Chapter 25
I'll Be Missing You (pt. 2)
The monster bat, Ko watched from the sidelines with worry as his master trained like a possessed beast in the combat room since morning, going well into dusk without a single second of rest, assaulting her body with a torturous regimen that tore through clothing and brought out bleeding sores, for even a vampire's body has its limits. Indeed, their bodies, as perfect as they themselves perceived them, was far from everlasting aside from being tougher. However, over the years, Kokoa has endured herself through pain few her age would have been acquainted with, thanks in no part to a certain individual.
Seven years ago...
Kokoa was forced against her will to attend P.E. with the other girls of the first year class, though she would hardly lump these weak girls within her class. The game, dodge ball, and as head captain her team jostled with their rival team across from each other as they chucked hard volleyballs at one another. Many were hit brutally while others tried dodging them, and during this intense activity their tiny bloomer shorts kept getting bunched up, as well their regulatory white T-shirts becoming soaked with sweat. Indeed, they would have been a sight for horny eyes if any guy was present, watching them, but fortunately for them the gym was closed off to onlookers and perverts alike; that is all except one who had managed to drill a small peep hole from underneath the floorboards and had an ant's eyed view of the action. There was one in particular his lustful eye homed in on, who straddled over the peep hole unawares, too caught up in eager anticipation of the ball, her glistening legs directing his eye up toward her sweaty crotch, in which his superior sense of smell brought him untold delight. Kokoa, however was oblivious to his presence as she was only concerned with catching the ball and severely hammering it into another hapless, weak fool. She crouched ready, her mind keen, hands on her knees as green eyes trained intensely on the opponent just like father had trained, for nothing else mattered than your opponent. The other girl whom caught her eye was a cocky orc in the guise of a tall, raven haired girl with olive skin and a sporty body; she appeared to be very athletic and Kokoa viewed her as an adversary worthy enough to train upon. Their eyes locked for she too was anxious to smash the ball square into the vampire's face and as the game grew more heated, Kokoa could feel a slight rise in this girl's demonic aura, which excited her the way battle lust would excite any warrior. Beneath her, a different kind of lust had gripped her admirer as he noticed what this physical intensity was doing to her body. The girl wound up the ball, putting as much energy into it as she could and launches it at Kokoa, who poised ready, caught the ball with a slight grunt, the force of impact causing her to slide back just a little, but otherwise unhurt.
"IS THAT THE BEST YOU GOT!?" Kokoa yelled back in defiance and battle ready, rears back to return the ball with every intention of leveling her head with it, but in her zest she loses her footing and falls into a split, causing the ball to soar rather weakly towards her target. "Damn it!"
"Tee-hee!" She heard someone giggle, and it was then that she felt underneath her a hole. She peers under her crotch, which felt like it had slipped through some crack and discovers to her dismay that there was a hole, with someone's eye peering back.
"What the...?" She mouthed.
"HEY VAMPIRE!" She heard the other girl yell, and looks up late to see the ball soaring towards her, followed by a blinding white light.
Now...
"EeeeeeaaAAAHH!" Kokoa roared as she drove a battle axe straight into a wall so hard it caused a sizeable fissure to form.
Undaunted, she rips the weapon out in a single breath and wheels around to swing it again, this time nearly taking her sister Kahlua's head off.
"Whoa!" She yelled, luckily catching the blade in between her fingers. "Sister, that isn't how you swing an axe. If you wanted to train, then all you had to do was come ask me, I would have..."
She looks at her younger sister, who was so sweaty that her face looked as if it was made of wax and melting. The growl that escaped Kokoa's lips as she bared her fangs at her, fangs that were partially strewn with loose strands of her soaked, red hair that matted itself almost her entire head, while muscles rippled underneath all that was left of a black, corset dress worried even Kahlua.
"Sister, is everything okay?"
"What do you want?" Kokoa asked, her voice menacing and disconcerting, as she rips the axe from her sister's grip with little difficulty.
"I just...wanted to see what you were doing, is all."
Kokoa goes to dry her face off, barely considering her sister's presence, and prepares to leave
"Where are you going?" Kahlua asked.
"To do my job, what's it to you?"
"Well, I thought you should know that some people were coming. I don't know who they are, and since big sis isn't around, I thought you'd..."
"Fine, I'll go down and take them to father."
"Would you like any help?" Kahlua asked with a friendly smile, to which Kokoa simply replies:
"Do whatever you want."
The bat looked on sadly, but relieved to see that Kahlua finally stopped her from abusing herself, and yet for all the power she possessed underneath, she couldn't detect something very important to him: that Kokoa was deteriorating from within and it seemed oblivious to all.
They came at sunset; not one by one as would be expected, but in a long procession of black cars and limousines, as though this was some important party they would have been loathed to miss. However, this undoubtedly a trial wherein the sire of their lord would be placed before them and judged, and it was something the vampire council appeared to be eager in witnessing. Kokoa and Kahlua stood on opposite ends of the stairway's landing, while Akasha stood by the opened doorway looking out at their approaching guests, which she could not only identify by sight, but their scent in the chilly evening breeze that preceded each one like an ill omen, and amongst them were familiar foes who stood to gain from this misery. Issa Shuzen had his frenemies in the ruling council, amongst them a wizened old, eastern European vampire who went by the name of Barron Teppes. This decrepit old pervert was the first to emerge and who, as he stepped out of his white, stretched limo with tinted windows had in tow with him an elegant looking, blonde mistress wearing a very revealing, green sea-foam gown comfortably hugged her curvaceous and lily white frame; by all appearances it looked like they were attending a fancy ball. Regardless, Akasha knew that as lecherous he was, even Teppes regarded her with some respect despite not being a council member herself, for it was not he she worried about. She, too had her share of enemies amongst the council, including one in particular who had eyed Issa first to be a love interest, for political gain, but had lost her and whose shiny black limo came quickly up behind Teppes now; a British vampire by the name of Maria Bruensted.
