Chapter Text
There was always something... appealing about watching the humans live their short little lives. How trivial things could be for them, seeing as his life wouldn't end unless someone killed him, there weren't many things Kaoru worried about. He'd been alive since the 18th century. Having gone through many struggles, heartaches, joys, celebrations, all the things that by now were rather tedious.
He'd managed to secure a rather life for himself. His home, that he'd left only to return to frequently, was in Okinawa. Kaoru had occupied himself, living in tasteful opulence. With his trinkets from the different ages, portraits, original books, to the modern touches in his home that truly made life more convenient. One thing about living as long as he had was seeing how far technology had evolved. Kaoru had even made a point to learn about computers, when they were truly in their infancy. Now, he 'worked' as a calligrapher and part time programmer. Just because. It was something to occupy his time. Since he had so much of it.
At once point he'd entertained lovers, having someone close. That had been abandoned when they started catching onto the fact he wasn't aging. Explaining he wasn't human was something he'd only made the mistake of doing once. With a lover who'd stuck with him through every century like a wound that wouldn't heal. He'd been one, that before he was turned, had been a childhood friend. They'd started out innocently, gradually becoming closer and closer. What separated them had been Kaoru's refusal to explain why he was forever stuck looking 26. He'd been so handsome, with his curly green hair, and those gentle garnet eyes. They held an immense, visible love in them. One that even as he left in despair, still shone with it.
So now, all these years later, it was just easier to satisfy a need, then cast the person away. An easy system.
Until it wasn't.
---
He'd been shopping at a local store after sundown, getting a few things for the dinner he was planning on making. Even in all his years, cooking had never become a strong suit of his, though what he made was still decent. Upon turning a corner, he bumped straight into a large, broad man.
"Oh, sorry!" The man said, though Kaoru had been the offending party.
"No, my fault. Sorry about-"
He stared at him. Almost horrified at what he saw.
This man was almost a perfect twin of the man he'd been with once. The same curly green hair, the eyes. Crinkled at the side from easy smiles.
"Well, uh, sorry again." He said, walking away. That alone proved he wasn't the one he'd let get away. Kaoru practically choked on his breath when he'd seen him. How could one human look so similar to another? Especially one he loved so much.
"Sorry for bumping into you, and uh, sorry-" He rushed away now, hoping to get lost in the store. Kojiro must've met a woman and had kids. That wouldn't explain why he looked so much like his Kojiro, his Koji. For all he knew, Kojiro had finally settled down and had children like he'd planned to and this man may just happen to look freakishly similar. A thousand reasons for this flooded through his head, but that didn't mean it would explain it. Nor would it answer his questions. Best to pretend he never saw him, forget this whole lookalike business. His Kojiro was long dead by now, he had to be.
Kaoru was somehow successful in not seeing the man the rest of the time he was in the store, and as he exited there was no sign of him either. Something he was immensely grateful for. His heart had been broken for so long about the loss of Kojiro.
This felt line a wound reopening just enough to hurt.
He had an idea though. Something to assuage his heart.
---
When Kaoru returned home, he set his groceries on the counter in the kitchen. The shuffling sound of his slippers seemed so loud against the quiet of the house.
"Carla," Kaoru called as he began taking the food from his bags.
"Yes Master?" His bracelet illuminated a pale pink as Carla, his AI, began speaking. Seeing as he'd been 'toying' with technology since it's infancy, he'd had plenty of time to perfect her.
"Look up all records of Nanjo Kojiro, send them to my laptop when you have your results."
"Yes Master."
"Thank you, Carla." He busied himself in the kitchen, preparing a very easy dinner. Another thing about the modern era that he loved was the invention of instant ramen, not that he was making any right now but it was genius. Instead he was making something completely different, that he'd had once on a trip to Italy. As a vampire, he'd found ways to not be hurt by sunlight. Ainosuke, the one who'd turned him, had made sure that he knew these methods. Sunblock wasn't around when he was in his 'infancy' of vampirism, and with their type of it sunlight merely made them feel weaker, it wasn't bad to be in it. He just found he'd get the equivalent of a sunburn much easier, that is until sunblock was invented. Another modern marvel.
"Master, I have found all I can about Nanjo Kojiro."
"Thank you, Carla." Kaoru walked hurriedly into the office, grabbing his laptop so that he could read everything. There was quite a lot of information. From an obituary to deeds to property. Everything that she found he spent hours sifting through. A glorified stalker, really. To assuage his conscious, he said he was merely conducting research. After all, he'd known Kojiro better than anyone once.
There seemed to be a distinct break in information after his Kojiro died. Considering they were born in 1895, and had grown up together for many years, it wasn't shocking to see an obituary for Kojiro. Though it broke his heart all over again when he read that Kojiro had only lived to be see his 43rd birthday. They'd stopped talking after Kojiro had turned 37. A part of him that regretted not just turning Kojiro back then screamed in agony. Here Kaoru still was, with his disdain for humanity, while the one person who convinced him to see the good was long gone.
He read further information, finding this new Kojiro was born in 1978, making him the same age as Kojiro when he passed. Interesting. This Kojiro was apparently just like what he assumed was his ancestor. Obsessed with food. Only he'd actually opened a restaurant, an Italian one, not far from his home. Called Sia La Luce. It was a charming little place based off the pictures, Kaoru wondered how many times he had walked by it without a second glance. Now it peeked his interest. Was it something worth going to? If only to see Kojiro's face again?
Well that'd probably be creepy as shit but he frankly didn't care. Worst come to worst he could always travel to his home on the mainland, stay there for awhile until the issue was forgotten and then return home.
Why did he look so eerily similar? Nobody looked that similar to their ancestors. He'd seen several Okinawan generations by now to know that first hand! This man was a marvel. One he wanted to study.
He went onto the website for the restaurant, booking a reservation for himself. Maybe this restaurant would be good. Yes, he was making a reservation, but he could simply say that he heard about it if this Kojiro bothered to stop and talk to him. That’s if he was even there. No matter.
Tomorrow he’d be going to Sia La Luce. To figure out this Kojiro situation.