Disclaimer: Mine, Rurouni Kenshin, is unfortunately not.

Recap:

I closed my eyes and took several deep, even breaths before slipping deep into my cache of memories. I meditated over several troubling thoughts and came to the same conclusion; my memories were being blocked whether by a natural defense or some form of magic I knew without a doubt that I didn't have full access to my past.

That alone made my heart beat faster and my chest constrict in fear. What happened to me that keeps part of me locked away?

Meiji Corporation

Chapter Nine:

I opened my eyes to the dark room and rose to my feet stiffly. Stretching my arms high above my head, I felt several distinct cracks along my spine. Relaxing my arms, I rubbed at the small of my back.

Tilting my head from side to side, I crossed over to the wardrobe and began to rummage through the drawers looking for some more clothes to wear. I came across more clothes like the ones I was wearing, all of them different shades of grey. Pulling out replacements, I dropped them on the bed before beginning a kata.

My mind closed itself off so that I could focus on my training. I kept my movements slow so that I could focus on my invisible grip. By the time I was finished with three different variations, I was drenched in sweat and my muscles trembled with the strain I had forced on them.

Turning towards the bed I paused in surprise. The Battousai was lounging against the headboard and sipping from a goblet. His eyes told me that he was enjoying the view and I felt a sense of unease twist my stomach into knots.

"Please, don't stop on my account," the Battousai murmured silkily.

"No, I will stop on mine. What do you want?" I asked steadily.

"Answers, the same as my people," he returned.

I threw my hands up and stalked towards where I had left the clothes, "You must have been a lawyer! You answered my question but didn't tell me anything!"

A low chuckle rippled from his chest as he caught my wrist just shy of the clothes, "And what of you, little Hunter? You've avoided all of our questions. Quite skillfully, I might add."

I tugged at my wrist, "Let go."

The Battousai yanked on my arm and I found myself sprawled on top of him with his arm pinning me to him easily. "No, little one, I think that I will keep you right here where you belong."

I struggled to free myself from his hold only to find myself swiftly pinned beneath him with his hands holding my wrists above my head. My breath came in raggedly as I tried to ignore my body's response to his close proximity.

"I don't belong to you, Battousai," I hissed. "I don't belong to anybody!"

"Funny, I thought that anyone in the Corporation belonged to the Elders," mused Battousai thoughtfully.

"They tried—" I cut myself off as I realized the air was humming with magic. My eyes widened before they narrowed in anger, "Where do you get off using magic to get answers?"

"Fair's fair in love and war, I'm only evening the playing field," he murmured as he leaned down and nuzzled my neck.

My body jerked beneath him as his tongue darted out to taste the salt of my sweat. This elicited a dark chuckle from the vampire and his breath ghosted across my skin causing me to shudder.

"What's the matter, little Hunter? Don't you like the punishment for using your magic against my people?" He asked quietly.

"I was hoping that you would've forgotten about that. It wasn't my-my intention to use magic against them," I stuttered.

The Battousai sighed and rolled to a sitting position, pulling me with him. "I know, I know."

"What do you mean 'you know'?" I asked, fear, suspicion, and uncertainty showing on my face and ringing clear in my voice.

The Battousai stood and picked his goblet back up (I'm not sure when he put it down). He stepped away from the bed with a heavy air around him, the magic dissipating. "The Elders," he sneered, "have a way of interfering with one's magic. We've discovered that they place a spell that interferes with one's natural flow of magic during the initiation ceremony. The spell basically disrupts the inner flow of magic. I trust you know spells like this?" he asked as he glanced at me over his shoulder.

"Yes, I've used them more than once on my assignments but they never lasted longer than I needed them to. A few days at the most," I returned with a sick feeling. "Is this why I get sick after using my magic?"

"Yes."

"Can it be reversed?"

"My people are looking into it now. Are you willing to help us? Anything you tell us could benefit you," he coaxed gently.

I could feel the magic swirling in the air again, gentler than before but still just as intoxicating. I raised my eyes to his molten gold orbs and glared, "I'll die before I help a coven of vampires."

The Battousai's hand was a steel band around my throat in an instant. His hot burning eyes glaring at me as he hissed, "Don't tempt me, little Hunter. If I changed you, it just might change your opinion of us."

"I doubt it. It's hard to change ten years of thinking."

"Well, we'll have to see about that, won't we?"

His steel grip softened to a caress that sent shivers down my spine and caused heat to pool at the base of my spine. His lips brushed against my ear and trailed down to my jaw slowly. I shuddered beneath this softer side of him.

"Your mood swings are going to give me whiplash," I muttered as my head fell back to allow him access to my jugular. The arousal he was stirring in me was enough to make me melt under his calloused hand and feather light kisses.

At that moment, a knock sounded on the door. The Battousai stilled a moment before he steadied me on my feet and turned to the door. He made it to the door before a question tugged on my mind and tongue.

"What day is it?" I asked as he opened the door.

He paused on the threshold, his hand on the knob as he turned to look at me curiously, "Why?"

"It matters, please. I would be thankful if you would tell me what day it is," I returned stubbornly, albeit politely.

"Wednesday, August 6th," he turned his full attention to me. "Why?"

"An old anniversary is coming up, I want to pay my respects," I allowed him to see a lingering sadness before I hid my eyes behind my bangs.

I could feel his gaze on me for a moment longer before he opened the door and left just as quietly as he came. I walked over to the door and turned the lock before I turned back to the bed for the clothes I had left and proceeded to the bathroom.

I stood beneath the spray and let the tears fall from my eyes. Aloud I murmured, "The anniversary of my enslavement."