Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ Vampire-istic ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

So, my first version of this chapter mysteriously disappeared. Pity. Sorry you had to wait so long, work and school make it very hard to find time to write much. I haven't yet decided if I'm going to take the story one way or go a completely different way with it. Mysterious prophecy or a normal (if it could be with me as your author) story. Choices, choices. Well, you'll soon find out. I edited my first chapter because I noticed a few mistakes, nothing too major. Thanks to my reviewers, I appreciate the words of kindness thus far. Flames aren't tolerated too well, being part Irish has its extreme moments of usefulness. Now, I will accept reviews, lots and lots of reviews, so don't worry about offending me by reviewing. It might be wise to worry about offending me by not reviewing. Reviews make for a happy author. Oh, and there will most likely be some OOC towards the end of the story. You have been warned.

Ah yes, disclaimer. Almost forgot..again. I DO NOT OWN RUROUNI KENSHIN AND GAIN NOTHING OTHER THAN VERBAL SUPPORT FROM THIS STORY. However, Freya belongs to me, use of her is not prohibited. On to the story

~*~*~*~*~

"Shinta, is it really you? It's me, Freya…don't you remember?"

The problem was, he didn't remember. This would take some thought. Suddenly, the vampire in front of him placed a hand to her arm. For the first time, he noticed that she was bleeding. So she was the one that had attacked him.

"My name is Kenshin," he said coldly, choosing to ignore her bleeding appendage. At that moment, Kaoru poked her head out of the crate, trying to decipher what was going on. Kenshin's gaze quickly swung. Amber met stormy blue.

"Kaoru," Kenshin breathed, his molten eyes swirling with possessiveness. Kaoru had backed into the crate, standing slightly in front of Misao.

"W-Who are you?" she questioned, her voice coming out in a breathy gasp. Who was this man whose gaze turned her legs to jelly?

~*~*~*~*~

Aoshi chose this particular moment to join the confused jumble of Battousai and females. At the sight of Misao, Aoshi struggled with himself to maintain his self-control. After glancing around the rest of the general area, he turned his attention to a she-vampire. She was wounded in the arm and leg, both of which had showed signs of profuse bleeding. Freya caught his glance and gritted out, "The bleeding has slowed, please, don't show any concern."

"Captain, we can take this," Misao said, her hands having found the little stash of kunai, brandishing them for all to see. Kaoru adjusted her grip on the shinai, clearly ready to defend herself.

"I think it would be best if we didn't fight," Kenshin said slowly, his eyes still riveted to Kaoru.

"Oh really, this coming from the one to inflict the most injuries and deaths since any of us have entered this warehouse. I know who you are, Battousai," Freya said, her dark blue eyes completely amber with ill-concealed rage.

Damnit, there went the secrecy card. Kenshin thought to himself. "Oh really now. If you know who I am, it might be a good idea for me to know who you are. I did wound you after all, it's only fair."

"Hm...I suppose I could tell you. Freya Takimoto, at your service."

"Freya Takimoto...I've heard that name before. Ah yes, you work for the UPA. I suppose we should just turn ourselves in, ne?" Aoshi said speculatively.

"Actually, in my position, I'm not much of one to erm..shall we say compromise the use of a valuable player. If you catch my meaning, of course."

"Of course," Kenshin said, silently taking in all of this information. He still looked at Kaoru, the possessiveness in his eyes turning into something almost akin to wonder. Kaoru squirmed uncomfortable under his intense gaze, unnerved at this man seemed to know her in some way. Sano and Megumi chose this moment to walk into the middle of this standoff.

"Well, Ken-san, I see you injured yet another person. Lemme have a look at that, please," Megumi said, walking towards Freya to dress her wounds.

"I'm good, I don't exactly need blood, now do I? I'm a vampire, I naturally have many talents, including being able to heal quickly."

"I see," Megumi said dejectedly before returning to stand by Sano. Sano was currently occupied staring at Kaoru, his Jou-chan.

"Will all of you stop staring at me!" Kaoru cried in exasperation. Kenshin snapped out of his slightly dazed stupor before turning to look at Sano, who grinned mercilessly.

"Let's go," Freya said, motioning for Kaoru and Misao to follow her.

"Wait!" cried Kenshin, walking briskly to catch up to them.

"You have ruined this lovely night enough, leave us," Freya growled. Kenshin stood his ground, clearly unconcerned that this she-vampire was apparently very pissed off.

"We could be of use to each other," Kenshin said, trying to sound enticing.

