Let me just clarify for the reviewers who are upset that they believe that Gin is dead, he is not, re-read that part of chapter 10. It states he is in a coma currently, I have plans on him, just remember this. This beginning part is rather graphic, so if you guys have a weak stomach, please skip down a bit.
Anyway, let's begin neh? Ja Ne
Chapter 11: Schism
Tsukune stares in front of him, the dank smell of Castle Akashiya's dungeon mixing with the smell of blood and tears. Ahead of him, suspended a foot in the air is Kurumu, the young succubus is naked, but the sight of her is anything but erotic. Hanging there blood seeps from cuts on her arms and legs, her stomach sporting multiple stab wounds, her wings lie on the floor on either side of her, the nubs of her bat like wings hanging limply at her back, her tail pinned to the floor with a metal spike rammed through it. Her stomach slowly rises in falls, her breath coming in haggard gasps, for the young succubus everything hurts, especially breathing.
"Tsukune…" Kurumu's voice whispers, her eyes barely open, blood dribbling down her chest from the wounds where her breasts used to be.
"Kurumu-chan…" Tsukune mumbles, his voice filled with guilt, his eyes unable to even look at her.
After all, it's his fault she's in this situation.
"Hmm, still conscious are we?" Ria's haughty voice enters Tsukune's ears, her very voice making him want to vomit.
Sitting in a chair, Tsukune's arms and legs are bound, held in place by steel bonds. Wearing his Rosario Tsukune could break his bonds and try to fight, but ultimately the bonds are just for show. Standing around him are not one, but four vampires. His father in law Shuzen Issa, Issa's former mate, Issa's eldest daughter Sekitan Ria, and finally Tsukune's former mate and lover, Akashiya Moka.
Walking around in front of him Moka grasps his chin, holding his face up to look at the scene before him, to make him see the results of his 'true' family's handiwork.
"Don't look away Tsukune." Moka's silver haired self orders him. "This is your fault after all. When you impregnated her, you brought this on her."
"No…" Tsukune mutters, closing his eyes, trying not to see one of his precious friends tortured.
"It's OK Tsukune…" Kurumu croaks, her blue hair caked with dried blood.
I'm so sorry Kurumu-chan…
Tears in his eyes Moka pushes his head aside in annoyance, Tsukune's head jerking to his right at his former's wife's touch.
Stepping forward Ria holds a long dagger in her right hand, the woman dressed in her normal head to toe attire, except now her clothing is covered in succubus blood. Stepping toward Kurumu Ria mercilessly sinks the dagger into her flesh, somehow finding a spot on her stomach that hasn't been cut, driving the dagger into her body, Kurumu letting out a short, sharp cry of pain before she bites her lip. Tsukune opens his eyes again, watching as Ria sinks the blade up to it's hilt into her body. The smile on Ria's face is one of sheer enjoyment. Standing behind him Issa and Akasha stand next to one another, both of the elder vampires faces are chiseled from stone for all the emotion they show. Issa stands with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the torture scene with mild disinterest.
"You can end this all right now Tsukune." Akasha offers from behind him, her voice like Satan herself offering him a contract for his soul. "All you have to do is take a mate, and we'll help her."
Tsukune looks down, opening his mouth to agree, just to end Kurumu's suffering when the blue haired woman speaks up, her voice filled with conviction and sheer willpower.
"Don't give in Tsukune." Kurumu's voice is high and clear, in spite of the dagger stuffed in her stomach. "Don't let them change you…"
"Silence wench." Ria growls, twisting the knife, Kurumu letting out a short cry of pain.
Her cries seem only to please the eldest daughter of Shuzen Issa, the woman slowly pulling the knife from her stomach, the blade dripping even more of her blood onto the stone floor.
"Please stop this…" Tsukune pleads to anyone who will listen. "Punish me, just let her go."
"We can't do that Tsukune." Akasha says solemnly. "You're the only male child in this family, you're far too special. You need to be taught this lesson."
Ria shoves the knife into Kurumu again, the succubus gasping again in pain, and Tsukune shuts his eyes, unable to help the tears flowing from his eyes.
"Don't listen to them Tsukune." Kurumu gasps through the pain of the knife in her gut.
The fact that she's still conscious is a testament to her sheer force of will. Most normal people would've passed out from the shock of everything Kurumu has been put through, but she's held on.
"No Tsukune…" Kurumu pleads, the pain flushing from her azure eyes, but the Aono vampire
can't bring himself to look at her.
"You're right... I can end this..." Tsukune seethed, his hair down, covering his eyes as a ki level that would kill lesser youkai leaked from the bound man. Tsukune cracks his neck, and his arms start vibrating rapidly, as he uses Jigen-to (dimensional sword) technique, his shackles, said to be able to hold even Alucard melted off of his arms.
That shouldn't be possible...
