Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Sheep Amongst the Wolves ❯ Part 1 ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Sheep amongst the Wolves

Author: Chaosdreamer

Archive: SxSAS

Rating: NC-17

Warning: Yaoi, bloodletting, language, possible slight non-con
//Thoughts//

Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin. Property of Nobuhiro
Watsuki, the lucky devil.


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Part 1
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Hiko Seijuro was getting old. That much he was certain about.

Getting himself involved with his stupid apprentice's problems
hadn't made his mood become any less sour by far. Certainly there
was no blame directed at the redhead hitokiri, but circumstances
brought upon by that damn Shishio had definitely made his days far
from enjoyable.

Going into Kyoto had been a mistake. Being around the wounded
fighters had been a dire mistake as well, their blood singing to him
with its alluring crimson melody.

//That's what you get when you haven't fed for quite some time// He
thought sourly. At least he had the advantage of being old enough as
to where the sun did not even harm him. If he had been thirty years
younger he would be sporting a nasty sunburn from the long time
period he had spent underneath the sun's unforgiving rays.

Distracting himself from his mental wondering Hiko took another long
swig of sake, easily swallowing the cool liquid that ran down his
throat like fire, a mild replacement to the crimson fluid he so
craved.

//Making myself known to the Aoiya was a very dangerous move. It
will be more difficult for me to hunt when I have to contend to that
group possibly noticing my strange behavior. The two older women may
serve as a fine meal, but I'll have to be careful and make sure that
they are not aware of what has taken place if I do decide to feed//

Peering out past the open window Hiko inhaled a deep breath of the
cool nighttime air, watching as the moon hovered above, a crescent
of silver slashed across the pitch darkness and small twinkling
diamonds of the sky.

Hiko senses perked and he smelled the human before he heard the soft
tread of footsteps slowly making their way towards his hut. His eyes
flashed a momentary gold, lips curling back in a low hiss to reveal
sharp teeth as he scented the air. His hackles soon fell when he
finally deciphered the human moving towards his hut, the familiar
scent of spice and fire announcing his guest's momentary arrival.

//Ahhh, so he has finally returned. It's been quite some time//
Features smoothing back into more pleasant lines and eye teeth
sinking a little ways back into pink gums, Hiko made himself
comfortable, waiting for his young friend to announce his presence.

He didn't have to wait very long. Knowing that he was always
welcomed the young man didn't even knock, carefully easing the wood
door open.

Hiko smirked at the young man, resting his chin idly in one hand
while bracing his elbow on one knee, "So, you finally decide to
visit me. I bet you didn't even bring me a present, you lazy bum."

Sanosuke grinned at the man's greeting, "Nice to see you too, Hiko."

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***Ten years ago, outside of Kyoto***
********************************

Hiko could hear the sounds of a young child crying, the pitiful
sounds inexorably drawing him towards the painful cries. Moving
amongst the trees like a shadow he found himself at the edge of a
clearing, the moon ripe and full above them.

A young boy in a pair of dirty white pants and shirt was huddled on
top of a large rock near the center of the clearing, small hands
whipping ineffectively at the steady crystal tears that trickled
down soft cheeks. Soft sniffles escaped the boy, his arms shaking as
he wrapped them around his small form.

"Are you lost?" Hiko asked, breaking the silence.

Like a wild colt the boy sprang to his feet, facing the
newcomer. "Go away!!"

Hiko grunted, "Loud little runt."

The boy puffed up with indignation. "I'm not little! I'm Sagara
Sanosuke, you old geezer!"

Hiko twitched slightly in annoyance at having his age pointed out,
even though the boy was unaware how true his statement was, the
older man in front of him old enough to be his great grandfather.

"What are you doing out here, then?"

Sanosuke turned his head away in defiance, "Nothing."

"Don't you have parents to go home to?"

The little boy's shoulders flinched. "My only family is dead. The
Sekiho are all gone."

//Sagara Souzou and his men are dead? The Meiji government is
already showing its ugly self//

"I'm sure that the men and Captain of your group can rest easy
knowing that you are still alive."

"I don't care!! I want Sagara-taicho to come back! I want him
back!!" Sanosuke cried.

