hellokitty70705: Haha, sorry! Then I took a lot longer to update than I wanted to! :p As for your question, I can consider her being paired up with more than just Laito. (: Did you have one that you wanted me to consider? :D Also, thank you! :D
karin.b.8525: Haha, I don't always intend for the cliffhangers! Sometimes they just end up that way! :p Haha, but anticipation is always good! :D Thank you for reviewing!
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy!
Revulsion was the only way to describe how she was feeling at the moment. She found that she was only able to stare numbly at the purple haired vampire, who had a look of pure elation on his face. Her vocal cords felt like they had been frozen. He had been describing in disturbing detail about how he had made the last sacrificial bride into a doll. Apparently, he had considered not even using her, but it was a tradition of his, so he stuck her back in a corner. She was completely out of his sight, and she didn't disrupt the rest of his collection. He described her as a scared little thing that had foul tasting blood. He said that it was so bitter that he was sure that she was spoiled. He then proceed to tell her about how ugly the girl had been. He easily slips to one of his favorites. He begins the process all over again. It was making Mai feel like throwing up. He described in excruciating detail about how he pulled out all of her internal organs one by one and treated her much the same as one would expect a taxidermist to do.
Mai finds her shaking hands lifting to press against her mouth in an effort to keep a sob from leaking out. Her eyes lock with the floor between her feet. She couldn't look at the purple haired vampire anymore, even if it was a danger to let him out of her sights. Bile feels like it's rising up the back of her throat as the images just kept coming to mind. She just wanted him to stop talking about it. She wants to lift her hands to cover her ears, but she was pressing them against her mouth to keep herself from throating up. Kanato suddenly stops talking, which causes her heart to skip a beat. She didn't dare look up as the seconds tick by. Had she offended him in some way? The thought brought a cold sweat to her skin. She jumps at the sound of his laughter. His laughter echoes around the room, making it seem even more insane than Mai thought he was. She drags her eyes from the ground to look up at him to give him a mixed look of horror and disgust. She swallows hard when she notices that, even though he was laughing, he seemed to be observing her closely. Every hair on her body raises on end. Her hands drop back to her sides and she forces a smile onto her face. She vaguely gestures around her. It might be better to keep him talking about the dolls than to have his undivided attention on her. They were creepier than ever now that she knew what they once were. She feels sick all over again at the thought of what they had gone through. Her voice is low and quaky when she asks, "so, do you only do women?"
He pulls his teddy bear tightly against his chest. The head rests just below his chin. He moves the bear a little higher, and he hides his lower face behind the top portion if its' head. A look of morbid curiosity takes over his face, easily replacing the excitement. His voice is muffled and low. "Are you scared of me now?"
Mai flinches at the question. She takes a few steps back, though she's careful to keep her eyes on him now. His mood was shifting, and that practically spelled a load of different problems. A look of sadness suddenly spreads over his face. She's not sure why, but she instantly feels guilty. She gives her head a small shake in an attempt to clear the feeling away. She couldn't afford to feel bad for the vampire. He was dangerous and twisted. With those thoughts in mind, she clears her throat. Maybe he'd feel better if she was honest with him. Not everyone liked honesty, but everyone hated being lied to. She tries to make her voice steady when she says. "I'm sorry, but yeah. I'm a little frightened."
Tears well up in his eyes, making her heart race wildly. The irrational feelings of guilt threaten to consume her. She drags her eyes away from him to look at the dolls around her in an effort to quell the rising guilt. She flinches at the sheer number of lost lives, but she couldn't look at him if he was going to cry. It made him look even more like a little kid. She tries to sound happy, but she knows that she fails miserably. "I mean, you did an amazing job. I thought they looked so realistic, and each dress is just so…"
"Please don't do that."
Involuntarily, her eyes snap back to him. To her utter shock, tears were gone, and he had lowered the teddy bear. In fact, there was no evidence that they had ever been there in the first place. Uncertainty races through her body at the chilling sight before her. He didn't look irritated or anything. Simple curiosity was the only emotion that she could see on his face. When he takes a few steps toward her, she takes a step back. A cruel, yet amused, smile spreads over his face at her simple action. His eyes narrow for a moment before he brings the teddy bear back up, covering the bottom portion of his face again. His voice is muffled, but she can hear a chilling note to it. "Please don't act interested when you are clearly disgusted with it. It's exhausting to play such a stupid game."
Mai's heart feels like it stopped completely. His words had a biting edge to them, but they weren't actually rude. It was chilling that he didn't even sound upset. It was like he was almost talking in a monotone. She clears her throat and tries to calm her racing thoughts. She needed to say something that would make him happy again. She had a feeling that he was either going to laugh again or have a violent episode like he did last time. Silence stretches between them while she carefully considers what to say. It was nerve wrecking that she was only pulling up blanks. Finally, she takes a deep breath after a few moments and forces a smile back onto her face. "So, I have a question."
He doesn't answer or give her any indication that he planned to actually give her the go ahead to ask. Mai tries to maintain the smile on her face, but it quickly fades away at the look of morbid curiosity in his eyes. With a flinch, she realizes that's his way of saying that she can ask her question. She finds it hard to find her voice, but she manages to ask. "It's about Yui. I just…. I was wondering if she will be alright?"
Once again, he gives no indication of having heard her. She lets the minutes slip by before she decides to ask different question. "What are the sacrificial brides for?"
More silence. It was starting to frustrate her, but she moves onto the next question. "Do all of them have to die? Have any been released?"
Yet again, he doesn't answer her. His grip on the teddy bear just gets tighter. Amusement filled his purple eyes. His mouth was hidden behind his bear, so she couldn't tell if he was smiling or not. She had a feeling that he was though. Mai takes a deep breath and clenches her fists. She tries to keep the frustration out of her tone. "Do you know anything about women in white? I'm not meaning the dolls that you've made. I asked Laito, and he brought me here."
Saying Laito's name seems to actually get a reaction out of him. His body gives a slight jerk, and he lowers the teddy bear. "You are quite rude, aren't you?"
Stunned by the response, Mai can only stupidly ask, "What?"
A look of frustration passes over his face before it disappears. It eerily reminded her of Laito. His voice is thick with anger. "You are talking about someone else while you are here with me. Were you thinking about that pervert while I was talking to you?"
