There's practically zero Ayato in the MB Anime season so far...which leaves me greatly unsatisfied D:
As usual, thank you all for the reviews! The previous chapter had the most so far (sobs in happiness), and so it really gave me the drive to finish this chapter properly. The next chapter will also take a while, 'cause it's assessments period and I'm also juggling uni with some freelance work, but I have it planned out already and it's going to be a fluffy one (I hope!) BD
Have fun reading!
All Subaru wished for was simply for Yui to watch the fireworks with him. But maybe it's how things were supposed to be, because just before he could ask, the fireworks had exploded into the sky, taking the words right out of his mouth.
He thought that in times like these, it would be a given that the girl stayed and they get to watch the fireworks together. They'll be alone and it'll feel natural. It was, after all, the only thing he really wanted out of this day.
When Yui said she had to go suddenly, Subaru could feel a pang of something hit him in the chest.
"Don't you want to watch the fireworks?" he asked hurriedly.
"I have to go find Ayato," Yui replies, already turning to leave. "I'm sorry but I really need to go now." She wished him Happy Birthday again, and then she ran off.
Subaru thought about stopping her. He thought about telling her to not go, reminding her that she hasn't even heard what his wish was about. He also thought about thanking her, for being the first person to ever celebrate his birthday with him, for even remembering this day.
But all he did at the end was just to watch her go. Like all other things that had happened in his life, he found himself in no position to withhold anything.
Bitter and irritated with himself, Subaru punched at the tables near him, sparing nothing but the one table that had his cake and gift on it. The fireworks continued to shoot up into the air, its colour enveloping him in entirety.
Yui had wanted to stay, she truly did. Well, at least till she got to the part where Subaru was to cut his cake and open the present she bought him. But she completely lost track of the time, and the timing for the fireworks showing had slipped her mind. She's now late to meeting Ayato.
Yui ran as fast as she could, racing down the corridors. She also very nearly ran into Reiji when she made a turn, causing him to criticise at her 'poor manners as a lady'. She didn't mean to be rude, but she had ignored Reiji to be on her way. (For that, she reckons that she's going to face some chastising when she gets home.)
Watching the fireworks with Ayato was something she'd been looking forward to. She had wanted to just spend some time alone with him, to make precious memories of her being at her first-ever school cultural festival. For reasons she could not name, her heart was now aching to see him.
Yui kept running, and only got to the side of the pool area before she stopped abruptly. The fireworks have just ended, and she could hear loud cheers coming from the courtyard.
It's no use anymore since she's late. Yui fought back her tears, upset with herself. Ayato would probably be so pissed at her as well, and everything would be her fault.
Yui stood rooted to her spot next to the pool. She allowed herself cry for a bit, and when her tears finally stopped, she thought about going to the courtyard to find Ayato, where she could apologise and explain things to him.
"There you are." A voice that sounded too close for comfort came from behind her. Yui turned around, only to find a pair of familiar green eyes fixed upon her.
"Where the hell were you. You had some nerve to dare stand me up." Ayato said, the tone of his voice dark and menacing.
"Ayato! …I'm sorry."
"What, 'that all you can say? I'd been waiting all this time you know!"
Yui didn't even dare look Ayato in the eye as she explained, "I'm really sorry, I got so caught up walking around the festival, and then I lost track of the time. It's all my fault that we missed the fireworks."
"You're damn right it's your fault! What are you-"
Ayato stopped short when he saw the tears welling up in Yui's eyes. He was absolutely frustrated and all of this was clearly her fault, so why was she crying?
"Hey, how dare you cry! Whose fault is it, huh?"
"Because…" Yui sniffed, "I really wanted to watch the fireworks with you, Ayato. And now we can't anymore because of me."
Yui was really not a pretty crier, Ayato notes. The way her face was all tear-stained, her eyes puffy and how she had strands of hair stuck to her skin due to perspiration…he could never fathom how he'd come to hold her in such high regard but he did. And from the way she was weeping this badly, he could tell that she couldn't have been late on purpose.
"I'm really sorry." He heard her apologise again, like it was the only word she was capable of saying.
Instead of scolding her even more, or stomping off out of anger, like how he might usually react, Ayato did none of those things. Instead, he only pushes a part of her hair away from her neck.
"Then, get ready for your punishment," he breathed into her ear.
Yui squeezes her eyes shut when the pair of familiar fangs pierced through her skin. Ayato pressed himself even closer into her, drawing blood from the fresh opening he'd just created, licking eagerly at every drop. He then shifted to a spot that's only slightly higher than the one he's been sucking from, creating yet another mark that had Yui let out a short cry, upon feeling his fangs tear open her skin for the second time.
Ayato had been starving, and this, Yui knew. Besides it being a form of repayment for having kept him waiting, it was also a reward for Ayato, since he'd worked harder today than she'd ever seen him do. So Yui kept her eyes closed in compliance, allowing Ayato to take as much as he wanted.
