Chapter 35
I'm a Hazard to Myself
It was late in the evening on the Vegas Strip and Caro's club was on fire as usual, with lines of patrons dying to get in to see her attractions. Some will get in, but others would not, as to avoid being denigrated as just a strip club, Caro and Ageha had made it into a very exclusive club. And yet, the excitement was so uproarious that it could be heard all the way up in the nearby suites, suites where in pre-paid rooms out of courtesy of the management, Moka Akashiya's party were being housed. In one, Kyoko Aono struggled in vain to get some sleep after a long day as the walls offered little protection from the commotion and she desperately needed rest, not just for the sudden jet lag of instantly going from Japan to the U.S. in a matter of minutes, which had caught up with her like an instant shockwave and seriously waylaid the girl's frail, human body. Instead, it was to ease the stress that her family was going, one in particular who was still missing, one who seemed so close, yet so far away and it weighed heavily in her heart.
"…Ugh; I can't live like this!" She wailed, sitting up on in bed and frazzled beyond consoling.
"Knock, knock," went a voice outside, mimicking his light report at her hotel room door.
"Go away!" She yelled and tried to shield herself in between a pillow.
"Room Service!"
Seeing red, Kyoko leapt from bed and crossed over to the door in almost three steps before flinging it open.
"Look, I said…!" She angrily responded, only to be greeted by a smiling Koga, who appeared to be adjusting to things a lot better than she was.
"Rough night?" He asked.
"What do you think?" She snapped, but quickly bit her lip. "Sorry; yeah, it's pretty bad."
"I know you want your peace and quiet, but I doubt you're gonna find much of either now," he said.
"Okay, look I, and I'm not trying to sound racist or anything, I am not like you monsters, okay? This trip and this…this thing we're in is a little more than I can handle in one day; I haven't had my sleep when you guys showed up at my house, my head hurts, and I've felt like throwing up for the past two hours!"
"Real sorry to hear that, but like I said I don't think you're going to get any rest now!" He laughed.
"I know," she moaned.
"Hey, maybe some coffee might help, I know this great shop not too far, if you're interested?"
"…Are…are you asking me out on a date?" She asked, giving him a look.
"Hey, I only asked if wanted some coffee, let's go with that!"
"…How good is it?"
"Well, it ain't Starbucks; though personally I never liked that place, anyway!
"Is it far away from…strippers?"
"I don't think strippers would spend their nights at a coffee shop, but yeah it's pretty far!"
"Let me get my shoes…and some antacid tablets."
Just a few doors down, Moka Akashiya was getting ready for her first, big night at the club. With intervention from Mrs. Aono, at the insistence of both Caro and Ageha who didn't want her competing with Kurumu, she had managed to talk some sense into Moka, convincing her into waiting tables, instead of dancing. Even so, as she checked her reflection in the mirror, frowning at the skimpy, leather mini skirt and matching top to work in, with the green wig she was allowed to keep which helped accentuate her colorful mascara face, it did little to show any difference. She could barely recognize herself, and the forlorn look brought concern to Kasumi Aono, who sat on a nearby bed watching her.
"How are you feeling?" Moka asked, noticing the worry in Kazumi's chestnut eyes.
"Oh, I'm fine; thank you."
"That travel sickness isn't coming back up, is it?"
"N-No, that medicine I took seems to be helping. Boy, it sure crept up on me, didn't it? I can only imagine how poor Kyoko is feeling."
"So, how do I look?" Moka asked, turning away from the mirror.
"…Great, as always you never cease to amaze me how beautiful you look."
"Th-Thanks! Also, I want to thank you for talking me out of doing…you know."
"Were you really about to get on one of those stages and dance?"
"I…I was. I mean…I don't know. You've heard what's been happening with Tsukune; all these…these whores like Ria, Kurumu, and even…It just made me so mad!"
"Yes, I know; it's been tough pill to swallow for all of us, but I've noticed its hit especially hard."
"Yes," Moka said, facing Kazumi with pain and conviction in her eyes. "I'm not just a woman, I'm his woman and he's my man; mine! No one gets to so much as touch him, but me and I'm not going to just sit here and weep like some helpless, little girl! If I have to, I will do whatever it takes to put those other whores in their places and win him back!"
Kazumi glances away, hiding a look of confusion and regret as she contemplates her own issues and the future.
"I'm sorry if I came across as sounding a little forward," Moka apologized. "But…I need this, I really do!"
Do not let your feelings cloud your thinking, said her inner self. But, you are right; action does need to be taken in dealing with these women!
"Whatever," she said.
"Huh?" Kasumi asked.
"Oh! Uh, nothing. Well, wish me luck."
"Of course, good luck," Mrs. Aono said with a sad smile.
"You sure everything is okay?" Moka asked as she was about to nervously head out the door.
"Yeah, I just have a lot to think about; it's not my stomach or anything. Go, go, do what you have to do; make my boy your…own."
"Sure."
Moka wondered if it has anything to do with Kasumi's marriage, and the fact that her own sister had been involved. It didn't make things any easier, it made her feel responsible for that and so much else, and Tsukune's parents getting a divorce would not, in any way make this reunion any less bitter for her or him. Yet, as she walked timidly down towards the club, clutching onto an overcoat while feeling nude underneath and therefore embarrassed, the realization that she was about to do a striptease out of both desperation and spite soon replaced those doubts.
What have I gotten myself into? She wondered, trembling.
Don't get cold feet! If it's a statement you want to make to a ho like Kurumu, then don't wuss out!
Stop ordering me around!
Then stop being so timid; it's a miracle we ever got out of that prison Ria locked us in with you like this!
She was too nervous, and tired, to continue arguing with herself as the noise of Caro's club grew louder with each step. She was so nervous that she failed to notice Ruby walking the steps with a bag full of souvenirs, only to stare at her with a look of shock. Moka was far from relieved to see her.
Oh great, she thought.
"Why, Moka!" Ruby said. "That is quite a change you've been through."
"Really?"
"Yes. Word is, you were going to strip; I take it you were serious about it."
"…Yeah," Moka replied, blushing. "It was, but I decided that it wouldn't have done me any good, anyway. I know you're going to judge me like you already have, but know this, I'm not doing any of this just to be some slut, it's to save my relationship and salvage what's left of my life. It's all I know how to get him to notice me again, and hopefully forget, so I'm doing this."
Moka half expected a cold remark from her, but she was surprised to see Ruby smile for the first time since reuniting with her, and then said:
"I'm not here to judge."
"You're not?"
"I…I realize things lately have been less than idyllic, but I've had a lot of time to think and I believe you really are honest and sincere, which is something I couldn't sense with the other Moka. Every day, Tsukune's on your mind, you've shown genuine concern for everyone involved, and it's really bothered you to the point of desperation, all of it just reminded me of the Moka I once knew, and it's kinda hard to see you as a self-centered bitch."
"Thanks. Well, I better get going."
"Mind if I join? Kurumu aside, if this helps you get back at those bitches then nothing would please me more!"
"Sure," she said. "Oh, by the way, where is Yukari; I haven't seen her all day and I thought she'd might like to join me."
"Yeah, about her; well, she's been bugging Kurumu all evening about showing off her cleavage that the management has revoked her privileges."
"Oh dear."
"So now, she'll have to pay her way in, like everyone else."
