Author's Notes –

Tax season is now done, so I'm trying to write a bit more, but we'll see how things go.

What a way for the football season to end. I hope the Pack can step up next season.

The dark streets of Nerima seemed so foreign to the immortal martial artist as he made his way through the shadows. Even the poor lighting failed to hide the fact that many of the buildings were in disrepair. Initially he'd thought that it was just one or two houses, or perhaps just a neighborhood, but the further he traveled the more apparent it was that this was no longer the Nerima he'd known.

The sad truth was that even though the almost daily fights that occurred during Japan's Golden Age of Martial Arts there were a good number of houses and buildings always in need of repair, but those were always repaired. These buildings appeared to be completely neglected. Though the fighters were known to damage the buildings, they also served to keep out the criminal element.

Gone were the proud martial artists who fought their rivals regularly yet managed to protect the weak from being exploited. Gone was the Kuno family, the cornerstone of the community that employed construction crews to constantly repair the damages from the various fights. Gone were the local martial artists whom the city council relied on to keep the peace amongst the everyday citizens.

This Nerima was little more than a haunting reminder of what once was. Even more vexing was the fact that the changes that the city had undergone hinted at how much of an abomination he was.

Technically, he wasn't a human anymore. But he wasn't the only one.

In his time studying at Scholomance he'd learned much about vampire myth, but it was his travels through Eastern Europe that had taught him the most about the predatory humanoids. While most fed on human blood, there were a good number that fed on other mammals. Though the average vampire was stronger and faster than a typical human, the difference was akin to that of a normal person and an Olympic caliber athlete. Compared to other supernatural creatures vampires tended to be on the weaker side of the scale, though they made up for it with longevity. Contrary to popular belief, sunlight didn't kill vampires, neither could garlic and silver. Despite their weaknesses nothing short of decapitation or immolation could kill a vampire.

As such they were in fact one of the best enforcers anyone employing the supernatural could use. Most preferred to be paid in blood, usually human. Working for the mafia, yakuza, or whatever underground criminal organization was inevitable really. Where else could they get access to blood while also being able to hide their presence? Human trafficking allowed them the pick of the litter, giving them the occasional virgin to feed on as well as helping provide them with the means to hide their presence from the occasional hunter.

Unlike other supernatural creatures, vampires retained all of their supernatural advantages regardless of the moon cycle or tide, nor did they have a tendency to break into a blood lust or go berserk once blood was spilled. Unlike other creatures they grew stronger once they fed, much like Popeye and spinach.

The signs weren't good for Nerima. For a coterie to be here meant that the local yakuza or gang wanted to expand their turf. Though he didn't want to involve himself in underworld politics Ranma knew he had no choice. Even though he never considered Nerima a home as he currently did with Mahora and had with Hinata, the city was still important to him. Besides, he'd already made a name for himself with many of the supernatural beings, especially in Japan and Eastern Europe.

He's spent the day researching the yakuza involved, making sure that they weren't the faction that had been taken over by one of the ninja clans. From what he'd uncovered it appeared as though the local yakuza was starting to deal in human trafficking and pushing drugs – the usual activities that drew vampires to a criminal syndicate. The set-up was perfect. The business catered to cram school students, most of who opted to study at the café rather than returning home after their classes.

The café itself was legitimate, but of the seven waitresses two were definitely vampires.

"Table for one or are you waiting for others?" the hostess asked as he entered the café.

"One," he replied.

"Mio," the cheerful hostess called out to the taller of the two vampires, "would you show him to table seven?"

The vampire known as Maki nodded, rushing over to the entrance before leading him towards the back corner booth. Trailing behind the taller girl, he couldn't help but notice her sauntering gate. No stranger to the playful flirtations employed by waitresses, Ranma fought the urge to stare as any teenaged boy might do were they in his shoes.

Finally he took his seat, accepting the menu offered by Mio. "Are you new to Nerima?" Her voice was firm yet friendly as she waited beside the table.

"Not really," he replied honestly. "It's been a while since I've been in Nerima."

"What brings you back?"

"Just wanted to see the old neighborhood."

"You used to live here?"

"Yeah, a long time ago. This place sure has changed a lot." Scanning the menu quickly he glanced up, meeting Mio's light brown eyes. "I'll have the black tea and the apple turnover."

"Okay." The warmth in her smile extended beyond her lips up into her twinkling eyes. "I'll be right back with your order."

Watching her as she left he knew that Mio had that casual grace that few non-practitioners of one of the physical arts possessed.

Eyeballing the café he found nothing unusual. Cram school students huddled around their respective tables, some clearly flustered, others working diligently on their assignments, and more than a few slumbering while surrounded by their companions. Given the café's 24 hour service it made sense that more than a few teens were resting here. Having lived the life of a ronin Ranma knew that sometimes it wasn't worth going home after class, especially when one had to rush between school and work.

