Alas, I still don't own Rurouni Kenshin. I also do not own the Twilight series, or any other vampire stories that this may make one think of.

Pursuing his Mate

By: Shiara-dono

*Warning: This chapter holds violence, rape, and swearing. K, you've been warned. *

Chapter 11

Kaoru sighed, unlocking the door to her house. She stepped inside and sank gratefully into the chair in the front room. She tried for a few minutes to assemble her thoughts that had been scattered by Kenshin's kisses, but didn't have much success.

"Long morning?" A voice asked from the doorway.

Kaoru yelped and jumped up into a fighting stance, facing the intruder.

The woman stepped forward, palms outstretched in front of her. "Relax, it's just me. I knocked, but you didn't answer, and the door was unlocked."

Kaoru straightened, but didn't relax. "T… Tomoe?" She asked in surprise. What is she doing here? "What are you doing here?"

Tomoe grinned, displaying short, thick fangs. Kaoru shrank back in fear. "I guess you could say I'm here for revenge." The female vampire told her calmly. "After all, I did tell him he'd regret throwing me out." She stepped closer as another vampire appeared behind her. Kaoru recognized him as the one Sanosuke had pointed out as Tomoe's brother.

Kaoru knew she wouldn't be able to reach a phone in time. Hoping the distance wouldn't be a problem, she closed her eyes and put all her strength into one thought-word. As the fist slammed into her stomach, she gave a pained gasp, falling unconscious when she hit the wall behind her.

It took Kenshin a moment to realize that the fear he was feeling was not his own. What-? He began to ask himself.

KENSHIN!!

The color drained from his face. Kaoru? Kaoru! "Dammit!" He swore, snapping the pen he was holding in two. Shishou, I'm leaving!

Why?

It's Kaoru! She's in trouble. I felt fear from her, but now… Now there's nothing!

Then go. Take help with you.

I don't need-! Kenshin began, then sighed. Thank you. He broadened his thoughts. Sano, Aoshi, I need you to meet me at Kaoru's house. Now. He didn't wait for an answer, but raced out of the building, not bothering with his car, running at top speed to Kaoru's house.

The door was standing open when he arrived. His lip curled at the scent coming from the house. "Tomoe." He snarled. And Enishi. Figures. He looked around, noticing blood on the floor. It wasn't enough for her to be dead, but he could tell right away it was Kaoru's. With the exception of plaster falling from a big dent in the wall, there was nothing else out of place. She didn't even have time to fight back. He thought grimly.

"Kenshin?"

He turned, eyes narrowing as they fell on Megumi. "Why'd you bring her?"

Sanosuke bristled at his tone, but it was Megumi who spoke up. "You're going to need me."

"Why?"

"To heal her wounds."

Kenshin closed his eyes, feeling sick. "Fine, but don't get in my way. I am going to kill someone, probably more than one. Don't try to heal them!"

Megumi nodded.

"How much time has passed?" Sanosuke asked.

Kenshin looked at his watch. How had so much time passed so fast? "Thirty minutes. As far as I can tell, she isn't conscious yet." Better just be unconscious. If she's…

Kaoru awoke with a groan, curling around her stomach in pain. She was sure two or three of her ribs were broken. She tried to get up, but her arms had been tied above her head. She opened her eyes, frightened and dismayed, more so by the fact that her clothes were missing. "Why?" She asked the figure that walked into view.

"Because he seems to like you." Tomoe told her, lip curling in disgust.

"He won't like you, no matter what you do to me."

"That doesn't matter anymore. Now, I just want him to suffer." She looked behind her with a twisted grin. "She's all yours, Cho."

Another person stepped out from the shadows. "Hello again, Kaoru." The blond vampire smiled, displaying his fangs. They weren't like they had been in Kaoru's memory. Now, like Tomoe's, they were short and thick. "Ready to have some more fun?"

Kaoru closed her eyes, feeling sick. No. Her mind begged. Not again. Please… Kenshin!

Kaoru? Kenshin nearly wept with relief. They had been discussing what shape they would travel in to pursue her. He'd been all set on falcon, because they were fast, until Aoshi pointed out that birds lacked the sense of smell necessary for finding Kaoru.

Oh, Kenshin! Help me! It's going to happen again!

We're on our way. He assured her, not pausing to wonder why she knew she could thought-speak with him. Where are you?

Kaoru looked around, mouth going dry as Cho knelt next to her. It looks like a warehouse of some sort. Kenshin… he is here.

Kenshin knew instantly who she meant. He snarled and took off running on all fours before his body had completely changed to wolf. Hold on, Kaoru. We're coming!

Kaoru's only reply was a piercing scream of pain as fangs tore into her leg.

Kenshin swore, and doubled the speed at which he was running.

Kenshin! Sanosuke panted. Slow down!

No! He yelled back.

Is she awake? Aoshi asked quietly. Can you hear her?

I… I'm aware of her. He responded dully.

What is she saying?

She is screaming. In pain.

Nobody spoke after that. They just used their noses to track Kaoru's scent.

Kaoru screamed, trying desperately to twist away from the man who was hurting her, but he and the rope held her tightly in place as he forced himself into her.

