Part 1: "When Darkness calls."

Chapter: 2






Satisfied that Takashi would from now on keep his screaming mind mouth shut, Tezuka got on with the serious business of pretending to be an ordinary high school student. Head down and eyes focused on the papers before him, his left hand kept up a constant motion as his pen rapidly scratched its way across the blue lined sheets. Yet, for all his efforts to stay concentrated on the here and now, he unwittingly found his mind drifting back in time. As though seeing through parting mists, he found himself soaring unfettered through open skies on great golden wings, his brethren at his side. Closing his eyes, Tezuka sighed within from sorrow at his loss of such freedom, a freedom he had known for almost as long as the earth had been turning. He had been born into that turbulent, raw planet that lay third from the sun, in a time when mighty Dinosaurs roamed the land. He was the first of his kind--first born, and destined to rule. A fact that had first sparked the long and bitter rivalry between him, and the second shell. Lucius had been born a silver. Head strong and hot tempered from the moment of his hatching, he had at once declared himself king. But Jinnai, the first of the Hikari had stopped him, decreeing it was heaven's own will that Tezuka would rule. Tezuka paused in his thoughts of the past, to briefly reflect on the name he used now. He liked it enough, it had a nice ring to it. Over the many century's, he had adopted many names and this one he felt, next to his true name, was the best.
Third shell had been a bronze that now called himself "Kabaji". The day the ungainly hatchling had broken from his confinement, he had bowed his head to the gold, accepting his rule.
Fourth shell had belonged to a shinning platinum. Tezuka and his fellow metallic's had only been granted the merest glimpse of the hatchling before Jinnai had shoved him aside and borne the new born away for reasons still unknown to the king this very day. Where ever it was the now ancient one lived in this harsh, modern world, Tezuka hoped he was happy.
A copper had sprung from the shards of the fifth shell, the only female of the five great noble's. She too had bowed before her king, much to the charging of one Lucius Sliver Wings. At last, he came to grudgingly except the gold's rule, but the bitterness had remained.
A thousand years had past, then came the creation of the great clutch. Four great metallic nobles had witnessed the mass birth of all their kind. "So very long ago." Tezuka thought as the bell rang to signal lunch. Leaving class, he let his mind rest on a few more memories. Millennia had followed millennia. Dinosaurs fell, mammals rose to take their place. Humans began the long evolutionary march toward modern, enlightened times and Tezuka had seen it all. He remembered the human betrayal of his kind, the coming of the dark hunters, the rise and fall of "The Blood".
"And now," he thought as he approached his team mates "The Dark ones move again. Perhaps they target Fuji, or will peruse Eiji once more. They will not succeed."
Striding regally through the schools crowed hall ways, Tezuka made his way outside. He never had to push or jostle his way, as the other students instantly made way for him. Totally oblivious to the way girls sighed in his wake, or the worried murmurs of his team as they followed a short distance behind, he adjusted his glasses with a little push of his middle finger, then walked out into the bright midday sunshine. Some where out in the city, a great danger lurked unseen, but Tezuka was the great dragon king, and unafraid.
Yet, a fear for those he cared for sent an icy shaft creeping slowly into his heart.
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Seated on the tennis court's bleachers, Akira safely in the groups centre, the Fudomine student demons listened to Shinzyo with a great deal of suspicion.
"Reiji Shinzyo... that’s what he calls himself now, but when I first knew him, he was Taman… captain of the Dark Hunters." Declared Kippei in a firm tone. Leaning forward, the Fudomine captain then pinned the Dark Hunter with the ferocity of his blazing red eyes.
"If you have come here to hunt any of us, you will find it very difficult."
Leaning back, the Dark Hunter assumed a human disguise, then studied the noble of Thleerium out of narrow grey orbs. Schooling his features into what he hoped was an anguished expression; he spread his hands in an imploring gesture.
