Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Sheep Amongst the Wolves ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Title: Sheep Amongst the Wolves

Author: Chaosdreamer

 

Chapter 3

 

Archive: SAISA, sana_yl, Mediaminer, Adultfanfiction.

 

Disclaimer: Nobuhiro Watsuki owns the rights of Rurouni Kenshin. I'm just using the boys for entertainment. ^__^

 

Author's note: Help! I'm seriously thinking about finding someone to co-author with me both of my Rurouni Kenshin fics, since I seriously need someone to help me with this load of fics that I'm working on!

 

But first…*bows to Goldfish* Wonderful work on Wolves of Kyoto. I am in great awe. You are a true inspiration to me.

 

Inspiration for this fic: The fanart drawing “Strength Law and a chained Liberty” by `Not Only Lies'. ^__^

 

 

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“Say `aaahhh'…” Megumi giggled, waving the small glass thermometer in the air teasingly in front of the man's face.

 

Sanosuke rolled his eyes at her antics but finally opened his mouth, without the undignified sound, mind you. Megumi carefully slipped the thermometer in place, cautioning the fighter not to touch it or allow it to shift.

 

Megumi, in her ultimate foxy glory, tail and ears wiggling as she moved around the room, inventorying all of the supplies available to her in the small medical room. “So….you have a possible fever. Have you been eating anything unusual? Have you been eating less or more than normal?” Sanosuke shook his head to answer each of her questions, the thermometer sticking comically out of his mouth like a thin cigarette. “Do you feel lethargic and find it harder to get up out of bed every day?” Sanosuke did nod his head to that.

 

Coming back to hover in front of the young man Megumi pressed the back of her pale hand to Sanosuke's forehead, wincing at the amount of heat that burned along the man's skin. Pulling her hand away and shaking it to try to alleviate some of the heat Megumi checked to see how much time had passed, finally pulling the thermometer out of Sanosuke's mouth.

 

Sanosuke was understandably nervous when the Doctor's eyes nearly bugged out when she read the thermometer, “Um, Megumi, what--”

 

“No, no! Stay down on the futon!” Megumi practically pounced on the man when he shifted to rise from the futon laid out on the floor, “Doctor Gensai! Doctor Gensai!!” Megumi shouted for the doctor, thankful that neither she nor the older man had any other patients in the clinic.

 

“Megumi-” Sanosuke started.

 

“You have a fever of over one hundred and one degrees (1).” Megumi interrupted, nearly leaping for the medical gloves laid out on the small palate at her side, “Sanosuke, I'll need you to remove your jacket for me.”

 

“Eh?” Sanosuke blinked up at the doctor in astonishment.

 

“Don't argue with me!” Megumi commanded, looking as if she were prepared to remove his clothing by force.

 

The sliding door opened and Doctor Gensai bustled in quickly, “What is the problem, Miss Megumi?” He asked, noting that Sanosuke had just finished removing his jacket.

 

“He's suffering from an extremely high fever and lethargy.” Megumi informed, running over to open the two separate windows into the room, allowing the room to ventilate.

 

Doctor Gensai nodded to show that he had heard everything, resting on his knees beside Sanosuke. In similar fashion to Megumi he rested the back of his hand against Sanosuke's forehead, face crinkling as he gauged the amount of heat burning along the man's skin. “The lethargy is most likely a sign of dehydration due to such a high fever.” Doctor Gensai spoke aloud.

 

“But I feel fine.” Sanosuke argued.

 

“You won't be feeling so great.” Doctor Gensai admonished, “Fever may not appear to be such a significant thing, but it leads to even more problems that you'd believe. Not only are you suffering from dehydration, but too high of a fever can affect the brain while also weakening your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to any other sicknesses that may be floating around."

 

Sanosuke groaned in a mixture of frustration and depression, flopping back onto the futon, laying the back of his forearm over his eyes, "Just wonderful."

 

Doctor Gensai chuckled at the young man bemoaning his misery, "Do not worry. We will treat the fever. What you need is rest and plenty of fluids. I will ask for them to set up this room for you for today, and possibly the next two days at most. We can not have you wandering about and aggravating the fever. An illness relating to the head will spread quickly to the sinuses, and from there to the lungs. I think that you would not want to have to deal with a case of pneumonia."

