"Well, well, am I interrupting something?"

"Shut up," Mika snapped, helping Reika up. Her eyes widened as she saw that she wasn't wearing her usual clothing but was wearing one of Mika's plain white shirts.

"Oh, come on, there has to be something going on here! You have her scent all over you. Tell me the details, Mika," Lacus smiled, a smug look in his eye.

"Nothing happened. We just slept together," Mika said innocently. He immediately regret those words as they came out of his mouth. "That came out wrong. I mean we just went to bed together. We fell asleep on the bed. Nothing happened."

"Did you undress me?" Reika demanded, placing her hand on her hip.

"You were dirty. I didn't want my bed to get dirty," Mika defended.

"Oh, okay. So you are saying that I am nasty and dirty?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"No! No! I didn't mean it like that. You see, I have this thing with germs and-"

"You saw me in my undergarments!" She shrieked, glaring at him heatedly.

He raised his hands in a 'surrender' pose, "I swear, my eyes didn't wander."

She raised her eyebrows in suspicion and gave him the 'really' look. Poor little innocent Mika...

"You two bicker like an old married couple," Lacus chuckled, watching the two with eyes filled with amusement. They both turned to him and glared.

"Shut up!" The two said in unison.

"The reason why I'm here is because the Queen is requesting to see you, Mika," the purple headed vampire stated.

Mika's eyes coldened, knowing what she wanted. It was either news on the Demon Army or... it was time to get more blood from her. He sighed before walking out the door, heading straight to her throne room.

"Hey, I wasn't done talking to you!" Reika yelled. "This conversation is not over!"

Mika rolled his eyes and left but couldn't help it as his lips tugged into a small smile.

Reika huffed in annoyance. He had left her alone with Lacus. He simply just stared at her with analyzing eyes.

Lacus finally spoke, "So nothing happened between you and MIka? Nothing?"

She glared at him before scoffing. Flipping her head to the side in a bitchy manor, she left. She found herself outside the castle, watching as the children played amongst themselves. Her eyes saddened as she saw the girl she had almost choked last night. The pink handprints were visible around the girl's neck making Reika hang her head in shame.

Her pointed ears perked up as she heard crying. It sounded like a child. She followed the sound, it leading her to one of the dark alleys in the children's neighborhood. She walked forward but stopped as she spotted something.

There was a little boy, curled up against the brick wall. Soft whimpers and cries left his lips and he was shaking uncontrollably. The boy had to be no older than seven. His back was facing Reika so she couldn't make distinct features besides his ebony colored hair.

She cautiously walked up to him and lightly tapped his shoulder. He cried out in pain and recoiled from her touch. It was then that Reika realized something. She could smell it all over him. It was blood. She smelt blood.

He turned his head, showing his face. Reika gasped in horror at what she saw.

The boy had a large gash across his forehead. Bruises and cuts covered his arm. Blood was seeping through his shirt. His lip was cut and busted open. He had a visible black eye. A scar ran down his neck and disappeared into his ragged clothing.

His eyes widened as he saw the vampire in front of him. He tried to scoot back but he screamed from the pain and collapsed, lying there, crying.

Not wanting to scare the boy, Reika smiled gently, speaking softly, "I won't hurt you. Are you okay?"

His voice was so innocent yet laced with so much hurt. It broke her heart.

"You promise you won't hurt me?" His hopeful eyes crumpled Reika's walls.

She nodded, "I promise."

Reika bit her wrist with her fanged teeth, drawing blood. She leaned towards him, holding up her bleeding arm. "Here, Drink this. You will heal faster."

He stared at it in disgust but did it anyways. His wounds slowly began to heal but no vampire blood could heal the scar he held.

"My name is Reika. What is yours?"

"Naoki."

"Can you tell me what happened, Naoki?"

He shook his head no, fear written all over his face. She looked at him in sympathy. She sighed. He was too scared to talk but she knew he would tell her soon. She took the gentle and friendly approach, smiling cheerfully.

"Can I call you Nao?"

He nodded.

"Good. After your wounds are all healed up, you can come to my room and stay there. I know how the children's homes don't give beds, only hard wooden furniture. You need to be comfortable in order to heal properly," Reika ranted, acting more like a nurse than a stranger.

"Why are you being nice to me?" Naoki asked suddenly. "You're a vampire. Why are you being kind?"

"Technically. I'm not a vampire yet," she stated. She hasn't drank human blood yet so she hasn't completely her transition, hence why she doesn't have red eyes. "I'm sort of in between, if that makes sense."

"So, you're not going to kill me?" He asked in a small voice. A lump formed in Reika's throat as his hopeful eyes stared up at her. Now that she thinks about it, this has been the first time she has actually had a child speak to her and not run away.

"No, sweetie. I'm not going to kill you."

Before they knew it, it had gotten dark. Reika stood up and dusted herself off. Naoki's hand shot out and he grabbed onto her cloak tightly.

"You're not leaving me are you?" He asked fearfully.

She shook her head before bending down and scooping him up in her arms. She tapped his nose jokingly and giggled, "No way am I leaving you out here alone."

With that, she started walking to the castle.

~*~

Mika sighed in exhaustion. It has been a long day. He got his supply of blood for this week from Krul and got news from Ferid about Yuu. It made Mika's blood boil by the thought of him being used by the humans. He hated how Yuu was clueless about the whole thing. He vowed that he would save him soon.

