Disclaimer: We do not own Rurouni Kenshin

Japan

1143

Outskirts of Osaka.

There are many magical creatures on this earth. Many thought to become legends since their absence noted for many years. But one very powerful race that was ever lasting and ever present, was that of the Vampire race.

No mere mortal ever knew much about Vampires, but having been their victims for so long feared the creatures of the dark night.

Until a rather young male vampire and a human maiden fell in love. They knew that their love was damned, but the concluded that if each of their races could see past the fights, and could accept love and peace, that maybe they would be able to finally end the long war between humans and vampires.

In most cases the Vampire would simply turn the human into a Vampire, teach them their ways and be done with the human they once were, but this was not the case, having fought a great and terrible war, both were allowed to speak their feelings to their races, hoping to end the conflict, there was no need for bloodshed if everything could be worked out and resolved.

This did not happen, and when the vampire was captured he was sentenced to death on the spot, stabbed in the heart with a wooden spear. His love ran to him, and got in the way receiving the blow instead, he tried to turn her into a vampire, but it was too late, and as she kissed him one last time she shed her last tears and died. With immense force he pried his body out of his chains, picked up her lifeless body and escaped, never to be heard from again.

The others realizing what they had done decided to amend things with each other. And a peace treaty was done. Vampires would no longer feed on human flesh, and humans would no longer kill a vampire on sight. At first there was much animosity, but eventually peace was able to flourish across the land, enforcing the law, for if it was broken the war could arise again.

Not long afterwards the vampires heard wind that the humans had created a law only for humans…that they were to never wed a vampire, for if they did, they would shame their house, their fathers and would have to leave.

The vampires understood that it was because of the fair maiden who gave her life to save an immortal man. They simply asked the others not to go looking to fall in love with any human maiden.

The vampire kingdom crumbled shortly afterwards, for tradition reigns supreme amongst them, and the young vampire man was the only hair to the vampire throne, with no one else there grew a silent chaos, many were sent to search for the young prince, but to no avail, soon a temporary government was created, just as the humans did, until their prince came to reclaim what was rightfully his, his throne.

As humans stopped becoming victims they increased in population, being selfish they took all the land they could get and filled them with humans. The vampires realizing they sized a few small country's for themselves, but of course allowing humans to live nearby in peace.

Less and less vampires were seen by humans until suddenly, they had vanished from sight, by the time all of the human race had realized this it had already been 50 years since the last accounted vampire was spotted. Never to be spotted again.

Eventually many hundreds of years passed, and the history books became story books, facts into legends, myths and bed time stories. Unbeknownst to them, that vampire did indeed still live among them, but rather enjoyed this type of peace, were everyone lived blissful lives. Once the fear of vampires had fully left their hearts, other fears became known, werewolves, zombies and other such monsters, wanting to gain control of the world, now that their greatest enemy had been extinct.

And now a new threat as risen from the shadows and is hurting humans.

The Young mother stopped her story telling as she saw that four little children had fallen fast asleep on the large bed. Two of them were hers, the black as night haired ones, and the other two flaming red hair, little friends sleeping over. She tucked their little body's neatly under the warmth of their blankets, and giving all four children sweet kisses on their foreheads.

Just when she was about to blow out the candle she heard her daughter speak in a soft voice.

"Kaachan? Will we have to fight the bad guys and protect humans?"

"No my darling, there are vampires already doing just that to keep this peace on going. You needn't worry your little head, now off to sleep" she smiled softly has her daughter nodded and turned around to cuddle closer to her twin brother.

She closed the door softly and walked towards the front of her medium sized two story cabin. She was rather surprised to his not only her husband sitting on his chair on the porch, but his best friend and somewhat pupil was sitting on the floor, feet on the porch stairs, and leaning on the railings. She let out a smile as soon as the said friend turned to her; he smiled back, his long red hair loose on his back and blowing with the wind.

"Good evening Mr. Himura Battōsai" She greeted with a bow and went to sit on her husband's lap.

"Oh geez Okon-San please, no need for that, just Battōsai will do" he said with a smile rubbing the back of his head.

"Darling, must you really tell that story to the children? I'm not sure I want them knowing all of that. Filling their little brains with useless knowledge" he said taking a sip of his sweet sake.

