Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Cross ❯ Battousai ( Chapter 7 )

A/N - Here goes guys. Sorry I haven't updated. Midterms you know. College sucks in that way. Well thanks to the reviewers from the last chapters. I hope you enjoy this one as much.

JML, Hitokiri miao-miao, lilk0k0, Ginny-cry, The Girl Who Cried Oro, Diane Long, Iram, moonmusic, fanfiction wanderer, Poppy2, Neko Oni-chan, Silver Warrior, Dove of Night, aglaia102, Videl621, Angel's Ghost, Koishii Sweet, Setine, kyanti, Michirure, ^^, bitchy brunette, Black Chiney, Saiya Winters

Disclaimer - I don't own RK or anything else.

Silver Cross

Chapter 7 - Battousai

Grocery shopping sucks. Do we need peanut butter?

No. We've got a half a jar left. Aren't you looking at the list?

Oh yeah. I don't know why you always cook to impress your contacts. They'd be just as happy cooking for you.

It makes them feel good and keeps them my contact longer. You know the troubles of keeping a contact once they're exposed to the vampire world.

Yeah. I still can't believe Mae Li dumped me.

If you'd bought her something or shown a little appreciation for her, I'm sure she would've at least told you ahead of time.

So you're saying it was my fault?

I'm just saying you should think about changing your strategy when it comes to human women.

Maybe you've got something there, Ken. Hey, do we need any chicken soup?

My as well pick up a couple cans, in case a contact gets sick or something. They like that.

I like the way you think.

Kaoru hummed an aimless tune she'd made up walking downtown that afternoon as the elevator doors opened onto the sixth floor. She stepped into the hallway, switching the two grocery bags from her right hand to her left so she could fumble around for key in her purse. The door to the apartment two doors down from her and Ken's opened and the landlord came out in a flurry of activity, bidding farewell to a woman inside.

"Mrs. Sato! Let me help you with those bags," he exclaimed, rushing over and practically snatching them away from her, his presence filling the silent hallway with an air of importance and business.

"Thanks. I appreciate it, but the apartment's only a few steps away," Kaoru protested.

"Nonsense. It's a pleasure. Did you enjoy your walk downtown? I hope the taxi service I recommended was satisfactory?" he asked with a smile as they started walking towards her temporary apartment.

"Oh it was perfect. I had a nice time," Kaoru said honestly, fingering her earring for a second in absent-minded recollection. "I'm looking forward to exploring a little more with my husband though," Kaoru told him, smiling inwardly at how strange it felt to have a husband, even a fake one.

"I hope he's recovered from his jet lag then?"

"It doesn't matter if he has or hasn't. I'm determined to have a good time," Kaoru joked lightly, her fingers finally coming across the apartment key as they reached the door. As it turned out, she need not have looked. Ken opened the door.

"Hey," he said softly. "I was worried about you."

Kaoru was in shock. He wasn't angry. He didn't look guarded or worried. He kissed her lips lightly and smiled before directing his attention to Mr. Rodriguez and giving him a formal smile.

"Let me get that for you. Thanks a lot for helping out my wife."

The landlord gave the bags up to Ken as easily as he'd taken them from Kaoru. "No problem. It's nice to see new faces around here. Hope you two have a nice time tonight. Excuse me for rushing off, but I have to see the Janssens about their air-conditioning system down on the first floor. Nice talking with you two." He waved and hurried away.

Ken turned away from Kaoru and took the grocery bags to the kitchen, leaving her to shut the door and put down her purse on the front table.

"You got my note, right, Ken?" Kaoru called, wondering if he was angry. He was so adept at putting on masks for people. She knew the one for the landlord had been fake, even if she'd wished it was real.

"I got it," his voice came neutrally from the kitchen.

Kaoru could hear him systematically unpacking her purchases and putting them in cabinets and the refrigerator. She walked into the kitchen doorway and stood, staring at his back as he put the last grocery, a box of cereal, in a cabinet, bunched up the plastic grocery bags, and threw them in the trash can. "I hope you weren't worried."

"I was. Then I found your note." He turned to face her, bangs shadowing his eyes. "What did you think you were doing, just leaving like that? This isn't the best neighborhood for a woman alone."

Kaoru was instantly angry. He had no right to scold her with the way he treated her all the time. So the kiss in front of the landlord had just been for show after all. "Don't hide behind your hair, Ken. If you have something to say to me, you better look me in the eye. And don't try to preach to me on where I can and cannot go. I'm my own person. You have no authority over me," Kaoru managed to get out without raising her voice.

Ken raised his head and glared into her eyes. "You're just a naive kid. You don't know how easily life can take a turn for the worst. I don't want you exploring on your own in a city you don't know again."

"What you want and what you'll get are two different things. I'm not a kid. I may not be nearly as old as you are, but at least I have the common courtesy to treat people as equals. You look down on everyone you come across. That's no way to live!" Kaoru seethed. "So don't tell me how to live my life when you don't know how to live yours."

"How I live is none of your business."

That hurt. "It is as long as I have to live with you! I can't stand your mood-swings, Ken. Why can't you just say what you mean to me if no one else?! And don't give me that crap about me making you weak. You're the weak one for not facing up to your feelings!" Kaoru wished she could hit him over the head with something hard. Maybe that would knock some sense into him. Why did Ken bring out her violent tendencies?

