Chapter Nine: Planning a Trip to the Youkai World

Tsukune yawned, stretching in his bed, looking around and actually surprised that a certain pink haired vampire hadn't woken him up.

"Strange." He muttered. "She must be sick. That's gotta be it. She's sick. Makes it quiet though."

"Tsukune dear!" Kasumi called. "Breakfast is ready!"

"Sweet!" Tsukune got out of bed, getting dressed and heading down to see the bacon and eggs sitting and waiting for him… as well as Moka shoveling down three times as much as was on all the other plates combined.

"What is it with vampires and eating?" Tsukune muttered, surprised as Moka, in her cheery, sweet voice asked for thirds.

"Thirds?!" Tsukune thought. "That settles it! Moka's father must have been a black hole."

"Here you go, dear." Kasumi chuckled, giving her more. "You sure have an appetite."

"Human food's so good!" Moka grinned. "thanks, Kasumi-san!"

"It sure is." Kasumi pat Moka on the head. "You're welcome, Moka."

"She just blew by that…" Tsukune's jaw instinctively dropped a little at Moka's little comment she let slip. "I mean, Moka may have said she was a vampire and my mom thought it was cosplay... hmm... I guess that's it."

Tsukune sat next to Moka, eating what was on his own plate. He noticed a pale hand reaching over with a fork, stabbing some of his bacon. He stared, wide-eyed, as Moka ate it, licking her lips.

"I have freed your bacon from the evil clutches of your eggs!" She grinned.

"You stole my bacon." Tsukune said in shock.

"Nope!" Moka popped the 'p'. "I liberated it! It was being oppressed by your eggs, so I freed it!"

"fine." Tsukune said, grabbing Moka's glass of orange juice. "Then, I'll 'liberate' your orange juice."

"You wouldn't dare!" Moka gasped. "Not my orange juice!"

"Oh, I would." Tsukune smirked, enjoying taunting his best friend. Moka then tackled him, setting the glass of orange juice on the table.

"Aha!" She exclaimed triumphantly. "I have saved my orange juice!"

"So you have." Tsukune chuckled. "Congratulations."

"Yay!" Moka grinned, biting down on Tsukune's neck, drawing some blood before jumping back up to eat more eggs. Tsukune climbed up to the table, pouting a little as he ate his eggs.

"I still can't believe you stole my bacon." He said.

"I liberated it!" Moka said with her mouth full.

"Whatever." Tsukune said.

"I liberated Mizore-chan's sausage from her plate as well!" Moka grinned.

"You also ate at Mizore's?!" Tsukune exclaimed. "Moka, how much have you eaten today?!"

"Not much." Moka pouted, poking her stomach. "I am only at half full."

"Oh my god, your father is a black hole." Tsukune said. "There's no way you're a pure vampire. You're half black hole."

"No, I'm not!" Moka exclaimed. "I'm full vampire! My grampa said so!"

"that reminds me." Tsukune said. "We need to figure out when the best time to head to see him would be."

"Hmm…" Moka thought out loud. "We have next week off, so let's go then."

"okay." Tsukune nodded. "Your shopping trip two weeks ago has probably gotten you enough stuff you'll need."

"Yep!" Moka grinned. "I gots plenty!"

"Good." Tsukune chuckled. "We should be ready. I hope the youkai world is better this time."

"Me too." Moka said. "It was so cold there."

"Yeah." Tsukune said. "Well, it should be fine. We just have to pack warm clothes."

"That sounds tough." Moka pouted. "I only got a fuzzy coat."

"That's pretty warm." Tsukune said. "It'll do."

"Okay!" Moka grinned. "I'll pack it. We'll have to help Mizore-chan pack!"

"Yeah." Tsukune said. "Her family seems to already have cold protectant, so she shouldn't be hard to pack."

"Okay!" Moka said, nodding.

"Planning a trip?" Kasumi walked in, raising an eyebrow as she handed Moka her next plate.

"We're heading to see Moka's grandfather." Tsukune explained. "We'll be gone about a week."

