For the Sake of Love

by S.RAYN

Two souls, both cursed, one afraid to face eternity alone and the other unwilling to try. Maybe together they'll find a reason to live. Demon yuu/vampire mika

2. Liminality

Part 2: Liminality

---

The first thing Yuu notices when he opens his eyes is that he can see again. Everything is blurry and he can barely make out shapes, but he's not surrounded by darkness anymore. The second thing he notices is the fatigue in his body and the IV connected to his arm. He drops his head back against the pillow and breathes out quietly, he's alive.

There's no one in the hospital room with him, so he takes the opportunity to think before a nurse runs in to check on him. If he's here safe and alive in a hospital, that can only mean one thing and that's that Mika actually gave in and helped him. Then, despite his devout belief that Yuu wouldn't be able to convince him, he still saved him in the end. So, where are you now? Yuu refuses to believe that's the last he'll know of Mikaela even if he has to hunt him down himself. He's already decided Mikaela is perfect for him to spend eternity with, he just has to make sure the other boy knows it too.

"Yuu!" He flinches at the sound of his name as the door to his room flies open. "You idiot! You're awake!" Guren wraps arms around him, careful not to jostle his IV. "We were worried you went and did something stupid and got yourself killed."

"I can't die, remember?"

"You're still stupid enough to try! Look at where you are!"

"Yuu's awake!" He looks up to see Yoichi in his doorway, quickly beckoning to someone he can't see, though he finds out soon enough when all four of his friends nearly maul each other to get into his room.

"You brought everyone?"

"Had to. They care too, Yuu."

"Damn right we do," Shinoa adds. "Next time you wanna go AWOL, don't! Like what the hell we thought the worse!"

"Shinoa thought you'd gotten attacked by a bear and were being nursed back to health by a den of foxes." Yoichi supplies helpfully.

"...What?"

"She was only saying that to make herself feel better, we all really did think the worse," Mitsuba explains, elbowing her way through them.

"Sorry guys, I thought I needed time to adjust to the idea…"

"Two months?" Kimizuki questions. "I hope you've adjusted enough that you absolutely love the idea."

"I don't think I needed quite that long, but my body gave out in the forest and by the time I was ready to come back, I was too weak to move, so I was stuck there."

"...That's what happened?" Guren questions skeptically.

"What do you mean?"

"The doctors weren't sure, but they said it looked like you had been captured by a vampire and starved, then they'd drained you before dumping you here."

"No, that didn't happen at all."

"You had bite marks on your neck." Yuu reaches up to feel the side of his neck, but there's only smooth skin. Even so, that means Mikaela made the decision to drink from him to save them both. He really will have to find him.

He shakes his head, "I don't remember that. I hadn't had food or water for weeks, so I didn't have the energy to leave the forest. I thought I'd be there forever until they eventually cut down the forest years later." He finishes with a laugh.

"It's no laughing matter, Yuu!" Kimizuki exclaims with a punch to his arm.

"Sorry! But, I'm safe and alive, so it's all good, right?"

"How did you get here? The nurse said someone in a hood threw you on a paramedic and ran."

"I'm not sure," he lies. "The last thing I remember is going blind in the forest and then falling asleep afraid of waking up alone."

"Well you certainly didn't wake up alone."

"Yeah! Thanks for that guys!" He shoots them all a wide grin.

"You're such a dork, Yuu! It's like you don't even care about what happened!"

"I do, Mitsuba," he replies seriously. "I really thought I would never get to see you guys again and that I'd have to live the rest of my life blind. You guys are my family and I hated not being able to tell you where I was. I guess I'm just too happy it's over to be down."

She shakes her head with a sigh, "You're lucky you can heal or you'd be forced to live forever as a near corpse."

"Uh thanks?"

"Speaking of your less than human traits," Guren interrupts, "Did you have any...episodes?"

"No, you guys worry too much, I've been me the entire time."

Guren nods, "That's good, we don't need any pictures of you sprouting horns and a tail to pop up on the internet."

"Ha ha."

"I'm not joking. It'll only get worse if you don't learn to keep it under control."

Yuu sighs and leans back against his pillow, "I know, but I have forever to figure it out, don't I?" He murmurs with a sad smile.

A weighted silence falls over the room as Guren and his friends exchange looks between each other. He wonders if they've come to grips with it as much as he has. That's not to say he's fully accepted it, but if he manages to convince Mikaela to stay with him, the future might not be such a terrifying thing. Since he'll be left here alone eventually, it doesn't really matter whether they agree with his choice or not. They should want someone to keep him from going crazy, even if a vampire isn't what they had in mind.

He lets his eyelids fall shut as Yoichi attempts to ease the tension in the room by making small talk. His body hasn't fully recovered and all the talking is exhausting him. He hears an unfamiliar voice shout 'Everybody out!' before sleep overtakes him again.

~~~~~
Mikaela stumbles through the front entrance of Krul's palatial estate, the other vampires giving him a wide berth. He doesn't blame them, he's filthy and probably reeks, not to mention being starved. They probably think's he half mad if the side glances mean anything. The exertion of his run has already completely burned through the energy Yuu's weak blood gave him.

He shoves vampires out of the way in his mad race to the kitchen, blood the only thing on his mind. Once he reaches the kitchen, he doesn't stop to warm the blood or even hesitate before throwing open the fridge and ripping open a blood bag with his teeth. He swallows the cold blood in rapid gulps and drops the bag on the floor, immediately reaching for another and another until the burning in his throat is finally quenched..

It's when he finally comes back to his senses that he realizes what a mess he's made. There's blood all over the floor, his hands, face, stained all over his clothes, and even in his hair. Mikaela drops the last bag and collapses to the ground, huddling in on himself in misery. I'm such a monster!

That's how Krul finds him an hour later, filthy and covered in blood. "Ah, my wayward progeny has finally returned home. In a sad state, but home nonetheless," she says, prodding him with the tip of her boot.

"..."

"They said you were in here tearing apart the blood supply." She gives a cursory glance around the room, "I see they weren't exaggerating."

Mikaela hunches over further, "Leave me alone."

"Afraid not." Her hand snaps out to lock around his wrist, "Clean up, you've got work to do."

"I haven't even been here," he protests.

"Exactly, so you've neglected your duties as my progeny for too long, it's time to make an appearance." She wrinkles her nose, "You smell disgusting, you look filthy too. What alleyway did you crawl out of? No matter, let's go."

She drags him down the pristine hallways of her estate, stopping in front of several human servants and shoving him forward. "Hose him off, then I want him presentable in an hour." The servants give him a wary look and Krul fixes her ruby red eyes on him, "Don't give them any trouble, Mikaela."

"Fine."

"One hour."

Mikaela allows himself to be herded out into the back and rinsed down before submerging himself in his giant bathtub filled with soapy hot water. He may hate being a vampire, but having Krul as his sire isn't without its perks. It feels nice to finally get all the dirt and nature off his skin and out of his hair. Even with the rinse down beforehand, the bathwater still gets murky quickly and he sits on the edge of the tub as he drains it and runs more.

He's fine now, but he wonders if Yuu survived. Humans don't have the fast recovery that vampires do. Drink blood and he can make a full recovery. He's not sure if all the medicine in the world can undo the damage to Yuu's emaciated body especially when his senses began to shut down.

Sliding back into the water, he makes a mental note to find out the minute he's free from Krul's thumb. Even if Yuu didn't mean what he said, he wants to know if choosing to live was actually worth something. If...no, it doesn't matter.

"Mikaela?"

"What?"

"You only have fifteen minutes…"

He sighs at the timid voice of the woman. He's been here a year, hasn't ever attacked any of them, and yet they're still wary of him. "Fine."

Reaching for a towel, he steps out onto the tile floor and into his bedroom where they're waiting with his clothes. He blanches at what they're holding up, that can only mean one thing. He's expected to play nice with visiting nobles. As much as he'd like to refuse, there's no reason to take his frustration out on them, they're just doing what they were told.

Mikaela allows them to dress him in the under layers before adding the white silk kimono royal robe over it and tying it with a silver kimono has faint sparkling silver snowflakes embroidered into it and although he doesn't like speaking with the other nobles, it's one of his favorites. Even with the three layers under the traditional style kimono and the wide sleeves that hang over his hands. Whether it's in his uniform or putting him up for show, Krul likes him in white and insists that his clothes befit his position, so white robes it is.

They pin the matching snowflake into his hair and he heads to the reception hall to take his seat by Krul's side. Unsurprisingly she's in another short black dress. She refuses to wear robes similar to his, but he's forced into them every chance she gets.

"Quite an improvement."

"Not so much for you," he quips back.

"You know I don't care for those clothes."

"Yet you-"

"On me. You represent Japan too, so you should look the part. Besides, it's better than those ripped blood stained clothes you crawled back in here with."

"..."

"So tell me, what made you give up on starving to death?"

"I changed my mind."

"Doubtful, you were gone months."

He shrugs, "I thought of something I had to do." She raises an eyebrow at him. "Nothing important."

"Right. Realize I'll be keeping a closer eye on you. It looks bad if you disappear and come back looking as pathetic as you did. At least crawl through the back door next time."

"I didn't crawl."

"That's not what the guards said."

"I was thirsty."

"Ferid missed you."

He grimaces, "I don't know why."

"He enjoys getting a reaction out of you, though he'll be disappointed to know you're getting better."

"Maybe he'll find a new target then."

"Doubtful. Anyway frown if you must, but try not to lose your temper and don't answer any questions about where you've been."

"Okay."

It proves to be a long twelve hours. Unfortunately, he timed his return on the meeting day when all the different factions in Japan come to discuss restrictions and dole out punishments, so he's forced to sit through the entire thing, made worse by Ferid's enthusiasm at seeing him again.

He wants to shove him away, but one look from Krul is all it takes to restrain himself when Ferid drags him from his seat next to Krul and into another near him to tell him everything's he missed, drawing more than a few spiteful looks from several targets of his gossip.

There's nothing but relief when the meeting ends sometime near dawn and he escapes the whispers of derision and the angry target Ferid's gossip painted on his back. The other vampires already don't care for him, he doesn't need to know their weaknesses and what punishment they had to endure or who's been killing humans. He has no doubt Ferid's true motive was to cast a spotlight on him, his passive revenge for Mikaela helping one of his favorite blood children run off. He doesn't regret it though.

Once everyone has dispersed, he'd like to follow their lead and relax in his room, but instead he changes into jeans and a white hoodie before creeping out the back entrance and to his car, a silver two door. Normally he wouldn't bother to drive wherever he needed to go, but the hospital he dumped Yuu at is at least a four hour run and he doesn't have long before Krul notices he's gone again.

The drive is uneventful, mostly spent wondering about what he'll find when he arrives. If he'll still be in a coma or if they'll tell him Yuu's time has already come to an end. He almost manages to ignore the twinge in his gut at the thought.

Mikaela reaches the hospital in about two hours, parks, and asks for Yuu's room at the front desk. He's mildly surprised Yuu is allowed visitors, usually when someone is at death's door, the only people allowed are family and that he most certainly is not. Once he makes it to Yuu's room on the 5th floor, he's shocked to see that Yuu already looks close to recovery, an IV can't do that much, can it?

He steps closer to get a better look, gingerly reaching his fingers out to graze across Yuu's forehead. He's burning up, but despite that, there's a healthy glow to his tanned skin, not to mention he already seems to have regained weight. There must be steroids in that IV bag because his recovery is amazing. His fingers trail down to Yuu's hand, near the fingers that wrapped around his wrist doing their best to keep him near.

Fingers flex and his gaze flicks up to see vivid green eyes staring at him. He takes a step back in surprise, he'd only meant to see if Yuu survived not interact with him. Mikaela curses quietly when he hears people approaching and yanks his hand back before disappearing out of the room and down the hall in a blur.

Yuu lives, but he doesn't expect anything to come of it. At least he knows something good came of his choice.
~~~~~

Yuu stretches from head to toe, twisting and bending to work all the kinks out, making sure he's as good as new. Even he's amazed at how smoothly his recovery went. Three days from a blind mute corpse to healthy with no sign of the damage is body sustained over those few months. He wasn't the only one astonished, the doctors were curious too.

