Author's Notes: SO yea sorry this has taken so long, we just got a job at Nordstrom and its an everyday job.
On another note, Happy Easter2015 to everyone! Hope you have had a great day today!
Of Vampires and other creatures
Misao waited impatiently for Battōsai and the boys to arrive, she was so nervous... she had practically ignored her parents since she was told she had to marry one of the boys, her only support system being her twin brother. She was still locked away in her bedroom, but she was wearing an all white kimono, a sign of purity, but Misao felt like an offering, with swirly circles in silver that should gleam in the sunlight, that is...if she were to step outside. her hair was in its traditionally long braid with some strands rebelliously decorating her face.
Her bedroom door opened and silently Soujiro walked in, and smiled sweetly for his sister, she looked quite pretty, even with her sad face. "They have arrived sister... have you chosen?" he walked up to his twin and hugged her, smiling some more as he felt her arms wrap strongly around him. She nodded her head in 'no'.
"Remember Misao...it does not matter which one is chosen, you will be safe, protected and loved, for they both already love you dearly...it'll just be a matter of... learning to love each other in a different way... but you will always be safe...that is what I care about" he hugged her tighter, he could feel her relax against him and nod in agreement at his words.
There was no running away from this, she would be found too easily, and where could she go? In all her too many years of life, she had only been to a handful of places, and they were all rather near.
They both heard footsteps on the wooden floors of the hallway, headed in their direction.
"It is time my sweet sister" Soujiro turned his sister towards the door, cutting of the embrace. He looked down to see her clutching a small book and he took it from her hands, she was a little reluctant at first, and immediately look up into her twins eyes, then let him take it, with his other hand he softly pushed her towards the doorway.
KNOCK KNOCK
"It is time Misao" Okon said from outside the doorway, in her traditional yellow kimono, she smiled as she saw Misao walking towards her, her little girl was growing up, and she would keep on growing. Just before leaving down the hallway Misao took a small glance into her room and saw her brother place the book on her bed, she continued to walk.
Hiko, Battōsai, Shinta and Kenshin sat outside on the porch, looking at the blue sky, and all of the birds fly around, they sat silently, listening to all of the animals in their surroundings, they heard footsteps from inside headed towards their direction, in unison, all of the men stood up and stared at the doorway.
First Soujiro walked out, and smiled to the redheads, he walked up to them and they all did a high five together, as they did as children, Soujiro nodded towards Uncle Battōsai and stood himself between the red headed twins, he placed both hands on the shoulders nearest to him and squeezed, both twins look back at him, and only saw his reassuring smile, they smiled in return and look towards the door frame to see that Okon had already walked out and stood next to her husband, and then they held their breath, as Misao walked out, both hands in front of her, she was looking to the ground.
Both Shinta and Kenshin felt heartbroken at the sad look on her face, and when she looked up, the sadness radiated from the depth of her blue eyes. She managed to give both boys a weak smile and went to stand near her mother.
"So" Hiko began "We are all finally here, at last" He smiled at Battōsai, who smiled back.
"Indeed at last. And it is time" Battōsai said, looking straight into Misao's eyes. "Have you decided which of my son's you will choose as a husband?"
Misao felt herself began to shake from the inside, she knew they could all tell, and hear the suddenly fast rate her heart was taking, she tried to speak but as she opened her mouth nothing came out, she looked at the boys, then quickly at the ground, closing her eyes she nodded in a negative way. She heard her parents make a disapproving sounds from their throats.
"We'll then-" Hiko began to say, but was suddenly interrupted by Shinta stepping forward.
Everyone stared as the boy walked towards Misao and stood in front of her, with his right hand he placed it under Misao's chin to lift her head, he felt her tense up when their skin made contact, but she lifted her head with his hand, and they locked eyes, she was indeed surprised to see Shinta before her.