"Here's your apple turnover and black tea," Mio announced, disrupting his thoughts.

"Thanks."

"Is there anything else?" the raven haired vampire asked. "Or have you seen all that you've come to see?"

"I figured there were more of you," he whispered so that only she could hear. "If you could wipe out a team of ninja I figured there were at least two methuselahs. But the presence of an antediluvian makes sense."

"You're not a ninja," she stated as she set his plate down. Leaning in she sniffed the air, catching his scent. "You're not even human."

"More than you," he replied coolly.

"So threatening the humans in the café won't faze you," Mio countered.

Blue eyes locked with grey eyes. "Even your yakuza friends won't be able to cover that up."

"'Gas main explosion destroys local café'," she countered. "How unfortunate."

"The fire might not kill you, but it will wound you enough, not to mention that your buddies won't take too kindly to losing this investment." Picking up the tea he took a sip. "The fire and the explosion won't bother me, and neither will the arsenic you slipped into the tea."

Suddenly the waitress stood up straight as she finally noticed that all the humans in the café were slumped over. "Rumi!?"

"I guess Rumi was hungry," Ranma stated Mio searched for the shorter vampire. "I'm surprised you didn't notice it sooner, what with your heightened sense of smell."

"Dead man's blood," she hissed. "I knew you had the smell of a mage, but you don't reek of necromancy."

With practiced ease Ranma wiggled the fingers of his left hand, causing several 'students' to move. True masters of illusion knew better than to just rely on spell-craft. Even the best illusions could be seen through, but the addition of scents and when necessary puppets made the scene he'd created all the more believable to even the sharpest and keenest eye.

It helped that Konatsu and the ninja's who'd sent his this job had researched the vampires and the café. With their help he'd managed to divert the handful of real cram school students that frequented the café to another location even making them think that they were at this very café. It also helped that he'd managed to get his hands on the blue prints to Chachamaru's artificial heart, giving just enough material to fool his prey. Between Mahora's resident vampire and the ninjas this mission was going rather smoothly.

This was slowest time of night, making it relatively easy for him to fill the business with his replicas. The hard part had been fooling one into trying to feed off of one of them.

"It'd be best if you just surrendered," he suggested. "I promise I'll go easy-"

BTOOM!

The fiery explosion cut his offer short though it hadn't caught him expected as he'd noticed Mio's legs tensing. Even an exceptional martial artist wouldn't have been able to do much from a seated position, but he was far from just exceptional. Riding the force of the explosion as it blew through the hallway from the kitchen Ranma grabbed hold of Mio's wrist as he rushed her. Pulling her to him he slammed his free fist into her jaw, slamming her fanged mouth close.

Between the explosion and the force of his punch he'd expected to send the pair of them flying over the table behind her. To her credit Mio was much sturdier than he'd anticipated. His fist felt as though he'd slammed it into a two ton boulder rather than a petit, but buxom teenaged girl. Fortunately for him he'd fought guys much tougher than her. Still, it stung his pride to know that he'd underestimated her.

It stung even worse when Mio drove her knee into his groin. Even his decades of experience couldn't help him avoid that blow at such close quarters. Resisting the urge to crump into a fetal position he instead shifted his body and twisted his momentum so that he swung around the vampire, capturing her back and wrapping his right arm around her throat.

Ears ringing, he felt the table break beneath him as Mio dove back onto the table he'd expected to send the both of them flying over. Flames licked the air above them as they wrestled on the floor. Shifting his hips he tried to a firm grip on the vampire's throat even as Mio slammed her elbows into his side or flailed wildly as she tried to throw awkward punches at him. Grabbing hold of her long hair with his left hand he felt her neck muscles tense as she tried to avoid the inevitable. Ju jitsu wasn't his forte, but it was something he'd picked up as a necessity to add variety to his personal style. Finally he was rewarded with the sound of her neck snapping.

Adumbrations were capable of hiding so much more than the kunoichi ever realized. Months ago she'd thought that she had a good grasp of what others overlooked, but now that she'd seen beyond what was obscured by the shadows the world she now knew was much more threatening and immense then she'd previously realized.

Hers was no longer a world filled with just school life and what she'd thought to be extreme martial arts training. Now her life was filled with pretending to be a slightly atypical teenaged girl while not being an on-call assassin. Killing was still something that she had a hard time dealing with, but with the younger Saotome's help she was just starting to get over that obstacle.

She knew that there were far deadlier things than ninjas and magi, but facing that reality was proving to be hard harder then she had realized. The fact that a coterie or pack or whatever it was that Ranma called a group of them had eliminated a team of chunin ninja sent chills down her spine.