"That's too bad."
"I tried to warn her to lay off, but you know how master can be."
"…What?"
Ruby realized her faux paux and tries to laugh it off.
"Did I say master, I meant…You know what, I was thinking of Tsukune and I must have…gotten my…thoughts crossed; yeah!"
"O-kay?"
"We better get you to the club or you'll be late," Ruby says hastily and, friends once more, the women head towards the club lined with eager patrons ready to enter the crowded house, along with a certain witch who stuck near the front.
"Yoo hoo!" Yukari called the surly bouncer over. "Excuse me, I really need to get inside, my friend is working."
"You must be proud of her," he grumbled, nonchalantly. "Do her a favor and wait your turn."
"But…" she insisted, showing off her cleavage, "I really would like to get in and see her; is there anything I can do to persuade you to let me in? If you do, I can let you into my funhouse; mm."
"…Got some nice tits, ma'am," he says with a hungry smile. "But, the madam's is bigger and she knows how to show gratitude; so, no dice."
Miffed, Yukari was left to stew in line, fuming at the buxomness of Kurumu's entire family.
Meanwhile, Moka was almost devastated at how the house was more packed and busy than she remembered as it was no doubt prime time. And, through it all, dancing on center stage with everybody watching was Kurumu doing a striptease number for all to see, including Moka.
"Oh," Ruby groaned when she saw what she was wearing.
On stage, Kurumu was in the middle of a little act, dancing around in the old, short skirted uniform of Yokai Academy and a wearing a long, pink haired wig. Around her were other strippers in similar attire, some dressed as Kurumu, Mizore, Yukari, and Ruby. But, dressed as Tsukune was Sam in a brown wig, and another male stripper, shirtless, with long, dark hair and a red bandana underneath; it wasn't difficult to tell who he was supposed to be.
"Maybe, this was a mistake," Ruby suggested. "We should come back when it's not busy."
But, Moka, refused to be led away and stubbornly, silently walked up to the stage, boldly presenting her presence there as though standing up for herself, while far too transfixed at the mockery being done. In the skit, Kurumu pretended to be the most glamourous girl there was, who would use her feminine charms to seduce Tsukune away from the others, going so far as to tease him with brief glimpses of her silky white panties with every high kick over his head. It wasn't until he's finally drawn toward her, that she sees the dark haired stranger, tosses Tsukune aside and begins to have simulated sex with him as a rejected Tsukune watched.
"WHOA; take it off!" One horny patron yelled, turned on by the spectacle, and as if to oblige the crowd, Kurumu rips off her skirt and flings it into the crowd, landing precariously upon Moka's enraged face before being snapped up a nearby pervert.
It wasn't as if Kurumu was oblivious to her presence; on the contrary, their eyes occasionally locked as she carried on without hesitation.
"Man, I love this place!" Moka overheard one man yell to his friend. "She always plays these skits as the pink haired skank; I'd fap to that! Every…single…night; OOOOH!"
So, this is what she does every night? Moka wonders in cold antagonism.
Insolent little bitch! Inner Moka hissed with uncontrolled anger.
"You okay?" Ruby asked, appearing beside her.
"…I have work to do," she flatly replies, having seen and heard enough.
Heading for the main office, they find Ageha working on the schedule; her sister nowhere to be found.
"Well, I didn't think you'd actually show," she says upon noticing Moka, and Ruby. "Either of you."
"I have no reason to change my mind," Moka said.
"Where's your sister?" Ruby asked. "You two have some nerve letting Kurumu do that when you knew Moka would be here."
Ageha barely dignifies her with a response, and instead says to Moka:
"We're pretty packed tonight, in case you hadn't noticed. Customers are demanding drinks like there's a drought, so why don't you go to work handing them out? Put those precious legs of yours to good use, huh?"
"…How long will Kurumu be dancing?" Moka asked, trying to remain calm.
"Not that it's any of your business, but my daughter sets up her own schedule; she's the star here, you know."
"…You can't expect me to work with…that!"
"I hope you're not planning to start anything with my daughter?"
"I just want some respect that's all!"
"You're not going to get that by protesting what I throw you, will it?" Ageha asked.
"I would think that's a fair request," Ruby jumped in. "It's the very least you can do for her, after all; unless being fair is alien to your kind."
Whether it was the comment or just the fact Ruby openly challenged her Moka did not know, but she did notice Ageha's eyes stare at the witch with venomous, violent intent that made the atmosphere even hotter.
"You know, witch, I would have thought you of all people would side with me against our new employee, but I guess dependence is alien to your kind," Ageha casually countered.
"I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt after everything," Ruby responded. "At least until the big showdown, which I'm sure you're eager to see, too. Only then will we know for sure who deserves to be shit on, but until then..."
"Until then, I and my sister says what is to become of…her."
Ageha glances at this Moka person standing before and noticed the conviction in her eyes, knowing full well that she will not fold so easily under any pressure.
"Report to the bar, tell the bartender you'll be serving drinks; oh, and this is important for me to stress, but in case you haven't noticed we have a very lively and albeit stupid clientele out there, believe me I know. However, they are our customers, high paying customers with lawyers, and we don't need your hot headed, alter ego starting fights and giving us lawsuits because one of them stepped out of their place! The first disturbance that erupts between you and them, it won't matter whose fault it is; it won't matter worth a damn who said what, who did what or if you said yes or no to some perverted request, the very moment you get out of line and I'm throwing you out on the street; do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
"Now, get out of here!"
"Good luck," Ruby says quietly.
"…Thanks," said Moka and reluctantly do as was ordered.
Alone, Ruby let Ageha have it.
"Very heavy handed to her, wasn't it? Basically, she has no rights here, while I'm sure all of your girls has plenty; she's basically a slave, you…?"
"Ruby!" Ageha snapped, her anger barely able to hold much longer. "We need to talk."
"Talk about what?" Ruby asked.
"Not in here," Ageha said, cryptically. "Follow me. Uhh, you do remember our policy of no weapons in the bar, right?"
"You must be joking?" Ruby asked, clutching her wand protectively, but one look from Ageha was enough for this weary witch to acquiesce, just to appease this obstinate woman.
Ageha leads her through the crowds, moving about with almost a fluid perfection whereas Ruby struggled to keep up, her guide doing little to show any kind of concern for the witch, whom was being bumped into, tripped up or groped from every side.
"Hey!" Ruby cried. "Wait up!"
But, her cries fell on deaf ears as Ageha walked brusquely in the crowd, and then briefly disappeared from sight.
"Mutherf…!" Ruby muttered, standing in the crowd, despondent until suddenly a firm hand grabbed her shoulder.
"This way!" Ageha yelled, appearing from behind and leads Ruby down a dimly light corridor that led to the bathrooms.
"What the hell did you wanted to talk about that was so damn important that you felt you just had to get me alone in such shadowy place; you thinking of having your way with me?" Ruby joked.
"Heh; don't insult me," Ageha replied in a dry chuckle.
"Good, I hate doing anything that upsets my stomach."
"Mm, that's something we have in common," Ageha said, standing chest to chest. "Well, actually I'd say that's the only thing we have in common; god knows only one of us is more developed than some, hun."
"What is your deal? Everything with you is about boobs and sex when there is so much more at stake here!"
