Alone in the bathroom, Yuuki checked out her new red bruises.

That bastard doesn't wait for when a girl's ready, sheesh.

She had reluctantly decided to choose Ayato as her "shield" because of his apparent eagerness to be around her but his impertinence still vexed her. For some reason, it was somewhat justifiable if she was the one in control yet utterly immoral the second he wielded the power. Using him for her own benefit was just a tactic for self-defense on her part... A particularly reprehensible tactic that she could not fully allow herself to entertain.

Suddenly, the idea of a bath seemed unappealing so she headed into the shower. The water cascading down on her was a comfort - a metaphor of her current state. It cleared her mind as it washed her body. Yuuki killed the water and dried herself with the plush, white towels waiting for her.

Her current situation didn't mean that she couldn't pamper herself. Besides, she was never one to be ashamed of her femininity. Yuuki closed her eyes and allowed herself a single moment to just enjoy the feel of the warm bathrobe wrapped around her. From now on, she would have to find pleasure in the little things in life since she was essentially robbed of her true freedom.

At least it's really fancy prison, if it must be one.

A sound from the tub distracted her.

"Shu!" Yuuki exclaimed, while on the inside she cursed the fact that everyone in this household lacked proper decency.

"Keep yer volume down," the vampire grumbled with his eyes still closed. "Don't be so loud."

Oh, as if I'm the one disturbing you.

"What are-"

"I'm obviously taking a bath."

"But why in the world are you still dressed? And with earphones in?!" VAMPIRE LOGIC.

"If it bothers you that much, why don't you go ahead and strip me?"

EHHHH?! Are you kidding me? I'm from the church, you know. Virginity and Innocence is etched in my soul!

The train of thought halted when Yuuki abruptly remembered that her "purity" was now marred.

Ahh! No, my body is tainted!

Her father would be ashamed. She pulled her bathrobe up protectively to cover the hickeys better.

"Didn't you come here to see me naked?"

"Of course not! Don't even suggest such a thing!" Her face sported every shade of embarrassment.

Shu opened an eye mischievously. "It's a good thing I left my clothes on, then. Why don't you join me?"

"Why would I ever willingly to do that?"

"You're blushing, you know."

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Proves that you're thinking of something dirty."

"Wha-? No, it doesn't!"

"But you think I'm attractive. The fantasizing will follow soon enough."

Yuuki crossed her arms. "Har har, very funny. I'm not exactly going to go around throwing myself to every mildly good-looking guy that crosses me."

"Shame you don't appreciate such an offer. Most girls would consider themselves lucky if eye-candy like me bothered to notice you."

"Gah. Yup, you guys are totally related to each other. I guess arrogance is hereditary."

Shu looked up at her with both of his eyes. She squirmed under his complete attention.

"We have different mothers..." Shu finally drawled. "Me and Reiji share a mother. Ayato, Kanato, and Laito are triplets from another woman..."

Is he opening up to me? Wow, that's a first.

She hadn't expected him to volunteer information on his own. "And Subaru?"

"Yet another woman." Shu stated while sinking deeper into the tub with a large splash.

Yuuki accidentally grabbed one of his hands because of the unexpected action. It was an unnecessary reflex - Shu wasn't falling nor did she need to care about his safety. The harmless touch was an unfamiliar sensation, reminding the vampire that nobody had been friendly or intimate with him in years. This thought set off one of his own painful flashbacks, causing him to grasp Yuuki's hand too tightly in return.

"Ow, it hurts! You're hurting me, Shu!" Yuuki yelped. He snapped out of his daze, stared at the foreign object within his grip, before pulling the girl into the tub.

"Let me drink your blood."

"What? No, of course not!" Yuuki blurted out. Shu ignored her and let his gaze trail down her neck, where her wet hair clung like curly, platinum golden vines. He chuckled when he laid his eyes on the two love bites.

"Ayato's such a possessive freak." Agreed.

Shu pushed some of the terry cloth off her shoulder, causing Yuuki to gasp. She felt exposed.

"And for a moment I thought you might be a bit different."

"Don't be an idiot. I'm a vampire just like the rest of them." He bit into her and sucked deeply, then complimented her on her blood.

Yuuki swallowed her pride waited. She knew how much it hurt to move away before he was done and wanted to avoid tearing her veins into pieces. Thankfully, it didn't take long for Shu to be satisfied. Her patience proved to be an asset and the ordeal was quickly over.

It didn't feel intimate. Yuuki was visibly annoyed for multiple reasons but was refusing to react. Shu moved away and frowned.

"Think twice before you try reaching out to us."


Yuuki had forgotten that Ayato was waiting for her once she returned to her room. Grimacing at the sight of the boy impatiently sprawled out on her bed, she turned around mumbling something along the lines of forgetting something in the bathroom.

