Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin, The Grudge or Interview with the Vampire.

Lady Battousai654: I'm really glad that your still reviewing. It makes me so happy to see all our reviews! How many of you actually looked at the pic of the Kawasaki Ninja? If you didn't, you should, it's cool. Enjoy the newest chapter!

Vampire Demon666: I still don't have much to say right now. I get to write some more here though. Self-loathing and other fun stuff like that. Maybe I'll throw in some suicidal thoughts, so beware of that. Hey, special thanks to Legolasestelstar. Not many people mention me in reviews. They probably forget about me...or whatever ,but thanks.

someone: I'm glad you like it. Thanks for taking the time to review.

Ludrid Oddysee: Yes, I've found that updating to often sometimes causes me to actually lose my reviewers. Funny huh? I've been trying to get a regular update, but my computer lost everything a couple days ago, before I posted the last chapter. Phew, that was scary. Luckily I found it all again. Lol

Mironicka: Really? I hope it wasn't different in a bad way, was it? It felt a little different writing it anyway. I hope you still like the fic, and if you tell me how it sounded in the first couple chaps, I'll try to write my others the same way.

crimsonshade: Yes well, the hard to run thing was just Kaoru thinking. I know that it's not hard to run in them, but to someone that's never worn them, it might look like it would be hard. That's what my friend thought. Lol, anyway, thanks for reviewing.

Rinoa-Heartilly-666: Yes, somehow, Kenshin always seems to win huh? Kinda funny. I love motorcycles, and I HAD to write a crash scene. Hehe, yes, we're evil.

Bradybunch4529: Yes, the problem with Kaoru and her dad being a vampire hunter will make the fic have a little more drama. Umm, since this isn't a humor fic, I'm not going to make it funny, but I hope you enjoy the fic anyway!

legolasestelstar: Ah, a legolas fan. Lol. Even if you are a new reviewer, I'll still listen to your idea. I was thinking about what would happen between Kenshin and Kaoru based on her beliefs in God, but I didn't really know where I was going with it. I think I'll keep her a believer, but Kenshin will try to convince her otherwise. Haha, it'll be a test of love and trust between the two! It'll be perfect!

Jing-Jing: I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to offend you. I'll change that. Please forgive me. I didn't mean it to sound like that, I just didn't know how else to put it, but I'll change it. It's just that, at my school all the girls that think they are into dark stuff but aren't are weird, so...anyway, I'm sorry. Thanks for telling me so we can change it!

Kenshin was sprawled out on the sidewalk, with a couple people crowding around him. They were all trying to help.

"Take off the helmet so he can breathe better," a man shouted.

"I'm dialing 911. See if you can get a response out of him."

"There's no pulse."

The woman with the child came over and took a look at the man's face. He did this to himself to avoid hitting her little girl. In her opinion, he was a hero.

"We can't let him die," she shouted. "He saved my child!"

"The paramedics are on their way ma'am. Someone do CPR."

A man that had taken a medical training class began CPR, but it looked like he was dead. Being a vampire, and having no vital signs, often did make it look like they were dead, but Kenshin had only been knocked unconscious. The crowd that was growing around him, didn't know that though, and neither would the paramedics.

"Sano! Look what you've done!"

"Come on you guys, we at least have to make sure he's okay." Kaoru stepped out of the car, and everyone else followed.

She pushed her way to the front of the crowd to see Kenshin laying there, looking completely dead. She couldn't control herself.

"Kenshin!"

Her grief over what happened the night before, and the shock of seeing him like that was to much for her. She started crying.

'He's a vampire. He can't die. He has no pulse to begin with. But these people don't know that, and neither will the hospital. I can't tell them. They'd think I was crazy.'

Kaoru looked at Kenshin closely. Suddenly there was a voice in her head.

'Kaoru, I need you to distract them.'

"What?"

"I said the ambulance is taking forever," a man said to her.

She looked at Kenshin.

