The Sacred Night, Chapter Seven
We heard the shoji open quietly and turned just in time to see a girl cover her mouth and run away, emitting a squeak as she did so. The only thing I could think was that she knew what I was and would tell the first person she saw because she was so afraid. My secret was out- I'd have to leave just like I'd planned, only the humans would be pushing me out, if they didn't try to kill me instead. I supposed I could let them do that and save myself some work.
While I was sitting there contemplating my death at the hands of humans, Misao was going after the girl. She brought her back to my room and sat her down to see what she knew, and it was quite the interesting story.
"I saw you two... he was... kissing your arm... don't worry, I won't tell Okina-san you two are lovers..."
"Oro?" I choked out. "Misao-dono and I are-"
"Lovers, Omasu, you're right," she interrupted, giving me a chastising look. "Just please don't tell Gramps, you know how he gets about things like this," she requested seriously of the girl.
"But you're... what if you get... you know... have a baby?" Omasu asked.
"That can't happen. He's... you know," she nodded toward me. It was true, even if we were lovers, I couldn't have impregnated her, but how would she know that? I supposed the fact that I was dead could have something to do with it, but she didn't exactly accept that, either.
"Ohhh... I'm sorry for you, Himura-san," she answered, bowing. "I won't tell," she finally told Misao.
"Arigato, Omasu!" She finished and politely gave the girl a push out of the room.
"Misao-dono, we are not-"
"I know, baka! I was just telling her that so she wouldn't figure out that you're a vampire! Do you want her telling everyone that?"
"Iye," I admitted.
"Then we have to let her think we're lovers. She'll probably tell someone, but then they'll be even less suspicious of the truth,"
"You could get in trouble if she tells someone, Misao-dono,"
"I'm in trouble all the time. I can take it,"
"I don't want you getting in trouble for my sake, Misao-dono,"
"I'm going to get into trouble if someone finds out the truth, too. Do you think they'd react kindly to my bringing a vampire into the house?"
"I don't suppose so," I admitted. She had me. There was no way I could tell them after that. She'd get into a lot of trouble having a secret lover, but a lot more trouble bringing a known killer into her family's house. Besides, as inappropriate as a romance between us would have been, her family didn't know most of the reasons it would be so inappropriate. I was dead, but they didn't know that. I was thirteen years her senior, but they likely thought I was younger than she was. I was a murderer, but they definitely didn't know that, and they had no way to know I'd been married before, which just emphasized the point that I was too old for her.
"There. You can't go telling them anything because then you'll hang both of us. Now I have to go and at least try to get some sleep, because I've got chores to do in the morning. I suppose you'll just have to wait here until everyone starts to wake up, and then you can socialize or help with the chores or whatever until you go to sleep,"
"Misao-dono, what are your chores?"
"I have to sweep the floor in the Aoiya before the guests wake up or new ones start to come in, why?"
"Just wondering," I answered.
When she left the room, I began to transform. I became a tiny red salamander and crawled beneath the door of my room to exit the part of the building where the family lived. I entered the place where the paying guests stayed and skittered through the halls, looking for a broom closet or something of that nature. I found one, and entered it in my guise. I stood to my full humanoid height inside, procured a broom, and left the closet thusly.
I finished sweeping the floor and there was plenty of dark left before I had to go to sleep, so I started cleaning off the tables. Very soon, the whole place was quite spotless. I heard footsteps approaching, and a small red salamander darted back to the area where the family lived. I got back to my room and reverted to my natural state. After a few moments, I heard surprised conversation accompanied by more footsteps reentering the family's quarters.
"Someone did all our chores while we were asleep!"
"The Aoiya wasn't nearly that clean when I left it last night,"
"Who could've cleaned it?"
"It's not like any of us to do that,"
"I was asleep,"
"Me, too,"
"I sure didn't do it,"
"Could it have been Himura-san?"
"Why would he do that?"
"I don't know, but he's the only person who hasn't denied it,"
"Yeah, he was probably awake, too; Misao-chan said he stays awake at night,"
"He probably did!"
