∆ Clock Strikes SIX

The Chemistry teacher, who volunteered to look after us in detention, was dozing off. I flicked my pen and began scribbling random stuffs. Ayato wasn't asleep but he was looking at the wall, as if thinking. I poked his arm with my pen. He turned to me.

'Let's sneak out.' He whispered.

I stared at him. 'Are you sure?'

'I'm good at this.' He got up slowly, without any sound.

'Sakamaki-san.'

We turned our heads. The teacher was glaring at him but Ayato paid no attention as he walked towards the window. 'Fresh air.' He replied simply. It was midnight and the wind was cold.

The teacher hummed and reached out for his phone. Ayato came back to me after opening the windows wide. He leaned into my ear. 'When I say run, you jump out of the window. Get it? I'll be waiting down there.' He said.

I gulped. 'Are you crazy?! This is the third floor!' I whispered back.

'I know what I'm doing.' He frowned and I nodded.

'If I die, you die with me.' I warned.

He spun on his heels and jumped out. The teacher was still on his phone. 'RUN!' I heard Ayato yelled from below. I grabbed my bag and ran towards the window.

'WHAT ARE YOU-' the teacher shouted, trying to catch me.

I took a fast, deep breath and jumped. Ayato smirked and realization hit. I quickly pulled down my skirt and soon, landed in his arms. The teacher looked at us from above.

'YOU TWO ARE GOING TO PAY!!!!'

I frowned at Ayato. 'You saw my underwear!'

He shrugged and carried me, walking away. 'Today's luck.'

I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes. 'Pervert.'

-

I gaped at Ayato in surprise and bewilderment. 'Why did you take mine?!' I chided.

'Mine's finished.' He answered and stole another Takoyaki from me.

I quickly pulled away from him. 'That's not fair! You've got your share and it's finished, don't take mine!' I pouted.

'Give it to me or I'll suck your blood.' He threatened.

'Suck my blood, then.' I dared.

He pinched my nose and I shrieked in pain. Well, some guys might do it gently but this is Ayato. He hates me a lot because I give him so much trouble and in return, he can't even suck my blood.

'I should call you a Takoyaki addict!' I retaliated.

'Call me whatever you want. I'll find a way to break this curse and suck your blood until you die.' He replied coldly.

My lips pursed into a thin line. 'Are you actually that frustrated that you can't drink my blood?' I asked.

'Yes,' he shoved the empty plastic bag that was once filled with Takoyaki, to me. 'And I'm going to have a drink now.'

He walked away from me, faster. With very much silence, he approached two girls from behind. It was getting late but the girls were chatting happily, casually walking by the road. I shook my head. This'd be ugly.

'Kizuna.'

I turned my head and saw a very familiar man. 'Shin?' I smiled a bit. 'What are you doing here?'

He returned the smile. 'Care to follow me?'

I nodded but before I could even ask why, I saw him grinned and the world went black.

-

I woke up almost immediately at the sound of wolves and shivered. I've always hated wolves! Looking around, I scanned the place. I was alone in a dark underground room, tied to a chair, and the room was hot. I wanted to strip but knew better than to risk my virginity life.

'Hello?' I called out. 'May I ask what I am doing here? Or what's going to happen to me?'

Silence. Then I heard someone's footsteps. A short boy stood in front of me. 'Hi.'

I blinked, surprised at his appearance. 'Um... hi?'

Kanato tilted his head and then winced. He shot me a look before quickly undid the ropes. I breathed out a huge sigh of relief and stretched. 'So, what am I doing here?' I asked, slightly assured that none of the sadistic vampires in the Sakamaki Manor could possibly hurt me.

'I just wanted to show you my collections.' Kanato replied and held my hand.

'Okay, I'll be glad...' I trailed off and looked away. '... I guess.' I murmured.

He went further along and entered another room. 'Ayato brought you home just now. You caused him a great pain.' He spoke.

'What happened?'

Kanato shrugged. 'I don't know and I don't want to know.'

I went silent and followed him closely. Soon, we entered another room lined with mannequins and dolls. Alive-looking women dolls and all of them were wearing a wedding dress. Each of them has a different expression. Some looked sad, some looked scared, and some were even smiling.

I approached a very beautiful one. She had wavy ginger hair and hazel eyes. Her ivory skin matched her red lips and her slightly shocked expression somehow made her even more beautiful. She was taller than me by a few inches so I tiptoed and looked into her eyes.

