Akira licked at the wound on his left forearm, snarling in thought. He sat
the, only human, in the local graveyard, the crescent moon hanging high in
the sky.
What worried him most was the fact that his wolfish traits had carried over
from his alternative form. He would never admit it to himself but he was
scared. Talbain was right. The werewolf was a curse.
"True curse is thou blessed form... is it thus the Devil's whim? Or God's
folly?"
Akira mouthed the scriptures of the black book, the touching words that
Talbain taught him. The power within his dark form elevated him, released
him. Yet in his heart he hated it and loved it at the same time. The rage
and the blood-lust condemned him. Made him think only of suicide, by silver
bullet. But the freedom and roughness kept him alive, though seldom kept him
sane.
A tear of frustration and sadness slid down his cheek and splashed silently
onto his hand. He crept among the tombstones, heading for the monumental
crypt in the central area of the desolate site.
Arriving at the entrance, he ran his fingers over the engraved memorial
plate.
Here lies Michael Williams and his devoted wife, Jeanette.
Loved in life, may you both rest in peace.
Akira had no idea who these people were, yet they filled him with jealousy.
To be 'loved in life' was a gift everyone should have. Yet here he was,
alone in the cold darkness, loveless and forgotten. Despite that, he took
his revenge by hiding in their personal tomb, day and night, until the night
of the full moon came to claim his soul.
YOU THINK I WILL TAKE THAT FROM YOU? YOU MAKE ME SICK! YOU SCUM!
The raged face of the girl filled his mind and he ripped the doors open,
slamming them against the wall, wishing that they were her head.
His blood splattered the floor in fat little droplets and he made his was
over to the east wall. He moved aside a stone gargoyle, its dog-like face
twisted in a growl, and removed a large leather back-pack. Heaving with
effort, he applied bandages to his wounds and lay still on the icy ground,
listening to his heartbeat as the pain pulsed around his body.
YOU THINK I WILL TAKE THAT FROM YOU? YOU MAKE ME SICK! YOU SCUM!
The girl screamed again, echoing in his mind.
She smiled at him teasingly. On one hip, she held the black book, leaning
slightly, her condescending body language filling him with hate.
"That's mine!" Akira yelled "Give it to me!" He looked down at his hands and
saw the hair spreading and claws lengthening, yet the elevation of the
transformation failed to arrive, leaving him wolfish and totally afraid.
The girl blew a kiss at him and skipped forward. Akira lunged at her, aiming
for her exposed throat that peeped out from the collar of some kind of
uniform. He recognised it as the local boarding school's.
He hurled himself at her, opening his muzzle, yet his body jerked to a
violent stop just before her. He heaved his body yet it refused to go any
closer.
"Aarrrrrrg!" he moaned. He looked down and saw his paws bound and chained
up, the chains leading of into the distance. Around his neck he felt the
heavy weight of a metal collar. The weight became unbearable and he sunk to
the ground. The girl skipped closer and crouched before him, dangling the
book as if it were a bone for a puppy.
"You want this, Puppy?" she giggled, flicking his ears.
I am not a common dog! I am the strongest darkstalker! I'll show you!
He tried to yell at her, yet his mouth disobeyed him. All that escaped his
snout was a frightened, desperate whimper.
"Good puppy." She patted his head. He urged his arm forwards, to slit her
throat, but the shackles prevented it. She withdrew the book. "Bow for your
mistress!"
He felt helpless as, against his will, he pushed is snout into the dirt. He
whimpered, his tail wagging slowly on the ground. He felt her shoe grind his
head into the ground.
"Puppy, puppy, bad little puppy!" she sang, twisting her foot in his skull.
He howled as he lost control of his body, urinating down himself.
The girl screeched with laughter as Akira howled in anguish.
"YOU THINK I WILL TAKE THAT FROM YOU? YOU MAKE ME SICK! YOU SCUM!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Akira howled. He sprang up, ignoring the sparks of pain
in his muscles. He looked around. It was silent and desolate. He looked at
the floor. It was perfectly dry, except for a few drops of blood and unknown
liquid. He breathed deeply and crouched next to them. One thing that he was
truly thankful for from the curse was that his normal human senses had been
heightened, even when he was not in werewolf form.
He sniffed at them and sighed with relief. They carried the scent of herbs
and flesh. It was drool...and only a dream. He felt his blood burn, as in
transformation. His relief melted into rage and he heaved open the door. He
tilted his head upwards, sneering at the fattening moon in the darkness. His
hard, muscled body bathed in the silvery light, he stepped into the cool
night. He sniffed the wind. The flowery perfume of the cherry trees wafted
towards him, but beyond that, the fresh, full-blooded scent of humans
drifted into his nose. His stomach rumbled and he placed a hand on it,
gripping the material. Humans...food...victims, that's all they were. His
revenge will be satisfied, and that girl will feel the full force of it.