Mai slowly starts to shake her head. Her thought process had been disrupted by the odd statement, which prevented her from actually forming words. The thought of him getting angry because she didn't actually answer him makes her flinch. To her surprise, he didn't actually look upset. Instead, a look of pure excitement had taken over his face. He takes a few more steps toward her, but she stubbornly holds her ground. She's careful to keep an eye on his body the best she can. The last thing she wanted was him reaching out to slap her or something like that. He leans toward her once he's close enough. She quickly leans away, but it doesn't stop the chill from running down her spine. He lets out a low, almost sadistic sounding chuckle. Thankfully, he pulls back. "You smell different. Not a lot. I just noticed noticed it now that I was close enough to you."
"Did you just smell me?" Mai flinches at her squeaky voice. Why was she asking such a stupid question? Her obvious discomfort seems to amuse Kanato even more. His purple eyes flick up and down her body, making her feel self conscious. She was only in a tank top and shorts. She wraps her arms around herself and takes a step back.
"I thought maybe you'd been a whore and slept with that pervert already, but that's not it. You'd smell completely different, not just a little. Besides, you still smell like a virgin."
Mai's face turns a deep red color at his words, and she slips behind a doll to hide her embarrassment. She allows her gaze to wander around the room. She quickly moves around the dolls in an effort to put some distance between herself and the crazy purple haired vampire. It was eerily silent, which just made her pick up her pace. She had to get away from this room. She glances over her shoulder when something catches her attention. She slows to a stop and looks around herself. She was positive that she had just seen movement out of the corner of her eye. Her skin starts to crawl when movement a few rows over draws her attention. Her heartbeat starts to race, and she swallows hard and quickly starts to walk again. She breaks into a run when she hears a soft padding behind her. It was almost like barefeet was hitting the cold stone floor. A thought briefly occurs to her that maybe it was her own footsteps echoing back to her, but she pushes the thought out of her mind. She was sure that something was following her and she didn't dare look over her shoulder.
Kanato materializes not far in front of her. Her breath catches in her throat, and she tries to change direction. Ice cold arms wrap around her waist, causing Mai to let out a mixed cry of surprise and fear. The chill seems to run all the way down into her bones. To her horror, she feels her feet leave the ground, and the arms seem to hold her even tighter. It felt like they were trying to crush the life from her. Mai struggles hard, but she stops when Kanato seems to appear before her once again. She didn't think that she was very high in the air, but she still had to look down a little to see into his eyes. He tilts his head a little while he observes her. He had a thoughtful look on his face, like he was looking at a puzzle. Her gaze is drawn to a chilling sight over his shoulder. A woman in white was standing a good distance away. She was looking down, and her dark hair was covering her face. Mai had never felt as scared as she did then. It was a blood stopping sight to see a slightly glowing woman standing among the eerily pale dolls. A realization knocks the wind out of Mai's chest. The woman in white was wearing a wedding dress.
Mai begins to thrash hard to get away, but it only earns cold laughter from the purple haired vampire. A violent squeeze effectively forces any remaining air from her lungs. For a brief moment, Mai goes limp, and she struggles to regain her breath. It's just enough time for the purple haired vampire to move in closer. His hand painfully tangles in her hair. He gives it a sharp tug to snap her head back and expose her throat to him. He quickly leans in, and Mai can feel her entire body tense up. She reaches out to shove him away, but she stops just short of touching him when it sounds like he is sniffing her. Baffled, Mai simply returns to being limp, completely unsure on what to do.
"Ah, I hate to break this up, Kanato, but Sweetheart is needed on the phone!" Laito's voice echoes around the room. It feels like Mai's heart skips a beat. She flinches when Kanato's hand tightens even worse in her hair. It feels like he is about to pull out a fist full of it, roots and all. Mai grits her teeth as the tension seems to rise in the room. Slowly, she feels Kanato pull away from her, but he stays closer to her than she's comfortable with. His hand was still gripping her hair as well. He simply looks over his shoulder, preventing Mai from seeing his face. She could see Laito standing where the woman in white had been standing. It feels like the chills racing up and down her back are the cause of the goosebumps forming on her skin. Her eyes flick around to find the woman, but it seems like she's gone. The cold arms start to squeeze Mai even tighter. She lets out a strangled gasp, which is ignored by both Laito and Kanato.
"Did you do something different to her?" Kanato's voice was full of curiosity, and Mai had a feeling that it wouldn't end well.
"Nope!" Laito's voice had an almost sing song quality to it. Kanato's hand tightens enough to earn a small hiss of pain from Mai, but, thankfully, neither vampire even looks her way. She feels the arms around her slowly letting go. It comes as a surprise that she wasn't just left to fall into a heap on the floor. Kanato pulls his hand from her hair, much to her relief. Her movement halts the moment Kanato is no longer gripping her hair. She considers trying to break free, but she decides to just let herself dangle a short distance above the ground and glances over her shoulder. Her heart stops when she sees that it's a doll that is standing behind her. Now, she just wants nothing more than to rip herself away the doll. Before she has a chance to do so, her attention is drawn back to the two vampires before her when she hears Kanato stepping away from her. He was almost pouting down at her.
Confusion fills Mai at that. Had she missed something? She's doesn't get a chance to ask though. She's suddenly dropped to the floor in a painful heap. She lets out a soft groan before her gaze snaps up. Laito had gotten closer to her than she wanted him to be. She scoots away as quickly as she can. Thankfully, he didn't make any attempt to reach out and grab her. Instead, he pulled his hand out of his hoodie pocket. He turns the phone to face Mai. Her eyes lock onto the face of it, and her heart skips a beat when she sees that her mom was currently calling. In the corner of the screen, she could see that it was nine in the morning. She leaps to her feet and lunges for it. Why did he always have to take away her only form of communication with the outside world? With a cruel smile, Laito moves it to the the opposite hand, easily evading her attempts to grab it. She lunges for it a second time, earning a chuckle from him. He twists his body, causing her to slam into his back. She leans enough to see her phone and tries to reach around him for it. He just lifts it out of her reach. With a huff, Mai pulls away from him. She settles for a cold glare. She couldn't hear it vibrating anymore, but it didn't matter. If she could get it, she could call her mom back. She clenches her fists tightly when he casts a playful smirk over his shoulder. He turns to face her once again and holds it only a few inches from her face. Mai slowly moves her hand to grab it. She tries not to feel hopeful when she gets close, but she fails to effectively crush the feeling. He hadn't given any indication that he was going to move it. Once she is close, she moves quickly to snatch it. Her fingers brush his when he pulls it out of her reach once again. She allows her hand to drop to her side with a snarl. He was laughing at this point, which echoed around the room. It wasn't as eerie as Kanato's laugh. That thought sent a jolt down her spine, and she pushes the thought from her mind. She glances around for the shorter vampire, but she doesn't see him. She turns her attention back to Laito and holds out her hand in a demanding way.