"If you will have me, I wish to become your future husband" he let go of her chin and took both of her smaller hands into his, placing them on his chest. "I will live my life to protect you, I promise to learn to love you, as a husband should, this I swear to you here before our parents" He let go of on hand and pulled out a small box hidden in his pocket, he opened it to reveal a diamond ring.
In another part of Japan
"Aoshi do you want to go to Disney Land for your birthday next year?"
Aoshi looked up to his mother from across the breakfast table, he looked back at his smiling pancakes.
"No Mom, I want to keep doing what we do every year, it's the only time we see the whole family..."
"And your mysterious girlfriend?" Aoshi was interrupted by his father who smirked at him, he took a big bite of his pancakes and ignored them.
"I hope we get to meet her next year!" Aoshi's mother exclaimed.
Misao had been his best kept secret, well sort of, they knew where he was, and that it was a girl he spent most of his time with on his birthday, but they hadn't been able to see her, and Aoshi kind of liked that, he didn't understand why.
Since his last birthday he kept on practicing his juggling, and he was proud to say he could juggle 5 balls now with ease. He just didn't know what to give her... he had only ever given her that poetry book, but next year, he wanted to give her something as well...but what? All he knew about her, except her name, was that she seemed very traditional.
"You will do no such thing" Aoshi said, staring sternly at his parents, speaking like the olden movies he often watched with his father, "She only goes to see me, if you two show up...or the whole family for that matter, she will leave. And I DON'T want you guys embarrassing me" he heard his parents giggle.
"Al right son, all right, but someday we WILL meet her" his father stated as he ate the last strip of bacon, Aoshi glared.
Misao looked up at the dark sky, all of the stars twinkling, but no moon. She looked down at the ring on her finger, gosh it was beautiful, but simple. Misao felt her heart heavy, she would have to get used to this.
So entranced in her thoughts she didn't sense anyone walk up to her, until their hand was softly on her shoulder, she jumped up and turned around, ready to attack, stopping as she saw Shinta stare surprised at her, he smiled.
"I-I'm s-s-sorry Shinta" Misao placed her hands together and looked down, her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. Shinta walked up to her and grabbed her hands. She looked up at him.
"Misao... don't be sorry. I wanted you to know...that I meant what I said back there. I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, die if I must"
"Don't say that!" Misao screamed at him, she looked down at their feet, then back up, no longer were her eyes filled with sadness, this time it was with a fiery passion. "Don't say such things... you like a brother to me, and I love you as such...even if one day I have to learn to love you in a different way... but... the idea that you would die... is unthinkable to me... you, Kenshin...my brother... please don't say such things, we don't die...we live forever"
Shinta closed the space between them and hugged Misao, she had spoken to him with her normal tone, not the depressed tone that she had had since the reunion earlier that day.
"I was beginning to miss that Misao...please...never change, I need that Misao, the happy one I have known for so long, promise me she will never disappear...?" Shinta parted slightly from Misao's body to look into her eyes.
"I promise Shinta"
They stared into each other eyes.
Misao felt her heart begin to beat faster, and her throat tighten as she realized that Shinta was closing in. Only with a few centimeters from each other Misao closed her eyes.
When she closed her eyes Shinta got scared, fear engulfed him, he felt powerless and weak, all because she closed her eyes, his hands begin to sweat, he stared at her sweet face, waiting for him. He got closer, their nose brushed, and they could feel each other's breath, and just when he was ready to seal the deal.
They felt an odd presence closing in on them, and fast, faster than anything they had witnessed before.
Shinta pulled his sword from his sheath in a quick movement, pulling Misao to stand behind him, just as his sword was in stance, it clashed strongly with another sword. Shinta was shocked to say the least, he hadn't even sensed that the presence had a weapon, and a katana for that matter. It was a cloaked figure, and he wore white gloves, he suddenly moved his head, as if looking behind the couple and jumped back.
It was then Shinta realized his father, uncle Hiko, Soujiro and Kenshin were running at full speed, having also sensed the odd presence, and heard the clash of swords, in no time at all they were at his side, Soujiro standing behind Misao.
