DISCLAIMER: Prince of Tennis belongs to Takeshi Konami.

Huff. Huff.

The crescent moon was out. Feeble light filtered through the trees, not enough to see by; yet, that didn't matter in a park located in Tokyo. It doesn't matter to me either; my eyes have perfect night vision. I am grateful for the lack of light. The park was sparsely populated; it was intended to be more of a nature reserve for hikers, joggers and fishers, not quite large enough to be a campground. Thus it was often well traversed during the day, but as the sun set became almost barren. A few streetlights were placed along the outer sidewalk for those too weary to take the long way home after work, but at night the park was almost deserted except by young lovers caught up in the mysterious romance of the forest.

The moon fully visible through a small opening in the trees warmed my back, enveloping me in her caresses. It made me edgy- hungry. Unable to stay still anymore I run through the brush and trees. Airy breezes against my face felt wonderful, causing me to run faster. The crisp, clean air tantalized my sensitive nose refreshed at being away from the stink of the city and the throngs of people. A good, long run helped me to relax and stretch out the muscles I had to keep control of during the day. The crowds of students everywhere always wanting to gossip, to be carefree, did nothing but cause me stress. I was never able to be myself there. Here in the silence of this park I am me. No, I could never be who I am among people. My nose catches a scent- male. I sneeze. Perfume- female. Grrr. This is my refuge, my park. I don't want overly hormonal teenagers here. Don't they have homes they can go to? As irritation turns to anger, my body whips around from the direction it was going to run over to the two lovers. I felt like yelling, screaming at them to leave, but my body clamped down on the urge as I approached their position in a little grove barely hidden from the sidewalk. Slowing to a walk, I quietly advance upon their hiding place, careful not to let them know of my presence.

"Mmm…Hideki are you sure we should-"

"C'mon. Keiko, no one's going to see us. No one comes here. Please?"

"I guess it'll be alright."

My brain registered their whispering, silently agreeing with the girl. It would be much better if they left. I hate trespassers. Grinning lopsidedly, I creep over to them careful not to step on a branch and alert them. Not that they would notice with their tongues in each others' mouths. The girl might notice. I do love a good chase…maybe I should attack the guy first then go after the girl when she runs. My mouth watered anticipating the taste of their blood-their fear and the realization. The wind shifts a little and it takes a moment for me to recognize the scent. Male. I turn away from my prey, a new more annoying target in reach.

SNAP.

"Hideki, did you just here that?"

"It was nothing, just an animal."

"No, it wasn't. It was probably some pervert peeping. C'mon, I'm getting out of here."

The puffed up girl and grumbling boy leave, not aware of the danger they were in a minute previous. I didn't care as my eyes glimpsed the sight of a tawny and dark brown body. Growls rumbled in my throat as I caught sight of his eyes assessing me. An interloper was invading my territory. I stop, and let my head go back as a piercing howl splits through the air; letting him know this park was mine. Then, I stop and tear after him, the chase beginning. He's ahead running up to the high edges bordering the water, seeing if he can lose me. My earlier run was nothing like it was now: full of adrenaline and challenge. This made my blood turn, almost as much as the moon. I won't tolerate some stray coming into my pack's territory like it was his. He runs up toward the stream thinking to lose me there, but I have the advantage here. I turn left at the path and run in the opposite direction straight up. Finding the tiny bridge I dash across, turn right and run toward the edge of a drop off. Leaping off a boulder I land deftly two meters behind him. He almost loses a step in surprise. His annoyance is heard with a grunt, but he quickens his pace. I am gaining ground and that misstep cost him half a meter. He tries to lose me by dodging through trees or by pulling out of a run to turn in an opposite direction. I am close enough now that I snap at his heels, not quite close enough to catch flesh. This is making him desperate as he tries to gain ground, causing him to run towards the edge of an eroded ravine. Unworried, I follow sure I can stop before I fall into rushing river. He picks up speed trying to jump across, but at the last moment leans in and instead dives into the river below, as I skid to a stop barely avoiding following him into the river.

Splash!

Grrr. Grrr.

