Chapter Three
Megumi wound the clean linen tighter around Enishi's arm. The silver hair man was staring off into the distance with a set face. She was trying to be gentle, but she knew it had to hurt. Luckily it wasn't a bite, just a scratch. It was enough, however, to coat the man's arm in crimson liquid if she hadn't made him sit down and let her treat it. She stepped back and surveyed her handy work. It was neat, concise, and flawless as usual. Her mother had insisted on perfection, it was drilled into Megumi's head.
She settled back with her hands clasped loosely together and folded in her lap. Yahiko stood at the edge of camp staring warily out into the woods. Hiko was standing at the other end, his sharp, ebony eyes in constant motion.
"I don't get it. Why didn't they attack? They fled like cowardly dogs!" Yahiko growled, slamming his fist into a tree trunk. If it bruised or hurt his knuckles the boy made no sign of it. His face was screwed up in a mixture of emotions: hate, anger, and disappointment.
"They knew they were outmatched." Hiko replied with a superior tone, "They weren't anything more than babies."
"They were young. I wonder why they were spying on us. It couldn't be for Shishio, he would send someone to kill us, not spy. Perhaps it was simply curiosity." Enishi remarked pensively. He flexed his bandaged arm and nodded in thanks to Megumi. "You did well."
Megumi quirked a lone eyebrow. Was that praise? If so it was rather pathetic. Not that she expected much; he was a man after all.
Yahiko looked unconvinced, "They seemed to be watching Fox Lady there." Megumi scowled, she didn't like the nickname he had labeled her with. He ignored the look with flat out disregard. The brat had no manners.
"Why me? That big brown brute, he's the one I saw earlier." That unnerved her. Were they after her now? Out to kill her, as was their code. Yet neither of the two seemed hostile or aggressive. They didn't attack and when Hiko went after them they did more defense than offense. She was glad now more than ever that she had drugged their tea and used their temporarily wiped memory to convince them that she was part of their group.
Of course, when it had worn off there had been hell to pay. Hiko was especially provocative, claiming they didn't need a worthless woman tagging along. Yahiko was peeved that he had been tricked. Only Enishi seemed to take it in stride, almost as if he suspected her to pull something like that. By then there wasn't much they could do. The party was far enough away from her home they didn't dare send her away, and they didn't want to spare the time to take her back personally. That didn't, however, stop Hiko from threatening her. She ignored him, as she had most of the men back in the village.
"Something about you confused them." Enishi said suddenly, his turquoise eyes taking on a speculative gleam as if something had just clicked in place. He rose gracefully to his feet like a big cat and paced lightly, "The hesitate to harm you. You said that you saw the tan one, but he never made to threaten you?"
She thought back and shook her head. Scared her to death yes, but he had never so much as snarled at her now that she looked back. He hadn't even gotten too close.
"And he should have. If it were just one wolf I might believe he had personal inhibitions, but the darker one didn't attack you either. Nor the female that ambushed me. Albeit they were slightly busy, however, they had an opportunity and didn't take it. Something about you makes them very wary and cautious."
What was special about her? She was a fairly good healer, better than most, but other than that she was simply a human being. Nothing that would make them so skittish. She wasn't a fighter and she didn't have paranormal abilities.
"Your parents…?"
"Were human." She replied firmly, cutting off any wild thoughts. "My mother was the village healer before me and my father died in a hunting accident. I was very young at the time."
"Whatever it is about the woman she is safe from that pack. It doesn't speak for others." Hiko pointed out sadistically and Megumi was pleased to be on cooking duty that evening, "They could still tear her to pieces. I get the feeling those two youngsters were trespassing."
Enishi shrugged, "You have more experiences with werewolves than I do. I suppose you would know. I was simply trying to shed some light on why they were here."
She didn't want to think about it anymore. A chilled breeze meandered through the trees and she shivered drawing her top closer. It didn't help, but it gave her the illusion of some security. She reminded herself that she had two very capable, if annoying, hunters standing mere yards from her. They wouldn't allow any werewolves into camp, or anything else that went bump in the night. Shadows stretched across the leafy forest floor as the sun set in a glory of golden and scarlet.
Methodically, she went about preparing dinner. It was a fairly simple affair after all she'd been doing it since she was six or so. He mother would often be gone late leaving the young girl to keep the house clean and the meals cooked. As she got older she took on some more responsibility, including her apprenticeship. The only thing different now was that she was making food for three other people. Speaking of. Her dark eyes latched on Hiko's back, it was Enishi's turn to patrol and a vixen-like smirk curled across her features. She had a little matter of revenge to attend to. He would be suspecting hot this time, after what she had done last time. This time she dug around in her bag of herbs and selected a particularly bitter one. It tasted fine when you first ate it, but the aftertaste was nasty as eating bark. She sprinkled some of the white powder in the man's bowl. With luck he would finish half of it before the effects hit his taste buds.
Mutely she handed out the bowls and the males sat down to eat. Yahiko dug in with gusto making loud, smacking sounds of appreciation.
"This… umm, is good! Much… better than… what Hiko makes."
Hiko grabbed the boy's head and jerked it around, "Are you insulting my cooking boy?"
Yahiko swallowed a particularly large mouthful and looked up at the large man with an outstretched lip, "Yeah. It's horrible. A donkey could do better."
"Is that so." The man rumbled dangerously. He set his bowl down and Megumi silently cursed the brat. Couldn't he keep his mouth shut for a moment?
Yahiko devoured his portion and quick as a flash snatched up Hiko's. The man made a grab but he was too late. The boy scampered back like a monkey and planted himself on the other side of Enishi. The silver hair man ignored their antics, paying mind to his food. Hiko, moving surprisingly fast for such a large man, jumped the fire in between them and hauled the boy, still shoving food down his throat at a furious rate, up by the scruff of his neck. He snatched his food away.
"You said you didn't want it!" Yahiko said cheekily and stuck out his tongue. Hiko dropped him unceremoniously on his butt and managed what was left with two large gulps.
Megumi watched with avid interesting. She wasn't disappointed.
"Yaaaaaaah! It tastes like I just ate… I don't know, but it's nasty!" Yahiko howled pawing at his tongue as if he could get the taste out that way. Hiko smirked at him, although Megumi could see he was looking a bit pale and forced, "That's what you get for eating my food you little brat."
Enishi's head snapped up and he set his bowl down silently. With one fluid motion he was on his feet and prowling toward the western edge of camp. Hiko stiffened and Yahiko instinctively grabbed his bokken. Megumi wondered if they all had a sixth sense before the fine hairs on the back of her neck started to tingle. She backed up slightly. She had always been able to see in the dark better than most and her sharp eyes could faintly make out the outline of two people approaching the camp.
The man stood just on the outside of the camp. He was tall and slender, but she could tell he was well balanced and strong. She squinted through the flickering firelight that played across his dark outfit. His fringed bangs were hanging in his eyes and she shuddered. Those eyes were colder than ice and they chilled her to the bone. There was no humanity reflecting in them, they were like a bottomless pit. He took another step into the ring of light and she noticed the sharp glint as the orange glow glittered off naked steel. He held a matching pair of swords in each hand and carried himself with faultless grace. His sharp chin matched his rounded face.
The other figure was a petite girl bearing a brace of sharp throwing knives in each hand. She hardly looked to be a teenager. Her face was far more mobile than the man's. She frowned and Megumi stared at her blue-black hair. There was something familiar about her. Her large, emerald eyes were steady on the man, as if she waited for his signal. Her lean muscles were tensed, but there was no fear in her demeanor.
"I have come for your lives." The tall man stated as if he were talking about the weather.
"Vampire." Enishi said, and Megumi was sure it was for her benefit alone. Yahiko and Hiko seemed to know exactly what the man really was. Hiko had his hand on his sword, but she noted he was watching. Apparently, but some unspoken signal this was Enishi's fight.
"Yes, and my employer wishes you dead. As you should have been ten years ago." Enishi flinched and his eyes grew steely. Whatever had happened apparently still bothered him, a lot.
"Misao, if I fail do not interfere."
It took a moment before Megumi realized he was referring to the girl perched at his side. She bit her lips, but nodded submissively, accepting his decision. She fiddled with her knives eyeing Megumi strangely and stepped back giving the man room.
"That's that werewolf that attacked Enishi earlier. That vampire must be her master." Yahiko whispered to her. Megumi retorted, "But she's just a child. How can he bring her along like this?"
"I'm guessing that "child" is older than I am. They age quite differently than we humans do." Hiko informed, for once without a patronizing tone. His obsidian gaze never left the tall, cold vampire.
"I mean she's human."
"She's a werewolf." Hiko assured her darkly, "By day they are confined to canine form, but when the sun sets they morph into human shape."
Both opponents watched each other warily, but neither offered to circle the other. With some hidden indication the two darted forward. Megumi didn't know anything about fights, but the first thing that struck her was the vampire was fast. He covered the distance in half the time it took for Enishi to. They clashed in the middle of the pre-determined invisible fighting space. The vampire's double blades were locked around Enishi's single.
With a violent shove both of them retreated to eye each other. A small smirk crossed Enishi's lips, but the cold vampire's face remained impassive.
With a flurry of clinking and clanking steel they clashed again, this time for a longer amount of time, having already gotten a measure of their opponent. They seemed fairly even, but the vampire seemed to be slightly faster and more agile. He didn't so much twist away from the seeking blade of the watou, as he glided. Megumi was reminded of a snake. A poisonous, coiled snake ready to strike with cold precision. While Enishi's turquoise eyes glittered with a passion and lust for skirmishing. Aoshi's were still flat, nothing was lit them.
