A/N: THIS IS A REPOST UNDER MY NEW ACCOUNT...my other account got removed (though i don't know why) and all of my stories were deleted. so now i am putting them all back up again. New chapters will be QUICKLY UPDATED until i reach where i left off. Hope you wnjoy reading this again, and hopefully you will send me a review, too? please?

Disclaimer: Yes, we all know that I do not own any part of Rurouni Kenshin, but that will never stop me from dreaming, will it?

Summary: Lies surrounded both of their lives. Both were supposed to be dead. No one knew he still lived in the shadows. No one knew that he took the life of the other. But things are not what they seem. She was once under his protection. Now she is claimed as his possession.

THE PRICE OF BLOOD

Chapter 1: Payment and Possession

He quietly sat in his room staring blankly at the reflective wooden floor. The delicate sake cup was gripped fiercely by white hands. They trembled desperately, but yet he did not notice as the sake steadily cascaded to the floor. The day had come. He had flirted with death before, but this experience was more dangerous than anyone could ever imagine.

Dark eyes lifted up, vacantly watching the seconds drift by. Another minute is gone. Another moment wasted in vain. He sucked in his breath sharply, eyes widening in fear as recognition finally sunk in. Only a half hour remained until his fate was decided. Tremors shot throughout his body causing this breathing to deepen. Yes, he was panicking.

Delicate sweat beads appeared on his forehead, accenting the already sweaty sheen coating his body. Kami would not grace him this time, and Lady Luck had abandoned him long ago. He winced as he remembered the official's laughs. Their job was to protect, and all they could do was turn him away in his hour of need.

His eyes lowered once again, but his ears still stayed trained on the steady drumming of the clock. He could not blame the officials. After all, who would believe that the infamous shadow assassin was after him? The same assassin claimed to dead for over five years? Surely he was mistaken. But he was not.

He still could not remember exactly why he had gone out of his way to hire this demon. Safety, yes, but were there not more equally qualified men for the job? And now he waited as the demon's fangs sought for his blood.

A single tear pooled from his eye. Would she be alright? That is all that he cared about. That was what made him call upon this demon of the night. He tried to steady his hands as he poured himself more sake. He must not let him see himself like this. Not afraid.

The candles lighting his room flashed out, allowing only the moonlight to be his guide. Frantically, his head whipped towards the clock. Only one minute remained. There was no escaping this now. His time had run out.

He tried to light the candles once more, but the wicks would not allow it, protesting against the flames.
"Leave them be, Kamiya," came a steady, hard voice.

His body stopped still. However, he could still be seen trembling in the low lights. That menacing voice, the demon was here.

Amber eyes could be seen from the shadows of his spacious room. His silent entry was an indication to his tremendous skill. The eyes were so cold that they paralyzed Kamiya on the spot, rendering him powerless. Those fearsome eyes narrowed slightly as the demon took a step out of the shadows. Kamiya stared. It was still a wonder to him how such a wisp of a man could be so deadly.

The demon's red hair was illuminated by the soft moonlight, making the strands appear as a dancing flame. The sharp precision that shadowed his graceful steps were a stark reminder to the immense power that coursed through his being. As he stepped in front of the window, the moon was blocked from view. The escaping light surrounded him, framing his body in a ghostly haze. Kamiya's eyes were drawn to the scar on his pale face, tracing the symbol he had learned to associate with destruction. His deadly eyes laughed at Kamiya, daring him to try and stop the inevitable.
"I do believe you owe me something, Kamiya."

Kamiya shivered at the cold malice that was laced through the demon's voice. His time was up. May the heavens save his soul.
"I...I am afraid that I do not...have the money." His voice was soft, dropping to a whisper as be finally broke the spell of the amber orbs. His throat was dry, and he swallowed nervously waiting for the demon to speak. He did not see the demon's eyes slit in annoyance.

