The chapter you've been waiting for is here!!! Little bit depressing but enjoy.

Chapter 14: Weeping Hearts

"Your Majesty you look so beautiful," Kaoru's lady in waiting exclaimed as she looked at Kaoru.

Kaoru was in her changing room, standing before a tall mirror and trying on her wedding dress.

"You think so…" Kaoru said uncertainly as she turned and whirled before the mirror, "I mean the dress is beautiful but I just look strange wearing it."

"None sense, my lady," the lady in waiting was more than ten years older than Kaoru, she had being her lady in waiting for many years now, "indeed the dress is beautiful, Mr. Arata did a great job, but you are making the dress more special."

Kaoru smiled at the older woman. "Thank you, Hanako," her eyes travelled back to the mirror, "But don't you think it's revealing?" The white dress was brushing to the floor, but the upper half was bodice-tight, pressing Kaoru's breasts up and hugging her body firmly down to the waist and hip before it gave away to a loose flowing skirt. Kaoru's shoulders and arms were bare as well as part of her back, where golden strings crisscrossed. Kaoru was worried about the scars that marred her left arm, but Mr. Arata –the tailor- made her a band that covered this part of her arm and looked elegant at the same time. Her dress wasn't entirely white. Fine golden threads were embroidered on the front of the bodice and along the upper part of the skirt.

"It's perfect my lady, Mr. Arata told me that, he had travelled to the vampire kingdom to get some ideas about their fashion, and that's how he came with the design of this dress."

Kaoru was happy to hear that avians are starting to overcome the years of hatred and try to socialize with the vampires. Of course it wasn't easy, many fights occurred in such visits but so far no civilian –vampire or avian- was killed.

Kaoru looked at her reflection and the necklace on her neck caught her attention. She couldn't help but smile as she touched the sapphire, remembering Kenshin. Of course he was always in her mind and she missed him a lot. Their bond lessened the long distance between them and knowing how he was feeling every minute calmed Kaoru.

"I'm glad to see you happy, my lady," Hanako said," I was worried about you when all this marriage idea started."

"I was worried too," Kaoru admitted. She remembered how she dreaded this wedding and particularly her wedding night, but now she was looking forward to her wedding and the day she and Kenshin would live together. "But getting to know Kenshin made me realise how wrong we were about the vampires."

"I'm happy to hear that, my lady."

Kaoru let go of the necklace and began to touch her hair. "I wonder what I should do with my hair, it's a mess," Kaoru's hair was pinned up in quick and messy bun, several raven strands escaped, framing her face.

"I think…" the lady in waiting began but was interrupted when someone else spoke.

"My lady."

Kaoru whirled toward the door when she heard this voice.

"Souji…" Soujiro was standing near the door, staring at her with awe.

"What are you doing here, young man?" Hanako demanded, "this is the queen's changing room, you shouldn't be here."

"I…" Soujiro snapped out of his reverie and forced his eyes away from Kaoru, "I wanted to talk to Her Majesty."

"This is not…"

"Please Hanako, it's all right, I need to talk to him too," Soujiro had been avoiding her since their time in the falcon kingdom, and she wasn't about to send him away.

Hanako opened her mouth to protest but thought better of it. "As you wish, Your Majesty." She bowed to Kaoru and left the room.

Kaoru stood motionless, facing Soujiro. "Souji, I'm…"

"You look so lovely," Soujiro said, his eyes never leaving her.

Kaoru felt the heat on her cheeks, and she averted her gaze. "Thank you."

Soujiro shook his head, "I'm sorry, I'm making you feel uncomfortable."

"No, no, I'm fine," Kaoru said quickly, hating the fact that she could blush very easily.

A sad smile tugged at Soujiro's lips now. "So you're really going to marry him."

"Souji…" Kaoru took a step towards him.

"I guess I always had a hope that you might change your mind, but it was a fool's hope."

"I'm sorry," Kaoru placed one hand on her upper arm and bowed her head.

She heard Soujiro's footsteps and raised her head when he stood before her.

"It's all right," he said as he extended his hand and touched her cheek, "I should have understood that you love him and never gave you such a hard time. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry for losing control the way I did."

"It's ok," Kaoru placed her hand on his, "you know that I can never be mad at you."

Soujiro retreated his hand before he suddenly enveloped her with his arms and hugged her tightly. "He's a lucky man," he whispered close to her ear, "he's lucky to have captured your heart."

Kaoru closed her eyes and looped her arms around his waist. She wished she could take his sadness away, to somehow make everything better for him.

Silence settled upon them for few moments before Soujiro spoke.

"I want you to know," he pulled back slightly, but kept his arms around her, "that I will always be there for you, no matter what happens, I will be with you." He suddenly leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek, or rather at the corner of her mouth, before he took her in his arms again.

"Souji…" Kaoru was shocked at that.

"Shshshs, please let me hold you," he whispered, "just for a while let me hold you."

Kaoru allowed him to hold her, and she prayed to the gods that one day he would find someone that will make him happy just like how she had found Kenshin.

But what Kaoru didn't see that although Soujiro's eyes were sad and glistening with unshed tears a determined look dominated his features.

The next day

Kaoru made her way through the now familiar corridors of Kenshin's palace, a smile was glued on her lips. She couldn't wait to see Kenshin's reaction. They were supposed to meet the day after tomorrow at the church to see the final preparations, therefore he would not expect her visit at all today. And after weeks of not seeing each other, Kaoru hoped he was missing her as much as she was.

Kaoru ask the guards at Kenshin's quarters not to announce her and they let her in with knowing smirks on their faces.

