Limit Lovers

Chapter 11: Blood Pain: Mother And Son Side B

Written By Illuminet

Disclaimer: The characters from Rosario + Vampire are the rightful property of Akihisa Ikeda.

"..."-Speech

'...'-Thought

/R+V\

-Territory of Jiang-Shi-Town of Golden Leaves-

\R+V/

"More of them?" Rubi had been surprised as Jiang-Shi popped out of the houses and other areas, backed by a few more Krakens descending from the sky.

"This force is much smaller. Looks like they won't be too effective except to stall us for a bit." Kokoa said, tapping her scythe across her shoulder. Singing could be heard from the far distance.

"What the...? My body feels heavy all of a sudden...!" Kurumu fell from the sky, luckily Inner Moka was there to intercept her, but soon found herself toppling over as well.

"Impossible! There should be no reason I can't lift you up, Succubus. That singing..." She tried to bring herself back up, but it was as if Kurumu was too heavy for her to carry.

"My wand, desu! I can't lift it, desu!" Yukari looked really pitiful at the moment, trying to lift her wand but unable to do so, despite how light it was. The same could be said of Rubi as well, as she staggered to maintain her balance.

"This is an effect from a Siren's song." Kasumi seemed unworried, as well as unaffected. Tsukune was hunched forward. One massive tentacle was coming down at them with impressive speed, yet Kasumi remained impassive to it.

"Hey ma'am! Do something!" Kokoa was staggering also, hefting her scythe in both hands. Still the woman stayed as she was.

"Can you not surpass your own limitations, my son? I know you can do better. The lives of those you care for are on the line. I've shown you one of my tricks, so why not show me one of your own?" She spoke simply. The tentacle was nearly upon them. With a fierce battle cry, Tsukune broke the sound of the Siren song long enough to create a kanji barrier of great proportions. When the tentacle slammed into it, the force was drawn into the seal as it tread to Tsukune's empty hand. The tentacle still kept it's descent, awaiting Tsukune's palm as he thrust it forward.

"Huh?" Mizore nearly dropped her lollipop as she could only gape at the sight. It looked very odd to see Tsukune looking like he pushed the enormous Youkai off balance. The size difference made it look near comical, as several buildings and the ground were uplifted with the Kraken's fall and crushing several of the Jiang-Shi. The other two remaining Kraken also looked in surprise at the display.

"Now...!" Tsukune rushed in, feeling the pulse of the Blood Pain spike. Though it brought great pain to his body, it combined with his strong will brought him greater resistance to the Siren Song that kept playing in the air and allowed him to move despite the heavy weight effect. The Krakens and Jiang-Shi reacted to his movement, trying to swarm him. He twisted through one of the Jiang-Shi's sharp claws, kicking out with his foot to it's chest. It went flying, knocking some of the buildings themselves down.

"What is that strength? I've never seen Tsukune use it before..."Inner Moka said. The Siren Song kept them rooted.

"He's using the excess force of the Kraken's attack that would have surely crushed you all, it's strength now a part of his own. It will get weaker until he has gone back to his normal strength, as the effect is only temporary. How will only show me techniques I am already aware of. He won't show me how he was able to use the Dark Chasm against Kyouko. It is rather irritating...but at the same time, I would expect nothing less." Kasumi had the barest of smirks on her lips upon seeing Tsukune in action.

"This is ridiculous, desu!" Even with her wand weighing her down, Yukari was able to generate a spell from it. A wave of light emitted from the wand, able to disrupt the Siren song.

"Rubi-san, help me keep this spell going, desu! If we can just create a big enough radius..." Yukari called to her older sister figure. The dual spell they cast was able to reach far enough for the other girls to move more freely without being weakened by the Siren song's effect.

"Good thinking, Yukari-chan! Hey Kurumu, fly up and see if you can spot where the Sirens are singing from.

"On it." The Succubus took wing and went skyward. Unfortunately, the Siren song effects were beyond her scope of vision, and she was unable to make out there locations. She grumbled as she realized she was starting to fall against once outside the top of the barrier, falling back to within the protective confines. All she could do was get back to the current fighting.

