Rebellious Night

~Chapter Two~

Table Manners


In most situations, there is a right thing and a wrong thing to do.

In the case of behaviour whilst at a dinner table with a bunch of vampires, I seem to be having extreme difficulty in differentiating between the two. But how am I supposed to act? It's not like there's a book for people like me, Dinner with Vampires for Dummies, or something. Do I eat as I normally do, or do I act all posh and reserved because these vampires are God knows how old? I have absolutely no idea what to do.

Heck, I didn't even know vampires ate normal food— well, human food.

So I have been sitting here these past five minutes, pushing the food around on my plate a little, and wondering what to do. Meria seemed to be having thoughts along the same lines as mine just a minute or so ago, but considering the fact that she's munching on a bun she just dipped into the soup we were served, I'm assuming her desire for food overcame her doubts and she just decided to throw caution to the wind, as per usual.

I love food just as much as Meria, so why am I having such difficulty?

My lips twist down a little. I'm hungry... but what if I do something wrong? But what if I'm worrying for nothing and I miss out on the food while it's hot? Food... or mental wellbeing? Full stomach or peace of mind?

... Frick it, I'm starved.

With that thought, I dig in—in a dignified manner, mind you—and enjoy the surprisingly good food that was prepared for us.

Neither Meria nor I even bother to try and strike up a conversation. We don't like these dolphin dongs anyway. I watch from the corner of my eye as Meria suddenly stops eating, a strange look coming over her face. I've seen her make that face before, and her expression only contorts like that for one reason and one reason only.

A hand comes up to cover my mouth as I finish chewing my food and swallow, and in an attempt to stifle and hold back my silent giggles. My eyes train onto my adoptive sister as I wait for what comes next.

Meria looks almost nauseous, mouth clamped firmly shut. She looks up quickly, to see if anyone sees how she's acting, before leaning forward on her elbow and bringing her hand to casually cover her mouth, as though she's simply resting her head in her palm. It becomes a little harder to contain my amusement as she twists her lips a little, and I see her moving something around in her mouth.

Oh Jesus, she's really trying not to do something she'll regret. It's hilarious.

I lift my fork and twist some spaghetti around it, glancing at my sister to see her progressively more nauseous face. The giggles bubbling to the surface are stifled with my mouthful of spaghetti, but I am unable to wipe the extremely bemused look off my face and so do my best by covering my mouth with my hand casually.

"You suddenly stopped eating, bitch-chan. You need to eat properly, or you could become anaemic." A voice comes from my left, between me and Meria. I almost snort at his words: they have yet to drink our blood, and we're not exactly gonna let it go down easily.

Then again, I probably shouldn't tempt fate.

Meria looks like she wants to say something, but refrains— and I know why. I watch as she struggles to hide her feeling of sickness and have to stifle my own amusement. This is too funny.

Laito, who is standing between me and Meria but leaning over her, tilts his head to the side. "What's wrong, having trouble eating? Would you like me to feed you—?"

"Laito." Reiji berates with a silent glare at the fedora-clad vampire. "It's bad manners to get to your feet during a meal."

Meria looks like she'd ask to excuse herself if she could, but as it is, with her mouth full of that gross substance, she can't. Hence the pleading looks she keeps sending my way, asking me to excuse her for her. I send her a smirk whilst trying to contain my silent laughter. Lol, nope.

"Yes, sir!" Laito replies smarmily, making his way back to his seat, but not before throwing over his shoulder, "We'll continue this later, bitch-chan."

I almost burst out laughing, Meria's fingers twitching in a telltale fashion that informs me of just how much she wants to stick him the finger right now. This is turning out better than I thought it would.

There is a sudden noise from across from me, and I look over to see Shu rising from his seat. A surprising feeling of slight disappointment fills my stomach, and I wonder at why the hell I'm feeling that as I watch him stand completely, eyes closed and a bored expression on his face.

"This is a pain." he mutters, almost to himself, before promptly but at a leisurely pace making his way out, the door clicking shut behind him and shutting us all in her with the tense, heavy atmosphere that he left behind.

"That deadbeat." Reiji mutters scornfully, adjusting the glasses perched on the bridge f his nose. "Nothing good can come of anyone who grows up spoiled rotten."

Despite the serious atmosphere, I have to try really hard not to let out my giggles. That is one of the most ironic and hypocritical things I have ever heard come out of someone's mouth.

I can see Meria giving Reiji a cynical look, with her mouth still clamped shut and her expression still contorted half into one of disgust. It's almost my undoing.

