Thanks for all the comments and reviews. Stating that the characters belong to Nobuhiro Watsuki. Enjoy!
The entire day had threatened rain. As the sky darkened, she couldn't help the feeling of forbdoing that stole over her demeanor. Megumi had traversed through the ER, tending to patients and signing off as needed. Generally she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty and preferred it. However, today her unease prevented her from getting too involved. Minor skirmishes among the demons usually brought them to St Nazareth's. However, over the past few days, as the Ascension drew near, fewer arrived on the doorstep of the hospital.
She had texted Kenshin shortly after noon. He had been watching Kaoru since the afternoon of the reveal. He hadn't approached her, his excuse lamely being that she hadn't reached out to him. That had been two days ago. Megumi couldn't fault him. Her two calls to Sanosuke had gone unanswered.
As the afternoon had grown later, her anxeity had continued to grow. Knowing she would get nothing from the redhead, she had reached out to Aoshi. He had been even less forthcoming. His infatuation with the slayer had muddled his brain. While he acted on Hiko's orders, she was aware he twisted them for his own ends.
She had been called down to the ER for a car accident when she overheard a conversation in one of the curtains.
"The move on the bounty is this evening. My cut was going to be huge, but this stupid bitch went crazy. She fucking stuck me in the side. Bitch knows silver burns. The bounty was huge. Would have set me up in style. Some crazy blonde wanting some human chick. Like taking candy from a baby until I ended up here."
Something about his words made her pause and she threw back the curtain. She recognized him as a vampire. He was on the phone chattering away. "All about the shit that's going to go down. I want to be a part of history." He saw her and quickly ended his call. "Gotta go. Hot doc is here to mend my wounds." He put away his phone and grinned at her. "My crazy ex girlfriend stuck me with a blade. I could use some meds to ease the pain."
She ignored him, her dark eyes swiftly making note of the damage. His side was bleeding. She lifted his shirt and saw the cauterized edges from the silver which prevented the wound from healing. "You mentioned a bounty?"
"What?"
"A bounty?"
"Doc, my side is bleeding."
"I see that." She looked up at him and smiled. "You were speaking of some bounty attack? She moved to the tray and pulled up the needle pack. "Those drugs you're asking for." She told sweetly. "I"m only asking because it sounds serious and if there are going to be casualties, I want to be ready." She swallowed and then glanced coyly at the vampire on the bed. "I don't want to be otherwise indisposed."
The insinuation took root and he grinned at her. She fought the pulse of nausea as she took his hand.
"Some groups is looking to bring back the old ways. They have a bounty out on some human girl who will help achieve it."
"A bounty? Sounds serious."
"This bounty is pretty serious. A group of us were looking to make our move today. Unfortuntely I got waylaid." He reached out to her and stroked her arm. "I did mention it was my ex who went crazy."
She ignored him and continued to wipe the back of his hand. "Who was the bounty? Sounds intriguing."
The vampire narrowed his eyes. "Why are you so interested?"
"You mentioned a fight." She fluttered her eyelids. She stood up and leaned close, allowing her own gift of enthrallment to seep over him.
"It was some female, a human." He told her, blinking stupidly.
She hung the bag and readied the IV. "A female?"
"Don't worory. I'm not interested."
Except for the bounty."
"The Demon of Lost Souls says she has the key."
Megumi felt her mouth go dry. "You're making a move today?" She asked as nonchalantly as she could. "The Ascension is still days away."
"But the key to hell? Who wouldn't want that? You could summon an army at the drop of a hat."
She stuck the needle in, not even sure she hit a vein and didn't care. She rose from her spot swiftly. "Hey! That still hurst!"
"I'm no good with needles." She told him as she flung the curtain back into place.
Megumi ignored the cry behind her as she strode down the hall. She pulled out her phone and dialed. He answered on the first ring.
"Yes?"
"Its happening today. There is a bounty on her head."
"Explain."
"Enishi has named a price and a group are looking to take her out today, right now."'
He swore loudly. "A price? How much?"
"I don't konw."
"You know for sure?"
A thought occurred to her. "Where are you and where is Kaoru?"
"She was with Sanosuke." There was a beat of silence and she could sense him attempting to keep his temper in check. "Where is Sagara?"
His words had her growing cold. If kenshin had left her because she was in the presence of the brunette, then he could be in just as much danger. "They're together?"
