Craving

-----Yui's POV

Yui: "Okay-"

Now that Natalie seems to be asleep, I think it's time to explain what happened. I worry about Gabriella who's in the kitchen with Olivia, but from the sounds of it, Olivia's taking care of it on her end. Happy with how everything turned out, I glace over at Kaede, but surprisingly, her face is beet red and her breathing is quite a bit rapid than what I normally see.

Yui: "Kaede?"

Kaede: "Y-y-yes?"

What's gotten into her? My gut tells me that she's thirsty, but her reaction is a lot more extreme than the other times. I should probably have everyone leave, but I do need to explain what happened to Luna. Olivia is taking care of Gabriella, so I'll tell her later.

Yui: "...Luna."

Luna: "Hmm?"

Yui: "This here is Natalie. I uhm... Remember when I suddenly pounced on you when we came back to the academy?"

Luna: "Y-yeah?"

Her face became flushed as I brought back the past. It slipped my mind that she also confessed her feelings on that day; a blind side on my part.

Yui: "Anyway. The same thing happened when I visited home. Natalie was doing my hair when I suddenly lost control and attacked her."

Luna: "I-I see... But looking at her like this, you sure cut it quite close, no?"

She's right. I didn't realize how pale she was until after we entered the carriage. Even now it seems like she's gotten even more paler, probably due to that awful wound I inflicted on her causing blood to spill out repeatedly. Maybe if I had fangs like Kaede, there'd have been no issues, but with my bite... I'm just glad I managed to catch Kaede in time...

Yui: "Yes..."

Luna: "Scary."

But this is the first time I've drank someone else's blood besides Kaede's. And seeing how it did turn me back to a normal state, it seems like it doesn't matter what blood I ingest, making me feel just that bit closer to some sort of monster.

...

Kaede: "C-can you leave for a bit, Luna?"

Luna: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "I need, to talk with, Yui."

Luna: "O-oh. Okay."

Kaede: "Could you also take Olivia and Gabriella back to their room?"

Luna: "Sure..."

Kaede: "Sorry. It won't be long."

At her words, Luna leaves the bedroom. Voices could be heard from the kitchen before the front door eventually closes, leaving just Kaede and I in the room with Natalie sleeping on the spare bed.

Looking more closely at Kaede, her breathing was still the same, rapid and shallow as her face is burning red like she had just swallowed flames.

Yui: "So-"

I'd be cut off as in a blink of an eye, I found myself on the other bed, the bed that we sleep on. It almost felt like I teleported in a way. Laying down on my back like this, Kaede's face was even more close. Her eyes shone a bright red as if they were glowing, just like those other times; only this time, it was more intense.

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain coming from my right shoulder and the left side of my waist. I couldn't see down below, but when I turned my head to check my arm, I could see Kaede's nails had grown into long, pointed daggers as they were now digging into my skin.

Kaede: "Sorry... I- can't."

Her face was one thing, but her voice just now sounded like she's in pain. Just as I was about to respond, I could feel the same hand that was digging into my arm, move up to the collar of my shirt, pulling it to the side, exposing my neck. I figured this is what she wanted, and normally I'd be excited. But seeing Kaede in this state worries me, and for the first time, I'm a little scared for what's to come.

Yui: "It's okay."

Despite my concerns, I try to reassure her that it's okay. And in the next moment, he face lunged down to my neck. I could feel her breath for just a moment before I feel her fangs piercing my neck as gently as ever. I would've thought with how quickly she moved she'd be more aggressive, but despite the state she's in, she's still in there. I was worried if she'd lost control, but with how gentle she bit into my neck, it was reassuring that she still had some control of her body, as my worries slowly whittled away.

For a moment, her nails dig back into my arm and waist, but quickly loosened up as I try to remain as still as possible while I slowly move a hand up to her head, gently combing her luscious white hair with my fingers as she drinks away. And as I'm doing so, I could feel Kaede's body become more and more relaxed as I move my other arm around her back, bringing her closer.

I can only imagine how scared Kaede must've been, holding back like that. I wasn't anywhere near as bad as her, yet she could still contain herself. Yet at the slightest bit of thirst, I went and did that to Natalie...

Yui: "You're strong, Kaede."

Kaede: "Mm...mmm?"

She continued to drink away at my neck, but hearing a response from her only confirmed to me that Kaede is still inside there. I have to hurry up and figure out how to control this if I don't want what happened to Natalie to happen again.

Yui: "Being able to withstand that pain... I always thought I was strong, but I failed."

Kaede: "..."

She kept silent for a moment before finally taking her fangs out of my neck before quickly healing it with a final lick of my neck that sent shivers up my spine.

Kaede: "That isn't true."

Yui: "Y-yes it is."

Kaede: "I wasn't always like this you know. You're not the only one that has completely lost it."

Yui: "But every time, you always seem to be in control when you need blood. And here I am, losing myself at the first bit of craving for blood."

Kaede: "Hey. I was the same way."

Yui: "Huh?"

Kaede: "..."

Even though she's now relaxed on top of me, she wore a pained expression on her face. I choose to remain silent as I wait for her to elaborate what she meant.

Kaede: "...Back when I was first thrown into this body. I met someone. His name was Silas... At the time, I didn't know what I was, or where I was. But Silas took me into his care."

Her voice finally is matching her face as I could see eyes were struggling to make eye contact with me.

Kaede: "You say I'm stronger, but when I lost myself while under Silas' care, I woke up to find his body. There wasn't even enough blood to leak out of his body after I was done with him. I think the only reason why I woke up was that there was no more blood to drink. I wasn't strong at all like you say. It took me a long time to finally control it, yet you managed to stop yourself from killing Natalie... You're a lot stronger than I was..."

No tears were being spilled, but I could tell she was close. I didn't know how to respond to such a story, but I embrace her body nonetheless. I didn't plan on it, but I could feel some of her tears dampening my shirt as she rests her head on my chest. She wasn't crying, but it was like her tears were just flowing out on it's own. And as I began to twiddle my fingers around some strands of her hair, I finally speak up.

Yui: "You were young though, right? I'm sure if you were the age you were now, you would've been fine."

Kaede: "Pfft. I'm not too sure about that."

Yui: "I'm pretty sure. And either way, what I said is still true. You're a lot stronger than I am, at least right now. I'll catch up to you one day."

Kaede: "Hey~ I won't allow that. That's saying that you're gonna dive into the vampire life."

Yui: "I didn't mean it like that, haha."

Kaede: "Mmmm~ You better. It's bad enough already, isn't it?"

Yui: "Y-yeah..."

I'm reminded of the sleeping Natalie on the bed next to us. If it was worse than this, I might have actually killed her. Wait, doesn't Kaede have to deal with smell as well? I don't think the comparison she made was fair. If I was able to smell Natalie's blood and it being intoxicating like how Kaede makes it sound, then surely I would've killed Natalie. She was pretty much on the brink of death... Ah~ I won't bring it up though. I won't make this some kind of competition. I'll just bask in this embrace with Kaede.

Kaede: "Hey."

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "Sorry I was away. Gabriella took us somewhere."

Yui: "And you two got her drunk?"

Kaede: "Fufu~ Yeah. I didn't plan on it, but Gabriella surprisingly enjoyed the wine I gave her."

Yui: "So you two made up?"

Kaede: "Mhmm."

Yui: "That's good."

I let out a sigh of satisfaction as Kaede cuddles up on top of me more, readjusting herself to lessen the weight on my body. I didn't mind her being completely on top of me, but this feels good as well.