Lunar Sun
By Aka Ketsueki
Mandatory Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin ©.
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Chapter Two: Recollecting Memories
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She ran, ran for all she was worth, even though she knew that he would catch her no matter how far she ran. She could not escape him, but that didn't mean she couldn't try.
Heart hammering louder in her ears with each step she took, the white robed maiden ran, ignoring the bloody trail she left behind her from her worn out slippers. Her adrenaline was at its peak, causing her to forget about the pain in her feet and her tired limbs that screamed for rest.
The narrow road of gravel in front of her shimmered, transforming into a vast field, filled with dew covered roses and blades of perfectly green grass.
The moment the cool liquid drops on the grass caressed her injured feet, she finally allowed herself to fall on her back in exhaustion, relishing in the relaxing sensation that coursed through her as her body rejuvenated and her feet healed.
She closed her eyes.
"Why do run from me, koishii? Why run when you know there is no escape?" The rich and hypnotic voice was familiar, even more familiar than her own.
Not understanding why, she frowned as the voice got louder with each passing second.
"You gave yourself to me, koishii, and you know that I keep what is mine."
Slowly, she opened her eyes, feeling her heart pounding even harder against her rib cage upon seeing the silver-gold of her master's eyes.
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Kaoru sat up straight in her bed, hugging herself with closed eyes as she rocked herself back and forth.
The need to kill something flooded her veins, threatening to drown her alive as she fought to keep sane, to stop trembling with the urge to feel the warm liquid of blood between her fingers.
'His eyes, his damn fucking eyes,' cursed Kaoru as she wrapped her blanket around her, creating a barrier in an attempt to stop the bloodlust from seeping any further into her mind.
Shutting her eyes tight, Kaoru forced herself to forget her dream, but it was no use. She couldn't forget; she never could.
No matter how many years have gone by, or even with the knowledge that he was under tight security, Kaoru still couldn't suppress the nagging thought at the back of her head of him coming back for her.
Not once, during the entire time she had spent with him, had he ever lied to her, and his last words to her had Kaoru praying once again that he had lied to her.
Opening her eyes, Kaoru stared at her desk, which seemed even more vivid in the dark with her enhanced eyesight. Her blue eyes narrowed as she looked at the envelopes and the opened ones that were bleeding out red and ridiculous numbers.
Fighting the temptation to rip the letters to shreds, Kaoru settled for glaring at the remunerations that weren't even hers. Why the hitokiri didn't come forward and demand his reward, Kaoru didn't know. However, what really baffled her was how the shadow assassin knew exactly what her next assignments were and always finished her missions before she ever even stepped foot on the selected facility. It had only taken her the first week to decide it was no use going to a mission that wouldn't exist when she got there.
The buzzing noise that accompanied her cell phone's vibrating distracted Kaoru from her thoughts, her sapphire eyes shrinking to slits as she took notice of the digital clock next to her phone, flashing 3:05 AM.
When the insistent buzzing refused to stop, Kaoru snatched the flip-phone from her night stand and flipped it open.
"What?" snapped Kaoru angrily.
"Whoa, who woke up on the wrong side of the grave?" teased a chirpy voice on the other end.
Kaoru's hold on her cell phone tightened at the irony of the other girl's words. She always did hate the clueless dunces she had to work with.
"What to do you want, Itachi Musume?" demanded Kaoru, finally dropping her blanket to her lap as she leaned against her wall of pillows.
"Isn't it obvious?" asked the other female, continuing when she didn't hear a reply. "You mean you don't know?"
"Know what?" questioned Kaoru out of irritation at her co-worker's avoidance of her previous question.
"You mean you didn't realize you weren't following orders tonight? Didn't you get the memo about how we were supposed to go into the Shinsengumi's temporary headquarters together?"
Kaoru frowned. She had a feeling that the mysterious hitokiri didn't want to be seen by others just yet, going as far as breaking the rules to remain hidden. Then again, those rules didn't really apply to someone who wasn't even a part of the Oniwanbanshuu in the first place.
