Chapter SIX: The Blood Within Me
The morning sun had barely touched the horizon when Kaoru felt a jolt of pain coming from her neck. It pierced its way through her entire body, causing her to wake up abruptly and shoot up from her futon in a cold sweat.
"It's about time you got up," said a low and dark voice from her left in the shadows.
Kaoru bit her lower lip as she moved her blanket away from her body. She was about to stand, but the pain raced back and grew like a wild fire catching onto a piece of fallen tree on a windy day. She placed a cold hand on her neck in hopes of stopping the pain, but to no prevail. It seemed that not ever her magic could lift the awful feeling that plagued her youthful form.
She would have looked up startled when Battousai knelt beside her, but the pain was just too unbearable and wouldn't allow her to face him.
Slowly, she began to rock herself back and forth as she pulled herself into a small ball. The pain was getting worse and she was growing cold. Her breathing became rigid as she struggled to breathe; it was laborious just to allow one gulp of air to enter her body again.
As if by miracle, the pain began to subside when two powerful arms came from behind and wrapped themselves around her thin form, causing her to stop moving and her breath to catch at what was happening.
One hand moved from her waist and up to her neck as the other hand remained about her. Two clawed fingers pressed against the area at which fangs had once been and applied enough pressure to make her freeze in her spot.
Waiting until her breathing became normal, Battousai took his fingers away from her neck. One hand bringing her closer to him, he brought his forefinger of his free hand to his mouth. Using a fang as a needle, he poked it until droplets of black blood flowed out.
"Drink it," ordered Battousai as he moved his already healing finger toward her agape mouth.
Obediently, Kaoru began to suckle on the blood before the wound fully healed itself. Soon enough, she felt the pain release its hold on her as the dark blood she drank swiftly made its way throughout her body.
Her body began to warm her limbs as she slowly found herself relaxing into the body behind her.
"Your blood flows through me and mines yours. You belong to me now and I keep what's mine," said Battousai's dark voice in her ear as he pulled her closer to him.
Kaoru only nodded, too dizzy in the warmth to fully register what he has said and claimed. His words flowed through her, his blood within her decoding the message that she had failed to understand.
Gradually, feeling came back in a prickling sensation, all the way from her head to her toes. It was as if thousands of spiders were crawling on her creamy white skin. She visibly shuddered despite the warmth that was surrounding her and that in itself seemed to have come from within her.
As quickly as the sensation and warmth had come, they vanished, leaving her with an odd longing to have the feeling return along with another wave of warmth. It had left her feeling cold and all too lonely. She hated the feeling of being alone, hated the darkness that followed the coldness.
Too busy with the feelings within her, she failed to comprehend what was happening outside of her thoughts--didn't notice that her limp body was being carried swiftly from the futon. She was too caught up in feeling alone again to realize that another being was with her, holding her to his warmth.
Walking out of the room, Battousai looked at the bundle in his arms. He didn't bother to open the door, his ki was powerful enough to open them without any effort at all.
Rounding a corner, he came face to face with a surprised female vampire mistress, who was currently dressed in her normal revealing kimono.
"My Lord," greeted Yumi with a courteous bow despite her curiosity about who it was that Battousai was carrying in his arms. She knew that he had brought someone in with him from servants, but she didn't think that the woman would be swarming with such a dark aura.
"She's tasted my blood," said Battousai, answering the silent question and gaining a gaping response from the questioner.
Yumi's gray-wine eyes fell upon the girl's neck and she gasped at the two clearly visible fang marks.
"You drank from her, yet she still lives? But that's impossible! The venom in your fangs should have gotten coursed through her entire body by now, it should have the moment you injected your fangs within her," said Yumi, clearly surprised that a mere human managed to live so long after such an event. And the fact that she wasn't changed into a vampire from taking such a powerful being's blood was another shocking twist.
The thought was unbelievable: Battousai not finishing off a victim? It was absurd, yet here was a human--a living, breathing mortal before her--that managed to survive after an attack from the Battousai himself. She wouldn't have believed it if she didn't see the marks and sense the blood ki of Battousai within the girl's body herself.
"I know what you're thinking, Yumi, but she didn't bite me to finish off the transformation. She merely drank my blood, which has cleared her body of my poison," said Battousai, his face expressionless.
"So she has become immune to you then?" questioned Yumi in utter disbelief.
"Indeed she has," said Battousai, looking down at the sleeping form in his arms with a stoic expression upon his smooth face.
