Chapter THREE: Powers
The sound of rushing water reached the vampire's ears as he walked out of the darkening forest. The moon was out and full with the stars to accompany it in its course in the black sky. It seemed like someone had turned on a flashlight and was guiding him and his prey to the Silver River.
Kaoru stopped when they reached the grass plains that extended out of the dark forest.
Turning around she looked one last time at her old home. It seemed like only yesterday that she had entered the thriving forest with her loving family. She knew that she had to move on, but it was hard having to leave the one place she had stayed in her whole life. What made it harder was knowing that inside laid the bodies of her parents.
Burning tears threatened to fall, but she forced them back in. She was not going to cry in front of a vampire, especially not in front of the strongest of them all.
Reminding herself that moving on was for the best, and that looking back only brought back sad memories, Kaoru took one last look at the woods before rushing out to catch up with her captor.
They walked in silence until they reached their destination.
"Which tree is it?"demanded Battousai, his cold voice making Kaoru jump.
Kaoru looked up from her hands and smiled as she saw the familiar river.
The Silver River sparkled in the moon's gleam, its water being the purest in all of Tokyo. Its contents seemed too flawless to touch, and not a single spec of dirt touched the crystal-clear liquid. The Silver River was indeed a sight to behold, its water flowing for a mile west and east, purifying the rocks that lay beneath it.
On each side of the river were rows upon rows of Sakura trees. Their leaves and flowers swirled down into the water like small tornadoes, making the body of water look even more enchanting and beautiful than ever. It was beautiful, breathtaking sigh, and the moon light reflecting upon it made it look like a perfect picture.
"Go get it," ordered Battousai, the darkness in his tone clashing with the scenery; it was as if the sight didn't even faze him. Kaoru began to wonder if the man really didn't have any feelings left in him like all of the tales that came with his cursed name.
Looking up at him, she studied his amber eyes in hopes of finding some clue that he was actually some part descent and not as cruel and evil as others said, but to no avail. She found not a single flaw in his gaze; he was like a rock.
"You know where it is and I know that you can hold the sword's sheath," snapped Battousai when she didn't move.
Kaoru bit her lower lip before doing what she was instructed to do. Being a sorceress, she wasn't able to touch anything that had to do with the Dark Diamonds of Hell, but the sheaths themselves were not made of the diamond, therefore she was able to touch it.
Reaching the center of the river where the water met the borders of west and east, Kaoru closed her eyes and moved her palms flat up against each other as she shut her eyes together as if in prayer. Slowly and hypnotically, she began to chant in a tongue that not even Battousai had ever before heard.
Suddenly a black aura enveloped her lithe form and it seemed as if the darkness around her began to pulse as it blended in with the night and seemed to swallow her whole.
A Sakura tree about 50 yards to the east began to glow with the same deadly aura that was around Kaoru; it seemed like whatever was inside the tree was awakening, slowly causing the tree to perish from existence.
Battousai grinned as he used his god-like speed to race toward the tree.
Unsheathing his katana, he was about to strike the tree down when Kaoru's voice drifted into his mind saying, Stop! You mustn't attack the tree. Wait for the reverse-blade to reveal itself from the tree. Dark Diamond-made weapons can destroy each other. If you attack the tree and hit the sword you'll lose the sakabatou forever.
Stopping in mid-attack, Battousai turned back around to her. His eyes narrowed into golden slits when he noticed that Kaoru still had her eyes closed and was still chanting. He growled and sheathed his katana as he waited.
Soon the tree fell into ashes before the wind picked it up and washed it away into the Silver River, which quickly replenished its darkness and turned it back into a single pink flower. The river happily escorted the remains down stream.
Battousai's eyes seemed to grin themselves when they saw the sakabatou pulsing with a black glow, the star embedded into its hilt like the other seven, was permanently black. He calmly glided over toward the darkening weapon. Once his hand wrapped itself around the sword's hilt, the glowing stopped and the aura dropped as if accepting him as its new master.
