It's been a few days already. Ayato thought maybe this sort of things need a little bit of time, like a healing process, and since humans are slow at recovering, it'll take longer for Yui. But patience was never his forte, and by the third day, whatever patience he had left had wore thin. Against her free will, Ayato dragged Yui to Reiji's study to have her looked at.
"So, can you do anything about it?" Ayato asked, as Reiji examined Yui. He watched as Reiji checked Yui's health stats and asked the girl a series of questions, supposedly to test her memory and mental status. He didn't really get how all of it is really going to help but if anyone in this damn place could be of some use, Reiji was his best bet.
"Seems fine to me." Reiji stood up to take a step back and observe the girl. It was not the answer Ayato had hoped to hear.
"That's it? Where are all the tools and medicine? I thought you're supposed to be good at this stuff," he complained.
"I'm not a neurological expert at human-beings and this isn't a hospital," Reiji spat back, taking off his gloves to change them to new ones, "I could only run a few simple tests, but so far, I do not sense any abnormalities."
He continued. "Mental status seems fine. Nothing out of the ordinary with her behaviour, speech or thought process either. No impairments with her cognitive abilities-."
"So what does that mean? You can't fix her?"
Yui just looked on at the both of them, hands gripped to the chair.
"That means," Reiji sounded almost exasperated at his idiotic half-brother, "There's nothing be fixed. There's nothing wrong with her."
Ayato was pissed. "Don't fuck with me. You know she can't remember anything about me so how the hell does that look like 'nothing wrong' to you?"
"I'll give you that, that a profound memory loss that happens so suddenly is extremely rare. But I can't be of any help. Maybe her memories will come back gradually. That's all I can say."
Ayato grabbed Yui by the arm roughly and headed towards the door. Reiji called out to him just before they could leave completely.
"Or perhaps, she could be this way forever."
Yui slowly returned to her day-to-day activities. It wasn't that difficult for her to adapt to everything again, considering the fact that she supposedly already had. The past few days had been rough, but she was picking herself back up, doing all the cleaning, cooking and studying that she used to do.
I didn't even forget the plot of this story, Yui thought. She was reading a book from where she last left off, at the veranda in the Sakamaki home garden. This entire place could use more sunlight, but for now, she was simply glad to be outside getting some fresh air.
The only curious thing was that despite her being able to recall some of this nitty-gritty stuff, there were still other things that were fuzzy, which she did not let anyone know yet. Mostly, it had to do with people. There were certain things about some classmates that she couldn't recall, and she reckons even some stuff about the Sakamaki brothers as well, except you can't possibly know what you don't know. It was just that the things pertaining to Ayato have her drawing the biggest blank.
The guy hadn't given her a lot to go on either, usually showing frustration and anger in front of her in the past few days, rather than actually being patient and helpful about it.
Is this the sort of person he always was that? Why was I even close to him?
Ayato did not strike her as the kind of person she'll willingly be around and actually be happy with. But till she remembers more, Yui decides it's better to keep all this to herself.
"So you're here."
Yui looked up to see the youngest Sakamaki looking straight at her. His look was intimidating, but Yui knows better. He had ever entrusted a dear possession to her and had encouraged her to leave the mansion on more than one occasion. Sakamaki Subaru was kinder than he looks.
"Mm," Yui nods, "I wanted some fresh air. And to get some reading done."
Subaru came up the veranda and sat beside her, although he kept a slight distance. The white roses that bloomed and surrounded the veranda were a pretty sight to be seen.
He kept quiet, propping an elbow up and mostly was just gazing out. He probably didn't want to purposely disturb her. But after a while, he spoke.
"Hey, Yui."
Yui looks up from her book.
"Are you feeling better now? I mean, after the other day."
Subaru was referring to that night, when she had tried to kill herself but was brought back. Yui smiled, "I am. I'm sorry for making everyone worry."
"It's fine, it wasn't your fault. The old bitch and her pet dog had to come back and ruin things. But you still can't remember anything about Ayato, is that right?"
"Yes." She answered regrettably.
And then a brilliant idea struck.
"Subaru!"
He looked at her, an eyebrow raised.
"Do you think you could tell me about Ayato?" She asked.
Subaru didn't look like he was exactly ecstatic over the idea. "Why can't you just ask him yourself?"
"I want to. But he's always just upset around me that it's hard to ask. I want to know what happened and how I was with Ayato before all of this happened, but I just can't ask him straight and I don't know who else I can go to."
"What about Laito? Or the others? Why not them instead?"
Yui shifted in her seat, hugging the book to her chest. "I'd love to ask but I'm…I'm a little afraid." It was the truth. As much as she could get along with the rest, she feels that it's difficult to have an actual conversation with any of them. Laito would want to constantly touch her, Kanato's temper was much too erratic, Reiji was too intimidating and rigid, and for Shu…any conversation would mean he'd have to firstly be awake.
Yui caught herself possibly saying something offensive and rushed to correct herself. "Not that everyone isn't nice or anything! Please, don't get me wrong."
Subaru moves closer towards her, his face suddenly a little too close for comfort.
"Are you trying to say that you aren't afraid of me?"
Yui did not avoid him, although she could feel her face heating up.
"I think…it is easier to speak with you than the others."
She could see that Subaru was slightly surprised, as if he hadn't seen that coming. But Yui honestly felt this way, because out of the six in the mansion, although Subaru could turn violent easily as well, he never took his temper out on her ever. At least, that was how she remembered him to be.