 

"No, no, none of that, if you don't mind." Sanosuke quickly agreed.

 

"Well, I'm glad you're in an agreeing mood," Doctor Gensai was indeed thankful for that, fully knowledgeable of how stubborn and feisty the brunette could be if he really wanted to, "I will inform the staff of your stay and everyone at the Kamiya dojo so that they know where to find you. Is there anyone else you want informed of your whereabouts?" Doctor Gensai asked.

 

"Yeah. Could you tell Katsu? You know, in case he's not busy with his paper and all." Sanosuke requested.

 

"Of course." Doctor Gensai agreed, steadily rising to his feet, old yet quick legs taking him outside of the room to find the rest of the available staff.

 

Sanosuke sighed, relieved that everything was going fairly well.

 

However, he did suddenly realize that Megumi was being a little bit too quiet.

 

Turned narrowed suspicious eyes to the woman doctor Sanosuke cringed in worry at the pleasant grin on the fox lady's face, the woman practically wagging her tail in inner enjoyment. "What are you grinning at?" Sanosuke asked.

 

Megumi chuckled behind the back of her hand evilly, "I was just waiting for you to realize that for me to treat you for the fever, I must first wipe away all the sweat that has accumulated on your body." With a fairly maniacal grin the woman commanded, "Strip."

 

Okay then, perhaps everything was not going fairly well.

 

 

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"Goodnight, doctor." The nurse bade farewell to Gensai, the older doctor leaving in order to spend time with his granddaughters and catch up on some needed sleep, following Megumi's earlier example of leaving the hospital in the nurses' capable hands.

 

The young nurse slid the main door shut, after catching sight of the sun slowly sinking past the horizon, a splash of red and gold edging the mountains far off in the distance. She swept quietly through the hallways, pausing to check on the few patients staying overnight, seeing to their every needs before slumber claimed their tired bodies.

 

The nurse gasped and shivered as one of the windows suddenly slammed inward and open, the thin panes slamming hard repeatedly against the walls. Quickly she hustled to shut the panes, surprised by the ferocity and sudden appearance of the wind.

 

'Let me in……'

 

She started at the voice that whispered within her mind, shaking her head as if to try to dispel it.

 

'Go to the door. Let me in.'

 

Her body started to shake minutely, unconsciously trying to resist the foreign presence that had suddenly seized her body and seemed to be squeezing tight, almost suffocatingly so, her senses dimming, a loud rushing sound filling her ears, although failing to muffle to voice whispering inside of her mind.

 

'Let me in…right…now…'

 

With a minute jerk her struggles stilled, and with an almost robotic-like rigidness the nurse walked tightly to the door, slim hands reaching and sliding the door open, eyes open yet unseeing as she looked up at the solid dark form in front of her, meeting the fever-bright gold gaze.

 

The tall figure smiled, teeth pearl-white in the rising darkness, "Allow me inside."

 

The nurse took several steps back, numbly asking the man to 'come inside'.

 

"Good girl." He commended, making no sound as he strode into the hospital, "Now go to your rooms. Sleep and forget everything you have seen."

 

With a vacant nod the woman turned away, walking stiffly in the directions of her room, away from the beast that had entered into the hospital, among the fragile humans that lay in their beds unaware of the predator among.

 

Fortunately for the majority of them the man was only after one specific individual.

 

 

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Sanosuke hung between sleep and awareness, body now shivering uncontrollably from the intense cold that had settled deep inside of him, almost a physical weight within his chest. The many blankets that formed a cocoon around him in a desperate effort to keep warm, his freshly washed white pants and jacket offering no further warmth. Sanosuke was almost cursing himself for having fought Megumi so hard to keep his regular clothing, not wanting to have to endure the too small pants and top that was given to regular patients. He felt he at least deserved familiar clothing after having to deal with Megumi's sponge bath, certain that the woman would hold that incident over his head in order to taunt him for some time to come.

