Castle Ruins

by lossehelin

To a hungry vampire the smell of blood is intoxicating and the taste is pure ecstasy. The hunt is quick and the meal savored. For an older vampire with control such weaknesses no longer rule their existence. When that control is tested, however, by blood that cannot be ignored, weakness is the least of their problems.

38. The Black

Thanks for all the support, and really… it was a little of everything that everyone said. I was burnt out, under pressure, stressed, and I had forgotten to have fun with it. Also, since the story has evolved so much, I had lost sight of my ending and was getting frustrated because I couldn't find a way to get there anymore. So, I put my laptop away. I watched five seasons of Criminal Minds, watched my man beat up some monsters on The Witcher III, and played some Final Fantasy. (Which, by the way, I'm so stoked that they actually announced the official remake of Final Fantasy VII at E3 this year! I'm so excited I can barely stand it!) Then I remembered something really important. This entire story started because of the chateau. That's what inspired me to come up with the story in the first place, and it shouldn't be forgotten, especially now at the end. And so, while it isn't a complete thought, I do have my ending once more in sight with a rather rocky road leading me to it. Thanks, once again to everyone who gave such wonderful advice and support, and I hope that you enjoy the rest of the story!

Disclaimer: Everything that is related to RK does not belong to me.

Chapter XXXVIII: The Black

"He's an idiot!" The indignant tone of Miss Maeda's voice matched the disbelief that Anji felt as he stared after Himura and the thirty or so vampires that were tailing him out the back of the ballroom. One vampire, however, had stayed behind and was even now heading towards Miss Kamiya's location in the bathroom. Although Himura was lucky that there was only one vampire from the third bloodline that was smart enough not to fight him, he was not so lucky in the fact that he had missed the biggest threat present. Not that Anji found it lucky at all that there was now someone positioning themselves to strike at Miss Kamiya while she was vulnerable. One was better than two, but none would have been best with Rikuto there to deal with.

"Agreed. You watch over Kamiya-san. Do not get involved, merely observe and conceal if you are able, and do not let anyone see you." His voice was stern, and Miss Maeda nodded in curt understanding. "I'll have to go after Himura."

"What are you planning to do?"

"All I can do is make sure that no one hears the fight. He'll have to take care of them on his own."

X

A soft squeak and then groan announced someone else's entrance into the bathroom, but Kaoru carefully kept her attention focused on the mirror as she attempted to reapply her lipstick. She wasn't as used to wearing or applying lipstick as Misao was, and she didn't want to look like a child playing dress-up. She especially didn't want it to look like she had just been making out with anyone, either. It was kind of invigorating seeing my lipstick smeared on him, though. It was like I was marking my territory or something. Jeez, I never knew I was so possessive. I guess I really am a jealous woman.

I wonder if he's ever felt like that. I mean, he did leave that really dark hickey on my thigh. The damn thing's still there. No one gets to see it but me. Well, except for the lady who measured me for the dress and Misao, but that's beside the point. Maybe I should leave him a nice little mark in return. Something to remind him when he's alone. The thought brought a little smirk to her lips, and she rolled back the scarlet lipstick and stashed it away in her clutch. Just as she was trying to decide what exactly she was going to do to him, a childish voice spoke directly into her ear.

"Your dress really is pretty." Kaoru's head jerked over to find the young acrobat from the birdcage standing beside her. The fact that she was standing so close to her without Kaoru having noticed was unnerving. "I wish I didn't have to ruin it."

Every instinct in her body screamed danger, and her right hand shot up to repel the girl from ripping her dress. The deflection knocked the girl to one side, but the girl proved to be more agile than she was. Kaoru wasn't expecting the bare foot that suddenly came up from behind the girl as she swiftly shifted her center of gravity forward and down to accommodate for Koaru's hit. The bare foot whapped Kaoru full in the face, but because of the lack of force behind the move it only dazed her. It was enough, though, to keep her from reacting to the fingers that abruptly wrapped around her neck. A second later and the wind was knocked from her as her back slammed into the bathroom wall and she grunted as the tile cracked under her spine. The red clutch hiding her butterfly knife flew from her hands and slid to a stop under the sinks.

Teasingly the girl bit her lip as if pleased and two sharp, extended canines pressed against her chin. She's a vampire! A vampire here! Does that mean there are others?! Sapphire eyes widened as she looked up at the girl and realized just what she was dealing with. She was slender, small and appeared to be young, but because of Kaoru's heritage the girl was a little taller than she was even in her bare feet. Just like the guard in the gallery her tongue slid from her mouth and caressed her upper lip. Oh God, the guard! Kenshin! "You smell so sweet, just like Father said you would. I really just can't help myself."

One of Kaoru's hands automatically wrapped around the girl's wrist as she hefted her from the ground, but when she tried to strike out with her other hand the girl merely pinned her to the wall. Laughter tinkled through the empty bathroom. "You shouldn't fight it. Do you know how many of us there are? Even if that Blood Traitor kills them all, Father will still take you. No one is as strong as Father." A pained look twisted the girl's features. "I must be a good girl and give you to him, but…" A pair of bony hips pressed against her. "That smell of yours, it's so tempting. Almost demanding. It's like you're asking me to take you." The girl's head tilted to one side and she ran her tongue up the side of Kaoru's neck. "I'm surprised you're still alive with a scent like that. I doubt even that Blood Traitor hasn't thought about ripping you apart. Which means that he must really love you. Ahhh." A cute little pouty noise came out of her nose, and she looked genuinely upset. "It's almost a shame that I'm going to have to take you away from him. I heard about how much he loved his wife, and all those things that he did after she died. I am a woman, too, and knowing he was willing to give up his humanity just to avenge her is so beautiful. Any girl would be jealous of a love like that. Just thinking about that poor man losing someone else makes my heart hurt."

