Well here we go, the long awaited chapter that will lead up to the final two…yes I know this is very late and once again I apologize fiercely for the fact that it is so delayed.
For all of you Vampire fans who want a darker fan fiction, be sure to go and check out my Amber Linings story. Darker Battousai equals darker fun.
Pai, the most wonderful beta in the world, would like to also apologize for the lack of an update. There have been many things involved that have delayed it, including those wonderful fires you hear about in California…
Yes she does live in California and the areas effected, which kind of puts a damper on how quickly you get the information out!
Remember check out Amber Linings. (A shamless plug!)
Also, I have decided to not actually post the lemon. But because there is one that has been written, although its not edited, if you would like to have it let me know and I will be happy to email it to you. I am doing this because I believe that it will be a bit much for this story, but Amber Linings is shaping up to be much darker and will most likely contain one.
Please email if you wish to have it.
Ravyn
It was simply amazing what could happen in a matter of moments. Lost comrades returned, humans changed into something beyond mortal, and then of course the cincher - nightfall.
Kaoru slumped against the counter, cold leftovers momentarily forgotten, and exhaled deeply as she contemplated the most recent developments in her previously settled life.
Mated Kenshin.
Check.
Discovered a series of new abilities such as elevated pain tolerance, telepathy, physical endurance, and quicker energy replenishment. Continued absence of culinary skills.
Check.
Misao got attacked, changed into a vampire without bonding to Aoshi, discovered the long-lost Oniwabanshu members that had previously been slaughtered.
Check.
Shura, the Pirate Lady who had once kidnapped Kenshin, was responsible for the downfall of a major smuggling ring, also a newly introduced vampire.
Check.
A long ass meeting with Hiko on the blasted phone that gave you a killer migraine.
Check.
Kaoru pushed herself off the countertop, satisfied that she hadn't left anything out. She supposed she could add her bruises from the earlier spar with Kenshin to the list as well. Still pondering her current state, Kaoru carefully reheated the rice.
"Please don't burn the kitchen down." Misao muttered, somewhere from her left. Kaoru shifted to see the still-gaunt girl leaning against table. Her nose was wrinkled in distaste at something, and Kaoru figured it was the acrid smell that had filled the kitchen at her java-gone-awry.
"It's the coffee." Kaoru easily pointed out, her lips twisting in amusement, even as her worried blue gaze drifted from the top of her friend's head to the bottom. She even used a trick Kenshin had insisted she learn that morning and eyed her friend's Ki, and by filtering it through her own, checked for weaknesses.
Misao made a face at that.
"I am fine you silly girl," she scolded. Misao was, as always, directly aware of the raw and simplistic power her friend possessed. It was there, like a great stream of energy just waiting for the right moment to flood whoever and whatever it came in contact with.
Kaoru eyed Misao, keenly aware of her vivid expression, of the swirling tendrels of blue-green that composed her lively gaze. It wasn't a muted color - two dull colors swirling to make the crystal color - but instead, two bright colors fighting for dominance.
Both women sat down and picked at the luke-warm rice, neither really trusting Kaoru's skills, or lack thereof. Both took a bite, made a face, and pushed it back.
"That is disgusting." Misao pointed out, her nose wrinkled in seeming distaste. "Utterly horrible. Why do I insist on tortuing my lready mutalted tastebuds with your concoctions? Maybe pain is my thing."
Kaoru nodded in agreement. "It tastes like that damn coffee permeated it or something."
The thought of something that horrendous was simply unbearable.
Kaoru poked at an unidentifiable object; her nose scrunched in obvious bewilderment, and looked up at her friend who held an uncharacteristically serious expression on her face.
"What?"
"Tomorrow is the Blood Moon." Misao commented her voice soft.
"Yes." Kaoru found nothing else could really be said. She knew, intuitively, that Misao was worried about her new heritage. More specifically, worried about calling the wrong kind of Ki.
Another thought hit Kaoru. "Oh."
