Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Thirst for Blood ❯ Chapter 2

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer. Ranma and Sailor Moon are not mine, I'm just borrowing them. The vampires though are mine, although bits and pieces have been inspired by everything from Anne Rice to Blade to World of Darkness to Buffy.

Thirst for Blood

By: Dusk

Jupiter tried her best not smile as she fought the monster one on one. Sailor Mercury, Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus were handling the other one with magic and dodging mostly. They were wearing it down slowly but surely, they would win in the end . So would Jupiter, she would just have more fun before it was over. That was one thing she missed about her old life before becoming a Senshi. She never got a real good excuse to fight anymore. This creature though had closed too fast for her to use a ranged attack so she had no choice but fight hand to hand. The other had run at her fellow Sailor Scouts but they had had time to prepare and launch attacks. Now those three were keeping the other creature on the defensive while Jupiter fought it out and had the time of her life.

Sure it was bad that some people had been hurt before the Senshi could arrive but nothing felt quite as good as beating the tar out of some one when they really deserved it, well except maybe kissing. After this fight Makoto would have to see if there were any cute guys around, preferable one that looked like her old sempai.

As Jupiter savored that last thought she heard the sound that she had been dreading since the fight had started.

"Deep Submerge"

With that utterance the monster that Sailor Moon, Mercury and Venus had been fighting was hit with powerful magic. Jupiter knew that the fight was as good as over now. She rushed her monster with as much speed as possible and attacked ferociously. She used every down and dirty move she knew in the next fifteen seconds. She had to take the monster down before Uranus arrived and stole all her fun. Jupiter managed to land a powerful kick that moved the monster backwards enough for Sailor Jupiter to unleash one of her powerful lightening attacks. As the monster lay there twitching from the shock Jupiter once again heard one of the sounds she hated to hear.

"World Shaking". Jupiter could only watch in frustration as the attack slammed into the incapacitated monster, destroying it.

Uranus walked towards Jupiter and looked down at her. "Stop wasting time. There's two more monsters attacking people in the park." With that she turned around and ran out of the mall that the fight had been located in.

"Jupiter you really should use your magic to fight these creatures. It's dangerous to fight them hand to hand, they're stronger than us." Mercury was concerned for her friend. Jupiter had been in the dumps lately and Mercury was concerned about her judgment.

"Just remember I was handling one by myself hand to hand and it took three of you using magic to fight just one." Jupiter said.

"Let's save this for later. There are people in the park who need help." Venus said. "We have to keep our eye on the goal right now. We'll decide tactics later."

The Scouts arrived at the park mere minutes later only to find that the monsters were missing. Not only were the monsters missing but the police and emergency personnel were treating the wounded.

Sailor Moon looked around and asked one of the passing officers "Where are the monsters?"

The officer looked at her in slight awe as she spoke to him. It was several seconds before he gathered his wits enough to answer her. "Uh, they've already been destroyed."

"What? how?"

"Uh this guy just sorta dropped out of trees and started attacking the creatures. We tried to tell him to run but he ignored us. Our weapons didn't seem to harm the things at all but this guy, he was something else." the officer said with great respect, slight disbelief and a little fear. "He just moved so fast we could barely track him. And the way he slammed those monsters around it was unreal." than the officer hesitated and seemed to shudder briefly. "I just wish he wasn't so brutal. Snapping a monsters neck like that then hitting the other before the body could drop. That's unsettling."

"What sort of attacks did he use?" Mars asked. Perhaps the name of his attacks would tell them something about where this person came from.

"He used punches and kicks, real fast. It was like watching a kung fu movie. He was just everywhere at once.:

Jupiter spoke up next. "You mean this guy handled two monsters, hand to hand, by himself?"

The Officer shuddered slightly before replying "Almost like slaughtered actually." The scouts were impressed.

Mercury was the next to speak up. "Where is he now?"

"We don't know. He just took off after the second monster was dead."

Mercury asked another question even though she was pretty sure she already knew the answer "What did he look like?"

