Yuuki spaced out as she snipped away at the stems of perfectly blossomed roses, losing herself in the a deep, dark red shade of the velvety petals.
A month and a half in captivity. Over an entire month since her freedom had been robbed from her and she'd come to live with these vampires. They had the so-called decency to wait between feedings in order to allow her body to take a break yet it might be kinder to just let her die.
Because she wasn't paying attention, a thorn managed to prick her finger. With an air of indifference, she used her tongue to apply pressure on it until it stopped bleeding.
What's so great about this taste anyway? It's so disgustingly metallic.
"Yuuki, you know Teddy and I don't like to be kept waiting. Hurry up with those roses."
"They're ready."
"Then follow me." Kanata led Yuuki into a foggy cemetery. She immediately felt goosebumps appear on her body.
"What are we doing here?"
"Isn't this place nice? It's so dark and full of the smell of death. I love graves."
And I wonder why I obediently followed the psycho. Yuuki thought sarcastically to herself.
"This here is where my mother rests... At least, that's what everyone says."
"She passed away? My condolences."
I can see why you grew up to be such a wreck.
Kanato scraped the sole of his shoe against the moist dirt, digging a hole into the ground with his heel. "Would you believe my if I said that I killed her?"
"Huh?" The question and it's implications didn't quite register in her brain.
"Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. Place the roses there."
"Uh, sure..." I don't want to be here for longer than I can help it.
She knelt down to gingerly place the bouquet on the tombstone. Despite the eerie atmosphere, Yuuki spared a second to pay her respects to the dead. The kind of life led by the creature who had passed away didn't matter. When one was reminded of their own mortality, they should stop for a moment to reflect and pray. That is what her father had taught her.
Yuuki slowly stood up and brushed her hands together.
"Well, I guess I'll be going then." She nodded to the vampire and turned to leave.
"You're really self serving, aren't you?" Kanato accused quietly.
Yuuki stopped in her tracks, confused as to what had upset him.
"I specially invited you here but you leave as soon as it displeases you. And you say that you want to know more about me? What could you possibly understand?!"
Oh, no wonder he's angry. Kanato was opening up to me and thinks that I am being cold.
"I-I'm sorry."
He sighed. "It's tiring when you apologize because you don't even mean it."
"I didn't mean to be rude," she reiterated, staring at the space between her shoes in mild guilt. He somehow found it amusing.
"Haha! Look how pretentious you are!" Kanato exclaimed as he moved towards her. "Hey, how come you smell so familiar to me?"
"How am I supposed to know?" Yuuki mumbled quietly at the change of topic, clenching her hands into fists at her sides.
"I want a taste. I'll forgive you if it's good."
"Kanato, leave me alone." Yuuki said firmly, her expression unapologetic when she looked up at him.
"... You're despicable. Grovel in the dirt and cry out in pain some more before even thinking about heading home..."
Are you hitting puberty, Kanato? Because your mood swings are on a totally different level.
Yuuki walked back home alone feeling deflated. She didn't know how to interact with these brothers at all.
The girl was was so preoccupied with her own problems that she didn't notice an older vampire standing outside the mansion.
"What are you doing here, Lord Richter? Get lost."
"Shouldn't you be calling me uncle, Subaru?"
The youngest nephew just glared at Richter in silence as he waited for an answer.
"The Awakening will occur without biding it's time," the man offered before disappearing.
The white-haired vampire inhaled sharply and his eyes grew wide.
"The Awakening?" Subaru repeated while stealing a glance towards the oblivious blonde.
A/N: Yuuki doesn't trip now! Because, let's be honest, we were all screaming "JUST RUN FOR IT ALREADY!" at the screen and proceeded to facepalm when Yui fell. It was pitiful, but we certainly didn't feel pity.