Is she talking about Kenshin? Why is she calling him a Blood Traitor? Kaoru's feet kicked futilely, and she grunted and gasped for air around the hand squeezing her throat. "T-then don't… take me…"

A confused expression furrowed her brow, and she tilted her head to one side like an animal. "But I have to. Father wants it, and I have to obey Father."

"You… don't have… to do anything." For some reason Kaoru didn't feel the same level of disgust towards this girl as she had towards Shishio and that guard in the gallery. It was still disturbing and turned over something sour in her stomach, but this girl was different somehow; almost naïve and ignorantly primitive. Whoever the hell this Father was, he had corrupted her, and Kaoru felt pity instead of menace.

"He's my father. I should always obey my father."

Kaoru swallowed hard against the girl's slender fingers. "Then I'm sorry." With her left leg she encircled the girl's waist, and with her other she quickly jabbed her high heel into the back of the acrobat's bare, painted leg. Thank God for Misao and stilettos! A scream rent the air, and for a moment Kaoru was staring into the wide open mouth of her attacker. Her vampire fangs were a touch frightening to see so up close, and all she could think was to not let her find flesh with them otherwise she might not let go.

The hand wrapped around the girl's wrist swiped forward, and Kaoru gouged the talon ring she was wearing across hazel eyes. Red blood sprayed to one side, and with her grip loosened Kaoru braced both feet against the tiled wall and shoved them forward into the floor. The girl hit hard from the force, but Kaoru knew from dealing with Shishio and from Oji's training that she didn't want to try wrestling with a vampire. Not even her strength would help her without the appropriate preparation. Both splayed palms took her weight as she flipped her feet over her head and cartwheeled to a standing position. It wasn't easy in her high heels, though, and she stumbled slightly as she tried to find her footing. Behind her she could feel more than hear the girl gaining her feet, and she spun on the toes of her left leg to throw a hard forward roundhouse kick at the girl's head.

The speed in which she executed the move, even handicapped by the few seconds she had lost gaining her balance, must have surprised the woman because she didn't react as she took the full brunt of her kick square in the temple. It was the first time in Kaoru's life that she had held nothing back in a fight, and it sent the girl flying into the line of stalls where she broke one of the doors, slammed into the back wall, and landed in a heap on the back of a toilet. Heavy breaths full of adrenaline and fear drug desperately into Kaoru's lungs and she stared for a moment too long at the place where the girl had disappeared.

Sadistic, childish giggles tinkled throughout the bathroom and sapphire eyes widened before she spun towards the sinks in afterthought and scrambled for her clutch. "You naughty girl." The taunt was more amused than angry, and then Kaoru found herself drug backwards by her foot. Her hand had just gripped the outer edge of her clutch, and the momentum emptied its contents out onto the floor. "You nearly broke my neck." With her stomach pressed into the tile and the girl at her back, the words hissed straight into her ear. "No human is strong enough for that." Her voice turned abruptly thoughtful. "Does that mean you're really a vampire? But only that Blood Traitor likes other vampire blood." Now there was disgust and confusion in her tone.

It wasn't good that the girl had her back, but luckily Kaoru had already noticed that her attacker had no combat training and was relying on instinct and strength alone. Forcefully, Kaoru pushed herself up to her hands and knees and at the same time rammed backwards with her hips, grabbed the girl's left arm with both hands, and twisted with her shoulder to roll the vampire underneath her. It wasn't a cleanly executed move since she was wearing a dress, but it did get her out of the submissive position and gave her just enough room to ram her elbow into the girl's already bleeding eye. Freed, Kaoru jumped forward to snatch up her butterfly knife, but once again she was stalled by a hand tucked into the back of her low-cut dress. This time she spun onto her back and punched the girl hard in the face. The blow knocked her to the side and cut another deep incision into her features from the talon ring.

To Kaoru's surprise tears started to dribble from the corners of the vampire's eyes and the girl sobbed once from her sprawled position next to Kaoru on the floor. "Why are you being so mean?" She sniffed and wiped at her nose like a child would. "I have to do what Father wants. I'm sorry I got your dress dirty, but I'm sure Father will buy you whatever you want if you ask him nicely." When her hazel eyes saw the blood that smeared onto her hand she started crying harder. "I only wanted a little taste. I wasn't going to hurt you."

Disbelief furrowed Kaoru's features and she scooted herself backwards away from the girl and towards the sinks. "I can't let you do that. I can't let you take me to Father."

"But why not?"

"Because I'm going to stay with Kenshin." Kaoru didn't know who Father was, and at that moment she didn't really care. Trying to reason with this girl was like trying to talk to an infant.

Hazel eyes blinked at her as she sat up too, and an extremely sad expression contorted her face. "You love the Blood Traitor back." She was talking about Kenshin earlier. What the hell does that mean? "It would have been better if you didn't. Father's going to kill him."

"What?!"

The girl nodded and the look in her eye changed to determined. "You'll be better off with Father." Kaoru snatched up the knife at the same time the vampire lunged. With a skillful flip the blade was freed and she slid it smoothly between two ribs on the girl's right side just as her hands wrapped around Kaoru's neck. Instead of a scream the girl's body tensed in shock, and Kaoru felt her stop breathing. Her hazel eyes widened and she parted her mouth to try and gasp, but she appeared unable to as her muscles convulsed. The wound sizzled and smoked as the hunter steel came into contact with vampire flesh and blood, and when Kaoru shoved the girl off of her she watched black blood ooze out of the open wound and onto the floor.