Issa's eyes widened a bit in amazement, then her eyes darted to his rosario. 'Shit it's breaking due to extreme stress from his unstable youkai!' he thought to himself, then disappeared in a burst of black flames.
Inner Moka was shaking in her boots, as the links that secured Tsukune's rosario slowly melted off, and his Rosario hit the ground with a seemingly deafening thud in the silent room. 'When did Tsukune become this strong!?' She thought as she stood and assumed a defensive position.
Tsukune first trained his jaded gaze onto Ria, as she was the main one performing the torture. "I've been waiting a long time for a good reason to lay a hand on you." Tsukune said in a tone, devoid of emotion, with a subzero chill to the tone of his voice. Then in a blur of incomprehensible speed he was on top of Ria.
'YES! GIVE ME YOUR RAGE! YOUR HATRED! AND YOUR FURY! I Shall give you power to rival even that of a dark lord!'
Ria clutched her stomach as she felt like she just had a holy water bomb blow up in her stomach. "What the hell!?" Ria said frankly, then her brain finally registered, the spot were Tsukune was once, was currently empty, but it was too late to register now.
Moka sat there slightly cowering, but still holding her defensive stance. 'Stop Tsukune! You'll kill her!' As much as she hated her elder sister, she was still that, her sister.
Tsukune snapped her neck, it wouldn't kill a vampire, but it would leave them paralyzed for a while. 'I am not a killer...' Tsukune thought to himself, as his wings flapped a bit as he glided over to Kurumu, biting the ball of his hand, drawing blood. Bringing it up to Kurumu's mouth, who got what Tsukune was trying to do, drinking enough to heal her wounds. Though her wings wouldn't be working for a while until the nerves reattached themselves.
"Let's get out of here before the smell of them peeing themselves stains my clothes." Kurumu said with a chuckle, then started coughing at the effort, and Tsukune glared at her softly. Chastising her for doing anything other than relaxing in his arms.
Tsukune nodded, and waved his arm using the Jingen-to technique, a hole in the roof became apparent as he flew off into the distance.
XXX
Opening his eyes Tsukune can feel the blood drain from his face. He blinks as his heart pounds in his chest, and Kurumu nuzzles against his chest. Tsukune can feel her arm across his chest, her warm body lying next to his.
Just a dream…
Feeling her next to him Tsukune can feel any desire for her rush out of him like air into a vacuum. Closing his eyes Tsukune tries not to think about what he just saw, but he can't get the image of her hanging in front of him, blood seeping from cuts all across her body with her breasts cut off, blood seeping from the wounds.
"Tsukune…?" Kurumu mutters, opening her eyes and looking up at him, her blue eyes tired but aware.
"Sorry Kurumu-chan…" Tsukune apologizes to her, looking away from the blue-nette next to him.
"What's wrong Tsukune? Why is your heart beating so fast?"
"I had a dream about you Kurumu-chan." Tsukune says solemnly, and Kurumu can tell that whatever it was, it wasn't a good dream.
"Do you want to talk about it?" She asks gently, sitting up next to him, the sleep gone from her eyes.
Pushing himself to a sitting position Tsukune can clearly remember the sound of her neck breaking, the 'crack' of her spine. Looking at her Tsukune can see her blue hair caked with blood, her arms and legs gashed open, blood dribbling down her extremities, her stomach covered in gore. His eyes filling with guilt Tsukune looks away from her, the dream still too fresh and too vivid for him to just forget.
"I dreamt Moka and her family were torturing you." Tsukune whispered solemnly.
"Because I got pregnant with your child?" She asks knowingly, and Tsukune nods guiltily.
"Yes… They were torturing you because I impregnated you, to teach me a lesson that I shouldn't
have done it. Though I delt with them... "
"What were they doing?" Kurumu asks in a quiet voice.
"They cut your wings and breasts off, and then they spiked your tail to the floor before they stabbed you in your stomach over and over again before they cut your arms and legs."
"They stabbed me in the stomach repeatedly?" Kurumu asks curiously, and Tsukune nods swallowing the lump in his throat.
"How did it end?"
"Issa ran like a coward, and nearly killed Ria." Tsukune said, Kurumu noting he said nothing about his former mate, though she decided not to push.
Smiling Kurumu reaches out, gently putting her hand on his chest, looking up into his chocolate eyes reassuringly.
Nodding Tsukune takes a deep breath, blowing it out, understanding the unspoken meaning of her actions.
XXX
Sitting in his study Shuzen Issa fumes, his breath coming out in a low growl, his elbows on his desk, his fingers interlaced in front of his face. He got off the phone with Kahlua hours ago, and after everything that's happened he's been unable to think about anything other then the fact that his beloved daughter has taken his family name and drug it through the mud, all to try and convince her mate that her way was the proper way to raise their children. Instead she's driven the one man she's supposed to have children with away from her and permanently ruined any chances she'll have of ever finding another proper vampire mate.
