"You seem to be in a good mood, My Lord."

Golden eyes blinked at those words, the Demon's line of sight moved away from the dancing flames that licked at the murals to rest on the raven-haired Vampire. He smiled, the edges of his lips curling slightly to erase the usual flat line that rested on his face, and his eyes crinkled in unbridled fondness— a sense of excitement gleaming in the depth of his irises.

"Reiji," Aku called, his voice soft and mellow.

Said Vampire felt a current of electricity run down his spine at the mention of his name but hid the sudden sensation by casually pushing the rim of his glasses. He inclined his head, slightly nodding towards the older Demon before taking a few steps towards the wine-colored quilted chair.

Aku grinned, allowing his sharp canines to peek through his lips. He drank in the sight of his favorite step-nephew coming closer, the faint toxic fragrance tickling at his nostrils the closer the younger male got. Reiji had probably spent most of his time in his laboratory, blending herbs and drugs into beautiful concoctions.

"Were you blending new poisons?" the First Blood wondered aloud, his hand carelessly grabbing the younger's wrist to bring it closer and have a better grasp of the scent emanating from them.

Reiji allowed the older to do as he pleased, not recoiling at the contact as his magenta eyes carefully swept over the blond's figure.

"Yes, My Lord," he noticed how Aku's motion minutely paused at the words 'My Lord,' before resuming. "I recently made a breakthrough in a hemorrhage-inducing poison—" the sudden coolness and wetness that brushed against his palm had Reiji momentarily stunned.

Aku hummed, tongue carelessly licking at his upper lip as he pulled away from Reiji's wrist. He brought his fingers to his mouth, licking at the tip of those that previously held the raven's wrist before he slid his golden gaze to stare into Reiji's captivated eyes.

Aku's lips stretched into a light smirk before blooming into a dotting smile. "Against Adlers?" he rhetorically asked, his eyes observing the younger nod. He leaned forward, arm stretching out to ruffle the raven head's neatly combed hair. Reiji naturally leaned down to allow the older Demon to do as he pleased. "How sweet of you, Reiji," the Founder purred. "They'll love it!"

Reiji accepted the compliment with a ghost of a smile hovering on his lips. The hand retreated from his hair, and the Vampire straightened his back once again. He pushed the rim of his glasses in a used practice before gently brushing and taming his hair.

"Thank you, My Lord."

There was a beat of silence following those words before the Founder focused his attention back on the shades of reds and oranges that danced in the fireplace.

"Bring me a drink, Reiji," he demanded, his voice gaining back its usual low and mellow quality as his lips fell back into a flat contemplative line.

Reiji did not wait to be told twice. He gave the older Demon a slight bow before teleporting away and into the mansion's cellar. The thought of tasking a servant or familiar to do it in his stead did not cross his mind. The second oldest of the Sakamaki found himself carefully browsing through the most expensive aisle of their collection, searching for the perfect beverage to satiate his Guardian's palate.

Back in the antechamber, Aku leaned into the comfort of his quilted chair. He felt a bit thirsty, craving something to relieve him of his parched throat, and deduced from Reiji's usual behavior that the Vampire would not be back before another couple of minutes.

Not that it mattered to Aku. Time was of the essence, but after living so many centuries, he could tolerate waiting, especially if the one making him wait was his favorite.

His lips twitched, the thought of Eve soon coming into the game sending pleasurable shivers through his body, and he wondered if he'd try to seduce her or break her into submission for the sake of his Clan. Both ideas appeared particularly enticing, the second one seeming gleeful compared to the first, but Aku would not rush towards it.

After all, he wasn't sure of the conditions to become Adam— he only knew for sure that Eve had to be a female Human with the Heart of a Demon King's Daughter.

He drummed his fingers against the armrest of his chair, wondering if he'd have to get rid of the prospective Eve and take action against the Adler princess to create a new one.

