Like usual, Thank you for reading the previous chapter 3
I'd like to let you know that I'm not abandoning any of my Vocaloid stories, but I'm in the midst of my midyear exams. Hopefully, I'll get to update them around the 20th of Feb. Thank you for understanding, and I apologize for that.

Indigo irises bore into my very being like daggers, lethal and cold like a storm snow, causing me to shiver. A clawed hand tore its way to reach me and I quickly raised my right arm to defend myself, hiding my face behind it, afraid that the beast would jump at me any moment.
But he didn't.

"Are you freaking insane?! Wandering out in the woods alone like that…you could have died you madwoman! The woods are full of all sorts of monsters; wolves, bears, and even thieves!" The purple-haired beast raged at me, not bothering to hide his anger or frustration at all. That was probably the longest thing I've ever heard him say, he wasn't very talkative usually, not that I had tried to talk to him or even wanted to.

My heart picked up its pace at the threat that was in front of me. Not only my hope of escaping was terminated, but I was also caught in the middle of my action red-handed, meaning I had to face the storming beast and the consequences of what I did. He would probably lock me in for real this time, if I survived this anger session without getting my head bitten off, that is.

"W-why do you even care? You're not a better company than any of those monsters you mentioned.." I stormed without much thinking before I could stop myself. "In fact, I'd much rather be abducted by a bloody thief, thank you. A much less frightening being than you are at least." I continued in a small voice, trying not to meet his furious bloody gaze, and already regretting saying what must have sounded like a suicide plea to him.

It seemed I hit a nerve, even if I actually never meant to, because I could hear him holding back a growl in his throat. That was very reckless of me; I shouldn't have tried to anger such a monster. He was already terrifying in his calm, and I surely wasn't eager to experience what he was like when angered.

"if I didn't find you, you idiot,…" He said, pausing for a dramatic effect, or so it seemed to me.
"I would have been able to escape, duh!" I wished to say, but locked that wish deep inside my head to avoid an immediate death.

"You would have died, do you understand?!" He arched his eyebrows; as if actually expecting me to answer that, but that change in his gesture made him look much more tolerable, and suddenly I realized I was staring into his eyes. If I didn't know better, I would have thought these eyes looked sort of vulnerable, and helpless at that moment; I would have thought that his gesture indicated caring; and that his face looked rather worried and very…human to me, the face of a human on the edge, someone who was about to fall off a cliff… But I knew my kidnapper better, or so I thought.

"Get up." He ordered flatly, as I turned my face around to inspect my surroundings. I was still at the ground since I had bumped into him.

I tried to lift my body up, but suddenly I felt as if thunder had just passed through my ankle, causing me to fall back on the ground. I tried to get up again, but my leg couldn't take my weight, and my ankle burned like flames were lit inside of it, causing me to groan, clenching my teeth as I landed on the ground once more.

"Are you hurt?" He inquired emotionlessly, but I didn't answer. Yes, I am mentally very hurt because you kidnapped me, thank you. You decided that you actually care now?

"Let me check it…" He said, his tone softening a bit. He pressed his fingers against my ankle looking for serious injuries, against my protests, his sharp animal-like nails scratching me a little bit.

"Don't touch me! Let go! I'm fine!" I yelled and tried kicking him off with my healthy leg, but he continued ignoring me.

"It's nothing serious, you'll be fine, stop whining."
"I'm not whining!"

The beast silently ripped the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped it around my ankle, then lifted me on his right shoulder, not paying attention to the fit I was throwing.

On top of all the fear, anger, and disappointment that was clouding my head, now I also felt embarrassed to be babied like that, the position I was being held at only adding to my embarrassment. But when I realized that the continuous squealing and kicking wasn't going to do me any good I quieted down and gave up. The beast was walking silently and at a slow pace, probably careful to not hurt me, eventhough I couldn't fit that act with his attitude. Perhaps he was enjoying feeling superior to me?

He walked all the way back to the mansion, and up to the bedroom I was thrown in earlier, and put me on the bed carefully, before he stormed out of the room, cursing under his breath, or that's how things seemed to me. I couldn't understand what made him so angry now after he had been calm all the way back to the mansion. I mean who's fault was it that I hurt my ankle? If he hadn't been so tall and muscular and stiff like a wall I wouldn't have fallen that hard when I accidently bumped into him! Or maybe he was mad because I tried to escape. That seemed more like it.

Before I could even try to enjoy the peace, he was back again, with a tray of food shaking in his hands this time. He just placed it on the nightstand next to me and looked me in the eye silently, which puzzled me. Did he expect me to say something in return? Like, maybe thank him? It didn't matter much, because all of his acts and gestures till now had been bewildering and confusing anyway. Perhaps they had an animalistic hint to them, or maybe he was just grumpy and weird like that.

When he realized I wasn't going to say anything, he turned his back to me and walked away. He paused for a minute at the door before he turned to look at me again.

"Eat. It's not poisoned. Meiko made it." He said bluntly.
"Meiko?"

"The brown-haired lady who was in the mansion before. You must have seen her considering you were trying to run away and get yourself killed in the forest." He responded calmly, however, I was still cautious and I couldn't lower my guard, seeing he was facing me with the 'crime' I had committed just a little while ago.

"Oh." Was all I said, scratching my head in confusion.

"She's a good cook…" He replied awkwardly, as if trying to keep the conversation going, and waited for me to answer him, or maybe to try the food. I couldn't tell.

