Author's notes: Yay! I'm back and brimming with ideas! *hooray hooray!* well, I wasn't gone that long anyway… *grin* Well, I guess I had mind block on what I'm supposed to write next… but I have this cool idea about Aoshi being… oops! Well, you'll find out later!
Well, just want to say thanks so much for the support minna-san! ^_^ to:
Diablo: Thanks! *blush* I was just kidding around when I said I was a tensai… you know, a-la Sakuragi from slam dunk? Teeheehee..
DarkFairy: Yay! You're gonna use the scientist! *happy happy* I totally love that song! Well, thanks!
Lebleuphenix: hmmm.. about Sano, well, you'll find out later. J About Kenshin, Well… uhhh.. *scratches head* I'll try to insert him on the oncoming chappies, but he's not a main character. I'm planning to write a separate thing for him and Kaoru. Gomen!
Kats: Thanks! *grin*
Haruko: ARGH! You're totally right! I forgot about that… *sigh* Well, this is what happens to a person writing at 12:00 am. Oh well, let's just say she's too woozy to realize that it's actually from snow white. Gomen nasai!
Noa: Thanks! I try to insert funny parts to lighten up the mood. ;p
Kawaii Sakura- chan- AHA!! I know who you are you evil, demented person! NYAHAHAHA! Tsk tsk.. WHY didn't you tell me you're writing another story?! Grrr…. :P
Saicho-18- well, I have lots of ideas! And load from school is light nowadays so it's okay for me to lollygag and laze around a bit. ;p
The *Spangled* Pandemonium- Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I'm getting better? Yey! *okay, I was fishing… damn* Well, hope you like this one too! Ü
Okay, so after all that, *phew, y'all getting more and more!* I just want to say something… Happy reading! (ahahaha! Oh well.. ;P)
Disclaimer: Oooohhhh… Damn, almost forgot it! Well, I do not own Rurouni Kenshin. I also do not own some ideas I got from other sources like L.J. Smith and the vampire guy I met last night… oops! J/k! oh well.. wishful thinking on my side… :P
The Vampire Aoshi
By Tesuka- chan
"MISAO- SENSEI!"
A little girl around the age of 5 with short, cropped hair and cinnamon brown eyes tugged at her teacher's skirt. Misao finished sticking the last tape on the wall and looked down at the little girl. She grinned. "Yes, Yuri- chan?"
"Ano… I just wondered if you like my drawing." Yuri said sheepishly, handing out a sheet of paper to the bemused teacher. Her eyes widened with expectancy and excitement.
Misao, smiled at the sweet child and accepted the paper. She glanced at the drawing. Blurs of red, black, and dark green are smudged all over the white page. She looked more closely and recognized the vague shapes of some slimy green monster snapping a screaming stick person in half, with blood all around a black background. Uhhhh… geesh! I wonder where these kids get these stuff! She gulped, her face contorting into many different expressions then finally settling on an unsteady smile. "Why, It's very pretty! Where did you get this idea?"
"I was watching this movie you see," The little girl started as her face lightened up in obvious pleasure, "It was about a green monster."
"Uhuh… yes, go on…"
"And… and he was like grrrrrr… and the people were like, aahhhhh!"
"Urrrmmm…"
"And… and then he picked up a person with his little finger and snapped him into two!"
"Well…"
"Then he gobbled it up! But then the police came and killed the poor monster…" the child's voice faltered, "poor, poor monster…" She sniffed. Her eyes went all teary, her mouth pouting and then slowly widening preparing to bawl her head off. Misao frantically suggested that she work on another picture… a happy one. Yuri closed her mouth and sniffed. She smiled at her sensei and trudged back at her seat. A few minutes later, she was laughing along with her friends.
Misao sat and sighed. Sure they're cute and adorable but sometimes they're really just unpredictable! I wonder if their parents know what parental guidance means. She massaged her temples and closed her eyes for a second.
"Umm… Misao-sensei?" A little boy's voice asked.
