"Ayato! Ayato what-"

"It's over." He said darkly, wiping his mouth of excess blood. There was so much all over him though, that he succeeded only in smearing it.

She had panicked. She didn't know what else to do. She didn't know if the blood was his own, or that of his mothers. Either way she had to help. Bandage him up, something. Seeing him like this…the severity of the situation, the odor of that woman's blood inundating every last bit of air…Reina was feeling sick.

"We have to get you cleaned up, we have to-"

"No."

"Ayato." Her voice shook, everything slowly piecing together in her mind in painful bursts. She watched Ayato lick the blood on his hand, and his eyes flashed, before he quickly offered some to her. "Taste it. It's our victory drink." He cackled like a madman.

She shook her head, trying to stop him, "I did nothing to-"

It had been too late. He had already smeared the thick velvet over her lips, and instinctively, her tongue drew it in. She felt her blood rush, her body excited with goosebumps. This taste…

She glanced at her brother, and she knew then that their expressions were most likely mirrored. It was blood of the finest quality, blood that ran through the Demon King's veins. It was powerful. Terrifyingly so. And with his bare hands Ayato had defeated this blood. Finally, he had become the best.

As the taste of the blood faded, Reina inhaled quickly, as though coming down from a strange high. She'd never be able to forget that taste. That delicious poison that made her hungry. Looking down at her hands she believed them to be covered in blood, though they were not, and she nearly screamed. This was…

A living nightmare. She looked at Ayato again, desperate for some kind of solace.

His eyes held something in them she had never seen before. Not crazed, exactly. Shining, perhaps. Glittering and catching the light. His fangs were perfectly visible, with that horrifying smile he had on. It was something she couldn't shake…would never be able to…and that taste…

Reina gasped, sitting up in bed, the images ever vivid in her mind. Her eyes were blinking quickly, trying to adjust to the sudden light as she tried to calm down her racing heart. That was when she realized Shu was standing in the doorway, looking at her with those clear eyes.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you."

She shook her head, putting a palm up to her forehead before looking back up at her husband to be. She smiled kindly. "No, I was just waking up anyhow."

Shu walked up to her, sitting on the edge of the bed, and held out a rectangular box. "It's today, isn't it?"

She blinked, thinking for a moment. Was it really November 18th already? "You remembered." She said, smiling whole-heartedly, taking the neatly packaged box into her hands.

As she began to undo the packaging, her smile faded. It was a silly thing. A subtle thing. One she almost didn't notice. But the ribbon that held the little box together was cut perfectly straight across at the end. Closing her eyes as though to push the thought away, she undid the ribbon, and opened up the gift. Gasping softly, her eyes widened. She looked over at the blonde vampire, smiling politely. "Thank you, Shu."

He nodded.

It was a beautiful necklace, no doubt about that. But the knowledge that Shu had not been the one to pick it out made the gesture a bit forced. "Will you help me put it on?" she asked.

"Troublesome…" he muttered, though he did it anyway.

A single pearl on a fine silver chain now claimed Reina's neck. Her fingers went to the shining bead, touching it ever so carefully. "I suppose I can wear it to the ball tonight."

"That old man and his parties," Shu groaned, "What's the point?"

"To lift spirits." She said encouragingly.

"Tch."

Her smile had completely erased by now. He was right, though. Karlheinz didn't exactly care about how anyone was feeling. But throwing a grandiose event like this was a power play. It'd prove that despite the sudden deaths his family was still as strong as ever. And really, there was nothing wrong with that. Reina was grateful for the distraction. They hadn't held a ball in a long time.

It also marked a new beginning. After this, the sons would be sent to live in a separate manor, away from the castle. Also a power play. They were getting older. Karlheinz was simply taking precautions. It wouldn't do to die before his time.

"Do you think, after we've settled, perhaps we'll start thinking about the wedding?" she said softly.

Shu fell back against her bed, closing his eyes. "Probably."

She bit her lip, "Will you propose?"

"We're already engaged." He murmured sleepily.

When they were younger, Shu would propose all the time. Jokingly, playfully, sometimes a bit more seriously. And yet every time she would reply with that same answer he had just given. She didn't realize how hurtful an answer like that could be, until now.

"Yes," she replied, "Of course."

Reina fiddled with her necklace, twirling the pearl between her fingers. She did not love Shu. She knew that now. She did, of course, have a deep regard for him. It was not as though she would be unhappy with him. But perhaps Reiji was right. Perhaps there was no such thing as love.

But she refused to believe that. Or rather, she didn't want to. Maybe not all was lost, just yet. Maybe once they were married, once they were truly together—

Shu's soft and even breathing let Reina know he was asleep. She smiled weakly, and walked around the bed to kiss his cheek. He didn't even stir. She sighed, deciding she best leave him be. He'd need his rest for the ball tonight.

So she began to walk towards the library, knowing that Reiji was probably there reading. She had to thank him for the gift, after all.

As expected, he was buried in a book, his fingers flipping the page as she walked in. "A rather somber gift, but I shall thank you for it anyway."

"I'm afraid I have yet to present you with one." He said easily, not bothering to look up.

"Oh, Reiji." She sighed, slumping down across from him. "We both know Shu doesn't bother with trivialities."

At this, he did look up, smirking, "My, my. What a rather low opinion of your fiancé. I'm sure he's more than capable." He said rather sarcastically.

Reina narrowed her eyes at him, "The way you twist a phrase will never fail to impress me, Reiji-san."

