Watashi Wa Stalker Ja Nai Desu (I'm Not A Stalker)

Mika paced angrily in his room. Humans. Vampires. Angels. They were all evil, they were all his enemy. Vampires, demons and angels were all cold-blooded murderers. Humans weren't any better. Greedy and manipulative, they took advantage of the naïve to use them for their own purposes. Mika would be happy to sit back and let them all slaughter each other. The humans would use the demons and other humans to kill the vampires, the vampires and angels would kill the humans back and the demons would possess the humans and kill more humans. Then the humans would make more humans and it would continue endlessly.

That was all fine and wonderful, except when all four groups were going after his stuff.

Because that's what Yuu was.

His.

His sweet, innocent, naïve little human.

His sweet, innocent, naïve little angel.

Mika stormed over to the mirror in his room, ripping it off the wall. He went to his bed, holding the mirror over his lap. He mumbled a few words over it like he had seen Krul do a few times before he bit his wrist open and allowed some of his blood to fall on the mirror. Ripples spread across the smooth surface before flattening out and changing. The mirror now showed Yuu, in his room with the manipulative humans.

Yuu was laughing and smiling, looking every bit the fifteen year old boy he was. The purple haired girl was snuggled into him, just a little bit too friendly and way too close for Mika's liking. She leaned in, presumably to kiss him, but he turned away at the last second, seemingly oblivious to her advances. Mika grinned at Yuu's innocence. Across from them, the angry pink haired boy was yelling at a giggling blonde. The brunet of the group seemed to be trying to catch Yuu's attention. Mika errantly wondered how the hell he hadn't been possessed or killed yet. He was easily the weakest of the group. It didn't matter. He would likely die soon, anyway. The vampires were about to launch a full-on attack on the humans' last stronghold. In two weeks, the remainders of humanity would slaughtered in their sleep. It didn't matter to Mika. His Yuu would be out of there by then. He would make sure he got out.

The next day, Mika sat up on a building high above the training grounds for the Demon Moon Company. He had made sure to wear black clothing so, if noticed, he wouldn't set off anyone's suspicions. With his vampire eyes, he could see Yuu far below, working furiously with his sword. Mika smirked, finding it absolutely adorable that Yuu had picked a weapon the exact same style as his own. It made sense, of course. Mika had far more claim to Yuu than the humans ever would, just as Yuu had far more claim to him than the vampires did. A dark haired man walked out onto the training grounds, shouting something at Yuu. Mika felt a swell of hate bubble up in him for the man. Guren was what Yuu had called him. He was the one whom Mika had almost killed, who had told Yuu to kill him, who had experimented on Yuu, who had almost killed Yuu. The strong lust for power was evident in his eyes. Mika had done a bit of research on him by asking around. He was easily one of the most dangerous humans. Willing to betray his family, willing to let the girl he loved die so he could get more power. Mika hated the man with a burning passion. He was the one Yuu needed to be away from the most. Mika watched the unit Yuu was in practise for hours before going inside. They had dinner and then Yuu went to bed. As soon as night fell and Yuu was asleep, Mika landed silently on his windowsill. He had originally planned to watch the boy for a few days and then take him, but it didn't really matter. The safe house on the island Mika had prepared was ready. His absence wouldn't be noticed for a while by the vampires, and he didn't have any trackers on him. Krul had always assumed her blood would draw him back to her and decided he didn't need one. Mika opened the window and dropped inside silently. Yuu mumbled in his sleep and turned over, bringing a fond smile to Mika's face. He really was the cutest thing. But Mika couldn't take him yet, no, he had something else he wanted to do first.

Silently sliding across the room, Mika slipped out Yuu's door into the dark hallway. Following the scent of soap and lavender, he found the room of the short girl who had been rubbing herself all over Yuu. He slipped inside, shutting the door noiselessly behind him. The girl stiffened on her bed and her breathing sped up nearly imperceptibly. She was awake, and aware of his presence. A trained soldier, Mika thought with amusement. It was cute, even if it wouldn't help her at all. Quick as a whip, Mika moved to stand over her, his hand clamped tightly over her lips so she couldn't scream.

"Hello." He whispered. The look in her eyes said she knew who he was and, more importantly, knew what he was. A feral grin spread across his face.

