This has chapter has been re-written. Characters have been changed and some minor details, grammatical errors and such.

Chapter One

Haru

I watched him from across the street. Tall, skin glowing from the kiss of the sun, wild orange hair with hints of gold. He was very lithe, almost to the point of being lanky and I was utterly amazed at how beautiful he looked, how much he looked like a prince. I knew he was watching me gawk at him, but frankly I couldn't help it. Something about him fascinated me. Something about him pulled me in.

A gentle presence surrounded me and I felt a gaze that bore into my neck. I refrained from turning around, but I couldn't stop the goose bumps from appearing on my arms and legs.

"Why is it that you sit all alone?" Cold breath and a voice blew into my ear. I shuddered involuntarily.

"To make people like you wonder and ask." I said as I spun around. It was exactly who I had expected it to be but his face was barely 3 centimeters from mine, making me jump. He laughed loudly as I thrust myself backward and toppled into my untouched coffee. "Yuki." My voice a bored drawl.

He was in the seat next to mine faster than my eyes could follow. His eyebrows shot up as he looked at me through soft ash bangs. His eyes flashed red before returning to their regular piercing violet. "Oh, my dear Haru, were you looking at that pitiful human?" I looked away.

"Where's Shigure?" I asked trying to divert the conversation away from me and my fondness for pretty little humans. Yuki's eyes softened at the mention of his bubble brained boyfriend. "Or have you grown tired of him already?"

"You wish Haru." A cold finger was drug down my neck. I shuddered again and stood up, not liking being caused so much discomfort in the span of ten minutes.

"Aw Haru, don't go..." Shigure whined and clamped his arms around my shoulders and I swooned briefly as fangs brushed against my neck.

"I think he wants to go play with the candy across the street." Shigure purred into my ear.

"Get out of my mind!" I muttered without emotion while forcing him back with my aura.

"That was a bit uncalled for." Yuki stated at my back as I walked out into the rain and down the street, I could even picture him playing with is hair as he said it.

'Damn. Don't they have anything better to do than harass me? If they've got so much energy, they should convert it to something a little more useful and less annoying.' I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice as someone fell into stride next to me until they reached over and tapped me on the shoulder. I spun around with a glare, ready to peel the skin off of the mortal I knew it must be. But as soon as I realized who it my mouth dropped and I felt embarrassment flood me.

It was my prince.

"What's a pretty boy like you doing out all alone out in the rain at this time of night?" He asked, his smooth sultry voice caressing the words, as though he were speaking to a lover. His beautiful hair was plastered to his face, rain running down that delicious skin, exquisite long black lashes framing his strikingly familiar, deep crimson eyes.

"Looking for some one to bring me in out of the cold." I said, my voice sounding a lot bolder than I felt. He backed me up against the nearest wall and put his arms on either side of me. Smiling at me, he dipped his head down and captured my lips. I was caught off guard by how forward he was. I didn't even know his name. But in times when a kiss is like a handshake, I should have expected it.

Abruptly the world around me fell away, as his tongue skimmed my lips, light burst behind my eyelids. As if everything I knew had suddenly changed and the world was reborn without fear, hate, or darkness... A burning glow that filled me with joy, yet it was tainted with worry.

"Haru!" Yuki's voice exploded in my mind and though I didn't wish for it, the sound of running made me break the kiss. I saw Shigure first. He was running towards me, fangs gleaming from his open, hissing mouth. He grabbed the man and threw him off me, while Yuki snapped me back to his side. I was stunned into immobility. What was happening?

Then I saw it. A .357 Magnum, a sleek silver beauty with the stamp of The Academy, was gripped in his hand. The man was a Hunter. He was going to kill me. And as that sunk in I realized that Shigure was in Deaths gaze.

Shigure had him pinned to the ground, arms above his head, but only for a second. The man wrapped his long legs around Shigure's waist and threw him to the ground a few feet away. They both jumped up and charged each other again. I turned away, not able to face the fight, but I couldn't look at Yuki either. I don't know how it feels to see a loved one in danger, but I can only imagine the fear and pain. And I was the cause of this dangerous situation.

