Summary: Mikaela decides to go to the house of a vampire noble for medicine when Yuichiro gets deathly ill. He must face the fear and pain of being at the mercy of a vampire in order to save him.


Livestock, Nothing More


Mikaela's fingers closed subconsciously around the tender flesh near his left collarbone as he stood before the doorway. There were still scars where Ferid had sucked his blood night after night, week after week. Since Mika resisted drinking human blood, the marks never fully healed. Neither had the one in his chest where Ferid pierced him the night he tried to escape, nor the crease in his skin where his arm had been severed...

Only the wounds from before he was a vampire remained. He hadn't wept since then for any reason. His own feelings were irrelevant. He had only one goal, anyway: protect Yuu at any cost. The scars, invisible from the outside, were the ones that ebbed away at Mikaela more than any scar on his body.

Yuu seemed really scared that night, Mika thought, taking his fingers off his uneven skin. The night I was stupid enough to go home immediately after having my blood taken by Ferid... I should have known what would come of wanting to be home with the others... Really, it was Mika who had been scared, scared that he would lose Yuu.

With nothing else to think about as he waited for word of the progenitors' decision, the eye of Mikaela's mind clouded, traveling far back to the distant past. Mikaela cherished those memories more than anything else he currently possessed.


~Four years prior~


Mika felt cold as the tube connected to his throat drained the blood from his body, sapping away at his life energy. To keep his mind from focusing on the pain, he occupied himself with thoughts. After this, we'll find something to eat from the sewer. Maybe we'll even find something for Akane to make that stew everyone likes –

A sharp pain shot from Mika's neck through his entire body like lightning, interrupting his thoughts. He didn't let himself cry out, cringing from the sensation. Flat against the backboard, he turned his head. "Hey, Yuu, how are you doing?"

Yuichiro was more affected by the blood extractions than anyone else from the Hyakuya Orphanage; Mika always had to help him home to keep him from collapsing on the street. Right then, Yuu's face was scrunched up in knots as he tried not to show any signs of pain. "Yeah, I'm fine... just fine..." he assured, his eyes shut tightly. He leaned toward Mika slightly, grunting. "Listen, Mika, when those blood-suckers' backs are turned, one day do you think we could –?"

"Don't move," ordered the hooded vampire making his rounds through the rows of panting children. He stalked toward Mika and Yuu, towering menacingly over Yuichiro with merciless red eyes. "If your tube falls out, we'll kill you immediately."

"I know that!" Yuichiro snapped back, giving the vampire a glare. He withdrew from the pain in his neck.

"Then sit still and shut up," the vampire commanded. He turned back to the pathway between the children and walked forward without waiting for Yuichiro's retort.

Yuu stuck his tongue out at the vampire's back. "Jeez, what's that bastard's problem?" he murmured.

When the blood collection was over, everyone was released out of the building via the bridge in front. Every time there was a blood farming, the vampires took one-fourth of each child's total blood content, which was enough to make everyone dizzy but not enough to faint. Usually Yuichiro would have been complaining about this very fact as Mikaela helped him cross the front bridge to the vampire handing out blood replenisher packs to children on their way out. Strangely, that day Yuu was silent.

"Here, Yuu," said Mika, holding out a pack of blood replenishing liquid to Yuu, who was leaning against the railing of the bridge so as not to fall over.

"It's almost been four years since this crap started," Yuu mumbled, more to himself as he took the pack from Mika ruefully. While Mika greeted the other children emerging from the farming building from the Hyakuya Orphanage, Yuichiro was hit by a large wave of wooziness and stumbled a bit. He sat down against the railing of the bridge as he twisted the top off the pack Mika had handed him and raised it to his lips. Catching a whiff from the inside, Yuichiro stopped before drinking any, squinting distastefully at the sickly, metallic-pink liquid inside. "Gross..."

Yuichiro was about to force the disgusting rubbery substance down his throat when everything – the bridge, the children, and Mika – swirled before him.

