A New Battle

Chapter 11 – Together Forever

Kaoru awoke slowly and cracked her eyes open but was forced to shut them again when the harsh light assaulted her senses. After several moments she was finally able to keep them open and looked around at her surroundings, realizing she was no longer in her room. She tried to sit up but quickly discovered that her hands were tied to the posts of the bed she lay on. Before she could begin to struggle to get free someone came into the room and she tried to see who it was but her vision was still slightly blurred and she couldn't tell who it was, "K… Kenshin?"

The visitor looked over at her and chuckled, "Oh, so you're awake, I was beginning to wonder if I had killed you."

"Norihiko? Where am I?"

"You're at my hideout, do you like it?" he asked mockingly

"Why did you bring me here?"

Norihiko came over and sat on the edge of the bed beside of her, moving some stray hair out of her face, "Two reasons, one to lure Battousai here so I can kill him and secondly, I just wanted you here."

"What do you want with me?"

"I've always wanted you, well… the first time we met I had planned on killing you but then I found out how strong you are and I decided that I needed to make you mine."

"Well that's not going to happen anytime soon, Norihiko."

"Oh it will my dear, just as soon as I get rid of Battousai winning your heart will be simple."

"Why do you want to kill Kenshin? He told me that you've been fighting since the Meiji restoration."

"That's true, we have been fighting since the revolution but as to why I want to kill him he deserves to suffer and die."

Kaoru snorted at him, "What could he have possibly done to you that would make you want to take his life!"

"Simple, he killed my brother."

"Your… brother…"

"Yes, Daichi was a Choshu soldier, like Battousai, but apparently my brother angered him and that monster killed him in cold blood! Slashed him without a second thought!"

"But… I don't think that Kenshin would kill for no reason at all, there must have been a reason…"

"Why do you try to defend him, Kaoru? Battousai has killed so many people and bitten countless others, including you."

Kaoru flushed as he ran his hand over her neck, twisting her head to try and get away from him, "You've done far worse than Kenshin has! At least he doesn't take advantage of his victims when they're completely helpless!"

Norihiko smirked, "My victims were more than willing, well… until they came out of the trance at least, but that's not here or there. True I have fun with my victims but at least I don't murder children as he has."

"Kenshin would never hurt a child!"

"You think so? I saw him with my own eyes. Most of the 'men' he was killing were thirteen, fourteen, fifteen year old children, he cut them in two without even blinking and yet he puts on this air that he's just a sweet wanderer! He's not at all what he seems, my dear."

"I trust Kenshin with my life and I don't care what he's done in the past, I only care about who he is now and that's all that matters to me!"

Norihiko laughed, "You're just like the other Kaoru."

"You… knew my ancestor?"

"Oh yes, we met once or twice, she was quite a lovely young woman but like you she did everything she could to protect Battousai, she even risked her own life to save his on several occasions."

"I can see why she would."

"She was a fool to protect him and so are you, Battousai deserves to suffer like my brother had," he paused and chuckled, "come to think of it… he has suffered some."

"What did you do?"

"Oh I didn't do anything, nature made him suffer for me. It was enjoyable watching him suffer as he had to sit back and watch his friends die."

Kaoru flushed in anger, "How can that possible amuse you!"

"Simple, while he stayed young his friends grew old and died right before his eyes, but… I have to say that the greatest hit came when Kaoru died. I think he really did love her but no one ever knew it."

"What do you mean?"

"First he was just her friend, then he became her brother, then her son, and eventually her grandson. It was very fulfilling watching his heart break when he held Kaoru's hand as she died, the look on his face was priceless."

"You're sick!"

"Maybe so, but you'll soon come to love me for it."

"Go to hell!"

"I've already been there, it's quite a lovely place."

He reached out to touch her face and she tried to bite him, getting a chuckle from him, "Now don't be that way, Kaoru, you'll have to get used to me touching you sooner or later."

"No way! Kenshin won't let that happen!"