"State your business!" Hiko roared loudly at the figure, who quickly put his sword away and removed his cloaks hoodie, to reveal an old man.
Misao softly gasped.
It was the old man that tough Misao to juggle on her 'birthday'.
"Okina, what is the meaning of this?" Battōsai asked, mad that this acquaintance would dare clash swords against his son.
"I meant no disrespect" Okina bowed again, "I was planning on going over their heads, but as your son's sword is actually pretty long, I had to unsheathe mine to protect...well the family jewels" the man scratched the back of his head, he gave a soft smile at them "I meant it in no threatening way"
"Okina...why are you so big?" Hiko asked bluntly, this man, so old in vampire years, had the odd ability to make himself appear a shorter old man, only when forced to enter battle did he ever appear he full height.
"I have grave news... and it will require all of you to fight...weather you'd want to or not" Okina sounded grave and distressed at having to tell them this much.
"Has peace...ended?" Soujiro asked softly, he looked into the sad eyes of the old wise vampire before him.
"The werewolves...they have stricken their first attack...not only against us...but humans as well...it won't take long for the news to travel all around the world...vampire court is trying their best to conceal what has been done...but with so many human corpses involved...this will prove to be difficult"
Their eyes widened. Misao gasped, placing both hands in front of her mouth, she felt Soujiro place his hand on her shoulder, bringing her closer to him.
"What does this have to do with us?" Hiko asked.
"The Vampire Court has called upon every able bodied vampire, who is willing to fight to the death" he looked at each and every one of them in the eye, even Misao. "I am here to add into the vampire army anyone who wants. To sign in their blood, an oath to fight. To protect their lives, their loved ones...and the whole wold...which is was the Werewolves are after"
"Please Okina, won't you come in for a cup of tea? You can give us the details inside. It will rain in only a few minutes" Okon said calmly. Misao jumped slightly, not having presence her Okaasan coming towards them.
They all nodded in agreement, and went towards the house. Once inside the rain began to fall hard, and they closed all of the windows.
There they heard of what they had gathered on the werewolves plot, and so it seemed that it was time to fight...peace was over, and soon the whole world would know about their existence, if they could not finish this battle quickly that was. There was small hope, but if the werewolves were defeated before to much blood had been shed, maybe the vampire existence would be spared.
This was all to much for Misao to handle, she excused herself and left quickly to hide in her room. She walked towards her window to look out into the darkness of her woods.
The battle seemed to be very far away...but if the werewolves were permitted to move forward, they would reach Japan...
'...Aoshi...' Misao felt fear for the young boy...the thought of him dying by the hands of the enemy, was something she could not bare... and she...she was so weak a vampire... if she was filled with to much emotion she couldn't sense properly...how could she defend anyone? she would be dead weight...
"Misao" she jumped and turned around, placing one fisted hand on her chest and the other one to the window behind her. She looked at Shinta. "Please don't be scared about this" He walked into the room, closing the distance between them.
"I am weak... I will be a burden... I took to long to grow up... and now I have wasted so many crucial training years...I can barely even sense anyone when I'm deep into my thoughts..." Misao began to breath heavily as she felt tears swell up.
Shinta closed the distance and hugged Misao, caresing her hair with his left hand, she hugged him back.
"No Misao...we were at peace... there was no reason to train you... for traditional reasons we were trained...but as I realized today with encountering Okina-San...I still have a long way to go..." He looked down at Misao as their eyes made contact. "There is still time to train Misao, to practice in protecting yourself, but it has to start now...I...I..." He felt heavyness in his heart by what he was about to say.
He felt a soft hand touch his cheek, their eyes were full with emotion. He felt courage.
