Author's notes: Hello! *siiigggghhhhh* at last… vacation! *sobs in relief* I haven't had a decent sleep at all this week! Garsh… now I'm going to concentrate on this. Errr… not unless there's parties and such. *grins* Oh well.
I hate Flo in Amazing race!!!! What a B*tch!!!! (just wanted to get that out of my system)
Hrrmmm. Well. Here it is then! Enjoy guyz! ^_^
Disclaimer: Bah. Screw it.
The Vampire Aoshi
By Tesuka- chan
A week passed and it was relatively peaceful. No freaky attacks or shouts of "hey, you're human! I'll eat you for supper! Ngarrr!" crap. Kaoru, Misao and Fuuma usually pass their time in the kitchen, warming themselves in the hearth. It's actually the comfiest place in the castle, vampires not being able to feel anything but cold and all that, so there aren't many fireplaces around. Misao sighed as she twirled her loose hair around her finger. Her head was on her palm, elbows on top of the huge, black table. This is totally booooring. Sure there's always the danger of us being found out – though I don't know, for the life of me, on how they haven't figured it out yet. She sighed, yet again, as she thought of Soujiro. He's not at all bad. Just… creepy, in a vampire- like sort of way. Duh. She stopped moping and looked around the food chamber.
It has a cheery glow in it, a homey feeling. Tae was bustling around, preparing for a meal. Yahiko was running around as usual, doing chores and grumbling at the same time. Battousai was outside, doing laundry for God-knows-why. She shook her head, wondering at the craziness of circumstances. She groaned and flopped her head on the table, her usual cheeriness gone. I won't think about it. I won't think about him. Forbidden thoughts were running around her head, the puking, the white flash. The kiss.
She groaned, not being able to avoid it any longer. Okay. So he's a great kisser. So what? Aaarrggh. She moaned. Drat it. It's the best kiss I've ever experienced! And I might never experience it again!
As Misao bemoaned her fate with Aoshi, Kaoru trudged in, in a kimono robe, looking disheveled and weary. "Coffee…"
She staggered her way to the table, flopping at the exact same way as Misao did a few minutes ago. "Cof-fee…"
"Now, now, what's gotten into you two? You look like you both didn't sleep at all! Having a secret rendezvous that I should know about?" Tae's eyes glittered as she put a cup of steaming hot coffee in front of Kaoru.
"Urrrmm… had a terrible nightmare. Period." Kaoru sniffed the aromatic scent and drank gratefully, the caffeine seeping into her tired bones and spicing her up. "Ahhh.. that's more like it."
*grumble grumble, groan groan*
"What's wrong with her?" Tae nodded her head towards Misao.
"I don't know. Come to think of it, she's been like that the whole week. Weird." Kaoru looked at Misao with concern clearly written on her blue eyes. "Hey," she nudged the grumbling girl, "you okay?"
"Urrmm… yeah. No!"
"Right… want to tell me about it?"
"Well, you see, Aoshi –"
"Misao- sensei! King-sama wants to se you!" Fuuma bounced inside the chamber, a smile wreathed his face, feeling all-high-and-mighty for being sent for such an important task from the king.
"Oh, so he's king-sama now eh?" Misao felt the old spark coming back to her at the sound of the boy's cheery interlude. He's such a sweet kid. Good thing the other vamps out there took a liking to him. "All right, I guess I'm decent enough! Show the way, squire!"
"Hai!" Fuuma doesn't know what 'squire' means but it sounds real cool. "This way Misao- sensei!"
She followed the eager child to the throne room, intrigued at what the king might want to tell her. I haven't seen him since the ball. I wonder… she started remembering something, something that she feels is of great importance. It was at the tip of her tongue. Then it was gone, like the passing of the wind. She blinked, then shrugged, catching up with the beckoning child.
"Sano! Nice to see you back again!"
Sano turned towards the origin of the voice. He saw a beautiful brown haired girl with green eyes, looking at him with affection. "Sayo."
Megumi turned and stared at the stunning woman walking towards them. She looked very prim and proper, not at all Sano's type. She narrowed her eyes. Who's she? Her gaze went back and forth from Sano to Sayo, the former having an amused glint in his brown eyes. Her own cinnamon brown narrowed.
"Hi! I'm Sayo. You must be…?"
Megumi flashed her most friendly smile – if you could call that friendly. "Megumi. Takane Megumi."
"Nice to meet you!" They shook hands. Sayo then turned to Sano. "How are you doing these days, Sano?"
The vampire scratched the back of his head, feeling sheepish. "I'm fine, going here and there. Sayo, this is Megumi. She's my… friend."