"Sometimes we don't get everything that we want." Hiko broke in
coldly.

If anything that only caused the boys cries to escalate, tears
mapping down his face at a faster rate. "I-I don't have a-anyone
now…" He whimpered.

Hiko couldn't find the will to turn away from the boy, taking small
careful steps until he was standing in front of the small shaking
form. "You'll catch a cold or worse if you stay out here." He
reached out a hand, leaving the boy to make his own
decision. "Either come with me or stay here."

Sanosuke stared at the offered hand in silence, looking between
Hiko's face and the level hand. In a move that surprised to
swordsman the young boy threw himself at Hiko's waist, wrapping thin
arms around him, burying his face into the soft green material of
his shirt, the white of his small outfit blending in to the white
cloak that hung from Hiko's shoulders.

"Don't leave me." Sanosuke said into Hiko's chest.

Hiko grinned minutely at the young boy, rubbing one large hand on
top of the small head covered with soft tufts of
brunette, "Demanding little brat." He muttered affectionately.


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"Bah." Hiko grunted, "The impetuous of youth. Hiko-san would be more
appropriate."

Sanosuke let go of a dramatic sigh, as if he was suffering through
Hiko's dramatized speech, "Alright then. Good to see you, Hiko-san."

"You do learn quickly." Hiko grinned, "So, have you come to regale
me with your exploits?"

"What don't you already know?" Sanosuke asked, moving forward and
dropping down to sit Indian style in front of the older swordsman,
unconsciously resting his injured bandaged right hand in his
lap, "I'm sure the girls at the Aoiya have already to ya' about the
defeat of the Juppongatana and Shishio burning to ashes."

With an ease of long practice Hiko handed a full cup of sake to his
young companion, filling up his own cup as the young brawler took a
sip of the strong liquid, "Ah, so there is nothing new I should know
about"

"……We lost Saitou…" Sanosuke admitted after a brief pause.

Hiko noted the strained look on the brunette's face, "When?"

"Right after Shishio was defeated and we were retreating. The bridge
collapsed, and Saitou was stuck on the other side, injured. He
couldn't make it across. He fell as the rest of the bridge
collapsed."

Hiko didn't say anything, knowing that there were no words that were
of any adequate comfort. After a brief moment of shared silence he
finally asked, "So when is my stupid apprentice well enough to
travel back to Tokyo?"

Sanosuke couldn't help the grin that formed on his face at Hiko's
name-calling of his apprentice, "The fox-lady says he'll be well
enough to travel by train tomorrow, since he's had plenty of rest."

"He did seem to have gained some color when I saw him today." Hiko
commented idly. Reaching forward he refilled Sanosuke's cup, noting
that already a light flush had crossed the man's cheeks, the
homemade sake obviously much stronger than the kind the fighter
usually drank.

"Trying to get me drunk, old man?" Sanosuke teased.

"Makes it much easier for me to have my way with you." Hiko
countered.

"Well, at least you admit to it." Sanosuke said sarcastically.

"I'm an honest man."

"You're an old lecher."

"So says the young man who is well within the reach of the `old
lecher'."

Sanosuke laughed softly even as Hiko glared with mock threat at the
young fighter, "Alright, alright, don't give me that beady eye
stare!" Sanosuke said it defeat, raising his right hand in defense
while he balanced the full sake cup in his left hand.

With a blur of speed that the fighter could not possibly follow Hiko
carefully caught the injured hand within his left, the brunette's
hand much smaller within his own, the tight bandages giving it the
appearance of fragility, as if it would break under the most minor
of pressure. "And what did the good Doctor say about your own
injury?" He inquired.

Sanosuke shrugged, eyes slightly wider, impressed by Hiko's speed
and just the sheer size of his hand compared to his own, "Don't use
it to bash in peoples faces and it just might heal."

"Then it's in your best interests if you listen to the good Doctor."

"Yes Dad." Sanosuke grumbled. The brunette yelped when he was
suddenly jerked forward, cup crashing to the floor as strong arms
caught him in a headlock, the swordsman mussing up the fighter's
hair even further in retaliation. Sanosuke squirmed and struggled,
laughing as he tried to wiggle free.