Kaoru dropped to the ground, the grass cushioning her fall. Her body seemed like a doll as she began to breathe in rigid breaths as her eyes fell vacant, leaving her sapphire orbs looking lifeless.
Growling about weak sorceresses, Battousai walked over to her form as he calmly placed his new sword by his katana.
"Get up wench!" hissed Battousai angrily.
Kaoru didn't move; the spell had taken too much of her energy and the magic within her was having a hard time simply helping her breathe, let alone reviving her strength.
Sighing in exasperation, Battousai knelt down beside her.
Holding her chin with one hand, he slowly lifted her face up from the ground. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the blank glaze in her sapphire orbs that had turned into a dark hue of purple.
The vampire stood up and snapped the fingers of his right hand. In a few split seconds, diamond-carved chains were placed around Kaoru's wrists, allowing her to move her hands only two feet away from each other. The diamonds were clear as ice and smooth enough to sleep on. Though despite its beauty, the diamond cuffs were too powerful to be able to be broken unless under immense heat or by another diamond object.
Snapping his fingers again, the chains turned red and pulled the sorceress up by the wrists. He grinned when he noticed the girl waking up from the sudden strain on her body.
She wobbly got to her feet and would have swayed had the cuffs not kept her hands in the same position before her. Her eyes widened in horror as she finally registered the diamond chains that were now on her wrists. Kaoru scowled as she looked at Battousai with the deepest loathing, causing the vampire to merely smirk.
"Now you won't be able to use your magic. I've known your kind for a while, and I know that even if regular diamonds can't harm you, they can still cause you to lose the ability to summon your powers. You might as well get use to it, for unless you're calling for another dark diamond weapon, you're not going to use your magic," said Battousai triumphantly as he turned his back to her.
Kaoru's indigo eyes flared with anger, how she hated the creature before her and his knowledge of her kind.
"I advise you try and keep your thoughts hidden," said Battousai smugly, gaining another hated glare.
Battousai walked on calmly as Kaoru stayed right where she was and fumed. The 1000-year-old creature merely shook his head at her disobedience before snapping his fingers again.
Kaoru's eyes went wide as she suddenly felt the air in her lungs leave her. She felt herself jerk forward as if she was being pulled straight into a wall, but the pain that she thought would come never did.
Opening her eyes she saw that she was right in front of Battousai, and she seemed to be gripping onto his shirt underneath his cape.
Flushing crimson, Kaoru quickly let go and took a step back when she noticed his furrowed brows and glare for her to let go.
"W-what happened?" questioned Kaoru.
"Impudent creature," snapped Battousai before he walked past her and added calmly, "I summoned you."
"What do you mean you 'summoned me'?" asked Kaoru as she turned around and raced after him.
"It means, sorceress, that as long as you have those chains on you, I can summon you whenever I wish to. However, the chains will automatically bring you to me if we are a mile apart," said Battousai with a grin on his usually calm features.
Kaoru froze solidly to her spot in shock, her eyes as wide as saucers after taking in the information. There was no way she could get away now. She was going to be forced to work for the most evil person in all of Japan--she was going to Make him stronger.
Burning tears threatened to fall, but she forced herself not to, she wouldn't cry before him and she was going to beat him, some way, some how she would get free.
xXoXx
The sun bathed over the chimneys of the wood-made homes in the busier part of Tokyo. Each street had houses large enough for five people, the doors were made of rice paper, the floors made of polished wood, the ceiling covered by tiles, and the family names were painted on a piece of wood outside of each home. Though despite the beauty of the houses, some still lived on the streets, begging the stalls that were placed in the marketplace, which was located in the center of the large village, for money and scraps of food.
Though near the edge of the village was a restaurant. Its walls were decorated with the designs of flowers and beautifully painted pictures, the ceilings were made of fine solid tiles, the chimney made of bricks, its doors made of thin and finely decorated rice paper, and the tables were all lined up in rows so that people could eat in their own private rooms. There were a few meters between the rooms, so that the waiters and waitresses could walk down the aisles.
