AS YOU CAN SEE, I'VE PUT THE PROLOGUE AS THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE STORY, SO IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT YET, PLEASE seriously might not understand otherwise….

Hello again~! You know what day it is tomorrow!? TOMORROW IS THE DAY WHEN A EXACTLY A YEAR HAS PASSED SINCE THE FIRST CHAPTER OF MAYU'S JOURNEY WAS UPLOADED ON THE INTERNET! And Imma celebrate that, cause it's important to me. ^^

Promised a friend that I would update this, so here you go! Are you all enjoying summer?

SAKAMAKI SHUU X KAZUKA MAYU = SHUYU!

I woke up to an empty bed the next day. Shuu actually went to school, leaving me all alone with nothing to do. They've sure got time to put me in servant clothes, those bastards, but do they ever give me any chores?

I bet he went to school, not even waking me up before, just because he didn't want to have to teach me anything. He probably finds sleeping on his bench a lot more appealing.

The vase on the bedside table, carrying white little flowers in it, caught my attention. How had I never noticed them before yesterday? They were really pretty, those flowers. Through each of the fairly, sharp and white leaves leapt a pink, or maybe foggy red, trace. Each stalk carried multiple little flowers.

What were they even called?

I snapped my fingers. Asphodel. But of course, not surprisingly, Shuu didn't ever tell me what it meant. Guess I just have to find it out myself.

I jumped down from the bed, preparing myself for the long journey of getting lost and pissed in the search for the library. Just guessing here, but if that bastard knows the language of flowers then he's got to have a book about it somewhere.

After maybe twenty minutes of wandering around, I found a familiar hall. Deciding to follow it, my eyes widened at what I saw.

Believe this or not, people, BUT THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN FOUND!

Skipping inside to begin my search, I was happy to know that the books and shelves were sorted into categories. It was a big library, so a lot of them fitted into it. At least the Sakamaki family was organized enough to sort the categories into bigger sections and subjects. And those bigger sections were put by alphabetical order. And in "BIOLOGY", I found "PLANTS", and in "PLANTS", I found "FLOWERING PLANTS".

It took about half an hour maybe, because there were a lot of books to go through in "FLOWERING PLANTS" – some of them were even just facts about ONE flower, but at last, I managed to find a damn book that seemed promising. "THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS". And I swear to God, if that's not the book I'm looking for, then I don't know what.

Taking the book with me, I followed the same path (even if that meant taking a one hour detour because I did not want to get lost) I took to get there. Letting another hour go to waste just to find the kitchen. Starving as I was, I did not let go of my determination of finding it. And it paid off eventually.

I went over to the fridge, slightly tired of walking on an empty stomach. I didn't often go to the kitchen to eat, as it was so hard to find it in this huge place, but I had been here enough times to notice a piece of paper hanging on the fridge. The white, shining fridge usually was empty of papers, notes and reminders, and yet, today, one was there.

The handwriting was really beautiful. It was a cursive writing, but with just sharper edges and ends. Every first letter of the words were clear and easily read, but the rest of them were small and put together with the rest of the letters that it was hard for an infancy girl such as myself to read. And even though all of this, the handwriting still was very proper and not in any way sloppy. Out of curiosity, I read it. But it wasn't as interesting as I had hoped it to be.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR TODAY'S TASKS, 20/10:

Today, school ends at 5 AM. Until then, I require having you clean the kitchen thoroughly. If I discover, during inspection once I arrive home, that it would happen to be sloppily done or not done at all, I shall personally deliver your punishment.

I just knew at once that this was Reiji, and that the note was written to me. I have to admit that I was shocked, and a little offended, over the fact that Reiji gave me orders as if the thing he did to me had never occurred. How could he pretend that and just come here, write a note that he didn't even know that I would definitely see, and then expect to give me a punish if the kitchen isn't clean?

What the hell is the matter with him?

And not just that, but he tells me to do it before 5 AM? I don't even know what the fucking time is! These Sakamaki bastards don't own clocks, it seems.

I wasn't going to do it. There was no way in hell that I was going to do it. I'd rather take my chances and fight against whatever punishment he's got in store for me. What kind of punishment would it be, anyway? Maybe clean the whole mansion? Maybe get locked into a basement? Maybe become a sex-slave?

And so, as usual, I began to picture the worst possible scenario involving blood sucking, rape and murder. And wait, I bet Reiji WANTS me to defy him so that he can get the pleasure of punishing me like the true sadist he is! He wrote that, knowing that I wouldn't obey!

