Disclaimer: I do not own Diabolik Lovers or its characters, that right belongs to Reject and their development team. I do own the Original Character(OC) in this story and don't want her to be used by anyone, anywhere else.
Shuu knew something was still amiss when he arrived in the forest clearing. The horse Edgar had used to carry himself and Rosa away stood standing, riderless. Narrowing his blue eyes as he looked around, trying to figure out where his friends were. Before, Shuu heard soft footfalls on the leaf-littered ground. Spinning, he turned and looked in its direction, already knowing that it was not Edgar. He couldn't walk that softly. And he wasn't going to let whoever this interloper had the upper hand.
Still riding the high of adrenaline, he moved with inhuman speed to cover the distance and stopped just as quickly — the sight of the older woman from the Gypsies. And before him was Edgar standing still, clutching Rosa to his chest. But something told Shuu that the older woman wasn't there. The look on her weathered, wrinkled face was one of worry and disgust. When her head lifted to look at him, a cold chill ran down his spine. Then she was gone. The late autumn mist was rolling across the floor in wispy swirls.
"Edgar? Are you alright?" He asked his friend, watching as he slowly turned to look at him.
"I... what was that?" Edgar asked him, his face white as a sheet.
"I cannot say, but that was the old Gypsy from the festival that was talking with Rosa," Shuu said, hedging around the truth.
"Okay. What are we going to do with Rosa? I cannot take her to the village..." Edgar stated, his voice trembling with worry.
This was problematic. They hadn't thought about that yet. And with dawn fast approaching, he couldn't be out much longer without risk. On top of the hell, he would be catching from his mother and the others for sneaking out. He was sure that they were aware that he was doing it, but there was no proof because he took a lot of precautions.
"Edgar, follow me. I think we can leave her where she was staying, other than your barn," he said slowly, not wanting to let slip that the forest would protect her due to her druidic blood. "And then, when you get a chance, you can come and check on her later."
There was the need and want warring across Edgar's face before he nodded his head, and they both made their way deeper into the forest. It was the best course of action at the moment. And with each step they took towards the center of the forest, its heart, Shuu felt it pulsating. Almost as if it was scared, which means, what he had read after Rosa had revealed that information to him, the forest had bonded to her and was not happy at her current state.
Upon arriving, Shuu was glad that the vines of ivy had moved from the blocked off, hidden grove. Showing a small bed made of woven branches and large fern fronds. A wool blanket from the village and a few other accouterments that belong to Rosa. He was motioning for Edgar to go and place her on the bed and settle her. Shuu took the time to just feel all around him. The ancient power of the trees and land was like a steady heartbeat to his senses. It acknowledged him but wasn't very welcoming if the pressure against his body told him anything.
"There, she safe? right?" Edgar asked him.
With a deep breath, he nodded his head and moved away from the entrance to the grove. He was an unnatural creature and was not welcomed. And the fact if he touched Rosa right now he'd lose himself to his instincts.
"Let us go. If I can sneak away tonight, I will meet you, and we will come to check on Rosa again, okay?" he said to Edgar.
It was several days later when Shuu made his way from the Castle. He had been cautious and obedient. Because his mother had started to harp on him even more. He'd returned well after sunrise. And while he had sensed that everyone on the Castle was asleep. His gut told him that something was off. What he still didn't know. Though, Reiji had taken a rather keen interest in his doings. It was almost to the point of stalking him, making it hard to leave.
Glancing back over his shoulder, he knew that Kanato was doing his part. It was after bedtime, and his younger brother was in his bed, curled up with a pillow to make it look like him with a wig on. So, at a quick first glance, it would seem if he was still there. But if someone were actually to check the bed hell would be raised, and that'd be bad. With time-limited, Shuu made his way to the clearing.
His nose was picking up the smell of hay and sugar before he saw Edgar. Who looked like he hadn't been sleeping. A small pang of worry and guilt in his chest, Shuu stepped out and looked at his friend. Who glared darkly before turning and began to walk into the forest towards the grove. He didn't need him to say anything; he felt like crap for not being able to help — the silence making the walk feel like it was longer than it was.
"She... woke up briefly, Shuu..." Edgar said softly as they arrived at the grove. "She cried and shook. Shied away from my touch. That bastard hurt her."
