There was worry in Shinoa's gaze as she watched an unconscious Yuichiro being shoved into the vehicle. It was easy to escape. Too easy in Shinoa's opinion, but she wasn't going to complain. Whether it was luck or fate, she was being rescued and another member of her squad had survived. This brought hope to her that the others were alive as well. 

She was safe inside the military car, and she knew that  Lt. Colonel Guren would protect them. 

"Everyone spread out! Mito, Sayuri, you two kill the white haired vampire! The rest of you cover me and take out the one heading this way!"

Shinoa twisted in her seat to watch as each member of the squad immediately took their place in formation and  moved effortlessly to follow Guren's command. Only two stayed behind, Goshi and Shinya, who both took aim at the vampire Ayato. 

Yuichiro groaned and Shinoa snapped her attention back to him as he shifted uncomfortably. 

"Yuu!" She exclaimed, quickly rushing to position him on his back in the seat. She watched as his familiar green eyes fluttered open and stared up at her. 

"...Shi--noa?" He muttered. "...Where...am I?" 

"You're safe now," She said, "Guren's come to rescue us." 

"Guren?!" Yuichiro exclaimed. He attempted to sit up suddenly before yelping and forcing Shinoa to shove him back down. 

"What about the others?!" He yelled.

"The vampires still have them," She said softly. 

There was a look of utter fury on Yuichiro's face as he growled, "Those damn bloodsuckers! I'll kill the bastards!" He tried to move once again but Shinoa shoved him down once more.

"You can't! The vampires have our weapons! Without our cursed gear we're useless! We'll only be getting in their way!" 

Yuichiro opened his mouth to say something but grit his teeth instead. "Damn it. There must be something we can do!"

Shinoa offered a weak smile but it was as though Yuichiro saw right through it. He searched her face for a moment before he grabbed her shoulders and tightened his grip.

"What did those bloodsuckers do to you?" 

"H-huh? N-nothing!" She replied. 

"You're dressed weird and you don't have your cursed gear. Did they bite you or torture you?"

"Yeah but that's to be expected. I mean, they tortured all of us I assume."

Yuichiro let go of her and clenched his fists. "I'm sorry." 

"But why? If anyone should be sorry it's--"

"I'm sorry you had to go through so much pain. If only I was stronger I could have protected everyone. If everyone died I--" Yuichiro's voice wavered and he quickly rubbed his eyes. 

Shinoa could only sit in silence and stare at him. The tattered uniform, the black and blue bruises, the blood; her words stuck in her throat as she realized that whatever had happened to Yuichiro had been ten times worse than what happened to her. And yet he still blamed himself. 

"You're too kind Yuu," She mumbled, her own fingers tightly curling into fists on her lap. "I'm sure they're still alive. Because if they...the bloodsuckers will have hell to pay if they harm them." 

She tried to smile but the moment was cut short. The vehicle trembled and she turned in her seat in time to see a sword swinging towards the car.

"Yuu get down!" She shrieked. 

She grabbed Yuichiro's sleeve and yanked him downwards as her own body immediately collapsed on top of him.

The top of the car was cut clean apart and an all too familiar voice said, "Trying to hide the pipsqueak from me? Don't you know she belongs to me?" 

Without warning the back of her neck was grabbed by cold hands and she was lifted into the air. She gasped and clawed at the iron grip, wincing as she was pulled into his chest.

"Shinoa!" Yuichiro cried. 

She was unable to speak as the vampire's sword slid right under her neck.  

"Didn't I say not to even dare escape Ore-sama?" Ayato growled, "If anyone makes a move I'll kill her right now!"

To Shinoa, such a demand was futile. After all, there was no way that Guren or any of his squad would obey such a thing. But her eyes widened in shock as the battlefield ceased all movement and everyone stared with expressions of utter horror.

"Haha, so you humans are loyal. Since you all are such obedient livestock I'll tell you a secret. The great Ore-sama has been holding back this entire time. Be thankful that we have better things to do than toy with weak humans all day. Follow us and I'll slit her throat right then and there."

He tightened his grip on her neck as if to prove the point and Shinoa gasped and squeezed her eyes shut. 

"Subaru lets go."  

