Chapter Two: Exposure

Shikamaru frowned as he cleaned his arrows with a damp cloth, cleaning the monster blood and pieces off his weapon. Around him, the others at the Eve Garden were doing the same thing, with Sakura tending to Kiba's wounds with the boy yelling in pain every few seconds which invited a smack from Sakura.

They had just been on another assignment to a town west of Eve Garden where apparently, a vampire had gotten hold of one of the elemental gems in Eriel – the water gem. There were several of those elemental gems – no one knows how many it was – and it was said that those gems could cause the world's destruction. The fight was unexpectedly easy for a vampire with the water elemental gem and Sora had came along with them the minute that Kimimaro had mentioned that there's a vampire.

True to his word, Shikamaru hadn't told anyone about Sora being a vampire, but even he was having his doubts about Sora being an evil creature of the night who feeds on human blood. She doesn't seem at all like the vampires that the Church had always taught them to hate and kill. Sora had already been here for a week and if Shikamaru didn't know that she's a vampire, he wouldn't know it. Sure, the blonde was extremely good-looking – all vampires are good-looking – with golden blonde hair which just reaches down to her shoulders and cerulean blue eyes bluer than the sky...

"What's wrong, Shikamaru?" asked Kimimaro with concern, seeing the look on the face of the unofficial leader of the teenagers. "Are you hurt somewhere?"

"Nothing," mumbled Shikamaru as all eyes of everyone present were turned onto him. The lazy genius was sitting at the doorway of the Eve Garden orphanage, with the door wide opened and the others were all lazing around in the sitting room. "It's just...Kimimaro...was that lady really a vampire?"

"Shikamaru...what are you saying?"

Kimimaro put up a hand to silence Chouji and turned to Shikamaru. "Shikamaru, I want you to understand this: all vampires are tricksters. They are masters in illusions and manipulating humans' hearts and minds. This is no mistake, Shikamaru, all vampires are evil. And it's our job as members of the Church to rid the world of that evil."

Shikamaru nodded slowly, still feeling doubt in him before Sakura got up from where she'd been sitting. "Alright, everyone. Time for bed. It's been a long night."

"That's right," said Kimimaro, getting up. "I'm to take you to the Capital tomorrow. The Grand Cardinal wants to see for himself how the training that you've been given are going so far." Kimimaro then glanced at Shikamaru. "Shikamaru, can you go and find Sora? That girl's been unnaturally quiet ever since we'd killed that vampire and those monsters that the vampire was controlling. I wonder if she's been shocked by that..."

"I understand," said Shikamaru before walking out of the orphanage and it didn't take him long to find the blonde especially since she's leaning against the stile, kneeling on the grass with her head propped up by her elbows as she watched the night sky, especially the stars. The stars looked like diamonds glittering and shining in the sky.

"If you're going to say that to them, it's obvious that they're going to reprimand you," said Sora suddenly as Shikamaru walked up to her, propping his elbows atop the stile as well, watching the stars.

Shikamaru blinked at the girl. "You heard? How? Eve Garden is some distance away from here."

Sora snorted. "I'm not normal, Shikamaru. You know this. All of my kind had enhanced senses. Still think that vampires are all evil?"

"...I don't know," admitted Shikamaru before laying his head down on his elbows and glancing at Sora out of the corner of his eye. "Was that lady back there...really a vampire?"

Sora closed her eyes. "She's not," she muttered. "She's not a vampire."

"Not a vampire?" Shikamaru shot up, looking at Sora with a shocked look. "Then...we killed an innocent-"

"She's not a vampire, but she's not innocent either," said Sora, interrupting whatever Shikamaru was saying. "She's merely a normal human who had gotten her hands on the Water Elemental Gem. Those elemental gems give power – vampire, human or monster – and if you lose control of that gem, you lose control of your senses and the elemental ends up controlling you. That's what happened to that human. That human wasn't the elemental's true master, that's why she ended up being controlled by the water elemental."

Sora then lay her head down on her elbows like Shikamaru, looking at the stars. "Vampires lived relatively long lives," she muttered. "But even we will die someday. The Great Disaster – the war between your god and the vampires – was before my time. Nearly one thousand years ago. My parents were just mere kids then, but they remembered it. They told me about it. Before the Great Disaster, monsters and humans lived in peace with each other. But after the war, monsters became the enemies of mankind and wild ones – those without a master – can only come out at night."

"Everything begins with war," muttered Shikamaru. "I hate war and fighting."

