After her bath, Azusa took Yui back to their room. Until the power got fixed, there wasn't much to do in the dark manor except try to rest, despite the contrast with their normal nocturnal schedule. With her pale pink sheets pulled up to her cheeks, Yui mulled over the new problem at hand.
Would Azusa's brothers accept that Yui's blood could only be given to Azusa alone? There had to be some way to persuade them, before Azusa got hurt… or before his unhappiness caused a rift between him and his family.
The entire group gathered in Ruki's emerald room the next morning.
No longer bed-ridden, Ruki was up and about… but his bandages still peeked out from the collar of his white shirt. He looked strange and casual without his formal blazers.
...Well, Ruki was the vampire equivalent of a human teenager, eighteen or nineteen at the most, like the others. He simply behaved as if he were the only adult in the room.
He did not address Yui's presence beyond a glance. "Today, we're going to begin repairs and look into who attacked us," he said, and his deep voice added to the illusion of being significantly older. "Kou, did you call the power company?"
Kou, with his hands knitted behind his head, agreed. "Yep, first thing this morning. I can't live without aircon, so I might go hang out with some friends at work later."
"Yeah... the heat…" Azusa pinched his sweater and held it away from himself.
Yuma shrugged. "You won't die. Take a cold bath."
Yui jolted. Yuma didn't direct that comment at her, but… she wondered what exactly their superior senses could pick up, and if she was already coated in Azusa's scent. Ahh, that wasn't something to blush about, was it? Yui pressed her hands to her cheeks.
Still, she felt a out of place—Ruki hadn't decided if she could stay, so to be helpful, Yui offered, "I-I'll go get some drinks for your meeting. Would you like iced tea?"
Azusa smiled at her. "Yes, thank you, Eve…"
Eve… she was getting used to that nickname, but as a title or a position, it felt odd, especially with Ruki in the room. Her blood was special, but she wasn't...
"Tomato juice in the fridge," Yuma demanded. "I made it while you were missing."
"Lemonade for me, thanks!"
Ruki didn't request anything. When Yui touched the door, Ruki abruptly turned his head and said, "You."
She startled. "Y-yes?"
Yui wasn't who Ruki was looking at, though, and behind her came a voice: "Damn, Titless, you sure have shit luck." Yui turned around to find Ayato leaning against the door, his arms crossed as he glared at her.
"Good timing coming over to this place, though," Ayato spoke as if he'd given her permission to leave. "Our place got attacked. Wolves."
Looking closer, Yui saw that Ayato had blood on his collar and gasped. "Are you okay?"
"Of course, it's the Great Me after all," Ayato boasted with a smirk.
"I'm glad..." Yui realized belatedly that all four of the Mukami brothers were stiff, poised to jump between them. She tried to subtly move away from Ayato.
Ruki's dark eyes were unreadable. "Do you know who was behind the attack?"
"Founders. Two of those ancient bastards are still kicking around, I guess." Ayato wrinkled his nose, forever unimpressed by his elders. He shoved his way past Yui to enter the room. "They got out because the old man's shitty barrier got weak. You know there's an eclipse coming, right?"
Yui had no idea what "founders" were, but Kou and Yuma exchanged worried glances.
Azusa touched Yui's arm. His sudden presence would've made her scream, once, but now she felt a surge of relief.
Ruki remained by his window, and his face was smooth. "Do you think they seek revenge?"
"I think they want Titless."
"A-Ayato-kun…" She spared a glance at Azusa, who tried to comfort her with a strained smile. Feeling the tension gathering in the air, Yui tried to clear it. "But, um, why do they want me? I..." She didn't even know who the "founders" were, really!
"Hell if I know!" Ayato crossed his arms again.
"If…" Ruki pulled their attention towards him again. "…the founders are truly going after your blood, they'll be coming here soon, when they reach the height of their power."
Oh. Her chest panged as she thought about the damage from the familiars, the injury Ruki still bore… of course he wouldn't want her around, if she were going to cause more trouble. Yui clasped her hands to her chest.
Maybe, maybe she could escape here with Azusa… go on the run...