"This all depends on the sort of use you mean. With the way you've been looking at one of my officers I would decline your offer before it even ventured any further," Freya spat.

Misao and Kaoru nodded their heads in agreement before helping their injured Captain out of the warehouse. Once they reached the perimeter, the trio let out a collective sigh.

Freya was deep in thought by the time they reached the car. I never thought I would actually see him again, just knowing that he was alive was enough for me. He's changed since I saw him. What am I thinking! Last time I saw Kenshin was during the Meiji, of course he's changed. Two hundred years does that to a vampire.

Freya fumbled for the keys before finally locating them in the top of her boot. She pulled them out and then paused. "Kaoru, take the keys and start up the car. Misao, get in and wait. If I'm not back in 5 minutes leave, if I come back running, wait till I get in, then gun it. Got it?"

Both girls nodded their understanding before carrying out her instructions. The two wondered what their Captain was up to but knew her well enough to trust her by now.

Freya popped the trunk and grabbed another katana, the twin to the blade she now carried, though it was slightly shorter. After sliding it into her belt, she lifted her pants leg to slide a small handgun into a little strap obviously designed for that very purpose. After checking that the strap around her ankle was secure, she checked the clip on her larger handgun before heading back to the warehouse. She walked briskly, the wound in her thigh already closed, the only evidence of her wound was the tear in her pants. Her leather boots clunked lightly as she came into view of the warehouse; she scanned the general area before entering through a side door.

As silent as a mouse she crept along the shadows, searching for the four vampires that had been there before. She caught sight of them and headed in a diagonal path across the warehouse. They stood clustered around a fallen she-vampire with anxious looks on their faces. The vampire had been wounded substantially, the self-heal initiative in her would have a hard time compensating with the amount of damage inflicted. Freya stepped into the full light, "Will she live?"

"I will try my best, but Enishi's bastards did a lot to her," Megumi answered, her mouth set in a grim line. Freya scanned the other three to gauge their reactions. Aoshi stood by with his eyes holding ill-concealed anger. Kenshin and Sano were much in the same position, though their emotions were masked more. They seemed unsurprised at Freya's return.

"I see you've come back. Why?" Kenshin said, his eyes still on the wounded Omasu.

"I have a proposal for you," came Freya's answer, given to him grudgingly.

"I'm listening," Kenshin said, seemingly indifferent.

"We are both after Enishi. If we combined resources, we may be of use to each other. Of course, as an agent of the UPA, I'm rather bound to uphold the law as much as possible," Freya said easily enough, though it cost her to have to make an alliance with anyone, not matter what their position.

"I'm sure making an agreement with the Hitokiri Battousai would be looked down upon, unless the UPA has changed its ideals that drastically," Aoshi said, his voice somewhat bitter.

"Considering I'm the head of my department, I have some sense of sway with the leaders of the UPA. The Council isn't that stupid, yet," Freya said, her mention of the Council somewhat reluctant.

Kenshin, Aoshi, and Sano started. Precious few even knew of the Council, let alone vampires outside of the high-ranking officers in the UPA. This woman before them must be telling the truth or have very good informants.

"How do you know of the Council?" Sano asked incredulously.

"I'm the head of my department, duh."

"What department is that, Housekeeping?" Sano taunted.

"Shut up rooster head, I work for Recon." Freya said angrily. At this pronouncement, Sano looked at her as if he were sizing her up.

"Don't look like much," Sano said cautiously.

"What do you want to know?" Freya said.

"Name a member of the Council," Aoshi said calmly, clearly expecting an answer.

"You know I can't do that," Freya said, her tone guarded.

"How about this. I give you a name, you tell me yes or no."

"I still refuse to. Last time anyone tried to do this to gain an ally, I was stuck cleaning up an assassination attempt. So the answer is no," Freya said forcefully, ducking her head that so her eyes were hidden from view. It's just one little word, it can't hurt. No one will ever know that I said it. What the hell am I thinking! I can't tell them about the Council. The Council is more important than anyone will ever know. That's implying that I don't spill the beans with these vampires. Damnit.

Kenshin spoke up, "Why don't we discuss this later. Omasu needs Megumi to patch her up, and this isn't the best place for this discussion to begin with." Without further ado, he stooped to pick Omasu up and walked out of the door. The remaining three left with hardly a backward glance.

~*~*~*~*~

When Freya was in sight of the car, Misao started up the engine. Kaoru glanced back continuously to make sure that their Captain wasn't being followed. The two humans had shaped up to be fine Recon officers, if a bit green. Freya slid in to the back seat and told Misao to drive to the office.

