Author's notes: Hallo minna-san! ^_^ Well, I decided that I should type another chapter before I go back to school from our long vacation because I will most probably not be able to write for at most a week because of the mountain of work that our damned teachers will give us. (waha! run- on sentence… I don't care!!) *sigh* I have no social life anymore. Wait a second, what's social life? *blank face* I haven't come across that term in years. *blank blank*
Oh well. At least I have planned some of the events out already *yeah! Clap clap* That's a first for me. ^_^ And it's really exciting too, if I do say so myself. *beaming proud*
Well… yes, I'm Pinay… and proud to be! *gets a medal for loyalty* ahehehe… ^_^ amidst all the chaos, there is still hope and light. *naks! Waaahhhttever!*
Er…. Here it is! Enjoy reading!
Disclaimer: I own Rurouni Kenshin. So sue me. *raises up hands* all right, all right… I don't! Please don't sue me… please!!! *begs down on her knees and pokes at the policeman*
The Vampire Aoshi
By Tesuka- chan
The heavy door of the library was silently opened, this gone unnoticed by the cheery group that gathered around the room. Shrieks and some bickering abruptly stopped as a woman's shy voice 'ahermed' and called attention.
"My master, the King, summons you all to the Great Chamber in an hour's time." The servant bowed meekly and turned away and silently closed the door, oblivious to the astonished stares that were directed towards her.
"Well… now why would he want to see us?" Kaoru said thoughtfully.
"Well, Tanuki, we seldom have visitors here, and it is customary for them to be presented to the king." Sano smirked. "The king won't be alone. Other nobles and those of high ranks will also be there. In other words, you'd be like some specimen observed under the microscope."
Midnight blue eyes flared. "Who are you calling Tanuki?!"
"Ohohoho! And just when did you get all smart on me now, rooster head? Ohohoho!"
"I've picked up some things along as the centuries passed by," the tall vampire grinned, "besides, it works well with the women."
"Hey! Is anyone listening to me?!" Kaoru rambled on.
Misao sat, looking thoughtfully at nothing in particular, thinking of the scrutiny ahead. Uh oh… all of those creepy ancient vampires out there that's just itching to get fresh blood! Gah! She shuddered, imagining dirty old vampires reaching for a grope. Yuck. No thank you. "May we not go?"
Blue- green eyes flashed. "It would be an insult to the king, and it might mean death to the visitor for not accepting the hospitality given to him or her." Aoshi's eyes lightened. "Don't worry, we're all civil here."
"Well, in that case, I'll gladly go!" Misao nervously exclaimed. "Do I have to change or something?" Her face scrounged up, not wanting to go through the ordeal of choosing another dress. Sure they're all nice and gorgeous, which really suits me, but it's such a bother going through all that dust and… cockroaches and… lace… yuck. Definitely not the lace please.
"No, you already look fine in that dress, Misao." Aoshi quietly spoke.
Misao blushed, heating up at the compliment.
Sano shrugged and said, "Well, that's that. I'm gonna give foxy lady here a tour of the castle before the big presentation." He circled his arms around the furious Megumi's waist.
"Haven't I told you before not to call me fox? It makes me sound like an animal, rooster head!"
"Now who's calling animal names here?"
"Well you started it first! And I'm not going to tour with you… I still have to fix my hair, my make- up…"
"You already look damned fine to me… Come on! Let's go!" Sano stirred Megumi out of the room and into the hallway.
Fuuma then silently trudged towards his sensei while rubbing his eyes with his fist. "Kaoru- san, I want to take a nappy."
"All right, I'll take you to your room. We still have an hour anyway." Kaoru picked up the sleepy boy and paused by the door, and called back to Misao. "Coming?"
"Yeah!" Misao stood up the chair and took a glimpse at the vampire. The raging fire on the fireplace silhouetted him, shadows playing over his handsome face. His expression was stoic as usual, but his eyes were misty, thinking about something. His hair was arranged around his face in such a way that makes him look like an angel. Yeah, more like the devil. He really is handsome, though. Too bad he's a vamp. She sighed and turned around, walking towards the door. "See you later, Aoshi- sama."