He swore. "He's on the edge of town. Maybe headed for the dojo, but I can't be sure. You're closer than I. If what you say is true then both of them are in serious danger."
Her temper rose at the implication. "I understand."
"Do you?"
"I will do what is necessary."
"I am on my way."
Megumi ended the call and close her eyesd. She leaned against the wall and shook her head. Then she reached out the with the tenous thread she held on the man. He was several blocks from her. Kenshin was right. Somewhere on the edge of downtown which meant they probably were together. Though he seemed unharmed. Still, that meant nothing.
On a whim, she pulled out her phone and called him. She began walking down the alley towards the street. On the thrid ring she heard the connection made. "Kit-" His words were a breath and then she heard shouts.
"Sanosuke?" She cried out, her pace picking up speed. There was a clatter and then the shouts faded. She heard a faint call to run. She reached the street and skidded to a ahalt. For half a second she warred within herself. Deacdes ago she had promised that despite her nature, she would adhere to her vocation to save people. Now she had promised the most notorious of bloodthristy killers that she would do what was necessary. She opened her eyes and headed towards the fray. She had also promised to protect those she loved.
For two days he watched. He felt like a creepy stalker, but he couldn't bring himself to do more than make sure she was safe. The look in her eyes still blazed across his memory. Kenshin found it ironic that, in the end, he was a coward.
He was one of the most feared vampires in existence and he was a afraid. Hiko wold laugh at him if he fully understood the truth of the matter.
Shortly after noon she had left and headed toards the studio where Sanosuke worked. He thought her safe and had attended to other things that Hiko was currently demanding him. He also did it in an attempt to not be some creepy stalker to the human he was infatuated with. Therefore when Megumi had texted him, asking him about the day, he had truthfully told her all was well. However, he had lied. The day prickled his senses.
Kenshin had attempted to convince himself it was his own personal paranoia at leaving Kaoru alone for a few hours. She was with Sagara. He would protect her with is life, that he believed. Then why did he feel so on edge?
He stared over the landsacape. As afternoon slowly faded to eveing, the rain had slowly begun to fall. His phone buzzed. He sighed, torn between his love and hatred of the device. He could recall the centuries before commincatin was relegated to the electronics. While it had it's merits, he depsised the thing. He saw it was Megumi.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Its happening today. There is a bounty on her head."
He stood at atteniton. "Explain."
"Enishi has placed a price on her head and a group are looking to take her out today, right now."'
He swore loudly. "A price? How much?"
"I don't konw."
He didn't doubt her and yet where could she have gotten such intel? "You know for sure?"
"Where are you and where is Kaoru?"
"She was with Sanosuke." The urgency in her voice carried to him. He reached out to Kaoru through the bond they shared. He could sense her, but he couldn't sense the brunette. He had no way of konwing if she was still with him. He silently cursed himself for his own stupidity. "Where is Sagara?"
Silence greeted him. "You're sure they're together?"
He swore. "She's on the edge of town. Maybe headed for the dojo, but I can't be sure. "You're closer than I. If what you say is true then both of them are in serious danger." His words were sharp. He hoped she understood what he might be asking of her.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
"I will do what is necessary."
He knew she had made a vow. He would never ask her to revoke that vow. However he hoped that she did fully understand what might be asked of her. "I am on my way."
He only hoped he would get there in time before either of them regretted it.
Unease had begun the moment she woke. She had the day off and had no plans. In an effort to be more proactive and to show she was taking the threat seriously, she had called a cab and headed towards Sanosue's studio. He had classes all day. She had sat in the laundry room, reading and playing candy crush as she waited for his day to finish. She didn't doubt she could have gone about her day as normal. However for the first time in two days, she didn't feel as though someone watched her. She wasn't sure if that added to her unease or not.
Her anxiety mounted as the afternoon wore on to the point of annoyance. When Sano told her he had one more class, she had snapped at him. He had berated her, then apologized. She had also quickly turned contrite. She had suggested they head to the Misao's dojo. He had agreed and actually passed off his last class to another.
They had left the studio behind. She had argued taking the train was the best way and he had agreed. However, it finally started to drizzle. Now they were stuck walking through the hazy afternoon.
