Well I'd say this was more Z? work, but I actually slept last night (first
time in 3 days). This chapter's going to be done straight out of my
demented little mind. Oh and BTW I can't stand Lovecraft as an author, his
stuff's well written but it bores me and usually has little plot. Just
though I'd share that. And half way through this I discovered INKUBUS
SUKKUBUS. Highly recommend it.
Vesca- Thanks, am going to get into a little more detail about Kenshin's
past soon, and also into some of the actual plot. *notes she really hates
the ff site now, it messed up my poem*
Jason- Yes Chandra is Tomoe's sister (younger though not by much), and her
and Kenshin have a nasty history of her blaming him for Tomoe's death,
encouraging him to seek revenge, and using his trauma at Tomoe's death
against him (Kenshin sought to replace Tomoe with Chandra at one point).
AngelsExist- Will try with the longer chapters, but normally right them as
scenes more than chapters. It allows me to update more often. If I was
doing chapters, the last post would have been the start of the second
chapter I believe, and the first 2 posts would have been the prologue.
Enjoy
Touched
Kaoru survived herself in the full-length mirror of her bathroom door, this wasn't her. She had abandoned the shirt she so loved for one of thin mesh that clung translucently to her pale skin, it's off the shoulder neckline and long handkerchief sleeves giving her a look of sophistication. A knee length black velvet skirt with taffeta that hung from its seam to her ankles and a pair of knee high black boots completed the outfit. The black liner looked out of place now, sloppy and neglected compared to how Kenshin had done it. ~Kenshin. . .Misao said he might be there tonight~ her mind began to wonder, before she forced back to the task at hand. Carefully she extended the liner from the corners of her eyes, bringing the line into a tight curl that spun over the tops of her cheeks. The right curl had worked perfectly, but the left smudged at the edge, making the simple design seem careless.
With a tired sigh Kaoru dropped the pencil and walked away from the mirror, ~Why am I bothering, he hasn't shown up all week. It's all my fault.~ Each thought continued in a seamless berating of how she had ruined everything. Sighing at the impossibility of her situation she sank onto her bed, tugging at the shirt in an attempt to somehow make its thin material solid as she waited the cheery torture that Misao's presence had become. With each minute that passed the thought of discarding her plans and curling up under the covers, like she had done for the past three nights, was becoming more inviting.
"Hey Kaoru. . .!" A voice yelled up the steps at her, knocking was one of those things that Misao didn't quite understand. "Are you ready?" With out waiting for an answer Misao traipsed loudly through her friend's home, do find Kaoru sitting on her bed and looking as forlorn as possible. "Oh, quit being grumpy, we're going out tonight. Aoshi told me about this really great club that he and Kenshin used to go to, and I decided that we should go. . .It could be kind of like a double date." Misao continued not knowing why Kaoru didn't share her excitement, figuring her friend would feel better once they got there. Grinning evilly, Misao dragged Kaoru out of the appartment, she wasn't about to let her friend's depression ruin her night. Aoshi said he had a surprise for them, and Misao wasn't about to give up on something with so many possibilities.
**********
Kaoru glanced out the car window; this was her first time at any club let alone Blackout. Vinyl clad bodies stretched down the street in an impromptu line of sexual energy, anticipation rising in ripples of heat from them. Though despite the clubs obvious popularity they easily found a space behind it. Kaoru stepped out of the car; the bass vibrations making the ground beneath her feet vibrate lightly as though humming with anticipation.
"Misao, this space is reserved." Kaoru stated pointing at the sign in front of the car, and then glancing nervously at the man that was approaching them. His long black hair fell nearly to his knees, trailing like a cape behind the black duster that hid his form from sight as he walked, his head down and eyes hidden in shadow. What was unnerving about him as that if she hadn't noticed him, it seems he wouldn't have existed. His steps over the gravel and city dirt were silent and his form seemed to give off no aura. Shivering, Kaoru glanced at her overconfident friend. "I don't think we're supposed to be here."
Misao simply shrugged, laughing as she walked towards the gate, and towards the man.
"Excuse me." The man said, his voice neutrally cold as he stopped in front of them, not acting but simply uncaring.
Kaoru shivered again, still there was no sense of the man. It was as though only a shadow stood before them. "See, I told you so." She hissed at Misao before turning to the man. "I'm sorry, we need to be going-" Was as far as she got before being interrupted.
"I was told to escort you into the club." Was all the man said laughing at her discomfort, up close he was less impressive than from a distance, the black made him look taller than he was but for what he lacked in height, his eyes made up for with their intensity. Pools of Zen-like calm surrounded by long lashes, given strange warmth by their rich brown color, watched the two women with protective disinterest.