"We," Reika corrected.

"We are going to rescue him."

Mika remembered how Reika said firmly that they were both going to save him. He didn't like it but knowing Reika, once she had her mind set on something there was nothing you could do to stop her. He chuckled quietly to himself.

Mika made his way to his room. He opened the door and closed it before looking up in front of him. He froze in shock.

There was Reika, lying down on the bed. Her hair was sprawled all over his pillow, wearing nothing but a black silk gown. But it wasn't her he was surprised about.

There was a child. A human little boy, lying beside her. He was sleeping, his chest rising up and down. Mika could smell his blood and that made him slightly nauseous. He could see the cuts and bruises running along his arm and tilted his head curiously.

"Reika, why the hell did you bring a child in me room?" He asked harshly. All he could think about was the child's blood and was slowly diminishing his sanity.

"Sssh, you'll wake him up," she snapped.

His voice held sarcasm as he spoke in a quieter voice, "Oh, sorry, let me try that again." He whispered this time. "Why the hell did you bring a child in my room?"

She glared at his tone before getting up from the bed, making sure to not wake the boy up before stalking towards Mika. She narrowed her eyes up at him and poked his chest angrily, her ears flared red.

"First off, do not talk to me like that. I found this child, beaten and gave him some of my blood but it's not healing his scars. I brought him here because there is no way in hell I am letting a little boy slowly die in the alleyway, alone and perhaps a vampire might smell his blood and decide to feed on him. So yeah, I brought him to your room but only because I trust you."

Mika's eyes softened. He sighed and hung his head in shame. "I am sorry for snapping at you. I was just having a bad day."

She crossed her arms and looked away, "I guess I'm sorry too for coming in here without permission. I just didn't know where to go. I couldn't bring him to my room because it is Ferid's room too. I came here because this is the only place I feel safe."

He smiled and jokingly ruffled her hair. She huffed in annoyance and blew her hair away from her face. He spoke in a childish voice, "You forgive me?"

She pretended to think about, stroking her nonexistent beard, "I guess, but only you let me hide Nao in here."

He grinned, "Deal."

The bed creaking brought their attention to the little boy, looking at them with wide eyes. Reika rushed to his side and smiled lightly, "Go back to sleep, Nao. You need to rest."

"Who is that?" Naoki whispered, pointing towards Mika.

She replied, "That's my best friend, Mika. You can trust him."

The blonde haired vampire walked towards the bed and sent the boy a warm smile, "Hello."

The little boy reached out towards Reika and wrapped his arms around her neck, burying his face in her chest fearfully. He was shaking like a leaf, scared out of his mind. Tears fell from his eyes. Her heart clenched, knowing that whatever he's been through made him have trust issues. No child should have to go through this.

Mika looked at him worriedly. Reika reassured him, "He's just overwhelmed. He will warm up to you soon."

She pried the arms off her neck and tucked him into the bed. Kissing his forehead, she said softly, "I have to go now, okay?"

His eyes widened in fear, "No! Please don't leave me."

She didn't want to leave but if she didn't return to Ferid's room, he would come in here and probably kill Naoki. Mika sat down at the foot of the bed, watching the two quietly.

"I promise I'll be here first thing in the morning. You will wake up to me beside you, I promise. Mika is going to take good care of you. Goodnight, Nao."

Her words put his worry to rest. He nodded and snuggled into the pillows, "Night, Reika."

Turning towards Mika, she smiled appreciatively then kissed his cheek quickly, "Goodnight to you too, Mika."

He blushed, "Sleep well."

"Not likely," she said bitterly, knowing that Ferid will be there. She left the room and walked slowly, the dread settling in her stomach.

Pushing the door open, she entered the room. The lights were on meaning he was already inside. She spotted him sitting on the chair, drinking from a glass full of blood. From the smell of it, it was human. She gulped nervously, already craving it.

"Why hello there, my darling Reika. I was beginning to think you wouldn't show," Ferid said teasingly, "I see you and Mika are getting along extremely well."

"Yeah, I guess so," she said nonchalantly, crawling into bed. She laid down and pulled the covers over her, getting comfortable. Ferid turned off the lights.

Reika felt the bed dip. He had gotten in bed with her. Like usual, she turned her back towards him and lay on the edge of the bed, getting far away from his as possible. Ferid had propped himself up by his elbow and was staring at the girl. She could feel his stare burning at the back of her head.

"Why are you always so far away?" He questioned, "I thought me and you are close now after all these years."

"Ha, you wish," she said dryly.

"Awe, I really thought you had fallen in love with me," he said arrogantly, "I mean, what is there not to like?"

"Don't even get me started," she said, annoyed. He was never this talkative. They would always just fall asleep, no words exchanged.

"Who knows? Maybe I am the one who has fallen for you," Ferid said, twirling strands of her hair with his finger, "You are quite remarkable, Reika."

She ignored him and his silly lies. Silence filled the air and their conversation was over. The girl fell asleep quickly while the noble lay wide awake, just staring at her sleep. Her chest rose up and down and her pink, cute lips were slightly parted.

Ferid stole a kiss that night. He didn't know the reason why he did this. He reminded himself that she was merely a toy in his game. Nothing else. He sighed and got out of bed, not being able to sleep. He opened the door but paused, glancing behind him to steal one last look of the girl on his bed then left. He needed to clear his  clouded mind.

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