Chapter One

I sat at the large table with the Sakamaki brothers. They all quietly ate their food, which was a first. Kanato wasn't playing with his vegetables or talking to Teddy, his stuffed bear. Laito didn't say anything, which in and of itself was a miracle. Reiji was quiet, but that was normal for him, to be honest. Subaru actually sat with us and didn't scowl. He ate his food and looked quite peaceful. Shuu was quiet, but he didn't seem eager to leave and be on his own for once. And of course, there was Ayato, who I couldn't tear my eyes from. He also ate his dinner in serene silence. No one was saying a word to me, and for the first time I was beginning to mind. In the past, all I wanted to do was be on my own in this house, and have everyone leave me alone, but after the events that occurred almost a week ago, I got my wish. And I didn't actually like it.

It was strange— the feelings I was having towards the brothers now. It was something I hadn't expected. It almost felt like I was part of the family. No one had taken my blood in the past week either, which was strange. I wondered what had happened to them while I was asleep. Or more accurately, when I was dead.

I remembered barely anything from when Cordelia was inside my body, controlling me. All I could think about was that she had been about to hurt Ayato and Subaru and I had to do something. I remembered thinking that I couldn't let them get hurt… So I stabbed myself with Subaru's knife. I remember hearing my voice telling Ayato something as he held my body, but it wasn't me. It was Cordelia. I couldn't remember what she'd said to him. Then I remembered being on the couch, and that's when I died… I think. After that, I woke up… And they were all around me, watching over me it seemed. When I saw them all there, I felt something I'd never felt before. And that was this sense of family. No matter how many times they'd bitten me and taken my blood and done what they pleased, I still believed that they cared. They were all there, and I knew that they were relieved when I opened my eyes. It was everyone's expressions. They were all content. It was different from their usual expressionless faces. I could tell that much at least. And I remembered waking up… and the first thing I saw was Ayato's smirk. He had been relieved as well. I remembered hearing it in his voice.

But that was it. I went back to my room to rest because I didn't feel very good, and when I woke up, things were like this. Everyone was quiet. The only words I exchanged with them since were hello's and simple, formal speech. I should have asked what happened while I was dead, but I couldn't bring myself to ask it. I don't know why. Maybe I didn't want to know. Maybe I felt like it didn't matter. I knew for certain that I was happy here now. Or at least content. I didn't feel like I had to fear any of them anymore, and yet the silence was unnerving to me.

"You're not hungry?"

I looked up at the sound of Reiji's voice and noticed that everyone else had stopped eating and were staring at him as well. I was taken back by the fact that he didn't insult my manners and instead asked a question like that.

"It's not that…" I said. "I'm just… worried, I guess."

"Hm."

And then he went back to eating. The others did the same and I looked down at my plate in embarrassment. I thought he would at least ask me why I was worried, but I guess not.

I couldn't be mad at them for things that I considered normal, such as asking why I'm worried, because they don't think like normal people. They think like vampires. Just like they took my blood without asking or without notice, that was normal for them. It wasn't that I accepted it or dealt with it, but at least I understood their reasons. And even so, I always asked them to stop, even though I know it's always in vain. But that's how they are. Sometimes I wish they were different, or understood that, to me, pain like that wasn't something I enjoyed or wanted from them. But I knew explaining it only made them laugh. They thought many human ideals were funny. Just as I thought many vampire ideals were despicable. But that was just the kind of relationship we had, I guess.

"Could you tell me what happened?" I asked. It was an open invite for anyone to respond, but only Reiji acknowledged my question. He frowned.

"To what are you referring?"

"When I… well… when Cordelia—"

"I hope you know that no one wishes to talk about these things during dinner. I really wish you would learn some respect. The table is no place to hold conversations such as the one you are trying to force on us. It's very rude."

