A giant black square lands with a thump on the ground in front of Mistress and winds blow ominously across the ground (with, of course, the mandatory tumbleweed blowing in the breeze)

That, my friends…is a writer's block…lovely isn't it? And that, unfortunately, is the reason it took me FOREVER to finish and post this god forsaken chapter…anyhoo!

Here's chapter seven! Amazing really…what with the giant block of pure EEEEVIL standing in front of me …hmm… ah well, CHAPTER 7!

Disclaimer:

My rhymes are gonna suck

'Cause I can't think of the words to say

That would adequately show

My very overwhelming dismay

(…um…yeah…and I don't own Rurouni Kenshin…)

Excerpt from Chapter Six: Mauve Memories

With a thump, he landed with multiple broken bones on the cobblestones of the Shadow Realm. Groaning, he felt his lips curl up into a smirk. He was right, she had been just as powerful as he expected, to be able to open a hellhole in the very sky itself was a rare accomplishment…with another groan, his head fell back down on the pavement and he succumbed to the haunting darkness as his body began the laborious task of healing his broken body…too bad it could do nothing for the ache that spread through his soul, his spirit yearning to touch hers again…when it never would again…

Landing on the ground, Kaoru folded her wings back inside her body and stalked off towards the tiny training field behind the castle. The clang of metal against metal reached her ears and she suppressed a sigh at the memories threatening to return.

Suzume

Ayame

Mother

Father

Shaking her head, she practically stormed into the field, heading straight for a tall man, standing with his back to her. As she walked through the fight, a sword pierced her shoulder but she paid it no mind, her entire being focused on the man.

"Are you alright? I mean, that was straight silver that went through your shoulder Miss." Kaoru waved the hovering boy off and rolled her shoulder as the muscles knit back together painfully.

"I'm fine." At her words, the man turned around in surprise, ice blue eyes widening marginally,

"Kaoru?" A snarl escaped her lips at the very sight of him and she pounced on him, sending him to the ground before she stood over him, sapphire eyes flashing in rage. Silently she backed up and allowed him to stand, replying in a strangely stoic voice,

"Aoshi." Aoshi sheathed his sword and began walking out of the training field, Kaoru following him angrily.

"What are you doing here Kaoru?" Her eyes widened and violently repressed the urge to slap him upside the head.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" They sat down on a nearby bench and Kaoru allowed herself to glare at him threateningly,

"Why didn't you tell us you had been changed?"

"I didn't want Makimachi to know"

"Makimachi now? What happened to calling your girlfriend by her first name? Oh wait!" She snapped her fingers sarcastically, "She's not your girlfriend! She's your fiancée!" Aoshi looked at her silently and Kaoru sighed, collapsing against his strong frame, rubbing her temples exasperatedly.

"Dammit Aoshi, how could you be such an ass?" She looked up at him exasperatedly, "Misao found out today that you've been alive when she thought you had either died or worse, abandoned her." Aoshi stayed silent during her rant but ran a hand through his hair when she finished.

"I am dead. No creature of the undead should involve themselves with the living."

"You realize that's a lot of crap right? Especially from you" he looked down at her questioningly,

"Is it?" Kaoru rolled to her feet and glared at him, hands propped up on her hips. Her fangs lengthened and she rolled her eyes in disbelief at his apparent stupidity,

"Yeah! You don't seem to remember that I'm a vampire and I always came to you and Misao! Even…" she faltered but pressed on determinedly, "Even when I had just seen my entire family DEAD!"

Smiling, he draped the heavy blanket over them. Amusement growing at Misao's over exaggerated shivers; he quickly enveloped the tiny girl in his arms. It wasn't that cold but his friend…no…best friend was an eccentric type and had decided that it was freezing and they needed the warmest blanket he could find before they could finish watching the movie.

"Aoooooshiiiiiii"

"What Mi?"

"Where's Kao? She said that she'd come and watch the movie with us! I was so worried when she disappeared for an entire day so I know she would come to this, just to show she was okay!"

"You know she's still tired…"

"Yeah…" her face fell, "because she was bitten…and it's all my fault!" The tiny ten-year-old burst into tiny sobs and Aoshi sighed, patting the girl on the back.