Once again the moon sparkled in his eyes, a thin rim of shadow preventing
wholeness.
"My soul..." He whispered, his wounds calling out for soothing. He shook
himself back to his senses. He clenched his fists, his nails biting into his
palm. He gazed over to the school compound, despite the fact that it was
hidden by a thick layer of trees. He smiled, his teeth sliding under his
curling lips.
"Soon, you unworthy little wretch. I'll show you how bad this puppy is...
when I rip right through your throat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hanako rang the doorbell and waited, adjusting her bag, that was slung over
one shoulder, and biting her thumb knuckle nervously. She still felt a
little drowsy from the long train ride and yawned.
Please Felicia. I feel that there is something I must do. I want to know who
I am. What I am. I need more information. Akira said he's come for me. He's
dead set against me...I need to know why. I need to know about the book. I
need to know about the Darkstalkers.
"Now, Hanako. Please mind your manners with him. John's a lovely guy really.
But being a werewolf...it hurts him, as, I suppose, it does everyone who has
to face it."
Felicia passed Hanako a map. Hanako opened it and absorbed the details.
Little red lines scanned the page, leading to a symbol of an apartment,
ringed in the same red pen.
"Are you sure he can help me?"
Felicia remained silent.
"Do I really have to go alone? Can't you come with me? Five towns away is
awfully far. What if I get lost? What if a pull a cat-attack and get dragged
away by mad scientists?" Hanako's skin began to hum with heat, sprung from
anxiety and her claws eased out from the ends of her fingers.
Felicia laughed, shaking with mirth.
"Too late, Han-chan!"
"Grrrrrrrrrr!" Hanako growled to herself, pulling on the new ears that
protruded from her head, through the newly pink hair. "I just calmed down to
human form five minutes ago! Not again!!"
"Just relax and that wont happen. 'kay? And besides, John will respect you
more if go alone. He---you wouldn't want me to get in the way."
Hanako tilted her head.
"You hiding something, Leesha?"
Felicia blushed.
"Of-of course not! Its just...now you have...come into your own, you need to
become more independent. John'll explain it better than I can. Here...take
your book."
"My book...?"
"Yes...John'll..."
"Yes, yes....John will explain...the wonderful Mr. Talbain."
"Definitely."
"And about the red-headed guy...Akira?"
Felicia grabbed Hanako by her shoulders and shook her desperately.
"Please, Hanako! Be very careful when you talk about the boy! He's more than
you realise."
Hanako gasped.
"I...know..."
Felicia didn't answer, just slipped the black book into the bag. She closed
it up and passed it to the other woman.
"It's time to go. Please be careful."
Hanako snapped back to the present. There was a scratching at the other side
of the door and it opened slightly, the chained lock preventing it from
opening completely.
>From the shadows of the room, two golden eyes scanned her coldly.
"Whatever, you're sellin' I don't want any of it!" the voice was rough and
angry. He slammed the door and Hanako jumped with the noise.
Hanako hesitated, but she knocked again, her voice escaping in a nervous
squeak.
"Mr. Talbain? I'm n-not selling anything. I need your help. Please."
There was no answer.
"Please?"
Talbain roared. "Get out of here, moron! I have no time for people."
Hanako swallowed nervously, choosing her words delicately.
"But, Sir! I've come such a long way! I have nowhere to go!"
Talbain laughed, scornfully.
"And that means what to me, ditz?"
An unwelcome vision of the snide Akira forced it's way into her mind. How
did Talbain know Akira? They must of been close...they sound so alike, right
down to the name-calling and beastly attitude.
"I-I thought...you could help me."
The voice began to fade inside the apartment.
"Tough going, kid. I can't."
Hanako closed her eyes in concentration and leant sideways on the peeling
door frame.
"That's not what Felicia said."
Silence. The door opened a fraction and the golden eyes frowned at her
cruelly. He snorted at her.
"And that means what to me?"
Hanako sighed deeply and eased closer to the crack.
"Sir, I'm in desperate need of answers. Felicia said you can help. Please?"
"I have no idea what the hell you're on about. Now get lost, before I get
angry..."
Hanako slammed on the door, making it rattle.
"I'm a goddamn Darkstalker, Talbain. And I know you are too. You're a
werewolf."
"Shut up, you stupid little sh--!"
He stopped mid-sentence and calmed himself, running a hand over his face.
"Just...get in here before anyone sees!"
