CH 1
Aono Tsukune, 22 year old teacher at West End middle school, pawed at the alarm clock to silence it.
"Ughhh," he groaned and sat up to rub the sleep out of his eyes. He glanced at his clock. Thursday, quiz day. And he hadn't prepared one for this week yet.
Groaning out another, "Ughhh," Tsukune stumbled into the bathroom to get cleaned up, then out to the kitchen to pack his pre-made lunch and swallow some breakfast. Thinking about the quiz, he wrote down some questions . As usual, he had ten questions, and added a harder one for the 'bonus'.
In his class, if a student got the bonus right, it could be used to up the score by one. A student who got 9 out of ten, and the bonus, was credited with all ten. He had a few students who benefited from that extra chance. Remembering from high school how bad Kurumu had been at tests, he did his best to make sure his questions were clear and to the point.
Tsukune grinned to himself. Kurumu Kurono, the very sexy and bouncy Succubus. She was one of the friends he sorely missed after coming back to the human world. One of the reasons he HAD to return to the human world. Yes, she was very pretty and had exotic blue hair. Completely unashamed to let him see whatever he wanted of her voluptuous form, she claimed he was her 'Destined One', the one only for her. At times, he felt like she might be the one for him. He did love Kurumu. One of the ones he had seriously considered for a girlfriend and possible wife.
Getting his things together, Tsukune left his apartment thinking about the heartache of that time that he still felt. When he was in middle school, he couldn't even find a girlfriend. At the end of high school, he had the opposite problem. He was surrounded by beautiful girls all wanting to be his, and every one tore at his heart..
Akashiya Moka, the most beautiful girl in the whole world, long pink hair, gorgeous face, nice curves, long firm legs, everything any guy could possibly want. She was also a vampire and had a split personality. While Pink haired, green eyed Moka was a sweet, innocent girl, when the large rosary that hung from the collar on her neck was removed, she became a silver haired, red eyed monster that could - and did -, beat the crap out of anyone or anything. Stern and no-nonsense, Silver haired Moka was the exact opposite of her 'outer' form. And he loved both sides of her dearly.
The only one he'd had sex with was the purple haired and very cute Mizore Shiryuki. The Snow woman was a stalker and a master at controlling ice. Her race lived in a village high in the mountains, and were creatures of the cold. In warmer climates, she always sucked on a lollipop that was designed to regulate her body temperature. Her race was dying out, her one vital mission was to have a child. Tsukune knew this, and after serious thought, went ahead and took Mizore as a 'winter wife'. Basically, make sure she had her child, and see her whenever he could. They had been very discrete, knowing the jealousy factor was high between all the girls. Mizore's happiest moment was when she whispered to Tsukune just before graduation that she had her baby. Tsukune was happy for her. After all, he did love her too.
Then there was Toujo Ruby, A Witch with long dark pigtails, and a serious BDSM fetish. She ached for Tsukune to be her 'Master' and do with her as he pleased, and the rougher the better. She also was very pretty, had a great body and was sexy in a dark way. And yes, he wanted her too.
With so many women Tsukune truly cared for, and knowing how badly each would be hurt if they 'lost' his affections to one of the others, Tsukune could not bring himself to choose anyone. His last words to them at the end of school was that he would think seriously about it, then when he decided, he would let them all know of his decision so no one as left wondering.
Here it was, 4 years later and he was still trying to decide. He had caved in more than one wall from banging his head in indecision.
Part of him was hoping they would become tired of waiting for him and move on. Having no contact with any of them, he was sure that by now, they had all said 'screw him', and moved on with their lives. Good for them. He'd always been curious what Mizore's baby was. It was his child too, after all. Even as he thought that, he had done it for Mizore and not himself. Although he accepted it, knowing he had a child he'd never see make him feel a bit hollow.