"That is something a small woman might say; I wouldn't expect you to understand."
"You're right, I don't, so Ageha please enlighten me and cut this crap you and your sister…"
Suddenly, Ruby realized something, something small, yet very important, and far too late to behold.
"My sister and…what, hun?" Ageha asked, staring at the petrified witch with a wide eyed, but unnerving glare and a small, menacing smile.
"Y-You called me 'hun'?" She asked. "And, I left my wand back at your…."
Without warning Ageha slams a hard punch into Ruby's gut, the force of which like a sledge hammer at full swing, causing her to drop like a sack of potatoes.
"That's right, hun," Ageha whispered, but then Ruby knew this wasn't Ageha. "You witches are smart."
"C-Caro…" Ruby grunted, the very wind knocked out of her while the buxom, blue haired mother before her, who had utilized the crafty succubus ability of deception, morphs into the curvaceous, plum haired sister whose talon-like fingers had remained firmly implanted in Ruby's stomach, forcing her into the abandoned women's restroom and locks it behind.
"…Honey, it's time you and I have that little chat we were due," Caro said with her usual charm, which now belied a smoldering anger that worried Ruby, who knew this was about payback and there was no getting out of it.
With great strength, Caro picks Ruby up with one hand and slams her against the bathroom mirror hard enough that it shattered the glass all around, while her butt smashed the water faucet beneath and spraying into her dress. Ruby knew, that without her wand she was as helpless as a human and there was little she could do against the vice like grip of this violent bitch.
"Do you know the pain caused when our breasts are disfigured, even a little bit?" Caro asked. "You can imagine it must feel like what you're about to go through. Actually, I should thank you, because of all the years I've been playing den mother and the fun aunt, I feel like I've gotten soft. It's unbecoming for the highest member of my race, you see, so what better way to demonstrate how I should do the fucking, but am not to be fucked with."
"…Caro, look I know I must've hurt you, but you have to understand…"
"Now, don't interrupt me, honey. Where was I, oh yes; I noticed you people like to say we encourage 'rape', which is simply not true, we simply use our powers to seek out the desire that you keep suppressed in your psyches, so it's perfectly consensual. You however, are not going to enjoy this that much I guarantee. And, no there will be no trance, no gentle persuasion with my glamor magic; you are going to be fully aware what is happening to you."
"Caro," Ruby tried to say, "for the love of god, would you listen!"
"I SAID SILENCE!" Caro shrieked, her voice a far cry from the usually charming auntie she's been known for. It was a tone that only reasserted some primordial pecking order in this world, of her being a physically superior being talking to low level scum. "You insult me by defacing my most precious attributes, threaten to execute my niece, humiliate my us by having me and my sister prostitute ourselves for your master and now you dare grace my threshold without my permission! Killing you would be too kind; putting you under while I violate you would be far, far too merciful. Oh, but don't worry, witch there will be pleasure before it's over, that I promise you."
She further demonstrates her status over her by violently ripping open Ruby's long skirt, exposing her pink panties and black garters, and then yanks her thighs open so hard that it made the witch yelp in pain, but left exposed. With Caro advancing in between her legs, preventing her from closing them out of reflex, talon like nails elongating over Ruby's distressed face, as bat like wings unfurled from behind and overshadowed them both, it became abundantly clear to the young witch of just how fragile a being she really was, trapped against some vile creature of darkness intent on inflicting the worst pain, imaginable.
With the smell of her liquored breath just inches from her face, Ruby waited helplessly on what this succubus would do; she didn't have long to wait. A clawed hand suddenly flashed itself just inches from her face, as if to mock, gingerly gracing the exposed part of Ruby's, porcelain skin around the breast area, the tips of the talons almost tickling as they slowly trailed further and further down the tensed body.
Sweat poured down, her pulse quickened, as Ruby could do nothing but to try and reason, once again with the arch succubus who closed in further, menacingly towards her genitalia.
"C-Caro," she pleaded, bracing herself for the worst, but could already feel Caro's clawed fingers smooth over her silky panties towards the side and into that delicate area between the thigh and the mon pubis, where it would be easy to snake a finger up under the panties, her last bit of protection, where the only thing left to block this person's invasive touch would be an instinctive closing of the labia. "C-Caro…please listen…! I…I didn't have a choice, I tried to…to help…!"
"S-S-Shut up!" Caro mocked, half her focus on working her two index fingers into forcing open Ruby's tightly closed clitoris. "Bitch, really? Struggle all you like, but it's gonna happen; might as well give up."
Ruby tried to kick her off, but Caro had the other hand gripped tightly about one of her thighs like a bear trap, every flinch from Caro's iron grip resulting in an almost painful, electric shock force as if a display of discipline, while the other leg just wasn't positioned enough to be of any use. With clenched teeth, she braced herself when she felt Caro's talons go inside her, piercing their way in and began teasingly pricking and poking first, then tickling and finally scratching at her cunt. It hurt, that much Caro had intended as her talons continue to ravage her sensitive parts savagely without any consideration to internal damage, and by now it would have made a lesser girl scream in agony, yet this professional molester was talented in a way that even this barbaric act would make Ruby cum with forced delight, too. However, as she worked away and saw Ruby's normally porcelain face turn as red as a wet tomato, the witch did not utter one cry of pain or delight. Unfazed, Caro gradually kicked things into high gear and forgo the warm up, this time putting some sweat into fondling the inside of Ruby's wet and sore vagina. But, as the succubus continued her rampage for up to an hour and still had not heard one wail of anything from the tight lipped witch, even she began to grow concern.
"That's how you gonna play it?" Caro asked, chuckling out of derision. "You think I can't make you scream? I've made pious nuns say my name…I'll make you scream."
With great force and determination, she presses hard into her as she finger fucks the woman raw. All it managed to do was elicit a groan, but the defiant witch still would not utter one scream.
"…."
"What was that?" Caro asked, believing she heard her say something.
"T-To the right," a breathy Ruby gasped. "A little to the right…if you don't mind."
Is she toying with me? Caro wondered.
Frustrated, she literally shoves her entire fist up into Ruby, stretching the walls and essentially doing whatever she liked with her talons with reckless abandon, and yet there was neither a cry of pain or forced ecstasy, nor one plea of mercy. Sure, the witch groaned a few times, tantalizing Caro with the belief that perhaps she had found her spot, only to be denied such pleasure; after a while it almost seemed as if Ruby was the one doing the torture.
"You think you're tough?" Caro whispered, unrelenting her assault. "Witch; I've made tougher sing!"
Eventually, though it did seem her iron will was about to break, but came out wasn't at all what Caro had expected, for her victim suddenly broke out into fits of uncontrolled laughter, as if she'd lost her mind.
"Why are you laughing?" Caro asked, her patience ebbing towards anger.
"Is…is that the best the great Caro Shade can do?" Ruby giggled like a school girl. "Here we've been for the last two hours, hahahahahaha, and all you've done was scratch an itch that's been bothering me for a week, hahahahahahaha!"
Ruby laughed and laughed, the very sounds loud and unnerving, echoing off the linoleum in a way that made it seem like the very room itself was mocking Caro.
"I can't wait to tell everybody this!" Ruby continued. "Caro The Mighty, Scratcher of Cunts!"