"I haven't come here to hunt anyone. Truth is, I've left the hunters, and humbly ask to join your clan."
"Liar!” Spat Mori at once. Stabbing out an index finger, he pushed to his feet, the shadow of his long demons tail whipping up the air behind him. "He's a Lyrium...a hunter!”
"Not any more." came the angry reply. "I've denounced my clan! I'm a rogue. My former brothers now hunt me!”
Turning to Kippei, he managed to squeeze tears from the corners of his eyes. Some of the demons seemed to be buying his story, but their leader, the one calling himself Shinji, and the half human-Hikari scowled non-stop seemingly quite unconvinced.
"Please high born Thleer! I ask for your help as I have no wish to be killed!! Even as we speak, a squad of Hunters close in...”
Bowing his head, Shinzyo buried his face in his hands to hide his smirk, as he made his shoulders shake with despair.
"HA!” barked Akira with a laugh that held no trace of humour. Looking at Shinji, the red head muttered, “I think the world’s smallest violin is playing right now just for him."
Shinzyo's head snapped up, his feral eyes blazing. "If your brothers were trying to kill you...” Kippei leapt to his feet, effectively cutting off demons retort as the rest stood with him. Looming over their sitting visitor, he nodded sharply to Shinji, Akira and Mori in turn, then glared sternly down at Shinzyo. His tail slowly swinging, his shoulders squared with decision as he spoke.
"Whatever your reasons for fleeing your clan, your problems have nothing to do with us."
Pointing with the shadowy tip of one great, bat-like wing, Kippei indicated the open sky. "On your way hunter or we will kill you ourselves." Tails whipped, wings rustled and claws were raised at this announcement, but then, a quiet voice spoke out.
"Kippei...If I may?" The Fudomine captain turned his dark eyes to the speaker as he hesitantly came forward.
"You wish to speak Uchimura? Why?"
Waving a clawed hand at Shinzyo, the demon youth said firmly, "Don't think the sight of him doesn’t sicken me after what Aion's hunters once did to my own clan, but if he is telling the truth, then we should aid him."
"No Uchimura, I'll not risk all your lives!” Growled Kippei with annoyance.
"I wasn't thinking of us Buchou," he said while tugging on his cap "I was thinking of the dragons."
"Are you nuts?" cut in Mori as he stared at his lover in disbelief. "Ask the dragons? Well.. HELL baka, why not just walk into Jigoku and offer yourself naked to Aion for his amusement, 'cause the result of asking those pompous flying lizards to help a filthy lyrium will be the same thing!!!"
Uchimura looked hurt. Turning away, he hid his eyes under his cap's brim with a mutter of "I only thought we demons should stick together because akiko knows, there are too few of us on the mortal plane as it is, and the king is our ally."
There were instantly one or two nods of agreement at the truth behind Uchimura's little speech, yet Akira scowled darkly at his friends demonic term for Hikari, while Mori laughed nastily, showing off his very sharp teeth. Holding up a hand for silence, Kippei stated in a no-nonsense tone, "I don't trust him. Dark Hunters are deceptive and cunning by nature. YOU Uchimura of all demons should know that!”
"But Kippei!” Protested Shinzyo standing as he felt his ploy sinking rapidly beneath him
"BE STILL!” Snapped Kippei rounding savagely on the hunter, his eyes aflame. "How dare YOU address me as such!”
Shinzyo shank back at once, but his lips curled into a sneer.
"I see. So it's true then, nobles only do look out for their own."
"As does your kind!” Bit back Kippei fiercely.
"Enough!’ rapped out Shinji commandingly, his crimson demon eyes sweeping the group with a glare.
"Buchou is right, we cannot trust a hunter. Whether or not he is friend or foe, he is still highly arrogant and a dangerous stranger. I say this to you all, let him go before the dragon ruler and prove is innocents to them. We are not to get involved and I for one wish to take no part in a possible deception, nor will I expose Akira to danger. None of you should be in danger either...”
