18| HEARTBOUND

Shuu Sakamaki was known amongst his brothers for being lazy or simply not doing shit. In honest truth, he never cared about anything. His eternal life was full of promise to be as boring as the day before, with nothing else but the ache in his gums and the thirst he could never quench reminding him of all he would ever be.

A monster.

The truth of being the eldest sibling among his brothers was nothing shy of being lonely. Growing up his mother Beatrix had made sure to busy his days with studying on political matters while his brothers played in the gardens to ensure he was ready to take his father's place on his throne when the time was right. Shuu had no interest in taking his father's throne at all. a throne his father had by spilling blood.

Reiji had always wanted to please their mother, so he took part of the studies in an attempt to gain more attention. Shuu never could blame Reiji for hating him for the sole reason of their mother focusing her attention on him. Shuu knew he'd have been jealous if the roles were reversed. Yet some part of Shuu resented Reiji for killing their mother, even if that moment marked Reiji's start of adulthood.

As he grew, Shuu found he lost interest in everything. He no longer enjoyed what he once did as a child, he hurt people and killed for the hell of it when his father brought sacrificial brides. His father wouldn't die any time soon, and Shuu wouldn't need to do anything. He could push all responsibility to Reiji knowing his brother would do well in the role he never personality wanted.

Life to Shuu had been dull and colorless, his only sole joy being the ability to drown the world out with his headphones and music. Then his father had summoned him and his brothers, telling them a wild story of a land where magic was real and the rules were different. That there was a deal he needed their help with in collecting, which lead to the reveal of Lucy Heartfilia.

Seeing the photo of the blonde haired girl, the first thing Shuu had took notice too was how similar she looked to his mother. The blonde hair was similar in the style wore up, with two strands lose around the face to frame the cheeks, yet different shades of blonde. The dress Lucy wore showed she was of status that was equaled to his mother. The uncanny part was how they wore the same guarded expression. He knew then that this girl was different from the rest.

Shuu remembered seeing Reiji make the dots, knowing deep down he missed their mother as well. It was just in the nature to be the way they were, cruel and unloving. That changed when they formally met Lucy.

The first time Shuu Sakamaki laid his blue eyes on Lucy Heartfilia that fateful day in the vase gardens of her old estate, Shuu seen the haunted look in her brown eyes. She put up a very good front on being strong, that she was okay but Shuu knew the look of someone who was broken. He saw it every day in the mirror and in his own brothers. Yet seeing it on someone so openly, who looked so defiant at their father, Shuu felt some respect.

As time went on, Shuu knew things had changed for not only him, but his brothers and surprisingly Lucy. She had indeed broke, but in a way she needed. She grew as a person and in return they grew as people with humanity. Lucy had taught them redemption was a thing obtainable even for them, and it was never too late to do it.

Did he know she was different? The answer Shuu had determined was yes, but he refused to accept it and accept her. Him and his brothers had put her through hell, but then her nightmares started and her front began to break. The nights that would be filled with a stillness or Yui's cries were now screams of Lucy calling for Natsu and Aquarius, the endless mutterings of don't go and I'm sorry.

He thought she was weak, but then Lucy had started to take Yui's spot. She had taken the bitting and abuse from them with a stride no woman before ever had and it was then Shuu knew how broken she was. It had been as if they were making her feel something, and over time Shuu figured he was right.

There was no definite answer to when he saw Lucy different, but there was no denying in how similar they were. She was a heiress to a multi-milling company and he was a heir to his father's throne. She hated her back ground, the education and isolation. For Shuu he found that for the first time in his long life was he could relate. Never had he been able to relate to anyone. The only difference really was that he was a vampire and she was a human mage.

After he knew they were similar was when the concern started to slowly leak into his heart, and night after night he'd wake her from those nightmares that Reiji said to let her deal with. To simply stay away from her in those moments, because even Reiji understood Lucy had done things they could imagine. The first time he held her when she cried, Shuu wasn't sure what to do but he'd hold her until she fell asleep holding onto him until he drifted asleep asleep as well, using the excuse of being lazy when she woke.

Somewhere he had found a solace for his peace of mind when he laid next to her, and eventually he found he hated when his brothers got to close. Instinctively, Shuu marked her more often and left his scent on her but now he knew it wasn't right. He hadn't done things right and he would spend eternity to make it up to her.

Love didn't come into his mind until the days Lucy wouldn't leave bed, where depression got the best of her and she stayed in her room. The food Reiji would make and the others would take up for her being left untouched raised alarms, because Shuu knew the outcome of it. He'd witnessed it with Subaru's mother, how he lost her to her own mind and knew he was losing Lucy.