There was his manners comment. I knew it had to come out eventually. Whenever he didn't want to talk or he was aggravated, he brought up how awful my manners were. And that was just in his eyes. I could look the wrong way and he'd say I'm being disrespectful and impolite. I didn't always agree with him either. I wasn't trying to force anything on anybody. I was just trying to get a few words out of everyone. Maybe bringing up the incident with Cordelia wasn't the best way to do that, but it was still a conversation to be had.

"I'm sorry," I said, but everyone had already gone back to finishing their meals.

The first one to stand was Shuu, as expected. He didn't say a word or even take his plate. He just stood for a moment and then walked out of the room. The second was Subaru. He finished and vanished. He didn't even bother to let anyone know he was leaving. I just looked up and blinked and he was gone. I looked down at my plate and realized I was barely half done with my food. I was still hungry, but the awkward silence made it difficult for me to eat.

Then Laito and Kanato were gone without notice or word as well. I sighed and I heard Reiji mumble something under his breath about sighing at the dinner table. I held my fork in one hand and sat there in more silence.

Then Ayato stood, and I had to look up at him. He wasn't going to just leave, too, was he? Without a word? He glanced at me and our eyes met. I knew mine were almost pleading, and they all thought of that as a disgusting weakness, but Ayato didn't frown or scowl at me. He blinked naturally a couple times before breaking our eye contact and walking calmly out the door at a human pace. I looked back down at my plate, feeling upset. Why were they all acting like this? I didn't understand. What happened while I was asleep? Or was it something else? I needed to know.

I looked up, determination setting in, preparing to ask Reiji anything I felt like asking, but as I lifted my eyes, he was gone as well. So was everything on the table. He had even taken my plate. I was still hungry… The fork was still in my hand, but the room was spotless and everyone was gone. I pursed my lips in depression and stood. I pushed in my chair and headed for the hall.

I wanted to see one of them on the way to my room so I could try and talk to someone, but no one revealed themselves to me. No one wanted to talk. No one even wanted to take my blood. I didn't mind that part but it was still strange.

I opened the door to my room and saw Shuu lying down on my bed, one leg up and a hand behind his head. I blinked a few times to make sure he was really there and then gently closed the door behind me. I knew he liked it quiet, because he was always listening to his music, so I tried to be as quiet as possible as I crawled onto my bed next to him.

I paused before saying anything. "…Shuu-san?" His name came out quiet and slow, which was how I wanted it. He didn't reply, but I knew he knew I was there, and I knew he had heard me. I was sitting upright, almost over him. I looked down at his face. His eyes were closed and he looked so relaxed, as if he was sleeping, as always.

He slowly opened one eye and looked at me before slowly closing it again. It was probably just to let me know he'd heard me and knew I was there, just in case I didn't realize it. He thought so low of humans, and yet he was considerate enough to do that anyway. Sometimes I didn't get him. Sometimes I thought maybe I think too much about the things he does.

And yet, here he was, in my room, on my bed. He never came in here. Maybe there was something he wanted to tell me. Or maybe he just felt bad because no one had been talking to me recently. But because I didn't think that any of the brothers really, truly felt bad about anything, I assumed he had something to say to me.

But I didn't want to ask him outright. He was easily annoyed and I wasn't sure if immediately prying for an answer would make him want to leave.

A slight noise from near the door made me turn around. Subaru was leaning against the wall beside my long mirror, his arms crossed and his head down, his eyes closed.

"Subaru-kun…"

Why were the two of them in here? I didn't understand what was going on, but a part of me decided just to go with it. It was nice to have some company for the first time in a week, but I wondered if they were both just going to be silent again.

"What's going on—Ungh!"

I gasped as Shuu grabbed me around my waist and pulled me down on top of him. My head hit his chest and my eyes widened a bit. But then his grasp on me loosened and his hand just rested on my back. I could feel my heartbeat speed up a bit, and I knew both of them could feel it as well. They knew when my blood flowed a little hotter and faster than usual. In fact, they'd never let me forget it. But it didn't seem like they wanted my blood this time I became so flustered.