All of a sudden, something exploded into the air from a distance away. Yui looked up immediately, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Ayato! Ayato, the fireworks!"
It hurt her physically to tear Ayato apart from her, especially when he was drinking midway, but to know the show wasn't actually over delighted her.
"They're beautiful!" Yui exclaimed excitedly.
Ayato had his eyes fixed on the spectacular display as well, although it's not like this was his first time seeing a fireworks show live. But there was something nice, calming even, about watching it together with Yui.
Their hands brushed against each other and Ayato took her hand, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, causing Yui to turn towards him, blushing.
Ayato only returned her stare with a smile. "You're going to miss the show again if all you're going to do is watch my face you know."
It was funny to see Yui blush even harder, as she tried to redirect her attention back. But she allowed Ayato to continue holding her hand. Despite him taking her blood or them kissing often, she don't remember them ever holding hands before so this was a first.
The show was much shorter than the earlier one, but it was definitely enough to satisfy. When it ended, everything around them became dark and quiet again, with only the faint sound of cicadas sounding nearby.
"Huh, is that all?" remarked Ayato.
"I guess so," Yui replied.
Then she remembered that Ayato had been drinking from her, but halfway, she had cut him off for the fireworks. As she arks her neck towards him again, she reminds him.
"Ah, sorry, Ayato. You didn't finish drinking earlier."
Ayato kept so still for a moment, that Yui almost thought he wasn't going to continue. In actuality, to have Yui offer her blood so readily to him was just out of the ordinary, since it wasn't something she'd normally do, that it stumped him a little. When Ayato brought his face closer next, Yui closed her eyes instinctively, readying herself for the bite to come.
Except the next thing she felt were a pair of lips upon hers, kissing her tenderly. With half-lidded eyes, Yui cautiously returned the kiss. She liked how demanding his kisses could be, but at the same time, how gentle they were as well. Her hand was still in his and although they were ice cold, it didn't matter to her.
"Ayato…" she moaned softly, upon feeling his lips make a beeline from her mouth across her jaw, and then down her neck.
"Say it," the tone of Ayato's voice dropping a notch, "Say my name. I want to hear more of it."
"Ayato…"
Ayato wouldn't stop nipping at the back of ear, and it succeeded in making her blush even more, her fingers clinging onto the back of his shirt. As she let out another soft moan, it only seems to encourage him further, leading him to kiss her hard on the side of her neck.
They both completely forgot that they were out in the open, although it's not likely that anyone stops by the pool at this time. Yui almost thought she was imagining things, but when she looked up, she could swear she saw a tall figure a distance away, staring right at them.
"Ayato!" she gasps quickly in fear, "There's somebody."
Ayato furrowed his eyebrows and swerved around instantly, looking into the same direction that Yui had been. By the pool were just some huge shrubs and shady trees, but he didn't see anyone, and neither could he sense a presence.
"Chichinashi, are you sure? I don't see anyone."
Yui couldn't understand either. Within a split second, it seemed that the figure had disappeared. Although she could've sworn that she saw someone, she wasn't so sure now.
"I…I don't know. I thought there was someone there."
"You're just imagining things," Ayato bumps his fist on her head lightly, "There ain't anyone around."
Yui looks up at Ayato, feeling better only because she wasn't alone. Maybe he was right, that she was imagining things. But somehow, until they made it back to the Sakamaki mansion, Yui couldn't shake off the feeling that someone had been watching them the whole time.
Subaru had slept for a whole good day. With the end of the school festival, he could at last be alone, without any troublesome duties or having to play pretend vampire, things which he had all disliked doing. His stomach was also feeling a bit weird from the cake Yui gave him, but since she went to the trouble, he made sure to finish it.
Maybe I shouldn't have eaten it all in one go.
Subaru rubs at his stomach, sorely reminded that his body wasn't good at absorbing too much human food in one night. He'd already eaten plenty of food from the festival beforehand. The cake had been a tad much.
As he lies in his coffin of a bed, Subaru then remembers that he still hadn't opened his birthday present. It made him curious all of a sudden, and he gets up at last.
He'd simply dumped the gift on his chest of drawers the other day. Ripping it open, Subaru discovers that it was a simple black tee that was just his taste. Yui even threw in a small card, which he opened to read next.
This present is for the other time. You spoilt your shirt in order to help bandage me up. I've always been under your care and I'm really thankful to know you. Once again, happy birthday!
Subaru blushed. Yui had remembered all along. He pulled on the shirt and it fit him just right too.
All of the sudden, an odd feeling swept across him and he thought about returning to the demon world. It's been a while anyway, and maybe he could see if anything has changed, or hasn't changed.
Subaru brought himself down to the basement. He walked to the end of the tunnel, walked through an entrance and down a dirty path lined with trees. He passed the rest stop, and then hailed for a carriage right before he entered the main town of the demon world. This would take him to where he wanted to go.
Riding on the carriage, one that's operated by bats, Subaru stared out into the dark sky. Unlike the human world, the demon world has an additional season, called the Polar season, which is occurring now. It's why everything is pitch black, but looking down, he could still make out the lights that lit up some familiar parts of the town. How long has it been since he's been back, a year? He'd forgotten.