"No it's not. You guys were playing hide and seek, you aren't suppose to go looking for her." Red-rimmed eyes glared up at him,

"You wouldn't have let Kaoru get bitten…It's 'cause I'm three years younger than you that she was bitten!" A wail echoed through the house and Aoshi sighed again, running a soothing hand through the girl's hair.

"Mi, stop crying." With a few final sniffles, she stopped crying just in time to hear a loud thump sound against the door.

"That didn't sound like Kao…" Aoshi nodded in agreement but got off the couch and hit the button to open the door, gazing in shock at the sight that greeted him.

"Help…me…please…"

"KAO!"

"KAORU!"

"You guys didn't turn me away so what makes you think Misao and I would turn you away?" Aoshi stood and stalked away, anger radiating through his aura. Furiously, Kaoru darted in front of him, sapphire eyes livid.

The sudden stinging pain in his cheek made Aoshi stare at the fuming girl in amazement,

"Y-You slapped me."

"Yes! I DID! BECAUSE YOU'RE ACTING LIKE A BLOODY TWO YEAR OLD!"

"Please don't kill him Kitten…he is a rather good guard." Immediately Aoshi fell to the ground, kneeling in front of his Lord before gazing up at Kaoru in shock when she failed to imitate him.

"Don't interrupt you jerk! I have a personal matter to discuss with Ice-boy here so back off!"

"Personal matters can wait Kitten…we have other business to take care of." Ignoring Aoshi's incredulous gaze, Kaoru glared at the vampire,

"Other business? Pray tell, what would I possibly have to do with you?" Battousai smirked and his hand snapped out to pull her to his chest, his arms wrapping around her tiny frame.

"You have a lot to do with me…but right now, we have to go track down…Yumi was her name? And we need to have a discussion about your little…trick that you performed with Derek..."

"Shove it, bastard. I don't need to discuss anything with you!"

"Why Kitten, such ugly language for such a beautiful lady!" Her eyes lit up in sarcastic anticipation and she practically bounced up and down,

"Wanna hear more? 'Cause I've got tons of words that I've been saving especially for you!" A smirk appeared on his features and he waved Aoshi away from their argument.

"Especially for me Kitten? I feel loved."

"Don't be, you aren't" she snarled in reply. With a huff of annoyance, she pried his arms off of her waist and stalked away towards the centre of the city. There was only one bar that unknown vampires could go to without the regulars telling Battousai…

"Nightmares Sin"

"Quaint place…Haven't been here for a while though…I prefer the Bloody Mary tavern." Battousai shot a golden glance over at her,

"Hanging out in taverns Kitten?" Eye twitching, she rounded on him, poking him in the chest with a pale digit,

"First things first, stop calling me that stupid name!" An eyebrow rose and he crossed his arms over his chest,

"What would you have me call you? Kaoru-mine" A sapphire glare answered his question and she shuddered,

"Definitely not that or any other derogatory name usually applied to women such as chick, babe, cutie, dear, honey, sweetie or love." Battousai let out an amused chuckle,

"Very well, Princess"

"That's a derogatory name."

"No it's not. A princess is a woman of high ranking, how is that derogatory?"

"It just is!" She threw her hands up in the air and tugged viciously on her ponytail to relieve stress before releasing a sigh.

"Call me Sapphire if you must talk to me at all." He nodded and she fixed her hair, glare still firmly fixed on him,

"And two, you are much too noticeable as you are. Any black market dealers will run at the sight of you, cast a spell or something." He nodded again and snapped, his hair changing into short, black and spiked. The scar remained but it near disappeared into his face, blending in with his now light brown complexion as he glanced at her with the bright purple eyes of his other (and no less recognisable to vampire-kind) form.

"You should too. Yumi sent out her fledgling to kill you. She most likely has some idea of what you look like." Rolling her eyes, Kaoru nodded and dragged her fingers through her hair, undoing to tie to send the now pale white locks cascading heavily down her back. Blinking, her eyes shone a bright leafy green colour to match the various jewels that now dotted her hair.

"Happy?"

