I stared at the soft sleeping face in front of me for about 3 minutes.
Brushing my hands through his soft white hair, I smiled at his peaceful aura.
"Subaru..." I gently whispered.
His head shifted towards mine, lightly resting his forehead against mine.
"It's daylight...I know this is your time to sleep in, but you have to get up, hon."
He wrapped his arms around me, groaning, "Don't feel like it..and neither should you."
Sighing out aloud in a half attempt of defeat, I closed my eyes and kept resting as well.
*Silence*
"Tch."
I hummed, well aware of the new scent that entered my room, "Ayato. What is it?"
"Lucille's expecting you."
I opened my eyes, turning my head slightly over my right shoulder.
"Now?"
"Yeah, so-" he pulled me up by the back of my nightgown and out of Subaru's arms, "—you don't need to be lying with him."
"Ayato~," I whined, "But my comfy body pillow~."
"You're so damn annoying," Subaru grumbled, turning away from me. "She wants you, not me. I'm sleepin' in."
Pouting up at the redhead, he made a dominant grin at me.
"Put me down!" I whisper-shouted, fumbling and thrashing around as he held me up.
"Oh, yeah? Not until I-" he lifted me a little more and tossed me up to catch me in his arms, "—get a firm grip on you."
I made a long sigh and groan as he teleported to the stairs, descending down...
And ascend the stares did.
"Good morning, Miyami," Mama greeted with a heavenly smile.
Her smile made me return it, "Good morning."
Kino scoffed, "Do you have to carry sister down like that? She's got two legs," he spoke in a..jealous? tone.
"Kino," Mama called his name sternly. "Behave."
"Y-Yes ma'am."
I lifted my eyebrow at Mama and she shook her head with closed eyes and a small smile.
"Mama, where did the others go?"
"Your Grandmother as well as Kimiko and Junjie went back to Iwami after talking to me last night. Your brothers are asleep—except for Ayato, you couldn't sleep, right?" she summarized, then asked him.
He put me down and nodded, "Yeah..I'm tired..."
"Go get some rest, sweetie. You don't need to worry," she said with a small smile, patting his head with her left hand. "Mom's got it handled from here."
His face burst into light pink, "...right."
With that, he disappeared.
"Such a charming boy when you find his kinder side," she commented to me. "As for Carla and Shin, they-"
"Little sister!" I heard Shin yell from around the right corner, and rapid footsteps.
With a bland expression, Mama held her right foot out, making Shin immediately trip and fall between us.
"It's early morning, calm down, Shin. Krone taught you better," she said in a disappointed tone.
He lightly groaned, picking himself up, "Yeah, yeah, I know."
"Lucille," Carla spoke..who happen to appear right beside me.
She looked to him, then took a pre-cautious step back.
"Mama, it's fine, really. Carla, Shin, and I made an agreement..just the other day."
She looked at me, staring at me for a while, "It's not easy for me to forgive people that killed me before...especially if they tried to take my daughter away..."
"I didn't ask nor imply you forgive them. It's only natural to let scars simmer down with time."
"..." She looked down to the floor, then to her right, "Stop hidi-..no, observing me, Tougo."
He stepped from behind one of the white pillar, "You never fail to impress me, Lucille."
"Mere observations of my surroundings," she replied. She looked back to me, "Miyami. You agreed to become Queen of the Underworld..."
I flinched, "...yes."
She stared at me, harshly...but it softened a bit. "I don't approve of it, but..you're almost 20. If you ever think you can't handle that position...I'll gladly take the position." She lifted my chin with her left pointer finger and thumb, "You're still so young, so vibrant, so much ahead of you...I don't want you to lose that author's streak now."
"Mama, I'll be fine. I've been fine since I got back here a couple months ago..and I'm even more fine since I got everything out last night."
"What happened last night?" Shin asked.
"You weren't here?"
"No, we left immediately after you did," Carla told me. "Couldn't stand to be around..." He looked down at me, "...your cousins."
'He's acknowledging the fact that I'm his sister..not theirs...'
I let out a few amused giggles, "I understand."
Outstretching my right hand out towards his face, I pricked my index finger under his slightly shown fangs.
"A small reward for dealing with them, myself, and agreeing to our promise," I spoke softly.
Pulling my finger away, I licked the remaining blood from my finger.
"Good morning, Miyami," I heard Fuko say atop the stairs, Kei behind her. "*Gasp* Um..did I interrupt something...?"
Father stepped forward, smiling at them, "No, no, child. You both may descend."