"What happened to you then, Itachi Musume?" asked Kaoru calmly.
"I didn't even get a chance to fight, that's what!" complained Itachi Musume. "I was waiting by our post for you, and when you didn't show up five minutes later, I went inside by myself. The moment I walked in, I saw nothing but blood and dismantled bodies everywhere! How could you kill all of those people without me, Kaoru? You could have at least saved me a couple! And you weren't even inside when I went to see if you had missed any! We were supposed to report our mission to the Okashira together too. You're lucky I didn't squeal on you."
"So why in the world are you calling me at 3 in the morning when this happened hours ago, Misao? You know I don't like waking up in the morning," reminded Kaoru darkly.
"Well, I sort of forgot until now," said Misao sheepishly before adding hastily, "I called before sunrise, didn't I? See, I remembered how you don't like being called during daylight hours!"
Kaoru rolled her eyes.
"Anyways, back to what I was really calling you about. I know that you're off from work during the day and you don't like being bothered, but do you think you can join me for lunch today?" Misao almost pleaded.
"No."
"What? Oh, come on, Kaoru! Why won't you join me for lunch?"
"Because you never ask me to do anything unless it has a hidden agenda behind it," stated Kaoru.
"You don't trust me? Is that what you're trying to say, that I can't do something purely out of the goodness of my heart?" asked Misao appalled. Kaoru could almost see Misao's dramatic gestures over the phone.
Sighing, Kaoru looked out of her window toward the starless sky and the cloud covered moon.
"Where at?" gave in Kaoru as she moved aside her blanket and got out of bed.
"At the Akabeko, of course!"
"Names?" asked Kaoru expectantly as she walked over to her closet, prepared to change before going to the bathroom to get ready for the morning.
"What?"
"Misao," warned Kaoru.
"Oh, all right, you caught me!" admitted Misao, sighing in defeat. "Their names are Shura and Soujiro. They're really nice and they're the new additions to the Oniwanbanshuu Group. I was asked by Gramps to show them the ropes, and because you're one of the best, I thought I'd drag you along to help!"
Kaoru's hand froze midway toward her black jeans the moment the names were given to her. She barely heard and understood whatever it was Misao said after answering her question.
"What are their last names?" asked Kaoru as conversationally as she could, ignoring the tremor in her hands as she gathered her clothes.
"Seta," said Misao, taking Kaoru's silence as an invitation to continue, "I know, I was shocked to find out that Gramps let them join the same team too. He usually doesn't let those of the same family in the same branch, but he said they were an exception because they're married and work well together. I would have thought he'd have split them up so that there aren't any inner group complications."
Kaoru felt the remaining blood in her face drain completely at Misao's reply.
"Kaoru? Are you still there?"
"Uh...yeah, I am. Okina knows what he's doing," said Kaoru absently. "If I'm going to go to lunch with you, then I'll need my rest."
"Sure. I'll see you at noon! Thanks a million, Tanuki!"
Closing her phone, Kaoru threw it onto her bed before rubbing her temples as she made her way to her door and toward the only bathroom in the apartment.
Could her life get any more complicated?
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The metallic copper of the red liquid turned to the finest wine as it traveled down her parched throat, flowing into her dry veins and burning a path to her heart.
Draining the essence of her latest victim, she converted the human's Ki into an edible fluid, mixing both Ki and blood into an addictive blend that caused her body to hum in pleasure.
Releasing the limp body, she watched emotionlessly with red rimmed, blue orbs as her meal dropped to the floor with a sickening thud.
Her eyes reflected the black flames that erupted from the ground, licking at the pale body and devouring it until nothing but ashes and Death's scent remained in its place.
Lips concealing her fangs, she smirked as she felt her strength return to her, coursing through her body like an injected drug and bringing her body temperature to an unimaginable degree. Her newly acquired blood sang, her heart beating in rhythm, and her Ki rising in response to the harmonious melody.
Shutting her eyes to revel in the feeling, she willingly fell into the surrounding shadows of her reality.
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