A/N -

Hasty update! Happy New years!

I just inserted the last part of episode 2 I planned on going ahead to the first part of episode 3 but decided against it. Sorry

Good news though, a new chapter of OTI is underway :D

Chapter

"And here I thought I was late."

Ichijou looked up from his book and smiled. "Sakura-san, you made it."

She shrugged and headed towards their direction, silently noting the absence of a few with a small frown. "I'm still early though," She sat on the teachers table and shifted her gaze towards Kaname who has yet to acknowledge her presence. "Kakashi?"

"Hatake-sensei was called to the Headmaster's office," Ichijou smiled, "I met him in the hall awhile ago."

Sakura hummed. "Is that so?" She stood up and headed towards the farthest corner of the classroom, passing them both with not much of a glance. "And the others?"

Ichijou's smile dropped.

"They have yet to arrive." Kaname spoke, "Sakura?"

"Yes?"

"Those children seem to have missed the warning bell," He placed down the book he was reading and stared out the window. "Will you fetch them for me?"

Ichijou frowned. "…Kaname."

Kaname raised a hand to silence the blonde. "Sakura?"

She grinned. "Of course, Kaname-kun."

"I heard of the little stunt you pulled the other night."

He looked up from his book and shrugged. "Surprised?"

Kaien laughed. "Heavens no!" He smirked. "I'm just thankful you didn't place a hole in the wall."

Kakashi chuckled. "Yeah…" He shut his book and stared at the bespectacled man in front of him with a small smile. "I've been told that I've gone soft… but I'm sure that this isn't what you called me in for."

The dim light in the room reflected from his glasses, shielding his emotions from view. "No… no, it's not."

Kakashi smiled and stood up to pour himself a cup of tea. "And?"

The blonde removed his glasses and sighed. "There have been sightings… around town." He started, pulling out some envelopes from his desk. "The Association is getting restless."

Kakashi offered him a cup to which he accepted gratefully. "Oh?"

"The head is summoning us." He sighed handing him a piece of paper with a list of children and women gone missing. "He sends his apologies for the delay of yours though."

"Does he?" The silver haired man pulled out a photo of a woman with long brown hair. "I've been here almost a month since he had summoned me to this damned city and this is the first I hear of him again." He placed down the file and stared at him. "How long?"

Kaien frowned. "How long what?"

It was his turn to frown, "How long does that pretentious bastard want me gone?"

Kaien adjusted his glasses with a tired sigh. "He wants us to arrive in two days time, after that I'm sure he'd want an assessment of how things are—"

"No."

Kaien remained silent.

"I will not risk leaving Sakura alone for more than a day's worth." He began to walk away. "She needs my protection."

"Are you implying that my territory is not safe?" Kaien stood as well, giving him a pained smile. "Do you not trust me, Kakashi?"

He paused from the door. "Territory or not, I will not risk it."

"I know you would say that." He sighed and pulled out a letter and slid it across his table. "Here, I've arranged her to stay at the moon dormitories for the duration of our trip."

"…You haven't changed a bit, Kaien."

The bubbly persona turned up once again as he smiled. "Does that mean yes? Kakashi-kun?"

Tickled laughter echoed through the quiet forest night.

Her pace was careful yet quick as she made her way through the foliage of the trees. The smell of burning leaves came closer and closer in every step she took. She could fairly make out the dim lighting of flames in the distance. A smile occupied her face as each step grew faster and her laughter filled the quiet forest. Her feet barely skimmed each branch as she ran through the trees with glee.

"Something is happening!" She whispered to herself, over and over as she neared the lake.

Her blood pumped in her ears, excitement filling her person. A dainty hand caught the nearest branch before she dropped down as she peered down towards the leaves towards the scene playing out before her.

"If you really want to fight, I shall be your opponent!" Yuuki's voice called out as she held her weapon in front of her. Zero was behind her seeming irritated at her presence as she shielded him away from the gathering of vampires that crowded before them.

The flames disappeared and Akatsuki sighed. "Let's stop."

