Chapter 10
I went to my room. It's been a long day. I somehow feel tired, it's the first time that I've felt this way. It's because I'm not in the demon world anymore. A nice warm bath is what I need right now. I opened my closet to find a towel and a change of clothes. I went outside to find the bathroom. It's a shame that my room doesn't have one. While walking along the corridor I found a door slightly opened and I can smell Azusa's scent. I knocked on the door. "Azusa?" He peeked from the door and greeted me. "Airi-san, do you need something?" I smiled and asked, "Can you point me where the bathroom is?" He told me the direction, I was about to leave when I smelled blood. "What's wrong Airi-san?" He asked. I gently pushed the door and saw that Azusa's bandage is loose and his arm is dripping in blood. I was shocked that he's hurt. "Azusa! What happened to your arm?!" He looked at his arm. "Oh, this? You do-" I interrupted him by rushing inside his room and tried searching for bandages. Surely, he has some bandages lying around here since he uses it all the time. I noticed his unique collection of knives. This is not the time to look at his collections. I asked him, "Where do you keep your bandages?" He pointed to his nightstand. I opened it and saw the bandages. I took it then brought it to his table and I sat on a chair. "Come here Azusa, I'll treat your wound." I said. He sat near me and held his wounded arm. I asked while I started patching him up. "Azusa, What are you doing? How did you get hurt?" Is he playing with his knives or something? He just smiled and said, "I was trying to refresh Justin, Christina and Melissa because it's about to heal up again. There's no need to worry, Airi-san" Refreshing what? Whose Justin, Christina and Melissa? I got confused and tried to clarify with him about what he just said. "I don't think I follow you Azusa." He showed me his wounds. "This is Justin, here is Christina and this is Melissa. They were about to heal so I'm cutting them again. You should try it Airi-san, it feels good." He's cutting himself but why? And he even named his wounds. "Azusa, why are you doing this to yourself? You don't have to answer me if you don't want to." I would love to say to him that it's not right doing this, hurting your own body but he's a vampire. He heals fast and he feels good doing this so, there will be no problem, I think? He answered, "I enjoy it, feeling pain. It's a proof that I'm alive and my existence has a meaning." He actually has a deeper meaning, the more I can't really tell him to stop. I'm almost finished. "Well, as long as you're happy, there won't be any problem at all. Just don't forget that pain isn't the only thing that can prove your existence." He looked at me and asked, "What is it?" I looked at him and smiled, "Your brothers. Let's just say that the bond between you four can be a proof of your existence. There, all fixed." He pondered at what I said then he looked at me. "Then Airi-san, you're now also part of that bond too, right?" My eyes widened to what he said. He's including me in their bond too? He's such a sweet boy. I really appreciate what Azusa said and made me smile. "If you and your brothers would like to include me, then I am happy to be a part of it." He also smiled and said, "I'm happy to hear that and I know that if the others would hear what you said they will be happy too, especially Ruki." Especially Ruki. The last two words repeated in my mind. Azusa looked at the bandage that I fixed. "Airi-san, it looks like you really know how to do this. Do you get wounded a lot too?" He asked. I looked at the window and said, "No, my twin brother did when we were younger. Even though he heals fast he really wanted me to treat his wounds, until I got used to it." Azusa stood up in front of me and asked, "Why did he want you to do that?" I still remember the day that it started, when we were still living a bliss life.
