CH 28
The reddish little samurai doll sat on the center of Ruby's magic circle on the floor. Ruby first cast a containment ring around the doll, then with Yukari, they summoned out the spirit that was inside the doll.
Mist formed above the doll to solidify into a ghostly samurai warrior. The man looked at Ruby, then Yukari. "Oh, such a lovely pair," he said in a wispy voice. Grinning lustfully, he locked his eyes on her chest and told Ruby, "and your little friend is very cute too."
"I thought so," Ruby mussed. Raising her wand, she said, "It is time for you to move on."
"Ahhh good!" the man said happily. "I've been inside that doll for far too long! Which one will you put me in? The two human men look interesting, but that vampire... ohh, the women I could have if I take his body!" he said beaming a lusty smile.
"You need to move on, into the next world," Ruby said firmly.
"Oh no," the samurai said, "I'm staying here. I see you have power, but so do I. Please, burn that doll, destroy it! Then I can migrate into that vampire boy. He has much stamina, I can have women all day long using his body!"
Ruby paused. This spirit had infected Tsukune, Kouta and Hosoi. They were now like anchors for him to this world. If she tried to send him on, he would only possess one of them. "Back into the doll for now," she concluded.
"No, wait! I could make you so happy, you lovely tidbit!" the samurai said, leering at her.
Ruby dispelled him. Having no other place to go, the spirit want back into the doll.
"Put it in a concrete block in the bottom of the ocean?" Yukari suggested.
"Not yet," Ruby mussed. "Before we seal him, we have to remove his hold on our men." Itching her chin in thought, Ruby said, "Ask Mother Superior, maybe she can exorcist him."
.
"OK," Moka said in an exhale to Suki, Lucy, Mariko and Ruby. "You've got the plan, are you ready?" She watched them nod firmly as if they were about to engage in combat.
Keeping their men contained was having it's problems. Tsukune still needed blood, and by their howls of lust if they did not get release soon, Apollo was worried that Hosoi and Kouta would start doing weird things with each other. Apollo had gotten the men into three separate storage rooms to save them possible great embarrassment when they came to their senses.
"Let's do it," Lucy said firmly.
Moka and Suki marched to Tsukune's room, Lucy went to Kouta's, and Ruby stopped before Hosoi's door. They all looked at Mariko, who stood by the stairs, ready to grab any man who came out with her vectors.
The women opened the doors and went in.
Moka had Suki go in ahead of her. Tsukune was lying on a crate. He looked up as Suki and Moka entered. Something passed over his face as he sat up.
Suki dropped her dress around her ankles, presenting him with her naked body. "Take me!" she cried, throwing her arms out to the sides.
Moka tried not to look or hear as Tsukune did. She kept reminding herself he needed blood, as she herself did. Rationalizing what they were doing still didn't make watching this any easier. After Tsukune had his fill of blood, she doft her clothes and took her turn.
.
Up in the family room, Mizore sat with Akemi and Kumiko to her sides as she watched the news broadcast showing the 'incredible' mid-air rescue of a man who had fallen off a building.
"See, there's mama Kurumu," she told Kumiko as the camera followed Kurumu's frantic flying to end up smashing into a truck that spit out debris as Kurumu and the man she was holding onto disappeared inside.
The scene played again in stop-motion as the anchorman used red circles to point out various stages of Kurumu's maneuvers.
"Ama Umu!" Kumiko cried, and toddled over to the TV.
"Ama Umu!" Akemi chorused, following her sister. They hit the screen and called, "Ama Umu!" as if somehow this would get Kurumu's attention. The TV fell over, causing distressed cries from both girls.
"Hope I'll be a mama," Mizore said as she rubbed her belly.
Behind her, Takio giggled as she picked up the remains of lunch. "Oh, Lady Mizore, I think there will be many mama's after this is over," she said in a happy tone.
"Umm," Mizore agreed.
.
Kurumu finally made it back to the studio after her hospital trip where the doctors sewed the tears in her wings closed. Upon attempting to fold them into her body, Kurumu winced from the pain. The doctors got her wings in a comfortable position and made a sling so she didn't have to try and hold them up herself. Adding a metal tube for support, they fashioned a devise that wrapped around her chest with the metal tube on her back, sticking up behind her head to support her wings. It wasn't very comfortable, but it worked. The worst part was trying to escape from the mass of reporters lying in wait to speak to her. It wasn't that Kurumu didn't want to talk to them, she was very late for practice. Right outside the studio, a mob waited for her, so the police car that brought her back stopped at the main entrance to the theater. She managed to get inside before the mob found her.
