Chapter Three:Ruined

"How near I am to going mad here by myself. Why did I dare? Right from the start, I swear I knew I shouldn't care, but I do."

-Edith Piaf, I Shouldn't CareLyrics

I managed to distract myself with my research. The feel of parchment beneath my fingers, the warmth of a burner as it mixed chemicals, the sound of scratching as I recorded notes: all of these were concrete, common, comfortable. I much preferred them to the heightened sentiment I felt near Yui. The girl haunted every moment I wasn't otherwise engaged, and my nearly twenty-four hours of separation did not aid the excitement I felt when I saw her at dinner. I planned to let the others have their way with her but Laito's suggestion of feeding her got on my already raw nerves.

"Laito, It's bad manners to get to your feet during a meal." I pointed out, at least their complete lack of all things related to etiquette gave me just cause in my corrections. Then Shu walked out and I glared after him, I'd always had trouble hiding my contempt…but then I didn't care to mask it. "That deadbeat…nothing good can come from anyone that grows up spoiled rotten."

She was looking at me; I could sense the pity in her eyes. That wasn't exactly the emotion I wanted to inspire in her, still…she was likely curious as to my rare breech of decorum…perhaps I would explain it another time. Kanato started speaking and slamming the table, but I didn't expect the best behavior out of him. I was still considering Shu. "He won't even make the effort to attend our monthly dinner party. That will be all."

It wasn't as though they all wanted to be there…I only arranged it to keep up some appearance of family decorum. They left shortly after the dismissal. Yui hesitated a moment before getting up herself.

"One moment." I interrupted before she could step from the table. "Your table manners are deplorable. One of these days I will take you aside and discipline you thoroughly. Understood?"

I wanted to take her to the side now…but I knew the others would notice. All of their appetites would be far from completely sated by the human food. Instead I took it another direction. "You will help by cleaning up, we are paying for your food, it's only natural."

I remained, it wasn't a far cry from my nature to occasionally supervise the help here. She didn't argue, just starting to gather plates and carry them to the kitchen. She was already making herself comfortable here, she'd learned some of the layout and she had yet to argue with me, something untrue for the others. I followed her into the kitchen, though didn't move to help her…perhaps she thought better than to ask after her problem with Ayato at the school.

"Come, you'll need a bath…" I remarked, she was starting to smell less sweet as time went on…we had demanded so much of her she hadn't yet had the chance. I walked her out of the kitchen and through the halls.

"Um…wasn't that the bath?" She asked curiously, she'd slowed near the one closest to her room and then sped up to catch up to me. "What's wrong with that one?"

"It functions perfectly, Shu is inside." I replied, if there was one of my siblings I was most averse to sharing with, it was that worthless bum. "There is another bath this way."

"You're all brothers." She pointed out. "Why are you all so different?"

"We come from different mothers." I explained, ignoring her gasp of surprise…I at least needed to get her somewhere private before I had these thoughts. "The worthless deadbeat and I are from the same mother, Ayato, Kanato, and Raito are triplets from another woman, Subaru had his own mother as well."

It was easy to speak of after this many years.

"In here." I turned on the light to the secondary bath and held a door a moment for her. Out of habit more than anything. "You'll take a bath here then return to sleep so you'll start adjusting to our schedule fully."

"Oh, all right." Yui nodded to me. "Thank you Reiji."

I was going to leave…but her gentle voice saying my name gave me pause, I hadn't felt hungry today…not really until now. The other blood I'd had didn't compare to hers…I wanted it again…I was growing as spoiled as Shu. I closed the door and she didn't realize I had left, still getting undressed, her body well-proportioned and curved in the ways it should be considering her age.

I supposed a bath couldn't hurt…but then I shook my head…as much as I wished I could bathe her myself I had other things to accomplish tonight. That being said, I was behind her a moment later, pulling her close to me, rubbing her backside into me as I took a deep whiff of her scent. She tantalized me…was it truly all innocent? I certainly wondered if she wasn't the best temptress I'd ever know…

"Reiji…you…don't…"

"Shhh…" I whispered…if she kept saying my name…if she kept speaking at all…I might not be able to control myself. I bit through her neck at the collarbone, grinding her closer when she let out a small squeak of surprise. I could feel her body warm, her pulse quicken…she enjoyed this…perhaps not as much as I did…but she liked it all the same. None of my potions, my cooking, nothing I'd ever crafted could taste as good as she did…I hated that she was so much better than my creations but loved to indulge in her flavor, her loss of breath. My hands trailed up her sides from the hips, curling over her subtle skin, her hourglass figure. I'd barely teased beneath the bottom of her breasts when I pulled away…if I continued now I was certain my willpower couldn't bring me back. My own breath still uneven when she turned to glance at me…I shook my head at her.