As Kaoru entered Kenshin's quarters, she couldn't help but to wonder at this sudden impulse to see Kenshin, after all she was meeting him in a day. She could not explain this feeling, she just had this sudden need to see Kenshin before that day.

Kaoru reached the door to his bedroom and slowly she pushed the door open and peered in. Kenshin was not in there. Kaoru frowned, she had been told that Kenshin was in his quarters. But then she heard the sound of soft water splashing and she knew he must be in the small room attached to his bedroom where Kenshin usually bathe.

With a smile Kaoru entered the bedroom and closed the door silently behind her. She made her way to the other door at the far corner which was slightly open. She peered in and saw Kenshin standing in the middle of the room, wearing only his breeches and holding a small towel in his hands.

And he was looking at her.

The fact that he could sense her had not escaped Kaoru but she was hoping that he would be distracted or even asleep. Still there was a measure of shock in Kenshin's face.

"Kaoru…" he said, surprised but he immediately strode to her and took her in his arms "I sensed you," he murmured against her hair "but I thought that missing you was causing me to imagine things ."

Kaoru smiled and looped her arms around his naked back. He was little bit wet but she didn't mind, feeling so happy to be in his arms.

But Kenshin suddenly pulled back so he can look at her, his amber eyes scanning her. "Is everything all right? Did something happen?"

Kaoru shook her head. "I know it sound weird but I just wanted to see you, I suppose that I miss you so much that I couldn't wait another day."

Kaoru saw relief in his eyes before he leaned towards her and captured her mouth with his.

Kaoru closed her eyes and slid her arms up and around his neck, deepening the kiss. She felt his hands roaming all over her body, touching and squeezing gently.

After a while Kenshin broke the kiss and stared down at her body.

"I should dry myself," he murmured, he peeled himself off her with difficulty "I've gotten you wet." He turned and retrieved the towel he had discarded on the floor before wiping his face, then down his chest and arms.

Kaoru couldn't take her eyes off him. She watched as the muscles in his arms flexed with each movement then her eyes dropped to his hard chest and taut stomach.

Kaoru raised her eyes, knowing that his beautiful body was matched with a perfect face. Her eyes met the amused ones of Kenshin. He was looking at her with a knowing smirk grazing his lips.

Kaoru flushed and looked away, embarrassed at being caught staring. Then she heard his soft chuckle followed by his footsteps as he approached her, she felt his fingers under her chin, turning her face so she could meet his eyes.

"You are allowed to look, you know," he whispered against her mouth before he kissed her, "and now that you feasted your eyes, it's my turn," as he said those words Kaoru felt his hand on her sword belt, unbuckling the clasps, and letting the belt drop to the ground. "But…" he breathed as his hands crept beneath her tunic, "but I'm afraid looking won't do for me…I desire more."

And as he slid her tunic over her head Kaoru knew the extent of his desire.

Kaoru stirred and sighed softly as she woke up. She knew that she was lying on Kenshin's bed but couldn't remember how exactly they got here since they had made love in the small room adjacent to this one. Her eyes fluttered open and the first thing she saw was Kenshin lying beside her and smiling at her.

Kaoru smiled back. She was lying on her stomach one hand folded beside her. "You did not sleep?" Kaoru whispered sleepily.

Kenshin moved his hand and placed it on her bare back, caressing her. "I wasn't sleepy," he ran his hand slowly down her back, making Kaoru shiver.

"Is it morning already?" the heavy curtains were drawn in and the room was dark apart from few candles lit at the corners.

"No, it's little bit after midnight."

Kaoru was silent for a moment. "I didn't plan to sleep here."

Kenshin raised an eyebrow at that. "If you think I'm going to let you go at this time, you are mistaken, besides," he buried his hand in her silky raven hair, "now that you are awake…" he leaned towards her and pressed his mouth to hers.

Kaoru kissed him back and did not protest when he pulled her to his body, her soft breasts were pressing to his hard chest. "I can get used to waking up next to you," Kaoru murmured against his mouth.

She felt Kenshin smirk against her mouth. "I'm glad to hear that but I have to tell you that once we are married you might find yourself waking up beneath me rather than next to me."

"You know, you are not that light," Kaoru replied playfully, "you are heavier than you look."

"Now am I?" Kenshin pulled back slightly so he can look at her face, "well then perhaps you could amend that."

Kaoru frowned. "Me? How?"

"By taking things into your hands," Kenshin's amber eyes shone with lust and amusement, "next time I will be laying on my back while you are on top, don't worry I will guide you with my hands."

Kaoru was silent and appeared to be thinking deeply, and Kenshin had no doubts that she was picturing the act in her mind because a moment later she blushed and hid her face against his chest.

"Come to think about it, you are not that heavy," Kaoru said quickly.

Kenshin laughed and encircled her tightly in his arms. "One day you will do it and I promise you will like it."

"One day perhaps, but not now," Kaoru whispered against his chest.

They were silent for a while, content to be close to each other.

"Next week I'm going to be your wife," Kaoru said after a while.

"And I can hardly wait," Kenshin replied, running his hand along Kaoru's body, "you are mine now," he kissed the mark on her neck, "but next week you will be officially mine before your own people."

Kaoru knew that Kenshin was possessive, and sometimes it scared her. But she loved him and she too wanted all the world to know that she was his and he hers.

"I love you," Kaoru whispered as she tilted her head and pressed her lips to his.

Kenshin did not reply to that only kissed her passionately, and Kaoru didn't need words to know his feelings for her, his emotions flew through their bond and they conveyed his love more than any word could ever do.

The next day Kaoru didn't want to let Kenshin go.

They stood at the main entrance of his castle, his arms around her and her cheek on his chest.