Many predators hunted on the planet earth. They existed in the air, the sea and on land. They varied widely from powerful and swift to slow and enduring, from careful to reckless and hundreds of shades between. Almost all predators though shared a couple of traits in common. They were all deadly. Ranma was no different. He also bore another trait that nearly every predator had. He adapted to his prey. That was why when the sun came over the horizon Ranma ceased his hunt. His prey would go to ground during the bright daylight hours and become impossible to find. Ranma's prey hated the sunlight for it caused them pain and weakened them. The beast had no concept of fear but they fled the sun out of instinct. Ranma had no fear of the sunlight but like his prey he rested. He rested so that like his prey, when the sun fell, he could hunt.

Ranma chose one of the parks with large trees as his resting ground. He sought the high branches of one of the tallest trees as his resting spot. Once settled down he made sure he would not be spotted from below and he let himself sleep. And while he slept, he dreamed, and remembered.

He was in China again, with his father traveling through the wilderness as they made their way to a special training ground. They had camped for the night and huddled close to the fire to protect themselves from the chill mountain winds. The wind had been fierce so they had piled the wood high on the fire for more warmth. The sound of logs burning had masked the noise of their attackers until it was nearly too late. Five humanoid beasts had charged out of the woods toward their unprotected backs. Both Ranma and Genma had sensed them when they were near enough. They had tried to move out of the way and into defensive stance but the beasts were already on them by then. Normally five such creatures would have been no match against martial artists of Ranma and Genma's ability, even with the advantage of surprise. Unfortunately the beasts had not been the problem. Something had commanded, or perhaps more accurately, herded the beasts towards the two wandering martial artists.

Genma and Ranma had moved to stand side to side with the fire protecting their backs. Two moved towards Genma while three lunged at Ranma seemingly to try and separate the two warriors. The attack had been successful with the ferocity of the beasts' charge forcing both Ranma and Genma to dodge to the sides and therefore apart. While Ranma had been busy fighting off the three attacking him a sixth creature had attacked his father. It had moved much faster than any of the beasts, and it moved with a deadly intelligent purpose. Ranma had finally taken down one the beasts attacking him when he had heard his father bellow in pain.

Ranma had turned to see his father clutch his stomach as blood dripped off the claws of the creature that had followed the beasts. Ranma saw its features as it smiled. Its body was human and dressed in the sort of clothing that would be more common in a city than out in the mountains. It's face also human and would have been considered very refined if it weren't for the way it twisted into a mad grin. Hard eyes, strangely human in appearance despite the odd orange color that they glowed. Perhaps the color was from the fire but Ranma didn't think so. The only two things that set it aside as glaringly inhuman were the vicious claws it had instead of fingernails and the large fangs that could be seen as it grinned. As Ranma watched it raised its hand to it's mouth and licked the blood off. With cold dread Ranma realized that they were facing a Vampire, a creature out of legend that existed with a narrow minded purpose, to kill and feed. Ranma had to turn away as the two surviving monsters he had originally been facing attacked again, using his moment of distraction to their advantage.

Ranma fought fiercely but worrying about his father distracted him and he couldn't regain enough of an advantage to do serious harm to the two beasts still attacking him. A break came when one stumbled too close to the fire and Ranma savagely kicked it into the flames. The move cost him though when the remaining beast lashed out at the extended leg and caught Ranma hard on the knee. Fortune sided with the Saotomes again when the now flaming beast ran out of the flames flailing it's arms wildly enough that it interfered with the vampire fighting Genma. Genma didn't hesitate as he leapt over the fire, grabbed Ranma and took off running.

The Vampire had set off in immediate pursuit with its remaining beasts following close behind it. Genma and Ranma had run for hours through the night until the howls of the sounds of pursuit had ceased when sun had finally shown itself. Then they had still run for another hour afterward before Genma finally collapsed from exhaustion and the wound to his stomach. Ranma sank to the ground beside his father as his wounded knee gave out as well.

"We'll recover hear Ranma, than set out again as soon as we can." Genma said wheezing for breath "Facing that thing is too dangerous in our condition. We'll see if there will be help near Jusenkyo. It's a martial arts training ground, there have be other warriors near by. We're only a day away, we can make it." Ranma was worried. When Genma admitted it was time to seek help that usually meant that it was probably already too late.

Ranma nodded, too exhausted to voice his answer.

It was than that Ranma woke from his remembering dream. Of course he remembered even awake how the dream ended. He fought off the tears the memory evoked and pushed the emotions aside. Instead he focused on his hatred and thirst for vengeance.