Why her? She wondered to herself, recognizing her car and smelling her familiar, pungent scent of cigarette smoke and roses that was this vampire's signature aroma.
"Is there someone amongst this throng that troubles you?" Mikogami asked, standing by her side to offer her support.
"You might say that," she replied, her hopes of their daughter getting some manner of reprieve effectively going out the window.
"The hour is late, my lady!" The decrepit old vampire, Teppes greeted first. "And yet you still look as lovely as when you first graced our presence. How have you been?"
"Charming as always, Barron," Akasha greeted in kind, momentarily distracted from her approaching rival as the two embraced one another. "You've met my friend, Mikogami?"
"Ah yes, the priest who runs that little school. Tell me, are you in good with that Tohofuhai character?"
"I am," Mikogami replies.
"Excellent, because I am in need of some more of that...hen-tai? I think that's what it's called; anyway, I was wondering if he had anymore school girls and octopus monster stories? My Helena and I enjoy it, and she likes it when we act out some of the scenes, don't you Helena?"
"Yes dear," his escort replies, tenderly.
"Akasha, have you met my newest acquisition? Akasha Bloodriver, I'd like you to meet my mistress, the ever lovely Helena, maiden of the elven race."
"It is an honor to meet you, kind lady of the house," Helena greeted with a modest curtsey.
"The honor is all mine," Akasha reciprocated. "The Baron speaks very highly of you."
"As well he should, no woman has treated him with the respect he deserves, isn't that right my love?"
"Indeed," he replies with a loving smile and amorous gaze upon his woman. "An elegant people those elves, and highly sensual. Isn't that right, my dear?"
"Yes dear," she said with a happy smile.
"I didn't think you would be bringing her here for this," said Akasha.
"I never leave home without her, she keeps me company; and besides, we have sex in the car," the Barron whispers, lightly pinching Helena's buttocks, who lets out a slight squeal. "You like it when I sex you up in the car don't you?"
"Yes dear!" She giggled.
"Don't mind him, he always treats these hearings like a frat party, especially since getting her," said a woman with blood red hair stepping up behind him, someone who made Akasha's blood turn cold. "Give it up, old man, it doesn't matter how much younger they get, they can't make you any younger than you are, now."
"Greetings Maria," Akasha tried to cordially greet, but her best smile couldn't hide the disdain she felt in her mouth. "May I have Kokoa or Kahlua escort you to a guest room?"
"Please, dispense with the pleasantries, concubine," Maria responded, "I haven't the stomach for it, especially now. Looking at your pink head is reminding me of vomit after what I've discovered."
"Then, might I ask why are you here? I wasn't aware there was going to be any hearing today."
"Why, if it isn't Maria Bruensted!" Gyokuro called from the staircase and eagerly goes up to hug the young woman. "And, how is my dear friend doing? We haven't talked in ages!"
"Not since the lord of the manner went and knocked up his whore," Maria said. "The consequences of which have finally come home to roost."
"Excuse me!" Akasha intervened.
"Speak of the devil," Gyokuro whispered.
"If this hearing has anything to do with my daughter, then I'd like to know about it. I wasn't aware she had done anything that you would warrant your attention."
"Honestly, Gyokuro do you let this trash speak openly to all your guests?" Maria asked.
"You'd do well to treat me with respect!" Akasha threatened.
"Ladies, ladies, please," Barron Teppes intervened. "I just had sex in the car, I'm all tapped out. But, Helena doesn't mind, does she?"
"No dear," she replied.
"Hm, brash and stupid!" Maria challenged.
"The only stupid one I see is you," Akasha argued.
"I have been dealing with that one for years, but as for her daughter...well, I'm not allowed to say," said Gyokuro.
"No need; that is why we're here."
Akasha looks at Mikogami, confused and then back at Maria, who reveled in her obvious lack of understanding.
"Oh, come now," Maria gloats, "you didn't think we'd find out about her affair with a werewolf."
"How did...?"
"Oh my, you mean you really don't know?" Maria asked with a look of shock that gradually turned into mocking laughter. "Hey, where is the older daughter, Ria? I want her to hear about this!"
"Maria!" Akasha snapped. "What do you know about my daughter, and why are you here, unannounced?"
"Oh, do tell us, she is never going to give us a moment of peace," Gyokuro insisted. "In fact, I'm curious myself; this certainly isn't a social visit."
"Well okay, I'm done messing with her head anyway!" She replies with a joking smile, before adding: "And again, you are right, this isn't a social visit, in fact I had wanted to wait until everyone was assembled to show you so as to surprise the proud parents of their daughter's many accomplishments amongst the lower species"
"I...I don't understand."
She fishes out an iPad from her small purse, works with it and then hands it to Akasha where she sees a small vid playing on it.
"It's been circulating all over the web so I'm surprised you haven't seen it. Now, this is just a sneak peak, I'm saving the rest for the hearing tonight, which after this is shown to the good lord I'm pretty sure there will be a hearing, as sure as I am that the girl in this web feed is enjoying herself!"
Akasha looks on, and Maria smiles when the color drains from her pretty, emerald eyes.
"Please, hurry up and give it back," Maria said. "I'd like for Gyokuro to take a look."
XXX
Moka had not moved since this morning, since her mom had delivered the news, that terrible news which she had been accused of wanting, when in reality all she had ever wanted was to have a strong, proud family with the man chosen by herself to be her mate for all time. Silvery white hair laid splayed about the bed, soaked in uncomfortable sweat that made her feel sticky and unkempt; far from the elegant beauty she had been so proud of once.