"Teddy, what would you like to eat next?" Kanato gently asks the stuffed toy in his arms, pretty much validating what Reiji said ten times over. It is a mutual thing as we all decide to disregard him, for the sake of our safety as well as sanity.

"My, Meria. Are you okay? You don't look so good." I finally ask with feigned concern, my amused, smug smirk showing through as I am unable to help but poke fun at her.

She whips her head around to level me with a glare that screams 'Traitor!', her eyes that of a wounded puppy.

"Let's have a banana snowball." Kanato says softly in the background, going on mostly disregarded. We all turn and look silently as he brings his fork down to stick into the treat, but the food breaks in half, too pliant to simply stay completely together. A disgruntled noise escapes his lips, his eyes narrowing in a childlike anger, as though he was about to cry out of frustration. He brings the fork back up, arm raised higher this time, and brings it down with much more force than before as he tries to impale the biscuits with the prongs of the fork. He misses, hitting the plate with a clang! A sort of deranged glint enters his eyes, as he brings the fork down again and again, faster and faster, sadistic giggles escaping his lips with each swing, causing the biscuits that were on it to fly off and onto the table.

Yep, this kid is nuts.

All of us turn back to what we were doing, which for me, was tormenting the poor caramel-haired girl next to me. I don't get to, however, as Reiji is still hung up on his 'deadbeat' of a brother.

"He won't even make the effort to attend our monthly dinner party." the violet haired vampire looked vexed as he muttered under his breath.

"That will be all for today." he dismisses everyone, making me almost pout. Aw, he let us go before I could tease Meria some more.

Subaru is the first to get up and leave, dropping his napkin onto the table and then striding out promptly. The other three are next to go, Laito, Ayato and Kanato, as they rise as well and leave just as quickly as their younger brother did, leaving Meria and me with the second eldest. Meria is covering her face with her hand, making me grin.

"Excuse us." I mutter as I rise and push my chair in, Meria doing the same. She has yet to get rid of the problem in her mouth.

We begin to walk away, when Reiji calls us back. "One moment."

A sinister chill travels up my spine, my brain bringing up every single warning he's given us at the threat of varying punishments. I swing around with a slightly wavering, forced grin but don't say anything. Meria tries to hide the fact she has something in her mouth. She's never going to pass it off; she's never quiet for this long usually so naturally they're going to find it suspicious.

"Your table manners are deplorable." he says whilst looking between us, though I have a feeling that his words are mainly directed at Meria. And then he levels me with a stern look and I immediately rethink. No, no, it's directed at both of us. Definitely both of us.

"One of these days I will take you aside and discipline you thoroughly." the inexorable quality of his tone holds dark promise, making my eyes widen as a feeling of ice sliding down my back invades my senses. Oh dear God. "Understood?"

Both Meria and I nod fervently, before hightailing it out of there at a high speed when he gives us a nod of dismissal. When we reach our room both of us are shivering with a passion.

"Sweet Jesus." I mutter, panting slightly as I close the door and lock it, despite the fact it probably wouldn't stand a chance if one of them really wanted to get in.

Meria gives me a nod like she agrees and is trying to say that she's feeling the same thing I'm feeling. Her silence reminds me of her little problem. "Go spit it out, you turd. Look at what you're eating next time, there was a reason I wasn't having any Creamy Beef and Mushroom Soup."

At that Meria shoots me a cross between a thankful look and a scowl, making me grin at her. "Go on, get lost, kid."

She sticks me the finger before making her way to the door.

"I'm going for a bath, by the way!" I tell her as she nears the exit. She waves a hand in acknowledgement before promptly leaving. Well, that was rude. I should sell her out to Reiji for that.

I stop what I am doing and a shiver ravages my body. Did I really just... joke about that? That's not even... that's not okay. There are some things even I should leave alone.

My fingers pull the familiar material of my pyjama shirt and pants out of the drawer, and I ponder all the different ways I can avoid Reiji completely in the next few days. Maybe he'll forget about his desire to correct us on our behavioural imperfections.

I stop myself on that thought. Yeahhh... that's not gonna happen.

I'm just reaching for undergarments as a voice suddenly pierces the air from behind me.

"What are you doing?"

I jump in fright, whirling around in a flash with wide eyes as my heart thumps a little faster than before. My alarmed eyes catch sight of Ayato sitting the wrong way on the chair belonging to the desk in this room, legs either side of the back of it.

"Wh-What are you doing here?" I demand, unable to completely keep the sass and irritation at being caught off guard out of my tone.