She glanced at her phone, wondering why Misao hadn't answered any of her calls or texts. She hoped they would be welcome if they arrived on the doorstep of the dojo though she could think of no reason why they wouldn't.
She wrapped her jacket tighter about herself. It was early evening, but the street seemed eerily quiet. Kaoru glanced around, noting she didn't see the usual rush of people attempting to get home. The streets weren't empty, but the energy seemed odd. Karol glanced at sano. Beside her he trudged along, his chin in his chest, hands in his pockets.
Up ahead she spotted a scruffy homeless man. He reached out imploringly towards someone who quickly crossed the street to avoid him. Kaoru kept her head down, not wanting to draw the man's attention. However he remained solidly in the middle of the sidewalk.
Next to her Sano's steps slowed as he lifted his chin. From his pocket she heard his phone chime. He took his phone out and glanced at it. He placed it to his ear, just as she sidestepped the stranger, wanting to pass him quickly. No sooner had she stepped away from Sano's side, that the ambush sprung.
"Jou-chan!"
The stranger had pushed her into the alley putting even more distance between her and the tall brunette. She stumbled but quickly regained her footing. "Run!"
Kaoru whipped around, not heeding the command. She swung out her arm, catching the assailant by surprise. His fingers slipped on their grip and she wrenched away from his grasp. She retreated further into the alley, her heart dropping as she recognized the feral snarl that warped her attacker's face.
Strong hands from behind grabbed her, lifting her off her feet. She shrieked as he pulled her head to the side exposing her neck. "Don't kill her! She's to be presented alive."
The scruff from the street had appeared in front of her, having disposed of Sano somehow. "It's no good if she's dead."
"Youll have to kill me first."
Kaoru blinked as she saw Sano appear out of the shadows behind the scruff. He jammed a small blade into the neck of the vampire. His eyes opened wide, startled. His hands came up to stop the bleeding from the gash, to no avail. Kaoru felt her own shock go through her as well as the vampire who held her. With a gurgled gasp, the vampire fell to the ground, not moving.
The shock of the vampire behind her penetrated her fog and her adrenaline kicked in. She jammed her elbow back, allowing her feet to toucht he ground. She lifted her foot and stomped on his instep. The grip slackened and she whirled, bing her right arm up and brought her hadn up into his chin. The move worked and he doubeld over.
"We gotta go Jou-chan!"
Sano grabbed her arm and pulled her down the alley. Just as they were about to reach the end two more vampires stepped into their path.
"Going somwhere?"
"Call Kenshin." Sano ordered. "I'll distract them."
Without another galcne, he flung himselves towards the two vampires engaging them in a fight.
Kaoru blinked water out of her eyes as she fumbled for her phone. It nearly slipped from her grasp as she scanned through her contacts. Just as she pressed the call button, hard hands grabbed her again, pulling her head back violently. The device clattered to the ground, and she didn't know if she had managed to connect or not.
"You're proving to be quite troublesome." The voice sneered.
Soemthing hit them both and she hissed as pain errupted in her knees as she hit the pavement. Blinking stars from her eyes, she saw that Sano had tackled them both, abandoning the fight from the two vampires. "Run!" He called to her again.
The vampire who had held her jumped up and pounced. Sano was ready. He opened his arms to absorb the attack, only to bring his hands up at the last second. She saw the flash of the blade before he plunged it into the vampitre's heart. There was a beat and the the vampire crumbled, his flesh slowly disentegrating into ash.
Somehow there were still two and they leapt towards the brunette. While Sano put up a good fight, he wasn't conditioned to battle two vampires at the same time, let alone four. He was tiring, blows raining down on him causing more damage than normal punches.
In a last ditch effort, Sano threw himself forward, managing to sink the dagger into one of the vampires. Her heart racing, she turned her attention away and searched for her phone. She found it and stopped as boots appeared in front of her. "I'm really not sure you're quite worth the bounty, depsite the high cost. I think I might ask for more. Or maybe take a taste to see what all the fuss is about."
Kaoru scrambled back on her hunches, her eyes wide.
"Clearly you have no idea who she belongs to."
The voice broke through the clamor and Kaoru felt her blue eyes widen even further as she recognized Megumi, her long dark hair plastered to her forehead.
The vampire turned slowly, a sinister smile on his face. "Enlighten me."
"She bleongs to Battousai."