Yumi looked at Kaoru's form, cradled in Battousai's arms, and couldn't help but smile from the girl's innocence. She knew that Kaoru was pure, could feel the purity flowing through her even with Battousai's dark blood. There was something about the girl that she couldn't help but like and admire.
"I won't tell anyone," promised Yumi as she looked up at Battousai with a weak smile upon her lips. They both knew that this was to be their secret, not a soul was to know what he had done to Kaoru as of yet.
Battousai nodded before vanishing, his black barrier going with him.
'I guess there's hope for you after all.' Thought Yumi as she looked toward the eternal azure sky with a pure smile upon her lips. Oh, how she had longed for the one day when her brother would finally be at peace. She loved Soujiro the most out of their family, but Battousai had always been her idol and she could only hope for the best, hope for the day when he would finally find peace with himself.
xXoXx
Cotton-shaped clouds hung over the large palace, which was located on the left side of the Tokyo, as the vampire servants raced about doing morning chores before the sun fully rose into the sky. Even though they had long since gotten use to the blazing sun, it didn't stop them from loathing it from the bottom of their blackened hearts.
The palace was like that of Shishio's, the walls made of rice paper and wood while arches and beams supported the palace. In large bold words above the entrance of large home were the words: Seta Residence.
A green bird with delicate wings and emerald orbs flapped its wings before catching a current and swooping down to land on the roof above the sign with perfection. The bird cocked its head as it watched the servants hastily work, watched as the vampires scurried back and forth so they wouldn't have to remain outside when the sun rose from the horizon.
A few moments later, a violet bird fluttered down beside the green one, both anxious to see the resident of the household step out.
Their eyes were anxious as they looked upon the only road that led from the village to the brilliant palace that seemed to have a dark, yet peaceful aura about it.
Below the duo stepped out the lord of the palace in his normal blue-white gi and hakama. To the birds' curiosity, a woman stepped out beside him in a black and red flower imprinted kimono. She was obviously a vampire from her ki and her features only proved it. She possessed long, green hair that fell swiftly to her shoulders, which was attached to a perfectly shaped body.
Tilting their heads, the two birds looked at each other before flapping their wings and taking off. Together, they both flapped downward toward the couple.
Upon reaching the vampires, the green bird vanished in green smoke while the purple one went out in a purple cloud.
Misao looked at the two with a smile in her green robes as she appeared before them, along with Megumi, who was clad in her violet ones.
"Good morning, Megumi, Misao," said Soujiro in his usual happy note as he smiled at them.
The woman only glared at the two shape-shifters before placing her arm in Soujiro's and practically hung off of his arm.
"Good morning, Lord Soujiro," said the two in unison as they bowed to him awkwardly. They were use to greeting him as a friend, but at the presence of this woman, the old way seemed to be wrong somehow.
"Oh, forgive me for being rude, this is Shura, my lady. Shura, these two are Megumi and Misao," introduced Soujiro with his regular smile plastered on his face.
Megumi and Misao stared at him in shock. Not once in the five decades that they knew him had they been told that Seta Soujiro had a mate, they hadn't even heard of a such a rumor
Shape-shifters were much like vampires, the only differences were that shape-shifters could change to any animal or person that they chose and didn't have to live off of blood. Both species were capable of living for centuries, so long as both their brain and heart remained in tact. It was as close to immortality as anyone could get. The only exception to the rule was Battousai, who had proved a hundred times over that immortality did in fact exist.
The two shape-shifters gaped at the vampire couple in surprise.
Before they could question the two, a voice came from the shadows, stopping them from speaking.
"Soujiro," said a familiar cold and dark voice from behind them.
They all gasped and quickly bowed to the immortal, however, internally they were all questioning about who it was that Battousai was carrying so tightly and securely in his arms.
"Show me to a room," commanded Battousai once his brother looked up.
"Of course," said Soujiro with a polite smile before leading his brother into his home quickly.
Shura, Misao, and Megumi stayed in their spots, too afraid to be in the presence of the Dark Lord for long. The man had a knack for killing others for no particular reason at all, so therefore, staying outside was the safest choice–anywhere away from the vampire was safer.
xXoXx
"Why did you decide to awaken her now?" demanded Battousai. It was amazing how his questions never seemed like questions, but instead commands for answers.
They siblings walked on in silence, moving deeper into the palace.
Battousai glimpsed down at the sorceress in his arms and adjusted her position in his arms, unconsciously making sure she was comfortable.