Guren spun some tale to get them to back off, but from the suspicious looks they still shoot him every now and then, it didn't work as much as he'd hoped. The sooner he's out of here, the better or they might end up trying to run tests on him. Speaking of which, Guren's already signed him out and is waiting downstairs, but..he doesn't plan on going home just yet.

He heads down the stairs, plastering a smile on as he thinks of the best way to break the news to Guren without incurring his wrath. Previously, he would have been thrilled to go home and settle back into his life, but that's not where Mikaela is and he made a promise. In fact, he's pretty sure Mikaela isn't too far. He could be mistaken, but he's almost positive Mikaela came to see him sometime during his recovery, if the blurry half remembered memory of someone with blonde hair touching his hand is anything to go by.

Although even it wasn't him, he still doesn't have any intention of letting him go. He's interested in having security now, no matter how long he has. Besides, anything could happen if he waits, Mikaela might actually decide to try and die again, he has to make sure that doesn't happen. He'll thank him too and make sure he knows whether he's dying or not, he meant every word.

"You ready, Yuu?"

"Actually…"

Guren eyes narrow into a glare, "What is it?"

"There's something I need to do."

"What the hell could you possibly have to do here? You've been in the forest for two months!"

"I know, but there's something I heard about and I really want to find it."

"Yuu, you don't know anything about this area. You may be a demon now, but you're still 17!"

"Guren please." He wheedles, reaching for his bag, "I promise I won't take long and I'll call you if anything happens!"

"I'll wait."

"Huh?"

"If you won't take long, I'll wait here."

"Oh...uh...it'll take longer than that."

"Yuu…"

"Seriously! It'll be fine! You know I won't die."

"I wouldn't put it past you to get caught."

"I'll be extra careful!"

"You don't how to be careful!"

"I've learned! Please, I really need this."

"...A week. That's literally all you get before I come hunt you down and I better get a call every night."

"Yes! Thank you! I swear I'll stay out of trouble." Yuu grabs him in a hug before he's abruptly pushed away.

"You better," Guren mutters, throwing his bag at him. "If I get a call from a hospital, I won't come running this time."

"You won't!"

Yuu watches Guren leave after throwing a parting glare back at him and grins. He's safe, his family isn't worried anymore, and now he has the time to search. Where to begin?

People know vampires exist, but they keep out of the public eye for the most part, content in their separate civilization. They're here, just very good at avoiding notice. However, if you look hard enough, you're bound to be able to find one or two in the less congested areas of the city, namely the shady back areas where those desperate for money go to sell their blood. So, that's where he'll head first.

A quick search brings up the closest location only a twenty minute train ride away and thirty minutes later, he's standing outside a nondescript building. The only visible signage a red drop of blood painted on the door. He's heard of these places, but never seen a reason to go. Though, he can't look down on the people who do come here. The vampires aren't forcing anyone and they do pay, so he supposes it's a beneficial relationship. Either way, there's only one vampire getting his blood and it's not anyone in here. Let's get this over with.

Pushing open the door, he's immediately met with bright light and a surprisingly clean interior. It looks like any other waiting room, not nearly as sketchy as he'd thought.

"Welcome. How can I help you?"

He turns towards the voice to see a middle aged woman looking at him inquisitively from her desk. "Um...I'd like to give blood."

"Have you ever been here before?"

"Nope, first time."

"Are you 18 or over?"

"Yes."

She looks at him suspiciously, "I'll need to see ID."

"Huh? It's fine, I have parental permission!"

"Irrelevant, we won't be held liable for any underage damages."

"Look, I just need the money! I'll be in and out quick, no record!"

"And where will we say your blood came from?"

"Well...there won't be any record of it either...I was thinking….giving blood from the source."

She stares at him in surprise, giving him a once over, "You can't be that desperate for money."

"I have to survive on my own for a little while."

"Take a seat."

Yuu quickly takes an open chair, hoping they'll accept him. This is the only place he knows where there will definitely be vampires. If they throw him out, he's at less than square zero. If worse comes to worst, he could try fighting his way back there, though how well that goes depends on how many vampires are here and he did promise Guren he'd stay out of trouble. Maybe not the best option.

"Kid?"

He looks up hopefully, "Yeah?"

"Head back. You were never here and we're not held responsible for anything that goes wrong. Also, you get half the higher rate since we're letting your age slide."

"That's fine!"

Yuu bolts through the door and immediately finds himself in a tight grip. He looks over and red eyes meet his gaze, "This way."

Despite knowing he won't die easily, he can't help the instinctual spark of fear that goes through him from being eye to eye with humanity's natural predator. "Okay." Once they're in an exam room, the vampire lets him go and he immediately steps back against the wall. "So...I lied. I'm not actually here to sell blood."

"I don't think you have a choice now."

Ignoring him, Yuu continues on. "I just need someone to point me in the direction of a vampire named Krul."

"And what would you need with her?" He questions without a change in expression.

"I just have to ask her a question."

The vampire smiles, exposing sharp fangs, "Information for blood."

"Mmm...nah."

In a breath, Yuu's pinned to the wall, blinking in surprise while the vampire smirks at him before opening his mouth to bite down. He doesn't miss a beat, bringing up his feet against the vampire's chest and shoving him back with all his strength. Yuu can tell he's been underestimated by how fast his opponent hits the wall, so he doesn't waste a second, drawing a knife from his back pocket then plunging it into the vampire's neck and twisting. "Seriously just tell me where she is and I'll let you live."

"I'm not telling you anything, human," he spits, wrenching his neck away hard enough that it causes more damage and attempting to wrap his hands around Yuu's throat. Yuu lets him, only so he can keep his hands free enough to easily thrust the knife up into his heart. Blood runs down his hands, matching the bloodstains already forming on his clothes as Yuu rides the vampire to the floor, using his other hand to force the knife farther in.

This time when the vampire looks back at him, Yuu can read the fear in his eyes and notice the slight widening as the dying vampire's gaze roams over him. "Demon," he whispers.

"Yeah."

"Who sent you?"

"No one did. It's just really important for me to find someone and she's the only person who would know. I won't even tell you told me."

"..."

"Maybe that's a vampire thing." It doesn't matter though, his patience is starting to run out and he can already feel his fangs digging into his bottom lip. He takes a breath to calm down before his inner demon takes over completely and there's nothing left of the creature beneath him. "I'm going to shred your heart in five seconds if you don't tell me."

"No! I don't want to be a human slave like you. She's the queen of Japan."

"The queen?"

"Yes and she'll kill you if you try to attack her and I hope you do," he sneers.

Yuu rolls his eyes, "Just tell me where she is."

"Her estate is near the countryside about four hours from here."

"That's better, but I need directions."

"If you take the train to Kamogawa, it's a two hour walk from there."

"Which way?" He pushes his body into the knife lightly, backup could arrive any minute and this is taking too long.

"There's a dirt road from the station, just follow it! No one will drive you there, it's vampire territory."

"Thanks." He slowly pulls the knife out, keeping a wary eye on the vampire who immediately scrambles away once he's free of the knife. Yuu studies him critically, wondering if he really should kill him, but ultimately decides against it. It's not in his best interest to enter the vampire community with blood on his hands.

Wiping the knife on his shirt, he tucks it back into his pocket and lets himself out of the room before quietly slipping out the back door into the alley behind the building. The next thing on his list is to find somewhere to clean up, he can't show up looking like a serial killer. It's early afternoon, so if he leaves now, he can make it by the end of the day.

Rather than worry about finding somewhere to clean up, he ditches his soiled clothes in one of the trash bags and changes into fresh ones from his bag before making his way to the nearest train station. The wait for his train is about twenty minutes, so he uses the time to scrub his hands clean of blood and load up on snacks. He has no idea if a vampire's home will have human food or if they'll even let him stay.

Yuu manages to find a seat and it's an uneventful two hours crowded on the train until he reaches the stop at Kamogawa. After that, it's just as the vampire said, there's a dirt path winding off into the distance that he starts on, prepared for the long walk. He doesn't mind though, it gives him time to think, not that he didn't do plenty of thinking in the forest, but that was about his inhumanity. Now, it's about convincing the vampires and in turn Mikaela.

He's not worried about getting Mikaela to talk to him, but about reaching him. They might not let a human wander freely into their territory and why would a queen bother to speak with him. He has no intention of telling her that he's a demon, just a friend of Mikaela. Although, by the way Mikaela acts, him having a friend would probably be an unbelievable thing. Still, he has faith the other boy wants the same thing he does and whether he realizes it or not, Mikaela already belongs to him anyway.

The sun is nearing the horizon again when Krul's home comes into view. It's a massive enclosed property built in the traditional Japanese style. It must have been around for hundreds of years, he thinks because rarely is architecture still fully done in that style. Now, he's starting to feel a little intimidated.

Approaching the gate, he's surprised at the lack of guards, apparently just the locked gate is enough to deter visitors. There's no doorbell, no knocker, nothing to announce his presence. So instead, he yells at the first person he sees, a broad man walking by with a long red braid drinking from a wine glass.

The man pauses and turns to look at him, taking a sip as he studies him passively.

"Are you going to open the gate?"

"Who? Me?"

"Yes, you! Who else would I be talking to?"

"Are you late for work? You know the gate only opens twice a day for humans."

Yuu steps back aghast. Humans work here? "No, I don't work here! I'm looking for a friend."

"A friend?" He questions skeptically. "Well, I'm not sure who your friend is, but shifts aren't over yet."

Yuu shakes the bars in frustration, "He's not a human! His name's Mikaela!"

"Oh?" He steps closer to the gate, red eyes looking him over with interest. "And how do you know Mikaela? Some remnant from his human life?"

"Maybe."

"Well, he's left that life behind, I doubt you'd be welcome."

"No! I'm just kidding, I met him a few days ago! Is he here?"

"Probably. She's keeping him close ever since his disappearance. Which I guess is when you met him?"

"Right!"

"Hmm...I don't think I'll let a strange human in. Sorry."

"Can you just go get him?! I told him I'd come visit!"

"Maybe come back tomorrow at 8am when the gates open."

"What? No! Just let me in!"

"Crowley," a voice cuts in. "Let him in, don't be rude to one of Mikaela's guest."

Yuu looks over to see sharply dressed man in a suit with a swinging silver ponytail wearing a shit eating grin. Quite a difference from the redhead's jeans and t-shirt.

"Ferid, shouldn't you ask Krul?"

"Nonsense, he's Mikaela's guest!"

Crowley sighs and swallows the rest of the red liquid in his glass before leaving. "Your choice."

Ferid looks back at him with a smile and hits the controls to open the gate and ushers Yuu inside. "Now to what do we owe this visit?"

"I'm just here to see Mikaela."

"What business do you have with him?"