Suddenly Shigure was beside us and the Hunter had vanished. At first I thought the black haired vampire had killed him but then I realized the sent of blood was not in the air. My eyes swept the alley a bit frantically, and when I met Shigure's eyes I realized he was laughing at me.

"What?" I asked a bit too defensively.

"What are you so worried about?"

"Nothing." I snapped back.

"I see" I felt a surge of anger toward him but then I remembered he had just saved my life. I sent a thank you through my eyes and he nodded in return. "Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"He could've really kicked my ass, but he wasn't prepared for the fight."

"What?"

"I mean his aura... it was open. His defenses were down. I could have easily invaded him, drained him." These words didn't make sense to me. What kind of Hunter allows that to happen? From all that I had heard about Hunters they're taught that they can't let that door down. That they can't bear the soul. That they can't even love. "That was an amateur mistake, and he defiantly was not ..." I heard a large snap announcing a rib popping back into place. Yuki winced, but Shigure only grinned at us like a small boy who had just broken his first bone. "That always feels so weird." I laughed with him, but Yuki just bit his lip, his eyes filled with worry. But my thoughts wondered to the man. And why... couldn't I get him out of my mind.

Kyo

"What happened back there?" Was the question that buzzed through my head. I remember pulling the gun out, but after that was just a buzz. A foggy memory, as though it were old and long ago. And I remember wanting to hold that vampire forever. As long as I lived. The memory vibrated through me and I felt a traitor to the organization that I had pledged my entire life to.

He had the body of a 18-year-old boy, yet he rang of Old World elegance and grace. Just the way he moved told me he had lived for so long and seen so much, but the innocence in his eyes gave the opposite impression as though he had just recently been turned. And his hair... bugged me. It was white. This struck me as odd, because vampire's hair reflects their inner age, the age of the soul, the age they felt while alive. But white for one so young? Not just his hair, his eyes had captured me as well. They were a deep shade of brown with small flecks of yellow, like a crystal. In the light they shimmered as lighter shades of green and gold shimmered through. He was so much paler, so much lovelier, than the prince, Yuki Sohma of the Sohma clan, that had been by his side. "That boy... I want to know... who he is." I said aloud to no one in particular.

"Who?" My computer clicked to life and a shadowed figure sat in the communications box.

"If I knew would I be askin'? Hey old man, you know everything right? A younger boy, hangs around Sohma Prince."

"Don't call me old man, damn it."

"Sorry Ayame, but do you have any information on Yuki's circle?"

"The dark haired moron Shigure?" I shook my head.

"Nah, he had white-"

"Haru."

"Hm?"

"The young one with the white hair, his name is Haru. One of the few vampires with white hair to my knowledge. And his name is reallythe only thing we have on him. He's been connected with three of the Sept Bainge dans le Sang, five if you count Yuki's parents. For some reason The Seven will not disclose anything about him. There are quite a few wild theories out there from bored Lovers. Ancient, first turned, half-breed or even a born. He's been around for quite a while, almost always sighted with Hatori or Yuki."

My mind let this information sink in lazily. The Seven liked their secrets but The Academy trusted them, not much, but enough to keep most satisfied. What I couldn't wrap my head around was why they kept a lid on this one, even Yuki Sohma, a born had files upon files about him, so why not this Haru. Ayame was a Class-A Lover and loyal, so I knew he wasn't withholding, but the fact he had nothing to tell me about the young man unnerved me.

"I'll see you tomorrow Ayame." I mumbled and pushed my laptop closed, throwing a few bills onto the counter and walked out into the early morning air not enjoying it as I would have. It was cold and the air was still heavy from last night's rain, fogging my breath with each exhale. The clouds still overcast the sky and thunder rumbled in the distance, promising more rain, telling me, though the sun wasn't set to rise for another hour or so that the day would be bleak.