Kaoru's body had long since stopped moving and only her breathing could be heard. She lied limply against Battousai's chest, resembling a child being carried to bed. Her soft and angelic face making her appear more like a child than the worn out woman she really was.
"What are you talking about Lord Battousai?" asked Soujiro innocently as he looked over his shoulder at him, making his brother look up at him with narrowed eyes.
"Drop the formal crap, Soujiro. We both know that you only took the wench as a mate to please Mother and Father. If you thought I'd be like them and blow a fuse for you abandoning your mate, then you're sadly mistaken. Our parents have long since died, so drop the wench if you don't like her," said Battousai curtly, disgusted that his brother should put up with such a thing for so long.
"You were always one to get right to the point," said Soujiro with a grin to his brother as they walked side by side.
Battousai only snorted as Soujiro turned a corner and slid open a shoji door, allowing his brother to gain entrance first.
The room was fairly large and was painted in an azure blue color. In the center was a large blue futon, a closet was placed to the left, and toward the right was a mountain-pictured screen, which was painted with gold and white colors. Like Shishio's guestroom, there was a large black star on the ceiling, which seemed to have changed to a blue color like the rest of the room.
Not caring for the decorations of the room, Battousai practically glided across the room, not bothering to stop and take in the room's design.
Kneeling down beside the futon, Battousai moved the blue blanket from the bed and carefully placed the sorceress down so as not to hurt her. He covered her with the blanket before he stood and faced his brother again.
"No one is to ever enter this room," stated Battousai, his voice commanding, meant to be respected and feared.
"Of course," said Soujiro, his blue orbs falling on Kaoru's angelic features, which caused him to briefly wonder why and how such a beauty such as her was with a person like his brother. It perplexed him that Battousai, the most feared being known, was being so protective over a mere mortal. The girl seemed normal enough to him.
"Soujiro," said Battousai's deep voice, snapping his sibling back to reality.
"Yes, Battousai?" asked Soujiro as his blue eyes met his brother's golden ones.
"No matter what happens, never touch, hold, or drink from her. Understood?" said Battousai seriously, his voice stern. There was a threat to Battousai's words that plainly stated that if he didn't do as he was told, then there'll be hell to pay.
"Yes, sir," said Soujiro as he quickly bowed to Battousai, leaving the two alone when he slid the shoji door shut behind him.
As he was walking away, Soujiro could feel his brother's dark aura bringing up a powerful barrier that encircled the room in a shroud of darkness.
Battousai's words only made the younger vampire even more curious than before. There had to be something really important about that girl for Battousai to act in such a possessive way. He had a feeling that his brother had done something that he didn't want others to know about, but what could be so dark a secret that Battousai, who didn't even fear the gods themselves, was being careful about it?
Shaking the thought from his head, Soujiro placed back on his smile before he went back to the entrance. His smile became a real one when he was greeted by three anxious women.
"Who was that woman, milord?" asked Shura as soon as Soujiro reached them.
"I don't know and asking Battousai will get us no where," said Soujiro.
Megumi snorted, like they would dare to question the Prince of the Night about anything? You'd have to be either brain dead or suicidal to do such a dumb thing.
"Well, do you two wish to stay for breakfast?" asked Soujiro casually as if nothing odd had happened that morning and that a dark aura wasn't currently pulsing from his house. Amazing enough, even with Battousai's presence his smile was still in tact.
The two sisters only smiled weakly at the vampire's invitation. The thought of eating before a legend would have put anyone on edge, and the fact that the legend was Battousai himself did nothing to calm the two shape-shifters.
"Do stay as our guests," said Shura with a smile as she locked her arm around Soujiro's left arm. "I do wish to learn more about my lord's friends."
"We would love to, but we do not wish to bother you," said Misao with a faltering smile. The sooner she got out of Battousai's range, the better.
"But I insist," said Shura, her eyes sparkling.
There was something in the woman's dark depths that made the two shape-shifter nervous.
"We really must be going," said Megumi as politely as she could, her arm grabbing Misao's so that they could both leave. Shura alone was making her uneasy, but the thought of eating in front of Battousai as well was just too much.
"Where to?" asked Soujiro curiously.
"We want to tell Tae not to worry. You seem to have everything under control here, so we'll be going now," said Megumi with a forced smile as the two got ready to transform and fly off.
"Then do tell her that I shall be over today at noon for our regular meeting," said Soujiro with a smile to them.
"Sure thing. Good bye," said Misao as the two bowed before vanishing in clouds of purple and green smoke, both of them flying off as small birds.
