Song playlist: I...can't think of a song. Recommendations are welcome!

Chapter 16: Special

Halloween

/haləʊˈiːn/

1. the night of 31 October, the eve of All Saints' Day, often celebrated by children dressing up in frightening masks and costumes. Halloween is thought to be associated with the Celtic festival Samhain, when ghosts and spirits were believed to be abroad.

It was sitting on his mirror table.

A white box, unassuming if it weren't for gaudy red ribbon tied in an extravagant bow on the top. It hadn't been there when Mika went to bed last night and yet here it was now when he had awoken. Krul had been firm when saying Mika's private quarters were exactly that- private- and Mika had gleaned by now that Krul was many things, but a liar wasn't one of them.

So who exactly had snuck into his room when he was asleep (and dangerously vulnerable) only to leave this…gift?

Mika was many things, and incurably curious was still one of them.

He let his bare feet sink into the thick carpet as he walked over from the bed like a mouse approaching at a slab of unattended cheese. His too pale fingers skimmed over the surface of the box, held it, shook it. Something seemed to thud inside.

It didn't seem to be dangerous. And if it was, Mika didn't doubt for a second he couldn't handle it.

With a firm tug at one ribbon end, the silk fabric unravelled and the box fell apart from all four sides like a flower petals falling loose of its bud. The first thing Mika saw was the gold embellished note, written in looping elegant handwriting in dark violet ink.

My darling Mika,

I hear you have joined our very own army- what a delightful development! You do know I am one of their top generals? It will be easy for me to pull some strings and for us to spend some fun time together, just like before. Why don't you consider it, my cute little vampire?

For now here's a little gift for my favourite pet. If you want to come trick or treating, come find me and I can give you some delicious sweets I promise you'll enjoy.

Happy Halloween,

Ferid Bathroy.

P.S. You look absolutely adorable when you're asleep, Mika

By the time he had finished reading it, Mika's elongated teeth were flashing in a snarl. He crumpled the note in his hand and once he caught sight of what lay beneath in the box, he wanted to set it on fire.

Actually, that was exactly what he was going to do.

With long quick strides, Mika was at the other end of his bedroom in a flash. First to go into the fireplace was the note, a dark satisfaction welling up in Mika as it set ablaze and crumbled to ashes in sheer seconds. Next was the box, which Mika threw in, contents and all, and waited for it to burn.

Everything happened in the span of a few seconds.

As soon as the cat ear headband touched the lapping flames, it began to hiss menacingly and the fire leaped up to a towering height. Mika hurriedly shielded his face against the suddenly flaming hot heat and stepped back a few steps. Then as quick as it had started, the almost cackling fire whooshed out.

Mika uncovered his eyes. The fire was dead, a blackened mess of charred logs with red-hot embers still lining the wood bark. Everything was quiet- too quiet.

Without knowing why, Mika pawed his knuckles soothingly against his hair and then froze deadly still.

"Is that someone's kid?"

"How come he's running laps like a trainee?"

Yuu gritted his teeth against the running commentary as he jogged around the outskirts of the building parameter. It wasn't the first time solders milling around had gossiped about him in plain sight, most of them not even bothering to pretend to whisper, and he was quickly realising it wouldn't be the last time either. It was as if they didn't have anything better to do, like killing off bloodsuckers and protecting humanity.

Guren had only laughed when he had complained and that had shut him up pretty quick. He wouldn't be treated like a kid dammit!

"Isn't it kind of cute though, seeing a little kid playing around? Maybe he's trying to copy his dad in the army or something."

He couldn't punch them in the face, Yuu repeated to himself in a mantra. The last he had done that Guren had threatened to spank him which had led to Shinya walking in the middle of a highly awkward argument.

So he ducked his head and tried to focus on the concrete slapping against his trainers, hard and jolting. But with each step he could swear that the sound of voices were only increasing, mixed in with…laughter?

Why were people laughing at him?

Screw Guren and his orders.

With a huff Yuu skidded around, ready to give these lazy fuckers a piece of his mind when he was greeted with a distinct meow.

