A.N.: Whew! Third chapter here. Thanks to Michy, Ayumi(I'm a big K&K fan too), Willow, blue eyes, Cecilia (I hope I keep getting brownies!^_^), Echidna, Chiharu, Joey (thanks for the great ideas!), Lily, and angel kaoru for reviewing, your reviews encourages me to continue. I'm sorry for the grammar I hope it doesn't confused you. The italic words are thoughts. Hope you'll like this chapter. I'm having trouble writing because of our final exams. Anyway, on with the story.
Standard disclaimer apply
Chapter 3: Training
At midnight, Kaoru and Misao made sure that everyone's sleeping before sneaking outside quietly with lamps at hand. They found Megumi making her way to the dojo.
"Now where do we go?" Megumi asked, irritated that she had to stay up until midnight.
Misao motioned her to follow them. They went into the thick dark forest until they reached a clearing inside. They found another lamp near the edge of the lake.
"Chris-san, is that you?" Kaoru asked the man, who's facing his back at them.
Chris turned around to face them. "It's me. Is Megumi-san with you?"
Megumi appeared beside Kaoru. "I'm here. So what's this all about?"
Chris told Megumi all about the vampires, slayers and her being the Healer.
"Unbelievable." is what Megumi said after hearing Chris.
"I know but this is the truth." Chris said "Now I'm going to give you some important pointers about vampires. First, know what they look like or just their general description."
"They probably look like monsters with big fangs." Misao muttered.
"Not actually." Chris turned to Misao. "They look like ordinary people but they are extremely pale. Their eyes are deep and most of the time hypnotizing and they have these fangs a little longer than the normal teeth."
Kaoru's thoughts drifted to Taka's hypnotizing eyes and pale skin. It's a funny coincidence if he's a vampire.
Chris continued "They're afraid of sunlight so they only go out at night."
Taka asked if it's already dark outside before going out of the cave, the conversation flashed at Kaoru's mind. She shifted uncomfortably.
"And they can't enter your houses unless you invite them in. So be careful, don't just let strangers come into your house unless you trust them."
Taka didn't follow her inside the dojo. He only came in when she invited him, and his words…'You really should be careful in letting strangers come into your house.' And then he disappeared.
"Oh no." Kaoru whispered unconsciously.
"Something wrong Kaoru?" Megumi asked.
"Huh? Uh" she shook her head and smiled. "No, nothings wrong." There's no need to tell them about Taka. Kaoru thought because even she wasn't sure if Taka is real.
Chris stood up and handed them three daggers. "These are not ordinary daggers. The only one who could use this are the three of you who are destined to fight vampires. You cannot kill vampires with ordinary weapons. They are immortal. Their wounds can heal within seconds. Now, these daggers are made especially to kill vampires. You have to struck them, and after that they will burst into dust."
Misao nodded. "Just like in my visions."
After that Chris turned to Kaoru. Misao and Megumi just need the right weapon to protect themselves in case of emergencies but Kaoru is the one who will do the real slaying. Chris seemed to know a lot about martial arts that involves kicking, punching and blocking punches. And to Kaoru's amazement she learned these martial arts techniques so fast and she felt strong with an incredible speed.
"Why does all these moves, felt so natural? It's like I already know what to do. " Kaoru asked to no one in particular after taking a break from practicing with Chris.
"I have to admit Kaoru-chan, you are incredible." Misao commented.
Megumi nodded. "I have to agree. It looks like you're more faster and stronger than Ken-san."
"Really?" Kaoru refused to believe that she could surpass Kenshin.
"It's part of being the Vampire Slayer." Chris explained. "Legends says that once the Slayer knew her real identity the skills will be given to her at that day."
"Does that mean I could fight vampires now?" Kaoru asked.
"Yes." Chris answered. "But I'm not that sure about the powerful ones. You better keep practicing."
Misao looked up at the night sky. "It's getting very late. We should go back. The others might find us missing."
Megumi nodded and then stood up. Kaoru picked up the lamp and followed Megumi.
"Megumi, maybe we should walk you home. You know, just in case."
