Limit Lovers

Chapter 13: Break Time And Families Side B

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/

"Is that all then? Now will you tell me about this predicament?" Tsukune wondered if Kouji was satisfied with their spar. He hadn't decided to take things further with barrier skills added in with their swordplay, and since he couldn't feel anything in the slightest from Kouji, he could not even be remotely sure what was going on in his father's head. With Kyouko and Kasumi, the Blood Pain allowed him to at least sense something from them. Kouji had no such thing.

"Hmmm...yes, I suppose that was good enough for now. We will have another moment in time, though it will likely be no spar. You would do well to throw your all at me at that time, Tsukune, for I will be doing much the same." Kouji brought his nodachi upward, guiding the long weapon to it's sheath. Seeing this, Tsukune did the same. Both father and son spared a curt bow to the other to show their respect.

"Now then, Tsukune, the reason you feel nothing of Azure is simply because he cannot sense you at this moment. It comes from the fact that we are in such close proximity to each other. The Limiters you wear have been strengthened by the same stone that is within the pommel of your weapon just as it is mine. You may not have been aware of it originally, but the stones were carved of the same compound that created the glass like prison of the Sheol Gate. So I shall merely refer to it as a Sheol Stone. It is because of the one that was supplied with my own nodachi that your Limiters have gained such a protective boost." Kouji explained.

"So it was because of the stone...I never knew...that's why I was susceptible to Azure's hunger so easily given enough proximity to the Sheol Gate. Now then there is still the Blood Pain itself. The stone cut the connection from Azure feeling the Blood Pain between me and him, but what about us? It is also used for a remnant of the body and the heart to feel out each other even without one of the heads being anywhere nearby. Or is that also due to the strengthened Limiters?" Tsukune questioned him further. Kouji shook his head.

"Indeed. As you've said, Tsukune, while Azure cannot feel you or me at all, you and I should still feel out the Blood Pain in each other, yet do not. It is because of myself. I'm the one who has closed off all remaining feeling of the Blood Pain. Due to that, you cannot even sense me one bit, can you?" The older man chuckled at his son. Tsukune's eyes scrutinized Kouji as best he could.

"Save for visually and audibly, I cannot get a feel for you at all. But I'm not the only one. It seems no one here can...just as your given title that I had hoped to once hold. The man know as the White Mask." Tsukune's words elicited yet another chuckle from his father.

"Indeed, my son. This is the power I had hoped to teach you someday when you were to take my place as head of our style. The martial skill of the Aono were used to protect Humans from the Youkai in ancient times since they were always so much more powerful than us. The ability of which has become second nature to me is the Endless Dream. The Youkai loathed this ability of which the Aono had perfected through countless generations. Because even while a very draining technique to the body, it allowed us to sneak upon Youkai with fairly relative ease. Only one could master it at a time, though it took several years to truly obtain it and hone to perfection. I had been well into my 42nd year of life before I had obtained it and was known as the new White Mask of our dwindling family. It has only evolved through me to this state as you know it now due to my longevity as a remnant. Near everything living I wish to not feel me will not. Even the almighty Azure." Kouji paced a few steps around his son. Tsukune turned to face him, never daring to let his guard down since Kouji was truly the only man he who could never sense out at all nor feel anything from his features.

"Tsukune...I had hoped to pass on this ability to you, but at that time it was not such that I could escape the corruption of our remaining numbers from the remnants still on the loose back then. I dragged our family into the destructive thing that would eventually force you to carry the Blue Blood of the Beast. Kyo-chan, your mother, and I had eventually been one with Crimson until he grew tired of the influences we were able to write on him to an extent. He threw us away along with his own true sanity, wanting to give in completely to Azure's Hunger alone, but knew he needed to also get the Blue Blood from yourself. This is why he stalked you. We too would be compelled to do as such for a time, as you were already aware." Kouji turned away and began to pace away from Tsukune now. It was a familiar thing for Tsukune to see. His father always did tend to pace about when standing, able to stay idle for only small periods of time. Tsukune himself also liked to pace about when explaining things. Now he remembered where that habit came from.

