Outsider Chronicles: Shadow and Vampire
When I died, the very last thing I was expecting was to wake up again. Well, actually, I wasn't expecting to wake up as a whimpy Harem protagonist either. Still, I guess it could be worse...at least I can actually defend myself. Unfortunately, there may well be something worse than Alucard on the horizon and theres fuck all I can do about it.
So we're back. Nothing to say other than, enjoy!
Chapter 3
The next few weeks flew by with schoolwork, feeding Moka my blood and practicing my magic. I had finally reached the point where I could reliably use Elemental magic and my precision with Necromancy was increasing by the day. I was getting to the point where I'd probably actually be useful in the future battles. Currently, I was coming back from my morning jog/training session in the woods to get ready for a day of classes.
"O-ohh."
I stopped.
"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," I muttered.
"S-someone, please help…"
"Yep, definitely her."
I turned in the direction of the voice and, of course, their was Kurumu in all her busty glory. Now, this should go without saying, but their are some things that don't come across in an Anime. Sure you can get some idea of what it would be like, but unless you were actually there to experience it, you have no idea what it actually feels like. Mokas power was one such thing and Kurumus was another. Even though I thought I was prepared for it, I had not taken into account the fact that Succubi were able to lure in men without having to use their Charm. Or maybe I'm just a sucker for a pretty girl. It didn't help that the wind changed and blew the Succubus' scent straight into my face, making me go light headed.
"Hey, are you OK?" I asked, not even realizing that I had approached the Succubus.
"O-oh, I suddenly felt ill," she gasped, "My chest, it feels so tight!"
She moved in such a way that drew attention to her massive chest. Now, I may know in advance exactly what was going on, but a combination of Kurumus pheromones, Allure and her bouncing bust was enough to turn my brain into mush.
"Really? Do you need some help to the infirmary?" I asked, offering my hand.
By this point my body was pretty much on autopilot and my nice guy nature meant that I couldn't leave a girl in a bind when she felt ill, not even one who was faking so she could zap me with her Charm. However, I snapped straight out of the trance as soon as I realized that she had taken my hand and looked me straight in the eye.
"Crap!"
"Thank you for the help," she purred as her eyes lit up with a pink glow, "I'm Kurumu Kurono. And you, Tsukune Aono, are all mine."
I felt the Charm take hold and all control fled as my body moved on its own to embrace Kurumu.
"SHITSHITSHITSHITSHIT!" was all I could think as I hurried through the halls to find and warn Moka about Kurumu.
After snaring me with her Charm, Kurumu had dragged me back towards school, likely allowing Moka to get a look at me with the Succubus, before leaving me alone. I had since managed to shake off her control, but I had a feeling that Kurumu would be able to snare me again with no problem.
I was so wrapped up in my thoughts that I nearly missed the huge crowd of people gathered at the bottom of the steps. I think I must have been more dazed than I realized because thats the only reason I can think of that I decided to put myself smack bang where Kurumu wanted.
"Tsukune…" started Moka upon seeing me, but before I could answer, Kurumu spoke up.
Well, squealed up.
"Ah, my Hero!" she exclaimed, "Thank you for the help earlier, how can I ever repay me?"
"Let me go of the Charm," I though, but my tongue was too busy trying to tie itself in knots to produce speech as Kurumu pressed her soft breasts into my arm.
"T-Tsukune, you need to get away from her!" shouted Moka, "Shes going to devour you!"
"Yeah, I know!" I thought.
Unfortunately, my controlled body didn't say that.
"Devour me?" I said, "Please, you're the one who's devouring me."
"BUGGER!"
Moka ran away with tears in her eyes as Kurumu dragged me off to the Infirmary. Once there, she shoved me down onto the bed and leaned over me. Apparently she wasn't about to wait to bind me to her.
"Shitshitshit, this isnt good!" I thought, "Come on, I need to break this control!"
"Stay still Tsukune," purred Kurumu.
Instantly, my body froze.
"The hell?" I thought, "That wasn't Charm! Whats going on?!"
"Wow, I can't believe that worked," said Kurumu as she leant forwards, "Most Monsters can't be controlled by their Given Name. I guess that means you're a Witch then?"
My eyes widened. Aw crap, I wasn't expecting to run into someone who could use my Name against me this early! This was very bad, even worse than Charm. Even if I managed to break the latter, the only way to bust the control Kurumu had with my Name was by Taking a name and I don't think I can come up with one quick enough! Damn it, what should I do? What would a self respecting Sorcerer do in this situation…
My eyes suddenly snapped open as the perfect name came to me out of nowhere. Frankly, I have no idea where it came from, but it sounded right in my head and I was sort of desperate. I mouthed the name and instantly, the control Kurumu had over me snapped. Just in time too since she was inches from kissing me.
