Reina wasn't quite sure what she had been expecting when the doors of the mansion opened, but she certainly wasn't expecting a human girl.

"Oh. Hello. Um…this is still the Sakamaki Manor, isn't it?"

The blonde girl nodded slowly, "Yes, who are you?"

"You do not have the privilege of opening the doors, human." Reina heard Reiji's voice loud and clear as he opened the door completely.

His eyes went wide as he realized who it was, his lips curling into a smile.

"Reina."

Yui practically went into shock. She had never seen Reiji smile in such a way.

The elegant woman smiled back kindly. "Reiji."

He took her hand into his own, kissing it in gentlemanly fashion.

"You were always so proper."

"It's my manner."

Yui was completely in awe of the young woman. She was beautiful, with her light brown hair that appeared like a burned golden shade. She kept it up in a neat and classic bun, allowing a few stray strands to frame her face. As Reina smiled, Yui noticed that she too, must be a vampire. But one thing was certain; she had never seen Reiji so pleased.

"Reiji-san," Yui hesitated, "Is she…"

Reiji raised his eyebrow, already guessing what the human was going to say. "Don't be an idiot." He spat.

"Reina."

Yui knew that voice belonged to Shu, but it sounded different…it wasn't as dragged out as it usually was. Yui watched as the female vampire turned her attention from Reiji to the vampire Yui had chosen to suck her blood. Reina let go of her luggage.

"Shu." she said, her face breaking into a smile. Then she did something Yui hadn't been expecting. The young woman ran straight into his arms, embracing him. Which, in Shu-like fashion, he didn't return.

"I missed you so much."

"Then you wouldn't have left in the first place." He muttered monotonously.

Something stung Yui's heart, just then, though she didn't know why. She knew she was just food but…the way this pretty woman hugged Shu was unsettling.

Reina pulled away from Shu, looking at him as though he were a child. "Are you going to stay mad at me forever?"

"Ahh…I thought I smelled something delicious." Laito came up behind her, taking her hair into his fingers and sniffing it.

Reina giggled. "Long time, Laito."

"How was Europe? You must be so cultured now."

Crinkles formed around her eyes as she smiled, "Yes, Laito. Incredibly so."

"I do hope you managed to exercise your French while abroad." Reiji added strictly.

"Oui, bien sur." She sang out, providing evidence for the vampire.

Reina felt someone tugging at her shirt, and so she turned around.

"Did you bring back my present?"

"Kanato!" She smiled cheerfully, reaching into her coat pocket and pulling out a little box, "Of course I did. How was Teddy?"

"He missed you too."

Yui blinked in complete and utter confusion. Kanato didn't let anyone talk to Teddy. How was it that this woman was charming every single one of the Sakamaki brothers?

"REINA!" Ayato yelled from the top of the stairs, and jumped straight down to the first floor, running up to her and picking her up, spinning her thin frame around in his arms. "Yours Truly missed you most!"

"Put her down Ayato." Shu said, annoyed.

Reina only laughed. "It's so good to see you all again," she paused, "But…who is she?" She pointed at Yui.

Yui stiffened.

"Food," Reiji explained, pushing up his glasses, "What else would she be?"

"Reiji!" she scolded, making her way to Yui. "Poor thing must be frightened to death."

Laito laughed. "Little Bitch can handle herself."

Reina's eyes went wide. "Really, Laito?"

He winked at her.

Reina turned her attention back to Yui, sticking her hand out. "Hello, I'm Reina. I'm so sorry you've been stuck with these troublesome brothers for so long."

Yui took her hand and shook it, "It's not so bad…" she tried, "Nice to meet you. I'm Yui."

Reina smiled kindly. "I get the feeling we'll be good friends. If you don't mind me sucking your blood too I mean." She laughed happily. The boys snickered.

"She tastes really good," Kanato said dreamily, then, turning to Yui, "You should let Miss Reina taste you."

Yui hesitated. Reina looked at her with sympathetic eyes. "My bite doesn't hurt. Promise."

Yui nodded slowly.

Reina took Yui's wrist and brought it to her mouth. Yui flinched momentarily, but soon relaxed. The bite wasn't painless, but it didn't hurt as much as the brothers' bites did. Reina pulled away after two short gulps.

"How fascinating," her eyes seemed to be sparkling, "Reiji have you-"

"We can discuss this later."

Reina nodded and Yui wondered what was meant by that.

Yui looked around the room. She had never seen the brothers in such a good mood before. Except, where was Shu? Was there something between him and this woman? Her heart plunged at the thought, but she tried to shake the feeling away.

"Where's Shu-san?" she questioned.

Reina scoffed and shook her head. "I'll go find him."

"We'll have the belongings handle your luggage." Reiji assured her.

She thanked him and made her way up the stairs.

When she had gone, Reiji's expression returned to his usual scowl. "Spineless bastard doesn't even have the decency to give a proper greeting."

"Huh?" Yui glanced at Reiji.

Laito wrapped his arm around Yui's shoulder. "Reina's engaged to Shu. And Reiji's mad about that because he wishes it were him instead."

"I learned a long time ago not to wish for things selected for the heir."

"Ahh, as did we." Laito responded.

"What does he mean?" Yui asked.

