Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin

A week had passed since the incident of Kenshins supposed welcome meal, and I was for the first time feeling loneliness like never before. Misao and Aoshi had kept their distance, ignoring my calls and texts, they were never in when I called round and Misao had closed her mothers shop for the first time since she had passed away.

Kenshin had kept to himself and I hadn't even seen him, only heard him leave and enter his flat. I felt afraid but guilt was quickly taking over, I wasn't sure if I was over reacting. I decided a little self education couldn't harm so on the eve of Christmas I nipped to the local library and purchased a book on vampires.

I sat through the whole night reading it and even though I knew two things for certain, one that Kenshin had a huge bunch of blood bags stashed away somewhere in his flat, and secondly that he was allergic to garlic. The stunt when Kenshin had jumped out of my window had been the final straw, but the reasons for his acts I still didn't know. The book told of many kinds of vampires, from different countries and different features.

The Bulgaria vampire was known to only have one nostril, transylvanian vampires were pale and gaunt with long fingernails. Bavarian vampires slept with one eye open and with their thumbs crossed. Moravian vampires only attacked while naked. I frowned in disgust as I read on. Some were reported to be able to transform into bats, rats, dogs, wolves, spiders and even moths. The vampire developed into the modern stereotype due to films such as Dracula, and other historical blood thirsty figures. I was about to close the book when my eyes caught a single line "Common attributes were sometimes described, such as red hair" Kenshins hair

was as red and real as the blood that ran through my veins.

For hours I laid on the sofa reading the book and things that alerted me to my predicament I wrote down immediately. "Some traditions also hold that a vampire cannot enter a house unless invited by the owner, although after the first invitation they can come and go as they please"

"I`d say that ones rather accurate" I screamed when I heard his strong feral voice speak out from the shadows of the living room. I shot up off the sofa and backed away from where I knew he stood.

"I didn't welcome you in!" I shouted and his voice chuckled.

"No your little friend Misao did actually" he stepped out from the shadows and I felt my knees about to give in, his eyes were glazed amber. He walked over to were I had dropped the book and he picked it up.

"What on earth have you gone out and bought this for?" he tutted flicking through the pages.

"I know what you are Kenshin" I growled and he turned to me with a surprised look on his face.

"Oh really, please enlighten me" he mocked throwing the book down onto the living room table.

"That book....it has everything you are in it" I didn't dare say the word he so wanted me to.

"Hmmm.....just one question" he turned to give me a hard stare "who exactly wrote that book?" he winked at me and I felt myself blush.

"That's right my little fire cracker, humans write a book about vampires and you believe such silly tales" he stood and walked towards me, his mockery was too much for me.

"What is it you want to know?" he whispered as he closed in on me.

"What are you?" I whispered bringing my eyes to meet his.

"As your book has educated you so, I think the word you will find is vampire, but the true name of our race are called Dacian`s" he spoke softly now and I found the fire flickering over his handsome face rather peaceful.

"Dacians" I whispered the name, it sounded familiar.

"Your scent has changed Kaoru" he mumbled and his expression turned to that of upset, as though he was eating himself up over something.

"How do you know me?" I asked wanting to reach out and touch him, to see if he was real.

"I have known you all my life" he sighed and moved away from me as though I had broken some vicious spell, he kept his back turned to me once again.

"How?" I asked after his retreating back.

"You will find out soon enough" was his only answer.

"Why do you throw yourself into my life but refuse to tell me how you know me" I hissed in frustration, this man was impossible!

"I don't want to frighten you my little fire cracker, please understand how hard it is for me not to take you in my arms and take you back" he pleaded with me and I calmed instantly, with one look in his now gentle violet eyes I knew he was fighting with himself, for my sake.

"You are the most important thing to me, you always have been and in time you will understand why, I promise" he reached out and brushed away a stray hair from my cheek, letting his hand rest.

"You really scared me..." if Kenshin could be honest, then so would I. He looked at me with pained eyes knowing this.

"I think you should leave" I whispered turning my back on him and walking over to the fire letting it warm my face, when I glanced back he had already gone.

*

"Merry Christmas!" my mother yelled down the phone the next morning.

"Merry Christmas" I yawned rubbing my sleepy eyes.

"Did you go out last night?" my mother asked and I lent up in bed and switched on the loudspeaker to my phone.

"No I didn't, just a late night that's all" I yawned again and climbed out of bed digging my feet into my slippers. "Its freezing!" I moaned as I wrapped my snug dressing gown around me.