Passing a hand before his eyes, Kippei cut in wearily, "Yes Shinji, thank you, you have made your point."
This was followed by a general round of muttered agreement. Curling his lip, Shinzyo saw his last chance to sway them to his sideslip away. "Fine." he secretly thought. "I don't need to side with soft, high born wimps of Aidon's, especially that fool from the 'Time's Circle' Clan!! My hunters have trained well, and the king of the cloud dancers pet slaves will be ours!!"
Folding his arms, wings and curving his long tail about his legs, Kippei Tachibana addressed the hunter in a voice that dripped with absolute authority.
"You of Aion's dark realm below that of Thleerium, will leave us now. If your story is true and you are indeed hunted, then we may offer protection. But should we find you lie..........."
Kippei's long, thick tail suddenly snapped out to strike a nearby bench, instantly shattering it to match wood.
Nodding stiffly, the Dark hunter resumed his true form, faded into invisibility, then launched himself to zip away, a long stream of curses streaming from his lips once clear of them. No doubt he felt, they would waste no time in informing their ally, that he was on his way.
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With lunch hour over, the Seigaku tennis regulars shouldered their gear bags, then met within their club rooms to quickly change from their uniforms to their tennis clothes.
Once assembled on the courts, they began training without delay.
"First," began Tezuka in his usual firm tones, "We run 20 laps. GO"
Forming up in a solid block, the team ran, their captain jogging easily among them.
Just as the group was entering the fifth lap, Tezuka caught the merest glimpse of something, a presence he hadn't felt for some time that caused a sharp jolt of apprehension to lance down his spine. Running up beside him, Inui spoke in a low growl. "Captain."
"I know.” Trotting on Tezuka's other side, Eiji suddenly hissed with pain and winced as he lifted a shaky to the bandage on his right cheek, a small whimper of fear escaping him. Curving a protective arm over the teen's shoulder as he stumbled to a staggering halt, Oishi's nostrils flared as his glowing green eyes raked the whole area with an intense gaze. Fixing onto the sight of an indistinct, shadowy form watching from a vantage point near the gate, he bared his teeth, an ugly, dog-like growl rumbling deep in his chest, to roll up out of his throat. Emerald flame flared in his eyes, as the short black hair on his head bristled with alarm.
'Oishi' came the commanding voice of Tezuka inside his skull. 'Keep the team busy while I deal with this!'
Scowling, the youth obeyed, but kept a close eye on the situation as the group continued to jog and Tezuka peeled off to trot slowly up to the fence. Folding his arms, he gave every appearance of studying his team, but his stern hazel/gold eyes flickered sideways as he spoke. "I know you are there life stealer, so you may as well show yourself."
Silence. Tezuka toyed with his glasses. "I will kill you if you’re just going to lurk. Tachibana told me you were coming, but I'd sensed your presence long before." A low sound like a hissing curse drifted up from behind dignified youths back, then a pair of cold grey eyes in a long pale face appeared over his left shoulder. Turning, Tezuka calmly regarded the hunters’ human disguise. Shinzyo was tall and very broad shouldered with close-cropped grey hair that matched his steely eyes. Only his oddly shaped ears gave any hint to his un-earthly origins...providing one knew what to look for.
Meanwhile, Shinzyo studied the shadowy echoes of Tezuka's true form with equal intensity.
The dragon was huge. In his true, solid form, the hunter knew he would completely fill up most of the area. His golden scales would painfully reflect sun light and Shinzyo felt even the dragons shadow form was bright enough to dazzle him.
Two large horns rose up from a thick thatch of golden brown hair on his head,( much like on the human Tezuka ), to sweep back over the dragons long, serpentine neck. His muzzle was squared off and adorning the long nose, were two short, wickedly sharp horns, one behind the other. A beard dangled in a lanky growth from his jaw, while a pair of long whiskers writhed like snakes from either side of large nostrils that leaked with narrow jets of steam.