Hanako jumped a little and smiled as Talbain shut the door. After a moment
it opened completely and a hand shot out and grabbed her by the strap of her
vest top and pulled her into the shadow.
It was hot and dark in the apartment, the sun hardly penetrated the thick
faux-velvet curtains, yet all the heat of the day escaped into the room,
making it seem dank and suffocating.
"Thank you, Mr. Talbain." Hanako said, bowing slightly, hoping to display
her appreciation.
"Yeah whatever, kid." He mumbled. In the darkness, he lit a match. In the
miniature fire, his skin caught an orange-red glow.
His eyes downcast, he drew the match to his lips, lighting a cigarette. He
shook the flame out and flicked the charred match away, sucking on the
smoking stick. The amber tip shone out in the darkness. Hanako coughed and
Talbain switched on the ceiling light, a single bulb extending from a wire,
devoid of decoration or a lampshade.
Hanako blinked against the light and opened her mouth slightly, absorbing
the nakedness of the room. The room's floor was wood, scratched and
completely bare apart from used matches littering the floor and a single ash
tray. His bed lay in the far corner, sheets crumpled and pillow dented.
Hanako looked at Talbain who frowned at her, crossing his arms in annoyance.
Hanako guessed he was about 27, yet he acted a lot older, more bitter and
angry. He stood before her, his top half naked, deeply muscled, a few fading
cuts healing across his chest. Bruises appeared on his shoulders and
stomach, which seemed completely solid.
This guy's definitely a Darkstalker. Either that or her works out. A lot.
She raised her gaze to his face. He dragged on the cigarette and blew out
the smoke, watching her silently, a frown plastered to his face. Once again,
Hanako's mind filled with visions of Akira, the same frown piercing her.
Talbain looked her up and down slowly, cigarette held in between his lips as
he re-crossed his arms. He relaxed.
"Sorry, babe." He purred, holding out a cigarette from the packet, "You want
one?"
Hanako slipped it out of the packet and looked at it.
"I shouldn't."
Talbain shrugged and lit a second match.
"Why you worrying? Not like smokes damage our type."
Hanako's face clouded with confusion. Talbain rolled his eyes. "Please!" He
said, sighing hopelessly. "We're semi-immortal. Just light the goddamn
thing..."
Hanako placed the cigarette in her mouth as Talbain lit it. Hanako blew out
the smoke.
"What do you mean?"
Talbain let out an exasperated laugh and turned around.
"Jeez, woman! You really don't know anything do you?"
He wandered over to the small Fridge in the corner, his muscles shining in
the bright light. "Wanna beer?"
"No. What do you mean?"
He cracked open a can and drunk from it heavily.
"Nothin...Just thought you might be thirsty."
Hanako stubbed out the cigarette angrily and stomped up to him, jabbing at
his naked chest with her index finger. "Look! Just answer my questions!"
For the first time, a smile crossed Talbain's lips.
He was handsome and sexy in a rough kind of way. His silvery hair fell in
uncombed spikes down to his shoulders. His eyes were golden, as haunting as
the emerald shimmer in Akira's. Hanako blushed again, although she didn't
know why. Across his well chiselled jawbone, spread a day-old stubble. The
kind of facial hair that you see on scientific geniuses. On the people who
have only one thing on their minds...and in their hearts, devoting all their
time to one single thing, even if it means forgoing personal health. There
was no doubt about it. This guy was definitely distracted.
Are all werewolves like this? Wondered Hanako silently. How does Akira live?
I haven't seen him at school...
She felt her face burn as Akira, in her mind's eye, turned his back on her
obnoxiously.
"C'mon, babe. Take a seat and I'll do my best to help you."
They both sat on the floor, cross-legged. Hanako noticed Talbain staring at
her panties as her short denim skirt rode up.
"Oh for crying out loud!"
Talbain laughed, averting his eyes as Hanako adjusted herself, concealing
her underwear.
"Hey babe," He purred leaning closer, "It's been a while. D'ya wanna..."
"No!" Hanako interrupted "Jeez! Don't be such a pervert! I thought you were
going to help me!"
The man lowered his face and dragged on his cigarette. He tilted his head
backwards and released the smoke luxuriously.
"So shoot, already."
Hanako inhaled deeply, attempting to clear her head.
"It's kind of hard to just...shoot."
With his head still tilted backwards, he yawned.
"Well just go for it. No limits here, babe."
She sighed.
"Look. Before we get started, my name is Hanako, got it?" she patted her
chest. "Don't call be babe."
Talbain straightened himself, laughing inwardly at the old cliché and
flicked his hair, smiling hungrily.
"Just get on with it. I'll be calling your name plenty later."
Hanako growled at him, fighting the urge to pull a kitty transformation.
