Chapter Text
Sanguinem, 4 years after the virus
“So this is debauchery for them…” Yuuichiro murmured as he was led through the vampiric “dining hall” of the notorious vampire Ferid Bathory. Which was basically a glorified lounge room, where vampires indulging in glasses of blood and the necks of children. ‘and I’m about to join them?’
At 12 years of age, and newly abducted from the world outside of the vampire capital, Yuu was certainly getting an eyeful. And he and the guards wound through hundreds of vampires, he gaped at drunken leeches and half-clad children serving them blood, the vampires indulging in the ritual of their feedings, and... other things... with the vampiric whores circling the room.
By the low light of the room, Yuuchiro glimpsed kissing, fondling, and...other things, that his young mind couldn’t yet attach names to. Yet, nobody in this blood hall laughed. No jaunty music could be heard, even when they had just abducted a large quantity of livestock today from the outskirts of the city above ground.
He’d observed the masses of new kids being tagged and assigned housing today, going through the same things he had to go through a couple of months ago.
But all the many vampires here seemed to be simmering with pent up tension. Snarling even, like animals. Even among the chandeliers and marble walls, the pristine furniture and soft rugs littering the floor. Apparently, all of the stories Yuu had heard about the vampires were true. They were indulgent, decadent, and liked to keep their atmosphere sensual, even though vampires didn’t ever really have the need for sex. Their fondling, and other acts, were emotionless, and acted as distractions for their constant, overwhelming thirst.
His closest friend while growing up in the orphanage, Akane, had told him, “Vampires are grim, covetous and possessive. And savage when it comes to things like blood and their personal pets. They are obsessed with the war against the humans and think of nothing else!”
Yuu knew the risk in coming here, but he wasn’t fearful. He had heard, that by offering his blood to the nobles, he would be given gifts. Higher quality food, extra blankets and futons, or anything else to make his life with his fellow orphans, his family, more comfortable.
Of course, Akane had argued with him about his plan. Telling him, “I don’t think you have the sense to be afraid, when you should be.”
Yuu had interpreted that to be, ‘You have no sense of fear, oh brave, mighty Yuuichiro!’
Besides all of that, he had no choice. Several of the younger orphans he lived with were becoming sick. Living in a city below ground, made for a constant chill atmosphere, and they lack of nourishment they were receiving plagued on their immune systems. Thankfully, Yuu hadn’t experienced any kinds of sickness, yet. But the sight of a five year old crawling into a corner just to vomit every few hours from his sickness…
Yuu couldn’t bare it any longer. The kid was too young to die in such a way. If offering his blood to these vampires would help, if only just a little, he would do what he had to. He would do anything for them. They were the only semblance of family that he had known.
***
Reminded of his purpose, Yuu straightened his shoulders. The vampires here were all nobles, which meant they were aloud to drink from the vein, and took great pleasure out of it. Any child that wished to offer their blood straight from their body, was welcomed here. He shouldn’t be in any sort of danger...unless they drained him straight away-
Two younger looking vampires, seemingly locked in combat, lurched past him. Fights suddenly spurred all around. Hissing and growling over blood, livestock, and weapons. These vampires fell into their instinctive rage, their red eyes glowing and muscles burgeoning at the slightest implication.
‘Fitting…’ Yuu thought. Considering these filthy vampires were nothing but monsters.
***
It had been rumored that the vampires were the ones who kept order throughout the human population. They helped to rid the world above ground of the ‘Four Horsemen of John’, and protected the remaining human population. But Yuu saw that anything that kept these vampires in Sanguinem, and out of the remaining civilization, was a blessing.
As he and the guards wended deeper within the crowd, Yuu stopped abruptly. A short distance away, there was a young boy, about his age, seated atop a vampire’s lap upon a large chair in the hall’s dias.
He’d seen that vampire in skirmish earlier. They way he had broken it up with his patronizing commands and the way he wielded his sword with unmatched speed and power, this vampire had to be Ferid.
The blonde boy who sat on his lap, serving him a goblet of blood, seemed out of place in a setting like this.