Norihiko laughed, "He won't have a say in the matter, because just as soon as Battousai comes I'll kill him and then I will make you my wife."

Kaoru's eyes flashed angrily and she turned her head away when he leaned down to kiss her. He laughed in his throat and grasped her chin in his hand, forcing her to look at him, "Don't ever try to escape me, Kaoru, I'm a nice man when I want to be but if you push me too far I'll be forced to put you in your place."
Kaoru tried to bite his hand but he was quick enough to move away, "Now, now, is that any way to act towards your future husband?"

"I'll never marry you! I'd rather die!"

"Don't worry, Kaoru," he reached out and placed his palm against her cheek but she turned away from the touch. Angry, he grabbed her hair and made her look at him, leaning down to let his nose touch hers, "you'll see, I'm a far better lover than Battousai and you will learn to love me, whether you want to or not."

Kaoru struggled to get away from him but her bound hands and the fist in her hair made that very difficult to do. He let his lips meet hers, stifling the scream she let out as his free hand went to her nightshirt, pushing it up until, "Norihiko!"

He pulled away from her and smirked wickedly, "Well, well, well, it appears that Battousai has come to the rescue, don't worry this won't take long then we'll pick up where we left off."

He got up to leave and Kaoru took the chance to cry out, "Kenshin!"

Norihiko quickly covered her mouth before pulling out a scarf and tying it around her head to make an effective gag, "Sorry to be so rough, my dear, but I can't have you warning our visitor, now can I?"

He kissed her forehead and left the room, missing the tear that slid down Kaoru's face as the door shut behind him.

OUTSIDE

Kenshin waited as Norihiko came out to greet him, staring blankly at his old enemy as he smirked in his annoying way, "It's been a long time, Battousai, I see you haven't changed a bit."

"Cut the crap, Norihiko, where's Kaoru!"

"She's fine, she's just waiting for me to return."

"I seriously doubt that, what have you done to her!"

"Nothing, not yet any ways, we were busy getting acquainted until you so rudely interrupted us."

Kenshin's eyes flashed angrily but he kept quiet as Norihiko looked down at his sword, "I see you found a sword, what did you do, go to a museum and steal it?"

"Just shut up and draw your sword so I can kill you and get it over with."

"I love to disappoint you, Battousai, but I won't be the one who's dying today."

"We'll see, won't we?"

Norihiko charged forward and locked his sword briefly against Kenshin's before they jumped away from each other to get better footing. Kenshin waited until Norihiko came at him again but he simply sidestepped and slashed him across the side, getting a chuckle out of the evil vampire as he watched his blood drip onto the ground, "You know Battousai… you used a similar attack to kill my brother…"

"I killed many brothers, as well as fathers, uncles and grandfathers… your brother wasn't the only one I killed."

"I don't care about the others you killed I only care about what you did to Daichi!"

Kenshin raised an eyebrow when he heard that name, "Daichi? The young man that worked for Katsura during the revolution?"

"Yes, but let's not remain in the past, lets just put an end to it!"

Kenshin sheathed his sword and stood perfectly still as Norihiko charged at him again, not moving an inch even as his sword came in contact with his stomach. But as the tip began to pierce his skin he spun around and drew his sword, using his famous battou-jutsu attack to slash Norihiko across the back. Norihiko's eyes went wide with pain and shock and he fell to the ground before Kenshin kicked his sword away from his reach and placed the tip of his own sword against Norihiko's throat as he grinned evilly up at him, "It… seems as though you've won… Battousai… go ahead, kill me like you did my brother!"

"Before I do you need to understand the circumstances behind your brother's death. Daichi was a traitor, he was giving information to the Shinsengumi and when I found that out he tried to kill me but you can see how that attempt turned out. I never killed without reason, most of the time I killed when I was in battle because that was what I had to do to survive."

"Yes… but you never gave anyone you fought the chance to live!"

