A/N: I know that the past few chapters feel really short and unsatisfying, but I write short chapters and I wanted to give insight on all the parents before I got into anything. But now, I'm getting to the good stuff.
"Remove them! Just remove the chains!" Yuu bellowed, yanking on the chains.
Hearing the commotion, Mika swiftly entered the chamber restraining Yuu with a pocket watch in hand. Mika knew that this demon was going to act up sooner or later, but he had no idea when and how long the phase lasted.
It was just acting up this morning, hopefully it shouldn't last too long. Mika uttered to himself. However, this isn't Yuu-chan. He would never be like this if it weren't for those humans. What have they done to you?
As Mika approached Yuu, they greeted him with a feigned smile.
Maybe… I can trick him to release me. He's always worried about his precious Yuu-chan. Yuu- chan. Yuu-chan. It's pathetic to be honest.
Continuing with their act, the demon began begging for Mika to release them. "Hey, Mika… Mika… Please release these chains. Let's run away together. Just like a family. You and me are the only family members, right?"
Mika looked up from his pocket watch and scoffed. "Family? What the hell are you talking about, demon?"
Ah, he's not buying it. Maybe he wants some of his precious Yuu's blood. It's a vampire's weakness… I know it's mine.
The possessed Yuu insisted on being let free from Mika, but he just replied with a stoic expression on his face and remained indifferent towards Yuu's taunts and pleas.
"I SAID RELEASE IT!" Yuu demanded angrily, violently tugging on the chains.
"115… 116… 117… 118… 119… 120." Mika uttered beneath his breath.
Suddenly, the spiky horns that sprouted from Yuu's head disappeared and sunk back into her skull. "Ah, I turned into a demon again."
Realizing her surroundings, Yuu blinked uncertainly and looked up to see Mika before her. Composing herself, Yuu greeted Mika with a wide grin as an attempt to try to dissipate the tense atmosphere. She knew that Mika was upset. It's just that… she didn't want him to worry.
We're finally back together now, and that's all that matters shouldn't it? Yuu thought to herself.
Still smiling, she looked up at Mika and greeted him with a hello.
"Don't 'hello,' me" Mika hissed back, his red eyes glistening with displeasure.
"And it starts…" Yuu mouthed to herself, pulling at the chains to signal for release. Seeing her gestures, Mika sighed and unclasped the cuffs around Yuu's wrists, letting each one slide out to the ground as he helped Yuu get up. And as she predicted, once she was on her feet, Mika started berating her.
"I think Yuu-chan doesn't get it, since he's an idiot."
"I'm not an idiot," Yuu replied calmly, whilst rubbing her wrists and stretching her arms.
"If you become a demon for two minutes longer each day," Mika began, "you will be a demon for half a day in just half a year…"
"Well, that's a problem."
"It is a problem! A huge one in fact!"
"I said I was sorry!" Yuu interjected.
Mika's face became steely and he bit his lip in frustration as he started to approach Yuu and jab his gloved finger at her. In response, Yuu just slumped over; further making Mika more frustrated. "You promised me that you would turn me back into a human… But how can you do that if you aren't even human! Furthermore, what a waste of time saving those useless humans. There is no way back now!"
"But because of those useless humans," Yuu argued, beaming up at Mika, "you are still alive and now they're your friends."
Knock! Knock! It was Shinoa. "It's been about three hours since the demon took over. Are you awake now, Yuu-san?"
"Yeah, I just woke up!" Yuu chimed, smiling.
As Shinoa and Yuu greeted each other, Mika couldn't help the boiling hatred he had for Shinoa and the other humans. She acted like she was Yuu's friend, but he knew that she wasn't really there for Yuu. These humans will do anything to get their hands on his Yuu.
It's because of you and you're human army that Yuu is like this. Mika thought bitterly as he bit his lips in frustration.
Out of the corner of her eye, Shinoa glanced up at Mika and welcomed him with a warm smile. With her eyes beaming, she brandished a thermos filled with a dark red liquid from behind her back and held it in front of him.
"By the way Mika-san. It's been about three days from the last time you drank blood," Shinoa began. "Isn't it about time to drink again?"
Mika's forehead furrowed and twisted his face into a glare. His new ruby, red eyes seethed with anger.
This girl has the audacity to…!
"What's that? Don't just do whatever you want.
Suddenly without hesitation, Yuu pointed to himself with out most glee and suggested, "If that's the case then he can drink my blood."
In response, Shinoa raised her hands dismissively towards Yuu and continued to smile at Mika. "No, Yuu-san I don't think you'll be able to endure it. This is a bottle containing everyone's blood. Everyone pitched in their blood a little and collected it here. Will this suite your taste?"
