Standard Disclaimers Apply
===
Onna--Don't worry! Kenshin will hurry.
Leigh--Forget? Who says I'll make Kaoru forget Kenshin? -_-; Maybe...
Shin-chan--Japanese translation? I'm no japanese, you know. I don't even have japanese dictionary anywhere. But I'll try, ne?
Dfourthhorseman--I know the chaps been getting awfully short, but, I type write away, so faster chaps, ne?
Chibi-angel--Cliffhangers...I've been getting those lately. But, as you said, fast chaps. I don't want to leave anyone haning over the cliff, ne? ^_^
Thank you so much for your reviews!
===
--====--
Chapter 8: Welcoming to the Clan
--====--
Kaoru groaned, shifting slightly. The ground where she lay was cold and hard, making her eyes open. Looking around, she saw that she was in some sort of a room, the floor a hard gray marble. There was a bed in one corner, a full-lenght mirror in another. A beautiful wood-carved closet was leaning on one part of the wall, and a large table and chair across from her.
"Where am I...?" She asked herself, standing. Kaoru felt a little dizzy, and a sharp pain by the back of her neck made her vision to go a bit blurry. //Knocked out-cold. I hate it when I'm so helpless.// She heard the door open.
"Oh, my. I see that you're already awake," Hoshi's voice said, coolly regarding her. "Well, you are one tough woman."
Kaoru glared at her direction. "What is the meaning of this? I demand to be released!" She said, stomping her foot for emphasis.
Hoshi laughed coldly. "Oh, Tsuki, do you think I made my men kidnap you just for you to be released? You're such a fool to think that!"
"What happened to my friends?" Kaoru asked, suddenly fearing for their life.
"Oh, them." Hoshi yawned, waving her arms. "They are alive, don't worry."
Kaori sighed with relief, then glared at Hoshi again. "What do you want from me, Hoshi?"
"For you to stay here and lead the clan, of course. For an intelligent woman, you sure are dense."
"I dare you to say that again!" Kaoru growled.
Hoshi smirked, saying nothing, then turning around. "Come with me. There is a small party just for you, dear cousin."
Though Kaoru was reluctant to leave the room, she followed, thinking any option for her to escape. But when she entered the main hall, there were so many vampire warriors guarding every entrance and exit that she thought otherwise. On the main table, Kaoru saw her aunt, Yume and her uncle, Honou. They looked at her with a smile, even though they held some sort of sorrow. Hoshi sat on one end of the table, Kaoru on the other.
The room was not so empty as like the other rooms. A bright chandelier was in the middle of the huge room. Flags of red and orange draped over the walls. Few candles were lit, dimly iluminating the room. The table was filled with so many exotic foods, that Kaoru wondered how is she ever going to taste every one of them.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hoshi announced. "I would like to present to you, my dear cousin, one of the 'Chosen Ones' and destined leader, Tsuki."
Clapping rose from the silent room, echoing. Though she was welcomed, Kaoru sensed something to be wrong. She didn't have to ponder it very long, when dinner was to be served. Kaoru ate silently, not speaking to any person seated on the table. Finally, during desert, Hoshi raised from her seat, holding a small cup.
"Tsuki, cousin, please drink this. This is may be the last cup of warm tea that you'll ever drink in your life," Hoshi whispered, placing it in front of her. "Saa, drink." She urged.
Tentatively, Kaoru took the cup. Slowly, she raised it to her lips. Hoshi watched in silent delight as Kaoru drank until the last drop. She turned to the other guests, who watched quietly, and smiled at them.
"Welcome to our clan, Tsuki!" Hoshi cried, her voice loud and clear. That was when Kaoru's hand began to tremble and she dropped the glass teacup, shattering on the floor.
--==--
Rei led the group to the busy streets of Yokohama, his straw hat shadowing his face. He wore only a simple green gi and brown hakama, and like Kenshin, had a sword strapped to his side. He wore his black arm protector, and to the people surrounding him, they only thought of him as a wandering samurai.