As Ranma banished the memories from his head he assessed his environment. He was still in his tree but it was now late afternoon. It was safe to leave his cover without attracting attention now. When first he had returned to Japan, truancy officers had tried to send him to school. He had left them far behind and had learned to avoided open areas when he had arrived in Tokyo. But now school was out for the day and it was safe for him to be in the open. He spotted a pool of water near by and dove in. His hair turned from black to red, his form shrank and changed from male to female.

The change no longer mattered to him any more. Those monsters had stolen his manhood from him, but he was stronger than that. He turned his supposed disadvantage into an advantage, his new form became his camouflage so he could get near his prey without them knowing. As the thought flitted through his mind he decided that from now on he would sleep in his female form as well. Being recognized during the day would be giving his prey an advantage he didn't want them to have. His father had taught him to never give his opponents an advantage unless that advantage was a false one.

He remembered his father had taught him a technique that had been effective when he was little but had grown less effective as he grew older. Now that he was younger looking and female as well, it seemed to work wonders again. It was degrading but a warrior needed to eat. With that thought Ranma looked for an opportunity and spotted middle aged man walking through the park. She approached him and tried to soften her eyes.

"Excuse me mister." Ranma said using as cute a voice as he could "I lost my bus money, I was wondering if you had some spare change."

"Sure miss." With that the man dug into his pockets and pulled out a few coins and handed them to Ranma.

Ranma smiled gratefully "Thanks sir. My parents really worry if I get home late." Ranma had found that sometimes he could get a bit more change if acted nice enough.

"I would too if I was your father." The man said "Tokyo isn't as safe as it used to be. Now run along, you don't want to miss the bus do you?" He had seemed to have nothing but kindness in his eyes. Ranma knew the man would die if he encountered any of blood loving creatures that came out at night. But he didn't dwell on it, he simply focused on looking for another mark as he accepted the change.

"Sure and thanks again." It had taken him a few days to re-master the technique and adapt it to his female form. Being meek wasn't in his nature but it was necessary if wanted to eat. If he stole his food like he and pops used to he would have the police to deal with. He couldn't afford to be run out of the city if he wanted to continue hunting within it. If he had to deal with police as well as vampires and beasts he would never win. As it was right now he would probably never win.

Rei made her way to the arcade were she would meet her friends and fellow Senshi. She had been so distracted from the events of last night that she couldn't concentrate in class. Her distraction had led to detention and now she was late. She hoped that Usagi had detention today as well. The moon princess would never lat Rei live it down if she was late for a meeting, especially since Rei was always harping on Usagi about being late. Some times Rei really hated poetic justice.

As Rei arrived at the arcade her hopes were dashed as not only was Usagi there, but Minako as well.

"Hah look who's late. Now who's the flake huh Rei?" Usagi delighted in finely being able to get back at Rei after all these years.

"Ah flake is late all the time. An ordinary person is allowed to have occasional off day." Rei replied "Just out of curiosity how did you manage to avoid detention today?"

"She didn't. She just has more practice running and was closer to the arcade than you were." Makoto replied.

"Makoto! How could you betray me like that? I was just about to let her have it good." Usagi mock whined. "I'm your princess after all."

"That's right and I have to make sure you don't abuse position." Makoto replied smugly.

Rei rolled her eyes. She should have known Usagi would beat her here if they both had detention. "Just for that Usagi I'm not letting you read my manga when we meet at the temple next time."

"Wah. Rei you 're so mean."

"By the way Rei. Why exactly did you have detention exactly." Ami asked. She had to look out for her friends. If Rei was having trouble with her homework Ami would have no problems helping her.

"I was just distracted by the activity last night. When I had my vision I thought we had a couple more days before anything happened. That and person in my vision still seems very dangerous." Rei said.

"Oh come on. He was beating up monsters he can't be that bad." Minako said.

"He also killed them with his bare hands. Two of them, by himself. It took nearly four of us to handle two." Rei replied

"Actually he may have killed more than that." Ami interjected "The paper has a story about a man being attacked in an alley. He describes three monsters like the ones in the mall and the park. He also mentioned that a man helped him, even though the never saw who it was. When the police checked the alley they found evidence of three dead monsters."

There were slack jaws around the group at that. This man had killed most likely five monsters in a single night, maybe more. They were beginning to understand why Rei felt he was dangerous.

