A/N: Hey guys! Hope you all had a good weekend!

So, the polls are closed once again for the option of how the story will progress. Thing is though... It turned into yet another tie between the two route story and the harem. Therefore, the way this story is going to continue is like this: I will be doing the two route story. One following the Kanato Route, the other the Subaru Route. However, in both routes the brothers will fight over Misaki's affection making it a harem of sorts. Obviously, depending on the route you choose to read, the boy will win her heart (and blood). The routes will be similar but not the same seeing as they are two different key characters. I hope that this all makes sense. That being said. This will be the last chapter with the original route. Next chapter will be the start of the two route story. Kanato's Route will be the first while Subaru's will follow (Just scroll down if you want to skip Kanato's Route). Keeping in mind that now both routes will be different stories from each other. They aren't going to follow the same story (not exactly). Therefore, if you decided to read both, remember they aren't the same. (Think of it as two multiverses. One where Kanato is the key character and the other where Subaru is the key character). I really hope I explained this well enough. Hope you enjoy!

Review Responses:

Hugz Kissez - Yes. You will learn more about Misaki's Great, Great Grandma later on in the story. ;) I just love writing Ayato in because its so much fun to tease him! And I also like the affection that the brothers are starting to feel for Misaki. After all, she is showing them a different kind of love then they are used to. But who will be there to comfort her when she is in pain? Hmmm. Thanks for your review. Always love hearing your thoughts on the chapters as they go.

Sousie - Your vote has been added in. Hope you don't mind how things are going to progress from now on. I am trying to incorporate everyone's opinion and hope that it turns out as amazing as I want it to. Thanks for your vote and review!

DeathlyIceMaiden - I like how I am portraying Misaki. She is a person that has gone through a lot and wants to make everyone else happy because she knows what pain feels like. I understand your confusion on why she would say that after she told Subaru not to think that way. Just think of it this way: we are our own worse critic. Plus it is easier to see the good in other people then in your own self. Also, Misaki is challenged with her own Mental Health but she keeps battling it. I hope this makes sense to you. Hope you enjoy this chapter and it explains more to you. Thank you for reviewing! :)

mspyrrha - Aww, you are so sweet! I am happy you enjoy my story and took the time to write a review. Thank you!

Guest - I am so happy you like my story and have reviewed. I hope you aren't too upset with what I came up with. :)

VampireSiren - "Golly Mosses" killed me XD Thank you so very much for your review. I am happy that you like my story and hope you will like how the next few chapters will go on from now on.

PS: Once again, this will be the last regular chapter. Look forward a new way next chapter which may take longer to update seeing as I will be writing two stories at once. If there is any questions or concerns, let me know. :) Enjoy!

Chapter 9

Living in the Past

I traced a delicate hand over the scars on my left hit. They were a testament to my weakness and my pain. Little pale lines to show my survival. I was standing in front of the tub that I had readied with hot water. It was around noon and I could not sleep anymore. The last two weeks had faded away into nothing. I slipped into the tub filled with bubbles. I attempted to relax myself from all the negativity I had felt since Akane had brought back family issues. I honestly felt like a zombie just going along as the days went by. My smile became less and less genuine as the darkness that I had buried so deep inside myself resurfaced. I knew that what I felt wasn't the real me and that my thoughts were irrational. But it didn't make them less painful.

I felt the undeniable weight inside my heart grip as if it were crushing me. I felt like I was shocking, drowning in a sea of my unshed tears. I felt sluggish with my movements. And I had lost my appetite. The brothers had shown some concern but I knew that they did not quite understand my sudden change of personality. I felt guilt as I couldn't seem to pick myself up like usual. They needed me and I was falling deeper in my own pain. My sleep would be tormented with nightmares of the past I had tried to outrun. I was better than this. I was stronger then this. But the pain was unbearable.

Closing my eyes, I submerged my head in the tub, making sure to take a deep breath before doing so. My mind wandered on their own again to my days with my mother.

"You are a waste of space," those words repeated over and over in my head. Echoing in every corner of my mind as new words formed. "It's your fault! Everything's your fault!" I winced as if I were struck. I watched in my mind as the mother I had loved so deeply strike a younger version of myself. I screamed in the water, not caring that water filled in my mouth before a reemerged. "You are just a little slut."