What are we going to do now? A tiny, frightened voice inside her head kept asking; a part of her soul she continued shutting away so she could think. How are we going to get out of this? Our marriage is ruined and now father doesn't want us anymore. It's hopeless!
A knock at the door brought welcomed relief to her beleaguered mind, becoming mildly irked in the process when the door opened without her say so.
"Moka," said the maid Ezumi, her shadow boldly standing in the doorway.
Moka noticed how she didn't even bother to correct herself or be humble about it after the faux-paux of referring to her by first name; it would seem father's removal of her status and privileges had spread to the staff.
"What is it?" Moka asked.
"Lord Shuzen has requested your immediate presence in the throne room, said it was urgent. He's had me draw a bath for you and I am to escort you to your new bathroom at once."
"My new bathroom?"
"That is right; you are no longer allowed to use the family's bath, you're instead being given the one used by the staff. From there, Mistress Shuzen will escort you to the throne room."
"...I'll be dressed."
"I'll be waiting," the maid said, who gave Moka a look as she slowly closed the door, a look that greatly annoyed the vampiress.
Who the hell does that worm think she's looking at? She angrily thought. I may no longer hold my status, but I'm still well within my right to eviscerate her!
Still sore and wounded from the agonizing ordeal in ascertaining her pregnancy, that pained paled in comparison to the disgrace she felt in being stripped of everything and reduced to that of a lowly commoner all over the mistake of sleeping with some common fool. A fool, however, whose prowess in bed she still remembered and caused undo stress in thinking about it now, of all times.
Really? Are we really thinking about that, now!
"Shut up!" She snapped at herself as she painfully struggles to her feet, which felt good to feel that she can still assert dominance over her alter ego as there was relative peace until sitting down in the cramped, porcelain tub to take a meager bath. "Degrading! A servant's bath!"
Sitting in the bathtub, the lukewarm herbal water that very quickly became warm and then cool as she languishes away in her new lot in life was degrading. It was a small space, this bathroom was, devoid of windows or anything of luxury, with the stench of mold and mildew heavy in the air, a single, cracked mirror over a leaky sink, and on the door was the outfit she had to wear: a ragged looking white dress. It felt like prison, a lonely, isolated prison where nary a friend could visit, assuming there were any left.
"What do I need friends for, anyway?" She asked herself, morosely. "I am a vampire, a supreme monster and beautiful in every way; what do I need with friends? Whom do I need at all?"
We need Tsukune.
But, she would not say that, admitting that she needed anyone was still degrading for her. It nonetheless angered her deeply that he would abandon her, he whom she cared for deeply. Then, she thought about Gin, about how the only good thing about him was sex, and became even more angry that Tsukune couldn't have been any better or more of a monster than him. If he had, this wouldn't have happened, and Gin would have been pummeled close to death by her mate's superior might, which she knew he had.
"Oh, why Tsukune?" She whispered softly to herself.
At long last, the loneliness had finally caught up to her, piercing its talons through her tough skin into vital organs. It was the one thing she detested above all else, ever since her accursed time at middle school when all of this started; it would have been her fate were it not for Tsukune. He's timely arrival into her life made it seem like a distant feeling, no longer the constant companion it once was, and as such he provided the perfect incentive to move up in station and become heiress within her family.
Now, she was alone again, and she hated being alone. She didn't want to be alone, she needed someone to talk to, to keep her company, anyone!
Tsukune, I want Tsukune!
"Shut up!" She said to herself, wearily.
Her body still aching, Moka weakly gets out and walks over to the mirror, slowly coming to grips with the reality of her situation; she never should have planned any of this. Here she was, a vampire princess, supreme entity above all and she worried that her own brood would become fodder for lesser beings; and why? Because she witnessed some bratty kids fighting one day? Because, she herself was intimidated by the mere cubs of lowly dogs when she was a child? And then, there was also him, Gin; even now the mere thought of him conjured up feelings that made her feel great shame.
Why do we feel this way? Why does it hurt? Tsukune belongs to us, so why does it feel like we belong to Gin when we don't even love him? I wish we never heard of him!
Growing weary of her other persona's nagging, Moka slips on her rosary pendant and gradually reverts back to her weaker, pink haired self, in which during the course of the transformation she's left feeling drained by it and begins to fall back, only to quickly grab hold of the counter to steady herself. She realized she would have to start doing that from now on, relying on herself to keep from falling during these transformations instead of counting on someone to be there to catch her; that or stay in one form forever. It was a sobering fact to face, of effectively removing a personality all because she cast aside that special someone she'd grown used to being behind her, for even if reconciliation was possible, how and why would he want her back after learning about the baby, a baby that was not even his?
And, of course there was the baby, and only now has it dawned on her that she would be alone in raising it. Tsukune would not want it, but she wondered if Gin will help, as it was his to begin with. Yes, they had agreed that should he impregnate her, he would have no part in its rearing; but, then again the very thought of it at the time had seemed impossible and was meant to be an empty threat. In fact, the whole affair was an empty threat to lure her true love into action, with no thought on the consequences.
"What is the point in thinking about it, now?" She heard a bitter voice asked, and wiped the misty mirror clear to see her other self, speaking to her again. "It's done. All there is left now is to face whatever it is father has for us."
