Chapter Two: The Stalker
The alarm clock blared, jolting Tsukune out of his peaceful slumber. He clutched his beating chest, panting.
"Every damn time." He muttered. "I gotta get a quieter alarm."
"Tsukune!" his mother's voice called up to him. "You'll be late! Your friend's been waiting here for ten minutes!"
"Friend?" Tsukune asked, thinking to try to remember who she could be talking about. However, before he could figure it out, the door to his room burst open, kicked open by Moka.
"Good morning, Tsukune-kun!" She called, shocking him even more than the alarm clock did.
"Moka, what the hell?!" he shouted, pulling the covers around himself. "Don't you know to knock?! What if I slept nude?!"
"Then, I'd get you dressed!" Moka said, pointing at Tsukune with a grin similar to that of one Haruhi Suzumiya, whose novels were on Tsukune's shelf.
"I don't think that'd be a good idea." Tsukune said, turning bright red at the thought.
"Well, whatever!" Moka said, pulling him out of bed, tripping over his sheet and falling backwards, hitting her head on the dresser as she fell to the ground, a dopey look on her face as she began seeing bats flying around her head.
"Pretty bats." She muttered, her voice groggy as Tsukune had fallen on top of her on his hands and knees. He turned as red as blood at the very position he was in, accidental or not.
"Tsuki, what are you doing?! Mom says you—" Tsukune's older cousin, Kyōko came into the room, beginning to say something when she stopped dead at the position Moka and Tsukune were in, her mouth dropping open as she stared, trying to form a response.
"It's not what it looks like." Tsukune quickly jumped up, waving his hands back and forth, trying to explain himself. However, a quick punch to his head by Kyōko silenced any argument.
"You know it's not good to be a pervert!" She said. "Now get dressed!"
"Lemme suck your blood, Tsukune-kun." Moka loopily spoke, still on the ground, the bats still flying around before her eyes.
"Is she okay?" Kyōko asked, raising an eyebrow.
"She's fine." Tsukune chuckled nervously rubbing the back of his head. "She just took a fall and I fell on top of her. Honest."
"Is that true, Moka?" Kyōko asked. A dazed response was her answer.
"I'll take her downstairs." Tsukune said. "She's probably a little woozy from her anemia too."
"Oh yeah!" Kyōko said, remembering the condition Moka had told her she had the first time she'd met her. "Well, we'll get her downstairs."
"I got her." Tsukune said, picking her up from behind in a position that looked as if he was to give her the Heimlich maneuver. However, he shifted her so that she was leaning on him with her arm draped over his shoulder.
"Come on Moka." He said, walking and half dragging Moka to the stairs, walking to them, Moka still loopy as they descended.
When Tsukune's parents saw her, they were naturally a little worried.
"Don't worry dear." His mother, Kasumi said, rushing to the kitchen, returning shortly holding a bowl of spinach. "This will help with her anemia."
"Eat up, Moka." Tsukune said, setting her on a chair and holding the spoon up to the dazed vampire. As if on cue, Moka lunged forward a little, biting down on Tsukune's neck, beginning to suck his blood. Her face became a little less pale as she took in Tsukune's blood, licking her lips when she was done.
Tsukune, on the other hand, looked a little paler, partially because he had lost some of his blood with his parents nearby and partially because there was a chance they'd seen it.
"Are you crazy?!" He harshly whispered to her. "What are you doing?"
"I was drinking your blood, silly." She giggled, putting a hand up to her mouth in the way she knew would keep Tsukune from staying mad at her. "Duh."
"I know, but be careful." He hissed. "Now, eat your spinach."
"Okay." She said, taking the fork and shoveling it in in the most polite way possible.
"Now let's go!" She shouted, standing up and pulling Tsukune out the door. "We'll be late!"
"Slow down, Mokaaaa!" Tsukune wailed as Moka pulled him out as she ran to the school. However, unbeknownst to them, there was someone watching them. Someone in the shadows.
At Youkai Academy
"Here we are!" Moka shouted cheerily, releasing Tsukune, who panted, never having run so hard in his life.
"Man, how do you run so fast?!" He said, wheezing his lungs out.
"I'm a vampire, silly." She said, giggling once again. "I thought we'd been over this."
"Yeah, I know." He said, gaining his breath. "I just figured it'd become easier over time."