Unsteadily Kaoru gained her feet as the vampire finally began to gasp and heave, and the horror of what she had just done sank in. Vampire or no, she looked like a young woman barely out of her teens and Kaoru had just stuck a knife in her. This time it wasn't in the leg like it had been with Shishio, but in a part of the body that was much more fatal. A hand abruptly wrapped around her ankle, and Kaoru kicked and stumbled backwards to dislodge the girl's desperate grip. Once more her teeth were bared, but the wound had grounded her and she could no longer move or speak.

"What is this?" Kaoru jumped and her head jerked towards the door to find the new occupant standing just within the bathroom. Fear and anxiety tightened her being, and she was suddenly afraid of what was going to happen now. This girl was a vampire, and yet no one was going to believe that here. They would think she had attacked and nearly killed one of the performers. Kaoru was going to go to jail.

Miss Komagata stepped closer and stared down at the vampire on the floor. "Miss Komagata, I can explain… it's not…"

"Have you been marked?" The way she asked froze the air in Kaoru's lungs.

"What do you mean?" The whisper was shaky.

"I was told that it was rare for any one human to see more than one vampire in their lifetime. This is the second one, isn't it? What have done to make them want you?"

A frown of uncertainty and questioning stared at Miss Komagata as she gazed down at the gasping vampire. "You knew about Shishio?"

Automatically Yumi lifted a hand to cover her shoulder as if to hide the telling scar his teeth has left behind. "I didn't know what he was doing, but I knew what he was." Suddenly her eyes were fierce and she jerked a finger down at the girl. "What do we do with her?"

Kaoru bulked at the violence she could read on Miss Komagata's face, and she ducked her eyes away to hide from what she obviously wanted to do. "I can't." The words choked her throat, and she swallowed hard. "I can't kill her. I just can't."

"And why not? She was going to kill you."

"But… I don't think she wanted to. She's different than Shishio. She's not… lustful and violent."

"She attacked you. How is that any different?"

"I'm not lustful and violent!" The words tore from her, and she bit her nails into her palms in an attempt to stall her shaking. "I won't do it! It's just wrong!"

The aggressiveness on Yumi's features melted off, and she had the decency to look ashamed. "I see." Yumi's green eyes closed and envisioned the girls that Shishio had possibly tortured, and could clearly see this girl as one of his victims. She could clearly see the girl as herself. If he had forced such a change on her, would she be like this? "Fine. What do you want to do?"

"H-help me stop the bleeding."

X

The Fourth Progenitor watched from the shadows of the building as his second child killed with precision, grace, and speed. It was the first time he had ever been close enough to watch Himura fight, and he had to admit that it was far less bloody than the rumors had made it out to be. Himura took their lives without one wasted effort on his part. They were all clean kills, and it was quite obvious that Hiko had trained him well. Then again, four hundred years had no doubt given him plenty of time to perfect his killing technique.

Without turning his head, Hoji knew that there was another bystander across the way from him. He was a vampire of the first bloodline, and his gift of stealth was helping to keep the partygoers within from noticing the battle. Hoji was pretending to ignore him because it was obvious that the man was also masking his own presence to keep from getting drawn into the fight. Hoji had learned to see through that gift a long time ago, but he was not about to let anyone else know that.

The bloodthirsty children of the third bloodline were thinning in number, and the interesting weapon that Himura had smuggled into the party slashed smoothly through their ranks as if the fight were merely a dance already scripted and rehearsed. The remaining few were losing their nerve. The only reason they had survived as long as they had anyway was because they had let the others attack first. They were the cowards, and they would die far quicker than their more bold counterparts.

One of them snuck away while Himura was busy with the last two, and Hoji shifted his weight as the idiot ran straight at him. Although he was wearing a white suit and all vampires could see well in the dark, Hoji had also learned long ago that he could appear quite inconspicuous if he wanted. It was a mere trick, however, and not a real gift, and once the craven vampire was nearly on top of him he finally took notice.

"S-sir. H-have you come to kill the Blood Traitor? I'm sure you could if you…" The words died as Hoji nonchalantly lifted a hand and snapped the man's neck. In such a desperate state, it was no doubt the coward's intention to get to Miss Kamiya before Himura could stop him. Hoji was not about to add to Miss Kamiya's struggle if he could help it. At the same moment Himura dispatched the two that he was dealing with, and then the presence of the other bystander disappeared quickly back into the ballroom. It was obvious he did not want Himura finding out about him by accident.

Cautiously Himura paced back into the building with his weapon at the ready. He had taken notice of Hoji long before, and Hoji was impressed. He had expected his child's awareness to be sharp, though. He had not survived as long as he had without some skill, after all, what with the entire third bloodline wishing for his death. Golden eyes pierced the black gloom, and Himura only stopped once the body of the dead vampire at Hoji's feet was separating them.

The weapon at his side was dripping with burnt and blackened vampire blood. It appeared to be a katana with a bamboo handle, but there was no way that Himura would have been able to smuggle a full katana into the masquerade. As he looked closer he could see divisions in the metal, and it was clear that this was meant to be a stealth weapon. While it wouldn't be as strong as a real katana, it appeared to be sturdy enough to get the job done. This weapon had been designed specifically for such a likelihood, and Hoji appreciated how cautious Himura was being with Miss Kamiya's safety.

