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Disclaimer: It's just for fun! Any names or places not connected to RK are made up.
Chapter VIII: The Interview
Red lashes closed briefly over amethyst eyes and Kenshin took a slow, deep breath in through his mouth. It was much too tempting to breathe through his nose and so he denied himself the pleasure. Even with five stories in between them and many other humans staying at the hotel he could smell her wonderful scent. The desire to claim it was still present, and he wondered if he would ever be free of that want, but he no longer felt out of control just breathing it in. In fact, the longer he was around it the more complacent he felt. That was dangerous, however, and he knew it. Complacency left him open and vulnerable. If he were to allow his control to slip out of a feeling of false security his desire would take over and the woman would not be safe from his fangs.
He would allow himself to enjoy her scent but only on a level that stopped short of pressing want. It was a difficult line to walk, but he was not a child with no self-control. Besides, the more he got to know the Kamiya girl the less he wanted to see her hurt. Perhaps it was unreasonable and he was still confused about it, and perhaps it was merely a side-effect of his want to claim her, but he felt strangely protective of the young woman. She was innocent and sweet, but also unexpectedly frustrated with her weaknesses. There was vulnerability within her and also strength. There was mystery, too, and just like her he was intrigued by ambiguity.
The elevator dinged on her floor and the scent became stronger as the doors opened. Sapphire eyes blinked at him from the hallway and then she smiled and stepped into the box with him. Every one of his muscles tensed, but he smiled politely back.
"Good-morning, Mr. Himura. That was really great timing." She giggled and the sound lightened her scent. There was no trace of fear about her anymore and he was grateful. The dark circles under her eyes were gone as well, so he guessed she had been able to sleep. He was glad for her, because he hadn't been able to sleep at all with her intoxicating aroma so close. It was hard enough trying to sleep at night, but with her presence nearby it made sleeping nearly impossible.
"Good-morning, Miss Kamiya. Have you had any breakfast, yet? I've heard the dining room has an excellent menu."
"Oh, that's sounds wonderful. Will it be okay if I get something real quick? I think I've got enough money for a bagel and some coffee." She started digging into her purse to check and Kenshin was so amused he couldn't help but chuckle.
"Breakfast is complementary here, Miss Kamiya."
"Oh." She blushed scarlet and let her purse drop back to her side. "I didn't know. I've never stayed at a hotel like this one before. I figured they would charge extra for everything."
"They do charge extra for lunch and dinner."
"I see. There are a couple of good restaurants down the street that are pretty cheap and within walking distance. I'll just go there to eat later. I wouldn't want to owe you any more money."
One red brow raised. "Owe me? For what, Miss Kamiya?"
"The hotel room. Of course I'm going to pay you back." The doors dinged at the lobby floor and she stepped out of the box before he could say anything to the contrary. "This hotel is really nice, by the way. You've got great taste, Mr. Himura." She threw a smile at him and then headed in the direction of the dining room after a quick scan of the layout. Left to follow after her he let his eyes wander from her head to her feet.
Today she had made a conscious effort to hide the telling marks of her attack. All in all she had done very well, and at a glance no one would have ever been able to tell. Her bangs were falling gently in her eyes and hiding her stitches. The rest of her hair was pinned up off the back of her neck. Makeup covered her healing bruises, but it looked natural on her and not overdone. A flimsy, decorative scarf wrapped around her throat to cover her bandages and the ends trailed down her back and over her front. A smart pant suit professionally covered the rest of her body and her heels gave her a couple of inches of height. The click of those heels across the lobby floor drew attention to her and he felt a frown tug at the corners of his mouth. It deepened when he realized he was frowning at all.
As they sat down at one of the dining room tables he noticed the healing breaks on her knuckles. That and the split of her lip would be the only things she wouldn't be able to hide. Taking a sip of his coffee he looked away from her and out the window. It was unnerving him that he was noticing so much about her. He was normally observant, but he was starting to feel a bit obsessive and he didn't like it. If he allowed himself to watch her, it would become harder to deny his want.
"So what does your lady look like, Mr. Himura?"
Confused momentarily, Kenshin knew his features were bewildered by her question. "Come again?"
"The chateau. Do you have a picture of her? Mr. Sagara showed me a few pictures of the inside, but I didn't get to see any of the outside."
"Oh, I see." Kenshin wanted to laugh. It had barely been twelve hours and she was already referring to the castle as if it were a living being. He briefly wondered if she would try to name it, as well. "Shouldn't we wait until after you have finished your breakfast? There is a private room off the lobby I have reserved for your interview. I would prefer there be no interruptions or distractions."
Her face dropped and she nodded reluctantly. "You're right. I'm sorry." An embarrassed smile pulled at her mouth and she closed her eyes. "I got carried away again." She returned her attention to her scrambled eggs, but the look of disappointment on her face made him sigh. How could he discourage her enthusiasm when it was one of the traits that he wished for her to keep? Bending over to the side he unzipped the top of his laptop case and fished out one of the file folders he had brought. A moment later he was sliding a large picture across the table for her to see. Those sapphire irises of hers brightened instantly and it quickly lightened the mood.