"So now you're trying to tell me what my feelings are and how to think and how to act? I've gotten this far without you; I don't think I need your advice," Ken seethed. She was really starting to tick him off. No one had gotten him angry over such a trivial thing in a long time. Not since Sano.

"You've gotten nowhere! Your best friend is dead! Your other friends constantly worry about you and treat you as a lost cause. Your only reason for living is to kill someone you've been after for eleven years. Don't tell me it really takes that long to find the dark one! Don't lie to me again!"

"Again? Why are you twisting this around as if I'm the one to blame? Dammit, you're the one who was wrong!"

"I know I was wrong!" Kaoru fairly screamed at him. "I only did it to make you see!"

"Make me see what? Why'd you leave if you knew it was wrong?!" Ken was angry now too, starting to lose his cool.

"I came back! And if you don't know why, then you really are an idiot! Why aren't you admitting it to yourself?!"

"Admitting what? You're not making any sense!"

"I can't tell you then," Kaoru replied, suddenly listless.

Ken walked over to the doorway in which Kaoru still stood and stepped close to her. "Why can't you just tell me?" His voice now sounded angry and boyish and almost pleading. "Why can't you make just this one thing simple?!"

"Because life isn't simple! You're the one who's making it hard anyway. It's your stubbornness!" Kaoru said in clipped tones, looking up into his eyes, angry once again. "You won't admit it. Give me some money so I can buy a plane ticket and go home. You'll never find the dark one like this."

Ken bowed his head low. "If that's what you want." His voice was sharper than the edge of a sword.

"See! You're giving up too easily!" Kaoru practically screamed at him. "You know that's not what I want! Why aren't you trying to stop me? You're so manipulative! I know you wouldn't let me leave right now. If you can't face me without all these illusions, you'll never face the dark one. And I hate it when you won't look at me! Stop hiding from the rest of us!"

"I don't understand you! You've only known me for a few nights. Why are you trying to dictate me life?!" he asked looking up, angry again.

"It'll be a week tomorrow." Kaoru spat out, turning on her heel and marching out of the kitchen.

"Fuck. What did I say?" Ken swore himself under his breath, wishing he could slam his fist down on the counter, but that would only prompt questions from the landlord, if no one in the neighboring apartments hadn't already heard them arguing. He closed his eyes to sense the blood. None. The humans weren't home then. Just Kaoru sitting in a ball on the couch. Just Kaoru. Nothing was just Kaoru. How had she gotten him so angry? He'd been determined not to yell at her, to deal with it maturely, to tell her flat out that she shouldn't have gone off and not been back before dark. She'd nod and that would be that. That plan hadn't gone well at all. He still needed her to defeat the dark one. And of course, simply because . . . well he needed her around, at least for the time being. He'd have to walk into the living room and just wing it. Somehow he'd appease her anger.

Ken didn't get it. Kaoru wondered if he would ever understand that he needed people, he needed relationships to be happy. She supposed he thought he'd be happy once the dark one was dead. Revenge wasn't everything, it practically wasn't even anything. He was so insensitive sometimes! Well, a lot of the time. Maybe his life hadn't changed much since he'd met her, but hers sure had. She'd never be the same since that moment she had seen him sitting alone at a table in the Akabeko. She'd kind of hoped he'd been counting the days since he'd met her too. Her anger dissipated. She wondered if Ken would ever speak to her again without remembering how angry he'd been. What a depressing thought. Well she was depressed, and there was nothing she could do about it except apologize to Ken and hoped he forgave her, or at least could live with the whole thing. She'd wanted him to admit that he needed her around, oh how she wanted him to say that, but he hadn't. That was something she'd have to live with. She realized to her dismay that she was satisfied just as long as she got to be around him and he was happy. That meant she'd never be satisfied. It was so hard to make him happy. She hadn't heard a true laugh out of him yet, just sarcasm and a few smirks and maybe a couple little chuckles in there. She felt her mouth tremble and fought the urge to cry. She was NOT going to cry over Ken.

Ken took a deep breath, watching her try to control her emotions. He had made her cry. He felt horrible. "Kaoru."

Her head snapped up. She realized she'd never heard him say her name before. A tear trickled out of her right eye. She turned her face away so he wouldn't see it, wiping the tear away with her sleeve. "Yes?" she asked, trying to compose herself, but her voice gave her away.

If another man had done this to her, he would've gone out and kicked his ass. But he was the bad guy. He was the one who had hurt her. "Can I sit down?"

She turned to him and favored him with a half-hearted smile. "It's your apartment."

"Would you be okay with it if I did?" he asked carefully.

Not trusting her voice, she simply nodded and watched as he came and sat down next to her. Watching him, she felt her eyes tear up again and overflow. Through the blur she saw Ken reach towards her and then she felt his arms as he pulled her towards him. She gripped his shirt with both hands and sobbed into his chest.

