A/N: *was originally aiming for shorter chapters between 2,000 & 3,000 words but still wrote this*

Thank you for the feedback, I hope you enjoy it!

Midnight's Chime

Chapter 2 - A Look Into the Past

The majority of Mikaela's life had been a blur.

Some of this was due to him purposely allowing himself to forget aspects he did not want to remember. The rest, however, was simply the overwhelming amount of memories clogging his mind, stopping him from being able to focus on what he wanted to remember.

However, even as a blur, he could recall his previous happiness. He was still very young when his parents had died, though luckily, he could not remember them well. His memories consisted of the life he spent at the orphanage instead. He could not remember much, but nothing could cause him to forget the happiness he felt there and some of the times he and his friends – no, family – spent there together. They laughed together, played together, simply enjoyed life to its fullest. Yes, he was an orphan, but he was nothing but happy. He knew from a young age that love did not just have to be formed from blood relatives. These people he lived with were his family – not by blood joining them together, but by love. They were his family by choice. He saw himself as lucky to have found love this way, and it was more than he could have ever hoped for when he was the crying child in despair over the loss of his parents.

However, those years of bliss were not fated to last forever. The memory of the loss of this joyful life was one of the ones which were as clear as ever, as though it had only occurred days prior.

"Get down! Get down on the ground, or we'll kill these kids right in front of you!"

The bellows still rang in his ears late into the night. The screams of the children around him haunted his dreams. He could remember the shaking of the two younger children he held tightly in his arms before they were snatched away from him. The pain of his arms being painfully held behind his back as he was dragged out of the building, his legs kicking into the air was something which sometimes caused him to rub his arms as though the bruises were still there. He could still see their masked faces, their statures unbelievably large against the children they were taking. He could still smell the horrible scent of the old building they were locked inside, the human fluids unsurprisingly secreted after days of being trapped inside cages, treated like they were nothing more than animals.

This room was also clear in his mind. There were people of all ages, colour and gender there, separated into cages by where they had been taken. Soon enough, a few of their captors were walking around the cages, instructing people to step forward towards the bars so that a certain colour band could be wrapped around their arms.

Young but intelligent Mikaela could easily figure out why this was being done immediately. It was to sort them by what use they would be bought for.

Blue bands were given to tall, athletic men with muscular arms. Mikaela guessed that they would be bought for heavy, manual labour. Green bands were given to average-sized men and less attractive, older women. Perhaps this was for less heavy labour, suitable for their builds. Grey bands were given to the oldest people and a lot of the children, supposedly for lighter labour which wouldn't cause them to die in a matter of days and likely the cheapest to be bought. The last were red bands. These were given to all of the young, beautiful women, as well as the feminine men with smaller builds, attractive teenagers and older children.

Young but intelligent Mikaela was also still innocent and couldn't figure out what the red band around his arm meant. By the whistle the men gave on occasion when wrapping the red band around these people, Mikaela could only guess that it would both cause them to be treated horribly and also earn their captors a lot of money.

Once they had all been marked, they were then taken to be sold. It was in a large warehouse with multiple rooms where each of them were kept ready to be sold. With his hands tied and eyes blindfolded, Mikaela shivered as the cold hit his bare torso, at least grateful that he was wearing shorts. Still, standing barefoot on the stone floor was dropping his body temperature rather quickly, and time dragged by incredibly slowly. He was torn into two different mindsets; he wanted to stay in this room and never be sold, but he also wanted to be sold quickly so that he could rest his tired body and no longer be stood in such a cold temperature.

The buyers browsed with no sense of remorse or care for the slaves. They touched, stroked and caressed the bodies of those they browsed – or at least, if they were treating the others in the room as they were with him, they should have been. Some were gentle and careful, but other hands were rough – those they belonged to were often hurried along so that they didn't get in the way of other browsers. Mikaela was starting to realise that the beautiful, angelic people he had been put into a group with were all being sold to be touched like this after being bought. He just didn't know the extent of it.

After what felt like hours of standing, he was soon to hear the voices of the three who would buy him.

A young woman spoke first, "Really, Ferid. We didn't travel all this way so you could have one to play with. We need one who actually does manual labour, you know."

"All of these would be able to completely daily tasks for you, ma'am, Of course, many of their bodies are rather fragile, so I do not recommend any heavy labour. However, you can be reassured that they will still perform household duties for you."

"See, Krul? They can benefit both of us!"

"I don't know, it seems silly to pay double the price just because you want sex constantly and can't get a woman." She ignored the man's 'Hey!' and spoke to another person accompanying them. "What do you think, Crowley?"

"Well, we have the money. Why not?"

"Don't tell me you're after another woman, too..."