"Kaoru-chan's right. With vampires roaming around, they might attack you." Misao agreed.
"Oh, all right."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
On their way to Megumi's house, Kaoru sensed an attacker thundering from the shadows of the forest. She stopped walking.
"What's the matter Kaoru-chan?" Misao asked when she suddenly stopped.
"Someone's coming." Chris answered.
A heavy arm was thrown over Kaoru's shoulders and tightened around her neck. Another one did the same to Chris. She saw her attacker open his mouth to bite his fangs on her neck. Vampires. She bury an elbow in his stomach. He staggered backward and she turned on him indignantly. He really is a vampire. Pale skin, deep eyes and fangs. A man around twenty-five years old. He was coming at her again. She let him earned a little speed as he barreled toward her. She reversed his momentum with a fast knee strike and finished him off with a struck of her dagger. He burst into dust and disappeared.
She turned to the other one but Misao already killed him. Chris was lying on the ground clutching his right arm. Blood was coming out of it.
Megumi sat beside Chris. "You told me that I could heal vampire infected wounds immediately. Tell me what to do."
Chris answered. "Just place your hand over the wound."
Megumi placed her hands over Chris' bleeding arm. She felt heat coming out from her hands. When the heat seemed to stop, she raised her hands and found the wound disappear.
"Thank you." Chris bowed at Megumi.
Megumi smiled at him. "It was my duty as a doctor and being the one you call the Healer. Besides you're the one who told me what to do."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It's been three nights that they wandered out at night to hunt vampires. Misao sees the visions where the vampires attack, and then they would rush in to the place she described. Kaoru slays the vampire and then if anyone of them gets hurt because of vampires, Megumi is there to heal them. This has been their routine for the past three days. Unfortunately, their lack of sleep is taking toll on their body at morning.
"Hey ugly! Get out of bed, it's time for breakfast already and I want to finish my training early." Yahiko yelled outside Kaoru's room. It isn't like her to stay in bed this late.
Kaoru groaned, she never felt this tired before but she also can't give up her night routine, not when vampires are still attacking people.
"Dogface! We don't have all day you know!"
"I'm coming!" Kaoru yelled back, standing up to get ready. She wore her practice clothes so she could train with Yahiko right after breakfast. Maybe their training would finish early and she could still catch some sleep to have some strength for another evening of vampire slaying.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Are you sure you're alright, fox?" Sano asked, as he and Megumi go on their way to the Kamiya dojo. He fetched Megumi to check on Misao, but Megumi doesn't look good either.
"I'm alright rooster head. Just a little exhausted." Megumi answered hoping that Sano would just drop the subject. She could still endure the tiredness that she feels. She's concern about Kaoru and Misao. Misao should have a break from her terrible visions and Kaoru's fighting every evening would not do well for her health. "How's Kaoru?"
"Last time I checked, she's still sleeping. Why? Is she sick?"
Megumi wanted to slap herself for asking that question. "No, she's not sick." I hope, she added to herself.
Sano wasn't fooled. He knows something's up. Not only because of Megumi's tired look but also the concern in her eyes. And he's positive that that concern is towards Misao AND Kaoru. He could understand that she's concern about Misao's headache, but Kaoru? Why is she suddenly concern about Kaoru? She's hiding something.
They finally reached the Kamiya dojo but before they walk in Sano stopped Megumi by reaching for her arm and made her face him. "Megumi, if something's wrong. You could always tell me."
Megumi's heart swelled for Sano's concern. She had wanted to tell someone her fears of being the Healer. What if she wasn't there to help when Kaoru or Misao gets hurt? What if these vampires attack one of her friends? They're dealing with something powerful here. So many what ifs, but she can't tell Sano all that without Kaoru and Misao's approval. He might try to find the vampires himself and he's helpless against them without the daggers. He might be dead before she got to him to heal him. She shook her head and looked up at Sano then smiled.
