A/N: Damn. Damn. And damn. I still feel extremely stupid and unfortunate. *sigh* cheer up baby seraph…

**************************************************

Untitled: Chapter 2

by white seraph

**************************************************

"So where did you find this young man again?" Megumi asked as she closed her first aid box, and placed a piece of cold wet cloth on the mysterious man's forehead. She couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy. This man Kaoru saved looked so perfect..if only she had woken up earlier, megumi was sure, she would have been the one who saved him.

Kaoru rolled her eyes. She had asked her for the third time now, and she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. True she had asked Megumi to come at first place, but Kaoru didn't know why she was making such a fuss over this man who has yet to wake. Thank the lord people noticed her having trouble carrying this man herself, and as soon as she stepped foot on the main street, people who spotted her, immediately offered help in taking him back to her house, and getting the doctor to come. The people were all very anxious about this poor man, and offered as much help as they can.

"Anyway, I've dressed his wounds; all he needs is some good rest from the fever. I'll leave some herbal remedies on the table." The doctor told Kaoru, "Prepare it for him once he wakes up, alright? I'll come see for him again tomorrow." Megumi grabbed her bag and waved goodbye.

"What?!" Kaoru called after her "You don't have to come again tomorrow! I don't havea enough tea to serve you!"

Megumi stopped. "Don't worry, I won't drink your smelly tea" She winked. And with that she was off, back to the village clinic.

Kaoru sighed, as she grabbed a chair to sit down. It had been a hectic day, and to much had happened. This morning, she was still living alone in this house, with the highlight of her day, selling apples in the morning, and now? A mysterious man she knew nothing about except for the fact that she found him by the river banks, lying on her very own bed.

She felt her stomach grumble with hunger, and realized she hadn't eaten since breakfast, she was too busy going here and there that she didn't even have the time to stop and have a snack. Stupid man, why did she bother saving him?

Because this was what someone would do if she were the one dying by the river. She answered her own question.

Sighing, she didn't want to think anymore, and grabbed the loaf of bread she got this morning from where she left it, on the stool, and started preparing for her simple dinner, which consisted of nothing special, just some potato, vegetables, and the bread.

It was rather bored eating with herself everyday, every meal, except a few exceptional occasions when she was invited to another's place, but Kaoru was used to this boring, mundane lifestyle, and sometimes she would bring her food out, to sit with the chickens she owned behind the small dojo. But tonight, the sky was too dark, and Kaoru was too tired.

Suddenly, the stirring of the man drew Kaoru's attention away from her own thoughts. She had much to ask this mysterious man; his name, where he came from, why he was wounded…. Kaoru was sure everyone else who knew about this man she saved was just as anxious to hear of his story as her. Taking a last sip of water from the plain wooden bowl, she left the small table she dined alone on, and walked to take a seat on the side of her own bed, where the man laid, eyes half open, face still pale.

Patiently, Kaoru waited for him to orientate himself. When he finally locked his eyes to hers, she realized how strange they were; yellowish amber eyes. She had never seen anyone with such eye color, but Kaoru soon shook it off, reminding herself her world only meant this village, the neighboring village across the hill, and perhaps the town centre in the east that she seldom visited.

"H…hello" Kaoru greeted nervously, she never really tried talking strangers before, and Kaoru had no idea what to say to him first.

"Where am I?" The mysterious man asked in a barely audible whisper. And…and who are you?" Battousai was confused. The last thing he remembered was the scorching pain from his throat, and the vaguest images of hell. He looked around the small room, and finally rested his gaze at those eyes he first woke to see. Surely, this girl was not from hell, was she? Surely this calm, peaceful room was not a dungeon in hell, was it? Did that mean he was still alive?! That thought seemed to pull his hopes up, for it meant he still had a chance to regain his dignity. As long as he was still alive, it meant he still had a chance to wipe all the men out to restore his race. As long as he was still alive…

"My name is Kaoru, and you here at my little dojo because I saw you wounded by the river-" She briefly tried to explain, but was rudely cut off by him.