"I heard that, Talbain. But I'm choosing to ignore it."
He laughed, stubbing out his smouldering ember.
"Okay Okay! I'll knock it off! Can't blame me for trying, though." Hanako
frowned again. "Go on...I'm all ears."
"I'm a Darkstalker..."
"Yup!" Replied Talbain, lying on his back, eyes closed lazily. "A catwoman.
Do I know my 'stalkers or do I know my 'stalkers?"
Hanako gasped.
"How the hell did you know?"
He raised his index finger, eyes still closed.
"One. You have a sweet, sugary little aura. No doubt you lack that....killer
instinct in battle...unless your buttons are really pushed. That's beyond
typical of a catwoman."
He raised his middle finger.
"Two. You have a feline femininity. Very attractive."
Hanako forced a false laugh.
"Oh very funny."
"I tell no lie, babe."
Hanako pressed her fingers to her mouth concealing her smile. Talbain opened
one eye but shut it quickly.
"Oh don't flatter yourself! It's part of the gift. Darkstalker women
automatically become alluring. Gives 'em a better chance of...survival... if
the chips are down."
Hanako sniffed, offended. He raised his ring finger.
"And three... I irritated you before and I must say...pink hair really suits
you."
Hanako gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Oh jeez!!" She cried "I didn't even feel it that time! I hate this! I hate
this stupid body!"
"Don't worry. You'll learn in time." He rolled over on his side to face her
and opened his eyes, the golden sheen absorbing the light. "Continue..."
"Well...You said... our type are 'semi-immortal'..."
Talbain swallowed some more beer.
"It sounds great doesn't it? You can't die of natural causes or human
illnesses...cancer, AIDS, old age.... All thrown out of the window. That
explains the immortal bit...."
Hanako stared at him steadily
"But...."
He returned her stare, a small smile curling at his lips, like an adult
knowingly teasing a small child.
"But...here comes the 'semi' part."
Hanako nodded, the shadows flickering over her face.
"Semi is because we can be killed, even though not by natural causes. Listen
carefully 'cos this info is like gold." Hanako leaned in closer, her face
grave in fear, or concentration. "Firstly we can be killed in combat. To
bare your dark soul to another one of the same...origins...means you can be
killed."
Confusion clouded Hanako's face and she rubbed the back of her neck, a
non-existent ache breaking her focus. Talbain rolled his eyes.
"Look...basically, when you're fighting another Darkstalker...and only
another Darkstalker, not a human...you adopt the mortality of a normal
person. Meaning you can be defeated, knocked unconscious, injured, killed,
whatever. When fighting a human...Well...you may as well not bother. It's
totally one sided...a Darkstalker cannot be defeated by a human."
Hanako smiled slightly. "Well that's good! At least I'll be able to protect
myself walking home from a party." A nervous giggle escaped from her mouth.
It echoed, making the single apartment seem cavernous and empty. A wolf,
lying in it's cave, flooded Hanako's mind. It had Akira's eyes. The
loneliness froze her to the core.
Talbain rocked his beer can in a mock-toast motion and smiled. He swigged
and continued, licking the droplets from his lips.
"Well...Not entirely. Y'see, secondly...We can be killed outside of combat.
Now this is were you need to be careful of humans...and especially humans
that know what you are..."
Hanako sighed, her hands flopping in her lap.
"Well...there does my idea of safety..."
Talbain nodded.
"Uh-huh...so, Anyways...there are items in existence that can slaughter
Darkstalkers much more easily than bare fists and what not."
Hanako bit her thumb knuckle again, feeling the ears protrude from the top
of her head.
"Calm down." Talbain soothed, his rough voice purring again. "Each type of
Darkstalker has a material weakness. For example, Vampires can be destroyed
by one quick stab with a wooden stake. Werewolves, like me, can be put down
like a puppy in the face of silver bullet. You get it?"
Hanako eased up onto her knees in a badly concealed excitement.
"Yeah, yeah...Each type? Y-you mean there's more?  Of us?"
Talbain threw his head back and laughed, his hair rustling. He wiped at his
cheek, sighing happily.
"Jeez, Hanako! There're many! My god!"
Hanako cringed in embarrassment, tears pricking her eyes as her cheeks began
to burn. His face softened into sympathy as Hanako's discomfort became
noticeable.
"Sorry, babe." He continued "I keep forgetting how new you are to this."
Hanako kept her eyes on the floor.
"Just how many?"
He smiled, his flaxen eyes piecing her.
"Many. I'm not gonna spoil the surprise now." He laughed briefly. "But, if
what... I'm thinking is correct...You meet them all. Sometime."
Hanako narrowed her eyes, her frown, despite her efforts, became playful.
