note: a remake of chapter twelve. my apologies for this taking so long, my muse dropped once again. thank you to everyone who has reviewed and continued to follow this story - you are all amazing! i hope you guys like it, this story is coming to an end (hence the remake). enjoy!

His vision was blurry when his eyes first cracked open. Yuki could barely see, a type of fog over his eyes. He could only make out shadowy shapes, and the voices he began to hear confirmed who the shadows belonged to.

"Is she awake?" That was Kanato's voice.

"Oi, why won't she open her eyes?" Ayato's annoyed voice filtered through Yuki's ears.

"She's awake." Reiji informed bluntly.

Shu's voice came next, bored and tired. "She can't see."

Yuki decided to attempt to open his eyes wider. Soon enough, his amber orbs could be seen by the Sakamaki brothers. He still couldn't see properly. Splotches of colour was added to the shadows, vague areas like hair and some of their clothes were visible to him. However, a light fog still remained over his eyes.

"I can't see well" Yuki whispered, looking around.

He blinked. Once. Twice.

"Stop doing that, its freaky" Ayato commented.

Yuki turned his head at the sound of his voice. He was the freaky one now?

"How did you guys get in my head?" Yuki inquired curiously. That was what caused him to knock himself out - once again - in the first place.

No one answered him.

"Guys?"

"We're here." Laito spoke.

"Why aren't you answering? Was it because of The Ticking?"

Ignoring her first question, Shu sat up slightly. "It was because of the Ticking-"

"-And because Yours Truly is very powerful" Ayato's voice cut in, sounding very close to Yuki.

Reiji cleared his throat in annoyance, and Shu continued without acknowledging Ayato.

"The Ticking makes you more sensitive to influence but stronger as well. Your will is weak, so we were able to easily play on your conscience. As we told you during our little session..."

"We were shamelessly toying with you" Laito finished. Yuki could hear the smirk that played on the males' lips.

He didn't disagree with what Shu had subtly added into his explanation: his will was weak. So much so that people underestimated him.

Yuki blinked once more, and his vision returned. Now everyone's position was clear.

Shu lay on the floor, not too far away, eyes closed. Reiji stood near the eldest, looking into the distance with a hard expression. Kanato was kneeling next to Yuki, Teddy clutched in his arms. Ayato sat next to Kanato, staring at Yuki with a sly grin. Subaru, who hadn't spoken since the toying session, stood - dagger in hand - near the wall, observing Yuki quietly. And Laito was right next to Yuki, a creepy smirk on his lips that was reflected in his green eyes.

Yuki raised his hand to play with the end of his wig, a nervous tendency. A moment later, the brown curls fell to into his lap. The dull expressions of some of the Sakamaki's changed immediately. Reiji and Subaru stiffened. Kanato jumped, more wide eyed than usual.

Ayato was the only one spoke - yelled more like it. "Kawai Kiti! What's this? Why..." His eyes widened. "No wonder your so flat." He stated bluntly.

Yuki glanced at him with shock, as did everyone else. That was an interesting first realization to have.

"Ayato." Reiji said firmly.

Subaru spoke. "I knew there was something different about you."

Reiji glanced at Shu and then Laito. "Why don't you two look surprised." The dark haired vampire said it more as a statement.

Before anyone can answer, Ayato went into a fit. "You knew! How long have you known?!" He was glaring at Laito accusingly.

Laito looked back at him with a lazy expression. "Mm quite a while now, right Bitch-kun?~"

Yuki blushed when the modified pet name was used openly.

"Your a boy" Kanato stated, as though he still couldn't quite believe it.

"Bitch-kun?" Ayato repeated in disbelief. "The hell Laito, that's not even correct."

Subaru started snickering at that.

"Really Ayato, and since when is anything you say correct?" Subaru jabbed back.

Reiji blinked and then gazed down at Yuki, an unreadable expression on his face again.

"Well, this doesn't change anything Yoshida-kun, does it?"