"During a lunar eclipse, a vampire's power weakens. You purebloods should be especially affected," Ruki continued speaking to Ayato.
"So what?"
"We have to work together, to protect Eve from the founders."
"...Guess we don't have a choice."
Yui blinked. Wait… protect? She looked at Ruki, but his eyes were still on Ayato. The uneasy truce forming made Yui feel like she was in the middle of a trap, even with Azusa beside her.
"But just so you know… I'm not letting you guys have Titless." Ayato abruptly dragged Yui back to him by her wrist, making her cry out.
Azusa surged forward, but Yuma jerked him back by the upper arm, and Kou braced his other side, one hand on his arm and another hand on his shoulder in silent warning.
Yui's blood rushed cold.
Ayato jerked her again, forcing her to look into his bright green eyes. "You're mine. You belong to our family… Got it?" Ayato didn't wait for a reply before he bit her.
Her eyes widened in horror as unwanted fangs pierced her throat. Why… after she'd just gotten clean…
Azusa-kun…
She heard a cry and from the corner of her eye, Azusa bent forward—did they hurt him?!—
"I'd say the same. You're our Eve," Ruki blocked Yui's eyes with his hand. "Feel only my fangs."
"No…" Yui didn't want the fangs in her neck or the fangs piercing her nape—she tried to thrash free, but Ruki held her tightly to him, locking her up again with his arms. Yui was trapped between two vampires, unable to even look upon the one she loved.
The pain wasn't as frightening as the darkness. Time stretched as they both drank her blood, and Yui's consciousness began to break down with waves of dizziness.
Ruki released her first, and Ayato followed... after he was sure to be "the winner" in his mind, Yui groggily understood.
Her knees collapsed under her, but she caught herself before she crumpled completely.
Above her, Ayato licked his lips. "Alright. I'll be back with the others. You guys are on guard duty for now." He looked around the room and arched an eyebrow at whatever he saw.
Yuma stood in front of Azusa, blocking him from view. He tipped his head back and gave Ayato an insolent stare.
Ruki answered, "We'll be prepared."
"Sure." Ayato left without saying goodbye.
Yui raised a shaky hand to her neck. The blood smeared on her fingers revealed the truth. She'd been bitten again, without her permission.
The legs that hit the ground before her were clad in familiar loose black trousers and tall brown boots. Yui looked up into Azusa's face.
His expression was sorrowful and his eyes were cloudy, but otherwise Azusa didn't look hurt. Of course, Azusa's reaction to pain was pretty dull, and he wouldn't show much sign of it if Yuma did punch him in the stomach to stop him from breaking up their negotiation, like she suspected.
Azusa's hand pushed back her hair and drifted from one bite mark to the other without touching her skin. His pale eyes bore into hers. "Did you... want this?"
"Of course not, but..." Yui wasn't sure else she should say. She glanced at Ruki and wondered: was this necessary?
"Ruki, why… Why did you and Ayato-san drink her blood?" Azusa placed one hand on her back and pulled her close, as if protecting and shielding her from Ruki…
Her heart skipped a beat. She was almost sitting in Azusa's lap.
Yuma folded his arms and watched silently beside Kou.
Instead of responding to Azusa, Ruki leaned against the windowsill and studied Yui. "Does this mean you've chosen Azusa, who can't be Adam? What about Ayato Sakamaki? Do you not have a bond with him?"
Yui gasped at the suddenness of his question, and pressed closer to Azusa, winding her hands into his white sweater. A bond with Ayato would've meant Yui felt rescued when he pulled her out of that dark room, but instead Yui felt more trapped and alone than ever.
"Does Ayato Sakamaki have a chance? Could he win your love?"
Embarrassed, she whispered, "No..."
Maybe once, in the time before she'd met the vampire holding her close—but not anymore. That chance had slipped away.
"Understand, I'm not opposed to either option. But I do need to know your choice," Ruki clarified.
Yui's heart sped up. "…Azusa-kun. I want Azusa-kun."
"Yui-san!" Azusa sounded touched, and maybe a little surprised.
