CHAPTER SIXTEEN: LIKE A PROPER LADY.

      Already in the second class break, Izumi walked with her chin up and her hair in a high ponytail. Although she had only discussed it with Laito and Kanato, the plan was already decided and, while she was looking for her victim, the two vampires were looking for Ayato and Shu to tell them about the plan. While Laito didn't quite agree with telling the redhead, Kanato insisted that it would be best just to be on the safe side. They knew for a fact that, if they told Reiji or Subaru, they would immediately prevent their execution.

      She reached her locker, and noticed Laito and Ayato watching her from around a corner. Across the hall, she spotted Shu being followed by Kanato, clearly the blond hadn't bothered to listen to him yet, but knowing they were close was enough reassurance for her.

      And, almost as if she had called out to him, Yuma stood behind her. He placed one of his large hands on her shoulder and spun her around, to which Izumi made an effort to hold back the smile that threatened to stretch her lips and instead grimaced in annoyance.

      "See you again, beautiful," Yuma's voice echoed against her ear once he approached her at superhuman speed. The girl raised a hand, and let it be caught by Yuma, who cornered her arm against the locker. The boy laughed, and sank his face into her neck, sniffing her, "You know you smell fucking appetizing?"

      "Do you want to try it?" she offered and pulled down the sleeve of her uniform to reveal more of her neck. The brunette watched her for a moment, his eyes betraying his thirst.

      "What's the catch?" Yuma mumbled, though his eyes were still fixed on her neck, showing that it didn't matter much what she answered him.

      Izumi shrugged, "It's not a trick. I just love it when someone sucks my blood," she explained charmingly, her teeth catching her lower lip for a moment.

      Yuma licked his lips, but didn't relent, "I bet all those brothers have already sunk their teeth into you."

      "No."

      "You already stink like one," Yuma remarked.

      Izumi wanted to snort. Men could be so possessive, even when it's not their place. But instead, she held back her annoyance and moved closer to the vampire's face as she stood up on her tiptoes.

      "That's Laito. He's my something. But... you're not going to make me beg, are you?"

      At that, Yuma looked into her eyes, interest swimming in the hazel pools. The pink-haired girl allowed her victorious smile to escape across her features slowly: Yuma had already let his guard down.

      "Do you want me to taste you that much?" his voice had lowered, almost hoarse. His desire was more than clear.

      The vampire blushed, lowering her gaze to his chest before meeting his eyes again, "Well... yes," she ran a hand down his chest, stopping at the collar of his shirt, "Is that too much to ask? I promise you'll like it. My blood is delicious."

      Yuma had already lost. His guard was completely off, and his only focus was on the vampire who was imploring him to drink from her blood. He took the hand Izumi had placed near his neck and pulled her against the locker, cornering her against it.

      "Do you want me to do it right here?" He murmured, though his fangs were already pressing against his lips.

      "Yes, please," Izumi muttered, making sure to keep an unseemly look on her face.

      "Those brothers might see us."

      The vampire smiled, "Who cares about the Sakamakis?"

      Then, Yuma began to approach her. She tossed her head to the side, allowing him better access to her neck. She felt his tongue glide over her skin, then his lips caressing the area and-.

      The rumbling caught Izumi's attention, but upon observing where it came from she found only Kanato with a frown on his face, pressing Teddy against his body. Shu was no longer by his side. Before she could even think what that could mean, the weight on her body vanished.

      "Get away from her!" hissed Shu, sending Yuma to the ground with a shove.

      "Shu, what-" Izumi began, ready to protest that he had ruined the plan right at the last second. However, she stopped herself when she noticed the darkness in his eyes. Taken by surprise, it took her a moment before she approached him, placing her hands on his forearm to make him look at her, "Shu, are you okay?"

      The blond looked at her, and wrinkled his nose immediately. He turned back to Yuma, who was watching from the ground with a smug smile, which only provoked Shu more, "I see you near her again and I'll kill you."

