Chapter Four

Arashi and Kuma stayed with me when I left the pack and their family has taken over my guardianship. Their bloodlines are no longer pure but their unique lineage makes it possible for me to track my journey as I travel the world, waiting for five hundred years to pass. Kage, their many great granddaughter, just gave birth to a single pup, her first and last one. He's quite a howler and he holds a lot of his sire in him with his red coat and long limbs. I think . . . I'll call him Mamoru. My protector, my new friend.

-Kagome Higurashi

It was quiet in the Sakamaki manor. The scent of food filled the air and Kagome's stomach grumble loudly in protest, despite her mental stubbornness. Even Mamoru, who was laying comfortably on her new plush bed, had his nose in the air and his tail wagging as he enjoyed the aroma. Kagome would have laughed at the sight if she was not preoccupied with glaring at her new outfits, which were stored within her walk-in closet.

There was a variety of designs but they were all old-fashion or impractical. Half of the dresses seemed to be designed during the victorian age, with too much fluff and an uncomfortable corset. Others were from more recent times but the skirts were super short, the busts cut down too far or sections of it were transparent for some odd reason. With a groan, Kagome slammed the doors shut and stomped over to the dresser, hoping for a miracle.

Her dresser was mainly filled with undergarments, with designs that she would never wear. Push-up bras, lace bras and even bras that looked half formed. The underwear was no different, with most of it being lace, thongs or having a gap in the center. She blushed at the implication of the last one before slamming the drawers closed.

There was no way she was going to wear any of those. She would rather go to dinner in her thin nightgown. However, Reiji seemed dead serious about her dressing properly for dinner. Did she want to tempt the calm vampire's temper? In her experience, the stoic ones were usually the deadliest.

Mamoru's round ears perked up and a soft rumbled echoed through the room. Kagome's blue eyes flickered to him briefly, wondering what was bothering him, as she returned back to the closest to choose the least horrible outfit.

"I hate them all," she groaned out. She was flickering through the victorian gowns, since they covered the most skin.

Mamoru leaped up and with the help of his long legs, he gracefully jumped off the bed. "Mamoru?" Kagome questioned quietly but the mutt was on a mission. He raced by Kagome's side and leaped into the large walk-in closest. Kagome realized his intent a second too late.

Random colors of cloth flew around her in a frenzied windstorm. Kagome reached desperately for her dog but the canine was smart, evading her grip and targeting a new victim. He worked quickly, shredding through them like they were tissue paper. By the time Kagome wrapped her arms firmly around his thick neck, effectively stopping him, the damage was done.

Dresses, skirts and shirts on all design was laying on the floor in a heap of colorful scrap cloth. A few garment were less damaged but they were only hanging onto the hangers by a sleeve. Kagome could hear herself whimpering at the sight, torn between amusement and horror.

Mamoru barked happily, his tail whacking his mistress' side. Unlike her, he didn't see a problem with his actions. Kagome hated the clothes. Their bright colors bothered him too. So, he destroyed them. It solved all their problems.

Well, Kagome had considered going to dinner in her nightgown, mainly to piss off the other vampires, but it seemed she had no choice now. Kagome released Mamoru, believing he could do no more harm and he happily jumped into the pile of clothes he created, amusing himself by attacking the pieces like an energetic puppy.

'Maybe he's got too much energy stored up.'

Well, without any outfits, there wasn't much Kagome could do. She decided to leave Mamoru is his creative, messy pile and travel back to the dresser. Her nightgown was thin but it wasn't transparent, so she saw no reason why she couldn't change her underwear and put on a bra. It's not like they would know what she was wearing and she was starting to feel unclean after two days in the same underwear.

She stripped herself of her gown and underwear and quickly changed. She chose a light blue, matching lace pair that hugged her figure nicely. Mamoru emerged unseen from her closet and nosed the lower, open drawer that held the more exotic underwear. Just as Kagome was putting the nightgown back on, she heard a knock on her door.

"We're in trouble now," Kagome whispered to herself.

Mamoru barked loudly, but she couldn't tell if it was in agreement or not. His mischievous golden eyes were still looking over the open drawer. Kagome took a deep breath, focusing on her center and feeling the jewel within. The Shikon no Tama had gone quiet after she was returned to her room, feeling more like a cold dead stone inside her than the familiar, ball of energy. This worried her but it wasn't the first time the jewel had refused to cooperate with her. She walked to the door, grabbing her steak knife from her bed as she passed by.

"It is rude to make your guest linger in the doorway." Reiji's voice scolded from the other side of the closed door.

"Sorry," Kagome replied out of habit.

She opened the door just enough to lean her head out, still angling her body so it was hidden behind the wooden slab. Reiji stood in front of her, a perfect picture of gentlemanly manners. He was wearing the same black suit from before and his eyes wasted no time scanning what he could see of her.

"You're not dressed," he stated darkly.

'Was she acting that guilty?'

"It's not my fault," Kagome opened the door and tried to explain. The second the door was open wide enough though, a red blue raced by her. Mamoru pushed his way past Kagome and Reiji and took off down the hall, his claws scraping loudly against the floorboards.

"Traitor!" Kagome yelled angrily after him.

"I thought I stated that the beast was to go back outside." 'That's a clear warning in his tone.'

"He won't stay outside," Kagome growled back. "He is a guest in this home too." The miko thought that maybe using his own words would appeal to him more but her words had no effect on him.

"You are the guest. He is the beast that gokutsubushi brought into the house." Reiji's hands fisted by his side. "If I see it again, I will put it down."

'Note to self, Reiji really hates dogs. Mamoru destroying the closet is probably not going to help things.'

Reiji took a deep breath and buried his anger under a calm facade. "Why is it not your fault that you are not dressed?"

"Um . . . I have no clothes."

"Your closet has been filled with a new wardrobe."

"They are unwearable."

"Nonsense, you are being difficult." Kagome cried out when Reiji pushed passed her, sending her crashing to the floor before she could catch herself. Pain flared in her wrist as she landed awkwardly on it, the steak knife flying out of her loosened grasp to clatter noisily to the floor. Reiji didn't even pause, continuing to stroll across the room to her closet. Kagome did notice that Reiji manage to kick the fallen blade away from her until it slid under the bed.