"So, even these children have amazing talent and potential. Is it that cofidence that drove them to brave such a journey with my son, I wonder..." Kasumi saw that they were useful in their own ways it seemed. Tsukune's was still out of the barrier's effects, but was still holding his own. The Krakens attacks were pretty ruthless however, and he tried to erect another kanji barrier to turn their strength against them, but it wasn't happening as long as they kept the pace of their tentacles lashing out to put him on the evasive as they shattered his incomplete seals. He wasn't given the time to create the large barrier as he had the first time.

"Dammit." The barrier he created this time was a normal one, shining red in hue compared to his usual ones. One of the Krakens struck it, only to be rendered to an immobile state. Tsukune hopped up one of the paralyzed tentacles that was about to pound him into the ground, running up the length and slamming the end of his sheath dead center on the Kraken's mantle. It too fell on the ground and smashing all underneath it. Tsukune fell to ground level again, looking at the last one still standing.

"Even if I lose..." The Kraken muttered, rushing at them with abandon and preparing to slam his whole body on them.

"Shit! Everyone, run!" Tsukune warned, understanding what was about to happen. He was preparing to create another barrier but knew it would be shoddy at best, just enough to slow the Kraken's movement and allow their escape from it's descending body. Inner Moka took a running start towards the enemy.

"This one's mine!" Her aura flared, providing a barrier like effect about her to protect against the Siren songs as she went past the effects of Yukari and Rubi's own barrier. She took an impressive leap, her foot connecting with the Kraken face. She got him directly between the eyes. It wasn't enough to kill him as his hide was too thick, but he was knocked unconscious and veered off course, slamming into some other buildings much as the one Tsukune knocked out.

"There we go. We really need to stop the effects of those Siren songs though. I forgot my aura could be used as a form of protection, but our range of movement will be limited if we need to rely on that magic barrier for all of us." Inner Moka claimed.

"The barrier should be no problem. We can still cast offensive spells too." Rubi said firmly.

"That may be so Rubi-san, but we will also not be at full offensive capacity if we need to focus on the barrier spells as well, desu." Yukari mentioned with a tint of worry in her voice.

"I know it will take more concentration, but we can't be caught up in that stupid spell effect again. I just want us to be as useful as the others are in the battles to come, Yukari-chan." Rubi seemed to want to say more, but Tsukune placed and a hand on her shoulder.

"Defense can be just as important as offense, Rubi-san. You and Yukari focus on using defense spells for now so that we may mount an effective offense. This is a valid strategy and not to be underestimated. Neither you or Yukari-chan will be deemed useless for providing such a service which is, in all honesty, essential to our team. We must all pull our weight in different ways to mitigate our weaknesses and using our strength to keep pressing forward." Tsukune's smile brought a smile to Rubi's own face.

"Sorry Tsukune. I guess sometimes I wish I could do more on both sides like yourself. But your right, given the situation we are in and fighting with so many Youkai, our small force needs to remain vigilant and healthy enough to meet with the Kitsune's leader." Rubi admitted.

"We should be on our way. I have just taken measures against those Siren currently singing. They should be dealt with shortly, so you may conserve your Magic energies, Witches. " Kasumi claimed.

"Just? What is it that you've done, Ma'am?" Mizore questioned. Kasumi turned towards the Snow Woman.

"Much as those of your kind can generate ice clones or my son's constructed clones formed of Ki energy, I've done something similar. Pieces of myself are attacking those Siren's as we speak." As if to prove her point, silence reigned, halted near simultaneously.

"So you just keep helping us out? What about all that nonsense about drawing Tsukune's power out fully? To see that Dark Chasm thingy he does and all." Kokoa glared disdainfully at the woman, whose gaze was as passive as when they all first met her.

"You all who walk the path my son does are all proving your own worth. It allows my son to focus on fighting in his typical way, allowing him to hide that which I want to truly see." She started to walk, and the others followed, with mixed reactions.