"You appear to have missed one." Golden eyes didn't even flicker from their heavy stare to glance at the body, and Hoji folded his hands neatly behind him.

"It appears so." Kenshin's features darkened, and there was something untamed and dangerous about him. "Perhaps I have missed two." The makeshift katana in his hand turned quickly to angle the blade upwards, but Hoji didn't even flinch.

"Perhaps." The statement was truer than Himura actually knew, which was why he didn't have much time. A long breath pulled into his chest, and he let it out slowly as if he had all the time in the world. "Is there something you would like to ask me, Himura-san?"

A long moment later Kenshin flicked his wrist, and the black blood decorating his sword splattered onto the ground. "Can you smell her?"

"The way you do?" The question appeared to discomfort Himura and Hoji inclined his head in apology. "I have a feeling that no one smells her quite like you do. But yes, I can smell that blood of hers that makes her so special. I am, after all, the father of your bloodline."

Something black contorted his face, and Hoji was forced to step back to avoid Himura's attack. "Rikuto." The name hissed with such disgust and rage that Hoji was at once saddened for his brother and empathetic to Himura's reaction. "You will die right here."

Hoji stepped forward faster than his child could react and snapped his fingers around Himura's wrist. "To satisfy your need for revenge, or to protect Kamiya-san?" He didn't immediately deny the error Himura had made with his identity. Instead, he wanted to know his true motive.

The speed in which Hoji had executed his counter had surprised Kenshin, and at the same time it angered him. "To kill every vampire that poses a threat to her."

"I see. You are, indeed, the frame that protects the masterpiece." Hoji's hand turned and Kenshin's body was forced to twist at an awkward angle in consequence. "What about yourself, Himura-san? Do you not pose a threat to her?" The barest crease of indecision furrowed Kenshin's brow, but Hoji offered him no apology this time.

"What right do you have to question my motives? How many hundreds of thousands of people have you and your children murdered in the name of bloodlust?"

Another step forward forced Himura back, and Hoji's voice lowered. "You are mistaken, Himura-san. My children have only ever murdered other vampires."

The lie was so obvious that Kenshin scowled. He was either insane, which he had always suspected Rikuto to be, or there was something that he had missed. "What kind of sick and twisted game are you trying to play with me? The third bloodline has done nothing but ravage mankind like a plague."

"Yes, that is unfortunately true, which is why this is not a game, Himura-san. To my relief, the children of my bloodline are very respectable and responsible with the strength I have passed on to them. I have never felt disgraced or ashamed of them as their father."

"Your bloodline?" The question was full of more disbelief and sarcasm than actual inquiry.

"Himura-san, you are a child of the fourth bloodline. Not the third." Something akin to desperation battled with the look of intense rage on Himura's face, and Hoji could see the struggle Himura had gone through just comparing himself to Rikuto's other children. He had always hated being a vampire, but he had loathed being a vampire of the third bloodline. Dangling such a possibility in front of him was at once dangerous and rewarding. He would not believe him right away, even if he wanted to.

"The man who made me was turned by the Third Progenitor himself. Was that not you, Rikuto?"

"I apologize, Himura-san. I am not the man you have been hunting. I am not Rikuto. Although, I did turn Hiko-san, and just like you, he has always hated me for it." The rage had returned to Himura's face, and he attempted to struggle against the hold he had on him. Hoji, however, had a stronger grip than even Hiko, and the way he had manipulated him made it impossible to counter. Hoji huffed air from his nose impatiently. "If I were Rikuto, do you think I would lie to you about it? Do you think I am afraid to tell you the truth?" Another twist of Kenshin's arm dropped him to his knees, and for the first time since his fight against Hiko, Kenshin felt fear. There was no one alive that was this strong. Was this what it was like to fight a progenitor? If so, did he even stand a chance of surviving?

"Just what the hell are you trying to say to me?!"

"That if I were Rikuto and I had you in such a vulnerable position, I would not hesitate to kill you. But I have no desire to kill you. No, Himura-san, I desire your assistance." Hoji finally released him and Kenshin hurriedly put space between them. As if unconcerned, Hoji paced his way past him and to the open door where the rest of the dead vampires were strewn about. "You see, Rikuto is my brother, but even he doesn't know just what I am. He believes that he created me when we were children, but the truth is that I was born a vampire, just like he was. Unlike him, however, my blood isn't unstable or tainted by bloodlust." His grey eyes cast a glance over his shoulder, and he studied Himura's reaction to this declaration. "My children remain sane, while his succumb to paranoia and an insatiable need to feed."

Kenshin remained silent for a long time. "Let's say I believe you. Just what is it that you want from me?"

"Truthfully. Nothing that you are not already taking care of." Hoji turned and started walking back into the building towards the ballroom. "I want for you to protect Kamiya-san, but I needed to be sure that your motive for doing so wasn't going to place her in danger."

"My motives are none of your concern." The growl was too defensive, and Hoji dead stopped to turn a fierce glare upon his child.

"Your motives could kill her. Has that occurred you?"

Kenshin swallowed anxiously at such a truth being voiced aloud, but his eyes remained steady. "If there is only one thing that I am certain of, it is that I would rather fall upon my own sword than hurt her."