The wall in front of her disintegrated, and cold, furious silence followed the explosion. She cracked one eye open, trying not to see the thrusting man on top of her. "Kenshin…" She sobbed.

She couldn't see the people behind Kenshin, nor did she care. Her eyes were locked onto his face. His bright red eyes were livid with rage. His lip curled in a snarl as his eyes met hers, displaying long, needle thin, fangs. He moved, seeming to barely take a step, and ripped the blond vampire off her.

Kaoru didn't see what happened after that. All she knew was that there was a lot of growling and snarling that ended with a rather sickening crunch. She whimpered as another wave of pain tore through her.

Strong but gentle fingers touched her shoulder. "Let me look you over." Megumi told her in a soothing voice.

"How bad is it?" Kenshin's voice, rough with anger, asked a few seconds later. He knelt at her hands, tearing away the ropes that bound her.

Kaoru tried to answer him, but another sharp pain raced through her, causing her to scream again.

Why is she screaming? Kenshin asked Megumi worriedly.

I'm not sure yet. "Well, it feels like three of her ribs are broken. A sprained wrist from the ropes, but that's easy enough to heal." Her voice turned sour. "Then there's the obvious. She's bleeding; that jerk was unintentionally rough. And-" She broke off, swearing.

Kenshin eyed her, alarmed. He'd never heard her swear before, not in all the time he'd known her. "What is it, Megumi?"

"You have to decide if you want Kaoru to be a vampire or not."

His voice and expression turned icy. "Why?"

Megumi pointed to Kaoru's leg. Beneath the blood, he could see torn skin. "Because he bit her. You know how painful the venom is; that's why she keeps screaming."

Kenshin stood abruptly and turned away. He shook with rage, looking for some way to relieve it.

Kaoru bit her cheek until it bled. The pain in her leg was like fire, and it was spreading. She whimpered again, tears pouring out of her eyes.

"Ken-san! You have to decide now!"

He whirled to face Megumi. "What choice do I have?!" He spat back harshly. "There's no cure!"

"There's a chance. You could suck out the venom."

"Suck it… how do you know I won't make it worse? What if I'm venomous?!"

"Open your mouth." Megumi commanded. When he complied, she continued. "While it's true that you always seem to be on the edge between venomous and not, your fangs don't lie. You're safe, so you have to make the choice!"

Kenshin snarled in frustration. Shishou! Kaoru's been bitten. Can I save her if I suck the venom out?

Hiko didn't respond for several long minutes, and Kenshin began to worry that he hadn't heard him. If the venom hasn't spread too much. Hiko told him finally. It will work. But you need to act quickly.

Kenshin looked at Kaoru again, nostrils flaring. The bite was only inches away from where Kaoru's legs met. "Perverted bastard." He muttered with an angry sigh. Am I strong enough to do this?

"Ken-san! Decide now!" Megumi's sharp tone brought him back to reality.

He knelt next to Kaoru, gently brushing her bangs back. "Kaoru?"

"K… Kenshin…" Kaoru whimpered. "It huuurts!"

"I know. Listen, Kaoru. I… I can take the pain away. But to do so, I have to cause you more pain."

Kaoru bit her cheek again. The pain was still spreading. "Please!" She begged him.

It took Kenshin another minute to harden his resolve. "Hold her still." He commanded Megumi. He grabbed Kaoru's leg gently, but firmly, in his hands, opened his mouth and embedded his fangs into the bite mark. The blood that flowed over his tongue was bitter, vile. He gagged, but didn't release her.

Her scream increased in volume as the new wave of pain hit her. She tried to get away, but was held in place by his hands and Megumi's. Tears continued to fall freely from her eyes.

It seemed to Kenshin like hours were passing. He was taking too much blood; he was sure of it. But her blood didn't taste clean yet. How far had the poison spread?

The first swallow of blood was sweeter than her could have imagined. He took a couple more mouthfuls, just to be safe, then sealed the wound and pulled away. "Kaoru?" He asked apprehensively.

Her voice, when she spoke, was barely more than a whisper. "The pain's gone. Thank you, Kenshin."

Relief flooded him and renewed his anger. He shrugged off his jacket and put it over her, looking her in the eyes.

Kaoru felt herself getting sleepy and turned away. "I don't want to sleep, Kenshin." She muttered.

"You need to. Your body needs to recover from the shock it went through. Also, Megumi will be able to heal your ribs better if you aren't fighting her." And I have some business to take care of. "It will be dreamless, don't worry."

She winced. His voice was harsh, although she knew it wasn't directed at her. She opened her mouth to protest again, but his will pressed down on her, sending her toward sleep. The last thing she heard was Kenshin arranging with Sanosuke and Megumi to transport her to his home, and not to leave her until he got back.

Yay, another chapter down. So, did anyone guess that Cho was the bad guy? ^^ Thanks again to all my readers. Next chapter: sayanara Tomoe (Yay!!) and Kenshin tells Kaoru the truth. Ja ne!

Glossary:

shishou: master

Ken-san: Megumi's name for Kenshin. It means 'sir ken'