The firelight reflected off the pair, coloring them yellow, as they charged again. Enishi took an offensive stance this time and went through with his attack perfectly. Unfortunately, the vampire merely shifted one of his blades parrying it with a grunt. His second blade whipped out grazing the silver hair man's ribs drawing a thin line of scarlet and tearing clothing.
Enishi stumbled ever so slightly, but his unbalance was enough to give the opportunity his opponent had been patiently waiting for. He drove his blades at the man putting enough force and power behind it to finish the frail human body. Enishi dragged his longer blade up to deflect the attack. Both short blades slammed into his making a distinct ringing sound and Megumi could see the steel length vibrating painfully. The human hung onto the hilt, although she was sure it was tearing his palm bloody and raw. She assumed the blood and sweat would make the worn leather slick and slippery to deal with. She just didn't see how he could win, when the odds were stacked against him.
He recovered with ingrained instincts and avoided the kodachi's backhanded slash by millimeters. Enishi retaliated with a full-length strike and Megumi held her breath. Even she could see that by doing so he was leaving himself wide open for attack.
The vampire, unable to resist such a tempting, easy target, twisted around using his momentum to slash downward. It was a mistake because Enishi immediately used it against him sending the thin, short blade ricocheting back towards its owner. The vampire was forced to use the blade's mate to keep it from hitting his face head on. Both clattered and suddenly he was on the offensive as Enishi made the most of his successful gamble hacking and slashing with a precise, controlled fury.
His height and weight aided his onslaught, keeping the vampire from retaliating immediately. Instead the snake-like being danced out of range barely even using his steel to deflect.
By then Enishi was panting heavily, while the vampire remained the same. Sweat glistened against the silver hair man's face and neck and his movements had become slightly choppy. Megumi glanced at Yahiko. The kid's face was set grimly and his brow was furrowed with concentration. He seemed slightly worried, but there was a faith, a confidence radiating from him. As if he believed Enishi could best the world if the man had to. Hiko was a different story entirely. His black orbs barely flickered while watching. There was an air of relaxed watchfulness about him, but no alarm or caution. Did neither of them see the disadvantages Enishi was at?
Curious, Megumi took her eyes off the fight, and sought out the slender figure of the young girl. She was sitting cross-legged at the base of a tree, watching with rapture. She didn't seem worried either, although her body was a tense, coiled spring ready to be loosed.
The fire popped startling Megumi, tearing her eyes from the child. No not a child. A werewolf. How could she keep forgetting? The girl was far more deadly than she appeared.
Suddenly the whole mood of the battle changed.
A small smile of satisfaction curled around Hiko's lips, "So they decided to get serious. It is about time."
Aoshi suddenly pressed in closer, but Enishi disengaged himself with some difficultly. He used his weapon's longer reach to keep the vampire at a moderate distance. Abruptly the vampire backed off of his own accord. Megumi blinked and rubbed her eyes. There was several of the cold-blooded monster ringed around Enishi. Enishi's sharp eyes flickered, but before he could react the vampire reappeared making three razor-sharp, clean slashes at the man's chest with a full body spin. Enishi's reaction was instantaneous. He whirled his blade around and hit the first offending kodachi with the hilt butt, then reversed the sword to meet the other head on. Shifting his stance he also brought up his leg intending a vicious roundhouse kick to the chest.
The vampire slid sideways pulling both blades back with him.
Enishi placed the tip of his blade against the ground. His whole body was nothing but potential energy waiting to be released into kinetic. Although he was tense and holding a difficult stance his discipline allowed him to wait motionless to see what the vampire was going to do. When nothing happened he took initiative dragging his blade in a keen upward arc that started out at a moderate speed and power. Enishi pivoted his hips and slammed the flat of the blade with his foot adding tremendous speed and power. The honed steel was aiming for the vampire's chest but the vampire was already moving to block it. He put his first kodachi, the left, up at a horizontal in front of his chest. When Enishi's swing hit it he timed his second kodachi to hit the first. Force rang through all three blades and it was a wonder none of them snapped, however, it achieved its goal. The vampire had broken Enishi's attack easily.
"They are well matched despite their apparent difference in fighting styles." Hiko remarked and Megumi suspected it was for her and Yahiko's benefit.
Not that she was opposed. She probably couldn't even see half of what made up each attack it was so fast and deadly. Enishi was good, but she was starting to realize that might not be enough. He was mortal. Already the shallow slash across his ribs had bled through his shirt and he was slightly winded. He would have to end this rather quickly because waiting and delaying was doing him no favors.
"It seems this vampire prefers sneak attacks and close range. He has modified his swords, kodachi, from their standard defensive use and turned them into a passable offense." Megumi narrowed her eyes. Could the man speak without his arrogance and high handedness flavoring it? "However, Enishi had a much longer blade and, therefore, reach. I wonder how the vampire will counter his air borne attacks?"
The vampire held the same expression, watching Enishi move into another stance, before flipping both kodachi so they were backhanded. Enishi raised his long blade so that it rested horizontal at his hip, ready. They charged at an angle each moving in a different way. The silver hair man swung his blade up over his head intending to use the power of gravity to aid his strike while the vampire pulled up the twin blades at chest level and slashed. His arms were a blur as he landed two superficial strikes followed by two more damage intensive ones. He pulled back for two more, but by them Enishi's blade was whistling down towards his unprotected crown. The man smacked the blade with his left hand aiding the deadly decent into what was almost a whip-like manner. The ninja vampire belatedly figured out the attack and tried to twist away. At the last second he pulled his kodachi up into a hasty cross taking the brunt of the blow in between them, but he hadn't had enough time to solidify his defense. The twin blades slipped as Enishi shot back and they collapsed, jarring the vampire's grip.
Before he could recover Enishi poised down into a crouch with his left leg bent inward, his right leg extended fully, and both his arms drawn into position leaving the watou held upward at a diagonal angle. Jerking his body around he started to spin on his left foot to gain the vital momentum he required. Slowly he picked up speed before slamming towards the vampire, who by them had regained his balance and grip, but was not as prepared to deal with a new onslaught. Enishi spun and extended his blade outwards reminding Megumi of a miniature tornado. Dead leaves shoot up in a swirl of motion flying up before and behind him. The vampire, deciding to retreat, slid away to the left, but Enishi followed. His destructive force tore through the brush that surrounded the clearing without even slowing. The vampire realizing that he would have to make a stand or be skewered eased into a purely defensive position with his body centered and his blades steady.
He rode out Enishi's direct him, only being thrown back slightly. By then Enishi's blood covered both of them from head to toe in a light spattering, blown outward in droplets by the attack's movement.
The vampire calmly wiped some off his face and licked it off his fingers. Megumi caught a glimpse of sharp glistening fangs and shivered pressing closer to Hiko.
Enishi pressed a free hand to his side and winced. Blood from the two deep slashes in his chest was pouring out freely and the three shallower ones were seeping. Megumi would hate to see the damage if any of those attacks had actually hit full on without any interference. She had the feeling Enishi would have been severed in half with ridicules ease and his internal organs pulverized, as the ribs and sternum were forced inward.
With unnatural reflexes the vampire suddenly snapped his blades together creating another cross. But unlike the other one this was set at a far more concise angle. One intended to damage rather than avoid damage. He darted forward, his long legs barely seeming to touch the ground. Enishi, weakened and taken off guard, barely managed to jam his tachi. However, it wasn't enough to completely stop the attack and the blades sliced along the man's neck drawing a fresh wave of blood. The coppery liquid stained the tips of the twin blades and the vampire readjusted his grip trying to sever the carotid arteries.
He grunted with effort trying to break the scissor hold the larger vampire had on him. Yahiko's eyes were wide with panic, but Hiko remained as impassive emotionally as he ever was. The werewolf had jumped up eagerly, cheering her master on.
"Aoshi huh. I've heard of him. It figures Shishio would employ an assassin that held no allegiance to him. He's testing the water." Hiko smirked, no doubt enjoying the vampire master's caution. The werewolf was still cheering without realizing she had just given away her master's identity.
"You mean he sent this vampire out to die?" Yahiko yelped.
"Not what I said brat. I said he sent him to test the waters. Whether he lives or dies is up to Enishi now."
The blades pressed deeper into the sides of the man's neck and he had stopped struggling. Mustering his strength and energy Enishi broke the crossed blades and fell back with his hands cupped around his neck. Within seconds they were coated in crimson. He was looking pale and wobbling slightly at his loss of blood. The vampire merely stood back and watched with silent assurance that he would win. Idly he ran his tongue across the blade, lapping at the man's blood.
"You won't win. I won't fail my older sister." Enishi snarled. The sound came out slightly bubbly from the blood that was no doubt seeping down his esophagus and covering his larynx. He straightened his body up and launched straight into the air. He came down like a ton of bricks, using an overhead swing. It was probably the simplest attack either had executed, but if he struck it was likely he would cleave the vampire in two, straight up and down.
Aoshi looked up, unimpressed. Whipping his lean, muscular arms around he let fly with his blade. Hiko started and Yahiko yelped. Enishi, in mid air had limited himself to little movement. He was going downwards, and was going to impale himself. It was a law of nature and gravity. He couldn't fight it; he was only human after all. All the spectators gasped when he threw his second short blade right behind the path of the first. Apparently he felt it was time to end this little farce if he was so confident as to throw his only weapons away.
The steel shot upward on an irrevocable path. Enishi swung his blade down in a quick adjustment, batting the first blade away with the hilt. He failed to see the second one, however, so closely did it match the flight path of the first. It almost took him through the chest, aimed at his heart. At the last possible moment he had thrown his tachi, knocking the missile off course. The blade pierced straight through his shoulder, lodged between the blade and the sternum. It dug in deep tearing past muscle like silk before being deflected by the back of the shoulder blade. Enishi fell with a horrible cry. He lay bleeding and broken on the ground.
