Family Bonds

Part 1

A/N This is my very first attempt at a Seraph of the End fanfiction. It's an AU. I will do my best to keep everyone in character, but as this is my firstone, please don't judge too harshly. Please enjoy this story andthanks for stopping by. Also, I may have made some of the kidsyounger than they should be.

The streets were empty as Yu cautiouslymade his way through the city. An uneasy silence filled the air. Theonly sound was his footsteps on the pavement as we walked.

"What the hell is this place?" He thought out loud. The buildings around him had crumbled to the ground and nature had already begun reclaiming the ruins.

"Where have you been, Yu? We've been looking everywhere." Mika's gentle voice called from behind him. The blond hurried toward him. "Are you okay?" Yu nodded and Mika let out a relieved sigh.

"Good." He said, suddenly crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at his friend. "Do you know how worried we've all been? You disappeared hours ago. I was starting to wonder if-" the boy stopped unable to finish his thought.

Yu reached out, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Mika. I didn't mean to worry you like that." Mika sighed heavily, dropping his arms to his side.

"I know. It's not safe to gowandering around this place alone, Yu, you know that. You should stay close to home from now on. Let's go find everyone else. They shouldn't be far."Mika turned away from Yu, leading the way to the street corner, andturned right. "So what were you doing out here anyway?"

"I don't know. You guys didn't have to come looking for me, I can handle myself."

"I told you, whether you like it or not,you're our family and we're never going to leave you. I know you think you have everything under control but trust me, one day you'll want this. We have to stick together. That's the only way we'll get through this."

Yu followed Mika to a gray,one-story building. Mika disappeared just inside the door. Yu hesitated to follow.

"Come on, what are you waiting for,everyone's worried sick and Akane made soup for dinner, you must be hungry by now." An uneasy feeling took over Yu's body causinghim to shiver.

"Mika, something doesn't feel right about this place." He called out but received no reply.

"Mika?" He called, cautiously stepping closer. "Hey, where'd you-"

"Run, Yu!" A chorus of voicescried out suddenly from the dark interior. Yu's heart dropped into his stomach.

"What'shappening? if this is some kind of joke to get back at me for scaring-"

"Go now!" Mika cried out. "Get as far from here as you can, right now, there's no time!" The urgency in the blond's voice made Yu's blood run cold. 

"I won't leave you, Mika!" He cried, rushing forward. As he reached the door, a pair of crimson eyes peered out of the darkness.

"Run,run as fast as you can little lamb." The voice chuckled cruelly."But you can never escape us. No one ever does."

"Get away from my family!" Yu screamed, rushing toward the voice.

"I'm afraid you're already too late, little one. Why don't you come and join me for dinner?"

"Where's my family? Give them back!" Yu demanded, grabbing a discarded sword and attempting to slash at the intruder.

"Step inside,we're just about to have some dinner. I'm sure your familywould-"

"Let them go!" Yu raged, furiouslyswinging the sword, seemingly unable to land a hit.

"Humans, such annoying creatures." A heavy object collided with Yu's body forcing him to the ground. Yu forced himself to sit up, he looked down in horror.

"Y-Yu" Mika called weakly, his small body covered in crimson. Tears filled Yu's eyes as he held his friend close to him.

"Don't worry, I'll get you somewhere safe we can-"

"Y-Yu, you can't save me," Mika said,his head resting against Yu's chest.

"Sh-shut up, you'll be fine. We just need to-"

"Th-there's only onething you can do for me now. For all of us." Mika's breathing was becoming shallow and strained.

"What? what can Ido?"

"We're so thirsty, Yu," Akane replied,gripping his shoulder from behind. Yu screamed as his familysurrounded him, sinking their teeth deep into his skin.
***

"NO!"Yu woke covered in sweat, gasping for breath. Mika, Ako, Kota and Akane stared at the teen. Mika turned to the younger children.

"Kota, do you remember asking me why youcouldn't stay up to watch that movie last night?" The boy nodded. Mika pointed to Yu.

"That's why." He replied as Yu threw his arms around the blond.

"Settle down,Yu," Mika said as the dark-haired boy tightened his grip."Whatever it was, it's just a bad dream. Maybe next time you'll listen to me when I say it's not good to stay up all night watching horror movies. You'd better get ready for breakfast, you can't afford to be late to work again. We're all counting on you." Yu released him, nodding.