"I can go wherever I want to." Ayato thrusts his chin up with a sniff in an arrogant manner, gazing at me down his nose before returning the way he was before, resting his chin on his arms and tilting his head to the side a little. "Now let me suck your blood."

Well that escalated quickly. I send the vampire a stubborn scowl. "How about no. I'm going for a bath."

Quickly grabbing my undergarments and bundling my clothes together, I stride towards the door. Of course, I don't really expect to make it that far, but it's worth a try and it's better than just letting the stupid vampire get what he wants. If my blood is going to get sucked then the people who want it have to work hard for it.

As expected, I am jerked back as a grip appears on my wrist. Well, I at least thought I could get a few more feet in before I was held back.

"And where do you think you're going?" the rose-haired vampire pulls my arm back and to the side, making me spin around. I put my hands out so he doesn't get me too close. "Yours Truly is thirsty."

"Deal with it." I growl, trying to yank my hand out of his grip. Stupid super vampire strength. Both my hands are placed on his chest as I try and push him away, with very little success. He doesn't even so much as budge.

"If you bite me, I will acquaint your face with something very hard and solid." I snap testily, slight fear starting to form the beginning of a knot in my belly.

Ayato looks down at me with a sort of predatory look, one that makes my stomach drop. His emerald eyes fly over the entirety of my body. A self-satisfied grin stretches his lips and gives him a wicked look.

"You think you can stop me." he gives a dark chuckle. "That's adorable."

I go to protest, but he suddenly dives his head down to my collarbone before I can register it and plants his mouth on the skin that is exposed there by the low cut jumper that hangs off my shoulders. My eyes widen and I go to complain when a sharp pain registers in my brain.

"OW! Would you stop that!" I cry, trying to back out of his grip. At some point he had brought is other arm around to encircle my back, and he uses that to hold me to him as he sucks hard on my skin. Stupid jerk! Just wait until I get my hands on an anvil or something—!

"Get. OFF." I try and push him off at his shoulders, and yet he still doesn't move an inch. Is he even feeling how hard I'm pushing him? I'm not exactly holding back here, I mean, I'm in pain, and it hurts. Plus, the sound of him giving me a hickey is making my face flush in mortification.

Finally, he releases me, and looks down at his work with pride. "That pain you feel is my stamp mark." he says proudly. Then he looks up at my face, a slightly annoyed expression crossing his. "Be quiet." he says, as though he expects me to listen.

"Make me, jerk!" I struggle even more after saying that, after getting the vibe that I probably shouldn't have said it because it will probably tick him off.

Which it does, naturally.

He tightens his grip to a painful level when I continue to try and wiggle out of his hold, making me grit my teeth at the pain. His fingers are digging into my waist and it feels like he is about to crush my wrist.

"Don't move." he orders, despite probably knowing I won't listen. He moves to my other side on the collarbone, keeping me in place with the pain of his grip. It wouldn't matter so much if I wasn't so worried he'd shatter the bones in my wrist. Then, as though he gets an idea, he moves lower, to just above my breast. I'm so mortified I'd just about knock his head off if I could.

"I'll mark you down here, too."

He'll what?!

"Oh no you don—OW! You hoebag!" the groan of pain leaves my lips of its own accord. I try a different tactic this time, to interrupt his hickey process. I place my hands on his head, knotting my fingers what I hope is painfully in his hair, and then trying to push and pull his head away from my body. It still doesn't work, and I can feel him chuckling slightly against my already sensitive skin. He continues to mark my skin for as long as he did the last time, all the while resisting my avid attempts to get him off me.

Ayato pulls away suddenly as I hiss in pain once more. A sickeningly delighted smile twists his lips as he gazes at his work in self-satisfaction. He's still gripping me tightly so I can't deck him just yet, but when I get free—!

"I'll save the rest for after you bath. I wouldn't want to suck you now and have to deal with you fainting." he says, before leaning down to next to my face, his mouth by my ear, whilst I still take what he said before.

"And make it quick, because if you make me wait... you know what will happen." he murmurs, so close that his warm breath against my ear sends shivers down my spine.

And then he's gone, quicker than the coming and going of a sudden breeze. I only stand there a second in shock, before my brain jerks back into gear and my blood boils at what just happened. That God damn hoebag of a skanky little prick! Ugh! I can't believe I just let that happen.

Thoroughly contemplating homicide, I make my way to the bathroom just down the hall and pray that they'll all have enough decency to let me have this small amount of privacy.

