[Disclaimer] I don't own Seraph of the End~

[The Beginning of the End: I'm Sorry]

"But Yuu… that was the first time, that you've called us your family…"

He had done it. Swift and silent, just like that. His hands were silently shaking, his heart was pounding faster than the speed of light, and his nerves jingled uncontrollably, but he had done it. After endless preparations, careful planning, and gathering every ounce of courage he possessed, he had finally accomplished what he set out to achieve. Now, there was only one thing left to do…

Calm down, the young, human boy told himself. His pale blue eyes nervously followed the rocky path that led into the darkening, quiet and empty town square. If all goes according to plan…

There was a sudden movement, like someone running, that made him jerk his head to the side. The moonlight shone on the pavement, and the young human quietly breathed a sigh of relief. There was no being, human or vampire, in sight. The town square stayed murky and depressing as ever. Perhaps the wind was a bit too strong tonight…

No. He should not think like that. The light-haired boy bit his lip. This was a city full of blood-thirsty vampires. Humans to them were considered livestock, and the sight of one walking alone in the middle of the night would surely be an excellent excuse to retrieve blood, dead or alive. It was forbidden for a vampire to directly attack a human, but could anyone truly believe and obey the law, heart-for-heart?

Aware that his life may very well be at risk, he picked up his pace, blood flowing into his pale cheeks as he turned into a street.

I won't have to go through this anymore. None of us will, he thought, taking a deep breath to ease the nervousness and excitement that overrode his body. We'll escape from here…

He took another deep breath. They could do it. They could escape tonight. Why couldn't they? He had stolen two beneficial items tonight; they could sneak out without anyone knowing, and at last, they would all escape from this cursed city. He smiled at the very thought. Freedom, instead of slavery. Warm and savoury foods, instead of garbage. Happiness, instead of misery.

A familiar small townhouse popped into view as he walked, a light from a streetlamp flickering almost suspiciously as he drew nearer.

He went up the steps towards the front door and waited. No sound came from within, verifying that all the inhabitants must be asleep.

Or maybe all except for one. The young boy pondered for a moment before speaking to himself.

"I wonder if Yuu's still awake? Maybe I should tell him about the plan tomorrow."

Feeling a hungry growl echoing from the depths of his stomach, Mikaela Hyakuya quietly turned the doorknob and walked inside.

There was a delicious smell of curry wafting around on the other side of the hallway as he entered.

Mikaela smiled. "Looks like everyone ate a lot tonight... Akane's cooking smells like it's gotten better, too."

He made his way toward the empty, candle-lit kitchen, and clambered onto the staircase that rested on the left side. As he almost reached the top of the second floor, he caught sight of a silhouette laying down and smiled again.

"Hey, Yuu. I'm back."

A moment passed before the silhouette of a young boy opened his mouth to whisper his reply.

"Great to hear." There was the sound of a blanket being draped around, and a pair of emerald-green eyes flashed through the darkness for a brief moment before vanishing.

The blond-haired human rubbed the back of his neck, feeling rather amused. It was typical of Yuu to act this way; despite the things Yuu had said to him this morning, Mikaela knew wholeheartedly that his friend really cared about him. The fact that Yuu stayed up to wait for him was pure proof.

"Aren't you going to say, 'welcome back'?" he asked playfully, climbing all the way to the top and coming to sit in a crossed-leg position on the floor beside his hot-headed friend, who took the opportunity to turn on his side, his face hidden in the shadows.

Yuu made an odd noise, causing Mikaela to sigh in amusement.

"By the way, I ate your portion of the curry rice."

"You didn't!" Mikaela cried in a hushed whisper. He noticed that Yuu looked rather stiff, as he was not sprawled out in a relaxed way, but in a firm, independent position, his face concealed by shadows. A worried expression swam across Mikaela's face.

"I didn't," the dark-haired boy replied, his voice strangely muffled. "It was really good, you know. The kids were so happy."

"I'm glad!"

"So?"

Mikaela was taken off guard by the sudden sharpness that seemed to occupy the atmosphere. His nerves started to go out of whack again as Yuu continued on.

"What did you have to do for that curry?" Yuu's voice was low, but there was a hint of anger lying beneath those words.

The blond-haired Hyakuya fiddled with his hands, debating whether he should tell. He did not like it; this was a sensitive topic, and Yuu knew it. Was Yuu angry with him at the moment? Worried? Anxious? He couldn't tell, not from the way how Yuu was half-covered in the shadows… it strangely made Yuu feel so far away from him.

