Chapter 36: The Floating Garden

Nathan's P.O.V.

Deciding that my adult form would grant me a higher chance of survival, I had advanced my age last night before going to bed. I now stood among the crowd of remaining Fairy Tale members, there were far more than I had hoped, listening to Gyokuro Shuzen, the leader of Fairy Tale, give a speech. Well ok I wasn't really listening, I was deciding how best to interrupt her scheme and just overall ruin her day. I decided to go for the direct approach. We had spread out within the crowd, so I was alone and there was little chance of my actions being connected to the others, even if she could sense our intentions. As the screen behind her flickered to life, showing a sealed Moka sitting in a barrier that would slowly dismantle the rosary's seal, I jumped onto the back of the head of the man in front of me. I used him as a springboard to propel myself onto the balcony Gyokuro was standing on to give her speech. As soon as I landed I went for the attack, only to be intercepted by her two bodyguards. They weren't particularly tough, and I had them beaten quickly, but they bought enough time for hell to break loose. My surprise attack had ended in failure however, we never expected it to work, mostly because no one else expected it. I knew that the others who had snuck in with me had gotten out of the room, and were likely now being pursued by the remaining heavy hitters. I was thrown back into the crowd and was forced to waste my time fighting the fodder while Gyokuro slipped out. I fought to a door and made use of my stealth to conceal my presence when to crowd funneled into the halls. I could sense Moka and went towards her.

I caught up to Issa on the way and the two of us ran in together. When Akua confronted us, I told Issa to go to Moka, and that I would handle Akua. He seemed to question this for a moment, but did as I asked.

"Well, looks like now I get to fight you at your full strength." Akua mused as she slid into her fighting stance.

"Heh, this should be an interesting fight indeed." I said, sliding into my own stance.

At some unseen signal we both rushed forward, clashing quickly and ferociously. Her technique in Chinese Kenpo at nearly a master level, and myself being at a slightly higher level. I was fighting at a pace I wasn't as comfortable with as I would like, realizing I had let her set the pace. I fired off a shockwave of the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou, causing a moment of separation before jumping back at Akua, setting the pace at one that was more suited to my liking. However she soon did as I had, created separation then jumped in changing the pace. Thirty minutes of this and the only thing we have accomplished is moving our fight to the surface of the base.

I noticed the plane that held our reinforcements coming in, and was glad that Ginei had accomplished his part in this plan. He had disabled the anti-air defenses, preventing the Floating Garden from shooting down the plane. Happy that soon Natalie would be here to take over fighting Akua, it had been decided she would do so when Touhou Fuhai and I had commented on her using a similar style of fighting to Akua. I would spend too much time trying to adjust the pacing to my liking, as the fight had gone so far, whereas Touhou Fuhai, would likely have issues keeping up with her stamina. I just had to stall Akua a little longer before Natalie gets over here, and I can go find a fight more suited to me.

Nick's P.O.V.

As soon as our plane landed, it was swarmed by Fairy Tale members. Touhou Fuhai, Yukari, Fanfan, and Kenta would lead Yokai Academy's forces to prevent most of them from interfering in the higher level fights. Natalie, Ethan, Mason, Haiji, Cocoa, and I had quickly gotten on top of the plane to find our targets. When Kurumu and I had learned that Gorou would be here, we had both declared him as our target. I had allowed Kurumu the first shot only after she pointed out I would likely be the one to actually beat him, she wasn't as strong as he or I after all. Ethan would go after Gyokuro, since his versatility should be able to counter whatever overpowered ability she has, Issa would likely join that fight if needed. Haiji and Cocoa would join Ginei and Mizore in taking out Kahlua, Mason looking for that fight as well since he was concerned for their safety. Natalie was to take Akua, allowing Nathan to change his focus to Cyrus. The relief that we felt learning that Darke was dead, and Jayson was gone, was what allowed us to plan our attack the way we had.