He licked at his upper lip, suddenly overwhelmed by thirst and disregarding his previous idea of waiting for his step-nephew. "Glaciel," Aku whispered, and in a whisp of freezing winds, the short Spirit appeared before him. Golden eyes brushed against the former Human's body, noting once again that he hadn't changed and still retained the physical appearance of a twelve-year-old— why Glaciel did not bother to modify his appearance with magic was beyond him. "Come," he ordered, and the boy executed.

Aku's hand reached out to the Spirit. He brushed his fingers against the Artificial Demon's skin, unminding of its freezing temperature as he grabbed the boy's neck and violently brought it closer to himself.

Glaciel almost fell over but managed to steady his gait in a fraction of a second, preventing himself from falling over and in his master's lap. He leaned down, back straight and position uncomfortable as he felt his master's breath fanning at his neck.

Although Glaciel was no longer Human, he did not doubt that his heart would be drumming against his ribcage at the notion of his master sucking out his essence.

He felt his master carefully lick at his throat to disinfect the place, but there was no second lick to anesthetize him like there used to be when he was still Human and began to serve under his master. He felt sharp canines tearing through the thin layer of flesh around his neck. Pain ran through his cold body, drenching him in adrenaline as a sudden rush of warmth washed over him.

He exhaled, ever so slowly and silently, to not disturb his master, and he could feel his lashes dropping to shade his misty eyes— the essence leaving his body sucking him out of his energy.

Glaciel loved when his master asked for him. It proved his worth, and he felt warm— comfort in a false sense of care and affection. He was already too far gone, and even if he knew, the Spirit would not have changed any of his life's settings, his devotion to the Founder too grand.

From the corner of his eyes, Glaciel spotted one of the Sakamaki. He smiled at them, uncaring of which brother that was supposed to be before refocusing on the sensation of his master depriving him of the life he gifted him.

"My Lord."

Reiji's voice peeled Aku's gaze away from his Familiars' figures. He ignored how Kagamine picked Glaciel, who had fainted from essence depletion, up, and focused his attention on his step-nephew. Aku's lips drew into a satisfied smile, eyes slightly misty from the high Glaciel's blood gave him, and he hummed for the raven head to come closer.

The fact that Reiji came in at such a good moment did not ruffle the Founder who long knew the Vampire had been waiting for him to finish his snack.

"Did you bring me something to drink?" the First Blood rhetorically asked, hand lazily extended so his step-nephew would give him a glass and pour him a drink of whatever beverage he fetched. With lidded eyes, he observed as Reiji carefully placed a glass in between his fingers before elegantly pouring the amber-colored liquor.

Reiji took a step back, allowing a larger angle to observe the Founder, who carelessly twirled the alcohol around, its fragrance wafting about.

It was only them left in the antechamber. Aku brought the glass to his lips.

And in an almost pious way, Reiji religiously followed the motion, his eyes stuck to the male and intently staring at his lips and the beverage that slowly made its way to them. His magenta eyes darkened, flashing a sinister light, and he felt his throat run dry.

Aku took a probing sip, lips stretching into a smile as he flicked his gaze over to Reiji. Gold and magenta clashed in a staring contest as the Founder slowly brought the glass to his lips again, taking a mouthful of the beverage.

He grinned.

"I love it when you try to poison me, Reiji," he whispered, setting the glass aside and bringing a hand to stroke the younger's cheek. He felt Reiji slightly lean into his touch, magenta eyes reverently watching his every move as he attentively listened to his every word. "It shows you care."

Reiji blinked, hooded eyes gazing at his Guardian in silent contemplation.

"Of course I care, Aku-sama," the second oldest conceded, reveling in the way Aku's grin stretched at his words, and his eyes gleamed a crazed light. "I always do."

The First Blood chuckled, finding entertainment in their exchange and relish in the thoughts of Karlheinz's possible ideas.

His hand slipped away from Reiji's cheek, and Aku picked his glass again. He brought it to his lips, downing the entirety of its content in one go before setting the glass aside. His golden eyes never left Reiji's magenta orbs, holding the younger's gaze as if to pressure him not to look away.

Reiji naturally picked the empty glass and set it away on one of the small tables behind him.