"Nothing's wrong Sano. Don't worry." With that she turned and entered the Kamiya dojo.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kaoru went to the river to relax and to think. She sat at a grassy path beside the sparkling water. She's been pondering if she should tell Kenshin about the vampires, but then again he'll want to come with them in evening. His sakabatou cannot kill the vampires. He might get hurt or worse. He'll be much more safe inside the house where the vampires cannot enter. It's kind of ironic, she thought. She now knew why Kenshin doesn't want her to come to his fights, in fear of her getting hurt. Does that mean he loves her? She doesn't think so for he also does this kind of treatment to other people.
"Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru jumped, startled that the man she's been thinking about suddenly appeared beside her. "Kenshin! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
Kenshin smiled sheepishly and sat next to her. "Sorry." He put the bucket down, his fishing pole at hand. "Do you mind if I join you? I'm planning to catch fish for dinner."
Kaoru smiled at him and nodded. "I don't mind, Kenshin. I'm glad to have some company."
Kenshin cast the line into the water. "Is something bothering you, Kaoru-dono?" he asked noticing that she looked a bit tired these past three days.
"Nothing, Kenshin." She answered looking down at the calm water. She took a deep breath. Maybe she could tell Kenshin what she's been thinking. Maybe he would tell her how he feels. "Its just that, I finally understand why you didn't want me to come to your battles."
Upon hearing this, Kenshin faced her. He was looking straight into her sparkling blue eyes. "What did you understand?"
"That you're afraid that I might get hurt and you lost so many loved ones and because…"
I love you and if anything happened to you I might kill myself, Kenshin thought completing her sentence.
Because I'm your friend. Just a friend. Kaoru completed her own sentence in her head.
"Because?" Kenshin asked when Kaoru didn't speak.
"And because of that I hope you'll understand me too." Understand why I cannot tell you that I'm the Vampire Slayer, added Kaoru.
Now Kenshin was confused, he moved closed. "What are you saying?"
Kaoru couldn't help noticing how close together they were sitting.
"I…"
That was all she could say. Because her heart had stopped. Kenshin's face was moving closer. His eyes were locked on hers. She felt herself leaning forward a little bit in response to the look he was giving her. His gaze was pulling her like a magnet. Closer… She closed her eyes anticipating the feel of his lips but instead she got – shouts. A faint shout coming near them. They pulled apart at the same time.
"Kenshin! Are you here?" Yahiko came behind the trees.
Kaoru's thoughts were on the line of the top ten most painful ways to torture Yahiko. Kenshin was about to kiss her for goodness sake! Can't he wait a little longer?"
Meanwhile, Kenshin stood up and smiled at Yahiko as if nothing out-of-the-ordinary happened. "I'm here Yahiko. What's wrong?"
"Saitoh is at the dojo looking for you." Yahiko answered. "He said that it's important."
Saitoh. Kenshin thought. He didn't know if he wanted to kill the man or thank him. He had wanted to kiss Kaoru for so long and she was too close. But that was a mistake. He doesn't deserve her. She was beautiful, thoughtful and innocent, definitely not for someone as stained as him. He could still remember what happened to Tomoe.
"Very well," Kenshin picked up the bucket and fishing pole. "Let's see what he wants. Are you coming Kaoru-dono?"
Kaoru stood up, not meeting Kenshin's eyes. "Yes".
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Saitoh-san, what do you want?" Kenshin asked his former enemy. All of them are at the lobby wanting to hear what Saitoh has to say to Kenshin.
"You see battousai, it looks like you're going to have another job. And since Shinomori is here too, he might as well join us." Saitoh said lighting up a cigarette.
"Explain why Saitoh. I don't have time to guess." Kenshin said. He doesn't like the man and his sarcastic riddles.
Aoshi's face is as expressionless as before but he still stood at the corner waiting for Saitoh to continue.
Saitoh puffed out smoke. "This might seem impossible or simply stupid if I haven't seen one myself but I think we might be dealing with real forces of evil this time."
Kaoru, Misao and Megumi gave each other a meaningful look, hoping Saitoh's business is not like the one they're thinking.
"What do you mean?" Sano asked. Annoyed that Saitoh can't just go to the point.
Saitoh looked at them mysteriously. "I'm talking about evil creatures killing people at night. Popularly known as vampires."
To be continued…
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