And yet, even now, after all was said and done, especially in the face of how wrong she had been about everything and was letting her face the music alone, her so-called stronger and "true" persona was still barking orders. If Moka could, she would split herself into two, separate bodies, in fact it was fast becoming a dream of hers right now, one where they would both be free to do what they wanted and be with whoever they wanted as it became increasingly clear that she felt nothing for Tsukune the way she, herself did. To outer-Moka, he was the man who gave her meaning to live again and had captured her heart, someone she dearly wanted to be with ever since their first meeting, as well as with all their friends. She never wanted to be with Gin, Gin was incapable of granting her what she wanted most: love and a sense of belonging. Inner Moka on the other hand, the brutal, caustic, silvery haired persona who represented her "true" persona cared for no one other than her own satisfaction and who always viewed people like Tsukune as property. It was made clear that he and their friends were just a pacifier for her outer persona, as though she were a baby. More and more, she found herself despising her other self and the choices she made, choices that seemed to became painfully obvious had little do with the welfare of children, be they from Tsukune, or Gin. But, one thing she knew without a shadow of doubt is that, were they ever split into two people, she would not miss her.
XXX
Issa Shuzen sat in his chair with the weight of the world suddenly bearing down upon his broad shoulders. Sitting to his left, of course was Gyokuro who's say in these proceedings were limited while in her husband's presence, and yet she commanded a healthy dose of respect all her own. Akasha could not be here, as in spite of her prowess and stature, she was not a council member and could say nothing in her daughter's defense; that would have to be deferred to Issa, assuming he was willing at all to still defend Moka. All around him sat the council, twelve vampire elders in all, each sitting in his or her own furnished chair brought to this meeting for this special occasion, yet he saw nor acknowledged any of them, as his focused was buried in something being held within the palm of his hand, something that pretty much sealed the fate of she who now stood in the center of this room.
Moka Aono looked about nervously, dressed in this hand-me down dress laid out for her, and feeling naked and vulnerable for all of them to leer at. Secretly, she wished her pink hair could shield her face as she could feel their stares, accusing and judgmental, as though they had been made privy to her actions. She tried not to let them see her quake with fear, for even now pride took center stage within the confines of her mind; she was a vampire after all, a daughter of the House of Shuzen, and in spite of everything it still meant something to her. Fortunately Kokoa, who stood behind her stoically, was the only companion here she felt she still had and never before had her hovering presence felt so secure than now, yet this zealous cheerleader was especially cold today, as cold as anyone else in the room and had Moka been so observant, she'd know there was no one having her back.
"I have...come as you requested, father," Moka declared, trying to sound strong and dignified despite the mounting fear she felt. "Might I...inquire why I have been summoned to this meeting?"
"My, she's an arrogant one," said a dark haired, female vampire.
"That is Moka Akashiya Aono," Maria introduced. "They don't get any more arrogant than she."
"This is...an ill time to be met," Issa Shuzen finally started off, his red eyes reluctantly pulling away from what he was holding to stare, ever so intently at his own, formerly beloved daughter. "There were certain things I wanted to reserve for a later date; but, it would seem fate has other plans for us, do you not agree...Moka?"
Oh father, Moka thought sadly, lamenting at how he stopped calling her simply daughter.
"...M-May I be allowed to speak?" She meekly asked.
"No you may not," came his reply.
"Don't silence the accused," said Maria, "allow this celebrity to voice her opinion; about how awesome it felt doing the things a princess wouldn't normally be allowed to do."
"I think her actions speak for themselves," said Baron Teppes.
She looked at them with visible confusion, originally believing that this was about her misdeeds, but now thinking that she was on trial for something else.
"Don't be modest," Maria said with a smile. "You're quite the rebellious, brave little princess, doing whatever you want and expecting the world to applaud you for it; that was your true intent, wasn't it?"
"I don't understand," Moka replied.
"What is there to understand, surely you and you alone can sort out your own mess," Baron Teppes commented.
"...M-My mess?"
"Do you not admit that you, of your own volition, did conspire to have carnal relations, repeatedly I might add until you were impregnated by a man who was not your bloodmate and thus pass said offspring as your father's grandchild and possible heir?"
Moka stared at him in utter shock and disbelief, and then turned her gaze at Gyokuro, thinking it was her doing that word had gotten out about what she had done. And yet, all eyes were on her, eyes that would determine her fate and any pretense that she had done everything for the good of family and honor seemed so irrelevant in the face of utter survival.
"It's...uh, n-n-no, it isn't how it looks," she stammered. "What I meant was, it isn't how it happened and it was never my intention to..."
"So, you deny the whole thing happened?" Maria asked.
"Yes, I-I mean no, just not the way you heard!"
"Oh Moka," Gyokuro spoke up, "are you really going to lie to the council? You, this so called paragon of honesty and integrity? During her confession, well it was more like a video montage of her torrid, sad little trip down memory lane, she had all but admitted that she did everything for the pride of vampires."
"No! N-No, it was a mistake, a slip of the tongue! My husband had angered me, and...and...!"
"She called this Gin person 'wonderful'!"
"It was to hurt Tsukune, that was all! I don't find Gin to be wonderful at all, I swear!"
"And, how would you know this werewolf wasn't at all wonderful, as you said?" Maria asked.
Moka looked around for someone to stand up for her, even wishing her own little sister would step forward, yet she did nothing except stand stoically behind her, whose solemn expression had changed little.
"Well?" An older gentleman asked. "I believe we demand an answer! Did you not cavort with this wolf boy in a sexual relationship?"
"I..."
"Stop!" Lord Shuzen ordered, his word law, and a great relief for Moka who thought her father would not abandon her now. "This is pointless; you all have the answers to your questions, you're just stating the obvious for your own meager amusement. Moka, are you aware of a website called Wolfman's Den?"
"Wolfman's...?" She asked, and though the name did conjure up a sickening feeling, she nonetheless tried to play dumb.
"Kokoa," he ordered, holding out the iPad he had watched earlier. "Hand this device over to the accused."
"...As you wish father."
Accused? Her inner persona thought, as even she felt the sting of those words being used by her father in reference to herself.