"If I may ask again, My Lord," the younger of the two Demon spoke up, breaking the silent atmosphere. "What had you in such a good mood?" he worded again.

Aku hummed, closing his eyes.

"I just wondered when your next bride would arrive," he said. "It's been a while since the last one."

Reiji pondered over those words, acknowledging that almost a month had gone by since their last bride— an inexplicable occurrence when sacrifices used to come to them like cattle ready for slaughter each time the previous one fell. It was suspicious, but who was Reiji to phantom his progenitor's thoughts?

"I haven't received any notice from my Father, My Lord," Reiji articulated, his tone of voice neutral at the mention of his father. Unlike his brothers, Reiji did not ostentatiously display his dislike for the King. Decorum was far too important, and Reiji paid great importance to his image and behavior. If not, he wouldn't have any credibility sermonizing his brothers.

Aku chuckled. The light laughter tickled at Reiji's ears and made his fingers twitch.

Reiji drew his gaze to the floor, already knowing that the Founder knew more than himself. "I will be sure to notify you once I receive more information," he promised.

The look in Aku's golden eyes, a blend of pity and condescension, had Reiji almost mad with shame. He hated when people looked at him as if he were some inferior species. He hated it even more when the one directing this gaze at him was his Guardian.

"Shu must know," the words pierced into Reiji like sharp daggers, tearing into his ego and burning at his self-esteem. "He is the firstborn after all," Aku wistfully added, a longing look overtaking his features as he momentarily recalled Carla, his eldest brother.

Reiji swore if the person uttering those words hadn't been the strawberry blond Demon in front of him, he would have torn them open.

Golden eyes silently observed each change in the younger's expression. Aku smiled, knowing and loving the impact his words caused in the Vampire. The Founder was no Saint, and although Reiji was his favorite step-nephew due to his drug-making proficiency, it didn't mean he wasn't disposable. He liked to toe at the raven's line, knowing full well that Reiji drunk his every word and action with reverence and devotion.

Aku would not have proclaimed himself Reiji's God, but he would admit that Savior or Guru was close enough to the younger's vision of him.

Aku had been the one to acknowledge young, attention-starved Reiji. It wasn't the same grooming the twins or Glaciel received, but it was compelling enough that the Vampire had grown somewhat dependent. Dependent to an obsessive degree of want and possession— a dangerous need to have Aku die if he wouldn't grace him anymore.

Why else the poison?

The Founder watched the torrent of emotion that violently stormed in the pair of magenta eyes. He liked how the pinkish shade moved and blended according to Reiji's deluge of repressed feelings. Such a beautiful sight— breathtaking.

"How pretty," the Founder breathed, eyes focused on Reiji's orbs. The Vampire did not have the time to fully register and bask in the compliment before Aku turned away to look out the small window.

Rain fell, hitting the glass of the window in a timid reminder of its presence.

Aku closed his eyes, humming as he silently swayed his head from side to side, his focus on his nose as he expertly took in the peculiar scent of rain and humidity. Fragrances were fainter in times of rain, he smiled.

"Reiji."

The Vampire blinked, breaking out of the short-lived delight the Founder's words had brought him.

"My Lord?"

Aku's head lolled to the side, his eyes rolling to look into Reiji's magenta irises.

"I believe we have a guest," he uttered, making Reiji momentarily frown.

They were not expecting anyone— the bride?

Aku's lips fell back into a flat line. "Go, we don't want Ayato to make a scene."

Reiji did not question the First Blood's words. Giving a bow, he uttered polite words of parting before teleporting away and into the reception hall.

Aku's bored eyes gazed at the place where the Vampire used to stand.

He slid his gaze to the window, rain greeting him before going back to stare at the fireplace.

He hoped Eve wouldn't disappoint him.

I don't know why but for some reason I loved writing this chapter lmao

Also, Reiji's not my favorite but I always end up giving him more screentime than the other brothers, can someone explain why please TT

PS: I headcanon a number of things regarding the Sakamaki's lives and mindsets since I haven't played the games, but I'll try to stay as accurate as possible :))