Yahiko held his shinai, resting it on his shoulders. At the end of the bamboo sword, a small bag hung lightly. Inside were only some clothes and food. Sano followed the boy not far behind, wearing the same clothes and carrying nothing. Kenshin, on the other hand, had changed his usual red gi for a forest green one, while his white hakama was traded for a black one. His trusty sakabatou was resting on his side, and a simple bag was tied to his back. All their money was kept inside his gi.
They walked on, until they passed the crowded streets and into more secluded places in Yokohama.
"Rei-dono, how far are we to the mountain?" Kenshin asked.
"Not very far, Himura-san. We have a short walk down this path, then we sharply go into the forest," Rei answered. "That way, we could get to the mountain trail much faster."
Kenshin nodded, not saying anything. Sure enough, after they walked a bit farther, Rei gestured for them to go into the forest. They had some difficulties with the thorny shrubs and low branches but they came out just fine. True to what Rei had said, there was a mountain trail leading onwards, hidden from prying eyes.
Suddenly, Rei stopped, and so did Kenshin. Sano and Yahiko wore confused look on their faces.
"What's the matter, Kenshin?" Sano asked.
"Quiet." Rei said. There was a squack of a raven, and the breeze blew the through the branches. Then, five shadows loomed overhead.
"Who are you?" Kenshin asked.
"We are the ones who were suppose to ask that," One of them said, taking his weapons. The other four followed suit.
"Don't they know you, Rei?" Yahiko asked, readying his shinai.
"They do, I think, but Hoshi must've ordered them to not let anyone pass," Rei answered. "And I have a sinking feeling that I have a price on my head." He added dryly.
Sano smirked, cracking his knuckles loudly. "Well, then, we could teach them a lesson." He said.
"Right, and then we could save Kaoru!" Yahiko continued.
Rei smiled at their determination. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Four battle cries echoed thoughout the forest.
------To Be Continued-------------
===
Onna--Don't worry! Kenshin will hurry.
Leigh--Forget? Who says I'll make Kaoru forget Kenshin? -_-; Maybe...
Shin-chan--Japanese translation? I'm no japanese, you know. I don't even have japanese dictionary anywhere. But I'll try, ne?
Dfourthhorseman--I know the chaps been getting awfully short, but, I type write away, so faster chaps, ne?
Chibi-angel--Cliffhangers...I've been getting those lately. But, as you said, fast chaps. I don't want to leave anyone haning over the cliff, ne? ^_^
Thank you so much for your reviews!
===
--====--
Chapter 8: Welcoming to the Clan
--====--
Kaoru groaned, shifting slightly. The ground where she lay was cold and hard, making her eyes open. Looking around, she saw that she was in some sort of a room, the floor a hard gray marble. There was a bed in one corner, a full-lenght mirror in another. A beautiful wood-carved closet was leaning on one part of the wall, and a large table and chair across from her.
"Where am I...?" She asked herself, standing. Kaoru felt a little dizzy, and a sharp pain by the back of her neck made her vision to go a bit blurry. //Knocked out-cold. I hate it when I'm so helpless.// She heard the door open.
"Oh, my. I see that you're already awake," Hoshi's voice said, coolly regarding her. "Well, you are one tough woman."
Kaoru glared at her direction. "What is the meaning of this? I demand to be released!" She said, stomping her foot for emphasis.
Hoshi laughed coldly. "Oh, Tsuki, do you think I made my men kidnap you just for you to be released? You're such a fool to think that!"
"What happened to my friends?" Kaoru asked, suddenly fearing for their life.
"Oh, them." Hoshi yawned, waving her arms. "They are alive, don't worry."
Kaori sighed with relief, then glared at Hoshi again. "What do you want from me, Hoshi?"
"For you to stay here and lead the clan, of course. For an intelligent woman, you sure are dense."
