~ * The Hunt and the Hunted * ~

By Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face

Disclaimer: don't own SM

Chapter Two

The sound of something crashing echoed down the long empty corridor of the wooden house. The floor vibrated as another loud crash muffled by the big oak door erupted from with in. The constant yelling "Get up" "Try harder" "No, you're moving all wrong" could be heard through the small keyhole only to be answered by grunts of pain.

CRASH!

Lita stifled a moan as she lay motionless on the mahogany floor. Her muscles ached from the painful training she had endured the last couple of days. Always at the crack of dawn, Artemis would knock on her door to wake her up. Training started then stopping only for breakfast and lunch. After lunch she would help Artemis tend the farm, feeding the animals and gardening. Then she would help prepare dinner and after dinner, they were training again until bedtime. It had been like this for six days now and every day Lita learned something new and the more she learned, the harder the training would get and the more painful.

Artemis loomed over Lita, who still lay motionless on the floor. "Pain is your friend Lita; you must learn to embrace it before we can continue."

Lita moaned as she moved her muscles tense, her neck stiff. She arched her back slightly and heard a little crack. Struggling to her feet she looked up at Artemis. Even though she was quite tall for her age, he was still a head taller than her. Perspiration trickled down the side of her face her brunette bangs dampened, sweat made her loose shirt cling to her body outlining her feminine figure. Her cheeks were pink from exhaustion and her breath came in small gasps. Her forest green eyes studied the man in front of her. Artemis's face was a slight shade of pink, his long usually neat silver hair were too dampened from the workout but his shirt was not nearly have as wet as Lita's. His silvery eyes held an amused look.

"You want to know why I don't sweat as much as you think I should?" he asked, his voice perfectly calm. Sitting down cross legged he motioned Lita to do the same. Artemis stared for a long time into Lita's green pools before he smiled, then with his index finger he started to tap his temple, "It's all in the mind Lita, all in the mind." And then he got up and walked towards the door.

Lita however was dumbfounded, "What? What's that suppose to mean?" She asked twisting from her position on the floor.

Artemis had just reached the big double oak doors, one hand reaching for the knob. Without even turning around he said, "Exactly what it means. You'll know it when it happens."

Lita just sat on the floor staring at the door where he had stood a minute ago. The puzzled expression on her face never left and the sudden jerk of her head towards the window brought back the realisation that her body was in due need of relaxation.

* * *

He stood hidden in the shadows of a great willow tree, a small crick on his neck. His ruby eyes scanned the area in front of him. Sure that the little den was deserted he walked briskly towards the door and only when he was safely inside did he begin to relax. He made a move to light a candle but when he lighted a match he dropped it to the floor and gasped in surprise.

Someone snickered in the shadows. His tall frame slowly stood up, a glint could be seen in his eyes. "Did I scare you Rubeus?" He asked, mockery in is voice.

Rubeus gave a short laugh at the absurdity of this, recognizing who the voice belonged to. "It's been a long time cousin."

"Yes it has."

Rubeus found a fresh match and lit the candle. The flame flared lighting the room illuminating the tall stranger who stood in front of him. Rubeus looked him up; his body was well toned and had a masculine physique which looked naturally graceful on someone of his height of 6'2". His long wavy hazel brown hair with streaks of auburn hung loosely past his shoulders, his blue eyes were so pale it glowed in the dark. "Welcome Nephrite."

* * *

The sun was setting earlier during the summer season which made it darker a few hours before it should. Amy found this quite disconcerting; walking home at dark was always a tedious thing. Every few minutes she would look behind her certain she heard a noise but no one would be there. She quickened her pace hurrying down the quiet little street fear mounting in her chest. A couple hundred metres away she could see the outline of her home which only made her more determined. Every night the same. She would close the shop, locking it then walking home tired but the sounds of the night always stirred her, making her more aware of the dangers that lurked in every shadow but every night she made it home and tonight would be no different. Or so she thought.

A chill wind brushed the small petite girl. She hugged herself to keep her warm lowering her head to keep the wind of her face. Then like every night before the hairs on the back of her neck stood on its ends, the feeling that she wasn't alone crept into her heart. She quickly looked around but saw nobody, a bush swaying ever so slightly in the wind. Looking back she picked up her pace, the feeling still hadn't left her. Only a few more hundred metres. The she heard it. SNAP! The sound seemed to magnify in the darkness of the night. Amy swirled around, and still nobody. The street empty, the shops all locked up. The forest at the opposite side of the street seem to loom over her, the shadows she thought had stretched further. Amy's heart was pounding so hard she couldn't hear her short breaths. Turning she continued.

"What's the hurry?" A strong masculine voice said coming from the shadows.

Amy jumped turning around fast, her heart stuck in her throat, her deep blue eyes wide in horror. She was going to scream when the figure, hidden in the shadows of a closed shop stepped cautiously out a small smile playing at the side of his lips.

"Y-you startled me." She stammered when she found her voice, her heart still beating fast. Relaxing her stiff shoulders she smiled up at him sheepishly looking under her long lashes she added, "I thought you were a wolffian."

A small chuckle escaped his throat which made Amy blush a deep shade of red. He moved closer to her, with his big hand he caressed her cheek. With a smile he said, "You thought I was one of those mythical creatures?" His voice was light but his eyes shined with laughter only making Amy blush more. He cupped her chin and tilted her head towards him, suddenly all the playfulness left his face and was replaced with something, lust. He licked his lips as he watched her face return to normal colour. Moving closer his face only inches away from hers, he watched as she closed her eyes and parted her lips slightly. A small grin tugged at his lips. Closing the gap between them, he kissed her softly on the mouth. When she responded he deepened the kiss, his hand which was cupping her chin moved to the back of her neck, stroking her hair. His other hand found her tiny waist moving her closer to him, pressing her body to his. He released her lips and traced her jaw line with small kisses, down the curve of neck.

Amy's body tingled in delight as she felt him gently massage her neck with his tongue, she wound her hands in his soft hair then she gasped as she felt a sharp pain in her neck. Her hands tightened tangling in his mass of hair. She felt him tighten his hold on her as he sucked at her neck. Then he stopped suddenly, returning to kissing a line up her jaw line, nibbling at her ear. Then what he whispered made her heart stop, her eyes widen.

"Who said I wasn't"

She felt that sharp pain again at her neck, she felt him eagerly sucking at her vein. Her body trembled as she tried to break free from his grasp but the more she struggled the more he tightened his hold on her. Then she stopped struggling. With a smirk on his face he let her go dropping her body to the ground. Her eyes were open, lifeless. Her mouth bruised from the pressure of his kiss, her face pale in colour. He stared down at her body, a satisfied smile on his features. He walked away from her and disappeared into the shadows of the night.

* * *

She waited...nothing. She stared up at the moonless sky, cursing under her breath. It had been a while since she had been there and this being her first night out of the house in a week she felt disappointed that she wasn't going to be able to put her training into effect. But still she waited. She heard the hoot of an owl a little distance away, the scuttling noise of a rabbit, the soft pawing noise of a raccoon, the rustle of the leaves in the wind...rustling of leaves...there is no wind. Her ears strained for any more noise...there, the soft padding of feet. Yes! Carefully, she tracked the noise down, tiptoeing round ditches, ducking from lower branches of trees. She felt her belt for her gun. Just as she pulled it out something jumped from the tree she was under pinning her to the ground. Lita gasped as the thing on top of her knocked the breath out of her, the gun flying from her hands a couple feet away. The thing on top of her moved closer to her face. Lita sighed and pushed it off her and scrambled to her feet. The thing rolled back and laughed.

AN: What do you think? Read and Review...