"Misao, wait."
The startled girl stopped in her tracks, her heart beating rapidly. Did he read my mind again? Drat it… I should practice shielding my thoughts… "Yes?"
The vampire stood, and walked towards her. Stopping right before her, towering over her, making her look up at him. "Do you know…" He paused, then shook his head and sat back down on one of the nearby chairs. "Never mind. Thank you, Misao."
Confused and intrigued, Misao lightly bowed and left the room. Now that's weird. I wonder what he was going to tell me? Maybe he wanted to warn me about my outrageous thoughts… I really should take control of them and my imagination. She walked in the hall, the sound of her tapping sandals echoing in the hallway.
I really should stop this. Aoshi thought as he stared at the flames, flickering and dancing. What is she to me anyway? She's just some dumb human vermin. I'll have to check at my emotions. His eyes suddenly flickered at that realization. Since when did I start having emotions again? I'm just confused. I have to think of the case. He continued staring at the flames, now red, now orange, now light blue. It froze, an icicle that resembled the vampire's now frozen heart.
Damn it to hell…
Misao turned sharply to her left, expecting to see the entrance to the Great Hall. Instead, another long hallway turned up, lined with ancient armors, eerily guarding the halls, watching the ones who passes by. She nervously picked up her pace, her feet tapping more urgently. This gives me the creeps. I never thought the castle could be so huge… and I'm lost!!! Who knows whatever weird creature might be waiting around the next corner, ready to pounce on a helpless victim, sucking out all the blood… WAAAHHH!!! Kami- sama… help me! She then paused, vaguely hearing someone come up behind her. Relax… relax… She turned around slowly. Nothing.
Okay. Imagination running berserk again. Come on! You're going to be late! She started sprinting down the hallway, looking for a door of some sort.
*Tap tap tap*
No! Someone or something's after me! She ran faster, frantically twisting around, trying to see the pursuer.
*Tap tap tap*
This is definitely not my imagination!
She turned to the right and… *OOOMMMPPHHH!*
Iteeee… She patted the lump in her head and looked up. Blue eyes, as blue as the sky, stared down at her. A smile so kind and friendly, one would want to laugh and smile with him. "Hello there. Are you lost?"
Misao nodded dumbly.
The stranger smiled once more. "My name is Soujiro. You must be the newcomer. I am glad to be your acquaintance." He held out his hand, pale and soft like a baby's. She shook it. "Well now, are you going to the Great Hall? May I accompany you there?"
"Su- sure." Misao stuttered, still not recovering completely from the previous scare and the shock of meeting this man. "My name is Misao." She gave a tentative smile and placed her hand on the arm that he offered. "Are you a vampire too?"
Wait… uh oh. Baaadd question. "Well.. I- I mean… have you been here long?"
Soujiro laughed, perfect white teeth flashing, making her feel comfortable around him. "Well, you really must be new here. Everyone allowed in this castle must be a vampire. And I've practically lived here all my life. Well, I do go out sometimes but I prefer being here. This is a beautiful place." He said wistfully, looking out the windows they're passing that overlooks the rose garden.
"Yes, it is a beautiful place. A bit imposing but both mysterious and magnificent at the same time." Misao said. She looked at him, noting his fine chiseled features and the bright smile that flashed at her. Too much for the dirty old vampires that I imagined. Is everyone here so gorgeous? She shook her head and stared at the hallway in front of her. "Sooo… have you ever tried to learn how to drive?"
Soujiro scrounged up his face, looking quite adorable. "I've tried it but if I remember it right, I earned a total of five violations on my first day. I never drove ever since. I'm the best in horseback riding though."
"Well! You and Kaoru might get along well… though she's as stubborn as they come." Light laughter tinkled along the hallway as the two walked leisurely towards the Great Hall.
