This fic was inspired by the Phantom of the Opera. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Phantom of the Opera, but the story came to me while I was listening to the song so I figured I might as well write it down.

Bloody Kisses

By: Lazeralk

Rurouni Kenshin flavored mildly with Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter

Part 1

"The Trap"

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Sanosuke Sagara was feelin' pretty good. Drunk, penniless, but pretty good. He was ambling along, minding his own business like a good drunk gambler who doesn't do dastardly things like disrupt the good people of Tokyo. Ri-ight.

Something flickered in his unfocused brown eyes and he stopped. He, being a heap big street thug, had detected a presence through his hazy senses. He turned around just in time to watch the shadow descend on him with a goofy smile before he became dead to the world.

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Soft humming filled the air accompanied by the sound of soapy water being sloshed around in a big bucket. Kenshin smiled happily as he scrubbed away at the laundry, the cheer in the warm autumn air lifting his spirits. Peachy. The sun was setting, and a beautiful array of colors painted the sky, signaling the end of afternoon practice.

The flares of bright blue ki, Kaoru's, and the splotch of red, Yahiko's, were moving towards him. He looked up as they rounded the corner and came into view. Her training gi was soaked with sweat and she looked rather happy. Yahiko trailed after her, a tired but satisfied smile on his face. Everyone was happy. Some story.

"It appears you've had a fine workout, you have." Said Kenshin, smiling up at them, his hands never faltering in their task.

"Yeah! I feel like I could take on Sano now!" Said Yahiko, lifting his shinai into the air.

Ah, Sano, whatever happened to Sano anyway? Not that we particularly care right this instant…buuut…

"Where is Sano? I haven't seen him all week." Said Kaoru.

"Yeah, he hasn't been at the Akabeko in what, five days? How long can you go with out food before you starve to death?" Asked Yahiko.

"Hmm, perhaps he's staying a while with Tsukiyama-san." Suggested Kenshin, even as he cast his senses outward, searching for his friend. A flash of gold ki flared in response to his as he reached further into the city. Saitou was moving away from them. He pushed as far as he could manage, going absolutely still, focusing everything he had into that one effort. No Sano. Naw really, could'a guessed that one.

"I don't think so, he would have said something. Sano may be a pretty lousy guy but he's nothing if not loyal. He's a good friend. He would have told us if he were going somewhere."

"Maybe he got kidnapped!" Exclaimed Yahiko. Now there's an idea.

"Naw. Why would anyone want Sano?" asked Kaoru.

"Yeah…" Said Yahiko, his brilliance spent for the day.

"I can't find him." Said Kenshin, growing serious as he completed a second mental search.

"He's not in the city. I can't find him anywhere." He continued, concern showing in his voice.

"Is that bad?"

"Very. Something's wrong. Let's go ask around." Kenshin stood, bringing the piece of cloth he'd been diligently washing up with him. He wrung it out and hung it up so it wouldn't rust in the water. Sensible, responsible, dutiful Kenshin. I want one for my house.

Kaoru's eyes narrowed, Kenshin was talking in clipped sentences. Something really was wrong. No really, ya think? These guys can't go more than a week with out getting into trouble.

"Let's go." Said Yahiko.

Kenshin nodded absently as his feet carried him out the door, his two companions trailing after him, flanking him like bodyguards. He extended his senses again, seeking Saitou. He brushed the slightly electric energy and tugged on it.

"Kenshin, we're here."

The voice snapped him out of his trance, drowning out the policeman's annoyed response. Brain IM, cool huh?

They were standing in front of Sano's apartment in the Ruffian Row. Kenshin swept it with his senses and knew the place was empty before he threw the door open. Nada.

Kenshin let the others see into the small room before he closed the door and went to find the apartment of one Katsuhiko Tsukiyama. Katsu for short. Cute.

Another sweep revealed only one presence.

Kenshin knocked. Very polite.

The door slid open, and Katsu stepped out into the falling dusk.

"Himura-san. What brings you to the Ruffian Row?" Asked Katsu, eyeing the swordsman warily. He still didn't trust the Battousai after the failed bombing incident. Hey, I wouldn't trust him either if he beat the crap out of my best friend.

"Sano's missing." Said Kaoru, noticing the tension and stepping between them.

"Missing? How long?" Asked Katsu, always pleased to talk to a pretty girl.

"Five days. You haven't seen him have you?" Replied Kaoru, worry seeping into her voice.

"No, I haven't. You might want to try the gambling joints, they may have heard from him." Said Katsu with a frown. "Maybe he drank too much and got lost."

"He's not in the city, at least not from what I can tell." Said Kenshin.

"Have you tried the police? Maybe he got arrested."