Startled, Megumi glanced surprisingly at Sano. Friend?
Sayo looked pityingly at the stunned woman. "I've known Sano all my life. Don't worry about him. He's always like that."
The gall of that woman! "Well, yeah. He is a jerk sometimes. Okay, most of the time."
"Hey!"
"Well, I'm just stating the fact, rooster head!"
"Fine. I'm a handsome jerk."
"Why of all the – "
Sayo shook her head in wonder. I'm so happy for you, Sano. At least now, you're able to find you're match. Her green eyes flashed at him.
Sano glanced at her momentarily and slightly nodded at her in gratitude. Megumi, not seeing the interaction between the two, kept on poking and aggravating him. "You no-good-son-of-a – "
"Hey, now, let's not go there. C'mon sweetheart, let's go to town. See ya, Sayo."
Sayo bowed and went on her way, moving down the hallway, poise and grace emanating from her. The couple turned the other way, Sano's arm going around the tall woman. Megumi was unusually quiet.
"Anything wrong?"
Megumi was silent for a time, then she spoke softly, "What is she to you, Sano?"
"Sayo? Oh, well. She was an old flame."
Megumi turned her head away, her eyes lingering outside the windows to the rose garden. "Did you love her?"
"Yes. And I still do."
The woman beside him bowed her head, her heart twisting, hurt and fear overcoming her. She can't believe it. And he's here, dallying around with her. Her hands balled into fists, Anger rising up inside. It's not going to happen again. She looked straight into his soft brown eyes, ready to strike him for his stupidity, for him being a user, when she saw something unexpected that scared her out of her wits… love.
Startled, everything was just washed away.
Sano paused, and cupped her chin in his huge hand. "It didn't work out. We were complete opposites. She was too nice and fragile, I was too rowdy and violent. Still, we do love each other… as a brother love his sister. It is different on the way I feel about you." He paused and his eyes darkened, almost black with the rising emotion he hid for so long. He had never used it, never felt it appropriate to give it away to just anyone. After all these years, he's not going to let it bury deep inside. He's going to say it now, before he chickens out. "Megumi I… I love you."
Those three words. The three words that she had waited to hear for so long… from a different man. Fear and confusion rose inside her, the fear of giving away what she had gained again after a long time. Her eyes widened and she shifted her gaze, wrenching her chin out of his grip. "I- I can't. Not yet… I- I'm sorry…" She ran away.
Tears blinded her vision, sobs of anguish threatening to escape from her trembling lips. She did not hear the cries that called her name, the distressed calls behind her. She ran, stumbling on one hallway, ducking under the next doorway. How did I end up in this situation? She finally reached outside, the fresh air and the soft light cooling her. She found a bench to sit on and sagged into it, her hands coming up to her face and elbows propped on her lap. I shouldn't have agreed to it, I shouldn't have done this. I knew this was going to happen…
She gave out a wavering sigh and thought of what happened before she went here. She found out about Sano being a vampire by "accidentally" seeing him with another girl. She was raging mad and spat out all of the possible insults she could think of that time. She had realized that there was blood around and she suddenly got worried about him. He was standing there all the time, not knowing what to do with the odd situation. She had cleaned the area around his mouth, tsk tsking all the while… and finally saw his razor sharp teeth. She had stood stunned, amazed and afraid at the same time. Then she had looked at the girl… and screamed.
Megumi ran her hands across her face, remembering. It was the most fantastic and scary thing she'd ever saw. The girl looked peaceful, as in a deep slumber, but a thin trail of blood ran down from the two puncture holes in her neck. She looked at Sano, and he was… gorgeous. She hadn't realized it earlier, but his features were defined and his eyes –oh his eyes- were a dangerous silver brown, a hint of red around it. His teeth were delicate, his mouth red. All in all, with Sano holding the pretty girl in an awkward position, it looked like a scene from the best horror picture ever. It looked dangerous and exhilarating at the same time. The death, the blood, the power.
Hmph. Maybe that's why I chose being one of them instead of death. It did seemed like the better option. Now, I don't really know. She sighed. She doesn't want to remember… the love she gave, then the hurt and pain of rejection. She didn't want to love again. That's why she was always the one playing with the frail hearts of men. Until she met Sano. So different. A good challenge. And she was wrong.
Suddenly, something was shoved into her pale hands. A steaming cup of tea. Or something that seemed and smelled like it.
"Here. I thought you might need it."
