Lunar Sun
By Aka Ketsueki
Mandatory Disclaimer: I do not own Rurouni Kenshin ©.
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Chapter Six: Impossible Possibilities
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There was absolutely nothing Kaoru couldn't do in record time or less, but apparently there was a first for everything, and unfortunately for the Vampire, this was a first she didn't have time for.
"What do you mean we need a passport?" growled Kaoru, her fangs glinting menacingly as she glared up at the taller Vampire in control of the only Blood Realm portal within the city.
"No passport, no admittance," stated the Vampire, his arms crossed over his chest to finalize his last words.
"Hiruma Gohei," bit out Kaoru, her voice dangerously low, "if you ever wish to be able to satisfy another female again, then you had best better move out of my way."
Growling at the threat, Gohei stubbornly refused to move away from the black screen that connected the Blood Realm to the Analogue World.
Fangs elongating with her temper, Kaoru was just about to tear the creature to shreds when a pair of strong arms promptly wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the ground.
"Sagara Sanosuke, let me down before I bite your head off!" snapped Kaoru, dusting herself off angrily when she was placed gently behind her rooster of a friend.
"You have to forgive my friend, Mr. Hiruma, sir, but why do we all of a sudden need passports to pass through the Worlds?" asked Sano as politely as vampiricly possible.
"Why don't you just ask your friend?" snarled Gohei as he glared at Kaoru, who scowled back. "She seems to be able to read minds just fine."
Ignoring Gohei's last comment, Sano asked curiously, "Is this another new law from Lord Battousai?"
"His Royal Majesty King Battousai," corrected Gohei.
Kaoru gave an indignant snort at the title.
"You mean the People actually agreed to the recreation of the old government?" asked Sanosuke in disbelief.
"More like Battousai forced them to," said Kaoru in distaste at how conceited the auburn-haired Vampire was.
"How dare you speak of His Royal Majesty with so little respect?" seethed Gohei angrily.
"How long has this been in effect?" cut in Sanosuke before Kaoru could make a come back.
"A week before today," answered Gohei, deciding to ignore Kaoru, lest they cause a scene.
"Do you know where we can obtain these passports?" asked Sano.
Rolling her eyes at Sano's tactics, Kaoru focused her attention on the humans that passed their shadowed alcove, each one unaware of the darker world that lingered just a few steps away.
Half listening to the conversation between the only other Vampires in the subway station, Kaoru unconsciously flexed her lengthened claws, imagining the feel of blood beneath her fingertips as she crushed a certain guard's heart.
"What? How the hell are we supposed to get a passport from the other side if we're stuck on this side?" demanded Sanosuke incredulously as he threw away his plan of remaining civilized to get them through to the Blood Realm.
"Laws are laws, pal. I don't make them, I just follow them," smirked Gohei satisfactorily.
Clenching his fists at his sides, Sanosuke glared at the larger Vampire, but before he could punch the Vampire out cold and force his way through the portal, Kaoru's voice stopped him.
"If I told you that Battousai would have you drained to the brink of death and left in the sun to evaporate for disobeying me, would you let us through?" asked Kaoru sweetly as she moved back in front of the enraged, brown-eyed Vampire.
Becoming slightly unnerved at the thought, Gohei asked, "What's your proof?"
Dipping her hand into her shirt, Kaoru pulled out her necklace, revealing to the guard the teardrop pendant. She only had to slightly lift the tip of the pendant to get the response that she wanted.
Sano's eyes widened considerably as the undeniable scent of blood reached his nostrils. However, what really had him gawking was the fact that the blood didn't belong to just any Vampire, it belonged to the current king of the Blood Realm. The small amount of blood was practically screaming death and power.
"Move aside," ordered Kaoru as she closed the pendant and once again placed it inside her shirt.
Speechless, Gohei immediately bowed to her in apology as he moved out from in front of the portal.
Flipping her hair in triumph, Kaoru led the way into the Blood Realm with her head held high.
Still amazed at the power that emitted from the small diamond vial, Sano shook his head vigorously before quickly following after Kaoru's disappearing shadow.
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"You did what?" screeched Misao, her voice carrying from the top floor of the Oniwanbanshuu Headquarters all the way down to the main floor.
"Calm down, Misao, you're going to break my eardrums from the way you're yelling," said Okina, trying his best to soothe his granddaughter and prevent another window installation fee.
"Calm down? You want me to calm down after you let our best employee quit?" asked Misao incredulously, her hands waving around hysterically. "Gramps, what in the world were you thinking? How could you let her quit after so many years? For goodness' sake, she is even better than Aoshi!"
Rubbing his pulsing temples, Okina, the old Okashira of the Oniwanbanshuu Group, sighed. The old man could only sit behind his desk as his only granddaughter, and last remaining relative, paced around his office while screaming her head off about his latest decision.