Sora laughed bitterly. "Don't everyone? But you don't have a choice. As long as there are humans, there will always be war and fighting."

"Is your mission..." Shikamaru bit his lower lip nervously, looking at Sora. "Is your mission here to collect the elementals from the Church?"

"No," said Sora. "It's something else."

"What is?"

"It's none of your business," said Sora. "Come on, let's go back. We still have to go to the Capital tomorrow, don't we?"

"Huh...? Yeah."

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Oto City, Capital City of Eriel:

Oto City, the capital of the land of Eriel was lively, filled with many people and the marketplace was packed with vendors and women and children who were chattering away. Every now and then, the occasional soldier from the Church could be seen marching past.

"Oto sure is lively!" said Sakura, smiling as she watched the surroundings.

"It sure is," said Kimimaro. "It's the headquarters of the Eriel Church and the capital city. Oh! Sir Danzo is here! Captain of the military side of the Eriel Church!"

A man with bandages covering one eye with a metal arm in black and silver armour with the Church's crest adorned on his armour came up to Kimimaro and his group just then. "Ah! Master Kaguya, it's a pleasure," said Danzo with a fake smile. "Have you heard? The Veriel Guards have been eliminated...down by Waterfall Valley."

"The...Veriel Guards?!" Kimimaro gaped at Danzo. "That can't be! They're the best soldiers for miles around! How could they be eliminated so easily?!"

"They were attacked by a vampire and the Death Elemental was stolen from Waterfall Valley."

"The...Death Elemental? The one with the power to revive the dead?"

"That's right," said Danzo. "Some of our researchers are researching the Death Elemental down at Waterfall Valley and the vampire showed up and killed everyone there and blew up the labs at Waterfall Valley. Waterfall Valley is now a desolate wasteland." Danzo then noticed the group behind Kimimaro. "These must be your students."

"That's right," said Kimimaro. "They are the children from the Eve Garden. I've brought them here to show His Eminence, the Grand Cardinal himself the skills and abilities that they're taught in order to rid Eriel of the threat and dangers of the vampires."

"Ah, yes," said Danzo with a cold smirk. "The vampires are a threat to Eriel and the planet as a whole and must be eliminated. That's what the Eve Garden children are for. The vampires are evil creatures of the night and must be-"

"Alright! That's it!" snapped Sora and everyone present turned towards the blonde.

Shikamaru gulped from next to her. Sora and himself had been standing behind everyone ever since they had first stepped into Oto and he knew why as well. The Church had been the mortal enemies of the vampires for centuries and he knew for a fact that everyone in the Church hated vampires. When Sir Danzo had first started sprouting all the nonsense about the vampires and the Church, he had felt Sora's fury growing until she had finally snapped.

"Just what have the vampires done to you?!" snapped Sora.

"Sora!"

"I don't give a damn if you're the captain of the soldiers or the captain of the wusses-"

"Wusses?!" Danzo nearly choked in fury and rage. "How dare you?!"

"-and I do not give a damn if you're ranked higher than the King himself! Just what have the vampires even done to you in the first place? Have they bitten you? Have they even attacked you? What gives you the right to pass judgement on them without even meeting them, Mr Lord of the Wusses?! Hmph!"

And Sora stomped off with the entire group blinking and staring at the back of the angry girl.

"L-Lord of the Wusses?!" Danzo looked as if he was suffering from a heart attack. "Why, you-"

"Sir Danzo, the Grand Cardinal had asked for you!" A random soldier came up just then.

"What? Gah. Fine!" Danzo grumbled. "This isn't over yet, Kaguya. The Grand Cardinal will hear about it and..."

Danzo's voice trailed off in the distance and the soldier had to practically drag the captain with him to the Church and moments later, everyone blinked with confusion, save for Shikamaru.

"Okay...what's that all about back there?" asked Chouji. "I've never seen Sora that mad before."

"Yeah," agreed Sakura. "It was like she was on the vampires' side."

"I'll go and get her!" said Shikamaru quickly before running off in the direction that Sora took.

Kiba gave a whistle just then and everyone turned to him only to look in the direction that he was looking. The teen was looking at a beautiful blonde who was wearing some very...choice clothing. Her clothes consisted of a black sports bra beneath a black netted shirt and a dark red high collared coat left opened with black trims on the collar with a black leather skirt which barely reaches to her knees and a pair of black boots which reaches up to her calves and a kusari-gama was placed in the sash around her waist. A silver chain with a square glass case with a black spiral symbol in it was hung around her neck and Shikamaru remembered Sora wearing a similar one to what the girl's wearing, only that Sora's was a dark blue spiral symbol.