"No!" Yahiko screamed, and Hiko had to grab him in a firm grip with his big, rough hand. The boy bit and scratched, begging to be let go. Megumi felt her heart sink. Had the vampire won? How could Enishi's body possibly take so much abuse and still keep him alive? The sheer amount of blood he lost could kill him, let alone all the muscular damage.
The vampire glided to retrieve his lost kodachi, but Enishi staggered to his feet. His face was twisted in hate and purpose. He ripped he blade from his shoulder and tossed it in the bushes, in the direction of the werewolf girl. She dove to fetch it.
"I… won't… let you win." Enishi repeated. His turquoise eyes were flat and his face pale as a sheet, but his limbs were steady. He placed his tachi with the hilt facing downward, and the blunt edge of his blade held in a parallel position to the back of his arm. With grace he shouldn't be able to obtain, considering his injuries, he slid into a stance that reminded Megumi of a tiger ready to pounce. Coiling his legs he launched forward and slammed his long watou through the vampire's chest. Sharp steel protruded through the back of Aoshi and he gripped the blade steadily with both hands, intending to pull it out.
"What do you imagine you can do to me human?" The vampire hissed with disgust, "You put up a good battle, but your naiveté will be the end of you. A sword run through my chest is hardly going to kill me."
It happened too quickly for Megumi to see, but Enishi had continued to motion of his attack and ripped his sword upward taking Aoshi with it. The sharp steel tore upward through his body until he was almost impale vertically on it. With a forceful flick of his wrist, Enishi flung the vampire off his blade. The immortal hit a tree with a sickening crunch, still clutching his single kodachi, but he recovered far too late. With a single, clean blow Enishi had severed his head from his body.
The head made a spectacular arc through the air; such was the force behind his blow. It landed on Yahiko with a plop and he jumped back. Megumi cringed away and Hiko chuckled. Yahiko, recovering from his fright killed it darkly, sending the fleshed skull into the fire. The horrible smell of burning flesh and crackling bone smoked the air making Hiko cuff the boy for his stupidity.
Enishi smirked and tried to sheath his blade, but failed. He sunk gracelessly to the ground in a puddle of his own blood. Megumi's doctor instincts killed in and she rushed over, forgetting everything else.
"Lord Aoshi!" The werewolf howled in grief, madness blazing in her emerald eyes. For an instant it appeared she was going to rush the fallen man and Megumi, but Hiko had already taken up a defensive stand between him. So instead she gave an inhuman snarl of grief, pain, and rage snatching up the kodachi that had fallen in the brush and retreated into the darkness.
"Why'd you let her go! Now she's going to be back with a bunch of her buddies. Hiko, I thought you were a smart guy!" Yahiko berated.
"She'll be back, alone. But not tonight. She is following her master's order to stay clear. It might take her a while before she can resist the compulsion to follow his words and attack us." Hiko said, taking Enishi's watou and cleaning it. He slid the metal length into the leather with a slight swishing sound. Next he took the remaining kodachi and the vampire's body, hefting the latter over his shoulder, and strode out into the woods. To dispose of them Megumi presumed.
"Yahiko, get some water boiling, now. He's lost a lot of blood and I need to flush his wounds. Who knows what was on those kodachi. If I can keep away the infection he might stand a chance, but time is of the essence!"
By the time Hiko returned to camp, thankfully body-less, Megumi had wrapped most of Enishi's wounds as securely as she could. It has exhausted the supplies she had brought with her, and she had been forced to tear up his already mangled shirt for more bandages. Now he was sleeping naturally, and heavily, under the influence of her sleeping draught. There was no fever yet and his breathing was steady. The thing that worried her most was the two, deep cuts to his neck. They bleed profusely, and wouldn't stop.
"Do you think that werewolf will rat us out? We killed her master and all, but will she still feel like she needs to tell Shishio?" Yahiko asked, worry evident in his young eyes. The wooden sword had yet to leave his hand and he was now sitting cross-legged against a falling log near the fire.
Hiko didn't bother to reply and Megumi didn't know the answer.
"Enishi and I spoke of this and I believe it might be time to inform you two. We would like you to infiltrate Shishio's liar."
"What!" Yahiko roared, filled with anger and indignation, "As what? Filthy slaves!"
Hiko sipped his sake silently and gave an almost unperceivable nod of his head. Megumi was confused. There were human slaves as well as werewolves? What would vampires- she couldn't finish that question as the reason had hit her hard. They were free food. Her stomach lurched as she recalled Aoshi dragging his tongue across Enishi's blood and the sight of his fangs.
"Let me guess, Enishi was against it. Do either of us mean anything to you Hiko?" Megumi seethed in cold fury. She had badly misjudged that man. She had thought he stood for justice and pride despite his arrogant, assuming posturing. Now she was getting the full measure of the man. One who would put two innocents at risk to fulfill his own dreams of conquest.
The man gave her a dark look and his voice was ominous, "You're the one who decided to invite yourself along on this mission, woman. You and that brat both. The least you could do is be useful. And no, Enishi had few qualms about such a thing, I did. He felt you two could handle it." That last line was punctuated with a cynical snort. "However, in light of the events of the evening I don't see any other choice. Even a great mind such as mine has difficulty with a near impossible problem."
"So what do we do? Just walk in there and say feed on me, I'm yummy?" Megumi growled, her dark eyes flashing.
"Of course not idiot woman." Hiko said with a smirk, his good humor restored now that they were actually speaking of the problem at hand. The man was in his element now: ordering others around with his ascendancy "You have to go to the village that their werewolves will raid tomorrow evening. Just make sure you're among the ones chosen. Surely that is not too difficult, you're both young and fresh. Some would even consider you beautiful, woman, although you are too sharp for my tastes."
"And you might be considered sexy until the moment you opened your mouth." Megumi retorted furious. She was a very beautiful woman and knew it. Vanity was a self-indulgence her mother had not tolerated, but it prickled her pride to hear Hiko speak like that. Which was what the insufferable man intended no doubt!
"Yeah, yeah, you two are both ugly, now what village." Hiko clotted the boy on the head and Megumi shot him a poisonous look, there would be retribution later. Oh yes. She was nothing if not vindictive about her revenge.
"As I was saying," Hiko paused significantly before continuing, "I didn't believe two weaklings like you could do it, but I, in all my superb spender would draw a fair share of attention."
"Yeah, the wrong kind." Yahiko grumbled rubbing his head grumpily.
They spoke in detail for quite awhile before Enishi moaned and his eyes fluttered. Megumi was surprised and annoyed. She had put enough sleeping draught in him to knock him out until morning at the very least. Yet he had not only awakened, but was trying to focus on them. She wiped his face with a damp cloth, noting his chapped lips and bloody bandages. The mere act of trying to turn his head had reopened the wounds. She silently began changing the bandages, figuring the sooner he spoke what he felt was necessary, the sooner he would go back to sleep, or she would make him.
"Hiko, don't accompany them. Yahiko can take care of any threat within reason and if one of the villagers saw you, you would give them away." He whispered faintly. He caught Megumi's hand, "How long until I can move?"
She pursed her lips; he wouldn't want to hear what she had to say.
"Two weeks."
"Not possible."
"It's not negotiable!" Megumi snapped, expecting this kind of resistance, "If you don't give your body proper time to heal you'll be even weaker. Imagine, if that's a mere, expendable assassin, then what will Shishio be like? You will give us at least a week to get settle before either of you even think about charging in!"
"A week huh. So you'll do it. I have to admit you have courage, woman." Hiko said, finishing his sake, and getting to his feet. He rolled his shoulders, "Don't worry, I'll make sure that Enishi stays down for a week, but don't expect more."
Enishi rolled his eyes hazily, before drifting back to sleep.
"Stop calling me woman. I have a name." Megumi said putting her equipment back in her bag. She would leave enough for Hiko to treat Enishi in her absence, but she intended to take the rest with her. He didn't answer her, but stalked off into the blackness.
She had an uneasy rest that night, waking several times to check on Enishi and look around the camp. She wondered if Hiko ever slept, because every time she checked his bedding was empty and he was nowhere in sight. Yahiko was wide-awake once or twice, but for the most part drooling in his light slumber.
She wondered why she had agreed. It was an incredibly foolhardy thing to do and so unlike her usual logical self. She had to admit she was very worried about Enishi despite the assurances she received for all three men. It puzzled her that she would care so deeply about a man she just met a few days prior. Of course, she was a compassionate soul, she couldn't be an affective healer otherwise, but she hadn't gotten attached to anyone since her mother died. This went farther than doctor-patient relations. She wasn't sure she liked it. Her heart was incased in a steel tomb for a reason. It was cold, lonely, but safe. Impenetrable.
She also thought about the werewolves, wondering if the girl was doing okay. If she was grieving for her master's death in some forsaken cave and plotting her bloody revenge, or if she had limped back to her pack to lick her wounds. Hiko said they were very social, and supportive of each other. More so than humans he added with distain. She didn't know how he knew so much about them, and didn't ask. It seemed to be a sensitive subject.
Dawn brushed the morning sky all too soon, yet not soon enough. She made breakfast in silence, for once not lacing anyone's food with a foreign substance. She simply had too much on her mind. Yahiko ate in a similar silence shoving the simple fare down his throat like it was his last meal.
Cleaning up camp and checking Enishi's wounds she was surprised to find they had already started to heal much more rapidly than she had suspected. Maybe a week would be enough after all, if barely.
Hiko gave them a minimum amount of time to pack before showing them the path and giving explicit directions.
Megumi gave a nod and swallowed her fears and reservations.
