Limit Lovers

Chapter 13: Break Time And Families Side A

Written By Illuminet

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

"..."-Speech

'...'-Thought

/R+V\

-Territory of Kitsune-Devil's Living Place, Entrance to Lord Nine Tails Castle-

\R+V/

"The White Mask..." Tsukune muttered, drawing his blade from it's sheath, lowering the weapon to his side. Kouji also lowered his own weapon, both facing each other with eased stances. Both gave curt bows to one another before resuming simply standing before the other.

"They're not fighting...what gives?" Ren asked, fiddling with one of the small dials on her headphones.

"It's a spar, but both have drawn their blades. Is that a custom of their family even in something that should normally be nonlethal? They seem to be treating it like a real fight regardless...or is it just me?" Mizore wondered aloud.

"It seems that way. They must be trying to wait each other out, see whose spirit will falter first. They must be caught in the Void of War." Moka claimed. The middle Siren child looked at the Vampire in confusion.

"What? Void of War? So they can't simply attack each other?" She asked, hoping for further explanation.

"No. This kind of moment only occurs between two exceptional combatants. My father used it to explain what made it such a tough fight with Lord Nine Tails in the past. It had happened the first time they met, which is rare, but still possible. There is more than physically attacking the enemy and hoping your hit lands true. If they are of nearly the same power, you have to feel out what it is that you might excel at over them. It's like a wall of fire has been erected between them and each have to be careful of how they approach one another or they get burned by...ugh.." Moka flinched, her demonic aura starting to flare up slightly.

"What's wrong? You okay?" Kurumu asked. She would try and help but she still held Kasumi's body.

"I guess I overstayed by remaining too idle. I'll have to reseal my power." Moka said, taking her rosario and beginning to place it back on her choker.

"Wait, sister, don't!" Kokoa was by Moka in record time, hands grasping at Moka's own to try and stop her from putting the rosario back on. Moka sighed.

"Enough Kokoa, you and I both know we can't be selfish here. Now let go." She claimed. Kokoa shook her head furiously and her hold only got tighter.

"NO! I...won't let you! This is the longest we've been together again and..!" Kokoa couldn't say more, Moka striking her with well placed knee to her stomach. The younger Vampire's grip around the rosario slacked as she began crumpled against her sister's taller frame.

"I'm sorry...but this is the way things are fated to be and you know it all too well." Her gaze upon Kokoa was solemn, perhaps even sad. It lacked the usual annoyance when Kokoa was clingy due to her sister complex. The silver haired Vampire's gaze strayed to Tsukune before the rosario was placed back on with a click of the chains meeting. Her aura receded, her hair regaining the ever familiar pink hue. Mizore was there to ease the unconscious Outer Moka down so she didn't fall too hard. It had been when the demonic aura dissipated that everyone heard the clash of metal on metal. They all turned to see Tsukune and Kouji blades grinding against another, sparks flying free off the metal. Their faces were but a few inches apart, their expressions still nothing but impassive masks. Kouji's free hand came forward, aimed at the right side of Tsukune's neck, but Tsukune used his own to halt the empty handed strike. The force behind it was impressive though, and Tsukune was sent off his feet. Kouji pressed on with a forward thrust at his still airborne son, but was halted as Tsukune twisted over the strike and thrust with his own blade to force Kouji back a step and put a bit of distance between them since his nodachi had a complete blade and therefore a slightly longer reach. Both combatants halted again when Tsukune's feet touched the ground again, both bringing their weapons to their sides once more.

"Aw...why'd they stop? Is it that Void of War thing again?" Ran looked disappointed.