"Well, I'll have to talk with your father about this." Kasumi said. "Not that we don't trust Moka or Mizore, but you'll be gone for a week and missing school."

"No, actually we have off the week we're planning." Tsukune said.

"I see." Kasumi nodded. "Well, I'll still have to consult your father."

"Okay." Tsukune said.

"Though, that reminds me." Kasumi snapped her fingers. "I haven't met your parents, Moka, or Mizore's parents."

"I live alone." Moka said. "My parents are back home and sent me to this school to learn."

"I see." Kasumi nodded. "Well, I hope you're doing well alone then."

"I am!" Moka grinned. "I got Tsukune-kun and Mizore-chan!"

"Well, I plan to meet with Mizore's parents soon." Kasumi said. "I would like to see who raised such a sweet girl."

"We're heading over there if you wanna come, Kasumi-san!" Moka suggested.

"Well, I think I'll take you up on that offer." Kasumi nodded. "When are you heading over there?"

"As soon as I finish my food!" Moka inhaled her food, quickly cleaning Tsukune's plate as well.

"You little sneak." Tsukune said as Moka stuck her tongue out of her grin.

"Okay, let's go!" Moka cheered, jumping up.

"Alright then." Kasumi grabbed her shoes and the three headed off, Kasumi and Tsukune at a slower pace than the pink haired vampire, to Mizore's house.

Moka knocked on the door, gasping as she saw Mizore with a large bat on her shoulder, nuzzling up to her.

"That's a… huge bat!" Kasumi gasped.

"Alucard, what have I told you about sneaking out of the house?!" Moka scolded the large vampire bat. Alucard slumped his head as if in shame.

"She knows that bat?" Kasumi asked.

"That's Moka's pet, Alucard." Tsukune explained. "He's pretty friendly. He seems to like Mizore."

"I told you the next time I'd only feed you store-bought rats for a week!" Moka continued her scolding.

"What's all the fuss?" Tsurara walked up behind Mizore, looking out at the group. "Oh, it's you, Moka. I suppose you're here to take this giant bat home."

"I guess so." Moka put her hands on her hips, getting an adorable glare on her face at Alucard, who slumped a little.

"Tsurara?" Kasumi gasped. "Is that you?!"

"Kasumi?" Tsurara looked Kasumi dead in the eyes, walking out to stand in front of her.

"you two know each other?" the three teens gasped.

Both of the adults threw punches square into each other's jaws, knocking each other back.

"I guess they do." Tsukune said. The two adults continued to fight, rolling around a little as well.

"I-I never knew my mom had this side to her." Mizore said.

"Neither did I." Moka said. "Same with Kasumi-san."

"I have never seen her this angry." Tsukune said. "Even when my dad made a joke about her 'time'."

"this is for cheating in the last Shoulder War!" Tsurara's shout came.

"Well, this is for cheating in the three legged race!" Kasumi shouted.

"Uh, mom…" Tsukune said, trying to alert Kasumi.

"M-mom?" Mizore said, trying to get Tsurara's attention.

"Mommy's busy, sweetie." Tsurara said.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Tsukune." Kasumi said.

"Uh, please stop." Moka easily picked both humans up, pulling them apart.

"why are you guys fighting?" She asked.

"She's a cheater!" both shouted at the other.

"what happened?" Moka asked. "Tsurara-san you start."

"Well, we went to school together." Tsurara said.

"Youkai World Academy." Kasumi said.

"Go Fighting Spirits!" both women pumped a fist in the air.

"Wait, hold up." Tsukune said. "You went to school in the youkai world?"

"Of course." Kasumi said. "How else do you think I've been able to keep Moka fed?"

"W-well, everything you feed her h-has iron in it." Mizore said. "Th-that would help with a-anemia like she says she has, but not vampirism."

"Iron is a temporary substitute." Kasumi said.

"That does explain why I have no spinach…" Tsurara said.

"Plus, I've seen her drink your blood." Kasumi said. "you sure do make a good juice box."

"Both do." Tsurara agreed.

"But, why do you hate each other?" Tsukune asked.

