A/N:

This fanfiction contains graphic description that some may find disturbing however none of this is sexual.

Disclaimer- I own none of the rosario vampire characters and will make no profit from the publication of this story.

Chapter 2: The Shadow, the Witch and the Freezer.

影と魔女冷凍庫

"Moka! Where's Kokoa!"

"Kokoa! No!"

Tsukune rose with what remained of the harem towards the roof of a tall faceless tower block. No lights shone from this building or any other and it was as if even light had given up hope on them. The night ruled supreme and clung to the terrified group like the black death.

He saw every moment as if it was played out purely to fulfill his nightmares. A dream this was not as the crimson was too vivid and the shadows too substantial.

When they landed all he could think of were those few final moments where she had disintegrated at his touch and all he had done was take the shadows that rose from her body. Like an artist at an easel he had painted a mural in her blood.

"Moka…" he breathed barely audible with the cracking of his voice "S-she's… she's dea-dead" words clung to the back of his throat as the panic began to rise.

"Tsukune!" came the call of his companions bar one as they rushed to him. They acted like mothers rushing to the aid of a fallen child.

"I know, Tsukune. This will be troublesome but we must think of our next move." Moka was as ever detached but the great sorrow could be heard hidden amongst the many layers of her voice. Tsukune was not as strong, breaking down into fits of tears at the horrors of the scene he had witnessed.

"He obliterated her like squashing an ant!" he cried in anguish.

"Snap out of it! I think we should get moving if we want to survive this."

"B-b-but?"

"Look! Don't think I'm not hurting as much as the rest of you, but we are going to have to grieve the lost when we are safe. That is what they would have wanted." It had started out as a roar but the act promptly crumbled until the last sentence was but more than a sorrowful whisper.

Realising something must be done Yukari abruptly interjected "I think Moka's right. We need to get as far away as possible as soon as possible. So, Ruby and Kurumu, do you think you could carry us onward."

"Unfortunately, no. You see it would appear our powers have been dampened by some magic and we can no longer fly." Ruby responded crestfallen knowing that they now faced a much greater risk on the ground.

"Well then, we'll just have to head down into the building." Yukari piped up hoping to rescue the groups morale from annihilation before they headed off. However, it was pointless as she could visibly see the hopes of her friends plummet like like boulders down a cliff. "Well then lets head off." and they trudged through the waiting jaws of gloom on the other side of the door.

Empty and barren, the inside of the building offered no respite from the bitter cold of the night nor the ever present dread that clung to them like cling film. It felt that the very walls of this building oozed the misery that those who worked there clung to their chests like every other person on the planet. Shadows hung in groups in the corners and around the the doorframes and stared with beady eyes at the group.

The stairs down reached infinitely into darkness but the group still began the long climb down the winding staircase. Each large stone step was another step closer to safety and this drove them on.

A low murmuring sound could be heard. At first it was barely audible so the friends had ignored it but by the time they had reached the fifth floor the words had almost become recognisable. Then without warning the walls hummed to life and blared out their message.

"Now remember this Tsukune, the key to escape is within the spot where love lost resides. A portal, born of affection, that will take you from this place into a safer realm."

The friends now stared at each other; dumbfounded by this message and pondering the meaning of it. This was until questions were directed towards Tsukune as to reveal deeper meaning to the remark.

"Well Tsukune, love, what could he mean?" Mizore questioned.

"I don't really…"

"Could he be talking about one of us?" Kurumu interrupted.

"No that would be…"

"Stupid, Kurumu. It must be somewhere in the city that means something to Tsukune. Obviously. So where could that be Tsukune?" Yukari told the others obviously believing that she had got it right.

"That would make the most sense." said Ruby and Moka.

"Well… there is the shopping centre where I last saw my grandparents before they… they passed away." Tsukune told his remaining friends rather reluctantly.

"Then we should head there asap!" With this they began to head towards the east of town at a renewed pace now they had a goal to strive for and a destination to head to.