There was a cat sitting on its haunches, its fur as black as midnight and its tail swaying on the floor like a brush. It blinked at Yuu. Yuu blinked back.

"What are you doing here?" he muttered, before realising he was actually talking to a cat and shook his head. "Whatever, go shoo."

With a spur of his heels, Yuu was running forwards again with the cold air chafing past his skin and his heart thrumming rhythmically in his chest. He would never admit it to Guren but at this point…it felt good. Pushing himself like this physically made him feel like he was actually doing something useful.

But as the wind picked up against his moving body, so did the laughter again. Yuu looked over his shoulder and suddenly everything clicked into place.

The black cat was running behind him with its tiny paws trotting along the ground.

"You!" Yuu growled, the cold not the only reason for the crimson in his cheeks. "Stop it! Leave me alone!"

He pushed himself faster, ignoring the straining of his muscles like an elastic band being stretched. As he picked up speed, Yuu spared another glance over his shoulder.

The cat was meeting his pace effortlessly, its body rippling like flowing water as it bound forward in fluid leaps. Its bright eyes met Yuu's again and he swore under his breath before running even faster.

"I'm done," Yuu groaned as he kicked open Guren's office door and collapsed onto the sofa.

"Don't kick open my door," Guren replied absent mindedly, not looking up from his papers with his boots propped on his desk. "Are you lying to me? You usually take double the amount of time."

"Fuck off! I ran all fifteen laps, you bastard."

"Maybe I need to start adding more then," Guren said thoughtfully and then glanced at Yuu as he let out a noise of long suffering and torture. He paused. "What the hell is that thing doing here?"

"It won't leave me alone!" Yuu groaned even louder before letting his head fall back against the sofa. The cat on his shoulder let a yowl of displeasure and tumbled in a ball of fur into his lap. Yuu half-heartedly tried to push it off but it sunk its claws into his trousers and refused to let go.

Guren began to snicker.

"Oh no." Yuu tried to jump up but fell back as the weight on his body didn't budge at all. He settled for his fiercest scowl. "Don't you start too-"

But it was too late. Guren began to laugh, loud and shameless, and actually started banging his desk with his fist. Yuu crossed his arms with a glower and hissed, "Stop laughing!"

"Oh man, ahaha, this is too precious, I've got to take a photo," Guren managed to squeeze between his laughs.

"Don't you dare!" Yuu yelled. As if it sensed his raging emotions, the cat touched one of its small paws against Yuu's cheek and a rough tongue like sandpaper licked his face.

Click!

Wide eyed, Yuu flung his gaze back at Guren who had the biggest shit eating grin and a camera posed in his hands.

"You fucker!" With a wild cry, Yuu finally managed to break free of his cat's hold and flung himself at Guren. "Delete that right now, you absolute monster-"

"No way!" Guren snickered, dangling the camera out of Yuu's reach. "This is going in our family album photos, cat boy."

"Don't call me that! I'm gonna kill you, you bastard-"

Ten minutes later, there was a knock at the door before it pushed open. "Guren, I'm coming in-"

Shinya halted as a glowering Yuu pushed past him. His teary eyes widened a little as he glanced up at Shinya with highly flushed cheeks before he ducked his head again. A tiny black cat padded after him, darting up to Yuu's legs and leaping onto his shoulder with one powerful jump.

Titling his head, Shinya turned back to the door and raised an eyebrow at the overturned chairs and the mess of papers on the floor. Guren was still chortling slightly as he took a grey camera out of his pocket.

"Isn't that the camera Goshi's been turning his quarters upside down looking for?" Shinya asked, resting his chin on Guren's shoulder from behind. He looked at the photos Guren was flicking through and smiled. "Spending quality time with your small son, are you?"

Guren shrugged Shinya's head off. "What belongs to my soldiers, belongs to me."

"Of course it does," Shinya laughed. "Well be careful not to tease Yuu too much or he'll end up hating you, hm? But he's going to end up hating you eventually, isn't that right?"