I couldn't deny that lying on top of Shuu like a pillow was comforting, so, aware that it was something Reiji may call inappropriate, I closed my eyes and let myself try and fall asleep. I hadn't brushed my teeth or changed out of my house clothes yet, but I was still tired from the humdrum day and it was already dark outside my window.

I'd never done this before. To be more exact, Shuu had never done this before and allowed me to do it as well. I was so close to him that I could have sworn I could hear a part of his music. Just a simple beat, maybe.

I jumped slightly when I felt the other side of the bed move down as someone sat down behind me. I assumed it was Subaru, but before I could adjust myself, another hand was on me, and I knew it was Subaru's. He brushed the back of his hand against my shoulder blade once before resting it on my shoulder, on the indent of my neck. At first I thought he was going to bite me, but his hand just stayed like that, and neither he nor Shuu moved at all. They were silent statues. I always thought that vampires wouldn't have body heat, but they both did, and I could feel it hitting me in waves. It wasn't too hot, but it was enough to keep me warm enough to feel tired again, and before I knew it, I was invited to a peaceful respite of sleep.

Somewhere along the line, Shuu must have gotten up and Subaru must have moved closer, because when I opened my eyes, I could feel his full body against my back, and his hand on my shoulder had sneaked around and was holding me against him by my waist. His grasp was tight but not painful. In fact, it felt nice to be held tight like this.

Not sure if it would wake him, and not sure if he was even asleep, I moved my one hand to cover his on my stomach and something moved under my head. I noticed his other arm was bent at the elbow beneath the pillow under my head.

"Hm."

I heard him make a noise into my hair as what felt like a nuzzle came from behind me. My eyes lidded. Why was he acting like this? It made me happy, but worried and upset at the same time. I didn't know why my feelings were doing this, either. It was almost as if something was wrong, and I could feel it bothering Subaru, and that's what bothered me. But in all honesty, I didn't really know.

I let my thumb drag back and forth on the back of his hand, and I knew he was awake, so I knew he was letting me, which was strange, but not entirely out of character like Shuu had been last night. I wished there was something else I could do for him, feeling like I needed to do something to make him feel better. But I was confused because why would he be upset? Was he even upset, really, or was it all just in my head? I knew something was going on with the whole family, but I never stopped to think about what each brother was thinking about.

If Subaru really was upset or confused or whatever he was feeling, if he and Shuu came here last night, maybe they were looking for something to make it feel better. Me?

I moved so that I was lying on my back and I turned my head to look at him. His eyes were closed, but I knew he was awake. His arm still draped over me, and I felt discomfort about being so close to him in my bed, but I shoved it down.

"Subaru-kun?"

He slowly opened his eyes, but he was looking down, not at me.

"Shut up," he whispered.

I frowned and felt a tight pull on my emotions that made water come to my eyes. Nothing spilled over so I shoved it down and wiggled so both my hands were free. Now that I heard his voice I knew that something was wrong. Something was upsetting him, and in his own way, I knew this was him asking for help from the only person in this house who would give it to him. With all his vampire strength and speed, he still had feelings and even with his immortality he could still be hurting.

I slowly moved one arm to wrap around him and I tucked the other between us, my palm against his chest. I was surprised when he let me hug him. It was a very human thing to do, so to speak, and I'd noticed from my time here that vampires didn't always feel what a hug meant, but Subaru seemed to understand. He closed his eyes and I felt his breath when he exhaled slowly. Vampires didn't need to breathe, either, but sometimes they did it anyway.

And we just stayed like that for what seemed like an hour. As I was half-asleep, ready to go under again, I fell forward, into an empty space, and my face hit my pillow. I jumped and lifted my head, looking around.

Subaru was gone.

I spent another hour or so in my room by myself after Subaru had left, just because I didn't want to go out into the house and see one of them. I didn't know why, but I just didn't want to. Maybe it would be too awkward for me. But after a little time passed, I sat up and walked over to my dresser. I changed out of yesterday's house clothes and put on a fresh shirt and pair of shorts.