"Tell me Gramps, how could you?" demanded Misao as she slammed her palms down on his desk, causing his items to tremble from the impact.
"Because Kaoru asked me to," answered Okina.
Shoulders slouching at the calm reply, Misao sank down into the seat behind her and glowered.
Shaking his head, Okina tried once again to reason with his granddaughter. "I can't say no to a person who wants to quit, Misao. Kaoru had the right to stop working for us whenever she desired. You must remember that it is the employers that need employees."
"But how could you let her go knowing that she knows all of our secrets?" asked Misao, trying desperately to find another way to get her grandfather to drag Kaoru back. Kaoru was the sister that she never had; how could she possibly sleep at night knowing that her sister-figure didn't have the Oniwanbanshuu to back her up?
"Misao," said Okina seriously, "I trust Kaoru with my life, and I know that she would never betray us."
"I know...but I'm just mad that she didn't trust me enough to tell me, but instead let me find out myself through you," mumbled Misao miserably, still disliking the idea of one of her best friends quitting without consulting her first or at least telling her of it.
"Kaoru has her own reasons for doing what she does," said Okina before grinning and adding, "After all, who are we to say that Kamiya Kaoru can't do something?"
Sighing, Misao asked instead, "How did Aoshi take it?"
"He wasn't too pleased at the idea of losing such a valuable employee, but said nothing else on the matter," said Okina. "He did, however, make a comment about how it was such a coincidence that Kaoru had cashed all of her checks the day before she quit."
"She just recently cashed her checks?" asked Misao, raising a brow at the thought of Kaoru hoarding money.
Okina nodded.
"Do you think that Kaoru is fleeing the country?" suggested Misao with a frown.
The old Okashira laughed whole-heartedly at the idea.
"Trust me, Misao, the day Kamiya Kaoru flees from anything is the day there is no longer any further use for the Oniwanbanshuu Group," reassured Okina.
Misao looked at her grandfather skeptically.
"You sure seem confident about Kaoru, Grandpa. You act as if you've known her for years," said Misao suspiciously.
"You could say that," smiled Okina.
"Exactly how long have you known her?" asked Misao curiously.
"Long enough to know that she could buy out the Oniwanbanshuu, Juppongatana, and Ishin Shishi in a heart beat," grinned Okina.
Blinking, Misao's eyes dilated as she realized the seriousness behind her grandfather's words.
Sputtering, Misao asked, "Are you serious?"
"Oh, believe me, there is more to Kamiya Kaoru than meets the eye. Now if that answers your question, Misao, I need to get back to work finding a few new employees to try and replace Kamiya," said Okina, going back to his laptop once Misao had gotten to her feet.
Waiting for the sound of his office door closing, Okina sighed once he was certain his granddaughter had gotten into the elevator.
Taking out the golden key from around his neck, the aged Okashira opened the top drawer of his desk. Bottomless eyes softened as they landed on a black box, the initials KN engraved into the darkened wood.
Carefully placing the box on top of his desk, Okina opened the ancient protective cover, smiling as he caressed the thin vial protected by ebony velvet.
"Thank you, Lady Kaoru, for everything," whispered Okina, his canines growing as he watched the red liquid flow within the vial's glass layer.
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Kaoru closed her eyes as the feeling of becoming weightless and completely numb to everything descended upon her, leaving her vulnerable until she passed through the seemingly endless path of darkness.
The moment Kaoru found herself on the other side of the portal, all five of her senses bombarded her at once, almost forcing her to her knees from the intensity of their return. If she hadn't quickly steadied herself, Kaoru was certain she would have collapsed.
Turning around when she heard a thud, Kaoru narrowed her eyes suspiciously when she saw Sano on all fours, his body completely shaken and covered in a sheen of sweat.
"Sanosuke, are you all right?" asked Kaoru as she rested a hand on his shoulder, pulling back at the coldness of it.
"That...was not...normal," said Sanosuke as he closed his eyes, trying to regain his strength.
Frowning, Kaoru looked around and realized that they were just barely on the outskirts of the main city of the Blood Realm. The main cemented road that led into the infamous city was roughly a hundred or so meters away, its foundation cracked from the centuries of usage. Apart from the blood-colored flowers that were planted on either side of the main road, the area around them was empty of any other signs of life.
"It's just a bit too quiet for my liking," confessed Kaoru, her ears picking up only faint murmurs from the city beyond them.
Her eyes narrowed into slits as a cloud of dirt began to rise from the supposedly deserted area to the east of the city. A few seconds later and Kaoru could make out a group of black and red uniformed Vampires racing toward them, swords in hand and guns within reach.