"Well, in the last School Triathlon, she cheated." Both said, pointing at the other. "We were put on separate teams and she cheated."

"Uh, is that reason to hate each other?" Tsukune asked.

"Well, no." both reasoned.

"Did one of your teams win?" Moka asked.

"No." Tsurara said. "This other team with a bunch of zombies won. Stupid Huangs."

"Buncha dirty cheaters themselves." Kasumi said. "Shoulda kept those blasters."

"Yeah." Tsurara said. "Those snow blasters would have helped so much."

"I-I still can't believe you two went to school together." Mizore said. "Wh-why didn't you say anything, mom?"

"I didn't know." Tsurara said. "He doesn't resemble Kasumi that much… I mean, I'm surprised she didn't recognize you. You look just like me when I was younger."

"Except you didn't cover your face every time someone looked at you." Kasumi said.

"True." Tsurara said. "Man, that Newspaper Club was fun, wasn't it?"

"Yeah." Kasumi nodded. "It was… god, we hated each other for a pretty stupid reason."

"Yeah." Tsurara nodded. "Even after Akasha tore into us with that lecture… yeesh, I'd never seen her so mad."

"You knew my mom?!" Moka exclaimed.

"Now I know why you're familiar." Kasumi said. "You're Akasha's daughter."

"Wait, wait, hold on." Tsukune said. "You guys should tell us this whole story."

"uh, okay." Tsurara said. "We'll have tea at the café you three like."

"Okay!" Moka grinned. "I just gotta take Alucard home!"

Alucard flew over to Moka's shoulder, looking at the human women for a second before Moka took off running back to her house.

"Energetic." Kasumi mused. "She's definitely like Akasha."

"We're gonna head to the café." Tsukune said. "We'll see you there."

"Okay." Kasumi said, nodding.

"Be safe." Tsurara said, nodding.

"W-we will." Mizore said as they headed off. Moka ran by a few minutes later, shouting 'wait for me, Tsukune-kun and Mizore-chan!'.

Later, at the café

The five people sat down, all of them with a drink. Moka had cherry soda, Tsukune having grape. Mizore had a smoothie while Tsurara and Kasumi both had coffee, Tsurara's iced and Kasumi's hot.

"So, before we begin" Tsurara said. "What's this I hear about a trip to the youkai world?"

"We're gonna visit my grampa!" Moka exclaimed.

"Sounds like a tough journey." Tsurara said. "Especially from what Akasha told us."

"Well, we're prepared!" Moka grinned. "We have Tsukune-kun and Mizore-chan!"

"Uh, how's that gonna be help?" Tsukune asked. "You're the vampire."

"You just gotta use your own strength." Moka pulled her best friends into a hug. "I believe in you guys."

"Uh, thanks." The other two humans said, Mizore blushing.

"Now tell us the story!" Moka said.

"Alright, alright, fine." Tsurara said. "We'll have to start at the beginning."

"Well, the story starts off when Tsukune's grandfather followed a strangely creepy man who dropped a flyer for a school for me to attend."

"creepy?" Tsukune asked.

"He was, but it turns out he was the headmaster." Kasumi sipped her coffee. "So, I went to this school, not knowing it was for monsters, when first day, I get run over by a girl on a bike."

"I did that to Tsukune-kun once!" Moka gasped. "I forgot how to brake and he accidentally walked In front of it… I wonder where that bike got to."

"Turns out the girl was a vampire." Kasumi mused. "Her name was Akasha and she was your spitting image, Moka."

"Woah!" Moka gasped. "You met my mom at school!?"

"I did." Kasumi said. "So, she then proceeds to drink my blood, saying it was the best she'd ever tasted and then goes into a long-winded explanation on how she's a vampire."

"Sounds familiar." Tsukune nudged Moka, who looked confused at this.

"So, then, we head to the school together and she and I become pretty good friends." Kasumi said. "We had a small fight after she found out I was human, but we patched it up."

"I wonder how you guys met!" Moka said.

