Chapter 10

As the car entered the driveway dark clouds rolled across the amber sky and thunder sounded in the distance. When Tsukune opened the front door he heard another door slam shut somewhere on the second floor. He put that to the back of his mind as Moka's voice called to him from the living room.

"Tsukune, Mizore, why are you back so early? Mizore, what happened?" Moka asked when she saw the new sunburn on Mizore's face.

"I'm fine. Just overheated." Mizore said annoyance clear in her voice. "I'm going to go bathe."

Mizore turned around and stumbled. Thankfully Tsukune caught her before she fell.

"Ruby could you um…"

"Yes, I'll help her. Go talk with the others. We'll be back in a few." Ruby replied before helping Mizore up the stairs.

"Hey girls what did you do today?" Tsukune asked sitting down next to Kurumu on the love seat.

"Slept." Kurumu said with a yawn. "Or at least tried to but I keep having nightmares."

"I'm sorry to hear that. Did Yukari make any headway on the mystery ingredient?"

"No, but she looked like she was on to something and ran off about a minute before you walked through the door." Kurumu answered as she curled up and put her head on Tsukune's shoulder.

Thunder clapped this time closer to the manor and rain started to fall.

"Why is it raining? I thought we were under a barrier."

"We are, however Mom loves the snow and rain, so she had the barrier reflect the sky in the nearest town." Moka replied. "Ava told me earlier."

Kurumu breathing slowed and she relaxed causing her head to slip off of Tsukune's shoulder. Tsukune caught Kurumu and set her head in his lap. He could tell the dream demon had fallen asleep. Moka felt a small twinge of jealously but let it go because Kurumu wasn't sleeping well.

"I think Kurumu is asleep. So what did you do today, Moka?"

"Not much, I explored the manor some more. I found a few reflections I like. I love the one of the top of Mt. Fuji." Moka said.

Moka and Tsukune talked for a bit longer when Mizore and Ruby came back down. Mizore looked better but her cheeks were still a bit red.

"I see you are looking better." Tsukune observed.

"Yes, Ruby made me take an ice bath. Well I guess it was nicer then the dip in the polar bear exhibit."

"Wait. Polar Bear exhibit? Explain Mizore." Moka almost demanded.

Mizore sat in one of the three recliners and started telling Moka and Ruby about her date with Tsukune when an older gentleman stepped into the spacious living room.

"Miss Akashiya, dinner is ready in the dining room for you and your guests." The servant said before turning and walking away.

"Shall we go eat?" Moka asked the others.

"Yes." Ruby, Mizore, and Tsukune said together.

"Should we wake sleeping beauty?" Ruby asked.

"No but give me a minute. I need to get free." Tsukune said as he gently extracted himself from the sleeping monster. "I'll go get Yukari. Go and start without me."

When Tsukune reached Yukari's room, he found the door cracked open and the lights off. Lightening flashed through the sky and thunder rolled once again. Then Tsukune noticed the room had changed. The bed was shifted to the front wall and the back wall now contained a large window. That's all Tsukune could make out in the dark room.

"That's weird. Where is Yukari?" Tsukune said activating his Yokai Detection ability. "That's even weirder. Yukari is blocking her aura. Oh well, I guess she will appear when she gets hungry."

Tsukune went back to the girls and down to dinner.

‡‡‡‡

The next morning Tsukune found Ruby waiting outside his bedroom. She looked like something heavy was weighing on her mind.

"Good morning Ruby. Is something wrong?" Tsukune asked.

Ruby nodded before saying in a small voice "I'm sorry. I was a bad girl."

Tears started to swell in her light pink eyes.

"I don't understand."

Ruby looked down and refused to meet Tsukune's confused gaze.

"I was a bad girl. The day before yesterday Moka came to me and somehow managed to extract what you were doing for her date. I'm sorry please don't be angry."

Tsukune knew Ruby was asking to be punished but he would never hit a girl, even though Ruby was probably hoping for that.

"Don't worry Ruby. I'm not mad just a little disappointed but not mad. I only told you part of the date. I planned for something like this. Only Fang Fang and I know the whole date." Tsukune said.