"Here you go," said Mika, smiling at the other kids as he handed out blood replenisher packs to them – so they didn't have to go near the vampire giving them out. Mikaela heard a loud thud somewhere behind him and turned around. When what he saw was Yuu sprawled across the ground, the metallic-pink liquid dripping out of his replenisher pack, Mika froze. "Huh? Y-Yuu...?"

"Hey, what's wrong with big brother Yuu?" one of the younger kids asked, clutching onto Mikaela's livestock uniform.

For once in his life, Mika couldn't answer with a reassuring smile. His eyes were huge, round orbs of distress, fixed upon the lifeless body of his collapsed best friend. "Y... Yuu!" Mika cried, rushing forward. He fell to his knees above Yuichiro, whose raven hair covered his face. Mika shook him. "H-hey, Yuu, wake up!"

Nearby, Akane worked to calm the others, scared seeing their older brother Yuu slumped on the ground like that.

"Yuu, please wake up!" Mika pleaded, shaking Yuichiro more violently. "Yuu! Yuu!" Standing, Mikaela shoved through the crowd of children waiting in line to receive blood replenisher packs from the hooded vampire handing them out. "My friend is sick!" he cried desperately. "Please, you have to help him!"

"I already gave you a handful of blood replenisher packs," stated the vampire in a dispassionate voice. "As long as he drinks it like everyone else, he should be fine."

"No, that didn't work!" said Mikaela, shaking his head with his fists clenched. "He needs medical attention – real medicine! Right now!"

The demanding tone Mika used didn't rub well against the vampire. "Look here, you head of livestock," he spat. "We don't have any human medicine, are you crazy? If your friend is sick, that's on you."

"Are you saying... you don't care if he is... if Yuu is... going to die...?" Mika uttered.

"I don't have time to deal with brats like you," said the vampire. "You're holding up the line. Get away from here before I have to remove you myself."

"No, wait! You have to help me!" Mika shouted, but other children rushed past him, swarming aroundthe vampire and knocking him to the ground.

"What are we going to do, Mika?" asked one of the younger girls once Mikaela had squeezed himself out of the crowd of delirious children. "Big brother Yuu," she said in a concerned voice, tears in her eyes, "he isn't waking up..."

Mika looked to see Akane bent over with Yuichiro's head in her lap, trying to talk to him. He looks so pale, Mika thought. I have to find help... and fast.

Looping his arms under Yuu's shoulders, Mika lifted the top side of Yuichiro while Akane carried his legs. Mika ordered the others to go ahead to prepare a place for Yuu to sleep when they reached the shelter. As Mika and Akane carried an unconscious Yuu through the streets of the vampire city, Yuichiro's few breaths were shallow and very labored, as though it was painful to breathe. He didn't open his eyes either, which worried Mikaela further.

When they finally reached their shelter, Akane helped Mika lift Yuu up the ladder of their bunk, with many blankets and pillows. Everyone waited on the bunkbed for Yuu to wake up, but two hours later, he still hadn't.

"I'll make something to eat," Akane said finally to distract everyone.

"I'll help you, big sis Akane," said one of the older girls who had black hair and glasses.

"Same here," said one of the other boys.

"Me too!" chimed many of the younger children.

Almost all except Mika left Yuu's side. He had never seen Yuichiro in such a state. Ever. He was always bouncing with energy to destroy the vampires, even after having his blood taken from him, even when he first arrived at the Hyakuya Orphanage with all that had happened with his parents... Why now had he all of a sudden just collapsed? After everything else...?

Mika felt one of the other kids clutching his pants and looked over in surprise. "Big brother Yuu is gonna be all right, isn't he, Mika?" the kid asked, visibly disturbed by the thought that Yuu would never wake.

Placing an arm around the kid's shoulder, Mika tilted his head as he grinned at him. "Of course! He'll be better before you know it!"

His face brightened and he grinned at Mika in return. "Then I'll go help big sis Akane with dinner too!" He crawled down the ladder and to the counter with everyone else.