"Give it back."
Laito makes a 'tsk'ing noise and proceeds to pretend to look through her phone. Her anger rises, but she bites back the snarl threatening to tear itself from her throat. She casts a quick glance around herself just to ensure that Kanato really wasn't there. Thankfully, it seemed like he was really gone. Laito's vivid green eyes finally move from the phone back to her just as her attention was turning back to him. His voice is low and playful. "Oh, I forgot to tell you! Little Bitch wants to see you."
It feels like cold water has been dumped over Mai. Her breath catches, and a sense of relief floods through her. She opens her mouth to ask him to take her to Yui, but she immediately closes her mouth. She didn't want to ask his help for anything, since it always came at a cost. He lets out a low chuckle and slips her phone back into his pocket. He says with a mocking tone to his voice. "I told her that you were here to see her. She's so excited and waiting patiently to see you! Are you going to deny her that?"
Mai grits her teeth. She had a feeling that this was going to come at a price that she wouldn't like. Unfortunately, she doesn't get a chance to accept or deny him. His arm lashes out and wraps around her waist. Before she can even struggle, the sickening feeling takes over, and she finds herself standing in Yui's pink bedroom. She holds very still in order to keep the nauseous feeling from overwhelming her. That's when she realizes that Laito wasn't touching her anymore. A gasp has her looking over her shoulder.
Yui was already running at her, which prompts Mai to twist to face Yui. She barely had time to brace herself before her friend's body collides with her own. Yui's arms wrap around Mai's middle, and the two go tumbling to the floor in a loud, painful heap. Yui's weight serves to drive the air out of Mai's lungs. Mai gasps for breath beneath the girl. It startled her how light Yui actually felt. It didn't feel normal. Mai's thoughts are pulled away from the realization when starts to ask questions in rapidly. "Are you ok? What happened? Where did he take you? Did he hurt you? What happened? Mai?"
Mai lets out a strained breath and says, "Please get off me. It's hard to breath."
"Ah!" Yui gasps and quickly detaches herself from her friend. She moves to sit beside Mai. She opens her mouth to likely ask more questions, but Mai lifts her hand up. She quickly sits up and turns to face her friend.
"Calm down. You are so worked up that you asked what happened twice. I don't know where he took me." A shiver runs down Mai's spine at the memory of the dolls. She decides to be upfront with Yui and says, "It was a place with dolls that Kanato said were once human."
Everything falls silent. Yui's face was starting to look pale. It made Mai wonder if Yui had ever seen the dolls. Finally, she swallows hard and says softly, "Kanato told me that they were failed brides."
Neither girl makes a sound for what feels like an eternity. Finally, Mai clears her throat and reaches out for Yui. She gently grabs her friend's forearm and gives her a gentle squeeze. Keeping her voice soft and gentle, Mai says, "We need to get you out of here. I think you'll end up…. Just like them. Let's just go."
Her voice had ended in an almost pleading whisper. Mai flinches at how weak she sounded. She starts to stand when she sees something that stops her heart. Yui was shaking her head slowly. Mai lets her weight fall back onto the floor, and she stares at her friend in complete disbelief. Yui simply stares at the floor between them intently. Her voice is barely audible. "I don't…. Want to leave."
Mai feels completely floored by the statement. Yui had been so scared only a few months ago, what had changed her mind? Mai scrambles to organize her thoughts. The more she watches Yui; the more she realizes that Yui was still afraid. There had to be something that was preventing Yui from wanting to leave. The only thing that comes to mind is the threat that she vaguely remembers Yui telling her about. Her voice is barely a whisper. "Is it because they threatened to hurt you if you left?"
Yui shakes her head a couple of times. A chilling thought occurs to Mai. She breathlessly says, "No."
Yui finally looks up at her with a guilty expression. "He's not as cruel as you think he is, Mai."
Disbelief fills her chest. She can only stare at Yui in complete shock. She grips Yui's forearm even tighter and says desperately. "Hasn't he tortured you?"
Yui lightly shrugs and turns her gaze back to the ground. "He did before, but he's gotten better. He isn't as cruel now though. Actually, a lot of it is just him playing games. He likes pranks."
Mai barely resists the urge to reach out and shake Yui. She couldn't believe that this was happening. It was like Yui was trying to justify the mistreatment she had received. "But you'll die!"
She couldn't keep her voice down anymore. She releases her friend and scrambles to her feet. Yui quickly says, "I know you don't like any of the Sakamakis, but Ayato is different. I wish that you could just….."
Her voice quickly seems to just trail off. Mai patiently waits for Yui to find the words that she wanted to say. Yui remains fixated on the floor for a few minutes before finally whispering. "I know it's a lot to ask, but you are the only friend I have. I want to have you and Ayato both in my life. It'd make it so much easier if the two of you got along."
Mai closes her eyes tightly and releases a defeated sigh. She couldn't stand to look at the disappointment on her friend's face. Yui had looked like her dreams had been viciously crushed. Mai takes a moment to consider about her options. Yui was her only friend as well, and she knew that Yui was all alone with the six sadistic brothers. She had been for months. Mai flinches at that thought; she couldn't imagine living with them that long. She opens her eyes to meet a hope filled red gaze. A small shred of respect starts to well up in Mai's chest. Mai hadn't spent much time in the house, but she felt like she was going insane every second that she was there. She didn't think that she would have remained sane as long as Yui has. A sad feeling overwhelms her for a moment; it wasn't a stretch to think that Yui was likely losing her mind. She looks over Yui's now pleading face. Once again, she releases a defeated sigh and closes her eyes again. "Listen, Yui. Have you seen the dolls? They are creepy. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I knew I didn't do everything I could have to save you. I don't think it's a good idea for you to stay here."
"Mai," Yui's practically painfilled voice fills Mai's ears, but she just continues on like she didn't even hear her friend.
"But, I can see that you really want me to give Ayato a chance. I honestly don't know what you would see in such spoiled brats, but you know them better than I do. I can't say I will give him a fair shot, because I really don't like him. Still, I'll try to give him the benefit of the doubt. There will be conditions though." Mai made sure to keep her voice stern on the last part. She opens her eyes to see a smile had spread over Yui's face. Yui was crawling to her feet when Mai says. "It isn't going to stop me from trying to figure out how to get you out of this situation. It's better to be prepared for the worst than it is to be wishing that we were. I'm also not going to let them push me or you around. Ok?"