Aoshi wouldn't be able to protect her from it and Kaoru was wondering exactly when she had started to rely on him in the first place. She chewed her bottom lip in though, trying to broach the subject aa delicately as she could.
"Misao, do you remember that neat little trick we discovered when we were 16....in this lifetime, I mean." Kaoru wasn't sure when she had started categorizing which lifetimes she chose to pull a memory from, but she had.
Misao froze in her chair. "You mean the one where…"
"We shared Ki." Kaoru said cheerfully, attempting not to remember the beating that 'brilliant idea' had gotten them. Soujiro had practically ripped their heads off. It was highly dangerous to blend Ki, in any form, and Kaoru mentally wondered if it was something only a mated couple could do. She had to agree with Soujiro's assessment, ever since that experience she had been uncannily aware of Misao.
Misao frowned. "Kaoru, you remember what Soujiro said, as he wiped the mat with our sweating, hurting, and pleading forms."
Kaoru remember quite well. "Misao, if you run into trouble, do it."
She shook her head. "Kaoru we don't fully understand the implications of what that does and…"
Kaoru reached forward and clasped her friend's hands comfortingly. "I am not going to let something as stupid as a risk kill you, not in this lifetime." She flashed Misao a smile. "Besides, when have we ever listened to a word Sou-chan says anyway?!"
Both women grimaced at a few choice memories, complete with subsequent punishments. However they soon turned their minds back to the present as their stomachs echoed the earlier pleas of hunger. They would lose some of the bite of their appetites once the Vampyric and Human blood had mixed completely, but right now they were starving.
"I think you should go up there, grab Kenshin by the ears, hurl him down the blasted stairwell, and then tell him to cook us something." Misao stated. She never took her eyes from the poisonous and mutilated rice dish before her, lips twitching upwards. "I mean think about it, the makeup sex would be great."
Kaoru, who had just decided to rinse the taste of horrendous rice out of her mouth with some water, spit it out rather violently.
"Misao!"
"Well you didn't have to give me a bath."
"Misao!"
"Heh, you know what they say about swordsmen....I bet that boy's got some impressive stamina."
"MISAO!"
"No need to scream Kaoru, I'm right here," she commented dryly. Kaoru's glare soon morphed into satisfaction when her kick knocked both the offender and chair to the floor.
"Misao," Kaoru hissed, leaning towards Misao with blush-stained cheeks, "SHUT UP!"
~*~
Kenshin leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs, as he listened to Shura and Hannya's report. They had been talking for hours, the platters of finger food and the daylight dwindling in kind.
"So Enishi has been recruiting." He whispered to himself, eyes distant.
"That is not all Kenshin-sama." Shura continued. "I believe that there may be a slight dissension in the ranks. Enishi has not been in direct contact with Shishio, but has been relying on Kamatari to offer proper sacrifice to see him."
This caused several brows to fly.
"Kamatari." Soujiro whispered thoughtfully, his expression troubled. Out of all of those present, he knew the opposition best. "That could cause problems, especially if he thought there was hope in gaining Shishio's love."
Kenshin frowned. " Can we use that to our advantage?"
Soujiro sighed. "No. Kamatari would not allow anything to get in his way, its more likely that he would set Yumi up. He not would endanger either Shishio or himself, and would most likely attempt to press our buttons. Remember, without Rei there is only a fifteen minute gap for them to fight."
Aoshi sighed. "Rei is safe with Hiko."
Sano frowned. "I really don't get it. If Rei is safe, why do they insist on fighting against us?"
Yahiko picked up book and threw it at his long-time friend. "Listen Rooster head, it's for revenge. Both Enishi and Shishio would like nothing better than to have our severed and bleeding heads on shiny new platters. So far they have just been testing us, the amount of willing helpers they are going to have tomorrow night is staggering."
Soujiro agreed with Yahiko. "It's power. The opening of the Blood Paths could wipe out the human race, something that would change the actual foundations of everything in this world. That's why we have to stop them."