"Well, let me get to it." Kasumi held her hand up, which seemed to pacify the energetic vampire. "So, basically, we joined a club called the Newspaper Club, and there was this succubus who was totally jealous of Akasha or something, but she turned out to be a good friend and joined with us. Her name was Kurono Ageha. Then, we met a spunky, pretty flirty witch named Fujiko Sendo who also joined. Then, we met Tsurara, who also joined."

"How'd you hide your human stuff?!" Moka asked.

"Basically, they had us stay in human form." Tsurara said. "I count as youkai since my line is closely tied with them. But, basically we had some crazy adventures. Here's a picture of our group."

She pulled out a picture of the members of the Newspaper Club, which showed the members previously mentioned and a few new faces.

"Who are they?" Moka pointed at them.

"That's a story for another day." Kasumi said. "Except the one with cat ears. She's the teacher in charge of it, Miss Nekonome."

"We have a teacher named Miss Nekonome!" Moka exclaimed.

"Oh, that's her daughter." Kasumi said. "She's human, so she just cosplays. She actually kept sneaking in to join us in the club."

"Remember when we took out those guys from that Fairy Tale in that tournament?" Tsurara sipped her coffee.

"Those guys were tough." Kasumi said. "But, we beat 'em. Yeesh, those guys were the toughest fighters we'd fought. But, man joining that fighting tournament was fun. Seems like a common anime trope to settle things with tournaments."

"True." Tsurara said. "So, you three need to pack for your trip, right?"

"Yeah!" Moka said. "But, we're not gonna leave yet. We're gonna wait until it's a holiday week."

"I see." Tsurara said. "Well, I expect you to take care of each other."

"We will." The three nodded, Moka holding them in a double side hug.

"Well, we're gonna chill here." Tsurara said. "You three head home and get ready for school."

"But, it's Sunday." Moka said. "We don't have school today."

"You don't?" Kasumi asked. "Oh. Well, go play somewhere and have fun. Just be careful."

"Okay, mom." Tsukune said. "Try not to kill each other."

"We won't." Tsurara and Kasumi assured them.

"Good." The teens said, heading off to do something.

With the teens—later

"Mmm, this ice cream is so good!" Moka licked her lips as she ate the strawberry treat.

"I-it is." Mizore said.

"I can't believe you know about this cool place, Mizore-chan!" Moka said. "This is such great ice cream!"

"I-it is." Mizore said.

"Definitely." Tsukune agreed.

"I hope you guys' moms are getting along!" Moka said, giving her ice cream a large lick and almost pushing it off the cone. "They seemed pretty friendly when we left, so I hope they made up!"

"I'm sure they did." Tsukune said. "My mom doesn't hold grudges often. They were probably just rivals in the club."

"They knew about my mom, though." Moka said, pausing. "I kinda want to ask, but they seem to know something they don't want me to know."

"Well, ask them." Tsukune said. "It can't hurt to ask."

"I'm… I'm so nervous that it'll be bad or they won't want to tell me." Moka said, looking down.

"I-it's okay, Moka-san." Mizore hugged the pink haired vampire. "I-I know you want to know. P-perhaps if they don't talk, your grandfather will."

"You're right, Mizore-chan!" Moka grinned, hugging her back. "Thanks!"

"Y-you're welcome." Mizore blushed as she felt herself be pushed into Moka's chest.

"So, now what should we do?!" Moka exclaimed.

"Get some stuff for the youkai world?" Tsukune shrugged.

"Sure!" Moka exclaimed. "I know the perfect place!"

"Where?" Tsukune asked.

"This clothing store at the other end of the mall!" Moka said. "They sell all kinds of monster stuff!"

"That stuff's fake." Tsukune said. "It's sold by someone who doesn't even believe in monsters to cash in on other people's naivety."

"Aww." Moka pouted. "I wanted a real monster store."

"Sorry, Moka." Tsukune pat her. "Maybe we should feed Alucard now instead?"

"Okay!" Moka said. "I gotta get a rat from the store! He's got to be punished!"

"Uh, okay." Tsukune said, the other two following the vampire to the pet store, where she received the rat from the owner.

"Alucard been bad again?" He chuckled.