"I'm his guest. I thought that's why you let me in."

"That doesn't mean I can't ask questions. Our Mikaela doesn't talk to many people, so if someone shows up claiming to be his friend, it's only natural to be curious."

"Is he here or not?" Yuu questions impatiently. He has no interest in talking to these other vampires right now, only his interests him.

Ferid throws an arm around his shoulder and drags him along, "Let's take a walk and see if we don't run into him somewhere around here."

"Who are you?" He questions with a suspicious look in Ferid's direction.

"I guess you could say...I'm like his father!"

"He never mentioned you."

"Well, he doesn't always say what's he's thinking, now does he?"

"That's true, but still. If you were really like his father, I think he would said something about you."

"How well do you really know him?"

"A lot better than I know you."

Ferid chuckles, tightening his arm, "True enough."

Yuu opens his mouth to ask where they're going when he's cut off by a new arrival.

"Ferid! Unhand the human! You don't touch the workers."

"But, he's not a worker, he's a guest visiting a friend."

Yuu's eyes rake over the short girl. Pink hair, young, little black dress. This has to be Krul! She's exactly as Mikaela described. "You're Krul, aren't you? I've been looking for you!"

"Oh! How familiar he is," Ferid laughs.

Krul's eyes narrow into a glare, "How do you know me and why did you come here?"

"I-"

"If you had let me finish. He's here to visit Mikaela!"

"Mikaela?"

"Yeah, is he here?"

"What do you want with him?"

"We're friends!"

"He doesn't have friends."

Ouch. "Well now he does!" Yuu exclaims, patting his chest. "I'm his first!"

"Follow me."

"Now it gets interesting!"

"Just him, Ferid."

"I want to know about Mikaela's friend too!"

"If he actually is, I'm sure you will."

Yuu follows her bouncing pink ponytails farther into the property. Weird vampires. They're not what he expected at all. He was expecting capes and growling with angry glares, not disinterest and curiosity. That silver haired vampire, Ferid, didn't even care where he came from or how he got here, just opened the gate without concern. Although, no one has offered to let him see Mikaela, so maybe they have their own type of security.

"Have a seat." Yuu takes a seat in what looks like her office and she sits in front of him, crossing her legs, and giving him a bored expression. "So, what do you want with my progeny?"

To lay my claim on him and keep him with me for eternity...hmm...maybe the truth isn't the best choice here. "Uh...to see him?"

"Why?"

"Because I like him?"

"Stop answering in questions. How did you know to come here?"

"He told me about you when I met him, so I figured if anyone would know where he was, you would."

"When?"

"A few weeks ago?"

"When he was missing…" She surveys him closely, "Were you with him the whole time he was gone?"

"I'm not sure, I was with him for around two months I think."

She nods slowly, "Doing what?"

"He was...trying to die by starvation."

"I figured he would try something stupid like that, even if he couldn't succeed."

"He wouldn't?"

"Of course not, the idiot. We can't die by starvation, he would have just gone mad. Though, he must have had some control not to rip you apart in all that time."

"How do you know he didn't drink?"

"Because he was starved when he came back and ripped apart the blood supply. Hardly the behavior of a fed vampire."

"So he is here!"

"Maybe."

"Come on!" Yuu jumps up from his seat, "Just tell me where he is! I want him!"

She quirks an eyebrow, "You want him?"

"I-I mean for a friend."

"What's your name?"

"Yuuichirou."

"Tell me the truth, Yuuichirou."

"I..uh...I'm interested in spending the rest of my life with him. I think we'd be a good pair."

"The rest of your life?"

"Yeah…"

"Platonically?"

"I could, but I don't think I was looking for a best friend..."

"Does he know?"

"I told him I wouldn't give up on him, I'm not sure how he took it."

"You barely know him."

"I know him well enough!" Yuu counters defensively.

Krul stares at him for a beat longer, "You can't do too much damage, especially if he's not interested."

"He will be!"

"Fine, I'll give you a chance."

"Huh?

"If you want him, you can have him. Just know that should something happen to him, I will come after you."

Yuu chuckles lightly, "Go ahead."

She eyes him silently, "Even if you can't die, eternity is a long time to suffer."

His mouth falls open in shock as he stares back at her with wide eyes.

"I've been around far longer than Mikaela. I know much more." She stands up from her seat, "Who knows? You may be good for him. Follow me."

Yuu follows her out of the building and down several outside passageways until they're in the far east end of her estate, a quieter area with less people than the center. His eyes take in the watercolor paintings and traditional statues on the way, he's impressed, but not surprised. Once he found out Krul was actually the vampire Queen of Japan and arrived on her property, he wouldn't expect any less considering what Mikaela told him about his sire.

She slides open a door, "These are Mikaela's rooms."

"You let him live this far away from you?" Yuu questions curiously.

"Yes."

"I wouldn't." He's always going to be near me.

One side of her mouth quirks up at the corner, "I'm sure you wouldn't, but I'm not a new demon whose barely keeping control of myself either."

"I'm in control of myself!" He protests with indignation.

"Barely." Krul points to the left, "His bedroom is through there. You want him so bad, there he is."

Yuu sidesteps her and slides open the next door, eyes falling on a blanket covered lump in the middle of the bed with only the top of his blonde head showing. He sucks in a breath, this is it. He's finally going to see who he spent all those weeks in the forest with and right now is the beginning of their future together.

"Mikaela?" The only response is a quick intake of breath which tells him his voice is recognized. "Its Yuu," he states needlessly, taking a seat near the edge of the bed and gently tugging on the covers, "Are you going to talk to me or even look at me?"

"..."

"Still with the silent treatment, huh? Even though I came all this way to find you." Yuu's impatience wins out and he abruptly yanks the blanket down to see big crimson eyes framed by long lashes blinking at him in surprise. He stares back, meeting Mikaela's surprise with his own. Mine... When Mikaela said average, he was clearly being modest because he's beautiful! Wide eyes, smooth creamy skin, waves of blonde hair that he can't wait to run his fingers through, cheeks he already knows he'll enjoy kissing, and fangs poking out through pink lips proving his immortality.

"You look much cleaner."

"Clearly," Yuu mutters without breaking his stare.

Mikaela's surprise quickly morphs into caution as his face shutters and he pulls the blankets back over his head, "Get out."

"H-huh? Wait!" Yuu tugs the blankets down again, "You misunderstood! I wasn't staring because I was freaked out! You're very pretty."

"Isn't he though? It's one of the reasons I saved him. If only his personality matched his face."

"He's fine the way he is."

Krul looks at him curiously, "Hmm, smitten already, are we?"

"Maybe." He looks back at Mikaela who immediately averts his eyes, but it doesn't matter Yuu already saw him staring. "Feel better?"

"Me? You're the one who was like a corpse when I left you at the hospital."

"So that was you!"

"Who else would it have been?"

"Just wanted to make sure, because you were so positive you wouldn't do it, remember?"

"And I'm starting to regret changing my mind already," he mutters, sitting up and crossing his arms.

"Really? Because I'm getting happier by the second," Yuu replies with a wide grin. "I told you I wouldn't give up on you!"

"How did you find me anyway?"

"Well," Yuu answers throwing himself back across Mikaela's cushy bed, "You to-"

"Don't make yourself comfortable on my bed," he interrupts, attempting to poke Yuu off without actually touching him.

Yuu swats his hand away and rolls over into his lap to stare up at him, "As I was saying, you told me Krul was your sire, so from there it didn't take much to find someone to point me in this direction."

"Oh...I thought you were going to die."

"I know or you probably wouldn't have told me half the things you did," he responds, giving Mikaela a meaningful look that he turns away from.

"Probably not," he murmurs.

"Speaking of which!" Yuu turns and pushes himself up onto his knees, "You didn't tell me your sire was a vampire queen, Mika," he teases.

"Mika?"

His eyes flick over to Krul, "Yeah, his nickname. Mikaela is kind of a mouthful." Krul smirks and even he can see how Mikaela's cheeks flush red. It's adorable. He reaches out a hand to trace across the red staining his face and smiles. Yeah, I definitely made the right decision.

"I didn't ask for it."

"But you still like it."

"Well Mikaela, it's up to you. Do you want him here or not?"

He gives Yuu a scrutinizing look and the wariness is obvious, he can already tell what the answer will be. "No."

That won't work. "Mika, I told you I wanted to stay with you and that I would love you, but if this is what you want, to be alone. I can't change your mind, but first!" He reaches forward with both hands to cup Mikaela's cheeks and pull him forward to place a light kiss on his lips. "A thank you for saving my life!" Yuu grins as crimson eyes widen in shock, he's a little surprised too. Six months ago everything was different and he wouldn't have dreamed of doing that either, but now it's imperative Mikaela gives him a chance. "I'll see you."

"Y-yuu wait!" Mikaela shouts, lunging forward to grab his wrist. "You don't have to go yet…"