'Kaoru,' she heard it again. 'Please distract these people so that I can get away without the bothering me.'

It was Kenshin. He was talking to her though her mind. Could she talk back?

'Kenshin,' she thought.

'Yes.'

'Okay, I'll try to distract them.'

'Thank you.'

Kaoru turned away from him. What would she do. She did the first thing that came to her mind.

"Kenshin! Why did you leave me? Why are you torturing me so? You're the only thing that I have left!" Kaoru was the only one that saw the slight twitch of his hand at her sudden outburst.

She began to pretend cry, which she was very good at. It looked real to any other person. Aoshi, Misao and Sano looked at her like she was crazy. How well did she actually know him?

'Kaoru, that's a bit much,'she heard.

'Sorry Kenshin.'

Some of the people in the crowd turned to look at her, but some people were still trying to "help" Kenshin. Kaoru tried a different route.

"Now there's no point for me to live! I have to kill myself!"

Everyone in the crowd now looked at her with full attention and when she took a small pocket knife that her father gave her out of her coat. Funny how a gift from her father was saving a vampire. People in the crowd immediately tried to take it from her and calm her down.

Kaoru stopped and looked at where Kenshin was, and so did everyone else. He was gone.

"What the hell? Wasn't that guy dead?"

"What are we going to tell the paramedics? Oh yeah, sorry, he just got up and left without us seeing."

Kaoru smiled and turned around. His motorcycle was gone from the middle of the street too.

'Man he's fast.'

She turned to her friends.

"Let's go home. Don't say anything." As she walked by, she whispered. "I'll explain in the car."

Misao and Aoshi had a puzzled expression on their faces. Even Aoshi was curious as to what had just happened. Sano though, was curious at what she had just done. Was it to help Kenshin get away? And how the hell would she know that? Once in the car, Sano started it and everyone wanted an answer.

"Well? What happened?"

"You guys, I trust you, and you trust me right?"

Everyone nodded.

"Then you'd believe me if I told you Kenshin wasn't human?"

"Then what else would he be," Misao was the only one that spoke.

"Well, don't think I'm crazy, but...Kenshin's a vampire."

There was a long silence but no one laughed. No one even snickered. Kaoru wasn't expecting this, and apparently, neither was Sano. He kept glancing in the rear view mirror at the two in the back.

"You guys," Kaoru asked, trying to get an answer.

"You dad," Misao began. "He's not some government worker is he?"

"No, I had to lie," Kaoru answered guiltily.

Aoshi looked at Misao, a little annoyed that this all made sense to her before it did to him.

"He's a vampire hunter isn't he," Misao said again. It wasn't really a question. It was more of a statement that she wanted reassurance on.

"Yes, but how did you figure that out?"

"Well-I think I always kinda doubted that he was a government guy. He just didn't seem like that kind of person. Now that you tell me that Kenshin is a vampire, that means, there has to be more of them, right?"

Kaoru nodded. Misao was always really smart and good at figuring things out.

"Anyway, now that I know vampires exist, according to you at least, I can tell your dad's a hunter. And your mom...oh Kaoru, I'm so sorry."

"That's okay Misao. It was a long time ago, but I do miss her. You know, he's still going after the vampire that killed her. He doesn't have much to go on right now, but he thinks he'll find him anyway. He was just in Chicago looking for a vampire."

Aoshi looked at the two women. This was obviously a female understanding, and he felt very out of place. He looked at Sano who was looking at the road, but not really paying attention.

"Sano, pay attention to the road. Hasn't your driving caused enough trouble today?"

Sano glared at Aoshi, but payed more attention to the road.

"So Missy, how did you know what to do so Kenshin could get away."

"He told me. In my mind. It's really hard to explain, but we were having a conversation in my head."

"Telepathy? That's so cool Kaoru."

"Yeah. It feels good to talk to you guys about this. No one else knew vampires existed."

Misao smiled and then her eyes grew wide.