There's no way I would let him get his way. I'm cleaning this room from top to toe until he can see his defeated self's reflection. With that thought in mind, I began preparing a bucket and a sponge.

"Prepare yourself, kitchen, because you're about to meet your long-awaited mortal enemy."

Although, when I tried to look for a dirty, or even slightest dusty, place in the room, there was none. Well, of course there'd be none. These guys are rich vampires surrounded by (even though I never see any of them) servants that clean, wash and take care of the garden. So why the hell do they even need me here for? Do they just want to torture me with daily chores to do and kinky maid costumes for their fun? Because they've probably lived for so long that they constantly need new ways to amuse themselves?

Fucking hell.

"I suppose I'll just scrub on shiny places then. Nothing much else to do…"

I began scrubbing the black oven, as that seemed like a good start. "Though, I don't even know if I'm in a hurry or not…"

I'd taken all its sides and insides and that was finished, which of course didn't take a long time to do, I went over to the brown table in the middle of the room. That was even easier to do, so I moved on to the tiles on the wall behind the sink.

I'd gone to the kitchen to eat something, and yet there I was, cleaning on an empty tummy. But I had the motivation of allowing myself to eat only once every furniture and object in the kitchen is screaming, "I'M SO CLEAN AND SHINY SO DO NOT PUNISH MAYU". Only then, I can relax.

There weren't even any filthy plates, so I couldn't do the dishes. I just scrubbed everything from top to toe in the room, cleared and wiped the cabinets, cleaned the lamp while risking my life falling off a chair, and scrubbing the entire floor until I could see the reflection of my messy red pile of hay as hair.

Once I'd gone out with the trash, I declared myself officially done cleaning. Everything in the kitchen was so beautifully germ-free, I almost thought of it as a shame to start eating. But, I was hungry, so I didn't really care. However, I noticed one small detail once I opened the fridge. I had forgotten to do the inside of it. And Reiji would notice that, if he were to inspect the room thoroughly – which he said he was planning to do.

And if I weren't remembering wrongly, the outside had begun to get brighter. Which meant that I probably didn't have much time left before Reiji stomps in.

So, in my panicked state, I began throwing all the fridge's contents out and onto the table. Rushing with everything probably only made the cleaning go sloppier, but I didn't have much time. Especially when I imagined heard the familiar sound of the main doors shut with a loud bang. When that sound came, it was just for me to quickly wipe the fridge and throw all the things inside again.

Closing the fridge, I thought it all was over and that I was completely ready for Reiji's inspection, but what was that darker shade of brown on the floor?

"No, no, no, no…." I got closer to the shade. At first, I had thought it was just a shadow or something, but when I looked closer, the panic rose anew along with a horrified scream, as it was confirmed to be liquid.

It must have leaked from some bottle when I recklessly threw all kinds of them around.

"OhdearGodhelpmewhatdoIdonowholyshitthisisnotgood!" I wandered around the room as the absolute panic-stricken baboon I was. "WhereisthepaperIreallyneedthepaperGIVEMETHEPAPERSOMEONE."

The Sakamakis had, apparently, no paper in the kitchen, so I had to settle on possibly destroying a cloth with dark stains instead.

I scrubbed as hard as I ever could, hoping and hoping that it would disappear or at least fade. It didn't.

The footsteps (that most definitely belonged to Reiji) came closer, one after another in a rapid pace, so I did the only thing I could to solve the issue. I got to my feet and darted off through the door, turning right (as I was sure that the footsteps came from the left).

"Ah! Stop right there!" a deep voice, belonging to Reiji, shouted from behind me – a little surprised.

I didn't obey him, as I was sure of the fact that he would soon discover the reason of my run. Hearing the "Ah!" from the kitchen made me understand that it was probably time to pick up the pace. Reiji had discovered the one and only stain.

I didn't even know where I was or where I was heading, but it sure as hell was away from Reiji. I was in a hall, identical to all the others so that didn't tell much. Same purple and brown walls, same antique wood drawers with the same lamps on, same grey floor, and same Reiji standing in my way of fleeing.

Holy fuck.

"That stain on the kitchen floor," Reiji began, face curled into a scowl. "What could you have possibly done to cause it?"

I turned around; ready for another round of escaping my punishment, but Reiji had of course seen it coming and reached out to grab my wrist. Slamming me into the wall, you could almost say that Reiji stabbed my eyes with his. "I demand an answer. To as the cause of the stain, as well as why you ran."