"No, I'm good with what I have. But you know that Ferid is just going to complain constantly if we don't get one. Can you be bothered with that?"

"… Point taken. All right, all right, hurry up and choose one. Not one that's too frail though, okay? I want one who won't collapse from lifting up a tray with her little delicate hands."

"Like you, then?" Mikaela heard a slap echo. "Ow..."

"Hurry up."

Ferid boots clicked on the floor as he circled around the selection of slaves before him. Numerous times he stopped, but this was longer in front of Mikaela.

"Hm, very interesting."

"A boy?" Krul said in doubt. "I thought you wanted a woman?"

"Yes, but… This one is different to the other boys, don't you think?" A hand played with his hair, before a finger was stroked down his cheek and across his lips. "Soft, blond hair, smooth skin, small, pink lips… He's even more like a girl than the other boys here, isn't he? In fact, I'd think he was one if he wasn't topless."

"He doesn't look very strong though, does he?"

"Well no, but we're mainly just after someone to cook and clean, aren't we? Plus, he's only young, I'm sure he'll grow." Ferid paused. "How old are you, boy?"

"T-Twelve," Mikaela responded in a small voice, surprised that he had one at all.

"See? Still just a kid. Come on, I'm sure he can do things for us, especially once he's grown up a bit."

Mikaela was too frightened to say that he had very little knowledge on how to cook. But despite his fear, he was also somewhat relieved that Ferid wasn't one of the other, much rougher men.

"I bet his eyes are beautiful, as well," said Ferid during Krul's silence, reaching to remove the blindfold, but was stopped by one of the captors.

"None of that until after purchase!"

"Awe come on, now you have to say yes. Pretty please?"

"Only if Crowley and I pay half whilst you pay the other half."

"I'd happily pay even full price for this treasure! It's a deal!"

The next moments occurred very quickly. The payment was made in a flash and Mikaela was taken outside. The bounds around his wrists were untied and the blindfold was removed. He blinked, his vision slightly blurred, though luckily, it was night and he wasn't blinded by sunlight.

"I was right, they are beautiful. They're just like sapphires." Ferid smiled at him and wrapped a coat around his shoulders. "That's better, isn't it? Don't worry. You'll be safe with us."

A flicker of hope lit up in his chest, thinking that perhaps he might have been bought by people with wonderful, kind souls. But that small spark was soon to be extinguished, the only positive thought left being that at least he was the one who had been bought by them, rather than his friends. At least it was he who had to deal with the pain, not them.

And at least there were some friends who had not survived the capture, so even though they could not live, they would be free of torture and would be watching over him now from Heaven, existing in the peace and harmony they most certainly deserved.

The first two years of being owned by Krul, Ferid and Crowley were the toughest and most soul-destroying of his life. His previous innocence was soon to be turned to dust. He had to become accustomed to more work than he had ever done in his life. Of course, he had cleaned before, but that was normal chores to be expected of children. He was often forced to undergo gruelling tasks for a rather frail child, working extensive hours which could only be described as cruel. He suffered harsh punishments when he did something wrong, despite it often not being his fault. Cooking was one of the tasks he did not understand why he had to be punished for. The most cooking he had done at the orphanage was bake cake and cookies with the other children. He had no experience at all with preparing fine dishes. He had to learn on his own, eventually lucky enough to be given a few books by Krul from their library to assist him.

At the very least, by age fourteen, he had become somewhat used to the tasks. He still struggled immensely, but at least he learnt everything in his routine and rarely made mistakes. Some days, he was even treated to a better place to sleep, better food to eat or, best of all, going to the outside world.

He didn't know how long he had been shut away indoors before he could finally feel the gentle breeze rustle through his hair, have the sun's rays warm his skin. He cherished every single moment he spent outdoors. It was also a time when he naturally wore better clothing. It was only to stop suspicion arising, but it still felt like a reward to him. He felt a lot prouder of himself whilst wearing the outfit of a butler, feeling like a more polished member of society despite this role still being much lower than the aristocrats he served.

"We shall be visiting the jeweller's and tailor's," Krul had said to him. "Wander around the market stalls until we get back."

He had been rather taken aback by the unbelievably kind order. It was the most freedom he had been given; usually, he had to stay right by their side. He suspected that it was because they didn't want to be asked questions about him, but he still felt a rush of excitement. Almost giddy, he thanked her, bowed, and watched the three walked away before he began to rush back to the stalls. He slowed, not wanting to cause any attention to himself, and peered around in astonishment.

He often passed through here with his Masters; they, of course, preferred to go to stores themselves to purchase only the finest goods, but sometimes, there was a hidden gem among these stalls by merchants not selling consumable goods or items of clothing. By being on his own, Mikaela was able to spend more time wandering around the stalls. He hovered by a particular stall selling gemstones and jewellery – obviously fake, but still beautiful in his eyes.