I remembered thinking that Shuu had something to tell me, and I wanted to know if that was true. Maybe he hadn't said anything because Subaru was there, or maybe he wanted to but I had fallen asleep too quickly. Or maybe I was making it out to be something it wasn't and he'd just felt like sleeping in my room for a bit. He always did what he felt like doing anyway. I wouldn't be surprised.

It was Monday, so that got my hopes up a bit. We all had classes tonight, and Monday meant I had swimming class as well. Ever since Ayato figured out that I couldn't swim, he had changed his schedule to be in my swimming class. That was in the first few days that I'd known him, too. Maybe he cared back then and I just didn't realize it? Or maybe I was overthinking things again and he just wanted to be near me because back then I was always trying to get away from them, and they had to keep an eye on me so I wouldn't leave. Now though, I didn't even think about leaving anymore. Near the end, it was difficult for me because my blood changed during the Awakening and having Cordelia manifest inside of me made me almost intoxicating to the Sakamaki brothers. I was almost positive one of them would drink me dry. But from what I remember, it was Ayato who stopped Laito and Kanato from sharing me to my death. It was also Ayato who made a strange proposal during that time. I knew it was only because my blood had smelled so sweet to them all at that time, but his words still came back to me sometimes.

Anyway, I was excited to finally be alone with Ayato tonight. He was always the most willing to talk to me and I knew that if I asked him some questions he was bound to give me an answer to at least a couple of them. Unfortunately, his obsession with owning me often made him the most prone to taking my blood as well, but he hadn't drank from me, same as the others, since before the events of last week. I almost felt as if taking my blood would be a relief of sorts. It would at the very least make things feel like they might get back to normal.

But then I wondered if normal was really what I wanted. If things went back to normal, so to say, then they would all just drink from me when they pleased, without warning, and I hated that. Now, when they did interact with me, it was almost in a way that made them seem… well, human. They still would never act like humans, because they weren't, but it was nice to be able to understand them better. And this way, I could. I could feel that something was wrong with Subaru last night, and I knew that something was up with Shu as well. In the past, I would always have to go looking for them, and then they would drink from me. Or they would just show up and drink from me as well. Living here and not feeling like I'm just some lamb for them to feed on made me happy. I felt bad about it, but I wished that they could just be human, and we could just have normal interactions. It wasn't always easy for me when I had to decipher what they wanted or what was going on in their heads. It wasn't some fun puzzle for me to figure out. It was confusing, and it sometimes got me hurt, physically and emotionally…

I found myself very attached to each one of them. They were unique in their own special ways, and they each had their own personalities, same as humans. But as vampires, they did things that often seemed cruel and heartless. But from what I've learned since I came to this house, those things that I find heartless and cruel have other meanings as well.

For instance, when Subaru gave me his knife, and Laito found out, he told me that murder was one form of expressing love for someone. It sounded outrageous at the time, but after having time to think about his words, it almost made sense. When they bit me, it hurt me, and it could be an expression of caring. I got this idea from Ayato. When he would say certain things before drinking from me, it gave me that impression. But I also concluded that drinking a person's blood didn't necessarily mean that someone cared about you. In the beginning, they did it because they're vampires and that's just what they do to what they call their prey. But, even though it feels the same, there can be a difference. I've felt them use it to express caring as well as hate, and I've felt them do it just for fun or because they wanted to. I've felt them drink from me when they're parched and they need it, and also when they aren't thirsty at all, and it's for a different reason. Reiji used to do it for punishment. Ayato used to refuse to do it because he felt bad. He also did it once when he wanted to express that he cared whether I lived or died. Laito does it mostly for pleasure, both his and mine in his own ridiculous way, Kanato just for fun, Shuu because he's just thirsty, and Subaru when he's aggravated or confused. It's different for each of them. And while I used to find it difficult to figure out how they felt, now I found it easier to do, almost like figuring out another human's emotions. In a way, I didn't think they were so different from humans after getting to know them. They liked to say that they were, but I could see the many similarities as well.

