Diabolik Lovers: Recovery

Chapter 8: What is Love? (All)

"Pancake!"

I snapped out of my studying, jumping slightly at the fierceness in Ayato's voice. Even though I had clearly heard him, I didn't turn around.

Not now, please, not now...

Ayato yanked the chair around anyway, but halted upon seeing my face. I knew my eyes were still puffy; I stared at anything but him.

"Miyako?"

"What?" I answered, my voice cracking.

"Tch, don't play stupid. Why's your face ugly and red? You've been crying haven't you."

He crossed his arms and waited for me to explain. I couldn't explain everything... how could I when I didn't know everything? 

He doesn't need everything. Just tell him what you know about your sadness.

"It was Kanato... his stupid dolls – I hate them! I hate what he did to them!"

"Eh? Well he is a little messed up – it's best to leave him to his own devices."

"A little? A little! Ayato, he's completely fucked up! Even more so than the rest of you!"

Although I had tried to distract myself with more homework, the attempt had been in vain. Angry tears were now rising into my eyes.

"Hey! Watch it Pancake!" he snarled, kicking at the back of my chair.

"Stop calling me Pancake!" I screamed, rising violently from the chair and approaching Ayato so menacingly that he took a few steps back.

"What is this ruckus?" Reiji muttered, appearing by the window.

In fact, in a matter of seconds, my room was filled with vampires.

"I want to be called by my real name, Miyako, as it is only polite," I told Reiji, my voice surprisingly firm. It was slightly high though, like there was something stuck in it. 

"That is your real name, yes..."

"She is our prey Reiji, it doesn't matter what she wants!" Ayato argued, stepping toward me menacingly.

"I am not! I have feelings just as you do!"

A sudden lash landed up on my cheek and when I looked up to see who'd dealt it, I saw Reiji's red eyes. I felt sadness and fear flash across my face but they morphed into emptiness just as quickly when I reigned them in. The tell-tail pink trails of tears were they only remnant of emotion on my face. 

Shutting down... shutting down is something I know how to do. It's something I've practiced before...

"Fine," I muttered, my upper lip shivering even as I scowled at him.

His hand raised again. I turned my opposite cheek, but the blow never came. Curiously, I looked up. Reiji's hand was down, his face an unfamiliar mix of emotions. Confusion was the main one lurking in his eyes like fog.

"Ayato," Reiji said sternly, his eyes never leaving mine. My stomach churned with anxiety and my heart picked up its pace slightly, making my veins feel weak and woozy. "If I hear you call Miyako by anything other than her real name, I will punish you."

"What?" Ayato yelled, his eyes flaring up and his teeth glinting as he bared them.

"Don't argue," Subaru growled from where he stood, his shoulder to the wall. He was gazing at us out of the corner of his eye, his iris a sliver of red through the pale white of his hair. 

"What is wrong with you all?"

"If you understood, you would call her by her real name," Subaru said, pushing off the wall and pacing over. "Miyako."