CHAPTER THIRTEEN: WARNING! DANGER AHEAD.

      Izumi couldn't believe that, once again, she was entering Yui's room. She had already changed into her uniform, and she could bet that she would attract attention thanks to the fact that her skirt was higher than usual. A smile inflated her cheekbones as she stepped through the doorframe and caught the attention of those present.

      "Ah," Laito admired her as soon as he saw her, getting up from the human's bed to approach her. He walked around her, caressing her thighs as he passed behind her, before standing next to her and taking her by the waist, "You're getting bolder every day, Princess."

      "Or you're more and more of a pervert, Laito," Ayato replied, also getting up from Yui's bed. He looked the girl up and down, and clicked his tongue. "What do you think you're doing?"

      Izumi raised her eyebrows. Laito twisted his head to the side, watching his brother intently. A smirk stretched across his lips, returning his gaze to the vampire ready to watch the show in the front row.

      "What do you think you're doing? All that's left is for you to try to control what I do," Izumi demanded.

      The red-haired man took a step back. The gesture on his face betrayed that he did not expect that reaction, which only provoked the girl's anger. Ayato opened his mouth, but no words slipped out.

      Since the day Yui had survived the Awakening, they had not spoken at all. In fact, these were the first words they had exchanged since the event. Ironically, the last time they had spoken was something similar. He jealous, and she angry that he was jealous.

      Yui, still in bed, pulled the sheets to cover her body and part of her face. However, that did not deprive her from continuing to watch the vampires argue.

      "I'm not trying to control you, I'm trying to make you see reason," Ayato explained. He clenched his fists, and raised his voice as he added, "You've been changing since you started dating this pervert!"

      Izumi scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at him with an air of superiority, "I don't change for anyone. If I change, it's because I want to," she clarified, causing Laito's smile to grow. "Instead of changing, I'd say I've grown up, I'm no longer the same stupid little girl who believed everything she was told."

      The red-haired boy hesitated, his face showing he didn't understand what she was referring to. "What?"

      "Oh, Ayato, haven't you learned anything?" Laito snapped. Then he lowered his head, bending down to reach Izumi's ear. "Ignore him. He's just jealous because he didn't taste your delicious blood," he muttered, sending shivers down the girl's back. He fixed his eyes on his brother, and grinned, showing his fangs, and starting to approach the girl's neck.

      Ayato growled, baring his teeth.

      "That's against the rules!"

      "Good thing I never cared about the rules," Laito purred, wrapping his mouth around the girl's neck. However, just when the tips of his fangs landed on her skin, Ayato pushed him away from the girl with a shove.

      "What do you think you're doing?"

      The redhead stood in front of Izumi, giving her a sidelong glance over his shoulder, before looking back at his brother with a deep frown.

      "Can't you see she doesn't want you to do it?"

      Laito snorted, "What do you know?"

      "Just look at her, she doesn't want you to do it."

      Laito's face changed at that, noticing that his brother was serious. Then, he looked again at the vampiress, who remained almost hidden behind the red-haired man's body.

      "Izumi? You don't want me to do it?"

      "You're sick," Ayato spat, "Why would she agree to let you use her as food?"

      The man shook his head at his brother's comment, giving a small laugh.

      "It's not for thirst, Ayato. Her blood can't quench thirst, but it can be used for other things," he slurred as his brother scowled at him, "As an aphrodisiac, for example. Of course, you wouldn't know anything about that."

      And with those words, Ayato had enough. He stretched out his arm with his hand clenched into a fist and slammed it against his brother's chest, sending him flying into the wall. And at that same instant, Reiji entered, stopping the attack that Laito would make.

      "How is it possible that you are fighting since so early in the morning? It's embarrassing."

      Everyone present had no choice but to rush to the limousine as soon as Reiji started to urge them. Izumi didn't even bother to open her eyes as she rested her head on Laito's chest and he wrapped his arms around her body.

      "You interrupted us at the best part," Ayato claimed. The vampiress looked at him, catching his attention as well. They looked at each other for a moment before the boy averted his eyes in the direction of his brother. "We were finally going to find out if Laito can defend himself."

