Wonder Wine

-----Yui's POV

Walking down to Kaede's place with Natalie by my side, I held one of the boxes of food that Natalie, Alice and I had prepared with Natalie holding onto the other box. I wasn't entirely sure what Natalie had in mind, but we ended up frying pieces of chicken and vegetables in the wine itself. But it was my idea to shove sticks through the variety of food, creating a skewered kebab-like lunch. Of course this whole lunch idea was all just a theory, so we couldn't tell if the wine that we infused into the food would help the taste or not, so we ended up bringing a case filled with bottles of us with us.

We soon arrive at Kaede's place as I shift the box's weight onto just my right arm before knocking on the door with my now free hand.

Yui: "I hope this works..."

I mutter to myself as I wait for the door to open. It really saddens me that Kaede and the others cannot experience such delicacies like everyone else. I still remember Fleur and Faye's reaction to when we had tea the other day with the queen and her daughters. It was such a lovely tea, yet Fleur and Faye showed no signs of happiness, as if their world was turned on it's head as they come to the realization.

As I was pondering, the door slowly opened, revealing Kaede, smiling away at my surprise visit.

Kaede: "Yui?"

Yui: "Yo~ I thought I'd stop on by before the dinner party. We brought over something."

We moved inside, closing the door behind us as Natalie and I place the two boxes of food onto the table along with the bottles of wine. Thanks to all my training, I felt completely fine, but it looks as though Natalie was struggling with the weight of the case of wine... Maybe I should've carried that instead... Oh well! Natalie needs training anyways, so it is what it is~

Kaede: "Wine?"

Yui: "Mm! But not only that-"

I look over to Natalie, allowing her to explain the rest herself since she was the one that cooked everything. I mainly just shoved sticks into meat.

Natalie: "I've infused the food with wine, so I hope that it makes eating food a bit more enjoyable for you and the others."

Just then, the rest of Kaede's gang strolled down the stairs, with Mell immediately gluing herself to Kaede's side. Seeing Mell with her bright, scarlet red eyes that now match Kaede's makes me a little jealous, but I know first hand how painful it is to be a vampire, even if it's just a sliver of what her pain must be like.

Sicily: "Food?"

Natalie: "Yes. This is for everyone, so I hope that you all can enjoy yourselves."

Lillian: "Thank you."

Faye: "Heh, I guess it's time for you guys to have your feast now."

I can only imagine from what Faye just said that they must've finished with some kind of "feeding" upstairs.

Kaede: "Actually, this food is infused with wine, so I think everyone should try some."

Fleur: "Wine? But we can't taste anything."

Kaede: "Hehe, that's what I thought, but apparently alcohol is impressively sweet for me. It's the only thing I've discovered that has any flavor at all besides blood."

Fleur: "Really?"

Mell: "I'd like to try!"

It's funny seeing Mell getting excited about trying wine as it does look morally wrong, seeing someone who's underage drinking alcohol. But from my experiences of seeing Kaede drink first hand, she showed no signs of appearing drunk, so I guess Mell should be fine.

Kaede: "Well then-"

She went and grabbed one kebab from the table, handing one out to everyone, including Sicily and Lillian. Actually, could elves get drunk too? I guess I didn't think of that. But it was too late to wonder about such things as they all took a bite from the kebab, slipping off a piece of meat from the stick into their mouths. Natalie and I watched on closely to see how they'd react. Sicily and Lillian were the first to react with their eyes beaming with excitement as they went to take another bite. The vampires on the other hand only took one bite before staring at the kebab. My heart sank at the thought of them unable to taste anything, but Kaede turned her head to face me as a slight smile grew on her face.

Kaede: "It's good."

Yui: "Really?!"

Fleur: "It's... odd. But Kaede's right."

Faye: "Mmm. If anything, the looks are deceiving. Typically meat would have a juicy, meaty flavor to it... But this is-"

Mell: "Sweet!~"

Both Natalie and I heaved a sigh of relief as we watch them take another bite. Mell was the happiest out of the bunch, seeming to have no qualms about the meat being overly sweet.

Lillian: "Huh, I do taste the sweetness, but the fruity alcoholic taste is really apparent."

Sicily: "It's good though! Thank you."

Natalie: "You're very welcome."