Yuu turns back and smiles, intertwining their fingers as crimson eyes flicker back to a brilliant sky blue. This time, the blue he stares into is full of hope and possibility.

~~~~~
Yuu is very touchy feely. It's not a bad thing, just...unfamiliar. Somehow, no matter what he's wearing, Yuu finds ways to slide fingers against his bare skin, whether it's fingers slipping under his shirt or digging through the layers of his robes. Sometimes it feels like he's searching for something, though for what, he's not sure. What's even more surprising is that Yuu does actually seem to care about him. There's probably an ulterior motive and just because he hasn't found it yet doesn't mean he's let his guard down.

The raven haired male is interesting and no human has taken an interest in him like that for years. It's also weird that Yuu doesn't seem to be afraid of him at all, as if he's not a predator who could snap his neck instantly.

Yuu's always so happy to see him, always with an easy grin for him and and an attempt to kiss him every morning, which sometimes he accepts and sometimes he evades which 9/10 leads to a wrestling match that he has a 50% chance of winning. He's not sure if he's just a weak vampire, which would fit or if Yuu is just insanely strong for a human which wouldn't be surprising either considering how resilient he is.

He's also extremely stubborn. Once Krul had agreed to let him stay, she had assigned him rooms in the North part of the estate, but he had refused to sleep there. Instead, Yuu came crawling into his bed every night, no matter how much he protested. Yuu simply shoved his hands and arguments away, claiming it would be weird to sleep apart now when they had slept next to each other in the forest for weeks. One of the few times, he wished the Japanese style rooms had locks.

Yuu made sense, but the lack of personal space when it came to him took some getting used to. His body barely felt like his own anymore with how close Yuu stuck. Waking up every day with someone wrapped around him was a new experience. When he asked Yuu why he had to sleep so close, he had laughed and told him he didn't trust him enough not to sneak away in the middle of the night.

Krul, for her part, didn't seem to care what Yuu did so long as he wasn't antagonizing the other vampires. Though, Mikaela has the sneaking suspicion she approves of Yuu's presence with him. Ferid makes sure to let him know how amused he is with 'Mikaela's new friend.' Yuu gets funny whenever Ferid gets too close to him. He turns clingier and aggressive. Ferid finds this hilarious and makes it a game to see how far he can push Yuu which pisses him off enough that he usually ends up dragging Mikaela away. They're both infuriating, but while Ferid is vexing, Yuu is gentler, more concerned with getting inside his shell than annoying him.

The other humans are wary of Yuu. They feed him, but they're not interested in befriending him. He doesn't blame them, a human who fraternizes with a vampire, even sleeps in his bed? He'd be suspicious too.

He shouldn't be so tolerant of Yuu, but he's persistent. It's tiring to keep fighting him all the time and sometimes it's nice when Yuu cuddles up to him and strokes his hair as they both get lost in their own thoughts. He can almost believe Yuu is sincere.

He's fallen asleep so many times now with Yuu whispering to him...about how they'll be together forever, how he doesn't have to be sad and alone anymore, and about how happy he'd be if he'd let himself open up amongst other things. It's a nice thought.

The kisses though, he doesn't know how he feels about that. Yuu was his first kiss and his second and every other that he managed to sneak in. He can't bring himself to reciprocate yet, though Yuu is patient and seems content to give without receiving for now.

But, he wants to...he wants to so bad...

"Mikaela!" He glances up, squinting against the bright sunlight, to see Yuu sitting high up in the tree branches, grinning down at him. He'd worry more for his safety if he hadn't already seen Yuu fall numerous times and survive. "Look at me!"

"I see you."

"Come up here with me!"

"Yuu, I'm busy."

"Busy brooding! You think I can't tell by now! I know you're thinking about me!" He teases goodnaturedly.

"I am not!"

"You are! You get that weird look on your face when it has to do with me."

"What look?"

"Nothing."

"Tell me!"

"If you don't know, it's not my place to tell you!"

"Yuu!"

"Come up here and maybe I'll tell." Yuu replies with an easy smile and a beckon of his hands.

Mikaela gives him a sour look.

"I'll wait. You can go. I know you like him."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because you don't care about much, but you watch him a lot."

He glances back at the human child sitting in front of him on the grass and sighs. "I'll be back."

It takes him no more than a few seconds to run over and scale the tree until he's sitting across from Yuu on the branch. "That curious, huh?"

Rather than answer, Mikaela scoots forward to rest his head against Yuu's clavicle. He may not fully trust him, but that doesn't mean he's unaware of what Yuu wants. The quick intake of breath and fingers sliding along his neck tell him he's right. "Fine, you jerk, I'll tell you."

"..."

"When you look at me or think about me, you get this longing look on your face. It's like you want to be with me, but you won't let yourself. It's how I don't get discouraged."

"I do not."

"Yeah you do." He feels Yuu kiss the top of his head and leans away.

"No kisses from liars."

"Not a liar."

"Right," he replies, scooting away. Yuu lunges for him and he over balances in his attempt to avoid Yuu's grip. Yuu's weight hits him and they fall from the tree, hitting the ground in a tangle of limbs. "Yuu!"

"What?! What happened to your vampire reflexes?"

"Kind of hard when you're crushing me!"

"Are you two okay?"

He looks up to see concerned brown eyes peering down at them, "I'm fine."

"I'm fine too since Mika turned us over and took the worst of the fall!"

"Shut up Yuu."

"You did, guess that means you care."

He shoves the dark haired teen aside and resumes his prior position next to the human child. "Here let me help you," he motions for the half finished wreath and begins quickly weaving in the desired flowers.

Yuu presses against him, not even two minutes later, "You're pretty good at that."

"I help him a lot."

"He's not a afraid of you…"

"No."

"Why can't you be that sweet to me?"

"Because...you know why."

"Yeah yeah." He turns to Taichi, "Must be nice to have his attention."

"You get his attention too."

"Do I?"

"Yeah!" He shoots Yuu a grin. "Mikaela likes you!"

Yuu's eyes flick back to him and away. "How can you tell?"

Taichi flashes him a mischievous look before looking back at Yuu, "He makes sure they make your favorite foods in the kitchen."

Yuu's eyes widen, flying back to his and he can feel his cheeks warming. "Seriously!? That's why I like everything they make?"

"Taichi!"

"You do!"

"See if I help you anymore."

"Help?" Yuu questions.

"He only comes over here because the other humans are afraid of me."

"So…?"

"So if I'm talking to him, they won't call him back because they're afraid I'll get angry and attack."

Yuu laughs, "That's dumb. I know you wouldn't do that."

"Yeah and I never have, but they're still scared. So he only comes over when he doesn't want to work."

"Can you blame me?" Taichi questions with a laugh.

"Yes."

"I knew you were even nicer than I thought."

"No one asked you, Yuu."

"Thank you for having them make me strawberry shortcakes," he says sweetly.

"Finished." He plops the wreath back in Taichi's hands.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Yuu pouts at being ignored before grabbing his hands and yanking him up, "Let's go."

"Go where?"

"Somewhere I can show you how happy I am!"

"..."

"I'll take that as a yes!"

"Wait!"

"Nah!" Yuu drags him back towards his bedroom with a grin to match his bright green eyes. "You'll enjoy it, I promise!"

:

:

:

Later, after he's finally separated from Yuu and had enough kisses to last a lifetime plus enough touches to make him blush, he finds Krul in her office, finally free to ask the question on his mind.

"Krul?"

"Where's your boyfriend?"

"Yuu's not my boyfriend," he responds hotly.

"You're looking rather mussed up for someone without a boyfriend."

He scowls and immediately pats down his hair. Yuu really likes running fingers through it. "That's not what I want to talk about."

"What is it?"

"Am I a weak vampire?"

"Emotionally yes, mentally maybe."

"What?"

"You keep your emotions controlled tightly, it's probably unhealthy. You're also susceptible to bouts of anger because you're repressed and not allowing yourself what you really want when it's right in front of you. That's why I let him stay, he can make you happy."

Mikaela wrinkles his nose, "I meant strength wise."

"You're my progeny, of course you're not weak."

"Yuu's a near match for me. Sometimes it's a struggle to win."

"Oh hmm, maybe Yuu's just strong. You should ask him."

"...Do I want to know?"

She sighs, "Mikaela…Yuu has a disease."

His heart clenches painfully at her words, "...What kind?"

"It's an extremely rare illness, he doesn't age and has superhuman strength, but the strain on his body kills him faster. He could die tomorrow or a few years from now."

He's crying before he can stop himself, endless tears that he can't figure out where they're coming from. He tries wiping them away with his hands as fast as possible, but they're overflowing and he crouches to the floor, hiding his face in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. No matter how unlikely it may be, Yuu could have been his one chance at happiness.

"I told you there were feelings for him."

"Leave me alone."

He feels a hand pat his head, "Death is a part of human life, Mikaela. It's always going to be there. Enjoy the time you have with him or you'll regret it." He crouches there until Krul's long gone and his tears finally stop. She's right, Yuu's only human so he should have thought more about the future. He was right in trying to avoid getting attached and now it's too late. Now he knows why Yuu won't live as long as the rest of his family, but he lied. It's them that will outlive him. They should have just died together in the forest.

Mikaela trails his fingers along the wall as he heads back to his rooms, Krul's words heavy on his mind. There really isn't anything he can do, maybe he should have asked more questions before allowing Yuu to stay here, but some part of him wanted everything Yuu was offering whether it was the truth or not. He never thought about the time limit when he could barely get past the present.

Yuu's finishing off dinner when he arrives and quickly moves past him to his bedroom, yanking his hand away when Yuu grabs for him. He knows Yuu hates that, but he hates being lied to. "Are you feeling okay?" Yuu questions when he comes to lay beside him a few minutes later.

"Yeah, are you?"

"I'm fine…" Yuu wraps his arms around Mikaela's waist and inhales. "What's wrong?" Yuu asks when he turns and reciprocates the hug tightly. He shakes his head and wills the tears to dry up. "Are you crying?!"

"No."

Yuu attempts to shove him away to get a look at his face, but he refuses to move. "Seriously what did you talk with Krul about?!"

Yuu sighs in exasperation when he doesn't respond before giving up and holding him tighter. It's one of the few times he doesn't let Yuu budge him.

~~~~~
"Guren, yeah I've been fine. I'm staying with a friend, I told you."

"Yuu, what friend lets you stay for weeks?"

"A good friend."

"You told me it wouldn't take long, but everytime I talk you, it's 'just a little longer.' I think you're lying. You're probably living in a ditch somewhere, feeling sorry for yourself."

"I am not, jerk. Anyway what I called to say before you started accusing me was that I'm coming back tomorrow."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I'll probably leave in the morning and arrive around two."

"Really? Do I need to warn the neighbors about your funk?"

"I'm not living in a ditch! I take baths every night and they feed me well too."

"If you say so."

"I do."

"See you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Guren hadn't believed him weeks ago when he'd told him he would be staying with a friend instead of coming home like he said, convinced he was still sulking about being a demon. He's moved past that though, he has a reason to live even if his reason is being a little weird right now.

When he had told Mikaela that he was going home for a visit, all the blonde had said was 'I understand.' What the hell was that supposed to mean? A vague response and then he hadn't seen him in days. Mikaela was clearly avoiding him and doing a good job this time, unlike that night he'd cried. He still never found out what happened and the blonde had gradually warmed back up to him again. There must be a lot of hidden spots he doesn't know about that Mikaela's using, he's not even sleeping in his bed. It's annoyingly frustrating for the blonde to start pulling away now, especially when he had been giving signs that he returned his feelings.

He's leaving tomorrow, he needs to talk to him before he returns to empty rooms because the difficult male had decided to disappear. Fortunately, he actually knows where Mikaela is right now. The bathtub, where he's been for over an hour according to one of the workers.

Yuu turns the doorknob, entering Mikaela's spacious bathroom and his eyes immediately fall on the boy he's been searching for. Damp blonde curls cling to the curve of his neck as Yuu's eyes trace down the upper half of his body until he's pinned by an angry blue glare. "How did you get in here?"

"You didn't exactly lock the door."

"Because it's my bathroom!"

"Blah, blah," Yuu waves a dismissive hand. "What's yours is mine. Haven't you learned that by now?"

Mikaela huffs and sinks under the water until only his hair floats on the surface. Yuu sighs, Mikaela doesn't need to breathe, he'll be down there forever if he doesn't step in. He moves over to the edge and dips his hands under to lift the blonde up by his arms, swiping the wet strands from his forehead and dropping a kiss there. "You're so difficult," Yuu says, not without a lack of affection, followed by the shedding of his clothes as he slips into the deep bath with him.

"Why're you in here? You already bathed," Mikaela pouts.

"Yeah, but they said you've been in here a while, so I figured you were sulking."

"..."

"Cheer up! I'll only be gone a little while. I can't be a selfish human and have them worry, can I?" He flashes a grin in Mikaela's direction and he looks away with pursed lips, flicking a few drops of water in Yuu's direction at having his harsh words thrown back at him. Yuu laughs, "Don't worry, I forgive you!"

"I don't need your forgiveness."

"Come here," Yuu gestures him over and Mikaela hesitates until Yuu pulls him over, splashing water onto the floor. Once he's close, his body easily fits against Yuu's, the back of his head settling into the crook of Yuu's neck as he dances his fingers down Mikaela's arms. Yuu presses another kiss onto the side of his face and smiles, "Now tell me what's really wrong."

"Nothing."

"You won't get another chance to tell me when I leave," he replies, sliding his hands down smooth thighs.

"...Will you really come back?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because you're a manipulative human who lies to get what he wants."

"How did I lie? I'm here with you!"

"For now."

"Yes, I'm coming back."

"But what if you die, you can't promise it."

"I lasted months without food or water and made a full recovery. I'm indestructible!"

"But humans are fragile, you could drop dead at any moment!" He insists.

"Be real!"

"I am!"