"Just focus on getting your bearings back, Sano. I'll take care of them," said Kaoru when she noticed Sano try to stand back up without much success.
Knowing better than to argue, Sano nodded and sat cross-legged on the gravel to watch.
"Who are you and why aren't you on your knees?" demanded the obvious leader of the group once he was close enough to see who they were.
The score of Vampires stopped a good distance away from them, their swords yet drawn as they waited for her reasoning.
"Since when do those who cross through need to grovel before low subordinates?" asked Kaoru calmly, crossing her arms defiantly over her chest as she looked down upon them.
"You will not show such disrespect toward the Jimpu Squad," scowled the group's leader, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword.
Kaoru raised a brow, surprised that Battousai would use such a group to guard his perimeters.
"And what will you do if I don't obey, Sakake Toma?" asked Kaoru, revealing her fangs to him.
Kaoru watched with amusement as the Vampire clamped his mouth shut before hardening his features. It was a known fact that the longer a Vampire's fangs are when not provoked, the older and stronger the Vampire is. The knowledge that she had also been able to break through his mental shields and get his name obviously did nothing to soothe his ego.
"We have orders from His Royal Majesty King Battousai to keep everything under control while he rests. We'll need to see your passports and identifications before you can wander off on your own," said Toma as he moved his hands to his sides. It was rather pointless to start a fight he already knew the outcome to.
"We have our identifications, but I'm afraid our passports have yet to be made," said Kaoru, daring the other Vampires to do something about it.
"What did you do to Hiruma?" asked Toma, automatically getting into a defensive stance at what her words meant, his men doing the same.
Kaoru rolled her eyes, "Please, you act like the bastard was stupid enough to attack me once I told him my reason for coming here."
"Then what is your reason?" demanded Toma, his patience thinning.
"To meet with your king," answered Kaoru smoothly.
"I've already told you, His Royal Majesty is currently resting and does not wish to be disturbed," said Toma. "If you come with us willingly, I'll make sure that you are not severely punished for your insolence toward His Royal Majesty."
Sighing, Kaoru looked back at Sano, who shrugged in response.
Facing Toma once again and prepared to teach the younger Vampire a lesson, Kaoru stopped herself short at the recognized stance he and the others were currently in. Curiosity getting the better of her, Kaoru asked, "Do you know the Vampire by the name of Heihachiro Sasaki?"
Upon hearing the name, the other Vampires quickly straightened.
Relaxing just slightly at the familiarity in the other Vampire's tone, Toma asked cautiously, "How do you know about Sasaki-Sensei?"
"Ah, so Sasaki-Sensei is still taking students? I thought he would have retired by now," said Kaoru thoughtfully.
"You were a student of the Okashira of the Jimpu Squad?" asked a younger Vampire, relieved at the thought of not having to fight an already lost battle.
Kaoru grinned, further showing them her canines, "You could say that. He wasn't exactly pleased that Battousai had first forced me to take lessons from him, but he got over it eventually."
Sanosuke whistled from behind her.
"So you were the devil-angel of an apprentice that kept getting into trouble?" laughed Sano. "Sasaki kept complaining and complimenting about you during our sake spiels."
Turning her attention to Sanosuke, Kaoru raised a brow.
"Sasaki-Sensei actually drank with you? How old were you, twenty?" asked Kaoru, remembering that her lessons with the older Vampire had been quite a long time ago.
"Just a little older. I caught his attention after beating up a few of his students when I was first changed. I'm surprised he didn't introduce me to you then," said Sano as he thought about it, clearly over his "jet lag."
Kaoru snorted. "Battousai wouldn't let anyone of low blood near me."
"Oh... HEY! I am not low blood!" protested Sanosuke explosively as he got back on his feet.
Shrugging her shoulders, Kaoru once again faced Toma. "Is it possible for me to meet with Sasaki-Sensei if Batts is too busy sleeping to accept me?"
Surprised at Kaoru's informality to His Royal Majesty, yet courtesy to his sensei, Toma nodded after a few seconds of consideration.
Smiling, Kaoru purposely took slower strides as the Jimpu Squad led the way into the city.
"Missy!" hissed Sano as he walked behind her, fully recovered from his earlier admission into the Blood Realm. "I thought you said you were going to help me."
"That can wait," reassured Kaoru, "Battousai won't wake up for a couple of hours or more. What's important right now is that we get our passports, unless, of course, you want to remain in the Blood Realm for the rest of your life. Plus, aren't you the least bit curious about what's been going on?"
Two steps later and Sanosuke found himself once again agreeing to one of Kaoru's insane ideas of entertainment. Despite the feeling of deja vu at the pit of his stomach and edge of his conscience, Sano followed in silence as the Jimpu Squad led them to the heart of the Blood Realm's biggest city; the city of Kasai.
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