"I don't agree husband" she said, standing up to face him. She only called him that when she wanted something or when she was mad. "They should know full well their history, so as not to repeat it. Not make the same mistakes" she said in a calm voice, knowing that if she yelled it would be heard throughout the house. "Hiko darling, don't fight with me on this, I want them to know"

"So you would drag Battōsai's children in this as well" Hiko said drinking from his sake once more.

"Battōsai and I have already spoken, and he is on my side!" she kept fighting forward ignoring Battōsai's "orororor!?" "He agrees that all children everywhere should know this, not as stories but as the truth. And don't you dare "try" to hurt him for siding with me Hiko darling" she had crossed her arms, "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll retreat to sleep. Battōsai your room has been prepared for you" she left to her room passing thru the living room and up the stairs to her room.

"Since when do you two talk that much" Hiko gulped down more sake. Battōsai simply crossed his arms together and let a small smile escape his lips.

"Since before the children were born" he let out a small chuckle has he heard his long time friend make a grunting sound with his throat as he drank more sake.

"Well I suppose we should retire as well, tomorrow is the big hunt, and got to have all the energy we can" Hiko said standing up, Battōsai following along.

By 6 o clock in the morning children's laughter filled the lone cottage, all the lights were lit as the sun had yet to fully rise over the horizon.

Okon got the children ready and began to prepare breakfast, as soon as she was done her husband and Battōsai appeared from their rooms. The little twin redheads ran happily towards their father, not knowing that he had been there, they jumped into his arms and each boy cuddling their father's neck seeking his love and warmth. Battōsai of course not denying them any hugged them back.

"Otousan when did you arrive?" "Why didn't you sleep with us?" "Where were you?" "We missed you" both twin redheads bombarded their father with questions, Battōsai only smiled softly at his boys.

"I arrived late last night, you both were already fast asleep, and I didn't want to wake you boys up. I have been hunting, but that's all done now. Will you forgive me?" he asked looking at both of the boys, the twins looked at each other seriously contemplating their next action, rubbing their chins and looking up. Battōsai realized that he wasn't getting a response. "Oh come on you two!" just has he was beginning to falter both boys laughed and hugged his neck nodding that they had already forgiven him.

Okon smiled as she set the food on the table. She was just finishing up with boiling water for some warm tea, and her husband's sake.

"Shinta, Kenshin let your father breathe please, we'll need him today" both boys stopped realizing that their father was a light shade of purple for lack of oxygen. Apologizing they jumped off realizing that the other two twins had been watching from bellow. They all giggled together and ran towards the table where Hiko was already seated looking out through the tall windows into the forest.

"Soujiro, Misao did you both wash your hands?" Okon asked her children who both nodded their heads. Okon finished bringing the food and soon they all sat and ate merrily.

"Itadakimasu!" they all chanted together and began to eat. Okon watched happily at her small family. Battōsai wasn't blood related, but he had known her Hiko for many thousands of years, when Hiko built this house he had made a large room especially for Battōsai to sleep in, now there would have to be new modifications, as it came as a surprise when he appeared with the twins. Battōsai had been missing for 20 years, no letter nothing, and suddenly he appeared as if he hadn't disappeared.

Many thoughts raced through Okon's mind. One of them was always wondering who the children's mother was. They never seemed to miss her, or talk about her; she felt that maybe he would stay so she would care for his sons as well which is something that she didn't mind at all, having a passion and love for children. They were all vampires, and being a vampire meant it was difficult to have children, but not impossible. It had to be a ritual, done in the most precise moment, when the stars and moon shone brightly, or during an eclipse. There were many moments to procreate; it was just deciphering which one was the accurate child bearing moment. Because of this vampires decided not to continue their lineage thus doing the rituals for growing older and dyeing

Having remembered that, Okon gasped into her tea, and looked up at her husband and Battōsai. Both with worried expressions on their faces. "Tomorrow will have been another year, I haven't prepared anything for the grow ritual!" Okon's face grew worried and horrified. How could she forget that?

"What's that kaasan?" her little daughter Misao asked.

"It's a ritual to grow our body's up" Little Shinta answered. "While we are little it is our parent's duty to age us accordingly, of course they don't HAVE too, but they choose to. Like humans, each year they grow a year older" He liked being the smarty pants of the outfit.