Frowning at the words, Shuu stayed silent as unsure of how to respond to that. He knew what Edgar was saying. Hell, his youngest sibling Subaru did it on occasion after visiting his mother, their father's cousin. It wasn't spoken, but they all knew that Christa was not a sane person even on the best of days. Loving and then hating her child with the bat of an eyelash. Their father was uncaring as long as the boy wasn't killed. Though, he didn't like the fact that Christa was related by blood to their father.
"His eyes glazed over; he hadn't even noticed Edgar move until a hand rested on his shoulder, startling. He was blinking as he looked at his friend who had a small bit of understanding, not that it was to misplaced, in his brown eyes. Giving a half-smile, Shuu stayed just outside the grove, as the pressure of the place told Shuu it was not happy he was there in such a sacred area. His eyes were shifting to where Rosa lay, pale and unmoving. The slow rise and fall of her chest was the only indicator that she was alive. Though, he knew she was healing. This place wouldn't let her die and could heal all the physical damage.
"Edgar, my family is getting suspicious. I had to be extra careful of sneaking out. There would be major retribution if they discover I have been leaving the house," he said in a whisper. "Can... you take care of Rosa for a few weeks without me? That way, can I regularly come after the new year?"
He spoke before he thought about it. But it was the truth. It would be hard for him. And the look that Edgar shot him, again, spoke volumes. Though he saw understanding in them, because Shuu had been upfront at a point with both of them about his family being... abusive in its manner. When Edgar eventually gave him a small nod, Shuu relaxed a bit more.
"Aaah..."
At the soft moan, Shuu dropped his gaze to Rosa, who was shifting on the hand made pallet — causing Edgar to step back, looking at him then Rosa and back again. Knowing what he was not asking, Shuu tried to step into the groove. The ancient magic of it was fighting him and almost had Shuu dropping to his knees as he entered. He was feeling the heavy pulsating as he made it to Edgar's side just as Rosa opened her mismatched eyes, which were barely visible and stood out in contrast to the darkened, swollen, and bruised flesh.
"Hi?" she muttered incoherently.
Forcing a small smile onto his face, Shuu met her gaze. It still had his blood boiling that she had been taken, beaten and damaged like this. But he had thought a lot over her eldest brother's actions. That he cared enough to set her free at the expense to himself. Shuu felt he owed the man an update. And that by some random chance, the good viscount had perished in that fire, then Rosa might be free herself.
"Hey, Rosa. It is good to see you awake," he said softly.
"Yeah, you've been in and out for a week," Edgar chipped in.
There was silence as Rosa just looked up at Edgar and him. He smelt it before it happened. The sound of her sudden, body-wracking sobbing hurting his ears. Instincts were warring with him, telling him to pick her up and soothe her, while something more primal said to him that he should let her have this moment to get it out. The ordeal she just went through was not pleasant. For a human, this was exceptionally traumatic. Making Shuu glad that he was a vampire and more physically and mentally tough than them.
It took a while before Rosa's sob's faded away to sniffles. Then both him and Edgar had moved as one to keep her from sitting up. Before she did her best to glare at them. Shuu found it funny, though it wasn't, at how that glare just wasn't as harsh as it usually was through swollen eyes. Just to be informed primly that she needed to use the bathroom. Making him stand and grab Edgar and practically rush from the grove as a hoarse laugh came from Rosa.
The red he saw on Edgar's ears were more than likely echoed with his own, though a lot fainter. But, Shuu was glad that he was out of the grove. It made 'breathing' easier as he stood there waiting — his keen ears picking up the sound of muted cursing and falling sounds.
"You think... things will get better now?" Edgar asked him.
Knowing what Edgar wasn't asking, Shuu thought about it for a few seconds before sighing. Lifting a hand and running it through his blond hair, Shuu looked at his friend and answered honestly.
"I don't know. There is a possibility, but I wouldn't hold my breath," Shuu said softly. "All we can do is wait and see."
He knew that this was not done. That it was probably just the start of things. Because with them taking Rosa, it meant her father was now held liable on breaking a contract with another noble. Even if minor. Of course, since Edgar admitted to speaking out when they had retrieved her, they'd be coming to the village to look for her. Which was a huge problem? Though one he could help avoid. It would mean currying favor with his father again, which carried a huge price tag.
TBC!