She sipped cautiously, not caring if this killed her or made her into a lunatic vampire. She found it good. She sipped more of the mysterious tea and her tensions eased, her mind cleared. She closed her eyes and some sort of a hazy light was all around her. She felt relaxed. She opened her eyes and turned to the one who offered the drink. "Thank you…" She paused and continued. "Sayo."
The elegant woman gave her a small smile. "He told you, didn't he?" Sano sighed and sat down beside the melancholy woman. "He was always like that, blunt, yet sweet at the same time. It was such a pity, I was too weak and frail, even as a vampire."
Megumi turned a questioning gaze towards her.
Sayo laughed again and then sobered. "Yes, he was the one who made me into a vampire. We thought we loved each other. But we were not meant to be. I had found another, but he kept on dallying with different women, vampires and humans." She faced Megumi, her green eyes pleading. "Give him a chance. He needs someone strong whom he can depend on. Yes, you were hurt in the past, but he was hurt more. He loves you. It's the first time he felt it. It's very hard for him to admit and even recognize it at first. I don't believe you want him to feel the same hurt and rejection that you felt."
"How did you know- ?"
The green gaze penetrated her mind. "I know because you were literally showing it to whomever pleases to see it. Your eyes are the windows to your soul. You must learn that. Now, it's full of hurt that comes from somewhere in the past. It aches, yes, but there's a remedy. Love."
Megumi nodded, making a final decision. She will take this chance. No matter how dangerous the predicament is, she will not be scared anymore and hide in a mask full of deceit- not only for others but also for herself. She will be true at last. "Yes. I see your point. Though I healed others as a doctor, I cannot heal myself." She looked at Sayo's eyes, full of gratitude. "Thank you so much. I- I must go."
Sayo smiled and shooed her away. "Go. He needs you."
She watched as the dark- haired beauty ran inside to look for Sano, pure joy and happiness written all over her face. She smiled sadly. I still love you, Sano. I hope you'll be happy with Megumi. She went on her way, going inside the palace.
Misao entered the throne room, the awe in her face clearly expressed. The elegance of this hall never ceases to amaze me. NIICCCEEE!!!
Medieval art and tapestries adorn the room, colors of red, black and green predominant in the array of colors. Stone carvings and stained glass windows are on the walls, the play of light shifting every once in a while. Sugoi! Now THIS is a castle! Wahahaha!
"Come on, Misao- sensei! Let's go to king-sama!"
"A… ha-hai!" Misao stumbled at the boy pulled the older woman towards the middle of the room. The light from the rose stained glass on the roof beamed on the throne itself. It was magnificent; it looked like an illusion. It looks different from how it looks like at night, candles all around, hardly being able to see the grandeur of the place. Now that it's illuminated, it's one of the most beautiful places she'd ever seen. The man sitting in the throne is as magnificent as the room. Beautiful… and dangerous.
"King-sama! Misao- sensei's here!" Fuuma happily chirped, bowing clumsily in front of the amused king.
"Thank you, Fuuma. You may now continue with playing in the other chamber."
"Hai!" Fuuma grinned at the king, bowed clumsily again, almost falling over, and went hopping out the chamber.
"Misao."
"Your highness." Misao did a small curtsy and faced the king. "What did you call me for?"
A chuckle was heard. "Frank, as I expected." The deep voice turned serious as it relayed the situation. "Do you remember the … incident last ball?"
"Well, vaguely, your highness."
"You may stop the 'your highness' crap. It's giving me a headache." He rubbed his temples.
Surprised and somewhat amused, Misao replied, "Well… err… king-sama," that sounds weird. "So…"
The king grinned. "I'm not exactly the stiff king you might have envisioned. Not like that stubborn son of mine," he mumbled. "I think he got that from his mother. She was always silent, I don't know what I saw in her." He sighed. "She's gone now. Some vampire- hunter killed her in thinking that he might destroy me through her. I just got angry and slaughtered him."
Errr… right. Misao thought as she observed the new side of the king. He looked young, as she first observed him in the ball. But there's a certain flicker of old wisdom mixed with mischief and light in his red eyes that she hasn't seen before. Well… weird I never knew kings are allowed to act like that.
The king laughed. "Well, we are allowed, once in a while. Still, in front of most of my subjects, I have to be the epitome of power and grandness. I'm getting sick of it. I feel like I'm schizophrenic." He massaged his temples yet again. "Good thing I won't last that long anymore in this earth. But I won't give up without a fight." He mumbled and grinned, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
Misao reddened as she realized that he read her thoughts. Why is everybody reading my thoughts? Arggh. This is exasperating. Then she thought about what she heard. He's going to die?
"Ano… what do you mean, king-sama? Are you going to vanish from the earth or something?"
