Title:Blood's Calling

Author: Bradybunch4529

Disclaimers:Not mine in anyway. I'm simply borrowing the Yu Yu Hakusho gang

Rating: PG-13 to R in later chapters

Summary:AU OOC Future fic: A young vampire is pushed over the edge with a single act. The world has been paying for the mistake for almost 1000 years. Is there hope to be found in the rebirth of a girl.

Pairings: Keiko/Yusuke

Reviewers:

Egustogustason: You do get around don't you? My first reviewer for this story! Thanks so much!

Geminia:Stick with me for a while. I promise it'll be worth it! I think. :P Glad you enjoyed the beginning though.

Apathetic Empath2: Still sticking with me huh? Speechless and misty eyed huh? Now you are making me blush. Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'll do my best but I am a bit leery. The beginning just came to me. I could see her there, sitting on porch, hands hanging limply, head tilted back. It was so very vivid that I had to write it. And it led my here. The vampire part came later. And I wasn't sure if I would do that or keep them as demons. The Y/B weekend was a stroke of genius. And it worked out perfectly. I had to come up with something that would keep Keiko there. I know the lack of description was a problem again, but I'm hoping I did better in this one. I'm still working on strengths and weaknesses.

AnnechanB:You do get around don't you? And you are so brave to keep trying my stories! Thanks so much. You are so right, cheaters always say it was a mistake! So I was clichéd! Bad bad me! So sorry. Let's hope! And it did for Keiko!

Kenshinlover2002:That's a good question. But it just sort of flowed that way. As for the rest, you'll find out soon.

Cerridwene:I'm with you normally. But this story I just couldn't get out of my head. And it just seemed to fit. We'll have to see if it keeps up.

Chapter 2: Resurrection

1,000 YEARS LATER:

The storm raged outside. Shaking the walls of the castle on the hill as thunder rolled across the sky. Lightening lit up the sky, throwing shadows against the walls. The castle rose out of the darkness itself, seeming to be one with the cliff that it rested upon. Below the waves crashed against rocks, splashing upwards. The castles stonewalls were dark with rain, the windows were all darkened and no smoke rose from any chimney. It could have been the witching hour for all the life that the castle showed, though it was mid-morning.

A huge garden quaked under the force of the rain as it slammed into the ground below. The storm had been raging for hours and had rained for days before that. Now puddles of water and mud streamed across the meticulous paths, giving the garden a forlorn look. The once proud flowers hung limply, stems broken and leaves were strewn through the mud. A mist seemed to shroud everything, creating shadows with every flash of lightening.

Guards huddled on the surrounding walls, staring out into the darkness of the day. It had only taken seconds for them to be drenched, but none retreated into the shelter of the turrets. They were too fearful of their Kings' mood today and the way the storm reflected it all too well. So they kept staring through the rain into the city below. But time and time again they looked to the castle, waiting for the explosion that always came on this day.

Inside the castle, the servants moved cautiously through the dark halls. They tried to keep to the shadows and make no noise. Today the King would want to be alone and all servants were to remain silent. No cleaning would be done today, no cooking, no hearing of complaints. The thunder and lightening had several of them glancing towards the sky and muttering prayers to a God they had long ago stopped believing in.

The wind howled through the corridors, rattling windows as it shrieked its fury outside. To some it sounded like shrieks of a woman. Several servants would whisper that it was the Kings love that he had betrayed all those years ago. She cried for everything that she had lost and to remind the King. But none knew the story of what had really happened. It was all rumor and speculation, brought about by a single picture on his nightstand. A picture he allowed none to touch and few to actually look at.

On any other day the castle would have been bustling, people entering to speak with the King or his advisors, but today everything was silent. None knew why the King demanded that nothing be done on this day every year. Many speculated but the King never offered any explanation and his advisors were silent.

So that left everyone making up stories and filling up the silence with their own ideas. Many women had sighed over being that loved, of a man that would remember them long after they had died. Men just shook their head, convinced that the King wanted a day to himself for a change. And government officials plotted ways to use this to their advantage.

1,000 years ago the King and his advisors, the six that still advised him, had overthrown the vampire government and then dominated the world. Vampires were no longer legend and they openly ruled the world. For the most part, nothing had changed in the world. Though some had expected him to reign with terror and pain. Instead people still went about their daily lives, paying taxes to the King and living contentedly. Some business had even been created to cater to the needs of all vampires.

There were all kinds and types; some that needed blood to survive; others that needed souls and some that lived on energy. The King and his advisors were all of these and none. Servants had seen them drink blood, replenish energy and use the souls of the enemies to feed themselves. The servants were treated well, no females were taken to bed forcefully and all feeding had to be willingly offered.