"The Blood Paths are something that have been badly abused in the past," Kenshin softly added. "It's why we cut ourselves off from them."
Yahiko shot a sly look at Aoshi. "Is it really that, or does the reason lie in keeping our women from harm during Mating?"
To say it went down hill from there would be putting it lightly. Yahiko and Sano jumped onto Aoshi like a dog to a bone, both hoping to get the most shots in.
Kenshin wasn't sure what was more amusing, the blush he could feel on Kaoru from here, or the stammering Oniwabanshu leader. Actually Aoshi wasn't really stammering, but it was the closest he had ever seen the Okashira come to an outright blush.
"Sano, leave Aoshi alone." His tone was amused, and held poorly suppressed laughter. Kenshin was carefully containing his snickers and comments.
Their so-called 'meeting' had fallen apart hours ago, thanks to some well placed bantering on Yahiko and Sano's part. Come to think of it, his own ribbing hadn't helped the situation a great deal either.
Kenshin had warred with himself for some time over facts that they had already discussed. How to deal with the rampant Blood Ki, what to do about Yumi, and Enishi's threat to Kaoru were at the forefront of their minds.
All of this had plagued them for many weeks now, and it wasn't going to be solved in a simple moment of brilliance. At least, not a moment like this. If anything came to him it would be on the battlefield, where Ki was running loose and blood permeated the air.
Until then, it was best to give his comrades a night off. He knew there was some unfinished business that needed to be taken care of. Aoshi, for instance, needed to figure out what to say to Misao.
He, in turn, was more than willing to spoil Kaoru on what could be their last night together.
He had no illusions as to what they where heading into tomorrow night. It was going to be a battle, and as unlikely as it seemed, and as much as they hated to think about it, they could very well lose one of their own.
Kenshin stood, his eyes ringed in the familiar amber, and headed out of the door. "This meeting is falling into shambles. Spend tonight well."
As Kenshin arrived back, his hearing picked up the sounds of full female laughter coming from the kitchen. Interestingly enough, the same area that Kaoru's Ki was showing immense embarrassment.
Kenshin soundlessly padded down the stairs, his lips pulling into a smile at the whispered words that echoed through the hall. By the sound of it, Misao was making some rather interesting comments.
Kenshin leaned against the door jam, wondering exactly how long it would take the women to notice he was there. Kenshin frowned as a bitter smell wafted his direction, but all thoughts about whatever had caused such a disgrace to cooking fled once he caught sight of Kaoru's face.
She was simply edible when she blushed.
Kaoru turned then and the pale blush that had graced her features darkened in embarrassment when she caught his expression.
"Kenshin!" Kaoru groaned, feeling the heat of her flush. "How long have you been standing there?"
Kenshin offered her a smile. "Not long."
Misao picked herself off the floor. " I though all you brave,strong men where in a meeting discussing the fate of the world."
"Nice of you to notice Misao." Yahiko announce as he brushed by the women, headed for the backset of stairs that lead to his beloved.
"I said men, Yahiko-chan," Misao retorted, "Not little boys."
"Don't call me CHAN!"
Kaoru bit down on a smile, her dancing gaze meeting Kenshin's. St that particular moment he was studying what appeared to be a brutally botched attempt at re-heating something.
"Was that rice?" Kenshin questioned, turning quizzical orbs to Kaoru.
She flushed again.
"It was an -attempt- at rice." Misao said cheerfully. "But the fortunate part is that the container is disposable, and that the microwave will suffer no lasting harm."
Kaoru shot her a level look. "You're pushing it tonight Misao."
Misao shot a wink at Kenshin. "This is Kaoru's pathetic attempt to get you to cook for her. I, for one, think its just a big ruse to get out of making meals." Misao snickered at her friend's face but it was abruptly cut off when the container thwacked her.
Kenshin shook his head and moved towards the fridge to look for something simple he could make for the women. Omasu had provided them with several cold trays of sandwich meat but that had been quickly devoured by the bottomless pits otherwise known as Sano and Yahiko.