Sometime later I'm in the lavishly spacious and luxurious bathroom, right in front of the mirror to check out the severity of the marks left on me. As soon as my eyes fall onto the blaringly bright marks I feel murderous. A severe string of curse words flows quietly but steadily from my mouth as I damn that stupid possessive little turd to hell and back just so I can do it again.

"Just wait until I see him next, I'll throw something heavy at him. Speaking of which, is there anything in here? He might catch me if I try and find something out there—"

My quiet ramblings are cut short as the sound of splashing water and my head whips to the side to catch someone in my bathwater who is most definitely not me. That's my water! There are tons of other bathrooms in this place! Why does it have to be the one with my already specially prepared bath?!

Upon further inspection I see that is in fact the eldest son that has occupied my beloved bath. Huh, he's lucky I'm still clothed, cause if he'd come in while I still wasn't then there'd be Hell to pay.

But still; that's my bath.

"Hey, I don't know if you're aware of this or anything, but most people like to take baths in solitude, by themselves, all alone." the words are out of my mouth in a Meria-like fashion before I can stop them. "So, what are you doing in here, Shu?"

His eyes are closed, and as usual there are earphones in his ears. He's in the water fully clothed, along with his music player, so I have no idea whether that thing even works anymore or whether he's got some voodoo magic on it so it's now fantastically waterproof.

"Keep it down." he says quietly but forcefully. "... Not so loud. I'm just having a bath, that's all."

Well, sorry, Mr. Sensitive Hearing.

"A bath with clothes on, nice. Must be real effective. Tell me when you get electrocuted by your music player so I can film it or something." I snort, my previous anger at Ayato dissipating a slight bit. "I'm sure it'd be interesting to watch a vampire get electrocuted."

He doesn't even open his eyes. "If you're so worried about me having a bath with clothes on, then undress me."

My eye... it twitched. I almost facepalm at his words. Stupid sexual vampires.

"No, thank you. I think I can do without that." I reply slightly sardonically.

"Well, didn't you come in here to see me naked?" he asks in the same low tone with the same uncaring expression on his face, his brilliant sapphire eyes closed still.

"Are you calling me a whore?" I ask flatly. "Because if you are, that's really not cool, and I'll have to make a re-evaluation on you. Your status will transgress from 'ambivalent jerk' to 'active jerk', and you don't want that."

I think I see his lips twitch a little, whether in annoyance or what, I really don't know. So I let out a huff.

"If you must know, I came in here for a bath, and I was here first." I huff indignantly, tossing my head into the air a little. I look to see Shu eyeing me with that captivating sapphire gaze of his.

"Want to join me?" he asks simply, and I honestly can't tell whether or not he's serious or joking.

"Not particularly, no." I respond ambivalently, raising my eyebrows as though to say 'oh well, what are ya gonna do?'.

A slight smirk tugs at the orange-haired vampire's lips. "You're blushing, you know."

Well now that he said it, of course I am. I scowl at him for drawing attention to the rising heat in my cheeks.

He moves his gaze lazily to the ceiling above him. "I feel so tired." he breathes, making me tilt my head a little in slight confusion. Vampires get tired?

I watch as his eyes flicker shut once more, and am almost amazed at the lack of advances coming my way whilst I'm in the same room as one of the bloodsuckers. For six brothers, they sure are all different.

"Considering you're all brothers and everything, I wonder why you're all so different..." I mutter to myself, for some reason half expecting Shu to be asleep or something.

"We all have different mothers." the low answer floats from Shu's mouth. I look up in slight surprise; I wasn't aware he was even listening to me.

"Oh?" I say, mildly surprised at what he said. Wow, is his dad some sort of vampire pimp or something?

"Reiji and I are from the same mother." he mutters. "And the Ayato, Kanato and Raito triplets are from another mother."

Triplets? My curiosity sparks to life at the new information. Sure, I thought Raito and Ayato looked extremely alike, but for them to be triplets along with Kanato... wow.

"I didn't know." I say quietly, my mind wandering severely. "And how about Subaru?"

"He's also from another mother. " Shu replies, slipping down a little further into the tub of water. My eyes narrow for a second. My tub of water.

About a second passes before he simply slides beneath the surface in a rush. I'm not really alarmed, I mean, don't you technically have to be alive for you to drown? I would've thought that was one of the base requirements.

Though, another second goes by and I begin to worry about the possibility that dead things can still drown. With a sigh, I reach beneath the water and grip his hand, yanking him above the surface of the water. His eyes widen as he breaks the surface, alarmed gaze landing on my hands griping his. He weighs more than he looks, I had to use two hands to pull him up.