"Yes, I'm Mika. Yuu's family. His true family, I might add. I know what you're doing, you know. How you're just using him." Mika paused and moved his hand down to the girl's neck, tightening it over her windpipe until the only noise in the room was the ragged, choking sound as she vainly tried to draw a breath. "And I want you to know, you won't win. You, particularly, won't live to see the rest of the humans loose, of course. That is the consequence of touching Yuu. He's mine, you see. And I don't share." The girl's eyes were shot through with veins and bulged unnaturally. Her face was a mottled red and her hands weakly grasped at Mika's as if, somehow, her puny fading human strength could tear off his powerful vampire hands. He just grinned and tightened his fist, watching the fear and pain spike in her eyes before slowly fading out as her body went cold in his hands. He dropped her limp and pliant corpse back onto the bed, grinning at the pallor of death that was overtaking even her reddened face. Revenge was sweetest, he thought, when served quickly. Exiting her room, he padded quietly back to Yuu's, taking care not to alert the others asleep in the barrack. Just as he was about to go in, he had another thought. Why stop at that girl? She was annoying on her own, yes, but if he killed the others, then Yuu would have nothing tying him here, to the humans. His blade gleamed a dull red as he drew it from its sheath. Mika wouldn't even have to let it feed off of him in order to kill these measly humans. He smiled, teeth so white they nearly glowed in the darkness before sneaking into the room's of Yuu's comrades and extinguishing their lights, one by one. Then he returned to Yuu's room.

He slipped back in, locking the door behind him by rote. Mika glanced around Yuu's room, looking to see if there was anything he might need. He picked up Yuu's sword, affixing it to his belt. He had clothes at the safe house that would work, and his own clothes would only be a few sizes to big on Yuu anyway. They could simply share, if need be. Seeing that there was nothing else to take, he walked over to the boy himself. Slipping his arms under the thin but muscled frame, he lifted the boy up with ease. Then he flung himself out the window into the crisp night air. His feet landed softly on the roof of the next building. He felt Yuu begin to stir in his arms. He leaned down, lips brushing his ear.

"Shhh, Yuu-chan. I've got you." He whispered. Yuu calmed and shifted to snuggle into Mika's chest. Mika spared a moment to smile at him, then broke into a run, jumping from roof to roof. It would take an hour, at his fastest speed, to get them to the safe house. If Yuu woke up before then, Mika at least needed to make sure they were far enough away that he couldn't call out to those manipulative bastards he thought were friends.

When he reached the wall, Mika felt his heart begin to settle. They were a quarter of the way there, but now that he no longer needed to avoid humans, he could double his speed. There would be no vampire patrols in this sector, and the Horsemen of John usually didn't bother vampires. They practically flew through the city together, the stars a mere blur in the sky. When Mika felt Yuu begin to stir again, he slowed. They were almost to the safe house anyway, a scant five minutes, and already on the island. If Yuu was going to have a tantrum and try to run off, this would be an optimal place to do so. Mika had cleared the small island of Horsemen days before, and there was no way to get off the island unless you had the physical abilities of a vampire. He slowed to a human's normal running speed and watched Yuu's face as he opened his eyes.

"Mika!" Emerald orbs widened as they saw the face of the person carrying them. "W-What are you doing?" Confusion crossed his face and slender fingers grasped at Mika's collar for balance and safety.

"I'm getting you away from the humans. They want to use you. I can't let them do that." Mika said, looking down tenderly Yuu.

He glanced around and panic infused his features when he realised he had no clue where they were. He shoved hard at Mika's chest, pushing himself out of his arms. Both boys fell, rolling on the ground until they came to a stop.

"Mika! What the hell? You can't just... just... just take people from their beds like this! I have to fight the vampires!" Yuu said, confused and upset.

"No, you don't! The vampires that killed our family are dead. I-I killed Ferid!" Mika lied. "Don't you get it? I'm saving you! The humans are just using you. Guren is planning to get you killed once the vampires are dead. They have no love for you!" Mika screamed.

Tears were beginning to form in Yuu's eyes, the sight tearing at Mika's cold heart. "You're lying! They care!"

Mika gritted his teeth and cursed himself for what he was about to say.

"I'm not lying! They don't care about you, they just want the power of the seraph inside you. They've been tricking you. But it doesn't matter, they'll be dead soon. They'll slaughter the vampires, and then turn on each other in their desperate struggle for power. They'll wipe themselves out, just like they did last time."

