Reposession
By Tesuka- chan
Chapter Two
Rain
The rain began to fall.
The dark figure paid it no heed as he analyzed the situation.
His mission was to check out a club that was rumored to be a vampire lair. It was easy enough. He was supposed to verify the rumor and report back to base. And now here he was, standing outside on the corner of a street not too far away from the entrance of the flashy club: The Black Rose.
Oddly enough, the place was very popular for humans. He glanced at the bouncers and at long line of fashionable men and women waiting to enter. For a vampire lair, this one's very conspicuous. Well, he'll just have to find out if it really is one. He felt his wooden sword inside his trench coat and started towards the entrance.
Two women arrived at the door before he did. The purple- haired one smiled and nodded at the bouncer, who didn't even flinch. But he apparently knew her and let her and her quiet friend in. They were quickly lost inside the neon lights and the loud music inside.
Violet eyes widened as Kenshin stared at the closed metal door in front of him. There was something oddly familiar about that other girl. Her cap shadowed more than half of her face and her long, blue- black hair jutted out from its hole. His heart pounded painfully against his chest, as he realized what was bothering him.
She looked like her.
No, she just reminds him of her. The hair and the shape of the face was uncannily the same, but it's not her… it can't be her. Is it? He had not heard anything about her since – he cut out his thoughts. But… it wouldn't hurt to be sure. He took a few uncertain steps towards the doors, his hands unusually clammy and trembling, his breathing short and nervous…
"Pass?," a low voice commanded.
Bouncers. The club. The mission. He couldn't believe he forgot about everything just because he saw a girl who looked like her. He shook his head to put things in perspective. Concentrate. You can't go on like this… this is short on being obsessed and demented. Think of the mission.
"Hey buster, d'ya have a pass? If ya don't, ya can't enter."
He then looked straight at the bouncer, who was looking like he was ready to explode. "No, I don't," he said. "But you're still going to let me in." Amethyst eyes glowed with a hint of amber.
The face of the huge bouncer faltered, and then he mechanically moved back to let him in. Kenshin stepped inside as the door behind him closed with a resounding *thunk*.
He surveyed the room.
It was a party hell hole. Colors were flashing everywhere, red and black predominant. The place was designed like a huge steel cave with different levels. The middle part was the dance floor, where a lot of sweaty bodies moved and swayed in time to the beat. On his left was the bar, and on his right were a couple of tables. He headed straight towards the bar.
"What'll you have?"
"Nothing."
The brawny bartender raised an eyebrow. "Then you can't stay here."
"Just give me a beer, then."
A bottle was shoved towards him and he retreated towards a dark corner of the bar. This was the perfect spot. He was practically invisible and he can observe everything from his position. He sipped the cold, bitter beer. He glanced around, taking details in. It was very dark, with the exception of neon lights, and the whole place was a huge music machine. The people here were all beautiful, in an eerie, cosmic way. He glanced around for the fifth time… and then he saw her again.
The girl with the cap was heading towards the back of the club with the purple- haired woman. He had this wild impulse to follow her. He clenched his teeth instead and stayed put. What was the use? There's really no reason for him to go after her. No reason at all.
But the nagging instinct inside him would not stop. And he had this… suspicion that if there really are vampiric tendencies in this club, it would be at the back where all the underground stuff usually happens. So if he goes in the back, in effect he wouldn't be following that woman. He will be just doing his job.
Right. Just doing what I am tasked to do.
He ignored the odd pulling feeling inside his chest. It was time to work – work is all that matters now. He finished his beer and walked towards the back.
He entered a dark, silent, corridor upon going through a door. There was no one in sight. He followed it, making sure not to make any noise. There were many doors, but he did not attempt to open one of them. Instead, he headed straight towards the door at the end of the hallway. He quietly turned the knob. He opened the door, entered the room, and closed the door behind him with a whisper.
In front of him, there was a small hallway, and beyond that, red light filtered through a screen and a curtain of beads that lead to another room. He leaned beside the wall and listened through the opening. A peal of girlish laugher rang throughout the room.
"Don't worry! It's really fun to be a vamp once you get used to it, honey. The blood, the power… the life. The whole thing's intoxicating!"
A new recruit?
"With a great leader, we shall be a new, powerful race that will conquer the human world!! Hey, maybe even the universe, hmm? How about it?" the voice giggled, but her companion remained silent.
He heard liquid pouring into an empty cup.
