Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or creations from Rurouni Kenshin. But I do share ownership of the original characters with other authors/readers. There's my disclaimer, so… have a nice day… or night.

The Black Sakura – The Birth of Warriors – By Cherry Chibi

Chapter Fifteen

Battousai gingerly brushed Kaoru's raven bangs from her closed eyes. Her whimpers had woken him and he had worried a bit. "You'll be alright Kaoru." He muttered. He wasn't sure if she was going to hear what he was saying but he felt that him being by her side had made some sort of impact.

A thin ray of sunlight broke through the cracks of the ceiling and sprayed across the room. A couple of blinks and Kaoru's eyes opened. She sat upright with a yawn. "Morning Batty." She smiled dreamily. She watched him cock an eyebrow and hoped that he hadn't felt her cheeks heat up. "How long have you been up?"

 "Not long."

1/ Shadow Gates

Kaoru had been busy locked up in her room. Steaming waves surrounded her bedroom door in many colours. The absence of sound made things all the more strange. Battousai was trying to decipher whether he should enter her room or not. 'What is she up to?' She hadn't spoken a word to him ever since early morning and now he was suffering the torture of having to wait until she was done doing whatever she was doing.

 'Come to think of it, what is Shinta up to?'  He hadn't seen or sensed his other half anywhere and it was beginning to get on his nerves. 'What am I doing awake now?' Suddenly, it hit him.

Battousai never stayed awake during the day. It was the time where he took his rest and Shinta took over. He furrowed his eyebrows in thought.

A loud clang and screech stretched through the halls causing alarm. Battousai looked up and found Kaoru clinging onto the side of the door way looking almost drained of energy. "Kaoru?" He took quick steps and caught her before she fell into a heap. "What were you doing in there?"

 "I was looking for a way to release you of your curse…" Kaoru said, "So I asked the Guardians of Light." She took hold of Battousai's shoulder for support. "Do you remember how the curse's chant went?" The only clue that the Guardians of Light had and were able to tell her was that the answer to the solving of the curse lied within the chant itself. "Please tell me… The Blue Moon is tonight…" There was a sense that Kaoru was getting desperate. Time was running out for them – they had to act soon or else they would lose their friends.

A deafening pause took over them. "I'll tell you."

2/ Dark Forests

Yumi positioned the several coloured orbs onto the shrine with a smirk on her lips. Each of the orbs flashed and swirled with dangerous flickering lights – it looked like they had a life of their own. "Looks like they won't be coming for you. How disappointing." She looked up to the sky seeing the blue slowly fading and giving in to the dark. 'Tonight… I shall free you my love…'  Soon enough she'll be able to be with her lord once again. 'And then we can take revenge…'

A strong gust of wind blew, Yumi turned around and gazed into the distant shadows. Unnoticed, small, tiny cracks crawled over the orbs.

3/ Shadow Gates

Under the Blue Moon

Thou awoken thy secret

One into two thrice

Forever shall that be

Only when pure of all pure

Blood touches thy lips

Will thy be free…

Kaoru thought through the words. It seemed so simple but  there were double meanings. 'I have to break Battousai's curse so that he'll regain his full power and therefore we'll be able to save our friends.' But that wasn't the only reason why she wanted to break the curse. She wanted to end his torture.

Every night he stayed awake and watched over her – afraid that something might happen and in the day, part of him would still be awake just to watch her. Battousai was always doing his best to take care of her but if the curse still existed, he'll always blame himself for the things that he believes that could've been prevented.

 'There is only one cure… but it would mean that I'll have to sacrifice…'

 "Kaoru, are you alright?" Battousai asked as he entered the room. "Don't be too concerned with breaking the curse. We have to find a way to stop Yumi from finishing the ritual that'll bring back Shishio."