Yuu looked at him, horrified. "No! My friends! I have to save them!" He turned and tried to run. Mika moved swiftly, pouncing on the boy. His larger frame pinned the struggling ravenette to the ground. Mika looked down at the boy beneath him, the wild green eyes flashing with adrenaline and did the first thing that came to mind. He leaned down and kissed him.

It wasn't a soft kiss, not one to convey any sort of comfort or affection. It was simply to keep Yuu there and to steal his breath away so he wouldn't run. Mika's mouth crashed down on Yuu's rough and hard and unyielding. His tongue pushed roughly into Yuu's mouth, dominating and thorough. Angry thrashing and pushing soon turned into desperate pulling and breathless whimpers for more. Mika pulled back from the confused boy, taking in the flushed face, swollen lips and blown pupils. He knew what he had to do now, while Yuu was dazed like this. As loathe as he was to do it, he might not get another chance. Yuu would hate him for it, probably. Yuu might try to kill him for it. Yuu might even try to kill himself for it. But it had to be done, to keep him safe. Because that was all that mattered. Mika leaned down, lightning quick, and sank his extended fangs into Yuu's soft neck. The boy whimpered and clutched at Mika's shoulders, his body going stiff. Fire overtook Mika's body and it was only with great effort that he did not completely drain Yuu. When he sat back up, the boy looked pale, his eyes half lidded and unfocused. Mika quickly tore open his wrist, holding it over Yuu's mouth. The dark red liquid disappeared between his full lips and his eyes closed all the way. Mika smiled down at him sadly, eyes still as blue as the sky. Because he was made rather than born or created, his ears would never be as pointy and long, nor his eyes as red as a true vampire's. The only difference was the power he now radiated. As a full vampire, the power he possessed was his own, not borrowed or stolen from his sire. He could tell he was at least as powerful as Krul, if not more so. Probably because of the angel in him.

He slid his arms under Yuu's limp body once more, carrying the boy back to the safe house. He opened the door of the little house and lay Yuu down on the bed in the biggest room. He went back out to the kitchen and sparked a fire in the fire place. The useless kitchen caught the dancing light of the fire across the counter tops, reflecting the light and seeming to glow. Mika set Yuu's sword in the corner of the house, next to his own and went in to look at his Yuu. He sat down on the edge of the bed and watched the sleeping face. As the vampire blood changed his body subtly, his colour began to return. Pale cheeks grew pink with the flush of new blood and he rolled over, sighing in his sleep. Mika smiled fondly and lay down directly behind the smaller boy, a protective arm circling his waist. It was exactly how they had slept when they were kids. Yuu would always fall asleep first and Mika would creep up on him and do this. Yuu would always wake up first in the morning and move away, embarrassed and scared of being caught sleeping with Mika. The few times when they were kids that Mika had woken up first, he hadn't moved, but simply lay holding Yuu to his chest. He couldn't care less what the other kids thought of them. Now, when it was only the two of them left, he was determined not to let Yuu do that again. There was no one else around to see them, no reason for Yuu to move away. Especially now that Yuu needed Mika, or rather, needed Mika's blood to stay alive. He probably hated him right now, but that was okay. He only needed to stay. After all, it was just the two of them for eternity now. Yuu would come around. Eventually, he'd need Mika as much as Mika needed him.

When Yuu started to stir, Mika loosened his grip a little to let the boy sit up.

"Mika? What..." Yuu trailed off as the events of the day before crashed into him like a tsunami. Ha stared at Mika, then jumped up and raced to the dresser to stare at himself in the mirror. He gasped as he caught sight of his reflection, normal save for the slitted pupils of his green eyes, giving him a cat-like predatory look. Personally, Mika thought it was hot. Yuu's mouth dropped open and he gazed at himself in the mirror. Then he whirled around to face Mika, eyes blazing with fury.

"How could you do this? How dare you do this? Make me into a monster, make me into the very thing that killed our family! I have friends, comrades, family to protect! You can't just take me away like this!" Yuu screamed. He drew in a breath as if to continue his tirade, but stopped when he realised Mika had stood.

"Family? You call them family? They are nothing to you! They mean to use you, hurt you, betray you! How could you even put an ounce of trust in them? Vampires are no better than humans, but at least we are physically stronger!" He spat angrily. He advanced on Yuu, backing the boy up until his back hit the wall. Mika kept moving forward, his gait predatory and silent. "You want to go back? There is nothing left for you. Shinoa, Kimizuki, Yoichi, all your friends, they are dead. I killed them. They are nothing to you, Yuu. They hold nothing over you. You are no one's but mine."