He had a grasp on both of my wrists, holding them into a firm grip against the lower, brown wooden part of the wall.

"Hah!? Why I ran!? I didn't want your damn punishment, of course! For Christ's sake, I just spilled some liquor while cleaning the fridge. If you do your damned 'inspection', I'm sure you'll notice that I've cleaned everything else."

His red eyes narrowed. "I am sure that I wrote to have you finish before I arrived."

"What if I hadn't found your note!? It could have been undiscovered, for all you know! Jesus, I didn't even have much time, as I can't find my way around this place yet! It's huge!" I pushed myself away from the wall, trying to get away from my inferior position. Now, get your fucking-"

He slammed me back once again, harder this time. "Know you place, human," he hissed, really pissed now. One hand circled around my throat, taking a hard grip around it. "You are not in any position to speak your opinion, much less in that manner."

The grip around my throat tightened, and grabbing a hold of his hand, I tried to push it away as I struggled to breathe.

"Let go," I gasp, desperately twisting and wriggling around in Reiji's hands. "I don't belong to you! Don't touch me!"

Reiji doesn't even flinch at any of my movements. He doesn't need to use any strength to keep me in my place, and he doesn't bother to put any effort in it.

"Tell me something, human," he demands, voice calm and collected once more. "Do you know why you were brought here?"

I flinched, having completely forgotten the answer to that question. It felt like it was ages ago, but not even two weeks had passed yet.

Seeing the reaction to his words, Reiji continues. "It was because of your scent," he explains, red eyes narrowed and focused. The way they stabbed themselves deep into mine almost felt like he was trying to see past them, as if he was seeking something. "It was bizarrely reminding of the past. Utterly nostalgic, if you ask me."

I remembered it. That's what Ayato had said when we first entered the limousine that day. My scent. They had all commented on it.

"But," The red eyes disappear from my vision of sight as Reiji dives down towards my neck, inhaling. "Where is that scent now?"

Warm air breathes out over the skin on my neck, and I panic. "Don't!" I yell, immediately reacting on two sharp thorn-like objects against me. "You can't fucking do that! Get the hell away from me!"

Just as they're about to sink down, a sigh is heard three meters away, causing Reiji to freeze in position. "So noisy," a low voice grunts, and you don't need to think twice to know who it was.

"Shuu!" I instinctively call out, not bothering to show the relief and happiness in my voice. Reiji's head rises from my neck, turning toward the sound of yawns and sighs. There is true despise in his eyes now, and he is not happy at all to see Shuu lying on a bench in the hall. Serves him right.

"Be quiet," he orders me, looking very disturbed from my call. "You're so annoying."

Even though what he said isn't particular nice, I couldn't help but crack a smile.

Reiji, however, did not. "Shuu," He spat out his older brother's name almost like it was a raw piece of meat, frowning. "What are you doing here?"

Shuu raises one eyebrow, shrugging his shoulders carelessly, still lying down on the bench. "Nothing really. As you can see, I'm trying to sleep, so can you take your business somewhere else?"

Reiji snorted a small laugh with much obvious derision. "You are always like this." His expression of contempt and despise is back on. I struggle and gasp after air, feeling panic shoot through my body. His tight grip around my neck doesn't loose up, but tightens as he lifts me up with it.

Seeing this, Shuu creased his eyebrows in irritation and began moving. He looked annoyed and very disturbed, but finally managed to get up in a standing position in front of Reiji and me.

At first, Reiji's eyebrows went far up in shock, but then, for the first time, he cracks a smile. Except that it isn't a smile, but a sadistic grin, challenging Shuu. "You do not care about what happens to this woman? As expected of a good-for-nothing such as yourself, you would not mind if anything were to happen to her?"

I'm not worried. Shuu doesn't move a finger, and neither does he look impressed with Reiji's attempts at testing his limits. He observes us with cold eyes, and yet I'm not worried. Shuu wouldn't allow this, I knew that. I waited for him to do anything with full belief, cursing Reiji for doing what he did.

"Do whatever you want," Shuu says with an icy tone matching his expression, completely sending me choking on air in pure shock. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, and felt all my hope and belief crush down to pieces.

Reiji wasn't surprised by Shuu's words, but angry with them. Scornfully letting out a scoff, he let's me down to the ground without giving me as much as a glare and walks away into the shadows. Left are Shuu and I, quietly standing in front of each other with completely different expressions.