"I'm not hungry." I said in a low voice, but my stomach thought otherwise, and growled so loudly embarrassing me and denying the lie I've just mouthed.

A hint of a smile showed on the lips of the purple-haired beast, and for a second, I could mistake him for a normal human, if not for his horns and giant wings.

"You can have seconds if you want." He just muttered, walking out and closing the door behind him, leaving me to my confusion, embarrassment, and tray of food.

I shrugged and decided to give the food a try, and it turned out pretty delicious. I was so hungry I didn't notice when had I finished the bowls. I just lied down on my back after that, flipping the recent events I've been through in my head, over and over again. No matter how much I thought, I couldn't figure out his intentions, his motivations…I thought I was taken hostage, but I couldn't find one benefit for him that comes from captivating me. He wasn't hurting me or anything, he wasn't negotiating with my father for anything in return either…maybe his actions were based on revenge solely, and he didn't have an actual reason to bring me here.

I sighed and gave up thinking, closing my eyes and drifting between sleep and reality every few moments.

Sometime later, I became aware that the door of the bedroom was open, and so I fully woke up to see him standing there with the bag containing my personal belongings. The one I was searching for earlier.

"Your bag. I thought you might need it." He said, throwing it next to me.

"umm, th..anks." I said, eventhough I wasn't heartfully grateful.

He then frankly and awkwardly walked over to my side, and took my foot in his hand, and tried moving and twisting my ankle in many angles.

"Ouch! Ugh! What are you-"

"Checking whether I should get you a doctor or not, now sit still and stop kicking me in the face, Luka."

"I told you I was fine! And stop calling me with my first name, you sick monster!" I protested. It still disturbed me to no end when he used it, let alone how awful I felt as he held my foot and waved it around against my will.

"Do you really hate me that much?" He asked, not much of a question tone in his words. It was more like a statement.

"Don't tell me you thought I'd be happy and appreciate that you brought me here?" I crossed my hands in front of my chest and looked away frowning, giving up and letting him check my leg calmly.

"You're cute when you're mad." He laughed as soft as a hoarse-voiced creature like him could manage, causing heat in my cheeks and a funny feeling in my stomach, his laugh hearty and natural like any normal human being enjoying a normal day, and the sunlight hitting his face highlighting some sort of human weakness evident in his now crescent-shaped eyes. For a second, my heart missed a beat and I could see beyond the fangs, the nightmarish horns, and the long messy hair frailness and delicateness, deeply buried.

But I quickly dismissed the thought. I shouldn't allow him to take me for a fool. I wasn't one to be swept off her feet with a few honeyed compliments coming from the mouth of a hungry wolf. It was all a part of his plan, wasn't it? He's trying to get on my good side, I may not know why, but I know he was trying to do that, at least.

"Honeyed words won't get you anywhere, what do you want?" I snapped at him as sharply as I could, earning what resembled a pout from him, except it looked too terrifying to be one.

"Just get yourself a damned nap and give me a break from that bitter behavior." He just sighed impatiently.
Seriously, his mood swings were giving me headache, and a lot of confusion.

"And now you're blaming me for being upset after all you've put me through? God! You're insane with that twisted logic of yours!" I complained, rubbing me temples.

"Why yes, I am mad, thanks for declaring such a matter of fact!" He fumed at me, trying to hold back from taking my life right there and then. Only the sound of our breathes could be heard after that; I decided to keep silent for dear life.

"Just forget it." He mumbled as he finally exhaled.

"Well, well, what do we have here? Why are you raising your voice at such a fine maiden? Where are your manners?" Another voice inquired, a female voice.

The beast just stared back nonchalantly at the brown-haired lady who interrupted our not-so-civilized chat. She seemed to be holding something in her arms, but he was blocking my view.

"Gakupo thought you might want to send a letter to your family, to let them know you're still alive and all. He just couldn't gather enough manners to tell you himself!" The brunette announced as if trying to shame that Gakupo person.

"Gakupo?" I repeated in bewilderment.

"What? You thought he wouldn't have a name?" She stared at me in disbelief. "Forgive him for not introducing himself properly. He just likes to be a bear like that."

"Meiko…" The taller purple-haired one, Gakupo, warned.

Something slipped out of the lady's arms at his sound, and jumped towards me, frightened. And now a grey kitten was hiding behind my legs.

"Oh come 'on Earl Grey! Don't be afraid of Gakupo, he's as harmful as a newborn baby! All he does is yell and cry!" Meiko called after the cat.

"You're a living proof of that." Gakupo muttered disgustedly, sighing and rolling his eyes before he turned his back to us and left. Meiko's expression darkened and the lively shimmer in her uncovered eye seemed to dim for a second, but then she exhaled and looked back at me, with a mocking smirk across her face.

"Oh please excuse him. He's always like that. I'm Meiko. Sakine Meiko." The brunette introduced, ready to shake hands with me.

"Megurine Luka." I introduced, taking her hand. The cat, Earl Grey, jumped onto my lap, interrupting us.

"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier. Gakupo didn't want me to talk to you at first, but then he realized you'd drive each other's insane without me here."

I just sighed not knowing how to talk to this woman. She seemed kind, but I wasn't really yearning to make friends at the moment. I was still kidnapped, and with that much hatred in my heart I couldn't really enjoy myself. I mean, who would?

"Look. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I'll figure out something, alright?" Meiko whispered in my ear, checking behind her as if that Gakupo beast would suddenly jump from behind the door.

And with that, I smiled at my newfound hope. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to make a friend while I'm still here.