"I remember...I was too softhearted to go through with it...to kill my family at that time...you were coming up on your 44th year, and I was coming to my 21st. I know that even though I was able to fend all of you off, I still chose to flee. The things you became...the voices...yours yet something else entirely..." Tsukune sighed heavily, recalling his fateful encounters so long ago back on Earth.

"Tsukune, let me reveal the plan your mother and I devised...in our rebellion against Azure. Yes, despite being remnants, the Human nature of which we were born with prevailed just enough to give us free reign to our own thoughts. Azure cannot control the remnants of his body nearly as easily as he can his own blood. Perhaps it was merely because when the blood ran through the body he could control all that belonged to him at his own whim. Speculations, but they are neither here nor there." Once more did Kouji pace again. Perhaps he was thinking on which way to word it.

"Tsukune, we hoped that through the ages you would become strong enough to eventually do what was necessary to bring about our demises. After realizing you used the Dark Chasm on Crimson, Kyouko offered to test the extents of your resolve. By killing her with the Dark Chasm, your mother and I believed you were finally ready. It was a bit startling to realize you had created an ability from the Blood Pain itself, but it only shows how far you've come in your adaptability as a Human. The one thing that allowed us to protect our fellow Human when Youkai were opposed to us, wishing to rule the Earth. But I digress, we wanted you to take in the remnants despite making you more susceptible to Azure's control. We knew this would mean our ends, but we would accept it gladly." Kouji took a pause, allowing Tsukune and the others to take this all in so far.

"So then it was no mistake trying to use the Dark Chasm to bring about their own destruction. You want there to be an end to Azure as much as myself. I would say that I don't believe you, and can only further affirm my belief because I can't sense out if your lying outright or not, but...somehow I do believe your being genuine." Tsukune said after a moment of silence.

"All your actions so far are the only proof I can obtain...and if I think further back you could have easily attacked me without my knowing at any time with such a technique as the Endless Dream. Yet you didn't. Both Kyo-chan and mom hinted at how truly powerful you were. I would have likely been no match for you then. Even now, I'm not so sure..." Tsukune trailed off. Kouji shook his head.

"As I've said, you have truly gained strength beyond what I would have thought you capable of. Tsukune, you exceed all my expectations. When the time comes, I hope you will continue to follow through...for it will be the end of the Aono as we know it. Let me explain, that this is the part those girls who have traveled with you will loath most. You see, even with this sheol stone to hold back Azure as it does now, I doubt it will be able to mask the full presence of the completed body once you possess it. As the remnant within your mother had claimed, that you would become the true body for Azure. By killing me, you will have obtained it. You will have just long enough to hold Azure off and be sealed away within a Sheol Gate yourself, I wager, for with my death the Endless Dream will no longer be active to mask anything from Azure. This can only succeed upon returning to where it all began...Tsukune, it is time you returned to the Earth. There is one Sheol Gate there left unused. It rests within there...the Vast Divide." Kouji once more maintained silence to let it all sink in. True to form, the girls that were still conscious had appalled expressions on their faces.

"No way...that was their plan? But..." Kurumu's mouth was agape, not able to finish with any further words.

"There has to be a better way...what your saying...the fate your placing on your own child...to remain locked in a cage for all time. NO! I...we..none of us will take this without a stand, desu!" Yukari's small hands were balled into fist as she bravely marched up to Kouji. Her eyes were drawn with anger, her jaw clenched tightly. She was only a few feet away from his position.

"Yukari-chan, wait!" Fujiko called after her daughter, following to try and get her back as she knew Kouji was a very dangerous man. Yukari had been surprised at how swiftly she was intercepted by him though, his arm upon her before she could react. She flinched, but opened her eyes slowly when there was no pain. His hand rested upon her head, smoothing her hair in much the same way as her parents did for her at times. He knelt down on one knee to meet her gaze.

"Listen well, child...you know but only a fraction of the power and struggle Azure puts upon my son. Yes, perhaps an alternate way can be found given enough time, but Azure has already brought all Youkai Dimensions together to create a world only for Youkai. True, my niece had a hand in that, but it was a necessary risk, as it would speed up the process of which Azure would have eventually been capable of doing himself. That's how powerful he is, that his blood and body must be sealed away to completely erase any further resistance from him as a whole. The problem has to be dealt with soon so the overall sealing of which Human and Youkai sweated blood over all these ages would be truly complete." Kouji explained. It was baffling to realize just how powerful Azure still is, despite being severed to pieces and sealed in several Dimensional Prisons.