 "I know what has to be done." Kaoru replied, "To cure the curse, you would have to drink my blood." Shocked silence froze time after her last words. Battousai stared at her with cold amber eyes. "Tonight is the Blue Moon, Shinta has vanished because he has become partially reunited with you and to fully bring the two of you together again, means that you would have to drink my blood." She locked eyes with his.

 "But that would mean that…"

 "That I will become your partner." Kaoru concluded.

4/ Gates of Light

 "It is complete." One of the guardians said as she waved once more over the crystal sphere. It glowed brightly and then vanished in an aura of pure white. "But now Kaoru will have to perform the Amalgamate Ritual." Time was being unfair, the two guardians thought.

 "Would she be able to go through with it though? She isn't of age yet…" The other said quietly.

 "Don't forget that she is one who is cursed too, this ritual would mean they would combine their blood – they would share the memories and the life…"

 "You mean…"

 "Her curse will be outlived too."

5/ Shadow Gates

Battousai couldn't believe that Kaoru would say something so easily. He was slightly confused about it too. In his kind, allowing a being who was weaker than you to drink your blood was something which was never to be done. It would have meant that you were willingly making yourself a victim to another – making yourself appear weaker than the other. "Are you sure?"

Taking the Black Sakura's blood was something that was way beyond imaginable. It wasn't as simple as it sounded. To take her blood would mean that he would take away her freedom of keeping her secrets. And that image didn't suit the Black Sakura very well.

 "I'm very, very sure." Kaoru approached him until they were mere centimeters apart. She flashed him a smile. "I have had a while to think about it." Her beautiful blue eyes melted into his amber gaze and embraced his mind. It was clear that she didn't even care what it meant to make such an offer.

Battousai watched as his inner instincts took over and changed their surroundings into dark depths with swirling blue fire surrounding them. He raised his hands and held her shoulders – not in the way that a predator would. His touch was gentle and soothing. A small innocent smile played on Kaoru's dreamy face. No more questions… no more worries…

The collar of Kaoru's kimono loosened and revealed her fair white flesh on her neck. It was enticing and he felt his canines grow into sharp needle points. It felt like yesterday since he fed on live prey. He could already taste the flowing young blood in her veins. So much power… how delicious. He shook his thoughts away. That was not what he wanted to think about now. It wasn't what he was supposed to be thinking about.

What really mattered was that he would be forever united with her. He would be able to protect her always. What really mattered was that she was accepting him to be in her life and by her side. It was his longing desire to make her forever his.

Those values made this the Amalgamate Ritual.

Slowly, he sank his teeth into her neck. When he felt her wince from the sharp pain he sank in gentler. The warm life giving liquid smoothed down his neck and the feeling grew pleasant. Seconds later, a smoke screen surrounded them. A silhouette of a being with lavender eyes stood behind Battousai and slowly melded into its true form.

A crescent moon appeared and grew rounder. Soon its white rays of light reflected the colour of the blue flames. A Blue Moon stood above the two. The rays showered upon them, giving them a comforting aura.

Under the Blue Moon…

Kaoru felt her own canines slowly grow along with her strengthening desire to drink blood. The feeling of fear had been slowly wiped away by the comfort that was being given to her. Her muscles slowly developed into more defined forms and her body grew. Something was being raised from her inner self and freed her from a dark cage. Their souls were slowly sinking into the darker depths, an outer force was pulling them together. At that moment, Kaoru felt uncomfortable.

This wasn't meant to happen. The Amalgamate Ritual wasn't meant to be like this. This wasn't right… what was happening? Kaoru tried to resist the force but it just grew stronger and pulled her closer to Battousai's soul. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to come closer… after all, maybe she would be able to learn more about him. Then Kaoru felt Battousai not wanting her to move any closer.

- I'm sorry… I'll go away…- Kaoru said telepathically. However, even though she said that, she didn't know how to move away. There was something so powerful pulling her towards him that she couldn't break free. It felt like her wrists and ankles had been bound together by something.