"You lie." The vampire snarled, though Kaoru could detect the edge of fear in his voice. "The Demon of Lost Souls has placed a ransom on her head."
Megumi tilted her head to the side. Her dark eyes darted towards where Sano still barely fended off the fifth demon. The vampire took advatntage of her distraciton and pounced. Megumi blinked and merely sidestepped. She caught his arm and spun him around, yanking his back towards her. Megumi grasped his head in her hands and twisted. The vampire fell to the ground, not moving. She spun around,her eyes darting to where the fifth vampire had managed to gain the upper hand on Sanosuke. Kaoru sat up and surveyed the scene.
The tall elegant woman stood in the midst of the fray, perfectly calm. Karol had assumed her true nature, but was still startled. Kenshin and Aoshi she had reluctantly accepted. However the woman was a doctor; her instinct was to save lives, not take them. Even now, she stood in the midst of the choas in her scrubs. However, the feral gleam in the dark eyes held no intention of protecting life in this moment. "You are making a huge mistake." She stated softly.
Sanosuke swallowed, struggling in the vampire's grasp. "Get Jou-chan and get the hell out." He ordered weakly.
"I doubt it, doctor." The vampire called out. His lips curled in a sinister sneer. "I doubt you could do anything to hurt me. And then you will have failed to save this morsel as well as his pretty chit."
Megumi crouched slightly and Kaoru stumbled to her feet. There was a blur, and then the woman appeared behind the pair. A shrill scream pierced the air as the woman did something to his back. He released Sanosuke who fell to the ground. Then the woman buried her fangs into the vampires neck, ripping his head off. He fell to the ground and Kaoru saw the woman had punched through his back and held the remnants of his heart in her hands.
She looked up at her. Blood dripped down her chin. The dark eyes widened. "Go!" She cried. Before Kaoru could react a bonde landed in the middle of the alley. He glanced around, his eyes lighting on her. She took in his appearance knowing he was familiar to her thogh she couldn't quite figure out why. His blonde hair stuck out in every which way, the rain dripping off the ends. His dark stormy eyes were framed by dark long lashes. Classic cheekbones gave him a beauty that most scultpors dreamed about.
"Minions just aren't made nearly as useful anymore." He muttered in disgust.
Megumi stared at him. Subtley she had moved in front of Sano, shielding him from the newcomer. She murmured something beofre charging the blonde, hitting him hard. They came together stunned and the stranger flung her. Megumi regained her footing and made to attack him again. Almost bored, he flung out his hand, a pulse of energy hitting her in the chest collapsing her. She lay motionless and Kaoru was left to face the new nemesis.
The grey eyes studied the downed figure before looking up at her. "I never expected that of Meg. She is usually so refined." He murmured. His attetnion on her, he stalked her slowly, his dark grey eyes moving over her form.
Kaoru swallowed thickly, not sure what she could do. "What a pretty little bluebird." He paused several feet from her. She still couldn't quite place him. His platinum blonde hair glowed almost white. He was tall, taller than Kenshin, his physique more obvioius. A blade was slung carelessly over his shouler. "You certainly revolve in an intersting circle of friends."
"Who are you?" She whispered, hoping he couldn't hear the rapid beating of her heart.
He took another step towards her. "The better question is who are you?" He leaned forward slightly and sniffed. A cruel smile lit up his face and Kaoru recalled where she had seen him before. He had been at the bar the night she and Kenshin had gone for drinks. "Surely it hasn't been handed to me so easily."
"What are you talking about?"
"Do not play games with me Kaoru Kamiya."
She felt her eyes widen to hear her name. "How do you know me?" She whispered, fear sluicing through her. "What do you want?"
The blonde had focused on her, not interested in the death of his comrades. Sanosuke lay in a heap on the ground behind her and she fought the urge to look at him, lest she draw the attention of the man in front of her. Something about him was different from the creatures that had attacked her. She had seen the energy he had sent towards her friend, had almost felt it in her own veins. Now the intensity was honed in on her. Kaoru swallowed as he advanced, wishing she had seen Kenshin one last time. She hated that she had let the days pass after the revelation and now she would never be able to explore what could have been.
"I thought you would lead me to it. I had no idea that you had it all this time."
"What are you talking about?"
"It's obvious. Now give it to me." He demanded.
She blinked. "What?"
