Rosario + the Council
They were all told to report to class in the morning. Ruby was to report to the main office. Instead of going into the dorm, Tsukune called his mother to tell her they were back at Yokai Academy. He didn't tell her he was going to be expelled since she sounded so happy that he was back in school.
Tsukune wandered back out by the graveyard. He was sure tomorrow would be their last day here. They would all by sent back home. He'd never see Moka, or any of them ever again. That thought made him feel hollow.
"Tsukune."
Tsukune looked to see Mizore step out from behind a tree. "Hey, Mizore." he said in a dull tone. He looked but didn't see Moka, Yukari or Kurumu anywhere.
Mizore walked over to him. "Who did this to us?" she asked.
Tsukune knew what she meant. He told her about getting pulled out of class, and Moka's father demanding he get rid to the statue and straighten the 'situation' out.
Mizore listened thoughtfully. They stood silently for a moment, then Mizore said, "He must have let everyone see what we did. My thought is that if he gets us all expelled, then he can ensure Moka ends up with you, with no interference."
Tsukune let out a snort and said, "Mizore, he doesn't even like me. Maybe this is his way of getting rid of me," he told her.
"It won't work," Mizore said. "Even if I'm expelled, I know where you live. So do the others. Kurumu or Yukari would most likely get there first. If I'm lucky, I would get to your house before Moka. There has to be another reason."
"Like what?" Tsukune asked. Flailing his arms to the sides he said, "We're finished here. Stick a fork in us, we're DONE! He made very sure we broke enough rules to leave out any question of guilt! Do you think anyone will listen if we say Great Lord Shuzen set up the whole thing? Don't you think he, and everyone in the whole school knows by now that I am human?"
"But why?" Mizore asked.
"WHO CARES WHY?" Tsukune cried in frustration. "He wants us split up and gone, and we will be."
Tears came to Tsukune's eyes as he said, "I'm never going to see any of you again. The best friends I ever had..."
Mizore drew Tsukune into a hug. "Not true," she said with a sniffle in her voice. "I told you, I will always come to you, and I am sure Moka, Kurumu and Yukari will also. Tsukune, you're not going to be alone. No matter what. We won't let that happen to you."
"Thank you," he said and returned her hug.
Pulling back, Mizore said, "We have to fight this, Tsukune. We have never backed down from a fight. There is no reason to give up now."
Seeing the determination in her eyes, Tsukune nodded. "You're right. Even if we loose, we have to fight this. Where are the others?"
"Crying. I'll go get them. Find Gin and meet us in the club room. We have a special paper to put out."
"Right," Tsukune agreed. He plucked the lollipop out of Mizore's mouth and kissed her, which brought a smile to Mizore's face as she blushed. He put her lollipop back in her mouth and said, "Let's show them we won't take this lying down."
.
In the dark night, only one set of lights was burning at Yokai Academy. Inside the newspaper club room, the club was busy. On the blackboard, the facts were written out and arraigned. The press was pumping out sheets that were being proofed, then assembled into papers. The headlines on the front page read : Why would a Great Lord set up students for a fall?
In their editing session, it was agreed that the Great Lord's name shouldn't be revealed. Thru witnesses and what they had seen for themselves, the student body could put the details together. The paper club worked together with no flirting or fighting, everyone focused on task at hand.
By morning they had the stacks of papers ready for delivery. Each grabbing a stack, they left to go distribute their side of the story. Ruby wasn't at her station by the gates. Still, the whole club was there to greet students and ensure every one had a paper in hand as they came through the gates.
Tsukune handed out each of his papers saying, "Please take one, this is important." In his handing out, he went to hand a paper to a figure coming up beside him. "Please..." he froze as he saw who was under the gray cloak.
Issa snapped the paper from Tsukune's hand. He scanned the front page. "Nothing but truth here I assume, for your sake," he intoned.
Tsukune stiffened himself. "Nothing but truth, sir," he replied firmly.
Issa folded up his paper, tucked it in his cloak and went through the gates.
Tsukune watched him go. It was like no one else was even paying attention to Lord Shuzen. Even Moka hadn't seemed to notice her father walk past her. Lord Shuzen wasn't upset by the paper as Tsukune figured he would be. Was this part of his plan also?
Not long after the last people trickled in the gates, an announcement came over the PA system. "The following students report to the main office. Aono Tsukune, Akashiya Moka, Kurono Kurumu, Shirayuki Mizore, Sendo Yukari."
All the girls looked at Tsukune. Feeling he had to say something, he said, "Let's do our best."
.