- No. – Came the gentle tone, the fear suddenly gone. – Please… stay… - Battousai wanted to show her everything. He didn't want to keep any secrets.

- What is this…? – Kaoru questioned. She didn't know what was happening since this wasn't meant to be happening. It wasn't what would normally happen in the Amalgamate Ritual. This wasn't right.

- This is… the Soul Mate Law. Kaoru… you need to drink…-

Her blue eyes deepened into a darker colour, like the midnight sky. Her canines sharpened into long points. She sank her teeth into Battousai's neck and feasted upon his blood. A trace of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. Strength was being regained and she could see the Crimson String which was binding them together. It was fate. It was destiny.

Thou awoken thy secret…

Battousai licked his fangs clean. The power channeling in him was bliss. He felt his strength multiply… he felt his old powers return to him. A smile on his lips. Feeling the small pain numbing his neck was welcomed. He stroked Kaoru's hair as she drank. Who would've thought that they were soul mates. It made this ritual more special. Closing his eyes, he saw all of Kaoru's memories and secrets.

A very small young girl, staring into her reflection feeling all alone. No one to take care of her. No one to be there for her. As she grew older, she gathered up the forgotten children of society – she even searched into the most dangerous territories and helped the forgotten children. Then she offered them a home… at the Kamiya Dojo. Deaths and births… bringing tears to her eyes. He felt all her suffering and he felt how freed she felt when she laughed.

Then she met him and the others. She grew happier than she had ever been. The loneliness was banished. Everything she did had some form of him part of it. It was like he was the thread that had woven all her memory fabrics together. The aroma of her soul combined with his. His fangs slowly vanished and returned to their normal size.

One into two thrice…

The Blue Moon above them immediately split into two smaller orbs and flew straight down at them. 

The fast images screens all around her. Emotions intermingled into her body. Hate, anger, sorrow… hundreds of years of feeling the pains of life. She never knew how much she had meant to him. How scared he had been when she had gotten into danger… how angry he had been when she had gotten hurt…

She would have never known how strong he had felt. Also, if it weren't for now, she would never have remembered that she had been cursed and that she was really about twenty one years old. Old, locked away memories returned.

Once she had recovered her strength, she stopped drinking. Her eyes, not blue nor black but somewhere in between. Flesh turned pale white. Strength, multiplying and multiplying. Growing alongside the blue and amber flames. Giving her a dangerous but a very beautiful look.

What she was seeing was only a small amount of how much she had to find out about Battousai.

Forever shall that be…

Battousai laced his fingers with Kaoru's and a Crimson String wrapped around their wrists and tightened their forms together – a bond which will keep them together forever. The feeling of happiness and closeness was wonderful. It was nothing like what he had ever felt before.

- I'll protect you Kaoru… forever… - Warmth in their embrace made them feel safe. Like large dark wings surrounding them, shielding them from all suffering.

Only when pure of all pure…

Falling, falling… deeper… together… So fast. Kaoru held onto Battousai tightly – refusing to show any sign of letting go. She looked up to Battousai's face with and smiled. – I'll never leave your side…- She ran her fingers at the back of his neck and pulled him slowly down towards her.

Blood touches thy lips…

A kiss. Gentle. Sweet. Holding her face in his hands, he tasted his blood on her lips and hers on his. To know that they would be able to be together like this… made him feel whole. It was precious. A jewel in the night sky. There were no longer any secrets. She understood him better than before as he did to her.

Will thy be free…

Black Sakura petals whispered through the air around them. A second transformation then took place. Translucent black wings appeared from Kaoru's back and her eyes deepened into a richer colour. The kimono she wore slowly faded into a liquid jet colour. The silky cloth clinging onto her feminine form. Lips dark red and flesh almost as white as snow.

Battousai locked a smile with hers. – My Queen…- He held her palm in his hand and planted a kiss gently on the back of her hand. His amber eyes glowing powerfully and stronger than before. His aura reeked with strength that was almost equal to Kaoru's. It felt good to have his full strength back. But it felt better to see the beautiful Queen that the young Black Sakura was becoming.