The trip the village was uneventful and they arrived just before the time Hiko had informed them that the strike would take place. Again, she didn't wish to know how he found out such information. Instead she gathered her courage, and with Yahiko at her side, the two walked in.
They had barely drawn up some water from the community well before a chilling howl rose from the woods. What looked to be a dozen large, shaggy wolves poured from the fringes, falling on the surprised and shocked villagers. Megumi noticed that none of them actually hurt the humans, only snapping to direct them into the village square. Apparently they had orders to keep potential food unharmed.
A pale gray wolf ghosted up towards her and Megumi felt a flash of pure terror. The wolf was lithe and definitely female, but she was larger than most of the others with stormy gray eyes.
She loped towards them with fluid grace, but paused. Her black nose worked the air, glistening. Her fuzzy ears pricked then flattened and her steady gait faltered. She paused eyeing the two with misgivings before a light of understanding flashed in her stormy orbs. She made a snapping noise, one that sounded suspiciously like a command, and Megumi felt like letting out a hysterical laugh when a familiar tan figure lumbered out the shadows.
The female wolf moved away, heading for what looked like a black blob. Megumi would have paid more attention, but her eyes were fixated on the tan beast. He had stopped a good yard away with his rump to his ground and was grinning widely showing fangs and tongue.
"Nice doggy." Yahiko tried, playing the stupid village boy. It didn't work because the tan wolf only regarded him with silent mirth. He rose to his feet when a dark gray wolf joined him. She seemed much darker and serious than the tan one. She related to him with a series of yips and body motions something before darting off, nipping at a woman dragging along a toddler.
The tan one gave a gleeful yip and tore at them playfully. He circled giving the two of them a sever shock. His fangs grazed Megumi's rump and her eyes narrowed. Wolf or not if he pulled that again he would be in serious trouble.
"C'mon." Yahiko hissed, tugging at her sleeve.
None of them had counted on Mr. Big and Obnoxious to be part of the pack that raided. He certainly seemed to be in on all the action.
The people milled around like sheep and a few screamed as a sharp looking black wolf melted out of the shadows. He was tall and range with coal black fur and piercing golden eyes. The light gray female joined him and the two made her think of a good and evil.
He moved among them before they could even react marking people with some silent, hidden signal. Abruptly the dark gray female and a few others cut them away from the others. Most of them were indeed pretty, and all of them were young, either teenagers or in their twenties.
When he reached Megumi he didn't even pause, simply brushed past intent on completing his duty. She got the feeling he found this to be far below him and wished it to be over as soon as possible.
Megumi and Yahiko were placed with the other villagers. They were milling around like terrified sheep. Some were weeping softly, others bawling for loved ones. Few had quietly accepted their fate with silent acquiescence. The wolves circled with long, easy stride. Apparently they were well versed in such an affair and Megumi wondered how long food slaves usually lasted.
The trip back would have been unnerving enough with the strange glances she kept receiving from the pack, but her seeming constant tan shadow was keeping pace with her easily.
They were driven like cattle at a decent pace. It seemed the wolves knew the pace a normal human body could stand without being too winded. They were forced into a gaping pit that curved downward into darkness. It was cold, but surprisingly not damp like she would have expected. As they passed the lip of the entrance her eyes could make up faint light up ahead. That meant they used torches or lamps. She was proven right when they stumbled into a palely lit around. The walls were smooth alabaster stone and the floor was the same. The noise of their passing was mute and unreal. She was wondering if she wasn't sleeping and this was all a fanciful nightmare conjured by her overactive imagination. That is to say if she possessed one. She had never been one to daydream; she took things as they were. Although she was wishing now she had never thought to come.
She gave a glance around as they entered a main area and took stock of all the wolves. The young blue-black female was absent, as well as the other young wolf that had accompanied her tan one. Wait, her tan one? When had he become hers?
She was so busy on her thoughts that when a gasp rose through the collective group she ignored it. It wasn't until Yahiko prodded her none to gently that she looked up. Reflectively her delicate hand flew to her mouth in surprise. The wolves were going through what looked like an incredibly painful and gruesome process. Their bodies were changing bit by bit into human ones. The light gray female finished first, followed swiftly by the black one, but Megumi's eyes were locked on her tan one. She wanted to know what he would look like.
And she found out. Her cheeks were tinged pale pink as she realized he wasn't wearing any clothing. None of them were.
His body was large with finely honed muscles. She could tell he hadn't filled into his frame entirely with long, trim limbs. His face was broad and good-natured with a slight smirk. His eyes were the exact same as when he was in wolf form, but his hair was a wild, spiky mess. Her mind chided her, but she couldn't avoid that area. The naughty side of her assumed she might as well enjoy all the eye candy offered. He was certainly was dressing with leisure. She noticed Yahiko's mouth was hanging wide open and his eyes were bulging out of his face.
"Welcome." Megumi was surprised to find it was an almost slight woman who addressed them. She gave a slight, pleasant bow. Beside her stood a lean, dangerous looking man. His sharp cheekbones and four bangs coupled with his narrow eyes proclaimed him as the black leader. Why he wasn't speaking was a mystery to her. Perhaps in werewolf society men and woman were equal. "I understand that you all are very frightened, perhaps angry even. We have driven you here like livestock against your will. You don't know why, you can't imagine why, but you fear it has something to do with the rumors floating around. Listen to me if you would please. Yes, we are werewolves, although none of us would harm you directly we are under the orders of Master Shishio. He bade us to get food for his host of vampires. Despite what you may believe, they will not kill you, it would be a waste."
She paused, allowing that to sink it, "I apologize deeply, but you will never be allowed to leave now. May you not find this new life too uncomfortable. You will receive good food three times a day and a place to sleep. In return, you are expected to do a rotation of specific chores and feed a vampire every other evening."
The humans mumbled among themselves but fell silent as she continued on, "Please do not attempt escape. Our pack is in charge of security. We patrol constantly, twenty-four hours a day. We are the best of the best and pride ourselves on it. The corridors down here are confusing catacombs. You will be assigned to a more experienced slave, yes, slave, that's what you are now. You are expected to abide by the rules they will be explained to you in detail. There are no excuses or exceptions for breaking them."
Her face took on a sad cast and she pointed to the tattered remains of what could have been a human hung against the wall. "Punishments are harsh. Don't give reason for them to fall upon you."
As they shuffled out under the direction of a few werewolves Megumi started as her wolf sidled up to her. He gave her a reassuring grin and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"What do you want?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothin'. You're awfully bossy for a slave." He commented merrily. She wanted to throttle him. "I just wonder why you're here. After all, last time I saw you, you were in the company of two vampire hunters."
Her eyes flew open with shock and Yahiko made a slight, strangled noise. He gave them both a mild look, "Forgotten me already I see. Well, I'll just have to do a better job of making myself memorable."
Before he could continue and slender female came up. She gave him a pointed look and pronounced, "Stop playing with the slaves. You know the rules. Besides, what about Misao?"
"I was just having fun Kiks." He cajoled and the female's eyes flashed with ire. "Don't call me Kiks, Sanosuke, or next time you might lose something very dear to you." Having said her piece she went back to her post. Sanosuke gave a sheepish grin, not intimidated in the slightest.
"I'm Sanosuke. I'd like to know your name Fox Lady."
She contemplated slapping him, but instead she decided to play the good slave. A slap would draw unwanted attention. Instead she pressed closer to him and twisted the skin on his upper arm viciously. He yelped softly and grabbed the offended arm, trapping her hand in the process. She tried to yank it away and he smiled again.
"I don't know what you're up to Fox, just don't get yourself hurt before your friends arrive."
With that he let her go and wandered of nonchalantly.
Mary-Ann: Ah yes, the third side, and now all the characters have been introduced. The main ones anyway. I know he [Okita] was better than Saitoh fighting-wise. I really don't know his personality, except that he was cheerful and very upbeat. Very smart, yes. Maybe he smiles to hide his insecurities, or you know, he might actually be just that cheerful! People have to justify everything one way or another. I think he would be fairly good at making insights into other's natures. They are one and the same. Kenshin's not skitzo. Some habits, reflexes, behaviors, etc. are now ingrained in him, but he wasn't born a battousai. Learned behavior. He'd be awfully boring if only one side existed.
Fyyrrose: You're sick, where's your straight jacket, did you chew out of it again? I wouldn't really snap your fingers, toes maybe... So what have you been doing while winter break was happening? I'm not going to do it, sorry. You and Rob will have to suffer. Intelligence is in the eye of the beholder. No visible tails or ears or whiskers ;) I saved it *whistles*, it's in my e-mail still.
April-san: Umm, as Fyyrrose hinted, something happened to Aoshi, sorry ^^ All of this has been written in advance. I'm not much for vampire stories, but this idea hit me way back in Oct. when I was watching this show on Vamps/Wolves. Of course, I didn't write it until the start of Dec.
Wistful-Eyes: Kaoru doesn't get much of a part this time around. Fyyrrose is happy, but don't listen to her. I really do like Kaoru ^^ *chokes* Oh yes, the mystical half-rod- er raccoon. No, but she'll get her part later.
Firuze Khanume: Oh yes, I agree, no chance at all. Well, IMO Hiko is probably the very best swordsman out of everyone. Being supernatural has it's perks, not bleeding or getting tired or winded. I haven't figured out how to have her find out about her fox-half yet or who gets the fun of explaining it to her ;) She could, if she knew. Right now it's more like they would be making trouble for themselves if they did something to breach the codes/laws.