"Well, it doesn't matter." Moka shrugged, walking into the school, Tsukune beside her. "Let's just get to class and hope they don't get too mad at us."
"Yeah." Tsukune said, nodding. "That would be a good course of action."
The human and vampire walked into their classroom, sitting down as the teacher, Miss Nekonome, who was wearing her casual uniform in addition to cat's ears and tail in her blonde hair. Since she was rarely, if ever, seen without them, the rumors went around that she was a neko youkai. Whenever they asked her, however, she'd always give them a confused look and make a cat noise. This simply escalated the rumors, while others thought she was just messing with people and was an extreme cosplayer.
"You two!" She said, pointing her slender finger at Moka and Tsukune. "You're late! Explain nya!"
"Well, I had trouble with my alarm clock and Moka came to help me." Tsukune said, nodding.
"I see." The cat adorned teacher said, thinking, stroking her chin with her fingers. "you two will have to stay after class anyway!"
"Okay." Moka and Tsukune said, nodding.
"Now" Miss Nekonome said, picking up her textbook. "Everyone turn to page thirty five. We're learning Pre-Calculus' version of algebra today."
The entire class groaned at the homework, absolutely not wanting to do so.
"Now now" Miss Nekonome said, waving her hand in a manner to get everyone to calm down. "It's alright. You don't have to worry. It's really simple."
The class groaned again, watching as she began to write on the board, several problems being written. Unbeknownst to them, a seemingly ghostly figure was watching in the window, her eyes focused on two people.
After class
"I can't believe we have to stay after class." Moka complained, smacking the board with her hand, leaving a small crack.
"Well, it was my fault." Tsukune said.
"Yep." Moka giggled. "you slept too late."
"I need a new alarm clock." Tsukune said, nodding.
"Tsukune Aono and Moka Akashiya?" a voice with little tone said, its owner walking into the room.
The owner of the voice was a girl about their age. She had white shoes with black laces. She wore long stockings that went halfway up her thighs. The stockings had thick pink and purple stripes that went all the way up them. She wore a belt around her left leg that was buckled firmly. She wore the plaid skirt that was part of the girls' uniform, though, of the school uniform, that was all she wore. She wore a black tank top, though only the tops of the straps showed. Over it, she wore a white hoodie with dark blue sleeves. The hoodie had a large pocket in the front with light blue lining. The hoodie also had everything on the shoulder height missing, showing her shoulders and the corresponding area of her chest. She wore no gloves on her hands, which were a pale color. Her face was the same color as her hands, though her cheeks had a slight tint to them. Her hair was an icy blue with a purple look to it. Her eyes were an icy sky blue, showing little emotion. In her mouth was a lollipop that she was running her tongue over.
"Who are you?" Tsukune asked.
"I am Mizore Shirayuki." She said in her quieter voice, looking at them. "I am new here, but I recognize you from my neighborhood."
"You live in our neighborhood?" Tsukune asked.
"I do." Mizore said. "But, I don't like meeting new people."
"Oh." Tsukune said. "Well, I guess that's understandable."
"You two are very interesting though." Mizore nodded. "Especially you, Moka-san."
"Eh?" Moka asked. "Why?"
"You have such a free spirit." Mizore said. "Almost as if you aren't like everyone else. Your abilities seem otherworldly."
"R-really?" Moka asked.
"Yes." Mizore said. "I find it very intriguing."
"Oh?" Moka asked.
"Yes." Mizore said. "you do fit the role of a vampire. Or, at least, you act like one."
"Wha?!" Moka asked, shocked. Tsukune had no idea how to react either.
"I see you biting on his neck." Mizore said. "I figure you are either a vampire or it is your strange way of romance."
"Uh, yeah." Moka chuckled nervously. "It's my romance."
"It is strange." Mizore said. "Do you like the taste of blood?"
"Oh, it's great!" Moka said cheerily. "Especially Tsukune-kun's!"
"I see." Mizore said. "Well, be careful. Most people wouldn't like the idea of a vampire running around. Or someone who likes the taste of blood like that."
"You seem to know a lot about her." Tsukune said suspiciously.
"I have been watching you." Mizore said, tapping her fingers together. "You two intrigue me. I was curious to find out about you."
"Like a stalker?" Tsukune asked.
"If that is what you wish to call it, then yes." Mizore said. "I was stalking you. However, I have no intention of romance from either of you."