That was a lie. The first Mikaela had ever told to one of his family. He didn't think Yuichiro was going to be all right. In fact, he knew that Yuu wouldn't be. The fact that Yuu was having such a bad reaction to getting his blood taken now meant that his body had been on the edge all this time, and finally... it had had enough. Broken.

None of them had seen sunlight in nearly four years, trapped down here for the vampires' bidding. It had to be taking a toll on Yuu. It had to be taking a toll on everybody.


~That night~


Yuichiro still hadn't woken up by the time dinner was ready. That night's rations consisted of beans and stale bread – a good combination of food for the children in the vampire city. All throughout dinner while the others talked, Mika couldn't bring himself to join in on the conversation. He ate deliberately, barely chewing his food before he swallowed.

"Mika?" Akane probed at one point during dinner, seeing how he picked at his food.

"Oh, sorry, Akane," Mika apologized, giving her a small smile. "It's really good, I'm just..." His gaze trailed back to the bunkbed.

"Worried about Yuu?" Akane finished for him.

He looked back down at his food. "Yeah..."

"I'm sure he'll wake up soon," said Akane, standing to take everyone's plates. She called a few of the others to help her take the plates to wash in the stream in the middle of the city.

Mikaela knew Akane was being genuine in her reassurance, but he knew otherwise. Yuu is going to die, droned avoice in Mika's head. Yuu is going to die if I don't do something. Tears appeared in Mikaela's eyes at the mantra repeating itself in his mind. He didn't want to listen, or believe it, but if he did nothing... Yuu surely would not recover. Yuu is... going to... die...? he ruminated hopelessly. Mika feverishly wiped tears from his eyes before anyone saw him crying.

He hated wasting food, especially in a place like this, but Mika couldn't finish his meal. He scraped his plate in the gutter and asked one of the other children to take it to Akane by the stream. Normally he would have done it himself, but he was too scared to leave Yuu. Scared that would be the last time he saw Yuu alive...

Sitting on the top of the bunk with his legs folded beside him, Mika heard the cracks in Yuu's breathing, which was reduced to only a few breaths per minute. I have to do something, he thought, but what can I do...? That vampire said they don't have any human medicine down here... Not even the vampire nobility could help me...? As a scenario ran itself through his head, Mika gasped. Wait.

"Big brother Mika...?" one of the kids asked, also watching over Yuichiro with Mika.

I might be able to save Yuu. "I'll be back," Mika said, scrambling over to the ladder on the side of the bunkbed. "Tell Akane not to worry about me. Can you do that?"

The boy nodded unsurely, though he wanted to ask what Mika was planning on doing.

Mika smiled at him. "Thank you." Then his head disappeared below the bunkbed, and he burst out the door at a sprint.

Mikaela dashed between buildings and other children making their way back to their shelters for the night, to the residential area of the vampires, searching for a way over the surrounding wall. After only a brief moment of trepidation, Mika dragged old crates and other larges pieces of stone debris from the underground ceiling. He was just able to reach over and latch his arms around the thick top of the wall, pull himself over, and drop down on the other side. Unfortunately, the moment Mika's feet touched the ground, he was spotted by a pair of vampires on the far end of the street. "Hey, what's livestock doing here?"

"C-crap...!" Mika ran along the wall until he found a small alleyway behind one of the buildings. The vampires' hoods concealed their faces except for their piercing red eyes as they rushed toward Mika.

Mika heard one of them yell at the entrance to the alleyway. "It's too cramped!" He continued sidling the wall, when one of the vampires appeared on the other side, boxing him in.

"You have nowhere to run now, little livestock," bellowed the first vampire. "You might as well give up and turn yourself in." And in a lower, more taunting voice, he said, "If you do that, we might not kill you for breaking the rules."

