Chapter 33
She was dreaming of whipped cream mountains and hot chocolate lakes, with meringue islands; a caramel fountain sprinkled fresh lemonade and pink cotton candy clouds gave off a tempting aroma of strawberries.
Mary blinked in bewilderment, eyeing the wafer birds chirping happily while gelatine cats were lounging in the shade of the trees with billions of coloured confetti as leaves.
- Ok, I'm dreaming - she muttered, frowning, and gave herself a powerful slap in the face to escape that absurd albeit very impressive landscape.
She woke up in bed, blinking repeatedly, all numb and confused; she took a deep breath and flung herself back on the mattress, contorting herself, seized by the extremely painful muscle cramps. She stifled moans of aching and clutched the blankets in her fingers, noticing with her half-closed eyes the whiteness of her hair scattered on the sheet and the green irises of...
- La... Laito... kun... – the girl stammered, feeling a slight relaxation in her body; the vampire tilted his head, pursing his lips worriedly.
- Micchan~! Daijoubu? - he asked, sitting on the edge and stroking a side of her face, after moving a few strands of hair behind her ear; she moved her head slightly, muttering that the pain was only temporary, and the vampire smiled in relief, and then take a quizzical expression.
- How come your hair is still white? It's already been a week and a half...
Hearing how many days she had been unconscious, Mary nearly felt fainting and understood the meaning behind her strange dream: her stomach claimed food and food and food...
She raised her torso with difficulty, leaning back against the bed head and rubbed her forehead, muttering the answer to his question.
- Using too much of my powers has side effects... at worst, I also happen to have a fever for a couple of weeks... Otherwise I remain only unconscious, with no opportunity to use my powers and paralyzed for about a week, the time needed to heal any wounds and get my energies back... my hair goes back to its original colour at last, as it requires very little power...
But is it even their original color ...?, the girl asked herself puzzled, as she scanned a lock of her hair; she felt her friend's hand on her shoulder and his getting closer.
- Paralyzed? Powerless? - he repeated with an indecipherable face and the other nodded, raising an eyebrow, bewildered by that unusual expression; Laito stretched his lips in a cunning and mischievous smile.
- Eeeh~ If I had known before I would have attacked you without worrying too much... – he chuckled, wrapping her in a hug and brushing his nose with her own; Mary rolled her eyes and stifled an amused snort, raising her hands to pinch his cheeks.
- I would have hit you so much after waking up, Laito-kun – she smiled beamingly; the vampire fell silent and his eyes widened, staring at her joyous and serene face, framed by her snow-white and luminescent hair.
That so bright white... where had he already seen it?
Both of them heard someone knock on the bedroom's door and Mary gave the consent to enter, knowing who it was.
- Oya, Laito. You're already here? – Reiji said, as he approached them holding in his hands a silver tray: a steaming tea with its aromatic scent and a croissant with hazelnut cream caused the young girl to feel dependent on food.
- I usually don't appreciate eating in a bedroom, but this time I shall turn a blind eye, given the circumstances - he said very politely and with a relaxed tone, placing the tray on the nightstand beside the bed; the girl moved her eyes from the tray to the vampire who fixed the glasses on his nose with a refined gesture.
- Thank you very much, Reiji-san - she murmured, bowing her head; the other replied with a nod of the head, calm, and got closer to grab her right hand.
- Mr Ari contacted me almost immediately after that day, providing me with the money needed to repair the damage that our mansion has undergone... so - he said, with a kiss on the hand worthy of a true gentleman - I would like to personally express my sincere gratitude, since it was you who recommended him to do so.
Aaah, that's why he's in such a good mood..., Mary thought, undecided whether to keep from laughing as much as possible or from making a contemptuous grimace at that little hypocrite gesture which had made her skin broke in a cold sweat; the young man cleared his throat and before leaving he informed her that Ayato and Yui were waiting for her in the closest room to the kitchen. He disappeared.
Laito he chuckled afew minutes later, saying it was too strange to see his older brother so placid; he took a sweet and affectionate glance at her, giving her a kiss on the nose, and finally ruffled her hair and recommended not to force herself too much once she had eaten and rested enough.
Mary observed him thoughtfully, so that the vampire smiled maliciously, asking if she preferred a pleasant and exciting company instead of leaving her alone: the girl glared at him and, looking down at the hot drink, she whispered:
- You look different... - then, looking up, she added with a warm smile - You have brighter eyes.
When she finally managed to leave the room, after twenty attempts to walk without wobbling or crashing to the ground, the girl slowly walked along the corridors and cautiously descended the stairs, heading for the room next to the kitchen, from where delicious smells hailed from.
She looked around and pay attention to the atmosphere: light, impalpable, breathable, fresh.
She cracked a slight smile, calmed by those positive feelings that were mingling in the air, as if everyone had atoned for their sins and eventually had left behind the suffering that had prevented them to dedicate themselves to a more happy and peaceful life.