What a success this was. I was worried how different the taste would be for vampires and elves, but it looks like they're all enjoying it in their own separate ways. Fleur and Faye were smiling at one another as they both continued to eat their kebabs. Mell ended up devouring the entire kebab as if it was nothing before going to the table, grabbing another stick. Sure this is meant to be a lunch and not a dinner, but with this, I hope that their spirits will rise for the upcoming dinner.

Kaede: "Uhm, also... Yui."

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede ends up finishing her last bite while the others continue to feast. I had a feeling what this was going to be about as she hasn't drank my blood for quite some time.

Kaede: "Could we move upstairs just for a bit?"

Yui: "Sure. Mell? I'll bring Kaede back soon, okay?"

Mell: "Mhmm!"

She was happily eating away at her second kebab, giving her consent for the two of us to go somewhere private.

Closing the door to the room, I start preparing myself by undoing a couple buttons of my shirt to more easily expose my neck.

Kaede: "Hehe. You knew?"

Yui: "Of course. You seemed a bit meek when we arrived so I figured as much."

Kaede: "Thank you."

Yui: "No problem~ We haven't done it in a while so I was a little concerned."

Kaede: "I was going to ask yesterday, but you went and got sick."

Yui: "Well, then make sure you have your fill now, haha."

I sat down on the bed as Kaede approached me, gently grabbing onto my shoulders as I tilt my head out of habit. But her face stays where it is, just staring at my neck.

Yui: "Hmm?"

Kaede: "Sorry."

Yui: "Aw come one~ We're not going through this again. You don't need to apologize about it. We're past that aren't we?"

Kaede: "No, it's not that. It's just... sorry!"

Suddenly, she lunges forward, piercing my neck with her fangs as a yelp escapes me. I had gotten so used to Kaede being gentle with me that this sudden forcefulness really startled me, even causing me to fall down onto my back as Kaede began to drink from my neck. I end up trying to soothe her by stroking her head, but her body refused to loosen up as she remained latched onto my neck, refusing to let go.

Yui: "H-hey, Kaede. It's okay. It's okay."

I repeat those words once more as I continue to stroke her head. I started to worry if she wouldn't snap out of it, but-

Kaede: "S-so-rry"

I had thought she completely lost it, but hearing her muffled voice against my neck alleviated my concerns. It just seems as though Kaede was just this starved of blood. Even now I can feel her vice-like grip on my shoulders begin to shake with every gulp she takes.

Yui: "It's okay."

I wrap my arms around her, letting her continue to feast on my body. Just then, a thought entered my mind... I'm not exactly sure how Kaede turned everyone into a vampire, but I wonder if it had something to do with a bite. Back in my past life, I remember vampires in books and movies turning humans into vampires with a bite. It was a passing thought, but I wonder if there's a chance that Kaede might suddenly choose to turn me into one.

Thinking that, Kaede finally loosens up after what felt like a minute, now taking her time drinking my blood as if she's savoring every mouthful. I can't help but smile at her as I continue to pat her head.

Yui: "Save some room for dinner, will you?"

Kaede: "Hehe."

We end up finishing up as Kaede cleans and heals my neck. I was going to stop her myself if she continued any further as I felt my body start to grow quite weak, but it seems as though Kaede sensed that herself.

Yui: "Sorry if you didn't get enough."

Kaede: "It's okay. I'll be good for a while with this."

She gently kissed me on the lips as I could taste the lingering taste of my blood on her lips. The kiss only lasted for a few moments before our lips separated.

Kaede: "We should head back before people get any weird ideas."

Yui: "I don't necessarily mind, haha."

Kaede: "Can you walk?"

Yui: "I'm-"

I go to stand up, but my knees buckle from my own weight as Kaede ends up catching me before I hit the ground.

Kaede: "Ah~ I knew I went a bit hard there. Sorry."

Yui: "It's okay."

Kaede: "I swear if you get sick again because of me-"

Yui: "It's okay."

I end up resting my head on her shoulder as I repeat those same words again to her with a big grin on my face. I'm happy I can do this for Kaede. I still remember when she was so against drinking my blood, so it makes me happy knowing that we trust each other this much. I continue to rest my head on her shoulder as we slowly make our way back down to join the others.