But the King was oblivious to all of this today. For him even the storm was nothing more than a backdrop to what was going on in his soul. He sat in his bedroom, oblivious to the cold that radiated from the damp stones around him. He sat in quiet contemplation, his haunted eyes resting on the picture that he held in his pale hand.

The fireplace in front of him was empty, no fire warming the King as he rested in the huge, plush chair. His feet were resting on the ottoman in front of him as he drew a finger down the picture. He traced features that he had yet to forget. As his mouth quirked upwards, Yusuke wondered what Keiko would say if she could see him now.

He didn't remember when the picture had been taken but it had become his favorite. In it Keiko was sitting at a fountain in a garden, much like the one outside, looking dreamily down at the water. One hand trailed in the water, a soft smile lighting her features. Her brown hair was curling around her shoulders, a soft pink sundress flowing around her knees. One of the straps to her dress had fallen down, leaving the soft white skin of her shoulder exposed.

Frozen forever in time, happy and content. Yusuke's hazel eyes gleamed with tears. It was a better image than what he saw every time his eyes closed. He could still see her on his steps, blood pooling around her. Hands hanging limply in her lap and her eyes staring sightlessly into the distance. He could still smell the blood in the air and see it on his hands. It didn't matter that years had passed, that the blood had actually been washed away all those years ago. To him it would always be there, a reminder of what he had done.

It had taken him only a week to find out who had ordered Keiko's death. With Kurama's contacts it had been easy to discover that Gohei, an older member of the council, had been the one to order the strike. Perhaps destroying the council entirely had been overkill, but Yusuke had wanted to drive home the point that no one touched the woman he loved.

And while Yusuke continued to live, make plans and was named King, a part of him died for every day that he lived without Keiko. He didn't even hate Gohei for what he had done. How could Yusuke when he was the one that had driven all thoughts of survival out of Keiko's head with his one betrayal?

He could still remember that weekend. It had felt wrong from the first moment that he had taken Botan into his arms. Her lips had been warm and plaint under his, her passion consuming him. And yet a part of him had remained empty. He would close his eyes and it was Keiko he would see, Keiko he would taste and Keiko he felt with every stroke of his fingers.

He and Botan had agreed immediately that it would never happen again. They would never tell Kurama and Keiko what had happened. It had been nothing more than blood lust, the vampire urge for sex after a kill that had driven them there in the first place. But their secret had come out in the end.

The King brought the picture closer to his face and he pressed a kiss to her face before getting up slowly. His red robe swirled around his bare feet as he padded over to his bed. The frame was set gently onto the nightstand and with one last stroke, Yusuke moved away. He slipped from the robe and reached for his jeans and an emerald green sweater. In moments he was dressed and opening the door to his room.

Yusuke stopped when he saw who was standing in front of him. Botan's blue eyes were haunted as they stared up at him. Her hair falling around her waist in a blue wave, she was dressed in the traditional Japanese garments that she seemed to prefer. He said nothing as she started in surprise, hand half raised to knock on the door.

"Yusuke," Botan started uneasily. "I was wondering if there was anything I could do?"

Yusuke still said nothing, simply stepping around her and pulling the door closed behind him. The sound seemed to echo in the silence of the empty hallway. He began to walk down the hallway, completely ignoring her.

"Yusuke are you going to see her?" Botan called after him though she already knew the answer. She was surprised that he hadn't already been down there or that he hadn't slept there. He had been known to do it before. Yusuke didn't answer as he faded into the shadows. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly in defeat.

"Still wishing that he would turn to you?" Kurama's voice came from the shadows behind her.

"No," Botan replied wearily. "I told you that nothing like that is between Yusuke and me."

"Now."

"Now," Botan agreed and slowly turned to face Kurama. Kurama might be in front of her but he was as out of reach to her as Keiko was for Yusuke. Her heart broke every time she saw him with another. But she no longer had the right to question his actions.

"Perhaps if we are lucky Keiko will be reborn," Kurama mused as he stepped closer to Botan. One finger traced her cheek and Botan felt a leap of hope.

"Really?"

"Of course," Kurama told Botan easily. "We always wind up facing the past. And if Keiko would be born now, perhaps I would find her first."

Botan could feel the tears starting to well up in her eyes at Kurama's statement. He had never forgiven her indiscretion with Yusuke. In the years since, he had become colder and harder. He was as polite as ever but now he no longer sought Yusuke or her out. "You're never going to forgive me are you?"

"I forgave you a very long time ago," Kurama corrected her gently before stepping away from her. "I've just never forgotten. And I learned a long time ago that you never give them a chance to betray you again." With that he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows and leaving Botan alone again.

"You ask him that every year on this date," Kuwabara murmured as he walked up to her.