Kokoa hands the iPad to Moka as ordered, and looks to she sees a web vid called The Wolfman's Den waiting to be played. Curious, she clicks play and begins to watch the program play out, curious as to its contents as its sounds, though small, were loud and apparent in this cavernous room with Gin's familiar, arrogant voice playing before a captive audience. It was some kind of a porn site, she soon realized, and judging by the date of its broadcast it wasn't too long ago, which made Moka's sickening feeling turn sour.
What is going on? Inner Moka asked, her unease nearly as intense as her outer persona's. What is this, what are we being made to look at?
Gin mentioned Moka, which made her heart sink as she knew without a doubt it was about her, and while he droned on about how he was superior in every way to Tsukune and how she preferred him instead, it brought forth a new level of anger and frustration. Here she was, trying to reconcile things with Tsukune, all the while this idiot was bragging on his website to the world how she wanted to be with him and jeopardize everything. But, as Moka realized, that wasn't what her father wanted her to see, as Gin, the wolfman, the man whose sexual performance she has pointed out was unlike anything she had with Tsukune, eventually bragged of recording one of their sexcapades on camera.
"Oh god no," she muttered. "Gin."
There was a link to it on the upper right hand corner, beckoning and teasing her, though the better part of her mind reasoned that she shouldn't, she clicks on it anyway. What came after, with its tawdriness and utter betrayal, filled her with an indescribable feeling of shock and anger, its sounds, her sounds lifting in the air like nauseous fumes. She recognized that moment, that night in question, the first night she had sex with Gin in his club and participated in a three way with those other girls at his urging; and he promised no one would know about it.
"Who's your daddy?" Gin asked as Moka gave him a blowjob on all fours like a dog, while she was being fucked from the rear with a strap on dick by one of the girl's as the other stood over her kissing him. "Say it!"
Moka appeared to hesitate, but the pressure coming from behind causing her to cum, and Gin's forcing his dick deep in her mouth, making her swallow his cum and becoming lost in the moment, she had little choice but to say:
"You are."
"You are, what?"
"You are my daddy, baby! You are!"
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Inner Moka roared, furiously.
Outer Moka however, could barely say a word, with only tiny gasps of air escaping her opened lips. Her legs shook so bad that if it was a cartoon they'd be knocking; something she would have preferred, knowing it would drown out the sounds of ecstasy gone awry in her favor. In fact, she began shaking all over, her body no longer in control, with bowels loosening much to her shame and her grip on the iPad crumbling until it fell to the floor, while she still grips at nothing. She looked frantically about the place, no longer certain of where she was or what to do, only quiver in fear and shame like a frightened child caught in the nude, with the feel of a trickle of warm urine cascading down her legs, which oddly enough felt the same way Gin's semen had.
Why would he do this? Did he really care for no one, but himself, and by doing so his actions only helped deepen his involvement with her.
That IDIOT! I will rend his skin from his body; that lowly, fowl smelling DOG!
"So?" Issa asked. "Speak!"
Moka could do nothing, nothing at all, but breakdown before everyone, a reaction that made her seem even more pathetic rather than garner sympathy to all who witnessed it.
"I was set up!" She wept. "Forced! I didn't do this of my own free will, I was tricked!"
"Tricked by whom?" The Baron asked.
"By...By..."
"By Gin?" Gyokuro asked.
"No, I..."
"She doesn't even know," said Maria with a shake of her head. "That or she's lying through her teeth like a common..."
"Let her answer!" Issa barked. "I want to hear...her explain this! You, Moka had a lot to say earlier today in defense of your actions, that you are not what people say you are, but are a proud vampire. WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT?"
His outburst caused Moka to drop to her knees, knowing full well that it was all over, now.
"Well, we can't call her a vampire, anymore," Maria pointed out. "A werewolf's bitch is more appropriate."
"Oh, here, here," Gyokuro agreed.
"Please, you all have to understand," Moka tried to explain, "...I-I was sent to a human school...where they picked on me every day, I even went to sleep dreading going back each night; it was hell! So, when I knew my own children would go the same thing, I tried to do what any mother would do!"
"By getting into a three way with a pimp and his whores?" The Baron asked. "You might make me proud, but I'm not sure what your children will think."
"She's the daughter of a whore," Gyokuro spoke up. "What do you think the children of a whore's daughter would feel?"
"Please, I need you to understand!" Moka went on. "I tried to do the right thing! It didn't start out this way, it's just that...everything got out of control!"
"How so?" Her father asked, his eyes unflinching in the face of her show. "Did you dare expect your Bloodmate would bend to your ridiculous requests?"
"He was supposed to..."
"No! Again, you misunderstand everything; he wasn't supposed to do anything to honor any request you force upon him."
"But, h-he's my Bloodmate!"
"And, you are his. It is your duty to honor him in whatever the two of you do; the fact that you chose to debase yourself is not only an affront to him, but an affront to this house and our culture! Now, the whole world knows that you've dishonored yourself! This cannot go unanswered, you know this. You must be punished."
To hear those four words uttered so loudly and so clear was the very kind of dread that penetrated itself through the very heart of her soul more than losing Tsukune, her parents or living alone; she knew exactly what kind of punishment would be suitable for this disgrace. Nevertheless, she shook violently, uncontrollably and unashamedly as this feeling was new to her and she was uncertain on how to cope with it.
"What will you do, my good lord?" Maria inquired. "Will you actually go through with it? She is your beloved daughter, after all."
"Do you wish to make your point plainly or dull us with your sarcastic wit, Maria Brunested?" Issa asked with little grace and civility.
"Do not be so cross with her, my lord," said another council member. "She is only saying what we're all thinking: will you agree with what we've already decided for your daughter?"