As I climbed on to the borrowed Suzuki, I couldn't stop the feelings that came over me. I wanted to see that vampire, Haru, again. I couldn't stop the bizarre and foreign longing within me. The desire, the need to look into those eyes. To drown in the deep chocolate pools of shimmering light. I wanted to drown in those beautiful eyes until time itself stopped. I felt the softness of his hands once more on my face and neck. The simple elegance of his pale lips parting slightly to receive mine...

A fierce emotion stirred within me and I couldn't push it back. It hit me hard and I swerved towards the car on my right. I ignored the shouting men and obnoxious honking and goosed the gas. Faster and faster until the world was a blur. I didn't want to slow down. The faster I went, the less confused I became, the less I thought of Haru, the less my head hurt. I opened my mouth to the frigid air and screamed. I was surprised at how much it sounded like a roar. I screamed and screamed until I forgot what I was so frustrated about. Probably not the healthiest way to deal with it, but better than the alternatives.

I noticed I was doing 165 and ran quite a few red lights and as I skidded to a halt I realized I had no idea where I was headed, but it wasn't back to my apartment. I grunted and turned around wondering, once more, what the hell was wrong with me.

00000

I walked into my cold bare apartment that looked as though it would fall apart at any second, partly my fault, and began stripping. My jacket, holsters, sheaths and shirt all found their way to the floor. I made my way to the bathroom, trying not to step on any live ammunition. I flipped on the switch only to have the light flicker on, then snap off, leaving me in the dark. "Ah, shit!" I cursed and groped around in the dark, searching for the linen closet and grasped the thin chain. I yanked it and ended up with a dull, pale light spilling forth and a chain in my hand. I spotted a cockroach scurrying away on the wall and grimaced but ignored the pest and turned to the plastic sink.

As I splashed freezing water on my face, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I stared at my reflection as if seeing it for the first time. The last time I had actually seen myself had to have been five years ago. Sure, I had looked at myself, but I hadn't really seen myself.

I was startled by the fact that I didn't recognize that man in the mirror. My face now appeared more chiseled with sharper features. My disgusting blood red eyes were narrower and more intense, nose length bangs hanging limply in front of them. My neck was almost too lean on my broad muscular shoulders and my collarbone protruded sharply. I could see a few of my ribs placed against my skin and my pelvic bone jutted out right above my pant line.

My stomach made a loud noise of complaint and I couldn't remember the last time something solid past through my lips. I snorted. I was skin and bone... and muscle I added noting my arms, legs and abs with more than a little satisfaction.

I shut off the water and left the small dingy room for the kitchen. You really never notice how hungry you are unless you aren't working. I lazed into the yellowing kitchen. It had once been white, long ago, and it had probably been cheery back then, but now the bare walls were molding in several places and cobwebs had gathered in the corners and I wondered why this complex wasn't condemned. I nearly tripped over the leg of a chair before making it to the refrigerator. To my dismay all that it held was a few dead bugs that I didn't feel like identifying, an egg carton full of rotten eggs and an empty coke bottle. Yeah, grocery shopping, I'll remember to do that someday.

I yawned walking back into the living room, scratching my neck and popping a few bones before throwing myself onto the couch. My stomach made another angry noise of protest, but I ignored it. I could always eat when I wake up. Assuming I remembered.

00000

"Oi, Kyo! Get up!"

"No..." I mumbled pulling my arms over my head. An icy, slender hand pressed down in the small of my back making me jump. "God damn it, Ayame!" I yelled throwing a shoe at him. He dodged it and another hole was added to my wall.

"God has got nothing to do with it." Ayame said wiggling his eyebrows at me. "When are you going move out of this shit hole? It's falling apart... literally." He stuck a finger through the wall just to prove his point.

"I like this shit hole." I grunted and pulled on the nearest t-shirt. "No asks any questions. About anything."

