Author's Note:

I had the urge to write a HaoxMari story...and you notice how whenever there's a couple, people will make a word that's a combination of their names, and that becomes the word representing the pairing? Like YohXAnna is YoNa? Well, there isn't any for HaoxMari, so I'm making one. It's HaRi. This is a HaRi story, dedicated to my new favorite couple...there really needs to be more fics for this pairing...

I don't own. Really.

Dark Master: Prologue

A shadow raced across the field, towards a small cottage near a stream. The field was filled with wildflowers, all now in full bloom, and the moon reflected off the stone building. The shadow paused, and surveyed the situation. The forest surrounding the field was dark, and appeared empty, but the shadow knew that was just an illusion. There were many things out there, some harmless, some kind, many deadly. The cottage in the middle of the clearing was small, only big enough to house a few people, and rested only a few feet from the stream. The stream cut the field in half, and was rather small. But the stream was fed by a large river that, in the rainy season, often overflowed.

'That would be trouble around the flood season', the shadow thought, imaging the damage that the tream would cause to the cottage. He inched forward, sticking close to the ground, just incase anyone looked out the window. He had watched this particular place for weeks, trying to decide whether or not one of the people that lived there was worthy of becoming part of his 'family'.

The shadow was Asakura Hao, one of the strongest vampires, and also the leader of one of the strongest clans.

Hao crept closer, and looked in the window. He smirked.

His prey was sitting on the couch, reading a book. She didn't sense that anything was wrong, that very soon her entire life would change.

The thought delighted him.

Mari was curled up against the pillows on the couch, rereading her favorite book, 'Dracula' for possibly the hundreth time. She set the book aside, and hugged the plushie next to her. She was getting tired, and would probably fall asleep soon. Her parents wouldn't be home until the next day, and wouldn't care if she slept on the couch. Turning off the lamp, she pulled a blanket on top of her, burrowed into the pillows, and tried to fall asleep.

But sleep wouldn't come. A strange feeling fell over her, covering her skin like the blanket. It was like someone had poured freezing water on her, only she wasn't wet.

"Mari is scared," she whispered to her doll. "Why is Mari scared? She is safe inside the cottage, and no one comes out here. So why?" Shivering, she clutched the doll to her chest.

A small sound, as if someone- or something -tapped the door. Mari slowly got up, and stared at it.

"Please don't let it be a serial killer, or some criminal, or worse- Jevhova's witnesses!" The last part was her attempt to make herself feel better. It didn't work.

The lock turned slowly, and the door creaked opened. Before she could register what happened, it was on her.

She didn't know what it was, but it was large, and knocked her back onto the couch. Screaming, Mari kicked, trying to knock the creature off of her. She grabbed what she thought was its head, and pulled. The thing grunted, a very human sound.

Mari's eyes widened. This thing was human! She was being attacked by some human, one that sounded male, in her own home!

That really pissed her off.

She snapped her foot back towards her body, satisfied as her attacker moaned in pain, and rolled onto the floor.

It is male! she thought vindictively. Sitting up, she launched off the couch, using the man's back as a footstool. She started running to the door, and screamed as the man grabbed her ankle. She fell using her doll (which she somehow managed to hold onto) as a cushion. Thrashing her legs, she tried to get free, but the man's grip was like steel. He moved until he was hovering right over her, and Mari swore her heart stopped.

He had long hair and dark eyes. But that didn't matter. What scared her was that he had fangs. Not 'I just bought these from the Halloween store, don't they look real' fangs, but fangs like the one she's seen in an animal's mouth.

She whimpered as he lowered his mouth to her neck, and felt tears trickle from her eyes.

"No," she whispered, just before he bit her. She had one final thought before the world faded.

'Mari always wondered what would happen if she died...'