"Mmm, well Reina comes from a powerful family. So she needs to marry someone with the same amount of power. In our family it's either Shu or Ayato, since they're next in line."

"But she's so caught up on that blonde-haired bastard." Ayato said, his fists clenched.

"Because you act like a child." Subaru said boredly, resting against a wall.

"Subaru-kun! When did you get here?" Yui said, surprised.

"Baka. I've been here."

She blinked. Had the woman not noticed Subaru? Or had she purposely ignored him? She tried to clear her thoughts. "Well, she seemed very nice."

Reiji pushed up his glasses. "Indeed."

…

"Reina! Look!" Shu jumped excitedly, running up to her.

"Oh my goodness!" The little girl's eyes lit up, though she tried to maintain her composure, "It's so cute!"

"Do you want to hold him?" The blonde haired boy held out the puppy to her.

She looked around, "May I?"

"Of course!" he handed the puppy over to her happily, and it barked in her arms. She giggled, scratching its ears. "I'm in love with him already." She said, smiling down at the little creature.

The boy's blue eyes sparkled as he looked at the girl. "He's yours then."

She looked up at him, blinking in surprise. "Shu?"

He laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head in boyish manner. "Um, a gift. For my future wife."

Her lips broke into a smile and she bowed her head. "We're not married yet."

"But we will be."

She stroked the dog's fur, thinking. "So everyone says." Her head shot up. "Hey, Shu?"

"Hm?"

"You don't mind do you? That we'll get married?"

He shook his head, and she smiled. "I don't either. I'll be a good wife."

He smiled back at her. "I'll be a good husband."

She laughed sticking out her hand to him. He shook it. "Deal, then."

…

"Shu?" she said, knocking on the door and walking in. He was in bed, eyes closed, headphones in, one arm behind his head and the other on his stomach. She smiled. He looked so handsome like that. She crawled onto the bed, curling up next to him, waiting for him to put his arms around her. But he didn't. She scrunched up her features.

"I know you're not asleep." She breathed, looking up at his face.

He remained motionless.

"Shu."

She nudged him. "Shu."

"You're ruining my music."

"I finally get back and that's what you tell me?"

"Welcome back." He murmured, seeming completely disinterested.

"I wrote letters. Did you not get any of them?"

"I'm sure they arrived."

"What did you want me to do? It was the most amazing trip for me, and it was only a short while! Will you stay angry the whole time? Damnit Shu you never wrote back!" She pounded her fists into the mattress.

He opened one eye to scan her up and down before closing it again. "I see your temper hasn't improved."

She let out a shaky breath. What would he know of her temper? This was perhaps the first time she had ever been so bold as to snap back. "Just hurry up and hug me already." She mumbled.

"If you want hugs then go find Ayato."

She yanked out his headphones and his eyes shot open, revealing the icy blue she had waited so long to see.

"I'm so sick of your pettiness!"

"My pettiness?" he growled, sitting up, "What about yours? To get up and leave, with no warning-"

"We've been over this! A million times! Reiji understands-"

"Oh, Reiji. Reiji the smart one. The composed one. Why don't we just let him be heir and you can go off and marry him!"

"You'd honestly be ok with that?" she yelled at him.

"Sure seems like it'd be ok with you. Why not?" he shrugged casually.

She let out angry breaths, staring at him. "So you want me to marry someone else?"

He stared back at her with a hard expression, not saying anything.

"Fine," she said calmly, "There actually is someone else. I met him while in Paris."

Shu looked at her with those blue eyes and smiled, pulling her to him and falling backwards onto the mattress. "You spiteful woman." He chastised.

She struggled, trying to break free, but he was much stronger than her.

"I-It's true! Let me go!"

He chuckled, holding her all the tighter, "I know when you're lying."

Her cheeks burned, and she was glad he couldn't see her face. She clenched his shirt with her fist. "Why didn't you write back?" her voice quavered.

He squeezed her arm. "You know why."

She bit him. He twitched. "You're so selfish."

He lazily began to stroke her hair. "I know." He exhaled.

"I hate you." She whispered.

…

"What do you mean you're leaving?"

"I want to see other ways of life. New things, I-"

"You have all of forever to do that! What about us?"

"I have all of forever to be with you." She said kindly, "I just want to do this one thing on my own. I need this, Shu."

"What am I supposed to do with you gone?"

"You could study? It wouldn't hurt. We're older now. You'll inherit everything soon-"

He knocked the books off of the desk, nearly tossing the table with them. "You're preaching to me now too?"

"Shu, I-"

"Fine, go! What do I care?"

She stormed out of the room, having had enough of the blonde's tantrum.

Shu paced angrily around the room. If she left he'd have nothing. He clenched his fists, and readjusted his headphones. Like hell he'd try and study. He wouldn't do a damn thing. If she wanted to leave then she was as good as dead. She was leaving him, the way Edgar had left. What would he do? Sleep, maybe. It was the only thing he was good at.

…

He knew she didn't mean it, but it still made his heart twist in a painful sort of way. Is this what they had been reduced to?

He lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her deeply, holding her in his arms as though she were the most precious thing in the world. "I missed you." He breathed, trying to convince both himself and her.

"I missed you too." She said softly.

Still, she felt distant. Perhaps she never should have left. The wedge between them was even more apparent now. She sighed. It hadn't always been that way.