A/N: Sorry, this is a bit haphazard because I started writing this in October, but didn't finish it until today :O You guys have been waiting, so I figured it should be doled out ASAP!

Summary: As Elizabeth's story unfolds, more secrets of her past are revealed. Unfortunately, to have some of his own fun, Kou decided to have Elizabeth walk in on an old flame at the most inopportune moment. Yuma hears of her going behind his back and ends up giving her the cold shoulder. Now...

Weekend Evening

Kitchen – Mukami House

I think I have been conceited. I thought that those dreams I had been having were real and that maybe he had those feelings for me in return, but I was wrong. I got ahead of myself…How could I have expected him to return my feelings? He doesn't even know I exist…

Elizabeth slumps against the kitchen wall in the Mukami house after she finished mopping. Almost like a blow to the stomach, the sight of seeing Shu and that girl… She grips the handle angrily. She had wanted to quit school after that day, but Yuma convinced her not to. Ruki also had scolded her, saying that she was being thick-headed for wanting to quit just because something hadn't been as she had expected it. She never told him the reason; just that she wasn't able to understand her classes very well. He offered to tutor her, but as for punishment, she'd clean and return to his room afterwards for the next few weeks. She agreed knowing that angering him would have been a big mistake. Shortly after the agreement, Yuma warned her to be careful around Ruki.

"Careful, M Usagi-san, you'll break it like that!~" Kou swung the door to the kitchen open and cheerfully taunted her.

Even though he was picking on her, he did feel a little at fault for what happened…just a little. Being connected to the Mukami household was probably making it difficult for her to make friends. When Kou asked his fan club girls to talk to her, they had gone over, but immediately shunned her for being close to Kou. It had been that way since her first day. She had no recollection of ever attending a school and thus it made it more difficult for her to socialize amongst her peers.

At one point, Kou had read the mind of one of his fans in the hall after they had passed by Elizabeth in class. He wasn't sure if it was coincidence, but despite her being friendly to the people around her, everyone stayed away from her when she was with his brothers.

'That girl is simply too used to being ostracized, to the point that she thinks it's normal for others to avoid her. Why bother getting close to her, she's already got all of them wrapped around her finger?'

However, there were those who also were too afraid to talk to Elizabeth. She was a very pretty girl and some times, she'd get the audience of males, seldom females.

'It kind of makes you want to cry, doesn't it? She's so nice too. She'd probably steal your boyfriend though.'

On the outside she seemed calm and composed, but her insides were starting a riot. Kou could tell that she was hurting deeply after seeing Shu and Yui. She had now always remained in class after the bell had rung and avoided eye contact with either of them. During passing time, she'd go to class the long way, avoiding the route that intersected with the music room. It was just a very visible pattern he noticed with her after that day.

Ruki's Room

"Hey, are you even listening, tokage*?" Ruki had begun calling her by a different name since the old one didn't suit her.

"Mmnn…" She mumbled as she stared at her hands. She was still pretty upset and didn't like talking to Ruki about her problems because all he did was criticize her.

After he closed the book in his hands, he leaned over to see her face. She seemed to have been crying. Her eyes were puffy and there were streaks of moisture on her cheeks. Ruki didn't have to know what happened; he merely gave it an educated guess. "Don't make such a scary face." He didn't like that she wasn't cheerful. Nowadays, she just let him suck her blood without protest. It was fine at first, but it grew dull over time.

"Sorry, I just…" She attempted to wipe away her own tears, but Ruki stopped her by grabbing her wrist.

"Just this once, your master will comfort you." He laid her head in his lap and stroked her hair. He looked at the color it was now. She had dyed it to match Yuma's and people at school believed them to truly be siblings. He then looked down to her shoulders where she had dug her nails deeply into her skin causing an almost scar-like injury. Daily, she'd stay in the bath for long periods of time and cradle herself in her arms. She'd hold on so tightly, it would seem like she wanted to disappear.

No one told her, that she would be moving homes until the time had arrived. Although she had her quirks, they all enjoyed spending time with her. They decided that they'd at least make her last days bearable.

2 Days Later – Evening

Ryotei Academy – Hall

Even now, I…

I averted my eyes from that girl's gaze as she passed by me in the hall. I pretended to read from my handbook which I have already done many times over. I sighed. I was frustrated with myself. In my heart grew a deep hatred towards her when she hadn't done anything wrong. It was my fault. I didn't act sooner. I could feel my heart pang in my chest being in the same halls as them. Just knowing that they were around was painful. How could I?