Coming in from the stage, Kurumu heard music. It stopped as people saw her. Her band and Chiyo's band greeted her with waves and 'Well done's'. The owner of the studio had a more selfish greeting.
"Ahh, Kurumu you're back! You are able to perform today, aren't you?" he asked.
"Of course she will," Kata assured him.
"Nice publicity stunt," Chiyo said with a snort.
"What?" Kurumu asked, staring at the blonde.
"That was a very good way to let yourself be known, pulling a stunt like that," Chiyo said.
Kurumu gapped at her. "You think I planned that? That man was going to fall to his death! What was I suppose to do?" she cried.
"Stop that Chiyo," Kata said firmly. "Kurumu-san did nothing of the sort! Although I am sure she did win a few fans by saving that man."
Kurumu turned her stare to Kata. Infuriated at them both, Kurumu said in a harsh tone, "A man almost died today, and me along with him! How can you even ... think about ... Arrrrgh!" she finished as she stomped over to her where her band was set up.
"It's business," Kata stated. "We can use that to help promote you."
Kurumu spun to glare at her, her eyes turned dark and her nails grew into claws as she radiated her Yokai energy. "YOU WILL NOT turn an act of mercy into a promotional campaign!" she spat. "If I hear of you even THINKING about using what I did for your own gain, I will slice you into ribbons!"
Kata backed away from her anger. The sound of instruments hitting the floor sounded as Kurumu's band gathered around her.
"Kurumu, she's not worth it!" Jun said with a squeak in his voice.
"Kurumu, calm down, please," Saiyuri said, wide-eyed.
Amid her band's cries for her not to kill Kata, Kurumu forced herself calm. They were right, they'd come to play music, not to fight. "OK, I'm OK now," Kurumu said in an even tone as she could manage. "Let's practice our songs together."
The band went back to their instruments, but Chiyo and most of her band were no longer there. Their instruments lay scattered on the floor.
Chiyo's drummer pointed to a side exit with his stick. "They ahhh, went out for lunch," he offered weakly.
.
Angela studied the doll that was still in the center of Ruby's magic circle. "I have never heard of exorcising an inanimate object before," she mussed.
Beside her, Ruby squirmed as she said, "If I force him from the doll, he will take residence in Tsukune."
Angela eyed her and said, "That is what exorcism does, dear. We may make the doll safe from him, but not those men."
"We have to do something!" Ruby complained. "I mean, it's kind of nice right now to get all that attention, but some of us are also becoming really sore."
Angela let out a 'harruph'. "Well then, we will have to make them safe from the spirit first, then get rid of the doll," she concluded.
"Right, but how?" Ruby asked. "We have no male witches, and any female that gets close to them, they go after! I can't concentrate while being made love to, and Yukari certainly can't go in the rooms with them."
Angela pursed her lips in thought, then said, "This is a spirit. Chris is very strong in her craft, and very devout. I believe she can cure this problem."
"Are you sure?" Ruby asked, eyeing her.
Angela nodded. "Let me see if Chris is willing to take the risk."
.
Angela dressed Chris in a boy's school uniform, hoping that would help avoid getting the men excited. Once Angela explained the hazards to her, and the fact that only Chris could cure the men, they knelt in prayer together.
Walking down to the storerooms with Mariko and Lucy as escorts, Chris knew the stakes. If she failed, and one of them forced himself upon her, she would endure it until she could chant her prayers. Standing before Hosoi's door, Chris stiffened herself. "I'm ready," she said with conviction.
Lucy opened the door with a vector. Chris stepped in, and the door was shut behind her.
Sitting against a wall, Hosoi looked up at her. Frowning, he asked, "Chris?"
Doing as Mother Superior said, Chris didn't waste time with small talk. She knelt down in front of Hosoi and held out her hands. "Hold my hands," she said firmly.
Hosoi did so as his face glazed over in lust.
"Pray with me first," Chris said. Closing her eyes, Chris began her prayer with all her heart for this man. "Heavenly father, this man, Hosoi, is a good man, we pray that you will drive this evil from him ..."
Chris felt his hands tighten in hers, then try to let go. Gripping his hands, she finished her prayer, then went on with the Lord's Prayer, saying every single word with pure conviction. When she was finished, she opened her eyes and let go of his hands.