His hands firmly planted on the wall on either side of Yuu, Mika leaned forward. He tilted his head to the side in an unmistakeable gesture.

"Drink, Yuu. Drink." His breath blew softly on the outer shell of his ear and Mika felt the boy shudder. Yuu leaned in, cautiously at first. Then the hunger of a newborn seemed to overwhelm him and he fell forward with a lost cry, teeth sinking in deeply. Mika smiled despite the pain, clutching Yuu's body to him firmly. His hand twisted in the black hair, holding Yuu to his neck.

"See, Yuu? You can't leave me. Ever. If you want to keep from harming humans, you have to stay by me. You have to stay mine. But don't worry, love. I'm just as much yours." Mika whispered. He pulled Yuu back, tenderly gazing at the boy. His eyes were bright from feeding and his mouth was a bright cherry red. Confusion and pain swirled in Yuu's eyes despite Mika's assurances.

"Keep from harming humans? What do you mean?" He asked softly, voice hoarse.

Mika smiled at him. "You're almost a vampire now. You need human blood to become a full vampire, but you don't want to hurt humans, right? So you have to drink my blood to stay alive."

Yuu shook his head frantically, pushing Mika away from him. "Then I won't eat! I'll starve myself and die!"

Mika's smile dropped. "You'd be overcome with bloodlust before you died and you would lash out at anything living without a thought. You'd drink. Besides, I won't let you get to that point anyway." He brought his wrist up to his mouth, nicking the skin a little. His own blood flooded his mouth, salty and warm. Faster then even vampire eyes could follow, he moved to where Yuu had tried to run. Caging the boy in again, he crushed their mouths together. He forced the blood into Yuu's mouth, feeling the boy choke and sputter before swallowing.

"I would just do that." Mika grinned at him. Yuu seemed almost lost, eyes looking scared and confused again.

"What do you want from me?" Yuu whispered.

Mika stepped back, then drew him into his arms. "Nothing. I want to keep you safe. I want to give you a home. I care about you, not the angel in you, not the vampire in you."

Yuu was shaking in his arms, crying. Mika looked sadly down at him before sending a small compulsion towards the boy. He watched as the shuddering breaths slowed and evened out as he fell asleep before carrying Yuu back to the bed. Maybe he'd be happier when he woke up. It didn't matter anyway. He'd eventually see that what Mika had done was best.

One Year Later (or so)

Mika rolled out of bed, smiling. Today, he had managed to get up first, which was a very good thing. He crept quietly into the kitchen, careful not to wake his sleeping boyfriend.

Boyfriend! What a wonderful word it was. About two months after he had brought Yuu here, the boy had finally started to see sense. After Yuu had started to realise he really was better off here, with Mika, he'd gotten much happier. He stopped fighting Mika, began to simply comply with his requests. They'd started exploring the island together, killing the Horsemen that spawned or swam over. At the end of the day, they would come back and collapse on the couch, leaning against each other and recount the best parts of the day.

One time, when they were relaxing on the couch, Mika had noticed Yuu staring at him. He'd asked what was wrong, and been surprised when Yuu only looked away and blushed. He'd sent a little probing tendril towards Yuu's mind, which was immediately pushed away. It hadn't been pushed away, however, before Mika had caught a taste of the emotions whirling through his head. He'd then leaned over, turning Yuu's face back to him and just stared him in the eyes. Yuu had tried to look away, but eventually had ended up blurting out a confession. Mika had then chided him for being so silly and self-centred before leaning in and kissing the embarrassed teen. The next day, when they woke up in their bed in a state of undress, Mika had asked him to be his boyfriend. Yuu had said yes, of course. How could he have refused, anyway?

But that was then, and Mika needed to focus on today. After all, it was Yuu's birthday! He had found some streamers and balloons when they had been out exploring a few weeks ago and had managed to store it on the back of a high shelf that Yuu couldn't reach so he wouldn't know. Pulling down the streamers and finding some tape in their pile of salvaged junk, he began to decorate the kitchen. Green and blue was the theme, of course. The balloons were somewhat more difficult than the streamers. Mika had to be careful not to accidentally blow too hard and pop a balloon. With Yuu's hearing, it might wake him up. Just as he finished and was admiring his work, he felt arms wrap around his waist and a head on his shoulder.

