Disclaimer: Me no own. You no sue.

Author's Note: Ooh, for anyone who's interested, I flunked my history exam by doing the wrong question! now I have to do retakes in January! Isn't life great?

On with the story!


The Slayer
By The 41st Magaunac


"Well, well Nichol, what do you suppose we have here?" The taller of the two men circled Duo and Quatre threateningly, as if purveying a snack in a salad bar.

"Hmm, sure looks like a couple of trespassers to me," stated the second of the two. He remained standing where he was, grinning cruelly, running his tongue over his long incisors.

"This isn't your city!" spoke up Duo, pushing Quatre behind him, and glaring defiantly at their attackers, "We have as much right to be here as anyone!"

Duo would have felt a lot stronger at that moment if the two vampires hadn't merely laughed at his attempt of defence. "Hey Mueller, I think we've got a live one here!" the one known as Nichol darted to another patch of shadows, confusing their victims. "Whaddaya say we teach them some manners?"

"Don't come any closer. I'm warning you!" yelled Duo, hoping his words sounded a lot braver than he felt. They didn't.

//So this is it?// thought Duo. //After all that stuff I learnt and those days I spent in the library with Wufei, it all comes down to this?// He felt Quatre quiver beside him a little with fear. He would have a hard enough time keeping himself alive, let alone Quatre too.

"Come on then, I dare you!" yelled Duo, trying to get the vampires to focus all their attention on him instead of Quatre. "I'm the Slayer, and I sure as Hell ain't going down without a fight, so bring it on!"

"With pleasure." Mueller grinned evilly and pounced forward, going straight for Quatre's throat. With agility that surprised even him, Duo stuck his leg out and tripped Mueller over. He landed heavily on the paving, but was on his feet again in a split second. "So help me, you're gonna regret doing that," he growled, flying at Duo, strong heavy hands outstretched.

In the mean time, Quatre had his own problem. He stood facing Nichol, knowing that he'd be dead the moment he turned his back on him. Slowly the words of an incantation became to rise to his lips as he stepped backwards, backing away as the vampire approached him.

"Tirium… resiida… morthem…" he worked his lips steadily around the vowels and consonants of the words, only hoping he had enough time to finish the spell. "Lumodus!!" he finished, holding his hands in the air, focussing his energy towards the vampire. There was a sudden blinding flash of light and Nichol threw his head back, screaming in rage, covering his face with his clawed hands.

The burst of energy caught Duo of guard. He managed to get a heavy punch into Mueller's stomach before the blonde grabbed him, pinning him against the wall, grinding his face into the brickwork. Duo tasted a little blood on his lip, but was unable to even move his arm to wipe it away.

"His excellency will be thankful to us that we saved him the trouble," whispered Mueller into Duo's ear. "There's hardly a snack here…"

"Duo!" Quatre tried to make a break for Duo, words already coming to his lips like waterfalls as he considered the most powerful incantations he knew. However, Nichol had predicted his move, and though his face was burnt from the spell, he only had to reach out and grab Quatre roughly by the arm to prevent his interference.

Duo felt hot breath on his neck, and the unmistakable press of sharp incisors on his throat…

***
//Oh God, don't let me be too late, don't let me be too late!// Trowa pounded his way down alleyway after alleyway. He only wished his senses could be more exact, but the stench of the vampires covered all other trails of the people he was looking for. Where was Quatre? Why hadn't he been there to protect him?

Riddled with guilt, Trowa sped around another corner, his anger fuelling him as he ran faster and faster. He had to get there soon, he just had to. Quatre's life, and therefore also his own, depended on it.

***
"What do you want to know about werewolves?" Wufei snapped, seating himself quickly and irritably at his computer terminal as he began to raid the occult database.

"What we're trying to find, Mr. Chang," said Treize, "is a merciless killer. "As a member of the police department's occult division, it is my job to try and bring this… creature to justice."

"You know nothing about justice," stated Wufei coldly. "You have done little or nothing to prevent the continuing deaths of people in this city, and whoever this victim was, he was just another in a long lines of deaths that it was your job to prevent. Don't talk to me about justice, Mr. Khushrenada."

"In any case," Treize replied somewhat icily. "I wish to find it. It will prove most useful in the Government's study of supernatural beings."

"Like Bloom?"

Treize glared at Wufei, who didn't look up from the computer screen. "Bloom was a mistake. He was a serial killing maniac who took the lives of 10 people, possibly even more that we are not aware of. If this… man… creature, whatever, spawned another like him…" Treize growled, "It is important that it is contained as soon as possible, before more lives are needlessly wasted."

There was a satisfying bleep, and the screen was suddenly alight with a list of names and books all relating to werewolves and their habits. It was a good library, Wufei Chang was a very thorough librarian. No stone was left unturned.

He quickly strolled out of his office and into the heavily shelved room, going straight to where he knew the most useful information would be. Wufei practically slept in his library.

"'Creatures of the Moon,'" read Wufei off the cover. "This will have the most accurate information."

"'Creatures of the Moon'?" Treize repeated, somewhat dubious.

"It just has to be accurate, you didn't say anything about the title being pretty," said Wufei patronisingly as he passed the book to Treize. "Out of all the occult creatures, werewolves are probably some of the more interesting. In the past, they were not developed enough to be able to hold any kind of normal dialogue. They killed during the full moon, and that was that. In human form, many were hermits."

