I am finally back with a new chapter! This felt like it took forever to write mostly because of my lack of motivation at the moment, because the stupid people I have to call my classmates have been wearing at my nerves with a cheese grater. However now that this chapters up I hope I get back into it because now I'm finally getting to the real meat of the story. I hope you all enjoy even though my self editing skills maybe a bit under the bar because of my laziness.
Chapter Eleven
The attack was swift and precise. Yukari was unconscious before the group had even been aware of their assailants. Tsukune was thrown painfully on to his knees after a hard strike to the face caused a torrent of blood to slide down the left side of his face. His right arm was placed in an agonizing shoulder lock. Moka was carefully, and surprisingly gently, restrained and positioned to face Tsukune. Once the flurry of activity died down the conscious duo finally got a look at their captors. Vampires of all shapes and sizes held them in place. "Father?" Moka blinked in astonishment as Issa Shuzen slowly strode to stand beside Tsukune. A large group of vampires were scattered in a loose scorched around the clearing, each silent and watching intently.
Without a word the vampire leader stomped on the hybrids bent leg. A resonating crack followed by an ear-splitting scream was heard. Pain continued to shoot up Tsukunes leg and into his torso as the vampire ground his heel into the fractured limb. "No, stop hurting him." Mokas pleas went unheard as her father continued to torture her master. "Father please stop. What has he ever done to deserve this?" Her father paused for a moment then turned toward his daughter. Tsukune let out a sigh of relief as the shooting pain dulled to a sharp ache.
"What has he done? Everything!" His previously stoic visage had transformed into one of rage. The vampire snarled as he spoke. "His species is the entire reason why we live in hiding. Why we cower in the corners of the monster realm. " Issa swung his arm around to point at the trembling hybrid. "They are the thing we fear. They are the monsters that hide under our beds waiting to snatch our children away. They are the true monsters." Issa allowed his harsh breathing to calm before continuing. "All we want is peace, but they are keeping us from it." He said 'they' with a hiss of contempt.
"Father, monsters have never been at peace even before the uprising." Issa made a hand signal to the vampire holding Tsukune. In response the vampire pulled on Tsukunes arm even harder until a sickening pop was heard from the trapped limb. A short scream of pain escaped the hybrids mouth before quickly being reigned in. "Father, stop! Please stop." Her cry came out sounding strangled, as though the words had been barely able to escape throat.
The elder vampires face returned to its neutral, yet cold, position. "We are the closest to peace in over a thousand years. All yokai are working toward one goal; the destruction of humans. The only thing standing in our way of eternal prosperity are these disgusting apes." He emphasizes his point with another hard stomp to Tsukunes leg. "Now my dear daughter it is time for you to rejoin your kind." The vampire lord grabbed the hybrids limp hand attached to his dislocated shoulder. The vampire restraining Moka gently moved her forward until she was within arms reach of the hybrid. Moka began to struggle as she realized her fathers intentions. "Knock her out if she becomes too much trouble." Issa hissed as he grabbed the seal. "Be gentle though! She is my daughter." With a flourish he tore the cross from his daughters throat. The trapped yokai energy burst forth, flowing across the clearing. The younger vampire started struggling harder, and jabbed her captor in the stomach for good measure.
Following his orders the restraining vampire placed a quick precise strike to the back of Mokas neck rendering her unconscious. "Moka! You bastard she's your daughter." He hybrid began to fight just as hard as Moka had been. His battle ended quickly however, as a polished shoe stomped on his leg once again. Tsukune let out a strangled cry before finally going still.
Issa slowly lifted his hanging head by his hair. "I know she is my daughter, and that is why I am willing to do anything to keep her safe." The final thing the half vampire saw was the elder vampire carefully lift his daughter into his arms and stalk away with his entourage close behind.