Kenshin kissed the top of her head. "What's wrong?" he asked softly as Kaoru clung to him tightly.

"I don't know," she whispered, "the same feeling that brought me here yesterday is telling me not to let you go."

"I will be more than happy if you stay another night here."

"But I can't," Kaoru said, "I have lots of things to get done, and we promised to work hard till before our wedding."

That was true, Kenshin thought. They made a promise to each other that they would try to sort all matters related to their kingdoms before their wedding so that they could have a month away after the wedding. They would go to his country house, only he and her. This is what had kept Kenshin going through the last weeks without her. He had wanted nothing but to go to her kingdom and show her how much he missed her but thinking of the month after their wedding made him focus in working harder.

"We will see each other tomorrow," Kenshin said gently.

"I know, I'm just being silly," Kaoru pulled back to look at him.

"You're not silly," Kenshin brushed one strand off her face as he gazed into her beautiful eyes, "those last weeks have been hard on us both, only one is left now." He leaned over and kissed her.

Later Kenshin stood on the courtyard watching as Kaoru took off with her guards.

Neither one of them knew that the next time Kaoru come here she would be an enemy.

And up, at the upper floor of the castle, Tomoe was looking down as Kaoru departed with an impassive face but as Kaoru took off a malicious smiled graced her lips.

Go now you winged bitch, this will be your last time coming here as a queen.

Tomorrow was the day

Tomoe could hardly wait. Tomorrow she would act, this was the opportunity she was waiting for.

She peeled herself off the window and walked to the nightstand, where a small box was placed.

Tomoe held the box in her hands before opening the lid.

A sad melody sounded from the box, floating around the room. Instinctively Tomoe shivered. She had no idea how, but this music seemed to reach for the depth of her soul as if seeking for something, then withdrawing, not finding what it sought in Tomoe.

This was the box that would separate Kenshin and Kaoru. The queen of the falcons had given her this box and told her to give it personally to Kaoru, and she had insisted that Kenshin should be present. When Tomoe had asked her how this box worked, the queen said that the music itself was a spell which was designed specifically for Kaoru. She had said the magic was too complicated to explain but to ensure that it only worked on Kaoru a vial of Kaoru's blood was hidden inside. And the complex patterns and symbols engraved on the box eluded Tomoe, but the queen said those patters were part of the spell. Tomoe did not really care how their stupid magic worked as long as it served its purpose.

Tomoe closed the box and placed it carefully on her nightstand. She walked back to the window and saw Kenshin in the courtyard talking to one of the guards.

She had already told Kenshin that she was going with him. She had hoped for an earlier opportunity but the visit to the church was her last resort, a backup plan.

Since they had returned from the falcon kingdom, she had been acting nice accepting towards him and the whole idea of his marriage. She had been showing him that she was beginning to grudgingly accept his marriage to Kaoru. So tomorrow when the magic works on Kaoru, he would not suspect anything.

The guard said something and Kenshin laughed.

Tomoe's black eyes never left him, he was strong and handsome, and she had wanted him ever since he was a prince.

And she will have him

Tomorrow he and Kaoru would be no more.

Next day

Kaoru was in the church talking to one of the priests, when Kenshin arrived.

The church was buzzing with people, vampire and avian civilians, charged with different tasks. Kaoru was pleased with the progress, less than two months ago the church was a ruin and now it was rebuilt completely and only decorations and some other minor work was being done today.

Kaoru smiled and excused herself before walking to the door to greet Kenshin. As she approached him, she was surprised to see Tomoe with him.

"Kaoru," Kenshin greeted and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth, ignoring the glances they received from the avian civilians.

"Tomoe," Kaoru said with a confused smile, she wondered why she had come today, "I'm surprised to see you."

"I'm surprised to be here myself," Tomoe replied, "but I've been thinking about what you've said," she paused, "but first how is everything going? Are all preparations complete?"

They began to walk, and Kenshin reached for Kaoru's hand and entwined his fingers with hers. "Almost done," Kaoru replied, "more people are here today, I guess they are as enthusiastic as we."

Kenshin snorted. "Sure they are, but for different reasons, we're paying them good."

"Don't be mean, Kenshin," Kaoru reproached as they ascended the alter, "this is their right, they are working hard after all." They reached the altar, which was raised on a platform, and from there they had a good view of all the vampires and avians bustling around. There were more vampire workers than avians because the church was closer to the vampire villages.

Kenshin was about to reply but he stopped as his eyes caught something or someone. "So that boy is talking to you now?"

Kaoru followed his gaze and saw that he was staring at Soujiro, who stood at the left side, beside one of the huge painted windows.

"Ah yes, Souji is…things are better now."

Kenshin eyes scanned the room. "I see that you brought more than a squad with you."

"Soujiro insisted that I bring along two squads for my protection," Kaoru shrugged, "he fears an attack so far away from my kingdom."

"There hasn't been any attempted attacks here, that's why I pulled many of my guards from here," but then Kenshin dismissed this, "this boy is cautious when it comes to you, I can't complain about that."

Tomoe who was talking to one vampire civilian, walk up to them and Kaoru noticed that there was a box in her hands now.

"Tomoe has something for you," Kenshin smiled and let go of Kaoru's hand, and that uneasy feeling came over Kaoru again, she did not want to let him go, she wanted to cling to him, but then Tomoe came before her, her face was hard to read but Kaoru thought she saw excitement in her black eyes.

"This is a present for you," Tomoe said calmly, "I still don't know if I'm coming to the wedding so I thought I better give it to you now."