"I guess that's what the Vampires refer to it as, to the Snow Women it's called the Warrior's Shroud or Warrior's Fog. If this is the way they spar, it could be a fatal one. Or perhaps not...they are masters of themselves as well as their weapons. It must be nothing short of a scripted play or dance to them." Mizore seemed to be in awe of the small display, seeming to be familiar with what was happening internally within the spar itself. Tsukune and Kouji both began to shift on the balls of their feet, strafing in a slow circle as their grip on their weapons tightened. It was hard to tell due to their hakama, but Kouji was closing the distance ever so slightly. The two once again struck like vipers, the flash of their blades rivaled that of the lightning in the far distance. Their blades met again, but Kouji retracted his weapon quickly as he twisted his blade, jamming the large pommel of the weapon at Tsukune's throat. Tsukune spun out of the way as the attack came forward, attempting to slam his own pommel at Kouji's open side. The older man guarded with his free hand pulled Tsukune forward to expose his arms for an attack. Tsukune brought himself up close rather than pull against Kouji, allowing Kouji's blade to be halted by the metal sheath still at his back. Tsukune then shot one leg forward, striking Kouji with enough force to send him back a few feet. It also ripped Kouji's grip around Tsukune's nodachi. Once again they lowered their blades and squared off. Kouji smiled.

"Well done so far. You definitely feel more precise in your control and handling of your weapon. Truly these many centuries of wandering and combat have honed you beyond anything I could ever teach you, my son." He said, sounding genuine.

"I had the best teacher in you as my starting point after all. There should have never been any doubt." Tsukune nodded at his father. Kouji gave a small laugh, nodding back. Their faces resumed the emotionless masks. Once more did they strafe fluidly about the other, looking for their opportunity.

"Strange, his father seems to display way more emotion when compared with Kyouko and Kasumi. He seems so normal...yet he referred to himself as a remnant already. It's like Tsukune is fighting just another ordinary person." Yukari spoke up. Her voice was strained a bit from all the effort of pulling off the spell to help Tsukune regain control and maintain it. She believed she now had a bit of a better understanding as to what it was like when Tsukune was taken over by Azure.

"Yeah. It does seem that way. Oh right, are you okay? It seemed pretty damn strenuous to maintain that spell, though it did give enough time for Tsukune to triumph at the end there." Kurumu mentioned, facing Yukari.

"Yes, I'm fine. Rubi took the brunt of the assault from Azure since she got his limiter on first before I could, desu." The younger Witch claimed as she turned to her older sister figure. Sun had Rubi's head laid upon her lap so her long hair wouldn't be caught by the muddy ground. It mattered little as the rain had gotten everyone decently soaked and grimy from the mud in some form or another. Some of the standard Kitsune soldiers were coming towards the group with some umbrellas made of bamboo.

"Lord Nine Tails extends these to you all for your aid when the amplified effects of that Death Song nearly killed all of us. Many of our kin were able to be saved thanks to your efforts." The soldier claimed. Though the voice was muffled by the mask attached to the helmet of the soldier's armor, they could tell it was a female voice. The other soldiers handed the umbrellas out to the girls.

"Huh. Thanks, I guess. But aren't we still enemies?" Kokoa looked suspicious of the offered gear. It was a familiar voice that spoke to her from behind.

"Be that as it may, a King never overlooks acts of kindness. There is no exception, even from the enemy." The Dark Lord's voice caused Kokoa to spin around so fast she almost slipped on her own two feet.

"Father...what the? Big sisters Akua and Karua too?" The youngest Vampire sister became even paler. Indeed, flanked on either side of him were her two older sisters, both holding an arched banner to keep the rain away as they formed the Dark Lord's bodyguards. Not that he really needed them to. His gaze went from Kokoa to Moka's unconscious form. If he was glad to see his two youngest, he did not physically show it. Perhaps to not show any sign of weakness in front of the Kitsune.

"Well now, if it isn't dear old Issa...so that's the irony of the situation. The flashing lights beyond the storm clouds...so your dimension has combined with mine and several others. How amusing. To think my nemesis would be practically in my backyard!" Kurou was now on the other side of Tsukune's group and facing with Issa, Kuyou at his left with a large umbrella to cover themselves.

"Kurou, it has been a while. I see you've gotten some entertainment in the form of Tsukune the Blood-Edge sparring with that other man. How is it that he is so close to a Sheol Gate yet the effects haven't overtaken him?" The Dark Lord asked his Kitsune counterpart. Kurou shrugged.

"Indeed, that is the question. That man he spars with his none other than his own father. He is also apparently a remnant of the Black Beast's body. Though not one of my keen senses save for my sight and hearing allow me to even know that he is physically there. It is rather disturbing. Regardless, that man, Kouji Aono, claimed that he will inform Tsukune the Blood-Edge of those very circumstances afterwords." Kurou explained after some thought. Issa nodded, turning to witness the two continue their spar, seeming oblivious of anything else.