"Hello, sir," the old lady greeted him. He was rather surprised at being called 'sir', so much so that he almost didn't hear her following words. "These are handmade items created by myself."

"They're beautiful."

The lady smiled warmly, "Oh hush dear, you'll make me blush! Surely someone working for such rich members of society do not find fake jewels beautiful?"

He almost questioned how she knew who he worked for, before remembering the Tepes crest, the family belonging to Krul, was pinned on his jacket. "Fake or not, you clearly put a lot of time and care into these. If only I had money to spare, I would buy something from you, but I'm afraid I'm just passing time until my masters are finished with their duties."

"I appreciate your compliments deeply," she responded. The two talked for a minute longer, before Mikaela left, feeling warm inside from the interaction. He couldn't remember the last time he had such a friendly conversation. It overrode the pang of grief he felt over how the jewellery had reminded him of what the owner of the orphanage used to wear.

He was walking for a few more minutes before he came across another stall which caught his eye. This one was filled with small sculptures and ornaments, each crafted with delicate hands and an eye for intricate detail.

"Good morning," the merchant greeted.

"Good morning," Mikaela replied, bending down to inspect the few ornaments at the front of the table.

"Ah yes, those glass swords. They're small replicas of all of the swords the royal family and their knights have owned."

"May I have a closer look?"

"Well… You seem like you'd have a careful grip. All right, but don't drop it. These are not cheap to make."

Mikaela nodded in understanding. He picked up the one which grabbed his attention the most, bringing it closer to his face to inspect the detail of the handle. It was truly exquisite. He had never been one to understand the love for expensive objects, but he could appreciate the time, effort and dedication put into this work of art.

"Interested in purchasing?"

"O-Oh no, I-" Mikaela stuttered, suddenly embarrassed over himself.

"I understand. Well, there's no harm in looking."

Mikaela nodded, sighing in relief. He knew how much some merchants hated those who simply browsed through items, but this man, at least, seemed to understand his circumstances.

He was still taking is time inspecting the item when there were sudden shouts near him, mainly the voice of females.

"The prince-"

"Oh my goodness, he's passing through the market!"

"Move, I must see..."

One of the careless women barged straight into Mikaela. His shocked, fragile body stumbled from the sudden weight against him. He managed to barely catch himself, but not the item he had been holding; almost in slow motion, it flew out of his hand, smashing into many tiny shards on the concrete floor. There was silence for several heart-pounding moments, before the merchant jumped around his stall to grab Mikaela by the collar, bringing the teenage boy properly back to his feet.

"Do you realise how much time goes into these, you little shit?" the merchant hissed, the friendly demeanour left in the past. "I hope your masters have a good sum of money for that!"

"They- They-"

Of course they did, but would they really pay for their slave's mishandling?

"They better, kid, or you and I are going to have some serious problems."

Despite the arrival of the prince nearby, curiosity had made a lot of people linger, staring at the scene unfolding with wide eyes. Some seemed in favour of the merchant's reaction, others seemed amused, the rest seemed to pity him. All three were embarrassing and made his heart beat even faster.

"It wasn't my fault, a woman-"

"Putting the blame on someone else now, are you? Excuses are not what I'm after!"

"Please, I-"

They were interrupted by sudden screams of the women nearby, and then a question, asked in a clear, confident voice:

"What's going on here?"

Mikaela thought he would have genuinely fainted there and then, similar to the attitudes of others around him. Sitting upon a magnificent black stallion was an unmistakable figure; the prince.

He dismounted, walking over to the angry merchant, who had been doing his best to now control his obvious rage.

"G-Good afternoon, Prince Yuichiro."

"I thought I had already given warning to the market that such behaviour isn't suitable."

The last thing that Mikaela had expected from the figure was a casual voice, hardly the kind you would expect from a prince. However, it suited him. Yuichiro had messy black hair, bright green eyes, skin a little more tanned than Mikaela's. He could tell that they were the same age, but Yuichiro's height was taller – unsurprising after the years of malnutrition for Mikaela which caused slow, stunted growth. His outfit was what made him stood out – mostly black, with details of green on buckles and the underside of the cape drooped over his shoulders. Of course, credit for this individuality could also be given to the sword in a holster on his hip, the real version of the small ornament which Mikaela had broken minutes prior.

Yes, he was clearly a prince, but with an air that surprised Mikaela.

"I'm sorry, your highness, I lost my temper because of this boy destroying one of my items."

"Is that so?" Yuichiro turned to Mikaela. Not with a change of expression, as Mikaela was expecting – he was simply curious. "Not on purpose, I'm guessing?"