"No I didn't, but if I've learned one thing from all of my years of living and wandering it's that I wasn't the only man killing out there on those blood soaked battlefields in Kyoto. It took me nearly sixty years to learn that I wasn't the only manslayer out there, that I wasn't the only murderer killing people in order to survive and live to fight another day. I don't regret what I've done, there's no point in feeling regret for things that you cannot change."

"Good for you… now… end this and kill me…"

Kenshin was silent for a moment, pushing the tip of his sword into Norihiko's neck until he drew blood before he pulled away and sheathed his sword, "No, I don't think I will, you're not worth it. I think it's a far more suitable punishment for you to live the rest of your life in prison, remembering your embarrassing defeat day after day. I have more important things to do so just get up and leave and live your life and I'll do the same."

Norihiko forced himself to get up and chuckled darkly as he drew a dagger, "You're a fool to turn your back on me, Battousai!"

Kenshin turned around to block his attack but before Norihiko could reach him a sword suddenly pierced through his heart and he fell to the ground with a loud thud. Kenshin looked in front of him and his eyes went wide when he saw his helper, "Geki! What the hell are you doing!"

Geki smiled and slung the blood from his sword before sheathing it, "Killing Norihiko, what does it look like?"

"You killed your own leader? What are you up to?"

Geki chuckled and bowed politely, his voice changing to a much sweeter tone, "I apologize for the deception, Mr. Himura."

"What!"

"It's alright, Kenshin, Geki's on our side."

Kenshin looked over and there stood a smiling, very amused Gaiyo, "Gaiyo! What the hell is going on here!"

"Relax, Geki is one of our spies, he's been with Norihiko for a few years now, giving us information when he could about his whereabouts, that's how we were able to track him here to Tokyo."

"So… you're… not really an evil little henchmen that I have to kill?"

Geki laughed, "No sir, I apologize for being so rough with you earlier but it was necessary in order for Norihiko to believe that I was on his side."

Kenshin had to laugh, "I recognize you now, you were one of the kids in the Satsuma clan."

"Yes sir, I never really wanted to fight you but I must admit that it was an honor to fight the legendary Battousai himself, thank you for the good fight."

"Anytime, but right now I need to get what I came for."

"Of course, sir, she's in the room right down the hall, you go take care of your lady friend and Gaiyo and I will clean up here."

"Thanks kid," Kenshin started off down the hall but before he rounded the corner he stopped and turned to face them once more, "Oh and Gaiyo…"

"Yes?"

"I'll get you for leaving me in the dark like this."

Gaiyo shook his head and watched as Kenshin ran off to find Kaoru. It didn't take long for him to find the room and he entered to see Kaoru asleep on the bed. He ran up to her and patted her cheek lightly, "Kaoru… Kaoru…"

She shot awake and immediately started struggling against him but he caught her face between his hands and made her look him in the eyes, "Kaoru, it's me."

She stared at him for a moment and tried to say his name but the gag muffled it to a whimpering sound. Kenshin quickly removed the scarf and untied her hands before she sat up and hugged him tightly, "Oh Kenshin! I'm so glad that you're alright, I was so worried!"

"I'm fine Kaoru, are you ok?"

"Yes, I am now, thank you for coming for me."

"I'd go to the ends of the earth for you, Kaoru, never doubt that."

She pulled away from him and took his face between her hands, kissing him lovingly before smiling playfully at the sweaty rurouni, "What took you so long, you jerk?"

Kenshin smiled, "Sorry, I had to fight off a psycho vampire."

Kaoru's face suddenly fell slightly, "Did you… did you kill him?"

"No, Geki did, surprisingly he's on our side."

"That's good to know."

Kenshin turned his head and kissed her palm, his voice deepening as he whispered, "I'm sorry Kaoru."

"For what?"

"For putting you in the middle of all of this, I never wanted you to get involved but you are and I'm sorry for that."