      Laito scoffed. "Please, Ayato, are you forgetting who taught you everything. Besides, Reiji," he continued, turning his head, "you could have joined in. We all know you want to give Ayato a good beating."

      "Who doesn't?" Izumi blurted out, causing Laito to hiss at the blow. The red-haired man just rolled his eyes.

      To say that Ayato was frustrated wouldn't be fair. It was more than that. He was lost without the unconditional support of the girl he had connected with since he was a child. He watched her, instinctively, hoping to once again find that insightful look she always gave him. Or that wink that assured him she was still on his side when she pretended to side with his siblings only to win in another, more devious way.

      However, he found none of that. Now, whenever he looked at her, all he found was a scarlet void. Every time he had to face her, he felt he was missing something essential. He could not compare it to anything. Never in his existence had he been in need of something on such a scale. But, the moment their gazes met, he despaired at not finding what he had become accustomed to accepting as something permanent. And the thought of that despair accompanying him for the rest of his existence only made it worse.

      "Can I exchange my hit on Ayato for one on Izumi?" Subaru blurted out, to which the pink-haired girl shot him a glare.

      "Really, Subaru? How childish."

      "Is that a yes or a no?"

      "No one's going to hit anyone," Reiji snapped, looking up from his book and closing it with a hint of annoyance. He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose and looked at Subaru, "Is that clear?"

      The younger boy said nothing, but only averted his gaze and kept silent. Izumi, on the other hand, looked at him and smiled to herself, believing she had won the little argument. She then turned her gaze to Shu, already waiting for his comments, but discovered that the blond was with his eyes closed and listening to music. She frowned at that, but eventually let it go.

      The relationship between Shu and Izumi had always been explosive. Even though they were able to get along well (as they even shared the same opinions on different aspects), there was always something that would set the other off.

      In the past, Shu would always get annoyed with Izumi when she took Ayato's side. He understood that they were a couple, that they had been friends since they were kids, and that they knew each other better than anyone else. But he never quite understood the part where how she, the vampiress who refused to take blood from a human body, could go along with "Ore-sama's" delusions.

      Everyone had grown accustomed to the crimson gaze and indigo stare impacting only seconds before the discussion broke out. While Shu was rather quiet, and didn't raise his voice even to argue; Izumi, on the other hand, was one of the loudest people, second only to Ayato, which led to everyone in the mansion hearing about their fights.

      And while Izumi and Shu's arguments were ignored by everyone, who tried to cover their ears or leave the mansion so as not to have to put up with them, Izumi's fights with Subaru were something completely different.

      Subaru and Izumi did not get along at all. No matter how hard they tried, it was hopeless. They were almost like oil and water, and this was reflected in the constant conflicts between them. It was funny, since Subaru was the best at ignoring Ayato. However, when it came to Izumi, she seemed to have found a way to push him over the edge... which meant a physical fight.

      It was for that very reason that everyone was attentive when it came to Subaru and Izumi interacting. They had to be ready to intervene before it was too late, which was especially difficult because their discussions were strangely silent.

      Laito clicked his tongue, "You're all too tense, you should drink some of Izumi's blood. I wasn't kidding when I said it serves as an aphrodisiac," he sighed, "I even get turned on just thinking about drinking her blood."

      Subaru looked at him with disgust. "Pervert."

      "That's what I mean, Subaru. If you tasted her blood, you wouldn't be frowning all day," Laito resumed speaking, a wolfish grin occupying his face.

      "Laito," Reiji called. "I thought I made it clear that none of us can take Izumi's blood. Perhaps a punishment would make it clearer?"

      The vampire twisted his face, "You can't scold me, Reiji. Not when the first one to take advantage of the delicacy was Shu. I didn't see that he was punished," he argued, and looked at the blond who was still ignoring everyone. "Shu, did Reiji punish you?" he purred in a playful tone, but when he received no answer, his frown turned serious. "Shu, hey. Shu!"

      "Shut up," hissed Shu, barely a whisper. "You're spoiling the music."

      "You haven't changed," Reiji commented, shaking his head slightly to show his disapproval.

      "Uh, what's the matter? Bitter because you can't drink Yu's blood anymore? I bet you curse the moment your little secret came out," Laito pressed on.

