Standard Disclaimers Apply
Author's Notes: Already 50 reviews! *dances happily* I'm so proud! *sniff* This is my second fic, and look, very much alive! *grins* I really hate school. It takes all of my energy. I can't type my chaps because my brain is so dry, and curfew is already implimented! *cries* Oh, well. I can type during Fridays, anyway. It'll make me so charged up the next day!
===
Onna--Maybe brainwashed is a strong word. Hoshi didn't ask her to do anything, didn't she?
Omochi--Yes, Hoshi WILL regret bringing Kaoru into the clan! Hihihihi...
Chibi-angel--I agree with you. Sano is quite smart and wise. I just wanted to give him something to think about, ne?
Shin-chan--Hoshii? But, Hoshi's name is meant to mean as 'star', and I can't just change it just like that. I already wrote ten chapters, but thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it. ^^
Kamimura Kaoru--Yeah, I know, I don't want it to end yet. *sigh* It gets too much excitement out of me. New ficcie? Suggestions? From me? I don't want to say any ideas here, publicly speaking. You can e-mail me.
Thank you also to SakuraCherryBlossom, Omochi, Tsuki-sama and Silvertenshi for reviewing. Thanks for all your comments! Please, review more!
===
--====--
Chapter 11: Remember
--====--
Kaoru woke up early, and dressed herself quickly. She took some kunais that rested on the table, as well as a kodachi. She slid on her arm protector, then tied her hair with a silver elastic by the nape of her neck. Taking her black cloak, which rested on the bed, she went out from camp and decided to roam around the nearby surroundings.
Selected vampire warriors were on guard, but shielded themselves from the bright rays of the sun. Kaoru only acknowledged them with a slight nod, before she walked out from the gate. The forest was filled with sounds of insects and chirps of the birds, perched in branches. With a small smile playing on her lips, she jumped up into a high tree and settled down comfortably on its wide branch. Few animals went to her curiously. Kaoru coaxed them to her, then handing them some berries and nuts, before the settled on her lap, eating peacefully. Just when she was starting to find tranquility, voices from the ground shattered the earthly silence. Annoyed, she stealthily jumped down, before hiding in dark shadows.
"Come on, Yahiko-chan. You've got to keep up! Don't doze off!"
"Don't call me '-CHAN'!!! And, no, I'm not dozing off, baka tori!"
"I thought I told you two to keep it down and don't argue."
"Gomen, Rei, but this kid seems to be sleepy."
"Maa, maa, Sano. Give Yahiko a break. After all, a young man needs his rest."
"Your opinion, Kenshin, but not mine!"
"And I really thought that the three of you humans wanted to save Kao- chan."
"Oh, we do, we really do want to save Jou-chan."
"But, where's the seriousness?"
"Tori atama doesn't know what the word 'seriousness' means."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"Yeah, right."
"Calm down, Sano, Yahiko. Rei-dono is right. Isn't it a bit early to argue?"
In the darkness, Kaoru's eyes gleamed with slight amusement. Saving? It must be some sort of a joke. Saving people is quite serious, but this group doesn't seem to have that much determination, well, for her point of view. Too much cheerfulness, the atmosphere light. There was no tense aura hovering above them. Just plain...people. They were themselves.
Rei's eyes rolled, then stopped on a certain point in the forest. He could feel it. The aura was not hostile, nor was it friendly either. The person just seemed to stand there, only to watch them, no attacks needed, no confrontation. It didn't even move.
"Who are you?" Rei's voice rang clear.
Kaoru stood there, a bit startled. So, one of them had sensed her. But, she hid her ki well, didn't she? How then...? She bit her lip. There was a decision to be made. Either she step out from her place, or she make a break for it. Wait a minute. Wasn't that man...Rei? What was her cousin doing in a place like this?
"Rei-dono, there is someone here?" Kenshin asked, hands poised on his sword hilt.
"Hai, but the person seemed to be content standing on the shadows, though," Rei answered, eyes a bit puzzled. "He doesn't want to come out, I suppose."
"Can we make him come out?" Yahiko asked.
"I don't know. We don't know the person's purpose, or it may be waiting to attack at the right moment." Rei replied.
"Rei-chan? What are you doing with them?" A female voice asked. She began to step out into the sunlight.
There was a collective gasp.
Kaoru's icy blue eyes met their gazes.
--==--
"What?!" Hoshi snapped, then banged her fist on the table. "You let Tsuki go out into the woods?!" The warrior shrunk back, Hoshi's aura flaring. She was angry and irritated at the same time. What did Kaoru want?
"Yes, Hoshi-sama. She told us she just wanted to go out for a walk." The warrior explained, bowing several times in apology.
"I'm going out as well! I'm going to find Tsuki and bring her back here! Who knows what she'll do?!" Hoshi huffed, taking her sword. "Don't tell anyone that both of us are out, understood?"
"As you wish, Hoshi-sama."
