CHAPTER TWENTY ONE: CLENCH YOUR TEETH.

      A sigh escaped Izumi's lips when she realized that the triplets had protected her from the wolves' attack all the time. If it wasn't Ayato, it was Laito, even Kanato had leapt to her defense to punch the canines in their jaws before they reached the pinkhaired girl to sink their teeth into her.

      It wasn't as if she couldn't protect herself. By now, it was a fact she had grown tired of repeating, and all the residents there well knew it. However, that didn't mean they didn't care about her and wouldn't try to protect her whenever they could. After all, the Samakamis had known Izumi as a girl who had lost her family and had nothing left in the world... which inevitably led them to want to protect her.

      And because of how the wolves looked at her (as if she was the most delicious food, licking their lips and letting out barks similar to vile guffaws every time they approached her), the vampires were driven to want to protect her even more desperately than before.

      "What the hell were those wolves?" Ayato snorted.

      Reiji picked up his glasses from the floor, staring at them for a moment before answering, "To think they attacked us just when the eclipse is near. Probably..."

      "You know something," Subaru pressed, noticing that the dark-haired man had no intention of continuing.

      "They are the surviving ancestors," Shu finished, reaching the same conclusion as his brother.

      "If I am not mistaken, two survived," Reiji shared with the others.

      "What is their objective?" Kanato shouted, grumpy for having to fight when he had planned to eat sweets with Izumi. Now their little party was ruined.

      "Isn't that us?"

      "It's Izumi," Ayato pointed out and, at the reaction of the others, raised his voice, "Didn't you see how they were looking at her? They would have taken her if we hadn't beaten them."

      "And they left without killing us or taking Izumi, that means they had a primary objective."

      "Another one," Laito muttered, "Who could it be?"

      "Chichinashi," Ayato exclaimed and, in one swift movement, went to the door and pushed it open.

      "Stop," Shu caught his attention, "In eclipses, the ancestors reach their maximum power. It would do no good if you went to fight."

      Ayato turned around, furious, "I don't care! Do you think I'll let them keep her?"

      "I doubt it," Izumi muttered. Ayato looked at her, his gaze softening as he took a step back and his shoulders slumped. He seemed to remember her presence at that very moment, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water; unable to find the right words. The vampiress shook her head, wrinkling her lips in disgust, "I don't plan on giving her away either. Especially when those damn wolves were looking at me like I was their next toy. I'm coming with you."

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      Izumi was no longer surprised by the ease with which she entered the Mukami residence as Ayato accompanied her to the door of the room where Yui and Ruki were. A gasp escaped the vampire's lips, though the redhead couldn't identify if it was one of surprise, fear... or exhaustion.

      "You don't know how lucky you are, Chichinashi," Ayato spoke behind Yui's back, "You were at the right time with these guys."

      "Ayato, Izumi," Yui exclaimed, surprised by his sudden appearance before noticing the blood stains that decorated his clothes, "What are those wounds? Are you okay?"

      Ruki gasped again, "Have you too...?"

      The vampire left the subject unfinished as the human looked around. It was the first time she had seen these three together in the same room. It was strange, almost as if it wasn't possible for them to exist in the same world.

      Ayato and Izumi exchanged a quick glance, wondering if they should tell him. The girl gave a slight nod, imperceptible to Yui's human vision, and then the vampire looked at Ruki, "Yes."

      And with that, the two vampires were forced to explain what was going on while enduring Yui's endless unknowns, since she didn't possess the basic knowledge of the vampire world.

      "That means that all this is the work of the ancestors," Ruki summarized, receiving the approval of the other two vampires, "What is their objective?"

      Ayato twisted his face and looked at Izumi for a millisecond. She denied, this time even Ruki wasn't able to notice their exchange. Then, the redhead looked straight ahead and pointed at Yui with her head, who was at a loss with all the new information. "It's you, Chichinashi."

      "Me?"

      "They're after your blood," he explained.

      "But why?"

      "You think I know? I have no idea," Ayato shouted, quickly losing the patience he never had.

      Izumi twisted her face, choosing to speak in a calm manner, "We have no idea what they're planning, but we can't trust them. We have to be more careful than ever."

      "Then, if what the ancestors want is your blood, they'll probably arrive at any moment," Ruki said to Yui, "Just when their power reaches its peak."

      "That can't be," Yui stammered, her gaze straying to the moon before forcing her mind to stay within the four walls that made up the room. "I don't want to inconvenience anyone else. If the target of those people is me, then I won't allow you to risk it."

      "Are you telling me that we use you as food and you plan to give up everything for us?" Izumi fretted. Her frown was deeply furrowed as her eyes studied the girl. Without a doubt, she didn't know if she was the purest girl in the world or the most idiotic.

      Yui hesitated, at a loss for words as she met the vampire's gaze. She opened her mouth to respond, but she really had no idea what to say.

      "Don't joke! What can you do by yourself?" Ayato burst out loudly, approaching the girl.

      "But..."

      "Unfortunately, he's right," nodded Ruki. "If we leave you alone right now, the ancestors will kidnap you. Besides..."

      "What's the matter?"

      "During eclipses, the vampires' strength diminishes. You purebloods will suffer the most."

      "So?" Ayato and Izumi said in unison.

      "So we must join forces to protect Eva from the ancestors," Ruki pointed out. However, his gaze strayed for a moment to Izumi, who frowned. It seemed that he was thinking if he should add something, but finally he didn't add a word. The pink-haired felt her stomach turn. They couldn't know something they didn't.... could they?

      Ayato snorted, "There's no choice."

      "Is that okay?" Ruki looked at the human and both Yui and Izumi were surprised by that, "I'm asking what you want."

      Yui seemed to realize that this was probably the only chance she would get to speak, so she straightened her back and nodded, "Yes."

      "But I'll just tell you this," Ayato began, grabbing Yui by the shoulders and pulling her closer to him, "We won't give her to you," he clarified firmly, looking at Ruki before looking back at the human, "You understand, don't you, Chichinashi? You're mine," he repeated before sinking his fangs into her neck.

      Izumi let out a huff as Ruki approached the human and bit her as well. The girl's arms crossed as she landed against the wall. She threw her head back, trying to decipher what the previous look she received from Ruki meant. Did he know something? Or had he just done it to plant doubt in her mind? But before she could come up with any hypothesis, the door opened slightly and a hand landed on her arm, pulling her out of the room.

      Izumi's eyes met Yuma's.