His hand darted out to grip her, his fingers biting into her skin. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. He squeezed cruelly, elicitng the sound from her throat. He grinned nastily. "If you do as I command, this will go much better for you." He sneered.
"I don't know what you're referring to!" She gasped as he twisted her arm painfully.
"The Heart of Haros."
Kaoru felt her eyes grow wide. "I don't konw what you're talking about."
"Yumi told me what you are. I realize now that you know where it rests."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You do." He leaned towards hers, his grey eyes wild. "You will tell me where it is."
"It's lost." She told him. The words came unbidden from her throat and she reazlied he now used magic on her.
"But you have the power to find it."
She shook her head, tears threatening. "I don't!" She insisted.
"Its in your blood. Your blood sings to even the likes of me." He leaned down, pressing his nose to her neck. "I have half a mind to claim... you..." She cringed and stuggled to release from his grasp. He stood up abruptly, confusion playing across his features. Slowly he began to chuckle and realization dawned in the depths of his stormy eyes. "This is too good to be true."
"You're psychotic."
The blonde shook his head. "I can see why he likes you. I never thought I'd see the day when Battousai would mark his own."
His words had her pause mmentratily. "Marked?"
He reached out and touched the juncture of her neck and shoulder. "You wear his mark." He leaned in and breathed deeply. "Don't worry little bluebird. I will break you and the bond you share and leave you writhing in agony."
Finding the strength in her repulsion, she brought up her knee. The move did nothing more than catch the blonde by surprise, but his grip on her arm slackened slightly and she utilized the weather to her advantage. She twisted out of his grasp, bringing her other arm up to smack him.
The grey eyes blinked and Kaoru didn't give him a chance to recover, merely turned on her heel to run. Something grabbed her shirt and then she saw a blur of red. Kaoru came to an immediate stop, jerked back, then nothing held her and inertia caused her to fall. As the rain began to fall more steadily, she looked up, pushing the wert hair from her eyes. Kenshin had the blonde pinned against the wall, his teeth bared, eyes flashing a malevloent gold.
Next to her Aoshi knealt. "Are you okay?" He asked, though his attention was focused on the two men.
She nodded though she grimaced as she attempted to sit up. She heard metal clang and looked up again to see the two embroiled in a fierce battle. The movements were too fast for her to follow. Her eyes darted to where her friend lay. She saw him struggle for breath. "Sano!" She cried out. Aoshi immediately left her side and appeared by Sanosuke's. From her vantage she saw the man curse and pull out a phone.
Meanwhile the blonde had pushed the redhead out of the way and leapt up the fire escape of the building. "You can not protect her forever. She knows what I want and I will be back to claim it." He threatened.
Kenshin growled, but before he could do anything, the blonde had disappeared.
"Kenshin!" The redhead turned his attention to Aoshi. "Take her. I must deal with Sagara."
Kaoru scrambled to her feet, ignoring the pain that coursed through her body. She stumbled and fell by Sanosuke's left side. His face was barely recognizable. Tears threatened and she gingerly touched the man's swollen cheek. "Hey Jou-chan." He gasped, opening his eyes slightly.
"You're going to be okay." She whispered.
"Get her out of here." Aoshi ordered. He glanced over to where Megumi was slowly getting to her feet. "Do you need a medic?" He asked her.
Instead of answering, a growl greeted him as she approached. Kaoru leaned protectively over the man, for the first time terrified of the vampires around her. The woman was covered in blood, her hands soaked. It would be years before Kaoru would fully rectify the images of what she had seen the woman do. Megumi paused, her dark eyes boring into her and the lips curled back in a fang baring snarl.
"Megumi." She whipped her head around, to meet the threatened stare of Aoshi. "She is just as much invested in his fate as you." He told her gently.
The woman held the stare for another tense moment before her lips calmed and she met Kaoru's tearful gaze. "I will do everything within my ability to save him." She told her fiercely.
Kaoru took in a shaky breath and nodded. She leaned down and gingerly pressed a kiss to his broken cheek. Hands grasped her, gently pulling her away from her best friend. "You're going to be okay." She whispered again, tears falling down her cheeks.
Sano nodded slightly, his eyes closed in pain as he coughed, blood splattering his lips.
Kenshin turned her into him and ushered her away. Shock began to threaten and she allowed him to guide her away from the scene.
Until next time!