Author's Chapter Notes:
This story is filled with stuff that I have dreampt about and believe me, it will totally rock! Also, I don't own RK, so don't go there!
Anyway, on with the fic!
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Chapter One
The Hunter for Hire
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The rain rattled against the building roofs as a shrouded figure ran past, leaving a steady trail of blood in its wake. Turning a corner, the figure slew to a stop, breathing heavily. Deep amber eyes shone from the depths of the hood, they darted about, taking everything in.
The only sound was the pattering of the rain on a nearby tin roof, the figure allowed its hand to touch the open and still bleeding wound on its abdomen. As the figure moved to kneel and wrap the wound, it suddenly was pinned to a wall, a long shimmering sword imbedded in its chest. The hood slowly slid back revealing the youthful face of a female blonde vampire.
She bared her fangs as a woman dressed in pure black stepped out of the shadows. The woman removed her own hood and shook her long wet raven hair, small droplets of water flew about her. Lifting her eyes, her sapphire one's met with the weary golden ones of the vampire.
"Who are you and why are you after me?"
A cold chuckle filled the air as the woman pulled a garlic tipped dagger from her pant leg.
The vampire's eyes grew large with fear, "The answer is simple, it's not that I have anything against you. I was hired to get rid of you and I always complete an assignment. So do you have a last request before I send you to hell?"
The woman positioned the dagger over the vampire's heart as she waited patiently for the vampire's answer. The vampire studied the human woman’s features and made up her mind.
"What is your name?"
The woman smiled not a hard or cold smile, but a kind and gentle one. "Kaoru, how about you?"
The vampire was completely confused now, 'a hunter that...cares?' "Seren."
Kaoru's smile grew softer and she nodded her head, "I will remember, that I promise you." The vampire felt relieved, she bared her neck and smiled back, "Thank you."
Kaoru nodded her head once more and then with one swift movement, she sliced off the vampire's head off, then stabbed the body through the heart. Almost immediately the body glowed softly as it disintegrated into the air.
Kaoru cleaned her dagger and slowly replaced it followed by her sword, once she was finished, she pulled out a cell phone and dialed a number. After three rings it picked up, "yes?"
"The task has been carried out, I expect the amount in full. You have two hours." Kaoru then hung up and placed the cell into her pocket, sighing deeply, Kaoru looked up into the sky.
Her face continued to be pelted with rain as she stared at the dark sky, chuckling coldly as lightning lit the clouds, making them seem to be dancing. Kaoru loved stormy days, they seemed to reflect how she felt on the inside. Sighing deeply, Kaoru turned and walked from the ally.
'I had best get back, Misao might have another assignment ready for me by now.'
As she walked, Kaoru's thoughts drifted back to the one event that had decided her fate for her.
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***Beginning of Flashback***
Ten Years Previous
Kaoru felt her smile only widen as she waited in the Sakura tree for her father to return, from here she had the perfect vantage point. She could see everything for at least two miles, knowing her father would be back soon, Kaoru giggled in anticipation.
A strong breeze blew past whipping her hair into the air to dance about her face. In the distance Kaoru could see someone coming, feeling her hands tighten on the tree limb, Kaoru squinted her eyes to make out the form of the person.
Kaoru felt her heartbeat quicken when she saw that she was right, it was her father. Kaoru watched as he neared, once he was under the tree, Kaoru giggled loudly and leapt out of the tree flying at her surprised father.
His arms caught her effortlessly, "Kaoru, I told you not to do that anymore, you might hurt yourself. Then what would I tell your mother?"
Kaoru smiled as he set her down gently and took her small hand in his own. "Don't worry, I'd never tell her." Her father shook his head, "what are you two chatting about over there?" Kaoru's head shot up, her mother was standing there with her arms crossed, anger and disappointment apparent in her features.
"Nothing much, just about a picnic latter today, right tenuki?" Kaoru caught his drift and nodded, "yeah, can we go, please mom!"
Kaoru watched as her mother waved a hand in the air defeatedly, "alright, but I still don't like you climbing that tree young lady. Come on, let's get the lunch packed, then we can go."
Kaoru squealed as she ran past her parents and into the house. Minutes later they were all together at the local park, Kaoru was rolling down one of the hills trying to beat her father down it, that was when all hell broke loose.