      Yuma's smile grew, "I'd like to see you try."

      Shu clenched his jaw, but Izumi spun him around and grabbed him tightly to hold him in place, "Shu, you're not well. What's going on?" she urged, but the vampire quickly broke his grip and disappeared.

      "Ara, ara," Laito purred, approaching Izumi along with Ayato and Kanato, "Shouldn't I be the one making the jealousy scene? Shu can be so enigmatic."

      Izumi looked at him for a moment with a frown before turning back in the direction of where Shu had disappeared, but she knew he probably wouldn't appear until further notice. Kanato came into her field of vision, and approached her while still pressing Teddy against his chest.

      "What happened to Shu?" She instantly fretted.

      Kanato only lifted Teddy up to cover half of his face.

      "What happened to 'who cares about the Sakamakis?'", Yuma questioned, almost with an accusing tone.

      "Shh," Laito hissed to Yuma.

      "Keep your mouth shut," Ayato ordered, "No one touches what is ours and get to live to tell the tale."

      At that, Izumi frowned. She knew the brothers were just looking for another way to cause conflict since their plan went down the drain thanks to Shu's curious intervention. However, she was pretty sure they could have gone with another idea, something that didn't include presenting her as just another possession of the Sakamaki family.

      "Look at him closely, Teddy," Kanato whispered, "He will be our next toy."

      "What do you think you're doing?" Reiji intervened, appearing out of nowhere and grabbing Izumi by the shoulder to turn her around.

      Ayato grunted, Laito clicked his tongue, Kanato continued to watch Yuma with Teddy, and Izumi smiled innocently at the jetblack-haired.

      "Hi, Reiji, it's lovely to see you. What brings you here of all places?"

      "I come to solve the problems you cause," he replied, turning Izumi forcibly at the same time that the rest of the Mukamakis made themselves present in the hallway. Reiji placed his hand on the back of the girl's neck and forced her head down, "I really didn't think you were capable of doing this, Izumi," he chided between his teeth before retreating, now pulling Izumi by the shoulder. Kanato followed.

      None of the newly arrived Mukamis uttered a word. The only one to react was Yuma, who was clearly annoyed despite trying to appear calm.

      "How possessive can they be?" he scoffed, throwing his head back as he let out a laugh, "Aristocrats are pathetic!"

      "The pathetic one is you," Ayato corrected, barely glancing at him over his shoulder as he walked nonchalantly to follow Reiji.

      Laito, who walked beside his brother, laughed softly. He looked at Yuma, smiling wolfishly, "You walked straight to your death and didn't even notice, how naive."

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      "Take off your clothes," Reiji ordered once he closed the door to his office. Izumi's face paled, already fearing that he was going to punish her with whips once again. She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Reiji continued, "I'm going to make sure Laito didn't bite you," he explained, looking at her mockingly, "You can keep your underwear for now."

      The vampire swallowed, relieved but aware that she was still not completely safe. Therefore, she gave in and did as she was asked. As soon as she got rid of the clothes, Reiji approached her to inspect every sector of her body. She breathed in nervously, unsure if the special makeup she had used to cover the wounds would fool the vampire's avid eye.

      "Hmm... You don't seem to have anything," he mused. He stood in front of the girl, watching her carefully, "Izumi, did Laito bite you? Or, rather, did someone bite you?"

      "No," she denied with certainty, "Only Shu, but before. You know about that."

      Reiji adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, "Obviously, I mean on other than those occasions I'm already informed about."

      "My answer is no."

      The vampire continued to watch her, until he finally looked away and pointed to a one-body couch near a tea table, on which a set of cups and a teapot were set, "Sit down."

      "Reiji, I'm really tired, I'd like to-"

      "Don't think we're done here," Reiji interrupted, now looking at her again with narrowed eyes, "Or have you already forgotten what you did in class tonight? You made a fool of me, and you will be punished for it."