His brother grunted and joined his side, refusing to glance at Guren's squad or Shinoa before leading the way. Ayato grinned and moved his hand from her neck to slip it underneath Shinoa's waist, throwing her on his shoulder. 

"See ya later," Ayato called out, turning and following Subaru.

The shock was beyond understandable. To Shinoa, such a development was supposed to be impossible. The Lt. Colonel Guren was letting them escape? And more unbelievable, no one was chasing after her? 

"Looks like those humans don't find you worth the trouble," Ayato commented. "I expected a bloody battle that lead to their corpses on display but I guess they're smart enough not to mess with the great Ore-sama." 

She didn't offer a response. There has to be a reason for the turn of events, and she could only trust in the judgement of Lt. Colonel Guren.

The return to the Sakamaki household was swift, and Ayato kicked in the front door before throwing Shinoa to the ground.

"Get over here you damn four eyes! Right now!" He snapped.

"Hey, you're too noisy. Quiet down."

"I don't remember asking your opinion Shu!"

Ayato kicked the couch that occupied his older brother Shu as the blond ignored the action in favor of turning on his side.

"Haven't I told you time and time again not to shout so loudly in the house?" The voice of Reiji chastised.

Reiji stepped out of the shadows to give Ayato a glare before his gaze flickered to Shinoa sitting upright on the floor.

"So you still have the livestock? One would have assumed you had lost her due to your ignorance and stupidity."

"Shut up," Ayato replied, "I'm not the idiot here. Subaru was such a baby that he actually let himself get hurt and forced us to have to retreat from the enemy."

As he spoke, Laito appeared from the shadows with a  grin. 

"Fufu. Big brother Ayato ran from the battlefield with his tail between his legs? How pathetic," Laito commented.

"I did not run away!" Ayato growled.

Laito's grin widened. "Suuure you didn't."

"I'll kill you, you fucking pervert! I did not run away!"

"CAN EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Subaru screeched.

For once, the brothers looked to Subaru and quieted down as it became apparent that he was not healing. His arm was covered in dark splotches of purple and black that was climbing up to his neck.

"...so this is a cursed gear's poison?" Reiji inquired. He stepped forward and lifted Subaru's arm, ignoring the string of curses that flew out of his mouth.

"We have to get this treated immediately," Reiji said, "It looks as though it has spread rapidly. If left untreated it might just kill you."

"Yeah? So why the fuck are we standing here?! Fix this shit!" Subaru spat.

"There's no need to shout. The first course of action is to figure out what kind of poison is infecting you and its properties. If you're lucky, it's a simple procedure. Come and follow me."

Subaru scowled as he followed Reiji, and when he looked back Shinoa couldn't stop the pang of guilt that shot through her.

"How did Subaru get injured in the first place?" Laito asked.

"Like I said, he was being a baby. Obviously he was going easy on the humans trying not to kill them. And look what good it did."

"You didn't help him?"

"The great Ore-sama doesn't have time to babysit. Besides, only a weakling can't handle five on one."

"...remind me to never go to the battlefield with you Ayato."

"Shut up! It's his fault for thinking of that Chichinashi in the first place."

"Ah, so it's because of that bitch-chan huh? No wonder he's grown soft."

A silence washed over the pair and Shinoa glanced between the brothers questioningly. They were no doubt talking about a girl, and whoever she was, she seemed to have left an impression on them. Shinoa thought back to the room she had awakened in and the clothes that was left behind. 

"You know the queen's going to want to hear about this," Laito said.

Ayato groaned and rolled his eyes, "Yeah yeah, I know! Damn it. It's all Subaru's fault."

"Good luck!" Laito replied with a wave. 

Ayato mumbled something inaudible as he shot his brother a glare. 

"Don't touch my prey, do you understand? When I get back there better not be a single mark on her!"

"fufu. Are you jealous? Scared that she'll like my fangs better?" 

"You heard me you pervert!" Ayato growled.

Laito tossed his hands into the air. "Yes yes I heard you. Run along big brother, the queen doesn't have all day." 

Ayato grunted and turned to leave, slamming the door behind him. 

As soon as Ayato left, a devious gleam twinkled in Laito's gaze. "Why don't we have some fun while we wait for him to return?"