The mere thought of losing Lucy left Shuu at a loss, because without her then who was he? She was his faith, his light, his humanity. Without her, he was nothing.

His mind was pulled out of it's reverie hearing the change of Lucy's heartbeat from where she laid curled into his side. His blue eyes looked down on her with a soft expression of worry laced in his eyes, watching as her eyebrows scrunched together and muttering softly to the point his hearing couldn't even pick up what she was saying.

"Lucy." Shuu whispered softly, brushing the messy strands of blonde hair from her face and cupping her cheek. "Hey, Angel, wake up."

She didn't open her eyes, instead Lucy curled closer as if she was protecting herself and muttered under her breath still. Shuu frowned, but he knew sometimes it took time to shake her awake. Shifting carefully to not put his weight on the sleeping blonde, Shuu shook her gently. He then slowly ran his hand through her hair, taking her facial expression in.

Like clock work, Lucy's brown eyes snapped open but this time they were not panicked, nor full of confused tears. They were full of worry and a bit of uncertainty.

"Shuu." Was her breathless whispered before she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him so she could bury her face into the crook of his neck.

When Lucy had gone up to speak to Master Makarov, it had been only her, Erza, Yui , Shuu and the rest of the brothers. Erza had made the other members of Team Natsu and guild members stay down in the guild because Makarov's office could only hold so many people.

"Master?" Lucy's voice called softly, ignoring the snickers that no doubtingly left the mouths of Ayato and Laito, and maybe Kou's possibly. She winced when she heard something drop and crash rather loud in the office before her and glanced at Erza, who only smiled warmly.

"He's missed you as well." Erza tells her softly. "He worried when you went missing, like we all did but you're like his child. Like we all are."

Lucy didn't even had a chance to respond when the door was thrown open to reveal a crying Makarov, who looked at Lucy like a child who found something lost. She supposed he had, because in every sense he was the only authority figure of a parent she had left. Feeling a tear slide down her face, Lucy wiped her eyes not even realizing she was crying at the sight of her guild master.

"Lucy." Makarov smiled at her, beamed really. It was then he noticed the other men behind Lucy, glanced at Erza's serious expression and understood something was going on. Moving aside, Makarov let the group into his office, closed the door and looked over everyone slowly. There was something about the men that was off, but the young woman seemed normal. "I can sense there's something going on. What happened while you were away, child?"

Lucy knew not to tip toe around the question, that he would be the first one to sense something off. In the end it would be better to rip the bandaid off the subject right away and let Master Makarov judge her then and there.

"I want you to meet Yui, the Sakamaki brothers and Mukami brothers." Lucy says, offering a small but shy smile. "The taller one is my cousin, Yuma, and he had a similar situation like Lisanna."

Makarov's eyes widened at that, looking over everyone once again. It made sense that they felt different because they weren't from this world exactly. "They are from another world?"

"Yes." Lucy simply answered, took a deep breath and started on the subject she was nervous about. "There's something else that involves my father, the Sakamaki's and their father. When I was a child, my father made a deal with their's that in return for money for the business that I would spend a year with the brothers before choosing the one I married."

"That's the reason you ran away from home Lucy." Makarov says, understanding why Lucy had left her father. Yet she stood with the men she was supposed to pick from to marry? He didn't understand.

"I know, but there's more you should know. In their world there's no magic, like Edolas, but other things like vampires. Everyone but Yui, Erza, yourself and me are not vampires in this room." Lucy fidgeted with her fingers, still nervous although Shuu was discreetly rubbing circles on her arm.

Makarov was surprised to say the least, but he nearly jumped when Mavis spoke from beside him. Her eyes were calculating and serious, which was rare but scarily dangerous when it happened. Yet it surprised the three guild members when Lucy continued to speak.

"Yes they have killed, and yes I've endured shit with them none of you will ever understand. There's too much to tell besides key points, but I know I want to request one thing. That request to be that they can formally join the guild." Lucy's voice never wavered, but her conviction was evident in her brown eyes that now burned with a determination Makarov had not seen in a while.

"What about this contract?" Mavis questioned, her eyes trained on the men. "What does this mean for you?"

Lucy merely smiled, "I'll fulfill my promise, because it's for these men and Yui coming into my life that I didn't give up when it all became difficult. It means that I will be home with my family."

Shuu was the one who stepped up, knowing that this man should know everything. "The reality is that we want Lucy here, due to problems with our family that could put her in harms way. Us being in the guild is not a main priority here, we can always be in town for her."