The sound of the door knob moving pulls Issa's attention from his thoughts, and as the door opens Issa can smell the scent of his former pink haired mate. The woman is still dressed in her preferred red Victorian style dress though she isn't wearing any kind of cloak or hood.
"Akasha." Issa says in greeting, lowering his arms to the top of his desk.
Stepping into the room Akasha closes the door behind her, striding to the opposite side of Issa's desk as her former mate.
"I am here to discuss our child." Akasha says simply, and Issa nods, suppressing a growl of anger.
"You're finally ready to expose the truth about what Moka has done?"
"I am prepared, and everything is ready."
"There's something else…" Issa begins with a sigh, and Akasha's jade green eyes look at him curiously.
"What is it Issa?" Akasha asks curtly.
Sighing Issa reaches for his laptop. Opening his e mail browser Issa clicks on the link in the message before he rotates the laptop around, showing Akasha the page as it loads. Issa doesn't say anything as Akasha watches the video, the pink haired woman silent as she watches it.
Standing there Akasha feels her gorge rise as Moka is violated on the video.
"What is this?" The Hades Lord growls at her herald, and Issa closes his eyes, leaning back in his chair.
"Apparently, that damnable dog ran his own internet porn service. Moka is his latest and might I add, last 'catch.' There's also another video of just the dog bragging about how much he enjoyed the feel of our daughter's body, and how good it felt to impregnate her."
Shaking her head Akasha can't help but feel disappointed in her daughter.
To think that Moka would do this…
"How did you learn about this?" Akasha asks authoritatively, and Issa sighs in resignation.
"It was brought to my attention by the Elder Council. They are all aware of Moka's indiscretion, and are going to hold an emergency meeting to discuss what we're going to do to punish our daughter for this. I've already called a doctor, he will arrive tomorrow to examine her, and if she's pregnant…"
Akasha knowingly nods, knowing full well what their laws say must be done in this situation.
They'll destroy the fetus if it's impure, and then we'll have to at least sterilize her, and then strip her of her position as heir to the title of Hades Lord.
"Summon her, it's time we ascertained the truth." Akasha growls at her mate, and Issa nods.
"As you wish."
XXX
Why do I feel this way…?
Kneeling over the toilet in her bathroom, Moka can feel her gorge rising. Leaning over the toilet Moka evacuates her stomach, vomiting into the toilet a wet, disgusting blob that tastes strongly of bile. Kneeling there Moka can still taste the bile in her mouth, the taste making her want to gag, again.
"Why me…?" Moka mutters to herself, trying to spit the taste of bile from her mouth.
KNOCK, KNOCK. The sound of someone knocking on Moka's bedroom door makes the debutant vampire stand up in shock. Looking toward the door to her bedroom Moka can feel the color drain from her face. She can't be seen like this, with puke in her toilet and looking so disheveled.
"Moka-sama, are you in here?" A maid's voice carries as she opens the door, poking her head into Moka's bedroom.
"I'm in the bathroom." Moka calls out to the maid, who stands in the doorway to the hall.
"You've been summoned to Akashiya-sama's study." The maid explains, and Moka closes her eyes, feeling dread form in her stomach.
"I'll be there." Moka says assuredly, and the maid on the other side of the door bows toward the door respectfully.
"Please excuse me Moka-sama." The maid says before stepping back out of the door frame, and closing the door behind her.
With the sound of the door closing Moka sighs, leaning against the sink in the bathroom. Looking at herself in the mirror the silver haired vampire looks like she feels, her hair is unkempt and there are dark circles around her eyes. She hasn't been sleeping well since she returned here. Though she would never admit it, both sides of Moka are very worried that Tsukune is going to leave her. Just the thought of Moka being alone again terrifies her, the memories of her time in middle school and high school before she had any friends coming back to her with haunting clarity.
Don't think about that now. Get cleaned up and go see what Father wants.
Nodding to herself Moka stands up straight, turning on the water and cupping her hands below the faucet. Filling her hands with water Moka splashes it on her face, the water mercifully pre-treated with herbs to make it harmless against her vampire skin. Sighing Moka dries her face and then flushes the toilet, removing the vile smelling vomit from the toilet before she walks out of the bathroom.
Walking into her bedroom Moka quickly changes from her nightgown, pulling on a pair of shorts and a shirt, forgoing a bra to save time as she looks herself over once more in the mirror above her dresser. Nodding to the proud silver haired woman standing there Moka is pleased that no hint of her worry about her mate is evident on her face, and she looks like what she is, a proud and strong vampire.
Walking out of her room Moka strides down the hall of the castle, heading straight for her father's study. Walking through the halls Moka is treated to the same respect and reverence that the family servants always show her. They all step aside for her and bow their heads in respect.
It isn't until she arrives at her father's study that Moka begins to suspect something is amiss.
