Hi everyone! It's really nice to see people are enjoying the story so far, and I am intending to keep this as cute a fic as I can, while staying true to the characters' personalities. Prior to writing this, I've played the first three DiaLovers games and of course, read all the manga, watched the Anime and listened to its multiple drama CDs and songs, so I'm really a big fan of the series! What happens to Yui (or who she ends up with) at the end of this story is still uncertain, so let's see how it goes.
Let me know what you think and it'll be much appreciated! Thank you!
Yui hasn't felt this nervous for quite a while now.
In all honesty, she spends enough time with Ayato everyday and they didn't really need to go out of their way for a date. They could stay at home or be in school and they can still talk about themselves. But Yui figured that in a different, more relaxed environment, she'd be able to better focus on Ayato and know if this is what she wants.
Being positive as usual, Yui took her nervousness as a sign of how much she values this, values Ayato. She did like him after all, even if she barely knew him. Now if only she could be sure about falling in love with him.
In the picnic basket, Yui had packed juice, sandwiches and of course, Ayato's favourite takoyaki, all homemade. She was glad that Subaru had been there earlier to help, and made a mental note to thank him properly later.
It was a short five-minute walk to the lake. Despite being rumoured as the 'Haunted house' at the end of the street, the Sakamaki mansion really isn't that bad. The lake was near, the flowers never ceased to bloom beautifully in the garden and it was peaceful. It's not as horrible as it's made to sound.
The wind was light and although it was mostly dark all around, the moon provided a bit of brightness and it was enough for Yui to find her way.
It took no time at all for Yui to reach the lake. As usual, it was extremely quiet and the only sounds you could hear were the cicadas and the water, flowing along. Actually, the longer Yui stood there wondering where Ayato was, the more eerie it felt.
"Ayato…?" Yui called out.
There was no reply. Yui tried a second time and it was the same. But this was the most obvious, spacious spot by the lake, and any further down the sides, either way, it'll just be trees and bushes. Ayato couldn't be waiting deep inside when he knows.
Yui grew increasingly worried as the minutes ticked past. Maybe Ayato got caught up and he's late. The woods provided no comfort at all, and every rustling sound made by the leaves only succeeded in having goose pimples break out over her skin.
"Boo."
Yui jumped and let out a scream, dropping the basket in her shock. If not for the figure that'd caught it just in time, all of her food would've been ruined.
"You get scared easily, Chichinashi."
Yui instantly refocuses and realised that it'd been Ayato who'd scared her. Looking at the way he's grinning, seemingly pleased with himself, she realises that he had scared her on purpose!
"That's mean, Ayato! I was really scared!"
Ayato only shrugged it off, giving another laugh. "It was fun watching your face. What did you think there were, ghosts?"
"Anyway," he continues, "I'm tired of standing around. Let's sit."
Ayato led Yui further up front, where they sat down right by the lake. He was nonchalant when Yui was unpacking the basket, however, when he took a whiff of the air the moment the food was brought out, he swerved around excitedly.
"It'a takoyaki!" He says in surprise.
Yui smiles, saying, "I heard it might be something you like. I don't know how they are yet but I hope you'll like it."
Ayato was already eagerly grabbing at the toothpicks to pick one up and eat. A satisfied look appeared on his face.
"They're delicious!" he exclaimed excitedly, diving in for more. "How did you know I like them?"
"Well, I may have asked someone…I can't remember what you liked to eat but I wanted to-"
"Who?" Ayato asked, cutting into her sentence midway.
"Huh?"
"I said, who did you ask?"
Ayato didn't look pleased at all. As Yui's mind raced, wondering if she really should tell him it was Subaru or not, Ayato's eyes darted to her hand, the ones that were holding the sandwich to her mouth. He reached out and grabbed it, causing Yui to drop her food yelp out in pain.
"Wait, Ayato, it hurts-."
Ayato only bent forward to sniff at the cloth, which was the makeshift bandage that Yui had gotten from Subaru.
"Subaru," he hissed the name.
"Please listen to me," Yui begged, but then Ayato's grip on her wrist was tightening and it hurt. "I can explain but please let go off me-."
