Disclaimer: I don't own Rosario + Vampire
Author's note: I always feel myself more as an idea person than a writer. I can stumble into one or two good ideas once in a while, but when I sits down and write it out I never feel like I done my idea any justice. I feel especially strong with this chapter where Yukari has her break down. Hope what I had here at least got the feeling across.
"ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?!" Yamato's voice booms through the sound speaker as the gathered crowd goes wild. Tsukune finds it strange they get a loud rock singer to celebrate the opening of Sai's beach house consider its quiet and cozy feel. Then again, he isn't a hardcore music fan. So he will never understand it.
The rock star is being a good boyfriend. If Yamato is as big a deal as Kyoko makes it out to be, he would have more profitable gigs lined up at his door.
"Aren't you going to join the crowd? Live up a little?" Yukari asks as she raises her half-empty beer bottle at Tsukune.
"I'll pass. I like this spot against the wall." Tsukune gives Yukari a faint small as he leans his head back. From the second floor balcony, the rock music doesn't feel like it's pounding on his heart. Not to mention he won't draw too much attention when he is so far away from the center.
Someone may enjoy being in the spotlight. But Tsukune Aono is perfectly happy being the wallflower, thank you very much.
"You should hang upside down from the roof." Yukari giggles as she takes a swig with her bear while looking Tsukune up and down.
"I'm a vampire, so I act like a bat. That's very funny. Ha, HA~!" Tsukune rolls his eyes while shaking his head.
"Didn't think you would be so far away from the band." A woman's cold voice comes to them before said woman opens the sliding door. Keito steps out into the balcony still wearing her police uniform. "Yukari."
"KEI~!" Yukari tackles into Keito, giving her a tight hug. The Witch knocks the hat off Police woman's head. Tsukune quickly reaches out his hand to catch it before the hat falls on the floor. "I'm so glad you made it~! Do you want a beer?"
"I'm here on patrol duty." Keito's body goes stiff as Yukari squeezes on her shoulders. Tsukune sees a brief flash of pink on her face but dismisses it as him simply seeing things. "This is a huge event for the relationship between human and monsters. We can't allow some troublemaker with a big head ruin it."
"PFFT~, you are no fun." Yukari jumps back while pouting her mouth towards the lady spider. "Well, I'm going down to where the party is. Don't make me wait too long~!"
Keito watches Yukari runs into the room before finally taking her hats off Tsukune's offering hand. "Thank you. Aren't you going to join her?"
"I don't enjoy the same thing as she. It's probably bested we give each other space." Tsukune looks down to see Yukari running out of the front door with a new bottle of beer in her hand. The Witch joins together with the rest of adoring fans, loudly screaming and cheering for Wolf Pack.
"Is that so." Keito nods as she also leans on the edge.
"Aren't you going to lecture me about how I don't appreciate Yukari like everyone else?"
"Not my place to be nosy." The spider monster shrugs her shoulders. Tsukune appreciates how Keito doesn't put her nose into his business, although the next thing she does say makes him raises an eyebrow. "If that Witch takes pleasure in being miserable, who am I to tell her not. We aren't even friends."
The vampire waits for Keito to continue, but all she does is looking down at the concert. So Tsukune simply walks back into his wall and closes his eyes. Despite his effort to not pay attention to this former enemy, the cold matter of fact way she talks about Yukari disturbs him.
He still has to figure out a way to tell Yukari about his promise with a certain ancient vampire without freaking her out.
Light Pink Lover
Chapter 25: YOU SPOONY BOY!
"Bullet Bill~ Bullet Bill~, Where art thou, Bullet Bill?" Yukari's off-key singing echoes in the old tour bus. The Witch rocks her head left and right, bumping into both Tsukune and Kaya.
"How many beers did she have?" Gin's brow twists together. The werewolf rubs his nose as if disgusted by the stink of alcohol. He looks disapprovingly at Tsukune. "Shouldn't you stop her after the third bottle?"
"Pfft~, shut up Gina. You aren't my mother~!" Yukari blows her tongue at Gin before Tsukune can say anything. He can hear sniggers coming from Joshua. She rests her head on Tsukune's shoulder. "I'm happy. A girl has to have her spirit~!"
The tour bus comes to a stop in front of Yukari's apartment. Tsukune gently gives Yukari's shoulder a shake. "We are home, Yukari. Can you get up."