Mika was, quite literally, caught between a rock and a hard place – two hard places actually. He had nowhere to run. His head turned frantically to the wall, hoping for some way to climb back over it, to the area designated for livestock until he could come back and try again. The wall was much too high for him though, and the only light he received from the lamp above it was blocked out when another hooded vampire appeared, snatching him from above. "Gotcha!"

Hands bound behind his back, a vampire led Mika into the mansion of the noble who owned the property where Mika had trespassed. Red carpets adorned the floor and walls of the living room, stone statues of gargoyles and other gothic architecture on the furniture. Mika only had eyes for the vampire sitting on the couch in the center of the room, however. He was forced to his knees before the noble.

"Well, well, what do we have here~?" he said, uncrossing his legs as he stood from the couch. He walked jauntily over to Mika who glared daggers dripping with fear at the silver-haired vampire noble. The noble's cape swayed around his shoulders and legs with each graceful step. "Oooh, what a scary look you're giving me," the noble teased, hugging himself. "But I can tell that you're not one who would just throw your life away." He leaned forward, a hand on Mika's cheek. "Tell me, little livestock, why did you try to break into my mansion?"

Mika turned his face away from the noble, not answering.

"Come now," cooed the vampire. "If you tell me, I might be able to give you whatever it is you want."

"Really?!" Mika burst, lurching forward in the vampire's grasp. The guard threatened to immobilize Mika with a chop on the back of the neck, but the noble held up a hand to stop him.

"My name is Ferid Bathory. I'm the seventh progenitor of this city. And you?" he inquired, opening a hand to the child crouched on his floor.

Mika stared warily up at Ferid. "Mikaela Hyakuya," he introduced quietly.

"So then, tell me, Mika... what's a cute little livestock like yourself doing here at this hour, hm~?"

"I was..." Mika stopped, gritted his teeth. Did he really want to say? Did he really want to tell this vampire that he was here searching for a cure for his sick family? Ferid said he might give Mika whatever it was he needed if he told him... that sounded too good to be true. I'm going to die here whether I tell him or not, Mika reasoned. I just hope they don't punish Yuu and the others for my own reckless actions... As long as Mika didn't tell the vampires their names or faces, he figured it was best to go with this gamble. Mika looked Ferid in the eyes. "I was searching for some medicine for a family member of mine. He got sick after the blood collection today."

"Oh ho~?" Ferid sang. "And here I thought that you livestock were selfish, only caring for yourselves."

Mikaela wouldn't give this vampire the satisfaction he wanted by teasing him. Instead of lashing out violently, Mika decided full submission to be the better option. "Lord Ferid, will you please help me?! I have no one else to go to..."

"Of course, Mika," Ferid answered a little too easily. Mika waited for him to add, "I only ask for something worthwhile in return. A kind of payment, if it were."

"What kind of payment...?" Mika asked.

"The only kind of payment that you livestock can give." When Mika didn't understand, Ferid leaned closer, his ruby eyes glinting in the dim light of his living room. "Your blood," he whispered in Mika's ear.

Mika felt a chill at the vampire's words. He stuttered, "B-but I already give my blood whenever I –"

"I'm not talking about blood packaged in a glass or bottle," Ferid interrupted simply, placing his hands on his hips.

"Y-you mean... from me... directly...?" Mika muttered with wide eyes.

"Ah ha, you're smart after all, aren't you~?" Ferid chuckled out loud. "How about this then, Mika: if you let me drink your blood, I'll make sure my guard here doesn't kill you, and give you what you need."

Mika didn't want to trust the word of a vampire... but it was the only word he had. If this noble wouldn't help Yuu, none of them would. "Wh-when will the medicine be ready...?" Mika hesitated to ask. "My friend... he's really sick, so –"

"Then I will prepare the treatment immediately," said Ferid. He gave a nod to the vampire behind Mika. A slice, and Mika felt the ropes around his wrists loosen. He watched the guard leave in a sweep of grey robes, rubbing the marks on his wrists. "So, Mika~?" Turning back around, the dark sneer of Ferid Bathory awaited his reply.