      "But..." Her voice trembled, and she renewed her confidence as she drew in a breath, speaking more confidently, "The Mukamis are our enemies, aren't they? It was only a warning."

      "You call that a warning? Had it been successful, you would have killed one of them."

      "I call it a very good warning," Izumi smiled, but quickly wiped it away when she met Reiji's gaze.

      "Not to mention that you would have exposed us as vampires."

      "I would have only exposed the Mukamis."

      "That they know of the existence of vampires by our mindless actions is still against the rules imposed by father," Reiji stated, raising his voice slightly to make the girl understand that he wasn't going to put up with her back and forth any longer. Izumi lowered her head slightly, showing that she understood.

      "Sit down."

      Without even trying to retrieve her uniform, as she knew what the answer would be, Izumi proceeded to sit on the indicated couch. She made sure to keep her posture straight, and crossed her legs in 'the proper lady-like' manner. After all, she didn't want to risk having to face the whips. She couldn't stand it. She had suffered enough of it long ago, when Reiji had gotten the idea of turning her into a 'lady'. That was how she had obtained that elegance in her movements that so many envied or admired; thanks to Reiji and his sadistic way of punishing her.

      The vampire placed the book on her head, and Izumi swallowed saliva. This was how it always started. Regardless of the terror that reigned within her, she refused to show it. But, on the contrary, she wore a charming smile, worthy of a young lady.

      And then the blindfold appeared in front of her eyes. The piece of soft, dark cloth was tied around her head, placed cautiously but not without firmness.

      "Is it too tight?"

      "No," Izumi muttered.

      "Good," Reiji nodded, turning around the sofa to pour some tea, "You can have your cup now, Izumi. It's two o'clock from you."

      She moved her hand slowly, making sure not to make any sudden movements not fit for a lady. Once she found the handle of the cup, she lifted it, while holding her little finger up. Finally, she took a sip without a sound, and savored it and then gave a smile.

      "Delicious as always, Reiji," she complimented. The smile remained intact despite her nerves and her urge to vomit. She was giving an act she had perfected over the years thanks to her dealings with him, "Is that pu-erh tea? About... one hundred and thirty-five years old?"

      Reiji smiled approvingly, "Indeed. I see that although we haven't enjoyed our tea encounters lately, your tongue is still as refined as ever. I'm glad."

      "Of course, Reiji," she nodded with a hearty smile, taking a second sip of her drink. They continued to talk, or rather, Izumi continued to give in to Reiji's whims. Once she finished her tea, she placed the cup on the table (six sips, not one more, not one less. According to Reiji, five sips would force you to take a long last sip that would make the taste too strong; while seven would leave you with something with almost no taste as a last sip. Six sips was the right way and, again according to Reiji, the only acceptable way to drink tea).

      "Would you join me for a second cup of tea?"

      Izumi wanted to scream. She knew he was prolonging her stay there with the ultimate goal of spotting a mistake to punish her, but refusing the offer itself would be considered a lack of manners. So she repressed her urge to scream and nodded.

      "Please."

      However, before she managed to bring the cup to her lips, she heard Reiji move, stopping her in her tracks. She didn't even have time to think before a hand came to rest on her thigh, sending a shiver through her body.

      "I guess your tongue isn't so refined after all," Reiji whispered in her ear, sending another storm of emotions through her body, "Or you would have noticed the aphrodisiac in the tea."

      "Reiji," she interrupted herself when she felt another hand on her waist, which pushed her to the point where her body collided with his. She felt his breath against her neck, and then his face sank there, sniffing through her hair, "Why...?" she breathed in deeply as she felt his tongue wander down her neck.

      Her body felt hot, and she was sure her face was red. She wanted to kill Reiji.

      "Did you forget? I said I was going to punish you, and it turns out I had an experiment waiting to be tested," Reiji sneered.

      "An experiment," Izumi repeated, her anger growing even more even though her body was still immobile. She refused to drop the book or break her good posture for fear that Reiji would use it as an excuse to make the punishment worse.