"And besides," said the Baron, "it isn't slander to say that Moka here is your favorite; we all know that."
"Save your solidarity, I know very well that Maria Brunested's only interest is to hurt me," Issa argued. "Still so bitter, that you'd jump at the chance to discredit me through my daughter the moment you saw this web feed rather than consult with me first!"
"Oh come off of it!" She snapped. "I'm not the villain here, and neither is your beloved daughter. The one who took the chance to discredit you was you, my lord! You took that whore, Akasha as a consort and, well what did you think was going to be the result: a daughter who is noble in every way? You settle for trash and all you get is trash!"
"You speak boldly, Maria!" Issa growled.
"I speak the truth."
Gyokuro wanted to show her support for that statement, but she knew her place as only Issa represented their household; still, she couldn't hold back an approved smile.
Say something! Inner Moka badgered. We must speak up, clear our name, don't let this tarnish our family's name!
However, Moka was inconsolable, remaining rooted to the spot and looking up at the big wigs like a scared animal.
"Enough of this!" Said Baron Teppes. "I got a Kim K. porno coming up and I'd rather not sit around here and miss it, no offense Moka Akashiya; shall we bring this to a vote?"
"I agree," Maria replied. "All those in favor of death: aye!"
"Aye," the Baron answered.
The word "aye" went around the room it encircled Moka like a whirlpool of water, sinking her deeper and deeper, the darkness rising up all around while a coldness swept over her. Not even her inner persona, who is always so vocal with her opinions, especially when she's being held safely within her rosary seal, uttered one word as even this mighty amazon felt helpless against all of this. When the vote finally came to her father, both father and daughter locked eyes on each other, one cold and emotionless, the very epitome of what being a vampire was all about, the other pleading and yearning, desperately hoping for compassion or leniency.
Moka found it strange; those same virtues that she thought made humans weak, those same virtues and more she desperately enough went to such crazed lengths to spare her children from, turned out to be the same she hoped would save her, now.
"Aye."
Alas, in the end it was her people's virtues, the ones she so desperately wanted her children to instill, even going through all of this to make sure that happened, that ultimately allowed her own father, the man she loved more than Tsukune himself, to sign her own death warrant. She fell to her knees in despair, heart nearly stopped at the sound of those words, and tears of pain and sadness overtook her, as it all seemed lost now.
"You understand the sentence laid upon you?" He asked with little remorse. "Your few remaining privileges are here by revoked, and you will be confined until the day of your execution. Is that clear?"
"...Yes," she said through an emotion choked voice. "...May I...May I be allowed to see Tsukune, one last time, to say goodbye?"
"No you may not."
"Not even to say goodbye?"
"Just let him see your porn, I'm sure your raw and exposed ass can do that for you," Maria said.
"...And, what of Gin? What will happen to him?"
"And why should you care?" Issa asked, a hint of anger rising sharply in his voice at the mere thought that she's worried about him, even now.
"Do you believe that?" Maria asked. "Concern for her dog; she truly is his bitch!"
"Are you mentally unbalanced?" Gyokuro asked. "Or, do you truly love him? How sorry I feel for you. I only had hate for you before, but now..."
"Is this true?" He asked her. "Do you feel any love for him?"
"Father, I..."
"She does, she does!" Maria exclaimed.
"I didn't say that!"
"...Then it will give you some comfort to know that I don't intend to make a move on him," Issa said, though through a heated breath that belied extreme anger.
"So, I take it we're going to do nothing about this person, then?" Gyokuro asked.
"No, my daughter's lover will not face prosecution from me or anyone else here, is that understood? As far as I am concerned, he doesn't exist. Moka Akashiya will bear not only his child, but the father's sins as she alone will face the sentence."
"Hm, how appropriate and yet it's strangely romantic; like 'A Tale of Two Cities'."
"More like a Tale of Titties," the Baron joked. "In this case the lovely maiden bravely sacrifices her life and that of her unborn child so that her true love may live to bone some other, hapless girl happily ever after."
"...The baby," Moka answered, her voice now hollow and already empty of life. "This is about the baby; if the baby is his..."
"If?" One of the council members asked.
"...If, the baby is his...and by that, I mean...is, he must be allowed to take care of it...when I'm gone."
"He is not taking care of that child," Issa Shuzen flat out replied. "No one will. You are dead to me now, and so is your brood. Kokoa, take her back to her quarters."
Quietly, Kokoa roughly helps her sister up, who walked away in a maudlin exposure, passing by the council members on her way out like a dead woman walking.
"Well, so much for that mess," Maria commented, not even waiting until Moka was safely out of hearing distance. "And by mess, I do mean the pink slut with the even pinker cooch."
"Your mouth is as poisonous as I remembered, Maria Brunested," Issa remarked, heatedly.
"Oh come on, this is not my fault! And, when are you going to stop being so formal with me; none of this would have happened if you had heeded my advice about Akasha Bloodriver. I'm only trying to be a friend."
"Save your vanity and pretenses for another lord, and don't any of you be so quick to presume a judgment has been passed tonight; all rulings must be unanimous and we are in a deadlock."
"What do you mean: deadlock?" Maria angrily asked. "We all voted, all of us, even you!"
"She's right!" Gyokuro confirmed. "There isn't one of us here who didn't feel that if I were allowed to vote, that I'd side with the council!"
"As usual, you are wrong, my dear mate, for there is still one who has yet to vote, and isn't present at the moment to make this crucial decision as I have sent him away for the time being."
"...Tsukune Aono!" Gyokuro uttered out loud, clarifying the mystery to everyone else, and only raising greater frustration. "Are you mad? He isn't a council member, he's just your heir!"