"I have a bit of researching to do after tonight's events. Feel free to go home after you park the car," Freya said, somewhat distracted from reality.

After Misao and Kaoru dropped Freya off at the front entrance of the UPA's office building, Freya made her way to the Human Resources department.

"Seta, you got time?" Freya asked imperiously.

"Sure, my office?" Soujiro answered, his usual smile in place. Freya nodded to his question and followed him to the small office in a secluded corner.

"Let's not beat around the bush. What do you remember of the Hitokiri Battousai aka Himura Kensin from the Meiji Era?" Freya asked, settling down to business.

"Well, he became a vampire shortly after Kamiya's death, she's since returned, as you know. He was an excellent swordsman, second to none. Very set in his beliefs if I remember correctly," Soujiro answered amicably.

"What about your personal experience?" Freya prompted.

"Oh, well, let's see. I fought with Himura-san on several occasions. This was, of course, before either of us were vampires. He was very hard to sway to a belief other than his own. In fact, I don't think he ever did change his beliefs for anyone. He taught me how to be the man I am today." Soujiro said, his eyes gazing at a distance point, as if seeing into his past.

"Thank you, Seta. Now I must go do some research for this endeavor. I'll come by later and we can discuss things in the open," Freya said, standing to leave. Both vampires knew that if any officer of the UPA discovered their supernatural status, they would be "released" from service.

Freya made the short walk to her office quickly, too deep in thought to acknowledge the passing members of her division. She flung the door to her office open with a little more force than needed and settled into the roomy leather officer chair. After calming herself with a few deep breaths, she moved to the computer, bringing up the needed files. Ah, so our lovely Battousai has been a bit busy in the last couple decades. Just what I suspected.

Freya worked for several more hours, and finally turned from her computer as the sun began to rise to start the day. Freya grabbed her trench coat and left her office, leaving a note for her secretary stating that she wouldn't be in the office that day. As she stepped off the elevator, she waved to Tsubame before stepping out into the growing sunshine.

As she climbed into her car, her ki sensing abilities started screaming at her to turn around. She turned to glance over her shoulder and started at the sight of ten werewolves with five vampires surrounding her car. Thank Kami I still have my weapons. Freya stepped out of her car and glanced around her. Damn blood vials. This could turn into quite a fight. Something to get the adrenaline going, just what I need. Freya drew her katana and its twin simultaneously, causing her aggressors to back up a pace or three.

"Shall we?" Freya queried mockingly. The vampires and werewolves growled in response before launching themselves at the Captain. Freya whirled like a dervish, cutting and slicing at varying heights. The crowd of attackers began to diminish, to where only one vampire was left, the rest of the group lay in mutilated piles.

"Who sent you?" Freya growled, advancing on the remaining survivor of the brief, bloody battle.

The vampire dropped his weapon and held out his hands in front of him, as if to stave off her attack. "Milady, it was Enishi, I swear. He told us to finish you off. I didn't want to do-"

Freya cut his explanation short. "How did he tell you?" Freya asked, her voice low and dangerous.

"It was by phone, I swear. It was an unlisted number. I-I don't know where he called from, he just called. Said we could drink your blood."

"I'm a vampire you ninny, I don't need blood," Freya responded, exasperated. Her temper and ki flared simultaneously, blowing out several nearby streetlamps. "If you have anything of importance to say, say it now before I decapitate you."

The vampire's silence was answer enough for her. Freya swiftly reversed her katana and used it to render her assailant unconscious. She quickly used the other blade she held to slice to parallel lines in the vampire's back. "May you carry this message to Enishi. Don't. Mess. With. Me." With that accomplished, Freya returned to her car and swiftly left the parking lot. A curtain in the UPA's office building swung slightly as the watcher left the window to some other task.

~*~*~*~*~

"Ken-san, put Omasu down on the couch. Her wounds are not overly serious, merely numerous," Megumi said, bustling around the apartment she and Sano lived in retrieving the needed medical supplies. Kenshin complied with Megumi's orders and gently placed Omasu on the couch. He backed away to view the wounded member of the Oniwabanshu's face; it was pale and pinched. Aoshi came to stand beside him, staring at Omasu's wan complexion.

"Tonight was interesting, to say the least. Got a lead on both Enishi and Misao. Unusual," Aoshi said calmly, although his heart fluttered at the thought of Misao.