"I see." Hoji's head inclined briefly, and he began walking again before he allowed a small grin to finally pull at his lips. I'm glad this at least is working. Better than I had ever imagined. I knew he would never hurt her because of who he is, but I do believe that he has fallen in love with her. "I am relieved by your commitment, but you shouldn't be so quick to act upon it. Killing yourself would no doubt hurt Miss Kamiya more than you would like." Gracefully one of his hands waved through the air next to him. "Now that we understand one another, I will remove myself from distracting you. And as proof of our relation, I offer you Takani-sensei. She will be able to provide more than enough."

Megumi's involved? Does that mean the Council knows? Irritation overtook his anger. Kenshin was tired of being used by the higher-ups of the Council, and as far as he could see Hoji was no better. If what he had said was true, he had only supplied it because the timing had been convenient for him. Kenshin was still being used. "If this fourth bloodline is real, how many children are there?"

Briefly Hoji glanced over his shoulder, but he didn't stop walking. "Two; that I myself have made, and that was two more than I had ever planned on. One more was made from the first. The second; now she was a true wonder. She gave birth to her child."

"That's impossible."

"Not so, it seems, but I am not qualified to explain it to you, nor do I really have the time."

Hoji was nearly out of sight when Kenshin called after him again in a distrustful and frustrated voice. "Why is Kaoru so important to you?"

Briefly the taller man paused in the doorway, and Hoji sighed impatiently. "Himura-san, please. Are you really so concerned with finding your own answers that you would leave Kamiya-san in such danger? I would beg you to focus your attention upon the woman you have vowed to protect; for she has been fighting for her life this entire time."

X

About halfway through patching up the vampire, the girl had decided to get violent again. Fortunately she had been too weak to really put up a fight, and Kaoru had subdued her with a well-placed knock to the head. Actually, since she was a vampire, Kaoru had been forced to ram her skull against the side of one of the stalls which had left a pretty impressive indentation in the metal. She was unconscious now, but there was no telling how long she would stay that way. Kaoru was hoping to be clear of the masquerade by the time the girl woke up, and she had advised Miss Komagata to do the same.

The mess and the blood had been cleaned up with the fancy towels that had been folded neatly on top of the countertop with the sinks. Kaoru was a little upset to find that her dress now had splotches of blue paint on it, but she was hopeful that the cleaners would be able to get it out. Her shoes and the knife were carefully wiped clean of blood, and the door to the broken stall was resituated in front of the slumped over vampire positioned on the toilet. The scene wouldn't hold up against careful scrutiny, but it would buy them enough time to get out of there without suspicion.

"Are you ready?"

"Yeah." Kaoru clutched the butterfly knife in her palm and snatched up her bag. In the back of her mind she was worried about Kenshin. She was fairly certain that the girl's attack and monologue meant that there were other vampires at the masquerade. What if Kenshin had gone to confront that guard or something? What if Kenshin had already realized and had decided to take care of them? It sounded like something that he would do without telling her, and she was upset about him placing himself at such risk without asking for her help. After all, she wasn't even sure if he was armed. Once they were out of there, and she was sure he was unharmed, they were going to have a talk. Which was irritating, because she had been hoping to do far less talking when they got back to the hotel. Sex suddenly didn't seem as important, though.

Yumi took a breath before she unlocked the door, and then she strolled out of the bathroom like she was the queen of England; completely cool and nonchalant. Kaoru was pretty sure she wasn't going to be able to pull off the same quality of calm, but the butterfly knife in her hand gave her confidence. She half expected Kenshin to be waiting for her out in the hallway, like he had said he would be, but it appeared that he wasn't done with whatever was detaining him. Her anxiety spiked at what that could mean, and her chest hurt the entire way down the hall. They emerged seconds later in the space between the outer wall and the line of large columns separating them from the ballroom. Far to their right was the large entrance doors, and directly in front of them was the host of the party.

Miss Komagata's chin lifted, and she greeted Mr. Udo in that haughty tone that Kaoru was used to. "Good evening, Mr. Udo." She turned to slip on by him, but he didn't seem to care about her presence as he cut Kaoru off from following.

"Miss Kamiya." Something unfriendly tensed the area around his eyes and darkened their steel grey color. It looked quite menacing from behind his silver skull mask. "I have been looking for you." Irritation made his hands shake, and he ground his jaw. He didn't understand why he hadn't been able find her. Something had shielded her from him, and for those ten or so minutes it had been like her existence had been wiped from the face of the Earth. Then, just as abruptly, she had reappeared again.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Udo, but I was in the lady's room." The statement was distracted, and Kaoru's features were a little vulnerable in her current state of worry. She didn't have time to focus on dealing with this man right now. She wanted to find Kenshin, and she wanted to get them both out of there.

"Is that right?" The tone of his voice almost sounded like he didn't believe her, and Kaoru frowned. Was he actually calling her a liar? What kind of creep accused a girl of lying about using the toilet?

"Yeah, that's right." Without warning her voice turned confrontational in a flash, and Yumi touched her shoulder. "That's what the bathroom's there for, isn't it?"

"Miss Kamiya, calm down." Yumi whispered the words vehemently at her, and then turned on Mr. Udo with a cool smile. "Was there something that you needed, Mr. Udo? Miss Kamiya and I are quite worn out and would like to retire for the evening."

Grey eyes narrowed at Yumi, and then flicked away from her as if she wasn't worth his time. Once again they focused on Kaoru with that same intensity as when they had first been introduced, but Kaoru was too worked up to be affected this time. "My cape." One of his gloved hands tossed up the bottom edge. "You ruined it with your champagne earlier. How are you going to repay me for it?"

A tight smile forced its way onto her mouth, and Kaoru spoke through her clenched teeth. "How much is it worth?"