Yukari looks up at Tsukune before she closes her eyes. She nuzzles her face on the vampire's shoulder much to Tsukune's embarrassment. "I can, but I won't. It's comfortable here."
Gin blows out a wolf whistle. Kyoko hides her smiling lower face behind the seat. Kaya simple glares at Tsukune.
The vampire pulls his collar with his free hand. His face suddenly feels very hot despite not having any beer. Tsukune stands up from the backseat while carefully holding Yukari up against him. "I'll take Yukari up to her room."
"I'm coming with you." Kaya stands up from her seat and grabs Yukari's hand. She never takes her eyes away from Tsukune's face. "You aren't taking Yukari to her room alone."
"What!? I'm not going to assault Yukari when she's drunk!" Tsukune almost throws his arm up at Kaya's unspoken accusation. He quickly catches Yukari again before she falls. The idea of someone putting him on the same level as Saizo back in Yokai Academy puts a bad taste in his mouth.
"Relax Kaya. Spoony boy doesn't have the guts to do anything to me." Yukari dangles her head left and right again while giggling uncontrollably. "Missed his chance with me ten years ago. Or the other girls. He wouldn't be single. Like Piggy."
Saizo grunts out with frustration as he slams his head into the steering wheel. His girlfriend gently runs her hand through his short hair. "Can you love birds not involve me in your bickering? I didn't ask for this shit."
"I'm not going to do anything to Yukari. I'm just going to tuck her in bed, and then go home to catch some shut-eye. I still have work tomorrow." Tsukune holds Yukari slightly tighter against his body to prevent her from slipping down.
"Not like you can stop him if flying rat truly gives into his primal urge, girly." Gin looks back at the two locked in a staring contest. "He's a powerful vampire, and you are a very normal human. It won't ends well for you."
"You aren't helping, Gin!"
Kaya gives Tsukune another scrutinizing stare before retreating her hand. "Very well."
Tsukune slowly takes Yukari out of the cramped space of the tour bus, making sure she doesn't bump into anything while she flails around singing. As he steps onto the sidewalk, he hears Gin calling him out from the bus. He turns his head around, frowning at the married werewolf. "What more do you want, Gin?"
"Have fun, WOOF~!" Gin has a sly look on his face as he starts making cartoon-like wolf howls before the tour bus rockets away.
Tsukune rolls his eyes at the disappearing bus. He awkwardly carries Yukari towards the entrance of her apartment. A task not made easy by Yukari who is still rocking left and right while humming the tone of a love song. "Just hold tight for a minute Yukari, we are almost home."
Yukari mumbles something under her breath. She probably doesn't want Tsukune to hear it, but the vampire picks it up with his acute sense of hearing. "Home is where people care about you."
Tsukune stands still for a moment before carrying her to the gate. "You are drunk. Let's get you in a warm bed before you pass out."
"I'm not DRUNK~! You AREN'T my FATHER~!" Yukari wildly flails her arm at Tsukune's face. The vampire has to tilt back a little to stop himself from dropping Yukari onto the floor.
Tsukune can't help but smile at his current predicament. With how mature Yukari acts now he almost forgot how childish she used to be.
"Of course, you are a big girl now Yukari. Can you just hold still for a minute so I can get the door... There!" Tsukune whispers some sweet nothings into Yukari as he finally manages to open the security gate. He carries Yukari towards the staircase as the Witch starts to giggle. She slowly raises her hand and touches Tsukune's head.
"You are still dumb as ever. Why didn't you 'woosh' up my balcony?" Tsukune stops dead in his track again. Yes, using his vampire power to jump on Yukari's balcony WOULD make things much easier. Assuming he doesn't get caught by anyone of course.
"I'll do that next time you get drunk." Tsukune lets out a soft sigh as he carries Yukari up the stairs. The Witch buries her face in his chest with a fit of soft laughter.
"You own me. Cross fingers." Yukari looks up to Tsukune's face just as they arrive at her doorstep. She extends out her little finger towards the vampire.
"Promise." Tsukune smiles and locks his finger together with Yukari. He takes the Witch to her apartment and gently set her on a couch. "I'll go get some warm water for you. Sit tight."
"Ok." Yukari turns her face to look at Tsukune before rolling into the back of the couch again. Tsukune hears her shouting inside the kitchen. "You a fine dad!"