Carla glanced back at the two, then turned around and nodded his head, Shin did the same.
"Oh...you are?" she asked...uneasily.
"Carla Tsukinami." He glanced at me, "I am Miyami's cousin."
"And I'm Shin Tsukinami, little lady," he introduced himself.
"I'm Kino Sakamaki."
"Ah.." She looked at me with a shy smile, "You must have a extensive family, Miyami. I can understand why you said there were family problems to take care of."
"Indeed," Mama said, approaching Kei and Fuko. "It's nice to meet you both. I'm glad to see Miyami has made friends at university. I am Lucille Sakamaki, her Mother."
"...wow, you're more beautiful than I imagined," Fuko complimented. "My name is Fuko. I've been friends with Miyami since last year."
"I'm Kei," Kei spoke monotonously. "I watch over this one and your daughter, making sure they don't do anything stupid."
Mama laughed, "Haha! Hahahaha...Thank you..thank you for taking over my position for a while... Wait, what do you mean by "stupid"?"
"Mrs. Sakamaki, Fuko is a bad influence on Miyami. Keep her away from her, lock her up, get a restraining order, I don't care how you do it, just-"
"I am not! Don't believe him, Mrs. Sakamaki! I'm the perfect friend for her!" She looked at Kei with a pout, "You and your damn overdramatized sarcasm!"
"Just tellin' it like I see it," he replied blandly.
Mama let out fits of giggles, enjoying the two bicker.
"You both are really funny. Maybe you two should date~," she suggested, lifting her eyebrows up and down.
Both grimaced.
"Nah, I'm good," Kei replied.
"I'd rather one of your sons..." Fuko responded. "But I'm too old."
"Enjoy your youth while you still have it, dear," Father spoke, approaching Fuko, "Or it and your life will be sucked away from you."
She stiffened, "Y-You're Mi..Miyami's father?"
He smiled, "For all you could've known, I could've been her uncle or a cousin. But yes, child, I am."
"...I see where she gets her charms now," she said in a dreamy tone.
I lightly slapped Fuko upside her head with a frown. "That's my Father, you heathen."
"As if you're better than me religiously," she mumbled with a pout, rubbing her head. "Oh, yeah, that reminds me..the President called me, wanting to know about your status and would she have to expell you from Tokyo U-"
I glared, "That 6;tc#..." Realizing my words, I cleared my throat. "She's been trying to get rid of me since..."
'Since Serizawa got close to me..'
"Since I got there. Call her and tell her that I'm fine. My family's fine. The whole situation is fine!" I shouted out of frustration.
Kei snickered, "You truly hate that girl."
"I do," I growled.
"Going back to university so soon?" Mama asked me.
"I got no choice. I'm in honors college so being absent for a long period of time without telling my whereabouts and status is wouldn't look good on my transcript."
"Ah, then I suggest you pack your things immediately and get going with your friends."
I nodded, "Righ-"
A flashback ran through my head and I flinched.
"Right. Um, but before I do that, I'm going to say a brief "see you later" to the boys. If I just suddenly left, there would be..."
"Anarchy?" Kei suggested a word.
"Yeah, let's go with that. Anarchy in the household. Fuko, Kei, go wait outside for me."
"You're driving back with us?" Fuko asked.
"No, I'm driving my Suburban."
"Mm, 'kay. Let's go, Fuko." He turned to Mama, Father, Carla, Shin, and Kino, bowing. "It was nice meeting you all."
"O-Oh!" Fuko exclaimed, bowing as well.
"It was nice meeting you, too, sweetie," Mama spoke.
I turned the corner, then ran down the hallway quickly, but quietly towards my room.
Nearly falling through my door, I turned around swiftly and closed it.
Huffing and puffing, trying to catch my breath, I turned around and leaned against my door with my eyes closed.
"Have to..ha..have to pack my things quickly..the-then tell 'em...ah..hah, oh God...need to..breathe first..."
"We already know."
Eyes shooting open, I saw Reiji standing to my left. Laito laying on my bed with a supposed pout, Subaru still..asleep? I couldn't tell, he was facing away from me. Ayato is sitting on the edge of my bed with a glare. Kanato is sitting on the floor, face half hidden because of Teddy. And Shu leaning on the front right bedpost, seemingly asleep.
"...oh, $#;t..." I mumbled. I leaned up off my door, smiling nervously, "I-I can explain."
"There's nothing to explain," Kanato spoke..angrily. "You're leaving us again."
