Diabolik Lovers: Recovery

Chapter 36: Does Kindness have a Limit? (Kou)

Kou doesn't return before dinner finishes. When everything is cleaned and put away, I resign myself to sitting in the foyer area to wait for him. With a mournful sigh, I slump into the cushions and submit myself to an uneasy nap. Listening to the rain tap against the windows, I think I can hear the engine of a car come up the drive. I turn my head away from the door, keeping my attention focused toward it.

When the door creaks open, I don't acknowledge it, but keep my ears pricked. Sure enough, I can pick out the exact moment when he spots me. At the moment he's crept up such that I can hear the droplets of water patter onto the cushions beside me, I turn my head to look up at him.

"Wha-?"

"Welcome home," I say mischievously and sit up.

He pouts, but welcomes the company, "Come help me out – okay?"

"Alright," I say hesitantly, ensuring that he acknowledges my reservation with a curious glance before I follow.

"I need help undressing," he explains, entering his room and nearly letting the door close in my face.

"I won't be doing anything indecent," I say resolutely, standing in the doorway as he delves deeper.

"I wasn't the one to suggest anything ~" he laughs, the sound is carefree, but I'm wary, "It's hard to deal with wet clothes, that's all. Come in."

"Okay..." I mutter, following cautiously.

He takes up a pale towel, quickly ruffling the water out of his hair with it.

"Come on," he insists, turning and plucking at the front of his shirt, "Help me out with the buttons. I'm no good with them."

I purse my lips, "Weren't you ever taught to say please?"

He raises an eyebrow but despite the playful expression, I can feel menace, "Weren't you taught that vampires are even more dangerous when made angry."

"I'll go, then," I take a few steps backwards, watching carefully to see if he moved in that time.

"I'm kidding," he chuckles lightly, watching my hesitant retreat, "Please help."

Still slow, I move back in to kneel in front of him, approaching to deftly undo the buttons of his white shirt. Cautious, I move back when finished. For a moment, I see his countenance revert to that regretful recoil, but when I look up at his face once more, it's gone.

"How was your work? I remember you told me once that you're famous."

"Wonderful, really, aside from the rain soaking me through at the end of the day..." he closes his mouth and seems to be chewing on a few thoughts, "How is it that you still don't understand this world?"

"Pardon?" I ask in polite confusion, "Er... I get along well enough in this world. And I do so with relative happiness, so..."

"You know as well as I do that this is a give and take world – "

Before he can finish, I'm shaking my head.

"Give and take," I can't help the dry, scornful chuckle, "As if it's so balanced... but it's not balanced. For most of my life things were taken from me and yet I received little to nothing in return. So, I've decided that I can give things and want nothing in return too... it's okay to want things, I suppose, but I think I'm happier if I expect nothing; that way I'm pleasantly surprised when I'm given something. Does that make sense?"

"You'll just let people take and take and take? That's not only backwards, it's a lie."

"Maybe," I ponder, but ignore the accusation.