"Holy shit! Vampires exist! They're real! They walk around with us every fuckin' day!"

"Whoa Misao, didn't we just discuss this," Sano asked while laughing.

"Yeah, but...they're real."

"Don't worry Misao, I know how you feel," Kaoru said looking at her friend.

Aoshi laughed.

"That was some show you put on back there Kaoru."

She looked at him.

"Was it convincing?"

"Yeah, I didn't know what the hell you were thinking," Misao answered for Aoshi laughing.

"Yeah," she said, and everyone started laughing.

Kaoru walked to her front door and waved to her friends as they drove off. They had just finished watching Interview with the Vampire, which Sano had thought was very funny. He picked it out, of course. Kaoru fished her keys out of her pocket, and started to stick the keys in the door.

"Kaoru."

She already knew that voice, but it still scared her.

"What are you doing here?!"

Kenshin jumped back, clearly startled.

"I'm sorry," he said, his eyes wide. "I just wanted to thank you for distracting that crowd earlier."

"Oh, well, that was no problem. I actually had to because Sano was the one that caused you to crash in the first place. Are you okay? That was a nasty spill."

"Yeah I'm fine. Didn't take me long to heal."

"So, um, why don't you come inside?"

He looked around nervously and Kaoru furrowed her brow in thought.

"Maybe I shouldn't come in."

She laughed.

"Kenshin, that won't happen again, don't worry. I promise."

"Yeah well, you also promised you wouldn't tell anyone I was a vampire."

"What?"

"I know you told your friends."

"But I know I can trust them. I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't know they wouldn't say anything."

"Ok," but he didn't look reassured.

She opened the door and looked at him.

"Come in."

He stepped in and looked around. He purposely "forgot" to look over at the couch.

"Want something to eat or drink?"

"No."

"Do vampires even eat?"

"Only to appear more human. It does nothing for us."

"So, you really have to suck blood to stay alive?"

"Yes, and technically, I'm not alive, just existing."

"Oh. How did you get here?"

"I parked down the street."

"Is your motorcycle pretty banged up?"

"It still runs. I know someone in the workshop business so he fixes them up for me for free. I test drive them for him. He thinks it works well seeing how I can't die, so no one can sue if I wipe out bad."

Kaoru laughed.

"Good, otherwise, I'd make Sano pay since he made you wreck. Were you really knocked unconscious?"

"Yeah, otherwise I would've been outta there before people could really understand what happened. It was the way I hate the poll. It was only knocked out for about a minute."

Kaoru looked at his face again. His long cross shaped scar looked painful. How had he gotten that? There was an awkward silence.

"Umm, let's turn on some TV."

She grabbed the remote and turned it on. It was on the news channel.

"Coming up next, a man was thought to be dead when he fell off a motorcycle and hit a street sign. There one second, gone the next. Where did he go?" The TV blared it's annoying little news song as it went to a commercial.

Kaoru glanced at Kenshin. He didn't seem to care. He was looking at the clock on the fireplace mantel.

"Kenshin?"

"That's bad publicity. I hate it when things like this happen. Look, it's late. I should probably go."

"But, you know you don't have to."

"I know, but I think I will."

"Hey, you want to come see a movie with us tomorrow?"

"I don't think so."

"Please? I'd be fun. They understand."

"Maybe, I don't know."

"Okay, if you decide yes, we'll be at the theater downtown at 11:00 AM. My dad's coming home later that afternoon."

"It's Monday tomorrow. Don't you have school?"

"Fall Break. We get a week off."

"Oh. Ok."

She walked to the door with him and watched him walk down the stairs with cat-like grace.

"Bye Kenshin," she called to his retreating back.

In the distance, she heard the rev of a motorcycle engine.

Kaoru and her friends waited outside the theater. It was 10:50.

"Kaoru, what makes you think he'll come? He hates people," Misao pointed out.

"Give him a chance. He's got 10 minutes."