Yui had paused once midway to standing, but she is standing by the end of Mai's speech. The smile hadn't left Yui's face either, and she just leaps at Mai once more. Mai is able to brace herself enough that they don't end up tipping over this time. Yui's voice sounded horribly loud in her ear. "Thank you so much, Mai! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Mai can't stop the laugh from bubbling up and returns the hug. Yui pulls back and casts a curious look in Mai's direction. For a moment, the look baffles Mai. Finally, Yui asks a question that stops Mai's heart. "Does your mom and dad know that you are here?"
The memory of her mom calling her phone causes the heart to suddenly go from stopped to racing. Mai feels like the air has been knocked out of her lungs yet again. She swallows hard and shakes her head. Yui flinches and then gives Mai a clearly forced smile. She says. "It's not that late, or I guess it's early for you. Why don't you call her and tell her where you are?"
"I can't," Mai whispers. Yui gives her another curious look. Mai flinches and reluctantly admits. "Laito took my phone."
Yui frowns for a moment before a reassuring smile spreads over her face. She reaches out to lightly pat Mai on the shoulder. Mai just casts a frown at her. Yui says in a reassuring tone. "That's not a problem! Let's just go ask him for it."
Dumbfounded, Mai finds herself staring silently at Yui, but she doesn't even get a chance to agree or protest. Yui simply steps around Mai and hurries to the door. It takes Mai a moment to register what was happening and ends up scrambling after her. She tries to swallow her panic as she hurries down the hallway to catch up with Yui. It seemed like she knew where she was going, which shouldn't have surprised Mai as much as it did. The hallway was so quiet that Mai felt bad about breaking it. She tries to keep her voice as soft as she can. "Do you think this is a good idea, Yui? I mean, this is Laito we are talking about."
Yui glances back at her with another reassuring smile. She nods and says in a loud whisper. "Don't worry about it, Mai. He's scary, but I think you and I can handle him. You just have to figure out what he wants and try to compromise with him."
Mai wanted to feel as confident as her friend, but she just couldn't. It felt like she had tried compromising with him before, and it hadn't ever worked. Laito always got what he wanted one way or another. She releases a slow breath in hopes of easing her nerves. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop her hands from shaking. She didn't want to actively search him out, but she had to get a hold of her mother. She finds herself looking at the ground between her feet while she walks. Yui's voice pulls her out of her thoughts. "What are you going to tell your mom?"
Mai lifts her gaze from the floor to meet crimson eyes for just a second when Yui happens to glance back. Mai hesitates for a moment before sighing. "I don't know. Maybe I'll just tell her I'm at the library studying for an exam or something and that I'll be back later. I must have forgotten to leave a note, because I was tired this morning."
Silence settles over them, and Yui slows to a stop. Mai barely stops in time. She had been looking at the ground again, so she hadn't noticed Yui actually stopping. Her gaze is drawn back up to Yui's back. Yui turns to look at her with a small frown, and she feels her heart start to sink. A sad look had settled over Yui's usually happy looking face. Yui reaches out, but she stops just short of grabbing Mai's hands. A pleading look starts to take over Yui's face. She says in barely a whisper. "Why don't you stay here for a while? I would appreciate the company."
Mai flinches and immediately starts to shake her head. "There is no way in hell I would stay here. Not willingly at least."
A pained look spreads over Yui's face, and she glances off to the side. She mutters softly. "But how are you going to be able to get to know Ayato? You don't go to our school anymore, so I don't think you'll ever get a chance to have a conversation with him."
Mai closes her eyes and reaches up to rub her forehead in frustration. This felt like it was about to turn into a huge mess. "Look, Yui, I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay here. I'm already having a hard time with Laito without staying in the same place as him, and I know my parents would never agree to this."
Yui releases a dejected sigh. Her voice is barely audible. "I'm sure that we could figure something out. Can't you at least stay the night?"
With a frown, Mai silently observes her friend. Yui had light circles starting to form around her eyes. She was looking pale and thin. Mai's heart sinks to the point that it feels like it's sitting in the pit of her stomach. She closes her eyes tightly to keep from sighing. There was no way that she wanted to stay at the Sakamaki house, but she didn't have the heart to flat out deny Yui again. She considers the pros and the cons of staying. She'd be closer to Latio, which was her biggest con. It felt like he would use this as an excuse to torture her as much as he wants. Or he freely invade her space. She wouldn't have a moment of peace.
Suddenly, a different train of thought occurs to her. It causes her heart to skip a beat. Yui had mentioned the fact that Mai didn't go to school with them. Her eyes glance around the hallway. That meant that she could stay and search the house while the brothers and Yui went to school. A feeling of hope starts to spread through her chest. What better place to start her search than the place where the sacrificial brides were sent? If anything, it meant that she could find out about what exactly happened the past brides, and how to stop Yui from sharing their fate. With a soft sigh, Mai says in stern voice. "Fine. I'll stay tonight, but I don't think a prolonged stay is going to be a good idea."
Yui's face lights up. A smile spreads over her face, and she lunges forward to give Mai a loose hug. She spins on her heel with renewed vigor and starts down the hallway at a faster pace than before. Mai can't help but roll her eyes, but she didn't even try stopping the smile from spreading over her face. She jogs to catch up to Yui, who was quicker than Mai thought she would be. Glancing at her friend, Mai realized that she didn't think she would ever be able to understand Yui's optimism. After all, it didn't feel like her friend had anything to be optimistic about.
With a jolt, she realizes that Yui did have something to be optimistic about. Even if it was twisted and unimaginable, Yui loved Ayato. She truly believed that Ayato loved her back. Mai glances at her friend once more. It was strange to think that someone could love a cruel person, but she really didn't know Ayato. With a frown, she realizes that she was judging Ayato off of his triplet brothers, which wasn't fair for her to do so. She had only talked to him a few times, and he had pushed her around when he was taking Yui. Subaru had seemed violent and had been rude, but he hadn't openly harmed Mai. Shuu didn't seem normal, but he hadn't shown any open hostility or even interest in her. Maybe Ayato was nicer than she assumed he was. She flinches at the last thought. There was no way that she could ever imagine him being nice. The name he had for Yui was enough evidence of that.