'That is the latest I made.' Kanato began. On cue, I saw her blinked. Gasping, I choked back a scream and staggered backwards. I avoided her gaze.

'W-were they alive?' I asked.

Kanato gave me a stare before answering, 'Yes.'

I wanted to puke, faint, jump out of a window, and cry at the same time but I did neither. 'I waxed them.' He added.

'Nice.' I commented, hoping he'd notice the sarcasm but he paid no attention and proceeded walking further. I took another look at the woman and touched her hand.

'I'm sorry.' I mouthed and hugged her then went to Kanato.

'How many of them?' I asked, somewhat interested.

'I lost count after two years ago,' he turned to me. 'Do you think they're pretty?'

'Yeah, of course,' I shrugged. 'You have great taste in women, eh?'

'Would you like to try?' he asked.

I coughed. 'Try what? Waxing? Um... no.'

'Why?'

I frowned. Why, you ask me?! Do you want me to wax you instead, Kanato!?!! 'Because, this waxing thing will take a long time and I'm hungry.' I replied.

'I can make it fast.' He retorted.

I put up my two hands. 'Just, no. I don't want to.'

'Does that mean my artworks are ugly?' he raised his voice.

I rubbed my forehead. 'No, no, of course not! It's just-'

'Then why are you refusing!?' he shouted and I flinched. 'Don't you want to be pretty like them, too?!'

'I-I may be a woman but I don't strive for being as pretty as them,' I stuttered. 'I'm fine the way it is right now, I-'

He pushed me to the wall, nearly crushing my windpipe. 'Kanato.' I breathed and bit my lower lip.

'You said they're pretty and my artworks are beautiful,' he hissed. 'But why don't you want to contribute?!'

I shivered under his glare and prayed for my life.

'You're!' he removed his arm from my throat.

'Just!' he banged his arm on my collarbone. I coughed horribly, and started choking from the force.

'Like!' He repeated the same thing.

'Them!!' another blow then he moved back as I slid down the wall, to my knee.

I gasped for air and clenched my fists in pain. He's crazy.

'Kanato, open the door!' I heard Ayato shouted from outside.

I looked up at Kanato and saw that he was in pain. He'd taken the attack as well when he injured me. He actually wanted to kill, I guess. The door swung open and Ayato ran to me.

'You bastard!' he scanned my condition then turned to punch Kanato. 'You felt the pain too, didn't you?! Why did you hurt her? Are you trying to kill me?!'

Kanato laughed creepily. 'Pain is the best feeling in the world!'

Ayato breathed heavily, clutching his chest and helped me up. 'Didn't she tell you?' Kanato growled and Ayato stopped.

'Who?' He asked.

'Gemini. She told me the girl should be killed. She brings calamity into our house!' Kanato answered.

I didn't dare to glance down at my collarbone so I just stared at the two of them. 'Gemini's dead, Kanato.' Ayato muttered and carried me away.

He placed me on the sofa in the living hall where everybody else is. I was suffocating by then. 'Reiji,' Ayato gestured at me. 'I'm too exhausted.'

Reiji huffed in response and approached. I screamed in apprehension as he located his palm on my chest and concentrated. It was cold around the area and a sharp pain pierced. Reiji frowned and I could feel him healing the veins and my fractured bones.

I panted when he moved away. 'Thank you.' I croaked.

-

I lied down on my bed for a long time after I've woken up from the "healing session", just thinking about stuffs. 'How long are you going to stare at that uninteresting ceiling?' a voice startled me.

I quickly sat upright and looked at the source of the voice. 'What are you doing in my room?' I asked.

He opened his eyes and sat up as well. 'I have a few questions for you.' He spoke grimly.

I shrugged and nodded. 'Shoot it.'

'Do you remember your parents?' he queried.

I blinked at him. 'Yes, of course.'

'What was your mother like?'

'I remember her being blonde and... pretty?' I raised a brow.

He frowned slightly. 'Another symbol.'

'That represents her? Um... she used to wear a red jewel as a necklace.' I answered.

With that, Shuu let out a sharp exhale and left the room.

**** WRAPPED ****

A/N: Changed Shinohara Yuu to Akatsuki Kizuna because I feel like changing it. Hello, bye hahah.

This is awkward.

By my leave, mortals