"When we turn the body age of 6 we are allowed to decide when to keep growing, as that is the age we are supposed to have a clear mind and correct judgment on what we want for ourselves" finished Soujiro, he and Shinta nodded at their intelligence. Misao leaned on her brother and smiled.

"Kaasan…I don't mind staying as I am" Misao said hoping to ease her mother's tension. All the other children nodded as well.

"So you want to stay the same size for another whole year?" Hiko said having finished his food, unfazed by his wife's worries.

"If that all of your wishes, then I see no reason why it shouldn't be done. We are not bound by that law" Hiko said standing up. Battōsai had a smile on his face.

"That goes for you two that it does" Battōsai smiled at his boys. What child wouldn't want to stay a child forever? These children were blessed that if that's how they wanted it, that's how it would be. Okon relaxed a little, if they wanted to grow she wanted to make it an extra special event, it was a birthday after all.

"I want to stay this size forever! Please Kaasan and Otousan?" Misao pleaded, both parents nodded in agreement at her request. And for 80 more years the children stayed the same child like age. But slowly Shinta and Kenshin desired to be older so as to help their father and Uncle Hiko out in the field, and so as not to be left behind, Soujiro followed. Misao kept her word and stayed little, but she grew to the age of 6, so as to be a little taller and slightly more independent of her mother. She didn't mind staying behind; she loved being a child, and didn't want to grow up. Her mind also grew even if her body didn't and a time came when she could cook and clean expertly even for her size.

Many hundreds of years later, Misao became known as the vampire who stayed a child the longest, surpassing the previews child vampire by 300 hundred years and counting.

Fast forward to the year 2000.

It had become a challenge now to live in this future, what with census going on each year, even the fight against the rebel werewolves had been long since forgotten, but they were still lurking in the shadows, waiting… just waiting for the right time to strike.

Another battle going on was with Hiko and everyone else. As their land belonged to them Hiko did his best to protect his family, and planted many tall trees in their mini forest, soon to be surrounded by tall buildings. He hated buildings, and they only seemed to grow taller and taller each year. He decided to turn a certain area into a children's park, for his little Misao, but far away from their cottage, so that the humans could enjoy it as well. Soon though the government wanted to take control of the park, and began a legal battle, or tried to, Hiko asked around and found an up to date vampire who called himself a 'lawyer' and they fought to keep the park, it was very easy to win. Hiko started growing resentment for humans; he didn't like how they wanted to control everything.

Misao loved that park, as it was a gift from her Otousan, and she loved seeing other children playing there too. She had many friends to play with now.

One day she arrived to see a party going on, there were balloons and streamers on everything, and large crowd of people. They were off to the side of the park, so as not to disturb anyone else who came to play. Misao sat on the tallest tower of the wooden castle that her Otousan had built for children to play in. To her surprise she felt a tug on her little dress, and she looked to her side to see a little boy smile up at her, he giggled and got up next to her, seeing throw the open area he just went through to over look the park. Misao giggled too. After a few minutes they both got down carefully and began to run around in the castle, the little boy laughing loudly. Misao liked to play with him, they began to play hide and seek and he couldn't find her and she heard the soft voice of his mother probably calling out to him, she looked above her hiding spot smiling and saw that the little boy was just on the other side of the wall, his mother took his picture, and he continued to run around looking for her. From the corner of his eye he thought he had seen the girl behind the wall and decided to sneak up on her, his plan was successful until he stepped on a small twig and gave away his location, Misao turned around and began to laugh.

"You found me but you have to catch me!" the little boy ran after her and she hid behind a tree. Suddenly she didn't hear him laughing anymore, when she peeked to see where he was, she saw that he had been picked up by a man.

"Come on, don't you want cake? It's time to sing Happy Birthday my little one" and he walked with the boy in his arms towards the large gathering of humans.

Misao felt left out, forgotten. She ran towards the castle, and hid inside the tallest tower. She watched over the party, how they sang, how happy they were. Misao smiled. She could clearly see he was turning 2 years old. How long ago was it that she actually turned two years old? She dozed off a little only to be woken up by the smell of something sweet; she opened her eyes to see to plates with a dark cake and white frosting. Soon the little boy climbed up smiling some more for her. He sat next to her and handed her a plate.

"Cake" he said simply and began to eat his own.