Kaoru was surprised at this. "Thank you," she said with a smile, but the uneasiness refused to go away and Kaoru glanced at Kenshin, who stood behind Tomoe and he nodded at her. She felt silly, Tomoe was trying to accept losing Kenshin and here she was feeling ill at ease about it instead of rejoicing. "Thank you," Kaoru said again as she accepted the box. It was made of light ash and there were strange symbols and marks engraved on the lid and the sides of the box. It was obvious that those marks were carved with care and Kaoru ran her hand along the complicated symbols briefly before opening the box.

A sad melody drifted from the box, and at that moment Kaoru felt strange feeling within her, as if the music was trying to penetrate her soul. Her hands began to tremble, she tried to make sense of this but her mind tried to fight this prying sensation, to close the lid and drop the box but her body refused to obey her, all her senses were drawn to the music and she suddenly became very cold as if her own blood was freezing. But despite that, she felt happy, no, she did not feel happy, something inside her was happy now, was free…

Kaoru's last thought was of Kenshin before she felt no more.

Kenshin watched Kaoru as she stared down at the box in her hands. He felt her confusion first as the music drifted by but then her confusion turned to happiness, to exhilaration.

Kenshin was wondering why she was feeling this way when Kaoru moved. Slowly, very slowly she placed the box on the table beside her, her head was bowed so he couldn't see her eyes. Then she turned to face Tomoe and things happened so fast after that.

Indeed it took mere moments for the next thing to happen but to Kenshin, everything seemed to happen in a very slow motion, as if the moment was a minute and the minute was an hour. He saw everything clearly.

He saw Kaoru move her hand to her belt, he saw Kaoru unsheathe the small knife strapped to her waist, he saw Kaoru thrust the knife forward, he saw Kaoru stab Tomoe…

The sound of metal piercing flesh sounded in his ears, but it seemed only he had heard it because the civilians continued bustling around, going about their business.

Kaoru pulled the knife and Tomoe swayed, clutching at her wounded chest before collapsing to the ground, only then people stopped doing what they were doing and looked at the raised altar.

Kenshin was frozen just like them, his eyes fixed on the bloody knife in Kaoru's hand before they travelled to her face.

What he saw on her face shocked him more than what has just happened.

Hatred…pure hatred was written on her face and it was directed at him.

Kaoru dropped the knife on the ground and suddenly bellowed. "KILL THE VAMPIRES!" this order was directed at her soldiers, who were posted at each corner of the church. "Kill them all, I want them dead!" with that she unsheathed her sword and lunged at Kenshin.

Kenshin was rooted on the spot, still not believing what was happening, but then as Kaoru thrust her sword forward, pointing at his chest, survival instincts kicked in and he swept to the right, avoiding the blow.

"Die!"

Kenshin stared at her with wide eyes as she delivered a blow after blow. He did not unsheathe his weapon, but kept dodging her strikes. "Kaoru…" he whispered in disbelief and what made things worse, he could feel her hate and revulsion through their bond.

She stopped suddenly and ordered her men again, threatening them if they disobeyed, and this time they obeyed. They had no choice, she was their queen, they were sworn to her, and some of them still had no love for the vampires.

And the massacre began.

Kenshin heard the scream of a girl before a soldier pierced her heart with his sword. And more screams erupted and chaos filled the church.

The screams distracted him for a moment and he recovered just before Kaoru delivered a thrust to his throat, Kenshin sidestepped to the right and felt the cold blade slash across his left cheek instead. The smell of his own blood jolted him awake from his shock and he jumped at Kaoru and grabbed her upper arms.

"Kaoru! What is wrong with you?" he shook her hard, "stop your men, they are killing civilians!"

But his words had no effects on her, her face, which was usually soft and always smiling was cruel and her eyes shone with hatred.

"I will kill all the vampires!" Kaoru shouted, "you will die!" and she kicked his shin and broke free.

Kenshin grunted and hardly evaded the next strike.

"Kaoru listen to me, I'm your mate!"

"You're my enemy! I will kill you just like I've killed her."

Kenshin's eyes widened.

Tomoe

He looked at her now. She still lied motionless on the ground, but there was a pool of blood spreading beneath her. He had to help her.

Screams rang in the church. They all needed his help. But he can't save them, not in this state. Twenty men, he could take using his eyes, but forty or fifty…no he couldn't. And not only he was outnumbered but he could not focus at all. All his senses were focused on Kaoru, trying to make sense of her behaviour and all the explanations that ran through his mind told one thing…

Betrayal

He was too shocked to think clearly, but slowly his mind was focusing and it was telling him that she had lied, all this had been a lie, she never loved him, she planned this…

But his heart refused to believe all this.

He had felt her love through their bond, how could she have fabricated this? It was impossible, however, the hate that kept flowing through their bond now was real, and the vampire civilians screaming were real, and Tomoe's blood gushing out of her body was real…

As Kaoru tried to strike at him again, his mind won and with a cry of despair he lunged at her and pushed her forcefully away, she hit the table and fell down followed by the box. Kenshin ran to Tomoe and scooped her in his arms.

He leapt down the altar and toward the window, he jumped at it, shattering the glass with his body before running into the woods.

I'm sorry…

He had abandoned his people, but they were dead, in a matter of few minutes they were wiped out.

Kenshin kept running, he would save Tomoe, he would not let her die.

And he tried hard to focus on the woman in his arm, rather than the raven haired girl who had betrayed him.

Kaoru came about with a groan. Her arm hurt as if she had fallen on it and perhaps she had because as she came to her senses she realised that she was lying on the ground. She tried to remember where she was. And then it came to her, she had been in the church with Tomoe and Kenshin.

Kaoru sat up quickly and what she saw made the blood go cold in her veins. She was still on the altar, the box Tomoe had given her lied shattered beside her and her soldiers were killing civilians.