I saw Nathan battling Akua, which looked fairly even since they were a complete mismatch with each other, I pointed it out to Natalie and she jumped towards the fight. A little ways to the left I saw Cyrus clearly dominating the pair that had formerly led the fourth branch, he may have even killed one of them, but I knew Nathan would get there before I could so I turned my focus back to finding my target. Positioned far behind the rest of the battles, completely cut off by rubble, I saw Issa fighting furiously against who I assumed was Gyokuro. Moka was seemingly unsealed and was cradling Tsukune's head in her lap, from my perspective I couldn't tell why she was, but Ethan had just found them so I knew I would know the reasons soon. Haiji and Cocoa leapt away seconds later drawing my focus to that direction. I found their target just as Mason jumped after them, Kahlua was standing over a badly beaten Ginei and Mizore, seemingly bawling. I turned my focus to the far left of the battle field, where I soon found what I sought.

A burst of flame a little closer to the edge we had approached from told me exactly where I needed to go. A few seconds later, after confirming my target, I took to the sky and flew as fast as I could manage to where Kurumu was losing badly. A massive fireball was speeding straight at her, she would die for sure if that hit. I arrived just in time to grab Kurumu and get her out of its path.

"Heero." She said weakly as she looked up at me. I was currently holding her bridal style, Gorou behind me. Kurumu had tears in her eyes and her voice was hoarse, indicating she had spent much of her fight screaming at Gorou. "I couldn't avenge him." She gave a soft sob as she said that, before an oddly content smile came onto her lips. "But I'll be with him soon, and I did manage to do some damage, so you can avenge Nishimaru for sure now." I tried to say something, but she placed a finger on my lips before I could. "Shhh. It's okay. I knew I wouldn't leave here. A succubus is a creature that lives for love. One with a broken heart can never last long."

"Kurumu… I promise, Gorou will be in hell in less than twenty minutes." I swore, feeling my body shift into the fifth point. Kurumu gave me a grateful smile and closed her eyes for the last time. "Tell him I will take care of them." I kissed her forehead and laid her down.

"So the slut has finally died. Serves her right, the bi-." Gorou never finished his slander because in that instant I was upon him. I was giving him everything I had, pushing even my "Fifth Point" to its limits. I wanted to be sure that no matter what hell waited for him when he died, he would remember who had sent him there, and why. I slammed my fist into his face, feeling his skull give slightly at the force of the blow. Before his head had even had time to snap back from that punch, I had driven my other fist so deep into his core that he emptied is stomach on my arm. Next I delivered a roundhouse kick which would have sent him flying had I not repositioned myself and delivered an axe kick with my other leg, my heel driving his body through the floor. I dived down after him, and nineteen minutes twenty three seconds after Kurumu had died, I stood over a prone Gorou.

"When the boatman asks who sent you, remember my name." I told him, his eyes widening in fear as I drove my foot down upon his face, crushing his skull beneath my boot. I flew slowly back to the surface and retrieved Kurumu's body from where I had left it. I felt my strength leave me and walked slowly back to the plane, my part in this battle was over.

Mason's P.O.V.

I began healing Mizore and Ginei before I even stopped running towards them. I slid to a stop, already knelt beside them and increasing the power and focus I spent on their recoveries. I paid only enough attention to the fight to ensure I needn't move or guard my current patients. Cocoa and Haiji were doing quite well, since both were more close combat oriented than the two we had sent in first. Combining high level healing spells and a few potions, I had the other two back up and fighting in just under fifteen minutes. Sending a quick healing spell to both Cocoa and Haiji, I turned my focus from the fight to set a protective barrier around myself. Once that was set, I was now floating about a foot off the ground in what was basically a bubble. It required minimal concentration to maintain, and its only cost to my power is what was used in its creation. This allowed me to focus on using my power to continually heal the four who were actively fighting against Kahlua.

