ｌｏｎｇ   ｔｉｍｅ
ｎｏ   ｓｅｅ

『 your p.o.v 』

          At first, there was nothing but darkness. I felt weightless, like I was suspended in a dark void, nothing there whatsoever to accompany me. Then there was a dull ache starting first in my head, later shifting to my chest and hips, then to my legs, and soon enough my entire body had varying degrees of aches and pains scattered all over.

          The pain only continued to grow worse as I was surrounded by darkness to the point I was on the verge of screaming. Everything hurt. I was nowhere and yet everywhere and all I could register was pure pain. It was excruciating. Something I don't think I'd ever truly be able to describe with words for as long as I live.

          And then the pain suddenly vanished. The aches were minimal, barely there at all as the darkness began to ever so slowly brighten. It was as if Heaven's holy gates had opened and decided that I was worthy of salvation. The pain was gone and I felt as light as a feather. Nothing could touch me.

          All too soon, my eyes slowly fluttered open and everything felt very different. I didn't move an inch as I tried to understand just what's going on.

          The grand architecture of the roof within this room is familiar, scarily so. I remember this specific intricate golden design so vividly it's as if I saw it just yesterday. Oh god, the Sakamaki's...

          "___! You're alive- oh my gosh, it worked!" Yui said happily, her physical form nowhere in sight as I slowly begin to push myself to sit up.

          My body still aches, but, it's tolerable. "Yui, where are the boys? Are the Sakamaki's and Mukami's alright?" I asked, hesitantly glancing around some while I lift a hand to brush through my hair. Is it longer than before..?

          This room is large, me lying down in a grand bed with satin crimson silk sheets layered over my nearly naked form. I'm only in my bra and underwear and there's no telling how long I've been unconscious here.

          The window to my left very nearly takes up the entire wall, sunlight streaming in and casting an orange hue over the room as the sun begins to set. The large rose garden outside puts all my nerves at ease, so many memories being made there with so many different vampires. I'm home. This was my old room back before everyone began to die. Finally, I'm back in the Demon World and have been returned to the First Blood Castle where I belong.

          Yui laughed a bit as she materialized and sat beside me on the large bed, sitting on her knees as her angel wings gently fold and rest against her back. "You just woke up from dying and your very first concern is whether the Sakamaki's and Mukami's are safe? You really are a great person ___."

          I shook my head some, instantly regretting it as a wave of dizziness hit. "I'm no saint, Yui. But tell me, are they alright?"

          She nodded. "Subaru managed to carry you here once he had woken up and Reiji had explained the situation. Everyone made it here in one peace- Shu even went and talked with Ruki about having everyone come here together once you were in Shin's care."

          A sigh escaped past my lips as my shoulders relaxed. "I'm glad but wait, did you say Shin?"

          Again, Yui slowly nodded. "He's the one who has been looking over you once Carla saved you."

          "Carla and Shin." I said their names at nothing above a whisper as I looked around some almost as if I was expecting them to be standing near the window like they used to when we were younger. They'd often sneak into my room late at night to play and talk considering they were both always so busy and I wasn't technically allowed to so much as look at them let alone befriend them. "I- I must go and see them." I murmured, already pushing the satin sheet off of myself before crawling over to the edge of the bed.

          "___, you just woke up. Don't push yourself too hard." Yui warned. "Carla had said it would take a while for your body to become adjusted. Your body was in a human state for so long that you really shouldn't try to move around until your bones settle back into place."

          I shook my head, forcing myself up off the bed before shakily walking over to my wardrobe. "I have to see them." I said just as I opened the large wardrobe, surprised to find it fitted with much of the clothes I had worn when I was a kid. Gently, I ran my fingers across the dresses Queen Krone had custom made for myself back all those years ago.

          "___?"

          "Sorry, I got distracted is all." I responded, pushing aside the dresses and finding many elegant yet simple everyday dresses custom to the size and shape of a variety of women. It didn't take me long to find a nice simple dress that fit my body well, all of this still feeling like something straight out of a dream.

          Checking my appearance in the nearby vanity mirror, I nodded. I look surprisingly well put together despite only just waking up after nearly dying. "Alright, I need to see Carla first." I murmured as I exited my old bedroom without ever once glancing back. "He should be in his chambers, correct?"