Mika tried to say it without fear as sweat beaded on his forehead. "S-sure. Go ahead." If it's to save Yuu, I'll do anything.

"Bare your neck," Ferid ordered.

Mika slid the top of his livestock clothing down until his left shoulder and collarbone were exposed. He found himself shaking unbelievably in anticipation for two sharp fangs to sink deep into his skin, though the room was suddenly very warm.

"Are you scared?" Ferid asked. A shiver traveled up Mika's spine as the vampire's long, cold fingers curled around his arms, holding him steady.

"I'm okay," he managed to say in a small voice. He couldn't shake the voice that screamed in his mind, screaming that this was just a trick to let Ferid drink from him, every last drop, with the promise Yuu would be saved. What other choice do I have right now? Mika pleaded through his despair. Yuu needs medical attention immediately! If there's any chance that this vampire will help me –!

He squeaked out loud when Ferid bit unceremoniously into his flesh, two knives in his skin that throbbed painfully with every slurp. Cold. He was so cold. This is worse, Mika thought, his beating heart sounding like a decadent drum in his ears and throat. Much worse than the tubes in the blood farming building. Black spots appeared in Mika's vision. If not for the pain spreading all throughout his body from his shoulder, he would have passed out right then. This hurts... it hurts a lot... when is he going to stop...? He could already hear Yuichiro scolding him in the next life: "What are you doing, idiot?"

The deep red carpet swam beneath Mika's knees, bubbling like a sea of blood. Before Mikaela knew it, that sea, along with everything else, faded to black.


~A few hours later~


"Mikaa? Mikaaaa?"

"Mn..." He tried to open his eyes.

"Ah, you're awake," said Ferid.

"Wh... what happened...?" Groaning at the pain in his left shoulder, Mika tried to sit up.

"You might want to take it easy," advised Ferid.

Mika shuddered at the icy, gloved hand on his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Mikaela stared at the smug face of Ferid Bathory. The vampire noble Mika had allowed to drink his blood. "Y-you..." He had been laid out on Ferid's couch while he was unconscious.

"Your blood was very delicious," said Ferid, as if it was a compliment. He stood up from his crouching position next to the couch, a hand on his hip. "It seems I got a little carried away, being that this was your first time to have a vampire drink from you directly. You should be fine now though."

Mika didn't care about that. He said loudly, "Then, what about –!"

"The medicine?" Ferid asked. He revealed a vial of deep blue liquid from behind him and held it down to Mika as if he'd just performed a magic trick. "Ta-daaa~! Just get him to drink this, and he should be better by morning."

"Thank you very much!" Mika said, taking the vial from Ferid's gloved hand. "I'm sorry for being rude, but I really must get back to my sick friend."

"I understand," said Ferid. "It's quite late, and he could be dead already."

Mika tried not to let Ferid's bluntness get to him, swinging his legs around the side of the couch. He hurried to the front entrance of the mansion, feeling Ferid's dark eyes on his back the entire way.

"Oh, and Mika..."

Mikaela stopped by the doorway, turning back.

"I'd be willing to let you come back sometime if you so wish," said Ferid.

At first Mikaela didn't understand what he meant. "Uh... I'll think about it. Thank you again, Lord Ferid," he said as he bowed, then sprinted out the front door, and down the road.

"Ah haaa~ You made the right choice, Mika," Ferid said to no one in particular. "If not for your delicious blood and cute attitude, I would have drank from you until you were dead just now..." He added with a touch of humor, "I can't wait to see that face when it's contorted with despair. You should cherish your precious 'family' while you can."


~Later~


Mika ran as fast as he could without tripping and dropping the vial in his hands. In spite of the weakness he felt from having his blood drained twice in the same day, getting back to Yuu was top priority. Why did Ferid have the cure to Yuu's illness even though the other vampires said it didn't exist? Why would they try to keep things from us if we're their precious livestock? Mika shook his head to cast the thought from his mind as he ran. I can worry about that later. Right now, the only thing I need to focus on is curing Yuu!

