Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Hunter D (either one), if I did, you would most definitely know, because I'd be screaming it on national television. But, alas, I am not so there's a disclaimer for ya.

The Acquisition of Hunters

Chapter 2

D was getting annoyed by the constant blabbering of his parasite. Could the thing never shut up? D was also getting annoyed by the sand blowing in his face. "D, are you even listening to me?" the parasite said. D didn't respond. The parasite sighed; D wanted to sigh, but that would cramp his style. (Heh)

D walked his horse to the top of the hill. More sand blew in his face. He could see that the hill opposite the one he was on was something or someone. Most likely someone, a female probably, no sane man would wear a skin tight belly shirt, but he might wear the baggy shorts that she was wearing. "Hey! That's the first female we've seen in a week! Not counting that squirrel…You think she's single!" D's hand said suddenly. D sighed.

D decided the woman could be no harm, and if she was he could get his sword out fast enough. He walked his horse through the sand storm. The wind billowed in his cloak as the sand blew harder and harder. The woman was walking her horse closer and closer.

About 15 minutes later…

The woman walked up to D on her horse, her face covered by a black scarf, her blonde hair was pulled back with a dark olive green hair tie, her eyes were the same dark olive, as well as her skin-tight belly shirt, she had a brown belt hanging from her waist, attached to it, a dagger. On her back was a silver sword, and on her neck was a leather choker necklace, about 2 inches wide with a silver cross in the center. She wore black boots that came up a little past her ankles. Across her left eye was a pinkish scar consisting of 3 left to right vertical slashes. "Oh my gosh, it's super slut Barbie." D's hand said. If D could slap himself at any moment and have no one know, that would be the moment. The girl shot her hand out and caught D's left hand and looked it in the face, "If you ever say that again, you soon won't have a mouth to say it with." D's hand had shut up. "I'd guess that you're heading to Fort Ebrael. As you probably know, it's the only way to get through the valley. They don't exactly take a liking to dhampirs…I could maybe help you get through." The girl said with a sly almost smile, "by the way, my name is Dariel."

D pondered a moment. Where had he heard that name before…It seemed, somehow, familiar…and anyways, why would this girl, Dariel, be so willing to help? And guessing from the sword and dagger, she was probably a hunter, so why then? "Why would you help me?" D asked in his usual monotone voice. "…Let's just say, I'm a fan of yours." Dariel said. Of all the possible answers, that was the one that D expected to hear least.

D remained quiet. "Blink once for, 'Okay, I'll accept your help' and twice for, 'Get away from me freak.'" Dariel said. D decided he would humor her and blinked once. D's hand tried to blink twice.

"Okay then, let's get going." Dariel turned around her horse and started to head against the blowing sand. D hesitated for a second and then started to follow her.

Dariel first started at a walk then a few minutes later started to gallop her horse, D did the same. The tan colored sand flew in every direction, it was getting worse. "GALLOP YOUR HORSE FASTER IF AT ALL POSSIBLE!" Dariel shouted above the roaring winds.Her steed dashed forward with a surprising amount of speed. D followed. That continued on for about an hour until they finally came to the gate leading into Ebrael.

Dariel and D were surrounded by roaring sands. "OPEN THE GATE! THE DHAMPIR'S WITH ME!" Dariel shouted to the gate-keeper.

D saw the gate-keeper nod, if not hesitantly, and with some good reason. The gate started to open and Dariel burst through as soon as a spot was big enough for her horse to get through. D did the same.

Inside the walls Dariel slowed down to a walk, then stopped.

Townspeople were everywhere with weapons of all kinds; guns, bows and arrows, and some even with pitchforks.

D saw a woman, her child clutched to her chest. When she saw D looking at her, she ran inside her house.

Dariel started to walk her horse again, though slowly. D followed, everywhere were people with weapons. Houses and other buildings passed slowly by as people watched his every move. It was getting old; people thinking that HE was the bad guy just because he was a dhampir. But then, what else could he expect?

Dariel sped up to a slow gallop. D followed. About 10 minutes later they reached the second gate.

"OPEN THE GATE!" Dariel shouted at the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper nodded, just like the last, and the gate was quickly opened. On the other side was a complete change of landscape. The valley that the fort was located in was very odd. On one side was a raging desert of doom and on the other, a lush, green, valley. Nature was odd sometimes. Dariel sped up to a very fast gallop, and as usual, D did the same.

They went on like that for a while until they could not see the fort anymore, then Dariel slowed down to a walk. D did as well.

"So, where are you headed?" She said casually while walking her horse at D's right side. "To Yserna." D said stiffly. "That's where the vampire count and countess live…I take it you're on a hunting job?" Dariel said. D nodded. "Do…you think I could come with you? I hate being so straightforward, but…I'm restless, I've had no one to talk to for a while…and, well, you ARE the famous dhampir hunter, I've always wanted to meet you…though, if you think that I'll be a nuisance…" Dariel said slowly as her face turned a deep red. D's ears perked up. Why would anyone want to travel with him a dhampir? There's got to be something up with this girl, D. No normal woman, or anyone for that matter, would want to travel around with a dhampir. D's voice said from inside his head. D agreed with his hand this time. This woman was odd.