"Kaoru?! That's a name for men." He couldn't believe what he was hearing; he was saved by…a human? And a female that it… He snorted silently, what irony, to be saved by his enemy.

Of course Kaoru, as innocent and ignorant as ever thought she had only saved a rather queer man, she had no idea what he really was, had no idea what was going on in that vampire's head, how he was lamenting his ill fortune, for allowing his life to be saved by a human, for forcing him to be in debt to this girl. "Kaoru is a name that can be used for both men and women!" She said, totally misunderstanding him. "So, anyway, what is your name?"

He ignored her stupid question. This girl was pathetic, just by looking at her small frail body, he didn't know if she could manage holding a sword, never mind wielding one to kill. Then, at the thought of a sword, his heart skipped a beat. Immediately extending his hand to the side of his waist, he felt for his sword, at the grasp of the soft cloth over hay, Battousai felt his heart drop with anxiety. Where did it go?! Without his sword, he felt insecure, felt weak…. Turning his head to the girl, as if she was the one who'd know where it is, he asked roughly. "Where did you put my sword?!"

Kaoru furrowed her eyebrows, confused and perplexed. "What sword?"

"My sword!!" He pulled himself up and grabbed the poor girl by her shirt and shook vigorously. "Give me back my sword." He narrowed his eyes dangerously.

"What are you talking about?! I don't have your sword!" Kaoru peeled his strengthless grip off her, and touched his forehead gently. "You still have a fever, if you don't let yourself rest, then you won't even live to find that stupid sword of yours!"

Battousai fell back to the pillows that cushioned his head. She was right. It's a fact he can't change that he was nearly killed in the battle, that he lost contact of any of his own kind, that he was saved by this pathetic girl, that he lost his sword. There is no point in sulking over it, so why not accept it and move on? As long as he keeps his identity secret then he'll be safe to take all the time and care he needs here until he restores his energy and powers….

"Are you listening?!" her heard the girl's voice ask.

"No." There really isn't a point to lie or elaborate to impress her, and in fact, at this very moment, he felt disgusted at her, and didn't even want to talk to her, fearing it might disgrace himself even the more.

"I asked, what is your name!" Kaoru was starting to get a little annoyed over this man, after all, she did save his life! But he's treating her like a bitter enemy, as if she was wrong to save him. She bit her lip, and tried again after the long silence. "Why, are you not feeling well?" She asked, perhaps he was only having a headache, and meant it when he said he really wasn't listening.

"I have no name for you to call" Battousai finally replied, but rather nonchalantly.

Kaoru sighed, this man was helpless. "Fine, if you have no name for me to call you, then I'll make a name up for you myself. I'll call you Ken, since you're so obsessed with that stupid sword of yours that you come flaming me when you lost it!"

He didn't bother to respond, and turned to the other side, facing the wall, this girl was getting more and more annoying. He gritted his teeth, suppressing the annoyance and disgust he felt.

Kaoru mistook his purpose and thought he was only very tired. "let me give you a massage, it will relieve your headache." She didn't ask for permission and put her nimble fingers onto his temples. Her father used to have her give him both head and back massages every evening, and she has, under his strict critiques, learnt to give people the best massages.

Battousai flinched at her sudden touch, and tried to brush her arm away with his hand, which she easily brushed away. That only fueled his anger, not to her, but to himself, he was so weak now, he couldn't even defend himself from this week human being girl. "Shhh it's okay" He heard her whisper as she pressed her fingers on his forehead. He didn't know what exactly she did, but soon, the obstinate pain in his head went away, and he resisted her no more, docilely letting thing girl lay his head on her lap and let her take his headache away…

"Battousai" A vague figure whispered in a low, seductive voice, letting her breath scrap across his ear whilst her hand wanders down to his chest, down to his stomach, and then further down… "You are so much better with this than your brothers."

Something familiar, but painful slashed across his back, tearing his flesh.

"But I don't want you." The same voice said, drawing her touch away. "You have mocked us Vampires, Not only have you fallen under the sword of a man, you have also been saved by a foolish human girl."

"No-" He tried to protest.