"He doesn't need it, there he is," Sano said gesturing over to the corner.

Sure enough, he was there. He was walking slowly though, but not slow enough to look suspicious. Kaoru ran over to him.

"You came! I'm so glad. Let me introduce you to my friends."

She grabbed his arm and he flinched.

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said letting go, but he wasn't mad. They had reached the trio that Kaoru had left standing by the entrance.

"Okay guys, this is Kenshin Himura. Kenshin, that's Aoshi, Misao and Sano."

"Hiya Kenshin."

"Hey Kenshin," Sano said while holding out his hand. Kenshin ignored it and Sano rubbed the back of his neck.

Aoshi just studied the smaller man in front of him. He was at least a head shorter than Aoshi if not more, but Aoshi sensed an unbelievably powerful Ki coming from him.

"What movie do you guys want to see today?"

"Oh, how about The Grudge!"

"Oh yeah, that sounds great! It's supposed to be really scary. What do you think Kenshin," Kaoru asked.

"Kaoru, he won't think it's scary, he's probably lived worse," Sano replied.

He earned a look from Kenshin though. Earlier he had just been studying the sidewalk, but he looked at Sano now, who was also a great deal taller. His flaming amber eyes sent chills down Sano's spine, and everyone watched the two, but Kenshin soon tore his gaze away from Sano.

"Do you want to see that movie Kenshin," Kaoru asked quietly, but Kenshin only shrugged his shoulders.

"Let's see that one," Misao made it final.

Once inside and after they had purchased their tickets, they headed over to the snack counter. They bought an armload full of junk, not including popcorn and soda. Nobody failed to notice how Kenshin stuck mainly with Kaoru. It was obvious she was the only one that he trusted so far. He seemed content just to follow her. It was a big theater, and their screen was all the way in the back.

"Wouldn't ya think that they'd put the movies no one wanted to see anymore back here," Sano complained. "And I have to walk all the way back because I have to pee."

"Aww, poor Sano," Misao said while making a pouting face. Kaoru laughed.

Aoshi just smirked at the pathetic complaints the rooster head was making. Kenshin kept his head low to the ground, trying not to attract attention to himself. Misao bounced along beside Aoshi, and Kaoru led the way. When they finally got to the theater, they sat all the way in the back. Misao sat next to Aoshi, and Kenshin sat with Kaoru. Sano was on the other side of Aoshi, so Misao could also sit with Kaoru.

Before the movie, everyone was talking and laughing. All the noises made Kenshin feel nervous. His sensitive ears picked up the sounds of people opening candy box wrappers on the other side of the theater. It was a tiny seat, and he had other people on the other side of him. He couldn't run, he was trapped. Boxed in, like an animal.

"I'm going to the bathroom guys," Kaoru suddenly said.

"Oh me too, I don't want to miss the movie," Misao followed Kaoru out the door, and Kenshin watched them leave. Aoshi could see in his eyes he was worried.

"Don't worry, she won't leave you here," Aoshi said, acknowledging Kenshin. Kenshin looked directly at him for the first time.

Sano was oblivious to Kenshin and Aoshi. He was to busy eating popcorn.

"I have no doubt that she'll come back."

"Then what are you worried about," Aoshi probed.

"Nothing."

"It's obviously something."

Kenshin decided to ignore him at this time, and Aoshi just shook his head. He would never understand him. Kenshin always seemed distant, and didn't strike Aoshi as a vampire. Aoshi always saw them as cold, evil people that never showed emotion. Aoshi had seen that Kenshin was capable of hiding all emotions off his face, but he didn't seem to always hide it. Right now for example, he was scared. A scared vampire? He looked so vulnerable. He didn't have time to finish thinking, because just then Kaoru and Misao came back, with more candy.

"More candy," Sano asked. "We already have a ton of crap."

"You can never have to much candy." That was Misao's philosophy. She loved candy, and everyone wondered how she stayed so thin.