So now I wanted to figure out why no one was drinking from me, or even talking to me for that matter. Shuu always got thirsty every few days or so, and it had been over a week since the last time he fed on me. And he was in my room last night. He didn't seem interested in my blood, even when I got flustered when he pulled me on top of him. I knew that was a rush for them. They could feel when my pulse rose and my blood got hotter, and in a sense it was a turn on for them and make them want to drink. But it didn't seem to affect Shuu or Subaru last night. Instead, they acted like emotionally hurt humans, looking for comfort of some kind. They were almost like children, I realized. And then I realized that they were just children, in a sense. In vampire terms, even though they were much older than me because they're immortal, but in vampire years, they must be about the same age as me. And they were all brothers, living together, going to high school. It almost made sense, if I thought about it in that crazy way.

But I had to say that the brother I was most attached to was Ayato. Just because of the things he's done to me and what I've gone through since I arrived in this house. He was always different than his brothers. He always treated me differently. Even before all of this happened, even on the very first day, I could tell he didn't always think of me as just prey. And slowly, I knew that his attitude towards me grew more and more against that. The only others who might have done the same were Shuu and Subaru. But I knew for a fact that Kanato never liked me in the beginning. He would have killed me a couple of times if not for the others stopping him and reminding him that I was supposed to be alive by the time their uncle got there. Laito used me to the point where I could say he sexually harassed me… violently. He always did what he pleased. Even now, I believe that he still might think about it from time to time. And Reiji was so stuck in his ways that he wouldn't go as far in his punishments for my behaviors that he didn't agree with, but he would still think punishment was required. But as for those three… I knew that at this point the worst thing they would ever do to me is take a little too much blood when they were thirsty or irritated or whatever. I was also confident that they would protect me if the others tried anything. But even so, I knew that Reiji, Laito and Kanato cared for me as well, in their own ways.

With all the thoughts bustling around in my head, I let myself get lost in them. I still didn't want to exit my bedroom and meet with any of them just yet, especially after having such emotional thoughts. I often believed that they could all tell when I felt something deeply, and it was something more than my pulse or the temperature of my blood. I felt as if they could feel it, like a prickling on their skin or something like that. I was curious to ask, but still not curious enough to leave my room.

Instead, I took the seat in front of my vanity and began brushing my hair. I looked at my skin and analyzed my face. I hadn't done it in a long time, but the last time I checked, I had bags under my eyes and my skin was unusually pale. Now, I seemed healthier. My skin, my hair, my eyes… I looked good. I'd never been a vain person, so I turned away from the mirror and finished brushing my hair with my eyes on the ground.

It was almost time for school. I'd been spending the day reading through a few books in the large toy chest beside the window. They were all fairytales about the typical damsel in distress and some brave man who comes to her rescue. I liked stories like that, but after a day of reading them, I was tired of them and eager to go to school. The day had been dreary, but the night seemed clear. The air was crisp, like it was going to rain, but that was no surprise. It was never a nice, sunny day at the Sakamaki house, and the only time I ever really went outside was nighttime, before school. I'd been outside in the garden out back but it was always a dark day around here. I don't even remember the last time I saw the sun. It must have been weeks.

I quickly changed into my school uniform and opened my door. A cool breeze hit me from the hallway and I noticed that my room was especially hot, probably because I'd had my door closed the entire day, and last night, and most of the day before. I had my pack with its one strap over my right shoulder as it rested against the left side of my hip. For the past week of school, I was surprised that the brothers allowed me to attend every day. Usually they have me home for at least a few days a week. I never understood why, so being able to go for an entire week, and now Monday night… It was great. I loved going outside and interacting with other people. It was refreshing for me.

"Ready?"

