Kimizuki snuck around the entrance to the tunnel. According to Guren, this was the place that he had found Yuu when he first got out. He gestured to Guren and Shinoa, signaling that the way was clear and that there was nothing obvious to worry about. The group of three snuck through the damp passageway, as quietly as they could, even though every step squished in the damp soil underneath them.
The air became more and more humid the further they went through, and breathing became more difficult. Soon all three were panting and sweating their way through the tunnel, stealth forgotten, practically running through the tunnel. The only way that they could tell they were going anywhere was the fact that every time they lifted their feet out of the ground, they didn't fall back into the same hole that was left there. The pitch black of the tunnel enveloped them, choking off any light that tried to make its way to them. Colors swam in front of their eyes, forming shapes and stars of green and yellow.
They could feel the roots that sprung up from the ground attempting to trip them and succeeding several times. Eventually, the soft soil became more and more compact, giving way to tile floors that made the heels of their boots echo in the darkness and resound back to them.
After what seemed like hours in the dark, they spotted a pinpoint of light that pierced through the shifting colors and shapes to give their eyes a bit of light, no matter how little. They dragged their hands against the wall, feeling the smooth unblemished mineral beneath their fingertips. Despite the new developments in their journey, they slowed their pace to diminish the sound that their heels made on the floor and slow their breathing ever so slightly.
Kimizuki was the first, followed by Shinoa and then Guren brought up the rear, this was the best formation for them to be in, because this way their weakest link was in the middle, with the longest reach as well. With Kimizuki in the front, it ensured that he would have a little bit of warning if an enemy were to come at him from the front. Guren brought up the rear because he was the strongest by far and would have the best reaction time if something tried to surprise them.
The pink-haired man peeked around the corner of the tunnel. He stood speechless for a while, the incredible room taking his entire focus. The ceiling rose far above what any normal room would. Everything was polished beyond just plain cleanliness, it almost seemed to sparkle, with the white casting an almost blue hue on everything. The entire room felt like a cathedral or church, with high arches that towered over his head. The room was dropped seven feet or so, by a set of stairs that spanned the entire length of the room that exited to the tunnel. In between some of the arches were dark doorways that Kimizuki could almost feel eyes watching him from.
He was brought back to reality when he spotted a white hooded figure that was making its way across the room. He ducked his head back against the wall, cursing at himself for not noticing the figure sooner because he was so enthralled by the room and how amazing it was. He could even hear the emclick clack/em of their boots against the polished tile.
He held his breath and prayed that the vampire had not heard or seen him, if this vampire ran… No, he didn't want to think about that. Everything would be over if that happened. They would never rescue Yoichi. They would never rescue Mitsuba. They would never rescue Shinya. And he would never be able to kill Yuu for the trouble he put everyone through, letting them all get captured by the vampires.
Much to his relief, the vampire exited the room without so much as a backward glance, he only hoped that it meant that they had escaped notice. After waiting several minutes, he gestured for the others to follow him, he had a choice to either try and sneak across the entire room and risk being seen, or he could try and bolt across the entire room and risk being heard.
He chose the latter option. It was the longest fifteen seconds of his life, he could hear every heartbeat emthump/em in his head. Every footstep seemed to take an eternity to land. A cold sweat slowly began to drip down his back. He could hear the others footsteps echoing behind him, they seemed as loud as thunder in the empty room.
Finally, he reached the other side of the room and ducked behind an arch, Guren did the same, and he was followed by Shinoa, who apparently had been too slow for Guren. They all panted and leaned against the wall, gulping breaths of sweet, sweet air. After a minute, they all got their erratic breathing somewhat in control, not gasping desperately at least.
Following the map he had memorized prior to this mission, he made his way down the hallway that they had ducked into and into a darker room, not quite as large, but still impressive. At the center of this alcove was a staircase that led downward into darkness.
Naturally, they decided it was the best place to go. They stepped forward, at the tip of the stairs looking down. Glancing at each other, they all stepped down together. They were going to save their team. They delved deeper into the vampire city. I'm going to save you, Yoichi. This I swear on my life. I will save you even if it means my life.