But what amazed the hunter the most, was the dragon's eyes, for even in that draconian face, the proud beautiful orbs, were exactly the same.
His scrutiny over, Shinzyo leaned casually against the fence as the dragon's phantom form hovering over the Seigaku captain like a massive, malevolent ghost, thrust his muzzle forward, passing through the wire to push against him. The simple action bought about an impulse to fight the dragon king on the spot, but Shinzyo knew such an attempt would be suicide, so he settled instead for convincing the king he was harmless.
Stepping back, he sketched out an elaborate bow, his head going low to hide his annoyance.
'Why has one of Jigoku's darkness come before me?' Jerking his back in surprise at the powerful mind send, Shinzyo straightened to gaze (what he hoped was) soulfully at the mighty beast.
"My kind has abandoned me, and lord Aion wants me dead, I have fled them and come here to beg sanctuary"
Tezuka's human form folded his arms, his eyes burning with cold fire behind glinting, oval glasses. His true form however., rustled great wings and restlessly shifted front feet. A very thin tendril of fire snaked it's way out between his large heavy jaws brimming with gleaming white fangs.
'If you hunt as poorly as you lie, then my charges are in no danger from you.'
Curling his lip in a sneer, Shinzyo was momentarily taken aback as he glowered within. how dare he mock me!! Damn fire lizard!
Keeping his expression neutral, the burly youth answered calmly. "My lord dragon (I think I'm going to be sick) I would never dream of lying to one such as yourself."
Both Tezuka's human and dragonhead moved in perfect synchronization, head nodding as eyes closed, then snapped open. There was no pity in the hard, glittering orbs that seemed to bore deeply into his black soul.
'I refuse your request for sanctuary, servant of Aion. Leave this place.'
Shinzyo lifted both hands to loosely hook his fingers over the wire as his shoulders shrugged with insolence.
"It's a free realm this mortal plane. I think I'll stay. Besides, I think I like this "Tennis" you all play."
One huge taloned foot lifted, then crashed down within centimetres of Shinzyo's unflinching form.
'Then take that as a warning to keep your place.'
Half-turning, the human tennis captain noticed his team had gathered and were surreptitiously watching the near silent exchange with a mixture of fascination and fear. Mustering his most sever glare, he rapped out firmly, "Did I say you could all stand around gawking? Pair up and get busy or run a hundred laps!”
Some of his team almost fell over themselves in their haste to obey. Inui however, moved his thick, squared off glasses about his face in a very clear gesture that made his captain slightly shake his head. He then glared daggers at Takashi who had stopped to stare in fascination at large demon so close to his king. Taking the hint, the brown haired youth moved on to pair up with Fuji as he muttered under his breath about' facing such danger alone.'
Eyes peeling open, Fuji shot his captain a quick glance, then reassured his friend their captain could take care of himself.
His team safely occupied, Tezuka half tilted his head to view the Dark hunter from the corners of his eyes.
Staring impassively straight ahead, Shinzyo let his gaze rest on the youths playing tennis. Opening his mind but taking great care to hide his thoughts from the dragon, the hunter saw passed their human guises, and with a silent, sardonic chuckle sent a gentle probe for information. His mind wave drifted just barely over their consciousness, touching minds only to swiftly dart away again.
A pained gasp from the red head bouncing around the tennis court almost drew a malicious grin to the demons lips.
'The marked one. Oh yes fool, I remember you and the sport you once provided.......'
When his partner rushed to the youth's aid then swung his head toward Shinzyo to pin him with the force of his outraged glare, the hunter coolly pretended not to notice, and let his cold eyes wander over the rest of the mythic's gathered on the tennis court before him. Two of them, a tall bristle haired youth and his bandana-wearing partner had broken out in a spectacularly loud fight that momentarily drew the red heads friend over to stop them. Bowing his head, his eyes closing and his shoulders shaking with barley-contained mirth, Shinzyo found it highly amusing that two such natural enemies had been forced to exist along side each other.