Everything was quiet between the two while they quickly make their way down yet another hallway. Mai was beginning to wonder if they would ever get to Laito's room. She just wanted to get it all over with. Her body had started to feel heavy. She had been up for most of the night and dealing with Kanato had felt worse than normal. A shiver runs down her spine at the memory. She freezes in her tracks when she hears Yui's soft noise of surprise. Mai leans enough to look around her friend. She frowns, and her heart starts to race. Shuu was half slumped against the wall. His legs were stretched out in front of him, taking a decent amount of the walkway. It looked almost like he had passed out. Yui casts a glance full of concern at Mai, who returns it with a stern one. Mai whispers forcefully. "Yui, don't. We are going to talk to Laito and get my phone back. That's what we are doing. Just step over him and keep going."
Her voice is low and full of concern. "But that can't be comfortable. Look at him, Mai. He'll get a kink in his neck. We have to at least wake him up and tell him to go to his room."
Mai stubbornly shakes her head. She hisses out. "He's not our concern, Yui. Let's just leave him to his own devices. Are you asking to get bit? Because that's what it seems like!"
Yui just gives Mai a frustrated glare, but neither get a chance to continue their quiet argument. A sigh of pure irritation draws both of their attention to the dark haired vampire standing just to the side of Shuu. His eyes are closed, and his arms are folded over his chest. His voice is calm but full of clear disdain. "How spoiled can you be? We do not need to step around your pathetic corpse."
Shuu gives no indication that he even heard Reiji. Cold fury flints over Reiji's face for a moment before he manages to regain his calm, collected look. When he opens his eyes, Reiji casts a look of disgust in his older brother's direction. Mai and Yui remain silent while watching the encounter. Neither were sure what to do. Mai wanted to leave, but she didn't know how to let Yui know without drawing unwanted attention. After a few seconds of silence pass by, Reiji calmly says, "Trash should be taken out in a timely manner, so it doesn't begin to cause an odor and an unsightly mess."
Mai tries to keep her jaw from dropping at the cold words that Reiji was using towards his own brother. Once again, Reiji closes his eyes and lets out a few soft spoken words that Mai couldn't catch. The creepy old man seems to materialize out of the shadows to Reiji's left. Mai felt frozen in place. Was he really going to throw his brother away like trash? Reiji's voice is quiet when he says in a cold, uncaring tone. "You know what to do with the most unsightly trash. Do it quickly."
Mai's eyes lock onto the old man, who gives a slight bow and starts toward the oldest Sakamaki. Shuu still hadn't acknowledged anyone around him. In fact, he hadn't even moved an inch. It was like he was didn't care what Reiji said or did to him. Mai wasn't sure which of the two brothers shocked her more. Much to Mai's mounting horror, Yui cries out. "Wait, Reiji!"
She hurries to stand beside Shuu, who still had not moved an inch. Mai could only stare at Yui with a sense of disbelief. She had just purposely put herself in harm's way! Mai still found herself rooted to the spot. She wouldn't admit it, but she was curiosity at how Yui would handle this situation. Yui gives Reiji a weak smile and says in an almost gentle voice. "Please don't hurt him. If Mai and I can get him to move, you won't have a problem, will you?"
Mai flinches at the fact that she was just unwillingly volunteered to help try to move the lazy vampire. She takes a small step back when Reiji's cold red eyes land on her. She tries to keep her thoughts organized. The last thing that she needed was to panic and have Reiji exploit that simple weakness like he seemed to easily do. His eyes were burning with such cold fury that it was hard to even focus. All she wanted to do was back away. Thankfully, he turns his gaze back to Yui and says in a voice just as cold as his gaze, "Defile yourselves as you like. You have fifteen minutes to remove this eyesore from the hallway before I handle it myself. Afterwards, I'd like to see both of you. We have a few things to discuss."
He seems to vanish right in front of their eyes. It sends a chill down her spin. She was positive that she would never get used to seeing that. Mai felt cold dread settle into her stomach, and she glares at her friend. Yui didn't seem to notice, or she doesn't care. She had fearlessly crouched down beside the blonde vampire and was lightly shaking his shoulder. She says softly "Shuu? Can you wake up? You've got to move away from here before Reiji comes back."
He mutters something under his breath. Mai can't stop herself from rolling her eyes and takes a few steps closer to the two. She was honestly starting to think that Shuu wouldn't even bother to bite either of them, though she reminded herself that he was far from harmless. She had never seen someone so lazy. She watches Yui try prompting him once again. He speaks more clearly this time. "It's too far."
Yui gets a disgruntled look on her face. She says in a slightly frustrated tone. "Shuu, your room is only a few doors down. It's really not that far. Come on, your bed is a lot more comfortable than the floor."
He makes a soft chuckling noise. His eyes open, but he doesn't look at Yui. Instead, his bright, blue eyes focus on Mai, who gives him the best cold look she could muster, but it was ruined by the fact that it was amusing watching Yui try and fail to be nice to someone who obviously didn't care about her kindness. She had once again tried to gain his attention by shaking him a little harder, but he had closed his eyes and acted like he was going to go back to sleep. His next words wipe the amusement off Mai's face. His voice is barely audible, but he was clearly enjoying himself. "If you two want me out of the hallway so bad, you can carry me."
Shock fills Mai's body, but it doesn't last long. Seconds later red, hot anger fills her stomach and spreads outwards. She snaps. "Yui, we should just leave him here to Reiji."
"Mai!" Yui sounded horrified. Mai pulls her gaze from the blonde to meet Yui's wide crimson gaze.
"He doesn't really want our help though! Look at him. This is a game to him! Do you seriously want to risk straining your back or giving yourself a hernia trying to carry him?" Mai asks sternly. "We just need to do what we originally planned to do."
Mai steps further down the hallway, but she feels a hand grabbing the bottom of her shorts. To her horror, they slide down a little. Mai scrambles to catch them before too much of her body was revealed. Luckily, only a small portion of her underwear was visible before she pulls them back up. Much to her relief, the hand had disappeared from her clothes. She turns to face Yui, who had a mirrored look of horror on her face. She quickly says, "I am so sorry, Mai! I didn't think they would slide so easily! I didn't…."
Mai raises her hand and waves it in front of her face. She was fighting to keep the blush off of her face. Trying to ignore her embarrassment, she says, "I know it was an accident. Don't worry about it."
A chuckle stops any further conversation from taking place. Both turn their attention back to Shuu. A small smile was spread over his face. He says a little louder than last time. "Could you be any more of a prude?"
Both girls' faces flush a deep red color. Mai barely resists the urge to kick him, but the last thing she needed to do was to invoke his anger. Once again, she reminds herself that he may be lazy, but it was likely masking his true strength. She flinches a little and settles for just glaring down at him. Yui clears her throat and gives Mai with a hopeful smile. "Let's just get him to his room."