"That much should be obvious."

"Will you allow me to thank you properly?"

"I've done nothing deserving thanks."

"Then may I ask, why a pearl?"

He glanced at her, then back down to his book, "I have no interest in analyzing Shu's reasoning. Perhaps you should ask him."

She sighed, admitting defeat. Reiji wouldn't budge on this, it seemed. Perhaps she'd need to do some research herself. She knew that pearls were traditionally given to brides, so that they did not cry on their wedding day. But that sounded rather morbid. Tears were often represented as pearls anyhow. She didn't understand, but she'd wear it nonetheless.

"Onee-san!" Ayato burst into the room, followed closely by the other two triplets. Reina noticed Reiji growl in annoyance. "Onee-san!" he repeated happily, "Hurry! Ore-sama got you the best gift!"

"Ayato," Reiji scolded, "You are indoors and Reina is an arm's length away. There is no need to shout."

Ayato stuck his tongue out, though Reiji didn't notice, and instead, tried to tug Reina along. She struggled, nearly tripping over the hem of her dress skirt. "A-Ayato, wait-"

Kanato giggled softly, holding Teddy close, "How wonderful it will be, when she doesn't like it. It'll break Ayato's heart, ne, Teddy?"

"Shut it, Hysteria."

Kanato merely glared at him, "Do you wish to die today?"

Reiji closed his book with an audible thump, and sighed loudly, standing up to take the lead.

"If we could all get through this quickly, please," he insisted, "There is much to be done today."

"Reina," Kanato looked up at her smiling, "I ordered Reiji to bake you a cake," he giggled boyishly, "It's in my favorite flavor. You must be so honored…"

She smiled kindly, bending down to kiss her younger brother, "If it's your favorite then it will be delicious." She insisted.

"Reina-channnn," Laito whined, "Where's my kiss?"

"Oy, Hentai, enough of that weird shit."

Reina only giggled and kissed Laito's cheek as he wished. She was quickly pulled away by Reiji, however. "Punctuality is important, Reina. It will not do for us to linger in such a way." She nodded understandingly, and the group followed Ayato out of the room, listening to him jump and holler excitedly. Kanato grumbled to himself, muttering about how noisy it all was.

Subaru was waiting for them all in the dining room, sitting at the table and looking rather bored. Reina gasped as she saw the cake. It was rather elaborate, for a group of people who didn't eat. But, she supposed, Kanato could probably finish it all by himself.

"Onee-san!" Ayato shouted, shoving a tray into her face, the scent of takoyaki wafting through the air.

"I wouldn't eat those if I were you." Subaru warned.

"Oy!" Ayato snapped, baring his fangs. Then, turning to Reina, "Eat up."

With a weak smile and hesitant fingers, Reina brought a small sample up to her lips. She bit into it slowly, but quickly popped the whole thing into her mouth. "Ayato," she said, covering her mouth with her hand, "This is amazing!"

Too amazing, in fact.

"Ha ha!" Ayato cheered, showing off to the other brothers, "Once again, Ore-sama is the best at everything!"

"I want to try one," Laito whined, reaching for the tray, "If Reina likes them then they must be de-li-cious~"

Reina giggled softly, catching Reiji's eye and mouthing a quick 'thank you.'

"Reina," Kanato said in a deathly quiet voice, "Shall we have some cake?"

"Most definitely." She agreed, walking past Laito in order to cut the delicious looking pastry.

Ayato continued to shout about his superiority, demanding the first piece of cake for this reason.

The giant commotion downstairs had woken the eldest brother, who tossed over on his side with a groan. He inhaled deeply, smiling at the familiarity of Reina's scent.

That's right, he thought, slowly coming into realization, he was still in her room. He wondered if perhaps he should join his brothers downstairs. But that seemed like wasted effort. When they were all together the only thing that was gained was pointless argumentation. He sighed softly, feeling hopelessly tired. He had already given her the gift. He had no further obligations.

"It will mean more coming from you." Reiji had told him earlier that morning.

Shu knew that. He knew a lot of things. For example, he knew that his brother resented him. That he had been the one to set the fire on Edgar's village. That Reiji had feelings for Reina.

All of this piled together was enough for anyone in Shu's position to hate the second son. And yet, he didn't. Shu wasn't sure why. Maybe he should have. But maybe the reason he didn't was just a lack of wanting to muster up the energy to care. He was the eldest, not Reiji. Nothing could be done about that. He was the one engaged to Reina, not Reiji. Nothing could be done about that either.

Besides, blaming Reiji didn't solve anything. Shu knew everything was his own fault. Because people got too close to him. He had lost Edgar, his mother. He wondered if he'd lose Reina somewhere along the way. Most likely to Reiji. Maybe it'd be better off that way. When people stayed with him they only ended up broken.

From the looks of it, she already was. But, so was he. And again, nothing could be done about that.

Shu sighed.

Reiji was not after Shu's title. He knew that. Reiji didn't want to be the heir. Shu could understand that well enough; it wasn't something he particularly wanted either. Being the heir meant killing Karlheinz in the not-so-distant future. Eventually, Shu knew he'd have to do it. But killing the old man wasn't something he was looking forward to. Maybe the triplets would band together and kill him instead. They'd killed that demon spawn of a woman after all…

Lost in thought, Shu slowly drifted back to sleep.

A/N: Happy update day :)

Gemma: Gahhh oh gosh you got me gushing haha ^_^ thank you so much!