Outside was a walkway that stretched from the village to the restaurant, each side held flowerbeds that were kept healthy and neat. In big black ink in front of the building was a sign that read: The Akabeko.
The restaurant was full of all types of beings: vampires, werewolves, humans, demons, and even two shape-shifters, who happen to be the last of their kind; each creature staying with his or her kindred, each in their own private area. The Akabeko was built so that anyone could dine in the place without having to go at each other's throats; the main reason why so many creatures came to the restaurant to eat.
Tae, the owner of the Akabeko and a vampire of 50 years, looked no more than around 16-18 years of age. She had short brown hair that was usually placed into a bun, and wore a yellow kimono with a clean white apron above it. Her eyes were hazel and twinkled in the sun and her smile was one that made most of the male creatures look her way. She was always polite and caring, and always managed to somehow stop the fights that broke out in the restaurant, her charm being her only weapon in dispersing the ruthless fighting.
Her apprentice, Tsubame, whoa vampire as well, shared her same qualities, though she was but 12 and shy. The young girl had light brown hair, sparkling chocolate eyes, and a smile that made most of the village boys blush. Tsubame wore the same outfit as Tae, only smaller and her short hair was left to fall down upon her shoulders like silk. She was one of those girls that was respectful, charming, lovely to speak to, but nonetheless shy, quiet, and kind; one of the girls that didn't disobey.
xXoXx
"Tae, where are the umbrellas?" asked Tsubame as she looked out at the gray sky.
The sun was slowly creeping behind the darkening clouds as raindrops began to pour lightly on the gravel.
"They should be in the closet in the back," cried Tae from serving a table of werewolves that had yet to transform, the full moon still a week away.
Tsubame nodded and headed toward the back of the restaurant and into the kitchen where she met the three kind chefs of the restaurant.
Quickly grabbing an umbrella, she walked out toward the front of the restaurant again.
"Where are you going?" asked Tae as she wiped her hands on her apron and walked toward her apprentice.
"We need more tofu," said the vampire as she turned back around to face her mistress.
Tae smiled and nodded as Tsubame opened the umbrella and stepped out of the Akabeko.
The rain fell lightly on the umbrella making little plopping noises as each perfectly shaped sphere hit its target.
As Tsubame walked down the streets, her footsteps were in rhythm to the thunders' ringing and the lightning's mighty clashes. She walked on with a smile on her features as she looked for the stall that usually sold the sought after tofu, but much to her dismay, the shop had already closed from the bad weather.
Her shoulders slumped and she sighed before walking back toward the Akabeko, saddened at the thought of having to tell the chefs that they weren't going to get any tofu today.
Suddenly, Tsubame stood up straight as a cold, dark feeling swept through her. She looked around for the source of the power, but merely shrugged it off when she didn't find anything unusual.
Walking back to the Akabeko, she felt the strange dark vibe again. This time she kept her senses alert as she walked onward. There was something going on here that wasn't right.
Her steps quickened as she rushed to the restaurant, but made sure to slow down so no one would suspect, for if they saw her running they would surely go after her. So forcing herself to slow down, she calmly walked back toward the Akabeko. But before she walked inside, she saw something glowing on the dirt road that led from the Forbidden Forest to the village.
Squinting her eyes, she could make out the outline of two figures clothed in black clothing. They didn't possess umbrellas, yet it seemed that the pouring rain wasn't touching them at all.
Looking harder, her eyes grew wide when she saw that there was a huge black barrier around them that acted like a shield, which resembled a bubble, for you could easily see the two occupants in the enlarged circle.
She quickly raced into the Akabeko and found Tae waiting on an older human.
Dropping the umbrella by the wall, she ran over to Tae.
"Tae!" yelled Tsubame.
"What is it, and where's the tofu?" questioned her boss worriedly.
"Someone's coming here," said the younger vampire.
"Oh, that's good," said Tae with a smile after nodding to the old man and finishing writing down his order on a notepad.
"You don't understand. These two people know magic," said Tsubame seriously.
The whole restaurant fell silent and looked at her oddly before looking back at each other.