Mika watched in slow motion as Yuu plunged the knife into his stomach. He saw every drop of blood that came out of the wound, he saw the grimace of pain on his face. There was desperation in his eyes as he told his friend to get everyone out. There had only been one time that he had ever seen that look on Yuu's face. And that was four years ago when he had told Yuu to run and leave him behind.
That look should never have been on his face at all. Every time he wore that face, it was because of something that vampires had done. Something that vampires had done. He was a vampire. Something that he had done. He had told Yuu to run and leave him there. He had tortured Yuu and his friends. It was his fault that Yuu was doing this. Everything was his fault.
All of a sudden, he was free of Ferid's grip. He was still incredibly dizzy, and his footing wasn't quite right. He slipped on the slick, bloody floor several times, making his way to Yuu. He needed to make it to Yuu. Krul was standing behind him. Whatever she was going to do, it wasn't going to be good. Her figure seemed to flicker in and out of existence. He knew that she wasn't really there. In any case, he needed to get to Yuu. He needed to help Yuu.
His way was blocked by a very familiar face. There was Akane. Right in front of him. The children of the orphanage were all there, they made a protective ring around Yuu.
Sorry, Mika the children spoke in unison, We can't let you go any further. We need to protect him from vampires. We need to protect him from you. Haven't you put him through enough already? Don't you think it would be so much better if you just went and died? You're a monster. And monsters can only bring destruction. Just look at us. The children in front of him all became pale, their necks dripping blood like they had that night. Their dead eyes stared at him without compassion. Come to think of it, it was your idea to try and escape that day wasn't it? It's all your fault. It is all your fault, and soon, Yuu-nii-chan will join us. And it's all your fault, Mika."
Tears sprung from his eyes, of course, it was all his fault. He was a vampire, a monster. And because of him, Yuu was dying.
And yet, Yuu was smiling at him. Despite everything that he had ever done, Yuu was smiling at him through the orphans. Mika watched as Yuu's eyes slowly rolled into the back of his head, his smile slackened and he fell off to the side, his spirit leaving him.
Mika stumbled through the orphans, barely feeling the bodies as he blundered through them. He needed to reach Yuu before he fell. He needed to make it. He needed to make it. He needed to make it.
He made it, but just barely. He cradled Yuu's head against his chest, it was so limp, like a newborn's, with barely enough strength to keep it straight. His skin was pale and coated with a layer of sweat, but Mika couldn't care less. All he could care about was the knife embedded in Yuu's stomach, leaking blood. He could feel Yuu try to swallow, and he looked down at the green eyes that he had loved for eight whole years. They were slightly crinkled around the edges, a sign of a genuine smile.
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no." Mika whispered, "please, Yuu-chan. Please, don't leave me. I beg of you. Don't go where I can't follow. Please. You need to look at me, okay?" Yuu was just looking up at him, there was joy in his eyes. "No, Yuu-chan, I just got you back, okay? So we need to stay with each other a little longer, You can't leave me here alone. I can't let you go over there alone. Please, Yuu-chan."
Yuu coughed weakly, a small string of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry about me, Mika. I-I've got Asura- Asura-" a slight look of confusion spread across his face as he struggled for a name. "Yeah, I've got him. He'll help me. He's always helped me in the past, this-this is nothing."
His eyes slowly began to drift shut, and Mika tried to hold them. "No, Yuu-chan, you need to stay awake. Hey, you know what? Let's play a game. Like we would always do with the kids. We'll play a game."
"O-okay, M-Mika, what... game will we p-play?"
"Let's play a brain game. Okay? Something to keep us up. Can you think of anything?"
"Y-yeah, let's- let's play the twenty-questions game. I-it needs to- to be something in- in this room… Okay, Mika? You- start. Find… something, anything in… this room."
Mika frantically looked around the room. What could he use? What would confuse him enough to keep him awake, and confuse him so that he wouldn't give up? He couldn't do anything in this room. Everything was blood covered and painful. He looked around until he finally found something. "Okay, I'm ready."
"Is it red?"
"Only in a few places."
"Is it bigger than the beds at the orphanage?"
"Yes."
"Is it smaller than the cathedral we would read books in?"
"Yes."
"Can… you read it?"
"Easily."
"Are you sure it's in this room?"
"Positive, I can look at it from here."
"Did that count as a question?"
"Yes, and that one too."
"How... many questions am I at?"
"Seven, with that one."