'She could incapacitate us at any moment I'm sure. Even Tsukune should realize it. So why doesn't she take us out? Or will she do it at a later time. None of us should ever leave complete sight of her!' Mizore thought. Tsukune caught her gaze, passing a subtle nod as if to confirm her thoughts.

"You could just fight us here and draw it out from Tsukune himself, desu. I don't like to admit it...but we are likely no match if you can simply turn us to stone, and leave Tsukune without any back up, desu." Yukari voiced, her gaze firm. She was tired of seeing how Tsukune was dragged out by the remnants as he was, how they always seem to try and prolong his suffering in some way or another. She hated how they were doing this, desecrating what remaining good memories he may have had of his family from way back when.

"That is very true, young one. There is no need to stall anything like this as I am doing now, but yet I shall continue to do so. For as Tsukune's mother, I am proud to see how he has endured his burden. How he continues to try and withstand Azure. His options are limited now that Azure is drawing in the dimensions, but the great Black Beast continues to be defied." Kasumi answered.

"As a remnant, you can't be okay with that, though, right?' Inner Moka tried to gauge the reactions within Kasumi, but the woman remained with her passive mask.

"It matters not. For now, though, we should keep moving to avoid reinforcements impeding us any further." Kasumi turned away and began to walk ahead. Inner Moka was about to grab her by the shoulder.

"That didn't really answer my question...!" She was halted when Tsukune's palm was atop her hand.

"She is right for now. It is best to move while the opposition has to regroup. We will get our answers in time, Moka." He said, though his wary gaze assured the Vampire he wasn't pleased any further then they were.

'My senses to the Blood Pain...I'm becoming more aware of it, therefore more accustomed after all. It didn't take long either...and if I focus hard enough, I can feel what seems to be a ripple in her own heart...I always suspected that perhaps the victims of Crimson's consuming could perhaps be strong enough to plant even the most remote of influence from their souls upon them, despite being eaten. Kyo-chan gave me a valid look when that remnant tried to escape. It told me not to lose, much like she did. There must be something the remains of my mother's soul that is trying desperately to imprint on the remnant. Can I do it? Can I use the Blood Pain to learn her true emotions? To find her exact intent?' Tsukune thought to himself as he walked on ahead, the others not far behind.

/R+V\

-Territory of Siren-Chime Tower-

\R+V/

"One of his companions was able to do that? Well now...that is quite something. But even so, she should not be able to bypass your mother's song of protection. Now go." The Siren King said with a wave of his hand to the three sisters who reported their analysis of the fighting going on so far. Kanade Kamiya smirked at the hearing of their report. Dressed in blue armor that shimmered when light touched it's surface, only added on to the beauty of it's design. But all it's finery was merely a design.

"Tsukune the Blood-Edge...the legendary Death Bringer is coming. Coming here to my castle. Only the Dark Lords can resist the damage my songs can do to physical flesh...but the Blood-Edge and his companions will be a different matter entirely!" Despite his front as a good King, Kanade had wanted to overthrow even the Dark Lords in his bid for power. Unfortunately, the chances had been slim with him having to be under Lord Nine Tails rule. Knowing that Tsukune stood a chance against the Dark Lord could be the opportunity he was looking for to assassinate the current head of the Kitsune.

'We'll keep up the pretenses of being passive for a while longer. Sun's song is strong, but I'm sure Tsukune the Blood-Edge will be able to bypass it. He'll weaken Nine Tails for me and Nine Tails should weaken him enough as well! I'll kill them both in one shot!' Kanade made his way down the tower.

/R+V\

-Territory of Siren- Chime Castle front-

\R+V/

"The Sirens are singing again. But so far it's not impeding us at all..."Inner Moka said. The musical voice was haunting as it was beautiful. The group looked pretty worse for ware, having dealt with other creatures Kamiya and Kotsubo could summon besides Kraken. They were almost to the castle of the Siren, the Jiang-Shi's territory having been reduced in size quite greatly due to the melding of dimensions that few other towns existed. The castle was close enough to the border of the Kitsune territory from what they could see. Past the castle was a thick forest that lead up to a high mountain were they saw a speck of the towering castle that they knew could only belong to the Kitsune.