"Kouji Aono. Truly as you say Kurou...I can sense nothing of him save for seeing him physically there and hearing the sounds of their blades connect. How peculiar." Issa acknowledged, now watched Tsukune and Kouji's spar more closely.

"Man...this is weird...two insanely powerful forces on either side of us!" Rin muttered. Another voice spoke up, of which Yukari was intimately familiar with.

"Truly, young miss. The Vampire, the Kitsune...and your lively group. How strange it is to see so many different Youkai about." It was Mr. Sendou who said this, walking towards the group with his wife. One hand held an umbrella while the other was holding Mrs. Sendou's own.

"Papa! Mama!" Yukari rushed towards her parents, though her exhausted Magic supply made her wobbly and unbalanced, and she nearly tripped in the mud. Luckily her mother was there to catch her and the pointed hat as it flew off Yukari's head. Yukari snuggled in her mother's embrace.

"Yukari-chan, we both missed you and Rubi terribly. It's so good to see you physically safe." Mr. Sendou patted Yukari's head.

"But...what happened to Rubi? Is she hurt?" Mr. Sendou went to inspect his adopted daughter. Sun smiled at him as a gesture to say that Rubi was fine, unable to use her notebook as the rain had damaged it quite severely and now most of the pages were a soggy mess. Ran jumped to speak for her Sun.

"Hey. Yeah, she's fine, but she suffered a lot of exhaustion from the last spell she pulled off." The older sister Siren explained. Mr. Sendou nodded.

"I see. Well, I'm glad it's only that and nothing more. What race of Youkai are you by the way? I've been trying to brush up on the different races now that we've got to interact with so many." He spoke up.

"Oh right. Including our mother, Sun Otonashi, my sisters Rin and Ren, and I are Sirens. I'm the oldest sister, Ran." She shook his hand in greeting after pointing out her two sisters amongst their group. He also shook Sun's hand in greeting.

"I see. I'm Taminori Sendou, and my wife's name is Fujiko. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Knowing Rubi was otherwise fine, he stood back up to join his wife and daughter. Yukari was explaining to Fujiko about her adventures with Tsukune and how it lead up to this point.

"Huh...if both Moka's old man and Yukari's parents are here..." Kurumu's own gaze looked about. She was trying to catch sight of her mother, since it was highly likely the Succubi territory must have merged as well. She didn't have to search long, Ageha swooping down towards their group, garbed in a rain coat to protect against the downpour as much as possible. Mother and daughter's eyes locked.

"Kurumu, you look well. Crazy how things ended up like this though, eh?" Ageha had that confident smile on her face and her voice was light, though her eyes betrayed how worried she was for her daughter. Kurumu gave a wry smile back at her mother.

"It has been one hell of a trip so far, mom." She gave a small laugh of her own.

"Hey, who is that your holding...? She's dead...!" Ageha noticed the damaged body of Kasumi within her daughter's arms.

"She's...well...she's Tsukune's mom. Tsukune had to..." Kurumu shuddered.

"So, she must have been one of those remnants I've been hearing about..." Ageha nodded in understanding. Mizore realized that it was likely her own mother was going to show up too. Hands fell upon her shoulders.

"Mizore-chan..." Tsurara whispered in her daughter's ear. Mizore would have probably jumped ten feet in the air had she not been already used to her own mother popping up as if from nowhere. But it was a skill she had learned to use herself after all.

"So you are here, mother." The younger Snow Woman claimed. Tsukune had finally sent his father off his feet as they wrestled for control after being in a deadlock with their blades. Kouji was fast to recover as his son was. He kicked the flat of Tsukune's blade to pass harmlessly by his body. An upward swipe of his blade forced Tsukune to hop away and defend from being cut in half. Once Tsukune landed, both lowered their blades to their sides yet again. Kouji turned to see the ever varied and growing audience of Youkai.

"It would seem parents and children are united once more after a long absence. How delightful. The world Azure is making will allow all Youkai to meet again under one sun and moon. Yet all he truly wants is to meet you Tsukune."

...Con't...

Next=Break Time And Families Side B