"C'mon, lighten up dear. I'll help you in any way I can. I can see you have great potential. I know you'll be a valuable asset for the organization. Hmmm… you'll probably be able to help me get under Shishio's skin." She laughed gaily again.
Shishio. Perfect.
Kenshin decided that he had enough information. This woman is probably one of Shishio's henchmen (or henchwomen, for that matter) who was recruiting renegade vampires. They were building up an organization that may be a threat to the struggling order of peace. He had to report this immediately.
He started to turn around, but stopped abruptly. There was just this burning curiosity inside of him… pulling him… I need to see her. If there is a possibility… I need to see.
As quiet as a mouse, Kenshin inched his way to the edge of the screen. From his position, he could just make out the form of the silent woman. He peered closer and realized that she wasn't wearing the cap anymore, and her back was facing him. Then she was moving her head, turning towards the side, her profile starting to take shape…
The red glare of the spotlight blinded his eyes.
The hem of his coat accidentally stroked the beads by the screen, making them move and tinkle.
"What? Who's there?"
Kenshin quickly retreated, pressing himself against the wall. He listened. Nothing. He decided quickly. He'll just have to attack them then, head on. He turned towards the opening by the screen and with a swift flick of his wrist, he cut the string of beads.
No on was there.
He narrowed his eyes. They were gone. Just like that. He looked around the room and saw a door on the side. There. He strode over to it and opened it. It was a brick wall. Puzzled, he suddenly sensed something behind him and so turned around quickly.
"Well. I'm flattered that the great Battousai the slasher is actually here. Or should I say… Battousai the compassionate?" The purple- haired woman was leaning on the screen, arms crossed on her chest and a grin plastered on her face. "I hear that you don't kill anyone nowadays… such a pity. It takes the zest out of hunting, don't you think?" Her grin grew wider, and ivory fangs began to grow.
Kenshin vaguely registered that the other one wasn't around anymore. Narrowing amethyst eyes flecked with gold, he held up his sword and stayed silent, concentrating on the woman in front of him.
"Gosh, what's with the silent types these days?" she rolled her eyes. "Okay then, let me introduce myself; I'm Kamatari of the scythe. I know… I don't really need one but I find it quite satisfying to behead irritating vampire hunters." Seemingly out of nowhere, a huge scythe the shape of a crescent moon was suddenly on her right hand. "And I find you quite irritating right now for disturbing my little chat with a friend."
She flew.
Kamatari raised her weapon and slashed… nothing. Battousai was suddenly behind her by the screen. He's fast, she'll give him that. She grinned with anticipation and gave a battle cry. She lunged again towards him.
And to her utter surprise and amazement, the screen was suddenly flying towards her. She sliced it quickly in to two. There was a blur on her right side, and she barely blocked a blow from the black, wooden sword. She stared straight at amber eyes beyond crossed weapons. She jumped back.
"Hm. Not bad… for a human." She leaned on her tall weapon, tilting her head on the side. She sighed. "Well, it's been fun but I have to cut this short." She signaled, and not less than ten vampire thugs entered the room and surround him. She sauntered towards the door and wiggled her fingers at him without looking back. With a bored voice, she retorted, "see ya around… in hell."
Gay laughter echoed through the hallway beyond. Then the door was slammed and the sound was cut short.
Battousai found himself face to face with ten powerful vampire thugs. And ten powerful vampire thugs found themselves face to face with Battousai.
He stared at them calmly.
They attacked.
As graceful as a dancer, Battousai dodged the growling and snarling creatures. The black, wooden sword was lost in a haze as it swiftly found its targets. Left, right, above, and below – after a few seconds, it was all over. Kenshin landed lightly in the middle of the room in a crouched position.
The thugs were lying in an almost perfect circle around his form. All of them unconscious. He stood up and brushed his hakama. It was getting harder for him to keep his promise these days. Sudden urges of violence just rise up inside him, pushing him to kill. He shook his head and controlled his blood lust. Then he saw it… the cap. He picked it up, looking at its white and blue design. It was just an ordinary baseball cap; nothing really special. He tucked it in inside his coat.
Suddenly, he sensed a presence nearby. His body automatically shifted to a fighting stance. He glanced at the door. It was slightly open. It must have rebounded when it was slammed.
A blue- black blur passed before his eyes.
It's her!