Looking down at his bracelet, the chain looking Holy Lock, he noted all the links were intact. This was the only thing he had left from his years in Yokai Academy, the school full of monsters that his parents had inadvertently sent him to. This Holy Lock was also the only thing holding in the monster within him. From Moka saving is life by injecting him with her Vampire blood, she had inadvertently turned him into a Ghoul.
Ghouls were nasty creatures. As strong as vampires, and having a never-ending blood lust, they also did not suffer the limitations that vampires did. Water did not affect them, they did not need to dine on blood at intervals to remain healthy, and their regeneration powers were amazingly strong. Ghouls were monsters feared by other monsters, for they were very powerful and had no weaknesses. Mean and tenacious like a Wolverine, once a Ghoul begin killing, it fell into a berserker mode, reveling in the slaughter.
It was because of his inner ghoul that Tsukune was advised to, and did return to the human world. With his Holy Lock in place and in the relatively calm human world where there was no yokai energy to disturb the slumber of the part of him that was a ghoul, he was able to live and keep the beast contained.
"Morning, Mr. Aono," A smooth female voice called.
Tsukune pulled himself out of his pondering to see he was about the walk into the school. The smiling face of Miss Kurama, another teacher, beamed at him.
"Morning, Miss Kurama," he said, and jumped ahead to open the door for her.
"Arigato," she said and walked in. Slowing to wait for him, she said, "You looked deep in thought."
Tsukune offered her a brief grin. "Just remembering."
"Good memories?"
"Mostly."
Glancing down, she asked, "That bracelet you wear, is it a religious item?"
"Kinda. It is an important keepsake," he explained.
Coming to the office door, again he opened it and let her enter first.
"Say, Mr. Aono," Miss Kurama asked as she cast him a sly gaze. "The Cherry Blossom festival is coming up. Are you planning to take someone?"
"Ahh, not really," Tsukune said with an itch of the back of his head. "I'm still catching up on a few important things."
"OH, that's a pity. Please, try to make it if you can," she said and went over to her desk.
Tsukune went over to his desk and heard a snort from beside him.
"You don't take hints do you, Tsukune?" The man at the desk beside his said quietly.
"Huh?" Tsukune asked.
The man rolled his eyes, "Does Yuka have to grab you by the collar and ask YOU to go to the festival with her?" he asked.
"Why don't you take her, Hiroki?" Tsukune asked.
"Because maybe she's been trying to get you to pay some attention to her?" Hiroki said.
"I have a girlfriend," Tsukune countered.
"Great. Who is she?"
"She doesn't live around here," Tsukune replied.
"She does have a name though?" Hiroki prodded.
Tsukune grabbed his class materials, and said, "Yes," then left for his classroom.
Getting to his classroom early, Tsukune made a good quiz with a tough, but not too hard bonus question.
He wrote the quiz on the blackboard, then pulled the projector screen down over it. Kids began to drift into class. A few tried to linger near the front to see what the quiz was going to be. A few groans sounded out, they knew what today was.
Tsukune greeted students as they came in. One girl stopped in front of his desk and asked, "Mr. Aono Sensei, do you believe in monsters?"
Tsukune noted the intent look on the girl's face. "Why do you ask, Miss Nishisume?"
"My cousin said that he saw one. He said it was tall and walked upright like a man, but it was a lizard," she said firmly.
Tsukune smirked. Lizardman, he knew them well. "And where was this?" he asked.
"Way up in the woods, in the mountains west of town. Are there things like that up in the mountains?" she asked fearfully.
Evenly, Tsukune told her, "Miss Nishisume, it is possible that your cousin though he saw something like that. It is also very possible that someone was playing a prank. There are many special affects suits and costumes. I highly doubt what he saw was a real monster. It was a man in a lizard costume."
"So, it won't come eat me?" she asked meekly.
"No, Miss Nishisume, nothing is going to come and eat you," Tsukune assured her. That seemed to satisfy her. He then noted that behind him, her friend Miss Uaida, was sneaking a peek behind the projector screen.