Aoshi looked up from his favorite place in the garden when he heard light laughter coming from inside the castle. The glitter in his blue eyes and the small smile forming on his face was suddenly wiped out as he saw Misao with Soujiro, going along well together. His fingers crushed the thorny stem of the rose that he was holding, unaware of the blood flowing freely on his hands.
"Presenting, your Royal Highness, the King of Nifleheim!"
*Clap Clap Clap*
Gaaahhh… Yawn! I'm bored out of my mind here. Misao thought as she tried to keep up the fake smile plastered on her face. She had been meeting lots of nobles, lords and ladies, bowing and greeting like a stiff puppet. I'm not made for these kinds of parties. She stifled a yawn. Well, at least the king's here at last. Geesh, no wonder these people need immortal life. It would take three lifetimes to wait for the king to come out of his shell. Doesn't he know what punctuality means?
She glanced at Kaoru, speaking to another noble, Enishi. He had white hair and pure silver eyes, his attention completely concentrated on Kaoru. Okay, that is one creepy vampire. She shifted her gaze at Fuuma, who was pampered by most of the female population of the vampires. Well now, ain't he the popular one. She saw Sano and Megumi in a group, flirting with everyone there, trying to get one another jealous. She chuckled at this and her eyes scanned the room and settled at one particular smiling man. He's not so bad. He's a cool friend… that Soujiro guy's actually the nicest vampire I've met the whole day. Speaking of male vamps, I wonder where… She felt someone pull at her and whisper at her ear. "Come on, it is time for you to be presented to the king."
Irritated, she turned her blazing blue eyes to Aoshi. "All right, all right, now don't be in a huff. I'll just get Kaoru and Fuuma." She stalked off, not exactly understanding why she acted that way. It's the whispering thing. It gives me the creeps. A small voice inside her head added, or maybe it gives you the shivers? It's two completely different things, girl. Her normal state of thinking protested. Oh shut up.
Reaching Kaoru, she tapped her friend's shoulder. "Come on Kaoru, it's time!"
The woman swiftly turned, her eyes showing gratitude. "Thanks!" She whispered, "Enishi's well and good but he's… well… weird. There's something in his eyes that…"
Misao looked at her strangely. "Okay, never mind." Kaoru shook her head and tried to scan for Fuuma. There's sort of some weird obsession in his eyes that really scared me. Well, I might just be tired of all this. She spotted him talking to the womenfolk. Aww… how cute. Just a boy and already a heartthrob. After some pushing and prodding, she was at last able to extract Fuuma from the group. Well, here we go!
Misao patted out her tunic and placed a cheery look on her face. Here we go then!
"Your Royal Highness, presenting… Makimachi Misao!"
Misao stepped forward, a confident smile on her face. She studied the king, his surprisingly finely toned body garbed in gaudy clothes that peculiarly suits him. His face, however, was young, smooth with no wrinkles. His long, wavy hair shone in the candle light, lustrous and full. Then Misao got a jolt as she stared in his eyes… his eyes were the most magnificent silvery- red, staring straight at anyone, trying to see into everything, revealing secrets, creating fear. She was suddenly lost in them.
She closed her eyes, and opened them again.
She was in an endless void, different colors swimming all around her, the more prominent ones were of silver and red. She was floating in some sort of a dense atmosphere.
Where am I?
Makimachi Misao. Who are you truly? And why are you here? A deep voice resonated all around her, seeping into her body, her bones.
I… I am me. I'm just an ordinary girl… What do you mean?
You are not one of us. Why are you here?
I- I don't know.
You are a vermin. You must be executed. You must die.
No, please! I beg you, don't! There's something I must do…
And what is that?
There's something of importance… I do not remember. I only know that it is of great significance… for your kind and for the humans.
Yes. I see now. It is not yet revealed to you, your true identity. Your true purpose. You must wait and be patient. The voice started to fade away.
Wha- wait! I don't understand! I didn't know where that came from!
It's hidden deep inside you… until the time comes… patience. The voice was gone.
"Misao… Misao! Hey!" someone furiously whispered at her ear.