"Not particularly but it will work." As she walked into the bar ahead of him, he repressed a possessive growl when her snow white hair accidentally brushed against his face. No matter what illusions they donned, it seemed they would always be opposites.

Red and Blue

Black and White.

"Are you coming?" Her voice snapped him out of his musings and he nodded,

"Yes." With a final mental slap, he trailed after her, one hand snaking out to protectively grasp hers, fingers tangling possessively. Distracted with her search, Kaoru didn't even notice when he began to glare at anyone who looked at her, his grip tightening around hers. Frustrated, she stopped in the middle of the room and sat down with a pout at the nearest table devoid of patrons.

"How the hell are we suppose to figure out who she is?"

"Ask the waitresses of course." Kaoru's eyes glinted and she gestured to the nearest waitress. When the busty red head wandered over, notepad at the ready, Kaoru looked up at her, a fake smile dancing on her lips even when the waitress refused to look at either of them.

"Whatcha got?" The waitress rolled her red eyes (a sign of lower status among vampires) and began listing off the day's menu, finishing with,

"And if ya want, we've got the best bloody margarita this side of the Shadows." Kaoru thought for a second before nodding,

"I'll take that, never had it before…I hope it's good!" The red head looked at her incredulously,

"Are ya sure hon? It's a bit strong for first timers" Kaoru was about to reply scathingly when Battousai finally decided to intercede.

"She'll be fine. I'll have the strongest alcoholic beverage you have."

"Any blood with that?" Battousai nodded,

"A pint" eyebrows rising, the waitress finally looked at the vampire who was currently ordering the insane amount of blood.

"Listen hon we can't…" her mouth dropped open slightly and her posture changed from bored to obviously interested, her tongue lashing out to wet her dry lips. Amused, Battousai snapped her back to reality,

"You were saying?" The waitress smirked and shook her curly head,

"Never mind. I'm sure a fine specimen like you would be able to handle it…you can call me Red." Battousai snorted and reached out to pull Kaoru onto his lap,

"Afraid I'm taken Red. Meet my mate, Silver." Red snorted but backed down when Kaoru glared at her, fangs lengthening threateningly. With a sigh and a mutter about all the good men gone, Red turned and left, assuring them she would be back soon with their orders. As soon as she was out of earshot, Kaoru spun around on his lap, straddling his waist so she could glare at him properly.

"What the hell was that?" Battousai shrugged, purple meeting green in a clash of wills.

"I needed an excuse to turn her down. Not to mention the fact that now no one will bother us." Kaoru rolled her eyes and shook her hand before glancing at the silver bracelets and rings adorning her fingers in place of the black leather arm guards that had been there seconds before.

"If I'm Silver, might as well look the part." With another shake, her other hand was similarly decorated and she spent a second admiring her handiwork before conjuring up an illusionary pair of silver hoops in her ears and multiple thin chains around her waist.

"There. Whaddya think…Gold?"

"Gold?" His tone was amused and she shrugged as she got off of him, no longer needing his body as a shield for her illusion work.

"Well if I'm Silver, you're going to be Gold." She tilted her head to the side, frowning, "too bad you got rid of the eyes…they weren't that conspicuous…were they?" He laughed and snapped his fingers, a small golden hoop appearing in his left ear and various golden ornaments now donning his clothing.

"There, happy Silver? Now here comes our drinks so act like you've been wearing those bangles the entire time." Kaoru snorted and leaned back against the table,

"It wasn't like she was looking at me much anyway" he smirked,

"Jealous?" Kaoru shrugged,

"Not particularly, it just means your gonna have to get the information out of her."

"Are you sure Silver? I mean, your fangs came out pretty quick." Rolling her eyes at his insinuation of her being jealous, Kaoru waved a bejewelled hand.

"It was hard, believe me. I'm actually amazed at how fast I got used to the Shadow Realm again. I mean, after spending ten years in the mortal realm with occasional visits to the Shadows, I'm surprised I can use my magic this fast…" Battousai shrugged,

"It's like…oh…how do the mortals put it…riding a bicycle. You never forget." An interested eyebrow rose in his direction,

"By-sick-al?" Battousai chuckled and shook his head just as Red approached their table, balancing a tray with four drinks on one hand,

"Never mind." With a disgruntled thump, the tray was slammed down on their table and Battousai flipped her payment for the drinks before placing a single gold piece on the table.