"So…do you think I could come with you?" Dariel asked. Then it hit him. He knew where he had heard the name before. This was THE famous hunter, Dariel. As far as he knew, she'd try to kill him. He had heard of her technique in hunting, especially on male vampires. She seduced them, and waited for the right moment and, before you knew it, they had a sword through their heart. How could he trust her? She was a hunter. She may say that she was a fan of his, but lying had a factor in this too…

"I remembered…who you are…You're the hunter Dariel." D said. Dariel nodded slowly, as if D should have figured that out earlier. "How could I trust you? I've heard of your technique, I would be, for say…susceptible to it." D said. "Well, I'll give you my word as a hunter. Before I became a hunter, I made a vow that I wouldn't kill any family members…that was a given, I also don't kill friends or role models, and that's where you fit in. I swear by all that is good, I won't try to seduce you and/or kill you. Does that work for you?" Dariel asked.

D nodded. "So, now back to the first issue, can I travel with you?" Dariel asked. D nodded again. Dariel's eyes lit up. "So what kind of hunting job are you on?" Dariel asked. "There's been a family from up in Yserna that's been kidnapped by vampires. Apparently they have no friends or family with enough money to hire a hunter. It's become an acquisition of hunters. The best are going to see if they can get their name down in history to become the best. Also, it seems, that there is going to be a ball of some sort at the vampire's castle. There seems to be a numerous amount of vampires heading to the castle as well as hunters…That's what kind of hunting job I'm on." D said in the usual monotone. "So basically, you're on a charity mission." Dariel said. "Don't take me wrong I'm fine and good with that, but you're already well enough known, why do you now suddenly take a job for free?" "The castle, is the other home of, Dracula…" D said. Dariel perked up. "Oh, so this is more of a, 'I'm gonna go kill my dad for making my life miserable' sort of thing?" Dariel said. D gave a sour look. "Well, I could help, or is this too personal for that?" Dariel said.

D pondered, her help could be of great use, but he wanted to kill his father, Dracula. He WOULD watch him be killed by his own hands. Her help, though…He couldn't turn this down. He could not turn down an ally when one so willingly approached…

"I guess…you could help…" D said. The corner of Dariel's mouth twitched, she was trying not to grin. "Well, we'll need a plan, because from what you've said, we've got lots of competition." Dariel said.

"And since we're going to be teammates…or if that bothers you, allies, then we're going to need to know a bit about each other. I have a feeling…that you won't tell anyone this…but, I'll just tell you now before I decide not to say it at all…I'm…I'm a dhampir." Dariel bit her lip.

D and his horse stopped instantly, and D's hand managed to get out a "Holy sh#$!" "Um, I guess maybe…uh, I shouldn't have told you that?" Dariel said while blushing. "You're a dhampir?" D asked. "Uh…yeah…" Dariel said. "I hadn't noticed anything peculiar, except for your wanting to travel with me." D said.

"Well, I have to be very good at disguises when using the technique that I do…and so I have to disguise my, for say…vampire-ism, as well" Dariel said. D was quiet for a moment. "How do you stop the bloodlust?" D asked. Dariel paused. "Well, I haven't had the bloodlust yet. I don't know why, but I just haven't. My cousin says it comes soon, but…I haven't really had any bloodlust…I came from a family of dhampirs, vampires, and humans. Living with humans, we had to fight off the bloodlust unless we wanted to feed on the blood of our kin, which wasn't really an option. And so, as you probably know there are capsules of dried blood, which one can put in water to make it like having blood, but it's still just a substitute. Our family had none of the Nobility in it, so we weren't really noticed much and were able to live…semi-normal lives…" Dariel said.

------ "I guess you could call that unexpected." D said. "You promise…you won't tell?" Dariel asked softly. D nodded. Dariel smiled. "Now back to working out our plot to get inside the castle…Do you know if just any vampire can come to that ball?" Dariel asked. "I doubt it…But I'd think that if we could stop two vampire's, a count and countess, from coming we could pose as them to get in." D said. "So…are you suggesting we go to the ball, together?" Dariel asked, "I never would have thought of that…hmm." Dariel finished. "The ball begins in two days. We've got to have a plan by then." D said. "We need to check the background of that family…for why would Dracula take that family…just a small family won't do for dozens of vampires…maybe…he has something against the family…or one of the family members…this brings up a very valuable point, we'll need to remember this…" Dariel said.

End of Chapter 2

A/N: I revised it, so now everyone's more in character. It should be better. Chapter 3 will hopefully come semi-soon….