"Yes, Enishi must be repaid in full for what he did," Kenshin said, his amber eyes glowing in the dim light.

"Hai," Aoshi said, his mind going back several decades.

__________*****__________

"Okashira, we have news for you," Okon said apprehensively.

"Hai," Aoshi said, waiting patiently. He was expected news of some startling development in the Kamiya Kaoru murder.

"There is no good way to say this. Misao has been killed," said Okon, her voice shaking with ill-concealed tears.

"No, she can't be dead. I sent her out on a simple mission to gather information on the black market dealer in the outskirts. There is no way she could have been killed," Aoshi said, his rambling completely out of character.

Okon sighed to calm her frazzled nerves, "There is more. Enishi left a note saying to remember this day for all eternity. I have no idea what it means, but maybe you do Okashira."

Aoshi cursed as he slammed his fist into the table, causing the decorative figurines and writing supplies to scatter and fall onto the floor. How could he know? I told no one of my change to a vampire. How could he know? Aoshi repeated this mentally, as if it were some sort of mantra.

The day Misao was buried the sky was filled with clouds, as if the sun could not properly shine without Misao to help it. The remaining members of the Oniwabanshu along with Sano, Yahiko, Megumi, and Kenshin stood at the newly filled in plot of dirt. Flowers of bright colors, seemingly at odds with the somber mood, surrounded the grave marker.

"Aoshi, I am sorry for your loss. May we seek Enishi together as atonement for their deaths," Kenshin said, his eyes flashing angrily. Kaoru had only been dead for a week and already tragedy had struck in yet another form.

"Hai, let us," Aoshi said. He turned to the members of his elite ninja clan. "I have something to tell you all. I am a vampire. I don't expect any of you to understand, so please don't feel you must. I and the remainder of the Kenshin-gumi will seek Enishi to repay what injustices were served us."

Okina stepped forward and clasped Aoshi's shoulder, "We are with you, vampire or human. We ask you, please change us. We cannot defeat Enishi in our current state."

Aoshi bowed his head in thought before he slowly nodded his head. "It will not be pleasant. The Battousai is also a vampire, he may be of help to us." Kenshin nodded his head slightly and only once in response.

"Hai, together, we will repay Enishi."

__________*****__________

Sano walked into the room helping Megumi carry armfuls of odds and ends of gauze, ointments, and other useful tools such as forceps. Megumi placed the items on a nearby coffee table before turning to look at the numerous wounds on Omasu's arms and chest.

"Hm...I think a bit of Silvasorb here and some Telfa on that wound there should do the trick. The rest should be perfectly capable of healing with only a bit of Neosporin and gauze should work," Megumi mused to herself before quickly cleaning the wounds, Omasu only groaning slightly in her unconscious state.

The three men left the room and settled into the dining area for their discussion.

"Who was the chick?" Sano asked, hoping the Okashira or Battousai would know.

"I know nothing of her, other than her skills precede her by far. If she does in fact work for the UPA, she would have had to keep her vampire status secret. I know she has been trained in the use of several weapons, but that's about it. She can use a kodachi, katana, kunai, and various guns with skill. She was not made the head of Recon for nothing," Aoshi said calmly, his crystal blue eyes clouded.

"Yes, and she somehow knows of me, we should not underestimate her," Kenshin said.

"Yeah, Recon being headed by a woman, no wonder they do so well," said Sano.

Kenshin sighed, "Sano, I want you to use your contacts to find out more about the Recon division of the UPA, and Aoshi, I want you to see if you can set up a meeting with our lovely little acquaintance."

"Hai," Aoshi said before leaving the room.

Kenshin and Sano exchanged glances before shaking their heads in shared amusement.

Misao-mine. You will soon remember me. Aoshi thought as he stalked to his car.

~*~*~*~*~

After Misao and Kaoru had parked the car, they walked to short distance to Kaoru's silver Honda in companionable silence. Kaoru got in the driver's side and punched the unlock button for Misao to climb into the other side. The drive to their apartment was also made in silence. They got into their apartment and dumped their coats and weaponry onto the dining room table before heading to the kitchen for some food to eat. They ate before collapsing into bed, too exhausted to change clothes.

"Late night eh?" Misao said rhetorically, still yawning from her nap of sorts.

"Yeah, and we have to be back at eight. Really, they should give 14 hours off until you go back into work. We really should have looked into the hours before we agreed to this," Kaoru said tiredly.

"I like the training though, all the ninja type things," Misao said.