With a monstrous shriek, Caro lifts Ruby into the air with the hand she was using fuck her with still inside the vagina and flings the girl face first to the floor, knocking the very wind out of her. Then, Caro kicks her over and, with wings and tail unfurled pounced on top of her hard enough so she spat blood. And, as she used one hand to press Ruby's face against the urine and blood soaked floor, then rips away her dress, violently yanks off her panties that it left burns against the girl's skin, forced open her legs and with her pointy tail dangled tentatively in between.
"I think you've been mistaking me for someone you can fuck with, witch!" Caro hissed into Ruby's ear, her voice changed from the affable aunt everybody knew her as, to something far less human, and more sinister. "That's my fault, see; I should have made my status amongst my kind clear to you. I am not to be mocked, fool. I will show you pain beyond your wildest dreams!"
"Like Ria?" Ruby asked.
"What?"
"…I've always noticed that about the two of you; how so alike you are."
"What are you talking about, idiot?"
"It's true, you're both these cold, slutty, aged, big breasted animals with an insatiable appetite to prey on whoever you want and you never care who gets hurt. You love toying with the weak, it makes you feel bigger than you already look; I guess, that's why neither of you had any luck with Tsukune, huh bitch?"
"There you go," Caro said with a cold smirk and before long Ruby felt the tip of her tail against her wet vagina as it slowly snaked it's way in.
She was amazed at how large and fat the tail was, as the more it went in the greater the volume it felt, stretching the walls of her vagina excruciatingly wider to accommodate it, but it seemed there would be no limit. Ruby feared she was trying to split her open or something, but realized that wasn't the full extent of Caro's machinations, for once inside, the tail forced it's way past the clitoris and began violently wiggling about, shredding her insides and moving even further in. The pain, having moved passed excruciating to indescribable, caused blood to force its way out of her into a pool on the floor; but, she would not scream.
Caro kept her frail arms firmly restrained and was staring down menacingly at her like a winged fiend, and yet Ruby refused to grant this devil the satisfaction of hearing any kind of scream from her red lips. Caro pressed her massive chest against Ruby's smaller chest with all her full weight, the sensation like enormous bags of sand being stacked on top as they made breathing difficult, exacerbated further by Caro's heavy, foul breath so close to her face. And yet, in spite of everything her rapist had promised would be the most unpleasant experienced ever felt, Ruby never screamed or cried for mercy. Muscles tensed so painfully that some areas began to bleed, mixing with sweat and cum, but Ruby did not cry out.
"Why don't you scream?" Caro asked, finally frustrated to the point of expressing it.
"You'll never understand, Caro," Ruby grimaced, defiance etched firmly in her violet eyes. "I've endured worse than you can imagine; I thrive off of it! I know pain all too well, that's why I understand it in ways you can't. Tsukune understood; Kurumu understood, too and I understood theirs."
"You know nothing witch!"
"No! It's you who knows nothing!"
"You think you know pain?"
"Bring it!"
"I'll show you pain!"
"Go ahead! Bring your best; I welcome it!"
"FINE!" Caro screamed and bore down even deeper into Ruby's womb, the tip of her tail thrashing about within, her massive breasts enveloping Ruby's chest to the point of near suffocation.
"Scream…yes, scream!" Caro said, trying to mentally induce her into giving in. "There's no shame in it, you can let go and no one will blame you for it. You don't have to hold in your emotions, just do it!"
"No."
Caro growled, but remained determined to break this witch, one way or another. In the meantime, Moka continued doing the rounds serving drinks to so many horny patrons, all the while working underneath various stages with other, lesser dancers plying their trade, but none were as attention grabbing as Kurumu, who still carried on her little act. It was mocking to Moka, being relegated as some whore for other people's amusement and it began to remind her of middle school all over again.
No! She thought, defiantly. I won't go back to thinking like that, again!
She insults our good name and we just stand around serving drinks! Her inner side railed with barely restrained fury. Unforgivable!
"Hey waitress!" A patron called, briefly snapping her attention away from the show. "Two beers, over here!"
She made a slight acknowledgement of his demand, but Kurumu's audacious performance continued to gnaw away at her focus. Kurumu danced proudly, flashing her huge breasts before the crowd, jiggling them freely for all eyes to see while wearing that insulting, pink wig; Moka could barely calm herself.
"YO WAITRESS!" The patron demanded.
"…Okay, I'm coming!" Moka hollered back.
Keep it together, she coached herself. Just get through this!
Whether a part of the show or by accident, one patron tried to climb up onto Kurumu's stage just as she was about to slide off her plaid skirt dangling, and forcefully nudges him back down with her right foot, managing in the process to fling the article of clothing off with a yell:
"Know..your..place!"
The skirt flew through the air, over the heads of howling spectators and landed, Moka believed on purpose, on to her head.
The lights had gone out, people were whooping and laughing, and the air was filled with Kurumu's musky stench, but Moka knew immediately what happened and it was more than she could stand.
"That's it!" Moka hissed, ripping the skirt from her head, tossing the tray of drinks to the floor and leapt onto a nearby stage she was under, callously pushing the current stripper off her pole.
"HEY!" The stripper angrily cried. "What the hell you think you're doing?"
A few of the patrons turned their eyes toward her, and before long the house was focused on this waitress who decided to step into the limelight.
What are you doing? Moka's inner persona asked.
Moka stood there nervous and unsure of herself, but she did know it was now or never.
"Get down from there you…" the angry stripper demanded, but before she could grab a hold of her, Moka immediately began twirling about the pole with her best seductive performance.
I can do this, she coached as she began dancing the pole, kicking and performing acrobats. It's just like training.
At the moment she began to see it as training, her focus changed and shut out everything; it all just seemed to come together. Her shapely legs worked their way around the pole like she was doing gymnastics, her motions so fluid it was like natural, unmindful of her hair and sweat flying about. It was like she'd gone into a trance and the crowd was captivated; however, in her dreamscape, Moka only saw one man standing there watching her, one man who seemed to be caught in her mesmerizing performance and suddenly showing off the best of her moves meant everything in the world.
Tsukune, he's here watching! She thought. I can't let his eyes wander away; have to keep him on me!
Soon, Moka began working her heart out on the platform, and to the audience it appeared she was having rough sex with the pole when before she was merely making love to it, every move intensified, every kick higher as she unwittingly flashed herself for perverted men. But, all she cared was that in her mind, Tsukune was loving every minute of it; to him, there were no other girls present and he drew closer to her stage.
Kurumu, noticing the attention Moka was getting, wasn't about to take it lying down, refusing to be out done, yet again in her own realm. Literally ripping her top open, she turned things up with her sparkling, glittered covered bra cupping her giant breasts gyrating with her body almost beckoning the patrons back.
To Moka, it looked as if Tsukune was being drawn away from her, locked in another one of Kurumu's trances. Desperate to get his attention, she slides off her skirt and kicks it as hard as she could in his direction, as if to say: "Hey, over here!"
The crowd was going wild, men were clamoring for the still warm skirt before Kurumu decided to up the ante and popped open her bra, exposing her massive breasts in what was hoped to be a show stopper, and to top it all off tosses it to a few, lucky patrons.
Moka was at a loss; she had already decided to dance half naked and was still too modest to go any farther, but a chance glance from Tsukune convinced her to hop upside down the pole, flashing her impressive, and barely covered legs and camel toe as she twirled back down to the floor.