Kaoru took her seat, and offered Kenshin a sour gummy worm. He just shook his head. Before the group of friends could start another conversation, the lights dimmed, and the screen turned on. Everyone grew quiet, even though it was only the previews that came on now.

"Pass the popcorn," Kenshin heard someone 3 rows ahead of him whisper. He tuned them out, and looked at the huge screen. It had been so long, since he had been in a movie theater. It was obnoxiously loud, crowded, and nasty.

The movie credit's started, and soon everyone was involved with the movie.

"Haha, you and Misao were so scared," Sano liked teasing them about it.

"It was a scary movie! I bet even Kenshin thought it was creepy!" Misao turned to Kenshin. "Right?"

He looked at her for a second, then answered quietly. "No."

"Hey, you wanna grab a bite to eat?"

"No, actually, I have to get home and change, so I can pick up my dad at the airport. Sano could you give me a ride?"

"Uh oh. I can't give you a ride this afternoon. My parents need the car."

"But they have another car."

"Don't ask me why, but they need two cars."

"Kenshin, why don't you give her a ride," Misao suggested.

"On a motorcycle? How would we get her dad home then?"

"We can rent a car from the airport," Kaoru suggested. "Please Kenshin, I really need a ride."

He looked hesitant at first, but nodded his head.

"So are we taking you home, or is Kenshin taking you there too," Misao asked.

"I'm short on time guys," Sano said.

"Sano, since when do you care what you're parents say," Aoshi wondered.

"Since the threatened to take the fucking car from me, that's when," he shot back.

"Whatever, Kaoru, just ride home with him, so you can get an idea what it'll be like for the drive to the airport." Misao always had a way of helping people making decisions, because she liked to tell them what to do.

"If that's okay with Kenshin," Kaoru said while looking at him.

"Sure, whatever."

"Yay," she jumped up and hugged him, making him flinch yet again. Her happy moods often forgot, not everyone was always so hyper. "Sorry."

"Aoshi, Misao, come on, unless next weekend you want to walk all over town!"

"Okay, okay. Come on Aoshi."

The trio ran off and Sano started the car. Misao and Sano waved good-bye very enthusiastically, until Sano nearly took out a parking lot lamp. Misao's loud voice was heard as they drove away.

"You rooster head! Stop trying to kill us!"

Kenshin walked around the side of the building, where most cars didn't usually park. Kaoru followed and saw his motorcycle parked all alone in the corner. He had a helmet hanging off the handle bars. Kenshin was already sitting on it when she walked over.

"Here, you wear the helmet."

"Thank you," she said, realizing how dangerous this ride might be. What if there were other people on the road right now like Sano?

"You know how to sit on a motorcycle?"

"Well, no. Not really."

"Kinda like a horse."

She got onto the back, while balancing her feet on the ground. It wasn't that uncomfortable. She automatically wrapped her arms around Kenshin's chest. He was small, so she didn't have to stretch to far to reach all the way around.

"You can put your feet up," he told her. At first she was worried the bike would tip over, but his legs supported both of their weight.

He stuck the keys into the slot, and the bike rumbled to life. He backed the bike out with his feet, and then accelerated. They couldn't go fast yet, because there was a stoplight, but on the way to the airport, they had to go on the highway. Kaoru knew Kenshin wouldn't be able to resist. He'd go fast then. Kaoru felt like she was riding a bicycle, but it was so much faster. She knew it was childish to compare riding a motorcycle to a bicycle, but to her, that's what it felt like. They were at her house all to soon.

He stopped the bike in her driveway, and she hopped off. She took off the helmet and handed it back to Kenshin, who had no intention of getting up.

"You can come in ya know."

"I'll just wait outside," he answered.

"Are you sure? You might get bored."

"I'm used to waiting."

"Oh, ok, I'll just run in and change real fast. I won't be long." Kenshin only nodded.