"Hey." Yuu said sleepily.

"Hey." Mika turned around and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. "Happy birthday."

Mika grinned and wrapped his arms around Yuu's waist, swaying as he softly sang his version of the birthday song.

"Happy birthday to Yuu, happy birthday to Yuu, happy birthday dear Yuuuuuuu, happy birthday to Yuu."

The subject of the song just rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, very clever. Yuu instead of you. I get it."

"What, don't Yuu like my song?" Mika pretended to be affronted. "I'm so hurt. How could Yuu?"

Yuu smiled and leaned up to kiss him. "I'm sorry. I meant: You're very clever and that is a very funny pun."

He looked back up at the blonde. "You know what, though? I'm older than you now! That means I should be in charge, right?" He giggled playfully. He backed Mika up until his legs hit the back of the couch and he fell down onto it, Yuu straddling his lap. Mika rolled his eyes.

"You're only physically older. I've still been here longer." He said.

Yuu shook his head and grinned. "Doesn't count! You stopped aging last year, so that makes me older!"

He tried to push Mika onto his back, but Mika smiled ferally and grabbed his wrists. He got up, making the raven fall backwards so he was the one on his back with him on top instead. "It totally counts. Besides, I'm still bigger." Mika said. He made sure to push his hips into Yuu's a little so he would know exactly what he meant by "bigger". A startled moan escaped Yuu's lips and he turned red, trying to pretend he hadn't just made that sound. Mika chuckled and did it again, watching the way he bit his lip to keep the noise in.

"Yuuuuuu. Look at me." He crooned softly. Taking the boy's face in his hands, he turned him back so they were facing each other. Leaning down, Mika kissed him softly. He'd made an effort to not get to controlling, unless Yuu wanted him to. They kissed for a minute, lips closed, and just breathed in each other. When Yuu started to squirm a little, Mika decided it was time to pick up the pace. His mouth opened and his tongue slipped into Yuu's mouth, tangling and exploring the familiar cave. The moans and gasps that came from Yuu sounded like heaven to Mika. His hands crept under the too-big shirt Yuu was wearing, his shirt actually, and pulled it off gently. Yuu squirmed as the cold air hit his torso, moaning when Mika's hand slid up his stomach to pinch and twist at his nipples. Mika paused for a moment to strip his own shirt off, but quickly returned to teasing Yuu. Yuu clung to his shoulders, eyes screwed shut and breathing ragged with pleasure. Mika could feel the growing bulge beneath him and smirked.

"Someone's eager." Yuu whined in response and Mika quickly worked on getting their pants off. Both were getting impatient and with the hormonal levels of two teenage boys, that meant they needed to do something, and quickly. Mika scrambled off to grab the jar of oil he had stashed somewhere around here. He found it in one of the drawers of the kitchen just as he felt Yuu press up against him from behind, hips moving just enough that Mika could feel his erection.

"Mika." Yuu's voice was low and quiet and made Mika think of things he probably shouldn't. With a growl, he spun around and pinned Yuu to the counter, his back to Mika's chest.

"Don't tease me." Mika snarled, grabbing Yuu's chin and kissing him hard. Yuu moaned as Mika pushed his hips into his backside. Mika wrapped one arm around Yuu to keep him still and grabbed the jar of oil with the other. He coated his fingers thoroughly, trailing them down Yuu's spine. Tiny shivers went through Yuu's body the lower his finger got. He teased Yuu's hole, pushing a finger in to the first knuckle only before pulling it back out. The boy arched and writhed, begging Mika to do more. When Mika shoved two fingers in, all the way, the gasps and cries were enough to almost make him loose control. He quickly coated himself with oil and lined up, bending Yuu over the counter to make it easier. He slammed in roughly, not wanting to waste any more time. Yuu cried out, panting words like harder and faster that just made Mika's already wrecked self-control disappear completely. He bent the raven over the counter even more, hands gripping with bruising force at his hips. He leaned forward and sank his teeth into Yuu's exposed neck, the taste of him filling his mouth. Yuu gasped his name like a prayer. Mika pulled back, letting blood from the wound drip down Yuu's chest, pooling in the hollow of his throat and his collarbone. He continued to ram into the boy at a brutal pace, white hot passion spreading through his body. Yuu was twitching and moaning and his eyes were unfocused, telling him his climax was approaching. Mika brought a hand around to the front of Yuu and grabbed his weeping cock. He twisted savagely, feeling Yuu's muscles clamp down around him. They came together, falling limp towards the counter. Mika regained his balance first and turned Yuu around to face him. He slowly licked up the trails of blood going down his chest, working his way up the side of his neck to his mouth.