Hearing that Neal had fallen in battle had thrown the reality of our situation into the face of the five of us. I personally knew that my chances of survival was reduced each time one of my allies fell. If you look at us like a party in an MMO, or any RPG. Nick and Nathan are our Tanks, they are the more durable, and most likely to survive if left alone. Ethan would be the obvious Mage, he has the best chance of survival when someone else can take the heat, but he can also fight alone he would just have to be a little more creative. Natalie is like a Bard in several regards, she uses 'Songs' to cause various effects to friend and foe, but can also do some melee combat, her survival chances and methods are similar to Ethan's. Neal would be some kind of DPS, whether you chose to consider him ranged or melee, he had a more unpredictable attack pattern than Nick or Nathan, but couldn't take as much abuse, in any RPG if the Tanks fell or were unavailable he would be their substitute, therefore we had no doubts he could handle himself if left alone. Upon realizing he couldn't, my role as Healer became a death sentence if many more of them fell. It became clear to me, that my best chance for survival was to stay out of direct combat as much as possible if not more. I needed them to survive so I could survive, the best way for this to happen, I realized, was to stop fighting and start healing. I would start studying less offensive techniques and spend more time on healing and defensive techniques. I realized as well that there was nothing I could have done to change what had happened, the only thing that could have changed it would have been if Nathan had gone to the Third Branch instead, but that would likely have ended with Darke or Jayson still being factors, possibly both, and we still could have lost one of us.

Twenty seven minutes after our battle began, Mizore created a massive mass of ice above Kahlua. Kahlua mashed it to bits, which was exactly what we wanted. Ginei used his impressive speed to contain the thousands of ice flakes in a tight area around Kahlua, Haiji flying overhead used his air manipulation to melt them, which weakened Kahlua negating her ability to regenerate. Once Ginei stopped running, Cocoa leapt in with the finishing blow. Cocoa was crying as she did so, which was understandable since her enemy was her own sister, but Kahlua thanked her and told her not to cry. Our battle over, we began our way back to the plane.

Natalie's P.O.V.

I landed off to the side of Nathan's battle against Akua. She was in control right now and I used these few seconds to study her movements first hand. Seeing an opening, I rushed in and intercepted a strike from Akua, shifting her focus onto me. Nathan stepped back and jumped away after he was sure Akua was focused on me.

"Another one who has learned the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou?" Akua asked as we separated.

"It would seem so, and I can't help but notice the similarities in our movements as well." I reply, taking a single step to the left. "This should be an interesting fight."

"I agree." We just stared at each other while circling for a solid two minutes before we began the fight anew.

I have to be honest, even as the fight is happening, it is hard to tell whose kick is a counter to whose punch, who's Hougetsu Jigen-Tou was used in retaliation for whose lucky slap. Both of our movements were so fluid, so quick, so precise, even I no longer knew if I was on the offensive or was simply countering her, and judging from her souring expression she didn't know either. A sweep countered by an axe kick countered by an uppercut countered by a straight right countered by an overhead heel kick countered by a shoulder throw countered by a stomp to the face countered by the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou…. Endless counters countered by endless counters, for almost thirty minutes that was how it went until we both landed a solid shot. She had landed a vampire strength enhanced palm to my stomach, while I had introduced my boot to her throat. We were both knocked from out feet, both exhausted, and both of us ready for this to be over. Once we both had struggled to our feet, we looked into each other's eyes.

"Why do you oppose Fairy Tale?"

"Because I have seen the good in humanity, just as I'm sure many of your members have seen the bad. Why do you support them?"

"I am one who has seen the bad, I have also always sought the power of the shinso, like that of Alucard."

"Why?"

"What?"

"Why would you want power comparable to someone history has all but forgotten? Listen, when it was decided that I would be the one to fight you, I looked for anything I could find to help me understand you. Know thy enemy and all that. I know that as a CHILD you were known throughout China as the 'Black Devil' because of you strength and the Hougetsu Jigen-Tou, which you learned on your own and mastered after seeing its true power once. A woman like you, like me, we don't need to be compared to some man that history forgot, we make our own names. We are strong, independent women and can become great without the crutch of being 'like that famous person'." When I finished my little rant, she smiled.

"You're right." She wiped some blood from her mouth before turning and walking away. "We're done here, we are both spent and are out of this fight." Staring blankly at her back, I watched her disappear back inside the fortress. I shook my head and started back toward the plane.