Walking into the study she finds her father sitting behind his desk with his laptop open. Standing next to him, on this side of the desk is her mother, the both of them regarding her with open disgust.
What's this?
Stepping into the room confidently Moka ignores her mother, instead focusing on her father as she approaches the desk, dropping to one knee in supplication before him.
"Father, you wished to see me?" She says respectfully, and Issa just stares at her, smoldering anger in his dark eyes.
"Yes Moka, both your mother and I need to speak to you." Issa explains for her. "It has become our belief that you were lying to us when you told us that you only slept with that dog once. It is our belief that you repeatedly soiled yourself with his seed, and convinced your mate to lie for you."
Akasha puts her hands together, whispering arcane words the walls, ceiling and floor glow as arcane runes appear like graffiti. Looking at it all Moka takes an involuntary step back in surprise, not expecting the room to be placed under some sort of spell or seal. A second after the runes appear, both her mother and her father change, the color bleeds from their hair as it changes into a rich, pure silver, and their eyes become red, even though both of them are wearing their seals, the truth about what they are has been laid bare for anyone to see.
Seeing her mother in her true appearance Moka can remember the last time she saw her like that, when Alucard had swallowed her and Moka thought she had lost her forever. Seeing her father in his true form Moka is reminded of her childhood spent here, before her father began to regularly wear his seal.
"What is this?" Moka growled defensively, and her father stares at her neutrally, ignoring his daughter's surprised anger.
"You are aware of the Djinn's spell that they've cast over Azkarra?" Issa asks knowingly, and Moka blinks in surprise.
"You mean the spell that forces the truth out of anyone under its influence?" Moka asks, and Issa nods agreeably.
Tsukune had told her all about his trip with Ria to the Djinn's 'hidden world' and everything that happened there. He told her all about the truth spell and how Ria used it to get Tsukune to admit that he was sexually attracted to her and to try and tell her what race he was before Moka had turned him. Tsukune had expertly avoided the second question, but ultimately only delayed the inevitable.
"Why is this necessary?" Moka growls and Akasha sighs.
"Because we believe that you've intentionally allowed a werewolf to repeatedly sully your womb and break one of highest laws over and over again, in a foolish attempt to sire a half breed dog."
"That's ridiculous!" Moka growls in denial, and Akasha stares her daughter down evenly.
"We believe you have convinced your mate to lie for to cover your tracks and keep your shame secret and avoid any sort of punishment for doing something you know that you shouldn't have done."
Staring at her mother Moka crosses her arms over her chest, not backing down when faced with the leader of the Great Three Hades Lords.
"And what would Tsukune gain out of that arrangement?" Moka asks curiously, her arms still crossed over her chest.
"You will allow him to break your bond and release him from your human marriage." Issa explains, and Moka shakes her head in disgust.
"That's moronic, with that kind of information he would be able to blackmail me forever."
"Only until you're able to abort the baby and dispose of any residual evidence left of your indiscretion."
Moka sighs in disgust, shaking her head.
"You will answer our questions Moka." Akasha says absolutely, and Moka nods tiredly.
"Fine, as you wish." Moka relents with a weary sigh. "I've already spoken the truth, this spell won't change anything, but if this is what you want, then so be it."
"Humor us." Akasha says dryly, and Moka nods her agreement. "Did you or did you not invite a werewolf into the home you shared with your mate for the express purpose of having children?"
"Yes." Moka says with a weary sigh.
"Did you have sex with him and allow such an undeserving creature to sully your womb?"
Akasha continues, and Moka nods again.
"Yes, once." Moka says without a hint of trouble, her tone that she just wants to get this over with. "Tsukune beat him within an inch of his life after one time."
Nodding Akasha glances to Issa, who returns the gesture to his former mate, the both of them accepting the truth in her daughter's words.
"Did you or did not mean to turn Tsukune into a vampire when he changed?" Akasha asks, and Moka blinks in surprise, narrowing her eyes suspiciously toward her mother.
"I don't see what that has to do with anything." Moka growls and Akasha narrows her now red eyes.
"Answer the question Moka." Akasha growls threateningly, her silver hair fluttering behind her, and a sliver of her demonic aura creeping past her seal.
Moka swallows the saliva in her mouth, staring at the Hades Lord and feeling just a fraction of her Shinso power Moka quickly looks away in fear.
"Fine…" Moka agrees reluctantly, and Akasha's hair falls to her back, her demonic aura pulling back into her body behind her seal.
"Now…" Akasha begins again. "Did you or did you not mean to turn Tsukune into a vampire when you did?"
"No." Moka says with a shake of her head. "I only wanted to save his life."
"Did you want him to be a vampire eventually?" Akasha continues inquisitively.
Moka opens her mouth to say 'yes' when something happens. Her mouth moves on its own, her words spilling out without any thought on her part.
"At the time I didn't want him to be a vampire. All he was to me was a distraction for my seal personality." Moka blurts out, and she blinks in surprise.
