Yuuuup, totally posting this without even finishing or updating the original FF with Shuuki in it… Meh. I have tuns of ideas for this so… This is more fun to type out right now anyway.

At any rate here is the summery:

Everyone was told not to stray by the woods. Demons… Youkai lived there. They would take you and drag you away then feast on you. They were nothing but monsters. Little Shuuki knew this well, she'd been told the tales many times. This person died to get water, this one on a trip to visit relatives. She didn't listen, though. When her ball rolled into the trees she did not hesitate to race after it. But, what she did not expect was to meet face to face with an oni, nor did she expect to have him clean and bandage her wounds when she fell. In the end it was not her but her heart that was spirited away.

Warning;; There WILL be yaoi and later on maybe yuri, and OC x Cannon pairings. The main pairings are AkaShuu, Platinum, Alpha, MaruHime, and later on JackalRiko and YanaEri. Other pairings you shall have to wait and see.

And a disclaimer~ in no way do I own Prince of Tennis or it's characters. All I own is Shuuki and the idea of putting the characters in this setting. Now… enjoy the story~

- ouo -

The forest was quiet as two youkai traveled through it, limbs moving without a single sound as they crossed through familiar grounds. "Oi, Akaya, I think we've strayed a little too far," the red-headed of the duo announced, wings fluttering behind him in mild annoyance, even as violet eyes scanned the area around them.

"What're you talking about, sempai?" the younger of the two youkai replied, huffing childishly as emerald eyes glanced over to the elder of the duo. "It's fine as long as we stick to the trees, isn't it?"

"...I guess. So long as none of the humans spot us."

"See? It's fine then!" the one named Akaya chimed, picking his pace up just a little as green eyes flickered over the woods, mussed, curly hair moving a little with every rushed step. "Come on, Marui-sempai-!"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," the red-head replied, a small sigh escaping his lips. Marui was never quite sure whether he should be amused or exasperated by the other's childish nature.

As they continued on, voices began to make themselves heard, growing progressively louder even as the two youkai slowed their pace to match. They could already see the edges of the forest coming into view, and along with it, the figures and shapes of humans and one of their village-settlements not too far behind. The conversation was rather boring to the ageless duo, the usual women's gossip and the chatter of kids playing.

One thing in particular caught the seaweed-haired Oni's attention. It was a little girl, playing all by herself with a ball. Her skin was almost as pale as bone, her face framed by midnight-color hair in a wavy veil around her small frame. The most attention grabbing, though, were her soft, chocolate colored eyes.

Marui blinked as he caught the younger's line of sight. "What's so interesting?" he asked, raising his brow a bit as he saw what the emerald-eyed Oni was looking at. "Oh, a little girl...? I guess she's kinda cute..." he muttered, giving a light shrug as he did so. He was already partial towards another, anyways. Besides, it was just a kid, what was so interesting about that?

Akaya just grinned sheepishly, caught. "Yeah... yeah, cute, isn't she...?" he murmured, somewhat distracted. He was torn from his thoughts though, as the girl came closer, chasing the ball that had escaped her grasp. Squeaking in surprise, he reeled back, knowing better than to be seen by any of the humans.

He was an Oni Youkai, after all, she'd probably run away screaming if she saw him, and draw the attention of Hunters as well...

Cursing, Marui grabbed Akaya's wrist, the half-tengu's wings opening in a flash, and flying the two back farther into the shadows of the forest. "Idiot!" he hissed, hoping that the girl hadn't heard the younger Youkai's sound of surprise.

Emerald eyes dropped in embarrassment, but continued to watch, silencing himself as he saw the top of a navy head behind the bushes.

"...He...llo...?" A small voice called out, sweet and shy.

She must have heard them.

No other words came as both sides waited in silence for the other to make a move. At last, the two heard her foot steps recede and relaxed their positionings, still listening, just in case. Even as the girl got farther, they could still hear whisps of conversation.

"Shuuki-! Why did you get so close to the trees? You know how dangerous it is!" A woman, possibly the mother or some other care-taker.

"I'm sorry, Okaa-san... But the ball escaped... And I heard voices, and-" Yup, definitely the mother.

"I told you it was dangerous! If you heard voices, why didn't you run away?" Reprimand, still the mother.

"...I'm sorry..." Now the girl, soft and meek.

A sigh. "I guess it's alright. You're not hurt and no youkai showed up, after all..." The voices faded a bit, as the two females moved farther away.

Violet and emerald eyes met, and the two nodded before slipping away.

Still, Akaya couldn't help but look back one last time.

So her name was Shuuki...

- ouo -

And that was the first chapter/prolog to the story~ Big thanks to Kurokagami no Shirokage for beta-ing this for me~

Hope you all enjoy, please review, but no flames please… Tips and opinions are okay but don't be rude about it