When Yuuichiro approached Ferid, the blonde boy grew very still. Gaping at Yuu, as if he was crazy for attempting to address the vampire. ‘He see’s this vampire as a threat?’ They were all a threat to Yuu’s way of thinking.
Yuu inspected the boy. He blonde hair was thick. Some hanks plated in areas to keep it out of his eyes, and his teeth were even and white. His pale skin made his sapphire blue eyes stand out.
Now, Ferid had pulled the boy closer to him in his lap, no doubt to join the debauchery.
‘And here he goes…’
Ferid began to spread the white and black collar of the livestock's uniform open to expose the blonde’s neck. To drink from him-
“Lord Ferid! A moment?” One of the guards hastened to say.
‘Maybe to stop him before things got too far?’
“What is it?” Ferid didn’t look up from the blonde boy’s neck. Once his big hands had exposed the boy’s shoulders, he cupped the child’s nape to bring him closer to his mouth.
“This boy here wishes to speak with you.”
Ferid turned, his gaze falling on Yuuichiro. “Who are you?” He asked, his voice chiding.
Throughout the halls, the enthusiastic skirmishes and fornicating slowed.
Yuichiro answered honestly, “I’m here to offer myself to you...as your blood slave. In return, I am in need of assistance.”
At Yuu’s words, Ferid’s brows drew together. “You sound quite desperate.” Ferid chided. He removed the blonde boy from his lap and stood before Yuuichiro. “Come forward.”
Though it nettled to take orders from a filthy vampire, Yuu stepped forth. His gaze grew alert, assessing. Yuu knew Ferid was scrutinizing everything about him: the way he walked. The way he held himself in the presence of a predator. Ferid seemed amused by him.
The blonde boy tried to claim Yuu’s attention by maintain a piercing stare, but Yuu ignored him. When the blonde made some kind of warning gesture, Ferid turned to him and gave him a scowl. Causing the boy the flounce away.
Although, Yuu couldn't resist a longing glance at his retreating form.
“How about you come by my mansion later on tonight? We can... discuss , what you need assistance with in exchange for your lifeblood.
Yuu swallowed nervously. He had heard rumors about Ferid. That he used his blood slaves for more reasons than just drinking from them. If the situation turned to that, he would shoot him with the pistol he had acquired some time ago when he had raided another vampire’s home. It wouldn’t kill the vampire if he shot him, but it would put him down, giving him enough time to escape from whatever he had planned.
“Okay…” Said Yuu. “I would like that.”
Ferid ran the back of his fingers over Yuu’s jawline. “I’m sure you would.”
***
As it had turned out, Ferid was a very accommodating vampire. He sat with him at the large dining table, next to the blonde boy Ferid was with earlier. A substantial amount of food was placed in front of him. More food than Yuu had seen in years, considering he had been an orphan since he was eight, and large meals were saved for holidays.
“My dear sweet Mikaela,” Ferd said “how about the two of you become friends? I think building relationships in your line of work is important, don’t you?”
Mikaela gave Yuu a pained smile at Ferid’s suggestion. “Sure…” Was all he said in response.
Yuu glanced at him cagily as he scarfed down the remainder of his meal. He had the feeling that this Mikaela boy didn’t quite like him much. ‘whatever.’
“Now that you have eaten…” Ferid gestured for Yuu to come over to his side. Yuu complied, standing before Ferid and enduring his hungry gaze. The vampire wished to be fed now. “Come, sit here.” Ferid patted his knee, and Yuu sat upon in hesitantly.
Yuu could feel his pulse racing in his veins. Knew that the vampire could likely hear it. Having never being bitten, Yuu didn’t really know what to expect. He suspected that their might be pain involved, which didn’t scare him. What scared him, was this vampires hungry eyes and he notion that he might actually die from being drained of his lifeblood this very night.
With a nervous swallow, Yuu perched on Ferid’s knee. When the vampire maneuvered him so that his back was pressed against his front, Yuu didn’t protest. He was sat facing the dining table now, where Mikaela still sat. The blonde boy watching the scene unfold with a weary gaze.