He didn't know how, didn't know why, but for once he followed his impulse. He went out the door and looked at the hallway where the door leading to the club was closing quietly. He quickly ran towards it and wretched it open, meeting darkness and loud, pumping music. He searched for her in among the moving bodies, his eyes straining and adjusting in the dark. Then she saw her, making a beeline towards a side exit. He followed her form, and soon enough, reached the exit. He pulled it open.
Rain met the dark form outside the building.
She was gone. Nowhere in sight. He put up a trembling hand and wiped his face. What was happening to him? He really lost it this time… going after a woman whom he haven't even seen or met. He let out a wavering sigh.
*Crunch*
Kenshin's head whirled to the side. There she was, with a tattered coat. Walking away from him. Something flashed in his mind. A vision of Kaoru walking away from him in one of his troubling dreams. Kaoru?
"Kaoru?" he called out. The woman did not heed his call.
"Kaoru!" It must be her! He staggered towards the woman – Kaoru – and then she was right in front of her. As if in a dream, he reached out and grabbed her shoulder. It's you… it's finally you… "Kao – "
The woman turned.
Part of her face was covered with long, blue bangs, its color obviously came out of a bottle. Brown eyes met his in alarm and question. A round face creased into a frown. "I'm sorry, you must've mistaken me from someone else, mister." The woman shoved his hands away and continued walking until the mist and the rain covered her form.
The figure in the alley dropped his hands to his side and stayed there for a time, letting the rain soak his hair and coat. An involuntary shiver. The clenching of fists.
And he was gone, leaving the rain behind.
"You're in for a lot of trouble, Battousai." Saitou narrowed his golden eyes as he practically finished a whole cigarette in one inhalation. But he had to admit, this is damned amusing. First time in a long time when something actually went wrong in one of Battousai's missions. Damned amusing indeed.
The Mibu Wolf walked – or rather, stalked – around the room, looking like one of his namesakes. "You do know that that club was the only place where we heard about Shishio and his renegade group? They probably know by now that we've infiltrated the club and they'll be as careful as ever. And now we're back to square one."
The soaked figure by the door shed his coat. "Shishio has bigger plans than just creating havoc in some places of the human realm." He sat down, rather doggedly, at a stiff chair. "From what I have heard, he's planning something huge. Probably to take over Nifleheim, and from there, take over the human world."
"To put it in simply, he's planning to take over the world." A new, female voice said curtly from the door.
Saitou narrowed his yellow eyes. "Who the hell are you?"
The woman stepped out of the shadows and inside to Saitou's room. The Mibu wolf raised a cynical eyebrow. She was pretty, in an executive sort of way. Her long, wavy hair neatly fell around her shoulders, and glasses framed her golden eyes. She was wearing a suit, crease- free and formal. Her whole demeanor screamed no- nonsense and all- business.
"I am Tanagi Tokio. I have orders from the top to help you out," she said as she headed towards Saitou's table. She put down a file containing the words Strictly Confidential. Saitou glared at her.
"We don't need any help." He said coldly.
The corners of Tokio's lips quirked up. She glared right back at him. "I think you do, from the looks of things. Especially in the witch department." Her gaze went to Kenshin. She picked up the Strictly Confidential file but didn't look at it. She addressed both of them.
"As you may have already known, Nifleheim, the realm of the vampires, is on a state of repair under King and Queen Shinomori. It is a very critical stage when the country is very vulnerable. It is then easy for any powerful renegade party to take over at this time and conquer it. And that is exactly the plan of Shishio Makoto and his group, Le Noir Flamme, or the Black Flame."
Tokio then held up her hand and conjured a yellow flame, which quickly shifted to green, blue, then finally to black. She put it out with her slender fingers.
Saitou was not impressed. "And why did the executives hold that information from us? And all this time we thought that they were just another one of those renegade groups."
"They have their reasons." Tokio lowered her eyelids.
"Where do I come in?" Kenshin spoke up at last. He had an uncanny feeling that he was going to be in the middle of all this.
"You, Battousai, are a very skilled man." Tokio walked towards him and took his hand, palm up. Golden eyes stared into violet. "You can be very powerful, if you develop your powers. You have to learn to control them." She glanced at his palm and traced a line, her brow creased. "Or you might go out of control and let the Other One come." She let go of his hand.
Kenshin looked at his palm. Did she know? How much does she know about it?
"Anyway," Tokio straightened up her body. "I was ordered to help, and help I will." Then she added in a murmur. "This place needs a lot of fixing anyway."
