Remember death.

Yui sat down on the deck as Ayato took off his clothes, piling them up beside her. Leaving on only his shorts, he asked her, "You sure you don't wanna join?"

Yui shook her head.

Ayato shrugged. "Your loss." He ran towards the lake, plunging into the lake and shouting "Cannon ball!" as he cured his body up, a huge splash creating waves that made Yui drenched in lake water. She stood up, crossing her arms around her chest. "Ayato kun!"

"Sorry," Ayato said in his usual haughty tone. He splashed water as she ran for cover, shouting at her, "You're stoopid!"

Yui laughed. The stars were shining in the night sky even brighter than before, and their reflections were distorted in the lake's reflection. The environment seemed to glow with life in light of the half moon, bathed in frosty aura, crickets chirping an incoherent melody as Ayato performed breaststrokes, swimming away from Yui, and the cricket song fading away with Ayato. She smiled as she laid back in the grass, looking up at the burning stars, her eyes stinging as she forced them to stay open, sleep and exhaustion overcoming her. He'd be pissed if he found her dozing off, or maybe he'd be encouraged to take a bite from her. She couldn't deal with the pain anymore, the pain inside her heart as the brothers constantly preyed over her. She started wondering what it was like, dying.

She wondered what would happen once she lives out her days. Would she die at the hands of one of the brothers, or would she simply wither into old age, discarded for her tasteless blood and her inability to keep the brothers engaged? Would one of them kill her because she'd become passive and uninteresting? Would they replace her with another unassuming little girl, forsaken by her family and forgotten by her friends?

Remember death.

Memento mori.

Think of the end.

Bedenke das ende.

Her mind became enraptured by the words once uttered by her father, triggering memories in her she wanted to desperately forget. Wet clothes, hands slick with mud, hair stringy with lake water. The nun making her cough water out of her airway. A vampire, digging his fangs into her marble skin. A kiss, unreturned. A heart, beating rapidly. Lips touching, a gulp of potion. A single word, waking her up.

Yui.

She got up, her weight resting on her elbows as she saw Ayato, casually floating on his back. It was too dark for her to see, but he was smiling in bliss. Hard to believe he had a phobia of water in his childhood. He'd had his catharsis. Why couldn't she have hers?

She wondered if she could step into the water. She'd get her clothes wet. She couldn't just take her clothes off and risk being ogled at by Ayato, whose eyes seemed to linger on her body far too often for her liking these days. She'd caught his meandering stare seeking places no other person had seen, and she, in some sick way, wanted him to see them. His touch was comforting to her sometimes, despite the cold and unruly aspect of his behaviour. She wanted him to place his lips on hers and kiss the emptiness away. She wasn't sure what emptiness though; her body felt hollowed out, emptied by constant bloodsucking and torture. Her mind couldn't fathom how the breaths she took sustained her at this point, for she felt no heartbeat in her chest, no expansion of her lungs.

She got up on her feet, her hands hesitating as her fingers unbuttoned her shirt. She shimmied out of her school dress, carefully folding it up alongside Ayato's dress. She was left in her undershorts and a slip dress she wore inside her shirt, that resembled a white nightgown but a bit sheer. She became a bit self conscious as she could see her strawberry printed bra through the thin fabric. This was stupid. She shouldn't have undressed like that. Now Ayato will-

"Pancake?" She turned her head around to see him, standing near the deck, his hands resting on the wooden platform. His eyes were glowing green against the dark of the night, his mouth disappearing in the water as he descended lower, his nose submerged now. She seemed to pause in her shock, before turning towards him, her hands clutching the bottom of her shift dress, saying, "Don't mock me."

His eyes were unfocused on her, although she knew he could see her in the dark better than she could see him. His nose came above the water level, as he squinted at her, his chin coming above the water next, as he pressed his lips into a thin line as he lowered his eyes. "Alright."