Kagome winced as she pushed herself back to her feet. Her wrist was throbbing and she could hear Reiji scavenging through her closet, the noises getting more and more agitated.

Finally Reiji reemerged, surprisingly not stomping in anger like she expected but holding what looked like two pieces to a matching outfit. Kagome eyed them wearily, having seen the destruction of the closet herself. Where did he find those?

"Put this on and be quick." Reiji tossed the outfit at her, which she caught out of reflex. "Dinner is waiting."

"Eh?!"

It was tiny. Mamoru didn't destroy it probably because he couldn't reach it or he had overlooked it. It was a simple design, just a shirt and a skirt that faintly reminded her of her school outfit. It was mostly white, with patterns of green and black. Kagome spread out the shirt in front of her and felt certain of it. This was a very tiny school girl outfit.

"You want me to wear this?" Kagome asked incredulously.

"It is your negligence of the beast that has resulted in this. That is the only outfit left in the closet and therefore, the outfit you will wear." A gloved finger pushed his glasses back up. "Now strip."

Kagome now clutched the clothing close to her chest while glaring at the older vampire. "Turn around," she stiffly commanded.

"How am I to make sure you are presentable if I can not see you?"

. ~: . V . :~ .

It teased his inner predator to watched her. She was fiery, full of spirit that had yet to be tame but she was innocent too. A blush was painted over her cheeks as she was held the pitiful excuse of an outfit to her chest like a protective charm. Laito was somehow snuck in some of his own desired outfits into the closest when Reiji was unaware and it was unfortunate that it was the only thing the beast hadn't destroyed. Reiji could feel his annoyance growing with her quiet, defiant nature. A proper lady would have been dressed already and not wasting his time.

She was taking too long. Reiji positioned himself behind her, moving with a speed that she could not follow. His disappearance caused her to take a step back, bumping right into his chest. A sound of confusion came from her throat and her muscles tensed in preparation to move away.

Reiji reached out a hand and brushed the thin sleeves of her nightgown down, ignoring her sound of protest. Sometimes a stubborn hand was needed to train a proper pet. The miko had to learn to obey and not question. Because of her refusal to listen to the simple order he gave her, their arrival to dinner was going to be late and their food would be cool.

Kagome spun around, her every move accented with fury. "Stay away from me," she hissed out.

"Get dressed," Reiji calmly commanded.

"I will," her arms crossed themselves in front of her chest, amplifying the generous curves of her breast. "You just need to turn around."

Reiji raised a single eyebrow in incredulousness. "You were not worried about poise earlier. If must repeat myself you will receive a lashing."

A quiet squeak escaped her as she decided to race into the closet and slam the door shut before he acted on his threat. Reiji almost smirked at the sound of a lock engaging before he heard the sound of clothes rustling as she undressed. Reiji knew he was a patient master to allow such defiance from the miko. If he really wanted to, the door would stand no chance against him. He could easily break it down but a brutal show of strength was something his brothers would do, not him. Instead, Reiji would prefer to use the master key he had stored in his coat pocket.

"Reiji," her hesitant voice reached his ears. "I really don't want to wear this."

"You will not attend dinner in a nightgown." Did she not know the manners of a proper lady? Nightgowns were meant only to be worn, or torn off, in a bedroom. To prance around in it like she was doing earlier was disgraceful. Even the hentai outfit that Laito had snuck in would be better than that.

The door cracked open and a single blue eye peeked out. She was nervous. He could hear her heart beating fast underneath her skin, forcing her delectable blood to flow and a thin layer of sweat was forming between her brows. There was a scared, dark light in her eyes that made her look like a rabbit facing a wolf. How accurate.

Slowly, she let the door open more as she attempted to hide behind the cut of wood. For a moment, Reiji wondered how much purity she possessed. She simply possessed muscle and skin, nothing that another woman did not flaunt before him in the past. Was she nervous because of the exposing outfit or was it his presence? He purposely strolled forward, watching in satisfaction as the woman stubbornly stood her ground despite the sweet scent of nervousness that rolled off her.

"I really don-"

Reiji reached out and snagged her arm, forcefully pulling her from behind the door. He would not let her hide in the closet all night long. The time they were wasting was inexcusable. She would learn to obey him, faithfully and silently.

As her soft body slammed into his, he could hear her breath rushing out of her lungs in surprise. The feel of a soft, womanly body against him was not alien but it had been a long time since he had one pressed so intimately pressed against him. Yui had unique blood that they all craved but her body was slim and childlike. Outside of her blood, she had never interested Reiji.

This miko held more of his attention.

He leaned back a little bit so he could eye her outfit while running his gloved hand over her body in the guise of fixing her clothes. He trailed down her virgin neck, imagining the pleasure and the pain she would receive from his bite. He did not linger, moving down to tug on the generous gap that traveled down the center of her chest to make the gap smaller, hiding the blue lace underneath. The white shirt mocked him with its white innocence while it's green and black stitching amplified her breast, cupping them tightly in their hold. Her stomach was displayed between the midriff shirt and the tiny skirt that laid low of her hips, displaying a peek of her blue lace underwear.

Her fingers stretched out and traced some of the silver scars that littered her stomach. One in particular caught his attention as it was more jagged than the others and engulfed her whole hip, half of it hidden beneath the skirt.

Kagome stiffened in his arms once his fingers brushed the larger scar. Her eyes locked with his own and an impressive growl escaped her lips. Reiji almost expected her to display her teeth like the rabid animal she was acting like. She was a beast, unrefined and wild but all beasts could be trained. He should begin her lessons now before she had in her head that she could challenge him.

Instead he chose to pulled the skirt up so it covered the edge of the lace.

Consequently, this pulled up her skirt. The pleated skirt was mainly green with designs of black and white stitching near the hem. It was short, stopping somewhere between her hips and knees but not as indecent as most of the outfits Laito usually picked out. Either Laito had changed his taste to something more challenging, which was unlikely, or he underestimated how short Kagome was. Indeed, now that Reiji looked down at her, she barely came up to his own shoulders.

"It is preferable to the nightgown," Reiji stated.

"I will not wear this!" She protested shrilly.