"Wow! She really is beautiful!" Food forgotten, she picked up the picture to bring it closer while her eyes roved over every detail she could see. The yard was overgrown with weeds and sapling trees, but Kaoru paid no attention to the scraggly appearance it gave the chateau. Her eyes saw only the proud iron cresting atop the peeked roofs and towers and the hundreds of tall windows that lined the front facade. The roof was steeply pitched and there were visible areas where it was starting to cave in. Parts of the ashlar masonry were cracking and falling off as well, leaving the stone structure underneath open to the elements. Even with her flaws, however, she was a wonder to behold.
Solid and yet elegant, she stood at three floors high and her base was wide. Those three floors would be much larger than a regular story of any modern house, however. As was normal of the Renaissance Style there was a great deal of symmetry about the design. Everything felt proportionate and regulated and there was not one part of the castle that felt awkward and ungraceful. Yet it had its own beauty and originality. It wasn't too uniform, but merely well-balanced. Kaoru was in love already.
Kenshin watched as her cheeks flushed happily and he consciously stopped breathing. This was going to be harder than he had thought. He no longer felt out of control, but not staying aware of his own weakness would be unwise. On a different level he felt appreciation and even a touch of pride that she was reacting as she was. The chateau was his now, and seeing her respond to its amazing presence so passionately inflated his chest just a bit. It was the very reason he had chosen Miss Kamiya over the many others that were qualified for the job. She was the least experienced, but she was also the only one that would completely appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of each piece within its walls.
"There is much outer repair to be done initially. I was not lying when I said this will require a lot of time, attention, and hard work. I will need you not just for the inner repairs, but essentially everything. I realize you are still new to the field and school cannot teach you everything, but if you are willing to continue studying as the repairs progress I do not mind experimenting as long as nothing is irreparably damaged. I am willing to teach you what I have learned, as well."
Kaoru tore her eyes away from the picture and blinked at Mr. Himura. It took her a moment to remember that he was not only a man that made a lot of money off of restoring and selling old pieces of art, furniture, and different antiques but that he was also able to perform much of the restoration himself. Her cheeks flushed and she nodded eagerly. "Yes please! I would be very grateful if you took the time to do that!"
The bright reflections off of her silver earrings forced him to squint and he briefly looked away. Suddenly he was looking forward to the private room he had reserved. It was purposefully on the west side of the building so that the light from the sun would not be as strong. Being inside he had no fear of getting sun-sick, but the light still hurt his eyes. "It would be completely detrimental for me to withhold my experience from you when I benefit from the quality of your performance. As everything you will be working on is so old and fragile and depends on you being sure of your actions I never wish for you to be afraid to ask me for help or for my opinion. I expect you to be able to perform your job, but I do not want you to think you have to always be right."
"Of course." Her eyes lowered back to the picture, and he shifted impatiently as she continued to ignore her food. "Is there a lot of weather damage to the inside?"
"Not as much as I had feared. There have been a few visible attempts at patching, and they helped, but they will need to be removed and done correctly for the castle to be completely weatherproofed."
"I assume you wish to fix the roof first then?"
"That's right. The outer walls, windows, and doors will need to be restored as well."
"What are you planning to do with everything inside while this is going on? The furniture, books, paintings, and so on?"
Kenshin smiled, she was falling straight into business as if she was the one doing the interview. "Everything will be removed from the house that can be removed and stored for the time being in a building I've had erected on the grounds. Are you finished eating, Miss Kamiya?"
"Huh?" Dazedly she glanced up at him and then down at her forgotten plate. "Oh." She colored and then smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry. You did say you wished to be somewhere else for the interview. I'll finish my eggs at least and then we can go."
"Take your time." He couldn't help but grin. The woman was easy to be around, despite the temptation her blood produced. She had a cute way of losing herself in the beauty of the old world. It was thrilling to see the excitement in her sapphire irises and the unguarded way she reacted to what delighted her. Pure, he reminded himself, saint-like and perfect. His smile dropped as he caught sight of the split on her lip again. Vampire or not, that man should be made to pay for trying to rob this world of such purity and beauty. I'll have Shinomori look into her attacker more closely.
As they settled into the private meeting room with a fresh pot of coffee, Kenshin visibly relaxed. It wasn't as bright as in the dining room and Kenshin felt the pressure that had built behind his eyes begin to dissipate. When Miss Kamiya sighed softly in relief, however, his brow drew together. She glanced at him briefly and then smiled again as she sat down. "It's nicer in here. The dining room was rather bright and it was starting to hurt my eyes. After working in that mansion for so long I've gotten used to how dim it is and now I feel like a recluse or something because bright light hurts." She giggle and his frown disappeared as he realized how much sense that made. Filing the reason away to possibly use himself later, he sat down across from her.
"I understand completely. I imagine your late hours don't help, either."
"Yeah. I sleep through the morning anymore and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to wake up on time today. I was too excited to sleep in, though. I can't believe you actually want to take me to France to see the chateau in person."