Makarov had noticed how close this man stood to Lucy, almost as close as Natsu when he was next to the celestial mage. There was an air around Lucy that was different, matured in a way that wasn't the same as his other children, but yet he understood the factors. He understood Lucy willingly broke a key, broke a contract and cut a connection she could never have back. She did that for them with a lose-lose situation. She grieved in a different way, but also ran into a situation she never could have foreseen.

Lucy Heartfilia had changed, and seeing her before him defending people who've hurt her, who've hurt other and willingly gave them a chance spoke levels to Makarov. He knew Lucy's heart, and he trusted her judgement. If Lucy trusted these men, there was no need for him to worry. Especially if Erza was not arguing, but of course even Makarov knew this would have hardships.

"This secret of their's is not to leave this room, nor spoken by anyone else who knows of it." Makarov says sternly. "Not everyone will be willing to accept them, and if the Council finds out we don't know what they could do. For now they can be in the guild under three strict rules. Under no circumstance are you to kill another member or person. There will be no biting, and you will follow the laws of the kingdom in order to fit in and stay hidden."

Reiji nodded, understanding the risk the elderly man was taking. "We have nothing to offer this guild, simply we must find jobs here in town. I will work at a clinic, so for now my brothers and I can sustain ourselves off blood bags."

Lucy raised an eyebrow, "I'm honestly surprised this went well, but can you live off blood bags?"

Laito sighed, "We can live off blood bags, but we usually wouldn't want to because fresh tastes better. Yet I think I can speak for all of us when I say this Lucy, there's no place we'd rather be. Here we can be free from our father, from what and who we were at home. Here we can be better, not the monsters we thought we were supposed to be."

Makarov always knew Lucy had a special gift of bringing the good out in people, and this was another case. For now he was glad he had his child home, gained new ones with potential to be good people and overall for now everything was alright. Whatever may come their way due to these men, whatever issue Lucy and them were worried about was for another day. Right now was a happy return, and later he would look through the laws and see what he could do for the vampires who were no doubtingly Lucy's family.

"Hey, shh.. Lucy it's okay." Shuu muttered, all his walls completely down as he wrapped his arms back around Lucy and held her. He could feel her warm breath on his neck, the shutters that came in between as she slowly calmed herself. "What did you remember?"

Shuu knew these nightmares weren't like the ones from before. They weren't the nights she relived Aquarius or the nights she dreamed of Natsu leaving her behind. They weren't the same cries of heartbreak because now they were the cries of pain and whimpers of would know what they sounded like, due to his malicious ways. Lucy was remembering bits and pieces of that night she was attacked and he nearly lost her.

"Kino." Lucy whispered, all the voices in her head flashing at once.

"He won't hurt you."

"You're his favorite."

"Leaves you alone, makes sure you're alive."

"Try not to sound so jealous, sweetheart. Jealousy is such an ugly shade of green."

Red eyes that were so cold and devoid of emotion, grey hair.

"Kino. Kino Sakamaki."

"I want to destroy my father and brothers."

"You are going to help me end the vampire race, then maybe I'll let you live or kill you."

"Because you're the Eve."

"Kino?" Shuu frowned, pushing Lucy away slowly and looking her in her eyes while his burned with concern. "Kino who?"

Lucy took a shaky breath, "Kino Sakamaki."

Shuu's eyes widened at the name, knowing that nothing good would come from that man's bastard son. Though looking down at Lucy, he could see in her eyes she was trying to grasp something that wasn't completely there.

"Don't push yourself, Angel." Shuu murmured, cupping her cheek and offering a smile reserved only for her. "It will come back soon enough to you and then we can tell Reiji."

Though he planned to tell him as soon as he could so they could figure out what to do with their unclaimed brother before he hurt Lucy again. It was only a matter of time before the bastard tried something again with no doubt. Yet if Shuu was only lucky enough he'd get to kill the damned idiot the first chance he got.

Kou was a bit surprised that they were accepted so easily into the guild, but then again not everyone knew the truth. The uncertainty about how people would react to them is what kept in line, because the reality was that the mages of this world could easily strike them down as vampires. Which wasn't a bad thing, since now they were living lives that seemed a lot more happier than the ones from before.

As a human, Kou could recall never being mean. It was being turned that caused something in him to change. It was the power of having more strength and more control over others that caused him to go dark, to lose that sense of good. Becoming a vampire was difficult, because if you weren't careful enough then you lost your humanity that made you who you were. For Kou, he lost himself and became someone to be feared.