Treize listened intently.

"However, in the modern world, they have changed somewhat. Some are capable to changing their form at will, even if it isn't a full moon. They have incredible senses of smell, to the point where they can track a man for miles and miles. Seeing as you consider them so 'animalistic' Mr. Khushrenada, think of them as highly trained police dogs. Most still live alone, and will transform by the light of the full moon whether they like it or not. They are very territorial, and enjoy their privacy. Now can I go?"

"One more question, if you will," said Treize slowly, smiling at the way his indecision seemed to be making the dark haired young man before him even angrier. "How would someone go about catching one?"

"I'd wish them good luck, and start digging their grave," said Wufei with a nasty little smile. "Werewolves are incredibly fierce and dangerous. Bigger than a full-grown man, easily able to gouge out any of his organs with a flick of its claws. The only reason people do not fear a werewolf as much as a vampire is because they strike so rarely. Only someone with a real obsession," said Wufei cocking an eyebrow, "would want to catch a werewolf."

"Nevertheless, for the good of the city and the safety of its citizens, I request that you inform me how I might catch one," insisted Treize, folding his arms and making it clear to Wufei that he definitely wasn't leaving until he had an answer.

"The only way, theoretically speaking of course, would be to get some kind of bait, lure the werewolf out of hiding, and then heavily sedate it," said Wufei. "There's no other way. You can't just stand in the street and yell for one to come kill you. Believe it or not, werewolves are not natural born killers. They're recluses."

"What kind of bait?" asked Treize thoughtfully.

Wufei sighed and rolled his eyes to show his ever-growing impatience. "Werewolves are incredibly obsessive over things. It's a territorial thing. They react very badly to someone even touching something, or someone, which they consider to be theirs or under their protection. The best bait therefore would be to take something they loved dearly, and make them come and get it. OKAY?"

Treize nodded and smiled, pocketing the book he had been given. "Thank you, Mr. Chang. That is very… insightful."

"Now if you'll excuse me, I have other places to be," said Wufei as he ran back to the office to grab his katana. He ran out of the doors of the library and down the steps, and leapt on to his motorcycle. He gunned the engine, and flew off down the street. He didn't know exactly where he was heading. He just knew that he'd know when he got there.

Treize walked casually back to the police car he had came in and climbed into the passenger side. "Follow him," he said simply to PC Une, who was sitting in the driver's side. With a small smile, the pair dimmed their headlights and set off through the night after Wufei's rapidly departing back.

***
//No! It's too soon!// thought Duo as he felt the sharp teeth press all the more sharply into his neck. Just as he was about to surrender himself to the pain, he felt the weight suddenly flung off him, and the clatter of trashcans behind him. He spun around quickly, fists raised, ready to attack anything that flew at him, but instead found himself faced with the back of a young man, not a lot taller than himself.

Mueller growled and pulled himself out of the heap of dented rubbish cans, and stalked over to face the man now standing between him and Duo.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" he growled, showing off his long sharp teeth as though wielding a blade.

In an instant, the stranger flung out an arm and grabbed Mueller by the neck, lifting him into the air. The blonde dangled pathetically, trying to claw the cast iron grip from his neck, but found it was to no avail.

Finally, the stranger spoke. "You are no longer needed here. I will finish this. Get out of my sight."

It was amazing the profound affect that these words had on Mueller. He was no longer powerful and undefeated, he looked small and afraid like any normal human being. The figure dropped him in a crumpled heap on the floor, from which he slowly pulled himself to his feet.

"I am sorry, Lord," he replied. "I did not realise this was your business." He backed away a couple of steps.

"Indeed Lord Yuy, it was our mistake," commented Nichol, who had temporarily released Quatre, who was gasping for breath from his struggle.

Finally, Heero turned to face Duo, his dark brown hair falling carelessly across one dark blue eye. He looked Duo up and down with marked disdain, and after a moment of thought, finally growled, "Run."

Duo continued to stare at him uncomprehendingly.

"I said, 'run' boy. I enjoy the chase. There is no sport without challenge. Now, run." Heero cracked a small and ambiguous smile which chilled Duo to the core.

"But Quatre…"

"Go Duo," said Quatre softly. "It's okay. Save your life, you're too important."

"Quatre, don't be a fool! I'm not going anywhere without you!"

"You have my guarantee that the little blonde one will not be harmed," said Heero. "If you remain here any longer, I swear I will kill him right this moment."

Scowling with unconcealed hatred, Duo turned on his heel and sprinted down the alleyway, and out the other side into the street. Heero smiled again, adjusting his coat habitually before preparing to head after him. After all, he'd need a head start.

"What do you want us to do with the little witch?" asked Nichol, grabbing Quatre roughly by the arm, and bringing him around in front of Heero Yuy. Heero eyed Quatre with the same disdain and thoughtfulness that he had Duo, then waved his hand.

"You can have him. You wouldn't get much of a meal out of that anyway."

"But you promised Duo!!" yelled Quatre as Heero turned his back on him, more enraged by the betrayal than his impending demise.

"I lied," said Heero, without turning around. He took a step back, and then broke into a sprint, heading in the direction Duo had just gone.

The hunt was on.

***

To Be Continued.