The collar of his hooded shirt was spread open, and he felt the pressure of pointed teeth against his flesh. Yuu’s breath hitched when the fangs punctured his skin, and sank deep into his neck. Gritting his teeth, he tried to ignore the way Ferid’s tongue lapped at his skin as he drank his blood. Yuu focused on Mika’s face as the minutes ticked by, seeing that the blonde’s expression grew increasingly worried.
“Lord Ferid…” Mika intoned. “Lord Ferid! He’s becoming pale!”
‘Oh no…’ Yuu’s adrenaline spiked. ‘So he was planning on draining me?’ “My lord…” Yuu’s voice came out faint as dizziness overwhelmed him. “P-please...please don’t kill me. My family...th-they need...me…” Black dots swarmed his vision, before Ferid finally released him from his fangs with a lingering lick at the puncture wound.
“Mmnnn…” Ferid groaned. “Your blood is...divine.”
Yuu slumped heavily against the vampire. His limbs felt weak, and nausea hit him so suddenly that he had to fight to keep the food he just ate down.
“Mika-chan? I trust you will help my new little concubine to his quarters? I believe he needs some rest.”
Mika sprung from his seat, coming over to Yuu and sling an arm over his shoulder to help Yuu stand without collapsing.
“Before you leave, Yuuichiro, your earned supplies will be waiting for you with my guard, Crowley.” Ferid stood and waved cheerily at the young boys. “Have a nice night, my sweet little lamb.” And with that, Ferid left.
“Come on…” Mika said softly. “I’ll take you to my room where you can rest for a bit.” Mika led him up the stairs and down a hallway, until they finally reached a large room with a plush looking bed in the center. Mika plopped Yuu down on it, and immediately the room began to spin.
“Ah god...the ceiling is twirling!”
Mika hastily propped Yuu’s feet up with a couple of pillows and laid his head level. The spinning mercifully stopped.
“Oi...thank you…” Yuu breathed.
“Sure.” Mika went to the door to leave, which made Yuu panic a little.
“Wait!”
Mika turned to look at him. “What?”
“Umm…” For some odd reason, Yuu could feel his face heat. “Will you...uh...stay with me? Just for a little bit?”
Sighing in exasperation, Mika returned to his side, crossing his arms over his chest. “If you’re going to be Ferid’s blood slave, you’re going to have to get used to this. He has a large appetite, especially with newcomers. I’m surprised he didn’t drain you, to be honest.”
“...Where are the other blood slaves?” Yuu asked hesitantly.
“They died. You’re lucky Ferid fed you before he drank from you, or else you likely would be dead now too-”
“But you stopped him.”
A blush bloomed over Mika’s cheeks. “So?”
“So...why were the others killed if you are there to stop Ferid from draining them?”
Mika sighed again, and sat on the edge of the bed at Yuu’s hip. “Look...you seem like a nice guy. And you claim you have a family to take care of. Most kids volunteer for blood slavery for their own selfish needs for more comfort. So If what you say is true, and you really do have a family to care for, then they’re going to need you back.”
“And you?” Yuu blinked at him owlishly. “Don’t you have anybody you’re caring for? Is that why you’re Ferid’s blood slave?”
Mika Looked away, his expression becoming somber. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But why?”
“Because it’s personal.”
“Personal how?”
“It just is!”
“But why?! You know the reason I’m here! So I want to know yours!”
Mika gave him a withering look, before he finally spoke, “Because i’m already dying.”
Yuu didn’t know exactly how to respond to that. So all he said was, “Huh?”
Mika looked so downtrodden, so sad...that Yuu felt terrible now for even asking.