A gloved hand wrapped itself around her vulnerable throat, stopping the shrill sounds that were escaping her. He felt her tense, the muscles of her throat tightening and her arms falling limp by her side. She didn't move, her gaze wandering off to the side to avoid eye contact with him. It was a strange reaction for a human, one that many didn't even adopt in this current age.

Reiji was a good master however, so he was familiar with all signs of submission, even those that the submissive didn't know she was displaying.

"We are wasting time. You can come peacefully to a dinner, which I have carefully prepared, or I can drag you by the throat to the dining room."

There was a moment of heavy silence. She was too stubborn to submit but Reiji refused to release his grip on her throat, keeping his dominant display. It appeared she was going to outlast him, refusing his order just to spite him when a loud growl erupted from between them.

A light pink blush painted her cheeks as her stomach voiced its displeasure. "I like meat," Kagome mumbled.

. ~: . V . :~ .

He was unpredictable. The way Reiji switched from calm elegance to a dominant predator confused her and left her unsure how to deal with his demeanor. After she had reluctantly agreed to dinner, the classical vampire reverted back to a butler-like attitude. He had taken her arm and tucked it into the crook of his arm and then escorted her to the dining room. The walk was silent, with Reiji not talking and Kagome was still unsure how to treat the vampire and so, she kept quiet.

However, when they entered the dining room, Kagome felt the grip on her elbow tightened and she knew he was displeased. Kagome casted her eyes around, trying to find the source of his anger but nothing seemed strange. There was a long table before them with four chairs on each side and a ninth chair at the head of the table. A wide variety of food was on display.

'Maybe he's upset because there's two different dish sets?' Kagome eyed two dinner sets that were matching while the other seven matched each other but were different from the original two.

Laito, Ayato and Kanato were seated on one side of the table while Shu and Subaru were seated across from them. Shu, who was seated at the end of the table, closest to the head chair, had a suspicious set of black rounded ears peeking up from his right side. Even more unusual, Laito was waving his fork towards Shu, displaying the bit of meat at the end and appearing to try and coax Mamoru towards him.

All eyes turned to them when Reiji and Kagome entered the dining room. Laito let his fork drop to his plate, his feline gaze unreadable. "Reiji, it was rude to not set us a seat," Kanato spoke for everyone.

Kagome winced as Reiji's grip tightened even more. "It is also rude to show up when you were not invited."

Calmly, Reiji escorted Kagome to the two empty seats between Shu and Subaru. Kagome moved to take the seat next to Shu in an attempt to keep Reiji was noticing Mamoru hiding next to the eldest son. Reiji sat besides her, his gloved hand still resting on her elbow as his gaze swept over his siblings. Kagome could taste the tension in the air.

The triplets reached for the surrounding food at the same time, uncaring to the glare that Reiji was trying to burn them with. The dinner room was suddenly filled with the sound of talking, dishes exchanging hands and the noisy chewing of food being devoured, all of it mostly done by the triplets. Kagome couldn't help but to smile at the familiar sound.

She patiently waited her turn but the food did not come near her. Shu was dozing, so nobody handed him the food dishes and Reiji had yet to grab any of the other dishes, his glare intensifying when someone attempted to hand him a dish. He seemed very unhappy with the situation.

"Hato, are you hungry?" Bright green eyes were pinned on her. "If so, just take some."

Permission granted, Kagome reached forward to grab a large bowl. Inside was a fancy form of pasta which smelled divine. She eagerly scooped some out to noodles and laid it on her plate. She took a quick bite and then reached for a roll of bread, humming her appreciate for the flavor.

It wasn't until she was halfway done with her first savory plate that she remember where she was. She glanced up from her plate to see six pairs of eyes watching, seemingly unsure what to say or do. Self-consciously Kagome raised her napkin to wipe off some sauce she felt on her cheek.

"You have unsightly manners."

Kagome raised an eyebrow in disbelief. This was coming from the vampire who threw her to the floor, made her wear a provocation outfit to dinner and refused to pass the dinner dishes like a proper gentleman. It seemed very hypocritical of him to judge her.

Her look of disbelief must have been amusing because Kanato started to giggle to himself.

"Really? You are going to judge me when yo-"

"I see you like the clothes I have designed." Laito was quick to interrupt her.

"I do not," Kagome's temper was quick to turn to the perverted triplet. "I wouldn't be wearing it if it wasn't for him," Kagome jabbed her fork in Reiji's direction.

Reiji was quick to grab the offending wrist and slam it down onto the table. Kagome cried out simultaneously with the loud clash of surrounding tableware. Chairs were thrown to the floor as Subaru and Ayato jumped to their feet. Even through the pristine gloves, Kagome could feel Reiji's fingers digging deep into the soft underside of her wrist, sending shots of pain through her whole arm.

"There is a nerve that runs through here," Kagome cried out as he dug his fingers even deeper, just on the verge of tearing her skin. "If I damage it, you will experience weakness in your forearm along with being unable to move your thumb, index and middle finger. Your hand could possibly be stuck with the same shape as a ape, so your appearance will reflect the uncultured beast inside."

"Reiji, let her go," Subaru growled out.

"Do remember your manners next time."

The miko whimpered as she yanked her hand back, leaving her fork behind in her hurry. Tingles raced through her arm as blood circulation resumed and Kagome tensed when she saw the younger four brothers eying her wrist. She cradled it to her chest and tried to search for the familiar warmth of the jewel activating to her pain but there was none.

Laito leaned forward and placed his chin the palm of his hand. He wasn't quite smiling, the miko would call it more of a smirk, but both fangs were displayed. "And what about the lace?"

There was a horrifying, quiet moment that Kagome looked down at herself, expecting to see the edge of her bra on display or the edge of her panties. However, everything was still covered, making her undergarment invisible. Ayato started laughing at her reaction, his own hand slamming down on the tabletop. Kagome looked up just in time to see Laito holding back his own giggles to continuing what he was saying.

"If I had known the dog would bring such gifts, I would have made friends with him before Shu."

She was confused. She turned to look at Shu, who would appear to be sleeping if not for his hand rubbing one of Mamoru's visible ear. Mamoru had moved his large head so it laid in Shu's lap, his chin hiding something underneath. Kagome's horrified gasp was amplified in the suddenly quiet room as she reached a hand out to grab the red lace underwear that Mamoru was hiding.