Misao smiled, falling into step beside him, and pulling a reluctant Kaoru with her. "Kaoru, this is Arion. He's a friend of my Aoshi." Misao informed her friend as a dreamy quality came over her voice at the thought of 'her Aoshi.'
The man nodded slightly, his silence natural instead of forced, before they turned the corner and came face to face with the waiting crowd.
"What's going on to night?" Kaoru asked, glancing at the unusually long line of With out a pause he lead them past the line, ignoring the occasional glare and meeting the more frequent offers with distain he opened the door for the two before seeming to cease to exist. Strobe lights blinded her as the doors opened, the beat that was merely a pulse turned into a heartbeat that battled for dominion over their own. The heavy push of the base ran up her legs making her body fall into it's rhythm, while its counterpart ethereal cords from instruments and voice alike played over her skin almost hiding the energy that embraced her. Kaoru shivered, eyes dizzy from watching the black clad bodies writhe in the flashing lights. Each person moved differently, their dance woven from graceful steps of a trance-like seduction. But little of that attracted her eyes as she scanned the dance floor for long red hair; not the dyed colors of Manic Panic or the black light falls of extensions that shimmered around them, but the true vermilion color of a pale skinned broken angel. Lost in her search she walked into the writhing pit of bodies, a still stop among their release. Then red lights flashed over the crowd, the music changing to a slower frenzy of unassociated sounds before falling into another song. Slowly the floor cleared its occupants wandering to candle lit corners and alcoholic bliss, leaving her a clear view of the floor. Red lights bathed a lone figure, its pale limbs twisting in graceful invitation and for that moment Kaoru all though left her entranced by his slow movements.
Kenshin turned slowly, the music twisting and guiding him limbs while taking his mind away. Long strands of his red hair followed his body like a second being, warm and living with it's movement. His makeup was more extravagant than usual black paint formed points that followed the curve of his eyes to the eyebrow, His lips were lined with the same black, though colored over with silver, its metallic color drawing her eyes to the leather collar around his neck. With each movement the tiny rings brushed against each other, producing a metallic note that she could never hear over the music but that her mind imagined. The red light cast bloody shadows over the scarred expanse of his bare torso, its movements leading her eyes lower. Black tattooed wings flashed before her eyes as he turned, the blood light accenting their inked shadow. For a moment she looked up at him, standing in alley instead of the club, each movement of the dance made deadly by the silver blade of his sword, the red light became blood that ran over his body. Kaoru shivered, looking away to banish the vision. Looking up she met amber eyes that showed no recognition before turning away with the dance, causing her to sigh as a new ache spread out from her chest. Tears sparkling in her blue eyes Kaoru watched, feeling further from heaven each day. Mere feet separated her from the black winged angel with danced carefully in front of her, his movements edged with that controlled violence she longed to test. Hesitantly she stepped forwards, ~I'll make him remember me, make him see me. . .~
The movement was cut short as two women walked confidently past her hesitant form. Velvet and fishnet clad bodies moved close to Kenshin, their movements not accenting his but making him seem more graceful. With a sigh Kaoru turned away, walking purposefully away from him. Without thinking she slide into a seat, her blue eyes despairing at her missed chance. The music stopped and Kenshin's daze slide away, as the world returned with its painful clarity and the image of a blue eyed girl. Amber eyes looked around, the two woman dancing closer to him with each turn of the music, each trying to seduce him with their movements. With an annoyed sigh Kenshin walked away from them, vanishing into the long heavy curtains at either side of the stage and leaving the his would-be seductresses pouting.
"Don't worry about him."
A voice brought her from her thoughts and she looked up to regard a tall feline looking woman. "What. . ?" Kaoru said, and for once didn't blush.
"Kenshin." She said as though that would explain everything, and in a way it did. Heather had worked the bar since Blackout opened, and never once had the red haired man indulged or even noticed the women who followed him. She remembered when he met the owner's sister, and remembered the feeling of wrongness every time they were together. There was always something about the two that made her skin crawl, as though by being together they were ignoring some important part of the plan for their lives. Heather shrugged to herself, dismissing the thoughts. "Can I get you something?" She asked, watching her unresponsive customer.
"Absinthe"
Before Kaoru could look up a voice had answered for her, it's tones thick like that moment before dawn breaks the intensity of a waiting world. Kaoru turn to the voice's owner. Red satin caught the eye with its rich color, as the woven butterflies of her low cut backless gown seemed to fly peacefully in their bloody sky.