"I won't be able to train you...Father...Kenshin and I...are going with Okina" Misao, who had stopped crying in his embrace, felt tears began to swell in her eyes, they had just gotten back, and now they would leave. "It's to protect you that I go...and I promise I will return to you...and when I do...we will marry. Our father's want us to marry tonight...but I refused...let's be honest...if I die...you can never marry again...it's the Vampire Law...and that way you can find your one true-"
"Don't you dare die" Misao said strongly, tears were falling from her eyes, but she did not look sad, only determined. "Don't you dare". Shinta was surprised by this but nodded and smiled. "Promise me, you won't die...and you'll do everything to protect Kenshin" Misao's hand that was on his cheek slithered to the back of his head, as did the other one as they closed the distance and hugged tightly, Misao's face on Shinta's neck, his hairs lifted as he felt Misao's breath.
"I promise Misao"
From outside the door both Kenshin and Soujiro look at each other and nodded, they silently walked in and closed the door behind them.
"Soujiro and I will go as well" Hiko said looking into the eyes of his sad wife. It had already hurt in knowing that Battōsai and the boys decided to leave...now her husband and only son would leave as well. "Train Misao harder, for now, you are both safe here, but that might not be the always be the case...she has to learn to defend herself" Hiko instructed to his wife in a soft voice. She nodded, no tears fell from her eyes, only concern. She had been holding her husbands hands tightly in her smaller ones, he twitched his right hand free to lift it to her face, caressing her cheek softly, that same hand found its way to the back of her head and he softly pulled her towards him, he bent his head and they shared a soft kiss.
They parted and returned to the living room were Battōsai and Okina were softly talking. Okina looked too the couple.
"Once I am done collecting the vampire youth in this region I will relieved off my duties...if you wish, I can return and train Misao...only if you wish" He bowed towards Okon, not doubting in the slightest her fighting abilities, even if they were slightly...dusty at this point. Having help was never a bad thing, especially when you didn't know how long before a battle could erupt in your own backyard.
"I would like that very much" Okon said smiling, she looked up at Hiko who looked back, he nodded. He would leave, so the decision was all up to her.
"It is settled then" Okina said taking a sip of the tea.
They spoke a little while longer.
"Where are the boys?" Okon asked, just then having realized that it was just them 'adults'.
"I believe they went upstairs shortly after Misao did" Battōsai said softly, they nodded and continued to talk.
"I believe it is time we be off, the faster we continue to better" Okina said, he had rested enough and was ready to continue.
"I will fetch the boys" Okon stood up and walked up the stairs. She went to Soujiro's room and was surprised to find it empty, she went to Misao's room and opened it softly, there she saw on the bed, somehow, was all four of them, asleep, as they had done as small children.
This was their goodbye, who knew when was the next time they would see each other again.
Soujiro sat up and looked at his mother, she nodded, and he shook both red heads shoulders, waking them from their peaceful slumber, Kenshin got up first, then Shinta. They looked as Soujiro lay his head on the pillow and stared at his twin's sleeping face, he caressed her cheek, would this be the last time he saw her? 'no'
With that last thought to motivate her he got up and walked out of the room not looking back. Before he and Kenshin had entered Misao's room he had packed the few things he would need, knowing they would leave in the middle of the night.
Shinta did the same as Soujiro, he wanted to remember her face always, he engraved this moment into his memory, he moved hairs from her face, he bent down to give her a kiss, and last minute he landed on her cheek. He too walked out without looking back.
Okon watched as all of the men in her life left into the darkness.
Misao had been heart broken when she woke to find they had all left...leaving her and her mother. Her father was a strong guy and it had became difficult to show much emotion of love towards his children. But deep down she knew it was a hard decision to leave them.
Misao had decided that she would train, and train she did. On one festival on Easter Sunday Misao passed a weapons merchant and saw some Kunai that she felt she wanted to learn to use. She was sure Okina would know how to use them. She knew he should be around soon, as her mother had told her about her future training sessions with the old man.
"Well young lady the kunai cost quite a bit, but because you are a cutie and my first customer, if you buy them you will get this set of Kodachi's with 50% off price! What do you say?" Misao stared at the Kodachi's...she had no interest in learning to fight with swords like her father and brothers... then the thought struck her, and she immediately bought them.