"ookaaay…" Tsukune said, a little confused. "I didn't know you went to this school."
"I just started." Mizore said. "It is a very good school. I like it. Unfortunately, we do not share any classes that I know of. If we did, we could attend them together."
"I see." Tsukune said.
"I live nearby you, Tsukune." She said. "Perhaps the three of us could walk home together? Walking home alone is lonely."
"Okay." Tsukune said. "That sound alright, Moka?"
"That sounds alright." Moka said, looking at Tsukune. "But, can I eat first? I'm kinda hungry."
"But, you ate lunch a half hour ag—" Tsukune started just as Moka bit down on his neck.
"Mmmmm." She moaned slightly as she drank.
"Don't make it sound like that!" Tsukune said, shocked.
"Should I go?" Mizore asked, a little uncomfortable.
"Nope!" Moka giggled. "I'm finished."
"What did you do?" Mizore asked. "It looked like you drank his blood, not kissed him."
"Well, I'm a vampire." Moka giggled.
"Why are you just telling her that?" Tsukune asked.
"Well, I get the feeling I can trust her." Moka said. "I mean, I was right about you, Tsukune-kun. She has a good 'scent'"
"That doesn't mean to trust just anyone." Tsukune said.
"I will not tell a soul." Mizore promised, holding up her hand.
"Good!" Moka said, pulling her into a hug with a grin. Mizore's eyes widened and she blushed as she felt her body pulled into Moka's grip. She froze up her breath hitching as she felt squeezed by the vampire.
"Oops, sorry!" Moka laughed nervously as she released her. "I don't know my own strength sometimes. But, it's okay as long as I don't remove my rosary."
Mizore took the rosary in her thumb and index finger, feeling it and studying it in a sense.
"What happens then?" She asked.
"I become a scaaary vampire." Moka wiggled her fingers and giggled.
"That's not something to joke about." Tsukune said, sweat dropping. "You did attack the student council president… granted, he did deserve it."
"Yeah, that guy was a jerk!" Moka said, crossing her arms and giving a curt nod, which caused her long pink hair to shift slightly.
"So, those rumors were true?" Mizore asked. "That Moka-san beat him and the gym teacher up?"
"Yes." Tsukune said. "Her other half went all monster on them and sucked the energy out of the president."
"That sounds interesting." Mizore said, her voice becoming quieter that it actually was, as if she was embarrassed by saying so. "I heard he was a jerk."
"Yeah." Tsukune nodded, unconsciously rubbing his cheek. "He was. But, he is a bit of a better individual now."
"That is good." Mizore said, blushing as she touched her pointer fingers together and cast her gaze downward a little bit. "So… when are you going home?"
"About now." Tsukune said.
"Yep!" Moka said. "We're done with our work, so let's go!"
Moka ran out, pulling Tsukune and Mizore out, the latter blushing at the sudden contact. She also nearly dropped her lollipop, but managed to keep it in her mouth.
"Man, your hands are cold!" Moka said, chuckling. "But, that's fine! Mine are cold too!"
"Moka, I don't think you should just grab people like this." Tsukune said as he was pulled along by the pink haired vampire. "It's not good for our arms."
"It's okay." Moka giggled. "I can put arms back into socket. I learned how in Home Ec."
Tsukune and even Mizore paled slightly at that, Tsukune gulping, knowing he'd almost had his arm out of socket multiple times when Moka took off on a run, dragging him along with her. However, most times, he could keep up with her in the slightest.
"So, where's your house?" Moka asked as they arrived back in their neighborhood. Mizore pointed to it as they walked up, watching her go to the door. When she arrived at the door, she turned around and gave a small smile, opening the door and entering, shutting it behind her.
"She was pretty interesting." Tsukune said.
"Yeah!" Moka said. "I like her. We should hang out together more often."
"That would be kinda fun." Tsukune said. "It would definitely help her be less shy."
"Yeah!" Moka said. "So, what do you wanna do now?"
"Didn't you say you were hungry?" Tsukune asked.
"Yeah." Moka said. "Let's go get something to eat. I want something with lots of blood in it."
"So… a rare steak?" Tsukune asked.
"That sounds awesome!" Moka said, licking her lips. "I'll buy."
"Okay." Tsukune said. "There's a great place we can go to."
"Great!" Moka said. "Lead the way, Tsukune-kun!"