Mai turns a look of pure disbelief on her friend. She couldn't stop her voice from sounding higher than it should have. "You mean carry him?"
Yui nods. A frown overtakes her face, and she glances back at Shuu, who looked like he had gone to sleep. She turns a pleading gaze back to Mai. "We can't just leave him here. I think Reiji will really hurt him."
Mai flinches at those words. Reiji did always seem to follow through on his promises. It made an uncomfortable feeling of guilt settle into the pit of her stomach. She didn't really know Shuu, and he had said a few cruel things to her, but he hadn't actually done anything to her. She hated to admit it, but it wouldn't sit well with her conscious if she just left him to be 'thrown out' and didn't even try to help. Yui voice cuts through her thoughts easily. "If you don't want to, I understand. I can do it myself."
Yui moves to one of Shuu's sides. She pulls his arm up and over her shoulder and casts a hopeful look Mai's way, despite saying that she would do it herself. Mai flinches at the look, sighs in defeat, and quickly hurries to his other side. Yui gives her a grateful smile, but it isn't returned. Her heart was racing wildly, and she takes a deep breath in order to steel her nerves. She reaches down to grab the sleeve of his sweater and offers a quick, silent prayer that he doesn't try to bite either them. She crouches down and pulls his arm over her shoulder. She keeps a hold of his wrist and uses her other arm to wrap around his waist. Yui's arm overlaps hers, and she glances at Yui from around Shuu's head. Once they are both sure of their hold on the vampire, Mai gives a nod, and they both attempt to stand.
Mai lets out a small, strained sound in the back of her throat. She faintly hears him muttering that she should try to sound sexier when she's under a man, but she simply ignores him. They had finally made it to their feet, and Shuu was not doing a single thing to help them. He was leaning awkwardly more Mai's way than Yui's, which struck Mai as odd considering she was little taller than her friend. He weighed more than Mai thought he should have. His head was slumped forward, giving him an almost drunk appearance. Mai could feel her legs shaking as the two girls slowly started taking steps down the seemingly endless hallway. His feet dragged awkwardly behind them due to the fact that he was taller than both of them. It didn't come as a surprise that Shuu didn't even bother trying to stop his feet from doing so. Mai wouldn't ever admit it, but he smelled better than she thought he would. It was almost like an aftershave that she couldn't identify. Or maybe it was cologne. Either way, he smelled as if he had gotten out of the shower not long ago, but his hair looked dry, so she couldn't be sure. Mai glances Yui's way. It was clear she was having a hard time keeping Shuu upright. Sweat had her hair sticking to the edges of her face and along her neck; she was panting hard as well. Worry builds in Mai's chest. Would they be able to make it in time? Something soft brushes along her face, drawing her attention down to Shuu. His head had rolled her way, and the tips of his hair was brushing her lower jaw and neck. A shiver races down her spine at the tickling feeling. She instantly looked forward again. They were closing in on the door Yui had mentioned, so she forced herself to see a positive note to the fact that his hair was touching her. At least it was his hair and not his teeth.
It felt like an eternity of dragging the limp vampire, but they finally made it to his room. Mai had wanted to just drop him onto the floor once they were inside, but Yui had begged her to at least make it to his bed. Mai had gritted her teeth, but she didn't argue like she wanted to. Panic settles into her chest the further the girls walk into Shuu's room. The room was dark, so Mai couldn't make out a lot of what was inside. Still, the bed was large and unmistakable. Both girls were completely out of breath and sweating by the time they got to the bed. It comes as a pleasent surprise that he didn't grab either one when they drop him face down on the bed. Mai wasn't sure how, but they had managed to get him more on the bed than off. Both sink to the floor and lean against the side of Shuu's bed. Mai wondered just how out of shape the two were, since they were both sweating badly and gasping for breath. It really hadn't been that far, but it had fully exhausted both. In fact, Mai's muscles felt like they were protesting more than they should have been. She felt a wave of sleepiness spread over her. Her eyes felt so heavy that she was having a hard time keeping them open. The room suddenly felt warm and cozy. Mai jerks when Yui whispers. "It smells so nice in here. Isn't that weird?"
Mai can't stop the smile from forming over her face. It was good to know that she wasn't the only one who thought so. She glances in the direction Yui's voice had came from. All she saw was a dark outline of her friend leaning against the bed as well. Mai was desperately fighting sleep. She mutters softly. "It's a teenage boy's room. It's downright freaky that it smells like anything other than body odor. Is that what you are saying?"
Yui lets out a soft giggle. "I suppose it is. I always heard that boys stink."
Mai couldn't stop herself. She playfully says, "Do you believe they have cooties, too?"
Yui starts to laugh quietly. Mai leans her head back against the mattress. A few blissful seconds pass before Mai remembers with a jolt that a vampire was closer to them than she liked. She uses the edge of the bed to scramble to her feet. She casts a cautious glance at Shuu, though it doesn't come as a surprise to see him laying face down still. She was mildly surprised to see that he had moved his arms up so he could use them as a pillow. Yui seems to get the silent message. She quickly climbs to her feet, and they both quietly leave. Yui once again leads the way down the hallway. She says over her shoulder. "His door is the last one on the left."
Mai gives a determined nod and quickly keeps up with Yui, despite the protest her muscles are practically screaming at her. They couldn't get this over with fast enough.
They had been standing silently outside the closed door for the past few minutes. Mai shares a glance with Yui, who gives her a nervous smile. Finally working up the courage, Mai reaches out to knock softly on the door. Anxiety rushes over her body as they wait. Nothing happens after a few minutes. Mai knocks a little louder. Again, nothing happens. The two share a confused look before turning their attention back to the door. Mai lifts her hand to knock even louder, but Yui reaches forward and grabs the door handle. Before Mai can stop her, she opens the door.
"Yui!" Mai seethes softly. "You can't just go into people's rooms!"
Yui gives her a nervous smile and slips around Mai to step into the room. Her voice is quiet when she asks, "Laito? Are you sleeping?"
Mai rolls her eyes and quickly follows her friend. To her surprise, the two find Laito resting on the bed. It was dark in his room, so it was hard to tell if he was actually sleeping or not. The only light was around the edges of the curtains and the soft glow of the light from the hallway pouring through the doorway. Mai reaches out to grab Yui, but her hand misses by a few inches when Yui quickly starts toward the bed. Her heart skips a beat in pure panic. Who knew what crude thing Laito would do to her when she approached his bed, but Mai felt as if she was rooted to the spot. She keeps her voice as low as possible. "Yui! Wait!"