"Fine then, if you insist."
Yui was elated. "Really? Thank you, Subaru!"
"But," He pushed the hair away from the side of her neck, "I expect something in return." Instantly as he said that, Yui knew what it meant and clamped her eyes shut.
This isn't the first time you've been fed from. Don't be afraid.
However, seconds ticked by and when Yui didn't feel anything and there was no horrible piercing through her skin, she opened an eye to peek at him. Subaru had already stood up to go.
"Aren't you going to bite me?" She asked.
"Not until you're all recovered," he said, waving a hand as he left, "I don't want you fainting and me having to carry you all the way back."
It seems things might be going uphill. With Subaru's help, Yui now felt more positive about being able to recollect her memories. Not being able to remember was scary and she'll try as hard as she can to be able to. Even little bits and pieces are fine. After all, she really felt bad and could understand Ayato's frustration.
As she went down the hallway towards her room, Kanato appeared out of nowhere, scaring her.
"Kanato! What are you doing here?"
Kanato looked her confused. "What are you talking about? This is where I live and I have the right to be anywhere I want. Isn't that right, Teddy?" Of course, Kanato does not go anywhere without his treasured stuffed teddy bear.
"Well, I'm on my way back to my room. I'll see you later, Kanato-," she was just going to go past him but Kanato grabbed her wrist.
"I'm hungry, and so is Teddy. Feed us."
Teddy wouldn't be the problem, but Kanato is. He had ever fed from Yui before, as she could remember, and it wasn't the feeding but his unpredictable temper that scared Yui more than anything. If he were in a bad mood, he could torture her relentlessly.
Reluctant was Yui, but refusal could mean dire consequences. She'll have to agree.
"Let her go, you hysterical brat."
Ayato had appeared suddenly and basically pulled her out of Kanato's way. Silently, she is thankful, but seeing Kanato flare up was not a fun sight.
"You! Always ruining things! Who are you to take her away from me!" Kanato screamed at the top of his voice, livid.
"She belongs to me. Take your teddy and go find your own blood bank."
Ayato had his arm around her Yui and in an instant, Ayato had zipped them to her room, completely leaving Kanato behind. He's amazingly fast, learned Yui.
"Th-thank you, Ayato," Yui said.
"Give me your blood," he said outright.
Well, it has to come down to this, she thought.
Ayato didn't wait for a reply and Yui couldn't feel more vulnerable with her back against the wall, them alone in this room. He had her ark her neck to the side, before plunging his fangs through her snow-white skin. He just wanted to drown in her taste, to suck the life out of her if he could bear to even. No one could taste better than her.
"You're clinging onto me, Chichinashi," he smirks, as Yui has a hand on his shirt and the other on his shoulder. "Are you feeling good or something?"
"Does it…does it always feel like this? When you drink from me." Her eyes were glazed over.
Ayato takes it as a seal of approval and silently feels good about it. He changes positions to the other side of her neck, piercing through her skin and taking her blood just as easily, holding and lifting her up as he does it. He walks them to the bed and lays her down, crawling above her. He was now sucking from her shoulder and it felt gratifying. From Yui's expression, it seems like she isn't minding it too badly herself.
After a short while, Ayato decides to give her a break. He stops, wipes his lips and lays beside her, unmoving.
Yui had thought it was all…oddly pleasing, to have Ayato drinking from her. Maybe it was the way that he did it or maybe no one has really drank from her for a couple of days now so she's got the extra blood to spare. But she was thankful that he knew his limits and he didn't take too much.
"Are we usually like this? Do we lay side by side like this and I'll give you my blood?" Yui asks. The situation of her not remembering him set in again, something that Ayato was honestly trying to avoid being reminded of. He didn't feel like he's in the explanation mood.
"Look, I-," Yui continues, "I don't remember being especially close to anybody in this house. I was thinking I could've been. If none of the rest of your brothers ring a bell, then I'm guessing…it has to be you. Maybe the one I had been closest with and talked to the most is you, Ayato." What she said surprised him.
She's trying her best to remember. I have to try to give her time.
Ayato never had anyone care for him in his whole life, the way Yui had done. It was almost unbelievable but even for someone as powerful as himself; he could no longer imagine a day without her or her blood. She may not remember the things she'd done or said but he still did.
"Wha- why are you looking at me like that?" Yui asked. He had been staring at her, he realised.
Ayato pulled her towards his chest, hugging her. Her scent was strong and he loved it. "Just be with me, like this," he'd said.
Yui blushed, and gave a tiny nod. For the past week, all Ayato had been was rude and harsh with her, and she couldn't keep up with him. She had been struggling, and only sane because she hadn't completely forgot everything, and all this she had silently hoped Ayato would understand.
But now, being here with him felt nice. It didn't feel out of place or wrong, and there was some comfort in that realisation.
"Was I…in love with you?" Yui asked quietly. When she didn't receive any reply, she looked up, only to find that Ayato had fallen asleep. He normally feels like somebody that's guarded, but right now, she could find no trace of that on his handsome face.
She's somewhat glad that he didn't hear her after all. She wanted to give herself time to figure things out, and if she truly were in love with Ayato or at least they got along, surely she'll know. Besides, now that Subaru has agreed to help her with remembering, things could hopefully speed up.
Ayato smelled really nice. Not long after, Yui fell asleep as well.
