CHAPTER 10

THE THIRST

Tsukune couldn't think about anything besides the burning in his throat and the growing urge to drink blood. Through the haze of the urge, he was vaguely aware of Moka shaking his shoulder and speaking to him. He tried to focus on what Moka was saying.

"…Hold on…transfusion bags…" Tsukune made out. He tried to ignore the burning sensation by focusing on what Moka meant by transfusion bags.

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Moka was frantically shaking Tsukune's shoulder and saying things that she could only hope would help make the thirst more bearable. She shuddered as she remembered her experience with The Thirst…she focused on the situation at hand rather than go on with that train of thought. Underneath Moka's palm, Tsukune was convulsing and writhing in pain. Moka turned and looked towards Kurumu, who was quickly going through her refrigerator.

"Kurumu, what's taking so long?" Moka asked, somewhat frantic.

"I'm looking as fast as I can!" Kurumu responded, digging into the depths of her refrigerator.

Suddenly, there was the sound of shattering glass, and Moka whipped her head to where Tsukune was laying. Or, more accurately, where Tsukune had been laying. Moka's head shot up, and, seeing a broken window, she put two and two together and realized what had happened. Of course, Moka thought, swearing under her breath. The Thirst indicates that someone has become a full vampire, with all of the powers and weaknesses; The thirst must have clouded Tsukune's mind, and he used his new super-speed in order to escape through the window when I let my guard down.

"I found one!" Kurumu said triumphantly, pulling a transfusion pack from the refrigerator and holding it above her head in triumph. She turned around, and her face fell as she took in the scene before her: Moka sitting on the ground with a frown on her face, a broken window, and no cute guy in sight.

"Hey…" Kurumu started. "Where'd Tsukune go?"

"He's thirsty." Moka said, getting up and making for the door. No more explanation was required; Kurumu understood immediately and hurried to follow Moka out of the door.

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Tsukune's eyes raced back and forth, looking for something to quell the burning in his throat. Nothing seeing anything, he took a step forward and his nose picked up the most delicious scent. Using his newly-evolved senses, he honed in on the smell and dashed towards it. In the back of his mind, something was telling him that this was a bad idea, that he should wait for Moka, but he ignored it. Nothing was going to stand in the way of him and his first drink.

Nothing.

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Moka and Kurumu dashed out of the house, trying to find Tsukune before he hurt someone. If he hurts someone, or worse, accidentally kills them, he won't be able to live with himself! Moka thought. She closed her eyes and focused on her nose, trying to pick up Tsukune's scent. After a few moments, she found it. Her eyes flew open as she turned to Kurumu.

"C'mon, we have to hurry!" Kurumu nodded, and they chased after Tsukune.

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He was close now… he could smell his prey right around the corner. It was alone; that was good. It made things simpler. Slowly, he approached the corner of the alley, making sure his prey didn't sense him. When he was sure he was close enough, Tsukune leaped, tackling his victim and holding him down. He opened his mouth, baring his fangs, and he could feel the heartbeat of his prey quicken. He leaned down towards the jugular vein, the scarlet ambrosia running through his victim's veins all but calling his name.

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The scent was growing stronger with every step Moka and Kurumu took as they raced towards Tsukune. Using their vampirific speed, it had only taken a minute to catch up to Tsukune, but Moka feared they might already be too late; In addition to the scent of her apprentice, she could smell someone else, someone who Tsukune had almost defiantly seen as prey in his thirst-induced state. The duo skidded to a stop at the alleyway where that Tsukune was in, and Moka felt her stomach clench up as she realized that her apprentice was about to feast on some poor man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"Tsukune!" Moka called out on instinct.

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Tsukune hesitated as a voice cut through the haze that was clouding his mind. He knew that voice; he trusted that voice. Where had it come from?

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Moka calmed down a little when she saw that Tsukune had stopped, but she knew that she had to keep talking or he would attack. She had to choose her words carefully. She motioned for Kurumu to give her the transfusion packet, and once it was in her hands, she started talking again.

"Tsukune, you need to stop this." Moka started, taking a cautious step forward. "If you don't you'll most likely kill that man, and I know that you'll blame yourself."

"Listen: we have a transfusion pack here. If you can just calm down and drink this, the thirst will go away."

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The part of Tsukune's mind that was listening to Moka hung onto every word, and it forced the rest of Tsukune's mind to listen as well. Moka's words pierced through the haze, and it slowly dawned on Tsukune that he was holding a man down with his fangs inches from the man's neck.

Oh my God, what am I doing? Tsukune thought. But internally, a part of him argued back.

You're eating, just like you would have done when you were human. Tsukune started to slowly lift up his head.

No. He thought. I won't be a monster. Tsukune straightened out his back, and then attempted to get up. Unfortunately, the sudden bloodlust had left him disoriented, and he accidentally fell backwards with a grunt. The man whose chest he had just occupied wasted no time in getting up and scurrying away, but Tsukune didn't pay attention to him, and neither did Moka who wasted no time in getting to Tsukune's side.

"Tsukune, are you all right?" She asked, kneeling down. Tsukune cradled his head in his hands.

"…I almost killed a man." He said softly. Moka placed a reassuring hand on Tsukune's back.

"Maybe so." She said, and she saw Tsukune flinch. "But you didn't. That's what matters." She raised the transfusion packet up to Tsukune, who looked at her from between his fingers. "Drink." She urged softly, not wanting to push him. Slowly, and with a downcast look on his face, Tsukune reached for the packet of vampire nectar. He brought it to his nose and sniffed cautiously. Closing his eyes, Tsukune opened his jaw and brought the transfusion pack up to his gums. Just as he was about to bite down, a sound rebounded off of the narrow brick walls of the alleyway.

"There you are, Tsukune." Moka, Tsukune, and Kurumu looked towards the source of the sound. There, Moka saw two figures standing in the shadows, and even with her acute eyesight, all Moka could make out was that it was a man and a woman.

Damn! I let my guard down again! Moka thought. She was finding it easier and easier to let down her guard around Tsukune; she needed to work on that. Speaking of Tsukune, out of the corner of her eye, Moka could tell that her apprentice had frozen, and his skin had turned a pasty white. Before Moka was able to ask what was wrong, Tsukune spoke softly; so softly, almost, that Moka barely heard it even with her super-hearing.

"Mom. Dad."