Richter entered the room that Yuuki had found her absent father's diary in with ease, since the now-broken seal no longer hindered trespassers.
A thin layer of dust covered the furniture and the floor but there were signs of some recent disturbances. His perpetual frown deepened. He wanted to accomplish his mission before he was discovered by his nephews. Nuisances, the lot of them.
The Persian rug underfoot muffled the sound of his boots as he hurried past the various interesting trinkets that populated the small space. The valuable jewels that were sprawled upon a tabletop failed to pique his interest. Nor did Richter care to see what was hidden underneath the white sheets. None of these deserved a second glance compared to the treasure that he sought.
The vampire stopped in front of the furthermost bookshelf and pressed a small panel concealed in the wood. An entire section of the shelving unit pulled away to reveal a hidden room. The architecture of the thing may have been impressive if not for one flaw. The mechanism was entirely too slow. Richter felt restless - impatient to claim what he believed was rightfully his.
In the corner of the secret alcove, he found what he was looking for displayed on a headless mannequin. It was a rich black dress with a thigh-high slit that revealed delicate white ruffles underneath. Below the right zigzag strap was a white rose embellishment followed by two smaller ones. Two tiny blue roses hung on a chain that wrapped around the hips. No doubt, it was gorgeous... At one point in time.
The gown had obviously seen better days. It was torn up and drenched with seemingly-fresh blood. The large white rose was so saturated that it was hard to tell if it was meant to be a red flower in the first place. A single drop gathered on one of the petals. Grew in volume and fell once it became too heavy.
Richter's scowl melted away as the tiny liquid globe hit the floor dramatically.
Everything was falling into place.
Yuuki barely registered the fact that she had somehow started getting used to the layout of the mansion before she moved around it almost naturally. The familiarity was a sad testament to how long she'd been stuck in this horrible place.
This experience has changed me. Yuuki mused as she slowly walked up the stairs into one of the many lofty hallways. I almost can't remember the girl I used to be before... Before this nightmare.
Would her old friends recognize her now? Once upon a time, people would say she always had a bright smile for everyone and a sympathetic tear for everyone's plights. Those who visited the church could always count on her positive outlook. Like a constant, soothing presence that could be considered a pillar of the church. Just like the absent father whom she still loved.
Now she had nobody to support and be supported by. She couldn't even fully relax at school knowing that she was being monitored constantly.
It's like all this has sucked away my happiness and sweetness... I just keep lashing out at everyone and everything. Sometimes I don't really even feel guilty for it. I can't afford to care.
She detested the un-Christian-ness of her own excuse.
What am I? A human or a mere beast? Prioritizing survival over all else? The more time I spend here, the more disgusted I get.
Actually, it's not just a matter of time. I became like this the second that I realized that they were -
Her mental soliloquy was cut short when she rounded the corner. She was surprised to see a solitary figure leaning against a colossal window. Had she not become so accustomed to such grandeur lately, the window itself would have amazed her as well.
"Subaru?" Yuuki called out experimentally. He normally kept out of her sight.
The vampire seemed to be waiting for her, since he immediately turned to her. His voice was low and intense.
"You will die if you continue to stay here."
Something convinced her that his concern was genuine, and her legs carried her all the way until she found herself huddled against his chest. Her ear rested on top of the area where his heart should have been, but the girl felt no pulse.
Yuuki was somewhat bewildered at herself but asked, "What choice do I have?"
Subaru blinked at her uncharacteristic behavior. With an awkward cough, he tilted his head to stare at the waning crescent in the sky
"Go now."
She staggered back a step or two in order to look at the vampire properly.
Huh?
Subaru leaned forward to whisper in her ear. The fact that he strained himself to do so demonstrated his seriousness and need for secrecy... Like all of the brothers, he towered over her.
"Now's your chance, so take it," he said quietly before pulling away. Even if his words left her visibly dumbfounded, he felt no need to explain further.
She took a moment to memorize his unreadable expression before flying from him.
Yuuki immediately started packing her things once she returned to her room. Only one small bag of necessities - everything else would drag her down. However, she hesitated when she picked up the mysterious photo
The petite blonde plopped down onto the bed with a tired sigh.
How far could I run before I get caught? This time, they'll kill me for sure...
The petite blonde lowered the photograph.
I guess if I was wrong about anyone, it was probably Subaru. I shouldn't waste the chance that he gave me. Yuuki thought to herself
The next instance, her hopeless expression transformed into a look of pure determination.
"No. I need closure."
"Subaru?" Yuuki called out as she approached him once more, this time more sure of herself.
"You're still here?" He was casually sitting on a window sill while gazing up at the moon, looking every bit a lone wolf. "You wasted a rare opportunity."
Yuuki folded her hands neatly in front of her legs, her posture confident yet demure.