His wide eyes glaze over as he simply stares at our connected hands, zoning out completely. I wouldn't have really care if his grip hadn't gradually tightened to the point of extreme pain.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, OW!" I cry out, unable to bear with it any longer. "Shu! Let go, you butt!"

He doesn't seem responsive, so I reach with my free hand and grip some of his hair in my fist. "SHU!"

He seems to jerk out of his trance, wide-eyed gaze flying up to meet with my determinedly ticked off, pain-filled one. Then the surprise evaporates like smoke, leaving his usual ambivalent stare in its place as he returns his gaze to our hands. He seems to be contemplating something, and I just begin to catch on when he yanks me forward hard, my mortal strength no match against him. With a small noise of surprise, I fall into the tub with him, my clothes and such getting drenched.

"What the hell was that for?!" I cry out in pure distress, reminding myself oddly of a cat whilst I scramble and try to get out of the water.

He grips my arm, however, and I still, the water eventually ceasing in its attempts to slosh over the edges. I look at him, trying to convey all my irritation and displeasure in one look.

"Let me drink your blood." he says all of a sudden, his sapphire gaze boring with full intensity into me.

I stutter a moment, before regaining composure. "What? No! What do you think I am, a blood bank?!"

"What, are you frightened?" he asks with the same uncaring expression as always.

I scowl at him. "Ha, you wish."

He doesn't say anything, but faster than my brain can register his hand flies to the back of my neck and he forces me closer to him that way. I try and push back against his hand but it's no use, I only end up hurting myself. He brings me a whole lot closer to his face, before threading his fingers into the hair at the back of my head and yanking down, baring my neck to him.

I glare at him as best as I can in this position, but he is too busy observing my neck.

"If you bite me I'll shank you." I threaten, fully intending to try. "I'll trash your music player, or something like that."

He simply ignores me, and my weak attempts at struggles go unnoticed. He has me in a pretty good position here, I can barely move without some part of my body hurting, I'd hate to admit it, but my chances of getting out of this are slim.

"It's very pale." Shu notes despondently, his gaze travelling up and down the column of my neck and the juncture where it meets my shoulder. Slowly his gaze travels lower and he catches sight of the marks left on me by Ayato. My face immediately flushes in embarrassment. I'm so going to get that jerk later.

My heart begins to race, thumping against my ribcage. A small knot of fear forms in my stomach as I fully realise there is no getting out of this— I'm going to be bitten and my blood is going to be drunk. And it's not even some sick dream.

With a slight irritation I realise that this means I will have gotten bitten before Meria, and she is a terrible winner. But then a sense of failure comes over me as I realise this means I am submitting myself and am backing down. I try and pull away once more but it's still no use. I really hate this feeling of not being able to do anything.

"Did Ayato do that?" Shu asks, almost to himself. "He's such a possessive freak."

I have the terrible feeling of time running out as his eyes begin to glaze and his gaze zeroes in on my neck. "I thought you were just a little bit different from them." I try in a last desperate attempt to save my bite-virginity.

Shu's sapphire eyes meet mine. "Make no mistake. I am a vampire." A slight, sardonic smirk lights his lips as he draws near to my neck until I can feel his cool breath against the sensitive skin. I fight a shiver, not willing to give in just yet. I go to move, to struggle, but Shu moves his other hand to my thigh and grips tightly while pulling my head and hair back to ensure my stillness.

"I will show you a whole new world." he murmurs against my neck before plunging his razor sharp fangs deep into the soft flesh. I almost cry out in pain, tears gathering of their own accord in my eyes. I bite my tongue to keep from making noise; I don't want to give him the satisfaction.

It's almost painful, the forceful tug of the blood leaving my body and entering his. It could never be pleasant; it hurts too much for that.

Eyes closed in a tight wince at the horrible sensation, I grit my teeth. My gut fills with disappointment, most of which at myself. I'm so sorry, Meria. I didn't fight enough. My eyes burn behind their lids from unshed tears at the utter frustration the situation is causing me. I could have resisted more; I could have put more effort into getting away. In the end, I still broke the promise I made with Meria to at least put up a good fight before getting blood sucked.

I'm so sorry, Meria.


So, what do you think? I'd really like to know~ If there's anything you want changed, or anything you'd like to happen, then feel free to request it! I'm open to ideas so please, lay them on me. But seriously, I'd die for a little feedback. But I really, really appreciate the favourites and follows, so thanks!

Pretty please review for the next chapter?