- Lord Battousai… - Kaoru touched his scarred cheek lovingly.

6/ Dark Forests

A storm raged around the shrine and suddenly silenced. Yumi narrowed her eyes. 'What is that wretch up to?' She thought as she turned to the alter with the several cracking orbs. Above in the sky, the Blue Moon was raised to the centre of the sky. Showing that it was officially midnight. The scowl on her face then vanished. 'She's not coming… so I'll just have to sacrifice her friends…'

Raising a hand, she used her telekinesis ability and raised a dark emerald green orb. She smashed it onto the ceremonial bowl. A red liquid with a glowing orb slowly melted. An image of a girl appeared… Misao Makimachi. The witch smiled with pleasure from seeing the pain in the girls eyes – seeing the hopelessness made her chuckle. "Don't worry young one, I'll make sure that you die a memorable death."

She summoned her power and then closed her palm. The soul began to fade. Blood streaming over the alter. Soaking into the fabrics and making the lit black candles burn a dark bloody colour.

A bright blue light flashed and the soul vanished.

 "What?!" Yumi's eyes widened with outrage. What had just happened? She took a step back and watched as one by one the orbs containing the souls of the Black Sakura's friends cracked and shattered into millions of pieces.

 "How dare you mock my loyalty?" An icy voice growled softly behind her. Sending a shiver across the air towards Yumi. "You shall be given a punishment worthy of your transgressions."

Slowly, Yumi turned around to see a woman in a long black silky dress. Her complexion was pale white and her lips red. A pang of jealousy struck Yumi for a moment when she realised that the woman looked much more beautiful that she. She scowled and narrowed her eyes.

 "What's the matter Yumi? Are you speechless?" Kaoru opened her deep blue eyes slowly and smirked. "You underestimate me."

 "A wretched weakling like you deserves no recognition." Yumi snapped. However, after that last sentence, Yumi felt that it was a bad idea provoking the woman. Soon a gust of icy wind blew and pinned her in her position. Tiny ice particles cut and rubbed into her skin – the impacts so quick that no blood spilled until minutes later. However, the two nearby auras told her that the attacks weren't being done by Kaoru.

 "You bitch." Another angry tone said and clawed nails dug into Yumi's throat. Drawing more blood as they sank into her veins and arteries. "No one… Kills the Black Sakura…" Angry dark eyes glared straight into Yumi's, "Except me…" The grip around her neck tightened and Yumi cast a fireball straight into her attacker's stomach. Pushing the woman away.

 "Don't be so selfish Tomoe." Yumi said with a sneer. "You shouldn't even bother to try to kill me you worthless good for nothing mortal." She knew that Tomoe had no power at all. No magic whatsoever. Tomoe laid on the ground with blood spilling from the wound inflicted.

The wounds around Yumi's neck stung and so were the several cuts that were patching all over her flesh. She glanced over to the Black Sakura. Kaoru was clearly calm and it was annoying the hell out of Yumi. "I'm the one who will kill that bitch."

 "Try with all your might." Kaoru said coldly, "You won't even kill me. Not now or ever. In fact, you won't even come anywhere near me." She closed her eyes and felt the several beings that had assumed stances in the dark. "There are many others who are wishing to kill you."

 "Bluffing gets you nowhere." Yumi charged forward, summoning fireballs burning brightly and attacking. She threw the flames and hit the woman easily. Flames ignited all over the woman's body. Melting her into ashes. Yumi stopped. "That's it? How pathetic."

 "Wrong."

Yumi's eyes widened and she turned around. Kaoru stood before her. "H-How?" Next thing she knew, a blade pierced straight through her torso. A dagger. She gasped with pain and felt the poison reek into her body. A hot breath hissed over her left ear.