Ken watched her, fascinated, feeling the pull of her small hands as she held his shirt and sobbed. He rubbed her back slowly, up and down, back and forth, rhythmically. His chest was gradually getting damp. Her whole frame heaved as she cried. She seemed to be sobbing away all her troubles. He didn't think he had cried like that since he'd first become a vampire. He wished she would stop, but he didn't think she could have if her life had depended on it. Her sobs gradually slowed until she was simply leaning against him, eyes closed, totally drained, taking slow deep breaths. He kept rubbing her back, not sure what else to do. After a while she sighed and snuggled into him.

"Are you okay?" Ken asked, feeling like that was the dumbest question in the whole world to ask at that moment.

"Mmmhmm," Kaoru replied.

Ken wondered how she went from sobbing her heart out to practically purring. As long as she wasn't going to break down again, that was fine with him.

"Could you hand me the tissue box?" she asked, her face still hidden from his view.

He stopped rubbing her back and leaned forward, his other hand supporting her so that she would stay in the same position in his arms. He grabbed the tissues from the little table beside the couch and leaned back in the more comfortable position they'd been in before, handing her the box of tissues. She finally pushed away from him and blew her nose loudly a few times on various tissues, finishing with drying her eyes on yet another tissue. He watched her the whole time. She put the box of tissues back on the end table. He reached out and pulled her back to him.

"I'm sorry, Ken," Kaoru apologized.

He didn't know if she was apologizing for the fight or the crying. "Don't be. I overreacted," he found himself admitting. "And I knew it was going to be a week tomorrow. I was just angry, if that's why you were crying."

Kaoru sighed. "That's not really why. It was a lot of things. I guess I just couldn't take it anymore. Thanks for being there for me."

Ken was surprised but pleased that she was thanking him. And he was relieved that it wasn't what he'd said that had made her cry. Maybe it wasn't his fault at all then. But he knew he had only himself to blame, no matter what the cause. If it hadn't been for him, she would be back in Pennsylvania, safe.

"You're beautiful," he said, studying her glossy hair, the feel of her weight pleasingly resting on him. He traced a finger down her face, admiring the feel of her skin on his hand. He stopped when he saw the earrings.

She looked up at him and blushed. "No I'm not. I look horrible from crying so much," she pushed away from him. "I'm going to go wash my face in the bathroom."

He let her walk away, studying the planes and curves of her body as she moved. He'd never known it was this fascinating to simply watch every aspect of a person. He watched the shut bathroom door, waiting for her to return.

Kaoru stared into the mirror and sighed. She turned the water on so Ken couldn't hear her every movement. How could it be that she'd never heard him say her name before? She racked her brain. There must have been some time when he'd called her by name. But no, he'd simply chosen to speak to her directly. She wondered why he'd changed now, not that she was complaining. Her name spoken by his voice sounded right.

How embarrassing it had been to just break down in front of him like that, though. Thankfully, that had been one of the few times Ken had understood her and he hadn't ruined the moment with words. The washcloth caught on her earrings. She sighed and took them off. Maybe he was coming to love her then? If he was, what was she going to do about Sou? Ah well. It was best not to dwell on it. But there was no having both. This was not going to turn out like Casablancaeither, she vowed, drying her face with a towel and heading back into the living room. Ken was still there, watching her as she approached. It was a little unnerving. She wondered what he wanted to talk about.

"I have to go and feed. Will you be okay here for an hour?"

That answered the question then. She stopped at the edge of the couch and stood, looking down at him.

"Sure. I'll just have some of the food I bought."

He stood. "Don't eat too much. I'm taking you out, remember?"

She smiled. "Yeah. I remember."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" he asked, standing.

"No one knows we're here. I'll be fine until you get back." She glanced guiltily at his shirt. "Sorry I got you all wet."

He smiled, a real smile, she was pleased to note, and pulled her close to him.

"That's what husbands are for," he teased lightly, pleased when she laughed and moved into him. He discovered that he liked the sound of her laughter. It was the best thing he'd ever heard. He gently slid his hand up the back of her shirt, trying to memorize the feeling of her skin, the smoothness of her back, the small variations in the skin that covered her spinal cord. He closed his eyes and kissed her mouth until she was breathless, then drew his lips down her face to her neck and to the first button of her shirt, sliding his hand from her back to her bottom, pressing her pelvis against his, so that she could feel how much he wanted her.

"Ken . . ." she started, alarmed at where he wanted this to go, where she wanted this to go, knowing she couldn't let it get that far. She could feel her heart beating wildly out of skew from its normal pace. If he didn't listen to her, she didn't think she could stop herself for much longer from giving in to her body. But she wanted control over herself, and she wanted to sort her mind out and be completely sure that she was in love with Ken and only Ken before she gave her body to him.

"What?" he asked, intonation soft.

"I can't, Ken. We're not really married. It's against what I've believed all my life. Besides, I'd feel like a slut," she confessed. "I haven't known you for that long-"

"You don't have to explain. I understand," Ken cut her off.

His expression was neutral. Kaoru wondered if he really did understand. At the least, he was hiding his true reaction from her. "Ken, I know you don't understand. Don't lie to me, okay?"

"I'm not lying to you."