Kurumu answered with a seductive, hand crawl towards the edge of the stage, being sure to drag her large tits against the smooth floor, only to bring them back up with an arch of her back.
And so this dance off went on for hours, neither one letting up, both sweating, their sore limbs reaching past their limit as they pulled out every seductive move they could think of, all while the packed house ate it up like a sold out show. Outside, Yukari was still waiting anxiously in the line when word of what was going reached her ears.
"WHAT?" She screamed. "Oh man, I gotta get in there!"
"You and me both, baby but we all have to wait until the gestapo up ahead says so!" Complained an eager male patron.
"Like hell!" She yelled and secretly waving her wand from view, summons a wash basin to come crashing on the bouncer's head.
"What the f…!" He yelled, barely affected.
"Dammit!" She hissed, and with another wave of her magic wand, summoned three more that finally did the trick.
As confused as everyone was, each looking up into the night sky to see where they had come from, Yukari took the opportunity and proclaimed:
"PARTY FOR EVERYONE!"
In which case, folks forgot about the brief weirdness and, stepping over the bouncer's prostrate form, piled on into the club. Once in, she was greeted by a most wonderful sight: Moka, embroiled in a seductive dance off against Kurumu. It didn't take long for her to get wet, and moving up to Moka's stage, the lime light only highlighted Yukari's erect nipples from underneath her blouse.
"Yeah, girl!" She cheered Moka. "Work it!"
Upon seeing Kurumu flaunting her tits freely and desperately, Yukari felt like she was mocking them both, but herself personally, and angered leapt onto a table next to her stage and flashed her own tits.
"HEY, BOOBZILLA GET A LOAD OF THESE, WHOOOOOOO!"
The crowd was ecstatic, but Kurumu wasn't having any of it, and while dancing kicks Yukari off the table, landing breast first on top of one lucky patron, which only infuriated the witch; not at the grinning guy, however.
"You…bitch!" She growled angrily and brandished her magic wand, ready to deliver a fitting punishment for her boobie of a bully.
But, as the three women continued their war, another pair was locked in their own within the women's restroom, and it was made clear by an exhausted Caro as she rested, staring down at the wet and bloodied witch Ruby that perhaps she'd met her match. The high level succubus could have easily used her powers to induce this stubborn woman into crying out, but Caro had no respect for this person to grant her something like that, and to have done so would have been like admitting defeat.
"…I'll say this for you," Caro finally spoke. "You have strength; strength I haven't seen since…well, maybe one other person. You have no idea how much that bothers me; how can a traitorous worm like you be so resilient, so iron will?"
"…Maybe, you don't know everything like you think you do," Ruby said, slowly struggling to her hands and knees. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe I was doing your niece a favor?"
"What do you mean?"
"…The time she spent locked away in that dungeon, she only ever asked me for one favor, just one, and it had nothing to do with herself, but to keep what was about to happen from you either of you!"
"Don't be stupid, you don't need to tell me how she felt! Me and my sister knew it must've been hard on her, she was scared and humiliated by Moka and you pe…"
"She wasn't embarrassed, you idiot! Kurumu knew what would happen the moment either one of you, her mother or bull headed aunt, got involved. You'd do anything to keep her alive, even going so far as to debase yourselves and be forced to flee your homeland, which is precisely what happened! She had no illusions of what she had done, she wasn't afraid to face her punishment, to bear full responsibility for her actions. I wanted to plead her case, but she refused, she never wanted a drawn out trial that would have caused Tsukune further troubles or involved you and her mother in this drama on her behalf; that was something I'd admired about your niece and at that time I thought it was unfair that such a brave woman was in prison, and someone like…what's her name was allowed to do what she did without any repercussions."
Caro remained silent, but Ruby went on.
"Yukari and I never wanted it to end like this, but her mind was made up and we chose to honor it; your niece had made a grown up decision, which is more than I can say about you! Your meddling did more harm than good. Only recently had she found real happiness through no effort from you, while you could only think about yourself, even right now all you could think about was what I did to your precious breasts; and not Kurumu struggling here! Caro Shade; you think you're so smart and so worldly, but in reality…you know nothing."
At last raising herself to at least sit on the floor against the sink, sitting beneath her tormentor, but by no means feeling inferior, the stalwart Ruby added:
"There was one thing I was wrong about, however; you're nothing like Ria. Sure, you're both a pair of 'giant boobs', Yukari would appreciate that; but, she hurts her family for pleasure. You, on the other hand hurt your family because you're just plain stupid."
Caro kept silent for what seemed like an agonizing few minutes, and Ruby wondered if the enraged arch succubus would once again try raping her, but instead she offers a hand helps her to her feet.
"Actually," Caro began to say, "the difference between us is that her boobs are fake."
"Huh?"
"Yeah; trust me, I know," she replies and smiled; not a pleasant smile, but more of someone who'd come to terms with something important.
There were no more words said between them, but then none needed to be said as their simultaneous grins played a silent acknowledgement of respect, and possibly a budding friendship.
Her worn legs numb, the foul smelling sweat blinding, and her head aching tremendously after having a heavy object fall upon it, an exhausted Kurumu stumbles back to her apartment after their legendary duel that would be talked about for some time, slumped comfortably against Sam's strong, helping arms.
"Man, you two went at it!" He chuckled. "I never seen anything like that; a 'strip-off', ha! The folks say you and that Moka chick sold out the house."
"Oh, please don't mention her name," she whined. "Just hearing it makes my head hurt."
"It's alright, angel; I'll draw a bath and put some bath salts in it. You'd like that."
"Mm," she replied with a relaxed smile, but was quickly dashed when a familiar voice rang out:
"KURUMU!"
Moka was furiously marching towards them with Yukari in tow, just as haggard as Kurumu, but not too tired to let her anger do something stupid.
"What bitch?" Kurumu responded, bodily confronting her.
"You know what; did you really think I wouldn't find out what you were doing? You were mocking me on stage every night; how dare you!"
"How dare I? You self-righteous cunt!"
"Cunt!?"
"Yeah, a cunt!" Kurumu challenged, inching menacingly closer to her face, breast to breast. "I enjoyed every minute of it, and I'd do it again, too. It was the one since coming out here that brought me any joy before now, but old joys are hard to drop. And, how dare you come here and try to upstage me!"
"…You've got no right to talk to me like that."
"Oh no?"
"You've got no right to talk to me like that!"
"What are you going to do about?"
"Kill you. I'll fucking kill you!"
"Moka!" Yukari cried.
"Yeah; bring it!"
"LADIES, LADIES!" Sam yelled, boldly coming in between the two lionesses.
"Calm down, girl," Yukari whispered. "Don't let that boob get to you."
"Stay out of this, itty titty!" Kurumu yelled.
"I am not ITTY TITTY!" Yukari screamed, brandishing her wand.
"GUYS!" Sam yelled again. "Not out here, please."
"Stay out of this," Moka warned. "This doesn't concern you!"
"Don't you talk to him like that!" Kurumu shot back.
"Oh, so you care about him, do you? Were you thinking of him when you tried to sleep with my Tsukune, slut? I bet he doesn't know that!"
"That was before we met, whore! Besides, you made it clear that you and 'your' Tsukune should enter an opened relationship, anyway."