"Don't be silly Tsubame. You must have been seeing things. The only two magic dwellers here are Misao and Megumi and they're shape-shifter, and they don't know any magic besides the ones used to transform themselves," said a skinny werewolf.
"I'm telling the truth! They were using magic to shield themselves from the rain," protested Tsubame.
"There are only a few people who know how to use magic and that's the Kamiya family and the Prince of the Night," stated Tae. She had hesitated and shivered after she said the title of the Dark Lord. The very mentioning of his presence had caused other customers to shiver as well.
"Why would they come here for?" asked a girl with a high chirpy voice. She was in a green cloak and had a pair of dazzling emerald orbs to match, her ebony hair placed into a long braid that fell to her waist. Her cloak covered her whole body, including her arms and legs, but her green boots showed clearly below her outfit. She looked no more than 16.
"Misao," said the young vampire with a smile and bow to her.
"Hey, Megumi, come here," said the shape-shifter Misao.
"Yes?" asked a woman that seemed to represent a fox, her midnight terraces falling down to her waist like silk. She too wore the same attire as the other shape-shifter, her purple cloak falling just before her violet boots as well. Her charcoal eyes twinkled as she walked over to her sister. She seemed to be barely 20.
"Do you think that those two will come here?" asked Misao as she smiled at her older sister by four years.
"There is no reason for the Shadow Prince to be here in Tokyo, yet alone this restaurant," said Megumi calmly.
"But I saw them! Who else could make a barrier that doesn't allow the rain to come in?" asked Tsubame.
"It could have been an umbrella. Our eyesight isn't all that well in the rain after all. You could have just been hallucinating things," said Tae as she made Tsubame sit down at a free table to her right and poured her tea.
Tsubame didn't speak back, but she was sure of what she saw.
Out of courtesy, the vampire drank the green tea lovingly, smiling as she felt the hot substance trickle down her throat and warm her body inside out. But just as quickly as the warmness came, it left.
Looking up, she gasped, dropping the tea onto the floor and making everyone look up with wide eyes.
Standing at the doorway were two dark figures. Both were as dry as if they had been in the gleaming sun all day. The female had her hands in her sleeves and her face was imprisoned behind the shadows of her dark hood, while the male's blazing eyes of fire scanned the whole restaurant in less than a second.
The wind picked up from behind them, blowing the vampire's black cape to reveal three swords and taking off the female's hood. Her blue- lavender hair followed the male's cape as the wind danced like a ritual about them.
Every creature was frozen into place as they eyed the two new comers warily. The tension in the room seemed to grow and the whole place felt colder as the shadows seemed to creep in with the new guests.
"Excuse me, but are you here for food?" asked Tae with a gentle smile despite the bad vibes that were emitting from the man before her.
The redhead didn't answer, his eyes merely scanning the restaurant.
"Miss?" asked Tae instead when she realized that the male wasn't going to answer.
The female didn't answer as well, her sapphire orbs seemed to be fixated on the male's as she too looked for an answer.
"Are you a sorceress?" asked Tsubame as she stood, her knees trembling slightly.
The whole restaurant fell silent as they all looked at the girl and the so-called sorceress before them.
Azure depths bore into Tsubame's chocolate ones, causing the young vampire to take a step back instinctively. There was something about her eyes that sent chills down her spine, yet it still held warmth in them. It was like the lady before her had seen too many horrid things, and felt so much pain and sorrow that her eyes seemed to want to drown the people who looked into them, in the mere depths of her orbs.
"Tell me vampire, where is the one called Soujiro Seta?" asked the vampire, his voice was deep, dark, and rich. For his small structure, his presence demanded respect and struck fear in all that opposed him.
Tae looked up at the man in surprise, her eyes widening when she saw his long, sharp fangs when he spoke.
"Sou? You know Sou?" asked Misao, her voice light with amusement and shock as she calmly walked over, but kept her distance from the two.
"Shape-shifters should keep their mouths shut when vampires are speaking," snapped Battousai coldly to the girl.
