A new story - from the characters of Seraph of the End, Yuuichiro and Mikaela find themselves living with their 6 younger siblings in the servants' quarters of the Ichinose Estate employed by Lady Shinoa. In a turbulent world where the threat of a massive war with the Vampire Queendom, Lady Shinoa agrees to have Yuuichiro to be her personal guard with Mikaela contracted as her personal maid in order to shelter the 6 young children. Lady Shinoa knows of the affection Mika holds for Yu, and is vying to steal Yu's heart. Will Yu and Mika become closer than orphaned brothers in arms? Will the pressure of war tear apart the Hyakuya family? Or will their love jeopardize the safety/security of their family?

DISCLAIMER - I don't own the rights to Seraph of the End, it's storyline, or characters. There is implied boyxboy pairing and a transgender identity role. Some profane language is used!

Enjoy and comment too!

xoxo Dauphine

The first step into the courtyard behind the servant's wing is damp and cold. My clogs do not cover my heels. Stepping out into the dewy morning grass, chills run up my legs. The breeze flaps the linen sheets and white gowns lazily as I string them on the clothesline between two budding elm trees. A soft aroma of lavender fills the air. Robins are singing to one another in the forest as the sun just starts to drop below the tree-line.

"Okasa!" Taichi calls running up to me swinging a bucket that is sloshing water; Fumie and Ako are trailing not far behind him, "Look at what we found!"

Inside the small pail is a beautiful, tiny pair of fish. One is a glittering silvery-marine blue and the other is a pale green with flecks of gold. Both of them swim alongside each other circling their new prison.

"Wow, they're gorgeous Taichi," I comment softly, "Where did you find them?"

"I found them!" Ako cries.

"So what! I caught them!" Taichi bickers back.

"I want to name them Yumie and Mito!" Fumie chimes.

"Sounds like you have discovered Yumie and Mito together," I smile at them, "Now you need to find a proper home for them to grow big and take good care of them, ok?"

"We can keep them?!" Ako exclaims.

"As long as you take good care of them. Let's have some tea."

"Thank you so much Okasa!" all three of them cheer. The three of them take off inside to the kitchen. I pick up the now empty linen basket and humming back to the house.

I remove my clogs and step into small black canvas shoes leaving the basket next to the wash bain. My stomach quietly grumbles.

Akane walks in stowing away a broom, mop, pail and a feather duster in a small cubby next to the white stone wash bain.

"I'm all done Mika-chan," she sighs wistfully.

"Thank you so much Akane-kun," I smile looking at the 13-year-old girl in the gray smock and linen servant's dress.

"Why don't you take the rest of the afternoon off?"

Akane looks up wide-eyed and asks excitably, "Can I really? I was hoping to go see if Yoichi needed help in the green house with the new seedlings."

She is really pretty for such plain clothes: long, wavy chocolate brown hair and eyes like drops of honey. She is beaming at me in anticipation.

"Certainly, I think he likes it when you help him," I smile stepping up next to her to tuck her hair behind her left ear, "Ask him to join us for tea in 15 minutes, ok?"

"I will!" she giggles and runs out the back door.

Filling the kettle with water from the pump, I gently start up the heat from the gas range with a light of match. Somehow my fingers are bone white and cold. I rub them above the kettle once the range is a-lit.

Arranging the fine china on a hand painted, cherry wood platter, I pull out the petit-fours and small éclairs from my early morning labors. The swinging door from the Grand Hall swishes open swiftly as Yuuichiro stomps in with his black boots, cape swirling and katana at hilt. His brooch is the silver crest of the Ichinose Estate containing a prancing black stallion and three purple chalices. He immediately finds the bench at the long wooden table beneath the large window looking out to the courtyard and sits abruptly. Throwing off his hat, Yu sighs exasperatedly.

"Welcome home, Yu-chan!" I greet him warmly from the stove pouring hot water into the dainty white teapot with dancing violas for Young Lady Shinoa. "How was your day?"

"ephm," Yu grunts clenching his fists and slowly releasing his fingers.

"No comment?" I muse, "Lady Shinoa's school is not that far; you weren't gone for too long."

"hmpf."

"Well at least you're responding," I continue filling the large, chipped teapot for the children and Yu, "And since you're in such a hurry to see Her Ladyship, why don't you serve her afternoon tea?"

Yu furrows his brow and slams his fist on the table standing up so fast that he knocks the bench back. His eyebrow is twitching slightly from the way he twists his face. It isn't very cute at all. I giggle all the same pouring one mug of strong black tea.