Hosoi dove into her, hugging her tightly. In a flash, Chris' heart went into her throat. It didn't work! She braced herself for what was to come.
.
"Damn it!" Kurumu grumbled after hearing the news. They had waited around, doing nothing for three hours while Kata and the theater owner found Chiyo and tried to convince her to return to the studio.
Well, nothing except for brushing out the foam and noddles stuck in her hair. Kurumu bore a grimace as she tried to get those stubborn little evils to come out.
Kata returned to explain that even being threatened with a lawsuit for failing to keep a contract, and knowing her career would be over, Chiyo refused to sing with 'that monster'.
Kata straightened herself. "Kurumu, the concert is scheduled for two full hours. Can you fill all that time by yourself?" she asked.
Kurumu looked at Jun.
Jun shrugged. "We only have an hour's worth of music to perform. If we take an extended break, and you sing the songs you and Chiyo were suppose to do, we can stretch it out to an hour and a half," he offered.
"Explain the songs," Kata said quickly. "All your original material, explain what's behind the song before you play it. That will fill the time for you."
"And be cheerful," the theater owner added.
Kurumu frowned at him. Her wings were wrapped up in a sling, she would not be able to fly as she'd planned, her hair was a mess, and she couldn't even get dressed in her costume with this sling on! Not to mention the other half of the act had fled. "About what?" she asked.
"Your music," Kata said. "Forget everything else, go out and show those people the heart you have! Show them that no matter what, you have a message for the people and noting will stop you from delivering it!"
"She's right," Jun said. "Come on, we can do it, right guys?"
"Yes!" the band chorused.
.
"I'm so sorry!" Hosoi wailed and cried on Chirs' shoulder as he hugged her. "I wasn't able to stop myself! Please forgive me!"
Chris let out a sigh of relief that she wasn't going to get raped as she hugged him back. "It's all right now. Everything is fine. Let's go see Ruby, she is very worried about you."
Getting up with a tearful Hosoi, Chris led him out of the storage room. Seeing Lucy tense up, she said, "It's OK, he's cured."
"Please forgive my behavior," Hosoi said with a deep bow.
Mariko lit up in a smile. Taking Hosoi's hand, she said, "Come on, Papa, let's go see Ruby-mama."
Chris enjoyed seeing Hosoi walk up the stairs with his smallest daughter. She also noticed Lucy had moved to Kouta's door. Collecting her strength, Chris said a silent prayer, and went in to cure Kouta.
.
Chris had equal success with Kouta. She led him out of the room, and Kouta dropped to his knees before Lucy, begging her forgiveness. Lucy got him to his feet and held him tight. This time, she followed them upstairs as Lucy whispered reassuring words to him. At the top of the stairs, Moka and Nana waited.
"Tsukune might not be as easy," Moka warned. "He is a vampire and he can move very fast."
"I know the risks," Chris assured her. "If I fail, it is God's will. I owe it to Tsukune to do my best."
Despite her brave words, Chris was very nervous as they approached Tsukune's door. That doll had made him nearly insane with lust. Had that lust extended to his need for blood as well? Would she be sucked down to a dry husk before she could even get her prayer out? Her feet seemed to want to stick in place as she approached his door. She recited the Lord's Prayer as she slowly walked, becoming more convinced that this time she was indeed walking into the valley of death.
Stopping in front of the door, Chris jumped as Moka asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Chris wiped a tear from her eye. Casting a tiny grin at Moka's worried frown, she nodded. "I must," she stated.
"No one will hold it against you if you don't," Moka said softly.
"I must. Open the door," Chris stated. 'quickly before I run away', she thought.
Nana opened the door with a vector, and Chris strode in. This time, the door shutting behind her sounded like a tomb door being closed. Tsukune sat against the far wall, eyeing her.
"Please, before you do anything else, pray with me," Chris said firmly as she walked over to him.
Suddenly, Tsukune was right in front of her, gazing down on her with a red-eyed lusty grin.
Grabbing his hands that were on her shoulders, Chris begged, "Please, pray with me first." as tears dripped from her eyes.
"No need," Tsukune said in his lust filled voice as she turned her and laid her on the floor. "We can do this without praying for it."
Chris saw his fangs. They looked long and very sharp, and were sure to be embedded in her neck very soon.
.