The walk was a long, arduous and miserable one. With the deaths of their friends Kokoa and Fan-fan still hanging over their heads they did not make much conversation, just sank into their own psyches to contemplate the very meaning of their existence now that they faced its end. After a solid forty-five minutes of walking in a sullen silence small thuds could be heard as something smashed into the nearby ground. Then darkness erupted from the ground and blinded the group. Once it had cleared it revealed the assassin framed in a singular, flickering shaft of light from the one working street lamp. He held what seemed to be a crossbow that now pointed directly Mizore.

Before a word could pass the lips of a single person a pop was heard and a heartbeat later a short shaft of shadows coiled out of Mizore's calf. The screams of terror and pain pierced the midnight sky and Kurumu rushed to her side to help as the bolt disappeared.

"Get behind me!" Ruby had rushed out spread her six razor sharp wings as a defensive barrier for her friends.

"Ruby, you can't do this you'll end up dead!" an anguished Tsukune cried out as a response to the brave actions of his friend. "I won't leave you here alone."

"Then don't worry, I'll be here to keep her company." stated a stony faced Yukari. "Now go before it's too late and we'll make sure to catch up. I mean were only holding him off right."

Assured by their words, Tsukune raced over to where Mizore now lay scooped her up before sprinting towards their destination and what they believed to be escape.

"See you later Yukari." Called Kurumu as she raced after Tsukune and around the corner with Moka leading up the rear herding them onwards. Before she turned the corner Moka looked back and gave a sad nod to the two girls.

"So you must be Ruby and the genius Yukari. What a pleasure it is to kill you next." He said and broke the tense silence that had felt like it would go on for ever. Defiant looks was all this was met with by the two witches. "Tut,tut,tut. You know it is quite rude to ignore people when they are talking to you." Again silence bar the whisper of the winds. "Well I guess that if I'm going to have a one sided conversation I might as well…"

"Shut it, you air head." Burst out Yukari no longer able to keep the demeanor she had aimed for.

"Oh! She speaks!" exclaimed the assassin " Well isn't that just a doozie."

The crossbow shot up and released its deadly projectile. Aimed straight at her chest Yukari didn't have time to dodge but luckily her friend was more on the ball and struck it might flight. After a small anti-climactic pop all that remained of Yukari's near death was a small coiling cloud of shadow.

"You bastard!" was Ruby's cry as she charged the man. She struck with her wings but all she hit was the space he had occupied.

"Nice try, but too slow!" He pounced from the darkness wielding his midnight katana and collided with a golden pan.

"Don't forget about me!" Yukari called as five golden pans fell from the sky in quick succession but everyone was dodged by the assassin. The final pan fell only to be caught in the waiting shadows. They tore it into small chunks and sent them flying in all directions so that Yukari had to dodge out of the way to avoid being disemboweled. Turning he looked Yukari dead in the eyes with such a dead and removed expression she could not help but shiver in fear at this emotionless display; then he struck.

The blade sliced up in a dark crimson spray and found her heart. The look of shock stood paralysed upon the young witches face as blood soaked her clothes and her organs failed. Black liquid spread from the wound and she began to drop. However, halfway to the ground the blade flashed again and her head rolled from upon her small, limp, innocent shoulders into the waiting hand of the deadly individual.

"No!" Ruby shrieked as she struck with her bladed wings. Blood flew and she realised that she had made a long gash upon his cheek that now dripped with blood. Although she had successfully managed to land a hit this did not fill her with confidence as he now wore a face of requited fury.

Blow after blow came without relent. Deep cuts appeared upon her calves, back and arms without the witty remarks or sarcastic quips. She rapidly began losing the ability to fight back until she was left facing him quivering with exhaustion.

"I think it's time to add another head to the collection." He laughed but it had no joy to it just bitter and spiteful rancor. "You'll regret striking me." Too weak to even respond Ruby was left helpless as he strolled towards her dragging the blade behind him.

Slowly, he drew the sword from her cheek down her body in a meticulous manner that caused her to scream in torment every time he would trace a new line, yet it almost seemed that she was enjoying this treatment. So after this torture he took a single step back and lined up a strike. It came fast and loped of her arm like a knife through butter creating new, louder screams. Torn muscle quivered and twitched at the stump as blood poured from the open wound like a river. He left her and watched the blood flow freely until there was none was left to drip out.