Hanabusa shrugged in a bored manner. "I guess."

"Yeah," Ruka sent the pair a bored stare. "I don't care anymore."

"Eh…" Everyone turned towards the new arrival who was seated a fair distance away from them, her head tilted to the side as she watched them with a pout settling on her features. "But I just got here!"

Zero lowered his bloody rose and stared at the girl with confusion. "Sakura, you..."

"How rude Zero-kun." She whined and crossed her arms over her chest. "Playing here without inviting me?" She pouted. "unfair!"

Yuuki panicked seeing the fragile girl, once again jump down from an alarming height. "Sakura-san! What are you doing here... and in that uniform!?"

Sakura ignored her and walked towards the group with a smile on her face. "May I join in?"

Ruka glared at the smaller girl and hissed. "What are you doing here?" Akatsuki placed a hand on her shoulder, warning her. "Ruka, calm down."

Sakura's smile dropped as her eyes settled on the young vampire. "Didn't your mother teach you not to speak unless spoken too?"

Ruka's eyes flashed a danger ous pink as she bared her fangs dangerously at the girl. "How dare you speak to me like that!" She yelled. "I am the daughter of—" She was cut off by her laugh. "Please, do I look like I care who your daddy is?" Her stance was casual and bored as she cocked her hip to the side.

"You...! I have just had about enough of you!" She stalked towards the girl, bloodlust evident in her eyes. "You... You undignified nobody! You show up here not a soul knows where in heavens name you come from and yet you act like you're all that!" Yuki stepped up to come between the two, nervously trying to get the older girl to calm down.

"How dare you act so close to Kaname-sama!"

Yiuki seemed to be startled by that piece of information, immediately stopped speaking and instead turned her attention towards the pink haired girl.

"...Sakura and...Kaname-senpai?"

"You are an outsider" Ruka ignored the brunette and continued. "...and yet you act so close to him! You have no right!"

Amusement danced in her eyes as she stared down the raging girl. "Quite the Jealous one, aren't you?"

With a roar Ruka charged towards the girl and in the process pushing Yuuki aside, Akatsuki failing to stop her. Zero raised his gun to shoot at the girl before she could do some damage only to be attacked by Aidou who saw his movement and enclosed his entire arm with ice. He glared at the blonde who smirked triumphantly at his predicament and brought his free hand up to smash the ice with some difficulty. Yuuki recovered from her fall and rushed to his side all the while scolding the night class students for direct violation of the use of powers on school grounds.

Sakura side-stepped the attack with ease and caught her assailant's long hair with a strong grip and pulled tight. "Annoying little girl aren't you?" She ignored her screams of outrage and easily deflected her attacks as she continued on pulling her hair. "You know having hair this long is such an impractical thing." Her grip tightened as she smiled down at the thrashing girl.

"Should we trim it?"

Panic flashed through Ruka's person as she tried to get away from the girl with adamant yells of hate. "Don't you dare!"

Sakura laughed and pushed the girl in her mercy towards a startled Akatsuki who caught her with ease. "Relax… I won't dare touch a daughter of a noble." She smirked in a teasing manner and walked over to the two prefects who had just gotten Zero free. "And fighting is against school rules, right prefect-san?"

She smiled and rocked on the balls on her feet with a giggle. "Kaname-kun is not happy with you all out here."

The group visibly stilled as the pink haired girl turned and sent them another teasing smirk. "He sent me to fetch you lot. I'm sure he wouldn't be too…upset about the happenings of this evening."

Aidou paled and braced himself for the scolding he knew he was going to get and Akatsuki sighed in irritation forgetting that he had originally planned to stop the whole ordeal.

"This sucks," Rima deadpanned walking over to Sakura with Shiki in tow.

Sakura laughed and walked ahead, allowing the rest to follow. "I'll see you later Zero-kun!"

Zero frowned and tore away from Yuuki's hold. The brunette watched the silver haired boy she had known for almost all her life walk away from her once again.

"Zero…"