A/N: Happy Belated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year I hope you all had a marvelous time away from school, I just started going back again this week much to my dismay, what about you guys how's life been treatin' ya?

My sincerest apologies for not being able to update quicker but I'm really trying not to fall behind with work in school and over break my mom took time off so we could hang out so I didn't want her to see me on the computer all the time and think I was addicted or neglecting her.

I'm not done with this chapter so I gave you guys a sneak peak since I haven't posted anything in a long while.

I hope you enjoy it, I'll try to post the rest either later today or by Thursday-ish so be on the lookout :D

On with the story!

Chapter 7: Mother's Nonexistent Kisses

Ayato's POV

"Well then, name your three conditions Shu, I haven't got all day." Ayato sighed.

"You are in no position to rush me and what's the hurry are you that eager to see Yui otōto-chan*."

"Don't call me otōto-chan!" Ayato bellowed towards the nonchalant blonde relaxing on light blue sofa within his private sanctuary.

The blonde raised a flawless eyebrow in slight amusement, "Well I can tell you seem a bit tense, do you know what I do when I feel tense? I take a nice, long, soothing nap somewhere comfortable, in fact what's more comfortable than a music room?"

"I think I'm starting to get a bit sleepy—"

"No, wait don't go sleep!" The fiery haired vampire interrupted Shu's purposeful blabbering, "Just tell me what your conditions are, and I swear to you on my own honor and pride as a vampire to follow through with it." Ayato declared truthfully and without hesitation making Shu sit up abruptly.

The orangish haired blonde's sapphire orbs widened in slight surprise.

For Ayato to swear on his pride as vampire he must be really serious about Yui, but why a plain, idiotic mortal like her what's so special about her?

"Fine, my conditions are as follows, in mine and Subaru's presence don't refer to yourself as Ore-sama, but say it around Reiji as much as you want to," Shu smirked at the thought of seeing his pissed off brother's face, "In addition, I am allowed to call you whatever I want including but not limited to Ayano, Ayato-chan, otōto-chan, and baka-chan but you must always respond and address me as Shu-sama, Master, Milord, or Onii-chan ."

The red head rolled his eyes, "Tch, is that all?"

However, on the inside he was seething.

Damn, that diabolic mastermind, how am I to be taken seriously especially amongst Yui and the rest my idiot brothers if Shu gets to address me by those embarrassing nicknames and what if I still need to call him that in public as well, like when we're in school?!

Thank God I don't have any classes with him since he'd probably make me call him onii-chan, to think that I, the soon to be vampire king, would allow myself to be referred to as anything less than Ayato-sama or ouji-sama!

But I came to seek Shu's assistance with his knowledge of humans because I want to understand humans like Chichinashi better…I'm not quite sure why, but I do.

"Okay Shu what's your last condition, I want you to take up an instrument and I will teach you how to play it, as of now I can play every instrument apart from bagpipes so you can choose anything but that." The sleepy vampire explained flatly.

"I thought music was your thing why do you want me to play an instrument too?"

"Even while we were children I watched how you stared enviously at Laito as he played the piano accompanied by Kanato's lulling voice; you've secretly desired to learn how to do something that requires musical abilities but you had no one to teach you and Cordelia forbid you from wasting your time with something you haven't got the talent for—"

"Then what'd you care supposing that I 'haven't got that talent' to play an instrument." Ayato sharply retorted eyes shut as he grew defensive interrupting Shu as he spoke.

"Look Ayato, I don't believe that you're talentless believe me I can tell and I honestly believe all my brothers have what it takes to make something of themselves in the music scene or anything else, apart from Reiji he's the only talentless bastard that I've had the displeasure of meeting." Shu murmured the last part of his statement to himself bitterly.

Being vulnerable is something Ayato would never peg himself to be, he tries to be as tough and strong as the bravest of warriors; but sometimes he just wanted a bit of encouragement, someone to pick him up when he's feeling low, give him that extra push or comforting words when he needed it.

This was especially true when Ayato was a young boy…

Translations:

otōto-chan: younger brother

ouji-sama: Prince

Final Words:

Please Read & Review

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it :)

PS. What did you want for Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanza/[insert holiday here] and did you get it?

PPS. What do you think is gonna happen in this chapter? Thoughts? Predictions? What do you want to happen in this chapter? An Ayayui moment ;) ?

PPPS. Shout-outs will be posted when this is complete :)

-See ya soon! :P

...Actually let me rephrase that: type to you soon XD