She stepped into the water slowly, her hands holding down her shift against the wind, as Ayato refused to make eye contact. She was standing on a stepping stone in the water, and Ayato was beside her, on the lower level, his head reaching her shoulders. They stood in silence as the cricket song became louder around them, filling up the stillness. Her eyes refused to meet his. A certain shame overcame Yui, something she'd never experienced. Normally he'd be cracking up about her tasteless underwear and trying to get a gulp of blood, but now Ayato was silent, his curious stare observing Yui every five seconds when she was not looking.

The lake wasn't that deep, but Yui wasn't that tall either. So when she tried to step forward, her foot slipped, propelling her to hit Ayato's chest, his arms locking her in his embrace. His heart began to beat, her ear pressed against his taut skin, his arms holding her waist, enveloping her. His hands pressed into her skin, and she wanted him to hold her even closer. She wanted to eliminate all gaps between them, if possible.

Ayato picked her up in his arms, bridal style, and wading through the waters, went in deeper into the lake. Yui locked her arms behind his neck, raising herself against him, her nose brushing against his neck. He tensed up at the contact. Turning his face towards her, he closed his eyes, resting his forehead against hers. An uncertainty hung in the air around them, as she closed her eyes as well, her breath mingling with his, as she felt the water rise beyond her neck. The anticipation ate at her heart, wondering whether he would seal his lips with hers or not. Her chest rose and fell as her breaths quickened, her shift dress the only obstacle between them, their simultaneously beating hearts against each other with every breath she took.

Not bearing the tension, she raised her chin a bit, until her lips touched his.

Reiji tapped his foot on the ground, looking at the watch as Shu leaned over the hood of the limousine, sighing as they waited.

"This is the second time they've gone missing," Reiji said to himself, his hands forming fists as his anger boiled in his veins. "If they are so intent on keeping to themselves, they might as well get out of the manor and enjoy their solitude."

"You don't have to be so strict on them," Shu said, glancing towards Reiji, his shoulders slumped.

"And let Ayato turn out to be a slob like you? No thanks." Reiji scoffed.

Shu shrugged, opening the car door and slipping inside, shutting the door behind him. Kanato screamed behind him, throwing yet another tantrum as Subaru snatched his candy jar from him and shattered it outside the car. Kanato's screams reached another crescendo as he shouted Subaru's name. Reiji turned around, frustrated at his brothers.

"Kanato! Keep it down."

Kanato mumbled something unkind towards his elder brother, as Subaru called Reiji a dickhead.

"That's it," Laito said, his head emerging from one of the windows, "They've taken their sweet time coming here, we don't need to wait up for them."

"You don't command me here, Laito." Reiji's face was stern and hard set.

Laito squinted at him, his smile drying up on his lips, as he retreated back to the car. Reiji looked at the night sky, the half moon igniting the atmosphere in a cool shade of blue. He kicked the tire of the limo in frustration, looking at the school gate, the street lamp painting his greyish blue hair in yellow light, bringing out the different colours, as he pushed his spectacles back, focusing on the two figures, coming towards them in an unsteady gait. Ayato stood beside him, panting, his hair dripping wet. Yui stood behind him, her hand clasped on his bicep, unable to make eye contact with Reiji.

"We were doing an assignment together," Ayato said, explaining. "We weren't finished by the time the bell rung."

"Save your excuses for later, Ayato." Reiji glared at Yui. She lowered her gaze, as Reiji made an elaborate gesture from his hand. "Get in, princess."

They both climbed into the limousine, Yui sparing one scared glance at Reiji, and Reiji was left wondering what these two were doing so late at night.

Ruki stood at the door of the church, hating the repulsion he felt as he put his foot on the steps, pushing his nausea and discomfort to a dark corner of his mind. Painted glass filtered the moonlight coming in. A priest was still sitting on a pew, his head bent down as he recited a hymn, almost about to close the church. They never kept open for too late, but Ruki knew why this priest had suddenly felt the need to stay back in his church for so late.