"Yes?" Misao replied automatically, eyes still closed. Please, just for one more second…
"Here."
She felt something land on her hand. She groaned inwardly. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the object placed in her hand. It was a blue paper crane.
"I made it just for you, sensei!" the boy said shyly. "I remembered that it was your birthday yesterday! I hope you like it." He looked at her, soft green eyes with specks of gold looked at her hopefully.
Her heart melted. She sniffed. Darn it all, it's times like these that makes it all worth it! I love being a kindergarten teacher! She grinned at him, blue eyes shining with pleasure and gratitude. "Thank you very much Fuuma! I love it!"
Fuuma grinned back at her.
"Now come and we'll play a game with your classmates, would you like that?"
"Hai!"
Misao held out her hand to Fuuma and they approached the rest of the children. Another teacher passing by outside the door heard some giggles and shouts of glee inside the cheery yellow classroom. A thud was heard and one particularly loud and very grown- up voice laughed so… so… violently that the teacher scurried away from the classroom, vowing to herself never to pass by that corridor again.
The dark skies are covered with gray clouds where almost no light at all can pass through. There's a dark and heavy atmosphere that makes one feel suffocated. A light drizzle began falling down from above, making it all the more dreary and depressing. A black shadow races across the streets down below a gray city.
Rough, black slate buildings reached the high heavens. Windows opened up to black chasms, no light coming from within. The cobbled streets scattered with the decaying dead. Red eyes following anyone who happens to come across its path. Scurrying little creatures of unknown origin quickly leap out of the way. The Town square, positioned in the middle of the city, was quite huge; of course, it has to be so as to accommodate all the hanging corpses and the tortured souls that are publicized to show everyone the consequences of not following the law, or the King's wishes. One road leads to the colossal black castle up ahead. In contrast to the seemingly decaying city below it, the outer walls are luminous, totally black, and completely formidable. Beyond the castle is a dense and dangerous forest, where if a thousand men will enter, none of them will return.
This is Niflheim, the Land of the Dead.
Upon entering the courtyard, one would expect to see black horses and carriages- but here, though the setting may be medieval, the gadgets and machinery are of the latest technology. Black helicopters, very expensive "James Bond" cars, and of course, Harleys. In the inner courtyards, green foliage somehow eases the atmosphere. Great gardens with crystal clear waterfalls are to be seen. Further on, beautiful huge mansions lined the widening road, all eerily, yet elegantly black.
At last, the ominous Castle. Tremendous oak doors bar the way. Beautifully made, it depicted scenes from the book of Revelations: a serpent with seven heads, the weeping and wailing of humans in hell, Judgement day. With a loud creak, the doors open. Great halls and corridors that twist and turn can make one lose himself- or his mind. Portraits of old ancestors are hung in the walls, the eyes following the one passing by. Tapestries with morbid content adorn the cold sides. Paintings on the ceiling, encompassing even those of the great artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, portray scenes of death and the twisted faces of the tortured. Ahead, the doors of the great hall opened.
The Great Hall is the heart of the castle. Many deeds have been done here, both great and sorrowful. Its walls are all made of the material Onyx, luminous and reflective. Tall pillars reached the ceiling, making the place look threatening and petrifying. Numerous candles chase away the dark corners and those that lurk in them. A silver throne is located in the middle of the hall, a man seated upon it.
About seven feet tall, the dark haired man looked up as the heavily cloaked creature barged in the doors. His eyes shone blood red, then yellow as the sun, and finally settling on a silvery gold hue. His aristocratic features- a firm mouth, high cheekbones, and a patrician nose- makes one look in awe of him. He nods at one before him.
The dark figure in a dark cloak approached the man seated on the throne.
"You summoned, Your Majesty?"