"Damn it!" Yuu's sudden curse made him slightly jump."Just stop it, already! Next time, I'll sell my own blood!" he said crossly, keeping his voice low enough to not arouse the other Hyakuyas but enough to let Mikaela detect the irritation in it.

"Huh? You don't have to do that," Mikaela replied slowly. "You…" he trailed off, staring at the back of Yuu's head. "You must become strong and kill all the vampires, remember? Until then, I will do my best—"

"Don't make me laugh!" The blankets were thrown aside almost violently and Yuu actually turned around to face him. Mikaela stared, his nervous blue eyes resting on Yuu's fiery ones. He could definitely see the anger behind those eyes.

"You can't take it all out on yourself!" said Yuu. He stared down at the floor. "I know that. I know… that no matter how hard I try, I won't be able to defeat a vampire. I'm not stupid, I know that much."

So those were his true inner feelings… Even Yuu felt that a mere human such as himself couldn't possibly kill a vampire. Mikaela rubbed his neck again. What was this feeling? Foreboding? He glanced up to take in his friend, his beloved family member. Yuu Hyakuya…

Should not think that way…

"Yuu." A finger was lifted to Mikaela's lips. "Don't say that," he said, seeing the confused look on his friend's face. "The children"—he quickly looked around the room, seeing the orphanage kids sleeping peacefully, their chests rising and gently falling—"all have faith in you," he finished. "Vampires can be defeated. We can do it. You repeated those words over and over, you know? And that gave me st–strength…"

He blinked, and as if on cue, tears started to flow, rolling its way onto the cold floor.

"H-hey, Mika!" Yuu's extremely worried face was suddenly inches from his. "What did they do to you?"

"Just kiii~dding!" said Mikaela, enjoying the dumbfounded look on his friend's face and secretly thanking himself for his amazing acting skills. What he had to do for that curry… Mikaela slightly smiled. Yuu didn't need to know that.

He leaned forward, rather like a child eagerly waiting to tell a secret.

"You really thought I was crying, didn't you? I was just kidding!"

"I'm seriously going to kill you one day." Yuu looked most displeased, scowling as Mikaela started rummaging around in his jacket. "Honestly though, are you alright?"

"Not exactly, but…" There was a moment's hesitation.

It was now or never. Mikaela thought about it; he could trust Yuu, he definitely could.

"But, I'm not the type of guy who'd let vampires drink his blood for free… Voilà!" Two items appeared out of the air; a weapon and an old-looking piece of parchment. "I got this from Ferid's mansion with a bunch of other stuff," he said, seeing Yuu's flabbergasted expression. "And this"—he held up the parchment and opened it—"is a map! And not just any map! Look here."

Very detailed, hand-drawn pathways could be seen on the map, one of them leading out to an isolated section.

"This exit leads to the human world!" Mikaela said excitedly. He grinned as he saw Yuu glaring down at the map, his eyes extremely wide. His plan was officially underway… Now all he needed to do was get Yuu to agree…

"I approached Ferid just to get my hands on this," he said. "The mansion's big, so it took me awhile to find what I needed. But, enough talk."

"W-what?" Yuu stuttered, seeing the blond-haired Hyakuya standing up.

"We're leaving this place! Today! Now!" Mikaela declared, his blue eyes shining with hope.

"W-whaaaat!?"

Mikaela didn't look at Yuu. Of course, anyone would find this ridiculous. The idea of escaping in the middle of the night without giving it a second thought… it was laughable, maybe.

But it wasn't impossible. He had a plan, after all.

"Don't worry, I've already thought of everything!" Mikaela assured the hot-head. "While a certain idiot was busy going around bragging about killing vampires, I worked on a plan all alone." He smiled at Yuu's obviously offended expression.

"Are you calling me an idiot!?"

"You realized it just now?" Mikaela stifled a laugh. He caught the serious gleam in Yuu's coloured eyes, however.

"But, what about the virus outside?"

"We're still twelve. The virus won't affect anyone under thirteen. We've still got a whole year to find a solution. Besides, with the whole Hyakuya Family together, we can overcome anything!" Mikaela claimed.

Yuu looked as if he wanted to say more, but there was an interruption from the other side of the room. Mikaela brightened, seeing the outline of Akane, who seemed to have just woken up.

"What are you guys talking about?" she asked drowsily.

A second passed, in which both Hyakuya boys spent glancing at each other.