"Tsuki!" Kyōko shouted, running out. "There you are! Where were you?! You were supposed to be home an hour ago!"
"We had to stay after class." Tsukune said, chuckling as he rubbed the back of his head. "So, we just got back."
"They made you do slave labor?" Kyōko asked. "What kinda school is that?"
"No, we were late, so we had to stay." Tsukune said, sweat dropping.
"Oh." Kyōko said, chuckling nervously as she tried to pass off her previous statement. "Well, you're expected for dinner, so you should get home."
"But, it's not even dinnertime." Tsukune said.
"Well, it will be." Kyōko said. "So, get ready."
"Alright, alright." Tsukune said. "I guess I'll see you later, Moka."
"Bye, Tsukune-kun!" Moka said, almost tackling him in a hug before heading off toward her home.
"She's a fun one." Kyōko said, smirking.
"Yeah." Tsukune nodded, chuckling. "It's just how she is."
"Well, she shouldn't change it." Kyōko said.
The next day—at the gates of Youkai Academy
Tsukune and Moka walked up to the building, walking to their History class. Inside, they noticed that Mizore was sitting inside, waiting, reading a manga, still with the lollipop in her mouth. She held her body in a way that suggested she was trying to avoid the gaze of anyone in the room, despite none giving her any. She looked out of the corner of her eye to see them and her expression lightened up, her giving a little smile as she waved. Moka waved back with her whole arm, Tsukune using only his hand to wave. The two sat down next to their newest friend, Tsukune on the right, Moka on the left.
"I thought you didn't have classes with us." Tsukune said, cracking his neck and knuckles out of habit.
"I transferred into this one because it was better and much easier to grasp." Mizore said.
"That's great!" Moka said, pulling Mizore into a hug, several students turning to give them glances, which made Mizore shrink a little into herself. The teacher looked at them, clearing her throat.
"Now, you three" she said. "If you're quite done, I believe it is time we moved on to our lesson."
"Oh, uh, sorry." Moka said, blushing slightly as she released Mizore, the teacher resuming her lesson.
Mizore soon found a note on her desk. Confused, she quietly opened it.
"What do you have next?—M" it said.
"English III" Mizore wrote on it, sending it back to Moka.
"We'll hang out after that, then." Moka wrote on the passed back note. "We have Maths. But, we can meet up for lunch afterwards.—M"
"Sounds good." Mizore wrote before the teacher noticed.
"Are you two done?" he asked. Moka, who had received the note, had made it disappear so fast no one even noticed it was there.
"Uh, done with what?" Moka asked.
"Just don't let me catch you writing notes in my class again." The teacher said, clearing her throat.
"Understood." Moka said cheerily. The teacher rolled her eyes and continued her lesson, still giving the pair glances every once in a while.
Once she'd given the students time to work on their work, she sat at her desk, working. Tsukune, Moka, and Mizore decided to work together, solving the problems they were given.
"What did you get for problem three?" Moka asked.
"I think it's the Third War." Tsukune said. "You?"
"I got that too." Mizore said.
"I got Second War." Moka said, crossing her arms and staring at it. "I don't even know how we got it different."
"Who knows?" Tsukune shrugged, chuckling. "At least we gathered that it was a war."
"The problem asks us to name a specific war." Mizore said in her analytic tone. "That proves it invalid."
"True." Tsukune said.
They ignored the whispers of the other kids, some noting Mizore.
At lunch
"Man, that was a tough class." Tsukune dropped his head onto the table. "I can't believe he called me up to solve that problem."
"What happened?" Mizore asked, seemingly appearing from under the table, setting her tray down on the table.
"I had to solve a problem in class." Tsukune said, groaning. "The teacher said I was 'being distracting'. I wasn't even doing anything. Just trying to avoid getting called on."
"Maybe that's why." Moka giggled, putting a hand over her mouth. "You looked too obvious about it."
"Then, how did you do it?" Tsukune asked.
"I just zoned out." Moka giggled again. "You just gotta make it look like you're thinking and he doesn't call on you."
"That is notable advice." Mizore noted.
"So, what'd you guys bring?" Moka asked, pulling out her lunch, which consisted of a dish of salad and a small thermos of soup.
"I brought my cousin's cooking." Tsukune said, revealing his dish of chicken and rice.
"I brought this." Mizore said, revealing her lunch of yogurt, milk, fruit, and a small thermos filled with ice cream.