Ruki closed the distance between them, his hands hiding behind his back. He saw the priest raise his head from his hands, turning back to look at the boy. The man was old, his hair a grey colour, his skin wrinkled and pale. But the man looked strong. His robes fit him well, and the man kept in shape. Ruki could tell. He was clean shaven, his lips were pressed in a thin line, his grey eyes wisened with experience.

"Father Komori," Ruki sat down in front of him, on the pew. "We finally meet."

Komori Seiji blinked once, then crossed his hands across his chest. "I might be a little lax with the church policies, but demons are not allowed inside the church."

Ruki felt the words sting in his heart. "You went off the grid for a while. It was hard finding you. If only I had found you sooner..."

Seiji stood up, as calmly as he could. "I'd suggest we get out for a breath of fresh air."

Ruki didn't budge. "You would drive a stake through my heart if we exited the gates of the church."

Lines of worry appeared on Seiji's forehead. "I don't want to soil the holy ground with your blood."

Ruki breathed in, his patience wearing thin. He had wasted three days chasing after the priest, two weeks finding information on him. It was only through Kou's influence that they had been able to find the church the priest was at. Ruki imagined slogging through all those days of hard work, searching up manual records as he had been unable to find information on the internet, and ending up with such an uncooperative individual. He almost wanted to give up, before Yui's tear streaked face flashed in the back of his mind, reminding of the torture he had made her go through.

"Your daughter wouldn't like my blood being spilled."

Seiji's interest was ignited by those words. Pulling out his silver stake, pointing it right at Ruki's heart, he demanded, "What do you mean?"

Ruki had imagined a subtle response from him. He got down on the ground, his hands folded, he was literally begging for him to be heard. Yui had gone through far worse. He could handle a bit of humiliation for her. Seiji's stake stood pointing at him, his eyes showing a shock evident as he saw the young vampire abandon his ego. "Your daughter is someone I deeply care about. You have abandoned her at the Sakamaki mansion, and as far as I know, Yui wouldn't see the next full moon if we are unable to save her from them."

Seiji's eyes showed emotion, but it was quickly shoved back, as he managed to pull his poker face. "Get up."

Ruki was yanked by the collar of his shirt. Seiji pulled him up, making him face towards the statue of Jesus, as he spat out, "See that?"

Ruki observed silently as the pastor removed his hand from his chin, his eyes studying the crucified Christ intently. His heart awakened, his mind imaptient, his brain telling him to run. This man preyed on vampires. He is going to drive a stake through me as well, he thought. Nobody knew how many vampires Komori had killed. He hadn't earned his name in the demon world for nothing.

Ruki gulped, as he waited for the priest to say something.

"That may be an ordinary statue for you, but for me it is my life. I've killed anyone who has come between my duty, be it mortal or immortal." Seiji took in a shaky breath, as he said, his eyes filled with worry, "Even if it means abandoning my daughter. I would do anything for my principles."

Ruki was unable to control his anger. "For how much did you pimp your daughter to those monsters?"

Ruki was knocked across his face, the blow sending him flying across the first three rows of the pews. He hit his face on the ground, and felt a pain erupt in his nose. Touching the nose tenderly, he found blood flowing freely from his orifice.

"If you dare say anything about my daughter," Seiji said, his tone dangerously low. "I won't hesitate to put you out of your miserable existence."

Ruki got up on his knees, facing the priest, his face hurting like hell, but his mind determined. "Your daughter believed in you, sir. She's grown into a selfless being, as you taught her. But when it comes to her safety, you are turning a blind eye. Facing away from the dangers that clearly are fatal for her. Refusing to help your daughter when she clearly need it. You do not deserve her." He breathed hard, adding in a low voice, inaudible to the priest's ears. "And neither do I."

Seiji looked at the vampire in fury, pulling his coat lapel taut against his chest. The moonlight, filtered from the stained glass, hit Ruki right in the face, blinding his vision. Ruki felt his breaths become shallow as Seiji came forward, pulling him by his collar, picking him up. "I won't kill you," Seiji said, "But you will tell me everything about my daughter in exchange."