I didn't think it would be so obvious it was me who did the chores. Maybe I should have realized, but it was too late now. I just went out to socialize with them, since they didn't have anything else to do until the guests came. None of them mentioned the chores to me, but they were clearly in better spirits than usual. I was glad I could make them happy- it was a feeling I hadn't had in awhile. After we talked awhile, however, I had to excuse myself to go to sleep. I fell asleep quickly and easily, since there was a window letting sunshine into my room to wash over me.
I woke up with only a few selective memories of the previous night, but they gradually came back in force. I then spied a package wrapped with paper in the corner of my room. There was a piece of paper on it that said, 'thank you, Himura-san' on it. I wasn't sure whether to open it. It was clearly for me, and it was clearly a response to my doing the chores, so there was no real reason not to accept it, but I just felt weird about it. I felt weird until I realized they would be expecting to be thanked and see me using whatever was in the package, so I opened it because I didn't want them to think their gift displeased me.
It was a new gi. It was a really nice, light silk material, dark green in color. I put it on instead of my customary magenta one, and it was flattering. It was very comfortable, too, since it was so hot out in the summer. Maybe I would have appreciated it more if I wore it during the day, but I liked it anyway. It was a good gift. I went out to the main room to see everyone and thank them properly for their gift.
"Domo arigato gozaimasu, everyone," I said, bowing, after we had exchanged hellos. They made the appropriate responses and complimented me on its looks, but I noticed Omasu looking at me a little strangely. She was probably uncomfortable with her 'knowledge' of my relationship with Misao. I didn't know how close she and Misao were. Misao might have made up 'intimate details' to tell her if they were close friends, in which case she was probably very uncomfortable. Actually, if they were incredibly close, Misao might have told her the truth, in which case she was probably not only uncomfortable, but also scared. I smiled at her to reassure her that whatever was wrong was all right. She smiled weakly back, and I hoped somewhat reassured. I made a mental note to ask Misao just what she had told that girl.
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i like this... the whole misconception... i'll have to bring that in again later.
Ms. Zeal: thank you for your compliment, and the answer to your question is this: if he did not draw the blood directly out of her, but drank it from a cup or something, it would not cause her to age so quickly, but she would still suffer the effects of the loss of large amounts of blood, which are none too pleasant in themselves. Thank you or taking interest enough to ask!
TYDYE girl: you don't have long to wait!
Houndingwolf: interestingly enough, I just got the idea for how i'm going to insert her a few moments ago. She'll be around in one to three more chapters.
Unique-starfish: thanks! Glad everyone is still IC, i'm a little nervous about living up to my claims. I think i would let a vamp drink my blood, because it would keep them from killing others. In addition, i just like vamps, so i don't think it would be so bad. I do plan on updating frequently.
Chibi Yuushi: don't feel bad for not reviewing- reviews are a privilege, not a right. Glad you liked the shape shifting, and yes, you will see kenshin do it later. Also glad you like the introspectiveness... i love it as well, and i hate writing too much dialogue. That's part of the reason i like your RtK so much, because while there is plenty dialogue and action, there's a lot of description and thought as well. Many fics start out that way, and then lose it as they go on. The little italics section was meant to be describing it as it happened, not as a memory, but i'm still glad you liked it. The only reason i put it in italics was because he thought he was dreaming, and dreams are usually italicized.
Maeve Riannon: she just looks a bit older each time, such that you can tell, but not glaringly. Okina didn't notice for this reason. in addition, it was dark when they arrived, since they travel at night. No, Okina does not know who ken is, because he is only well-known among vampires, but maybe that ruins my 'as realistic as possible' goal, but oh well...
Yuhi-thedoerofevildeeds: thanks! You may not notice the effects of trying to make chapters longer for awhile, though, since i'm about four chapters ahead of what i'm posting.
PraiseDivineMercy: sorry if it's too bloody... i try not to make it too bad. You're on the right track with someone walking in on them, though you can see it's not okina. I don't know to what quote you were referring, but i don't think i took it from you, whatever it was. Blessings to you as well!