"You do know your fridge is out of food, right? Though you've got a lot of bugs..." He chuckled and made another hole in the wall.

"Hey, stop that!" I pulled on a holster. "I suppose you're hungry?"

"So are you." He stated as my stomach grumbled loudly. I nodded and attached small knives and sheaths to my forearms. My stomach roared and I doubled over, clutching the crying organ. I tried to cover the pain induced movement by reaching for my jacket, but Ayame saw right through it. He grabbed my wrist gently though his eyes burned with a anger. "When's the last time you ate?" I snapped my wrist away.

"It's about 7:30, right? I want some ramen." I pulled the jacket on and walked over to the door.

"Kyo, I'm over the fact you're a Hunter, even if you're my Hunter, but I won't get over the fact you not eating." Ayame and I had been friends, and I use that term loosely, for years before The Academy had enlisted us. Our SAT scores automatically put us in their recruit list. Once you're on that list, you have to agree to the training or disappear, and to disappear from The Academy would require skill only a Hunter would have. Once they're sure they have you, the candidates are separated into three different categories, Leaders- humans who lead the search for more recruits and run The Academy, usually only top scores make this, Lovers- gatherers of Intel on every known monster in existence, their status, rank and age. One Lover is assigned to each Hunter. And finally Hunters- applicants of strength, stealth, and emotional unresponsiveness receive this position. A Hunter is the equivalent of hit man in the vampire world. Trained to know that we are disposable, heartless, and unloved. That we are to be viewed as the bad guy in every situation and that if we are seen during a kill we stand alone and are to be judged by the humans we protect. But, despite this, we are the only hope for mankind.

I ignored him and kept my back turned. I didn't want him to go on a mommy rant again. I heard a sigh behind me and footsteps.

"Come on then, if its ramen Kyo wants, then its ramen Kyo gets." He grabbed my wrist again, pulled me out into the hallway and slammed the door shut. I heard something crash inside my apartment and I silently hoped the roof hadn't caved in.

Haru

She stared at me as though I were a wounded animal that needed help. That annoyed me. I looked away from her intense gaze, the oddly happy light brown eyes seemed to read me and that annoyed me too. A human I had wanted, still wanted, had almost taken my life, not only a human, a Hunter. Her pity swooped through me and hurt my soul.

"Kimi, go away." My voice was calm and steady, but held a fierceness I was surprised by. I didn't want her to read me. I didn't want him to know that I still thought of that human, that Hunter. An immortal scream erupted within me and my aura flooded the restaurant. A vampire in the corner fell off his stool and quickly walked out, but Kimi just looked at me. Her knowing eyes washed over me taking me in, reading me like I don't like to be read.

"You like this Hunter?" This was a question, though it sounded like a statement. She threw a lock of her long brown hair over her shoulder, smirking briefly at a human that gazed at her as if she were a goddess, though her eyes didn't leave me for long. Kimi may be a flirt and act like a bimbo but she wasn't as air-headed as she let others believe. I sighed and looked down at my long pale fingers. I couldn't hide from this woman and I hated that. My guardian, my protector, my reader, my Track. This girl was much wiser about the ways of the vampire than me and made sure I never forgot it.

"Yes." I muttered boredly, still not looking at her. From the corner of my eye I saw her smirk as though her thoughts were correct and leaned back in her chair as though she had won some kind of victory. I felt her eyes scan me and felt violated by it so completely I almost growled at her.

"Why didn't this Hunter kill you? Yuki said he had the chance. I want to know why he didn't do it."

"Does it look like I know? Why don't you go ask him yourself." I snapped. I could feel the fire that blazed in my eyes and I wanted to smack her. Suddenly her gaze shifted to over my shoulder towards the door.

"Oh my." she said, fascinated by whatever she saw. I looked at her, a little puzzled, and then followed her eyes.

