Chapter 21

Reiji hadn't been happy at all to see from the school windows the slacker blissfully snoring with his head on the half-witch's nap as she she chatted with Yui during breaks.

Yuuma had reacted a little differently; although he hadn't been enthusiastic at first, he had then taken advantage of it to tease the blond every time he found him clinging to his presumed niece (it sounded so strange to him!); despite their bickering, the two did get a little along, considering that Kou and Subaru always argued.

The albino himself (in his own way) and Yui had been happy to see them together again; the triplets had remained indifferent, perhaps Laito had looked thoughtful at first: something buried in his memory was trying to resurface, a voice calling him and yet he couldn't recognize it.

Kou and Azusa's little disappointment stemmed from being aware that they wouldn't be chosen by either Eve or Izanami, and therefore couldn't have repaid Karlheinz for saving them; it didn't really matter to them at last, glad by seeing Mary happy.

On the other hand, Ruki found no way to suppress his internal jealousy: he was a little colder than usual, but inside he was tormented by the feeling of loss and despair, perceived by Mary herself who was saddened by it (and she sensed a sort of déjà vu...?) and often wasn't able to behave as usual in his presence, uncomfortable. Ruki had made sure to point it out, resisting the urge to vent all his bitterness, and tried to reassure her.

Mary had only told Shuu, Yui and Subaru about Izanami and their strange faces in seeing her transparent arms, feet and ankles said everything about what they thought of it; Subaru had even asked her if she could pass through the walls and if Yui hadn't calmed him down, Shuu would have probably died by choking after mocking him about the absurdity he had questioned.

The benevolent spirit resembling a hamster, Freckle, took care of Yuuma's garden most of the day, protecting it from evil creatures, so that he rarely interacted with others, except with Mary during her sleep, snuggling comfortably in her hair.

Despite the emotional sorrows and the usual, natural bickering, it seemed that now everything was peaceful...


- Shuu... please... I have to go back to class...

The girl tried to free herself from the vampire's iron grip in vain, forced to sit on his legs, and he didn't want to release her waist from his arms, while dozing off with his head resting on her shoulder; he mumbled something incomprehensible, laid down on the bench, bringing her almost under him, and she let out a surprised little cry because of the sudden movement.

Mary called him again, sighing exasperatedly.

- I've been without you for about three weeks... - he grumbled in her ear, yawning and sticking more to her, as if he wanted to consume as much heat as he could.

The girl replied, muttering that it wasn't properly acceptable as an excuse, but before she could finish the sentence, her face had been turned by his hand and his lips had crashed on hers, silencing her.

Several times she tried to complain and every time she was silenced by the vampire's mouth, more and more passionate; then, as Shuu was busy groping her bottom ignoring her embarrassed protests, they heard a voice and turned around: with a twitching eye, Ruki was glaring at them with a look that could have made the dead packing for another underworld.

- The girl has to go back to class. We work in pair during chemistry classes - the young man stated in front of them, arms folded and rigid.

- My girl, let's be clear - the other muttered.

The two exchanged glowering glances and the poor victim shrank between them, not wanting to be involved any more than she was already, and she composed herself, pushing the blond's hand away from her bottom with a huge effort.

Before Shuu could protest, Mary kissed his cheek.

- See you later, Shuu - she smiled shyly and at the same time gently, then walked away and went out with Ruki, who had raised an eyebrow at the scene.

The blond had remained firm on the bench with a grin on his face.


- Ta-daaah~!

Kou showed Mary a cup similar to the matching ones each Mukami brother had, decorated with the same pattern but with a different colour: a taupe grey for Ruki, a bright rose for Kou, a pastel blue for Azusa and a light orange for Yuuma; finally, this one was silver with some green spots, and it was for her, who was speechless.

- But... but I'm not... - she began talking, still incredulous, only to be interrupted by a strong pat on her back, certainly from the giant.

- If it's true that we're related, you're also part of our family - he exclaimed, grinning, and ruffled her hair, then glaring at Freckle, who was munching a freshly picked apple.

- Really, I can't accept... - the girl tried again shyly and slightly flushed, but the blond stopped her, pretending to be offended.

- Nooope, Neko-chan! This cup is for you, we bought it together and gifts shouldn't be rejected!

- Izanami... Don't you want to... be closer to us...? - Azusa asked, showing a sad expression and curling his lips on purpose to appear disappointed and make her feel guilty; the half witch shook her head frantically, surrendering.

