A must to read this author's note.

Ok. A warning to all before you read.
This is a perfectly alternate universe. Yes. It means that any relationship whatsoever may be cut off. Totally. Also, there is no tennis. Nothing related to it at all. If you think you can't stand it, please do not read and end up flaming. Disclaimers at profile.
If you are fine with the above mentioned. Enjoy. :)
Read and Review.
Thanks.

Luna Eternal

Beta-reader: -GrandFanfic-
Type: Alternate Universe
Rated: T (For crude language and such.)

Prologue

"Yes, what is it?"

"You got a call from Osakada again, Ryuzaki."

"Eto…Put her on the line," Sakuno yawned. She rubbed her forehead and leaned against the back of her seat rocking herself back and forth. She had just gotten back from her latest mission not too long ago. Her muscles ached from being stressed out once again when she had gone to catch her latest target. Her victim was idiotic enough to try to fight against her without a weapon. The only problem was to bring him back to jail.

"Tomo-chan, what you got there?"

"Ne, Sakuno-chan! Listen up! You will be interested in this offer. I will fax it over."

She took up the paper from the fax machine looked at it.

"Whoa! You gotta be kidding me! This guy is worth for seventy-five hundred thousand?! You sure about this Tomo-chan?! Where is he at?"

"Positive! He's at France, Paris. Oh look! He's so cute!"

Sakuno rolled her eyes wearily. Tomoka was always like that, being all so star struck about guys. She flipped to the next page to see which unlucky guy that had caught her eye again. After all, it wasn't the first time. She was stunned at the picture for a moment.

"So what do you think? He looks so cool and hot right? Ne, Sakuno-chan."

"Eh…he's ok…I suppose…"

"Look, you are blushing now. Besides, you never stuttered before. Spit it out. You like him right?"

"No I don't."

"You can lie to me but you can't lie to yourself. Anyway, you are not supposed to get attached to anyone. You know that right?"

"Yes, yes. I'm going to sleep now." Sakuno hanged up the video call. She set the aircraft on autopilot to Paris before yawning and stretching herself like a feline would and trudging tiredly to her room. Even though she was lying on her bed trying to sleep, thoughts filled up her head, making it almost impossible to sleep. Even after when she tried clearing those unwanted thoughts from her head, it still was impossible for her to get any sleep. Sakuno sighed. It was her insomnia kicking in again. She got up and went into the kitchen to take her medication before dragging herself back to the bed.

The next morning the aircraft had already landed in Paris. She rubbed and blinked open her eyes. It was already afternoon. She checked her clock again and rushed into the bathroom to do up her daily rituals before checking the faxed papers again.

Name: Echizen Ryoma
Class Type: X
Remarks: A very dangerous X type criminal on the loose. Many failed to catch this elusive thief. He will kill when have to. Goes to Roxanne Burien café in Paris frequently. Reasons being unknown. Other facts about him are also unknown.
Reward: Seventy-five hundred thousand dollars
Appearance: His most distinctive traits are his emerald-color hair and golden cat eyes. –Inserts Picture Here-

Sakuno widen her eyes as she re-read the text again. She dialled up Tomoka's cell phone number.

"Tomo-chan! Why do you have to select an X-class criminal for me to hunt down?!"

"E…eh? Oh…it's Sakuno-chan. You handed many A-class criminals before right? What's there to worry about? You are going to die of anxiety overload on day. I'm so tired…its morning here you know. Call you back later."

"But X-class criminals are murderer types-"Sakuno stared at the phone. Tomoka had hung up.

"And to think she told me she is scared of X-class criminals at the academy."

---Flashback---

"Ne, Tomo-chan, what do you want to be after you graduate from the academy?"

"I want be…a Bounty Hunter!"

"Eh? But it is a very dangerous job."

"Their pay is very high! And on the other hand, many guys will be attracted to you!"

"But you may get killed!"

"Eh…I will just hunt for D or C class criminals and I will be fine."

"D or C class criminals?"