It took him a good hour to reach where he wanted to be. Getting off, Subaru paid the bats in terms of gold coins, and then, turning around, he found himself standing in front of a tiny cottage. The lamp at the walkway lit up the moment he took a step forward.
He opened the door to the cottage, which cannot be done unless you were the owner to the house. The lights came on, although they were dim, and Subaru could see that nothing has been touched. Everything; The old stove, the dining table, even the photographs that hung on the wall, they were all in their rightful place.
Subaru shuffled towards the bedroom. It smelled somewhat dusty but at the same time, nostalgic, a comfortable, fading, lavender scent. He sat down on the bed, a hand running across the quilt cover, and then he let himself lay down completely.
It's been a while.
November passed quickly, and school pretty much ended the moment everyone received their score reports. Yui was pleased to know that she'd done okay. Although she could buck up in English and History especially, she felt she had done well this semester. Leaning towards Ayato, she tried to peak at his results.
"Damn Chichinashi, who said you could look!" Ayato rebuked, turning his back at her.
Yui tried to ask a few more times after that, but only earned extra glares from Ayato. She even tried to trade score cards with him, but after looking at hers, Ayato still refused to give her his.
"I bet you didn't do well, did you?" Yui asked.
"Who do you think I am? Of course I did fine! You just worry about yourself!" He had rebutted. Yui never got to see Ayato's results, until 3 weeks after they'd gotten their score reports back, where she found it wedged between his stack of porn magazines. It was by accident, when she had to bend down to get a hair-tie that she'd dropped. He probably never thought she'd find it there, but she's been in his room enough times to know an odd sheet of paper when she sees one sticking out like that.
In actuality, she didn't think he did that bad. He barely scraped pass for most of the subjects, but he did especially well for physical education and he improved in Math too. She couldn't understand why he won't show her his report. Carefully, Yui tucked his report card back to place.
The season turned chillier as December rolled about, and almost too soon, snow had begun to fall and it's Christmas Eve already. There really isn't much of a Christmas vibe in the Sakamaki home, but Yui is thankful to learn that Reiji wanted a proper Christmas dinner, like a real family. So, on the days leading up to dinner, Yui had been busy preparing alongside Reiji.
"Why do we even need to celebrate? Isn't it troublesome?" Ayato had commented, as he watched Yui lay out the table. There were still a few hours to go, before they're all due to be summoned for dinner.
"Because it's fun," she beamed, "And it's nice to share a special meal with everyone in the family on such a day."
Ayato really couldn't care less. A meal on some over-hyped holiday isn't about to make them all become the best of brothers, in his opinion, and if Yui thought so, then she must be extremely naïve. But then again, since she seemed to be really enjoying herself with this, Ayato thought he'd be benevolent and allow it.
After a while, Yui finally finished setting up.
"I'm done! Now, to go to the kitchen and-,"
"Wait up," Ayato commanded.
Yui barely blinked and Ayato was already towering before her, hands holding onto her arms. He smirked, and was about to lean in for a quick drink when he heard someone snickering from a far corner of the room.
Turning around, he frowned at the sight of his perverted brother.
"Yoohoo~ it's Laito," greeted the green-eyed vampire, "Mind if I join in? I'm fine with threesomes."
"Che," Ayato waved a hand in the air, "Get lost and take your perverted thoughts with you."
"I'm just here to ask Bitch-chan something, actually," Laito said, his fingers skimming across the dining table and coming to rest upon some clean cutlery, "Hey Bitch-chan, did you happen to drop your Rosario anywhere perhaps?"
The Rosario was something that Yui brought everywhere with her, because it made her feel safer against all things evil. But that was up till some time ago. Since months back, she had kept her Rosario tucked away in her room in a jewelry box, because it was something given to her by her father and she didn't want to risk losing it. Also, since she learned that vampires don't fear Rosarios at all, it seemed less practical too.
"I don't think so," Yui replied.
"So I see."
"What's up with the weird question, Laito?" Ayato demanded. But Laito only smiled back at him, shrugging.
"Just thought I'd ask. It's nothing~ But maybe if you really wanted to know…I can tell you, but you'll have to let me join the both of you first."
"You stay the fuck away," Ayato yelled. Not wanting to be bothered by Laito further, he took Yui by the arm and led her away. Laito now stood alone in the dining room.
His hand slipped in to fumble within his pocket, before taking out a wooden Rosario to view. He smirked at the thought of how he'd found it right outside in the driveway. At first, he'd assumed it was Yui's, but now it didn't seem so.
"Well, well, whom might you belong to," he uttered to himself quietly.
The more he held onto the Rosario, the worse it made him feel. Still with a dark smile on his face, he walked over to the nearby fireplace and threw it in, watching the flames engulf the item whole. He didn't move an inch until he heard himself being called for by Reiji. By then, there was nothing left of it.