She hadn't meant to say that…
Nodding Akasha accepts her daughter's statement as truth, just as she realizes that her daughter thought to lie about answering that question, and the spell did what it's supposed to and forced the truth out of her.
"Were it not for your other self, would you have even cared for him during your time together in Youkai Academy?" Akasha continues.
Moka opens her mouth to say yes, but her mouth moves on its own again.
"No, he would've been nothing more than a juice box for me to snack on, nothing more."
Again Moka blinks in surprise when she finishes talking, and both Akasha and Issa share a knowing look.
"Do you feel that you made a mistake when you brought Gin into your home and had sex with him and allowed him to defile you?" Issa asks, and Moka thinks about saying yes, but after what just happened Moka resigns herself to the truth.
"No." She answers solemnly, and both her parents just nod.
"If you were in the same situation, would you do it again?" Issa asks, and again Moka contemplates lying but doesn't try to speak, instead she simply speaks the truth.
"Yes, I would do what I did again, to show my mate his proper place." Moka answers him.
Again her parents look at one another, and Akasha is the next to speak.
"Will you apologize to him if it is the only way you can remain bound?"
"No." Moka says with a shake of her head. "My pride will never let me apologize when I have done nothing wrong."
Neither of her parents say anything about what she just said, Issa just files the information away, and Akasha just ignores the statement.
"What is more important to you Moka, your pride or your mate?" Akasha asks, and Moka doesn't hesitate to answer. She opens her mouth to say 'Tsukune, but her mouth moves again, the truth spilling out of her like a faucet that can't be closed.
"My pride." Moka answers quickly. "I can live without Tsukune, my pride is the most important thing to me I will never relinquish it."
Moka closes her mouth, not believing what she just said.
"I thought as much." Akasha says with resignation.
"Something is wrong." Moka tries to deny. "I didn't mean to say that!"
"That is the nature of the spell Moka. It works to force the truth out of anyone it's placed on. What you just said is how you truly feel. After hearing that, I can no longer allow you to be mated to Tsukune."
Not that you'll be allowed to take another mate again… Akasha thinks to herself.
"You can't do that!" Moka blurts out, not thinking about what she's saying, panic filling her. "What about my father? He slept around and was never faithful to you!"
"Our bond was broken years ago Moka." Akasha retorts casually, picking apart Moka's argument in a blasé manner. "And your father has never been stupid enough to conceive a half breed child, as you have."
Her face falling in disbelief Moka just stares at her mother.
"I love Tsukune Mother." Moka admits, and Akasha doesn't flinch.
"You just love your pride more."
Moka closes her mouth and looks away, guilt playing across her face in spades.
"How do you think he would feel if he heard you say that Moka?" Akasha continues, and Moka
closes her eyes, knowing exactly how Tsukune would feel about it.
"He would be deeply offended and pushed even further away from me than he already is."
"What is pride compared to any eternity alone my daughter?" Akasha asks rhetorically.
Moka looked down, and shook her head 'I am truly sorry Tsukune... If this child is truly yours somehow, I will apologize...' She whispers silently to herself, but the enhanced senses of the vampires can easily pick up on her small comment.
Akasha smiles inwardly to herself, that her pride is not more to her than an eternity alone, she had gone through something that felt like an eternity alone in Alucard.
Issa noted this, but kept it to himself
"Are you pregnant now Moka?" Akasha asks ruthlessly, and it suddenly occurs to her that her recent donation to the porcelain god just might be her first bout of morning sickness…
No…I CAN'T be pregnant! Not with Gin's child…
The pink haired Moka is silent at question, the thought already occurring to her over a week ago that they could very well have Gin's child growing inside their body. Her other self though, the one
standing before her mother and father, would never accept the idea, it 'wasn't possible.'
"I…I don't know…but I woke up not too long ago and I was sick to my stomach…"
Hearing her daughter admit to that, Akasha makes her decision.
"I Bloodriver Akasha, Hades Lord of all Vampires do hereby declare the bond between Aono Tsukune and Akashiya Moka absolved." Akasha declares with finality.
Glaring at her mother Moka points a finger accusingly at the Hades Lord.
"You're only doing this to try and be with him!" Moka snaps accusingly. "You see everything you want in him and you're abusing your position as Lord to get what you want!"
Immediately Moka regrets saying what she did, and the look that her mother sends her way could freeze napalm.
"You are my daughter Moka." Akasha growls in anger, stepping toward her. "Because no one else would live after speaking to me like that!"
Stopping in front of her Akasha slaps her daughter, knocking the debutant vampiress to the ground, Akasha's red eyes glower down at Moka in barely restrained rage and for some odd reason Moka is reminded of Tsukune on that horrible night. When he looked at her with his seal removed before he hit Gin.