"Kaoru." The name was a greeting as she sat beside the girl. "I'm Chandra, I believe we both are acquainted with Kenshin."
Heather set the drinks down, and then walked away leaving the girl to Chandra. At the other end of the bar was a couple that contrasted the two women. The man she knew as Aoshi, but the bubbly green-eyed girl at her side was unfamiliar to her.
A/N don't love this one much either. But the next chapter promises some Aoshi/Misao time, Kenshin singing, misunderstanding, and the side effects of Absinthe once again. . .but maybe in a good way.
Touched
Kaoru survived herself in the full-length mirror of her bathroom door, this wasn't her. She had abandoned the shirt she so loved for one of thin mesh that clung translucently to her pale skin, it's off the shoulder neckline and long handkerchief sleeves giving her a look of sophistication. A knee length black velvet skirt with taffeta that hung from its seam to her ankles and a pair of knee high black boots completed the outfit. The black liner looked out of place now, sloppy and neglected compared to how Kenshin had done it. ~Kenshin. . .Misao said he might be there tonight~ her mind began to wonder, before she forced back to the task at hand. Carefully she extended the liner from the corners of her eyes, bringing the line into a tight curl that spun over the tops of her cheeks. The right curl had worked perfectly, but the left smudged at the edge, making the simple design seem careless.
With a tired sigh Kaoru dropped the pencil and walked away from the mirror, ~Why am I bothering, he hasn't shown up all week. It's all my fault.~ Each thought continued in a seamless berating of how she had ruined everything. Sighing at the impossibility of her situation she sank onto her bed, tugging at the shirt in an attempt to somehow make its thin material solid as she waited the cheery torture that Misao's presence had become. With each minute that passed the thought of discarding her plans and curling up under the covers, like she had done for the past three nights, was becoming more inviting.
"Hey Kaoru. . .!" A voice yelled up the steps at her, knocking was one of those things that Misao didn't quite understand. "Are you ready?" With out waiting for an answer Misao traipsed loudly through her friend's home, do find Kaoru sitting on her bed and looking as forlorn as possible. "Oh, quit being grumpy, we're going out tonight. Aoshi told me about this really great club that he and Kenshin used to go to, and I decided that we should go. . .It could be kind of like a double date." Misao continued not knowing why Kaoru didn't share her excitement, figuring her friend would feel better once they got there. Grinning evilly, Misao dragged Kaoru out of the appartment, she wasn't about to let her friend's depression ruin her night. Aoshi said he had a surprise for them, and Misao wasn't about to give up on something with so many possibilities.
**********
Kaoru glanced out the car window; this was her first time at any club let alone Blackout. Vinyl clad bodies stretched down the street in an impromptu line of sexual energy, anticipation rising in ripples of heat from them. Though despite the clubs obvious popularity they easily found a space behind it. Kaoru stepped out of the car; the bass vibrations making the ground beneath her feet vibrate lightly as though humming with anticipation.
"Misao, this space is reserved." Kaoru stated pointing at the sign in front of the car, and then glancing nervously at the man that was approaching them. His long black hair fell nearly to his knees, trailing like a cape behind the black duster that hid his form from sight as he walked, his head down and eyes hidden in shadow. What was unnerving about him as that if she hadn't noticed him, it seems he wouldn't have existed. His steps over the gravel and city dirt were silent and his form seemed to give off no aura. Shivering, Kaoru glanced at her overconfident friend. "I don't think we're supposed to be here."
Misao simply shrugged, laughing as she walked towards the gate, and towards the man.
"Excuse me." The man said, his voice neutrally cold as he stopped in front of them, not acting but simply uncaring.
Kaoru shivered again, still there was no sense of the man. It was as though only a shadow stood before them. "See, I told you so." She hissed at Misao before turning to the man. "I'm sorry, we need to be going-" Was as far as she got before being interrupted.
"I was told to escort you into the club." Was all the man said laughing at her discomfort, up close he was less impressive than from a distance, the black made him look taller than he was but for what he lacked in height, his eyes made up for with their intensity. Pools of Zen-like calm surrounded by long lashes, given strange warmth by their rich brown color, watched the two women with protective disinterest.
Misao smiled, falling into step beside him, and pulling a reluctant Kaoru with her. "Kaoru, this is Arion. He's a friend of my Aoshi." Misao informed her friend as a dreamy quality came over her voice at the thought of 'her Aoshi.'
The man nodded slightly, his silence natural instead of forced, before they turned the corner and came face to face with the waiting crowd.
