The Illusion of Normal

Part 6: The Memories

Ran could see Kenshin shaking, he was almost angry, something about these memories were infuriating him. He was practicing in the dojo for hours upon hours, he was taking a deep breath and he started to gasp and he was thinking. He let his hand move around sakabatou, he was using some of his human quickness, but soon he was using the vampire nature as well which caused him to show his nature.

The yellow eyes were moving and he felt his body release the vampire nature, he was growling a little thinking about how this happened. "How did your memories return?" Ran asked and for a moment, the happy Kenshin was replaced with a darker much more dangerous creature.

He took a breath, he sat down and shook his head. "I remember only that when the memories returned something about it made me so angry," Kenshin felt his body relax, he leaned against the wall, his eyes looking up. "This one has protected this house, this family for a reason. Having my own vows soiled and destroyed simply because I'm a vampire! I vowed never to take a life!"

Ran could tell that Kenshin was upset about having his missions getting in the way of watching over his ancestor and Aya-chan. He could tell Kenshin anything about Weiss, but he could not do it, he would just stare off. He can't tell Kenshin the truth and he could not stop watching as he lost his mind over the fact that he remembered how he was turned into a vampire.

As Kenshin went into his room, he shut the door and just lay there on his side, he would refuse blood even if Ran brought it to him. He was taking a deep breath, he was thinking, he lay on his side thinking of how he was going to tell anyone about how this happened to him.

1878

Waking up with the sun was normal, Kenshin remembered this, he smiled going to do the chores, he did laundry, he was doing every chore that he did every day. He put the clothes out to dry and smiled feeling the completeness of the day, he was taking up the basket to get tofu.

"Kaoru-dono, this one is going to get the tofu for dinner," he told her and she looked out from her lessons.

"I can come with you," she smiled.

"You're busy that you are," He smiled and rushed off before she could keep try to come along. There was something else he had to do while he was out and he would have rather have Kaoru wait. He walked into the streets and went toward the market, he pulled out his wallet and smiled. "Kaoru-dono has been waiting for this."

He went into the market and purchased something extra, something from Europe, he also purchased the tofu. As he returned home the sun was setting, he walked down the street, he was happily humming something, then he felt something cold, something was watching him.

He saw the darkness coming, he stopped and sped up his walk, something was making him feel a little tired. He was running down toward the house, something was causing him to stop when he made it just outside the dojo, then he heard a scream. He dropped the basket with the tofu, he turned his head and felt something was near him, he picked up the basket and went into the dojo, he did not want go out again.

The tofu was broke into pieces, but he was still able to cook with it, he brought out the gift for Kaoru and hid it in his gi. He smiled bringing dinner out for everyone, he was aware that Tsubame and Yahiko were sitting together talking.

As the night wore on, he and Kaoru went to bed, though it was always her holding him. He woke a few minutes later, he was walking outside and looking around the darkened garden. He was looking at the night sky and smiled feeling how wonderful.

As he walked around that night, he was looking through the gate, then something caused him to jump a little. He felt something was watching him, he was heading back inside when he felt something grab him and suddenly he was shoved against the fence wall. He felt something holding him and then he felt a pain on his shoulder, then something be drained from him.

He opened his eyes and saw only a figure with red eyes, he fainted after that.

When he woke he was sick, Kaoru was talking to Dr. Gensai who was looking in at him. "He isn't immortal, Kaoru-san, you should let your husband sleep," the old man smiled and chuckled a little. "Letting him sleep is the best option."

Sleep, it feels good to sleep, he thought this as Kaoru covered him with a blanket. "Call on us if you need us," Kaoru smiled at him.

"Don't worry so much, this one will get better, that he will," Kenshin smiled at her his eyes closing.

As night came, Kenshin heard the sound at night, this time it sounded like someone was calling his name. Sitting up slowly, Kenshin walked into the garden, he saw the shadow creature, he blinked and soon he walked up to the creature, he did not know why he felt drawn to it. "Are you ready?"