"Know your place!" Akasha growls at her in disgust. "You are nothing but a spoiled child who knows nothing of the value of another vampire! Your mate is not a creature you order around and punish like a servant! A mate is someone you hold sacred and above all others."
On her side, her one hand on the floor Moka pushes herself up to a sitting position, completely shocked that her mother would dare to put her hands on her.
"I know all of that Mother." Moka grounds back at her.
"Then how could you choose to sleep with a pathetic dog over your mate?"
"Because I didn't want our children to go through the hatred and ridicule I had to feel up until father enrolled me in Youkai academy!" She screamed truthfully, tears forming in the corner of her eyes, but not wanting to show weakness in front of her parents.
"There's something else…" Issa begins, and looks at Akasha.
Akasha looks back at her former mate, and shakes her head in a disaffirming motion 'Save her this shame for now. She has shown improvement.' Akasha mouthed to her former mate.
Issa nods, and stores his laptop in his desk once again, and looks back at Moka.
"If that is true, there maybe a chance for you yet." Issa states planly, and Akasha smiles at this.
"Summon servants." Akasha says in a no nonsense tone of voice as the writing on the walls fade, the pink coming back to her hair, the jade returning to her eyes, Issa returning to his human form as well.
Nodding Issa presses a button on his desk and less than a minute later the doors to the study open and two women step inside.
"Take her back to her room." Akasha orders the maids, pulling Moka away from the desk and toward the two women standing near the door.
"Escort her back to her room" Akasha continues; speaking to the maids and ignoring her daughter held between them. "I'll accompany you to ensure that she doesn't do anything."
The maids both nod their heads in agreement, pulling Moka toward the door while the debutant vampiress' slitted red eyes are blank and lifeless as she is literally dragged away to be locked into her room. Following the maids Akasha closes the door to Issa's study behind her. Outside the room, Akasha cannot miss Ria standing right next to the door, the woman no doubt listening to the entire conversation. Looking at the eldest daughter of her former mate Akasha does not miss the smug, satisfied smirk on Ria's face.
"You heard everything." Akasha says blandly, more statement then question.
Ria still nods her head in affirmation.
"Of course Akasha-sama. I am Father's shield and sword."
"You will continue to remain uninvolved in both Moka and Tsukune's life Ria." Akasha says crossly, her words a stern warning to the eldest daughter of Shuzen Akashiya Issa.
"If I may ask, who will take dear Tsukune's hand in bond now that he and my dear younger sister are separated?" Ria asks innocently, and Akasha narrows her eyes.
"That matter is not your concern." Akasha remarks sharply.
"You don't intend on mating with him, do you Akasha-sama?" Ria asks inquisitively, raising an eyebrow in questioning.
"If he seeks me out, I would consider courting him." Akasha remarks matter of factly. "As I'm sure you would as well."
"I really wish I knew where dear Tsukune was. I would love to deliver this news in person to him."
"I will be the one to tell him." Akasha snaps at her. "You should only concern yourself with matters that pertain to you."
"Of course, Akasha-sama." Ria says in supplication before Akasha strides away from Issa's eldest daughter.
Akasha follows after the pair of maids as they carry Moka through the halls of the castle to her room. Following them Moka doesn't move, just hangs between the two women limply as they carry her to her bedroom. Nearing Moka's bedroom door Akasha walks around the two maids, opening the door for the maids so they can carry Moka uninterrupted into the room.
"Put her on the bed." Akasha orders the maids, who comply, gently lying Moka down on her bed on her back, the debutant vampiress just staring up at the ceiling with unseeing eyes.
With Moka on her bed the maids excuse themselves, and Akasha remains, looking at her once proud daughter just lying on her bed, the only difference between her and a corpse the slow rise and fall of her stomach to show that she's breathing. Striding to the bed Akasha stops at the head of the bed, looking into her daughter's eyes, knowing that her daughter is still there, still aware of everything that's going on.
"A doctor will be here tomorrow to examine you." Akasha informs her. "We are going to learn for sure whether or not you have a half breed child growing in your womb."
XXX
"And in local news a local man has been deemed the victim of a tragic accident." A male reporter calmly explains on the evening news. "Twenty-three year old Morinoka Ginei was killed earlier today when his apartment was destroyed in a tragic explosion. Police are claiming that a faulty gas line caused the apartment to fill with natural gas while Ginei was asleep. According to police reports the refrigerator's compressor clicking on caused the spark that ignited the gas which consumed his apartment and the young man. According to sources who wish to remain anonymous, the young Ginei allegedly ran a web site that was centered on his sexual conquests. He would allegedly film local women having sex with him in his apartment and post the videos on the internet and charge people a fee to view them. Also according to these same sources he would allegedly participate in illegal unsanctioned bare knuckle boxing matches and video and post them as well. While this reporter cannot confirm or deny any of these allegations, I can say for sure that this is a great tragedy, a young life snuffed out in its prime…"
Turning off the TV in the den of her home Aono Kasumi sighs as she stands up. She's dressed in a nightgown, the house relatively empty with just her and her husband Aono Taka living here. Stretching she can't help but think about her son after hearing about that story. Tsukune is twenty-two and it would kill her to think that he was involved in some horrible accident and died.