“I-I have leukemia.” Mika finally said. “So I’m going to die anyway. And since vampires aren’t vulnerable to any types of diseases or illness, Ferid doesn’t see a problem with taking my blood. I could die any day now, and it wouldn’t make a difference whether it was from him drinking too much blood or the cancer. I’m surprised I’m still alive after all this time…”
“Mika...I...I’m so sorry-”
“STOP!” Mika snapped. “I don’t want your stupid pity…” The blonde looked on the verge of crying. “That’s why, I can’t stand it when healthy young kids like you come through here and get killed before their time. When they could potentially live for decades. And all to live their remaining days a little more comfortably-”
“Mika…I’m sorry you see me that way. But i’m not doing this for myself. The kids...I was raised in an orphanage since I was eight. There are a lot a young children I live with now, they’re my family. And they’re starting to get ill...so...that’s why i’m here. But at the same time, I know what you’re saying. That I shouldn’t be sacrificing myself, and potentially dying, because they need me. So, I really am sorry. About what you are going through. I couldn’t even imagine...But...it’s still stupid of yourself too. You’re just shortening your own life span, when it’s already short enough.”
Mika scoffed. “Didn’t it occur to you that maybe that was my intention? Why would I want to continue living if this was the life I had to live? To be livestock for these vampires! Not to mention, I’m completely alone here. Both of my parents died shortly before the vampires found me and took me! So living for somebody isn’t exactly a realistic scenario for me.”
Yuu remained silent after that.
Mika laughed bitterly, wiping his tears before they could spill. “Sorry...I just-I haven't mentioned it in a while. It bothers me still, even after all this time.”
They both were silent for several minutes, that seemed to stretch on for an hour.
“Anyway, you need some rest-”
“Hey Mika?” Yuu’s words made the blonde stop on the door. “If you want...you can come stay with us. With me and my family. I know living can be painful...but...maybe you can find some kind of light in this darkness if you had a family as well?”
‘Family…’ Mika gaped at him. Astonished by his offer. Why would he try to be part of a family, only to die shortly after? He didn’t know what his reasoning was, but he found himself accepting Yuu’s offer. Maybe it was something about this boy. Something about his steady green gaze, his determination...his very existence that exuberated life and a future had called to him. Had made it seem that, maybe if he was around this boy, he might live longer. Just being around him in the short interaction made Mika feel exuberated. Even though he had chastised him for volunteering as a blood slave, he commended him for his willingness to care for a bunch of orphans he had grown up with, and had considered them his family. Mika wanted a family too. He always had.
For whatever the reason, Mika said “Ok...I’ll come stay with you then.”
And Yuu was thrilled.
***
3 Years Later:
It was Mika’s turn for blood letting. No matter how many times Yuu had offered to take his place this day, his friend always insisted upon being the one to make the sacrifice.
Mika was stubborn, and it was debatable whether or not he was consider more stubborn than Yuu was. One thing was for sure; he was able to make Yuu give in to his insistence when it came time for one of them to give Ferid blood for supplies.
Yuu was furious. This was the third time in a row that Mika had gone. If Yuu was honest with himself, he’d say he was scared. He was scared of every day being Mika’s last.
The blonde boy had ended up living way longer than he had expected. At nearly sixteen, the illness he had hadn't progressed, but it hadn’t gotten better either. And Yuu was afraid that the bloodletting would eventually kill his closest, and dearest friend.
Throughout the years, Mika had become an important part of their family. He even preferred living in their small run down livestock home over the relative comfort of Ferid’s mansion. And he and Yuu had become very close. So close, that often times they were teased about it and called lovers. Everyone could see they way they looked at each other, their gazes filled with adoration. But Yuu and Mika didn’t care. They needed each other for strength, and cared deeply for one another. ‘Even though he’s a complete moron…’ Yuu grumbled to himself.
He was laying in their sleeping loft, staying awake while everyone else slept, as he waited for Mika to return. As the minutes ticked by, he felt more and more worried. Until the sound of the front door opening made him sag in relief. He peeked his head over the edge of the loft, spotting Mika quietly closing the door. Yuu decided to climb down from the loft and help him carry the supplies to the kitchen.
“Awe, you waited up for me? I’m touched Yuu-chan.”
Yuu rolled his eyes “Shut up.”
They put the supplies away in companionable silence for a few moments. Yuu inspected the blonde out of the corner of his eye. He looked pale...very pale, and his movements appeared sluggish, like each task took great effort.