So that's what it's about. Mikaela doesn't want to be left alone again if he dies. Although, that's kind of good. If Mikaela is starting to rely on him and his presence, then he really is making progress. He intertwines their fingers and lifts Mikaela's hands to kiss the side of his arm, "Wanna come?"

"No."

"Then you'll have to believe me when I say it'll be fine. I'll come back to you."

Yuu kisses him from cheek to mouth and Mikaela wraps arms around his neck, turning around to straddle him and kiss back hungrily. He's long since learned to be careful of Mikaela's fangs, if he so much as pricks himself, their kisses end and the vampire is gone. Eventually it won't matter if he pricks himself, but until then he's cautious.

It's when he feels his lower body starting to stir that he breaks away and lets water flow between them. Yuu knows what he wants, but he's not sure if Mikaela's open to sex yet and pushing him won't end well. "Are you finished bathing?"

"I've been finished."

"Then let's get out before I turn into a prune."

"You go."

"No, you too." He scoops Mikaela's wet body into his arms and stands up, sloshing water everywhere.

"You're making a mess, Yuu," he complains as they head back to the bedroom dripping water along the way.

"Maybe if you'd gotten out yourself instead of sulking for an hour, I wouldn't be." Yuu dumps him on the bed and throws a towel at him before reaching for the blow dryer. "Turn over."

He obliges and Yuu straddles his thighs, flipping on the dryer and carding his fingers through the wet strands as he dries them. He smirks lightly, they've come so far, when he first came Mikaela would never have let him do this or even get in the bath with him and now his presence is almost second nature. Yuu's eyes rake down the relaxed body under him, watching as Mikaela props his head on folded arms and his eyes shut while Yuu dries his hair, smiling lightly when Yuu traces a finger along the pointed tip of his ear.

Since he's not paying attention, it gives Yuu the perfect opportunity to take in the sight of all that creamy bare skin beneath him. How long will I have to wait? How is he supposed to remain chaste when the blonde's perfect ass is right below him just begging to be touched, but he won't because he has a feeling if he does, he won't be sleeping here tonight.

He's not sure what Mikaela thinks about their nudity or if he thinks about it all. This isn't their first time being nude together, though it seems like he's the only one who considers it even remotely sexual. Every time they're in a situation like now, he has to force down the primal urge to push the vampire's legs apart and bury himself inside the male beneath him. It's a deep seated longing in his core to be connected to Mikaela and it's torture pushing it down repeatedly, supressing the instinct to claim what's his.

Hopefully the wait won't be too much longer, he's not sure how long he can keep fighting against what both sides of him ache for.

Yuu switches off the dryer and drops it beside the bed, leaning over to lay beside Mikaela as he turns over onto his back. Yuu pulls the blankets up around them and he can read the sadness in the depths of blue eyes when Mikaela reaches up to touch his cheek. Yuu tilts his head to kiss along his fingertips, "I'll see you soon."

He nods once and shuts his eyes, feigning sleep as Yuu rests his head against his shoulder and falls asleep.

:

:

In the morning, he's up and gone before Mikaela wakes. They said their goodbyes last night, no need to go through it again. He hated seeing how upset the blonde male was. It's easier to slip out and see him again when he returns.

Four hours later, he's sitting at his kitchen table sipping a soda as he waits for Guren to come home. It's nice to be back home even if it's only for a short time. He missed Guren and his friends, his bedroom, even school, everything that used to be his normal. Now it's all changed.

"He actually came home. Surprise, surprise."

"Guren!" He jumps up from the table to squeeze the older male into a hug. "I can't believe I actually missed you!"

"Careful, Yuu! You might crush him with your new strength," a new voice teases.

"Shinya!" He moves over to greet the fair haired male other male, "You've been keeping him company?"

"Of course, he's been lonely all alone here without you!"

"I wasn't lonely. I didn't know if he was coming back and was thinking about whether or not I should plan a funeral for him."

"Ha. Ha. Guren. I told you I was coming back!"

"Yeah, but you were also missing for months," he points out. "Half dead in the forest."

"That was in the past! I'm healthy and strong." Yuu spreads his arms, "See? I'm alive!"

"Did you-"

"Yuu!"

He glances up to see his friends barging through the door for the second time and grins, "Hey!"

Yoichi reaches him first and jumps on him, now that he's no longer connected to an IV, followed by Shinoa, then Mitsuba while Kimizuki stands awkwardly beside them. "Yuu, we missed you!"

"I missed you guys too, Yoichi." I'm so lucky. "No hug from you, Kimizuki?"

"Gross, no."

"He made a cake," Yoichi chimes in. "He got up extra early to make it when he heard you were coming back today."

Yuu's eyes the container in the pink haired boy's hand and smirks, "So you missed me too."

"Not really."

"Right." He squeezes an arm out of their group hug and wiggles his fingers at Kimizuki, "Feel free to join in!"

"Come on Shihou," Yoichi calls.

He huffs before sliding close enough for Yoichi to drag him into the tight group and Yuu lets them squeeze him tighter, he didn't realize just how much he missed everyone until he was right here with them and his life wasn't revolving around Mikaela anymore.

"Yuu, gross! Don't get your tears on me!"

"Then let go Mitsuba!"

"She can't, she's crying too," Shinoa adds in gleefully and then they're all one big crying mess until Guren gets fed up and tells them to wrap it up. By the time they break it up, Shinya has already cut up Kimizuki's cake and is watching them in amusement.

Once they're all settled around the table with plates, Guren gets back to business. "Did you find what you were looking for?"

"Yeah...about that..." He rubs the back of his head, "I actually have to go back."

"What?"

He winces at the looks his friends are giving him and soldiers on, "It wasn't a thing, but a person...a vampire."

"A...vampire?"

"Yeah, I think we'd go well together...for a long time." Understanding washes over the group, mixed with pity.

"Wow, I can't say I expected that. Though I suppose it makes sense, equal life spans and all, but I never thought you'd run off and fall in love with a vampire." Shinoa comments.

"Well...we're not quite there yet."

"...You're not?"

"No, that's why I have to go back. To make sure we do make it there."

"When will we get to meet him? Soon?"

"Probably not...he's not very open. He had a tough life as a human so he's not really friendly…"

"Damaged goods?" Mitsuba quips.

"Don't call him that." Yuu shoots back with a hint of warning that she's surprised by, but recovers from quickly.

"Yuu, no offense, but if you're looking for someone to spend eternity with and apparently you've decided you want a...vampire, why not pick one with less issues? I don't think they're extremely rare since you already seem to know where to look."

"I want him," he states firmly. Because he'll give me everything.

"Doesn't seem like he wants you," Mitsuba mutters back.

"We'll work out. I just have to get him to trust me first and he will." Yuu states confidently.

"Does he know you're part demon?" Kimizuki interrupts.

Yuu deflates, "No, we haven't gotten that far yet either."

"Don't you think that's pretty important?"

"Yeah, I'll tell him later after he loves me."

"That's really fucking shady, Yuu."

"It isn't! I just don't want to take any chances."

"Yuu," Guren shakes his head. "I thought I raised you better than that."

"You did! He's not in danger. He's a vampire! What does he have to be afraid of?"

"The fact that you think it's okay to conceal a lie that big until you've gotten what you wanted makes me think I failed."

"I don't know...maybe it's his demon side coming out. Demons don't have the same morals as us, do they?"

They all turn to look at Yuu. "What?" He counters defensively. "I'm still me, just because I'm part demon doesn't mean I stop being myself."

"...Any episodes lately?"

"No! I can take care of myself and I wouldn't dream of hurting Mikaela!"

"Right, you can control yourself? Just like how you found out about what you are now?" Kimizuki questions sarcastically. "Do you even feel any remorse?"

Yuu glares at him before averting his eyes. No, he doesn't feel any remorse for what he did. Maybe the woman deserved it, maybe she didn't. It doesn't matter to him. He did it, he enjoyed it, and now he doesn't feel any guilt about it. She was just a human, she would have died eventually anyway. Just because he no longer feels remorse for something he did months ago doesn't mean he's not himself anymore. The two sides can coexist, they have been so far. "I'm under control."

"Sure you are."

"A-Anyway," Yoichi breaks in to diffuse the tension. "Is Mikaela the vampire's name?"

His mood does a complete 180. "Yes! Mikaela Shindou! He's half russian!"

"Pale with black hair too?" Shinoa smirks.

"Nah, he is pale, but he's got blue eyes and blonde hair!"

"Blue?"

"Well sometimes they're red, I think because he's only been a vampire for a year they switch colors."

"You seem like you really like him," Yoichi comments with a smile.

"I do! It took a little digging, but he's really sweet when he wants to be. He's just sad and doesn't like expressing his feelings all the time. I know he cares though."

"Then if you say he's nice, I can't wait to meet him."

"I want you guys to meet him too, hopefully soon! But, now you see why I have to go back."

"Yeah we get it, so don't stay away. No matter what happens we still care about you too Yuu, so don't forget about us, make sure you come visit even when we're old and grey."