          Yui thought for a moment as she once again materialized to float beside me while I walked barefoot down the large hallway. I couldn't find any shoes in the wardrobe or in my room for that matter so I guess barefoot is the way to go nowadays. "Shin had said something earlier about going back to his brother after he was done checking up on you so I'd assume so." The blonde angel paused as she looked to me curiously. "Are you really ready to face them after all this time? Shin talked to you a lot while you were recovering these last few weeks; about what he missed, how he couldn't believe you'd grown into such a beautiful young woman, and also gave you small updates on what's changed since you disappeared all those years ago. He was so heartbroken ___, you must feel the same to an extent, don't you?"

          "I guess, but I want to see them more than anyone right now. The bond I had with those two was something that was irreplaceable."

          "But now you're also close to the Mukami's and Sakamaki's."

          "Well, yes, that was only natural." I responded. "After I left the Tsukinami's with my amnesia, I met the Mukami's and depended on them for months if not a few years so of course I'd grow close to them. And while I was living in this here castle, my home, the Sakamaki's were frequent visitors due to their father's relationship with the late First Blood King and I grew quite fond of them. Not a single one of those brothers treated me like the outcast I was but rather appreciated the fact I enjoyed spending time with them. They're lovely vampires who I grew to love nearly as much as I loved my two young princes. Everything is now a jumbled mess where my emotions are concerned considering I've grown so close to all of these young men by living almost two separate lives, but, one thing isn't certain."

          Yui looked to me with knitted brows. "And what's that?" She asked.

          Looking to her with a small smile, I turned down the last hallway, the one where at the end of it lies Carla's old bedroom chambers. With his infinite hatred towards his father, I'm sure he wouldn't be staying in the royal chambers. "It's uncertain whether or not I'll still love the Tsukinami's as I did when we were children. It's been so long and both them and I have been through so much. The three of us have grown up on two very different paths. I lived the life of an abused human for the majority of my childhood and teen years while Carla and Shin grew up as heirs to a kingdom that would fall into ruin due to a combination of their father's reckless actions and the Endzeit virus. We couldn't be any more different now..."

          Yui stayed quiet as I stopped in front of a large set of doors, her ethereal form disappearing with nothing but light imbued angel wing feathers fluttering down to the floor beside me where she had once been floating. I took in a deep breath before exhaling it shakily, my hands now resting on the two door handles. I can feel my hands shaking. I'm, scared? It's been a while since I ever felt a true sense of fear when walking down to this specific bedroom chamber. It must be because of all the time that's passed us by.

          Pulling, I opened the two large doors and hesitated before walking in further. Sitting in a chair beside the large bed far off within the room was an older version of a young boy I remember. His orange tinted strawberry blonde hair is still just as spiked and unkempt as it was back then, his glasses still helping just one eye see while the other is covered with that infamous black eyepatch. Though now he has the addition of a fake wolfs tail dangling from a belt loop on his pants, the fur color similar to his usual coat of fur when he changes into his wolf form

          That single golden eye of his shifted over to me once he noticed my presence, my body suddenly moving on its own accord as I take slow steps into the large room, the doors behind me closing by themselves. "It's been a while, your highness." I said softly, that single uncovered golden eye widening as I approach him where he continues to sit on the chair. My eyes remained focused on him as well, too scared to look to the still man lying in the extravagant bed. "I'm happy to see you're still in good health."

          In a matter of second, the strawberry blonde headed First Blood stood and quickly wrapped me up in a tight embrace, the aches all over my body screaming out for a moment before dying down once more as I easily return his embrace. "___, drop the formalities." He said, pulling back just enough to see my face clearly as I offer him a small smile. "I can't believe you're alive! It's really you."

          "Shin, I'm so happy to see you're alive as well." I said honestly as I shoved my face into the crook of his neck, a smile stretching far across my lips as I held onto him as tightly as I could, trying to make up for all the time we've lost over the years.

          We stayed like that for a few minutes before I hesitantly pulled back and looked down to the bed beside us. Lying there, still as a statue, is the grown-up young prince who I had loved with everything I had back when we were just children. Shin released me from his hold as I moved to sit on the edge of the bed, lifting his brother's closest hand and gently placing his palm to my cheek.

          "Carla..." I murmured softly as I looked down to the sleeping First Blood. "I'm home." I then said, my smile faltering as tears stung at the corners of my eyes.

