5

Reputable Reiji

"If you're going through hell, keep going." – Winston Churchill

At this point, my mind would also wither just like my body. I won't let that happen. These are the times that I need to keep myself together. If only my father is here with me.

It turned out that Laito was more of a vampire than a man. He only sucked my blood. After he was done, he stood up and left me alone. I guess I'm still kind of lucky, though. However, I can't make sense of what he told me earlier. How could the "church I put so much faith in" do that to me? Why would it do that to me? What church was he talking about? Was he referring to the one which supported the orphanage where I grew up? If so, why would they choose me? What's so special with me from the other girls there? I need to know the truth.

I went back to the mansion to pack some belongings that would be useful to me. I checked my wallet. I have plenty of money left which was given to me by my father. I didn't have any use of it while living with the Sakamakis. It was the other good thing being with them aside from going to school, but still! They owe me for sucking the life out of me, pun intended.

I wandered around the mansion to find an escape. Instead, I stumbled upon its rose garden. I knew about it but I never thought it would be beautiful. I checked the mansion's blueprint I found last time and confirmed I was lost.

"Miss Yui, please gather those roses and follow me, and be quick about it because I don't like it when you keep me waiting," someone demanded. I looked back to find Kanato scowling at me. I didn't want him to know my plan to leave, so I did what he told me.

We walked farther until we reached what turned out to be a cemetery. There were so many trees surrounding it. It was giving me the creeps but given my situation, I'm living for its gloom. I thought this would be another place to hang out for me. I wondered if this is still their property. Will I be able to reach that level of success too? I'm still young. I can finish my studies and achieve my goals. If that's the case, then I –

"I love cemeteries. I'm drawn to the gravestones. It possessed the profound darkness, and the perfume of death and decay lingers among them. I love graves so much, don't you? They're so cold and quiet. And they're utterly indifferent to tear. My mother lies in this grave," Kanato suddenly admitted. I always wondered why we are the only occupants of the mansion. Now I know.

"I'm so sorry about that."

"I'm the one who killed her. Do you believe that? Although it hardly matters what you believe. Teddy, wouldn't you agree? Now place those roses beside my mother's grave."

I placed the roses beside his mother's grave just like he told me. "Well then, I guess I'll be going now," I said as I excused myself. I started to walk away when Kanato yelled.

"You're awfully self-centered, aren't you? I made a special point in inviting you here, but you turned around and ran away the moment things start to displease you. You must have a lot of nerve to insult me like this!"

Kanato then picked up the roses and struck his mother's grave with all his rage using those. I ran to him and stopped him.

"You mustn't do that. It's my fault, alright. I'm sorry. I never meant to upset you," I apologized. I hugged him to restrain him from doing anything that might hurt him. Perhaps I'm making no sense, but I don't believe he killed his mother - especially when he spends his time going and paying his respects. However, he pushed me away.

"I'm tired of your insincere apologies, so please stop saying that. Do you get a kick out of deceiving others or what?" He walked toward me, so I lost balance while stepping away from him.

"Wow! That was awesome! Nice one, Yui! I wish you could see how pathetic you look. Go ahead! Why don't you crawl around in the dirt some more and cry like the pitiful girl that you are? Then I might be able to find it in my heart to forgive you!" he mocked and laughed so hard. I tried to stand up but he was suddenly on top of me. He rambled on about whether he should kiss women first before pleasuring them. I felt his lips on mine. After that, he went on my neck and bit me. I never thought he was as strong as his brothers. I can't do anything but hope he will kill me.


I looked at everything around me. I realized I was at the cemetery where Kanato's mother was buried. I got up and felt pain in my neck and my chest. I touched my neck and shoulders and saw blood in my hands. How deep did his fangs reach? I wondered if the wounds would get infected if left open. I stood up to find adhesive bandages in my backpack and put them on my wounds.

The pain did not go away. I decided to sneak back to the mansion to find medicine.

It was frustrating because there are so many rooms in the hallway, and all its doors look the same. But alas, a door was ajar. I entered the room and found Reiji. He seemed to be concocting something in a table full of jars. I wondered what is inside of those. I took a look in the room. It has cabinets full of books in the corners.

"Good day, Mister Reiji!" I greeted him. I sounded too formal and chirpy. I flinched.

"Good day. You seemed to learn some manners unlike before. I'm a little pleased. You still need to improve, though. It's not right to barge into a room without knocking. Please remember that."

"You're right. I apologize," I replied. He had a point. I should have knocked first.

"What can I do for you?"

"Do you have something here to cure vampire bite?" I started. He laughed at me.

"Please, have my tea," he offered.

"Thank you." I took a sip. There was nothing wrong with it, yet my tongue felt numb and so does my body. I fell to the ground and the teacup shattered into pieces.

"There is no need for you to worry. Nothing in that cup will endanger your life. However, I don't like the numbing effect it's having on you. I'll have to make it all over again," he assured me. He held my face and made me drink an antidote. I almost choked so I coughed as a reaction.

"It is impolite not to cover your mouth when you cough. What's wrong with you, anyway? When you break things in this house, you must tidy it up immediately." I felt a stinging pain in my left hand. I saw blood. Before I was able to tend to it, Reiji took my hand from me.

"I don't want you to get the wrong impression. Like the shattered cup on the floor, things with imperfection hold no interest for me and I will not tolerate them. However, I must admit that I'm intrigued by the way you infuse the air with such a sweet aroma," he said before he licked my wounded palm. I shivered. I took my hand away from him.

"I must go now. Thank you for nothing, Mister Reiji!"

"It seems that I've been soiled by your blood. What are you going to do with it?"

"Spit it out! It's not like I gave you my hand for you to lick my palm anyways," I replied and stood up to leave. But then he grabbed my hand and cornered me. He looked at my neck and peeled off the adhesive bandages on it.

"You're so naïve. Don't you know vampires heal wounds from the bite by licking them? Who bit you, by the way? Based on the scent on your neck, I'd say it was Kanato. Now it's my turn."

He bit me. I resisted with all my might this time and I was successful. I knocked his right arm off of me. "Stop it!" I told him.

"Know your place, human. You're nothing! I will not tolerate your disobedience. You will learn to fear me – more and more…" he continued to talk but his words fade away as I lost consciousness.