      "Shut up," Subaru raised his voice.

      Laito raised his eyebrows at his sudden outburst. "What? I didn't even have time to bother Ayato yet."

      "Keep quiet," Kanato ordered, "Teddy feels bad," he added in a sweeter tone. Izumi approached him, about to say something to calm him down, but her voice left her when she noticed Ayato approaching Yui, seeking to suck her blood.

      "Ayato, it's rude to do it here," Reiji stopped him, and Izumi couldn't help but count in her head all the times the older man scolded him for the same thing. "Shame on you."

      "Shut your mouth! Don't bother me," Ayato raised his voice.

      "What a pain in the ass you are," Subaru snorted.

      "What did you say?" Ayato shouted at the white-haired man, but the latter simply ignored his whim.

      "Well, well," said Laito, trying to calm the atmosphere. "We are in a limited space, don't be violent, Ayato."

      "This doesn't concern you," Ayato continued to shout, letting his temper show. Izumi was about to yell at him to stop, but kept silent when she noticed that Kanato was losing his patience. He had already asked them to be quiet, but they had ignored him.

      Then, Kanato rested his gaze full of disdain on Yui, who could not help but shrink in fear. "You are to blame for all this."

      "Me?" Yui repeated.

      "If it wasn't for you, they wouldn't be fighting every day," Kanato pointed out, "And Izumi wouldn't have-"

      "Kanato," Izumi hissed, interrupting the purple-haired vampire and stopping him from speaking. He looked at her for a moment and then nodded, keeping silent and refocusing on Teddy.

      The limo's brakes screeched without warning, and the vehicle swerved out of control before slamming into something and flying through the air. Yui screamed in fear as the vampires looked at each other, startled by the event.

      They all abandoned the vehicle before it crashed into a tree and exploded. Izumi pushed her hair back away from her face as she looked at the limousine engulfed in flames.

      "What the hell happened?"

      "What happened? Was it an accident?" Yui asked, her attention devoured by the fire.

      "Don't be dense," Reiji scolded her. "The driver was a spirit."

      "It can't be a coincidence," Shu denied.

      "Then what?" spoke Kanato, squeezing Teddy against his chest.

      Izumi looked at Laito, who was by her side holding her waist, and noticed that he was staring at something. She followed the direction of his gaze, coming across four silhouettes.

      "Wouldn't they have done it?" Laito muttered to make the rest of the group notice the four unknown vampires.

      The vampiress looked attentively at the group, trying to memorize their features because she knew that they would cross her path again. Vampire feuds were not uncommon, but it was curious that any clan believed themselves capable of taking on the Sakamaki. There was no doubt that they were either utterly powerful, or utterly stupid.

      The one who wore his hair tied in a tousled ponytail smiled at her, causing her to raise her eyebrows. Maybe they were just completely stupid.

      Laito hissed and buried his fingers in Izumi's waist. On the other side, Ayato let out a growl and stepped forward, "Who are you?" he shouted, but none of them answered. A dark fog covered them before they disappeared without a trace. "Hold on!"

      "What was that?" Yui worried.

      "Their scent," Kanato mentioned.

      "It stinks," Subaru wrinkled his nose.

      "It looks like we're mates," Laito commented.

      "But I don't think they're pure," Reiji denied.

      "I think we'll have problems," Shu sighed.

      "I see," nodded Ayato. "They declared war on us, huh? Interesting."

      Izumi frowned, turning to the red-haired man and raising her voice. "Interesting? Are you even capable of thinking?"

      That these vampires showed up a few days after they discovered the value of her blood (and how dangerous it could become) couldn't be a coincidence. Ayato seemed to realize that as he listened to her, and his smile was replaced by a worried grimace.

      Reiji nodded, glancing sideways at the redhead, "Izumi is right. They're probably planning something. We should be cautious."

      Izumi sighed as she felt Laito's grip strengthen, while Ayato watched him carefully. She already knew that the two brothers would be attentive to watch out for her, which only meant that she would have to deal with Ayato more than she wanted to.

      But, after all, she was getting what she wanted, wasn't she? The two brothers were once again fighing for her attention, and even though Yui was still living with them, she would return to the place she was used to: the center of attention.