"I dare you to say that again!" Kaoru growled.
Hoshi smirked, saying nothing, then turning around. "Come with me. There is a small party just for you, dear cousin."
Though Kaoru was reluctant to leave the room, she followed, thinking any option for her to escape. But when she entered the main hall, there were so many vampire warriors guarding every entrance and exit that she thought otherwise. On the main table, Kaoru saw her aunt, Yume and her uncle, Honou. They looked at her with a smile, even though they held some sort of sorrow. Hoshi sat on one end of the table, Kaoru on the other.
The room was not so empty as like the other rooms. A bright chandelier was in the middle of the huge room. Flags of red and orange draped over the walls. Few candles were lit, dimly iluminating the room. The table was filled with so many exotic foods, that Kaoru wondered how is she ever going to taste every one of them.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hoshi announced. "I would like to present to you, my dear cousin, one of the 'Chosen Ones' and destined leader, Tsuki."
Clapping rose from the silent room, echoing. Though she was welcomed, Kaoru sensed something to be wrong. She didn't have to ponder it very long, when dinner was to be served. Kaoru ate silently, not speaking to any person seated on the table. Finally, during desert, Hoshi raised from her seat, holding a small cup.
"Tsuki, cousin, please drink this. This is may be the last cup of warm tea that you'll ever drink in your life," Hoshi whispered, placing it in front of her. "Saa, drink." She urged.
Tentatively, Kaoru took the cup. Slowly, she raised it to her lips. Hoshi watched in silent delight as Kaoru drank until the last drop. She turned to the other guests, who watched quietly, and smiled at them.
"Welcome to our clan, Tsuki!" Hoshi cried, her voice loud and clear. That was when Kaoru's hand began to tremble and she dropped the glass teacup, shattering on the floor.
--==--
Rei led the group to the busy streets of Yokohama, his straw hat shadowing his face. He wore only a simple green gi and brown hakama, and like Kenshin, had a sword strapped to his side. He wore his black arm protector, and to the people surrounding him, they only thought of him as a wandering samurai.
Yahiko held his shinai, resting it on his shoulders. At the end of the bamboo sword, a small bag hung lightly. Inside were only some clothes and food. Sano followed the boy not far behind, wearing the same clothes and carrying nothing. Kenshin, on the other hand, had changed his usual red gi for a forest green one, while his white hakama was traded for a black one. His trusty sakabatou was resting on his side, and a simple bag was tied to his back. All their money was kept inside his gi.
They walked on, until they passed the crowded streets and into more secluded places in Yokohama.
"Rei-dono, how far are we to the mountain?" Kenshin asked.
"Not very far, Himura-san. We have a short walk down this path, then we sharply go into the forest," Rei answered. "That way, we could get to the mountain trail much faster."
Kenshin nodded, not saying anything. Sure enough, after they walked a bit farther, Rei gestured for them to go into the forest. They had some difficulties with the thorny shrubs and low branches but they came out just fine. True to what Rei had said, there was a mountain trail leading onwards, hidden from prying eyes.
Suddenly, Rei stopped, and so did Kenshin. Sano and Yahiko wore confused look on their faces.
"What's the matter, Kenshin?" Sano asked.
"Quiet." Rei said. There was a squack of a raven, and the breeze blew the through the branches. Then, five shadows loomed overhead.
"Who are you?" Kenshin asked.
"We are the ones who were suppose to ask that," One of them said, taking his weapons. The other four followed suit.
"Don't they know you, Rei?" Yahiko asked, readying his shinai.
"They do, I think, but Hoshi must've ordered them to not let anyone pass," Rei answered. "And I have a sinking feeling that I have a price on my head." He added dryly.
Sano smirked, cracking his knuckles loudly. "Well, then, we could teach them a lesson." He said.
"Right, and then we could save Kaoru!" Yahiko continued.
Rei smiled at their determination. "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Four battle cries echoed thoughout the forest.
------To Be Continued-------------