"Happy Birthday, Yuu."

A Few Months Later

Mika was the first one awake more and more often now. It seemed harder and harder for him to actually get a good nights sleep, despite having Yuu at his side. He knew why it was. It was because of the picture. The picture of Yuu and Mika from when they were kids. Mika'd had it for a while, just holding on to it for old time's sake. They had recently found a frame that he thought might fit it and had put it up on their dresser. It bothered him. There was something about it that was wrong, terribly wrong. But he couldn't figure out what. So, for the fifth morning in a row, he sat with the sheets bunched up around his waist, chest bare and one hand resting on the arm of his sleeping boyfriend, staring at the picture. He sighed and got out of bed. The movement woke Yuu and he sat up blearily.

"Morning." Yuu mumbled, brushing his unruly black hair out of his face.

"Morning." Mika said, leaning in to kiss the boy. Yuu's eyes opened as he drew back and it suddenly hit Mika what the difference was. In the picture, Yuu's eyes nearly glowed with happiness. His eyes had always been an open book when it came to what he was feeling. When he was angry, you could see it. When he was happy, you could tell. His eyes always brimmed with emotions, with the spark of life that always seemed to glow brighter than everyone else's spark, a bonfire of feeling. It was what Mika had first fallen in love with. That hope, that happiness, that caring, even that anger.

But as he looked into Yuu's eyes now, he couldn't see any of it. They were blank, cold and dead. The reason for it hit him like stab Yuu had once delivered.

Mika.

He was the reason Yuu was different now.

He had taken away everything he had ever lived for. A family? Mika killed them. Freedom? Mika had kidnapped and trapped him in here, hadn't he? Caged him in one little house, never let him out of sight. Forced Yuu to depend on him for food, for life. Revenge? What revenge could you ever have when you had been turned into the very thing you wanted to kill? The truth washed over him like a tsunami and pain and sorrow filled him. Yuu didn't stay because he loved Mika. Yuu didn't stay because he thought Mika was right. Yuu didn't even stay because Mika was keeping him here. Mika knew better than any one else, that if Yuu wanted to get out of somewhere, he would. It didn't matter how impossible it seemed. No, the reason Yuu stayed was much worse then that.

He was broken. Mika had broken him. At some point, Yuu had given up his hope, his happiness, his anger, his love. His humanity. Because his captor was the one person he couldn't kill, the one person he could never truly escape, he had simply given up. The Yuu Mika loved was gone. It made sense, now that he thought about it. Yuu would have never followed directions so perfectly. He loved to rebel. He certainly wouldn't follow instructions to the letter like he did when they were exploring. He wouldn't be so submissive. Even when they made love, Mika realised, it was false. The few times he had teased Yuu like that in the past, the boy had been silent. He'd turned red and writhed, yes, but never made a sound. Mika had always tried to get noise out of him, however. But now, Yuu would gasp and moan and cry out. Why? Because he thought that was what Mika wanted. Everything the boy did now was focused on making Mika happy. Why hadn't he noticed before?

Mika drew back from Yuu, a fake smile in place. "I'm going to go out today, okay?" He said.

Yuu tilted his head in confusion. "Okay. Don't we do that everyday, though?"

Mika shook his head. "No, I meant alone. You stay here, in the house, alright?"

Yuu frowned but nodded. "Okay."

Mika smiled at him before disappearing from the room. He grabbed a shirt and put it on, also picking his sword up from beside the door.

"I'll be home a little later, Yuu!" He shouted.