"I expect it is, didn't you hear the weather last night it was horrendous" my mother always over exaggerated with her words. "Look outside" and so I did, and man did I receive a suprise. I yanked the curtains open and threw open the window, everything was crystal clear white sparkling in the dim light.

"All transportation has been shut off and the roads are blocked solid, I wont be able to make it over today Kaoru" my mothers disappointment saddened me.

"Haven't we all wished for a white Christmas" I smiled leaving the window and walking towards the kitchen.

"My neighbour`s family have also been snowed in, so she`s coming round to mine and we are going to cook a mini Christmas dinner" I listened to my mother as I rooted around in the kitchen looking for breakfast.

"Misao is with you isn't she, I`m sure you girls will have fun" I hadn't yet told my mother of Misao and Aoshi`s disappearance from my life, I would have to explain Kenshin and I didn't want my mother to worry.

"Yeah sure" I agreed finding a frying pan and spooning in a teaspoon amount of butter.

"I`m going to get the dinner started but i`ll ring you later honey, Merry Christmas sweetheart, I love you" this made me smile.

"Merry Christmas, and I love you too" and with that the conversation ended and I cracked on with breakfast. I`d decided on scrambled eggs and flicking on the radio I sang along to the charts.

Once breakfast was prepared I settled it on the living room table and went outside to check my mail box for mail and the newspaper. Inside I found no newspaper but instead a red envelope.

Inside I sat on the sofa and tore open the envelope to reveal a card.

My Little Fire Cracker,

Merry Christmas

Yours always,

Kenshin x

I stared at the card for a good few minutes before placing it on the table, I looked at my breakfast no longer feeling hungry. Kenshin entering my life had caused alot of problems, and unearthed hidden feelings I never knew had existed. His image was branded in my mind and constantly on my thoughts, a feeling of familiarity was always present when he was in the same room as me, his actions, his voice and his way of life all disturbed me with sense that I knew something about him. I wanted to learn how I knew these things, and why I felt so drawn to the man who named himself as Kenshin.

*

I let my mind wander as I lay soaking my tense body in the bath that early afternoon, I had decided a relax in a hot bath and a pamper would make me feel better. I had a hair repair conditioner softening my hair and a chocolate mud pack on my face, the smell of the chocolate mud always made me want to lick my fingers afterwards but I knew it wouldn't taste so good, it had some seaweed mixtures and salts. I closed my eyes and sighed a relieved sigh as I felt my mind at rest. A hot bath for me always soothed away upset, anger or any other emotion that took a grip of me and stressed me out. Now was the perfect timing to let all of these go. Only a few weeks ago I had been wondering just how carefree my life was, now it suddenly felt so hectic. Everything was going wrong, a man had entered my life and my friends had disappeared.

I lay floating in the bath for a good hour, my fingers looked like prunes, my face felt fresh and my hair smooth and clean. But the silence of my flat couldn't evade the soft melody of music suddenly dancing through the building, I sat bolt up right and listened.

Someone was playing on a piano, I looked up to the ceiling and frowned, it was coming from upstairs. The tune sounded so familiar, like a lullaby your mother would sing to you as a child, and hearing it all the old memories would come back to you. But I couldn't remember where I`d heard it before. I quickly shot out of the bath giving myself a quick once over with the towel and throwing my dressing gown around me and with slippers on I rushed out of my apartment and followed the music.

I didn't need to look far as I saw a door open at the end of the hallway on the same level as my flat, I peeked cautiously into the door and saw a set of stairs, that led to another set, in all there was at least three flights of stairs up to were the music was loud in my ears.

(To hear the music Kaoru hears type river flows in you yiruma into youtube)

I followed the melodious tune up the stars until I came to another door, opening it quietly so as not to disturb whoever was playing the beautiful tune. As I slowly opened the door I stepped in and was firstly amazed at the sheer size of the loft which looked as though a conversion had one been in process but left unfinished. The room was one long and dark, with limited sun shining through the many windows and dark curtains had been hung. My eyes locked on the black glossy grand piano at the end of the room and my heart leapt as I saw who was playing.

"Kenshin..." I whispered and his fingers slipped from the keys, he looked up surprised and his expression turned to that of guilt.

"I`m sorry, I hope I didn't disturb you" he seemed uncomfortable.

"What was that" I moved towards him "What was it that you were playing?" I asked reaching the end of his piano and running my hand over the smooth surface.

"River flows in you" he replied closing the lid to the piano.