"Arigato Itadakimasu!" Misao exclaimed. And ate the delicious cake, enjoying its flavors, cake really did taste better when eating near a friend.

Suddenly another child appeared with two big cups of milk, and handed one to each of them, and quickly left. Once they had finished they went down, threw away their plates and cups and continued to run around in the garden side of the little forest.

But as all good things must come to an end, this was no exception. And his parents came looking for him, when they found him he smiled and ran towards them, tugging at their dresses hoping to introduce his new friend, only to turn around and see that she was no longer there.

"Come on sweetie, it's time to go" His mother said softly as she picked him up and began walking away. He kept his eyes on the clearing and saw her appear from behind a tree, she waved goodbye and he did the same.

"Did you make a little friend, Aoshi?" his Otousan said as he rubbed the boys back, seeing him waving happily. The little boy nodded to his father.

'Aoshi…' Misao thought, having the super hearing of a vampire helped her out for once.

She didn't see the boy again for another year, always on his birthday. They played and played until the sun began to set and they had to leave. Misao was beginning to think it was a yearly dream, still being scared and realizing that she could never show her face to his family, as she was the same size as the first time they met the year before. Misao had asked her father to make a wooden sword so she could give it to him as a gift, for the upcoming year, and asked her brother to teach her some moves so she could show Aoshi on his 4th birthday.

On his 5th birthday she gave him a small shield, and they had many duels.

On his 6th birthday she gave him a book about fighting styles and sword techniques, so that he could read one day. Misao felt a little sad, at seeing the little boy now her size and "age" the years seem to pass in a blur and she didn't like it.

After the sun had gone down little Aoshi gave her a kiss on the cheek. "I hope to see you again next year?" he pleaded with his blue eyes, Misao smiled brightly at him.

"Of course you will Aoshi. I live here, and always will live here. I'm not going anywhere" she said, a little sadly at that realization. "Where is it that you go?"

"I live in Kyoto. But I was born the same day as my uncle, my Otousan's cousin and one of my cousins, so we get together in Osaka where my grandparents' live and throw a huge get together plus our birthday. That's why so many people" Aoshi explained.

"Aoshi it is time to go!" they could hear his Okaasan calling out to him. He waved goodbye and ran towards his Okaasan.

That night Misao looked at her brother's, having adopted Shinta and Kenshin as her siblings, they were now the age of 12 year old boys, she began to wonder about being bigger. Next year Aoshi would be bigger than her, and if she wanted to continue playing with him, she would have to grow up as well.

"What's troubling my littlest child?" Hiko asked having observed her behavior, she was rather quiet today. Misao kept to herself, not wanting to commit just yet. She smiled at her Otousan and began talking about a flower she saw today. Hiko let it slide.

The year passed by slower than the rest, was it because she was waiting everyday for that one special day to come? Finally it did, and she saw how a group of adults were preparing for a party. She smiled.

She was behind a tree and didn't notice someone sneak up on her, until he grabbed her from behind and lifted her.

"Aja! Caught you off guard!" She recognized the voice, and smiled as he put her down, she turned around to come face to face…with his neck. She had to look up.

"Wow" she let out. He grinned slightly scratching the top of his head. "My how you've grown Aoshi-Chan. You're taller than me now" a hint of sadness was in her voice.

"Now it's my turn to look out for you. This is for you" he handed her a present; she smiled at it, and up at him. "You always give me something nice, and since I don't see you any other day, or on your birthday, I thought I'd give this to you now"

She opened it to see it was a poetry book, she held it close to her heart, she'd cherish this forever, and she meant forever.

"Thank you Aoshi-Chan" She smiled softly at him, she quickly saw his face turn a little red.

It was the best day ever, and Misao realized that she wanted to keep growing, so he wouldn't leave her behind, because unlike her brothers who could stop growing and wait, he couldn't.

That night during supper Misao spoke up. "Kaasan, Otousan, Uncle Battōsai, brothers, I have an announcement to make" Misao sat up on her chair gaining everyone's attention. "I want to grow up" then sat back down.

"Really Misao?" her family was shocked at hearing this. Misao nodded and began to eat happily. No one dared question her motives; for fear that she might doubt it. They loved her being little forever, but she was missing out on a lot of things that life had to offer.

Authors Notes: Hope this was enjoyable.

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