Murmurs of assent follow Yoichi's statement and Yuu nods, "I will guys, I promise. You're all my family and I won't ever forget about you."

~~~~~
He's agitated and trying his best not to be. Yuu will come back, he promised. Yuu was fine when he left, there's no way he would drop dead in two weeks. He'll visit his family and then he'll come back and they'll be together again, Yuu promised. He just has to be patient and wait, Yuu will come back, he has to. The burning dryness is his throat isn't helping either, he hasn't had any blood since he first arrived back here and it's starting to affect him again.

"Mikaela! Are you listening to me?"

"Yes."

"No, you aren't. You're thinking about Yuuichirou. He'll either come back or he won't, dwelling on it won't change anything."

"..."

"Glare at me all you want, that won't change anything either."

"I'm not glaring."

"I'm sending you on a mission. There's a rogue sect of vampires, killing humans up North. I need them wiped out."

"Why do I have to go?"

"Because you're repressing your feelings again and you need something to take your mind off it."

"No, I don't. I'm fine."

"You're not doing anything else and your constant lying about with Yuuichirou wasn't helping your battle skills. If you want to live a long life, you can't rely on strength alone, consider this a good chance to get some practice." He begrudgingly admitted she was right, he hadn't trained at all since Yuu arrived. "You'll be on a small team led by Ferid."

"Krul!"

"Get there, kill them, and return. Keep your temper under control too, you won't be here with me."

"Fine."

"Be ready in thirty minutes."

Mikaela returns to his room to change, not bothering to hide his annoyance. Yes, he's sulking over Yuu, that doesn't mean he needs a distraction. He'd rather lurk around the grounds for two weeks than be under Ferid's thumb having to deal with all his snark, but he's fully aware this isn't an optional assignment.

He arrives a few minutes after the hour, joining the group less than a mile from the grounds, hoping to stay out of sight as Ferid gives them the same break down Krul gave him. It's a band of around ten vampires and all of the lower ranks. They've already been ordered to stop hunting humans and they chose to ignore it, therefore their goal is to leave no survivors.

Mikaela straps into the jet along with the three others picked to go plus Ferid and his second in command, Crowley. The red haired vampire has always been impassive at most to him, but Yuu doesn't seem to care much for him and when he had asked, all Yuu had responded with was that Crowley had no personality or thoughts. To him, it just looks like Crowley doesn't care to interfere with things that don't concern him, a trait he admires.

He doesn't bother to speak to anyone during the ride and they don't try to speak to him, a mutually understood silence. They consider him a petulant child, his seventeen years nothing to those who have lived centuries, tolerated only because he belongs to Krul. Not that it matters, he's not interested in their acceptance either.

They touch down several miles from the city that's being preyed upon and skirt around it to head farther into the rogue vampire's territory. Krul's forces are strong, he doesn't understand why they would purposely draw her attention, knowing she would kill them for putting vampires at risk.

Maybe they're like him and this was intentional suicide. No...he's nothing like them, he wouldn't take human lives, using them as a means to an end.

"Mikaela, pay attention. I'd hate for you to let your guard down and get stabbed."

"I won't."

It doesn't take long to reach the building being used as a base and they spread out quickly, drawing swords in preparation. He takes his place by the back entrance along with one other and they stand poised for Ferid's signal.

Once he whistles, they enter the building in no rush. There's nowhere the vampires can go. The front and back are blocked and there's a guard outside for any that jump out of windows. His partner dashes up the steps, sword already drawn and he rolls his eyes, following before his partner gets killed. They may be stronger, but ten on one is still bad odds.

Approaching the stairs he slices through the vampire holding his partner by the neck and receives a sneer in response. "I was fine."

"Then handle it."

The others approach spreading out along the floor while he moves towards a sound near the back and only just avoids the tip of a sword in his leg. He uses his own weapon to quickly deflect the blow, throws him into the vampire approaching from the side, and wipes them both out with one slash of his sword, all in less than ten seconds.

They really were weak, a mob of humans would have likely been enough to take them out. Six vampires was probably more than they needed to take care of this. He looks down in disgust, all of this is so pointless. They had to know they'd be killed, did they really need to take those humans with them?

"Why are you making that face? You're no better than them."

He turns to look at the brunette vampire beside him, "I never said I was."

"Yet you think of them with disgust while enjoying the company of livestock."

"I can do what I want, the same as you."

"Where is your little human boyfriend?"

"Where he is has nothing to do with you," he replies coldly.

"Maybe he died, a better outcome since you lack the sense to care. It makes us all look bad when you're getting intimate with the livestock."

Faster than he can contain it, a spark of rage ignites inside him at those words and his sword is flashing through the air, slicing the other vampire's head clean from his neck. As the head rolls away spilling blood, he raises his sword over the body's heart for a killing strike when his sword is wrenched from his hands.

He whips around bent on retaliation to see Ferid tossing his sword back to Crowley, "Give that back!"

"I don't believe you can be trusted with it right now."

"It's not your choice!" He lunges past Ferid for Crowley who sidesteps his grip impassively. "Let go!"

"Come now, Mikaela." Ferid chastises, dragging him away by the waist. "Krul would be very upset if you were killed."

"Don't touch me!"

"Yes, he only allows his livestock pet to do that. Though how much longer he'll be able to is a mystery," the headless vampire's comrade comments snidely as he helps to reattach his head. Mikaela yanks Ferid's sword free of its sheath and swings, slicing through the arm holding him and rushing back towards the decapitated vampire and his comrade to finish what he started.

Crowley's on him in a second, breaking his wrist and throwing him over his shoulder. "Normally I'd mind my own business, but I really don't want this on my head." He glances over to where Ferid's reattaching his arm, "I'll leave the clean up to you." He drops the sword to the ground and marches out of the building, running until they're several miles away and dropping him.

"Why'd you do that?!"

"You should be thanking me, you're already going to be in enough trouble when you get back."

"He started it!"

Crowley sighs, "You make it so difficult to forget how young you are."

"What's that mean?"

"It doesn't matter who 'started' it, you sliced off his head and tried to kill him when he didn't touch you. If you think that's going to pass, well...don't."

"But-"

"Don't care and no one else will care that you got upset about livestock either. If anything, it'll make your punishment harsher."

"So, he'll get away with that?"

"Get away with what? Calling that human what he is? Of course. You're the only one who cares. Get up."

"Where are we going?"

"Back home, we've finished what we came to do. Enjoy your freedom while you have it, they may choose to ban Yuuichirou from returning."

"No!"

"Let's go."

Mikaela stands and follows after him, not regretting his actions for a second even if they were done in a fit of rage. That other vampire deserved it, Yuu is a better person that he could ever hope to be. The only way he'd care is if they really did force Yuu away, other than that they could do whatever they wanted to him. He'd take whatever punishment they chose.

~~~~~
The two weeks spent with his family was great, but it went by too fast. They caught him up on everything that had happened since he was gone and it gave him a sense of the normalcy of human life again. Even so, he's not as sad anymore knowing he won't live the same life as them. They'll grow up and go to college and start families while he won't age at all. He could go with them, but what's the point when he has forever? Besides he'd miss Mikaela too much.

Near the end, he'd really started to miss him and his annoyance peaked at the fact that he never got the blonde's cell number so he could have kept in contact. He'd never thought to since they'd been together since he arrived at Krul's. Why use a cell phone when he could talk to him in person?

His fingers idly rub the small bottle in his jacket pocket, a parting gift from Shinoa. 'Just in case,' she'd said. He's grateful, there's nowhere within two hours of the estate he could buy it if he managed to work up the courage anyway. Now he just has to find the perfect chance to use it.

The train pulls smoothly into the station and Yuu grabs his suitcase, follows the few people off the train, and starts the long walk back.

Upon his arrival, he's recognized and they let him in, but Mikaela's nowhere to be found. After dumping his things in the guest room, he searches his bedroom and there's no sign he's been there in days. Feeling his body begin to tense and his heartbeat speed up, he rushes down the hallways to Krul's rooms and slides open the door in a hurry. "Where's Mikaela?!" She motions from him to close the door. "He didn't run away, did he? I told him I was coming back!"

"Close the door, Yuuichirou."

He shuts it impatiently and takes a seat across from her, "Well?"

"He's in isolation."

"What? Why?"

"Punishment."

Yuu lets out a breath, "What did he do?"

"He was doing an assignment for me and another vampire was provoking him, so he sliced off his head and tried to kill him."

"What?! My Mika did that?"

"Your Mika?"

"Yeah, I can't believe he'd do that. He doesn't like to hurt people. Is the other vampire dead?"

"Of course not. Ferid and Crowley stopped him before he could finish him off then reattached his head. Even so, his sire didn't take well to the attack and demanded Mikaela be punished. Hence isolation and no blood."

"You're starving him!"

"It's not like he drinks much anyway."

"Geez, I wasn't gone that long and this happens."

Krul scoffs, "He was only agitated because he was afraid you weren't coming back."

"Oh."

"And he can be a bit of a wild card, if you hadn't figured that out."

"I know, plus he won't tell me what he's thinking most of the time. "

"Yes, so go to him if you want. He's in one of the cells below ground, the entrance is the red door in the North." She slides a key across to him, "The guards will let you in. Do your best to keep him and yourself out of sight. I know he's dying to see you even if he won't admit it."

He nods quickly, taking the key, and racing to the gate. He blames himself for this, he should've insisted Mikaela come with him. What if they had killed him in retaliation? He doesn't even want to think about it. The sharp curl of heat in his stomach guarantees there would have been a slaughter if he had come back to that. He would have done his best to take out every vampire in the vicinity. His family would have been hurt that he never made it back, but it would have been impossible to hold his fury back.

He unlocks the heavy iron door and peers into the darkness, spotting a head of blonde hair huddled near the back wall. "Mika?"

"..."

"Krul told me what happened." Mikaela looks towards him, Yuu opens his arms, and he's inside instantly, pressing tightly against him. Yuu's arms encircle him and press a kiss to the crown of his head, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he replies quietly.

"Wanna drink?" Yuu feels him tense and tightens his arms. "You can, it's okay. I know you haven't had any blood since I found you. I'd prefer my blood than someone else's anyway. I should be the one to take care of you."

He gently lowers them to the floor until Mikaela's settled between his legs, still holding on tight. Eventually Yuu feels him stir and a faint exhale against his neck before fangs pierce his skin. He lets him, sucking in a breath at the sting of pain, then his body slowly unwinds as it turns to pleasure and his head tilts aside to provide more room.

It feels surprisingly good...and intimate. He's even happier he didn't let that vampire at the blood bank drink from him. There's no pain anymore, just the sensation of floating and the stirrings of arousal with every long drink the vampire takes. His eyes slip shut and a quiet moan slips out at the tingles of pleasure running through his body. Yuu's fingers reach up to bury themselves in blonde strands and he's content to let Mikaela snuggle into him and suck.

The gentle sucking slowly fills with a longing for more and he doesn't realize how close his hand is to his crotch, about to take care of the beginnings of a throb between his legs, until Mikaela's fingers loosen and he pulls away from Yuu's neck after a quick lick to clean up any remains of blood.

His eyes open slowly to see Mikaela staring at him weirdly. "What?"

"That's not supposed to feel good."

"Isn't it?" He questions with a small smirk.

"No," the other male quickly scoots back until Yuu's arms lock around his waist.

"Be happy it feels good, so I'm more willing to let you do it again."

"I won't need to."

"Uh huh." Yuu stands and yanks Mikaela up with him, "Come on, let's head back. You can tell me all about how you sliced that vampire's head off!"

"Yuu!"

"What?! You did!"

After a quick side trip to the bathroom to avoid any unwanted conversations and provide himself some relief, he's joins a freshly bathed Mikaela out in his enclosed garden. It's one of his favorite parts on the estate, with a koi filled pond and neatly trimmed flowers decorating the area. It faces the wall and Mikaela's rooms surround it, so there's no risk of the other vampires seeing that he's out of his cell already. It's always quiet out here, that's probably why Mikaela enjoys it so much, like his own little world.

Yuu drops onto one of couches inside the small pavilion and stretches out until his head is resting in Mikaela's lap, smiling when the blonde's hands unconsciously smooth through his hair and down his face in slow repetitive motions. "What are you thinking about?"

Crimson eyes turn their gaze from the garden to him, "Thinking that this garden is one of the best perks of being a vampire."

"And me! Don't forget me."

"...Right."

Yuu pouts, "Just admit that you love me already!"

A small smile pulls up the corner of his mouth, "Why would I say something like that?"

"Because it'll make me happy?"

"...I don't know if it's true though."

He sits up with a frown and turns to face Mikaela, "You don't know if you love me?"

"I just…" Yuu watches as he grabs a pillow and squeezes anxiously, eyes darting everywhere but in his direction.

"Mika?"

"..."

"Can you at least see yourself spending eternity with me?"

"No."

Yuu sits back and blinks in surprise, "You...can't?"

He clenches the pillow tightly and curls in on himself, "You're going to die way before me."

Wincing, he muses on his next response. He's going to live just as long as Mikaela, but he hasn't told him that yet and he doesn't think now is the best time to reveal it. Knowing their lifespans are equal would reassure Mikaela that he has no plans to die anytime soon, but he's still unsure of how he would react if he found out about his demonic side. It's still too soon.

So he changes the subject instead, "So tell me how you sliced off his head."

"Yuu! It's not a good thing."

"Uh huh. So why'd you do it?"

Mikaela sighs and looks away, "I didn't like what he said about you."

Yuu lips split into a wide smile, "Defending my honor?"

"Shut up," he huffs.

"Heart of gold."

"H-huh?"

"I said you have a heart of gold. It's buried, but it's there."

"Only when it comes to certain things," he murmurs back with a light flush heating up his cheeks.

"Hmm...like me? Or kids who don't want to do their chores?"

Mikaela smiles, "Yeah only for kids, like the one in front of me."

"Haha." Yuu replies, tugging away the pillow and watching as the vampire's smile widens more to reveal fangs and pearly white teeth. "You're beautiful, you know that?"