They all did, but the Sakamaki's were born that way in their defense. Ruki had once said that the Sakamaki's had no parental love, that the mothers were sick and twisted in the head- at least two out of there were. The triplet's mother was psycho, while Subaru's mother wasn't all there in the head, and Shuu's and Reiji's mother was the normalist one.

After leaving Master Makarov's office, Lucy had led them down to the barmaid named Mirajane. The white haired woman had been more than happy to give them their guild marks, to accept them with open arms and it was then Kou understood. He understood that they were acceptable to people, but they had to try as equally to them. In that moment everything was going great until Natsu asked the one question of where Lucy was staying at.

"Will you be living in your apartment again Luce?" Natsu had asked the question burning on his tongue. Would Lucy live with these men still, or would she take residence in the apartment that held the memories they shared together?

"Someone is living in Lucy's old apartment."Erza reminded the fire dragon slayer, recalling the man who was staying there from when she had went to visit Lucy all those months ago.

Lucy, on the other hand, honestly couldn't answer the question because for once she hadn't thought that far ahead. She was excited and nervous all at once to be back in Magnolia, the thought never crossed her mind because she was used to living in the big house again with so many people she had grown fond of.

Memories had wanted to surface again, memories she wanted to push down forever but knew at the same time that it was time she made peace with what happened. Aquarius was not dead, and sure that , yes she was gone from Lucy's life, but she was still alive. She was alive and Lucy should live on too, not burden herself with guilt that she knows Aquarius would beat her for if she could. She would move forward, step by step.

"Maybe Yuma can move in with me?" Lucy says, looking over at her cousin then the other males. "We can't live together here in Magnolia and not be over crowded. Plus after a year of living with each other I'm sure that the space would be needed."

"Are you suggesting we break up? You wound me." Laito mocked, holding a hand over his heart.

Lucy couldn't help but roll her eyes at the pureblood vampire, "We could use the space. Mavis knows I need space from you and Ayato."

"Hey!" Ayato called.

Reiji had only nodded his head at the blonde, seeing her point of view. Maybe it was time they lived a little away from one another, which would be something new. To have the trust that all of them could behave, because for all their sakes they had to. There was something about this place, this world, that brought warmth and hope into their lives. Things their father and mothers had sucked dry from them long ago.

"I think we can manage a room mate system." Reiji nodded, seeing the point Lucy was coming from.

"I'll stay with Lucy and Yuma." Shuu says, looking over at the blonde and her cousin who merely nodded and shrugged.

"I've made my peace that we'll be family but keep your hands to yourself pure blood." Yuma warned.

Lucy blushed, "Yuma!"

Laito snickered, "Lewd ideas you have there Usagi-chan?"

Lucy glared at Laito, but it was Erza who caught on and raised an eyebrow at the blonde vampire, "I will kill you if you touch Lucy's honor or virtue."

Yuma grinned, "See I knew I liked her."

"Yuma!" Lucy scolded now, not paying attention to how Shuu rose an eyebrow and took a step back away from Erza's threatening presence.

"The triplets will live with each other." Reiji says, already knowing that the three wouldn't want to stay with others. Usually he wouldn't trust the three alone, but he knew they knew what was at sake.

"I'll stay with them." Yui offered, for once not scared of the brothers.

"Are you sure?" Gray asked the young woman, earning a smile of reassurance.

"I'm sure." Yui answered, yelping when Ayato wrapped his arms around her and pulled her away from Gray possessively.

"Then I think we should go look for a place to stay." Ruki cut in, and they did. It only took Erza and Gray to pull Natsu away from Lucy to let her go and search for a new apartment, yet none of them knew just how much Natsu lacked personal space.

It took them a few hours since then to find a place to rent, and it took a few days for them to get set up. In that time it took for them to get settled in, they stayed in the guild. Of course Lucy and Yui were whisked away by the doings of both Natsu and Levy. Natsu wanted time with Lucy, who understood that sometimes Natsu needed reassurance when change was coming and Levy was determined to be friends with Yui.

Yet it still amazed Kou how forgiving Lucy was towards Natsu, with him being a cause of her grief and pain. She was pure, he knew that. Lucy was a light in the dark with a pure heart that forgave others too easily. She was a epitome of goodness and purity, so Kou really wondered what was in store for her in the future. The main question he had was if she'd turn.

"If Lucy marries one of them Yuma, you know she'd have to turn." Ruki had said to the tallest Mukami, who leaned against the wall. "Can she deal with that? Can you accept that?"