I immediately threw myself forwards and grabbed her in a hug.
"W-what the..?" stuttered Kurumu as she shoved me away, "How did you break my control?!"
"Strong willpower," I said, "And that was rather rude of you."
Kurumu looked surprised, before she scowled.
"I don't know how you broke my control, but it won't help you," she growled, "Now then, Tsukune Aono, you will kiss me!"
"Nope, sorry," I said with a grin, "That won't work anymore either!"
Kurumu's eyes widened, before her expression darkened.
"So, you took a Name?" she muttered, "Still, you can't resist my Charm!"
Before she could try and snare me again, my hand snapped up and clapped over her eyes.
"Yeah, no," I said, "Sorry Kurumu, but I have no interest in being used to hurt my friend."
Kurumu stiffened, before she wrenched my hand away and jumped off the bed.
"Why? What is it about her that makes her so much better than me?!" demanded the Succubus, whirling around to face me.
"This doesn't have anything to do with Moka," I protested, "I just…"
Kurumu cut me off, apparently not listening to a word I said.
"I humiliated myself for you!" she shouted, "I acted weak!"
Her shirt bulged and tore as her wings opened and her tail emerged from under her skirt, thrashing angrily.
"I've never lost, not until I met Moka Akashiya! That's it, I'm gonna DESTROY EVERYTHING SHE LOVES!"
She swung at me with her now taloned hand, but before she could hit I bought up my arm and blocked her with a wall of shadows.
"Wha...Necromancy?!" spluttered Kurumu, "You're a Sorcerer?!"
"No shit," I said, "Now calm down before someone gets hurt!"
Kurumu scowled.
"Not a chance!" she snarled and drew back her hand for a second strike.
Before she could try and attack me, the door slammed open.
"STOP! GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!" yelled Moka, dashing across the room and shoved Kurumu as hard as she could, sending the Succubus flying out of the window.
"Nice timing Moka," I said, dispersing the shadows with a wave of my hand.
"Thank goodness you're alright," said Moka, dashing to my side, "Shes a…"
"Succubus I know," I said, "I figured it out when she hit me with her Charm."
"O-oh," said Moka.
"By the way Moka, I'm sorry for what she made me say, even if it wasn't really me saying it."
Moka nodded and smiled at me. However, that smile was wiped off her face a moment later when Kurumu appeared in the window looking furious in her full Monster Form.
"Impressive, you Vampires sure are strong," growled the Succubus, "But I won't go down that easy!"
She swooped in and grabbed me, attempting to make good of her escape, only for Moka to grab onto my legs. Kurumu dragged us into the sky, before letting us go above the level of the roof, dropping us towards the woods below. I quickly grabbed Moka and waved a hand, gathering the wind to slow our fall and provide a soft landing.
"Are you OK?" I asked as Moka and I got to our feet.
"Y-yeah, I think so," said Moka, "Thanks for that Tsukune."
"No problem, but we should get ready to fight before Little Miss Batty gets impatient," I said.
"What are you doing, talking in the middle of a fight?!" shouted Kurumu, proving my point as she swooped down towards us with her talons extended.
The deadly weapons made short work of the trees in their path, only to come to a complete stop as I raised a hand and summoned a wall of shadow. I gritted my teeth as the force of the impact caused my focus to waver slightly. Man, Kurumu sure could hit hard!
"Are you OK Tsukune?" asked Moka.
"I'm fine," I said as I waved my hand and sent a wave of spears at Kurumu.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance as the agile Succubus wove around my constructs and continued her assault. My fingers danced, sending the shadows around us in a furious flurry of blades, spikes and barriers as I tried to simultaneously keep Kurumu at arms length and knock her out of the sky before she could slice us to bits. The problem was that using Magic like this took a tremendous amount of mental focus and it did drain one's strength. As a Necromancer, I could draw more power from Death, but there wasn't exactly a dead body handy, despite the graves that littered the campus. I could probably use Moka's Monster Power if the fight with Saizou was anything to go by, but in her current state, she wasn't giving enough out to really add to my reserves.
"ENOUGH!" yelled Kurumu as she slammed her fists together, "I can't afford to lose here! Succubi are dieing out and we need to find out Destined One to reproduce and Moka Akashya is getting in the way of that!"
She flapped her wings and dove at me, fist cocked back and glowing faintly.
"I'll get you out of the way and then remove her!"