Hiko held the young man easily, not using even half of his strength
to hold the squirming pup. By chance he happened to pull the young
man close enough the get a large whiff of a familiar scent, his
shoulders tightening as he recognized the alluring
fragrance. "You're cut." Hiko murmured, his voice dropping down into
a husk, eyes focused intently on the young man's shoulder where he
knew where fresh blood lay under, a simple layer of white bandages
doing nothing to cover the intoxicating scent.

Sanosuke shrugged as much as he could against the strong arms around
him, face tucked underneath Hiko's chin, "Probably happened during
my fight with Anji. Or maybe when Shishio sent me flying into the
wall."

Hiko was barely paying attention, his focus completely on the steady
heartbeat near his ear, the warmth of Sanosuke's skin practically
seeping into him, warming him instantly.

//Shit shit shit shit shit shit// He cursed silently, clenching his
lips together tight as he felt his teeth slid out of their sheath in
his gums, canines practically thrumming at the scent of fresh blood.
His eyes flashed a pure gold, pupils narrowing tightly, hunger
seeping into the golden orbs.

"Hiko?" Sanosuke asked, feeling the arms around him tighten, wincing
when it began to grow almost too tight, "Hey, what is it?" He asked
worriedly.

"Hiko?"

"Hiko?! Come on, you're scaring me!"

Hiko clenched his eyes shut even as the beast inside of him rose,
pushing aside his rationality, the blood too much of a temptation to
pass up. His hard-won control frayed and snapped, and then he didn't
even bother to try to hold back his hunger.


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//Shit, what's wrong with him?// Sanosuke worried, squirming to try
to pull himself back, hands wrapped around Hiko's biceps when he had
tried to shake Hiko out of his impromptu silence.

"Hiko?! Come on, you're scaring me!" Sanosuke begged.

The arms around him shifted minutely and Sanosuke felt momentarily
relieved, believing the man had finally come out of his stupor.

His relief was short-lived when he found himself tumbled sharply
onto his back, stunned as the much larger form hovered above him,
the long tail of hair somehow having come free of its binding to
fall around Sanosuke his a pitch-black waterfall of color, shielding
the older man's face.

"Hey!!" Sanosuke yelped, eyes wide as Hiko practically ripped the
lapels of his shirt off of his shoulders, hands sliding the cloth
all the way down to his wrists, trapping his arms against his sides.
The larger hands were like iron, not budging no matter how much the
fighter twisted furiously within his grasp. "Hiko!" Sanosuke
demanded, "What are you doing?"

Seeming to ignore the young man's demands Hiko darted forward, mouth
pressed against the stark white wrappings around the brunette's
shoulder. Sanosuke tensed at the loud ripping sound, his mind
registering that, somehow, Hiko had torn away the wrapping, without
harming him, with his teeth!

The cold damp press of a tongue to the slight open wound caused
Sanosuke to shiver, the sudden cold in his companion's body
startling, to say the least. When Hiko began to lap at the wound,
causing small trickles of blood to seep out, Sanosuke felt his
patience snap completely. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!?" He
cursed, bringing his legs up, slamming them as strongly as he could
into Hiko's crotch.

The echoing snarl from the injured man made the hair on the back of
Sanosuke's neck stand up, Hiko shuffling away a few feet from him,
shaking his head with an air of annoyance, thighs trembling as he
appeared to calm will the pain away.

Sanosuke, finally freed, shuffled backwards away from the man,
clutching at his damp and bloody shoulder with his right hand, white
bandages slowing being covered by pale patches of pink and
red. "Fuck, man! What the hell are you, some kind of--"

Hiko threw his head back, hair shifting and sliding to the sides,
gold eyes burning into dark brown, cheekbones prominent against the
tightened flesh of his skin. He hissed gutturally at the young
fighter, teeth gleaming an alabaster white, eyeteeth much longer
than they had normally been previously.

"--vampire---" Sanosuke stuttered in shock, mouth suddenly dry as he
choked in horror.


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The human is afraid.

His prey trembled visibly, arms still partially tangled within the
limp folds of his jacket. The man's legs were spread slightly from
being sprawled onto the ground, the white outfit and various
bandages an impressive contrast to his lightly tanned skin.

