(sniffs) Everyone is so nice. Thanks for all of your support! (sniffs)

Hot damn, I didn't know an individual vampire could carry so much sass.

Subaru clenched his teeth, and approached Ayato with his balled up fists. "Please don't involve me in this," I say as I remove Ayato's arm from around me and step to the side. "I most definitely do not want to sustain any injuries from a pissed off vampire."

Ignoring my words, Subaru swung his fist and before I knew it, Ayato was sprawled on the floor. Blood trailed down his bruised jaw as he pushed himself off of the ground to stand up again. He stumbled towards Subaru.

"You son of a bitch!" Ayato yelled, raising his fist to return Subaru's punch. Before his fist could come into contact with Subaru's face, my body moved reflexively and I found myself acting as a shield in front of the silver-haired vampire. My fingers were gripping Ayato's wrists, stopping it's momentum. Upon realizing my actions, I immediately dropped my fingers and nonchalantly stepped away. "Fuck." The vampire used his wrist to wipe away the blood on his chin and then he finally made his grand exit.

A few seconds of silence ensued between Subaru and I. "Why did you protect me?" He eventually asked.

"Because-" I was broken off by Ayato's reappearance.

"Dawn!" he barked. "You're coming with me."

"But I don't feel like it," I automatically replied.

Scowling, he tossed me over his shoulder with inhuman speed, carrying me like a bag of some sort. He traveled through the hallways, making sharp turns as I struggled against him. In the end, it was useless, so I just gave up. No use expending my energy on something pointless. In the end, the destination of the brief trip turned out to be my room, where I was roughly deposited on my own bed. I sat up on the bed, puzzled.

"So? What do you need?" I bluntly questioned.

"I need you to treat my wound."

"I thought vampires healed fast though. Treating your wound shouldn't be necessary."

"Well, the do," Ayato said. "But it hurts! I want you to numb out the pain! Subaru can really pack a punch when he's pissed and I don't know how to treat myself. By the way, I noticed that you protected him but not me. I'll overlook it if you do as I say."

"Fine," I muttered. "Where's the first aid kit?"

"Here," Ayato held out a white box with a red cross painted on top. "Hurry up, will you?"

"Don't be so impatient, you feisty vampire. Just shut up and let me do what you told me to." I hissed, snatching the small plastic container from his hands.

"Don't tell me to shut up, human!"

"Shut up!" I provoked, applying lots of alcohol on Ayato's injured jaw.

"It burns!" He complained.

"That's the point. It's going to burn so much that you won't even feel the pain anymore." I closed the kit up, standing up. "Happy, now?"

Ayato pouted, a bit of red in his cheeks. "Yeah, but you did a really shit job."

"Whatever! Just let me go soak in the bath without being under surveillance, okay? Or else I'll punch you as hard as Subaru did." I spun to leave towards the bathroom, wondering why someone can't do something as simple as spreading alcohol across their face. Before I could vacate the room, I felt a cold hand grabbing mine.

"Th-thank you," Ayato quietly uttered, and then dropped his hold on my hand.

"No problem." I went into the bathroom, locking the door behind me. I wondered about what happened back there. Ayato was stuttering? How out of character. Why? Was it because of his injury? I pondered over this unbelievable spectacle as I filled bathtub up with hot, steaming water. When the bath was halfway full, I closed the faucet, stripped, then stepped into the bath. I pulled my knees against my chest as I soaked in the water, letting my long hair float on its surface. Drowsily, I leaned my head against the side of the tub.

"Why did you help me back then?"

I bolted upright, startled by the sudden break in silence. Then I noticed Subaru, leaning against the bathroom wall with his arms crossed over his chest. "S-Subaru!" On the sight of him, I crossed my arms over my chest as well. "Don't you have the decency to let one enjoy their bath without interruptions?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Humans are bothered when others see them unclothed, especially if the others are of the opposite sex, am I right?"

"I believe that should be a given." I replied, flustered.

Subaru's hands flew to the buttons on his shirt, and quickly, he started to undo them, revealing his pale skin underneath.

"What are you doing?" Panicking, I watched as he continued his actions. After getting his shirt off, he reached for the button on his pants. "What are you doing? Stop!"

He paused his actions and stared at me with an expression of normalcy. "I thought that perhaps you would be less embarrassed if I was also unclothed."

I turned away, trying not to stare at his slender, lean body. "Please, don't. I would feel more embarrassed if you were to strip all the way."

"...Sorry." I was then reminded of my nakedness and aware of Subaru's eyes. Warmth started to creep up my cheeks. As inconspicuously as possible, I poured in plenty of soap to the water and mixed it around. Yay, I guess I'll be having a bubble bath today!

"So...why are you here?"

"I wanted to know why you protected me."

"Well, I protected you on reflex. It felt like the right thing to do." The bubbles started to fill the tub now. "Why do you ask?"

Subaru's face started to noticeably heat up, and he nervously ran his hand through his hair. Goddamnit vampire, stop showing off your beach model worthy bod. "Reiji lent me his dictionary. And now, I think I know what this feeling I have is called."

Whoop, whoop, finished with this chapter. (stretches) I actually wrote this chapter about a few days in advance. Which is surprising. Because I'm a last minute person, ehehe...