The last time she spoke with his wife, Moka told her that she and Tsukune had a fight, and that Moka had given him time and space to think but Kasumi has been unable to get in contact with him since. She's called his cell phone numerous times but every time it's gone straight to voicemail and Kasumi doesn't have it in her to leave a voicemail that he might never hear.
BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP.
The ring of the phone nearly makes Aono Kasumi jump through the roof. Her husband is upstairs in the bathroom getting ready for bed. Walking to the phone Kasumi picks the handset up, bringing the phone to her ear.
"Aono residence." She answers politely.
"…Okaa-san…? It's Tsukune." Her son's voice comes through the speaker with palpable hesitation.
At the sound of his voice relief floods through Aono Kasumi like a dam breaking. The feeling washes over her, and she can't help but smile at the sound of his voice. To know that he's at least alive and able to speak when she hasn't heard from him in over two weeks is an immense relief. Like all loving mothers would be Kasumi has been worried sick about her child, afraid that something had happened to him and that the fight he had with his wife was much more serious then Moka let on. Her husband Taka had told her to relax, that Tsukune is a grown man and he's more than capable of taking care of himself and he was just probably busy and forgot to charge his phone. He'd told her that her hair would start to fall out if she didn't stop worrying, and while Kasumi had known her husband had meant well, tried to assure her and even ease her tension with a little humor, she would've gladly gone bald if it meant knowing her child was safe and well.
"Tsukune! I'm so glad to hear from you!" Kasumi gushes, a million questions popping up in her mind. "Are you OK? Moka told me that you and she had a fight, what happened?"
On the other end of the line Tsukune sighs, sitting on the edge of his bed with his phone pressed to his ear Kurumu sits next to him silently.
"I'm leaving Moka Okaa-san." Tsukune explains for her, his tone a detached, Zen-like calm.
He's leaving her?
"What happened Tsukune?" Kasumi blurts out again.
"She cheated on me with one of my friends, while I was in the next room." Tsukune says simply, and Kasumi's face falls in shock.
She slept around on him? Right in front of him?
"Why Tsukune?" Kasumi asks incredulously.
Tsukune forces himself to think about it, to tell his mother the truth about things, in spite of
Kurumu's hypnotic suggestion fighting him tooth and nail not to.
"We had an argument about how our children should be raised, and she threatened to get children from someone else if I didn't yield. I didn't, so she did." Tsukune pushes the words past his lips.
Shaking her head Kasumi finds it hard to believe that Tsukune's sweet, pink haired wife would do something like that, but after what she said when Kasumi spoke to her Tsukune's mother is more inclined to believe her son than whatever impression she may've had about a girl that in truth, she hardly knew.
"I'm sorry Tsukune. Are you going to come home? You're always welcome here."
"Actually, I'm staying with a friend right now, so I won't be coming home, at least, not for a while." Tsukune explains for her. "I just wanted to call you and let you know that I'm all right and not to worry."
"Is…Is this going to affect your father's position Tsukune?" Kasumi asks in a small voice, her guilt like a lump of lead in her stomach.
"No, dad isn't going to get fired because of this." Tsukune assures her. "Her family considers me to be one of their own, and even if Moka and I get separated they won't leave me be."
"Do you want to talk about it Tsukune?" Kasumi asks gently, and Tsukune shakes his head, in spite of the fact that Kasumi can't see it.
"No Okaa-san, I don't really want to talk about it. Just know that I'm OK and I'll call you in a week or so and let you know what I'm going to do."
"OK Tsukune. I'll talk to you in a week."
XXX
Closing the phone in his hand Tsukune looks down at it a moment, Kurumu's eyes resting on him the entire time he talked to his mom. Looking at him she can tell that he wants to tell his mother more, to explain the full truth to her and tell her everything, but he knows that if he dared to do that it would only make things worse. Even if his parents believed him and agreed to keep things quiet, the moment Moka's family found out about him telling them the truth they would kill every member of his family just to ensure that the truth doesn't get out.
"Are you going to go back home Tsukune?" Kurumu asks him, breaking the silence between them.
After Tsukune had woken up because of his dream Tsukune had been unable to get back to sleep, and Kurumu wasn't really tired. She sat with him on his bed and enjoyed his company, the two of them just sitting in silence for a while until Tsukune remembered that he hadn't spoken to his parents since the incident, and decided to call them.
"Maybe…" The young Aono says with a shrug, leaning back and lying across his bed, his legs hanging off the edge at his knees. "After everything that's happened I just want to get away though, and I've honestly been thinking about moving here and getting a transfer to the offices here. I'm sure if I ask Issa he'll get everything taken care of."