Yui had already made it to Laito's bed at that point. Mai's heart felt like it was about to beat out of her chest. Determination overtakes the fear, and she takes a cautious step into the dark room. She takes only a few steps before a voice stops her in her tracks. "What do the two of you want?"
Laito's voice was low, like sleep was still clinging to him. Mai could see the dark outline of his body shifting on his bed. He slowly sits up, but it seemed like his attention was on Yui. It sounded like she was trying to be strong, but her voice still wavered a little. "We were hoping that you would give Mai her phone back, so she can call her mom."
It was silent for a few seconds. When he actually does speak, Laito didn't even acknowledge Yui's words. Instead, he says. "It's late. Aren't the two of you tired? If you want some company, you are welcome to join me. I can even thoroughly exhaust you if you'd like."
Despite the fact that he says stuff like that all the time, they didn't carry the same playfully lustful tone they usually did. In fact, Mai felt almost like he was frustrated at them for interrupting his sleep. She takes another step forward and says, "If you give me my phone back, we will leave you alone sooner."
A usual chuckle erupts from him, but it sends a chill down Mai's spine. There was a cold undertone to even his chuckle. She felt like something was off about him. He shifts in his bed, but he hadn't gotten out. It wasn't like him to not approach either of the girls. Yui seemed to sense it as well, since she had moved to stand beside Mai. Both had backed toward the door. The light was behind them, which made Mai feel a little more at ease. With any hope, he wouldn't be able to see the worried look on her face. She was sure that he would jump at the chance to take advantage of her weakness. Laito shifts again and says, "Kanato is right. There is a subtle shift in your scent. I hadn't noticed it before."
Anger fills Mai's chest. It felt like he was dodging their request. She clenches her fists tightly, but she tries to think about the situation from his point of view. He was probably expecting them to come up with some condition for returning the phone. It would make it easier to carry out later. He could just say that they offered. With a sigh, Mai says softly. "What do you want in return for my phone?"
She can see a dull glow light up part of his face when he wakes her phone up. Her heart skips a beat at the sight of it. It looked like she might have a few notifications. A playful smirk was now clearly visible on his face thanks to her phone. His voice sounded like he was back to his normal playful self. "I do have something in mind. How about I tell you about it later though. For now, the two of you can come lay down with me!"
Mai stubbornly shakes her head, but she doesn't get a chance to say anything back. Yui says softly. "Laito, can you please give her phone back? I'll make you something sweet to eat if you do."
Mai casts a quick glance at Yui, but she quickly turns her attention back to Laito. He had started to laugh. He says in a mocking tone. "I'm not Kanato, Little Bitch. I don't want sweets. I'd rather have a…. Fun alternative in return of doing you a favor."
"What do you want, then?" Mai asks. She just wanted this to be over as soon as possible. Laito is silent for a few minutes. Yui steps close enough that she is pressing lightly into Mai's side.
Her voice is barely above a whisper when she asks. "Do you want some of my blood, then?"
Laito's laugh sounded genuinely amused, and Mai glances at Yui with a frown. Mai does actually reach out to shake her friend this time. Still, she couldn't keep the shock from her voice when she says "Are you insane? Don't offer something like that to him!"
Laito's voice is right beside Mai's ear. "Now, now. To vampires, blood is everything."
The playful sound makes her flinch back toward the hallway. He holds her phone up in the light pouring in from the hallway. Now that she was closer, she could see that she had a text message and a missed call. Mai resists the urge to reach out for the phone. She knew that she wouldn't ever get away from him unless he handed it to her. Instead, she settles for just glowering at him. He tilts his head with a feigned thoughtful look. He suddenly holds her phone out toward her, but she doesn't make any move to grab it. There was always a catch when it came to him. His voice is still playful. "Did the two of you have fun with Shuu?"
Yui is the one who reacts. She gasps softly and worriedly asks. "How did you know we were around him?"
Laito lets out a chuckle and turns his attention to her. Mai takes this moment to think about every possible way that Laito could use holding her phone to his advantage. She hears Latio telling Yui that she was airheaded, since she hadn't even learned that vampires had a good sense of smell. It was going to get her in trouble with a certain someone. Yui's face pales, and Mai glances at her curiously. Her heart sinks when she realizes why Yui looked so upset. Laito suddenly turns his attention back to Mai before she can even try to comfort her friend. He steps into the light, so she can see him better. He gives her a look of mock adoration, to which she almost flips him off. Mai reaches out to grab her friend and tugs her back toward the hallway. "Come on, Yui. He isn't going to give it to us. We might as well leave and figure something else out."
Before Mai can step out of his reach, Laito slips her phone into the pocket of her shorts. She doesn't release Yui, but she quickly steps back another step. He gives her a wink and turns to head back to the bed. He says just loud enough for the two girls to hear. "I'll see you tonight, Sweetheart. Good luck, Little Bitch."
Mai doesn't get a chance to retort. The words seem to wake Yui out of her worried stupor, and she past Mai. She starts sprinting down the hallway. Mai quickly grabs the door and pulls it closed behind her with a slam and rushes after her friend. She casts a look back when she thought she felt someone watching her, but she didn't see anything right away. She turns her attention back to find that Yui had disappeared from her sight. She puts more energy into forcing herself to run faster. It felt like her heart was beating in her throat. Yui had looked so scared, and that made dread feel like it was freezing the blood in her veins. Ayato wouldn't actually hurt Yui for helping Shuu, would he? Yui's door is closed when Mai gets there, but she could hear thumping sounds behind it. She quickly jerks the door open to find Yui had changed her clothes. Mai quickly slips in and shuts the door behind her. "Yui?"
Yui flinches and looks up at Mai and offers a nervous smile. "I just… I can't…."
Both jump when their sight of each other is cut off by another body seeming to materialize between them. Mai looks up into cold, vivid green eyes. She wasn't sure if he was tired or irritated, but he gives her a blank look before he turns his attention back to Yui. He reaches out to grab her, and they are gone before Mai can even protest. She just silently stares at the spot that Ayato and Yui had been standing. She reaches up to rub her forehead with a sign. Worry for her friend was threatening to take over her body. She wanted to help Yui, but she had no idea where his room was. The last thing she could do was walk into rooms uninvited. The chances of her finding Ayato's first off and not Kanato or Reiji's was close to zero.