"No." Saitou was furious. He did not need a damned woman to meddle in his affairs! She was a damned blue- stocking for crying out loud! She wouldn't know how to handle the real world where real action is… where evil is constantly lurking. "You cannot and will not stay here. You'll just be a nuisance for us. I'll call the executives about this."
"Call them. I'm sure they will tell you that I will stay here until this whole this is over with." She lifted her chin in a stubborn manner. There are just too many chauvinistic pigs around here, in her opinion. She was going to have to remedy that too.
"I guess we have no choice, Saitou." Kenshin said tiredly but with a glint in his eyes.
Saitou kept himself from hitting Battousai with his sword. This whole thing is damned amusing the slayer. He clenched his teeth, and with a huge sigh of defeat, accepted his fate. This is the only time someone defeated him. And a woman! He must be losing his mind. Well, better lose that than his job.
"Fine. But no fixing. No changing anything in my office – I like it the way it is. And no girly stuff. In this kind of work, there's no room for squealing and whining. Understood?" His low voice contained barely veiled frustration.
Tokio's head shot up indignantly. "I do not squeal or whine."
He smirked. "All women squeal and whine."
Kenshin watched at the barbed banter in front of him. It looked like a warm welcome for the new member. He smiled, amused at his partner. Who would've thought that someone – a woman no less – would get to him? He chuckled.
"What are you chuckling about?" Both said simultaneously. They looked at each other scathingly for a moment then looked away.
"Oh, nothing… nothing." Geesh, they're acting like they're married. Well, this will certainly spiced things up.
He sighed.
His thoughts turned to another woman. The feeling of defeat and hopelessness overwhelmed his being. During his missions, he would always have the side mission of looking for her in the hopes of being able to find her and get her back to him. And last night, he had thought he found her at last. That he would be whole again. But he was wrong. And he can only barely hang on to the waning hope that was constantly evading his grasp.
He stood up, murmured that he was leaving (though it doesn't seem like they heard anyway), and went out. The rain was still pouring outside. In days like these, his bitterness in life is enhanced. He shrugged on his trench coat and welcome the coldness in the air.
Lightning flashed in the dark, distant skies.
A/n: Well! An update! *yay* Well… this really took a lot of effort you know. *sigh* Actually, I'm into vampires again nowadays and I was inspired. So there! ^_^ (minnie me: not to mention feeling pretty guilty… *smirk*)
Some explanations: The club here, The Black Rose, was also the one in my other fic, The Vampire Aoshi. That was where Misao and Aoshi met, if you remember. (Um… I'm getting to when they appear in THIS fic. Please be patient!) *grins* Teeheehee…
And yeah, I hinted here on what was happening to Nifleheim, the land of the dead. If you're curious and wondering what the heck that is, you can refer to chapter 6 of TVA. But it was briefly explained here so it's not really necessary.
Oh, new character! Tokio arrives!!! *hurrah* I'm SOOOO gonna have fun writing about her and Saitou. *evil grin* We'll see more of them in a few chapters. *mwahahaha*
Oh, and if you're wondering about what this fiction is doing in the rated part, it's because some of the younger readers were horrified at the blood and gore so… sorry! My mistake! *bows*
Anyway, thanks to the great reviewers!!!
Tenshi no Sin: Thanks! Glad you liked it!
oO-Innocent Dreamer-Oo: Hmmm… might be a while before that but I will surely put it here! Patience, m'dear!!
Chris37: Yep. Actually, this chapter was a close call. If you're wondering, it really WAS Kaoru who was there with Kamatari in the first part. But you know, I like twisting things a bit. *evil grin*
Katie: Super sorry! Not much blood and gore here… But there might be in the future… I'm putting this on R-18 now, so be warned! ^_^
C-ko D.: Hmmm… you were probably shocked. *nods understandingly*
Aglaia102: Thanks! I'm glad you like my other stories… hope you continue reading! :D
Princess of the Night: I'm so flattered! I'm glad you found it nice… *grins from ear to ear* Well, we'll see about Kenshin finding out. Actually, he has his suspicions and he never really stopped hoping. It'll come out soon. ^_^
SpaceVixon: KxK interaction you want, KxK interaction you get! Well… soon. If I put my mind to it. I already have a plan though, don't worry. ;p
Purpoo kitee katx: Yeah well, I try to keep them in character this time. Hehehe… Thanks so much for reading! ^_^
Arigatoo gozaimasu! I'll try to updte soon… well, if you convince me! *wink* Please read and review! ^_^