The human turned on his heal and walked towards the stairs smiling slightly when he heard a small groan escape Ruby's lips. Moka was waiting for him in the kitchen wearing the same dress she wore the day she taught him how to detect Yokai. The only difference was that he decided to wear a polo shirt and shorts instead of a sweat suit.

"You might want to say something or at least close your mouth before you start drooling." Ruby said coming up behind Tsukune.

Tsukune shook his head slightly and spoke "M-Moka, you look beautiful."

"Thanks." Moka blushed.

"Yukari, where were you last night?" Tsukune asked when he saw the young witch eating breakfast.

"I was um… I was…I was working on a project." Yukari said.

"Why don't I believe you? Anyway we will go after breakfast ok Moka?" Tsukune asked sitting down to eat.

"Ok Tsukune."

"Morning everyone." Kurumu walked into the kitchen still wearing yesterday's clothes.

"Slept on the couch I see." Mizore teased.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up while you can, Mizzy."

The light pink color staining her cheeks, that still slightly worried Tsukune, turned candy apple red at the sound of her childhood nickname. "H-h-how do you know that? No one outside the Land of the Yuki-Onna knows about that."

Kurumu thought about it for a minute "I don't really know. Your dream must have been one of the ones I fought through."

"Fought? What do you mean?" Moka asked.

"I remember falling asleep on Tsukune's shoulder and then watching some kid fail a test in his underwear when something was trying to pull me away from the dream. Well, I turned around to see what it was and I saw this person covered in shadows. I fought him off through several dreams and one of the dreams I went through was in a place filled with fog and a grown man calling out for Mizzy and a 5 year old girl laughed and said 'Daddy my name is Miz-o-way." then I wound up back in my own body about 5 minutes ago." Kurumu said.

When Yukari heard this, the look on her face told Tsukune that she had discovered something about Kurumu's mysterious nightmares; but before he could ask Ava appeared in the doorway.

"Mr. Aono, can I have a moment of your time please?"

"Sure." Tsukune got up and followed Ava out into the hall.

"This was Akasha's favorite piece. I've seen the other three receive some type of jewelry and I think you should give it to Miss Akashiya today." Ava explained before giving Tsukune a long thin black box.

"Thank you, Ava." Tsukune said taking the box and put it in his pocket.

He turned around walked back into the kitchen to get Moka.

"Are you ready Moka?" Tsukune asked.

"Yes." Moka said throwing the cloth napkin down on her plate and getting up.

Tsukune led Moka out to the car waiting to take them to their date.

‡‡‡‡

The car ride was short and when they arrived Moka saw Fang Fang near a very colorful hot air balloon in the middle of a large field. The balloon held the Huang family crest.

"Hi Fang Fang," Moka said.

"Hey Moka, Tsukune, how are you two?"

"We are doing just fine. You?" Tsukune replied.

"I'm fine. So shall we get started?"

"Sure."

"Ok, so this balloon is completely magical. It will take you to your destination before bringing you back to the manor. Have fun today." Fang Fang explained

Fang Fang handed Moka a very large envelope making Tsukune wonder what she had asked for.

"Well hop in." Said Fang Fang opening the basket door.

Tsukune held out his hand to the vampire standing before him. "Are you ready to go?"

"N-No, I-I really don't like heights." Moka said backing away a little.

"Nonsense!" Fang Fang said pushing Moka into the basket. "Koko told us you love heights."

"H-Hey!" Moka stumbled into Tsukune's arms.

With Moka distracted by Tsukune, Fang Fang closed and locked the door. As soon as the door was latched, the balloon slowly rose off the ground. Moka and Tsukune watched as Fang Fang got smaller and smaller. Moka finally remembered that Tsukune still had ahold of her and forcefully wiggled out of his arms. After an hour of silence Tsukune finally spoke.

"Relax Moka. If anyone will mal intentions comes within a mile of this balloon I'll know. Ever since those two monsters, in every sense of the word, tried to rape Yukari, I've had my Yokai Detector extended to its maximum range. Plus I don't think anyone would be stupid enough to attack a Huang Family balloon carrying two vampires."