Inside the director's office, three desks were now set up, one cloaked figure behind each desk sat regarding Tsukune and the girls as they filed in and stood in a line facing them. The air was full of tension. Tsukune's skin pimpled as he felt the radiated power of all three Dark Lords.
The middle figure pulled a newspaper out and dropped it on the desk in front of him. "Miss Akashiya, Look at this," he said.
Moka tensed and took a step forward.
"Wait. Remove that rosary," her father said from the left side.
Moka turned to Tsukune. Tsukune pulled the rosary off. Moka transformed, her curves became more pronounced and her hair washed out to it's silver color. She went over to the desk and picked the paper up and looked at the front page. "Human news, I'm on the first page," she said tonelessly.
"And what does it say about you?" the middle figure asked.
"I led the rescue of a local boy who was being held hostage, Aono Tsukune. It tells of eye witness reports of incredible events, news broadcasts showing those events, and speculates if vampires are real. Farther down, it tells of a news person talking to Yanaka Toshio, who transformed into a lizard creature in front of the cameras. It also says he has been living in the city for fifteen years, and is a respected local businessman who owns a flower shop." Moka explained.
Moka tossed the paper back down. Scanning the men, she settled her eyes on her father and asked, "What is the real reaason behind this?"
The figure on the right said, "We have worked hard to sustain a world where monsters of all kinds can continue to live. Yokai Academy has done much toward that goal. For monsters to have a chance at real lives outside the protective barriers, we need to know how humans would react to monsters in their presence. Lord Shuzen accepted the task to find out that very thing."
Moka eyed her father. "Why not just tell me what you wanted?"
"We needed an honest response from monsters and humans alike. An event that would draw attention," Lord Shuzen explained. "I needed to know if you, or anyone would think a human was worth risking yourselves for. I had to know what will happen when humans meet monsters face to face. You have done your part well, Moka. Now we will see what comes of this experiment."
The figure in the middle said, "It took much time and effort to get Aono Tsukune into this school. We have watched him, and those monsters around him carefully. Now, this experiment is moving forward. Humans know monsters are real."
Listening to them, Tsukune couldn't help but say, "But, my father found the application to Yokai academy on the street, by accident!"
"If you think that, young man, then you are a fool," Lord Shuzen stated.
"All this was arraigned?" Tsukune asked in surprise.
"The circumstances were arraigned. What you have done with them, is all your own doing."
"What becomes of us now?" Moka asked.
"Return to class. You part in this is done for the moment."
"Are we expelled?" Mizore asked in her even tone.
The middle figure gave a sinister chuckle and said, "Since you have performed well, Miss Shirayuki, you may all return to class."
"You could have told us," Kurumu said indignantly.
"What about Ruby?" Tsukune asked. "Ruby isn't in trouble, is she?"
"Miss Toujo has been given a task outside this school." the middle figure said. He then motioned to the door and said, "Dismissed."
.
Classes had started. Tsukune entered the classroom very apprehensive on how he would be received. Moka and Kurumu bracketed him, also nervous about reactions from their classmates. Behind them, Yukari was set to drop brass pans on anyone who made a move on Tsukune. Mizore waked in ahead, ready to freeze the first monster who came too close.
In the front of the room, Miss Nekonome paused in her lesson at the blackboard. "Welcome back. Please take your seats, meow."
The entire class turned to watch them come in. One of the girls got up and thrust a fist in the air. "Our hero, Moka-san!" she cried. Her cry was echoed through the classroom.
"So brave, so MONSTROUS!" a boy yelled as he transformed into a green skinned, three eyed creature.
"We saw everything, weren't you scared being surrounded by all those humans?" a girl asked.
"Nothing frightens an S-class supermonster!" another boy announced.
"Class... Class!" Miss Nekonome called, but was drowned out by the din of excitement from the students.
"You rescued our Aono-san!"
"I saw what happened and read your paper, you are so awesome, Moka-san!"
"No one messes with our Yokai!"
"Welcome back, Tsukune-san."
"You were incredible, Kurumu-san!"
"So what happened? None of you got kicked out of school, did you?"
"Yeah, if they kick you out, we'll ALL leave!"
"Right!" the entire class boomed.
Tsukune was stunned. They knew everything, and yet they were welcoming him back. He did realize that they still thought he was a Yokai. That was probably for the best.
Hands on her hips, Kurumu cast them a sly grin and announced, "We were part of a secret plan by the council." Turning sideways, she winked and said, "They wanted the BEST and prettiest monsters to go on this super-important mission. Sorry we could not tell you about it."
The boys roared with approval. "MEOW! Class... CLASS!" Miss Nekonome yelled as she tried to get her students under control.