He sprinted down the roads, taking the right turn on the sloped path to their shelter and bursting through the front door. Immediately he saw Akane awake on the top bunk with Yuichiro, all of the others asleep behind her.

"Mika, where have you been?" she asked the moment she saw him.

Mikaela didn't find it necessary to answer her question, just hurried up the ladder with the vial grasped in both palms. With sweaty hands, he tried to crack open the cork on the top and couldn't.

"Mika, where did you find that?!"

"Akane, please open this!" Mika said, shoving the vial in her hands.

"Sure..." She popped the cork off on the first try. Mika grabbed the vial back from a stunned Akane, and crawled up beside Yuichiro. The tears in Mika's eyes spilled over when he saw how blue Yuu's lips were, how dark the circles under his eyes had become. He wasted no time tipping the substance into Yuu's mouth, Akane helping him sit Yuu's back against the wall so he wouldn't choke.

"How long do you think it will take?" Mika whispered, his cerulean eyes swimming with tears, fixated upon his sick friend.

Akane stared at Mika, surprised at the amount of worry he showed for Yuu. He'd never gotten that emotional at the Hyakuya Orphanage, even when it was announced one of them had cancer and had to be sent away for chemotherapy. The director had been in tears over that, though Mika had done his best to keep everyone cheerful, always with a smile on his face. Why is Mika so worried about Yuu? It could have been because Mika felt he was responsible for whatever happened to any of the kids from Hyakuya now in the vampire city, but it wasn't like none of them had never gotten sick before. Akane didn't know if any of their illnesses had been deadly. Even still –

Yuichiro stirred. The color of his skin had changed back to a brighter, more healthy shade of peach, his breaths more even and drawn out. Yuu blinked in the low light of their lantern. "Mi... Mika...?"

Mika held back the urge to flop on top of his friend with hugs and kisses. He wrapped his arms carefully around Yuu's head and neck instead. "Yuu!" Mika wailed. Tears fell down his face and onto Yuu's neck and shoulder. "Thank goodness...! I thought you were going to die!"

"Huh?" Yuu murmured, blinking in surprise. "Hey, Mika, it's kinda hard for me to breathe like this –"

Mika jumped back from Yuichiro at once. "I'm sorry, Yuu. I didn't mean to get carried away like that... I'm just..." He quickly wiped away the tears in his eyes.

"What... happened to me?" Yuchiro asked, noticing everyone else asleep.

"You got sick this morning after we had our blood drawn," Mika explained.

"Oh..." A little more awake now, seeing how Mika wiped his eyes, Yuu grumbled, "Please tell me that you weren't sitting there crying over me the entire time."

Mika scratched the back of his head with one hand and laughed, despite the red, tear-stained spots of skin on his cheeks. "What would you do if I said I did~?"

"I'd call you an idiot."

"You were really, really sick, Yuu..." said Mika.

"I was fine," Yuu huffed haughtily, though a few shallow coughs wracked his body.

Mika smiled, his eyes lowering to the wooden boards on the top of the bunkbed. "I'm sure you were... but I needed to be certain..."

As Akane watched their light exchange of words, she could only smile to herself, remaining speechless at the level of Mika's worry for Yuu. But what Mika did to get that medicine, Akane would really like to know.

In the mansion on the edge of the residential area of the vampire nobles, Ferid Bathory counted down the days until Mikaela would come running back to his mansion, asking for more. Asking for a life in the vampire city that humans couldn't have. "My cute little livestock," Ferid crooned, sauntering down the shadowy halls of his mansion. "I can't wait to see how you'll meet your end."


I am now literal MikaYuu trash.

I would like to thank everyone who has favorited and reviewed the story so far! Ah, I always love getting into new fandoms and meeting new fans! ^o^ It really does warm my heart! I really hope you enjoyed this chapter too! Please do leave your thoughts!