I quickly threw up another barrier, just in time to block Kurumu's attack, only for a massive blast of force to shatter it, my concentration, and send me flying back into Moka.
"TSUKUNE!" yelled the Vampire as she caught me, "Are you OK?"
"I think so," I groaned as I sat up and brushed away the trickle of blood that was running from my nose, "But I don't think I can keep this up much longer…"
I tried to summon my shadows, but my head throbbed, forcing me to break my concentration.
"I'VE GOT YOU!" shouted Kurumu, diving at us.
"NO, I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH HIM!" yelled Moka, hugging me tighter.
As she did, my hand caught her Rosary and it snapped off.
FAZAP!
I sat up as my energy snapped back to full as my ring absorbed Moka's suddenly massive Monster Aura,.
"You think I'll let you take Tsukune away from me for such a foolish reason!?" snarled Moka, advancing on a suddenly terrified looking Kurumu, "Know your PLACE!"
She jumped and slammed her fist into the Succubus, sending her smashing into the ground.
"G-got it," groaned Kurumu, "I won't do it again…"
"Oh really?" asked Moka, "Well, since I have no guarantee for that, I think I'll take them. Your wings and tail that is."
Kurumu paled and tried to crawl away, but fell on her face as her arms refused to support her.
"Wait Moka, don't," I said, stepping between them, "Thats enough, don't hurt her any more."
"Why not?" asked Moka, "She tried to enslave you Tsukune."
"True, but I don't think shes a bad person," I said, "She was just doing what she thought was right."
I glanced back at the surprised looking Kurumu and smiled slightly. My smile increased ever so slightly as she blushed. Moka glowered at me.
"Harumph, I don't get you at all," she said, "But fine, if only because I don't want to make the other Me sad."
She glared at me as she snatched the Rosary.
"Do not think we're friends however," she said, "I only keep you around for your blood."
"Yeah yeah, scary Vampire and all that," I said.
Moka glared at me again and reattached the cross, falling into my arms as she changed back to normal.
"The Rosery spoke to you?" I asked as Moka and I walked to school the next day.
"Yeah, it warned me about Kurumu," said Moka, looking down at the cross worriedly, "Its never happened before. I hope the seal isn't damaged…"
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," I said.
"Even so…"
Moka shyly looked at me from the corner of her eye.
"Tsukune, if the seal ever stopped working, would you still like me?"
I snorted.
"Sure I would," I said, "Even if you become that other you forever, you're still Moka and that means your still my friend."
Moka blushed brightly, but smiled.
"Thanks Tsukune," she said.
"GOOD MORNING!"
Moka and I jumped as Kurumu suddenly popped up between us with a basket on her arm.
"What are you doing here Kurumu?" asked Moka, looking suspicious.
"I baked some cookies for you Tsukune," said Kurumu, holding out the basket and I felt my heart lurch.
Aw crap, please don't tell me…
"Um, thanks," I said, taking the basket, "They smell good, but I have to ask, why did you..?"
"Well, you remember how I said I was looking for my Destined Mate?" she asked, shuffling her feet and blushing, "Well, I've decided that its you Tsukune!"
"Aww crap," I thought.
I mean, I sort of expected it, but after that fierce fight, I kinda expected that maybe she wouldn't be quite so eager. I sighed as Moka and Kurumu grabbed my arms and glared at one another across my torso.
"Man, this Harem protagonist thing really blows!" I thought.
"By the way Tsukune, what name did you take?" asked Kurumu suddenly, breaking me out of my self deprecation.
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?" asked Moka.
"Humans have three names, a Given, a Taken and a True," said Kurumu, "Given Names are those that are given to them at birth and can be used to control them, if you know how. The only way to stop that is to Take a name, which seals the Given one. As a Sorcerer, its practically a given that Tsukune will need one since most Sorcerers know how to use it against them."
Both girls looked at me curiously. I sighed.
"Fine, I guess I'll reintroduce myself," I said, "My Taken Name is Harry Constantine, named for two of the best damn Wizards in literature."
And done. So, Tsukune has already proven that he is capable of defending himself with his magic. Thanks to that, Moka won't be making an appearance in every battle, although she will still be needed against some of the stronger opponents down the line.
Now, the question is, how does Kurumu know about Names and how to use them? I suppose it could be common knowledge in the Monster World, but how often to I do something for nothing? If anyone can figure it out, I will be genuinely impressed.
Tsukune will still mostly go by his Given Name rather than his Taken one, but it probably will be used again in the future. I'll leave you to decide whether I mean Harry Potter or Harry Dresden when I say best wizard in literature.
And done. Don't forget to leave a review on the way out!