Shikamaru and Sora returned just then and Sora's eyes widened as she saw the girl that Kiba is looking at. "That's..."

"Who's that hot babe?" asked Kiba with a lecherous grin and the 'babe' in question noticed and looked in their direction. "Hey, babe." Kiba said with a grin. "What's your name and what are you doing here?"

"Me?" said the girl with a cold smirk before removing the kusari-gama from around her waist. "My name is Yugito. Nii Yugito..." A bright flash of light surrounded her before the kusari-gama in her hands had lightning running through it, cackling sounds coming from it and Yugito smirked before pointing the scythe part at Kiba. "Also known as the Death Caster! Summoner and controller of the dead!"

"A vampire?!" Chouji nearly shouted and all the civilians near them screamed and ran into the nearest building.

"That's right..." said Yugito in a sing-song voice. "I've heard that you have the Water Elemental. Humans have no use for it. Hand it over."

"Not on your life!" said Ino fiercely. "We will never give a vampire the Water Elemental!"

"Then I'll just take it by force then-"

"Yugito, that's enough!" said Sora and stepped out, her eyes blazing with anger at Yugito.

The older blonde vampire raised an eyebrow at seeing Sora and smirked. "Well well, if it isn't Sora... What are you doing here?"

"That's my question," said Sora. "I've heard from Gaara that you went missing six months ago. And the attack on the Veriel Guards at Waterfall Valley...let me guess..."

"That's right! It's all me!" said Yugito in a sing-song voice. "I've got the Death Elemental in my hands now! I'll stop their god myself!"

"You're doing this the wrong way, Yugito!" snapped Sora. "It's only going to bring more pain and suffering!"

"The way that you and the others are using is too slow!" snapped Yugito. "If we do it the way that you guys are insisting on using, he will be revived before we can say 'vampire'! Now, get out of my way! I'm taking the Water Elemental!"

"Argh!"

Sora let out a cry as she was sent flying backwards by the chain part of Yugito's kusari-gama.

"Sora!" cried out Shikamaru, his crossbow in his hands.

"Shikamaru! Get ready for battle!" snapped Ino, her crossbow in her hands as well, with the others taking their weapons.

"Kaguya! There you are!" Danzo popped out from out of nowhere, snarling fiercely. "You're going to answer what that rude girl- eh? Who's that young lady with that bold clothing?"

"Sir Danzo! Be careful!" said Kimimaro, his sword in his hands. "That's a vampire!"

"A-A vampire?!"

"Please get to the Church and make sure that Grand Cardinal Orochimaru is safe!"

"Er...right!"

"Yugito! Stop it!" Sora yelled as she stood up, holding the wall for support. "You're not doing yourself and our kind any favours by attacking the humans!"

"Shut up, Sora!" snapped Yugito. "If it can get the elementals out of their hands, then I'll gladly do it! The elementals are too dangerous to be left in a human's hands! You know this, Sora! Only the vampires can wield it properly and to its full potential! Now, shut it and get out of my way!"

Her kusari-gama came flying out, heading straight towards Sora, much to everyone's horror.

"Sora!"

There was a clang of metal on metal as Shikamaru appeared in front of Sora, a short sword in his hands, deflecting the kusari-gama and panting heavily. The lazy genius then pointed his crossbow at Yugito. "You leave Sora alone!"

And to everyone's surprise, a bright silver light then surrounded Shikamaru, much to Sora and everyone's utmost surprise.

"W-What?"

"Shikamaru...is glowing?" Chouji muttered.

Sora's eyes were wide with shock and surprise as she stared at Shikamaru and just then, an image of a figure with light chestnut-brown hair overlapped with Shikamaru's before disappearing and Sora knew that it was no trick of the light. She knew what Shikamaru is now.

"Diviner..." Sora muttered. "I'd never imagined...that I'll find you in a place like this..."

"What?" Yugito muttered, eyes as wide as saucers to see the light around Shikamaru before she smirked. "So you've found your Diviner, have you, Sora? I've heard that's why you'd left the village. To find your Diviner in order to defeat him. It's too bad then...I'll make him mine!"

"Sorry, vampire!" Kimimaro deflected the kusari-gama of Yugito's. "You don't touch my students when I'm around!"