"All right," Yuu finally agreed, "let's go!"

Mikaela gave the widest grin he could.

"Yes, let's go! Akane!" he turned to face the utterly-confused girl. "Wake everyone up! We're leaving this place!"

"Brother Mika… It's cold…"

"How long are we going to keep walking for?"

"Why are we out at night?"

"Mika, you sure this is the right way?" Yuu's voice stood out from the drowsy complaints of the other Hyakuya children.

"Yes," Mikaela replied slowly, as they entered an unknown chamber. He was correct; they had followed the directions accurately. Mikaela had even carefully marked spots to ensure they weren't going in circles. Yet…

"This doesn't feel right," Yuu muttered, as the group quietly tip-toed around, remembering to not be in plain sight.

"Watch it!" Mikaela let out a hiss, and with a quick hand, gestured everyone to fall back into a corner.

"W-what is it?" He could hear Akane's terrified whisper.

"Ssh." Heart beating unbelievably loud, Mikaela peered around the edge of the sectioned wall they were all hiding behind. His eyes widened, seeing cloaked vampires, no doubt on duty, roaming around the perimeter.

"Damn vampires." He could hear Yuu's angry whisper this time.

"Quiet, Yuu."

Mikaela turned to the younger children and pressed a finger to his lips, signalling that they all must remain quiet. He looked at their horrified and scared faces, Akane shielding them with her tiny hands.

"Sister Akane, my feet hurts…"

"Just hold on for a while longer. We're almost there."

He gritted his teeth. If they all died, it would be his fault… He glanced sideways at Yuu, who was still eyeing the guards.

He couldn't let Yuu die, either. No way in hell would he let that happen.

"It's clear!" Yuu announced after a few moments, and sure enough, the vicinity appeared empty.

"Let's go," Mikaela quietly instructed, and acting as a guide, he anxiously led them onto the next sections.

It seemed like an eternity when they finally came to their destination. A bright, sky-blue chamber welcomed them as they entered. In the very center of the cold room, was the Gate. Ceiling high, it towered over them.

"This must be the Gate. At least, according to the map." Mikaela checked the parchment. Again, the feeling of dread lingered over him. Something wasn't right…

"Something isn't right." Yuu seemed to be thinking along the same lines. He turned to face the leader. "We've reached the Gate too easily."

Was it suppose to be this easy? Mikaela frowned. No… Don't second-guess yourself any longer…

He smiled bravely, watching everyone's eyes on him.

"I don't think vampires expect humans to try and escape," he pointed out. "After all, the virus is still rampaging out there."

"But this is still all too easy…" Yuu wasn't convinced. Mikaela saw the dark-haired boy constantly glancing behind his back and at the Gate.

"Yuu." There was one thing that Mikaela wanted his close friend to understand. "Live stocks won't leave their little dens even when there are openings. The vampires think the same goes for us. They're taking us for fools, though. We're not livestock, and we're going to escape. After all, every one of us"—he smiled warmly at the orphans—"are geniuses! Well, except for Yuu," he added as an afterthought, causing everyone to laugh and Yuu to scowl.

"Come on, let's go!" Yuu jerked his head towards the Gate, and everyone nodded cheerfully.

"Ah ah ah—!"

Everyone froze.

No.

"I was waiting for you—my pathetic little lambs."

Don't look up…

Yuu gasped.

Don't look up…

But Mikaela looked up. How could he not? Yuu seemed to be frozen, Akane and the kids were ghostly pale, clinging onto one another like lifelines… He had guided them here, didn't he?

"Mikaela~" Ferid Bathory's amused, sickening voice carried its way into his mind, all the way from the other side of the chamber where he stood.

Ferid… Mikaela couldn't even gulp. The sides of his stomach started to cramp... His legs began to shake...

Ferid Bathory… the very last person he wanted them to encounter. Throughout the many careful visits he made to Ferid for donating blood, he knew that, as a vampire noble, Ferid was indeed very dangerous. Polite and carefree he may be, this guy was a sadist, and would have the time of his life slaughtering children.

And Mikaela cursed himself, for being so, so, so stupid, to have dragged his precious family into the hands of a manipulative murderer.

"Ah, that expression~"

Expression…? What did his face look like? Was it like Yuu's, full of hatred and loathing? Was it like Akane's, full of fear and panic? Or the children, looking as if they were living in a nightmare?

Ferid answered his thoughts.