"Yes," Botan agreed and wiped away the tears that had started to drip down her cheeks.

"And he always tells you the same thing," Kuwabara continued as if she hadn't said anything. "I can't help but wonder why you keep doing it?"

"I love him," Botan admitted.

"But he doesn't love you," Kuwabara stated bluntly before turning away. "Yusuke already down there?"

"Just headed there," Botan replied sharply before she hurried away.

Keiko Yukimara sighed as she stared out into the storm. There was something about rain that had always called to her. Perhaps it was the promise of a new start, or the way that it washed everything away, but Keiko could always find contentment and peace when it rained.

Except for today, for some reason she was edgy and out of sorts. She had had that dream again. She could never remember all of the details, just an all-consuming pain and the wish for it to end soon. Her pillow was always soaked and her eyes red from tears that she didn't remember shedding. Keiko had been having it for as long as she could remember, but lately it had gotten more vivid. And as lightening flashed down to the ground and thunder shook the windows she wondered what was going to happen next.

"Keiko?" A soft voice questioned into her ear. Keiko turned to see her boss, an older gentleman with questioning brown eyes staring down at her. She smiled at him and shook her slightly before reaching for the tray and hefting it. "Are you sure?" He asked again, worry in his tone and in his eyes.

"I'm fine Mr. Yokoshiro," Keiko assured him. "Just having an off day."

"Well if you're sure…" Mr. Yokoshiro's voice trailed off uncertainly.

"I'm sure," Keiko smiled at him, her dark brown eyes sparkling with good humor. "It's just one of the days." She gestured to the storm outside and then the customers sitting around the restaurant.

"That's true," Mr. Yokoshiro agreed and laughed. "The rain does seem to do that to people."

"I'd better get going before they decide to take it out on me," Keiko flashed another grin and then headed over to the nearest table to give them their order.

Mr. Yokoshiro stared after the young woman that had been working for him for almost 3 years. She had shown up after he put an ad in the paper, looking for work to help pay for her college education. Since then she had taken over, always there with a smile and helping out whenever she could. She would often bring her homework and do that between busy times or during her break.

Her brown hair was longer now, almost to her waist and secured back with a simple barrette. Her brown eyes reminded him of melted dark chocolate and always seemed to be twinkling with happiness. Her apron was worn over a pair of blue jeans and a white button up blouse. She was handling the customers with ease, charming smiles from all of them. Keiko had a way with people.

But she seemed so alone, never talked about her family and he had only seen a couple of people come in looking for her. And those had mainly been pleas to help with their homework. Though now that he thought about it, there was a young man that would often be there when she got off late at night. While Mr. Yokoshiro had never seen anything going on between them, maybe it was her fiancé. As another group of customers came in, he moved to greet them with a smile, pushing Keiko to the back of his mind.

For the next couple of hours Keiko worked without break. Her current customers were a group of high school girls who were giggling over the King. Keiko resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she took their order and brought them their drinks.

"He's so cute," one girl gushed. "Those light hazel eyes and slicked back black hair."

"Tell me about it," another girl agreed. "And his build. All sleek muscles and power."

"Can you imagine being his Queen?" Another sighed dreamily.

Keiko bit back a disbelieving grunt and filled up the water glasses. She flashed a smile and politely asked if there was anything else. They waved her away without a glance or even a smile. Had she ever been that young? Keiko couldn't but wonder as she listened to the group sigh over the fact that one of his advisors, Botan, was rumored to be his 'companion.' Whatever that meant.

Keiko had seen the King once, from far off. She had been on her way to class, running slightly behind due to helping an elderly neighbor carry her grocery bags up the stairs. A minor disturbance had caught her attention as she tried to cross the street. The crowd wasn't moving, looking down the street at several black cars had pulled up to the courthouse.

As Keiko had watched a door had opened in the lead and end vehicle with several people getting out. The first one out had been a man, short with flyaway black hair that had white strands in the front. He looked around suspiciously before looking over at the red headed man that had climbed out of the other side of the car. This one was slightly feminine in appearance, his red hair long and his green eyes assessing as they swept the street. He nodded at the black haired man who in turned looked at the end car.

A tall man with orange hair had stepped out of it. It was in a swept up style that reminded Keiko of the something that she had seen in history class. He was more muscular than the other two but Keiko sensed that he was probably the least dangerous. His dark eyes swept the street before looking over the car at another guy who had stepped from the car. This one was tall, with dark black hair. A sigh ran through the crowd as his dark eyes lasered over them.

Finally he nodded and all four men moved towards the center vehicle. The driver got out and moved around to the right back passenger door and swung it open. A woman was the first one out; her traditional garb a strange contrast to her blue hair. Then a man had stepped from the car, his presence filling the area.