"And just what are you thinking?"
"That doesn't matter right now. But I can tell you that with different
types, comes different powers. And knowing the Night Warriors, all are
willing to fight."
"Powers? What power?"
He finished his beer and crunched the can in one hand. He looked over it
lazily and threw it over his shoulder. It clattered noisily against the
floor.
"With the curse of the damned dark, comes the gift. To everything, there are
two sides, good, bad, light, dark. It doesn't matter. All you need to know
is that it is there."
Hanako, slipped down onto her front, totally absorbed in Talbain's
explanation.
"The curse of the dark usually revolves around the fact that we need to
transform to survive, or that we can only transform on special...occasions."
Hanako pointed lightly at him.
"Like you? like werewolves can only transform on the night of the full
moon?"
"Something like that. There's more to it that that, but you don't need to
care. It's none of your business."
The chestnut sheen on the floor in the harsh light reminded her of Akira in
wolf form. The way he stood, proud and fierce in the moonlight outside her
dormitory window.
I was attacked by someone you may know. He's a werewolf. Akira. Tell me
about him. Tell me what you know. Do you even know him at all?
She urged her self to ask him, yet she recalled Felicia's advice and though
better of it. She decided, in order to receive an effective answer, she
should ask carefully, or he might clam up all together. And that would be a
complete waste of a trip.
"Felicia...she's been looking after me..."
A look of pained interest flickered across Talbain's face. He clenched his
fists, as if his heart was racing and he needed to steady it. He blinked at
her, deflecting his voice to the floor.
"Jeez...Felicia. That brings back memories. How's she doing?"
Hanako smiled lovingly.
"Great...She's a sister at my school."
Talbain's face returned to its regular look of indifference as he shrugged.
"Figures. She's too kind. Wouldn't think she was a Darkstalker, would you?"
Hanako played with a strand of hair, hoping to hide the desperation she felt
at receiving answers.
You're lucky this time. But I'll warn you. I'm coming for you. And I want
that book! Akira echoed in her mind.
"No. But she told me that...other Darkstalker's may come after me. I need to
know more about...power."
John eyed her carefully.
"Another so-called 'good part' of being a Darkstalker."
She relaxed. He didn't spot her lie. "Senses sharpen ten-fold. Speed,
strength, bravery...they also increase. The dark fears no one. Remember
that."
"Is that...power.?"
Talbain flicked a hand, his tone becoming lighter. As he lit another
cigarette. He offered one to Hanako, who declined quickly.
"Power is different for everyone. Some are faster, some are stronger...hell!
Some can even control goddamn energy blasts. You are what you are. Weak,
strong. You get each type everywhere."
He blew out a puff of smoke and watched it disperse into the air. Hanako
could only see Akira.
"Werewolves..."
Talbain sat up and laughed, waving his hands in exaggerated confusion.
"Jeez! What's with the wolf-obsession? I thought you were a catwoman, for
god's sake!"
It was Hanako's turn to shrug, as she battled with her nerves.
"I was...just thinking about... I don't know. I guess that type
just...interests me.
Talbain flopped backwards, yawning heavily.
"Yeah well...what did you want to know?"
"How strong can one werewolf get?"
He dragged on his cigarette, hoping to annoy Hanako with undue suspense.
"It might just be me being biased...but very strong. That's why we are one
of the most famed monsters in the whole world, next to vampires, that is.
Have you seen Interview With A Vampire?"
Hanako's voice became firmer, annoyance rising in her throat.
"Yes. And I've also seen American Werewolf In Paris. Doesn't give me that
much information, though."
The playful sharpness of the sarcasm escaping the young woman's mouth made
Talbain laugh.
"I bet you're wondering about catwomen. How powerful they can get. Well...I
hate to bust your bubble, babe, but your type ain't that strong. Weak is the
word I'm looking for. Of course you'd have no trouble taking down a human or
a merman... but face to face with a werewolf? Ha!"
Hanako froze for a moment, a look of disappointment melted away into one of
fear. Her eyes glazed over, as if she was watching a vision inside her own
head. Still dazed, she opened her mouth.
"There's got to be a way to be strong! I can't lose! I mean...I need to be
strong!"
Her hair bristled into pink and her eyes snapped towards him.
"Calm down. Look...brute strength is just one part of being powerful. What a
catwoman lacks in offence, she makes up in defence. A catwoman has excellent
reflexes and speed. I'll tell you this for nothing...Their psychic ability
is something highly desirable."
She shivered.
"How do you...know this stuff?" She blinked at him, a wide-eyed gaze melting
him.
He shrugged nonchalantly.
"Just experience, I guess."