"Don't make me regret my decision, then. If you know anything about me or my father, please tell me."
Subaru didn't respond and continued to look out the window.
"I was told that I was offered up by the church as a sacrifice."
If that's the truth, then I would have nowhere to return to.
"I know nothing," the vampire said honestly without an ounce of his usual gruffness.
Yuuki's face fell. Her gamble was for naught.
Subaru turned to look at Yuuki and his eyes widened at what he saw. Her downcast expression reminded him of his mother. The uncanny similarity inspired his sympathy, so he abruptly got down from his perch and handed Yuuki a knife. When she made no move to take it, he impatiently grabbed her wrist himself and dropped the object in her palm.
"That silver knife can be used kill vampires," he explained, "with a stab to the heart."
Yuuki glanced up at him in shock.
"But why?" There was a tremor in her voice. "... What if I start with you first?"
Subaru ignored her hypothetical question and walked away. He knew that she was hesitant to kill her only potential ally. Her former question, however, made his heart ache with the memory of how he had first obtained the weapon.
"Take this with you," his mother had told him. "Keep it on your person at all times."
"What is this for?" Subaru had asked her, confused as Christa handed him the knife.
His mother was a frail-looking vampiress. Delicate like a white flower, willowy and beautiful. Her far-too-young son could not comprehend that such a gentle figure would associate herself with anything dangerous at the time.
He remembered how she was shaking with emotion. Her voice was clouded with something similar to hysteria.
"My dear, wretched baby." Christa crooned as she'd caressed his cheek. "You must do something for me... I need you to commit murder."
"What?" What was murder?
"Please, for me?" Christa had pleaded desperately. She'd mistaken his ignorance born out of innocence for a shocked refusal.
Subaru had shook his head and asked, "What do I have to do, mother?"
"Plunge this knife squarely in the heart," the woman instructed behind bars. "This will certainly kill."
"Who do you want me to kill?" Subaru wondered aloud, starting to feel a little uncertain about what he was being asked to do. He understood death. That's what those humans kept doing just because they lost too much blood.
Who, indeed. What a terrible question that simple word could be. Who deserved to be wiped off the face of the earth? Who had the right to determine that? Who had inflicted enough pain? Who had endured the pain for long enough?
At this awful reminder of the man who betrayed her, had imprisoned her, had driven her mad, his mother shrieked, "Let me go! Please, let me go!"
"Mother, it's okay! Nobody's holding you!" Subaru cried out as another episode of insanity shook through her.
"No, no, no, no, no, no..." Christa had rambled on as she hugged herself, eyes wide and brimming with tears.
"Who are you talking to?"
The lady collapsed onto the floor in an elegant drop. She covered her face with a sob with dainty, gloved hands. "It's him! I can't escape him."
"Who is it?"
Suddenly, her hysterics ended and she grabbed Subaru by his shoulders - now at eye level with the child.
"Listen to me - you must either kill the tormentor or the tormented," she told him with an unnervingly serious tone. "Neither can be free until you do so. Understand?"
"Yes, mother."
The younger vampire gaped as she pulled him into a hug. Christa began to stroke his hair lovingly. He hesitantly returned it and she praised him.
"You are such a gentle boy, my love."
Left alone in the room, a single tear streaked down Yuuki's face. The sudden wetness surprised her. She wiped it off and promptly returned to her bedroom to find Laito laying on his side next to her haphazard pile of things. She grimaced, realizing that he probably knew of her attempted escape.
"Koinu, you kept me waiting," he said, his chin resting on the heel of his palm.
A sarcastic taste danced on her tongue. "I don't remember setting an appointment, Laito."
"What's with the long face?" Laito sat up and placed himself in front of her.
"Get out." Yuuki commanded, but he just smirked, making her frown in return. She wasn't in the mood to deal with his flirtation.
"Oh, isn't that Subaru's knife?" Laito mused when he looked down. To Yuuki's astonishment, he grabbed her hand and aimed the knife at his own chest.
"Wha-"
"What an honor! I never knew that you loved me that much." Laito singsonged.
"Eh?"
"To a vampire, murder is the ultimate way to confess your love... You wield the finality to end the life of an immortal."
Yuuki shuddered. How twisted.
"Do you know how it feels to love someone so much that you hate them?"
"N-"
Laito unexpectedly shoved the smaller human against the door. Her back stung from the impact.
It seemed like his question meant to distract her so that he could catch her off guard. His unnaturally green eyes shone as he pressed against her. "Hmm. Well, I certainly do."
Yuuki's expression glazed over and her voice assumed a metallic note. "Laito, let me go."
He didn't like how she was starting to become more and more dispassionate and robotic between every feeding. It was like she was emotionally escaping from the situation every time one of the brothers approached her. Such a method didn't suit an otherwise spirited girl.