"It's one of those expressions humans make when their hope is suddenly shattered into pieces. That's why"—a smirk graced Ferid's beautiful features—"I never get tired of playing this game," he whispered.

"G…ame?" Mikaela could not even hear his own voice.

"Don't tell me—this is a trap?!" Realization and horror seemed to have struck Yuu.

There was a loud tapping sound that echoed around the chamber.

Then, it all happened so fast, in a blink.

Akane let out a devastating cry as Ferid's fangs sunk themselves into the very flesh of one of the Hyakuya children.

"N-no…" Mikaela clutched at his very own neck, watching Ferid drop the bloody child onto the ground, licking his lips as he did so.

"Oh~? I only took one gulp yet she's already dead."

Yuu's eyes seemed to be vibrating with madness.

"YOU BASTARD!" Within half a second, the gun that Mikaela had given him was out in a flash, already loaded and aimed at Ferid. The trigger was pulled, and the gunshot rang loudly around the vicinity. The orphans screamed, covering their heads with their arms.

Mikaela looked wildly around for Yuu—he was thankfully alive, the gun still in the shooting position. Ferid seemed unharmed, and barely looked as if he was threatened. On the contrary, he seemed to be having fun.

"He… dodged the bullet?" Yuu couldn't comprehend.

"It's useless, Yuu!" the blond-haired Hyakuya dashed forward, trying to reason with him. "You'll never manage to hit that monster from this far!"

Ferid's red gleaming eyes focused on the gun.

"Isn't that my gun?" he drawled. "So you didn't only steal that map, but my gun also… " He clicked his tongue, watching their desperate faces. "You kids are really something! So you still have the courage to oppose us! I admire that, actually, and I'll tell you a little something to rekindle your hope. See, that map"—Ferid had the annoying pleasure to actually fix his hair—"is accurate. If you follow the path behind you, you'll reach the outside world."

His smirk widened at the hope that etched across all of their faces.

"Of course," he went on, "once outside, it won't be easy for me to follow you. I really want to hear how you'll scream…" Ferid dragged the word out disgustingly, "when you're trapped between hope and desperation."

"GET AWAY! NOW!" Yuu turned around and cried in despair, directing his words at the orphans. "You must run away! Run towards the exit! Hurry up!"

With one very last anguish look at Yuu and Mikaela, the Hyakuya orphans scattered and ran towards the Gate, every single one of them crying and yelling.

"Mika, you and I will keep Ferid busy! We've got to buy them some time!" Yuu shouted, positioning his gun in a hurry.

A snicker followed Yuu's words, and screams pierced through the air.

No.

"Didn't I tell you?" Ferid's voice seemed as if it were distances away.

No.

Could he hear it…? The splotches splattering onto the floor, turning into a sea of blood… The tiny bodies dropping rapidly… The screams that pierced his very soul, whilst dying in the victim's throats…

No. No. No.

"…that I want to see your faces distorted by desperation?" Ferid finished, approaching Akane.

"STOP IT! Please don't!" Mikaela bellowed.

His eyes could not meet Akane's in time.

"AKANE!" Yuu screamed, his voice cracking as if his lungs had collapsed. Ferid gave a nonchalant smile, licking Akane's blood with his fingers as her dead body slipped onto the gory floor.

Mikaela felt so numb that he wasn't surprised if he actually lost the ability to feel. He shakily turned to face his only living family. "Yuu… give me that gun," he said, stretching out his hand. "I'll attract his attention at the cost of my life. You should at least escape."

Yuu was not in his right mind, and Mikaela understood. His family was just murdered before his very eyes… How could he go on like this? But he had to protect Yuu, no matter what, because Yuu had to live.

"Don't be stupid! I won't let you do that!" Yuu said angrily, his hands shaking from fear or anger, Mikaela couldn't tell.

Mikaela couldn't help but smile in this nightmarish situation. He took the gun out of a stuttering Yuu's hands.

"Remember," he said as brightly as he possibly could, "we're all part of the same family."

"M-Mika!"

"Ah~Mikaela~ your blood tasted so good," said Ferid, amusement swimming in his red eyes as the blond-haired human charged towards him, his pale blue orbs full of wild determination.

"A—"

The gun was aimed directly at Ferid's head. This was the moment. This was it—

"Ah~?" Ferid's smirk had grown into a full-blown grin. Blood trickled down from his slender fingers as he let out a chuckle. "Oh dear, what's this now?"

"YUU!"