"I'm not looking for monsters" Moka said coldly.

"I know." Tsukune said before sighing. "Moka, please tell me what's wrong. You have been almost cold to me ever since I made my choice."

"That's what my problem is! You chose all of us! You're just a bad as my father! A womanizer." Moka glanced out the balloon so she didn't have to see Tsukune's hurtful gaze. "Oh wow! Tsukune did you plan for us to fly over Mt. Fuji?"

"Yes actually this is where we are landing for a while." The moment Tsukune said that the balloon started to descend.

Tsukune slipped on a lightweight jacket and offered one to Moka who declined. The balloon touched down on the snowy top of the famous mountain.

"So why are we landing here?" Moka asked.

"Lunch." Tsukune said as he reached over the edge of the basket to unlock the door. "This restaurant has the perfect view of Tokyo's horizon."

Moka looked around and finally saw a small building sitting about a hundred yards away. Tsukune lead the way to the small building's front door. As Tsukune opened the door, noise spilled into the snowy outside. The diner was packed with foreign tourists. Tsukune allow Moka to enter before entering himself. A waitress sat the couple down near a window containing the view Tsukune told Moka about earlier. The waitress took their orders and left the couple to their own vices. Moka was entranced by the view. She loved being so high up. Even as a little girl she was always climbing the towers of her father's castle-like mansion.

Tsukune looked around the diner and saw that the theme revolved around the samurai of ancient Japan. Looking around he also notice a group of six high school football players that were staring back at Tsukune. He didn't put much thought into it due to his black/grey hair and heterochromia eyes, he got lots of weird looks when he was in the human world but he never let that bother him. His mind was weighed down with the comment Moka said earlier.

"Do…do you really think of me as a womanizer, Moka?" Tsukune asked waking Moka from her daydream.

Moka glared at Tsukune and responded. "You have four other women in your life. What do you think?"

"Moka, I don't want to fight today. Look I still stand by what I said on that plane over a year ago. You and the others are very precious to me. However unlike the others you hold a very special place in my heart. You were my first friend when I first arrived at Yokai Academy. You protected me and even saved my life a few times. You are my best friend. I don't care if we remain friends or become a couple as long as I'm around you I'm happy. The truth will always remain the same I…I love you." Tsukune said.

Moka's heart started to race in her chest as she tried to keep from blushing.

"Thank you." Tsukune said as the waitress set their orders down on the table.

"I don't understand." Moka said half way through their meal.

"What don't you understand?"

"How can you be in love with me? I destroyed your future when I gave you the curse you now carry. You should hate me for turning you into a monster but yet you don't. I almost took your life twice and yet you love me anyway. I just don't understand how you can say you love me." Moka explained.

"What you call a curse I call a blessing. Because of you I can now protect my loved ones. I have never blamed you for saving my life and I never will."

"I thought by now you would know your place." Moka said.

"I do know my place. My place is right here next to you and the others. But do you know yours?"

"I'll…I'll be right back I need to use the restroom." Moka said.

A chill ran up Tsukune's spine as Moka got up. He grabbed ahold of her wrist and then just as fast let it go. Moka heard Tsukune mutter something but the only word she thought he said was 'Adamant'.

"What?"

"Nothing. Hurry back." Tsukune replied.

Moka started to walk away but felt kind of funny. Like someone tied lead balls to her ankles however she ignored it as went to the washroom. Two of the football players got up and left. A few minutes later the other four left as well. The leader of the group passed by Tsukune's table.

"My name is Sorin. If you want to see your girlfriend again come out side. You have five minutes." The guy said.

Tsukune waited for the guy to leave before throwing 4000 yen on the table. As he walked towards the door Tsukune removed his jacket. He walked outside and was immediately ambushed by two of the attackers. One grabbed his left arm the other grabbed his right and together they lead Tsukune around to the back of the diner and into the crater of the dormant volcano. Tsukune dropped his jacket at the edge of the crater.

Moka was right in the center of the crater being held captive by a troll. His giant thumb rested underneath her chin. Tsukune noticed that Moka's eyes were filled with panic. With Moka's hands pinned to her side in the troll's grip, her vampiric powers were on complete lockdown. Tsukune felt the prick of a needle at the back of his neck and something was injected into him making him feel weaker.