"What's going on to night?" Kaoru asked, glancing at the unusually long line of With out a pause he lead them past the line, ignoring the occasional glare and meeting the more frequent offers with distain he opened the door for the two before seeming to cease to exist. Strobe lights blinded her as the doors opened, the beat that was merely a pulse turned into a heartbeat that battled for dominion over their own. The heavy push of the base ran up her legs making her body fall into it's rhythm, while its counterpart ethereal cords from instruments and voice alike played over her skin almost hiding the energy that embraced her. Kaoru shivered, eyes dizzy from watching the black clad bodies writhe in the flashing lights. Each person moved differently, their dance woven from graceful steps of a trance-like seduction. But little of that attracted her eyes as she scanned the dance floor for long red hair; not the dyed colors of Manic Panic or the black light falls of extensions that shimmered around them, but the true vermilion color of a pale skinned broken angel. Lost in her search she walked into the writhing pit of bodies, a still stop among their release. Then red lights flashed over the crowd, the music changing to a slower frenzy of unassociated sounds before falling into another song. Slowly the floor cleared its occupants wandering to candle lit corners and alcoholic bliss, leaving her a clear view of the floor. Red lights bathed a lone figure, its pale limbs twisting in graceful invitation and for that moment Kaoru all though left her entranced by his slow movements.
Kenshin turned slowly, the music twisting and guiding him limbs while taking his mind away. Long strands of his red hair followed his body like a second being, warm and living with it's movement. His makeup was more extravagant than usual black paint formed points that followed the curve of his eyes to the eyebrow, His lips were lined with the same black, though colored over with silver, its metallic color drawing her eyes to the leather collar around his neck. With each movement the tiny rings brushed against each other, producing a metallic note that she could never hear over the music but that her mind imagined. The red light cast bloody shadows over the scarred expanse of his bare torso, its movements leading her eyes lower. Black tattooed wings flashed before her eyes as he turned, the blood light accenting their inked shadow. For a moment she looked up at him, standing in alley instead of the club, each movement of the dance made deadly by the silver blade of his sword, the red light became blood that ran over his body. Kaoru shivered, looking away to banish the vision. Looking up she met amber eyes that showed no recognition before turning away with the dance, causing her to sigh as a new ache spread out from her chest. Tears sparkling in her blue eyes Kaoru watched, feeling further from heaven each day. Mere feet separated her from the black winged angel with danced carefully in front of her, his movements edged with that controlled violence she longed to test. Hesitantly she stepped forwards, ~I'll make him remember me, make him see me. . .~
The movement was cut short as two women walked confidently past her hesitant form. Velvet and fishnet clad bodies moved close to Kenshin, their movements not accenting his but making him seem more graceful. With a sigh Kaoru turned away, walking purposefully away from him. Without thinking she slide into a seat, her blue eyes despairing at her missed chance. The music stopped and Kenshin's daze slide away, as the world returned with its painful clarity and the image of a blue eyed girl. Amber eyes looked around, the two woman dancing closer to him with each turn of the music, each trying to seduce him with their movements. With an annoyed sigh Kenshin walked away from them, vanishing into the long heavy curtains at either side of the stage and leaving the his would-be seductresses pouting.
"Don't worry about him."
A voice brought her from her thoughts and she looked up to regard a tall feline looking woman. "What. . ?" Kaoru said, and for once didn't blush.
"Kenshin." She said as though that would explain everything, and in a way it did. Heather had worked the bar since Blackout opened, and never once had the red haired man indulged or even noticed the women who followed him. She remembered when he met the owner's sister, and remembered the feeling of wrongness every time they were together. There was always something about the two that made her skin crawl, as though by being together they were ignoring some important part of the plan for their lives. Heather shrugged to herself, dismissing the thoughts. "Can I get you something?" She asked, watching her unresponsive customer.
"Absinthe"
Before Kaoru could look up a voice had answered for her, it's tones thick like that moment before dawn breaks the intensity of a waiting world. Kaoru turn to the voice's owner. Red satin caught the eye with its rich color, as the woven butterflies of her low cut backless gown seemed to fly peacefully in their bloody sky.
"Kaoru." The name was a greeting as she sat beside the girl. "I'm Chandra, I believe we both are acquainted with Kenshin."
Heather set the drinks down, and then walked away leaving the girl to Chandra. At the other end of the bar was a couple that contrasted the two women. The man she knew as Aoshi, but the bubbly green-eyed girl at her side was unfamiliar to her.
A/N don't love this one much either. But the next chapter promises some Aoshi/Misao time, Kenshin singing, misunderstanding, and the side effects of Absinthe once again. . .but maybe in a good way.