"It's priceless, my dear girl. I had it made from rare white tiger and white lion fur."

He had rare animals killed just to feed his vanity! I knew this guy was an asshole, but I didn't realize he was this big of jerk! "Then bill me for the cleaning."

"You will come work for me instead." It was more of a demand than a question, as if it was his right to command her to drop everything and do as he wished.

"Excuse me?"

Yumi started to laugh. "I'm afraid that isn't going to happen, Mr. Udo. Miss Kamiya is quite attached to her employment with Mr. Himura, and if she ever decides to leave her position with him the girl will come work for me." Sapphire eyes darted a look at her, but Yumi's expression was sharp to keep her quiet.

Mr. Udo ignored her again, but there was a telling sign of distaste in his eyes that said he was tiring of her interference. "I've already spoken with Mr. Himura. If you give him your resignation tonight, you will have a job waiting for you on Monday."

There was something a little off about the man that Kaoru couldn't quite put her finger on. He wasn't as cool as he had been at the beginning of the night. In fact he seemed a little more forceful and abrupt. Not that she had liked him to begin with, but he wasn't selling his job offer as well as he thought he was. Though perhaps she was just overthinking it. Kaoru knew how she was when she got irritated, and she was way past irritated.

"You will have to forgive me, Mr. Udo, but I have a lot of work waiting for me back at the chateau and I don't leave anything unfinished." The words were a little snide, but Kaoru was trying to control her temper. He was holding her up from finding Kenshin. What if he was fighting and needed her help?

"That pile of rubble is a vanity project." The easy way he dismissed the chateau offended her, and it was suddenly a little more personal than it had been before. "What I have in mind for you is much more suited for you to show off your skills."

Kaoru snapped back without pause or thought. "That vanity project has more to offer than any individual masterpiece ever could. My skills are tested and honed every day that I go to work, and I will not pass up the perfect opportunity to learn from one of the best restoration experts in the world just to work with an egotistical peacock like you!" Kaoru stepped forward, and the fierceness in her actions forced Mr. Udo to step back. He didn't seem too pleased about it either.

A light chuckle came from Yumi and she crossed her arms. "If you were hoping to win her over, Mr. Udo, you shouldn't have bad-mouthed the chateau. Haven't you read the magazine article yet?"

"I've read and seen plenty. I don't think those ruins keep you there at all. Mr. Himura does." Yumi frowned and Kaoru lifted her chin.

"Think what you want, Mr. Udo. I don't believe my motives are any of your business."

"Hmph." Mr. Udo drew himself up to his fullest height and stared down the nonexistent nose of his skull mask. A moment later his attitude shifted from irritated to arrogant and his gloved fingers caressed the line of her jaw down to her chin. Kaoru tilted her head slightly away, but didn't protest except to glare in challenge. "Does he make you feel needed? Is that what you like? He said what I had to offer wouldn't make you happy. I don't believe he understands just what it is I'm offering, though, and neither, I think, do you." The silver skull mask leaned closer until they were eye to eye, and his voice dropped to a seductive whisper. "I need you, Miss Kamiya. There is an important project that I must finish, and I cannot do it without you." His hand smoothed back up her jaw and touched the ruby earring hanging from her left earlobe. "I have been working towards this goal my entire life. Would you truly dismiss my dream so easily? Would you smash it to pieces merely because of a chateau that will be there for many years to come? What I need from you is much more pressing a matter, and will offer much more of a challenge than those ruins. The chateau can wait. Mr. Himura can wait. I'm sure if we talk to him reasonably he will understand the situation and let you come work for me for a time. I promise I won't… completely drain the life out of your skillful hands. Does this sound agreeable?"

Lowered sapphire eyes lifted to pierce through his own grey, and her entire being appeared deceptively calm. "Mr. Udo, if you do not remove your hand from me immediately I promise your cape won't be the only thing ruined." The knife in her hand was concealed, but the heavy weight of it was too tempting. If she had been forced to fight a man like him instead of the young girl in the bathroom, at that moment she felt that she would have had no problem finishing the job.

"Excuse me, Mr. Udo." Kaoru jerked her head to the side at the sound of Kenshin's deep and angry voice, and she was so relieved to see him unharmed that she momentarily dismissed her own situation. Oh thank God. Rikuto, on the other hand, barely put space between them. "Is there a reason why you are harassing my employee?

"Such a strong accusation, Mr. Himura. I was merely stressing the importance of her decision concerning my job offer. I think I have left quite an impression on the young lady." His eyes swung back to Kaoru, as if he couldn't keep them off of her, and she returned her attention to him with a scowl.

"I don't believe there is any need for you to touch her just to emphasize a point." Kenshin smacked upward at the hand that was just pulling away from Kaoru with a precise swipe of his left hand, but then proceeded to ignore the host in favor of her. "Are you alright?" Hearing Hoji claim that her life had been in danger had frightened him, but to find her here like this was the last thing that he had expected. Was the other man merely playing with him, or had he sent him back just to intervene with the job offer? It would be best, after all, if she stayed under his employ. Still, she was hardly fighting for her life.

"I'm fine." She darted him a quick look but didn't linger for fear of creating suspicion.

