Day Seven: Animal Kingdom

[A/n: this is an idea that's been in my head for a bit and I figured I'd try it out…]

Summary: They live in a very strange world, humans are all but a rarity, vampires reign supreme using the last humans as food slaves, their biggest enemy are Neko hunters. There are many other mythological creatures in this world as well. They are both top Neko hunters attempting to find a way to infiltrate a massive base and take it down.

"Let me see the map again…" he asked for the umpteenth time Sakura sighed and dug it out of her back before spreading it out. They were staying a few towns away plotting a small -quiet- operation to take down this base. They knew there were humans in there, knew there could be causalities of the humans if they weren't careful and they were already a dying species as it was.

She watched him as his ears twitched in concentration staring at it until he nodded and handed it back, she didn't put it away this time.

"I know the plan Sasuke…" she cooed softly and cuddled up to him purring gently he sighed and rubbed her ear.

"I know it's just a lot to think of," came the reply and they started to drift off.

When morning came they ate and went over the plan… again. They waited until the sun was high before running towards the base. They got in with little noise killing any vampires they saw on their way into the base. They entered and both faltered in their pace the stench of blood made both their heightened senses react violently, they retched before putting on masks just to try and get rid of the awful decay and iron smell that laced the air heavily.

"I don't think there's anything mortal in here…" She stated and Sasuke didn't want to agree but the smell wasn't good it didn't indicate anything good for the humans there. They took out some more vampires before finally getting to where the smell was strongest they got the door opened and Sakura couldn't stop the vomit that came from her mouth Sasuke pulled her back out of the room as bugs and other horrid scents filled the half. He blocked her view, he'd seen a lot in a matter of moments. Sakura was a medic as well as a hunter Sasuke knew this wouldn't be good for her to see, it would get her horribly upset.

"I'm calling backup…" he said and she nodded before changing from a simple mask to a full blown respirator which did wonders in blocking out the bulk of the stench. She slowly inched into the room using a red tinted light as not to startle the light deprived eyes of the humans.

They were chained to the floor so they couldn't reach one another, going into one arm was an IV that was filled with a cheap food supplement and on the other a slow pump that'd take a bit of blood every day all day, enough to keep them conscious and make it so their bodies would produce more. They were covered in sweat, the room was sweltering in its stuffy air, and who knew what else. They each had a bucket to urinate and defecate in yet it probably hadn't been sanitized ever. They were also being pumped full of antibiotics due to the appalling conditions and a few other drugs.

"Sakura…" his voice, muffled by his own respirator cause her to turn from her careful path and stare at him with broken eyes. He walked over and pulled her close resting his chin between his ears as he took in the site fully.

"I know not if they can be saved…" she whispered lowly

"We will know when backup gets here… they are going to take out the rest of these monsters and then come help us…" he replied.

It was hours before backup arrived several reacting the same way she had. They slowly eased more lights into the room, the humans barley responding to them at all. Sakura went around with the other medics unplugging the blood drawing machines and reverse them so they could at least get some of their strength back for what would come. It took hours to do just that on the 20 or so living humans in the room, the dead were taken out in bags. They were slowly responding to the treatment, some better than others. Even with the treatments, for some it was already too late and they too perished.

When the humans were taken to an intensive care area only 17 had survived fully. The hunters too went back to base and Sakura showered off the stench with Sasuke standing behind her supporting her as she shook from the sight once it finally actually hit her. He didn't make fun of her… he only kept her close, she was strong but she was meant to save people not watch them be turned into food slaves and some only to die once she arrived to save them.

For Sasuke it took several hours to aid her in calming down again so that he could get her to sleep, safely wrapped in his arms soft words and gentle purrs lulling her to sleep. It was restless, for them both, but they still knew the worst was yet to come.

[a/n: what did you think? I figured I'd try it out]