Kurumu stood on stage listening to the murmur of conversations from the audience beyond the other side of the curtain. The Theater owner had wanted to explain to the audience the changes in the program. Kurumu told him not to, she would tell the people what happened. From the speakers came the announcement, "Ladies and Gentlemen! We proudly present to you ... The Flying Yokai!"
The curtain parted and a roar of applause went up. It died as people saw Kurumu wearing the cumbersome sling. She helped it die down by waving it down with her hands. Silence reigned as she spoke.
"Komenesai, everyone," Kurumu said meekly with a bow. "Many of the dance moves and flying I had planned to do, I can't do now. I had an accident earlier, and the doctor told me no using my wings for at least two weeks. We will still give you the best show we possibly can."
A man in the middle of the audience stood up and wailed out, "You're our HERO, Kurumu!"
The applause started back up and quickly blossomed into another roar of approval.
"Arigato," Kurumu said, feeling the good will radiating from the packed house before her. "This first song is for my dear husband. Please enjoy." Thrusting a fist in the air, she yelled, "So let's get this party started!"
They began with 'Yokai Love'. As she sang, Kurumu noted the people were clapping their hands to the beat, and even belting out, "Yokai Love!" in time with her.
For all the frustrations leading up to the concert, Kurumu now felt it had all been worth it.
.
Kurumu's dear husband was slowly flicking off the buttons of Chris' jacket, as if savoring the anticipation of a fine meal.
Staring up at him, Chris was desperate to get him to listen. Tsukune flipped her jacket open and began popping the buttons off her blouse. She kept a tight hold on his wrists as he was undressing her. "Tsukune, you MUST listen to me! Think of Moka ... of Kurumu... of your CHILDREN!"
Tsukune stopped. He gapped at her as his face glazed over.
"Pray with me, that is the only thing that will save us both!" Chris pleaded. "You will pray with me now, with all your heart!" Not waiting for him to reply. Chris began her prayers.
.
The bark of, 'Your CHILDREN' rattled through Tsukune's brain and snapped him out of his trance. Under him, the young witch Chris was looking up at him with a face set in determination even as tears ran down the sides of her face. Her jacket and blouse were opened, showing her white bra. 'what have I done? WHAT AM I DOING?' he though frantically.
"Pray with me, that is the only thing that will save us both!" Chris demanded. "You will pray with me now, with all your heart!"
Shocked at what he was about to do to this poor girl, Tsukune prayed with her just like she told him to.
.
Tsukune stood in the group, with Apollo standing near Tsukune, casting him a sour look. Although Ruby explained what happened and why, Tsukune felt lower than dirt.
"Moka," Tsukune said with a dry voice. "I ... don't deserve to be your husband after ... what I did."
"Nonsense!" Moka announced. "You were under the influence of an evil spirit. You could not control your actions, and don't you even think about casting aside your marriage vows to me!"
"OR ME" the rosary said sternly.
"We love you, we will not let you leave us," Moka added.
"The same with me," Ruby said, clasping Hosoi's hand.
"We aren't married yet, but I would like a ring soon," Lucy said, eyeing Kouta.
Kouta nodded, "Yes, of course."
Now that that's over," Ruby announced. "Let's go get rid of that doll!"
.
The concert that was suppose to be a one day affair, turned into four due to the near riot of people demanding to be able to see Kurumu on stage. Every day the place was sold out, and another concert was announced over the news to be given in two weeks.
After the high of four straight days of singing her best in front of people who adored her, Kurumu was exhausted. She slept on the plane home, she slept in the limo, and woke up in their courtyard. Waving goodbye to her band members, Kurumu dragged her luggage in the house to be greeted by Tsukune and Moka.
"Its soo good to be home!" Kurumu said with a sigh as she hugged Tsukune and Moka to her.
"I'll get those for you," Tsukune said and reached for her bags.
"Lord Aono! Let me," Suki said, beaming him a smile. She added as an afterthought, "Welcome home, Lady Kurumu."
Sensing something in Suki's voice, Kurumu asked, "Something happen while I was gone?"
Tsukune coughed, itched an ear and said, "I'll ummm, tell Minori to get some refreshment for you. You look beat." He turned and walked off.
Kurumu looked at Moka. "What happened?" she asked.
Moka told Kurumu about the doll and Tsukune's wild, unrelenting sexual behavior. By Kurumu's fists curling up, she added, "Don't blame Tsukune. He feels bad about it."
"It's not that," Kurumu said in a whine. "I MISSED IT!" she belted out, and dropped to her knees crying.
