#an update!!!!

Kureto flipped through the small, worn book. He’d read it more times than he cared to count, memorizing each eager, childish word. The boy had explained, in delicate detail, all of the things that had been done to him.

The wires that prodded and poked his skin, the men and women in suits that asked him far too many questions, the pain that shot through his body, searing his flesh until he dipped into unconsciousness. The boy had been thorough, remembering faces and names even when he wasn’t supposed to.

Kureto’s lips twitched into a smile as he skimmed through one particular page that included his father, a “scary ogre” that looked like he never smiled. The next page spoke of Mahiru, and how uneasy the boy felt in her presence even when she grinned and fed him candy. The boy had been clever, even then.

Kureto closed the book as a soft knock interrupted his thoughts.

“The preparations have been made, sir.” Aoi’s voice rang through the wooden door.

Kureto stood, stowing the book away inside the top drawer of his desk. As he closed the drawer his eyes fell on the blank ink neatly etched across the cover.

It read: Mikaela Hyakuya.

…

It had been weeks since Yuichirou had removed the chains binding his arms and legs, and yet Mika felt as trapped as ever. He drifted from room to room when Yuichirou left the mansion, exploring each unkept, poorly-lit room as entertainment. He stayed away from the room on the far eastern wing, the room that reeked with the human’s scent. So far, he’d discovered a vastly empty dining hall, various dusty, unimpressive bedrooms, and a small library with a wide collection of book. The latter had been where he spent most of his time. Most of books were centuries old, containing information that Mikaela was sure was long outdated, but they provided a decent distraction.

When his sensitive ears warned him of Yuichirou’s arrival, Mika would slink back to his own room, bringing a book, or two, along with him. The only times he saw the man was when he needed to feed, and even then Yuichirou kept his distance, offering light conversation as he handed Mika a blood packet and waited for him to drain it. Mika had searched through every available corner of Yuichirou’s estate, and he’d yet to find were the man hid his supply of blood. It made him curious, the question burning at the tip of his tongue only to be swallowed down as Yuichirou left without notice.

The animosity between them had lessened drastically, partially due to Mika being properly fed every four days or so, and also in large part to Mika’s growing doubt.

Yuichirou had assured him many times that they knew each other before his capture. He once spoke of a memory between the two, a memory that had occurred in Mika’s childhood. After Yuichirou had turned to look at him while he recounted the tale, he stopped immediately, snapping his mouth shut. He’d excused himself then, dashing for the door before Mika could say a word. It wasn’t until the door closed shut behind Yuichirou that Mika realized his own hands were trembling.

Mika tried to remember. He often sat in the darkness of his room, hands pressed tight against his head, urging his mind to remember anything. It was all for not. His only memories were of the day he was captured. It had been as if he’d woken up in a nightmare, one that never ended.

It was for that reason that doubt began to fester within him. Yuichirou spoke of things he had no recollection of, yet there was a possibility that he was speaking the truth. Mika could no longer pretend everything the human said was a lie. He had a right to be distrustful, but so far Yuichirou had shown no sign of deceit. He’d treated Mika well, far better than what those soldiers had assured him his life would be at the hands of his new Master.

“Mika.” Yuichirou’s voice called out, catching Mika in the middle of the unruly garden. He stood between two hedges, barefoot, the hem of his black trousers covered in mud and grass. The sky above them was an orangey-red, the sun nearly making it over the horizon. Yuichirou was home early today.

Mika stood idly, unsure what to say or do. His head pounded with all of the thoughts he’d just sifted through, leaving him speechless.

“The—the light to your room is usually on, so when I saw the entire house was dark…I thought you’d…” Yuichirou was rambling, and Mika finally found his tongue.

“You thought I’d left?” A hint of cynicism slipped into his words, eyes narrowing slightly. Mika’s fingers dragged alongside the black collar around his neck, Yuichirou followed his every move.

“No,” Yuichirou sighed, eyes flickering off to the side. “Of course not.”