I turned and looked down the hall. It was Ayato. I quickly smiled and nodded, then jogged to catch up to him. But before I could even blink, he disappeared and I stopped. I stood in the middle of the hall and looked at my feet. What was that all about? Why would he even bother saying anything if he just wanted to run away? The candles on the wall were all lit, as usual, but the light in the hall was dim from the small flames. I sighed and made my way to the large foyer. I walked down the large staircase and stopped before the front door. No one else was here. Were they not going to school tonight? That would be odd. I at least wanted Ayato to go so I could talk to him during swimming class.

"Good. You're already dressed. I was afraid I'd have to go tell you to get ready again."

I turned. It was Reiji. I forced a smile and a small laugh.

"Nope, this time I remembered." I kept up my smile but he wasn't reciprocating. He looked at me with slightly narrowed eyes behind his glasses and then gave a "hmph" sound before turning and opening the door. I lifted an eyebrow at his back, but then let it go and followed him outside. The limousine was waiting, as usual, with the same driver as usual. I always wondered if he was just someone the brothers hired, or if he knew what they were. He never spoke a word to any of us, and there was the noise-proof wall between us and him when we sat in the back of the long, shiny black vehicle.

"Is no one else going tonight?" I quickly asked, but Reiji didn't respond. Instead he just opened the back door and stepped inside. For someone who always complained about manners and such, I noticed that he never followed his own rules. Not once has he ever held a door open for me, or other simple things like that. Unless it was actually only a human tradition. Then he probably wouldn't give a damn for as long as he lived. Or it was the fact that I was human and vampires thought of us as lesser beings, or something like that. Just like you would never hold a door open for a dog, unless of course you pitied it, but vampires never felt bad in that sense. Well… most of them, at least. I knew a few who did, I thought with an inward smile.

As I stepped into the back of the limo, I noticed that I was very wrong. All of the Sakamaki brothers sat around the cushioned chairs, their mouths shut and their eyes either out the windows or on their laps. No one even glanced my way when I stepped into the vehicle. I took my usual seat next to Ayato in the far seat against the back wall and waited for him to do something stupid… But it never came. Even when he was in a bad mood, he would still always put his arm over the seat behind me just for show. But I don't know why I was expecting it. He hadn't been doing anything for the past week either. I just thought that maybe it would be different since the weekend had passed. But everything was still the same. The good news was that swimming class was the second class today, and they hadn't held it at all last week because the instructor had been sick. But hopefully he was better today and we would have all three classes this week. That would give me plenty of time to talk to Ayato. He couldn't avoid talking to me during class. We were partners, as well. Everyone had a partner in that class, because if something happened, there was always someone watching you. So his attention would have to be on me the whole time. Not to mention that we've had this class for less two weeks and I wasn't any closer to learning how to swim. Most of the other students came into the class already knowing, and they were just there to splash around and have fun.

The drive seemed longer because of the silence and when the limo finally stopped in front of the school, and Reiji opened the door, they all disappeared within the second. I frowned again and made my way outside at my normal human pace. I shut the door behind me and the limo pulled back out onto the road and drove off. It would be back by the end of the day, but until then, we were all stuck here. Or more accurately, the Sakamaki brothers were stuck here… with me. And I wanted some answers.

My first class was cooking, with Kanato and Ayato, but as I presumed from the past week of class, they both skipped, and I sat in the room, surrounded by strangers, and made whatever recipe I was given for the day. And after forty-five minutes of that, I walked out into the halls and made my way to the large swimming pool room. There was no way Ayato would dare skip this class. I knew this because he wouldn't let me go into the pool not knowing how to swim, without a partner. No one would be able to see if something happened to me because they would be too absorbed in whatever else they were doing. Most of them played games. The instructor wandered off most of the time anyway.

I quickly changed into the uniform—a one piece blue bathing suit, and stepped out into the room. I waited and watched the exit to the boy's locker room, but Ayato never came out. I frowned. Would he really not show up to this class either? I felt tears in the back of my eyes for a split second, but I quickly shook it off.