She bit on one of her claws, her eyes looked as if they were about to
stream, so he continued, hoping to avoid the oncoming waterworks. He had
already sensed why, her body language spoke too loud to be ignored.
"A werewolf, since you seem so interested, lacks defence and excels in
offence. So if you are going to take one on...which I have kinda guessed you
are going to... think ahead, trap her...or him...into a corner, because once
a werewolf has you plainly in his sights...there is no escape."
Hanako wiped her eyes, and yawned a little. She had become pale, sallow
against her hair, that had faded to brown. She had de-transformed, without
noticing. A sure sign of exhaustion.
"Get some sleep." He said, getting up. He walked over to his bed and pulled
back the covers, gesturing to it.
"It's only 2:30." Hanako replied, looking tiredly at her watch.
"We'll carry this on in an hour. It's a lot to take in."
"Promise?" she was too tired to doubt her safety.
He smiled, strangely happy.
"Of course. I kinda don't want you here tonight. For the obvious reason."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hanako was woken by the sound of John Talbain calling her name. He smiled
down at her. She had noticed that he had had a shave and put on a shirt. The
curtains were pulled back. Rather than the glistening sunlight, rain was
pelting the glass, a soothing pattering noise. It reminded her of home,
snuggled up in her warm bed, allowing the sounds of nature to be her music.
He helped her up and lead her back to where they were sitting. He had placed
a large plate of cookies on the floor. They sat down.
On his side he had a pack of beers and on hers, a few bottles of lemonade.
Hanako smiled. His attitude had changed. He no longer seemed lewd, but
friendly and protective.
"Power seems the only thing that Darkstalkers are interested in."
Hanako stated, biting into her cookie.
"Power equals success. Success equals life...or the sparing of it, at
least."
Talbain sipped from his third beer and belched loudly, not even excusing
himself. Hanako shook her head.
"I don't know if I should ask you this, but I'm worried about my...offence.
It's all well and good thinking ahead, but nobody's perfect. What if I make
a mistake and my...trap falls through?"
Talbain didn't even look up, he stared at the floor, or rather into space,
unmoved by her fear.
"Simple. Don't make mistakes."
"Talbain, please!" He desperation was clear.
"Honey. It's very simple. We are certainly not humans, but certain things
work in the same way for the two."
Hanako frowned, chewing on her cookie. Talbain sighed.
"Practise, honey. Practise."
Hanako rolled her eyes. She had heard this many times before, in many
hobbies, doing many things.
"Everybody can improve. Everybody gains from the pain of defeat and the joys
of victory. When you get to my age, you realise that."
He laughed. Hanako didn't.
"Everybody has to start somewhere. Please don't take for granted the mental
side of the dark world."
"What do you mean?"
She frowned again, tilting her head to one side inquisitively.
"As the old saying goes...the best offence is often a great defence. Know
your opponent." He jabbed at the air with his finger, enforcing his point.
Hanako had no idea about her opponent. Akira was so shadowy.
>From what I know, Han-chan, Akira was a close trainee of John's. They were
very close. I don't know what happened. Just...if it comes to this...tread
gently. It's a sore subject. Felicia's gentle voice probed her mind.
"Well...I don't know my opponent very well. Except I know he's very strong
and very angry."
Talbain looked at her in a sidelong glance.
"Werewolf?"
"Yes."
"Name?"
Hanako bit her lip but couldn't hold it in.
"...Akira."
The cutting silence lasted for, what seemed like, forever. Talbain had hung
his head, his hand covering his mouth as he leaned on it. Rather that an
expression of hatred or insult, his face was creased in anxiety.
"Why are you...fighting him...?" He said after a while. His voice now
feather-light.
"I don't really know. He kind of tracks me...He acts like he wants to kill
me...then he spares me...or follows me..." Hanako couldn't stop the stream
of information that poured out of her mouth. Her chest felt tight, as if her
heart wanted to escape.
"Sometimes I feel like I hate him too...But I see him in my mind...watching
me...at first I though I had a crush on him. The kind of admiration you have
for someone more powerful, but I feel like I...need him."
She laughed nervously as Talbain gripped her wrist, his look of desperation
increasing as she talked on.
"But that's stupid. How can you need someone who is your exact opposite?"
The grip on her wrist intensified and Talbain's mouth hung open.
"Oh my god...you are the one..."
"Huh?" Hanako tried to pull away from him. He held her in place, heaving her
closer as his eyes ran over her.
"Akira's other side! To make the whole! Please tell me you have the black
book!"
Hanako broke free from his grasp and eased over to he bag, rubbing her sore
wrist.
"What are you talking? All I have is this stupid scribbling pad. It happens
to be black, but..."
