Vampire Zodiac

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: I own neither Rosario Vampire or Kamen Rider.

Hey, look at the freak!

He's a loser!

He's so stupid!

Who would want to be his friend?

Why is he even here?

He's not normal!

Gasping, Kazi sat upright in bed as he broke free of Morpheus's grip, cold sweat breaking out on his body as he struggled to control his breathing.

"Damn," he said as a shudder passed through him, "I thought I stopped having those dreams."

It had been a few weeks since the incident with Saizou, and things were beginning to fall into a sort of routine for Kazi. Things were pretty normal, so this sudden change in his sleep patterns had thrown him for a loop.

Checking the clock on his nightstand, he saw that he had a few minutes before his alarm would go off anyways, Kazi grabbed his uniform and went to wash off the cold sweat coating his body, thanking God that each dorm room was equipped with their own private bathroom and shower as the hot water helped wash away the sweat from his nightmare. As he stood under the rushing water, he clenched his fist tightly, trying to force his had to stop trembling from the dream he had awoken from.

Turning off the shower and toweling off, Kazi quickly pulled on his uniform and grabbed his crimson Switch, pocketing it and heading for the door, hoping to make it to the cafeteria to grab some breakfast before his first class. As he walked down the steps of the boys' dorms, he pushed the unpleasant memories aside, wondering what classes would be like today in this school of monsters.

xXsceneXx

A few minutes later found Kazi sitting on a bench on campus as he took a bite of a roll he had bought at the school store as he looked around at the various students interacting. Many hid their monster traits quite well, though there were some who were quite obviously monsters due to their poorly maintained human disguises.

"And they expect to live in the human world like that?" Kazi scoffed to himself as he saw some upperclassmen walk by, scales visible on their necks due to their poor ability to hold human form.

"Still though," he mused as he took a bite of his bread and thought back to his earlier nightmare, "the human world is filled with monsters already."

Yawning, Kazi sighed to himself. These issues were supposed to be behind him now that he'd changed schools. Humans really were disgusting monsters, more so than a lot of the so-called monsters that were enrolled here.

Checking his watch, he saw that it was too early to head to homeroom and too late to go back to sleep, so the teen decided to go on a jog around campus to get his mind off of things, namely nightmares about events that were to remain buried in the past.

xXsceneXx

One exhilarating run and a hot shower later, and Kazi met up with Moka at the path outside the dorms, the pinkette having an elated smile on her face upon greeting her friend.

"Kazi!" Moka said cheerfully as she walked up, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Like a baby," lied Kazi. He didn't want to burden her with his problems, "I've already eaten, but do you want to grab some breakfast before class starts? I think the school shop still has some bread left."

"Actually…" said Moka sheepishly, trailing off as she poked her fingers together.

"Right," chuckled Kazi with a sigh, "you know we really can't keep doing this."

"I know," said Moka, "but I just can't stop."

"Fine," said Kazi as he leaned his head to the side and pulled down the collar of his uniform to expose his neck, "just don't take too much."

"Thank you! Itadakimasu." smiled Moka before leaning in and biting down on the teen's neck and drinking his blood.

Kazi held back a wince from the feeling of her fangs penetrating flesh and remained still as Moka fed on his life fluid before pulling back with a satisfied smile on her face.

"I don't know why, but your blood is so addicting!" she squeed as she basked in the rush she got from Kazi's blood.

'Possibly because my blood is laced with Cosmic Energy,' mused Kazi mentally as he rubbed the spot she had just bitten, "I see," he said aloud, "should we head to class then?"

"We shall," said Moka happily as the two walked off, not noticing a blue haired female student glaring at them while boys around her tripped over themselves to get her attention.

"I don't know how you do it," she muttered to herself, "but I won't let you stand in the way of my plans."

xXsceneXx

After classed had ended, the two teens parted ways, Moka having some questions about an assignment that she wanted to speak to their teacher about and Kazi opting to wait for her in the hall. As he leaned against the wall, semi-lost in thought, he was caught off guard when an attractive female student with blue hair and a rather *ahem* gifted figure sauntered up to him with a smile.

"Hey there handsome," she said as she leaned forward slightly.

"…hi," said Kazi awkwardly, "can I help you?"

"Well, I noticed you standing here, all alone, and wondered if you'd welcome the company of a beautiful woman," said the girl with a sultry smile.

"Yeeeah no," said Kazi as he took a few steps back, "I'm alright. I'm just waiting on a friend."

"Is that right?" asked the girl as she looked him right in the eye, and suddenly, Kazi felt a haze drift over his mind, as if his senses were being obstructed by a veil of fog that left a fuzzy feeling in his brain. It was actually rather unpleasant and Kazi gripped his head as he forcibly ejected the foreign energy from his mind by gripping his Zodiarts switch and focusing on its power.

"What was that?" he demanded, "What did you just do to me?"

"What?" exclaimed the girl, "My Allure didn't work? How is that possible?"

Before things could escalate further though, Moka walked out of the classroom and the bluenette's ire found a new target.