 

Solid warmth pressed against his cheek, and Sanosuke leaned into the steady heat, warming his cool flesh. Smooth strands of silk-soft hair brushed along the bare skin of his neck as the larger figure leaned over him, one hand carefully pulling back the blankets that encased him. "Look at the state you're in." He tsked, fingers brushing away damp strands of hair along Sanosuke's temples.

 

Sanosuke blearily looked up, the familiar face swimming in and out of focus, "H-Hiko…" He murmured.

 

Hiko smiled, gold eyes flashing brightly within the dimly lit room, "Glad to see that your memory is working at the very least."

 

Sanosuke didn't have the physical or mental strength the drudge up a sharp retort, barely managing to stutter, "s-s-so cold…"

 

"Sadly to be expected, unfortunately." Hiko said, one hand grasping Sanosuke's wrist, tilting it and tracing fingertips along the pale and clammy skin above the frantically thrumming veins, "You're body is trying to adjust to your new state, and you are suffering from a type of withdrawal from being away from your Maker."

 

Sanosuke whined softly at the nearly burning heat brought upon from Hiko's flesh touching his, craving yet burned by it, "Please do something." He begged, trying desperately not to admit that he was afraid. Afraid of what was happening to him, wanting this misery to stop before it possibly became even worse.

 

Hiko leaned forward, slanted above Sanosuke's form like a large panther, hair enshrouding them both, "You do realize that in order for me to make it stop, I will in turn make you a creature of darkness?" Hiko brushed his lips over Sanosuke's foreheads, over his eyelids as the man's eyes fluttered shut, "You will become a beast, far superior to humans, a fierce predator with capabilities beyond your present ability to grasp. And for this you will give up your humanity, your morals, as well as this familiar world around you. You'll watch people you've come to know age and die, while you remain the same for all eternity, only to die from your own hand or grief or from the hands of another more powerful predator."

 

Sanosuke shivered, the words causing a heavy weight to settle in his chest and a block of ice to lodge in his stomach. To gain so much, he would have to sacrifice something of equal value. Equivalent exchange.

 

But in reality, no matter what he did, everyone he knew and cared for would move on with their lives, day by day. Yes it would hurt to watch them age and then pass away, but he would at least be there with them through every moment possible.

 

Better to have that than to be alone.

 

At the very least, he would be with Hiko. As his master and companion, Hiko would teach him what it meant to be a creature of the dark, through the good and the bad times.

 

And then, Sanosuke would be strong, strong enough to protect himself and the ones he loved.

 

No longer having to feel weak, to watch those he loved be cut down, broken and bleeding, while all he could do was scream inside, howling his grief and fury and yet no one could hear his misery.

 

A tiny spark of anger lit up inside of him.

 

Fuck it. He was tired of having to keep his frustration and misery inside.

 

Not when he could tear it to pieces with the power that Hiko was tempting him with.

 

 

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"……."

 

Even with his extraordinary hearing Hiko could barely make out the words that passed between Sanosuke's lips.

 

"What?" He asked.

 

Sanosuke squeezed his eyes shut for a brief silent moment, opening them quickly, "Do it," He commanded. Seeming to dare the older man he smiled slightly, more of a baring of teeth than a grin, "Old man."

 

Hiko smiled back at the younger man's impudence, jaw grinding and stretching before Sanosuke's eyes as the swordsman began to shed a little bit of his humanity, jaw widening and lengthening, upper canines growing sharp and long, like that of a large serpent.

 

"Prepare yourself." He hissed, striking forward, jaws wide, firm hands and arms wrapping tight around the man, holding him in an unbreakable grip as sharp fangs sank deep, piercing cleanly through flesh, mouth latched to Sanosuke's throat.

 

Sanosuke gasped, body jerking unwillingly, head flung back by the intensity of the strike. The wound burned, an aching pulsing sensation, his heartbeat pounding within his head. He instinctively clutched at the back of Hiko's shoulders, gritting his teeth as the larger man began to drink deep, each intake of blood physically rocking Sanosuke's body, lifting him entirely off of the futon.

 

"S-Shit!" Sanosuke cursed, having not anticipated the pain so unlike the first time Hiko had drank from him. His limbs were beginning to tingle badly, shivers wracking through his body, hands so numb that their grip on Hiko began to weaken ever so slightly. "Hiko…" Sanosuke grunted, having to force himself to speak, his lungs and throat seemingly rigid and unable to form coherent speech.