"Be prepared tomorrow…I shouldn't have to wake you every time." I remarked, dipping back into my serious voice as best I could…but I could still hear it infused with lust. I didn't look at her…I knew if I did it would be too much. I left the room to return to my own lab before I did something I would regret.

I resisted the urge to break one of the projects I was working on. How did this vile, delicious girl manage to have such a hold over me? She wasn't of any remarkable intellect or beauty…she was generally quite average and very willing to just submit…to me at any rate…though that wasn't one of her many flaws. I threw one of the books on the couch and tossed myself into my chair, taking off my glasses to rub my face, the taste of her was still ripe on my tongue.

I rinsed out my mouth, as much as I didn't want to waste the flavor I knew I wouldn't be able to focus while it was still there. I dove into my project, but didn't make it very far before Ayato shoved his way into my room with Yui. I perked a brow at the rude intrusion.

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?" He asked.

I didn't reply immediately, finishing with a piece of work and writing in the notes so I wouldn't lose my place.

"Hey, can you hear me?" Ayato had worked himself up.

"I don't have time for your nonsense Ayato." I remarked, bored with his possessiveness before it started.

"Don't give me that…your fang marks are all over Yui. She's mine." Ayato continued to rant. I did not look up from my work until he'd grabbed my collar. I ducked before his punch made it through, then pursed my lips in displeasure as he knocked over my experiment. Both of my wrists met with the center of his chest a split second later, throwing him backward into my wall…several of the shelves broke with the impact of his body and left books tumbling around him. What a mess…

"Ayato!" Yui called, clearly worried about what was happening in front of her.

"Ayato, do I appear to be in the mood for this?" I remarked darkly, stalking after my young sibling to kick him in the face when he dove toward me again. "Do you really think you can handle me?"

"Whatever, give it up Reiji, it's clear you have a thing for Yui…you keep stopping all the rest of us from getting her alone. If not me, then Kanato or Leito. Do you think I wouldn't notice?"

"You are rather thick." I retorted, irritated that my younger sibling realized my feelings. I kicked him in the stomach before he could answer. "Now you've ruined my shelves, one of my experiments, and continue to waste my time. Perhaps it's time you join your mother."

I leaned down to grab him by his collar, punching him in the jaw before he could reply again. I was about to continue with another punch but Yui jumped on my arm. I stopped on my own, she couldn't have held be back with her weak strength but I didn't want to harm her as a result of our disagreement. Ayato was already unconscious, his face would heal by tomorrow night…his other wounds might bother him…but he knew too much…

"Reiji?" Yui was clearly more frightened than she'd been before. I could feel it on her, the terror that made her want to flee from here…from me. I relaxed my arm and pulled her close…I knew I should correct her for her poor behavior grabbing my arm but I just wanted her close. How dare Ayato think he was worthy of her…perhaps she wasn't amazing but certainly worth more than that dog even as a mortal…

"It's fine Yui…I'll fix it." I remarked, relieved when she relaxed against me. Some part of her trusted me when I said that. Despite what I'd done to her…despite how I'd still likely have to treat her…I sighed and set her down. I moved to one of my tables and found the right mixture, putting the liquid in my mouth I walked back to Yui and forced a kiss on her, waiting for her to open her mouth to push the liquid in. It was bitter, probably the same way it made her feel based on the betrayed expression she offered me when I forced it on her. It worked quickly though, and she didn't get to say anything after coughing a moment. She fell unconscious in my arms and I set her on the couch before continuing to Ayato…neither of them would remember this interlude…my drugs would make sure of that. I couldn't allow the moment…not yet…I sighed at my younger brother. Perhaps it would be easier to just kill him…but there were rules for that and I didn't have Subaru's knife regardless. I doubt he'd just let me borrow it if I asked.

I had to resist the urge to just throw Ayato into his bedroom like a ragdoll…at least tossing him over the bed before I moved back to get Yui. She was sleeping comfortably thanks to his alchemy, the drugs in the liquid would keep her comfortable for some time. She would forget much of the night…probably even that I'd fed from her in the bathroom. It was just as well she didn't think she had someone willing to help her here…if I'd already started to become obvious…then she would let the others know very quickly. It was a fine line I walked…but was I really willing to share her to keep them from knowing?

The hesitation I felt was like lead had been poured into my lungs…I couldn't dwell on it now. I needed to return her to her room. I shook off the idea of any of my brothers feeding from her as I set her in her bed.

This girl was going to ruin me…

End Chapter

Slowly moving things more toward Reiji, I really wondered a lot at how often he 'fang blocked' his fellow vampires during the show…and his motives seemed to be more than just his obsession with manners imo.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Yay, thanks for the little bit of love. I too love Reiji, he's easily my fav of the Diabolik Lovers crew. I will try to correct my spelling for Subaru in the future so thanks for pointing out that problem as well!