"Hey Vampire, you okay? This is the longest you've been released from what I've seen." Kurumu mentioned.

"And it's the most lovely thing! My precious big sister!" Kokoa was as giddy as a five year old child. Inner Moka sighed. Save for that crazy sister complex Kokoa had, Moka was glad that her little sister was at least proving her worth out there in combat and not being too distracted by the silver haired Vampire she adored.

"With all these battles, it's allowing me to burn up excess energy from my demonic aura from building up too much. It is as much a weapon for me as my physical body, and overall, I know I am needed more than my outer half right now. These fights are no place for the truly passive of heart." She explained.

"The dimensions are closing in even tighter than before it seems, desu." Yukari observed the change compared to the other areas they were at. Kasumi halted them at the castle.

"It seems you won't be able to go further. This Siren song...it forms a massive unseen barrier of which cannot be breached by any conventional means." Kasumi stated.

"That's right, ma'am. You got it spot on!" The familiar form of Kotsubo came into view, walking past the twin doors before they shut behind him.

"Your that fucking lecher!" Kurumu was scathing. He walked past the barrier's range to them, seeing a rippling effect occur around his frame as he bypassed it, the only proof a barrier was actually in place.

"Yeah, yeah...guilty as charged. Sorry if I can't entertain on this ever eventful conversation and our reunion, but I got a duty to fulfill." Kotsubo tapped his pipe across his shoulder, his one good eye becoming grim while his normally smiling face became stoic and cold.

"So you'll take things seriously from the get go, Kotsubo. Perhaps it's for the best if you don't want to lose your remaining eye." Tsukune said.

"Well, aren't we having a bad day, Tsukune the Blood-Edge." He blew into his pipe, exhaling a massive cloud of black smoke upon them. Tsukune twirled his weapon like a propeller, making the smoke dissipate. Kotsubo shown his true form quickly, flanked by two Kraken guard captains. All of their tentacles slamming downward. Tsukune reacted quickly as he stepped forward, drawing his nodachi in a wide arc, several disc shaped barriers forming with the movement of his swing before fluidly placing the nodachi in it's sheath. When the tentacles made contact, they were seared cleanly off. Kotsubo and his fellow Krakens felt aggravated, their limbs not able to regenerate back.

"What the fuck did you do?" One of the Kraken roared out eying the still present kanji barriers as they remained in the air.

"Whatever comes in contact with those barriers is halted painfully and any positive effects or powers they possess, such as regenerative healing in your case, is nullified temporarily." Tsukune explained. It was a genius technique he had worked with his father on to fight off Crimson in times long past. But the body of the Black Beast was the only force able to take on such a powerful dispelling technique which would normally be radically effective against Youkai. Tsukune was the one to perfect and try the technique and learn this the hard way.

"That technique...I remember you tried to use it against me that time...it might have worked in killing me too had you not been so softhearted back then. Now such a technique would be useless against myself. A pity." Kasumi mentioned. Tsukune did remember it well. The main thing that was lacking in the otherwise strong technique was that the barriers remained stationary where they were summoned at through a physical object, and could easily be bypassed had the opponent not attacked so widely like the three Kraken had. The blade of the nodachi was more ideal to use as well compared to the sheath since the streamline edge allowed the compact barriers to form more quickly as well, but Tsukune would rather keep the blade sheathed as often as he could. So the technique was rarely used.

"Damn bastard...still, a nice little trick you pulled off there. Seems I'm at a disadvantage now." Kotsubo said, sounding only vaguely disappointed though. He took an impressive leap, getting behind the group.

"But if the effect is temporary, all I need to do is stall you like I initially was suppose to anyway. I doubt you want to swing that blade with any of your precious girls in the way for a pincer attack." He and his brethren balanced to strike the team from all sides. Kasumi could have easily halted this, but chose not to. The girls dispersed to evade.

"Where are you all going? Don't tell me I frighten you!" Kotsubo lashed out with his remaining tentacles.

...Con't...

Next=Blood Pain: Mother And Son Side C