Ethan's P.O.V.

She had killed Tsukune. Gyokuro had managed to make a device that she claimed would allow her to use Moka's rosary as a way to revive and control the monstrous Alucard. Tsukune had managed to destroy the device, which had driven Gyokuro to kill him. Moka had forced herself awakened as a result, only to be injured by Gyokuro. Issa had witnessed this and flown into a fury, attacking Gyokuro. He has calmed down, dangerously, and, upon learning Moka's feelings towards Tsukune, is now staking his life on avenging the boy.

When I arrived I did what I could for Moka's physical wound and told her to take Tsukune to the plane. I would have to support Issa, not just to defeat Gyokuro, but to ensure that Moka did not lose her father the same day as the man she loved.

Revealing eyes in the palms of her hands, Gyokuro gained the ability to use the power of any of her fallen comrades. It was due to this that my entrance into the battle was countering a fire blast. Issa instantly adjusted to the new conditions of the battle. He engaged Gyokuro in hand to hand, and allowed me to deal with her stolen powers. Once we had been able to seamlessly fight together, the fight was over in minutes. However, during the time it took for us to do so, Moka had made her way back to the fight. It had been thirty five minutes since my arrival, and Moka's fury was causing the entire Floating Garden to tremble.

Nathan's P.O.V.

As soon as Akua was focused on Natalie, I leapt away from them and towards the immortal I knew was nearby. Cyrus had Routier by the throat, her chainsaw, I saw, was twenty feet behind her driven through the, now former, leader of the Miu Family. I reduced my gravity so I could move normally and took Routier from Cyrus' grip by planting my foot in his face. I carried her over to where her boss, and suspected lover, was. I laid her down next to him, removing the chainsaw from his chest. Routier's last words were a request for me to take her chainsaw, and "Shove it up his ass." Before I could respond, she was already gone, I would try to use her tool of choice to deal the final blow. Whether or not I was able to do exactly as she requested remained to be seen.

Cyrus was back on his feet and, upon recognizing me, had begun his transformation. I took the opportunity to start the chainsaw, which I learned was fueled by the wielders power, and to transform myself as much as I could.

Both of us now at full power, we began our attempts to murder each other. I found the chainsaw to be wonderfully ineffective against his tough hide. It would still work if I could get past the outer protection of his fur, but for now it lay discarded where it landed after he knocked it from my grip. I was now attempting to make my flames devour him, even if my smaller attacks were ineffective I didn't mind, as long as some Coldfire still 'burned'. I had discovered when I crafted my "Coldfire Style: Ryuzanha" that it took considerably less time and power when there were coldfires already in the area. The more there was, the less I needed to add, however if I still added as much as I could, then it became the more there was the bigger it became.

Both of us found the other to be irritating. Cyrus' fur made most of my coldfire blasts ineffective and his speed made it hard for me to actually hit him. My coldfire cloak made it difficult for him to get close, while my defense made his strikes mostly ineffective, those claws still sucked. I had been glad to learn that Lycanthropy didn't affect a phoenix, which meant I didn't need to worry about avoiding my skin being broken. So for a little more than half an hour, he was attempting to basically poke me to death while I was essentially committing grand arson. Finally I had had enough and I believed the stage was set. I took to the air and started gathering my power, and the coldfire.

"Coldfire Style: Ryuzanha!" I shouted as I launched my attack, swooping down and unleashing it at pointblank range.

I jumped back, just in case, and noticed that the entire fortress had started trembling. At first I thought I may have damaged something in the fortress itself. Then I felt it, a dark power even higher than the immortals we've faced thus far. After all, while the three were immortals and had godlike status among their kind, they were still members of their species, albeit exceptionally powerful members. This however was something else, I could tell it was mortal, it would die on its own eventually, but it was terrifyingly powerful. I realized what it was just before the first tentacle burst through the floor. I was about to go try to help fight Alucard when Cyrus appeared in front of me smashing my face with his fist.