A heavy chuckle echoed hollowly from behind the host's mask, and hard amber irises finally focused steadily on him. "As I thought. She really is your woman." Kenshin's features went blank, but Kaoru cast a side look at Yumi. "How disappointing." With an angry yank the cord holding his cloak in place was untied and he all but threw the cloak at Kaoru. Its weight caused her to stumble. "No cleaner would know how to remove that stain without ruining it. You'll clean it yourself and have it back to me tomorrow or I'll make sure everyone knows the real reason you've been successful." The silver scepter still clutched in his other hand slammed against the floor like a king passing judgment. Except the action had been full of rage. "Prove to me you actual have some skill and I'll think about keeping this to myself."

Mr. Udo turned on his heel and marched away from them, and Kaoru was so conflicted she felt like tearing his cape to pieces. How was she supposed to focus on anything when it felt like the world was caving in on her? Vampires were trying to kill her, Kenshin was trying to kill them without letting her know about it, and to top everything off her unethical relationship with her boss had just been called out and used as blackmail! Luckily just the feel of Kenshin's hand on her back calmed her enough to breathe, but when she glanced over at Yumi again she found the woman's green eyes staring in disapproval. Was it not enough that her life was being threatened? Now her career was in danger too?

"Shall we leave, Miss Kamiya?" A simple nod was all she could manage. "If you are on your way out as well, Miss Komagata, please allow us to escort you."

"Of course."

As they exited the building and out into the open night air, Kaoru found that she just couldn't relax. They were leaving, and hopefully that meant she was going to get some answers out of Kenshin soon. In the meantime, before any of that happened, she needed to calm down. Her leftover adrenaline was making her twitchy, and in consequence it jumbled her thoughts. Distractedly she watched the limo they had arrived in roll slowly up behind Miss Komagata's cream colored Rolls Royce. Only a few more moments and they would be alone and she could stop worrying about the masquerade and start worrying about getting Kenshin to talk. That's all she needed to focus on for now.

"Thank you for the escort Mr. Himura." The valet opened the door for Miss Komagata, but the woman paused for a moment to level her still disapproving green irises on them. "A word of advice." Kenshin stiffened next to her, but Kaoru waited almost resignedly for what was about to be said. "Either don't, or don't hide it." Sapphire eyes blinked in shock as Miss Komagata tossed her head. "People only care if it's a secret or a scandal. Don't let it be either. Goodnight, Mr. Himura, Miss Kamiya."

A slightly squeaky noise of disbelief rubbed high at the back of Kaoru's throat, but Kenshin merely sighed. "Everything will be fine, Miss Kaoru. So please don't worry." His voice sounded so normal and controlled that it made her frown, and Kaoru tossed him a glare that caused him to blink in surprise. How could he act so completely natural when everything was far from being ordinary? And just how many times had he fooled her with that calm voice of his? Now that they were alone she had so many things to say to him, and a few of them were not pleasant. She restrained herself, however, because they were still in the presence of the valet and the driver.

The door to limo was popped open, and Kaoru broke off her glare only to climb into the back seat. Kenshin climbed in promptly afterwards, and it was his turn to frown at the large white cape that she had dropped on the seat in between them. The barrier was twice as annoying because of who it belonged to, and now that the threat of the vampires from the masquerade had been taken care of, Kenshin was able to focus all of his irritation firmly on Mr. Udo. The man was too persistent, and he had a feeling that tonight wasn't going to be the last time they had to deal with him. They would need to figure out a good strategy on how to handle him, especially now that he was fully convinced that they were in a relationship. Perhaps Miss Komagata had been correct. Perhaps being open about it would take the force out of his threat.

Suddenly Kaoru's hand was fisted into his sleeve and he jerked because the action had been far quicker than he was expecting. Kaoru didn't move this fast, or at least he had never seen her move this fast. "What the hell were you thinking Kenshin?" The question was a forced whisper, and his eyes darted toward the front of the limo where the driver had just glanced curiously in the rearview mirror. Quite deliberately he turned away from her to reach over with his free hand and he pressed a button that was on his other side. A dark shield of glass raised between them and the driver, and with a soft suction of sound they were successfully cut off in their own private area.

"I apologize, Miss Kaoru." With one hand he undid the tie on the mask he was wearing to free his face, and a long, slow breath pushed through his nose. "I was merely worried. Mr. Udo made it very clear to me that he only invited you to the function tonight because he had plans to offer you a job. I'm afraid I told him that I had no intention of giving you up. To him or anyone else." It was that same overwhelming and immediate response he felt every time someone either threatened to take her like Shishio and Kanryuu had or stated their intentions to coax or drive her away like Yumi had. His obsession and need for her couldn't allow it. His respect for her and her skill wouldn't allow it. His heart didn't even want to contemplate it. She had to belong to him. To him and no one else. "I promise I will make sure nothing untoward comes of my actions."

"Kenshin." His name was firm and she jerked on his arm from where she had a hold of the cuff of his sleeve. "How many were there?" His head tilted sharply towards her, and his violet eyes were at once surprised and wary. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped or something!"

"Kaoru…" His voice was a soft warning, but it only made her angrier.

"Don't lie! Jesus, Kenshin, there's so much blood!" Finally his eyes focused on the sleeve that she was clutching onto, and for the first time he noticed that the entire cuff of his once pure white shirt was now a solid black. What was much more alarming, however, was the fact that his cufflink was covered too. Almost desperately his free hand undid the cufflink from his sleeve, and at the same time he found that his right cuff and link were in the same condition. It too was removed and he frantically tried to wipe the black blood from their beautiful metal on the stomach of his shirt. Alarmingly the scarlet red of his initials appeared stained and would not fully come clean.