MissBehavin: Saitoh doesn't get much of a part in this, but I figure I should probably give the poor guy a break considering I like to use him so much. I think everything about Sou is abnormal *dodges as Fyyrrose attacks*. He never really had a childhood, then he was turned into a vampire. He just doesn't understand things ^^
Megumi wound the clean linen tighter around Enishi's arm. The silver hair man was staring off into the distance with a set face. She was trying to be gentle, but she knew it had to hurt. Luckily it wasn't a bite, just a scratch. It was enough, however, to coat the man's arm in crimson liquid if she hadn't made him sit down and let her treat it. She stepped back and surveyed her handy work. It was neat, concise, and flawless as usual. Her mother had insisted on perfection, it was drilled into Megumi's head.
She settled back with her hands clasped loosely together and folded in her lap. Yahiko stood at the edge of camp staring warily out into the woods. Hiko was standing at the other end, his sharp, ebony eyes in constant motion.
"I don't get it. Why didn't they attack? They fled like cowardly dogs!" Yahiko growled, slamming his fist into a tree trunk. If it bruised or hurt his knuckles the boy made no sign of it. His face was screwed up in a mixture of emotions: hate, anger, and disappointment.
"They knew they were outmatched." Hiko replied with a superior tone, "They weren't anything more than babies."
"They were young. I wonder why they were spying on us. It couldn't be for Shishio, he would send someone to kill us, not spy. Perhaps it was simply curiosity." Enishi remarked pensively. He flexed his bandaged arm and nodded in thanks to Megumi. "You did well."
Megumi quirked a lone eyebrow. Was that praise? If so it was rather pathetic. Not that she expected much; he was a man after all.
Yahiko looked unconvinced, "They seemed to be watching Fox Lady there." Megumi scowled, she didn't like the nickname he had labeled her with. He ignored the look with flat out disregard. The brat had no manners.
"Why me? That big brown brute, he's the one I saw earlier." That unnerved her. Were they after her now? Out to kill her, as was their code. Yet neither of the two seemed hostile or aggressive. They didn't attack and when Hiko went after them they did more defense than offense. She was glad now more than ever that she had drugged their tea and used their temporarily wiped memory to convince them that she was part of their group.
Of course, when it had worn off there had been hell to pay. Hiko was especially provocative, claiming they didn't need a worthless woman tagging along. Yahiko was peeved that he had been tricked. Only Enishi seemed to take it in stride, almost as if he suspected her to pull something like that. By then there wasn't much they could do. The party was far enough away from her home they didn't dare send her away, and they didn't want to spare the time to take her back personally. That didn't, however, stop Hiko from threatening her. She ignored him, as she had most of the men back in the village.
"Something about you confused them." Enishi said suddenly, his turquoise eyes taking on a speculative gleam as if something had just clicked in place. He rose gracefully to his feet like a big cat and paced lightly, "The hesitate to harm you. You said that you saw the tan one, but he never made to threaten you?"
She thought back and shook her head. Scared her to death yes, but he had never so much as snarled at her now that she looked back. He hadn't even gotten too close.
"And he should have. If it were just one wolf I might believe he had personal inhibitions, but the darker one didn't attack you either. Nor the female that ambushed me. Albeit they were slightly busy, however, they had an opportunity and didn't take it. Something about you makes them very wary and cautious."
What was special about her? She was a fairly good healer, better than most, but other than that she was simply a human being. Nothing that would make them so skittish. She wasn't a fighter and she didn't have paranormal abilities.
"Your parents…?"
"Were human." She replied firmly, cutting off any wild thoughts. "My mother was the village healer before me and my father died in a hunting accident. I was very young at the time."
"Whatever it is about the woman she is safe from that pack. It doesn't speak for others." Hiko pointed out sadistically and Megumi was pleased to be on cooking duty that evening, "They could still tear her to pieces. I get the feeling those two youngsters were trespassing."
Enishi shrugged, "You have more experiences with werewolves than I do. I suppose you would know. I was simply trying to shed some light on why they were here."
She didn't want to think about it anymore. A chilled breeze meandered through the trees and she shivered drawing her top closer. It didn't help, but it gave her the illusion of some security. She reminded herself that she had two very capable, if annoying, hunters standing mere yards from her. They wouldn't allow any werewolves into camp, or anything else that went bump in the night. Shadows stretched across the leafy forest floor as the sun set in a glory of golden and scarlet.
Methodically, she went about preparing dinner. It was a fairly simple affair after all she'd been doing it since she was six or so. He mother would often be gone late leaving the young girl to keep the house clean and the meals cooked. As she got older she took on some more responsibility, including her apprenticeship. The only thing different now was that she was making food for three other people. Speaking of. Her dark eyes latched on Hiko's back, it was Enishi's turn to patrol and a vixen-like smirk curled across her features. She had a little matter of revenge to attend to. He would be suspecting hot this time, after what she had done last time. This time she dug around in her bag of herbs and selected a particularly bitter one. It tasted fine when you first ate it, but the aftertaste was nasty as eating bark. She sprinkled some of the white powder in the man's bowl. With luck he would finish half of it before the effects hit his taste buds.
Mutely she handed out the bowls and the males sat down to eat. Yahiko dug in with gusto making loud, smacking sounds of appreciation.
"This… umm, is good! Much… better than… what Hiko makes."
Hiko grabbed the boy's head and jerked it around, "Are you insulting my cooking boy?"
Yahiko swallowed a particularly large mouthful and looked up at the large man with an outstretched lip, "Yeah. It's horrible. A donkey could do better."
"Is that so." The man rumbled dangerously. He set his bowl down and Megumi silently cursed the brat. Couldn't he keep his mouth shut for a moment?
Yahiko devoured his portion and quick as a flash snatched up Hiko's. The man made a grab but he was too late. The boy scampered back like a monkey and planted himself on the other side of Enishi. The silver hair man ignored their antics, paying mind to his food. Hiko, moving surprisingly fast for such a large man, jumped the fire in between them and hauled the boy, still shoving food down his throat at a furious rate, up by the scruff of his neck. He snatched his food away.
"You said you didn't want it!" Yahiko said cheekily and stuck out his tongue. Hiko dropped him unceremoniously on his butt and managed what was left with two large gulps.
Megumi watched with avid interesting. She wasn't disappointed.
"Yaaaaaaah! It tastes like I just ate… I don't know, but it's nasty!" Yahiko howled pawing at his tongue as if he could get the taste out that way. Hiko smirked at him, although Megumi could see he was looking a bit pale and forced, "That's what you get for eating my food you little brat."
Enishi's head snapped up and he set his bowl down silently. With one fluid motion he was on his feet and prowling toward the western edge of camp. Hiko stiffened and Yahiko instinctively grabbed his bokken. Megumi wondered if they all had a sixth sense before the fine hairs on the back of her neck started to tingle. She backed up slightly. She had always been able to see in the dark better than most and her sharp eyes could faintly make out the outline of two people approaching the camp.
The man stood just on the outside of the camp. He was tall and slender, but she could tell he was well balanced and strong. She squinted through the flickering firelight that played across his dark outfit. His fringed bangs were hanging in his eyes and she shuddered. Those eyes were colder than ice and they chilled her to the bone. There was no humanity reflecting in them, they were like a bottomless pit. He took another step into the ring of light and she noticed the sharp glint as the orange glow glittered off naked steel. He held a matching pair of swords in each hand and carried himself with faultless grace. His sharp chin matched his rounded face.
The other figure was a petite girl bearing a brace of sharp throwing knives in each hand. She hardly looked to be a teenager. Her face was far more mobile than the man's. She frowned and Megumi stared at her blue-black hair. There was something familiar about her. Her large, emerald eyes were steady on the man, as if she waited for his signal. Her lean muscles were tensed, but there was no fear in her demeanor.
"I have come for your lives." The tall man stated as if he were talking about the weather.
"Vampire." Enishi said, and Megumi was sure it was for her benefit alone. Yahiko and Hiko seemed to know exactly what the man really was. Hiko had his hand on his sword, but she noted he was watching. Apparently, but some unspoken signal this was Enishi's fight.
"Yes, and my employer wishes you dead. As you should have been ten years ago." Enishi flinched and his eyes grew steely. Whatever had happened apparently still bothered him, a lot.
"Misao, if I fail do not interfere."
It took a moment before Megumi realized he was referring to the girl perched at his side. She bit her lips, but nodded submissively, accepting his decision. She fiddled with her knives eyeing Megumi strangely and stepped back giving the man room.
"That's that werewolf that attacked Enishi earlier. That vampire must be her master." Yahiko whispered to her. Megumi retorted, "But she's just a child. How can he bring her along like this?"
"I'm guessing that "child" is older than I am. They age quite differently than we humans do." Hiko informed, for once without a patronizing tone. His obsidian gaze never left the tall, cold vampire.
"I mean she's human."
"She's a werewolf." Hiko assured her darkly, "By day they are confined to canine form, but when the sun sets they morph into human shape."
Both opponents watched each other warily, but neither offered to circle the other. With some hidden indication the two darted forward. Megumi didn't know anything about fights, but the first thing that struck her was the vampire was fast. He covered the distance in half the time it took for Enishi to. They clashed in the middle of the pre-determined invisible fighting space. The vampire's double blades were locked around Enishi's single.
With a violent shove both of them retreated to eye each other. A small smirk crossed Enishi's lips, but the cold vampire's face remained impassive.
With a flurry of clinking and clanking steel they clashed again, this time for a longer amount of time, having already gotten a measure of their opponent. They seemed fairly even, but the vampire seemed to be slightly faster and more agile. He didn't so much twist away from the seeking blade of the watou, as he glided. Megumi was reminded of a snake. A poisonous, coiled snake ready to strike with cold precision. While Enishi's turquoise eyes glittered with a passion and lust for skirmishing. Aoshi's were still flat, nothing was lit them.