I snarl as my prey escapes again tonight. Such a small fall won't kill him, but hopefully it will injure the bastard, at least until we meet again. The bastard leaves me with a double headache. Not only did he escape, but why did he not stop and challenge me? That's usually what happens between two alpha males, and I'll be damned if he isn't an alpha. Why didn't he attack?

ARROOOOOO!

Letting my head back I release the tension. I'm still irritated, but there is nothing I can do now but wait. Frustrated, I start to run again through the trees that mar the light of my beloved moon. Relaxing, I throw myself into being what I am. The confines of an overly human crowded area are near, and with that the conforming as if I belong. No, I can never be myself among them- my prey.

Huff. Pant. Huff. Pant.

Daisuke breathed in heavy gulps of air while running wildly. Being out of shape and running through the populated streets of Tokyo for the last few minutes was taking its toll. He needed to find a place to hide. He was being chased, and he needed to lose his pursuer. Finding a metro stop he ran headlong down the stairs bumping into people and shoving them out of his way, inciting yells and insults. Fighting the urge to bend over and attempt to inhale; he looked erratically over the screens listing times for the metro.

12:45 No. Too long. 12:36. I need one now. 12:32. maybe. 12:30. Yes! That one.

Daisuke sprinted to the metro gate pulling out his wallet. His hands were shaking so hard he was having a hard time getting to his cards.

Where is it? It should be next to the credit card! No. No. I need it now.

12:30 METRO TO SHIBUYA NOW BOARDING. DEPARTURE 30 SECONDS.

No. I need to get on that! No, I can't have lost it. It has to be here.

SHIBUYA LINE NOW DEPARTING.

Daisuke sees a slim piece of paper between his I.D. and business card, and pulls it out relieved that he still has it. He quickly has it punched and runs through the gates looking for the metro. There! He dashes over just as it stops and fights not push the crowd in front of him to get on. He manages to make it on.

15 SECONDS TO DEPARTURE.

Shit. No. Please don't get on. Daisuke's pursuer was several feet away from the metro walking forward calmly. No. Close, close. Please, oh Kami-sama, please close. Shit. Daisuke's pursuer is one step from entering the cab, when a harried businessman pushes past him, jostling him out of the way, to get in the cab just as the doors close.

HAH!

Daisuke lets out a huge sigh of relief, giddy. Thank you, Kami-sama! There's no way I can be caught now, the next metro for here won't leave for another thirty minutes. The last thirty minutes had just blown Daisuke's small world to pieces.

Daisuke and Yorishi had just left Kourisuke's Club, and were flush with the stench of alcohol heavy on their breath, both leaning slightly on the other as they laughed raucously at the others stupid jokes.

"Daisuke, y' don' we go ge' some fun?"

"hehe...ya' suns' fun b' where?"

"I kno' tis' street, ye' can fin' some girl' that preety flexi'le, an' cheap. 'ree hun're yen a blow."

"Lea' on man."

Yorishi staggeringly lead them down three blocks to an empty rundown business quarter lined with dimly lit bars. He turned right, walking into an alley next to an abandoned warehouse. The alley was empty with a few bits of trash and some uninhabited shelters.

"Yorishi, though' ye sai' ther' some fun 'ere?"

" 'here is, 'ere is. Ye jus' gotta wai' a 'it for 'em to come. They ne'er show up 'il someone 'ere. 'heir man doesn' like 'em 'o wai' aroun' fer people, strange like 'hat."

Daisuke thought it was strange too, but that stopped around the time he saw a petite shadow heading through the alley. The shadow turned into a small form wearing a junior high uniform with a bag slipped across their shoulder while their attention was focused on a cell phone in their hand.

"See, wha' I 'ell ye Daisuke? An' shes preety 'oo."

Daisuke couldn't help but agree. The body he saw was lithe, small and likely well-shaped under the baggy uniform she was wearing. Her face was beautiful surrounded by long wavy black hair. She still hadn't looked up yet, but Daisuke knew she would have stunning eyes and full pouty lips. Definitely a good lay.

"Hey, preety, lookin' for a goo' time?" Yorishi asked smacking his lips. "Why don' ye come 'ere an' me an' my frien' show ye it."