"You were with Subaru. Why were you with him?" he demanded angrily.
"Ayato, it really hurts. Please let go," Yui pleaded. Ayato not only didn't let go, but he tightened his grip even more, to a point where Yui felt that he might break her wrist.
She tried to explain hurriedly, "Subaru was just helping me with the cooking."
"He doesn't have any reason to be there. What did the both of you do behind my back? Say it now."
"We didn't do anything! He was just there to help me and-."
"Bullshit. What do you take me for, huh?"
Yui was tearing badly by now, but Ayato's eyes showed no mercy, which she came to realise quickly. He was misunderstanding everything and he wasn't even listening to her.
Just then, he let go off her. Yui instantly retracted her arm, clasping it close to her chest. She watched as Ayato got up, marching off without another word, leaving her all alone.
He didn't even eat half of the takoyaki she'd made for him.
It's been a few hours since Yui got back to the mansion. She hadn't run into Ayato, and truth be told, she would rather not. He had lashed his temper out on her, had left her all alone but most importantly, he didn't listen to her. The date had basically gone horribly.
As Yui emerged from kitchen after packing away all the leftover food, she could already feel her head throbbing. It was just as well that the weather had taken a turn for the worse outside, and it was now raining. Since there's no picnic date, there's no reason to worry about weather either.
"Yui."
Yui turned around upon hearing her name and saw that the voice belonged to Subaru.
Instantly, she felt terrible. After all the effort Subaru had gone through and helped her, everything turned out to be disaster. None of it had gone the way she hoped.
"Oi, are you…crying?"
Yui tried to wipe at her tears. She hadn't mean to cry again, especially not when Subaru was just standing in front of her.
Subaru didn't say anything, instead taking her quietly by the hand and leading her towards somewhere. They came into an unfamiliar room, one that had bare minimal furniture and a huge coffin case in the middle. It looked pleasant.
"This is my room. I thought it'll be better in case any of the others ran into us."
Yui gave a slight nod. She tried to master more energy, but could not.
"That bastard. He made you cry, didn't he?"
Yui felt Subaru raise a hand to wipe her tears away for her, but then he stopped midway all of a sudden.
"He even did this to you…"
He proceeded to lift Yui's injured hand, whose wrist has got blue-blacks that now looked even more glaring than her earlier burn. Ayato had unknowingly pressed onto her wound too, and hard.
Yui instinctively withdrew her hand, but the angry look that had now formed on Subaru's face still stayed.
"I'm fine," Yui tried to explain, "We just got into a fight and he grabbed me with a bit of force…it's just an accident."
"Don't take me for an idiot, how could that be an accident!" Subaru raised his voice, even hitting the chest of drawers at the side.
"It was a misunderstanding! I wanted to explain but Ayato refused to listen to me and we fought. In any case," Yui sighed, "I ruined things. I shouldn't have tried to keep anything from him. And although you even gave me a hand and helped me cook and bandage my wound, I made a mess of everything. I'm so sorry."
All this while Subaru was looking straight at her. Yui, who had poured in so much thought and effort into wanting to know Ayato, trying to recollect her memories along the way, didn't deserve this. Even if there was a misunderstanding, for any guy to make a girl cry like this, he certainly has an asshole for a brother.
Yui began to tear again, and immediately began to chide herself aloud while wiping at her tears, "I really didn't want anyone to see me crying like this. It's so embarrassing but I can't help it. I'm sor-."
Without warning, Subaru had pulled her forward into an embrace, which surprised the girl.
"Then I won't look. You can just cry as much as you want now."
Since coming into this mansion and then losing her memories, Yui never really had anyone else to lean on, until she got to know Subaru. Subaru, who could be violent and loud among his brothers, but who could also be a kind listening ear. He was always there when she needed a friend, and even now, when things have gone wrong, the one right next to her is none other than him.
In Subaru's arms, Yui felt safe enough to cry.
It's been two days and neither Ayato nor Yui have spoken to each other.