"No, no..nononono... I'm not leaving you all again; last time, I didn't say a word." I looked off to the side, a little melancholia showing on my face, "And I'm sorry for that."
Reiji adjusted his glasses, "I understand that you need to go back. But because you are the Sacrificial Bride-" I cut him off before rancor increased.
"I'll visit once a week—if I can—plus Holidays, deal?"
*Silence*
Shu leaned up off the post, approaching me, and held his hand out.
"Deal."
I reached my right hand out to shake his, but he pulled me into his body, embracing me.
He's so..warm...and he smells..deliciously savory.
"No fair! I want to hug Miya-chan, t—Ow!"
"Shut up already. Tryna sleep," Subaru grumbled.
"Don't you want to hug her, too, little brother?"
"...I already did that...and I can smell her scent from right here... That's enough for me," Subaru softly grumbled.
"Hah..show-off," Ayato grunted out.
I looked up at Shu, hands resting on his chest, he was staring down at me...
His small smile made my eyes brighten.
Spinning me out of his grasp to the point I almost became dizzy, I was caught in the arms by the brother behind him.
Looking up again, I met cat-like forest green eyes.
"Come back," he told me, then nearly squeezed me to death.
The skin connecting my left shoulder and neck was broken by his fangs...but he didn't drink from me.
The blood only seeped into my nightgown.
"Ayato...?"
"Getting that last temporary taste," he mumbled.
He pulled me away from him by my arms, then pushed me behind him.
"Wha—! Ayato!"
I landed on Laito...who groaned at my weight on him.
"I-I'm so sorry, Laito. I really need to start losing weight..."
He chuckled once I pushed my weight off him by raising my upper body with my hands on the bed.
Laito abruptly pulled me back down on him, smirking.
"If you're thinking you're fat, you're wrong, Miya-chan. You're just thick~."
I sweat dropped and smiled awkwardly at the comment, "Ah...thank you..?"
Swiftly giving a brief lick to my neck, I held in a surprised squeal, but shivered at the warm tongue on my skin.
"You're such a damn pervert," Subaru grumbled.
"Now, now. How can you call me a pervert when you slept in our big sister's bed last night, Subaru-kun?"
"And you better hope that's all you did," Ayato spoke in a threatening tone.
I pushed myself off of Laito, "No arguing now. I won't have it on the day I'm about to leave."
I got on my knees in front of Kanato, smiling genuinely.
"I'll be back, Kana-kun. Please, don't be mad at me. I want to..to earn my degree in Creative Writing. Is that okay?"
"...I guess..that's fine," he replied meekly before throwing himself into my arms; surprisingly, letting go of Teddy.
I grinned, 'No one can resist my genuine smile.'
"You look so evil right now," Laito commented with an amused smirk.
I responded to his comment by grinning mischievously.
I tried to pull away from Kanato, but he kept his grip tightly around me.
"Kanato," Reiji called his name.
Reluctantly, he let me slip out of his grasp and I stood up.
"What is it about this President we heard of?" Reiji questioned.
"I can't stand her," I growled. "The Vice President being your ex-boyfriend because you thought he was cheating on you got nothing to do with me. That was before I came there..." I smirked, "Someone told me..stay away from things that aren't yours...but was he he hers if he wanted me so bad?"
(Pacify Her by Melanie Martinez.)
*Silence*
"You're so damn evil," Laito chuckled.
"I am not! I'm just telling it like I see it!" I laughed.
"So he's your special admirer? The Vice President at Tokyo U, hmm?" he pressed.
I fell to my hands and knees, a defeated aura around me.
"Was it..that obvious?"
"Oh, older sister..I could see right through you. You suck at hiding certain emotions," Laito's..words struck through me.
"I know..." I mumbled.
"So...you like the guy?" Ayato asked.
"..."
"I'll take that as a "yes"," Shu responded.
"..."
"Is he better than us?" Kanato questioned.
"Well...because he's human, he's unique."
"Well, damn," Ayato scoffed. "No one, not even a human, can outmatch Ore-sama."
"...Are to sure about that?" I mumbled, shaking to hold my laughter in.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, nothing, oh, great and powerful Ayato Sakamaki!" I dramatically exclaimed, bowing my head to him to please him.
"Spare me the flattery," he grunted.
I lifted my head, letting an awkward expression show, "I'm really interested in this guy..so I want to give him a chance. Human or not, at the end of the day, love is still love, right?"