"What do you mean by evidence exactly?" Makoto asked

"Well the bodies had decomposed quite a bit by the time the police got there. When forensics arrived almost nothing was left. I noticed that the bodies in the park were seemed to be decomposing as well." Ami replied.

"Wow I should read the paper more often. It's just full of information." Makoto said.

"Actually the last bit wasn't in the paper. I had to look in the police server to find the forensics report." Ami said

Rei looked at Ami and blinked a couple before asking "Uh, Ami, isn't hacking a public website sort of illegal?" The last was said in a quiet whisper.

"Yes, but so is vigilantism. Besides public safety is more important than at the moment." Ami replied. Then she added with a smile "Besides I'm sure Usagi will grant me a pardon when she becomes Queen."

All of Ami's friends looked at her, stunned.

"That's it the world coming to and end. Setsuna doesn't know all, Rei is late for a meeting and now Ami is cracking jokes." Makoto said.

"If we could get serious here for a moment. There's another thing that worries me. There was more than one attack tonight and there were also several groups as well." Rei said. She really wanted to get back to things that were easy to understand. Ami cracking jokes and committing illegal acts without looking guilty were a little disturbing to her view of the universe, and many others views as well she willing to wager.

"Yes this a serious departure from most of our enemies method of operation." Ami agreed. "we may have to alter our own tactics as well. Simply sitting and waiting for the enemy to come to us probably won't work this time." She stopped and paused for a moment before continuing "A man died at the park before the monsters were dealt with."

That made all the girls gathered there sober up for the next several moments. "Was that in the paper as well Ami?" asked Makoto.

"No. I don't think the police will release information like that any time soon. It could cause serious panic among the populous."

"This is serious this time isn't it. Some one actually died because we couldn't protect them." Usagi sounded as if her world was crumbling. And maybe it was. After all they had always been able to save everyone before.

"It's okay Usagi It's not our fault. We didn't kill him, the monsters did." Minako tried to console her friend.

"I know. But it's real hard to believe it. We're supposed to protect people. We always managed before. This is the first time that we failed and let an innocent person get killed." Usagi was crying quietly to herself. It was that aspect of Usagi that made the rest of the Senshi follow the princess despite her often childish attitude. Compassion as strong as Usagi's was rare in the world.

"Don't worry we won't let it happen again. We know what we're facing now. We won't let anyone die again." Makoto said with fierce determination.

In a darkened room in an unknown location another meeting was taken far more sinister than the one being attended by young school girls. One figure sat on an ancient thrown. Several figures kneeled before it in submission. Their figures were all hidden by cloaks with hoods pulled over heir faces, even the figure on the thrown. It was impossible to tell any thing more than vague body size of any given individual. Features like sex, age, nationality or even if the figures were entirely human were impossible to discern. Not that anyone was there who didn't already know every individual who was attending but Traditions had to be kept up.

"How did the test progress?" Asked the figure on the thrown.

"Not well my lord. Of the nine Thralls released none returned. The power of the human race seems to have increased while we slept." Answered one of the kneeling figures.

The figure seemed slightly surprised by the report but not overly upset. "Losses were to be expected." The figured said to itself as well as those around it. "The defenders of the humans have grown in power or numbers it would seem. Very well we will test them again in two nights time. This time let half the thralls experience fear." Every one of the Brethren knew their lords plan with that announcement. Letting a thrall experience fear would also give it a survival instinct. When one returned it could be fed upon by the brethren and remaining thralls so that they could absorb the experiences of that thrall and be better able to fight whatever defender had killed their kind. "If none return we will proceed with even more caution. Also I want information about what has happened over the last several hundred years. Anything to explain this sudden rise in power. Be cautious but not overly so, the humans may have merely been lucky last night. You are all dismissed"

"Yes My lord" The voices answered as one before rising and leaving the hall. Each new their place and assignment. Humanity may have changed greatly in the last several hundred years but they had not. They were eternal and always would be. Humanity simply had to be reminded of that from time to time.

To be continued (when ever I can find the time.)

Authors Notes:

As always C&C is welcome.

I find it sorta of interesting the number of people who think that Ranma is a vampire himself or evil in this story. He simply supposed to be very dangerous, like a wounded animal. I probably destroyed several peoples hopes right there. But oh well it is my story.