Akira was in that endless expanse of sky once more. Then, the voice she heard spoke.
"All will be made clear in the course of nature..." The invisible bell chimed.
"Eve of the Dawn."
Her eyes opened. Unfamiliar surroundings. The window that loomed over the couch she lay on displayed the evening sky painted in hues of purple and orange. Warm light cast by the setting sun danced on her skin. She recalled Yui fainting, running to get the medicine, getting cornered by those people...
Her head throbbed incessantly. She pressed a hand to her cheek.
"You're awake."
Akira whipped round, fists clenched in preparation to fight her kidnapper.
"Where am I?" She snarled at the boy who had used compulsion on her. He was lounging on a chair nearby, looking totally unconcerned. "Why am I here?"
He simply looked at her with those eyes. So blue, just like the expanse of sky in her dreams... "You're awfully noisy, for livestock."
Akira bared her teeth, about to pounce on him. "You prick—"
"Quit your squealing, Sow!" roared another voice. The boy with reddish-brown hair slammed his fist against the glass panel, making it rattle violently. Akira startled. It was him...
The blonde boy appeared at the top of the stairs. He leaned over the rail, watching the scene play out with interest. "Now, now. After being taken so suddenly, she must be confused. Right, Masochistic Kitten?"
Icy fingers laced themselves with hers. Another boy, with dark green hair knelt before her, staring up at her with empty eyes. She recognised the drone of his voice. "Hey...do you like...pain?"
"Hey, now, Asuza-kun. It's not appropriate to ask that to someone you just met. You have to introduce yourself first." The cheery blonde smiled, showing off a set of perfect pearly whites.
"Let's start over, shall we?"
Suddenly, he was standing over her. He winked, wiggling his fingers in greeting. "I'm Kou Mukami. Nice to meet you, Masochistic Kitten!"
The aggressive one by the window rubbed the back of is neck, looking down at her. Those brown eyes... Hope fluttered in her chest.
"Yuma Mukami."
Her heart sank. There was no way, then.
"We're brothers," Kou continued, gesturing at the gentle boy with the cold hands. He blinked twice at her, slowly. "Asuza..."
Akira glanced at the last one on the armchair. He held her gaze, unsmiling. "I'm Ruki."
"This is our home," Kou said. "And you're going to stay with us from now on!" He grinned.
"W—what?" Akira stammered. "I can't do that! I have to go back—"
"Go back?" Ruki snapped his book closed and stood, handed in his pocket. "To the Sakamaki mansion?"
Akira hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Where you were treated as a plaything?" Ruki's eyes seemed to pierce her soul.
"By being treated as a pet tear, it seems that your mentality has also been degraded to that of livestock." He stared at her coldly.
"But you're the same, aren't you?" Akira murmured. Her clenched fists uncurled. It wasn't that she desperately wanted to return to her home. Her brothers would do fine without her. She just wanted to know if Yui was fine. After all, she had left her behind...