Before she could make contact with the mutt, Shu moved his arm to reach for the glass by his still empty plate. The maneuver was enough to freeze Kagome, unprepared for the movement but his extended left arm also served the purpose of blocking her path to Mamoru.

A pair of playful golden eye teased her from the safe presence of the eldest vampire. Kagome bared her teeth at him, communicating silently with the wolf hybrid that he was in trouble. 'How dare he take something like that and give it to one of my captors?'

Mamoru gave a cheeky grin and Kagome could hear his tail thumping on the floor. His ancestors had been mischievous too but Mamoru seem determined to set a new record. Shu, still feigning sleep, looked too pleased with himself too and Kagome noticed how his long pinky seemed to caress the material. 'They're all perverts.'

"Your heartbeat is loud," Shu complained as he brought the glass of red wine to his lips.

"I am human," the miko stated rudely.

Kanato slammed his fork into the table with enough force to dig it deep into the wood. His head was tilted forward so his purple locks covered one crazed eye and a twisted grin was stretched across his lips. He appeared amused but the dark look in his eyes turned his appearance into a manic expression.

"Kanato," Reiji's glove tightened around his own fork though Kagome was unsure if he was upset at the triplet's outburst or the improper use of a fork.

"Sorry," Kanato growled out, "but I hate liars. Humans can't hurt vampires or heal themselves."

Kagome stiffened at Kanato's casual mentioning of her healing. Reiji and Subaru were now eying her, their gaze lingering on her previously bruised throat and even Shu had opened an eye to look at her. Reiji looked away first, exhaling through his nose and bringing both of his gloved hands to rest in his lap.

"The light she wields was previously known as reiki and is said to be a healing energy that comes from one's life force energy. I can not find any records of it being an offensive attack like she has displayed but it would explain the healing capability you were shown." Kagome found it strange that Reiji did not question the triplet but took Kanato's word on the event. The young miko also did not like how much knowledge he had gained within a night.

Shu now had both eyes open and was gazing at her curiously. "Only one female species could wield reiki successfully."

Kagome yelped as she felt a presence behind her. She tried to jump up, her instincts demanding she fight or flight but she only managed to stand up from her chair before she was attacked. Ayato was quick to lean over her and slam both of her wrists to the table, keeping her immobile between an unmovable vampire and the table. He rested his chin on her right shoulder, his breath sending shivers down her spine as it washed over her ear and she was hyperaware of his whole body draped over her own. Kagome could feel his excitement racing through his body but she was unsure what kind of 'excitement' he was feeling.

A single fang nipped at her earlobe. "Miko."

She had everyone's attention now. While the others may not have understood at first what the two eldest were hinting at, once Ayato had voiced it, they all understood. It was like she had just turned into the greatest prize for all of them. Even Subaru, who was the most distant of the brothers was leaning forward in his seat towards her.

"And I thought he had hunted them all down." Laito mused to himself. "It's only fitting his sons get the last one."

"She's going to make the prettiest doll out of my collection."

"Aren't mikos suppose to be virgins? That means she's untouched and pure."

There was a distant hum from Shu, who voiced his opinion in his own way.

"That's explains her blood."

"For a pure being her behavior is crude."

"Yours Truly wants a bite." Once again she felt the sharp point of fangs lingering on her neck.

Kagome started to panic when she realized the Shikon no Tama was not activating. There was no familiar ball of warmth or electric sparks racing in her veins. Instead it chose to be dead and silent, leaving her to the mercy of the vampires.

Stop!" Kagome jerked her body to the side, away from the sharp points. "Enough!" She protested when he pursued her.

The room exploded with movement. Laito reached across the table to grab one of her restraint wrist and pull her forward so he could press his lips to the soft skin underneath. Kagome, who was previously bent over the table was now laying across it. She could feel the sharp edges of the dishes digging into her exposed skin and pressing against her clothes. Mamoru yelped as Shu grabbed his scruff, keeping the mutt in place and from defending Kagome.

"I just want a closer look," Kanato protested.

Kagome struggled as much as she could against the two vampires. In the back of the room she could catch glimpses of Subaru, who had a grip of Kanato and was keeping him away from the table. She thrashed around desperately but the two red haired triplets fearlessly pressed on. Her hands scrambled across the table, rattling dishes as she tried to find something to fight with. The jagged edges of a steak knife pressed against her palm and she grabbed it firmly, ignoring the way the blade seamlessly cut her flesh.

At the same time she felt a bare hand stroke the flesh of her side. Goosebumps traitorously trailed after the strange touch, sending the tiniest jolt of pleasure through her while her pained hand seem to ravage her mind. She could feel Ayato's chest rumbling, sensing her own conflicting emotions.

. ~: . V . :~ .

It was rapidly falling out of control. His brothers were determined to feed tonight and from the amount of agitation they had been displaying, they needed to feed and soon. Kagome was the new sacrificial bride, therefore that job fell on her. As long as they did not provide permanent damage to her or kill her, none of the brothers had the right to interrupt a feeding session.

To even attempt to separate a vampire from a bride he was feeding on was dangerous and lead to unnecessary, painful fights.

None of them were prepared for the scent of her blood and the tiniest, barest whiff of arousal. It was dark, heady, pleasant and exhilarating. Subaru had his hand wrapped around Kanato's arm, keeping the most unstable of the vampires away from the struggle going on at the table. It would not be the first time Kanato had accidentally killed a bride during a struggle and Subaru did not want to take that risk with their newest bride.

However, there was no stopping Kanato once the scent of her blood and arousal filled the room. The youngest appearing brother ripped himself free of the actual youngest's grip and darted forward. Subaru knew he should pursue him but his feet could not move. Her scent had him stuck in place, hypnotizing him like a cobra's dance.

There was no electricity in the air or strange pink light at her fingertips. She was mortal for the second, as plain as the dozens of brides before her with her future looking the same. Only Reiji and Shu had the hereditary stance to stop the triplets but neither of them seemed inclined to help their new bride.

Subaru didn't care for the girl but she did intrigue him. Her broken cries had first drawn him to her, reminding him of only woman he had failed to protect. He didn't know why this woman was different and honestly, he didn't care to analyze it. It was very rare for him to want a bride and this was one bride he was determine to not lose to his older brothers.