His eyes weren't on me, but I still couldn't stand to look at him. I was disgusted with what he'd said. He was that ready to just leave me in Reiji's hands, not even trying to help me. He wouldn't care whether Reiji would bite me or whatever. Reiji had sucked my blood one time before. And after all, I shouldn't have trusted Shuu to help me this time either. That time when Reiji had bitten me, he hadn't cared either. Why would he do it this time? I'm felt so naïve, so stupid.

And yet, I wasn't sure why, but I was a lot sadder and a lot more disappointed with Shuu's actions than I'd ever thought I'd be. I almost wished that I hadn't heard it. That would've been better. But even more, I wished he hadn't said it. Or hadn't been here.

Why did it always have to be like this with the two of us? One second, thing are great. Shuu may be as lazy and unmotivated as always, but he wasn't mean.

It was no good. Behind my eyes, it stung and my face felt like it was burning up. I didn't want to cry in front of Shuu. I'd rather die than do that now.

Turning around, I walked away quickly, but just slowly enough to not call it a run. If I ran, it would seem as if I was desperate. Sure, I was that, but still. He wasn't going to know that.

"Oi!" You fucking bastard, don't you dare talk to me. I am not going to run, that'll seem desperate. "Wait!"

Okay, fuck desperate.

I ran.

When I was sure that he wasn't following me, or that it would take hella long for him to catch up, I stopped. Exhausted and breathing heavily (still having an empty stomach), I decided to open the door next to me and enter a room to hide in instead.

I couldn't believe it, but when I went into the room, it was the exact same one that I had slept in my first night in the mansion. Same enormous amount of pink everywhere, same gigantic luxury double bed, and same white and pink furniture.

I shut the door after me, sitting down with my back against it, still breathing heavily. I wanted a moment to think. I wanted a moment to calm down. It hurt badly, that fucking sting in my eyes. Or maybe it wasn't the stinging feeling in my eyes that hurt, maybe it was something else. I didn't know. I was frustrated. I didn't want to know. I wanted it to be gone. I wanted the salty drops of water to get out of my eyes and stop wetting down my cheeks. I wanted my face to cool down. I wanted to be able to breathe calmly through my nose and stop my hiccups.

For every new thought I spent, I died a bit inside.

Knock on the door. "Hey, are you in there…?"

Another hiccup came, and I quickly covered my mouth. I kept myself as quiet as I could, not moving an inch. I'm not 'in there' at all, so go somewhere else, I kept on pleading.

"Oi…" Shuu almost sighed the call, and I was surprised that he was still there after maybe minutes of silence. A heavy thump of some sort came against the door, and I'm pretty sure that it was his forehead, because suddenly, his voice was much clearer and louder. "Come out."

It burned even worse now, and another round of drops made their way down from my blurred eyes.

"No," my brittle, croaky voice slipped without I had time to stop it. Even though I had decided to keep quiet, it had just rushed out before I had time to think it through, and now I regretted it. Now he knew for a fact that I was in the room, and that shaky, hoarse voice said it all.

"Why are you upset?"

I choked on the question, going pale. It felt like I shut off everything, brain and body going numb and motionless. Except the burning stung behind my eyes, that is. It went worse. He didn't know?

"Just go," I mumbled through a thick, small voice, taking my time to inhale a long breath to calm myself.

He didn't listen. "Why did you just run awa-"

"LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!" I yelled automatically, once again not thinking before I speak. Quickly covering my mouth again, I brought my knees up to my chest and did my best to suffocate a small whimper. I didn't like the way my voice sounded when I yelled that. The way it somehow went up and down through the sentence, the high-pitched undertone, the shaky part in the beginning. None of it.

A small sound of fabric came from outside, as if he straightened up. "Fine."

Footsteps came one after another, each of them going quieter and quieter.

I tilted down my forehead against my knees, whimpering and crying the same way you did when you tripped at the age of three. Mentally abusing myself in every possible way, I couldn't breathe calmly and collected at all.

"Don't go dammit…"

Oh, this was fun. Did you see Le Prologue that I added as first chapter to this story? Well, yeah, I did that because I know some of you haven't read it yet (as you haven't found it and stuff), so you might not really understand. And I've updated it, as I wrote it a year ago.

THANKS EVERYONE, MAKE SURE TO COMMENT YOUR RAGE ON ME AND STUFF. I LOVE YOU!