And then there was the fact that the vampire had stated that Ranma wasn't human himself. The fact had been lost in the chaos of all that had happened since the café had been blown up, but it did little else but gnaw at Kaede as she observed the elder Saotome's interrogation of the vampires.

'You're not even human.' The vampire's words echoed through the girl's skull. 'You're not even human.'

Having been trainined to see into and past the darkness the young kunoichi could not help but try to take the stray clues and try and decipher them.

But if Ranma wasn't human, then what were Tenma and Akira? The youngest Saotome had died, but even the supernatural could be killed. Still, his death had been the result of terminal cancer, not a violent or undiagnosed death. Could the supernatural die from cancer?

Focused as she was on the incomplete facts, Kaede barely noticed that her sensei had completed his task.

"Kaede."

"Sensei," she snapped reflexively, "what did you find you?"

"There are four more vampires," he stated. "They're holed up in a vacant house, but she didn't say where. They're probably suspicious now that we have these two."

"They won't leave?"

He shook his head, "Vampires are very loyal – they won't leave one of their own behind if they know that they're still alive."

"So we have to find their lair?"

Again he shook his head, "They're too dangerous to hunt. We'll just let them come to us."

"How?"

"They've got a keen sense of smell," he pointed out. "Since she's their maker they should be able to pick up her scent easily."

She raised her eyes, scanning the desolate building that they currently occupied. The windows were closed (the better to keep the screams in) but not tight as a slight draft was evident from the movement of the curtains. "You tortured her just spread her scent."

For a moment his eyes locked with hers. Though he might not be human, he was not inhumane. "If that had been my plan I would have set traps before torturing them," his even, cool voice answered. "If they're anything like most vampires they won't move until dark. Unfortunately I think that most of them are antediluvians so they're smarter and stronger than neonates."

His words flew over her head well beyond her comprehension.

"Neonates are young vampires," he explained. "They're usually anything younger than a decade. Most vampires are between a decade to a century old, but those who survive past a century are considered antediluvians and those with over a millennium under their belt are methuselahs."

The young kunoichi nodded as she filed away the terms and their meaning. "The older they are the stronger they are."

"Usually," her sensei replied. "We captured the youngest, but even she managed to drain an entire marionette before the dead man's blood dropped her."

Again Kaede nodded. "But can't they smell the blood?"

"They'll smell blood, but can't tell the difference between the two until they actually ingest it," he elaborated. "At least I haven't met one that could tell the difference."

"But she knew that you weren't human."

"There's something about feeding on other supernatural creatures that is taboo," he shrugged. "Most superhuman creatures are designed to have particular tastes and it's hard for them to adjust to something else, but when it comes to feeding on other supernatural creatures they end up having something akin to an allergic reaction. Unless you're like a werewolf – then you just eat anything you can put in your mouth."

"So I lace my blades with dead man's blood," she surmised.

Her sensei shook his head. "They smell too much blood and they'll know that we're setting a trap or that you're using it against them. Remember, they're old and experienced. They know their weaknesses better than we do. Play to your strengths – not to their weaknesses.

"They might be faster and stronger than you, but they're undisciplined fighters. They'll get their shots in - just make sure that you're the one ending the fight."

In all honesty her sensei's words failed to inspire. They were outnumbered, just as the squad of chunin had been, and even though she had seen her sensei take out the most powerful of the vampires by himself, could he really take out four of them? She'd seen him fight plenty of times, usually against multiple opponents, but were any of the other students up to par with the vampires?

"Focus," he ordered her, calming her nerves ever so slightly. "Remember what you're capable of and work with that."

Suddenly he looked away from her. "They're here."

Before she even could think that they weren't ready the first of the vampires burst through the window, knocking her off her feet as it sought to tackle her. Instinct and countless practice sessions kicked in as she reflexively kicked out with one foot and rolled onto her back, sending her attacker crashing into and through the wall.

The sound of three more windows breaking was drowned out by the sound of her pounding heart as it pumped adrenaline into her limber body.

"Basement!" Ranma ordered as his heel connected with the jaw of an airborne assailant.

In a flash she was down the stairs and inside the damp room. Trained to fight in the darkness she actually felt a bit of relief at the fact that there were no lights on in the basement. Few houses in Japan had such amities due to the frequency of earthquakes, but leave it to the ninja and her sensei to find the one building in Nerima that had a functioning and undamaged basement.

The sound of heavy footsteps quickly descending the stair brought her attention back to the fight at hand as Ranma voluntarily yielded ground to the quartet of antediluvians. For the briefest of moments Kaede thought it odd that he would voluntarily retreat through such a tight space. Ranma worked best with open space, though perhaps it was the fact that his opponents were nearly as quick as he and undoubtedly just as strong as he was that prompted him to such measures.