"Stop!" Kaoru jumped to her feet, trembling uncontrollably.

Her soldiers stopped; well some were already doing nothing because almost all of the vampires were dead.

Kaoru stared around in horror. It was massacre, bodies were scattered around. Vampires of all ages had come here seeking jobs, from young girls who sold and arranged flowers to old men who painted the glass or repaired the benches.

And they were all dead now.

Kaoru was too absorbed in the horror of this place that she didn't notice Soujiro approaching.

"Kaoru…" he whispered.

"What happened, Souji?" Kaoru cried, "why did you kill them? And where is Kenshin?"

Kaoru saw Soujiro's eyes go wide. "You…you don't remember?"

"No, one moment I was standing with the box in my hand and now I found myself on the ground, the box is shatter and all these people…" Kaoru's voice was choked.

Soujiro looked away as if unable to meet her gaze, and her soldiers did that too.

"Souji tell me, what happened?"

Hesitatingly, Soujiro answered. "You ordered this, you ordered us to kill the vampires…"

"No…" Kaoru shook her head, taking a step back, and she felt some kind of liquid under her boots and when she looked down, she saw a pool of blood, Kaoru jerked away.

"And you tried to kill him," Kaoru froze when Soujiro said those words, somehow knowing exactly who he was talking about.

Pressure was building inside her, choking her. She tried to reach for Kenshin through their bond, but she couldn't. He had blocked her.

"This blood…" Kaoru couldn't bring herself to finish her question.

"Not his, but that woman's blood…Tomoe…"

"No! I did not, I couldn't…" Kaoru refused to believe that she would do such thing. However, she knew that she was the one of injured Tomoe, her small knife was on the floor beside the red pool.

And she couldn't remember doing it

Then a weak voice sounded in the room. Kaoru stared down at the bloody floor of the church and saw an old woman on the floor, a vampire survival who was barely alive.

Kaoru quickly descended the altar.

"She's alive! We have to help her…"

"Curse you…"

Kaoru stopped dead on her tracks, few steps away from the old woman.

"Curse…you avian," the old woman muttered through bloody mouth, "you…have…no honour," her eyes were filled with intense hatred as they focused on Kaoru, "on the body of…my dead daughter… I curse you…by all the gods…" she began to cough suddenly and she glared at Kaoru one last time as she expelled her last breath, her eyes on Kaoru even after she died.

Those eyes would hunt Kaoru for the rest of her life.

"Kaoru! Kaoru!" Soujiro was at Kaoru's side again.

She heard the worry and fear in his voice and she realised that she had begun to sob hysterically as she sank to her knees.

"Kaoru calm down."

"I killed them…I killed them…"

"I will get her out of here," he said to the commander of the squad, "and you better do the same, their king has survived and he will send his men here. And I want you to send the civilians home as quick as you can" he meant the avian civilians who had huddled in one corner while the whole butchering took place.

No waiting for the commander to reply, Soujiro swept Kaoru off her feet and into his arms.

"Kenshin…" Kaoru was sobbing, "take…me to Kenshin…please…"

"Hush, my love," he said when they were outside, tightening his arms, "I will take you back, you will be safe, shshsh…" he kissed the top of her head before he took off into the sky.

Kenshin was still running as fast as he could. He was close to his kingdom now but this brought no relief. Tomoe was still bleeding, he had stopped awhile ago to try to wake her up so that she would drink blood, he was sure that his blood would help her but she did not awake so he had to wrap her chest with a torn piece of his clothes.

The clothes as now soaked with her blood and her breathing was so shallow.

"I will get you there in no time," Kenshin breathed, "I will save you."

He didn't expect her to hear him, for she had been unconscious since they had left the church but to his surprise she stirred and her eyelids began to flutter open.

A glimmer of hope sparked within Kenshin. "Tomoe? Can you hear me?" he had to keep her awake.

"Ken…shin…" she breathed.

"We are almost there," Kenshin said, looking straight ahead.

"I…I know it…I have…always known…" she inhaled but breathing seemed to be a struggle, "that…you…you love me…"

Kenshin looked down at her, the corner of her mouth was curved upwards in a small smile but blood was now trickling down her chin. "Of course I love you," Kenshin said, a lump rising in his throat, "that's why I will save you."

"I…I want…you to tell…Enishi…I…love him…he…" a fit of cough seized her and Kenshin stopped as she began to gasp for air.

"Tomoe! Tomoe fight!" he held her close to him, "you will tell your brother that yourself, you will tell him yourself!" but even as he shook her gently, he knew he was losing her. The wound had been delivered to her lung and even he would not have survived that. But despite that she was still smiling, while she muttered incoherent words.

"I did it…but…she…did not say…she lied…she… the queen…" and her words drifted by as her lids began to drop and her head fell against his shoulder.

Kenshin lowered her to the ground and cradled her body. "Tomoe…no…open your eyes! Breathe! Tomoe, your brother, think of Enishi!"

But she was beyond reaching and her body was limp in his arms. "Tomoe…" Kenshin brought her closer to him and buried his face on her neck. "Tomoe…" while grieve swallowed him, his mind was racing with thoughts.

Tomoe is dead, she was killed, I was betrayed, my people were massacred, I was betrayed, she killed her, she tried to kill me, I was betrayed, my mate betrayed me, Kaoru betrayed me…

At that last thought Kenshin let out a great anguished howl that seemed to pierce the sky.

Enishi was drawn to the palace gates by the commotion which seemed to have swept through the whole castle.

"What in the names of the gods is wrong?" he muttered to himself as he walked to the main entrance of the castle. Servants and guards were already there, looking at the courtyards. Enishi shoved few bodies out of the way before he stepped into the grey world outside.