Shinoa shyly, but surely pulled a large plastic bottle filled with red liquid from behind her back and held it in front of Mika as an offering. Mika's eyes were fixated on the bottle. It's been awhile since he last drank blood, but he was definitely not going to cave in to his vampiric instincts. Not when Yuu needs him most. He doesn't want to be the monster, he just wants to be Mika. The Mika that was always at Yuu's side when they were children. The Mika that took on the responsibility to care for his family. His old, former self.
His human self.
Gritting his teeth, Mika narrowed his eyes on the bottle with a burning hatred, and then glared directly at Shinoa.
How dare this human offer me anything. Mika thought.
Ashamed, Mika quickly turned his head away. Unfortunately for him, Yuu immediately realized his discomfort.
Just live Mika… At least for me. Please.
"It's alright Mika," she reassured, whilst gesturing Mika to take the bottle.
Shinoa drew her eyes away from Mika and scanned the room, her light brown eyes darting at every crease and crevice in the containment cell. Her eyes widened when they stumbled upon the broken shackles that laid slackly against the wall.
Well, this isn't very good. Shinoa thought to herself wryly. It's not something that can't be fixed, but Yuu-san's demon problem is getting worse… Just what did Guren do?!
She didn't want to panic either Yuu or Mika right now. They've all just came out of a massive ordeal, afterall. It was best to maintain the positive aspects to continue to survive. Shinoa quickly rotated her head to face Mika behind her, giving her best smile to ease both Yuu and Mika.
"You act like you're comrades with Yuu," Mika snapped angrily, hovering above Shinoa's body. "I won't forget the fact that you humans were experimenting on Yuu."
Oh, I would kill you right now if I could. It would be so easy. Mika thought viciously. But… Yuu would never forgive me.
No longer smiling, Shinoa's face went slack and her eyes stared blankly at the floor. Although, she wouldn't admit it to her squad, she couldn't help but feel responsible for all of this. Her family, the omnipotent Hiragi family, experimented and created a Seraph, but not without the needed sacrifice of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army's soldiers. Too many innocent lives were lost just to create a weapon. And Kimizuki… the remaining family he has is being used as a weapon of mass destruction to further her brother's ruthless ambitions. So much unnecessary bloodshed and tragedy was intertwined with her family that she wasn't a part of, yet she is still Hiragi, but at the same time not. She was still connected to them, and felt ashamed of herself for that reason.
Yuu hastily put himself between Mika and Shinoa and as an attempt to diffuse the situation. "Mika, Shinoa is not the one to blame here."
"Guren was your family, right" Mika lectured, his red eyes narrowing. "And in the end what did he do to you?"
Yuu opened her mouth to protest, but she tightly pursed her lips instead. The last encounter with Guren on the battlefield was …painful. She remembered his eyes were a gleaming ruby red... but glassy and empty, showing no signs of the warmness it once held. His cheshire grin, brimming with his white teeth were vicious and malevolent. It wasn't the stupid, welcoming smile that Yuu cherished. Despite his shocking appearance, Yuu couldn't get the one burning image out of her head.
Guren was crying. Her family was in pain in front of her, that's what she knew and that's what she saw. That's the only thing she remembered before... Right before he brought his Cursed Gear swiftly across her body. Everything was a blank after that.
To be honest, there's been a lot of blanks. Yuu thought. Not just with me… but with Guren. Who are you? Where are you?
Attempting once more, Yuu let out a sigh and uttered once more, "But didn't you see Guren was crying."
"So what if he was crying that doesn't mean anything!" Mika hissed.
Oh, boy. Things need to cool down. After examining the broken shackles she, once more, gave her best smile to the two of them and quickly suggested that they should eat. She offered Mika the bottle filled with blood.
He smacked it out of her hand in response.
"Mika, now isn't the time for this." Yuu pleaded, looking at Mika carefully.
Dammit, you idiot. Please just drink the damn blood. You already drank mine.
"You're telling me to drink that?!" Mika demanded. His face was twisted in anguish and disgust as he looked away from Yuu. Composing himself, he looked directly at Yuu's emerald ones. "I won't. I refuse to be that woman's pet."
"Shinoa never had that intention." Yuu replied, exasperated. "Just think about of this as friend's blood."
Right was Mika was reaching for it, a sudden commotion was heard outside. His ears perked up. Someone was running.
"EVERYONE FROM SHINOA'S SQUAD! PLEASE HELP US. THE MONSTERS ARE COMING AGAIN."
Without a thought, the three of them ran out of the cell and into the battle.