Ruki gave her a smile, or what always looked like a smirk on him.

- You should accept it. We had it made just for you.

After a few seconds of silence, Mary nodded her head, smiling and her eyes shining with emotion.


- Subaru-kun~!

- EVIL SPIRIT BEGONE!

Subaru was running again in order to escape from Kou, who wanted to offer him a job at the agency where he was working as an idol, thinking he had a great potential to become one; Mary and Yui were watching them from the school yard half amused.

- Such great friends... - Yui commented, ignoring the umpteenth ring from Ayato on the phone the Sakamaki had bought for her, with only their numbers.

- Yeah, sure - Mary agreed ironically - Just like those two.

And she nodded towards the roof, where a rather irritated Yuuma was yelling at Shuu, deeply asleep against a wall and bravely ignoring him.

- These vampires... - the half witch sighed giggling.

- ... are a lost cause! - the neo-vampire concluded, typing an exasperated reply to her boyfriend promising that she would return to him by the end of the break; in the meantime Mary had run to the roof to stop the giant from beating the handsome blond.


Mary and Laito met in the school library, as she was looking for some architectural books and he was flirting with two first year students.

- Hello~ Bitch-chan! - the vampire greeted her with his usual mischievous smile, an arm around the waist of one of the girls and hand resting on the shoulders of the other one.

- Hello, Laito-kun - Mary just smiled, turning her eyes back to the shelves in search of the book that interested her - I recommend you not to be caught and lectured here.

- Nfu~ Bitch-chan, rules are made to be broken~ aren't they? - the red replied back, pretending to sulk, and asked confirmation from his companions who chuckled.

- That's your responsibility, then – she said, giving him an indecipherable smile, and walked away with the just found book in her hand.

Laito didn't see the veil of melancholy in her eyes as he watched her leave; but as he chatted briskly with the two girls, he rummaged in his memory, searching for the source of the voice that was calling him.

Or was it a voice that was calling her...?


- You've seen Subarucchi, Azucchi and Shuu together?! - Mary exclaimed, shocked by Kou's news, and he nodded, upset, while drying the dishes she passed him after being washed and rinsed.

- When I went to Subaru-kun to complain about how he isn't so mean to Azusa-kun as he usually is to me, he yelled at me that at least my brother isn't as annoying as me! He hurt me! - the blond explained in a frustrated tone and gesturing nervously, despite a part of him did agree with the albino's statement.

The half witch also wasn't so hostile to Subaru's opinion and had no idea how to talk about it calmly with Kou, nervous; in the meantime he went on, talking about how much fun it was to wacth Subaru exasperated while refusing to hurt a persistent Azusa, or how an irritated Shuu mumbled to them to shut up; then, a second plate slipped and broke, Ruki reproached them, telling them to shut up and concentrate on their task.

Mary yawned, turning between the warm blankets comforting her from the absurd cold of the first days of November, and bumped into a colder body, eyes widening.

- Sh-Shuu?! - she murmured, almost raising her voice, disconcerted to find him in the bed, as he proceeded to wrap his arms around her waist, clutching her like a pillow.

- Mh, be quiet, I'm sleeping... – he muttered in a sleepy tone, rubbing his face against her chest and making her blush out of both embarrassment and irritation, after adding that she was wearing a very cute pyjamas, but not sexy at all: it had prints of small blue chicks on a grey background.

- Shuu! You shouldn't be here! Ki-kun will kill you!

The vampire answered back just with an annoyed grunt and at the same time with a chuckle at that nickname, remaining attached to her, who sighed and began to stroke his hair, kissing his head from time to time.

The young man rubbed his hands along her back, after a while mumbling that it was strangely cold; the girl hypothesized that it was probably due to the fact that she had probably pulled the covers too much, thus exposing part of the body to the cold air. He insisted it was really cold and she sat up, lifting her shirt up and making him examine her back.

- Mary. It's... - he murmured, shocked - It's see-through.

She kept quiet, turning slowly towards his face, the ocean gaze staring at her worryingly; after what seemed like interminable seconds, she smiled, stroking his cheek.

- Don't worry, it's just a process. I'm not sick - she kissed his forehead as he snorted and leaned his head on her thighs. The girl smiled again and returned to wander in his soft fair curls with her fingers, untangling some knots, making him relax.

- You both want to die so badly.

Shuu and Mary hadn't figured out yet that it was better not to risk with Ruki.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter, thanks for reading! ^^