"Your fight is still with me." He said as he practically teleported to my side and kicked me in the ribs, launching me across the floor. I was in shock, not only had Cyrus survived my best shot at pointblank range, but somehow Alucard had been revived. I was losing now, my flames had gone out as I no longer had the strength to maintain them, and Cyrus kept hitting me sending me flying in various directions while screaming about my destroying his pack. I could tell that Cyrus was putting more power into his attacks than he had, but it didn't matter, I knew he would just blackout for some time before recovering. I could sense Touhou Fuhai release his true power, as well as the arrival of the Chairman, and I knew they were two of the three dark lords that had defeated Alucard in the past, but without Akasha Bloodriver, Moka's Mother and most powerful member of the three, they stood no chance. Then I sensed Moka join them, for a while the four powers just stood there, Alucard's tentacles ceasing their flailing. Then came the light, a bright light came from the center of the fortress and when it faded all four powers were gone, as was any physical remains.

Cyrus was closing in to finish me, but now that Alucard had been removed from the equation I had some fight left. I moved my arms, ready to flip out of the way of his attack, and my left hand hit something. Looking to my left I saw Routier's chainsaw. I looked at Cyrus, seeing he was intending to rip my throat out with his teeth, he screamed as much, I grinned. Grabbing the chainsaw, I powered it up and thrust it forward, right into the open mouth of the oncoming Immortal. Yes dear readers… voices in my head, I have to quit doing this, shoving a chainsaw down someone's throat is just as bloody and gory as you just pictured… possibly worse considering I was seated firmly in the splash zone. I worked my way out from under the dead immortal and got to my feet. Walking slowly over to Routier I laid the chainsaw beside her.

"I didn't shove it up his ass like you asked. But I did manage to shove it down his throat. I hope that is close enough to give you peace." I didn't kneel, since I didn't know if I'd be able to stand again, but I did bow my head as I spoke. My words said, my respects paid, I started my way over to where the others were waiting. Ethan caught up with me quickly and started healing what he could of my injuries as we walked to a secluded section of the Garden. We arrived to find the other three already waiting.

"Kurumu is dead. So is Tsukune." Nick said when we were all together. He and Natalie had been treated by Mason before we had arrived. Nick had been uninjured but was currently in his 'Negative Point' and Natalie was mostly just exhausted. Mason helped me sit on a piece of rubble.

"So are Miu-san and Routier." I said as Mason began treating me.

"Moka, the Chairman, and Touhou Fuhai sacrificed themselves to kill Alucard, who it turns out was also Miyabi. All Issa and I could find of Moka was her Rosary, which is powerless now." Ethan said, waving off Mason's attempts to heal him.

"The four who fought Kahlua are all fine, as are Yukari, Fanfan, Lingling, and Kenta. We did lose some MMA club members, and some members of C.R.E.G. but we have destroyed almost all of Fairy Tale's forces.

"I don't know about the rest of you… but I am ready to leave this world." I said standing back up, my injuries healed enough that I could move on my own. The other four nodded and stood as well one by one. "Then let's get out of here, does everyone have enough strength left to fly?" Once again the others all nodded. We flew off the side of the fortress and I took the lead, leading them to the house Gosora and I had used. "When Will and Ken were here last, they left an artifact that can be used to summon Gosora. Will told me to use it when we were all ready." I explained when we landed in the back yard. It was well after dark and all of the neighbors were long asleep. We summoned Gosora and departed this world without looking back.

~A/N~

I own nothing.

So I haven't uploaded yet this week... To apologize I will try to upload a chapter tomorrow and Friday so you get the same number of chapters, no promises though.

Finally, we are finally leaving Yokai Academy. Don't get me wrong, I like the Manga, and even enjoyed the anime for what it was, but this went on for a long time... Thirty chapters I think... I like that I was able to detail the adventure for this portion, but hopefully future worlds are a little shorter... or not, like i said its a toss up... but looking back over it this feels really long.

New world next chapter, which will probably be sometime tomorrow... hopefully...

New chapter same spiel, you know how they work, use them if you want to, I do appreciate any feedback I am given. See you next chapter... Tomorrow! Maybe!