The firelight reflected off the pair, coloring them yellow, as they charged again. Enishi took an offensive stance this time and went through with his attack perfectly. Unfortunately, the vampire merely shifted one of his blades parrying it with a grunt. His second blade whipped out grazing the silver hair man's ribs drawing a thin line of scarlet and tearing clothing.
Enishi stumbled ever so slightly, but his unbalance was enough to give the opportunity his opponent had been patiently waiting for. He drove his blades at the man putting enough force and power behind it to finish the frail human body. Enishi dragged his longer blade up to deflect the attack. Both short blades slammed into his making a distinct ringing sound and Megumi could see the steel length vibrating painfully. The human hung onto the hilt, although she was sure it was tearing his palm bloody and raw. She assumed the blood and sweat would make the worn leather slick and slippery to deal with. She just didn't see how he could win, when the odds were stacked against him.
He recovered with ingrained instincts and avoided the kodachi's backhanded slash by millimeters. Enishi retaliated with a full-length strike and Megumi held her breath. Even she could see that by doing so he was leaving himself wide open for attack.
The vampire, unable to resist such a tempting, easy target, twisted around using his momentum to slash downward. It was a mistake because Enishi immediately used it against him sending the thin, short blade ricocheting back towards its owner. The vampire was forced to use the blade's mate to keep it from hitting his face head on. Both clattered and suddenly he was on the offensive as Enishi made the most of his successful gamble hacking and slashing with a precise, controlled fury.
His height and weight aided his onslaught, keeping the vampire from retaliating immediately. Instead the snake-like being danced out of range barely even using his steel to deflect.
By then Enishi was panting heavily, while the vampire remained the same. Sweat glistened against the silver hair man's face and neck and his movements had become slightly choppy. Megumi glanced at Yahiko. The kid's face was set grimly and his brow was furrowed with concentration. He seemed slightly worried, but there was a faith, a confidence radiating from him. As if he believed Enishi could best the world if the man had to. Hiko was a different story entirely. His black orbs barely flickered while watching. There was an air of relaxed watchfulness about him, but no alarm or caution. Did neither of them see the disadvantages Enishi was at?
Curious, Megumi took her eyes off the fight, and sought out the slender figure of the young girl. She was sitting cross-legged at the base of a tree, watching with rapture. She didn't seem worried either, although her body was a tense, coiled spring ready to be loosed.
The fire popped startling Megumi, tearing her eyes from the child. No not a child. A werewolf. How could she keep forgetting? The girl was far more deadly than she appeared.
Suddenly the whole mood of the battle changed.
A small smile of satisfaction curled around Hiko's lips, "So they decided to get serious. It is about time."
Aoshi suddenly pressed in closer, but Enishi disengaged himself with some difficultly. He used his weapon's longer reach to keep the vampire at a moderate distance. Abruptly the vampire backed off of his own accord. Megumi blinked and rubbed her eyes. There was several of the cold-blooded monster ringed around Enishi. Enishi's sharp eyes flickered, but before he could react the vampire reappeared making three razor-sharp, clean slashes at the man's chest with a full body spin. Enishi's reaction was instantaneous. He whirled his blade around and hit the first offending kodachi with the hilt butt, then reversed the sword to meet the other head on. Shifting his stance he also brought up his leg intending a vicious roundhouse kick to the chest.
The vampire slid sideways pulling both blades back with him.
Enishi placed the tip of his blade against the ground. His whole body was nothing but potential energy waiting to be released into kinetic. Although he was tense and holding a difficult stance his discipline allowed him to wait motionless to see what the vampire was going to do. When nothing happened he took initiative dragging his blade in a keen upward arc that started out at a moderate speed and power. Enishi pivoted his hips and slammed the flat of the blade with his foot adding tremendous speed and power. The honed steel was aiming for the vampire's chest but the vampire was already moving to block it. He put his first kodachi, the left, up at a horizontal in front of his chest. When Enishi's swing hit it he timed his second kodachi to hit the first. Force rang through all three blades and it was a wonder none of them snapped, however, it achieved its goal. The vampire had broken Enishi's attack easily.
"They are well matched despite their apparent difference in fighting styles." Hiko remarked and Megumi suspected it was for her and Yahiko's benefit.
Not that she was opposed. She probably couldn't even see half of what made up each attack it was so fast and deadly. Enishi was good, but she was starting to realize that might not be enough. He was mortal. Already the shallow slash across his ribs had bled through his shirt and he was slightly winded. He would have to end this rather quickly because waiting and delaying was doing him no favors.
"It seems this vampire prefers sneak attacks and close range. He has modified his swords, kodachi, from their standard defensive use and turned them into a passable offense." Megumi narrowed her eyes. Could the man speak without his arrogance and high handedness flavoring it? "However, Enishi had a much longer blade and, therefore, reach. I wonder how the vampire will counter his air borne attacks?"
The vampire held the same expression, watching Enishi move into another stance, before flipping both kodachi so they were backhanded. Enishi raised his long blade so that it rested horizontal at his hip, ready. They charged at an angle each moving in a different way. The silver hair man swung his blade up over his head intending to use the power of gravity to aid his strike while the vampire pulled up the twin blades at chest level and slashed. His arms were a blur as he landed two superficial strikes followed by two more damage intensive ones. He pulled back for two more, but by them Enishi's blade was whistling down towards his unprotected crown. The man smacked the blade with his left hand aiding the deadly decent into what was almost a whip-like manner. The ninja vampire belatedly figured out the attack and tried to twist away. At the last second he pulled his kodachi up into a hasty cross taking the brunt of the blow in between them, but he hadn't had enough time to solidify his defense. The twin blades slipped as Enishi shot back and they collapsed, jarring the vampire's grip.
Before he could recover Enishi poised down into a crouch with his left leg bent inward, his right leg extended fully, and both his arms drawn into position leaving the watou held upward at a diagonal angle. Jerking his body around he started to spin on his left foot to gain the vital momentum he required. Slowly he picked up speed before slamming towards the vampire, who by them had regained his balance and grip, but was not as prepared to deal with a new onslaught. Enishi spun and extended his blade outwards reminding Megumi of a miniature tornado. Dead leaves shoot up in a swirl of motion flying up before and behind him. The vampire, deciding to retreat, slid away to the left, but Enishi followed. His destructive force tore through the brush that surrounded the clearing without even slowing. The vampire realizing that he would have to make a stand or be skewered eased into a purely defensive position with his body centered and his blades steady.
He rode out Enishi's direct him, only being thrown back slightly. By then Enishi's blood covered both of them from head to toe in a light spattering, blown outward in droplets by the attack's movement.
The vampire calmly wiped some off his face and licked it off his fingers. Megumi caught a glimpse of sharp glistening fangs and shivered pressing closer to Hiko.
Enishi pressed a free hand to his side and winced. Blood from the two deep slashes in his chest was pouring out freely and the three shallower ones were seeping. Megumi would hate to see the damage if any of those attacks had actually hit full on without any interference. She had the feeling Enishi would have been severed in half with ridicules ease and his internal organs pulverized, as the ribs and sternum were forced inward.
With unnatural reflexes the vampire suddenly snapped his blades together creating another cross. But unlike the other one this was set at a far more concise angle. One intended to damage rather than avoid damage. He darted forward, his long legs barely seeming to touch the ground. Enishi, weakened and taken off guard, barely managed to jam his tachi. However, it wasn't enough to completely stop the attack and the blades sliced along the man's neck drawing a fresh wave of blood. The coppery liquid stained the tips of the twin blades and the vampire readjusted his grip trying to sever the carotid arteries.
He grunted with effort trying to break the scissor hold the larger vampire had on him. Yahiko's eyes were wide with panic, but Hiko remained as impassive emotionally as he ever was. The werewolf had jumped up eagerly, cheering her master on.
"Aoshi huh. I've heard of him. It figures Shishio would employ an assassin that held no allegiance to him. He's testing the water." Hiko smirked, no doubt enjoying the vampire master's caution. The werewolf was still cheering without realizing she had just given away her master's identity.
"You mean he sent this vampire out to die?" Yahiko yelped.
"Not what I said brat. I said he sent him to test the waters. Whether he lives or dies is up to Enishi now."
The blades pressed deeper into the sides of the man's neck and he had stopped struggling. Mustering his strength and energy Enishi broke the crossed blades and fell back with his hands cupped around his neck. Within seconds they were coated in crimson. He was looking pale and wobbling slightly at his loss of blood. The vampire merely stood back and watched with silent assurance that he would win. Idly he ran his tongue across the blade, lapping at the man's blood.
"You won't win. I won't fail my older sister." Enishi snarled. The sound came out slightly bubbly from the blood that was no doubt seeping down his esophagus and covering his larynx. He straightened his body up and launched straight into the air. He came down like a ton of bricks, using an overhead swing. It was probably the simplest attack either had executed, but if he struck it was likely he would cleave the vampire in two, straight up and down.
Aoshi looked up, unimpressed. Whipping his lean, muscular arms around he let fly with his blade. Hiko started and Yahiko yelped. Enishi, in mid air had limited himself to little movement. He was going downwards, and was going to impale himself. It was a law of nature and gravity. He couldn't fight it; he was only human after all. All the spectators gasped when he threw his second short blade right behind the path of the first. Apparently he felt it was time to end this little farce if he was so confident as to throw his only weapons away.
The steel shot upward on an irrevocable path. Enishi swung his blade down in a quick adjustment, batting the first blade away with the hilt. He failed to see the second one, however, so closely did it match the flight path of the first. It almost took him through the chest, aimed at his heart. At the last possible moment he had thrown his tachi, knocking the missile off course. The blade pierced straight through his shoulder, lodged between the blade and the sternum. It dug in deep tearing past muscle like silk before being deflected by the back of the shoulder blade. Enishi fell with a horrible cry. He lay bleeding and broken on the ground.