A sudden chill shuddered along his spine, and the Dark Hunter's head snapped around to meet the too blue gaze of honey-brown haired boy. Those glittering cerulean orbs seemed to ensnare the very fibre of his being, and to his astonishment, he found himself fighting for a moment to breathe before he was released, and the youth turned away, preparing to serve to his partner. Breathing deeply, Shinzyo was able to regain his usual cool veneer in spite of excitement at finding such worthy prey. Flicking his eyes to Tezuka's turned back, he once again felt that gaze boring into his being.
A Warning.
Which Shinzyo ignored.
‘So, he keeps a pet blood under his wings. Intriguing human, and very powerful. Lord Aion will be pleased...’
A large swirling cloud of hot steam billowing about him broke into his thoughts making him startle and curse himself for leaking his feelings, as the dragon glared down at him with raised wings. 'He knows!’
Anticipating an attack, the Dark Hunter decided that a strategic retreat was now in order. He started to bolt, only to come face to face with a smugly triumphant Atobe.
"YOU!"
"ME!" .
'Hikari. What are your intentions?'
Closing his eyes, Atobe tossed his head in his most arrogant finest, right hand lazily lifting to flick at his silver/grey hair.
Then, the dark grey orbs snapped open, his lips curving in a superior smirk. Right hand curved over left, a faint silver glow appearing inside the circle to rabidly gain strength.
“You are brave perhaps Hunter...but also incredibly stupid to make your presence known. Prepare to be blasted back to under whatever rock you crawled out from."
"HAH!!!"
Midnight black leathery wings snapped out, just as the Hikari snapped out his arms to launch a glowing ball of white light from his open palm's.
A minor crump of an explosion lightly rocked the tennis courts, and the mythic's upon it threw up their hands to shield their eyes as the light energy surged, then imploded with a sharp hiss.
‘Flashy’ said the un-amused voice of Tezuka in Atobe's head. 'But I think you missed.'
"I?" The Hikari sounded mildly shocked. "Ore Sama never misses, right Kabji?"
As if the towering student had suddenly dropped out of the sky, he loomed up behind Atobe to nod and say "USU!!"
Yet to Tezuka's eye's, the ancient bronze's amber eyes held a distinctively worried look.

The danger over, Tezuka firmly re-established discipline, and made his some what subdued team get back to training as though nothing had happened. Atobe strode away, still smirking over his easy dispatch of the Dark Hunter, and Tezuka's habitable stern frown deepened when Eiji gave a sudden cat-like yowl of pain, right hand cupped against his bandaged cheek. Passing by at close range, his racket held over one shoulder, Ryoma stared straight into his captain's eyes a moment, then tugged at his cap with a sour "Mada mada da'ne."
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From his place of concealment on a distant roof top, a demon stared down at the scene with hateful, burning eyes. It had been close... to damn close he knew. Never again would he make such an error. Watching Ryoma pause to speak, Shinzyo gave the boy his full attention. He knew of the parents and of their clan, yet for some unexplained reason, the youth's true form remained shadowy and indistinct. 'Strange' He thought as he frowned, his left hand slowly rubbing his chin. 'The other fools are so clear, but this one.........I sense suppressed energy. Hmmmmmmm. This young demon of fire lake bares close watching.'
Cloaking himself in invisibility, he lifted his wings to drift away into the open sky, completely unaware of Tezuka the dragon king watching his every move.

TO BE CONTINUED...................................

Notes: In case those reading this don't know, Ryoma's favourite catch phrase means ' It's not over yet.'

Mythic's have two ( or more ) true forms. For those with the powers of 'second sight', the true form hangs ghost like over the human form. Now while these forms normally move in accordance to what the human body is doing, some of them---like Tezuka----can move independently---literally giving them "eyes in the backs of their heads."

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