The vampire shakes his head with a smile as he sits in the kitchen. Listening to the bubble sound the pot makes on the stove. He wonders what his life would be like if he never went to Yokai Academy. Not becoming a vampire, developing superhuman abilities and virtually live forever that's for sure.
Tsukune tries to remember his life before that fateful day when he learns the existence of a monster kind. It is strange he doesn't have a single well-remembered friend from grade school or junior high. That probably comes from being the professional wallflower.
He used to play with a group of boys around his neighborhood. They grow apart after he goes to a different junior high. He can't even remember their names anymore. There is also a girl with long dark hair from class C he had his first crush in Junior high. Then again, so does half of the boys in school. He doubts he's any different than a window washer to the girl whose name he doesn't even remember.
The whistling sound of the pot brings Tsukune back to reality. He shakes away this useless sentiment from his childhood to mix Yukari a glass of warm water. He realizes the couch is empty when he steps out of the kitchen. The sliding door to the balcony is open. "Damn it!"
Tsukune quickly runs to the balcony and looks down, fearing the sight of Yukari's body on the pavement. He hears a whistle like voice calling from behind. "Hey, bat dork. Want a beer?"
The vampire spins around to see Yukari resting with her back against the wall. A bottle of beer in her each of her hands, her hat lying on her knees. Tsukune holds out his hand towards Yukari. "You already had too many beers, Yukari. Give them to me and go to bed."
"But I don't want to~!" Yukari giggles to herself some more. She puts a bottle to her mouth and takes a deep chug before staring at the sky. "Nice moon tonight."
Tsukune looks up towards the sky. The silver moon hangs in the darkness without a single cloud to hide her brilliance. The vampire can't remember the last time he looks up at the moon in such a carefree manner. Maybe even before he becomes a salary slave?
Tsukune closes his eyes. The vampire knows why he doesn't look up at the sky at night anymore.
The night where he left Shuzen castle is also under a brilliant moon like this. The night when Moka makes him choose between his family and her. It sits quietly in the dark sky watches he quietly walks away just like the cruel vampire.
He does not doubt he is much happy being a freeman rather than an aristocrat wannabe's glorified errand boy.
Despite that, Tsukune can't forget all the times he spends in Yokai Academy. All the times they risk their lives for each other. The memory becomes more and more clear everytime he tries to ignore it, to the point it complete eclipses all other memories he has in his life. He doesn't want to accept those memories are fake or meaningless.
Meeting Moka again after ten years only confirms his fear. Does the vampire princess think him as little as a pet puppy throwing a temper tantrum? One she can simply take back by throwing him a bone?
"Come on, aren't you going to say anything?" Yukari shakily stands up. Her long dark hair carried by the wind. She stumbles forward, tripping herself and rams straight into Tsukune. The Witch giggles some more while resting herself on Tsukune's chest. "Very pretty night."
The moon, the star, and the gentle summer breeze would be quite romantic if wine's involved instead of beer. Tsukune shakes his head with a smile on his face. "Yes, we have a pretty night. Let's go inside. I don't want a cat land on my head."
The vampire carefully lifts Yukari up and carries her inside. He puts Yukari back on her couch despite her gigantic sized pout. "Rest, Yukari. I'll bring you some water."
The Witch rolls left to bury her face in the back of the couch. Tsukune is about to walk into the kitchen to get her some water before he hears Yukari's muffled mumble. "Why do you care now..."
The vampire stops dead in his track. He takes a good and long look at Yukari. Since his reunion with Yukari, the now grown-up Witch is always a woman who is always in control. She does still show a juvenile side like calling him bad names or being way too playful for an adult. But one thing she never lacks is confidence in herself.
Now, Yukari is curled up into a ball. She also half buried herself into the couch. She reminds Tsukune of a scared kitten in the rain he saw as a kid. She looks much smaller than she ever did ten years ago in Yokai Academy.
"Yukari, are you okay? Do you want to talk?" Tsukune kneels down in front of the couch. He tentatively touches Yukari's trembling shoulder with one hand.
"No, I don't want to talk." The Witch hugs the beer bottle closer to her chest. She mumbles to herself in a chanting like mumble. "Why do you even care?"
"I care because you are my friend, Yukari. I don't want you hurt."
"YOU SPOONY BOY!"
Yukari suddenly rolls back and throws a bottle into Tsukune's face. The bottle bounces off his face and arcs across her living room. It hits the ground hard and smashes into hundreds of pieces.