He saw Kenshin walking towards where he stood at the entrance of the palace.

At first Enishi was rooted on his spot, not believing his eyes but then he broke into a run because the girl in Kenshin's arms was his sister.

Tomoe

"Tomoe!" Enishi stopped before Kenshin and snatched his sister from his arms, "Tomoe! What happened?" he said frantically, his eyes on her bloody clothes, "No not now, I have to take her to the physician."

"It's no use," Kenshin said coldly.

"What do you mean it's no use? Look at her she needs a physician?" now Enishi looked at Kenshin's face for the first time.

"No! No! She is not…Tomoe!" Enishi began to shout, "open your eyes! Open your eyes sister," he began to shook her but she remained motionless, her skin paler than usual, pale as death. "No…" Enishi went down on his knees, bringing Tomoe closer to his body. This isn't happening, she was alive this morning he saw her, she was so happy, she kissed him and told him she will see him tonight, she was laughing and now…Enishi looked down at her, her face began to blur and he realised that he was crying. For awhile he just held her close, unable to let her go as if releasing her now would mean that she was really gone, gone forever.

He was aware of Kenshin standing motionless on his spot and now Enishi asked the question that had been in his mind since he saw his sister bloody in Kenshin's arm.

"Who did this?" Enishi asked, his face buried in Tomoe's hair.

It took few moments for Kenshin to answer before he said the last name Enishi was expecting.

"Kaoru."

Enishi froze and then he looked up at Kenshin with wide eyes. That girl, that small girl who didn't seem to be able to harm a bird killed his sister.

"Not only Tomoe," although his king was trying hard to hide his emotions under a cold mask, his eyes conveyed his shock and anguish, "all the vampires at the church were killed, she had ordered her men to kill them all." Many people had gathered around them and some gasped when they heard this.

Enishi's face twisted with rage. "I will kill her! I swear I will bring her head here tonight!"

"No Enishi," Kenshin said calmly, "I will bring her to you, I myself will deliver her at your feet and you can then decide her punishment.

"I will make her pay."

"Kaoru please," Soujiro begged.

"I have to see him," Kaoru was muttering as she sobbed, her face was pale and streaked with tears. She was pacing her room, unable to sit down, "I have to talk to him."

"You can't go there, he will kill you," Soujiro tried to persuade her.

"No!" Kaoru almost shouted hysterically, "he loves me, he is my mate, he won't kill me!" she walked to her balcony but Soujiro blocked her way, grabbing her upper arms.

"He will kill you! Don't you get it?" he raised his voice, "you tried to kill him and you almost succeeded and you ordered the death of many civilians, he will kill you on sight, or the family of those dead vampires will."

Kaoru's resolved crumpled and her face twisted with pain and anguish. "But I didn't Souji…I would never kill innocent people…I would never…" she was about to say harm Kenshin but instead a sob escaped her throat.

Soujiro loosened his hold on her but did not let go. "You really can't remember?"

"I swear Souji, I swear I can't remember ordering this massacre," Kaoru said, willing him to believe her.

Soujiro sighed before looking at her with remorse filling her eyes. "But…you know this won't change anything, there are many witnesses, well all of them are dead except our people and a couple of vampire priests," avian soldiers could not bring themselves to kill the priests, vampires or not, "and you know what those priests will do now, Kaoru, they will preach against you, if you step into the vampire kingdom you will be killed."

"But Kenshin…"

"He had seen it all!" Soujiro interrupted her, "he was there and he barely survived."

Fresh tears began to well in Kaoru's eyes and she buried her face in her hands as she wept.

"How could I?" she sobbed, "how could I have done this? I'm a monster."

Soujiro took her in his arms, not knowing what to say.

"What should I do, Souji?" she whispered brokenly, "what should I do?"

Soujiro was silent for few moments. "You going there is out of question, but you could send messenger under the white flag, messengers of peace can't be harmed, what do you think? Write something for him, try to reach him and the messengers will deliver it."

Kaoru pulled away, her tear-stained face showed some signs of agreement before she nodded. "I will write a letter, yes Kenshin will understand, please Souji ask a couple of guards to prepare, I want them on their ways as soon as I finish my letter."

Soujiro nodded. "Right away." He kissed the top of her forehead before going out of the room.

Kaoru was calmer during the waiting time. This calmness came from the hope that Kenshin will understand and agree to meet her. She was sure he will, and once she met him, she would explain everything, tell him that that she didn't mean to kill them. Kaoru knew her excuse sounded absurd, but it was the truth and she hoped that Kenshin would know her true feelings once he met her.

That night she did not sleep, Soujiro stayed with her, as if fearing she would run away and meet Kenshin, but Kaoru merely waited, trying to cling to the hope that Kenshin would agree to meet her.

In the next morning, that small hope was shattered to pieces.

Kaoru was lying on her bed, exhaustion had taken the better of her and she had slumped into a shallow sleep when someone knocked on her door, urging her to come to the courtyard.

Kaoru flung herself off the bed and went to the door, she was fully dressed as she had not changed her clothes the night before. And now she ran down the corridors, heading for the courtyard.

The messengers must have returned.

She would finally meet Kenshin.

But as she made her way through the people who crowded at the castle gate, something was beginning to settle on her. People warily made way for her, darting nervous glances at her.

"Where are the mesen-" Kaoru froze on her track as she saw the scene before her, and her legs would have failed her if Soujiro hadn't suddenly appeared by her side and gripped her elbow, steadying her.

"The peasants had brought the horses my lady," one guard said nervously, "they found them running wildly near the borders."