 

Hiko didn't pause, his grip seeming to tighten further, the suction growing to even more painful levels, the vampire able to hear Sanosuke's heart beating faster and faster, blood flow sluggish in the man's veins.

 

'Just a little bit more…' He warned himself, approaching the threshold that separated vampirism from true death.

 

Hiko…The plea rang through Sanosuke's mind, fear running through him, body so tired and heavy, his limbs seizing to shake at all.

 

Repressing the urge to howl in bloodlust Hiko tore his mouth away from Sanosuke's throat, leaving a large bruise and open wound from his large canines, teeth and lips painted red, gold eyes slanted into sharp slits. One hand was clasped tight to the back of Sanosuke's head, nails lengthened to sharp talons hovering just above fragile skin.

 

Hiko gaze met Sanosuke's, the young man's eyes glazed, fear soaked deep into the familiar warm eyes, Sanosuke's face tight with fright and desperately trying to mouth incoherent words.

 

"No more fear." Hiko soothed, carefully trailing his other hand up and down Sanosuke's back, long nails catching in the fabric.

 

Handling with care as if he were holding a young child Hiko supported Sanosuke's head and upper body, removing the hand from Sanosuke's back and lifting it to his own neck. With a sharp slice of one long talon he opened up the side of his neck close to the jugular, blood beginning to pump thickly from the open wound.

 

"Drink, my Childe." Hiko commanded, bending lower to allow Sanosuke's mouth to press against the cut, willing the wound not to seal shut.

 

Sanosuke's eyes fluttered along with his heart, trying to decipher the loud rumbling sounds coming from the vampire. He tasted the blood as a few drops trickled between his lips, a deep part of his mind comprehending that the red fluid was his only means of survival. With a nearly physical show of effort Sanosuke latched onto the bleeding wound, lips sealing over, drinking in the first mouthful of blood.

 

The blood was thick, cool, almost uncomfortably so, sliding down his throat with sluggish passage. He breathed in large droughts of air through his nose, taking in blood mouthful at a time. His tongue flicked along the edge of the wound, coating it and the inside of his mouth with the distinct metallic taste of the blood that was in a perverse way stealing his life and yet giving it back to him.

 

Hiko hissed at the feel of Sanosuke's tongue running along the wound, catching one of Sanosuke's limp hands firmly in his grasp, raising it to press blood-stained lips to the back of Sanosuke's hand. "How you undo me." He moaned softly, running sharp fangs along the fragile skin of Sanosuke's hand, barely breaking the skin.

 

Hiko soon grit his teeth, fingers tightening through the strands of Sanosuke's hair, nearly ripping the young man away from his throat, growling at the loss of Sanosuke's lips.

 

The man's eyes were barely able to stay open, eyes dazed and staring up at Hiko in wonder, a tongue flicking out to run across his lips, painting swollen lips with even more crimson.

 

Unable to resist the innocent gesture Hiko smashed his lips to Sanosuke's, literally stealing Sanosuke's breath away, hands clutched tight at his prize, tasting his own blood and tasting Sanosuke as his tongue delved deep into the man's mouth, familiarizing himself with the taste of the new vampire.

 

Sanosuke shuddered faintly, hands fisting into Hiko's cloak, arching to press them both chest to chest, heat burning inside of him, making him twist and arch madly, his nerves practically screaming from a headlong rush of intense sensation.

 

It was too much all at once.

 

It was horrible.

 

It was fucking great.

 

 

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Sanosuke nearly hissed like a furious cat as sunlight shone through the open windows, lighting over his form stretched out across the futon, blankets twisted around his legs and lower torso.

 

"Too bright!" Sanosuke complained, throwing the blanket over him and curling underneath it.

 

"What's all the noise?" Megumi demanded, sliding the door open and staring down at the figure curled underneath the sheet. "Honestly, Sano, you act like such a child."

 

"I do not!" Sanosuke argued, sitting up and whipping the blanket off, squinting through the bright sunlight to glare balefully at the female doctor.