The only way to save his potential bride was to entice Reiji or Shu into action. They were the only ones that the triplets would, reluctantly, listen too. So Subaru did the only thing he could think of.

The sound of a crystal glass smashing into a far wall was unbearably loud.

Everyone froze in fear and five pairs of eyes shifted to Reiji. The bespectacled brother was eying the large crimson spot that stained the far wall and the pieces of shattered glass that littered the carpet below it. Subaru's hand dripped some of the precious liquid, evidence of his guilt and he knew was going to pay for that later. Despite appearances, the red liquid in the glass was not red wine but fresh blood and blood stained deeper than wine. All of his brothers seemed stunned that Subaru would pull such a desperate measure.

"Why have you destroy a crystal wine glass?" Reiji's voice was calm. 'Too calm.'

Subaru stubbornly stayed quiet, knowing he would be unable to defend himself. Kagome was still pinned to the table, tears leaking from large blue eyes. She was looking at him like he was her own hero. 'What an idiot.'

"Do you have no defense for your actions?"

Silence.

"Ne, Subaru. Were you jealous that you weren't going to get a bite?" Laito peeked up from under his fedora with an enticing smile. "I'm willing to share."

Subaru made a noise of disgust. "Hentai," he growled out. It truly disgust him how much Laito whored himself out and how he was always willing to share his prey. It was no secret that he and Ayato shared everything but Subaru was not going to share with him. His inner predator did not trust his brother and his morals were disgusted at the mere thought.

"She's really sweet," Kanato murmured to himself.

"I think dinner is finished," Reiji calmly pushed himself to his feet. Immediately the triplets released their grip on their prey. Kagome let out a single sob and pushed herself up. While the triplets gave Reiji room, their survival instincts sensing the suppressed anger beneath, Kagome met his anger with her own temper. They all watched in amazement as Kagome twirled on her heel and swung out her hand.

Smack! A bright red mark marred Reiji's cheek as her hand connected with more strength than they expected.

"How fucking dare you pretend to be a gentleman but not move to stop that," she spat out.

"Feisty," Ayato purred.

A fierce growl came from their youngest appearing brother. Kanato flashed his fangs at Ayato, staking an unmistakable claim. It was not uncommon for Kanato to claim a bride, he did have a vast collection underground, but the intensity of the claim surprised most of the brothers. This night was just one unpleasant astonishment after another.

"The dining room is not an acceptable place for drama." Subaru tensed at the tone of his voice and the way Reiji's eyes flickered to him with promise of punishment.

"What the hell do you call that, then?" Kagome gestured to the surrounding brothers. "Or am I part of the main course now?"

"You do not understand your place. I did not think I would have to explain it to you but I am clearly mistaken. If any of us want you on the dinner table as a main course, you, as our walking blood bag, have no right to fight us."

The room fell quiet as they watched a furious, scared miko face off against a dangerous predator. The excitement and tense atmosphere was wrecking havoc on their nerves. Faint hisses could be heard and everyone was tense, though it was unsure if they were going to tear her apart or each other. The only one who seemed not to care was Shu but the eldest son was still holding tightly to the mutt's scruff, keeping the dog in place. In his own uncaring way, he was adding to the atmosphere.

Unexpectedly, the miko started to chuckle. The vampires watched as her attitude changed, becoming less tense and more seductive. She drifted forward, each step precisely measured to catch their attention. The smile was playful, the glow in her eyes was dark and her stance screamed for submission. She moved until she was nearly chest-to-chest with Reiji and glared at the taller male.

"Do you think you're the first who think they can dominate me?" She was whispering but her eyes flickered around the room, knowing that the others could hear her. "I have walked this land far longer than you have and no one has gained my submission yet."

There was a muffled bark of agreement.

Ayato sensed it seconds before the rest of them. He leaped to his feet, words of warning on the tip of his tongue but they never made it past his lips. There was a large flash of pink, and her mysterious reiki rushed forward like a broken dam, filling the room endlessly.

Hisses, roars, moans and more tableware breaking filled the room.

The agony was unlike anything Subaru had experienced before. Even the injury he had received on her first night in the house felt like a small shock compared to this. Reiji had said that reiki comes from her life energy and in this attack, Subaru could feel the emotions of her energy.

Frustration was the strongest. Sadness. Despair. Resistance. Anger. The small purple streaks carried the strongest of the dark emotions. The attack felt like it lasted for hours, tearing apart his insides and ravaging Subaru's mind. In reality, it only lasted a few seconds before it died down.

Sometime during the attack, Subaru ended up on the floor but after glancing around, he found that he wasn't the only one. Only Reiji and Ayato were still standing tall, though they were panting heavily. Ayato had somehow moved himself so he was behind Kagome, his hands gripping both of her hips painfully, tugging her back until she was flush against him. Reiji had his gloved hand around her throat, mercilessly cutting off the miko's air supply. She thrashed uselessly around, trying to get air into her lungs.

"You need a lashing," Reiji growled out.

"You will not mar my doll," Kanato appeared behind Reiji.

"Yours Truly will punish her as needed. She's my food source."

"Even though you have not yet tasted her?" Kanato snapped back.

Neither of the arguing trio seemed to notice that Kagome had finally fainted. She was hanging limp from Reiji's hand, like a marionette with its strings cut. The situation was rapidly getting out of control, again. Everyone knew that Reiji was not one to be messed with. They all knew the pain of his punishments and the signs that lead to him losing his temper.

He had a rigid posture paired with the muscles of his jaw tensing. His free hand was staying near his lower jacket pocket, where he always kept his riding crop. He was looking down at everyone too, not bothering to adjust his glasses when they slid down an inch. The signs were small but they were there. Many of the brides had succumbed to their deaths because of Reiji's punishments.

"She hasn't chosen any of us," Shu's tired voice attracted all of their attention. "By law, none of us have the right to punish her yet. It is as she said, she has not submitted."

"We don't have the right to kill her is that man's rules," Laito corrected.

There was a moment of silence. Subaru knew that Shu was aware of the difference and he had worded his sentence that way purposely. Loss of control was unacceptable to the sons of 'that man'. He was not afraid to punish them, again, if they broke that one simple rule, even if it was accidentally.