"You would, you're a natural. I don't like all the sneaking around and crap. It's all yours, Misao, all of that stuff."

"Goodie!" Misao squealed.

Their discussion ended abruptly when an urgent knock came form the door. The two girls exchanged glances before heading back to the table to grab their weapons. Misao looked through the peek hole to see who was knocking at their door at this unholy hour. She backed away with a gasp.

"Who is it Misao?" Kaoru asked, the frustration in her voice clear.

"It's-" Misao started, but she was interrupted as the door burst open, revealing their early morning visitor.

"Hello girls."

~*~*~*~*~

Aoshi roamed the streets of Tokyo absent-mindedly, not noticing the drunken fools and propositioning whores around him. As he walked, people grew more and more scarce to see. Aoshi snapped out of his stupor when he realized the sun was beginning to rise, and he was in some apartment building infested area. He suddenly noticed the unnatural rise in ki, as if a score of powerful fighters were near. He glanced around him and felt the panic in a ki far too familiar to him. Misao!

~*~*~*~*~

Kenshin stirred from the couch he was splayed on in his apartment. His eyes snapped open suddenly, all thoughts of rest out of his head when he noticed the rise in Kaoru's ki. Shit, I knew I should have followed her home. Kenshin's thoughts were full of self-loathing comments as he rushed to grab his katana and leave the apartment in search of Kaoru.

~*~*~*~*~

"Ah yes, home sweet home," Freya said, sounding very relaxed as the door to her apartment shut with a resounded click. Her dog came to greet her, lazily shaking his tail.

"Well Mogget, did you have a nice little restful night? Must be nice for some of us, ne?" The dog merely shook his head and continued by in search of a comfortable sleeping area. Freya flung her trench coat across the back of her leather sofa and reverently placed her two sheathed katanas on an ornate rack, obviously designed for the two swords. She placed her guns in the drawer of a nearby end table before sinking down into the couch with a sigh. She sat up abruptly as the rising ki of her two newest agents alerted her to trouble. She quickly grabbed her weapons and coat before reaching for her car keys and exiting her apartment in a rush. Hang on guys, I'm coming.

~*~*~*~*~

Kaoru and Misao stood paralyzed in the foyer of their apartment.

"You aren't frightened are you? Really, it's not like I'm planning on killing you," the man paused," yet."

"Who the hell are you and what the hell do you think you're doing here?" Kaoru demanded angrily.

"I'm only a long lost..friend shall we say," the man said.

"We've never met you, now leave before things get really ugly," Misao said hurriedly, her fear well concealed beneath her anger.

"Really, do you think you two would stand a chance against me? You are only human."

"Shut up," Misao ground out angrily, her hands bristling with kunai.

"Enishi," a low voice ground out angrily.

"Ah, Shinomori Aoshi, how good to see you. How's the missus? Oh wait, I'm sorry, I let that slip didn't I?" the man identified as Enishi replied.

Aoshi growled and drew his kodachi, prepared to protect the lives of his love and her friend. Kenshin stepped into the apartment foyer and gave Enishi a look that could fry an egg at four miles.

"Enishi, you have set yourself up for death by doing this," Kenshin ground out through a clenched jaw. Freya chose this moment to make her presence known and merely glanced at the three vampires in the room before heading over to Kaoru and Misao. She stood in front of them with both katanas drawn, ready to fight to the death, preferably not her death.

"So, the gang's all here," Enishi said, glancing around the room with unconcerned eyes.

~*~*~*~*~

So, how do you like the second chapter? I realize very little happened, but the first couple chapters of any story are merely setting you up for future chapters. So, I've had a couple questions emailed to me that I think I should answer.

Q: What happened to Yahiko?

A: Well, you see, Yahiko didn't really fit into any of my plans, but he might appear in later chapters. I could surprise you.

Q: What's with Freya's relationship with Kenshin?

A: Well, you'll discover that inmost likely the next chapter, I had it already planned for this chapter, but losing the vast majority of the written chapter prompted me to wait until the next chapter. It was a very touching scene too. Damn.

I'd like to take this moment to thank my reviewers for their support, I'd give you a cookie, but I'm out of flour. I'd also like to thank Kim for a minor thing, but it was a very big thing all at the same time. Especially waiting for me that one day to make sure I didn't punch the wall or something. It's hard to type with only one hand. Neil and Fro get my appreciation for beat reading the chapters. All you did was tell me how you would write it, but hey, what are friends for? Until next chapter, which will hopefully be up much sooner than this one was.