The feeling of having his life drawn out of him, he felt like his entire body was on fire, then the pain was suddenly too much. He let out a gasp and soon he felt his body shaking. Soon after, he felt the thing holding him up, whispering in his ear, the words were hypnotic, it brought up its wrist, there was cut on it. "Now drink, my favorite."

Kenshin at first struggled against it, then the feeling moved through him as the blood went into his mouth. He had sensed the strength in it, he heard the words. "Good, good, take a little more."

No, don't! The thoughts were starting to fight against this, then he realized he was being put back in his futon. His breathing was labored, he could feel Kaoru moving to check him, he was shaking, there was a feeling of being cold. "It was just a dream," she told him letting him rest, she wiped his lips when she saw the blood on them. "You bit your lip," she was letting him rest and he started to tremble more.

"He's ill," Kaoru told the neighborhood children who came for their reading lessons, Kenshin had taken to teaching neighbor's children how to read and write, he gave the lessons for free considering his idea of education. "I'm sorry.'

"Aw…hope he gets better," one of the little girls told her and rushed off.

Kaoru walked into the bedroom and smiled at him, he lay there watching as she closed the doors so the room was dim enough for a nap. "Just rest for today, Kenshin," she kissed his forehead and smiled. "At least your fever broke."

He smiled and nodded. "This one is sorry for worrying you."

"Kenshin, I'm your wife, I'm supposed to worry about you," she smiled letting him go back to sleep.

Night came, Kenshin had woke up, he could hear the sound of the wind against the house, he looked out, he opened the door to gaze out. He knew it was not that windy, he sat gazing out, that was when he saw the shadowy creature, he could come up with no real name for it. He saw the red eyes and went to grab sakabatou, but something in his mind told him it was useless.

The creature smiled at him, its jagged teeth were seen. "Are you really going to fight?" it was not sounding like it was mocking him. Soon, Kenshin felt the strength drain from him, he was leaning against the wall, his eyes glazing over. "That's better."

The creature was biting into his shoulder, he at first tried to kick and let out a low grunt, then he slumped forward the creature was holding him up. "The light in your eyes is almost gone, but I don't want to kill you," the creature whispered into Kenshin's ear. "Just a little while longer, my little killer."

"No…not killer," Kenshin tried to protest, he started to moan, then he felt the creature holding its arm up to his mouth, then he tasted the blood. The creature was holding his head, while it forced Kenshin's mouth open letting the blood flow in. There was a need that he was starting to feel, Kenshin tried to resist this, but his resistance was leaving, he drank. His eyes were closing, he fell back to sleep.

"I don't get it, he was doing so well yesterday," Kaoru was telling the doctor who came to check up on him. "Now he's so pale, he has a horrible fever."

"Let him rest, he isn't the only one who is this ill, a few others have also gotten ill," the doctor shook his head. "Let Kenshin-san rest, let him drink some water. He needs to just rest it off, some people have recovered."

Kenshin was feeling weak when he woke, he felt cold, he pulled a blanket over himself and shivered. It is the summer and I'm freezing, he thought it was strange. His eyes closed and he slipped into a deep sleep.

Kaoru came in a little later with some miso, Kenshin would wake to the scent and smiled as he tried to drink it. He coughed and nearly choked on it, he was breathing hard, he could not drink it, something was making him sick.

Kaoru held him. "Oh no….I knew this…"

"It isn't you," he whispered and nuzzled against her. "I'm just ill."

Kaoru left Kenshin to sleep, he was still having trouble breathing, he woke around night fall to the feeling of being thirsty, he leaned against the window gazing out into the garden. He saw that the clouds in the night, he was starting to feel interested in this. He turned at the sound of something coming, he turned his head. "Aren't you handsome?" the creature smiled at Kenshin who was staring up at it, the creature's features were that of a very handsome man, he looked like he was European, but spoke very nice Japanese. "The lights in your eyes are now eternally beautiful."