"No!" Yahiko screamed, and Hiko had to grab him in a firm grip with his big, rough hand. The boy bit and scratched, begging to be let go. Megumi felt her heart sink. Had the vampire won? How could Enishi's body possibly take so much abuse and still keep him alive? The sheer amount of blood he lost could kill him, let alone all the muscular damage.
The vampire glided to retrieve his lost kodachi, but Enishi staggered to his feet. His face was twisted in hate and purpose. He ripped he blade from his shoulder and tossed it in the bushes, in the direction of the werewolf girl. She dove to fetch it.
"I… won't… let you win." Enishi repeated. His turquoise eyes were flat and his face pale as a sheet, but his limbs were steady. He placed his tachi with the hilt facing downward, and the blunt edge of his blade held in a parallel position to the back of his arm. With grace he shouldn't be able to obtain, considering his injuries, he slid into a stance that reminded Megumi of a tiger ready to pounce. Coiling his legs he launched forward and slammed his long watou through the vampire's chest. Sharp steel protruded through the back of Aoshi and he gripped the blade steadily with both hands, intending to pull it out.
"What do you imagine you can do to me human?" The vampire hissed with disgust, "You put up a good battle, but your naiveté will be the end of you. A sword run through my chest is hardly going to kill me."
It happened too quickly for Megumi to see, but Enishi had continued to motion of his attack and ripped his sword upward taking Aoshi with it. The sharp steel tore upward through his body until he was almost impale vertically on it. With a forceful flick of his wrist, Enishi flung the vampire off his blade. The immortal hit a tree with a sickening crunch, still clutching his single kodachi, but he recovered far too late. With a single, clean blow Enishi had severed his head from his body.
The head made a spectacular arc through the air; such was the force behind his blow. It landed on Yahiko with a plop and he jumped back. Megumi cringed away and Hiko chuckled. Yahiko, recovering from his fright killed it darkly, sending the fleshed skull into the fire. The horrible smell of burning flesh and crackling bone smoked the air making Hiko cuff the boy for his stupidity.
Enishi smirked and tried to sheath his blade, but failed. He sunk gracelessly to the ground in a puddle of his own blood. Megumi's doctor instincts killed in and she rushed over, forgetting everything else.
"Lord Aoshi!" The werewolf howled in grief, madness blazing in her emerald eyes. For an instant it appeared she was going to rush the fallen man and Megumi, but Hiko had already taken up a defensive stand between him. So instead she gave an inhuman snarl of grief, pain, and rage snatching up the kodachi that had fallen in the brush and retreated into the darkness.
"Why'd you let her go! Now she's going to be back with a bunch of her buddies. Hiko, I thought you were a smart guy!" Yahiko berated.
"She'll be back, alone. But not tonight. She is following her master's order to stay clear. It might take her a while before she can resist the compulsion to follow his words and attack us." Hiko said, taking Enishi's watou and cleaning it. He slid the metal length into the leather with a slight swishing sound. Next he took the remaining kodachi and the vampire's body, hefting the latter over his shoulder, and strode out into the woods. To dispose of them Megumi presumed.
"Yahiko, get some water boiling, now. He's lost a lot of blood and I need to flush his wounds. Who knows what was on those kodachi. If I can keep away the infection he might stand a chance, but time is of the essence!"
By the time Hiko returned to camp, thankfully body-less, Megumi had wrapped most of Enishi's wounds as securely as she could. It has exhausted the supplies she had brought with her, and she had been forced to tear up his already mangled shirt for more bandages. Now he was sleeping naturally, and heavily, under the influence of her sleeping draught. There was no fever yet and his breathing was steady. The thing that worried her most was the two, deep cuts to his neck. They bleed profusely, and wouldn't stop.
"Do you think that werewolf will rat us out? We killed her master and all, but will she still feel like she needs to tell Shishio?" Yahiko asked, worry evident in his young eyes. The wooden sword had yet to leave his hand and he was now sitting cross-legged against a falling log near the fire.
Hiko didn't bother to reply and Megumi didn't know the answer.
"Enishi and I spoke of this and I believe it might be time to inform you two. We would like you to infiltrate Shishio's liar."
"What!" Yahiko roared, filled with anger and indignation, "As what? Filthy slaves!"
Hiko sipped his sake silently and gave an almost unperceivable nod of his head. Megumi was confused. There were human slaves as well as werewolves? What would vampires- she couldn't finish that question as the reason had hit her hard. They were free food. Her stomach lurched as she recalled Aoshi dragging his tongue across Enishi's blood and the sight of his fangs.
"Let me guess, Enishi was against it. Do either of us mean anything to you Hiko?" Megumi seethed in cold fury. She had badly misjudged that man. She had thought he stood for justice and pride despite his arrogant, assuming posturing. Now she was getting the full measure of the man. One who would put two innocents at risk to fulfill his own dreams of conquest.
The man gave her a dark look and his voice was ominous, "You're the one who decided to invite yourself along on this mission, woman. You and that brat both. The least you could do is be useful. And no, Enishi had few qualms about such a thing, I did. He felt you two could handle it." That last line was punctuated with a cynical snort. "However, in light of the events of the evening I don't see any other choice. Even a great mind such as mine has difficulty with a near impossible problem."
"So what do we do? Just walk in there and say feed on me, I'm yummy?" Megumi growled, her dark eyes flashing.
"Of course not idiot woman." Hiko said with a smirk, his good humor restored now that they were actually speaking of the problem at hand. The man was in his element now: ordering others around with his ascendancy "You have to go to the village that their werewolves will raid tomorrow evening. Just make sure you're among the ones chosen. Surely that is not too difficult, you're both young and fresh. Some would even consider you beautiful, woman, although you are too sharp for my tastes."
"And you might be considered sexy until the moment you opened your mouth." Megumi retorted furious. She was a very beautiful woman and knew it. Vanity was a self-indulgence her mother had not tolerated, but it prickled her pride to hear Hiko speak like that. Which was what the insufferable man intended no doubt!
"Yeah, yeah, you two are both ugly, now what village." Hiko clotted the boy on the head and Megumi shot him a poisonous look, there would be retribution later. Oh yes. She was nothing if not vindictive about her revenge.
"As I was saying," Hiko paused significantly before continuing, "I didn't believe two weaklings like you could do it, but I, in all my superb spender would draw a fair share of attention."
"Yeah, the wrong kind." Yahiko grumbled rubbing his head grumpily.
They spoke in detail for quite awhile before Enishi moaned and his eyes fluttered. Megumi was surprised and annoyed. She had put enough sleeping draught in him to knock him out until morning at the very least. Yet he had not only awakened, but was trying to focus on them. She wiped his face with a damp cloth, noting his chapped lips and bloody bandages. The mere act of trying to turn his head had reopened the wounds. She silently began changing the bandages, figuring the sooner he spoke what he felt was necessary, the sooner he would go back to sleep, or she would make him.
"Hiko, don't accompany them. Yahiko can take care of any threat within reason and if one of the villagers saw you, you would give them away." He whispered faintly. He caught Megumi's hand, "How long until I can move?"
She pursed her lips; he wouldn't want to hear what she had to say.
"Two weeks."
"Not possible."
"It's not negotiable!" Megumi snapped, expecting this kind of resistance, "If you don't give your body proper time to heal you'll be even weaker. Imagine, if that's a mere, expendable assassin, then what will Shishio be like? You will give us at least a week to get settle before either of you even think about charging in!"
"A week huh. So you'll do it. I have to admit you have courage, woman." Hiko said, finishing his sake, and getting to his feet. He rolled his shoulders, "Don't worry, I'll make sure that Enishi stays down for a week, but don't expect more."
Enishi rolled his eyes hazily, before drifting back to sleep.
"Stop calling me woman. I have a name." Megumi said putting her equipment back in her bag. She would leave enough for Hiko to treat Enishi in her absence, but she intended to take the rest with her. He didn't answer her, but stalked off into the blackness.
She had an uneasy rest that night, waking several times to check on Enishi and look around the camp. She wondered if Hiko ever slept, because every time she checked his bedding was empty and he was nowhere in sight. Yahiko was wide-awake once or twice, but for the most part drooling in his light slumber.
She wondered why she had agreed. It was an incredibly foolhardy thing to do and so unlike her usual logical self. She had to admit she was very worried about Enishi despite the assurances she received for all three men. It puzzled her that she would care so deeply about a man she just met a few days prior. Of course, she was a compassionate soul, she couldn't be an affective healer otherwise, but she hadn't gotten attached to anyone since her mother died. This went farther than doctor-patient relations. She wasn't sure she liked it. Her heart was incased in a steel tomb for a reason. It was cold, lonely, but safe. Impenetrable.
She also thought about the werewolves, wondering if the girl was doing okay. If she was grieving for her master's death in some forsaken cave and plotting her bloody revenge, or if she had limped back to her pack to lick her wounds. Hiko said they were very social, and supportive of each other. More so than humans he added with distain. She didn't know how he knew so much about them, and didn't ask. It seemed to be a sensitive subject.
Dawn brushed the morning sky all too soon, yet not soon enough. She made breakfast in silence, for once not lacing anyone's food with a foreign substance. She simply had too much on her mind. Yahiko ate in a similar silence shoving the simple fare down his throat like it was his last meal.
Cleaning up camp and checking Enishi's wounds she was surprised to find they had already started to heal much more rapidly than she had suspected. Maybe a week would be enough after all, if barely.
Hiko gave them a minimum amount of time to pack before showing them the path and giving explicit directions.
Megumi gave a nod and swallowed her fears and reservations.