"I just want to know what you feel. I want you to show me your feelings. I need to understand you better, Ken. I feel like I don't know you at all yet," Kaoru said slowly. She didn't think she'd done a very good job of getting her point across to Ken. She wanted to much more from him than she could express in words. Everything. All of him. She wanted to know every detail of his life, the highs, the lows, his family. What had his mother been like? Why couldn't he just tell her? Show her how it was to be him?

So she wanted to know him more? Did she really want him to tell her that he was pissed, but not at her, at himself because he was finding it harder and harder to visualize the day when he would have to give her up? Even the way he worded it annoyed him - the day he would have to give her up, instead of the day he gave her up. He supposed her stopping whatever would have happened was right in any case. He needed to feed. It would be harder to hold himself back when he was weaker than normal. He had a feeling that he would need as much energy as he could get tonight. LA was a dangerous place, especially since he was expecting contact from the local vampire population in the near future. They would feel his presence and demand an explanation to why he'd come back to LA after his . . . hurried leave-taking a decade ago. As long as they didn't put Kaoru in any danger, he could deal with their presence, not that he held the illusion that he could somehow escape their notice. Meanwhile, Kaoru was searching his eyes and waiting for his response. If she wanted him to let down his guard around her, then so be it, but it wouldn't be easy to let his emotions show regularly after keeping them in check for so many years, so many decades of time.

"Do you understand, Ken?" she was asking him again. "Why I don't want to do this yet?"

He didn't think she realized she'd said 'yet', or he knew she would have blushed and her heart rate would have increased and she wouldn't still be meeting his eyes. Her eyes wouldn't hold that concerned look. He realized that he wanted a true relationship with her and that he wanted her to be able to talk about anything and everything with him. Until then, he decided to hold himself back, and just focus on know her mind before she revealed her body to him.

He gave her a smile, as soft and reassuring as he could manage, and loosened his hold on her to a gentle hug. "I do. It's going to take a while," he stated flatly. She my as well know that the transition would be slow.

She seemed to relax. Her heart beat was gradually slowing from its rapid pace. "I guess I can live with that."

She smiled to show she was joking. Ken decided it was nice to have someone being considerate of his feelings. He supposed Misao and Aoshi were occasionally, but his relationship with Misao was more showing affection through insults, and Aoshi was so into Zen that it kind of freaked him out. He supposed they cared in their own weird ways, but he wasn't very well going to move in with them. He had a hard time getting along with certain members of Aoshi's Oniwaban group.

He released her and decided it would be best if he left that second. He checked his pockets. Car keys were there. "I'll go feed now. Don't open the door for anyone. When I come back I'll knock four times before I open the door, just so you know it's me. Don't expect me for an hour minimum," he instructed, walking towards the door. He could feel her presence. She was following him.

"Call me when you're on your way back, okay? It'll make me feel better," Kaoru requested, realizing that it would be spooky to be alone in a strange apartment in a strange city at night without Ken. She'd have to keep the TV on for background noise. Ken looked confused at her request for a moment, then the realization that she wanted contact with him before then seemed to dawn on him. He turned to her and nodded.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?"

She looked a little flustered. "Sure I will. I just want you to call that's all," she finished a little defensively. Did Ken have to make such a big deal over her asking for him to call? It's not like it was that big a deal or anything.

Ken shrugged and turned away, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway. Women. She'd probably be over what ever had ticked her off by the time he got back anyway. For now the promise of blood was calling him and he wasn't one to ignore it. The hunger was starting to build up in him, fed by his anticipation. He shut the door, told himself she would be fine, and pushed her out of his mind. It was time to hunt.

Kaoru was sad that she'd gotten defensive and they hadn't parted all that amicably. The wild thought entered her mind that she'd never see him again and the last words she'd said to him weren't even goodbye. She pushed the fear out of her head. Telling her self that Ken could certainly take care of himself and he would be just fine. She was in more danger than him. It wasn't like there was some vampire that could hurt him. She was pretty confident that Ken could take care of himself. True, she hadn't seen him display any real fighting abilities, but it was all in the way he carried himself. Even though he was small compared to other men he radiated a presence that was larger than the average person's. He was not someone to mess with. She wondered why she did.

What do you think of this group, Ken?

The Beatles?

Yeah.

They're okay for British people.

What's that supposed to mean? I happen to think they're cool and I'm not British.

You only like them because all the American girls are crazy about them.

Well maybe by listening to their music, some of that will rub off on me and I won't have to even try to get girls.

Keep dreaming, Sano.

"You want to visit your uncle with me?" his grandmother asked looking up at him from the driver's seat of the small Toyota, a little incredulous. No one in the family usually went with her on her weekly visits unless she badgered them for weeks previous to the occasion.

Sou nodded. "Yes please, Sobo."

"You're not into anything illegal that you need him to bail you out for, are you?" she asked, giving him a penetrating stare.

Sou didn't know what to think. His own sobo thought he might be dabbling in illegal activities. He was a little hurt that she had deemed that a real possibility. It must have shown on his face, because she rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Don't be so serious, Soujiro. I know my little baby grandson wouldn't get himself involved with the wrong circles."

Then, to Sou's confusion, she opened the car door and stepped out, staring up at him expectantly. "Be a man and open the car door for me, you idiot grandson. Didn't your father teach you any manners?" she grumbled, walking around to the passenger side of the car.