At the sight of the shimmering coin, Kaoru grinned. Much like the surroundings, the money in the Shadow Realm was old fashioned to preserve the past in vampire society, the first days of vampires. Battousai's words lured her out of her thoughts and she listened carefully to the conversation, ready to hypnotise Red if necessary but slightly unwilling to in such a large crowd.

"We are looking for someone…you might know her…" Red nodded, eyes focused on the golden coin, her fingers twitching in anticipation of more than a month's wages.

"Who?"

"A vampire named Yumi?" Red nearly rolled her eyes but the ruby orbs remained steadfastly fixed on the gleaming money.

"Everyone knows her. She's a regular here along with her ugly little childe, Deren? His name is something close to that." Battousai nodded and placed a finger on the coin, sliding it closer to the eager vampiress.

"Where is she right now?" Red licked her lips and discretely gestured to a table in the far corner of the room, away from the drink counter and dance floor.

"She just asked for her usual, a Bloody Mary with extra red er…sorry, waitress slang, extr-."

"Extra blood" Battousai shot a curious glance at his vampire and she smirked,

"I worked as a waitress for a couple of years, I know the basics." Red's fingers hovered above the coin but Battousai's fingers stayed motionless. Kaoru grinned and stood up, grabbing her drink and downing it in a single gulp, ignoring Red's amazed stare (finally pried away from the money), looked at the waitress.

"Let me deliver her drink." Red hesitated and Battousai placed another coin on the table. Immediately, Red nodded and handed over the tray with the remaining glass on it. Kaoru smirked and lifted the tray up on her hand and sauntered over to the lone table with the practised air of a waitress.

"Here's your drink, lady!" The woman looked up at the heavily accented voice and gazed suspiciously at Kaoru.

"Who are you?" Kaoru grinned and winked, placing the Bloody Mary down on the wooden table, emphasizing her false (but still amazingly realistic) pirate-like brogue.

"I'm a new waitress, me name's Silver! What's yours fine lady?" Yumi sneered and took the glass with a delicate hand,

"You can call me Dream…Silver…" Kaoru grinned and gave the red eyed vampire the thumbs up.

"Yes ma'am!" A hand fell on her shoulder and she looked up surprised, "Huh?" Battousai smirked at her real confusion and sat down at the table, across from Yumi.

"Silver was it?" Kaoru nodded with a mental glare at the raven-haired vampire.

"Yes sir!" With a high pitched giggle, she swept a curtsey, holding the air to her sides like she was pulling out a skirt. Battousai smirked at her acting and rolled his head, cracking his neck.

"Can you get me something?"

"Whaddya want sir?" The smirk grew and Kaoru nearly rolled her eyes at what she knew was coming next.

"I want you, but I'll settle for a pint of blood." Kaoru bit her lip but nodded, skipping over to their old table and, making sure Yumi wasn't looking, grabbed Battousai's untouched jug of blood. A muffled scream caught her attention and she frowned, immediately switching into her 'spy mode' as Misao christened it, placing the drink back down and melting, unseen, into the shadows.

Making her way to the kitchen, her frown grew at the scent of ash and she sped up, passing through various walls, dodging around tables and people until she finally reached the kitchen.

Another muffled scream was brutally cut off by an invisible sharp object (most likely a sword) sweeping through Red's neck, severing the waitress's curly haired head from her body. Grimacing as Red's corpse burst into a pile of ash; Kaoru carefully concealed herself in the shadows and began the search for the invisible intruder.

A spell wavered in the air and was dropped, revealing a blond haired swordsman standing in the middle of the kitchen. Happily the man sheathed his sword into one of the many sheathes on his back and strolled to the door of the kitchen, opening it slightly to gaze at the vampires outside.

"Good…all that's left is that last waitress and that guy." Frowning, Kaoru peered over his shoulder, eyes falling on dozens of people dancing and drinking. As her gaze focused on a strangely stiff dancing couple, she froze, quickly darted through the wall and flared her aura, careful to keep it away from both the blond and Yumi's table. No aura responded and she gulped, disgust beginning to turn her stomach as the realisation crept up on her.