Kaoru could not say anything, her eyes were fixed on the horse, no they were fixed on the headless bodies bound to the horses.

Her messengers were beheaded

Their heads were tied at the flank of the horses and inside the mouth of the one of the heads was her letter. And the white flag of peace was no longer white, one word was written on it with the blood of the messengers.

War

Kaoru remained motionless, unable to tear her eyes away. She could have broken right there and then, but she did nothing, she did not cry, not a single tear escaped her, instead she turned calmly to one of the guards.

"Summon the council, I want them at the meeting room in less than an hour." And she turned away, retracting her steps, and ignoring the looks her people were giving her.

An hour later, the ten council members were in the meeting room, waiting for Kaoru.

Testuma sat back on his chair, fingers entwines, a smirk seemed to be glued on his face.

"You're happy," Katashi leaned towards him.

"Who wouldn't be in this fine day?" Tetsuma replied happily, "I woke up this morning on the news that we are back at war with the vampires."

"We were all surprised," Katashi said, "since yesterday, whispers of vampire massacre caused by our queen were spreading among the guards and the servants, now all the kingdom must know that our queen had ordered the death of vampires."

"Indeed, but I…" Tetsuma stopped talking when the doors were opened and the queen stepped in the room.

Tetsuma smiled again when he saw the state she was in. She looked exhausted and pale, even from where he was sitting he could see that she had been crying her eyes out. But he wondered why she would order killing vampires then cry about it, or maybe she was crying because she failed to kill the vampire king. The witnesses said that she had tried hard to kill him but he managed to escape. No matter, he thought, the important thing ia that the vampires were their enemies again, which means she was no longer betrothed. And with the coming war, they could pressure her easily.

Now she settled at the head of the table and went straight to the point.

"I'm sure you've already heard about what happened to our messengers," she said, "we are now at war with the vampires and I need to discuss with you what to be done."

One of Kaoru's true supporters spoke first. "My lady, I believe that although we need to prepare for battle, we should not march out soldiers yet. We need to send scouts along the borders and monitor what the vampires are doing." For now no one spoke about what she had done in the church, they all waited for her to explain herself.

Kaoru nodded. Tetsuma was impressed by her calmness, but she seemed to be very stiff, as if a single move might shatter her. His sharp eyes flickered to the boy Soujiro, who hovered protectively behind her.

"I thought about that," Kaoru said, "I just want our men to be ready, if the vampires march we have to meet them, we are not prepared for a siege and we cannot afford to let them into our border villages. We have to fight."

"Well my lady," it was Katashi who spoke now, "I must admit you chose the wrong time to kill those vampires, it's winter now, and you know we can't fight efficiently in the cold, the cold wind will slow our men and make flying difficult."

Tetsuma chose that moment to speak, he was really curious about her reasons. She must have a secret plan, maybe only few selected members had already known about her plans to kill the vampires. Now he gave a soft laugh and said; "you should have acted earlier or perhaps postponed your plan till summer," his amused eyes met her eyes and he was surprised to see anguish in them but he persisted, "though I bet you couldn't bear the idea of being wedded to the bloodsuckers king? But you should have told us of your true intentions before killing them."

"I did not kill them…" Kaoru whispered softly, but they all heard her.

"But my lady, the two squads you took say otherwise," Tetsuma said.

"I did not kill them…"

"Even the avian civilians who were there heard you giving the order."

"I DID NOT KILL THEM!" Kaoru stood abruptly slamming her hands against the table. Her chair had fallen behind her and suddenly the windows shook before they shattered.

The men were silent now, staring at her with wide eyes. And then their eyes moved to Tetsuma and they all gasped at once as they jumped to their feet.

There on Tetsuma's shoulder black flame seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

"Tetsuma!" Katashi cried out a warning.

Tetsuma sprang to his feet and began to beat frantically at his shoulder. "Do something! Put it off!" he began to scream.

"Take your robes off! Now!" Katashi ordered. Tetsuma obeyed and slid out of his robes before throwing them away on the ground. The black flames seemed to grow for a moment, almost reaching the ceiling before the fire extinguished on itself.

And the robes disappeared

There was no burn marks on the floor, no blackness, nothing, the robe disappeared completely as if the black fire had consumed its very essence.

The broken windows were forgotten, all eyes were on the spot where the fire had just been and then those wide eyes turned to Kaoru.

Tetsuma, who was disheveled and breathing hard, stared at her too. But she simply stood there motionless before suddenly turning away and hurrying through the door, which was open now after the soldiers had stormed in. The boy, Soujiro went after Kaoru.

And Tetsuma swore that he saw a smile on Soujiro's lips before he followed Kaoru.

By the time Kaoru entered her room she was trembling so badly.

"Kaoru," Soujiro began but Kaoru cut him off.

"What was that, Souji?" her blue eyes were wide, filled with fear and confusion.

"I…I don't know…it was…"

"What is happening to me?" her voice shook, "it's like…it's like I'm turning into something…some kind of monster."

Soujiro was at her side in two strides. "Don't say that!" he said firmly, "you are not a monster, you are what you are, accept it."

"But…but what am I? I have ordered the killing of innocent civilians, then the black fire, the glass..." Kaoru wrapped her hand around herself, "and I have tried to kill the man I love," a sob rose in her throat and she forgot about the black flames. All the grieve and sadness she kept at leash when she saw the headless messengers broke free now and seemed to choke her. Kaoru gripped the bedpost to support herself but her legs were shaking and anguish was starting to build within her. All she could think about was Kenshin and Tomoe. She had killed her, Kaoru had no doubt that she was dead, the amount of blood on the altar told her so, as did Kenshin's response to her messengers.