"You do not have the money? I am afraid that an answer like that just will not do." His head tilted to the side as he pondered, looking down at Kamiya's shrunken form. Even though Kamiya towered over his body, he was still small compared to this demon. A wicked smile danced across the hardened face of the assassin as he whispered, "I believe we can make another arrangement." His hand began to stroke the hilt of his katana, bringing his terms of payment out in the open.

Kamiya's head shot up like an arrow. His voice could no longer conceal his fear as he sputtered out, "Another arrangement? All I need is a few more days and I could make the full..."

"Enough," the demon growled. "I do not want these excuses. I have already determined the terms of your payment. I will not yield." His hand closed slowly over the hilt of his fatal blade. Tension filled the air as each waited for the moment where the demon would fall upon his prey.

But Kamiya would not just sit back and die peacefully. No, he could not. He must save her. His hands slowly reached out for the sword that laid close to his side. He prayed to Kami that this demon would not realize what he was doing. Getting to his sword with him noticing was the only way he would be able to leave with his life still intact. However, he should have known that those amber eyes never miss a detail.

This was all the demon needed to charge. This sword was revealed from its sheath, glowing in the moonlight. It took all that Kamiya had to bring his sword up to block the attack. Such speed and such force, now he knew why this demon was so feared.

The sound of chuckling reached Kamiya's ears, penetrating the state of shock he was in.
"Very good, Kamiya. You are better than I would have expected. However, it is not good enough to save your life."

In a flash, he was gone. Kamiya quickly rose from his seated position and waited for the demon to show himself. Suddenly Kamiya turned around, bringing his sword up sideways, finally removing it from the sheath. A clash of metal was heard before the demon was made visible again. He growled once more, "Enough of this annoyance. I am afraid I will have to cut this game short."

Again, he disappeared. Kamiya did not know where his killer had gone this time. A flash of light sparked across the floor. His eyes narrowed slightly as he pondered. His head twisted upwards, just in time to see the sight. The demon was above him, his flaming hair fluttering in the wind. Time seemed to stop as the blade raced towards Kamiya's skull. He moved back in vain, but the demon's fangs still managed to lay a fatal blow to his body.

He fell to the floor in pain, as he watched the demon land gracefully on his haunches. He clutched his wound, willing himself to hold on. The demon smirked, wiping the red liquid from his katana.

"I will not die yet. I will not let her down.." muttered Kamiya, breathing heavily from the immense pain shocking through his body.

The amber eyed monster slowly turned to face his former employer. Slowly he made his way over to Kamiya's dying body. His sword still lay in his nimble hands as he kneeled down to look Kamiya in the eyes. Black and amber wills collided, each refusing to back down.

A growl emitted from the delicate man's throat. He ducked his head down further to match Kamiya's before speaking.
"Your life alone is not worth enough for my services. I will also be taking..."

"No!" Kamiya stated, his voice low and dangerous. "You will not even lay one hand on her, Battousai. You are nothing but a murderer. Your filthy hands will not stain her."

A sharp piercing pain shot through Kamiya's body as he felt Battousai's blade being pushed into his skin. He had not even seen the blade move. The speed of a god, yet Battousai was merely a man. He was no match for this assassin, and there was nothing he could do now.

Battousai's voice was quiet but forceful. One did not need to see the dangerous look in his eyes to know he was in charge.
"That is not for you to decide. Allow me to continue. I will also be taking her."

Kamiya's eyes widened for one last time as a sword was driven through his throat. A final tear fell from his eyes. He could no longer protect her. He had failed.

Blood streamed down Battousai's hands, but he did not notice. Slowly he rose, being careful not to disturb the body. Gracefully he strided to the shoji door, where he paused to clean and sheath his blade. Looking back at the scene he had created, a glint of recognition flashed through his eyes. Resting his head against the shoji, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. His eyes reopened a moment later and the stoic look once more dominated his face. Stepping out into the night, he disappeared into the darkness, leaving the bloody scene as his calling card.

TBC...

Until Later, Formerly RurouniNikkitch13