Title: Shattered Perception

Author: Dramicka

Rating: pg-13 for now

Disclaimer: Vampire Hunter D does not belong to me, however Bane is a product of my admittedly feverish imagination.

Author's Note: Thanks to my first 2 reviewers! Phoenix521 and Kitala. I suppose you can say that this next chapter is for you two.

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Chapter 2: --And thus they meet.--

Bane groaned.

She opened her eyes and shut them immediately, hiding from the glaring light. Sunlight, she figured. But. that didn't make sense.

She remained still, and continued to breath deeply and evenly as she contemplated her situation. She figured it was safe to say that she wasn't home anymore. She cast her senses around, and heard rustling. the kind of rustling that you would hear in a. a forest?

This, as far as she was concerned was NOT normal. even for her. Bloody hell.. Seriously, what's with all the bright flashy lights?

"I know that you're now awake," said a melodious voice.

"And how do you know that, you." she grumbled, and peeked, first with one eye, then with the other, not wanting to be blinded like last time. She then trailed off, staring. It was. it was.

It was the one the guys from the anime, her inner voice thingy supplied. Vampire Hunter D. Quite good-looking, actually.

"Sekhmet, damn this. I'm now officially crazy," she muttered. "Took me long enough to go bonkers. Oh, yes. Indeed-y. Now, everywhere I go, I'm probably going to see my dear imaginary friends. And. talk to them. Yeah. I'm really in a white padded room with other lunatics, drooling on my pillow, and straining against the bonds. That's probably it. " She blinked. "I'm babbling aren't I? That's cause I'm panicking. I don't panic often. Really, I don't. Ra."

She fainted again.

**********************

The man standing a few feet away from her, closed his mouth, which was previously open, in shock.

"That was unexpected' he murmured.

The strange creature in his hand made a muffled squeak that sounded suspiciously like a snort of laughter, and drawled, "You can say that again."

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Loren woke up for the second time at nightfall and stared at the person, who appeared to be sleeping, while leaning against a tree, not a few feet away from her.

She sighed.

"I was hoping this was just a bad dream' she whispered.

Bane then took a closer look, and realized that she wasn't mistaken. The strange did, indeed, resemble the dhampire she watched a movie about a day (?) ago. Was it really only a day? How could she tell?

Deciding to worry about all that and other things in the morning, she looked around, just in case, and saw that she in a forest, or, more accurately, in a clearing in a forest. Doesn't matter. She was sleepy, and woe to the one who would dare and try to wake her up tomorrow.

Yawning, she reached for her bag, shoved it under her head and went back to sleep.

Absently, she registered that she was -way- too calm for this kind of situation, but she just didn't have the energy to deal with it right now.

**********************

D lazily opened one eye, hearing the girl's words. As opposed to what she thought, he wasn't sleeping, merely resting. She was an odd one, he had to give her that. Yawning, he unknowingly copied her and fell into a light sleep for once untroubled by his nightmares.

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Loren woke up, opening her still glazed eyes that were still covered with the sunglasses, sat up and stretched, wincing a bit as she felt her joints creak. Pleasantly surprised, she thought of the fact that she woke up on her own, and had no nightmares. She wiped the dew off of her face and proceeded to pick leaves, grass, and Ra-knows-what out of her hair.

Waaaaaaaaait, a second!.

Grass?

Leaves?

Dew?

Yesterday's events came rushing back. Oh. Shit. She looked towards the shade the trees provided and noticed yesterday's stranger standing there and just looking at her.

They stared at each other for a few silent minutes, their eyes unreadable, Loren's, because of her dark glasses, and D's because of his ever-present hat.

D looked away first.

And smirking, Bane said dryly, "Good morning to you too," before walking towards the sound of water running, leaving D, as she inwardly dubbed him (A/N: *rolls eyes* clueless much, Loren?), once again flabbergasted.

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D stared, as she walked. no, as she -stalked- (she moved like a snake, he absently said to himself) away, speechless. He seemed to be doing that a lot with her around.

He didn't even know her name!

The parasite on his hand snickered. "Smooth, D, real smooth"

Well, what he was he supposed to do?

And who -was- she, anyways?

**********************

Bane came back a few minutes later, and crouched by her bag, going through it calmly, looking for a few things. She ignored D, until he cleared his throat, meaning to get her attention.

"Do you have something lodged in your throat?' she asked innocently, her voice syrupy sweet. She just arched an eyebrow at his slightly startled look.

Someone chuckling.

She pretended not to have noticed the odd sound, pretty sure she imagined it. In reality she knew that she wasn't acting normal, she was completely calm, even though she was in the middle of no-where with someone she didn't know.

She continued to watch -him- carefully. Suddenly noticing something in the bushes on the edge of her peripheral vision, she whirled around, dagger already in hand. From the corner of her eyes, she saw him rear back, just as she threw the knife. Something squeaked. She smiled with satisfaction and prowled over. She grabbed the tiny dead animal by the long furry tail. It resembled a mouse, only bigger and rather. well, -bird-like-, actually.

-He- was now frowning, ever so slightly. Aha, said the nasty little inner- voice thingy, now reappearing, here we go.

He started towards her.

**********************

She threw the dead pest back into the bushes, feeling rather stupid due to the way she overreacted. Steeling herself, she turned around.

And stared. Could he walk any -slower-?!

Loren rolled her eyes, sighed, and sat back on her haunches, unthinkingly taking her sunglasses off.

He stopped, gaping at the neon orange orbs.

"Fuck," she muttered, realizing what he was staring at. Maybe later, the little voice drawled. She felt like a schizophrenic with a split personality.

He was still silent.

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A/N: ok, that's it. Sorry, people, I know it sucked; it was short, and badly written. I also need a beta, anyone willing? I just didn't know what to do! Now tell me should Loren and D get along? Should they scream bloody- murder at each other? Come on, tell me what you want! R&R, guys!