A rumbling chuckle escaped through thin lips, his senses
unconsciously tasting the man's fear, //Don't worry, my bark is
worse than my bite//

The man was slowly trying to make his way backwards, obviously
aiming to dart out of the hidden shed when the opportunity was
presented.

//Mustn't have that// He thought darkly.


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Hiko's movements were a blur of white and black, a nimbus of chaos
as he slammed into Sanosuke. Not thinking that his previous attack
would work again, Sanosuke aimed to slam his left fist into the
swordsman's face, his blow intercepted by one large hand.

With saddening ease Hiko also caught Sanosuke's other hand, the
injured one not even having half the strength of its superior one.
Once again Sanosuke found himself forced flat onto the floor,
pressed from calf to shoulder to the 'creature' above him, hands
forced behind his back, caught between one of Hiko's. "Fuckin'
prick! Get the hell off of me!" Sanosuke growled, cursing further by
the steady weight that increased on his hips to pin him down further.

His temper fizzled out in an instant at the feel of long teeth
brushing against his neck.

"n-NO!" He yelled, struggles increasing to a frantic pitch, his
strength might as well having been used to try to move a
mountain. "Hiko, no! Just stop!"

A hand twisted its way into his hair, not unkind as it shifted his
head to the side, baring the expanse of the left side of his throat.

"Resisting only stalls the inevitable." Hiko growled into the man's
ear.

Sanosuke wasn't capable of holding in a small cry of pain as the man
dove forward, a bright flash of pain blossoming at his
throat. "aAAHghh!!" He gasped, jolting as teeth sank into flesh, the
hand through his hair holding his neck and head steady to prevent
him from jerking around and opening the wound further.

To the fighter's immense shock the pain soon faded to a very
tolerable level, a bone-deep heated fire shooting through his veins,
skin tingling from the surprising wave of ecstasy. He whined softly
in confusion, stuck between denial and fear at the sensation of the
much larger man pressing him to the ground and drinking from his
neck, battling with the desire to writhe and dance from the
pleasurable fire running through him in heavy sporadic rushes. The
hand keeping his wrists confined to the small of his back slackened
enough for him to pull free, hands rising to clasp onto Hiko's
shoulders, tangling into the long trails of hair spilling across
broad shoulders.

The sound and feel of Hiko drinking deep made his body thrum and
heart beat faster. When Hiko's hips thrust up against his own, the
larger sturdier form shifting his legs open so that the big man lay
within the cradle of his thighs. Sanosuke's eyes rolled back as
sharp bolts of electricity sparked across his vision, fire and
lightning seeming to burn across and within his skin.

The heated essence that flooded down Hiko's throat was like
ambrosia, fire and honey pouring past his lips. With each pull of
teeth and lips he rocked forward against the young man's, drawing a
startled and heavy cry with each motion. The beast inside of him, a
feral entity separate yet himself at the same time, shrieked with
triumph at the rich taste of blood, drinking in the heat of the body
beneath him.

"….Stop….I can't…take much more of this…" Sanosuke pleaded, the
intense fire and electricity nearly too much to handle, his
breathing erratic and body mercilessly, pressed from thigh to
shoulders, skin on skin beyond description.

Sensing that he was soon drawing close to the threshold that would
spell possible death for the young man Hiko finally forced himself
to turn away, teeth sliding free, leaving two pinpoints of red on
the brunette's neck. Catching the young man by his shoulders as he
collapsed limp in his arms he drew the fighter against him,
steadying his weak form so he could regain his breath.

//Well, that was a bit unexpected// Hiko thought wryly, //Not as if
I hadn't been considering it for some time, but I was hoping for
better circumstances//

//Well, best not to cry over spilled milk// Taking measures that he
had planned to use in a few years time to bind the fighter to him
after revealing his true self Hiko bit into his tongue, trickles of
blood spilling free right before the flesh knitted closed. Leaning
forward he pressed his mouth to the fighters, jaw easily spreading
open unresisting lips, allowing his tongue to slide inside coated
with blood. Sanosuke squirmed as the few trickles of blood traveled
down his throat, the metallic taste almost seeming to burn the soft
flesh of his throat.