Laito grabbed the wrist that held the deadly weapon and twisted it above her head. She cried out in surprise. The forced motion didn't cause her pain but it kept her from being able to escape regardless of how hard she struggled.
He cupped one of her breasts with his free hand and began to massage it. Expertly.
"DON'T TOUCH ME, you bastard." Yuuki growled as she batted his prying fingers away. They could treat her like livestock but never a sex toy. There was only so much appetite she was willing to combat.
"Your blood says otherwise. It knows that it wants me," he murmured seductively into her ear. "Say it..."
"It."
Laito chuckled and his rumbling voice rolled over her. In the position that they were in, she could easily move to bite his neck had she been a vampire herself. At least that would stop his laugh dead in its tracks. Let him choke on it as his breath lodged halfway in his throat. The way that air failed to move into her lungs now.
She hated his playboy attitude the most. His other brothers had faint a sense of dignity although nobody could really argue that they had a strong set of morals. Laito seemed like the kind of guy who wished to bed every female thing alive like a mercilessly-womanizing asshole. A beast in human form. It disgusted her.
Surprisingly enough, Laito sympathized with his prey unlike any other vampire. He gave a little bit of himself to every victim in return for feeding on them. A short-lived romance was his way of turning pain into pleasure because he lived equally for both. And as friendly as he tried to be, he understood the limitations that his own nature set upon his relationships with others and never complained.
In the end, he was a vampire. The loneliest kind of creature in the world. Nothing could change that.
Laito nibbled on her earlobe. "Come on, Koinu. I want to hear you... Scream aloud that you want me..."
Yuuki turned her flushing face away from him. Her silver rosary glistened due to the movement, catching Laito's attention. An amused snort escaped him.
"Do you resist temptation because you fear the judgement of an old man sitting on his high and mighty throne?"
"If by that ridiculous description you mean that we are accountable for our actions," she answered in a steely voice, "then I would say that's a perfectly valid reason to reject your attentions, yes."
"You call it ridiculous and yet you subscribe to that belief."
"No, I consider your particular notion of God ridiculous. I believe in one true Creator who is unlike all creation and that is all."
"There's no God-"
"Yes, there is."
"There's no real reason to obey the rules either," he continued unfazed.
"Of course, when you put it like that it makes perfect sense." Yuuki grumbled sarcastically.
"It does, doesn't it?"
"You deny the existence of the Lord in order to conveniently side-step the consequences of your bad decisions. It makes perfect sense that you can continue acting like a mere pig without feeling an ounce of guilt."
"Ha! I haven't been called that one before." Laito grinned. "But if you cannot convince me by proving the existence of your God, then your argument holds no weight, am I right?"
"... I cannot force my own convictions upon you or anyone else."
"So what's the point of trying to tell me to stop?"
She clenched her fist. "I don't know..."
Yuuki could debate theology and discuss ethics and justify morals for hours on end, but there was no point in arguing with a faithless fool who would never understand.
His grin widening, Laito leaned in to reach her exposed neck.
"But I will still believe... Because humans are weak, you know."
Because without faith, we will have nothing.
The vampire paused and pulled back, curious about whatever she wanted to say. Yuuki eyes locked onto his in a hard, steady gaze.
"No matter how difficult life becomes, I will still believe."
He never expected use the word "unshakable" to describe the girl that he was technically pinning. Everything about their current position would suppose otherwise.
Laito smiled. And for once, it was a smile filled with mirth lacking all forms of his practiced seduction. It was the first time she's seen his pearly teeth sparkle for his own sake rather than for the sake of attracting others to himself.
"I've never met a girl like you before, Koinu-cchi. I was only interested in your blood, but now... I've changed my mind."
Without a warning, Yuuki found herself alone again. Still leaning against the door for support, she exhaled the breath that she was holding, and slid onto the floor.
I just wasted two good opportunities... Laito. Subaru. Even Ayato. What's up with them lately?
Yuuki gazed at the silver weapon in her hands and realized something that she wished she hadn't.
It was an idea that started materializing in her heart when the tear had formed earlier. But now she understood what made her feel that way.
The more logical side of her cursed at herself with growing frustration.
With something like this finally in her possession, she realized that she didn't necessarily want to kill them if she could help it...
Out of all the astonishing things she witnessed, what surprised Yuuki most of all was herself.
A/N: Hey! We're halfway to completion =D Not many changes with this scene, but I added more insight to Yui's actions... Even Yuuki berates herself and her stupidity. I left Laito's scene here pretty intact and added some groping because it wasn't as invasive as the deleted church scene, for example. Plus, blood is what vampires naturally pursue and sex is something Laito can't live without, y'know?