The girl suddenly froze realizing she had company as Yorishi approached her, arms reaching to encircle her. She didn't look up, but her hands clenched around her cell phone. She whispered something, but Daisuke couldn't understand.

"Wha's 'hat swee'hear'? You' love 'o?" Yorishi leered as he pushed her against the warehouse wall. He held her wrists in his hand, as his other hand went to pull her chin up.

"I said I'm not a girl, I'm a guy, bastard." The lilting voice said as the head came up glaring at Yorishi.

"sure, swee-"

What the Hell!

"I would prefer not to be called that." The petite figure spoke steely, as she-he pushed away Yorishi hands, one hand removing Yorishi's hand from his chin while the other grab him by the throat, drawing Yorishi closer to his face.

"But I think we can figure a way for you to make that up to me, right?" The cold voice stated as the figure brought Yorishi's neck to him. All Daisuke could hear was Yorishi grunting and violently trying to get out of the figure's hold, before he fell limp, and Daisuke saw the eyes of the figure. The faintly glowing red eyes peered at him, running a chill down his spine. Inhuman eyes matching the cruel, mocking smile as a drop of Yorishi's blood ran down his chin and he let go of Yorishi. Daisuke's instincts finally kicked in and he started running. Starting the game of cat and mouse until Daisuke made it onto the metro.

The metro slowed coming to a stop, and Daisuke got up exiting the cab with the crowd.

It's over now. There's no way he can catch up with me now. Daisuke smiled setting his shoulders straight heading towards the exit. I need to think of a cover for Yorishi, I can't say he was killed by a vampire. They'll fire me. No, I'll say that we split up, he wanted some entertainment and I wanted somewhere to drink in quiet. Yeah. Worries now forgotten, Daisuke grinned freely walking towards a bar where he could get a drink.

"Heh, vampire's not smart enough to find me anymore." He boasted as he turned the corner.

Brng. Brrrng.

"Daisuke speaking."

"Hello Daisuke-san. Hehehe. Do you know who I am?"

"Huh?" Daisuke stopped confused. The voice was unfamiliar to him. It was light, almost feminine but he could swear it was a man speaking.

"Oh, you're not even going to guess? Where's the fun in that? C'mon, I'll give you a hint: I am a friend of a friend of yours."

Daisuke didn't get it. He was sure he wasn't familiar with the voice.

"Which friend?"

"Ah, spoilsport, you're really boring you know? Why don't you check your caller ID?"

"Why don't you just tell-" Daisuke went silent as he looked at the cell's screen.

YORISHI.

"Do you know now? Petite, lithe body, black wavy hair. Ring a bell?"

Daisuke was frozen as he felt a tap on his shoulder. Against his will he moved to turn around.

"I'm insulted Daisuke-san. It's been less than an hour and you have already forgotten about me? I think I'll cry."

It was his smiling tormentor standing next to another smiling figure with a phone in his hand. He turned and looked at his companion.

"That just won't do-What do you think I should do as a punishment?"

"Saa. Mmmm. I don't know. Do you think it's the eyes? Maybe, you should remind him of how he first met you."

"Oh? You have a point. I guess I do look a bit different, but I still don't think that's any excuse for not recognizing me."

Two faces turned to look at him with widening smiles. Their eyes were red. For some reason, Daisuke couldn't seem to move. Couldn't scream. And the two figures in front of him were chuckling.

Five kilometers out of Tokyo, a naked man dragged himself onto the banks of a river. He looked up at the slit of the moon and then around at the uninhabited space surrounding him. He teetered back up onto his feet and started ambling towards Tokyo.

I swear I'm going to get the bastard for this next time.

He snorted. Then whined.

Imouto-chan is going to tease me. Moon-hime, please let her be gone when I get back.

Revised: 1-18-17

Whew. That was along chapter. I promise in the next chapter everything will be more normal. From now on most chapters will be a cross between the first one and this one. It won't be as ambiguous as this one. For the most part italics represent flashbacks in this chapter. Can you guess who the characters are?

Please review!

False Sourires