Sou blushed and sighed, hurrying after his grandmother. He'd forgotten how demanding she was. Hopefully she wouldn't hang around during the whole conversation with his uncle. He had some private matters to talk about and he didn't want his sobo getting the wrong picture of Kaoru.

So what are you getting me for Christmas?

Don't tell me we're doing that pagan tradition again.

We are. It's not a pagan tradition. It's called Christianity. You know there's something behind that. Why else would the cross burn?

So they've got strong gods. That doesn't mean we have to celebrate the birth of the founder of a religion that shuns us.

Let's not go into this again, Ken. I don't understand how you can go on without hope. Sometimes I think you'd just let the hunters find you if it wasn't for your sense of self preservation.

He hadn't realized how weak he'd been until he felt fresh hot blood flowing through his body once again. He let a few more drops trickle down his throat before stepping back from the now woozy cow and licking his lips. He'd been sloppy in a bout of sudden hunger upon seeing a viable source of blood at last. He gazed around at the night with his elevated senses, spotting a few deer and the average amount of small night animals. He wondered how he had ever lived with his limited human senses before becoming a vampire. Still, there were pluses to being human. Life for one thing. He knew that one day he would have to give up on this constant cycle of death, of feeding off of life, unable to live, but unable to die if he chose to quit leeching from life. Just as he had given up trying to find a cure, to change himself back to being human, after his first few decades of being one of the undead.

But now the blood had rejuvenated him and he was feeling ready for anything. His senses were tingling, his mind was awake and free of stress, he simply knew there would be some interesting developments in the night to come. And then he felt the faint pull of blood energy calling him, connecting him through a line as thin as a spider's trailing web. Turning away from the cow, he walked in the direction of the pull at a rapid pace, it grew little by little, until it was the equivalent of a shoe lace, binding him to its source. And then he knew. It was Kaoru. Halting, he reflected. He had not known that his connections with her had run so deep, deep enough that he could feel her from miles away. And then he remembered that she'd wanted him to call her and began walking again, pulling out his cell phone and swallowing the last taste of blood, savoring the twang before it faded away.

How were you changed?

None of your business, Ken. Just recuperate so we can go hunting together soon. We'll make a great team.

I think you owe me an explanation. I didn't ask for this existence you bitch.

Well you didn't refuse it. You had your chance to die, just like the rest of the humans do. But you were afraid and backed out. Don't try to blame it all on me. And watch who you call a bitch. I could make you wish you were dead, you're so weak.

My chance to die? So that's what it was. I've failed my family's honor-

Don't go blaming me for taking away your honor. If you were as holy as you thought you were, you wouldn't have let me seduce you.

Did you mean to turn me this whole time then?

. . . No. I'm not that cruel.

"My sister's youngest brat. I haven't seen you in a long time. How's life in the states treating you?"

"Very well, Oji-san. Domo. Ogenki desu ka?"

"Hai. Let's cut the crap while the old lady's over there chatting. What kind of trouble are you in, kid?"

"Is it that obvious, Uncle Shishio?" the kid asked, alarmed.

"Nah. I know you, that's all."

Sou smiled over at his uncle and sat down across from him at the table. "It's not me. It's my girlfriend back in the states. I've always known you weren't crazy, Oji, and I think she can prove it."

"What? She stumbled across a vampire?" Sou's uncle asked, lowering his voice, half incredulous.

Sou glanced around the recreation center of the mental hospital to make sure no one was in close enough proximity to hear their conversation. "That's what she claims. She called me and told me this morning. At first I didn't want to believe her, but she reported some pretty convincing things. And then there's the fact that she's in LA right now instead of Pennsylvania. Do you think I should go after her, Oji?"

Sou's uncle smiled, phone numbers and addresses of old contacts running through his head. "Tell me the whole story, first, Soujiro."

Was that guy just coming on to me?

I think he was.

Doesn't he know what I could do to him if I was in the mood? He better be more careful of who he messes with next time.

So why didn't you punch him or something?

Hit him in front of all these hot potential female contacts? That would be crazy. I don't want them to think I might have violent tendencies.

Might? I bet you can't keep your temper in check for ten minutes in a gay bar.

Why would I be in a gay bar?

You're just chicken. That guy liked you, I bet someone would hit on you and you wouldn't be able to take it.

Just how much are you betting here, Ken?

Remember that new contact, Ginger? Well I'll hand her over to you if you can last for ten minutes after a guy starts hitting on you.

Deal.

Deal. You're going down, Sano.

So Ken had actually called her like she'd asked and he was due back any minute. He'd sounded okay on the phone, actually normal. Like a husband calling his wife on the way back from work or something. She supposed that was just wishful thinking. Not that she wanted to marry Ken or anything, just that it would be nice to have a house and a family someday. She found she could look forward to that, but not for a few years. In any case, Ken had been very mysterious, telling her to get ready to go out as soon as he arrived home, and that things were going to pick up. She thought it had all been exciting so far, but come to think of it, there hadn't been any threatening vampires after them or people shooting at them for a couple nights. Days, Kaoru corrected herself, days. She was not going to start thinking like a vampire. She was not going to start, because once it started it would be even harder to go back to Pennsylvaniaand live out her life, harder to go back to college and finish up her final semester. But she would do it. She swore she would do it.