"Yep!" Moka nodded. "This time, it's for a week."

"I see." The store owner said. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yep!" Moka grinned. "Thanks, Mr. Stoker!"

"You're welcome." He chuckled.

"That guy's name is Stoker?" Tsukune raised an eyebrow as they walked out of the store. "Like as in Bram Stoker?"

"I know, right?" Moka said. "I thought it was weird too at first! But, he's pretty cool! Also, I read that guy's books. Most of 'em are kinda weird. The one about the vampire was cool. But, it was fake."

"Well, yeah." Tsukune said. "It was a fantasy book."

"No, it was based on true stuff." Moka said.

"Really?" Tsukune asked.

"Yep." Moka nodded. "Except they didn't kill Dracula at the end. My grampa told me that they changed it, but he actually left with a woman. My grampa never told me anything else about it. Only that it was fake."

"Strange." Tsukune said. "I guess we'll have to ask him to explain what it means."

"Okay!" Moka said. "That sounds like a good idea!"

"Good." Tsukune chuckled.

"Yay!" Moka grinned.

The three then headed back to Moka's place, the vampire holding the rat above Alucard's head. He jumped, grabbing the rat and sucking the blood out of it before eating the meat.

"Now, eat it all." Moka said, Mizore turning a sickly shade of pale, then green at the slightly gruesome sight.

"Uh, Moka, a little warning next time?" Tsukune asked.

"Oh, sorry!" Moka giggled. "I didn't think he'd make such a mess this time! He's usually such a polite eater."

"Well… not this time." Tsukune said. "I think I need a glass of water."

"Sorry, Mizore-chan, Tsukune-kun." Moka sheepishly said. "I don't know why he ate so messy this time."

"It's okay." Tsukune said. "So, are we ready for when we go next week?"

"Yep!" Moka grinned. "We just gotta make sure Alucard is fed and we'll go!"

"Good." Tsukune said.

"I-I think we'll learn a lot on this trip." Mizore said.

"I'm sure we will." Tsukune nodded in agreement.

The following week, the day of the trip

Tsukune yawned awake as he stretched, rubbing his eyes to show the two females in his room, both dressed in maid costumes, one holding a giant bat.

"Gah!" He exclaimed, jumping up a little.

"Morning, Tsukune-kun!" both said, Moka grinning wide while Mizore gave a small smile and blush.

"What are you guys doing?" Tsukune asked. "I thought we were getting ready for a trip. Why are you dressed like that?"

"They're super comfy!" Moka grinned wider, pulling him out of bed, the male of the group thankful he wore jeans to bed. "Now, come on, Tsukune-kun, let's go now!"

"Okay okay." Tsukune said, putting on a shirt and stretching once more as he grabbed his socks.

"Are we ready?!" Moka looked around at the group.

"I-I am." Mizore said, blushing a little more.

"I am too." Tsukune said. "Except I'm kinda hungry though."

"Me too!" Moka exclaimed. "I think we should eat before we leave!"

"Of course you do." Tsukune chuckled.

"Yep!" Moka grinned, licking her lips. "I'm super hungry!"

"Well, let's see if my mom's got anything she'd let us have before we leave." Tsukune said.

"Okay!" Moka ran down the stairs, sitting down at the table, waiting for Tsukune and Mizore to arrive, practically drooling on the table as Kasumi chuckled, having made omelets.

"I see you're hungry, Moka." She set three down in front of the pink haired vampire, said vampire gobbling them right up.

"I see someone is very hungry." Kasumi mused, chuckling as she pat Moka on the head.

"Yep!" Moka exclaimed, her mouth full of food as she seemed more akin to a vacuum than a vampire.

"Well, good luck and be safe." Kasumi said, handing Tsukune a bag. "I packed you three some essentials you'll need to make it in the trip. Especially a change of clothes."

"We already got bags, but thanks." Tsukune said.

"You're welcome, dear." Kasumi said. "Your father wants you to call every night and chck in with him."

"Okay." Tsukune nodded.

"Obviously, don't tell him where you actually are going." Kasumi said. "Tell him you're going to America with them to see Moka's grandfather."