Misao waited in the tree's of her beloved childrens park, with a rather large gift in her hands, she was wearing a a yellow kimono with sunflowers printed on the bottom right side. She watched as a group of adults were preparing a birthday party.
She felt her hand sweat. She heard by her mother that Okina should be here today...She didn't know what the old man would do if he saw her here with little Aoshi.
The idea of having to leave so quickly saddened her...she didn't know how long Okina would stay...and if training would be every day...she was sure she might not be able to escape him next year...so the idea of seeing him seemed very slim to her.
She looked up as she saw a familiar boy, a bit taller now, running in her direction, she smiled and made her presence known to him. She saw him smile and run faster towards her, as soon as he reached her he hugged her tightly, and gave her a small kiss on the cheek. With one hand she hugged him back, he pulled away and flashed her a fabulous smile.
"I missed you" He confessed. Misao felt butterflies in her stomach and she smiled back.
"I have miss you as well... Little Aoshi" She kept smiling, as she saw the nickname seemed to irritate the young human.
"Hey I am older and taller now... please stop calling me little" Aoshi said, stepping very close to Misao to show that she had to look up to keep eye contact.
Misao felt an odd feeling run threw her as she was so close to Aoshi. She hadn't felt this way with Shinta at all.
In a bold move Aoshi bent down and placed his lips softly on Misao, he pulled away a soft smirk forming on his lips as he saw Misao blush profusely.
"I didn't know what to give you as a gift...so I decided to give you my first kiss" a small blush formed on his cheeks as he scratched the back of his head at his confession, Misao smiled. It had felt good, he touched her lips with her right hand, and found herself biting her lip, revealing one of her fangs, she quickly put her hand down to grasp the present and pull it up towards Aoshi's chest.
He had seen her fang, but thought nothing of it, many people had a slightly skinnier tooth. He pushed the moment into the deepest part of his brain, what did stay in the front was the way she had touched her lips and bitten it softly, he had felt an odd tingling in his stomach and even... his heart?
"Happy Birthday Little Aoshi" she smiled and handed him the gift.
He had taken it and was surprised that it was actually rather heavy, and she carried it with ease. He quickly opened it to see it was a wooden box, he slid the top open and saw that there was a deep dark blue cotton blanket, he lifted the sheet up and to reveal two small swords. He pulled them both out.
Misao walked up to him and placed both hands on the sheath, and pulled them back so the boy could see the blade.
"They are called Kodachi's... in this case... twin kodachi's... for you now they seem rather big...but they are actually small swords... please learn to use them" Misao toned changed with the last part, Aoshi looked into her eyes. "Something bad might happen someday... and I want you to learn how to fight... to protect yourself and your loved ones... I have to go" She said placing the sheath back on the swords and turned around.
Aoshi quickly placed the swords in the box and ran towards Misao, blocking her way with his hands.
"Aoshi...I can't tell you all of the details...but please...something bad WILL happen someday, maybe when you are older, but if you begin to train now, you will be ready for all of it... I have to go...because MY trainer will be here today... I as well have to learn to fight...and to protect the ones I love and not be a burden to them... please believe me..." she had placed her hands on his cheek and spoke looking him in the eyes, he didn't know what to say.
"Will I see you next year?" he asked fearfully, he saw tears begin to fall from her face.
"I don't know...I don't think so...I'm sorry..." and with that she ran away from him, as soon as her body disappeared from view she began to jump from tree to tree to reach her house faster. Once inside she ran into her room and cried into her pillow.
A few minutes later Misao heard a knock on her door and she heard her mother say softly.
"Darling...Okina-san as arrived. Please come down he wishes to discuss his plans, and to tell us about the boys and your father"
Misao got up and opened the door to look at her mother.
Any trace of tears long gone from her face, she looked determined.
She took her mothers hand in hers and together they walked down the stairs.
Author's Notes: We were planning on cutting this into another chapter, but we don't really know when we will have time to write the next chapter, so we put it all together. hope you enjoyed.