"Miss Uaida, take your seat please," he said firmly.
The girl squeaked and flushed. "Yes, Mr. Aono," she said and hurried to her seat.
Kids, can't trust them.
Although they all knew by now there was a quiz, Tsukune began class by announcing the quiz. Once the class was ready with nothing but a blank paper and their writing instrument on the desk, he raised the projector screen and announced, "Begin."
He figured the quiz should take them about fifteen minutes to complete. While he waited, his sensitive hearing picked up shouts from down the hallway.
The gunshot was loud enough for everyone to hear. All heads shot up with looks of fear. Thinking quickly, Tsukune snapped, "Everyone, on the floor! Cover your head with your arms! Do not make a sound, do not get up!"
As his class complied and dove to the floor, Tsukune went to the door and peeked out. Another gunshot sounded out. In the next classroom down, a man barged in yelling and fired a shot. Another man ran for his room. Tsukune stepped out and punched the surprised man hard in the face, knocking him down. Even though his ghoul was contained, Tsukune still retained a fair amount of the monster's strength. The gunman recoiled from the punch so hard, his feet flew up. The man drooped to the floor prone. Out cold or maybe dead. Tsukune locked his door and shut it behind him.
Tsukune was the only one in the hall. He opened a hallway window and tossed the gun out, then bend low and crept up to the classroom he'd seen another man go in. Sobs and crying came from within. He peeked in carefully, low to the floor. The class was cowering near the back. The teacher, Miss Kurama, was bend over the desk. Over her, the man held her down by her collar, his gun to her head. Gasping in fear, her eyes were wide and spilling tears on the desk. The man was facing the hallway, shifting his masked head from the hallway to the frightened children in the back of the room.
The loudspeaker announced, "We are the FLB, as long as no one resists, no one will be hurt!"
Tsukune edged back so the man in the room couldn't see him. He heard a radio as for a 'status check'. Three voices replied, then the man in Miss Kurama's room answered. After a long silence, the man Tsukune had knocked out was asked to reply.
"Sukaku, go see where Tanato is! Kill anyone who resists!"
Tsukune squatted by the corner and tensed to leap. He knew he'd have to take this man out fast. The whiff of blood came to his nose. Inside himself, he felt the ghoul stir. Angry at the men who were attacking the school, and afraid for all the students and teachers here, Tsukune's eyes melted from his normal brown irises and turned red, elongating into cat-eyed slits. His fangs grew out as the ghoul neared the surface.
When a form appeared, it was Miss Kurama being pushed along by a solid grip on her hair. The man behind her was looking ahead, again his gun against the back of her head. In a flash faster than the human eye could pick up, Tsukune shot up, grabbed his gun hand and the back of the man's neck at the same time and pushed the gun against the man's chest to point up at his chin, bending the man backwards. Miss Kruama stumbled away somewhere as Tsukune glared at the man.
"Shoot," Tsukune growled in a deep voice.
The man's eyes grew wide, he let out a yelp, and his hand tightened. He shot, and blew the top of his own head off.
Tsukune tossed the corpse to one side. Seeing Miss Kurama sitting up and trying to collect herself, he scooped her up by her underarms and tossed her back into the classroom. "Lock the door," he said and shut her in.
Tsukune raced to the next room, a man peeked his head out, looking down his gun sights. Tsukune twisted his arm, grabbed him by the neck and snapped it. He kept going as the man fell dead. The next room only had the Teacher and students in it. Tsukune ran on to the next to see a man pointing his gun at him.
"Stop or I kill you!" the man barked.
Tsukune raced into him, the wild shot buzzed past his head. Tsukune killed him with a punch that drove the man's head into the wall and split his skull with a loud crack.
The last one had to be in the office. Tsukune saw the dead guard lying on the floor and ran into the outer office. He approached the inner office and the door flew open. Before the man could react to seeing someone in front of him, Tsukune punched him hard, driving his head into the door frame. The man slid to the floor dead, smearing blood down the door frame as he fell. The only other people in either room were the staff cowering on the floor.