Slowly, Reiji loosened his fingers and Kagome's limp body slumped further back into Ayato's chest. The silence was louder than any of the disturbances they had been subjected to today. Reiji turned his icy crimson gaze to the fainted woman.

"She will need stricter discipline. Tomorrow she will be moved to my room."

"Like hell." Ayato moved her limp body so his arm was across her back and under her legs. "You'll break her." With a small heave, he was now carrying their bride, bridal style.

"If that is what is required."

"If you break toys you can't have fun with them anymore." Kanato protested.

"Hato will stay with me if she needs a new room." Laito moved to stand by Ayato. His predatory gaze was lingering on her breasts. "I can keep her busy."

Subaru could feel himself losing his temper. They were all ready to claim her but obviously, she belonged to him. It was her screams that caught his attention. He was the one to carry her into the manor and she had claimed himself herself when she had drawn his blood with the knife. By vampiric laws, they were the tightest bonded pair in the manor and they all knew that. The others were just choosing to ignore this rule.

"Physical pain will not break her." Subaru knew he needed to keep Kagome away from Reiji and Kanato. Those two were responsible for most of their sacrificial brides' deaths. His eyes were lingering on the scars that her outfit displayed and the others followed his gaze. "She is not like the other brides."

"Tsh. We knew that already." Ayato's grip tightened around Kagome, causing her to whimper even though she was still unconscious.

"What are we going to do about school?" Kanato's attention was now focused on picking at the tabletop clothe. "We can't leave her alone but she'll try and play another unfair game with us if we take her to school."

"I don't have her transfer records," Shu spoke up. "There is a problem with her medical records."

Reiji glanced at the eldest brother, his scowl demanding explanation.

Shu didn't bother to answer. They could hear his music from his headphones, the eerie tone reflecting their current moods. Subaru had to resist the urge to yank the headphones out so Shu would pay attention to them. He had made that mistake once when they were much younger and he still experienced ghost pains in his shoulder from it.

"What is wrong with her?" Kanato demanded loudly.

"Physically, there is nothing wrong with her," Shu finally explained. "Her records indicate several serious illnesses though and some fictional diseases. There is an investigation currently."

Subaru watched as Reiji incredibly stiffened even more. The youngest didn't blame him. After all, an investigation complicated things, especially if they were going to be searching for their new bride. If she proved too problematic, they would be forced to eliminate the problem.

"We can stage her disappearance," Subaru suggested.

It wasn't a wild idea but everyone's eyes widened slightly at the suggestion. No, it wasn't the most unthinkable solution but it was a new idea for them. The Sakamaki brothers had never staged a disappearance before. The church normally took care of those details and when they hunted, they didn't care what happened to the corpses after they were found. To make a person disappear from all records would be difficult, but not impossible.

"That sounds like the start of a bad story," Ayato griped.

There were hums of agreement from his full-blooded brothers.

"You're being so noisy," complained Shu. He looked like he wanted to leave but the eldest brother was still holding Mamoru down and the dog looked ready to murder them all when he was finally released. "Can we leave yet?"

"Dinner is ruined so you are all dismissed. The miko will be restricted to her room until tomorrow night."

. ~: . V . :~ .

It was amusing how they fought each other just to touch her. Despite being dismissed, it took several more minutes for the brothers to even leave the dining room. They wanted to be the ones to take her back to her room. Somehow the unconscious miko exchanged hands several times and yet, she ended up in Kanato's arms. His grip on her was far too tight, the others could see bruises forming on her arms from his unyielding hold but the sight only pleased him more.

To everyone's surprise, Shu did not follow Kanato to deposit the mutt in her room but chose to stay behind with Reiji.

Once Kanato had left the dining room, with his triplets trailing behind him possessively, Mamoru had settled down. His aggressive stance had loosened and he seemed comfortable despite Shu's oppressive grip on his scruff. Reiji growled with displeasure when Shu finally did leave the dining room, passing by his younger brother on the way out, with the mutt trailing loyally behind the eldest.

They all retired to their individual rooms. With sunrise close, their nocturnal nature pulled at their minds to sleep. The house fell into a grim silence as its occupants prepared to slumber.

As dawn bathed its glow over the sky, the light chasing away the night and stars, the first scream shattered the air.

. ~: . V . :~ .

They were watching her, judging her for her weakness. She tried to escape them but the bodies continued to grow. A monk, who died of a broken heart because of her failure. A demon slayer, who died innocently in childbirth because she was naive. A hanyou and kitsune, both of whom died to defend her though at different times in her past. For once, she could see them clearly, broken and bloodied around her. Beautiful golden eyes which were glazed over in death. A fox with limbs torn apart. A mother and child, both still holding each other even in death. A monk with ink staining his palms, the eldest and the one who went the most peacefully.

She knew them but not their names or history. Those memories were long gone, one of the first to be destroyed because of her immortality.

She fearlessly reached out and brushed her palm against one of the bloody tails of the kitsune. Her palm was stained crimson when she pulled away, wet with the life of those who had long ago died. Her heart ached at the sight.

"I'm sorry." 'I'm sorry for forgetting. Was it my fault? Do you blame me?'

The bodies changed, becoming a pack of ookamis. Some of them slain on the floor while the survivors were judging her, shouting at her for the havoc she caused. It was her fault that their alpha was dead. It was her fault their species was dying. She was a target, a danger to them all.

She raced away from them, some of the more vicious ones snapping at her heels. By her side, the two wolves who use to belong to the alpha, now followed the last treasure their leader had. Her two new companions tried to fend the pack off but two wolves were a pitiful force against them. Their dying cries taunted her as the pack pounced on her. Teeth. Blood. Claws. Blood. Skin ripping. Screams echoing. Blood dripping. Agony all around.

'This is wrong! This isn't how it happened!'

A strong, inhumane grip suddenly wrapped around her throat. The spider's laughter increased as she struggled to breath. She needed air but her capture refused to give it to her. She thrashed helplessly around in Naraku's grip, his maroon colored eyes watching her struggle.

"If not me then someone else will come for you. The jewel requires two sides." His fingers loosened just enough for the wounded miko to gasp desperately. Air quickly entered her lungs but she soon found it cut off as the spider hanyou forced a kiss on her.

"Fuck, she's not breathing!"