"Don't be Kenshin, I…"
Kenshin stopped her by placing his fingers against her lips, "Before you say anything else I need to tell you something. I know I'm not perfect and I know that you deserve better than me but… I made a mistake with your grandmother and I don't want to make the same mistake with you. I… I love you, Kaoru, I always have and I always will and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I know that times will be difficult as slayers find me but if you're with me I know I can handle it."

Kaoru moved away from his fingers and cocked her head to one side in confusion, "What are you trying to tell me, Kenshin?"

He smiled and took her hands in his own, looking directly into her deep blue eyes with his bright golden ones, "Will you marry me, Kaoru?"

"What?"

"You mean more to me then anything else in this world and I want you to become my wife, so… will you marry me?"

Kaoru's eyes filled with tears of happiness and she smiled beautifully at him, "Yes I will!"

She lunged forward and hugged him, knocking him onto the bed to where she was lying on top of him, getting him to chuckle as he ran his hands through her hair, "I promise I'll take care of you."

"I know but there is one condition about me marrying you, Kenshin."

"Oh, what's that, love?"

Kaoru pulled away to look at him and kissed his scar, a playful smile on her face, "Promise me that you'll never try to rescue me again."

Kenshin smiled and ran his knuckles over her cheek, "I can't promise you that, but I'll try… unless I'm the one you need rescuing from."

"I can handle you myself."

"Well see about that, won't we?"

Kenshin pulled her down and kissed her, not noticing the two men watching them, "Um… Kenshin…"

They parted and looked over to the door, flushing when they saw the two amused vampires in the doorway, "Are we interrupting something?" Gaiyo asked

Kenshin looked at Kaoru and smiled, "We need a warning for Yahiko… and Gaiyo too."

A FEW MONTHS LATER

Kenshin set Kaoru down on her feet and shut the door behind them before he took her into his arms for a passionate kiss, "You don't know how happy you've made me, Kaoru."

"I think I have an idea, so now what do we do now that we're finally by ourselves?"

Kenshin chuckled and started kissing her neck, "I have an idea."

Kaoru giggled as he scooped her up and set her on the bed, enjoying the feeling of his lips against her own as his hands started to untie the obi of her ceremonial kimono. After a moment she pushed him away enough to look him in the eyes, "Kenshin… will you do me a favor?"

"Anything, my love, what is it?"

"Will you… give me the last bite?"

"What! Kaoru… if I bite you again… you'll become a vampire!"

"I know but that's what I want, I don't want to be like my ancestor and let you watch me grow old and die. I want to be with you forever, Kenshin, I don't ever want to leave you."

"But… koishii… the life of a vampire is hard to live, especially the first few years."

"I know but I know I can handle it as long as you're by my side."

"Kaoru… I'm not sure…"

"Please Kenshin," she kissed him lovingly and looked at him with sparkling blue eyes as she gave him her famous, heart melting smile, "make me part of you… now and forever…"

Kenshin smiled softly and kissed her deeply, enjoying the sigh she gave him as he moved her kimono off of her shoulders. He kissed his way from her lips to her throat, nipping on the skin lightly before moving to the side of her neck, suckling on the sensitive tangle of nerves there. Kaoru sighed and arched up into him before he pulled away to look into her eyes, "Are you sure?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation, a comforting surety in her pretty voice.

Kenshin smiled and kissed her lips softly, "Always together… now… and forever…"

He moved back to her neck and kissed her pulse again, getting her to wrap her arms around him and pull him closer to her, "I love you, Kenshin."

"And I love you, Kaoru."

Without another word he opened his mouth and gently sunk his fangs into her pulse, enjoying the feeling of her sweet blood as it flowed out onto his awaiting tongue…

IT'S FINALLY OVER! YEY! Sorry about this story, folks, I know it sucked, I really don't know what possessed me to start it in the first place. But anyways, I don't think that I'm going to write anymore stories for awhile, at least not until I can become a better author and come up with some good ideas. Thanks for the reviews gang, sorry to keep you waiting so long, love ya!