More. He wanted more. More blood, more death!
Tsukune squeezed his eyes shut to block out the easy prey huddled on the floor around him.
NO! Not prey, his co-workers. Innocents. Tsukune turned and bolted out the door before he gave into the grim impulses he was feeling. His Holy Lock glowed as he ran down the hall, jumping the collecting pools of blood.
His students, Tsukune needed to check on his students! Focusing on them, his blood lust cravings diminished. Returning to his room, he unlocked the door and went back in. Not yet fully trusting himself, Tsukune slid down the door to sit against it, head in his hands.
He stayed there until the police were in the school and knocking at his door.
The police had everyone stay in their classrooms, a patrolman at each door, while they began their investigations. Tsukune took this time to distract his students by finishing the quiz and going over their results. Tsukune was going to begin a lesson, but an inspector came in and called him out into the hallway.
"Yes?" Tsukune asked as he shut the classroom door behind him. A quick glance showed the hallway was clear, and there was a group of police and medics down by the office.
"I am Inspector Nakamura. Mr. Aono, Please tell me what you experienced?"
Slowly, Tsukune said, "I was giving a quiz. I heard a gunshot. Immediately, I told the class to lie flat on the floor, arms over their heads, and to stay quiet. I peeked out the door, saw someone in the hall. I shut the door and locked it, then sat against it so no one could get in."
The Inspector nodded. "The right thing to do," he agreed. "Can you tell me how many shots you heard?"
"For certain, no sir. I didn't think to count them. I was only hoping to hear the police coming," Tsukune said. He paused and asked,"Is anyone hurt?"
"The guard died, and the principal has been beaten, but he will recover. Miss Kurama has had quite a shock, she is being escorted to the hospital for a routine checkup. Other than being upset, there are no other injuries," the inspector explained. "We are shutting the school down for investigative purposes. Everyone may return Monday morning. Please excuse your class out the rear entrance."
"Yes, sir," Tsukune said and bowed to him.
Tsukune did as the Inspector said. He gave out homework assignments then made sure his whole class left out the back. He headed for home himself and heard a small voice ask, "Mr. Aono?"
He turned. It was Miss Nishisume who eyed him cautiously. Gently, he asked, "Is everything all right, Miss Nishisume?"
She nodded slightly and asked, "What are you, Mr. Aono?"
"Excuse me?" he asked. His mind raced, had she seen something? What would he do if she told anyone else?
"I mean, were you in the army? Kouta says you have to be an army Ranger or something. We saw you run out fast and knock that guy down, and he had a gun. Kouta said that only someone highly trained like a Ranger could possibly do that."
Tsukune let out a breath of relief. He let out a chuckle. "Does it matter, Miss Nishisume? You and your classmates are safe, that is all that counts."
"So, you can't say? You were in a secret part of the army?" she asked.
Tsukune grinned and said, "It would no longer be a secret if I admitted it, right?"
She nodded. "Thank you, Sensei," she said with a bow and hurried home.
Tsukune got home and started on planning next week. Whoever those men were had ruined the day and tomorrow. He had to condense and shift lessons to make up for the two lost days. In that, he also planned on talking to the kids about what happened to help them deal with it.
A knock sounded at the door. Tsukune got up from the couch and answered it.
Miss Kurama stood on the other side of the door, looking worn. "May I come in?" she asked meekly.
"Of course, please do," Tsukune said and motioned her in. "I'll get some tea, please have a seat."
Tsukune went to the kitchen and warmed up the tea he'd already made and got two cups. Returning, he served Miss Kurama and sat down. Seeing her hands were shaking, he asked, "Tough day today, wasn't it?"
"Indeed," she said quietly and took a long sip.
"Are you coping with it?"
Miss Kurama sat looking at the table for a moment, then said, "I have two questions, Mr. Aono. Please answer them honestly."