“Hey, Mika?”
“Hm?”
“Are you feeling alright?” Yuu asked. “You don’t look so good.”
Mika stilled his task briefly, before continuing and saying “I’m fine, Yuu. Don’t worry about me.”
Yuu glared holes at the back of Mika’s head. “You’re a liar. What the hell Mika? Since when do we lie to each other? Tell me. Did Ferid take too much blood?”
“No.” Mika clipped, his shoulders bunching with tension.
“Then what? Are are catching a cold or something?”
“No.”
Yuu paled, almost blanching the Mika’s skin tone. “Is it-is it because of...the-”
“Yuu-chan!” Mika snapped. “I don’t want to talk about it!”
This only served to make Yuu more curious, and angry. He gripped Mika by the upper arm, spinning him around to face him. Yuu parted his lips to give Mika a blistering retort, but the look in the blonde’s eyes made him trail off.
His eyes ablaze, Mika grasped Yuu by the back of his head and pulled his face to his, before melding their lips together in a crushing kiss.
Yuu gasped against his friends mouth, eyes widening in shock. ‘What the hell is he doing?!’ Why was his best friend kissing him?
Mika pulled away slowly, looking everywhere but at Yuu and dropped his hands as if he had been burned. “I...I’m sorry...Yuu-chan. I-I don’t know what came over me…” His face was tinged with a crimson color on his high cheekbones.
Yuu brought a hand up to touch his lips. They still tingled from the hard kiss. “Mika…” He murmured against his fingers. “W-what was that? Why…?”
Mika seemed to fold in on himself as he moved to retreat. “I already said I was sorry! I won’t ever do that again, so please don't bring it up-”
Yuu stayed his retreating form with a hand over the blonde’s wrist. “Mika, wait!” He pulled Mika to a stop, but he still wouldn’t look Yuu in the eyes. “I just...why didn’t you tell me?” He asked, “How long have you felt this way about me?”
Yuu was so confused. Never before had he looked at anybody with any sort of romantic implications. He felt closer to Mika than he ever had with anybody else. Thought about him constantly when they weren’t side by side, and worried over his well being. The thought of life without Mika was that too terrible for him to dwell on. But he was still too young to really understand the depth of his emotions for his friend. Now that Mika had kissed him however...foreign and new feeling began blooming in his mind. And he found himself wanting to be kissed again.
“It doesn’t matter, Yuu-chan...Just forget it ever happened-”
“But...but I don't want to forget…”
Mika finally looked over at his blushing friend.
“I just...can we try that again?” Yuu whispered.
Mika blinked at him in astonishment. “Yuu-chan?”
They finally met eyes. Stormy blue and fiery green, both filled with uncertainty and a mutual notion that they wanted to explore this new territory. They both leaned towards each other, brushing their lips together more gently this time. Mika’s breath hitched and Yuu’s scalp tingled as they deepened the kiss. It was clumsy, a bit awkward, and neither boy knew what to do with their hands. But they didn’t care. It felt good, and made their hearts thunder in their chests.
Mika finally raised his hands to cup Yuu’s face softly and began backing them against a wall. He pressed his taller frame against Yuu’s, and Yuu fisted the back of Mika’s shirt. He vaguely noted how broad Mika’s shoulders were becoming. How strong his body felt, even with his condition. With their bodies pressed flush against each other like this, Yuu could feel every slight movement, every heartbeat, and the sensations rippling through him made Yuu grow light headed.
When Mika’s breathing became more labored, they finally broke apart for air. They stared at each other for long moments, hints of confusion flashed across both of their faces; Yuu’s for having these feelings for his friend, his male friend. And Mika’s because of the reality that Yuu accepted him, and might even feel the same way Mika had felt since the moment the blonde had laid eyes on the bold raven haired boy.
“Yuu-chan…” My breathed. Bringing their foreheads together and closing their eyes, they were silent for long moments as they caught their breaths. “Lets run away, Yuu-chan.”
Yuu blinked his eyes open at his words. “What?”