The crickets began their evening song as Mika focused his attention on the man before him. He desperately wanted to hate him. Yuichirou had not given him a reason to, but Mikaela wanted to cling to the rage he’d first felt when he’d been tied down by chains and presented to the man as his property. Spoils of war, the humans had declared, sneering down at him. Yuichirou had kept a blank expression throughout the entire process, eyes never quite reaching Mika’s.

“Sorry for disturbing you.” Yuichirou said after a moment, turning his back on Mikaela.

“You are avoiding me.” The words left before he could stop them. Yuichirou froze, his back rigid as a plank. Mika wasn’t sure why he’d asked, or why he cared. He should have been glad that the man was finding every excuse to turn away from, to even avoid seeing him until it was absolutely necessary, yet it irked him.

“Not more so than you.” Yuichirou replied, tone colder than Mika had ever heard come from him. “Besides, I thought you’d prefer it if I kept away from you.” The bite to his words had lessened, but they still rattled Mika.

Yuichirou took off after that, leaving Mikaela more conflicted and confused than ever.

…

Idiot.

Yuu frowned, determined to ignore Asuramaru.

Leave it to you to ruin your progress with Mikaela.

“Keep his name out of your mouth.” Yuu snarled, practically seeing the twisted smirk of satisfaction on Asuramaru’s face.

Fine. Resist if you wish to, but I’ll be here when you decide to change your mind.

Yuu breathed in, slow and deep, as he felt Asuramaru retreat back into the darkness. Once his mind was his own, he went back inside his home, feeling drained and exhausted. He made his way back to the garden, trying to find the words to apologize for his earlier behavior. It wasn’t Mika’s fault, none of it was Mika’s fault.

Before he reached the door that led to his backyard, he heard another door close, a sharp noise in the quiet house. Yuu ran his hands through his hair, frustrated at having taken ten steps back in regards to Mika. They had been doing better, and now he’d gone and screwed it all up.

“I’m sorry.” Yuu said into the empty living room, knowing that Mika’s ears would pick out every word. He was pathetic. He didn’t even have the courage to go find Mika and apologize to his face.

“I’m sorry, Mika.” His words are louder the second time.

…

“You don’t look too good.” Yoichi said as he placed another stack of files on Yuu’s desk. Yuu grunted he was fine, wasting no time in cracking into another file. He quickly read over the information, grimacing when it had nothing to do with the Collar.

“Are you sure these are all the right ones?” Yuu snapped, his frown deepening when the next file proved just as useless.

“These are all of the ones I could find. Every single experiment done after the war was recorded and stored in the central library, as far as I know.” Yoichi explained. For some reason his patient tone grated on Yuu’s nerves.

“You’re upset, Yuu. Without a clear head you won’t find anything you’re looking for.” Yoichi said then, causing Yuu to stop his rushed flipping through folders.

“Sorry.” Yuu muttered, the apology falling empty as he slumped into his seat.

“Another fight with Mikaela-kun?” Yoichi inquired, peeking out from behind a stack of papers.

Yuu almost wished it was as simple as that.

“Not…exactly.” Yuu debated on whether or not he should tell Yoichi the truth. Hiding things hadn’t exactly worked in his favor before, so experience dictated he shouldn’t hesitate to share his troubles.

“Asuramaru has been acting up lately,” Yuu began, feeling a little silly now that he heard himself out loud. “I don’t know, I think Mika’s presence has affected him.”

Yoichi was eyeing him carefully when Yuu looked up to meet him, the papers in his hand forgotten.

“In what ways?” Yoichi asked after a moment, a peculiar expression on his face. Before Yuu had a chance to answer his name was called out.

“Your presence has been requested by General Hiiragi, sir.” The cadet informed him once he reached the side of Yuu’s desk, his salute a little shaky.

“Took him long enough.” Yuu muttered as he got up from his desk. He figured Kureto had finally decided to confront him about stealing Mika right from under his nose. Kureto had nearly half of the remaining vampire slaves locked away in his estate, so why did he need one more?

