The Shark Hunter: By liarscantbetrusted~

Disclaimer I do not own air gear. Purely fan made. Enjoy~

Chapter One: The Rabbit and The Hunter

Back me down from backing up

Hold your breath now it's stacking up

Etched with marks but I can deal

And you're the problem and you can't feel

~The All American Rejects.

The happy scream of laughter carried all the way to the other side of shore. The children were splashing each other, searching for little crabs or else, building sand castles. Normality, it was strangely refreshing.

A fine breeze whipped through Ryu's silvery hair. Smiling at the happy scene, he mopped his brow. The afternoon was surprisingly hot. Glancing over his shoulder and scanning the horizon, he exhaled in relief.

This short amount of time alone, it would not last. He couldn't kid himself he knew the truth. However, now he did not care. Now was fine. Now was great.

The only way his day could possibly be ruined was if He showed up: Zero: Experimental Neurological drug designer; complete with dark hair, glasses and Armani suit. Mentally, Zero was an identical image of The Crocodile.

Evil.

The scars Akito and Ryu together had were reminiscent of Kaito and Zero's bonding. The scars would never leave. The many that decorated his back and arms were permanent. Each one as imprinted into his mind as the next never to fade and never to be forgotten.

The one he detested the most he tried to cover with his fringe. It extended from just above the eyebrow to the middle of the cheek. He had tried to wear an eye patch like Akito. Can you say pirate? It never worked out.

Zero likes it. A reminder of weakness, he had said of the scar. He was supposed to be in junior high school. Instead, the government was using him. Ryu wasn't dumb in the smart sense of dumb he was only naive. He'd never known anything but his life with Zero.

Akito was much the same with Kaito. Normal people had lives that were filled with more than abuse. They didn't see it that way. They only saw each other. And they held on.

To some Ryu may look like a delinquent. The scared eye had misted over white. Blind. While the other is a startling sky blue. Usually he wears comfortable black v-neck T-shirts and gray cargo shorts. It was his uniform. And, of course his dog tags. He never takes them off.

00002

WIND

A tired sigh escaped his pink lips. As he stared along the oceans shore again. The water lapped at his feet. Planning to escape for as long as possible before Zero found him. Ryu had taken a few solo trips. Always here, always to the ocean it was his spot.

He loved looking up at the sky as his footprints followed him leaving his marks in the sand. The suns lasts rays where putting up an honourable fight and soon the moon would take his place and the sharks would come out to feast.

Light and Dark.

In everyone, there is a Hunter. One who only breathes to stalk and to corner; to kill. That was Zero's revolutionary theory. Take an innocent child. Make them desperate. Make them hard. Give them an ultimatum: Kill or be killed.

That is true human nature. That is all I have known. I am Ryu Hunter. But Rabbit is just fine. I find myself only a pawn. A little rabbit caught in the hunter's snare.

My name is Hunter.

I only hurt others so Rabbit doesn't have to. He's weak that's all.

I'm a woman.

I'd figure I'm at least eighteen. Rabbit's only thirteen he just turned a month ago. Zero-kun gave him a special present, I'm jealous. He is still a child after all. Some things are best left to the more experienced.

I expect Zero-kun will come and find me soon. I hate the dark. In this cage, I can only see what Rabbit sees the boring people on the shore. I cannot just come out on my own, like that bastard Shark. I need something. My key to escape the cage, and put that damned Rabbit where he belongs. I can hear him he's close. When I get out I think I'll give Zero-kun a little kiss.

I am thirsty I need a drink.

Calm down, calm down.

His voice is icy. In every sentence there was a different meaning.

"Ryu-chan! (You little fuck!)

Have you been here all this time? (Stop fucking around!)

I was so worried! (You'll be punished.)

I looked everywhere for you. (Severely…)

Sometimes I think you do this only to hurt me. (Do not fuck around with me. Disappear one more time and I'll get Agito to cut up your other eye, you fucking piece of shit.)

We have work to do. (One more time…I fucking dare you!)"

The taller of the two held out his hand. Ryu reluctantly found himself taken along like a little child who just been scolded. His fingers crushed painfully in the older man's fist. It would be over soon. He wouldn't be hurt too bad since she would come out soon (and he likes her) locking The Rabbit safely in his cage.

The truth was he liked the cage. The darkness was comforting to him. Watching from a distance, where the pain was only a vague memory.

I hope you enjoy my story.

Read and review my next chapters at your own leisure.

Comments about character and development are very welcome.