"As honestly as I can," he offered.
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
"Kinda, I'm trying to decide between a couple girls," he admitted.
Miss Kurama nodded, then looked up, gazing right into his eyes. "Are they human?"
Tsukune looked at her in shock. His voice was weak as he asked, "Why would you ask that?"
Collecting herself, she said, "When you, and I know it was you, attacked and killed the man holding me, I saw something that I had never thought was possible. I just need to know if your girlfriend is a yokai."
Which was a roundabout way of asking if he was a yokai, Tsukune realized. He got his thoughts together and said, "Miss Kurama, today was very unsettling and confusing. I was only trying to get you back into your room and safe. That man shot himself in the head when we were struggling for the gun," he explained.
"I know you were watching out for me, and I thank you for that," she said sincerely. "Could you please tell me, is your girlfriend human?"
"I haven't decided on who my girlfriend will be," he said, dodging the question. He felt a yokai presence outside his door. Then came the knock.
"Excuse me a moment, please," he said and got up to answer the door. He opened it with a "Hel..." His Hello was interrupted by a sweater plowing into his face.
"TSUKUNE!" Kurumu cried as she wrapped her chest around his face in a breast-smothering hug and knocked him to the floor. "Tsukune I missed you so much!" she cried. Kurumu then pulled back to straddle him and grabbed his collar with both hands as she glared at him. "And why haven't I heard ANYTHING from you in four years!"
"Ahh, Kurumu, I can explain," he said weakly.
"This better be good," Ruby announced as she came in, casting a cold gaze down on him. As he remembered, Ruby had a leather bustier laced down the front, her full length skirt, long pigtails and carried her ornate wand in her hand.
"AH, Hi Ruby, please come in," he offered. Looking over, he saw Miss Kurama staring at them. "Miss Kurama, this is Kurono Kurumu, and Toujo Ruby, friends of mine from school. Kurumu, Ruby, this is Miss Kurama, we teach at the same school."
"And WHY is she here in your apartment?" Kurumu asked eyeing the woman with a hard gaze.
"The incident today," Ruby said as she breezed into the room. "That is how I found you, Tsukune. So, tell me, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Can I get up, please?" Tsukune asked.
.
Miss Kurama wisely decided it was time to leave. She didn't know which one was scarier, the busty blue haired woman who cast her a gaze like the woman wanted to rip her apart, or the goth queen who had a wand and looked like she should be carrying a whip. They each had an air of jealousy about them that made her cringe. She had no doubt these were the ones competing for Mr. Aono, and got the idea to get in their way would be a fatal mistake.
Standing up, Miss Kurama bowed to them. "Mr. Aono, thank you for saving me today." Keeping her gaze lowered against the hard looks from these two women, she added, "I told the police I didn't see who it was that fought those men, I was only concerned about getting back into the classroom to get the door shut and locked to protect my students."
"Thank you, Miss Kurama," Tsukune replied.
Not quite looking at either Ruby or Kurumu, she said, "Please treat Mr. Aono decently. He is a good man." She then stepped over Tsukune's legs and out the door.
Happy to get out in one piece, Miss Kurama noticed a flash of light in the hallway. Three more women appeared out of thin air. The one leading was a dark haired teenage girl in a black witch costume complete with a pointed hat and cape. Behind her was a frightening looking woman with silver hair and red eyes that seemed nearly to glow. Behind her was another woman with light purple hair that reminded her of ice.
"Ruby found him, he's right up here," Yukari said, pointing the way with her wand.
The witch girl and the ice haired woman looked strange, but the silver haired one nearly made Miss Kurama's heart seize in fear when the woman looked at her. Worse yet, she was carrying a bull whip.
She pressed herself to the hallway wall as they approached. Dear god, what were they? The silver haired woman only glanced at her, they all went by ignoring her. Still, she still felt terror creeping up her spine from their close proximity.