Moka's opened palm whipped forward, determined to slap Kurumu senseless for her remark, but Sam's amazingly strong hand prevented it from happening.
"With all due respect, ma'am, but this does concern me!" He says. "Tsukune is my bro, and you're all very close to him, this much I know. All this fighting…it doesn't make a lick of sense and it ain't helping nobody. Look, Moka is it; I don't know you, or this…look-alike twin, whoever, but if you really care about bro, then fighting with my angel here, and losing your mind along the way, you know this is doing him more harm than good; cause you both care for him. So, why don't you two talk, just talk, alright?"
His seemed to calm things down, but it by no means cooled their hostility towards each other.
"Why are you so mad at me, Kurumu? What did I do to you?"
"You really have to ask that?"
"Whatever happened is between you and her; not me!"
"Let's see about that, shall we?"
Kurumu motions for Moka to follow her up to her apartment.
"Sam, I need to do this alone," she tells him. "We won't fight, but Ms. Thing here needs to be brought up to speed. I'll let you know when we're through."
"Yeah, sure I understand."
After kissing her and seeing them off, he's left alone with the strange, young buxom witch who unbeknownst to him moves ever closer towards him.
"So," she says to him, arching her back to bare her bosom. "What do you think?"
"I'm sorry?"
"Don't be coy. They're great aren't they?"
He looks at her, and she grows a little desperate.
"I know you're used to bigger, but…these are big! I've had guys fawn over me!"
"Um…sure," he said with a nervous smile.
"You…you want to touch them; you can, if you like."
"Hey!" He yells as she forces his hand to cup her massive, D-cup.
In the meantime, as Kurumu leads Moka into her room, the tension between them roiled immediately into the small atmosphere enough to choke any unwanted vermin. But, as far as Kurumu was concerned, there was one she so badly wanted eradicated.
"Well?" Moka rudely demanded.
"That's right," Kurumu responded as she unfurled her devilish tail. "Let's get right to it, shall we?"
With the point of her tail pressed against Moka's forehead, she poured all that had been stored within her: the honeymoon, the illicit affair that sparked this mess, the divorce hearing between Tsukune and Moka Aono, and his subsequent rage upon arriving. Kurumu spared no detail, she poured it all into her head like a broken faucet, wanting to make sure she knew exactly what was in the succubus's heart whenever her lavender eyes laid up on her. After an hour, she finally releases Moka and lets her collapse to the ground, emotionally wrecked beyond repair. The experience had been overwhelming; she had imagined that the situation bad, gut wrenching even, but to actually feel like she was there, witnessing every indescribably vile act committed that not even her inner personality, who usually sniped or growled about anything, could scarcely utter a word.
"…Oh…god," Moka at last muttered.
She felt like crying, her emerald eyes were on the verge of exploding with tears, and yet as Kurumu loomed overhead it would seem the two might share in their emotions.
And, why not? The man they cared for had been ravaged by this beast, and all of their lives were turned upside down; so now here they were in the same room, in nearly the same situation.
"Kurumu," she wept, extending a hand.
"Moka," came her response, as she gently lifts her head and swiftly, with all her power, kicks Moka flying into the far wall, leaving a nasty imprint, right next to the one Tsukune made with Kurumu's body.
"Oh yeah," Kurumu said. "I forgot to mention that I've been working out since you literally sent me to this hell hole just for this moment, and I got to say it was well worth it."
"…K-Kurumu," Moka muttered, her vision dizzy from the powerful strike and her head radiating with pain. "Th-That wasn't me. None of it was me."
"Maybe, maybe not; but you're here and she isn't, and right now…I'm going to need to vent some much needed frustration. Now, get your ass up out of my room."
Before Kurumu turns to leave, she pauses to say to the prone princess:
"Oh and 'know your place'."
As Moka laid there in a heap, there was very little she wanted to do except wallow in her pitiful state.
Don't let her get away with this insult, Inner Moka finally said. That…mess, that shitty mess was not our doing, and she had no right to…
"Shut up," she mutters.
What did you just say?
"I said…j-just stop talking, please. I don't want to hear anymore, just stop talking."
Halfway around the world, the soon to be former Moka Aono sat in the quiet limo with her mother, brooding over the recent events that have occurred in her life and what was to come next.
"You've been awfully quiet, mother. Say something!"
Akasha glanced at her daughter, carefully hiding the displeasure at her daughter's abrasive demeanor.
"What do you want me to say?" She asked.
"I would have hoped you'd show me some support, say anything to let me know you were on my side, that you understood!"
"Darling, I am on your side and I'm doing everything I can to help you!"
"At least tell me that what I did wasn't as bad as everyone else thinks!"
"Moka, dear being knocked up by a…werewolf who has no intention of helping you is every bit as bad."
"I know that, mother, I'm not denying that he was a mistake!"
"He was the mistake? Then, do you want me to say that choosing this character over your bloodmate to extort his allegiance to you was an innocent mistake?"
"My past!" Moka cut her off. "It is why I did what I did, for my children, I mean our children."
"Yes, Moka I know all about it and I'm not blaming you for that."
"I have no intention of going through this with you or anyone again; I'm talking about what happened between the three of us: me, Tsukune, and Gin."
"…Let's talk about that," Akasha said with great reservations.
"What I did…regardless of my reasons, in the end it was just sex!"
"Just sex?"
"Yes; that's all. I did not choose Gin over my husband, in fact there was hardly any love me and that dog, and our intercourse carried no meaning, what so ever. Isn't it no different than what father, Ria or even Kahlua does from time to time! Nevertheless, I never thought Tsukune would be so affected by it."
"Is that how you see it?" Akasha asked.
"Yes. You, of all people, must understand."
Akasha bit down on her bottom lip as she took what Moka had said, her emotions mixed on how to respond to that.
"…Tell me, was your husband indoctrinated in our lifestyle?" She asked Moka.
"I thought he was or at least he would have; it just seemed like we had plenty of time, but now…"
"…I see."
Moka looks around and notices how far out they've been driving for the past few hours.
"Say, where are we going?" She asked.
"To the Aono residence. They at least need to be made aware of what's going on; and besides, I think we owe his mother an apology after what was said to her."
"His mother?" Moka asked, incredulously. "What exactly are you going to say? Sorry I was so rude to you, but we're vampires and your son broke one of our customs?"
"No, but at the very least she should hear from you how sincerely sorry you are for what you said."
Akasha looked over at her daughter, who had averted her eyes, indignant in her demeanor, though with a sliver of nervousness. She fidgeted with the loose, rosary cross in her hands, just itching to put it back on.
"Perhaps you should change back," Akasha suggested. "She might not be aware of your current form."
"…Right," she responded and without hesitation snaps her rosary back together, thus transforming back to the normally placid, pink haired form.
"Feeling better?" Akasha asked, noticing how nauseated and half passed out her daughter seemed.
"Uhh," Moka murmured.
There were beads of sweat forming on her brow, bags underneath the eyes, and a slight trembling in her limbs.
It's getting worse, Akasha thought with great concern. I don't know how she's going to last much longer.
As the passing scenery of city streets and crosswalks became houses, familiar houses, Moka's stomach began to churn wildly. It was obvious she didn't want to confront Kazumi Aono; it took enough courage to say what she did over the phone, now they were going to face her in person.