Kurumu looks at him with fragile hope in her azure eyes, a part of her wanting nothing more then for that to happen, for Tsukune to move here to be with her and finally accept her as her destined one.
"Are you going to do that Tsukune?" Kurumu asks, and he glances at her and then up to the ceiling, a far away look coming to his eyes.
"I'll probably go back long enough to file for a divorce. Once my vampire bond with her is absolved I'll have the human marriage taken care of. When I'm legally separated from her then I'll move here. I think it will be good just to get out of Japan for a while, and see what it's like to live here."
Kurumu's eyes fall to the sheets of the bed, her shoulders sagging in disappointment. She knows that divorces never go smoothly, and can normally take months or even a year to be finalized and both spouses 'legally' separated. After spending all this time with her destined one and finally experiencing what she's been missing all her life, Kurumu doesn't want Tsukune to disappear to Japan for a single day, much less months or even a year.
"You could file for divorce here Tsukune." Kurumu reminds him. "You'd have to get a green card or some kind of citizenship, but once that's out of the way you should have no problem filing here and you wouldn't have to go back to Japan to deal with the divorce."
"I suppose." Tsukune agrees with a shrug.
Feeling a burst of hope Kurumu opens her mouth to say something more when the door opens, the sound of her aunt's voice shattering whatever mood may've developed between the busty blue-nette and her destined one.
"Tsu-ku-ne…" Shade purrs his name as she steps into his room, her mismatched eyes taking in the fact that Tsukune and her niece are sharing a bed.
Sitting up Tsukune narrows his eyes at Kurumu's aunt, the memory of what she and her sister did to him the night before while Kurumu performed fresh in his memory.
"Yes, Shade-san?" Tsukune asks frostily.
"Someone just came to see you Tsukune." Shade informs him, her fingernail traveling up her long, silky smooth leg, the nail catching the bottom of her skirt and pulling it up, revealing the bottom of a skimpy black thong.
Immediately Tsukune looks away from her, not wanting to look at Shade's unmentionables.
"Did they say who they were?" Tsukune asks curiously, and Shade pulls her finger from her skirt, letting it fall before she puts her finger to her lip, looking at him with a sultry yet somehow thoughtful look on her face.
"She didn't say who she was." She says with a shrug, her double D breasts threatening to pop out of her dress with the motion. "It's a woman with pink hair and a really monstrous aura about her."
Tsukune blinks in surprise, his thoughts immediately focusing on his wife when he hears
Shade's description.
How does Moka know where I am? I thought Akasha wasn't going to tell her where I've been living?
Looking at Kurumu Tsukune's guilt at the prospect of going to see his wife is clear in his chocolate eyes.
"I need to go talk to her." Tsukune says as he pushes himself to his feet. "Alone."
"Are you sure Tsukune?" Kurumu asks, getting to her own feet, watching as Tsukune grabs a shirt from the floor and pulls it on, slipping his feet into his shoes. "I can come with you if you think you'll need help."
Tsukune smiles appreciatively at Kurumu's concern for him.
"I'll be OK Kurumu-chan. I'm just going to go tell her that I don't want anything to do with her and show her out."
"OK Tsukune…" Kurumu hesitantly agrees, and Shade watches him the entire time.
"Sure you don't want some company to tell your wife off Tsukune?" Shade offers her assistance.
"I'm quite good when it comes to dealing with a jealous spouse."
Tsukune shakes his head again, chuckling humorlessly.
"That's all right Shade-san. I'll be fine." Tsukune assures her before he steps out of the room.
Walking downstairs Tsukune opens the door to the now quiet club and catches his first whiff of the visitor's scent. The scent coming from the visitor is not his wife's but rather her mother. Standing in front of him, dressed in her normal red Victorian style dress Bloodriver Akasha smiles at the sight of her daughter's former mate. Tsukune is dressed simply, and she's glad to see that he looks to be in relatively high spirits, in spite of everything that's happened to him.
Dropping to one knee Tsukune lowers his head humbly before the Hades Lord.
XXX
Standing in the stairwell Kurumu and Shade both stand near the door, peeking through a crack between the door and the frame.
"Akasha-sama." Tsukune greets the woman from one knee, his head lowered in supplication.
Akasha? Who the hell is Akasha, and why does she look so much like Moka?
Kurumu keeps her thoughts to herself, glancing to her aunt in a desperate search for answers, but Shade's eyes are forward, absorbed in the scene playing out before her in her club.
"Rise Tsukune." Akasha says with an upward wave of her hand, and Tsukune stands up straight, his arms at his sides, his hands balled into fists.
Looking at him Akasha can see the question in his eyes and on his lips, the Hades Lord opening her mouth and beating him to the proverbial punch.
"I am here to inform you that your bond with my daughter, Akashiya Moka has been absolved, just as you requested."