(Guren's Office)

Guren was in his office looking over some battle reports when Shinya came in. "Guren, can I talk to you for a second."

"Sure, take a seat." Guren said without looking up from the reports.

"Mikaela left guard duty early today." Shinya said sitting down.

"What else is new. The brat always disobeys orders." Guren said.

"Well, some of the blood packets for the prisoners went missing. Mikaela was the only guard on duty when they went missing so..." Shinya said before Guren interrupted.

"So you think Mika stole blood?" Guren interrupted with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm just saying, would you please ask him about it?" Shinya requested his old friend.

"Sure thing." And with that Shinya left Guren alone to finish what he was doing.


(Mikaela's Apartment)

"What is it you want to tell me Mika?" Akane asked feeling his forehead. He was so pale she was worried that he might be sick.

"Akane, where are the other kids?" Mika asked as lightly pushed her hand off of his forehead.

"Still at school. They should be home in an hour or so. That doesn't answer my question though. What do you want to tell me?" She repeated.

Mika had some trouble getting ready to tell her. "I was on guard duty I saw one of the vampires. He had this thin face, slender build, and messy black hair." Mika told her.

"Mika, that sounds a lot like..." She knew the answer but couldn't bring herself to say the name.

"Akane, when he was captured he gave the guards the name Yuichiro Hyakuya." Mika said expecting her to say that it must have been a mistake. Instead he looked to her with a surprised expression on her face.

Akane could feel her heart skip a beat when she received the information. It took her a minute to process it. "Yuu is alive. Yuu is alive. Yuu is alive." She had to repeat it a couple of times in her mind for it to sink in. Once it finally did a smile broke out on her face and she pulled Mika into a tight hug.

"Let's go! We have see him!" She yelled excitedly.

Mika looked to her a bit sad. She was so happy that Yuu was alive she didn't even give a second thought to him being a vampire. It broke his heart that he would have to shatter that illusion. "Akane, that's not all." Mika said.

She turned to him with that smile still on her face. She probably thought it was more good news. "All those years with the vampires, Yuu doesn't..." Mika stumbled at the end.

"He doesn't what?" Akane asked with her smile faltering slightly.

Mika took a deep breath in and continued. "He doesn't remember us." Mika finally spat out.

That was another big shot to the heart that Akane needed a few minutes to process. When his words finally sunk in her eyes began to tear up. Then she laid her head on his chest and sobbed. This went on for a few minutes. By the time Guren showed up it was down to just having puffy red eyes.

"Mika." Guren called. "I need to talk to you."

Mika looked to Guren with annoyance in his eyes. "I think it goes without saying that this isn't a good time." Mika said back.

Then Akane got off of him and looked him in the eye. "It's fine. You should go."

"Are you sure?" Mika asked turning back to her.

"Yeah. I'll be right here when you get back so we can talk then." She said faking a smile.

Then Mika got up and went to talk with Guren. The minute he was gone, Akane went right back to letting her tears flow.


(Guren's Office)

"So what was your sister crying about?" Guren asked as he sat down.

"None of your business." Mika said back.

"Fare enough." Guren responded.

"So what do you want?" Mika asked. He really wanted to hurry so he could be there for Akane.

"Some blood went missing around the time you were on guard duty. You know what happened to them?" Guren asked.

"No." He answered quickly. He felt like an idiot. He should have known that the blood packets he gave to Yuu would eventually be reported as missing. He was just to concerned for Yuu at the time to care.

Then Guren smiled at him. "You wouldn't happen to be lying to me? Would you Mika?"

"What would I even do with blood?" Mika countered.

"Good point. You're good to leave." Mika rushed over to the door until Guren spoke again. "But seriously Mika, you have to work on your poker face. I can always tell when you're lying."

Mika was concerned by that comment but Guren hadn't threatened him or anything yet so he went to going back to his apartment.


(Mikaela's Apartment)

Akane was now washing some dishes when Mika came inside.

"Akane? Are you feeling any better?" Mika asked as he came in.

"Definitely not." Akane said still looking at the dishes.

"What is it?" Mika asked.

Akane put the dishes down to talk. "There was an accident at school today. Someone got hurt so they let out early and the kids all came home a few minutes ago."

"What happened?" Mika asked.

"They all asked why I was crying and I just broke down and told them." She said turning to him. "First there was 'hooray, big brother's alive' then 'what's the other news' and then 'why doesn't he remember us' and finally a lot of crying. They're all sleeping now."

"Akane, I'm so sorry you had to do that." Mika said pulling her into a hug.

"Mika I need to see him." Akane said.

"I already told you. He doesn't-" Mika started before he was interrupted.

"I don't care because I do remember him. It's been four years of missing him and crying over the memory of him dying and I need to see him." Akane said breaking off the hug.

"Okay. First thing tomorrow. I'll take you." Mika promised.

"Thank you." She responded before heading to bed.

Mika sat down and tried to get his thoughts together. Everything was just so messy. Guren was on his case for stealing the blood. If he kept visiting Yuu a lot of questions would pop up. And Yuu was in prison. But that thought that Yuu was still alive gave him hope. The same hope he had when they were in the vampire city. He knew he would find a way to get Yuu out of there, get his memories back, and make him human again. With that conviction in mind Mika went to sleep and would set everything in order in the morning.

So readers, please tell me if you think the Shinoa squad should be in the story. Thanks for reading. :)