"Hatori..." I breathed the name. Hatori was back. His beautiful stormy grey eyes turned to me and captured my complete attention, the bar around me fading away. His eyes were so gentle yet held a fierceness that scared me at times. But then his eyes were the focal point only for me; to any other, immortal or otherwise, their eyes would automatically go to his pale red lips. He had a wide mouth that dominated the lower half of his face, but on him it was so with such elegance that it didn't seem as un-proportioned as it would have been on any mortal man. His short onyx hair was cut just above the ears with bangs that fell just an inch above his strong chin. He had been five years older than me when he 'died', so his body was at its best. Toned in all the right places, soft in all the best places, and striking in all the needed places.

Hatori. As much as I hated our race, our kind, I couldn't hate him. He had made me. I was unwilling, yes, but still he had made me. My Maker, my Lord, my Master, my Hatori.

He took a step into the room and, as always, everything paused. Everything held its breath. His steps were so graceful and elegant you'd have thought he was floating... every step planned and careful.

"Welcome home, My Master." I grabbed his hand and bent forward until my forehead touched it gently. I gazed up at him as Kimi did the same with a small giggle. Hatori's gaze trapped my own and he sent me images of his journey. After he had filled me in, I heard his voice sending the simple word Boring in my mind. I had to smile. Once a boy, always a boy I guess. "Why have you returned early?" Though I worried I knew the answer and he did not put those worries to rest.

"Because of you Haru." he smiled and his right eyebrow twitched slightly. I got angry. I knew him well enough to know what that twitch meant. He wanted desperately to laugh at me. I couldn't meet his eyes after that. It stung. It hurt so badly that my mentor wanted to laugh at my stupidity. "Kimi, leave us."

"Yes my Lord." She stood gracefully and walked away. I watched her disappear and silently wished I could go with her. Having her read me was a thousand times better than having Hatori scold me.

I kept my face lowered and waited, expecting a well deserved scolding, but he surprised me again by folding his strong muscular arms around me. I felt him breathing into my hair, slow and even, as though he were asleep. My breath left me as he kissed the top of my head, flattered to have his attention. He let out a shaky breath and squeezed me tighter. "Haru, Haru, Haru. My foolish, foolish love. I was so worried when they called me and told me you had been attacked..." he pulled back and kissed my forehead. "Come. Let's go out."

00000

Hatori was part of the Sept Bainge dans le Sang, meaning Seven Bathed in Blood or something close to that; they were the oldest vampires in the world, the first to ever exist and are considered Gods among the immortals. The lore says they had been the closest, dearest friends to Anubis. Amun-Ra, the sun God, came to hate the bond that Anubis shared with the seven mortals and placed a curse upon them. To die, but never to die, never able to set foot into his glorious rays, and only able to have strength by feasting on the blood of their loved ones and neighbors. Amun-Ra was powerful, almost as powerful as he thought himself to be, but rage and jealousy were imbedded in the curse and it came out jumbled and distorted. Things were taken away and things were added that had not been intended. It was rumored that Anubis had something to do with it.

These friends of Anubis; Altair (whom I know as Hatori), Yuki's parents Arcturus and Naric, Antarnes, the twins- Axrux and Acrux, and Minosa; were forced to live only in darkness and feed of the blood of others, as intended. But in turn were given inhuman strength and abilities, immortality, and beauty that could not be rivaled by any human or God. Even the vain Aphrodite had to bow in their presence.

Gods among humans, Gods among immortals, Gods among Gods. Their 'children' were given their curse, yet they would never rival them in beauty and strength.

00000

"Oh, what are you drinking?" Shigure asked leaning over the table and sniffing my cup. "White Russian?" He stood back up and looked at me, the soft lighting highlighting his pale skin.

"Would I drink anything else?" I sloshed the red liquid around in the cup. "Taste. Still warm." Shigure grabbed the cup, sniffed it then took a small sip. I thought he was going to spit it out all over my face.

"Ulgh! That tastes disgusting Haru." He wiped his mouth with back of his hand and sat on the table. "You should try Modern Egyptian, or Young French. Oh, Rebel Aristocrat is always good."