"Not yet." Said Kaoru.

"We'll try them after we check out the gambling joints. Thank you Tsukiyama-san."

There was much bowing, empty, but polite, invites to drop by anytime and the gang was underway once more, no closer to finding Sano than they had been when they left. Figures.

The gambling joints were devoid of Sano, they searched every one, but no one had heard from him or seen him in the last week. His usual gambling buddies were clueless. Of course that could have been the sake talking.

A trip to the police station revealed that 'Inspector Fujita' was out making his evening rounds. He'd be back in about five minutes, so to please go into his office and wait for him. Police secretaries are very helpful when you're the Hitokiri Battousai, he didn't even complain about the sword. Brownie point for him.

Five minutes later, 'Inspector Fujita' walked in and scowled at the invasion of his office.

"What do you want? You've been annoying me all day Battousai, this better be good." He growled, sinking into his chair with boneless grace. He pulled out a cigarette and lit up, still glaring at the room's other occupants.

"Sano's been missing for five days. He's not in the city. Is their any reason connected to the police that would make him want to skip town without informing anyone?" Said Kenshin, his voice lowering an octave.

"You came to me about that moron? Really Battousai."

"Is there?"

"Not that I can think of. Tori-atama hasn't done anything that would merit that kind of behavior."

"I still think he was kidnapped." Grumbled Yahiko.

"Why would anyone want that idiot?" Scoffed Saitou. Why indeed.

"You got a better explanation?" Challenged Yahiko.

Whatever snide comment Saitou was about to make, and believe me snide it most certainly was, was abruptly cut off when the door to his office opened and a slightly beaten up Sano wandered in.

Ah, the glorious and slightly mysterious return of the conquering hero. Right. Hero, my ass.

"Sano! Are you ok?"

"Where the heck have you been?"

"What happened to you?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Oi! Shut up!"

Stunned silence.

"Case solved. Go away."

"Aw, but Saitou, you're just the man I wanted to see."

More stunned silence.

"Um…Sano…Is there something you want to tell us?"

"Huh? Whatda'ya mean?"

"Um…are you...uh, that is…you and Saitou…"

"What! God no! Hell no! Jo-chan! What the fuck!"

Umm-hmm. Ok, moving on…

"Where have you been Sano?" asked Kenshin pleasantly.

"Kenshin! Good. I need to talk to you." Sano said, pulling Kenshin out of the room. He dragged the red head down an empty corridor and leaned in to whisper to him.

"I found something really freaky. This old house just popped up out of thin air outside the Ruffian Row. I've been stakin' the place out for the last week. There's some seriously freaky shit goin' on." He said. Tilting his head to the side.

Kenshin's eyes flicked to the bandages tied snuggly around Sano's neck. He took a moment to realize the though the wrappings blended easily with his usual outfit, they were out of place. Sano didn't usually wrap his neck, his hands, feet and abs, yes, his neck, no. He also noted that his gi was a little blood stained. Nothing new there, but it looked like he'd had a bloody nose or something, even the bandages abound his stomach were flecked with blood.

"Battousai!" called Saitou. "I need to see you in my office a moment please."

Maybe it was the please, maybe it was the way Saitou's aura flicked with his tenseness. Something had thrown Mibu's wolf into 'on guard' mode. Not good.

"Of course inspector." Replied Kenshin.

"We'll check it out later ok Sano?" whispered Kenshin as he moved to pass his friend.

"Cool." Said the pleased ex-Sekihoutai, arranging himself lazily in a chair out side the office with Kaoru and Yahiko. Apparently they'd been kicked out. I guess Saitou doesn't like them very much.

Kenshin walked through the open door and shut it behind him. He moved closer to the ex-Shinsengumi and favored him with a quizzical stare.

"You're up tight Saitou, what's bothering you?" he whispered into the other man's abdomen. Poor Kenshin, he's so short.

"Sano's dead."

"What?" hissed Kenshin, barely remembering to keep his voice down.

"He reeks of death, Battousai. I don't know how or why or where or who, but I do know that there is no life in him." Whispered the wolf back.

"I may have a where, Saitou. Will you be willing to come with us when we check it out tonight? Unnoticed of course?" asked Kenshin, his eyes growing cold.

"Yes, most definitely. If whatever killed the moron and made him walk and talk again can do it again, we have a serious problem."

"Yeah, I'll send a letter to Kyoto and ask the Oniwaban to come for a visit. Sano's not the toughest fighter around, but he's no pushover either. What ever did this to him, had to fight him and win without really damaging him all that much. Then there's the matter of making his get right back up again after he died and go about life as if nothing happened. If it can happen again, we may have a very serious problem indeed."

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End part 1