She produced the book Felicia gave her, and held it before him. Talbain's
hands shot out. One grabbed Hanako's wrist, the other snatched the book out
of her reach. He stared at it, his skin fading to a paler shade and his eyes
glisten gold, the rain reflecting in them.
"Girl! Don't you know what this is!" He whispered forcefully.
"No..."
He drew her close to his face.
"This is your destiny! And Akira's! You have no idea how long the dark world
has waited for you!"
He pushed her away gently and she sat back on her knees, looking at him
worriedly. He held the book with both hands, gazing at it longingly.
"Akira was the lock...All we were missing was the key...and now...in the
rise of the darkest hour we have found you. The key. The other side. I had a
feeling..."
"I d-don't understand!" Hanako cried. The mention of destiny and Akira made
her panicky. Both were forces she couldn't control.
"Look! Look! Read this!"
He flicked rapidly through the book, obviously knowing it well. He shoved it
under her
nose, and she scanned the words scrolled on the yellowing pages.

Forwards against backwards,
>From left to the right,
Opposites merge,
For perfect new sight.

The Wolf with his heartache,
The Girl is his balm,
To soothe the savage spirit,
To prevent the Dark's harm.

When love erases hatred,
Through pain they shall learn,
The Dark shall be stranded,
When the Wolf loves the Girl.

"What are you trying to tell me? That this...this child's nursery rhyme is
based on my destiny?"
Hanako longed for the door.
"Have you empty holes for eyes? Can you read?" He shook the book fiercely.
"Yes I can read!" She cried, closing the book and letting it crash to the
floor.
"Are you stupid? How can it not be you?! How did you end up with the book
destined for Akira?"
So that's why he...
Hanako bolted for the door. Talbain grabbed her skirt and pulled her back,
jumping ahead and barring her way.
"You are not going anywhere until you think this through!"
Tears fell down her cheeks, and one hand flew to her chest.
"This is not about..."
Her fear calmed his hysterics and he paced towards her, carrying the book.
"Yes it is about you. You said it yourself...you feel that you need him, yet
you are complete opposites! That is what the scriptures are telling you! You
two are the combining force to end all this!"
"End what?!!" she screamed, her tears dropping to the floor. Talbain
swallowed deeply, rubbing his forehead.
"The...reign of darkness that...that is...that is slowly...engulfing the
human world..."
Hanako stumbled forwards and collapsed into his arms, gripping him tightly.
"What?"
"Sit down..."
They resumed their places. Talbain gazed at her, yet she kept her eyes
averted and one hand on her chest, feeling her heartbeat slow.
"Power. Before you asked if power was the only thing Darkstalkers cared
about. The answer to that is yes."
Hanako winced, fingering the golden black cover of the book. He grabbed her
hand and she looked at him, her eyes still rather distant.
"But, there is a reason for this...despite whether the Darkstalker in
question has a heart of darkness, or a heart of light, it is written in
their destiny that they will fight for supremacy, all for one cause. To take
down the vampire, Demetri Maximoff."
"Who?" she whispered, the sharpness in her eyes returning.
"To answer that question. We must look to the past..."
Hanako picked up a lemonade bottle absently, yet didn't drink from it.
"When Earth was still a baby, when life was still struggling to
consciousness... there raged a battle between Pyron and Orion. These were,
if you will, the fathers of  Darkstalkers. The power emitted by these two
powerful entities awoke jumps in evolution, creating the forms of the
different Darkstalkers, and the abilities that are in tow. Orion, the light,
and Pyron, the dark fought for ownership of the earth. It's rich life supply
and energies where both attractive and necessary for the...entertainment of
these two beings."
Hanako's inquisitiveness returned as she picked up a cookie and nibbled at
it. Talbain felt like he was in a movie, being watched by the intense gaze
of a hundred people. Yet her realised, all the intensity came from one
person only.
"However, the match was too evenly set. The outcome being that they
destroyed each other, each having flaws that opposites tend to have. You and
Akira should learn from that..."
The joke did not invoke a stir in Hanako, her gaze sending him cold.
"I cannot describe that immense power that came from them. As they were
destroyed. The supreme power crystallised. Becoming a solid matter, rather
than an invisible strength."
Hanako looked towards the window, the rain slipped down the glass, like
diamonds that would shatter upon impact.
"Does it still exist? This crystallised power?"
Talbain nodded, a deep frown furrowing his brow.
"Yes. It's come to be known as 'The Orb'. The one Darkstalker who can
conquer all others...earns this, I suppose. Either that or takes it."
Hanako's eyes switched back to him.
"Is it...that valuable?"
He rubbed his temple with his fingers absently.