"…Very well." Ruki closed his eyes. "If you are my brother's lover… I recommend you do not disclose this to Ayato."
Oh.
Ayato said she belonged to him and him alone.
"For this battle, we need his strength, and the strength of his brothers. I said that pure-bloods will be weakened by the eclipse more than we will, and that is true. But his mother had founder's blood, too—it's hard to predict what will happen."
Yui pressed her face into Azusa's sweater. She may not understand who the founders were, but she understood they were powerful, ancient beings. If they were enhanced during a time when everyone else was weakened… Yui didn't want anyone to get hurt for her sake.
"I understand that this will be a challenge for you, but you will have to hide your true feelings. You must submit to Ayato's demands and accept his fangs."
"No. I don't want her to..." Azusa's hands tightened around her.
"Azusa." Ruki scolded him with only his name. "If you want to keep her safe, she can't be yours only. Not yet. You must be patient and wait until the end of this eclipse. We must move strategically, for the best outcome—and we cannot repel them and fight the founders at the same time."
She felt Azusa's body stiffen as Ruki spoke, and his voice came out small and quiet. "Ruki… why? Why are you… helping me? I thought… you'd take his side." Azusa paused to take in a ragged breath, his hands sliding over Yui to comfort her and himself. "I'm being selfish… I'm taking Yui-san for myself... without the Apple of Adam Plan…"
"We're… your family, Azusa." Ruki paused. "Our strength is your strength. If you are determined to take this path..."
Yui lifted her head, and Azusa pressed his forehead to hers. His cheeks were turning red. "Yes...!"
"I will accept that resolve. You'll need it for the coming fight. But if we're together, we'll be strong enough to take her soon. Don't forget that."
"Okay," Azusa whispered, his eyes locked onto Yui.
Kou broke the tension with a large sigh. "Ahhhh, Azusa-kun, Ruki-kun~ You two are so intense. I thought you were going to eat each other or something." He laughed.
The other two brothers stepped out of their corner and joined the conversation.
"So, the sow has joined the family, huh?" Yuma cracked his neck. "Alright. Guess I can't take your blood anymore, but don't expect me to go easy on ya because you're Azusa's girl, either! You're still gonna earn your keep!"
Azusa's girl... Yui blushed. It suddenly sounded so real.
"Ahh, I'm jealous…" Kou cocked his hips. "Are you sure you don't want to pick me instead? Last chance~"
Yui blinked at him.
He flashed a quick grin. "Just kidding! If you did that now, you'd be worse than dead." He wiggled his eyebrows as he spoke. "Troublesome or not, Azusa-kun is the baby of the family, yanno~ We're all a bit protective in our own ways… If you ever betray him, we'll rip your arms and legs off and make you wish we'd kill you."
Jealousy made Kou rather scary, but… Yui picked up on what he was hiding under his vicious words. She smiled up at Azusa. "Azusa-kun, you're very loved."
"Hahaha, M-neko-chan is so optimistic!"
She shrugged, still holding Azusa's curious gaze. "I'm happy you're loved, Azusa-kun."
Maybe Azusa didn't realize how many people loved the person he thought was worthless, because Azusa stared at her silently for a moment. His eyes filled with tears. "...yeah. I… I love everyone, too."
"Aw, jeez, I can't take this gushy shit!" Yuma spoke as if he were about gag. "Can we get a move on or what?"
"Haha, Yuma-kun, you're blushing~"
"For now, we begin repairs," Ruki finally spoke again. He'd bowed his head while Kou and Yuma chatted with them, and now lifted his eyes with intent. "But we will move to Eden after Ayato returns with his brothers, so arrange your things."
"Kay! I gotta pack," Kou said before he disappeared.
Yuma left, too.
Yui blinked again. It was hard for her to keep pace with new information being tossed around. "Eden?"
"It's our home…!" Azusa excitedly explained, helping her stand on her wobbling feet.
"It's special territory, so we'll be safe once we make it there." Ruki gripped the windowsill and looked outside. "But getting there will be the challenge."