"You see the next problem though is once Azure is taken care of. Coexistence must continue to be made between Human and Youkai so that any further threats to peace can be dealt with before they can become such a problem as the one Azure gave when he decided to show himself to the original world and devour all. But how can coexistence occur between Human and Youkai if it can't even begin between the different races of Youkai themselves?" Kouji's question raised a valid point. Yukari knew that coexistence was very possible if their own ragtag group could learn it through the course of their journey, even if they still had their own problems here and there. They were all there for each other in some way, shape, or form. Kurou jumped into the conversation.

"The coexistence you speak of, it was a concept you must have drilled into your son, for he spoke in a similar way to myself. Even were it possible given time, there will always be strife here and there, making it quite unreliable. Are you saying that it is something that we must merely strive for?I feel as if we are being forced by your selfish hands. Much how I tried to force tyranny upon the masses through each territory." The Kitsune King claimed, awaiting Kouji's response. It was to spare a dry laugh at Kurou.

"Yes, they are essentially the same. However, in the minds of those like you Lord Kurou, it is to merely to serve the ends of Youkai. Where would Humans fit in your mix but slaves for sale and stock for the butchering." Kouji lifted himself up and walked past Yukari to face the Kitsune King.

"That is all Humankind is good for. They will never know the true power the Youkai possess. Their natural state is to be ruled like a herd of sheep." Issa spoke up. Kouji sighed.

"Moka's late mother would be disappointed in your words. Her loss has made you revert to old customs you as powerful Youkai believe in so strongly, Lord Issa. Lord Kurou is much the same. The weak should be ruled by the strong. Such and outdated concept. The strong should guide the weak, for even the weak have the potential to become strong. I am Human. My son is Human. Do you think us weak? Go ahead and spout about the nonsense that we are the exceptions due to myself being a remnant or my son carrying the Blue Blood of the Beast that caused us to be so long lived as an excuse. Have you anything further to add? I doubt it. You think the martial skills of my family were created just out of the blue or some divine rite? Not even close, it was created through observation and experimentation, a collaboration of efforts of many Humans wishing only to defend themselves and their families from the Youkai that threatened them so." Kouji's expression was blank, but his eyes were narrowed and guarded. His words elicited a growl from Issa's throat, deep and feral. Kouji cared not.

"That is the weakness inherent in all Youkai, especially those blessed with great power. They are too confident in that power that they do not learn anything further to adapt and expand that power further beyond what they already know, never wishing for help from others outside their own kind. You have heard speak about the adaptability of Humans. We are definitely not the superior species by any means, but we have continued to learn further beyond through interaction and collecting all experience from the past, be it from our fellows or what we learned from the Youkai." Kouji continued, as no one seemed to have a response to his previous words.

"I can see where your coming from. Youkai helping other Youkai, much as Humans have helped each other despite the color of one's skin, or preference and customs of which they were bred to know. Rather than walk over the weak, you've given them the chance and helped nurture them to become strong, to further adapt and evolve. To add something to the table." Tsurara now spoke, as her race had closer and more amiable ties with Humans in the past. Mizore nodded.

"Even our great ancestors must have realized it, having teamed up with Humans to fight Azure if they couldn't do it on their own. Like Tsukune had mentioned, in that time when Youkai followed an Overlord, that very Overlord put pride aside and made all other Youkai contribute and collaborate with the Humans. Despite Humans supposed weaknesses." The younger Snow Woman said.

"Indeed. Heed those words. This world is for the Youkai now, and it will be up to the younger generations to maintain it's balance and pass it on to the next generation to succeed them. Azure will only return however, if nothing is done. That is why I have revealed the plan with you Tsukune. As a remnant, I cannot destroy myself no matter how I wish for it. Only you can give me peace like with your cousin and mother. I know that what we have devised leaves you with no happy ending, but I can only hope for your continued resolve. Only you are capable of choosing how to bring the terror of Azure to an end."

...Con't...

Next=Break Time And Families Side C