Testing…testing…timidly taps microphone…

Hi…clears throat…hi y'all. Just to let you know, the characters in this story, or at least most of them, do not belong to me. I guess this is my disclaimer. And if I ever claim them to be mine, may RumikoTakahashi poke out my eyes with her pencil. That's all, so please, call off the lawyers. That is all. Also the title is not mine.

Tender is the Night

(Of course, this title is entirely coincidental. I certainly didn't think it sounded so cool I had to steal it from Fitzgerald. No copyright infringements there, heheh )

What you should know before reading this story: In this world, vampires and humans coexist. Unlike in modern movies and TV shows, these two groups are well aware of one another. However, long ago, before anyone can remember, the leaders of both factions compromised: the vampires would be free to attack any town, neighborhood, school, hospital, park, or even a whole city at predetermined times. They would have free reign to do whatever they wished to whatever humans they captured. This pact obviously recognizes that the governments knew that the vampires were much stronger. Modern weaponry does nothing against them, though holy weapons do have some effect, they are useful only when wielded by someone with faith, so naturally finding enough people to form a holy army is impossible. However, this has not stopped several paramilitary groups from forming to instigate a revolution against the vampires' reign. The vampires have prescheduled raids on random locations, no one place is hit more than two years in a row, for fear of depleting the populations and causing mass hysteria and panic. At these raids, the vampires (who are winged and usually unarmed except for their teeth and unnatural strength), attack and take only one human each for consumption. However, vampires of higher rank, who gain this rank through strength and cruelty alone, can take as many humans as they like, even if other vampires must starve for them. Typically, at these raids they target young adults. Taking children or the elderly would spark riots and protests, and though little harm could come to the vampires, their leaders fear that the balance that protects their food supplies would be upset, and soon no humans would be left. No one is granted immunity.

Okay, now the story begins. Please review and send comments, this is my first story ever, so no flames, or I'll lock you out or delete your reviews.

Tender is the Night

"BBBBBZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz…..Good morning Japan! This is Mitsuko Kagame reporting the daily news! Traffic in-------"

Kagome's hand shot out of the covers and slapped her radio off her bedside table. Yawning, she said to the furry lump on the end of her bed, "Get off my feet Buyo" (her cat).

She staggered sleepily to her closet to change into her customary green and white uniform when she heard her mother call from downstairs, "Hurry up Kagome, it's five minutes to seven!"

She ran downstairs, shoved her little brother Sota out of the way, and crammed some toast into her mouth. Around a mouthful of bread she yelled, "Bye mom! I've gotta run!". Her mother yelled back, "Be careful now!". As she watched Kagome run down the shrine steps she happened to glance to the TV.

"Officials at the Arakawa park say that the park will most likely reopen in 3 weeks following the vampire attack which took the lives of 14 people who were unable to escape in time. Protesters against these attacks have been dispersed in the face of new diplomatic relations between the governor and the current vampire leader in Japan, Sesshoumaru………"

Shaking her head sadly, Mrs. Higurashi looked out the window. She had been fortunate enough to have never been in or near one of the raids, but with recent booms in the vampire population, she feared for Kagome. If she could she would lock both of her children in the house all day long, but raids could happen even in residential areas, so they were safer at the schools, where they would only be one of many targets.

"What am I thinking, I can't hope someone else will lose their child instead of me" she muttered softly under her breath. She remembered when her next door neighbor Kaede had lost her son so many years ago to the vampires, and then her younger daughter Kikyo to one of the military groups that tried to physically fight off the vampires.

"Hey Kagome!" Sango yelled as she ran towards Kagome. "How did your date with Hojo go last night?"

Kagome hung her head, "Well………actually I couldn't go. I had to study for a make-up test for Mr. Soichiro. "

"That's the third time you've stood him up or rejected him Kagome, are you sure you don't have a crush on another guy?" Sango teased.

"No, I don't!"

"Well then what's with the anti-aircraft fire?"

"I just don't like him, okay!"

Kagome's spirits went even lower to see her other two friends come, who were even more excitable and obsessed with her love life than Sango, Erika and Akane.

Mustering herself against the onslaught, she said rapidly, "No, I didn't go on the date. I had a math test. I don't like him anyway, even though he's a nice guy. So no more blind dates, or hookups, or locking me into a karaoke box with him. It's never gonna happen."

"Actually" Erika said, "We're not here to talk about that. We do have life and loves outside of you Kagome, even though it doesn't seem that way. In fact, you can help me get a note to-----"

"Didja see Sesshoumaru on TV this morning. He is soooooooo hot, I don't care if he's a vampire, I'm going to marry him" Akane squealed/interrupted.

"Hello!" Kagome yelled, "One, he's a vampire, two, he'll kill you and suck your blood, and three you've only ever seen him on TV or in magazines. It's not gonna happen, unless he decides to raid the school or something."

"That's not funny Kagome" Sango said, "That could really happen, you know."

"Akane's budding relationship with Sesshoumaru, or a raid?" Erika said innocently.

"WELL A RAID OF COURSE!#$#!" Sango yelled, "This area hasn't been hit for years, so we're a bigger target than ever."

"Well, if they do come you can fight them off karate girl." Kagome said to Sango.

"Actually, it would be pretty cool to actually fight a vampire but---wait a minute…SHUT UP KAGOME!" Sango screamed. The bell rang for class, and the girls ran off to class, Kagome to a doomed math test.