After the Battle
"Phew! That was a nice warm-up!" Yuu exclaimed, stretching her arms in the air in satisfaction. "At least the Imperial Demon Army prepared us for this kind of thing. The Four Horsemen of John are barely a warm-up to me now."
"Hey, idiot," Kimizuki chided. "Don't get too cocky. That's how you get killed."
Yuu turned around with a crossed expression written on her face. Unfortunately, while turning, she felt something around her chest give way from what it was suppressing. She folded her arms across her chest to hide her breasts that were beginning to rise up, however she still wasn't going to let Kimizuki have his way with her.
"Ah. Lemme have some fun." Yuu stated
From behind, Mika narrowed his eyes in worry.
A warm-up? The Four Horsemen of John are still supposed to be challenging to any human. This just proves my point.
"Is there only air in that head of yours or wha-"
"Andddddd… I gotta go!" Yuu interrupted, jogging away from her team mates. "I gotta use the restroom for a bit! I've been needing to pee since we were fighting! I'll meet you guys outside after I'm done."
"He's such an idiot…" Kimizuki mumbled, nodding his head.
"I HEARD THAT FOUR EYES!"
"GO TINKLE, PISS-BABY!"
"GOT ANYTHING BETTER?!" Yuu challenged, yelling louder.
"YOU KNOW?! I GOT PLENTY! YOU JUST MAKE IT SO EASY FOR YOURSELF SOOO YOU CA…"
Kimizuki became inaudible to her ears as she distanced herself away from them up the hill to the nearest restroom she could find. When she was distancing herself, she fast walked so it wasn't obvious something was undone, but now she laid her right hand above her chest to stop them from bouncing as she ran, while her other swung back and forth.
Shit… I hope these didn't tear all the way. I can repair some of it if it isn't too bad. Still, I don't know if I have many bandages left to hide these stupid things.
At first, Yuu went to open the female door, but hastily switched once her eyes met the sign. Sighing, she ran to the other side of the door and swung it open with her remaining hand. Unhinging the door to the stall, Yuu locked herself in biggest stall she could find and quickly undid her uniform. She hung her black and green uniform top over the stall, but let her white blouse slid off her shoulders to the ground. As she did so, the ace bandages that were binding her chest cascaded down to the floor where she could see that it tore in two places.
Sighing, Yuu picked it up, plucked the still functioning safety pins from the damaged bandages, and threw the remains in the trash bin next to the toilet.
Yuu reached into one of the pockets around her belt, pulling out one of the last couple of ace bandages she had left. She held it up to her face, gazing at in disapproval.
Why can't I just be myself? I can't stand lying to my family or myself that I'm male. This is such a pain.
Closing her eyes, she brought her right hand to her face, forming a V with her pointer-finger and thumb to rub her temples. "Just get it over with."
She looked down at her chest, ashamed of it, yet… also relieved?
It's been awhile since I've seen you. You're the part of my freaking body that reminds me that I'm a girl.
Studying them, she used her left hand to caress one of her breasts, gently cupping it in her grasp, whilst rubbing her thumb on the smooth surface to dull away the ebbing pain. Squeezing it for observation, Yuu cringed and noticed that they were tender to the touch, as well.
"Ah, fucking hell," Yuu cursed, kicking the toilet.
THESE STUPID THINGS GOT BIGGER?! HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?!
With the bandages still in hand, Yuu glared at it with contempt and started unrolling the sticky part of the bandage. She brought it around herself towards her center and began wrapping it around herself, pinning the areas needed to secure it.
New bandages equals new adjustment again.
With her new layers of bandages on, Yuu brought her arms up and brought them down, then swung them back and forth like a chicken to stretch it out. Yuu rubbed her aching wrists again to soothe them once more.
Should I tell Mika?! Yuu pondered. He would still accept me right? Or would he feel deceived? He's in a touchy spot right now. But he still loves me… like, no matter what? Or am I wrong?
Knock! Knock!
"Ahhh!" Yuu gasped in shock, hastily grabbing the white blouse of the ground to her chest. "Who is it?"
"It's Mika. I'll be outside waiting for you. Don't feel rushed."
"Um, yeah okay. I'm almost finished." Yuu said a bit meekly. "Be there in a sec!"
Yuu fastened her blouse and walked over the stall door to pull down her uniform's jacket, and hastily did the buttons as fast as she could. Once she walked outside, she trotted towards Mika who was leaning against the wall, staring blankly and defiant towards the bottle of blood in his hands.
Well, although I can't be myself. At least Mika is here to tell me that he isn't either... but Mika is Mika. The same should apply to me, right?
A/N: And that's a rap! Sorry for the delayed update. School is a killer!