"What? I am not."

"You are and I like it the most when you smile. It's okay to be happy."

"...Maybe."

"I'm not gonna force you, but whenever you're ready, I'm right here."

"..."

He suddenly perks up with a thought, "Hey, you can give me a nickname too!" Yuu exclaims, pointing excitedly to himself.

"A nickname," Mikaela questions dubiously. "Don't you already have one of those?"

"Yeah, but not one from you."

"Do you really need a new one?"

"Humor me."

"No."

Yuu ignores him, "Something like 'love of my life' or 'my one and only.' Or maybe, 'the only man i'm living for!'" Mikaela stares back at him blankly. "No?"

"How about Yuu-chan? I think that fits you better."

Yuu pulls back, "Chan? No way!"

"Why not?"

"B-because it's for kids!"

"Not always, you want me to love you, right? It's also used as a term of endearment sometimes."

"Yeah, but…"

"And no one else calls you that."

"For good reason!"

"Then it's settled," Mikaela nods in satisfaction. "Yuu-chan it is."

"What? No! Mika, I don't want that one!"

Mikaela laughs, a sound he rarely hears, and Yuu smiles wonderingly before pushing forward to kiss him. His kiss is welcomed and he feels Mikaela's lips move against his as he speaks. "I'm really happy you came back."

Yuu pulls him over into his lap to bury his face in the crook of his neck, "Me too."

~~~~~
He's doing what Krul advised him to do, enjoying the time he has left with Yuu. It hurts whenever he remembers how limited Yuu's life span is, but Krul was right. Whether it's tomorrow or five years from now, Yuu was always eventually going to die. He's made his peace with it now. Besides Yuu makes him happier than he ever was as a human and he's not going to voluntarily let that go before he has to.

Things have been a lot better since he admitted those things to himself, there's a sense of idyllicism to their days. Day after day spent together with no mention of the future. Yuu's here with him and he's happy, even if Yuu thinks he's insanely clingy now.

"Mika, you know I can't see the TV, right?"

"That's what you have ears for." Yuu sighs loudly and he smiles from his place straddling Yuu's lap. He's purposely blocking the TV, he's not really sure why though. Yuu was just sitting there on the couch watching TV and he'd decided to climb in his lap and bother him.

"I see you're getting to that point."

"What point?"

"The point where you want attention, but won't say it."

He frowns, "I don't want attention."

"Uh huh. Then why haven't you let me watch TV for more than hour anytime these past few days?"

"...It's bad for your eyes."

"I think it's cause I've spoiled you rotten."

"Nevermind then."

Yuu easily flips him over onto his back in a flurry of flailing limbs and smiles down at him, "Happy now? You have my full attention."

"I just wanted to say hi."

"Okay Mika," he replies, fighting back a smirk.

"Seriously!"

"You're too easy to read, watch with me then." Yuu kisses him on the forehead and switches their positions so that he's spooned against Yuu's chest with an arm thrown across him as Yuu focuses back in on the TV.

He glances towards the screen, what's so interesting about this show anyway? It's just some generic comedy, it's not even interesting. He turns to study Yuu instead. The other boy's completely engrossed in the show, eyes never leaving the TV screen as Mikaela studies him. He flinches when a hand is suddenly blocking his view, turning his face back towards the screen. "Yuu-chan."

"I know I'm amazing, but quit staring at me," he jokes.

Mikaela glances back to the screen to see that the comedy has taken an abrupt turn to romance and they're losing clothes on the way towards the bed. He fidgets uncomfortably, eyes flicking away from the screen until Yuu stills him with a hand to his head. "Why are we watching this?" He complains, shaking his hand off.

"You want to watch something else?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

He glances back at the screen when he hears a quiet groan, "Turn it!"

"I didn't know vampires were such prudes."

"Yuu-chan!"

"Fiiine," Yuu reaches for the remote and he relaxes for a split second, the amount of time it takes him to realize Yuu is raising the volume. He gets up and Yuu yanks him back down on the couch. "I thought you wanted to spend time with me?"

"No, I told you I just wanted to say hi!"

"Mika."

"..."

Yuu sighs and switches the channel. "Better?"

"Don't be a jerk."

He hums quietly, eyes roaming over his face, "Mika, how do you feel about sex?"

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Answer."

"I don't feel anything about it. I've never done it."

"Then why did you want me to turn the channel?"

Because it's something you might want that I can't give you and it reminds me of how not human I am. "It was boring."

"Do you want to?"

"No."

"No?"

"I...just...it's never been something I thought that much about and it's not like I have opportunities now. It's not something I feel like I need to experience, especially not now that I'm a vampire."

"And?"

"And what?"

"What else?"

"There's nothing else."

"Stop lying."

"...I wouldn't want to be that close to another person." Except maybe you...

"You're close to me all the time," Yuu points out.

"But, that's different, we're...friends."

Yuu blinks in disbelief, "Friends?"

"Yeah?"

"You don't kiss your friends, Mika."

"I can't explain it! I'm comfortable with you, so I like being close to you." Yuu nods and gets a speculative look in his eyes as he looks past him. Now, he's worried. Did he say something wrong? Is Yuu implying he needs a...lover? Is he unhappy here?! I don't want to share!

"...You want to have sex, don't you?"

He looks back down, "I do. But it's not just a want, it's a need." So I'm holding him back. His eyes squeeze shut as a wave of sorrow hits him. I can't give him what he needs… Fingers dance lightly over his eyelids, "Mika? What are you thinking?"

"Are you a virgin Yuu?"

"I am, but not for much longer."

"Oh." Who does he like? Mikaela squeezes his pillow and adjusts away. It's probably one of Yuu's friends back home. He's not surprised, from what Yuu has told him, it sounds like they're all close, it's understandable that he'd have those kinds of feelings for one of them. They can give Yuu what he can't. Maybe that's one of his dying wishes, even though he won't be able to live a life with them. Yuu's been with him this long, it's not right to hold him back anymore. Even if he hates the thought, for Yuu's sake, he can be okay with Yuu finding someone else. If that's what Yuu needs, he won't stand in his way.

"Yeah, then my friends won't be able to call me cherry boy anymore after we have sex."

"Which one?"

"Huh?"

He opens his eyes, "Which one of your friends will it be? You all seem pretty close. I'm happy for you," he says with a small smile.

Yuu gives him a weird look, "You. Duh."

"H-huh? Me?"

"Of course. Who else did you think it would be?"

"B-but I'm not...I didn't...I never said…"

The black haired teen's face morphs into a frown, "You didn't have to say it. It was implied. Of course I'm going to have you."

He can't seem to form a coherent response through all the stuttering as his cheeks turn red. He never thought Yuu meant him.

Yuu's eyes narrow in suspicion, Are you telling me no?"

"I'm...I...I don't know," he answers in a small voice.

"Mika?"

He curls in on himself, thoughts racing a mile a minute. More than anything he wishes he was hidden in one of his secret spots on the grounds right now. One Yuu has yet to drag him from.

He didn't think Yuu saw him that way at all. As a companion? Yes. But, not someone he would want to be with in that way. Yuu's a human! Why would he ever think about having sex with a vampire?! Mikaela blushes remembering all those times they were naked together. After a while he didn't think too much on it because Yuu didn't seem to find anything weird about it, so gradually he had gotten comfortable too.

There's a burning rush of humiliation in his ears as he realizes those times were probably borderline sexual for Yuu and not as innocent as he'd thought. After all, Yuu had never tried to initiate any of the intimate physical contact he usually did when they were without clothes, besides that one day in the tub before he'd left. Maybe that should have been his biggest hint, but he hadn't thought much on it since Yuu was trying to comfort him. If he'd known the other teen was thinking of him in that way, he definitely would've always made sure to have clothes on around Yuu...and maybe that's why Yuu never mentioned it.

Mikaela groans quietly, ignoring Yuu's attempts to get him to speak. How could he have been so naive? He knew Yuu wanted them to love each other, but sex didn't cross his mind. The other vampires don't appear to do it and he's a different species than Yuu. Even though technically it's possible, maybe, just unheard of.

He's not even sure how he feels about it. On one hand, it means Yuu is really serious about him, but on the other hand, he's nervous. No one's ever expected sex from him and he's never been physically intimate with anyone else. If it has to be someone, he's glad it's Yuu, but he's not sure if he's ready to take that step yet.

Now that he knows Yuu's intentions, it's inevitable. Yuu has taken every other part of him, he was probably just waiting for the perfect opportunity to take the rest.

~~~~~
Yuu kicks a stray rock as he starts on his third time around the grounds. He's too restless to sleep and he'd found himself pacing the grounds endlessly before deciding to walk off the extra energy, plus it gives him time to think.

Everything has been going well for them, there haven't been any incidents for either of them, nor has he left Mikaela since he returned, but...things are different. Mikaela's been weird since he said he was planning to have sex with him soon. Now he actually locks his bathroom door and there's a tension every time Yuu reaches for him. The lack of intimacy is frustrating. It's like they've gone all the way back to the beginning when Mikaela was hesitant to trust him. All this tells him is that he was right not to bring the subject up sooner.

It's also getting harder to keep his other side under control when he's being constantly denied. Whenever he gets too close and the blonde male panics enough to pull away from him, he has to tamp down the urge to grab him and force him onto his knees. The constant struggle with himself and against his needs is wearing him down. A few days ago, Mikaela had pulled away and he'd snapped at him, regretting it as the words were leaving his mouth and even more so when those cerulean eyes had filled with hurt. He'd tried to apologize, but the other male was gone before he could get a word out, then proceeded to avoid him the rest of the day which hadn't helped any.

By the end of the day he was so wound up, he needed some outlet for his energy, so...he went hunting. One vampire, a few miles from the estate. He'd fought and killed him to take the edge off his frustration and his other side had been pacified for the moment. But, it wouldn't last long if nothing changed. What's Mikaela so afraid of anyway? He's tired of holding back and it's only going to get worse if nothing gives. Mikaela can't keep tiptoeing around him because he's certainly not going to return the favor.

He's about to start his fourth lap when the whispers reach him. Yuu pauses and creeps soundlessly in the direction of the voices, stealth one of the newly acquired traits from his predatory nature. Now what would vampires have to whisper about? He finds them near a small shed and crouches down, straining his ears to listen.

"It makes no sense that Krul allows that human to remain here. He is livestock and should be treated as such. This is vampire territory."

"I agree, the best use of them is blood and it doesn't seem as if Mikaela even bothers to partake of his."

"Krul favors him, so she lets him do as he pleases. He was not forced to stay the entirety of his punishment in the cells."

"He wasn't?"

"No, when that human came back here, he was released."

"Unacceptable."

"There is one obvious solution to taking care of his special treatment."

"Killing the human?"

"Of course. Humans are such weak things, if he were to slip and drown in the river, no one would bat an eye."

"Except Mikaela."

The vampire scoffs, "That pathetic excuse for a vampire? He's easily dispatched of."

"Do you think Krul would idly stand by while her only progeny is killed?"

"She'll have no choice. When he finds out we killed his human, do you really think he'll be rational? No, he'll attack the same as he did on that mission."

"And then she couldn't protect him after he attacked in front of everyone. Her authority only stretches so far."

"Even if she did stop him from attacking us, the human would still be dead so either way it's successful. I doubt he'd last too much longer after the livestock's death anyway."