Kaoru sighed, knowing she was blowing things way out of proportion. It wasn't like Ken was going to whisk her off in a whirlwind of parties and clubs and wealth to hide away from the rest of the world. He was only going to stop the dark one from fulfilling whatever evil purpose it had in mind and then . . . And then, well she didn't know what he had in mind. She hoped he wasn't going to give up on life, let the hunters catch up to him. Sometimes it seemed as if Ken had no hope left, as if this was the only thing he lived for. And once it was over. . . Kaoru knew it would break her if Ken were to die. She felt like crying sitting there curled up on the couch where Ken had held her earlier, reading a novel left by the last tenants of the apartment. Well, trying to read in any case. She didn't think her irrational fear that Ken wouldn't return would leave until she heard him knock four times like he'd promised and then turn the key in the door.

And then she heard light footsteps sound in the hallway and held her breath, hoping they wouldn't pass her door. They stopped and she heard the owner of the feet that were casting a shadow underneath the door knock four times. "Ken," she couldn't help whispering, letting her breath out in a sigh.

He slid the key into the lock and opened the door, bringing energy and life into the room. She could tell the feeding must have gone well.

"Hi, Ken," she said, bending the corner on the book page to mark her place and shutting it, about to get up and greet him.

"Don't get up," he instructed her, shutting the door and walking over to sit with her. No, he didn't so much walk as float, almost ethereally. He was the only man she could truly describe as striking.

He sat down next to her and drew her towards him, planting a gentle kiss on her lips. "Are you ready to go?" he asked, leaning back to look into her eyes.

"Yes. Is this outfit alright for wherever we're going?" Kaoru asked, pulling back to let him get the big picture of her black calf-length skirt, ¾ length electric blue shirt, and black flip flops.

"It's perfect," he commented, looking her over a couple times before returning his gaze back to her face. "I'll just go change my shirt and then we'll leave."

Kaoru watched as Ken got up and disappeared into the bedroom. His greeting had been warm. She wondered if vampires got on a blood high after they had fed. She thought that was what she would choose to call his behavior. He simply radiated energy, the picture of super-alertness. And he claimed she had high energy that attracted vampires. He sold himself short.

She was still in deep thought when Ken came back out of the bedroom with a casual dress shirt on, checking his pockets to be sure he hadn't forgotten anything. "You ready?" he asked, stopping and gazing down at her.

Blushing, Kaoru jumped up, grabbing her purse from the end table on the way and following him to the door, which, she was very surprised to see, Ken opened and waited for her to step through first. She turned around and smiled back at him, watching as he shut and locked the door behind them. "Where did the sudden manners come from?"

"I'm hurt," he said, linking his arm to hers and actually sounding sad. "You don't think I'm that bad, do you?"

It was really too bad his smirk gave him away, or Kaoru might actually have apologized. "Yes, I do," she replied, elbowing him gently.

He pretended she'd actually hurt him, leaning away, but pulling her with him because their arms were still linked. "That hurts, Kaoru. That really hurts." Ken was having a fun time teasing her. He watched a slight flush come to her cheeks as she balanced from him pulling her to the side.

She loved how he said her name, realizing he hadn't said it before they'd come to LA, ever. A warm feeling spread through her at the two syllables flowing from his lips. She didn't think he knew how much of an effect he had on her. It would be scary if he did, she supposed, him knowing how much control he had and how much she relied on him to be happy lately. Maybe she was just insecure. It had taken her forever to get to the point where she could just open up to Sou. She envied the easy manner in which he could naturally trust people with his feelings. She had never been like that except with her family, Sou, and now maybe Ken. She could sense a deep relationship forming, deeper than the one she shared with her family or Sou. She wondered if Ken would learn to loosen up and share his feelings with her, he'd said he would try. She just hoped he would succeed.

So for now Kaoru simply elbowed him again and called him a liar, flouncing away, and pressing the down button at the elevator. She smiled when he came up behind her, slid his arms around her waist, and leaned his chin on the top of her head.

"You look really pretty tonight. I promise you'll have a good time at this restaurant, and then we'll do whatever you want later. Okay?" Ken was in an exceptional mood. For the first time since he had become a vampire, he felt truly rejuvenated, almost alive. He knew it wasn't because of the blood so much as it was being around Kaoru when he had just fed. He hoped no vampires were looking for him because it was exceptionally hard to hide his blood-ki signature and he was afraid he'd be a little sloppy, enabling a keen vampire to trace his whereabouts. No matter. If one was to find him, it could come. He was ready. Meanwhile, he smiled to himself and breathed in Kaoru's smell underneath the faint scent of jasmine perfume she wore. He knew no other woman could ever be as breathtaking as the one he held in his arms.

It's too early to wake up.

I thought you hated the fact that we have to sleep against our will. Why are you sleeping now?

Because it's not against my will now, man. Five more minutes.

Whatever you say, Sano.

". . . to call tomorrow morning."