"Yes! What are you going to do, Battousai, come back and let all others mock you? How will you restore the dignity and pride you have lost. Our pride and dignity." She snapped angrily.

"No!" Battousai replied fiercely, not wanting her to speak anymore not wanting her to mock at her anymore. "I will not disgrace our race!"

"But you already have."

Battousai remained silent for a moment. "Just give me some time. As long as I regain my strength under the care of this stupid weakling, I will return, a vampire with honor. I will kill them all. I will wipe the entire race out for what they did to me!"

"All others have failed to do so, and may I ask what makes you think you can?" The voice questioned him again.

"I will!" He shouted out loud, waking Kaoru up. She didn't have a good night's sleep, not at all. He had occupied her bed, and there was no where else she could sleep in, but the floor. The cold, hard floor. She looked through the windows, and saw the sky still fairly dark.

She climbed up and went to the man, who was there sweating and panting, as if he just had a nightmare. "What is the matter" She asked with concern.

But all she received was a cold stare and a barely audible mutter "None of your business" with that he turned away to face the walls again.

Kaoru only sighed, she shouldn't have expected much from him in first place, why did she even bother? He clearly doesn't appreciate her charity out of kindness. Without bothering to say anymore, she decided that going back to bed won't get her any more sleep, so she went to the small kitchen and got herself a bucket to get some water from the village well.

Battousai made sure he heard the door shut before he opened his eyes. He sighed heavily, recalling the vivid dream. He was hated himself for being so weak, so defenseless, he hated himself for needing a human girl to save him. How he despised mankind! If only they didn't exist, if only they didn't fight against them, then he wouldn't have been here now. If only…

He really didn't want to believe what he had become of, didn't want to believe the voice in his dream was right, so trying to prove to himself that he wasn't as weak as he thought, Battousai tried hard to pull his legs up, and get out of the bed of hay, but it was no use. He couldn't even feel them move. Finally, after several attempts, he finally managed to get himself up into a sitting position. Carefully, he gripped the side of the bed, and pulled himself up. But, very unexpectedly, as if his bones were made out of jelly, and could not support his weight, he collapsed onto the ground.

The vampire was too busy cursing his pathetic self and trying to pull himself back up, he was unaware of the creaking sound of the wooden door. Kaoru had returned exceptionally early that day, knowing Megumi and Sanosuke would come along later that afternoon to visit this mysterious man they helped save.

Upon seeing the man on the floor, Kaoru's heart skipped a beat, thinking of the worst. She quickly dropped the bundle of clothes the tailor gave her to give to the man they heard she saved and rushed to his side and pulled back up to the bed.

However, to Kaoru's surprise, he roughly swung her helpful arm aside. "I don't need help from weaklings like you" He growled dangerously, and if Kaoru didn't know better, enough how badly wounded this man was, his expression definitely would have scared her out of the house.

No it wasn't fear she felt, it was annoyance. This man was in debt to her, and how is he treating her now? Like a slave taken for granted! If this man wasn't so badly wounded, if he was capable of leaving and taking care of himself, and if she wasn't the kind hearted Kaoru she is, she'd have kicked him out ages ago.

She turned her head to look at his tired body, his chest steadily moving up and down slowly breathing the air in. His face displayed nothing but agony, with eyebrows furrowed, eyes shut tight and lips pursed into a thin line. At that, the poor girl's heart softened, and all the terrible thoughts before swept out of her mind.

"Shhh" She soothed him, gently stroking the side of his head like a mother tending her sick child. Kaoru didn't know how long she was there sitting beside the man, comforting him, because it could be called a miracle that the man didn't fight back for once. Be it for the fact that he was too tired, or that he was starting to soften up and get used to her, she didn't know, all she knew was she enjoyed this calm, peaceful side of the man a lot.

And then there was a knock on the door.

A/N: I think I should make this new mailing list, please join if you want me to drop you a mail whenever I update! But this applies to all my stories, unfortunately, so if you don't like the others I'm sorry but you have to bear with it =[ oh well :D, so add my @ laydee_issa@hotmail.com (you also get juicy bits of previews :D)