Yuu steps back quietly, he's heard enough. Mikaela's mine. They can say what they like about him, but Mikaela's off limits. You don't mess with what belongs to a demon. He feels his humanity receding, replaced with coldness. No thought on his mind, but the kill. He doesn't bother to stop his detachment, reveling in letting it wash over him.

His fingers wrap around the handle of an axe in the shed and by the time the vampires realize he's there, the axe is already cleaving through the first vampire's torso splitting him in half. He doesn't stop there, using his enhanced speed to round on the second and sever his head. He's well aware this isn't enough to kill them and he begins brutally hacking them to pieces.

Yuu smiles in enjoyment as their blood hits him in the face with every drop of the axe. He's been repressing his nature too long and it's freeing to let out some stress. Although, he should end this soon before someone discovers him, then they might link the last vampire's death to him too.

He reaches for the crushed remains of both hearts and feeds his energy into them, watching as they turn black. Vampires can't heal a demon's cursed energy, they never had a chance. Come morning, the sun will fry them what's left of them and there won't be any witnesses to reveal him. Yuu dusts his hands of the charred remains of the hearts and begins using the shed faucet and his shirt to methodically scrub the blood from the axe before replacing it. He reaches up to brush his hair back and his hand hits something hard. His fingers gently touch against a sharp tip and he sighs, his horns are out. Yuu runs his tongue over his teeth, fangs too. He'll have to calm down first, Mikaela can't see him like this yet.

The first thing to do is get rid of the evidence, Yuu dives into the river to dilute the smell of blood clinging to him and resurfaces near the wall. Keeping carefully out of sight, he moves along the perimeter until he reaches his own personal room. Once there, he quickly changes clothes and bundles his ruined ones under his jacket. He'll dump them when he's far enough away. He's been here long enough to become familiar with the locking mechanism on the gate and no one cares when he exits, although he can't guarantee they'll leave it open or open for him when he returns.

Right now, it doesn't matter, he won't have a chance to worry about anything if he doesn't get rid of the evidence of his kills. It's a long run, but he has to make sure he doesn't endanger their lives by having the killings tracked back to him.

Once he arrives at the city, he dumps his stained clothes into the human trash system, takes a breath, and starts back.

He's covered in sweat when he eventually makes it back sometime in the early hours before dawn, fortunate that no one cared enough to lock the gate after he left. Easier for him to sneak back to his room unnoticed and take a shower before creeping into Mikaela's room.

When he finally crawls back into bed with him, the adrenaline has slowed to a faint buzzing under his skin, but still too much energy for him to sleep.

"Where have you been?" Mikaela questions him, curling into him sleepily and Yuu reciprocates.

"I couldn't sleep so I went for a run outside the grounds."

"Oh," Mikaela inhales deeply against his neck.

"Thirsty?"

"No," he wiggles closer, boundaries forgotten for the moment, but Yuu remembers and coming off the high from his kills...he wants more.

Yuu moves slowly, knowing that any misstep will make Mikaela pull away from him then it'll be forever before he lets him close enough to try this again. And he's not sure he can control himself enough to wait that long, especially with his aching need to be connected to the blonde.

His hands slip under Mikaela's shirt, gently stroking his sides before sliding down his back and pulling him closer. Yuu kisses him gently and Mikaela is slow to respond, a hair's breadth from pushing him away when his hands begin lifting the hem of his shirt. Yuu feels him tense and he breaks the kiss to whisper gentle words of reassurance in his ear as he lifts his shirt off.

"Yuu…"

"I promise it'll be fine."

He feels Mikaela begin to tremble as he drags his shorts down, more self-conscious now that he can read how different the atmosphere between them is.

It's a quick matter to grab the lube he stores in Mikaela's nightstand and cover his fingers. His hand tightens around Mikaela's waist at the first sign of resistance when the first finger penetrates him. He squeezes down and Yuu can read the tension in his body. The tightness goes right to his crotch and he's long past ready for pushes a second and third finger in together, using his knee to spread Mikaela's legs more

He's liberal with the lube, aware that if it hurts too much, the other boy won't accept this and he doesn't want to find out if he'd be able to pull himself back. He tries not to think about it too much, but he knows his dick has gotten inhumanly bigger and thicker since his demon awakening, but only when it's hard, just like his horns and fangs only pop out when he's angry. He's pretty sure a human wouldn't be able to handle it, hell he barely is and he'll always be grateful it's only that size when he's aroused. "Just a little more…" Mikaela's so tight, though it makes sense since he's both a virgin and lacking the need to use this part of his body at all, but he, on the other hand, has a perfect use for it.

"Yuu, I don't…" He begins sitting up and Yuu pushes him back down to the bed with a hand to the chest.

Yuu lets his hand slide down his chest and stomach to wrap around his dick, squeezing lightly in encouragement. "There's nothing to worry about, let me take care of both of us."

Yuu's shirt comes off in one swift movement, followed quickly by his boxers hitting the floor, freeing his lower body to stand thick and ready. He's back on Mikaela a second later, holding his wrists tightly to the bed and forcing his tongue into his mouth to kiss him with all the desire he's been holding back. He's still meeting some resistance, but not enough for him to stop.

He lets go of one wrist to adjust the vampire's hips upwards, then aligns himself before thrusting his hips forward with as much force as he dares and burying the entirety of his length all the way to the base in one sharp movement. His eyes squeeze shut and he groans in pleasure as he slides through the tight slickness, dropping both hands to grab onto Mikaela's spread thighs to keep in place.

Mikaela cries out instantly from the harsh and no doubt painful penetration, the small pained sounds the blonde makes as he begins to move are music to his ears. He instantly loves that noise. The sound of pain a sign of his possession that he's the one drawing those noises out. He's so far inside of him, he can feel himself forcing Mikaela's body to accommodate him much more than should be natural.

His grip tightens as he finds his pace, enjoying the feeling of being connected as he drives into the body in front of him. "Yuu-chan... slow down," he begs quietly, grabbing onto his arms.

"Mmmm."

Slowing down isn't an option now, every slide through that tight cavern only makes him hunger for more and he leans forward to seal their lips back together, pressing Mikaela's own hardness into their stomachs and feeling the head of his own dick nudge Mikaela's through his stomach every time he thrusts in.

The hard slap of flesh on flesh spurs him on and he can feel his climax nearing. Mikaela must realize it too because he's started tensing up subconsciously and his grip on Yuu's arms is tight.

It hits him faster than he anticipated and he gasps out as his body seizes and releases into Mikaela. He groans through his orgasm as the thick warm stream of cum is pumped into the boy beneath him, filling up the space left from his now soft cock. He collapses against the blonde, feeling the the subtance start to leak out and run down his thighs, but ignores it in favor of kissing along the trembling male's cheek. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah…"

He lays there to catch his breath for a second, the buzzing below is skin finally sated after burning off so much energy and in the way he's been wanting to for a while now. It isn't until he's adjusting to pull out, so that the cum will stop running down his thighs that he realizes Mikaela's dick is still hard and digging into his stomach.

"Oh shit!" He sits up quickly, "Sorry!"

"It's fine...that was kind of intense anyway."

"Yeah…" He scoots back a little to slip out and wrap his hand around the blonde's slick member, pulling a quiet gasp from him. Yuu begins stroking him off in long quick motions, thumbing the slit and Mikaela moans out, jerking his hips up to match Yuu's pace. His eyes roam over Mikaela's pleasured face and down his body until his eyes catch onto his wet hole, still exposed from his spread legs, clenching and unclenching as it leaks his own cum out with every jerk of Mikaela's hips.

His breath catches at the erotic sight, watching as more leaks out to join the growing puddle under him. Fuck… There's so much, no wonder it was leaking down his thighs before he even pulled out. The sight goes right back to the source, waking his lower body again as he wonders just how much room he made for himself inside Mikaela.

"Yuu-chan…" Mikaela moans out and his eyes fly back to the blonde's flushed face and he leans over to kiss him as hips jerk upwards and his orgasm paints their stomachs with the white fluid.

Yuu gives him a few seconds to recover before he can't wait anymore, flips him over onto his stomach, and pushes back in, the addition of his own come making it even easier to slide in and out of those soiled walls. "Yuu!"

"Sorry," he murmurs against his neck, "I couldn't hold back anymore."

Yuu runs his hands over the smooth creamy expanse of Mika's back in satisfaction, after this moment, the gorgeous creature beneath him is all his, there's no separating now. His hand trails down to touch Mikaela's stomach where he can feel his dick pushing against it, forming a small bump every time he slides in and he smiles. All of Mikaela is perfectly compatible with him, he couldn't have a made a better choice.

He leans back and braces himself with hands out the blonde's perfectly rounded ass, squeezing and spreading the cheeks apart to get a better view. He watches in fascination as Mikaela continues to take his thickness and length inside him so well, his body offering no resistance by this point. The small sounds of pain have also switched to quiet sounds of pleasure as he rolls his hips back to meet Yuu's thrusts, so he isn't the only one enjoying this now that his body has shifted to fit him and loosened up

Yuu reaches one of his hands into Mikaela' hair and tilts his head back to kiss down the column of his throat and his other hand dances down to his hip, the spot he had unknowingly picked as the perfect spot for marking him. All mine. Pure instinct takes over and he tightens his grip on blonde hair before pressing his hand into the crevice of the other male's hip and marking him with a rush of searing heat.

Mikaela screams, but Yuu doesn't let go, continuing to shove into him as his cursed energy makes his claim. "Yuu! Stop! What are you doing?!" He only grunts in response, not bothering to respond, he's too close to completion to worry about anything else right now. His mark is complete and he holds the vampire firm as his hips stutter and he releases into him for the second time.

HIs fingers slide up to touch the small bulge in the blonde's usually flat stomach where his cum is filling him up. In this position, it's harder for it to leak out when the blonde's ass is up and Yuu's dick is still blocking his entrance, so it pushes outward instead.

"Yuu-chan…?" He questions faintly.

"Yes Mika?"

"What…? Why did it burn?"

Ignoring his question, Yuu grasps Mikaela's hand and brings it to his stomach to touch the center. It's now a noticeable bulge, he notes with pleasure, enjoying the fact that there's that much of his sperm inside the vampire. "You did so well! We really are perfect for each other, Mika!"

Mikaela's fingers gingerly touch his stomach before falling away, "Is it supposed to do that?"

"Well...there was a lot, so it's probably fine!"

"Yuu-chan, I'm really tired…"

"That's understandable." Vampires are weak to demon energy, so it makes sense Mikaela's feeling tired. He'll be fine though. He loses consciousness and collapses to the bed, falling off Yuu's dick and causing more semen to leak down the back of his thighs, but not enough for the prominent bulge in his stomach to disappear, now that it's cooled and thickened.

Yuu lays down beside him in satisfaction, fingers grazing over the mark. He's almost positive it won't ever heal, a permanent sign that they'll be together forever, though he's glad Mikaela passed out, he doesn't particularly want to explain anything right now anyway, content to relax now that his needs have been fulfilled.

:

:

The next morning, he wakes first, refreshed and still satisfied, feeling lighter than he was in what seems like forever. He stretches and lifts the blanket, letting his eyes roam over Mikaela's nude form, drinking in everything that's permanently his now. His eyes linger on Mikaela's lower body alternating between staring at the mark burned into the crevice of his hip which brings him an intrinsic sort of pleasure and staring between his legs, wondering if he could get away with going for a second round.

He decides he can, lowering himself back onto the blonde. By the time he awakes, Yuu's already deep inside, bonding them together again.