Ferid unstuck his fingers from Yuu's stained chest, who was breathing heavily. With a rage of fury, Mikaela smashed the barrel of the gun right into Ferid's head, and without even a second's hesitation, pulled the trigger. Vampire blood oozed right into his face as Ferid went tumbling down onto the floor, and became rigid.

"Yuu!" Mikaela quickly darted towards his dying friend sprawled on the ground, who was half-gasping, half-wheezing. Mikaela stared in horror, trembling so much that the gun kept slipping out of his hands.

"Go," Yuu ordered, mustering the effort to tilt his head up towards the exit. "Go, M-Mika."

"No!"

"There they are! Over there! Get them!" A wave of vampire soldiers could be heard thundering down the corridor.

"You freaking idiot, leave me, damn it… Hurry up and go!" Yuu wheezed, putting his hand over his wound.

"No! Not without you! I'll save you! I'm going to save you!" Mikaela desperately dragged Yuu's arms, steering him towards the steps.

"Don't let it all go to waste!" Yuu screamed, the life in his emerald-green eyes starting to fade away. "Listen, Mika." The dark-haired Hyakuya weakly grabbed the collar of Mikaela's jacket.

"Live, and prove that … that vampires can be defeated," he whispered. "I believe in you… you're my family… I... finally got to have a family…"

Mikaela's wet eyes widen. The footsteps of the guards drew closer and closer.

"Now go!" Yuu threw back the collar, and forced a shove. "Hurry up and go!"

Mikaela stared into the desperate eyes of his friend and family member, wanting to remember every last detail of those eyes. He gulped, and stood up.

Then he ran, without looking back.

I'm sorry.

Up the steps, towards the exit…

Yuu, I'm so, so sorry…

Screaming as he charged around aimlessly, screaming and screaming, not looking at where he was going, tripping with every step…

I'm the worst family ever… I couldn't save you… I let everyone get killed…

And finally, coming into a bright clearing.

But Yuu… that was the first time, that you've called us your family…

His naked feet suddenly found themselves on something terribly cold and uneven. Mikaela let out a gasp as he tripped, flying face-first onto the cold, white and wet ground. He sat up, coughing out snow, his cheeks numb.

His breathing was uneven, his eyes painful and burning, his body so weak that he could die sleeping... but he mustered up the effort to tilt his head up and concentrate.

Was he finally in the human world? He glanced up; the sky was dark. He glanced down; the grass and earth were covered by snow. He looked around, and his gasp died in his throat.

From the hill that he seemed to be on, far away, were outlines of cities. He couldn't believe it. The buildings were all perfectly intact, perfectly capable of sheltering a whole population of humans. What did this mean, then? He cursed the vampires… It was all a lie. Not all of the humans died off from the virus after all…

Mikaela gave a trembling smile upon learning this discovery.

"Look, Yuu… it was all a lie… The world isn't in ruin… W…"

It was suddenly hard for him to speak.

"W…what was the point of everything… then?" he managed to choke out.

Only a few hours before, had they all been talking about escaping, about being free once and for all... How their misery would finally be put to an end... and yet... and yet...

The vivid image of Yuu dying before his eyes was fresh in his mind, and he let out a strangled scream.

"Yuu..." he choked out.

Footsteps rang in his ears, interrupting him from his tormented thoughts, and he spun around, staggering as he got up. Mikaela narrowed his eyes, seeing three uniformed-dressed figures approaching him. He could make them out; one seemed to be male, the other two, females. None of them appeared to be vampires; he could not see any pointed ears, red eyes, nor bloodthirsty expressions.

His heart skipped a beat.

Humans...!

"Is this him? Must be," the male spoke huskily, surveying Mikaela with a curious eye. The man sounded like he was in his early twenties. The Hyakuya took notice of the shielded katana that hung at the man's waist. "Just as predicted by the Prophecy... Boy," he went on, ignoring the startled jump, "you will help us exterminate the vampire race."

"Exterminate…" Mikaela repeated, tasting the word. Exterminate... He could not understand why, but that very word sounded heavenly to him at this very instant. Kill all the vampires... He liked that idea, very much. His hands, still full of Yuu's blood, balled themselves into fists. "Yes," he said quietly.

Mikaela Hyakuya stepped forward.

"I want to exterminate those filthy vampires."

Thank you for reading the prologue! From the next chapter onward, the story won't be as canon. Since Mika is the MC now, his perspective on certain things is obviously different from Yuu's, and vice versa!

As more characters get introduced, POVs will be changed as well!