The amount of chatter in the room only increased when Aoshi entered, followed by his four faithful shadows. Kenshin shook his head as he measured the rice, wondering if perhaps Misao had stored up years of chatter, on reserve, and thus now possessed the ability to gab incessantly.
Kaoru closed her eyes in an attempt to keep from killing Misao when hr cooking was once again paraded on the table to be ogled over like some now-extinct species. Just what was so fascinating about badly mutilated cooking, anyway?
Of course she wasted little time in pointed out to her friend that she was the one currently sporting the latest look in botched culinary confections, so who exactly was worse off…the one who destroyed it or the one who wore it?
This of course started a long and drawn out battle of exactly what was worse, and it only ended when Kenshin delivered his peace offerings of (edible) rice and miso.
Misao was the first to finish, declaring that she needed to shower and sleep, even though she had been sleeping all day, and practically danced out of the room. For a person who had gone through such a supposedly traumatic experience, she was hiding it well.
Kaoru allowed the clock's ticking to fill the silence for a few minutes.
"You should talk to her." Kaoru said cheerfully to her rice.
Her rice didn't respond, she had known it wouldn't, but at least she could get her say in this way. "Just because she appears to be happy doesn't mean that she isn't confused and worried underneath it all."
Kaoru kept on eating, neither expecting or wanting an answer, but was content when Aoshi soon left as well.
Kaoru smiled into her rice when Hannya's deep voice murmured his thanks, and simply basked in the easy silence in the Aoiya.
~*~
Soujiro raised his dark brown eyes to the sky and watched the nearly full moon take its place as crowning glory to the rapidly darkening sky. No longer was there the comforting rays of sun to warm the skin, but a cool light that lent little precious light.
They had abandoned the site soon after the attack and had headed back the Aoiya and Kenshin. Misao had slept the entire way back, and Soujiro had been forced to drive as Aoshi looked as if he truly was one of the walking dead. There had been exhaustion in his face that had startled Soujiro, and no matter how battle weary he was, he would not force Aoshi to strain his already dwindling resources.
Soujiro had caught bits and pieces of the conversation between the female, whose name he now knew was Shura, and the Oniwabanshu. Apparently it wasn't the changing that had exhausted Aoshi, but changing Misao and not binding her to him in the ways of a mate. He had been forced to keep every single last piece of Ki separate from Misao's; a feat that took extensive willpower and control.
Soujiro had felt his respect grow for the silent Vampire. He could have easily bound himself to Misao, something he knew both wanted badly, and the girl would never have complained. It wouldn't have been the special ceremony that someone like Kaoru got to enjoy, but it would have been a binding, all the same.
But Aoshi had allowed her to remain the same, attached and unbound, and for that reason alone Soujiro was ready and willing to forgive anything his past memories evoked against the man. He was allowing Misao to choose a mate on her own, in the end.
When they had arrived back at the Aoiya, the Oniwabanshu had rushed out, it had been several hours later and almost dusk once again almost a full twenty four hours since they had left, and the members who were there had slid to a stop. Then shrieks of joy had permeated the air as the four missing members found themselves tackled to the ground in a loving welcome.
It was close to an hour later and Soujiro found himself struggling to sleep, and so he had decided to spend sometime on the roof in hope of clearing his thoughts. He knew that most of the household was still awake, the Oniwabanshu reintroducing the four newfound members, Kaoru was with Misao, Kenshin and the others were in a meeting.
But the night air was just what he needed to comtemplate the information he had recieved earlier in the evening. Of course, Sano and Yahiko were entertaining, but the simple fact that he was sitting in a room with the most powerful Vampires across Japan was absolutely awe-inspiring.
"Do you prefer privacy or could I have a seat?" A female voice, a soothing croon to his frazzled nerves, questioned him from behind.
Soujiro turned and offered the petite woman a smile. "You may stay if you wish, I would not ask an unwilling conversationalist to talk."
