Rurouni Kenshin Fanfic

Summary: It's modern day. The streets are rife with violence; corporations are corrupt; assassinations, commonplace. Himura Kenshin, known only as Battousai, is a shadow assassin for an organization so secret even he doesn't know who truly runs it. However, Battousai has an even bigger secret; one, that if it were ever discovered, would mean more than his death…it would end in his total annihilation. Battousai is not only the deadliest assassin to ever prowl the dark streets of night…he is also a vampire, one of the oldest still in existence…and a rarity among his kind.

He has a soul.

- R - English –Supernatural/Drama/Romance – Multi-Chapter - Status: In-Progress –

Rurouni Kenshin & Samurai X Original Japanese Version © N.Watsuki/Shueisha Fuji-TV SME Visual Works Inc. Sony Pictures Entertainment

All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the sole purpose of shared entertainment and not intended for publication or sale.

Tears of Eternity

By: Chiruken

Chapter 16

Once again he felt the doubt and uncertainty creep up within him. As he watched the young woman's features alter from panic to disbelief to anger he couldn't help but wonder if someone else would be better suited to acting as her Mentor. He wasn't certain if he possessed the patience that would be needed to ease her through the difficult stages of the Awakening. His memories of his own Awakening were sketchy at best…it was like the blind leading the blind. He sighed deeply and ran a rand through his hair in a gesture of impatient irritation.

"I refuse!" Kaoru's arms were folded across her chest defiantly, sapphire blue eyes flashing angrily. She wrinkled her nose and tossed her head, dark hair flying about her face with the movement. "I vant to suck your blood…" She muttered in a poorly rendered imitation of all the vampire movies she'd watched over the years. "Yeah, right. I am not doing that." She shook her head emphatically.

"I didn't say you had to, Kaoru." Kenshin fought to maintain the tenuous hold he had on his temper. God, but she could try the patience of a saint!

Eyes narrowed to furious slits she dropped her arms to her sides, hands closing into white-knuckled fists. "I heard that!"

He shrugged, obviously unrepentant. "Arguing is pointless. It gets us nowhere." He pointed out calmly, leaning back against the wall and folding his arms over his chest in a relaxed pose.

"Killing people is wrong, no matter what the reason. I don't care if it's supposedly for survival. It's still wrong." She tilted her head, chin thrust forward, once again showing her amazing stubborn streak.

"I never said you had to kill anyone." He gritted out through clenched teeth.

"Right. How else am I supposed to get the blood I supposedly need?" Her eyes suddenly widened. "Is that why you kill those people?"

"What?" He stared at her blankly for a moment. "Oh. No. That's…" He paused and searched for an appropriate answer. "That's completely unrelated to this discussion, Kaoru." He drew in a slow, calming breath before continuing. "To answer your question, Feeding doesn't necessarily have to result in the death of the donor."

"Donor?" She tilted her head to the side curiously. "You make it sound like there are people out there who willingly let v-v-vamp…" She stuttered over the word, lips thinning as she dropped her gaze to the floor. She cleared her throat and continued, still not meeting his gaze directly. "Willingly give their blood."

He shrugged before nodding. "There are. It's a safe system…one that benefits both parties mutually. However, there are also risks involved with such a system."

She met his gaze searchingly. "I take it you don't utilize this system, then."

"No, I do not." He stated it simply, though his tone implied a finality that brooked no further discussion on the topic. He certainly didn't want to go into why he chose to ignore the accepted and easy way to assuage the Thirst.

"Then…" A frown drew her brows together. "Do you kill those you…" Her nose wrinkled in distaste. "Feed from?"

How did I know she'd ask that? He sighed inaudibly. "No, not unless it becomes necessary."

She sent him a look of disbelief but rather than pursuing the line of questioning she merely shrugged and changed the subject. "So…what else can I expect to happen?"

"I think we've basically covered it, Kaoru." He paused before pushing away from the wall to pace around the close confines of her small apartment. "The first order of business, unless you have more questions concerning what we've already discussed, should be in how to prevent yourself from broadcasting telepathically."

"All right…" She murmured softly, reluctantly, slowly seating herself on the comfortably worn sofa again. "How do I do that?"

He crossed the short distance to her and lowered himself to one knee, trying to ignore the way she seemed to recoil from him. "First, close your eyes and try to clear your mind…" He began, pushing aside the familiar pang her obvious revulsion towards him caused. He understood her feelings, that he didn't deserve her trust, but it didn't stop it from hurting all the same. "It will become easier the more you practice…become more natural for you to do this." He lowered his voice to a soothing murmur as he guided her through the basic first steps. "Relax, clear your mind…breathe deeply and evenly…"

She cracked one eye open and glared at him. "You could've just told me to meditate."

He offered her a small smile and shrugged. "All right, then…once you have calmed yourself, envision an open door…this is the path through which your thoughts travel telepathically, Kaoru."

She sighed and closed her eye again. Her lips pursed in obvious concentration. "Door, huh?" Her voice was a mere whisper of sound as her features relaxed, the tension seeming to ease from her body as she followed his previous instruction.

"Yes…a door…can you see it?" He leaned forward slightly, amber gaze intent on her features as she slowly breathed in and out. When she nodded he allowed his smile to widen slightly. "Good. Now…"

I can't believe I'm doing this! I should be at the hospital with Misao, making sure she's safe and recovering. I can't believe I actually invited him…a man I KNOW is a murderer, and probably a complete nutcase off his rocker…into my apartment! I'm such an idiot!

He frowned as her thoughts reached him clearly. "'Nutcase off his rocker', hmm?" He repeated quietly. Her eyes snapped open, her surprise clear to see. He waved his hand dismissively. "Now, close the door."

"Excuse me?" She gazed at him, bewildered for a moment. "Oh! I get it!" She closed her eyes again and frowned in intense concentration. "Close the door…close the door…come on…" Her lips thinned with annoyance. "Close, damn it!" A sudden bright smile graced her features as her eyes opened again. "Yes!" She shouted triumphantly.

His smile widened into a grin as he slowly moved away from her and stood. "Good. Now, keep practicing that." He glanced towards the large window. "It's late…or should I say early?" He moved towards the door. "Get some rest, Kaoru. You've had a trying night."

"Y-you're leaving?" She stood quickly and crossed the short distance that separated them.

He nodded slowly. "As I said…it's late. It's been a long day and I think we could both use the sleep."

"I…see." She murmured softly, looking away from him. "Well…thank you, then, and good night."

He reached for the door and paused, turning to look back at her. "Good night, Kaoru. I'll see you tomorrow, if that's all right with you?"

"Tomorrow?" She repeated, looking up quickly. "Um…sure…I guess so."

"Good. We can continue where we left off, then." Before his resolve could waver, he stepped into the hall and closed the door quietly but firmly behind himself.

Author's Notes:

Wowzers! It's been nearly two years since I last worked on this fic! O.O It must have looked like I'd either forgotten about it or abandoned it. I assure everyone, neither is the case. The simple truth is that, as embarrassing as it is to admit, I didn't know where to go with it any more. I kept re-reading it and trying to figure out what to put in the next chapter, and absolutely nothing came to mind.

I'm not entirely happy with the way this chapter turned out, but I'm going to settle for it since at the moment it's the best I could come up with.

Too everyone who has bee waiting patiently for me to update...I'm really sorry about the wait!

Ja ne!

Chiruken