"Don't worry, you were injected with a poison that unsyncs your yokai to the yokai of your Rosario. In other words, you can't access your vampire powers. Although it's not like you can do anything anyway. But none the less, unless you want our big friend to snap your girlfriend's neck I wouldn't try anything." Sorin said as he allowed the troll to pick the prisoner up in his free hand.

"You guys are ex-Fairy Tale members." Tsukune stated as he put two and two together. The troll had his hand wrapped around Tsukune's waist leaving his arms free from the vice-like grip.

"Yes, however a new objective needs a new name. We are no longer called Fairy Tale. Now we, survivors, are called Story Book and our goal is to destroy the ones who brought down Fairy Tale. For the past year we have had spies all around you reporting information back to our leader. We know everything."

Tsukune muttered something and his conversion chambers flashed.

"What was that?" Sorin asked.

"Nothing. My conversion chambers flash in the sunlight when the sun hits them just right. See the tan marks on my arms. They are from the sun hitting the conversion chambers. They don't work anymore. My blood destroyed them." Tsukune said.

"Ok. Just remember no funny business."

"So they don't know about that." Tsukune thought. "Alright, I'm a very busy person and I don't have all day so how about we make things go by faster. Unless you want to die, you will release both me and my girl, you will allow us to walk away, and you won't follow us."

Sorin started to laugh, "You are in no position to be making demands. I know all about you."

"Really? I bet I can take you down in this ragged human form."

Sorin really started to laugh. "That's too funny, all of your powers are locked, you can't access any vampire abilities. A mere human, beating me? HA!"

"You are right, I can't access my vampire abilities, but you are wrong about me being totally powerless. I am no ordinary human. I've been modified."

"You're joking." Sorin said as his face paled.

"Now I will give you three chances to let us go." Tsukune said.

"Ayato, snap her neck." Sorin commanded.

The troll flicked his thumb however Moka's head refused to move. Ayato tried several times before stating "I can't boss. Her head won't move."

"Did I forget to mention that I can control the elements that make up my body? And that as long as I'm touching someone before I activate an element I can control the element in their body as well? Elemental Conversion: Fire." The brown streaks on his right arm were colored over as red took its place. Tsukune felt his body temperature rise rapidly. "Strike one."

"Crush her then." Sorin commanded.

Ayato squeezed Moka trying to crush her slender body to no avail.

Tsukune held up his left arm, "Earth is the perfect defense. When it's activated and amplified, every cell in Moka's body turned to diamond. I call it my Adamant Barrier." Tsukune lowered his left arm and slightly raised his right arm. "Strike two. Amplify."

Tsukune felt his body's electrical impulse magnify. He splayed his fingers and watched as blue-white bolts of electricity flew between his fingers. "Last chance, otherwise your friend here will receive the shock of his life."

Sorin smiled at this statement before pointing out a flaw in his opponent's plan. "Now I know you're bluffing. Sure you could shock my subordinate but you would also fry your girlfriend. Ayato, crush him instead."

"Strike three. Diamond doesn't conduct electricity." Tsukune put his hand down. "Tonnerre!"

Lightening shot out of every pore of his body zapping the massive troll. The troll's hands tightened around their two captives. Tsukune felt three of his ribs crack and felt one puncture his lung. The attack only lasted a few seconds and when the lightening died down, the troll collapsed and his hands relaxed. Tsukune thought he heard a faint scream and looked to Moka. Putting it to the back of his mind, Tsukune pulled himself out of Ayato's hand then went to help Moka. After making sure she was alright he turned and pointed his first two fingers at one of the last two henchmen.

"Ionic Whip!" lightening shot out of Tsukune's fingertips and struck the first henchman.