Hoshi slammed the door behind her, cursing. Kaoru had to go out in the camp. There was a report last night sent to her that the tresspassers were already near, and they will be by their camp by, at least, early afternoon. What if Kaoru spotted them? Hoshi was almost afraid that Kaoru's memory might return. And if that happened, all hell will break loose.
--==--
Kenshin stood rooted on the spot, his heart aching. Kaoru's eyes weren't the warm, comforting gaze that she gave everytime she looked at him. No, they were not. It was hard, but not completely merciless. And after seeing her, he was pale. Was she...?
"Kaoru...?" He asked quietly. Kaoru glanced at him, her face a bit confused. "Kaoru? Is that you?"
"You, swordsman, why do you call me Kaoru?" She asked, looking as his violet eyes was filled with hurt. She felt bad. He looked so sorrowful and hurt, that she wanted to hug him and bring comfort.
Wait a minute.
What was she thinking?
"You must be the tresspassers I heard about," Kaoru said, taking each of their figures and faces. "Rei-chan, how could you?"
"Kao-chan, listen to me--"
"No!" She cried. "You're betraying our clan! Humans have no right to be here!"
"Kao-chan..." Rei pleaded.
"Don't call me by that name!" Kaoru snarled, unsheathing her kodachi. "I am not Kaoru! My name is not Kaoru! I am...I am..."
"Jou-chan, what are you talking about?! You're Kamiya Kaoru!" Sano said, taking a step forward.
"Stay back!" Kaoru warned, taking a small step backward. "I don't know any woman named Kamiya Kaoru! I am not her! I am Tsuki! I am one of the Chosen Ones! I am a vampire...!" She finished, her eyes frantically moving.
"Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered, his heart twisting. It hurt him, seeing that his beloved was no more with him. She was lost, forever.
"No, Kao-chan, listen to me! You are drugged, I'm sure of it! Did Hoshi give you anything to drink?" Rei asked, putting his hand on her shoulders.
"Drink...?" Her small voice asked.
"Yes, something, anything, that she offered you!"
/Offer./ Somewhere, back in Kaoru's head, a soft and calm voice began to emerge from her thoughts.
"Kao-chan, do not take anything that Hoshi offers."
There, she could remember a scene, a banquet, in her honor. Hoshi was handing her a small teacup. What was she saying?
One word escaped from Kaoru's mouth.
"Tea." She said, before she passed out, hanging limply in Rei's arms.
------To Be Continued-------------
Author's Notes: Already 50 reviews! *dances happily* I'm so proud! *sniff* This is my second fic, and look, very much alive! *grins* I really hate school. It takes all of my energy. I can't type my chaps because my brain is so dry, and curfew is already implimented! *cries* Oh, well. I can type during Fridays, anyway. It'll make me so charged up the next day!
===
Onna--Maybe brainwashed is a strong word. Hoshi didn't ask her to do anything, didn't she?
Omochi--Yes, Hoshi WILL regret bringing Kaoru into the clan! Hihihihi...
Chibi-angel--I agree with you. Sano is quite smart and wise. I just wanted to give him something to think about, ne?
Shin-chan--Hoshii? But, Hoshi's name is meant to mean as 'star', and I can't just change it just like that. I already wrote ten chapters, but thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it. ^^
Kamimura Kaoru--Yeah, I know, I don't want it to end yet. *sigh* It gets too much excitement out of me. New ficcie? Suggestions? From me? I don't want to say any ideas here, publicly speaking. You can e-mail me.
Thank you also to SakuraCherryBlossom, Omochi, Tsuki-sama and Silvertenshi for reviewing. Thanks for all your comments! Please, review more!
===
--====--
Chapter 11: Remember
--====--
Kaoru woke up early, and dressed herself quickly. She took some kunais that rested on the table, as well as a kodachi. She slid on her arm protector, then tied her hair with a silver elastic by the nape of her neck. Taking her black cloak, which rested on the bed, she went out from camp and decided to roam around the nearby surroundings.
Selected vampire warriors were on guard, but shielded themselves from the bright rays of the sun. Kaoru only acknowledged them with a slight nod, before she walked out from the gate. The forest was filled with sounds of insects and chirps of the birds, perched in branches. With a small smile playing on her lips, she jumped up into a high tree and settled down comfortably on its wide branch. Few animals went to her curiously. Kaoru coaxed them to her, then handing them some berries and nuts, before the settled on her lap, eating peacefully. Just when she was starting to find tranquility, voices from the ground shattered the earthly silence. Annoyed, she stealthily jumped down, before hiding in dark shadows.
"Come on, Yahiko-chan. You've got to keep up! Don't doze off!"
"Don't call me '-CHAN'!!! And, no, I'm not dozing off, baka tori!"
"I thought I told you two to keep it down and don't argue."
"Gomen, Rei, but this kid seems to be sleepy."
"Maa, maa, Sano. Give Yahiko a break. After all, a young man needs his rest."