"One of these days he will sit in my chair, but as for now he is a junior member of this council and as Moka's Bloodmate it is his right in accordance of our laws to decide the fate of his unfaithful partner. His decision will be final."
"You're going to place the sanctity of our people in the hands of your hapless son in law?" Maria asked. "Do you honestly think he is in every way ruthless enough to fill your shoes? Or, are you hoping he's naive enough to believe that she still loves him, much like how her mother fooled you into thinking that and fathering her child? He just might be stupid enough to pardon her and even raise her bastard child as his own!"
"I would tread carefully the words you use around me," he warned. "I've tolerated it only because it would be difficult to find someone to replace you on your chair since you allowed your only son and heir to die foolishly."
"Then why don't you get your new son to sit in it; you seem to have him placed handily upon our council without our knowledge."
"Hm, well played," the Baron commented. "Who knew you were such a card shark. So, I take it we won't have long to await his decision."
"Tsukune Aono is right now spending three, full days deciding on the status of his union with Moka, and on the morning of the fourth he will be here to reveal our next course of action. Until that day, I suggest you make yourselves comfortable. Meeting adjourned."
"You cannot do this!" Maria growled as he got up to leave. "I came all this way to see that bastard daughter of yours suffer; I want to see her pay!"
"Oh Maria Brunsted, poor, poor Maria Brunsted, I feel sorrow for foolish girls like yourself; you never seem to understand that this world isn't just about you," Issa said and brazenly turns her back to Maria before she could even say anything in return.
XXX
Within her newly assigned room, which felt increasingly like a dungeon than a room, and aptly appropriate, Moka sat silently before the dressing mirror as she slowly brushed her hair. Oddly enough, she felt a kind of calm, as though resigned to her impending fate, while locked in some limbo like state, wallowing in her predicament rather than flipping out into hysterics.
I cannot believe...this is happening! Inner Moka very quietly expressed to herself.
Both wanted answers as to whether any of this was really happening. All those nights ago when they took Gin into the bed she and Tsukune shared seemed like a hazy dream, for neither could have imagined all of this. When she had first called Gin up to make this insane proposal, both sides of her thought deep down it wouldn't come to it, even as Gin stuck his dick into her body that this was all surreal and would wake up next to her husband in bed. And yet, neither had an answer for the other, just reeling in the fact that this was truly the end of everything; Inner Moka had finally come to terms that their motives were far too weak to have justified what was done, and that Tsukune's advice of simply forgetting about it was sage, after all.
"Here," a comforting voice said as she felt gentle hands take hold of her brush and begins running it through her hair. "I remember doing this when you were little; do you remember those days?"
Moka didn't respond to her mother, her mind now gone, and still Akasha carried on like a dutiful mother should.
"You were so small back then, I could carry you in one arm; well, probably still could, you're not that big which I suppose is a good thing, depending on how you look at it."
As she pulls back the brush, she notices a white strand come loose with the pink ones, a most peculiar and puzzling find. Indeed, a vampire would have to live thousands upon thousands of years before their hair color would show any age to them, and yet to see this on one who was still so young was indeed disturbing, thinking that this whole situation taken an extremely serious toll.
"Mother," she finally spoke.
"Yes, dear."
"...Am I filthy?"
"What? No, no you're not."
"But, I am. I'm a filthy person…who couldn't even be a good partner to my husband; I screwed up everything!"
Akasha reached down and hugged her warmly and protectively, doing all she can for her girl who trembled frighteningly.
"...Dear," Akasha began to say, but wondered on what could she say that'll bring her daughter any happiness again, even if it was for a brief moment. "We all make mistakes, some worse than others. Mine, was...not being here when you needed me, of being more of a warrior than just a parent and raising you near such a dangerous environment. Perhaps if I had been around more, I would have noticed how unhappy you were at that school and gotten you out; who knows. Just know that no matter how bad things seem, that sometimes its darkest just before the dawn, and that you have to be brave. You're still our daughter; no matter what happens, you'll always be that."
She gives her a gentle kiss and begrudgingly leaves, sadly looking on as she goes and wondering if talking to her had helped anything at all. Alone again, Moka sat in front of the mirror for almost an hour, never moving, breathing only slightly. In the mirror she could see her inner persona staring back at her, her pride gone, the fire extinguished in those red eyes, now worn out and haggard, for there was no hiding from the axe nor anything to be gained as the future either of them had dreamt of was now gone.
"...Have to make this right," her reflection muttered. "You know what has to be done."
As if motivated by some inert desire that had taken root, she goes and picks up her cell phone and dials a number, his number. She wondered, with baited breath if he'll pick up, literally crossing her fingers in the hopes his voice will answer on the other side.
"Hello," came his voice on the other line.
Seven years ago...
It was half through the first year for Kokoa Shuzen, who walked down the lonely dirt trail towards school, ready for another morning at this mundane place for lower than dirt people, while up ahead she saw her sister happily chatting it up with him: Tsukune Aono. What had once been an angry bitterness, has now strangely become one of sadness and confusion. For so long, she had tried to get in between them, to somehow get her sister back from him, and yet as she looked at the boy and remembered some of the things he's done for them both, even Kokoa had to begrudgingly accept that there may be a place for him in their lives, which depressed her greatly.
Was he right for her? Is it possible that this human, who pretended to be like them could be a potential mate for her sister and, even for herself?
She shook her head violently, trying to wipe away these insane notions, for she had no intention of becoming another hapless member of his harem.
What am I doing? She wondered as she felt a smile come on. Stop that! He's weak and pathetic! Blah!
A slight breeze blew, causing her to clutch the hem of her tiny mini skirt to keep from billowing. It was yet another thing she hated going to this school, the dress code which forced the girls in wearing such short and flimsy attire that gave the boys there, pervert or not, a good glimpse of their panties.