The lightening stayed connected to Tsukune's hand as he redirected his sight to the new target. He brought his hand up then reached out forcing the lightening to strike the last henchman. As the lightening died down Tsukune set his attention to Sorin who was trying to climb out of the crater. Tsukune darted the fifty feet that separated him and Sorin. Tsukune grabbed ahold of Sorin's shirt and threw him backwards towards the group of fallen henchmen. Sorin landed near Ayato. Tsukune powered down the conversion chamber holding Earth, releasing the barrier surrounding Moka. He started walking back over to the center of the crater, grabbed Sorin by the front of his shirt and slammed him into Ayato's side. Moka caught the look in Tsukune's eyes as he passed her. The cold look in Tsukune's eyes frightened her but she had never felt safer. Moka tried to move but found that her muscles were somehow frozen.

"Ok Sorin here is how this is going to work. I'm gonna ask a few questions and you are going to give me the answers. If I feel like you are lying…well let's just say; don't lie. Now has Storybook been behind the few attacks that happened this week?"

"Y-y-y-yes." Sorin replied.

"Who told you where we would be?"

"I don't know. NO, REALLY I DON'T KNOW!" Sorin flinched as a fist stopped inches away from his face. "I received a text message a few days ago telling me to be here today if I wanted revenge."

"Last question, is Storybook the ones responsible for Kurumu's nightmares?"

"If she is the Succubus then yes. However, no one knows who is behind it. Some say it's a Dream Walker or a demon of fear but there is one constant in each theory. Rumors state that a witch is helping the other person out. I personally think it's one of her own kind." Sorin said trying to swallow the fear rising in him.

"Good." Tsukune said releasing Sorin, "Consider this a warning. If you ever come near my family again, you won't get away so easily."

Tsukune put one finger in the center of Sorin's chest and released one last attack. Sorin collapsed as Tsukune powered down the last element. Tsukune's body temperature rose causing nausea to wash over him forcing him to his hands and knees. The modified human coughed and the lunch he had eaten half an hour earlier forced its way up.

Moka, finally able to move, rushed over to Tsukune. "Tsukune, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Moka." Tsukune replied getting up. "That was a perfectly good meal. Wasted. What about you? Are you ok?"

"I'm ok. What happened?"

"That was a side effect of my elemental ability from my modified human form. Each element that I use has a side effect. Earth is paralysis and Fire is heat exhaustion. I don't know all the details of what happens I just know that it does. Are you ready to go?" Tsukune said as felt his Rosario realign with his yokai allowing him access to his ultimate power once again.

Moka nodded and followed Tsukune out of the crater. "B-But how did you do that? When they injected me, I was basically that feeble girl I was when we first met. I couldn't use any of my yokai. How were you able to?"

"The Rosarios were designed to lock our Shinso powers away and suppress our natural vamperic yokai. With me, I am reverted back to my human self because my vamperic powers are derived from the Shinso powers. With the cross on, I am just a modified human." Tsukune explained as they walked.

When they reached Tsukune's jacket he picked it up and put it back on, checking for the box containing Moka's gift. He took Moka's hand and guided her back to the balloon. As soon as the door was latched the balloon took off. Tsukune fiddled with a small cooler in the corner that Moka didn't notice before. Tsukune retrieved a small bottle of mouth wash and swished some around in his mouth before spitting it out over the edge of the basket. Moka remained quiet lost in thought. She was even more confused than ever now. Here before her stood a mere human. This human who protected her not once but twice and who didn't blame her for turning him into a monster. Memories flooded her mind as she tried to see when he had finally stolen her heart.

Eventually Moka spoke.

"Tsu…Tsukune, I'm sorry for what I said. About you being a womanizer. You're not. I was just bitter. I have been bitter to the world for the last five or six years. I was angry with my mother for leaving me, I was bitter towards the monster world for sealing me away, and I was bitter towards the Human race for bullying me in middle school. But then two years ago you started to melt my icy heart and I grew scared."

"What are you scared of, Moka?" Tsukune asked.

"I'm scared that if I fell in love with a human then I would become shunned from the Shuzen family. But more than that, I am terrified of being one of the 50% that loses their child." Moka looked at Tsukune briefly before continuing. "Do you know what the offspring of a vampire and a human is called?"

"No."

"They are called Dhampires and because they are half vampire, full blooded vampires tend to shun them from their clans." Moka withdrew a small picture from the small purse she had with her "I found this in the master bedroom a few nights ago."