"You!" she growled upon seeing Moka, "Akashiya Moka!"

"Yes?" said Moka in surprise, "Do I know you?"

"You've been a thorn in my side since day one," growled the new girl, "as a Succubus, I need to charm as many men as I can to find my Destined One, but you and your appeal has been interfering with that! I will not let that stand!"

"I'm sorry?" offered Moka, "But I don't even know your name."

"I'm Kurono Kurumu," growled the Succubus, "and I will not let my plans be thwarted by someone like you!"

Suddenly, the now named Kurumu began to undergo a change. Her perfectly manicured fingernails began to elongate into savage claws and a pair of bat-like wings emerged from her back, with a forked tail sprouting from under her skirt to top it off. Once her transformation was complete, Kurumu lunged at Moka, knocking the two of them through the wall and out of the building and into the forest surrounding the school.

Seeing this happen, Kazi couldn't help but sigh, as it had barely been a month since their last big fight, and it seemed now that there would never be a dull moment here at Yokai Academy. Resigning himself, Kazi pulled out his Switch and pressed the activator, transforming him into his Zodiarts form in a blaze of Cosmic Energy. Once the transformation was complete, Kazi leapt through the hole and sped after them.

It didn't take long for him to catch up to the two girls and from what he saw, Moka was being forced on the defensive, likely because her Rosario was still sealing away the bulk of her powers. Letting out a sonic blast from his maw, Kazi knocked Kurumu away from Moka and quickly closed the distance between him and his friend and removed her Rosario with a quick tug in order to give the Vampire a fighting chance.

As Moka assumed her Inner form in spiral of bats and power, Kurumu pushed herself to her feet and stared in horror at her opponent, only now fully realizing just what kind of monster she had made an enemy of.

"Hoh?" mused Inner Moka with an unamused expression, "You thought yourself to be capable of defeating me?"

"N-n-no," stammered Kurumu in fear as Moka casually walked closer to her.

"My my," scoffed Inner Moka, "what happened to all that arrogance and bravado? Know your place!"

Before Kurumu could react, Moka's leg snapped out and caught her in the midsection, sending the Succubus crashing through several trees before skidding to a stop on the ground. As she got her bearings, she noticed a shadow from overhead and was forced to dive to the side as Moka slammed into the ground, delivering an axe kick that left a large crater. Kurumu tried to pull herself to her feet, but was forced back down when Moka planted her foot in the middle of her back.

"It seems you were all talk after all," said the Vampire before gripping one of Kurumu's wings in her hand, "perhaps I should clip these wings of yours to teach you a lesson that you won't forget."

"No!" pleaded Kurumu as tears formed in her eyes, "No please!"

Fortunately, before the deed could be done, an armored claw placed a firm grip on Inner Moka's shoulder causing her to pause.

"That's enough, Akashiya-san," said Kazi in a stern tone.

"Really?" asked Moka in disbelief, "After what she tried to do? Was this not the reason you unsealed me?"

"I unsealed you so you could defend yourself," said Kazi, "and there is a difference between teaching someone a lesson, and mutilation. Take care not to cross it."

"Oh?" asked Moka, "And what would happen if I did?"

"Then you might just make an enemy of me," said Kazi firmly, the threat evident in his tone.

The Vampire and the Zodiarts matched glares for a moment longer before Moka scoffed and removed her hand from Kurumu's wing.

"Very well," she agreed, "but I am only doing this because of the fondness my other half has for you. Do not push your luck, boy."

With that, Moka took her Rosario from Kazi's claw and clipped it back onto her choker, causing her to revert back to her outer self and collapse into Kazi's arms, unconscious for the moment.

Seeing that the fight was over, Kazi carefully lowered Moka to the ground and dispelled his transformation, pocketing his Switch before Kurumu could get a good look at it, before turning to the downed Succubus.

"Why is it so important that you find your Destined One?" he asked after a moment.

"My people, we are a dying race," admitted Kurumu as she retracted her tail, wings, and claws and looked down in shame, "because we live off the love of our Destined Ones, the Succubi are nearing the brink of extinction as it becomes harder and harder for us to find the one we are supposed to be with. I wanted to gather all the men in the school so I would have the best chance at finding my Destined One. I didn't really want to hurt anybody. I'm sorry."

Upon hearing this, Kazi sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "Look," he said, "I can get your motivations, but when you have men under your control like that, then is it still even love? Maybe you need to step back a bit and tone it down a notch. I mean, I know I don't really care for girls who are too openly forward, but if one took the time to get to know me and became my friend, then I could see us having a future together…but that's just me. All I'm saying is, maybe you should re-think your approach?"

"Ok," said Kurumu somberly.

"Right," said Kazi, "I'd better get Moka back inside. Maybe I'll see you around after class or something? We have homeroom together, right?"

"Right," said Kurumu as she started to brighten up, "bye."

As Kazi picked up Moka and carried her back, bridal style, Kurumu couldn't help but watch his retreating form, a small warmth blossoming inside her.