"Tomorrow morning. . . Well from the looks of it, I think she's stumbled across a guy with the potential to be a real vampire. Understand that I wouldn't know for sure unless I saw him, kiddo," Sou's uncle said, leaning back in his chair and relaxing. He closed his eyes for a minute, in deep thought.

"But is she in any danger?" Sou asked, worried. He willed his uncle to answer. "Oji?"

The man opened his eyes, staring at his nephew, silencing any protests Sou might have uttered. Sou shivered inwardly. Maybe his uncle was a little crazy, but he would have to take everything he said into consideration, for Kaoru. Shishio seemed to have sensed the chill his gaze had washed over Sou, because he let a smirk play across his face.

Sou flushed.

"Wait for her to call you again. I'll see what I can do before tomorrow morning and have some of my buddies drop off some stuff at your grandmother's house. I'm going to have my people ask around and see if this 'Ken' vampire is known in any circles. I'll send a message along with the package." Shishio closed his eyes and breathed deep and regular.

"Arigato, Oji," Sou breathed.

"No problem, kiddo. I'm thinking it's time I got out of this joint. One way or another you're connection to this girl will help me. Now shut up, your obasan is coming over."

I think I'm allergic to dust.

Why do you say that? . . . Ahh! You sneezed all over my arm!

Sorry, Ken. But is there something wrong with me? This never happened before.

Well we were never trekking around ancient temples before. It must be something in the air.

Why aren't you sneezing then?

Because you are weaker than me.

Hey-

You sneezed on me again!

That's what you get.

Dinner had been wonderful. Ken had continued to act like himself around her, and LA was beautiful at night. He'd even kept true to his word and asked her what she wanted to do, so they'd walked over to Little Tokyo and Kaoru had seen the shrine and felt the need to pray, though she was not Buddhist. It was a beautiful place, even Ken seemed to appreciate the majesty of the ornate artwork. But then it had started to rain and Ken had dashed off into the night to buy an umbrella, saying he'd be back in a few minutes. So Kaoru had decided she couldn't resist and kneeled in front of the altar, praying for guidance and safety for her family, her friends, and Ken. Peace flowed through her as she recited the Lord's Prayer and then a few Psalms.

The vampire watched the Battousai exit the shrine, leaving the girl behind. He must truly care for her if he hadn't probed for other vampires with his senses before leaving her. She had him too distracted. He hadn't thought any female could have such an effect on the Battousai. His energy had called to the rest of the vampires in the city, so his leader had sent him to deliver a message to the Battousai. No one entered LA without the permission and clearance of his leader.

He waited a few minutes until he was sure the Battousai was far enough away to not be able to return quickly when he sensed the woman was in trouble. Then he slipped inside. She was kneeling, muttering prayers almost feverishly. After listening to her speech with his elevated senses for a few seconds, he decided to let her finish before he relayed to her the message from his superiors. She finished all too soon. He wished he could listen to her voice longer, but he had to get to her before she stood.

Kaoru felt a knife at her neck and froze instantly, not daring to speak, hardly daring to breathe. She closed her eyes.

"If you try to scream you won't get more than a breath out before I slit your throat," a male voice said in her ear.

"Are you a vampire?" she asked, though even talking hurt because of the knife pressed against her throat.

"No talking, but yes, I am."

"Do you work for the dark one?" Kaoru had to know. If he did, then she was dead anyway. She would risk the knife.

He spat in disgust. "No. I have more honorable leaders. Now shut up before I have to draw blood. If you understand, nod."

Kaoru swallowed nervously and nodded slightly, mindful of the blade that pressed against her throat.

"The Battousai failed to alert us that he was arriving in LA. As a result, my boss wishes to speak with him; three amat the corner of Jackson and Virginia. He's to come alone. If he's late you will die. Don't move until he comes back."

The blade disappeared from Kaoru's throat as if it had never been there at all. She instantly brought her hand to her throat, sighing in relief when she felt no blood trickling down. He hadn't hurt her. Questions flew through her mind. Battousai? He had to mean Ken. Was that his nickname? Was Ken even his real name? She didn't dare move for fear the nameless vampire would come back. A few seconds later she heard the door to the shrine open and a voice yell her name, Ken's voice. She opened her eyes and turned around to face him. He was sopping wet. As soon as he saw her he threw the umbrella down on the ground and ran to her, kneeling down and pulling her into his arms.

"Are you okay? Who was it?"

Kaoru hugged him and buried her face in his shirt for the second time that evening. "I'm fine. He had a message for the Battousai. Is that you, Ken?"

She could feel Ken stiffen at the mention of the name, then pull away from her embrace.

"I'll be back," he said, turning abruptly and getting up, running out of the church.

Kaoru was now angry. Who did he think he was, just up and running off without so much as an explanation when she could have been killed. Shaking off the residues of fear from the knife experience, she stood up and ran down the isle after him, cursing her flip flops. Halfway there she remembered she'd left her purse at the alter and ran back, grumbling. Knowing Ken was too far away to catch now, even if she had been a vampire, she simply marched over to the entrance, picked up the umbrella that Ken had dropped, and went out into the steamy LA night. She knew Ken could sense her. He'd find her when he gave up the search. She might as well be ready for him when he did.

Sano, what are you wearing?

A suit.

Why? You never wear suits. Is it a woman?