The trio went into Mr. Aono's apartment. The door shut and the five women began demanding answers from the poor outnumbered man on the floor. Miss Kurama ran out of the building, trying to slow her breathing and rapidly beating heart. If Mr. Aono had women like that for friends, no wonder he wasn't afraid of a few gunmen!
.
"Tsukune, why haven't we heard anything from you?" Yukari asked.
"Have you forgotten we have a child?" Mizore intoned in her flat voice.
"OR have you forgotten us?" Moka asked in a demand.
"Have you even thought about who it is you will pick?" Kurumu asked, sounding hurt.
On his knees from lacking the strength to stand. Tsukune said, "No, I haven't forgotten anything. I keep trying … I do!" Taking a breath to arrange his thoughts, he looked up and them with pleading eyes. "I think about all of you, every day! The truth is, I CAN'T decide! I've … tried being logical about it, I've tried thinking about who I love the most and … " drooping down in defeat, he said, "I always think about how hurt the rest of you will feel if I do pick one. Moka, you are my first, best friend, we're blood bonded. Kurumu, you are wonderful and you do your best, and I know I'm your Destined One, the same goes for you, Ruby, I know I will always have a very good friend in you. Mizore, I do love you too. I cringe at the thought of hurting any of you." pausing briefly, Tsukune shook his head, making a tear fall. "The truth is, I really don't deserve any of you. Even after all this time, you are all loyal to me, and look at me, I can't even honor your loyalty and give you a straight answer. If you all walk away now, well, I can't blame any of you one bit"
There was silence for a few moments as Tsukune sat in misery and all the girls looked down on him.
Kurumu spoke up first. "You are my Destined One, Tsukune. I don't care what else goes on, I found you, and this time, I am NOT leaving. You're stuck with me!"
"We are blood mates, Tsukune," Moka said then her voice hitched as she added, "If you … have others, that is normal in a vampire relationship."
Kurumu looked at Moka. "Really?" she asked.
Moka nodded. "I suppose if the others are my friends, then that is best. It will give Tsukune prestige in vampire circles."
"Tsukune, I am your slave. What you do with me is your decision, but Kurumu is right, I am not leaving your side again," Ruby intoned.
"Ohh, Moka, me too?" Yukari asked in an excited tone, bouncing in place. She quickly added, "I'll be 18 next week!"
"Tsukune," Mizore said in her cold voice. "You have given me a child, which I am very grateful for. That means I am your winter wife. You have yet to see our little boy, you should visit us."
"Mizore is correct, I do not want my blood mate to ignore his children."
Tsukune looked up at them, surprise written on his face. "What? Is this really OK?"
"Tsukune, you said you don't want to see us hurt. Right now I think we all see you hurting," Ruby said in a gentle tone. "So, Master, would you like me to rearrange your dwelling? You only need to command me."
Tsukune's mind reeled. All of them? This couldn't be real! He stared up at each of them. Mizore and Moka pulled him to his feet. Casting him a smirk, Moka flicked the end of his nose and said, "You better have Ruby start making more room. You're going to need it."
Stunned, Tsukune only nodded.
"The kitchen is mine!" Kurumu announced. "Hey, flat chest, come make me a decent kitchen."
Yukari scowled at her and thrust her chest out. "I'm not flat chested! I have very sexy 'B' cups, and they will get bigger!"
Hands on her hips, Kurumu teased, "They are still just pimples."
Yukari went to wave her wand to crack Kurumu on the head with a pan, Moka caught her hand. "Enough! Yukari, help Kurumu make the kitchen she wants. Ruby, start on the bedrooms, then make a decent dinning room and a balcony fit for us instead of that puny thing only one person can stand on. Tsukune, let's take a walk."
Moka tossed the whip on the couch. Her hair washed into pink and her eyes turned green. She let out a sniffle and dove into Tsukune, hugging him tightly. "I missed you so much!" she cried, then latched onto his neck.
Capachu