Mikaela swallowed, nerves trying to prevent him from speaking. "No, a woman rushing by knocked my arm," he managed to stutter out, surprised that he had managed to say anything at all.

"See? Not on purpose."

"I'm sorry, I hadn't realised-"

"I can understand your frustration. These are incredible, after all," said the prince, inspecting the stall in front of him. "How much was the ornament he broke? I will pay double on his behalf as an apology."

"You don't have to do that," Mikaela said quickly. "It wasn't your fault."

"It wasn't yours, either." He handed over a handful of coins as though it was nothing, barely even looking at the money he had lost. He then smiled, which seemed to somehow enlighten his eyes further. "What's your name, anyway?"

"Mikaela. I… I don't have a surname."

"Mikaela it is, then. I am Yuichiro Hyakuya. It's nice to meet you," the prince said, stretching out his hand. Hesitant, Mikaela took it in his own. It felt warm.

"You seem a little young to be a butler," Yuichiro said, somewhat slowly as though he was pondering over words which did not seem to be offensive. "Are you treated well?"

"I am working as a butler to help support my family." They were rehearsed, perfected words which he had learnt off by heart. He had no trouble lying to someone about this until now. "I can assure you that I am paid and fed enough."

Yuichiro's eyes seemed to land on Mikaela's prominent cheekbones, one area of skinniness which could not be hidden by clothing. "If there are any problems, there is help available to you."

A longing to tell the truth burnt in Mikaela's chest. Why could he have not just been honest, say to Yuichiro what was really occurring every single day of his life? Everything could be sorted right here and now…

But fear clutched at his chest. It almost stopped his ability to speak, even breathe. There was that overwhelming anxiety in the back of his mind that something terrible would happen if he spoke the truth.

Not to mention that he often saw his cursed life as a punishment for not being able to protect the younger children from dying on that fateful night.

"Thank you for your kindness, but I can assure you that everything is all right, Prince Yuichiro."

The prince didn't seem fully convinced, but he couldn't force words out of Mikaela. "Then I wish you all the best and admire your compassion for your family. Also, call me Yuu. That title is much too formal."

Mikaela thought his heart might have stopped in his chest. An informal name given to someone who is unbelievably lower in hierarchy? It made no sense, yet his following words stumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them.

"All right, call me Mika."

"Then it has been a pleasure to meet you, Mika."

Mika. This was the first time that he had heard this nickname in a pleasant tone in a long time. Ferid often used it as a joke, but from a voice of sincere kindness? That had not escaped the lips of anyone since his family at the orphanage.

"God, you had to take forever in there, Ferid-"

"Only the best choices for me!"

Mikaela felt utter disappointment over the voices of Krul and Ferid, watching them walk down with Crowley dawdling behind, his eyes inspecting what was going on around him.

"Oh, Prince Yuichiro!" Krul exclaimed when her eyes fell on him. "A pleasure to see you again."

"The pleasure's mine. Well, Mika, I best be-"

"Mika?" Ferid interrupted. "Since when did the two of you know each other?"

"We've just met," Yuichiro explained. "He works for you?"

"That's right."

This seemed to change something in Yuichiro – what it was, Mikaela didn't know. There was just a brief moment of hesitation before the prince turned to him, smiling.

"He's a fine person for you to have working for you. I hope you take pride in him greatly. Oh, and Krul? There is an auction for this sword I have here later tonight, to raise money for work needed on our city. I thought you may have been interested."

"Of course I am. I'll be there."

Yuichiro nodded, turning to Mikaela one last time. "I hope we meet again."

The words were spoken softer. They sounded utterly sincere, which seemed mad, but it still made Mikaela's heart skip a beat. He could only manage a nod, before the prince said his farewells and mounted his horse. Before Mikaela knew it, he had gone. He was now walking back down the street with his masters, but his ears weren't picking up what they were saying.

Because now, his mind had been taken over by the kindest soul evident behind perfect, green eyes. A sign of hope, of new beginnings, of a brighter future…

But four years later, that hope seemed to vanish, because at the word of a ball to decide on the marriage of the prince Mikaela had fell in love with at first sight, he knew that another meeting was impossible. The words were meaningless. They had burnt to ashes, seeping through his fingers to the floor.

He felt pathetic to let tears shed over what was already false hope. The positive emotions the heart created on its own, only to be destroyed, were far too cruel.

A/N: I apologise at any time if the characters seem out of character at all - it's been while since I've seen this, so putting characters I can't remember quite as well as others into a completely alternate universe may cause errors, and I don't have time to rewatch it to correct this.

However, I hope the story is still enjoyable! Thank you for reading!