Behind me, I heard footsteps getting closer. The person behind me is probably going to just run ahead to their locker. I closed my eyes having predicted the next turn of events, but was wrong.

"Eh…Go-senpai…" The person stopped right in front me preventing me from walking in a direct path.

It was her. Why…Why are you speaking to me? I looked at her to let her know that I acknowledged her presence, but I was still silent as I brushed my hair behind my ear.

"…W-would you like to be friends?" She seemed more rattled that I was in this scene, but I suppose it was because of the look I was giving her. It wasn't out of spite or anger. Not even from sadness or pity. I furrowed my brows as if I was about to cry, but at the same time, my shoulders shook like I was going to yell at her. In an effort to control my mixed emotions, I took a deep breath and smiled at her.

"Sure. If you don't mind me saying so, we haven't actually been properly introduced." I stuck my hand out.

She placed hers in mine and her expression softened, "Yui Komori."

As if the sky was an indicator of proceeding events, the sky grew cloudy and heavy rain was in a downpour.

I don't know why she approached me, whether it's to mock me or to pacify me. I do know she saw me that day…

45 minutes later

Gymnasium

"Yuma…" Elizabeth sat beside him against the wall as he took a break. Her eyes wavered as she set them on his. Although he warned her numerous times, she had gone against his wishes and at this point, their friendship was hitting a rocky slope. He'd pretend around the others that they were fine, but when they were alone, he didn't even look at her. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry…"

He had found out from Kou and confronted her. However, seeing how upset she was, he didn't have the heart to yell at her for it. Instead, he grew cold and distant. Noticing that he had no intention to listen to her, she got up and left the gym. He almost wanted to go after her, but seeing as the switch would happen sooner or later, there was no reason to try and make amends.

Eve will not choose you…

Health Room

"Ah, it's Miss Go. Are you here today to hear more about that story?" Elizabeth walked in to see Dr. Reinhart sitting at his desk observing some documents.

"N…No. I'm just not feeling well." After the recent series of events in her life, it feels as though her heart has sunk to the deepest depths of the abyss. My chest hurts…

The doctor noticed that she was clutching at her chest and her breaths were becoming quite shallow. "Here", he held out a cup of tea to her, "Drink some of this. It'll calm your nerves."

Although he was a bit old-fashioned and somewhat eerie to Elizabeth, she had no choice but to drink it. Apples…

Deeper and deeper, had Snow White fallen asleep...

Elizabeth's Dream

'What happened?' I look around me to see a farm in the distance. I turn to look behind me and see him. 'Edgar!' I call out, but my voice does not obey me. Unable to speak, I can only gaze at him in silence.

I walk over to him, treading around the crops he's just planted. This seems familiar… Then, I see the younger version of myself in tattered clothing resembling his.

"Lizzie! You're still sick! Go back inside!" He walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder to push me back towards the house.

"Edgar! I want another one!" I smile as I hold my hands out to him. "It makes me feel better, so may I please have another?" I was grinning ear to ear.

"Fine, but promise me you'll rest more. We can't play with him again until you get better." He leads me over to a tree and from there he allows me to sit on his shoulders. "Did you get it?"

"Mm!" I cheerfully replied as I bit into the fruit. "Edgar, you grow the best apples!"

He rubbed the tip of his nose and grinned widely. He was so proud…

This was the last apple he gave me…

Currently

Health Room

With Elizabeth fast asleep behind a curtain, Azusa comes in. As expected, without her in class, he's managed to slice a part of his arm open once again.

"You simply cannot keep at this …" Dr. Reinhart spoke with fruition seeing the gash.

Azusa closed his eyes as he sat on the stool across from him, allowing him to properly fix the gauze and wrap. "I…had to know…"

The doctor paused a moment and then resumed as he explained, "Eve will not be able to decide until she's met Adam… You've heard this story many times. Surely by now, you must know."

Azusa remained silent.

Dr. Reinhart sighed, "When the first Eve had sinned she was reborn to be a human and sent to the home of the vampires where she would suffer to repent. In contrast, the Eve who had done no wrong chose to be reborn and was sent to live with humans. She was still a vampire, but she didn't know it herself." He gave a low chuckle. "It seems that in my care, she has retained and improved some of their characteristics. Being able to provide warmth, supplying blood with more potency than the average human, and moreover, she's able to grow in that span of time while keeping her memories as if they were dreams. I suppose that's also a con though… She has no clue, does she?"

