Disclaimer: I do not own Diabolik Lovers or its characters; that right belongs to Reject and their development team. I do own the OC(Original Character) and do not want her to be used by anyone, anywhere else.
Author's Notes: This chapter is a 1.5 month time skip. IE: After the new year. And the next few chapters will also be time skips. MASSIVE ONES! So if you do not like that, I politely ask you to turn around and leave now because I don't see the point in you wasting your time and mine.
Shu crept silently through the forest, enjoying the way the air seemed to taste frozen. There was a thick blanket of snow all over the trees, open clearings, and in the areas of the forest where the trees were thin near the top. It held a kind of serene beauty that had him holding his breath. It had been almost two months since he had last seen Edgar and Rosa, yet he had knowledge of what had been happening. Kanato had been somewhat helpful in getting a message out after he had been sequestered in the Castle proper under strict supervision.
Of course, in that time, he had noticed that Reiji had taken to watching him as well. It was a bit disconcerting, yet Shu didn't let it get to him. Nope, he had just acted like he always did and tried to be good and do everything his mother wanted. He had thrown himself into his lessons with the Violin and Piano, impressing his father just a little. The small amount of praise had lifted him, yet at the same time made him feel as if he was being insulted at the same time. His uncle Richter had been around a lot more as well, but like always sniffing at Cordelia's skirts. It sickened him how that woman used people, men. He did not doubt that with how Liato was acting that she was manipulating him the same as she did Richter. Not his problem.
Stepping into the moonlight glade, he waited for but a few minutes before Edgar arrived. The look his friend had was a mix of happiness to see him and irritation that he was there. Shu was sure if he got close enough, he'd smell that irritation on his friend. Again, he had expected it with the short replies he'd gotten from his friend. It made him happy even to get those notes, they were precious, and he kept them stored with all his other secrets he'd protect.
"You're early," Edgar said, his eyes narrowing briefly as Shu felt them rove over his person. Shu knew he had a small growth spurt in the last month, putting three more inches on him. "And I see that you have gotten taller."
It was a statement, and that Edgar didn't want a reply. So, with a small dip of his head, Shu turned and began to walk deeper into the forest. Something deep inside him, on an instinctual level, told him that Rosa was there waiting. His teeth had hurt at not being able to drink her delicious blood. So much so that it had caused him to fall ill that first month and right before the Feast of Fall, that all Vampires celebrated in tandem with the human's Thanksgiving. Chest pains, cold sweats, and rage like he had never felt before. It scared his mother and the familiar. While all his brothers were kept from him as he would lash out with murderous intent.
The fact he had after crashing from a fit heard Cordelia mention that it was like he was detoxing from a drug that hit Shu hard. Her blood was like one, but why? She was human, yes. One with special powers, maybe that was it? Shu made a note to ask her the next time he saw her. Then again, that was easier said than done since he knew that in the time he had to stay sequestered, Edgar had gotten closer to Rosa. Edgar had been taking care of her on his own. Which he was pretty damn sure was why Edgar wasn't happy to be with him to see the girl. Things change, and Shu was sure that Edgar was well aware of how he felt or had a better idea now. Meaning if his instincts called for it, he'd have to fight his friend for Rosa. Not something he wanted to do.
"What is on your mind? You have a sorrowful look on your face," Edgar muttered just loud enough for him to hear easily.
Not pausing, Shu continued as he replied, "That I have probably missed many thanks to my family getting suspicious."
When a small grunt came from Edgar, Shu took it for silent agreement and understanding. His parents were still considered fanatics. They had taken to the new religion of Christianity and force-fed him often. Edgar, if he had to guess, would be of the same beliefs of Rosa, the old ways of the forest and land, communing it. His survival ability was nothing to sneeze at. That at even to date in a grappling match, Shu had yet to do more than tie him without using his supernatural strength. That thought had Shu smiling.
"What now?" Edgar groused beside him, his curiosity mingling with his irritation.
"I think when it gets nicer, I want to grapple with you again. See if I could beat you," Shu said simply as they came to the heart of the forest as he felt familiar pressure against his body.
The loud snort and soft chuckle were all the answers he got before his eyes were drawn to the thickly clustered trees as the sound of movement came from within them. If his heartbeat, he was sure it would be pounding against his rib cage in anticipation. In seconds the soft footfalls punctuated by the crunch of icy snow reached his ears, to be followed by the appearance of Rosa. He took his time to scan her from head to toe, noting that her skin that had been golden from the sun was a delicate pale tinted pink from the cold. Her eyes were bright and clear once more, and her crimson braid was longer.
Yet it was the sight of the small smile turning her lips upward that had him going still. Shu heard Edgar move towards her as he stood rooted to the spot. When Edgar paused halfway between them, looking back and shaking his head once before continuing, Shu still felt like he couldn't move. And it wasn't because this place was forcing him to stay still. No, he was entranced by the sight Rosa made in the massive, slightly worn out boy clothes. It was apparent she wasn't binding herself, not with the shirt pulled tight across her chest, as she stood tall, even if she was still very short and petite.
"Shu?"
As the sound of his name left her lips, he started and felt a bit embarrassed. Shu knew he found her pretty, but yet, seeing her like this, healthy and alive once more, compared to the last time he saw her. The spell he had been trapped in broke, leaving him a bit confused before he took a few steps forward. She knew what he was and accepted it. It was their secret. Now, though, it was as if he was waiting for her to tell him to come. Why he had no clue. Never before had he needed to be told, yet after seeing her like he had been. Killing her father and younger brother, leaving her older brother scarred from that same fire, Shu wondered if this was what was called guilt?
"Shu quit your wool-gathering and get over here."
Blinking as he frowned, Shu moved forward towards his two friends. A part of him was pleased for her to tell him to come over that it was alright. While his instincts clamored that Rosa didn't have the right to command him like that. But the sight of her smile and knowing look in the depths of her mismatched eyes told him she was aware of where his thoughts were going, which means that she was being a mischievous brat and doing it purposefully. It made him glad that she hadn't changed, even if he knew that she had been hurt deeply and was probably hiding it.
"It is good to see you again," Shu said as he stopped before her, looking down at her, noting that she now barely came to his mid-chest. Three inches was a lot.
"Yes, I can't help your family has sticks up their ass and have to be controlling," Rosa quipped, making him throw his head back and laugh.
"I agree, it was not easy nursing her back to health before the first snow by myself," Edgar snapped, though Shu could tell it was not said with malicious intent.
"Yeah, mother had become rather paranoid and threatened to take away my holidays," he muttered, which was not false, but not the full truth either. "So, we have an hour, what do you want to do, Rosa?"
The way her eyes practically glowed in the silver light of the moon had him feeling as if he shouldn't have asked. A smothered groan came from Edgar as Rosa flashed a toothy smile. Somehow Shu got the feeling that he shouldn't have asked.
"It's been a while, and I do need some exercise, let's have a three-way sword fight! Losers have to do one thing the winner wants," Rosa practically shouted as she began to shift from foot to foot in her excitement.
Shu looked at Edgar, who glared at him balefully, even though a happy smile was on his face. Yeah, asking was stupid, but this would be fun. And fighting in the snow would increase the difficulty of using a sword and staying balanced. It would put his training to test and show himself what he needed to work on next time. Because he would be damned to an eternity with no sleep before he let Ros win... win fair and square that was.
TBC!
Next Story to be updated is: Tolerably, Intolerable!