I walk over to Yu and place the hot mug coupled with a biscuit on a plate down on the table in front of his clenched fist. He was still giving me the death glare.

Still chuckling, I reach over his clenched-fist and rub his belly, "I'm just teasing! Sit and have some tea. I am going to call the kids in and then I'm taking Her Ladyship tea in 5 minutes."

"Damn, you're just so good," Yu-chan mumbles deflating his rigidity.

"It's just too easy to get you upset, Yu-chan! I find it amusing."

"Well, I'm glad that I'm the butt end of your shenanigans," Yu vents grumpily.

I ignore him. Ringing the kitchen bell for the children, all six of them are at the table with Yu within a matter of seconds. Yoichi greets Yu and I with a polite hello as he too takes a seat with the family. I pour out everyone's mug of tea and ask Akane to help the little ones pick out a biscuit and spread jam.

"Yu-nii! Look at what we found today! Their names are Yumi and Mito," Ako shouts from next to Yu on the bench and pulls on his cape. Ako is pointing at a large fishbowl with two beautiful fish swimming side-by-side in.

"Wow, you found those guys? They're pretty," Yu states watching the fish.

"Yah! And I caught them!" chirps Taichi.

"Who named them?" Yu asks.

"Me!" Fumie cheers.

"Nice! Welcome, Yumie and Mito, to the Hyakuya Family," Yu greets the fish speaking directly at the bowl.

The children are all giggling

"Okasa! Look at what we are keeping Yumi and Mito in!" Taichi declares. He holds up a big glass fish bowl.

"Excellent, sweet pea. What a comfortable home! Make sure you and your siblings take good care of Yumi and Mito, ok?"

"I want to help too!" Chihiro adds.

"Of course, hunny," I rush, "Now, does everyone have their tea? Right, I will be back shortly. I just need to serve her Ladyship tea. When I'm back, Yu please prepare the bath. It's the children's bath day."

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh! No! Okasa why do you hate us?"

"Is it because we kidnapped the fish?"

"Do we not do well with our school work?"

"Did Taichi say a bad word?"

"Hey!"

All of the children were moaning except for Akane.

"Nii-san please save us!" Ako cries.

"It's for your own good, brats!" Yu jests. All the kids wail.

"Oy! Finish up your biscuits and get ready for a bath! Not one more sob from the lot of you or else I'll give you baths instead of Mika!" Yu barks at them.

All the kids button up and do as they are told. When Yu bathes them, he uses cold water.

I walk out carrying the tray of fine china and dainty desserts.

What is taking him so long? I look at my vanity mirror and remove the hairtye from my long purple hair. Picking up my fine brush, I start to rapidly brush out the tangles in my hair. It's such a stress relieving process – oh Yu…

A soft, familiar knock alerts me of Mikaela's arrival.

"Come innnnnnnnn," I blurt exasperatedly, "What took so long? It's past 10 in the morning!"

"My apologies, mi'Lady," Mikaela replies bowing his head, "I was distracted with the children once again. Yu is going to help me prepare a bath for them this morning."

"Well, I understand there are a lot of them, but you do remember you have a job to work to live here, correct?" I retort.

"I apologize, my lady," Mikaela says diplomatically, "I will prioritize my duties in the Ichinose household firstly moving forward. I shan't be tardy again."

"It's an estate, and I am your employer," I quip irritably, "I don't appreciate your apathetic tone towards my requests, and Yuuichiro from now on is to be my guard from 7AM until 7PM. Tell him to come here once you see him."

Mikaela sets down the tea tray on a small cocktail table in the center of the room which displays my seasonal floral bouquet. He proceeds to pour my cup of Darjeeling tea with one lump of sugar. When he steps over to present the cup to me at my vanity desk with tea biscuit, he replies very monotonously, "Very well, as you wish, my lady."

"You don't need to be a bitch about it Mika, I know you like him," I prod with a smile creeping on my lips, "but remember, it's not permissible to be courting fellow employees of the Ichinose Estate; I terminate all workplace fraternizers."

"Is the tea to your liking, my lady?"

I just look at him. "Did you not hear me, Mikaela?"

His ultramarine eyes remained motionlessly fixed on mine.

"Leave my sight if that's how you wish to react."

"As you see fit, my lady," Mikaela replies swiftly leaving the teacup with biscuit and saucer on my vanity table, turning to the exit of my chambers and glides down the corridor.

"This will be very interesting and fun," I speak aloud as I pickup my tea cup to waft in the tantalizing aroma of the black tea, "May the better bitch win, Mika."