Well not the best start off, but hey. I've been MIA for awhile and this is a new manga/anime for me. So I'm not picky! Welp, on to chapter 2, yes?

Chapter 2

"Oi you, get to work!" A large man shoved the body cleaning the floor.

"Y-yes sir!" Shion turned to him with a nod. "Right away!" He stood up, his brown hair framing his head gently. Four years hadn't changed him too much, despite his new situation. This isn't so bad...sure the hits hurt, but at least I'm making money and able to help my mom... He reminded himself as he scrubbed the white tile floor harder. He began a gentle hum as he continued on his cleaning.

Four years prior...

"Shion Matsuhiga...you aided a Werecreature in escaping the city. Is this correct?" A man in a black suit hovered over Shion, his eyes cold and hateful.

"...Not in escaping. He was injured so I sheltered him, fed him and gave him a warm place to rest." Shion admitted. His mother was watching from the living room, worry on her face. "I met him while out shopping. I didn't know what he was until he told me."

"And even then, you aided him?" The man asked and Shion nodded. A pale hand swiped across Shion's cheek, knocking him to the floor.

"Shion!"

"For aiding a Werecreature and offering them blood, shelter and supplies, you are to be stripped of your rights for living in the 6th City and moved to the 4th City immediately." The man said, voice steel and cold. "Your mother will remain in the 5th City and neither of you are allowed into the 6th City again."

Present day...

I'm so sorry mom...for doing this to you... He thought as he dumped the dirty water out, replacing it with clean, warm, soapy water. But...i think she's happier, even though it's closer to the West. He looked outside, the rune wall closer to him than before. It looks so weird, now that I think of it... Shion thought as he scrubbed. Once he was finished he left work, stretching as the sun set beyond the wall.

"Hey! Shion!" Shion turned and saw a girl running up to him. She had long brown hair and warm brown eyes. She was wearing a white coat with a pink scarf around her neck, bags on her arm. "Finally off work?"

"Oh, hey Safu. Yeah I just got off. Why're you here?" Shion tilted his head to the side curiously.

"Does a girl need a reason to visit her friend?" Safu huffed and walked next to him as he went home. "Besides, I wanted to see how you're doing."

"I am. Work's hard and the people aren't always the nicest...but the pay is ok and it's pretty much all week." Shion smiled, despite the painful bruise on his cheek.

"You're a horrid liar. Your face is clearly in pain and to top it off, you're exhausted!" Safu scolded him. "Let's get back to your place ok?"

"Really Safu, you didn't have to get me anything. My birthday was three weeks ago." Shion said with a small blush, holding up a gray scarf.

"My grandma insisted. Besides, we worked on it together, so you'd better wear it come winter!" She said as she put some fresh groceries away. "Your mom told me you may not have been eating well, so i got some food and fresh bread from her bakery."

"Safu..." Shion stood up and gave her a gentle hug. "Thanks. It means a lot to me, really...but-"

"I know Shion...you only see me as a friend, you don't feel that way, blah blah blah." She chuckled and moved from his hug. "I know, believe me. I've gotten over it ok?" She gave him a gentle smile. "But that still doesn't mean I can't visit or buy you birthday gifts." She explained with a chuckle and finished putting food away. Shion just smiled as he fixed two cups of warm tea.

"I know Safu...I just wanted you to know that i do appreciate it." He said softly as she sat down, sipping the cup. "How is it?"

"A little bland, but better than last time."

"H-hey! Last time was just a bad pot!"

"You burned water Shion. Water! I didn't even know that could happen." She teased as he looked at his cup with a small blush. "Well, at least your apartment's still standing, and it's a little cozy." She admitted, putting her cup in the sink. "Well I gotta go Shion. Try and be careful, ok?"

"I will. You be careful took, ok Safu?" He gave her another hug and watched her go. Sorry Safu...I don't want you to worry... He heard a small little squeak and looked on the floor. A small brown rat sat there, a tiny capsule in it's mouth. "Huh? Where'd you come from little guy?" He took the little capsule and opened it.

'Happy birthday weirdo. Be careful out there.' -Rat. The small note read and Shion dropped it.

"R-Rat?!" Shion watched the little rat jump on the sill and he rushed to the window. "Rat?! Hey, you out there?!" He called. He saw a figure rush into the shadows and smiled. Rat... He grabbed his brown coat and ran outside. Rat...why wait all this time? Where are you?

'A group of feral vampires are in the West. Eliminate and receive pay in the morning. -Dogkeeper.' Rat read the note and rolled his eyes.

Great...more of them? I'm sick of protecting these damned humans. He thought. He covered his face with his large, gray scarf and steel colored eyes scanned the streets. If they didn't escape here and the mutt wasn't offering good pay, I'd have let them run rampant here. He darted into an alleyway when his rat came back. "So you found him? Good...I-"

"Rat?!" Rat froze as he heard that gentle, familiar voice yelling his name. "Where are you Rat?!" He watched the figure run right past him, sighing in relief.

Sorry Shion...you need to go home. He thought. The night air was thick with fog and the moon was invisible, only stars shone on the city. The 4th City had poor lighting compared to the 5th or 6th city, and it was much closer to the rune wall, making it a bigger target for those in the West. This isn't good...those ferals are using the fog as cover for their scents... He began walking away when he heard something that made his heart lock in place.

"N-no! Let me go!" He turned around and began to run. "Stop! St-ugh! N-no-ARRGHHHHH!"

"Shion!" Rat turned a corner to see four men hovering over an unconscious Shion, one with fangs in his neck. "No!" Quickly, Rat's nails extended and he slashed at the feral vampires, tearing their flesh and easily piercing their hearts with a silver dagger. As they fell, bodies turning to ash, Rat caught Shion, steel eyes filled with fear. "Shion, open your eyes...Shion!"

"Ngh...R...Rat...?" Brown eyes opened, but they were dull and blood shot. "Ngh...it hurts...it burns...it burns!" He began thrashing in his hold, the mark on his neck throbbing as he scratched at it. "No! Get them off! Stop it!" Rat ran back to the young man's apartment, laying him on the bed.

"Shion...shit this is bad." He checked the injury and sighed. Good...they didn't put in too much. But if I do this...he'll...

"Rat...make it stop...please make it stop!" Shion's eyes were open and filled with tears. "Please...I don't...want this...to happen!"

"Got it. Just wait a little longer..." He watched as Shion's skin began to pale and a mark began to coil around his body. The moment it reached his neck, Rat sunk his own teeth into the mark. Shion screamed and struggled as Rat sucked out the venom, only stopping once Shion had passed out. He spat into a trash can and lifted the boy into his arms. Forgive me Shion...this isn't how i wanted us to meet again...

He leapt out of the window and moved swiftly through the shadows, slipping through a brief breach in the rune wall and out into the West. Once he was a fair distance away, he turned back, looking at the large wall and ruined land before him. "Shion...will you hate me when you wake up? Or will you just smile? We'll see."

A figure watched as Rat darted away with Shion in his arms. He pulled out a cellphone and dialed a number. "Yes, it's me. Our vessel is gone." He said. "No, transfer was a success, and the bait was set well. Right...alright." He hung up and grinned wickedly. "Soon Elyurias...soon." He said. "All the pieces are slowly coming together. Once your vessel matures...then he will be ripe for us to reclaim." He laughed as he faded into the fog.

Chapter 2 end

Oooooo~! Whatever could have happened~? Hope you enjoyed and please review! Sorry if pace seems a bit odd, but i'll be slowing down soon!