Kaoru watched his frantic actions and felt sorrow and a touch of fear. "Why didn't you say anything to me if you knew? I-I didn't need to use the bathroom that badly! It would have saved us so much trouble if you would have just told me!" She was pleading now, because she was sick of having to tip-toe around it. They both knew about vampires, and it appeared that both of them were either hated or wanted by vampires. It was just too much to ignore anymore. It needed to be out in the open.

"Saved us?" The cufflinks were pocketed and his sharp eyes turned instead on her. "Saved you from what?" Little details that he hadn't noticed before were suddenly jumping out at him; the well-hidden dent in her mask, the paint on her dress, and her once perfectly manicured nails were stained a dull grey. "Were you attacked? Are you hurt?" He reached for her across the fur cape between them, but she didn't want this to be turned into something about her. Hurt and a touch of impatience furrowed his brow when she ducked away from his hands, but he didn't immediately follow.

"I'm fine. Dammit Kenshin! I can handle myself, you know! It… it was frightening," her eyes ducked briefly, "but I'm not helpless!" Sapphire eyes lifted barely a half second later with determination and she tried not to allow the concern she could read on his face affect her. "It was one of the acrobats. She cornered me in the bathroom, and she said… things… and I knew there were others. I just knew that's what you were doing, and I was so mad that you didn't think you could say anything to me!"

"Kaoru. Please, are you hurt?" Those calloused hands that she loved reached again, and she didn't pull away this time. The mask on her face was quickly undone at the back, and he frowned at the bright red friction marks left from the metal. A partially imprinted design of fire now decorated the right side of her forehead and across her right eyebrow, but it was no doubt the worst of her injuries. If she were bleeding, he would have been able to tell long before. "Did you finish her off?"

The fierceness in her gaze muted, and her stern mouth pulled downward. "I-I couldn't. I'm sorry."

He sighed, and his body relaxed. "I see. That's nothing to be ashamed of."

She trembled as the situation finally became real, and two tears slid down her cheeks. Stubbornly her features fought to be angry, but her words were heartbreaking. "Why can't you trust me, Kenshin?" Finally his expression softened, and she wiped at her face as if she had been betrayed by her own body.

The words settled heavily on his heart. He had asked that of his wife many times after her death. If she had only trusted him, he was certain that she would not have died. So when he had learned of Shishio's harassment of Kaoru it had frightened him. Why hadn't she trusted him? What might have happened if he hadn't answered that call and learned the truth behind her trip to Washington? He had demanded that she trust him then, because he feared for her safety and wished to protect her. She meant so much to him, and he didn't want to lose her too.

Every second he didn't respond made her heart ache, and then out of the corner of her eye she watched his eyes close. "What do you want to know?"

It was easy to tell how reluctant the question was, and Kaoru's features trembled. "She said she was going to give me to 'Father.' She said that he wanted me for something, and that there was something special about the way I smelled. Who's Father?" She paused momentarily, and then hastily added. "And who's the Blood Traitor?"

The atmosphere in the car abruptly shifted, and she stiffened under the suddenly intense amber stare of the man she was in love with. "What?"

"She said that the… Blood Traitor was…" Sapphire eyes ducked his in avoidance. "… in love with me. She said that they were going to take me away from… and that it was sad because he had already lost someone else that he loved…" Tentatively she peeked up through her lashes. "Was she talking about you? Why would they call you something like that?"

The silence this time was more dangerous than heartbreaking, and they did nothing but study each other's expression for a long time. Kenshin looked so tense she feared he might shatter if she tried to touch him, and while she couldn't blatantly read anything on his features she could tell that he was undecided. Otherwise he wouldn't be taking his time about answering. Finally a long shaky breath pulled in through his nose, and she bit her lip to wait for his reply. "Kaoru." Briefly he looked down at the cape still situated between them, and one side of his face twitched with something akin to disgust. Impatiently his hand slipped through the careless folds in the fur and tossed it towards the other side of the limo so that there was no longer anything between them. He barely paid attention to the action, and he was already speaking even as his hand touched something solid and metal. "I need you to…"

A sharp hiss cut off his words and he retracted his hand from the still airborne fur cape with a violent jerk. The butterfly knife Kaoru had clutched so carefully in her right hand during their escape from the bathroom had been forgotten the moment they had entered the limo. Instead it had patiently laid in wait until the moment it was once again discovered between the folds of soft fur. With a loud clunk it hit the floor, and the fine layer of skin it had burned off of Kenshin's hand sizzled and turned black on its surface.

X

A/N: As you all know, I've had to rethink my story and it's been very irritating and hard for me, since I had already had the entire story outlined from start to finish on paper and in my head. Just so you know how much different this has turned out to be, this part right above was not supposed to happen for several chapters and it was going to happen in a much different way. Which isn't exactly a bad thing, because with the way the story is evolving, it actually fits much better here. Things were getting too drawn out, and I had to make a lot of sacrifices that I'm sad about, but I don't want my story to be boring. Please continue to keep me on track, and I hope you will stick with me. I'm still learning a lot.

On another note, I wanted to take a little poll. By now, everyone should know what my intimate scenes consist of. Instead of physical descriptions, I tend to focus more on what they're feeling and the emotions. From here on out, would you prefer that I skip completely over the more hot and heavy intimate moments and focus solely on plot to get the story finished? I really only have one or two moments in mind, but I just thought I'd ask your opinion as the reader. Are they tiresome at this point, or would you still be happy to read them?

Once again, thank you for reading and please leave a review. In the next chapter, the limo ride gets a little tense, and our two main characters must come to terms with their decisions.