A wicked tanto appeared in his hands from within the large black coat he wore. Bending down he placed the edge of the blade to the fallen witches neck and severed the connection of head to body. Finally, his hands rose above his head and shadows rose from the two bodies and collected around his hands.

The remaining quartet ran between the buildings to the shopping centre that they were sure held the key to escape. Feet pounded upon the heavy concrete as they ran. Heavy breathing was all the talk that passed between them.

After a prolonged length of time they finally reached the now lifelessly dark sign of the shopping centre. "We're going to have to put Mizore somewhere safe while we search."

"Why not in one of the food shop's freezers."

"That's probably best it will be the best conditions for her."

Mizore was even paler than usual and felt almost lifeless but nothing could be done until they were safe. They quickly found a freezer to lay her down in and placed her propped against one of the walls.

"I hope she will be fine in there." Tsukune said as they walked towards the central courtyard to begin their search for freedom.

"Don't worry about her, Tsukune. He'll never look in there." Moka responded sounding assured and confident.

"And anyway you shouldn't worry about her! I need protecting too!" Kurumu cried selfishly as she threw herself at her proclaimed 'mate of fate'.

"Come on Kurumu we have to find this key." was all Tsukune could say so Moka gave the other girl a good shove across the courtyard before they began their search. The courtyard was a large formal affair surrounded on all sides with the empty faces of shops. The tiles that covered the flour were wide and slightly reflective so that the any light would shine through the centre. However, reflective surfaces make no difference when there was no light to reflect. Because they had so much space to cover, each member of the trio took one side and began to move towards the centre.

"Yukuri and Ruby should be here by now, shouldn't they?"

"What Tsukune?" Questioned Moka confused about this statement.

"Well, they said they would catch up, didn't they?"

"You don't really think that they will be coming back? There dead Tsukune; they knew that staying back would get them killed but they did it any way to save us. He beat Kokoa, there's no way they survived." She explained slowly to her stunned audience.

"Oh, I didn't… I mean… realy?"

"Yes Tsukune." Then echoing from within the centre came a harrowing scream.

"Mizore!"

Mizore sat slumped against the wall. It felt as if the crossbow bolt had drained her entirety of her energy. She felt herself passing into unconsciousness when the clack of metal toed boots on tiles awoke her.

"Tsukune?"

A figure walked into the room dressed in a long black trench coat and bent down to face the injured girl. He took her face in his hand and moved it left to right like a doctor examining a patient. "Not feeling to well are you, missus. Well there's no need to worry because Dr Death has come to make you sure you don't feel anything."

"Get away from me or I'll cut you to pieces." She spat along with a small pool of blood.

"Now, now dear. There's no need to be like that." Mizore climbed up and crashed onto her feet but she just couldn't draw on her power to fight back. An open slapped her and she went flying into two soft, warm objects.

They were her friends! Trying to roll away she realised that she had only just about recognised their clothes, not their faces, as their bodies were bloody, mutilated and decapitated. Before she could roll off she collided with a heavy boot. "Don't think you're going anywhere ice girl."

A tanto now rested inches from her chest. She caught his eyes and saw the malicious gleam they held as the short blade plummeted into her chest. All she could do was bleed.

With blood pumping from her chest and onto the cadavers that had once been her friends she let out a scream of all the pent up aggression, sorrow and pain that lived within her. As the life began to evacuate her body all she could think was that she hadn't died alone but in the arms of her friends.

Moka, Tsukune and Kurumu burst through the freezer door and were met with the realisation that they were too late. Crimson plasma was plastered on the wall and dripped from the ceiling. This blood all pooled from a small pile that was situated at the back of this icy room.

Three bodies, piled haphazardly against the wall made up this stack. All had been decapitated, and the trio's friends. Decapitated, mutilated and dumped was the fate of these three friends. No longer would they brighten, or cool, the lives of those around them.

"Oh my God, that monsters mutilated them. I can barely tell it's Yukari, Ruby and Mizore!"

"One little piggy, two little piggies, three little piggies, four little piggies, 5 all walked in to my little slaughterhouse and died. Screaming."

Now only three remain.

A/N:

Any constructive criticism is appreciated as it helps me to improve my writing which I am always looking to better. Thank you for watching and I hope you've enjoyed this tale so far I'll try to bring out the next chapter as soon as possible.