Kenshin…

Kaoru placed her hand on her heart and sank to her knees. "Kenshin…" she whispered brokenly.

"Kaoru please," Soujiro knelt beside her, "stop tormenting yourself."

"It hurts," Kaoru couldn't stop crying, "it hurts so much," she clutches her chest and Soujiro gathered her in his arms, rocking her gently.

"Hush Kaoru, shshsh…" he stroke her hair, "things will be ok, I promise, just wait, things will be ok."

"But I lost him, how could I live without my heart?"

"You don't belong with him," Soujiro said as he pulled away slightly, looking into Kaoru's teary eyes. He raised one hand and brushed her tears although more kept sliding, "let me help you, Kaoru, let me make you forget," slowly he leaned towards her and his lips brushed hers, tasting her salty tears before he pressed his mouth on hers.

In the vampire kingdom

Kenshin was in his room, standing by the window, staring out, staring at nothing.

He had taken a large band of his men and went to the church to bury the dead. He had half expected the avians to have some decency and bury them, but no, the bodies of his people were left scattered in the church. The family of those dead had followed Kenshin's men to recognise their loved ones, many of them had lost a son, daughter, father or mother. And the church was filled with the wail of women and curses of men.

Cursing the avians…their enemy

All the dead were buried, all…

Tomoe

Kenshin still could not forget Enishi's face. He and Tomoe were very close, after their parents had died by avian blade, they were all what was left to each other.

And now Enishi had lost his sister because of an avian

Kenshin's hands fisted into tight balls, and he closed his eyes.

I will not think about her, I will not, I will not…

But how could he when at every corner he turned he heard someone cursing her name.

Kaoru…

Traitor…

Murderer….

His mate…

"NO!" Kenshin hissed and slammed the wall with his hands. She was not his mate, she was the enemy and he would make her pay. How could she have fooled him? How could she have murdered those civilians?

Kenshin opened his eyes and brought his wrist up. There were fading scars there, he had tried to cut at her mark, to make it disappear. All the cuts had healed and yet her mark remained.

No matter…

Kenshin would keep this mark as reminder of his foolishness and her betrayal. He would punish her, he would capture her and make her pay for her betrayal. He would…

Kenshin closed his eyes again and felt the wetness on his cheek.

He touched his left cheek and when he looked at his fingers they were smeared with blood. This scar had been bleeding occasionally since that day, which was odd. Kenshin whole body was smooth with no single mark, all his scars heal fast and even the deep wound marks disappear after weeks. But this shallow scar didn't seem to heal.

Kenshin remembered how his father had told him that some scars never heal, that if someone's hate was strong enough the scar he or she inflicts might stay forever.

And Kenshin had felt the extent of her hatred.

Kenshin inhaled deeply, trying to control the pain that was building within him since that day.

He had given her everything, his heart, his soul, and almost given her his life once and this was how she repaid him? And try as he could to summon the hate, to think of ways of hurting her, his heart shied of the very thought of that, his whole being shuddered at the thought of hurting her.

But it didn't matter. His duty was to his people, to Enishi, to Tomoe, and he would step on his heart to avenge them.

But as Kenshin felt more wetness on his cheeks, both cheeks this time, he thought tonight he could grieve, just tonight he could indulge his heart and succumb to the emotions that were choking him.

Only tonight, for after tonight he would crush his own heart, he would bury any ounce of tender emotions he possessed and focus on revenge.

Tonight though I can let it go…

So Kenshin bowed his head and wept, for the first time in many years he cried. He wept for what could have been, he wept for the love he had lost…

Kaoru…

At the opposite side of the far kingdom, at the far east, the mood was totally different for the queen.

"We did it, anata," Queen Yumi said as she squeezed her husband's shoulders gently.

"So I've heard," came Shishio's reply.

"We were lucky that that silly vampire girl gave her the box in public," Hoji, who stood before his king and queen, said cheerfully.

"Indeed," the queen replied, "we are favoured by the gods."

"But that was a risk," Shishio said calmly, but his red eyes were reproaching "if the vampire king had more men, they could have killed her."

"I know," Yumi wrapped her arms around her husband, "but I have already taken a great risk by using that particular spell on her, but Kaoru-chan has a dark side after all, otherwise she would not have reacted strongly."

"She is a midnight child," Shishio said dismissively, "we would have expected that."

"I know but I had my doubts when the mage had examined, her powers seemed so…leashed," the queen said.

"Can we make our move now, Your Majesty?" Hoji said eagerly, "can we bring her here and collar her now?"

"You are being so impatient, Hoji," Yumi smiled.

"But this is our chance, with the coming war they are all distracted."

"They might be, but all are watching, watching what she would do next, we better wait after the war."

Hoji's eyes widened. "But, my lady, she could be killed, we can't lose her."

"You know that she's well protected," Yumi smiled confidently, "besides it's better if we let the two kingdoms destroy one another."

"Indeed," Shishio said with a smirk.

Yumi's smile matched her husband. "Don't worry Hoji, she's far too precious to risk needlessly, a female midnight child, we haven't had one like her in decades, think of all the possibilities."

Hoji rubbed his hands eagerly. "That's all I'm thinking about."

Ok this was a depressing chapter, and what is coming won't be any better :(

I have changed things from my original plan, I've figured that Tomoe's death on itself won't be enough to change Kenshin's heart; it had to be on a bigger scale, so here we are.

War is looming in the horizon, and in the next few chapters, you will hate me, hate Kenshin, hate Enishi, maybe hate the whole story lol no no it's won't be that bad, I mean things will get ugly, but NOT Her Existence-ugly.

So until then, take care ;-)