The trip the village was uneventful and they arrived just before the time Hiko had informed them that the strike would take place. Again, she didn't wish to know how he found out such information. Instead she gathered her courage, and with Yahiko at her side, the two walked in.
They had barely drawn up some water from the community well before a chilling howl rose from the woods. What looked to be a dozen large, shaggy wolves poured from the fringes, falling on the surprised and shocked villagers. Megumi noticed that none of them actually hurt the humans, only snapping to direct them into the village square. Apparently they had orders to keep potential food unharmed.
A pale gray wolf ghosted up towards her and Megumi felt a flash of pure terror. The wolf was lithe and definitely female, but she was larger than most of the others with stormy gray eyes.
She loped towards them with fluid grace, but paused. Her black nose worked the air, glistening. Her fuzzy ears pricked then flattened and her steady gait faltered. She paused eyeing the two with misgivings before a light of understanding flashed in her stormy orbs. She made a snapping noise, one that sounded suspiciously like a command, and Megumi felt like letting out a hysterical laugh when a familiar tan figure lumbered out the shadows.
The female wolf moved away, heading for what looked like a black blob. Megumi would have paid more attention, but her eyes were fixated on the tan beast. He had stopped a good yard away with his rump to his ground and was grinning widely showing fangs and tongue.
"Nice doggy." Yahiko tried, playing the stupid village boy. It didn't work because the tan wolf only regarded him with silent mirth. He rose to his feet when a dark gray wolf joined him. She seemed much darker and serious than the tan one. She related to him with a series of yips and body motions something before darting off, nipping at a woman dragging along a toddler.
The tan one gave a gleeful yip and tore at them playfully. He circled giving the two of them a sever shock. His fangs grazed Megumi's rump and her eyes narrowed. Wolf or not if he pulled that again he would be in serious trouble.
"C'mon." Yahiko hissed, tugging at her sleeve.
None of them had counted on Mr. Big and Obnoxious to be part of the pack that raided. He certainly seemed to be in on all the action.
The people milled around like sheep and a few screamed as a sharp looking black wolf melted out of the shadows. He was tall and range with coal black fur and piercing golden eyes. The light gray female joined him and the two made her think of a good and evil.
He moved among them before they could even react marking people with some silent, hidden signal. Abruptly the dark gray female and a few others cut them away from the others. Most of them were indeed pretty, and all of them were young, either teenagers or in their twenties.
When he reached Megumi he didn't even pause, simply brushed past intent on completing his duty. She got the feeling he found this to be far below him and wished it to be over as soon as possible.
Megumi and Yahiko were placed with the other villagers. They were milling around like terrified sheep. Some were weeping softly, others bawling for loved ones. Few had quietly accepted their fate with silent acquiescence. The wolves circled with long, easy stride. Apparently they were well versed in such an affair and Megumi wondered how long food slaves usually lasted.
The trip back would have been unnerving enough with the strange glances she kept receiving from the pack, but her seeming constant tan shadow was keeping pace with her easily.
They were driven like cattle at a decent pace. It seemed the wolves knew the pace a normal human body could stand without being too winded. They were forced into a gaping pit that curved downward into darkness. It was cold, but surprisingly not damp like she would have expected. As they passed the lip of the entrance her eyes could make up faint light up ahead. That meant they used torches or lamps. She was proven right when they stumbled into a palely lit around. The walls were smooth alabaster stone and the floor was the same. The noise of their passing was mute and unreal. She was wondering if she wasn't sleeping and this was all a fanciful nightmare conjured by her overactive imagination. That is to say if she possessed one. She had never been one to daydream; she took things as they were. Although she was wishing now she had never thought to come.
She gave a glance around as they entered a main area and took stock of all the wolves. The young blue-black female was absent, as well as the other young wolf that had accompanied her tan one. Wait, her tan one? When had he become hers?
She was so busy on her thoughts that when a gasp rose through the collective group she ignored it. It wasn't until Yahiko prodded her none to gently that she looked up. Reflectively her delicate hand flew to her mouth in surprise. The wolves were going through what looked like an incredibly painful and gruesome process. Their bodies were changing bit by bit into human ones. The light gray female finished first, followed swiftly by the black one, but Megumi's eyes were locked on her tan one. She wanted to know what he would look like.
And she found out. Her cheeks were tinged pale pink as she realized he wasn't wearing any clothing. None of them were.
His body was large with finely honed muscles. She could tell he hadn't filled into his frame entirely with long, trim limbs. His face was broad and good-natured with a slight smirk. His eyes were the exact same as when he was in wolf form, but his hair was a wild, spiky mess. Her mind chided her, but she couldn't avoid that area. The naughty side of her assumed she might as well enjoy all the eye candy offered. He was certainly was dressing with leisure. She noticed Yahiko's mouth was hanging wide open and his eyes were bulging out of his face.
"Welcome." Megumi was surprised to find it was an almost slight woman who addressed them. She gave a slight, pleasant bow. Beside her stood a lean, dangerous looking man. His sharp cheekbones and four bangs coupled with his narrow eyes proclaimed him as the black leader. Why he wasn't speaking was a mystery to her. Perhaps in werewolf society men and woman were equal. "I understand that you all are very frightened, perhaps angry even. We have driven you here like livestock against your will. You don't know why, you can't imagine why, but you fear it has something to do with the rumors floating around. Listen to me if you would please. Yes, we are werewolves, although none of us would harm you directly we are under the orders of Master Shishio. He bade us to get food for his host of vampires. Despite what you may believe, they will not kill you, it would be a waste."
She paused, allowing that to sink it, "I apologize deeply, but you will never be allowed to leave now. May you not find this new life too uncomfortable. You will receive good food three times a day and a place to sleep. In return, you are expected to do a rotation of specific chores and feed a vampire every other evening."
The humans mumbled among themselves but fell silent as she continued on, "Please do not attempt escape. Our pack is in charge of security. We patrol constantly, twenty-four hours a day. We are the best of the best and pride ourselves on it. The corridors down here are confusing catacombs. You will be assigned to a more experienced slave, yes, slave, that's what you are now. You are expected to abide by the rules they will be explained to you in detail. There are no excuses or exceptions for breaking them."
Her face took on a sad cast and she pointed to the tattered remains of what could have been a human hung against the wall. "Punishments are harsh. Don't give reason for them to fall upon you."
As they shuffled out under the direction of a few werewolves Megumi started as her wolf sidled up to her. He gave her a reassuring grin and shoved his hands in his pockets.
"What do you want?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Nothin'. You're awfully bossy for a slave." He commented merrily. She wanted to throttle him. "I just wonder why you're here. After all, last time I saw you, you were in the company of two vampire hunters."
Her eyes flew open with shock and Yahiko made a slight, strangled noise. He gave them both a mild look, "Forgotten me already I see. Well, I'll just have to do a better job of making myself memorable."
Before he could continue and slender female came up. She gave him a pointed look and pronounced, "Stop playing with the slaves. You know the rules. Besides, what about Misao?"
"I was just having fun Kiks." He cajoled and the female's eyes flashed with ire. "Don't call me Kiks, Sanosuke, or next time you might lose something very dear to you." Having said her piece she went back to her post. Sanosuke gave a sheepish grin, not intimidated in the slightest.
"I'm Sanosuke. I'd like to know your name Fox Lady."
She contemplated slapping him, but instead she decided to play the good slave. A slap would draw unwanted attention. Instead she pressed closer to him and twisted the skin on his upper arm viciously. He yelped softly and grabbed the offended arm, trapping her hand in the process. She tried to yank it away and he smiled again.
"I don't know what you're up to Fox, just don't get yourself hurt before your friends arrive."
With that he let her go and wandered of nonchalantly.
Mary-Ann: Ah yes, the third side, and now all the characters have been introduced. The main ones anyway. I know he [Okita] was better than Saitoh fighting-wise. I really don't know his personality, except that he was cheerful and very upbeat. Very smart, yes. Maybe he smiles to hide his insecurities, or you know, he might actually be just that cheerful! People have to justify everything one way or another. I think he would be fairly good at making insights into other's natures. They are one and the same. Kenshin's not skitzo. Some habits, reflexes, behaviors, etc. are now ingrained in him, but he wasn't born a battousai. Learned behavior. He'd be awfully boring if only one side existed.
Fyyrrose: You're sick, where's your straight jacket, did you chew out of it again? I wouldn't really snap your fingers, toes maybe... So what have you been doing while winter break was happening? I'm not going to do it, sorry. You and Rob will have to suffer. Intelligence is in the eye of the beholder. No visible tails or ears or whiskers ;) I saved it *whistles*, it's in my e-mail still.
April-san: Umm, as Fyyrrose hinted, something happened to Aoshi, sorry ^^ All of this has been written in advance. I'm not much for vampire stories, but this idea hit me way back in Oct. when I was watching this show on Vamps/Wolves. Of course, I didn't write it until the start of Dec.
Wistful-Eyes: Kaoru doesn't get much of a part this time around. Fyyrrose is happy, but don't listen to her. I really do like Kaoru ^^ *chokes* Oh yes, the mystical half-rod- er raccoon. No, but she'll get her part later.
Firuze Khanume: Oh yes, I agree, no chance at all. Well, IMO Hiko is probably the very best swordsman out of everyone. Being supernatural has it's perks, not bleeding or getting tired or winded. I haven't figured out how to have her find out about her fox-half yet or who gets the fun of explaining it to her ;) She could, if she knew. Right now it's more like they would be making trouble for themselves if they did something to breach the codes/laws.
MissBehavin: Saitoh doesn't get much of a part in this, but I figure I should probably give the poor guy a break considering I like to use him so much. I think everything about Sou is abnormal *dodges as Fyyrrose attacks*. He never really had a childhood, then he was turned into a vampire. He just doesn't understand things ^^