Still yourself! Inner Moka chastised. In spite of everything, we are still proud and noble vampires. This should be simple.
I don't know what to say!
Just say I'm sorry; even though we did nothing wrong, well not completely, she's human and perhaps that small gesture might get her on our side, for a change.
You sure it'll work?
It has to; what other choice do we have?
Suddenly, the limo came to a stop and it was apparent that they had arrived at their destination.
Moka was less than pleased, nor her stomach.
"Here we are," Akasha muttered, resolute, but just as apprehensive as her daughter.
"Mother," Moka said, her emerald eyes almost pleading.
With a gentle and encouraging smile, Akasha tells her:
"I'll come with you. We'll do this together."
With a welcoming hand extended, Moka readily accepts it and with butterflies in her stomach is led out by her mother.
She never dreamed she'd be here or anywhere near the home where Tsukune grew up ever again. All around them was the sweet, wholesome scent of your typical human dwelling, complete with clipped lawns, brushed up piles of leaves, fresh paint and other assorted things that made her stomach feel even worse. Still, Moka would be meeting with Kazumi for the first time since this all started and no doubt Kyoko would be present; there was no telling what she told. Still, there was plenty at stake besides a simple, fake apology; if there would any sliver of hope for her, she needed the support of his mother to save her dwindling marriage, so it was all or nothing.
"Oh dear," she heard her mother say.
"What? What is it?"
"It doesn't appear anybody's home."
"Huh?"
Moka looked up at the house and was surprised, and a little devastated to see all the blinds closed and the lights turned off.
"I don't believe this."
"Look, they left a note," Akasha points out, snatching it from the door.
"What does it say?"
"That's strange; it says the entire family is out, for some reason."
"They left? Well, where could they be; how can they leave at a time like this?"
"Hold on, they left a cell number we can reach them. I guess we'll have to call them instead. Come on."
Hopping back into the limo, Moka was left bewildered and frustrated by this sudden turn of events, but while her mother dials the number on her cell, one other thing she did feel was a sense of relief. A phone conversation, she figured, should at least go over a lot smoother than a face to face.
Back at the hotel, a devastated Moka Akashiya stumbles back to her shared room, bruised and forlorn, much to Kazumi's concern.
"Kazumi!" Moka said. "I didn't know you were still up."
"Didn't feel like sleeping; what happened to you?" Kazumi asked with concern.
"Huh, oh! It's nothing."
"I guess your first night was busier than I thought."
"Yeah, but enough about me, are you not feeling well? Is it the travel sickness, again?"
"No, no, I've just been up thinking, doing a lot of thinking about a lot of things."
"Kazumi," Moka said, her turn to be worried, but Kazumi waved her off.
"It's nothing, besides I imagine you have more than enough to deal with."
"You sure there isn't anything I can do?"
"No, no. In fact, I think maybe a good rest would be nice, after all. Why don't you go take a bath, it'll help sooth you; you must be tired from the evening, for a vampire."
"I think I better wait, after…"
"No buts, you go freshen up, you've had a long day! I bought some herbs I know you like, so put 'em to good use."
Moka smiled, as Mrs. Aono's demand reminded her of something her own mother would say, regardless of their different races.
Alone, listening to Moka running the bath water behind the closed door, the sound a reminder of simpler times, of when she used to run a little boy's bath and would have to make him get in despite his often annoying protests. When she did get his tiny bottom into the warm bubble bath with all his rubber toys in there to keep him company, she'd always be surprised at how long it took him to get through, for he'd play more often than get clean. His father would just brush off such antics, being away at work more than helping to deal with the kid, which irritated her to no end. But, looking back on it now, she could never say she was truly mad at them; her little boy would be a kid and sometimes did things that made her laugh, and her husband was a guy, who knew just how to make her forget the troubles of being a housewife. It was a good life, it was her life, and it was what she wanted again more than anything.
Was it alright to let this go? Could she just resign herself and give it up in the face of the machinations of such evil women? Were they right to have their way and she wrong for wanting something so simple? Or, like Moka, should she fight to regain what was lost?
A cell phone jingle jolted her awake from her maudlin fantasy and recognizing it as hers, looks frantically about the room for it, thinking it might be Tsukune.
"Hello!" She all but screamed into the receiver upon finding the phone.
"Kazumi?" The voice on the other end asked. "Is this Kazumi Aono?"
"…Who is this?" She replied, disappointed but curious. "This is Kazumi Aono, speaking."
"You may not remember me, but this is Akasha Bloodriver, we met at our children's wedding some…"
"Ms. Bloodriver, y-yes I remember you!"
"I'm sorry to bother you, but my daughter and I had just stopped by your house to speak with you and found your note on the door. We really wanted…needed to talk with you."
"…Your daughter?" Kazumi asked, glancing at the closed door and wondering as the conversation continued if the person Ms. Bloodriver was with was in fact the daughter responsible for all of this, and whether or not talking to her again would be in her best interest, much less alerting Moka that her own mother, and possible twin was the phone right now.
"I'm sorry, the reception is bad out here," Kazumi lied. "Could you explain again why you're calling?"
"You see…," Akasha tried to explain, "my daughter and I felt bad about what has happened…in regards to your son, but she feels especially bad about how she talked to you."
"Oh really?" Kazumi asked, momentarily distracted as she made up her mind to grab Moka and expose everything to Akasha, that the girl she's with is a fake and a liar.
"Yes, I personally want to extend my condolences; what was done to you was not done by my daughter in her best of judgement, and I don't want any bad feelings to exist between us."
"Oh, how considerate of you."
Kazumi rapidly knocks on the door, desperate to get Moka's attention without saying her name out loud.
"You may not be aware of this," Akasha continued.
"What is it?" Moka asked from in the bathroom. "Do you need to throw up, again?"
In the limo, the former Moka Aono was growing impatient and felt put off by her mother calling out her lapse in judgement so openly.
"Mother," she said, but Akasha waved her off and continued.
"…But, please know that she is hurting just as much right now as you must be feeling."
"Oh, she is?" Kazumi asked, a little insulted by the insinuation.
"Yes, you see at the moment both our children are going through a separation," she added.
"Yes, I know," Kazumi blurted out, and knocks on the door again.
"You know?" Akasha asked, confused.
She knows? Moka Aono wondered.
Realizing her mistake, Kazumi tries to cover it.
"Uhh, I mean I suspected that there might be something going on and so…I just assumed."
"Mrs. Aono…"
"Please, call me Kazumi, Akasha," she said out loud, hoping the name would have caught Moka Akashiya's attention.
"Kazumi; is everything okay? You don't sound well. In fact, it's strange that your entire family would be away from home at time like this. Have you been in touch with your son?"
"No, no we haven't."
Finally, Moka turns off the bath water and, dressed in only wrapped towel peaks out the door.
"Kazumi?" She asks. "Is everything alright?"
"We're out looking for him right now," Kazumi says, signaling for Moka to wait.
"Who are you talking to?" She asked, curious.
"Mother, allow me to talk with her," Moka Aono insisted, having worked up the courage to tell her side of the story.
"I imagine you are," Akasha replies to Kazumi. "I just wanted you to know that he's fine, I've seen him myself and helped look after him, but…"
"You…you have?" Kazumi asked, her maternal concern taking over. "Is he…how is he?"