"It's not cash-valuable...but it's what it can do for Darkstalkers, that
makes it so damn important."
Hanako leaned forwards, interest taking over.
"It can increase a Darkstalker's power beyond your wildest imagination.
Making them an unstoppable, unreachable, unmatched creation...and if it
takes over the human world..."
"I...see..." she muttered, her thoughts causing her to retreat back inside
herself.
"It is Demitri Maximoff...who has this orb now..."
She shrugged. Placing her bottle down.
"So? Good for him. He's the best."
Without warning, Talbain pounced on her. He forced her arms above her head
and held them firmly against the ground as she collapsed on her back. He
straddled her and stared furiously into her eyes. She didn't struggle, too
engaged by the angry fear he had displayed upon her.
"Shut up and listen!" He hissed through gritted teeth,  "He's a vampire! The
only feeling in his soul is hatred and the occasional blood lust. If he
triumphs...He'll coat the ground with the blood of your friends,
family...everyone will be killed...or tortured....or both. He'll have
everyone impaled...choking in their own blood...dying. Screaming...Have you
ever seen Demitri the vampire in action? He won't just...eat you like in the
movies...he loves to peel off your skin while you're still conscious...he
loves to cut out intestines and stomachs...inpalement, choking,
ripping....he'll do it all...and to the people you love the most."
Hanako nodded, open mouthed and he got off her, the look of fury still
embellished on his face.
"Then why hasn't he already took over the world?" Hanako whimpered. Talbain
calmed himself and lit another cigarette. He didn't inhale on it, he just
watched it char away in his fingers.
"It's not actually that simple...the black book tells us that a great
strength of heart and soul is required, besides that of body. No doubt,
Demitri is unable to unlock the true power of the orb...at this point in
time."
Hanako tilted her head, catching his eye.
"You mean there's another way."
He looked towards the window, his face shadowed with hidden fret.
"Possible. If there is one...he'll find it."
Hanako's panic began to rise, filling her chest with a lead weight.
"What are we going to do? What if he finds the way? He'll massacre this
world..."
Slowly, Talbain turned to look at her. Her face was twisted with concern,
her eyes shining in tear-stricken haze.
"The black book, the so-called 'child's nursery rhyme'... tell us of the
beauty of opposites." he lowered his voice secretively.
"How each part can gain something from the other that it lacks. You and
Akira are these opposites. The two sides combined to make an unstoppable
whole."
Hanako raised her voice in defiance.
"I don't believe..."
Talbain slammed his fist into the floor. Once again, Akira invaded Hanako's
mind.
"How can you not? It's too coincidental. A girl and a boy. A feline and a
canine. Happiness and sadness. You and Akira! the book said...the book said
you'd come. I felt it all along. The world as we know it relies on you and
Akira...being together...but will you rise to the challenge?"
Hanako shook her head heavily.
"I...don't know."
Talbain looked suprisingly crestfallen. Hanako spoke up.
"But I do know this...I will do what I can to help save this world. If I
don't...life won't be worth living, if it will even continue to exist."
She hissed at the book, laying on the floor.
"Why do I even have this stupid book?!"
Talbain grasped her shoulder and smiled.
"Destiny, babe."
She struggled to her feet and pushed the book into her bag.
"I must get home...I need to find Akira...He's after this book....what if he
doesn't understand?"
Talbain's smile broadened.
"He knows...he knows..."
"How?" she hissed, hugging her bag to her body. Talbain released her and
stepped back. His frame hunched and his hands turned to fists. His pain
touched Hanako and she picked up a sealed bottle of lemonade, holding it
towards him. He refused the offer, and opened his mouth
"He...was chosen by destiny...he was my student...I made him what he was...I
taught him...I did what was required of me by my destiny."
The bottle dropped and smashed on the floor. Neither being moved. The rage
and pain Hanako felt from Akira returned in her heart, she grasped her bag
tighter, yet her voice escaped ferocious and dangerous.
"You turned him into a werewolf? You made him so unhappy, so enraged!?" she
lowered her voice to a rumbling growl.
"I should let Demitri have his way with people...with things like you!!!"
The shamed look on Talbain's face caused her to return from anger. She
lowered her voice again, yet it came out exhausted and wobbling.
"I...Want...to...help...I will get that orb...with or without Akira..."
She opened the door and walked briskly away from the apartment. Her eyes
burning and ribcage pounding. Akira closed the door and smiled to himself
"You will get him...it is written that way."
He walked over to his bedside, avoiding the shattered glass, and pulled out
a gleaming black telephone. He punched in the numbers. The other end
answered after three rings.
"Hello? Felicia?"
The voice responded happily.
"You were right...She's on her way..."