      "Don't worry, I already knew what the effects were," he assured, "I tested it on Yui, but I wanted to know if it would affect a vampire that much... judging by your face and your breathing, I'd say yes."

      She bit her tongue when Reiji licked her chest.

      "Huh? Did you want to say something, Izumi?"

      She merely shook her head.

      "Then answer me: are you being honest with me?"

      "Yes, I'm always honest with you."

      "Ah, then why did you lie to me when I asked you if anyone had bitten you?"

      "No one bit me."

      Reiji clicked his tongue, "And you're still lying," he shook his head, disappointed with her answer. Before Izumi continued to insist it was the truth, he removed her blindfold, and the red eyes fell on the fang mark on her chest: when Reiji had licked it, he had ran the makeup.

      "Uhm-" Izumi stammered, unsure of what to say.

      Then, Reiji grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down on the table, tossing the tea set on the floor. Izumi tried to fight under his grip, but Reiji managed to hold her wrists against the table with one hand, while his legs put pressure on hers.

      "Tell me... how should I punish you? What do you think is appropriate for lying to me? Maybe... a whipping wouldn't hurt, you remember, don't you? Will eight hours be enough to fix you? Or maybe I'll have to spend more time on you?"

      "No," Izumi denied, and she could feel the tears escaping her control and flooding her eyes. Still, she fought harder to keep them back, and managed to avoid them, but the change in Reiji's face let her know that he had noticed her presence. "I'm sorry I lied, Reiji, I'm sorry! And I'm sorry for what I did at school! You're right, it was irresponsible of me and I embarrassed you, so... it won't happen again! it won't happen again! I promise! Forgive me!"

      The deafening silence that followed sowed horror in the vampire's chest. She could only watch Reiji's emotionless face, waiting for him to announce his sentence. But then, a smile broke across Reiji's face, and his laughter flooded her ears.

      "Oh, please," he continued to laugh, placing a hand over his eyes for a moment as he threw his head back. He released Izumi, but she still remained under his body, afraid to provoke him, "Okay, I forgive you."

      "What?"

      "I won't punish you, but you must do something for me. Otherwise, it would be unfair to the rest," Reiji mused, taking a pause to think, "Maybe I should taste your blood," he smiled wickedly, and moved closer to the girl's neck, "Although, you probably don't want a third vampire addicted to your blood now, do you? Why don't we leave it at you getting some more bat hair for me?"

      Izumi blinked, unable to believe his words. But as soon as she reacted, she nodded fervently, "Yes! I'll- I'll do it right now."

      "Yes, I hoped so," Reiji nodded, and finally stood up, releasing her body.

      The vampiress, a bit more relieved, stood up and quickly put on her uniform before heading for the office door. However, she paused for a moment to whisper, "Uh... thank you."

      "You don't have to thank me, what you did was more than enough."

      Izumi turned to Reiji, who was already sitting in front of his desk, "What do you mean?"

      Reiji looked up from his papers and gave her a smug smile, "I bet none of my brothers saw that expression on your face... one of complete terror. You almost looked human."

      The vampire wished she hadn't heard that. Clenching her jaw and feeling the fire of fury run through her body, she turned back to the door, "Well, I'm off."

      "Oh, and Izumi?"

      Already with her hand on the doorknob, she stopped her actions once again, "Yes?"

      "Don't let this happen again. Remember that no one can bite you."

      "It won't happen again."

      "And if someone does it against your will, just tell me. I'll make sure it's taken care of."

      Izumi frowned, "It won't happen against my will. I can defend myself."

      "I never said you couldn't."

      She didn't need to turn her head to confirm that he had a smirk on her face. He didn't need to say it explicitly, but he was implying it. The feeling of helplessness was already taking its toll on her mood, making her grumpy at the thought of how helpless she must have looked in front of Reiji a few moments ago.

      Finally, she left the office without another word. She closed the door behind her and, even though she was seething, went straight for her relatives: the bats.