"I will." Tsukune nodded, eating some of the omelet in front of him.

"Growing up so fast." Kasumi said, putting a hand on his head. "Already making high school friends and is going off by yourself on a trip."

"Well, I did take after you." Tsukune said.

"That you did." Kasumi mused.

"I take after my mom and grampa!" Moka exclaimed.

"I'll bet." Kasumi chuckled. "Your grampa was one scary guy when we met him on Parent's Day or whatever they called it… it was during a festival at the school and the parents all came, so the Newspaper Club got introduced to each other's parents."

"That sounds like grampa!" Moka grinned.

"Well good luck to you three." Kasumi said.

"Thanks!" They waved at her, heading out the door. Kasumi made herself some breakfast, grabbing the mail from the previous day from the pile. She noticed a letter from a place she'd never thought she'd see again.

"Well" She mused. "Looks like I can take a nice little trip there myself. Wonder if Tsu got one."

With the teens

The three arrived at the bus station, the bus pulling up. Opening the door, they were greeted with the sight of Nurari sitting in the driver's seat, still smoking his cigarette.

"Well, off to the youkai world, I see." He mused.

"Yep!" Moka grinned. "We're gonna see my grampa!"

"Well, that sounds like an interesting trip." Nurari chuckled. "funny, I have to take a group from the human world to the youkai world for reunion of the class soon, so I guess I'll see them."

"Well, we're heading to where I grew up." Moka said.

"I know the place well." Nurari said.

"you do?!" Moka exclaimed. "Great!"

"I'll take ya there fast." Nurari said. "Well, sorta. I can't take ya all the way there, but I can take you close."

"Okay!" Moka said. "That's good enough!"

"Fine then." Nurari nodded. "Step aboard."

The three teens stepped onto the bus, sitting down in a row near the front. Moka sat in the middle of the two, putting her arms around them. Mizore blushed slightly, liking the feel of Moka's arm around her. Alucard nuzzled up to her and Moka.

"Comfy, you three?" Nurari looked back at them in the mirror.

"Yep." They said, nodding as the spooky bus driver closed the doors, starting the bus.

"And, we're off." He said, taking the bus toward a tunnel. However, instead of seeing the road that was supposed to be on the other side, the group saw a strange area with a blood red sky and a grey ground that seemed… deader than usual.

"Is this the youkai world?" Tsukune asked.

"Part of it." Nurari mused. "This is actually near the Youkai World Academy. But, we're not passing near it today. Maybe someday, you'll head there. Though, there's not too much you would want to do. Perhaps you'll have to join once you truly understand what you're meant to do. Especially if you wish to unite humans and youkai."

"Did my mom go here?" Tsukune asked.

"Kasumi?" Nurari looked into the mirror. "Yeah, she did. Bright student. Had a mean right hook back in the day. Actually had the same desires as you, seein' youkai and humans as equals and for the world to see it."

"Why isn't she pursuing it so much like before?" Tsukune asked.

"Let's just say there are some that want to keep the worlds separate." Nurari said. "And, some that want to kill both and reign over them. Those kind of people prevent your mother from enacting her previous desires."

"Like Hellsing and the Yuki-Onna?" Tsukune asked.

"More Hellsing, but yeah." Nurari said. "Another big group for that was for that was Fairy Tale, but a team from the past took them out. Perhaps you'll meet them all someday."

"Yeah." Tsukune said. "There's just so much I don't understand."

"Well, I'll tell you this one thing as you get off." Nurari said, stopping the bus and opening the door, letting the three walk out, Moka still holding Alucard. "Your line has done more in the youkai world than you'll probably ever know."

"Really?" Tsukune asked.

"Yep." Nurari said. "Here's a map so you don't get lost on your way to Alucard's castle."

"Thanks." The group said as Nurari pulled away.

"It's this way!" Moka said, pointing as she began to go in said direction. The other two followed as their journey began.

Well, it seems as though their journey has gone well so far. But, could it hold dangers? And, will Alucard give answers? Find out soon.