He walked out onto the street, breaking into a run. As soon as he reached the seawall, he flung himself over, just barely making the jump back to the mainland. He continued running, searching desperately for the scent of human. He found it and sprinted toward the sweet smell. There was a small encampment of people gathered around a fire. Judging by their clothes, they were livestock. He smiled and walked up to them. Even though he didn't have the uniform on, they recognised him by his eyes and his aura. He pulled out a vial and they seemed to know what to do with it. A woman nodded and took it from him, telling him to wait there. She disappeared into the building behind her and brought it back out to him, filled with red blood. The humans bowed, calling him Progenitor. Mika smirked at the title. He wasn't one, but it was funny that they thought he was. He raced back to the island, back to Yuu, half hoping the boy would have escaped while he was gone. But when he walked back in, he saw that was not the case. Yuu was asleep on the couch, face peaceful. Mika grimaced and felt a wave of self-loathing. He quickly hid the vial on top of the cabinets. Then he picked Yuu up and carried him to bed. Mika himself went back out to the couch and lay back down. He made a promise to himself, and to Yuu. Over the next few weeks, he would give Yuu all the freedom and trust in the world. He'd let him outside unsupervised, let him stay home unsupervised, anything he wanted. If Yuu wanted to run away, so be it. Mika would let him. If, at the end of three weeks, he was still here, Mika would give him that vial. He'd become a full vampire, and then Mika would let him go. It would hurt, yes, but it hurt more to know that he had broken Yuu by keeping him a prisoner here.

Mika didn't think he'd ever had a worse three weeks of his life. And that said a lot. There were bags under his eyes and he knew no amount of sleep would rid him of them before tomorrow. He lay down on the couch, where he had been sleeping. Tomorrow was the day. They day he would give Yuu the vial, give Yuu freedom. He closed his eyes in an uneasy sleep

When dawn light hit his face, he woke up. Yuu was either still sleeping or just sitting in the bedroom. He had been doing that a lot lately. Mika sighed and got up, retrieving the vial. He went into the bedroom, finding Yuu sitting on the bed, staring at his lap. He looked up when Mika came in.

"Mika!" His face suffused with joy, but his eyes stayed blank. Mika fought back the urge to wince. He let the boy jump up and hug him, before gently pushing him back and pulling him into the living room. They sat down on the couch, Mika keeping two feet of distance between them.

"Yuu, this is for you." Mika handed him the vial and drew in a deep breath. He looked down at his lap and began to speak again. "I've been wrong to keep you trapped here, and I'm sorry. With that, you won't need me for food anymore. I'll let you leave. You're free."

His words were met with silence, then a crash as glass hit the floor. Mika looked up to see that the vial had fallen and broke against the wood, blood spilling out. Startled, he looked at Yuu. To his surprise, there were tears brimming in the green eyes.

"You don't want me anymore. Don't lie, I've seen it in your eyes. There's pain there every time you look at me. You've been avoiding me for weeks, I know you have. You don't love me anymore!" Yuu began to cry. "I tried to be perfect, I tried so hard. But I'm just not good enough."

Mika's heart sank. Even as he said these words, his voice so full of emotion, his eyes were still blank.

Mika had broken him.

Broken him past repair.

When Yuu stood, swaying, and walked towards the swords, Mika didn't stop him. When Yuu called out to Ashuramaru, and the girl materialised, holding the sword, he did nothing. When, at Yuu's request, she plunged the sword into his chest before vaporising again, he didn't move. Ears filled with a dull buzzing, he watched Yuu gasp in pain, looking right at him. He knew the boy would die. The sword went right through where his heart was. Even a vampire couldn't live through that. Mika stood slowly, moving almost mechanically towards Yuu. His body felt stiff, unfamiliar, like he wasn't the one controlling it. His hands came up to cup Yuu's face and he took two more powerful steps forward. The sword, blade sticking out of Yuu's chest, pierced his own as well. He kept moving forward, numb to the pain, until their chests touched. Then, all feeling rushed back into him. The sound of Yuu's sobs, the burning pain in his chest. Mika howled. Howled for Yuu, howled for Akane and the kids, howled for himself, howled for the misplaced trust he had given the orphanage caretaker, howled at the world that had given birth to vampires, howled at the demons and angels and humans and vampires. Howled at the uncaring god that had allowed this to happen. Then, he stopped, his voice nearly gone. His hands, trembling and pale, cupped Yuu's face. Their blood pooled and mixed on the floor at their feet. Mika leaned in to touch Yuu's forehead to his.

"I will always love you. I'm so sorry." He whispered. He kissed Yuu one last time, their lips just barely, sweetly pressed together before their bodies dissolved into the black and red dust and Ashuramaru clattered to the floor.