 

Megumi lifted an eyebrow at Sanosuke's behavior, hands resting on her hips as she regarded the man. "Your fever seems to have broken during the night." She noted out loud.

 

Sanosuke paused in his angry tirade, blinking slightly in realization, "Yeah…it did."

 

Megumi smiled faintly, laughing softly at the man's dazed look and equally frazzled appearance, hair hanging all over the place, framing the clean lines of his face. "When you're ready to get up, you have a visitor waiting for you." She said, turning to leave, ready to move on to her other patients, glad to see that Sanosuke was feeling better than the previous check-up. "He's waiting for you right outside on the patio. It's a private area so neither of you will be bothered by anyone."

 

"Thanks." Sanosuke replied, pushing the blanket away from his legs, barely paying attention as Megumi swept away to perform her other duties as a doctor. On his feet Sanosuke regarded the room and futon, taking in a deep breath of air, surprised to find himself nearly 'tasting' the scents in the air, rolling the various flavors over his tongue. His sharp eyes took in the almost microscopic flakes of blood upon the futon, his ears regarding the soft sounds of nurses tending to their patients, recognizing Megumi's voice several rooms down as she conversed with Doctor Gensai.

 

'So many things to explore and discover.' He thought in near wonder, hand rising to touch the sensitive skin of his throat, tracing the healed flesh where Hiko had driven his fangs deep, leaving an open wound and dark bruise, all having faded, leaving no hint of what had transpired the night before.

 

Finally forcing himself to leave his room Sanosuke strode down the hallway leading to the porch, his body nearly tingling the closer he got outside, eyes still squinting from the nearly blinding sunlight creeping through the open windows.

 

A heady scent teased him, leading him through the doors and to a distant portion of the porch away from prying eyes, the scent warm and making his skin burn and come alive.

 

Rounding a corner, one hand shading his eyes, Sanosuke paused, recognizing the man sitting down with his back against the wall, long trim legs stretched out in front of him, the heels of his long boots resting near the edge of the patio. The familiar white and red cloak was carefully folded and resting at the man's side, thick arms folded over his chest, dark green shirt tight along his shoulders and chest.

 

Hiko turned his head, dark eyes locking Sanosuke into place. Sanosuke's breath broke as those dark eyes flashed gold for a brief moment before fading, "Sanosuke." Hiko nearly purred, Sanosuke's name sounding like a prayer, like a precious melody from the swordsman's mouth.

 

Sanosuke found his legs leading him to his Maker, eagerly walking into the arms that opened for him, falling into a languid sitting position between Hiko's legs that widened to accommodate him. Resting his side against Hiko's chest he wiggled into a comfortable position within Hiko's arms, feeling like he was home, safe and warm within the man's arms. He buried his face underneath Hiko's chin, turning his head away from the sun. "So bright." He murmured.

 

"It will pass. Your senses are so new that everything seems more intense than it once was." Hiko replied.

 

"Mmhmm." Sanosuke mumbled.

 

Hiko chuckled at Sanosuke's reply, tilting the man's head back, bending forward to run his lips along the edge of his throat, flicking his tongue out the trace along the jugular vein. "Soon we shall own the night."

 

"Sounds great." Sanosuke said, laughing softly at the tickling sensation along his throat, nearly purring as Hiko ran his teeth along the sensitive skin.

 

"Oh, it will be." Hiko grinned, lifting his head and sealing his mouth over Sanosuke's, smiling ferally against the man's lips as he felt hands clutch at his shoulders, tightening the embrace.

 

It will be.

 

 

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Author's Note (1): I don't know how doctor's in Japan measured temperature then and in present day time, but just bear with me please.

 

Note: From here on out this fic will be much darker, no death among the main characters, though. But there will be gore and unpleasant things. Fair warning. None of the three men are going to be all sunshine and flowers, and it would be insulting if I tried to make them into that. I will be trying to keep in character as possible.

 

So saying it may take me time to work on the next chapters, especially with such heavy load of other fics I'm working on or need to work on. I'm even considering trying to find someone to co-author this story with, since the load is so great and my writer's block is just aching to pounce on me.

Chaosdreamer: *Whaps Muse along head* Get to work, you.