His lips slammed down on her own, all obsession and no love. His lips forcefully pried hers apart and his tongue thrusted into her mouth. It explored, concurred and dominated her oral cavity, giving her no chance to fight back. The miko struggled to breath past the dark kiss but he wouldn't relent, stealing her breath before it could help her.

"I love that breathless look on her face."

"Wake her up!"

She could feel her heart stuttering, struggling to beat each time. Kagome knew it should be painful, she was dying, but she felt no pain or fear. Only emptiness. She knew she couldn't die. She was immortal, the useless fucking jewel made sure of that. Very little could kill her, she knows as almost everything imaginable had been inflicted on her at one point or another. Naraku faded away as her heart struggled to beat but the the world around her was now pitch black and no less suffocating.

The black air was clogging her throat, lungs and nose. It was like a living thing, curling and withering inside her. Was it caressing her insides? Molesting the organs it could touch? It didn't feel like there was a difference to her. She just wanted to breath! Again, she desperately tried to breath past the unseen blockage.

"Don't ignored Yours Truly!"

Someone was touching her. It was skin, not fur, and that terrified her more than being unable to breath. She cried out and struggled to move away but more hands appeared. One? Four? Six? Why did they keep multiplying? They were pinning her down, keeping her from fighting back. There was a weight constantly pounding on her chest, forcing her heart to beat whenever it faltered.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" The pounding on her chest faltered slightly.

"Changing the dream."

Suddenly her darkness had an invisible form. Naraku was gone but she could once again feel the touch of an embrace. At his unseeable touch, the mass of darkness in her throat thinned out. She was left alone in the darkness with only her phantom guest who knew no personal boundaries. Hands were caressing her side, lingering near her ribs before traveling upwards and stopping at the curve of her lower breasts. Kagome arched into the touch, a noise of confusion coming from her lips.

Her nightmares had never changed so rapidly before. Indeed, she never even had dreams like this before. She was careful to stay away from potential lovers seeing as she would outlive them and she couldn't bring herself to just sleep around with random strangers. Since her dreams were typically memories, and she knew she didn't have a memory like this, she had to wonder why she was suddenly dreaming like this? And why did she grow excited when the phantom's fingers grew bolder, stretching as far as they could until he was gently holding her breasts.

Several loud growls echoed through her dream.

Lips pressed against her own but unlike Naraku, this kiss was gentle, almost lazy in nature. Her phantom lover didn't press against her or demand submission. Instead his cold lips simply rested on her own, breathing against her. Unconsciously, Kagome felt herself mimicking his breathing, still hyperaware of the hands on her breasts and the fingers stroking her skin. She breathed in, when he breathed out. Out, when he breathed in. For a few seconds, they were one being, sharing one breath and the panic she was feeling earlier subsided with each exhale and each caress. Instead, desire began to take the place of her fear. Why wasn't he kissing her more deeply? This was her dream and she wanted him to kiss her instead of leaving her on edge like this.

"Hato is so responsive in her sleep."

His fingers twitched, flicking the tip of her nipples. When had her dream stripped her of her clothes? Another twitch, another jolt of pleasure and a moan slipped from her lips. Kagome never knew she was so sensitive. Maybe it was the years of self isolation?

At the sound of her moan, the touches stopped. The strange lips pulled back, leaving her to breath on her own. In, out. In, out. His left hand gently trailed down, over her chest, down her ribs and pausing slightly to stoke her hip. Kagome knew where it was heading next and she could feel herself becoming excited, wanting to feel his touch between her legs. Before he could make contact however, both of his hands were viciously ripped away and the touch of her invisible guest's hands was gone. She tried to move after him and she was then reminded of the other hands anchoring her wrist and ankles in place.

Wait, was she standing up or laying down? It was hard to tell surrounded by only mist and darkness. Alone, she no longer liked this dream. She struggled against her bonds, a low growl of warning escaping her. She wanted free of this dream, now.

Reality came crashing down around her as her eyes opened. She took one glance around to see six different people in her room. Six males. Six male vampires, four of which were holding her down while a fifth was sprawling by her side. It was obvious he had been pushed aside by one of the others. His sleepy cobalt eyes stared up at her, his face slack and unreadable. It was simply instincts that her powers flared to life.

The five vampires disappeared from her bedside, only to reappear by Reiji, who was at the back of her room, close to the door and out of range of her powers. Her mind was still muddled, stuck somewhere between dreams and reality. In her sleep addled mind, acceptance was the easiest thing to do until she could sort through everything later.

There were six vampires in her room. Accepted.

Mamoru was not in her room. Rare but not unheard of. Accepted

She was still sleepy and wanted to go back to her dream. Accepted.

The second half of her dream was extremely pleasurable and she wanted to return to it. Accepted.

"Get out," she hissed out.

Ayato looked ready to protest but when he opened his mouth, he quickly snapped it shut. The six vampires were breathing deeply, their fangs slightly bared and all of their pupils were dilated. None of them seem inclined to listen to her.

"I said, get out." Reiki snapped out, literally adding power to her words.

They didn't retreat, keeping out of range and looking conflicted. When Kagome's powers died down, Kanato and Laito even took a daring step forward. Ayato reached out to grip Laito, halting his advances while Subaru grabbed Kanato's arm, pulling the lolita looking boy to a harsh stop.

Reiji's heavy aura seeped into the air, weighing down on those around him. Kagome shivered at the feel of it but honestly, she didn't care. "Perhaps there is a concoction that I can brew for your nightmares." Reiji's garnet gaze swept over his brothers and the next second, the other five were gone.

"There is no need," Kagome brushed off his words by wrapping the thick blanket around her and snuggling deeper into her mattress. "Now go away." She just wanted to go back to sleep.

Kagome could hear the distinct sound of a glove creaking as a hand clenched together. "You were not breathing," he stated simply.

"I can not die," Kagome's fuzzy brain stated the words before she could consider them. 'Shit.' She never consider how they would react to her being immortal. 'Did vampires even age?'

Silence was the only answer she received. Frighteningly curious on how the prestige vampire took the news, Kagome found herself lifting her head up so she could glance over her shoulder towards him. However, Reiji was gone, leaving an empty room in his wake. A second later, an lock engaged from the other side of the room, trapping her within.