I wrapped my arms around my legs, bringing them up to my chest. I shook my head over and over trying to get those damn words out of my head. I wasn't any of those words. It wasn't my fault that her husband left. Now I knew the truth. She had slept with someone else and he didn't even know I was his daughter. She had lied to me over and over. Why did her words still sting? Why were they still messing me up? I bit my lips as I kept denying her words as if I were still arguing with her. It wasn't my fault he had left. It wasn't my fault that the men she kept bringing home would continuously take my innocence away. She kept blaming me for her failed relationships when I was just a little kid. She should have protected me from their lustful eyes. She should have protected me from going through that. But she didn't. She would just blame me for everything even if I hadn't done anything. I would feel the sting on my cheeks as she hit me. I would feel the pain of neglect as she told me to fend for myself.

I whimpered in the tub as those dark images played back in my mind. I wasn't as indestructible as I let myself believe. Why did I like horror movies so much if I had seen my own horrors? Because I had survived them. I became better from my experiences.

I let go of my legs as I relaxed in the tub, closing my eyes once again. I let my head rest on the tub. I was now living with six vampire brothers who had their fair share of pain. From the very beginning, I wasn't afraid of being broken. Because after all… How can you break something that was already broken? I smiled bittersweetly at my thoughts.

It had taken me many years to come to this place where I knew my negative thoughts were irrational. But sometimes I was triggered and I had a difficult time climbing out of that mind frame. I just had to be patient. I would start eating again and smile as usual. It was okay to be weak once in awhile. It was alright to cry.

I felt the silent tears fall from my eyes as another tight pull wrapped around my heart. But it was so painful. I just hoped that I would be back to my old self again. I wasn't this pain that crippled me now. I knew that, but those cold words kept being played on repeat. I choked back some sobs as I wiped away the tears. I had to get out of the tub or I would start pruning soon.

XXXXXXXX

I kept wondering the halls of the mansion as I waited for the others to wake up. I knew if I were to go back to my room, I would want to stay under the covers and stay there. I had to be out and about in order to get over this set back. Hiding underneath blankets wasn't going to help anything. I had my music player with me, my headphones secure on my head. I just kept touring the different hallways as I zoned out to my tunes. It didn't even occur to me that I was being followed by a couple of amused vampires.

I kept pumping my head to the music, trying to distract myself from the chaos in my head and my heart. Jamming was always a good way to do that. Music always had a way to block out all of the negativity I felt. It made me feel more alive and energized. Afterall, running from my past was exhausting. It didn't make all the pain away but it was the best way for me to cope. I didn't think going back to my old ways of coping was a good idea. I didn't want to fall down that rabbit hole. Not again.

"If I didn't know any better," I heard a voice from behind me which caused me to whirl around as I put my headphones down on my shoulders, "I would think you are trying to seduce me, Bunny-chan~." Raito stood only a few feet away, leaning his shoulder on the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

I scrunched up my face in disgust, "Yeah. Like that will ever happen." I noticed Kanato was with him, holding on to Teddy. I sent him the best smile I could under my current condition. I was getting harder to force a smile on my face. It probably turned more into a grimace.

Kanato frowned, "Is Misa-chan still feeling tired?" I had told the brothers that I just felt really tired the last two weeks. I didn't want them to worry so much about me. As if to save me from lying through my teeth, a yawn escaped my lips.

"Trouble sleeping?" Raito questioned me as he got closer to me. He seemed concerned for me. I shook my head. He smirked, "I could help with that."

I narrowed my eyes at him, "That is disturbing on so many levels. I don't like how you are saying that."

I looked at Kanato who still had a frown on his face, "Is Misa-chan not happy?" I was taken by surprise by his sudden question. It was as if he had read right through me. Did he know how I was feeling? Was I not hiding it well enough?

I heard Raito sigh, "You haven't been yourself, Bunny-chan. Not for a while. Something happened when that woman showed up." His eyes darkened at the mention of Akane. Not surprisingly, she had disappeared without a goodbye that same night. I didn't know where she went or why. All I know was that I wanted space from her. Even is she was meant to be my genie, I was still kind of ticked off at her for making that big decision without me. Not to mention she hid so many things from me. It didn't surprise me that Raito and the others seemed to feel better from her disappearance.

I shrugged my shoulders, "It just brought up a few things. I'm dealing with them. It's nothing to worry about." I look over their shoulders to see Subaru there looking at the three of us. Subaru was still always by my side when it came to school. At least, all the brothers agreed I shouldn't be left alone even though Akane was gone. I didn't have any strength or heart to argue with them. I forced yet another smile, "Time for school." I kept wondering just how much longer I could keep going before I felt better…

A/N: Lol Raito keeps trying to flirt but keeps getting rejected. Poor Misaki trying to deal with her past on her own. But when will it get the better of her? And who will be there to comfort her?

So, next chapter will be a whole new way of writing this story. I hope that you will all bare with me as this will be my first attempt at something like this. But I am up for the challenge ;) Let me know what you think, make suggestions and etc. See you next chapter!