Hello Simply Hopeless here with a new story. You're probably tired of me putting up more WR stories but I like it. I really do hope you enjoy because this is like my second vampire story. First one on this anime, second time writing a vampire fic. I don't own Wolf's Rain… R&R… enjoy.

Apprentice

Chapter One

The soft crunching of snow seemed distinctively loud as high-heeled boots moved determinedly through the powdered white streets. Breath snaked from parted lips to hang visibly in the air before vanishing again as she brush right through it.

Fingers clutched firmly to a bag of groceries while her pocketbook thumped against her hip every time she moved. She hoisted up her bags for what seemed a second time as she hummed a Christmas tune under her breath.

It wasn't odd that not many people were out. In fact she wouldn't have gone out tonight accept she promised to throw a Christmas party tomorrow. If it weren't for Cher she would have forgotten that she had volunteered at the task. So nodding her head in reassurance at her gathered objects she made her way out again.

Her shadow followed obediently behind her heels like all good shadows do only edging away when she passed a streetlight. It didn't matter if she looked up or not because she knew these streets by heart. Had traveled more then a hundred times down these same sidewalks.

"Just a little bit more to go and then I'll be home," she reassured herself as she hunched her shoulders a bit against the cold. Even her new navy blue trench coat couldn't keep the wind from sneaking slyly in occasionally to steal away her warmth.

It was just when fingers were reaching to tug her coat closer to her body that it all happened. A shadow fell over her and her eyes instinctively lifted to look into the laughing cruel eyes of a mugger.

"Give me all your money," he barked. He clutched the steal metal of his gun in a meaty hand while reaching out for the strap of her purse with the other one.

"N… no. This isn't happening to me," she gasped. She shook her head from side to side hoping that it was all a dream. 'Damn it why does it have to happen to me,' she sighed in frustration. "I… I'm going to sit down my groceries and hand you the purse," she spoke calmly enough as she began to slowly put her bags down. "See."

"Fork over the purse or I'll blow your mother fucking brains out," he hissed.

"We can handle this calmly," she tried to soothe as she eased her purse off her shoulder. "Just um… let me at least get a picture from my wallet. It's the only one I have of my family all together," she pleaded and slowly began to ease her hand into her purse.

"No deal," he growled and the first gunshot went off and the bullet dug into her arm.

She hissed in pain biting back the cry that desperately wanted to push pass her lips. But with trembling fingers she took her wallet and opened it to pull out a picture of Pops, the father of her baby, and her pregnant. She stuffed her wallet back into the bag before tossing the thing at him for him to catch.

"See? This is my little boy Ruth though you can't see him now because at the time he was inside of me," she smiled through her pain as she clutched the little picture. "He's six now and loves calling my father 'Pops'. Annoys the hell out of my old man but what can you do with kids," she laughed but it seemed strained.

"Your some crazy bitch aren't you?" the mugger asked as he pawed his hand through her bag checking out credit cards, makeup and money. "But then again you are kind of cute," he smiled as he placed the purse's strap on his own arm. He quickly reached out for her arm and pulled her close to him.

"What! I thought… only wanted the purse? What now?" she cried out trying to fight his painful grip.

"You smell so good lady," he smiled recklessly as he buried his face into her hair smelling the scent of cinnamon. "A piece of ass like you is something any man can just ignore."

And before she knew it she felt his lips pressed forcefully against hers. He yanked at her trench coat popping a button off as he tried to unclothe her and feel what was underneath.

"Bastard," she growled and slapped him across his face. Then pushing him away she wiped her mouth and tried to straighten her trench coat. "And this was brand new too you asshole!"

But then her mouth formed a soft 'O' shape as she felt the gun fire for the second time. Pain searing her chest as the bullet ripped through one of her lungs and out the other end.

She was falling, falling and couldn't stop herself as she felt her body thumping against the ground. It was as if she had left her body and was watching it from above. Watched as she moaned in pain while a dark chrisom puddle formed under her.

"Merry Christmas Bitch," laughed the mugger and tore off into the streets to leave her bleeding.

"R… Ruth… P… Pops… I'm so sorry," she gasped knowing that even if someone came for her it would be too late.

Golden eyes had watched been the young woman ever since she had left out the store to go home. Watched the emotions flicker across her face as the thoughts ran silently through her head. Heard her boots clicking rhythmically against the cement sidewalk as her long, shapely legs carried her homeward. Even the mugging and eventual shooting was caught were mirrored against the dark shades of his sunglasses.

"Master please you can't just let her die," cried out the little boy standing next to the young man wearing the sunglasses.

"And what do you want me to do," he growled out in distaste golden eyes training on his charge.

The boy said nothing for a few minutes as he bit the side of his cheek. Then finally sighing he turned amber eyes towards his master. "You must give her the bite."

"Are you sure?" the man frowned before turning back to look at the woman. "I think she might prefer death," he mused.

"This… this is better then death. Besides she can be your apprentice just like me or and time maybe even your lov—"

"Listen here Toboe I'm going to do this for you since you served me faithfully for these years. But I swear if you try to become a matchmaker I'll kill her myself. Understood?" he looked at the boy who nodded his head grudgingly. "Good."

Seeing enough and knowing that Toboe would honor his wishes he jumped from his perch on the rooftop and fell down from the four-story building. His black leather trench coat flew behind him before settling down as he landed safely on his feet he began to make his towards the woman.

Kneeling he saw her looking at him though her lids had close almost all the way. "W… who are you?" she murmured weakly, she could hear her lungs hissing as air left it. She tried to sit up as she began to cough up a gob of blood but he gently pushed her down.

"You have no reason to be moving," he sighed before tilting her neck to the side.

"What are you doing?" she couldn't help but ask, helpless to do anything but wait. She brushed the back of her hand against her lips. 'Damn it this wasn't how I was suppose to be spending my Christmas. Dying on a sidewalk close to my home wasn't the way I wanted to go,' she thought bitterly.

"Call it bestowing a gift or maybe it's better to call it a curse," he explained. Fangs unsheathed pass his lips and before the woman in his arms could try to pull away they sank into her tender flesh.

And it was so sweet her blood against his tongue. Rich, dark and heady he was sure he could drunk off it as he almost moaned in desire to take more but he bit back the urge. 'No Toboe wants her not to die,' he rebuked himself. He slowly pulled his fangs from the curve of her throat before slicing gingerly at his wrist with his dagger.

"Drink," he ordered pressing his wrist against her lips.

"I don't—" she began but as she opened her mouth to protest a few hot drops fell on her tongue.

"Drink damn it," growled the man and obediently she swallowed the few chrisom drops to touch her tongue. When he was satisfied she drunk it he stood up and began to walk away.

"I'll come back you later… after your funeral." He nodded his head and before she could protest he quickly ran after the mugger who had run into a far off alley to hide.

"Thought it was cute shooting an innocent girl huh?" he growled pulling out a different dagger dagger.

"Hey I got a gun here," the mugger yelled out warningly.

"So?" The stranger shrugged his shoulder nonplussed by that.

Three shots where fired into the strangers belly but undoubted the vampire appeared right by the muggers side in a blink of an eye.

"Say hi to the devil for me in hell," he laughed bitterly before piercing his dagger right through the man's heart. He pushed the mugger away before he could cough up blood on his leather trench coat. Then turning himself away as the mugger thumped against the ground he focused his eyes two his young charge who was already gazing at their new companion in wonder.

To be continued…

A/N: I know some might now who the vampire was and the girl who got injured where but if you do or don't if you want to know what happens next you'll have to review.