Setting her feet, the kunoichi couldn't help but think that she was missing something. Drawing her kunai she let loose a volley at the first of the vampires that appeared at the base of the stairs, forcing it to dive to the side to avoid the coated blades. The sound of her weapons sinking into the wood alerted the other vampires of the threat she posed. Two came crashing through the wood paneling of the stairs while the third dove into the ground.

'He's splashing into the ground,' she quickly thought as the last vampire crashed into the ground. The thought hit her before the realization.

Fortunately she wasn't the last one to make that discover as the other vampires landed in the still wet cement.

'Water walking,' she surmised as she just noticed the way her chakra was being expelled from her feet to keep her from sinking into the basement wide trap.

Before the vampires could even make the connection Ranma was on them. A swift axe kick buried the face of sprawled vampire deeper into the gritty gray mixture. Stomping on the befuddled creature's head Ranma propelled himself at the first vampire to venture into the basement, delivering a punishing elbow to the side of the head before latching his arms around the man's head and snapping his neck.

A second volley of kunai sunk into the soft flesh of the undead creatures. Slowed as they were by the wet cement they were powerless to avoid the volley, though a few blades did bounce off of their borrowed chainmail sleeves and vests. Weighed down as they were they were significantly slower than normal, allowing Kaede to lose a third volley that pinned them down. The bolos and weighted nets were far from what the vampires' had expected, though clearly they had not expected any of what they had received.

"Good job," Ranma smirked as he approached the pair. "Ninjas are best when they're a few steps ahead of their advisories.

"You may have caught the others unprepared, but it was arrogant of you to think that you could do that to a second squad."

"You won't get away with this," the second in command growled.

"We're not going to kill you," Ranma stated.

"I'll rip your throat out," the vampire threatened.

"I doubt that," the magi replied. "I said we weren't going to kill you, but that doesn't mean I can't do something else to you."

With the ease of a seasoned killer Ranma's hands grasped the vampire's head before swiftly snapping his neck. "Call the others," he ordered her as he moved to finish the remaining vampire. "Our job is done."

"Your report's not done," Saotome-sensei stated as he eyed the screen before the young kunoichi.

Tedious as it was, Kaede knew that Ranma was right. Though all record of the report would be erased, it was still necessary for her to type up the report of her mission to turn into her superiors. The content of the report didn't matter so much as the fact that she did not allow any detail to go unnoticed.

"The vampire that attacked me was bald," she recalled, "195cm, 95kg, with a scar over his right eye and a tattoo on his left bicep, athletic build, Caucasian, grey eyes." She knew that the sequencing of the information was less than ideal, but the key points were there. "He was the last one down the stairs, the one of the ones that jumped through the wall into the basement, and the first of that pair that you took out. He wore a navy shirt and appeared to have the arm guards of one of the slain chunin.

"The other vampire was Caucasian, dirty blond hair, 190cm, 102kg, hazel eyes, muscular build, no other distinguishing features. He wore a faded army uniform, no rank indicated, and the mesh armor underneath." Rattling off the innocuous details of the remaining vampires she noted the expectant look in her sensei's eyes.

"What about the fact that the vampire Mio knew that Ranma wasn't completely human?" another voice asked from the darkness.

She knew that someone was there, but just who and how many of the jonins she didn't know. Try as she might she knew that she wouldn't be able to see the speaker. More than likely he was behind a fake wall, but all the walls were probably fake.

"That's enough," a familiar voice proclaimed. "Thank you for your report."

Standing before the assembled masters, Ranma knew that he found himself in an unusual position. Ninjas were highly secretive, especially amongst themselves, but they had reached out to him through the martial arts association. It was a gigantic step for the usually secluded group to make, but it was a sign of the times. The world, their world, was no longer insular, and though they were loathed to admit it they knew that they could not deal with all their problems in the same old ways.

"I'm surprised," the masked master stated. As the only ninja actually seated before him, the olive green clad man was tasked with drawing his attention.

"At the result or the methods employed?" the immortal asked, undaunted by his position. He counted four jonin guards for the master, which meant that there were at least two more masters and a dozen guards between them.

"Both," the green master answered. "I knew you were good, and fully expected you to prevail, but not so soon."

"You expected a full brawl?" the pigtailed master asked, a smirk on his lips.

The master paused, then nodded. "You do have a reputation."

"Experience has taught me to end fights quickly," he explained. It was a half-truth, but still a truth none the less.

"The girl's progress has exceeded our expectations," a hidden master interjected. "Ensure that she stays sharp."

Unspoken was the order that Kaede was now under his tutelage, her missions to be dissected by the jonin so that the ninja would not be caught unawares by the supernatural. It was one thing for them to fight other humans, even magi, but with the world becoming larger and smaller at the same time it was inevitable for them to start to prepare for dealing with the other things that went bump in the night.