"Looking good, sweet stuff!" She heard a voice call out, drawing her to some bushes nearby that were accompanied by the sounds of a camera clicking. "How about you show us some more of those strawberries!"
Now...
"Gin!" She said with a start, waking up from a nap and quickly gathering her bearings. She had taken a nap during another one of her vigils outside of Moka's chambers; a dream of a point in time that felt strangely soothing and comforting compared to right now.
Tsukune Aono, that human boy who fell in love with her sister, the one who caused all of this to befall her family by refusing Moka's requests. She remembered watching the two of them together, seeing how happy he made her sister, even when she changed forms, and all the adventures they'd had with him, dawned on her that this "human" had brought them closer together than ever. There were even moments when he had saved her life, a mere human; it caused her to feel shame in knowing that as well as to question her own feelings. Was he so bad when compared to Gin? Gin thought of no one, but himself; he was the enemy of all women, which was something she knew all too well. And worst of all, he did something to Moka that wound up tearing them apart over him, and now her sister will be gone forever.
All of a sudden came a rustling of the chamber's door and a slight creak as it opened. Not wishing to talk to her, Kokoa pretended to sleep and listened as Moka, dressed in the best, most appealing outfit she could find, began to quietly walk pass her. Curious, she follows after to find out where or whom she going to.
XXX
"And, you should have seen it!" Maria said to Ria, as she sat in her room drinking a bloody Mary. "Your sister was so pathetic; bawling like the little baby she always was! I tell you, I wish you had been there, you would have loved it!"
"Oh me, oh my, I can't say I never would have seen that coming," Ria joked, lounging in a chair in her black underwear while looking at her cell phone. "I take it you ripped her a new one, of course."
"There was no need, her boyfriend beat me to it."
The two looked at one another for a brief second and then burst out laughing.
"But, you should have seen the look on her face when she learned that he wouldn't be punished, that she and her child will bear his punishment for him like a sacrificial pig that she is, and then I said it was like A Tale of Two Titties!"
"Seriously? Oh me, oh my, that was priceless, did you come up with that?"
"I did. That would have been that if not for your father deciding it should be left up with his son-in-law heir; what a cop out. Anyway, what is the status on the boy in question, I heard he was taken a global sexcapade."
"Oh, he is, and I assure you he is anything, but a boy."
"You speak highly of the...man! Perhaps you have feelings for him?"
"By feelings do you me he's felt me up, and I felt him? Then, yes I have."
"He's that good?"
"That good; if you like, I'll loan him out when he becomes my bloodmate."
"Hmm," Maria responded as if interested in the prospect.
"I know he seems green, but that's to be expected after being with baby sister for most of his life and never knowing a real woman."
Ria stares intently at the picture on her cell phone, that of a woman's head, blood strewn in her disheveled pink hair, and emerald green eyes staring lifelessly and blank back at her. It was all that was left of a problem that had caused the mighty Ria no end of grief for quite a long time, far longer than she would have wanted, and at the same time represented a future that was sure to come; for this reason she kept this pic as a symbol of things finally going her way.
"And, you're confident he'll leave his girl and come be with...?"
Ria's phone rang, disrupting her peaceful fantasizing and wondered irritably what other news there was about to come her way.
"Expecting someone?" Maria inquired. "A recent male conquest who can't take no for an answer?"
"Not quite," she replies. "Hello."
"Mistress," one of her agents in Las Vegas responds on the other end.
"Now isn't a good time."
"I just thought I'd let you know what your future husband has been up to with the women. The succubus whore had managed to coerce her buxom niece to lure him into a room not too long ago."
"I thought I told you to make sure he didn't?" She asked heatedly, irritated to hear anything about Caro and her skanky family.
"That's what I wanted to tell you, we were about to intervene when the unthinkable happened: he hauled off and beat the little slut half to death."
"Really?" She asked with a huge smile spreading across her face. "Do tell."
"I don't know, something about having a nightmare, but he nearly killed the girl and has since fled into the city."
"Hm, my boy."
"I thought you'd be proud; shall we follow after him?"
"Yes, but give him some distance, I don't think I have to worry about him after all?"
"Well, something has got you in a good mood," Maria remarks, noticing how happy Ria looked after she ended the call. "I take it that was about your Tsukune?"
"Oh me, oh my; are you implying that I'm spying on him? As if he would ever need spying on; he's a big boy, after all, he can certainly take care of himself."
"Oh, I wouldn't presume anything of the sort, you always get your man. It's just that, ever since you two were young, darling Moka has always taken away your playthings and then ruined them for you. What makes you so sure this will be any different?"
She next receives another text message, this one from Kokoa exposing the fact that Moka has fled from the castle, news that she will undoubtedly and delightedly reveal to Lady Akasha with.
"Oh, you know me," Ria replies with a pleased and satisfied smile, "once I see something I want, I always get it."
XXX
The cab pulls up to a seedy motel in the eastern part of town, causing Kokoa undo concern as to why her sister would even bother coming here.
"Keep the change," Kokoa tells the driver.
"Sure thing, lady," the driver said, having already noticed how odd his passenger looked and fueling wild speculations at arriving at this place after she had him tail another cab to.
Kokoa, however held little concern for his thoughts, as the object of her obsession was rapidly approaching a single, crimson red door while constantly looking over her shoulder to see if she had been followed and forcing the younger sister to take cover.
Moka knocks on the door, waits around patiently and before long the door swings open, revealing to Kokoa's eyes a sight that she'd never thought to see again, especially now.
"Him!" She mutters to herself in a shocked, hushed tone.
"Well, Moka this is a surprise after how we left things, but boy am I glad to see you, again!" Gin said with his big, cheesy smile.