"That pretty face of yours really does hide a sharp tongue," Guren said instead and pocketed the camera into his jacket. "Fine, I'll go see him later. Happy?"

"Oh, you know I'm always happy," Shinya smiled and turned one of the chairs upright. "But I'm actually here to deliver some messages from Kureto since he's oh so busy, starting with your 'disgraceful and appalling conduct in the last meeting."

Shinya patted Guren's shoulder lightly and this time it was Guren's turn to groan.

"Stupid Guren," Yuu grumbled under his breath. "Stupid, stupid, stupid. I've gotta steal that camera back from his office the next time he has one of those long meetings…"

Laying on his bed, Yuu rubbed at his eyes and wondered if his sight was going funny. He could have sworn he had seen something weird earlier, but he must have just been tired. Right?

The cat on his chest lifted its head and let out a deep, rumbling purr.

So you've realised.

Yuu jumped in surprise and bolted up right. "Who's there?!"

His jaw dropped as the cat began to float up in the air and glow a golden light. Its jade green eyes began to shine unnaturally brighter and its fur morphed from midnight black to a gold that put the sun to shame.

It unfurled its tail and dipped its head at Yuu. In a echoing genderless voice it spoke. Greetings, O Beholder Yuichirou. It is an honour to meet Your Majesty and Grace.

The golden light lit up Yuu's entire room and felt like melting honey mixed with cinnamon spice and metal. It felt overwhelmingly powerful. Yuu straightened his back and bluntly asked, "What are you? What are you doing in my room?"

Just as firm and bold as your counterpart, I see. I am merely a passing spirit, given passage to this realm in the power of All Hallows Day and drawn to your presence. I wished to gift you, My Lord.

"Gift me? With what?"

Tell me, what did you see today that was 'unsual'?

Yuu fell silent before saying hesitantly, "Okay I know this sounds really weird, but when I went into Guren's office I thought…there was something behind him, like something faint in the corner of my eye. And then I saw it with Shinya too."

What did you see?

"Guren had a black panther sleeping next to his desk, and Shinya had a white tiger following him."

Now look in the mirror.

Yuu frowned and turned to the rectangular mirror hanging next to his cupboard. He almost fell down at the reflection of his own self staring back at him with a young lion prowling next to his feet. It rubbed against his legs and puffed its half grown mane proudly.

Today you have seen the spirit animals that dwells in humans' hearts, and your own. It represents their will, their personality and their life force. Use this knowledge as you wish, My Lord.

With a low purr, the cat bowed low to Yuu and began to fade away in its golden light.

The path you lead is a twisted one. Be wary of your kind, and be victorious. Our devotion is to you, O Beholder.

And as the golden light ebbed away Yuu was lulled into a compelling sleep. The door to his room creaked open and Guren stepped through. He stood over Yuu's sleeping figure, a dark shadow poised over a vulnerable undefended boy, before reaching forward and ruffling Yuu's hair.

Yuu's face scrunched up in unconscious annoyance and Guren smiled a little. He emptied his pockets of the candy sweets he had bought, placing them in a colourful pile on Yuu's bedside table with a messily scrawled note before leaving.

Happy Halloween, kid.

-Guren

"Mika- what- whaaat?!" Yuu stuttered.

Mika's white cheeks took on a rare pale pink blush. On his head were two large and very alive cat ears, the exact same shade as his blonde hair. As soon as Yuu had appeared they had perked up with a twitch and he couldn't get them to lie flat ever since.

He covered his face with one hand and lamented, "I hate Halloween."

Author's notes: THIS WAS WRITTEN IN HALF A DAY AND IT'S A DAY LATE so sorry if it's rushed quality but I really wanted to write a special chapter for Halloween! It's a bit crackish but it's a bonus chapter and I think we all need some fluff at this point.

Also I've decided to change the rating of this fic from M to T because although I think it's a little mature especially with certain future chapters, I've thought about it for a while and decided it's nothing older teens can't handle. Feedback/opinions on this are welcome.