"D-class criminals are those drug abusers and minor thieves that haven't been caught yet. C-class criminals are those who do drunken driving etc. or drug dealers. B-class criminals are those thieves who stole rare artefacts, treasure etc., those who harm people on purpose but did not kill anyone or people who are known to do illegal slave trades. A-class criminals are those who killed people either by accident or on purpose and terrorist bombers. Last but not least, we have the X-class criminals. The number of X-class criminals is very few but they are exceptionally skilled and avoided being caught countless of times already. They have even crossed the criminal boundaries and had evaded death time and time again. It is rumoured that they are merciless. They are wanted dead or alive. I wouldn't want to meet one. It sounds like meeting the devil itself."

---End of Flashback---

"And now she wants to send me to the 'devil itself'."Sakuno muttered. "Great."

She put on her disguise and climbed down from the aircraft. Giving it one last glance to see it was securely docked, she walked to Roxanne Burien café to get a quick lunch and to wait for her intended target. "Roxanne Burien café…hmm…"

She ordered a sandwich at the café and ate it up quickly, her eyes scanning the area for the criminal through her dark sunglasses. So far he wasn't there. She pretended to take out her newspaper and read while actually secretly looking around the café every now and then. Finally she caught sight of him. "Target sighted." She muttered.

She folded her newspapers carefully and tailed him quietly. He talked to the bartender for a while before handing over a package and exiting the cafe in fashion. He turned around to a bend to reveal a cramp and dark alley way which even she did not notice when she arrived at the place. She turned around the bend and lost sight of him. He must have climbed or scaled the walls she assumed. She looked up to find out no one was there. Suddenly someone pounced on her. She widened her eyes and before she could defend herself the person grabbed her wrist and held them behind her back. He also took the initiative to cover her mouth to prevent her from screaming, rendering her helpless.

"I bet you are just another lousy bounty hunter."

She felt herself grow angry at the insult. Fortunately for her, her legs were free. She stomped hard on her captor's feet with her hard, jagged stiletto boots and freed herself. Her captor immediately withdraws away from her sudden attack. Even though it was dark she could still see the pain reflected in her captor's eyes. She rejoiced slightly at the fact but it wasn't over yet.

"Amateur-like defence system you got there, mada mada dane."

He threw a smoke bomb onto the ground and fled from the scene. She took her laser gun out and tried to aim him through the smoke but in order not to harm any innocent civilians she ended up not firing her gun. When the smoke cleared, he was nowhere to be found which is as expected. She sighed. She was so close to completing the mission. However the earlier scene might have led him to think she was waiting for him at the café and would most probably not return there for at least a few days.

- - - - -

"Hey Echizen, how come you are back so early? I thought you would normally go stealing wallets and such."

"Urusai."

"A cat got your tongue nya?"

"You're bleeding!"

He blinked and looked at his boots and saw it was punctured with a few holes and blood was leaking slowly out of it. He dragged a wooden chair and sat on it. He took out his boots and realized his socks were soaked in his blood. I suppose now I know where the pain came from he mused to himself.

"Holy shit! That's a lot of blood you lost Echizen! What did you do?" commented Momoshiro.

"Che, lousy shoe brand."

He threw his boots aside to a corner and limped to the place where they kept their emergency kit. He also made a mental note to 'visit' another shoe shop the very night.

- - - - -

"And you failed to catch him? Don't need to worry so much. He is not put into the category X class for nothing right?"

"Demo Tomo-chan, I was so close! So close!"

"Now to put that aside, so is he as hot as the picture shown? Any disfigurements whatsoever?"

"Tomo-chan!" Sakuno slammed down the phone receiver in irritation, anger and exasperation. She felt it was ridiculous to have a person asked her about how hot a person was when she was just about to be killed beforehand. Sure Tomoka was her best friend but some sometimes she is just too much of a dork head. She knew she would regret it later when she slammed down the phone but right now she was too mentally exhausted to care. She sent an e-mail to Tomoka saying she would have to stay in Paris a little longer to catch the criminal before heading to the showers.

The following week and the next her target was nowhere to be seen nor found near or at the café. There were a few reported cases about precious items and artefacts being stolen in other countries but she couldn't be certain that Echizen was there as the identity of the thief was not known. She was about to give up on finding the elusive thief when she finally caught a glimpse of him walking away from the café at the late hours of the night. She threw on her disguise and set out to follow him again, hopefully being able to catch him this time round.