The King looked at the kneeling person before him. He seems to observe and analyze, to probe and to seek. He then spoke. "Yes, it is about the unknown renegade wondering about Tokyo. I know it is of little importance to you but the one I assigned before was not competent enough," He paused, smirked and continued. "As you might know well, the renegade is killing more and more humans everyday, creating chaos and fear. You must handle it."
"And what happened to the one assigned before, Your Highness?"
"Well, if you must know, he was… exterminated."
A shrill cry and some jangling of chains are heard from an almost unnoticeable door leading to the torture chambers.
The King continued, "My spies will inform you of the little progress that fool made. You must know that I chose you because you are the best in the kingdom, and this massacre must be stopped for it is affecting us greatly too. Our identity may be at risk."
"Yes, I understand, Your Highness."
Pondering for a moment, the King then stared at him, his eyes ice cold blue. "You may not be too formal with me. Besides, I am your father."
Aoshi looked up at the great man, showing no emotion on his face whatsoever. "You are my King."
"Ahh… that I am also. Still, you are my son and you have certain obligations when I die. If I die." He smiled.
"You will still live a long life, Your Highness." Aoshi replied. "There is forever."
The king chuckled, his voice booming around the hall. "Ah yes, but there are always attempts in my life. No matter, I will not be defeated. You are dismissed."
The cloaked man bowed and exited the room.
"Well, what did he say?" Sano, chewing a fishbone, asked as Aoshi entered his chamber.
"He gave me an assignment"
Sano's eyebrow shot up. "It's been a long time. You sure you can handle this?"
Aoshi glanced at him.
"Hey, hey man, it's not meant to offend you." The taller one said, hands raised in resignation. "I was just wondering if you aren't a bit rusty on the edges."
"There is such a thing called practice." He threw a dagger at Sano. Sano evaded the blade just in time.
"I take it that you want to practice with me? You think you can defeat me? I'm still on tip top shape; you haven't done anything like this for years." Sano chuckled.
"Take it as you want. I've never been defeated before, everybody knows that, especially you." Or maybe there is one time at a certain apartment… Aoshi shook his head and smirked at the one facing him. He pulled on his Kodachi, the weapon that he specializes in. He readied a stance.
The younger man threw his fishbone, a smile playing at his lips. "You're on, cuz."
Misao couldn't sleep. She turned on the television and caught the late news.
"10 people were killed today at the convention center, several others wounded. Though it was a very crowded area because of the exhibit, nobody saw the attacker. 'He, she, it, (whatever) was too fast!' one bystander commented. 'It just literally flew over the victims and before we knew it, POW! They're dead!' Until now, the police are still investigating the case. However, it is advised for the people to be extra cautious."
She turned off the television. What's the world coming into? She thought, first, the terrorist attacks in the US, then the wars in Afghanistan, now this?! She sighed and walked towards the kitchen, intending to get a midnight snack.
"OUCH!"
Hopping around, Misao clutched her reddening toe. She looked at the object where she stubbed her toe. A ceramic vase. Memories of last night came rushing back to her. She shook her head, trying to clear the vague images. I don't really remember what happened last night… I just remember… cold green eyes... or is it blue? She recalled, not liking the weird feelings that suddenly rushed over her. She sighed.
"Argh! Whatever! I'm going to eat my Mochi balls! Yum yum!" ecstatic at the thought of eating her favorite food, she half-skipped, half- hopped towards her refrigerator. She opened it expecting to find a box of green tea flavored ice cream. There was none.
"NOOOOOOO!!!!! WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING INTO!??"
A/n: WAAAAAAHHHH!!! It's sooo long!! *sob sob* I can't believe I wrote such a long chapter! Arrgghhh! *iteee…* My head hurts…
I got Niflheim from my Norse mythology book. It does mean the land of the dead. *evil evil*
Oh well, sorry, not meeting of Misao and Aoshi. Don't worry, there's always another chapter *grins*.
Damn it. I have a feeling this chapter totally sucks. I'm sort of not in the mood today… sorry! Well, I hope you READ AND REVIEW! Arigato minna-san! ^_^