"Alright everyone," the monotonous voice of our instructor droned from the back corner of the room, "You know the drill. Be safe. No horseplay. I'll be back in a few minutes. Just going to get something to drink." And then he exited through the metal double doors. They closed behind him and all of a sudden, as usual, the room went into a frenzy. We all knew he wouldn't be back until a few minutes before class ended and the bell rang, so everyone was diving and splashing and one girl pulled out a small pool toy and started throwing it around. We were supposed to do laps… nice, orderly laps, and practice our diving from the three boards at the other end. But instead the students felt they got to pretend they were at the beach. And since no one would stop them, they were right.

I quickly slid into the water in the shallow end and lowered my body so my chin was just above the surface. I couldn't believe Ayato really didn't show up. I guess he figured I wouldn't try anything new if he wasn't here…

Then I got an idea. Slowly and carefully, I made my way along the wall towards the deep end. I could show him, I thought. I didn't need him anyway. I would teach myself how to swim without his help. I knew how to stay safe. I wasn't stupid enough to put myself in a position where I could seriously drown. So I stayed with my body pressed firmly against the wall until I was halfway into the deep end. I was nervous because I knew that I couldn't reach the bottom if I stepped off the ledge on the wall of the pool, but I kept a firm grip on the edge and I promised myself I wouldn't let go. Slowly, making sure there was no one around who could hit me or anything like that, I let my feet slip off the ledge and kick behind me. My back end stayed afloat and my upper body was kept above the water from my grip on the edge of the pool. This felt nice. It was almost as if I was swimming. See, I told myself. I didn't need—

"Oi, what do you think you're doing?"

I started and quickly brought my feet back to the ledge under the water. I looked up and there he was, leaning down, his hands on his knees, glaring at me with those beautiful yellow-green eyes.

"I thought you would be smart and stay where it's safe, but here you are putting yourself in danger. Sometimes I think you want to die, Pancake."

"I'm not doing anything dangerous," I said. "Why aren't you or your brothers in class?"

"I feel sick. I don't want to go in the water."

"Oh." I felt bad, but for the most part I thought he was lying. "Do you think you'll feel better by next class—"

"No."

"Oh… Well then I'm sure on Friday—"

"No."

I frowned. "You're doing this on purpose. Why?" He didn't respond. "I wanted to ask you about the Awakening. What happened to me? What happened while I was… asleep?" He still didn't say anything. "Ayato… Please. No one will talk to me. You… Your brothers… Why are you all acting this way?"

He looked away from me. "Just get out of the deep end before you do something stupid and I have to come in there and get you."

Now that was an idea I hadn't thought of. If he wasn't going to talk to me… Well, if he wanted to be a nuisance, then I could do the same. I pushed off of the edge and let myself go for about two feet before I felt my body slowly sinking.

"Oi!" I heard him shout before my head was under. I couldn't hear anything, and I could feel my mind trying to force my body to start panicking, but I knew I'd be fine. It was a stupid thing to do, sure to get him furious at me. Maybe I was just that desperate for some attention from at least one of the brothers. And if I had to have my pick, Ayato was the one I'd want it from.

As expected, it didn't take long before I felt a hand grab my arm so tight I knew it would leave bruises. Yea, he was furious all right. I couldn't help but smile to myself. I opened my eyes and ignored the burn from the chlorine, but I wanted to panic for a whole other set of reasons when it wasn't Ayato I saw pulling me above the water. It was a boy I'd never seen before. He was in just his swimming trunks and his upper body was quite sculpted. He wasn't looking at me though. He probably thought I was unconscious because I went under without moving. I looked above the water and saw a lot of blurred faces, but no one had that soft head of light purple hair. Ayato was gone.

The boy with the chiseled upper body dragged me out of the pool with the help of a few others, all asking desperately if I was alright. I couldn't even nod. I just sat there and let myself cry.