Kagome gave a long, drawn-out groan and buried her head into one of the nearby fluffy pillows. To be honest, she wasn't completely sure that she was even awake right now and this wasn't some, twisted extension of her previous dream. If it was, it was a disappointed. If not, she was going to raise hell over that lock . . . later. After she got more sleep.

She gave one last sigh before succumbing to sleep once again. She fell into slumber hoping she would face her phantom lover rather than one of her haunting memories.

. ~: . V . :~ .

Of the three brothers, it was no surprise that the triplets were the closest. Since the death of Yui, they had grown even closer. Instead of separating or ignoring each other, it wasn't uncommon to find the triplets in the same room, doing separate things but staying within each other's presence. They were not as close as they had been when they were children but slowly, their family ties were healing. They had even managed to appear simultaneously in Kagome's room together after they had heard her nightmare and the effect it was having on her heart, from different areas of the manor. Even now, after Reiji's presence had chased them away, they were still together, camped out in the hallway.

They gave Reiji enough distance to soothe his suddenly hostile, possessive instincts but it was still close enough for them to bask in their bride's presence.

The smell of her arousal was slowly seeping from her room and filling the hallway. It was sweet like candy, yet dark with a sharp edge. It excited all of them at the same time as making them wary. Everything about it drew them in while trying to repel them.

"I want a taste," Laito whimpered quietly and from the scent of his own arousal, he was not speaking about her blood.

The other two ignored their nymphomaniac brother, already use to his wants and needs. Ayato and Kanato couldn't blame him either as her scent had all of them throbbing with want. Reiji's sharp aura and lingering presence was the only thing keeping the family of vampires from forcefully taking her.

They craved her and wanted her. Their very nature cried out to destroy her. They wanted to rip her throat open and watch the blood flow. To drink every drop so her presence would linger inside them. They wanted her to cry, to plead and to beg. In pleasure, in pain, it made no difference. They were made to destroy and they wanted to destroy everything about the poor miko until her world consist of only them.

Down the hall, the sound of a fist smashing into a wall could be heard. Subaru was never good at controlling his more destructive instincts.

Kanato's head tilted to the side as a strange thought filtered through his mind. He knew the others desired his doll. The whole household seemed to be competing to win her blood and body. He found that while he wanted his doll and he wanted her to know she belonged to him, he didn't find the thought of the others touching her exactly displeasing. Not as long as they knew she belonged to him.

Dolls and toys were often passed around from child to child and it never bothered him before because he knew the toy belonged to him and would return to him when he demanded it.

He glanced at his nearly identical brothers. Ayato was intensely focused on the door further down the hall that lead to Kagome's room. Reiji had left but he had locked the door from the outside, keeping their bride caged within. He looked ready to storm in there and take Kanato's doll. Too bad, if that happened, Kanato would be forced to painfully stop him. Nobody could touch her until she knew she belonged to him.

Laito seem to notice Kanato's curious gaze and turned towards him. He didn't say anything, just raising an eyebrow in question but the slight movement was enough to prompt Kanato to talk. "How do you share a woman?"

Kanato watched as light pink brushed across Laito's cheek. Kanato was unsure why he was blushing. Arousal? Embarrassment? Joy? It was sometimes difficult to tell with Laito. By his side, Ayato's head had tilted towards them, the main focus of his attention still on the door further down.

"Now Kanato, I know you've had the pleasure of a woman," Laito lightly teased.

Kanato frowned. Of course he wasn't a virgin. Despite his younger appearance he still had woman approach him. This made hunting easy but it also made it easy to entice a woman into his bed if he craved a different release. He was not a child and the Sakamaki brothers knew this very well.

"That wasn't my question," Kanato pointed out angrily.

"Of course it's not, baka," Ayato drawled out, "but it gets the basic down. Just add another guy. It's called a threesome, look it up." Kanato was now wondering if his brothers were trying to avoid this conversation with him. "Or an orgy," Laito added in excitedly.

Kanato growled and again he wished he had Teddy to hold and talk to. At least Teddy wouldn't treat him like a child and would listen to him. "How do you share a woman with another vampire?"

That brought a thoughtful look to both of their faces. Kanato knew it wasn't so simple when your partner was a vampire. Instincts demanded that the strongest male dominate, even in the bedroom, and a potential kill could never be shared. It honestly confused the other family members how Ayato and Laito were able to do such a thing.

Ayato answered with a shrug. "We're not attracted to each other." Kanato was not surprised to see that Laito neither agreed or disagreed with Ayato. "And it's not always easy. We've snapped at each other at times and the first time, we were like virgins again. We tore her apart trying to keep our kill from each other."

Laito took off his hat and ran his fingers through his longer locks. "It's easier if you feed together." With a sigh, Laito replaced his fedora. "That's how Ayato and I keep the trust strong. It takes time . . . and practice."

There was a moment of silence as Kanato mulled their words over. It made sense that it would take time and practice. With all of their possessive instincts, it was more likely that they would tear her or each other apart than actually share. Maybe sharing his doll was a bad idea. He didn't want to risk shattering her over a squabble. He would rather break her, piece by piece, by himself.

"Why, dear brother, are you consider sharing," Laito purposely drew out the word, "Hato?"

Looking at the lustful harlequin green eyes, Kanato knew it was a mistake. It was a stupid idea, only thought up because of the delicious smell of arousal that teased his lustful mind. Kanato frowned at his two brothers, his displeasure clear.

"Of course not. She's my doll."

I thought this chapter would never get done! Let me tell you a secret, this went nothing like I had originally planned. I had the dinner scene all planned out nice and neat but my muse and I decided to start another war over it. She refused to work with me unless I did it her way and I need her so this chapter was rewritten eight times (I know, I counted them all). I'm not completely happy with it but maybe that's because I've read and rewritten it so many times. Let me know what you think.

While writing this I learned that Reiji can be demanding in my head, Shu is as perverted as Laito later on in the games, and I may not hate Kanato as much as I first thought (or my muse doesn't at least). Starting the next chapter we are heading deeper into the 'M'ature rating so be excited (or scared).

Reviews, I love them. I try to respond to as many as I can in my free time. I do answer questions (though I try to avoid spoilers) and in general, I reply back just to let you know I love your reviews and appreciate the time you took to review.

Now I'm simply curious. Who is your favorite Sakamaki brother?

-Nightshade