 "No one kills the Black Sakura except me." Tomoe hissed. She twisted the blade and pushed it harder through – until her hand had forced through Yumi's body. A scream bellowed through the air.

Kaoru watched un-amused. It was pathetic. Seeing this happen. She would guess that Tomoe had already gone into the stages of having a twisted mind. Just as she was about to turn around to leave, a scream stopped her.

 "Sister! Please! Stop! You're hurt!" Glancing over her shoulder. She could see a young boy pull his weakened older sibling away and hold onto her body. Tears were streaming from his eyes. "Sister… sister… please… don't leave me… please don't leave me alone… sister…" Kaoru felt sympathy for the boy. All his life he had only his older sister, and he had suffered a lot more when he helplessly watched her change and become evil. Yet, he stayed by her side and did whatever he could to keep her happy. It was a love that made her feel saddened for him.

"Enishi…" Tomoe said, her voice breathy. "Forgive me…"

 "Pathetic boy!" Yumi screeched. What she did next made Kaoru's eyes widened. A dark aura surrounded the two siblings. Enishi screamed with pain. Blood once again took over the alter and streamed through the ground.

Sounds of screams

Begs and cries

Open the entrance

Bring out hell

Here I give thee

The souls of mortals

In exchange

Give me my lord

Release him!

It went so fast, Kaoru wasn't able to stop anything. "Yumi!" She watched horrified as Enishi and Tomoe's bodies rotted into skeletons. Their souls sent into a opened hole into the ground. A dark laughter took over. The strength of the darkness overpowering. She stumbled a couple of steps back.

 "Yumi… you've done well…"

 "Lord Shishio…" Yumi purred. She turned around to the man standing at the edge of the hole. His body wrapped in bandages. She immediately bowed to him. "We are reunited once again…" Then she shot a glare straight to Kaoru. "You shall die." Raising a hand, a great deal of power gathered into a ball. Now that she was reunited with Shishio, Yumi strengthened into greater levels. And Kaoru knew that she wouldn't be able to avoid damage easily – especially because of the series of events that she had gone through.

 "Yumi, wait." Shishio placed a hand on Yumi's shoulder. She stopped instantly. "I have a better idea." Suddenly, a spark of violet lighting struck through Kaoru's forehead. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. She tried to resist the attack but failed dramatically so she resorted to another strategy – she closed her eyes and summoned her energy. "There is a score I have to settle."

A smokescreen created a wall around the couple and they vanished.

Kaoru's form collapsed into a pile of ashes. Silence took over but it wasn't yet the end of the night. One by one, a warrior appeared from the shadows of the forests. They formed a circle around the area. Then a main warrior wearing a black hakama and gi stepped out. His swords strapped at his waist. Amber eyes glowering. "Kaoru, are you alright?"

 "I'm alright." Kaoru reappeared in a cylinder of grey smoke. "It's too bad that I had to resort to retreat." She really hadn't expected things to turn out the way they did, however, no one won or lost tonight. So there really wasn't much for her to think about. She eyed all the warriors who circled her. "Welcome back everyone."

They all bowed onto one knee to her. "Black Sakura…" They said together.

 "We shall all go home. There is much to do." Kaoru said. With a wave of a hand, everyone vanished from the site. Silence recovered in the area and it sounded like everything had returned to normal. The moon in the sky showered its sad rays down at the corpses.

A twig snapped as a being threw a cigarette onto the ground. "Interesting…"

     END OF BOOK 1   

AN: The End of Book One!!! /dodges all of the weapons thrown/ I know, I know… it's been a long wait but I've been going through a period of writers block (damn that stupid disease…) and I've just gotten over it. Hehehe… It's feels great to finish something! So now all you faithful readers have to do now… is wait for the second book!!! It will come out ASAP.

Thank you all for your support! I'm really grateful!! I really would've given up on this story a long time ago if it weren't for all your encouragements. Thank you!!!

Until next time…

Cherry Chibi