          He's so pale, more so than any vampire I've ever seen. His breathing is shallow and his features are much more defined than they should be, hallow even. His hair has grown out a considerable amount from when we were kids and he grew up into a truly handsome young man. But right now, he simply looks as if he could pass away any moment and I'm trying desperately to not cry.

          I've waited so long to come back to him and his brother and yet everything is still falling apart just as it always has been.

          "He hasn't woken up since he saved you." Shin said, the strawberry blonde retaking his seat at his brother's bedside. "He used everything he had to keep you alive."

          My chest clenched as I continued to hold onto Carla's hand for dear life. "Was he happy to see me?" I asked as a stray tear slipped down my cheek and over Carla's long, thin fingers.

          Shin chuckled a bit at that. "I wish you could have seen the way his eyes lit up when I brought him to you. He hasn't been that emotional since we last saw our mother."

          "Queen Krone..." I murmured softly. "Is... Is the castle empty now?" I asked as I cautiously stole a glance to the strawberry blonde First Blood. "Has everyone really died?"

          "It didn't take long really. About a month after you went missing, most everyone had passed away, our parents included." Shin said with a shrug of his shoulders, his eyes focused on his brother. "Nii-san became consumed with the need to continue our virtually dead bloodline only for it all to go to the shitters and here we are."

          I shook my head as I refocused my attention on the sleeping white haired First Blood. "I shall do everything I can to ensure he lives through this ordeal Shin, you have my word."

          "I don't think even you could help him ___."

          "Don't underestimate me. If I've managed to live for this long despite all of the trials I've been forced to go through, then I will save Carla no matter the cost."

          Leaving Carla's chambers behind, I told Shin I wanted to check up on my friends since they most probably don't know I've woken up yet. The strawberry blonde headed First Blood wasn't exactly pleased to hear I wanted to leave him and his brother in favor of those "impure vampires" as he liked to put it. But, I need to see them. They're my family just as him and his brother are. All twelve of them are vampires I swear to protect.

          Walking down long hallway after long hallway, I vaguely recalled memories from my childhood and this time had no headaches to accompany the memories. It was a welcomed relief to finally be able to access those once guarded memories with no roadblocks in my path.

          I could remember the times Laito would come running to tell me of this beautiful butterfly he found out behind the castle, his two brothers running after us as we hid from Cordelia, all giggling to one another as we did so. I could remember Shu and Reiji sitting down with me off in a more secluded room within this large castle, no one coming to bother us as Shu practiced his violin as Reiji read a book his mother Beatrix had gifted him while I simply drew pictures to my heart's content. And I could remember the times when Subaru and I would spend hours exploring the various rose gardens this castle has to offer, Christa often joining us and watching with a fond smile from where she would sit comfortably in the shade under a large tree.

          So many more memories came back as I glanced around every hallway I came across. Though even with so many memories resurfacing, I could feel that a fair few of them were still hidden and trapped in the black void that is my mind. It was so easy to remember the Sakamaki's and even the Mukami's and Tsukinami's, but the rest of my memories were hazy at best and hard to grasp.

          "At least you can remember all of the boys." Yui spoke up, her smile evident just by the tone of her voice.

          Turning down another hallway, I nodded in agreement. "I'm grateful for my memories of them no longer being blocked. It finally feels as though I'm back to at least half of my former self before I disappeared." I murmured.

          "So, none of your memories about how you left this place have come back?" Yui then asked. "You can only remember our friends and that's it?"

          "For the most part, yes. Everything else isn't nearly as clear as my memories with the vampires." I responded, stopping near a large window and looking out to one of the many rose gardens down below.

          Unlike when I was younger, the roses had begun to wither and wilt, no longer looking nearly as happy as they once did. Though from what I can tell, they're still somewhat alive even after all these years of being neglected having gone by. I'll have to figure out a way to water them all before they truly disappear just like the rest of this castles history...

          With the long dress flowing behind me some with every step I take, I happily make my way towards the large lounge room I remember being rather close to this part of the castle. I'm surprised the layout of this place is still so deeply ingrained into my mind like this. I haven't been here since I was no more than a young child. I wonder just how much of my time here was spent exploring?

          Coming from the lounge were a number of voices, all belonging to my friends. A smile was tugging at the corner of my lips as I stopped just in front of the doors. I exhaled a small breath I hadn't even realized I was holding as I pushed the large double doors open to reveal the lounge room. Almost instantly, the chatter died down to pure silence.