“You and me, and our family. We can escape from here, go live peaceful somewhere. Somewhere away from the vampires.”
“But how?” Yuu asked. “And what about you? The vampire’s medicine is what is keeping you from dying Mika! You can’t leave that behind!”
At Mika’s sad smile, Yuu felt his blood run cold.
“I have only a year left, Yuu-chan. That’s what I was told today when I went to Ferid’s.”
Yuu blanched a pale white. Hot tears flooded his eyes. “Mika...no-”
“Shh...it’s ok. If I can live my last year alive with you in peace, somewhere far away from here, then that’s all I could ever ask for. If I can help you escape from this hell...then I will be fulfilled.” He brushed the back of his fingers down Yuu’s soft cheek, wiping a tear that spilled. “So don’t worry about me Yuu-chan. As long as you’re happy, then I’ll feel like I have lived for hundreds of years.”
“How could you say that Mika…” Yuu croaked. “I don’t want to live without you Mika…” Yuu knew this was coming eventually. But he didn’t want to accept it. He didn’t want Mika to leave him. Especially not when their true feelings for one another had finally been brought out in the open. “We will find a cure. There has to be somebody out there in the world who can heal you. Who can help you so that you live as long as anyone else! So that we can always be together, even when we are old. We will find them, together.”
Mika’s smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, but he agreed nonetheless. “Ok...we will escape this place, and we will find some way so that I can live longer. Then we can grow up together, grow old together.”
Yuu held Mika close to him. “I love you, Mika…” The words slipped from his mouth. But they felt like the most natural thing in the world to say.
“Yuu-chan…” Mika choked out, letting his own tears fall. “I-I love you too. I have always loved you.”
Loosening their embrace and wiping away tears, Yuu said “Let’s go. Tonight. Let’s wake everybody up and get out of here!”
***
Supplies packed, and map in hand, Yuu, Mika and the other orphans made their way to the vampire city’s exit without much trouble.
But as fate would have it, Ferid was already there. Waiting for them.
The silver haired vampire, who had taken blood from Yuu and Mika countless times throughout the years, had slaughtered every single orphan in cold blood. It was when Ferid hand stabbed his hand Through Mika’s chest and out the other side of his body, simultaneously cutting off his arms, Yuu had lost it. Taking the pistol that Yuu had acquired so long ago, he shot Ferid in the skull, incapacitating him. Yet only temporarily.
Mika was bleeding out quickly and Yuu dragged the blonde’s limp body to the exit. ‘Not like this...not like this! This can’t be happening!’ His mind screamed.
“Leave me, Yuu. Save yourself!” Mika implored, hearing heavy footsteps of the vampire guards falling against the marble flooring as they approached the large hall.
“Shut up!” Yuu yelled. “I’m not leaving you here! I can't...I can't lose you Mika! You told me we would leave together!” Slipping on the blood covering in the floor, Yuu tripped backwards onto his ass. Scrambling back up, he reached for Mika again to try to drag him further. But the other boy pushed him away with the last of his strength.
“Just go you idiot!” Mika pleaded. “Don't let us die in vain! Get out of here, now!”
“Mika…” Yuu sobbed.
They stared into eachothers eyes, and the world seemed to stop when Yuu realised he had two choices; stay and die here with Mika and the others, or escape without him and live the rest of his life without him.
Yuu didn’t want to live without Mika. But at the same time, if he lived, he could avenge his family. Could find a way to make the vampires pay for taking them from him. Mika wanted him to live. Wanted him to escape. And as much as Yuu wanted to stay, as much as he was at peace with the idea of dying here with the rest of his family, the supplicate look in Mika’s eyes, the way he was silently begging for Yuu to carry on, made him get himself to his feet. And he ran. He ran with everything he had. Ran like hell was at his heels. Each footfall caused stabbing pain in his heart, and he hated himself more and more with every bit of distance he gained away from the horror at his back.
Yuu chose to live, chose to carry on without Mika. And he knew he would never forgive himself for it.
“Goodbye, Yuu-chan...Maybe we'll meet again somehow…”