"...I suppose so," Reiji spoke. "Do not get too involved with this human."
"And by that, you mean...?"
"Let him know what you are," he simplified.
I grinned, showing my fangs, "I can't even have a little sip?"
He glared at me to which I laughed.
"I would never, Reiji. Humans are too precious to me to suck them dry. Like I said before, blood tastes..kinda bitter to me."
"You either learned abstinence or there's something in your DNA preventing you from having a taste for it," he responded.
An unsettling grin crossed his face.
"If I won't let a vampire doctor touch me, I'm especially not going to let you. I don't like people poking and prodding on me. I hate doctors..."
"Same here," Kanato agreed.
"You're the older sister and yet..." Shu just sighed.
"I can be a baby, too, ya know?!" I scolded him, puffing my cheeks out.
"Well, let us love on you a lil', baby, before we let you go~," Laito mused.
Wide-eyed, I found myself on my bed and my brothers looking down at me.
Love on me they did.
~Tiny Time Skip~
Walking down the concrete stairs, I shivered a little.
"Are you good?" Kei asked, walking on my right.
"Yeah, I'm fine..."
"It must be the Fall wind. It can be shivering to the bone so dress warmer. Speaking of dressing warmer, you look good in that velvety red turtleneck sweater dress," Fuko advised and complimented, walking on my left.
"Thank you," I said with a smile.
I didn't shiver because of the autumn air, and there's a reason why I'm wearing this dress...
They loved on me a little too much.
Kei briefly stopped and leaned back, "That $$ though..."
What was disturbing about that was his blank face while saying that alone.
My cheeks turned light pink, "I get it from my Mama."
"Oi!"
Looking up and behind to my right, I saw Ayato glaring at Kei.
"Keep your eyes off of who's Ore-sama."
Kei lifted an eyebrow, "Say what now?"
I pushed Kei down the stairs as quickly as possible, "N-Never mind him! Just get in your truck!"
"Okay, okay," he rambled, heading towards his black Ram 1500 along with a giggling Fuko.
"Looks like little bro is jelly~," she mused. "Tend to his needs, big sis~."
Huffing at her harmless mischief, I turned around to Ayato with crossed arms.
"What else is it that you need, hon?"
He descended down to me, grabbing me by my arms.
For a moment, he was quiet.
"..Ayato."
"You're gonna come back, right?"
I smiled, "Yes, I will. Now that Mama's back, I can rest easy, knowing she'll take care of you all."
"I know that. But...I don't want her. I want you."
This side of Ayato...This rare side of his is the one I truly adore: guard down, comforting, and soft-spoken.
Unexpectedly, he pulled me closer to him, and I balanced myself by placing my hands on his shoulders.
He firmly pressed his lips to mine, tilting me back a little to go deeper into the kiss.
Confused, frustrated, and panicking, I heard Fuko say a loud "ooo", Kei with a "wtf?", Mam, too?! was giggling relentlessly, and Father...oh, no...
Ayato leant me back up and relieved my lips of his.
Stuttering to blabber and ramble about how careless and inappropriate the act he committed was, I decided to just shut up.
Turning around, I picked up my suit case and purse I had put down when he was walking down the stairs and I quickly walked to my Suburban.
"Well...INCEST IS WINCEST!" Fuko shouted.
"Get in the damn truck, crazy girl!" Kei yelled, pushing her in her seat and closing the door to which I laughed at.
Miyami.
I stopped my movements once I heard that voice.
Yes, Father?
Come back soon. I have..some festivities I want you to celebrate with us.
I lifted an eyebrow, then glanced back at him.
...Al..right.
Closing the left back door shut, I got in my driver's seat and closed the door behind me.
Laying my head in between my hands gripping the steering wheel, I sighed aloud.
"How could he does something like that in front of them...? Either that boy just does not care or he wanted to prove a point to them, or something similar of the sort..."
Lifting my head, I started the engine with two turns of my keys.
I decided to let Kei follow me since—!
'How did they know where I lived?!'
Looking in my rearview mirror, I saw Kei grinning...
Revealing fangs.
Moving my gaze forward, I stayed rigid and waited for the gates to open.
"He's got some explaining to do..."
(It's been a while since I updated a new chapter here. I have a lot of free time on my hands now that I'm a senior. It took a long time to get to where I'm at right now, enough about me. I've decided that Chapter 20 will be the last chapter of this series. Sadly, I'm running out of ideas for-... On second thought, maybe not. But this will still end on Chapter 20. I hope you enjoy.)