The figure in the throne chuckled. "Well, I'm old. About one-thousand-five-hundred years old. I don't think I'm going to last any longer. I'm sick of all this. Yes, it's been fun with all the power and the glory, but I'm already tired. Besides, someone more powerful and more evil's out to destroy me."
"Wha- what?!" Misao exclaimed as she stared at the blood- red orbs in awe and astonishment. Someone's out to kill him? And he's OKAY about it?
"I've accepted it. It is my fate, and no one can change it." His whole being back to serious mode, he stared directly at her deep blue eyes. "Yet, there is something that I cannot determine. It seems that the fate of this kingdom is in your hands, Misao."
What? "Me? What did I do?"
"It's not what you have done, it's what you are. You are an orphan, right?"
Misao nodded, not wondering anymore on how he got his facts. Just one look at his eyes and she feels something intense looking within her. Seeking for the answers she didn't even know. "Yes. I was… abandoned as a baby in an alley. I lived as a street child for about six years. Luckily, a man adopted me and he taught me well." She unconsciously felt for her amber pendant. "I changed and I swore not to return to what I was when I was a kid."
"Yes," The king contemplated on what he had just heard. "I see all the hardships you endured. The sorrow, the hurt; for you not being able to belong anywhere. However, I do know where you came from."
Completely taken by surprise, Misao's jaw dropped. He… how could… ?! What does it mean? "What do you mean?"
"What I meant was… you are a special child. Neither human, nor vampire. You were born in a magnificent country, long destroyed by now. You are one of the evolved ones. The Ch'nage. The changed ones."
Misao had to sit down on the floor. She couldn't take this in, not just yet. Sure, the discovery that vampires exist shocked her, but this really takes it all. Her numbed mind cannot process this piece of information. However crucial.
"Your human part was dominant, so you acted and sounded like a human. Yet you have this great power, even greater than I have, inside you. It is not yet tapped. It must not be tapped into, until the time comes. Your parents… are my sister and brother-in-law. A powerful force, the same force that destroyed the whole nation, killed them. This kingdom is the farthest part of the kingdom. It is the only one that survived. It barely survived. It took thousands of years to shape it into what it is now." The king stopped his narration, pausing for a breath. "I was the one who brought you on earth, I had no choice but to leave you there. You were in danger. Now, fate has brought you here. Fate has brought you to my son."
"To your son?" Oh no… this thing is really coming now… I have a sick feeling in my gut that…
"Yes, my son, Aoshi."
Misao was petrified. Damn, drat, and dang it to hell. He's the goddamned prince of the underworld. "Ohh—kay, I'll just have to think of this a bit." I'm a grown woman, I will not puke, faint, or die in front of the king.
"You did not know?"
"Well… I- he failed to mentioned that small insignificant information to me." Yeah. Right. He haven't said anything to you.
"Well, it isn't really important. He's just the heir to the throne and the usual stuff that is expected of the prince."
Just the heir to the throne? JUST the HEIR to the throne? "Yeah, no big deal." Misao shrugged.
The king nodded. "Well, I do believe that all these have come as a shock to you. Please take your time in thinking about it. The fate of our kingdom lies in you."
"Ha- hai. I will think about it." Yeah, more like stare into a wall and think about bashing my head into it. "Thank you for informing me. I will go now." Misao bowed, and exited the throne room.
The king chuckled. She is strong, she will be able to handle this. He took out a sake cup, seemingly out of nowhere, and drank from it, settling his nerves. He is coming. He will not stop at anything this time. Red eyes narrowed, a fire burning in them. I will not back down without a fight. He drank, drank for life, for love, for fate.
Aoshi silently closed the side door, the troubled expression that was on his face earlier wiped out by his usual stoic expression. Now I know. He continued his way down the hall, thinking. Definitely no more playing around, Shinomori. He snickered and made a decision. I will dedicate myself in saving this kingdom, no matter what. Misao's face swam into his head, her innocent look, her dark blue eyes. It was quickly gone. No matter what.
A/n: Waahh! Sorry it took so long! Started it yesterday… couldn't finish it because my sister wanted to use the computer again. FUDGE! Oh well… the perks of life.
Well, sorry again if I disappointed the KxK fans. I was planning to put it here now but… looks like it'll be too long. *grins* Don't worry! I'll put 'em in the next chapter! *teeheehee…*
Thanks so much for the fantastic reviews!!! ^_^
(darn. My connection's really crazy now, so I won't be able to thank all of you personally now… gomen! At least it's faster, ne? ) Thanks, all the same! :P
Please, READ AND REVIEW!