Obviously, her weak attempt to avoid him was in vain.

Ayato leapt up from his spot and forcefully pushed the door closed just as she tried to open it, before demanding that she satisfy his neglected thirst. Immediately.

That's all these bastards care about. Not me, my blood... Duh, they're stupid vampires.

Yuuki sighed silently because he couldn't see her expression with her back turned toward him. His arm remained on the door, caging the petite blonde within his shadow and the wall. She felt far too vulnerable and far too small as he manually maneuvered her so that he had a clear view of her neck. The dangerous gleam in his eyes told her that Resistance Was Futile.

The vampire wondered why his prey was acting so uncharacteristically obedient but he was too preoccupied to really care. Good. She was learning how to behave like he wanted. And he was hungry.

Ayato's victorious grin melted of his face when he spotted something that didn't sit well with him. He lightly grazed his fingers over the new fang marks engraved in Yuuki's pale skin.

"Reiji? No... Shu," he spat with narrowed eyes. "That little piece of shit."

So you can tell, huh? Hopefully, now you know why I don't have enough strength to - whoa! Where are you taking me?!

Ayato stormed out of the room to confront his rival, dragging Yuuki along by her elbow. Apparently, vampires could locate their targets with uncanny ease and reach them almost as quickly. The knowledge scared her.

"Shu, you bastard. Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" Ayato asked with a vengeance, but his provocation was thoroughly ignored. "… Can you hear me?!"

The eldest brother stirred when the red-haired vampire tore an ear bud out of its rightful spot.

"Listen to me, you motherfu-"

"Shut up, you're too noisy."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Ayato," Yuuki pleaded, "let's just let it go, okay?"

Ayato glared at her although he drew her closer. "You think I could ever let you go?"

Yuuki's heart skipped a beat and crumbled a little at the same time.

He only thinks of me as a possession. Or food. Both.

"Ooh, nice idea." Laito crooned as he joined the group. Ayato's protective grip on her waist tightened at the appearance of his flirtatious brother. "I guess the prize is our Little Bitch."

Yuuki's snapped her head to face the eldest triplet. "Will you stop calling me that? Do you even know what it means?"

Laito smiled, "Of course."

"I don't appreciate being called such a derogatory term. It's sounds weird in the first place."

"But it fits. You're going to become our loyal little lap dog."

"At least give me a cuter nickname."

Ayato rolled his eyes in a silent here-we-go-again. Be as that may, the suggestion amused his older twin brother.

"Such as?"

"Hmmm... how about Koinu? The Ko can even be from my family name."

"Nah, I still like Little Bitch better."

"Too bad but I'm not responding to that. Either call me Koinu or stick to my actual name." Yuuki growled. She was so done with these misogynistic fools.

Shu and Laito both whistled simultaneously.

"This here's a feisty one." Laito joked. "You sure you want to keep her, Ayato?"

"She's mine so keep your filthy hands to yourself."

Shu put his earphones back on. "Whatever. I don't care either way. Keep your precious pup."

Ayato still looked like he wanted to pick a fight but Yuuki pulled him away from the room.

"Move out of the way, pancake. I have a score to settle."

"What's your problem? Just leave it at this and everything will be fine. I promise."

"Yuuki." Ayato put both hands on her shoulders. Cue another heart zing. "Stay out of this."

"Stay out of this?!" Yuuki repeated with a look of utter disbelief. "Stay out of this?! I'm supposed to be the prize, dammit! Don't bet on me like I'm just another piece in your stupid little game."

"You rea-"

Yuuki's hand flew across his face with a loud slap.

"Don't. Don't say it. I know none of you really care about me, but I have feelings. It hurts when you thick-headed numskulls decide to trample all over them," she stated hotly. "And I'm not going around giving up my blood to just anyone. At least not on purpose. It's not even realistic with my weak constitution, got it?"

Without sticking around for his response, she turned away and sprinted back to her room, leaving the red-haired vampire dumbstruck.

Once she crashed onto her bed, Yuuki covered her eyes with an arm and started berating herself with a cycle of self censure.

What the hell is wrong with me? I decided to manipulate Ayato for my safety in the first place. I need to concentrate calling for help – I can't get distracted. What am I getting all butt hurt for? Why am I justifying myself? Why... just for that one second... why did I kind of wish that he did that out of jealousy?


A/N: I like how Yuuki loathes the fact that she started caring about them despite her better judgement. That, or she's too curious for her own good. Yuuki would say it's the latter, but I say it's both.

No Reiji in this scene because they weren't really causing a "commotion" to attract his attention =3= I mean, ya live in a huge mansion. Sure you have super sensitive vampire abilities to sniff out whomever you want, but you can easily avoid each other's company if you desired to do so.