over pricey menu and a profit-crippling disproportionate ratio of fifty-nine-to-one, vampires to humans.

So much like Red Eclipse's outward image, they were much more than they appeared. Any passerby would see three young men, each bearing his own signature outward characteristic so none would be mistaken for the other. And as far as they all partially confessed, each understood they were there for a unique reason even as they were all traversing down initially forked paths towards one destination.

One ignorantly shared destiny…