The next two weeks were also term study breaks, so none of them needed to go to school for lessons till exams came. It also means that there's more opportunity to slack off, which most of the Sakamaki brothers (except Reiji) took advantage of gladly. Yui also holes herself up in her room most of the time studying, and doesn't step out unless it was mealtime.
Ayato remained pissed ever since the picnic. He was upset at the way he acted, that he didn't listen to what she had to say, but above that, he was even more upset to know Yui and Subaru had been conversing. Doesn't Yui know her place, that she was his and his alone? The more Ayato thought, the angrier he got. He'd even confronted Subaru, who said there wasn't anything going on, but Ayato wasn't completely satisfied. Still, in his head, he foresaw that Yui would be the one to apologise to him first. That's why he had been waiting.
After two days had passed, Ayato only grew more impatient. He was sick of staying in his room and he was growing increasingly hungry as well.
That means I'll have to go over and find her…
Seeing that he didn't have any better options, Ayato decided to leave his room. But just before he could step out, a knock sounded on his door.
"Uhm, Ayato, it's Yui…can I come in?"
Ayato smirked to himself quietly. He'd been waiting for this and the moment's finally come! He instantly wiped the triumphant smile off of his face and sat back down on his couch.
"What is it?" he replied rudely.
"I just want to talk, if that's okay."
Ayato waits for a few seconds, before replying, "Fine. Come in."
Yui first peeks into his room, opening the door bit by bit.
"What are you taking your time for over there? Get in," Ayato barked, and Yui lets herself in completely at once.
"Ayato, I…I'm really sorry. About what happened. But it really was a misunderstanding."
Ayato only glared at her.
"I want to know what you were doing with Subaru."
Yui swallowed, although she kept her gaze firmly on Ayato. "I hurt my hand while cooking and Subaru was there by coincidence. He helped me bandage my wound."
Ayato got up and came towards her, his face filled with suspicion.
"What wound?"
"I burned myself by accident. The house didn't have a first-aid kit, so Subaru bandaged it with a piece of his shirt."
"Let me see."
Ayato grabbed Yui's hand and he could see that there was indeed a burn wound. There were also the horrible finger marks that he'd caused by holding her wrist too tight, although it seemed to be healing.
"You should've called me when you burnt yourself. I'm the only person you can look towards, not him," he spat.
"I'm sorry. Subaru only happened to be around and he gave me a hand, that's all."
By now, they both knew of Ayato's possessiveness. Yui decided it might not be wise to address it at the moment and filed the thought for another day. She watched quietly as Ayato ran his thumb lightly over the marks.
"I'm sorry to have made you worry," Yui apologised.
"Does it hurt, Chichinashi?"
"Huh?"
"Your hand."
Yui shook her head. "I'm getting better so it's okay."
Ayato didn't really say anything and his expression was hard to read. Then, he moved forward suddenly, placed his mouth over her neck and bit down like he normally would. Yui stifled a yelp, enduring the pain as Ayato pulled her closer towards him.
Since he didn't have much to eat over the past few days, Ayato was famished. The moment Yui's blood hit his senses; it almost felt like he could drown in the feeling for all eternity. It was simply top-notch, the quality of her blood.
Yui made no sound either. She knew how hungry he must be and only closed her eyes, feeling the familiar sensation of blood leaving her body. It had become a given that Ayato fed from her.
As usual, Ayato knew his limits. She felt him finishing up, his tongue lapping at the bite marks.
"Delicious," he remarked.
Yui didn't say a word. She was glad they'd made up, but deep down, she honestly didn't know how else to feel. It was as if she was ignoring the problem and her feelings on purpose.
Ayato seemed to notice her unhappiness. He didn't say anything more, only moving to give a light kiss on her forehead.
He then kissed her temple, the side of her eyes, her nose and on the cheek. He kissed her carefully and softly, and finally, he kissed her on her lips.
At this rate, I'm going to fall right back into him…
Ayato never apologised for how he hurt her. He never apologised for the terrible things he'd said or the tears he'd made her shed. But when he kisses her like this, she instantly goes right back to him. That was how weak she was.
Looking up at Ayato's perfect face, Yui only felt fear.
The fear that she'll never be able to stay away from a vampire who has set his eyes on her.