Misao staggered back. 'How did he know I was a shape-shifter?' Questioned Misao in shock.
"Idiot, you should learn to keep your thoughts within your head," hissed the man darkly, his voice venomous.
Before Misao could protest, Megumi placed a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. There was something about the man that made them all scared and quiet; he wasn't one to mess with.
"Lord Soujiro is not here today," said Tae with a polite smile.
"What about Shishio Makoto?" demanded Battousai.
"Lord Shishio is not here either; they both seldom come here during bad weather," answered Tae.
Battousai narrowed his eyes.
"Excuse me Miss? But are you a Kamiya?" asked Tsubame again as she walked over to the teenager.
All eyes were on Kaoru again. For if she answered yes then that meant she was indeed a sorceress, for the Kamiya family was the last magical family left in all of Japan.
Kaoru smiled sweetly at her, but did not answer the young one for fear of the man beside her. She kept her head up and looking forward as she kept her chained hands inside her sleeves. She was not about to be seen as a slave before others, even though she knew that she was.
"Why do you ask for Lord Soujiro?" asked Tae when Kaoru didn't answer. She didn't want to push the girl, so decided to change the subject. It seemed like she had already gone through enough.
"It's none of your business," snapped Battousai as he turned around to face Kaoru, who looked defiantly into his demonic gaze.
"Won't you at least tell us your names?" asked Megumi.
"My name is Kaoru," said the female with a polite smile after she avoided her new master's gaze.
Most of the men turned their heads to her in awe. Now that they looked at her, she looked more like an angel from the heavens, her musical voice and gracefulness only added to her appearance.
Battousai narrowed his eyes at her as he enveloped her with his ki, reminding her that she was now his. She belonged to him and no one else was allowed to be graced with her being unless he allowed it, not even her voice. He guarded what was his selfishly, and she belonged to him, and only him. No one was going to change that, not even Kaoru herself. The moment he tasted her blood, he knew that forever more she was his, and only his.
"And your name milord?" asked Megumi again.
"My name is one at which you should fear," snarled Battousai, his back to the restaurant as his eyes remained fixated on Kaoru.
"We don't fear a name," said Misao calmly.
"So unless your name happens to be the name of the Prince of the Night, then I don't see why we should fear..." Began Megumi, but stopped when she suddenly realized what she was saying. Fear indeed washed over her as her heart stopped for a moment and she looked up at the vampire in utter shock.
Battousai only smirked as the creatures caught on and gasped.
Here was the legendary manslayer, right in front of them. The vampire that ruled Kyoto, the immortal that has killed more creatures than all the other vampires' victims put together. The very one that was known as the very source of darkness. He was before them, and yet he had not killed them as he was known to do.
"Tell Soujiro and Shishio, if they do come here, that I, Battousai, will pay them a visit before nightfall tomorrow," said the immortal calmly as he walked out of the restaurant, his cape following him as the wind hurled.
Kaoru bowed to the people there before rushing after her captor, the black bubble like barrier covering the two as they walked on.
"I-I told you!" stated Tsubame in a squeaky voice.
"L-Lord B-Battousai is h-here in T-Tokyo," said Tae, quivering in fear.
"I must tell Sou," said Misao as she stood up.
"Yes, we have to warn him that Battousai is here," said Megumi.
"But why?" asked Tsubame curiously.
"He should be in Kyoto," said Misao.
"We can't do anything but obey him. Misao, Tsubame, Megumi, I want you three to go tell Lord Soujiro and Lord Shishio what our Dark Lord has told us to pass on to them," said Tae.
The three nodded before grabbing umbrellas and going out through the back door.
Tae, trembling, looked out into the stormy sky. There was sure to be trouble if Battousai was here. Something was definitely going on. 'I have a bad feeling about this, and I just hope that Lord Soujiro will be all right.' Thought Tae as she turned around to her customers with a fake smile.
"Please, do continue," said the vampire as if nothing at all had happened.
Slowly, the noise came back to its usual level and all was peaceful, at least for now.