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Sakura was still acutely aware of her surroundings but unable to move in her extremely hungry state. She mentally sweat dropped as Z checked her mouth. Still, at least that would be out of the way once she finally regained her energy. Focusing her mind on Z, Sakura would have snorted out loud if she could, as she watched Z pick up the blade and examine the little blood on it. Her mind focused on the other being, the one she had started to draw her sword against.

A yelp of surprise greeted her ears and she wanted to both hide from and run to the source. There in the alleyway stood her co-worker and the second in command of the Kuro Gang. Her green eyes were as large as robin's eggs and jaw hanging open in shock, very abnormal for such a dignified dark elf but oh so priceless. Cordell stood as if rooted to the ground, staring back and forth from Z to Sakura. Finally, locking her gaze with Z, she whispered, "How could you?" Sakura tried to move but couldn't. Great, someone was going to get hurt again because of her… She doubted her co-worker and former best friend or Z saw the tear that slid down her pale cheek.

Sakura could only watch as Cordell smirked calmly, her stance sliding gracefully into a defensive position, hand on her sword hilt. "Oh you didn't, hmm? Just like you didn't go after my co-workers and friends?" Quicker than lightning, she unsheathed her sword, though her feet never moved. "You're no match for me. Your devious ways will end now."

Sakura mentally pleaded with her body to move, show some sign of life before another one was lost. Nothing, not even the ability to sigh, so how could she still read people's thoughts so clearly? Focusing her thoughts on trying to get help, her mind screamed for anyone that might pick up her own thought waves. 'Please, someone help us before a misunderstanding gets out of hand!'

Sighing, Z hung her head for just a second, hands loose at her sides. "That, I did do...and I regret." Raising her head again, Z barely shifted back to rest some weight on the leg closest to Sakura, the movement hardly detectable it was so slight. The hybrid's face was cold, merciless. "If I hadn't been pressed into the dire need, my body wouldn't have taken over my mind to destroy what had been torturing me," Z stated, tone impassive, dark...melancholy. Sighing again, the hybrid's fangs were visible, smaller than most vampires' before she pressed her lips in a thin disapproving lines. "In general, I only attack if provoked..." Z started to say, leaning back as a blow went past her cheek, the blade barely scratching her skin. A slit like a paper cut, thanks to the silver in the blade and the force behind Cordell's arm.

Z's eyes deepened their violet color, becoming dark and almost black as her fragile-looking fangs extended a bit more from where they hand been retracting. Z hissed, the end turning into a light, barely-heard growl...unusual for a vampire. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch, you're like a child," Z countered, jaw clenched tight as her words came amazingly clear through her pressed lips, to keep her fangs as under control as the hybrid could. "I may be damned, but I'm not from Hell..." Z muttered, tone finally showing some emotion; tired annoyance. She stayed pretty much motionless, dodging attacks or blocked hits with her stone-like arms.

One hit slid the hybrid backwards, pale pink rising in the bare slices shallow on her arms, towards Sakura's body. The dark-elf might feel the growl Z kept up, even though her face didn't change from its set stony expression, eyes flaring with hate at Cordell. Feeling something under her foot, Z arched her back impossibly far to avoid hitting Sakura's supposed corpse. Hands slipping in the blood a bit, Z's body slammed into the brick wall, a handstand before her elbows bent and her toes kicked the hybrid away from the wall. Sliding down under a decapitating swing from the night elf, Z flicked blood off her hand towards the elf, a distraction and possible inhibition to her sight.

Hearing the crack, Z took her eyes off of Cordell for a split second, wary of multiple enemies. And her opponent took the chance to slide the blade into Z's body. Hissing and yelping in surprised pain...the sword was hard to shove through, not enough silver and no Blessing to make her skin like butter...that ended in a short howl Z couldn't contain. "Fine, I'm done being nice," she growled as faint blood poured sluggishly around the wound, the hybrid having twisted so it went more into her thigh than anything vital. Grabbing the blade with disregard to the itching she felt at the touch of silver, Z stared in Cordell's face while she bent the soft metal. Muscles bulging, Z knew she'd pay for it later, but...if it kept her left alone long enough to recover, the hybrid didn't care. Raising her opposite foot than the side pierced with the blade Z wasn't letting go, the hybrid kicked at Cordell's sternum hard enough if it made contact, the dark elf's bones would be heard to crack. Snarling in pain as she took the blade out from her side, Z looked at the dawn and made a face at the lightening of the sky.

Sakura was a vampire, and although Z hated vampires...Sakura wasn't a hit. And apparently the blood wasn't human, as Z could tell; it didn't feel right, moving weird and slowly to heal even though having the blood period had helped give the hybrid strength and energy. Hand to her side, the bent sword away from her, Z looked from Twi to Sakura with a scowl... He was there, he could deal with the elf vampire, they both had pointy ears surely that meant something. Shaking her head, Z limped away through the alley, expression under her hat even darker than before, her movements tight and jerky compared to the graceful style she had while fighting. Z was obviously in intense pain.