Flashback:
We were in the garden. Shu, me and Reiji. We were playing until Reiji went inside to spend time with mother. "Do you still want to continue playing? Or do you want to go inside as well?" I asked Shu. He was looking around until he grabbed my hand. He said while running, "Come on, let's try to see the village near here where the humans live." I was surprised at what Shu had said. I resisted a little and asked, "The portal near here that mother told us about? But we're not allowed to go in there." Shu just kept going, holding my hand while looking straight at where he's going. "But I want to see a human, don't you want to see one too?" he looked at me and asked. I thought about it then eventually agreed. So we went to the place where you can see humans. After walking through trees we eventually saw the village. "Shu, I think it's better if we hide. I don't want to get caught and get in trouble." I said and he agreed. We slowly walked and just hid behind walls as much as possible. We saw a boy crying, we found out that his hurt then someone approached him. A girl that looks a little older than the boy. The girl tried to calm down the boy and he did then the girl tore some of her dress and covered the wound that the boy has. We were fascinated at what we saw, we were about to follow the boy and the girl when one of our familiars caught us and brought us to our mother. We were scolded, then from that day on that portal was closed. Days passed, as I was walking in our garden, Shu ran toward me and he immediately held out his hand which is wounded. I widened my eyes, shocked at what I'm seeing. "What happened to you?" I asked. "I was trying to pick the apple from the tree then I fell, I scratched my arm on the trunk." He said calmly while his arms bled. I held his other hand and led him inside. "Come on, let's wash it and then let it be, it'll just heal immediately." He stopped walking that made me stopped too then I looked at him. He frowned and complained, "But I want you to treat it, put some bandage on it." I was puzzled at his request but nonetheless I obliged. I went to a room where I remembered seeing bandages, medicines and such. I washed his wound then tried covering it up with a bandage and he was just smiling all the way through while watching me. When I finished we both looked at my work. I was disappointed because it was loose since it's the first time I've done it but when I saw Shu smiling happily, admiring my work, I somehow felt satisfied. "Thank you, Airi. From now on, every time I get hurt, will you do this to me?" I agreed and ever since, every time he got hurt I always treat his wounds. Reiji noticed and said that he doesn't understand why we're doing it since it's pointless because vampires heal fast. Though Shu didn't tell me the reason why he wanted me to do this to him, even if it's pointless, somehow I understand why.
End of flashback
I looked at Azusa stood up then walked towards where I placed my towel and change of clothes then picked it up. "He never really told me the reason but maybe after all this time, I think I already knew it." I was already at the door when Azusa asked, "What's the reason?" I faced him, smiled and said, "It's a proof that someone cares for you." I turned around then left his room and closed the door. I sighed. I wonder how Shu is, right now. I felt a presence and I can already guess who it is since I can smell his scent, Kou's scent. "Aren't you going to come out now?" I heard a chuckle then he emerged just ahead. "I got caught." He said cheerfully like we're playing hide and seek. "Why are you hiding?" I said looking straight at him. He said, "I just happened to pass by when I heard your little talk with Azusa. You know, what Azusa said is true." I started walking then he followed not wanting to end our conversation. "What part?" I asked. He skipped in front of me and smiled cheerfully. "I am happy that you want to be a part of us. I wish you were a Mukami so that the five of us can be together forever." That made me smile that I am well accepted here. I really appreciate what Kou had said but I've got someone waiting for me. "Well, if I wasn't born a Sakamaki, I'll be gladly to end up a Mukami." I said while smiling then his eyes just lit up and he smiled happily. We started walking again until we reached the bathroom. I looked at him and excused myself. "Please excuse me, I need to take my bath now." He nodded then left. I went in and locked the door. Seeing their bathroom, I was at awe. Even though they only have one bathroom, it was too big. There's big black tub with golden lion head attached to the wall near it. I tried to start the water and was amazed that the water came out of the lion's mouth. They really fancied their bathroom, taking a bath here would really take away my stress.
I finished taking a bath and changed into simpler dress. I was trying to dry my hair with a towel and I was having a hard time since it is too long and thick. I'll just continue this in my room so others can already use the bathroom. I covered my hair with the towel since it is dripping wet. I was on my way to my room when the door before mine opened and Ruki came out. "Oh, you already took a bath. I was about to show you where the bathroom is. Sorry that we all have to share one bathroom." He said. I'm used to share a bathroom with one boy but with four boys? I guess, I wouldn't mind it as long as it's always clean. He added, "Of course, I will make sure that it is always clean." I just giggled. He looked at my hair then he touched the part where it's not covered by the towel. "It's dripping wet. Come on, I'll help you with your hair." I pouted. Am I going to repeat myself again? "Ruki, I'm fine. You don't have to help me." He let go the peace of hair he's holding raising his eyebrows. "Aren't you going to have a hard time drying it by yourself? It's too long, it's also thick. Your towel can't even cover your hair entirely." I passed by him and said, "Ruki, I can do this on my own. Don't pamper me on every little thing." I just continued walking, went inside my room then closed the door. Besides Shu is the one who always helps me dry my hair.
Ruki felt scared that maybe he got me mad at him. He heard a chuckle then Kou came out. "That's no good Ruki-kun. Airi-chan really wants you to treat her as equal so don't spoil her too much." Ruki just went inside his room. Clearly upset at what happened. I just don't want her to have a hard time when she's with me. He thought then he sighed. I need to make it up to her tomorrow.