Shaking his head, Azusa then stood up and headed towards the exit, "…Most likely…not…"

"Then it looks like I must continue to nourish her…" Dr. Reinhart opened up her file again, making notes of his observations.

A few hours Later

Hallway

Leaving the infirmary, I feel a lot worse than when I came in.

"You should take better care of yourself…" Ruki walked alongside Elizabeth in the hallway after retrieving the ill girl. He read his book as she spoke to him.

"I thought I was eating just fine…" Elizabeth was slow in her movements, but continued to follow him.

Noticing the decrease in her pace, Ruki came to an abrupt stop. Unaware, Elizabeth walked right into him.

"Pfft. If you're going to walk that slowly, I might as well carry you." Slipping the binding of his book between his lips, he leaned forward and motioned for her to get on his back.

She stared at him a moment, unsure if he was serious or not. He could just leave her here, but he doesn't seem like the type of person to just abandon her either when she's vulnerable. Deciding against her usual resistant self, she agreed – on one condition. "Let me pay you back. You always help me every time I get sick. I don't want to keep feeling like I owe you, so let me do something for you."

Removing the book from his mouth, he beckons her, "We don't have all night, let's go. I'll figure out a trade later." Replacing the book, he smiles softly as she climbs onto his back. She holds his book while her arms are draped over his shoulders. "Lizard, you probably should know, saying things like that to a vampire is pretty much suicide."

A melancholy smile draws itself upon her lips in response. "I don't think I'd mind it so much…" She lays her cheek against his shoulder.

With this sort of life, my light seems unattainable anyway…

After School

Mukami House

Without a word, Yuma was the first to split off from the group. He was still mad at me. I found the rest of the things I had left in his room now in front of Ruki's.

Even though I wasn't proud of going about things with Shu, the way I did, I was still content with knowing the answer. I sat on the floor, my back against Ruki's mattress with tears slowly forming in my ducts.

"Hmph. Does sleeping near me bother you that much? Or is it that you'd prefer if I were my brother instead?"

Ruki whom had been kind enough to help me into his room, was now picking at a freshly made wound.

"That's not it!" Times like this made me think of him as a nosy relative, prying for information.

"Then why are you crying?" He huffed loudly and closed his eyes as he laid peacefully on the bed. He knew the situation between Yuma and I, but I can't help but feel that these brothers think of it as entertainment. "It's just Yuma. Not that long ago, you two were perfect strangers."

"I…I just…I want to make things better. He's like my broth-", before I could finish, Ruki rolled over to his side to look at me as I spoke to him.

He poked me on the forehead, "I'm pretty sure he's my brother. If you're looking to replace yours, I'm almost certain that hearing you use him as a replacement will only anger him more."

I turned to him wiping the tears, but reaffirming my position. "I don't want to replace my brother! No one could ever replace him!" Out of anger, I balled my fists in my lap as I sat on my legs and clenched my eyes shut tightly. "Yuma's not a substitute for anyone... I just think of him as family…"

Completely ignoring me, Ruki had gotten off the bed and over to his dresser where he was about to change into his sleepwear. It only was for a second, but I could see the remains of scars down his back.

"Ruki…" I stopped myself, figuring that I may just ask a question that would be too personal. He turned to me, but I quickly responded. "Umm…Thanks for letting me sleep here."

I got onto the bed and faced away from him. My eyes were still open as I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Who could've done that to him?

I turned off the light on the nightstand and thought in the darkness.

I had no idea that Yuma heard and saw everything that night…

A/N: It may not make sense because the final was done in a hurry, but please tell me what you think and what you'd like to see. I'm in a bit of writer/artist block, so I'm not doing so hot at the moment in terms of ideas. I think I might just sort of force a meeting of the Sakamaki's and Mukami's, but I know for sure that Yui and Elizabeth can't switch places yet (SPOILERS). Also, I haven't played or read up on the games enough to be thorough with characters, so I'm getting Vandead Carnival for Christmas! Since next chapter won't go out until I'm confident that the next one will be more concrete in terms of characters, I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!~

*tokage = lizard

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