Diabolik Lovers: Trust in the Snake

3 - A Free Mind

<< I can't believe I've already read all these books... >>

Yui was blissfully oblivious to Cordelia and the six brothers' argument.
She still thought she could have handled facing the boys that had been her captors all those days, but she didn't want to disobey the vampiress that offered to help her with nothing in return, so she was back in her "room", hoping for something do to instead of waiting around and sleeping, but she had already finished every book in her room, she had just been so stressed and caught up in the mess her life was just a day prior, that she didn't even notice that every single volume in her chamber had already been read 'till the last page, probably more than once.

<< I didn't even notice... how fucked up was I?! >>

She wasn't exactly a fan of swear words, but in that moment, that "fucked up" felt strangely natural rolling over her tongue and past her lips.
"If only dad had been here..."
He would have probably punished her for swearing, but in that moment, she yearned for the comfort of a familiar face.

<< Yui? Are you alright? >>

The girl jumped, even in her body, Cordelia was as stealthy as a vampiress could be.
"Either that or I need serious help. How could I not hear her coming in? I wasn't doing anything that distracting!"

<< Yes, I was just so lost in my thought I... it's strange, it's been so long since I could let my guard down and do this. >>
<< Getting lost in you thought? >>
<< Yes. >>

Cordelia nodded, gesturing for Yui to get closer and then hugging her.

<< My poor little mouse... >>

"Little mouse?"
Part of her wanted to ask the woman to stop any possible pet name, but the other part had just remembered her that Cordelia was helping her and she shouldn't complain.
"Better than Bitch-Chan... or to be remembered every second that I'm flat, there's nothing wrong with that!"

<< ... are you listening to me? >>

Asked Cordelia snapping her fingers in front of her.
Yui stared at the vampiress with sudden concern and sadness, it wasn't that usual for her to let her mind wander so much to lose an entire conversation.
It hadn't been that usual since she had to keep her mind on constant watch every day and night, too busy listening for every step outside the door or for every little variation in one of the brothers' voices, to make sure she heard if they were upset and could either avoid them or prepare herself. All those times she had to be watchful, worried about the next bite to come, all those moments her brain had to keep working and giving the same orders: be careful when you speak, be careful when you move around, watch how you act at dinner, don't act like this with Reiji, don't act like that with Kanato, don't act at all, don't fight...

<< I fear your poor mind had been really close to the end dear, right on the verge of breaking. >>

Yui just nodded slowly, hardly grasping the sudden realization of how important was to think freely and how much she had missed that simple activity.
A side of her brain was still giving out the same orders, telling her to focus on her homework and doing something sweet for the others to avoid getting hurt (God only knew how scary Kanato could become when she forgot to prepare something sweet for him). The other side was running, running with imagines of her childhood, of things she had seen that same day, silly little things like a pigeon that had landed on her window and sterted pecking at some bread crumbs she got from the kitchen and left there just for that, to see if a pretty bird would come and give her something beautiful to look at in all her sorrow. That clumsy and chubby pigeon was now a magnificent painting in her mind, she could think of it, she could think of the sky outside her window, she could think of everything she wanted to and Cordelia would have kept her body safe until they would have been able to escape that Hell.

<< Do you feel well? >>

Cordelia sounded a bit annoyed.
"Oh, I got distracted again..."

<< I'm sorry, it's just... I missed this. >>

The girl gestured with her hands in an agitated fashion, like she wanted to find the right words to describe what she felt, but couldn't.

<< Relax now, I'm not angry, just a bit worried. >>

Smiled the vampiress as she caught her hands and held them gently in hers.

<< Take deep breaths and rest, if you can go back thinking like a normal person this easily, than it means you are not so broken after all. >>
<< You really think so? >>
<< I don't "think" so dear, I know it. >>

Feeling better, Yui wrapped her arms around the woman in a tight hug, so happy she didn't even think of how strange it was to hug her own body.

<< Thank you Cordelia, really. >>

The vampiress took a few seconds before hugging her back, like she was uncertain of how to perform that gesture.
"Poor lady, she probably misses some comfort as well..."

<< But... can you let me have my body again sometimes? You know, I'd still like to be alive. You know, alive-alive... ? >>
<< Of course you can darling. >>

Smiled Cordelia.

<< I'm not strong enough to keep your body to myself all the time, so you can have it back when you want, but if you feel in danger and need a pause, just call for me, I'll take your place. >>

Yui felt tears coming to her eyes, moved by all that gentleness and the thought of having an easier life.

<< Now, you asked me to teach you some cool tricks right? >>
<< Oh yes! So I won't get bored while I'm a "ghost". >>
<< Worry not, I'll train you like a good pet~ >>

The girl was suddently confused at said words, it sounded quite strange and, after all that she had endured, a bit worrisome.

<< Uhm... what? >>
<< Vampire humor. >>
<< Oh, alright. >>