No hiding, Yuu told himself. Just tell him who Mika is. He’ll understand…maybe. He’s not the total prick you thought he was, so you’re chances are still pretty good.

He had an entire speech prepared by the time he reached Kureto’s office.

“Ah, Yuichirou. I’m surprised I didn’t have to send the dogs after you this time.” Kureto said as soon as Yuu entered his office, stern faced as ever.

“I didn’t want you thinking that I wasn’t serious about this.” Yuu said, body rigid as he saw Kureto quirk an eyebrow.

“I see.” Kureto said slowly. “Well, your eagerness for your new mission is appreciated. Aoi will cover the details, just know that you depart tomorrow morning for Hokkaido.” With that, Kureto waved him off, returning to his own work. Yuu stood a little dumbstruck, only moving to leave the office when Aoi opened the door and called for him.

It seemed that Kureto had put the entire ‘Mika’ incident behind him.

Good, Yuu smiled.

It was one less thing to worry about now.

…

Mika was once again in the garden when Yuu arrived. He hesitated by the glass door, watching as Mika sat down by a long-dead rosebush, under the shade of a large oak tree. Taking a deep breath, Yuu opened the door and walked toward Mika.

“You like it out here.” Yuu said once he reached Mika’s side, shoving his hands in his pockets as he gave his weed infested, overgrown backyard a once over. He really should invest some time in cleaning up the place.

“I would have thought, being what you are, that you would have preferred being inside.” Yuu continued carefully, eyeing Mika.

There was a soft snort, and Yuu nearly jumped when he realized Mika’s lips had quirked up ever so slightly.

“What am I, exactly?” Mika finally spoke, craning his neck so he could meet Yuu’s eyes.

“You say I was not always like this, yet I have no memory of that…I have no memory of anything aside from the day I was captured and the months I spent surrounded by the sadistic brutes you call comrades.” It looked as if Mika was going to lash out, but slowly his body relaxed, forehead smoothing over as his glare faltered.

“Am I who you say I am? The childhood friend you so long to see, or am I the monster that’s slaughtered and fed off countless of innocent humans?” Mika’s eyes were wide, and with a shock Yuu recognized the emotion reflecting deep within them. Fear.

Yuu knelt down next to Mika, no longer able to hold himself up on his shaky legs.

“You are Mika.” Yuu said, holding Mika’s gaze. “You risked your life to save mine, you protected your family, our family. You…you didn’t deserve any of this.” Yuu restrained himself when Mika looked away, every muscle of his body screamed for him to reach out and hold Mika. He wanted to pull Mika to him, caress his hair and hold him tight, while whispering promises of never letting him go again, of never letting him get hurt again.

He clenched his jaw as he stood, needing to put distance between them before he once again ruined what little progress he’d made today.

“Tomorrow I’m leaving for Hokkaido,” Mika’s eyes met his as Yuu cracked a smile. “It’ll be for a few days, and I want you to come with me.”

Mika was at his feet in an instant, confusion furrowing his brows.

“I—I thought I wasn’t allowed to leave?”

“You aren’t allowed to leave my home on your own, no. However, as long as you’re under my care, you can go wherever I go.” Yuu’s smile grew wider.

Mika was silent for a moment.

“Won’t it cause a riot for me to be out in public?”

“Don’t worry, Mika. Where we’re going there aren’t that many people around, beside you’ll be staying in one of the safe houses I have over there while I’m out.” Yuu paused, “When I’m done with what I have to do, I want to show you the ocean.”

When Mika still looked skeptical, Yuu added, “If you’d rather stay here that’s alright, too. I’ll leave you enough blood packets to get you buy while I’m gone. I just don’t want you to feel like a prisoner here, or that I’m forcing you to come with me. You can forget I said anything, but I’ll probably have to ask Yoichi to come check on you. Just to be safe and—”

“I’ll go.” Mika’s soft words cut off the rest of his idiotic rambling.

“You’re sure?”