          "Well is that how you're all going to welcome me back to the world of the living?" I asked with a bright smile as I happily walked further into the room, everyone still stunned as they just watch me.

          Kanato was the first to snap out of his shock and made his way over to me before anyone else. My smile softened when he stopped no more than a foot in front of myself and curiously looked me over, Teddy nowhere in sight as he lifts my right arm and then my left, inspecting every bit of exposed skin that he can. "Are you really alright ___?" He asked softly. "Or are you just another image my mind has conjured up to torture me with..?" The amethyst haired vampire then asked at nothing above a whisper as he flicked his eyes up to meet my own.

          Throwing my arms around his neck, I forced Kanato into a tight hug. "It's really me! I'm alive and well." I practically sang as he awkwardly hugged me back.

          I felt light as a feather as one by one the other vampires came up to see if I really was alive just as I said I was. No one could believe that after everything that happened, I was standing right there for them all to see and talk to once more.

          "Oi, you ever go dying on us again I'm killing you." Ayato threatened, though the fanged grin he had dancing across his lips betrayed his words completely as he looked down at me.

          Laughing, I reached up and poked the side of his cheek. "Excuse you. Last time I checked, I'm the one who saved all of your lives so really you should be thanking me."

          Ruki scoffed at that. "You sacrificed yourself for all of us."

          "Which was reckless, but I doubt that needs to be said out loud." Reiji then tacked on with his arms crossed defensively over his chest. His glasses are cracked and he looks like he hasn't slept in days.

          Glancing around to each of my vampires, I frowned. They all look just as worn down as Reiji if not more so. "Have you guys not been resting and recovering from your injuries since we all came here?" I asked.

          "Eve..." Azusa murmured.

          "It's not like we could exactly rest when you were on the verge of dying every day, Sow." Yuma finished for his younger brother.

          "Your health is just as important as mine!" I said with a stern expression. "What if I was to die? Then what? Would you all have just given up on living?"

          Laito chuckled as he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and pulled me back to his chest as he rested his chin on the top of my head. "Who would have thought the first thing Bitch-chan would do after cheating death would be lecturing all of us."

          Subaru clicked his tongue in mock annoyance. "Of course she would."

          "She wouldn't be our ___ if she wasn't always fussing over us now would she?~" Kou then mused as he placed his arms behind his head and flashed me an award-winning smile. "I missed hearing you nag us so keep going."

          Shaking my head, I couldn't help but laugh as I happily leaned back into Laito's embrace. "You guys, I'm glad you're all safe." I said as my smile faltered and more tears began to well up. I stubbornly rubbed at my eyes to try and hold them back.

          "Great, the lewd woman is now crying..." Shu sighed.

          The emerald eyed vampire behind me tightened his arms around my waist, holding me as I silently started to cry into the palms of my hands as relief flooded my system.

          Finally, after weeks of being stuck in fear that Kino might strike and somehow surviving his first major attack, we all made it out alive. Albeit I think it's safe to say we've all seen better nights, but the fact of the matter is everyone is here and everyone is alive and that's all I could have ever asked for. Even Shin is healthy and Carla is still alive which was something all of us were uncertain would be the case when we finally came to this castle. I'm so happy and the sudden flood of emotions are only making more tears fall despite my best efforts to make them stop.

          My boys are safe and that's all that matters.

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          A year later and finally this fic is getting an update? Just who am I xD

          Question of the Chapter: Now with the protagonist alive once more, how do you think her unlocking her First Blood powers as well as a fair amount of her memories will impact her relationship with the Sakamaki's, Mukami's and the Tsukinami's? Tbh her remembering them right now probably won't amount to much apart from fluff-filled chapters while Carla is trying to not die lmao but once this story hit's it's next real arc oooooooo you guys are in for some treats.~

          Practically a year later and I have finally come up with a pretty interesting way to continue this story I'd say. I'm not going to spoil anything of course, but the cover change to this fanfic as well as the bio say a lot about the direction I'm going to start heading in with this story. This fic will probably be split into three major sections that will become evident later on and now I'm getting so excited because I really like how this story is going but it definitely needs to be much longer so here's to hoping I can execute my plan without ruining this fic xD

          As always my lovelies, thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a nice day/night/evening/life :')

~ Love, ｋａｔ ♡