"You really seem to like cold things." Tsukune said, noting her lunch.
"I'm very sensitive to the heat." Mizore said. "It bothers me if it's too hot."
"I see." Tsukune said. "Well, that's good to remember."
"It is." Mizore said, taking a bite of yogurt, licking her lips. "I like the colder things, however. They taste great."
"They do." Tsukune nodded. "So, how's your school year been, Mizore?"
"It has been alright since I transferred here." She said, a slight blush beginning to form. "But, I am glad I have met such good friends."
"Aww, thanks." Moka grinned. "We're glad to have met you. You know, I don't normally trust people right away, but you're the second person I've trusted like this, especially the second to have told my secret to."
"I…" Mizore said, looking down. "I feel honored."
"Good." Moka pulled her into a hug. "We're gonna be the three best friends in the school."
"Which means it's gonna happen." Tsukune chuckled. "When Moka puts her mind to something, she usually tries to make it work."
"I like that about her." Mizore laughed a little. "We're actually quite similar. We both started here shy, but due to having friends, we began to open up. You two are the reason for that."
"It's kinda funny, actually." Tsukune said. "I first met her when she was passed out in the school courtyard. And, we met you because you stalked us. I've never actually made a friend like a normal person."
"That is actually pretty funny." Mizore chuckled.
"Yeah, Tsukune-kun became my first human snack." Moka giggled.
"I heard." Mizore said, chuckling in her quiet way. "So, what are you two doing after school today?"
"I've got nothing planned." Moka said. "How about you, Tsukune-kun?"
I don't." Tsukune said. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well" Mizore said, blushing slightly. "Would you like to… come over to my house… and eat supper?"
"I'll have to ask my parents." Tsukune said. "But, I'd like to."
"I don't even have to ask." Moka grinned. "We'll be there, Mizore-chan."
"Thanks." Mizore's face brightened as she smiled at her two newest and closest friends. "I look forward to it."
"We'll have to get through the rest of the school day." Tsukune sighed, chuckling. "I got to go to gym today."
"Good luck playing dodgeball, Tsukune-kun." Moka giggled. "Try not to get hit with the ball this time."
"wow, thanks for the great advice." Tsukune said, chuckling with his sarcasm.
"You're welcome, Tsukune-kun." Moka said, patting him on the back, the sarcasm either going over head or being ignored.
"You two act like a couple." Mizore laughed softly.
"Well, there's two of us, so we are a couple." Moka said. "You make us a trio. The three musketeers, we'll be called."
"I think that's taken." Tsukune said.
"True." Moka said. "Plus, I don't like fighting anyway. My other side does though. She's pretty mean though."
"I see." Mizore said. "I'd prefer not to meet her if that's alright."
"well, hopefully we won't run into anything that would cause her to need to come out." Moka said. "Since she beat up the student council president and gym teacher, we've had no problems."
"That is good." Mizore said, getting up and packing away the remains of her lunch. "Well, I have finished my lunch. I need to get to class. I am expected to be there early and I must not disappoint my teacher."
"Alright." Moka and Tsukune said, waving as she left. "Good luck, Mizore(-chan)."
Mizore turned back to them and smiled, waving a little and walking off.
"I guess I should get ready too." Moka said as she got up as well. "I have Home-Ec. Good luck in Gym class, Tsukune-kun."
Moka walked off toward her next class, waving to people who waved back to her.
As Tsukune finished his lunch, he got up and walked over to the gym area of the school where everyone was gathering for their gym class of the day. He went and changed in the locker room, emerging ready to play that day's sport.
With Kyoko
"There's something about Moka that doesn't quite fit." Kyoko thought to herself. "I mean, sure she's a nice girl and it's great that Tsuki's made a friend, but still, something seems off."
With that, Kyoko began to figure out ways to investigate her hunches, trying to figure out exactly how to investigate the woman her cousin had met.
With Moka, Tsukune, and Mizore
The three students gathered in front of the school, Mizore smiling at them.
"I will have to get prepared." She said. "But, you are welcome to come over at any time."
"I'll ask my parents first." Tsukune said. "But, I'm sure they'll say yes."
"Alright." Mizore said. "Then, shall we go home?"
"Yes." Tsukune said, the three of them beginning their walk toward their neighborhood.
It looks like they've made a new friend. well, I'm sure there's good times ahead.