A shrill cry filled the air and Kaoru immediately clutched to her father’s leg, her eyes filled with terror. No matter where she looked she couldn't see her mother, looking up she saw her father grit his teeth in pure anger.
"Hide Kaoru, no matter what you hear, don't come out."
Kaoru didn't have time to react; her father pushed her into some nearby bushes as he ran towards where they had last seen her mother. Kaoru tried to remain still, but something told her to move, so she did. Running wildly after her father, Kaoru felt her heart break at the sight that greeted her.
In the clearing where their blanket sat, lay her mother's broken body, her right arm had been severed and some type of creature was ripping at her chest in turn tearing it open.
A few feet away stood three men, at least they looked like men, they all had tails and one was snarling at something. Kaoru felt her body move foreword to see what that something was, Kaoru's eyes widened when she saw that it was her father. He was holding an open wound on his arm as he spoke to the men, Kaoru couldn't make out what was said though, she was too far away.
She moved closer, her heart beating wildly in her chest, 'no father, no.'
Before she could get any closer, the man that had been snarling leapt at her father's hunched form, glistening claws on both hands. Kaoru rushed forward, but a part of her knew that she was too late, "Father!"
Reaching the men and her father, Kaoru sank to her knees when she saw that man rip her father's head clean off and turn to smirk at her.
That was when it happened, something inside of her snapped. Kaoru pulled herself to her feet and grit her teeth, ignoring everything those men were saying. Seeing the short katana that one of the three men had strapped to his waist, Kaoru leapt at him, catching the man off guard.
Moving as fast as she could on her small legs, Kaoru pulled the katana from the man's side and sliced his leg off. The man fell to the ground howling in pain and furry, the others, seeing this charged her. Kaoru was able to dodge one of the attacks, but was grazed by the other, sharp pain shot up through her side. Kaoru only ignored it, she rolled under one man and stabbed him in the back. He fell to his knees and Kaoru quickly cut off his head, as she was about to kill the next man, she saw a flash.
Something flew by and another scream of pain sounded and Kaoru was splattered with blood. Turning, she watched in surprise as a tall man with long brown hair tossed the third man's lifeless body to the side. He winked at her and became a blur again, Kaoru glanced about for him and found him slaying the beast that had been devouring her mother’s body.
Kaoru gripped the katana tighter as the man slowly approached her. "Not bad for a little girl, I am impressed, two werewolves on your first shot. I like that." Kaoru pointed the katana at the man who was now smirking at her, "Who are you?"
The man chuckled as he came to a stop before her, he pulled the katana away and knelt before her. "Those were your parents...weren't they..."
Kaoru saw the tenderness in his eyes and felt all her strength leave her as the painful reality sank in. Kaoru began to sink to her knees when she felt the man pull her into his arms as he rose to his feet. Kaoru's vision began to blur, that was when the man finally answered her question and gave her an option.
"I am Hiratsu and I will teach you how to hunt, you definitely have the potential. By the way, what's your name little girl?" Something inside her told her to take him up on his offer, taking one last look at her dead parent’s bodies, Kaoru made her decision.
"I am Kaoru and I wish for you to teach me", as those words crossed her lips, her fate was sealed. Kaoru Kamiya, the nine year-old innocent little child was gone. Replaced by Kaoru, the tainted beauty, the hunter for hire.
***End of Flashback***
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Kaoru's fist was clenched as she opened the door to her apartment, shutting the door roughly and locking the door before throwing off her long trench coat onto the floor. Tossing off her shoes, she made her way to the bathroom for a nice hot shower. Entering the small room, she stripped quickly and stepped into the stall turning the water on full blast.
As the water scalded her cold skin, Kaoru leaned her head against the tiled wall, 'why do I always remember that night when I finish a job? Must be because I keep their names with me as reminders, just as I did that day.'
Finishing her shower, Kaoru got dressed and prepared herself something to eat. As she ate her meal in silence, her cell rang. Moving quickly, she picked up her trench coat and pulled out her cell. Flipping it open she pressed it to her ear, "Kaoru here."
"I have another job for you, the target is a male werewolf. You better get some good sleep, from what I was told, this one's a doosy. I'll be waiting at the normal place with the complete info, sweet dreams Kaoru."
Kaoru smirked as she put her cell away, 'Misao is such a ditz.' Heading back into the living room, Kaoru put the food away and cleared the room. She began her training kata's and routines, one thought repeating through her mind, 'who am I going to kill this time.'