Yugito took a quick glance around and narrowed her eyes as she sensed the presences of several humans approaching them – soldiers – and scowled. "I'll admit defeat this time," she said. "But I'm taking this before I go."

And she waved a strange rock-like object at them, with a light blue symbol etched in the middle of it, glowing slightly.

"That's-"

"The Water Elemental!" Ino nearly shouted.

"See you again!" said Yugito with a smirk before she vanished in a flash of light.

"Yugito! Wait!"

"Sora, answer me this!" said Kimimaro sternly. "Are you a vampire?"

"Yeah. So what?" asked Sora as she was surrounded by a flash of light before her clothes transformed. She was now wearing a white sleeveless shirt with a sleeveless light blue zip-up vest left half-unzipped and a pair of black pants which reaches down to her calves with black combat boots and black fingerless gloves with two pouches on either side of her waist. A black denim belt was wound around her waist, the rest trailing down her side. A silver chain with a square glass case with a dark blue spiral symbol in it was also hung around her neck. "I'm a vampire. I'm not afraid to admit it. I'm the Dawn Caster."

"Did you enter the Church in order to spy on us?"

"No," said Sora, waving a hand about. "I could care less if the lot of you just dropped dead."

"What are the vampires' motives? What is your kind planning?"

"Our plan? We are trying to...defeat your god."

"You...vampire!"

CLANG!

Kimimaro's sword clashed just then with a pure white blade wielded by a young man with silver gravity defying hair, standing in between Sora and Kimimaro, fixing Kimimaro with a one-eyed cold glare, his other eye covered by a strip of bandage. The man was wearing a black T-shirt with a black high-collared coat with red trims to the collar with the top two buttons left undone with a pair of black pants and black combat boots. A pair of black fingerless gloves were strapped on his hands and he had the same chain that Sora was wearing around her neck, only that his spiral was silver in colour.

Two others – a male and a female around the man's age – appeared next to him. The male was wearing a similar fashion to the first man, with black spiky hair with a pair of goggles perched on his head with onyx eyes and he had a runeblade strapped on his back. The young woman was wearing a black sleeveless shirt with a pure-white short-sleeved zip-up vest over it and a silver chain with a square glass case with a silver spiral symbol in it was hung around her neck and a pair of black pants and black combat boots, with two pouches hung around her waist and a crossbow hanging by a strap on her back. A black denim belt was also wound around her waist, the rest of it trailing down her side, and she had brown hair and honey-brown eyes which was currently boring holes into Kimimaro.

The silver-haired man snarled as the blade that he's holding lengthened – much to Kimimaro's shock – and the man applied more strength on his blade before Kimimaro was sent backwards a few feet – much to everyone's shock.

"Don't you dare touch the princess with your filthy hands, humans!" The silver-haired man snarled before the silver blade of his sword retracted and he placed the hilt into the belt by his side.

"Kakashi? Rin? Obito? What are you guys doing here?"

"P-P-Princess?!" Kiba stuttered.

"Sora, the Lord and the Lady have both asked for your return," said Rin. "You've done more than enough in trying to gather information about their god and finding your Diviner."

"I know," said Sora. "Let's go, Obito."

Obito nodded before standing in front of her only to hear a low growl and to see Kimimaro in front of them once more, his sword in his hands. Kakashi narrowed his eyes and held out one arm in front of Sora and Obito. "Obito, take the Princess and go! Rin and I will draw some time!"

"Wait!"

"Take one more step forwards and I'll blast your head off!" snarled Rin, holding out one hand, the palm facing Kimimaro and a red crimson orb was forming in the palm of her hand. "We're the personal bodyguards of the Princess – the heiress to the royal clan of the vampire society and we will not allow any harm to befall her."

"Obito! Take the Princess and go!" shouted Kakashi.

Obito nodded before he grabbed Sora's shoulder and both vanished in a flash of silver light.

"You're not getting away!" snarled Kimimaro and Rin smirked before she aimed the red orb forming in her hand straight at Kimimaro and a blast of red light hit Kimimaro straight on, sending him through three walls and both remaining vampires took the chance to teleport away in a flash of silver light.

Shikamaru was in complete shock as he stared at the spot where Sora was at. Her last words to him – unheard by everyone else – ringing in his head.

'You're my Diviner, Shika. Your life is mine. I'll be back for you one day.'

Shikamaru frowned as he thought back to what she said. 'But what the hell is a Diviner?'