"Fine, just fine. I've even seen to it that he had a meal and was properly clothed, but he's okay."
"Mother!" Moka Aono pleaded.
"Kazumi?" Moka Akashiya asked.
"Akasha, I need to know," Kazumi tells her, wanting to know more about him, but unintentionally acknowledged to Moka who she's talking to.
"A…kasha?" Moka stammered, the very name unmistakable, the sensation of knowing that her mother, whom she hasn't seen in years, someone she loved so dearly and longed for as much as Tsukune was on the phone right now made it too much for this recently frazzled mind to endure.
In the limo, Akasha, realized that her daughter would not sit idly much longer and that the only thing to do now was to let her speak to the woman she had wronged and hoped an apology would help repair everything.
"Well," she says, "perhaps I should let you speak to my daughter and hear her out."
"Let me…!" Moka Akashiya snaps, snatching the phone from Kazumi and shakenly holds it to her ear.
"Say what you need to say," Akasha tells her daughter as she hands it to her, who with sweaty palms puts it to her ear and prepares to say her peace.
"Momma!" Moka Akashiya said.
"Mrs. Aono?" Moka Aono said.
There was a short pause, as neither Moka was sure exactly whom she was talking to.
"M-Momma?"
"Huh?" Moka Aono asked, and continued. "Is this you, Mrs. Aono? Um, look, before I apologize, I just wanted to first explain…why I did what I did. It has nothing to do with you personally or your son, it's just that I had gone through a lot growing up, more than you can imagine and I only wanted what was best for our children."
There was no response, which made Moka Aono even more nervous. To Moka Akashiya, though there was no mistaking the voice on the other end, and everything she said sounded eerily familiar and yet, worse of all there were details that only one other person would know besides herself and Tsukune.
Could it be? She wondered. Is this really her?
"I realize things had gotten out of hand," the other girl continued. "That was never my intention; please understand there isn't a cruel bone in my body, I was only doing what any expectant mother would have done for the sake of her children if pushed."
It can't be, Moka Akashiya went on. But, her voice. It…it sounds…just like me!
"I love your son," Moka Aono added, and I want him back with me where he belongs, so if you would, please forgive me for how I spoke to you, and tell your son, tell Tsukune to come home."
There was silence once again; in the hotel room Kazumi looked at Moka, gauging her blank response and silent demeanor with worry.
"…M-Moka?" She quietly asked.
"….", came a response directly at Moka Aono that she could barely make out.
"I…I'm sorry?" She asked, in which Moka Akashiya, who after realizing there was no mistaking it, she was indeed talking with her twin sister, repeated loud and clear what she thought of her apology.
"Burn..in..hell, you WITCH!"
"What?" Moka Aono asked, astonished at the response and the person who said it. "Who is this?"
"BURN IN HELL!" Moka Akashiya shrieked again and slammed the phone so hard against the floor that it shattered into a hundred pieces.
So emotional she was by conversation, so angered by this person's actions, and so offended by her weak attempt at mending things, that Moka Akashiya allowed all the pent up rage she had for this person to boil over and thought there were plenty she wanted to say to her, the only sentence formed and ready to spill out was the only one that had to sum up that hatred. Standing there half naked in the bathroom doorway, with broken pieces of a cell phone strewn about her feet, and Kazumi briefly stricken mute by the sudden outburst, Moka looked up at her, half expecting some anger or fear, but was taken aback by the tiny smirk that slowly began to spread on Mrs. Aono, despite her phone being destroyed.
"Thanks," Kazumi said softly. "I think I feel much, much better, now."
Back at Castle Shuzen, a distraught and haggard looking woman slowly snuck her way in through the lower level catacomb entrance, carrying a half empty bottle of liquor and an inebriated demeanor. With Ria away, the first to greet this intruder fell to Kahlua, who was all too thrilled to see what delightful acts of carnage she could inflict on her new plaything.
"Yoohoo, you there!" She pleasantly announced from the shadows. "If you don't be careful, I'll have to…"
But then, her keen nose sniffed the intruder and was shocked to learn it was her baby sister, Kokoa with her lean body and gothic Lolita dress reeking of beer and dried piss.
"Sister?" Kahlua asked. "What are you doing? And, what have you been in?"
"Shut up," she mumbled and took another swig. "Don't call me your sister."
"Huh?"
"Sister, sister, sister; you know what you sound like? Like a goddamn human. We're vampires, we have no need for family, anyway! We're just…things of power who live forever! What's the point?"
Kokoa began to laugh, its delirious sound causing Kahlua great discomfort.
"Do you know how much trouble you're gonna be in with father and mo...?"
"I SAID DROP THE FAMILY CRAP!" Kokoa snapped and roughly shoves Kahlua away when she attempts to draw near.
Kokoa looked at her, saw the hurt in her elder sister's eyes and remembered how she gets whenever when distraught, at how crazed and brutal she becomes.
"Yes," Kokoa said with a wicked smile. "You gonna cry, aren't you?"
She moves in closer and begins to methodically poke and prod her older sister, sharp pokes from her long fingernails digging deeper into her sister's bronzed skin, followed by rough shoves when that failed to work.
"Yeah, I'm being mean, aren't I?" Kokoa asked. "You gonna cry? Huh? You gonna cry because your baby sister is being mean? Come on, then! What's you waiting for, come and beat me, hurt me back, kill me! You know you want to. Come on, you big, fat, ugly idiot!"
When the look of hurt turns into shock on Kahlua's face, Kokoa resorts to smacking her around, the loud smacks echoing in the chamber as the little sister grew more violent.
"God, you're so pathetic!" Kokoa hissed, her face just inches away from her sister, daring her to reciprocate the violence. "You're so fake, trying to look so much like mother with the skin and jewelry and the hair; why, she don't love you. She don't love any of us; this family is a farce! We don't need loved ones, you and I, and I definitely don't need you! So, out with it; do something. DO IT! C'mon, you weak skank, DO SOMETHING!"
And yet, as distressed Kahlua looked and how her eyes seemed to be on the verge of crying, she would not do a thing to her.
"What are you waiting for?" Kokoa ranted. "What are you, stupid?"
Kokoa kept on hitting her until she ran out of breath, but Kahlua remained steadfast.
"…Some assassin you are," Kokoa said, breathlessly. "You're a failure as a killer. Fine… I'll find someone who has the guts to do it, someone who won't stare at me like some retarded…"
Kokoa was surprised when a pair of strong arms wrapped themselves around her and pressed her head into a pair of large, warm pillow like breasts. Kahlua, instead of throttling her, had instead hugged her troubled sister.
"I'm not going to kill you, silly," Kahlua whispered softly. "You're sick, there's something wrong with you. Go get some rest, okay?"
Confused, Kokoa nonetheless wrenches herself free and stands there looking at her sister in utter shock. There was nothing to say, she'd never behaved this way towards her or anyone, before.
"What?" Kokoa asked.
"Sis, I will not kill you; I'm sorry, but I won't."
Baffled, angered, and no less depressed, Kokoa smashes the bottle of beer over sister's head, allowing the liquid to drizzle down into her pretty, blonde hair with nary a response from her but a warm smile and a look of genuine concern for her baby sister, in which the frustrated redhead retreats and abandons her quest for suicide, for now.