"It's the best way to let you see what you are getting into. I hope you have realized, though, Miss Kamiya, that taking this job means you are not only committing yourself to a large project but that you will also be expected to move. This is going to take years, and I will want you to be on hand at all times while the restoration is going on. I will not expect you to work all the time, of course, but your presence will be needed nearby."
"Yes, I understand." Her demeanor subdued a bit, and she smiled much as she had the night before; with sorrow in it. "I have no problems with that. I don't have any family, and I don't have a lot that I would need to move, except…"
"Except?"
"A few fragile family heirlooms. My mother was born in Japan and she kept a few mementos when my grandmother moved them to America. They're very old and I'm afraid of them being damaged plus… well, there are a few from my father's side as well, and I don't know what the rules are on shipping antique weapons. I have no desire to sell them but I do not want them to be confiscated either."
"They shall be taken care of. I have spent many years handling and shipping fragile things so you shouldn't worry about that." Antique weapons? "Also, I realize you may need reassurance on another issue." Kaoru looked confused for a moment so he clarified. "I have thought about it a little since last night and I understand that you not only have some sentimental attachment to that butterfly knife of yours but it also offers you a form of comfort to have it near." Instinctively her hand covered her purse and he knew she was carrying it even now. "If you wish to take it with you tomorrow I promise you will have no problems with security taking it away. We will be flying on my private jet. You may take whatever you wish on board, though I would ask you to please not bring any weapons of mass destruction."
Kaoru laughed and the tension that had been slowly building disappeared. Once again it relaxed him. She had a very cute and carefree laugh. "Now, I thought we might start out by talking through a few of the pieces I have brought pictures of." Pulling out an entire folder from his laptop case, Kenshin sat it on the low table between them and flipped it open. "I want to hear your opinion on what you would do for each of them. In as much detail as you can."
Kaoru leaned forward and picked up the first set of pictures that were clipped together. The rest of Kenshin's morning was spent admiring how detailed she could get.
X
"Are you still sick?" An irritated groan answered the concerned voice on the phone. "Well, just rest. I'd suggest you go to a doctor, but I know you won't." A feminine sigh filtered through the speaker. "I hope you didn't pick up anything strange while we were in America. I don't need an overzealous virus passing itself around."
A few more words urging him to take better care of himself followed before the woman finally let him go. Tossing the phone to the side, he groaned again as his head pounded a sickening beat at his temples. Nausea washed up the back of his throat and he jerked up from his prone position to empty his stomach once more into the toilet next to him. The water was already red with the blood he had ingested and the porcelain was more than likely going to be stained a permanent shade of rust.
"Stupid bitch." Resting his face on the lip of the bowl he reached down to scratch at the open and oozing wound on his right shin. The injury refused to heal and was now spewing pus and leaking what blood he could keep down. "Where the fuck did she get a Hunter weapon?"
Vampire Hunter weapons were not common, but he had run across his fair share of them before. He even had a couple scars to prove it. The wounds didn't heal quickly, but never before had he reacted this violently to being stuck by one. "Must've laced it with something." Mumbling under his breath he hugged the cold toilet tighter. He was burning up! Whatever that woman had infected him with was brutal. Laughing at the sudden irony of his situation, he tried to sit up and lean against the wall. "I'd almost forgotten what it's like to be sick. Huh… I wasn't even sure I could get sick."
As he let the thought linger, he wasn't even sure poison worked on vampires either. He didn't know all the details, because he frankly didn't care about the logistics, but he was sure he had overheard a few of the finer details arguing against this reaction he was having. The mutation in his blood that made him a vampire was immune to most sicknesses. If anything foreign was introduced into their bodies their blood ate it and assimilated it. It eventually ate itself, however, which was why they needed new blood to stay alive. Blood packs were like rations, though, and he hated the cold, stale taste they had. He preferred warm, fresh blood. Like that little Asian-American girl.
Whatever it was about her that made her blood smell so good, he didn't know or care. He just knew he wanted it. He wanted to devour it, to claim, and to soak in the euphoric feeling it washed him in. Never before in his long life had he ever experienced such ecstasy. Nothing compared. Not sex, not drugs, not alcohol, not even the lingering smell of fear from a fresh kill. Now that he had had her once, he would have her again. And again. And again. And again, until she shriveled up and died.
Laughing in a more sadistic manner, he wiped at the blood now dripping from his nose and licked it off his fingers. "You'll pay for what you've done to me. And I'll make sure it lasts for a long time, little Kamiya Kaoru."
X
A/N: As I said before, things might get a little slow now that I'm back in school and I don't have any free time because of my work schedule. These chapters are shorter and easier to type out, but I still get stuck sometimes because I want to make sure that I'm putting everything that I need in them and leaving out what isn't needed. Anyway, I wonder why out nameless bad guy is so sick? Vampires don't get sick, right? *evil laugh* Also, Kenshin is feeling a little less tolerant of Kaoru's attacker. Protective much? Too bad he'll have to vie for her affections with his own castle. =) Alright, hope to have the next chapter finished for you by next week. We get to the castle next. Yay! Oh, and a few other friendly vampires that you might recognize. Please leave a review and hope to see everyone soon.