"Can you eat it?"
"If you're determined and you really, really want to," Mika responded, snickering.
"Is it… bigger than me?"
"No, it's about your size."
"What… color is it?"
"Questions are only supposed to be 'yes' or 'no', but I'll tell you that it's many different colors."
"Is it soft?
"Yeah. It's really soft."
"Can I see it?"
"Yeah. I guess you can."
"Is it hot?"
"Yeah, extremely hot."
"How many am I at now, Mika?"
"Fourteen now. Hey, come on, you gotta stay awake so that you can find out what it is, Yuu-chan"
"Would I like it?"
"Yeah, I think you would."
"Do you like it?"
"Without a doubt."
"Mika. Mika, I'm cold. I'm never cold. I would always give my blanket to the kids. Why am I cold now?"
"I'm sure it's nothing, Yuu-chan. Just a draft. I feel it too." And Mika did feel cold. He felt icy tendrils grip his heart as he pulled Yuu closer, trying to transfer his body heat. Trying to make Yuu warmer, anything for Yuu.
"Did that last one count, Mika?"
"No, but that one did. You're at seventeen."
"Can I touch it?"
"Yeah, you can always touch it."
"I can touch it right now?"
"Yeah, you are, Yuu-chan."
"Can you give me a clue?"
"I love it. I love it with all my heart."
"Mika. I don't know what it is. Mika. That was twenty, right? What was it?"
"It's you, Yuu-chan. I love you with all my heart. I do. I really really do. So, please, please, please. Don't leave me just yet." He could feel the tears spring from his eyes and stream off of his face and on to the one below his. He tried to stop them but found that they only came more and more the more he tried to stop him.
"Mika. Mika, guess what? I love you too." Yuu was smiling, and the tears dripping from Mika's face were mingling with the tears on Yuu's face and falling to the floor together. For an instant, Yuu's eyes held pure joy. They sparkled with it and despite the circumstances, he couldn't help but smile down at the eyes that he had loved for eight years.
Suddenly, they rapidly became dull, they stared into one place, and the one place wasn't Mika. It wasn't any one place in particular. The smile on Yuu's face wavered and faded, only leaving a ghost of what it once was. His breathing became labored, but only for one last shudder as he pulled all the air he could into his lungs. What little tension was in his body melted away and Mika could feel the cool skin beneath his fingers. The frail body beneath him let out its final breath in a room full of blood and horrible memories, a room not unlike his childhood home.
Mika screamed. Agony filling his voice as it tore through his throat. Every single feeling that he had felt in the past four years spilled out. Everything that he had ever felt for the past four years spilled out. He never showed his emotions, emotions were weak. He was weak. He pulled the cooling body closer and closer to him, trying to get it to warm up. Trying to get the smiling boy to wake up and tell him it was all a joke. Something, anything. He would do anything to bring him back.
As he clung to the body of the man he loved, he felt three figures approach him from behind. One was tall, one was short, and the other was cautious. The cautious man approached him and tentatively reached to console him. On reflex and without thinking, Mika flung his arm to the side, shoving the man as far away from him as he could. "Don't touch him! Don't you dare touch him with your filthy hands! Don't you dare touch Yuu-chan. Please. Please, just let it all be a dream." He screamed at the top of his lungs."
He hunched his body over Yuu's lifeless form, and begged from the bottom of his heart, "Please. I beg of you, Yuu-chan. Please wake up. I'm so, so, sorry. Just please, please come back to me." He bent his head over the other's and carefully placed his lips on the other's. "Please, Yuu-chan." He moved his lips to Yuu's forehead and whispered his heart to him.
The taller man came and sat down in front of them. He didn't make a move to touch Yuu, but he was still too close. Everyone in this room was too close. "Get. Away. From. Him." MIka hissed.
He felt a surge of power rush through him, like a beat of a drum. It thudded in his chest. He could feel it coursing through his body, and it was like a wave, a wave with so much force it carried him along in it's current, and washed him out to sea. He could feel something inside of him break loose and the vision in one eye disappeared, engulfed in darkness. He felt another surge and as he raised his head, everything went black.
Ferid made his way out of the room. Everything was going the way he had hoped. Human experimentation, huh? He thought to himself, Well, two can play at that game. The third step should take effect any moment now.