Quick footsteps ran along the floorboards of the mansion's hallways, as heavier quicker ones followed closely behind

"I'm gonna get you!" shouted the one giving chase, it was a young boys voice couldn't have been older than 12.

"Only if you can catch me first, which isn't likely" mocked the one being chased, a young girls voice around the same age.

The young boy scowled with a look of complete discontent on his face. He had been chasing the girl for ten whole minutes now and he was beginning to get tired, he knew he wouldn't be able to catch her, he was more the studious, academic type not the athletic energetic type. Then suddenly they both came to a resounding halt as they both stared up, with an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air.

" Young Master Hanabusa, Miss Yuki, why are you running about the mansion like some common rag-a-muffins, it is most unbecoming especially for you Young Master, and would you care to explain why are you not in your room studying your mathematics and science homework?" Hanabusa's tutor Mrs. Nagasaki was a fierce woman with strict rules that were not lightly disobeyed. However he was Hanabusa Aido and he was arrogant, proud and highly intelligent.

Just as he was about to come back with a witty retort at his tutor, Yuki's small voice crept up from in front of him.

"It was my fault Mrs. Nagasaki! Please do not give Hanabusa into trouble it's not his fault! I stole his book thinking we could play a-"

"Stupid child!" A resounding smack could be held ringing throughout the hallways.

'Stupid Yuki' thought Hanabusa 'why didn't she just keep her mouth shut, I had a perfect comeback aimed at Nagasaki and she goes and ruins the timing for the joke-idiot.' Meanwhile Yuki stood there holding her wrist, which now held a bright red mark. It didn't hurt or anything it's not like she wasn't used to this, but Hanabusa never got slapped, she supposed it was because he was the Aido family's only son. Mrs. Nagasaki was rambling off words to Yuki about how she should not distract the 'Young Master' from his studies, not that she was paying very much attention; she never did whenever she got in trouble.

"Miss Yuki did you hear me! I want you to write a letter explaining how sorry you are to me and to Young Master Hanabusa, am I clear" Mrs. Nagasaki was nearly blue in the face from shouting.

"Yes ma'am" Yuki turned around to face Hanabusa and gave him back the book on Einstein's Relative Theory Yuki mumbled under her breath as she walked away to her room getting mentally prepared for the long winded and grammatically perfect letter she was going to have to write.

Hanabusa - holding the book crossed arms over his chest – simply looked up at his tutor, he smirked slightly and turned to go back to his studies with a cheeky "he eh".

Yuki sat writing the letter in her room being extra careful that she didn't make a mistake she really couldn't be bothered having to write it again. She stopped writing for a moment and thought aloud

"He really is so ungrateful, I take the blame and he doesn't say a word of thanks…what a jerk." Yuki continued writing for another twenty minutes then checked the letter over for mistakes, as expected there were none.

Yuki walked down the halls of the Aido mansion thinking about what had just happened. She was annoyed. All Yuki wanted to do was have some fun with Hanabusa, she was 11 years old after all and though she was growing up she still enjoyed teasing Hanabusa as he was so easily wound up.

As she walked Yuki's mind drifted back to the first encounter she had with the 'Young Master', her general first impression of Hanabusa was that he had been an impetuous, spoiled, arrogant blond brat. This impression had changed, but only a little. The main change was when he 'saved' Yuki from one of the many rooms in the Aido mansion that she managed to lock herself in. Yuki still got lost in this huge house, much to Hanabusa's amusement.

When he first found Yuki locked in an unused bedroom in the east wing of the mansion, Yuki remembers his face upon finding her; first confusion then annoyance, then amusement and since then Hanabusa must have locked Yuki in unused rooms more than enough times to satisfy his sense of humor.

Yuki used this reason to justify interrupting his studies, stealing his books and running around the house with them. Yuki giggled out loud at this thought and then realized that she had wondered around the house not taking into account where she was going.

"Uh-oh" Yuki quickly looked around as she confirmed her initial realization. She was lost. Again.

"OK deep breaths, all I need to do is retrace my steps" the optimism high in her voice, she was not a girl who always relied on others for help she was going to get herself out of this situation.

Yuki started walking around some more trying to gauge exactly where in the mansion she was by looking out the windows. Although this ultimately failed because the gardens of the Aido mansion were perfectly symmetrical and completely parallel to each other in terms of positioning around the house. Keeping eternally optimistic she would get herself out of this situation she continued to wander, until she stumbled upon a familiar sight. It was Lord Aido's personal study. Yuki had been here once or twice so she now knew where she was (second floor of the south wing) and she also knew the main staircase was near here.

She was about to knock on the door when she heard Lord Aido's raised voice and as quietly as she could she stood outside to listen. After all - as a vampire - Lord Aido could hear Yuki if she wasn't careful.

"Really…you don't say. Do we have any idea who massacred them?...What! I thought the hunter council had her under control. If this is not dealt with Cross-,I can assure you that the vampires will deal with her…. No excuses get it sorted. Were there any survivors?" There was a lengthy pause in which Yuki really wished she was a vampire and not human so she could hear the other part of the conversation.

"My god. Poor boy. I take it you will be looking after him…. Very well. This conversation never happened." Nagamichi Aido put the phone down, sighed and brought his hand to his forehead. Shizuka Hio or 'The Madly Blooming Princess' was on the loose and had just massacred one of the most prestigious hunter families. Bizarrely leaving one of the families sons alive.

Suddenly he heard soft footsteps running along the hallway,

"Ah Yuki" a small smile came to his face, although he had three daughters; he was very fond of Yuki. None of his children knew of Yuki's true origin and he planned to keep it like that. Yuki was his ward but he treated her like a daughter and if she ever awoke to her true nature Nagamichi planned to offer his son as a suitable fiancé for her.

It would be a wonderful political move which would give the Aido bloodline direct ties to the Kuran bloodline. In turn it would create more power and respect from other noble families towards the Aido family. But of course this was all circumstantial Yuki may never awake, and in this case would never be with his son.

Thinking of his son, he remembered he needed to speak with Hanabusa about some more private tutoring this time looking at the subject of biochemistry. His son was a genius and he wanted to him to use his brain and genius to its fullest potential.

Hanabusa finished up his science and math paper for Nagasaki, and just as he was cleaning up his books he heard footsteps running towards his room. He recognised the breathing and foot pattern as Yuki. At this thought an evil smirk appeared on his face and he positioned himself at the door.

"3…2…1 and fall"

Hanabusa stuck his foot out as Yuki was running, and the clumsy girl didn't notice his foot and fell flat on her face.

"Aahahahhhahahahhhaaah" Hanabusa was laughing hard and wiping a tear away from his eyes.

"You fell right down, will you ever not fall for that – excuse the pun" He then expected some sort of reprimand from Yuki for tripping her up, instead what he saw surprised him. Yuki got straight back up onto her feet and was desperate to tell him something.

"Hanabusa, I need to tell you something! It's super important!" Yuki's big brown orbs were shining and her cheeks were flushed, and for a tiny moment, just a miniscule moment. Hanabusa thought Yuki looked…cute.