Misao jolted pout of her reverie, eyes misty and confused. What does that mean? What is this all about? "Wha- what?"
"Bow, you idiot! It's the king!" Kaoru hissed.
Misao looked at the king, as glorious as ever. He seemed to nod at her, his face showing no emotions whatsoever. She quickly did a curtsy and stepped back. Darn it all! What the hell is happening to me!?!
"Misao, shall we dance?" Aoshi held out his hand at the confused woman, waiting for her answer. Strange, something must've happened between her and father. "Are you all right?"
"Why… uh… yes of course! Why would you say that? Ehehehe…" Misao took his hand. "Though I warn you, I'm not good at all in dancing." She wrinkled her dainty little nose.
Cute. He coughed and said, "Well, just follow my lead. Try not to step on my toes."
"Haha. I didn't know the icy vampire has a sense of humor." Misao smirked.
"Well I didn't know too." Aoshi said quietly to himself as he whisked Misao away to the dance floor, every pair of eyes on them, thinking of the two people that are complete opposites but that complement each other very well, very well indeed.
Author's notes: Bah. Okay, if you're kind of confused, that's a normal thing. Frankly, I'm quite confused myself! Ahahaha! Joke… of course I know what's going to happen… nyahahaha! (well… I think…) *grin* ^_^
Ah! Aoshi's in a weird position, isn't he? Ahahaha! I'm such a mean author… mixing up[ people's feeling like that… *evil grin* well, hopefully, the next chapter will reveal what he really feels. Nyehehehe.
Oh, If you're wondering who the king is, well, he's not a character in Rurouni Kenshin. I sort of just made him up. Don't worry, he won't show up anymore. He's just some powerful king who really looks into people's minds. I just showed Misao's because… well, he just looked in HER mind, not in Kaoru's mind or Fuuma's. gaah. I wrote a really weird chapter this time, didn't I? *sigh*
Oh god. I forgot Kenshin again. *hides form the evil mob that's chasing her* Maa maa… he's going to come out the next chapter… and washing too! Ahahaha!!! :P
Oh well, just wanted to say thank you, THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone! ^_^
Yuko Hoon: Well.. thanks about the info! *grin* But I'm thinking of changing him to Shougou instead… I don't know… so that the readers can actually see or something? Well, I'll put up something later! ^_^
DarkFairy: Thanks! ^_^ Well… I don't know if this one's good… not much humor. No more roaches… *awww.. how sad* Well, I'll try better next time!
A. Pikachu: Oi! Kabayan! *waves hands crazily in the air* cool.. never thought there'd be many of us here. Ehehe.
Neko- chan: Thanks! Love the roach bit. Ehehehe. :P
JadOo: Oops! Thanks for reminding me!!! darn… I'm too lazy to change it. Let's just say it's Fuuma, okay? Hahaha! :P Ketchup song my ass.
The *Spangled* Pandemonium: Wow! You're pinoy also? Wahahaha! Cooolll… we're taking all over the world! *looks around cautiously* Okay, that's a scary statement… wow… I'm soo happy! *grin grin*
Lebleuphenix: thanks! Well, Misao's not ACTUALLY a vampire… not yet anyway. Oops! *clomps hand over mouth* well… ehehehe…
Karasu: yeah! All right… *sings the game k na ba theme song… tantantantan…* wahahaha! The host just irritates me though…
Lil_witch: Yeah… can you believe that? Aoshi blushed… wahahaha! Oocness… *grin* Well, Megumi is a vampire already here. I have just yet to mention it. Damn. I knew I forgot something.
Selph: Thanks! Glad you like it! I know… it's crazy 'coz I'm crazy! Bwahahaha! ^_^'
Nekonomiko: Hello a-la-vampire with a cape! Gomen for not making Kenshin show up here… he's gonna show up in the next chapter… don't worry! I'll bring them all together in one place so it wouldn't be so hard for me! ^_^
Thanks so much! Hope you keep READING AND REVIEWING! *hint hint* luv ya guyz! ^_^