What can I say? After all these years I'm still a sucker for a pretty face.

He grabbed her arm roughly from behind as she stood in the rain, staring in the window of a toy shop. A miniature train was making its way slowly around the shop on a track that hung suspended from the ceiling.

"What do you think you're doing, Kaoru? It took forever for me to find you in all these people."

She loved the sound of her name on his tongue even if it was spoken in anger. "You left, so I left. I knew you'd find me," she forced herself to say coolly, staring at the train. It had made its way halfway across the store and was circling back towards her.

He forced her to turn around and face him. He was drenched wet in the rain, hair dripping water into his eyes. His eyes held anger, frustration, and . . . concern. "You could've gotten hurt. You're no match for any vampire. They could find you as easily as I did."

"Then don't leave me, Ken," Kaoru said, forcing her temper to stay in check. Her reply seemed to hit him like a slap. She decided to change the subject. "I never even got to tell you the message."

He frowned. She could see him visibly shrug off any emotions her words had invoked. Then he was back to the old Ken, cool and impersonal. "Tell me now."

"He wants you to meet him alone at three am on the corner of Jackson and Virginia. He said something about you not notifying his boss that you were in the city. He called you Battousai," Kaoru finished slowly, searching his eyes for an explanation, but he'd once again closed out the world, closed her out. She decided to leave out the part about her dying if he was late for the appointment. That would only anger him further. He was probably angry she'd been so weak in any case.

He had lowered his head, thinking, so she couldn't see his eyes. She wondered what play of thoughts was winding through his mind.

"What does that mean, Ken? Battousai?"

"It's an old nickname from the days when I worked for the dark one."

Kaoru did not believe her ears at first. Ken? Work for the dark one? But where was his tattoo? Why had he been working for the dark one? So here was yet another reason for him to hate the dark one. If he'd been working for the vampire that killed Sano, his best friend, he couldn't possibly have known. The dark one must have used him. So they had a history. Perhaps that was why Ken had not found the dark one until now. Maybe he had been wrestling with his past and not able to face the person who had initiated is friend's death. She knew he must feel guilty everyday, every moment he thought about Sano.

Still, she was angry that he hadn't told her this. "Do you have any other names I don't know about? Is your real name even Ken?" she asked, her anger fueled by the hurt springing from the fact that he wouldn't look at her.

"Kaoru, don't make this hard. Please," he said softly, and suddenly Kaoru felt ashamed of herself. Maybe he was trying to open up to her. She reached out into the rain and encircled his wrist with her hand, pulling him under the umbrella and away from the rain.

"I don't know how you feel, Ken, but I'll listen if you tell me." She waited. He didn't say anything. She took a deep breath and continued. "I don't know what to say, except I know you would never have harmed Sano intentionally, so you must not have known what the dark one was. Knowing this doesn't change my opinion of you. I wish you'd told me sooner."

Ken finally looked out at her from under his bangs. "Kenshin Himura."

Kaoru looked up at him in confusion. "What?"

"My full name is Kenshin Himura."

"Kenshin Himura," Kaoru repeated, letting the syllables wash over her tongue. "I love your name. Kenshin Himura." She surveyed him intently. "You do look more like a Kenshin than a Ken. It suits you."

He grasped her hand that wasn't holding the umbrella over their heads as the rain pounded down around them. "I don't know how anyone can be so understanding."

"I'm not. You must be my weakness, Kenshin Himura," Kaoru said wryly, wrinkling her nose at him, glad that the new Ken was back. She smiled and kissed him lightly. His lips were warm, though wet from the rain. Well that was sexy.

Ken smiled, marveling at her ability to make him feel better at the most basic level. At this moment he didn't care that he was standing in full view of the public eye, both human and vampire, kissing a woman he was hundreds of years older than, who had him completely bowled over. Well that was obvious. He never went for public displays of affection except when it was manipulative to his plans, whatever they might be at the moment. At this moment he was all hers and to hell with the consequences.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru."

"Never mind about that. I can never stay mad at you for long anyway." She smiled, dismissing the topic. "Now I would link my arm through yours, but you're all wet," she teased.

"Hey, who got you that umbrella?" Ken asked, a wicked look coming to his eyes.

"Ken," Kaoru said slowly, backing away until she bumped up against the display window. She could feel the wet glass dampening the back of her skirt, so she took a step towards Ken, who was advancing. Then it dawned on Kaoru what he meant to do. "Ken! No!" she shrieked in mock horror before trying to bolt down the street.

She only got four steps before strong arms clothed by a wet shirt slid around her waist. Startled, she dropped the umbrella on the sidewalk next to her just before Ken spun her around and pulled her tight to him.

"Ken! You're getting me all wet!" she fussed, trying to push him away as the rain water spotted her clothes and hair.

But then he cupped her face in his hand and kissed her and she forgot all about the rain that poured down on them, filling the upturned umbrella. And she threw her arms around his neck and knew, knew that this was where she wanted to be. There they stood, on a sidewalk in the middle of downtown LA, and the crowds parted for them in awe.

A/N - Sorry about not updating for a month again. Hope you liked this chapter and I'll be sure to update sooner! For now, fire away with those reviews!