Yuma sighed, "We all know that turning from a human to a vampire can destroy a person. It's easy to lose yourself in the bloodlust. The mindset of a vampire is dark and a test of will."

"She's too pure." Kou said softly, head leaning on the couch. "We all know that she'd have a soft heart. If she were to hurt someone, she'd never forgive herself."

"No." Yuma says, "That's not what I worry about. I worry about her getting so overwhelmed by newborn emotions, everything being heightened that she'd turn off feeling. I worry she'd lose herself."

It was the one ability half bloods had that pure bloods didn't, the ability to turn their humanity off to make being a vampire easier. Meaning it was dangerous and made a person unpredictable when they did this. The question hasn't been brought up, but it would be and Kou didn't want to be around when Fairy tail got a whiff of the situation that was still an elephant in the room.

First the wedding, if they ever started to plan.

Luckily thought they did find an apartment complex on the east side of Magnolia, about fifteen minutes away from the guild that was fairly new. They had open housing and thus five apartments were taken. The first apartment was a two bedroom that housed Lucy, Yuma and Shuu that had a nice living area. Then there were two three bedroom apartments that housed Yui and the triplets, and then there was Kou, Azusa and Ruki. Subaru and Reiji decided to rent their own apartments down.

It was thanks to Mira and Master Makarov that they found jobs, since missions were too risky and vampires could easily be wiped with floor here. Plus is was better for them to stay low and off the radar while they got their foot through the door with rent money and spending money.

Mirajane had helped Kou, Ayato and Laito into the modeling business- and thanks to Jason that took off fast. The three had become instant models that were stealing hearts throughout Fiore, which was the exact opposite of what both Reiji and Ruki had wanted. Somehow both Reiji and Ruki gotten jobs in clinics, knowing skills in the medical areas to help. Thus making blood bags easily obtainable, and that was partially because Makarov knew the clinics could used brilliant minds like theirs.

Kanato and Azusa were a lost cause, Lucy and the others could only hope they didn't fight. Yet Yui spent her time with the two or helping Mira at the bar and in the kitchen. Subaru had taken up taking the risks of missions with Gray, who had a weird bromance going on. Kou had took noticed that the two were similar in keeping to themselves, and that Gary didn't piss Subaru off.

Yuma and Shuu were the only ones who didn't really do much exact help the others when needed, that being their brothers or Lucy. Lucy was the one who had started to go on missions with Team Natsu again and brought jewels back for rent. Yuma at least made sure too get along with Shuu and keep the apartment clean, switching off on nights to male dinner.

Seeing each other somewhat domesticated was slightly weird, but a change that wasn't bad. With that in mind, Kou watched Lucy from the bar of the guild as she laughed with Yui and Levy. He took in this new normal with open arms, because it was for Lucy they got along. It was Lucy who was making their lives better.

"Oi, Luce! Let's go on a job for your rent!" Natsu called, waving a flyer at Lucy who grinned and nodded.

"We'll leave in the morning." Erza added, a small smile on her face for looking forward to the mission with their blonde.

Yet Kou knew that this was just the beginning, and there was still things to figure out. Like how Natsu would approach his obvious feelings for Lucy. How Shuu and Lucy would go about with their unofficial relationship, the two obviously trying to figure it out. Their issues with Karl Heinz and whoever nearly put Lucy in her coffin.

Yes the normal was nice, but it was temporary until they resolved anything. For the sake of her smile and humanity, for her light and purity as she went over the mission details and the time she should meet them- Kou hoped they wouldn't fail her.

They couldn't afford to lose Lucy, and that was something the vampires and Fairy Tail would agree with.

This was for her.

"I'll go home and pack." Lucy's voice says, getting up. "I'll see you all in the morning!"

For her and everything she stood for being with them. Without the ray of sunshine she brought, they were nothing.

Yay for fillers, because I did it again. Sorry for the less dramatic and less action packed chapter. I didn't mean for it to be a filler but I got carried away in the minds of Shuu and Kou that it became to long of a chapter, so I decided to put the mission in the next chapter.

So if you all want to see certain character interactions while Team Natsu (with Lucy) are on a mission, let me know so I can put in what I can! I'm still thinking up scene ideas for guild interaction with the brothers.

Anyways, please let me know your thoughts on this chapter!

On a side note, I think the song I listened to writing for Shuu, fits Lucy and Shuu's relationship well. Its a cover by Leeandlie (AmaLee) called "Tabi no Tochuu".

Thank you for the support like always!

Please leave a review :)