However, she wasn't able to reflect that they all were still a bit far from such a goal, actually; perhaps because she was too tired, perhaps because her thoughts went into oblivion when Kanato's voice distracted her.
- Mary-san - he called her, appearing beside her, with Teddy always close to his chest; dark circles seemed less marked than usual, probably because his eyes had lost some of the usual melancholy, replaced by a yet disturbing gaiety; it wasn't a really good sign, speaking clearly.
- Kanato-kun - the girl greeted him calmly, tilting her head; her nose smelled the pleasant scent coming from the vampire's clothes - Cream puffs with... orange flavoured custard? – she realized questioningly: from what she could remember, that's so-sweet floral fragrance had spread around only when she had prepared the cake for the violet-eyed vampire, who nodded.
- Mh, exactly. I personally asked Reiji to use it... that aroma is really delicious - he explained, smiling faintly; he stared intently into her eyes and suddenly held out in front of her his cuddle toy.
- The demonic Essence is now inside him. Do you think it will make Teddy move on his own? He's a little tired of always being so still...
For God's sake, let's hope it won't!, she said to herself, answering that she doubt the Essence could do such a thing; obviously she pondered her words carefully, choosing the most suitable to the context, aware that a wrong and unwelcomed term could have cost her a terrible consequence to suffer.
- Oh, really? – he whispered in disappointment, frowning; Mary feared the worst, but almost breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him relax and move to leave. Suddenly she found Teddy's snout on her own lips, again.
- Teddy wants to thank you once again for saving his life, and also for avoiding unpleasant changes in this house...
He disappeared; she touched her lips, arching an eyebrow: she didn't know whether to laugh out of tenderness or brood out of concern.
In the living room, she finally had the opportunity to meet Yui; with great difficulty: if she had led an expedition to the North Pole, it certainly would have been more easier.
Ayato, in fact, had seemed rather hostile to the moment when they had shaken hands, the younger girl timidly and the other one warmly, slowly starting conversing animatedly and becoming more and more friends in a few minutes; annoyed, he snorted when half an hour later the two girls were still chatting pleasantly, sitting on a couch as he had stared at them carefully.
He got up, approaching and slamming his hands on the table, leaning his jealous face towards them who had jumped:
- Oi, Chichinashi! Let's get out!
- But, Ayato-kun... - she said feebly, putting her hands on her chest and looking at him fearfully; Mary held out an arm in front of her to interrupt her and seriously addressed the vampire:
- Ayato-kun, don't be so selfish, please.
- Huh?! This woman is mine, I decide what she can do or not! And right now I want her to leave with me...
The girl suddenly moved to a nightstand with a ceramic candlestick on it, embellished with silver motifs and gold spherical studs, followed by their questioning eyes; she shoved it and the object shattered into a thousand pieces on the floor.
- What... - Ayato started to say, puzzled, as she returned to sit on the couch and turned white when she cried:
- Reiiiji-saan, Ayato-kun broke that candlestick! - she knew in fact that it was one of the many souvenirs that the Sakamaki brothers' father had spread around the mansion and which was strictly recommended not to damage, given its considerable value.
Mary took the blonde girl's hand and ran off with her before Ayato could realize her scam, still stunned by what had happened, but soon they heard him swearing a lot, then Reiji's voice reprimanding him with a tone that implied a long, fierce lecture.
- Hahaha... ha ... - leaning against a small shelf, Yui pressed her hands on her belly, trying to stop laughing; at the first opportunity, she turned to her saviour who was grinning at the thought of what the vampire was going through.
- Mary-san, you're really great, just like Laito-kun said...! - she choked back another laugh, restoring her composure - I mean it: you're a great and strong person... ever since I woke up, I felt the atmosphere in this house to have changed, albeit slightly, for the better... and I'm sure that this is all because of you!
Mary was silent, surprised by the those so beautiful and full of gratitude words and by the young girl's sincerity, who continued on talking, shifting her serene look on a vase of white roses, secretly gathered by Subaru in the early morning, and stroking them gently.
- You are a special person... loyal to your values, trusting in others' abilities, and especially empathetic; I think you understood each of these guys' personality and past better than me... and you had more determination and care to bring them back on the right path... whereas I...
Yui bent her head down, embittered. As she was also very attached to her own beliefs, she often had felt helpless and weak, only able to witness and suffer.
Mary kept on staring at her in silence, speechless, and she felt her eyes watering due to those words that had so suddenly raised her from the guilt she had brought with her like a lead ball in her pockets; the other one turned back to her and smiled:
- I'd better go and stop those two... even if, in the end, I will be the one that will have the worst outcome... – she sadly darkened and left as if going to martyrdom, with staggering or unwillingly steps; the white-haired girl felt immense pity, then shrugged her shoulders and looked around.
She had seen the triplets, Reiji and had get to know the sweet Yui; she wondered where Subaru and Shuu could be and walked towards the room of the former.