"Who was that woman?" asked Shura again as she faced her mate.
"I already told you, Shura, I don't know. We'll just have to wait until she wakes up and ask her ourselves. Knowing my brother, he won't answer our questions without a price or some riddle," said Soujiro, his features growing dark with curiosity. He needed to have answers and he wanted them soon.
xXoXx
Kaoru twist and turned as she felt the coldness go through her again. She began to tremble as she felt the loneliness return. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Her body was writhing in cold sweat, and the thought of being alone made the feeling worse. She didn't want to be alone, not again, never again.
She brought her hands around her as she curled up into a protective ball, hoping to bring back the heat that she missed so dearly. The only thing that she hated and feared was being alone. She shuddered at the thought of being without warmth, without comfort, without someone to protect her from the cruelties of life. She had lost that warmth when her parents died, had lost it when he left her. There was a pang in her heart that tore as her brain accidentally remembered him again
Shivering from the cold and hurt that filled her, she began to rock back and forth, cradling her body like her mother had done, like he had done.
Suddenly, she felt that same feeling she thought she had lost the night her mother had left her, the feeling of comfort, warmth, and trust, but the love her mother so willingly gave her was missing.
Kaoru began to tremble as she grasped at the object that was bringing her the blessed warmth.
Looking up, her sapphire eyes saw familiar flaming-red hair. Warm arms brought her into a lap as she held onto the person's clothing like a lifeline. She rested her head against his chest and allowed her tears run down cheeks in an endless waterfall. She didn't know why they fell, why she was crying, all she knew was that she was.
Gradually, the pain that she once felt began to leave her body and she soon went back to sleep, unaware that the person who was holding her was watching her every movement and glaring down at her.
"Thank you... Thank you, Shinta," whispered Kaoru as her eyes drooped close and she fell into a deep slumber once again.
Battousai stiffened at the name and looked down at the sorceress. The hate of having to care for such a weakling fled from his face, leaving behind a softer look in his eyes as he eyed the form in his lap. His grip became softer as he placed a loose strand of lavender locks behind her ear.
His eyes flickered into a steel blue as he slowly lifted her up and moved to place her back onto the futon, but stopped when she clung onto him and shook her head vigorously as he moved to put her down.
"Don't leave me, Shinta! Not again. Please," begged Kaoru's voice as she snuggled her head deeper into his chest and clung tightly, refusing to let him go.
Instead of slapping her awake for comparing himself to another being like most would have done, Battousai didn't care and held her closer to him as he settled back down. There was no one there to tease him about being so open, so therefore it didn't matter. The name that she called rang a bell within his head, but he couldn't quite place where he had heard it before. It was so familiar, yet so strange, but he couldn't help but soften every time she said it and clung to him like there was nothing else.
A smirk tugged at the immortal's lips as he looked down at the girl that lay helpless in his arms. How he could easily just bite and drain her of life in one swift movement, but he knew he couldn't kill her. Not yet anyways. He only needed her to find the Seven Dark Diamond Weapons of Hell and that was all. After that he would drain her, but he had to make sure that her blood lasted that long. The very thought of having to depend on another person's blood made him boil with anger. He knew that the day he drank from her completely would be his last--he would never again taste anything as sweet her own liquid, her blood of fire and wine.
Growling that he couldn't kill her without losing what he craved the most, Battousai glared down at the source of his frustration. He knew that there had to be something about her that drew him to her, something else that made him keep her living and breathing without the excuse of being able to find the weapons. Battousai knew that there was another reason as to why he had kept her alive that night when they first met, a reason why he didn't drain her completely then. There was some connection between her and him, but he didn't know what.
Shaking his thoughts out of his head, he looked to the right of the room where the four weapons were placed. Each one seemed to glow with a black aura about them. He could feel them pulse with power and slowly, as if the weapons were devouring the room, the room began to turn black. The original hue of the room was now filled with dark shadows.
Battousai looked once more at Kaoru, who had gained control of herself and fallen into a peaceful sleep, but her grip on his front shirt hadn't loosened.
The vampire's steel blue eyes took in every curve of the sorceress' body and face.
Battousai's eyes lingered upon her the left side of her neck, where his fangs had once been injected. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he realized that the mark had become an inch-long, black star, effectively marking her. He didn't know what it meant, but it was something that he had to find out and soon.
He knew that others were going to go after the weapons and her, knew that he couldn't afford to let that happen. No one was going to take the weapons from him and no one was going to take her, but him, and he was going to make sure of it.