Shura gave him a smile that showed off two well-placed dimples. "Coming from a man who is rather fast, I would say this is a good thing." She dropped down carelessly beside him; "Otherwise you might just disappear on me."
Soujiro flashed her his patented smile, one that gave nothing away but some private acknowledgement.
~*~
Misao hummed to herself, the action more of a habit than anything else, and adjusted the towel she had wrapped around her form as she opened the bathroom door to her room.
Looking around she almost dropped the towel in shock when she realized Aoshi was in the room with her. "Aoshi!" Misao squeaked, tightening her hold on the loosely wrapped cloth.
"Misao." The edges of his lips curled slightly upward in what could be considered a smile, but Misao was not completely fooled. His eyes had darkened with what Misao would only label as lust.
With one hand still clutching the towel she propped the other on her hip. "Aoshi-sama, what are you doing in my room? I was in the shower!"
He did smile then, and Misao reveled in the softening of his cheekbones and in the way it lit his eyes. "I am more than aware of the Misao." He raked his eyes up her towel clad form, and Misao felt a blush creep up her features.
Aoshi, for his part, was content in watching it slowly crawl up her neck, wishing for nothing more than the right to follow its trail with his lips. Blinking, he jerked himself back to the present.
"Tomorrow is the battle." Aoshi started softly, "And as of right now, you have no protection against the call of blood."
Misao frowned darkly at him. "I am more than aware of that Aoshi." Her tone was slightly hurt and Aoshi moved forward in what, for him, could be considered a bold move.
He grasped her left hand and kissed her knuckles. "I know. What I am trying to offer you is a line."
Misao wrinkled her brow at him. "No Zen please, my brain really can't process it right not. If you start spouting about ripples and water and such I am going to hurt you."
Aoshi smiled into the palm of her hand. "What I am wishing to do, Misao-mine, is court you. Not only will it warn the over zealous vampires that you are claimed, but it will offer you some protection against the call of Blood tomorrow."
Misao peered up at him through long lashes, looking terribly vulnerable. "You aren't saying this just because you're overprotective Aoshi, because if you are…"
His smooth lips silenced any impending protest and Misao found herself pulled flush against his hard chest, her fingers desperately clutching at the towel while the other hand buried itself in his hair.
"No." Aoshi told her gently, and for a split second Misao caught a hint of humor in his dark gaze. "That would cause some bad ripples in my spiritual awareness."
Misao playfully smacked his chest. "Aoshi! When did you develop a sense of humor?"
Aoshi just smiled. "So, Misao-mine, do you accept my offer of courtship?"
Misao nodded slowly, her eyes still confused. "But why courtship Aoshi? You know I would say yes even to a bonding with you!"
Aoshi gently traced her jaw before tweaking her nose. "Because when I Mate you, and do not doubt me Misao I will mate you, I want it to be special, not something rushed because of the risk of blood. You are strong, and my Ki will help you be stronger. We can trust in that for now."
Misao nodded. "Alright then." Grinning, she reached up and brought him down for another kiss. Misao melted into his frame and pouted when he pulled back, her eyes widening when his lips fell to her throat as his long fingered hand grasped her wrist.
Aoshi pulled back and gently traced the patterns of pale blue under her skin, his fangs pushing at his gums in anticipation of her blood. Unable to help himself he brushed the area with his lips, then traced it with his tongue, and then with a contented sigh, bit into her pale skin. Tougher than a human's, it was tinged with a slight spice, and her blood spilled and pooled into his mouth with something akin to eagerness.
Aoshi greedily suckled, aware of the surging Ki moving through and around the bite, he was also acutely aware of the soft moan that fell from Misao's lips, and was rewarded with another mewling purr when his tongue lapped at the punctures.
Pulling back, Aoshi stood and stared into her slightly dazed eyes, making a point to lick his lips slowly, lazily observing the hungry way Misao studied his action. Reaching down, he kissed her hard.
Ending the kiss, he steadied her as she swayed before brushing a loose strand of dark hair away from her bright eyes. "Get some clothes on Misao-mine, before I am tempted beyond my control. I will be back soon so you had best get something shapeless and baggy if you have it."