Keiko shivered in reaction as darkness crawled across her skin and looked at the man. He didn't look much older than her; black hair slicked back and dressed in casual clothing. A murmur ran through the crowd and as Keiko listened she realized that this was the King and his advisors. That had her returning her attention to the group now moving to the door. The people around the King were talking but he didn't seem to be listening, ignoring them all as he stared forward.

Keiko was struck by how alone he seemed to be in that moment. But she shook it off as being fanciful and began to move away. She couldn't help but look back for a second and found that the King's eyes were sweeping the crowds. As they came closer to her, Keiko found herself ducking behind a tall man. Those light hazel orbs were empty and without life. It was as if he was dead and his body hadn't realized it yet. If eyes were truly the window to the soul than he didn't have one anymore and Keiko could stop the shiver of reaction that caused. They were like two black holes, swirling emptiness in their depths.

She quietly slipped away, moving easily through the crowd now. Her last thought was that even the people around him seem to look at him as if he was a waiting time bomb. Then Keiko forcefully put him from her mind and concentrated on her special education class.

Since that night Keiko hadn't really thought about the King. Her history class had taught her the names to go with the faces of his advisors. Though one had been missing, his sensei Genkai hadn't been there. But Keiko had only studied enough to pass her test, not giving into the teachers' and other students need to speculate on the group or what had caused them to over through the old government. And while the girls in her class had sighed about the King and the fact that he had yet to choose a mate, Keiko had decided it was none of her business.

Other girls could dream about princes sweeping them off their feet and fairytales. Keiko had learned a long time ago that fairy tales didn't exist and she had no time for them. She was determined to get her education and to find her place in the world. As long as she could teach the minds of children, she would be content. She didn't need anything else.

With that thought in mind Keiko delivered the girls order with a smile. And moved onto the next table. As the rain continued to fall down, Keiko finally found the contentment and peace that had eluded her all day.

"Hello Keiko," Yusuke's voice was loud in the silence of the room he had just entered. A key slipped into his pocket and he moved deeper into the room. As he did so lights flickered on, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Yusuke was oblivious to the beauty and warmth of the garden that he had entered.

This room was buried deep in his castle, the garden growing thanks to Kurama's ability with flowers and the sunlight that filtered through specially created vents. The smell of roses, jasmine and honeysuckle was heavy in the air. Yusuke's feet followed the brick path without any prompting on his part. He was too familiar with this path and along the way he picked several blooms.

"It's been raining the past couple of days," he continued as he walked around the curve of the path. "Everything is dark and gloomy this year for the anniversary." He used the bridge to cross the small stream that wound its way through the hidden garden. A small smile touched his face as he watched the fish swimming in the lazy water. "Though everything is bright down here."

He came to the center of the garden and kneeled before the tombstone there. His hands lovingly drifted over the writing before he placed the blooms on the grave and settled back on his hunches. He smiled at the headstone, "The trees are in full bloom with the blossoms' floating down around you. It's very pretty to see."

"So much has happened," Yusuke told her with a sigh. "I don't even know where to begin. Kurama still hasn't forgiven either Botan or myself. Sometimes I wonder if he ever will." Yusuke paused, forearms resting on his thighs and his hands hanging between his legs. "I'm not even sure we deserve it." He looked up at the headstone, easily picturing Keiko staring at him with a soft smile on her face.

"Kuwabara and Yukina have announced their impending nuptials," Yusuke told her with a laugh. "It's only taken them a thousand years to decide. Or maybe it was it the fact that Hiei has finally stopped glaring at them both." Yusuke shrugged and settled back on the grass, his legs stretched out and his head tilting back to look up at the trees. "Yukina has requested a traditional wedding ceremony and the mating ritual to take place. Genkai and Botan are going to be her attendants." He stopped and smiled at the headstone again. "Yukina wishes you were here for it. But then so do I."

Yusuke laid back on the grass, listening to the sounds of nature around him. The gurgling of the brook, fish splashing, the birds singing and the feel of the grass beneath him. Hours passed as he talked to her about anything and everything. In his mind he could see her smiling at him, sitting beside him on the bank.

His mind played her voice and his body remembered the touch of her shoulder as they sat side by side. Hours passed unnoticed as Yusuke continued to fill Keiko in on everything that was happening in the kingdom. As he continued to sit in that garden, surrounded by things that reminded him of Keiko, contentment filled him. And peace descended on his soul, leaving his heart lighter than it normally was.

And then the peace was shattered.

A/N:Well there is another chapter. I hope that this fills everyone in on what is going on. I know that a lot of you felt that the first chapter lacked depth and I do apologize. Remember to let me know what you think. If you don't review, thanks for visiting.