"It was so warming" I admitted keeping my distance at the end of the piano "I never would have thought...." I stopped myself but Kenshin smiled already knowing what I was about to say.

"A vampire could play so elegantly" he finished for me and I dropped my eyes, now that he had said it, it sounded more of an insult than a compliment.

"You used to love me playing this song for you" he lifted the lid and ran his fingers over the keys gently pressing down and filling the long room with an angelic sound. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and goosebumps crawl up my skin.

"It is called Pachelbel Canon, I played it for you on the night of our blessing" he spoke so quiet it was barely a whisper, he didn't look at me, just continued to play. I moved closer to him slowly, as my fingers progressed along the piano surface.

"I bet it was beautiful" a smile graced my lips as I stopped by his side.

"That it was" and his hands slowed to a stop.

"Don't stop" I lowered myself onto the edge of the piano stool and he moved up for me smiling. His fingers once again took position on the piano, and this time a sad but strong melody waltzed the room.

"I know this..." I whispered as I watched his fingers slip over the keys, Kenshin took his hands off the keys for a moment and glanced at me.

"You should do" Kenshin replied and I looked to him. "I was playing this the first time we met"

I tried to force myself to remember where I had heard this beautiful sad music, but again it just seemed familiar, I couldn't bring up a memory with it.

"I played this at my brothers wedlock ceremony" Kenshin smirked letting his thoughts wander to that day.

*Kenshin and Kaoru`s first meet* (In Kenshins POV)

"Congratulations" I hugged my brother and clapped his back.

"Thank you brother" my brother replied clapping my back in return.

"Where is she?" I asked looking around for my brother`s life mate, my brother pointed to a corner were I saw a crowd of women fussing over my now sister in law.

"Kenshin" she spotted me and rushed over to me, throwing her arms around my shoulders and kissing me on both cheeks.

"Tomoe you look beautiful, I hope my brother looks after you" I smiled turning to my brother.

"They don't call me the Battousai for nothing" my brother growled wrapping his arm around his bride. I smiled at them both knowing they would be very happy.

"Kenshin we have a unmarked joining us" Tomoe whispered to me with excitement and my eyes grew wide in anticipation.

"She is amongst us?" I whispered back whilst looking around the Dacians gathered.

"Not yet, she is travelling from the east to join us tonight" Tomoe informed with high hopes.

"What is her name" I asked feeling my senses sharpen, an unmarked was rare to find and if feelings were mutual then reason was given to a Dacians life. My brother Battousai and Tomoe had become life mates, but I was the only one left from our clan unmarked.

"That is not for me to give, you`ll have to find out for yourself" she giggled and I growled mocked by her words.

"Believe me, I intend to" and with that I left for some alone time with my thoughts, this news had affected me strongly distressing my thoughts.

From then on I kept my eyes on all new comers entering and leaving our village. I dressed everyone down with my eyes, attempting to smell out the untouched.

"Kenshin will you play for us" Tomoe begged and I breathed hard in frustration, I wanted to continue my search for this unmarked Dacian.

"One song" I snarled, I didn't know how I was going to be able to play with my body so agitated, my fingers were stiff and my breathing heavy.

"He plays so divine" the females melted at the music Kenshin was able to produce with his fingers.

Somehow I forced myself to play as I pushed the thoughts of my prey out of my mind. The silence gave way to the music echoing around the hall. Tomoe and Battousai were taking their first dance together, and their only dance. A traditional dance passed down from many races for generations.

My fingers froze on the keys and the music halted, I felt my breath quicken and my senses burst.

The room fell silent as a smirking Tomoe and frowning Battousai halted their dance.

I turned my head to find the unmarked female Dacian standing to the right of me, curiosity written clear on her pearl white skin, she seemed wildly excited at her new finding, as she knew I was an unmarked.

Everyone left the hall and gathered outside to continue the celebration.

I stood to face her.

"I believe you wish to know my name" my precious find teased me, it made my body tingle and crave for her untouched flesh. Her body slithered to my side and her scent was the smell of a lustful female, she desired this just as much as I.

To Be Continued....

Thanks to my lovely reviewers who are greatly appreciated -

HinataUchiha101 - Thanks for the lovely comment

miniwoo- No Misao doesn't understand anything yet, and yes this is kind of a reincarnation but all will be explained shortly

Vampire Queen Kaoru- The struggle I've had with looking for a Beta Reader.... I'm not going to go there, but hey if your offering.

bluewolfeyes - Hope you like the new chapter