Misao nodded her head, her expression once again confused. "Be back?"
He leaned forward until her nose gently brushed his. "You share a futon with me now, in my room."
Misao felt her jaw dropped and once she was sure he was gone, let out a squeal of happiness. Falling back against her own futon she sighed dreamily as her fingers traced the healing punctures. "I'm Aoshi's and I get to sleep with his arms around me!" Her smile widened. "The only thing better is going to be seeing ALL of him!"
"You're mine now, Aoshi-sama," Misao whispered to herself, "And you are NEVER getting away!"
~*~
Sano gently brushed his wife's hair, something he had taken to doing within the first few weeks of their marriage. It was a well-loved tradition, to feel the silky locks fall from his hands and to watch the gentle way it cascaded through the brush.
"I love your hair." Sano whispered to his drowsy wife, aware of the way her head tilted forward. "I love the feeling of it in my hands, and the way it passes through my fingers."
Megumi turned at that. "And what brought this on?" Her cinnamon eyes where curious.
Sano shrugged. "I know I don't tell you enough Meguitsune, but I thought I might as well."
Megumi leaned forward and lightly kissed his lips. "And I love your gravity defying hair as well, my Rooster head." As if to prove her point she reached up and gently tugged on his bangs.
Sano lightly growled and tackled her into the pillows, for he was a man of action, if not words.
~*~
Yahiko located his wife by the glowing from under a crack in the wall. Walking in, he watched as Tsubame carefully mended a microscopic tear.
"Come to bed Tsubame." Yahiko encourage gently, aware of the tentative hold his caring wife had on her emotions. It was beyond him what to do to care for her, they had not been mated during the last major battle, and light skirmishes were something he and the others could handle in there sleep.
Tsubame raised shining eyes to his and gave him a wistful smile. "I just wanted to make sure that you had clean clothes."
Yahiko decided it would be best to not mention that fact that she was most likely going to have to simply throw away whatever clothing he wore tomorrow anyway.
Walking over, he disentangled his wife from the clothes pile and brought her to his side. Gently, he traced the dark circles under her eyes with his fingertip and sighed. "You worry too much, Koishii."
Tsubame threw herself into his arms, her small shoulders heaving. "Come back to me?" Tsubame was one of the women who would be staying, she and Megumi would be needed to treat the wounded as they did not excel on the battle field.
Yahiko tilted her chin and gently kissed away her tears. "Always."
~*~
Kaoru wasn't sure what she loved more, the smell of Kenshin's skin or the feel of his arms wrapped around her. It was a sappy moment that only she could come up with, as she was sure Misao would find something completely idiotic to think about while wrapped in Aoshi's arms....such as how much chocolate the man ate.
"We might lose." It was directed in the vicinity of his throat, and when his arms tightened around her she lost the fear that he had been asleep.
"We could."
"Will we?"
Kenshin sighed into her hair, enjoying the faint jasmine sent. He could think of a few more enjoyable things they could be doing instead of talking about possible death. Just the thought of losing her again was enough to cause alit his nerves.
Rolling over, he pinned her slight frame under his, amber-veined gaze boring into hers. "I will not lose you again, Koishii."
Kaoru raised a trembling hand to his face and traced his scar gently. "But what if I lose you?"
Kenshin turned his head and kissed her palm. "You won't, I promise. I have never broken a promise to you before and I won't break this one either." He nuzzled her fingers desperately.
Kaoru sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck, the constant worry in her mind put on hold with his touch. Tomorrow was tomorrow and for tonight there was just Kenshin.
~*~
Kamatari laughed to himself as he finished going over the plans for tomorrow.
"Just wait Yumi, if everything goes correctly then I will rule the world by Lord Shishio's side and Kenshin Himura will be no more."
His brown eyes glittered with both hate and longing.
A special note: To akasha_death and Shobhana from Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. You guys rock and I hope that this chapter meets each and everyone of your approval.