𝕯𝖎𝖆𝖇𝖔𝖑𝖎𝖐 𝕷𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖘: 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐 𝕱𝖆𝖙𝖊

Chapter 46

The Sakamaki mansion was again filled with the multitude of vampires under the same roof. This time, though, there was no full moon, no threat of the wolves, no fear settling into their hearts.

It was silence instead.

Ayato sat down on the edge of the stairway, his hands folded and his head resting against them in defeat. His hair had coagulated wolf blood stuck in between his coarse strands, running downwards on his torso, staining his uniform a dull red. Kou stood across from him, leaning over the railing, staring at the direction of Yui's room, lost in thought. He had been staring continuously in her direction since the past thirty minutes, and it had started to get on Ayato's nerves. There were certain things that had started to nag him as well, like the way Ruki was bawling his eyes out over her being attacked. Sure, he held him responsible for exposing her to such an imminent threat, but Ruki acted like it was some earth-shattering moment.

It wasn't that Ayato wasn't concerned about Yui, just that he felt a bit protective of her.

And a bit jealous.

Ayato felt somebody shake his shoulder violently to snap him back to attention. He raised his head, his forehead creasing up as he saw Kanato hugging his Teddy close, his eyes spilling with tears.

"What, Kanato?"

"Teddy wants him out," Kanato gasped, looking at Azuza, who was preoccupied with talking to something on his arm. Did he make friends with some ghost? Should Ayato be concerned about the Mukamis bringing ghosts to his mansion?

"Shut up and sit down," Ayato growled.

"If you don't then I will put salt in your morning coffee," Kanato threatened, and kicked the side of the stair to assert his dominance.

Ayato inhaled deep and stood up. He really didn't want to have to deal with his childish tantrums, and this was the worst time for Kanato to start being the brat he was. Ayato's huge frame blocked the light from the hallway, casting an ominous shadow over Kanato. Kanato cowered back, the lavender in his tegument shrinking back as his pupils dilated in fear. "Get. Lost." Ayato's voice was hard and rough.

Kanato disappeared among the shadows, teleporting somewhere away from him, and frankly, Ayato didn't really care where he went.

Ayato walked towards the darker end of the entrance where Ruki sat down on a diwan, his face in his hands, his hair messed up and his shirt torn. Ayato crossed his hands across his chest, exhaling loudly. "How long will you keep moping? Get your shit together and work with me at least." Ruki looked up, his red rimmed eyes shocking Ayato out of his wits. There was something wrong, and Ayato could sense it right away. Never in his life had he ever seen a vampire so miserable and scared. Ruki's lips quivered as he covered his mouth back again, as though not bearing the tension.

Ayato sat down beside him, propping his right elbow over his knee, silently studying Ruki as the half-blood sobbed.

"Stop with the snivelling," Ayato complained, scratching the back of his head. "It's annoying."

Ruki wiped his face into his sleeve, shaking his head. "I don't know why I did it."

"And I am not holding you accountable for it, you bastard," Ayato slapped the back of Ruki's head. "Think about her. Do you want her to see you like this? Hurt and wailing like a fucking baby? Grow up."

Ruki pinched the edge of his nose. "You do not understand..."

"You're saying you did something worse than letting her loose into a forest full of Tsukinami wolves?"

Ruki heaved, his chest shaking with sudden inspiration. "Before I say this, I need you to know that I only have the best interest of her in my mind."

Ruki was scaring Ayato. The half blood talked about the thing as though it was ground-breaking news. Perhaps he had thought of some trade off to ensure that Yui didn't end up with the Founders, just like the church had stationed her to live with them. Perhaps Ruki was suggesting that they send her off to live with her father. Although Ayato didn't like the idea of it, and he didn't trust her father too much, he believed it was what she wanted, and maybe it would be better if they went with her wishes for once.

Fearing the worst, Ayato asked him, "What is it?"

***

The Traveller sat down beside the bed, as Yui blinked wearily at her. She probably didn't know what she was in for at the moment, but the Traveller knew what was going to happen. At least 43 realities of the 50 the Traveller had witnessed were ending up with Yui being hurt in the game. The best thing to do in the current scenario was to let her astray from her original choice, but it was turning out to be a bit more than what she had earlier anticipated to be.

Yui turned her head away for the Traveller, yawning. She still had huge gashes from her struggle with the wolves earlier, but she had taken care of her dressing. The Traveller turned slightly towards Yui, anxious. "Are you alright?"

Yui struggled to nod. "Better."

The Traveller propped her chin on her elbow, suddenly interested. "No internal pain, right?"

"Yeah," Yui seemed a bit impatient. "Where's Ruki kun?"

"He's around," the Traveller suddenly seemed to be a bit more relaxed. "Don't worry about him."

"And..." Yui started to get up from the bed, but the Traveller pushed her back down.

"You need to rest." The Traveller was stern.

"I... Who are you?" Yui seemed a bit distressed, but who would blame her? When the Traveller started to do this, she was as scared as Yui. She knew her life was on the line every time she manipulated Ayato into doing things he didn't approve of, but it wasn't just her life, it was everybody else's as well.

The door was swiftly swung on its hinges, and the Traveller didn't anticipate Ayato's huge frame walk in and grab her by the throat. A soft chuckle left her as she felt his tawny fingers curl around her neck. His chest expanded and collapsed with a shudder, his eyes burning with a malice she never expected to see on anyone else but his face. Her vision started to go out, several black spots marring her vision, before she felt something collide against her, knocking Ayato's grip off her.

A shuffle of footsteps made her aware of the warm presence by her side, as she was carefully picked up by soft hands wrapped around her shoulders.

"Chichinashi," Ayato warned, his eyes wet with tears. "Get away."

She didn't see Yui that well beyond the blur of her own tears, but she could hear the fear in her voice. "Step back, Ayato kun."

She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and saw Ayato walk back a few steps. "Chichinashi, come here." His voice was oddly sweet and comforting. The idiot was really in love. She felt Yui's arms wrap around her protectively, as she seated the Traveller on the edge of the bed, Yui's white shirt staining with blood that flowed free from her opened wounds.

"Go away, Ayato kun," Yui said with a certain sternness in her voice. The Traveller could feel the hurt Yui probably felt in her heart. "I do not want to see you."

"Chichinashi..." Ayato sounded desperate, but Yui interrupted him. "No."

The Traveller heard Ayato gulp, and swiftly exit the room. Just as he went, she saw Yui collapse on her knees, sobbing.

She didn't understand this. He did what she wanted, and yet this girl was acting like a baby. "Should I call him back?"

Yui whimpered, raising her head towards her. She looked even more childlike with her tear stained cheeks and her eyes wet and hazy. "What happened to him? Why was he so violent? Who are you?" Yui asked, her voice breaking up into sobs. The Traveller placed her hand over the crown of Yui's head, saying softly, "Oh, little bird, you ask so many questions, but I only have the answer to one of them."

"And that is?" Yui asked, distressed.

The Traveller smiled. "Well, for starters, my name is Berawecka."

A/N: Happy New Year Guys!!! Hope that the worst has passed. How's your school? Are you allowed to get out more often? Tell me what has happened in your country so far, I'm so curious.