'No no no…it can't be…'

Battousai frowned when Kaoru failed to return after a few minutes. Yumi had remained silent, only responding to his obvious flirting in attempts to get her to speak. A strange tug on his soul made his eyes narrow at the table in front of him.

"Ah well…that waitress isn't back yet. I think I'll go see where she is…" At his distracted goodbye, Yumi looked up and nodded before returning to sip at her drink, a strange smile on her face. Suspicion niggling at his senses, he stood and turned, just in time to see Kaoru's silver aura flare across the room, washing over the dancing and drinking vampires.

His own aura instinctively reached out and entangled with hers, urging him to find her and claim her for his own. Shaking his head, he began strolling back to their table before he realised what was wrong. Eyes narrowing, he laid a hand on the nearest vampire, watching dispassionately as the figure crumbled away under his hand.

'They're dead…'

Kaoru suddenly appeared in front of him and she nodded at his mental statement, the moss green spirals of disgust slowly creeping up her aura as the corpses began to randomly fall to pieces…

"So you've noticed have you? Oh well…I suppose I'll just have to kill you too…"

Fin!

Oo! Oo! Guess what! I got my first (and rather anticlimactic) flame! (flame burns merrily away)

Now! Onto happier things! MY MUCH LUFFED REVIEWS! Grins insanely

Aya45 : will do! It's not exactly…quick…but I tried to get it out ASAP…stupid writers block growls at the ominous but slowly crumbling block Thank you for reviewing! LUFF YOU!

Reignashii: Lol, thanks for the review! Hope ya like this chapter

Loveywhatever: Thanks! Apparently a lot of people liked that part where it was from Batt's view…do ya think I should put it Kaoru's point of view? If I did…it's probably be sometime in the next few chapters…hmm…whaddya think?

( ) : love you too:)

Kaori-Angel: Lol, yeah, a BIT! Doesn't stop him from being a possessive lil' vamp does it? Thanks! I love Sano too…not as much as Batt's, but I think he's cool! (plus I love the fish bone!) WoOt, GIRLS SHALL RULE THE WORLD! And it's true! If it weren't for us, the world wouldn't be populated and life as we know it (for humans at least) would die! SO HA! (oh…bi the way, I go to an all-girls school so I'm a bit of a feminist…:P lol)

Tameka-tanuki-jouchan: thank you! I tried to get it out ASAP, hope you didn't mind the wait! As I said to Kaori-Angel in my reviewer response (in chap.6) I like Kaoru with a back bone…don't you?

Jewelle2: thanks for the review!

Cyjj: tried to do so! Hope you like this chap!

Shears: lol, yeah, that's always a good thing! Sense is very good…too bad I don't have any :P (lame I know, but I'm hyper!) Thanks for the review

Brigitte: duly noted, and as I am practically fashion-police-phobic (thanks to my lovely little albino (not really but it ticks her off :P) friend…long story…) I shall try my best to pray to whatever deities watch over this particular fanfic writer that this chapter holds up to your standards!

Steph:) Thnx, I asked another person this, but do you think I should have a chapter later on, same event but from Kaoru's POV? Aww, you aren't stupid! It was a bit confusing but I couldn't resist ending/starting it like that, with the whole Kaoru is talking to Yahiko but Batt's replies instead…yeah…I'm odd…lol, anyhoo! It's a good thing then, that you scrolled ALLLLLL the way down! I love your reviews, they make me so happy! Heh, tell me what ya think of this little (and annoyingly hard to type) chapter!

Livworld: A wonderful motto and I shall abide by it most…uh…heartily? Lol, thnx for the review:) :) :) :)(see!)

FFChick: I know isn't it? But I needed a reason (a good one) for why Kaoru hated Batt's into the deepest pits of hell…and well…that seemed to work! Do you think I should have the same events but from Kaoru's POV? It'd be a later chapter…but I wanna know if I should squeeze space in somewhere…whaddya think?

LOVE YA ALL! AND SORRY FOR THE DELAY!