Chapter 40
Yui stared at Azusa, shocked. Her mouth was in an innocent gape and she barely had enough time to react before a hand landed on her shoulder, causing the girl to practically jump out of her skin and squeal. "Where are you going," a cold voice said. Azusa's eyes had narrowed into a hateful glare and Yui clung onto the infant tighter. "This doesn't concern you," Azusa snarled at Ruki. His cool touch gripped onto Yui's shoulder even tighter and she winced, "Y-you're hurting me," she sputtered. His grip only ceased when an even deeper voice boomed, "Now that's enough."
Everyone's attention spun around to the towering figure standing in the doorway. Though he was terrifying, their father was somehow the most beautiful of all. His lips curled into a smirk, he was clearly entertained, until his eyes sunk down to the bundle in Yui's arms. "So it is true," He hissed. There was a look of wonder, maybe even amazement, in his eyes. Within a blink of an eye, Noah was ripped from Yui's arms and stolen by the one and only Karl Heinz. The mother instinctively lunged forward, only to be drawn back by Ruki, who was next to a frozen Azusa. He was trembling. "What's wrong with you all?" The beautiful man said as he cradled the baby in his arms. Noah stared at him wide eyed before drifting off into another nap. "A new child is a joy." Yui felt her heart drop into her stomach as she watched him lift a finger to the baby's mouth, pulling back his lip with his fingers and examining his tiny fangs. "Interesting," he muttered. The smile returned, even more diabolical than before, and he chimed, "Let's have some time to catch up, shall we?"
How Yui mustered the strength to walk to the dining room alongside Karl Heinz, she had no idea. It felt that if she even tried to take a full breath, her lungs would give up and suddenly implode. Her mouth was dry, too dry to speak. The only thing keeping her sane in this moment was the sight of Azusa, who didn't look an ounce better than she was. Ruki pretended to be the gentleman he once appeared to be and drew out Yui's chair, nudging her to sit down in it and she proceeded. She tried to stay as polite as possible towards the man who could snap her newborn like a twig but found it difficult to even look in his direction. But she had to, for Noah's sake. Not that he cared in the moment anyway, the little one was snoozing without a care in the world and she could even see his hand clutching onto Karl's blouse. He sat at the opposite end of the table from her, Azusa and Ruki both to his immediate sides. Yuma and Kou both entered the room with a clear false sense of excitement, both greeting their father with open arms before taking their seats between Yui and the other two brothers. She had never felt so alone in a room full of people, much less in a room with Azusa. "How was your traveling?" Ruki asked his father. He was ignored at first, then only to be answered with a quick nod. Karl's eyes hadn't left Noah's face. "So," he said, "I'd like to see it eat."
It? Yui thought to herself. Her brain was boiling and she found herself bearing down on her teeth to the point of splitting pains along her jaw. She desperately peered over to Azusa, praying that he would say something. He didn't. "He ate earlier, I don't know if he will now but we can try." Ruki excused himself from the table while Karl sneered, "I'll make sure it does."
The view of Ruki clutching onto a plastic bag stained with blood was naseauting enough. But when she watched her baby's eyes slowly open and see him about to cry, she was past her breaking point. He was crying out of discomfort. For hunger. For what was in the bag. "How wonderful," Karl cried. He was giddy, it was sickening. He snatched the bag from Ruki's hand, leaving the boy feeling awkward and out of place, and quickly revealed the contents. Yui cringed away but couldn't help but listen to the small suckling sounds. The last bit of life in the room drained when Karl sprung to his feet, a blood smothered Noah in his arms still, and started towards the door. "A wonderful visit I must say," he clucked, "but I must be on my way." No one sprang up from the table faster than Yui, who was close on Heinz's trail, and she couldn't help but sputter nonsense from her lips. She cursed herself for not being able to speak properly. "Ah, you." It was the first time the two of them had made eye contact and Yui froze completely. He stood in the door with a smirk on his face before saying, "Don't worry your pretty little head."
Then he was gone.
"W-what?" Yui managed to make out. She stumbled drunkenly across the hardwood floor, following the trail of blood speckles, and pushed herself through the door arch. He was gone. And Noah. Noah was gone. The mother couldn't help but to release an ear scraping pitched scream as she ran out. She ran aimlessly around the front garden, knowing full well that the man was gone with her baby, but she wouldn't tell her legs to stop. The rose bushes scraped against her thighs as she trudged through the branches, nearly reaching the road before being captured in the arms of Kou. "No!" Yui shrieked. She kicked at the air and scratched like a wild animal at Kou's arms, which remained in a protective lock around her and eventually lifted her from the group. The house was back in perfect view again but seemed to be spinning. The world was spinning. Hot tears streamed down Yui's face and the last thing she remembered was screaming out her precious Noah's name. Over and over, and over again.
Perhaps it was just a dream, Yui thought to herself. She didn't have the courage to open her eyes and instead gripped onto the cotton sheets, tugging at them and secretly hoping to feel Azusa's weight pulling it back. But he wasn't there. She knew. The blonde slowly rose up to a ninety degree angle and finally opened her eyes to see an empty crib with no Azusa in sight. The deadly sick feeling returned to her throat and if she had anything left to purge, she would have in a moment. "A-Azusa kun," she whispered through swelling tears. But Azusa still wasn't there. She was alone.
(I sincerely apologize for the long pause in my writing. I was without a laptop but finally managed to get my hands on one! I've missed this story a lot and plan on continuing as long as all of you enjoy it as well. Thank you for the support.)