Eternally? Kenshin turned his head to the side and something in him wanted something to drink. "Are you thirsty?" The creature held up his arm, he smiled a little. "Let's see how sharp your fangs are."

Fangs? Kenshin felt a transformation in his mouth, he felt the throbbing of the fangs, his tongue moved over them, almost teasingly. His eyes moved from one side to another. Thirsty, I'm thirsty, he walked slowly toward the creature. "What have you done?" he asked.

"Extending your life," the creature whispered and smiled. "Truly a beautiful creature you are." He brought up his arm, and smiled, he brought the wrist toward Kenshin. "Let's test your fangs."

The heat in his mouth got worse, Kenshin opened his mouth gasping, then without warning, he let something take control, he bit into the offered wrist. He felt the warmth entering his mouth as he drank. The taste was not like anything he tasted, he sucked on the wound as the creature stroked his hair and whispered. "Let's complete your change," he whispered into his ear, Kenshin released and turned his head, he blinked not really understanding.

In minutes Kenshin was shaking, the creature smiled, and bit him again on the shoulder, he did not struggle, he just let it happen. His eyes closing as he rested against the thing doing this, he opened his eyes and were glazed over. He knew he was changing, he knew it, the creature coaxed him to drink more blood. "What's happening to me?"

"You're becoming beautiful," the creature smiled. "A beautiful vampire."

"No…this one does not want it," he whispered and soon passed out.

"It's too late, my little killer. Tomorrow, you will thirst like no other," the vampire laid him down on the bed. "I will come for you…"

"Kaoru-dono!" Kenshin reached for her, he let his eyes widened and he snuggled against her. He was sobbing, something was causing him to hide in her shoulder.

"Kenshin?" she woke slowly and the touched his face. "You feel so cold…Kenshin…you're…" She was holding him as he snuggled against her, his lips moved against her skin, he was holding her.

Kenshin and Kaoru woke together, he was nuzzling her neck, he was letting his lips kiss the soft nape of her neck, then without warning he felt his fangs elongate. He could not move he just let his head move closer to her neck. Kaoru-dono is all I need, I love her, he whispered to himself, then he nipped tasting the sweetness of her blood.

He drank a little and soon he felt his body calm, he was slipping into a deep sleep, he held Kaoru as he slipped into a sleep. "Kenshin, just rest…I know you are…hurting." She whispered and kissed the top of his head, she rubbed his shoulder, then found the horrible wound, it was healing, but something told her that her husband was victimized by something. "Kenshin, what happened?"

"It bit me…it drained me, now I'm like it," he whispered and felt his tears down his cheeks. "I wanted to be with Kaoru-dono."

The vampire did come for him, Kenshin was holding himself, he was breathing hard, he was starting to resist this creature's call. "This one will not leave with you, not now, not ever again!" Kenshin growled, then the vampire growled.

The vampire growled and soon Kenshin was dropped down to his knees, he felt his body tremble, he lay on his side. "Your memories are mine!"

Kaoru found Kenshin lying outside, he was shaking, he was trembling, he grabbed his head and shook it. He remembered only one thing, he was a vampire, he remembered all the things that lined up with his wife. He did not remember how he became a vampire, and Kaoru had to protect him.

The Dojo did not close, but continued, Kenshin was hidden from view, he was given privacy, he was not allowed to leave the house again. Kaoru would become pregnant with Kenji and also their daughter, Rei.

Vampirism had killed Kenshin's will, he had no desire to leave the dojo, he did not want Kaoru to suffer, but he was scared of losing himself. He drank from Kaoru, he drank from any animal that she brought him.

Present (2000)

Kenshin growled, he let his head move to the side, he hid for hundred years, and when the memories came back, he described the vampire. He told Ran the description of the creature, then it was Callesto who drew the image.

She watched him touch the image and nodded, he was shaking his head a little. "This thing hurt me, not again," Kenshin whispered. "I can hear him calling me, and I will not come to him willingly."