The Witch doesn't stop here. She pulls her old heart tipped wand out of her hat and points it at Tsukune who is recoiling back. A bathtub appears out of nowhere and drops towards Tsukune's head.
The bathtub makes a loud crunch as it impacts Tsukune's skull. It snaps in half, spreading dust everywhere before clunks onto the vinyl wood covered floor.
Tsukune lies dazed amongst the debris.
He can only hear Yukari's ragged breath ringing in the room. The vampire tries to wrap his mind around how things escalated so quickly. He can not find the answer. Finally, Tsukune slowly sits up and looks at Yukari breathing hard and glaring at him on her couch.
The Witch suddenly seems to realize what happened. She quickly wipes her head to the side and giggles to herself. "Hehe, I made a messy."
"Yes, you did." Tsukune wipes the dust off his face. He kneels down in front of Yukari and looks at her in the eyes. The Witch quickly turns her head away to avoid the gaze. "What is wrong, Yukari? Did I say something to make you angry? You know I'm not very smart. If you don't tell me what's wrong, I won't be able to help you."
That is apparently the wrong thing to say since Yukari starts to laugh, yet her voice has no mirth. It makes Yukari's wild laughter sounds like more like chocking. "So, I'm just one of your 'friends'?"
"Yes, you are my friend. I care about you a lot."
"You care about me as much as you cared about Kurumu, Mizore, and Ruby?" Tsukune is taken aback by Yukari. For a moment he wonders if Yukari is only pretending to be drunk, but her cloudy eye seems to suggest otherwise. "Am I another bag of trash? Something you'll throw away without a thought?"
Tsukune staggers back while staring at Yukari with wide eyes. He wonders if he's having a concussion considering how much his view seems to shake around. "Wh, where did you get that idea?"
"That's what you did to all of us ten years ago." Yukari looks down at her feet, her voice distant.
"NO! Th, That's not true! I decided I wanted to spend my whole life with Moka. It's wrong to lead you on. So I said my goodbye to all of you and went to live with Moka."
"Yeah, but you disappeared afterward. Why didn't you tell any of us when you broke up with Moka? We had to find out from Moka after we visit her after our graduation from Yokai Academy. She told us you run away and then slammed the door in our faces." Yukari stares hard into the cushion under her feet. "We went to see your parents. They told us you don't want us to know where you went. Kurumu's mom had to seal her memory away..."
"Kurumu's mom wiped her memory!?"
"No, she sealed Kurumu's memory away. She unlocks it during her wedding with Takeru. Man, was the cow pissed?! That was the funniest thing I saw in my life." Yukari wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. It is hard to tell if her shaking voice is giggling or sobbing. "Ageha San had to do it. Kurumu was desperate to know where you went. She wanted to hypnotize your parents. She'd go to monster jail for it. So Ageha San sealed her memory of you, and brought her to Paris."
Tsukune feels like something heavy is crashing his ribs and lungs in. He has to struggle to draw breath.
"Mizore was next to go. She needs to find another man to have an heir." Yukari rests her head against the back of the couch. Emotion seems to drain away in her voice. "'It's no use to chase after an obsession after all.' That was what she told me before she went."
Tsukune's hand feel cold, to the point he bearly register his limbs still exist. He feels like he is drifting in some hazy dream.
"Ruby tries to take care of me in the beginning. But her work with Yokai Academy became too much. So many doubts her ability to run the school with Mikogami san's death. She had enemies on all sides. She had to brave all those problems by herself. How can she have any more time to take care of me? So there, I was all alone."
Tsukune's vision is dancing wild like he's throw in a blender. He reminds himself no matter how bad he is feeling, Yukari must feel ten times worse. The vampire slowly walks forward and sits down on the couch. He gently runs his left hand through Yukari's long dark hair. Slowly guiding her head to rest on his shoulder.
"You and Moka gave me a family. I love you. The two years with you in Yokai Academy is the happiest days in my life. I just... wish I was not such a useless brat while it lasted." Yukari circles her arm around Tsukune as she talks with a low murmur. "Don't leave me again. Please."
"I won't, Yukari. Not again." Tsukune moves his hand through Yukari's hair as gentle as possible. Afraid he might shatter her into million pieces more. Slowly but surely, he picks up Yukari's breath become even as she finally nods into sleep.
The vampire bends his face down into his right hand.