She ran inside and left him in the driveway. He looked around her neighborhood. It was pretty nice. He'd never seen it during the day. While he was sitting there, two old women walked by. One had a tiny little yappy dog that started barking furiously at Kenshin, who only stared back at the ugly ball of fluff. The two women took one look at Kenshin and quickly turned away, walking faster than before.

"Oh, Kaoru used to be such a nice young girl too," one said, not knowing Kenshin could hear them.

"Yes, now look at what she's running around with." Both walked away, clicking their tongues in disapproval.

"Bitches," Kenshin muttered under his breath. "I'd love to show them and their fucking dog-"

"Talking to yourself Kenshin?" Kenshin turned back to face the front and saw Kaoru already standing there, with a purse slung over her shoulder.

"I-no-I was just-"

"I was kidding Kenshin. Anyway, ready to go?"

"Yeah."

He gave her back the helmet, and she sat down on the back of the bike again. The time she was a little more confident, and Kenshin backed out once again. They headed down the street, and Kenshin saw the two older women up ahead. Kaoru saw them about 5 seconds later.

"Oh Kenshin stop!"

"Aww, Kaoru."

"Come on, they're my neighbors!"

He stopped and pulled up next to the two insulting women he saw earlier. Kaoru slid up the little clear part of the helmet and greeted them.

"Hello Ms. Greenhill, and Ms. Stevens."

"Oh, why, hello Kaoru dear," the one called Ms. Greenhill answered.

Kenshin rolled his eyes.

"How have you been Kaoru?"

"Good, my dad's coming home today. From Chicago."

"Oh, business again," Ms. Greenhill said smiling.

Ms. Stevens had remained quiet through the whole conversation, but her dog didn't.

"Who's your friend Kaoru," she finally spoke.

Kenshin, who had been looking straight ahead, turned his head to look at the people on the sidewalk.

"Oh, this is Kenshin, he's giving me a ride to the airport."

His blazing amber eyes shocked the elderly women.

"Well, we wouldn't want to be keeping you dear. We'll drop by later this evening to talk to your father."

Kenshin was happy to finally leave, and he revved the engine, louder than usual, causing them to cover their ears.

"What was that for," Kaoru yelled over the loud noise.

"Because they're bitchy old hags," he replied.

"You almost killed us!"

"I had it under control. I could have outrun him anyway."

"You didn't have to cut him off like that! He almost ran over us!"

"It wasn't that big a deal."

"Kenshin! It was a semi for crying out loud! He even threw his McDonald's burger at you!"

"I've been in worse situations."

Kaoru sighed as they walked through the parking lot.

"Besides, it got us here faster," Kenshin pointed out.

"We still have to hurry. I think my dad's plane already landed."

"You're little chat with bitch and bitchier didn't help."

"They aren't that bad," Kaoru said calmly.

They had to rush to the other side of the airport, and when they got there, she saw her dad walking out from the terminal gates.

"Dad," she shouted while running over to him. She gave him a bear hug when she reached him.

"Kaoru, you've grown so much in the four days I was gone. Where are your friends?"

"Sano couldn't give me a ride. We have to rent a car for the trip home."

"How did you get here then?"

"Well, another friend gave me a ride."

"Where I want to meet her."

"Him dad, it's a him."

"Oh really? Well I want to meet him anyway."

"I don't know if that's such a great idea."

"Why not? It's not like he bites right?" He laughed at his own joke, and Kaoru laughed along nervously.

"Heh, you never know," she said quietly.

Lady Battousai: ::Hides in the corner of shame::

Vampire Demon666: Looks like I'm doing closing notes today. Lady Battousai thinks that this chapter sucked. I mean, it wasn't our best, but she's such an over-reactor. I know it was really boring, maybe even downright shitty, but it's all leading up to the main story, with action, pain, and drama. Hell ya, that'll be fun. Anyway, please review even if it was shit. It'll get better. Oh and Lady Battousai wants to add that she knows Kenshin seems OOC here. He kinda is...but what the hell, that's how it came out.