//This is my first kiss//, Sanosuke thought in realization, eyes
half-lidded as he tried to stay awake, //with a man who is also a
damn vampire//

Hiko pulled away, tongue pulling free only after tracing along the
inside of Sanosuke's bottom lip. He grinned down at the lax fighter,
having caught the stray thoughts in the man's mind, //So glad to
have that honor// He thought huskily.

Sanosuke's eyes widened sharply before flickering again, eyelids
growing heavy, //I can…hear your voice…in my head..//

//That is the luxury of sharing just a small taste of my blood//
Hiko leaned forward once again, this time laving his tongue over the
two wounds on Sanosuke's throat, coaxing the flesh to seal over,
leaving nary a bruise visible to prying eyes, //Imagine what else we
could share//

His statement went unanswered, the reason obvious from the fighter's
closed eyes and deep breathing. Hiko smiled down affectionately at
the young man cradled tightly against him, "Well, I best get you
back to the Aoiya before the others notice you're gone."


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When Sanosuke finally woke up it was to the bright sunshine shedding
its way through the partially open windows and to the loud yelling
of his friends, Yahiko calling Kaoru 'ugly', and undignified shriek
echoing through the area as Kaoru went after the boy with her bokken.

With a pained groan Sanosuke heaved himself up, rubbing sand out of
his eyes, //Was it all just a bad dream?//

Pushing himself onto slightly unsteady feet he wandered over to the
small mirror, using it to inspect for any strange marks. He was
momentarily relieved when he found none, until he came to his
shoulder where the white bandages were missing, wound freshly opened.

//Shit// He clunked his forehead against the wall, shoulders
slumping, //Now what the hell am I going to do?//

"Gotta get back to Tokyo. I'll worry about it there." He said
softly, rolling his shoulders to try to allay the tightness.
Scrounging around the laid out futon he found his jacket folded
primly to the side, Hiko apparently having been kind enough to
remove his shoes and jacket, leaving him with his pants for modesty
sake.

Just the thought of Hiko would bring up broken snatches of the night
before, causing the fighter to blush. //He frickin' molested me, the
old goat!// Remembering that Hiko was capable of hearing his
thoughts, even possibly from the long distance, only made the
brunette madder, //YOU HEAR ME, YOU FRICKIN' GOAT? I OUTTA HAVE YOUR
ASS HAULED OFF THE JAIL! I'LL HAVE THEM DRAG YOU THERE BY YOUR HAIR,
YOU FANG HAPPY ASSHOLE!!!//

"Saaannnnoooo!!" Kaoru yelled through the sliding door, "Come on,
lazy! The train is leaving in one hour! We have to go!"

"Alright, alright! Geez, give a guy a moment!" Sanosuke yelled back,
scrambling to put on his shoes and jacket, making sure that he had
everything tucked into his small knapsack. When he finally shuffled
his way out into the hallway he nearly bowled Kenshin clear off of
his feet, the rurouni 'oro'ing in surprise.

"Sorry!" Sanosuke apologized, catching the unbalanced redhead before
he careened down the flight of stairs, "Man, Kenshin, better watch
it or you'll end up with a busted skull."

"Maa, maa, I'm fine." Kenshin soothed, shaking off the large swirls
of dizziness, "Oh! I almost forget. There was letter addressed to
you left at the front desk this morning."

"A letter?" Sano parroted, waiting incredulously as Kenshin pulled
the folded letter out of his pocket. Taking it he carefully opened
it, eyes scanning the brief lines of kanji. By the time he got to
the end the letter was shaking visible, a tick of annoyance
springing up on the man's forehead. He wasn't sure what ticked him
off further, the small doodle of a heart behind the sender's
signature or the smug tone that was practically oozing from every
word.


Next time I'll make sure that we have dinner first.
I'll make sure next time that neither one of us falls asleep!

-Hiko


"THAT FUCKING OLD GOAT!!!!" Sanosuke's scream echoed throughout the
Aoiya.

"Oorrroooo!!!" Kenshin yelped.


TBC