Reached her destination, she knocked on the door: silence. This was something vaguely familiar; she repeated the gesture again and again no sound was heard by her ears but the rumble of the hits on the wood. The sense of déjà vu intensified and she tried once again, calling the vampire.
- Subaruc...
Two hands landed violently on the door, brushing the sides of her head stuck between those strong arms; a mouth came up to her ear, tickling it with his lips and causing her a shiver of panic.
- I'll rip your head off, if you dare call me that; I think I have told you many times that I don't to repeat myself - he added angrily, and after a few seconds of silence he slid his arms around the girl's waist, kissing her hair and then resting his head in the crook of her neck, while she turned around a little to face him, confused.
- Subaru-kun? – she sensed his grip strengthening and he closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
- Wel-Welcome back... – he muttered, turning away to hide the faint blush on his cheeks; Mary blinked then smiled sweetly, giving a slight pat with her hand on his, fixed on her abdomen.
It wasn't that long before her cheeks suddenly became crimson coloured, and her hair stood up on her head as she felt something wet slide down her neck; she flinched and turned away from him frantically.
- Subaru-kun!? - she exclaimed in disbelief, with a hint of anger in her voice, as she rubbed her fingers against the skin where an embarrassing trail had been left.
- Tch - the albino clicked his tongue, irritated, and put his hands on his hips - What is it now?! You are here as a blood supply, wh-
- Blood supply! - she interrupted him - Exactly! You w-w-w-we-we-we-we-wer-wer-were...
She covered her face with her hands, wondering how she had managed to resist until then; oh, right: she hadn't been exhausted by one hell of a fight (very appropriate...) against a hunter, when she arrived in the villa at the beginning.
She winced as her waist was harshly grabbed and she hold his wrists trying to move him away from her; the vampire, even more frustrated, pushed her against the wall, supporting her with his arms and staring intently into her eyes.
- Let me do as I please- he rebuked, by blowing a few centimetres away from her face.
- Let me go - she said, glaring at him with a reproachful and disapproving look.
Subaru groaned and crashed his lips on hers, surprising her and pressing her body with his against the cold wall, and deepened the kiss passionately; the girl didn't react immediately, protests suffocated by Subaru's passion though he was being very warm and affectionate towards her; she decided to quickly lift the knee between his legs. She would have apologized another time, but it was necessary to get him off her, even if she did like him as a friend.
The vampire broke away and backed away, pressing his hands on the delicate aching area, accompanying his reaction with pitiful moans of suffering (hats off, men, and have compassion, maidens...).
- SUBARU-KUN NO BAKA! - Mary yelled while blushing and trembling with shame, and gave him a slap on the cheek and then ran away; however, she stopped after a few meters, to turn around and scream again:
- And to think that I came to see you heartily! - and at last she left; Subaru muttered in exasperation, still red because of his emotions, collapsing to the floor on his back and brushing his lips almost as to keep that good feeling he had sensed with the contact.
- Kuso... why does it always have to end like this... ah...
Mary was leaning on the library's window sill, gazing the garden; she had looked for an interesting title among those billions of books, but no one had been able to distract her from the embarrassment caused by that lively encounter with Subaru, to whom she mentally kept on asking forgiveness for not reciprocating his affection in the same way he showed her.
Meanwhile, as an innocent infatuated girl, she hoped with all her heart that Shuu would reach her at any moment, or, more likely, that she would meet him around the house while blissfully dozing on a couch (or on the floor, why not?, it had already happened, or immersed with all his clothes in the bathtub; that sloth!).
She sighed and decided to go to the kitchen, where she could prepare and eat a more substantial meal to soothe still lingering her hunger; therefore she turned to the door, but stopped in time as soon as her eyes saw a well-familiar neck, mostly because of the choker with the small MP3 player attached to it.
She raised her head slowly, joyful and relieved, and met that ocean blue that bewitched her so much; her nostrils smelled the clean scent that intoxicated her so much and her lips curled in a tender smile towards Shuu, who was staring at her with his indifferent expression.
The vampire leaned over her and touched her mouth with his fingers, frowning and muttering that his little brother had spoiled that source of softness which he could never get enough of, and reached out to taste it; her fingers also rested, however, on his lips, stopping him and the young man frowned, annoyed.
- Shuu-san - Mary whispered, hesitantly, her expression becoming uncertain and fearful; she took a deep breath and, with rosy cheeks, gave him a more unusual smile, special - Daisuki.
The blond opened his eyes briefly, before narrowing them and cupping her timid face gently in his hands, and gradually decreased the gap between them.
- You're just food, boring woman... – he whispered; they both closed their eyes.
And the stars lightened that night's clear sky.
1 Daijoubu? = "Are you okay?"
2 Subaru-kun no baka! = "Subaru-kun, you idiot!"
3 Kuso = Something like "sh*t!"
Aaaah, and this is the last chapter before the epilogue! I'm so happy that I'm finishing this... and I still have the second volume to translate, more than forty chapters that are longers than these... :°D
I hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you soon!