"Get off the table." Yuki growled walking up behind Shigure and giving him a gentle tap on the top of his head.

"Yuki!" Shigure gushed warmly, jumping onto the smaller male. Yuki tried to look annoyed as Shigure kissed his neck, but failed miserably and ended up with a soft smile on his face. Hatori looked on with a stone face and brushed his hand against mine under the table. I realized then what that stare meant. He wanted to be able to do that. He wanted to be able to hold someone out in the open, to be able to show his affection without worrying if anyone might see them. He wanted that freedom.

Yuki and Shigure plopped down next to Hatori and flagged down a waiter, but I hardly noticed. Hatori still stared into my eyes, making me feel very self-aware. The swirling grey of his eyes pulled me in only to be ripped away from me by Yuki, who grabbed Hatori's arm and pulled him down, whispering into his ear. Shigure just grinned at me, tearing a coaster to shreds with his long nimble fingers and a small smile broke out over Hatori's face. Yuki smiled and let Hatori sit back up. They all knew something that I did not. And that was irritating. Everything is irritating me tonight and there was nothing I could do about it.

Then, without warning, Hatori grabbed my hand and kissed me savagely, tongue slipping into my mouth and exploring every inch of it, sending pulses of electricity through my body. I was taken aback but swam in the kiss, a gentle nagging in the back of my mind kept me from fully enjoying it. A comparison to a kiss I'd had just the other night. Shigure let out a snort. "You should have given him some kind of warning, or at least let him breathe!" He said, clapping.

"Why? I like this effect better. Him being dumbfounded and speechless is much, much better." Hatori smiled and nuzzled my neck. After shock wore off panic flooded my body.

"But, what about..."

"It's all taken care of." That's when I noticed that no one was moving. Everything frozen into a slumber of time. I whipped around to face Yuki an anger rising from within.

"Fix it. You can't be doing this. All you do is stop the people but when they wake up an hour will have past and-" A loud horrendous screech stopped me in mid babbling frustration. Hatori looked at me, a sort of shock dawning over his face.

"What the name of… What was that?" We were all at the door in a flash, careful not to disturb the people frozen in place. My heart thundered. Who had ever heard of a mortal, or immortal, who was unaffected by the freezing charm that they were not shielded from?

We peered out into the unknown darkness. Hatori and Shigure held a hand out to stop me and Yuki from leaving the sanctity of their presence. Hatori moved like a cat, almost losing solid form from time to time, Shigure's movements sharper, less smooth and filled with purpose. I got excited in spite of myself, sure it was unknown, but that didn't stop me from feeling the rush of a possible death a chance of a fight. "Wait here." Hatori mouthed grabbing Shigure's shoulder and they both vanished in a dull shimmery fog.

"No way in hell am I missing this." I breathed out and started for the street.

"Haru!" Yuki hissed into my ear. I shook off his hand and rounded the corner. The cars that lined the street told a story of the people inside. A man about to hit a young woman, a boy spilling a dark liquid onto an older boys head, young couples kissing and laughing. 'What an average boring life they all must lead..." I tapped on the glass and smiled, slightly upset by the fact I could not recall my time as a human, wondering again why I seemed to be the only one without something to go on. Someone to miss.

"Ah, shit!" A voice cursed somewhere ahead of me.

"Yuki, I hope you didn't touch something and ruin it." I grinned. A hand clamped down on my shoulder, scaring me out of my wits.

"That wasn't me..." Yuki looked before me; the look in his eyes was curiosity and not fear. I followed his gaze, still unable to comprehend what I was seeing. Tanned skin, a flash of orange and a glare of crimson red. And it didn't click until Yuki leaned over and breathed the words to me, "Your Hunter..."

Hope you enjoy this journey of my re-write and like the changes I have made. I love this story and I'm trying to fix all the inconsistencies while making this a better story to read.