"Your opinion, Kenshin, but not mine!"
"And I really thought that the three of you humans wanted to save Kao- chan."
"Oh, we do, we really do want to save Jou-chan."
"But, where's the seriousness?"
"Tori atama doesn't know what the word 'seriousness' means."
"Hey! I resent that!"
"Yeah, right."
"Calm down, Sano, Yahiko. Rei-dono is right. Isn't it a bit early to argue?"
In the darkness, Kaoru's eyes gleamed with slight amusement. Saving? It must be some sort of a joke. Saving people is quite serious, but this group doesn't seem to have that much determination, well, for her point of view. Too much cheerfulness, the atmosphere light. There was no tense aura hovering above them. Just plain...people. They were themselves.
Rei's eyes rolled, then stopped on a certain point in the forest. He could feel it. The aura was not hostile, nor was it friendly either. The person just seemed to stand there, only to watch them, no attacks needed, no confrontation. It didn't even move.
"Who are you?" Rei's voice rang clear.
Kaoru stood there, a bit startled. So, one of them had sensed her. But, she hid her ki well, didn't she? How then...? She bit her lip. There was a decision to be made. Either she step out from her place, or she make a break for it. Wait a minute. Wasn't that man...Rei? What was her cousin doing in a place like this?
"Rei-dono, there is someone here?" Kenshin asked, hands poised on his sword hilt.
"Hai, but the person seemed to be content standing on the shadows, though," Rei answered, eyes a bit puzzled. "He doesn't want to come out, I suppose."
"Can we make him come out?" Yahiko asked.
"I don't know. We don't know the person's purpose, or it may be waiting to attack at the right moment." Rei replied.
"Rei-chan? What are you doing with them?" A female voice asked. She began to step out into the sunlight.
There was a collective gasp.
Kaoru's icy blue eyes met their gazes.
--==--
"What?!" Hoshi snapped, then banged her fist on the table. "You let Tsuki go out into the woods?!" The warrior shrunk back, Hoshi's aura flaring. She was angry and irritated at the same time. What did Kaoru want?
"Yes, Hoshi-sama. She told us she just wanted to go out for a walk." The warrior explained, bowing several times in apology.
"I'm going out as well! I'm going to find Tsuki and bring her back here! Who knows what she'll do?!" Hoshi huffed, taking her sword. "Don't tell anyone that both of us are out, understood?"
"As you wish, Hoshi-sama."
Hoshi slammed the door behind her, cursing. Kaoru had to go out in the camp. There was a report last night sent to her that the tresspassers were already near, and they will be by their camp by, at least, early afternoon. What if Kaoru spotted them? Hoshi was almost afraid that Kaoru's memory might return. And if that happened, all hell will break loose.
--==--
Kenshin stood rooted on the spot, his heart aching. Kaoru's eyes weren't the warm, comforting gaze that she gave everytime she looked at him. No, they were not. It was hard, but not completely merciless. And after seeing her, he was pale. Was she...?
"Kaoru...?" He asked quietly. Kaoru glanced at him, her face a bit confused. "Kaoru? Is that you?"
"You, swordsman, why do you call me Kaoru?" She asked, looking as his violet eyes was filled with hurt. She felt bad. He looked so sorrowful and hurt, that she wanted to hug him and bring comfort.
Wait a minute.
What was she thinking?
"You must be the tresspassers I heard about," Kaoru said, taking each of their figures and faces. "Rei-chan, how could you?"
"Kao-chan, listen to me--"
"No!" She cried. "You're betraying our clan! Humans have no right to be here!"
"Kao-chan..." Rei pleaded.
"Don't call me by that name!" Kaoru snarled, unsheathing her kodachi. "I am not Kaoru! My name is not Kaoru! I am...I am..."
"Jou-chan, what are you talking about?! You're Kamiya Kaoru!" Sano said, taking a step forward.
"Stay back!" Kaoru warned, taking a small step backward. "I don't know any woman named Kamiya Kaoru! I am not her! I am Tsuki! I am one of the Chosen Ones! I am a vampire...!" She finished, her eyes frantically moving.
"Kaoru..." Kenshin whispered, his heart twisting. It hurt him, seeing that his beloved was no more with him. She was lost, forever.
"No, Kao-chan, listen to me! You are drugged, I'm sure of it! Did Hoshi give you anything to drink?" Rei asked, putting his hand on her shoulders.
"Drink...?" Her small voice asked.
"Yes, something, anything, that she offered you!"
/Offer./ Somewhere, back in Kaoru's head, a soft and calm voice began to emerge from her thoughts.
"Kao-chan, do not take anything that Hoshi offers."
There, she could remember a scene, a banquet, in her honor. Hoshi was handing her a small teacup. What was she saying?
One word escaped from Kaoru's mouth.
"Tea." She said, before she passed out, hanging limply in Rei's arms.
------To Be Continued-------------