She showed Tsukune. The picture contained two girls; one was a much younger version of Moka about six or seven. The other girl was about the same age as Moka. She had curly blond hair and violet eyes that were tinted red. On her right wrist was a small silver bracelet connected by a small lock. In the picture, the girls were playing under a large cherry blossom tree.

"Her name was Samantha Kale; she was a cousin of mine and my best friend. Her father was a vampire and her mother was human. My family shunned her and the only time we got to play was when my mom took me to the human world. This was the last time we got to play together before she got sick. Two years later, when I was 8, she died. Even though she wore a Holy Lock it still didn't prevent her blood from consuming her body. Some Dhampires are born with human bodies and Vampiric blood and after a while the blood will kill them. And that is what terrifies me about having a child with a human. Genetically you're human so our child will be a Dhampire." Moka gasped slightly as Tsukune's arms wrapped themselves around her chest.

"The future will always be a mystery but no matter what happens I know that we can overcome any obstacle together." Tsukune said.

Tsukune released Moka and took a step back. Moka finally met Tsukune's eyes and decided that now was as good a time as any. Pulling the box Ava gave him earlier, Tsukune presented it to Moka. Inside was a bracelet. The branch-like links were made of silver. At the end of every branch was a cherry blossom flower made of pink tourmaline. Even though it looked like it was just recently shined the bracelet looked like it held the secrets of five lifetimes.

"Tsukune, it's beautiful."

"Apparently it was your mother's."

Moka stared at the bracelet for a while. Tsukune watched as Moka slowly shifted back into the warm girl that he grew to love.

"Tsukune? Cou…Could you ask me what you asked before I got kidnapped again?"

"I know my place but do you know yours?" Tsukune asked once again.

"Here; my place is here."

After that the balloon was quiet. But unlike the tension filled silence earlier that day, this was comforting. Moka watched the ground pass by when cherry blossom petals filled her vision. She looked in the direction they were flying from and saw an ocean of cherry blossom trees.

"What is this place?" Moka asked.

"This is the border to Bloodriver Manor." Tsukune said as colors started to fly past them .

"This is the perfect place to ask him." Moka thought.

"Um… Tsukune, the others and I have been talking and we want to ask you a question."

"Ok. What is it?"

"Would you consider moving into the manor with me and the girls? I want to follow my mother's wishes. I'm sure by now you noticed the change in Yukari's room."

"Moka, I would love to move in to the manor."

The colors surrounding them got faster and faster then suddenly they stopped and looming in front of them was the manor.

"Tsukune I had a wonderful day, but I have one more question to ask you. Are you gonna kiss me or not?" Moka asked.

Tsukune didn't give it a second thought. He gently grabbed Moka's arms and pulled her close. He tilted Moka's head up and quickly glanced into the red eyes that were flecked with little green flakes before closing the small gap in between them. As Tsukune's lips touched his first love's; he closed his eyes as a bright light enveloped Moka. When the light vanished, Tsukune broke the kiss.

"Thank you." Moka whispered.

"You're welcome." Tsukune turned around to face the Manor. "Huh?"

As the Manor got closer Tsukune noticed a small figure pacing back and forth on the roof top. The moment Tsukune activated his Aura Detection ability, Yukari's worry filled aura slammed into him. Two minutes later the balloon landed on the roof of Bloodriver Manor and Yukari ran up to them. Tsukune could tell by Yukari's puffy face she had been crying.

"Yukari, what's wrong?" Tsukune asked.

"Ruby...she…she…she's dying!" Yukari cried before burying her face into Tsukune's shirt.

After several minutes of trying to detach himself from Yukari, Tsukune bolted for the door leading into the house using his Detection ability to guide him to his precious gem.

+Hey all, I'm back and this time I'll try to keep up. hope I still have some fans out there.

++I have finally caught up to where the original version left off. That being said, as some of you might notice, especially in this chapter (Chapter 10), I might have missed a correction when changing Outer Moka to being just Inner Moka.

+++Please R&R and I will be hurrying through chapter 11!