She feels a wave of exhaustion wash over her again. She glances at Yui's bed. Maybe she should take a short nap? Then she could get up and look for her answers. The thought of taking a shower crosses her mind, but she reluctantly pushes that thought out of her mind. She could do it after they went to school. She wouldn't have to worry about someone sneaking in while she was cleaning herself. With a small sense of relief, she decides that she was going to nap, shower, and look for the answers she needed in that exact order.
Still, she had one more thing to do before she could lay down to sleep. She reaches into her pocket and pulls her phone out. She gives it a lazy inspection, but she can't find anything actually wrong with it. After waking it up, she immediately reads the text. It wasn't surprising that it was from her mother asking that Mai call her when she got a chance. Mai's heart skips a beat, and she suddenly feels wide awake once more. Her mother's text didn't sound nearly as concerned as it should have been, since it was already eleven in the morning. Mai immediately goes to her contacts and calls her mother.
She answers after only a couple of rings. Her voice sounded distracted, which set off another bout of worry in Mai's stomach. "Hello?"
"Mom!" Mai says. Her mind pulls a blank immediately afterwards. She had been about to tell her the truth, but she managed to stop herself. What was she going to tell her mother again? How was she going to ask her if she could stay the night with Yui?
"Hello, sweetie. Are you having fun with your friends?"
Confusion fills Mai's chest. Her mother didn't even seem worried at all. "What?"
"I got your note this morning. Thanks for leaving it for me. I would have worried about you otherwise and called you more times. I didn't know you had more than one friend! Why didn't you tell us? We would have been so relieved! You know that we've been worried about you only hanging out with that Yui girl."
Mai was at a loss on what to say. Her mother sounded so relieved that Mai didn't have the heart to tell her that she didn't have any friends other than Yui, and she hadn't left a note for her this morning. Laito hadn't given her a chance. She closes her eyes tightly. Still, that didn't do anything to ease the dread from swelling in her chest. "I'm sorry?"
Her mother's laugh rings through the phone. The sound makes Mai's chest start to ache. Her mother says in a relieved tone. "You'll have to bring them by next time. What time are you going to be home? You said that you were going to catch up with them and find out about how everything school has been going."
"Um…" She was at a loss on what to say. She had no idea what her mother was talking about. Her mother lets out another relieved laugh.
"You must be busy with your friends. Well, don't worry about it. Try not to stay too late!"
"Mom?" It sounded almost like her mother was about to hang up. After a few heart stopping seconds, her mother replies.
"Yes?" Mai takes a deep breath and releases it. She didn't want to have to do this, but it would give her more time, and she had promised Yui that she would stay. After all, the brothers would be going to school tonight, so she could sleep in Yui's room until then. She didn't try to convince herself that she would be safe though. Her eyes slowly glide around the room. It felt huge and lonely without her friend. Worry bubbles in her stomach. She could still see those creepy human bride dolls. Her mother's worried voice cuts through her thoughts. "Mai? Are you feeling ok? Do you need me to come pick you up?"
"No!" Mai flinches at the fact that she had answered way too fast and forceful.
"Ok," her mother replies suspiciously. Mai quickly swallows hard and quickly steels her nerves to ask her mom the next question.
"Actually, I was wondering if I can stay over at my friend's house? Just for the night. It's a female friend, I promise!"
Her mother is oddly silent. Mai could feel herself gripping her phone tightly. She closes her eyes silently urging her mother to say no, even though she still wanted answers. To her dismay, her mother says in an unsure tone. "Sure. You are seventeen, after all. Besides, I trust you, so I suppose it's fine. Just be careful. I love you."
"I love you, too. Thanks, mom," she quickly says and hangs up before anything more could be said. She stares at the pink bed with a sense of disbelief. The first thing to come to mind was the fact that her mom had gotten some note. She couldn't help but wonder if this was Laito's doing yet again. The next thing to come to mind was the fact that she had just willingly asked to stay at creepy house full of vampires. She flinches. She briefly wonders if she was changing. The answer felt almost obvious. She could feel that she was. There wasn't a shred of surprise when Ayato had appeared out of thin air and taken Yui away. There wasn't any surprise when Reiji had appeared either. She wraps her arms around her stomach suddenly feeling sick. She pushes the disturbing thoughts out of her head. She had promised Yui that she would give Ayato a chance, but she didn't think it would be possible now that she saw how scared Yui seemed to be of him. Maybe Mai should get her out willingly or not. She was finally in the position to do so. She slowly makes her way toward the bed, but she pauses halfway there. She glances at the door, and, without a second thought, she hurries back to lock it. It might not help at all, but it still made her feel a little safer. She hurries to Yui's bed and crawls in. Yui was so kind and caring that Mai didn't think Yui would mind her using it. The bed seems to erase all of her troubles and help her think clearly for a moment. She would ask Yui about her behavior before she passed any sort of judgement. It was the least she could do for her friend after Yui had literally stuck her neck out with Laito.
Mai flinches at the thought. She rolls onto her side and tries not to think about the fact that Yui seemed to handle the brothers better than Mai expected. It was only making her worry grow. Instead, she focuses on the fact that she was still hurting from helping to carry Shuu. She starts to doze, but her mind races wildly. She had a feeling that she really should set an alarm so she didn't waste any time sleeping. The house was huge, so she wanted to cover as much as she could. The last thing she wanted to do was have to come back if she got interrupted halfway through.
With a jolt, she realizes that the two were supposed to go talk to Reiji. The mattress just starts to lull her back to sleep again. There was nothing that she could do now. After all, Ayato had taken Yui with him, and she couldn't remember how to get to the room Reiji had made her clean. She lifts her arms to wrap loosely around the pillow she was using. Her body felt like it was floating on a cloud. Just as she's about to slip under, she feels the bed shift, but it does little to wake her up. She doesn't bother to look over her shoulder, though she knows that she should. She hadn't heard the door open, so it probably wasn't Yui. Still, she was too tired to care much anymore. She closes her eyes as the fight against exhaustion was getting harder and harder to win. The mattress wasn't actually helping either.
"Good night, Sweetheart." A soft voice cooes against the skin on the back of her neck, but Mai had already dozed off. She didn't feel the cold arm wrapping around her waist, nor did she feel the fingers tracing along the side of her abdomen. Those fingers lightly brush along various parts of her body that hadn't been touched before. She shifts in her sleep when a chuckle brushes her ear, but she doesn't wake up. The hand finally stops exploring, but it does slip beneath her tank top and come to rest just below her bra. Everything in the room falls silent aside from Mai's gentle breathing.