He awoke slowly with pain coursing through his limbs. His nose was assaulted with the harsh sterile smell of chemicals. He scrunched up his face at the unpleasant nasal invasion. He could feel the pull of stitches along his forehead, and the cast that held his leg in place. His arm was strapped to his chest by what he assumed to be a sling, and in his other arm he felt the jab of an IV. After taking full stock of his bodily injuries he opened his eyes, as he did so he felt a grody layer of eye gunk crack and crumble. Tsukunes eyes were met with the sight of his own bedroom. He turned his head to the right groggily to look at the side table housing his clock and noticed that it was seven o'clock in the morning on June twenty-second. His birthday, and two weeks after they left on their inter dimensional excursion. He also spotted several bottles of cleaning supplies usually kept in the houses infirmary. 'Well that explains the smell.' He thought to himself idly. The hybrid carefully lifted himself with a little difficulty into a sitting position and lounged against the pillows placed behind him. After settling himself back into a comfortable position he looked around his room once again. His observations did not last long as his eyes landed on Mokas basket. 'MOKA!' His sudden realization caused an agonizing jar to his leg. He laid back until the pain died down to a dull throbbing sensation. 'How could I have forgotten Moka? What happened, and how did I get here?' His thoughts flashed by faster than light before his darting eyes landed on two boxes hidden behind the bottles of cleaning supplies. He forcefully calmed himself before grabbing the two objects. Both packages were presents beautifully wrapped in shiny paper. One was two boxes stacked on top of each other wrapped in silver paper and held together by crimson ribbon. The half vampire unwrapped the larger box on the bottom first. It contained a large, thick book with the title The Encyclopedia of Monsters emblazoned on the front and side in raised lettering. He smiled to himself as he read the card that was included.
Dear Tsukune
You better like your present, or I'm taking it back.
Cheers Yukari
He chuckled quietly at her interesting message. He turned his gaze to the smaller box by his side. This present was considerably smaller than the book. He carefully removed the paper and the lid of the tiny box. The card board vessel contained a photograph and an object wrapped tightly in linen cloth. He retrieved the photograph first and nearly choked on his own saliva at what it depicted. It was the picture Ruby had taken before the trip. Mokas radiant smile shone out at him from the stiff paper. He saw himself beside her with the expression telling of his desire to have the ability to sink into the ground. With a little apprehension he picked up the thing hidden in linen folds. He felt his hands shaking as he freed the trinket. Once uncovered Mokas silver cross stared back at him from his lap. He could feel hot tears begin to gather in his eyes but made no attempt to stop them. A small sob escaped his throat as he held the cross near to his heart. He laid the cross gently against his clock propping it up right so he could see it. Tsukune held in tears as he reached for the other present. He hoped this would take his mind off of his heart ache.
This box was coated in forest green paper with small silver ribbons held together by his families crest stamped in wax on the intersections. 'Why is my family crest on here? I don't have any more living relatives.' His fingers deftly broke the wax and removed the ribbons before getting to work on the paper cloak. The box underneath was unmarked and a plain shade of white. He lifted the lid of the box with his I injured hand to reveal a coiled tube of leather resting on a pure white showcasing pillow. It was polished and the dyed black animal skin held the sheen of newness, yet the wear on the grip suggested second hand. The teen scrunched his face in confusion until he felt the stinging pull of the stitches on his forehead. Tears still dripped down his face, but he wiped them away as he plucked the included card from between the pillow and box wall. He read the card warily, still not certain who this last gift could be from. He read:
My Son
You have always had an unnatural interest in monsters no matter how much I pushed you to go into business. I guess you inherited that from your mother. This I hope will allow you to get closer and still be safe. It was your mothers. The first whip she ever used when going into the field for her research. Stay safe, and know that we will always love you.
Your loving parents Koji and Kasumi Aono.
Tsukune choked on fresh sobs as they bubbled up in his throat. He allowed his tears to stream forth. He curled into himself, only stopping when he felt the sharp jab of the boxes corner pressing into his injured arm. Through his tears he noticed more text lower on the card.
" Ps and if you get a girlfriend maybe you can get into some kinky stuff."
In the bottom left corner of the page there was a three panel cartoon of his father suggestively wiggling his eyebrows. As he read the card Tsukune began crying and laughing at the same time. He sobbed and hiccuped until he could no longer breathe.
After regaining some self-control Tsukune moved the boxes and the large book to his side table. He took his other presents into his lap and carefully memorized every detail as though the next time he looked away the precious mementos would disappear. Tsukune ran his fingers along the hard edges of Mokas seal and slowly traced the circular jewel in the center. 'It looks like Mokas eyes.' He thought longingly.
Thoughts of the vampire started to plague his mind, and it continued until he realized he was pining for her. 'Why do I feel this way? I knew her for only a short time yet I want to see and talk with her so much.' The hybrid continued to question himself, his thoughts turned into a chaotic jumble until he decided on a course of action. 'I need to get her back! The only way I can truly know how I feel is if she is with me.' He clutched the seal to his chest. He breathed in deeply, feeling the new rush of determination flow through him.
"Come hell or high water I will find you Moka, and if anyone has dared to hurt you they will pay dearly."
Now after this we come to, what I hope is, the awesomeness. If anyone has any recommendations for the story feel free to voice them. When people tell me their speculations of what will happen next it gives me ideas.