"Yeah, you're right. Don't worry,I've got this." Mika smiled faintly, turning again to the younger members of the family.

"You guys should go get ready for the day too." He suggested gently. Akane placed a hand on each of the children's backs.

"Come on you two, let's get you dressed, breakfast should be ready soon."The girl guided her siblings from the room, leaving Yu and Mika alone. The blond's smile faded as he picked up a discarded shirt from the sofa. Yu frowned, it was clear Mika was worried.

"Yu,"Mika began. "We need to talk." He lowered himself onto a chair across from his friend.

"Sure, what's going on?"

"When we left the orphanage and decided to bring everyone with us, we knew it would be hard." He said. "I know our schedules are crazy with work and I know there are things you really want to do...when you have a family, sometimes things come up and-" Yu sighed.

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"Taichi and Ako are going to need some new shoes soon. Before you say anything, I'm not leaving that on you. I have a chance to pick up a couple more shifts this weekend and since you're off, I was hoping you wouldn't mind helping Akane-"

"Mika, are you sure you wanna do that? You already work nights and by the time you get home, you get like an hour of sleep before you're getting everyone up and keeping me on schedule. That's on a better day. There are times you came through the door just as I was almost out the door. You need to learn to slow down."

"Looking after a family can be tough sometimes like I said. Anyway, I'm fine. I sleep in between chores. You do what you have to do for your family."

"Yeah? What do you think you'll be able to do for us when you collapse from exhaustion?"Yu countered. "How did you get all those hours anyway, when I was hired, I was told sixteen-year-olds could only have-" Mika turned away from him.

"I might have convinced them I was a little older." Yu shook hishead.

"Mika-"

"We need the money, there are eight of us and only two are old enough to have a job right now.I'm not going to leave it all on you to make sure we have a place to live and everything else. You've been really great, but it's too much for just one person."

"So it's okay for you to work yourself into a coma but-"Mika scoffed.

"It's not even that bad, Yu. We don't have time to argue about this though. Hurry up and get ready.I'm going to go make sure Chihiro and Fumie are up." Mika left no room for arguments.

Yu went about his morning routine, by the time he made it to the table, Mika and Akane were already puttingthe plates of food in front of the younger members of the family.

"Yu!" Taichi cried happily, running to greet him.Yui placed a hand on the boy's head.

"Hey, Taichi."He greeted with a smile.

"Will you stay home today andplay with us?" Taichi asked hopefully.

"Sorry, butI can't. Mika's gonna be here and-"

"I love Mika andeveryone else...but you work all day and you never get to playanymore."

"Tell you what, I'm off all weekend, wecan all play then, okay?" The boy smiled up at him and gave ashort nod.

"Okay. We can go to the park and play with mynew ball, and-"

"I'm sure Yu would be happy to doall that with you, "Mika interrupted. "But let's sit down and eat before it gets cold." When everyone had taken their seats andbegan to eat, Mika slowly sipped his juice, turning his attention tothe newspaper.

"Mika?" Akane called softly. "Aren't you going to have something to eat?" the teen smiled faintly.

"I had some toast after I came in this morning."He replied. When they had finished, Yu helped Mika and Akane clear the table.

"I'll see you guys after work." He saidplacing the last plate in the sink. "Sorry I can't stick around and help with these." He pulled on his black jacket.

"Don't forget to grab your lunch."Mika reminded, moving to the fridge and pulling out a plastic bag, he offered it to the dark-haired teen.Yu took the object.

"Thanks. Try to get some sleep, okay?You're not invincible, all these extra shifts and coming back to lookafter us-"

"I told you-"

"Yeah, Iknow. You do what you have to do for your family. Well, you're ourfamily and we need you to take care of yourself too." Mika sighed as he watched his friend leave.

"He's right, you know," Akane said, turning on the faucet and beginning to scrub the plate.

"About what?" The blond teen asked.

"Sometimes you get so busy taking care of everyone else that you forget how important it is for you to take care ofyourself. I'll do the chores today, you should get some rest."Akane suggested.

"Are you sure you can handle everything?"

"'Yeah. Don't worry about anything."The young girl assured him. Mika hesitated.

"If you do need anything-"

"I know where your room is." She replied.

"Thanks, Akane," Mika retreated to his room, closing the door behind him and dropping onto the bed. He had to admit that after a long night, it felt good to lie down. he closed his eyes and was asleep almost instantly.