By nightfall, Yui finished packing away all of her belongings into a trunk. She had accumulated a lot of books and odds and ends-a crochet hook, some leftover yarn, extra safety eyes, a collar for a puppy who would never wear it, a pressed rose she didn't put between two books (but she knew who did)...
As Yui packed her clothes, the sight of her pink blouse nestled beside her new blue cardigan made her feel strange and almost... ticklish?
She wore new clothes to meet her old captors.
All of Ayato's brothers, except for Kanato, showed up. They stood apart, giving each other and the Mukamis skeptical glares.
In contrast, the Mukami brothers formed a tight circle around Yui, their shoulders blocking her view of the forest area.
As the sun set, Reiji and Ruki began to briefly discuss their plan.
Reaching Eden would require travelling through a tunnel. The entrance was set deep in the woods surrounding the two manors (and, not for the first time, Yui wondered if this place really was Japan).
They could've left for Eden during the day, but Ruki said he expected to be waylaid either way. He wanted the extra numbers.
There was a limited window where the purebloods could move with strength: sensitive to the sun but the full eclipse would depower them.
"Who carries Titless." Ayato jutted out his chin and his question was more challenge than query.
"Do you want the honor?" Ruki met his glare with unblinking black eyes.
Yui found Azusa off to the side, but his stare was diverted. He was squeezing his bandaged arm again; he hadn't done that in a while.
Yui pressed her lips together.
Laito laughed as Ayato picked her up. "Ahh, I would've volunteered, if only I'd known I'd get to touch Bitch-chan's cute butt!"
Ayato rolled his eyes, but Yui winced. Being carried by Ayato felt like less of a bridal carry and more like...being an armful of laundry. Her legs dangled awkwardly.
Vampire speed made the world rush by faster than she could see, and the wind whipped her hair around her face. They plunged into the woods, and the sunset smeared orange onto the dark trees.
She heard the howls shortly before she saw them...
Wolves.
They shimmered red in the darkness and their eyes glowed gold. The supernatural wolves easily kept pace with vampires, charging and snapping viciously.
Kou and Subaru broke off to fight the first wave.
The eclipse wasn't locked into place yet, maybe, and the ancient ancestors possibly wanted to slow them down. That, or they were picking off people from the group… with a spike of fear, Yui prayed they could all stay together. She looked around for Azusa among the modern art passing by.
Suddenly, Ayato jerked to a stop, and Yui felt the slam of inertia. Everyone else had stopped too, and formed a circle. The wolves prowled around but didn't attack again.
Two shadowy figures appeared below the trees ahead. Strangely, only three eyes glowed golden light, like the wolves they controlled.
One of them laughed and stepped forward, revealing an eyepatch on his face. "Well, well, is that the woman? She looks like a child. Is she even old enough to give birth yet?" Was his hair pink, or was it a trick of the last remnants of sunset? "What do you think, elder brother?"
Yui couldn't see the horizon among the trees, but it was getting darker every second.
The other founder wore a scarf around his face, but his voice came out penetratingly deep. "Filthy vampires, I offer you the chance to surrender only once."
"Fuck off," Ayato snarled.
The elder of the pair closed his eyes and raised a hand, blasting some kind of magical attack.
In front, Shu and Yuma snarled and braced themselves. Yuma started cursing.
The younger founder began to laugh again, charging their circle with his growling wolves.
Ruki turned to Ayato. "We're going to break you through, so take her and my youngest brother on ahead."
Ayato's brows furrowed. "Tch. He gonna be any use?"
Yui frowned, but held her tongue.
Azusa shifted closer to Yui, but with his black to her, she couldn't tell what he was thinking now.
"Shit!" Ayato jerked left, but no luck.
Yui felt the blast of sparkling energy and shrieked against the sudden pain jolting her skin. The electrical shock wasn't hot, but the aftermath ache was burning.
"Hahaha, like we'll let you escape!" The younger founder jumped into their circle. This close, his only eye glittered behind a pair of glasses; the other was covered with an eyepatch.
Ruki swiped at him. "Don't underestimate us."
Yuma threw a wolf at the founder, who dodged easily, and swung wide another wolf by the neck.
Azusa and Ayato snapped up the gap.
Yui heard a frustrated roar, but five vampires might be able to hold two founders and their familiars until Kou and Subaru caught up...
A few wolves followed, snapping at their heels. Their pace grew erratic as they ducked and jerked around trees now, making the wolves behind them snarl and howl.
Yui barely saw the cave before they ducked inside. Pure darkness folded around them.
She closed her eyes, because it made no difference. Dark. Wind rushing past. Ayato's grip was cold and pinching… but Azusa was still with her. She focused on this to drown her senses: Azusa hadn't left her side.
They stopped again, and Ayato said, "Shit, the gate!"
Yui looked up at ancient carved stone doors, bracketed by torches, and recognized the design. This tree was also on her bed's headboard.
"I have the key." Azusa reached out to the keyhole.
Yui's heart sped up. Ruki planned ahead...
Ayato jerked to dodge the jaws of a wolf.
Looking around Ayato, Yui saw several pairs of glowing eyes beyond the ring of torch light.
They jumped again, and Ayato kicked a dark body away. "Hurry it up, will ya!"
The door began to slide open, just a little. "It's okay…" Azusa said, and was immediately made into a liar as a wolf tore into his bandaged arm.
Yui screamed as Azusa slammed into the door and wrestled the animal. She was punished with a rough shake and a "shut up" from Ayato, but she barely noticed, her eyes locked on the animal tearing her beloved apart.
Azusa got the wolf into a chokehold, but another one grabbed his leg. He gritted his teeth as a shout of pain escaped his throat
Yui started to thrash in Ayato's grip. "Let me go, Azusa-kun, Azusa-"
"Whoa, what are you gonna do? Fight a wolf yourself?"
Hissing with pain, Azusa's only free leg hooked around the edge of the grand door and cracked it open. "Go…"
"No," Yui cried as Ayato said, "Finally!"
Ayato shoved them both through the crack.
Yui gasped as the door slammed shut behind them. She kicked frantically and shoved at Ayato, scratching him, desperation making her violent-
"What the fuck, you bit me!" Ayato dropped dropped her and rubbed his arm.
Dimly, Yui was aware she'd never fought this hard before; not because she didn't want to, but because she feared retaliation and prioritized long-term safety. Now, she didn't care about punishment. Whip her, bite her back, kill her... nothing would matter if Azusa died.
Yui scratched at the door, but there were no handles. "Azusa-kun!"
She heard his voice through the stone, and he sounded very far away: "It's okay… I'll catch up."
Yui didn't get to say no, let's stay together! Ayato dragged her back by her hair and smashed her head against the stone, knocking her out for a few seconds.
Her head felt heavy, her tongue thick. She couldn't say anything as Ayato carried her away.
Ayato brought her through the tunnel of torches and emerged in some grand hall with large pillars marking the entrance. He took her up gleaming white stone stairs, each step jostling her aching head.
Finally, he entered a fancy parlor. He dumped her on a settee, held her down, and took her blood, but Yui barely noticed.
She felt numb to the fangs digging into her body, her emotions leveled as she quietly thought about how Azusa had to catch up. If he didn't…
With her blood also drained her consciousness.