Twi saw her collapse, and rushed to her side, sliding down the building's drain pipe and leaping between the walls of the alley near the bottom.

he gave Cordell a direct and knowing gaze, which she momentarilly acknowledged while engaged in her duel. then he scooped Sakura up and fled the scene as best he could.

to his surprise, Sakura felt cold. and she seemed familiar as well. he didn't know what he was doing, rescuing this Kuro.... she must have been one of the Vampires still loyal to the Don.

his hunger was also getting to him, as her vulnerable limp body lay in his arms. afterall, she was the enemy.... he licked his lips as he carried her away.

when he made it to his home he brought her upstairs to a bedroom and tied her to a chair like a prisoner. he chose a very comfortable chair, but he couldn't allow her to escape until he questioned her. then, losing the battle with himself, he sunk his teeth into her neck and began to drink.

his meal ended ubruptly as he tore himself away from her. he had drained easily three quarts of blood from her and though he was near-frenzy from want for more, he knew that he'd run the risk of draining her dry if he continued. his eyes refocused, and he composed himself, though he felt so alive from the rush. he left the room and locked it behind him.

and as he stirred, he grumbled something about waiting until later. he clearly had mistook the kiss for someone else's and intentional. but he couldn't prevent himself from blinking awake awkwardly and yawning.

he seethed at the bright light of the hallway coming in through the cracked door, and heard the loud stomping footsteps of someone leaving his bedroom. at first he got up and grumbled about leaving the door open and he close dit shut. but, walking back to his bed he realized that his prisoner must have escaped!

rushing back out of the door he ran down the hallway to the stairs.

Sakura awakened to the sounds of ripping, a thud, and heavy footsteps. Growling at being awakened in such a manner and at the sunlight starting to stream into the room, she forced her eyes open. Quickly realizing she was not in her room at the Kuro Gang's headquarters, she attempted to stand, only to realize she was tied up to a chair. 'The heck?' Her eyes widened in fear, and desperation flared up as she realized that her situation was dire. Plus, if she didn't feed soon, she would probably be seeing her parents sooner than expected.

After whet seemed to be hours of trying to cut through the rope with her elongated nails (which were thin from lack of feeding), Sakura gave up and tried to regain some of her lost energy. Memories of the previous night flashed through her mind. She recalled the fight in the alley and wondered if both Z and Cordell had survived, she sincerely hoped so. Whomever had appeared so suddenly, she hoped they had been able to break up the fight and not get hurt in the process.
The memory brought some questions to mind. How had she been able to call out for help using only her mind? Normally she had to summon a crystal for such a task. Who exactly was the person who heard her plea for help and were they friend or foe? And more importantly, how in the world did she end up here and just where was here anyways? The sound of a thud brought her thoughts to a standstill, and she almost smirked as she heard a familiar voice curse. 'That answers one question, at least.'

Closing her eyes to sleep again, she wondered why she felt so exhausted when she obviously had slept a decent bit. The answer suddenly came to her as her body shuddered with extreme pain, a pain she had once before. Fangs elongating in fear and anger, the normally docile hybrid snarled as she struggled like a wild cat to break free from her bonds. She had no clue why the vampire had left her alive but she wasn't about to stick around to find out. Sadly, her escape attempts caused the chair to rock back and forth rather loudly and dangerously on it's legs.

Sakura struggled with the bonds as she heard the relatively soft footfalls following Z's trail. Shaking her head in disbelief she laughed softly. "And I thought life up here would be a little more sane.", she grumbled. Focusing on Z, she was glad to see the hybrid could get some rest. Although, she was sure the servants might get a rather unpleasant surprise that evening. Sakura winced, remembering her co-workers a few days ago. Her thoughts were cut off by the realization that her captor was headed back towards the room, satisfied that Z would not be much of a threat. 'Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap!'

Even though she knew it would happen, the door opening suddenly caused a yelp of terror to escape her lips. Mentally cursing herself for showing her weakness, she tried to regain composure as she met his stern, unwavering gaze. Internal composure flew out the window but she managed an outward facade, which also began to fade as the taller dark elf/vampire spoke. "alright, Kuro..." His tone reminded her very slightly of the Don's. "you're going to tell me everything you know." She flinched visibly at his smirk, one that made her realize there were worse things than disobeying the Don.

Sakura studied her captor, well to do, fairly cultured, but not one to be messed with. Still, she was overly-hungry and none to thrilled about her current situation. Keeping her gaze steady with his, she frowned slightly. "Although I work for them, my name happens to be Sakura, not Kuro." Dropping her gaze slightly, she sighed. "What do you want to know and what happens if I can't (or won't) tell you?"

Sakura felt her skin prickle with fear, every single hair on her neck was at attention as she watched in mixed fascination and horror as his shadow literally came to life. She wanted to shriek in fear but her vocal chords were paralyzed with fright. She needed no further convincing when Twi's tattoos began to glow and his scars opened. She shrank against the chair as he held her gaze. "I can be very persuasive." 'No kidding?' She hoped sincerely he didn't catch that thought.
She relaxed slightly as things settled, although his shadow was showing her exactly what would happen if she didn't talk. Just as she began wondering who was worse, the Don or he, Twi spoke again. "you have 5 seconds to begin speaking; I can be rather impatient, you see..."

In a shaky voice, Sakura started an abridged version of her story. "After our prisoner escaped, the rest who were left had a chance to 'redeem' ourselves. I was the 'lucky' one that volunteered. I was looking for two beings, the one who escaped, and the person who was able to form the portal that saved her. I wanted to try and befriend them so that maybe, just maybe I could live in peace above ground, so to speak. I found the escapee, helped her feed as she was in bad shape, and then my own lack of feeding caught up with me, I managed to send out a plea for help before passing out and ending up here. And by the way, I am NOT a flipping blood bank!" Sakura sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry but I'm starving, about to pass out in fact, and you do realize the sun is rising..." She cringed as she felt her world spinning and could only let out a soft squeak of sorts as she once again passed out, the adrenaline leaving her body as quickly as it was formed.